Nina Designs Interview our own Lezli Goodwin

I love those crazy gals over at Nina Designs.  (I might have covered my love of them before, in a few zillion of my posts.)  So I was extra stoked when they asked me to be their first featured "Designer Success Story"!  They sent me a list of questions, and let me choose five to answer.  It was really fun working my way through the questions.  The responses flowed easily, and I was surprised to find I had an immediate answer for ever question!  (Not so shocking to those who know me, I'm sure.  I have an opinion about everything!)

Here's a taste of the article.  To read the whole thing, click on the link below:

"There are as many avenues into jewelry design as there are jewelry designers. Each story is unique and inspiring. In our first Customer Success Story we’d like you to meet Lezli Goodwin. Lezli is a well known jewelry designer, accomplished modern painter and creative director for Bead World Inc, an Arizona chain of boutique bead stores. Her modern beaded jewelry features metaphysically active gemstones, gorgeous sterling silver findings and exquisite handcrafted techniques.

What is one piece of trusted advice you would give to someone just starting their jewelry business?


“Be who you are and not who you’re not.” I think that’s Dr. Seuss. Make jewelry you love, and then find the market. Forget about trying to make pieces you think will sell — that’s a recipe for frustration and defeat. There is a market for everything, if it’s made with integrity and passion."

To read the entire article, click here!

Sweet Gold Charms

I am usually a sterling silver girl.  Rarely does a gold item (14K, gold filled or vermeil) catch my eye for any significant period of time.  These beautiful 24K vermeil charms from Nina Designs, though, have me smitten.  The color is radiant, the quality is impeccable.  Plus, of course, they are super cute!  A sweet little vermeil charm is the perfect way to add a splash of gold to this season's trendy "mixed-metal" pieces.  I've gotta say, I really like them and have had fun showing them to our clients at Bead World!

24K vermeil Om charm

24K vermeil Lotus Flower charm

24K vermeil Evil Eye charm

24K vermeil Buddha charm

Gorgeous New Earring Findings!

You can thank me later, guys.  Locating amazing, creative, impressive jewelry findings is probably the biggest challenge in beading.  No matter how skilled you are, your work will always be limited by the quality and inventiveness of your basic findings.  As an earring girl, I'm always looking for cool new earring findings that will give my designs that extra sass I like.  I'm excited to announce the arrival of three new sterling silver findings to the Bead World line up, all from Nina Designs.  (Y'all know how I feel about Nina Designs.)  You're going to want them all.  I know I certainly do!  As Sandra Bullock's character says in The Blind Side, "I said you could thank me later.  It's later."

Heaven is the Perfect Crimp End

I'm pretty excited when I discover a finding that works beautifully.  I'm even more excited when that finding is attractive and professional looking.  That explains, in a nutshell, why I am so thrilled with Nina Designs' crimp ends.  Their four petal design works equally well for silk ribbon, braided leather, multi-strand cording and more.  It's easy to use (practically idiot proof!) and looks great every time. 

Imagine my glee when I discovered that Nina Designs makes this lovely crimp end with an integrated hook and eye system in brass as well as sterling silver!  (Of course, we now carry both at Bead World!)  Designed to coordinate with 14K gold filled, this anti-tarnish brass crimp end takes it to a whole new level.  Juanita, a key member of the Nina Designs team, created this gorgeous piece with the brass crimp end closure.  Beautiful, elegant and functional -- that's my idea of beading heaven!

My Favorite Jewelry Finding of All Time!

I'm pretty picky when it comes to choosing findings for my beaded treasures.  I like my pieces to be modern, clean lined and very, very solidly built.  Wimpy, wiggly ear wires simply will not do!  That said, this 40mm sterling silver hoop finding from Nina Designs is my absolute favorite finding OF ALL TIME.  I've been using it for years, and continue to go back to it time and again.  It is quite substantial and holds up to an amazing amount of wear and tear.  Of course, there are less expensive hoop findings out there. (This one retails for around $40.00 in our Bead World stores, with a smaller version for around $25.00.)  But I've never found a hoop finding that feels or looks this good.  I'm happy to pay a bit more for a piece of jewelry that will last and look every bit as fresh and new five years later.  A couple of examples of the earrings I've made...

Faceted 4mm apatite rondelles with sterling silver spacers

Smooth 3mm ruby rondelles... you can never go wrong with rubies!

Let me know what your favorites are!