Eureka! - Finding A Jewelry Style That Fits Like a Lost Puzzle Piece

Haunted House Pendant by York Avenue Studio - Reversible

After agonizing over the design details for my Haunted House necklace, I finally chose to keep the house size limited to a small version with tiny details, and layer the pendants so the copper would show along with the enamel.  The front has a black silhouette against a copper moon.  The back has a spooky copper house with an enameled winter scene in the background.

Haunted House Pendant by York Avenue Studio

My initial design included much more house with a pointed turret, tiny cross on top, moon behind the house, all framed with a silver circle.  The cost of materials and the labor pushed the end price too high for what I was hoping to offer the pendant.

Spooky House Black Silhouette - by York Avenue Studio

This is where the story takes a twist!  I was preparing a new design for a stethoscope charm to give to my daughter.  She is in Veterinary Medical School.  I wanted to know the thickness of the tubing so I could make the charm fit the stethoscope.  Searching around on Google, I stumbled upon a vintage stethoscope and took a closer look. 

Of course, I get distracted easily and the vintage shop also had jewelry, so I had to browse and then BAM - I found this!

Halloween Pin by Jonette Jewelry - JJ

Like finding a lost puzzle piece that fits, I was thrilled to see this pin!  The similarity is so amazing with the pointed turret, the circle window near the top, the porch step, I was so drawn to this pin and bought it!  The description mentioned that it was a JJ design.  I've never heard of that company, so of course, I Googled it.  The images that showed were, one after the other, remarkably wonderful and so similar to my taste!  Here are some examples of how, for years, I've been designing similar styles to this company.

The shooting star on the far right is almost exactly like the shooting star ring I made years back.  It was one of my first rings made using silver metal clay.

 

I started making the ring band flat, then formed the ring and set the gemstones.

This daydreamer frog by Jonette Jewelry has the same posture and whimsy as my little daydreamer monkey!

Daydreamer Monkey by York Avenue Studio

Back to the stethoscope charm, my drawing was for a snake spiraling up a wooden rod, the medical symbol for veterinarians.  Of course, another pin from JJ with the same!

Jonette Jewelry made over $5 million a year, outsourcing some work.  What a great company and hats off to them for such success back before the internet. 

Here is another Jonette Jewelry pins that I actually owned when I was young, incredible!  Just to think years later, it would come back in front of me just by a coincidence!

I have a sketch book full of ideas that are yet to be made, and while browsing the JJ site, it was so fun to see that "my style" is actually a STYLE that existed long, long before I started making jewelry and never came across until last night!!

Jewelry is one of those "love at first sight" things, something that sparks an emotion and feels like you've found a long lost piece that you've been separated from, finally to be reunited and bring home!

Kathy

Polymer Wax Seal Gift Wrap for Jewelry Boxes

York Avenue Studio

Here is an idea for transforming a simple plain jewelry box into a wrapped treasure.  At the same time, it is another way to show off your business logo!

I have a Signature Stamp from The Charm Factory with my logo for York Avenue Studio.  If you are interested in a stamp for your business, I highly recommend them!

To make the wax seal in polymer clay, I used red and a small amount of purple, rolling them into each other to get the marbled look. 

Polymer clay wax seals

I use corn starch to keep the clay from sticking and to reduce my fingerprints.  My little dish is a milk jug cap and you can see my stamp right next to a little ball of rolled polymer.  I made some little kitty shapes, too.

Cat wax seals with York Avenue Studio

Bake the polymer clay according to the directions on your package.  Rinse them and pat them dry.  You can take it further and sand them, polish them, make them shiny.  I left them as matte finish.

Kitty Wax Seal Jewelry Box by York Avenue Studio

A simple waxed cotton cord with a knot and a wax seal kitty!  I use glue to hold the string and polymer in place.  E6000 is a good adhesive, rubber cement works well, super glue, etc.  Be sure to have proper ventilation while working with glues.

Thanks for reading this post!  I hope this inspires some creative packaging ideas!  I used my signature kitty, but other ideas could be little house shapes, mittens, stars, etc. 

Metal Clay Challenge - Beautiful Designs and Bad Rap Music

Here is my entry for the Design Challenge held by the Metal Clay Heads Team.  The theme is Text and Textures. 


"Personalized name pendant with fresh style! This design shows off a name or word with a reversed image that becomes something unique as a special shaped charm. I make this design with golden bronze that shines like gold and sparkles in the light. The lettering is hand written into a sheet of foam that leaves grooves as the pen is pressed down.  The clay is pressed into the foam.  The grooved lines are now raised which gives the charm texture and more depth."

Follow the link to the Challenge and view the entries.  Everyone can vote for their favorite.  Voting ends Sept. 7th, 2013

http://metalclayheads.blogspot.com/2013/08/text-and-textures-with-metal-clay-metal.html

Just for fun, and with a sense of humor, I played around with an app on my phone called Autorap!  Here is my own little rap song to promote the Design Challenge and get more votes for the team! Click my logo to hear it!

 

If you want to have some fun that is guaranteed to make yourself laugh and completely embarrass your kids, here is the link to Autorap!!!  As far as I know, this is only for use on a smart phone, not a computer, but I might be wrong. 

https://www.smule.com/autorap

I hope after you stop laughing, you take the time to vote!  Thanks for having fun with me!
Kathy