Jewelry By Jessica: The Blog

Jewelry By Jessica at the da Vinci Arts Fair 2009!

2009-10-31T09:27:00.001-07:00

I had hoped to participate in the Da Vinci Art Fair here in Portland last year, but what with having a baby and all, it didn't so much work out : ) But this year, I am in like Flynn, and very excited about it!

The da Vinci Arts Fair is happening Saturday, December 5 from 10am-6pm, and Sunday December 6 from 10am - 4pm at the da Vinci Arts Middle School, located at 2508 NE Everett. The fair benefits the da Vinci Arts Middle School, which is a very awesome school. Admission to the show is free!

As usual, there are all kinds of wonderful artists participating, including the folks below. To browse a full list of the artists that will be at the show, visit the event page right here.

Unless I decide to do a little trunk show at my house (i.e. if I decide to make myself crazy busy - something I'm prone to do...) this will be my only show this season, so if you're here in Portland, please do come by! Hope to see you there!

Collage made from upcycled wool by Jenna Robertson of Woolie Originals, www.woolieoriginals.com

Rainbow Web Clutch (made out of upcycled lawn chair webbing!) by April Alden, www.rosewebs.etsy.com

Lotus Luck - Gold Ruby & Pearl Necklace, by JoAnn Lupton, www.dolcetti.etsy.com (I got to see JoAnn's work at the Belmont Street Fair this year, and it is lovely!)

"Sunflower," Oil and leaf on carved wood relief, Tom Cramer, www.tomcramer-art.info

More New Designs!

2009-10-31T08:01:00.000-07:00

I am cranking out new designs left and right, it seems. Here are some more new pieces that are up at my Etsy shop only for the moment. Enjoy!

Laurel necklace, square, on sterling silver bead chain, $23

Solid Circle Necklace, Grey + Grey, on sterling silver bead chain, $17

Olive Branch Necklace, square, on sterling silver bead chain, $23

Very Modern Flower in Slate grey, $20

Another New Design - the Morocco Necklace!

2009-10-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Another new design: the Morocco. A simple, sophisticated, colorful necklace with a hand punched design based on a traditional Moroccan motif. Perfect for everyday wear!

More color options coming soon - in the meantime if you have ideas, I'm happy to create a custom color combination for you! Available only in my Etsy shop, $15.

Little Creatures Necklaces

2009-10-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

When I write for fun, I write funny. When I draw for fun, I draw cute. I can't help it! The illustrations on these necklaces are little creatures I have drawn for my daughter Sophie since she was tiny. They are beloved in our house and beyond. And now you can take one home for yourself in necklace form.

Pictured above (from left to right) are Bunny, Puppy, Kitty, Bear and Birdie. They are all 100% guaranteed to bring a major dose of cute-i-tude to your life and the lives of those around you. They are all hand drawn by me, and hang on a really lovely sterling silver bead chain. And at $15, they're a steal! Only available at my Etsy shop.

Lower Prices!

2009-10-19T18:59:00.001-07:00

I have been able to streamline my production processes in some fantastic and satifying ways, and decided to pass the cost savings along to my lovely, lovely (or macho, macho, depending on who's buying) customers. Go have a look around the shop, and enjoy the savings!

How I Perform Demolition on Creative Blocks

2009-10-03T10:03:00.001-07:00

{It's not too often that my personal blog and this jewelry blog intersect, but this post seemed to be relevant to both - particularly because two new favorite jewelry artists are featured! So it's here and it's there!}

Someone recently asked or input on how a creative block looks and feels to me, and how I get past it. The first part was easy: a creative block for me is apathy. There are no interesting ideas in the world - and certainly none in my brain, which is both disheartening and depressing.

The second part of the question, how I get past a block, was harder to answer. But after thinking on it for a while, I realized that — whether I do so intentionally or not — I am almost always rescued from creative blocks by immersing myself in excellent work done by others. And in fact, sometimes I get so inspired that I end up with the problem that lies opposite on the creative block spectrum: a tidalwave of new ideas so huge I'm nearly crushed by it. (I do prefer this problem, but it has its own set of challenges.)

All that to say I've recently struck gold (somewhat literally!) in finding three new sources of major inspiration, and they've gotten me all aflutter with new ideas. Thought I'd share them here.

Line Vautrin: A French jewelry designer who worked in Paris from the 1930s through the 1980s, Vautrin's work, life, and style are all so fascinating, beautiful and charming. I'm already interested in learning how to work with precious metal clay, and Vautrin's aesthetic is pushing me into desperation-to-learn mode. (More information about the bronze bracelet above is here.)

Heather Moore: Moore, a.k.a. Skinny LaMinx has been a favorite designer for a long time, but I just started reading her blog recently. Somehow she manages to be witty, fun, substantive, intriguing and inspiring all at the same time. Her work makes me want to drop everything else and start designing screens for printing. The above fabric (which you can find and purchasehere) was inspired by cave paintings. Cave paintings!

David Neale: An Australian goldsmith with a blog, his work and his ideas and his inspirations are just so resonant for me. He is also ridiculously smart, funny and charming and generous with sharing his process.

About the series of brooches the above image belongs to (see them all here) David says: "I realise that the making of botanical jewellery is so historic and commonplace,- like some sort of universal default decorative subject...which leads me to ask myself: 'is it boring if I do it too?' Well, I am never bored by plants themselves, be it the humble Lawn or the honoured Flower Behind A Girl's Ear. So a challange hangs over my work; 'Can I say something unique and valuable in the age-old conversation that is botanical jewellery?'" I believe that he has succeeded in doing so!

How do you get past creative blocks, I wonder?

Pretty, Awesome, Pretty Awesome Treasury

2009-10-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Etsy seller Damjana of Lodddelina curated this supergorgeous Treasury, and was kind enough to include my Laurel necklace in French Blue and Brown. She also included things from two of my favorite Etsy shops, which I might as well blather on about now:

Lotta Hellberg of Inleaf Design made those sachets on the bottom left. Her work reminds me a bit of that other Lotta (Jansdotter) in its subtle color palates and natural textiles, but Hellberg's work tends toward the more refined and sophisticated, and I really love it. Plus, she creates her designs by printing with *actual leaves* - a technique I've tried and love, though my results have been vastly inferior to Lotta's!

Sharon Montrose's photo of a goose is in the second row in the middle. I love the way her use of the glowing white backgrounds bring into stark relief some aspect of each creature's being. Plus, they're really, really pretty : )

And now thanks to this Treasury, I've got a new favorite Etsy shop - Kuutydruk! Shop proprietess Moonika who hails from Estonia (Kuutydruk means "Moongirl" in Estonian!) is making laptop sleeves (second row, far right) as well as CD organizers, iPod covers and handbags out of linen, and embellishing them with traditional Estonian embroidery designs. I love the juxtaposition of a centuries-old sewing technique on covers for new-fangled techno gadgetry.

