In Home Jewelry Parties

A recently sold piece from my Artfire studio.

I've done blogs about jewelry parties in the past. I've done some research, conducted interviews with other artists and even attempted to get friends and family to host a jewelry party for me.  However, today I would like to blog about the one type of jewelry party that has brought me at least some measurable amount of success.... the "in home" jewelry party.

Let's face it, in these tough economical times it is very difficult to find people willing to host any kind of party in their homes let alone get guests to come to those parties with the intention of purchasing what ever items are being shown.  I myself have not found anyone willing to host a showing of my jewelry in their home yet.  It is tough.  But I didn't and won't allow that to discourage me.  No.  I found another route to take.  I figured if I couldn't find someone else to host me, why not host myself? 
So, I began doing "in home" jewelry parties or jewelry showings.  If I put out snacks for the guests, I would call it a "jewelry party" and if there was no snacks and I offered tours of my studio space, then it became a "jewelry showing". It's a simple, minor detail but for me it was necessary to establish. 

A pair of earrings currently for sale in a local boutique.

I use Facebook to send out the initial invites and then I start inviting my friends, family and work colleagues in person.  I encourage them to bring guests of their own.  In the weeks/days prior to the event I make sure to post pictures on my Facebook of new items and items available for sale.  It grabs the buyer's attention and gets them interested.  If they see one piece that interests them, they are more likely to attend.  They want to see the item in person sometimes before making the purchase decision.
I use my dinningroom in my house for my showings, though you could use any room you feel is appropriate.  My dinningroom is large, has lots of chairs and my dinningroom table is large enough to display nearly all my current pieces. I also set up a smaller card table in a corner with bead and supply catelogues for those who want to have something custom made.  I also put out some of my beads and supplies on the card table as examples.  It helps your guests know you take custom orders and can even inspire them to ask for a specially created piece.
I also have my tools handy.  I have quite a few repair customers who bring me things they have purchased, whether from me or another artist, that need some repairs done.  I often do these right on the spot unless they require more time or complicated methods (usually they don't).
I also have things on display throughout my local area in art galleries and boutiques.  An in home jewelry party is a good way for you to get the word out to people in your area that your pieces are available online, in person and throughout your comunity.  The more places your work is available,the easier it will be for people to recommend your work or even recognize your work.

In conclusion,  don't be afraid to host your own party or showing to get your work out in the public eye. It tends to be simpler and chances are you'll have better turn out and sales results if you go out on a limb.  Plus, you never know when one of your guests may decide to host you in their home after seeing your things in yours.

An addition to the Coralgate scandal

I would like to put up some links, should you, my intelligent readers, care to investigate this "scandal" further and draw your own opinions and conclusions from it.  I am linking to articles about coral bans, preservation, mining methods, blogs about Etsy, actual forum threads on Etsy and other bits and pieces I think you may find interesting in furthering your interest on the matter.
I am not saying "You should read this right now because I said"... just providing further information should you so choose.

I am also going to once again put up my personal opinion on the matter.
I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANYTHING USING THE ETSY SITE EVER AGAIN.
I would like to encourage others to do the same, since I believe and have for some time that they treat they handmade artisans like crap.  But, you be the judge on this one.  I know my ruling for myself.
Here are the links.
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/27/coral-ban-hurts-italian-craftsmen.html
An article about a coral ban and how it is effecting local business.
http://blog.auctionbytes.com/cgi-bin/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2010/10/1287376895.html
An article someone did online about the outrage over this Etsy Storque blog.
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6658582
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6658218
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6659297
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6659498
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6660749
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6658291
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6657695
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6659467
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6657333
A variety of threads from the Etsy forums on the topic.... some more about being angry for being silenced and some about why the article upset them.
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/declaring-coral-too-precious-to-wear-10844/
The actual Storque blog post that started the whole thing.
http://www.jckonline.com/2010/09/28/jck-asks-temple-st-clair
A feature article about the blog poster on another site.  People have been blasting her in the comments section.  I'm not condoning nor condemning this behavior.  My personal belief is it was Etsy's stupid mistake and not hers. 
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4967473_how-moonstones-mined.html#ixzz132rseUKz
This one was posted in one of the angry comments on the above blog in response to her featured sketch of moonstone earrings.  I found it an interesting read for the sake of learning about where my supplies come from.
http://etsybitch.blogspot.com/
One of my favorite blogs for all issues with Etsy.  Just a smattering of how angry Etsy has made its handmade artisans.
http://www.coral.org/node/127
A great site that talks about coral, its endangerment, environmental causes and reason why it is being harvested.  If you really want to take a stand on the issue of coral preservation, this is an excellent resource.

