Happy Halloween and Giveaway alert!

Happy Halloween! I hope you all had a safe and fun weekend, and enjoy the day!

I was invited to do an interview and giveaway over at Etsy Stalker recently, so I figured it would be perfect timing for my last giveaway of 2011!

One lucky winner will win a Sterling Silver Wishbone Necklace - so check it out! It only runs Oct 31st -Nov 6th so head over to the Giveaway now to see how to enter!
http://etsystalker.com/2011/10/31/solo-exhibit-giveaway-bella-bijou-too/

Good Luck!

It's Gotta Go Sale- Twilight Necklace

Around until 10 am Sunday Oct 30th only - Twilight Necklace, reduced by 30%!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/59354904/its-gotta-go-sale-laguna-agate-and

Move Over...It's Gotta Go!

As I warned a while ago, the Last Chance section in my shop would be retiring soon. I have decided to do a little something fun though to try and help them find homes.

Every few days, I will pick one item from the Last Chance Section and further discount it ( they are already discounted by 15%) It will stay discounted for a specific amount of time ( say 12, 24, 48 hours at the most - whatever I feel) and then if it doesn't sell, it will be pulled.

This will be a random process, but I will be posting the super sale listing on my facebook page and here, first come first dibs.The new items will be in the ITS GOTTA GO SUPER SALE section 

Somedays there might be two items, who knows ;-)

SO having said all that, the first "It's Gotta Go" item is :

Kaleidoscope Necklace
Sterling Silver and Swiss Blue Topaz
Originally $88, now just $59
Discounted by a total of 35%!!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/48056201/sale-sterling-silver-with-swiss-blue

This pretty will be in the shop until 3pm PST tomorrow ( Thursday Oct 27th) then it will be gone forever!

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

These tasty little morsels are super easy to make, and make a great satisfying snack!

You will need :

2 eggs

1 can of canned pureed pumpkin*

3/4 cup white flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 quick cooking oats

1 cup frozen cranberries cut in half

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup veggie oil

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 fresh grated ginger

paper muffin cups

Here's what you do:

Preheat to 400

Mix sugar and eggs and whisk until well mixed. Add oil and pumpkin.

In a separate bowl mix both flours, oats, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger.

Pour wet into dry and gently mix until WELL blended. 

Fold in halved cranberries.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 the way full and pop in the oven for 20-22 minutes approx (or when a toothpick inserted comes out clean)

Last and most important step :

ENJOY!

*Pumpkin puree ONLY, not canned pumpkin pie 

Jewelapalooza

Yep, I've been at it again.
Busy hands are happy hands, and these hands my friends, are happy :-)

Beneath the Ice Necklace
Sterling, Dendritic Opal and a pebble of 14k Gold.

Halo Necklace
Sterling Silver and White Pearl

Halo Ring (size 7.75)
Sterling and Prehnite

Desert Sun Ring ( Size 8.25)
Sterling, Carnelian, 14k Gold

Rosy Disposition Earrings
Sterling and White Pearl

Rosy Disposition Ring Size 8
Sterling and Labradorite

Rooted Necklace
Sterling and Jasper

Rain Cloud Necklace
Sterling, Prehnite and Turquoise

Stormy Ring Size 9
Sterling and Labradorite

Wow, I am a little exhausted just photographing and posting it all!
Everything will be heading into the shop Monday morning at around 10am PST.
There have been some inquiries already, so do contact me via email or etsy convo if you would like to claim something to be yours, and I will list it reserved in your name.

from my soul to yours...

Quickie Preview

I ran out of hours yesterday - so some of the stones are not set yet, but here is hte giant haul of goodies I have been working on :-)

4 Rings, 4 Necklaces, and 2 Pairs of Earrings.
If anything should speak to you, do contact me to reserve it :-)

Is there anybody out there?

I am having one of those weeks I guess.
My Etsy shops are dead.
Comments on blog posts are practically non existent.
Is there anybody out there?

Such is the life of a business. Traffic waxes and wanes from plenty of sales and custom work, to nothing at all.
Some months it seems like my blog is lit up with comments, and other months it is lost in interwebular space.

