Final Fifty!

At this time of year, most retailers have sales. This helps finalized the year's sales figures and also reduces inventory that would need to be counted for tax purposes.

GalleriaLinda Contemporary Handmade Beaded Jewelry does not run many sales throughout the year, so this opportunity is unprecedented! Never has this gorgeous jewelry been offered at this discount of 50% off. I am excited to do this for YOU! Who knows? Maybe this will become a fun, annual event.

You can take this opportunity to think about upcoming Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. And, sneak in a few awesome earrings and necklaces for yourself!

The two jewelry shops each have unique, one-of-a-kind affordable jewelry and are located at:

Etsy - you must use the code FINALFIFTY2012 at checkout to get your discount. 

iCraft - your sale price will show during the normal checkout process - no code needed.

Have fun! Mingle and browse. Contact me with any questions or chat. I love to "talk jewelry!"

Sale ends January 1, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Trend Colors for Jewelry 2011

There are several previous posts on the 2011 jewelry and color trends that you might enjoy:

• Pantone's 2011 Color Trends Interpreted in Beads
• Beaded Jewelry Design Trends for 2011

The fashion colors and jewelry color trends for this year are soft, muted, but clear colors. Lovely rose, blue, green, and warm hues will be found in stores this year in home furnishings, fashion, paint colors, accessories, and jewelry. Pantone is the trend-setter and the designer community follows.

Here is the Pantone Chart for 2011. I have paired GalleriaLinda Contemporary Handmade Beaded Jewelry with each current color. The colors I love to work with fit so well into the trend.

The Pantone Honeysuckle, was selected as Color of the Year by the trend setters!

Visit GalleriaLinda Handmade Contemporary Beaded Jewelry for your spring jewelry and summer selections.

If you are a jewelry designer, you will be interested in my previous post regarding 2011 bead colors and are invited to visit GalleriaLinda Beads bead shop.

Pantone's 2011 Color Trends Intrepreted in Beads!

Pantone is the driving force with color trends for all things, such as home furnishings, fashion, paint colors, and even ink colors for printing! Because fashion follows this trend, it makes sense that jewelry designers might utilize some of the current colors. This allows for market-friendly jewelry that will coordinate specifically with 2011 fashion.

This chart shows the Pantone colors for 2011, along with selections from the GalleriaLinda Beads Shop of vintage and Czech beads. What lovely color combinations this year!

By the way, the first one - the Pantone Honeysuckle, was chosen as the year's hottest color as Color of the Year! Visit GalleriaLinda Beads for your on-trend bead selections now. You are invited too to visit GalleriaLinda's Contemporary Handmade and Silver Wire Jewelry shops!

Waiting for Thanksgiving

With great anticipation, we are waiting for Thanksgiving!

Better than turkey, dressing, and gravy, are seasonal oranges straight off the tree. Our backyard "Amber Sweet" orange tree always bears ripe fruit right at Thanksgiving, as if to purposely offer up some natural goodness to the occasion!

Above is a photo of the fruit's progress so far this season. In two weeks, they will be perfect!

Amber Sweets are juicing oranges and all you have to do is cut one open to see those golden drops of sweet juice gushing out. They are fabulous to just eat after peeling but you must eat them over a bowl!

Last year's harvest was the best yet and we hope for a great one this year!

Vintage Memories; Vintage Jewery

Yes, I...am...vintage. See, I am more than 20 years old. Along with being vintage comes memories - lovely memories. Some of you that follow this blog know that as a young girl, I lived in Brazil. We lived in the state of Minas Gerais (General Mines) where most of the Brazilian stones were mined. We often went rock hunting and found tourmeline and amethyst in their raw state. I loved that!!

Back at that time, Brazilian stones set in sterling were very inexpensive like our costume jewelry today. Therefore, as jewelry lovers, my mother and I had a boatload of Brazilian jewelry.

I was rooting through some drawers the other day and found this set of Brazilian "costume" jewelry set in sterling with real tumble-polished stones. Taking a new look at these as an adult brought back many fond memories of my mother wearing these pieces. These were not the star of the show, but good, daily jewelry.

