General – Designing Thoughts by Pam Older

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Pearl is the birthstone for June but handmade pearl jewelry is truly perfect to wear anytime. Here are some baubles I designed that I think of as essential pieces.

Our Keshi Pearl Lariat is one of a kind Y necklace with an artisan look. Small keshi pearls are laced with dark oxidized silver chain with gold accents. It looks good with an open color or lower neckline, a new mid-length necklace to wear alone or layer with a simple chain.

The white coin pearl clusters are a design that I do for the Sundance Catalog (sold on their website as “Star Shower Earring“).The newest rendition of this earring is my “Sunset Earring” made with pearls of soft neutral shades of gray, copper and peach.

What’s new? A long pink strand that ends with a taupe silk tassle. We take trendy and make it classic! I have one more left online.

Are you longing to own South Sea Pearls? A single shimmering South Sea pearl on leather is an elegant look for every day, I set it off with silver. Or pearls and diamonds? 18k gold diamond petals over South Sea Pearls are in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful things at Pam Older Designs.

Lastly, a diminutive diamond compass charm flanked by a pearl and aqua chalcedony. It’s a perfect layering necklace and can make it for you in silver too.

Pearls have the special advantage of looking fantastic on everyone! Some of these items are on my website and others are one of a kind available in my Newburyport shop. Hope you like my personal choices of the 7 Pearl pieces of jewelry you cannot be without!

Winter, Jewelry and March Madness!

March 4, 2017March 12, 2017Leave a comment

Drat- it is still Winter. After a week of Spring promise it is freezing in Newburyport, MA and there is no choice but to embrace it! We all like a blazing fire and a romantic dinner to make the Winter enjoyable, but why not top it off with a little piece of jewelry to really warm things up?

When guys come to Pam Older Designs looking for a piece of handmade jewelry for their sweethearts it just touches my heart. We start exploring and looking around the shop and then things start to stand out. Sometimes it is a pair of earrings or a charm that will resonate – recently it was a gold honey bee that caught my customer’s eye. He saw it online and came to Newburyport expressly to take a look at it. Bu, alas, he didn’t love it. I suggested we change it up-use the charm on a necklace that he did like- a soft organic Peruvian Opal strand. So while he waited, I made the necklace. He left feeling it was worth the trip up to Newburyport from Boston! All of us at my shop find satisfaction at making a happy customer.

A Buddha wrap bracelet for a Yoga practicing wife was another recent solution. Our spiritual Buddha and Om charms struck the right chord. A charm that says “Breath Deeply” is popular for a variety of gifts as well.

One gentleman brought in a very elaborate diamond brooch that he said had sentimental value but never left his wife’s jewelry box. We created a simple gold bangle that it sat upon and now it is worn now all the time. A sentimental gift that was a gorgeous creation and exceeded his expectations.

We carry a large range of unique earrings, necklaces and bracelets, all handmade in our shop- you will never know what you will find. We do custom work too but keep in mind you need 4-6 weeks to go that route.

So before you leave Winter behind and you abandon her for MARCH MADNESS, think about a roaring fire, a goblet of Cabernet and a sexy pair of long earrings!

Inspirations

January 24, 2017Leave a comment

Each piece of my jewelry is made in our Newburyport jewelry shop or in the case of our rings, designed here and handmade by skilled craftsmen around the globe. I like to discover things made by artisans around the world and incorporate them into my designs as well. It is my desire to pay homage to traditional craftsmanship and the designs found in Italy, India, Bali, and Thailand in particular. The pretty briolettes for these pink topaz earrings were bought on my visit to India. I made these for Valentine’s Day 2017 and in doing so, brought back the memory and excitement of my trip. I am so privileged to have travelled to many beautiful places- my inspirations.

Designing Custom Jewelry

December 13, 2016March 12, 2017Leave a comment

Jewelry designing is not for someone who finds decision making daunting! My assistants would say that disqualifies me immediately! The truth is I am a pretty good decision maker after years of experience except when faced with a thousand different gemstones, colors, cuts and other materials! Now add all the possible charms like the special one I use on my Buddha Necklace, our popular Breathe Deeply, our Lucky Elephant, Om and Lotus...That’s the dilemma, but also the fun of it.

So how does one chose? Obviously the prettiest combination and the trending styles make influence your choice, but I just ask myself-would I like to wear that right now?

A new piece starts with a simple design, an experimental color combination, and a choice of metals. Then the fun begins, much to the chagrin of my assistants. I usually like to see it in a few variations. At the end of this process there may be a number of new designs and maybe a coordinating collection of bracelets, earrings or necklaces.