So - thanks again Loddelina for this amazing collection, and for making me part of it!

A Tiny, Superquick Survey + Another New Style!

2009-09-16T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hello readers and jewelry aficionados! Two things for you today:

1) The Superquick Jewelry By Jessica Survey!

I wanted to invite you to take my tiny, superquick, 6-question survey about Jewelry By Jessica. Hopefully it will benefit all involved: you get to ask for what you'd like to see more or less of, and I get to do your bidding! Well, something like that : )

The 6-question survey is right here - it truly should take you about 3 or 4 minutes to complete. Anonymous is fine, but, for those of you who have online businesses too, there's a spot to leave your web address. As a thank you, I will either Tweet or blog about your work and your generous spirit!

2) New Constellation Earrings

"Another new style already!?" you may be asking? That's right - I am on a creative bender. The Constellation earrings in Ivory are available right now at my Etsy shop: www.jessicapoundstone.etsy.com. It's my first foray into offering kidney wire-style earring hooks. I have been wearing them around for days now, and I am so happy to report that they are super comfortable, super secure, and, like all of my jewelry, extremely lightweight. In fact, you might forget you're wearing it, except that everybody is gong to keep complimenting you on it : ) More colors to come soon - feel free to make a request!

Okay over and out: here's the link to the survey one more time before I go... http://bit.ly/3S3FH8

Big, Bold, Vibrant Chunky: New Wood Bead Necklaces at My Modern Beads Shop!

2009-09-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

So in my last post, I mentioned wanting to make something small and delicate - the Simple Circle necklaces did the trick. Apparently to balance things out, I needed to make something that was big and bold. The chunky, in-your-face, go-big-or-go-home beads in these necklaces refuse to be ignored. Can you handle them? I believe that you can.

These babies are one-of-a-kind, so if you like one, grab it. They are only available in my Modern Beads Etsy shop, and are $12 buckaroos each.

Simple Circle Necklaces: Modern, Minimalist, Colorful, Fun!

2009-09-11T09:06:00.001-07:00

I guess there's something about Fall and the whole back-to-school vibe that gets me wanting to make new stuff. Despite that fact that there are a bajillion other things I should be doing (oh, say, cleaning the house, washing dishes, etc.) the idea for this necklace took hold and wouldn't let go. So I ran with it. Literally, ran. As in running up and down the stairs to my basement studio to shrink, experiment, perfect, paint, etc. whenever I had two moments to spare. (Oh, my aching calves...)

The result? Sweet, delicate, vibrant circles of color. The circles measure about 3/4" in diameter, and hang on a high-quality 16" sterling silver snake chain. (You could substitute an 18" chain, leather cord with a magnetic clasp, or a sterling silver bead chain if you'd rather. While we're at it, you could also request this necklace in any color I offer, or in a custom color of your choosing. You're the boss!)

All in all, a charming little charm necklace that packs a big color punch. Just what I was going for! Only available in my Etsy Shop, www.jessicapoundstone.etsy.com $15 each.

Final Jewelry By Jessica Giveaway of the Year!

2009-09-01T20:48:00.001-07:00

This is it folks: As far as I know, your last chance to win one of my necklaces earrings this year. That's free, zip, zilch, nada. And you get to pick your favorite.

See, there's this little blog called Giveaway Today. Wait, did I say little? Well, it's not really little, it's kind of big. Yesterday's giveaway was a pair of See Kai Run shoes. I totally entered and have my fingers and toes crossed. I love those little shoes.

Anyhoo, tomorrow, Wednesday, September 2, for one day only, you can enter to win any item from my shop. Did I mention this is a 24-hour only giveaway? When they say Giveaway Today, they mean it. All you need to do for a chance to win is leave a comment. No funny stuff, no shenanigans, no kidding. So, starting at 12:02 a.m on Wednesday., scoot on over there! I'll be rooting for you!

Jewelry By Jessica Featured at Paper N Stitch

2009-08-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

Brittni Wood, who curates the online exhibition space Paper N Stitch has very, very good taste. And I'm not just saying that because for years she has been finding and writing about handmade goods and the people who make them - most recently for the likes of Scoutie Girl and Bloesem Kids. Or because she picked me to be one of her exhibitors for August/September. No, I'm saying that because, while perusing the other Paper N Stitch exhibitors, I seem to have developed a wish list as long as my arm. Maybe longer. There are some very, very wonderful things there and you should really just go check them all out.

I've been posting very witty little remarks (ahem, if I do say so myself) about my favorite items, along with links on my Twitter site, and will continue to do so throughout the month. Pop over right here to have a look (and no worries, you don't have to be a Twitter-er to read and click).

{By the way, if you look closely in the image above, you'll see my brand new Flowering Stem Necklace in Iron is one of Brittni's "Daily Favorites." Say, thanks, m'am!}

Jewelry By Jessica Weekend Deal: 15% Off At My Etsy Shop!

2009-08-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

Starting tomorrow, Friday, August 21 through Sunday the 23rd, I'm having a 15% off sale in my Etsy shop. I'm also giving away one of my DIY Shrink Plastic Necklace Kits to one random weekend patron. So, yay!

Nerd alert: I am totally geeking out that my new Punch Flower Necklace in Teal and Lemongrass was featured in the "Weekend Deals" Gift Guide, which is compiled by Etsy Admins (screenshot above). {They like me! They really like me! Okay, okay, I'm over it : ) }

Anyhoo, take advantage of the discount this weekend to stock up on some new accessories for Fall. It's just around the corner. (At least it better be - I am done done done with the sun!)

Jewelry By Jessica as Customized Bridesmaids Gifts: Coordinate With Your Wedding Colors!

2009-08-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

I've always thought it would be fun to work with folks to create custom pieces based on a color scheme. But when Sonja from Just Wright Designs included one of my necklaces in an inspiration board for a wedding colors, it clicked: my jewelry would make a perfect, customized gift for bridesmaids! Using the colors you've chosen for your wedding, I can create affordable gifts that will remind you all of the special day you spent together.

Every color element of my necklaces can be customized — both the solid, background colors and the colors of the designs. And I will work out special pricing with any bride who orders three or more necklaces or earrings. So, bring on the weddings! Contact me at jessica@jewelrybyjessica.com.

SPECIAL OFFER: If you're the first bride to place a custom order with me, you'll receive 50% off your entire order! Hurry, quick!

Two Treasuries! Seven Treasures Earrings and Flowering Stem Necklace Get Their Moment in the Sun...

2009-08-19T20:34:00.001-07:00

What luck! I am currently featured in two Etsy Treasuries!

The first one is an in-your-face extravaganza of red and white awesomeness curated by jewelry designer Amy Singley of Adorn By Amy Singley. It features my Seven Treasures earrings in Crimson - which seem to be holding their own among Amy's very cool picks.

