Round 1: I'm not the winner

So I had this great idea - encouraged by an article on my jewelry supplier's site - to dye some pearls. Not any dye job either, mind you, but a lovely ombre blue. Imagine - a pearl necklace that naturally shades from light to dark blue - how lovely would that be!

I understand the concept of ombre, and since I've seen pearls in every shade imaginable, figured I could make this work. I'm an engineer after all!

I purchase a packet of the darkest blue I could find (since I want some REALLY blue), and patiently dipped my pearls in blue water over the stove. (No, I'm not sharing all the details, in case it does finally work) After 30 minutes, I rinse...and instead of blue ombre, I have all one shade of blueish-grayish-purple.

Admittedly, it's a pretty shade - it's just not what I want! (That white one is the original color, just for contrast)

Got to figure out what happened, and how to make the next batch successful.

Busy jewelry design time

I have yet another wedding coming up!

This time, it's my own brother...and it's more like a vow renewal, since he's already gotten married (in Sri Lanka, no less).

So once again I find myself creating wedding-appropriate jewelry. I amazes me how very different the jewelry styles have been. This time, we're going with a semi-traditional look (pearls and silver), but with a twist - smaller, delicate, and a bit funky.

In the process of coming up with pieces that fit, I'm creating several that really can work for more than just weddings...and considering the bracelet I listed on Etsy sold in 3 days...obviously I've struck a good chord!

My Divided Time

So, for those who don't read this blog regularly....I'm a busy lady.

I have a day job as an engineer - no stress there. Ha.

I have 4 great kids, all elementary school age.

I also have my own business - running both eBay auctions and an Etsy store.

eBay is our "fun" money generator. I go shopping, sometimes alone, sometimes with kids, then post my great finds (new and used) and make a little extra money. Last year we used the money to visit Disneyland. This year...well, to be honest, part of that money is going to bills of various kinds.

Etsy is my release - I make jewelry to relax, and express myself. That people want it enough to buy it is wonderful, but mostly it self sustains. That is, I use my Etsy profits to make more jewelry.

Except that...both eBay and Etsy have slowed down in sales. And my time has more demands this fall. So I find myself putting what little energy I have into the eBay business...and neglecting my jewelry.

Not that I don't have ideas - I sure have tons of them! I just can't seem to carve enough time to finish anything! I have a bracelet, a ring, and a pendant all semi-done. Ugh.

Oh well. In the grand scheme of life, this isn't such a terrible thing. I'm sure I'll get back to jewelry soon...and with the time for jewelry, will hopefully come time for blogging again!

Which is Better?

I've been rather busy with lots of things this summer (the bellydance class is going great!)...including 2 custom jewelry orders from Etsy, and 2 custom pieces I'm working on for family.

All this custom work seems to have consumed my jewelry-making time, so other than one 90% complete bracelet, I've made nothing to add to my Etsy store since May.

Which leads to a question...is this a good thing, or a bad thing? Obviously having custom work means I'm earning money. (Yeah!) Still, it also means I'm neglecting my store, which makes me feel guilty.

Opinions?

Welcome Back to Reality

I know it's Tuesday and all....but ugh, feels like a Monday! I'm swamped at work - big problem brewing, unfortunately. After a nice, quiet, relaxing weekend - it's back to the reality of work again!

I've reached two inescapable conclusions this weekend - one not too terrible, the other kinda expensive.

It was a rather productive weekend leading up to these conclusions. My eldest and I spent a good two hours finishing a charm bracelet for her mom's wedding in August. I think we reached a good middle ground of "real jewelry" and "designed by a kid". I promised not to post pictures (although the chance of her mom reading my blog seems small)...but I can tell you it's a nice sterling chain with pendant freshwater pearls. The pearls were picked out by the kid, and are mauve, cobalt, lime green, champagne, lavender, and orange. (That kid-design aspect) They are spaced out with silver beads, which helps make it more multi-color adult looking (less crayon-box)...and finished with a heart toggle. I really, really hope her mom understands the amount of work that went into this!

