TGIF

I am so glad that Friday is finally here.  This has been one crazy week.  I've been busy as a bee and don't feel like I've accomplished much.  Do you ever get that feeling?

I am pretty happy about one thing I accomplished.  Today, I stepped out of my comfort zone and did some soldering.  I've taken about every class ever offered on soldering and it still rules my life.  I either melt the metal or apply fire scale so thick I don't need to patina the piece:O)  Today, I needed to solder six balls on to the piece I wrote about yesterday.  I knew that I had to do them all at once or not at all because when one is soldered in place and you go to solder the next one, you take a chance of the first one coming loose.  This afternoon, I finally sucked it up and set about accomplishing the task at hand.  The first attempt failed!  Into the pickle pot everything went.  Second attempt a success!!  I was so pleased with myself for trying something that I considered extremely difficult.  THEN, I realized that I needed to solder my maker's mark on the back - yuck!!  With the balls all tightly in their place, I had no choice if I wanted the maker's mark on this piece, and I did.  Into the pickle pot again to be certain that everything was as clean as a whistle.  Now for the big move - turned her over and squirted four little dots of solder on the tag, lit the torch and SHAZAAAM......soldered in place!!!  I sat there for a minute, smile on my face, enjoying the best moment of the week.  I had taken a chance and won!!!

Tomorrow I will decide how I want to proceed with this piece.  Do I want to just attach a jump ring to connect the 2 pieces or do I end up creating a more complicated attachment?  I can almost guarantee you that it WON'T be a jump ring - way too simple.  I'll also add a nice patina to her and I think the old girl is going to be beautiful!  Do you think these two piece look good as is or should I split them up and  have 2 separate pieces??  So many questions, so many decisions to make, so little time.

I really need to start thinking about packing for our trip soon.  We leave on the 27th for Ohio.  Oh, what the heck, I can do that next week. 

Nite everyone.....tomorrow is another day 

Social Networking

Social networking has become a full time job for most of us.  If you are trying to promote a business or just get your name "out there", you need to know how to do it in a clean and speedy manner.  Lisa Larter is the queen of social networking and she is offering, in addition to her three free videos, a webinar today to help make the job easier for those of us who are somewhat techni challenged;o)

Check her site out and make a reservation.  NOW.

http:www.LisaLarter.com for more details.

While browsing through my emails this morning, I found this bit of inspiration on a friends wall and wanted to share it with you


"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand." — The Velveteen Rabbit

Always remember that it takes a long time to become Real so enjoy the journey and surround yourself with people who understand;o)

Have a beautiful, creative day and as always, much love from my heart to yours.

https://www.facebook.com/myartandmysoul4sure

https://www.facebook.com/therealsallyhoffman

https://twitter.com/#!/myartandmysoul

A Fashion Statement from Rena

I have been so busy lately setting up my website and traveling that I have sorely neglected my blog and I apologize.  I am sitting in beautiful Sedona, AZ at this very moment enjoying the natural beauty of the red rocks.  I wish you could all be here with me.

I am a big fan of Rena Klingenberg and her many publications for jewelers so today, I want to share one of her recent articles.  I will be featuring her in my blog regularly and I hope you enjoy and take advantage of her many wonderful ideas.

An Example of Wearing Jewelry that Contrasts with Your Clothes

by Rena Klingenberg on September 5, 2011

In the latest issue of my newsletter, I talked about wearing jewelry that contrasts with your clothes vs. jewelry that matches them.
I saw a perfect example of this a couple of days ago, when my mom and I were on an early-morning exercise walk in the mall.
These two mannequins in a store window kindly demonstrated the difference between jewelry that matches your outfit (on the left) and jewelry that contrasts with it (on the right):

Even though the gal on the left is wearing more jewelry (a double-strand necklace plus a bracelet and ring), you can hardly see her jewels at all.
Meanwhile, the fashion-savvy gal on the right wears just one piece of jewelry (a single-strand necklace), but it really makes a visual impact – even from farther away:

Now if only these two gals had good heads on their shoulders, the fashion-savvy one on the right could drop a hint to her friend on the left about accessorizing.

I love hearing from you so please post a big "hi and hello" to me if you like what I post;o)

Gathering of Friends

Tonight was a special treat.  We enjoyed a gathering of my husband's high school friends in North East, PA.  We haven't made it back for the last few reunions so it was nice to reconnect with everyone.  So many had suffered health issues, loss of a spouse, returning to the nest children/grandchildren, and just generally letting themselves become out of shape.  It is sad to see these things happen to your friends.  It makes it even more apparent to us that if we don't take care of our bodies, who will.  I have become one of those people.  I am out of shape and overweight and my goal is to take control of myself and become a healthier individual.  I am commited to becoming a healthier eater and more consistent exerciser.  I will write these goals down on paper and initial them every morning and night just so I am accountable to myself.  I have 4 grandchildren that I want to be around to watch grow up and enjoy their pleasures.  Watch out world, I am on the way to becoming a healthier, happier me and I will not let anything get in the way.

