Jill MacKay's BLOG

2011 Trend Blurb

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

Beauty Comment Retraction

Please be sure to take a minute and go to beadstylemag.com  and check out my latest trend collumn.

BeadStyle Magazine is published by Kalambach Publishing and is the world's best selling beading magazine. You can find my latest trend report by clicking "Trendspotting" on the bottom left hand side of the home page.  Some how there was some sort of mechanical glitch with the machine behind the curtain so even though it's a bit late it's about the Tucson Gem show. 

I made one statement in this piece that I would like to retract. I was talking about Chinese crystal and how they have some very unique colors that Swarovski dose not, then I said something to likes of "beauty is beauty no matter where it comes from" Truth be told this is NOT TRUE. Let's say that this crystal was made in a filthy factory employing under-aged children or even adults that were not treated well then, beautiful it would not be. Hardly. 

There is  much about the gemstone trade that isn't so glamourus or beautiful. Do a little digging yourself (no pun intended) will strip you of the sparkle. Especially when speaking of diamonds...

Blood diamonds or conflict diamonds are stil entering the market place. This time the Marange diamond fields in Eastern Zimbabwe is at the center of attention with reported abuses by the Zimbabwean Military. Yet they are still listed as one of the countries taking part of the Kimberley Process.

"Consumer pressure will be vital to ensure that the diamond industry finally acts to eliminate conflict diamonds once and for all," said Elly Harrowell, campaigner at Global Witness.  "Some progress has been made in recent years but the unpalatable truth is that around the world civilians are still suffering terribly as a consequence of the diamond trade."

In 2003, following a global outcry about the problem of conflict diamonds, an international certification scheme was established to monitor the trade. Countries who signed up to the Kimberley Process were obliged to demonstrate that their diamonds were not bankrolling brutality and conflict.   

The scheme set an important precedent and has helped diminish the trade in conflict diamonds. However loop holes, poor regulation, and problems with implementation mean that consumers cannot place full faith in it. One significant challenge currently facing the scheme is the case of Zimbabwe, which despite evidence of widespread human rights abuses and military presence in mines, remains a member and continues to export diamonds.

"Kimberley Process members need to get serious about stamping out the systematic abuse of civilians in countries like Zimbabwe, otherwise the credibility of the whole scheme will be undermined" said Harrowell. "They will be more inclined to act if they hear a strong message from retailers and consumers that continued links with such violence will no longer be tolerated."

Consumers can also put pressure on retailers to do their bit by ensuring every link in the diamonds supply chain is stringently checked from mine to shop floor. Questions consumers can ask include:

• Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?
• Can I see a copy of your company's policy on conflict diamonds?
• Can you show me a written guarantee from your suppliers that your diamonds are conflict free?
• How is the supply chain audited?

globalwitness.com was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and has been fighting against blood diamonds for 12 years. They also champion other important causes. My thanks to them and all who work for the rights of others. 

Educate, learn, share and care.

To learn more abut Global Witness read the following article or visit their website.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/jan/31/voluntarysector.conservation

xoxo

Jill

The Big Studio Burned Yesterday

Yesterday around 2:30 in the afternoon I looked outside my window while on my computer. It looked like fog but it wasn't. I ran outside and there was fire coming from the roof of the big studio building! I called 911 and then unlocked and opened the door and was literally knocked back by thick brown smoke that engulfed me. I tried going in to rescue some art and or tools and I couldn't it was already too late.

Who knew that we don't have a single fire hydrant on my entire road, the length of which is about 4 miles. We had to have 5 firetrucks all linking their largest hoses together just to get the water here and by the time they did things were engulfed.

The beloved studio Before:

We painted the whole thing this summer and it looked great but I don't have a picture of it.

Before our gallery opening we sculpted and painted in the Big room and Peter used as a photo studio.

During the gallery opening food was in the wood shop (Before)

After (wood shop)

Gallery opening (Before)

After

same wall (after)

During: First firemen enter the building

Pretty soon we had 6 Firetrucks here!

Fire was in the wall and went to the roof.

 

We weren't supposed to be in but we did...(and got asked to leave)

And to me this is the most touching photo of all...my dearest friend Peter whose family had built and been creating in this studio space since 1930 as we watched it burn before the trucks came.

 

After all was said and done and the last hosed rolled up and the  ladders down and the axes put away, and I was thanking the soaking wet freezing firemen another alarm went off and they were off to help someone else...ALL of them VOLUNTEERS. God bless the firemen.

We will be rebuilding.

Thank goodness no one was hurt. We are extraordinarily blessed.

xoxo

Jill

CHA is Right Around the Corner!

Every January I look forward to the Craft and Hobby industry trade show ( Winter CHA). I get to see so many friends and do some networking, but I love walking the show. Seeing what the new trends are that are emerging, what's still going strong, what's starting to fade and then there's the new products. Love this section! It's always amazing to me how clever and creative we humans are.

If you'll kindly stop by the Darice booth there's a strong chance that I might be hanging around (and please do come over and introduce yourself if we have yet to meet!). If I'm not there perhaps you will take the time to look at my newest creations and see what I've been up to the last few months in my studio. There's actually quite a lot...there are a couple of new lines debuting.

