Team Filigree

2011-09-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

This is one of my first enameled pieces using UTEE. I had a great time making this one, first setting a base with paint, then using brightly colored alcohol inks, and then melting the UTEE on top. The picture really doesn't show the full dimension of the vibrancy of this one!http://www.etsy.com/listing/81817403/celestial-necklace-moon-and-star

With the recent flood disaster in Australia!

2011-01-15T20:11:00.000-08:00

With the recent flooding that has hit 3/4 of the state of Queensland, Australia where i live i just want to let the Team Filigree know that the DUST Team on Etsy that i also belong too has opened up the AusDisasterRelief Appeal Etsy shop to help raise much needed money for those who have been effected. All proceeds are going to the The Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

My hometown of Rockhampton has also been effected by this disaster. We are also now in recovery mode.

Here is the link on how to donate if you wish.

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6743503&page=1

Here is also a link of the shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AusDisasterRelief

Here is the facebook page also. http://www.facebook.com/etsyfloodappeal

Thanks for taking a look Kathy (aka SecretJewellz)

Vintaj Design Challenge due November 12!

2010-11-08T07:20:00.000-08:00

Our November theme is "Wandering Journey." How will you interpret our theme? Entries are due by noon CT on Friday November 12 and the polls open Nov. 13.
Email your entry to us at challenge@vintaj.com to participate and visit our blog for more information!

2010-09-27T23:35:00.000-07:00

The Forgotten Flower Bracelet

2010-07-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love to design with patinaed items. This bracelet combines my love of filigree with the "old" look of patina. The flower came in several parts and was fun to assemble... overall, this was a very fun design project...when combined with the little flowered dangles, I think it is simply charming.

Vintaj 2 Day Comprehensive Workshop

2010-07-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

Visit the Vintaj Blog for registration information! Hope you can join us!

Off for Summer

2010-06-08T08:40:00.001-07:00

´*•.¸(´*•.¸*¸.•*´)¸.•*´
***Lustrous***
¸.•*´(¸.•*´*´*•.¸)´*•.¸

School is out and I will have more time to devote to my designs. Starting out with some lustrous color!

The Tudors Inspired Necklace

2010-06-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

Hi all, i have been watching the Tudors on dvd and got inspired to make this cross filigree necklace. Hope you all like it. Kathy

http://secretjewellz.etsy.com

Latest News from Vintaj!

2010-04-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

We've been giving our blog at Vintaj Natural Brass a makeover!

Visit our Design Challenges page to see our present and upcoming challenges. Our next challenge is Daffodil Walkway. The photo above, taken by George Bookless, is promoting the Daffodil Festival here in Galena May 1-3. How does this inspire you?

We also have a fairly new Daily Giveaway where by commenting on any Vintaj blog post, you enter a chance to win free products!

We introduced our new Education page. In March we hosted our first workshop here in Galena, IL. In this workshop our Director of Education and Lead Designer, Jess Italia Lincoln demonstrated how to make an Altered Journal Necklace using several techniques. We are hosting the same workshop again on June 14, click HERE for details!

We are always on the lookout for new ideas and inspiration. Please visit our Facebook Fan Page and we hope you are following us on Twitter. We love to see your photos and it's a great place to interact with other designers!

Happy Designing!

Betsy

betsy@vintaj.com

Top 100 Jewelry Artist Sites

2010-04-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

Top 100 Jewelry Artist Sites

Coming Home - Getting Back to Work!

2010-01-04T17:37:00.001-08:00

¨¨¨¨¨¨°º©©º°¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨°º©©º°¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨°º©©º°¨¨¨¨¨¨

The holidays are over and I am just getting back to listing some new creations......feels good, really good! Lots of snow in central Ohio this week although we didn't have any on Christmas Day. Hoping that everyone had some very happy and memorable holidays! My oldest son's birthday is today so no more celebrations until February when my youngest son and I have our birthdays!

Adore By Nat: Spotted Tuesday: Jingle Bells

2009-12-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

If you are ever looking to feature someone I would be happy to do a giveaway, and a gift to the blogger! :)

Donna
www.dryan327.etsy.com

Vintaj Order

2009-11-12T04:44:00.000-08:00

Would anyone be interested in combining a Vintaj Natural Brass order with me? I don't need to order the required minimum of $200 so I thought maybe others out there might just need a few things and we could combine our order. I could do a reserved listing in my shop at DreamGirlBeads.etsy.com and take your PayPal payment then ship your order out when I receive the Vintaj order in the mail. Let me know asap. Please log in to my shop at DreeamGirlBeads.etsy.com and convo me your order.
Blessings, Marta

Purple Toes Jewelry by DRyan327: Purple Toes Jewelry

2009-10-16T23:56:00.000-07:00

Purple Toes Jewelry by DRyan327: Purple Toes Jewelry

NEW! Designers Search Page

2009-10-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

Now listed on our Where to Buy Page through the Designers search option! This a great way for us to showcase your designs through our site. Designers you can add a photo of one of your Vintaj projects, along with your name and website link to your account profile. Automatically our system will display your info onto our site! Your photo will directly link to your website and you can change your photo as often as you like.