On top of the charm bracelet, I also recreated a pair of earrings that I'm totally in love with. (Wearing my own pair right now actually) I made the first pair as a gift, loved it so much I decided to make one for the store - but then had to keep them for me. :-) Finally made a pair to sell on Etsy - you can see them here.

Yesterday I also spent considerable time on a project I've been planning for a while. It's a braided wire look...and while I'm not happy with the "braid" itself, I did get some spiral wrapping done that I'm pleased with, and created one ring with it. I suspect I'll need an actual clamp, probably in the garage, to make my braid work properly (sitting on the couch watching CSI didn't work)...but it gives me some new possibilities for jewelry beyond my current abilities, so I'm stoked.

Which leads me to my discoveries. The not-so-bad...I'm not happy with my plain-jane white backgrounds. I've been thinking about this for a little bit, but my unhappiness really reached a peak this weekend. Time to start experimenting with solutions - something patterned a colorful, but that won't distract! Perhaps I can do a few drawing of my own....

The other - I really, really need a light box. My current arrangement just isn't working well, especially on overcast days. We have LOTS of overcast days in Oregon too. No matter how much extra light I have in the room, and how much photo-tweaking I do...I'm just not happy with the results. I know you can make your own lightbox, so will be looking into that - but since I do much more than just etsy jewelry, it will need to be a sizable box I think. Pooh.

Featured Store: JLC Studio

This week’s feature is our giveaway store – JLC Studio! Read the feature, visit her store – then leave me a comment here about your favorite item at JLC Studio to win the gorgeous earrings in my banner (and other great prizes!).

1. How long have you been selling on Etsy? I joined Etsy in December of 2007. I hadn't really heard of it before then but I did quite a bit of googling when I first decided to try selling on-line and I kept finding a lot of artists (of all kinds) who were selling there. I signed up right away! I didn't sell anything for the first three months...once my first item was sold though, I've kept a steady pace (selling at least one item a month).

2. How long have you been making your items? I actually just got into jewelry making last fall. We have a family get-together in October/November every year and my mom brought along all of her extra beads and jewelry findings (she likes to do beadwork in both needlepoint and crochet). All the girls had fun making bracelets and earrings and it just kind of started from there. Once I got the basic techniques down, I kept going with it and found that I really loved it. It's very relaxing to me and something I find I can do while watching T.V. or chatting on the phone. I think it's kind of a natural progression for me, being an interior designer, to be able to create something artistic and designed, yet structured (kind of like I do in my day job).

3. What inspires you in your creations? I've always loved wearing jewelry, especially earrings, and am constantly seeing pieces that I love. I tend to get inspiration from magazines or the internet or items I see others wearing and that is a jumping off point for my designs. I start with the basic idea but then make it my own with the elements I use. I like long, dangly earrings and sparkly stones and gems so I tend to gravitate toward them. I've also had a long love affair with precious and semi-precious stones so I like to incorporate stone as pendants or accents in most of my pieces. I try to make things that I would like to wear, some are fun and funky and some are more reserved...but I like to think that all my pieces have a certain refined and elegant look about them.

4. What is your favorite piece so far? My favorite piece is a necklace that I made for my sister for Christmas. It's a long necklace (it falls to about her midsection) and it's a combination of silver chain and pink rhodolite as well as sparkly pink glass beads that are strung on wire and joined together with the chain. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it but it's similar to this item that I sold in my shop. I haven't been able to find that particular chain again so I can’t recreate it exactly...although I think I may have just found something that will work and am planning on making more of this type of necklace for a street/craft fair I'm doing at the end of May.