But the process of deciding does not end here. I consider pricing- can I make something most people can afford? Do I have the materials in stock? Should I add diamonds? How long does it take to make? All of these considerations go into the mix.

Then I try it on- uh oh..can we change this to silver and make it longer? What if we….I can drive my assistants crazy.

In the end, my collection of handmade jewelry is affordable, pretty and well made. The final result is well considered. If the design is good my customers are going to like it.

Gifts with Meaning

December 3, 2016December 3, 2016Leave a comment

I hope everyone has a bright healthy holiday season no matter what your race, religion or beliefs happen to be. It has been a tough election year, one of divisiveness, cyber-bullying and for some it has resulted in a lack of faith in our country and democratic process. No matter who we are and where we are,no matter the degree of trouble we face, we know a positive attitude, cannot hurt and may well help us through difficulties. With this in mind, my recommendations for this year’s holiday gift giving are many of my spiritual pieces in my handmade jewelry collection at Pam Older Designs.

Start looking here-our Long Pyrite Buddha.This shiny 18k gold charm is a lucky buddha on a long pyrite chain. It is a subtle and happy way to signal belief that goodness and knowledge will prevail. Buddha necklaces might bring good luck and in this case it is a fashion statement too.

Another idea is the short version of the Buddha necklace and I have the honor of having charismatic NCIS actress Emily Wickersham modeling it on my website! Emily is a childhood friend of my daughter and she agreed to model a few things for me! This handmade necklace is the same Buddha charm on a sparkling pyrite chain that looks like rough diamonds .The simple result is magic with anything you wear!

Pamolderdesigns.com has many, many bracelets with buddhas, lucky elephants, lotus flowers and OM charms, all gifts of peace and hope, purity and rebirth. They resonate with me and have been popular with my customers for many years.

Another optimistic gift might be a silver or vermeil peace sign necklace. I can personalize one for you to wear plain or with colored semi-precious stones and pearls. It is an inexpensive gift that will please most women and younger girls too. With the current fashion of layering necklaces, this is a present that will be appreciated.

There is also a personal favorite, a silver charm with meaning and significance that says “Breathe Deeply”. I use this silver charm on necklaces and bracelets.

I love the idea of giving gifts with meaning. A small symbol, a few words of wisdom might help our friends see the forest for the trees.

See www.pamolderdesigns.com for more gift ideas with special significance.

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Things to do In Newburyport

October 21, 2016October 21, 2016Leave a comment

IMG_9694 copy Newburyport is a friendly small city that feels like a gem of a town. Its surrounding areas are treasures as well. If you are planning a trip to Northern New England Newburyport is a central spot to stop on your way to New Hampshire or Maine. It is only an hour from Boston.

What do I like in Newburyport itself? I love the tight little streets and historical houses, the Merrimac River and Atlantic Ocean make it feel very fresh and nautical. My handmade jewelry store Pam Older Designs is at 42 Merrimac Street and of course that’s a must see! I love living here and hope you will come visit us.

Walk around the town and get a coffee at Plum Island Coffee Roasters and see the dock activity on the Merrimac River. The spot is my all time favorite place to star the day or to relax in the afternoon (that’s me with my coffee in the picture above!) The nearby boardwalk passes the park and the Firehouse Theater then goes on for quite a bit as you weave in and out of paths near the river. If you do it right you end up at scenic Joppa Flats with comfortable benches to rest your tired feet.

The Atomic Cafe is great for breakfast or Commune if you like crepes. Angie’s is a diner that has everything you could want. For lunch and dinner I am partial to the Purple Onion on cute Inn Street, or Loretta or Oregano. All are clustered nearby.

For me, the highlight is the beach. On your way, stop at Joppa Fine foods for a picnic lunch with sophisticated offerings of homemade dishes, charcuterie, fine bread and fine cheeses and wine. My quirky favorite Mad Marthas is on Plum Island and opens for breakfast and lunch. Have Mum’s Mix or their artichoke and chicken sausage omelet- and sneak in a fluffy pancake with real maple syrup or fresh corned beef hash (insider tip- during the Summer months they serve dinner on Thursday nights). It’s in a beach shack right across from the Northern part of the beach.

Plum Island’s southern side has a natural beach and nature reserve 3 miles out of town. You will find a beautiful sandy beach strip 7 miles long with marsh land on one side, dunes on the other. For birder’s and nature lovers it is paradise.

