The Artists' Journal

Sell Your Work, Prevent Domestic Abuse & Empower Women

2010-07-20T12:18:00.000-05:00

My name is Angie Spoto. I am the co-founder of a nonprofit online boutique called Uncovered Artistry Boutique (www.uncdoveredartistry.com). Our mission is to empower domestic abuse surivors emotionally and financially by selling their work in our store. We are hosting our Grand Opening this Friday the 23rd. Since we have just started a couple months ago, we ony currently have one artisan. In order to exapand our inventory and to promote our mission, we are asking certain Esty sellers to sell products on our site.

We are interested in any type of work that in some way is related to domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or the empowerment of women.

Here is how it would work:
1. We would post your products on our website in a very similar format to Etsy. We would like to use your photographs and, for the most part, your descriptions.
2. When a customer purchases your product through our website, will will email you a purchase order. (So for example, if after a week we receive three orders for a specific product, at the end of the week will will send you the purchase order requesting the three products.)
3. You will ship us the items, which Uncovered Artistry will purchase from you at the price you have posted on Etsy. Payment method is up to you. We are willing to use Paypal.
4. UA will ship the products directly to our customers. (With an okay from you, we'd like to use our own packaging for brand/consistency reasons. Of course, we would love to include your business cards and mention your Esty site both on our website and in the packaging)
4. All the proceeds from the selling of your product (UA will sell your product on our site at a higher price that what you sell it for on Etsy) UA will donate to a local domestic abuse shelter.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Angie Spoto
Co-founder Uncovered Artistry Boutique
www.uncoveredartistry.com
suavoce.etsy.com

Tips for Social Networking- Small Businesses

2010-05-10T21:21:00.003-05:00

The first thing a start-up business can do is establish its social networking sites online. Social networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter, and Blogspot, provide small (and even large) business with effective free marketing tools. The first thing we did—before we received our grant—was create this blog. We’ve had blog experience with our previous business (La SuaVoce Designs suavoce.etsy.com). We found that by writing a helpful or interesting blog post once a week or so brought traffic to our blog and consequently to our online shop.

• We suggest using blogspot.com because they allow people to “follow” your blog. This means that when your followers sign into their blogspot.com accounts, the title and first few lines of your more recent blog post will appear on their home page...

Want to read on for more advice about social networking? Check out the rest of this article at our newest blog: http://uncoveredartistry.blogspot.com

Sarah
La SuaVoce Designs
Uncovered Artistry Boutique

Uncovered Artistry Boutique: Empowering Domestic Violence Survivors

2010-05-08T20:42:00.002-05:00

We are dedicating the this summer to creating and establishing Uncovered Artistry Boutique. Uncovered Artistry Boutique, operating out of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, is a non-profit online and catalog retailer that sells the finely crafted work of domestic violence survivors and distributes the products throughout the country. The business will has two main goals. First, it provides an outlet for domestic survivors in America to sell their artisan work, thereby providing them with financial independence and personal confidence. Second,Uncovered Artistry educates our customers about domestic violence in order to raise awareness and eliminate stereotypes.

Please visit our new blog at http://uncoveredartistry.blogspot.com

and our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Hampton-Falls-NH/Uncovered-Artistry-Boutique/101220443257694?ref=mf

Angie and Sarah

Are you ready for this?

2010-02-28T14:40:00.004-06:00

Welcome to the new and improved SuaVoce blog! My sister and I are happy to announce that we are giving this blog a serious makeover. The blog will now focus more on providing valuable resources to crafter-entrepreneurs like us. Below are some articles you can be on the look out for...

Marketing Toward College-Aged Women
The Perfect Banner...Simple and Direct
Think Like a Business...Think BIG
Are You a Socially Conscious Business?
Who Said You Can't be an Entrepreneur?

We are also happy to take suggestions about new articles.

Also, I wanted to mention a couple great sites that featured La SuaVoce's blog or products.

Gracie's Eggies' blog:
http://www.gracies-eggies.blogspot.com/

Visit her gorgeous Etsy site at:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/gracieseggies

Also, makingjewelrysupplies.com featured our blog. Check them out too!
Jewelry Making Beads

As usual, Happy Creating! And don't forget to check back for some great new articles and a new look!

Sarah
La SuaVoce Designs

Support Entrepreneurs All Over the World!

2010-02-12T13:39:00.008-06:00

My church sent me a wonderful Valentine's gift. It was a gift certificate to Kiva.org, a site that allows you to lend micro-loans to struggling entrepreneurs all over the world. This isn't a charity. The loans help the entrepreneurs fund their businesses and the businesses help support these people. It's a beautiful cycle! Also, the money you lend will be returned to you eventually, and you can choose to keep it or lend it to another entrepreneur.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Sarah
La SuaVoce Designs

In Need of an Update!

2010-02-09T16:05:00.005-06:00

Hi all,

SuaVoce's blog is need for an update! Since you've last heard from us college-student-business-owners-sisters (yikes!) we were just heading back home for our winter vacation. Well, we are back at school now and, as usual, life is crazy.

Some things we've been preoccupied with...
-Creating new Jane Austen greeting cards (in time for Valentine's Day). Check them out here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SuaVoce?section_id=6276613

-Planning a possible new business (non-profit this time) that supports artisan work of domestic violence survivors. Updates coming!

-Learning some invaluable information in our accounting and financing classes. I seriously recommend that all Etsy-sellers learn a bit (or a lot!) about accounting. You'd be surprised how organized the information will make you.

Till next time... Happy Creating!

Sarah
La SuaVoce Designs
http://suavoce.etsy.com

$5 Shop Credit!

2010-01-16T22:05:00.002-06:00

We are offering $5 of La SuaVoce shop credit to the first 100 people to take the following quick and simple survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PYP2WQK

Thanks!

Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

Etsy Free Feature II

2009-12-14T17:05:00.014-06:00

My calculus final is over! I'm finally free to post another entry. Last week I posted the work of some talented Etsy-artists. The post was a success, so I've put together a second feature. Once again, the pieces below are under $50, making the selection a great list of affordable gifts.

Enjoy!

Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

p.s. I think I need a better name for these posts than "Etsy Free Feature." If you have any ideas, feel free to comment!

Moss Winds Necklace $42

Original W ood Block Print, $25

R usty Bun ny with Bow, $38

Indian Rangoli Colorful Wooden Bracelet, $16

Filigree Sterling Silver Dangle Earrings, $25

Bone and Turquoise Brass Watch, $50

Sapphire Pleated Woolen Purse, $22

Christmas Wire Wrapped Beaded Necklace, $30

Chocolate and Turquoise Bracelet, $45

Selling Your Work Wholesale: Resources, Tips, Links, and Checklist

2009-12-08T17:23:00.004-06:00

I'm reposting a post from a few months ago because I think the information is valuable and because my sister and I (after taking time to focus on school) decided to work on going wholesale again. Hope it is helpful!

Wholesale Resources

Are you ready to start selling wholesale? We are, so we did some research and we’d like to share! Here are some great blogs, forum posts, and articles that provide valuable information about selling wholesale.

If you’re shy and don’t think you’re up to visiting stores, check out this forum post: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6201294

This great two part blog post provides information about pricing, quantity, and communicating with retailers:
Part I: http://qbranchltd.blogspot.com/2008/02/selling-wholesale-part-i.html
Part II: http://qbranchltd.blogspot.com/2008/02/selling-wholesale-part-ii.html

A thorough article about beginning to sell your artisan work wholesale. Includes a number of helpful links:
http://www.indiepublic.com/profiles/blogs/946391:BlogPost:510081

Our Checklist for Preparing to Sell Wholesale:
*Check out the links above and throughout this post for more information to supplement our checklist (some of the terms were unfamiliar to us until we read the information provided in all these links!)*

1. Prepare Etsy shop (and blog, etc.) for wholesale
-adjust prices to be RETAIL prices (double wholesale price for retail price)
*Tips on pricing wholesale:
http://www.helium.com/items/622909-tips-for-pricing-your-handmade-crafts
-make it known that we are interested in selling wholesale
-make it easy for retailers to contact us
-provide a “request form” in blog and Etsy store

2. Create a linesheet & other “things”
-Make a wholesale linesheet
-Make pamphlet to send to far-away boutiques
-Make email template for far-away boutiques
*Specific tips on creating a linesheet:
http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/jewelry-line-sheets.html
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/archive/what_is_a_line_sheet/

3. Research for retailers
-check out local fashion magazines for label names
-explore local shops (check out the yellow pages!)
-browse online

4. Call to make appointment with boutique owner

5. Be ready with wholesale price sheet and large amount of display-ready merchandise

A New Endeavor: Etsy Free Feature

2009-12-05T10:02:00.006-06:00

This is a first post in hopefully a series of special feature posts. In an effort to create more free advertising opportunities for Etsy-sellers, I've created this first feature post! Below are items from talented Etsy artists. All items are under $50, providing viewers with affordable, handcrafted gift ideas.

I appreciate any feedback on this first post, so comment away!

Happy browsing!
Sarah
La SuaVoce Designs

Chinese Turquoise, Peridot Jasper, Wood Earrings, $18

Giant Indigo Dew Drop Ring, $12

Full Moon - Crocheted Earrings, $15

Handwoven Pillow with Monogram, $30

Fear's Uncloaking Fine Art Archival Print, $20

Four Ornaments or Pocket Dolls Fabric Panel, $8.50

Mini Yoda Pipe Cleaner Creation, $7.50

Goddette Earrings, $23

Poster -Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right, $14

Elegant Handmade Scarf, $48

Mod Pop Resin Ring, $44

Custom Made Christmas Ornaments, $23

A Feminist Response to Edward Cullen

2009-12-04T23:49:00.003-06:00

Okay, I know I posted on the whole "Twilight is anti-feminist" thing already, but I'm a college student with way too many resources available to me to go without sharing some more info I came across.

