The NEW face of MerCurios

I've been neglecting the blog lately and I'm sorry.  We've had lots going on over here at MerCurios HQ and unfortunately - being a one woman show - the blog had to take a back seat.

Now that things have settled down and we are back on track, I thought I'd share the NEW face of MerCurios - our new Logo! 

While I love, love, love our original MerCurios logo - it has been with us since 2003 - I felt it was about time we had a facelift -- something to bring MerCurios into the current moment and reflect the mood of the brand...

Modern, Ethereal, Chaotic (of course!), Organic, Industrial & Raw

Our good friend Jenn over at SocialPop Marketing redesigned it for us. What do you think? It was really hard for me to decide on the colors & I almost went with black and gold. 

In the end I chose to go with blue and green. I found the colors very soothing, and appealing to the eye. As as with everything MerCurios there is some symbolism involved...

The blue represents the ocean, the ebb and flow of the tides as such is life, and the green represents prosperity, of course.

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. What color combo would you have voted for?

Fathers Day - Last minute gifts from MerCurios

Father's Day is right around the corner. Can you believe it?  I sure can't it.  If you are anything like me and, unintentionally wait until the last minute to get gifts, don't fret! 

MerCurios has you covered!

Custom Monogram Copper Ring

Custom Quote Bracelet in Stainless Steel

Native Inspired Crossed Arrow & Wolf Ring

Our BEST SELLING Custom Double Banner Ring

Shop it now: 

1. Custom Monogram Ring - $30
2. Custom Quote Bracelet - $40
3. Native Inspired Crossed Arrows & Wolf Ring - $28
4. Custom Double Banner Ring - $40 

Above is just a few of what we offer for the guys. 

Check out the full assortment of Men's Jewelry here.  

Our current turn around is three business days and we offer express shipping too!

New from MerCurios - Mid-Finger Feather Ring

This delicate band sits directly above the knuckle, and is a must have for the summer.  Made from sterling silver, hammered for texture with a subtle feather pattern etched in it.

Wear it alone, or pile them on with other rings. At $22 it can't be beat!

Shop it now

New ~ Chain S-T-R-E-T-C-H Bracelets

Part chain, part stone, shell or pearl & spikes and 100% bad-ass!  Something new I've been working for Summer 2012 into Fall and quite possibly next Spring/Summer too; edgy chain stretch bracelets.

Top: turquoise and spikes
Middle: pearl, spikes and whistle (yes! it's a working whistle)
Bottom: abalone (paua) shell & spikes

These are three of many available in the shop

I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

It's Summer in Australia

Last nights challenge on Project Accessory was to accessorize a swimsuit.  The designers combed the beach and boardwalk at Cony Island for materials with which to create 3 accessories -- sandals, a head piece and an accessory of choice.

I loved what James came up with.  Having very long hair myself, his modern, chic and industrial-style hair sticks rocked in my opinion.  

...other than a hat or hair sticks, you really won't catch me wearing accessories at the beach or pool though.  It's not because I'm lazy, as I am most definitely not lazy.  In fact, it's because I'm so lathered up with sunblock that anything other than a hat would just get greasy and ruined.  I'm sure I over do it with the SPF 100 that I reapply every few hours; but that's what happens when your mom dies from skin cancer at 43.

Anyway, one of the looks that judges enjoyed last night was a mixture of shells and Swarovski crystals.  We mixed shells and raw crystals for our Spring/Summer 2011 Collection back in March/April of this year.  I'm taking the liberty of sharing it with you here just in case you missed it in the shop over the summer.

Clockwise from bottom left:
Smoky Quartz & Shell Knuckle Ring in Copper; Double Quartz & Shell Necklace; Smoky Quartz Metallic Shell Cuff; Smoky Quartz & Shell Necklace; Crystal Quartz, Skull & Shell Knuckle Ring; Rose Gold Oyster Shell & Quartz Knuckle Ring; Rose Gold Skull & Spiral Shell Ring; Crystal Quartz & Shell Two Finger Ring in Copper.

Jingle all the way

Having trouble getting in the Holiday spirit? Or just want to feel like one of Santa's elves?  Get a 'Jingle Bell Ring' and carry the magic with you.

Wherever there is a temple, there is a bell; wherever there is a bell there is a temple 

Did you know...According to traditional eastern belief, the sound of a bell ringing purifies the holy place in which it rests. In essence, the temple bell evokes one's yearning for peace, balance, and harmony.

