Designer Quest Catch Up

In the past I have shown you my designer quest entries and let you know how I've gone. Well, as in other things, I'm behind. But I've just had the pictures done for me so I will show you the entry from late last year. The theme was wire. We received a heap of copper wire and a pack of beads and that was it. This is what I made. I love it. AND it's already sold. Yaay me!!

The Necklace

and the matching Bracelet.

I always like to see people's comments and 3 people voted me their favourite this time. Encouraging.

Time Flies

Goodness times flies when you're distracted. It's been four months since my last post. What with Christmas and family distractions a business can be left on the backburner very easily. But, I'm pulling myself out of my pit and I'm back. Notice the very cool 'mini etsy' to your right. Very cool. There are some new items for sale. I have two new designer quest items to show you but need photos taken first. So hang around. I will be back.

Update

Just a quick update. It's been just over a month but I've been so busy.

Designer Quest: didn't get any response again but out of 80 entries only 40 people voted so what kind of indication is that? Disappointing. I'd like to know what people think of my piece even if I don't win the big prize.

Open House: the Open House sales I have held over the last month have been very successful. The one at my house was the most successful to date. I sold over $1000 worth of jewellery! This weekend just gone was the OpenHouse in Bathurst. It was also very successful, especially being the first one. I made just under $500. Finally, things are starting to move.

Website: go check it out. I'd love some feedback. Finally, it is taking shape and looking a little like artistic people are involved. There is writing and pictures. Yaay!!

Designer Quest

Well, today is the posting day for the entries for this Designer Quest held by the Australian Beading Forum. The pack this time was showcasing some new ceramic beads and provided by the Australian online store Crystal Flair.

Here is my entry.

Necklace contains aventurine beads along with the various ceramic beads. So, as before, my aim is to have 3 people vote for me in the people's choice awards after the main event. I did better than the last few times in the fact that I didn't add too many extra things. The only things added this time are head pins and a little bit of wire. I didn't use one of the clasps though. It will be interesting to see how others used the supplies.

Every bit counts

Well, I have spent the last two days at the Sydney Bead and Gem show. Caught up with some people and manned the stall for Guru Creations. I took some of my wrapped beads that I posted below and was asked to do a magazine project based on the idea but kept simple. I'm excited. Every little bit helps. This was possible because of a contact I made last year at the show. Austalian Beader Magazine has become a fabulous magazine for beaders. Most of the projects in it are fairly basic but beautiful. The layout is really great and there are heaps of articles included about trends and artists and events which not all the magazines have. I hope this goes well and I do become published.

Being Australian

Now, I love being Australian but.....

Everytime you need to do something with other people in other countries they are in a completely different time zone. Not as in 5 hours different, but they work at what is my 1 and 2am. Really quite frustrating. I think I'm going to be short of sleep some weeks. I wonder if daylight saving will make things better or worse?

On the up side, I have found some very good American based networking groups that I will, hopefully, be able to gain much from. The ad of the previous post is for a fair that I am a part of. It's on for the coming two weeks. Small Business owners are showing their goods and you get to talk to the owners about who they are and what they sell and why they think their products are worthwhile. There are also discounts and special offers being given. Hopefully it will be another avenue for me.

Ad for Small Business Referral Network

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Pictures of my wire wrapping work

Finally, I have been able to borrow a camera to photograph my work. I have been making so much lately and it has been frustrating not to be able to show what I do. When I sell things I will be able to buy my own camera, but that is a while off yet. I have made necklaces and earrings, but the things I am most proud of are my wire wrapped beads. I'll show them off today.

First up, an absolutely gorgeous lampworked bead by Wendy of Guru Creations. She's going to send me broke that girl, I just cannot resist her work. I wire wrapped it in 14k gold filled wire and am really thrilled with its simplicity. It looks really classy.

Another lampworked bead by Wendy. I'm not quite so happy with this one. I couldn't get the wire to bend enough and so, in my opinion, there is too much going on over what is already a busy bead. Oh well. It's sterling silver so I'm not just going to cut it off. I'll see if anyone bites. I do like the curl at the bottom of both these beads though. It makes them better balanced than others I've done.

This is a Carnelian bead I bought over a year ago. I just loved the orange and the shape and that touch of white patterning at the top. So pretty. One of those purchases where, once you've bought it you have no idea how to use it. Finally I thought of this pattern and I think it's stunning. Simple, elegant and very special. I think I will buy some carnelian beads and string it somehow. The loop at the bottom of the sterling ended up facing the wrong direction to what I intended but the design ended up better that way anyhow.

