Jewelry Making Outside The Box

This Idea Girl Found a Really Great Idea...But It Wasn't Hers

I'm always saying, I'm the Idea Girl, you take this idea, and run with it....and let me know how it goes.

I say that on my You Tubes  all the time!

Well here is a GREAT marketing idea, and I didn't come up with it...I ran across it today on Lori Anderson's blog, Pretty Things    In case you don't know Lori....she's the genius that came up with one of the beading circuit's best-loved and best-known blog hops, Bead Soup Blog Party

Okay, here's sort of how it goes:  you make arrangements to visit a busy office at lunch break.  Maybe you have a friend or relative that works in an office complex, so maybe you can work it out, that way.

Take a bunch of earrings of all sorts...everything in your creative range....ready for sale, at attractive, impulse prices.   I'd add, keep in mind the popular colors of the season, and if you happen to know what color of metal sells best in your area, keep that in mind, too.  For example, my friend, Kate, sells at a busy Farmer's Market every Saturday, and while she does things in all metal shades, they really love a good silver finish or sterling, there.

BTW: shameless plug here:  we have one of the best 99.9 percent fine silver over brass finishes you will EVER find at B'sue Boutiques   and....lots of stuff to make REALLY cool earrings, fast! 

More ideas:   Here is my Easy Peasy Earrings gallery at Pinterest:

Easy Peasy Earrings!   (I keep adding to it all the time....if you are a member of B'sue Boutiques Creative Group  and post your photos regularly, I always go there to look for stuff to pin!)

BUT .....I digress.....

Lori shows on her blog post how to also make handouts via a postcard, so that you can continue to book more lunchtime appointments....or, even home parties.    You can see her postcard made at Vista Print

If you really enjoy one-on-one selling close to home, this approach is perfect and I can almost guarantee you it would work.    When I visit my doctor at the Cleveland Clinic in Independance, Ohio, I sometimes see where someone has set up with jewelry close to the lunch hour, in the lobby.   Not quite sure how you get into a building like that, but perhaps if you offer to give them a percentage of the cut for charity, etc, it might work out.

Never know if you don't ask....and never try!

Anyway, be sure to check out Lori's blog post, Jewelry Marketing and Earring Strategy

Take that idea and run with it!  I'm sure she'd like to know if you tried it and it worked out for you, too!

Organic Design by Marian Harmon

No matter WHAT you are putting together, designing is a process which can be accomplished a number of ways.

Many sketch before they begin to hammer, sew, paint, saw.   As far as jewelry is concerned,   I've seen intricate sketches that were works of art, in and of themselves!   A sketchbook is never a bad idea.....I  wonder personally how many good ideas came in my head, and then, poof!  right back out again, never remembered, because I didn't take time to jot down a basic sketch.

I like to draw....but sketching....well!  it just doesn't work for me.   And I'm glad to know I'm not the only one!

Designer Marian Harmon will be the first to tell you that she, too, is a very organic designer.  Like me, she has trouble sketching out a design and keeping to it....although she does admit doing some loose sketching. 

For the most part, she says, she enjoys taking pieces , moving them about on her workspace as if they were puzzle pieces....until it feels just right.

Then, she may rearrange them again, just for the 'what if?' of it all.  

She may change her mind several times during the execution of the design.   Something that starts out to be a bracelet may well end up becoming a necklace.   A piece of scrap metal left from a previous project comes into play, and now is part of the design, or becomes a separate pendant.  

Here are some examples of things that Marian has done that took turns and twists in the road...until the final destination was met:

You will probably NEVER guess what Marion made this bracelet from....it began with a dented bezel.   Then the bezel was pounded FLAT.    Hmmmm....what if it were scrubbed back, patina'd....and then cold connected?   The result is this amazing cuff.

Marian made this bracelet for our Easy Peasy Bracelets challenge at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group at Flickr  :

The side sections are actually necklace centerpieces for lavaliers, made from a very old die (tooling).   I must say, however, I have seen this very piece used in vintage pieces, just this way.   It makes an excellent side station for a bracelet design.   Marian has added her own patina recipe to scrubbed back plated pieces, and quite effectively.

Another example of organic design is this simple pendant:

Marian had a little bit of ICE RESIN left from a batch, and needed to use it up.   On her workbench was this nifty bezel and a little filigree part (I think we were throwing these in some of the goody bags that week!)   She placed it in the bezel and poured, just to see the effect.   Very pleasing!   She says it reminds her a bit of an ancient compass under water.

And that's just it:  some of the greatest designs aren't elaborate.....and many are born from simple experimentation.     Another example, is what she did with this embossed copper ox plaque that I was clearing in a package lot at my backroom Etsy store :

She just stood them on end, drilled them and connected!  I NEVER thought to do that with them.   It's a really handsome design!

