tasty accessories

i have been working diligently on creating some new home accessories for tasty jewelry. since i have decided to move on from designing for dp* jewelry, i have been in research and development for weeks.

i am currently working on hand painted salt & pepper shakers, cork coasters, placemats & wine bags. (to give and to keep) i have found some amazing design blogs which, in turn, point me to more incredible design blogs....oh my goodness! if there were only 72 hours in a day!

color combinations and prints are what i'm really concentrating on...it is what i've always been big on.

so keep checking back. i will be announcing each new product here first!

cheers!
xo diane

the end of an era

well, i think its time to try to reclaim what little sanity i might have left. i've realized that having 2 different websites to sell 2 different types of jewelry is just too much for one person to handle. i do love making both styles of jewelry, however, since its just me doing it all i've had to face a very difficult decision.

when i decided a few years back to quit all of the mundane jobs that i've had to start my own business i knew it was going to be hard work. and since i am very organized and a very driven person, working out of my house has not been difficult. the problem or challenge that i've come to realize, is that its just me doing everything. meaning that from start to finish i am the sole creator and force behind my 2 jewelry lines; dp* jewelry and tasty jewelry. what exactly does that mean? well, not only do i design the jewelry, but i make the jewelry, photograph the jewelry, and have designed, built and maintained my own 2 websites. did i mention that i also am in charge of marketing and sales too?

all of this is not really too bad, i've learned so much. its just a bit difficult to do it for 2 completely different styles of jewelry. one online boutique that would love my printed pendants from tasty jewelry would probably never want the zen-wrapped earrings from dp*. that being said, i think i owe it to myself to be successful and focus really on one line. make it simpler, make it awesome and incorporate the 2 perhaps together.

so i am going to be closing the dp* jewelry designs online shop as of august 31st, 2007. www.dianepetkoff.com will no longer exist as it does today. i will obviously keep the domain...perhaps making it my main blogging site. and as far as www.tastyjewelry.com is concerned, i will be making HUGE changes. i will be streamlining the designs, offering a few less designs with more pizzazz. and since i'm obsessed with home accessories, i will be starting to design my own line of those too. tableware, linens, pillows, prints, etc... i am so interested in graphics and having spent some time designing my own for my jewelry, i wanted to use those graphics in more ways than one.

so please keep checking back to www.tastyjewelry.com for more info. this change will take some time, but knowing me it will be sooner than later.

cheers & thanks for reading!
xo diane

new etsy shop!

i've decided to go etsy! well, sort of...i have been making jewelry for over 25 years now and have amassed quite a collection of cool beads, books and other supplies. well, since i don't live in a mansion, i need to make some space in my studio for new ideas.

so what does this mean for you? i've decided to sell some awesome vintage and fun goodies that i have on etsy.

check a few of them out here:




click on the photo to take you to my shop....keep checking back to see what other goodies i might add.

cheers!
xo diane

more goodies...

here are a few more goodies that i've added lately! check these out; hoop ring graphic earrings

with a necklace to match...

headbands galore!!!!

i've got some new headbands on my website which are just scrumptious! stripe, swirl and even denim styles! very cute:





congrats to holly dyer of apopko, florida for winning my first contest! you could be the next if you sign up for my e-mail list! just go to www.tastyjewelry.com and sign up to be entered!

i've been busy working on loads of orders for new stores....perhaps you will find my goodies in a store near you! and if you are a store owner/buyer and would be interested in carrying tasty jewelry in your store, please go to my wholesale page and fill out the form! i'd love to be designing for you!

have a great week!

cheers!
xo diane

i'm so busy!

well, my best friend caroline just left last night. she's been in town since last wednesday visiting from chicago! (where i used to live) so its time to catch up with new designs.

i'm currently working on some original artwork for my new printed hoop earrings. so cute! if you read the previous post you will see that i'm giving away a pair before may 15th if you sign up for my e-mail list! i'm going to be giving away another pair if you missed the first window. perhaps i will change the rules to read that you just need to post a comment on my blog....hmmmm.

as soon as the artwork is done, then its time to get them printed and made. (not TOO long of a process, but since i do the artwork myself, that seems to take awhile.) if you have any suggestions for images to use (like flowers, airplanes, owls etc.) please let me know. i try to keep up with the current styles, but seem to just always do my own thing....which i think seems to work best for me.

take care and let me know if you've been here!

xo diane

a month is TOO long!

i am trying to keep up with this blog...with designs to come up with, make, photograph, add to my website and do shows, i just can't seem to make it to this blog to post. but not anymore!

