June 2010
2 posts
View Acailawen Designs’ Facebook Wall Posts in... →
Now Acailawen Designs’ Facebook wall posts are viewable direct from the Buzz Section of the Acailawen Designs website. View more in the linked announcement.
View Acailawen Designs’ Facebook Wall Posts Right... →
March 2010
0 posts
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Crazy Busy With New 2010 Collections
Do you ever find yourself so busy that you’re not sure that you even blink? That would be me over the past few months. But, it’s all for a good cause. At least, it is if you love what you do for a living… and I certainly do.
I’ve been working on designs for two new green couture jewelry collections that mix elegance and drama with a touch of fantasy. They’re...
September 2009
2 posts
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Is your business really sustainable?
In this week’s article in my column in the GreenWise department at Handmade News, I explore what it means to truly be a sustainable business today. It’s more than being green. It’s also about profitability and longevity. Is your business truly sustainable? Sustainable Business: It’s More Than Being Green will not only help you to answer this important question, but also...
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Studio design plans on hold.
An unexpected move has put my green jewelry studio design plans on hold. While I can’t say I’m overly thrilled about the delays, there is a bright side to everything. I now have a bit more time to work on my business and marketing plans, to research my equipment options, to save for needed equipment, tools and materials, as well as to decide exactly what I want to incorporate into the...
August 2009
54 posts
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Environmentally friendly packaging & shipping...
My latest article Going Green: Responsible Packaging & Shipping Decisions is now up in my column in the GreenWise department at Handmade News. This week’s article provides some easy ways for you to make environmentally responsible product packaging and shipping decisions. Learn to make simple choices that have a big impact on the environment, while saving money, too!
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Writing a new business plan is very revealing
I just began working on a complicated, multi-stage business plan for Acailawen Designs. I initially wrote my business plan to focus more heavily on custom design services, with sales as a secondary consideration. Things have changed, and now my plan must change to meet my business’ updated needs.
I had initially planned to simply revamp my existing plan, but I discovered that it was...
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Production Lines
I’m wandering outside of my comfort zone as a designer. I love one-of-a-kind couture design work & client commissions. The mass production process leaves me quite bewildered. Yet, it seems that most business grants, lenders & private investors are aimed at mass production lines or a mix of custom/production (presumed higher return). So, what’s a designer to do?
While I’d...
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3D Jewelry Design Considerations
Just watched a 3D jewelry design video on Matrix 6. Wow. This has to be one of the best looking 3D rendering engines I’ve seen. Impressive. Equally impressive are some of the mockups I’ve seen come out of RhinoGold v2. Both programs are built on Rhino’s impressive 3D rendering engine.
The migration from 2D illustration into 3D CAD/CAM jewelry design (technical rendering) is...
Getting familiar with Ning today. Interesting platform for social networking. I joined a few jewelry & fashion networks + 1 covering Tampa
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My Page at Fashion Industry Network →
Now you can find me on the Fashion Industry Network website. I’ve joined a group for designers and another for stylists so far. I’m still checking the site out. If you’re a FIN member, feel free to add me. I love social networking. ;)
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ArtisansNetwork for artisans to connect on Twitter
Artisans looking to connection, network, share ideas, teach & learn from each other on Twitter, this is for you. Visit the ArtisansNetwork a group for Twitter networking via the Twibes platform. Alternately you can simply tweet this URL on Twitter to automatically join: http://www.twibes.com/ArtisansNetwork
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Write a Green Marketing Plan... now up at Handmade...
My latest article Write a Green Marketing Plan to Grow Your Eco-Friendly Business has been published in my column in the GreenWise department of Handmade News. The article was written to help environmentally friendly small businesses to promote and market themselves as a green business, while earning the confidence of eco-conscious consumers.. When the term “green” may be used by some...
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Home studio updates + teaching classes this fall.
I picked up my jewelry kiln and supplies yesterday afternoon, so art clay silver, bronze and copper; enameling and mixed media work are now officially in the lineup for my jewelry collections. I’m still working on building my green jewelry design studio here at home, as this is now where I work. New (or decent used) lapidary equipment and metalsmithing tools + equipment are still on my...
