My baby turns 4

Yes, this is the month of birthdays. We have a birthday in our family every single weekend in the month of June. It’s great, but busy. Our sweet daughter Sawyer is turning 4 years old on June 19. This is the same day that her great grandma is turning 80! And the following day my awesome Uncle Curt celebrates his birthday. Like I said, there are a lot of birthdays. We’ve planned a slumber party for Sawyer the weekend after her birthday, and she’s “helping” plan it too. She’s so funny, and I secretly love it because she’s a planner like her mama. We’re going to have my best friend’s daughter and son over, and Sawyer’s closest cousin in age and mileage, Avery. The girls will stay the night, and then my best friend Ana will pick up her son Diego at the end of the party (Sawyer says, “No boys allowed.”). I’m so excited for this party actually. Her girl guests, Sofia and Avery are about the same age, and Diego and Sawyer are 12 days apart in age so it will be a fun party. I have mapped out an obstacle course for them, and at each obstacle they will earn a part of their costume. I hope the weather is full sun by the end of June. I mean, really, this muggy rainy weather is nuts, it’s time for summer already. Oh yea, this is Oregon~

Stamp Happy

Stamping metal jewelry is quickly becoming extremely popular. It’s not like engraving, it’s better in my opinion. It’s less costly, has a unique handcrafted look, and can work with many styles. I actually love stamping brass, I’ve had a blast stamping Jane Austen inspired designs by stamping some of her character’s famous quotes on tags. I’ve also done several custom stampings on sterling silver and brass, from mother’s day designs, monograms, family, graduation, and pets. It is so fun creating a one-of-a-kind keepsake for someone. I love knowing how special the design will be to this person and that I’ve had a hand in creating it for them.

The stamping possibilities are endless and charming. It’s hard not to repeat the same design or concept because I’ve either found it to be enjoyable or the concept is widely popular. Plus the stamps are spendy so it’s not like I can buy every single thing I want~ Words, quotes, poems, and inspirational themes are entirely special and make stamping very enjoyable. Romazone is an Etsy shop which has a vast assortment of stamping and metalsmithing tools. They offer reasonable start-up kits and they ship fast.

Besides stamping, there’s etching which I don’t know a thing about except how beautiful the product turns out. I don’t know if I’ll ever venture into etching since I can’t draw, but it is a upcoming brilliant technique to watch for and explore if you’re interested. I’m so consumed with my enameling research that I can’t think of much else~

Mama turns 60!

Today, Friday, June 11th my mother-in-law turns 60. She looks fantastic and you’d never guess she’s 60! I’m think 60 is a pretty good age if this is what I have to look forward to. Besides looking so great, she has an amazing heart. Kathy is selfless, loving, caring, generous, considerate, and a lot of fun. I know that not everyone is blessed with great in-laws so I know I have a lot to be thankful for. I appreciate her so much, and feel blessed that she’s involved in our family and that’s we’re close. She’s a beautiful lady inside and out and she means so much to everyone who knows her. I hope she feels truly loved on her birthday because she deserves all the happiness God has in store for her.

Where did you get that!?

I’m often asked where I get my jewelry findings, or my close friends tell me that someone admiring their necklace asked where they got it. The findings and style I create is gaining in popularity so it’s not as uncommon as it use to be, but everyone puts their own spin on it so it’s still unique. I use a lot of brass, some of it raw, antiqued, or verdigris and these pieces aren’t commonly found at local bead stores (they’re kind of behind in the times if you ask me). My answer is that I find them all around online. Some of my sources like Vintaj Natural Brass require my wholesale number, and others are normal online shops like Ornamentea.com, or all the various Etsy shops. In terms of what’s the best deal and quality, is that everyone has their own standard and judgement of what’s quality and how much they’re willing to spend on certain supplies. Over time you get to know what shops you will return to and which ones don’t deliver the quality or look you’re after. Photographs sometimes don’t do quality justice, and other times photographs mask the quality details that you need to know before purchasing. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for, compare shops, prices, and satisfaction ratings for Etsy and Ebay shops, and sometimes you’ll have to gain your own experience to create your knowledge base.

