All of these informative posts have been duplicated on my new blog – the How to Make Jewelry Blog – which is an extension of my rapidly growing website, How-to-Make-Jewelry.com

I think I’ve mentioned it before on this blog, but I am so excited – If you are familiar with the Alexa rankings, I’m up to 308,000. Yes, I know there are those of you out there saying the numbers are skewed, blah, blah, blah but for a highly focused niche content site that’s an amazing number and I am just pleased as punch since I started it only in October 2007. I made it up to 50 unique visitors a day in January, and I regularly get 500 unique visitors a day now.

But I digress. The real reason I’m writing this is to say thank you! to all of you, my loyal readers, and to invite you to visit my more up to date blog at http://blog.how-to-make-jewelry.com . There is a recent post about editing digital jewelry photos for beginners – you might want to check that one out.

And, I want to invite you to join my "I’m Making Jewelry in my Jam Jams Newsletter mailing list. You won’t regret subscribing! To learn more about my newsletter and to see if it’s something you might be interested in, click this link to be taken to my newsletter information page . I’ve already been sending out lots of cool information not only for jewelry makers, but for jewelry business owners too. Videos, free tutorials, free patterns, networking opportunities, and I’ve also just set up an announcement list for some very special events coming up that will be very valuable for anyone who has the internet as part of their jewelry business plan.

So check out those links, and sign up for the newsletter. If you chose not to sign up for the newsletter, I wish you the very best of success in all your jewelry business endeavors, and I hope we cross paths again!

Cheers,

Christine Gierer

Maybe all etsy sellers know about this already. I just came across it though and I’m sad that it’ll be gone! (The blog owners are getting frustrated with some negative feedback they’re getting so they’re closing down. You can read their last post here.

I would have loved looking at this when I was selling my jewelry online. Seeing what the most successful are doing is a great way to get some insight into how to market, what people are buying, etc.

I’ve been out of the Etsy loop for awhile- I set up shop about a year or two ago but I haven’t been doing anything there lately. That’s a story for another email.

If you’re unfamiliar with Etsy, don’t check them out. You will lose countless hours of your life browsing the beautiful pictures you’ll find there.

Etsy is a huge treasure trove of anything handmade. (Just want to clarify that I have no affiliation with Etsy. I’ve had some feedback that maybe I’m plugging sites for monetary gain? Not so).

Items are sold directly from the artist and if you are looking to sell some of your own stuff, or even de-stash some of your supplies, you might want to set up shop on Etsy. Only 20 cents per listing for 4 months. MUCH cheaper than fee-bay.

Back to the point – selling on Etsy – you’ll find the stats charts at Etsy tools fascinating. Check it out before they pull it down.

If you know of a similar stats tracking tool for Etsy (or Yessy, Ruby Lane, or any of the other 3rd party crafts/ art selling websites where artists can promote and sell their work), please let me know! I’d love to share it with everyone!

Talk soon, Christine
Jewelry Making Play, Every Day!
New!!! The HTMJ Bloooooog!

P.S. New question at Ask and Answer- and it’s a biggie! I might have to answer it in parts. Wanna read it? It’s a business related one:Pricing Jewelry and Other Business Questions

(This post was written as an email for my mailing list at my main jewelry making website) I don’t often post my emails here, but this one was a time sensitive one. If you want to see what else you’ve been missing out on, you can subscribe to the Making Jewelry mailing list here.)

It’s been a looong time since I’ve blogged here but I vow to write more regularly in 2008.

I’ve been doing a lot of writing on my Jewelry Making website.

Check out some of the new tutorials:

Learn how to make a swarovski crystal, gemstone, and sterling silver Mother’s Bracelet

You can check out this free sterling and gemstone earring tutorial that I am particularly proud of.

There are a bunch of hemp jewelry making tutorials and even a hemp bracelet making video on my hemp jewelry making page

There is an awesome polymer mold and bead making tutorial by guest artist Kristen of Morbidly Cute

And lots more stuff too so please check it out and let me know what you think!

Here it is: Question about enamel…?

I have started making jewelry & only like using good quality stones, esp when using 14k gold. Why did I just see a bracelet for $4500 in 18k gold, with enamel charms? Doesn’t enamel fade or scratch-Please tell me about enamel & why it’s used with solid gold.

Here was my answer:
Enamelling is a very specialized skill and uses very high quality materials. Enamelling has a very long history in in terms of fine jewelry making, and dates back a thousand years and more.

The process of enamelling involves using crushed glass or glass granules, a torch or kiln, and is time and skill intensive. The glass is melted onto a metal form, often copper, and forms a hard-wearing and durable layer of glass onto the metal. This process is repeated so that many layers form. The layers of melted glass do not fade or chip under normal conditions.

Enamelling is gaining popularity of late as jewelry artists continue to experiment with ancient techniques in new ways, and is a wonderful way to add color to precious metal work.

I am primarily a sterling silver and gold jewelry maker, and not an enamelling expert, so I don’t pretend to know exactly what’s involved, but I have looked into buying some enamelling supplies so I could try out some simple experiments for myself.

Resources you might like to check out:

There was a great article in Art Jewelry Magazine recently about making enamelled sterling silver headpins that you might be interested in checking out. I’m not sure what issue, but definitely
2007.

Glass on Metal magazine (http://www.glass-on-metal.com) is a great online resource where you can learn more and view the work of many high quality jewelry artists using enamel in their work.

Hope that helps!

Help a weary article writing woman out. If you look to the right of the screen, and maybe scroll down a bit, you will find a Poll on the middle-right navigation column. Put in your vote and help me figure out what the heck to call you people.

P.S. For the record, I sometimes refer top myself as a designer, jewelry artist, or artisan. None of them really feel right to me though.

Thanks in advance for your input!
Warmly,
Christine Gierer of the Jewelry Sweet Spot