Here is how you set up your photo and web link:

Log into “My Profile”.
Confirm your profile information, including URL. This is important because whatever URL you have entered will be where your photo is linked to.
Switch your designer listing to “Yes”. This may be switched on and off as often as you like.
Upload your photo. (This new feature is designed to crunch any photo down to the needed size so you don’t have to worry about that when you upload it onto your profile.)
Click “Update” to add your profile to our Designers search page!

Let us know how this new feature works for you. If you have any additional questions, please email us at info@vintaj.com. **Helpful screen shots below.

...

Entries Wanted!!

2009-09-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

Take your interpretation of Orchard’s Palette and create an inspiring piece using Vintaj Natural Brass! FYI, design challenges are not limited to jewelry – we are now excepting all altered art, journals, and scrapbooking projects that incorporate Vintaj too! CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!!

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST!! on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

2009-08-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something thrilling this way comes".

A collective effort between Eclettica with Courtney Love, CocardesandCorsetry, Liaison, Louise Black and RavenEve is poised to debut.

Come September 2009, the world's our stage."

Get your Vote on!!

2009-08-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

Vintaj's Design Challenge "Indian Summer" is taking place right now! If you are looking for inspiration you must check it out. 17 designers have submitted their jewelry for your vote! Read their inspiration for their piece and pick your favorite. Anyone can vote from now until August 17th - so what are you waiting for - CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

How are you feeling today?

2009-08-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

Romantic?

Adventurous?

Or festive?

Paris Necklace

2009-08-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

I had fun designing this new necklace

with Vintaj's new bamboo edge pendant.

Etsy Supply Street team is having a sale!

2009-07-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for some great deals on supplies? Come by this weekend, August 1-2 to Etsy and search ESST to find what you're looking for and maybe even something you didn't know you were looking for!

Wonderful opportunity to stock up on beads, filigree, findings, sewing items, tools, and more!
Check out the ESST home page for current information and listings of supply shops.
See you all there!

I've Been Making Lockets

2009-07-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

I've been making lots of lockets lately. Ones with pictures and also ones with brass stampings.
Here is a Calla Lilly one and a picture one of the Eiffel Tower and a dragonfly. I have been really enjoying this part of jewelry making.

http://secretjewellz.etsy.com

IN THE GARDEN OF SINGING FLOWERS by ECLETTICA by eclettica on Etsy

2009-07-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

'Little bread-and-butterflies kiss the tulips
And the sun is like a toy balloon
There are get-up-in-the-morning glories
In the golden afternoon.
There are dizzy daffodils on the hillside
Strings of violets are all in tune
Tiger lilies love the dandelions
In the golden afternoon.
There are dogs and caterpillars and a copper centipede
Where the lazy daisies love the very peaceful life
They lead...
You can learn a lot of things from the flowers
For especially in the month of June
There's a wealth of happiness and romance
All in the golden afternoon'

Yes, I too am eagerly awaiting Mr Burton's rendition of Alice In The Wonderland. And in anticipation, I find myself being incredibly inspired by that exotic and very beautiful (if somewhat catty) garden of singing flowers upon which Alice stumbled as she traversed across Wonderland in pursuit of the White Rabbit."

Vintage with a twist-revisted

2009-07-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

Well I haven't posted here in awhile, or have made anything new lately with brass. But a friend just asked me about a couple of pieces, so as I looked through my brass items, I figured, why not show some off here too? So enjoy! BTW: some are on sale too!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10842323

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12428978

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13366612

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17527477

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16824164

Fun with bead caps

2009-07-02T07:14:00.000-07:00

After rescuing these green mother of pearl discs from a broken purse handle, I decided to flatten the floral brass caps and incorporate them in this design. I put them on long brass kidney wires, so they are long and lightweight. Simple and fun to wear.

Debbie - TheBrassHussy

Help Wanted

2009-07-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

I would really appreciate any ideas, suggestions or criticism anyone cares to share with me, regarding my etsy shop. Sales are so disappointing and I have no clue besides the economy what I'm doing wrong. I visit other shops and notice their sales are huge compared to mine. I've joined facebook, twitter, I blog and leave comments on other blogs including etsy and heart other shops. I keep in contact with customers, send a free gift with their nicely wrapped purchase, I must be missing something.
If you can spare the time to visit my shop and give me any advice I be so grateful.
Blessings to all, Marta Weaver Jewelry http://martaweaverjewelry.etsy.com

Flamboyant Peacock Earrings

2009-06-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Purple and blue......my two favorite colors!

Woodland Wristlet

2009-06-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

I loved trying out my own technique for "weaving" beads into clusters through the noodles. It is rather "cuffish" when worn, but still delicate with its feminine details.

While I Was Out....

2009-06-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

I dreamt of dragonflies...

It's been a while since I've been in the studio due to an arm injury. But this weekend, I did some reorganizing in the studio and finally took the plunge to create some new pieces. My last design session was in February ~ over four months ago. Made with a decoupaged pendant and some of my favorite brass components, I really had fun designing this one. I love the perky colors!

Here's another that features my favorite winged insect. I think I like it because it reminds me of the woods. I love the cool greens.

Leather and Lace

2009-06-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

This is one of my less complicated designs, but I like it for its simplicity and structure.