Marian has just opened her Etsy store:

Marian Harmon Designs

Her goal is to fill it with things she loves to make:  organically designed pieces that feature found items, unexpected objects, and dark scrubbed-back patina brass employing metalwork techniques in a Bohemian aesthetic.

In the past, Marian has specialized in designs for plus sizes, so hopefully she will place some plus sized pieces in her new store as it goes along, as I'm sure she will find a ready, grateful audience for them.

It's Gotta Come From the Heart....If You Want it to Work

Remember that song?

There are many enterprises in this world, but in the world of handmade, nothing could be truer.  Some folks shear the sheep, spin the wool, and knit the sweater!   Talk about coming from the heart!

Timothy Adam has published an interesting list on Handmadeology

Find the  TOP 1,000 HANDMADE SELLERS at ETSY here   These are all sellers who are making it on Etsy, making a difference in their artistic communities, and doing it the handmade way.

How can this list help you?  You might not even be a seller at Etsy.  You might have your own stand-alone, or be at another venue.   Maybe you don't sell online at all.

Or even if you DO sell at Etsy, how can taking time to wade through this list and perusing  the links help **you** to realize your dream of  making enough to support yourself via your art---so you can quit your day job?

EASY.  Hey, it's working for THEM!   Chances are great that you'll see a common thread...and you'll make it work for YOU.

These are indeed, rough times.

Sometimes, it  seems  everyone is trying the handmade field.   There's a ton of repurposing going on, some good, some not so good.   You see great work, and then....great work priced too cheaply.   You also see alot of the same thing over and over, the same components used in similar ways, again and again.   And, sadly, there really is a bit too much blatant copying.   

On top of that, while handmade enthusiasts may expect to pay more for handmade than an imported item, they are still looking for a deal.   How can you compete with folks who price their work at cost, as hobbyists?   How can you make things that will really sell, are still quality.... and don't break the bank?  

How can you really compete in such a  large handmade marketplace?

I have some ideas about that!  Wanna pull up a chair?

1.  KNOW THE TRENDS.

 Don't sit in your workspace, day in and day out, simply amusing yourself, making the things YOU like to make.   It's about what your customer wants...and what's going on out there BEYOND your cubicle.    There's something new all the time.   Do you know what's new and trending?

CASE IN POINT:  For years, I've had people beg me to bring this or that thing into stock at B'sue Boutiques.  Realisticly, I can't carry everything in the world, I am a very small business.  

But.... if it's a component that we can stock again and is practical to stock, then it's important for me to take into account what people want, even if I personally see no great use for the item.   Hey....they might be doing me a favor!  This could be a new trend I've simply missed!    So, I'd better LISTEN. 

And if a lot of people are asking for the item...sheesh.  Maybe I've missed the boat entirely!

When I was making my line in the 90's, and reps were selling it, I HAD to listen to keep them showing my line.  If they wanted more cat jewelry, then I needed to make more cat jewelry.   If they wanted more teacher jewelry, then we were buying schoolhouse charms galore.   What about hair ornaments for hairdressers?   Okey dokey.  Let's try that.   What about a charm bracelet for tea drinkers?  Sure, I think I can pull that off.

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU...if you want this to work.  It's about the CUSTOMER, and what the customer wants.

2.  CUSTOMER SERVICE.

People complain to me daily about bitter experiences buying online.   I have my own bitter experiences, to tell you the truth!  

So...how  accessible are you to your customers?    I know of a number of well-known artist-run companies who have private label lines that are sold wholesale.  The products are great, but one thing that dismays me is that you will NEVER get that artist/business owner on the phone.   The larger that private label line grows, the more impersonal it gets.  Sigh.

I'll be honest:   it does take a lot out of you to develop, grow and keep a business going.  Just the same, it really makes me feel loyal to a supplier where  I'll  call and the owner will speak to me,  remember me, and doesn't always hand me off to a helper.     I've even had outright phone calls from the presidents of some big supply companies just to thank me for my business at the end of a year, and I'm really such a little fish to them.  But THEY took time to call ME.

Don't you think that willingness to be accessible is part of the reason why some  are so  successful?  Maybe, even a little part of why after many years, they are still in business?

So...let me ask YOU:   Do *you*  respond as quickly as possible to emails?  How do you handle problems?   What if someone is disgruntled?   Are you able to accept blame when you need to, even accept blame that is no fault of your own?   Can you apologize when an error is made, or do you just summarily fix it, without any hearts and flowers?   How willing are you to try and please your customer and make them happy again? 

Do you find yourself  arguing with your customers?

CASE IN POINT:   Time was,  I needed some real lessons in people-pleasing.   I'm not a hostess by nature....for me, it been a  learned skill, based on some good advice, honest counsel, and constant observation.

