There is still time to win...

We hope you're not missing out on your chance to win free jewelry.

No scams and no gimmicks.

We want people to like our Facebook page and you can help brings numbers.

In exchange, we're giving you a chance to win a piece o handmade beauty.

There.

Honest and to the point. That's how we do it here at DSC.

Check out the video for more info and/or see below.

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For those who missed the early posts...

Win a FREE CogStone Necklace as our Thank You to you. Anyone that refers at least one person is eligible to win. The person referred must "LIKE" Dark Side Customs' page on FaceBook and post the name of the person that referred them on the Dark Side Customs wall. It's that simple. Drawing happens on Thanksgiving day. Long Live SteamPunk!!!

The Future is Sweet

Bouncing around inside my head are these crazy thoughts about the future. My wife, Xenia, and I just had a beautiful baby boy on October 11th. (Well... she did all the having. I just planted the seed.) It's amazing to look at him and realize that this tiny, adorable thing keeping us up at night is a living being. It never fails to amaze me. 

I know that, one day, he's going to start asking questions. He's going to start trying to find his own way in life and he's going to need guidance, answers and someone to look up to along the way. I think that's the biggest reason Dark Side Customs means so much to me. DSC is not a hobby. It's not just making jewelry and trying to sell it online and it's not just a home business. It's a portal to a better, brighter future.

I used to dream about owning a store and having my wife and kids be a major part of daily business. I guess I'm a bit old fashioned in that regard. Shareholders... BAH!!! Family is the key. I refuse to let the concept or idea of the "Mom & Pop Shop" die as long as I have breath in my body. Even if my children don't take over where I leave off, I want them to know that they can do anything they set their minds to. It's a concept I still trying to learn for myself. I'm so happy to have the love and support of my amazing wife. She's the perfect tutor for this life lesson. 

I'm growing just as much as our little boy. I'm learning and trying my best to put everything I learn to good use and not be so afraid to fall flat on my face. I've been there. It hurts; only for a moment. Then we move on.

I'm moving on to a future of my own design. 

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The Little SteamPunk Goddess 

STEAMPUNK: a subgenre of speculative fiction, usually set in an anachronistic Victorian or quasi-Victorian alternate history setting. It could be described by the slogan "What the past would look like if the future had happened sooner."

~From the Urban Dictionary~

I'm sure that, even if you're not a part of the culture, you've come across some steampunk-inspired... something in recent days. I remember passing by Bergdorf-Goodman and Saks 5th Ave, a little over a year ago, and seeing their window displays had been made completely steampunk. It's contagious.

My darling wife - when she was still just my darling girlfriend - introduced me to "SteamPunk" as a culture. I knew about the idea of it from movies and books and various other media but never knew there was a name for it. I also never knew that it could be so infectious. I got my first taste and I was hooked.

Now... I can never just do things the way I'm told. Just ask any of my high school teachers. I always have to mix it up and add a bit of myself. I'll get the job done if I can have a little fun. This is why my work isn't like everything else you'll see out there.

138 Willoughby St

Brooklyn, NY 11201

You can, however, see my work out there from time to time. I'll be vending at Dekalb Market for the holiday season.

From November 26th until December 24th, I'll be there every Saturday and Sunday. It's a great place to shop local, eat local or just hang out. It's sweet.

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And... Speaking of sweet...

Large Thumbs Cookie Jar made by Robyn Frank

My figure is in jeopardy of expansion from cookie consumption. I tried these cookies at Dekalb Market and ate an entire sleeve. I even tried to save some for later. I tried to keep myself from eating them all. I tried to no avail. These are some damn good cookies.

Robyn Frank is just as sweet as the cookies she makes. I read all about the family history behind the captivating confection but I want you to find out for yourself just what these cookies are all about. 

"Each cookie is rolled in the palm of my hand and then finished with my thumbprint. I used to make these cookies alongside my mom, Barb, in the kitchen while she made them for all neighborhood special occasions."