She had many fine jewelry pieces with cut stones she hand selected and had settings custom made into various pieces of jewelry. I have a few pieces left, but alas, a burglary years ago left me with only few pieces - thankfully.

These pieces have tourmaline, amethyst, topaz, white agate, hematite, rust agate, pink morganite, and aqua marine. There is a three-strand necklace that is a fabulous neckline filler and the stones are set horizontally as links. I love this necklace - it is very colorful and happy!

Always the creative jewelery lover (people say I make jewelry out of anything - steak bones, Christmas ornaments...!), I utilize my jewelry tactics from college days and hook together five bracelets with the same type polished dangle stones to make a fabulous necklace! I wear it long or double it for a lush, fabulous look.

I have seen several smaller pieces on eBay with this same design, setting, and polished stones. The sellers did not know what they had and called them "agate" jewelry and indicated they were silver tone - and sold them for next to nothing. So, now you have been warned! If you see these on eBay, know that they are Brazilian, real stones, and sterling!

It is fun walking down memory lane, especially when it involves jewelry. These are not for sale, but I really wanted to share the beauty of these stones with you! For pretty usable vintage jewelry, please visit GalleriaLindaLoft's vintage jewelry shop on Zibbet!

State of the Union - GalleriaLinda Style

It has been nearly two months since I blogged. I don't practice what I preach! These two months have been busy with family, seasonal colds passed from one to another, holidays, putting up decorations, taking down decorations, day job, and visitors. It is always good to get through January as a BIG SIGH and get back into routine.

As I reflect back on the year 2009, I do see accomplishment and challenges for GalleriaLinda. All-in-all, it was a good year.

My day job radically changed from marketing communications/graphic arts to GIS mapping and data project management. It has been a challenge with a high learning curve and a transition from an artistic point-of-view to a calculated database-driven point-of -view. Both are creative but in different ways using different sides of the brain. I declare, the GIS work sometimes puts my brain in a twist and now I really appreciate my handmade jewelry design time more than ever!

The online business continues to evolve as products evolve. Last year in third quarter, I introduced a new product line that is still in the "get to market" process. I love old vintage beads and have taken that theme with a new eye and created a different perspective for GalleriaLinda. Artistic evolution is a must so we don't get stale. You can see some of the results in GalleriaLinda's iCraft shop with more to come as I can get them listed.

After pondering about online stores, I decided to add a bead shop both on Etsy and on Artfire. It is "destash" but a LOT of "destash." I continue to list jewelry making goodies, so bookmark GalleriaLinda's Bead Shop on Etsy and GalleriaLinda's Bead Shop on Artfire!

In addition, early last year I started a vintage shop but was not really "working" it. I decided to ramp it up and now have vintage on GalleriaLindaLoft on Etsy and GalleriaLindaLoft Artfire too. I find the vintage sourcing and researching to be so creative and satisfying.

And, if that is not enough, I still have a GalleriaLinda Bonanzle shop for those "nearly new" and "not yet vintage" items, as well as an affordable imported line of sterling and gem jewelry. 

The year 2010 is promising for all of us. No matter what is going on politically, personally, or business-wise, we are blessed to be able to have online businesses that we can work out of our homes (or anywhere desired). And that allows us to take care of kids or elderly parents, make our own schedules, and take pride in our business. It is a lot of work but worth every minute!

Let me take this time to wish each of you a 

PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 

for your artisan and craft businesses!

Countdown to Lakeland's McDonald Street Artisan Market - Saturday Nov. 7

The countdown has begun for the holiday season kickoff at Lakeland's McDonald Street Artisan Market! You will find handmade pottery, artwork, fiber arts, jewelry, and many unique and special items for your holiday shopping and browsing pleasure. Be sure to mingle with the artists - that is half the fun!

Organized by Kristine Robertson, owner of Yia Yia's Beads and Gifts, the market provides a way for local artisans to easily share their work with the public. Kristine makes it very affordable for artists and artisans to participate and fees go to advertising. Any local artisans who wish to participate can email info@yiayiasbeads.com - and tell Kris that GalleriaLinda sent you!

This month's McDonald Street Artisan Market in Lakeland, FL will be a winner as artisans are preparing for special holiday inventory.

