I am very proud to say my first designer evening bag is finished! It’s a glorious beaded affair, slightly luxurious, just beautiful. A piece of my work I am proud of. Here’s a look at it:

And here’s a view of the close-up detail:

It’s a lovely ivory / gold metallic / champagne and butter creme color coordinated evening bag that was a joy to invent, create and adorn. The entire process from the concept in my mind to choosing the correct yarn to planning out the beaded fringe and so forth was a complete joy.

To find out more about this lovely creation, simply click here!

There are more evening bags and purses as well as totes on the way!

A new product line has definitely been born! How exciting!

I think my goals as a jewelry artisan and designer are simple, and I intend to keep them that way. To create unique, lovely, more or less classical jewelry for all budgets so that all women, regardless of financial status may shop in my online store, Jewelry Collectibles, and be able to purchase and wear something that is unique to each woman.

Red AB Butterfly Marcasite Beaded Bracelet Watch

Since my jewelry creations are unique and for the most part cannot be duplicated I feel very confident that the woman who purchases a piece of jewelry from me will be purchasing something that is uniquely “her”. It’s almost like purchasing a custom made jewelry piece without the custom made price. Of course, anyone can custom order a jewelry piece from me and they will only be charged the reasonable and customary price that I would charge for any piece, nothing extra for the customization.

March Aquamarine Czech Glass Rosary Necklace

It is true that my beaded jewelry pieces are not fabulous, fantastical creations like some of the very gifted artisans who design with PMC or do intricate silver knitting or crochet. We all have our preference and our artistic niche, and mine is beading with seed beads and creating gemstone, glass, crystal and pearl jewelry pieces, often with handlinked sterling silver or 14 karat gold fill chain. I had only one artist in the 7 years I’ve been in the jewelry design business disparagingly remark that my jewelry work was “only strung stuff” and that was quite a while ago. Most of us who are in this jewelry design business can appreciate everyone’s gift of design and creativity because as previously stated, we all have our preference, our particular gift or gifts, and our artistic niche. What a joy it is to see people using these gifts to create items of beauty and one of a kind wearable art.

August Peridot and Olivine Czech Glass and Celestial Crystal™ Birthstone Necklace

I enjoy what I do and what I create, as do my customers and repeat customers. Preferring to follow my own instincts instead of follow the pack or the “trendy” stuff of the moment, my work is a celebration of color ~ color gradients are my top choice, however, I also like to create striking color combinations such as red and black, one of my favorites. Soft gemstone combinations with Czech glass and Swarovski crystal to lend some sparkle are also a favorite of mine.

Mint Green Pearls Emerald Crystals Necklace

Classical designs of the past are also something I enjoy creating ~ getting an idea from a vintage or antique necklace and incorporating some of that design into my work gives me great joy ~ it’s kind of a very happy marriage of past and present. I also have become proficient at re-creating some simple yet timeless clasps that I have seen on some antique jewelry out of sterling silver and 14 karat gold fill. What a joy that is to accomplish! This gives me the same joy as creating one of my intricately beaded dangle earrings creations!

Fuchsia Hot Pink GP Beaded Brick Stitched Earrings

I feel strongly that every woman, young lady and girl should have the right to feel like a queen ~ or at the very least feel very special ~ with a piece of jewelry that is “the one” for her, and also that no matter what their financial status is every woman deserves to have “designer” of good quality, heirloom quality in fact, without breaking the budget. That is my ultimate goal ~ to create and design every day jewelry suitable for the home, the office, lunch, whatever….. and to create and design wedding, prom and formal jewelry so that all women can enjoy beauty as well as superior craftmanship.

I give alot of thought to this topic from time to time, sometimes when re-evaluating my business plan, sometimes when having a conversation with another artist or designer of the same or a different craft, and sometimes when just chatting with friends.

My fiber art and design go down several paths, of form, function and fashion. I like what I design to be functional, not frivolous. I detest frivolous because it smacks of ego and waste. I prefer what I design to be of good form, attractive at least, beautiful at best. Some of it I design for fashion, head turning “where did you get that” sort of fashion, so that my clients can feel good about having original wearable art that no one else will ever have. It all goes back to my intense sense of individualism.

What do I design? Sometimes I’ve gone through this so i can evaluate what I’m doing and where I am going. At times you need to do this so you can improve upon your goals, I think anyways.

I design baby clothes which can also be used for reborn doll clothes. I use doll such as Berenguer and Goldenvale that are the lifelike size of newborns and toddlers, for accuracy of fit and for the dual purpose noted above. I make crocheted booties, hats, sweaters, blankets, and am trying my hand at dresses / gowns for the infant crowd. I also create cross stitched baby bibs, however these can be personalized with the child’s name, or a message from a doting aunt, uncle or grandparent. Here again, adorable, one of a kind and unique with personalization.

My goal here is to make one of a kind clothes / accessories for the babies, toddlers and reborn dolls, and to make them affordable. Not “designer” priced, but designer quality. Obviously higher priced but then again higher quality than the mass produced department store stuff. Yet affordable to parents of all incomes, parents on a budget, grandparents on a budget, doll makers who need to keep costs inline yet who want something no one else has. You can see some of what I design in this area here.

I also design doll clothes for the 18 inch doll collector ~ both adult and young lady alike ~ affordable little outfits, all unique, and I include the shoes because I know it’s a PITA to buy the outfit only and then have to hunt down the shoes and spend extra money on the shoes. You c an see some of those outfits here.

I suppose my ultimate goal with the baby and doll clothes and accessories is to make designer quality available and affordable to everyone, whilst making my profit and therefore keeping my roof over my head.

Upon reflection I suppose that is what my goal is with the women’s fashion accessories that I crochet ~ hats and scarves that fit like a dream, are made from very good quality yarns that wash up well and will last the wearer or the gift recipient a very long time. The same with my new line of purses, totes and evening bags, although the evening bags that have intricate beadwork will of course be priced higher because of the extensive work involved. But not SO high that the average bride, prom girl or lady going to a formal occasion will not be able to purchase an intricately beaded, classic and beautiful evening bag at a price that won’t break the budget. You can see this very very new section of my website here. Not everything is up, because it all takes such time to design and then to actually create. However it is getting there s*l*o*w*l*y.

As I get more things actually done and up there, I plan on breaking this section of my website into more appropriate categories to more accurately show what is being offered and to make the shopping experience an easy one.

I’m also putting my nature photography talent into a designer direction as well. My goal is to take my macro floral and plant photography, as well as my bird photography, and convert them into counted cross stitch patterns, some for free and some into books of patterns for sale. Eventually I will also include my own artwork as well, and will sell and occasionally give away free only my own original patterns on my counted cross stitch site instead of what I sell now which is closeout patterns from other manufacturers.

I think my goals for fiber and textile designer are in line with my creative abilities and in line with what the public wants and up until now either has not been able to find or could not afford. My goals are also in line with my very strong feelings that everyone from all walks of life should be able to afford good designer quality without the excessive “designer” prices and without exclusively resorting to mass produced items.