Fully adjustable, choose from Leopard, Orange or Purple Jingle Bells!  Pick up your MerCurios 'Jingle Bell Ring' here.

What's NOW!

My June issue of In Style Magazine arrived yesterday and lo' and behold Neon is "What's Now!"  From clothing to shoes to home furnishings the brighter the better!

If you recall, MerCurios has had Natural Raw Glow in the Dark Quartz Crystal Jewelry available since September 2010 (Seeing is Believing) - AGAIN ahead of the trend! 

Plan on getting Plugged In to What's Now?  MerCurios has you covered with our signature Knock 'em Dead - Take NO Prisoner modern fusion of fashion & style.

Proximity

“Proximity” …when a customer said they were going to be adding a charm to their two finger ring when it arrived, I encouraged them to send the charm to me instead.

This was the end result.  Making this ring has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.  My imagination has been soaring with ideas. 

...now to just get caught up on the custom work I’m inundated with so I can breathe life to those ideas.

Enjoy!

Seeing is Believing

I stumbled upon these pink and green glow in the dark quartz crystals at a local gem & mineral show.  Actually I walked passed them.  It was my 4yr old son & husband who said "you have GOT to check this out!"  Begrudgingly I walked over, and to please them...picked up two green quartz points.

That was actually the best move I made!  30 minutes after creating and listing a two-finger ring with the first crystal, it sold!  And, I immediately had a request for a glow quartz ring from someone else.  However, this person wanted a single finger version in silver.  Needless to say I got my hands on some more glow in the dark quartz crystals right away, and have been having a hard time keeping them in stock ever since!

We only have a few stones left!!
Yellow = 1 /  Pink = 5 /  Green = 6

Coveting one of these edgy, yet oh so fun glow quartz crystals for yourself?  No Problem!  Contact me here to get the ball rolling.  Quantities are limited and are on a first come, first serve basis.

The feedback has been amazing!  Just glancing at our Facebook Fan Page you will immediately get caught up in all the buzz.  I only wish I could get one, just one clear picture of the quartz while it's glowing -- it is stunning!  The Pink stones glow Purple!!  Seriously, how cool are these stones?!

Seriously! How cool are these stones?

Labor Day Weekend Giveaway

*****Labor Day Weekend Giveaway*****

YOU have a chance to WIN this MerCurios Custom Unisex Two Finger Banner Ring.

Simply "Like" MerCurios on Facebook here, then leave a comment on our wall with what your ring will say and your name will be entered into our competition! It's that simple!

Check out the Custom Ring up close & personal here, here, here & here!

The Competition will run from Saturday, September 4 through Monday September 6. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Tuesday September 7.

*Already a MerCurios Fan, No Problem! Leave a comment on our Facebook wall with what your ring would say & YOU will be entered into the competition too!

See more Original MerCurios Designs here!

It's a wrap

Today's projects consisted of four custom rings - I got three done; not too bad! - phone calls, phone calls, phone calls, and more press kits.  Now I don't know about you, but I loathe phone calls!  Seriously!  Ask anyone that knows me 1. If I ever answer my phone? and 2. If I ever return phone calls? I think you can guess the answer...if you guessed NO, then you'd be right.  My husband actually put someone else - someone that answers their phone - as his "emergency contact" at work.  I hope you can find the humor in this, because I sure can.

Anyway, I digress.  All three custom rings were from the "Define Yourself" Collection, and all were Two Finger Tattoo-style Banner Rings.  I am loving how popular these rings have become!  Did I mention they are available in Brass and Stainless Steel too?!

The copper rings are now lined with felt too & POP Colors are available for those who want to stand out.  I did this for two reasons... 1. to prevent the skin oxidation that happens to some when wearing natural copper 2. I prefer not to clear coat my copper pieces due to the intrinsic healing properties ...& because I like the rustic look of raw copper.

This is what I call a "3 Finger Bench Ring" in that it slides on to three fingers and sits there like a bench of course.  Believe it or not, it's really comfortable & keyboard-friendly! This, however, is the prototype & it's spoken for.  As a matter of fact it's being shipped out to Miss Kat Von D 1st thing in the morning -- I created it with her in mind after all.

Want your very own "Define Yourself" or 3 Finger Bench Ring?  Not to worry, contact me here for a quote. 

What did you do today?