~From Robyn's Etsy listing

Surrender to your sweet tooth and grab a fistful of these cookies. Go to the Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/FrankysThumbsCookies

Or just visit: http://thumbscookies.com/

~Bobby~

Inspired

Dark Side Customs was recently asked to vend at an event called Authors After Dark. We traveled from Astoria, NY, to Philadelphia, PA, for the event, and it was so worth it. (A big "Thank You" goes out to PJ Schnyder for the invite and for being an awesome person.) I'm not just talking about sales. I'm not just talking about the fun of the Steampunk Ball. I'm talking about inspiration.

The Dark Side Customs Team

To be honest, as much as I was inspired by surroundings, other vendors, the general public, etc., the greatest inspiration came from my wife. She did this event with me. No sleep, crazy hours and all. She's my partner in life as well as in Dark Side Customs. Her help and support was - and is - invaluable. She handed me ideas that had me building new jewelry pieces during the event. She went around taking photos of pieces that needed to be added to inventory. Neither of us had gotten much sleep and were looking at being up for a very, very long time. She held on like a trooper.

After the event, we packed up to head home. We both had a good time. We both felt like we did pretty well. We were both looking forward to getting some sleep on the ride home. That sleep never came. Instead, we talked about plans for the future of the business. We talked about ways of making things better. We talked about ways to increase productivity and quality. We talked about ways to introduce variety... and it was glorious. While most of the people slept, slumbered and snored, we were connecting. We tend to do that. We're planning on bringing you some new items as well as some variations on old favorites. Keep your eyes open.

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Metals, stones, catalogs, boutiques... Wow! There is a lot to think about. Even the dreaded inventory is something I'm looking forward to, these days. I may whine and moan about it but Xenia has a great way of keeping me motivated. 

Gryphon's Crest

We've decided on experimenting with different metals and different stones and stone combinations. I'll be working with very different design ideas as well but my first venture into this journey of exploration will be adding some variety to our Heraldic Collection.

Some of you may be familiar with our crests. We've sold a few here and there. Brass beasts with beautiful stones and shells in formations reminiscent of a coat of arms. Until now they have all been brass. That's changing. I'll be putting a spin into the metal mix and introducing them in other metals as well. I have even introduced a new sigil to the line for those with darker allegiances.

Along with the new metals, we'll be adding more stones to the lineup. I'm working with more faceted stones along with my normal cabochons. I'm also adding a few more unusual colors. Orange has become a big hit in today's fashion. CZs are splashing in deeper color pools these days.

You never know what's coming next.

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Magic Vial - Summer

Do you believe in magic? Well... believe in this shop. Izile's shop has some pretty little eye-catchers and I happen to know for absolute fact that the lady that runs this shop is quite amazing.

"I created the idea of my Magic Vial Pendants, blends of gemstones, herbs and oils based around all the symbolic concepts of love, tranquility, and the four elements (water, earth, air, fire). All these years later, hundreds of combinations have evolved to cater to not only other concepts, but zodiacs and even personal custom requests based on the people themselves." ~From Izile's profile~

(Right) The Magic Vial - Summer caught my eye as simply a very interesting piece. That was until I looked deeper. "So this vial starts with a generous amount of Peridot for new growth, life and prosperity; combined with Malachite for harmony, healing and strength. These are blended in a neutral oil base with a tiny sprig of Clover for luck and love." ~Item description~

There is more in Izile's Etsy shop. You should take a look. I guarantee you'll enjoy your visit. As you peruse Izile's Oddities, remember to tell her you've come from the Dark Side.

~Bobby~

What are we up to?

So...

Dark Side customs is looking like it's headed in the right direction. I'll be investing quite a bit into raising the standard of D.S.C. Excellence. Better materials, new designs and more ways to buy are all in the works. I'm doing everything I can to make Dark Side Customs a Household Name.

The Gear Box (Dark)

You may - or may not - be aware that the metals market has been in a state of flux lately. The price of silver and gold has been through the roof and traders are in a panic about prices skyrocketing over a number of months.

Many jewelers, like myself, have turned to using base metals for their small-ticket items. Though most have kept their noble metal items in production, the cost is, as always, passed on to the consumer. I'm working on a way around that. I will continue to produce handmade base metal pieces; I'm stepping up to the noble metals in a way that will keep them affordable and not sacrifice quality in any way. I want D.S.C. to be the Gold Standard so I'll keep reaching for that Brass Ring.

