austin monthly feature

i'm so excited to be a part of austin monthly magazine this month. about 3 weeks ago the style editor, libby dean hoppe, contacted me about being included in a feature about local jewelry designers. of course i said yes and here is the result:



this makes me so happy.

cheers!
xo diane

smoking ribs

okay, so yesterday was another beautiful day in austin. not quite as cool as saturday but lovely nonetheless. so i decided to smoke some pork ribs. using mesquite chips soaked in water, the process is quite simple really. light up half the grill with natural wood charcoal and leave the other half open so your ribs aren't over direct heat.

here they are at the beginning:


i smoked them continuously for about 2 1/2 hours then finished them off in the oven for another hour or so. they were dark, rich and delicious! full of smoky flavor. my house smelled like a real texas bbq! we had some southwestern style rice and beans on the side and life was good.

here's carlos while we're outside:


and our table full of the activities we were partaking in during the smokefest.


and me....reading bon appetit to be inspired.



i'll have to post a picture of the finished ribs later....

cheers!
xo diane

my favorite football team

now when i say football, i mean REAL football...the kind where they actually use their feet and not their hands. otherwise known as "the beautiful game". its great and amazing. i've loved it since i was in high school, but now i can really appreciate watching it.

now, there are many reasons why i love this sport, its speed, its unpredictability, and most of all, its players. now, when you are going to be watching men run around for 90 minutes, with only a 15 minute half time and NO time outs, there really isn't time for gawking at the players. or IS there?
this is cesc fabregas, midfielder for the arsenal gunners. (they are from london in case you didn't know)



don't you think THIS guy is worth watching? i'm just saying. and he celebrates his 21st birthday today. happy birthday you cute little spaniard!

cheers!
go gunners!
xo diane

the most beautiful day

i am sitting here in austin, tx at noon on saturday may 3rd and am in awe of the AMAZING weather that i am experiencing at this very moment. its cool, there's a breeze and its about 72 degrees. that makes it the most perfect weather in my book.

i'm going to go outside in my backyard and read my latest issues of bon appetit, everyday food, and take a peek into my newest cookbook, italian easy.



i used to watch this cooking show featuring ruth rogers and rose gray of the river cafe in london and it was amazing. the way it was filmed, the way they talked about food, and the dishes looked absolutely scrumptious! they even gave that cute rocker chef jamie oliver his start. these women know what they are doing!

well, off to be enlightened by food! have a great day....

cheers!
xo diane

first thursday in austin

on the first thursday of each month, the city of austin holds an amazing event celebrating its "weirdness" and allows artisans of all types to line the streets of south congress to sell their wares. i have participated in "first thursday" now on and off for the past 2 years. its a great way for me to show my jewelry and really connect with my customer.

i have met some really amazing people doing this one of which is my new friend david from 302 designs. they specialize in organic printed t-shirts with a meaningful message. its an awesome company with a great philosophy, one which i believe in as well. here's an example of one of their shirts:

the message says: "as the trees come to leaf we shed our winter skins and we are born anew in the spring sun"



i thought this one was appropriate for spring. they also offer men's tees so go have a look.

take care & have a great day!
cheers!
xo diane

blog-a-day for may

my friends venus & nicole extended a challenge to their friends to blog everyday in may. well, since i seem to need another challenge in my life right now,(insert sarcasm here.) i figured i'd join in.

i've been making some pretty delicious dinners lately and will be showcasing them here since i can. today's feature is one of my favorites of all time. its giada delaurentiis' short ribs w/ tagliatelle.




these are so succulent and delicious! you braise them for about 3 hours and then i garnished it with fresh parsley & bittersweet chocolate. yes, you read it right, chocolate! it just adds a slight hint of richness and sweetness to the dish.

the recipe is online. i follow this one exactly which usually isn't my style. i like to cross-reference many recipes and make my own. this one was just perfect on its own.

if you decide to make it please send me a picture or at least let me know how you like it....

cheers!
xo diane

new designs

herein lies my attempt to blog on a more regular basis....let's see how long i can go this time.

okay, so i'm up early this morning and am feeling a bit off due to the crazy dreams i had last night. perhaps that was a good thing because now i'm sitting at my computer and am blazing through some new graphic designs today. i have been feeling the need to change up the graphics offered for my jewelry as well as for my home accessories.
(see previous post for info on updated coaster sets! whew!)

i have a few new techniques that i've been working on...i like to think of them as my secret recipes for style. cute, huh? since i am "tasty" jewelry and all. i wish i had 2 or 3 of me to be able to work out all the ideas that i have in my head.