The second one features a really lovely color palate of sky blue, lime, green and purple - and features the Treasury debut of my brand new design, Flowering Stem in Eggplant! (For now, available exclusively at my Etsy shop.) This one was put together by Dorothy Domingo, who is a woman of many, many talents - beader, quilter, ceramicist, and who knows what else!

Thanks, Dorothy and Amy for featuring me!

New Designs and Colors for Fall 09!

2009-08-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I managed to actually get some new designs designed, made and photographed! If you have two small kids as I do, you know that completing something like this ends up feeling pretty much miraculous. So here they are, a few of the new pieces, which are currently only available in my Etsy shop. There will be more to come. {And yes, that's both a promise and a threat : ) }

(Above) Flowering Stem necklace in (left to right) Iron, Eggplant, Sapphire, Leaf and Fawn

Punch Flower necklace in new colors: (Top) Iron + Lilac and (Worn) Sapphire + Lemongrass

Three Hole Punch Necklace (ha, ha!) pictured in (Top, left to right) Iron + Leaf; French Blue + Lemongrass; Leaf + Lemongrass and Iron + French Blue.

Not all of these are listed in my Etsy shop individually yet, but if you'd like any (or, hey, you know, all!) of the colorways pictured here, just specify at checkout and I'll hook you up with your choice.

Now, if Fall will just get here already. I am so, so ready.

Featured Artisan on 1000 Markets' Handmade Haven

2009-08-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned the 1000 Markets site? It's an online marketplace similar to Etsy, but organized by "Markets," which are curated collections of shops. I joined a while back (my shop is here), and have found a lot of really neat folks there.

I was accepted to the Handmade Haven market, which is spotlighting the work of different members each day in posts at the handmade community site ByHand.me. A picture of my little spotlight is below - if you go here you can link to it, Tweet it, or what have you.

Thanks especially to Beryl of Banner Mountain Textiles who picked me. She does some amazing woven work that's definitely worth checking out. {I am such a sucker for handwoven textiles. Just look at this!} She describes my work as "Modern jewelry with a Japanese flair." Hmm, I like it!

Lovely Little Things: Mandag

2009-08-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

"Shopping" gets a bad rap. What is "shopping" but looking at pretty, pretty things? Who doesn't enjoy looking at pretty, pretty things? For me, there are also huge benefits to shopping: I get inspired, I get ideas, and, well, yes, sometimes I get stuff.

Anyway, because social networking via Etsy is technically "work" for me (wink, wink) I do find a ridiculous number of amazing handmade things online, and I can't possibly buy them all. But I can share them with others who might buy them, oh yes I can. So here's the first installment of my new, whenever-I-have-a-moment, Lovely Little Things series: some cards and a pillow by Sini, a.k.a. Mandag, who lives in Oslo, Norway.

I love the hand-cut look and the color palates on the cards. And I love the steel grey of the crochet pillow (in fact, my Fall jewelry line is riddled with this color - I can't wait to get back in my studio to get going on it already!) and the way the colored buttons give the homespun texture of the cover a very modern edge. Both the cards and the pillow (along with many other really lovely things) are available in Mandag's shop on Etsy. Go forth and shop : )

Etsy Treasury Feature: Salsa

2009-08-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Red + green: it's not just for Christmas, people! I love red and green together. Always have. Is it because of the high contrast - opposite sides of the color wheel and all? Who knows. What I do know is that my Meadows necklace in Crimson, featuring little red flowers on green stems made it into this Etsy Treasury (see the bottom row there) put together by Planet Treasures. She was inspired by other fabulous red and green combos: salsa ingredients and a landscape painting of a green and red field. Vive la vert et rouge!

Peony Necklace Featured on Etsy Item of the Day!

2009-07-27T09:19:00.001-07:00

It's really fun to see my jewelry in the context of other people's web sites, and this one was no exception. Jackie featured my Peony Necklace on her "Etsy Item of the Day" site. Like me, peonies are her favorite flower. And she was kind enough to describe my work as "simple and chic." Ergo, I really like Jackie! : ) Be sure to keep up with Jackie's site as she's got a great eye, and is discovering lots of Etsy gems.

Art Jewelry Gallery In Seattle

2009-07-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

I had no idea there was an art jewelry gallery as close to me as Seattle. (I really wanted to go to Velvet da Vinci when I was in San Francisco, but it just didn't work out on that trip.) Facéré looks amazing. I will definitely be stopping in on my next trip north - or perhaps this necessitates its own trip! Be sure to browse through the work of their artists - there's some amazing work in there!

New in My Modern Beads Etsy Shop

2009-07-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

I sure do love making minimalist modern necklaces with beads and sterling silver. I don't seem to find the time to do it as much as I'd like. But whenever I do, I am usually so satisfied with the results! (Um, if I do say so my own self...!)

Here are my latest simple bead necklaces - all available in my Modern Beads store at Etsy. They're all made with very special beads from my stash, and they're all priced affordably - $12 each! Enjoy : )

Etsy Treasury: Black & White

2009-07-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

Someone recently asked me which MJ song was my favorite. "Black Or White" was the first one that came to mind. The person had never heard this song. But the album "Dangerous" was the big MJ album of my childhood, and the face morphing portion of the video for "Black and White" (which starts at about 5 minutes 30 seconds in) was pretty darn amazing at the time.

All that to say my Sweet Fennel Blooms necklace is in an Etsy Treasury. And at first glance I thought the title of the Treasury was "Black Or White," and that it was maybe an MJ tribute. But at second glance, I saw that it's actually called "It's Black and It's White." So, uh, nevermind. : )

Thanks so much to Lisa at BeadCrazed for including me in this very cool (though non-MJ-related) collection!

Another Treasury: Whimsical Summer

2009-07-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

I really love this treasury collection, "Whimsical Summer," made by Shawn St. Jean (who has a lovely Etsy shop of original photos.) You can see my Meadow Necklace in Crimson there in the bottom row. Thanks for featuring me, Shawn!

Another Giveaway, Courtesy of Just Wright Designs!

2009-07-09T21:18:00.000-07:00

This is turning out to be the summer of the giveaway here at Jewelry By Jessica: I've got another one for you! Remember this post, about the inspiration board made by Sonja at Just Wright Designs, which featured my Blooms Necklace in French Blue + Poppy? Well, Sonja's creation won a contest, and to celebrate, she's giving away the necklace she featured! Just pop over to her blog, leave a comment (right here), and cross your fingers! The contest ends Saturday, July 18, so hurry on over.

Also be sure to check out Sonja's website Celebration Signature Plates: she creates plates that can be used like a guest book for any special occasion: draw on them, sign them, then bake them, and voila! A very cool idea. Here's a picture of one of my favorites; the Monogram

Thanks for holding the contest, Sonja - and congrats again on your inspiration board win!

