Pricing handmade jewelry isn't as easy as it sounds or why aren't my designs selling?

It's official. We have hit the busiest season of the year. If you thought summer flew by, just wait for the next month.

I have sunken to a new level. I have enlisted Google apps to help we stay organized and prioritize my schedule.

I have basically three schedules to maintain. 1) real job as tech coordinator at a small Catholic school, 2) teaching at the local junior college, SWCC 3) designing and creating jewelry using the various mixed media that I enjoy so much.

It's the last minute crunch and although I have a list of things to do at home, I want to make as many new designs as I can so customers have a good selection of my work.

But, what is enough? I'm not an international discount chain, I don't buy from third-world countries. Each piece is designed and created by me. I don't duplicate my designs exactly, that's how my work stays unique.

How can I justify making new items? I have items that haven't sold since last spring, even at reduced prices.

This time of year, everyone is looking for a bargain, myself included, but there is a limit as to how low I can price my designs. I seldom make an hourly rate equivalent to the amount of time the piece took to create, but if I can't at least recoup the cost of the materials, I can't continue.

I know my prices are lower than others who make similar designs using the same materials. I've seen these items as shows and for sale on the Internet.

I've had people confirm they have seen items similar to mine going for much more money in the cities.

I've priced my pieces in a range where they aren't the most expensive pieces, but they are more expensive than some others who make jewelry in this area.

I have priced my work in a range I feel is appropriate for the local market. I use sterling silver in many designs and my cost for this precious metal varies with the market. I try to keep my prices consistent.

I have  high overhead for the materials and tools required for the type of designs I make compared to someone who makes beaded items that can be packed up and carried almost anywhere you need to be.

It might sound like I'm complaining and maybe I am. I read an article about pricing your jewelry and the author said it was important not to price it too low, as that cheapens your work and the work of your fellow artists.

So, I don't want someone to come up to me at a show and exclaim how outrageously high my prices are, but I would like to make some  profit, isn't that part of the reason I'm doing this?

I wanted to make a new necklace using rose quartz. I played with the stones for awhile before I finally started putting the necklace together. They are cold and fairly smooth, although you can feel the faint crevices which form in the stones naturally.

 I started and stopped a couple times. I decided what I wanted to make.

As I selected each stone, I strung it on brass wire, looping each end. I made jump rings from copper and attached them to form an openwork sphere between each stone.

Here is a rather poor quality picture of the Rose Quartz piece

I decided to make this piece more of a choker length at 18" rather than as a long draping piece partly because of the heft of the stones, but also due to the fact that my fingers were getting too sore to shape the wire.

I finished the piece, priced it $30. Using any of the methods for pricing, it is still priced too low. So why didn't sell?

My theory is it didn't just grab some one's attention enough for them to make it a must have purchase.

I'll keep trying to come up with pieces that really have that "must have" look to them, but what I see isn't always what a customer wants. Hm........ maybe that's why I do so many custom pieces?

I'm gearing up for my last planned show of the season. It's a fundraising event for the local animal shelter, C.A.R.E. and will be held in Creston, IA at the restored depot uptown. If you're out and about stop in and say hi, or buy.  (That's a joke)

Until next time, wishing you and yours a happy holiday season.

Upcycled is not the same as regifting

I've been busy doing some of the shows here in the southwest Iowa area. I get a chance to show off my work (and hope someone will buy it and help support my love of jewelry making and design), but I meet a lot of nice people.
I've added more pieces with a different theme to my display. I've incorporated more metal and I am using more recycled and found objects to create unique one of a kind designs that are either in the category of up cycled or steam punk.
Take your pick. I still have some of my more traditional pieces but I'm adding more interest.
I had several people this weekend that made a special trip in to see my pieces, especially the ones I've made with old silver ware. They had friends tell them to stop in and see what I had done.
That was kind of nice. I've added more pictures to this location and I'm working on getting them added to my Website, as they are for sale.
I had several people as me how I learned my technique and wanting me to give lessons/workshops.
I'll try to put together something for after the first of the year, I'm just not sure where to start, other than with the basics of design and then move on to the different techniques.
Right now, I fuse glass, work with metals, metal clay, and wire, that doesn't even get into the stuff I do that is actually strung.
I can see where I could have another part time job on top of the two I already have.
Oh well, whatever it takes to keep my repeat customers coming back - and yes, I still make scarves.

Fall festivities

As the weather starts to change I notice the colors. I am looking forward to a more seasonable fall than last year, where by the second weekend in October we had measurable snow on the ground.

This year has be gorgeous so far. I am finding myself busier than ever and trying to spend as much time as I can in my studio.

