Sharma Designs - Behind the Scenes of a Handmade Jewelry Business

Studio Friday: Favorite Color Combinations

Today's Studio Friday topic is one that I suggested.  I suggested it for selfish reasons....I always gravitate towards the same color combinations and I wanted some new inspiration!  Plus its another great way for us to show off our work right?

For the most part, my color combinations revolve around brown.  I am such a brown girl.  Turquoise and brown is one of my favorites.  Yummy right?

I went through a phase where so many of my necklaces were green and brown that I had to make a conscious effort to not use them in combination anymore....well at least not as much.  I can't help it though.  I wear tons of brown and my eyes are green so I wear a lot of green and brown.  I guess I just gravitate towards these colors.

Lastly, we have pink and (of course) brown.  For some reason the combination reminds me of yummy ice cream.  It's girly meets earthy.  My two favorite things.

I have to really push myself to try new combinations and trust my instincts.  So give me some fabulous ideas here!

See fabulous color combinations here! 

Studio Friday: Studio Indulgences

I consider my Studio indulgences to be things I can't really justify but just really want for whatever reason.  Meet my mannequin.  Why does a jewelry artist need a mannequin?  Well she doesn't really.  (Necklace busts yes - mannequin no)  But I have always wanted one and when a good deal came my way I just couldn't pass her up.

I have justified my purchase by using her for "see worn" pictures.  Oh I also indulged by buying her a cute backdrop.  A painted wall (In a color I HATE - but we won't get into that) just didn't do my lady justice.  Now she looks even prettier in pictures.

Here is another indulgence...a piece of pretty jewelry for myself.  Obviously I haven't made a lot of progress on it.  I'm sure my fellow artists understand...who has time to make something for themself?  But every night I'll indulge myself just a bit and soon I will have something beautiful to wear. 

What are your indulgences fellow artists?  See them all here! 

Studio Friday: My Collections

This week's topic is: My Collections

"Most people collect something, it would be fun to see what others have in their collections."
~ Silvia

I have to admit...I read this and thought..ha ha I don't collect anything!  You see, my mom has a million collections and we have teased her for years about all her "obsessions" so I have tried to keep my own to a bare minimum. 

I do have one fairly large collection of Starbucks bearista bears.  It's kinda embarrassing.  Collecting little bears in cute little outfits.  But the outfits are soo cute!  And they smell like coffee when you first get them!  I can't resist them.  Of course my mom has bought me a ton..feeding my "obsession".  Now they have a home in Bella's room.  Not that she is allowed to play with them.  She might mess up their outfits..(She is so mad at me right now because we took the picture then I put the bears away.  Mean mommy!)

Beads..duh

Lastly is my newest little collection...the Body Shop home fragrances.  This collection has the most to do with my studio because the smells create a wonderful working environment.  My favorite is the vanilla spice.  Oh my goodness!  It smells like you fell into a vanilla chai latte.  It makes the house cozy and inviting.  If you haven't tried them you must.  They are even on sale right now (I should get some more huh?)

Nothing too exciting but like I said...I try to avoid the collections!  Ha ha

Can't wait to see what everyone else collects!  See more here!

Studio Friday: Autumn Inspiration

This Week's Topic is Autumn Inspiration:

"Autumn inspiration - According to my calendar, today (Sept 22) is the "Autumnal Equinox," and it's my favorite season, so show me what you love about the fall - the colors?... the leaves?...etc."

Everything about Autumn inspires me!  The colorful leaves, the warm sweaters, the pumpkins, the crisp air and of course..the pumpkin lattes!  I wrote a whole post dedicated to why I love Fall a few days ago. 

To me happiness is working in my studio at night with a hot cup of tea, watching non re-run fall shows and wearing a super comfy pair of thick socks.  Every once in awhile I might pop a candy corn in my mouth too!

This is seriously my favorite season of the year.  I was thrilled to find some real leaf pendants to celebrate the season.  I even made one for myself and wear it everyday!