Jewelry By Jessica Featured on Evergreen Moms

2009-06-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Evergreen Moms features artisans from the Pacific Northwest, and today, they've featured me! Editor Heather likes the "floral motifs and airy vibe" of my work. Nice : ) Pop over and take a look, and grab the special Evergreen Moms 10% discount code while you're there!

Color Trend: Blue and Orange

2009-06-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

My French Blue + Poppy Blooms necklace is turning out to be a major favorite. I really love blue and orange together, but didn't realize when I made the necklace that the color combo is kind of a mini-trend right now. Anyhoo, Just Wright Designs made the blue-and-orange-centric inspiration board "Iced Tangerine" pictured above and submitted it to a contest at the blog My Island Wedding. I think it looks awfully pretty. You can see my necklace there at the top left. Nice! See the full list of photo credits at the Just Write Designs blog post here, and vote for her to win here starting Saturday, June 26! (That last link will also take you to all the other entries, which are so, so fun to browse...)

Meadow Necklace in Crimson Featured in Etsy Treasury

2009-06-26T10:30:00.001-07:00

Another Etsy treasury feature - my Meadow Necklace in Crimson was included. Thanks to Miss Moose Designs for including me!

Giveaway Winner!

2009-06-24T22:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! The winner is...a fellow Portlander, Secret Cake! Her favorite is the Punch Flower necklace, so that's what she'll get! Congratulations!

Blooms Necklace in French Blue & Poppy Featured in Etsy Treasury!

2009-06-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

Another Etsy treasury feature - my Blooms Necklace in French Blue & Poppy was included. Thanks to jewelryvixen for featuring me!

Sweet Fennel Blooms Featured in Etsy Treasury

2009-06-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

Another Etsy treasury feature - my Sweet Fennel Blooms necklace was included. Thanks to Creative Details for including me!

The Bright Side Project Features Jewelry By Jessica!

2009-06-05T22:44:00.000-07:00

Well lookie there! The very cool The Bright Side Project website featured my work today! I'm superflattered to have my jewelry called "soothing, simple and just plain pretty" by The Bright Side Project's Miss B: that's a serious compliment in my book!

Now go forth and enter to win a piece of Jewelry By Jessica via their site! All you need to do is answer the question "What's your favorite color combination, and why?" in the comments section of the post about my work, here. Also be sure to sign up for updates from their site, as there are giveaways each week. And also take a look back through the archives: the site is a treasure trove of extremely awesome designers.

Thanks again, Bright Side folks!

Giveaway!

2009-06-02T14:55:00.001-07:00

Giveaway is now closed - thanks to everyone who entered!

To celebrate the release of my new designs, I’m having a giveaway! Visit my shop at www.jewelrybyjessica.com and choose your favorite, then leave a comment here letting me know which piece you’d like to win. (Can be any piece - doesn’t have to be one of the new designs.) On June 22, I’ll randomly choose a winner. (Might as well be something to celebrate on a Monday...) Be sure to leave me a way to contact you!

Bonus Entry Opportunity: I’m working on placing my jewelry in more shops around the country. If you feel like mentioning a shop in your town you think Jewelry By Jessica would be a good fit for, I’ll enter your name in the contest twice! And if a shop you suggest ends up carrying my line, I’ll send you a piece of your choosing as a big ol’ thank you! Hooray!

Another New DIY Kit: Three Circles Window/Wall Ornament

2009-05-23T10:04:00.001-07:00

Another Jewelry By Jessica DIY kit exclusively at my Etsy shop: the Three Circles Window/Wall Ornament Kit. Seriously, these are so much fun. I could make a new one every single day!

Gingko Leaf Necklace in Dark Teal Featured in an Etsy Treasury!

2009-05-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

Another Etsy treasury feature - my Gingko Leaf necklace in dark teal was included. Love teal and lime together. Hmm, perhaps a future necklace color combo... Thanks to LilithEnvy who made the list for including me.

New DIY Jewelry By Jessica Kit: Three Hearts Window/Wall Ornament

2009-05-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

Another DIY kit is up at my Etsy shop - yay! This one provides everything needed to make a window or wall ornament made up of three hearts. It includes two sets of three pre-cut (by hand!) shrink plastic hearts (two sets because I want to give people room to experiment without that "I-only-have-one-chance-to-get-this-right!" pressure), and a really beautiful braided cotton cord, which I now have in blue, green, orange, white or black (folks can choose a color if they have a preference).

This is really a perfect gift to have a child make for a mom, grandmother, teacher or the like. Even really little kids can scribble colors on shrink plastic, and it ends up looking lovely in an abstract expressionist kind of way. (Case in point - the ornament in the picture above was scribbled by my 3-year-old.) Because it's so quick and clean, it also makes an amazing party activity and/or party favor - I've road tested it with girls and boys ranging in age from 2 to 10, and it's been a big hit with all of them.

Of course, you grown-ups can also make one for yourself - more sophisticated designs look beautiful as well, and you can trace images, use rubber stamps, or draw your own bits of loveliness. I hope people have a wonderful time with these DIY kits!

Dedicated Customer

2009-05-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

I recently re-made a custom order for a customer. She had worn the necklace every day since she got it from me in March 2007. Every single day! She sadly lost the necklace - no doubt due to the barrel clasp coming unscrewed. (I didn't know any better at the time - now I use brilliant magnetic clasps!) Now she has her replacement necklace, and presumably is wearing it every single day as well. The necklace is a version of my Chinese Character series (Joy in Lemongrass pictured above): hers has a purple background, and the characters for peace. So cool to think one of my necklaces can be a part of someone's day-to-day experience. Thanks for the chance to work with you, Nancy!

Etsy Treasury: It's All about DIY

2009-05-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Hey, lookie there. My DIY Shrink Plastic Necklace Kit made it into an Etsy Treasury (a themed list of stuff curated by an Etsy member, for those of you unacquainted with Etsian parlance). The kits seem to be a hit - they're flying out of my shop! Now to force people to send pictures of the pieces they make...I want to see!

She Likes Me! She Really Likes Me!

2009-05-06T22:23:00.001-07:00

Geek-out moment: the very talented Jessica Jones of the very cool blog How About Orange favorited my Blooms Necklace in French Blue & Poppy on Etsy, and now a picture of it is on her Web site in her "Good Stuff At Etsy" widget. Neat-o : ) Jessica's Etsy shop is chock full of products featuring her designs on fabric and paper. You can also check out all of the items she's favorited by clicking here - some very cool stuff!

All A-Twitter

2009-05-04T22:42:00.000-07:00

I signed up for a Twitter account quite a while ago, but hadn't really started using it until now. Still don't know if it's something I'll stick with, but it's a convenient way to share quick little updates related to jewelry without having to bug anyone via e-mail. Want to "follow" me? Here I am: http://www.twitter.com/jpoundstone

See my latest Tweets: I've been adding some new designs from my Spring/Summer line to my Etsy shop...more updates here to come!