NOW is the time to get a handle on your holiday shopping and what better way to say "you are special" than to give handmade designer items? Your gifts are always appreciated when you give handmade.

GalleriaLinda
will be exhibiting for the first time!

Mention the name of this blog and you
will receive a 10% discount on your
GalleriaLinda
handmade jewelry purchases
- only at the Artisan Market NOV 7!
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Corner of McDonald and Tennessee)

The McDonald Street Artisan Market is hosted once a month by Lakeland's Yia Yia's Beads & Gifts to support local artisans and to have fun! Indeed we will. Look for December's market the first Saturday of December. See you there!!!

Vintage Rockhounding AKA GalleriaLinda Rocks!

OK, maybe I was a little dramatic with the title but I had to share this! If you follow me on Twitter or on Facebook, you know that I am cleaning out for a garage sale in October. I am finding all kinds of treasures. Many go to the garage sale pile, then, tiptoe back to the Linda Keeps pile. I don't know how that happens!

In our garage, I found a real treasure long forgotten. A large shoebox of rocks that my mother had stored away years ago for tumbling. She has since passed away but this box of rocks brought back fond memories.

These rocks are from a rockhounding experience in Brazil's state called Minas Gerais ("general mines") about 40 years ago. Minas Gerais is where a good portion of Brazil's semi precious stones are mined. What a fabulous place. I was very young (lol!) and had a great time with a little hammer whacking away at hard red clay to come up with crystals of amethyst and tourmaline. In this photo you see amethyst, tourmaline, fool's gold, and white agate. Many of the rocks we brought back to the states have since floated away through the years so I was ecstatic to find these.

I will be cleaning them up and staging them in my GalleriaLinda product photos!

Sometimes, Design Just Happens

Well, I never meant to go this direction. But, this is what happens when you are inspired at first sight.

We have a gorgeous bead shop here in town that has the most quality and luscious Czech glass beads. I love to just stroll the perimeter and take in the glass beauty hanging in strings along the wall and windows, glinting in the sunlight in every color of the rainbow. What a treat!

The Czech etched red bar glass beads were just interesting...that is all. I was drawn to their size and finish. I held them up and said...huh...interesting...and put them back.

Walking on, I glanced back, knowing that they were not my style or color, at least up to now. The Czech etched red bar glass beads stood out from the crowd from across the room. "OK," I said. "I will try them. I need to stretch the creativity once in a while."

Back home when I unloaded my purchases, they fell out as if to say, "I am gorgeous!" But, I was fretting about what color of beads to put with this almost tomato red with the faint wash of silvery sage all bundled up in an Asian etched design. Huh...interesting.

After trying several color combinations from wine to rust to green to taupe, it became clear that the Czech druk sage beads and the frosted sage Florette's were perfect. Different, but perfect.

The design came together quickly, as if it was a cosmic happening meant to be. This is a design not for everyone, but we can agree it is creative and different in design and color! You can see this Lotus Flower Sage and Red Glass Bead Necklace with Bali Sterling Clasp at iCraft with Lotus Flower matching earrings!

Huh...interesting!

GalleriaLinda on ByHandmade.me

ByHandmade.me is new on the scene and making splashes for handmade sellers and buyers! It is a community, but more than a social network, it provides ways to promote your products through showcases, blog entries, forums, chats, and more to buyers!

See GalleriaLinda's Latest ByHandmade.me spotlight!

Actively seeking buyers, as well as sellers, this is likened to a trade market that brings both together. Look to the future for great things on this site.

Visit GalleriaLinda on ByHandmade.me!

Vintage Inspired from GalleriaLinda?

I don't consider myself to be a "vintage inspired" designer, but sometimes vintage elements really move me to create something beautiful. There is just "something" about vintage elements. The patina, style, detail, or workmanship can make the imagination run wild.

The bracelet you see here incorporates old vintage family buttons that are used with real hematite barrel beads. I added little metallic glass copper leaves to give it sparkle and a spiky edge. All tied together with memory wire, it makes an easy "grab and go" accessory.

