How can I make my workspace inspiring?

Life would be sweet, if my workbench tools could find their way back to the rack on their own....



The quickest way to destroy my motivation is to have a messy workspace.  At times I have tried to work through the clutter, but it never fails to effect my inspiration and plague my motivation. Next week we are moving and I’ll have a bigger, brighter, workroom.  I need help getting my jewelry making workspace more organized so I can stay motivated and connected to my projects.  I’ve been thinking about how to create a motivating space and would love to hear some of your ideas!

Really......in the bathroom?!?

My loose beads find their way everywhere; they end up in rooms I never took beads into, like the bathroom!?! They get into my shoes; they hide under the fridge, and get into the hardwood floor cracks. Once I have them safely contained in their storage location, they seem to breed. If just one bead escapes, it splits into two beads and those two breed. Eventually, there are lots of little beads rolling and rattling everywhere. Our vacuum cleaner consistently sounds like I’ve been vacuuming a gravel road.

But the most frustrating thing is that none of these randomly reproducing beads match. Their little beady offspring don't resemble either parent. Oh, no. These beads will be random colors, shapes, and sizes, and none of them will go together. There will be beads that I swear I never bought, and yet, there they are, lurking under the entertainment center or on the stairs leading to the basement.

Beads; they’re taking over!  I’ll show them, I’ll turn them into bracelets if they’re not careful!

Analyzing My Etsy Online Jewelry Sales

To make some sense of my Etsy sales, I did a sales analysis of my shop...

First:  I made a simple chart listing prices $25 apart, and made tick marks to indicate the prices of all my sold items. In 5 minutes or so, I had my answer: I offer jewelry in a price range from $10 - $125, my sales are very much concentrated in the $10 - $50 range.

(items I've sold in this range)

But what category of jewelry is selling best in my shop?  How should I concentrate my efforts to make the best use of my time and materials?

Second: I made another chart listing the types of jewelry I sell: necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other.  Again, I made a tick mark for each piece sold, and in less than 5 minutes I learned that my online jewelry sales are concentrated very much in necklaces and ‘other’ (bookmarks, pull chains, and key chains).  I found this really interesting, because at shows, earrings are usually my best sellers.

(Earrings I've sold in my shop)

Was I selling jewelry in proportion to the amount of items listed in each category?Do I sell more neckwear and ‘other’ because I’ve listed more of these items?

Third:  So, back I went to the chart for an answer. I listed the number of bracelets, necklaces, etc, in my shop, and compared them to the number of sold items in each category. I did a quick % calculation on each: # of items sold divided by the # of items listed.

It turned out that I got a surprising answer; I’m not selling in proportion to what I’m offering. I sold a much higher percentage of necklaces and ‘other’ items. Earring sales are very low compared to the number of earrings I have listed.

Using What I Learned from My Jewelry Sales Analysis.

Based on my findings, I need to be designing more necklaces and ‘other’ items in the $10-$65 range. Hopefully I will be providing what my customers are interested in purchasing online. I hope to see my sales numbers improve as a result.

Make a couple of sales charts and see what you can learn. What changes in your Etsy shop will you make based on what you find?

Don't forget the Kitty .....

 

It's official, we will be moving within the next 30 days. Our cat is a little anxious about moving again, he seems to be making sure that he is not left behind. No worries Beau... you're going with us.

I'm excited about the move; my lampwork studio will be back in business.  For the last two years we have been living in a townhouse that does not have space for my studio, and every room has automatic sprinklers. I didn't want to take a chance by firing up the torch, kiln, and other heat producing gadgets; sudden rain inside the house is never good!  The new house will have a room just for my studio...Yippeee!

Love is in the air.......

"Love - a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart which weakens the brain, causes eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise and the lips to pucker." - Author Unknown…… Happy Valentines Day! :)

 

Color inspirations #2....

Steven DeGraeve, of DeGraeve.com developed a great tool that I use to generate a color palette from my favorite photographs.  I simply enter the URL of an image to get the color palette that matches the image. This tool is useful for coming up with a color palette inspired by nature. 

Example: I can't drag all my beads down to the beach for color matching, but I can take a picture and use this tool to define the color pallet when I return to my studio. I love this tool, experiment with it the next time you are in need of color inspiration!

dull #555544 #aa9966 #6699cc #aaaabb #667788

vibrant #777755 #ccbb88 #88ccff #ddeeee #7799aa

Bead Giveaway.......

