Watches from DSC

You can never have too much time on your hands. Check out these watches from DSC's new Secret Stash. Tempus Fugit.
Why Wear Anything Else?
http://www.mkt.com/DarkSideCustoms

A New DSC for 2016 - It's About Time!

Procrastination Sucks!!!

Hello, Dear Friends.

It's been quite some time. I have to admit that I'm actually not very good at this blogging thing. I know what I want to say. It just becomes a challenge to figure out how to get it from my brain to my fingers. I guess I just need practice. 

So... Let's get to it.

2016 is going to be a year of change. What a struggle it was to get here. 2015 was one of the toughest years I've ever faced. I guess you can call it a Murphy's Law kind of year. I've lost my mind a few times. I've felt like giving up more than a few times. I've learned quite a few valuable lessons. What do I do with it all?

I've always known that one of my biggest problems is procrastination as a result of the fear of failure. It's not a new topic. I know that I've touched on it somewhere in previous blogs. There have been so many times that I've delayed projects due to the fear of failing. So many projects were never started. It has kept me wondering how far I might have gotten without that monkey on my back.

It's not always projects that involve making jewelry. There are so many other things that should have been done that just never made it past planning.

Putting on my Big Boy Pants...

One of those neglected projects involves the creation of a campaign to move the vast majority of DSC production out of my livingroom and backyard, and taking it a step further into the real world. I've been wanting to do it for quite some time. I will be making that campaign a reality this year. Just you wait and see.  

The BIG Picture...

I'm making some investments that will serve to make it impossible for me to not move on my ideas. Some of those ideas involve marketing. I'm sure you don't really want to sit here and read about marketing strategy and the like. Don't worry. You won't have to. 

I will tell you that the investments are more time than money. But there is one seriously cool investment that falls into both categories. 

As (sort of) a One Person Operation, I do most everything on my own. I design my product. I manufacture my product. I market my product. I hopefully sell my product. I repeat. That means that - somewhere in the middle of all this - I photograph my product. I edit those photos for size and clarity. Then I post those photos on Etsy and various social media outlets in the hopes that they're seen. Well... I've just purchased a mini photography studio to set up in my livingroom. This will make it so much easier to work with the models I've been wanting to work with. It gives me fewer and fewer excuses as to why "I can't do it right now". It's a major step for me. I'm more than happy to take it. In fact... I've already started making the plans. Not just making plans in my head. I'm talking about making plans with the people I would like to have involved. I'm practically bouncing while typing this.

I'm sure there's much more I could tell you. But you didn't come here to read a novel. And I don't want to give everything away in one shot. That just wouldn't be fair to either of us. This isn't bad for my first blog in a couple years. I'll be back. I'll also be incorporating video logs (vlogs) into the mix. It's my way of keeping us more closely connected. Together, we can make DSC the great adventure we all want it to be.

Have a beautiful everyday. I'll see you on the Dark Side.

---

A bit of inspiration...

One of the things I liked to do in my previous blogs was to introduce you to other people that inspire me. That's what I'm going to do right now. 

I've always wanted to try my hand at pottery. I've also been wanting to learn how to knit forever. I'm pretty sure I won't be doing it any time soon. I've got enough on my hands. However, for those of you that love mixing the super cool with the super practical, you might just want to take a look at this.

Rustic Knitting Bowl - By Rehndell Masi

The Magic of the Potters...

I've recently become connected with a group of pottery rockstars. That's right. Pottery rockstars.  The piece you're seeing in the photo to the right is made by one of them. Her name is Rehndell. (www.etsy.com/shop/RehnWorks)

Here's a little bit from the lady, herself:

"I have a lot of hobbies and love to learn new artistic ways of expressing myself. I am a mostly self taught artist, with the exception of throwing; I have the privilege of studying under a wonderful Korean potter, at the Brickhouse Pottery Studio in L.I.C. New York. 

For a while I would make things solely for my friends and family; however, I started to get requests from friends of friends and strangers for my work. Now I hope to use Etsy as a way to branch out to a larger audience, with the end goal of being able to support myself through my work. So take a look around, and if you have any questions feel free to ask!"

