JEWELRY SPOTTER
Great Finds On-Line
by Marjorie Miller

Hello, if you don’t already know by now, as millions surely already do, my name is Marjorie.
People know me as a bead jewelry designer with an obsessive penchant for gemstones, pearls, more gemstones, more pearls, even more gemstones and even more pearls, and, of course, all the other stuff, like chain, wire, sterling silver, and you know what else, I don’t have to tell you.   And if you have heard that I spend more time on the internet than God, well, you might be right.
I am always on the lookout for the next great thing in jewelry.  It could be yours.   (Actually, it should be mine, but you know me….)
I hang out at Land of Odds (www.landofodds.com), and you can reach me there anytime.  Point my nose in the right direction — jewelry on-line that people will want to talk about.  And, darling, you better believe this is my real nose.   The jewelry ain’t fake either.
Let me take your hand, and guide your eye to see the treasures I have found below….
[Jewelry Spotter Archives]

Amee K. McNamara
www.ameerunswithscissors.com

Amee Runs With Scissors

Lions and Llamas and Beads, Oh My!

The Wizard in the Land of Odds asked me to write about a polymer clay artist. I whined and said that I did not like any of the polymer clay artists that he had chosen. To tell you the truth I truly was not a fan of polymer clay. The idea of taking poly vinyl chloride and making something beautiful out of it was beyond my comprehension.

Then one day quite by accident, I dropped onto the website of Amee K McNamara.

Amee Runs with Scissors states; “Telling the truth is important. Consequently, I spill my guts on the Home page of my website with the very first sentence; “I am an Obsessive Dabbler.”

I immediately saw Amee’s Obsessive Dabbling as art I could wrap my heart and mind around. She is a woman after my own heart. Amee let’s us know that it is perfectly wonderful to create passionately in every which way and direction; “I used to despair over my seeming lack-of-focus. While my nine-to-five life as an Interior Designer has remained constant for over twenty years, my artistic life has staggered along the blissfully erratic path of a glutton at a smorgasbord. My list of fleeting “this is what I want to do forever” passions has included everything from counted cross-stitch to oil painting to doll-making to loom-woven potholders. And my caprice knows no bounds. Each new fixation demanded an investment in tools and materials to which I capitulated with an almost zombie-like, the-voices-in-my-head-made-me-do-it subservience.”

Amee vents about her obsession about her website; “Amee Runs With Scissors is the safe place from which I can unleash my unabashed lust for color, my fascination with getting a likeness “just so” and my undeniable fixation with working with teeny-tiny, itty-bitty, ridiculously small beads. (Oh beads, beads, pretty beads!)”

Welcome to Amee’s particular brand of cheerful lunacy.

I fell in love with Amee’s polymer clay Lion’s heads with their big soulful eyes and manes of gorgeous beads which will move with your movements. To wear one of her masterpieces must make one feel powerful and strong like the huge cat it represents. Her In like A Lion necklace truly captures the essence of a tempestuous storm. I can feel the bluster and strength of the wind in her choice of colors, stones and pearls. Here’s what Amee had to say about creating her polymer lions; “I love working with skinner blends and the purity of color I can get with the clay and I challenge myself to create teeny, tiny details using the smallest possible pieces of brightly colored clay. Creating a polymer clay lion face but using (Sherri) Serafini’s fringe technique to make the mane was a natural development in my work.”

I love Amee’s passion and obsession with creating her jewelry, as she writes about how she got started with polymer clay and bead embroidery; “From the moment I saw Sherri Serafini’s bead-embroidered collar blazing from the cover of the 2003 Anniversary edition of Bead & Button, however, a subtle shift occurred. I continued to learn new techniques and work with new materials but things began to coalesce; I didn’t have any cabochons to embroider around and all the small bead-shops were closed so, I went to the big craft-store and bought polymer clay to make my own cabochons. I hadn’t ever worked with polymer clay before but – what the heck? – it seemed like the most immediate solution to my immediate problem. Of course, once I started monkeying around with the polymer clay, I got hooked on that too.”

Amee has been creating all sorts of creatures from her magical polymer clay including crabs and llamas. I look forward to seeing those in the future.

Go take a look for yourself, and you will find a truly amazing bead, polymer clay jewelry designer as well as a fine painter to boot.

TwelveBeads
Twelve Step Prayer Beads
Recovery Jewelry

http://www.twelvebeads.com/

I know this is not like me.  I love a good glass of Pinot Noir every now and again, but the gemstone colors and the beautiful detail of the sterling silver and pewter charms on the Twelve Bead website is downright inspirational.  Way back in the 90’s I was involved in the 12 step community, and I took what I needed and left the rest. 