5. What are you dying to make someday? I hope to start doing some metalsmithing in the near future, which involves a small butane torch and solder. I haven't taken the plunge as of yet but this would allow me to set stones in rings and pendants. I have been itching to make rings! I'd also like to make small stud earrings rather than the long, dangly kind as some people (i.e. my mother) don't like to wear them long. Hopefully, I will be able to purchase the tools necessary to do this soon and will be offering my creations in my shop!

Visit Jen from JLC Studio at her blog too!

Don’t forget to leave a comment for your entry into our giveaway contest! One entry per day, per person.

Creating Custom Jewelry – a step-by-step mini guide

If you’ve ever wondered how custom jewelry is created, here’s all the answers you’ll ever need. Enjoy!

Step One: Get a commission. This is actually the hardest part – finding someone who wants custom jewelry, and wants it from you. Etsy’s Alchemy has been good to me, so have family and friends – but I’ve also picked up random orders through my website, my LinkedIn profile, and other places. (Friends and family are great for getting your feet wet, but they can only buy so much stuff. Branch out before you have no friends left!)

Step Two: Design brainstorming. Every customer has some idea of what they want – it’s your job to help them decide exactly what their piece should look like! My example for this post is a recent Etsy alchemy request. Initially the customer wanted a duplicate of a necklace: white ceramic beads with painted roses, brass pieces, and black silk cord. In the process of hunting for just the right beads, he ran across a different style – acrylic, and much more golden. This changed the design of his necklace entirely – these beads, while pretty, were too small to stand on their own. I grabbed screen shots of his focal beads, as well as some coordinating colors in other beads, and created 4 different versions of a necklace. The customer picked his favorite, a necklace with lots of brass and gold, and a little pink. (Give the customer options, but not too many. If you ask lots of questions up front - gold? silver? real pearls or glass? - you can narrow down the design choices to just a few. And that's much easier on you!)

Step Three: Shopping. My favorite part, both online and in-store. When you have an idea of the “look” you want, you have to find the right pieces for it. This means both the obvious focal components, but also the supporting structure – will you use sterling silver or gold-fill clasps? Covered wire or silk? What size and color coordinating beads? Shopping is divided into two aspects: first, an initial (online) browse to get pricing, and second the actual purchasing. My online browsing is critical – it’s what allows me to set a price, and meet all the customer’s needs. (Setting a price is a whole other post!) Fire Mountain Gems is usually my first stop for browsing (and some purchasing), just because they have a huge variety of items and a good search feature. Actual buying, of course, comes after you and the customer agree on materials, and the customer pays the deposit. (Did I mention deposit yet? Always, always have a deposit...at least 50%. This keeps you from getting screwed!)

Step Four: Design Layout. Once you’ve picked up all the materials, it’s time to create the final design. I rely on my beading board – with channels and inch markers – to create necklaces and earrings of the exact length my customer wants (and keep the mess to a minimum). This is where the artist really comes out – tweaking bead layouts, trying different shades of color, etc. Once I’m happy with the design, I take a picture for the customer (still in the bead board) for final approval. (Don't actually put the piece together yet. Some customers change their mind, and want different length/color/arrangement. You'll be really angry if you have to restring something 3 times)

Step Five: Completion. Once the customer gives the final thumbs-up, it’s time to string those beads. Depending on the type of request, this can be quick and easy….or slow and painstaking. My golden-floral necklace and bracelet request was fairly quick; however I’ve also hand knotted pearls and created custom wire-wrapped designs that took hours. Still, the beauty of your finished work is always worth it. I take a few flattering pictures, box the item nicely, and away it ships. (Taking pictures after is important - you want to remember what you did, but you'll also want them for a portfolio of your work, to solicit new customers. Trust me.)

Step Six: Waiting…. When you put hours and hours of labor into a piece, it starts to feel like your child. You do your very best, and you know that the customer has been happy with each picture sent. Still, until you hear from them, you just don’t know for sure if they’ll really like it. Nerve-wracking! And I will admit, I’ve shipped jewelry Priority Mail just so I wouldn't have to wait the 4-5 days for First Class arrival. (I don't really recommend this, it's an extra $2-5 out of your already slim profit margin.)

