Gliteratti from the City of Brotherly Love: Layne Designs

The burgeoning Philadelphia craft scene is home to Layne Freedline of Layne Designs. Freedline’s  heirloom jewelry is made with traditional bench techniques and trendy lapidary cut stones like  druzy and cabochons. This black druzy piece is my favorite.  It is gorgeous!

Freedline is an accomplished jeweler who can boast an impressive resume of education and experience in the trade. She also teaches workshops on jewelry fabrication when she is not working in her own studio.

Most Layne Designs custom pieces range in price from $165 to $450 with more elaborate designs fetching up to $700 each. Layne Designs also offers a lower priced production line of $32 inspirational pendants through an Etsy jewelry shop.

Freedline was a 2010 finalist for The Halstead Grant, an annual award competition for new jewelry design entrepreneurs. The 2011 Halstead Grant deadline is June 6, 2011.

The Halstead Grant 2011 Application Now Available

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Are you starting a jewelry business? Do you have what it takes to be one of the next big names in jewelry design? We are excited to launch the application for the next Halstead Grant for new jew

elry designers in the bridge segment. The  deadline is June 6, 2011. Download the application now and start thinking about your business plan and jewelry submissions. This is an amazing opportunity for a $6,000 grant award plus publicity and recognition in the industry. This will be our 6th annual competition. Visit The Halstead Grant website for details on the award as well as past winners & finalists. Please spread the word!

Joana Miranda Studio: Talent to Spare

Joana Miranda brings a fascinating background to the bench as a jewelry artist. Born in Portugal, Miranda was a professional violinist and violist before turning her attention to jewelry. She is also an accomplished writer through her popular blog on the life of a new jewelry designer.

Joana Miranda Studio pieces feature classic metalsmithing motifs with contemporary twists such as the frequent use of rubber accents.  Miranda is a prolific artist with many talents.  Her blog and website are full of sketches and inspirational ides alongside finished pieces.

She has won numerous awards for her work including multiple honors from both the Gemological Institute of America and the Women’s Jewelry Association. She was a 2010 finalist in The Halstead Grant, an annual competition for new jewelry design entrepreneurs.

Joana Miranda Studio collections are available for sale online at www.JoanaMirandaStudio.com. Retail prices range from $35 to $250 for most of her Argentium sterling silver pendants and earrings. She also does a great deal of custom work such as the piece shown above.

Tags: Designer Jewelry, Silver Jewelry, Jewelry Entrepreneur

Sticky Sweet and Sparkling Tiffany Kunz Design

Diamonds used to be called ice. Thanks to emerging artists like Tiffany Kunz Design they may be picking up a new moniker.

The clusters of glowing, earth-tone, rough diamonds that Kunz uses as her signature in the new Concord Collection are more like dripping golden honey. She even offers a suite within the collection entitled “In Clover.”

The In Clover Suite embodies the best of Kunz’s designer jewelry: hand hammered eco-friendly metals, crystalline bunches of glittering diamonds and open organic forms. The Concord Collection website is reminiscent of a buzzing hive full of honeycomb. And the buzz, buzz, buzzing has already begun. Tiffany Kunz Design is attracting a wave of attention from blogs and magazines.

Tiffany Kunz Design is available at several high end boutiques in the Los Angeles area as well as online at www.TiffanyKunzDesign.com. Most pieces are available in sterling silver or vermeil of yellow, pink or white gold. Retail prices range from $60 – $625. Santa baby, bring me some honey this year.

Tiffany Kunz Design was a finalist in our 2010 Halstead Grant competition for emerging jewelry designers.

Tags: Rough diamond jewelry, green jewelry, eco-friendly jewelry, starting a jewelry business

Lisa Robin Jewelry for Classy Ladies

Lisa Robin Jewelry is a new design house out of Dayton, OH. Owner and designer Lisa Adkinson has been a finalist in our grant competition for two years in a row. Her work features heavy cast silver components in classic jewelry styles.

In my opinion, this line is ideally suited for the professional woman’s wardrobe. The pieces are classy and powerful without loosing their feminine style. The line is also quite versatile since many pieces are interchangeable or reversible.

Lisa’s work is available in fine jewelry stores and galleries throughout Ohio and the Southern United States.

