More playing time with Sterling PMC

Finally I had the time to play again in my studio and create jewelry. I have been busy with some personal issues and with lots of paperwork, I really missed playing again !!

I wanted to make a brooch with Sterling PMC .One of my signature pieces, Sacred/Milagro Heart, that I love to create was my option for this brooch. 

This time I change a little my firing schedule on the second stage (charcoal). Instead of firing for 45 minutes like I did in my first time playing with Sterling PMC, I decided I will fired the brooch for 1 and a half hour at 1500F. 

The brooch came out perfectly and I will continue to fire my pieces the longest time I can do for the second stage.

SACRED/MILAGRO Heart
©2012 Lorena Angulo
Sterling PMC

SACRED/MILAGRO Heart (back)
©2012 Lorena Angulo
Sterling PMC

SACRED/MILAGRO Heart (back)
©2012 Lorena Angulo
Sterling PMC

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Love,

Lorena Angulo

Sharing some tips for a good display in your booth

To capture the attention of the people to come to your table or booth, it is very important to display banners or images of some of your pieces in the walls of your booth. They have to be big enough for people to see them from far away. It is important to make banners or posters with one piece or a small set of pieces per poster or banners. Do not over fill the banners with lots of pieces because it will be overwhelming and they will not bring people to your booth. Try to avoid adding your name in the banners because when you have to apply for some juried shows, they cannot see your name in the booth shot you will be sending in your application. It is better to make a single banner with your name and take it out of the picture when you submit for art show.

Keep your jewelry displays neutral and very clean looking, we want the jewelry to be the star and not the displays.

One of the most important things to have in your table or booth is a mirror or mirrors. You need to have something that is big enough for a client to see themselves from the chest up. Buying jewelry is a first love thing and if you have the space where they can see how the jewelry will look on them, you will be very close to closing a sale than if you did not have a mirror.The mirror(s) need to be very simple and heavy enough for them not to fall down in case you are in a show outdoors and it is very windy. Remember you are selling your jewelry, not the mirror; this is why you have to get a simple and not decorated mirror. I used to have two beautiful mirrors at the beginning but after the 10th person making comments about them and wanting to know where did I get them, I got the message and they where gone on my next show. ;o) 


Lighting is very important to be able to display and show your jewelry. If you have access to electricity in your shows you have to think in bringing good lighting for jewelry. This is going to make your jewelry pop-up and showed the details much better. Be careful to not blind your customers with the lights, check the displays and be sure the lighting is correct. 


You must present your jewelry to your clients when they buy your work in the best possible way you can. Spending money in buying good jewelry boxes is totally worth it and there are lots of options to buy boxes that are cheaper but look very expensive. You created your work with love and you must give it away in the same way. You have to show respect for your craft and your client. Make the boxes more personal by adding your name or logo on the top and if it is possible, write a small bio for the inside. They love to have more information about the artist who made the piece. 

And last but not least,SMILE and have a GOOD attitude. You are representing your work and no matter how tired you are, if the show is not very good, if you are not selling a lot; you always have to keep you beautiful smile and be nice and friendly to everyone. Your attitude is an important factor in how much you can sell and if the customers will be remembering you. Please, do not eat in front of the customers and stay sitting in a chair. You have to have direct eye contact with your customers and sitting in a chair is not going to make that possible. You also have to dress nicely. I have seen a lot of incredible artists who do not take care on how they look and that is not going to give a nice impression to your future clients. 


Here you have some links where you can find banners and jewelry boxes.
I get my jewelry boxes at NOBLE.
I got my banners at FEDEX and VISTAPRINT. (I found out after I ordered my first banners in Fedex that VistaPrint has the same quality and they are cheaper.)


Love, 

Lorena Angulo



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A look from Behind

I have always thought that the back of any jewelry piece is as important as the front. I always try to have something on the back of my pieces as a surprise for the wearer and also because I think it says a lot about the maker.
Most of the work I do has a detail on the back, I enjoy very much doing it.

CRUZ PASION (front and back view)
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Pure silver (PMC3), sterling and LOS patina

Soulful Heart (front and back view)
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Bronzclay, brass and coral

MILAGRO HEART pendant (front and back view)
©2010 Lorena Angulo
Pure Silver (PMC3) and LOS patina

CORAZON (front and back view)
©2009 Lorena Angulo
Brass and copper

Lately I started making brooches but I was very curious to see how other artists where making their pin backs and the back of their designs. I looked for inspiration everywhere but it was very hard to find images of the back side of the brooches.
Because I had a difficult time finding images of the back view of brooches I started thinking it will be great if I can create a collection of images from other artists as an inspirational tool.


I finally did it in my Pinterest page, I created a board about the back view of brooches called "Behind the brooch."

Come and take a look at the wonderful work by these artists. I am sure you will find it very interesting and helpful.


I took a class with the talented Gary Schott at Southwest School of Art and I learned how to make my first pin back with him. It was fun and I know I have to practice much more to feel more comfortable making my own pin backs and also start thinking of different ways I can design my own.

Back view of my first time making a pin back.
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Copper and steel wire

I also work a lot with metal clay and took the challenge to make my own pin back and pendant finding for my piece.

Back view of my first brooch/pendant combo
in pure silver (PMC3)
©2011 Lorena Angulo

How do you approach the design of your work ? Do you do something special for the back side? I will love to find out what your ideas about this topic are and if you want me to share an image of your back view of a brooch, let me know and I will add it to my board.


Love,
Lorena Angulo
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Kubiak Gallery

I am very happy to have some of my paintings and a paper figurine in Kubiak Gallery. This beautiful gallery is located in Douglas, Michigan and was founded by Kim Kubiak (a wonderful ceramist) in 2008.


If you live in the area you can come and visit this nice gallery and see my work and all the great pieces the gallery has from other artists.

Catrina "Carmelita"
©2011 Lorena Angulo
Paper clay, acrylics and watercolors

These are  the three paintings the
gallery is showing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Happy New Year 2012 !!!!!!

Yes, I know I am 5 days late for this but for me this is the first day of the year. 

I have been very sick with a cold that had me miserable for more than 5 days, I spent most of the first days of the year sleeping and taking medicine but THANK GOD I am ALIVE  and feeling MUCH better.
This is how I looked all the time and I felt like that too. It is incredible how my eyes are so sad, I told myself this is my time to take a rest that I know I needed because the last couple of months have been very intense for me. 
I am finally able to come to my studio, or what looks like my studio under all the mess I made during those Holidays Shows.


Now I am ready to start this new year with all my energy and with a positive attitude no matter what comes my way. 2011 was a year that gave me a lot of incredible opportunities and happiness but also has been a very challenging year too. We lost three members of my family in less than 4 months and some other issues that I am still trying to survive, I have faith that whatever our destiny has planned for me, my husband and my kids it will always be for the better.


I am thankful for the support I got from family and friends, THANKS to all of you for your kind words and for being there for us. ♥


I have lots of things I want to start doing and creating, I can not wait to see what new things come my way. For now I decided to make my first piece of jewelry for this year and I made my favorite accessory, earrings !!


I can not go anywhere if I am not wearing earrings, I am so obsess with them that I keep a pair in my car just in case I forget to put some or in case something happens to the ones I am wearing. ;o) Yes, I know I am a little crazy but earrings make me HAPPY.

You see?  I am HAPPY !!!

Still a little sick but happy.

LUNA (Moon)
©2012 Lorena Angulo
FastFire Bronzclay, copper wire, sterling, turquoise and red coral

Blessing to all and I want to wish you a fantastic year !!!


Love,
Lorena Angulo