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Studio design, business & the process of designing
Today, I have been busy with the business side of jewelry business. I’m not a huge fan of inventory control or pricing, but without doing it (and doing it right), I’d never get paid for my work. In the office, I’m updating my inventory and planning my show schedule through spring 2010. I also have a couple of web design projects that need to be done in my spare time.
Despite...
Upcoming article on writing a green marketing plan
My article on how to write a “green” marketing plan will run in my column in the GreenWise department at Handmade News on Thursday. This week’s article is focused on helping environmentally responsible artisans to effectively market & promote themselves as eco-friendly, green businesses. I’ll post a link to the article here on Tumblr when it is published later this week.
Tomorrow I have to meet with a local bead store about teaching a basic wire-wrapped gemstone tree class.
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Jewelry collections - launch date versus seasonal...
A trip to the local lapidary shop is in order. I’ve been working up dramatic drawings for some hand-carved gemstone pendants. I’m currently working on new designs for the Earthly Desires and will be incorporating more hand-carved focal pieces into the collection. I’m also working up the concept for my spring/summer 2010 (launch) collection, which will merge watercolor hues,...
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Blog Catalog is on the ball!
So, as I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I contacted support at Blog Catalog late last week after my thumbshot update request in early August was processed by their system, but failed to update the thumbnail screenshot of my site’s blog section, The Buzz. Well, I give the support folks over there a big thumbs up for being on the ball. In less than 48 business hours after my support ticket...
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Acailawen Designs Website Portfolio Update
I updated two of the jewelry portfolio galleries on my website today - Necklaces and Jewelry Sets to include some of my latest designs.
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Follow Acailawen Designs on Twitter →
Eco-Couture - it’s not just a statement or a movement, but a way of life for those whose eco-conscious demands higher things out of life. ;)
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Radical Jewelry Makeover workshop wanted in...
I would absolutely love to see Ethical Metalsmiths bring its Radical Jewelry Makeover workshop program to central Florida. Sustainable jewelry design training opportunities are always a big plus in my book. And, it’s a cause for I would not mind donating some of my time and energy.
Radical Jewelry Makeover is an innovative workshop program that encourages the public to donate unwanted...
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Tomorrow I start working on my third green article for my column in the GreenWise department at Handmade News; this one on Green Marketing. Stay tuned for more details. My column runs every Thursday. I’ll post a link to the next article once it’s published.
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Outdated thumbshots of a site are frustrating...
… especially when they are of your own website! I really wish that our thumbshot on Blog Catalog would update to show the newly redesigned website blog instead of the old design. Despite putting in a request to force the thumbshot to update, and the system reflecting that it has been completed, our old website blog is still showing in the thumbshot, rather than the new one. *le sigh*
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Designing jewelry work when you can’t stop sneezing is definitely a challenge. Think I’m going to take a break & hunt for the allergy meds.
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Going Green: The Importance of Fair Trade...
My article Going Green: The Importance of Fair Trade Materials has been published in my column in the GreenWise department of Handmade News. In this article, I discuss the importance of fair trade materials, and challenges that artisans of handmade goods current face when trying to locate materials and supplies that come from ethical, fair trade sources.
Direct article link:...
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HandMade News Gets a Facelift
I’m a columnist in the GreenWise department over at Handmade News. The site has undergone a face lift over the past week. While there are some bugs still being worked through, the site looks much more fresh and inviting now. I’m really quite impressed with the changes that have taken place.
Check it out: www.handmadenews.org
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Setting up the ArtFire Metalsmiths Guild Blog
I spent the morning setting up a Wordpress.com blog for one of the guilds that I joined on ArtFire - the ArtFire Metalsmiths Guild. The guilds on ArtFire are a cool networking resource that allows artisans with a set of common skills to network, enter group challenges, teach/learn from each other and more. As its name indicates, The ArtFire Metalsmiths Guild is for those artisans that use Metals...
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The back end of creative business
Good morning all. I started my day with coffee and spam, how about you? ;)
I was planning to get some bookkeeping and inventory work done today, but it seems that I keep getting tied up with other things. I love creative work, but that is only one part of being a designer. Today is mostly an ‘office’ day. I can’t say that’s my preferred way to spend my time, but it is...
