Thank you so much for dropping by, and for your kind comments!

Thank you so much for the offer of the link! I’m at the very beginning stages of setting up a website – not near being published yet. When that time comes, maybe we could connect then.

I checked out your site. It’s beautiful! Love you little Swarovski angels, and your Christian jewellery. I do angel jewellery too. 🙂

Do you have a web site? With your permission, I would love to put a link on my own website.

I forgot to mention that the models are Teresa’s daughter (dark-haired girl) and her friend’s daughter (blond). She has a few other women lined up for photos, but hasn’t gotten that far yet. I, too, liked the ones with the bracelets, and I really liked the vintage rhinestone set as it was modelled. Teresa said her daughter was sitting on the hall steps in her bathrobe, and Teresa went over and pulled it down a bit and draped the rhinestone strap over her and wound the wrap bracelet around her :D. But it really worked!

I did something that I’ve never done before in that I let Teresa price my work (with my approval of course). This is an excerpt of an email she sent me:

“Yes, I did price them higher because when I look at and feel the quality of the imported bra straps compared to yours, I had to value them above the imports and I do believe women expect to pay a premium price for quality, handcrafted pieces, which yours are.” This is an example of the type of thing we have been talking about here.

I too hope my son doesn’t need his room back – for more reasons than one ! 😀

I really liked that she uses your name in the line of items you created, and that on the website she promotes your pieces as being the work of a local artist. That may send new local customers to you for other kinds of jewelry too.

Also the jeweled straps look really pretty on the models, and I especially liked the shot showing the model wearing the matching bracelet.

Your story of the bra straps project is such an excellent example of being open to the huge variety of jewelry making opportunities and needs that are out there – and then making the most of them!

I hope your son won’t need his old bedroom back – I think your jewelry studio is going to be very busy for a long time! 🙂

I really appreciate that you’ve so kindly shared this story with us as it unfolds, Tamara. It’s really interesting and inspiring to hear how you work with other businesses and provide innovative products for them. They know what would delight their customers, and you know how to make it for them.

She decided to name my collection. Her company name is Pretty Shoulders, and my collection name is the Pretty Tamara Collection (I suggested Pretty Shoulders – Tamara Collection, but she stuck with her idea). We use my name but not my company name because I’m working for her company, and that’s fine with me. She has a slide show and e-store with my designs, and as well under the “What’s New” heading, she has introduced my line. It’s a brand new website and so is being worked on and changed every day, but is very nice, and she asks me to look at the give advice about her wording, etc. There are a couple of things I have asked for, such as her including the metal content of the earwires, but that’s just me training her what’s important from the jewellery end. She has told me I can take copies of the pictures of my designs from the website for my use, but I haven’t had time to do that yet. So have a peek if you’re interested in seeing them.

Another neat opportunity looks like it is coming from this. Teresa is selling some of her imported straps at the store where I originally met her. A couple of days ago she was in there and showed Jacquie, the owner, my straps. Jacquie loved the Green Lace and Buttons Set (shown above), but she especially loved the bracelet that was with it, and asked Teresa if I would be willing to make more of that style of bracelet for her! I was so happy because I have found that I really love making that style (stretchy bracelets with trim and decorations on top, or soft bangles). I had been thinking that I wanted to make more of them to sell, because it’s a different style of bracelet than you usually see. And if I hadn’t made the bra strap sets, I might not have explored that style of bracelet at this point.

I had never thought of them being gifts for a bride to give her bridesmaids, but they would work for that. To be honest, I really haven’t thought much about the options for selling them at all! My energy has gone to figuring out how to make them in different ways, and in getting a complete order ready for Teresa!

I met this morning with Liana (thank you for caring enough to remember who it was I was referring to!). I had sent her pictures of all ten sets I gave to Teresa. You were right – she LOVED all of them and LOVED the idea of it. She told me that when she read my initial email about my new line she thought “Of course!” She had just bought a red bra and a pink bra for the coloured straps. I brought with me two completed sets this morning – a beaded strand set made from black rainbow glass beads, and a set made from a pretty chain. I had started sewing another set, which I brought just to show her that type of option as well. She said she was on her way after our appt. to a hair salon and spa (they were just in the process of merging), and asked if she could take the two completed sets with her to show them. So my latest sets are off on an adventure as well! And she’s thinking other possibilities as well, so I guess we’ll see what comes of it all.

We had an extremely funny conversation about what I was planning to do with dissected bra parts, and the fact that I did have a plan for them all!

L, I may have some pictures soon of my straps on models. Teresa emailed me that she had taken pictures of her daughter and her daughter’s friend modelling my bra straps (she uses them as models), and said she would send them to me if there were good ones. Photography is her learning curve right now too, so we’ll see if she got some. But there are also lots of decorated and beaded bra straps being sold on the internet. If you do a search, you’ll see them being modelled.

My favorite? I’m torn between the Tangerine Abalone (I love the colors, and especially the perfect touch of the bow on the bracelet) and the Green Lace & Buttons (especially the idea of wearing it as a halter strap). But I love them all!

And that you’ve made them in different ways as well as from different materials.

I also like that they’re jewelry sets with matching pieces – not just bra straps on their own. That’s an excellent touch and a great way to increase the value.

These would make such nice gifts – have you thought about brides giving them to their bridesmaids?

This is definitely a great time of year to be selling these! I’m sure the other lady who markets your work (Liana?) will love them – and you’ll find yourself making more and more of them! 🙂

Thank you again for sharing with us, Tamara!