inspiration

I have never been asked where I find the inspiration for my jewelry. Thank goodness.

I'm not more creative in one season compared to another. I don't spend time looking at other shops. I don't read fashion magazines. I don't love food (making or eating!) so I don't derive ideas from creative meals, and produce in the fields.

I do, however, love colour. Simple as that *.

I like to think that I have a keen sense of style - and I just know what looks good. I've been known to wallpaper my wall, and three months later, my paper selection is in on the cover of a furniture catalogue.

Here is an example of how my brain works, using my most recent long, asymmetrical necklace:


I recently ordered some beads on-line. Not having many bead shop options in my city, I now find myself strolling through on-line shops. The trouble with this, is that there is no instant gratification! I can't caress the beads or roll them around in my hands. I can't sit and admire their colourful goodness.

So instead of planning in real time, as I would have, had I shopped in bricks and mortar, I dream about them. What will I create with the beads, soon to arrive in my mailbox? What combinations will I choose?

My latest purchase has two colour tones that I don't usually work with: peach and purple...eggplant to be more specific. In the nights leading up to the package arrival, I fell asleep imaging my new peach and eggplant necklace.

*I have design training, which I apply to my jewlerly

into the sunset Prairie Girl

The final necklace, featuring my fave wood teardrop shaped pendant is off to a new home. Four great necklaces now have new homes in Winnipeg, Bowmanville, and even one in Texas.

If you work your way clockwise from the top left corner of the collage, you can experience the evolution of not only my photography - but the inspiration behind "Prairie Girl" as well.

I've had fun.

coconut

Why not go nuts for coconut?

There is little waste from a coconut: milk, oil, fruit, shells...

For years, the shells have been used for making jewelry: necklaces, earrings, pendants, rings.

Coconut can also be used to make gorgeous accessories like this PURSE

But for emmsgems, coconut is all about the beads...and buttons!

Coconut Button Earrings

Back to School

It's that time of year again...Back to School! Time to load up on supplies, and refresh your child's wardrobe.

Here are a few suggestions from emmsgems for Back to School Coolness:

How about a reusable lunch and snack bag from WasteNotSacks

Or a little pouch to hold supplies from Kukubee

And when the day is done, when it's time to wash the day away, why not enjoy a soap treat?

Donuts, popsicles and ice cream soap treats from CarvelCountrySoaps



next up...

First, there were big and chunky bracelets. Now, I am all about long, asymmetrical necklaces.

*but don't shed any tears, chunky bracelets are still being churned out, as are all of my other goodies!

These necklaces have all the same goodies: wood (including exotic woods!), gemstones (like the turquoise pictured in the above necklace), glass, and a new material for me...resin (unlike Amber).


Fall is coming and long necklaces sure do spice up collared shirts and turtle necks!

another covert operation

Here is another great thing about Etsy...

Anyone who belongs to Etsy, as either a buyer or a seller, can create a list of "Favorites". That is, when you see an item that you like, you can mark it and return to it at any time, say...when you are ready to buy it. Part of your profile, is a page of "Favorites".

The great thing about this, is not only does it make shopping easier, (no more searching for the scrap of paper where you wrote down obscure names and numbers, that when looked at later, mean nothing to you) but it is viewable by anyone who knows your username.

But easy shopping for yourself isn't the only great part - your favorites can act as a list to your friends who want to buy you a gift!

I was excited when this message came attached to a recent purchase, "This necklace is for a friend of mine. I saw that she had "hearted" it, so I bought it for her..."

*"hearting" is what you do when you add something to your "favorites"

How awesome is that?! Selecting a gift, handmade at that, that you know someone has had their eye on, without having to ask them!

Now, the only obscure words on that scrap of paper will be your friends usernames!

we were highlighted!

Etsy has their own blog, The Storque .

From here, you can find your way to an article on just about anything craft, vintage, handmade, or Etsy related. It is updated frequently, and even includes some nifty articles for Etsy sellers on how to best promote and arrange their shop for optimum exposure and sales.

A selection under the "Shopping" categor
y of articles includes "Etsy Finds". The admin behind Etsy shop for you! They find what's hot in Etsy shops, and bring it forward in this column for you to see.

Yesterday's column was all about accessorizing yourself... Access Yourself

Check it out, and scroll on down to the belts, bracelets, and shoes section, and there you will find...emmsgems!

Oh, and if you love this stacked bracelet, I'm sorry but it has since sold. However, emmsgems has oodles of other bracelets and funky jewelry!

At this time, I am unable to find an exact number of total shops on Etsy. But I can say this, shop numbers are in the hundreds of thousands. And if you like numbers, here are some more:

The shop with the most sales (not including findings and beads): The Black Apple (art prints) has 24, 177
#2 is Dennis Anderson (bath and body) at 19, 139

Sales for the Etsy world in June 2009 were $12.8 million

1,315,547 new items were listed in June 2009
Welcome to emmsgems! This is my place for colour, design, creators, and fun!
 
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