Happy Valentine’s Day!

Filed under: Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry, Holiday Jewelry

Well it’s been an interesting 2 weeks to say the least. My Tungsten lights blew out so I have no adequate light in which to photograph my jewelry until the new lights arrive. We had a wind storm that blew out the electric so we had to take ourselves, along with our 2 children (one is 2 years old and the other is 2 months old) to the Country Buffet for dinner the other night. Two pieces of the aluminum on one of the roof peaks blew off in that storm so now we have to replace the the aluminum on all THREE peaks so that it matches. The material isn’t much but the labor is where they get you, obviously.

I did have a few good things happen too, though. I bought a new camera so hopefully that will aid in better pictures for the future. Today was a first for me. Some of you might be able to sympathize with my plight, but probably not. I created several pieces of jewelry with a 2 month old napping in an upright position on my lap. At this very moment I am typing my blog with one finger and the wrong hand because I am feeding him with the other! Listen…you gotta do what you gotta do.

I have a new collection of handmade bracelets that I will be adding to continuously. I call it the “Breakfast at Bella’s” collection. These bracelets are all handmade sterling silver and they feature handmade glass charms made by Laurie of Mermaid Glass. She has my business for life. I LOVE these bracelets and the beads. I used sterling findings and Hill Tribes silver charms throughout the design, and each one is different. There is more breakfast to be served so keep your eyes peeled for new additions!

Also these Swarovski Crystal heart earrings were supposed to be for Valentine’s Day, but again, camera and lighting issues prevented me from listing them sooner. Anyway, they are great to wear anytime obviously and they are now listed in the store.

We have introduced 5 new Guest Artists for the month of February. They are in no particular order: Alexsandra Gifford - aka Wild Pearly. Alexsandra makes the most amazing handbags I have ever seen. They are creative and vibrant, and you definitely need to check them out. They are all OOAK items and I promise you won’t be disappointed. Here is an example of her work…

Next we have Connie Loyet of “Riverbed” creations. Here is another great artist who brings us unique gemstone and mineral pendants. Some of her beautiful creations are personally mined! Below is just an example of Connie’s work. Please click on the photo to view the item in the store as well as her other four offerings for a total of five showcased items!

Megan Huffaker of Tesoro Bella Jewelry is a 36-year-old stay-at-home mother with a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Genetics. Megan is joined in design, creation, and distribution by her sisters Becky, Katie, and Chris, by her nieces Kathryn (Kat) and Maddeline, by her parents Jay and Rosie, and by her close friend Kari. Please see a glimpse of what Megan has to offer below. Click on the picture to be taken to the store and explore some of Megan’s other wonderful creations!

Next is Manda Link of Manda Panda Creations. Her jewelry is as unique as her name. I know that you will just love her pieces. Below is my personal favorite from Manda’s submitted collection. Please click the photo to be taken to that item in the store, or just visit the store to view six more of Manda’s creations!

Jewelry Fetish is a relatively young business that grew out of three women’s passions for custom made pieces. Those women are Teresa Ellens, Stephanie Ponius, and Jocelyn Walker. Please see just one of the many creations that they have to offer. Click on the photo to be taken to this item in the store and read more about it, or add it to your collection before someone else does!

Tags: earrings, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, handmade gifts, handmade glass beads, Holiday gifts, Holiday jewelry, sterling silver

How much do you charge?

Filed under: Events, Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry, Uncategorized

I recently came across an article written by Teri of S&T Creations. Teri asks “Are you really adding in ALL of your costs?” The article in it’s entirety can be viewed by clicking here. Below is a copy of Teri’s article as well as my response. Any thoughts that you have are encouraged to be posted, especially from those artist that do a lot of shows. Please leave your comments on my blog.

Preface: While Teri clearly realizes how expensive it is to actually have a beading business, like so many others in the industry I am not sure that she has completely crossed over from having a “Hobby” to having a full fledged business. As with any business you will incur start up costs such as tools, storage materials, equipment, advertising etc.. It is my feeling that these things should be written off as business expenses when filing your business taxes. Teri is trying to find a way to compensate for these expenses, and rightfully so, but she is thinking of passing along those expenses to her customers rather than writing them off as I believe she should be doing.

