What's Old Is New

I have recently acquired a large amount of vintage/costume jewelry pieces. Now I'm not really one for either of these types of jewelry items, however I am TOTALLY for recycling and upcycling. So I started experimenting with a few of the items. The first experiment didn't turn out so well while the second experiment came out fantastic! The first was an attempt to make a large double pendant out of a pair of extra large fuchsia clip on earrings, while the second was an attempt to create a pendant out of an old broach.

I must admit, the second experiment is my new favorite item. I'm going to keep on experimenting and will end up posting the results as a mini collection of vintage upcycled jewelry. Be on the lookout!

Alphabet Stackable Rings

Fellow Etsy member, BadCatJewelry makes the best treasury lists!!! In her latest one, she features a lovely blend of lime and peach. My stackable alphabet rings were featured in her latest treasury list. Take a look at the list through the link below.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=72940

Here is a picture of the rings featured. Remember, these rings are available in all letters and all sizes from 1-14. They are made of fine silver and are only $20 each!

Etsy Treasury

So once again I am up in the middle of the night on the computer, scanning Etsy.com (where you can get my items online) and to my surprise, the Treasury West opened up. I've kinda been a little obsessed with creating these treasury lists. They are basically just a list of random items found on Etsy that you fancy and select in order to showcase for others to see. A few days ago, I created a list featuring items from the Alamo City Etsy Team. Today's list features my favorite color - Turquoise, but with a punk rock twist. I gave it the title of one of my favorite THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS songs, Punk Rock Girl. It's great! Any how, take a look, click around, and leave a comment if you've got an Etsy account.

Here is the link to the Treasury list:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=62224

A change of space

As of Tomorrow, B.Link will be in a new location. Its only 5 doors down from my last location, which is great, but the hard part is trying to reorganize all of my materials and supplies. It looks like I will be up in the wee hours of the morning setting up. Oh, how I love my sleep but by tomorrow, it will all look GREAT! Pictures of the new place will follow soon.

Front Page!

I've been selling my items on Etsy.com since January, and I've always wondered how items get featured on the homepage of the website. Now that I've been on Etsy for a few months, I now know it's a combination of ways. Anyhow, much to my surprise and merriment (yeah, I said merriment), I come to find that one of my items made it to the front page for the first time!!! I noticed this as I was looking at my online store and saw that I got an unusually high amount of views and hearts today.

Here is a look at the item that was featured.

A few nods that brightened my day

So early this morning I created my first Treasury on Etsy.com. I love the 60's mod style, so I titled it "Jackie O." I was super excited to finally be able to curate a list, beacause it takes so much paitence to wait for slots to open up. You can check it out here:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=69758

Then as I'm at lunch today, I notice a copy of SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE in the resuraunt, and I pick it up to check something and sure enough it's there! July is their "Newcomer Issue" and in the magazine, they featured a bunch of new places and people in San Antonio, and B.Link was mentioned in the Boutique's section. They even featured my "ocean spray" earrings that I posted on my first blog from July4. I went to both Borders and Whole Foods, and neither had the new issue. They only had the one from last month. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

And finally, as I'm scouring the bookstore for SAMag, I get an e-mail from another Etsyian, letting me know that my "mini farmers market bag - avocado" was featured in her treasury! I thought this was so awsome, especially since I just posted that item last night. It is a cool bag I must say. Here is what it looks like:

And here is a link to the treasury:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=70085

Please click on both of these treasuries, click around, and leave coments if you can!

Origins Pt.1

I often get allot of questions as to how I, this, B.Link got started, and it's a bit of a funny story. I was never really considered the creative type. Analytical, logical, mathematical, or clever even, but never creative. I love to solve puzzles, and figure out patterns, and I suppose it was this fancy for the logical that helped me become susceptible to the creative process.

It started about 10 years ago, the summer after I graduated from high school. As a graduation gift, I got a trip out west. We drove from San Antonio to Phoenix to Las Vegas then to LA, and I loved it. I spent about two weeks away, and while I was in LA, of course I spent some time at the beach. Santa Monica to be exact. While I was there, I was strolling along the pier, and I noticed a guy on the side making and selling hemp jewelry. Back then, I was really into the whole summer-west coast-surfer look, so his jewelry really intrigued me, and I thought, "I want to do that". I bought an anklet from him and wore for several months straight, but when I got back home to San Antonio, I started to inspect it to see how it was made and from then on I was hooked on the process of creating. Since then, the majority of my technique has come from trial and error based on going off what I see, whether it be visual imagery or text. I've never taken a class, or been formally taught on any specific process.

That August, I entered as a freshman at UT-Austin, and in my ID, I'm actually wearing one of the first hemp necklaces I made that summer. I couldn't put the stuff down, and I worked with hemp almost exclusively for two years. Knotting and working in this medium really laid the groundwork for how and what I create today.

While I don't really work with hemp too much these days, I have made an occasional bracelet here and there. I did come up with these earrings though, and in my store, they've been a bit of a hit. In the past month, I've sold about 1/2 dozen. These earrings are made with hemp, knotted on wire, then attached to a Tahitian coin pearl at the end. They hang from sterling silver ear wires.

In the begining...

Ok, so I'm trying to figure out more and more ways to get exposure without having to pay for it. Cheap I know, but afterall, I am a new business with a limited budget. In case you are not aware, B.Link is a boutique I opened a few months ago located in Southtown, San Antonio. I strive in creating handmade one of a kind items that are unique, chic, and affordable.

My jewelry, which I believe is my strong point, consist of the best materials I can find. No plastic here, only glass, vintage glass, and semi-precious stones. I only use sterling silver or gold filled items in my pieces about 90% of all the metalwork I do my self. I love making unique silver pendants and rings, and you would not believe how many custom orders I do.

Many of my designs and pieces are very much reflective of the seasons. I love to knit, but like I mentioned, I live in San Antonio... where there's like 300 days of sunshine and 150 days of +90 degree weather. My knits are only applicable for like a week, but they are sooooo cozy. Anyhow this is just the begining, stay tuned for more info on my process, my creations, and creative influences.

Here are one of my favorite earrings I have for sale in my store, and online at blinkdesign.etsy.com: