Discover new Valentine's Day Jewelry

Valentine's Day is coming up soon and for B.B. Bellezza that means HEARTS! 

I have all new heart jewelry! 

The hearts started out as wire.  I twist and wrap the wire.  After it's formed, I hammered the wire to harden it and help it keep it's shape.  Plus it gives the hearts a beautiful texture.

You can find all the designs in my etsy shop.

Available are:

Copper,
Silver plated copper
and Black coated copper.

You can get earrings, pendant or a gift set.

$15 each

Show your love or give a thoughtful Valentine's Day gift!  Just let me know if it's a gift and I place it in a gift box, send it to the recipient and add your custom message!

Note:  I do note have the black coated or silver plated heart necklaces listed yet, but feel free to contact me to order them.

These are all made to order, so give me a couple of extra days to get your order in the mail.

Click here to go to my shop and find your Valentine's Day gift!

Event: First Friday Lancaster, PA

Friday, December 7, 2012
6 pm - 9 pm

First Friday in Downtown Lancaster, PA!

Make sure to stop by BUiLDiNG CHARACTER!  It's newly expanded!

342 N. Queen St., Rear Warehouses
Lancaster, PA 17603

A couple of new things I will have available in my booth:

Upcycled Red Chandelier Crystal Earrings

Upcycled Key Ornaments!

Make sure to stop by!

The Perfect Gift

Choosing the perfect gift can be time-consuming and challenging. I know I worry: Will they like it? The holidays are so stressful: crowded stores, limited parking, selling out of what you wanted to purchase....

I know I out of that cycle. Thoughtful, well-made, meaningful gifts are what I want to give. Gifts I can be proud of giving. Gifts that make the recipient smile with delight. Gifts that are perfectly in alignment with the recipient's tastes and even their values.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for a girl or a woman, jewelry will usually be a great choice.  And handcrafted jewelry almost always is on the top of any woman’s list.

• My Artwork Pendant Subscription is a gift that keeps giving all year long.  Your recipient will remember you and the beautiful gift you purchased for her every month.  Each month is an opportunity to be in the forefront of her mind.  She’ll remember how generous you are and what a great gift giver you are.

• Artwork Pendants are wonderful gifts for women who love art. Handmade jewelry + art = win win.

• Artwork Pendants are perfect for woman who like to have options and decide how they want to wear their jewelry (and what woman doesn’t?)  Artwork Pendants and the chains and cords that go with them are interchangeable with each other and other chains, so she can pick and choose what she wants to wear.

• Artwork Pendants are perfect for eco-friendly woman.  I use only previously used (but in excellent or like new condition) scrabble tiles to create each pendant.  She’ll be thrilled to wear something so kind to the planet.

• Artwork Pendants are perfect for young women who are just starting out their jewelry collection.  Each month they’ll get a new pendant and cord.  That will build their collection quickly.

• Artwork Pendants are perfect for women who like unique jewelry.  You know who I’m talking about.  She always has the most interesting necklaces or earrings that look nothing like what other woman wear.  She’ll love these, too.  She can wear more than one at a time (I reccomend up to 3 pendants at one time) and make a statement.

• Artwork Pendants come in a cute bag made from renewable resources in the United States.  Ready for gift giving.

Want me to send the subscription directly to the gift recipient?  I would love to!  Just send me an email with what message you would like me to send.  Make sure I have the correct name and address of the recipient.  I’ll send a gift card to the recipient from you!

Ready to get started?  I have 2 options - monthly payments or save 10% by paying for the entire year up front.  Either way, you save the shipping costs.

December’s Artwork Pendant is Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh and you have to November 26, 2012 to purchase.  After that, this pendant will be discontinued.

For all the details and to order, click here.

December Artwork Pendant Subscription

Artwork Pendant Subscription

Conveniently and easily get the artwork of your favorite artists in a wearable form each month!

Introducing the Artwork Pendant Subscription!