I am enjoying my Artful Success Program so much.  If you are interested in learning more about this fabulous opportunity, please check out this website for more information.

Artful Success Program



I have also taken advantage of the extra time while we are traveling to listen to the wonderful downloads from this program.  I pop my little ear buds in and close my eyes, concentrating ever so hard on all of the information that Tonya Davidson has spend mega hours co-ordinating for us.  She is a remarkable mentor and I seriously wonder if she ever sleeps:O)

Until tomorrow, remember this:

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
Pablo Picasso

As always my friends, nothing but love and creativity from my soul to yours

No Need for Twist Ties & Popsicle Sticks Just Yet!

Can you afford to still make jewelry? Will anyone buy it?

I'm sure you've given some thought to the market price and how it's effecting the price of your pieces and whether you sell them or not. Worry not. It's not yet time to bring out the craft sticks and twist ties.
A burning question I hear more and more often, is whether or not someone can afford to use metal clay. Yes you can!
I happen to love math. Yes, that's probably why I'm in business, right? I confess, I am a bean counter. I have to do price comparison shopping at least once a day and often more.
So I thought I'd do a quick little comparison for you of silver and it's pricing.
A 25gm pack of PMC3 is today $ 2.24 per gram (retail). Art Clay is $2.50 per gram retail. Remember PMC is net weight and AC is gross weight (27.8 vs 20gm)
If you make a pendant about the size of a nickel you are going to use roughly 7grams. That's about $15.64 for material costs.
On April 30th, 2009 PMC 25gm retail price was $1.32 per gram ($12.63 market) and 7 grams would have cost $9.24. Then over the proceeding year silver increased and on April 30th, 2010 the PMC retail was $1.50 per gram ($18.62 market) and 7 grams would have cost $10.46.
Over the last year, the price of your materials has increased $5.18. I think that it's safe to say you can still markup that pendant $12 and it won't change your market that considerably. Might you lose a few customers by charging $62 versus $50 for that pendant? Sure, but I'm guessing that you can gain customers too by changing many things in your work and branding.
Could you take a few new classes to learn to use a tool or technique that can lessen your labor cost (which is your highest cost), can you learn to combine materials to lower your cost of goods, can you find ways to trim other costs (overhead) that actually cost you more?
It's simply a marketing problem. Everything in life is a marketing problem. How can you sell this highly valued material without being "salesy" but conveying the worth, the benefits and the sense of urgency (handmade, OAK) that your customer will buy it?
It's all perspective. It's all strategy. Don't let the market keep you from buying materials. Let it encourage you to become a better artist by using your materials wisely, being a better marketer, and a better business person!

Teacher, mentor, artist and founder of The Artful Success Program, Tonya Davidson helps artists take their techniques and business skills to the next level. As the CEO and founder of Whole Lotta Whimsy she has passionately empowered artists to live creatively from the inside out. Her ezine goes out to over 11,000 subscribers. Create the life you love by subscribing to her free ezine at https://webmail.west.cox.net/do/redirect?url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.wholelottawhimsy.com%252Fwo%252Fcontent%252Fnewsletter. Be sure to check out her blog at https://webmail.west.cox.net/do/redirect?url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.tonyadavidson.com%252F for FREE tutorials and articles.

Thanks so much Tonya for this helpful information.

Be sure to check out my ArtFire Studio:

http://www.artfire.com/users/MyArtandMySoul

As You Grow Up

We were visiting our family last Thanksgiving and I spotted this sign in a quaint shop in Nevada City, CA. As I stood there and read it over and over I became so aware of life and how very fragile it is. We are not in control of our own destiny, only God is. We need to be reminded daily of how temporary this  life on earth is and make that special effort to hug someone we love, dance like no one is watching and love life to the fullest - we only go around once. Be happy and love yourself for what you are. Bloom where you are planted and always be thankful for every breath you take. I love you one and all.

My Newest Copper Bracelet Creation

I've been working on a favorite bracelet design this past week and today it all came together.  I'll post some pictures and maybe you can get an idea of what it looks like.  I love creating with cold connections because the designs seem to develop on the table.  I always start out with a plan and cut the base pieces and what happens after that is just usually a pleasant surprise.  Here is a look at this surprise.

The toggle clasp is hand forged by me

The piece on the left is acid etched and the piece in the middle is stamped and then the adornments are added

This toggle is cut out of a circle disk then the center is cut out and the remainder is stamped.  Difficult to see that in this picture.

