Free Earrings and Jewelry Sale

www.artjewelryonline.com is having a sale with discounts from 30% - 60% April 22-29. You need a password to enter the sales portal and you can receive one by filling out the form at the bottom of the page to join our mailing list. We are also sponsoring an earring giveaway at Fabulous Fun Finds right here on blog spot. I wear these earrings almost everyday and according to my 17 year old son these earrings are banging! See you at the sale!

American Craft Council Show Baltimore

Last week I had a chance to visit the ACC Show in Baltimore and all I can say is WOW! I focused on jewelry artists and the caliber and quality of the work was amazing. Some of my favorites are Shana Kroiz, Lori Gottlieb, Sydney Lynch, Ana Cavalheiro, Debra Adelson and many more.

Shana's work is sensual, daring and impecably crafted. She is a world class enamelist and it shows in her work. You will not see anything like it in the jewelry world.

Lori's jewelry is feminine with a twist of surprise. I love that her design sense is unpredictable. This probably comes from her prior life as a surgeon.

Sydney's work has an organic feel and seamlessly melds color with metal. Her work has a certain elegance to it. She works in silver, gold and jewels.

Ana's work is a statement of class, color and glitz that is a style all her own. You will see lots of gold and precious stones in her work.

Debra's work is fun and well crafted. She works primarily with plastic and resin. It is amazing how she makes plastic look like a million dollars. She has also written an amazing book on resin and plastic. If you like to make your own jewelry I highly recommend this book.

I wish I could feature all of the jewelry artist today but I'll save some for tomorrow.

Lampwork Classes at the Gem Cutter's Guild

I am a member of the Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore and they have an upcoming class with one of my favorite teachers Lisa St. Martin. Lisa makes the daunting task of making glass beads seem easy and thrilling at the same time. Lisa is teaching beginner to intermediate skill levels in this class which for her is as easy as pie. I attended two of her classes, one in DC and the other at Cauldron Crafts in Catonsville. Both were absolutely wonderful. Lisa has been making glass beads for so long her web site is www.glassbeads.com. She was an artist with vision snatching up that coveted web address. If you think you might like to try this class the description and registration information are below. Good Luck and hope to see you there! Bicone Bead by Lisa St. Martin.


• Lisa St Martin March 28 and 29 Saturday & Sunday 10 AM - 4 PM (2 days/12 hours) Tuition: $200 • There is a $35 materials fee - Paid to the instructor the first day of class This class is for the student who has taken a beginning class in lampwork glass beadmaking or someone who needs a refresher and is ready to try new things and improve skills. Class will have a short overview on equipment and safety, and then we will move on to more advanced color, shaping and decorative techniques. The emphasis in this class will be on hands-on torch work. Instructor will work with students on their individual needs. Join us for this exciting exploration of glass.

register at http://www.gemcuttersguild.com/classesespring.htm

Half-Price Sundays At ETSY

I just started a promotion at my ETSY store www.ArtJewelryOnline.ETSY.com called Half-Price Sundays. I ask visitors to stop by and vote on their favorite jewelry and the item that gets the most votes is featured for half-price the following Sunday. The first week was all about glamour featuring a reclaimed mink ring reg. $280 on sale for $240 and the Apple Mill mink earrings Reg. $120 Sale $60. Next Sunday I will tally the votes and feature the winner at HALF-PRICE!

Free Overnight Shipping

Our web site www.ArtJewelryOnline.com is offering free overnight shipping until Dec. 23, 2008. If you are a last minute shopper this is a great deal for you!

Art Fairs

The Howard County Center for the Arts fair posted modest results, but I hear that the FACETS show was a fabulous success. As I prepare for my next fair there are a few things I will do differently. Limit the number of participants and pieces. Delegate some of the work. Select the best work for the venue. The Center for the Arts is probably a $150 or less kind of fair, whereas FACETS attracts collectors and high end buyers.

The jewelry artist that I admire most is Shana Kroiz. Shana is an internationally known enamelist although she sometimes works in metal and clay. Her work is daring, provocative and sometimes controversial, but it is always finally crafted. I have examined her work with a magnifying glass and I could not find one single defect or misstep. This level of perfection takes discipline and a passion for the work. Her work is sold at price points beginning at $120 and up to $7,000. Shana's work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City or you may also see her work by visiting www.artjewelryonline.com/shanakroiz. Expect to be moved!

Baltimore Artists Events

If you are located in the Baltimore area there are two events that you do not want to miss. On December 5th the Howard County Center for the Arts hosts its annual Holiday Fair. This is a great opportunity to view and purchase the work of local artists that work in mediums from sculpture to fabric to jewelry. Each artist usually has a range of price points so that you can purchase gifts that are handmade at a modest price. In this economy this is a huge benefit.

On Saturday a local jewelry arts collective FACETS is hosting a show and sale at the Radisson at Cross Keys, 5100 Falls Road, Baltimore. Here you will find some of the top jewelry artists in the region selling their work at just about every price point.

The best part about purchasing work from local artists is the you get to meet the person that made your piece of art and hear about their inspiration for the work and the money you spend goes right back into the local economy.

If you cannot make it many of the FACETS collective sell their work at www.artjewelryonline.com.

May your holidays be frugal and fun!