Celebrating 6 Months! (...and Help Me Pick a New Headshot!)

Can you believe I've been writing APPLESandRUBIES for six months now?

Really, THANK YOU all for reading and coming along with me on this ride so far.

{sterling silver Theresa earrings with Stuyvesant Fern}

 I feel honored to now know so many people in different places, to know other bloggers and readers with amazing insights and talents.  As a jewelry designer, I'm often holed up by myself, working alone. I can't thank blogging enough for expanding my world. Really! Stay tuned for some exciting news about the direction I'll be taking my business in soon...

Now, help me pick a new profile pic! When I started thinking about writing this blog back in the summer of 2010,  I had my amazing friend Juliet Lofaro come over and shoot some new headshots.

Juliet is a fabulous photographer and the mother of two sweet, beautiful girls. When Juliet lived in New York City she shot for film and theater, and had a photography studio where actors, musicians and conductors would visit to have their portraits taken. (She tells me the conductors would arrive with tuxedo tails and shirt, and jeans underneath as their legs didn't show in the headshots!)

{the friendly "APPLES" portraits}

{the glamorous "RUBIES" - Juliet worked magic here, I don't really look like this!}

Juliet shot these portraits on a sweltering summer day - think 95 degrees outside and the "dewy look" is my new makeup sweating off! - Here are ten of her photographs.  I separated them into two groups: the everyday "APPLES", and the more glamorous "RUBIES"

Which do you like best for a new profile picture for my blog? ...and why? I need help! It's far too hard to judge pictures of yourself!

{"Spring Dreams" photograph by Juliet Lofaro}

 ... and see more of Juliet's poetic photography at: Juliet's Blog

Loretta

Valentine's Day Roses

February is just around the corner.

{Meredith necklace with Pale Pink Rose, waiting for a chain}

I'm in Valentine's Day mode at my jewelry bench. Here's a necklace in progress, made with a favorite photograph I shot of a rose. Isn't the this shade of cotton candy pink uplifting?

What get's you into a Valentine's state-of-mind?

Loretta

Shall I ETSY and WordPress and sell online?

November 2012 UPDATE: The etsy shop is now open (with just one item to start, but more coming soon!): www.etsy.com/shop/LorettaFontaineLtd

Who out there is selling online? This girl is looking for ADVICE!

{sterling silver Meredith necklace with Stuyvesant Fern, freshwater pearls, faceted iolite and blue topaz}

I've owned my business, Loretta Fontaine Jewelry, for over ten years now and have sold my artisan handcrafted sterling silver jewelry with miniature original photography at national trade shows to over sixty fine shops and galleries across the country (even Alaska!)

My work has been featured on ABC, InStyle.com, National Jeweler , NICHE, Lapidary Journal and Modern Jeweler and seven books on jewelry, the latest being Lark Book's 500 Gemstone Jewels: A Sparking Collection of Dazzling Designs.

I have a feeling it's time to start selling my work from my website, and maybe Etsy? I'm doing more and more custom work and it would be a lot of fun to directly connect with my clients.

If you have an Etsy shop or are an Etsy shopper, and have some good advice, leave it in a comment for me below. (Add some links to your favorite Etsy shops, too!)

I'm thinking of designing a new, sleeker website with Wordpress and feature a little online store. Anyone selling from your website? Again, leave some advice with your comments!

A big thanks in advance to all! (I'm hoping for a big virtual push here.)

Loretta

November 2012 UPDATE: The etsy shop is now open (with just one item to start, but more coming soon!): www.etsy.com/shop/LorettaFontaineLtd

Fantastic Holiday Jewelry GIVEAWAY!

{sterling silver Triple Lucy necklace with red, apple green and plum multi, with faceted tourmaline beads}

I'm in a happy holiday mood and am offering readers of this blog a fantastic Loretta Fontaine Jewelry GIVEAWAY this month! I'll choose the winner on December 28 - you could be wearing this beautiful necklace around your neck in the New Year!

To enter, become a follower of this blog and leave a comment below. For more ten chances to win, post this giveaway on your blog. For even another ten chances to win, post this giveaway on Facebook!

{detail - I chose the tourmaline beads for the rich natural colors}

The necklace features miniature original photographs of my own paintings, and is strung on an absolutely stunning strand of faceted tourmaline beads. (Retail value of this necklace is $240.00) Thank you all for your support this year - I am truly indebted to this wonderful blogging community for inspiration and kindness.

Happy Holidays, and I am so excited to draw a winner for this one!

A Favorite Necklace

{reversible sterling silver Theresa necklace with miniature original photograph of Crimson Rose and freshwater pearl}

This Loretta Fontaine Jewelry design is a favorite of mine! The upcoming holidays have me in a "red" mood today!

Jewelry Giveaway!

sterling silver reversible Amy earrings with Stuyvesant Fern and custom gray freshwater pearls

Would you like to win a pair of Loretta Fontaine Jewelry earrings? (They're reversible - hence the two sides!) It's a favorite design that features my own miniature original b&w photography of a fern.

I had the pleasure of being interviewed about my job as a jewelry designer by the team at Crafty Life & Style blog.  To celebrate, were having a jewelry giveaway! The interview should be posted today! (You'll find out how I started - which involves beer, and I was sober!)Here's the link: Crafty Life & Style

Become a follower of my blog, APPLESandRUBIES and leave a comment below for a chance to win. If you put this giveaway on your blog or Facebook just let me know and that will give you 10 additional chances to win.

and...

head over to my  Crafty Life and Style interview and add a comment there for another chance

and...

Give this giveaway a "like" on the Loretta Fontaine Jewelry Facebook page for even another chance!

Winner will be chosen at noon, Wednesday, November 10

This is too much fun! Good luck!
xoxo Loretta

winner shipped free in US

Making Earwires

pile o' silver

This pile of wires will become earwires. I've already balled the ends with a torch and am getting ready to curve and polish them. Yea, I could buy earwires ready-made, but that wouldn't be handcrafted now, would it?