Some of the pieces are etched and some are stamped but they all have little added pieces that give each one of them their own distinct personality.  I am really happy with the way this one turned out.   I'm sorry that the pictures aren't better but I'm working on that all of the time.  Thanks for looking.

What do you think??

How do I set a price on my handmade item???

• How do I set a price on my handmade item???

Lauren Beck is the gallery manager for Out of our Hands, a Gallery of Fine Handcrafted Creations located in Pennsylvania.

http://www.outofourhands.com/

Posted by Lauren Beck on March 30, 2011 | No Comments
Categories: Discoveries | Reflections | Tips
Tags: No Tags

As a gallery manager I have many hats each day…the “face” of the store, the customer service expert, the display and decorating whiz, the engaging and charming blogger *sarcasm*…but many of our customers do not know a huge perk to my job description, and that is to build wonderful relationships with the artisans.  I must say that our group of talent continually surprises me with their inventiveness, but it’s astounding how humble they truly are.  Truly.  And it’s so surprising to find that because they are literally oozing with creativity…they have every right to have big-head syndrome.  I am always in awe.
We have lots of artisans that have been working with their craft for many years, but we have some that do it as a side-passion or have less experience.  Many times pricing comes up as a HUGE question…”Just what do I charge an interested customer for something I put my blood, sweat, and tears into?”  It can be daunting to overcharge for your work…but even scarier to UNDERcharge.
I have a few suggestions.  Now keep in mind, I don’t consider myself anywhere near an expert, but I do read…a lot.  I’m constantly checking out books, websites, magazines, blogs, even message boards where artists literally ask others for advice on a specific creation.  I wanted to not necessarily give my opinion on the matter (I am a bit biased because of my job), but to pass on valuable information so that you can make a more informed decision.  Here are a few resources I found helpful:

• Etsy is always on the top of my list for inspiration, but also for a reference.  Where else will you find that many people who all make stuff by hand???  Nowhere.  If you already have Etsy as a resource for purchasing beautifully unique items, think of it also as a resource to find useful blog articles or discussions.  Here is an Etsy message board posting that I came across…lots of comments on an artist’s actual earrings for sale from real-life crafters.

• I’m currently reading Craft, Inc by Meg Mateo Ilasco…a very quick read that maps out how to make your craft your full-time endeavor.  I recommend it for an overall look of the business, and it includes many quotes from successful craftsmen, along with a section on pricing and suggestions for an “equation” to use when calculating all of your expenses.  Check the book out on Amazon here.

• Crafting, MBA is an extremely interesting resource…basically a blog written by an exceptionally clever and knowledgeable woman, Megan Auman, who gives endless advice on how to make crafting not just a hobby.  Here are some blog articles she’s written about slapping a price sticker on your work: Defensive Pricing Strategy and How I Raised My Prices and Lived To Tell the Tale.

• One more blog, Glue and Glitter, is more based on eco-friendly craft ideas and how-tos, but I found a quick read on the author’s take on what to expect when you purchase something that’s handmade…here is the article. It’s nice to hear about her personal experience with customers scoffing at her high ticket prices.

I try to encourage artisans to never forget the time and skills necessary to create any handmade item.  Don’t sell yourself short…not everyone possesses the expertise to create an item such as your own!  However, on the flip-side, keep in mind current trends and what other stores (aka mean and ruthless corporations) are charging for an item that is similar.  Though the item you’re creating is undoubtedly more interesting and creative, don’t price your item out of the ballpark (for instance, a decorative wine glass at a home decor store may cost $12 each…I wouldn’t price your handpainted glass for more than a few dollars above that).
Sometimes artisans cannot price their items competitively…or somewhat competitively…with what the current market is.  They just can’t make a profit on the item they are selling for a reasonable price.  That’s when you must step back and really ask yourself, “Is it worth making more to sell?”  I’d hate to tell anyone not to continue something they love, but it quite possibly might not make you money.  This is something you must be willing to admit.  If you’re doing your craft to make money, reassessing the materials and time may be necessary.
Best of luck creating…and ultimately pricing to sell, sell, sell!!
Lauren

 Thank you so much Lauren for sharing this information with us and for allowing me to share it on my blog.  Pricing is always a concern and I think the most difficult part of the business.  Every little bit of information is helpful - Cheers and best of luck to you too, Sally

A Few of My Favorite Things (and Friends)

These are some pictures from the trunk show that Madeline Thorpe and I did in November.  We had a very successful show and the weather couldn't have been nicer.  We sold our etched metal art, etched glassware and lots of our copper and silver jewelry.  We are in the process (aren't we always in the process of one thing or another??) of preparing for our next show.  I will keep you posted......in the meantime, I hope you enjoy our art and soul.  Thanks for looking and I would love to have you comment.

Madeline does this beautiful glass etching on these perfume bottles.  Aren't they just the most beautiful works of art you've ever seen?  I think so;o)