Jewelry Making Outside The Box

Stare Down the Stress, Get Rid of the Artistic Funk

For many reasons, my life is stressful "all by itself with nothing extra". LOL  But lately....minor and major irritants abound.

 

Last week we had to re-do our well.  There's the backhoe in all its glory.  What you don't see are the three tough-looking guys just behind it---working with all their might to bust the pump loose.  It had burnt up and was somehow fried to the casing a few feet down.  So that's why they had to excavate.

 

 

Just got everything put back in order, but Thursday night they called for high winds, lots of lightning. They weren't kidding.  What a mess!  Electric lines down all over town, the highway and most of the way to New Springfield, a neighboring town.  I got to sleep in pitch black dark for most of two nights.

 

There was all of that and yet more bad business last week, a great deal of worry.  I wanted to just curl up in a ball and stay that way. But--I had good light through my bedroom window so I grabbed the bowls from our new bead mixes and got busy.  Why should I let a bad week take my joy?  Time to control my thinking, turn that negative energy around.

 

I used two of our new bead mixes, Vintage Japanese Silver Pearl, and Black Velvet.

https://www.bsueboutiques.com/B-sue-Bead-Mixes-s/1952.htm

 

The opalite focal  was in our Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/bsueboutiquesupplies  and the rest is bead mix--or  findings from B'sue Boutiques   The stone in the big silver stone is kyanite/pyrite, an assembled semi precious stone.  We have them here:  https://www.bsueboutiques.com/Kyanite-Pyrite-Cabochon-Semi-Precious-09242-p/semi09242.htm

Still have to put a drop of glue on the stretch cord (bracelets) and trim.  Those I'm keeping...but will sell the necklaces.

 

Later on, Jordan  came and took me to his house for awhile. My son is an avid guitar enthusiast and a good player, too.  He likes to buy/sell/trade as a little side hustle.  ! was surprised at all his newest 'finds' and he let me play one of his acoustic guitars for a little bit.

 

Jordan and Lauren have two cute cats, Katniss and Finnick.

 

Katniss.

 

Finnick.

 

The point is, there's always something positive you can do to overcome negative thinking.  It can be hard.   When 'stuff' happens in life, everyone needs a little time to process.  But why allow negative self-talk to overcome you?  Do you deserve that?  NO.

 

I've felt like, why make anything, no one is going to buy it anyway.  Well, if you don't make it and list it, how do you know?

And really, I've sold thousands of pieces of jewelry in my life....so why should I believe what I'm telling myself?  It's a lie.

 

A lot of people over the years tell me I've made a difference in their lives, that I've been the bright spot, that I'm the one who always has a new idea.  What a compliment! Thank you for letting me know.  It makes me want to try harder! But you can do something for 'me' in return...

 

Stare the stress down and get busy again.  Blow off the funk.  When people do THAT all those videos I've made were not for nothing.  Sometimes the negative self-talk makes me think they were....worthless.  That's a lie, too.

But seeing you get busy again and CREATE will SHOW me and every other producer of creative content, it was worth it. 

 

And it will do even more, for your own self-worth.  Sure, it might be hard--but you can do it!

 

 

 

 

 

Semi Precious Stones For Beginners

 

Semi precious stones add great value to your work.  People love to hear that the stones in your handmade jewelry are real.  Immediately the perceived value goes up!

 

BUT:  you might say, hey!  I don't know anything about them.  How do I know what to buy?

 

Choose stones and beads that have great markings, good color and clarity, texture and eye appeal.  People love impression jasper (and there are many kinds) because of amazing bits in them that remind of stained glass, as well as lovely blended color created by dyeing.  The fact that a stone is heat-treated or dyed doesn't mean the stone is not legit. 

 

What it probably means is, it's got a great vibe.  The long strand of stones in the middle toward the bottom of the photo above, are aqua terra jasper---a type of impression jasper.  These are especially fun to work with as they are cross drilled at the top, making them perfect for earrings, or small wire-wrapped pendants.

 

Usually this shape and type of stone comes in a long strand 15-16 inches at least.  There are MANY stones on the strand, so even though you might pay 30-40.00 for the strand you are getting lots of beads, tons of fun, and cha-ching---if you are making to sell, you will make back many times what you paid for them if you make those pendants or, especially earrings.  Look for two pieces similar and wrap the tops, briolette style.  All you need to do then is put them on earwires!  Easy.

 

Stones you see in the photo above (lifted from a very recent video) are:  milky-white moonstone, turquoise-dyed howlite, aqua terra jasper, rare grey keshi pearls, amazonite chips, quartz, imitation pink rhodochrosite (dyed quartz), faceted amazonite beads and far, far left, leopardskin jasper.  In my hand is a lovely hunk of labradorite with crazy-good chatoyancy (flash, fire, glow) and it's perfect for wire-wrapping.

 

The Jaspers and Howlites are generally quite inexpensive.  Amazonite and the imitation (simulated) rhodochrosite cost a bit more.  Labradorite and moonstone cost the most of all the beads in the photo, but these are not super-expensive.  The more chatoyancy (glow) those feldspar-family stones have, the more they cost....along with clarity of color and lack of inclusions (those little dark bits that you see occuring in the beads along the strand of moonstones are inclusions).  The grey cornflake keshi are freshwater pearls and rare, on the expensive side.

 

I like inclusions; I think they give character to a piece.  In some rare cases, they give value.  For example, if you ever find a piece of amber that's natural amber and has a bug in it...you've found a treasure.  It's a fossil, a remembrance of a day gone by centuries ago---perhaps, millenia--when the bug found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time---embedded in resin as it oozed out of a tree.  Over time, the resin aged and petrified, and became amber.

 

You'll find a great deal of variation in the way stones are formed, too.  In the photo below, all the 40x30mm cab stones are leopard skin jasper.  But no two are alike, and vary in color from mustard yellow to deep rust to dramatic brown and black markings.

We've carried semi precious stones on and off at B'sue Boutiques for a long time.  Recently I've taken a deeper interest in them and decided to expand the selection at our website.  I do have some basic knowledge, but there is so much more to learn....and there always will be.

 

Whatever I learn, I'll share with my friends, customers and those who enjoy our YouTube videos on the bsueboutiques channel.

 

There's a new video today about this very subject!  I hope you'll get a chance to see it--because here in my blog, I've only skimmed the surface of the video discussion. 

 

Just click on the video, below!

https://www.youtube.com/@bsueboutiques/videos

 

 

And if you don't mind, how about subscribing to the bsueboutiques channel at YouTube? 

 

That way you won't miss the next parts of this series about gemstones and how to use them in your design work.  Take the journey with me!  We're gonna have a great time!

