2011 May | Jewelry Designer Blog

May 31, 2011

Jewelry Design Success Story: S.IN. Jewelry

Filed under: Success Stories — Tags: business tips, Inspiration, jewelry design, start a business, women business owners — juanita @ 11:53 am

Meet Dawn of S.IN. Industries

I consider myself lucky to work in a creative environment where women sketch silver charms, talented silversmiths bring them to life, and jewelry designers use them to make beautiful jewelry. Sometimes I even get an insider’s glimpse into the lives of jewelry designers when I meet them at tradeshows and talk to them over the phone. These little glimpses often fill me with inspiration and get me all pumped up to start a little side business of my own. Today I thought I’d share this inspiration with you by introducing Dawn Floen of S.IN. Jewelry.

Dawn is a successful jewelry designer living in Alberta, Canada. She is also a retired visual art teacher and a hobby photographer who enjoys finding and repurposing antiques from flea markets & yard sales. Her favorite holiday is scuba diving in Australia. And, her favorite bead buddy is her pomeranian, JJ, who loves to lounge on his pillow right next to her workbench. What’s really neat is how Dawn has integrated all her favorite activities into her daily life. Way to go Dawn! Thanks for sharing your story.

If you can remember, describe the first piece of jewelry you made. Do you still have it?
I started creating jewelry in 2006. It’s my friend’s fault. She was wearing a new beaded watch that I adored. I asked where she’d gotten it, and promptly went to the website. After seeing the prices, I decided I could make my own. After all, I was an art teacher. I can do this! So, I started where so many of us do. I went to Michael’s. I bought a few beads and supplies and made my first watch. It had teal ocean-coloured lampwork beads and pewter accent beads. And, yes, I still have it.

Before I knew it, I had a desk covered with hundreds of dollars of supplies. Then I started finding beads on ebay. Soon my husband pointed out that I had more than enough jewelry for one person and since I wasn’t going to stop creating any time soon, he suggested I start selling my creations. Soon after, Sunshine INdustries was born. I discovered Nina Designs a bit later when I graduated to precious metals and I’ve never looked back. I now have a large studio, an etsy shop, a website, a blog and enough supplies and tools to keep me going for years!

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May 26, 2011

A Head First Jump into the World of Jewelry Findings at Nina Designs

Filed under: Behind the Scenes, Customer Service — Tags: silver charms — DeAnna @ 12:58 pm

Whether you’re experienced with jewelry findings or just stepping into the world of jewelry design like myself, the sense of exploration is thrilling. I am new to the Nina Designs team and excited to be here. Having the opportunity to work with many strong, intelligent, and creative women has been something I’ve always wanted. My experience with jewelry design is humble, having only taken a basic jewelry class in art school. Working with beads, leather cord, silver chain, clay and silver scraps to create simple pieces is as far as my jewelry design experience goes. I know my background in photography, ceramics and textiles will help mold and shape my developing jewelry designs. Every order I pull I find a new favorite Nina Designs piece to incorporate into new creations. No matter where I am in life, I am always motivated to flex my creativity in new ways. I know my supportive and creative coworkers will teach me all the tricks of the trade as I venture into a new realm.

What creative medium have you just discovered or always wanted to learn more about?

My First Necklace

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May 24, 2011

Jewelry Findings Galore: Tucson Generates an Abundance of New Ideas

Filed under: Inspiration — Tags: design process, jewelry design, tradeshows — Marcy @ 11:14 am

Trade shows offer so much visual stimulation from gold vermeil and silver findings, to exotic beads and gems, to the colorful characters hunting for treasure. I collected many jewelry findings, and more importantly – inspiration on my trip to Tucson last February.

One of my favorite things about working trade shows is being able to see all of our wonderful jewelry findings displayed in front of me. We offer so many silver charms and silver spacer beads and I would love to have them all. Choosing is difficult, but once I see them all in one place, the ideas come rushing in and I can imagine the ways I want to use pieces and it makes it easier to decide. I love seeing how our customers use jewelry findings in their own unique way as well. I keep an eye out for unusual jewelry using techniques I can learn from and that generate new ideas.

We had one customer come by our booth wearing some stunning jewelry. What stood out was her exquisite large bangle bracelet. She meticulously hand sewed tiny gold beads with coral and turquoise onto leather and wrapped it around the bangle. For years I have been working with leather and sewing beads and findings using different techniques to create all sorts of pieces, but it had never occurred to me to wrap the leather around an object to give it a solid shape. I started chatting with this customer. We shared our experiences, ideas, and techniques, and my mind started racing with the possibilities of designs using this technique.

The first thing I did when I got home and dumped out my treasures was to try this technique. First I made this bracelet, then these earrings. And the results are so satisfying. Now I am on a mission to find more objects to cover in leather and adorn with silver, gold and gem stones. What new techniques are you experimenting with these days?