Caribbean Sunshine

2009-06-10T09:27:00.001-07:00

These earrings feature Swarovski ultra light blue rivoli crystal glass stones. I only have one of these stones left in my coveted stash. These pictures were taken using my new DSLR camera with a macro lens. I am in my trial and error stage and hope to determine the best F stop/shutter speed combination that works best. Photography is a great passion for me. Years ago, my husband and I had a darkroom in our home and developed our own black and whites. Good memories there!

Filigree Brass Wrapped Czech Bird Art Glass Button Necklace (Coming Home)

2009-05-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

♥Coming Home♥

The focal on this beautiful necklace is a Czech, fired crystal Bird Art Glass button. I just fell in love with it! I was finally able to find a few more of these! This is a little different version than I have done in the past. It is wrapped in filigree brass.

This particular button is back after 120 years. The button was made from a 19th century, old mold. It was hand crafted in the Czech Republic and was hand pressed and hand painted using original czech methods that haven't changed in over two hundred years. The necklace was finished with a filigree repousse clasp.

Got Time?

2009-04-26T05:54:00.001-07:00

We have a new treasury!

Please follow this link to view it all.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=51809

Purple Haze Necklace and Earrings - Katofmanycolors

2009-04-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Spring break is over and I am starting to list in my shop again. I love the colors in the Swarovski Volcano stones. They flash the most glorious colors! I am calling them: Purple Haze Necklace and Purple Haze Earrings.

Summer's coming

2009-04-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

It's time to get your anklets!

I'm on a mission

2009-04-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

I refuse to do nothing. I want to make a difference in someone else's life. For the entire month of April, I will be donating 100% of my Etsy shop's sales to Joyce Meyer Ministries world missions. I have asked other shops to participate as well. Please go to this blog post and watch the video clips.

http://devinedesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/2009/03/im-on-mission.html

This is what I can do. Now I need your help. If you would like to get involved, please contact me, or visit my shop: http://www.devinedesignsjewelry.etsy.com
Thank you!
"Indifference makes an excuse, love finds a way" ~Joyce Meyer

2009-03-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Filigree Team Member, I said a heartfelt prayer for you today, For God to protect you on life's way. I asked Him to fill you with joy and peace, and love in abundance that will never cease, May He refresh and encourage you hour after hour, May your soul feel nourished and your Etsy business flourish! May new customers continue to flow and your Paypal accountant be filled with dough! I prayed that my words would make you smile and that we'll all be featured in the next issue of "Style." Now go to my new blog and leave a comment and give your opinion about my content!

A name please?

2009-03-25T13:02:00.001-07:00

I just created this necklace, and I usually come up with a name, or should I say, that a name usually comes to me. How about it? Any suggestions?

Blue Finery - Brass Filigree Wrapped Glass Necklace

2009-03-10T10:01:00.001-07:00

Here is another design for the "FRESH INSPIRATION", March challenge.

This is a unique brass and glass necklace with a strong feeling from the past. I love playing with different shapes and colors so this necklace was a joy to create! It has been completed with a repousse clasp.

The Muse

2009-03-05T05:09:00.000-08:00

Here's my "FRESH INSPIRATION" piece for the March Challenge. I must say, alot of planning went into this piece. I've had these polymer clay beads around since last year sometime, finally putting them into a jewelry piece!

These interesting polymer clay beads were made by "Random Star" (shop on Etsy). Very pretty, springtime colors! I really like the mint green color of the beads.

I used the waterlily toggle, a couple of different beads caps to accent the beads, and couple of different chains for texture. Mint green freshwater pearls, and a rather large green adventurine donut with the Ornate Wreath filigree to finish the pendant. Enjoy my inspiration!

2009-03-04T18:42:00.001-08:00

My boyfriend (Nightmare!) and I let each other pick out an item off Etsy for Valentine's day and this is what we got!

Anti-Valentine necklace & Nocturne Victorian Black Tattoo Ring

We are SOOO happy with our gifts to each other lol. Also she included a little promo pack for the Dark Side - beautiful business cards, an awesome magnet, soap from AgonysDecay (which smells AMAZING) and lip gloss from MrsEvils (which I'm so bummed she doesn't actually sell - it's the best thing I've ever put on my lips!).

We sent her a message the day we purchased explaining that they were Valentine's gifts to ourselves. Bellalili was quick to respond and let me know the tracking info the day everything was shipped. Our items were purchased on 2/14 and received it on 2/23. I think the post office screwed up though because I checked the tracking and it was 'stuck' at a town an hour away for 3 days!! The items arrived safe and secure thanks to the excellent packaging. The tins she uses to ship the items in are ADORABLE! We will definitely be using them to store craft items/beads in.

The necklace and ring were not only very, very reasonably priced they are BEAUTIFUL, even better than the pictures,especially the ring. There are so many details to it that were not captured perfectly by the photos! I definitely plan on visiting her shop again!

What a great order/package!! Thanks so much BellaLili!

~NightmareAnthology

2009-03-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

I have been very busy lately!! My family has wondered where I am!! What have I been doing? making jewelry of course!! Oh, I am so in love with Vintaj brass, it makes me happy:)) I really love the creative hoops, and I think the pastel colors are perfect for Spring, what do you think???

March design challenge: Fresh Inspriartion

2009-02-25T12:18:00.000-08:00

Fresh Inspriartion can be anything you interpret. Do you have some new beads you have been dying to use? How about a new technique or some colorful Spring combos sure to inspire? The possibilities are endless! Create your Fresh Inspriartion designs and have them posted by March 14. We can all use some fresh ideas every now and then so this should be a great opportunity for us to share our newest designs.
I can not wait to see how everyone interprets this challenge!