Once upon a time, I had a very large Ebay business.    Ebay makes or breaks sellers; in my case it was 14 years of selling, 10 of which were misery.  That's not tales out of school, that's just how it was....for me.   Ebay selling is not for the faint of heart and in my chosen profession--jewelry supply and handmade--Ebay selling seemed to attract a lot of folks who didn't read, who were really difficult.....even grossly unkind.  Yeah...mean people.

(and let me just say very quickly!  I DID meet a LOT of great people.  Some  may be reading this and met me at Ebay--you  know who you are, and I'm grateful for the Ebay experience because without it---I wouldn't know you).

If only everyone was like the wonderful people I met at Ebay.  Sadly, as time went out, fewer and fewer were.

I had to learn to try and turn situations around.   I HAD to  learn to look at things from the customer's standpoint, measure my words even if they did not, and be willing to take it on the chin to save my reputation when necessary.  EGAD, did I hate the feedback system at Ebay...but! it was a TEACHER.

One day,  my Ebay account representative told me that one of her daily jobs was to remind power-sellers how hard they had worked for their feedback ratings, and how much their business meant to their family's income.   Were they truly willing to throw all that away on a customer who was upset?  Did it feel THAT GOOD to be unkind in return, thus destroying a business relationship? 

It's not that there aren't times you have to stick to your policies and stand your ground....but you have to learn to never rail at the customer or argue with them.  If at ALL possible,  wouldn't it be better for YOU to  try and please that person?

 If you want to make it in the handmade marketplace....it's all about your **customer**.   That's how you will achieve **your** goals.

3.   CULTIVATING RETURN CUSTOMERSHIP.

Handmade is NOT about "take the money and run".   That thing there that they've plunked down good moola to buy is something YOU have made with your own two hands.  It's a piece of your heart.  

Think of it:   yes....you just sold a piece of your heart.

So....now your customer is caretaker of a little piece of your heart.

Don't you want to do something to help them to feel special when it arrives?   Maybe you should gift wrap the item.   How are your packing and shipping skills?   Have you done all you can to be sure the item doesn't arrive broken? 

Also:  what can you do to get that customer to come back?   How about a little lagniappe....a little freebie?  Do you have a store newsletter?   Encourage them to sign up for it, and don't let that newsletter just be a big sell job.   Let them get to know YOU a little bit, offer some perks, share.

If you are able to do custom work, be open minded about it.  In the business of handmade, if you take custom orders, it's a great way to keep them coming back.  

If you are at Etsy and you can do special reserves, etc, go for it.  People love that.   I didn't set my Etsy up that way, it's a backroom for B'sue Boutiques  

When I started at Etsy, my biggest eye-opener was that  some Etsians  feel that all sellers should do reserves and make special lots or break packages for any who inquire.....even if they know you have the item for sale at another venue, such as a stand-alone where you don't pay commission.  Hmmmm.

IF YOU CAN DO THAT:  it is **very** cool.  If you cannot (and we cannot) is there perhaps something else you can do to make people smile and come back, making up for the fact that you just aren't able to break packages and do special reserve listings?

At Etsy, we have a permanent 10% off discount on orders 50.00 and up (code 10OFF), and our US shipping is free/included.  All orders get a little goody bag, too.    B'sue Boutiques keeps stock at Etsy fresh by adding new stuff almost every day....and there are always a few loss-leaders sprinkled in for savvy shoppers to jump in, and just have fun.

At our website, we have a big Sale Bin  where everything is 20-50% percent off.  I throw some of the GOOD STUFF in there all the time, some til sold through, some for a few days.   If we don't make so much on those items, it made some people happy and it kept it fresh and fun.   YEP.....add new stuff OFTEN, and have a little sale when you can.  THEY WILL LOVE IT!

B'sue Boutiques at Etsy

 If you simply take the money and run, you've lost a vital connection that means longevity in this business.   Putting the customer ahead of yourself in any *possible* way, and always rendering your A game in the customer service part of your business, is never a bad idea.

4. COPYISTS:   WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN I GET RIPPED OFF?

Okay.  Let's take a deep breath on that one:

Ask yourself first, regarding getting ripped off..... could  what's being 'copied' be  the logical use of the product you used to make your design?

For example:   we sell a 5x2.5mm piece of filigree; I believe we sell it in pretty much all the plating shades we run.  Very popular:

Most people who see this piece, think one way:   this should be bent and manipulated, and made into a cuff.

So.... a lot of people have done that.   They aren't copying each other; it's the logical use of the product.

Where they make it different, is what they personally DO to it.

People decoupage charms, they stamp clay, they paint on brass, they torch fire copper gears, they paint and patina brass findings.   Nothing new.  Been done a long time.   Do you do those things?   Do you consider others who do so, copyists, because you do it?

I hardly think so.

If someone rips off your design---or you think they have!** maybe** it's time for you to get a few steps ahead of the crowd and come up with something else.   How many of that piece did you really WANT to reproduce?  It's so important to always keep moving, creatively.  Don't be afraid to show your work.   Share with your community.

