Introducing the Memoire Collection

It's here! I finished up the website updates last night so today is the official launch of my new "Memoire Collection." I was so inspired by some new materials I picked up at the recent OC Bead Society Show at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA, that I took off in an entirely new design direction.

I'm using lots of different metal finishes, delicate flowers or antique-looking beads and lots of chain. There's even some asymmetry - which anyone who knows me can tell you is something I always WANT to do, but my brain just fights it and automatically puts everything back in order. Still, I think I pulled it off on a couple of these pieces.

I've also played around with different metal finishes when in the past I've been a strictly sterling silver/gold fill kind of girl. I have metal allergies so I've been leery of using any of the base metals, but I think the products have really improved - vendors seem to have upped the quality due to the increased demand for these items. So the new collection incorporates brass, gunmetal and pewter in addition to sterling silver. I've got copper in my stash as well so that will join the collection eventually, too.

Here's my favorite piece from the new group:

I know they're just simple earrings with dangles, but I think the brass really sets off the Caribbean and Pacific Blue Opal Swarovski crystals...and plus...don't the earrings sort of look like the Eiffel Tower? One of my favorite places!

I hope you enjoy the new pieces. Please take a look and tell me what you think - I love constructive feedback!

I also re-vamped the website since I was adding this new section anyway. I'm totally self-taught on Dreamweaver and I know just enough to put up the very basics so it's not fancy, but I like the new order of things on the front page and think it's a little more visitor-friendly.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, today started off with the nicest surprise. My beady friend, Julie, gave me three gorgeous porcelain pendants. I'll get them photographed and posted next week, but oh, they are so pretty! And I can already see they will look AMAZING with brass or copper chain! Thanks, Julie!!

Julie and I and possibly another friend are off to the Rings 'N Things show in Buena Park, CA, tomorrow. Can't wait - I always get some great stuff there!

KJ