Hawaiian Breeze

2009-02-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

I find everything about making jewelry fun. My favorite materials to work with are lampworked glass, natural stones, silver, and Vintaj Natural Brass. I have just started my shop at Etsy and am working to get photographs uploaded there.

When I discovered lampworked beads by Grace, I fell in love with her work and style. I was so excited to see that my next discovery, Vintaj Natural Brass, works so well with these beautiful beads. As a matter of fact, a beautiful lampworked bead begs to be paired with brass filigree and rustic looking chains. The contrast is stunning!

I let each bead talk to me telling me about how it would like to be dressed up. For example Hawaiian Breeze has been begging me to let it go to Hawaii. Who knows perhaps someday it will. The turtle and turquoise crystals are reminiscent of the snorkling cites on many of the Hawaiian beaches.

Filigree and Brass

2009-02-20T17:43:00.000-08:00

What a combination! All I can think about when I am creating is romance and romantic jewelry, I get those feelings of frill and being girlie when I look at my supplies from Vintaj Natural Brass.I just get this feeling of love and beauty as I start to create. I love creating with them I know that what ever I make it is going to be romantic and I am going to love it.

Check out more at www.wearteresajane.etsy.com

Whispered Romance - Time to Vote!

2009-02-11T06:32:00.000-08:00

I entered these pink earrings in the Vintaj Design Challenge. They are item #12. Please check out the Challengelink below and vote for item #12 if you think they should be the winner!

If any other team members entered the Challenge, please post your item here too!

Thanks, Debbie http://vintaj.com/wpblog/?p=1135

Go Marta!

2009-01-30T17:28:00.000-08:00

I logged into Etsy just now and noticed a fellow team-member had made the Etsy home page featured spot! Go Marta!

It's so Zen for me

2009-01-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

Brass, filigree, Zen I say? You might wonder why I say this? Well, I really don't know what it is about brass, but I do find something so satisfying working with it. I just can't wait to receive a new shipment of brass findings. I love all the details in the filigree work. The tiny little patterns, the foliage, scrolls; just so much to admire. There's a little bit of mystery too.
I find that to my liking, I have to polish all my brass to a nice bright golden color.

I take my tube on MAAS creme and a soft cloth and polish, polish away, until I get a color that I like. Now, just look at all the details you can see now.

I like the "feel" of the brass after it is polished. It's so soft. Plus you're helping to protect the life of your brass jewelry as well.

Brass jewelry can be an affordable alternative to gold. If you like gold jewelry and don't want to break the bank, consider brass, especially if it's highly polished brass! It shines like gold.
I'm also attracted to the nostalgia look of brass filigree jewelry. I think it's a trend that on the up rise. "Everything old is new again." It takes me back to a time when life was simpler, and times were different. Start your own brass trend today!

Ornate Bracelets

2009-01-03T12:45:00.000-08:00

Happy 2009!

Success! We have a treasury listing!

2008-12-31T15:03:00.000-08:00

And it starts with this:

Steampunk gothic cuff watch by Aranwen
Go to: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=29998 to view this treasury!

2008-12-23T09:02:00.001-08:00

~these are a few of my favorite things~

2008-12-23T06:49:00.000-08:00

"Mallory" by Buddhalicious designs

"Journeys Never End" by Secret Jewellz

"Van Gogh Acrons" by Catnip studio

"Olives in Lace" by Vintage Filigree

"Olivine Bohemian Rhapsody" by Marta Weaver Jewelry

"My Treasures" by Katofmanycolors

"Romancing the Stone" by Renee Sumner

"Bee Calm" by Larson design studio

"Green Sparrow" by Gingeroni1

"Peridot pear glass jewels with lovebirds" by The Brass Hussy

Black Friday through Cyber Monday

2008-11-27T06:11:00.000-08:00

Many shop on Etsy will be having great sales for this weekend. Please stop by and support our shops. Buy handmade!
Devine Designs Jewelry:
BLACK FRIDAY THROUGH CYBER MONDAY:
********30% off all necklaces
********20% off all bracelets
********BOGO: Buy one pair of earrings, get the second at 50%off
********FREE SHIPPING on orders over $75.00

NEW LOOK!

2008-11-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

What do you think? Here are some of the new features:

With our new layout I was able to display a direct link to our team’s profile page on Etsy. This image link is located in the orange box near the top of the blog. Just something that makes our blog a little more friendly to bloggers who are not familiar with our team.
Another interesting feature added to the blog is an image link to one of our blog treasuries. I encourage you to create team treasuries often so that I can link to them. I am hoping to keep this link a rotating feature- again another thing to help keep the blog fresh.
A fellow member suggested we add a RSS feed to the blog for those who follow the blog to subscribe to. Well ask and you shall receive! We now have a RSS feed for our posts and comments.

Welcome new Etsy Filigree shop

2008-11-19T12:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Devine Designs Jewelry on Etsy, one of the many filigree team members! Here's a few new items available in my shop:

If you'd like to see more, stop by my shop: http://devinedesignsjewelry.etsy.com.

Opal Fire

2008-11-14T13:24:00.000-08:00

What can I say......color your world!