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May 21, 2011

Yoga Practice Inspired by Silver Charms

Filed under: Jewelry Design Ideas — Tags: jewelers supplies, jewelry design, necklaces, yoga — Anna @ 10:44 am

Here at Nina Designs we are all big fans of silver charms and yoga. We all enjoy practicing yoga at our own pace and contributing to the yoga culture with our beautiful yoga spirit silver charms. I love wearing our beautiful gold vermeil namaste word charm coupled with a blue topaz nugget and the blooming gold vermeil jasmine charm. The namaste charm helps keep in my mind empathy and patience towards others. The blue topaz helps release blockages between the heart and throat chakras, allowing for increased compassion and harmony in relationships. This little charm cluster works for me as a talisman to focus my thoughts whenever I wear it.

Since I’ve started working at Nina Designs I’ve been slowly (sometimes very slowly) cultivating my yoga practice. I love going to local yoga studios, but sometimes I just want to stay home and practice alone. When this mood strikes me I usually turn to you tube. Usually these yoga videos are unreliable and can be over the top, or can be too focused on “toning” or “losing weight”. I have recently found a site that offers free online videos for yoga practices as well as meditations and even pranyama breathing called Yoga Yak! It has been a great tool for me to explore my own practice, whatever that may be. Try it for yourselves. I think you will like it and be able to deepen and expand your practice in your own way.

Do you wear yoga jewelry that inspires you to practice?

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May 19, 2011

Sterling Silver Buttons are Perfect for Wrap Bracelets

Filed under: Behind the Scenes — Tags: bracelets, design process, jewelry design, silver buttons — Anna @ 11:23 am

Sterling silver buttons are perfect for finishing wrap bracelets. Occasionally the Nina Designs group will gather after work for an creative beading session. Usually we all just do our own thing, but this time we decided to learn something new as a group. This way we enhance our jewelry making knowledge, work as a team, and see how our imaginations come up with different designs using the same technique.

This bead night we are focusing on the very fashionable wrap bracelets inspired by Chan Luu. There are some great tutorials on you tube. These bracelets are so versatile, easy to wear and perfect for summer. I love that they are feminine and earthy; you could easily wear them with jeans and a t-shirt or a flirty sun dress. It was really fun to see all the different versions we came up with. Using different color leather cords and thread with a variety of beads you can come up with so many unique wrap bracelets! Marcy even made one with our large hole silver beads and large hole pearls.

What jewelry fashions inspire your creations?

Wrap Bracelets

Bead Night May 2011

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May 17, 2011

A Silver Charm’s Long Journey to Your Doorstep

Filed under: Customer Service — Tags: Customer Service, order processing, silver charms — Laura @ 11:00 am

Hello Fans of Nina Designs silver jewelry findings. My name is GA558, the small gold vermeil lotus charm, and one of Nina Designs’ all-time best sellers! Thanks to your order my journey to your doorstep has just begun. I am so excited and can’t wait to meet you!

The first leg of my adventure starts when Nina Designs receives your order in their email inbox. Anna or Marcy will check your order to make sure we have all the information we need to process it, like payment info, resale license info, and complete addresses. After your order is printed, it will go to the bottom of a (hopefully) tall pile of orders waiting to be pulled. FYI – if you choose expedited shipping I will get to you faster since your order would go to the top of the order pile, and UPS moves 3-Day, 2-Day, and Overnight requests faster too! (Just sayin’ . . . because, like I said, I can’t wait to meet you).

Next one of the dedicated Nina Designs’ girls will pull all the items in your order from the bins we are stored in. I’d like to mention I traveled all the way from Thailand where I was crafted by skilled artisans (though many of my bin buddies are from Bali), then I was entered into office inventory, and here I sit in my bin pining away, just waiting for my number to come up. So you see . . . after such a long and arduous journey, you understand why I can’t wait to continue my journey to your home where I am destined to become inspired jewelry made with your two hands! Seriously . . . can’t wait. (oh, the silver skull charms and a bunny silver charm want me to mention that they want out too. These bins are small, a little confined, and a bit crowded).

After we’re liberated from our bins, your order is double checked to make sure all the pulled items and quantities are correct. After everything is just right, your credit card is charged, or your Paypal payment is authorized. Whew . . . I’m almost outta here! Next the girls print your invoice and your shipping label. There are so many check points to getting your order correct, it’s amazing what these girls can get done in one day! Finally I am nestled safely in a box with yummy candy, and wrapped in colorful tissue paper, because I and my fellow jewelry supply buddies deserve to travel in luxury first class, baby!

Here comes Phil, our friendly UPS man! He’s come to scoop me up and send me out into the world! Hey . . . knock, knock. Who’s there? Lotus. Lotus, who? Lotus be friends!

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May 14, 2011

Working Through Creative Blocks with Sterling Silver Chain

Filed under: Fashion Friday — Tags: design process, Inspiration, jewelers supplies, jewelry design — clara @ 10:09 am

I have been playing around with an idea lately – a fun, bold, statement necklace that will use up some sterling silver chain scraps that have been lying around on my desk, but every time I sit down at my desk I feel STUCK. Why can’t I put a jump ring there? Why doesn’t this sterling silver charm have two more holes? Why can’t I make the perfect necklace that I envisioned? Nothing seems to lay the way I expected it to! (I am sure you have felt this before).

