Biker Chic Collection Rose's N' Skulls Necklace...the begining of Guts N' Gumption

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Biker Chic Collection Rose's N' Skulls Necklace...the begining of Guts N' Gumption

by Maryanne Murphy
(Atlanta, Ga.)

Biker Chic Rose's N' Skulls Necklace

this is Biker Chic...my daughter Cat

Close up of black rose and links

Close upm of rose, skulls & swarovski

Late last year I submitted a Skull N' Swarovski crystal necklace that was inspired by by daughter Cat. It, and its story can be viewed here on Making Jewelry Now at: Biker Chic Collection Skull 's N' Swarovski Crystal Necklace.

Well a lot has happened since then because of that one necklace. The necklace pictures is one of my favorites from a collection of 32 pieces. Yes, that's right THIRTY-TWO pieces.

The Biker Chic Collection under the On The Rocks Gemstone Jewelry label has spun off on its own. As I write this, Biker Chic is being trademarked.

The Biker Chic spin off is code named Guts & Gumption.

I have been keeping a photographic and written log of the ups and downs of getting this line launched and will be writing more about it. At this moment, I am still recovering from our first event this past weekend, (burnt to a crisp even with sunscreen) and getting ready for 2 events this coming Saturday.

About this necklace.

Black, and roses are a big theme in the biker community. So it was a no brainer for me to put them together.....once I found the components, which of course took time to track down.

I love the polymer made rose because it mimics black leather. Just the one rose ties this piece together so nicely.

The links attached to the black rose are stamped rose connectors.

I used two connectors for each link to provides stability. Hanging off the black rose are our double backed friendly skulls and swarovski crystals.

I don't know if you can call skulls and brass knuckles elegant, but that seems the hallmark of my designs for Biker Chic.

We started to sell the line through the Biker Chic Jewelry page on Facebook about 3 weeks ago. I took advantage of the new store option that Facebook now has which is called Payvment. IT IS FREE. Payment is through Paypal.

We are getting a lot of action on our Facebook page and have made 3 sales and a load of connections. My daughter Cat is a part of the biker community here in Georgia, so she does what she does naturally, which on Facebook is socialize!

Maryanne Murphy
On the Rocks Gemstone Jewelry

Comments for
Biker Chic Collection Rose's N' Skulls Necklace...the begining of Guts N' Gumption

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Good for you!
by: Rochelle Hughes

Congrats! on your achievements, I think it is great when someone reaches their goals. I find your jewelry very interesting, I can see why it would appeal to a certain community of individuals. Anyhow, BRAVO!

Guts & Gumption
by: Maryanne

Thanks Rochelle for your comments and well wishes.

The biker community is full of fantastic people who on many a weekend "ride for a cause." It is a tight community that is ALWAYS raising money for people and worthy events.

Biker Chic(TM) through my daughter Cat is able to donate jewelry and money through jewelry sales to these wonderful organizations and causes.

Matter of fact Biker Chic(TM) has a piece designed with Angel Wings, a hand wired Iolite Gemstone and Heart (no skulls or knuckles..LOL). It's a lariat style necklace in which 50% of the proceeds are being donated and the biker community is supporting by their purchases and can be viewed at Biker Chic Jewelry on Facebook.

Being a part of your customer community
by: Rena

Maryanne, this is such a great example of being a true part of your customer community - working together with them toward the same goals, and even posting about them and promoting them on your Facebook page.

And isn't it fantastic when your business revolves around the people and things you're already in tune with?

Thanks so much for sharing what you and Cat are doing! Very inspiring.

Inspirational
by: Jo

Very nice work. I also am in the very beginning process of developing a collection that is geared toward "bikers". Soooo many ideas...tooooo little time! Without having a chance to check out the rest of your work, I thought I would share one suggestion. To get away from just using "black" see if there are any Motorcycle Clubs in your area and take note of their club "colors". Work up some pieces with those colors incorporated and push the "personalized" theme. Or work up some pieces that you could add something to while they wait, so it would put their club "colors" into it. Good luck!

Want to set up my shop on fb
by: Victoria

I love your shop and love how u set it up on fb. Could you tell me how you did that without setting up a personal page?

Some More Guts
by: Maryanne Murphy

Thanks Rena for your great incites as alsway.

One of the ways Cat and I are able to do Biker Chic is that she takes the "marketing" of off my shoulders by her being a part of the bikers community already. I don't think we could be as successful in such a short time if it wasn't for her already developed friendships.

Jo, Thanks for your kind words. I think it's a great idea to do club colors and we are already doing special designs for some clubs. They are promoting there own designs so you won't see them on our site. I have a lot more jewelry made that hasn't been put in the shop yet. Doing shows is very time consuming and takes and I've learned that I can only do so much without getting burned out. As you already said Jo, sooo many ideas, to little time.

