Discontinued blog

I will no longer update this blog. For jewelry related articles, features, tutorials, ads and more, see my magazine's website:

Design Jewelry and Accessories Magazine.

If you want to be featured on the blog, please write me an email. You can find it in the About page on the DJAM blog.

Product photography tutorial

I am copying this same post from my bigger photography blog, The I Inside.

I see many many shops out there, most of them have great items, but they need a learn a few tricks about improving their photos. I wrote this tutorial a while ago, for my magazine, Design Jewelry and Accessories and I thought I could publish it here too.

Good luck!!

Hammer!

I just bought a small jewelry hammer... This is one of my first designs using hammered silver:

earrings with pink chalcedony.

Bracelets craze!

I recently got these gorgeous jasper stones. I love the colors so I made some stretch bracelets with them. You can wear one, or mix and match colors!

See the bracelets in my Etsy shop, ByVellamo.

Kinnisvara Fotograaf - Sandra Rugina: Angles

Kinnisvara Fotograaf - Sandra Rugina: Angles: Sometimes it's about the angle. Point your camera up, or downwards, see the lines, use the lines, zoom in, zoom out. ...

Amber

A few years ago I had barely heard of amber... I didn't think it too valuable. But of course, I had only seen quite dark, boring looking amber, with little or no inclusions. It just looked a bit like plastic to me.

And then I moved to the North and I saw the real natural Baltic Amber... 

Baltic amber is considered to be the best variety of amber. Baltic amber is usually of a yellow, honey-like color, but may occur in many shades from pale yellow to dark brown. White pieces with a yellowish or bony tint, as well as green and even blue amber are rare.

See them in my Amber Collection.

Statement earrings!

Recently I have started making these long earrings in many colors, using a combination of stones, cloisonne beads and Swarovski crystals.

See all of them by clicking here.

New promos

Got new promo photos today!

Find the new products listed in my shop!

Scam

A few days ago, a scammer posted an assistant job ad on Craigslist Los Angeles forum with the contact email address sandra.rugina@yahoo.com. I do not own that email address. Since then I got around 10-15 emails on my email from people wondering if they got the right person; and I keep getting more.

I just want to say that if it does not come from MY email address, it is not true. I use a couple of email addresses, you can find the main one on my website or Facebook fan page. This bogus email address does not belong to me.

I should perhaps thank the scammer for gaining me a few new fans on my pages, but I am sorry for all the ones who thought it was a legit job opening.

Design Jewelry and Accessories

Design Jewelry and Accessories Magazine is now available through the website as well!

http://designjewelryaccessories.com/

The I Inside: Silk scarves

The I Inside: Silk scarves: Check it out: Silk Scarves Photos and website by yours truly.

Eva's Boutique

My mother has always created beautiful things. She has made clothes for me and for my friends, from silk pajamas, to fancy evening gowns and even wedding dresses. Recently she has started making large necklaces from gemstones and Baltic Amber. I have helped her set up her own Etsy shop. You will find gorgeous statement necklaces and beautiful antiques. 

There is a 20% sale from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Use BLACKFRI12 code at checkout.

Black Friday

Check out a Black Friday SALE on my shop! Get 20% off your order! Use code BLFRD2012 at checkout! Click the photo below to go to the shop:

Rainbow rainbow!

Brand new design! Handmade! And very very sparkly! Sterling silver necklace with rainbow Swarovski crystal balls. Brand new on byVellamo! Perfect glam look for the holidays!

Big Cartel

After some more or less random browsing and a bit of investigating about online ways of selling handmade objects, I decided to open a shop on Big Cartel. It seems like a nice website gathering a lot of brands, with great looking products.

So here is byVellamo on Big Cartel!

Following, a comparison between Etsy and Big Cartel. But it looks like for Big Cartel you have to do your own marketing and bring the potential clients to your shop, chances of them just finding you there are not that high.