Beyond Dreams

2008-11-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

A true dream of a necklace with a whimsical and vintage feel. Displaying a pretty blue Czech glass butterfly cradled in brass and also embellished with a sweet, brass dragonfly.

Baubles for the Birds

2008-11-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

Turquoise Ear Trinkets

2008-11-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

White

2008-10-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

Dream of Fairy Dust

2008-09-14T20:41:00.000-07:00

Attar of Dreams - fatalattraction.etsy.com

2008-09-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

Graceful Dreams by Larson Design Studio

2008-09-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

Dreaming in Color

2008-09-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

Very Colorful Brass Wrapped Czech Button Glass Necklace

In My Garden Dream Challenge

2008-09-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

By Gingeroni1

Dragonfly Dreams

2008-09-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

By Vintaj
I thought this one was perfect for our challenge!

Golden

2008-09-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

Elegant Evening Dreams

2008-09-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

On My Wishlist!

2008-09-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

Team Treasury

2008-08-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

HOT!!!

Team Treasury

2008-08-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

These are a few of my favorite things!

Team Treasury

2008-08-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

Lavender Sky

More Marketing Tips

2008-07-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

I've found that the social networks, while they do work, have only been so-so for me personally. My best marketing has come from advertising specials and giveaways on websites like http://www.indieshopping.com/, http://www.modish.com/ and http://www.indiepublic.com/.

Indieshopping.com and Modish.com both have prize package giveaways each month and if you send in one of your items and they choose it for a giveaway, your name and link is mentioned on their website.

Indiepublic.com has a contests and deals page where you can list your contest or sale for free. It has been a nice tool for me to get visitors.

Ingemnuity

Marketing Tips

2008-07-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

Social Networks - this is one of our best online marketing tools. We presently list images and descriptions of our new work on four different social websites. These sites feature handcrafted art, jewelry and fashion. Our etsy shop views have risen steadily due to the traffic from these networking websites.

Online - we list our business and contact info on many (free) high traffic business listing sites, in addition to maintaining our own www. website.

Biz Cards and Half Page Flyer - we hand them out, tack them up to bulletin boards, leave them everywhere and enclose them with any business communication we send out. From time to time, we insert a discount offer into the flyer.

Fundraiser Donations - this has given us a strong sales return for the materials cost of whatever piece we donate to the cause. We donate to three of our favorite non-profit arts org's throughout the year. These specific fundraisers attract supporters who contact us after the fundraiser to buy from our already mades and/or place custom orders.

Press Kit - we have a mini-press kit, which we send out to a select group of magazine and fashion column editors when we are debuting new collections or smaller sets of new pieces.

Articles - we submit written articles to various publications - online and hardcopy. Some written by us, some written by interviewers.

Private Jewelry Showings - we do special showings for our buyers at the location of their choice. Our private showing hostess receives a piece of jewelry from our collections for setting up a show with her group of guests. This is a great personalized marketing tool. The word of mouth marketing from this is worth it's weight in gold!

Etsy - at this point in our economic times, having a good selection of items priced $35 and under seems to be key to making sales. This is an area of our shop that we're presently working on.

Marketing Tips

2008-07-21T05:51:00.000-07:00

I'm still developing my web presence. The best places I have found for marketing are Etsy Treasuries.

Some of the other teams I am create treasuries frequently. If every team member clicks on each item and leaves a comment, you can sometimes get the list to the first page. As long as I have items at a price point of under $25, I do make sales from treasuries.

That's my marketing tip !

Debbie
http://thebrasshussy.etsy.com/

Marketing Tips

2008-07-19T18:59:00.000-07:00

I am so new I feel silly even posting on this topic. I am still learning from everybody else :-). Anyway, things that seem to work for me are:

* Posting to the Forums.

* Getting a spot on the Jewelry Showcase.

Even though neither of these has actually led to a sale, it does get my shop noticed and will hopefully bring people in - to buy - later.

I look forward to learning from all of you. Thanks for all the great tips that have already been posted.

Gingeroni1's Marketing Tips

2008-07-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

I have a few thing's that I do that seem to help market my shop.

1) I do a business card swap with three other Etsy shop's we send each other business card's or some kind of coupon. What I do Is a small 1/2 the size of a business card with either 10% off or free shipping I make sure I have a code on them so I can track them.

2) I add a special thank you card. These are pre printed card's that basically say. Thank you for shopping with me. Please enjoy 10% off your next purchase and I have my shop name on them and address I don't really have to add a code to these because I can track where they are coming from.

Marketing tips...

2008-07-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Helpful sites, courtesy of DRYAN327!

http://www.myspace.com
http://www.blujay.com
http://www.flickr.com
http://www.yahoo.com
http://www.craigslist.org
http://www.designstolove.com/
http://diydivas.myfastforum.org/index.php
http://www.livejournal.com/
http://www.boutiquecafe.com/home/
http://jewelrygalore.top-site-list.com/
http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/
http://funkymodshoppes.gotop100.com/index12.html
http://www.rebeccasbookden.com/etsy.html

Studio a la Mode's Marketing Tips

2008-07-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

Living in a small town, I've found that we are often afforded courtesies not available in metro markets. Some ideas that work here are as follows:

1) The library has a showcase that changes monthly. I am on the list to display my jewelry along with a few of the library's jewelry design books. This will give me exposure to people who might not otherwise know about my jewelry. I have also donated several jewelry design books that I no longer need or want with my information stamped in the front of the book. Many libraries display collections - while you may not be able to "sell" there, showcasing your jewelry could bring you new customers.

