But if you are looking for a holiday gift idea, check out her sterling silver Christmas Card necklaces which come in a selection of styles from the gingerbread man shown here to Christmas trees and snowmen.

Also, check out her blog here.

This bead and washer bracelet was submitted to our CraftGossip  flickr pool by Additionsstyle

You can check out more of her wearable hardware designs in her etsy store “AdditionsStyle

Click this link to see a free video on making a jewelers square from hardware.  Check out the “Preview Channel” to see the pilot episodes for free . You’ll need to become a member to see all the shows. It’s a great deal for those who want to do benchwork at the annual fee of $170, or $17 a month.

 Art Jewelers Susan Lenart Kazmer and her business partner Linda Larsen ; owners of Objects and Elements webstore,  have been busy the last few months.  They’ve been updating the store with all kinds of unique goodies you won’t find anywhere else  like Ancient Roman Glass beads,  antique African   Dougan, unique bezel settings and cast bronze Ammonites . 

I’m a big fan of ICE resin  and it’s what I use in my jewelry work.  You can buy that online at the Objects & Elements store  .  There is also lots of unique  bezels,  fibers,  resin molds and tools for your art jewelry making needs.

In addition to searching out great jewelrymaking supplies, they have just revealed a new blog and a new Objects and Elements Design Team. 

The Objects and Elements blog has just gone live and will soon have lots of content such as  jewelry by Susan Lenart Kazmer and Linda Larsen, design team jewelry inspirations, updates on new store items,  guest artist features, reader challenges and more. You don’t want to miss out on any of the fun, so be sure to add the RSS feed to your blog links or add to bloglines or Google Reader

I am extremely happy to announce that I am on the Objects and Elements Design team. The other Design Team members are:  Jen Cushman, Deryn Mentock, Kristen Robinson, and Jane Salley .  In the coming weeks, you’ll be able to see the design teams creations on the new Objects and Elements Blog.  The team wil be creating some lovely projects using the amazing supplies from the Objects & Elements store, along with various found objects, beads, wire, etc… to inspire you to create your own unique jewelry.

If you are unfamiliar with Susan and her work, please check out her amazing  jewelry work, check out her blog , get her book “Making Connection” or  look at her workshop schedule  to take a class with her.

Bottle Cap Jewelry Supplies Giveaway from Ten Two Studios

Remember that gorgeous  Romantic Rose Necklace by Ten Two design team member Peace Schuyler that I blogged about last week?

Lisa Vollrath; the owner of  Ten Two Studios, thought that one of our lucky readers would like to create their own necklace so she has sent me a nice package of supplies to giveaway!   You will get everything pictured above - 20 gorgeous bamboo tiles, lots of bottlecaps, and 2 pretty collage sheets.  You will be able to create a bunch of pendants, charms, necklaces or bracelets with this fun lot of supplies from Ten Two Studios.

For your chance to win-leave a comment below. I’ll pick the lucky winner on May 30!

She hasn’t chosen winners for any of the weeks so far so anyone can still leave a comment on the blogposts  to enter to win a free copy of the book.

The blog links are: Fabric Scrap Bracelet, Shredded Junk Mail Ping Pong Ball Necklace, Fabric Necklace,  and Wear Your Collection Bracelet

So hurry on over to her blog, leave comments and fingers crossed for you!

Grace Necklace

Not only is Julee a Jewelry Making Goddess, she is on the Design Teams of ZNE and Hannah Grey; and a proud member of the California Crafters Club of Etsy (cccoe team).  Her work is currently on display at Lafayette Art Gallery, Savvy Seconds in Downtown Pleasanton, CA and Tangerine in Dublin, CA.  She has an Etsy shop for those who aren’t local. and will be vending and teaching some Make & Take classes at the ZNE Art, Paper & Pleasantries show May 2 & 3rd in Dublin, CA. You can read more about what she’s up to on her blog .

How did you start doing jewelry (or bead making) as a business?
I started selling my work when my dear 4 year old little girl asked me, “Mommy, how are you going to wear all of those necklaces?” and at first I really tried to say that I have lots of outfits and I would manage to wear them all at once or a little at a time, but when people kept stopping me and asking me if I sold them I finally got the hint and started selling them at a craft fair in Pleasanton just about a year and a half ago. I also started an Etsy shop at about the same time and have expanded into selling at a few local dress shops, a charming gallery in downtown Lafayette, CA and a gift shop called Tangerine!

