New Style Russian Doll Necklace!

Yay! A totally new Russian Doll design is in the shop! This time I have strung a large (1 3/4") wooden matryoshka doll on a 24" necklace (the drop feature, which includes the doll as well as a blue Czech glass flower, is an extra 2 1/2"). The sweet doll is blonde, dressed in blue and white (the back of her dress has a flower on it, as on the front). I have chosen a mixture of yellow beads--flowers, chips, a heart, and more--plus a pretty blue seed bead mix to make up the body of this fun necklace.

Oh so keen for pink & green (and black)

Another fun design now at etsy!

One for me!

Here's one I made for myself...but I may make some more to sell. Opinions, anyone? :)

Crafting Away

New Autumn colors and designs are coming this week! Woo-hoo! Gotta love Fall colors!

I Looooooove Russian Dolls

If you sell your jewelry (or clothing or knitted items) designs, do you also keep (or specifically design) pieces for yourself? I definitely do; for one thing, I made my own jewelry for a long time before I began selling it, and for another thing, it seems to make good sense. I mean, if you're wearing something, you're increasing the chance that someone will see it and like it and then you can mention your shop to them...
Every once in awhile, too, I have to admit, I get some beads in that I just love so much I just keep them. These Russian doll beads I actually ordered for myself, along with some neon orange and sky blue ones. If I get good feedback on the neons, I will order more and design some necklaces for my shops...

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade Bebopgirl1969Jewelry.etsy.com

So, I'm seeing lots of Russian doll designs in the Fall Fashion previews--woo-hoo! But here's what I'm finding quite crazy: the prices! Just yesterday I saw that a big design studio is selling the same wooden beads I use in my designs--not in a design of their own, but just hanging on a kilt pin (the same way I bought many of mine) for £15 (about $25--you can get an entire necklace at my shop for less than that with some designs!)! Now, that is an insane price to pay--I paid about £3 (about $5) for most of mine, and believe me, I didn't buy them in the kind of bulk that a big studio would. Crazy!
At the same time, I see one or two beads being used in necklaces for huge money, as well.

All I'm saying is--I know that when something becomes the "must have" fashion thing; when it becomes a huge trend--then the big fashion houses and the high street stores get big money for things. But please, please look a little harder and you can find really unique items for much better prices. And hey, in the case of my Russian doll necklaces, I may not be the head of a fashion house in Paris or Milan, but my pieces are one of a kind and they are hand designed!

On June 16th, UPS delivered a box, from Elle magazine (USA edition), with 2 of my Russian doll necklaces! Why, you may wonder?Well, they asked me a few months back to send them for a feature on Russian dolls in fashion. Now, I still don't know if they made it into the magazine (I know they haven't as of the July issue, but there also hasn't been a Russian doll feature yet!). So, I'll be excited to find out!It's funny, too...about 3 weeks before that I received another UPS package from Elle, filled with Russian doll rings and earrings by another artists (denimdays --very nice pieces!). Not only were they not mine, but she lives in Australia! But I sent hers on and she's gotten them back today, too. And she was kind enough to let me keep a ring! Yay!So here's hoping we both got into Elle magazine!

Here's what I'm hoping as of today...hoping hoping hoping that denimdays and I make it into the Fall Fashion issue--wouldn't that be something... :)

These necklaces are available now at my etsy shop, btw!

Another new Russian Doll Design--in fun cheery colors!

Yay! New necklaces are available at my shop!

I just love these colorful Russian dolls--so much, in fact, that they have their own section at the shop. :)