Blooms Necklace in French Blue & Poppy Featured on IndieSpotting

2009-05-04T08:56:00.001-07:00

My Blooms Necklace in French Blue & Poppy was featured on the fun web site IndieSpotting which features lots of cool handmade things. (Hey, thanks, IndieSpotting!) You can find the necklace, which is part of my new Spring/Summer collection for 2009, only at my Etsy shop for now: http://www.jessicapoundstone.etsy.com

My Other Etsy Store...Modern Beads

2009-03-16T12:45:00.001-07:00

Did I forget to mention my other Etsy store here? Uh, guess so. I launched Modern Beads at Etsy a while back as a place for my "minimalist modern" bead and sterling silver earrings and necklaces.

I developed a real love for beads. However I maintain my dislike for fussy bunches of beads. Just one or two at a time, please. Three tops. What developed was a minimalist modern look. I started with earrings, and all my friends seemed to love them. And I wear them all the time too. So I decided I needed to have a venue to give me the excuse to keep making them - and to keep my jewelry box from overflowing. I uploaded a few new pieces the other day - hope to get this store stocked up again for Spring soon!

By the way, I use mostly repurposed or thrifted beads for the pieces at Modern Beads, so each necklace or pair of earrings is extremely limited edition -- some are one-of-a-kind. If you want first dibs on new Modern Beads pieces, you can RSS the shop feed. Isn't that cool?

My New DIY Shrink Plastic Necklace Kit!

2009-03-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

Available now at my Etsy shop! http://www.jessicapoundstone.etsy.com

I'm pretty excited to have finally pulled this kit together - I'd been wanting to make one for quite a long time. Now you can make your own necklace, or help a small friend make one for themselves, or for their mom, or grandmother or teacher. Or use them as party favors, or as a party activity!

I've done shrink plastic projects with a number of our smaller friends (in the 3-5 year old range) and they love it. It's so quick and satisfying to color on the plastic and shrink it and have something to wear or give right away. Older kids and adults have a whole lot of fun with it too - they can draw their own picture or trace a picture or use rubber stamps: the possibilities really are endless. (For tons of ideas, enter "shrink plastic tutorial" into any search engine.)

The kit contains:
• Detailed instructions
• Two pre-cut circles of shrink plastic, which will shrink to make a 1.25" circle pendant (two pieces of shrink plastic are included so you have two chances to make one you love - or you'll just have two if you love them both!)
• Magnetic necklace clasp
• Waxed cotton necklace cord (specify green or blue - see pictures for colors)
• Three colored pencils to get you started

I'm hoping to make more project kits available in the future - if there's one you'd like to see, get in touch!

Temporary Shop Closure for Maternity Leave!

2008-12-06T13:07:00.001-08:00

Well, today I temporarily closed up shop on both my regular and Etsy sites. I've got a baby waiting to be born here, and didn't want to leave anyone stranded with placed orders should he arrive early. It's the first time the shop has been closed since I opened it, so it feels weird. But sometime soon after I re-open in February, there will be some new designs available, including the ones pictured above (as yet unnamed - any suggestions?).

For now, you can find new shipments of my work in person at the following spots:

* Craftland in Providence Rhode Island

* Peaceable Kingdom in Ann Arbor, Michigan

* Naka in Ferndale, Michigan

* Tilde, in Portland, Oregon

Have a wonderful holiday season everyone!

Featured on Trunkt's Jewelry Page...

2008-10-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

It was fun to see my necklace featured on one of Trunkt's jewelry pages (my Scallops necklace in lilac is in the last row, second picture from the left). There are so many amazing artists featured on the site. I always feel like I'm looking at the tip of a most lovely iceberg...

Jewelry By Jessica at Presents of Mind!

2008-09-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite stores in town, Presents of Mind, (on 36th and SE Hawthorne) is now carrying Jewelry By Jessica! If you've ever been in there, you know what a wonderland it is for stationery, jewelry, cool baby gifts, books, purses and a million other things. I dropped off nearly 80 pieces there on Friday - they should be ready for purchase by mid-week this week. Go visit them!

{Of course I didn't make it out of there without making a purchase (never can) - I brought a Sukie stationery box home with me. My rationalization was that I've wanted it for, oh, nearly two years now, I think. It's even cooler than I thought it would be. There are stickers in there, people!}

Jewelry By Jessica at Tilde!

2008-09-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

Whew, that was a long hiatus between posts! Lots going on: a move, currently 6+ months pregnant, got cable (very time consuming), etc. But I wanted to pop in to let you know that you can now find Jewelry By Jessica at the incredibly lovely store Tilde in Sellwood (just a few minutes' drive from downtown Portland). Debbe Hamada curates an amazing selection of wonderful things, and has made the store itself just beautiful. (And don't you love her logo?) I'm really honored to be one of the artisans represented.

I've Been Trunkt!

2008-04-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty excited about being accepted to Trunkt, an online portfolio site that "connects specialty retailers with amazing artists from around the world." To be in the same company as folks like Modica Design, Sarah Hood, Amy Burhoe Designs and Alisha Louise is pretty exciting for me! You can visit my portfolio here - and while you're at the site, have a look around at other artisans making amazing clothing, artwork, handmade goods for kids, photography and more!

Special Discount Offer!

2008-04-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

It's the first ever Jewelry By Jessica discount offer! {Turn on the blue light, ring the bell, cue the annoying whoop whoop siren, etc. etc.}

And the offer is....{drumroll} sign up for my mailing list, and receive 15% off of any Jewelry By Jessica purchase now through the end of April! You can join up right here.

This is nothing smarmy, I promise. I send out about 5 messages a year via Google Groups. I will never share your e-mail address with anyone ever ever ever, and you'll be the first to know about new designs, future special offers, special events, etc.

Here's how it will work: Place your order as usual through the site via PayPal. Mention in PayPal's "Special Instructions to Seller" box that you're a mailing
list member (or send a follow-up e-mail after you place your order to jessica-@-jewelrybyjessica-dot-com) and I'll send you a 15% refund (shipping not included in discount). Now's your chance to score one of the charming new Spring designs (or grab an oldie-but-goodie design) at 15% off.

P.S. - Current mailing list subscribers - you're in on this too! Use the same procedure as the newbies outlined above.

New For Spring 2008 :: Chinese Lattice Pattern

2008-04-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

Available now at Jewelry By Jessica!

New For Spring 2008 :: Intersections Pattern

2008-04-02T00:13:00.001-07:00

Available now at Jewelry By Jessica!

New For Spring 2008 :: Transverse Waves Pattern

2008-04-02T00:10:00.000-07:00

Available now at Jewelry By Jessica!