 

 

 

 

Have A Look At My Workshop

You've seen my workshop before...

We used this part of it for a video set for a long time.   Sometimes, we still do!

 

As a matter of fact, I was just down there this morning.  It's in one corner of the basement, a functional place where I do the wash and other sundry chores necessary to manage a home.  It's a little 1950's style ranch house, and the basement can be a little wet, ugh.  But....

When you turn the corner and walk into the workshop that 'older home needing work' feeling disappears, and you find yourself in another world.  A creative world!

My creative world is a place of whimsy as well as a place to get things done.  Everything that makes me happy surrounds me....all my tools, all my cute little things, vintage and handmade....my clay oven, big work spaces, my drills and torches.

 

 

Nothing in my workspace is for sale til I finish it....or you find it my Etsy, etc.  Here, the host of jewelry making supplies and pretty things all belong to me.  Periodically I do purge it, but it's rare.  Most of the bibs and bobs filed away or hanging on the wall have some sentimental value, and are very hard to part with!

I have my television, my tunes and my coffee pot there, as well.  Good to go, time to forget the rest of the world and get into the zone.

 

 

Quite a few of the pieces in my workshop are from down at the store we had some years ago.  That place was a little chocolate box full of goodies and treasures.  Many were sold when we came back home, but just as many were kept.  I have my mannequin heads, my map chest, my type trays full of trinkets, my old coffee tins....they all make me happy.  There are a lot of memories in this space.

 

 

This is the other side of the shop, where I have an L-shaped workbench with a tap line on both sides.  I love that tap line, as I can plug stuff in at will.  It belonged to my husband who used to repair small appliances and electronics about 30 years ago.  When he stopped doing that, he let me have it....and I've made good use of it ever since.

If I'm going to make a mess with paints and patinas, usually it will happen on that side of the shop.

 

 

Under the benches you will see lots of sturdy plastic storage I picked up a bit at a time, as my space expanded.  Now, all of the benches have storage underneath.  The big table in the center of the room has plastic storage underneath and all around.  The back bench you'll find my drill, clay oven and torches---also has storage all along the underside.  

None of the storage is fancy; most came from Walmart or office stores, etc.  But when I count it up, I've easily got a grand in that storage.  Hard to believe, but true.

Most are quite full of this and that, too.  Under the L-shaped bench are tools for soldering, leather work, UTEE (remember UTEE?) frying Friendly Plastic, and working with polymer clay.  My hammers and big bench pad are on the counter.    On the other side, I have a lot of cool paper stored as well as some resin supplies, etc.

 

I have a lot of pretty beads cute sentimental stuff on the back wall, as well as tools.  There is a  rack of pliers.  Oh, did I mention, I have a work space upstairs in my office too.....there are twice as many pliers or more, up there.

 

 

For some reason I hung my 1920's era vintage dancing shoes up there.  They make me smile.

Yep, it's true:  happiness is something you decide ahead of time.  If you want to be happy, it's up to you to make it happen.   That's why I made this workshop, my way, with my special little things.  I can always go down there when I need to clear my head.

 

 

Below, the view from the middle of the room....

 

 

The pipes hanging down are for exhausting out any glue or resin fumes.  There are five of them.

And down the side:

 

 

All along the back wall:

 

 

My big work table has a history.  It goes back to the early 90's when I began to make jewelry.  My helpers and I each had our own little space, and we made jewelry for the gift line I produced and sold to over 500 store accounts all across the country.   We did that in the basement workshop, too.

When we moved downtown to the shop, we took the table apart and put it together again....and when we returned, my husband took it apart and brought it back to the basement.  If that table could talk, what stories it could tell!

Do you have a special place where you  organize your tools and supplies, a place where you can make a mess, let it set, and come back to it?  A place where you can shut off the world and just do your thing?  I have Wi-Fi down there but I rarely ever take my phone or iPad into the workshop.  There is a regular land line down there if I need it....but I rarely do. When I go into the basement workshop, it's ME time---forget the phone!

Whatever dedicated space you have, make it your own.  It doesn't have to be fancy, you just need a place to create and be yourself.  My first space was the kitchen table!  Many of us began on a kitchen table and if you are still there, so long as it works for you, you're fine!  Maybe you have a small extra room you can use, or space in your basement like I do.  I know of artisans who gutted out a closet and made it work for dedicated space!

Find your own little getaway....and then be sure to go there often, to dream and create, away from the distraction of every day life.

 

Imagine the possibilities!

I Don't Think We Ever Talked About This

 

If you follow me on social media, you're well aware that I wrote a book about The 1928 Jewelry Company.  It published in September, 2020---I can hardly believe it's been out that long.  Many of those who follow me also have a copy of my book and the general consensus is that it's quite good.

 

But I didn't write about it in my blog.  Hmmmm.  So you might not know about it! Why didn't I?

 

The last time I wrote in my blog was just after I began to write  Making It 1928.  It took three arduous years of work from start to finish, and it was the hardest thing I've ever done. I loved the story, and the research I did to write it was fascinating. It also required about six trips to Burbank, California....where the company factory is located. I didn't mind, I loved the trip. BUT:  On top of the work it takes to run my business, the book took nearly all the time I had left in a day.  Often it overtook my bedtime in a number of unhealthy ways. So, the blog was let go for a few years, after writing in it regularly since 2005. Not good.

 

Finally the boxes with my first books arrived....what a rush!  You can watch me open them right here, and get to see what's inside:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylvNvoXNbiM&t=381s

 

This is the back cover of the book:

 

There's a great deal to be said about the writing of a book, and I'll talk about that in blog posts going forward. But, one thing I can tell you right now: I'll never look at the printed word in the same way again. 

 

If you ever decide you'd like to write a book, read about doing it, first.  I'd recommend the book, On Writing Well by William K. Zinsser  Find it here, at Barnes and Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/on-writing-well-william-k-zinsser/1100551159?ean=9780060891541 

 

And...be sure you employ the services of a good editor. I had two and I needed them both! It's virtually impossible to correctly edit your own book--you need fresh eyes and another viewpoint from someone who is experienced in the process. Even if in time you become an experienced author---you STILL need an editor.

 

I wish I'd read it ON WRITING WELL first, before I  began my book--but I found it  late in the "adventure". I would have saved my editor a lot of grief if I'd had it on hand beforehand. I thought I knew about writing! HA! But.....writing a book is a completely different animal  than anything you've previously written. Ever.  Trust me on that.

You can get a copy of MAKING IT 1928 at B'sue Boutiques, if you'd like:  https://www.bsueboutiques.com/Making-It-1928-Story-of-the-1928-Jewelry-Company-p/1928book.htm

There are also very inexpensive EPUB electronic copies available for your Kindle or iPad, if you'd rather.

https://www.bsueboutiques.com/product-p/1928bookepub.htm

Let me know what you think of it!