After the beach, go to the bar at Plum Island Grill for the BEST sunsets overlooking the fantastic marshes. On your way back to town Bob’s Lobster is a cool restaurant for seafood. In town, the Grog is a Newburyport pub with very good food-try their Ahi Tuna and or classic New England Haddock and clam chowder- dollar oysters too. The Black Cow deck overlooks the river and out to Plum Island- it is also a very pretty spot to dine.

Near the river are boats that give frequent river tours and others that go out to the ocean on sunset tours. If you are on bikes or foot the Newburyport rail trail is an easy walk or ride. Heading South on the trail will bring you to Halley’s old-fashioned ice cream shop!

We have a little screening room called- THE SCREENING ROOM! It is on State St. and always has great films in the evening. Along that stretch on Upper State Street are many antique markets too.

Finished with your tour? Head north to Kittery Foreside for super cool restaurants like Anjou or Anika Jans and a host of artisan shops. Portsmouth is an area I am still exploring but will report back!

Newburyport Jewelry Shop- Pam Older Designs

October 21, 20161 Comment

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It has been two years since I moved up from NY to open my Newburyport jewelry store and the experience has been terrific. I opened my shop Pam Older Designs in May 2015 and I can say it was an excellent move. Lots of people in town are loving our organic handmade jewelry and referring their friends near and far. This Summer we had shopping visitors from all over the world! Through the shop and local Newburyport activities I’ve developed very nice friendships too. the town is very hospitable to small business owners and there is so much to do here. We are one of the more unique Newburyport shops since we produce 90% of our own original designs in our studio. The shop sets its self apart as a sophisticated space for discerning buyers that like style, fashion and good design. We make it easy for people to shop local! I shop local too knowing how important it is to keep unique places in business!

Shop- Opening Day Image

We recently started doing more custom jewelry pieces for our customers and hope to expand that service as we grow to bring more of my unique jewelry designs to life. We are open most days from 9:30-5pm. Christmas jewelry shopping has begun early this year. This week we sold a gorgeous hand carved labradorite necklace, a diamond halo necklace and a pair of 18k gold lotus earrings. I am thrilled that we are getting a reputation for elegant jewelry and gifts at all price points! My goal is to keep something on hand for everyone. And if you are not shopping in Newburyport- find us online at http://www.pamolderdesigns.com!

SO thank you to all our customers who have visited us and discovered our semi-precious stone jewelry and personal service. You have given us a wonderful welcome and hope you will continue to think of us for all your jewelry purchases. #Newburyportjewelry

The Handcrafted Jewelry Design Process

July 2, 2016July 2, 20163 Comments

Pam Older Designs custom Diamond and Yellow Gold Bangle Bracelet

After 15 years of making jewelry, I’m still obsessed with creating new designs everyday. I still love the process of design whether it is a room or a building, a sculpture or a graphic but particularly when it involves my jewelry. The question that is asked of me all the time is “Where do you get your inspiration?” I think the answers to this question are fairly universal but I will share my personal experience.

Let’s start with the basics, I am inspired by old or new materials like silver, unusual chains and charms and gemstones. Materials are to me like an artist’s paints. The play of color is probably the most obvious beginning of creation, so how the colored stones look next to each other is usually the starting point for me. I also look at the textures, shapes and metals along side the stones to enhance the colors or the design. For instance I love Labradorite and I think it usually looks best with silver, but sometimes a slice of gold next to Labradorite looks amazing! I came across some pale pink stick keshi pearls recently and paired it with silver faceted nuggets and a bright sterling chain and together the random pearls became a gorgeous confection.

Being a practical sort, there are other inspirations of a more personal nature. A new outfit that I need to accessorize gets me playing with materials and styles. A look or fashion trend will find me experimenting and improving a good idea. A person on the street wearing a fun piece of jewelry gets me thinking. All of these factors fall in the inspiration category.

Very very often, the inspiration for a new design comes from a customer. I can easily latch on to a good idea and run with it. The the design challenge is to surpass the original idea, making it even more beautiful and exceeding the customer’s expectations. Experience is why people come to a designer. The bracelet on the top of this article was an antique diamond broach that a customer brought to me for ideas. The design inspiration for this piece came quickly. I proposed keeping the setting in tact, making is horizontal and marrying it to a yellow gold bangle. Both the customer and I loved the idea of combining the platinum setting with yellow gold, but many people might have opted for a white gold band. Either way, it was a great re-purposing of the ring. Now the piece is out of the safe and worn often.

Creating for myself has always proved a good litmus test. If I like it others usually do too. I usually wear a new design for a couple of days to see how it looks, how it moves, lays, and feels. Is it comfortable? Is it versatile -I love it more if you can wear more then one way. Does it look better in gold or silver? Should the finish be shiny, matte, or oxidized? Would many customer wears this and pay the price for it? What if I changed the stone? These are all common considerations in the design process, probably as true in jewelry making or as in any art form.The process is not simply a matter of an inspiration but rather many inspirations, artistic preferences, practical considerations and experience. And most importantly, the love of beautiful objects.