Do you remember the first piece of jewelry you ever made?
The FIRST first FIRST piece of jewelry I ever made was a necklace made from Vintage (although I don’t think I called it THAT!) wallpaper. My paternal grandmother taught me how to make wallpaper beads and then string them together like a strand of pearls and I was HOOKED and I still have one! I made some last year and finished them with UTEE… too cool!

You are stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take 5 things to make jewelry with-what would you take?
Just for fun…If I were on a deserted island some place perfect and fabulous and I could only have 5 art supplies they would be:

1: Solar powered Soldering Kit including glass (I say the whole kit is really one supply – like that?), 2: Dries Clear Glue from Art Institute,3:  Art Institute GLITTER (duh!), 4: water colors (I could make my own brushes… well, I *COULD*),5: caulking (you should try it, you may LOVE it!)

What material would you like to work with/or what skill would you like to learn that you haven’t yet?
I would like to learn more metalsmithing type work… I would LOVE to learn to make a bezel, I would love to learn the type of soldering that you do with a torch.

Fairy Tale Bracelet

What do you do when you aren’t making jewelry?
When I’m working, but not making jewelry I am making tiny shrines, teaching workshops on soldering and shrine making, blogging, editing photos and “networking” (a.k.a. Feeding the Facebook addiction) LOL I’m also the wife to a charming young man and Mommy to a brilliant, darling, UBER TALENTED 5 ¾ year old kiddo (not that I’m biased or anything:) and volunteering at her school. In my free time I try to get the laundry fairy to fold the clothes!

Thank you for the interview Julee and letting Craft Gossip readers get to know you a bit better!

Chris is the author of the popular “ Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making & Beading” books. Her blog is full of tips, hints and tricks as well as some YUMMY eyecandy to inspire you. Be sure to add her blog to your list and be inspired.

From their about us page: “MADE magazine is a response to the lack of fun, fashionable and funky craft and hobby magazines for young women in the UK.”  The editor told me its geared toward women under the age of 32, although there are lots in this magazine that an old 43 yr old fogey like me really likes.  There are projects, craft reports, recipes and more. I think its a great magazine that will really fill a niche in the DIY/Indie market.

Issue #1 has an interview with jewelry artist E.K. Francis who is a phenomenal artist and also talks about a tiara making class in Dulwich.

  The magazine is a digital edition and currently free. The first issue is here, the second is here.

101 More Great Jewelry Selling Techniques book is a “best of” collection of tips from Dr. Weiman’s popular Jewelry Selling Insights newsletter. If are selling jewelry as a business and you haven’t signed up for this newsletter yet-do it now. I mean right now, go ahead-I’ll wait right here.

I love the Jewelry Selling Insites newsletter, so wasn’t suprised to find a wealth of quick and easy tips in this eBook to implement into my own jewelry business. Most of the tips don’t take a lot of time, so you really have no excuse to go give them a try. The tips are categorized into sections such as “Selling face to face”, “Selling on the web”,”Advertising & Promotion” and “Customer Service”.  You can hone in on a specific area you may be having problems with, or just open it up at random and try a tip on that page.

Some of the ones I like best are: How to create and use referral cards -
An excellent way to get your current jewelry customers to gladly help you build your client base. This is BRILLIANT and I am going to work on it this week myself!  Another one is: Bring a show calender to shows and events. Another way to keep you in the customer’s mind. And one that really spoke to me: Visit the shops that show/sell your work. Not everyone cares about your jewelry display as much as you do!

If you are looking for more ways to increase your business in today’s tough economy you should look into investing in this ebook of selling tips. Also be sure to sign up for his newsletters and check out his blog too. Dr. Weiman is a font of jewelry marketing knowledge.

Another great gift idea for the jewelrymaker is a class, especially one they can take whatever time of the day they want at home online. You’ll find some great classes at Beaducation!

The newest classes are Gail Crosman-Moore’s Felted Treasure Pouch and Felted Acorn Earrings, which are both stunningly gorgeous!  There are lots more great wirework, beadwork and metalwork classes up for you to choose from as well. They have a great shop of supplies too!

In addition, they have some great freebie classes too!  Kate Richbourg’s Annealing Metal and Sawing Metal (both FREE) are the two newest ones, so check them out and learn new ways to work with metal.