Jan
24
Next on the “Let’s Create A Website’ list was defining an overall style. What did I want the jewelry collections to convey? What kind of atmosphere? Previously my displays were experiments with lots of predictable ‘seasonal styles’ in my jewelry cases including the usual Fall, Christmas, Valentines Day, or yearly celebrations like Mother’s and Father’s Day, which are so overdone in retail today. Anyone can see that approach immediately in any big box store or chain. I wanted to find my look. Bethany had sent me a couple of ideas in the form of style-boards which conveyed how jewelry might look on a page. I began to get a sense of what might happen and especially liked the closeups of the jewelry with texture, color and sometimes words as a foundation.
It made sense for Arise Designs to focus in on a few avenues like handmade, a fresh perspective, a personal touch, meaningful words, the Bible (since most of my work is inspired by faith), and on things I love, like nature and color. Not wanting to look like a jewelry store, bead store or craft fair, but rather like a quality catalog showing creative handmade product and fresh ideas. So the hunt began for props which would bring this vision to life. It was an adventure as items were collected and I practiced learning how to see through the camera, and how to capture the essence of my pieces. What an invigorating creative and learning process, and so much more in depth than anticipated. During this exercise I learned what ignited more energy and what did not work, as each step of the process helped inform the next, and the decision making process progressed.
Click on Downtown Photo Shoot to see how many of the materials above were used for the rotating photo’s which will be on the Arise Designs home page.
That’s all for now, but next post I’ll be back with Arise Designs: Content & Look. Until then, have a creative week and allow yourself time to ask questions, seek answers and find your style, no matter what your area of interests are. Explore your passion and be original!
{images: Laurie Ashbach}
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Jan
23
Joy Dare Week 3: Each day count 3 gifts
Jan 17th – 23rd
49. a gift that made you laugh-Leslie’s baby pictures
50. a gift that made you pray – not knowing
51. a gift that made you quiet – snow falling gently
3 gifts from God’s Word – from this weeks BSF study of Acts of the Apostles.
52. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 …because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.
53. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
54. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
55. a grace in the kitchen – the orchid which has been dormant for years just bloomed.
56. a grace in the weather – cold but sunny
57. a grace that might never have been – making the CHA President’s pins, and my connection to Children’s Hospital through our daughter Lindsay.
3 gifts you saw only when you got close-up:
58. details in the Arise Designs Website, soon to go live. 
59. The God’s Touch Collection
60. The Fullness of Time Collection
61. one thing in the sky – a huge owl flying low, back & forth in front of us
62. one thing from your memory – the awe of intensely colored pansy faces when I was a child
63. one thing that’s ugly-beautiful – loss and it’s pain and grief that brings you close to God
64. one grace wrinkled – a treasured face
65. one grace smoothed – a familiar new face
66. one grace unfolded – the stem of orchids
3 gifts found in Christ:
67. saving grace
68. each new day
69. hope for the future
May God Bless your week and the counting of His unlimited gifts,
Laurie
{images:Laurie Ashbach}
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Jan
20
It’s been a long time coming, but the site is almost live!
I wanted to take you behind the scenes to look at what it took to create a website for Arise Designs jewelry. We, the Vine & Branches artists, had been showing our work consistently in the ten years the store was open in the St. Paul suburbs. They were invaluable years of learning that brought a loyal following to all the artists we represented. The only problem was lack of time to devote to building up and defining my personal jewelry business, with all the responsibilities and costs of running the store. Many new pieces were created during those years, but there was not a cohesive branding of my body of work. Now that the store was closed, I had time to build my brand. The past three years have been filled to the brim with defining myself, researching, organizing, making decisions, and learning how to create a brand and have an online presence.
With the invaluable help of Bethany at b*spoke, who knew my style and my work, we set off to create a cohesive brand. Designing the logo was first on the agenda, followed by creating the basic business necessities.
I fell in love with the first one. Isn’t it wonderful?
With the logo decided, the cards, letter head and envelopes were designed and printed. And as long as we were at it, we simplified the Vine & Branches Gallery logo as well, which was the store which represented around 90 artists and where my jewelry was sold, that I had opened in November 1998.
Next post we’ll get into how the website developed from an inspiration board designed by Beth. See you soon!
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