Ah, TAXES

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, tax time is upon us!

If you are just staring your business or are still in the planning stages of starting a business, do yourself a giant favor and really spend some time planning and researching how you plan on keeping your financial records. Believe me when I say it will save you a lot of time and maybe even a few headaches and tears down the road.

The IRS's website (www.irs.gov) has a wealth of information! Though it may seem a bit overwhelming with all the publications, forms, instructions, and other various items, take a few minutes to really become familiar with the website.

You can go here to find information on starting a business. And here for information on operating a business. And finally, if you're looking to close shop, look here.

If you're planning on operating as a partnership, look here.

Organization is key! I have several 3-ring binders where I keep all my records. While I have heard of the fabled shoebox method of record keeping (you know who you are!), I strongly advise against it for two major reasons:
1. If EVERYTHING is in a shoebox, how do you know how your business is doing? Are you in the red or black? Are your supplies being purchased at the same price as your last order? How much have you spent on advertising this month? This quarter? Granted accounting software can alleviate some of this uncertainty...but only if you use it properly.
2. Accountants don't work for free. If you walk into your accountant's office with a shoebox full of paper work, he/she will either:
a) Laugh. Then tell you to come back later after YOU'VE straightened out your box.
b) Charge you an arm and a leg because it took him/her hours to sort through the chaos.

Save yourself time and humiliation by being organized from day ONE!

If you choose paperless record keeping, always have the information backed-up on a CD or in a journal. I learned this the hard way. I had to spend days reentering information in the computer (luckily, I had everything in my 3-ring binders, but a CD would have saved a lot of keyboarding).

Next...Quickbooks and other accounting software....

MORE Good Reading

Here is a short list of jewelry and metalworking books I have read over the past few years:

Chain Mail Jewelry: Contemporary Designs from Classic Techniques by Terry Taylor and Dylon Whyte
I adore this book! It is well illustrated, the instructions are easy to comprehend even with limited chainmaking skills or knowledge. The book progresses from beginner weaves through more challenging weaves to "expert" weaves. It features over 30 projects in full-color and easy to interpret computer-generated graphics. If you are thinking about trying you hand at chainmaille, I highly suggest this book.

Contemporary Bead & Wire Jewelry by Nathalie Mornu & Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott
I read this book solely based on the front cover image. The herringbone weave was featured in a lovely pair of sterling silver and red bead/gemstone earrings. Well, to my disappointment, the book contained very little visual instruction and relied heavily on written step-by-step instruction. The photographs of the completed projects were inspiring, but the how-to instructions were lacking.

Creative Silver Chains: 20 Dazzling Designs by Chantal Lise Saunders
A very well written and illustrated book. I was pleased to find a book which focused on chainmaking (not chainmaille). Just a note...this book requires the use of a torch and knowledge of soldering and fusing. This is not for a novice jewelry designer.

Making Metal Jewelry: Projects, Techniques, Inspiration by Joanna Gollberg
Every jewelry designer and budding metalsmith should own this book! This is one of the few books I have purchased to keep in my home library too (most books I use are borrowed from the library). This book uses cold-connections exclusively (no torch or soldering required). One of the down sides to this book is the number of tools required to work the projects, so if you are just starting out the number of projects you will be able to create are limited. However, skills such as piercing, sawing, riveting, and joining are covered in detail. Other techniques include: metal texturing and finishing, chasing, etching, and adding a patina to certain metals.

A GOOD Read

Though I think I have read what seems like hundreds of books on crafting and the business of crafting, I am just now getting around to compiling a list of some of the best/better books I have read.

In no particular order....

Crafts and Craft Shows: How to Make Money by Philip Kadubec
Though this book was written in 2000, it is written from the perspective of a seasoned crafter who has been touring the Pacific Northwest exhibiting at craft shows for 18 years. It covers such topics as: marketing yourself and your product, pricing, show selection, booth display and set up, customer service and more!
The book is an easy read and written in common language...in other words, you won't need an art degree or business degree to understand any of the topics.

Marketing and Selling Your Handmade Jewelry : The Complete Guide to Turning Your Passion into Profit by Viki Lareau
Published in 2006, and written by a jewelry/business mentor, this guide to entering the jewelry business compiles firsthand knowledge and wide experiences for those looking to take their hobby to the next level. The books starts with the basics of assessing style, time commitment, and target markets Equally important, the sections progress through business licenses and tax numbers, developing a cohesive presentation for a business, and the fine art of pricing for a profit.
Another easy read. I finished the book cover-to-cover on a train ride to Chicago (1 1/2 hrs.).

More to come.....

More pictures, as promised!

I've began working on the Swiss Blue Topaz bracelet and I really like it! The high-polish of the Sterling Silver looks great with the bright blue of the Topaz.

I also completed the earrings for the Peridot set and will photograph them soon.

I wish my pictures were a little brighter, but they were taken at my workbench.....

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Candy has been consumed and sugar-coma has began to set in...LOL

Making Easter a little more GREEN

Seems like I've had green on the brain lately! Eco-green and the color!

Well, for the past few years I have been avoiding buying plastic Easter grass to fill the kids' Easter baskets. Besides the fact that I think it is such a waste, stray pieces always seem to plug up the vacuum cleaner's beater bar, and I've been told some pets like to eat it. Yuck!

I usually buy paper grass to fill the baskets. This way I can reuse the shreddings for packaging and it doesn't seem to affect my vacuuming either. Two very big pluses for paper Easter grass.

This year paper Easter grass was no where to be found. I decided to make my own. It may not be as long or crinkly (sp?) as the kind I used to buy, but it will fill the void quite nicely. I used my paper shredder (which usually shreds all that junk mail and obscene credit card offers) to shred a few sheets of green and yellow colored paper. I like the way it turned out, if I do say so myself!

Wishing all my readers a Happy Easter!

FINISHED - Photo

In this photo all the Peridot gemstones have been set, the bracelet is polished...now just to make the matching earrings and it'll be complete!

Next week I'll begin working on the Swiss Blue Topaz gemstone bracelet.

Oh, I'm just so pleased at how it turned out (tooting my own horn!!)! I love how the antiquing really brings depth and character to the piece. At first I was a little hesitant that the antiquing coupled with the Peridot would be a little too dark, but I'm glad I went with the decision to go ahead and do it anyway. :)

Photos, as promised

Here is a photo of the bracelet after it has been antiqued. One stone has been set!

If you notice, there are more stones (Peridot) at the bottom of the photo. I will be using two of these for a matching pair of earrings.