New For Spring 2008 :: Scallops Pattern

2008-04-01T23:55:00.000-07:00

Available now at Jewelry By Jessica!

New Minimalist Bead Necklaces - Only At My Etsy Shop...

2008-04-01T22:43:00.001-07:00

I'm a little bit addicted to making these "Minimalist Bead" necklaces and earrings. They are very fun to wear, and very fun to make. Since I find most of my beads for this series at vintage and thrift stores, each one is either one of a kind, or very limited edition. So get 'em while you can. They're only available at my Etsy shop.

A Wee Little Jewelry By Jessica Ad in Bust Magazine

2008-03-23T22:58:00.000-07:00

So I have an ad in the April/May issue of Bust Magazine - back of the magazine, page 100, lower lefthand corner. My first print ad ever! {Featured necklace: Laurel in Brown + Leaf Green.} There will also be a banner ad running on Bust's Web site starting Tuesday, featuring Loops in Red + Red and Daisies in Brown + Leaf Green. It will be pretty interesting to find out if Bust readers are into my stuff. We shall see!

I'm in good company in the back of the mag there - some folks I've always liked, including Glitterlimes, Fluffy Co.com, Small Things Designs, Supermaggie, and Blend Creations are keeping me company. The issue also features cool interviews with David Sedaris, Ira Glass and Errol Morris (by calling these guys out instead of, say, Elijah Wood, Ween and The Kills, I'm pretty sure I'm setting off geek alarms yet again, but I'm cool with that...) so go grab a copy. (If you're one of the supercool types who already subscribes, hope you're enjoying your issue!)

P.S. A very big thank you to my friends Tanya, Scott and especially Chris who helped me put both the print and web ads together. It's much harder than it looks! Thanks you guys!

Exciting Necklace Cord Option Updates! + (While We're At It) a Customization Opportunity Recap

2008-03-22T01:30:00.000-07:00

I am very (geekily) excited to mention that I've replaced the barrel clasps I was using on my leather necklace cords with a new magnetic clasp. Wheee! And not just any magnets - no, these are cute, tiny, strong ones that don't force me to jack up my prices. Exactly what I've been looking for for years. I think they look great and they're a pleasure (rather than a slight hassle) to clasp.

I'm also happy to report that I now offer both 16" and 18" sterling silver snake chains on any necklace design at no additional charge. You can let me know via e-mail when you order, or use the "Special Instructions" box during the PayPal payment process to make your preference known.

Speaking of customizing, you could also ask for a different color of leather, or leather in a custom length. Or, while we're at it, ask for a different base color for a charm you like. Or go totally bonkers and order a completely customized piece - an initial in your favorite font, a design motif from your wedding, the silhouette of an elk bugling... (No, seriously, I did that one.)

That's right, Jewelry By Jessica: Offering you a plethora of choices. (Always looking for opportunities to use plethora. Yes!)

New Links Over There on the Right...

2008-03-21T22:05:00.001-07:00

I've finally gotten around to including a list of links to Portland artisans I know and love. It's just over there on the right - scroll down, keep scrolling...

Seriously, though, I've met all those folks, and some of them are really good friends. How lucky am I?

Intersections Necklace Styles

2008-03-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

I know I designed them and all, but I really do love these Intersections necklaces. I am wearing the dark teal and poppy one a whole, whole lot. Available right here. {Earrings to come - hopefully soon...}

Art Jewelry Exhibit at Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, Oregon

2008-03-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

{Pictured left to right: Maru Almeida, Seattle, WA, "String of Pearls," 2007, merino wool, hand-felted; Jennifer Hall, Port Townsend, WA, "Ring" 2007, copper, paper, epoxy resin, paint; Brigit Daamen, Haarlem, The Netherlands, "Feeler Three" 2003, felted merino wool.}

If you live here in Portland and you have any interest in art jewelry, you should most definitely get yourself over to the Museum of Contemporary Craft sometime before March 23. Downstairs they've got an exhibit of art jewelry, and there are some very cool pieces down there. But upstairs is where the real fun begins. Jewelry artists have developed pieces that visitors can try on. All three of the pieces pictured above are try-on-able. This is the stuff you'd usually find behind glass, folks.

By the way, if anyone wants to make me a replica of Maru Almeida's "Pearl Necklace" (left, above) I am 100% receptive to that. I love it!!!

Planet June's Shrink Plastic Ring Tutorial

2008-03-09T00:08:00.000-08:00

I've dabbled in making shrink plastic rings before, but never had any come out to my satisfaction. If I try it again, I'll definitely be using the instructions here courtesy of craft blogger Planet June.

While we're on the subject: anyone out there with experience wearing shrink plastic rings? I'm wondering if the slight expansion/contraction of taking a ring on and off your finger might be enough to cause small fractures in the plastic that would cause it to weaken and crack over time...

Design*Sponge Biz Lady Meet Up Portland - Recap!

2008-02-27T00:19:00.000-08:00

Just got home from the "Biz Lady Meet Up," put on by Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge. Early in the evening I had a moment to talk with Grace - she said more people had RSVPd for the Portland event than for any of the other cities she'd been to with the Meet Up. Further evidence of how many indie business folk there are running around these parts! There were nearly 200 attendees - wow.

There were four presenters for the evening – Grace, Debbe Hamada of Tilde (my husband Ben worked with her at a community center for a while - fun to see her great success as a store owner/jewelry designer!), Amy Ruppel (finally I’m clear – it’s pronounced Roople!), and a woman whose name I didn’t catch, who was representing MercyCorps’ microenterprise services.

The notes from Grace's presentation on marketing & PR are availble for download here. A quick recap of some things I learned that I didn’t know:

- Grace: Don’t bother creating a press release to pitch your product to editors. Instead, craft a tight e-mail and attach four photos: a closeup, a full shot, a situational shot, and a shot that somehow shows why your product is unique. In other words, show don’t tell.

- Amy: She has found a lot of success while keeping everything about her business very first-person - personal. (No surprise then, that she is also unbelievably friendly, and loves meeting new people.)

- Debbe: Wholesalers should keep in touch more regularly and frequently with their retailers – maintaining the relationship benefits both.

I went with Christina and ended up seeing quite a few folks I knew from their work or online, which was fun. Among them:

- Alyson, from Sunali Design – I purchased her Wildflower Notecard set a while back and loved it.

- Alyson’s friend, photographer Elizabeth Soule, whose work I had recently seen and really enjoyed at Sydney’s Café.

- Precious Bugarin - we had tables next to each other at the last of the legendary EllaPosie Boutique holiday events waaaay back when – her designs are amazing.

- Jacie Kurkinen of Pink Rabbit Design - went to the same high school several years apart - met again through a mutual friend. She's doing beautiful custom stationary.