I teach a couple college courses as well as my "day job" as a technology coordinator, so I do have to spend some of my free time working on class assignments and things like that.

I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head and I'm ready to give them a try.

Some times, what I envision isn't exactly what ends of as the finished product.

I have more silver work this year and I have been playing with fire, literally.

Some of the pieces I want to create I've taken from nature and added my own twist to them, so to speak.

When I get the next one done, I'll post a picture.

Until then I hope I keep everyone in suspense.

Long weekend

It's hard to believe the fourth of July is upon us already. The summer is flying by.

That's what happens when it rains everyday for an entire month!
This weekend is the Creston High School class of 1965's 45th reunion.

They get together and talk about the old days, some good and some bad from the sound of some of the stories I've been hearing.

Many are reaching or have already retired.

This transition is easy for some, but there are those who find themselves at a loss when they no longer have the driving force behind them they must get out of bed in the morning and go to work.

Maybe it's because for some people, they get so wrapped up in their jobs and careers that everything else passes them by.

From listening to some of the stories I've decided at some point in time, I'll be there age and what will I be doing then?

I've done the whole workaholic thing, didn't really fit my personality.

Since I'm no longer a "9 to 5er" anymore, I found out I want time to enjoy myself.

I've discovered the art of piddling.
I was reading the CHS class of 1965 booklet which gives the class members a chance to update everyone on what's been happening in their lives since the last reunion.

One of the class mates described one of her activities as "piddles around on her acreage."

I too, like to piddle and think I could actually do it for a living, except it doesn't pay too well.

I'll keep my paying job and work at improving my piddling skills until I hit that retirement age.
If my luck holds, I'll be retired long before my 45th class reunion.

Life's too short

I knew my neighbor was ill, but I didn't realize until tonight when I read the paper that he had been taken to hospise and had died.
Wow, I'm not going to get the good neighbor award.
I feel really bad because he was a really nice man and his passing saddens me because he really had a lot of passion for many aspects of his life.
His yard was pristine. He cared for it and the house next door for many years as the owner, I believe, his aunt, was in a nursing home.
He held us all to a higher level in yard critique, although all of us in the neighborhood paled in comparison.
He was a nice and friendly man when he was out in the yard and we were, but we weren't what you would call friendly neighbors. There were no backyard barbeques, which, I never saw them have a grill, but we grill, and we never invited them over.
How do you live two doors down from someone and yet not realize until a day later that they have died?
I want to contribute it to a changing society where we are all involved with our own lives and the hell with everyone else.
I still can't believe my next door neighbor's husband died more than a year ago and I didn't know it until after the funeral.
Apparently, I live in a neighborhood of nonneighboring. If that term even exists. Which, I'm sure doesn't but it should. I feel bad about my lack of knowledge, but if I were more neighborly, I would have known.
How can we really claim that small-town life is the way to go when these things happen right under our noses and we have to read it in the paper???
I'm just venting a little. I feel guilty for not doing more or at least offering more.
When we moved here fifteen years ago, we had different neighbors.
They didn't want to "be neighborly" and we accepted that and went on with our lives. When new neighbors moved in, we just continued in our usual pattern.
Do get me wrong, we do talk to our neighbors, but we don't do the whole backyard barbeque thing like I've heard so many people talk about.
We have lots of celebritory occasions in our backyard. We do invite the neighbors, but none have every actually come over during one of our celebrations.
I don't mean just a family barbeque, I'm talking weddings, birthdays, and class reunions.
I hear about people wanting to live in smaller communities because of the values and support you gain in living in such communities.
Hello, I seem to be living in one, and don't feel too warm and fuzzy about the situation.
I might as well live in some big suburb in a metropolitan area for as much as I actually know about what's going on with my neighbors.
I grew up living in big cities. Yes, we might have known our neighbors somewhat, but my parents too friend who came to the birthday parties and backyar barbeques were friends of my parents who worked with my Father.
That was a long time ago and in a different time.
I don't know that if the situation were the same, they would invite those people over without a background check.
All I know is that my Father was friends with a lot of people and they came to our house on occasion.
I am not following in my Father's footsteps because, I can guarantee, my Father would have known how bad the health of his neighbor was.
I'm not leading a very good example for my kids or grandkids.
I want to pass on to them values that will help them succeed in life.
You can be just as honest as you want to be, but if you're not human and show emotion. It means nothing.

