Barbara Raleigh

My background is varied and diverse, yet directed and focused on jewelry.

Always a 'creative' child (or so I was told), I pursued a career in art. At SUNY, New Paltz I had my first jewelry course, and was hooked.

After receiving my Masters at NYU, I taught elementary art for several years, but continued my jewelry education.

I have won numerous jewelry design awards, including the Diamonds International and the Platinum Award.

Enameling became my specialty, and I developed a small line of 'art' jewelry(meaning very unique, not very wearable and for a limited audience). So, I took a course at FIT on how to render and started designing for the masses.

My first full-time job was for Trifari, a major costume jewelry company based in NYC and with the factory in Providence, RI, then the costume jewelry capitol of the world. I learned the total business during the 14 years I was there as I was exposed to and had to work with all the other departments, an invaluable experience which set the scene for starting my own trend forecasting and design consulting service, International Design Source, Ltd. I have been in my own business for about 11 years and love (almost) every minute of it.

As a trend forecaster, I travel to the fashion Mecca's of the world, digest all that I see and read, and then report on it.

I work with a variety of jewelry designers and manufacturers whose product ranges from mass to high end, in costume and fine. To give the total picture of what's happening in the market, I also research fashion and RTW directions as well as the competition, namely, the other accessiry catagories. I've also worked in the watch industry, desigining, right when watches were becoming an important accessory in their own right. I've also tried my hand at my own product line, focusing on table top desgins. Jewels for the Home satisfied with my creative urges as I designed and produced candlesticks, napkin rings, frames, and Christmas ornaments.

At present, one of my biggest and most exciting clients is QVC. I've been their creative consultant for the past 4 years, giving inspiration, ideas and trend information to all the jewelry buyers. My years of giving presentations and my knowledge of the industry have made me a'natural' for on-air appearances(or so my mother says) as I've been on many times as QVC's trend maven. Currently, I am on a new show, The Total Look, in which we sell the whole outfit, explaining how and why it all goes together. Education + Encouragement = Sales.

I love what I do. My passion is product, anything beautiful and fashionable. My future goals are very simple: I want to work smarter, not harder. I want to focus on fewer but better clients. I want to go back to my art work, but now with digital photography.

Wish my luck, as I get so side-tracked with all the fabulous possibilities and avenues out there and I want to try them all.

Copyright 2007 the Jewelry Design Professionals' Network