Teri Writes:

“I still struggle with pricing my work, something that I think many designers, particularly new ones, have a tendency to do. Until we gain confidence and truly appreciate the value of our work, we can miss some things in our calculations. So, I tried to write a list—WOW, was I surprised. Here are some things you may not consider when you are putting a price tag on a piece of jewelry.

TIME   (not the time it took you to actual design and lay out, make and finish the piece but the following)

a. Time in research, writing and entering your blog articles

b. Time preparing your set, taking, editing and uploading pictures of your item

c. Time writing your listing, the description, creating tags, shipping plan

d. Time prepping an item to ship: gather package, wrapping, thank you note, any gift or coupon, postage and return address/mailing address

e. Driving to and from post office to drop off, pick up packages

f. Time maintaining your inventory, if you enter that in a software program, manually in a ledger, if you create labels, etc.

g. Time searching, buying and paying online for your components & supplies

h. Time driving to and from and while you are at bead stores and shows

i. Time filing sales tax, keeping receipts and preparing all that for taxes each year

j. Time preparing and submitting booth entry or jury entry for a show

EXPENSES

a. Domain costs for your webpage, possibly a web hosting cost, maybe you use a web developer too

b. Camera for photos, lights and possibly a light box

c. Storage of your components: cases, files, shelving, boxes, binders, plastic tubs

d. Books, dvds, tutorials, subscriptions to magazines, any websites you subscribe to

e. Equipment and tools you’ve purchased (and what you store them in), your beadboards, props for your photos

f. Your calendar, scheduler

g. Cost of the designs you made for YOU—you are an advertising billboard of your own work

h. Cost of items you do make for gifts

i. Broken beads

j. Your computer, printer, paper, ink, and software

k. Cost of internet connectivity

l. In home office cost: space, utilities, filing cabinets, closets, telephone

m. Business cards, signs, posters

n. Booth costs: table clothes, skirts, displays, price tags, bags

1.Your costs for the show—food, drinks, lodging, travel

o. Mileage to everywhere mentioned above

p. Booth and Show entry fees, jury fees, fees to enter bead shows

q. Cost of all classes you’ve taken

r.     Any consignment costs, or hostess arrangements you may also have for shows

“Other, Miscellaneous Things”

a. Those “orphan” beads left over from a design but not enough to make another

b. Beads you purchased, then later realized you didn’t like them and don’t use

c. The small “leftovers” from your supplies—that extra 6 inches of cord, wire, beadalon, tigertail, etc that you can’t do anything with except throw away

d. The items already in your home and garage that also support your business, maybe you use your microwave, or your stove, or tools from the toolbox, toothpicks, clothespins, needles or pins, scissors, twist ties, sealable bags, notepads, fingernail polish, sandpaper or emery boards

e. Cost of any repairs you were asked to make, or adjustments to length, change out clasp or switch from pierced to clip-ons, etc

f. Any thefts you might have had at a show (hopefully not, but things do happen)

g. Any items that become broken when packing and setting up/tearing down from a show

Even with this list, I didn’t count for personal “costs” such as time away from home because you have a show to do, or just how tiring packing, setting up, tearing down and putting away everything can be from doing a show, and those very intangible items that we all make choices about when we book an event.

I hope you found some new things to consider.  Feel free to comment on anything else I’ve forgotten!! Teri”

My Response:

This is a very well thought out article, however I think you must consider are that you cannot pass along all of your expenses to your customer. Some of these things are the natural part of having a business such as your web site, storage compartments, tools, software, etc. The reward for having these necessary items is the eventual sale of your product.

Let’s just say that you were to pass along these charges. Over what period of time are you factoring in those charges, or for how long? A storage compartment (plastic) can cost $1.00. Over how many pieces of jewelry (or other items) are you factoring in that $1.00? When the $1.00 has been compensated for, do you then lower your price?

In my humble opinion, these are business expenses and should be written off  as such when you do your taxes, not passed along to your customers.

One of the first things I did when starting this business was to look on the Internet for the average hourly rate for the profession of a jeweler in my state. Then I factored in my experience and education and selected the rate that I thought was fair for myself and my customers. Over the past 3 years I have given myself a raise

Therefore, the “cost of the classes you’ve taken” as you mentioned, should already be factored into your established hourly labor rate.