oh, and i just joined flickr so go over there and add me as a contact. surprise, surprise, my user name is tastyjewelry. i'll add you too!

i've also got something pretty exciting on the horizon....so stay tuned for that too! i have a few friends i have to consult before i can get that going. geez, couldn't there just be 48 hours in a day? PLEASE!!!!!

cheers!
xo diane

new coaster sets!

well, here they are! the patterns have been chosen, and the updates to the website have been made, so without any more fuss here are some new patterns for my recycled coaster sets. they are felt backed to protect delicate surfaces and to reinforce their strength. you get 4 coasters for $16. i've added a few more neutral styles too so they make great gifts for everyone.

here is an example of the "same" sets. you get 4 patterns that are all quite similar with little variance in them. my favorite are these grass ones...oh, so green!


here is an example of the "assorted" sets. you get 4 views of a different part of a larger pattern. colors and sets vary so each set is completely unique.
>

i am ready to start updating this blog on a more regular basis. wish me luck!

cheers!
xo diane

in memoriam...

it has been quite some time since i've written...it was due to the loss of my beautiful mother, carolyn, on easter sunday. she had been battling a rare form of cancer for about a year and a half and she has now found peace.

words alone cannot express the feelings i have towards my mother for being such a patient teacher, a trustworthy confidante, and an unbelievable provider for me and my entire family. at a young age, she left her family to help others and never stopped. i can't imagine how many people's lives she's touched and changed forever.

among her many talents she was an accomplished cook and seamstress. she instilled in me at a very early age how to make something out of almost nothing and i thank her for that. when i was just 4 years old i remember watching julia child & the galloping gourmet with her. i was by her side every day in the kitchen picking up tidbits of her techniques and still use them today.

her beauty surpasses discussion. her work ethic was without compare. i feel so very fortunate and honored to have been a part of her life. although she is in my thoughts everyday, i will miss her dearly. i love you mom, forever.

everything's coming up flowers!

i've been busy from the fallout of my latest mention of my salt & pepper shakers on the austin tidbits website & newsletter and couldn't be happier. i was notified by the lovely ladies about 2 weeks ago that they were going to do an editorial on them and how they wanted permission to use a photo from my site, so i knew it was coming...i just didn't know when.

so in the meantime i had been quickly taking photos and getting web pages built for the new goodies i had planned for the spring. i wanted everything to be ready for when people hit the site...and it was. whew!

here is a photo of some of the new earrings i have:



i call them flower power and just love them. they are offered in loads of different colors; candy, berry, lemon, sno-cone and licorice to name a few. if you click on the picture it will take you to the site.

since the recent "discovery" of so many copy cats to my work, i have decided to just go on and leave them in the dust. like i said before, i always have loads of new designs and ideas....

cheers!

austin tidbits

what a fabulous way to start out my valentine's day! i was mentioned in an editorial about my salt & pepper shakers on austintidbits.com

look!



click the above pic to go to their site.

happy valentine's day everyone!

xo diane

another example....

here's yet another example of what i'm talking about. just because you change the juxtaposition of 2 materials doesn't mean its your idea. especially since the size of the graphic item is identical. now imagine this person is selling this in the same store as you. imagine that. pathetic.

here's mine:



and theirs:



i don't know what they would do without my "inspiration".

a lesson on ethics in the indie craft world

i just have to write about this since it makes me sick to see the rampant stealing of ideas in the indie craft world. there is a HUGE difference between being "inspired" by someone else's work and blatantly STEALING someone else's designs.

in this age of over exposure by way of the internet via blogs, craft sites, etsy, etc. is an original idea a thing of the past? not unless you are a true artist and not an opportunist. there is a GIGANTIC difference here. an artist is someone who comes up with unique, original ideas and is inspired by the world around them...an opportunist is someone who takes an artist's designs and passes them off as their own.

i have been subject to several people "being inspired" by my designs lately and its got to stop!!! i am able to create freely since it is a part of who i am as a person. i have decided to pursue my passion as a career in the jewelry making business since there is no way that i can turn off this creativity. so i guess i'm lucky because new ideas come as easily to me as my next breath, what i can't figure out is how other people think that means they can take MY designs and pass them off as their own.

i'm not talking about materials...i use many different types of materials to keep my jewelry unique. i have been creating jewelry for OVER 30 years...simple bead stringing is not my thing anymore. what i'm talking about is the marriage of the materials with the actual design of a piece. here's an example:

here's my ring that i designed over a year and a half ago:


and here's one i just saw where the "designer" says that she started making these before the holidays. see any resemblance? come on!!!



i would like to contact the designer to find out just exactly where she stole her idea, but i already know. now perhaps you are saying "sour grapes", but when this effects your livelihood how can it not be of some concern?

