I know it has been awhile, but I am still making jewelry and selling it, as well. I am now on Twitter. My Twitter feed is to the right, as you can see. I encourage you to follow me since I often mention discount coupons and sales for my shops.
I have also added a new widget for my Artfire shop. I’ve been there for about a year now. I really like the atmosphere. It has great benefits for both the Basic Accounts and Pro Accounts. I have a Pro Account there, and it allows me to really cool things like offer coupons and gift certificates to everyone or just one specific customer. It’s really easy to use, as well. It is a nice alternate to my website for now.
Most recently, Artfire has announced they are moving out of their Beta stage and are launching a special promotional sale for their Pro accounts. They call it their Artfire Group Deal. Basically, they are offering a special rate of $5.95/month Pro Accounts to new members, basic members and pro members. This offer is limited to the first 50,000 members who opt-in to this promotion. The one caveat is that in order for the rate to kick in for all those who agree to the new group deal, they must reach a 20,000 agreed member threshold. If you would like to know more about this great deal, check out this link for more details: Artfire Group Deal. You do have to have a seller account with Artfire, but the good news is that the Basic Accounts are free.
Anyways, I hope to keep up this blog a bit more.
This is another OpEd.
I have just returned from my first major show. As you can tell from the title, I only had one sale. Does that mean it was a failure? I spent a lot of money getting ready for this show, not to mention heartache and frazzled hair and wits. And with only one sale, this means I lost money. (Kinda feels like I am complaining don’t it. 
) And the point of any business, no matter how much fun it is creating the products, is to make money. The very least of which so that I can make more pretty things for people to drool over. However, I did get validation. I got a lot of compliments on my jewelry. It is always gratifying to hear such words of praise. And, I got more names for my mailing list. (Now, I just have to actually send out e-mails.)
Now, what’s the learning experience.
- I have learned that no matter how much time you give yourself, you will always be rushing to get the little things done.
- Being kind and curtious is always a good thing.
- A bigger table is better, especially when you have a whole lot of merchandise to show. Crowding your work together doesn’t do them justice.
- Having lists are important for keeping organized. (Headless chickens are never an attractive site.)
- Always apologize to those who help you along the way.
- Love your work no matter what
Well, I think that’s all for now. I am tired, but I can’t sleep. Now that’s quite a predicament.
This is a sore subject with me. A rant if you will. Why is it that it seems that everyone sees gold as the end all be all of metals. I sort of like gold, but only certain karats and only certain colors. I love white gold. I have an affinity for rose/pink gold. I love the look and depth these colors have. I love their versatility. I also like green gold as an accent. I find these colors interesting and different.
This brings me to yellow gold, specifically 14k yellow gold. I am not a fan of 14k yellow gold. I am very vocal about it. It just seems so drab and lifeless to me. I have a hard time using it in any design ideas I have. Of course, there are people who love 14k yellow gold. That’s fine. More power to them. That particular gold works for them. It does not work for me. I much prefer 18k and 22k yellow gold. There is a fire and a brilliance that just speaks to me.
Of course, the big problem is price. The price of gold (and silver to a lesser extent) is rising so quickly these days that it can make it impossible to make elegant pieces that are affordable. Well, the easy answer is to not make the pieces affordable. Make them for what they are worth. The right people will buy them. But, this means I have to wait for these people to come along. (Okay, I could find them,stalk them and inundate them with my work, but that might not be good for a corporate image.)
To be frank (or bob or jim), I don’t want to wait for these people. The point of any business is to provide a service or product and make money. But the point of art is to create beauty and evoke emotions. To be able to do both is a tricky business (no pun intended). I would like to provide high-end gold pieces, but right now I just can’t. This saddens me for only one reason. If a piece called for 18k or 22k gold or white or rose gold, I might not be able to create it. 
And thus the rant comes to a close… for now.