Over the years I’ve learned that there are some things I can and will purchase from Fire Mountain Gems (FMG). When I buy from FMG I may at times take a risk when buying gemstones. The risk is that even though the quality of the stone is good, and the price is fantastic, I may not be able to use all the stones because the holes aren’t consistently drilled. This isn’t the case all the time, but it has happened enough that I know it’s a risk. In regards to buying clasps and other metal findings anywhere, you will get what you pay for. Sometimes it’s hard to spend a lot on a simple thing like a clasp, it’s not the focus of the design, but the fact is that the clasp has to function 100% of the time for the life of the necklace which should be from decades to forever. And there are safety precautions to be aware of also. You need to know what metal is contained in your findings in case someone asks. And it’s just not safe to handle and use metal with nickel silver or lead. You don’t need to use sterling to be safe, so to keep costs down for your customers you can use stainless steel, plated silver, copper, or brass. And when you find a good company that makes solid findings, stick with them. If the spring or mechanism in a clasp breaks one time, it’s usually a fluke and not fortelling of quality. Your customers will understand it’s not your craftsmanship and you should fix it for free. But if you get a bad batch of clasps or jump rings etc., just change suppliers. The quality of your designs is your reputation and controls your success to a degree. Most Etsy stores state their warranty, guaranty, and return policies, so check them out before you buy. A good store sells quality materials and they’re willing to back them, replace the bad items at no charge, and keep their reputation. It’s not like they crafted the clasps either, but a good supplier will invest in quality product to resale if they value customer satisfaction and repeat business.

Here is a list of some Etsy suppliers that I’ve purchased from for years. I’ve had a great experience buying from them, have always received quality products, and their supplies have contributed to my success as a jewelry designer.

Sunshinebuttercup
Lunasilver
Dimestoreemporium
Brassbouquet

One great thing about a lot of Etsy shops is that they’re willing to reserve custom listings for you. If you need more of an item, want a certain batch of things, or want something that they use to sell but don’t currently have online; just ask and they are accommodating if they can be. The Etsy community is unique and special, I prefer to buy most of my supplies from Etsy if I can. There are thousands of them, so take some time, check them out, and have fun shopping.

Mixing Business & Art

I’d have to say that every single one of my friends is creative. In some way, shape, or form I see their creativity and I love it. I’m not suggesting that everyone should use their creativity for profit but if you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, a way to pay for a family vacation, a way to get rid of the crafts you love making then you should try to sell your creations. I personally think Etsy is an amazing place to sell all things handmade. Or there are local craft shows that are less intensive. At the point that you begin to sell, you have to turn on the business-mindedness. You don’t have to turn off the creativity, in fact use your creativity to think of innovative marketing techniques, but you have to think like a business person to deal with the business end of things.

There are so many parts of a business to consider that it can give some artists a headache, but if you plan it out (business plan) it won’t be overwhelming and can even be fun. I have a lot to learn, and things to try, but here is a general list of things to do to get selling:

1. create a business plan (extensive or simple and decide on a company name)
2. determine your means for selling (online, word of mouth, shows, consignment)
3. create a marketing plan (branding, packaging, advertising budget)
4. set-up various accounts for doing business (PayPal, Etsy account, business band account)
5. gather resources for supplies and tools (packaging, shipping, presentation, suppliers)
6. plan time to create your creations
7. write out your policies and warranties, and determine how to communicate this information

And maybe before you dive into any of these general steps, you should gather feedback from friends, family, and strangers for unbiased opinions. This feedback can help you determine retail price, popular styles, your target audience, and the best place to sell your creations. If people don’t need your craft, determine what the demand is for these “want” items you’re creating. Do you have the type of creation that people only want one of, or like soap they’ll continue to want more of your amazing soap because they need soap anyway? Think about your craft from a customer stand point. Can your craft be converted into seasonal themes, or do you have an interest in crafting items around holidays or the seasons? Ask other craft sellers for advice or look up information in Etsy Forums to gain knowledge from their first-hand experience. And finally, don’t copy another artist’s design. It’s one thing to gain inspiration, and it’s another to be a copy cat. There are probably no original ideas but you can make your interpretation original and distinct. How would you feel if you put a lot of time, energy, and investment into your craft just to have someone copy it (and worse, sell it for less and sell more)? My guess is that you don’t need to copy anyway~ Good luck, and believe in yourself.

Giving Goes a Long Ways

I have learned time and time again that giving of myself, my time, my creations, and my money really just gives back to me tenfold. I personally believe that’s it’s pleasing to God if done from the heart, and I love to please my Father. Giving also produces an attitude of sorts, it’s hard for me to explain. But for me, my goal isn’t just to make money which allows me to buy things and do what I want to do, but it’s to also shows gratitude for what I’ve been blessed with (creative talents, drive, and extra money) And giving blesses others which we know can be contagious. Love the movie “Pay it Forward”.

