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.

the RAM

I have decided and officially committed to entering 2 works of art into the Racine Art Museum's (RAM) Student Show. The two shows will run May 24th through July 12th.

The first exhibit's theme is color. The show is titled, "What's With Hue?" For this exhibit I have chosen to highlight colored gemstones. After drawing-up 20 or more designs, I decided on creating two sterling silver bracelets...one will be antiqued and the other will be a high polish. The colored gemstones I chose are Peridot and Swiss Blue Topaz. Now I just have to finalize whether I want to use both colored gems in a single bracelet, or only one. Hmmm...what do you prefer?

The second exhibit's theme is nature. This show is titled, "All Natural Ingredients." For this exhibit I will be creating a hand-knotted natural lavender pearl necklace with a sterling silver toggle clasp. I'm really excited about this piece! My pearls just arrived the other day and they are truly magnificent to behold! I have a weakness for pearls in general, but the color of these natural gemstones are just delicious! I almost can't wait to start knotting them on the silk threads.

I'll be sure to post pictures of their progress over the next few weeks.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

To all my Irish and Irish-for-a-Day friends...Happy St. Pat's!

What is GREEN?

There have been many articles written lately on the prospect of being a green company or living a green lifestyle. I have been pondering this very subject ever since I took my Environmental Science class while earning my Business degree some time ago.

Throughout the course, I was horrified and ashamed to discover my everyday habits and actions that were leaving a negative impression on the Earth. Oh, all the batteries and burnt-out light bulbs that I carelessly tossed into the trash can! The years of using chemical-laden 'commercial' bath and laundry soaps....4 years' worth of disposable baby diapers....all the product packaging that could have or should have been recycled! I cried. Seriously.

The positive side of all this is that now I am a better consumer and a much more conscientious jewelry 'manufacturer.' I have researched ways to not only conserve energy but also to reduce the amount of trash my household and business produces.

Though, like many Americans, I struggle with the cost (dollars) of being green, and the (in)convenience. My most recent quandary is paper plates vs. hand washing. On one end I am disposing of paper (which is bought from the store in a plastic bag) in a plastic garbage bag that will end up in a landfill. The more paper I use, the quicker the bag fills and the more plastic garbage bags I use. On the other end I am washing a plate with dish soap (which comes in a plastic bottle) which goes down the drain...and let's not forget all the water I am using. Oh, and the sponge, which harbors bacteria and will eventually be thrown away. Then I will buy a new sponge which comes in plastic wrap or at the very least a cardboard/paper box.

Well, I stopped using sponges and now use those green-colored scrubbies. They tend to last longer than the sponges and dry-out between uses, so the bacteria factor is slightly reduced. The brand that I buy only has a narrow cardboard/paper band around them, so the waste is minimized when I buy new ones. I'm still on the lookout for a more environmentally friendly dish soap, so if you'd like to recommend one, please leave a comment.

I know it's not much, but my hopes that are if everyone made tiny adjustments....it could make a huge difference. My new philosophy/mission is using less creates less (garbage). So I hunt for products with less packaging, shred junk mail (then recycle it!), shop Goodwill, and generally find new uses for 'old' things (raggedy towels become draft dodgers).

While I'm far from being 100% GREEN, I have made many lifestyle changes that will reduce my 'footprint' on the Earth. I just hope that it's not too late...for any of us!

Oh, and my business? I recycle my scrap metals, packaging peanuts, bubble wrap, and cardboard boxes whenever possible. I try to find more natural ways to create my art. For example, I use beeswax as a lubricant instead of petroleum based products. I hope to find even more green solutions in the near future!

If you have more any ideas, suggestions, or examples...leave a comment!

Handmade CARDS

Oh my goodness!! Anyone who knows me knows what a paper, card, and sticker fanatic I am! Well, much to my surprise, while searching through the Treasuries on Etsy, I stumbled upon a Treasury list comprised of members of the Etsy Greetings Street Team. The Street Team was holding a simple contest on their blog and was seeking some basic feedback on greeting cards. I participated and WON a prize package that comprised of over 20 of the most exquisitely made greeting cards.....ever! (can you see me jumping for joy!?)

