.jpg)
Okay, let's not get into how I made the error, but the actual number one post for the year is Amanda Conley of Bijougirl Designs which was originally posted on May 12, 2008. Some of the information is out of date, but here is the number one post for 2008!!!! Thank you Amanda and sorry for the brain lapse!
(Go to my most recent post on Bijougirl Designs to find out more current information. That on was published on 12/7/08.) Also,watch this slideshow for current items in Bijougirl Designs Etsy Shop.
(Go to my most recent post on Bijougirl Designs to find out more current information. That on was published on 12/7/08.) Also,watch this slideshow for current items in Bijougirl Designs Etsy Shop.
Artist, Am
anda Conley is Bijougirl Designs. She makes beautiful sterling silver and 14kt gold handmade jewelry in a bijou style. Her shop explains the meaning. “bi-jou: [bee'zhoo'] an intricately designed piece of delicate workmanship”. And, that is exactly what she does. I love her jewelry and that is why she was one of the first people that I added to my blog. Great quality also comes with excellent and friendly service. She will also customize a piece for you.
Amanda stated that she started out as “a fine art majo
r in college and has been designing jewelry for almost ten years now. I love the processes of silver and gold smithing, and over the years have phased out other design methods in favor of working just with metals. She uses the highest quality supplies and all of the metal work is completed in her home studio. I love the quote from her blog that says, “I'm always looking for things that inspire me...and then I find they're everywhere...”
Amanda
loves her work and when asked what she likes most, she replied, “It is simple, feminine and wearable. I don't make things that I wouldn't personally wear. I love making jewelry that has special meaning wrapped up in a simple symbol or in a word that uplifts and encourages. Sometimes it helps 
to have a small piece to wear everyday as a reminder of who you are or who you are striving to be. My jewelry accomplishes that for me, and I hope that it does the same for others who wear it.”
For me personally, that was one of the reasons that I began to really, really noticed Amanda’s work (even though I already owned a ring) because for myself as a Christian the words, “fear not,” “lovely,” and “perserve” immediately brought Bible verses of comfort, strength and
encouragement to my mind. And, even if you are not a Christian they are wonderful words to use anyway. For me, I wear my beautiful “perserve” necklace as a reminder that God wants me to keep going no matter how difficult things get because he is there! That is my newest piece and I just love it. It is so unique compared to what is available as “Christian jewelry.” Or any jewelry for that matter!!! I normally don’t like delicate jewelry, but I like A
manda’s. I think because it is feminine without being “girly-girl.” I own four pieces of her jewelry and I am eyeing more…I really like the “fear not” necklace, but oh, another ring…Oh, I’m writing about Amanda…Sorry, I thought we started to talk about shopping…oh, it was just me!! Back to Amanda and Bijougirl Designs now!!
Like
most artists, Amanda dislikes the marketing aspect of her job the most and says, “I don't know very many artists who can also get themselves out of their own creative world in order to market the
mselves, but when I meet one who can, I'm always a bit envious. I have a lot to learn, but I'm willing to try. It just doesn't come naturally to me. I would much rather sit at home and design and create and let someone else do the selling! The internet, of course, is an amazing tool in learning this process. I'm very thankful for it!”
Amand
a and her husband are both artists which offered
them a unique experience. I’ll let Amanda tell it, “We were both invited to go to the Ukraine to meet with other artists there and work for several days to produce an art show that would occur at the end of the conference. I was the only jewelry designer to be a part of the show, but I was able to meet a master silversmith who lived in Kiev. He invited me to come to his studio several times and work with him there. So, I w
ent, along with a translator and he taught me many of the processes that I use now. He showed me things like pulling wire, cutting sheets and casting techniques that I don't usually do at home. He was amazed to hear how easily processed silver (such as different guages of wire and sheet silver) could be purchased in the United States. He got all of his silver in a block from the bank and started from scratch. It was neat to see the basics that I don't normally incorporate into my work. “ Now, how cool is that!!! What a thrilling experience.
In Amanda’s blog, www.amandaconley.blogspot.com, i
t becomes obvious that her inspiration comes from God, her husband, her family and nature. She takes pictures and writes about all of these things. Including, preview her process in deciding details of Bijougirl Designs pieces and give readers a peek at new, but not yet for sale pieces.
