"Elevator Pitch” WHAT?

 The things that You learn in Your everyday job.

"Elevator Pitch”

I had never heard that term before-Although, everybody higher up assumed that we understood what it meant. Gladly, I was not the only one confused.

Apparently, when You meet someone new, it is how You describe what You do.

 QUICKLY. 

Assume that You are on an Elevator, and You only have until the next stop to tell Them about Your Work, Company, Art, YOURSELF.

So, for weeks, we worked on it-For someone else. It was a great learning experience.

THEN, I realize that I NEEDED one as well-ESPECIALLY when I am applying to different shows and events. They are always asking for something similar 

Having something prepared that can be used in any situation would definitely make Life easier.

It is A LOT more difficult than You would think.

                        ELEVATOR PITCH

Jewelry Design has been a long journey. 

Starting nearly 2 decades ago, until today, and beyond. 

Self taught, but guided by a few Amazing women. In the beginning.

The learning, growth, and the Journey continue. WITH unlimited potential.

Starting with .999 Fine silver wire.

It is Braided.

It is Twisted. 

It is Wrapped. 

Freshwater Pearls, Gemstones, or Swarovski Crystals are used to create a  piece of Art that You will be overjoyed to wear.

Diamond Planets? YES, Please

Planets made of Diamonds?

I have heard that they exist. 

I was intrigued. 

I starting researching-and quickly got distracted by how much it would be worth. I will, however, try to focus on the other facts that I discovered. Because they ARE fascinating.

There is one such planet in our "neighborhood”-in The Milky Way Galaxy. 

55 Cancri-e. 

It orbits the star Cancri, in the constellation of Cancer. 

At 40 Light Years away it is basically at the end the block. It is actually visible in the night sky, as would your neighbor’s Christmas Lights. 

55 Canci-e orbits its star in only 18 hours-making for a VERY fast Year-and we thought that the years flew by, the older we got. 

NOW, we know that Diamonds are created under intense pressure and intense heat. 

55 Cancri-e is PERFECT for Diamond production.

The planet is 3900 degrees F. 

It has a mass 8 times that of the Earth. A radius of 2 times ours. 

Officially, a Super-Earth. Not likely to have Life on the planet that would appreciate it being made of diamonds.

But WHY is it made of Diamonds? 

The atmosphere is made up primarily of Carbon-a key ingredient in diamonds that are the solidified version of carbon. Versus Hydrogen here-So Diamond and graphite instead of water and granite.

FINALLY, the Important question. 

        HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH?

$29 Nonillion-Seriously!!

I didn't know what a nonillion was either. 

It would be a “29” with 30 zeros following it! 

YES!! 

30 ZEROS!!!

$29,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

I cannot, JUST  CANNOT, even begin to fathom a dollar amount like that. Then again, I am a poor artist.

What DOES make me feel better about it is that not even Jeff Bezos could afford it, nor could he get a loan to purchase it. Nor could he use his little rocket to go pick it up.

NOW, back to work on DeAndreaDesigns.com so that someday I might be a not so poor artist

Opal vs Fire Opal

The biggest difference between an Opal and a Fire Opal?

The base color of the Gem.

Milky:                                         Orange-y                             

Opal Pendant

Fire Opal Lariat

          

Both have flashes of color from within the Gem.

An Opal, whether from Australia, Ethiopia, or Brazil will show flashes of all colors of the Rainbow.

A Fire Opal, whether from Mexico, Central America, or US, will show flashes of predominantly Reds, Yellows, and Oranges.

OPAL                                              FIRE OPAL

Enhance Creativity                         Awaken Inner Fire

Release Anger                                Release of Bottled Up Emotions-quickly, possibly

Claim Self Worth                           Increases Self-Confidence

Helps Express TRUE Self             Revitalize and Reenergize

Release Inhibitions                        Helps Heal Traumas of Past

Intensify Emotions                        Amplifies Energy

Helps Find Love                            Attracts Money and Customers  

Both are Fragile. Softer Gemstones that require a little extra caution and care. 

Avoidance of high heat, drying out, and bumping against hard surfaces. Simple damp cloth for polishing.

BUT, the Beauty of the Gem makes the precautions well worth the effort.

 

Simple Photographs of Opal are difficult, because the Beauty of the Gem is in the Colorplay. Colorplay that is usually only visible while viewing from multiple angles. SO video is my go to.

Why All the Spirals?

The other day at one of the Art/Craft Fairs that I have been doing, someone that has been following me for a while, asked me if there was a reason for all the spirals in many of the newer designs?

Without missing a beat, I told a story of when I am creating a Spiral, I start with an end of my wire-my center-and start wrapping, or Spiraling Out. 

Around and around. 

Each twist-no matter how wonky, crooked, or perfect-takes me one step further in my growth as an Artist/Person. Culminating in a finished piece of Art-and Personal Growth.

This flowed out without even a thought of why I was saying what I was saying. I was just speaking from My Heart-My Core.

