Handmade Division's Talk about blog - Feb. Edition - What’s the most romantic piece you’ve ever made and why?

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

For this month's installment of the talk about blog - the topic is of course Valentine's related!
The question is:
What’s the most romantic piece you’ve ever made and why?

I am in the fortunate position to have made many many romantic pieces - people often tell me wonderful stories of their loved ones that they are getting engaged or married to. And many 'regular' pieces have amazingly loving stories as well. So really it tends not to be so much about the piece as it is about the people and the story.



I think one of my favorites was Liz - who was traveling to Alaska from New Zealand to meet up with her soon to be fiance who was going to propose to her under the northern lights. Just imagining it was so wonderful - it really stood out in my mind.

and to continue the fun - make sure to checkout the other participants for this month's theme:
Rickson Jewellery
andes cruz
Jewelry by Natsuko
Barbara Donovan

New Year, New Policy, New Design

I love the new year (i know we're already well in to it, but my working year started late). I love reevaluating and making changes. I love trying out new things and finding what is most efficient. So I've come up with a new "policy" that is written out in my announcement. I realize I get so easily caught up in answering questions and convos and emails every morning - it takes me literally hours and hours. depending on the question, I can spend an hour working on just ONE convo - looking up stones, figuring up prices of different metals, etc. I like to be thorough, but this takes time. I also realize that in doing this, I am actually putting that person 'above' customers who have already placed orders and are waiting for me to make and finish their ring. Granted, there is balance in everything, but if I spend 4 hours on the computer in the morning, that drastically shortens my day in the studio. So I've started limiting my time on the computer and not answering everyone right away. In some ways it seems like it is good customer service to answer quickly, but to what end? That I am taking more time away from working in the studio? Would someone prefer I answer them immediately or that I finish their ring more quickly?

Does this seem reasonable? Here's what I wrote for my new announcement. I do want to make sure it sounds nice and for people to know that customer service is important to me. And I want my 'paying' customers to know that I am putting them first. sooo... whatcha think?

*Please note* I am in the studio most of the day and since my computer is not, my online time is a bit limited. This means that it may take a little while to answer some convos. If it is an easy answer, I can respond quickly, but for a more lengthy response such as custom order price quotes, it may take up to a week to respond. I apologize for any inconvenience. If you are working with a tight deadline, please let me know and I will do the best I can to get back to you quickly. Thanks for understanding :)

In addition to my goal of spending less time on the computer (oh the irony of writing this blog post) I want to be making time to come up w/ new designs. Even if it is just a subtle new texture like these I finished yesterday. So, sorry computer, I will be spending less time with you. I think you can deal w/ just a couple hours a day right?



The new texture is built off of my subtlety bands, so still a nice organic base, w/ this super tiny hammer texture. I haven't come up w/ a name yet... so in addition to feedback on my policy - if you have any ideas for names, or what the texture reminds you of, that would be great! I used a rough diamond for this one b/c I have so many, and I really like them. But will most likely do another version w/ a regular cut diamond.

Hope everyone is finding the balance they need this year :)

Where have I been?! + EtsyMetal Blog Carnival

So I totally missed last month's group blogging efforts. And considering that the 'blog carnivals' and 'talk about blogs' have been pretty much the only blogging I've done in the past few months - well... my blog has been sorely neglected. But I'm back, at least for today! haha! I'll post the blog carnival topic first for those of you that just want to read that - and then a longer update will follow :)

This month's topic is:
Tell us about other kinds of art and craft you do. What other media do you work and play with? How often do you get to create? Does it relate to or inspire your metalworking?

Recently, jewelry has pretty much taken up all my time. There are other things here and there that pop up, but for the most part I haven't been making the time. When I'm not working on jewelry orders, I do those 'adult' things like cleaning the house, paying bills/trying to keep up with my business 'books', showering... you know, the usual things.

I do sometimes knit - but not very seriously. just a scarf here or there. I do some screenprinting - which is really fun, but I don't do it very often now either. I do enjoy photography and will often go out and take a mini nature walk with my camera. Painting is my most missed 'hobby'. It has honestly been a few years since I've actually done any. I use the excuse of not having a space to paint, but maybe it is just laziness. I like using oil paints, so painting in an enclosed space w/ no ventilation is not a great idea. My studio is soooo dirty, that isn't a great idea either. And I like painting BIG. Which is also an issue of space. I did a series of large 4' x 6' paintings when I had my jewelry exit show and that size was just perfect. Smaller is okay, but just not quite as fun or therapeutic. I dream of having a separate painting studio so I can keep things set up all the time and have a little 'escape'. Maybe some day.

