From Keala Fuiava

   
http://www.nemoq-bulgaria.com/bdnboq/wuxkvi=mzgnhg

Keala Fuiava

Finally listed my new line... Native Salvage™!

Lately in my personal life I have been moving toward a greener and more sustainable way of living... starting my garden, increasing my recycling and decreasing my waste.  Now that I am learning more and more about being green, I have made steps to bring the same values into my business... and I am proud to introduce my newest design line... Native Salvage™!

I have been going out once a week to various beaches on the North Shore and have found beautiful shells, seeds, glass and driftwood to add to my designs.  I just listed 2 necklaces using some of these finds, and have a few more that need to be shot, edited and listed this week...

Wishing everyone a beautiful day!  ~*~ Keala

Express Yourself! Heading back to the beginning...

A couple of days ago I was cleaning out my closet and found some blank canvas's and my box of oil pastels... it has been sooooo long since I put any time into my art and I decided to dedicate a few days to creating something that I felt embodied Keala Legacy... and here it is!

Mother Earth, Poly Style!

I believe this pretty much sums up the design style of my jewelry and the impact I want to make on people... Keala Legacy is about taking what is traditional and adding a new twist!  All about utilizing the natural style and culture of the islands and adding a bit of character... a splash of color... a touch of uniqueness that can be found only in what I design.

I realize now that what I create doesnt cater to fashionistas... and Im totally okay with that!  Because the people who do purchase my designs LOVE them... and if I can share the way I see Hawaii by selling one piece at a time, I am doing exactly what I set out to do.

So be bold and express yourself and your view of the world!  Me ke aloha pumehana... ~*~ Keala ~*~

*Original canvas will be available for sale shortly... just needs to finish drying and get a few coats of varnish!  Medium is pastels and oil paint.

Handmade vs. Manufactured Jewelry

Heres a question for ya... have you ever gone to a craft fair and said "THAT costs $25 Dollars?!"  or  "Theres a reseller the next aisle up that has about a dozen similar designs for much less..." ?  I have a confession to make... I used to do that all the time!  BUT because I create my own jewelry and I know how much time and love goes into every piece, I tend to be willing to pay more for a unique handmade item vs. a manufactured item that has dozens of the exact same thing on display.

It all comes down to who is doing the work, the amount of time put into each piece and the cost of supplies to get it done.

Who is doing the work:  I have been designing my own jewelry for the past 4 years.  In those 4 years I have learned techniques and tricks to create the designs I love... and that make me proud to create my jewelry.  I still have alot to learn, but I am constantly working to improve my skills.  Now that I have more time to dedicate to my craft, I plan on taking courses and moving into other unique aspects of jewelry design like Precious Metal Clay (PMC) and metal working.

Amount of time:  Let me tell you... its not as easy as it looks to be a one woman/man show!  I just spent 2 hours shooting new pictures of my designs.  That totalled over 436 pictures... for about 25-30 items... each in different angles that capture the jewelry just right.    I still have to crop and edit my images so that you as a customer will get the best representation of my product, list each item and describe it as accurately as possible, and then promote that item to my target market to sell.  And thats not even including the time it took to make each piece!  Keep in mind that all of my designs are unique and one of a kind, so I do this everytime I make something new.  And now that I am collecting and using sea shells fresh off the beach, there are days dedicated to the cleaning, buffing and varnishing of each one.

Supplies:  If you put me in a bead shop... STEP ASIDE!  Im like a kid in a candy store and can spend hours looking for the right wire, the right crystal, the right color turquoise.  And while I try to keep my cost down as a designer, when I fall in love with a strand of beads... I have to have it!  There are so many places to go to find quality supplies and so many choices available.  I am slowly moving more into sterling silver designs which cost a little more, but I still offer copper and gold & silver plated to have a wide range of prices and design choices.

When I go to a craft fair now, I am more likely to stop by to look at the handcarved wooden jewelry box than its cheaper pre-fabricated version becuase I know all of the things that I listed above.  This piece is unique, time and effort went into into making it a beautiful one of a kind creation that is quality made.

I hope that the next time you go shopping at a craft fair you remember this little blurb from my experience as a buyer and seller... and I hope it helps you find that one of a kind piece that was somehow made especially for you.

Me ke aloha pumehana ~*~ Keala

The start of something new!

My very first garden! Its been hard work getting this started and I have so much more to do... but I am ready for the challenge! I've got my plot all ready for digging and its been some hard work digging out 15'x4'x12" through packed clay soil... but the payoff will be HUGE when its harvest time! Soooooo worth the sore muscles and blisters... here's to green living!

www.KealaLegacyGifts.com is Finally Open!

After 2 years of procrastination I have finally opened my own website to feature and sell my jewelry, hair accessories, home decor and photography!


Check out my Grand Opening May Day Sale! For today only, get all items On Sale, 10% off! Offer ends at midnight tonight Hawaii time.

Im pretty nervous about this new adventure but I am also extremely excited, especially since I made a sale within the first hour of being open!!! WOOOHOOOOO!

And the best thing about it? I dont pay any fees to anyone else for my listings. I decide what my site looks like, color schemes, links and featured products. Im not in competition with thousands of other jewelry designers... and I can focus my marketing to the people who enjoy my design style!

Just want to thank my Etsy friends for being supportive and offering advice, hugs and many blessings.

A huge thank you goes out to my family... for their amazing support and dealing with my craziness as I constantly called for html help.

And the biggest, hugest, most totally awesome thank you goes out to my amazing hubs who not only has to deal with me when I dont make sales... but possibly worse... when I do! LOL! (you etsians will know what Im talkin about).

So... yeah... ;)

HDR Photography

Just added a new program to my arsenal... HDR Editing! Ive even purchased an underwater casing, new lenses and a tripod so I can further improve my photography. I am planning to list them in my Etsy shop to be sold as Gift Cards, Birthday Cards, Special Occasion Cards... you get the idea.

Im wondering if you would please take a look at the following photos and vote on which ones you would be most interested in seeing available for purchase. You can pick more than one if you are so inclined... ;)

Mahalo Nui Loa! Keala


#1 - Storm Over Ka'ena Point



#2 - Hawaiian Hibiscus



#3 - Days End



#4 - Simple Promises (You Light My Life)