Lorelei Eurto's Blog, page 3

I almost quit making jewelry.

Feels good to just sit down and create jewelry because I love it. Not because I need to make a living on it. Not because I need to update my shop or any other reason. Just because I really enjoy it.
It's been a long time since I've been able to do that.

I went back to just simple stringing, and knotting on cording.

The ceramic pieces are new from Starry Road Studio- Karen is back at making and listing beads, and I am one happy camper.


Available here. 

new jewelry 3/28/19

SHOP NOW

24 for 24 SALE

Click here to head to the site.

Hello Stranger...

Reminiscing today about the days of being published in magazines.  Stumbled across this new title on the Interweave Store.... I remember the days when they used to give you a heads up that your work was being "re-published" into another magazine/digital ebook. Now they don't bother I guess. That's disappointing. I wonder how many other pieces have been re-published without my knowledge.

Have you had this experience?

Regardless, if you are interested in learning my stamping techniques for my Owl necklace (second one down, right side) Click here to buy the ebook.

Use an Art Bead

Day 5 of the Allegory Gallery Design Monthly challenge is: Use an Art Bead

I used a couple!


Owl- Foxpaw Beads 
Ceramic bead cap- Michelle Johnston
Brass wire, brass chain, lobster clasp, Glass, hematite shard, moonstone, horn, seed beads, handstamped moon charm with star.

Available for sale here.

One Sugar or Two?

Day 3 of the challenge- Put together a necklace

One of my most favorite components I've ever worked with is the teapot pendant by Jade Scott- she's retired from making jewelry components but I miss her work every day and I just happened to have really great friends that every now and again sell me some of her components - like in this case.

My Jade Scott collection has dwindled down to just a few and I try to hold onto them as Long as possible.

glass beadsceramic beadsseed beadshand- stamped silver nickel discsJade Scott T-pot pendant brass lobster clasp attaches to handle

available for sale here.

First Jewelry of 2019

I am going to be participating in the month long challenge put on by my friends Andrew and William from Allegory Gallery.... they have a calendar that is circulating that has a specific challenge for each day. I seem to fall off the wagon pretty early on in challenges like these, but I am looking at this as a great way to get myself back into my studio, creating more consistently again, blogging more consistently again and just helping me stay focused and inspired!

I will only be doing the challenge on my non- quilt shop work days, when I'm in the studio. Tuesday Jan. 1 was my first day (make a pair of earrings)  and I created these earrings!

Cyber Monday sale!

Www.loreleieurto.com

Let's be brutally honest....

I used to be much better at dealing with the ebbs and flows of my jewelry business. 3 years ago, I could see a shift.  The social media game that I had played so well in the past, started to change. It became harder to be noticed, and harder to get my posts seen by my followers and over time, my sales diminished.

This in turn affected me in financial ways. I stopped buying supplies for my business except what I really needed like bubble mailers, boxes, and the regular findings purchases. And I found it harder to maintain my other financial burdens.

This in turn has affected my ability to create things with the artisan beads and components that I have always loved. Many of my favorite artisan component artists have stopped making their work.

This in turn has caused me to get a second job. Albeit a part time job, it has helped my other financial responsibilities but I am still not able to put money back into my business like I've done in the past.

Jewelry is not selling, and I am burning out trying to figure out how to revitalize it. So, the question is, what next?

Shift directions entirely? Trying teaching more? Not that there has been any opportunities knocking my doors down....  Learn a new jewelry craft? Mastering a new craft takes time and $$ and both of these are lacking currently. I hate to be that person that has obstacles that hold me back.... It's like- well I can't get a job because I don't have a car. But I can't buy a car because I don't have a job.

I used to be so much better at all this.  I could fall back on magazine submissions, selling jewelry locally, webinars..... tin snippets......

So much has changed. Magazines are stopping production. Big major art magazines are just not succeeding anymore and that's a really scary thing. It was the magazines that got me into this business in the first place. Is this some kind of sign?

I have never been in this place before. This scary place of actually thinking- all good things come to an end. I don't want it to end. Jewelry is still my passion. I still love making it, I still love challenging myself and I love making people happy with the things that I'm making.

So what now?

New Listings

New work from last week...



Both are now available here.