www.Rivkasmom.com's Blog

Basics of Bead Show Bargaining - Part 1

2012-01-29T21:31:00.000-08:00

First of all, let's not get our panties in a twist - this is not about racism! I'm going to be talking about societies and cultures, and politeness and expectations on both sides. If I mention X nationality, I do NOT mean "every single person from X country, in every single situation, EVAR." This is just my experience, OK?

Well, now that that's out of the way, let's get started. Bargaining and bartering are the very first form of commerce known to mankind (and among the higher apes as well). Ayn Rand said it best "Value for value". Something is only worth as much as the other person is willing to pay for it. Anyone who's seen a tacky beer mug go for $2,000 on Ebay knows exactly what I'm talking about.

First up, we're going to discuss Arabic cultures. Bartering may be prehistoric, but it took the Semitic peoples (Jews, Arabs and Bedouin) to bring it to a high art form. (More on dealing with Jews later.) The term "Camel Trader" oft comes to mind.

"For you my friend, special price!"

Yes, they really do say that. And it's true, you are their friend. Everyone who walks into the booth with cash is an instant friend. It's part of the culture of hospitality. If you were in their home, no matter how they felt about you personally, they'd still offer you a cup of strong mint tea. It's a matter of personal honor. Smile back, and start admiring all the pretties.

The Middle East offers some of the most gorgeous gemstones in the world. For example, the best lapis lazuli comes from Afghanistan. The Arabic people are fiercely proud of their country's products, so don't be afraid to praise the items often, and loudly. Sigh wistfully, turn things this way and that against the light, comment on the color and clarity with awe. When you're done, put the most expensive items down and start to walk away, but look back at it over your shoulder as if you were taking leave of your lover.

The proprietor is sure to take note of this, and will start trying to get you to reconsider that strand of beads you just abandoned. Look at what you have in your hands that you are willing to buy. Agree with him that his wares are worth every penny, and regret that it is simply not in your budget. Watch carefully as his eyes light up. In Arabic cultures, if you do not bargain, they have no respect for you - you are an idiot. The harder you bargain, the more they love you. It's a bonding thing. It's like playing chess against the master. There's no animosity here, so don't feel like you're being rude or insulting, quite the opposite. Keep smiling, and LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Now, here's the basic formula. I'll try to keep the numbers round, because I'm horrible with math (another good reason to bargain).

What you have in your hand comes to 78.00 What you want to add to that costs 100.00, so together that's 178.00. So far, we're looking at retail (or wholesale, if you're in the dealer's room, even better!) Try to knock the price down to around 30% less or so, so let's say 140.00 even. He says he can't possibly go that far, and offers 160.00. You tell him that the piece is gorgeous, and certainly worth it, but after all, you have to stick to your budget and that you're pushing it already. You offer 145.00, he offers 155.00 You say 150.00? and give him a BIG smile. He smiles back and agrees.

You're not done yet. If he pulls out his calculator to start figuring taxes, you give him the big blinky eyes and say "No tax?" and then stare him down, but keep smiling until he puts the calculator away. You are NOT encouraging him to commit tax fraud, you're just asking for another percentage off of the final sale. He'll take the tax out of the back end of the sale at the end of the day. If he offers his hand, shake it. If you're a woman, he may or may not offer. Go with the flow.

BIG TIP: Do not ask if they have a catalog or online shop until you are DONE with your bargaining. If they think you're just wasting time in the booth, and you may or may not order online at a later time, they will go and assist someone else. Vendors hate "lookie loos". Accept any promotional brochures as you leave, and assure him that you look forward to building a business relationship with him in the future. Use the word "relationship", it's another good key word in their culture.

Bonus round: If you're brought a friend to the show, and you've separated for a moment, make a point of bringing him or her over to the booth you just bought from, and introduce them to the owner. Loudly praise the merchandise and prices to your friend, and tell them that they should buy here next time they need XYZ items.

Next entry, how to deal with those clever Jews (and I should know, I am one!)

Artists Survival Guide (for a down economy)

2012-01-23T01:42:00.000-08:00

I followed a link from Timothy Adam's Handmadeology blog, to Etsy's top 1000 sellers list. WOW. Talk about informative. I'm seeing a definite trend here - and realizing that I am in no way anywhere near that trend. Time to rethink and retool!