As an Artist, I do what fells NATURAL at the time.

Yet, that had gotten me thinking about the WHY. 

Why the Spirals? 

And why All of a sudden-although, I have often used this motif in the past, but never SO MUCH?

So I did what everyone seems to do, a quick Internet search...

I  discovered that Spirals-such a simple design-have represented such concepts such as EVOLUTION, LIFE, CREATION...Anything but simple.

Artists in past civilizations, Celtic in particular, have used this symbol to represent/facilitate the creative process. Helping to release the creative process. Allowing them to tap into that part of their mind where Dreams and Intuition dominate. 

Bringing them into the Physical World.

So, without realizing it, I have been tapping into a part of my psyche that lies dormant-BUT NOT VERY DORMANT-and kinda restless. 

My Journey as an Artist has been series of Starts and Stops. Ups and Downs.

BUT I have never quit, even when roadblocks-Real or Imagined-have shown up, I have always sensed my path. 

Those “stops and starts”, I now realize were those “wonky or crooked twists”.

I have never given up the Dream. 

I have recently given That Dream a name.

#OperationStayatHomePuppyDaddy 

I still have to fight to stay on that path, in order to see just WHERE it will lead, but at least I KNOW that I am on the RIGHT Path.

Every Wonky, Crooked, or Perfect twist is one step closer to the realization of ME.

It is part of my Journey as an Artist. 

NEVER ALONE

Recently, for whatever reasons, I have been thinking about certain elements that have made themselves VERY apparent in my Jewelry Designs.
Specifically, BRAIDS. 
They have been present a lot more in recent designs. AND double braids particular.

Blue Topaz Satellite Pendant

I

began 
to 
wonder 
why.




It came to me when a coworker had to realize the consequences to some of their actions.
Nothing dire.
Basically, just what it means to be an Adult.

Those doubled strands of Silver are always on the same path. Going in the same direction.


Never 

Braided Silver Bangle Bracelet

alone

There may be twists and turns, sometimes not perfectly smooth or expected, BUT always there is the other present.

Fire Opal Pendant

It made me think that in Life, We are never alone.
There is always a guiding force-A Husband, A Wife, Our Parents, A Friend, Your Personal Goals, A Higher Power-guiding our way.
No matter the direction we are heading, we are aways heading somewhere.
Every path is leading us Home-back to Ourselves.
Sometimes We realize it, sometimes We feel like We are floundering. Meandering.



BUT We are always heading towards something.

INSOMNIA

Why can I not get a good night’s sleep?
I am sitting here at 1:52AM. My eyes are burning. They are actually  tearing up.
One of My Pups is sound asleep, dreaming, right beside Me-The other went to bed hours ago. The Hubby is snoring-I can hear him.
I should take their heed.
I created 3 different spreadsheets to gage how profitable this whole Jewelry Business thing is-CAN BE.
I am putting off going to bed
WHY?

There is a an idea percolating. A NEW Design.
In my mind I am working through all of the specifics of the Design.
I have a feeling that with THIS one there will be quite a bit of deconstruction in conjunction with the construction. But, if I can get it right, it will be AMAZING.
A TRUE Statement Piece, yet more affordable for many...
BUT, I need a day off to play with the metals and stones.
MONDAY
That is the next day off.
That is the next opportunity for REAL concentration.
I have no doubt that I will be able to get a successful Design out of all of this.
Until then, I have 3 more nights of non-sleep/minimal sleep. 2 days of shuffling through a work day trying to sell somebody else’s product.

You KNOW I will post pictures of the finished product.

Dreaming Big in 2020

Stay-at-Home Puppy Daddy.
AND Jewelry Designer.

#TheThundrGirls need Me at Home

Being a Jewelry Designer CAN allow me to be that Stay-at-Home Puppy Daddy.

How am I going to do this?

HARD WORK

We are 2 weeks into 2020, and I am working to get most of my pieces listed on Etsy-Yes I am trying this platform again.
I am working on getting those same pieces listed on DeAndreaDesigns.squarespace.com

I am already looking into traveling locally a bit more to do Craft/Vendor Shows. I am learning that the Craft Shows require a different level of inventory.
A constant Learning Process.

ThundrCrest hosts DeAndreaDesigns

I am going to open my Home a little more for Events. I really like these smaller more intimate Events.
To be able to support Myself, My Husband, My Pups.
This is MY Dream.
AND THAT IS JUST BIG ENOUGH.


One of my coworkers and I were watching a YouTuber who in just 6 years went from BROKE to Living his Life in Designer clothing, Living in a mansion, driving customized vehicles, AND has one of the TOP cosmetic companies.
This is his Dream, and his Dream is HUGE. He is an over the top personality. THAT is perfect for HIM, but not for Me.

Stay-at-Home Puppy Daddy/Jewelry Designer. THAT is MY DREAM.

That is the NEW Dream-but is it REALLY NEW?