 

Take a peek at the bead giveaway over at Gardanne.  Anne needs some advice on bead show display; just give her some tips and you'll be entered to win this lovely collection of beads. 

Don't delay, the giveaway ends on 2/16/11. Cheers!

Color inspirations...

I find my inspiration for jewelry color combinations everywhere I look. My biggest inspiration is nature; for example, butterflies are a wonderful source of both bold and understated color combinations. I also look at fashion designers work, and my favorite artist's work for inspiration.
Pictured below are my most recent bracelet design and the Monet painting that inspired the color combination:

Take a look at the photo below. How do the colors make you feel? See how they blend together and contrast each other. The photo was taken on Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia. The seashore has always been one of my inspirations for color and texture in my designs. My next jewelry design will be inspired by this lovely photo. I’ll post a photo when I’m finished.



It's Bead Show Day!

If you've never been to a bead show before - it can be awe inspiring and even a little overwhelming. It can definitely be sensory overload if you're not prepared. So when the day seems a little overwhelming, I stop take a deep breath and relax. I'm prepared for a wonderful day of shopping....

1.  Get the coupon -check!

2.  Find my bead show canvas tote bag - check!

3. Prepare a list of supplies that I want to restocking - check!

4. Put small ruler and pen in the tote bag - check!

5. Look for my walking shoes under the bed - check!

6. Set the budget for the day - check!

Departing soon, have a great day!

Bead 'shoppers' by Aaron Macsai: http://mddavis.homestead.com/aaronmacsai.html 

Just not very interesting.....

“Just because you start with one idea doesn't mean you need to stick with it.”  - Michelle Mach

I planned to rework this Necklace (shown below), but as I worked, I realized that I just don’t like this design.  It’s not anything that I would wear and based on the number views I got while it was listed on Etsy, my shoppers didn’t like it either.

I tried to think back on why I was inspired to make this necklace in the first place. At the time I was selling a lot of multi strand necklaces and bracelets.  I liked the color but the design just isn’t working; basically it’s just boring.

I want to revamp this piece and make it more interesting….any ideas?  I need a push to get going……

Logging My Favorites......

This is the fifth installment of a ongoing log of my favorite things. Once a month I will post a favorite. It might be a person, or a place, or even a event. Hopefully it will help you get to know me a little better. I'd love your comments and I hope to make some connections through our mutual enjoyment of these treasures.

Highlands, North Carolina



When my life sometimes becomes hectic in the urban lowlands of Georgia, a few days in Highlands, NC can work wonders to refresh and renew my mind, body, and soul.

From the moment we turn off the main highway and start gaining altitude I feel my body and mind start to relax. We must slow down. I pay attention to the road as it narrows and winds upward. The air feels cooler. The light changes. Peeking through the trees, I take in the views: the pastures, the pines and towering tulip poplars of the Nantahala National Forest, the dramatic drop-off into the Cullasaja River Gorge. The views are breath taking, the pristine mountain air and panoramic beauty melts away my cares and fills me with an inexplicable serenity.

Highlands is a charming small mountain town at the second highest point (4118 feet) in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The town has exquisite restaurants, fabulous shopping, and a great cultural arts scene. The "postcard" downtown offers plenty of art galleries, antique stores and upscale boutiques. In the middle of downtown Highlands is the Old Edwards Inn, one of my favorite spots for a glass of wine and a delicious meat and cheese sampler. I love this little town and hope to visit soon!

Remarkable Update: Just as I was finishing this blog post, my Husband called to let me know he was making reservations in Highlands for the weekend. He did not know I was writing about Highlands and I did not know he was thinking about a road trip this weekend. It is just another example of how much we are in tune with each other. I’m so excited about the trip!

Bead Soup Blog Party - 2011

Soups On!  I’ve joined the Bead Soup Blog Party sponsored by Lori Anderson of Pretty Things.  This is an annual event to help bead jewelry artists work on a project that is outside of their normal comfort zone. 