"Why Does This Cost So Much?" Value, Worth Versus Cost, Price--And Why You Must Know the Difference

My friend Paul is quite a guy.

These days, he works as the personal assistant to a man who is the wealthy CEO of a major brand--a brand just about everyone all around the world knows.  As you can imagine, it's a pretty cool job. But.....

Paul is and possibly always will be an antiques dealer first and foremost. Love of old stuff and the thrill of the hunt is in his blood.  Let's just say if it was curb day in your neighborhood and Paul was anywhere close by, he'd be out there, checking what you and all your neighbors had thrown out for pick up. He wouldn't be able to help himself!  Many a great item is found that way by dealers who aren't afraid to get dirty or too good to do humble work.

Years ago, Paul had a  little shop that specialized in antique lighting, fixtures and furniture. Yep, that's a picture of his storefront, above, and his little dog Bubba who was his constant companion.  Everyone loved Bubba, and Paul used to say his little dog was his best money-maker. Those were such happy times, too. Dealers who picked higher-end merchandise to sell to interior decorators or had wealthy clientele often shopped at his little place on Long Island, as Paul was known to have impeccable taste and the ability to ferret out some pretty amazing pieces.  For them, it was an essential go-to spot any time they were out looking for something special.

Paul's wares weren't a bargain, and they shouldn't have been, either. No matter where he found the things he had in his shop--whether on the last day of a big estate sale for next to nothing, at a flea market, auction, or yes--out at the curb!--he knew what he had and could tell you all about it. He spent time researching pieces so he could discuss the history of their design styles and construction. Not only that, he could repair and restore fine old lamps and fixtures to their former glory. Paul also had an eye for decorating, himself--so he knew just where to place things in his shop to get the most attention as well as the best price. 

Like most shops, Paul had his regulars, many of whom were also purveyors of great old stuff.  Antiques dealers love to snoop other dealer's shops looking for  items that might be under-priced or  under-appreciated--sleepers maybe they knew more about than the guy who owned the store.  They'd visit Paul regularly to spy out his latest finds, even though most of them knew he was savvy to new trends and was almost never fooled by anything.  In fact, my friend Paul was generally 110% sure about what he had in his shop, what it was worth as well as its practical value. Sometimes the regulars just came to learn what he knew about his treasures, his stories.

One gentleman in particular came to the shop regularly to see if he could wear Paul down on his price. He'd say, "Aw, come on, man!  You know you picked this up for chump change--give me a break!  I bet it didn't cost you anything! Don't be such a hog on your price." 

As you can imagine that fellow made 'no' points for his cause, talking down to my friend like that.  First, he was ignoring the fact that Paul had overhead---his shop was in a nice area where rents weren't cheap; not only that, his shop was his livelihood. Secondly, whatever the item is, it's not about what a dealer paid for it--or what someone else thinks you paid for it.  It's about its VALUE....what it's WORTH.  Maybe the lamp in question was out of the ordinary and unlikely to be found again in a lifetime of picking.  Why should it be let go as a bargain?  Most dealers will give another dealer or a good customer 10% off, but to expect more than that on a rare piece is a bit ridiculous.

This very subject came up just yesterday after I'd written my last blog post.  A long-time colleague, Nancy Jamar of Vintage Design Resource brought it up in  an email conversation, after she'd read my post.  Nancy is proprietor of a wonderful shop in Fullerton, CA called Gilding the Lily.  She has a beautifully curated selection of exotic and rare pieces, fabrics, trims, and stand-out jewelry components, some of which she has had cast from old pieces she's found in her travels. She also has clever, trendy things she's put together herself, such as her handmade rosary chain made of semi precious stones and vintage glass beads.

She's big on first considering what a piece is worth and discussing it with customers who ask, "Why so much?"  These folks often don't even realize the cost is already excellent on her inventory items.

Nancy likes to talk about how a new designer will visit her shop and comment on how beautiful her things are, yet lament they will probably never be able to use them, or must use them sparingly because of cost. Often they will simply buy something for the inspiration it gives them, rather than use it to build value into their own design work. While there's nothing wrong with that, Nancy feels the first job with that sort of customer is to educate them. It's not about what an item costs--it's about what it's worth!

There will always be stuff you really can't afford no matter what---high karat gold, fancy gemstones, rare items of antiquity. But that's not what we are talking about, here. It's all about unique items that absolutely can be worked into a design if done judiciously, things that increase its value and make it worth more; the things that will enhance a good design, a designer's skill and the other components in the composition!

If you work has all three of those essential elements, don't be upset when a customer asks why it costs so much. Take the positive view and realize they've just given you the opportunity to expand their horizons and explain. That's how Nancy Jamar looks at it. She takes advantage of every chance to advance her cause regarding  value/worth over cost/price.  She does it in an intelligent, informative way exuding enthusiasm  rather than taking offense to what some might feel is an impertinent question.

By taking the high road, she often she closes the sale, and the customer walks away with a bag full of goodies-- goodies they can't wait to tell others about!

I once had a shop in a small town where  artisan jewelry wasn't the first thing on the minds of the people living there.  Just the same, my shop was as cute as the proverbial box of chocolates!  The back wall of the selling space which separated it from our shipping and inventory, was made of old house doors, which my father hinged together for me, and then I mix-media painted:

Every day I came to work, I had to pinch myself--I couldn't believe this was my own little shop!

 

 

 

Since we also operated our online business from the shop, there was always a lot going on and it could get a little congested and messy. Still it was a great family place: All of those who worked there were family!  Donna, Rob, Jordan, Lauren, Javi and Shelley.  Here, Donna and Javi were making jewelry to sell in our little store.

 

One day a lady came in and asked me why this necklace we had on display, cost so much:

I'm not gonna lie.  It had been a long day with far too many interruptions, and I was in no mood.

But then I  realized she didn't know what she was looking it.  Here was a unique piece made with quality American-made historical stampings.  It had  a hand-applied finish, a tassel made with Czech beads,  charms and semi precious stones---all bursting from a vintage thimble I'd drilled out and hand-patina'd.  Everything was my own idea.  The design had good balance and was unique from anything you'd find in town---actually, probably for  35-40 miles from town, going in just about any direction.  

I also recognized the woman as a teacher from the school my son Jordan, once attended...someone well respected and loved in town.  Now it was my turn to educate!  She listened attentively and thanked me for explaining, but then she left.   Oh well....I tried!

