Jill MacKay's BLOG: January 2011

Hi all!

I thought I would post a short trend blurb that I wrote for my good friend and colleague Mike Hartnett the publisher of Creative Leisure News. Reading his well written, industry insider, information filled newsletter is a must. Every one in the industry reads and subscribes to stay up to date with what's new and changing. CLN delivers the most current information for the craft industry. From time to time CLN uses me as an expert (imagine that!) and I am always flattered and in very good company. Thanks Mike! So if you haven't heard about it or read it before please take time to check it out. PLease click here: www.clnonline.com

My latest trend blurb for CLN with permission from the author..... (me!)

2011 Predictions: Jewelry

Big, bold, and personalized, one-of-a-kind creations.

by Jill Mackay (January 17, 2011)

(Note: Jill has designed a wide variety of jewelry supplies for various manufacturers and distributors. Her latest line can be seen at the CHA show in the booth -- #439 – of a new exhibitor, Silver Creek Leather.)

Big color-block styles in active-wear fashion trends call for the bold use of jewelry with lots of bright colors. With color block designs, bold hues appear side by side, intensifying the eye-catching effect of each individual color. The mixing and merging of colors can occur in the garment or accessory. The look is easy to achieve with a juxtaposition of accessories in bold shapes and bright solid hues.

Pieces made to wear (and define) active lifestyles are full of movement and encourage the use of leather, which is durable and being jazzed up with all sorts of metal and beaded decoration. Long bracelets that wrap multiple times around the wrist and forearm suggest stacked bangles look, which continues to be popular. The combination of pure decoration and sentiment suggests anything goes in mixed-media jewelry making. The combination of many different metals in one piece with beads and chain is a strong look. Stamped metals along with a widening choice of stamping tools and textured hammers are big as metal smithing continues to gain more and more active practitioners.

Long, multi-strand necklaces with lots of fringe appeal and layers step up in popularity. Accessories that relate to one another (as in your jewelry and your shoes and or purse) shows style, intellect and creativity. Eco-sustainable materials and sources continue to gather steam. Speaking of steam: those of you out there who found out about Steampunk late and are still trying to make it a happening trend -- forget about it! It’s been done and it’s done, over, kaput, period.

Technology continues to grow at lightning speed offering us varieties of ways to connect and share techniques, find materials, and locate places to shop. MASS MINGLING is the happening, world-changing mega-trend. There's now an all-encompassing information layer on top of real-world daily life, that (especially when mobile and location-based), turns "connecting" into 24/7 and "on the go," further blurring the boundaries between online and offline. Follow designers and bead companies, and receive updated blogs, video lessons, and latest coupons real time. Group buying and opinions matter and now you can get all of it in an instant.

There should be an app for staying on top of all the new ways to do things; though there’s nothing like walking a trade show for keeping your figure on the pulse of a category or an industry.

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More soon!

xoxo

Jill

It's nearly time to make the annual trek to the AZ desert for the Tucson Gem Show. Due to the generosity of my talented friend Paula Radke (who generously gave me one of her two booth spaces) I was able to and decide to join in the fun at fairly late date. Thank you Paula! I have a great spot exhibiting in the grand ballroom at the TBTB show at the Double Tree side by side with Paula. It should prove to be great fun. How do I know? She is my neighbor at the Bead and Button show each summer and the Beadalon folks are a couple of booths away on our isle. So many wonderful people in our industry! I am truly blessed in this regard.

This year we got smart and rented a house on the edge of town. It is a beautiful adobe home that is less expensive than a decent hotel and has a kitchen so we can save on food because we can cook!

Check out the Tucson digs:

I will be exhibiting my favorite silver plated pieces, my sterling silver line and a good portion of my newest line which is a leather line that I created and licensed to Silver Creek Leather. Now in full production available for sale I am anxious to receive feedback about the line. I showed some of it at Bead & Button but will have more items in Tucson.

Sneak peek:

Screw back changeable focals and bracelets, very cool!