Each month get:

• A pendant made with a miniature print of a famous artist.  (This month is Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh)
• Cord or chain to match
• Artist Bio Card
• Cute cotton bag.

2 Subscription Options:

1.  Monthly charge - cancel at any time.

or

2.  Pay for the entire year up front and get an additional 10% off.

Read all of the details and sign up here.

Note:  I will retire each pendant online as they are used for the subscription.  So, this is the only way to purchase these pendants from me online.

***THIS MONTH ONLY***

Get an extra free cord - in the size you choose when subscribing - with your regular subscription!!

New Holiday Ornament/Pendants

Holiday Ornament or Glass Tile Pendant

Looking for the perfect gift for Christmas? 

Want to decorate with a cool modern ornament?

Ready to express your Christmas style?

This ornament/pendant is perfect for you! 

Imagine it hanging from your Christmas Tree, showing your great taste and style. 

Or cut off the ribbon and put it on a cord or chain to wear! So cute and quirky!

Gift - ready, it comes in a sweet little cotton bag that was made in the U.S.A.

Details:

- Cool Modern Ornament, featuring a modern images and bright colors
- The image is preserved under a rounded glass tile, which is 7/8" square. 
- It comes as pictured handing from lace. If you prefer, you can cut off the lace and use the pendant as a pendant instead! 

To purchase any of these ornament/pendants, click here to go to my Etsy Shop.

This Ornament/Pendant is my original photography of the Star Barn.

Typewriter Key Necklaces

Typewriter Key Necklaces!

Super Cute!

Quirky!

Are you looking for the perfect unique gift?

Want to express yourself and be eco-friendly at the same time!\

The necklace was made from a key from a non-working typewriter, a silver plated bail and then hangs from a 24" chain.

You can shorten the chain by using ordinary scissors and cutting between 2 of the balls of the chain.

You will delight and surprise your friends with a custom gift.  Or show your funky, quirky style by wearing it yourself.

Check out the Typewriter Key Necklaces I have listed in my etsy shop, or contact me to see if I have a custom letter, number or symbol available.

Click here now to purchase a Typewriter Key Necklace for just $12!

Displaying, Organizing and Caring for Handcrafted Earrings

Earrings can be a real asset to any outfit.  I know people who don't really wear jewelry (gasp!) but they always wear earrings.

Earrings are quick and easy to throw on with any outfit.

But how do you care for them?

Display

First let's talk about how to display and/or store your earrings.  I know that I have a ton of earrings in different colors, styles and lengths.  For a long time they were all in a drawer in my jewelry armoire in a mostly jammed up mess.  Then, I made my Canvas Earring Holder.  (You can make one, too, if you click on the link!)

There are all kinds of organizers and tools you can use to get your earrings organized.

This is another cute earring holder, although it will only hold 2 pairs of earrings.  (You could get a bunch, though!)



Or for dangle earrings only, try putting them on a jar or around a vase on your dresser.

You could keep all your earrings in individual plastic baggies in a drawer, if that works for you.  You could keep them in plastic tubs or decorative boxes.

Put them in pretty bowls and tea cups organized on your dresser top or in a drawer.

Organizing

Before you display them, though, really organize them.  This is what I like to do when my earrings become a big jumbled up mess.

1. Dump out your earrings somewhere you can spread out.
2. Separate your earrings by color (or by whatever way makes sense for you.  Maybe you have different lengths, etc.)
3. Pair up the earrings.  Find the missing earrings you dropped on the floor.
4. Put the earrings on whatever display or storage solution that you are going to use.

Care

Handmade earrings really are artwork and should be treated as such.  I joke about my jumbled up draw, but that is really no way to treat handmade earrings!  They really should be carefully placed on or in whatever display or storage you are keeping them.

If they start to tarnish, very carefully use a silver polishing cloth to clean them.  Since most of my designs have some sort of wire wrapped element, please be very careful when cleaning the wire wrapped aspect of the earrings.