The Twelve Bead website is fairly anonymous, as to who actually creates the jewelry and prayer beads, but Gwen R. has the copyright on the website.  Well Gwen you do beautiful work.  Simple beads placed in a circle either as a bracelet or prayer beads along with a simple meditation can take the possessor to a calm and serene state of mind.  Twelve Bead uses gemstones with a purpose, and gives the shopper the historical and contemplative qualities of those stones and symbols.  

The beautifully photographed slideshow at the entrance to the Twelve Bead website shows off the elegance and allure of the beads and symbols.  I feel calmer just studying their images.  A powerful presentation that soothes the senses and draws in the browser to look closer at what they have to offer. 

Twelve Bead offers prayer beads and recovery jewelry with the intention that it be used in meditation or prayer in conjunction with a twelve step program.  I say that many people of all backgrounds and affiliations with or without a need for a 12 step program could benefit from Twelve Bead’s beautiful well-designed prayer beads and jewelry.  We all deserve a little extra hope and inspiration. 

Wendy Mink Jewelry

http://www.wendyminkjewelry.com/home/

Oh what fun it is to shop online at Wendy Mink Jewelry!   I can just imagine how ecstatic I would be to shop in the Wendy Mink boutiques in Manhattan with all the hand-cut Indian stones, gold vermeil, resin and sterling silver being just some of the high quality materials used in the Wendy Mink collections.

They create five of these collections per year, with up to 300 styles per season. Each piece of Wendy Mink’s Jewelry is handcrafted in their New York City studio.

The studio and one of their shops in the Tribeca neighborhood are where a team of Tibetan jewelry artisans work right alongside production and sales staff. These artisans have collaborated with Wendy for more than 17 years and lend their own skills, techniques and design direction.

Take a virtual tour of both shops and the design studio at the Wendy Mink website.

The Wendy Mink Collections are found in department stores and boutiques throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia.  Wendy has truly made it in the fashion jewelry business, yet she still designs and creates one-of-a-kind, beautifully handcrafted pieces of jewelry.  Check out all the fashion magazines that feature her designs.  When you shop her website click on the “Shop Samples,” as you might just find a necklace for sale that was featured in one of those major fashion magazines.

One of Wendy’s clever marketing tools is to have customers e-mail pictures of themselves wearing their Wendy Mink Jewelry, so they can upload it onto the Gallery page of her website.  Who doesn’t want to show off their pretty new bling, and show your picture off to all your friends and relatives, who will in turn look at all the pretty jewelry for sale on the website?

One can readily spot Wendy’s deep love and passion for the materials she uses in her creations.  What comes through on Wendy’s blog is her love of fun, cake, beads, dogs, and Mad Men with great fun 1950’s and 1960’s inspired jewelry.  Wendy Mink is a role model for all aspiring jewelry designers and bloggers.  I wish she had a jewelry business school.  I know Warren; we already have business classes at Be Dazzled Beads.  Perhaps I should sign up for some.  Anyway, take a good long look at all the beautiful jewelry at Wendy Mink Jewelry online.  She also has vintage bling for sale.

It is an exciting day at The Land of Odds, as we got photos of the first submission to the All Dolled Up:  Beaded Art Doll Competition.  This year’s theme is Earthen Mother, and from the looks of it the theme is right up the alley of beaded doll creators. The stories that are written show just how talented these beaders are. I wonder which comes first the story or the doll or if it is a true combination?  Can you imagine taking the theme here in quotes?  ”The mirror reflects more than my hands can feel. Lines, edges, shadings, a weariness under the eyes, an awkward stance. Yet, not reflected is a certain vibrancy — a compassion and wisdom and wonder so many people rely on. Only you, my beaded art doll, capture the fullness of me as I age in place. You embody changes I want to make, so I aptly name you…” Thusly invoking the spirit and gumption to proceed and create a masterpiece of a beaded doll.  If you are out there, and you find this enticing, I say go for it!  Pick up your beads, needles, threads, wire, whatever you need to get started, and something to write with and on.

I can hardly wait to see more of the entries flow in as the deadline date (August 31^st, 2009) fast approaches.

www.landofodds.com/store/alldolledup.htm

Here are some favorite beaded art dolls I’ve seen on the web:

aponi by rosalie

by cynthia bicker

by lisabeth tafoya

by rosemary dunaif

by tamelyn feinstein

Jewelry and Bead Competitions, what an exciting idea, and there
are so many that everyone should get involved.