I have a program that allows me to keep inventory, calculates the cost of each bead, design a piece, and then it automatically calculates a proper selling price for that piece (wholesale, direct, and retail). I simply set the parameters for my markup  in each category (which in my case is relatively low compared to the market), and my hourly labor rate and the program does the rest.

I see the blog writing and article writing as necessary self promotion and I don’t factor charges into my designs for that, because if I were to do “professional” advertising or hire someone to write would cost a lot of money.

Many people also use free web pages available to promote their business such as Myspace, Facebook, and other free blog pages. This eliminates hosting fees. And, while the competition on Etsy is vast, it is definitely the cheapest place to sell your items for those without a shopping cart integrated into their site.

If you truly want to make it a business then you should incorporate, which is also pretty inexpensive. If you do a lot of shows where you feel that theft is a problem you should consider insurance that would cover your losses, and perhaps breakage, etc. I have never done this myself because I don’t do shows at this time, but I imagine that this is possible. Some locations may even offer insurance (and if they don’t perhaps they should start!)

You wrote: “e. Driving to and from post office to drop off, pick up packages”

Did you know that in most areas, if not all, that USPS will pick up items from your home for free? Their packaging is also free and can be ordered over the Internet and will be delivered to your home or business. (This obviously eliminates your driving time to and from the PO, your mileage, and the use of gas)

“b. Beads you purchased, then later realized you didn’t like them and don’t use”

You cannot charge customers for this. This is was your judgment. I suggest gathering all of your miscellaneous things that you don’t want, putting them in a nice container with partitions, and selling it as a starter package (older tools, extra beads and findings, extra cord or wire). You might not recover all of your costs, but it is better than leaving them to rot.

This is EXACTLY how I started my “hobby”. I purchased someone’s leftovers on Ebay just to see if I would actually like beading and 3 years later I have a beautiful website and really enjoy my small business.

Also, if you don’t already, try purchasing from a reputable place like Firemountain Gems, who has a “No Questions Asked” return policy on their items. If you buy something and don’t like it, return it. It’s that simple.

“Cost of Internet connectivity”

This is something else that you shouldn’t charge for, as you would probably have Internet connectivity without your business. However, even if the Internet was strictly being used for your business, all of these things (like the use of your microwave, electric, or certain areas of your home) can be written off as business expenses when you file your taxes. If you dedicate let’s say 15% of your home to your business, as long as you can prove this you should write it off. If you are not familiar with how to do this then you can consult an accountant (and probably find FREE information on the Internet).

Therefore, there is no need to pass these charges along to your customers because they are business write offs.

Thank you, and I hope that I have also given you some insight! Best wishes always…

Tags: business expenses, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, jewelry shows, pricing your jewelry

New Items and Artists for January!!!

Filed under: Handmade Jewelry, Holiday Jewelry

What an exciting December we have had here! If you’ve been keeping up with the new Isabella’s Beads Blog Page then you know that we have just given birth to our second child, John P. D’Agostino, IV. He was born on December 10, 2008 and we are so blessed to have him in our lives along with our daughter Isabella Rose. Also last month we introduced a section of the site called the “Guest Jewelers” section, and it is where I feature the works of other talented artists that I have met in this industry.

We showcased the works of three very talented artists last month and we have more for you this month! The artists that I would like to present to you for January are Debbie Jennings of “Deb’s Beaded Treasures”, and Kim Grassing of “LexieJewel”.

Debbie Jennings writes: “I started Debs Beaded Treasures in 2005 as a means to share my love of creating jewelry with everyone.  I especially like making “wearable art statement pieces”, and love the compliments my customers receive when wearing them.  I have a studio in my home that I couldn’t live without.  It is a creative environment that is very inspirational, where I spend many hours of enjoyment, creating special pieces for you (and a few for me, of course!). It takes a bit more of an “eye for design” to sell craft work in the vast ocean of talented artists in today’s market, so I am always learning new things.”

Here is an example of Debbie’s work. You can click on the photo to be taken to the item in the store. Also, to see all of the items in our Guest Jeweler’s Section click here!