To view more of my previous custom work, please visit my website: TexasTesla's Custom Jewelry Designs.

Did You Know I Can Draw Too?

Yep, I can. This fact amazes even my hubby, who’s seen my Darth Vader and Mystery Machine free-hand drawings at previous kid birthday parties. (So he should know better!)

Yesterday, in the middle of a completely boring teleconference, I started drawing. Not mere doodles…not for this conference. I had a solid 15 minutes of nothing worth my time, so I decided to actually DRAW. I took pen to paper, and created the mini scene in front of me…annoying phone, stack of notes, and cup of Pepsi. For a 2” x 2” drawing, it’s actually quite good – I even mockingly named it “Tele-Blather” and affixed it to a large yellow Post It. It’s now decorating my cubical wall.

Which got me to thinking…about a little mini series of drawings, all work-related. I wonder if anyone would be interested in it. I could even mat and self-frame them, attach them to cubical “tape” so they’d stick to those annoying fabric walls. Hmmm…

Along those lines, I’m also thinking of doing my first blog giveaway. Unless someone wants to volunteer an item (and I’d promote your store/blog like crazy for it – even create free ad space)…I’ll have to generate the item. Would people prefer a small jewelry item, or perhaps one or two of the mini-scenes I’m thinking of? Perhaps I should run this as a poll.

Yah for new Business Cards!

I'm inordinately please by this...I feel like Steve Martin in the Jerk..."The new phone books are here, the new phone books are here!"



But...here's my new business cards, professional printed and everything! (Bit washed out by the flash....and that's my 5 year old holding it)

Are You Feeling The Crunch Yet?

Jewelry buyers and jewelry makers…be ready for sticker shock. Prices on basic supplies are rising, fast – and forecasts are for that trend to continue. Gold, silver, gemstones…all rising. Even less-expensive materials like glass, base metal, and acrylic should increase in the next few months. Here’s a look at why.

Gold prices: If you’ve tried to buy gold or silver (sterling) components this month, you already know what I’m talking about. In the past SEVEN MONTHS, the price of gold has risen from about $650 per oz to today’s high of $1000 per oz. That’s a 54% increase. FIFTY FOUR PERCENT…that staggers the mind. Just for some perspective, it took about 30 months for gold to rise from $420 to $650 (again, 54%). If you aren’t shocked, go read that again.

Silver prices: Ok, so gold is obscene, which is partly why sterling silver is very popular in jewelry right now. Silver is currently trading at just under $21 per oz…which seems cheap compared to gold, certainly. Still, when we look at historical data, silver has risen from $13 per oz a year ago, to the current $21 per oz – again, a 54% increase! And considering the price actually dropped in the summer, if we compare the August 2007 price of $11.80 per oz to today’s value, that increase jumps to over 75%. Again, over the course of just SEVEN months.

Other metals are having the same increases in price - including aluminum and steel, which are the components of most "base metal" findings. And don't even ask about copper - the recycle market is high enough that thieves will risk their lives to get some!

The fall of the US Dollar: If you live somewhere other than the US, ignore this part – it’s actually helping you a little. For all my American readers, however…in case you haven’t heard, the value of the Dollar has been plummeting. At the moment, 1 USD is worth just 0.64 Eurocents. 64 cents! Ouch. And the fall in value is not just with Euros – it’s close to across the board with other currencies. So those made-in-China items that you can get so cheap are going to be less cheap. Hey, it’s a good reason to buy American again! (Shop Etsy for supplies – great deals)

Rising Oil prices: Welcome back international readers – this one affects YOU too. As the price of crude oil rises, we see the prices at our local gas stations rise too. Guess what – all your suppliers (big and small) get hit with the same increase. It costs more to transport your goods, whether done by car, boat, or plane. And that pain will be transferred to you, in higher prices for goods or increased shipping costs.

