To text or not to text .......?

[caroleallen]

Today (with any luck) my sheets of aluminium will arrive and I can start making bangles in earnest. I've been thinking about whether there should be some text on the inside. Do people like jewellery with text? I think they do but am not sure.

Next question is, what should the text say? I was thinking of "live love laugh" but what do others think.

[MuranoSilver]

I'd make one or two for demo/photos and then give them the option of their own text (at extra cost). :)

[Di Sandland]

I think people love words; I could be biased because I'm a wordsmith but I don't think so. Not everybody 'gets' the symbolism of a piece - if, indeed, there is any - but everybody is searching for meaning and words are the most immediate method of getting your meaning across.

I like 'live, laugh, love' but, to be honest, I think its all over the place now. Having said that, you need to choose something quite non-specific so that you don't rule out a whole tranche of 'punters.'

I'm rambling but for me, to text is the answer.

[snow_imp]

I like the idea of text inside a bangle, I've been thinking about getting something done myself. Sometimes I think I'd like a general saying like "live love laugh" but others times I think I'd like something more personal.

The idea of giving your clients some samples and the choice of words sounds good to me, then they can go with one of your general sayings or personalise it if they want to.

[caroleallen]

I'd love to be able to personalise the bangles but it just won't be practical due to the processes used. I agree that live love laugh is everywhere but I'm struggling to come up with anything else. I'm open to suggestions :)

I'd really appreciate your help as this is keeping me awake at night. Sad, I know but I've only got a short time now until my 2 big shows, to come up with the right designs and I'm planning on making lots of them. It's quite scary really as I don't even know if people will buy them at the shows yet. So far they've gone well in galleries but not that well at shows. I think that's partly because I haven't had enough of them to make a good display and they're mixed in with my silver stuff. I plan to have a whole display devoted to aluminium and another devoted to silver. =:-O

[caroleallen]

How about "heart on my sleeve"?

[agent_44]

I am personally not keen on jewellery with random things written on them, but I do love the idea of it being hidden away on the inside, I've been thinking of somthing similar.

It's a shame that you can't personalise them, that was what I would have suggested.

Maybe do some research on famous quotes?

[Solunar Silver Studio]

Sorry I haven't got any suggestions for the wording but I think the text inside a bangle is a great idea and a lot of people would go for it. It has the magic of a little secret message that you can carry around with you without anyone else knowing....:Y:

[Solunar Silver Studio]

Great minds think alike Lucinda! I'm just considerably slower at typing!!Hahaha.
Are you feeling any better this morning?

[MuranoSilver]

Are these going to be coloured Aluminium??
If so how about colour quotes....
e.g.

"Colour me Happy"
"Colour & Joy"
"Live Colourfully"
etc etc

Nic x

[agent_44]

Great minds think alike Lucinda! I'm just considerably slower at typing!!Hahaha.
Are you feeling any better this morning?

Hehe, I am no speed demon at the moment, maybe I just started a lot earlier! Feel like I am on the mend thanks, a very bunged head though, but the wibblyness is definitely better!

[caroleallen]

I'm liking the colour thing.

[Di Sandland]

Just some random thoughts Carole, but its difficult to come up with something short enough :(

Laughing is good
Believe
Make no little plans
Be silly, Be honest, Be kind.
Always make new mistakes
The journey is the reward.
Coffee isn't my cup of tea.
Smile
Truth is beautiful
Just do it!
Do it anyway
It WILL get better
Love life
Make It Real
Live life. Love Life
Pay it forward

[Di Sandland]

I like the heart on my sleeve one

[Lisa Quinn]

I really like the hidden message idea, have racked my brains and I can't think of an inspirational phrase, however you could translate , live , life , love into another language, her is the Spanish version "vivo , risa, amor" ,

Lisa x

[caroleallen]

Thanks Di. Keep em coming guys.

[Ominicci]

I like the idea of words inside too. My wedding ring just has I Love You inside it - it was only £14.99 at Argos but DH wanted me to have the words inside.

[Lindyloo]

What about an exerpt from a well known British poet. Can't think of any off the top of my head (I am Australian remember), so perhaps you could Google it.

I did make a neclace for my daughter with the words of an E.E. Cummings poem etched into it (but then I am sentimental)

It read:

I carry your heart with me
I carry it in my heart
I am never without it
anywhere I go, you go my dear
and whatever is done by only me
is your doing, my darling

[caroleallen]

That's so lovely Linda. Bit long for my purposes, but lovely all the same. Did your daughter love it?

[mizgeorge]

I very much like hidden words, but I think they have to be meaningful rather than random. I'm afraid the Live Love Laugh thing has been rather done to death, and there are a huge number of sellers doing words on etsy now. I very much like 'I am loved' hidden inside gifts, and also words or phrases that mean something special to the recipient.

I put morse code on our wedding rings when I made them, using home-made tools, and it's made them even more special for me.

Would you be able to personalise 'on the spot' (or come back in 20 minutes sort of thing)?

[caroleallen]

No, the thing about anodised aluminium is that it has to be boiled to seal the surface. Until the surface has been sealed it's prone to deterioration in the atmosphere. To make it viable, the whole sheet has to be done at the same time. I don't think personalisation is possible unfortunately.

[caroleallen]

Ooh! I forgot to tell you that the aluminium has arrived and I've made a start with it. I was going to screen print it but I've had a problem with processing the screen. I think I washed it too vigorously or something. By the end of the day I'm hoping I'll have some aluminium pieces to use. Fingers crossed!

[Di Sandland]

Our fingers are crossed too - we want to see what you come up with!

[Lindyloo]

Sorry for the late reply Carole. I haven't actually given the pendant to my daughter yet. It's for when she's a little older (she's still only 11). I just loved the words to that poem.

[Green Monster]

as you applying to the interior how about....


"it's whats on the inside that counts"

ta dah..... thats my big moment for today.

Cheers
G

[EmmaRose]

Suggest poetry, especially Japanese Hiku (sp?)
Em

[tracytwist]

Hi Carole
I'd go for simple things that people would like to give as gifts, like "...because you're special" or "with love always" you are my sunshine etc.

Hope that helps
Tracy
Ps I'm a huge fan of yours - I'm a partner on NOTHS too and sell personalised jewellery which is all very well until mothers day/ fathers day and Xmas!!

[Solunar Silver Studio]

as you applying to the interior how about....


"it's whats on the inside that counts"

ta dah..... thats my big moment for today.

Cheers
G

Nice one, Graeme!!:Y:

[caroleallen]

Thanks everyone for for the sugestions. I'm still trying to work out the best way of doing it, so will let you know when it's worked out what I'm going to do.