Express your best wishes with silver charms and silk cord. Happy beading is my St. Patty’s wish for all fellow beaders! This is my last blog entry, which saddens me but on this St. Patrick’s day I feel lucky to share with you this cultural celebration. When I think of St. Patrick’s day I think of four-leaf clovers and what they mean. For most they signify good fortune and the advent of change to come. And, at this moment in my life, that is very appropriate because March 31st will be my last day at Nina Designs. I am very lucky to be taking with me many fond memories and tons of knowledge! Seattle, WA will be my new home and to jump start my next adventure I have created my “Let’s Celebrate” four-leaf clover silk wrap bracelet.
Let's Celebrate
I started by selecting
silk fairy ribbon in leaf green because it represents the abundance of four leaf clovers I hope to find as I continue to fulfill my personal legend in Seattle. I surrounded the
four-leaf clover charm with the word tags:
love,
luck,
hope, and
faith. They represent each petal of the clover.
Wishbones symbolize good luck, dreams come true, harmony, and gratitude (plus it reminds me of feasting with family and friends).
I love creating jewelry that has a folkloric theme. To give this necklace a folksy appeal, I have separated each charm with a simple knot. I hope that my “Let’s Celebrate” bracelet is a good representation of such a happy day. I feel super lucky to have been part of your lives here at Nina Designs. My goal starting April 1st, is to follow in the steps of all the jewelry designers out there so that I too can prosper by using the beautiful jewelry findings Nina Designs creates for all of us. Good luck and I will miss you all dearly.
I love to wear a bunch of mixed charm bracelets!
Dolce loves charm bracelets too!
I used our new sterling silver jewelry link to construct my Spring inspired statement earrings! With the first day of Spring upon us I have been feeling the need for a jewelry wardrobe update. When I begin to trade my bulky sweaters for sundresses, I trade out my petite jewelry for larger, slightly bohemian, still romantic, statement pieces.
I love to use our sterling links in unique and alluring ways. When all the new links arrived, I was inspired to incorporate them in to my new jewelry wardrobe! I chose the medium sized round link for its size and beautiful hammered texture, then added our sterling silver sprout charms and some of my favorite Nina Designs gemstones. Using silver wire I wrapped the link. This not only added visual interest but allowed me to space the components in the exact way I wanted. With the addition of our twisted wire oval link chain (used as a link) and a floral earring top the earrings embody the spirit of blooming, carefree, Spring days!
NOTE: Our thick gauge twisted wire oval chain is made up of Unsoldered links so you can open and close them. Great for use as a link! Just be sure to use your strongest pliers to open and close the links. Also note that these earrings are pretty heavy, but you could make a lighter weight version by selecting smaller gemstones!
A Spring Statement
Which Nina Designs jewelry findings do I need to complete my Tucson purchases? This was my first year as a Nina Designs representative at the Gem and Lapidary Wholesaler’s Show in Tuscon, Arizona. I have attended several trade shows for Nina Designs in the past, but none quite like this.
While there I had the great opportunity to shop with Leah, a Tucson veteran who brought me to the coolest booths. I was also inspired by the ideas and purchases of my fellow co-workers Clara, Juanita and Yolanda. It was wonderful to have such guidance in the sea of tradeshows and vendors at Tuscon.
Now that I’m home, I need to figure out what to do with all my treasures. I purchased a section of chain made from wood and I knew the moment I saw it that I was going to pair it with our Deer Hide Lace and a handmade ceramic bead from my co-worker Ruth. I’ll also need a five strand clasp for all my rustic glass beads, maybe one with the cross hatch pattern. So many of my purchases were based on Nina Designs jewelry components I already have or really want.
My favorite purchase from the show is a strand of gem quality drop cut Chrysoprase beads. I have so many ideas but can’t decide on a single design. Our Vermeil Style Gold Plate Majapahit Spacer would be great to emphasize the art deco look. But I’m also thinking of our Yemenite Reproduction Silver Beads with Granulation and Wire Work and our Silver Bead with Swirl Granulation. Do I want gold, silver or mixed metal? I’m just not sure. It can be challenging with so many choices! My Nina Designs Wish List is getting bigger and bigger!
Which beads should I choose?