Instead of working on the projects that I should have been working on, this is what I did today:

Two NEW multi-finger wrapped rings.  The first is a glass bulb filled with all recycled copper bits and pieces left over from previous projects.  The second variation is empty, waiting for your wish!  Tell the Universe what you want & don't be shy!

Both rings still need to be antiqued -- shiny copper just isn't for me.  Maybe wrapped a bit more too, who knows.  The rings are also available in gold and silver.  Two finger rings too edgy for you?  Single finger version is coming soon!  Contact me here to get on the waiting list!  Remember, each ring is handmade which lends to its one-of-a-kind uniqueness.

So, what did you do today?  Whatever you did, I sure hope you had fun doing it!

xo,

~MJ

A moment to reflect

Things have been happening so fast lately that I haven't had the time to digest all of it, let alone sit back and revel in it. It's as though I'm caught up in a tornado.  Freddy - that's my better half - say my press is better than my sales & at-a-glance he is right.  The press has been phenomenal - from Stylists and Major Fashion Magazines requesting samples to News Articles and everything in between.

The sales though have not been half bad either!  The major winner is the multi-finger "Define Yourself" Tattoo-style Banner Ring.  Did I mention it's a custom piece so each one is unique to the person wearing it.  It's UNISEX too!

Besides, "sometimes you have to run before you can walk" - a quote from the infamous Tony Stark.  I think that's the case here...first comes the interest, then comes the $; right?

That said, here's the latest MerCurios hype; ENJOY!!

• LEOPARD MILKSHAKE
• Three Village Patch
• Fashion Clique
• New and Worthy
• Denim Debutante

Rings that Rock!

So I was checking Google Analytics, as I do everyday and discovered that MerCurios was among those featured in the Australian Fashion Blog "Fashion Clique".  What a sweet surprise!  Here's the link.  

Our ring is #3.  Enjoy!!

I love surprises like this, don't you??

I love all of the rings Fashion Clique chose for their feature.  Each and every one of them is available on Etsy, (except for #3 by MerCurios -- it sold within minutes of the feature). 

Please see the Fashion Clique post for the designer credits and links back to the respective shops.

Latest projects...

This morning my husband came in to my studio and ran off with a large sheet of copper headed toward the garage (his studio).  I heard grinders grinding and hammers hammering and drills drilling.  Not 20 minutes later emerges with a riveted copper cuff in hand.  

1.  Why can't I seem to whip something THAT cool up THAT quickly?  All my projects seem take much longer than that, especially if there is hammering, drilling, soldering, antiquing and wrapping involved.

2.  A little healthy competition is good, but from under my own roof?? (lol)  Seriously though, my guy is a man of many talents and he inspires me to push the limits of creativity.

Here's his cuff ~ What do ya think??  Felt backed and all...

So of course I was inspired after seeing him so productive.  Here's what I accomplished today... Two rings and a caged crystal quartz.  The quartz ring was actually supposed to be an adjustable ring, however, the Firescoff brand ceramic flux just wasn't cooperating with me this evening.  No matter what I did, or how hard I tried, the darn solder just wouldn't hold and I blame it on the flux *wink*.  Rather than scrap the entire piece, I decided to take it in a whole new direction.  

I'm liking the way the caged crystal came out.  Just not sure what to do with it next.  Do you have any suggestions??  I'd love to hear them.

The adjustable ring is still my head and I will attempt it again tomorrow.  It's late; 1:30am actually and Gabriel will be up in a few hours.  Nite everyone.

 

Guess the Retail; Win the Prize!

UPDATE:  Congratulations to Natalie Chui!  Natalie won the below bracelet with her guess of $58 retail.  Be on the look out for our next giveaway! 

I use a set formula to calculate the MerCurios wholesale and retail prices, and I'm currently in the process of reevaluating my formula.  That's where you guys come in!

Guess the RETAIL price of this bracelet and WIN it!  It's that simple!  The first person to guess the correct retail price will win the prize, however, the contest will run the entire week.



Feel free to reference the MerCurios website to aid in guessing, however, keep in mind that I am reevaluating my formula AND the new collection is not yet listed.  Now for the materials used...this bracelet is constructed of solid brass, ribbon & a cast brass charm.

Rules:
1. One entry per person please, left as a comment to this blog post.
2. Guess must be posted in US Dollars.
3. The contest will run from Monday, April 12 through Sunday, April 17, and the winner will be announced on Monday, April 18.

That's all there is too it!