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You may have noticed that I've placed donation buttons on the D.S.C. website and at the bottom of this blog. Well... don't be frightened. I'm not telling anyone that they have to pay "or else" and I'm not begging for 10% of your weekly earnings. I'm just leaving the option open for those interested in being a part of the growth of Dark Side Customs. A couple people have asked me to explain. So...

Dark Side Customs started out as an idea - between a few former friends and myself - several years ago. We liked working on cars and motorcycles and wanted to start our own custom shop. Differences happened, people split and I'm sure you can figure out the rest. The idea never left my mind.

I had already run a small jewelry business and I felt comfortable with it. When the opportunity came around and I was able to start again, I figured I would combine the dream name with the dream of being creative and making a living at it. Thus we have the current incarnation of D.S.C.

Now, I'm looking for ways to bring the full dream of my art feeding my family to fruition. That is the reason for the donation buttons.

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The Aviary

My friends are doing great things. Really. Take a look for yourself. Some people are just amazing at altering your perception and challenging you to open your mind. Kelly Kotulak is one of them.

"There is a fire in your heart, sometimes shy, and sometimes bright, and it yearns for magic. You carry it like a secret. It reaches for mysteries, it delights in the strange, it dares. You step behind the curtain. That fire sets your eyes alight".
-From Kelly's Etsy profile.

(right) Three brass bird skulls hang beneath a gate of ornate brass filigree, graced by the rhythmic drape of chain.

She is the essence of SteamPunk. You can find more of her beautiful work on Etsy. She's among my favorite shop owners. I have a feeling she'll be one of yours as well. Check out her shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Hibernacula

~Bobby~

The New Blog Format

Welcome to the NEW blog for Dark Side Customs.

I'll be able to update this more often and I'll be looking at, not only my own works but some of the works that have inspired me as well as some of the other artists that are trying to make their own way on Etsy and the web.

Dark Side Customs is stepping up its "A" game. Those who know my earlier work from Celestial Silver (my first company) know that silver was my media of choice. With D.S.C. I've been working with base metals as a way of making pieces more affordable for my customers. The plan is to re-introduce sterling (.925) and fine (.999) silver into the mix on a larger scale while still making pieces that are beautiful and affordable. 

ANGELIQUE - Winged Goddess

Some Higher End pieces like ANGELIQUE, that still use base metals and heavy plating, will stay in the mix as well as many of the bone and polymer pieces. 

One of the things I like most when it comes to designing new pieces is to receive feedback from people that view my works or just happen to like a particular style of jewelry. I especially love when people tell me about pieces they have never seen but would like to. It's a challenge and I love a good challenge.

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I mentioned stepping up the "A" game. As part of that initiative, D.S.C. is looking for investors and people willing to make donations to help Dark Side Customs grow. Even $1 is welcome. I'll be setting up a paypal button for those who may wish to invest. I will also be setting up an investors page on the website, once that is done, where the names of our investors will be shown for all to see. (Should you not wish your name posted, just send a note and I will make sure to keep your name private.)

I'm also looking to add some outside artists to the D.S.C. umbrella as a supplement to my own work. I'm not inclined to go the route of simply buying wholesale pieces and reselling them to turn a profit. Not really my cup of tea. I have done this in the past with Celestial Silver but there wasn't much satisfaction in it.

I'll be looking for innovative designers, just starting out, looking to make a name in the business as well as lesser known artist with a great eye for design. Keep your eye out.

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Golden Age

There are some people making some beautiful pieces for sale on Etsy. Let's take a look at Paradise Jewelry Shop.

"We enjoy making wonderful jewelry items for family and friends at unbelievable prices. We decided to reach more people and show what we have created and to bring a smile to you and your family as well."

(right) A pair of earrings that are as easy on the ears as they are beautiful to wear. The little white balls have a touch of pewter lines painted on them.

There are a great number of beautiful items in their Etsy shop. Stop by and let them know that you were sent by the Dark Side.

~Bobby~