The Beading Gem

Guest Post by Angelita Williams :

No matter how many trends come and go, beaded clothing and jewelry stay in style throughout the year. But, it is always important to think of new ways to freshen up your creations or generate trend-related sales. One of the easiest methods is to create a few on-trend pieces by copying the color profiles that popular for the upcoming season.

If you’re not obsessively following runway fashion trends, here’s a nice cheat sheet. Endlessly savvy fashion site Refinery29.com laid out a great outline of the top spring 2012 color trends to know about now. These hues range from sexy neutrals, to soft and creamy pastels, to fun and sultry tangerine.

Here are four color profiles you can add to your beaded work to both attract your fashionista customers and throw a small splash of trendy color into your own wardrobe this spring.

1. Multi-Layered Neutrals


Layered neutrals were one of the hottest trends for spring this year. And neutrals are never a bad thing to have in your closet, especially when it comes to jewelry. Neutrals can tone down or play up certain color schemes and add a touch of elegance to any outfit. Refinery 29 noted shades like “soft oatmeals, browns, tans, grays, and neutral tones” as prominent on the runway. You probably even have some old beads lying around in unexpected neutral shades. What better time to put them to use, using things like natural wooden beads or neutral fabrics and other soft materials.

Fabric Bib Necklace Tutorial by Another Day in Paradise Part 1/Part 2 and 3

2. Creamy Pastels


Anything girly is all the rage this spring, with shades like blush pink, mint green, creamy lilac and soft blue popular everywhere. This is the best time to buy some creamy pastel beads to use on practically anything. Check out the mint green of these earrings created by an Etsy user. This is the perfect shade for spring in 2012. Try adding some lace, ruffle or polka dots to your creations and market them to the fashion set.

Lace and Pearl Bracelet Tutorial by Flamingo Toes

One of the most extraordinary gem collections in the world is at the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian has recently unveiled their new jewelry line inspired by their gem collections produced in an exclusive partnership with QVC, the TV shopping channel. The lovely gemstone pieces are mounted in sterling silver and gold and range from $65- $950.

Yep. You read right - piglets. This is not the first time I have written about pigs - check out my past post on The Pig Who Ate A Diamond Off a Ring!.

This time we have cute little piglets or just one Miss Piggie modeling jewelry. I've featured some really innovative jewelry photo shoots before (see links below) - babies, on men, even real human skeletons. But this one is a porker of an idea!

Most of us have used safety pins to close loose and gaping tops. No one wants a wardrobe malfunction. Well, you can toss away those safety pins. There is something better and infinitely more glamorous - Bosom Buttons!

These are clever hand made Swarovski or gemstone decorated pins designed to keep your clothes together. Evidently many women they are the best thing since sliced bread. The product has been selling like hot cakes. They are a hit not only with women but also with men who are buying the buttons for their wives.

Scarves have been popular in the last little while.  The long, soft ones are so versatile with many outfits. So I thought Alyssa of Donni Charm was really innovative in coming up with bling not just for scarves but t-shirts.

The charms certainly adds a delicate touch of class to otherwise casual outfits. Fun, too. Artisans like her who can spot a niche are to be admired! The designs shown here are from her Spring 2010 collection.

A reader told me she is working on her first bib necklace after she read some tutorials I wrote about (see links at the end) - way to go! Bib necklaces are indeed a hot trend and not just by handmade enthusiasts. Chanel designed this spectacular Venetian Bib Necklace for their 2009/2010 Cruise collection.


The  neckpiece is made from what are known as plastrons which I learned from Laura Sweet's blog post The Making of Chanel's New Venetian Bib Necklace. That is an interesting name because a plastron is actually the flat (underside) part of a turtle or tortoise shell. I understood why when I saw the pictures of the resin work.

Jewelry is usually classified as a fashion accessory. But lately, jewelry has been the inspiration for several fashion designers.

Jewelry designs on dresses
The talented young Greek-born, London-based fashion designer, Mary Katrantzou's 2008 collection featured bold digital trompe l’oeil prints of jewelry which wowed Vogue and won her an industry sponsorship to produce her next line.

Okay, confess. How many of you thought my post on over sized tribal jewelry by a Greek designer was just a flash in the pan? Think again. Big really is in. Honking big earrings! Chunky necklaces!

I was actually inspired enough to buy some huge rough cut amethyst nuggets to try a "Wilma Flintstone" necklace design. Some of the beaders who come to our workshops and beading parties are already into pretty huge jewelry. The biggest ever hoop earrings were by Erin. Just observe the relative size of the ear wires to the hoops! The largest chandeliers I have ever seen done by two people. Tammy made this enormous and heavy donut chandelier earrings. Amanda's multi-tiered chandelier earrings were considerably lighter but they reached past her shoulders!

Renowned designers such as Marni, Marc Jacobs, Viv Westwood, Proenza Schouler, Ralph Lauren, Rachel Comey, Erickson Beamon for Zac Posen, Andrew Gn and Louis Vuitton are all into gigantic jewelry for the fall.The pictures here show some of their runway work.




Below left is a Stella McCartney design and on the right, Chanel. These two are my favorites.