This necklace is much better than the one I had planned

When I start to feel like things aren’t working, I look at my inspiration boards. Right now mine is bursting with pictures of chunky rings, talisman charms, and geometric and colorful ethnic patterns. Then I look at my jewelry supplies and pull a few special things out that have been waiting patiently to be turned into a wearable creation – a new silver charm, some sterling silver chain pieces, and a some tiny silver spacers. I turn off my left brain (the one that planned that necklace that won’t come together) and rely on my right brain for a minute. Wire a bead to some chain, connect the chain to a charm. Hold it up . . . add another wire wrapped bead. As I work, I let go of the struggle and find myself enjoying the creative process.

How do you get unstuck when you have a hard time getting in touch with your creativity?

Here’s one of my inspiration boards:

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May 12, 2011

Quote Silver Charms Make Perfect Graduation Gifts

Filed under: Jewelry Design Ideas — Tags: Inspiration, jewelry charms, silver charms — juanita @ 2:04 pm

Quote silver charms help you express your best wishes for the young graduates in your life. Moving on to college, to graduate school, or to your first job is so exciting, and so full of possibility and promise. There will be setbacks, pitfalls, mistakes made along the way. We want to let them know it’s okay, that’s how we all learn. We want to tell them “keep moving forward, enjoy the journey, and expect miracles”. But sometimes it’s hard to say these things young people may consider hokey, or cheesy. And yet we know they are true! We should all expect miracles, know that wisdom begins in wonder and follow our hearts.

When words fall short, express yourself with quote silver charms, word charms, and jewelry with sentiment. This way the young graduate who grew up so fast can wear your love close to her heart, and will begin to believe in these miracles her mom’s always talking about. In this graduation necklace I decided to pair the quote silver charm “Enjoy the Journey” with a little silver wing charm as a reminder to soar to new heights along the way, and with a Ganesh silver charm who is widely known as the remover of obstacles. Ganesh is also revered as the patron of arts and sciences and the deva of intellect and wisdom. Perfect sentiments for graduation!

What quote silver charm will you choose?

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May 10, 2011

Birds Nest Silver Charms and Silver Leaf Pendants Share the Gift of Spring!

Filed under: Jewelry Design Ideas — Tags: Inspiration, jewelry design, silver charms — Carly @ 11:17 am

Celebrate New Beginnings with Silver Nest Charm

Spring in Berkeley, CA inspires earrings of silver leaf pendants and bird nest silver charms to share as a gift for a dear friend of mine. I am moved to create from shifts in my environment and the shift from Winter to Spring in this area is spectacular! The birds talk more when the colors start popping and the trees begin to fill with leaves so they can take cover and build their nests for their little families.

I have a dear friend who absolutely loves birds and one of the many delightful aspects of birds is their cozy nests! This combination of Sterling Silver Birds Nest Charms with the Large Sterling Silver Leaf Pendants was completed with the use of our newly designed Sterling Silver Hook Earring Finding which has a loop that faces front for easy attachment of charms, dangles, gems or pearls.

If you prefer 24k gold, Nina Designs offers both the birds nest charm and the leaf pendant in 24K gold plated sterling silver. Just imagine how special the gift of a 24k gold plated sterling silver nest would be. This could be a wonderful gift for a new home, a new start, a new family member to be, the birth of a baby, the engagement of friends, the adoption of a child, and so much more. Spring is about life in all of the variety of beginnings. Share it in every way you can!

How has the arrival of Spring inspired you in your jewelry adventures and most of all, in your life?

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May 6, 2011

Tiffany’s Journey into the World of Silver Charms

Filed under: Behind the Scenes, Customer Service — Tags: silver charms — Tiffany @ 11:33 am

Hello, I am Tiffany, a new name and voice you have probably heard answering your phone calls regarding silver charms and findings. I am fresh to the Nina Designs team and am excited to be a part of a company led by some awesome and inspirational women. From as far back as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with fashion trends from make up to clothing to shoes and jewelry. My grandmother’s closet was my runway. Her flowing gowns, red peep toe shoes, and her jewelry box filled with vintage pearl necklaces and gemstone earrings felt like high fashion couture when I wore them.

My late grandma was a strong leader in our family, she single handedly brought herself and her seven children from the Philippines to America. When I close my eyes I imagine my grandmother in her youth with fire in her eyes, passion in her words, courage in her actions, and generosity through her touch. My grandma worked so hard to learn English, gain citizenship, and provide a life for her family so that her children and the seeds of her children could find a passion, explore in it and succeed through it. I hope that she is looking down with a big smile as she watches us blossom exceedingly. With my designs I want to tell a story of a utopia I once lived, am living, and hope to live with my family.

My big, beautiful family with grandma at center

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