Where I got Sovereign Sea Designs

I love the ocean, and since I was tiny, have drawn inspiration, peace, and tranquility from it - it's been a ruling force in my life, hence my shop's name, Sovereign Sea Designs. 



Mini Pendant View from a Boat - $6


Mini Pendants are super affordable, and are made using 3/4" or 1/2" round glass, featuring a variety of tiny images. All are one of a kind! (excluding Chiyogami prints) Perfect for layering, fun to collect, cute on a charm bracelet. I'll be adding many more designs as time goes on.

Finding Your Niche

Since I first started selling online (my first site was Etsy) - I've struggled with my shop's "identity" and where I fit into the masses and masses of handmade jewelry sellers.  Jewelry is an extraordinarily competitive catagory to sell in no matter what your venue, and with many sellers being "hobby" sellers (ie: just looking to recoup their supply costs, not necessarily turn a profit) - what's a hopeful professional to do?


Find your niche!


1977 Science Microfilm Earrings - $12

It took me a while to figure mine out - but once I did, I couldn't believe it took me as long as it did to figure out.  I'm a librarian, I love reading, I love being a librarian and helping others develop a love of reading...so why not make book themed goodies?!

Dewey Decimal Earrings - $17

 
I started using the cards from our old card catalog (that they are throwing away, because our records have long since been digitized) to make lovely jewelry.  I use books that are being withdrawn (removed from the collection) and old bound periodicals like these images from a large bound copy of the London Times.



Buckingham Palace Earrings - $17

Incorporating something I love into my jewelry (rather than just things I found "pretty") has shown me that other people really love it too!  There are more bibliophiles out there than I ever imagined, and plenty of others who like the style for it's "geek chic" - so go out there, and find your niche!  It might be right under your nose!

Happy Crafting,

E

http://www.sovereignseadesigns.com

Featuring Other Artisans

Sometimes I think it's nice to take the focus off ourselves and enjoy and promote the talent of others.  For better or worse, I've found a giant community working in the handmade movement - and while we're a diverse group, I think the one thing that really units us, our love of creating, and our respect for quality hand crafted goods over mass produced items.


I'll be using this blog to talk about handmade, what it means to me, what it means to those I talk to, and sometimes to promote shops that I think really personify the "handmade movement" that is sweeping America.  One such shop is Jill2Day on Etsy.

Green and Purple Trillium Tunic - $87

Jill's designs are beautiful, and eco friendly as they recycle old garments into new ones, and with Jill's seamstress skills, become more charming than they ever were before.  The handmade and green movements go hand in hand together - more on that in upcoming posts.

Happy Crafting,

- Emma

http://www.sovereignseadesigns.com

Welcome to my new blog!

Hey everyone out there in craftyland! As I revamp my site (well, as my amazing programming partner revamps it and I tell him what I want it to look like) - I decided it would be prudent to join the ranks of the blogging world. I've been working on lots of new designs, like the metal bezel setting earrings below.

Retro Tattoo Rockabilly Sparrow Earrings - $17

And I'm working with some brick and mortal retail locations, like the super chic Local Collection in Boston to increase my presence out in the "real world" as well as online.  I used to guest write for The Handmade Gift Guide - but I'm still fairly new to blogging, so forgive me if some of the first posts here are short, I'm testing ways to connect this blog to my website.

Cheers,

Emma

http://www.sovereignseadesigns.com