Tags: Designer jewelry, silver jewelry, starting a jewelry business

Cowboy’s Sweetheart Jewelry Wins National Award & Business Grant

Western Jewelry for the American Cowgirl

Western jewelry designer Amy Fortunato of Cowboy’s Sweetheart rounded up top honors in the 2010 Jewelry Design Business Development Grant competition. Her prize package includes $6,000 in cash and jewelry supplies. The annual award is sponsored by jewelry supply wholesaler Halstead Bead, Inc.

The grant is awarded to a new jeweler in the bridge or handmade jewelry segment each year in recognition of design skill and business acumen. Candidates must submit lengthy applications including portfolios of original jewelry and details of their business plans.

“Amy’s work beautifully blends western inspired silversmithing with contemporary design elements. Her line is both fashionable and affordable,” said one competition judge, Hilary Halstead Scott, “her witty branding and accessible price points are perfect for an accessory start-up in the current economy.”

Fortunato received her jewelry training as part of a Fine Arts degree from the University of Connecticut. Her career has included graphic design and jewelry production for other companies prior to launching Cowboy’s Sweetheart. Fortunato describes the genesis of her company as her answer to the call “Go West, young lady, go West!” After moving to Colorado she began her love affair with the region’s natural surroundings, history and people.

“I attempt to celebrate a little bit of the American West each time I turn out a new piece.” she stated. “I am thrilled to receive this recognition and the opportunity to grow my business.”

Cowboy’s Sweetheart joins a distinguished list of past Grant winners in the industry. Her jewelry collections are available online at www.Cowboys-Sweetheart.com. A complete list of past grant recipients and finalists as well as competition details are on the Jewelry Design Business Development Grant website at www.HalsteadBead.com/grant.

Cowboy’s Sweetheart Jewelry Wins National Award & Business Grant.

Julia Failey Eco-Friendly Jewelry

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than with an emerging designer profile? Julia Failey is a hot new jewelry talent who is making a name for herself through great PR and her line of sustainable jewelry. All of Failey’s designs are meticulously handcrafted using reclaimed precious metals and Earth-friendly manufacturing techniques. Moreover, her designs are inspired by the natural beauty of the plant and animal kingdom.

The Julia Failey collection includes a broad range of focal silhouettes that have often been imitated by other designers in the trade. Her trademark lotus, rose and wing designs are unmistakable and have been favorites of the celebrity set and many fashion publications. The dragonfly wings shown here are one of my personal favorites.

You can find Julia Failey’s work on her retail website of eco-friendly jewelry at www.JuliaFailey.com. Or, shop at many fine boutiques in the Chicago area where she is located. To celebrate Earth Day, you can save 30% off all jewelry on the Julia Failey website through today, April 22nd. Use the Promo code Earth30 and wear your environmentally conscious jewelry with pride!

Julia Failey was a 2008 finalist in the Jewelry Design Business Development Grant competition sponsored by jewelry supply wholesaler Halstead Bead, Inc.

The Post-Recession Jewelry Market

The debate continues. Is the recession over? Is the “double dip” coming next? Are we in recovery, and if so, will we ever return to the market climate of 2007? Many questions still loom; however, one thing is certain: the jewelry market may never be the same again.

The fierce struggle for survival and dominance during this extended economic decline has permanently altered the jewelry scene. Fine jewelry retailers who once scoffed at selling silver or price points below $250 in their shops are now moving into entirely different market segments. This shift is unlikely to reverse when the economy if fully healed.

Due to high metals markets and the recession, fine jewelers followed the money last Christmas and heavily stocked  sterling lines like Pandora beads. This dramatic move has opened a window of opportunity for many bridge jewelry designers. Retailers who started with mass produced lines are finding that they can indeed sell lower price point jewelry to their market of “fine jewelry” consumers. Art jewelry in a wider range of metals is popping up in display cases that once only held platinum and solid gold. Buyers are seeing the value in fine design instead of just traditional materials.

Over time this change should greatly benefit jewelry artisans. The handmade movement was picking up considerable momentum prior to the recession and it stands a good chance of thriving in the post-recovery era. Craft jewelers who aggressively pursue new sales venues may find a more receptive audience than in the past.

This also presents an interesting challenge to boutique jewelers and American craft galleries that have carved out a niche in bridge jewelry over the last decade. Fine jewelers are now moving in on the turf they have spent years cultivating. Both groups will need to examine their respective strategies and brand identities in order to excel in the new business climate.