i have decided to get on this thing at least once a week and let you know what's going on...if people can find the time to twitter all day long, i must be able to come up with 10 minutes or so to journal my day.

so here it is....i am going to sponsor a give-away on my website: www.tastyjewelry.com if you sign up for my e-mail list between may 1st and may 15th you will be entered automatically to win this pair of hoop earrings! not even on the website yet! thats just how fresh they are!



how cool are free earrings? just know that i will never share your information with anyone else. oh, and by the way, mention that you heard about me through this blog too. thanks a million for reading!

ta ta for now...
cheers!
xo diane

p.s. i will be doing a give away about every 2 weeks so check back often to see what the new criteria for entry will be. how fun! free jewelry!

tasty holidays!

what a year for tasty jewelry! busy, busy, busy here in austin, tx. shows, stores and gifts, oh my! please stop by www.tastyjewelry.com for the latest goodies. i've got some great gift ideas for everyone! plus, how great is it that shipping is FREE?! (1st class mail only)

please have a wonderful holiday everyone! i promise to do better with this blog thing next year! xo diane

welcome september

its been awhile since i've posted. i'm not even sure anyone is reading this...but what the hey! the latest is that i have been accepted to the "stitch austin fashion show and guerilla craft bazaar". its an awesome compilation of local and national indie artists and musicians and is taking place here in austin on november 11th at the austin music hall. i will have more info later for sure! to get more info for yourself check it here: stitch austin

i have been working on some new ideas for fall. a ton of new hair accessories, which i think are super fun. japanese inspired, minimal design...pretty much my thing. i'm also going to be adding many more bracelet/cuff styles. mod, fresh, funky...so be on the lookout for those.

my friend annemarie beard and i set-up last weekend in austin for the "keep austin weird" 5k and music festival. i feel it necessary to say that it was 105F and we were there from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. whew! i have never sweat so much sitting still in my whole life... we had loads of fun anyways.

please check out my website for more cool stuff and now you can leave me a voice message on the "my chingo" system at the bottom of my home page. (i think i'm going to call it "my ching-a-ling"). it is the coolest way to communicate with someone and i heard about it through many of the greatest podcasts that i listen to each week. if you're interested visit their website to get your own! its tons of fun! www.mychingo.com

ta ta for now! cheers!

xo diane

getting ready for fall

i've been busy working on new designs for the fall season! in the meantime i've come up with a whole new punk rock section of my website. it's got some rad skulls & 8 balls on a red or black checkerboard pattern. very retro, very punk!

i also have a "back-to-school" sale on selected items. get 20% off!

i've been looking forward for the fall season...if ever in this heat! so my focus has been on digging down deep and getting some new ideas brewing! some which may include some home accessories! i'll get some up as soon as i can.

thanks for reading and send me a note! xo diane

Alternative Press Magazine!

hey!
my LP record earrings are going to be featured in the newest edition of Alternative Press magazine in their back-to-school issue that hits stands tomorrow Aug 3rd! i couldn't be MORE excited! get them while you're still one of the first...if you get the chance to browse a copy let me know what you think!

i'm still changing things on the website...i've added a new punk rock section and LOVE it!!! let me know what you think. e-mail me: info@tastyjewelry.com if you have any suggestions or anything....

have a great day and cheers!

xo diane

remarkable

i've been listening to my favorite podcast "the remarkable palate" for awhile and now chef mark tafoya in nyc has a new personal podcast where he shares his life "outside the kitchen" with us called "remarkably mark". yesterday while i was listening he mentioned something about "planning your work and working your plan". what great advice!

i just wanted to share that with anyone who's reading this...sometimes its just a little "remark" (pun intended here) that can get you going on another path...one that may lead you straight to something great!

cheers!
xo diane

more work...

well, here it is the middle of july and i'm still working on loads of new stuff. i'm currently making the mod rectangle and mod disc earrings each in all 6 colors! they look great! so playful and actually a bit like candy. well, i guess that's the point really of "tasty jewelry", huh?
i've got tons of new ideas swimming around in my head and just not enough time to get them out into 3d form. time just flies by!!!!
well, keep signing up for my e-mail list...also stop by myspace and add me as your friend. tasty jewelry myspace

its pretty hot here and we lost our power for about 2 hours last night in the heat of it!!!! but we survived by going to our local watering hole to have a cold one and play some trivia....photo hunt rocks!

have a great day!
cheers!
xo diane

first contest

i've made many changes to the new site! added some more links including a link to my new "tasty gear" page. fun tees in all sizes, punk rock buttons and even a tasty apron!

