I'm Baaack!

Yea, I fell off the face of the earth for a bit. Raising 3 young kids and running my business takes pretty much all of my time. Hopefully in 2010 I will be able to devote more time to posting. I have some great artists lined up for features and I hate that I haven't gotten them up yet, but I want to be sure I give them a proper feature!

As we all know the holidays are frighteningly close. I am having my last "BOGO" this weekend, it ends today. When you purchase any item from Bare Metal Designs, you will receive a pair of Silver Nugget Earrings for free! $18 value, nothing to sneeze at in my book! They are great little studs that are perfect for everyday yet have enough sparkle from the texture to dress up something a bit more fancy.

No need to add them to your shopping cart, they will automatically be included with your order. How is that for a nice little freebie?!

Balance...

is something I am looking for! I thought things would be "easier" once fall came, routines started and the carefree way of summer was over for another year. I am finding it tricky to get in a new groove. It may be that I am more focused than ever on my business so that obviously adds a new level of pressure and stress, even if self-imposed. I am a driven, stubborn minded person and set goals for myself that I am determined to reach.
So balance for me is an ongoing dance, balancing kids, my husband, keeping the house running and getting my business out there even more than it is.

One thing that is a constant and helps me ground myself is creating. I love to design, it clears my mind and reminds me of who I am. As a jewelry designer it is rewarding to create a piece that someone will wear and cherish as it clearly is a very personal item. When you buy it, it is because it is connecting with you on some level. A sale never hurts but if you love it you will get it even if the price is a bit of a stretch. If it is beyond your means you will never forget that piece even though it is not yours. When I look at the pieces I have created I can clearly remember what I was doing at that point in my life, why it was created, what inspired me. Sometimes the obvious theme doesn't hit me until later, I may love the piece, give it a name and talk about it but it could be weeks to months later I look back and see something so clear in it that I can't believe I didn't see before. It is therapy creating, as an artist you are putting yourself in the items you create, and giving little bits of you to the recipient.

My latest piece that is part of a larger collection is called Balance and this time it was pretty clear and immediate what the inspiration for it is.

Holidays already?

Fall is in the air...sort of. It was earlier this week, I had the kids in long sleeve shirts and pants and the weather was perfect, not hot but slightly warm with a nice breeze. I have failed to check the weather report since early this week and assumed it would be like that all week. So, this morning my poor kids were a tad hot in their too warm clothing, as was I. However, I won't complain as we are on the tail end of this kind of weather. I love fall, it is such a wonderful season to be in New England for. All the colors changing every where is so vibrant and inspiring.

Of course that means any retail place you set foot in will be decked out in spirit of fall and Halloween maybe even a few Thanksgiving themes are already out. It is kind of nice as it puts you in the mindset of things to come and look forward to. It does seem that retailers hurry things a bit and I have always understood why, but I do even more so now.

As I gear up for the holidays in hopes that they are a success for Bare Metal Designs. Needing to make sure I have enough supplies on hand to create the items I currently promote as well as any new pieces (which are coming!). On top of all the "little" things that are sometimes easy to forget about like business cards, mailers, and the ever important tape! That is just a few of the many things I am finding myself becoming more aware of and how much of it I have left at any given time.

Also, making sure that I get the word out and promote myself in plenty of time as there will be a cut-off for when I can do custom orders and guarantee they will arrive for the holidays. This is where it pays to be prepared like a retail store, the longer you are out there in front of people the better off you will (hopefully) be!

I can make that....

That is what a lot of people say when they see handmade items. I have been guilty of that as well I will admit. In some cases I really could make it, however I never have. I suppose most of us could learn to make many items that we see at shows or in stores that have handcrafted items. The reality is that by the time you get the stuff to make the item and find the extra time, it is so much easier to just support the artist and buy their wares.

Everyone thinks that they can make it cheaper, that may be the situation with some, if say you are looking at a handcrafted wood frame and you are a woodworker with all the tools and know-how. Yeah it might be pretty easy to make a similar item. If you aren't a woodworker you may look at it and say to yourself, that is just wood put together in a rectangle... how hard is that and why are they charging "so much" for it? It is easy to forget that maybe in some crafts the supplies aren't all that expensive but you are also paying for the time and effort put into it. The expertise and design skills, years of experience, all the little expenses that go into running a business no matter how big or small, all need to be factored into the price of an item, on top of the artist paying them self, which in many cases isn't enough. That is another issue in itself, more on that another day...


