Caring For Your Pearls


Since we're into the time of year where most people dig out their classic pearls and wear them, I thought it would be appropriate to remind everyone of some basic pearl care.



Pearls should not be kept in 'air-tight' containers,...they need to 'breathe'.



To avoid scratching your pearls (and other stones, too), store them in a soft, cloth jewelry bag.



To clean your pearls wipe them off gently with a soft, non-chemically treated cloth after each wear and prior to storing them.



Hand-knotted pearls generally need to be re-strung every 18 months to 3 years, depending on the amount of time you wear your pearls and the conditions/environment in which you subject them to.



Keep the silk of your hand-knotted pearls from stretching too quickly by keeping lotions, perfumes, hairsprays, and all other chemicals away from your pearls. This will not only help the silk knots to last longer, but will also help your pearls keep their luster and beauty.



Pearls that come in contact with lotions, hairsprays, perfumes and other substances will slowly lose their luster and may become damaged over time, thus losing their beauty and value.



When it's time to have your pearls restrung - whether it's newer or older pearl jewelry - please call and ask us for a free estimate!



Until Next Time,



Peace, Love and Beautifully Strung Pearls, Baby!!



Cheers,

~Shel~


Queen Conch Cultured Pearls


Great news! Scientists have finally, after 25 years of attempting to culture pearls from the queen conch, been successful!

An article appearing in GIA's Gems and Gemology, stated how scientists from FloridaAtlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (Hector Acosta-Salmon and Megan Davis) "developed proprietary techniques to produce beaded and non-beaded cultured pearls from the queen conch."
According to another article in Science Daily, "This discovery opens up a unique opportunity to introduce a new gem to the industry".
Until now, queen conch "pearls" were some of the rarest gems in the world. (and from our standpoint, some of the most beautiful, too!)
Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Beautiful Pearls Baby!!
Cheers,
~Shel~














Proof is in the pudding,......



Buy your pearls now reports JCK. Here's why:

JCK Special Report: Dishing Up Pearls in a Buyer's Market: "This story originally ran in the October 2009 issue of JCK.

An interesting report full of information on not only Salt Water Akoya Pearls, but South Sea Pearls, Freshwater Cultured Pearls and especially Tahitian Pearls.

With fahsion trends leaning towards everything pearls at the moment, it would be particularly prudent to purchase designs which are up to date, yet classic enough to carry you through changes in trends and fads, since prices on these magnificent gems are likely to climb in the next few years due to shortages, ecomonic woes and environmental issues.
Weigh in on your thoughts regarding pearl farming, pearl jewelry trends and all things pearls here on our blog!


Until next time,
Peace, Love and Pearls Baby!!
Cheers,
~Shel~

Great Resources for Jewelry Artists


I'm posting some great jewelry business (or any small business, actually) resources here today because we could all use some help and guidance. With my thought that "There's enough for everyone" and because I believe that "what goes around comes around", being helpful just comes naturally for me, so I hope this information and these sites are able to help all my fellow jewelry artists (and anyone else, too!) out there!


The Home Jewelry Business Success Tips website and blog by Rena Klingenberg. This site, and her blog, are invaluable in helping with social networking/marketing, jewelry show participation, packaging, tips and tricks to selling your jewelry - everything!


Jewelry Marketing by David Weiman - The #1 Source for Handcrafted Jewerly Makers. David walks you through all the aspects of marketing your jewelry, the psychology of it, the pricing, the how's and why's - you name it, he's got your answers!


Art Biz Blog - For The Business of Being An Artist. This blog helps you with social networking sites like facebook, twitter, etc. and has some great insight into being an artist in the business world - packed with helpful knowledge!


Okay - there's a lot to focus on here, so that's it for today. There's tons more and each month I'll post a few more sites full of information that can help you build your business, brand yourself as an expert and keep you sane in the midst of ever changing technology and times!!


Until next time,

Peace, Love and Good Business Baby!!

Cheers,

~Shel~



Style Envy LOVES Our Animal Print Shell Bead Earrings!!

We're sending a big THANK YOU over to our friends at Style Envy!!

They're loving our Animal Print Shell Bead Earrings in 14K gold fill and we're loving them for it!!



Style Envy has all your designer needs in one place - fashion, jewelry, accessories - and they've got it all for LESS!! That's right - find the greatest deals and steals in they Style Specials section!


Shop early for your holiday needs and save BIG!!


Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Style Envy, Baby!!
Cheers,
~Shel~

Our Fall 2009 Facebook Fan Jewelry Give-A-Way Winners Are,...