Kim Writes: “A walk on the wild side…. or a stroll in the park! That’s how I describe my line of jewelry.  Each unique creation by LexieJewel is designed and handcrafted by me, Kimberley Grasing. All of my designs are original, and I strive to be innovative, cutting edge, and sometimes over the top.  I have been creating beaded jewelry for the past 5 years and have recently added FIRE (soldering!) to my repertoire…. and I haven’t seen the light of day since!! Yes, my acetylene torch is my new best friend! Working with metals has allowed me to reach into my inner depths of creativity to unleash designs and pieces fully infused with passion, heart and soul. I hope you enjoy all that LexieJewel has to offer!”

This Molton Rock necklace one is one my favorite pieces from Kim…

Well, February is quickly approaching and with that so is Valentines Day! I have some nice designs for Women and Children that you’ll definitely want to see. This Swarovski Crystal heart pendant doesn’t need a special occasion to be worn.

Also available and new this past month is this lovely Sterling Silver CZ double Heart ring.

Or how about this delicately adorable Sterling silver pave heart dangle ring for your daughter or even yourself!

These are just a few of the wonderful items that are available for this coming Valentine’s Day holiday. Please be sure to check out the Themed Jewelry section of the site for more ideas. And remember, if you have something specific in mind we can work together to create the perfect custom design! E-mail me for custom orders.

Tags: Glass Beads, handcrafted jewelry, handmade gifts, Handmade Jewelry, semi precious gemstones, sterling silver, valentine's day gifts

Wonder Woman, I am not…

Filed under: Events, Handmade Jewelry

Well, I thought that I would be able to be more like my favorite super hero, Wonder Woman, and handle having a newborn son, celebrating Christmas with our large family, traveling to Connecticut for a week, and maintaining the web site all while still taking care of my fiancee and our 2 year old daughter, Isabella Rose. I was wrong, and I suck. I’m sorry.

OK. So I am a little behind with posting some new items and introducing new guest jewelers for January (and putting out my monthly newsletter to registered users) but it will get done, I PROMISE!!! Actually I tried to put out the Newsletter at the end of December, but my server is having a small glitch and my developer is working on that at this time. I hope to have it resolved shortly. It seems that having the site Search Engine Optimized created some small glitches here and there and they are being corrected. Sorry for the delays!

While January seems to be flying by, I do have 4 new guest jewelers lined up which I will introduce in a separate blog tomorrow after listing their items in the Guest Jewelers section of the site. I thank you for your patience and understanding and I promise all of you it will be worth the wait to see what these talented artists have to offer.

Tags: Glass Beads, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, sterling silver

New Merchandise Added

Filed under: Events, Handmade Jewelry

Hi Everyone…

Let me start by saying that I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! We spent ours in our “new”, 2nd home in Connecticut and we ate with my fiancee’s family. It was very nice although I didn’t eat very much. We are having our 2nd child on December 10th and he is giving me some serious heartburn! Oh well, it’ll all be worth it in the end, which is unbelievably only 9 days away.

Now for the introduction of my newest section of the store, Gift Cards! If you aren’t sure what to get that special someone, but you know you want it handmade you can now conveniently purchase gift cards from Isabella’s Beads. Click on the Gift Card and select your desired increment from the drop down menu and click “Add to Cart”. It’s that easy! Add multiple cards for various gifts. Our gift cards can be used to purchase any items in the store. There are no restrictions.

Please don’t forget to check out the Holiday Items section of Isabella’s Beads for new themed jewelry and holiday gift presentation items such as our Wine gift bags which are available in 5 vibrant colors for only $2.50 each!

In my last blog I mentioned the addition of the Guest Jewelers Section. That section is now complete and all of the items have been added for December’s featured artists. Janice Kuhm, Rachael Swiss, and Sophia Waddell are the first artists to be featured for this month. The response has been overwhelming and I have several new artists already lined up for January. I think that this is going to be a wonderful experience for all who are involved.

If you are an artist of handmade jewelry or ANY handmade items, and you would like to be featured in my Blog, monthly Newsletter, and in the Guest Jewelers Section of my store please E-mail me and I’ll tell you how you can get started immediately! Keep in mind that only registered users of Isabella’s Beads will receive our exclusive Newsletters, so if you would like to be on that list please Register Here for free to become a member.

Money Making Opportunities:

If you are interested in selling some of my items on your own site, and you would like to be a wholesale customer with Isabella’s Beads please Register Here. Certain restrictions apply.

If you are interested in earning money as an Affiliate of Isabella’s Beads you can register for an Affiliate Account here. It is helpful to have a web site of course, but it is definitely not necessary, as each affiliate has their own unique bonus code.