Handmade Ceramics, Yarn Bowls, Tea bowls, Nesting Bowls, Ceramic Buttons, Soup Bowls, Korean Pottery, Succulent Planters, Mugs, Tumblers, Knitting Bowls

Keep a lookout for upcoming sales and ceramic clearance! Every Saturday we host kids clay classes at the Artist and Craftsman Supply Store in LIC. Check out their events page for more info :

https://www.facebook.com/ArtistCraftsmanSupply.LongIslandCity/events

You can follow us on Instagram @rehnworks.

---

Brown Tankard Beer Stein - By Rita Varian

Also Keep An Eye On...

Another magical potter you'll want to look out for is Rita Varian (www.ritavarian.com).

Rita Varian is a ceramic artist living in Long Island City, New York. She creates handbuilt sculpture and functional art. 

​

Rita Varian earned her BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and her MFA at the State University of New York at New Paltz. She is an associate member of Brickhouse Ceramic Art Center.

Her style is unique, intriguing, and fun. I'm determined to own one of her tankards. We'll be talking about that very soon. Very, very soon.

Dreams Coming True

Your blog post today is written by Xenia, as I'm hoping more and more of them will be in the future.

It's not New Year's, it's not anyone's birthday, but somehow this summer's end has been feeling like a time for retrospection. Just this past weekend, Bobby and I went to our friend Maria's birthday party - the same party at which, three years ago, we first set eyes on each other. And proceeded to not talk whatsoever, but still, it was the beginning of our acquaintance. It's amazing and a little scary to think that in only three short years we've fallen in love, gotten married, and had a son who's speedily approaching one year of age.

Xenia & Bobby in the beginning.

And, we've started this little baby of a business.

That fall of 2009 was a time of big and positive changes in Bobby's life. A new job he enjoyed, a new apartment of his own, and a spiritual rebirth as he found his soulmate. The idea of Dark Side Customs was also conceived amongst these changes - and lo and behold, exactly nine months later, on May 31, 2010, we opened the doors of the Etsy shop with our first tentative offerings.

A year ago, again, the fall brought the end of an era for us, and the beginning of a new life. Constantine was born on October 11, 2011. We turned that page, inexorably, joyously, deliriously. It's been a mad year since then, but you won't hear us regret it for an instant.

Today again, as we stand poised to enter the golden days of autumn, we find ourselves at a turning point. We're about to take the plunge and make Dark Side Customs Bobby's full-time job. That's been his dream. And it seems to me, we're not the kind of people to dream remotely, dazedly, of some-day-in-the-future.

Just like with our fast-and-furious dating, marriage and procreation history, we're going to dream this one hands-on. Damn the torpedoes, as they say, and full speed ahead.

http://www.facebook.com/DarkSideCustomsNYC

---

So what's happening on the eve of this big plunge? Of course, a lot of brainstorming, packets and packets of printouts, sketches, notes, idea maps, you name it. But most of them can't be followed up on until one of us has those extra nine hours a day. For now, we've singled out one aspect of the business that we can focus on with infusions of just a few minutes, and that's our visibility.

You see, we are confident that we have first-class product. We have a website and an Etsy shop to get this product out to the customers. There's two to three pages of stuff on the shop at any one time. So why are we not getting the multiple sales a day that other sellers are? We've concluded that there's simply not enough folks that know to look at it.

Third Prize for our Contest on Facebook

What to do about that is a much more complicated question. There are a bilion answers to it: more social networking, more blog posts (oh hey, I'm working on one right now!), more Tweets, more regular shop updates (coming when there's more time to create pieces and turn them into listings), more cards to hand out, more, more...

The one that I'm most excited about, especually seeing as it's my own brainchild, is a contest. Call me crazy, but I want other people to do my promoting for me. The best way to get them to do it, it appears, isn't to wheedle or implore. It's to give them free things. And when those things are pretty valuable - such as, say, sterling silver jewelry, or even custom sterling silver jewelry - well, one may hope that they'll want to get them. For free. Since all they have to do is wheedle their frinds into "liking" our Facebook page.

The contest is slated to run through the month of September. I'm really excited, since there are three prizes. I'm hoping for some stiff competition, with publicity spikes through the roof when our competitors revv up their referral engines. Each one will be another step toward our dream.

---

Pedro with Katie Letts @ Waltz Astoria

There have been a few pushes towards the precipice off which we're about to step: Bobby's day job, DSC's event schedule, some inspirational reading. But I want to introduce you to someone who is living the dream, hands-on, every day of his life. And after two recent visits to his dream, it's hard to disregard the taunting, tantalizing feeling. "You're in exactly the same place in life as this man," it says. "So what are you waiting for?"