The photograph of the painting I posted has an interesting story. I used to work at a local coffee shop and managed the artists each month - about once a year or so I would have my work up. The last month I worked there, I had this painting up and it sold the same morning I turned in my notice. It was a wonderful sign to have a nice big check coming to me right as I was quitting my job! I guess the interesting thing was that I was quitting to make jewelry - and my painting helped me to do that!

So... I guess to answer the other questions... kind of hypothetically since I haven't been painting recently... the painting I've done does totally relate to my jewelry. Very nature themed - particularly lots of trees. Just like my rings. haha!

Anyway, I'm going to wrap this up and send you off to read everyone else's answers to this months' topic. And my update will be below.

kate jones - www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com
kathryn cole - www.kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com
2Roses - www.JewelryTutorial.blogspot.com
Twigs and Heather - www.twigsandheather.blogspot.com
Erin Austin - www.metalmusing.blogspot.com
Thomasin Durgin - metalriot.blogspot.com
Nodeform - nodeform.blogspot.com
stacey hansen - wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com
Nina Gibson - ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com
elizabeth scott - esdesignsjewelry.com/blog
Evelyn Markasky - markasky.blogspot.com
Amanda Conley - amandaconley.blogspot.com
Jenny Baughman - ridgeschool.blogspot.com
Catherine Chandler - catherinechandler.blogspot.com

Now for the update!

Winter is particularly difficult for me. I really want to just hibernate. When nature is asleep it whispers.... "beeetthhhh, gooo to sleeeeeep" The sun isn't up as much - often when it is, it is still cloudy and gray. So it takes most of my energy to try to stay focused on actually working and making things people want. Lots of other things (like blogs and facebook, etc) get put aside until the days grow longer and more sunny and the trees are once again vibrant.

But...

The big news is that I am now officially a yoga teacher! Yay! For two weeks in January I finished up the final session of the Beginner Intergral Yoga Teacher Training. It was an amazing life changing experience with a group of fantastic individuals and incredible teachers. I don't have any specific plans for teaching yet. I'm open to whatever might come along. Right now, I'm mostly trying to get back in to 'work mode' and getting caught up on wedding ring orders. I do have some ideas brewing as far as doing some youtube videos - on the topic of "Yoga for Jewelers". So... we'll see! Stay tuned and I'll try to update a bit more often than once a month. Even though its been about 2 since I last posted!

Hope you have a lovely day! And seriously - go read the other participating bloggers (many may not be posted til later today/tonight)

Handmade Division's Talk about blog - Dec. Edition - Where do you aspire to be in 5 years?

This month's installation of Handmade Division's talk about blog is:
Where do you aspire to be in 5 years?

Which is a very interesting question... I used to have very specific goals and long term plans and maybe it is just the mood I am in today (been working on my yoga teacher training midterm), but I really have no idea what will be happening in 5 years and I'm not sure if I have any specific goals.

I think I'd like to have moved within the next 5 years to a little bit larger house with a bit more land and have a studio that is climate controlled (oh how nice that would be for my freezing studio that was 24 degrees yesterday morning).

As far as what I will be doing I have no idea! I'm sure I'll still be making jewelry and most likely still doing wedding rings. Maybe teaching yoga as well. I would like to be more organized in 5 years, perhaps with an assistant that does all my paperwork? Maybe gotten to a place that I can take off all of January and February and travel some place warm. And maybe have a small RV and the ability to take several long vacations through the year. That sounds like a good plan to me!

I am happy where I am now, though I know I will be in a different place in 5 years and expect to be happy there too.

Now for the fun of the talk about blog! Please check out the other participating artists to see where they'd like to be in 5 years:

Andes Cruz
Tess Norberg
Rebekah Timlin Meddles
Jewelry by Natsuko
Bella-Bijou Jewellery
JJ Papke
Tosca Teran
Thomasin Durgin
Lisa Hopkins Design

Handmade Division's Talk about blog - Nov. Edition - Talk about one/some teachers/mentors/masters you'd like to study with

photo via david huang

It is time for this month's installation of one of my street team's - Handmade Division - Talk about Blog. It is similar to the EtsyMetal Blog Carnival. Each month a topic is given and we all write about that topic. It is great fun to see all the different variations of the same topic.

This month's topic is:
Talk about one/some teachers/mentors/masters you'd like to study with.