The following in an exererpt from Twilight and Philosophy, and this particular article is titled "EDWARD CULLEN AND BELLA SWAN: BYRONIC AND FEMINIST HEROES . . . OR NOT" by Abigail E. Myers.

"A feminist response to Edward Cullen might have been, “ Look, you
seem like a really nice vampire, but if being with you means
giving up my family, my friends, and my hopes for higher
education, I think I ’ m going to seek out a relationship that
allows me to have romantic and sexual love as well as all
that other stuff. ” And a nonabusive vampire would have really
meant it when he said that the beautiful mortal girl was better
off without him, and would have allowed that being mortal,
human, and young includes making your own mistakes
and not being insulated from every possible threat, real or
imagined.

But that doesn’t cross Bella and Edward ’s minds. The ending
they find is truly a fairy tale, not because it seems happily
ever after but because it lacks cause and effect, moral responsibility,
and real relationships. And if that ’ s Stephenie Meyer ’ s
idea of a fairy - tale ending, maybe we ’ d all better make sure
that we take the Twilight saga for what it is: a fairy tale, no
more worthy of emulation than Sleeping Beauty. The test?
Ask yourself if Sleeping Beauty is a role model. I’m guessing
the answer is no. Well, then, is Bella a feminist hero? Maybe
we can answer that with another question: Will vampires ever
get over their taste for blood?"

Make me want to show all those teenage girls something with substance. Jane Eyre maybe?

Sarah
La SuaVoce Designs

"True Love" Isn't an Excuse

2009-12-04T11:13:00.006-06:00

Below is a link to a remixed narrative of Edward Cullen meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. To be serious, the video is a commentary on Edward's controlling, obsessive behavior in the Twilight books and movie, and indirectly is a commentary on Bella's reaction to Edward: submission and weakness. The post after the video reads, "Seen through Buffy’s eyes, some of the more sexist gender roles and patriarchal Hollywood themes embedded in the Twilight saga are exposed in hilarious ways."

There are plenty of anti-feminist works out in the world, but maybe none so love and cherished by American teens as Twilight. Girls, please remember you don't need a man to be successful and happy!

http://www.rebelliouspixels.com/2009/buffy-vs-edward-twilight-remixed

Sarah
La SuaVoce Designs

Black Friday Sale! BOGO FREE

2009-11-27T07:15:00.003-06:00

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday!

La SuaVoce is having a Black Friday Sale from Nov. 27- 29!

All Earrings Buy Get One FREE! Second pair of equal or lesser value will be refunded via Paypal.

FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING on all products.
Contact us for FREE GIFT WRAP or GIFT TAGS.

Visit our shop: http://suavoce.etsy.com

Ask us about custom jewelry and hair accessories too!

Happy holidays (and shopping!),
Sarah and Angie
La SuaVoce Designs

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T14:21:00.003-06:00

Enjoy all that turkey and pie!

Sarah and Angie

La SuaVoce Designs

Introducing...

2009-11-24T14:26:00.006-06:00

La SuaVoce's newest creation: Jane Ausen-inspired greeting cards.

You can share the beautiful words of this legendary artists with our delicate handmade cards. Plus. who doesn't love Mr.Darcy?

Any thoughts on the new cards? We are considering adding more designs and finding a way to make them less expensive, but these three cards are somewhat of a test. Any feedback is much appreciated!

Keep your eyes open for changes and new material from SuaVoce in the future. We are always growing. :)

Cheers!

Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

"8 Ways to Jump Start Your Business" Is Worth a Read

2009-11-22T16:04:00.004-06:00

We came across this helpful and inspiring article while browsing the web. "8 Ways to Jump Start Your Business" provides helpful tips for business owners, big and small. My favorite tip, which I feel we could have used when we started SuaVoce more than a year ago, reads "define your niche." La SuaVoce began with selling toward a very general target market, but we've come to realize that being specific is more profitable. This tip and others will certainly inspire and aid any business owner. Check out this article at:
http://pinpoint.microsoft.com/en-US/content.aspx?ctid=813

Angie
La SuaVoce Designs

Winter Wonderland: Holiday Gift Ideas from Etsy Artists

2009-11-20T06:25:00.023-06:00

I know, I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but by the time you’ve finished eating the turkey leftovers Christmas will be here, and there isn’t anything worse than scrambling to find gifts last minute!

So I’ve compiled a list to make shopping for Christmas a tad bit easier.
Below are some wonderful, holiday-inspired gift ideas from eight very talented Etsy artists. Be sure to check out the other items in their shops for other great holiday gift ideas.

Mukluks, woolen, knitted winter socks with leather sole, $25, by Bubamaradesign (http://bubamaradesign.etsy.com/)

Warm, knitted, woolen, comfortable…Need I say more?
Bubamaradesign’s mukluks are a wonderful gift idea because they fit men and women alike (not to mention boys and girls)!

Freezebaby Set- Handknit Neckwarmer and Mittens, $70, by EveldasNeverland
(http://eveldasneverland.etsy.com/)

Nothing seems more romantic or just plain cozy than curling up in these mittens and neckwarmer with a nice cup of tea! Classic yet bold, this set comes custom-made in 16 different colors. The set's variety and simplicity would make it a sure-to-please gift.

Vintage Shimmering Pearly Beads, $6, and Teal and Magenta Beads, $5.50 by SuaVoce
(http://suavoce.etsy.com/ )

These pearly beads reflect the light so well and are a beautiful silvery cream color, which reminds us of wintertime. These teal and magenta wooden beads are hand-painted in a splatter pain design. Both beads would make a great gift for a jewelry-maker!

White Paws, $65, by Saralagace
(http://saralagace.etsy.com/ )
These fingerless gloves look so soft and warm! We've never seen anything quite like them...they are stylish, fresh, and very fun. What's great is that white goes with any color coat, so they would make a wonderful gift.

Turquoise / Teal Gloves With Olive Edges, $26, by Afra

(http://afra.etsy.com/)

Adorable, cozy, and handmade these turquoise gloves are a sensible, stylish winter gift. Be sure to look at the rest of Afra’s shop for more beautiful handmade winter apparel

Small bowl, Pattern in Frost, $56, by Kiefferceramics

(http://kiefferceramics.etsy.com/)

After taking a semester of introductory ceramics this fall, I can really appreciate the care and talent it takes to make one of these bowls. Not only are Kiefferceramics’ bowls beautiful to look at, but they are functional pieces as well.

Holiday Hot Cocoa Candle, $15, and The Lollipop Guild Soap, $5.50, by GrumpyGirl (http://grumpygirl.etsy.com/)

GrumpyGirl’s hot cocoa candle and colorful lollipop soap look absolutely delicious (though I wouldn’t recommend taking a bite). As GrumpyGirl puts it “We dare anyone to even THINK about stealing your marshmallows…”

Longshoreman Stull Cap, $30, by Yarnstiffinknitter

(http://yarnstiffinknitter.etsy.com/)

This child sized (around 18M to 6yrs) knitted hat is suitable for both boys and girls, and is made with Merino wool for extra warmth and quality. Yarnstiffinknitter’s daughter, Hope, makes a beautiful model don’t you think?

Happy Shopping!

Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

SuaVoce: Behind the Scenes

2009-11-17T09:25:00.000-06:00

Who ever said you needed professional equipment to make professional photos? My sister and I take our photos in our dorm room using lamps for light, pillow cases to diffuse the sun, a friend's camera, a gorgeous roommate for a model, and a WHOLE LOT of creativity.

Not bad, eh?

Happy photographing!

Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

You're No "Little Business"

2009-11-15T23:30:00.005-06:00

Last week, Sarah and I (as president's of our school's Business and Entrepreneur Club) received the fantastic opportunity to meet with an alumn of our college who was an executive analyist (and a very very nice lady). When we mentioned our jewelry business, she gave us a profound piece of advise:

Many people say they work out of their kitchens or their garages and they say "Oh, I just make jewelry on the side." But they should say, "I own a company." Act like you own a big company, because you do.

Trust me, her exact words were a hundred times more inspiring, but I believe the message is clear YOU'RE NO LITTLE BUSINESS.

So SuaVoce is going to stop thinking like one!

Angie
La SuaVoce Designs

Get Inspired! Four Useful Tips for Etsy Business Owners

2009-11-09T16:40:00.005-06:00

I'm sitting at the computer, cup of coffee near the key board, an appointment to go to in twenty minutes, a least an hour's worth of calculus homework left, and...my jewelry business. It's times like these that I wonder how my Etsy shop still survives. When things get busy, I start to lose my inspiration. I want to take a couple minutes to bring myself back to center (and help those who are reading this bring themselve back to center!).

Get inspired...

-Get passionate. Strictly business-speaking, passion breeds sales. If you don't have passion for your work it shows (no matter how much you try to hide it). And believe me, it hurts sales too. Bringing passion into your work might mean taking a break, trying something new, or even getting feedback and encouragement from others.