Week in Review

What a crazy and amazing week this has been.  Honestly, my head is still spinning from all that has gone on.  First, mid-week, I see that Awakened Aesthetic has written a review for a two finger ring I had sent her.  Mind you, I knew the review was coming as I had asked for an "honest" review in exchange for a custom 2 finger ring.  However, I had no idea the review would be so wonderful.

You can read the full review; Acquired Aesthetics: MerCurios here.  While you're there, check out the entire blog. Jenn will open your eyes to a new aesthetic. If you’re looking to join the ranks of the eco-friendly, trying to shop more consciously, or otherwise love fashion and ethics in equal measure, you’ll find more inspiration – and temptation – than you can stand on Awakened Aesthetic.

The very next day I was at our local library with Gabriel.  As always, while he is in his mom-free preschool story time class, I bolt to the adult section to see what's new & exciting in the world of fashion and jewelry.  As I'm browsing the shelves, I see the title "1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse".  I immediately pull it off the shelf and begin flipping through it to see if I know any of the artists that made it into the book.  You see, I submitted some of my own work back in January '09, however, when I never heard anything I assumed my work was passed over.  Boy was I wrong!  Much to my surprise, not one, but TWO pieces of MerCurios jewelry were included amidst the ranks of those amazing artists.  WOW!  A few days later, and I'm still wrapping my head around the entire experience.

 

Both of these amazing events couldn't have come at a better time as I'm pitching to Bendels on Friday & the press can only help!  Speaking of my presentation, I ordered new jewelry trays, black velvet liners and a carry bag on Tuesday and received everything on Thursday.  I've already begun laying out the collection to see where I need to fill gaps.  New business cards from MOO, complete with pictures are on their way!  I'm looking forward to their arrival on Monday.

There is still a lot to do and the ball is rolling in the right direction, so I'm stoked to say the least.

Progress is a beautiful thing

So, I've actually buckled down and started making some progress for my meeting since the last post.  I started on chunky bracelets, incorporating different metals and textures to create some unique pieces.  In the last of the four bracelets created so far, I mixed some sheer ribbon with cathedral style chain, and accented it with a few lagoon blue lace agate ovals for pop. 

Each of the four is truly different from the other - true to my schizophrenic design style.  I had to stop here, because I'm on a train early tomorrow morning for the MJSA Show at the Hilton in NYC.  ...I'll let you know if I find anything good. 

Here are the pics of the recently completed bracelets...keep in mind they are for a Fall 2010 presentation...

Intuitive Creating

I had no idea when my latest customer said "surprise me" & I replied "surprises are my best" that I would create a piece that defined her style perfectly.  Just call me the "Intuitive Artist" I said half joking, as Jen was saying how much she liked the ring and how I nailed her style.

However, I'm not the least bit surprised.  I approached this project, as I do all others...looking in to my heart for inspiration.  I don't know Jen personally; never asked her anything about her personal tastes or styles; yet somehow I just knew as I was bending and twisting the copper that the ring would be a perfect fit.  You see, when I'm creating I think about the person I'm creating for and tap into my subconscious.  Creating then becomes an active form of meditation, so in essence "surprises really are my best" as they are divinely inspired.

Here's what Jen had to say...

@MerCuriosJewels Oh my god. It's absolutely beautiful. I mean, wow!

@MerCuriosJewels Psh, yeah! You nailed my style on the nose.

(via email) When it comes to the ring, I'm absolutely speechless.  It's really perfect, and I can wear it with so much of what I own.  You've kind of made my week, woman!  Thank you, again.

I'd love the opportunity to create the perfect piece for you!   Feel free to contact me here with your wish list. Take a look at the vault for the latest one-of-a-kind pieces to find loving homes; or the shop to see what's still available.  Enjoy!!

I Should Be Working

 A day does not go by that I don't check Craftopolis, in fact I'm addicted to it.  For those that don't know, Craftopolis is an at-a-glance look at the Treasury situation on Etsy.  In one click you can see when the Treasuries are set to open and, more importantly (in my opinion) if you've been featured in any.

This morning I discovered this stunning Treasury "I Should Be Working" created by Coco and Chia.  Not only is this Treasury Etsy Front Page worthy, it features the MerCurios Wide Copper Corset Ring too!

Coco and Chia is a metal smith by day, working out of her living room studio creating jewelery that is fabulous & timeless.   Crazy for details, Coco and Chia's pieces are technically perfect, yet quite clearly handmade.  I encourage you to check out her Etsy Shop here.  You will be glad you did!