To see more Studio Friday entries click here

Studio Friday: Fear

Today's Studio friday topic is fear:

"I have been away from Studio Friday for a while, and I really struggled with the toot your own horn topic.  It actually made me do some free-writing and I thought of another topic that might be helpful for some of the studio friday artists: Fear."

I couldn't resist posting this lighthearted picture to bring a little humor to such a serious topic. 

I think as artists we all struggle with the fear of rejection.  When you create something with your own hands you feel that there is a part of you in that piece of art.  If others reject it it feels like they are rejecting you.  Obviously, we all know that what we create will not suit everyone's taste but it is a constant struggle to keep embracing the compliments and letting go of the negative feedback.  Personally I think through the negative feedback to see if there is any truth to it and then try to let it go.  Sometimes I am successful and sometimes I'm not.

I have other fears too.  Will I be able to keep up as things get busier and busier?  Will I have enough product for the show next week?  Will I still be able to run my company successfully with more children?  Am I spending enough time with my husband or am I working too much?  Should I spend the money for the advertising?  Should I do more shows?

The list really goes on and on.  I found a great series at eMoms at Home that has helped me a lot.  I especially like the post Overcoming Obstacles versus Untapped Potential.  It talks about what is keeping you from obtaining your bsuiness goals (like fear) and how to overcome it.

A community of support is so important in dealing with your own fears and insecurities.  Head on over and give all the Studio Friday ladies your love and support!

Studio Friday: Toot Your Own Horn...Loud!

" Studio Friday, for me, is a network of Artist from all over the world. It's a fabulous way to communicate with and learn from artists of all backgrounds. With this being said, I would love to see a showcase of what YOUR art is. Are you a scrapbooker? A clay artist? Are you a collage artist or a photographer? Do you paint or work in the fibre arts of Knitting, sewing or enbroidery? Are you a gardener a botanist or an eclectic artist of many trades? I'd love to see a piece that you have created that you are most proud of. SHOW off your STUFF!!"

Well as you might have guessed I make jewelry. All of my jewelry is one of a kind. I don't like to see the same necklace I am wearing on someone else. So I figure my customers might like something special too. It makes wholesaling a little difficult but I want to hang on to the one of a kind as long as I possibly can.

My jewelry is earthy, funky, and sometimes a little bold.  Oh and assymetrical!  I love assymetrical!  If you look at the left nav bar you'll see the many categories my jewelry falls into.

Making jewelry has become a huge part of me.  If I have to go a few days without designing any new pieces I feel unsettled and anxious.  I'm sure ladies understand the itch to design.

See more Studio Friday entries here.

I can't wait to see what all you talented ladies create!

Studio Friday: On the Outside

This Week's Topic:  " I'm curious to see what is just outside everyone's studio. I face a wall so I don't have a view but I have the desert to inspire me if I need it."

My studio is on the second floor and pretty much all I see when I look out the window is our huge fruitless mulberry tree. My husband wants to chop the branches back but I love it. It gives us lots of shade in the summer and keeps my studio cool for most of the morning.

It also reminds me of being a little girl. We had a huge tree just like this in our front yard. Being the tomboy that I was I use to spend a great part of the day in the tree. I was brokenhearted when we moved and had to leave it behind!

Besides, the only thing I would see if the tree wasn't there is the street behind our house and that's not very interesting at all! Not to mention the fact that people could see right into my window if it was gone and that's not good!

Happy Studio Friday!

See more entries here

Studio Friday - Tools of the Trade

Todays Topic:

" There's such a diverse group here, with such different art forms, I think it would be interesting to see what tools others use on a regular basis to create their art or product. "

These are my trusty crimp pliers. I use them on all the strung necklaces to crimp the crimp beads. The crimp beads are what hold the wires together and keep the necklace from falling apart. That would be bad!

