Name: Nina
Web Site: http://www.ninadesigns.com/staff/01Nina.html
Bio: I am one of those lucky people who discovered their passions early in life. I sold beaded jewelry at my first craft show when I was ten years old and haven't looked back since. I also enjoy writing, dancing and nesting with my family. When I started Nina Designs I wanted to build a company where art and life could coexist with commerce. Our talented silversmiths deserve fair pay and good working conditions as do our amazing California staff. As a team, we usher new ideas from the drawing board to your hands. Creating products to inspire jewelry designers is an ongoing joy. I love knowing that our work at Nina Designs feeds the creative energy of so many talented artists!
Posts by nina:
Silver Charms Inspired by Nature
August 23rd, 2010My favorite silver charms are all inspired by nature. I am drawn to organic shapes. They make me feel good. I especially like to capture a sense of movement in our charm designs. Recreating an animal or a plant in a solid form like silver poses a challenge. How do you represent the intangible qualities that breathe life into a bird or a leaf? There are so many subtle details, it is impossible to capture them all. When we design, we try to hone in on the most distinctive elements of our subject in an effort to capture the essence of the form. In some cases, we make several versions, to explore different facets of the same object. In the case of feathers, we spent years trying to decide how to capture both their light airy quality and the amazing detail and texture of their silky strands. In the end, we settled on one silver pendant to highlight texture and one that is light and airy. What natural design elements do you find hardest to translate into jewelry?
Floating Feather
Textured With Detail
Light & Airy
Silver Jewelry Findings Fund Microloans
August 9th, 2010Silver Jewelry Findings formed the foundation of Nina Designs, but over the past 25 years we have expanded into jewelry making supplies from silk cord to vermeil style beads and charms. Along the way, we have been careful to practice Fair Trade and to give back through Philanthropy. In our newest venture, we have partnered with NOVICA to fund Microloans for women artisans in developing countries.
Meet Asunta Pelaez from Peru. “I create many kinds of beautiful mirrors, coasters, boxes and trays.” Palaez plans to use her loan to purchase a compressor, tools and materials.
Asunta Plaez, Peru
“I follow a meticulous process, carefully shaping the wood to give it a pleasing form. Later, for my mirrors, I cut the glass and outline my intended design on the surface with India ink. Next, I fill the outline with beautiful Cajamarca patterns using paints and gilt. To finish, I glue the glass to the wood and apply a rich golden paint to the borders of the frame. This whole process demands incredible patience and attention to detail.
“My designs are inspired by nature, and by typical scenes from my town and region. I feel very proud of the works that I create, and I look forward to sharing them with more and more people around the world.”
“I feel as if an angel descended on our workshop. We Peruvian artisans are humble people and we give our utmost to get ahead. Our hearts go in every piece we craft with our hands.”
Silver Jewelry Findings are Just the Beginning………..
August 2nd, 2010Today I make my living from silver jewelry findings, which isn’t all that different from how I spent my time as a kid. Like many of us in the jewelry biz, I grew up playing with beads and enjoying various crafty pursuits. I fancied myself “artistic”, which made me a bit different than most of my peers and I liked the distinction. On my first trip to Bali as a teenager, I felt immediately at home in a culture where art is woven into daily life but I also realized that I am not particularly artistically gifted or skilled. Everywhere I looked, there were people, even young kids, creating beautiful art under the most rustic conditions. To the Balinese there was nothing exceptional about this activity. Every surface deserved an ornament, every occasion an ornate offering of flowers and palm fronds. I did not find this epiphany depressing. On the contrary, I took comfort in the realization that art belongs to everyone. No need to feel guilty, the more art the better! When I visit Bali today, I see the same drive to decorate everything. I love to watch people casually weaving baskets, making jewelry or building offerings while they chat and visit. Nothing special, just another beautiful day…………..