That is all dear readers.  I leave you to daw your own opinions and conclusions.  Any comments on this you wish to leave would be greatly appreciated.  Add to the dialogue.  Agree to disagree and things will go well.

The 'Green' movement and it's effect on jewelry making~ Part 1 Silver

There's been a lot of hoopla on Etsy over the renewability of certain objects and materials used in jewelry making lately.  And it's sparked an interest for me in researching that topic.  I am always interested in the discussion between being more "green" and it's effect on artists and their work.  I think it's great to be green but the speculation lately has been about what can be done and what can not.  At any rate, it's a great topic to investigate further.  And I want to look for more information and give myself and my readers a better picture to draw thier own conclusions from.
*For the record and preceding my article and research findings, I would like to state that I am not going to post my opinions nor views on the renewability of materials or resources I research nor am I going to put down other artist who use or do not use these materials and resources.  I wish this article to be informative and nor a deragatory diatribe about how we should or should not support certain handmade artisans based on this information.  I believe each human being on this earth capable of making that judgment call on their own after educating themselves about the topic and forming their own opinion of the issue based on their own personal beliefs.  I will not shove my beliefs at you if you would in turn do the same for me.*
That being said.... let's begin our information hunt.  I want to start with a material that I use sparingly in my designs due to the high cost: silver.  I wear a lot of silver and therefore have a natural curiousity to learn more about it.     
When one searches for information about silver mining, it is brought to light that a lot of mines that produce silver also produce other precious metals that may bring a higher price than silver.  This would lead someone like myself to conclude that perhaps many mines are more concerned with mining those other metals than silver but this is once again speculation.  To delve more into that idea, I would have to interview someone in the mining industry... which I may consider for a later blog.
I also made the observation that there seems to be quite a small list of mines actually producing silver at all.  Makes me really wonder about how much more of this resource is truly available.  Also makes me curious as to how many companies out there are going to be asking to recycle silver bits and scraps as well as perhaps unused or broken silver jewelry.  Reminds me of all those gold commercials we are seeing at the moment on TV.
I've also made an observation from looking at several different mining company websites.  It appears that many of them have either purchased more land for mining purposes or are in the process of acquiring more land.  some companies have expanded their operations on land they already own.  To the outside observer this means that the mineral resource is perhaps less than it used to be.  Again, without further information from the source it would be difficult to say for sure.  Just for you own personal research, here are a few good links for researching on your own. 
http://www.silverseek.com/links/   This is a great resource.  It gives you live prices on silver as well as a comprehensive lists of silver mines.  You can link to many of these silver companies websites directly from here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_mining_in_the_United_States  I know there are those of you out there that HATE when others site Wikipedia for information but I believe this particular page is a good source.  I like that it gives you an idea of where in the US silver ore is being mined.  It's always good to be conscious of where your metals come from if at all possible.
http://www.miningnerds.com/silver-mining-report-all-countries  This is just a cool resource that gives you a good list of how much volume of metal each mine produces as well as their listing price for silver.  There's a ton more information there as well that I haven't really deciphered what it is or means.

Another thing I discovered as I delved into the mining of silver is how they extract the metal from the earth.  Most mining is a pretty earth invasive mission.  Most minerals are extracting from the ore, or rock containing the mineral, through a process called smelting.  Smelting is a chemical process in which the minerals are leached from the ore using other chemicals such as carbon or mercury.  Many other chemicals can and have been used in the smelting process as well.  Smelting also involves roasting or melting out minerals and chemicals from the ore.  This process can also produce hazardous chemicals as biproducts.   The one that comes to my mind most readily is cyanide.  My father used to tell me stories of the copper mines in MT.  He pointed to an old smelting chimney on an abandoned mine once and showed me how the trees on one side of the mountain still to this day do not grow.  Cyanide gas still resides in soil there.
I would venture a guess that gold, copper and other metals are mined and extract in much the same ways as silver.  So, this information could really span over those materials as well.
       
Now, while this this information can paint a pretty dissmal picture, please understand that in no way is this article meant to sway you in one direction or the other.  I am merely providing information.  Also, keep in mind that new and better ways of mining are always being discovered and researched.  I am aware that more and more efforts to recycle metals and minerals are being employed.  We are always changing and always moving in new directions.