This environment may very well create a renaissance period in jewelry. The broader range of metals and design styles in the market give jewelers a new level of creative freedom. The increase in sales venues should also increase resale opportunities. I am excited to see how that will impact the industry and break down the segment barriers we have always known.

Copyright 2010. Halstead Bead, Inc., wholesale jewelry supplies since 1973. Please feel free to share or re-post this blog with proper credit. We also welcome your comments.

Fashion Trends 2010

In honor of New York Fashion week we are pleased to feature Keren Peled of Keren Jewelry as our guest blogger for this Fashion Trend report from the jeweler’s perspective.

As a fashion designer, first and foremost, I stay updated with fashion trends through online research, trade magazines (such as Accessories and JQ), fashion week runways and information I get from my reps. I wanted to share some of my findings and insights with you in hopes that this information will support us all in our work in 2010.

A beautiful mess

Interestingly, the issue of copying and design stealing seems to be one if the leading considerations when deciding on the complexity of the design in today’s fashion climate. A peak into the runways of fashion weeks around the world reveals a huge mix of styles, materials, techniques, textures and colors. The obvious reason is that the more complex the design and it’s components the harder it is to copy. It makes perfect sense – If we are able to get materials from various sources, use different techniques, go crazy with our textures, and combine it all with our own signature style, the result will be a piece that is impossible to copy. What we get is a melange of styles that has implications that spill into the following sub- trends as well:

Layers

As a direct result of the mix of styles we see pieces that are layered and loaded with different elements. In clothing we see it in the mix of fabrics and patterns, also in softness. The styles mix with the actual materials. We see a sheer top layer covering something that is completely different underneath. Flowing with smooth patterns with unified color.  My newest collection, Melange, (that I haven’t finished yet) takes this into account. I mix my original parts with different chains, beads and even leather.

The layers create a sense of dripping material that is soft and flowing, think waves and ruffles as in the picture from the Valentino collection.

Masculine and feminine contrast

Another cool trend that is noticeable is the mixing of feminine and masculine styles in clothing.  For example: a very soft flowing ruffly dress covered with a masculine blazer or jacket. This combination is the ultimate sign of the times – start looking for it and you’ll see it all around. For us jewelry designers I believe it would mean, mixing different looks – the soft with the harsh, goth with ruffles, clean and messy, elegant and … click red button below to continue reading

Call for Entries – Jewelry Design Business Development Grant

Halstead Bead, Inc. is calling for entries to its fifth annual Business Development Grant competition for new American jewelry designers entering the bridge jewelry trade. The deadline for packet submissions is June 9, 2010. The winner of the 2010 Grant will receive $6,000 in cash and jewelry supplies as well as other benefits.

The Halstead Bead Jewelry Business Development Grant differs from other jewelry industry competitions and awards because of its emphasis on business skills. Entrants must demonstrate not only extraordinary design, but also a strong business strategy for their start-up. The application experience promotes the business planning required to make a jewelry brand commercially viable at the national level.

Jewelry designers utilizing a wide variety of fabrication techniques including casting, lampworking, metal clay, beading, or metalsmithing are eligible to enter the competition. Entrepreneur candidates must be US citizens who began their small businesses after January 1, 2007. Their design companies must focus on “bridge” jewelry which is the segment between costume jewelry and fine jewelry that includes accessories in sterling silver, Argentium, semi-precious stones, crystal, freshwater pearls and other similar materials.

Complete application details can be found at http://www.halsteadbead.com/Grant. Candidates must submit a design portfolio, resume and answers to several business planning questions. Applications must be received between April 15 and June 9, 2010. The grant website also includes several helpful articles on launching a national jewelry brand as well as information on past winners and finalists. Previous grant winners include VOSTENAKstudios, Bridgland Studios, Belle Brooke Designs, and Ananda Khalsa Jewelry.

The grant sponsor, Halstead Bead, Inc., is one of North America’s leading jewelry supply wholesalers. The firm was established 37 years ago and now supplies thousands of component resellers and jewelry manufacturers around the globe. Halstead Bead, Inc. is wholesale only and sells findings, chain, wire, sheet & beads for the bridge jewelry segment.