Monthly Archives

May 2009

Strand enhancers enhance your business

May 7, 2009

Looking at the new Wedding / Bridal / Prom section that we’re building in our Design Gallery, I learned a technique…

Strand enhancers can grow your business. For a second, I thought this might mean “necklace extenders“, which are amazingly useful findings themselves.

But no, strand enhancers are yet a different way of offering extra value to your jewelry customers. They instantly make any necklace into a “Y” necklace, as @wendytgibson put it on Twitter. See one detached, and one in action, in this “Always a Bridesmaid” necklace design:

The "Always a Bridesmaid" design from Rings & Things

The “Always a Bridesmaid” design from Rings & Things

For this necklace, designer Cindy made the “pearl enhancer” with a #39-541-11 9x15mm oval no-trigger lobster clasp, in sterling silver. Have a custom wedding order? You can make clip-on strand enhancers with colors that match the bridesmaids’ dresses!

You can take this idea to craft fairs and jewelry shops too! Offer necklace-buying customers a matching strand enhancer for a little sales bump. They let the customer multi-purpose her necklace, choosing the style she wants. And they’re easy to make — so you could even offer to “build to order”. As @CreationsWHeart (also on Twitter) pointed out, “I can see how you could come up w/ a ton of designs whether it’s on a chain or beaded necklace! How fun!”

PS: A little extra design trick is to use seed beads in a pearl necklace like the one seen here. They’re easy, affordable spacers and they take far less time than knotting the cord!

Want to suggest more necklace design tricks and tips? Share them in a comment below. You’ll be entered in our drawing!

May giveaway:
* You enter by leaving comments this month
* At the end of May, 2 winners will receive coveted Rings & Things goodie packs!
*
So read the blog regularly, to enter a lot & to see if you won!

A jumble of June birth gems

May 6, 2009

We took a look ahead to find out the what June’s birthstones are. There’s a jumble of gems to work with!

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Pearl is one of the most widely recognized June stones. It’s nice that recent years have brought countless new styles and shapes of affordable freshwater pearls, including the ones you see here. Have fun picking out a pearl that fits the personality of your June baby (or client!).

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Agate is the other commonly used birthstone for June. It’s also the birthstone for Gemini, May 21 through June 20. Are you aware of the huge variety of agate beads available? This is another great browsing opportunity.

For a more unique touch, we’ve also found these stones used for June:

  • Emerald (also the Spring gemstone, and Cancer’s birthstone, June 21 to July 22) — a popular color of glass beads
  • Ruby (which is the Summer gemstone too, i.e. June 21 onwards) — there are lots of ruby-colored glass beads as well!
  • Moonstone (also famous for going so great with a basic black dress!)
  • Alexandrite — remember you can use glass beads in this color too
  • Beryl (St. Thomas)

You can learn about the physical & metaphysical properties of gemstones like these in the new edition of our popular Gemstone Beads Index!

Have you seen other great birthday-jewelry ideas for June? Post them here in the Comments!

May giveaway:
* You enter by leaving comments this month
* At the end of May, 2 winners will receive coveted Rings & Things goodie packs!
*
So read the blog regularly, to enter a lot & to see if you won!

Business (fun)

May 5, 2009

Taking care of some quick business:

Luck, embodied by these horseshoes (a.k.a. bead thimbles)

Congratulations to the winners of our April contest, “DIY Display Ideas“, who are:

  • Mary Berg, who had several great tips (check them out!).
  • Lyn, who shared from her 35 years of experience.

And, announcing the May contest on the Rings & Things blog, which is a free-for-all comment drawing:

  • You enter by leaving comments — so visit often.
  • You find out you won by…? Visiting often! (2 winners to be announced at the end of May.)

May the luckiest person win!

Kick it off right now: leave some comment entries below!

May giveaway:
* You enter by leaving comments this month
* At the end of May, 2 winners will receive coveted Rings & Things goodie packs!
*
So read the blog regularly, to enter a lot & to see if you won!

"As seen in" (or, thanks for mentioning R&T!)

May 1, 2009

There’s a nice custom over at Twitter called #followfriday. It’s all about recognizing people who are important to you online. In that spirit, R&T thanks some people who wrote nice things about us in the last week. Here’s what they talked about…

Tammy Powley discusses the hows and whys of lava beads.

Cyndi Lavin's award-winning design from the 2009 Rings & Things "Your Designs Rock!" contest

Cyndi Lavin wins a “Polly’s Picks” award in the 2009 Rings & Things “Your Designs Rock!” contest.

Robyn at the Gem Shows blog included us in her go-to list.

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Meanwhile, back at Earthenwood….Melanie conjures an uplifting color scheme involving our Dark Indigo crystal beads.

Dawno has mentioned us too! Here’s the very latest of her frequent, informative posts.

Mentioning Rings & Things or our products in your blog? Leave a link in the comments here! We’re glad to send you some readers.

May giveaway:
* You enter by leaving comments this month
* At the end of May, 2 winners will receive coveted Rings & Things goodie packs!
*
So read the blog regularly, to enter a lot & to see if you won!