I wish you could feel the quality of the paper and see first hand the care and precision of each fold, cut and crease of each card.

Here are some of the wonderful cardmakers that made this prize possible:

BBesigns
Juniper Berry Design
NY Papercrafter
Miscelena Handmade Papercrafts
Mon Ami Greetings
The Dragon's Wares
Cardware by J. Henz
Haley's Handmades
Waisze Designs
Althena12
Moxie Photo Design
SJ Designs
Jennifer Rose Designs

Artist Feature - BELLA DIO

Bella Dio means "beautiful God" in Italian. Robin, an Indianapolis, IN based jewelry designer, creates wonderful designs in polymer clay and beads.

The piece, featured above, is titled, "Let Romance Fill the Air" and is comprised of a sculpted polymer clay rose supported by a hand formed silvertone wire heart. It is available in Robin's Etsy shop for $25 USD and would make a lovely Mother's Day gift!

Bibs, Aprons, and Belts, OH MY!

Do you have a little one at home or know someone who does?? Well, my friends at One Little Monkey are having a clearance sale. You can pick up some wonderfully handmade and oh-so-adorable goodies for your little one at up to 50% off!

Be sure to shop early for the best variety!

(oh, how sometimes I wish my "little ones" were a bit more...little!)

Happy Shopping.

Artist Feature - THUMBELINA CREATIONS

Hailing from Alberta Canada, Jonquil Thiessen is a stay-at-home mom of three boys who loves to be creative in many different ways. She loves to sing, knit, crochet, draw, scrapbook, write music, and make jewelry.

Simplistic, yet enduring, the Teardrop Earrings featured above, can be purchased in Jonquil's Etsy shop for $8 USD. The earrings are shown in orange, but are available in other colors as well. Just drop her a note and she'll make a custom pair just for you!

In addition, she is a member of EtsyBEAD, ETSYMOM, and ETSYAlberta! To learn more about Jonquil, visit her blog today.

When life makes you SLOW DOWN

Some people believe things (events) happen in people's lives for a reason. Some call it fate. Others believe it is God speaking to you, while some don't believe in fate (or God) at all.

Me? I haven't quite decided yet. This past week my husband was in a car accident. Don't worry, he's fine! A little sore, but perfectly fine. The car? Well, to quote the Collision and Repair Shop, "Repairs exceed cash value" which just means in layman's terms, the car has been totalled.

So this week I have had a flood of emotions: Fear, helplessness, desperation, confusion, and love.

When my husband called me on the cell phone and said he had been in an accident, shock and fear filled my spirit. Shock because, well, does anyone expect to have a loved one in an accident? And fear. Fear of harm to a loved one, fear of loss. This fear is coupled with helplessness. Because as much as I wanted to be there just to hold his hand and look into his eyes, I couldn't be there. I just couldn't physically be there!

But then, something took over my emotions and I knew I had to be strong. I had to think. I asked him if the other drivers were OK and if the police had been called. Yes, he did that before calling me (thank goodness). I asked him to write down details, gave him the local number to our insurance agent, etc. I had to keep it together, not only for him, but for the kids too (who were probably wondering what was going on and why I wasn't taking them to school on time!). Once the police arrived on the scene, I had to turn my attention elsewhere.

I then had to call my work and let them know I wouldn't be in and then called the school to let them know the kids would be late. Then I had to make a call to Grandma just in case I needed her to help with the kids.

After I realized my husband was going to be OK, desperation and confusion began to set in. Desperate because I felt like I needed more information. How did this happen? Why? Where? What is going to happen to our car? (I now realize these are all pretty selfish emotions, but I must be honest and say that they seemed like real important concerns at the time.) I also felt confused because I learned it would take over a week for the police report to be available and until that piece of paper becomes available there is really nothing we can do to get our lives back to normal. I guess by normal, I mean having transportation. Right now my husband is carpooling, but he also travels for his work.