Meet Pedro Gonzales, the proprietor of Waltz-Astoria.

23-14 Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria, NY.
(718) 956-8742

You can, in fact, meet him in person every day, if you stop by this eclectic cafe, wine bar, and performance space off the northern end of the (N) line. No, he is not a craftsman, or an artist, or a songwriter. But he loves music, he loves those talented folk who just need a stool and a microphone to spread joy around them - so he had a vision. A small, intimate performace space in one of New York's most talent-rich new up-and-coming neighborhoods. Live music every night and children's laghter and community get-togethers during the day. All this with his family around him, every step of the way.

And all this is what he has. When Bobby played his most recent show there, last Friday, Pedro's wife Song couldn't get enough of our little boy. She told me that when their daugher Annabelle was born, she returned to working the cafe counter at Waltz in only two weeks. She'd bring the baby with her, and customers played with her on the counter as Song made coffee and served cake. Annabelle, who is three now, grew up at the cafe.

In the meantime, business has grown, and so has the fame of this friendly, relaxing, yet energized spot. Astorians brought buddies from other areas, who in turn brought more and more friends, until musicians (as well as poets, comedians, magicians, and all sorts) from all over the world come to perform a set at the Waltz, or join in their bustling Open Mic nights.

And every day, Pedro is in the thick of this, his own booking agent, sound technician, MC, Maitre-D,' waiter and host. This is what I call "Living the Dream." This is what I want for Dark Side Customs - not a hand-out, not free money, but being able to look on something you've built - are still building, every day, with your own hands - and say with pride, "This is mine."

~Xenia~

<3

More Inspiration

Inspiration comes in so many different forms.

I’ve said this so many times but it never ceases to amaze me when I look back at something I’ve created and see a little of something from the past peeking through. Something it’s quite obvious. Sometime it’s so obscure that I don’t see it until much later. That’s when the “WOW!” factor kicks in the strongest.

This time it’ quite obvious. This time it’s all about the “STEAMPUNK CARTOUCHE”.

The "STEAMPUNK CARTOUCHE by DSC"

The name cartouche was first applied by soldiers who fancied that the symbol they saw so frequently repeated on the pharaonic ruins they encountered resembled a muzzle-loading firearm's paper powder cartridge (cartouche in French). In Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche is an oval with a horizontal line at one end, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name, coming into use during the beginning of the Fourth Dynasty under Pharaoh Sneferu.

At times amulets were given the form of a cartouche displaying the name of a king and placed in tombs. Such items are often important to archaeologists for dating the tomb and its contents. Cartouches were formerly only worn by Pharaohs. The oval surrounding their name was meant to protect him from evil spirits in life and after death. The cartouche has become a symbol representing protection from evil and give good luck. Egyptians believed that if you had your name written down in some place, then you would not disappear after you died. If a cartouche was attached to their coffin then they would have their name in at least one place. There were periods in Egyptian history when people refrained from inscribing these amulets with a name, for fear they might fall into somebody's hands conferring power over the bearer of the name.

All this information can be found on Wikipedia. For me, the Cartouche touches something deep but obscured by who knows what. I could be something from a past life. I could be my connection with travel and/or fantasy. It could be simply because I’m a big Stargate SG1 fan.

I designed this piece with only the aesthetic in mind but it seems to have captured a little bit of the luck vibe of the ancient pharaohs. I have plans for a few different versions of the “STEAMPUNK CARTOUCHE”. I’m even thinking of turning it into a birthstone pendant. Soon you’ll be able to pick your style, metal and stone making it even more your own.

---

I’ve been thinking of adding a 3D printer to the tools in my workshop. The idea is to make it easier to construct some of my designs that need to have a more polished and clean-cut look and feel. Mostly, I enjoy the aesthetic of the “Artifact”. I love it when a piece I create looks as though it could have come from an archaeological dig site or have been made many years ago and shows the touch of the hands of time.

But…

From time to time it’s a good idea to think about what others might want to see. You know. Good business practice and what not. I have a great many ideas that could be made by hand like 99% of my work but won’t look as clean. I can design the pieces, 3d map them on the computer, print them with the 3D printer, mold them and then cast them in whatever metal I wish or whatever metal my client wishes.

