a lil sale

Last week I marked down some pieces from the Hunted collection that I mainly have in overstock,  and boy did that get some sales! It's been great and much needed.

Here are several of the pieces that have been marked down significantly.  You can visit this link that has all the sale items grouped together.  These pieces have been marked down as much as 50% which is a big markdown.

Enjoy it now because I won't keep them on sale for much longer. 

The Hunted bronze crow claw ring, marked down from $170 to $85.

The Hunted silver bear claw charm, now $45.

The Hunted double badger claw pendant, one of my popular and versatile pendants.

 

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Standing out

Last weekend Eilisain Jewelry participated in our first Crafty Bastards show in DC and it was hugely successful.  I was a bit pessimistic, as in the past I have not done very well at shows.  However part of me also knew that many of my friends and old colleagues would come out in support.

Part of what I loved so much about participating was meeting people face to face, hearing their thoughts about Eilisain Jewelry and also suggestions.  I've learned so much just from one weekend.  And I LOVED meeting the other artists at the show, so much talent! I even met Jay McCarroll from Project Runway, he was one of my favorite designers.  

This show also had me working on my display set up, and I finally purchased a beautiful banner.  And of course, Ms. Tara Locklear-Extraordinaire designed my banner below.  I'm super pleased with it. 

As always, thank you for reading!

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featured in French Elle magazine

Yesterday I received  exciting news, The Hunted Crow Claw ring was featured in the January 2014 issue of French Elle magazine! This is the first, major publication feature for Eilisain Jewelry and I could not be happier that it'd be in the pages of Elle, one of my favorite fashion mags.  

Below is the clip of the feature.  This comes from the wonderful partnership with Boticca, they have a showroom in Paris and invited fashion and accessory editors to view jewelry from their designers, and I was one of them!

The Hunted sterling silver crow claw ring with amethyst.  

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Maleficent and the Hunted

Did a lil' google search yesterday of Eilisain Jewelry and look what came up?

I love surprises and gifts like this; my jewelry included in an inspiration board.  CreamStyle fashion blog did a great style board inspired by recent movies or soon to be released and the Hunted sterling silver crow claw ring with amethyst was included.  

I very much approve of her combination, it' one I would definitely wear!

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New pieces in my Etsy shop

This year is already proving to be very productive; I'm submitting all my papers for a practicing business in the state of North Carolina, I've decided which bank to, finally, open a business account and I've made several new pieces of jewelry.  

Within the past several weeks I've also been slowly setting up my studio and the metals studio at Art Avenue; getting an air compressor for my wax injector and getting the right tools.  It's costly but fortunately I've made some sales this month already and it helps fund all of this new equipment I need for the studio.  I'm also fortunate that my boyfriends dad is gifting me an oxygen and acetelyne tanks, along with a torch tip system.  It's so wonderful when your family and friends support your dream and do whatever they can to help, I'm a lucky lady!

So enough of studio talk, here are some new pieces I finished this week.  I really love the little geode and crystal earrings.  I've kept those geodes for about 6 months and finally got a chance to make them into something pretty to wear.  Also some new beaver teeth earrings added, these are slightly thinner than previous teeth earrings. 

I hope you like and thank you for reading!

Resurrection earrings - geode crystals (from Points of Light) and quartz crystal points.

The Hunted - Beaver teeth earrings

The Hunted Crow claw pendant with amethyst in bronze.

The Hunted - Triple Crow claw ring with rough aquamarine, 18kt gold plated bronze.

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How to care for your jewelry

18kt gold plated crow claw ring and amethyst.

I've been thinking this over the past couple days, how frustrating it can be when people come to the Jewelry Dr. (where I work as a repair assistant part time) and are baffled that their jewelry broke or why a stone came loose, etc.   Then it got me thinking, well no wonder they don't know why their jewelry broke...because, maybe no one told them how to take care of it!

Most jewelry doesn't come with 'how to' instructions, but they really should.  For example, plated jewelry (gold and silver plating) must be removed from the body before coming in contact with soap or water, because if you don't the plating will come off.

