Just Me

I am going to take the easy way out of writing this one...
Just a video of Me talking about my two Favorite subjects-My Jewelry and Me.

This video was shot in my Studio by a good Friend Joe. Hopefully there will be more, but schedules get in the way sometimes...Again. all about finding Balance.

Going Live

The other day at the restaurant, one of my co-workers came up to me and said that she had been looking at my Facebook Fan Page. She mentioned that the pictures that I post of my Jewelry are-in her opinion-pretty good, but there are not many pictures of people WEARING the Jewelry.

Turquoise & FineSilver Necklace

She is a photographer-I think I forgot to mention that-and offered to set up a photo shoot with actual Live models.

It is true. I do realize my mannequin, Esmeralda, does not count. She tends to outshine the Jewelry.

I will take her up on the offer. It will be great to see what my Work looks like on-in the “REAL” World.


I am one of those Designers that will do something that, in my head, looks great. Will photograph well. YET, until I get to see it on someone, I do not know realize the FULL Vision-I love it when my Sister visits because she is willing to try on every new piece in the Studio, even the ones that are not her Favorites...Mostly because she knows that I may not have seen it on.

I have also started taking videos of my pieces as well.  I guess that a YouTube Channel is in the near future as well.

Inspiration’s Birthday

Well, today is the Birthday of my Niece.

Ordinarily I would not tell Y’all that, but she is a big part of the reason that I am here today.
Without her crawling onto my lap about 5 years ago asking,

Micro-Cascading Swarovski 

“Will you make me a piece of Jewelry?”
“Sure, what do you want?”
“I don’t care”
DeAndreaDesigns would probably would not have gotten out off the Dining Room table.


I cannot imagine ever saying,  “No” to that little girl, who is not so little anymore.

She truly does inspire many of the pieces I do. Even the Larger Bolder Pieces-they are just grown up versions of what I would do for her, or Pieces that I see her wearing once she is Older.
I have even had to grow DOWN some Designs for her.

Waiting for Spring

Waiting for Spring Sale

I am going to try it again. The “Waiting for Spring Sale” will happen on Sunday the 3rd of March. So if you are going to be in the Pittsburgh area that day between 12 and 3pm, please stop by and say, “HEY”

I mentioned that I have been having smaller events-Happy Hour Sales and Brunch Sales-here in store.
Most of the time they are extremely successful, but not all. The weather in Pittsburgh is fickle to say the least. And it just gets more fickle in winter. We can go from 60 degrees one day to 6-8 inches of snow the next.  But the opportunity to get together with Friends hanging out talking, laughing, eating and drinking, is ALWAYS worth the risk.

Mother Nature must have had plans for the 2 previous Events. She sent Snow to both-AND LOTS OF IT-keeping almost everyone at home.

Hopefully, not this time. I am getting lonely.

Here are some pictures of previous Events...

2nd Anniversary

I just realized that yesterday was my 2 year Anniversary of having my own Studio/Store. It is AMAZING at just how quickly time flies by.

I still remember being SO frustrated waiting to hear from the Landlord as to when I could get the keys. Waiting for the electricity to be turned on.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting.
AND then waiting again for the new space to be completed.

New Designs continue to come in the middle of the night.
Ruby Rough and Ruby Quartz.

I still struggle. Trying to juggle everything that needs to be done.
The easy part is DeAndreaDesigns.
I still look forward to days in the Studio-Creating is what I LOVE!!!


I am still waiting tables to ensure that the bills get paid. I look forward to the day I do not HAVE to do this any longer, although I do still enjoy it.
I have had to find creative ways to spend time with Friends and Family.  I throw "Happy Hour Sales" and “Brunch Sales” here to get my Friends, New and LongTerm-never OLD, together.

I have learned that I need to ALWAYS be ON. Ready to talk about my Designs. Ready to whip out the business cards. Ready to talk.  This has probably been the most difficult part-Marketing Myself.

Now, I just signed the lease for yet one more year.

The lessons and learning continue, but I think if you ever get to a point of knowing EVERYTHING it is time to start something new.
I have too much to learn yet.

The Art of Balance

I haven’t written in a while.  Not because nothing is happening at DeAndreaDesigns, but Life outside of DeAndreaDesigns has a way of intruding and taking over.

The Art of Balance is almost as important as the Art of Creativity.

I am finding new Respect for my Mother who was able to raise 3 kids and my Father-and ALL that that entails. Still find time to work during the day, AND find the time in the evening to relax and do her nails or read a book.  That was probably the key to her staying Sane and Grounded.

I need to be able to find that Balance.  I cannot let the Creativity slip-pieces like this need to continue.

30ct Prasiolite on ArtFire

Enough hours at the new restaurant to bridge the money gap, while still putting in enough hours at the Store to ensure consistent foot traffic, while still being able to find time for Family and Friends. Not to mention a little time for Me-but that can really wait, because once the Store is financially stable I won’t have to schedule in restaurant time...Granted there will be something else vying for those hours, but by then I should have learned to Balance Everything.

That’s what I am telling myself anyway. I wonder if Mom ever felt like this?

UGH!!

It is another First of the Month.  That means we have a new Birthstone...PEARLS.
I know I have written on Pearls in the past-as I will again in the Future, but today is not that day.
I am going to vent on the frustration of not being completely computer literate.
I know enough to use the template provided to change the look anytime that I like.
I know enough add pages, and delete pages.
I know enough to attach links where they need to be-and even get them to go where they should.
BUT that is all because of the templates provided, and not being afraid to click on links.

Asymmetric Pearls perfect for a Summer Wedding

Right now the Website is down-through no fault of my own.  Now that I am a little more rested and focused I can address the issues at hand, but I need help.  Tech Support is not returning my phone call fast enough.  So I am relying on ArtFire and Facebook to get my Designs outside of the City limits. Both good resources, but they do not have the validity of a functioning website.
I am just going to continue to clean and re-merchandise the Store.

BTW, no more overnight restaurant job.  I did find something new-during the day so I will have to find a nice balance between the two so I can make enough to bridge the gap and maintain normal, consistent business hours...Or find someone that wants to become my Patron.