Here are just a few with all their categories to tempt you into
dreaming of winning it all.

Bead Dreams from Bead & Button

http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/bnbshow/default.aspx?c=a&id=200

All Dolled Up: Beaded Art Doll Competition

http://www.landofodds.com/store/alldolledup.htm

Saul Bell Award

http://www.saulbellaward.com/

Bead Arts Award from Step by Step Beads

http://www.stepbystepbeads.com/contest/beadarts.cfm

Bead Star from Interweave Press

http://www.beadingdaily.com/beadstar/

Now that you are in dreamland filling your head with beautiful thoughts of
how to design the perfect piece of jewelry that will launch your career and
spin you out into the galaxy of the rich and famous jewelry designer, it is
time to wake up at least for a minute.

I have found that some of the jewelry design competitions tend to favor certain components, styles and designs. Check out the finalists from past jewelry competitions.   Many competitions favor a “look” or “type”.    This could be useful information, or frustrating information, depending on your goals as a jewelry designer.

It is human nature to be attracted to what one likes, knows, and thinks is
pretty or eye-catching. Would it not be wonderful if the judges could truly
put aside their personal taste, or where their paycheck comes from, or who is
sponsoring the competition, or whether it will make a good pattern to give to
potential buyers — all while critiquing the contest entrants and making selections?

This also brings another question to my mind:  What politics could be at the core of these contests?    Do the same people submit entries each year, or are the same people’s entries selected each year?    Are we really seeing the “best” entries, or are there strong biases, tilted in certain directions?   After reviewing webpage after webpage of many, many bead and jewelry contests, I can get a little jaded and often disappointed.

I know that most of the designing contests are way above board and a wonderful exercise in stirring up the creative juices to push ourselves beyond our self-imposed limitations and learn new techniques, skills and work with wonderful materials.

The two competitions closest to my heart are:

The Ugly Necklace Contest
http://www.landofodds.com/store/uglynecklace.htm

and,

All Dolled Up: Beaded Art Doll Competition
http://www.landofodds.com/store/alldolledup.htm

both sponsored by Land of Odds.

I love the concept of making jewelry that displeases the eye. It is so very
foreign to our sensitive artist’s eye! Try it sometime it is not as easy
or simple as it seems. I have seen the many failed attempts at striving for
butt ugly. I have also seen winners of serious jewelry competitions with famous and renown jewelry artist judges crown a winner that could have easily, hands down won The Ugly Necklace Contest. This makes me feel that if someone can win a serious competition with jewelry that is so hideous, then how can an artist get around the obvious political devices that are put into place that encourage banality, distaste, ugliness and being in the right clique?

The voting is in full swing for the Ugly Necklace Contest so go vote you have
until July 15th.

http://www.landofodds.com/store/ugly7contest.htm

The Fourth Bi-Annual 2009 ALL DOLLED UP: BEADED ART DOLL COMPETITION is offering a first prize of a $1000.00 shopping spree on the Land of Odds web-site (www.landofodds.com), and a Runner-Up prize of a $400.00 shopping spree on the web-site. All Dolled Up: Beaded Art Doll Competition 2009 is a chance for you to create a Beaded Art Doll by manipulating beads and forms into an imaginative tactile and visual
3-dimensional representation of this year’s theme: Earthen Mother . The
deadline for this competition is August 31, 2009. You better get beading, as
this competition has brought in some stunning and beautiful dolls in the past.
Bead Groups have entered dolls in the past, so if you feel overwhelmed beading a doll all on your own, get your beading buddies to each take a few turns. Make a party out of it!

So there you have it; my take on jewelry and beading competitions. Take what
you like and leave the rest. Here are a few more awards and competitions to
peruse:

American Craft NICHE Awards

http://www.americancraft.com/NICHE_Awards/introduction_page.html

American Jewelry Design Council

http://www.ajdc.org/

Womens’ Jewelry Association

http://www.womensjewelry.org/

FRIEDRICH BECKER PRIZE

http://www.gfg-hanau.de/unterseiten/veranstaltung_fbp2008_eng.htm

International Opal Jewelry Design Awards

http://www.outbacknow.com.au/index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&tid=6&pid=106

Jewelry TV

http://www.jtvdesigncontest.com/

Fire Mountain Gems’ Beading Contest

http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_contest_09.asp

Your Design Rocks from Rings & Things

http://www.rings-things.com/contest/2009/index.html

Here is just a quick little blog to whet your jewelry appetite.