The next day she came into the store early and bought the necklace.  She explained she might not ever wear it,  as she tended to be timid when it came to jewelry--but she just had to have it.  She'd never owned anything handmade before, and she said it opened her eyes to all the great stuff out there she didn't know about. 

I'll never forget that experience!

Mel Bernie of 1928 Jewelry began what turned out to be  a successful 50-year business from basically nothing.  His became a brand known worldwide, and there isn't much he doesn't know about the business of making jewelry people will enjoy for many years to come. If he's told me once, he's told me ten times that it's not so much what it cost you to make the piece, but the value you build into it as you go and ultimately what people will pay for it. Sometimes they will pay more than you realize. Where else in the world would you find a realistically priced design that has parts molded from  bits out of the Vatican Library, except at 1928? Or items inspired by rare pieces exhibited in the most famous museum collections all around the world? What company even gets to be privy to them?  But 1928 Jewelry has been, for many years.  YES--at the end of the day, it's not what it costs, it's what it's worth, why it's so special.

Below is a photo of some of the earliest 1928 Jewelry pieces made by the company. Even then, they were using a mix of new vintage and true vintage components in stand-out ways. Even the hardest nuts to crack when it came to costume jewelry---the old-school producers from Providence, Rhode Island---had to admit the infant company was on its way to making something in a league all its own.

 

 

In the end, how did my friend Paul the antiques dealer get his price from the most annoying customers?  

When given the opportunity he always told the piece's story and built up the worth of the lamps or fixtures he had in his shop to sell. If there was a good story about its provenance---where it came from---he was there to tell it in an engaging way you probably wouldn't forget. Telling those stories built value and worth, and they often often closed the sale for him even if the customer was tough.

Hopefully these short vignettes will help you understand why you should always educate yourself first, and then others, if they'll listen.  Don't give up too soon and let something go because you haven't found the right person to appreciate your story and what your jewelry is worth, yet.  Good salesmanship and an interest in people can help you sell to the most difficult customers--and keep them coming back, too.

Here's to Bubba, who helped my friend Paul make many a sale:

It never hurts to have a cute mascot!

 

How to Get Your Price for Your Artisan Jewelry--Even in a Slow Market

 

Many of us frequently wonder why we can't seem to get a price for our jewelry that is worthy of the work, time and components used to make it.

Some artisan jewelers agonize over using better quality components.  They love to use them....because they appreciate their value.  THEY know what they are, and why they make such a difference in their work. When I create a piece (the one in the photo above is mine) I can hardly bear to use anything less than the best I can possibly afford.  If I can buy it as a bargain, so be it; but you often get what you pay for, so watch for flaws and defects if you buy closeouts and destash items to save money.

Smart artisan designers  plan their work very carefully.   The bracelet below was made by Lisa from The Vintage Heart.  Lisa saves special vintage parts, bezels, chains and novelty components to make a perfect charm bracelet.  Some of the pieces in her bracelets are even quite rare!

 

Many of the pieces in Lisa's bracelet are vintage---and some are made at 1928 Jewelry Company.  1928 is not known for their components, but rather for the sum-total of them.  They sell vintage style jewelry.  So, being able to get parts like these is pretty special.  You can't just get them anywhere. 

Lisa has always looked for unique things to build her bracelets and she is a master at it.  But she sells her work on line only.  In that case, the photo has GOT to talk.

So along with all the special guilloche/dresden style vintage enamels and hand-cut china hearts, she's used USA made vintage style bezels and mounts, a sterling bracelet base not that easy to find, and in this case, more 1928 components.

But that's not all she chose.  She thought very carefully about what background she would use for her picture and how she would place the piece in the photo to make the bracelet really pop.

A fantastic photo is of highest importance when you sell on line.  At Etsy, the template provides you with places to put up quite a few photos so that you can show the piece at every possible angle.Each photo is a selling opportunity.Do you take advantage of every opportunity? If you don't, it's quite possible that you won't be able to sell your piece for your asking price. Since people can't pick the piece up, try it on, look at it closely, it's on you to that for them---with your pictures.

Also, when you sell on line, you need to use every keyword possibility. If it's on a site, it's via metatags, if Etsy, it's those thirteen keywords you place on the listing to try and reach out to just the right customer.

As you can well imagine, Lisa's bracelet is not inexpensive; it can't be. But in this market where 22-55.00 sells best, how does she snag her customer?

First, I'd say it's her photos. Also, she does a lot of the hand painting herself...so, she is not shy about calling that out in the listing. Hand painting is a big deal!  She doesn't cut corners, and the work is impeccable. She also chooses her selling platform carefully. Many of her bracelets have sold best and for the most at  Ebay auctions that have a reserve.  If she doesn't get the reserve, she tries selling the bracelet again in the future, or on another platform---and she might even take a whole new set of photos. She also has sold successfully at Ruby Lane, known for a more discerning clientele always searching for high quality, unique work.

Lisa builds value by describing all the lovely vintage items she uses, and sometimes talks about where she collected them. Maybe it was in a quaint antiques stores on one of her vacation trips to Cape May or other favorite haunts that she and her husband Paul, an antiques dealer, like to visit.  Telling people about the little details is like telling them a story.  People LOVE stories. 

STORIES sell jewelry!!

Lori Prull Meyer of Pariesienne Girl at Etsy also knows the value of a word picture....a story told with a photograph and just enough carefully-selected text to intrigue a possible buyer.

 

She often uses B'sue by  1928 parts,  which are made by the 1928 Jewelry Company.  You can find them here:   https://www.bsueboutiques.com/B-sue-by-1928-s/1926.htm

These parts cost more than inexpensive imports, but they also have more style and character---and quality---than all the other cast pewter lines, including others made in the US..

Lori also creates in lines....meaning there is always an upsell available (in other words, an add-on sale):  a matching bracelet, several pairs of matching earrings, maybe another necklace that is similar but a bit simpler.  Every collection has a name and a Parisian mystique that she develops via a series of photographs chosen to go with it.  Lori also plans a launch for her lines sold at Etsy, showing her customers her gorgeous photos BEFORE the line even comes out, and telling them what date to expect to find it on her website. 

She almost always sells OUT of a collection in a few days; often she sells out sooner!

Just a little extra effort to make her jewelry appealing and desirable almost always pays off. Lori is also diligent with her Etsy keywords, which target the customer she hopes to attract.

If you sell jewelry in person, then a beautiful display is imperative:

My friend Cynthia de Fatima always makes her booth inviting and warm...a place customers will want to hang out for awhile.  She dresses up for her shows to show that she has some fashion sense, and no customer is ignored when they visit her booth.  Cynthia is engaging in a way that makes people feel like they are important to her. And the truth is, they are. She makes them all feel like dear friends, and while making a sale is always the goal, she also tries not to make them feel 'sold.'