The necklace is something really different and will be a conversation piece. It makes a great neckline filler for open collars and is stunning on a plain sweater. This one is for sale in GalleriaLinda's iCraft shop! I have an affection for metallic finishes, so Hematite is right up my alley. Who would think to mix contemporary 12mm hematite barrel beads and a vintage pendant in this way? And, add traditional Swarovski crystal pearls, in gray and gold, no less? I did!

Along with my handcrafted designed jewelry, I also offer great vintage jewelry in both my Artfire shop and my GalleriaLindaLoft Etsy shop. Sometimes I am torn between whether to list a vintage piece as is or rip it apart to mix it in with my designs!

The 3 Faces of GalleriaLinda - Jewery Schizophrenia?

I admit it! I might need an intervention! I started the GalleriaLinda.com business with handcrafted jewelry in mind for the focus.

It still is all about that, but my affections are jewelry-specific flaky in general. I am passionate about handmade jewelry, but I love vintage jewelry and I love handmade sterling and gem imported jewelry. The natural progression, then, would be an expansion of GalleriaLinda.com to include all the jewelry goodness that GalleriaLinda can find. And, so I did.

First came the handcrafted contemporary beaded and silver wire jewelry that I so passionately make - even from the beginning of girlhood.

Second came the vintage jewelry. As I was rooting around some old family treasures last year, I latched on to some jewelry items that were absolutely fabulous. An idea was born and I was hooked. Finding vintage, online and off, just fills my heart with excitement!

Last came the sterling and gemstone jewelry. Because of time spent in Brazil (the world's gemstone mine) as a child, I came to appreciate gemstones and sterling at an early age and never shook that affection. I remember going through my mother's jewelry box and trying on amethyst, topaz, citrine, white agate, hematite, tourmaline, and other fabulous gems, and this was way before colored stones were all the rage.

I searched for over a year to find an appropriate supplier that would meet my criteria for a jewerly gemstone and sterling product. I am so pleased with the jewelry designs, gems, and quality. And frankly, they sell in person like hotcakes. Jewelry hotcakes are always a good thing!

You will find each of these genres of jewelry in different venues and according to venue requirements for listing. But, it is all directed by my web site at GalleriaLinda.com.

Why not surround yourself with the things you love. I did!

Hematite and Star Power - Motorcycle Jacket or Frilly Dress?

Pictured is one of my handmade favorite designs. Created by me with real hematite and unusual carved star flower beads, I can't decide if it goes better with a black leather motorcycle jacket or a frilly black cocktail dress!

That is the beauty of this design - it spans the spectrum of tough girl and girly girl, and I probably fall somewhere inbetween.

The industrial metalic look of Hematite is always a winner. Paired with these "accidently found" carved star flower beads, it became a revelation that opened up a whole new universe of design possibilities. The earrings were fun to enhance with hand-shaped sterling wire.

Tough girl? Girly girl? Welcome to my universe!

Handmade Baubles - Too Good to Give Up!

I think a lot of us create jewelry and accessories that we would wear ourselves. If that is the case, then they would also go with our wardrobes - yes?

OK, ok....I confess!

I created this unusual mix of earthy Fancy Jasper in deep greens and burgundy wine with classic, traditional Swarovski crystal pearls in the pearliest, lightest of dove grays. Casual, but elegant...earthy but classic...a thrilling mix of contemporary and traditional in today's chunkier style.

Of course, it matches my wardrobe!! And, yes, it is now in my personal collection of GalleriaLinda Contemporary Beaded Jewelry!

Now I've Done it!

I have been in a "think tank." For months. Figuring out where I want to take the GalleriaLinda business.

I love designing and creating jewerly and will always do so, however, because I work full time too, I often feel rushed to just make something - anything - to have a full online shop. It is stressful.

Earlier this year, I added vintage jewery. That is fun and I LOVE that! Researching the styles of days gone by...looking at good craftsmanship....and the sparkle! I will continue to do that too. In fact, I found a little shop in Indiana that has buckets of vintage jewerly. There is nothing better than buckets of jewery, I always say.

For a year, I have been searching for some other type of jewelry to round out my product lines. Some type that I don't have to make. And, I found the most wonderful imported sterling and gemstone product around. These are handmade in India and Nepal and each design is made in limited quantity. Each shipment has designs a little different. The stones are just good, sound, foundation stones for any jewelry wardrobe. Amethyst, Malachite, Lapis, Rainbow Moonstone, Carnelian, and Coral are a few that I have on hand.