the indie craft world is full of wonderful and talented people with loads of new ideas. i am inspired by them constantly. to see art in a museum does the same thing. but does that mean when you see something and say "i could make that" you should? not when you decide to also put that item up for sale. you are in essence taking money out of the pocket of the designer. should the original designer be compensated? i don't know how that could work either...it just boils down to ethics.

they just seem to be a thing of the past. especially in this day and age of the internet where images float around freely. the hard part is not wanting to put your items out there to be "inspiriation" to others, but all i have to say is that i've already come up with new ideas that will blow you away.

valentine's day part II

so here are some rough pics of my new limited edition valentine's day earrings and necklaces.




earrings:



necklaces:






these will be available for a limited time only and will not be sold on the website. if you would like to purchase any of these items, please send me an e-mail.

cheers!
xo diane

new billiard magnet set

rack 'em up with this super nifty billiard magnet set. comes complete with a mini foam "rack" too! conveniently boxed in a clear acrylic box so you can see just how cool they are right from the start.

would make an excellent gift for that "pool shark" in your life...i know it did for mine...



rock on!

cheers!

valentine's day goodies

i am currently working on a few new goodies for the upcoming valentine's holiday. some really cute "floating" heart earrings...think teardrop hoops with a printed heart (with original artwork mind you) that will dangle from one side. they will come in 3 different designs and will be available for a limited time only...of course.

i will be posting pictures once i get some made. stay tuned!

cheers!
xo diane

more "delicious"

here is an image of one of my new "delicious" necklaces....

HUGE news!

i've been busy updating my website today with a whole new look...i've decided to start a new line of upscale jewelry which will be called: "delicious". dedicated to the pursuit of beautiful jewelry with a touch of unique flavor. here's a screenshot of the main page



check it out...the designs will be available for a limited time only.

cheers!

happy in the new year

its finally here, the end of 2007. with it brings much reflection of my fledgling business. i have experienced much during this past year. i have learned so much about myself and plan to use that knowledge in 2008. i opened many new wholesale accounts, started my home accessories line and decided to change direction of my other website: www.dianepetkoff.com

it is now going to be more of a "one-of-a-kind" gallery of sorts featuring those whimsical musings that i will occasionally add for sale. it will be my art, my voice and my vision. ever-changing and making unique statements.

we'll just see what unfolds in the upcoming months so stay tuned in and turned on.

cheers!
diane

great gifts under $25

if you are looking for a unique item for that friend that has everything, then look no further. i have just added these mod salt & pepper shakers featuring my own original artwork. these limited edition shakers each measure 1 5/8" square by 4" tall. sold for $22 they make a great gift for under $25!!!!

this one is the "stems":


and this one is the "squares":



head over to tastyjewelry.com where most of my items are under $25. i am offering complimentary gift wrap for orders over $15 and as always FREE SHIPPING! place your orders by december 17th to try to ensure your christmas delivery.

cheers!
xo diane

holiday shopping outdoors

aren't you tired of shopping at the big box retailers? well, you should be....this year make a pledge to shop independent. and to keep up with that pledge, come out and see me while i set up outdoors for the holiday shopping season.

where? guero's taco bar 1412 s. congress ave. (@ elizabeth st) in austin, tx.
when? from 12pm - 6pm
saturday december 8th
sunday december 9th
saturday december 15th
sunday december 16th
friday december 21st
saturday december 22nd (this will be your last chance!)

i will also be having a trunk show at adelante boutique located at 1206 w. 38th st, austin, tx.
thursday december 13th & friday december 14th from 10am - 5pm. i will be showing mostly tasty jewelry with some new one-of-a-kind pieces. earrings, necklaces, rings, hair accessories, home accessories and more.

whew! i am working hard to make this the best holiday season ever! please come out and see me if you get the chance.

cheers!
xo diane

shopping season has commenced!

its that time of year again when all you want is peace on earth and good will towards men and all you get is crazy traffic, long lines at the checkout & cranky kids screaming in the aisles.

well, why not leave all that crazy behind and shop from the comfort of your own home. while you're at it stop by: www.tastyjewelry.com and see all the wonderful gift items i have offered. most everything is under $25 so you can shop for everyone on your list.

i promise you won't be disappointed.

xo diane

happy halloween!

here it is! one of the most fun days of the year...halloween! i remember when i was little we would race home from school and get our costumes on as fast as we could. each year we would have the same dinner, a tradition of sloppy joes, potato chips and a pickle. i LOVED it! and off we would go with pillow cases in hand ready to tear up the neighborhood.