-Make a change. Try something new with your shop (or in your life in general). My sister and I have decided to focus our work towards hair accessories and (could anyone guess it?) Jane Austen inspired greeting cards. Just the simple prospect of something new gets me excited to start working on the shop. The change doesn't have to drastic. Even developing a new designs bring some life to your shop.

-Promote! Marketing is always a good idea, and it's especially helpful when you are feeling unmotivated. Promoting might seem like the last thing you want to do in a slump ("Aren't I doing enough promoting already?!"), but it's probably one of the most useful things. Monitor the success of your marketing (with Google Analytics, Craftcult.com, Craftopolis.com, etc.). Realizing the success in your hard work is where the inspiration comes from.

-Get off the computer. Yes! Take a step back from Etsy, close out of Twitter, sign off Facebook, turn off your IPhone and go outside (or at least into the other room). Time is precious (and time is money afterall). If you find yourself staring glassy-eyed at the computer, waiting for a new heart to show up on Craftcult (haven't we all been there?), then you're wasting time you could be using creating, exploring, learning and getting inspired. The world is where we find our inspiration.

Happy creating!
Sarah
La SuaVoce Designs

Friday Fantasy Feature: Scarlett Design

2009-11-06T23:19:00.006-06:00

There is natural beauty and sweetness to the photographs and illustrations featured tonight. This week's feature is the work of Ryan McGurl of Scarlett Design. His photographs, illustrations, and stationary, capture the natural world eloquently. We are please to present this work on our blog this Friday. Enjoy, and don't be afraid to get lost in his work!

Name: Ryan McGurl
Etsy Shop: Scarlett Design

What do you do?I'm an Illustrator and Photographer

Where do you get your inspiration for your work?
Mostly from nature. I love hiking and walking on the beach. Often I'm intrigued by the structure of plants and animals.

Do you have any pieces that are inspired by fantasy? Or are reminiscent of fantasy?
I have an illustration I made for some Halloween cards. Its based on historical gravestones I saw in Salem, MA when I was young. I love this illustration because its an idea I've had for a few years, and I'm happy to see it come to fruition. Also, I don't often draw by hand, so this was a nice change for me. I feel that I pushed my boundaries, but also stayed within my distinctive style.

And some day I'd love to do a series of illustrations based on fairy tales, Alice in Wonderland, "Rappacini's Garden," by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and right now I find the Wizard of Oz quite inspiring because I just finished reading "Son of a Witch."

How did you become involved in your work?
I come from an artistic family, and I've always drawn but didn't think I was very good or that I could really make a living at it. When I was studying Art History, I took a few Graphic Design courses, just because I figured it was the best way to have a career related to art. After learning how to use a digital illustration program I found that I really loved it. Photography I was also interested in for years before I considered it as an actual career choice.

What made you start selling your creations?
I do have an honest desire to share my point of view, but I would also love to be able to create full time (right now I have a part time job) and be able to travel.

What is your favorite item that you make?
Usually whatever illustration, photo, or card I've just finished making. I always love it when I see one of my completed pieces and can't believe how good it turned out, often surpassing my expectations.

Which fantasy creature is your favorite: fairy, dragon, or vampire?
Vampire, they have the most trashy entertaining books and movies

You can find Scarlett Design at...

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5373298

http://scarlettdesign.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scarlett-Design/78364007231

http://twitter.com/scarlettdesign

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22381047@N06/

Ciao!

Sarah and Angie

La SuaVoce Designs

Special Offer for Blog Viewers!

2009-11-04T11:52:00.004-06:00

All Earrings are Buy One Get One FREE!

Buy one pair of earrings, and get the second of equal or lesser value for free. Upon check out of earrings, provide this code (BLOGSUA) in the message to seller. The price of the second pair will be refunded via PayPal.

http://suavoce.etsy.com

We are moving out our old earrings and adding some new inventory. So keep an eye out for some new items just in time for Christmas.

Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

Friday (Halloween) Fantasy Feature: Lady in the Tower

2009-10-30T14:00:00.001-05:00

The first word that came to our minds when we viewed Lady in the Tower's shop was, "wow!" Vivian makes beautiful Venetian masks and ornaments. What we love about her work is its incredible detail and romancic personailty. She sells her masks, to be both worn and used as decoration, at a variety of prices.

We proudly present Lady in the Tower as this Halloween's Friday Fantasy Feature!

Name: Vivian Hutcheson

Etsy Shop: ladyinthetower (www.ladyinthetower.etsy.com)

What do you do? I make masks, mostly in the Venetian tradition

Where do you get your inspiration for your work? Anywhere and everywhere! I use mostly salvaged materials and they will often lead me into a design, as will the particular shape of a form. Ideas come from all over, and I don’t always consciously know how they reach a piece.

Do you have any pieces that are inspired by fantasy? Or are reminiscent of fantasy? Most of mine are. Masks are all about some sort of fantasy. Glamour, magic, disguises, they are all involved.

How did you become involved in your work? I made my first clay mask when I was six. I got back into it, for a while, about 20 years ago but didn’t have regular acess to clay or a kiln so I moved on to other things. I learned how to gild for my day job (custom picture framer) and got to handle some actual Venetian masks. I started making my own from there and have never looked back!

What made you start selling your creations? I started selling to friends and friends of friends in 2002 and did my first shows in 2003.

What is your favorite item that you make? I love them all! The gem encrusted ones are a design of mine that I just adore. I haven’t been able to bring myself to part with the first two I did of that line, I just love them so much!

Which fantasy creature is your favorite: fairy, dragon, or vampire? Dragons, although my first attempt at a dragon form didn’t work that well. I’ll get back to it eventually.

Check out Lady in the Tower on...

Etsy Shop: www.ladyinthetower.etsy.com

Website: http://www.artmasks.ca/

Blog: http://www.greencottagegallery.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Ladyinthetower/134581169676?ref=nf

Happy Halloween!

Angie and Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

Friday Fantasy Feature: Rockin Mama Baby Gear

2009-10-16T09:25:00.007-05:00

Rockin Mama's Baby Gear is adorable, unqiue, and truly has attitude. She sells baby booties, diaper bags, burp cloths and other items for babies and moms. What makes Rockin Mama so unique is her syle. "Rockin" pretty much says it all...

We chose Rockin Mama for this week's Friday Fantasy Feature because of the Halloween pieces she sells. Check out her Halloween booties. Many of her other items incorporate fun skull patterns.

Baby Blankie

Name: Celestial Doble

Etsy Shop: Rockin Mama Baby Gear

What do you do? My main profession is bookkeeping. My Etsy site started as a hobby, but is gradually becoming a second business of mine. I make handmade baby gear with Punk and Tattoo style fabrics.

Where do you get your inspiration for your work? My inspiration comes from my personality. I love Punk Rock and Tattoos, and I like to wear & show my personal style in my everyday accessories.

Do you have any pieces that are inspired by fantasy? Or are reminiscent of fantasy? I love goth, tattoo and fantasy inspired things. I try to show that in my items whenever possible. My skull booties are reminiscent of fantasy.

How did you become involved in your work? I have been sewing since I was 6. I have always made little things here and there. My sister gave me the idea when she asked me to make her a diaper bag for her because she said diaper bags in the stores were blah & boring. I remembered when my kids were babies it was also hard for me to find something I really liked.

What made you start selling your creations? After my sister asked me to make her a bag I started talking about the idea of making punk & tattoo style baby gear and I ran into so many other moms who loved the idea. So I started making designs & creating ideas immediately. I met the girl who owns boojiboo here on Etsy at the Harvest Festival here in Las Vegas. She told me about the Etsy community and how easy it was to sell here. I signed up as soon as I got home!

What is your favorite item that you make? Definitely the booties. They are just so small & adorable! I just keep staring at them after I finish a pair.

Which fantasy creature is your favorite: fairy, dragon, or vampire? I love fairies. My grandmother used to tell me that fairies helped her plant her garden. She had all kinds of fairy stories to tell. I even have two large Fairies tattooed on my left arm.

Check out Rockin Mama On:

Website: www.rockinmamabg.etsy.com

Blog: http://rockinmamababygear.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rockinmamababygear

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rockinmamabg

Happy October!

Angie & Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

The Five Senses of Autumn

2009-10-14T17:42:00.013-05:00

"Autumn is beautiful," I thought one morning as I was walking along the winding sidewalk towards my 8:00 am class, English 211. A little cottage-like residence hall stood to my right. It was shaded by a gorgeous forest of turning leaves. The air was fresh. The grass was shinning golden in the sunrise. So first I thought of autumn. And then I thought of Etsy...

I was inspired by the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and feelings of fall to search for items sold by Etsy artists whose pieces encapsulate the "five senses of autumn."

Sight

Fall is filled with bright oranges and reds, but, as the days shorten and cloudy skies become the norm, it also has an underlying grey tone. This photograph, taken by Etsy artist flariat captures the brightness and soft greys of autumn.

Sound

The sounds of fall are abundant: the crunching of leaves underfoot, the cries of geese flying south, or the wind blowing through the tress. This print by Colliebox reminds me of the sound of a fall breeze (and also of me and my twin sister! ).

Smell

Spices, apples, burning leaves. The smells of autumn are rich and magical, like this "Spellbound Woods" body butter by solsticescents . This body butter is "a magical blend of alluring amber, sandalwood, vanilla, cedarwood and just a hit of floral." I wish every fall day smelled like this!

Feel

Fall gives me the excuse to wear my scarves again! The feeling of fall is soft, warm, and cozy. This "Funky Autumn Scarf" by Ellita captures these feelings. It is made from synthetic yarn, so it is soft and light.

