Bad News, Good News

First, some bad news: I did not win any prizes in Firemountain Gems' jewelry making contest. Two of my wire wrapped jewelry pieces were finalists, but I didn't win any of the big prizes.

Of course I'm disappointed in the outcome, but I'm not disappointed in myself. I put a lot into both necklaces and came up with some creative wire wrapped designs that I hadn't yet tried. And the pieces that did win are gorgeous. Firemountain Gems seems to favor large, chunky pieces and they also seem to really like work that was done with precious metal clay. I'd consider doing a PMC piece except it's a really EXPENSIVE material and I'd hate to use that much for a necklace that may or may not win. So if I decide to enter again next year, I'll probably do some more wire wrapped jewellery. Even if I don't have a chance at winning, I do like the idea of being creative and testing my limits.

One thing that is really cool is that they photographed a judge wearing my necklaces. I hadn't seem them on anyone other than myself, so I enjoyed seeing it displayed

Meanwhile, I do have some good news: On November 18, I'll be selling my jewelry at the Riverdale Temple in Riverdale, NY. I have to get up really early for this show and it'll be a bit of trip getting to the Bronx from Queens, but I'm looking forward to it. I had such a great time selling at Temple Beth-El in Patchogue, NY, so why not participate at another temple fair? I like the intimacy of the set-up; plus, we're getting into the holiday season so people will be eager to buy gifts.

I think that from now on, I'm going to stick with doing smaller fairs and events. I've done some larger ones and those just haven't been as successful for me. I was discussing this with one of my jewelry classmates and she reasoned that vendors can get diluted at larger fairs. Sure, you may have 30,000 people attending, but if there are 300 vendors present, your stand can get lost in the crowd. Also, many people go to big fairs or flea markets just to look and wander, and not to buy. At the smaller events, people are more likely to come up to you and ask questions, and give you a chance to actually make that sale. Besides, the large fairs always ask for an expensive registration fee -- and the sales just haven't been worth it.

This will be my fourth craft fair this fall. My goal is to do three more. We're coming up close on Christmas so this will be a stretch, but if I work hard, I think I can do it.

To purchase my jewellery, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewelry, head to MayaGirl Creations. To purchase my novel, check out REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD.

Big News! Fire Mountain Gems' Jewelry Contest

I have some exciting news to share! Two of the three pieces that I entered into Fire Mountain Gems' jewelry making contest have been accepted into the final round for the wire and metalwork category!

The two that made it into the finals are my Middle Eastern inspired wire wrapped bib necklace and chandelier earring set, Nefertiti's Kiss:

And my modern art-inspired necklace, Try, Tri Again:

My wire wrapped earrings, Pretty In Pink, did NOT make the cut:

I'm SOOOOO happy about making it this far!!!! I was hoping to get one entry into the finals and was banking on the wire wrapped jewelry set to make it. So I'm thrilled that two pieces of mine have made it. Obviously, I'd love to win in my division because the prize is sweet: a $1000 gift certificate for Fire Mountain and a lot of publicity. But I can honestly, honestly say that I'm overjoyed just to be at this stage. Jewelry making is still a fairly new part of my life; I haven't even been doing it for two years (it'll be my two year anniversary as a jewelry artist in August), so this says to me, "Hey, you're legit. We take you seriously in this world." It means that my probably crazy decision to work full time in this art and on my business isn't THAT insane -- and that I'm good enough at it that people appreciate my work.

I have no idea what will happen next, and if I even have a shot at winning. I've seen the work of past winners and it's pretty amazing! So to be in that company is an honor in itself.

To purchase my jewelry, head to Naomi's Designs. To purchase my children's jewelry, head to MayaGirl Creations.

My Fire Mountain Gems And Beads Jewelry-Making Contest Pieces

This year, I decided to take a chance and enter a few of my pieces in the Fire Mountain Gems And Beads jewelry-making contest. They have several categories, including ones for seed beads and Swarovski elements. I entered the one for wirework, metal and metal clay. The grand prize is $1000 credit at their online store. Imagine how many beads you could buy!!!

This contest was challenging for me because I wanted to, of course, make quality items, but they also had to be more than just everyday earrings and necklaces. They had to be art. This forced me to think outside of the box and come up with ideas and patterns that I hadn't yet conceived -- and at the same time, make wearable and functional jewelry. It took a lot of work, but I was happy with my results, whether I win something or not. Anyway, here are the designs I submitted:

Nefertiti's Kiss: This is a Middle-Eastern jewelry set made of copper wire and dark purple Swarovski crystal pearls. It's based on the lavish jewelry I saw when I visited Egypt as a child. Let me tell you -- making all of those tiny spirals was a labor of love!

Try, Tri Again: This necklace is made up completely of triangle pieces, each a different metal (copper, bronze and silver). I liked the idea of using one shape to build a larger structure. The name is not only a play on words, but reflects my approach to making this as it really did take me several tries to get what I wanted:

Pretty In Pink: These earrings are simple compared to the other two, but I wanted to submit something that included some basic wire wrapping. I used pink marble as the canvas and then wrapped each with silver wire and Swarovski crystal pearls.

To see or purchase my jewelry, head to Naomi's Designs On Etsy.