JMO Jewelry Is Back!

After putting the JMO Jewelry line on hold for nearly a year, we've brought it back with some fabulous new pieces just for you! Here at JMO we like to design beautiful works of wearable art using an assortment of beads...from wood to glass to crystal. Our simple yet fabulous creations are sure to delight everyone.

Below are a couple pieces we've been working on lately. Over the coming weeks our website will be updated with more designs that have been handcrafted with quality, love and care. In the meantime, you can check out these pieces on our new etsy shop. We've reopened the etsy shop temporarily and are currently offering FREE U.S. shipping on any item in the shop from now through September 30, 2009. Only a select few items will be available on etsy; our website will contain the entire collection in all of our product lines.

Look at these beauties! We call these Crystal Blue Persuasion. Recycled vintage clip-ons have been given new life! Baby blue crystals sparkle in a silver curve and dangle daintily from the lobe. Very pretty!

And here we have the Danielle Hoop Earrings. Silver hoops measuring nearly 2" in diameter with a single column of red, black, and speckled white glass beads with a silver cone accent. They may be simple, but they're fabulous!

Want a one-of-a-kind custom piece designed just for you? We will work closely with our customers on designing the perfect piece that meets your color, size, and quality specifications as close as possible. Use the Contact Us page on our site to submit your request. We'd love to hear from you!

A Word About Arts & Crafts Vendors

Participating as an arts & crafts vendor is alot of work. If the event is outdoors, a tent is not only preferred, but pretty much necessary. Then there's tables and their coverings, displays, packaging, chairs, signage, credit card processing equipment, sufficient change for cash transactions, business cards, lighting, pen and paper for on-the-spot custom orders and recording sales and, of course, the items you have for sale. Setting up for an event usually takes me about an hour to get everything just right. I sell a number of different items so I'm constantly rearranging pieces to ensure a top notch, eye catching display. I attempt to draw visitors into my booth as soon as I see them approaching by saying hello, asking them how they're doing, and then quickly launching into a discussion of the items I'm offering for sale with the hopes that they're intrigued enough to check out all the goods. As with any vendor at the event, I'm there to sell, to make money. But I always make a point of telling prospective customers that all the items they see in my booth are handmade. By me. Each bead on every piece of jewelry is hand strung. Each stitch on every hat, scarf, belt, or purse is crocheted by hand. Each of my soy wax melts are hand poured into the mold. Each bar of soap is part of a batch that was made in my kitchen and cut by hand. Each and every item I offer for sale contains a little piece of me. I put my heart and soul into each of those items as well as alot of love, care, and attention to detail. I take great pride in knowing that the items I'm offering are of high quality. Personally, I'd prefer handmade items over machine made, mass produced goods any day. Apparently, not everyone thinks that way.

I recently participated in an arts and crafts event and watched with utter disgust as visitors oohed and aahed over cheesy plastic jewelry, designer knockoff handbags, and dollar store toys. I watched as parents happily handed over $10 for a light-up bubble blower because their little tyke kept screaming "I want one!" People whipping out their credit cards for a $30 spinning lawn ornament thingamajig. Clueless teenagers plunking down $20 for what they honestly believed was a real "designer" wallet. Ladies drooling over necklace and earring sets made from cheap plastic beads. I watched, and I cried. Not just because it wasn't my items they were buying, but because there was so little appreciation for good, quality merchandise. Garishness and the promise of a "real good deal" won out over simple quality. I wasn't the only one at this event feeling the sting; other vendors offering quality products were also overlooked. I cried for them, too.

I am very proud to be a part of the handmade movement. I wish folks out there would open their eyes and take notice of all the indie artisans who produce such beautiful, unique handcrafted items. You can't help but appreciate the time and effort put into their creations. There is an immense pool of talent in the indie community that continuously inspires me. The next time you're at an arts & crafts exhibit, ask the vendor if their items are handmade. If not, I hope you'll move on.