This last one is a bead by Anne Dundas. She makes beautiful lampwork beads. I have used a lot lately. This one was so much smaller than I expected it to be that I was at a loss as to what to do with it. I was quite excited to realise I could wrap it. It's not the best, but it's not too bad and it's the first one of this shape I've done. The loops are too small for my liking but that was all the wire I had left. Again, sterling silver.

I'd love people's comments on these wire wrapped beads.

My First Jewellery Class

Well, yesterday was my first 'official' class. Some of the teachers at school put their names down to attend and I had six ladies. While teaching is what I do all the time and I'd had some girls come to learn at home from me, I hadn't done this officially yet. I organised packs for them to choose from. They had a choice of 3 colours. They also had a choice of two bracelets to make with these beads; easy, medium and difficult. They were all really pleased with what they had made. Most chose the medium bracelet.

I have my name down to teach a class during the holidays. On Friday I find out if there is enough interest for it to go ahead. I hope so, as that would be with people who have never met me before and would spread my possible clientel.

New Banner

Well, I asked Anne, another Australian etsy-er to retouch my banner for me. She did it in minutes and it looks so much better. Finally a banner I'm not ashamed of. Check it out.

If you click over to my etsy store you'll see it in its full glory. I'll have to work out a way to use this on the website. Still waiting on that manual by the way.

Anne also did the avator for ClayGraphia (see link) and touched up the banner there too because the original was all fuzzy.

I have been putting together some wonderful pieces in the last couple of days. A lovely Lapis Lazuli necklace. I wish I had a camera to take a pic. I'm finally coming up with some ideas on how to use all my beads and stones that I've had for over a year.

If only I would sell.....

Advertising

So I have started on the crawl to learn about how to advertise myself. I have found this fun site where you give your link and then review and visit other sites to tempt others to come to your site. Joined today and started. It will be interesting to see the traffic that comes here and if any results come from it. When I do more on the website I will link that one up too. If you're interested in this click the link button in my link list - the one under etsy.

Talking of the web site. I emailed Rob explaining how I wouldn't be able to go up for the training as yet and he's sending me a manual. Yay! I'll be able to start doing stuff.

DUST

In the interests of advertising my wares I'm joining DUST - Down Under Street Team. This is a group of Australians involved with etsy who are joining together to help with promotion. Here is the pic.

Website

Well, finally ClayGraphia has her new banner up. I like it, it's bold and clear. Hopefully Rob will send it down to me soon and I can put it up in the etsy shop for her. I emailed Rob with some requests a while ago, just things to do on the site but nothing has been done. I wonder how I handle this. The problem is, that I was expecting to visit him much sooner than this for my lesson in how to do the updates on the site myself but Marjo is so busy that I can't get up there to visit. Tis a dilemma. I wonder if I can learn on instant messenger? I'd love to get the site looking better. Everything moves so much slower than you want or expect. Oh well.

The good news is, that I've had a few hits to the site via the ads I've put up over the place. That is a good sign.

Took my jewellery into school last week and set it all out. Sold 10 things. Not bad going. Also had several orders placed. This is encouraging. It's just I need these sales more often. Here's some things I sold...

Collaboration

Well, the designer quest is over and done. Nobody voted for my piece! People have no taste. I'll just assume that, as they closed the site while voting should have been taking place that people have forgotton to vote.

I have been gradually changing the galleries on my website. Logged into the manager part the other day but am not brave enough to change anything yet. It's a shame it's going to be so long before I can get to Rob for my training.

I have finished my pendants from Stiletto Heights. My 'Stiletto Collection' is now for sale at etsy. Here is what they look like. I really enjoyed the coiling and will do a lot more of it.

Competitions

I have again entered into the 'Designer Quest' competition. Judging is on Monday. The first time I entered I didn't get a place and nobody voted for my piece in the posters choice. Second time I entered I didn't get a place and 3 people voted for me in the posters choice. I'm hoping for more than 3 people this time. Here is my entry. Personally I am very happy with it.

As for my website - it is up but I'm not ready to show it yet. It needs a lot of changes made to it. I am very pleased with it though. Just need to make it look better.

Also met with Penel regarding putting the pendant design in the magazine. She loved the pendant and we put down the steps. I'll have to make up the steps for the pictures next. She also said she'd like to do more colloborative work, so that was very good to here.

The pendants I'm making with the discs from Stilletto Designs are almost done too. Hopefully something will sell soon.