2) Learn how to write a press release and know when to send them out. One example would be writing a press release to let people know you have attended some type of artisan or skills training or convention (PMC, lampwork class, attending Bead & Button, etc.) with a picture of you performing the skill. Be sure to explain a little bit about how you got started and some personal information, as well as where your jewelry is available for purchase.

3) Donate pieces for silent auctions and fund raisers. Be sure to send a bunch of business cards to display next to your item so people know you made the piece and they can take your information.

4) Paid newspaper ads are very expensive -- UNLESS you advertise in the classified section. We have a weekly paper and I have had an ad running on a regular basis. It simply says "One-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry by local jewelry artist. http://www.studioalamode.etsy.com/ or call xxx-xxxx." I have received numerous calls and have picked up some of my best clients for custom work this way. The ads are very inexpensive - like $12.00 a week and they run every two weeks. In fact, I was fortunate to secure a very regular customer who has scheduled an appointment with me every Sunday night for half hour-- and nearly every Sunday night she buys or comissions two or three things. Had I not run the ad, I would not have this customer.

Aquamarine

2008-07-14T10:02:00.000-07:00

The team Aqua challenge is complete and we have some beautiful pieces to show.
In order starting with the top left are the names of the designers and their jewelry:

Catnip Studio: The Weight of Water
Katofmanycolors: Flying Butterflies and Dragonflies
Studio A La Mode: Twisty Misty Blue Green Bracelet
Secret Jewellz: Neptunes Waters Teal Czech Necklace

Thanks to everyone who posted their designs!

Neptunes Waters Teal Czech Necklace

2008-07-02T15:39:00.000-07:00

King Neptunes mythical sea creature riding the ocean seas.

I decided to do something a bit different and i love the teal czech glass beads and daggers.

Antique gold brass sea creature,figaro chain.

Here is a pair of earrings that are made with aqua vintage glass stones called Blue Bay.

And one of my old favorites Through The Window.Hand tooled brass filigree wrapped around a aqua vintage glass stone with brass dragonfly and brass lovebirds.

Studio A La Mode's Aqua

2008-06-26T16:49:00.000-07:00

Ornate brass filigree bead caps, slender tube beads, spikey spacers, and brass pineapple beads of natural brass add an earthy elegance and sophistication to this misty turquoisey bracelet. These lampwork beads were made from copper green moretti glass, which when melted, turns this lovely shade of blue-green. After individually shaping the beads, I rolled them in crushed raku, then returned them to the flame, which has given the effect that these beads were lightly dusted. Pineapple beads are tucked inside the beadcaps for an unusual offset for the bracelet's center.

Katofmanycolors's Aqua

2008-06-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

♥Flying Butterflies and Dragonflies♥

From Katofmanycolors is this beautiful and feminine necklace with added charm! The butterflies are wings up and ready for flight! You can peek through the aqua blue glass jewel and see the filigree layer below!

Catnip Studio's Aqua

2008-06-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

From Catnip Studio, The Weight of Water, earrings of vintage 1950's faceted glass with brass swallows carrying freshwater pearls; Swingset, necklace of carved agate dangling a triple set of Czech windowpane glass beads and Swarovski crystal pearls; and Plume, antique Haviland France Limoges broken china in the Lafayette pattern, accented with Swarovski crystals and vintage molded acrylic rose beads.

AQUA color challenge

2008-06-17T21:09:00.000-07:00

Another simple color challenge for this month. Pair your favorite findings with anything aqua! Silk, ceramics, lampwork glass or enamels, whatever your fancy. Post your Aqua creations by July 4th. Can’t wait to see everyone’s jewelry being that this one of Vintaj’s favorite colors to design with!

Welcome Ameera

2008-06-15T17:35:00.000-07:00

"Looking for something that's unique and makes a statement?"...

Check out our newest member's Etsy shop. Ameera's designs are loaded with bold colors and sophisticated symmetry. We are happy to have her be a part of the Filigree Team and look forward to seeing more of her lovely work.

Pretty in Pink

2008-06-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

The team Pink challenge is complete and we have some beautiful pieces to show.
In order starting with the top left are the names of the designers and their jewelry:

Ingemnuity: Pink Perfection
Katofmanycolors: Coming Home
CatnipStudio: Blush Series
Larson Design Studio: Feeling Pink Series
NancMac: Mucha Pink
OsageGypsy: Peaches and Dreams
Dryan327: Pink Antique Glass Flower Earrings

Thanks to everyone who posted their designs!

Pink Antique Glass Flowers

2008-05-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

Dryan327 has incorporated some wonderful vintage glass flowers into these filigree wrapped earrings and has nailed our color challenge head on. Combining pretty pastel pink with a hot magenta creates an amazing contrast and displays how subtle or intense pink can be. Check out her shop for more lovely designs!

Pink Perfection

2008-05-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

Ingemnuity adds this wonderful Pink Perfection necklace to our team challenge. Full of beauty and grace and adorned with lovely vintage guilloche enamel rhinestone drop. Vintage milk glass twirls, bells and drops with pink art glass vintage beeds enhance this lovely piece.

