Good Advice!

I stumbled on this while wandering around - yes, I should have been working!

I think this is going to be a great series for all of us artist types to be following!

Andrew Thornton - it's a blog by a fellow artist that will be a series about selling your work! We all need some sage advice!

Mail Bag!

   Had one of those weeks where there aren't enough hours in any of the days to get everything done. But I did get two cool packages in the mail...

   The first one came from Donna Millard and had these really unique bead caps that she makes from vintage metals. I've got a dozen of them to play with, the colors are so much fun. I'm thinking they'll look fabulous on black beads, maybe in a cluster...

      The second package came from Debbie Smith of Fun, Funky Findings who I've talked about in other blogs (Cool Stuff I Found!)

   I always manage to find something interesting on her Etsy site. This time its the starfish charms, orange and green (great combo!) sparkly squares and this really cool flat rubber cord. The cord is going to be interesting to figure out. It comes in a ton of colors and is really flexible and sturdy. I've been playing with it a little bit, poking holes and cutting it to see how it reacts. I'll get something figured out and there will be a post about it, for now I just thought you'd like to see some cool supplies.

   What's the most interesting thing that came in your mail??

The Perfect Last Minute Gift!

   Hostess gift, teachers, welcome to the neighborhood, new driver.... I could make an endless list of gift needs that you don't always remember until the last minute. When you're an artist people expect you to show up with some creative, cool thingy you made. Here's a great idea for a personal gift that you can make in under 15 minutes for no money!

   Keychains!! Everyone needs one, you can make them very personal by using charms, favorite colors or themes. We all have that enormous stash of beads and fillers that seems to be taking over the work space. Also, these can be made into lanyards just as easily for use as a badge holder.

   Quickie tip of the day! Go forth and be creative!

Beauty on a Budget

  Anyone who knows my work, knows that its going to be filled with a lot of STUFF. I love lots of components, I also love artisan made lampwork. There is just something wonderful about a hand formed bit of colorful glass. The problem is of course that finding those amazing beads at an affordable price can be a daunting task. How do you make an amazing piece of jewelry without the cost breaking your budget? I want my jewelry to be affordable but if I have to spend $10 or more on each bead the sales price is going to be  $200 or more, I'm not really comfortable with that. I don't really know a lot of people who can afford to spend that kind of money on a bracelet. Having a market that small makes it hard to earn a living. So unless you're making art just for the sake of art - read on! There are lots of ways to make a great looking piece without you or your customer going broke.

    Using a mix of expensive with carefully chosen less expensive beads is one answer. Both bracelets pictured used less than $30 worth of materials. One set of $20 beads combined with lots of things like dyed jade and glass beads - a simple cast pewter toggle, all go together to make a great looking piece. Using a couple of beads from a set that I paid $45 and only the bar half of an $8 toggle and again, adding the rest of the components from less expensive or bulk purchases made a great piece for not a ton of money.

   You can manage to make some pretty spectacular pieces without using any artisan made beads as well. The key is to not use components that are going to tarnish, chip, peel or fade. For example, I love silver but the price has gone through the roof in the last couple years. So, I use silver filled or cast pewter or a combination of both. Glass beads are another great option, they come in thousands of shapes and colors and can be purchased in bulk for even better prices. Just stick with good quality!!

   Learn to make your own components - jumprings are an item that I need in every project and the cost can add up so I make my own. It's a simple process, you can make them in just the right size for your project and - even better - you can make them in pretty much any color! You can also make your own clasps and toggles. There is an immense satisfaction in knowing that you created all the pieces for your work.
  

   Everything you make doesn't have to be filled with expensive components to be market worthy. You're creative! Dig through that stash of beads and see what can be re-purposed into something unique, a bead with a hole can be the toggle by simply forming the bar half.