The first details in planning her booth have to do with the 'ambiance'....and the last ones, placing her beautifully hand-made pieces in just the right places in her booth to catch the light as well as customers' attention.

You can make a very nice, effective show booth on just one table, too.  You don't have to make it over the top and you don't have to do something expensive. This is Danielle Clarke's show booth. In the past she has tried to do a number of shows every year on just one table. She's done well---but let me call your attention to the business cards in a prominent place in her booth.  Danielle wants people to be sure they can find her after the show. One way they can do that is through her Etsy shop, which has done very well over the last several years. 

Danielle sells her things reasonably but not cheap. For some, a decision might take more than just the first day they saw an item. Or, they may think of a need for it, later. If they have a card, they  can always find Danielle, and she can close the sale--at her Etsy, or over the phone.

 

Don't be afraid to brag a little on your work.  More than brag, it's more about letting people know that you LOVE what you do.Show great enthusiasm for the lovely parts you use and more so, for your design skills. Tell people why you love what you made. They can't love it if you don't, and no, they can't value it if you give it away. 

If you use brand-name parts in your work, don't hesitate to tell your customers that you do.  If the crystals in your beaded chain are Swarovski, don't hold back on letting that be known.  That name has been known to close a sale.  If the parts are vintage, the same used by a famous designer of days gone by, tell potential buyers a story about that designer.  Tell them why you love their work, how they've inspired you and why you are so happy to be able to use the same parts they did. And of course, if you use the 1928 parts, tell people that you do. So many of my customers for those parts tell me  people often get excited to learn that what? You can get 1928 parts?  Take a moment to show them the characteristic marking that appears on the backs of most 1928 pieces.

These are a lovely pair of earrings Danielle Clarke made using 1928 parts. She sold these online in her Etsy shop, but she also tagged them with the B'sue by 1928 mark, to let people know these are her own design version of 1928 Jewelry, using their parts.

If you MAKE your own components, be sure you point that out too.  If the customer wants to chat, show them how you make your jewelry.  At Etsy you can now add short videos to your listings.  You could use that video to show a bit of your process on your online listings.  You can also do that with social media, on You Tube, Facebook and Instagram as well as Tik-Tok.  Video is very effective when you're selling things you've made online.  Carry your tablet to a show, as you can show an interested customer those videos....or use it to take them to your Etsy shop, so you can show them other things you've made. This way you can show them your range, and possibly get some commissioned work for yourself, as well.

All of these things contribute to your brand image.  If your brand image is weak, you may indeed have trouble getting your price. Artisans often say, oh, I live in an impoverished area, I can't use good things in my designs.  If you are such an artisan maker, continue to think about the power of a brand. Even those with limited amounts of money to spend will appreciate a good brand name.  They might be a buyer who would would rather have one really good piece, than a drawer full of 5.00 throw-away jewelry. 

Develop your personal image by dressing up a bit, doing your nails and of course, by wearing your own pieces.  Establish it by demonstrating how you make the jewelry and talking about all the things that go into it.  Be proud of it, but in an engaging way.  If you can weave a story into the design, then by all means do it.

So often you are selling yourself, more than you are selling anything else.  Jewelry is highly personal, so selling yourself, your personality, and your stories is essential.   Keep thinking of interesting outside the box ways to do it, and try them.

I think you'll be surprised at the difference it makes!

 

 

 

BALC Class 2019 Sign Ups Begin Soon! Join Us!

 

The BALC, or Build a Line Challenge class is conducted once a year, beginning January 9 2019 this year.  

In this class we learn how to pull our artisan jewelry making into a cohesive line.  We think hard about the customers we would like to reach and why they would buy our work. We learn about one of a kind work vs. repeatable, which can please more customers and make us more money. 

We learn about inventory management and branding to make our work memorable.  We learn about pricing and what is required to sell to stores.  We learn a bit about Color Theory, simplification and the pyramid of sales.

There are any number of business courses you can take on how to build a line, but my experience having had a look at them is that most assume  you know a lot already.  So often they don’t address the most important basic things you need to pull your look together and get your work to speak one voice.

The photo above shows some jewelry from 1928 Jewelry Company’s Antique Pewter line.  As you can easily see it all has a similar look although the pieces are quite individual in design. You can tell they all came from one place, and if you know this company, you can probably also tell they are 1928 Jewelry. 

Can we as artisan jewelers benefit from the principle of cohesion?  We can learn a lot.  This is why you want to come to class!

You will choose a theme for your line...floral, Victorian, Art Deco, Rockabilly, Steampunk...etc.   You choose what interests you and you will work at designing a prototype line of 5 or more pieces for class.  It’s very enjoyable!

We reveal our lines in two stages...midway, we will all pin a photo of whatwe are working with and what the line’s name will be.  At the end of class we will post pix of the completed line.  There are special boards on Pinterest for this  

No essays, no blogging, just concentrate on your project and pin!

Class  is conducted in a closed private group at Facebook.  It is not done in real time so you don’t have to worry about a work schedule, etc.  You come as often as you can.  We do have deadlines you must meet, however.  One is the mid-class pin for theme, and the final reveal...but you have an entire week to meet the deadline. I’ve made it easy peasy! The class is open to beginners as well as advanced.

In fact it’s great for beginners!

Cost is 95.00 for first timers and 75.00 for alumni.  Also, for your project you will need to work with some things from B’sue Boutiques, along with other things you like to use.  

I will commence taking students for the class on Friday November 23, 2018 and will accept them up til the day before class, Jan 8, 2019.  Write me at [email protected] w your name, phone number and theme.  If you can pay by PayPal, send your email used there and I will bill.  You can also call us 1 800 868 4393 to sign up starting Friday the 23rd.

You will have plenty of time to gather materials and enjoy the class.  Key is to come to class and participate best you can.  Many have benefited from this class and you will, too...if you join us and jump right in!

 

 

If You Just Smile

 

"You can do it....if you just try!"    

 

That was the advice the Little Tramp was giving Paulette Goddard's character in the movie, MODERN TIMES.    The film came out in 1936.    It was the last time Charlie Chaplin would appear as this beloved character, a character who cheered a great many people up during the Great Depression.

 

Today, the world is turning so fast, our heads spin!

 

 

This is a scene from MODERN TIMES when the Little Tramp tries to deal with the new technology of his time.    At first it seemed like fun!

 

Everyone longs to have a job they love!  Isn't that why we became jewelry makers?

 

 

In time, though....for many of us,  it became overwhelming.  We did not realize the planning  we should have done as we learned our craft.   We did not know there was so MUCH planning to do or so much to learn!