There are countless ways you can give, some are to give a portion of your profits to the offering at your church or any charitable foundation, you can donate your products to charitable auctions for schools, ministries, or other worthy causes, you can be a sponsor under you company name for something that’s important to you like helping to buy jerseys for a kids sports team. You can give your time to mentor someone else with an interest in the same craft, or give your time to do a crafty project with a girl scout group, or use your time to write blogs about how to do something crafty to teach others. There are so many ways, I’m sure you have a lot of ideas too that I’d love to hear about. This blog is a great reminder to me, especially in difficult economic times when money is tighter. But we still need to be conscious of our attitude and the state of our heart. If we put the same amount of heart into giving as we put into our creations can you imagine the affects?

Or what about giving back to your loyal customers? I have a listing in my online shop for a free gift with purchase. I love giving extra things like matching earrings, a ring, bracelet, or bookmark, and this listing just makes it fun for the buyer to know they’re getting an extra little surprise. It’s fun for them and me, and I hope it shows my customers how much I value them and I want them to be a happy and satisfied customer. I have seen other shops list Pay-it-Forward items which is really cool too. I also offer free shipping and my items are ready to give as gifts. These are a few small ways to appreciate your customers. Think about the ways your currently give and try adding a new way or two and you will feel the difference.

Click N Ship

Have you ordered something online from Ebay, Etsy, or Amazon and noticed the professional looking mailing label? I’m here to tell you that those labels are not just for big companies, they’re for you and me too. I am set up on PayPal to receive payments for my online shop, and I have a debit card for my PayPal account too. It’s awesome, my business profits and expenses are all contained in one account. When I login to PayPal, there is a print label button next to the invoice line of the payment received. I didn’t click that button for several months because it seemed like a big deal, and I didn’t think I had time to look into it. I kick myself for thinking that now, but it’s all good because I have used it for years now and it’s awesome.

Not only does it look professional, printing a USPS mail label saves time, saves money, and I think it does one more unintentional thing. Let me explain. When I made daily trips to the Post Office, I paid $.75 for delivery confirmation. And I never had a delivery confirmed package lost so I’m convinced it’s worth the investment. The Postal Carrier has to scan the barcode at every location to track it’s journey. So this means these packages can’t just be thrown into big carts to be sorted later, they have to be hand-processed and accounted for. It’s better than insurance to me and a lot cheaper. When you print your own shipping label, delivery confirmation costs $.18. I don’t know why there’s a cost difference, maybe because the Postal Clerk didn’t have to take time to type in all the information, but at any rate it’s a good thing and worth every penny.

Another benefit of printing your own shipping labels is that it forces you to double check the shipping address. I compare the address given through Etsy against the address through PayPal. If they’re different then I confirm with the buyer before I ship. It’s one little step that can save you from a headache and dissatisfied customer. The label looks nice, it’s cheaper for me, it saves me gas and time in going to the Post Office, and it allows me to keep more organized records. When you print your label, the other half of the paper has instructions and a copy of the recipient’s information with the delivery confirmation number. It’s so much better than the hand-processed slip I use to tear off of the confirmation tags. The only thing to be aware of when using the printed label is that you’re not suppose to put tape over the barcode. This can prevent the carrier’s scanner from scanning it. No big deal though, it’s not even an inconvenience.

If you’re still not convinced, just track your mileage and time going to the Post Office compared to the cost of a black ink cartridge a ream of paper, and the 15 seconds it takes to print. I have a drop-off box next to my office building and down the road from my house so it’s very convenient to drop these off daily, but you can also schedule the PO to pick up packages from your doorstep (see website for details). I hope you’re running out of excuses for why not to print your own labels.

Tools

When it comes to jewelry making tools there are several considerations and decisions to make. Depending on the type of jewelry you’re making depends a lot on what tools you’ll need and how much you'll have to spend. My first set of tools were some pliers, they were inexpensive and highly functional for my needs. I didn’t know the difference between the cheap and expensive and I am self-taught so I didn’t have anyone to ask or advise. After 7 years though I’ve come to learn that you get what you pay for. Some tools don’t vary much in price like metal stamping. I stamp designs and words on brass, sterling, and copper and although I’ve found a difference in quality and ease of use, the tools are all around the same price. However, when using pliers to do wire wrapping etc. there are ergonomic pliers, cheap pliers that just don’t last, and commercial grade tools that require some safety considerations. Just be informed, and invest wisely. I didn’t know how long I’d make jewelry, I certainly didn’t know I’d open an online shop as well as sale at our local Saturday Market, but I started out learning and so investing in nice tools long-term came later.