Taste

No doubt my favorite sense. The coffee shops and bakeries stock up on pumpkin lattes and pumpkin donuts as fall approaches, but coconut reminds me of fall, too. These absolutely delicious toastsed coconut marshmallows made by haveitconfections remind me of a night out with friends roasting marshmallows by the fire.

Please check out the other great work these Etsy artists do. And enjoy this autumn!

Angie

La SuaVoce Designs

Halloween is Coming

2009-10-14T11:41:00.006-05:00

Vampiro Passione Headband

I spent the last half hour updating La SuaVoce's Etsy shop for Halloween. We have a selection of Halloween pieces, from vampires to Harry Potter to fairies. It's the first time we've made so many pieces for a specific holday or event, and we are hoping for some success!

On a side note, I was inclined to make something Twilight inspired for Halloween, but my sister has strikely forbidden me from doing this (she's is a serious Twilight hater). So in case you have an addiction to Twilight (like me) check out our vampire-inpsired pieces. While I can't say they are directly inspired by Twlight, they certainly remind me of a certain vampire book...

Blood Red Vampire Inpsired Earrings

Happy (almost) Halloween!

Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

http://suavoce.etsy.com/

20% of Profits to Breast Cancer Research Fund This October!

2009-10-11T17:57:00.002-05:00

In honor of Breast Cancer Awarness Month, La SuaVoce (http://suavoce.etsy.com/) is giving 20% of our profits this month to the Breast Cancer Research Fund. Every month we give to a new charity, so keep your eyes open!

For all those who have experienced breast cancer in some way: You deserve every bit of respect, and we hope 20% helps in some small way.

Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

Craft Splurge!

2009-10-11T00:25:00.006-05:00

Blick Art Supplies has to be one of the most irresistable places (right up there with Joann Fabrics and Michael's)! This week, bogged down with too much work and too much calculus (not to mention whatever was happening at homecoming), I found the inspiration to start up pen and ink with watercolors again. I did a bit of illustration work (a VERY little bit) in high school with pen and ink, and I've sort of brought it back with the new backgrounds for La SuaVoce's shop.

So $50 worth of materials later (that's a lot for a college student by the way), I'm looking at creating some greeting cards and illustrations...and just go crazy! :)

Happy Weekend!

Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

Friday Fantasy Feature: Hightower Botanicals

2009-10-09T21:05:00.007-05:00

We stumbled across Hightower Botanicals on the Etsy forums, and it wasn't hard to be drawn in by the quality and details in the jewelry. Her pieces are truly unique...and stunning. We are die-hard fans of sterling silver. Silver is a splendid style for the autumn and winter months. Though her pieces are not directly related to fantasy, we felt that her pieces were reminicent of woodland faires, elves, and other mysterious creatures...

Hightower Botanicals makes rings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets, all made with amazing attention to detail.

What do you do? By day I work as an artist assistant in a large studio. I make allot of molds and help fabricate and cast sculptures. By night and on the weekends I make jewelry!
Where do you get your inspiration for your work? I love plants. Especially herbs. Herbal teas and medicinal uses. And I love stones.

Do you have any pieces that are inspired by fantasy? Or are reminiscent of fantasy? I like reading about the folklore behind plants. Allot of cultures used and use herbs for magic potions. In ancient Greece, their was a legend about a beast called the Basilisk. It was described it as dragon like creature with the head of a rooster, body of a serpent, and the wings of a bat. If one looked at a Basilisk in the eyes, they would instantly die. Basil leaves were considered the best cure for a Basilisk bite. As you can see, the name Basil was in the Basilisk. Many of today's names for herbs are derived from traditional uses in medicine. Quite often this mixed in with folklore and sometimes fantasy. A also like to read about the metaphysical properties of stones and the power that they are said to hold.

How did you become involved in your work? I have always made things with my hands. I went to art school for painting. During my senior year I took a foundry class and learned how to cast bronze. I fell in love with the process. After graduation I worked in several bronze foundries in Brooklyn and Queens. I learned how to make various types of molds and learned allot about metal work, casting and chasing wax and metal castings. (Chasing is cleaning up seams and imperfections in a casting.)I've never had any formal jewelry training but my skills as a mold maker and metal worker transferred over to jewelry nicely. A few years ago my friend Robin took me under her wing and taught me how to make jewelry. She taught me so much. And I am still learning new things all the time.

What made you start selling your creations? I guess I've just always been prone to selling handmade creations. In junior high I made lots of polymer clay/ Fimo beads! I made bracelets and necklaces out of them and sold them on the school bus after school. I didn't sell many but receiving money for my creations was an incredible feeling. Before I learned how to solder I made jewelry with stone beads and sold them at Bittersweets when Robin had a store in Brooklyn. After graduating to cast metal jewelry, I began to sell that at her store and it has evolved into Hightower Botanicals on Etsy.

What is your favorite item that you make? My new rosemary hoops are my favorite at the moment! I have so many favorites that they change allot.

Which fantasy creature is your favorite: fairy, dragon, or vampire? H. P. Lovecrafts's Cthulhu is one. I am drawn to the more evil, demon-like creatures!

Visit Hightower Botanicals at her Etsy shop: http://hightowerbotanicals.etsy.com/

Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6124496

Blog: http://hightowerbotanicals.blogspot.com/

Other: Check out this site for more fantasy-inspired silver jewerly! http://www.bittersweetsny.com/

Happy creating!
Sarah and Angie

Picnik's New Spooky Features

2009-10-08T16:38:00.003-05:00

Picnik.com has come out with some really great new Halloween features. Picnik is the site we use to edit all our photos. It's user-friendly and free. Check out the new spooky features at picnik.com and use them for your shop...

...Or not!

Happy Halloween!

Sarah and Angie

Friday Fantasy Feature: Jared in Kansas Fine Art Photography

2009-10-02T16:48:00.010-05:00

Although Jared's photos are not explicitly fantasy, several of his pieces evoke such a beautiful, ethereal feel that we decided to feature his work for our Friday Fantasy Feature series.

Name: Jared May

What do you do? I am a math teacher in my non-Etsy life, a husband, and father of three wonderful boys.

The piece reminds us of the Lord of the Rings.

Where do you get your inspiration for your work? I am inspired by the beauty of the natural world, and I attempt to capture that in my photographs.
Do you have any pieces that are inspired by fantasy? Or are reminiscent of fantasy? That's tough to answer. I try to leave room for interpretation in my photographs, so I hope that some of my pieces allow people to see that if that's where their imagination takes them, but it's hard to know what other people see. I'd be interested to know.

How did you become involved in your work? I started taking pictures when I was eight - my mom got me started young.

What made you start selling your creations? My wife pointed Etsy out to me, and I figured it was worth a shot. I listed five prints just to see what would happen, and it worked out.

What is your favorite item that you make? My favorites are actually my hand drawn colored pencil ACEOs, which aren't actually in the shop at the moment. I like to do different interpretations of some of my photographs in different colors and moods. They're fun to make.

We're waiting for the unicorn to appear...

Which fantasy creature is your favorite: fairy, dragon, or vampire? I'd have to go with fairies. To me, they represent magic and mystery and beauty, all things I also associate with the natural world.

Check out Jared KS on:

Etsy Shop: Jared in Kansas Fine Art Photography
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5030000

Website: jaredks.etsy.com

Blog: jaredks.blogspot.com

Twitter: JaredKS

Other: flickr.com/photos/jaredks

Angie & Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

The Minutiae (of Business)

2009-09-29T21:43:00.003-05:00

mi⋅nu⋅ti⋅a [mi-noo-shee-uh, -shuh, -nyoo-]

noun, plural -ti⋅ae

Usually, minutiae. precise details; small or trifling matters: the minutiae of her craft.

Business (at least a business like La SuaVoce) seems to be made up of a whole bunch of small things...facebook groups and fan pages, twitter accounts, forum posts, shop updates, small changes to photographs...

I have to admit, that these things definately seem trifling sometimes (like who would've known Twitter was great for marketing!?), but they certainly add up. Advice to myself: Don't stop with the small parts of your business! That's what makes your business successful!

Happy Creating,

Sarah

First Friday Fantasy Feature: On Gossamer Wings

2009-09-25T15:19:00.009-05:00

Introducing our first Friday Fantasy Feature: On Gossamer Wings!

On Gossamer Wings caught our eye while we were browsing through fantasy-inspired work on Etsy.com. Her work is truly unique (we've never seen anything quite like it!), and we were drawn in by her fun personality (see questions below).

On Gossamer Wings is the first artist to be featured in our "Friday Fantasy Feature" series. Keep an eye out for a new feature each week.

What do you do? I create singularly sublime fairy wings of stylish originality! If you are pleasure-bent for the finest in fairy "art-wear" made specifically for you, my traffic-stopping, handcrafted fairy wings just can't wait to take the spotlight!

Where do you get your inspiration for your work? Over the years (12 of them to be exact), I’ve been inspired by everything around me from autumn leaves to stripey socks…ok, ESPECIALLY stripey socks (they make me happy)!! Anyhoo, some of my favorite artists are Amy Brown, Molly Harrison, Linda Ravenscroft, Renee Biertempfel, and Nene Thomas just to name a few. Their influence can sometimes be spotted in my work.

