See What Our Team Does in Copper

Copper is gaining in popularity, and is no longer the very distant third against gold and silver. It is much more common in jewelry today than in recent years. The warmth, the earthy color and its natural beauty radiate in jewelry. Copper is warm against the skin and has been used in jewelry for thousands of years. Copper has the reputation as an environmentally natural metal, making it very earth-friendly.


Our eSMarts team has many members who have created pieces in copper, not just jewelry, but also bookmarks, copper wire and findings so you can create your own, and a wonderful handmade copper gemstone box! Beyond the designs that I high-lighted in the montage, there are many other copper designs in our esmarts etsy teams. Search for tags with esmarts, or go to our esmarts team and look through our stores.


In our designs, you will find hammered copper, wire wrapped pendants and beads, and combinations of gemstones with copper components. There are some wonderful pendants created almost totally from copper wire, with small gemstone chips to highlight the shape. There are some lovely copper charm bracelets and necklaces, and drop dead gorgeous drop earrings. And, if you like the more natural look, check out the copper chain maille designs, some with a patina finish that makes it look like an heirloom, or a find from an archeological dig! Want a gift, I love the bookmark, great for a teacher, professor, book club, any avid reader, or as an added touch for a coffee table book. The gemstone heirloom box is a gorgeous brushed finish; give that special someone the ring of her life this year, in this keepsake box!


See some of our teams copper work at flickr. Here you can click on one you like and it will take you to that listing on etsy: http://flickr.com/photos/28429071@N05/sets/72157607169795701/

Or see a photo montage on bubble share: http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/453927/overview

Shop for the "in" metal this season with our esmarts team on etsy!! Enjoy!

Statement Jewellery

I came across a great article recently about how to wear statement jewellery ‘better’! It was an interview with Hutton Wilkinson of Tony Duquette in Los Angeles. To quote Hutton “…I think ladies should have no fear when they wear their jewellery”. He recommends wearing pieces in different ways – such as twisted or with the clasp to the side. And the most important thing to keep in mind is attitude! Dress for your own pleasure not for your girlfriend’s pleasure. Don’t try to impress.

So, following this train of thought, here is some glamorous statement jewellery by a couple of our talented artisans here at the eSMArts team. And there are a lot more where these came from ;) Enjoy!

Goldfill, vermeil and onyx necklace by Novel Approach Designs



Mixed gemstone bracelet by Gahoole Tree



Bronze multistrand bracelet by Orange Starfish



Purple and silver necklace by DG Designs

Purple necklace by The World of Wezz


Aren't they talented!
Cheers
Annette

We've Got The Whole World On Our Team (well, getting there!)

Hi, I’m Teresa from Inspired Designs by Teresa. Please come visit my Etsy store or my blog. I started making jewelry about two years ago and had just begun selling it last summer when I got my first teaching job. So my marketing efforts were put on hold for the school year. Just as I was beginning to think about getting back into the online marketing world, Anna Lee of GaHooleeTree proposed starting a new street team on Etsy to learn the ins and outs of social marketing on the internet. I jumped right on the bandwagon, and it has been quite a ride. Although it has been only a few months, we have 90 members in our Yahoo group and represent 49 Etsy stores!

One of the challenges of growing so quickly is keeping up with all the members. Most of our members are from North America, so I thought I would use my blogging time to highlight our members from across the pond, or, in one case, across the world.

Jackie and Lara are a mother and daughter team from Devon, England. In their shop they offer elegant handcrafted jewelry.

Lara (the daughter) also has another store where she offers adorable creatures made from polymer clay or felt. She also offers a banner and avatar design service, so contact her if you can use her services.

Morna is a self-taught jewelry designer from Perth, Scotland. Visit her Etsy store, to see both her finished jewelry and surplus components. She has some lovely copper components, and we all know that right now copper is hot, hot, hot!

Wezz lives in Kessel-Lo, Belgium. Her store currently features handcrafted jewelry, but Wezz admits that all kinds of crafting is in her genes, so who knows what will pop up in the future!

And, from the other side of the world, we have Annette from Coolah, Australia. From her rural oasis Annette handcrafts refined and classic pieces which she offers for your viewing, and if you’re lucky, wearing pleasure. Take a look at her beautiful store.

Excellence at eSmarts!!

Big things happening this week for the eSmarts Team members participating in a social marketing team on Etsy. Three of our members Tortoise Treasures, Inspired Designs by Teresa and Willow's Beads have had sales, for some their very first and our very own Vamp Kitty has posted for the first time.

Starting us off was Tortoise Treasures with this charming German Silver wire wrap of a turquoise blue agate with a crystal in the center of the stone. Nice work Shelley. Check out more of Tortoise Treasures creations and watch for more turtles to come.

Next off was Inspired Designs with these two lovely pieces "Copper Swag Choker", truly a beauty with rich copper and garnet beads and "Red Porcelain and Copper Drop Necklace". Those beads are one of a kind. Way to go....two sales in one day, you may be the Seller of the week but the week isn't over yet.....keep marketing. Don't miss seeing more of Teresa's Inspired Designs.

Last but certainly not least, take a look at the shop of Willow's Beads who also had her first sale this week. Those "Beautiful Green and Brown Swirled Lampwork Beads" should make her buyer very happy indeed. Check out many more select beads from Willow's Beads on Etsy

Vamp Kitty impressed us all with her first postings on Etsy. So glad you did. Your pieces are wonderful. I'll be watching your shop for many more postings to come. My favorite is "Mermaid" in Seafoam Amazonite, Chrysocolla and antique copper bali beads. Check out Vamp Kitty for all her new postings.

These team members are proof eSmarts works. Check out eSmarts for a team that makes things happen.............fast!

A Beaded Affair

Copper wrapping wire

An introduction from Annette Piper

G'day all!

My name is Annette Piper of Annette Piper Dip. Gem. Handcrafted Jewellery and I am the token Aussie member of eSMArts! (I'm sure we'll gain a few more Australian members in time).

I am situated in rural New South Wales a couple of hundred kilometres inland from the east coast of Australia, in a long established farming and grazing area. Perched, as I am, on the Great Dividing Range, I have magnificent views of the surrounding farmland, distant hills and the wide blue Australian sky above. I live here with my aviator/farmer husband and our three children in a passive solar home that has my studio attached. Oh, there are also a few hundred head of cattle, two very lazy cats, a working dog and abundant birdlife surrounding me, but it's very quiet...really!

I have a strong background in the jewellery trade - my first full time job out of school was as a junior for a jewellery manufacturer and when I was managing a retail jewellery store in Sydney I undertook my Diploma of Gemmology. This was 20+ years ago. I continued to work in the jewellery field for a number of years before stopping due to location restraints and raising a family. When my youngest children (twins - which is why I use the plural) were two years old I really felt the need to do something for myself and soon fell into the world of gems again. This time it was by making jewellery with my beloved gemstones and pearls and I finally found my passion in life!

The popularity for my jewellery has grown over the last five years and I am now known as the "local jewellery maker". I have extended my client base into neighbouring districts as well as gaining a few loyal overseas clients. In an effort to continue this trend, I opened an Etsy store and have joined the talented group of artisans at eSMArts to help me on my journey.

I make mostly one of a kind necklaces, bracelets and earrings and a few limited edition rings and earrings. Most of my designs are simple and bold - but in a very classic and elegant way. I use only the highest quality gemstones and pearls that I source from all over the world. All items are made in my studio by me and have to get past my very high standards to ensure you get a piece of jewellery that is worthy of being worn for decades. Please visit my Etsy store and pop into my blog "Under the Loupe" to hear more of what I am up to.

I look forward to sharing my journey with you all!