myfriendroze home

I haven't been blogging for a bit- mostly because I'm suuuuper lazy.   there must be other reasons but I can only come up with that one right now, I'll get back to you when I find other excuses.
So the price of silver is insane, AND I miss making larger things so I decided to take my love of casting things, and cement and bubble wrap and make things bigger than jewelry.  yay!  below is my cement bubblewrap home line so far... more to come.   if you had to make any one of the following which would it be:  votive/candle holder; picture frame; bowl; vase.

4" round coasters

4" square coasters

7" trivet

clocks

I call this line myfriendroze home and I'm super excited!  let me know what you think.

new year new line new york

I know, it's almost february and I haven't blogged.  There goes my new years resolution right down the drain.   I'm failing at my diet too, and I also haven't been to the gym.  I guess I'm resolving to not do anything...wait I HAVE done something.   I created a new line for 2010!   I was calling it amoeba but then as I showed it to some people it became clear that I was creating clouds without knowing it.  So, since it's all handmade from reclaimed sterling silver,  I changed the name, to silver lining.  (thanks vernon).

three bracelets together

sterling and jade earrings

spiral earrings

The other thing I did this year, was sign up to show and sell at the New York International Gift Fair.   I'm nervous as hell, as well as super excited!  This will be my first show like this in NY.  It's insanely expensive but everyone says it's the show to do.  So I'm going to see if "everyone" is right.   I have been trying to prepare (new line, new line sheets, displays etc) in between bouts of procrastination- which explains why I am now blogging instead of preparing.

ok I'm off to prepare, or eat something..

handmade jewelry everyday by myfriendroze- www.myfriendroze.com

handmade theft?

 This weekend I was at a show of all small handmade designers.  I felt like i was at home and in a little community.  I guess I got too complacent and/or comfortable because I was the victim of theft. What was sort of ironic about the piece that was stolen, was that I had been holding it in the back for someone for almost the entire show.   I finally gave up and put it back out for sale, only to have it stolen within minutes.

Whenever I am at one of these show I somehow figure that the people coming out to see the handmade items appreciate the amount of work that goes into each thing, and if they can't afford it they find something else to purchase.  I figure they know that most if not all of the vendors are sole proprietors and don't have enough merchandise or money to build in theft as part of the cost of doing business.   Turns out, I was wrong.  

I am trying to be positive and look at it as some sort of flattery, i.e. they liked it so much but couldn't afford to buy it so they took it?

I was talking about it to some other vendors, only to find out that I am super naive.  They ALL have had things stolen and some have something stolen every time they do a show.   I was mortified.

here are some things that have been stolen from me at the past few shows:

...and I am sure there are even more things I am not aware of.     

I wonder really how these people feel ok with stealing from a show like that and I think to myself that it has to be kids that have no idea what goes into these things...  at least I hope it's kids.   I also hope that they are at least wearing the items and not selling them, or throwing them away.

This upcoming weekend I have another Renegade craft show in san francisco and have vowed to be more vigilant!  

handmade jewelry every day-  myfriendroze

Renegade Los Angeles and San Francisco

I'm preparing for my last two holiday shows of the year, one in Los Angeles and one in San Francisco.   Renegade Craft has gotten some great publicity and grows every year and I am excited to be a part of it.   I am honored to be a part of such a great show with other great artists.    What I really love about Renegade is their dedication to finding quality handmade artists, and their ability to really make it a fun experience.  (Not to mention they never charge an entrance fee for shoppers).   All the artists seem to form a community and I have made some great friends that I am excited to see again.   I looked at the list of artists and here are some that I hadn't seen before, and am exited to meet (and perhaps spend some money with):

kirkiture

solidio

veqdesign

Plus there will be so many other great artists there that I may go broke!    Happy holiday shopping everyone!

handmade jewelry every day-  www.myfriendroze.com

handmade hanukkah

Happy Chanukah Chanukkah Channukah Hanukah Hannukah Hanukkah Hanuka Hanukka Hanaka Haneka Hanika Khanukkah or however you want to spell that.   My home smells like oil and feels like it too... I made a hundred latkes last night, had a lovely party, and it was super satisfying until today when I had to clean.  I feel the same way about creating anything.   I never want to clean.  Maybe it's a holdover from my childhood of being a tomboy.   I decided this year not to make anything holiday themed... but I figured I would look for some handmade things to buy!   Anyway here are some nice handmade hannukah and cleaning items:

toys by carl

ARCHITETTE

ella jewelry

bagel soap!!!!! by bubblegenius

star of david soap

handmade jewelry every day- www.myfriendroze.com

handmade jewelry return policies?