one of my favorite parts of the evening was sorting out the "loot". once we got home my brothers & sisters and i would dump out the candy onto the carpet and the trading would commence. pixie stix for snickers, fun dip for smarties....i always felt good about my trades even though i was the youngest. ah, the memories.....

have a safe and fun halloween whatever you decide to do. we're going to a halloween party with a "dead celebrity" theme. he's going as andy warhol and i'm going as edie sedgwick.

podcaster promotion

do you listen to podcasts? well, if you don't you should. i've decided to partner with a few of the great podcasts that i listen to this holiday season to give their listeners a gift of my own.

from november 1st through december 31st listeners of how much do we love, the daily purge, ramble redhead, its not us, its you, the smith's occasional podcast, archerradio & the little fatty cast will be given a special code to use when placing an order on www.tastyjewelry.com. not only will they be getting a discount, but they will be helping their favorite podcast out too. the proceeds from the discount will be donated right back to the podcaster! its my small way of saying "thank you" for the year long effort they make to produce such creative content. they are all entertaining and fun, fun, fun!

use the code: podcastlistener (all one word) in the voucher code box during checkout then in the box that asks "how did you hear about tasty jewelry?" enter the name of the podcast that you listen to. its that simple.


cheers!
xo diane

just added....

here are a few of the new things that i've added to my website www.tastyjewelry.com in the past week.

wine gift bags:


and skull bauble rings:


get your groove on this holiday season with some hip, funky and groovy jewelry!

adding new styles

i've just updated the website with some new earrings. a cool graphic printed disc with a metallic ring in awesome 70's style motifs.


and some awesome punk rock skull earrings (available in more colors)



go check them out!

xo diane

mod trio earrings

here are the newest earrings that i've been working on...the mod trio. one really mod graphic repeated three times...i LOVE these! $20 each pair and i am offering 12 different designs. they will be featured on the modish holiday gift guide...go check it out. it will be online soon.



i offer free shipping on all orders in the U.S.

cheers!
xo diane

new hoop earrings

here is a picture of the new hoop earrings i made yesterday. they are 14k gold-filled wire that i formed and hammered then wrapped with small freshwater pearls. they are 1 1/4" in diameter which makes them the perfect size for everyday. (they are also offered in sterling silver) just $30 at: www.dianepetkoff.com

coaster sets a go-go

i'm working on packaging my new coaster sets. they are all hand made out of cork with a felt backing. you get 4 per set and each features a different portion of one main design. and at just $16 i think they make great hostess gifts, or if you're really ahead of the game, stocking stuffers! i found these great clear plastic boxes that showcases 2 of the 4 designs.



click on the picture to take you to the website.

cheers!

updating the website

well, after long last, i have updated the website with some really fun new goodies. here are some photos of what i've added.




go check out the millions of colors and patterns that are available for these 2 fun and funky home accessories. you'll be pleasantly surprised!

cheers!

LP record producer

i could call myself a record producer today. i'm making about 20 pairs of my popular LP record earrings for the show and one pair for an online order. these little babies have been seen in the likes of alternative press magazine, metal edge magazine, and beauty launchpad magazine.

i love them and they feature a tiny swarovski© crystal rhinestone too!!!

here's a pic of them almost done! i just need to add the crystals....



rock on!

making new earrings

this week i'm working on new earrings and accessories for the stitch austin show...and for the website in general. i will be posting now as much as possible to share with you the progress that i'm making on the new stuff.

i'm hoping to participate in a few more craft shows this season. we'll see.

here is a pic of my workbench with some of the new goodies strewn about:



let me know what you think!
xo diane

new fun craft kits

i have been working on new craft kits to sell at this year's stitch austin show on saturday november 10th. they are fun kits with loads of different goodies inside to whet any crafter's appetite.

they will each include 3' of stylish ribbon, seed beads, colorful paillettes, ovals, and flower shapes, metallic sequins (both silver & gold), and assorted glass beads. each one will also have a set of 4 silver bob pins, a bob pin with a disc at the end, one plastic cabachon and a pair of silver plated hoop earrings. you can see my workbench in the process of getting together the turquoise group here:


all of these goodies will come in a convenient super cool clear plastic tube, so you can see what you're getting. i will offer them by color and they will retail for around $10 each. not a high price to pay for creative inspiration. they will make great stocking stuffers for newbie crafters and seasoned veterans alike.

all of the contents come directly from my own stash so its like i'm sharing my tasty world with everyone. look for them on the website: www.tastyjewelry.com
i will also be adding an instructional area to my website too, so if you are just starting out, allow me to share my 20+ years of crafty knowledge with you.

cheers!
xo diane

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