Just for the Joy

      I do not have a little girl I have a wonderful little boy that I love with all my heart. However I love to make frilly and fun clothing for little ladies. So I in my spare time have made a few for some friends and their precious girls. I used to make them for my friends little since I can remember at christmas when they were small but most of them have all grown up. I even got to make a skating dress for one of my friends daughters and it has been handed down to another friend. I can not tell you how much joy I get out of knowing that they enjoyed it and that it was handed down.
 
    Now that I have a three year old son, I have an entire new set of friends that have little girls, yeah! I also have been lucky to make new friends and reconnect with old ones that also have little girls. And so I am finding myself suddenly very excited and somewhat afraid. I could go a bit crazy if they let me.

     I hear, you should sell these quite often but really I have come to the conclusion that even though that may be perfectly true, I need to have atl least one real hobby that I do simply for the joy of it. I have enough to do trying to make a business out of my other work and this is my fun thing. I love to get the fabric and add the little frills and flowers here and there. I love the terrific patterns available and have a hard time containing myself in the fabric store. I have more fun with kids clothes because you don't have to be as concerned with, did I put to much sparkle or frill on it. They love it and so do I. I am also certain I will never run out of little ones to make them for since the first group will be old enough to have little girls of their own (yikes!) if they wish, and when it happens I will be ready with my thread and sewing machine giddy as can be.

     It is good to have other creative outlets simply for the joy of it and it is sometimes hard to remember that when you are an artist. So go find a totaly un-profitable hobby that makes you happy, you will be much more inspired in your other ventures if you do.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery

Dawn

Colored Coated Wire Experiment

 
      I recently decided to make a few pieces in colored copper wire. I had never used the color coated wire for anything other than earrings and Christmas ornaments. My experiment with it didn't really turn out so well. But I must say that I like to really manipulate stuff to get the right look and I  may not be as patient as some, so I could party be at fault, plus I didn't try different brands to see if one is better than another.

      So what I found was that even with the silicone coating I had some marks on the wire or the coating came off so fast that I needed to re-coat my tools between projects. I also found that the wire was to soft to retain it's shape in a large piece that took any stress.  However I did find some very good things out. It works well for earrings and small rings. It also can be used for wrapping pendants.

      There are lot of wonderful wire artist who only use color coated wire and they come in different kinds of cores and qualities. But for my purposes I find that I prefer to work in Silver or pure copper for most of my pieces because I like to hammer it and I like that I can be a bit more rough with it without to much worry. I will however use the color coated wire for  some earrings and rings because it does help me keep a less expensive line available and it works great for those styles pieces.

   

Argentium-Silver

 
  I just ordered some of this silver wire the other day. I have heard many great things about it and am looking forward to giving it a try. From what I have read it handles very much like sterling silver although it hardens faster when being worked so you have less room for re-shaping. But it doesn't need polishing with anything but a cotton clothe and water simply to take off finger prints. That's right no black or gold tarnishing and all shine. It can be soldered but needs lower temperatures.  It can be double hardened in your oven at 450 degrees. It works for almost all people with sensitivity to metals and causes almost no allergies. It is a higher in silver content percentage wise than sterling silver. And now it costs almost the same price as Sterling. Sounds almost to good to be true. And so I of course had to give it a try for my own to see how it performs for my needs.

     I will send you an update after I get it and how it works for me.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery

Dawn

Moving Forward In my Business

 
  I have been doing a lot of thinking these last few days about my business and it's direction. I am trying to come up with new pieces for my line and looking for a better way to move forward.
   
     As much fun as craft shows can be they really are not money makers at this time because most are not run in a way that maximizes business for the artist/crafter. I understand they need to sell the spaces to make money, I just wish they would limit the type of artist categories better. I find that most shows I attend are so saturated with similar arts that it causes the customers to loose interest and they leave feeling that nothing was original even though it all is very original. Plus it makes the artists frustrated and go home with a much less profitable day. However if you can find a good show or group that runs them keep doing it.  I have found an alternative a craft mini shopping area that rents stand alone Shanties every summer for a very reasonable price and I will do it every year if they let me because it is very successful.

     I also find that selling to stores is very difficult because especially in this economy they want your awesome goods for a fraction of the cost you need to make in order to keep making the items. Or the boutiques have all ready got more jewelry than they can handle and yours gets lost. When you find one that does neither you are blessed, so hold on to them with all your might. (I have been lucky and have two that I can not be happier with and I intend to keep them).

     Then there is the home show. This is by far the hardest to get and the most profitable for me.  I love to do these, but man is it hard to get people to do them. I enjoy the one on one you get with the customers and they always enjoy them. However most customers have become afraid of how many in home shows try to get you to join their business and hassle you to book a show, and our friends try to come up with other plans to avoid them.  What ever happened to the days my mother and her girlfriends had home parties to get away from the family and have a good night drinking some wine and spending money on themselves because , damn it they deserved it.

     Trade shows are another good option. At the moment I personally don't have the money to be a vendor at the shows, but I am hoping to some day. The only one I attended a few years ago was a huge waste of money because it was not advertised  well and apparently to far from a big city that almost no one attended. But if you have the time and money you can do very well at these. The trick is knowing which ones are successful.

     The last thing I have considered and am using very extensively is the internet. But as with any tactic it takes time, lots of effort and research. Of course the internet is also very saturated with others trying to do the same thing as you, however the amount of customers out there are infinite. And so I am trying with all my might to go this route for a few reasons. It doesn't require travel, loads of money, or even a 9a-5p schedule.

     Anyway as I go forward and try to navigate the direction of my business I am learning and stretching out beyond my comfort zone often and that is good. It keeps me honest and it keeps me motivated most the time.  I am also learning that what works today doesn't always work tomorrow, so remember to be flexible and not stuck in your ways or it could be your undoing.

     So good luck with your ventures and may you find success. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery

Dawn

Happy Valentine's day!

Just wanted to send out a wish for a Happy Valentine's Day to everyone out there in cyber land! Remember to unplug and share the love with those around you too. Enjoy the day!

New Cuff Bracelet

     Trying to come up wit a cuff bracelet design that will compliment the rings I made and let the stone show and be a classic but interesting piece. 

     It is now available on my etsy store. I plan to make a few other stones soon and will post them as I get them done.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery

Dawn

New Earrings!

     Well here they are! six new pairs of earrings made with copper and silver plated copper wire and gemstones. Hope you like them!  They will be available on my Etsy store and are ready to ship.  They can of course be made in gold plated copper as well or with other stones or colors.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DRDesignsGallery

Dawn