Silver Pendants Create Micro Loans
July 26th, 2010Silver Pendants are beautiful and they can change a life! Sales from our silver jewelry making supplies helped fund a micro loan to Nyoman Sukartini, who I introduced in an earlier blog post. Leah and I went to visit her this week to learn more about her story and how she used the loan. We drove to one of the most beautiful areas in Bali where we were met by the vibrant and gracious Nyoman and her friendly family. As we sat in her family compound enjoying fresh coconuts and fried bananas, Nyoman explained that she used the loan to get back on her feet after being hospitalized for six months with a serious illness. In a twist that women in any culture could relate to, she explained that her husband had left her for another woman, forcing her to return to her parents’ home. She is very grateful to have her silver business as a means of financial support.
After the refreshments, we toured the area in a “Box Car” and visited a sacred spring flanked by an enormous banyan tree. Before we left, Nyoman introduced us to the women silversmiths working on her designs and gave us each a pair of delicate citrine earrings. Her jewelry is available for sale through NOVICA.
I love Nyoman because she makes me look tall!
Sterling Silver Pendants in Bali
July 12th, 2010Sterling Silver Pendants are the focus of our design session this week. Leah and I are in Bali working hard with breaks to walk in the rice fields. There is a gaggle of ducks just off our porch that quack just like Donald Duck and sound like they are laughing at our efforts, but they are super cute and funny, so we laugh too.
Bali is a very inspiring place to work. Everywhere we go, from the garden to the temples, there are shapes and textures that spark new ideas. Ancient stone walls are covered in frothy green moss, orange lichen and tiny orchids. Vines that look like braids climb rock enclosures. Paths are paved in small black and white stones, arranged in patterns of flowers, fish, and soaring birds. Even the enormous spiders have orange and yellow mandalas on their backs!
We are creating new filigree, mother of pearl and hammer finish pendants. Any suggestions?
Green Silver Company
July 7th, 2010
Green Silver is an elusive quest but we have come a step closer by completing our Green Certification with Alameda County! I learned a great deal during the process. One of the things I did not know about was the environmental hazard of triclosan, the most common active ingredient in hand sanitizers and antiseptic wipes. Triclosan persists in the environment (it doesn’t break down) and accumulates to higher and higher concentrations with each step up the food chain. Virtually every creature on earth has a measured amount of this pollutant in its body fat. Triclosan is suspected of disrupting hormone function in both humans and animals. The health and environmental risks are considerable.
We thought we were being diligent by wiping down phones and counters with antiseptic wipes. We also had Triclosan in our anti-bacterial hand soap and lotion. After researching the matter, I replaced our soaps and cleaning agents with Method products, which contain no triclosan, pthalates or BPA. It really irritates me that I can’t trust the products on my grocery shelf to be safe! If you feel the same way, support the bill currently in congress that is trying to ban toxic chemicals from consumer products. Every letter makes a difference. The Environmental Defense Fund does all the leg work for you on this page called: I am not a Guinea Pig.
We are celebrating our green certification with a Facebook campaign to raise money for oil spill cleanup on the Gulf Coast. We will donate $1 to the Environmental Defense Fund for every new Facebook fan that signs up during the first 2 weeks of July, up to $1,000. Tell your friends. Together we CAN make a difference!
The oil spill crisis threatens hundreds of species. Sharing this photo of a clean, healthy pelican symbolizes our hope for a Gulf of Mexico restored to its former environmental equilibrium. The Environmental Defense Fund is committed to working on the ground with local partners and with federal officials to restore the Gulf Coast to full environmental health.
Jewelry Making Supplies Online
June 28th, 2010Selling Jewelry Making Supplies online is like performance art. Almost as much time and energy goes into creating your online shopping experience as into designing the silver charms, silver pendants and jewelry findings that we sell there. We are constantly working to improve the website. Your feedback is essential to this process. With that in mind, I would like to thank everyone who participated in the first round of our customer service survey. We will continue to send out the surveys on a regular basis, but no one should get more than one per year. Please know that I personally read every comment and suggestion that comes in through Survey Monkey. All of that information will be taken into account as we design new products and continue to improve the website.
Many of you commented that you didn’t like getting bumped off your page and into the shopping cart every time you order an item. That has been corrected. You also wanted more items listed on each page. We increased the number from 10 to 20. (If we do 50 it will be a problem for anyone with a slow computer but you can set it for 50 if that is your preference). We also heard that our search engine and product suggestions need work. These are particularly thorny issues but we are searching for a solution.