Rainbow of Filigree

2008-05-28T06:02:00.000-07:00

Picking out a treasury list full of jewels in all colors of the rainbow made my evening last night. I enjoyed seeing all your creations. Please come see what else your Guild members have been working on. http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=47295 Debbie, the Brass Hussy

Mucha Pink

2008-05-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to somehow put a picture into my filigree designs so I've been experimenting with resin. This is my first experiment. I chose this Mucha print because it has a Spring look to it. Swarovski crystals add pink.

Osagegypsy's Peachs and Dreams

2008-05-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

Peachy keen on pink, Marsha from Osagegypsy has created this beautiful necklace for our challenge! Incorporated is a huge peach colored faceted glass focal, wrapped in Vintaj filigree brass. Peach/Pink seed bead strands linked together & light pink pearls thrown in with a parapadscha swarovski crystals hanging from the focal.

Larson Design Studio's Feeling Pink

2008-05-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

Coming Home - Filigree Brass and Czech Bird Button Glass Necklace - Katofmanycolors

2008-05-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

The focal on this beautiful necklace is a Czech, fired crystal Bird Art Glass button. I just fell in love with it! It was wrapped in filigree and then set in a pronged setting. Then, a lacy border of Swarovski light pink crystal glass beads with an aurora borealis finish was added. This particular button is back after 120 years. The button was made from a 19th century, old mold. It was hand crafted in the Czech Republic and was hand pressed and hand painted using original Czech methods that haven't changed in over two hundred years. It was finished with a filigree repousse clasp.

Pink Challenge - Blush Series from Catnip Studio

2008-05-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

Designed with plump, faceted rondelles of cherry quartz, vintage faceted bronze glass, ginger brown peanut chain and elaborate beadcaps. Bracelet also decorated with tigers eye round and oval beads, and milky pink translucent Czech glass druk beads.

Nancy MacArthur: Featured Seller

2008-05-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

SHOP PREVIEW....
Browsing through Nancy’s Etsy shop it was very hard for me to decide which pieces I would include for this interview post. Her shop is full of beautiful vintage designs that are all crafted with skill and include a wonderfully subtle but stunning color palette. Her choice of materials, (brass, silver, old watch faces, crystals and pearls, to name a few) are perfectly presented in each piece. Her passion for design that is more than apparent in her jewelry and her shop is a elegant addition to our Filigree team!

Dragonfly on Carnelian:
A vintage color brass dragonfly is wrapped around faceted carnelian that has a bronze colored pearl drop. The chain and brass connector are aged brass.

Victorian Glass Cabochon:
The centerpiece of this necklace is a black, white and gold pressed glass Victorian cabochon. It is vintage uncirculated stock. It is mounted in a brass filigree setting. Six faceted, glass Czech beads and brass filigree connectors add sparkle and glamour to the piece.

Vintage Watch Necklace:
This necklace is part of a series of "Deconstructed" necklaces. Rather than string everything, Nancy has wire wrapped all of the components to a hammered sterling silver base. Three old watch faces are offset by soft pink, green and rose colored pearls, Swarovski crystals, Czech glass beads and some watch parts. She used sterling silver wire to wrap them to the base. There are two sterling silver chains and one brass chain on each side.

Lapis Necklace:
The centerpiece is a beautiful lapis cabachon. It is mounted in a aged brass finding.

Nancy MacArthur: Featured Shop Interview

2008-05-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

SHOP INTERVIEW...

Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Nancy MacArthur and I live in Goodyear, Arizona. This means
I get to see the Goodyear blimp quite often. And yes, it gets very,
very hot.

Apart from designing things, what do you do?
Unfortunately, my full time job is not designing and selling
jewelry. I work for an insurance company by day and make jewelry at
night. I commute one hour each way to work making for short evenings.
There is never enough time to do all I want.

What first made you want to become an artist?
As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved art. Starting in elementary
school I remember drawing pictures. My goal was always to major in
art, but my parents felt this was not “practical” and refused to help
me with college unless I majored in something they liked - a business
degree was good. So, I took the business courses. Since then I’ve been
struggling with the left and right sides of my brain. I have a
“practical job” which pays my bills. About 10 years ago, I went back
to my hometown in MD to visit family. My mother took me to a store she
just loved and I met Sarah, a jewelry designer. It turned out that
Sarah was closing her shop. Buying her inventory of jewelry findings,
mainly brass, was great therapy as I was going through a divorce. I
spent a fortune shipping it all back to Arziona where it stayed in
boxes till last year. I got side tracked by beading and PMC. When
silver prices started going up, PMC got more expensive. One day I
realized I have boxes of brass findings. Eureka!

Please describe your creative process
Creative Process: Going through baggies of brass, watch parts and
beads to see what grabs me. I get easily sidetracked. I go to the
Tucson Gem show every year which can be diasterous. It took me years
to realize that I need to go with a list in hand and a budget in my
wallet.