Our Fall 2009 Facebook Fan Jewelry Give-A-Way Winners Are,...
Jessica Larkin Harmon - Wooden Links Necklace
June Cleaver - "Choco-Latte" earrings
Janet Brandt DuChanois - MiShel Designs Gift Cert (20%)
Suzanne Stevens - MiShel Designs Gift Cert (20%)

The correct answer to our "Name This Famous Pearl" is: La Peregrina!!
Hope everyone had fun playing our "Name This Famous Pearl" game.
Congrats to you all and thanks so much for particpating!
To get all the details and see everyone's answers - log on to our MiShelDesigns.com Facebook page!
Stay tuned for our next Jewelry Give-A-Way scheduled this winter (I'm thinking around December 1st would be a good time!!).
Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Pearls Baby!
Cheers,
~Shel~

MiShelDesigns.com on Facebook - Jewelry Give-A-Way


Hey there fans and friends,


Shoot on over to our MiShelDesigns.com facebook page and become a fan and you can participate in our Fall 2009 Facebook Fans Jewelry Give-A-Way tomorrow!


Go check it out for all the details!!


Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Free Stuff Baby!


Cheers,

~Shel~

Welcome to the Fall Business Women Online Expo!

I'm excited to be a part of the 1st Annual Fall Business Women Online Expo this weekend where we're showcasing our businesses with shameless self-promotion, learning about each other (networking) and having fun with contests, give-a-ways (or whatever we want) to entice folks to stop on by and check us out! What fun!


For starters, let's get down to the good stuff: the GIVE-A-WAYS I'm having!



1. Be one of the first 3 folks to leave a comment at the bottom of this post telling us what you like most about our blog and/or website (www.MiShelDesigns.com) along with your name and email (so I can privately get your mailing info) and you will win a pair of our "Herringbone Weave Pearl Drop Earrings".

2. The first 3 people to become our friend/fan on our MiShel Designs fanpage on Facebook on Saturday, September 26th, will win a pair of our 14K GF Faceted Lemon Quartz Drop Earrings. Log onto facebook and go to our MiShelDesigns.com page, became a fan and then send us a private message with your email so I can get your mailing info to send you your pretty pair of earrings!
Okay - is that easy or what?!!

Now, for our juicy detials. And, since most of you are surfing the net w/little time to spare - we'll keep this short (no pun towards myself taken!!) and sweet.

The "We" behind MiShel Designs is me, myslef and I - with lots of love, support (and purchases) from my family, friends and return customers! I'm Michelle Buettner and I love to laugh, have a quirky sense of humor, twirl my hair constantly (when I don't have jewlery tools in my hands!), would stop breathing if I couldn't create jewelry and I consider myself one of the luckiest people on the planet! I hold a Graduate Pearls Diploma from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and I love to drool over pearls, gemstones and all things jewelry. My jewelry, even though somewhat trendy, tends to be classic in design and taste and can be worn season after season.
Okay - there you have it. Have fun checking out all the fabulous designers who are participating in the 1st Annual Fall Business Women Online Expo - and please, please share their info w/your friends. We all love handmade items and it feels great supporting those who are passionate enough to put their creativity out in the world for everyone to enjoy!














Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Pearls Baby!!
Cheers,
~Shel~


Find Us Here:
http://www.misheldesigns.com/
http://www.misheldesigns.blogspot.com/
FaceBook
Twitter
Myspace

Fall Business Women Online Expo

Hey - grab your 'fun hat' and click on over to the Fall Business Women Online Expo this Saturday, September 26th!


It's a fantastic way to network w/other independent online business owners, learn some new ways to network within your chosen online social media sites and have a great time to boot!
Plus, you and your friends can find some fantastically great buys for the upcoming holiday season. Nothing feels as good as supporting independent designers AND getting great stuff!


Check it out!!

Until this weekend,

Peace, Love and Pearls Baby!!

Cheers,
~Shel~

Social Media: Does it really influence women's buying decisions?


Okay - I'm really trying to follow the advice of all the pro's and guru's out there who tell me (and everyone else, too) that part of my over-all marketing plan must include as many social networking sites as possible (that apply to what I do, anyway) and that I must take full advantage of these tools if I want to succeed and I want women to buy my jewelry.


In reading "Surprisingly, Women's Purchases Largely Uninfluenced by Social Networks" by Ann Hadley today, I was 'surprised' - as it says - that women's purchases are largely UNINFLUENCED by all the social networking sites - especially the ones I participate in like Facebook, Twitter and Myspace!


My question, after reading the above article is this,...."Do you think that women's purchases are becoming more influenced by these social networking sites because all the pros and gurus out there are 'stearing' things in that direction by touting what they want to be the outcome? Or are you, as a woman, largely, or in anypart, truly influenced by social networking sites such as facebook, twitter, and myspace soley on your own, and do you base your purchases, name brand or independent, on social networking sites and their information?"


I'm interested to hear what types of social networking has helped you in any type of buying decision.....please weigh in.


Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Pearls Baby!!

Cheers,

~Shel~