With the sun comes the wind

I love trying to decipher the weather forecast each day.
I'm pretty good, when it calls for breezy, that means anything less than gale-force winds. When it calls for windy, you'd better tie down everything, including small children.
It doesn't stop me from enjoying my sandals and flip flops as long as it's above 50. Thursday was touch and go. I work sandals to work, but when I ventured to the barn, I donned shoes.
I've been working on some new spring jewelry designs and just got a new order of glass delivered.
I'm as excited as a kid at Christmas. It was a totally awesome day, I got three packages at work. Of course, two were just toner cartridges and the other was a new battery for a power supply backup, but in my job, those things are exciting.
When all works well, everyone likes me, when things aren't going so well, like not being able to print for lack of toner, I'm on the bad list.
This time of year, I'm torn between wanting to be outside playing in the dirt and working in my studio creating new jewelry.
The jewelry designs will be taking a backseat for awhile as things are beginning to peak through the ground.
Along with the plants in my garden are numerous sprouts of grass. I need to get busy or I won't be able to keep up. This happens just about every year as I also have a tendency to want to play golf when it's nice.
Maybe I'm just getting older, but it seems that the wind blows more often than it used to. Maybe I just didn't notice as much in my younger years, but the last couple of years, I've been driven inside by high winds.
I know there was a beautiful day last week and I played golf all afternoon, without a hat, which isn't normal for me.
I didn't realize until later, I had quite a sunburn on my face.
I'm paying the price for that as it has begun to peel.
I vow to wear my hat now at all times while outside.
I have little seedlings taking up shelf space in my studio/garden shed. They lean toward the closest ray of sunlight they can.
My studio/garden shed has a window in the door on the west and two windows on the north, not the best for starting seedlings, but it seems to be working for the most part.
The grass has become quite green during the past week and I've seen numerous daffodils blooming all over town.
It's good to see new growth after everything was buried under so much snow for so long.
We bask in the bright sunshine. It warms our weary bones, until we catch a breeze.

So, that was spring??

Got to love living in the Midwest. Yesterday the weather was sunny and sixty, today, it's supposed to rain - turn to snow and who knows what else.
I'm getting spring fever, just like everyone else.

I've got seeds growing sideways in their little trays straining for a glimpse of the elusive sun.

I'm not sure why I bother reading the newspaper anymore. I'm amazed at the plans legislature comes up with to cover debt. Debt that was incurred because of no foresight and the illusions of granduer.

Please, what ever happened to common sense????
Now, the taxpayers of Iowa are going to be stuck paying the bond debt on the luxury resort planted near Lake Rathbun Dam. Damn, is right. If private developers didn't think it would fly why didn't the powers that be realize they were probably right????

The state's budget has been snowballing for so long, I wouldn't want to step out in front of it now and I don't see anyone stepping up to the plate and saying, oops, we should have slowed out spending back a few years ago because all that revenue we were predicting coming in from taxes isn't materializing.

My, but we must constantly learn from out mistakes.
Iowa's strapped economic situation is par for the nation, some states are worse than others, but all these bailouts are just pushing the debt around like a piece of cold okra on your dinner plate.

The national debt is now estimated to be $42,000 for everyone man, woman and child in the country. I'm sure they're only estimating those in the country legally, though.

I hope I don't get a bill in the mail for my share.

I'm really hoping the economy turns soon, all these predictions say this year will be better than last and finally by 2012, things should turn around.
I for one, would like to see it turn just a litle faster. It's pretty hard to sell jewelry right now, but at least I have the common sense to watch my cash flow and try to at least have as much money coming in as going out. Hmm, ya think the government should try that theory???

Is the economy turning around?

You read it in the papers and see it on the news. All the reports of how the economy is slowing turning around.
In Iowa, the answer seems to be build more casinos. I find it hard to believe this is going to create the stimulus needed to spur the economy.
Yes, creating jobs is important, but what about the ramifications when people lose hard earned money they can't afford to in order to keep these few people employed at casinos?
There are only so many dollars and I can't see this as an answer to the current situation.
There are too many casinos in Iowa as it is. Yes, they help the communities they are in and support some state funding, but where do those dollars come from?
The hard earned wages of people who should be paying down debt rather than lining the pockets a few corporate owners.
What happens when the market is saturated? Others in the industry see a loss. That's all that is going to happen if more casinos are built in Iowa. People who frequent new casinos hoping for better luck and higher payouts. The established casinos will see fewer customers, the need for less staff and those employees will be put out of work by the new jobs created in different locations.
How is this going to help stimulate the economy?
It's about as sound as the current universal health care plans. Not too well thought out.
It matters in the end, but there is always going to be the faction of people who will slip through the cracks and not gain any benefit when they are the ones who need it the most.

Can I make it as a jewelry artist?

I've got today off from my regular job so I intend to work in the studio. I'm setting up for the open house, which starts tomorrow afternoon. I have ideas I'd like to work on, probably won't get anything ready before then.