Can you offer a tip or two of something you learned in making,
photographing, selling, (etc.) your jewelry that you want to pass on?
When photographing your work, it is extremely important to have
good lighting so your that colors in your pictures are as close to the
original as possible. I invested in photography lighting which has
made a difference. Every time I take a picture I try to learn from it

Technique Skill to share...
When closing jump rings you get a real nice clean
closure when you use two pliers. Hold the jump ring with both pliers,
at the same time rotate the jump ring with both pliers, pushing the
ends together to close the gap, however keep going so the ends just
barely go past each other, then reverse the direction so the ends meet
and close. You should hear a click when you reserve the direction and
they touch. This technique gives you a real tight closing with no gap.

What accomplishments are you most proud of ?
The very first article I submitted for publication in
a beading magazine was accepted. What are those odds.

In ten years I'd like to be...
I would like to be making my living designing, writing
how to articles and selling my designs.

Catnip Studio Intro

2008-05-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

Many thanks for my warm welcome from team admin, and a special thanks to Secretjewellz for encouraging me to request membership! I have long been in awe of filigree jewelry - I came across VintageWithLove's Etsy shop, and realized I was already her customer on another site. She is a gracious, helpful seller, and I adore her art. But I digress. I am also a mosaic artist, primarily with vintage broken china, and I admire silver soldered broken china jewelry. I decided to combine my love of brass filigree and broken china to make my own unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry. Now, everything smaller than a teacup gets my can-I-wrap-filigree-around-it evaluation! Photos show my newest creations with pre-WWII painted mother of pearl shell pieces from Siam (now Thailand). The earrings were bracelet beads, and the necklace was a brooch encased in a soft metal filigree frame. The paint and lacquer on these very vintage pieces is usually in varying degrees of shabbiness, so I suspect they have a very limited appeal. But I love them!

I look forward to our future endeavors as a team, and I'm excited about our PINK color challenge! I am convo and e-mail friendly, eager to learn and improve, and totally believe in sharing information. Until next time, Kathy

PINK color challenge

2008-05-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

“Pink is the color of happiness”...
With springs colors finally in full bloom we are noticing the beautiful colors of the earth coming to life. Create a fresh piece of jewelry this month using one of our favorite fresh colors ‘pink’. The great thing about this color is that it can be either subtle or bold. It can be very feminine if paired with the right materials or it can accent more natural tones. Please post PINK projects starting Monday May 26, so that we can have a collaborative team post done by Friday May 30.

Newbie

2008-04-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, I am new here and I hope to be worthy of this fine company one day! You all do such wonderful work, and I want to learn from you. About me, I am 53 year old empty nester, finally, and I have so many things i want to do....I am raising Gypsy horses and I am an Area Rep for CCI, an exchange student organization, and then jewelry and I try to paint oil paintings of my horses. I love to travel, but don't get to often enough. I want to go to Ireland desperately. I am a believer in the "Artist's Way" book by Julie Cameron, That book got me where i am today, doing all the things I loved to do as a child and incorporating them into my life. Highly recommended book!

That's me, a nut in a nutshell;-)

Team Filigree

With the recent flood disaster in Australia!

Vintaj Design Challenge due November 12!

The Forgotten Flower Bracelet

Vintaj 2 Day Comprehensive Workshop

Off for Summer

The Tudors Inspired Necklace

Latest News from Vintaj!

Top 100 Jewelry Artist Sites

Coming Home - Getting Back to Work!

Adore By Nat: Spotted Tuesday: Jingle Bells

Vintaj Order

Purple Toes Jewelry by DRyan327: Purple Toes Jewelry

NEW! Designers Search Page

Entries Wanted!!

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST!! on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Get your Vote on!!

How are you feeling today?

Paris Necklace

Etsy Supply Street team is having a sale!

I've Been Making Lockets

IN THE GARDEN OF SINGING FLOWERS by ECLETTICA by eclettica on Etsy

Vintage with a twist-revisted

Fun with bead caps

Help Wanted

Flamboyant Peacock Earrings

Woodland Wristlet

While I Was Out....

Leather and Lace

Caribbean Sunshine

Filigree Brass Wrapped Czech Bird Art Glass Button Necklace (Coming Home)

Got Time?

Purple Haze Necklace and Earrings - Katofmanycolors

Summer's coming

I'm on a mission

A name please?

Blue Finery - Brass Filigree Wrapped Glass Necklace

The Muse

March design challenge: Fresh Inspriartion

Hawaiian Breeze

Filigree and Brass

Whispered Romance - Time to Vote!

Go Marta!

It's so Zen for me

Ornate Bracelets

Success! We have a treasury listing!

*~these are a few of my favorite things~*

Black Friday through Cyber Monday

NEW LOOK!

Welcome new Etsy Filigree shop

Opal Fire

Beyond Dreams

Baubles for the Birds

Turquoise Ear Trinkets

White

Dream of Fairy Dust

Attar of Dreams - fatalattraction.etsy.com

Graceful Dreams by Larson Design Studio

Dreaming in Color

In My Garden Dream Challenge

Dragonfly Dreams

Golden

Elegant Evening Dreams

On My Wishlist!

Team Treasury

Team Treasury

Team Treasury

More Marketing Tips

Marketing Tips

Marketing Tips

Marketing Tips

Gingeroni1's Marketing Tips

Marketing tips...

Studio a la Mode's Marketing Tips

Aquamarine

Neptunes Waters Teal Czech Necklace

Studio A La Mode's Aqua

Katofmanycolors's Aqua

Catnip Studio's Aqua

AQUA color challenge

~these are a few of my favorite things~