Journey of a Jeweler

a journey into fashion decorating style and life with jeweler lisa lehmann

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Lisa Lehmann Designs, formerly StudioJewel

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It’s CHRISTMAS! In July. My biggest sale of the year!

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Hey friends!
Yup it’s Monday. Yup I’m blogging on a Monday. Yup I’m talking about my jewelry.

But…
This is all about you! My Christmas in July sale is active NOW! It’s my biggest sale of the year. Everything is 25% off in my Etsy shop until Friday, July 18! You don’t have to do a thing…except click HERE!

There will be items added all week. Many are ‘ready to ship’ and when they are gone….they are gone!

So go ahead, it’s hot outside and you deserve a lil sometin’ sometin’! Agreed?
Like this:

Or these:

Or maybe this?

Oh shoot, get ’em all!
Remember, no code needed. Sale until Friday. Limited quantities.

HO HO HO!
love you so, (see how I rhymed there?)
lisa

     little details 

  • yes, custom and personalized items are included
  • no, you cannot combine other offers
  • yes, when it’s gone it’s gone
  • no, this doesn’t count towards items already been purchased in my design que’

Happy New Year. Reaching for 2014.

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An end? Or a beginning?
I think I will choose to look at it as a fresh start. Something new ahead.
I don’t want to feel as if there are things I didn’t do, words I shouldn’t have spoken, people I didn’t connect with, places I didn’t go, goals I didn’t accomplish, a God I didn’t serve well.
Instead. 
What if I view 2013 as a preparation for the new year? A training ground.

Mistakes = lessons learned.
Unfulfilled dreams = something to strive for.
Painful words spoken = tongue training in restraint.
Missed opportunity = a new chance tomorrow.
Not enough hugs = more time to cuddle.
Tears = a balm for my face.
Disappointments = a lesson in flexibility.

But think.
Think of the spontaneous laughter. Moments of surprise. New friends.
The unexpected. The joyous!

I have so much to be thankful for this year. Big things. Little things. Moments.
My heart has been impacted.

Moments of family struggle that equal a deeper understanding.
Moments of professional struggle that taught me tenacity and accomplishment.
Moments of comparison where I was able to sit back and embrace contentment.
Moments of marriage struggle that taught me more grace…more humility…more deep set love for my man.
Moments of anger and frustration that taught me self control.
Moments.
Moments that forever changed me.

These changes can make us hard, indifferent, bitter…or we can embrace them. We can look for the “glimmer”. See what we can learn. Grasp them as a plan laid out for us in advance. A plan for our life. A plan for our good.

2013.
A year of change.
A year of moments.

And hopefully….
Thank you for an amazing year. Your constant support has made me laugh. Has made me smile. Has helped me grow. I am overwhelmed at the blessings in my life. And you are definitely a one of them!

Here is to a NEW YEAR!!
My resolution?
Happy new year friend. 
xoxoxooxox
lisa

Fashion Tip Tuesday

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Tuesday. The day I share my favorite fashion find or tip.

This Tuesday I find myself buried deep in silver and gold and gemstones.
Too busy to bring you a truly quality post…so then I’d rather bring you no post at all.

However, there are archives!
Many of you have asked Fashion Tip advice or questions about things I’ve already covered…but you didn’t know!

Check out the side bar. There’s a button for FASHION – that will bring you ALL the past Fashion Tip Tuesday posts! Or, use the search bar. Type in FASHION – viola! you will find them all.

So here is to you having a very fashionable Tuesday.

Me? I’m getting back to the studio. Santa runs a VERY tight ship! Ho Ho Ho!

xooxoxoxoxo
lisa


Boot Socks Boot Cuffs your must have for winter fashion and the cozy factor

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The cozy factor. 
A phenomenon? Possibly.
We all know it exists. We all embrace it differently.
Something about that feeling. It ignites something within us.
Maybe a touch of romanticism. 
Thoughts of cozy evenings by the fire.
Romantic log cabins in the woods.
Hand knitted blankets.
Family gathered together while it snows outside.
You KNOW what I mean.
Whatever it is…we love the idea of cozy.