WHAT GOES ROUND, COMES ROUND.   Be the best you can be, and stop worrying about who is looking over your shoulder.  Don't let your artistic insecurities get the better of you.  It creates a bad vibe around you, and your work. 

5.   THE BEST WAY TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS......and DRIVE YOUR COMPETITION NUTS! is...

Make your customers love you.

Give until it hurts.

Say yes to everything you possibly can.   Don't say yes to things completely outside your comfort zone, beyond your talent and capabilities.   Be modest as an artist:  if you truly can't, freely admit it.   BUT:  where it is possible to say yes, try to say yes as much as you can.  

If you are able to share a technique with a fellow artist or offer some really savvy advice, please do it!   But, you should  do it in a humble, gentle way.......... rather than look down your nose at a neophyte.  

Don't be jealous of others' successes.  They have worked hard, too.  

Don't disrespect your competition.  They've been banging their heads as well---maybe longer than you have.     Develop an attitude of respect, and always have integrity in your work and your business ethics.  Worry about what's in front of you, and what YOU can do to make people smile, and let other people worry about what they are doing.

And be sure to SMILE, yourself.

YES,   it's NOT about you,  it's about the CUSTOMER!  if you want this to work.   Let it come from your heart!

May you all enjoy success in what you do, and joy in doing it, this year--and for many years to come.

 

 

Manipulated Brass Filigree and Stampings

Sweet Bohemia! 

I always have compliments for  a well-done piece of jewelry employing brass stampings and filigree, along with manipulated techniques.   I love vintage Bohemian-Czech-West German filigree, and the ideas that spring from examining those pieces have fueled creative fires for decades!

It must be said, however, that what we perceive as filigree these days, for the most part, is really a brass stamping made from a die to 'mock' true filigree.

True filigree is made from wire that is forged and formed and soldered together in the most arduous way.  It is usually done in precious metal.  One of the most outrageous examples I have ever seen, employing true filigree, is this car made of 24 karat gold filigree:

It's a real gift to those of us who appreciate this look, that we DO have brass stampings to use!   Otherwise, we'd never get anything made!

For long years, jewelry designers have found  the natural course of things was to manipulate filigree to make a setting, mount or a bail.   While it's become quite popular in the last 8-10 years,  it's truly just the logical use of the product.   Some stampings and filigree were just BORN to be manipulated, bent and formed!

Here is a lovely, real-vintage example:

This is a 50's era Czech filigree brooch made in manipulated layers, and centered with a gorgeous emerald-green glass stone.   It was offered by Etsy seller chicvintageboutique.  Here's a link:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89447825/vintage-czech-green-glass-and-filigree

Have you been wanting to try this? 

A few tips:   

First of all, the case of the smaller, more fragile filigree,  bend GENTLY!   You will need a bail making pliers.  Look for pieces about half again as large as the piece you wish to wrap or encase in filigree, if that's your goal. 

If you want to simply bend the filigree, such as to make a bracelet, you may be able to do it merely with your hands, or by holding the end of the piece in a nylon jaw pliers.  

For the very large, more rigid pieces, you may want to go 'metalsmith', and use a rawhide mallet and a bracelet mandrel, such as Harry Wood has done in this tutorial:

Forming Filigree with A Rawhide Mallet

We carry all the filigree you need in many finishes.  For an authentic vintage look in the Haskell style, you will want Russian Goldplated stampings and filigree.

If you like today's burnished dark looks, then go with brass ox, chocolate ox or rusty black patina filigree found here: Filigree to Manipulate

I've spent some time today compiling a Pinterest album full of examples of manipulated filigree, old and new.....and will be adding to it as time goes on.   Take a minute and come and have a look!

Your head will be spinning with new ideas!

Manipulated Filigree At Pinterest, from B'sue

 

 

 

 

My Experiments with Crystal Clay/Made in India Lakh Bangles

I'm a big lover of *polymer* clay.  I love it because the possibilities are endless, anyone can use it---if you played with clay as a kid, you can crack open a pack, condition it and have some fun RIGHT NOW.   It's also forgiving and cheap.  

Those are three big criteria for today's busy crafter:  instant gratification, hard to mess up, doesn't cost much.   All of that....

And it's still a highly respected art medium.  Yes!

A friend mentioned a few weeks back that Crystal Clay, something I'd sampled a number of months ago, was gaining in popularity and deserved a second look.  

Crystal Clay is a two part RESIN clay that comes in a decent variety of colors.  It's easily mixed and can be, according to the manufacturer, formed into any shape.  You simply pinch off equal parts of #A clay and #B clay, included in the mini kit (see below), condition them and blend them together.   You have about 60-90 minutes working time before it will begin to set up.   The product will be fully cured in 12-24 hours, depending how thick your project is.  *There is no baking.*

The mini kit is sweet:   Open it, and you have pretty much everything you need to start having fun.  You'll get 50g of clay (it's enough to make several bezels as well as coat a bangle, or a bunch of small beads) , a pair of vinyl gloves (essential) a beeswax dop stick for picking up stones and itty-bits, and even a little bag of SWA (Swarovski)  stones (36 teensy ones)....as well as full directions.

