Jewelry Trends and Being Eco-Friendly

I just finished writing a mini eBook:  "Jewelry Trends and Being Eco-Friendly."


This eBook includes lots of great information, including:

• Glossary of eco-friendly terms
• Trends in Jewelry and How to do them the Eco-Friendly Way
• Sample Conversations to help you use your eco-friendly jewelry to start a conversation (or how to still get your point across without having a lengthy conversation.)
• Plus, bonus 14 Simple and Easy Tips for Greener Living.

How much for all this great information in one place?  FREE!!


Just sign up for my email newsletter and it will be emailed to you after you confirm your subscription.  (PLUS, you get a free shipping code to use in my online shop!)

Also, if you are in Lancaster, PA, make sure to click the box to get on my special local email list and get notified whenever I'll being special events in the area!

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Where Will B.B. Bellezza Be This Weekend?

Saturday, April 29th, 2011

7 am - 1 pm

Humanity Fest [During the Race Against Racism]

Musser Park - Corner of Lime and Chestnut Streets

Lancaster, PA 17602

Come see the runners and check out all the different participating vendors.  If you have never been there, you really should see the start of the race.  There are so many people, it is just amazing.

Also, stop by my booth at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER!  I have all of my beaded charm bracelets marked down (most by 50%!!!!)  They make great Mother's Day presents!  (BC has gift boxes for purchase - super cheap - at the checkout counter.)   There's also a bargin bin with lots of deals.  Not to mention, a good supply of my scrabble pendants and cords, rings, hardware jewelry, dolls and a couple coaster sets.

Charm Bracelet Sale

If you're local to Lancaster, PA, you're in luck!  I just marked all of my charm bracelets down 50%!  I'm phasing them out, so this could be your last chance to get one of my charm bracelets.  

I've also added items to the "sale bin."

They are in my booth at BUiLDiNG CHARACTER 342 N. Queen Street, Rear Warehouses, Lancaster, PA

This weekend, 25% of all purchase from my stand (Fri, Sat and Sun) will be donated to KPets.

What's New?

These are some new items that are listed, or will be listed, in the B.B. Bellezza Etsy Shop:

 Upcycled Classic United States Stamps Coasters

Created with upcycled ceramic tiles and canceled stamps.  Each and every stamp on each of the 4 coasters was individually placed on the coasters.

Upcycled Vintage Map Ceramic Coasters

Made with upcycled ceramic tiles and maps from a vintage atlas.  This set features the United States.

This necklace reminds of a tree or the woods.  I actually love this necklace and considered keeping it for myself; however, I already have so much jewelry! 

(Will be listed in my Etsy Shop soon!)

Ocean Treasures Charm Necklace (Will be listed in my Etsy Shop soon)

This necklace is full of treasures from the ocean:  sea glass, pearls, shells and pewter charms of a mermaid and anchor.

Pink and Purple Nature Charm Bracelet

Full of pink and purple beads, flower charms, leaf charms, and more!  It's a treasure hunt for your wrist!

Black and Clear Cross Charm Bracelet

Plus even more of beaded, charmed goodness!

New Recycled Jewelry

Here's a sneak peek of some brand new recycled jewelry pieces I am working on.
Recycled Hardware Charm Bracelets

Thursday Green Artist of the Week - Re:Made

This week I bring you re:made

Re:made encapsulates what it means to be a Green Artist.

The re:made shop was created from the idea of being as “green” as possible. There is a nice variety of items for your life.

From button jewelry (which you know I love!!):

To Tea Kettle Cosies:

To Brooches:

To Purses and Pouches:

And Bamboo Scarves:

And also mug cosies, earrings, coffee pot cosies and pinnies (aprons).


The Interview:

How/when did you get your start in your art/craft?

I’m one of those people who was brought up in a very creative household and who was taught to knit and sew at the same time as being taught to read and count to ten! It was so ingrained in me that it never really crossed my mind that I didn’t have to be an artist or designer and could maybe go and study archaeology or astronomy! And so, I left my home in Northern Ireland when I was 18 and went off to study art and design on the UK mainland. My first degree was in Textile Design followed by a Masters in Fine Art at Edinburgh College of Art. I then went on to teach Textiles at the art colleges in Dundee, Belfast and Aberdeen as well as working for a short time in Botswana. I stopped teaching when I had my little boy five years ago and since then I have decided to concentrate on making my own work , both the textile pieces that you can find on my Etsy shop, 're:made' and my fine art work which I try to do alongside this fairly new venture. It’s all a case of juggling life and work and thankfully I enjoy being busy - very busy!

What specifically do you do that is “green” in your business?

The idea with my business was to try to be as ‘green’ as possible. My art practice has always been about using materials that have had a previous life which I have then explored in various ways in order to make installations and smaller framed pieces. It seemed logical to me to carry this through to my new business and use materials and objects which I can transform through various processes. I have tried to continue this ‘green’ thinking through all of my business and so, as well as the recycled materials, I use natural and sustainable materials such as organic cotton and bamboo yarn and, at the moment I also have a featured maker ‘Bois’ on my site who makes beautiful recycled wooden earrings from salvaged precious hardwoods. I have also chosen to use recycled packaging materials and gift boxes and to re-use shipping materials wherever possible.

Why have you decided to use these green practices or make these products?

