Give Away - Tourmaline



We are only 200 people away from having 4000 fans on the Magpie Gemstones Facebook Page. Once we hit 4000 we will give away this strand of Tourmaline Cubes to a Fan. Come on down and sign up.

Once you are a fan you will hear of new beads, promotions, sales for facebook only and get the skinny on all the articles as well as meet up with other jewelry designers.

http://www.facebook.com/MagpieGemstones

ww.magpiegemstones.com

How to Wire Wrap a Briolette

Well that was cool! I put this on youtube and the program automatically put it on my blog. Ya got to love new technology. Too bad it didn't know how to also include the information with the video!

This is a short video on how I wire wrap a briolette. It is not a beginners video. If you are just starting out be sure to go to youtube and search wire wrapped briolettes and watch those. Then come back and watch this one to see my twists and turns on how I do it.

Want to see other videos and free tutorials?

http://www.magpiegemstones.com/jewelrymakersblog.html

Szarka

More New Beads

Magpie is beginning to get many of the new beads from Tuscon into the store now. Have you looked at the website lately? It's pretty amazing to realize that there are about 250 different types of turquoise in the store. Would that be a "plethora" of opportunities for buyers? I think so!

The photos obviously show only a smattering or what's available, so why not take a moment and look at those "T" gemstones on the website?

One of my favorite new beads that went in the store this week is the blue tigereye. My current issue with these is trying to decide which of my design ideas I should start on for these beauties. Maybe I should just get started! I'm hoping to see lots of ideas when customers, like me, finish pieces and sent them to Szarka to go in the client's blog where she posts our designs.

By the way, there's a monthly meet up of wire workers that occurs in San Marcos, Texas each third Thursday. Szarka from Magpie Gemstones will be demonstrating how to make wire clasps this week and others will be showing links etc. as we put together handmade chains and belts. If you are in the area, let us know as we would be glad to see you. If not, I hope there is something going on in your area where you can share ideas with others. It can be quite invigorating.

. . . until next time, we're still working for you at Magpie Gemstones.

New Beads, Bead Shows and More News

 It's been a very busy couple of weeks at Magpie Gemstones. The company appreciated the great customer response to the 20% off sale and following its completion the owners were off to Tucson for the bead show. I hope you were able to follow some of this adventure on the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/MagpieGemstones and can appreciate the dedication it takes to get and find the very best beads at the very best price to bring home for customers. (I can say this because I'm not only the guest writer, but also a big customer.)

Yesterday, I found everyone working diligently to start getting the new beads organized, stored, priced, through their photo shoot and in to the store. There were beads everywhere! Look at these beautiful kyanite rounds. They are huge!

Although it will take some time to get these beads into the store, those of you near upcoming bead show locations may have the opportunity to see a few of the beauties. You can find Magpie Gemstones in Georgetown, Texas on February 19-20 at the Williamson County Gemboree and in Pasadena, Texas on February 26-27 at the Clear lake Gem & Mineral Show. For more information check out the bead show page on the website.

http://www.magpiegemstones,com/shows.html.

Not near these locations? . . . Perhaps if you start driving, flying or walking fast now you can make one of these shows.

This week you can find new additions to the gemstone properties on the website. Take a peek at the properties of the different types of quartz that just went in.

http://www.magpiegemstones.com/properties.html

Although I provided information about other stone properties some time ago, I'm just getting to these different quartz descriptions.

Have a happy, productive week and know that Magpie Gemstones is working for you. ~Karen Meador~

Clay Genie - The Work of Jean Christen

Who Makes the Beads? The Work of Jean Christen (Clay Genie) Magpie Gemstones has supported this American Clay Artist for over 6 years. We are honored to carry her work and would like for you to get to know more about her work through this article.

For years I’ve admired the unique clay work of Jean Christen. I find her beads and pendants both beautiful and fascinating whether I am holding them in my hands or admiring them on the Magpie Gemstones website. Internationally recognized and a master at her craft, Clay Genie creates pieces of unique and exceptional art in the form of pendants and beads for us.

To Read More ...

www.magpiegemstones.com

Business Cards

In one of the online jewelry making forums I belong to we are having a discusion about business cards. I uploaded pictures of my jewelry business cards here so I could show what I was talking about. The issue is shiny or not, hand printed or not, double sided etc ... you get the gist.

I get these from a company called http://www.gemgraphics.net/ ... they chose the pictures off my website and built the card, asked if it was ok and I had them in the mail pronto. Great company (watch for typos though), and inexpensive.

I believe the the photos of jewelry they chose had more to do with the background colors of their design working with the background color of the photos as opposed to what peices I would have chosen but because the decision was so hard for me I just went with it.

www.magpiegemstones.com

Pricing Handmade Jewelry for Etsy

http://www.szarkas.com/Szarka.html

One of the discussions I hear often in jewelry making forums is the issue of pricing jewelry. Eventually it turns to how inexpensive jewelry on etsy is. A few people come to their defense that they are selling low to get their "sales" numbers up and will eventually return to a pricing system that is consistent elsewhere.