All you need is a flat surface....and maybe some more of your own itty-bits and rhinestones .....and you're good to go.

AND....it's MADE IN THE USA.  

The pix on the box are inspiring, but most of all, this product (as well as numerous others very much like it, currently on the market---just like polymer clay, you can take your pick which one you like best!) reminds me SO MUCH of vintage low-end 60's resin inlaid jewelry made in India. 

Perhaps you remember this type of vintage jewelry.    It's called lahk, or lac jewelry, and it was mostly inlaid with little seed beads and tiny mirrors as well as tiny rows of fused beaded plastic chain.    This jewelry is still made today, but it's far more glitzy and sophisticated.

Here's a link where you can go and check out new lahk, or lac jewelry bangles, via a very active Ebay seller:

Lahk Bangles from Ebay Seller, Sushila-Art

And, if you have a bit more time, a link to a brief YouTube presentation on the value of bangle bracelets in East Indian culture.   You'll see quite a number of lakh style bangles.

Lahk Bangles Video

Back in the late 60's and early 70's, Indian lahk bangles, pendants, dangly earrings, ornaments, dresser boxes, even mirrors and key chains! were everywhere.  I've dug through my vintage jewelry chests for quite some time this morning looking for the bangle I know I still have.....but it was too elusive to find to photograph....sigh!

I was always intrigued with the technique of setting little objects into whatever that STUFF was---lahk, or a type of resin!---and making my own jewelry.

The blinged out look on the box might also make vintage afficionados think of the glitzy resin inlaid jewelry made by companies such as WEISS back in the 50's.  I remember when you used to be able to pick up the blingy inlaid Weiss earrings for 5.00 or less, and the clamper bracelets for 20.00.  Those were the days, my friend!

Anyway....with Crystal Clay, there is a definite vintage vibe going on here.   In the long run, however, the texture of the cured clay is totally more like Lahk than slick resin like was used in the 50's domestically made jewelry.

With Crystal Clay, this can be achieved....a new coup for those who like to collect itty bits like buttons, broken shards, ball and shard glitter, seed beads, and rhinestones----as shown in the photo.   These clays are highly promoted as vehicles for Swarovski stones.

So....without further a-do, I 'clayed around' with this stuff last night and here's what happened:

More than finessing the stuff----which will definitely come later!  I wanted to see how it responds, ease of use, how it would work with disparate itty bits and how the different itty bits set up. 

1.  Mixing the clay is easy, just be sure you eyeball equal parts.  You won't want to consciously use more of part A with part B, or vice-versa....it won't set up.  Just like all other Resinology....part A and part B need to be equal.  

2.  You MUST use the gloves in the kit or if you would rather, grab a tight pair of nitrile gloves.  Next time I work with this stuff, I'm going to opt for the tight nitrile gloves, I think I would have had an easier time.   

      The product is a bit tacky and the color will leach out all over the gloves....so where ever you decide to work with it, be sure you don't get it on anything you don't want it on.     You will definitely only be able to work with one color at a time, unless of course you figure out a plan and swap out gloves.

3.   This product works best, IMHO, in a form of some kind, like a bezel.   As the photos on the instructions show, you can make cool little studded beads with them.   I would advise that you learn to fill bezels and level them first.  It's not terribly difficult, but it's a bit trickier than using polymer clay.    Better that you get a good feel for how much to put in the bezel and how to set materials into it.   As you can see from the photo, the look is rather like the designer-crude old 60's Made in India lahk pieces---even down to the turquoise color of the clay---but you might want to set a pattern and go for a really professional look.

   In that case, buy several packages and devote the first package to the learning process.   I can't say I am satisfied with what I made, but I DID learn a bunch from working with it, and how I'll proceed next time out.

4.  Another thing to watch for:  don't get any residual glue in filigree, or on the backs of your bezels as you will definitely be spending some time cleaning it off.  I'd recommend softening with goo-gone, then peeling off, picking off, or filing off.   UGH.  I hate clean-up.

    If you learn to be neat, however, it won't be an issue.  For me, it may be TWO boxes of the product before I get 'neat' down.   Like I say, the stuff is tacky.

5.  Re: setting stones and itty bits:  You need to push them down, level, into the stuff.   Not part way.....all the way to the top edge of the stone, bead, doo-dad, itty bit, you're using.   You also might want to plan a pattern, first.  I didn't, as I was more interested in the experimental side of things.   But having a plan before mixing this stuff up (given it has a limited play time) will be important for best success.