I do not recommend submerging B.B. Bellezza earrings for a variety of reasons.  I use vintage and repurposed items.  While I do what I can to protect these pieces, submerging them in jewelry cleaner may not be good for all of them.  If you use a polishing cloth, you have total control over what is happening.  A polishing cloth won't damage stones and beads.  A polishing cloth won't remove the protective seal I put over my hardware (or over the little numbers as seen in the above photo).  I don't know if dipping it will, but I can't be sure.

For my scrabble tile earrings, I recommend reading this post for learning how to care for them:  Caring for Glass Tile Pendants and Scrabble Tile Pendants

For B.B. Bellezza Handcrafted Earrings, visit my earrings section of my shop.

Little Metal Numbers Jewelry

I recently bought a bunch of little metal number numbers.  They are so adorable that I just couldn't wait to make them into jewelry!

Not every number I received was conducive for jewelry making (although, I am working on a way around it!), but the number 8 is perfect!

So I made a bracelet:

and earrings:

They can be worn as a set or separate (they are for sale separately in my online shop and will soon also be available - along with #4 and #9 - at my booth in Building Character.)

Here is a little more about them:

Metal Number 8 Wire Wrapped Bracelet

I created this unique bracelet using a cute vintage metal number (the number 8). Each black bead is wire wrapped with silver plated copper wire.

The bracelet is 7 1/2" not including the extra links, and 8 1/4" with the extra links. More links can be added if you need it to be longer or I can shorten the bracelet upon request. It closes with a lobster clasp.

The metal number has been sealed to preserve the patina of the metal and guard against any metal allergies.

Purchase for $25 in my shop

Metal Number 8 Wire Wrapped Earrings

I created these unique earrings using cute vintage metal numbers (the number 8). Each black bead is wire wrapped with silver plated copper wire.

The earrings are 1 1/2" long including the earring wires.

The metal number has been sealed to preserve the patina of the metal and guard against any metal allergies.

Purchase for $20 in my shop

Either (or both) would be the perfect gift for a your favorite number cruncher, someone with an anniversary on the 8th, someone who has 8 kids, has been married 8 years, has 8 as a favorite number or anyone who likes cool unique jewelry!

Please let me know if you have questions or are interested in number 4 or number 9. 

My Wedding Jewelry

Since I’m a jewelry designer, one of the most important aspect of my wedding was my jewelry. In fact, a friend of mine who didn’t make it to the wedding was saying, I can’t wait to see pictures of your dress!

I replied, “The dress? Who cares about the dress? Wait until you see the jewelry!”

I knew what the bracelet would look like months prior to the wedding. I love designing, making and wearing bracelets. I also knew what the earrings would look like.

It was the necklace that I wasn’t sure about. In fact, I designed it as I made it. I changed it. Then I worried about it.

Somewhere along the way I got the impression that my husband doesn’t like “gaudy” jewelry. I wouldn’t consider the necklace gaudy, but it certainly wasn’t dainty jewelry. I don’t know what his idea of gaudy is either, really.

So, I thought about it and thought about other, simpler designs.

Then I decided that I was wearing the necklace I made. This is my wedding, too and I loved my necklace. It made me feel like beautiful. It made me feel like a bride. I felt like I could take on the world in that necklace.

By the time the ceremony started that evening, I needed to feel like I could take on the world.

My husband thought it was beautiful! And it was!

You hear that woman say they don’t feel like a bride until they get their dress.  It wasn’t like that for me. I felt more like a bride when I put on the necklace than I did when I put on my dress.

I’m not sure when I will get to wear it again, but for now it’s on display on the canvas necklace holder I made. The necklace holder is perfect for it!

Sometimes, you should just go with your gut on things like jewelry and not overthink it.  Wear what feels good to you and makes you happy. 

Jewelry has such a way of making you feel more empowered, more beautiful and more put together than anything else for me.

Ever notice your not so sure about your outfit, but then you put on a pretty piece of jewelry and you feel more confident?  Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry that puts you in a good mood?