Studio Time!  Each participant was assigned a partner for the event.  My partner is Ingrid McCue of Wrapped in Silver.  Ingrid selected and shipped me a package of lovely beads that she would use in one of her designs; I will use the beads she selected to create a piece of my own.  I did the same for Ingrid; I shipped a package of beads that I would be comfortable using.  The objective for each designer is to work with materials that they wouldn’t normally select.   I’m excited to get started on the project using the gorgeous beads I received.

(Pictured below are the beads I received from Ingrid….)

 Party Day! On February 26 finished designs will be displayed on each participant’s blog.  That’s when the party begins!  Everyone hops around to as many Party Blogs as possible to see the wonderful results.  I can’t wait to see what Ingrid has designed using my beads.

Drama, Drama, Drama......

There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So...Love the people who treat you right, and pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of LIFE. Getting back up is LIVING.

I'm doing a little relationship Spring cleaning. I need to focus on my positive relationships.  I have so many great friends; I need to surround myself with the people who lift me up and let go of the people who bring me down. It's time for a change!

Just in time for Valentine's Day

Take a peek at my latest designs for Valentine's Day.  One of my goals for this year was to add some holiday themed items to my Etsy shop.  It has already paid off...I just sold one of the heart necklaces. Yippee!

 

I plan to add several more items before the end of the week.  Right after the Holiday I will shop for discounted red and white beads and charms for next year.  I love the little cherubs on the bracelets, I hope I can find some more cherubs or cupid charms.

Upcycled Crystal Beads

Up cycling brings hope as a solid concept and solution for the many environmental dilemmas the earth currently faces. The idea of taking would-be garbage and reimagining, reusing and reinventing it is really quite a novel idea: the materials are free and in frightening abundance, there are (hypothetically) no unhealthy aftereffects for the earth, and consumers gain the satisfaction of reusing something potentially wasteful in a new and exciting context again.

In the photo above are two examples of necklaces that have up cycled beads.  The round clear crystal beads where originally part of a salvaged crystal chandelier.  They made a striking addition to my designs.

I'm anxiously waiting for a box of old broken jewelry from a friends plantation house attic.  Who knows what treasures can be up cycled from the discarded items.  I'll keep you posted!

UPDATE: the necklace on the left was just sold from my Etsy shop.  Yippeee!

Afternoon Tea

Today I'm suffering the Flu and found a spot of tea very soothing to my sore throat.  Tea time was enjoyed by my English ancestors, and the tradition was passed down by my Grandmother.  The collage above displays some of my favorite 'Tea Time' Esty finds.  Below is the definition of English Afternoon Tea.......Ahhhh.........

Afternoon tea is a light meal typically eaten between 3pm and 5pm. The custom of drinking tea originated in England when Catherine of Bragança married Charles II in 1661 and brought the practice of drinking tea in the afternoon with her from Portugal. Various places that belonged to the former British Empire also have such a meal.

Traditionally, loose tea is brewed in a teapot and served in teacups with milk and sugar. This is accompanied by sandwiches (customarily cucumber, egg and cress, fish paste, ham, and smoked salmon), scones (with clotted cream and jam) and usually cakes and pastries (such as Battenberg, fruit cake or Victoria sponge). The food is often served on a tiered stand; there may be no sandwiches, but bread or scones with butter or margarine and optional jam or other spread.

Click on featured item below to go to the Etsy Shop:

1. Knitted Tea Cozy 

2. Tea Tins

3. Tea Cup

4. Toy Tea Set

Cluster Jewelry

What's hot right now? Cluster Jewelry....!  Every item that I've posted with a cluster of dangles has been a HOT seller in my Etsy shop.  I can't keep them in stock.  As soon as one is posted it's sold.  The cluster jewelry pieces are very labor intensive.  Each little drop is hand wire wrapped and attached to the piece individually.  I'm thinking that I may not be charging enough for my labor when I create these designs.  Question: how much do you charge an hour for your time spent on an item?  I need some advise please...
Thanks
Lori

In 2011....

To all my creative friends:

I love this idea! I saw it on another friends Blog....Pay it Forward in 2011: I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must in turn post this on their Blog and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your ...5... people sometime in 2011.

Lets Pay it forward with creativity!!!
Lori

My top selling item this Holiday Season.

Now that the dust has settled from the Holidays, it’s time to reflect on my Etsy shop sales and my small business goals for the New Year. I had great sales the two weeks leading up to Christmas, I even received three custom orders. My big sellers were cluster earrings and bookmarks. One particular turquoise and pearl earring design sold very well (pictured above). The average price for all items sold between October and December was $32. Several buyers asked for expedited shipping to assure the packages would arrive by Christmas.