When
asked about her hopes and dreams for the future of her business, Amanda stated, “for now, I am plugging along at a reasonable good pace for an artist who has three children (all boys.) I have two in school and one still at home, but I would love to pick up the pace a little when they all three get in school and maybe do some more shows.
anda Conley is Bijougirl Designs. She makes beautiful sterling silver and 14kt gold handmade jewelry in a bijou style. Her shop explains the meaning. “bi-jou: [bee'zhoo'] an intricately designed piece of delicate workmanship”. And, that is exactly what she does. I love her jewelry and that is why she was one of the first people that I added to my blog. Great quality also comes with excellent and friendly service. She will also customize a piece for you.Amanda stated that she started out as “a fine art majo
r in college and has been designing jewelry for almost ten years now. I love the processes of silver and gold smithing, and over the years have phased out other design methods in favor of working just with metals. She uses the highest quality supplies and all of the metal work is completed in her home studio. I love the quote from her blog that says, “I'm always looking for things that inspire me...and then I find they're everywhere...”Amanda
loves her work and when asked what she likes most, she replied, “It is simple, feminine and wearable. I don't make things that I wouldn't personally wear. I love making jewelry that has special meaning wrapped up in a simple symbol or in a word that uplifts and encourages. Sometimes it helps 
to have a small piece to wear everyday as a reminder of who you are or who you are striving to be. My jewelry accomplishes that for me, and I hope that it does the same for others who wear it.”For me personally, that was one of the reasons that I began to really, really noticed Amanda’s work (even though I already owned a ring) because for myself as a Christian the words, “fear not,” “lovely,” and “perserve” immediately brought Bible verses of comfort, strength and
encouragement to my mind. And, even if you are not a Christian they are wonderful words to use anyway. For me, I wear my beautiful “perserve” necklace as a reminder that God wants me to keep going no matter how difficult things get because he is there! That is my newest piece and I just love it. It is so unique compared to what is available as “Christian jewelry.” Or any jewelry for that matter!!! I normally don’t like delicate jewelry, but I like A
manda’s. I think because it is feminine without being “girly-girl.” I own four pieces of her jewelry and I am eyeing more…I really like the “fear not” necklace, but oh, another ring…Oh, I’m writing about Amanda…Sorry, I thought we started to talk about shopping…oh, it was just me!! Back to Amanda and Bijougirl Designs now!!Like
most artists, Amanda dislikes the marketing aspect of her job the most and says, “I don't know very many artists who can also get themselves out of their own creative world in order to market the
mselves, but when I meet one who can, I'm always a bit envious. I have a lot to learn, but I'm willing to try. It just doesn't come naturally to me. I would much rather sit at home and design and create and let someone else do the selling! The internet, of course, is an amazing tool in learning this process. I'm very thankful for it!”Amand
a and her husband are both artists which offered
them a unique experience. I’ll let Amanda tell it, “We were both invited to go to the Ukraine to meet with other artists there and work for several days to produce an art show that would occur at the end of the conference. I was the only jewelry designer to be a part of the show, but I was able to meet a master silversmith who lived in Kiev. He invited me to come to his studio several times and work with him there. So, I w
ent, along with a translator and he taught me many of the processes that I use now. He showed me things like pulling wire, cutting sheets and casting techniques that I don't usually do at home. He was amazed to hear how easily processed silver (such as different guages of wire and sheet silver) could be purchased in the United States. He got all of his silver in a block from the bank and started from scratch. It was neat to see the basics that I don't normally incorporate into my work. “ Now, how cool is that!!! What a thrilling experience.In Amanda’s blog, www.amandaconley.blogspot.com, i
t becomes obvious that her inspiration comes from God, her husband, her family and nature. She takes pictures and writes about all of these things. Including, preview her process in deciding details of Bijougirl Designs pieces and give readers a peek at new, but not yet for sale pieces.When
asked about her hopes and dreams for the future of her business, Amanda stated, “for now, I am plugging along at a reasonable good pace for an artist who has three children (all boys.) I have two in school and one still at home, but I would love to pick up the pace a little when they all three get in school and maybe do some more shows. To see and purchase Amanda’s Bijougirl Designs beautiful jewelry visit her shop at www.bijougirldesigns.etsy.com. To see her work and learn more about her visit her blog at www.amandaconley.blogspot.com. Also, in the upper right-hand corner of this blog is a slide-show of her work.
(Interview was completed via email, questionnaire, and information from her Etsy site and blog.)
1 comments:
Thanks for featuring me! The slideshow looks amazing!
Post a Comment