Last week I was contacted through my website from someone who bought my handmade earrings from a store in Olympia, Wa.    One of the earrings had broken and she was wondering what I could do to help.   I was surprised that she didn't to attempt return to the store that she bought the earring from...   I told her I would be happy to fix her earring for a small fee ($7- which included shipping back to her) or suggested she try going to the store perhaps they had a good return policy and I would then deal with the store.  These earrings had to have been bought long ago (though she said she has not had them "that long")  as I haven't shipped this kind of earring to that store in over a year.   Her response was this "I appreciate your reply, though it is somewhat unsatisfactory. I had hoped for a replacement or a free fix (I would have to pay shipping) Furthermore, I figured you would want to see the problem to alleviate future misfortunes.  The store is in Olympia and I am on the Peninsula...Lets keep the dialogue open?"  
I am incredibly annoyed that this woman assumes that my time and supplies are worth absolutely nothing.  But I cannot think of a polite way to respond to her and haven't as of yet.   She did not purchase from me, so why is she trying to return to me?  I don't want to upset a potential customer or potential other customers whom she will speak to but as I mentioned I am (well ok, let's escalate) infuriated.   I can only assume the store already refused the return.
Let's face it, things break sometimes, no matter the quality, but there has to be some sort of cap on timing, not to mention a charge to fix.   I am not Nordstrom, Kohls or some department store (who also may not accept such a thing back when not purchased from them), I am a handmade jewelry company. I am already struggling- why is this ok?  
I do accept returns when purchased from me (whether you are a store or a single customer), and also exchange things.  I have exchanged a necklace that the person didn't like the way it looked when they got home- for a ring.  They were perfectly happy.  I stand behind my work but somehow this just doesn't seem fair.  Does it to you?  These are the earrings:

sterling silver handmade square hoops

handmade jewelry every day- www.myfriendroze.com

hold the pickles hold the lettuce...

...special orders won't upset us- ok maybe they do.   Remember that Burger King jingle? "Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders won't upset us, all we ask is that you let us serve it your way. Have it your way....Have it your way."  I'm probably aging myself, but we used to sing our own version of that on the way to camp. "Hold the pickles hold the lettuce shut up lady you upset us"...(that was ours).   I'm rambling but what I'm actually whining about right now is what to do about people who want custom orders.  As a lot of my  handmade jewelry has a ton of options, or are basically custom as it is (you can choose the color mosaic, or the color ceramic, or the size bubblewrap, or the chain) i have opened myself up to a constant stream of custom order requests.   I really don't mind mostly- but what I do mind is that I am not sure people are willing to pay what an order made just for them is worth.   Part of the reason for a price increase is that I cannot make a single piece as fast as I can make a piece already in my production line.  Many times when people "design" their own piece it's a large stretch from what I normally do, and I know upfront that they won't like it, but how do you tell them that?  I think a  custom, handmade, order most often should not be returnable, but in this day and age- everyone wants the option to return.  I continue to wonder what the policy on custom should be.   Here are a few custom pieces I just made:

handmade sterling mosaic ring with inset amethyst

three mosaic necklace

handmade jewelry every day- myfriendroze

handmade homework

Sometimes you just have to push yourself to do something. You know, give yourself some sort of incentive, even if making things is your passion. Sometimes you just get bored, or tired of making the same thing. I know Etsy teams have challenges like the CCCOE team that I (kind of) belong to used to have a monthly challenge (do they anymore?), and Etsy metal has "Ring a Day" here is how they describe it "This is an exercise in creative exploration. The rules are simple: create a ring every day for the entire year of 2010 out of anything, no matter where you are." I don't know how many people made it this far (it is november and all) and well that's a bit much for me.... but here are some I found that I like a lot on their flickr set:

