New Year's Goals

I'm using the word goals instead of resolutions. Since resolutions just seem to be forgotten and broken. I have been thinking about things I'd like to do better this New Year. Maybe putting it all in writing will help me stick with it.

Of course, there's the usual - exercise more, lose weight ...

Now I have this challenge from the Chatty Metalsmiths thread on Etsy to blog once a week. Since I obviously don't blog regularly this might be a great way to get me to use this blog I created ages ago.

But I really have been reflecting on my jewelry design business and where I would like to go with it. I've been thinking about the areas where I can improve to help it be more profitable.

This past year has been good in that I now sell my jewelry in 3 local stores. My sales in those stores have been pretty good. This past fall I changed my business name and opened a new Etsy store. My online sales traditionally have not been all that great, especially since I changed shops so I took all my inventory out of my store. I hope to start replenishing my Etsy store soon and continue to add designs to the local stores.

So what do I need to do this year to make this a business that truly makes income.

1. I have to be more fiscally responsible. In the past I have purchased supplies - stones, tools, silver etc - whenever I pleased. I have such a surplus of supplies, but I always seem to find another stone I can't live without. So my goal is to use more of what I already have. I have stopped going to the little bead shows that come to town. Lately they haven't had any quality merchandise anyway. So before I get online or run out to the bead store I'm going to look at my stash and see what I can create from that.

2. Spend more time on new design ideas.

3. Try to keep my studio straightened and better organized. This is not my favorite task. I'd rather just create but I spend a lot of my time looking for tools that are hiding under something or moving things around because my work space is covered up. I know I'd save valuable time if I kept the area clean and tidy.

4. Make a list and prioritize projects. I seem to be very scattered when it comes to projects. I get stones out and work on designs then I push that aside and work on something else. I took out several bags of stones that have been lying around waiting to be used and I made a numbered list of projects I want to complete. Maybe by next week I'll have some projects to post about.

So here's my current working list.

I have these great little garnets that I want to set in a pendant. Since the birthstone for Jan is the garnet, it's a great time to use them.

I've had these Chrysocolla cabs for a while. My plan was to make a multi-stone bracelet. I keep pulling them out looking at them and setting them aside. They are finally going to become a bracelet. I may even attempt hinged connections for them.

I love this ruby quartz and faceted ametrine together. I have a pendant planned for these.

Finally I have these Star of India or diopside stones. I couldn't catch the sweet little star in them. The little ones will be earrings and the larger ones might be rings.

So there, I have put my goals and my project list in writing. Hopefully this will help me stick to my goals.

Till next week. Happy New Year.

Making Lemonade from Lemons

As I continue to learn new techniques in the art of silversmithing, I find I am using more and more expensive materials. This makes mistakes very costly. My most recent new venture was learning to fuse fine silver wire to make an open loop in loop chain. I took a class from Iris Sandkuhler from California. It is a really cool technique. It involves making fine silver jump rings and then carefully heating them so they are fused closed. No soldering or pickling is required. Then the rings are elongated and folded and connected to make a beautiful chain that should look something like this:

So I purchased some fine silver wire which is of course almost pure silver and more expensive that sterling silver. I made a whole bunch of jump rings. In fact I almost used an entire ounce of wire. It takes a lot of rings to make a necklace.

Then I started fusing rings. After I had fused quite a few, I began to elongate and fold, expecting to begin my beautiful necklace. I wanted the links to be a little smaller than those we had practiced with in class. When I started connecting them I realized that they were too small and after the first two links they wouldn't fit together no matter how hard I tried to maneuver them.

I wasn't about to waste all those beautiful rings so I started thinking about how I could save my mistake. I decided to create my own chain design and this is what I came up with.

It was quite a challenge because as I was connected the rings I had to fuse the round ones after they were connected to the others without melting the whole thing. It gave me some good practice at controlling my torch.

Once the chain was complete I made a clasp and attached some beautiful Watermelon Tourmaline faceted teardrop beads. Here is the final result.

I'm Featured on the Cafe Handmade Site

This week I am a featured artist on Cafehandmade. CafeHandmade is a really cool site with a virtual craft show and lots of other great info.

I'm excited to be featured.

Here's the link.

http://cafehandmade.com/index.php/2009/09/featured-artist-kim-bell-beads-%E2%80%98n-bangles-by-kim/

I'm Becoming More Computer Savvy ...(I Think)

I have really been working on my skills with web related stuff. This past week I decided to try my hand at creating a new banner for my Etsy shop. I opened my Photoshop and started playing. I like what I came up with. It's similar to the banner at the top of my blog.

Today, I saw a post about getting a domain name in the Etsy forums. I just leaped in there and applied for one. My new domain name is below and it is forwarded to my Etsy shop for now. I'm not quite ready to try to design a web page. Maybe in the future.

It's Been A Long Time...

Since I've posted on my blog. I was putting together some photos for a possible newsprint article. I'll say which publication if it gets printed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Anyway I'll include those photos that I took. Some of the pieces are those I've recently created in my silversmithing classes. I'm having so much fun with my silversmithing. Silver has definitely become my favorite medium.

I recently purchased some new stones and I've been working on designs for those. I'm enjoying having more time for jewelry designs this summer.

Salons Carrying My Jewelry Designs

I am very fortunate to now have my jewelry featured in two salons. One is here in Charlotte, my hometown. I have been getting my hair styled there since they opened and when I began making jewelry they graciously agreed to sell my designs in the salon. It has been a wonderful location for me. They have a newly designed website. A pic from it and a link is below.



Link to the site:

http://lookingglasssalon.com

Recently I was contacted by a salon in Tennessee. They are selling my designs as well. Here are pics from the web site and the link.



Link: http://theartisanstudioclinton.com

Weekend Craft Show

This past weekend I participated in a craft show featuring mostly Etsy artists. We had to contend with the possibility of Tropical Storm Hannah coming nearby and deluging us with rain. Luckily we had a lovely day, only a little windy at times. I'm hoping the next show in October is better attended. I really worked on revamping my displays for the show. I think they turned out fairly well. Although I never seem to have enough space for all my jewelry. My next project is to come up with some way to weigh down my jewelry displays; they kept blowing over. This is an ongoing process.

ETSY ARTIST FEATURE OF THE DAY

I admire beautiful wire wrapped jewelry. Lilithu's shop on Etsy has some of the most intricate designs I have seen. Having tried some wire wrapping myself I know how much work is involved. Her pieces are exquisite. Take a look at this piece.






Check out her shop for other beautiful designs.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5337452

An Etsy Artist Feature of the Day

Today I am featuring the designs of Contrariwise. She works magic with silver wire. Take a look at her shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5280132

These swirled earrings are a design I especially like.