Based on the sales trend information above, I have set the following goals for the year. I know this is a bit ambitious, but I want my small business to become my only business in 2011:

First Quarter work on replenishing my shop so I have at least 125 items listed.

1. new cluster earrings – various colors
2. new cluster charm bracelets – Spring and fall colors
3. new bookmarks – spring and Easter theme
4. Valentine’s day themed items - Complete
5. Find source for Lampwork beads until I can re-open/move my studio
6. Add expedited shipping option to shop
7. Re-order packaging materials
8. Schedule regular blogging and marketing

 Second Quarter show at one craft event

1. Look for indoor venue
2. Revamp display fixtures
3. Work on stock levels for show
4. Find source for Halloween materials
5. Stock-up on findings and bookmarks

 Third Quarter work on Fall/Halloween and Christmas designs

1. Studio time at least three times a week
2. Build gift collection in the $25 - $35 range
3. Research possible Fall craft show – indoor

 Fourth Quarter sell, sell, sell

1. Market shop everyday
2. Renew 3 items everyday
3. Clear workbench and set-up shipping station
4. Have shipping materials pre-assembled for quick turn around
5. Work custom orders and adjust stock as needed

Have you set your Etsy or Small Business goals for the New year? Drop me a line and let me know how you plan to stay on track this year. I need all the help and advice I can get. Thanks!


Lori

Happy New Year 2011!

Hello my friends, we made it!  We've made it through another year.  I for one am really glad to put 2010 behind me. The year was filled with ups and downs and many curves in the road.

I am excited about the year ahead, I want to make  a major change in my career,  I also want to be more health conscious, experience the pure joy of life with my husband and live like the future is ours for the taking.

Live Love and Laugh often.

Thank you for staying with me on this journey, I plan to document more frequently my achievements and my lessons learned, every step along the way.  I’m wishing for you a year of  happiness and the realization of every single dream!

Lori

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.  ~Oprah Winfrey

 

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Are You Ready for Holiday Shoppers?

I'm Getting Ready for the Holiday Shopping Season in my Etsy Shop. It’s Time! Here are some tips I used, I hope they will help you get going too…

1. First Take Inventory: of your stock, supplies, & time. Make lists of what you've got & what you need.

2. Stock-up:  head to your suppliers shops, websites, or markets; buy in bulk.  You don’t want to run out, suppliers get busy too during the holidays and some elements of your work may not be available later.

3. Look Back: did you have any top sellers last holiday season or something new that is selling now? Start planning ahead to make/create/prepare these items in particular.

4. Fill Your Shop Up:  Begin increasing your actual inventory now. You’ll have more to sell in the coming months. 

5. Clean Sweep:  Whilst taking your inventory & planning which supplies need to be purchased...clean out your work bench and photo area for better efficiency. Sell or store extra supplies, create a more streamlined "production line"...get inspired!

6. Save the Date: Consider having an open house to show off (and sell!) your designs to friends, family, neighbors, and whomever else shows up!

7. Bust Out the Red and Green: Plan on making specifically seasonal items. Get started now-experiment, revise, sell, & get noticed.

8. Wrap, Tie, Send:  Think now about adding wrapping or different packaging options for the holidays- in addition to your normal mailers, boxes, ribbon, etc.

Mermaids' Tears

Running out of sea glass "mermaids' tears" seems impossible, and a little sad, like running out of seashells. But one man's collectible is another man's trash, in this case quite literally. Sea glass is essentially pretty litter, broken bottles and jars abandoned on the beach or heaved overboard years or decades or even centuries ago, then smoothed by the ocean's movements.

Attitudes toward oceanfront property and litter in general, have changed dramatically. Americans' new found reluctance to hurl junk into the sea has limited the supply of fresh glass, and with the arrival of plastic, glass is a much less popular packaging material than it used to be. There have been sweeping efforts to clean up existing beach garbage, even the collectible kind. In the years to come sea glass may be a relic of the past.

I'm currently work on a sea glass collection for my Etsy shop. The sea glass featured in the designs pictured here came from the Caribbean Seashore of Puerto Rico.  I love sea glass and I will be crafting several more items this week.