Things are Moving Again

It's been a while since I updated and quite a lot has happened. Firstly, the web site is in motion. I found a man with the help of Marjo and he will do a wonderful job, I think. I have sent him all the logos and things and look forward to seeing what he does.

Marjo? you ask. Who is she? Well, apart from being my cousin, she is now, a part of the website, which will be called "Soulscape Artistry". This is going to be for a select number of Australian artists who will benefit from working together. Hopefully, sharing a web site will widen the range of people who see our work. I have spent some time setting up Marjo's etsy store. It is called "ClayGraphia". Hop over to the links and check it out. She really does wonderful work - Calligraphy and Clay. Ceramics with writing and carving. Really beautiful. She has just finished a six week exhibition and so is looking for the next step.

Also, finally have a new version of my banner has arrived. Not fabulous, but the 'Handcrafted Jewellery' is much clearer and so looks better. Here it is.....



There are two other things in the pipe line. The first is with Wendy from Guru Creations (see links). She has asked if she can put some of my work in her customer gallery. I was excited about that. The other thing is that I was asked by Penel of Fire Bird Beads (no website), to use her beads to design a pendant for a customer DIY kit. I have sent her some pictures of what she has done and wait to see her reaction.

So, all in all, things are going well. Sales are non-existant but I'm sure will improve as people look towards the gift giving season. I hope they do, anyway.

Thinking Time

Well, things are pretty much the same at present. I'll be meeting with a guy to talk about websites this coming week so hopefully something will get moving there. I'm spending most of my time getting things made.

I have also given a bit more thought to how I would run parties. What things I would need to have as projects. I'd have to have beginner, medium and more advanced things and wouldn't want to use the beads that I make my own things from or I will dupe myself. One of my student's mother sells glass beads so maybe I can use her things for classes and parties. Will have to see what they're like. It's difficult to think of project that are simple but not complete ripoffs of other people's designs. A strung necklace is a necklace is a necklace to a certain extent and earrings, if you want to be simple just that, simple. They say you need to change a design by 10% to avoid copyright etc. I should be able to work it out when I sit down and think it through. Just got to sit down and think it through.

On with the show

Well, things are beginning to move again. Slowly, but however slow the pace is, it's always better to go forward then not move at all.

I received my banner today. Well, to be perfectly honest, I've had other versions sent before but haven't liked them so they don't count. Not entirely happy with this either but it's good enough to use for now. Here 'tis. Tell me what needs to happen to make it work better.

Will it work if I just have the writing moved more middle-ish or is something else needed? The rest of the stuff looks stylish, this just looks boring. Should I have the G made smaller so the rest of the writing can be made bigger? Does the handcrafted jewellery need to be bigger also? So many questions.

As for the website saga, not all is lost. I rang my pottery cousin who needs a site and had a talk and she is expressing interest. Cautious interest, but she's a cautious person so all is fine. I will go visit her in a couple of weeks and meet with a friend of hers who can give us much help and information about things.

On the creative front, I have been asked to design a kit with some beads from a bead maker to be sold in her shop. I'm very happy with that. My name will be put as the designer and there is potential for getting my name out a little wider. Wider is always good, I think.

So, the show carries on. Let's hope I have some good updates soon.

One day at a time...

Well, as thought, I've lost my business partner. I'm recovering. It'll be ok. I still want to get the website running. I still want to run a little business. I still want to make my jewellery. This set back is just part of the process. Am I talking it up successfully? Of course I am. One day at a time.

I went to get my business cards printed up. Found I couldn't use my CDrom for anything and while having that looked at found my whole comp needed a revamp. Hopefully things will run smoother now. I'm moving forward with the banner but need the original design to send to Anna because the writing is really unclear. The disc is at the printers. One day at a time....

At least I've been able to take some photos now though so have some new things up on my shop. Here's what I'll put up tomorrow....

When the Going Gets Tough...

Not that things are all that tough really, just had some disappointments today. Some of my shows later in the year may not be able to go ahead; I cannot get hold of a camera, so will not be able to update my etsy site; people are not returning my emails with answers to questions and I'm impatient for my banner.

I did, however, get some good feedback today on my avator. They agreed that it was very distinctive and stood out among others. Yaay! And my friends are leaving me some lovely comment too, so not all is bad.

I made some lovely things today and have begun to work on the Christmas balls again in the hopes that they will sell as well this year as last. They are looking great so far and I'm making them much quicker than last year. Just hope that my hands and wrists allow me to continue.

Ok, now that's out of my system I will post this and be on my way.