Initially - I almost didn't even sign up for this b/c my first answer was "I have no idea!" I tend to like to work things out on my own, 'learn the hard way', which I know is silly. I just don't often look around at people's work and really delve in to what they do - and then think I'd like to learn from them. I guess I am more drawn to work of people who do things that are quite different from my work. So the idea of studying with one of these people hasn't necessarily ever been a desire. However... I did think of someone - so it makes this topic much easier!!

When I was in school - the semester before I started the program - the chasing and repousse class was taught. And it wasn't taught again until after I was done. So sad! I did make a few chasing tools - but not having a great idea of what I would be doing with them, it felt kind of pointless. At one point, I asked one of my teachers if they would show me how for an indepth project we were given. Sadly - he told me to go find a book and learn on my own. I had a friend in class show me the basics and played with it a little on my own. Since I was young and in school and learning so many techniques all in a short period of time, I never truly learned how to do it. When I started my own studio there were other things I was interested in more, so once again, it has been put on the back burner. When I went to the SNAG conference in Savannah a few years ago I saw David Huang's work in person and was utterly amazed. I honestly remember very few other people's work! So he is one person I could think of that has mastered a technique I would like to learn one day. And I'd love to see his fabulous solar powered studio!

Make sure to check out the other participating members:

Andes Cruz
Nancy Dale
Tosca Teran
Lisa Hopkins Design
Rickson Jewellery
Sand Fibers
Purified
Emily Watson
Thomasin Durgin
WATTO Distinctive Metal Wear

EtsyMetal Blog Carnival 11.8.10: Business Success Secrets

It's time for the EtsyMetal Blog Carnival!

Business Success Secrets: What does it mean to you to be "successful" in business as an artist? How do you walk the line between creativity and profitability? What is the best thing you've done for your business?


What a fantastic topic!

When I was just starting out, I felt successful when I started earning enough to completely cover all my bills and quit putting myself further in to debt. Of course, the more successful I have become, the more that definition changes. I felt even more successful when I started earning enough that all of my bills were paid and all of my debt was gone. Being able to have extra money beyond covering the bills was/is huge. Being able to buy something fun with money I have, and being able to save! (oh my goodness, is this what it is to be an adult??)

As far as walking the line between creativity and profitability - I think I am the wrong person to ask at this point. Most of what I sell now are custom wedding rings. Most are designs that I have been making over and over. It feels more fun and creative to actually being making them individually. It keeps me from feeling like a total factory. I do get to be creative with truly custom designs - but for the most part, I think I have been focusing on 'becoming successful'. As my business has grown - the demand from the customers has been wonderful, but it has also, for the most part, kept me in the land of production. At some points, I've felt my artistic creativity has dried up a bit. I am creative in ways of becoming more efficient, trying new tools and new ways of doing things. But new "creative" work has taken a bit of a back seat. I think I am fairly business oriented and enjoy 'running a business' (most days!), but finding that balance can be difficult. There is constant readjustment. But I guess that is true with just about everything.

I do think one of the best, most recent things I've done for my business is to become more focused. Opening up a wedding ring only shop has helped that part of my business grow and helps to keep me a bit more focused. I have let the 'regular jewelry' side of my business rest for awhile, mostly because of time and energy constraints! Though the list of customers can sometimes be overwhelming, it is easier for me to work that way than to have many wholesale and/or consignment accounts, making lost of 'random' jewelry that I hope will sell and creating lots of stock that I have to store. For me, that is less enjoyable than working directly with a customer to create something meaningful.

Though I haven't quite made it there yet - I'm hoping that by focusing my business in that one direction, I can start to let me artistic creativity come out in fun ways on random jewelry projects. We'll see! :)

Make sure to check out all the other participating bloggers this month!


wildflowerdesigns
victoria takahashi / experimetal
2Roses
Jenny
Heather
Purified
Nina Gibson

Happy Sale - you should buy stuff.

So a couple weeks ago, I started a sale. I had every intention of photographing and listing a whole bunch of new stuff when I started it, however, that didn't happen. Today! Finally! I am getting things photographed and listed - I'm up to 11 new things - all of which are on sale and all of which are things I would really like to sell. So far, just lots of fun little earrings - those kinds that are easy to thrown in as you walk out the door realizing you've forgotten to put ANY jewelry on. All are under $35, most are $20 and under. A lot are $10 off or more. I'll be listing some bigger and more expensive pieces as well as the day goes on. The sale, though not indefinite, does not have a definitive end. "Get while the gettin' is good!" Here's a direct link to the SALE section.

