Photography!

When you create etched copper components, lampwork beads, clay beads and jewelry you either go to shows to sell your wares or you open an online shop. If you don't your house gets really full of your handcrafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings!

 I don't like to travel too far from my own bed so I have an online store on Etsy: MiyaBeads. It's easy, convenient and I like it. It is hard to sell jewelry online, though, because people want to see it up close and personal. And folks want components to make their own. But I SO enjoy designing jewelry that I will continue.

That's where photography comes in. To sell jewelry you have to have excellent photos that create a mood for your shop. It has been a constant learning experience for me. I am always trying to improve my photos. I always listen to friends when they talk about their cameras and I like the camera I use now. It has macro capability and I get clear photos. I edit with a free program -Irfanview, because it's easy peasy, works really well - and is FREE!

For me the problem is the background. I have a photo booth that was gifted to me by a friend. I love the light in it. It is a white box and I want a natural background so I made wood squares to fit inside on the bottom and the back.

I have decided the color of stain is a bit too cool and I want to take the wood back out and stain it again with some warmer tones. So, I hope that works. I have decided the petrified wood rock has got to go. It is natural but I think it's the wrong color. Next!

I found a fabulous cast iron hand that looks vintage. It was white but that's no problem. I spray painted it with brown metallic paint. Then I over-sprayed it with matte black paint. I didn't cover the brown completely because I want a bit of an antique look- not one solid color.

I'm happy with that. I think it has a good look to put necklaces and bracelets on to photograph. I'm also thinking of getting a 2 inch thickness of a small tree trunk that has  darkened with age to photograph copper on. Another thought is to use a piece of bark. I'll have to play with that idea before launching it.

One thing I believe above all else that I have learned from viewing other jewelry photography - you need a consistent look for all your photographs. So, ever onward to get that consistent look I want for my Etsy store! Any ideas?

Friendship is the Jewel in Life

I have had many friends over the years. They came and went. Some with many tears and some with just a few. Sometimes things just evolve over time or friends move away and out of your life.

But then there are the few that stay. The ones who you think about telling about something that happened during the day or the week. The one or two you call , text or email while you are doing the have to do's of life. They are the ones, who over time become the treasures of your life.

They have seen you during the good times and the bad times. And they still want to be your friend after the bad times. <3
Of course, you have seen their bad times, too, but you don't see it that way. You see it as an opportunity you had to be there for them when they needed someone to be there. An opportunity to give to them with no judgement.  What a treasure to find a friend like that!

"Friends hold a mirror up to each other; through that mirror they can see each other in ways that would not otherwise be accessible to them, and it is this mirroring that helps them improve themselves as persons." Aristotle

What a fantastic treasure. I count myself to be so lucky. I have been blessed in life.

New Jewelry Pieces and Instagram!

I just opened an Instagram account with some new jewelry to show.  I have been off almost 4 months with a torn ligament in my left ankle so I have spent some time on the couch with my beads. I decided this would be a good time to get out my waxed linen to play with. The colors that are available are wonderful! I really have enjoyed stringing beads again! It is so peaceful. More can be found on Instagram. One of my fav artists, Leslie Watt, shared the bracelet design and I love it!

 patriciasornamentalsI found this 1&1/4 inch black shell, perfectly shaped by the ocean to look like a sharks tooth and waited six years to make the piece. I wanted it to be special. Hand knotted waxed linen, black lava beads, black Czech glass beads, sterling silver beads and a pewter focal from Green Girl! Handmade sterling silver clasp on this 28 inch piece. $40

The 20 inch necklace is the star of this set including bracelet and earrings. Hand knotted waxed linen separated the beads in this genuine green turquoise and yummy orange Czech glass necklace, bracelet and earring set. I used a patinaed coin for the clasps. Handmade copper ear wires. $70 set

 My lampwork glass focal, sterling silver wire and dangles and beads, Czech glass beads, handmade sterling silver clasp, pastel leather bracelet/necklace. $40

Pretty polymer starfish disk ( I don't remember the maker), sterling silver wire and charms, glass beads, size 8/0 seed beads on the 3mm leather wrap bracelet/necklace. Handmade sterling silver clasp! $35

Revisiting Old Jewelry Pieces

I have many jewelry pieces in my studio that I never have gotten around to posting in my Etsy shop. Frequently I go back and look at them again and rethink what I created. I end up taking them apart and redoing them. Some completely and some partially with a more editing eye. It is oftentimes difficult to use your editing eye when the creative juices are flowing hot and heady!   Here are a couple I reworked recently and am much happier with the new edited piece.

This is the first design: Ok. The piglets in a pumpkin photo is just so cute!

 I did this design as part of a challenge: https://pattimillerbeads.blogspot.com/2018/01/use-your-stash-challenge-reveal.html  I received a fabulous oceany fused glass donutmade by  SueBeads .

I set it aside as I  got  settled in my new house since last October. I just last week got my lampworking torch set up. I have my jewelry stashes and components/beads  set up on tall shelves finally organized enough to use. And my jewelry design spot cleared and organized enough to use. Tell me yours looks like this, too!

This is my found (and some purchased) feather box.

And my feathers. :o)  I'm waiting for just the right project.

And here is the edited piece. It now is something I would wear. I think that may always be a good thing to focus on when designing. I am going to put it on a sterling chain and maybe a dangle at the clasp.

And another angle. What do you think?

I'll post another one at another time. This post has so many photos!

Art Elements January Use Your Stash Challenge Reveal!

Hosted by the fabulously talented  Lindsay Star!  This was a fun challenge for me. I moved in October and am working on the house and still have boxes everywhere. Well, I decided to take the spare room with two windows and a door that's all window! Tons of light! So, I got my jewelry table set up and my lampworking table set up but not the torch yet.  I was chomping at the bit to do something and  was thrilled to be chosen for this challenge. I received a fabulous fused glass donut made by SueBeads in beautiful ocean colors. So, that is the direction I went in for my pendant. I hope you like it.

This first photo isn't so great but I want you to see all the colors inside of it. This was a hard piece to photograph because of the depth of the piece.

 So, here it is on proper lighting. I used a piece of hand dyed silk a friend gave me last month as a background. It looks like a sandy beach!

Here is the list of all the participants. Please visit each one and enjoy the fabulous creations from everyone! Thanks SO much Lindsay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guests:

Kelly Rodgers

Sarajo Wentling

Samantha Wescott

Kathy Lindemer's

Patty Miller

Linda Landig

Renetha Stanziano

Art Elements:

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Jen Cameron

Claire Fabian

Sue Kennedy

Niky Sayers

Lindsay Starr

It's A Sickness!

If you are a craft person/artist who buys supplies you know how it can be. You collect items and supplies because they are fabulous and beautiful. Then you have to figure out new ways to store the items so they are readily available. And in your brain you have a running inventory of what you have and if that fails you go back and look through your supplies periodically to refresh your memory. LOLOL! It is fun though and I love it. I have more supplies now than I probably will ever use in my lifetime.

But as the new Pantone color of the year came out I got excited and went online to order more glass supplies. Frit to be specific. I love to use frit on the lampwork beads I make: as added color, design or background. Frit is wonderful. Of course I had to buy purple to see if I can match the new Pantone color of the year. The tone seems to be more of a blue purple than a pink purple. Here is what I found at Val Cox Frit. What do you think?

Purple Rose

Violet Storm

And my last choice is Hyacinth Violet

Which do you think are closest in shade to the Pantone Ultraviolet?