Tuesday, November 10, 2009

All I can say is WOW!

I stumbled upon this article earlier this evening and had to share! Ubisoft released the title Style Lab Jewelry Design yesterday, November 10, 2009. With this "software" you are able to design your own jewelry using beads and components that can be found at Artbeads.com. After designing your jewelry, you can upload it to the StyleLab website and make it public. By doing this, you or your friends and family can purchase the finished piece that Artbeads.com will assemble for you. Or purchase the beads and components needed for the piece independently from Artbeads.com and put it together yourself.

How cool is that? I mean, what a great way to spend time waiting in line at the grocery store or at the Dr's office, rather than reading those droll magazines, you can sit there and design your next masterpiece with over 400 components and 60 templates, the number of combinations is nearly infinite! I realize that this is not going to have every bead that you will find on the Artbeads.com website, but could prove to be a great way to preview designs with color combinations and materials that you may not currently have in your repertoire. You can also set up and run your own jewelry boutique, which requires setting up your store display window as well as other facets of running and building a business. If your friends have the game, you are able to trade beads and jewelry wirelessly.

Whether you consider this "game" for yourself, or someone on your gift list, $29.99 brand new is not a bad investment. That is, if you can wrestle the DS away from your kid's hands. Otherwise, you may have to buy yourself a DS, which will run about $89.99 for a refurbished one from GameStop.com, or $129.99 for a brand new DS, the newest rendition of the DS, the DSi runs for $169.99. I am voting for a Nintendo DS for our household, how about you?? Too much fun! If you happen to pick this up, post a comment with your thoughts. I am very curious about it! Thanks, and enjoy, Lisa

Recovery from a Holiday Bazaar

This weekend was a first for me in several ways. I attended my first two day Holiday Bazaar and began selling Avon! Although my jewelry sales were not what I would have liked, I learned a lot and met some incredible artisans. I also had my first Avon sale. After licking my wounds, I came to realize that my jewelry is not, an everyday, every person type of jewelry. The jewelry I create is not off-the-wall, but different, and I now know I need to create a line that is more "user friendly". Although it was frustrating, I watched as vendors around me sold pieces left and right that I considered nice, but bland. I have to say, I rarely wear jewelry. I believe in the "less is more" mentality and tend to go without much adornment. Now I need to create jewelry for myself. Pieces that I would be comfortable wearing, in order to cater to more customers. Interesting...

I realize this more than likely sounds odd, and feel I need to explain myself. If not to appease you the reader, to perhaps make sense out of it for myself. I see beads that I love or vintage components and create a piece around that. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind. Although there were a lot of admirers, my pieces did not find their owners. One of my necklaces haunted me for three weeks until I created it. The general concept was in my head, but I could not create any other pieces until that piece was just right and finished in the studio.
Afterwards, the creative juices flowed like a fountain in spring and many pieces were made. That same piece had so many admirers I was sure it would sell, but it came home with me. I'll need to make some adjustments to my inventory, both new and vintage, and I've already began to plan the new layout for bazaars and shows.

Right now I'm focused on uploading everything to the store and getting that up to date. I've made enough excuses and need to just jump in with both feet. One of my best friends is moving next month half way across the country and intends to form a business selling clothing and other goodies. I am hoping that she and I can partner on a few things and benefit from the collaboration. We created jewelry together in high school and hit the shows, The Grateful Dead and Phish, selling our wares, as well as the occasional brownies and grilled cheese sandwiches. We had fun doing it and were good at it. Now with an additional 15 (or so) years under our belts, the sky is the limit.

Now to you. Suggestions on styles of jewelry you are likely to purchase, color schemes, materials would be awesome. I know what I like, but that does not dictate what I create. I want to hear what others want to see and wear (mostly purchase ;D). Leave your comments, PLEASE. Take a look around my store and comment on what is nice what is weird, I think you understand what I'm asking for. If you see something you can not live without, I'll sweeten the pot. Enter Coupon Code BSCC10 to receive 10% off your order (coupon will expire 12/31/09)! I appreciate any input that you can provide. Thanks! Lisa