   Use the little beeswax applicator/dop stick, you will be REALLY glad for it.  I love that it's included in the kit, it REALLY helped. 

I'm happy to say that when I checked my experiments this morning, they were nicely cured.

Our first shipments of Crystal Clay have arrived and more are on their way.   For now, you will find it in the Polymer Clay, Polymer Clay Tools section at B'sue Boutiques   Soon, I will have it in its own section. 

You should be able to colorize white resin clay by dotting with colored pens.    Probably alcohol ink would be a good vehicle.   As the clay is resin, water-based color would not be the way to go.

Feel free to comment here, about YOUR findings!

 

Come and See My Little Doll.....You Won't Believe This

She looks, well....a lot like *me*:

Sheesh, how many times have I turned my head like that, speaking to you via camera, in my You Tube videos .....

The original little doll was among many unearthed, in recent years, by an excavator in the forested Thuringia region of Germany, outside old abandonded doll factories.    Legend has it that the doll 'seconds' made in these factories  had to be disposed of by burial, since they were in human form. 

Some call such dolls 'frozen Charlottes' if female, 'frozen Charlies', if male.   What really is a frozen Charlotte doll?  Truly it's any bisque doll that is made all in one piece, with 'frozen' limbs that do not move.   There is an old song and poem about Frozen Charlotte, that is a rather dark, maudlin piece written in Victorian times by a newspaperman.   I've written about it in this blog previously, sometime ago.

While a frozen Charlotte in form, this doll is  not Victorian at all.   The original mold for this little doll would be late 1920's to late 30's, given her hairstyle and style of dress. 

Harry Wood, of Oscar Crow  and the popular jewelry-making blog, Oscar Crow Handmade Jewelry, has developed a special fascination for these little dolls, importing many of them.   Most arrive as they were found:  broken, heads only, missing limbs, carrying some of the dirt in which they were buried.....German soil.

At first, Harry used them in his design work and just sold them....in fact, he still does!  If you'd like to grab a few, please check Oscar Crow for some fab old examples.

In time, however, Harry's creative side took over.   Soon he was casting them in resin....and then, he was restoring them artfully.

Then, he decided to cast them and reproduce them in raku pottery.   The little doll that looks like me is one of Harry's full-bodied reproduced dolls.

Here's another view:

Goodness, she even has my figure....and chubby legs.   Everyone here commented about that, when she arrived this afternoon.  (Oh, they would! )

But what 'got' us the most, was the nuance of expression that Harry was able to capture from molding the original:

It's just so positively ME.  

This one is going in my china closet! ..... along with a number of other vintage German porcelain treasures, found during happy days of searching flea markets and attending auctions.    None of them will be *quite* so special as my little B'sue doll.

Be sure to subscribe to Harry's blog.   He generously shares so many techniques you can really use, with clear descriptions, practical advice and great photos!

The KISS Method Of Knowing For Sure What's Selling In Your Business....At Shows

Ever hear of the KISS method?  Sure ya have.

It's an abbreviation for "Keep It Simple, Stupid".  ;-)

Not that you're stupid....or that I am!   But so often, we truly make things harder than they have to be.

Here is how I easily kept track of what was selling the best at jewelry shows, when I used to do them:

I kept all the 'types' of jewelry separate, in separate boxes and containers, inside my carry-all hampers.   Earrings were pre-loaded onto large acrylic displays, covered with large plastic bags to protect them, and set into the hampers.  All I had to do was pull them out, and put them on the tables. 

Bracelets were put in baskets or containers by type:  memory wire were tagged and put in wicker baskets to set on the tables.   Button bracelets and charm bracelets were preloaded to displays, covered and put in the hampers.

Necklace and earring sets were put on knock-down diplays, bagged and set in hampers.

Brooches, which back then, I sold A LOT of:  put in beer flats by type, on cards, and tagged, and set into the hampers.

Hatpins and stickpins were loaded into specialized displays, covered, and put in the hampers.  I would always display those directly under a light source, to catch the light.   They then caught bunches of attention.

Decorator items like boxes and frames all went in separate hampers.

YEAH....a lot of hampers!  LOL   But tracking what sold was then totally KISS:

When the show was over, I would re-pack the same way.   Earrings sold down, I'd condense what was left on to the displays.   Normally I'd have an empty one left.   I knew how many went on it, so....I knew I needed to make more earrings!

Brooches....a few empty beer flats meant, gotta make more brooches!  I would count how many brooches were in each hamper before I left for the show, and how many I put back in at the end of the show.

I'd count the empty knockdown necklace and earring displays.....etc.....there you have it!   Easy to see **at a glance** what went best at that particular show, and what I needed to get busy making.

Another great thing to do is to make a master list of your receipts.   By that I mean, go through your receipts, and make a manual tally of what sold, by type.  