It’s also a great way to keep prices down. If a client wants a piece done in gold, I can remove coverage for scrap in the cost of the piece. The original model would already be done in plastic saving me from having to produce waste by cutting the piece in metal. It’s a great way to stay GREEN as well. The plastic can be easily recycled and reused for creating new work. It’s that simple. The one setback… 3D printers ain’t cheap. I’m still not raising my prices.

---

Now, we move on to the tasty part of this little adventure.

Normally I feature other jewelers on Etsy or other artists that have inspired me in my art. This time we’re hitting something completely different.

My wife and I had a date recently. Sure we took the baby with us. It was awesome to be able to get out together. We went to a killer Thai restaurant. We took a walk through the park to work off the killer Thai food. It was a hot day and we wanted ice cream. What we got was more of a treat than we expected.

My Cherry Vanilla & Rum Raisin at Eddie's

We had a choice of a chain or a “Mom & Pop” type spot we discovered on the corner. You know we chose “B”. We walked through the door and I was blasted into the past with the biggest grin on my face.

What we found was an old style ice cream parlor and candy shop like the ones I remember as a kid. Even then there weren’t many left. What we found was ice cream heaven in Queens. They even made sodas the old fashioned way. What we found was Eddie’s.

Located at 105-29 Metropolitan Ave, Forest Hills, NY 11375, this outwardly unassuming corner shop is so super cool on the inside that you'll swear you can see your breath as you walk in the door. The marble countertop, the serving dishes and the serving sizes and toppings will take you back to the 1940s or 50s. (I was born in the 70s, if you must know.) The staff is happy to be there and that makes it a happy place to be.

I want to go there with a crowd of Steampunks for some ice cream and photo ops.

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.

---

---

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. 

---

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.

---

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~

Raising The Bar, Baby

So...

Tri-Stone Opal & Purple CZ

October has proven a bit chilly but things in the D.S.C. family are heating up. New stones, new metals & a lot more pieces made completely from scratch. That's what we're up to here.

I've been in my workshop with some sterling silver and some really cool, new gems like rubies, spinel, emeralds and more. Xenia and I have been coming up with designs together. It has truly become a family business and it's growing by leaps, bounds and contractions.

That's right. Contractions.

Along with expecting new designs, we're expecting a new member of the D.S.C. family. A priceless jewel. Due later this month. Our new baby. Hence the big push for opal. Our little one's birthstone. It's also one of my favorites. I already have a piece made for our little one. You'll get to see it when it's on the baby. Check back from time to time.

---

I've always had an attraction to shiny, sparkly things. When I was a toddler I used to go to department stores with my mother and spend a good amount of time staring at the Swarovski Crystal case. The way the light played off the surface of the facets always made me feel relaxed. The same could be said about stones like moonstone and labradorite. 

South Australian Opal Triplet

Later, I found opals just as - if not more - appealing. It was on a trip to a jewelry store to pick up a gift for a friend. I couldn't have been more than nine or ten years old. I stood in front of a case of opal jewelry and drooled. I didn't want to look away. The shimmer and shine was different but the fire in the stone just seemed peaceful.

"Opal's internal structure makes it diffract light; depending on the conditions in which it formed it can take on many colors. Opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these hues, the reds against black are the most rare, whereas white and greens are the most common. It varies in optical density from opaque to semi-transparent. For gemstone use, its natural color is often enhanced by placing thin layers of opal on a darker underlying stone, like basalt."

~From Wikipedia~

Look out for more opal jewelry from the Dark Side.

---

Anubis Egyptian Sterling Silver Ring 

Inspiration comes from a great deal of places. This time it's coming from Italy. I've never met the owner of this shop in person but we have corresponded via Etsy. His name is Arosha Luigi Taglia and his Etsy site is full of awesomeness like the Anubis Ring to the right.

"My work ranges from visual arts (sculpturing, painting, digital art) to jewelry design. I like to experiment with every material possible - plastic, silver, gold, metals, textiles, vintage pieces etc..

My work is presented in art, design, fashion and jewelry galleries all over the world."

~From Arosha's Etsy Profile~

Make your way to his shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/arosha) and take a look at some of the beauty he creates. Let him know you were sent by Dark Side Customs.

---

~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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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~