How To for aspiring jewelry artists!

We have noticed a LOT of activity from other artists and crafters on the SilverStarGems website. Moreover, we have gained a LOT of traffic at shows from these same groups tyring to figure out how some of Lia's items are made. Lia has also been approached by college students who want to apprentice with her.

With this in mind, Lia is putting together a "Jewlery Making Resources" section on her website (http://www.silverstargems.com/t-jewelersresource.aspx) which you can find at the bottom of the homepage. When complete you will have access to:

1. Supplies and Kits

You can purchase a complete "kit" to make you own jewlery without having to buy in bulk from a manufacturer yet still keep your costs lower than if you bought in a retail store. In addition, the kits are made here in the studio so you can be sure that you have something very unique.

2. Recommended Reading and Instruction

This is a reading list of books that Lia used when she started after leaving the technology industry. They cover the basics that you MUST know so you can unleach your own creativity.

3. Tools and Equipment

As you progress in the field of art jewelry (either as a profession or hobby) we will have tools and equipment that Lia uses everyday in her studio.

"What's New" and "On Sale"

The site upgrade is complete and there are a LOT of new features. Of particular interest to returning customers are menus of new items and on sale items. If you look on the same line as the seach bar (2nd menu line) you will find new jewelry that has been put online within the past 60 days. There is also a long list of sale items that you can grab while the supply lasts.

Lia has been working for "weeks" creating feeds for popular search engines such as Yahoo, Shopzilla, PriceGrabber and a few others. Before the end of the week you will also have the option to use SilverStar checkout or Google checkout.

For those out of the country we have made it easier to purchase in British Pounds, Euros, and Canadian Dollars. Just select your currency and everything will be displayed in that currency for you. If you country has VAT, that will be your responsibility upon receipt.

Over 100 New Items & New Web Site On Its Way

Okay - we've completed the inventory for the accountants (IRS!) and found over 100 items made by Lia that never made it to the site! Well - the new items have been put up for you. Since it's a new year and all of the numbers are correct again, we are upgrading the SilverStarGems.com site.

This is really much more than an upgrade - it's a literal transformation with tons of new features to make it easier for our customers. We expect to have the staging site (development site) complete by early next week. We will then take the production site down for a day to move the upgraded application and database. For those of you in Europe, we have also made is MUCH easier for you to buy in your own currencies.

I (that's me - Bill) have been asked who did the SilverStarGems.com site. The answer is easy - Lia has done it all and she's doing some programming right now.

Happy New Year

Lia took her "down time" during the holidays to update her online site with a ton of new designs that she had been working on during the last quarter. Of course the holiday shipping schedule kept her busy and now it's INVENTORY TIME. For the benefit of the accountants we're counting thousands of pieces of finished jewelry, gems, silver, gold, etc.

Before many of these go into the retail channel please take advantage of these "one-of-a-kind" pieces for your collection.

The Christmas Dragon

This can be delivered IN TIME by FEDEX only (Today is the 19th of December). If you're still wondering about a unique gift - go dragon exclusively sold on Silver Star Gems & Jewelry website and handmade by Lia. Here's the link: http://www.silverstargems.com/s-141-decorative-sculpture-collection.aspx

Fresh Water Pearls

This necklace is an item of our Lia's 'Contemporary Classics' series, a special line of gallery-quality designer Freshwater Pearl jewelry in coordinating and complimenting colors, shapes and styles. See our other 'Contemporary Classics' items for mix and match collectible options.

Gorgeous grade AA 6mm White Pearls necklace features large 14mm White Pearls suspended from graduated Sterling Silver Chain Drops to create a versatile and dramatic presentation. This 15.5" choker length necklace also features a 2" Sterling Silver chain and lobster claw clasp that allows the necklace to be adjusted up to 18" long, which allows the necklace to be adjusted to the perfect length for any clothing neckline.

Dichroic Jewlery is the hot item for the holidays

Dichroic Glass Jewelry is selling 10 to 1 over other products. It seems that women are making their own fashion decisions rather than following industry marketing departments. " This isn't a regional fad. I've been receiving orders daily from all over the U.S. and Europe for my Dichro".

Lia employs unified Fine Silver (.999 Pure Silver) bails for her Dichroic Bracelets, which are embedded in the glass and incorporated into the design, rather than simply gluing a bail on the back of the glass as is often done by other vendors. Her special bails will never fall off of the bracelet links, and allow the back of the bracelet links to remain perfectly smooth and non-irritating to the wearer. These design features can only be found at Silver Star Gems & Jewelry! (www.SilverStarGems.com)