You then might want to put that in a ledger, per show you do.  It will help you get a feel---and remember it!---for what sort of clientele you entertained there.   You could also make notes on that page re: any comments you rec'd during the show, that were memorable, as input.  If you decide to do the show again, you'll be ready for customers with things that did well at that venue, the next time you go.

Taking it a step beyond:  let's say you don't do shows,  but instead you have a website.

Make yourself a folder in your computer or a spreadsheet to document what sold, month by month.  Some websites have import features where you can grab the info and send it to a document.

At the end of the month, you can easily see what trended for you, where perhaps you need to work harder,  what is worth reprising (making again) and what you might want to put on clearance or move to another venue.

Etsy will give you stats, and so will Ebay, for that matter.  It's important to pay attention to them!

By the way, Tim Adam of Handmadeology  offered a really interesting post that started this conversation re:  doing well at shows, on his blog yesterday:

How To Sell the Roof Off a Craft Show   It's the story of Sunlit soap, a line of handcrafted soaps that has enjoyed a great success.      The set up is simple, but the display bounteous.  I bet it smells delightful!

 

Be sure you take time to review the Sunlit Soap post, you don't have to sell soap to benefit.  :-)

What Will You Be Making in 2012? Designer Trends from CHA

First of all....what is CHA?

CHA is the Craft and Hobby Association.  

If you are a purveyor of parts (like me), or have a brick and mortar store, teach, etc, et al and all that.....it's good to be a member.  You have to pay dues, and they're a little chunk of change.... but there's so much info that comes your way that it's worthy.   Also, if you are a member, you are permitted to attend their large trade shows.   If you follow my blog, you might recall how pleased I was to be able to attend in Los Angeles, last January.

Today I'd like to  share some worthy info  from the CHA Annual Trend Report for 2012.  It may help you see the way trend is shaping up from this year, and help you make good design decisions!

For BEADING AND JEWELRY MAKING: 

paper, stamps, fibers mixed with alternative metals such as brass and copper

beaded ribbons

resin techniques

die cutting machines with dies expressly made for jewelry making (like Sizzix BigShot, etc---and the DecoEmboss folders, which we already carry.   Look also for  various new Cuttlebug folders, Tim Holtz dies and other folders that are coming out)

The color SILVER and BLACK in metals   ( I dunno about the silver, I'm not seeing that trend so much except for those who like the 'real look'....in that case, it doesn't get better than silverware silverplate from B'sue Boutiques  )

large statement focals like big big beads (think what you can do with polymer clay! ) for bracelet and necklace designs. 

layering of multiple necklaces  (Artist Robin Delargy of LooLoo's Box does this alot in her work already, which options to purchase one piece or all)

Trends for cuffs abound:  leather, fiber, metal, wire, and polymer clay    I love cuff bracelets  !  Did you see my bracelets album at Pinterest?

Steampunk will remain strong as ever (are you surprised?)

PAPER and FABRIC:

zebra and peacock prints

quirky animals

flowers in ABUNDANCE (ooooh I love flowers....especially Paper Flowers! )

They mention that more companies will be partnering with licensed artist and other manufacturers to design unlikely collaborative product lines!  Hmmm!   Perhaps some possibilities there for those with art and graphic design backgrounds!

giving old fabrics new life with surface design techniques

luxurious looks in paper and fabric

bright happy colors paired with black  (black always makes a design pop when coupled with color!)

WEARABLE ART:

strong colors such as poppy, geranium, tangerine, canary yellow, grass green, tiffany blue, ink black---there we go w the black again!--honey and sandstone.   Be prepared to see a lot of brights combined with the latter two colors in 2012.

lots of color-blocking as well as contrasting color

geometric prints alone or coupled with safari prints

African prints along with desert color combos

**hair accessories will be HOT** ...especially popular among young fashionistas will be ribbons for headbands, hats and barrettes as well as flowers, faux gemstones and even buttons.   Fascinator combo headband-hat type accesories will be very popular and fun to make.

I dunno about you, but I found the report very helpful!  And I like that idea about the fascinator....that would be a fun project.

I was also gratified, after reading the report, that B'sue Boutiques is right on track in the jewelry area!  

Gotta love that Mixed Media!  It's a wonderful place to be, artistically.  No right, no wrong, easy to grasp, fun to do, and the possibilities for exploration is endless......

 

A Cleveland Icon and a Friday Night Phenomenon

I am a lover of kitsch. 

Perhaps that's because some of my fondest memories as a kid growing up in the Greater Cleveland broadcast area were  the television shows I used to watch.  Local programming....nothing like it.

If you are of an age, as I am---a baby boomer--you remember the  days when you were doing well to get three channels with your rabbit ears on an old black and white TV.    You especially remember having pajama parties,  crowding around on Friday and Saturday nights to watch your favorite monster movies and local programming.   The shows usually included a local character dressed up in some strange manner, speaking with a weird accent,  promoting local events and contests and doing silly things.