I'm also making cinnamon rolls to take to a friend. I'll be hopping between the house and barn most of the day.

I've got to get off to a good start with my morning workout at Curves.

There are pros and cons, but to me, it is better than nothing and for many, it's the only source of exercise they will get involved with.

I should know as a former owner of two Curves, that was the story with many of our customers.

I made several good and lasting friendships during my years as a business owner.

The upside was being your own boss, the downside was I had a business partner and as it turned out, things happened that were uncontrollable and we ended up selling the businesses.

It was a learning experience, one that I have chosen to grow from.

It was sort of doomed prospect in the first place, people wondered if we were just going to close up shop as our building to the ground in a bizarre fire that took our an entire square block in Osceola, Iowa, in 2004. As a Phoenix, we rose from the ashes an opened a new place on the square and added another business to the mix.

My jewelry business is my endeavor, so I have no one to help or hinder.

I have to stick my neck out there and test the waters, maybe I'll turn this into a real business and maybe not, I am the one to do it.

I read information on the Internet on how to promote your business and it's work.

Blogging and social networking are important in this day and age. One jewelry artist said if you aren't socially connected online, people will consider you out of touch, it can hurt your business.

Far be it from me to be socially challenged. Sometimes, I think about chucking the whole blogging thing, because it doesn't seem to be getting me any followers as of yet, but then I'm of an age where I want instant gratification now. Maybe it's because I grew up in a time when if you wanted something badly enough you saved your money until you have enough to buy it and didn't use credit cards.

Doesn't sound like such a bad way to go does it? But, as I digress, I will try to stay on task. It's not easy starting a business, but I must admit, a franchise, although a more expensive alternative to starting a business, tends to provide a good support network. Of course they do, they want all franchisees to do well, so they will continue to make money.

As a jewelry designer and artist, you are on your own to research your best markets and the venues where you want to show your work.

I would like to have a retail outlet for my jewelry, get some exposure, but it has to be the right outlet, and it has to present my jewelry in a positive atmosphere.

I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone and market my jewelry line. I know it isn't for everyone and there may be a limited market, but at least I'm going to give it a try.

The first step was to take it to craft show, then I put some on Etsy, but haven't sold any.

Now, I'm having an open house. I have to keep a positive attitude where it's concerned. I hope for a big success. I just have to try and not give up hope.

Save the date - my first open house

It's a done deal. I've set the date for an open house for my jewelry. I sold at craft shows during the Christmas holidays and did quite well, it was suggested I make my designs available to a wider audience. Not everyone has time to go to craft shows.

I knew I'd have to set a date or I would just keep putting it off.

My studio has a double purpose. It is also my potting shed, I will need to make room on my workbench for trays of seedlings.

I simply have a hobby addiction!

There isn't room in the studio for my loom, which sits in the dining room and my scrapbook supplies take up half of the basement.

I'm starting today to clear space on at least one of the shelves hold my potting/gardening supplies for a jewelry display.

I have an idea for a new glass piece. I've experimented with different textures as designs between the layers of glass. So while I'm trying to sort things out on the shelves, I'll also be seeing if my idea will work.

Sometimes it's totally amazing what comes out of the kiln, then there are the uh oh moments, the times I look at the finished piece and wonder what I was thinking.

There are a lot of specifics to firing glass. Temperature, COE and what the materials are you're trying to fuse.

There are several different types of fuses. I usually use a full fuse, but I've also done some pieces using a tack fuse method, which just anneals the pieces of glass than a full fuse where the glass is smooth and rounded into a finished piece.

Tack fuse creates a more textured design and is used to create specific designs.

Well, as close to a design as possible.

I have used some pieces of broken glass from pieces that broke during firing and created some freeform pendants that I've wire wrapped to finish them.

Just another way to make them stand out from the crowd.

Inspired by life

I've gotten comments from people who see my jewelry designs and ask me where I get my ideas.
I have to admit I literally dream some of them up.
I wake up in the middle of the night with an idea for a design and can't wait until I can get to my studio and try to realize that dream-inspired design.
Sometimes it's awesome and sometimes, it's just awe.
One thing that helps is having the proper tools for wire work.
I have a variety of pliers, files and different gauge and texture of wire available to work with.
I've found a great source for tools, wire and instruction at Wire-Sculpture.com.
The support offered on this site and through the staff is great.
If you're not sure what specific tool you need simply call their 800 number for support.
If you're into wire sculpture or just curious about all the different tools available just visit the tool link on the website Wire-Sculpture.com Jewelry making tools! and browse around.
You're liable to become a tool junky like myself.