Other crafts require serious consideration regarding up-front costs and estimating profits. How long will it take me to pay for my enameling supplies because buying a kiln is expensive? Finding the best resources and taking classes will give you the best tool you need, information! My enameling book, The Art of Enameling by Linda Darty goes over all the supplies I need and could want, and she shares how to make some of the tools instead of buying them. So being informed can save you money and help you to make wise decisions from the start. In regards to enameling I’m not concerned about it being a profitable art (because I’m sure it will), but I’m more concerned about how long I’ll be interested in using this technique to create lovely art. I love the final product and I’m still obsessing about making something, but what if I don’t like the process of making it after a while? This is when taking a class could end up saving you money in the long run. Like I said, information is your best tool. If you’re not informed, get informed. Etsy.com has tons of forums with people who love to help, and it’s possible that your question has already been answered. Google any question, and see what you get. People are so helpful and generous with their information and education, and it’s a nice way to network also. Being known in your craft community can be so much fun and build long-lasting friendships too. I’m really preaching to myself here because I don’t enjoy research but it is the best approach before making important decisions. It is possible to over-analyze and waste time researching, but I don’t personally have to worry about that~

Studio

Whatever your craft or hobby is, you know how important it is to keep your workspace organized and orderly (at least to your standards). My husband’s desk is a mess to me, but he knows where everything is and this (perceived chaos) works for him. When I’m designing pieces of jewelry, putting away supplies, creating jewelry, or packing up orders, I rely on my organized space to save time and feel calm when I’m working. I have a nice desk/bookcase set-up in our front room to store my supplies, hold my laptop, and package things up. My husband had the room painted for my birthday because this room is a space that I spend time in and I decorated it how I wanted it except for the finishing touch – paint! Plus the front room is a nice place for company to visit or for my daughter and I to listen to music and enjoy the view out the front windows. I usually don’t spend time making jewelry in this space because I need a lot of room to spread out my supplies but it’s perfect for everything else and it’s easily assessable for me.

Be aware that it could be a big mistake to clutter your home with your craft. This “mess” can cause other family members to be anxious or even be annoyed at your beloved craft because it just looks like a disaster. It’s also a headache if you spill something around your messy workspace (especially cleaning juice off beads one by one). And if company is coming over, cleaning up your crafty stuff will take up time that you could be spending on more important things, like making dessert~

When it’s time to create my designs, I usually use the kitchen table. This way I’m around my family, there’s plenty of space, and the lighting is good. My daughter has been around beads and craft supplies her whole life so she’s really good about putting items back where she got them. And it’s not extremely fascinating to her because she’s use to it. She gives me compliments on the finished pieces (total sweetie), and helps me name them. I hope that I can inspire her to create anything she wants to, at any age she wants to try something. I think she’s learning at a young age to put things back where they go, and being organized makes things easier. My husband is amazed (yes, being organized is a learned behavior too).

The nice thing about having all my supplies in organizers is that they’re portable, and I know exactly where to look to find something. There are several ways to organize your supplies, but I have opted to arrange my beads by color. I start with a design in mind and know what colors I’m going to use. It’s so easy to pick out the right beads when all the same color is together. There are endless shades, shapes, and sheens but it’s narrowed down when I start with the color I need. My friend Kathleen organizes her beads by type. She has grouped pearls, gemstones, glass, Lucite, etc. and this works for her. You can get organized to fit how you think and work best.

As many of you crafters know, it’s as much of a job cleaning your studio as it is in creating your crafts, but if you can start with an organized foundation it will save you time and make clean-up much easier. If you don’t have room for a studio, you still deserve to keep your supplies in an organized fashion. There are tons of organizers for scrapbookers and papercrafters, as well as sewing and painting organizers. And there are several sizes and types of Tupperware and baskets. Be sure to find something suitable for your craft, designate a spot (even if it’s the corner of a closet) and you’ll be able to enjoy working with these supplies without being discouraged about the mess and clean-up.