The number one seller is Beanforest. They make items that are easily to print and reprint, can be sent out for assembly, and don't cost over $10. Not gonna lie, I seriously love this button.

The second place seller has been in the top 10 for quite a few years now. AndersonSoapCompany has beautiful photography and packaging, luscious presentation, high quality control - and importantly, these items are consumable, which means that you will run out, and have to go back to him to get more. That's instant customer retention right there.

The third place seller has also been at the top for a long time, TheBlackApple. Darling art prints that appeal both to kids, and adults who appreciate a whimsical, folksy feeling. Reproduceable, low prices, original art = good formula for success.

Fourth place is norajane, who sells scrapbooking supplies. Hardly anything in the shop is over $5.00. This little bird stamp is too adorable, the lines are razor sharp, and only $4.00. It's the perfect impulse buy, and since it's not too expensive, why not get a few more and make a set?

Other sellers in the top 20 are people who make t-shirts, baked goods, and VERY simple jewelry that can easily be assembled or outsourced in bulk. Honestly, a lot of it can be found ready to sell on Alibaba.com. Crochet and knitting patters are big sellers, because all you are getting is a pdf file in your inbox, so there is no shortage of stock and no storage, either. Just watch out for copyright violations!

1. Easily reproducable. Prints, whether on t-shirts, greeting cards, custom labels or prints of original art, are HOT sellers with low prices. They appeal to the eye, make you happy for very little money, and can be either outsourced for production or made to order. Storage is only a hard drive away (as opposed to my bead shop, which takes up an whole room). This is also true for patterns and tutorials that are sent in pdf form.

2. Consumables. Bath, beauty, food - anything that you will use up and have to replace. If you fall in love with a product, and know that it was handmade (or formulated and outsourced) by only one seller, then that is the person you will return to again and again. Revlon, you can get anywhere, but where else are you going to get that perfect "pink-mauve lip gloss with the vanilla tangerine flavor" that you've had mixed up custom for you? Loyalty is priceless.

3. Simple jewelry. No one seems to want to spend money on statement pieces these days. In a bad economy, showing off a big fancy piece seems gauche, somehow. People want "elegant chic", something that they can wear every single day, and they'd prefer not to pay over $25.00 for it. Chinese jewelry manufacturers follow US fashion trends, and are cranking out owls, sparrows, lockets, octopi, mustaches and pin up girls faster than you can possibly imagine. They'll even add the chain and gift box it for you, for the grand total of .89 cents per unit, as long as you order 120 pieces minimum. Judging by how many sales this type of jewelry gets, buying in bulk doesn't seem like such a bad idea after all!

4. Not so high up on the list, but still prominent, was factory made handbags, computer bags and clothing from Thailand and Indonesia. Etsy truly is a "global marketplace" these days, and they seem to have lifted all restrictions on reselling manufactured imports. I mean, sure, this stuff is handmade (sort of). Hands had to have touched the product somewhere along the manufacturing process. Hey, I'm not judging. (I never claimed to mine my own metals or dig up my own gemstones.)

Here's what I'm NOT seeing in the top 1000 - intricate, well thought out, artisan handmade jewelry. Sure, it does sell here and there, but lets face it, artisan items are a highly subjective taste. People will either love or hate an artisan piece, but what's to hate about a little bird on a branch? That is why the handmaking artist is starving. So what to do, if you don't want to give up your work?

You need a day job, or you need a separate line to sell that will appeal to the masses. Take your pick. Don't get depressed about it. Historically, all the great artists in the world were poor when they relied only on creating what spoke to THEM. They only managed to earn income when wealthy patrons commissioned them to paint a portrait or carve a bust of either their wife, their mistress, or themselves. You have to appeal to the patrons out there, and give them a reason to "support your art".

Many jewelers I know have a bead supply shop on the side. (more on that, in my next entry). Many knitters come up with their own patterns, or sell patterns from magazines. Clothing designers will outsource production to keep costs down, and not get too "haute couture". Keep it simple - that seems to be the golden rule for 2012. Remember, you are not selling your soul, you are making it possible to do what you truly love, without the burden of sales figures looming over your head. You can place your art in galleries for commission, instead of sweating over trying to get wholesale contracts (overrated, IMHO). Basically, by diversifying into a side business with a successful formula, you are buying your freedom to create.

