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 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 jewelry- art or craft

The other day I was reading someone's blog who asked what is the difference between art and craft? This question hits very close to home for me, as I dated a man who considered what I do craft and not art, and therefore not worthy of any sort of admiration or time spent. I guess however that I find that even I, who went to art school, considers some of the things I do craft. I also think I might share some sense of snobbery when it comes to this BECAUSE I went to art school (and not for jewelry). But I do wonder where the line can be drawn or even if it should. There are people who add the word "art" to jewelry in order to distinguish themselves. But I wonder if they are distinguishing themselves from craft or as handmade from mass made items.

Below are a few examples of handmade jewelry that may blur the line:

meghan patrice riley

MaRía GoTi

Lynette Andreasen

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