Local Jewelry Designer Honored in National Competition

Philadelphia, PA – August 10, 2010 - Local jewelry designer Layne Freedline of Layne Designs (www.LayneDesigns.com) was recently honored as a Top 10 Copper Circle Finalist in a national annual competition for emerging designers. The Jewelry Design Business Development Grant program, sponsored by jewelry supply wholesaler Halstead Bead Inc., awards cash grants and valuable business plan assistance to jewelry entrepreneurs.

Freedline’s style is bold and bohemian with a natural feel drawing inspiration from favorite artists such as Hokusai, Erte and Revere. Her passion for gemstones such as lace agate and druzies motivates many of her designs while her innovative work with silver and gold marks her pieces as progressive and quite unique.

“I was thrilled to have the opportunity to submit my Business Development plan for review by such a reputable business. To be placed among the Top 10 Finalists in the country is an incredible honor!”

Layne received her bachelor’s degree in Jewelry and Metalsmithing from Temple University and completed several apprenticeships before opening Layne Designs (www.LayneDesigns.com) in 2008. Her designs have been honored by and published in Jewelry Artist Magazine, and she was honored by the PA guild of craftsmen as one of this year's best emerging artists.

Freedline was chosen as a finalist out of a highly competitive field of submissions from all over the United States. “Layne is a talented jeweler whom we are proud to name as a top finalist,” said competition judge Hilary Scott, “we look forward to seeing all that she can accomplish in this industry.”

Entrants in the competition were required to submit a design portfolio, business plan details, and written answers to several specific questions. The program is designed to support the dreams of talented jewelry artisans and encourage sound business practices as they build their small businesses. Detailed results and more information on the award are available at www.HalsteadBead.com/Grant.

PA guild of Craftsmen Bold and Energized

I can not say enough about what a great show experience I had at the PA guild of Craftsmen fine craft show this weekend. The guild has built on nearly 70 years of experience in promoting and nurturing fine crafts in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. The show in Wilmington last weekend was gorgeous. The Chase center on the Riverfront was a top-notch venue with excellent staff and security.

I was drawn to participate in the Guild shows because of a new "emerge" program that is in it's very first year. The emerging artists who participated (including myself) had booths all in the same section, and it was great to see so much fresh new work. The program has generated a great deal of commotion, press coverage and new energy in in the guild.

I was pleased to take part in a meeting of members discussing the future of the guild. I was so interested that the organization was taking the time to get feedback from their members, and to embolden themselves with brave new ideas about how to bolster the art and fine craft market. Another topic of discussion was the "handmade movement." I quote it because, nobody knows quite the word for it. Many phrases are being coined by different organizations: Buy Handmade, Always Handmade, Give Handmade, to name a few. We are all interested in finding the phrase that will take off as the name of the handmade movement. Please share if you have any ideas.

The ideals behind this movement are both personal and socio-political. Buying handmade is good for your local economy, spending your precious dollars in a small business environment where the money will continue to be circulated in your immediate area. It is good for the environment to purchase something handmade rather than something pumped out in a factory. It is good for your community to have small studio businesses and handmade shops. It is good for your soul purchasing quality goods with personality which were made with human hands.

Bravo, PA guild, for a great show and great leadership. For making a stand for the arts, for spreading the love of handmade goods to a diversity of people. Thanks for being encouraged and invigorated by change and youth. And thank you for starting up the emerge program and making everything easy and digital for artists (I know it's not easy to do).

Logo Design: Please VOTE!

Hi All,

I have been meaning to put together a Layne Designs logo for ages. I am just starting, but I would really appreciate your feedback about which one of these three you like the best (there will be colors later on) I really struggle with logo design, and I feel that I'm on to something with this handwritten combinations of LD for Layne Designs. Let me know what you think, and thanks for taking the time!

#1

#2

#3

Grateful and Thriving

Everything seems to be bubbling over with life and energy today. I have a notoriously never-ending to-do list, and I think that nothing could be better. I have learned to be very steady in my thinking, even when things seem out of control. I have also learned to FORGET about all of my business when I'm not working. I come home excited about my day and the things that were made and sold, but then I push it from my mind to enjoy a little solace from the hustle and bustle of being a one woman business owner, designer, fabricator, saleslady and shop mechanic.