Another example for me is fabric bags, I love them. Again this is something I think I can make, I have a nice sewing machine, could easily get my hands on some neat material, but I am not the best at sewing. So, yes, I am sure I could make myself a decent bag but sewing isn't something I do everyday. I finally know myself enough to know I am not going to make the tons of crafts that I admire or have dabbled in to the level of quality that the talented artists create.


Most people get started in their craft and find out it is their passion by testing the water after seeing an item they really like that someone else made. I know I have always been interested in making jewelry from when I was little. I started with beaded items and did that for years then in high school had my first taste of making metal jewelry and I was hooked.


This isn't to say that you shouldn't take a shot at trying to make something that you saw. You may do it and love it and voila - you have a new hobby or career! That would be wonderful I am all for people tapping into their creativity but I guess this post is best summed up with... When shopping around for handmade items remember that there is a lot more than a few dollars of supplies being invested in creating what you are looking at. Hopefully when you purchase an item you will keep in mind that you just made an artists day by supporting their craft and livelihood.

Textural Treasury

A woman on Etsy.com named Karen who also has a shop (Mystic Wynd) put together a wonderful treasury of textures. I am honored that she chose to use my Foundation necklace in it.

I think she did a fabulous job, not just because one of my items is in it (!) but because I want to reach out and touch and hold each item. I think it came out really nice.

Although I primarily promote my stand alone site, it is nice to be a part of Etsy, as there are a lot of talented folks on there and it is also a great resource to connect with others in the field. Especially when the majority of us work out of our homes, there isn't an office full of people to chat with and bounce ideas off of. Although I have been known to ask my 4 year old his opinion of different pieces, kids are honest and direct, gotta love that!

Check out http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=65070 to view the treasury.

Something New....

There will be some new features coming soon! Although I started this blog to discuss my own work and little tidbits, I would like to feature other artists as well. People who do their craft well and have a unique look. I am excited to get to know these artists better and hope you will too.

Keeping up...

OK, I am not the best at this blogging bit... I will try to be better - I hope!

I have been busy making new pieces, taking pictures and keeping up with what is going on in the market. There aren't quite enough hours in the day though! With 3 little ones right now large chunks of creative time is hard to find. However, when I do get the chance I don't waste it as there is plenty to do. My sketch book and piles of random paper with drawings and ideas on the back is always at my fingertips when it is time to hit the studio.

Here is one of my new necklaces, it is simply called "Foundation" as I think it is a great go to piece. It works well with any outfit and comes in a 16" and 18" length. I could play with patina's all day long as the options are endless. You can really give a piece personality by adding a patina. This one is a darkened one and it will not rub off on you or your clothing.

A little Feature...

Aside from my regular online store I also have a store on Etsy.com. I was notified by a nice woman named Rachael that she chose a necklace of mine to feature in her Treasury. It was my sterling silver and vintage mother of pearl necklace. Here is a picture of part of the treasury. She is the creator of the neat Button Bouquet that is to the left of my necklace. To see my necklace you can view it at: http://www.baremetaldesigns.bigcartel.com/product/button-necklace

Back at it...

Ok, so it has been awhile and I am not sure still what this blog will become, however, right now I will use it to show my latest bracelet. I love it and hope you will as well.

It is full of circles, a timeless and classic design element. This piece is completed with a satin finish that reflects the light so nicely and has a soft feel to it. The larger circles are covered with a random dot pattern and link together with the little donut shaped circles.

Let me know what you think

So many ideas, so little time!

I haven't been in the studio in a few days and it is taking it's toll on me! I am bursting with new ideas and need to get them out. Stay tuned for some new designs on my sites and until then Happy Mother's Day :-)

Crafty Metal Mama

A little more info...

If you stumble on this little beginning of a blog, please take a moment to check out my other sites....

www.bare-metaldesigns.com and www.baremetaldesigns.etsy.com here you will see some of my jewelry. There is a lot more to come, some being created now and some dying to get out of my mind, off the paper and into metal form!

Let me know what you think!

Here you may find all sorts of interesting tidbits... from the best price I have found for diapers, to a fun project to make or the lastest pieces I am working myself. I am excited as to what may show up on here as I am not sure at this point how this will all go! I hope you will find something interesting on here when you stop by!

A New Beginning

This is all new to me. But why not try? I am not sure what this will become or evolve into but time will tell that and feel free to join me for the ride!