Here are a few things of my favorites I've just gotten listed (pieces I'd almost just kept myself)







ALSO - and this was one of the main reasons for having the sale (besides my annual birthday sale!) is that EtsyMetal is turning 4! And we've been having big promotions and loads of other etsymetal members have been having sales too! You can check out the etsymetal blog for more info.

Handmade Division's Talk about blog - Oct Edition - How did you get to where you are now with your skills?

This month's edition of Handmade Division's talk about blog is: How did you get to where you are now with your skills?

For me, this one is pretty easy!! It somewhat had to do with my skills, but also to do with tools. I particularly loved casting in school and after I got the set up to do my own casting - it all kind of grew from there! Now the majority of my work is cast - all unique castings (no molds) and my entire line of wedding rings is now all cast! so my entire wedding shop is based on that one small decision to get the equipment to be able to cast on my own. The skill was there with the wax and the knowledge of being able to do the casting - and with the right tools it was all possible!!

I guess that was a pretty boring and simple answer - a couple years ago the answer would have been different - but now, it is such a clear and easy answer!

Make sure to check out everyone else's answers to see how they've got skills too! :)

Andes Cruz
Tess Norberg
Jaime Pickering
Purified
Nancy Dale
Jewelry by Natsuko
Sand Fibers
Alice Istanbul
Thomasin Durgin
Susan Moloney
Emily Watson
Tosca Teran
Lisa Hopkins
Tamra Gentry
JJ Papke
Alisa Miller
Mary Spencer

EtsyMetal Blog Carnival 10.4.10

This month's blog carnival for EtsyMetal is in celebration of our 4th anniversary.
EtsyMetal and Me
When/Why did you join? Is it what you expected? What does it mean to you to be a part of the team?

I was one of the first members of EtsyMetal - way before there was a jury. I think there were 12 of us to begin, or 13... I remember making a treasury with featuring everyone in the group and no one was left out! how tiny is that?! I'm pretty sure I didn't include myself, but maybe included someone twice. And if I remember correctly, I think it made the front page! I wish I had a screen shot of that! It was the first street team I was on and I really had no idea what it would turn in to - but it is definitely fabulous!

It is quite amazing how 4 years have really changed the group as well as my own business. Being in the group since the beginning makes it a little difficult to say how I might have evolved on my own vs how the group has helped me to evolve. I know that being in EtsyMetal has been life changing. The emotional and business support of other amazing metalsmiths has definitely helped me through some rough times as well as celebrate at wonderful victories. I've constantly been amazed at the camaraderie, openness and willingness to share knowledge and information without batting an eyelash. With such a huge field (jewelry) particularly on Etsy - it seems that we've been able to band together instead of become competitive with each other. The success of others have inspired me to work harder and try new things. I don't know where I'd be without EtsyMetal, but I do know I wouldn't be where I am.

I really think I could keep writing for pages of how much I love this group, but this pretty much sums it up without getting too boring to read!

Make sure to check out the other participating members blogs on this topic:

Catherine Chandler
Danielle Miller
Victoria Takahashi
Inbar Bareket
Stacey
Caitlyn Davey
Nina Gibson

Handmade Division "Talk About" September Edition

Every month, Handmade Division has a 'talk about' group blog event. (it's like a blog carnival if you're familiar with that)

This month's topic is:

Where do you draw your inspirations for creating from?

It's a pretty broad questions, and I guess I have to give a pretty broad answer! Like most artists, I draw inspiration from the world around me, mostly nature based though. I love trees and plants in particular. I also really like insects and have some ideas of insect projects I'd like to do.

I love the cosmos, the stars, nebulas (nebulae?), galaxies, outer space! I find it all really fascinating and easily translatable in to metal.

I've always been slightly interested in the human body, but since starting my yoga teacher training, have become more and more interested and inspired and have some ideas concerning internal systems.

And then on the total flip size, I love architecture and architectural elements. When I have the time to just play around, I am often inspired window shapes, buttresses, brackets, turrets, whatever interesting bits that seem to translate well in to a current stone or metal shape I'm working with... not that I've had the time to do much of that recently.

so the very easy answer - Nature! :)

make sure to check out the other participating members this month!

Andes Cruz
Susan Moloney
Alice Istanbul
Rebekah Meddles (Lunasa Designs Jewelry)
Jewelry by Natsuko
nanotopia
Bella-Bijou Jewellery
ArtJewel Designs
Lisa Hopkins Design
Thomasin Durgin
Abhaya Fibers