Personally, I think this can be one of the hardest things for an artist whom is trying to make a living off her work. Besides the actual promoting of myself {ick, you mean I need to try and sell stuff!?} it is the deep down fear of "what if all of a sudden I suck?"
Seriously though, what if that last sale I had was the last one I'll have for a long time?
What if people don't read my blog anymore, or comment on the facebook page.
Part of me asks the question "why do I need that confirmation"
The other part of me says "these are the people I create for - of course I want to make something that speaks to them as much as it does to me"

It's a slippery slope, running a business and trying to make a living off of it. Plenty of highs and lows, yet I wouldn't trade it for anything. Most of us work hours that are undefined by a "Between ____ and ____ o'clock"
Of course my emotions play into it, because I am in business for myself - my product comes from within, and extension of myself.

I find myself saying "Is there anyone out there?"
Then the words of Dory the Fish pop into my head "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming"
And I know I will press on, because these moments of honest self questioning are often what make me stronger.
I mean, hell, I am human!
If I didn't have moments like this, would my work ever improve?
Would I ever try and push myself creatively?
With out the dark, would I know the light?


Deep thoughts for a thursday, no?
New Work previews are coming today, I promise :-)

Garden of Secret Thoughts

I dream of one day owning a piece of land where I can build myself a secret garden. It would be tucked away in a labyrinth of trees and shrubs and would be the perfect place to sit and reflect on life. I would hang a swing where I could lounge and read or paint or sketch, and there would be a babbling brook running right through it.

My Garden of Secret thoughts - a place all to myself, hidden away from the woes of the world.... sounds magical... 

Garden of Secret Thoughts Necklace was created around this stunning {!!!} milky green Chrysoprase. I have adorned it with rows of sterling silver plain and beaded wires, and two leaves of sterling that I imprinted with genuine leaves. The edges were hand cut in a soft scalloped shape to add to the feminine effect of this piece, and it has been entirely oxidized for depth. 



The back has been cut out, so that light can escape through and make the Chrysoprase glow. 

Let this Garden of Secret Thoughts bring you tranquility in life's most hectic of moments...

Heading into the shop this evening, unless you know it belongs near your heart, in which case contact me to reserve it :-)

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

I made a big change.
Well, big for me.
I'm a long hair girl.
Always have been.
On rare moments of crazyness, I have cut that long hair short{ish}.
Nothing ever above where my neck meets shoulder.
You long haired ladies out there know that feeling I love so much,
the tickle of hair down your back.
The warmth of it in the winter.
The safety blanket that I have come to love and rely on.

Well, I needed a change. Something different.
And I wasn't about to chop my locks off, since I have regretted it each and every time { which is not many}
So on a whim last week I got a last minute appointment with my girl {whom I happened to go to highschool with and very much understands the love of long hair}{oh, can I boast for a second? Lindsey was voted best stylist on Vancouver's North Shore this year!}

We came up with one solution : Bangs.
Something I haven't had since I spent over a year growing them out when I was 12
{oh horrible 90's bang *shudder*}
Something however I felt I needed to add a bit of sass.
Something to break up the monotony of long straight hair.
Do take mercy on the quickie iPhone pic :-)

I'm not really here, I'm just a figment of your imagination....
She cut loads of layers for swing and movement and my hair feels about a gazillion and a half pounds lighter. Not only do I love it, but for the first time in years, people have actually noticed that I have done something different.People that didn't notice that time I got 12 inches cut off.Or the time I had bright blonde highlights.Or the time I dyed over said highlights at home and tinted my hair a lovely tone of ash green.
So, I think this is pretty big for me. A leap out of my comfort zone.Have you ever taken a big hair leap, after debating it for what seemed like ever?

I'd love to hear about it whether it was wonderful or horrible.  xo
PS - thank you to those who read the bottom of my last shop update post about the design theft ordeal. I've come across another seller now who had the same thing happen to them :-(I appreciate those who've taken the time to read it and offered their support!

LAST DAY for the 20% off Anniversary Sale!

Get 20% off with the discount code 6YEARS
in the one of a kind shop
the catalog shop
and my website full of exclusive pieces.

The sale ends tonight at 9pm PST so don't miss out!