Today, for example, he had to catch a flight to Albany, NY. Well, since it is Sunday, that isn't a problem. But if he has a flight scheduled during my work hours or when it conflicts with the kids' school, then what? Well, I suppose it's only temporary, but I like plans. Schedules. The whole "unknown" plan makes me uneasy. Seriously uneasy. However, I know we'll manage. We always do.

Ah, but there is also love. Saturday my husband took the kids sledding. This is something they had been asking to do since the first snowfall. As a mother and wife, there is no greater pleasure than watching (and sometimes participating) in joyful family activities. To top it off, the kids and my husband brought out the toolbox and built (assembled) a new stool for my workbench! What a joy to watch them twiddling around with wrenches and screwdrivers. Seeing the determination in the kids' eyes is just priceless.

As an added surprise, my husband suggested we have sushi take-out. It was heaven. Sushi and a nice bottle of plum wine to cap off the evening. A delightful meal with delightful company.

So this weekend we slowed down and really appreciated each other's company. We reconnected as a couple and as a family. Call it fate, or whatever, but because of the accident we are emotionally a stronger family once again.

Artist Feature - MARY HAMILTON

An award winning artist, Mary Hamilton is the artistic force behind DreamOn. Mary is heavily influenced by her travels and the many cultures she has experienced.

Mary describes her work as impressionistic in nature because she "love(s) it when the center of interest appears in the midst of background objects that aren’t so well-defined. I want watercolor to look like watercolor, and I want my paintings to have a painterly look, not a photographic copy."

One of my favorite pieces in her Etsy shop is entitled, "Rare Bird" and features a white Egret investigating the sand dunes. This original watermedia painting is available for $39 USD.

In addition, Mary is a member of Studio 1212 Gallery, Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island, Creative Artists’ Guild, the Beach Art Center and Glenwood Springs Art Guild.

To learn more about Mary and her art, go to http://www.mary-hamilton.com/ or http://www.dreamsaboutart.blogspot.com/

Getting over the FEAR

I'm terrified to participate in outdoor craft shows! Simply terrified. Worse, almost all the late spring and summer shows in my area are all outdoors. I just know Mother Nature will have it in for me and blow my entire tent and all my precious jewelry into the Lake. Gone forever!

Now some large indoor shows do happen in the summer, however they are several hours away. In comes fear number 2. I have an awful sense of direction, truly. There is a running joke in my family that I can get lost in my own neighborhood. Sad fact is, it's true!

This past year I discovered and reconfirmed the fact that my jewelry does not sell at smaller venues. If the gate is under 1,000 my sales have been pitiful. If the venue does not advertise and promote to my target customer, I have very poor results. So, after my last small show in October of last year, I swore off these types of shows. Mind you, I did learn valuable lessons at these shows, but frankly, I could have much better spent my time (10+ hours a day) developing new products, marketing, updating my blog, etc.

Therefore, in order to participate in ANY craft fairs this year I will need to conquer at least one of my fears. Do I suck it up, get a tent and sell locally? Or do I risk getting lost on the way to Madison? Or do I stop doing craft fairs all together and focus on consignment and wholesale accounts? Hmmmm...there's and interesting (and scaredy-cat) idea!?

Artist Feature - CIGAR BOX BEADS

Hailing from Seal Beach, California, Marilyn is the creative force behind Cigar Box Beads. Beadweaving has been her passion for over 20 years and it all began with a simple purchase of a cigar box full of beads at a flea market. Additionally, Marilyn enjoys crochet, knit, sew and decoupage.

The piece featured above, is a hand-woven Amulet Bag which is comprised of hundreds of tiny seedbeads, red jasper gemstone chips, and a wooden fetish lizard. It is available in Marilyn's Etsy shop for $80 USD.

Marilyn is a proud member of the Etsy Beadweavers Street Team and the California Craft Club of Etsy (CCCOE).