- Jess McCloskey of Paper Treasure - I’m lucky enough to have Jess taking care of my daughter Sophie twice a week – and I love her work!)

- Jena Coray, the force behind Modish who just moved to town a week ago. [Welcome, Jena!]

It was pretty amazing to see all these women in one place at the same time. Intimidating, but amazing. Thanks to all the presenters for providing such great, useful, and interesting information. (And thanks also to all the women who came all dressed up - it was so fun looking at what everyone was wearing!)

Jewelry By Jessica: Some New Designs!

2008-02-22T10:13:00.000-08:00

I read a really great article in Etsy's The Storque called "Give Props: How to Style Your Photos" written by the extremely talented Susy Jack. Basically it talked about creating more of an environment for your work in photographs, using props and backgrounds.

For a long time, I've been using mostly plain white backgrounds for feature photographs of my jewelry, thinking that I wanted the colors to be the star of the show. But - even if it's not obvious in the designs - my work is very much influenced by Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts Movement patterns and lines. So I thought - why not use some of those patterns as backdrops? Somehow it seems to work - I'm really enjoying the fresh look it gives my pieces. Haven't tried props yet....baby steps : )

So two of the pieces piectured above are new for Spring: Scallop Pattern in Lilac and Chinese Lattice Pattern in Red (only at Etsy for right now) and the other two just look new, thanks to their spiffy new backdrops: Laurel in Brown and Leaf Green and Loops in Red. Enjoy the color/pattern feast!

AllyKat Paper & Gifts Now Offering Jewelry By Jessica

2008-02-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

A new online paper and gift store, AllyKat, has added select Jewelry By Jessica necklaces to their stock. Yay! Check out their lovely offerings, including a neat selection of customizeable calling cards, address labels and luggage tags.

Purple Pink & Orange

2008-02-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

The neat-o web site Purple Pink & Orange recently featured my "Branches" necklace! Thanks, PP&O folk! Check out the full post - and their whole site, which is chock full of handmade goodness.

By the way...Purple Pink & Orange is also holding a pretty cool challenge. Share photos of your progress in organizing a space in your house - one lucky participant will win an Amazon gift certificate! Hurry though - deadline is February 29.

Shrink the USA

2008-02-13T11:24:00.001-08:00

Shrink the USA
Originally uploaded by Poundstone

A certain magazine included this series of photographs featuring shrink plastic. (See picture for the name of said magazine - I'm scared of their police coming after me. I love you, [insert magazine name here]! Everyone should subscribe to the Sunday edition of [parent company name here] just to get you!)

Shrink plastic goes kitschy intellectual illustrative photo essay highbrow! (Though I must mention that that oven is set waaaay too high. It's 325, people.) Very cool.

New Website Look!

2008-02-12T21:40:00.000-08:00

Well, it was long overdue - I finally gave my website a makeover. (I always did love makeovers...) Out with the pink, in with the William Morris-esque subtle grey background for the sidebar, a new logo, and, if your computer allows it, a new font for the site. It's so nice to have a fresh look for the new year. Yay! (Big thanks to Toby, the web guy who makes all the magic happen.) Soon enough there will be some new designs to add to the newness. Stay tuned...

Jewelry By Jessica at Circle Circle Dot Dot

2008-02-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

Wendy at Circle Circle Dot Dot has generously featured one of my pieces on the front page of her incredibly cute online store. There's my Roses and Thorns necklace front and center, and on the right, an awesome Jen Corace drawing brilliantly comissioned by Wendy. Make sure to take a look around over there - lots of great handmade goodness to be found.

Jewelry By Jessica Featured on Modish!

2008-01-16T10:09:00.000-08:00

Modish is an incredibly cool blog that features work by lots of amazing independent designers. Jena Coray, the writer and editor, has created some new features on the site for 2008, aiming to showcase the workspaces of designers (Handmade Spaces), musings from readers on why buying handmade can be so satisfying (Handmade Faces), and DIY projects and business tips (Handmade Traces). That's where I come in: my shrink plastic flower pin project is the first feature on Handmade Traces! Thanks to Jena for including me. And if you're not already a Modish fan, definitely get over there and see all the great stuff Jena is cooking up.

Art Jewelry Love

2008-01-04T22:50:00.000-08:00

I love looking at art jewelry. I don't know who is buying it or wearing it, but I do love looking at it (and occasionally attempting to make it). Here's a site to comb through - Sienna Gallery, "representing innovative artists using traditional and non-traditional materials to create handmade jewelry." Neat. (Via Dear Ada.)

Shrinky Dinks Go All Sciencey

2007-12-05T07:34:00.000-08:00

My friend and web site maker Toby sent me this link to the Wired blog where I found the story below. I always knew Shrinky Dinks could change the world, and now feel silly to think that I only explored their potential as far as jewelry...

"Hack: Young Professor Makes Lab-on-a-Chip with Shrinky Dink and Toaster Oven"

By Aaron Rowe December 04, 2007 | 3:43:43 AM

A young professor has used her favorite childhood toy, a laser printer, and a toaster oven to make microfluidic devices - tiny computer chips with plumbing that are usually fabricated in multimillion dollar labs.

When she began working at the University of California Merced last year, Michelle Khine was eager to get started with her research, but stuck without sophisticated equipment.

In an act of desperation, she turned to Shrinky Dinks-- plastic sheets that get smaller when they are baked in a household oven

"I am not a patient person, and being a new faculty member at a brand new university, I did not immediately have the cleanroom facilities I am accustomed to," says Khine, "And desperation is the mother of invention (or something like that). So as I was brainstorming solutions, I remembered my favorite childhood toy and decided to try it in my kitchen one night."

Khine and her team designed complicated patterns in Auto CAD, printed them onto Shrinky Dinks, and then heated the plastic toys in an inexpensive oven. As the sheets became smaller, the lines of print would bulge out. Taller and more pronounced, the miniaturized pattern served as a perfect mould for forming rounded, narrow channels in PDMS -- a clear, synthetic rubber.

In addition to making some simpler devices, Khine and her team emblazoned a Christmas tree design into a piece of PDMS and showed how it can blend different types of food coloring to make a rainbow pattern. Since microfluidic devices are sometimes used for biological research, the young professor also showed that Chinese Hamster Ovary cells can flow through through the narrow channels.

Khine described her work in Lab on a Chip, a journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The report, which became available online this November, is completely free and surprisingly easy to understand.

"This is certainly becoming a major thrust of my research, though that was not the intention," says Khine.

Bravo, Michelle Khine. Bravo!!

2007-11-18T00:20:00.000-08:00

I love making snowflakes, I love the color red. Voila: the Red Snowflake Ornament Series. It's the first ornament I've offered for sale, so I have no idea whether folks will show interest in them. But if they don't do well, no problem - I love them so much I'm going to be putting them up all over our place. So don't buy any - more for me! No wait, yes, please buy one if you like them: I'd love to spread the Red Snowflake cheer to the place where you live. Available for $12 at my Etsy shop.