Do you have any pieces that are inspired by fantasy? Or are reminiscent of fantasy? I truly hope so, otherwise I’ll have to get a “normal” job, and for safety's sake, no one should really want that to happen!How did you become involved in your work? Waaaaaay back when I was in college, I was an Art Major, and I developed an affinity for the goth culture…only, I wasn’t filled with quite enough angst. I found that there was a movement of “Perky Goths,” and one of the pastimes they seemed to enjoy was making fairy wings. They looked so beautiful in the pictures that I saw, and I found my artistic side crying out to make my own pair. And make my own, I did! And then I made another pair, and another.

What made you start selling your creations? Making fairy wings became an obsession for me, and I was swimming in them. It was at that point that I decided that I needed to start selling them or risk losing my dog forever under the piles of wings.

What is your favorite item that you make? It varies based upon the day and my overall attitude, but lately it’s been my Moxie wings. I think it’s because they have such a strong Halloween feel to them. I have a design for a set of peacock fairy wings that I’ve been dying to make, but time is rather short right now.

Which fantasy creature is your favorite: fairy, dragon, or vampire? I think I’ll have to go with fairy…otherwise, I’ll have to face legions of upset fae. Ever seen a mad-as-gump fairy? Trust me, you don’t want to! My eyebrows are just now growing back.

Vist On Gossamer Wings at her Etsy shop: http://ongossamerwings.etsy.com/

Website: http://www.fairy-wings.com/

Blog: http://ongossamerwingsblog.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ongossamerwings

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ongossamerwings

And on http://glittrrgrrl.deviantart.com/

Angie & Sarah

La SuaVoce Designs

Yay/Nay

2009-09-22T19:59:00.002-05:00

Yay

Women's Business Development Center
http://www.wbdc.org/default.aspx

A great site for women entrepreneurs (especially in Chicago). They host conferences, workshops, and have great links and resources on their site.

The holidays!
http://www.etsy.com/gift-guides/

Etsy's gift guides have some great Halloween costume ideas and gifts.

Ice cream...
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30803506

Or these great handmade cards. Worth the click!

Nay

Giving our shop a makeover...and redoing all our photos. Only to realize we took the new photos in the wrong light and they turned out yellow.

CALCULUS...needed for a Business major, but still annoying.

Giving our shop a "romance and fantasy" spin then realizing that style wasn't for us. Now we stick with fresh, young, and fun!

:)
Sarah and Angie

A Quote to Consider

2009-09-09T10:24:00.002-05:00

"Entrepreneurship-

the ability to organize and get something done."

-Economics, Colander

What I've Learned Recently About Business

2009-09-06T22:51:00.005-05:00

In the past year I've started a business (La SuaVoce: http://suavoce.etsy.com/), declared myself a business major, and started helping out with the family business (Sun Tamer!). It's kind of been a business overload...in a (mostly) good way.

Some things I've learned lately about business...

-It's stressful, but addicting. Once you start...how can you give it up?

-Marketing is actually...fun! In fact, I love it! It's even more fun when you see results. I made "Grazie!" gift tags for our packaging a couple days ago and it was great to see the finished products, cut and ready. And Angie designed a beautiful banner to put on our suite door and in the student center on campus.

-You can never stop learning. This is probably true with everything. I've just spent my homework breaks browsing Etsy Storque How-to articles. A wealth of info! And it's endless, thanks to technology.

-Principles of Econ (the class) is SUCH a good idea. Seriously, I can watch the news without feeling completely ignorant of current economic situation. It's such a beautiful thing to begin to understand a topic of such importance.

-Getting a sale when you least expect is one of the best feelings you can have (it's right up there with starting a 100m sprint race in high school track and asking that guy you've liked for two months on a date). :)

-STAYING POSITIVE IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO (I mean this to extend beyond business too! Enjoy things. Life is soooo much better that way).

Happy creating (and business-ing?)

Sarah

Advertising on Craftcult: Our First Expedition into the World of Online Advertising

2009-09-02T20:28:00.005-05:00

SuaVoce was able to acquire enough money (and we worked up enough motivation) to advertise online. But in fact, it wasn’t that much money and it didn’t take us that much time.

Several days ago, we purchased an advertisement from http://www.craftcult.com/ . The ad cost us only $15, and for four days, four of our pieces would rotate through the website’s “carousel.” (Check out craftcult to see what I mean. It’s right at the top.) We were worried, of course (never having advertised online before), that we could get nothing from the ad. Our jewelry pieces tend to only cost $15 at average. So if we sold once piece due to the ad, we would only be paying off the price of the ad (in fact, we wouldn’t even be paying off that since Etsy.com takes a percentage of the $ from your sale). So…we were worried.

Our Pride and Prejudice Journal we advertised on Craftcult

And we haven’t made a sale from the advertisement.

But we might. And that’s the key. We got many more hearts for each of the items we advertised. Hearts means that an individual “favorited” our item so that they may look at it later. I always heart something before I buy it.

The Pretty Little Rosebud Hair Clip, also advertised

All in all? Go for it, if you’re considering purchasing an advertisement spot. Just think about what the benefits might be of the advertisement (even if they may not be explicit or apparent). Plus, it couldn’t hurt now that the Christmas season is almost upon us!

Happy advertising,
Angie

15 Chapters Seems Like It'll Work

2009-08-30T00:24:00.003-05:00

When I begin outlining a novel (this sounds like I've outlined many novels. In fact, I've outlined only two novels, which have gone through various revisions) I begin with the assumption that the average number of chapters for a novel is 15. So I write out the events of my novel...and then group them into 15 chapters.

It's a strange thing to share, but I'm not tired, it's 12:30, and I can sleep in tomorrow. So now you know how I begin a novel. Begin one yourself. It's fun!

Happy writing!

Angie

What We're Doing to Promote (Successfully)

2009-08-28T15:18:00.002-05:00

Finally I feel like my hard work is paying off! I fixed up my Etsy shop and started promoting...hardcore. And it worked! I haven't gotten a ton of sales, but I am happy with the few I do have. Here are some ways I promote my Etsy shop (can be applied to other online shops as well):

1. Word-of-mouth- Free, fun, and one of the best ways to get word of your shop out there. Bring up your business when you can and be excited for it! Don't be afraid to talk about what you do :)

2. Bussiness cards- Sometimes these can get surprisingly expensive, but they are SO worth it! Invest in good, professional ones that clearly show what your product or store is about. Then hand them out! Send them to relatives and friends. Check out http://www.moo.com/ or http://www.staples.com/ for places to design and print your cards (we picked Staples, but both places have good prices and make unique, quality cards).

3. Blog- My sister and I have a blog ( http://suavoce.blospot.com/ -obviously!) and it's fun. We talk about our business and our experiences running it while in college. We've gotten a lot of views from it, and even a sale or two. If you don't have time to write your own blog, check out other's blogs and comment. You can get your name out there and maybe learn some important tips too.

4. Twitter- I had no idea what the point of Twitter was until I started applying it to my Etsy shop. I get a lot of views by posting links to my newest items (nearly 20 instantly every time!). But we don't just post links, we comment on other twitter posts, post our business related activities, and continue to follow others. Tweet with us at: www.twitter.com/suavoce

5. Facebook- SuaVoce Designs has a Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=94180108452&ref=ts . It wasn't hard to make, and though sometimes it can be a pain to update (you really do have to update it often for it to be successful), it is certainly worth it. Post new pics often, post links to new items, and start discussions. Having a lot of friends to invite always helps get the initial members, and our group has been constantly growing since we started it! Don't forget, when you post a new item to Etsy, connect to Facebook and post it!

There are always more things to do to promote! Wear your pieces if they are wearable and be passionate about what you do. :) If you have any other suggestions or tips for promoting, post it here in a comment.

Happy (successful) promoting!

Sarah

http://suavoce.etsy.com/

Twintuition?

2009-08-25T22:59:00.002-05:00

Maybe Sarah and I do have twintution. We just both posted strangly identical blog posts...

Angie

Back To School

2009-08-25T22:53:00.004-05:00

Well, Sarah and I are back at college once again! More that 1/2 my luggage was consumed by SuaVoce's jewelry supplies, and now it's sitting on my yet-to-arrive roomate's desk. Organizing everything is our newest objective. That and making tons and tons more hair accessories (keep your eyes open!)

Classes start on Thursday. I'm hoping that my life won't be so crazy that SuaVoce gets pushed to the side. But then, Sarah and I are leading the school's Business Club...so maybe that can be a good excuse to spend more time on our jewelry business. We'll see how it goes!

Angie

Back to College

2009-08-25T22:47:00.003-05:00

We're back in Chicago! And back in school. Moving was a hassle, as usual, but it went smoothly. Thanks mostly to the help of our cousin, Nanna, and friend. :) Our jewelry supplies seems to be growing. We came back with more supplies, shipped some out to the college, and opened a box or two filled with them. Thankfully, we have a suite this year! That means space to make jewelry (instead of making it on our beds or clearing off our desks)!

This also means we need to start organizing things right. We are going to set up a space to work and display some pieces (we sell a lot from our dorms to students on campus) with pretty little tags. I'm thinking a trip to Target might be in SuaVoce's future.

Happy creating (or unpacking!),

Sarah

Faries, Vampires, and Mardi Gras! New Hair Clips...

2009-08-19T22:30:00.007-05:00

Today Sarah and I made four new hair pieces! Making hair accessories is so much fun (maybe sometimes more fun than making jewelry!).

1. Vampire Inspired--made from velvety rich purple petals, a striking vintage black cabachon, and three red feathers, this piece just feels like a vampire!