Each of these opportunities is absolutely FREE and takes only a few minutes of your time. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! Have a good week

Tags: Affiliate programs, decorative liquor bags, Featured Artists, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, Handmade Jewelry, Holiday jewelry, themed jewelry, Wholesale jewelry, wine bags

Swarovski® Crystal Pendant Necklaces

Filed under: Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry, Holiday Jewelry

Before I introduce the new crystal pieces I want to preface this blog with one more glass bead necklace. For those of you who have been reading you know that lately I have been focusing on Lisa Atchison’s glass beads. As I’ve stated before they are remarkable, one-of-a-kind beads unlike anything that I have ever seen. In most cases the pictures do not do the beads justice. Please review previous blogs for my most recent creations. I will introduce one new piece to you where I used the combination of a copper mesh necklace along with one of Lisa’s electroformed leaf beads.

This necklace is comprised of fine, Italian brass mesh. There is a 3mm leatherette cord inserted into copper-colored brass mesh for durability. The necklace measures 18″ in length and is terminated with a lobster claw clasp. I used copper findings, and pure copper wire to make the handmade bail from which the beautiful, ocean-colored bead is suspended. As you view both photos of the bead itself, notice that the bead is only electroformed with a leaf on one side, which adds to its versatility.

OK, now for the crystal. First I’ll begin very quickly with the introduction of the “more classy” version of the Christmas tree earrings. I featured the classic-colored tree earrings in a previous blog, which was a green crystal tree accented in red and silver. This new pair is made using clear Swarovski® crystals along with an aurum 2x crystal topper and Colorado topaz base. They dangle from fancy gold-plated ear wires. These adorable creations can be worn all season long so get yours now!

Swarovski® crystal is the finest crystal in the world. I absolutely LOVE what Swarovski® has done this season with their new pendants. Of course these are perfect for any occasion, but hey, the winter season is upon us and in celebration of it I offer you a Swarovski® snowflake pendant necklace!

This sparkling creation has a flat table and faceted edges. The light reflects brilliantly from this classic pendant. I have attached a sterling silver teardrop bail to the snowflake, which dangles from a 20″ sterling silver textured loop chain. I terminated the chain with a sterling silver lobster claw clasp.

Also new this season is the 18mm flat-faced heart pendant. With the amazing sparkle only Swarovski® can create, the feminine heart drop has faceted, beveled edges and a smooth center. Stunning glacier blue color, the crystal ignites flashes of blue, green and yellow. I used a sterling silver ice pick heart bail, and attached it to a sterling silver Italian chain for instant elegance. Makes a fabulous gift for any occasion!

I have started working with a new medium. I am not sure if I like it yet as it is very new and extremely delicate, but I feel that the potential for creativeness using this product is just itching to burst through! This woven mesh originates as an extremely fine brass wire, loosely woven and anodized into a glorious color palette. It can be used to create a myriad of styles. Because this mesh is very fragile, it is recommended that it be used like a ribbon with beads strung on the outside only. However, I am a bit of a rebel and I decided to string beads, twist the mesh, and even fill the tube with pearls! (I feel like I just ripped off one of those “DO NOT REMOVE” mattress tags)

This is a David Christensen cane glass bead necklace with sterling silver accents and Swarovski® pearls strung on, and in the mesh tube. The black and white glass beads are from David’s “Sophisticate Collection”. These are the finest manufactured cane glass beads in the world. I featured his “Harvest Collection” beads on another necklace, which was featured in another blog a short while ago. This necklace is approximately 18″ in length and is terminated with a tube-like lobster claw clasp.

That’s all for now. I am expecting the birth of our son on December 10th so I am trying to get as much completed and listed on my site, before he arrives! Happy Holidays to all

Ciao!

Tags: Cane glass, Glass Beads, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, handmade glass beads, Handmade Jewelry, Mesh, mesh necklace, silver pendant, sterling silver, Swarovski Crystals, Swarovski pendants

Glass on Silk

Filed under: Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry

I wanted to start this blog off by touching on a few new additions. I have quite a few blog pages and all of them feature the same articles, however the main blog page, which is part of my website www.isabellasbeads.com, has several additions such as an event calendar and a blog roll featuring other talented bloggers that I discover along the way. I will try to get all of the blog links on my main site coordinated with these other blog pages so that I can share the talented artists whom I have been introduced to with you!