Craftland!

2007-11-09T23:46:00.000-08:00

I was one of the lucky craftspersons to be chosen to participate in the 2007 Craftland, "an annual holiday sale in Providence, Rhode Island that celebrates all kinds of handmade objects and the people who make them." The store is set up for one month only, then disappears until next year. I'm in pretty amazing company - check out the list of participants here. (I already ordered fellow vendor Charlie & Sara's "Wellies" shirt for Sophie -- good gravy it is so cute!)

Icing on the cake? Former RI-based Jen Corace (she's now in Seattle - I bought a painting of hers waaaay back in '04) is the illustrator for this year's Craftland. Awesome.

If you're anywhere near Rhode Island, you really should check this thing out. The sale will be open from December 1-22 at 235 Westminster Street. More info at the Craftland site.

The 2007 Jewelry By Jessica Open House

2007-11-09T11:58:00.000-08:00

(A few more photos are here)

The second annual Jewelry By Jessica Open House has come and gone - I think a lot of fun was had by all! The first year I had this event, I was nervous. I thought it would be weird to sort of hit up friends and relatives for sales. But as it turns out, I think most of my friends and family appreciate the chance to look at all my stuff in one place, do some holiday shopping, or just hang out with us for a while before the holiday craziness descends. And for the local folks on my mailing list (you can sign up here) it's also a chance to save on shipping. Did I mention there are also lots of cookies, strong coffee, and cocoa with little marshmallows? Yeah, that helps too.

I also like to use the Open House to gauge reactions on new styles and colors before adding them to the shop. People people really seemed to like the new stuff this year, and the silver snake chain option was also a hit. That's good information for me to have - and hard to get any other way besides doing the craft show circuit, which I have, at least for now, stopped doing. (Maybe another post on that some other time.)

Anyway, thanks to everyone for coming, to Ben for marathon house cleaning, and especially to my mom who hung out with Sophie - and a lot of Sophie's small friends - all afternoon. Oh, and a particular shout-out to my high school classmates and their two way-too-cute girls for coming all the way up from Salem. (Stephanie's blog entry indicates that they had a good time - phew!) Hope to see you again soon Staleys!

Press!

2007-10-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

Lovely people have recently written about Jewelry By Jessica. It's always fun to see what people have to say.

• Rare Bird Finds loves the Sweet Fennel Blooms necklace.

• Indie Quarter, "a UK based blog dedicated to independent designers, makers, artists and crafters" calls my line "wearable art." That's nice of them.

• Thanks to my friend and former Rhode Island resident Jess McCloskey of Paper Treasure, I knew that when Megan at A Girl Must Shop called me "wicked talented" that was East Coasterly way to say she likes my stuff. Her review is here.

I sent each of these sites a heads up about my work because I liked what they had on their sites already. You might too - go look around!

My First Ever Tutorial: Go Make a Shrink Plastic Flower Pin!

2007-10-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

I have made a tutorial - written instructions and a video - on how to make the shrink plastic flower pin pictured above. It was a heck of a lot more work than I anticipated (I now know how to use iMovie... sorta) and the video is pretty darn amateurish, but I think it does the trick.

I got inspired to do the whole tutorial thing after watching a video of a fascinating talk: "The Global Microbrand: using the web to stay small whilst selling all over the world," given at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn by Antonio Gould (did the "whilst" in his title give away that he's a Brit?). Among other things, he said that if you make a video tutorial on your specific area of expertise, you will likely be the very first person in the entire world to do so. Well, when you put it that way, how could I not do it? So please do go watch my unique contribution to the wide world of shrink plastic jewelry making - it's right here! And if you decide to make a pin of your own, please send me a picture, or post it to the Flickr Group I started. I would so love to see it!

New Designs: Fall 2007

2007-10-30T12:54:00.002-07:00

Finally, some new designs - must be that "back to school - time for work" vibe hitting me. Available in the shop.

Crafty Synergy Interview

2007-10-30T12:54:00.001-07:00

There's a quote by Kenneth Lonergan (I'm trying to find it) to the effect of: at some point in time in life you realize that there are people at every level of power who feel like they have no idea what they're doing. The fact that I'm a jewelry designer despite having zero formal training in doing so has made me feel like an imposterer at times. It's resources like Patricia Zapata's Crafty Synergy, which features women running creative businesses, that make me realize that most people are just sort of making things up as they go along - and making beautiful things as they go. I was pretty blown away to be asked to participate. You can read my little interview here.

Drudgery Is Almost Always Invisible

2007-10-30T12:53:00.001-07:00

Jewelry By Jessica Production, originally uploaded by Poundstone.

There is a certain amount of drudgery in every job. Even in jobs that seem terribly glamorous. Artists who create amazing work still have to spend time cleaning their equipment, trying to get people to buy the work they’ve made, entering their sales into a spreadsheet, ordering supplies, etc. Writers must edit and re-edit themselves, then submit their work to multiple edits by others, some of which they probably don’t agree with. Running your own “cute little boutique,” means dealing with many vendors - some nice, some nasty - worrying about profit margins, cleaning the shop each night, and re-stocking shelves. Etc. etc. etc.

Recognizing the entire cluster of tasks required to succeed at an endeavor is, for me anyway, the first realistic step toward actually deciding whether or not that particular endeavor is for you. As a whole, the best case scenario is that the enjoyment you get out of it more often than not overshadows the stuff you must do to make it work.

For me, more often than not, the excitement of coming up with new designs and color combinations for jewelry that people actually like to wear does overshadow the drudgery that comes along with cutting all of the plastic pieces, drawing on them, painting them, varnishing them, scraping paint off their edges, affixing their findings and cords, making sure each clasp is sound, trimming out their tags, blah, blah, blah.

And hey, at least I can do all of that while watching old episodes of Northern Exposure on DVD.

To reiterate this post's title, while drudgery is almost always invisible, it can sometimes be beautiful (see above picture).

A Jewelry Project Of Mine In A Real Live Book...

2007-10-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

A Jewelry Project Of Mine In A Real Live Book...
Originally uploaded by Poundstone.

Thorugh a series of fortuitous connections, I was invited to contribute a project to the book Craftivity. Based on the sample pages I've seen, it's a really beautiful production. I guess that's what you get when the editor is also a designer : ) More information is here. Hope you get to see a copy, and like what you see!

Jewelry By Jessica The Blog

2007-10-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

One night before going to sleep I asked Ben: "Why do I feel compelled to make stuff and sell stuff?" I still don't have the definitive answer to that question, but I thought it would be nice to have place to think about and explore the idea of why people create things, talk about the process a bit more, and share other people's ideas. So here it is. I'll pop a few creativity-related posts from my regular blog just to get things started. Wheee : )