Flower Top Gift Box Tutorial

Imagine presenting a gift in this beautiful, unique box.  They will ooh and ahhh about it before they even open the gift!

Inspiration:  I recently was given a gift in a beautiful package.  I felt so special before I even opened it.  Someone took the time to make this gift look so lovely for me.

I hated to even open it, but it made the whole process even more special and lovely.  I felt even more like I had been given such a wonderful gift!

Materials:
2 pieces of card stock
Magazines
Button
Wire (any kind)
Flower Pattern
Scissors
Awl (or thumbtack or pin)
Bone folder or, as I use, big popsicle stick




Step #1

Rip 4 pages out of a magazine.  Then cut them in half.


Step #2

Print and cut out the Flower Pattern.  Then cut out 4 of the small flowers and 4 of the larger flowers.  I usually pin them onto the paper to hold it.  It does put holes in your paper, but you can't really see them.

Step #3

Use your awl to punch 2 holes in the middle of the flowers.  


(HINT:  If you don't have an awl, you can use a thumbtack or pin to poke holes.)


Step #4

Cut a piece of wire.


Step #5

Fold the wire in half and slide the button on.  The top of the button will go towards the curved part of the wire.


Step #6

Slide the magazine flowers onto the wire.  The smaller flowers will be closest to the button.  That is the top or front of the flower.

Step #7

Twist the wire once or twice.

Set the flower aside for now.  

Now we'll make the box.

Step #8

Grab one piece of card stock.  Fold it as shown in the 2nd photo (you're trying to create a perfect square.)


(HINT:  You can really use any paper here.  I have used magazines for this part, too, but they are little more flimsy.  I have used old file folders that the office I worked for threw out, too.  They are perfect.)


Step #9

Cut off the extra card stock.


Open the card stock back up.


Step #10

Fold in half diagonally.


Open the card stock back up.


Step #11

Fold in each corner to the middle fold.


Open card stock back up.


Step #12

Fold up each corner to the fold you just made.


Open back up.


Step #13

Fold each corner up to the closest fold.


Open card stock back up.


Step #14

Make cuts in the card stock.  I drew a line showing where to cut.  Cut on either side of 4 blocks and a triangle on opposite sides.


Step #15

Flip over the card stock.  Punch 2 holes in the middle with your awl (or a thumbtack or pin.)


Step #16

Grab the flower you made previously.


Push the wires of the flower through the holes.


Step #17

Twist the wire a few times.  Then cut the wire if you need to.  (Not too short, though!)


Step #18

Fold up the sides, parallel with the cuts you made, following the fold lines you made.


Do this for each side.


Step #19

The fold up the ends of the sides as shown in the photo.


Step #20

Fold the sides into a square.


Step #21

Fold in the other sides using the folds you already created.


Step #22

Use a bone folder (or popsicle stick if you're like me!) and go around all your folds.


Step #23

Use your awl or a pencil to curl up the top couple of levels of flower petals.


You're done with the lid!


Step #24

To make the bottom, follow the steps to make the box from above (minus the flower part).  You have to make the square a little smaller so it fits inside of the lid.  When you do the original fold before cutting the card stock, don't fold it all the way to the edge, instead fold it short.  Cut off the excess.  Follow steps 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23.

Now your Flower Top Gift Box is ready to fill with a gift!!


Idea for customization:


Instead of the magazine flower, try a tissue paper flower on top.   Make the box first and then use my Flower Made From an Old Pattern Tutorial and put it on top at the end.

And what's better than a handmade gift?  Check out my Craftsy Pattern Store for some great tutorials you can make!  


May 4 - 12, 2012 I'm having a BOGO Tutorial Sale!  Buy one get one (of equal or lesser value).  Just pick out 2 tutorials from my Craftsy Pattern Store, purchase the more expensive on and email me the name of the one you would like for free.  Once I receive your payment, I'll email you the free tutorial!