Any other suggestions for the website?
Customer Requested Two Tone Stamping Blank
Invest in Silver Pendants!
June 21st, 2010Silver Pendants are gorgeous. We all know that but did you realize they are good investments too? In this economy, every marketing angle you can get is valuable. Don’t forget to remind your customers that silver jewelry is a great investment! If you tune in to just about any investment oriented news broadcast, you will hear the pundits pushing gold. The reasoning goes that with a weak dollar, a weak Euro and most countries deep in debt, other investments are risky while gold will surely hold its value. The fact that precious metals have increased in price so dramatically in recent years helps feed the frenzy. On the flip side, there are many companies offering to pay cash for gold jewelry. I have even heard of women throwing parties where everyone brings their old jewelry and a broker cashes it in on the spot. (Don’t do it! You can get a better rate at Rio Grande)!
What you may not realize is that silver prices have increased alongside gold. Over the past 10 years gold has appreciated about 400% and silver is a close second at 360%. In many cultures silver and gold jewelry is a woman’s only source of financial security. In the US, we have many other options, but it is nice to know that our silver pendants and silver jewelry are good investments!
10 Year Gold Chart
10 Year Silver Chart
Jewelry Business, Partners or Solo?
June 14th, 2010Starting a Jewelry Business is often an idea that friends light upon together. Usually, they are friends who enjoy making jewelry together and find the idea of launching a joint commercial venture challenging and exciting. It feels like the natural extension of a fun hobby and a way to deepen and reinforce the friendship. When I am approached by friends at this stage, I always sit them down for “The Talk”. This is not the warm, fuzzy, encouraging pep talk they expect. Rather, I run them through various scenarios to test how well they have really thought through their endeavor.
Collaborating on designs is one of the best parts of partnerships
First, I ask if they are ready to marry each other. Not only that, but are they ready to marry into each others family? A partnership really is like a marriage. Everything you love about your partner will also drive you crazy. Everything that happens to your partner or their close family, also happens to you. If you think it is complicated running your own family, wait until you have to coordinate two families!
What happens if one partner gets divorced? Could an ex-spouse end up owning part of the business? What if a partner gets ill and can’t work anymore? What if one family is forced to move out of town? What if one person just decides they don’t want to do it anymore?
When those questions are answered it is time to move on to more practical issues. Do both partners agree on how many hours a week they can commit to work? Do they agree on how much money to invest in the venture and how much of the profits they will take out or reinvest? Do they have the same vision of how large they want to grow the company?
You get the idea. Partnerships sound appealing but they can actually strain if not end friendships. To avoid that, it is always better to ask the hard questions up front. If you are happy with the answers, go for it! But be sure to have a legal partnership agreement in place before you embark on your new adventure.
Designers, what is your experience with partnerships?
Jewelry Making Supplies Seed Microloans
June 7th, 2010Jewelry Making Supplies are our business at Nina Designs but our mission includes supporting artisans in our own community as well as abroad. In 2010 we established a microloan fund to assist women artists in developing countries. Through NOVICA, we have lent to women in four countries, including Ernestina Oppong Asante who creates traditional drums in Ghana. She plans to use her loan to purchase raw materials, a drill machine, jigsaw and sand paper machine.
“I was born in the Eastern region of Ghana on July 23, 1968, and had my early education there. I trained in dressmaking but on completion of the course, I realized that the trade would not do well in my town. I therefore decided to learn a popular trade like carving. I trained under one Kwame Duah and within three years I had perfected the skill and was developing woodcarvings on my own. Since 1995, I have been operating a workshop of my own with four people working under me. Fortunately, my husband David Assante also trained as a carver and so we combine our skills to design and carve the drums with perfection.”
“I love making drums. I believe that there are very bright business prospects for the African traditional drum. Though carving has long been regarded as the preserve of men, I am glad that I have been able not only to infiltrate but to also make an impact on the trade. For the years that I have been in this business, I have never had any regrets whatsoever. It is my fervent hope to carve more interesting drums for you to enjoy.”