This Armani necklace (below left)looks like a blown up version of what we would string. The Marni set below right is funky cool.



Celebrities will influence the masses for they are also flaunting huge jewelry. Shown below is model Eva Herzigova at the 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2009 in Antibes, France




Singer and actress Jennifer Hudson sported her enormous chandeliers during a recent performance at the Pearl Concert theater, Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.



This necklace was worn at the Inglorious Basterds Premiere also at Cannes this year. I really like the art deco look. I would dearly love to know who the designer was.



Via, Via, Via and Via


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In North America, the prom is THE event of the year for graduating high school students. The occasion started of as a formal dinner and dance but in recent years has escalated to teenaged extravanganzas - hired limosines, expensive formal wear, makeup and hair sessions and so on. But for many girls this year, prom fashion will not be about what to wear but how much it's going to cost. It may be no bad thing in this current economic climate to scale down the prom to reasonable expectations.

The New York times reported earlier this year that prom dresses are still selling even in hard hit areas. Many families are forgoing other things just to make sure their kids had a good time at the prom. But many more teenagers this year are putting their prom gowns on layaway programs than they did last year.

Recycling, making their own dresses or renting them are other options. Finding affordable accessories after spending on the dress may be a bit tricky. The savy can borrow or even rent prom jewelry but for the smart girl handmade jewelry will be just the ticket. It's one of a kind artisan designed jewelry for ultimate customization and style.

The question is, have any of you noticed an increase in sales from prom goers this year?
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Ultra Feminine
Part 2 of 2
We jewelry designers are constantly trying to improve our photography skills and to properly "stage" the jewelry against good backgrounds. So what do the pros do? They take it up several notches!

Vmagazine.com highlighted the undercover bling photo shoot by the Italian photographing duo, Coppi Barberi. Top designs from the fashion industry were teamed with beautiful jewelry from well known jewelers like Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Roberto Cavalli, Cartier, Bulgari and Chanel Fine Jewelry.

Stylist, Bay Garnett, placed carefully chosen jewelry not only on the model's hands and wrists but also on the garter straps and the stockings too. You can see the full list of the items and a link to their video here.

You have to agree that doing something extraordinary does garner attention - one commentator cheekily said "I'd like to be the shop assistant helping the client try the jewelry on ;-)" Check out the past post links below for other unusual jewelry photo shoots.


Via

Related Posts
Real Skeletons As Jewelry Displays
Edgy Jewelry Photo Shoot

For more tutorials check out my Jewelry Making Tips

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Ethnic Inspirations
Part 2 of 2
Have you noticed the fashion for big handbags lately? There is a lot to be said for roomy handbags - more space to put all our knick knacks! Many people also favor large eye-catching jewelry and fortunately for them, big bling is in this spring. You can't get much larger than the accessories by Athenian designer, Maria Mastori’s over-sized jewelry. She was recently featured in the Greek edition of Elle magazine.

She has been producing her unique, bold tribal inspired jewelry for the last four years and has developed quite a fan base in her native country.

Pictured above is her wooden collar necklace from her 2007 collection. Below left are her huge cuff bracelets made from wood, silk threads, silver and agate. Her rings from black marble, silver and gold are hardly timid either.



She also has necklaces consisting of silk threads, silver and rock crystal which remind me of plaits or giant tassels. I actually rather like her tassel designs but I prefer them to be miniature and sized for earrings.


Via
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I don't often watch tv but one delightful show I enjoy catching is TLC's "What Not To Wear". It's a show where a couple of style gurus (Stacy London and Clinton Kelly), a hair stylist and make-up artist do makeovers on people with the most atrocious fashion sense. Friends and family send in names of potential candidates and the chosen ones have their wardrobe analysed and dumped! They then get fashion tips on how to choose clothes which flatter them and $5000 to shop for new clothes. It's a pity they rarely cover jewelry at all. They do discuss accessories like bags and shoes but not jewelry.

Most women wear some form of jewelry and some like wearing several pieces at the same time although it takes a certain flair not to go WAAAAY over the top. The heavy, I-must-wear-as-much-jewelry-as possible approach to this October ID Magazine jewelry fashion shoot was really too much. Where are Stacy and Clinton when you need them? The individual pieces were lovely though. Perhaps they just wanted to pile as many pieces as possible on the model, Natasha Poly, like an overloaded jewelry display!



Via

Related Posts
Real skeletons as jewelry displays
Edgy Jewelry Fashion Shoot
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Halloween Inspired Jewelry
Part 3 of 3

At this time of year, jewelry artisans are busy getting ready for craft shows. It's important to have attractive and professional looking displays to draw in potential buyers. Right?

Another way to capture people's attention is to go for "shockvertising". Many ad campaigns today rely on alarming visuals to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Using real skeletons as jewelry displays was incredibly morbid and downright freaky as you can see from these City Magazine ad pages. Diamonds are indeed forever! But I'm not sure I would want to wear the jewelry afterwards though. Would you?


The creative director was Fabrice Frere. Other team members include Chris Turner, the photographer and Michael Dye as the stylist.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Via

For more tutorials check out my Jewelry Making Tips

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