My favorite is the  two tone line (both silver and gold) that we are calling "Tonal Duet". I think this is some of the best work I have ever done (I hope you won't mind my saying so).  Besides being two tone within this line there are several pieces that allow you to make keepsake or collage jewelry. They are like a modern version of a locket I suppose. But they allow you to fill these spaces with whatever you would like to...and because they are clear you can see the contents. I especially like the over-sized locket pendant shown here:

 

That's a beautiful Dragonfly's wing I found this summer that I put in there for safe keeping and just never took it out. The lower picture I put a penny in for a size reference.This piece has a nice secure old fashioned purse closure on it and snaps closed and is nice and strong and secure. I have made earrings with lockets and ...well let's let the rest be a surprise!

Darice will also be showing my chipboard line...yup, I said chipboard! Chipboard jewelry components ready to be painted, drawn on, embossed, stamped...you name it! Take a look:

I have lots of different shapes, some like the earring above come with the findings attached and some do not. Here is a pair of earrings I made as a sample project. I just painted the shapes with acrylic paints and added the beads and ear wires.

  This medallion necklace comes with chain and magnetic clasp.

And last but not least please come on over to Silver Creek Leather's booth! I have been working with these wonderful folks for sometime now on an innovative leather line. (Of course Darice made all the metal parts!) I think you are going to like what you see here. There are many very creative new findings. Pinch bail earrings to hold leather shapes that you can also bead! Check it out:

(The pink dots are there as representative of where the beads can be attached)

We are giving a workshop using this new line. Please come and help us spread the word! Here are the  details on the workshop. I hope I see you there:

Realeather™ Jewelry by Jill MacKay

W0607 - Workshop

Sunday, January 24, 2010
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Room: 213C

Difficulty: Beginner

Supplies: Jewelry pliers and wire cutters

Leather never looked like this before! Come join in to help launch the NEW Realeather™ Jewelry line by Jill MacKay. Sponsored by Silver Creek Leather Co., in the workshop you will learn how to use these innovative leather and silver jewelry components to make earrings, bracelets and more!

Instructors: Jill MacKay

Sponsors: Silver Creek Leather Co.

Ticket Information

• Members $25, Non-Members $50

I think this post is quite long enough!!!

Happy New Year!

xoxo

Jill

Trend Spotting Columnist!

Well I am excited to tell you that I am now an online columnist, writing for Kalmbach Publishing on jewelry trends! You can see my first article online at the Beadstyle Magazine home page. You may have to sign up to view the article...(I did!)  Try this link and see if it works.

Click here: TREND SPOTTING.

Author and editor Cathy Jakicic and I worked out this lovely arrangement when we met at Bead & Button this past summer. Though I must thank Kalmbach editor extraordinaire Mary Wohlgemuth for putting Cathy and I together! Thank you Mary! It was surely my pleasure meeting you both. Very impressive, talented intelligent women!

I've been incredibly busy with  tending to my parents and trying to get my work done both...that I have neglected my blog. There are so many new products I am designing I cannot begin to tell you but a picture is worth a thousand words and I will  show you some soon! I promise.

xoxo

Jill

Good News: Blood Diamond Traffic"king" Takes a Hit!

I know you are supposed to be reading my next post on creativity....I just can't help it. There is very important exciting international news afoot that you need to know about...I certainly did not see it on the evening news, or in my newspaper. I just found out about it myself  and want to share with you!

So I am happy to tell you that there is terrific good news in the efforts to clean up the world and the diamond trade! The notorious Viktor Bout (pronounced Butt!!) international arms dealer was arrested on March 6th in Bangkok,Thailand. He is often associated with “blood” (conflict) diamonds as these merchants of massacre and death pay for their guns and weapons with what their region has to offer…raw diamonds. Victor Bout (Nicolas Cage's character in Lord of War was said to be based on Bout) has been a leading figure in gun trafficking since the 1990’s.

The [United Nations] Angola Report includes reports of attempts to set up a diamond-cutting factory in Kigali,Rwanda, where Bout had an operational base. Such a factory would have seriously undermined controls on "conflict diamonds," since only uncut diamonds can be traced. Individuals involved in the plan were said to be linked to Bout. The [UN] Liberia Report mentioned that Bout's close associate Sanjivan Ruprah - now in jail in Belgium(more good news!!) and a major source of information for US officials about Bout's Taliban connections - owned diamond mines in Liberia and also sold arms.

The long-term DEA sting investigation spanned the globe (as did Bout’s business exchanges). The drug enforcement agents secretly recorded conversations with Bout. The legal complaint indicates that Mr. Bout had planned to charge a $5 million delivery fee to transport the surface-to-air missiles and armor-piercing rocket launchers to South America. Though no mention how big the actual deal was worth.

Hopefully Mr. Bout’s days as a powerful weapons smuggler who purportedly profited mainly from arms dealing that fueled bloody conflicts in Africa are OVER!!! He is said to have built a huge network of air cargo companies in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and the United States. I will report and give updates when he goes to trail. I like it when they actually get the right BAD guys. This guy is not only one of the worst, but he helped fuel and supply the rest. Yeah for the good guys!