We had Barnaby, Woodrow the Woodsman, Captain Penny....even Dorothy Fuldheim, if you liked the news and her commentary.   But there remains one more who truly stands apart.

The king of ALL such characters was this guy:

Some may remember him this way:

or this way:

He was so compelling to watch that they say crime went down by 35% on Friday late nights, when the program was broadcast---LIVE, of course.  

 So in other words, kids and teenagers and criminals!!  loved Ghoulardi, the Dictator of all things cool about Cleveland local TV (channel 8, WJW, to be exact) in the 60's.

I'm sure the cops did, too....and were glad for the break.

Ghoulardi had the lowest of low-budget kitcsch shows which aired, I believe, exactly at 11:35pm on Friday nights, after the news.   Usually he came on, face first, in the dark, shining a flashlight under his head to make himself look other-worldly.   Or ridiculous, depending on your viewpoint!

Immediately, you were drawn in.  Ghoulardi had that sort of train-wreck thing going on.   Once you began to watch, you could not tear your eyes away from him, his antics, or the ridiculously awful D-grade monster movies he aired. 

In fact, they were so bad, there was no pause in the movie for  the commercials.   They just burned through  the movie, so  when you came back from commercial, you had to figure out what happened.   Really not so hard  since the movies were all of an ilk and formulaic:  evil scientist creates monster, monster escapes, monster eats Cleveland, a hero figures out how to kill the monster.

No big deal.  Who cared!  Anybody remember the Mantis?   We used to cheer for the Mantis.

You  also stayed because you never knew what Ghoulardi would do, and you didn't want to miss it as everyone would be talking about it in school on Monday.   A Ghoulardi  fave was blowing up matchbox cars with little cherry bombs.    It worked like this:  kids would send Ghoulardi their little cars, and he would select a couple each week, call out the kid's name, and blow up the car.  

You were then the coolest kid in school for at least a week.  ;-)

Well, anyway.....today, Chelsea brought me a little gift.  Where she got it I dunno, she's 18, what does she know about Ghoulardi?   But she found this:

My husband, John, said OH NO!  Another mug.   He's become the mug nazi since he does so much of the housecleaning for me of late.   Then he saw the mug....and shut up.

You know, I'd forgotten that  the show was called Shock Theater. 

 We just called it Ghoulardi.

Whether you watched away back then or not, and whether you know it or not....you DO know Ghoulardi.  Ghoulardi was actually Ernie Anderson, a man who went on to do countless voiceovers for the major networks after the schtick of the show fell flat.  

Remember hearing, "And now....here's the Loveboat!" on ABC?

That was Ernie.   He got paid the big bucks, he made the big time, and nobody knew his name.

I treasure my Ghoulardi memorabilia.....there's not much of the original stuff around, but here's a piece that adorns our office:

If you're intrigued enough to want a better look at Ernie Anderson's Ghoulardi, there are some YouTubes....and here are some links (Warning, it's pretty dumb....but that's what we liked, back then):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e52cXCrmauc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gWAAit4WPE

There is also a book:  Ghoulardi: Inside Cleveland TV's Wildest Ride, by Tom Feran and R.D. Hendenfels

It's true, you kind of had to 'be there'.....but oh....IF YOU WERE! 

What great memories.

Stay Sick, Ernie!

Handmadeology and Why You Should Be Reading It

An excellent blog that comes out daily is called Handmadeology , written by Timothy Adam.

I've recommended Tim's book HOW TO MAKE MONEY USING ETSY time and again....if you don't have a copy yet, run, don't walk, to get yourself a copy.

Even if you don't and don't ever want to use Etsy!

First of all, it make might you want to.....I was convinced I  had no interest in Etsy.  Then I read Tim's book, opened my outlet shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/bsueboutiquesupplies at the end of June 2011---not quite six months ago---and we've already had over 1,800 sales in that short amount of time.

On the other hand, even IF you never do take out an Etsy shop.... Tim's book will teach you about great photography, networking, even tricks to make your listings pop in Google, whether at other venues, or at your own stand alone site.  

I learned that we need to re-write alot of our listings at B'sue Boutiques for better Google exposure!

Another thing Tim got me to do recently, via his blog posts, was to get involved with Pinterest   I'm lovin' it!

ANYWAY....be sure to check out Handmadeology  and SUBSCRIBE!   Tim is also having a promotion:

Weekend Handmade Challenge

Check it out....if you can drive a bunch of traffic to Tim's blog, you can win free ads.  As for me, I would have reported about Tim anyway,  what can I say?  It's good stuff and you deserve to know about it.   Amen!

Here are some cool posts you might want to browse:

Seven Tips on Better Picture Making

Tips for Using Twitter with Your Etsy Listings

How to Get More Pinterest Followers

There!  That will keep you busy.....and focused!

If you go over, tell Tim that B'sue said 'hi'.