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

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

New Banner

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

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

Sarah

Products & Ideas for the Trendy Traveler

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

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

Harry Potter Hogwart's House Earrings

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)

My Ideal Wardrobe: A New Project

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)

A Glimpse Into Our Studio (of Sorts)

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

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