2. Mardi Gras--this hair piece is made from a multitude of black feathers, bright pink petals, a fabulous green star piece, and a dangling Czech glass bead. It is so bright and bold. Perfect for Halloween!

3. Lavander Butterfly--this piece is so sweet. A purple butterfly sits atop a delicate sheer-white bow. It will be our first children's piece.

4. RAINBOW--there is no other way to explain it! This piece is made from blue, green, yellow, and red feathers along with three equaly bright vinage cabachons. Totally Halloween.

Well, that is what we spent our evening creating. Hopefully they will soon be for sale in our Etsy store! In the meantime, check out what hair pieces we already have for sale...

Angie

Cooking, Writing, Jewelry-Making...

2009-08-17T21:53:00.004-05:00

I just got back from watching the new movie, Julie and Julia. I thought it was great! And inspiring. Inspiring for a blogger and for an author. Our latest working novel has a cooking theme like the movie. In response, we're going to spend part of tomorrow finishing up the (first) draft. Not a bad way to close off the summer.

We head back to school in less than a week. That means it's time to start packing. Jewelry supplies included. That should be an interesting experience...

Happy creating (and cooking!)

Sarah

Selling Your Work Wholesale: Tips, Checklist, and Resources

2009-08-13T16:56:00.004-05:00

Wholesale Resources

If you’re shy and don’t think you’re up to visiting stores, check out this forum post: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6201294

A thorough article about beginning to sell your artisan work wholesale. Includes a number of helpful links:
http://www.indiepublic.com/profiles/blogs/946391:BlogPost:510081

3. Research for retailers
-check out local fashion magazines for label names
-explore local shops (check out the yellow pages!)
-browse online

4. Call to make appointment with boutique owner

5. Be ready with wholesale price sheet and large amount of display-ready merchandise

Get Inspired!

2009-08-09T21:42:00.003-05:00

Today I was is a sort of slump from lack of sales, overwhelming amount of research to do on advertising, and number of other business related activities. I posted a forum post on Etsy's community and recieved a number of good ideas to get inspiration back:

1. Go to the fabric (or bead!) store

2. Design something new

3. Organize and clean

4. Take a break!

5. Flip through magazines

6. Get away for a while

7. Find new marketing techniques

Me? I turned on some good music and got to work on some new designs. :)

Happy creating!

Sarah

A Most Amazing Whale Watching Trip!

2009-08-07T11:27:00.005-05:00

My family and I boarded the Prince of Whales yesterday at around 1 pm with the expectation we'd see a few good whales, maybe a couple whale tales in the distance...but we didn't anticipate how amazing the trip would be!

I was the first to spot a whale's blow (a blow is the spout of steam that indicates the whale's breathing), and soon after they were all around us. At first we saw the backs of fin whales...but then we saw two huge humpbacks...and the boat got nearer! We saw our first whale tales.

Then we saw our first feeding whales. Their giant mouths errupted from the bubbling green water (when you spot a patch of water that is green and bubbling, you know a whale is feeding below the surface). Two humpbacks swam near the boat and I snapped this picture...

And when we thought things couldn't get any better...we saw a baby whale and it's mother! The baby swam under our boat before returning to its mother. We even got to see the baby's tale, which our guide told us was unusual for a baby!

So all in all, it was a most amazing whale watching trip!

Angie

Congrats!

2009-08-07T09:24:00.007-05:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in our most recent contest! We are happy to have a winner, noble beeyotch!

The books were...

1. Harry Potter by JK Rowling

2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

3. Across The Wall by Garth Nix.

Keep an eye out for some more fun contests!

Sarah

(SuaVoce)

New Banner

2009-08-05T22:50:00.001-05:00

New banner...I couldn't resist sharing. :)

Take a look at in in our shop too! (http://suavoce.etsy.com/)

Sarah

Contest! (For Book-Lovers!)

2009-08-04T21:54:00.006-05:00

Our small business, La SuaVoce Jewelry Designs, is influenced a bit by our love of writing and reading (our Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice pieces, for example!). We are offering a free pair of earrings to the winner of our newest contest.

How does it work?

Correctly guess two of the three books we photograph our pieces on. Check out the pics below for some hints!

Hint: There are seven books in this series...

Hint: Pyramids and treasure.

Hint: Author's last name means "snow" in Latin.

Don't forget to look at more pieces in our shop!

http//suavoce.etsy.com

Good luck!

Sarah and Angie

My New Shop? Photography and Illustration

2009-07-30T22:14:00.003-05:00

I've been throwing around the idea of starting a new shop devoted to my photography and illustrations. I really have to do my research (I've never sold either before!), but the idea is so exciting. It seems like photographers have pretty good success on Etsy.com if they can find their niche. First things first: fix my digital camera!

Sarah

Products & Ideas for the Trendy Traveler

2009-07-29T17:44:00.012-05:00

These days I've got my mind on traveling. In just a year I'll be going to Europe (leaving the country for the first time!) to study abroad in Austria/Germany. I was browsing Etsy.com (the prospect of traveling on my mind), and I came across these innovative traveling products. These products are great for both local and international travel.

Click on the pictures to be directed to the pieces on Etsy.com!

First up, Frankfult Passport Holder by DumbKidDesigns:

Reasons I like this piece:

1. It shows a map of Franfurt (Ich liebe Deutchland!)

2. It's a stylish way to carry around your passport

3. It'll protect your passport too (beacuse if you're like me, the bottle of lotion in your purse is boud to explode again sometime)

2nd, Eco Cup Cozy by laurabucci:

This piece is awesome because it's eco-friendly, adorable (Vespa's are so cute!), and practical (it functions just like a normal cardboard cup cozy--insulating, protective, fits standard cup sizes).

Eco-Friendly Reusable Snack/Sandwich Bag by TylerRaesBoutique

My family goes through a million plastic baggies a week. This reusable bag is a great eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags. It would be great for plane-ride snacks and on-the-go sandwiches!

Lingerie Laundry Tote by SunlitOrchard:

This tote provides a speical place for your lingerie. It's perfect for traveling! And at only $14, it's inexpensive too!

I Spy Travel Toy by aebaby:

When I came across this product I immediately became nostalgic. Since my family is large, we'd take road trip vacations. I remember playing I spy and other games in the car with my sisters. This toy reminded me of those fun, and crazy, times!

Happy travels!
Angie

Saffron and Scarlet

2009-07-28T22:20:00.005-05:00

Well, we've finally done it! Sua Voce has created a number of fabulous (!) hair accessories. We've been wanting to expand into hair pieces for so long. Our photogenic sisters pose for our photos:

Thanks for looking!

Angie

A Sneak Peek (In Photos)

2009-07-22T21:39:00.003-05:00

So I guess you could say SuaVoce is going through a bit of a make-over. Campus research is over and our ice cream jobs are back, which (thanks to all this rain, and cancellations at work) leaves us with more time for jewelry making...and experimenting. Be on the look out for our newest creations. :)

Sarah

(SuaVoce)

Postmodern Reads

2009-07-21T08:20:00.003-05:00

I spent the first ten weeks of my summer working for my campus' press. We publish Chicago studies books but also innovative literature. I ran across this link to a list of 61 "essential" Postmodern reads. I have been asked (and asked again!): What exactly is innovative and Postmodern lit? The concept is very hard to define. I suggest reading a couple examples. I don't a hundred percent agree with all books on this list (and I'd add another: The Jiri Chronicles and Other Fictions by Debra Di Blasi, my favorite innovative piece from the summer), but it's worth a look!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/07/the-mostly-complete-annotated-and-essential-postmodern-reading-list.html

Happy reading!
Sarah

Launching My New Line “Dichotomy”

2009-07-17T13:53:00.004-05:00

I’ve had this haunting feeling even since SuaVoce set up an Etsy.com store. I thought… “We make bridal jewelry, everyday jewelry, funky jewelry, simple pieces, big bold pieces, stuff for readers and writers…Are we too SCATTERED?!” Well, as a writer I’ve been told “write what you like to read.” Just so as a jewelry designer I’ve “created what I like to wear.” And I don’t always like to wear the same thing. Some days I’m in a simple and silver mood. Sometimes I like to be bold and bright.

We make a lot of very different pieces!

So…
I’ve decided to launch a new line entitled “Dichotomy.” I’m not sure if you could call it a line, maybe a “branch” of SuaVoce is more appropriate. But either way, I intend to possibly open a new Etsy store or transform SuaVoce’s current store with “Dichotomy” as my focus.
What’s Dichotomy?
Well, strictly speaking it’s, “division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups.” In regards to SuaVoce though, it’s a unifying yet “dichotomous” theme to our store.
Interested?
Keep reading in the days and weeks to come as I update you on my progress with “Dichotomy!”
Angie

2009-07-17T13:27:00.000-05:00

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My Second Ideal Wardrobe

2009-07-14T15:21:00.014-05:00

Two weeks ago, I decided I wanted to put together an "ideal" wardrobe, consisting of simple, inexpensive basics, and bold, popping accessories. I have put together a second outfit, picking handmade pieces from Etsy artists. I wanted to make a feminine, fun outfit that doesn't cost a fortune.