OK. In the past few blogs I have listed many new pieces of jewelry having various themes and using a multitude of different materials. Holiday jewelry will obviously be prevalent over the next few weeks with December, the holidays, and winter seasons quickly approaching. Here is an item that is new this year appropriately named “Cat’s Eye Christmas” necklace. It is made with Grade A cat’s eye beads, Swarovski Crystals and Sterling silver along with a handmade pendant with a Santa focal glass bead.

I have also focused a lot on handmade glass beads and one artist in particular, Lisa Atchison. I know that there are many talented glass artists out there, but right now she is my favorite.

I have been hoarding Lisa’s handmade glass beads for quite some time now without ever turning out a design, until recently. Every aspect of these handmade glass beads is so very special that I really wanted to take time before I did anything with them. In the end it was once again Lisa’s own creativity in the art of handmade jewelry design that led me to make these amazing necklaces. One other thing about Lisa that I should mention is that she is never ever selfish. She is always willing to share with others and me the tricks of the trade as well as information on beads and suppliers, and for that I am very grateful. Thank you, Lisa.

I do my very best to support all artists who create handmade jewelry, materials, and findings. I believe that more love, care, and pride goes into the creation of each piece when someone takes the time to do it themselves rather than have a machine cut thousands of the same thing all day long. I know that for me creativity doesn’t just flow like a peaceful river, so I take a lot of time to look at the handmade designs of other talented artists for inspiration, and I am thankful to all of you for being instrumental in my work.

The following necklaces are created using Lisa’s handmade glass beads. Each design is a one-of-a-kind for the simple fact that no handmade bead can ever be duplicated exactly. Also, the metals and findings will always vary according to the size, color and style of the glass bead. For these handmade necklaces I have incorporated the works of 3 other artists. First, all of the focal glass beads are from Lisa Atchison at Touch of Glass Designs. The silk ribbon in three of the necklaces is hand dyed silk made by Heidi from Jamn Glass. Lastly, Mary Poineal of McDuck Creations makes the change-a-bead pendant bails.

(The first item is already sold so no link to the store is provided. For the remaining pictures you can view additional angles in my store by clicking on the photo.)

I take pride in using only the finest materials available in my designs. For example, the silver spacer beads are Hill Tribes fine silver rather than just sterling silver. And, when I use crystal in my designs, you can rest assured that the only crystal you will see is Swarovski crystal. I am sure that the less expensive beads have a place, but right now that place is not with me.

This next design is also an example of the quality of the glass beads that I incorporate. Although these are now manufactured, David Christensen is without a doubt the best maker of cane glass beads in the world. No one seems to argue this point. David’s beads are special in many ways. Perhaps you’ve wondered how David could compete in the marketplace with prices over $100.00 or more per pound. The fact is that the Chinese do not use as high of a quality of glass as David Christensen. Also, their caning process is nowhere near as sophisticated as David’s process. The edges of their glass beads are square while David’s are slightly rounded.  The slightly rounded edges protect the medium on which the beads are strung, and when using them on silk like I have done in this next design that was obviously very important. In this necklace I used beads from his “Harvest Collection” symbolic of the fall season.

Again, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any place for Chinese cane glass. It is a great alternative for a new or young beading artist, their beads are also nice if you want to create many inexpensive bracelets, and they’re wonderful if your customers are looking for a fashionable item at a low price. As for me I prefer to stick with David Christensen and the American made cane glass beads.

I think that I have rambled enough for now so I’ll see you again soon. I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

Ciao,

Mariealena

Tags: Cane glass, David Christensen, Glass Beads, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, handmade glass beads, Handmade Jewelry, Necklace, silk, silver pendant

Holiday Jewelry

Filed under: Handmade Jewelry, Holiday Jewelry

If you are a busy person like me, you start your Christmas shopping early. (With a new baby coming, that has been absolutely necessary this year.) I have the most trouble deciding what to buy for the teenagers on my list.

With that in mind, I’ve been browsing my designs and found several beaded jewelry items that will appeal to the teens on your list. Beaded jewelry is especially “hot” this year.

Among my handmade beaded jewelry designs are several that are especially appropriate for the holiday season.