Artist Feature - CAT'S PAW ARTIFACTS

Judy Richards resides in Portland, Oregon where she makes lampwork beads and designs jewelry - unique and hopefully artful jewelry. She is always striving for new ideas and new shapes in glass. Judy is inspired by nature (flowers, birds) depicted in glass. She loves abstract lampwork most of all with layers of glass and complexity. She is always striving to meet that goal. She has done the work of reasonably exact glass beads - but yearns to break out of that toward something more complex and deep in an artistic sense.

Furthermore, Judy is a member of the Portland Bead Society, the ORBS (Oregon Regional Beadmakers Society) and the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers).

The bracelet featured above can be purchased in her Etsy Shop for $60USD.

SPECTACULAR FINDS OF 2007

As the year comes to a close, I have been fortunate enough to be introduced to some wonderful products, artists and crafters over the year. I will share them with you!

1. Natures Corridor is a Wisconsin artist who creates warm and wonderful watercolor and acrylic paintings. I absolutely love the colors she uses, the hint of whimsy in her watercolors, and the movement she creates in the trees and landscapes are mesmerizing!


2. Natalya Sots is a ceramics artist from Schaumburg, Illinois. She makes teapots, cups, plates, bowls and bells too! Her creations are fun and pack a colorful punch! My favorite piece is the Mad Hatter Teapot.


3. sjDESIGNS is an exquisite greeting card crafter from Omaha, Nebraska. I have been purchasing cards from Stephanie (sjDESIGNS) for over a year, and every card is perfection. If you are looking for unique and very well-made greeting cards, look no further!


4. Block Party Press is no ordinary polymer clay artist! Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, she creates all of her designs by first making a hand-carved stamp, then using the stamp in the clay. Thus all of her designs are uniquely hers! Additionally, she uses a special distressing technique on her items too, which further creates a unique yet distinguished look.


5. Soapylove is the creator of bright, cheerful, and perfectly scented glycerin soaps and soapsicles. They make great gifts, especially for kids and the kid-at-heart! Debbie (Soapylove) hails from San Diego, California, and her soaps can be found around the globe and on Etsy.


6. KimonoMomo is obsessed with vintage Japanese textiles. Carol is the creative genius behind Kimono Momo where she reconstructs vintage kimono and obi into one-of-a-kind works of art, namely scarves and handbags. Each piece is uniquely beautiful...and if you are looking for vintage fabrics, Carol also has some available in her Etsy shop!
7. Precious Meshes is a wire and jewelry artist. Emily Conroy crochets fine gauge wire to create masterful works of art! Some of my favorite pieces are her Anemone Hoop Earrings. Emily is also co-owner of VIX Emporium in West Philadelphia, which features independent artists and crafters from around the world.
8. Purusha creates "All Natural Handmade Soaps" and is based out of New York City. I have been an avid handmade soap user for over three years for two main reasons: Handmade natural soaps are better for the environment (no nasty chemicals being washed down the drain) and handmade natural soaps have done wonders for my skin.
   

Of course, these are in no particular order and I'm almost certain I have neglected a few talented artists and crafters...but the best thing about a blog...I can edit and update the list! :) So watch for additional 2007 Spectacular Finds over the next week or so.

Again, I would like to wish everyone a warm and joyful New Year! Oh, and be on the lookout for a special sales announcement in your mailbox (hint-hint)!

Artist Feature - REGAL BEADS

Kim has been crafting for as long as she can remember, though for the past five years beadweaving has been her main focus. Kim revels in the challenge of weaving a new pattern and the satisfaction felt by completing a piece of woven art.

The necklace featured above is titled, "Sunny Skies" and is available in her Etsy shop for $80 USD. The piece measures about 19" in length and was created using thousands of tiny seed beads. Each piece takes several hours to weave!

If you are looking for a custom piece of wearable art or are looking for a particular color, just contact Kim through her Etsy shop! She enjoys custom orders. Kim is a member of the Etsy Beadweaver Street Team.