Setting up a New Shop

April 24, 2016April 24, 2016Leave a comment

From start to finish, setting up my handmade jewelry shop in Newburyport last May was a project I did by the seat of my pants. Probably not uncommon for small businesses. I thought it might be helpful for you to have a list of things to do if you have plans for a new shop! So here is my list based on last year’s experience.

The Basics

After construction, which included a new floor, new moldings, built in shelving, lots of track and pendant lighting, a new doorway and barn door, it was time to move in. When in this phase be practical- think about how you are going to use your space. No one could picture how I was going to fit a bed in a 200 sq foot shop- but I had a vision and it was important to work it into the layout. I installed vinyl flooring that no one can tell isn’t real wood,will withstand traffic and is easy to clean.

Provide heat and air conditioning systems that are adjustable in the shop, workable windows, energy efficient glass and doors, a screen door, locks on all doors and an employee bathroom.Install fire and carbon dioxide detectors and the necessary fire alarms and fire key boxes required by your town. Install phones and internet service.

Raw space- so glad I kept the brick natural, it looks so much better now with the light gray trim.

Things to do:

-Officially register your business in town.

-FIRST THING: Research ADA access and requirements for store access, aisle size and check out.

-Install a security system for windows and doors and a camera to prevent theft. I use a Nest camera and find it to work quite well.

-Find your employees and start training them and have them help with the myriad of tasks that are going to overwhelm you!

-Find a good handyman and computer support person to help you keep up with your opening schedule.

– Develop your signage/branding. Use you logo and choose strong images to brand your shop. Make sure you love it your image to prevent extra spending later. Employ a graphic designer whose work you admire to save your time and money in the long run.Do this at least four months ahead of time so ordering can be done 12 weeks for the following items: shop signs, gift certificates and envelopes, boxes,bags, gift wrap, ribbons, tissue paper, price labels, business cards, mailing labels, a flyer and promotional signs for the store telling shoppers what makes you special. A-frame “sandwich boards” for your sidewalk and flags will attract foot traffic. Have the designer make an email signature that includes a logo and perhaps a few thumbnail images to go at the bottom of every email you send out.

-Research and ask other store owners about point of purchase registers and merchant services accounts (credit cards). Find one you want to use for your sales transactions and inventory. We use Square on an apple ipad at Pam Older Designs and it works for us, but a larger store may need more bells and whistles. A chip reader,card scanner and receipt printer are part of this system and it is easy to set up and use. I also use quickbooks for my wholesale and pamolderdesigns.com orders.

-Create a check-out area with the largest cash wrap counter that will fit your space (note ADA requirements for length and height). Stock it with bags and boxes, wrapping material, labels, polishing clothes, post-it notes, scissors, box opener, calculator, marking pens, keys, cleaning supplies like glass cleaner and a shelf for orders being held for pick up. Build a separate station for check-out if your space allows. Mine cash wrap has plenty of glass display area as well.A separate register stand will provide more storage and use less of your cash wrap counter space. If you have room add a table or counter space behind your main cash wrap.

-Buy store fixtures and displays for your jewelry and other items, and shelving, cabinets, hooks, tables, baskets.

-Take hundreds of pictures of your shop and your products. You will need them for future social networks and advertising.

-Buy a nice email sign up book and put it on the counter. Collect those emails! We also have a wish list book and a gift certificate book for tracking customer’s needs.

-Learn to be proficient in Mail Chip or Constant Contact so you can reach your customers with important sales information. Develop your social media pages and blogs. It takes a long time to develop, if you are not proficient hire a marketing savvy person to do this part time.

-Install awnings,window boxes and plantings. Have a broom and hose near by. Hire a service for planting if you can not do it yourself.

-Hire a cleaning service if you cannot do it yourself

-Hire a bookkeeper and/or account depending on your needs.

-Subscribe to Pandora or Spotify and find a nice little sound system.

-Move into your space and display your wares. Post shop hours and have an open/closed sign for the window and open your doors! Add your personal touches.

-Join the local Chamber of Commerce to keep abreast of business in town on many levels including promotional offerings and hiring services they sometimes provide as part of being a member. Connect with local merchants. Keep holidays and special town events in mind for store scheduling and staffing.

Any additional comments? Would love to hear from you. I am sure I have left out many but I will update this as time goes on. Hope it was helpful.