New wire work pieces

I am working on my wire wrapping skills and techniques and trying out new designs with these.  I am trying to create pieces with a variety of textures and colors.  Let me know what you think could be better, added, taken away, etc.  I am always looking for feedback to help me grow and improve my designs and techniques.
These are the only two designs that my blog is allowing me to upload photos for at the moment.  I have two other pieces as well but I'll have to upload those pictures later on.

Wire Wrapping~ How did it all begin?

 Photo by Mandala Rain

I am a novice wire wrapper.  I look at some of the artists out there that also work with wire and I am ASTOUNDED by their work.  Absolutely astounded.  However, this does lead me to ponder how and where the art of wire wrapping started.  I plan to explore some of my wanderings through the history of wire wrapping with you today... only some.
Photo from Bohemian Wire Wrapped Jewelry on the Rocks
Upon beginning my research I was astounded to see that many sources site that the earliest surviving examples of wire wrapped jewelry have been dated back to 1000 BC.  I also discovered that many of these early wire wrapped pieces showed signs that soddering had not yet been discovered.  So, essentially these craftsmen had to rely on their skills in their wrapping to hold the piece together.  And the fact that they have survived as long as they have is a true testament to the quality of their work and level of their skills.
Original wire work was done with thin strips of metal.  Metalsmiths would hammer bits if metal into thin sheets and then cut those sheets in strips, thus creating wire.  Filigree was the most common use for this 'wire'.  Bits of it were woven much like baskets are woven to create settings for stones.
Interesting links for further wire wrapping history information: http://www.creationsbycarolladine.com/history.html
http://www.url.biz/Articles/Article-3051.html
http://www.ehow.com/facts_6745842_history-wire_wrapped-jewelry.html

Many cultures have some form of wire wrapped jewelry in their history.  I was fascinated to discover how world wide the artform has been and still is. 
I plan to continue to study and perfect and expand on my wire wrapping designs and techniques in the hopw of someday being half as good as some of the artists whose work I have shown here.  This last picture is my latest wire wrapped creation.

Steampunk~ What is it all about?

This is my first blog entry in my series of "Ask the Artist" blogs.  SarasinArt from Artfire asks:
"Hey Pixie, I see a lot of Steampunk jewelry around now. Can you explain where that concept came from and more of what it's all about? Thanks! "

This is an EXCELLENT question and a great topic for this blog.  Thank you SarasinArt!
I went out on a search last evening to find a true definition of what "steampunk" really is.  There are a lot of references out there to explain it but I am choosing to quote the article "Steampunk 101" from http://www.tor.com/ as my definition reference.  They refer to steampunk as meaning "Victorian science fiction".  They continue on to state "Here “Victorian” is not meant to indicate a specific culture, but rather references a time period and an aesthetic: the industrialized 19th century."
In other words, Victorian clothing, fashion and ideals combined with what then would have been considered futuristic.  Think of combining motorized, steam driven objects with corset, bustles and waistcoats. 
The term itself came about in the late 1980's according to the article. "The term “steampunk” was not coined until the late 1980s, when author K. W. Jeter used it humorously to describe a grouping of stories set in the Victorian period written during a time when near-future cyberpunk was the prevailing form of science fiction."  The article goes into more detail about the associations made with the word "steampunk" and also references items that are often associated with this fashion movement as well as dissecting why they have become so iconic to the movement.  I highly reccommend this article for more in depth detail about all things considered "steampunk". http://www.tor.com/blogs/2009/10/steampunk-101
Now, as for my personal experiences with this movement, I actually have very few.  I was first asked to create some "steampunk" pieces about 4 years back.  A good friend of mine was going to a Convention event in central Minnesota.  My jewelry sales, then hosted on Etsy, were next to non-exsistent at the time and I thought perhaps I could send her some jewelry pieces to wear at Con to spark interest in my jewelry shop online.  She said the types of pieces people at Con would most be interested in would be "steampunk" inspired pieces.  I had no idea what on earth that meant.
After a short stint of research online, I made a run to the hardware store to pick up some nuts and bolts.  I also had some parts from an old microwave I had recently taken apart.  I lashed these together into a pendant and brooch (the pendant is still with me today and is listed in my Artfire Studio).  My friend said the pieces were nice but not quite steampunk.
I continues on in my quest to make steampunk items and have tried MANY different things.  Here's what i have discovered from my experiences.
~Some people prefer gears and cogs on their jewelry that have motion.
~Some people think gears and cogs on anything is great.
~Some people scoff at the idea of putting gears and cogs EVERYWHERE.
So as you can see... it's a subjective thing.  Just like any of type of fashion, steampunk fashion is left entirely up to the person wearing it.  I now subscribe to the steampunk fashion community on livejournal.  I often read posts where the controversy over what is or is not steampunk can get rather heated.  Everyone seems to have their own opinions and views on the matter.  It is essentially, like so many other things, left to interpretation.
So you see, truly finding things that are "steampunk" is actually quite difficult.  I prefer to think of some of my jewelry pieces as 'steampunk inspired' rather than truly steampunk.  I'll let the discerning participant decide for themselves.

