STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

lynnie · Chanel

jewelry designers...

kenzie · Chanel

lynnie wrote:

(we both share a liking for that combo due to a seventeen fashion shoot from almost 10 years ago)

Haha!! I remember that blue/brown spread. They called it peppermint and chocolate or something like that!

Anyway, as far as inspiration goes, I get it from anything. The other day, the winter early morning sky served as inspiration for a new color combo. Sometimes, my own graphic design inspires me to make a piece. Or the structure of a building or the curve of a vase. Artwork, paintings, etc. It really comes from inside your own head and the only thing that will limit you is yourself. Sometimes I'll have an idea for a piece and I'll sketch it out, but as I'm making it, it will evolve into something else and then inspire me for other pieces.

As far as materials, I only use sterling silver (would like to get into metalsmithing and use pure silver), gold-filled or pure gold. I also mostly work with natural materials, such as gemstones (which can get pricy depending on the kind you choose), shells, wood, etc. I don't do much stringing, mostly chain and wire work.

HTH!

-- Edited by NylaBelle at 22:09, 2005-12-08

atlgirl · Gucci

Um...what Nyla said. Really, she pretty much covered it. I don't do stringing except for custom requests - I only do wire work, and sometimes incorporate chain if that's the look I want. I love to sit at my table and make the shapes in my mind come to life in metal (I also use sterling - no base metals). I use gemstones as an accent for my designs and because I love color.

As for what gets the most response - that utterly depends on the customer. My Hayes necklace and earrings have been a great seller for me, partly because of the design and partly because of the color combo of blue and brown (I am thinking of offering it next year in alternate colors as well). My Ghislane earrings have been strong sellers for two years now, and show no signs of slowing down. Some of my more "bead heavy" items - larger beads, different look than my metalsmithing - that aren't on my site, also do well. Those are based mostly on color though, since there's no major wireworking involved.

I like to use unusually shaped / colored stones, and don't do much with your basic round bead, except as accents. I think that's part of what draws people to the more bead-heavy stuff: the unusual shapes or the color combinations.

Colors that regularly sell well for me are: blue, purple (amethyst in almost anything is a great seller), pink (tourmaline, soft pinks don't do well for me), green in almost any shade, and black, black, black. I don't usually use black stones in my work (bor-ing!) but I have to say that people snap up anything with black in it. I think that here in the SE U.S. it's a pretty conservative market, so people love black because they don't have to think about what they wear it with. I'm not big on it myself, but then I don't have to wear it. Or see them wearing it. *s*

HTH!