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Being a green couture jewelry designer involves so much more than just design work. I’ll be glad to get my inventory up to date (i.e. done). I enjoy designing one-of-a-kind original jewelry & accessories AND crafting them with my own hands. There’s a piece of me in each design. I just don’t see ever giving that up. To me, it makes each original design something uniquely special. Inspiration....
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Planning Fashion & Trunk Shows in Florida
While I’m already involved with several Central Florida fashion shows and am expanding to south Florida in that regard, I need to expand my show options. I’m going to get back to researching smaller art galleries, upscale boutiques & other artisan-friendly venues throughout the state to hold trunk shows featuring my original, handcrafted green couture jewelry and accessories...
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Technical Design for Mass Production vs....
I saw an ad for a technical jewelry designer in NY posted a few days ago & thought it could be great opportunity, but I love crafting my own pieces. I could not design for a mass-produced label if I wasn’t still doing my own original designs, as well; especially custom design work. I don’t know how others do it. I got started doing custom design work for artistic, commercial and editorial...
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Joining Guilds on ArtFire
I’ve been checking out the artisan guilds on ArtFire this evening and the guild concept there is definitely interesting. I have joined the ArtFire Metalsmiths Guild and Self Representing Artists of Jewellery Design Guild thus far. I’m not sure if the one lapidary guild listed there is still an active guild or not. My application is pending, but it seems the guild hasn’t had any...
Working on setting up my ArtFire shop finally. Still getting a feeling for the site & how it differs from Etsy.
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Lemon Chiffon Opal Rough. Yum.
I found myself looking at a big, beautiful piece of lemon opal rough that would fit in great w/ my green couture bridal jewelry collection, Ethereal Sands, today on eBay. Of course, my auction was outbid. I got sniped in the last two minutes of the auction… same as always. But, oh… do I love the look of that opal rough. I seriously need an affordable local lapidary supplier. Actually,...
Fashion Directory. F.TAPE Fashion Models,... →
lradler:
This fashion directory contains great lists of fashion photographers, photo agencies, model agencies, etc. It is a great resources for inspiration and contacts. It also has a large list of photo magazines, which is good for starting to make contacts for editorial fashion photography.
Fair trade, ethically sourced gemstones
I posted in the ArtFire Chatterbox GreenWise section earlier on ethically sourced gemstone bead suppliers, after running across a post asking if any such suppliers exist. It’s sad there’s so little info out there. Honestly, the readily available information is more than a little sparse. I’m working on compiling a list for The Green Guide section of The Buzz at Acailawen Designs....
Hmmm…. now where did I put that sketchbook. New concept sketches and comp drawings to do this afternoon.
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ArtisansNetwork Twibe
Artisans wanting to connect, network, share ideas, teach & learn from each other on Twitter are welcome to join the ArtisansNetwork group via Twibes. Simply go to this link to join or include it in a tweet and you’ll be added automatically - http://www.twibes.com/ArtisansNetwork
I want to incorporate even more hand-carved gemstone designs into the next collection + add more of it to Earthly Desires.
Will be expanding the Ethereal Sands Bridal Collection soon as well. Looking to incorporate some hair accessories into the collection.
Recycling Your Cellphone.
Here’s a simple way to do something that is good for the environment. Recycle your cell phone! So many old cell phones end up in our landfills. Now, you have an alternative to throwing those old phones in the trash!
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The Stories Behind the Designs: Earthly Desires
I have an interesting story behind how the Earthly Desires Collection, & necklace of the same name, came to light, which I have posted in The Buzz.
I always find it interesting to discover how people garner inspiration and come up with different design ideas. I thought it would be fun to share the process involved with this piece & related collection so that my readers can do the same....
Random Scrap Paper Strikes Again!
How is it I have these bursts of inspiration that lead me to scratch out a great design on a random piece of scrap paper, napkin or the back of an envelope that I never see again? I have lots of quality sketchbooks. I use Photoshop, Illustrator & even Painter. Yet, I end up sketching out a sudden idea for a pendant or brooch on some envelope that vanishes!
Thankfully I found this last...