Well SarasinArt, I hope this helped or at least pointed you in the correct direction.  I know it took me a long time to truly understand what is in fact steampunk.  So many people on online selling venues abuse the word to generate more views in their shops.  So, it is a word that can inspire and generate controversy.

So you wanna learn to do wire work?

Well, everyone has to start somewhere right? First thing is first, what tools are you going to need?

When I first started wire working, I had a very basic set of tools. I bought a very cheap set of "jewelry making tools" at a local Michael's craft store. I quickly discovered they were not the right kind of tools when I saw that the pliers I purchased had teeth. Teeth on plier are great if you are using the to loosen nuts and bolts or grip something. But they mar and scratch your wire when making jewelry. So, I ditched my beginner set and bought a better one. The pliers I purchased the second time around had no teeth and were made specifically for jewelry making.

The first pair of jewelry pliers a beginner needs are a plain pair of needle nose pliers with no teeth. They are a simple but essential part of wire working.

The next set of pliers you will absolutely need to do simple wire work jewelry are bent nose pliers, again without teeth. These are excellent for holding jump rings andother wire pieces in place with one hand while you work on the piece with the other hand or another tool.

The third tool that you will need is a good pair of round nose pliers. These are used to make jump rings, twists, turns, or other rounded shapes with your wire. I have two pairs of these that I use, a smaller pair for small twists and shapes and another pair of larger ones that have multiple sizes for different size round shapes.

And last but definitely not least, every wire work jeweler needs a good pair of wire cutters. I use a pair of flush cutters. Flush cutters ensure that at least one side of the wire you are cutting with them will be completely flush. Now, a word of assurance and warning... you will go through wire cutters. You will wear them out and need to buy a new pair. If you are like me a good pair will last you maybe two years before they need replacing. I've tried sharening a pair or two before.... sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

And there you have it. The tools you will need to begin working with wire to create unique and lovely jewelry.

I -heart- Artfire!

I recently set up a studio on http://www.artfire.com/ and I have to take a moment to express how much I am pleased with this website.
I heard about Artfire through a friend I met on Etsy. I had been on Etsy for a few years and had done marginal business on the site. But I was depressed that my sales had all but dropped off the chart there and I was constantly being charged a percentage, mind you a small one, for any sales I was making. When you compound the sale percentage (3.5%) by the listing fees ($.20 per listing) it can really add up after a while. Etsy also encourages their sellers to keep their items "current" in the search engine there by relisting. Their feed is based on recency and not relevance.
I went to Artfire upon hearing tell of it and found a wonderfully set up site. Lots of color, user friendly, and fairly inexpensive. I discovered that Artfire is a "free" site. This means, there is NO listing fees and NO percentage taken for sales made. WOW. I was impressed. I signed up for a "Basic" studio right away and got started. I upgraded my account to a "Pro" account after a week for $12 a month. I was paying mroe than that on Etsy to list items and keep them current. A Pro account allowed me to do EVERYTHING a seller could want to promote my studio. I have a blog right on my studio page, am kept in the rotation of front pages regularily, can track my views easily, find my things in google searches almost immediately, and am seeing double the traffic in my little shop than I had in Etsy in the first month.

Which brings me to my next point. Artfire seems to be a fairly "undiscovered" site. Etsy has been around longer and has more face value to the public. Case in point, this article from the LA Times. www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-smallbiz-crafts1-2010mar01,0,7104482.story
Now, I agree that all press is good press but it seems a little one-sided. And it doesn't seem to sound like the article is really all for Etsy either. I am happy to see them feature a real live artist though.
So in conclusion, this blog post is kind of my plug for Artfire. I feels its a much more user friendly website, offers for sellers and buyers more options and deserves as much if not MORE press than Etsy. Please take a look at http://www.artfire.com/ and give another handmade website a chance!