So here are some simple steps on how to care for Eilisain Jewelry as well as any other jewelry.

1.  Remove your jewelry before washing your hands or any contact with water IF it is gold or silver plated AND if there is a sensitive stone/gem.

2.  Store your jewelry in a jewelry box or a bag with chalk (especially if it is silver, chalk prevents tarnishing).

3.  Check your jewelry and look at it closely from time to time (say once a month, if you wear it often).  The way I check for loose stones and diamonds at the jewelry dr. is I run my fingernail along the edge of the stone, if the stone moves...well then it needs to be tightened.

4.  Also remove your jewelry if it has been epoxyed, aka glued.  Some of my stones are additionally set with epoxy.  Epoxy is a very strong adhesive for metal objects - most jewelry out there has epoxy in it, even fancy (aka expensive) and commercial jewelry.

5.  And even if you've checked your jewelry yourself, take your most prized jewelry once or twice a year to a jeweler to have them inspect it professionally.  Most of the time this is free, unless it needs repair.

6.  POLISHing:  There are several methods to polishing your jewelry.  One is to buy the soapy liquid at the store...those never seem to work! A polishing cloth is great, you can usually buy one at a fancy jewelry shop or maybe at Michaels.  Sometimes just an old soft tshirt does the job. Dish soap works just as well, use your hands and gently clean your jewelry with just a teeny bit of soap.  Then dry with a soft cloth.

I hope that these tips help you in caring for your jewelry.  I know I do it myself because, I LOVE my jewelry and I don't want to lose it or have it damaged!

Thanks for reading.
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Deep blue azurite and flourite

Oh Thanksgiving break was too good to me, I ate way too much but also got some good work time in.  I gave myself two days off and in between I was able to finish up some pieces with new stones I got in the mail from a fellow Etsy seller, Instant Karma.

I am just in LOVE with the deep blue of the azurite stone, which fits perfectly into the claws of a crow!  Just listed on my Etsy shop and will be available for sale at the ECU Holiday sale and Brody School of Medicine sale. 

Also used a new faceted flourite stone for the crow claw pendant below.  Next week is going to be really crazy but I'm ready for it! And excited. 

Thanks for reading and I hope all of you had a happy Thanksgiving!

The Hunted Triple Crow Claw ring in sterling silver.

The Hunted Crow claw pendant in sterling silver, with the makers mark stamp.

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Gold plating!

Several weeks ago I broke down and bought gold plating solution.  It's a bit pricey but worth it to plate bronze and brass jewelry.  I don't know why I didn't do it sooner?!?

I don't have a plating machine but my boss at the Jewelry Doctor does and he is so generous to let me use it.  I'm always indebted to him for helping me out with wholesale purchases and using his equipment.   

Plating is really quite easy and fast, if you have the equipment.  What I like about it, for some of my jewelry, is that the plating provides a layer of truer golden finish and IF you wear want to wear my jewelry daily and not get the greenish tint from wearing bronze then this is the way to go. As much as I love bronze, the highly polished finish can get dull.  

It's always exciting to me when I can advance my jewelry and process in new ways.  Thanks for reading!

The 18kt gold plating solution.

Crow Claw amethyst ring.

 

 

 

And gold plated Double Owl Talon earrings...soon to be available in my Etsy Shop.

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My prrrrrecious

Yes I am a nerd like that, I'd refer to this ring as my prrrecious (reference Lord of the Rings).  Purple is my favorite color and I've always loved the amethyst stone.  I want to keep this ring SO bad but I will set it free on my Eilisain Etsy shop. 

Black and purple go so well together and in this ring, it is a match made in heaven.  I bought the small amethyst at Points of Light in Asheville while I was at Penland. I bought quite a few stones there so you can bet on seeing more of them in the future.

A perfect size 6.

The stone sits just right in the claws!

By the way, did you hear the Hobbit got extended to three movies??! I can't wait to see the first one this winter.

Thanks for reading!

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