Chocolate Deer Hide with wood chain
Bali Beads are famously intricate and well crafted, a trait they share with a plethora of Balinese crafts. When I first visited Bali, I was stunned by the level of artistry on display. The smallest, most prosaic items were ornamented and made beautiful. It was an impulse that seemed almost compulsive. Even the cement walkways were embellished with impressions of giant leaves or mosaics crafted from pebbles. I fell in love with this side of Bali. It forced me to re-evaluate all of my Western ideas about Art.
In the West we tend to divide people into groups who are “artistic” and those who are not. In Bali, they assume that everyone can create art, and they do. In the West we tend to segregate “art” objects from “regular” objects, by putting them in frames or galleries. In Bali, they assume that anything can and should be made beautifully. They put just as much effort into flower arrangements as they do into paintings. I found this attitude prevailed in other Asian countries as well. Flowers are a wonderful example. From Balinese Offerings, to Indian Marigold Curtains, to a Petal Mandala in Thailand, you can see how floral elements are combined in surprising new ways to delight the eye and enrich lives. (The simple dahlia bouquet is from my garden).
Unique treasures, inspirational silver pendants and relationship building marked this year’s Tucson trade show. Every year we look forward to Tucson as a place rich with inspiration and opportunities to swap all things jewelry and we are never disappointed. We come home brimming with fresh creative energy and all kinds of ideas to implement throughout the year.
A tattoo of P22 on a dedicated beadaholic
One of the highlights of Tucson is the opportunity to meet our customers in person and put a face to a voice. We have the chance to brainstorm and collaborate with our friends and customers, to suggest new styles to compliment existing collections, and to admire the beautiful jewelry made with our components.
This year we had a special treat: a tattoo of our P22 pendant! With tattoos that celebrate and honor her creative and artistic journey, Kriss added this one after purchasing the pendant more than 12 years ago. This tattoo definitely raises the bar in our beadaholic circle!
Thanks to everyone that dropped by our Tucson booth to say hello. We are blessed with the best customers ever! Your positive feedback and continued support is truly appreciated.
Oxidizing your sterling silver charms, chains, and beads helps you make stand out designs. Oxidized silver has a dark, almost black finish and contrasts beautifully to many gemstones and to Vermeil style gold plate components. Many women love the look of mixed metals, like blackened silver chain combined with gold and silver chains. It’s sophistication with an edge!
Oxidizing your silver components is easy, a lot of fun, and (fair warning) can be addictive. Here are a few facts and pointers to get you started. When exposed to air all sterling silver will oxidize, achieving a beautiful aged patina. Oxidation is a natural process that occurs on the surface of silver caused by exposure to oxygen and pollutants in the air, like sulfur.
If you’d like to speed up the oxidation of your silver, here are a few suggestions to get you going. I always recommend using a dry concentrate of Liver of Sulfur because it’s easier to work with than the liquid form. An 8oz container from Rio Grande is inexpensive and will last you a very long time! Read and follow the instructions carefully. Though not toxic, make sure to work in a well ventilated area - Liver of Sulfur is very stinky, like rotten eggs! I like to get as much done at one time as possible, so I’ll start filling up a bag with items I want to oxidize. Once the bag gets full enough, I’ll oxidize a big batch. Try experimenting with the heat and concentration of the solution to achieve slightly different finishes. Also, try experimenting with the final surface by selectively polishing off certain areas, or rough up the texture with a scotch bright pad.
Check out our Black Satin Collection for styles we carry with a lustrous oxidized finish.
The mysterious look achieved through oxidizing silver
Black Satin Collection
Armed with lots of new Nina Design silver beads and charms, bird charms and trusty scroll like handmade links, I have been ready to start designing jewelry only to find myself lacking the creativity that fueled many of my favorite pieces from last year. Simply staring at my bead supplies did not do the trick. Therefore, I reverted to the tricks that seemed to help me in the past. Here are a few suggestions:
Watch period films for dramatic jewelry and interesting color combinations. See how you can make similar pieces with a contemporary feel. For a current project, I am watching lots of period films that take place in the South like New Orleans, LA.