 

Some of us have felt  a great deal of anxiety when things weren't going smoothly, or when one of the crazy algorhythms of business life suddenly changed.    We may be artisan designers, but we are also required to be business people.  Some of us have a head for it, and some of us don't.

 

In the movie, the Little Tramp nearly had a nervous breakdown!

 

 

Do you remember that heady rush  you felt when you sold your first pieces of jewelry?

 

I can remember some of the first crafts shows I did with  my own jewelry.   People were buying it left and right and I was stuffing money into my pockets.  It was SUCH sweet validation!

 

I never expected that kind of acceptance, right at the beginning.   It  truly stoked the fire inside me,  so I kept makering away and I did more and more shows.    Reality quickly came calling.   It was not long before I came to understand that  not all shows were the same.  It would take  time to find the really great ones.  

 

You had to hang in there with it!  

 

 

Being quite honest, at times I felt like the Little Tramp, careening about, blindfolded, on roller skates.....about to have a terrific crash. 

 

Or maybe, an amazing success!  That's it!  YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.

 

 

 

 

I have gotten really down about my business many times over the years, but I must say:  I always kept the rollerskates on.   Nothing would happen if I did not continue to try and work things out.

 

Perhaps you know the song, SMILE?   It is certainly part of the Great American Songbook, a consummate classic.  Its sentiment is encouraging and the melody is beautiful.

 

Smile, though your heart is breaking,

Smile, even though it's aching,

When there's a cloud in the sky, you'll get by...

If you smile through your fears and sorrow, Smile, and maybe tomorrow,

You'll see the sun come shining through....for you....

 

Light up your face with gladness,

Hide every trace of sadness,

although a tear may be ever so near,

That's the time you must keep on trying,

Smile....what's the use of crying?

You'll see the sun come shining through....if you

Just Smile.

 

This song was written for the soundtrack of MODERN TIMES by Charles Chaplin.    The melody was inspired by the famous Puccini aria, Vissi d'Arte, from Tosca.    If you listen to the aria, you will quickly hear  how the motif  was 'sampled'.

 

Here it is as performed by Leontyne Price....it comes just after the beginning recitative.    It is very slow and muted with all the orchestration, but it is there:

 

 

 

The song  SMILE  is heard at the final scene of MODERN TIMES.

 

 

There were no words for SMILE until 1954 when a team of lyricists created two verses.   Nat King Cole took the song that year and had a crazy hit with it!

 

Through the years it has been covered by many, many artists:   Natalie Cole, Jimmy Durante, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson (it was reported to be his favorite song)  Josh Groban, Barbra Streisand, Martina McBride....to name just a few.

 

Here and there I like to meet a personal challenge.  

 

A few months ago  I challenged myself to make an entirely Spanish-language video with  the help of my friend, Joisse.    The video was not very well received;   I think those who like to watch me in English were put off  somewhat  that they could not understand what we were saying.

 

It was difficult  for me to stick my neck out like that and risk being a fool....but nothing ventured, nothing gained.   That's the thing, whether you are learning/speaking a language as an outsider, OR  finding your way as a jewelry designer,  OR any other worthy endeavor...you MUST be willing to look foolish here and there.   Those who appreciate your efforts will prompt you and catch you if you begin to fall, if you are genuine and humble.  That is what Joisse did for me in that video.

 

Tomorrow I am taking another personal challenge. 

 

Here and there, we attend a little family night with 50-60 friends.   Everyone brings something good to eat and we share a meal.   After that, we have a little talent show.    This time, everyone wanted me to do something, as I have not done anything for some time.  After all, years past, there was NEVER a talent show where I didn't write and play a little song on the piano, or do a funny skit, dressed up in a ridiculous outfit, singing an equally ridiculous song.

 

Here I am in the wig I had saved from one of those skits:

 

 

This time, my friends want me to sing.   I used to be a pretty good singer,  I was singing all the time, and I loved to sing all types of music from bluegrass to Italian art songs.  As I grew older, I let it go:   I was busy doing other things, also I had a serious of operations that caused me to lose core strength.  SO!   Sadly, that part of my life is pretty much over.    I was okay with it, as I got very busy with helping other artisans and providing vintage style jewelry supplies at B'sue Boutiques

 

My son Jordan said, "Mom, we can do it!   You are so used to doing the You Tube videos.  Just look at them and do what you can, and speak it like Johnny Cash, if you have to."   Johnny Cash?   Now there's a concept, LOL.

 

SMILE was originally written in the key of G.   Jordan and I played around with it and I discovered that if he would change the key to B flat, I could manage it.   Then he suggested we do a guitar break after the second verse, then come back and sing that last part again, modulating the key of the song up to C.    When you change the key at the  last verse or portion of a song, I always think it sounds hopeful.  Sort of like  that sun shining through!

 

Jordan created a beautiful arrangement for me and he will play the guitar.  He is a very good guitarist.

 

So!   Tomorrow I will take that challenge, and no, I don't think it will be recorded.  But I am looking forward to it.  I like to push the ticket!   It's about  keeping those skates on, moving along and trying something new.   There is always a new horizon to discover, but we will never find it, if we don't try.

 

I wish you many new discoveries and beautiful new horizons in all of your creative endeavors.   

 

Just be sure to smile!

 

 

 

Related articles

Charlie Chaplin Smile Quote - Quotesta

Charlie Chaplin history ⋆ YOTP NEWS

Among My Souvenirs

 

There are times when we all find ourselves retreating to some lovely green place, in our memories.    Sometimes the memories are sweet, and others are bittersweet.    Still others, just are what they are.    Life passes quickly.

 

Beyond that line of trees in the photo, only detectable to those who know this place,  is a spot that once was my grandmother's garden.   She was always to be found there.   In my lovely green place where time does not pass, I can close my eyes and see her there, picking the green beans for supper, or pulling out weeds.     Yes, her garden was her happy place, and it makes me happy to remember that way.

 

It was another time.....a time in my life when there was far less hurry and far more time for reverie.

 

 

They say there was once  a part of the old Nemacolin Trail in that field behind the horses in the foreground.  That's what Grandaddy said, anyway!   He hung the moon for me, so I believed anything he said.   Nowadays we sometimes laugh and remember things he said, and call them "Naylorisms".     His name was Naylor and he had his own spin on facts.  I know that, now.  But I do feel this information was probably correct.

 

The Nemacolin Trail was developed from an old Native American trail.  Found in the Southern Allegheny Mountians, it traverses land not far from the point where Pennsylvania reaches Maryland.   Later, the trail was improved by George Washington and Edward Braddock and other engineers of the National Road, which is old Route 40.