So how can you deal with this? Shop local, whenever possible – this reduces the transportation (oil/gas) costs of your material. Buy in bulk for discounts. See if you can join other local artists to get even larger wholesale discounts. Beyond that…unfortunately, there’s not much a small buyer or seller can do.

Frustration!

Some days, things just won't go right.

Yesterday was one of those days. I'd set aside my lunch hour to make some earrings - needing to replenish my etsy inventory, partly, but also finally ready to make some peridot-sparkly-drops I've been planning for some time. I know exactly what I want to do - two strands of fine-gauge sterling chain, with small rectangles of peridot and a super-sparkly sterling bead. Crimps on the ends and part-way up for stops, but allowing some movement of the beads.

So, after inhaling my food, I get out my supplies. I brought both my little tote bags, mainly because I'm lazy and didn't want to sort in the morning. I get out my sterling chain, cut the lengths, go to thread the peridot onto them....and the hole is too small!

D@mn it!

I've worked with this peridot before, and know that I can't enlarge the hole without breaking the beads. Grrr. The chain is cut already, however, so I dig through my supplies for an alternative. Ah, some leftover amethyst beads - great, I need more purple items. Start to thread the chain in...and it sticks not quite halfway through. On all the beads I have.

D@mn it! Again!

Amethyst is soft, prone to chipping...I'm not risking damage by enlarging the hole. Getting mad, I look some more. I come across a few leftover pink pearls, and 2 lonely red hearts. Hmmm. A bit of arranging, and yes, I have the same look as originally intended, just in pink and red. Great! Some easy work of thread and crimping, and voila`!

Then I reach for my earwires to complete the earrings....

@#%&! I'm out!

2008 Spring Jewelry Trends - a quick peek

Taking a small break from my own designs and inspirations...I also love to look at what the top jewelry companies in the world are offering too! I would never steal their designs, of course - but sometimes they provide inspiration, or just a sense of what will be "hot" soon! Come browsing with me.

I love Tiffany - such gorgeous, classic pieces. Their new Legacy collection is full of diamond-encrusted geometric shapes - ovals, diamonds, half-moons - many with dangles. Reminds me of classic 40s rhinestone pieces, with very little color but lots of sparkle. My favorite piece has to be this lovely enamel ring with silver accents - just the right burst of color! (I prefer pink, but the signature blue is also available)

Betsey Johnson creates fun and funky jewelry. Her current line at Nordstrom's has plenty of color, and tons of charm - literally! Charms and dangles adorn bracelets, necklaces, even earrings! In true Betsey fashion, this can be completely over the top...but sometimes that's exactly what you need. These flirty little charm earrings, for instance - tons of fun.

Saks Fifth Avenue carries a huge range of jewelry designers, and shopping here can be overwhelming. First I stopped by pearls, since I love them so - but found nothing unique or interesting. Looks like another season of the same strung-pearl looks, perhaps with color variations, but nothing new. On to necklaces and pendants, where tons of color can finally be found. Many of these were quite delicate in shape, no doubt to match the more feminine look for Spring and Summer fashion. A bit disappointing, although I did spot this lovely creation by John Hardy.

Browsing this stores and websites reminds me, once again, why I love Etsy so. The amazing variety of jewelry, at all price points, just can't be found anywhere else!

The Artisan's Dilemma

"Should I keep it?"

Those of us who handcrafted items know this question well. The creation of something new, special, and meaningful is not taken lightly, and part of the artist goes into each piece.

For those who sell their work, each creation is a fraught with questions. Ideally it is listed for SALE, to generate enough income to keep making more. And really, one can only keep so many of an item. Painters have only so much wall space to display their work. Jewelry-makers cannot cover their body in new pieces.

Still, there are times when an item speaks so clearly - keep me! Then the agony and rationalization begin. Perhaps wearing those earrings can be a form of advertising! That lovely tote bag should be displayed on my arm for best advantage. If it doesn't sell in 2 weeks I'll keep it.