When 3 turns to 2, and the woes of selling online

There were supposed to be 3 pieces of jewellery ready today.
One of which a FABULOUS citrine druzy ring that would have knocked your socks off.
Seriously.
It was chunky and weighty and had a thick gorgeous band on it.
And then I went to set the stone and it crumbled into pieces in my very hands.
Just like that.
It was gone.

So now, there are only two new pieces to show today ( with two more on the way), but I feel equally attached and proud of them.

Starry Starry Night Necklace
(with the second to last of these gorgeous faceted tear drop labradorites), sterling silver, and a gypsy set 3mm peridot.

Story of a Lady Necklace
from my *Original drawing in silver and copper

* I have been through the ringer the last couple of months with this design. I have been tentative to post it here because of the nature of the complaint : copying.
Now before we all get into the whole " is anything really new?" topic, or we start saying things like "imitation is the most sincere form of flattery" I feel compelled to tell you the nature of this issue.
This is a design I hand drew. Each lady is a little different of course due to this. I started with this design a good while ago now with my brooches, which has been very popular.
Am I the first to draw a cameo? Heck no.

HOWEVER, a couple of months ago it was brought to my attention by a fellow metalsmith that my design was being replicated and sold as a supply on etsy.
And to clarify, I mean it had been MASS PRODUCED.
I scoured my sold items, and found the *exact* piece they stole the design from - the pattern that I imprinted onto the metal matched exactly.
There were a few tears. They were angry ones.
There was discussion with the reseller supplier selling the item {whom I very honestly believe had no idea this was intellectual property theft, and had no idea that the design belonged to someone} and the items in question (cheap base metal plated pendant knock offs) were removed.
Since then I have come across a handful of the pieces being used in other jewellery sellers designs on etsy. Thankfully, almost everyone has been very understanding of this ordeal.

It is hard to put into words how this made me feel. This is NOT the case of someone being inspired a little too much by my design, or coming up with something similar.
This piece in question has been manufactured in Hong Kong, with no prior knowledge to me.

So why am I telling you all this?
I feel like the only way I can fight this, being the little guy in this situation, is to put emphasis on the fact that this is my original HAND DRAWN design. And while I know many of you wonderful people out there who support my art knows this is the real deal, and know its worth, I can't help feel a little defeated by the fact that there are knock offs out there.

Will this make me stop using this design?
Hell no! This is one of my babies - it means something to me. And I know there are amazing appreciative souls out there who want quality jewellery made from genuine solid metals.
It's YOU I create for,
and that is the real deal.

Phew, I feel a bit better getting that out there and off my chest!

I will be adding these to the shop later today, which means they will both be available for the 20% Anniversary Sale discount! Just use the coupon 6YEARS when checking out.
Things have been moving, so now is the time to grab that piece you have been watching, or get on early Christmas shopping!

The sale applies to all my online shops:
One of a kind on Etsy (where these two pieces will be) www.bellabijoujewellery.etsy.com
Made to Order shop on Etsy www.bellabijoutoo.etsy.com
My own website(with exclusive pieces found no where else!) www.bella-bijou.com

RIP Steve Jobs

How many of you remember this?

Remember how damn cool it was?

Remember when your parents first brought one home?

Floppy discs!?!

Steve Jobs was responsible for some of the coolest technology we have today, and today Apple announced that he has passed on. 

http://www.appletell.com/technologytell/article/steve-jobs-introduces-the-mac/

Steve came from modest beginnings, and was a college drop out. He is a great example of someone who used their pure talent to create a name for himself.
An inventor,An Entrepreneur, An inspiration.

Rest in Peace Steve

BIG SALE ALERT!

While my 6 Year Anniversary Sale technically starts tomorrow, I am giving my blog readers and facebook fans a running start!

Use coupon code 6YEARS and get 20% everything, in all shops {and YES that includes the Last Chance Section , which is already discounted by 15% - one hell of a deal if you ask me!}

Shop my One of a Kind Shop

Shop the Catalog

Shop the Last Chance Section

Shop the Website {for exclusives not found anywhere else!}

The Sale runs Weds Oct 5th (or today for you lucky blog readers!) until Sunday Oct 9th 9PM PST.
*Sale does not apply to custom orders, previously purchased items or the cost of shipping.
*no reserves during the sale time

See you there, and thank you so much for your support!