 

My grandaddy's farm nestled directly between the old National Road, and newer Route 40 where it cuts through the back acreage of his farm.   We would walk across Route 40 and pick blackberries along the fence and call out to the cows in the pasture, just as he did, in Pennsylvania Dutch.   He always called the cattle in Pennsylvania Dutch.....for some reason.    I may never know why, in fact, I'm not sure I realized it was Pennsylvania Dutch until later in my life.    But, that's what he did.  

 

My best souvenir from those days  is Daisy's cow bell.  Daisy was the lead cow who brought the other cows home to the barn  when he called them.     When he called, she would raise her head up a bit and move it back and forth a little, and she would head for the barn door, as if to say, "Okay, troops, the party's over, time to go home." 

 

Grandaddy really loved that cow, odd for  a man who had been a farmer all his life, a farmer who felt that animals had their purpose.  He gave them a wonderful life on his farm,  but he  didn't get attached to any of them.   Except Daisy.

 

I was up in the barn with him about 35 years ago, and I saw the old bell.  I liked it because it was a country primitive and at that time, I loved prims.   He told me I could have it, but that I needed  to take care of it for him....because it was Daisy's bell.   Today, it hangs on my back door from several layers of sari ribbon tied in a bow, in lieu of a doorbell.   Daisy's cow bell still rings to announce a visitor.

 

Souvenirs can be those green memories, or they can be boxes full of  photographs.  Like Daisy's cow bell, they might be  bits and pieces from our lives, or a someone else's life lived long ago, handed down to us.   These souvenirs are my most precious possessions.

 

Roselawn Farm is among my souvenirs, nestled forever in my 'happy green place'.   That is the place where I am a child again, helping Grammy in the kitchen and running across the gravel drive to Great-Grandma Cora's stone house, to see what she was doing....then up to the barn to check out the chickens in the big chicken house.  No one can take those souvenirs away.

 

When these memories come, often times the sound track rolling through my head is Connie Francis singing that old chestnut, "Among My Souvenirs".   If you don't know it....

 

Here it is:  Among My Souvenirs, 1959 version by Conny Francis

 

A lovely song, but are you depressed yet?   A bit maudlin, don't you think?   Yet that's the song I hear in my head!  Thank goodness, it is not what I feel.    My souvenirs are wonderful things, slices of my life that I would not give up for any sort of money.   Memories, photographs...... bits and pieces.   I love to be the keeper of the 'bits and pieces'.

 

Here  is a memory  that always makes me smile.   When I look at it, I am back in the mid 60's, watching late night television on Cleveland (Ohio) channel 8.....at 11:35 on Friday nights.  

 

If you wanted  to be cool in school, you didn't want to miss the Ghoulardi show.  Ghoulardi was  played by Ernie Anderson.    The show was primitive and crude, a bit like Ernie himself.   He totally pushed the ticket for the time.   Ghoulardi memorabilia was sold in a number of places back then, but none so much as the Manner's restaurants in the greater Cleveland area.   Today those mementos are highly collected hereabouts by baby boomers who were fans of the show.   I wanted  the special milkshake glass that  the poster below, describes.  I wanted one back then, but I never got one; we didn't go to Cleveland often.  

 

I wouldn't mind having one now, but I don't want a cheap repro, I want a real one.  Sadly, a REAL one costs.   Sigh.   So, in lieu of that milkshake glass,  I've settled for this well-worn poster, which I have in my outer office  just behind the door with Daisy's cowbell.  It really doesn't belong there, but I ask you....WHERE would such a thing belong, anyway?  

 

What can I say?   It just  takes me back to a green place that makes me smile.

 

 

 

 

 

The sign is even green!

 

I will never forget the experience of having my own shop.  More green memories.  

 

We were using the back of the shop for business; the front was being prepared as a place to sell jewelry and 'cute stuff'.   My wall of doors, the separator between the front and back of the shop, was just being planned and built, here.   We took seven old doors and hinged them together, painted them mint green, distressed and decoupaged and stamped them.   OH!  how I wanted to bring them home when I left the shop, but we would never have had a place for them.  So I sold it back as artwork to the antiques dealer I first purchased the doors from.....for far too little.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We bought a great deal of vintage furniture from the lady who owned the building.  I loved the old depression dressers!  

 

But....they had to go, too, when we left the place.  We were there for three years.   Most of the memories of being  at the shop are in a very green place in my memory.  I'm not gonna lie, there are some very anxious memories from that place, too.   Well, those things are over, now.  So I choose to remember the good, green memories.   Selective memories.....souvenirs.

 

When we were selling the shop out, I had so much STUFF we had accumulated in only 3 years.   I sold a great deal of it off by Muse Package.   Maybe you will remember those?   For 100.00 I would pack as many tchochkes from the store as I could jam into a medium sized shipping box.    People got gift shop merchandise, small displays, jewelry, linens, old buttons and stuff to make jewelry as well as a lot of great collector's books.   Everyone was so happy and I had a good time packing them.  Green memories.  I think we sold 40 of them.

 

This necklace is a green memory.   It is the bridal bracelet I made for my niece, Andrea.    The bracelet would convert into a necklace.  She looked beautiful that day and I was so happy to make the jewelry for her.   Everything on it, she picked out, herself.

 

 

What can I say......

 

I'm a  sentimental fool.  I'm fairly sure that's why I have such an attachment to the 1928 Jewelry Company these days, its history and its jewelry....my sentimental heart.   I know I am not alone in feeling that way.   Theirs is  jewelry that truly will be found among the souvenirs of many people.

 

I've gotten to do so many meaningful things this last year or so.   One was to work on 'reprise' pieces of jewelry, in other words, jewelry that  1928 made long ago, but had not been made again for many years.

 

The first time I visited their factory in Burbank, California, Mel Bernie, owner of the company,  brought out a curious little black box of very, very old souvenirs....pretty bits that had been collected up by he himself or the designers that worked for him years ago.    In that box was this little silver pill bottle.   As you can see it is quite old.  My guess is that it is mid-Victorian (about 1839-1865 area, depending on who you ask for the historical dates of that period).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To give you a better idea of  the pill bottle's circa date and purpose, I am including a photo of a complete mid-Victorian chatelaine.   Look closely.....the pill bottle is right there.   It has a different pattern, but it's the same size and same design type as the little bottle from the 1928 'black box'.

 

 

 

The things in that box were collected up for a reason.    Many of the little treasures squirreled away were used to make models for actual pieces that were sold in the 1928 line.    As you can see below, this was certainly true of this historic little piece.  Somewhere around 1980 they cast a model of the pill bottle and made this necklace for a short time.   The model is still out in the archives.   Mel and I talked about making it for the B'sue by 1928 line, but it didn't cost out right.   It just made more sense to reprise it.....so he did.   He made it for me to sell to 1928 fans who wanted souvenirs, as well....collector pieces.