Twisted Taffy Earrings, $12.00

Made with big, bold, vintage beads, this pair of earrings goes well with a number of outfits, but is unique and fun at the same time. (SuaVoce: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24981164)

Bohemian Shoulder College Bag - Pashmina Fabric, $19.99

I like this bag for a couple different reasons: The color is great. The shimmery gold and browns are neutral, but not boring. The fabric can really match with a number of items in a wardrobe without dominating an outfit (but still drawing some good attention). I also like how it falls. The way it crosses over the shoulders and falls on the hip is so young and trendy. (Fabrichandbags: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27613089)

Spotted Scarlet - Simple Drawstring Skirt (S), $20.00

A perfect summer skirt! Simple but adorable, this skirt was an easy choice for this wardrobe. The bright red goes well with the Twisted Taffy Earrings and the small, simple pattern of the skirt fabric is far from clashing with the boho bag above. It's a sweet, feminine addition to this outfit. SouthernSkirts has an amazing array of handmade skirts on her Etsy store. (SouthernSkirts: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24408547)

Wedding/Plain Shoes, $30.00

This outfit isn't quite a wedding dress, but the shoes match perfectly regardless! They were just what I was looking for: Simple, inexpensive, elegant. DeBonisOrquera has an amazing selection of handmade designer shoes. If you don't like the white, the DeBonisOrquera.etsy.com has a number of gorgeous colored and patterned shoes. (DeBonisOrquera: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_1&listing_id=27762855)

That's it for my "Ideal Outfit" this week! I showcased a number of inexpensive, feminine pieces from talented Etsy artists. Keep an eye out for next week's outfit!

Happy Friday!

Sarah

(SuaVoce)

Finally...We Made Jewelry for Ourselves!

2009-07-12T17:31:00.007-05:00

Yesterday our cousin was married. It was the first wedding we ever attended, so we wanted to make our outfits special. Except being college students we don't have a lot of money. So instead of buying new dresses, we opted to make ourselves jewelry instead. I wanted something bold and bright to match my black dress, and Sarah wanted a more tradtional look to go along with her blue and red dress.

Step one, we needed beads. We explored Etsy and found these great beads from seller PenGwynneBeads:

For my piece, I also found beautiful glass pearls from seller allearringsandsuppli

Step two, put them together. Sarah decided to combine the red resin flowers with black Czech glass beads we already owned, all connected by sterling silver to form beautiful earrings.

She used more resin flowers along with vintage chain to make a bracelet.

I used the large pink resin flowers along with the soft teal glass pearls to make the necklace I was envisioning--bold, bright, and fun!

Step three, wear them. We wore our creations to yesterday's wedding, which was on all accounts a success. The dancing was a blast and the view of the Chicago skyline was phenominal!

Angie

Harry Potter Hogwart's House Earrings

2009-07-11T10:14:00.007-05:00

My friends and I have been watching one Harry Potter movie a week for the past five weeks. Next week we'll all be attending the new film: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. My sister and I, feeling inspired (and also wanting something to wear to the new film!) made three Harry Potter-inspired pieces. Each one represents a Hogwart's House: Slytherin, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw (my personal favorite). We are working on a pair of Hufflepuff earrings as well.

These earrings are inspired by Harry Potter’s house at Hogwarts, Gryffindor! They are made from stunning red and gold Czech glass beads in a unique “chandelier” design. Little silver colored stars add a “magical” touch! (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27665407)

These earrings are inspired by (our personal favorite!) Hogwarts’ house of Ravenclaw. They are made from sparkling blue Czech glass beads and silver-colored beads accompanied by little silver-colored stars. They are also made with blue copper wire. (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27666195)

Inspired by Hogwart’s most infamous house, Slytherin, these earrings are made from sparkling green Czech glass beads and silver beads in a unique “chandelier” design. Tiny silver stars are a “magical” touch to these Harry Potter-inspired earrings. So whether you love Draco Malfoy or have an ambitious and cunning (and maybe shady) character, or if you want to show support for your favorite Hogwart’s house, these earrings are a darling addition to a jewelry collection! (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27665770)

Wear them to the opening of the new Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!

Sarah

(SuaVoce)

Watermelon, Lavender, and Sage

2009-07-08T23:12:00.004-05:00

We added two new pieces to our etsy store: "Lavender and Sage, Fresh Water Pearl and Glass Earrings" and "Sweet Watermelon Earrings."

The lavender pair is made of Czech glass beads in two gorgeous shades of purple, sterling silver wire (some pretty spirals too!), and green fresh water pearls.

"Sweet Watermelon Earrings" are made with lovely pink vintage beads and pretty little green beads. Both pairs are simple and pretty.

Check them out at http://suavoce.etsy.com :)

Sarah

My Ideal Wardrobe: A New Project

2009-07-01T16:50:00.019-05:00

I've always wanted to sew myself my own wardrobe. I could custom fit outfits and design clothes to my own style. The problems: I can't sew well and I hardly have enough time to make jewelry, let alone sew my whole wardrobe. As usual though, I don't let things like that slow me down (at least not when it comes to my style).

I can't sew, but I can make jewelry. Over the course of the next two months I would like to put together my ideal wardrobe (just in time for fall!). My new wardrobe will consist of simple (and inexpensive) basic pieces, such as solid tees, jeans, black skirts, and a pair of "matches-with-practically-everything" shoes. I will make these clothes pop with gorgeous accessories. Accessories go a long way in making an outfit complete and they are usually less expensive than buying a whole new piece of clothing.

Putting an emphasis on handmade accessories I've compiled my first "ideal outfit." Put these pieces below with a pair of comfy jeans and simple black sandals and the look is complete!

1) Springtime Sunset Earrings, $19.00

We made these earrings with bright, vintage beads, Czech glass beads, and sterling silver. They are beautiful, bold earrings, but they still are simple enough to match with a wide variety of outfits. (SuaVoce Designs- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24226570)

2)Pirate Ship Retro Design Cap Sleeve Women T-Shirt, $18.00

Graphic tees are versatile additions to any wardrobe. I try to shy away from main stream graphic tees (it's not fun to find out your little sister's best friend has the same shirt as you!). That's why I recommend handmade tees with unique designs. This tee, by etsy seller HappyFamily, is simple enough to match with many different accessories (not to mention, shoes, pants, skirts...), but stylish and fun at the same time. HappyFamily has a wide selection of hand printed tees for affordable prices. (HappyFamily- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23498362)

3) Rhia Upcycled Summer Scarf Necklace - Purple Burgundy with Freshwater Pearls, $13.00

Simple and beautiful, this scarf was the inspiration for this outfit. Made from upcycled pre-shrunk 100% cotton T-shirts, the scarf is both stylish and unique. I've never seen anything like it! It acts as both a scarf and a necklace and can be worn two ways (see link below), which makes this piece ideal for my simple wardrobe makeover. Toil and Trouble has similar scarves for sale in different colors, as well a many other beautiful creations. (ToilandTrouble- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26296240)

4) The Paris Skyline Cityscape on Chrome Buckle with Charcoal Gray Web Belt, $15.00

I always have difficulty finding the perfect belts. I like something that goes well with most of outfits, but doesn't sacrifice style in the process. This unique Paris Skyline belt is the finishing touch on this outfit. It is made by Etsy seller, BareTree, who offers a selection of similar (but unique!) belts. (BareTree- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25832597)

That's it for my first ideal outfit! I'd like to feature one outfit per week until my wardrobe is complete, so keep checking back for more.

Sarah

(SuaVoce)

Our Piece Featured In a Blog!

2009-07-01T14:40:00.003-05:00

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27111950

Our piece "Red, White, and Blue Chandelier Earrings" is featured in a great blog. Check it out:

http://www.examiner.com/x-3805-Baltimore-Style-Examiner~y2009m7d1-Do-July-4th-in-style

The post is "Ten Must Haves For July Fourth" so take a look at the other Etsy sellers who were mentioned, too :)

A Glimpse Into Our Studio (of Sorts)

2009-06-29T23:41:00.005-05:00

It might not be the most glamorous place to work, but it's what we have right now! At home we have a studio set up in our basement, but while we are away at college we have to make due with what we have. This usually means making jewelry on our beds or clearing off our desks. Unfortunately, this also means no soldering until summer (or like this summer while we stay on campus for research, not until August). Most of our pieces (and all pieces now listed on Etsy) are made using cold connections. Suprisingly, this limitation has been mostly to our advantage. Limitations really challenge our creativity, and push it beyond it's limits.

Happy creating to all!
Sarah
(SuaVoce)

Fourth of July Inspirations

2009-06-28T21:47:00.009-05:00

Angie and I created a number of Fourth of July inspired pieces. The first is a patriot pendant made from a vintage key. We bought this key, along with a tiny box of other old keys, at a yard sale a couple months ago. Going to college in an affulant town has some perks: the yard sales have some pretty nice stuff! This includes some very nice old jewelry (or keys), which we LOVE remaking into new pieces.

The second piece, which we casually refer to as our "Whitney" style earrings (inspired by a friend with the same name), is "officially" titled "Independence Dangle Earrings." We used, once again, a vintage element (the sparkling blue center bead), this time taken from an old box of jewelry given to us by our Nanna. The box contained gorgeous, but broken, vintage jewelry. So far the bits and pieces of old jewelry have gone a long way in defining our newest creations.

The third piece is a design we call "Chandelier." We use quite a few Czech glass beads for these earrings. Using Czech glass is a good, less expensive althernative to Swarovski crystal. Czech glass has a lot of sparkle and class, just like Swarovski, but with a smaller price tag.

Happy Fourth!

Sarah

As the Fourth of July Approaches...