Either that, or you need to marry someone rich. ;-P

Pantone Spring 2012

2012-01-10T19:35:00.000-08:00

And the winner is... Tangerine Tango! Read all about it at the link.

Here's a preview of what you can expect in jewelry trends. These colors really make me smile, and they're a joy to work with on a cold January day.

And here's what designers like Gaultier, Missoni and McCartney are putting in the shops RIGHT NOW. Be sure to check the color cards on the left hand column of these links, and see how closely they line up with the Pantone forecast.

Now, I don't know about you, but I look TERRIBLE in orange! Don't let that scare you off. Think coral, salmon and persimmon, and keep the really hot shades for small accessories and accents. Pair it with turquoise, and you have an instant classic. With pale melon green, it calms down and becomes a citrus splash of refreshing coolness. With an unexpected accent of pale lavender blue, it brings to mind a field of wild flowers, yarrow and cornflower nodding in the summer heat.

Here's part of what my current bead stash looks like. I pulled these out of my stock to see how well the colors "play together".

I highly recommend you go through your wardrobe, yarn pile, fabric stacks, etc., and see what you can come up with in the Pantone palette. It's a great exercise!

Rose (pink) gold is emerging as the HOT new metal of the day, after decades of being considered terribly old fashioned, and only fit for Victorian watch fobs. If you follow trend sites like HauteLook or Fab.com, you already know what I'm talking about. It's everywhere!

For those of us mere mortals on a budget, there's rose gold vermeil over Karen Hill Tribe silver, 14k rose gold plating over both brass and alloy, and even bright polished copper for a darker rosy look. Rose gold compliments every skin tone, whether you are a "warm, cool or neutral". Darker skin tones can really rock the bright copper look like no one else!

Be sure to check out B'Sue's Boutique for delicious jewelry supplies custom plated in her proprietary Rose Gold finish. Sure, you can find something less expensive, but once you get your hands on her pieces, you'll never go back. Rich,warm and absolutely gorgeous, with a plating so thick you won't believe it's "costume quality". Her items come in relatively small batches, so if you see something you like, grab it quick!

Less is more, so look for high quality materials and key pieces to highlight minimalist designs. "Effortless chic" is the phrase of the day, and it's harder to accomplish than you'd think. For many years now, I've been operating on the theory that if a bunch of beads is good, then a whole bunch more is even better! Now, it's a matter of finding that perfect bead, with just the right chain, and a charm that's not too big or too small. Scale and balance are everything. Even if you get all the colors right, if it doesn't "feel right" to the eye, it won't sell.

Pre-Fall 2012 will be more of the same, but with the colors more muted, softer and dustier looking. The turquoise blue will be replaced with slate blue, and sand beige will play a much more prominent role as an anchor to coral and carnelian tones. You'll be seeing more oxidized copper in earthy Tibetan style beads.

Bronze ox and brass ox will always be fashionable for Victorian romantic styles - and of course for the steampunks. You'll have to pry that oxidized brass out of their cold, dead, gear enhanced armature! The goths, in their unholy graves, will never give up their silver and gunmetal hematite. Be that as it may, if you want to be on trend for the next few seasons, do the Tangerine Tango and think PINK for your metals.

Happy creating!

Steampunk Jewelry Sale, and FREE SHIPPING DEALS!

2011-08-31T00:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I have some good news and some bad news:

First, the good news, I've finally been approved to sell on Amazon.com!
The bad news, they only want stark white backgrounds.

The good news for YOU, everything on my site that has a background other than white or slightly off white ships for FREE, both domestically and internationally (I'll adjust the shipping cost when I pack your order, it's too hard to code everything individually).

Even better news, everything on the site is now 25% off until Oct 30th, so you can get all your Halloween and Steamcon accessories at a great price.

If you're looking for something fun, funky or offbeat, I now have an Artfire store for all of my random projects. I'm also destashing a lof of my jewelry making supplies, beads, findings, etc. I often have to buy in bulk from wholesalers to get the best prices, and now I can pass my surplus on to you at pennies above my cost. I just want more room in my studio! Check out my ArtfireSupplies shop and watch for new bargains every week. If you want to combine shipping with any of my shops, just drop me an email after you order and I'll make sure you get the very best rates possible. I understand that every penny counts, and that you'd rather spend money on pretties instead of postage.