What is your handmade homework? what do you do differently to push yourself? The holidays are swiftly approaching and I know that should be my impetus, but I'm still here in my studio, looking at my same old things wondering how to get motivated. The increasing price of my materials is not helping... maybe I will try to think of new materials to use and THAT will be my handmade homework.... I think I'll go eat.


www.myfriendroze.com

monday morning

it's raining and it's monday morning.... what a way to start out the week. Thankfully it didn't rain this weekend while at a show.   The show turned out to be a nice mix of handmade and vintage.   much like            Moda Viajando Handbags 

I didn't find too much there that I really liked, aside from the food.   But, I always like the food.  There was Olvera street Tamales (yum!)   Plus the restaurant attached to the venue- super cute and had great pumpkin pie.

Also there was the gourmet crepe company who were giving out free samples.   Their booth was directly across from mine.   I think they lost a few extra samples to me.    My personal favorite was the nutella banana crepe.

As a review of this show, it was cute- not totally well attended and not personally my style, (A lot of wind chimes and garden gnomes being sold) and  I think my handmade jewelry was a little too funky for the show.   I did debut my amoeba jewelry and sold one of the sterling silver bangles which was nice!  Below is one of the new Amoeba necklaces.   This one has a ruby on one side and a smoky topaz on the other.  Brand new handmade reclaimed sterling silver necklace by myfriendroze.  What do you think?

the story of myfriendroze

A lot of people ask how I named my company, I guess because it sounds like I really didn't actually name it... But I did, and here is the story.  
Once upon a time, in another life, the life of Rose Braunstein the promotion person who worked at Jive Records-, I (Roze) was feeling frustrated and not creative.   So I decided to start making jewelry again, on the side in all my spare time (ha).   I spent a lot of time (sadly) with the Backstreet Boys.  Taking them to radio for interviews, and making sure they did their meet and greets and silly things like that.   One of them, asked me about my sterling silver vine rings.   He said he really liked them and could he have one.   I said SURE- that was exciting for me.  Soon thereafter, he lost it, and was sad about it and asked for another one, which I gave him happily.  However, a week or so later he lost that one too... He asked me for another one to which I said "dude, you're going to have to buy them like everybody else" (I mean he does have a lot of money- right?) he looked me straight in the eye and said "don't you want my publicity for free?"  I looked right back at him and said "You're right!  I absolutely want your publicity for free!!! What is my last name????"  He stared at me blankly for quite a bit until I said "great- so what kind of publicity am I getting?   "my friend roze made it?"  The more I thought about it the more I realized, all my friends who bought or had gotten my jewelry for gifts were saying "myfriendroze made it"   I thought it was perfect, because now ANYONE who has my handmade jewelry can say "myfriendroze made it".  

handmade sterling silver and 14k gold vine ring with garnet

handmade sterling and 14k gold vine ring 

Hamsa

Channukah is so unbelievably early this year...  it's closer to Thanksgiving than to Christmas!  On that note I figure that I should start making some holiday gifts even earlier.   Yes, I even make judaica!   It's not normally on my website because I don't specialize in it, but I am kind of obsessed with hamsas.   I collect them as long as they are handmade.  I have 45 ceramic hamsas hanging in my studio, and I even have one tattooed on me.     Do you think I should bring out some Judaica to the early craft shows?   

handmade sterling hamsa with carnelian set in a mosaic

Behind the picket fence

this upcoming saturday my friend Debby who is the brains and talent behind Rebe clothing asked me to come share a booth with her at behind the picket fence for their sale...  It's last minute but I can't give up any chance to get out there! It's a vintage and handmade sale so I hope that we are able to do alright up against vintage items which could possible undercut our prices.  Here is the link to more information on the sale  behindthepicketfencemarketplace.blogspot.com.     Since we met, at a show, Debby has always been a great friend and inspiration to me and I am always so impressed by all the new things she continually makes.   I'm excited to once again spend the day with her and see all her new clothing and accessories. Most, if not all of her handmade items utilize eco-friendly material and she uses her scrap to make great purses, blankets, and makeup bags,  etc.    Check out a few of my favorites below.  You might also notice a handmade myfriendroze necklace in the photo :).

rebe dress handmade ceramic myfriendroze necklace