Today, I finally listed several new pieces I've recently made. I have been trying to increase my earring selection, but couldn't resist making a necklace too. I discovered carabiner clasps a while back and haven't really been able to incorporate them into more than one or two designs.
This necklace took some time to design mostly because I was determined to use one of the clasps! I always seem to spend quite a bit of time arranging and rearranging components, and while the end result seems simple, this was one of my more difficult pieces, trying to balance the utilitarian carabiner clasp as a focal and also blending it into an elegant design.
I originally envisioned a choker, but at 18 inches, I think it hangs nicely and is probably more versatile than traditional choker length. The blue Czech glass beads are separated by very pale golden lampwork glass beads, and I think the pairing with thicker chain works.
New shop listing! I finally got around to taking photos and listing the necklace I made last weekend. I used tiny natural turquoise beads along with red coral tube beads that I purchased from Intrinsic Trading Co, which is a local bead store not too far from where I live. I am clearly obsessed with the red and turquoise combo! This is longer than some of my recent designs at about 26 inches on stainless steel chain. As almost all of my necklaces, the clasp is a hook clasp handcrafted by me.
The cool pendant was part of a bead box subscription I've been getting for a few years now. I go back and forth whether to keep it or not. I will say I enjoy opening it and seeing what surprises are included. However, I don't use the majority of the beads and components and they end up just piled in a box. Occasionally, I remember, or think I remember, something that might work for a current project and spend an hour or so opening all the bags and looking through them all again. I am torn between the pros and cons, and it works out about even, so I continue to keep the subscription, and if I only use a thing or two, it ends up worth it.
Back to the necklace. I have been on a dainty chain necklace with charms kick lately and this is no exception. It is still hot where I live, so it's a struggle to think about accessorizing for autumn yet. I do love the autumn color palette the most, and not going to lie, my eyes wander to those deep rich hued mookaite, carnelian, agates, and jasper beads. I just can't seem to think about wearing anything heavy around my own neck, so it makes it hard to envision a design.
This versatile necklace could be worn with pretty much anything from denim to a little black dress. It makes a great gift for a jewelry lover in your life or for yourself.
I am still trying to figure out how to best use this blog, but for now, I think I will use it to focus on new listings and go a little more in-depth. We'll see how that continues. Please stay tuned!
I often find myself going through phases with my jewelry making. I will gravitate toward certain colors or sometimes a bead shape. Recently, I have wanted to make minimalist charm necklaces. I feel like it isn't really making just hanging a charm onto chain, so I like to figure out how to put my own spin on it. These look simple, and they are, that is the point, but there was a design process involved, even before I received the supplies. I shop carefully, as we all do these days, I think, and generally only buy something that inspires an idea or two.
I made these necklaces last weekend and they are listed in the shop as of today. They are light and perfect for summer, or they could be layered with other necklaces. For more information, visit the listings below.
Yesterday, goimagine announced their finalists for the July Maker Challenge, "In a Pcikle." This is the first challenge I've participated in for the past several months, but I have been trying to get back to making lately and somehow I found the inspiration.
Well, my necklace made it into the top six to be voted on! This is the first time one of my submissions has been chosen as a finalist, so I'm super excited and honored.
The necklace features glass beads from a vintage piece that belonged to my great grandmother. I combined them with green glass beads of various shapes and sizes along with gold toned accents.
I tried to keep a vintage vibe in a more modern design. I hope I succeeded, let me know!
Hopefully we can keep this fun monthly event happening! One of the things that drew me to goimagine as a marketplace was this focus on community building. I didn't want to be just another seller competing with the other sellers on the site, I wanted to join a group of like minded makers in a collaboration. The maker challenges are part of that.
So vote for me, or vote for someone else, but please vote!
Recently I decided to revamp my shop banners. I didn't hate my previous banners and I had spent quite a bit of time on them, so it was a really hard decision. But, I felt like my previous banners didn't really fit with my branding, and also it has been recommended not to use actual photos of items, so it was time for a change. Besides, I wanted to use some fun animation.
