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.

The Design Process is as Individual as Snowflakes

All designers have their individual processes to create their design vision. Some will draw in order to implement. Others will lay out elements in order to implement.

It does not matter what type of designer you are, you likely will utilize your individual design process in all design efforts.

Early in my career as a commercial interior designer specializing in large hospital projects, I assembled design elements the way that came most naturally to me. Mid-career, as a graphic artist, I found that the same design process was comfortable and effective. Today, as I work on corporate design projects both in print and online, it is the same process.

When working on my GalleriaLinda jewelry designs, I discovered that all these years, my natural way is a very meandering and organic one. That has been my history! Discovery of elements, colors, textures that work well are very visual to me. Sometimes, I will toss a bead aside only to find that it looks gorgeous with a bead next to it once it lands!

The way I like to design earrings is to pull out beads and charms that appeal to me that day. My room becomes a mess, but a colorful mess. As the design engine is fueled, I start to make mock-ups for the earrings I wish to complete. The photo above is an example of how I work.

I use metal head pins just for the mock-ups. The finished earrings will be put onto handmade and hammered sterling silver ear wires and head pins.


To try the organic, meandering way, here is what you will need:

• Cheap plastic empty ice trays - white is best
• Cheap metal head pins - preferably with the loop on the end to accommodate beads with larger holes
• Lots of beads and charms
• Lots of imagination!

Each bead I take out will take me to another colorful or textured spacer or charm, and likewise, they take me on to other beads. It is a road well traveled to get to a fabulous design.
These 28 earrings designs will be completed in the coming months. To finish them, I will need to divide them into categories:

• Shiny sterling silver
• Oxidized black sterling silver
• Handmade kidney wire shapes
• Handmade French wire shapes
• Handmade head pins with hammered ends
• Handmade head pins with hammered loop ends

In the coming weeks, I will make the ear wires and the hammered head pins from sterling silver. I will figure out how many I need in the oxidized black patina for the oxidation process. So, the creating continues but the design part is what I enjoy the best!

Feeling Creative? I Have the Perfect Thing for You!

Found objects can be so cool. And when you incorporate them into your designs, you create truly unique and one-of-a-kind art!

This little lonesome guy was found in a pile of vintage jewelry in a "trash to treasure" type of store, just begging for attention. The metal is so well done - it is satin brushed and quite sturdy - not true silver but it actually looks and feels like stainless steel (but I have no clue).

The stone cabochon is translucent with an opening in the back and is a nice green - not olive but not yet grass green. It appears that it was once attached to another piece.

What do you envision as the next life for this little guy? A jewelry pendant surrounded by friendly gorgeous beads? A brooch with embellishments? You be the judge!

If you feel challenged and inspired, then march over to GalleriaLinda's bead shop on Zibbet to see the full details!

Vintage Modern

I have been on a roll with success in finding such great "modernist" designs in vintage jewelry pointing to the modernism movement of the 20th century. I will be posting several in the next few weeks - most are brooches but are lovely little works of art in themselves. Many are handmade and amazing little jewels of the past, surviving the ravages of time to bring joy to the present. What a jewel these will be for our children too!

Attached is a most recent brooch I found that came from a "grandmother" estate. The colors are very vibrant and the enamel has such depth. Gorgeous copper color! You can find this Vintage Copper Enameled Modern Art Brooch in GalleriaLindaLoft's vintage Etsy shop!

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!!!

Meet Lucy - My New Assistant!

Having a dress form has been my fondest dream. Although I don't sew, I wanted one for the ability to display necklaces on a full sized scale. Meet Lucy, my new assistant!

I was at the right place at the right time - you know - one of those deals you cannot believe...

It happens that I was on our local CraigsList looking for a local art event - and I am never on CraigsList - ever!

An ad for dress form torsos appeared and I could not believe my eyes. It seems that a T-shirt shop was downsizing and they had 50 of three different styles of torsos for about 1/8 of the price of a new one.

When I called, I was only the second inquiry and when I explained how I would use it, the seller searched through all 50 to find the one with the best fabric and wood topper. My husband and I skeedaddled over to pick it up and Lucy and I have been inseparable ever since!


Not only does the torso give a great presentation of necklaces but I have been trying out using it for earring scale too.

Tell me whether the earrings hanging on the neckline is useful for presenting the size of the earring - I am so challenged with sizing up earrings for customers. What do you think? Honest opinions! Leave a comment!

Glass "Moon Rocks" Make Interesting Materials

Named "Moon Rocks," these beads just explode with creativity! Irregular dimpled lumps of glass that have an opalescence light-capturing personality that literally takes light hostage and won't let it go! They are a white translucent glass with cognac circles and when light glows through them the light is much like a warm, light Brandy.

One can get lost in beads. They are all so different and I look for beads with extrovert personalities that will give life to my designs and say "look at me!."

The Moon Rocks necklace and earrings can be found in the iCraft GalleriaLinda Handmade Jewelry shop:


GalleriaLinda's Moon Rocks Necklace on iCraft.ca


GalleriaLinda's Moon Rocks Earrings on iCraft.ca


More to come on interesting materials!
~Linda

Back to Basics

When I started making jewelry for other people, bracelets were my staple. You could not stop me! It was like Picasso's "blue period." Bracelet after bracelet after bracelet.

Then, after months, well, frankly more like close to a year, I fell in love with making earrings. Then, necklaces caught my fancy. Now I go in spurts of frenzy-creating from one to another.

I am back to my basics making bracelets for a while again. This weekend I made 5 bracelets and can't wait to get them listed. This particular red jasper bracelet with one-huge-Bali-sterling-bead turned out so fine. The red jasper is incredible and you can see this in GalleriaLinda's shop on iCraft! The handmade clasp is so comfortable and easy to close too - it really adds to the design.

Tell me your story of creating frenzies!

Getting Ready for Spring with Spring Garden Earrings

Is anyone ready for Spring to come? Here in Florida, spring has sprung. Bougainvillea is in bloom, as well as Azaleas and various flowering trees. I guess I am in the mood!

I have had these two sets of beads for quite some time - the carved yellow jade flower and the glossy green elongated acrylic beads - never thinking they would come together in this spring-inspired symphony!

Over the winter, both sets have been on the side of my workbench, pushed aside, picked up and put elsewhere, brought back, and coordinated with other beads - I just had to ponder and ponder how each would be used.

Finally, after keeping them side by side for ages and loving the color combination, I decided to go for it. You can see these Spring Garden handmade earrings in GalleriaLinda's iCraft shop!