 

We had it in silver, and also gold.   We STILL have a few silver ones left!  Find them here:

 

https://www.bsueboutiques.com/1928-Jewelry-Company-Pill-Bottle-Necklace-02191-p/1928-02191.htm

 

All are made with the original 1928 Jewelry Company barrel clasp that you might remember.    Same scroll chain, too.  After my last pill bottle necklace 'souvenir' sells down, I don't think we will be making more.   They are very special.  

 

As for me, among my souvenirs are both a silver and a gold pill bottle 1928 reprise necklace, but also the original sterling pill bottle that undoubtedly dropped from an old chatelaine 150-160 years ago, in Europe.    The very one you see in the photograph, here.

 

Most of  the things in the 1928 keepsake black box came from Europe, as the designers would travel there for treasures to mold into jewelry that others could still enjoy.     I bought this  piece for super-safe keeping.  I have the black box with me for the time being, as well, while I continue to work on writing the book.  It is an honor to  have it for the time being.

 

But!  Now,  let me tell you about this ratty plastic suitcase.   It is the ULTIMATE 1928 souvenir; there is only one in the world, it cannot be reprised and it cannot be purchased.

 

 

 

This pitiful little case is where it all started.   This is the briefcase  that  Mel used to display his mod watches when he first hit the bricks to try and sell back in about 67-68.  You can see the tape on the inside of the lid of the case.  He used to tape them there as samples, and then put the ones for sale in the bottom.   I can only imagine what it looked like the day he set out for the first time, to sell them to stores.   He didn't know a thing about jewelry and the only thing he knew about watches is that they were supposed to keep time and sometimes, he wore one.

 

A while ago, I asked him if he still had it, and the reply was, "I think so."   A couple of weeks back, I got this photo in my email with the subject header "this is where it all started." 

 

I dared boldly to ask him if it could be sent to me so that I could get some pictures for the book, etc.   I promised to take great care of it and return it all wrapped in bubble and tissue wrap.

 

The first response was yes, sure, he would send it.   Then, he wrote and said....."You don't need to send it back."

 

I still hardly know what to say, except to think about this fellow as a young man and the whirlwind that he started that day, venturing out with those watches.   He was stalwart, wouldn't take no for answer.   For me, this souvenir says, if you want something bad enough, you can probably have it if you work hard and find yourself in the right place at the right time.

 

Wow.    There is still so much to learn about this company.  The more I dig, the more layers there are.   But, soon Mel Bernie's original selling case will be among my souvenirs.  

 

I'll take care of it for him, just as I am taking care of Daisy's cow bell, for Grandaddy.

October 29 is National Cat Day : About Three Cats and A Bunch of Cat Jewelry

 

Oh for the love of a cat.   And what we let them get away with!  Meet Millie, current mascot at B'sue Boutiques

No, I do not allow her on the table, but at least it's not the kitchen table, it's just a table with a nice cloth on it in my living room.  You know cats....turn around, and they do EXACTLY as they please.   Even if it's up on the table!

 

Whatever we go through with our feline friends, I am of the opinion that it is worth it.   We do what we do for the love of a cat, not just ours for them, but their love for us.  A loving little nudge,  sweet kitty kisses, warm purring as they sit in our laps on a cold winter day.   Or maybe a day when we just need comfort.....the love received from a cat is hard to forget.

 

And don't forget play time!

 

They can be the silliest things!

 

Or the most curious....

 

 

Evie, the tuxedo kitty in the photo above, was my comfort kitty.  He knew my pain and my angst, he always knew when I was down.   Somehow, he felt it was his job to make me feel better, somehow.   If he heard one sob, he would literally run from wherever he was in the house, to where I was, and he would plaster himself up against me for however long it took, til I was happy again.

 

I miss him.   He lived to be 17 1/2 years old.   Evie came to me as a tiny stray kitten about five weeks old, just barely old enough to leave his mother.   We found him at the back door, opened it, and he trotted right in with his tail in the air as if to say, "Here I am!"    We couldn't find anyone to whom he belonged, so he quickly became ours.  

 

 

 I lost Evie about 2 years ago and it seems like yesterday.   I said I would never have another cat, I just couldn't bear the thought of having anyone but him.    But only five days later,  grief made it unbearable and  I had to welcome Miss Millie into my home.   She was a rescue kitty.

 

 

 

And then of course, there was Meep.  Meep's story and daily doings were  often chronicled on this blog.    If you have followed B'sue for awhile, you know good old Meep.   He was comical.

 

 

 

 

When  we found ourselves at the little brick and mortar shop some time ago, Meep, being a younger cat, was very lonely.   We couldn't take him down there, it was a rented building and just not the right place for him to be.   He was left at the house with Evie, an older cat who wanted to be left alone to sleep.  Meep was very frustrated and it just seemed wrong for me not to try and find him a new home with people who would dote on him.   I just was not at home very much and he needed attention.

 

I did.  He is a very blessed cat, because now he has Catherine Shattuck as a cat-mother.   He's the cream in her coffee, she and her husband, Everett, are nuts about him.

 

 

You can read the story of how I let him go, here:  I Loved Him First

 

 Did you know?   Today is National Cat Day

 

Every year, in fact, October 29 is designated as National Cat Day!

 

At the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group you will find that not only do we love to make jewelry....but we are a bunch of cat lovers.    I'd love to show you a few of the pieces some of the friends at the group have made.  Here is a nice pendant from Harry Wood:

 

 

 

This is a cuff bracelet that I made for a blog hop, a long time ago!

 

 

 

 

A sweet bracelet made by Cindy Peterson:

 

 

 

Danielle Clarke's cat tassel earrings:

 

 

Jennifer Merrill Williams:

 

 

Monica Rangne:

 

 

Pamela Anger's shopping kitty:

 

 

And Pam's Gone Fishin' cat:

 

 

Danielle Clarke again, with her Parisian cat bangles:

 

 

 

I made this cat brooch from an old image and gingerbread patina created over brass:

 

 

and this cat ring....well it's in the middle of this collage of my pieces of artisan jewelry:

 

 

And then....there is Cat In Pearls, from Pamela Anger:

 

And there are so many more we could share!  Maybe next year, or I will start a Pinterest board for our cat pieces!

 

But I'll wrap this up with a piece by 1928 Jewelry Company.   This one is an old chestnut that has delighted people for years....I carry it in  in the Vault section of my website at B'sue Boutiques:

 

 

I hope you enjoyed our cat parade!   And now I have to stop cattin' around....and get some jewelry made!