Logging my favorites...

This is the fourth installment of a ongoing log of my favorite things. Once a month I will post a favorite. It might be a person, or a place, or even a event. Hopefully it will help you get to know me a little better. I'd love your comments and I hope to make some connections through our mutual enjoyment of these treasures.

Tent Camping

I love to camp. Sitting around a campfire under a clear sky, gazing up at the stars, and listening to the sounds of the night can strengthen our bodies, pacify our minds, and restore our spirits. Camping is rejuvenating!  We camp 2 or 3 times a year; planning our next destination months in advance. 

For some camping purists, a backpack, pocket knife, two sticks and a tarp is all you need for a weekend camping trip.  Not us, we are in the growing group of 'luxury' campers. Our list of necessities includes a very large two room tent, camping cots with thick memory foam mattresses, luxury linens, a kitchen box that contains everything but the kitchen sink, a fondue pot and lots of candles for ambiance.  We probably look like the Beverly Hillbillies when we pull into a camp ground; our SUV piled high with all our camping gear. We are all about comfort, and taking the time to rest and replenish. It's wonderful, even with the bears lurking in the forest!

 

Cleaning Copper Jewelry

I've been making a lot of jewelry using copper findings. I think copper is perfect for autumn accessorizing. I found this great article on how to clean copper jewelry. I'm off to the kitchen to try this...

Tips From Handmadeology:

Supplies: a small glass or ceramic dish, the acidic cleaning agent of your choice (I use lemon juice), a old toothbrush, soap and a drying towel

"Gather your supplies and your copper jewelry. Place one piece of jewelry in the dish and pour the cleaning agent over the item and allow it to set for a short time in the liquid, about 10 to 20 minutes. I usually use a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice and turn the copper over every few minutes to assure an even cleaning. NOTE: You may have to change the cleaning liquid a couple of times if the copper is extremely dirty. To move the process along, you may use your old toothbrush to gently scrub into the cracks and crevasses of the design. When you have achieved the desired cleaning, run clear water over the jewelry to rinse. Then use a little soap and the toothbrush to clean just a little more, rinse and pat dry with a towel."

"Please DO NOT leave your jewelry in the acid soak for and extended period of time OR if your copper jewelry has pearls, or any other soft stone DO NOT use any of these ways of cleaning!"

Have a great Day! Thanks for stopping by.

"Home" Business say no more.....

Most Esty shop owners can’t afford separate studio space so they set up their work space at home.  It might be a dedicated space just for crafting, or it could be the kitchen table.  Working from the kitchen table doesn’t mean your work isn’t marvelous!   Don’t tell people you run a “home” business. Although 53% of small businesses are home based, many people still think of home businesses as unprofessional. Think of it this way: if you rented studio space at 33 West Main St. for your design business, you wouldn’t tell people you were in a “West Main Street” business. So, why say you are in a home business. Home is just the location of your work space. It’s the business – the product you provide – that’s important.  When people ask about my small business I simply say that I’m a jewelry designer and hand them one of my business cards... Enough said…

Wanting Too Much Too Soon

Handmade Artists who do not feel successful seem to run into a common obstacle, mostly self-created. The good news is that the barrier has a remedy that you already have within your grasp.

Obstacle: Wanting Too Much Too Soon

• Handmade Artists tend to be unrealistic about what is possible in a certain time frame and are impatient about the results they are getting.
•  They want to sell immediately, sometimes before they even have a signature style.
• They are not always open to critiques/suggestions about being more productive, creating work in different styles or creating multiples of their work to have more pieces available.
•  They do not put in the hours. They are not consistent about what they do or how they do it, so their career never gains momentum.

The Remedy:

• Be clear about where you are before you decide where you want to go. What amount of time do you have in your current schedule for production, listing, marketing, shipping, and paperwork? How will you make a change?
• Once you are clear, decide where you want to be in your handmade career. Now look at the gap between your shop/sales today and where you’d like to be. Work backwards and write down the steps you need to take to get there. Then start taking one step at a time. Be realistic about what you can take on so that you can see progress and feel success as you build your handmade market place.

My task this week:  I’m working on better photos for my Etsy Shop this week.  Here are some examples of my original (left) and new (right) photos. Drop me a line and critique my new photos. Thanks!