A fellow artist once told me how privileged she felt to be able to make things for a living. In the middle of listing how many thing I had to do, I realized that she was right, and I should be grateful or get out of the business. It isn't so much the perks like getting to make your own hours that make this work a privilege. Inevitably, if you are working for yourself, you work more than 40-50 hours in a week anyhow. What is so great is the very tangible and literal satisfaction that an artist has in their work. Not only do we get to see physical results of our labor, but even better. We get to make every decision about the outcome. Our work is truly ours, very satisfying. That feeling of exhaustion at the end of a long day feels so good when you loved the making and the things that you made.

Enjoy your making, friends :) and tell me why you are grateful for it.

Veggie recipes

A friend of mine asked for some vegetarian recipes the other day. When I finally got back to her, I realized that over the years, I have recorded more than a few of my own recipes. I usually cook in a very creative way. I make it up as I go along, and use what I have available to me. I wanted to share some tofu tips and some of my original veggie recipes for my friends out there. Be aware that the amount of each ingredient was some guess work on my part, so if it doesn't seem right to you--be creative and make it your own way :)

If you wanna get into making tofu, the trick is to freeze it first, then thaw it, and it gets tougher. Cut into little 1/2 inch cubes and cook in hot oil until golden brown (it takes a long time) -- throw in some soy sauce and spices, and you're ready to add it to stir fry, pasta sauce, and more....heck, you can even smother it in BBQ sauce and eat tofu BBQ sandwiches (YUM!)
Here are some more:

Layne's creamy spinach pasta:

1/2 pkg frozen or fresh spinach
4 oz cream cheese
1 packet of powdered veggie dip mix
1/3 cup plain yogurt (optional)
1 cup soy milk
1lb pasta (mini shells)
1/2 c gorganzola or blu cheese

start cooking pasta
sautee spinach in 1 tblsp olive oil
add veggie mix
when spinach goes limp, add soymilk, cream cheese, and yogurt
cook about 5 mn on med-low heat
add to cooked pasta-- top with gorganzola/blue cheese crumbles


Layne's Tofu meatballs:

2 blocks of tofu
1/2 can refried beans
1/8 cup soysauce
1/2 large onion
1/3 c parmasean cheese
salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, italian seasoning

put everything in a food processor and whip it into a paste, make balls or patties. Pan fry in 1/2" of olive oil at 300 degrees

Layne's lentil soup:

1/2 lb lentils, cooked (they cook like rice)
1/4 c bbq sauce,
1/2 large onion
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp worchestershire sauce
1/4 c soy sauce
1/2 small eggplant chopped
1 can of mushrooms
1/2 squeezed lime for juice
2 tsp red wine vinegar
bay leaves and caraway seed

sautee chopped onion in the bottom of your soup pan for a few minutes, then add lentils--do not drain the lentils. Add all other ingredients, and if too thick, add more water until it seems soupy. Cook on low for an hour or more.

Nerves

It's not easy, you know. I try to keep my smile on, and retain the demeanor of a confident professional at all times, but I don't think anyone knows how much work that is. I've got a bulletin board that is a running to-do list. It is literally dripping with tasks to be completed. I've got to try to fix my tumbler (finishing machine) with a broken belt by the end of the week so that the necklace I just finished will have the same shine as the others. Why the end of the week? I'm driving to Maryland this weekend for the Gunpowder River Artfest.

And it's funny how nervous I am. Always, before a show, I am nervous. You wouldn't know it if you saw me there. Nails polished, and dressed my best, my job at the show is to put others at ease so that they feel comfortable buying. I can't be a nervous wreck. It is bad business. So here it is two days before, and I am wrestling my burning ball of nerves into a tiny box, locking it twice and swallowing the key.

Wish me luck.

Stone Party

It's a funny thing, designing with gemstones. It becomes so serious. These tiny treasures are all packed in their own individual little bags, labelled and organized. It makes it difficult when you have to look at only one stone at a time so that they don't get all confused and disorganized. The issue of organization makes these pictures a glimpse of a rare event in the studio.
Stone party! Every once and a while, lots of the stones need to come out to play together to find their soul-mates. Carnelian mingles with turquoise next to sodalite and serephinite, and suddenly, colko agate falls in love with citrine, while rose quartz and spiderweb obsidian are making out in the corner. Some stones will leave the party alone, rouge individuals who wish for no company. The others will be paired and grouped with bright sparkling accents for the second design stage: sketching.