Am I facing this decision currently? Of course! How will I decided? No idea....

Shop for a Good Cause!

Based on events in my personal life (see this previous post), I have decided to use my Etsy profits to make a donation to the American Cancer Society. My goal is to raise $100 or more by the end of March. See my shop announcements and Etsy profile for more detail!

Right now, I'm donating all profits - up to $50 per item - on everything with PURPLE in my store. These beautiful new "Flowers of Hope" amethyst earrings, for example, would generate $10 towards the donation!

I started this Donation Drive on Thursday night, 2/21...and already have a purchase! My buyer is a sweet new Etsian who also makes wonderful jewelry - TrishLewis. TrishLewis was even wonderful enough to donate her shipping costs as well! Thank you very much Trish, and welcome to Etsy!

I will be posting on this subject every Friday, and will feature ALL my buyers for the week on the following Monday - so not only are you helping a good cause, you will also get FREE advertising. Please shop with me!

How could I miss this?

I'm offering FREE SHIPPING!!! Any item from my etsy store, now until the end of February.

http://texastesla.etsy.com/

AND - mention my blog and get FREE GIFT WRAP/BOX to go with that FREE SHIPPING!

How about this lovely necklace - wouldn't it make a great gift?

Busy Weekend - 2 items from it

Ok, so the busy part was more at home. Three day weekend with gorgeous weather - so yeah, definitely busy! I did have a chance to make 2 bracelets...all the new green around us really inspired me, and when I found some extra pearls from a custom order last month, I knew exactly what to do with it!

Seeds of Spring I - Pearl, amethyst, and peridot. A pretty bouquet of early crocuses, for your wrist.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9636890

Seeds of Spring II - Delicate peridot and pearl. Like green stems poking up through soft snow.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9637059

Coming soon - red aventurine necklace!

Or at least, it's called red - it's really a warm orangy color, with subtle sparkles (from mica inclusions). It's very pretty, and fun to work with! I have several different shapes, so will be able to use this pretty stone in several pieces.

I've started with a 16" necklace, using the aventurine mixed with mother of pearl rounds - which have a both a lovely champagne and a creamy white color mixed. It's also embellished with cream pearls. I have just a few finishing touches to add, and it will be ready to list!

I'm also thinking of creating some earrings - not matching the necklace, but certainly coordinating - and perhaps an embellished pendant from the remaining donut shape. I've seen some pictures with turquiose mixed with this same red aventurine, and I'm eager to experiment with that color combination.

Darn it, I want my first etsy sale!

And I want it so bad....I'm offering FREE SHIPPING to my first buyer!

Come on...I know there's plenty of interest in my stuff. Somebody HAS to be tempted by this!

Check out my first creations!

I put together 2 new "Kids Jewelry Kits" with input from my daughter. Still need to tweak the listing titles and such, but....what do you think?

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9395853

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9395676

Hmmm....a quandry

My eldest daughter (10) is really wanting to 'be like mom'. She signed up for a beading 'class' at school - a little something done during recess once a week - and she wants to watch and help every time I pull out my supplies.

My husband, of course, thinks I should encourage this....and while I agree with him, it DOES increase the amount of work *I* have to do. Plus - do we try to sell her items? He thinks we can "market" them to her friends for cheap ($3-5 each) with the intent of getting business cards into their parents hands. Not a bad thought. Me, I was thinking of starting a little smaller...let her help me assemble some of the "kid kits", see how she does coordinating colors and such, maybe even have her make some examples.

And of course the REAL problem - once I let ONE kid be involved, they will ALL want to be! I'll have to have "Rachel's Princess kit" and "Carson's Superhero kit" and....you get the idea! Although perhaps that's not a bad way to market it either....FOR kids, BY kids. Hmmm....

Anybody got any thoughts on this one?