Gifting Handmade Love

I've recently been taking this opportunity within my church family and have given SK Wire Jewelry by Simply Katie's to a few of the ladies who've made big impressions on me. The gifts that I give do not include expectations of a return gift or sale, but just the hope of a smile.

It gives me pleasure to create and give a gift from my heart, it's a gift of love really. Every little detail of the gift is a reflection of what makes the receiver special to me.

Dangled Spiral Optimism

I've been having a nice run of creative energy lately and listing new (and old) designs in my Etsy shop SK Wire Jewelry by Simply Katie's. One of my favorites is my SK Signature Spiral earring design:

The SK Signature Spiral is an elegantly distinctive minimalist style that boldly plays in fashion versatility. The SK Signature Spiral is a playful wire earring design for casual weekends, elegant evenings and work days for everyday life.

Handmade Jewelry, A Niche Market

On Friday I took a trip down to St Pete Beach to The Blue Sky Boutique where I had placed a few of my handcrafted wire and gemstone jewelry designs for sale last year. I was glad to have the opportunity to put my handmade wire and gemstone necklaces and earring designs on display at a local boutique that proudly welcomes our local artists. A niche boutique venue where visitors and locals alike could see and admire my work and  where I could hopefully gain a following for my distinctively minimalist style of handcrafted wire and gemstone jewelry designs. 

Copper Pendant Necklace - Fossilized Ammonite

I not discouraged by not being able to complete any sales of SK Wire Jewelry by Simply Katie's handcrafted wire and gemstone jewelry at The Blue Sky Boutique and realize that at this time, it's just not a good fit for my style of distinctively minimalist styled wire and gemstone jewelry. I choose to remain positive about The Blue Sky Boutique venue and will keep my relationship door open. I'll also visit the owner from time to time because someday this venue may turn out to be a good fit for my distinctively minimalist style of handcrafted wire and gemstone jewelry.

New gemstone bracelet (nyl)- Carnelian & Carved Jade

New wire & gemstone bracelet (nyl) - Copper tube, Goldstone & Tigereye

New gemstone bracelet (nyl) - Unakite, fwc Pearls & Hematite

Some have suggested that I set up shop at a flea market but I've been that route and it's just not profitable for me. It's not because there's too many competitors selling jewelry at flea markets, but because handmade jewelry is a niche market that can demand a higher price. And from my experience most flea market consumers are looking for a deal which they can find at any one of the commercially mass produced jewelry vendors two booths down. The discerning consumer however knows that this form of wearable art can't be found anywhere else and can appreciate the hand crafted aspect of the time and skill that goes into creating each piece of SK Wire Jewelry by Simply Katie's distinctively minimalist style of artisan wire and gemstone jewelry. 

Copper Earrings - Dragonfly & Turquoise

Copper Earrings - Unakite & Goldstone

Silver & Copper Earrings - Turquoise

Corey Avenue is home to several boutique style shops and restaurants and is a weekend venue for a farmers market and monthly arts & crafts fair. I set my sights on one day being an arts & crafts fair vendor, enjoying visits and conversations with customers and vendors and selling SK Wire Jewelry by Simply Katie's handmade wire and gemstone jewelry I alone create while basking in the Florida sunshine. Ah what a wonderful life!

A Ring is a Ring

WOW I thought as I was thumbing through my October issue of Harpers Bazaar Magazine. I got excited and had to take a second look when I came across this months items of desire on The List (Pg 119). It just so happens that the serpentine ring (item #1 $8,400) by Designer David Webb looks an awful lot like my swirled thumb ring which I posted on skwirejewelry.com just last month right down to the shape of the swirl. The only difference is that his is ridged, twice wrapped with a swirl at each end of the wire and mine is an open wrap with only one swirl.

Not bad for a novice metalsmith, I guess great designer minds think alike. ;D