I am in love! The earrings are just the right size for work or for more formal occaisions. Right now, I have stocked earrings but will add pendants soon. I looked for quality, market-friendly designs, weight of sterling, gemstones and one more thing. I was looking for an importer who had the same values as I do, seeking quality from those who earn a fair wage.

Now I am in the middle of researching online venues for each of these new types of jewerly.

So, now my dream has come true. I feel like a real business woman with multiple, complimentary product lines. Now, I can spend creative and thoughtful time on my own designs while keeping my shops filled and anticipate that my own design journey will blossom.

Waiting....for Black Friday....Another WHOPPING SHOPPING Opportunity!!

GalleriaLinda will be
participating in this
exclusive shopping event!

Go to GalleriaLinda.com NOW to find out about discounts in all the GalleriaLinda stores for a 20% to a whopping 50% of a large inventory.

And wait breathlessly for exquisite indie artists and crafters
to reveal their promotions for Black Friday at
TheLittleBlackBoxes.
I know I am!

Black Friday and Holiday Shopping!!!

ETSY Sellers' Holiday Sale
November 27 - Dec. 2, 2008
200 Online Shops!!!

Shop Handmade!

Boy, are we in for some treats!!! Black Friday, the biggest retail day of the year, is almost here. Not only do big box sellers do big discounts but our own indie artists offer GREAT savings in their online shops! ETSYFEST is a group of Etsy sellers that pool their talent and resources to provide this huge sale of handmade goods.

GalleriaLinda's big weekend includes sales in ALL the onlines shops! Find GalleriaLinda here:

www.iCraft.ca/gallerialinda
handcrafted contemporary beaded & silver wire jewelry

gallerialinda.ecrater.com

vintage jewery & treasures, handmade sterling & gem jewelry

gallerialindaloft.etsy.com

vintage jewery & beads

gallerialinda.etsy.com

(inventory moved to other shops for this weekend sale)

GalleriaLinda has also been accepted into the juried handmade venue

HandmadeFuzion.com!

Look for a new shop there in the very near future!

Go to GalleriaLinda.com now
to find out about discounts in all the stores of
20% to a whopping 50% of a large inventory!

Then, come visit some of the finest artisans on the web!

ETSYFEST Blog Announcement & Information plus a list of shops by category!

Interview by Dancing Monkey Jewelry

Read my interview on Martha's blog, Dancing Monkey Chronicles, and read about other artists that she reviews.

Martha (aka Dancing Monkey Jewelry) wrote a fabulous "Artist of the Week" interview about me about the GalleriaLinda jewelry business, featuring my new earing design pictured above.

Martha has a special eye for sleek designs that delight and is a jewelry artist in her own right. Her shop is inticing. See her shop here!

GalleriaLinda Interview!

Read GalleriaLinda's full interview here!

Find out what inspires, what materials are used in designs, how the designs "happen," and how it all started.

www.GalleriaLinda.com: Contemporary Designs for the Modern Woman

Did I Tell You? Inspiring!

One of the neatest and most inspring things I have ever done with my jewerly creations became much more meaningful than I ever imagined.

My five dearest friends (blogged here) and I got together in the Summer of 2006 after decades of being out of touch. Over the years the moves, careers, and families filled the time that we would normally take to keep in communication.

When we met in the summer, it was like we never left -- still finishing each other's sentences and just "knowing." It is wonderful to have friends that just "know" you from the very begining.

In preparation for this exciting visit, I wanted to bring a gift to each and thought that making a piece of jewelry would be right. I made six identical bracelets (including me) out of sterling tube beads and Swarovski crystal pearls, except each had a differet pearl color!

Sue selected gold pearls, Laurie selected taupe pearls, Kerry selected champaign pearls, Jan selected teal pearls, Susan selected light green pearls, and I opted for grey pearls. Everyone was so excited, surprised, and astounded that I could have made them.

We plan to meet every year that we can. I now see that these "friendship" bracelets have an unexpected depth of connection for us and are worn nearly every day as a reminder that we are not alone. (((hugs))))