As I’ve said, I enjoy the challenge of transforming materials – there’s something magical about putting a bobbly old jumper into the washing machine and changing it into a material with endless possibilities, i.e. felt. However, I am also really interested in the whole idea of living in a simpler and more sustainable way. I recycle as much as I can and am passionate about growing vegetables in my small plot in the back garden.

Do you have one tip for people to incorporate being green into their everyday life?

I think it becomes a bit of a bug. You just need to start small, doing a bit of recycling or making compost and soon it just becomes part of your daily life and you feel guilty if you chuck out your potato peelings. Having said that, there’s a lot more I can do and I must try to leave the car at home more often! I think it’s great that schools and even my son’s pre-school nursery are introducing kids to green issues and I’m often reminded to turn the tap off or a light by my five year old boy!

Where do you draw your inspiration?

My Etsy business – it’s really very new and I’m enjoying the contact I’m having with other Etsy sellers and the feedback I get from buyers. There really is a strong sense of community in Etsy and I’m finding that very inspiring. I also want my products to look contemporary so I read quite a few home magazines and scour the internet. As far as my thoughts on ‘green’ issues go, loads of people inspire me – I’m particularly into a book at the moment that my sister gave me called ‘The Wonderful Weekend Book’ by Elspeth Thompson - mind you, it suggests that you should “ bring back Sunday for quiet contemplation and communing with nature” so I’d better turn the computer off and go and do that now then!

As a special promotion this month I am offering FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING on all the products in my shop until 31st May!

Custom Charm Bracelet

My newest listing in my shop: Create your own charm bracelet.

The charm bracelet pictured is my own personal charm bracelet which features some of my favorite things. I will create a custom bracelet based on your preferences.

I have access to a vast variety of charms in many themes. Please contact me prior to purchase to discuss what you would like and to ensure I can get charms for your bracelet. You can choose 10 charms, and you also choose the length!

Another option is that you can choose colors and I can make a beaded charm bracelet. Or I can do a combination of both the pewter charms and beaded charms.

Ideas include hobbies, gothic, a holiday, birthday, ocean/sea, hearts, etc. You could spell out your name or initials. I can also do a photo charm bracelet.

What my bracelet includes:
a car because I love road trips
K for "Kimberlie," my name
a camera because I basically do not leave home without it
a horse and buggie because I am from Lancaster, PA
a sewing machine
a yarn ball and needles
a computer because I am always on the computer :)
musical note because I love musc
and scissors.

Contact me with your ideas and to discuss options. You may be surprised at the charms I can get!

Giveaway

I am so excited to share that right now I am a part of The Giveaway!

The Giveaway is this awesome site where at any given time there are lots of giveaways going on. Right now, the bracelet seen above is up for grabs!

For my giveaway, go here and follow the rules to enter. It's really easy. (There's even a discount code involved for my shop!)

Remember, I also have free shipping!

More Buttons!

Cream Buttons Charm Bracelet , originally uploaded by B.B. Bellezza.

I have added more button jewelry to the shop. I actually have a couple more pieces to go. I am loving how adorable the jewelry is and lightweight. I need more buttons!

The bracelet above is full of buttons. All of these buttons were saved from their trip to the landfill....some of them I believe were saved from clothing. (I live in Pennsylvania Dutch country, so we have a strong German heritage.) There are earrings to match this also in my shop. (I can make a pendant or charm necklace to match, too, if you desire one.)

I will be adding more jewelry this evening and/or tomorrow to my shop.

Remember, December 1st is Cyber Monday and I will be running a sale! (I don't want to spill the beans yet!) Already there is free shipping to everywheree, which will continue at least for Cyber Monday.

Although I am not having an extra sale on Black Friday, shipping is free. Also, I am doing a craft show on Saturday 11/29/08, so my inventory from my Etsy Shop will be with me that day. What I sell at the show will no longer be available in my shop. (hint: if you are watching something in my shop, it is time to get it!)

Sometimes you have to rework a bracelet ...

Star Charm Bracelet, originally uploaded by B.B. Bellezza.

I had created this charm bracelet several months ago - like 6 months to be exact. It has 2 different sizes of stars and has TONS of them!

However, the original design was way too large. I don't know, I just went crazy. I was making it during a show and just kept on going and going. People looked at it all the time, but they were alwasy like, what is this, a necklace? no, too short. A bracelet? no, too long.

It was adjustable, and I tried to convince people of that. They didn't like it.

So, I shortened it. I changed the clasp. Now people know it's a bracelet. And I can make it shorter on request as well.

I like it a lot more now.

This will be available in my shop sometime very soon.

Ready for Autumn?

It kind of looks like I am getting there. Well, jewelry-wise. Otherwise I actually do not like autumn (which eventually leads to the long, cold, dreary winter.)

I do, however, love the colors.

This bracelet is made with vintage brass components:

New Product: Barrettes! Here is one set that will make it's debut probably at First Friday this week.


Another autumn charm Bracelet:

Not so much autumnal, but new:

Also new:

These pieces are some of the fruits of my labor on Labor Day!

All of these pieces will be making their ways into my Etsy Shop, my eBay Store, Lulu and Tutz and the heART of Friendship Art Gallery.

Some of the pieces will be with me at First Friday, and I actually have several necklaces, more barrettes and other bracelets, too.

First Friday in downtown Lancaster, PA is a great way to spend your evening on Friday. Art galleries stay open late and you will find some vendors as well. I will be set up at 342 N. Queen St., Lancaster, PA Friday evening.

Have a great week!