Rena Klingenberg has done it again!

Anybody who has even the slightest interest in jewelry making needs to check this out. Rena has updated and upgraded her entire site, she even changed the name to a more modern title and look " Jewelry Making Journal". It's great!


Now that Rena has included short videos you can see and hear her, what a great addition. Love it!

Go here to see an introduction: http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/about-jewelry-making-journal/

With all the marketing, display, information and business news you will get tons of info all for free, sign up for her newsletter, it is packed with help. 

The Jewelry Trend?

The more I read about jewelry trends the more I question the authority by which that news is written.  In New York, big color, big size, big money appears to be an on-going trend. The problem I see with that is first, not all of us like NY trends.

I just read an article about how New Yorkers are always (with emphasis on always) in style. I’m not trying to alienate New Yorkers but I don’t feel that is the fair representation of the vast majority of jewelry fashion today.  Ok, so if I live in the Midwest and I go out to the theater and wear a necklace that weighs more than I do, am I in style? Or do I want more sparkle hanging around my wrist than the chandelier?

As we are all individuals with individual taste a more practical attitude would seem appropriate from those reporting news about what the jewelry market trends are. After all there are thousands living in “small town” America.

Ok, what about a city like Portland, Oregon? The down to earth “keep Portland weird” types can be trendy, upscale and fashion conscious.  What Portlanders seem to appreciate more is the handcrafted wearable art and less is more types.

I have a habit of looking for what jewelry is being warn when I watch TV and I guarantee you that it isn’t that “in your face” or “look what I’m wearing” kind of jewelry. Oh sure, there is a couple of hosts that wear that type of jewelry but it isn’t the majority by any means.

I’d really like to see jewelry news report what is happening rather than being the advertiser for high end, runway type jewelry. I’d like to see HSN admit that their “one of a kind” jewelry piece has 10,000 replicas sitting in their warehouse waiting to be shipped!

 I think all of us who are self-representing home based jewelers should start our own, on-line jewelry news publication.

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Read Before you Buy! or Buyer Beware

I hope this reaches the newbie jewelry designers/artists out there who are seeking a successful on line jewelry business.

I received "another" email from someone who is selling "how to make money selling jewelry" (sigh), I actually removed my email from her list but I still get the "end all" emails with sloppy videos, nonsensical verbage and way to much information about her personal (unrelated to jewelry) activites. I'm a let us get to the point person and it didn't take long to remove my email address.

What I want is for you to read is this: "What it means: In other words, I can’t guarantee anything, and furthermore, I can neither confirm nor deny that I know what I’m talking about. I can assure you that I only have the best intents and my sincere purpose in creating these lessons is to help you learn how to increase your business success. But even though I have your best interests in mind, you still are responsible for your own actual results.

Now I ask you would you pay money for this? I hope not and as she often says: "Holy Crap" I don't know if it's holy or not but I do know it is crap! What really seems unethical is this: "sincere purpose in creating these lessons is to help you learn how to increase your business success"; me thinks it's the money you spend buying the program or lessons or what ever else she is selling. Why? This is the "Earnings Disclaimer" Ufdah.

Thank you Shiela from makingjewelrysupplies.com.

We operate the largest Jewelry Supplies website featuring more than 30,000+ blogs. Our site averages 200,000+ uniques visitors per month. As a kind note We have featured your blog at http://makingjewelrysupplies.com/blog_awards/index.php?id=1411

Girls Night Out!! WooHoo

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If you are a female business owner or have a craft that you sell online, you'll be able to feature your business in an Expo list that will be posted on Girls Night Out. On the said weekend (September 26th), You will post a feature of your business on your blog, (details, links, photos, etc) that will introduce visitors to you and what you do. You can also host giveaways and drawings if you wish, but it's not a requirement. Visitors and hostesses participating in the event will visit all the shops over the weekend (beyond if necessary) and learn about what you do and what you have to offer!

Pricing Jewelry

An excellent article I agree with about Pricing Jewelry. Check it out.

I see far too many home based jewelry creators pricing their jewelry way to low, however on the other hand I have observed jewelry poorly crafted, and cheapish way over priced.

"People associate quality with price."
Dr. David Weiman, marketing director of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine for more than 20 years, shares strategies and techniques for boosting your sales of handcrafted artisan jewelry!