so, i'm going to have my first official contest! all you have to do is go to www.tastyjewelry.com and sign up for my e-mail list. you also have to answer the question of the month. the drawing will be held on july 31st and the winner will be announced on the blog and the website! sorry, only one entry per person. the winner will receive one pair of tasty earrings! yummy!

thanks for reading and good luck!

cheers!
xo diane

its finished! finally....

well, here i sit...2 days later after putting up my new site....www.tastyjewelry.com. i had some troubles with uploading yesterday, however, with a little patience, i prevailed!

what's new? well, i decided to add a link to a shop that will sell t-shirts, mugs, etc...all with the tasty logo on them...i think they look good. i will keep that until i can get some of that stuff printed for myself in house. look for that sometime.

i am still waiting to hear if i will be accepted into the ACL music festival as a vendor. i have applied with 2 absolutely fabulous artists who have both been selling at the festival since it started...so i'm crossing my fingers. if we get in it will be awesome! great bands come to austin, tx for 3 days in september and take over zilker park. luckily i live nearby. if you are curious check out: www.aclfestival.com for more info. the pixies played 2 years ago and i LOVED it!!!!

i've just finished dinner...homemade pesto (with homegrown basil, thai basil & arugula!) i also made the pasta fresh...super delicious too! i tell you...i LOVE to cook! i cook about 4 - 5 times a week for carlos and myself.

well, i'm off to do more research on marketing. thanks for reading! allez les bleu! world cup action is getting fierce!

cheers!
xo diane

still going....

well, here i sit, still going on the website. i'm still working on the earrings stuff....so many rollovers so little time! i am finally ready to start on the necklaces, accessories and the bracelets pages. ;)

we have company coming to visit, the world cup is finishing its first round of play and the US is still in it (at least until thursday).

cheers!
xo diane

a new day, a new way

well, here it is...friday the 17th and i'm still not quite finished with the site. i've had some challenges with the "white background" that i wanted to put behind the jewelry...but, alas....with the help of my boyfriend, carlos, we decided that the jewelry got "lost".

so 3 days of taking about 450 photographs, photoshopping them (all!) and deleting them (ALL!) i've now decided to go with a super ultimately cool grey background. it looks wonderful and the colors still POP!

i even built a new lightbox which was very cheap and works like a charm. so if anyone out there needs help or suggestions about taking photos of jewelry i've got some pretty good ideas. ;)

its been awesome watching the world cup too...i hope USA can pull it out tomorrow against italy. (big dreams here) we'll see. we're planning on going to a friend's house to watch with others on a huge HD tv. it should be a blast.

well, that's it...i've learned by making a TON of mistakes this week. i feel so much better about my photoshop 7.0 abilities it's scary. i'm looking forward to the next go 'round of photoshopping these next 20 photos....tomorrow. now its time for a tecate and some bubble bath. mmmmmm.

cheers!
xo diane

welcome to the daily menu!

hello, to anyone out there who is interested...i'm a jewelry designer from austin via way of chicago. i've been working non-stop trying to have my new website up soon....target date friday 6.17.06! its been a crazy ride so far...about 3 1/2 weeks to get it formatted and now i'm working on getting the samples made for photographs. you can check out the basic set up by going to the website www.tastyjewelry.com. its a spin-off from my original site www.dianepetkoff.com.

i decided to split up my business because i basically had 2 different types of jewelry styles i was making. in one hand you have the www.dianepetkoff.com site which offers more sophisticated clean lined jewelry using semi-precious stones and wood. more organic really. then in the other hand you have the www.tastyjewelry.com site which is the funky, mod, hip alter-ego of the latter. using what i call "confetti dots" which are plastic dots in loads of colors. this allows me to create a more retro look of which i'm so fond. both styles really suit me, as a matter of fact, i think they would suit a lot of women. somedays we feel a bit more reserved and sophisticated, somedays we're wild and playful. most women are complex that way so it just made sense to me to create 2 different websites to support those feelings. i'm hoping that each one finds the right audience.

we'll see how it all goes. once the new site is up i'm hoping for big things....i've currently got my hands in many a cookie jar...loads of posts to read and e-mails to sort through. i love being busy. (be careful what i wish for i suppose.) i'm a member of indie finds, the switchboards, i buy diy & babes in business (a local group of designers from austin that get together and chat about our crafty businesses).

in the future i will be offering "daily specials" if you sign up for my e-mail list. i've got to figure out how to do that...so please bear with me. i also want to start a monthly contest for those who have signed up or helped me with my businesses. i love to give stuff away! so keep checking back and i'll try to keep this post interesting and fun.

cheers!
xo diane