Architecture and Nature Influences in Silk Ribbon Necklace
Go for a walk and take the time to smell the flowers. Be inspired by animals such as birds and squirrels, natural shapes like tree branches, and architectural details along public buildings or old Victorian homes. I go on walks to enjoy the diversity of architectural gems in Oakland, CA.
Listen to music. Its fun to be inspired or imagine you are creating jewelry for a rock star or to attend an Opera. I listen to a lot of classical musical while sketching new designs.
Architectural Inspiration
Travel or go Downtown. Maybe you have a friend who lives in a fun city or out in the desert. Another option is to attend a popular restaurant, a local art opening or farmers markets to see how and what people are wearing. Sometimes just browsing at your pictures from past travels will spark ideas and inspiration. I have been referring to the photos of my most recent trip to New Orleans, LA. A beautiful wrought iron porch has spurred a recent creation!
One of my favorite blogs Pikaland posted a wonderful list written by Amy Ng for fueling creativity. I take the sketch book idea very seriously.
Designing New Silver Pendants and Charms has been front and center this week. New Styles were pushed to the back burner during our busy holiday season, but this week, it was our primary focus. We’re working on a new dog bone charm that is stamp-able, a bicycle charm, a lucky elephant, and most exciting, horses! Horses have been on our to-do list for a few months now, both requested by customers and by our staff.
Straight from a little girl's dream - a beautiful white horse.
As with many young girls, I had a love affair with horses. I read books about horses (The Black Stallion series, Misty of Chincoteague, National Velvet, etc.); I watched horses on TV (Olympic Equestrian events); I leased a horse named “Angel” with money I made from my paper route; I read the newspaper classified section “horses for sale” and fantasized about owning my own horse; I drew pictures of horses; and one of my biggest scars is the result of a horse fall.
Imagine my delight this week when it was my job to draw horses! Back when I was a child little did I dream that drawing horses could be part of a career! I’m often amazed at how life comes full circle in many unexpected ways. Thank you, our customers, for your support of Nina Designs. It is our goal to spark your creativity with new, exciting findings so that you can bring beautiful jewelry to life.
Here at Nina Designs we are always coming out with new silver charms. As an employee and a designer, this is a blessing and a curse. Just when I think maybe I should slow down my purchasing, cut back, appreciate what I have, we come out with the most adorable new charm! This week it was the hot-air balloon charm that got me. It is the latest addition to our travel, or as I like to think of it, adventure series.
Feeling slightly travel deprived, I longed for the old-world nostalgia of exploration, and my Whimsical Adventure Necklace did just the trick. I used our silver compass charm as a link from which to suspend the hot-air balloon, the word tags, dream and explore, along with a small faceted tourmaline bead. Above the pendant compilation hangs a cluster of tourmalines, a chrysoprase nugget, and a small round yellow rutilated quartz. I wanted the cluster to evoke an atmosphere of wide blue skies in which to dream of endless possibilities.
I hope you find our new design ideas as inspiring as I do. I’m sure there will be many more to come in the future! Happy designing!
Whimsical Adventure Cluster
Whimsical Adventure Necklace
With so many silver beads and charms around me, sometimes I feel silly for wanting more. I often make requests for a shape or image I want and hope that customers call and email saying they would like the same thing so that it might get produced. I’ve learned, however, that the easiest way for me to satisfy my craving for new and exciting items is to gold plate them. I also love oxidizing silver for a less expensive alteration. It is amazing how much the feel of an item can change by switching up the color of the metal.
Recently a customer had the small elephant bead gold plated. I loved it so much I sent some out with our next gold plate order even though I didn’t know how I was going to work with them. When my elephant beads returned from the platers it was a Friday and I rushed home with a couple feet of silver chain to make something special to wear that night. I was going to just space the five elephants out on the chain and oxidize the chain to make them pop. I realized after I cut the chain to the spacing I liked that I didn’t want my middle elephant to lay on his side so I dug through my bead collection to work around not having any headpins handy. I found a small green teardrop agate, a discontinued Nina Designs bead and with a few small gemstones made one of my most favorite necklaces to date.
To read more on how you can have any of our silver items plated in 24K gold, please see our Gold Special Order Policy.
Inspired Elephant Necklace
Detail of Elephant Drop
Detail of Elephant Beads