These are my trusty ergonomic flat nose pliers. When you are making as much jewelry as I am you want to make sure you are not going to damage your hands permanently. I su the flat nose pliars to manipulate the sterling (or gold filled) wire. They also open jump rings.

Ever notice the little loops that attach the beads and pendants to other beads? They are made with these rosary loop pliars. Also ergonomic. I use these babies all the time.

A pair of flush cutter pliers are also importing for cutting the sterling wire. I love them but when you cut the wire it does tend to go flying. When I was at the orthodontist a few weeks ago I noticed that when they cut my wires (in my mouth) that the wire was somehow staying in the pliers until the orthodontist released it. I asked about them and the lady gave me a demonstration. Now I must have a pair of those. My guess would be that they are very expensive so hopefully a pair will just magically fall in my purse next time I am there. A beader can dream right?

These are a pair of tiny scherenitte (paper cutting) scissors that I once borrowed from my mom's craft table and never returned. shhh!!! They are my favorite because they are very sharp and I can get really close to the beads and cut the beading wire so it doesn't stick out.  Since when you google scherenitte you get 2 results I am thinking it's a lost art and I better hang on to these for dear life.  I would never find another pair!

Laugh if you must but this is one of my tools. Not for drinking when I am creating (jittery hands make beading hard) but for the morning after a long night in the studio. By the way, today is not only Studio Friday but also what my family likes to call "Coffee Friday". So go out and treat yourself to a delicious coffee (I recommend trying their pumpkin latte)!

Happy Studio Friday!

See other Studio Friday entries here

Studio Friday: Artist's Block

This week's topic for Friday September 1st suggested by Gabi: ARTIST'S BLOCK.

"You've heard of 'writer's block'. Well as an artist, I sometimes suffer from "Artist's block". What is this you ask? It's when you sit and sit and can't come up with anything. This can go on for hours, days, weeks even months sometimes. I want to know how you break free of Artist's block! "

Well, I call it Beader's Block.  Beader's Block is when I sit down to make jewelry and for the life of me I cannot come up with one good piece of jewelry.  Now, normally, the ideas are flowing.  I sit down to make one thing and end up making 10 new pieces of jewelry.  So needless to say, when I get the dreaded Beader's Block I am quite distressed.

I used to think it happened when I was tired but I am always tired and I am not always blocked so that's not it.  I honestly think it is a combination of stress, tiredness and burnout.  If I have a lot of stressful things on my mind my creativity is zapped. 

What's my solution?  Well, I have learned not to work through it.  I end up making pieces that I hate and take apart later.  For me, the best thing to do is to walk away.  I take a few days off and spend time with my family, work on other aspects of the business (There are a million aren't there?) and I peruse other non jewelry sites for inspiration.  I like to look at fabric sites.  I always find some really great color combinations.  Once I made a necklace inspired by one of Carrie's fabulous handbags (that I later bought).  Pictures of nature, especially flowers, also prove to be great for my creativity.

Hope you all have a great creative weekend!

See more Studio Friday entries here

Studio Friday: Dessert Island

Here's today's topic:

So imagine that you are still on the island and are getting hungry. The beautiful thing is that it is a paradise island and you can make your wish for your favorite desserts!!! Yummy!! Which ones will you wish for?

Honestly? They could bring me anything sweet (except fruit. I hate fruit) and I would be happy. I love desserts. If I had my very very favorite it would be Haagen Dazs Caramel Cone ice cream.

I worked at an ice cream shop as a teenager and we could eat whatever we wanted while we were on the clock. Being the ice cream-aholic that I am....I lived on ice cream for months. I tried every flavor with every combination of topping (bubble gum ice cream with marshmallow topping anyone?) Believe it or not, when you eat that much ice cream you really do get sick of it. I know..I know..seems impossible but it's true. I didn't eat any ice cream for about 2 years after that.

Obviously I got over it.

Now..do we gain weight on this crafty island with delicious treats?