When I think about winter fashion the one thing that excites me… well, besides boots…is the idea of wearing something cozy and warm. True it’s out of necessity where I live, but there is also that something about it. 
One staple in my wardrobe that I embraced many many years ago…and it looks like the whole world is finally catching on…are boots socks.
I posted this photo back in December of 2011. People used to think I was a bit crazy.
They truly take your wonderful boots up a notch. They add a little something extra. And in addition…there is the cozy factor.
My first pair of boots socks. Free people. Loosely knit. Off white with yellow trim on the top edge. Love those socks. One problem…The creator hadn’t thought through actually wearing the socks beyond the catalog shoot. Those darn things would not stay up to save my life. I used hair ties. Rubber bands. Even my beloved bootstraps
Fortunately, since then designers have gotten smart. Better quality. Better design. Better stay-up-edness. That’s a word…right?
Then a couple years ago I discovered a few pairs on Etsy and I decided to give them a try. One word. Love.
photo cred Anneke Taylor
Hear my words of advice. Get yourself some boots socks because they’re amazingly cozy. Extremely fashionable. And something you just have to have. They are easy to wear. Over skinny jeans. Over leggings. Even bare legs if you dare. Look how cute my tweenager looks in hers!
But, skip your big-box stores. There are hundreds of artists on Etsy selling their designs. Handcrafted. Well made.
When I posted this photo on my Instagram last week, everyone wanted to know where I got my socks. These are alpine socks from Grace and Lace. I wear them ALL the time. They are the ultimate in embracing “the cozy factor”.
Now you have no excuse. You need cozy. You need fashion. Put these on your Christmas list. You can thank me later! {{smile}}
Not sure exactly how to style them? Have questions? I’m always available! Just shoot me an email!
Here’s to “the cozy factor”!
xoxoxoxo
lisa
p.s. Just a personal update. We had to put down our beloved Maggie on Thanksgiving Day.  She fought such a good fight. And she is truly missed. She died in my arms surrounded by all of us who loved her best. Thank you so much for all your kind words. I am grateful.

Why is handcrafted jewelry so expensive? A peek behind the scenes!

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The money factor. It is a factor right? There are very few of us that have it to throw around. We work hard for it. We spend it wisely {most of the time}.

Yet people like yourselves value handcrafted artisan goods. I love that. In a mass produced society something that is made by someones hands is a true treasure.

The problem? It costs more.
One question / comment I get all the time is “I love your work, but I can’t afford it…why is it so expensive?”
I am not offended by that at all. You really don’t know the process behind what I do. The time it actually takes. Sure, I could have many of my components manufactured overseas – but I don’t. Sure I could buy lesser quality metal that isn’t eco-friendly – but I don’t. Sure I could purchase inferior stones – but I don’t. 
I am committed to remaining completely handcrafted. I am an artist through and through. A maker. A goldsmith. NOT mass-marketer.

One design that came into question recently was this one. The Earth Day bracelet. Created to draw attention to the planet we live on. The planet we love. The planet we are responsible to care for. “Pretty. But I would never pay THAT price.” It has been said.

This is the “story” of how this design comes to life. The steps behind the design. It LOOKS like a fairly simple design. But remember…looks can be deceiving!

To begin creating the Earth Day symbol I cut the eco-friendly recycled sterling silver wire into the length needed. That piece of wire is then soldered closed to begin the formation of a circle. It is hammered on a mandrel to create the circle, THEN hammered on the bench block to flatten the circle.

Then I take out my circle template and mark out four equal quadrants on the circle. Using a Goldsmiths Hammer, I hammer directly on the top and bottom of my drawn line to create the slightly flattened out appearance of the circle. Tediously flipping from one side to the other to ensure a very complete and very equal disbursement of metal.





Time to create the cross bars for the circle. They are measured and the center marked. Again using my file, I gently file the wire to create a groove in each piece at dead center. When I’m satisfied these pieces will fit flush together, they are soldered together to create a solid crosspiece.



Now the solid crosspiece is set into the grooves of the original circle. Tweaking as needed until though the crossbars fit perfectly in the filed out indentations. Now the cross is soldered onto the circle on all four points of the circle.

The pieces that extend beyond the circle our side flush with the edges. And gently beveled so was not to leave any harsh sharp edges.  The pieces are pickled. Then tumbled. Then polished. Whew!!

Now it’s ready for some leather.
The leather strip is cut directly in half to go around one of the crossbars on the thinner side of the circle. A piece of half round wire is cut to size to become the wrapping for the leather. The wires then wrapped around the leather pieces and gently tucked underneath itself to create a secure connection.

If the bracelet is to be worn as tying bracelet it is done!


If not, it’s time to solder the pieces for the clasp! I like all my jump rings to be soldered, so nothing will just “come open”. And then more wire wrapping of the leather.


So you see what looks so simple to the eye is actually a very labor-intensive very meticulously created design. A labor of love so to speak…but oh, so very worth it!

This Christmas season I challenge you to buy handcrafted. There are so many talented artisans out there. Choose handmade. You will NEVER regret it! Don’t know where to start? My favorite place… ETSY!

If you have a question for me, send me an email! If I choose your question you will get a $25 gift certificate to use on any of my jewelry!

Thanks for joining me in the studio today – I LOVED having you!

xoxoxoxox
lisa

ps and sometimes I make mistakes! 🙂 a blooper