My Italian soul rejoices at the red, white and green colors of the Italian flag. But my Christmas cat’s-eye bracelet was actually designed with Christmas in mind.

I used Grade A cat’s-eye beads in green and white. I like to use cat’s eye in my beaded jewelry because of its luster and depth. Here I combined cat’s-eye beads with red Swarovski® crystals for sparkle and sterling silver for added richness.

Like all of my beaded jewelry, each of my bracelets is made to order, so you can specify the correct wrist size.

I designed these snowman earrings for the young and the young at heart. I used two Grade A Freshwater pearls for the snowman’s body and Jet Swarovski Crystals for the hat. I added just enough magic to make them dangle delightfully, but not enough to make them run away like Frosty!

As you may have guessed, I like to add a touch of whimsy to my beaded jewelry.

Remember that pearls need to be worn—it adds to their luster. Your teenager can wear these all through the winter season, and so can you.

These Swarovski Christmas tree earrings are also available with gold fill findings, and for a completely different look they will be available in white and gold crystal as well. Keep your eyes open for that new addition to Holiday jewelry in the next blog!

Also new this Holiday is this wonderful cat’s eye Winter Wonderland bracelet made with Grade A cat’s eye beads and decorated with sterling silver laser cut beads. For an added touch of winter, a sterling snowflake dangles near the clasp. Any sterling winter or Holiday charm can be substituted upon request.

Ankle bracelets are especially fashionable for teenagers this year. I’ve made several using the amazing millefiori or “thousand flower” beads made in Murano, Italy. As on many of my beaded jewelry pieces, I’ve added sterling silver to accent the millefiori beads.

Beaded jewelry is a marvelous choice when you want jewelry both mother and daughter can wear. For a special gift, consider my “Siam Slider” cuff bracelet. I used Swarovski® crystal “butterfly” sliders accented with red Swarovski® bicones and sterling silver. It’s strung on memory wire so it will never lose its shape. Don’t be surprised if your teenager slips it on to wear with jeans—I do the very same thing!

I hope you’ll spend some time browsing my beaded jewelry. I’ll be making more gift suggestions as the holiday season nears.

Tags: Christmas tree, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, Handmade Jewelry, Holiday jewelry, snowman, Winter Wonderland

Welcome to my Blog!

Filed under: Handmade Jewelry

Hello!

Welcome to my blog. I am Mariealena Calabrese, owner of Isabella’s Beads. I design and make all the handmade beaded jewelry you see in my store. I hope this blog helps you to know me better, and I hope through your comments to get to know you, too.

I am passionate about my handmade beaded jewelry—as you might expect. I love searching for new and unusual beads, combining them with the best fastenings and stringing materials, and producing uniquely designed jewelry for you to wear.

I am even more passionate about my daughter, Isabella Rose. I named my business for her. My handmade beaded jewelry allows me to stay at home with Isabella and still build for her future. All the profit from my beaded jewelry goes to her, and it is my hope that this business will bring her profit for years to come.

I have a very special design project in mind right now. It will be in honor of a new addition to our family. Yes, I am expecting a baby in December! It is a boy, and we plan to name him John, after his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In honor of John IV, and Isabella Rose, I am designing a Mommy bracelet.

Of all the handmade beaded jewelry I design, the Mommy bracelet is most special. I do not want to rush any aspect of the design. But when it is complete it will be available for you to see and buy here at Isabella’s Beads.

Since there will be four of us soon, we decided to buy a small second home in Connecticut. Then, when we visit John’s parents, we will have room for all of us. And, the babies will not disturb their grandparents during the night.

We finally found what we were looking for, and now are deciding which furniture to have in which house. So much to decide!

Creating handmade beaded jewelry involves many decisions, too. Even when I have a vision of the finished piece to begin with, the end result may be quite different. Would the piece look better with the luminous depths of cat’s eye or the sparkle of Swarovski® crystals? Can I find a better color combination to express my feeling of joy?

I hope you will enjoy this blog as it develops. I want Isabella’s Beads to be a welcoming site for you. I would love to read your comments—and please, if you have any questions about my handmade jewelry, the beads and fittings I use or even my creative process—don’t hesitate to ask!

Ciao!
Mariealena

Tags: beaded jewelry, crystal jewelry, handcrafted jewelry, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, Handmade Jewelry, jewelry