Ruth Tomlinson from the United Kingdom works with sterling silver, 18 carat gold and porcelain creating jewelry with a very delicate and feminine quality.  Her beautiful floral pieces remind me of the flowers in my mother’s gardens, especially the very delicate lilies of the valley.  Her delicate designs strike a beautiful chord in my heart.

Ruth’s inspiration comes from the history of jewelry and lifecycles from birth to decay. She also takes great interest in archaeological finds and Pre-Raphaelite imagery and symbolism.  Tomlinson responds to her immediate environment as most great artists and is open to spontaneous finds and observations. Her aim is to work jewelry materials into works with a very delicate and sensitive quality. “I hope to evoke a sense of wonder around my work that leads people to question the idea of preciousness.”

Ruth Tomlinson has been awarded many awards:

June 2005 Theo Fennel Prize for best jewellery at the Royal College of art

Dec 2003 Garrards Competition at the Royal College or Art. Short listed design for diamond collection

March 2003 Goldsmiths Craftsmanship and Design Awards. Fashion jewellery: flatwork, commended

June 2001 Business Design Centre, New Designer of the Year, highly commended.

June 2001 Wedgwood Future of Design Award in ceramic design

Bravo for Ruth and Bravo to all the award winners in jewelry competitions all over the world.  I will be writing about Jewelry Designs competitions in The Jewelry Spotter Blog in weeks to come.  So stay tuned.
   

Mimi and Dottie

I love vintage jewelry therefore I love and adore Rebecca Davis’
truly one of a kind vintage repurposed jewelry. Rebecca like many of us jewelry lovers and designers grew up playing dress up in her grandmother’s costume jewelry. As a teen she used some of her grandmother’s pieces and repurposed them into items that she wore and shared with friends. Rebecca later earned a BFA from Auburn University and then had a career as a graphic designer. Davis never lost her love for antique jewelry and jewelry making. She has come full circle and back to her first love – creating jewelry.

The name of Rebecca’s jewelry business is Mimi and Dottie, after her
husband’s grandmother, Mimi and her sister, Dottie. Mimi gave Rebecca
a sterling silver Victorian locket that contained a poem and a photo of a handsome
young man that looked a lot like Rebecca’s husband. It was Mimi’s
father. This inspired Rebecca to take her special and sentimental gift and make
it into a modern and fashionable accessory – and Mimi and Dottie was born.

Rebecca utilizes her ever-growing collection of antique and vintage jewelry,
coins and interesting curiosities to design unique one-of-a-kind jewelry. The
designs are classic and timeless with elegant lines. Her focus is on quality
and craftsmanship and she mixes her antique baubles and trinkets with sterling
silver, vermeil, 14 karat gold filled and semi-precious gemstones.

Mimi and Dottie can be found at The Loft at Henpeck Market in Franklin, Tennessee
and at The Green Wagon in Nashville, Tennessee. All online sales are made through
Mimi and Dottie’s Etsy shop: mimianddottie.etsy.com.

http://www.themagpienest.com/index.html

What I know personally of Magpies is that they are intensely black with bright white beautiful birds that love to torture cats behind glass doors by chattering and sitting so close to the glass that the cats pounce at the ”pies” to no avail.

Magpie lore suggests that this gorgeous bird has an insatiable attraction to all things shiny. The “pies“ compulsion will force her to go out of her way to get a closer look at a shiny, sparkly bauble, and will often steal the trinket.

Mag Dimond like the “pies” (as they were known until the 16th century feminization of the name) loves shiny, beautiful beads from all over the world. Dimond journeyed to many places, including East Africa, China, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Western Europe, and Southeast Asia. She has collected beautiful jewelry and artifacts, marveling at their embodiment of their cultures and the mysteries carried forward.

In turn Dimond creates wonderful authentically ethnic truly “one of a kind” pieces of jewelry. Each piece has a different story, and has a rich history embedded in the materials.

COPYRIGHT, 2009, FELD

Land of Odds – Beads, Jewelry Findings, Jewelry Making Supplies

Land of Odds provides bead and jewelry making artists with virtually all their beads, supplies, books and jewelry findings needs, with over 30,000 products. Home of The Ugly Necklace Contest-A Jewelry Design Competition With A Twist, The Illustrative Beader: Beaded Tapestry Competition, and of All Dolled Up: Beaded Art Doll Competition.

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