I follow these converstaions and often wonder if that tactic works or not. I do not have much experience with etsy so for me it is always just a passing thought in my brain.

I came across a few articles written by etsians on the subject and thought they may be interesting to those of you thinking about etsy or sitting on one side of the fence or the other on this issue. Do tell what you think?

The following article I discovered on http://business.ezinemark.com/how-to-price-products-to-sell-on-etsy-16cc629b286.html and you will have to click here to read it all. I don't want to copy it here and get them upset with me.

HOW TO PRICE PRODUCTS TO SELL ON ETSY


Pricing is often one of the hardest parts of starting an Etsy shop for a newbie seller. Crafters often tend to undervalue their wares, and underestimate the real money and time that went into their creation. Or, they feel that customers won't pay anything but rock bottom prices for their work. But learning to recognize the value and worth of the handmade items you make, and communicating that value through price, is one of the most important steps a new seller can make to set their Etsy shop on a firm financial footing and build a foundation for Etsy success.
Read more: http://business.ezinemark.com/how-to-price-products-to-sell-on-etsy-16cc629b286.html#ixzz143tztFTm

$200 Shopping Spree Give Away

Twice a year we give away a $200 shopping spree for gemstone beads to one lucky reader of our newsletter. All you have to do is sign up and you are elligible. To read more just click on the link above or the link below.

http://www.magpiegemstones.com/spree.html

www.magpiegemstones.com

More Earring Wire Designs

Dr Karen Meador submitted a great article that suplimented the you tube video we posted on making ear wires. She made some beautiful designs that made the earring design a part of the ear wire. If interested check it out by clicking the title above or the link here. To see the original video just scroll down, I think it is two posts down.

http://www.magpiegemstones.com/ear_wire_designs.html

Any articles, tutorials we post from client's receive a $20 gift certificate to the store. Here is a list of articles we may be interested in publishing http://www.magpiegemstones.com/ideasforarticles.html

www.magpiegemstones.com

We Gave Away a Necklace

The Fall Promotion came to an end. We gave away a $300 necklace to one lucky winner. We are still waiting to hear from her though. I hope she reads the newsletter and see's her name there!

Here is the jewelry she gets to select from.

Be sure to sign up for Magpie Gemstones Newsletter so you can keep up on the latest promotions and opportunities to win!

www.magpiegemstones.com

Free Tutorial on How to Make Ear Wires

A quick free tutorial on how to make your own ear wires with simple tools found on a jewelry makers work bench.

www.magpiegemstones.com

Our Yearly Necklace Give Away

Once a year I like to make a necklace for our clients and give it away to someone who makes a purchase (or doesn't make a purchase click the title of this post to see what we mean) as a way of saying thanks. I am in Canada far away from my jewelry making supplies so I decided to give you all a choice of four necklaces that are on my http://www.szarkas.com/ site.

Good luck and have fun shopping Great Beads for Great People.

http://www.magpiegemstones.com/freenecklace.html

www.magpiegemstones.com

Huge Sale and a Bunch of New Beads

I am leaving for a trip to Canada, driving the whole way from South Texas. We use to live on the road and do the big trip twice a year but I have gotten out of the habbit.

How does this affect you? Well I got all of next weeks beads in early and have two sales happening at the same time because I can't do any website work for a week. You have to check out the new beads and focals and the Close Outs. I also had to do ended listing so a slew of popular sellers went back into stock. Either there were just a few more or I was able to get more.

Wish me safe journeys. I will be online on facebook as much as possible. Business around here will be as usual. It is all in Kateri's capable hands. Oh and go see her at the Bead Show in Oklahoma this next weekend.

www.magpiegemstones.com

Bead Size Conversion Charts

Some people new to gemstones have never come across the metric measuring system often used in jewelry making. Even some of us who have been at it for a long time needd help figuring out just how big 11mm is.

Dr Karen Meador made this chart for us and you to help us with these conversions. Feel free to use this chart on your site as long as you link to Karen and Magpie Gemstones.

Madeline Hoffman also shared her chart with us.

To see the charts.

www.magpiegemstones.com

September is Here

  

It's that time again to pick a blog buddy winner ... click here if you have no idea what I am talking about. Trust me it is worth the click. It involves free beads.

I can't wait to see who wins this month. It will be announced in the next newsletter.

Around "here" has been hot and yet I am starting to smell Autumn in the air.

I am travelling to Canada for three months and will be working from there. No worries everything will remain the same from your perspective. I have jumped through all the hoops to have wifi etc set up there. Kateri will have your orders in her capable hands and will probably like having me out from under her feet.

Just to frustrate her I set up skype so she will still have to look at me though (grin).

She has been off on a much needed vacation and is off working on an organic farm in Balize. Thank goodness she will be home in a few days. Don't tell her this but man she works hard. I discovered that after having to fill her shoes for three weeks!

Come by the store and check out the (shhhhh) new close outs in. There are not very many available so snag them if they suit your fancy.

Oh and did you see the new sunstone that just went in?