Victoria, I don't know if you can sent up a FB shop without having a personal page because I had one.

May I ask why you wouldn't set up a personal page? You can have as much or little info on it and set your privacy settings so only "friends" have access.

I love my personal page. That's where I keep up with everything and everyone that interest me on FB. I wouldn't want all that action on my business pages, of which I have 3.

Thank you all for your comments. I hope I'm helping the community by showing everyone how and what we are doing. Will be posting more stories....because not everything is perfect, but it doesn't have to be.

Right now I HATE our show display and will be posting photos and asking the community for help. But I believe that except for the integrity of your work everything is a work in progress.

Maryanne

Nice line of biker jewelry
by: Marlies

You have a beautiful line of biker jewelry that even I as a fellow jewelry artist and biker may end up purchasing some items. Hey, we are all in this together and I cannot design everything (I do Native American)

Guts & Gumption...Biker Chic
by: Maryanne Murphy

Hi Marlies,

Yours are high complements indeed, both as a jewelry artist and biker!!

And it's so true, that their are so many different styles of jewelry making, we can't make it all ourselves. I just bought a ring made by a polymer clay artist that i couldn't resist. It's a tea party on a ring!!! At first I thought she was selling food, and wondering how she was shipping such delectable 's, looked closer and saw that the food was miniatures!

I wish you had posted a website for your designs. I LOVE looking at all the talent here at Rena's.

Marlies, have you posted your work here? If not please do. I know I am very interested in Native American Jewelry, as I'm sure are others. My mom was a reservation nurse over 50 years ago and instilled in me a love for all Native American crafts. She came back with some lovely pieces.

looking forward to seeing yours!

Maryanne

Love the black rose
by: Tracy Martin

Hi Maryanne,

I have to say, the black rose really makes this necklace. It is beautiful. Beautiful and skulls, kind of a contradiction in terms, lol.

I also have to say that I am quite envious. I wish I could have had that kind of relationship with my mom. You are very lucky. So is your daughter. Never let anything come between the two of you.

Loves,

Tracy
http://nutkittensjewelry.weebly.com

Ah, Black Roses
by: Maryanne Murphy

Hi Tracy,

It's so nice to hear from you! I am soooo impressed with what you have accomplished in such a short time with your websites!

You are very observant, Tracy.
Thank you so much for mentioning how the black rose pulls everything together in the necklace. That's exactly what it is suppose to do....but sometimes our best intentions don't work out!

And you are also correct about the contradiction in using roses (but they are black!) and skulls in the same piece. That too was done intentionally....trying to visually(resonating) say something about a lot of women bikers....that they are both feminine, and can handle their own bike and life.

As to the relationship with my daughter, my mom was hospitalized with post-postpartum depression for my entire life. So I didn't grow up having a close relationship either. It's difficult not having the mom you need.

With both my daughters I've made my mistakes...and they seem to remember those more then all the good stuff...LOL! Having a pretty good relationship with my daughters (36 & 26)as they have become adults has resulted in a lot of tongue holding (not agreeing with choices) but loving and supporting them...I see a therapist...LOL...thank goodness!

I'm glad that Cat and I have an interest that melds and we can work together. It isn't easy since there are two boys in diapers that still have to be cared for at home while someone tackles the event.

Somehow, so far, we have been able to work all the stuff out without any conflicts. For example. I have a lovely brown metal jewelry tree that I painted pink because the jewelry looked so much better against it, and I am trying to make our display visually appealing. She HATED it. I could have argued. She could haven taken it (and not used it)...but it's a good thing I have 2 of those, so I gave her the other one. A lot of arguments occur over small things, which get out of hand. There's some missed communication and other stuff, but again we are fortunate that most stuff doesn't matter...but when it does, we are able to sit down and have a loud dragged out discussion...but what the difference is, is that we are trying to understand the other person's point of view, as we hotly argue our own!

Nobody is perfect, so I think that's were the love part comes in. It kind of provides the bridge over imperfection.

Maryanne

Thanks for the article.
by: Fran Selinger

I didn't know about Payvment until I read your article. My Artfire store hasn't been doing too well, so I think I'll try the Facebook store. Thanks for giving me the idea!

Payvment on Facebook
by: Maryanne Murphy

Hey Fran,

So glad that knowing about Facebook's Payvment option to provide selling opportunities through your Facebook page is giving you another direction for sales.

I do know from being on Etsy and ArtFire sales seem to be lagging everywhere.

I think the Facebook option for sales is a great addition to the socialization, and I thought very easy to set up.

Good luck in your Facebook venture!

Msryanne

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