I have no experience in graphic design other than what I have done in Canva, often with the help of YouTube, so everything is trial and error for me. A lot of trial and A LOT of error 😅 But I do like the final result, and they look cute and fun, which is what I was going for. It is highly likely I will make some changes in the future, but my shop will always be a work in progress, much like myself in most ways.
After changing my shop banners, I began trying to integrate them into all of my social media. I have yet to figure out my WordPress, but I actually managed to change my Square Online shop using the gif, but it looks blurry and I will likely revisit that one. I added the banner here to this blog, and it is all surprisingly easy other than having to resize everything because absolutely nothing is uniform! That is frustrating, but I suppose if everything looked exactly the same, the world would be quite dull.
My main first banner matches exactly my new blogger banner if you are on mobile, which most people are when they shop. I personally think they all look better on the desktop, but mobile is the way now. The other two rotating banners are also cute and involve animation:
Please share your thoughts on banners in general, do you think they are important enough to spend time on? Do you notice them when online shopping? And of course, I welcome feedback on my banners.
I hope to blog here more regularly, so stay tuned.
I don't normally create my jewelry based on any sort of theme, and very rarely seasonal themes. I love the colors and richness of autumn, and I tend to gravitate toward those colors throughout the year. As I am trying to expand my online sales, I thought I would give it a try and design with spring in mind.
I'm not sure I will carry on the experiment, but I have made two necklaces that I do like and have listed. The first incorporates a pewter pendant that I cut and embossed, along with rhodochrosite and labradorite beads.
The second is comprised of yellow opal and mookaite. Mookaite is rich and multicolored, and I usually think of fall leaves, but it complements the yellow opal and next to each other, I think they could be worn with spring attire.
I purchased most of these components at the International Gem and Jewelry Show when it was here in January. I have so many beautiful finds that I haven't even begun to design with.
Let me know how you feel about seasonally themed jewelry, and stay tuned for more!
Welcome to my new blog! I've been blogging sporadically for several years, but when goimagine gave us an option to connect a blog to our shops, I decided to try out Blogger. While I have been terribly inconsistent on mieloabelo.com/blog, I am attached to it in some weird way. I did a little research and found that having two blogs might work for me as long as I am not just copying and pasting. So, I'm jumping in and hoping to share some interesting content here and breathe some new life into my old blog as well.
All that said, my name is Melissa, and I am the sole owner and worker bee at Mielo Abelo Designs. My creations are my own designs, and I draw inspiration from the world around me, colors, shapes, even tools, but mostly my beads and components.
My mother's 70th birthday in 2018 prompted me to sign up for a beginner beading class at a craft store. I bought all the beads and supplies on their list only to have the class canceled at the very last minute. Instead of returning the stuff, I signed onto YouTube and began learning on my own and haven't stopped since. I fell in love with making jewelry simply because there is always something new waiting down a different rabbit hole. What started out as a simple necklace for my mother's Diva Birthday has lead to a journey of learning and experimenting and most importantly, a heck of a lot of fun.
My jewelry does tend to be quite traditional, but I try to think of small things I can do outside the norm. I am not a metalsmith, but I do like to add metal components to my designs. I use various cutters and texture hammers, and even use a Big Shot embosser to imprint interesting patterns onto pewter, copper and brass blanks that I have cut.
I hand
make all of my earring wires using 21 gauge Argentium silver, 14kt
gold filled, or bare copper. Not only does this add more of a unique
design element, it gives me complete control over the products that I
use, ensuring quality and hypoallergenic properties. Once I have
completed the design, I use a cup burr to round the end that goes in
the ear so that it is smooth and comfortable to wear.
I don't have a photo of the first necklace that I ever made, and trust me, if I did, I would not share it! I do have a photo of my most recent necklace. Here is the link to the shop listing:
Thanks for reading and I really do hope to be consistent here and on my other website as well, I just need to figure out how to use both. I think the next blog, I will talk more about goimagine, so come back!
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