   And of course, buying in bulk is a great savings. I love to go to bead shows because I can buy chain by the foot, beads on 12"-16" strands, silver charms, toggles, crystal, pressed glass and a million other items for a fraction of the cost of retail.  Bead shows are also a great place for networking, meeting the artists who make what you love and working out ways to help each other by promoting each others work!

   Another little secret - trolling the internet sites for the best deals is worth your time too! Sometimes when an artist is just getting started their work will be priced at a discount while they try to build a customer base, an artist might be having a clearance sale or maybe they're trying a new type of material and testing the market.  Stick with artists you love, its good to build  relationship, promote each others work!

  

   By being as creative with your purchasing choices as you are with your jewelry you can have the best of both worlds! Go - make something beautiful!!

Business Smarts - Get Some!

  This is a topic I re-visit periodically - making your art your business. Too many artists don't take themselves seriously as a business. Being an artist isn't like any other job - there is a lot of emotion attached to what you do, sharing a piece of yourself is serious stuff. It's important to decide whether you're a hobbiest or an artist trying to make a living. Neither one is right or wrong, its a personal choice. But if you're an artist trying to make a living then you better have some decent business sense.

    

    That's one of the most important things I've learned over the last 10 years. You have to have some business savvy if you want to be taken seriously. You need to know what a Business Plan is - you should have an Artists Statement - you need to know about marketing, taxes, credit card sales, shows, wholesale, expenses, record keeping and the worst one of all..... PRICING YOUR WORK!!!

     If you don't know some of this stuff.... be smart, contact your local Small Business Development Center (there are over 10,000 offices in the US) and make an appointment!! I'm so glad that I did this. Their services are usually free or really affordable. They have contacts that will help guide you through all the business pitfalls. SBDC's hold workshops in every subject under the sun. Every time I attend one of their workshops I feel so much more confidant about my work, my goals and myself.

    

    Besides the SBDC every town has a Chamber of Commerce which can also be a great resource. I live in a really small town but we have several groups that support local businesses. Even if you don't have a brick and mortar location you're a business and they'll have advice that can help you grow and thrive. Don't hide out in your little workshop listing on Etsy and hoping for the best... Get out there!!

Get smart - its good for you. 

 

Dessert Soup!

    So, I finally got around to putting together a piece using Linda's oranges. I'm extra happy with the way it turned out even though I didn't get it done in time for the first reveal. You might remember that Linda lives in Southern California so the lampwork oranges are just perfect.

    I paired them with a ton of beads from all my very favorite artists using the brightest oranges, yellows, reds and greens. The result is a really eye-catching-ready-for-summer bracelet.

  
 The piece started with the clasp. I've had that bead for awhile, it's purpose just sort of eluded me. I like the look of multi strands of beads with the cone shaped cap but I don't really do multi. So, I did the next best thing - I used the cone shaped bead as my hook - I love that it gives the piece a nice start with a unique shape. The rest of it is connected beads with lots of tid bits in between each one. I like that it has movement and color and whimsy. I also like the versatility of a hook clasp, one size fits all!

Thanks again to Linda for the amazing pile of beads that she sent - I had such a good time!

  
 In case you're not familiar with the rest of the artists - here's everyone's websites:
 
My Partner - Linda Djokic -Lutka & Co - maker of awesome lampwork
My Elements Yvonne is my go-to for fun, colorful, unique shapes.
Tanya McGuire - Lampwork Artist I'm just crazy about these little wrapped glass beads, and the colors!
Laura Critchfield - Chestnut Ridge Designs One of my all time favorite lampworkers!
Bergamini Beads Furnace glass in the most amazing colors, patterns and shapes.
Parawire  I love colored wire. Parawire makes great colored copper wire in a million colors and sizes.

Sharing a Cool Site

 This will be a quickie post -

    I saw this on another chat and thought it was something that really should be shared. It's a great chart for figuring out sizes for different bracelets. It even has sizes for men and children.

Overstock Jeweler

Ta Da! - Enjoy!