2009-06-27T23:41:00.003-05:00

Today Sarah and I created a few pieces for the coming holiday! I am very happy with the results. I created a key necklace pendant with Czech glass beads and a red spiral. Sarah made a pair of "chandalier" earrings with red, white, and blue Czech glass beads. These pieces and others will be posted soon (hopefully tomorrow) on our esty.com page!
Angie

P.S. I am currently listening to the soundtrack for Pride and Prejudice (which I just saw for, I think, the 5th time). It puts me in such a romantic mood. Possibly some more Pride and Prejudice pieces will come from this... :)

A Beautiful Summer Night

2009-06-25T21:40:00.004-05:00

In Chicago, June hasn't felt at all like summer until now. It's a gorgeous summer night: 75 degrees with a cool breeze from the lake. What a nice break from lots of rain and 50 degree days! I wanted to share a few summertime-inspired jewelry pieces. Above is a pair we call "Blue Ice Chandelier Earrings." Kind of makes me want some ice cream. :)

^Above is one of my favorite pieces, called "Scrumptious Cherry Tomato Earrings." My roommate (who is now back at home in China, and from what she tells me is having a great time) helped me design this pair and I think they came out amazing. She has a knack for unique things, espeically fashion, and these earrings are definately one of a kind.

I'll just go back to soaking up this summer night and hopefully getting some new art inspirations from this beautiful weather!

Sarah

(SuaVoce)

Finally! Some Confidence with Photos

2009-06-24T16:34:00.007-05:00

It seems like I've spent a lot of time struggling to get the right photo of my jewelry. There are so many little things to consider when picture taking: lighting (I use natural light, in the shade), editing (Picnik.com or the Microsoft Photo Editing- already installed), background (Recently I switched to a simple, but elegant backgroud: a book), and the camera (I have a simple digital camera, nothing special). I've tried all sorts of different things, like beach backgrounds, expensive camera (borrowed a friend), inside light, sunlight, Gimp (free photo editing software), etc.

Now I think I'm on to something! I took these newest photos using natural light on a cloudy day and brightened and cropped them with the Microsfot Photo Editing software already available on my computer. I placed the jewelry on the white pages of a book (The Alchemist, my favorite book, and one I'd recomend to anyone). They really popped on this background, but the background was still engaging and elegant at the same time.

I'm finally getting some photo taking confidence!

Sarah (SuaVoce)

http://suavoce.etsy.com

Publishers for Young Adult Writers

2009-06-23T10:27:00.001-05:00

Finding time to write in college (and, if you’re like me, owning a business at the same time) is pretty tough. Searching for publishers who seriously consider young adult work can be even harder. Since I was personally searching for publishers, I thought I would share what I found. Below is a list of small presses and contests who all publish young authors:

This site provides a very good list of publishing opportunities specific to young people:
http://www.newpages.com/npguides/young_authors_guide.htm
This newsletter (called “The Loop”) provides some publishers (specifically for playwrights). You can also subscribe to the newsletter for free to get more updates:
http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=122088b08a31d84d&mt=application%2Fpdf&pli=1
This small press holds a chapbook contest and also accepts submissions year-round for publication of chapbooks:
http://www.finishinglinepress.com/submissionguidelines.htm

Hopefully this is a helpful resource for young (adult) writers. If you are seriously interested in sending your work to a publisher, my advice is to spend a good long time checking out that publisher’s website. Make sure your piece would fit well with what they do, since every publisher is different. A publisher’s website usually has a “submit” link where you can get information about their guidelines for submission. Be sure to follow their guidelines exactly or else they won’t even consider your work. If you come across the word SASE it means “self addressed stamped envelope.” Most publishers allow you (or require you) to include a SASE with your submission so that you may be informed if your piece was not chosen. Just stick the SASE in the envelope you send your piece in. Good luck!
Angie

Custom Bridal and Event (or Prom) Jewelry

2009-06-19T15:40:00.004-05:00

Just recently Sarah and I were shopping in Walmart with our grandmother. She struck up a conversation with a lady working in the vision center…and by the time we left Walmart the woman at the vision center had commissioned us to make a custom pair of earrings for an outfit she had bought for a wedding!

This event and the fact that my cousin is having a wedding this summer (and I’m planning to design my jewelry to compensate for the fact that I can’t afford to buy a new dress ) got me to thinking…

Weddings and other special events (e.g. prom—Sarah and I designed our little sister a necklace and earring set for her prom) are coming up soon, and many women buy their outfits for these events BEFORE they buy their jewelry.

So why not have your jewelry custom made?

SuaVoce of course makes custom jewelry (just check out our Etsy store http://suavoce.etsy.com/), but I wanted to provide a resource that lists small shops that do custom and bridal jewelry.

Here is my list:
http://pickmeup.etsy.com/ OR http://www.pickmeupboutique.blogspot.com/
This is a small store that sells beautiful wire-wrapped jewelry. If you check out pickmeup’s blog you can see the jewelry they made for a bride-to-be! I like pickmeup because their designs are clean and delicate, and personally I love silver wire! Pickmeup also does custom jewelry, so check them out!
http://shacara.etsy.com/
Shacara specializes in custom-made bridal jewelry. Their pieces are very elegant and priced very well, too!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6716075
OceanBayDesigns has custom-made jewelry for bridesmaids. Their pieces are modern and unique! I love the fact that this store uses a lot of silver (can’t you tell I love it?).
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6776989
Tilley Jewels Bride also specializes in bridal jewelry. They also sell nice hair accessories that would be great for prom, too!
http://expressyourself.etsy.com/
Expressyourself makes custom jewelry pieces and bridal jewelry. I like their pieces because they are very elegant and use a lot of gorgeous pearls and beads.
http://dreamsandjewelry.etsy.com/
Dreamsandjewelry has also done some bridal work, and their pieces are very beautiful!

I hope this list is helpful. Happy shopping!
Angie (SuaVoce)

New Etsy Banner, Thought I'd Share

2009-06-18T23:24:00.002-05:00

I created a new Etsy banner a few minutes ago on Picnik.com. I love Picnick because it makes photo editing (and banner making) easy. Plus, it’s free! The photo is from a beach on New Hampsire (there are beautiful beaches in New England, by the way). I thought it fit in well with the beach photos we have of some of our jewelry and with the new Pride and Prejudicd journals.

(Visit http://suavoce.etsy.com to see it in action on our Etsy page.)

Pretty simple, but it keeps the shop looking clean and pretty!
Sarah
(SuaVoce)

Jewelry Suppliers? Here's Where We Go!

2009-06-16T12:43:00.000-05:00

It’s tough finding a reliable jewelry supplier that sells a variety of quality products at affordable prices. SuaVoce has made a number of mistakes when it comes to purchasing supplies. We turned to eBay in an attempt to find inexpensive supplies. EBay, however, was unreliable (sometimes you may not get quite was you expect), and quality control was iffy. We have purchased items from craft stores, and while they are often convenient, they tend to be pricy.

So where do you go? Well, SuaVoce has discovered some great suppliers, and we’d like to share…

Rio Grande Jewelry Suppliers
I could rave all day about Rio. Their customer service is incredibly helpful (they always know what they are doing, and they are very efficient). You can be assured that the supplies you receive from Rio are high quality. Plus, they ship your purchases in a timely manner.
http://www.riograde.com/

Etsy suppliers
There are a couple jewelry suppliers, who SuaVoce has had good experiences with, on Etsy.com. Etsy is a really good source for supplies. Generally, buying off Etsy is less expensive, and (from our experience) their products are quality. Also, you can contact the seller and ask if they will reserve a special order for you.

LLing2303 is a seller who sells a variety of items. Of particular interest for this post are her beads and supplies, which are very affordable. We purchased clip-on earring hooks from LLing2303, and we were really pleased! The hooks were packaged nicely and she included a free gift with our purchase J
Check out LLing2303’s shop:
http://lling2303.etsy.com/

Infiniteconcepts sells beautiful connectors, links, charms and other findings. Infniteconcepts allowed us to custom order silver plated earring wires. We were very happy with our purchase, which arrived quickly and in perfect shape.
Check out infiniteconcepts’ shop:
http://infiniteconcepts.etsy.com/
And twitter page:
http://twitter.com/rowrow1
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25580596

“Tibetan Silver Connector Charms” by infiniteconcepts

Hopefully this provides some good sources for your supply shopping!
Angie (SuaVoce)

An Introduction

2009-06-15T12:36:00.000-05:00

Hello,
We’d like to introduce ourselves! We are two sisters who make and sell handmade jewelry. We love trying new designs and are willing to take risks with our work. Recently, we’ve created an Etsy.com store (http://suavoce.etsy.com/).

We love input from our viewers. At our college, we like to get our friends together to help us designs unique pieces. All input is taken seriously, and we love recieving it! Don’t hesitate to design your own piece. Afterall, SuaVoce is “Indenpendent Style for Independent Women!”

Love,
SuaVoce

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My Second Ideal Wardrobe

Finally...We Made Jewelry for Ourselves!

Harry Potter Hogwart's House Earrings

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My Ideal Wardrobe: A New Project

Our Piece Featured In a Blog!

A Glimpse Into Our Studio (of Sorts)

Fourth of July Inspirations

As the Fourth of July Approaches...

A Beautiful Summer Night

Finally! Some Confidence with Photos

Publishers for Young Adult Writers

Custom Bridal and Event (or Prom) Jewelry

New Etsy Banner, Thought I'd Share

Jewelry Suppliers? Here's Where We Go!

An Introduction