Please buy them, so I don't have to rephotograph them all!

Your coupon code is: BLACKISBEAUTIFUL This is NOT a "one time use coupon", and the deal is good for two months, so feel free to share it with your friends!

Thanks! Grace @ Rivkasmom.com

Columbia City Art Walk: Grace Acosta, Rivkasmom at Columbia City Artwalk

2011-06-19T16:47:00.000-07:00

Columbia City Art Walk: Grace Acosta, Rivkasmom at Columbia City Artwalk: "Grace Acosta Designer"

Curiously Creative Collaboration

2010-10-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

The first time I saw the work of of A.G. Quinn I was enchanted. I immediately marked her as a favorite, and especially the badger portrait. I have seen “mash up portraiture” before. In fact, it goes back to the earliest days of photography. Still, There was something special about her work. The tilt of the head matches angle of the body perfectly. The backgrounds are seamless and the light balance makes the whole image smooth and believable. Combined with the use of mica and traditional framing techniques, the overall effect whisks you away to another time.

Imagine my surprise and delight when she emailed me and asked if I would like to to collaborate on a line of jewelry! I was even more surprised to see that we shared the good fortune of living in Seattle. We emailed back and forth for a bit, discussing our visions of what things might look like, and agreed that this would indeed be a good fit for our work. We met at my studio, and then, the real fun began.

We based these designs on various sources, including Victorian and Regency era “sweetheart” portraits, hand painted Limoges, Fabrege settings, and traditional mourning jewelry. I added a few steampunk touches here and there, because after all, they do live in an alternate universe.

I have not made any copies of the source material that she gave me, but rather worked directly with the photographic contact sheets that she supplied. This keeps the images sharp, clear and true to the original quality. Ms. Quinn’s work is too special to be mass produced!

Each one of these items is absolutely one of a kind, a piece of wearable art that is sure to become the prize of your collection.

What type of glue do you use?

2010-10-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

Oh man, I wish I had a dime for every time I’ve been asked that. After many, many years of experimenting I’m finally ready to reveal some of my trials and errors.

I’m sure that many of you are familiar with the website This to That, and it is very useful at times, but still, YMMV. Before I get into what I do use, I’d like to discuss what I don’t use, and why.

There is a lot of snobbery in the jewelry world from the people who do hot connections towards the people who do cold connections. Sure, it’s hip to risk burning yourself for the sake of art, but it’s not always necessary, either. Soldering is a very tricky business, and can either give you a flawless professional finish, or it can ruin your work irreparably.

Metals have very different melting points, and when you’re trying to join a tiny brass gear to a large steel pocket watch case, the differences in materials is going to give you a heck of a time. Even if you do get the seam or join you want, then you have to deal with things like fire scale, pickling, polishing, etc. Total PITA if you ask me.

Another popular way to assemble metals is to use a rivet set. You can get some really awesome industrial looks with riveting, and I’d really like to learn how to do it some day. You can use a wide variety of metals, and you don’t risk burning the house down. You do, however, have to buy a set of punches, a bench block, the right types of hammers, and keep a stock of all different sizes of rivets in different metals, as well as a drill to make your holes. Now try riveting that 4mm gear. Not as easy as you thought, eh? Not to mention the fact that if your hammer or pin slips, you’ve just smashed up your work, your fingers, or both. There may be much swearing involved, and this could be a problem if there are impressionable children around.

This to That recommends JB Weld 2 part metal bearing epoxy for metal assembly. While this stuff may be just the ticket for repairing your radiator, I’ve found it to be less impressive for detail work. If you get the mix exactly 50/50 and get everything set up and clamped in plenty of time for it to cure properly, then it will be bulletproof. If you get the mixture even a teeny bit off, or if you’ve delayed a bit and it’s started to cure already, then you will get a very brittle and unpredictable bond that will look stable, but could fall apart on you at any time. The fact that it’s a really ugly, lumpy looking pile of gray ooze on the back of your jewelry is another major drawback in my book.

Two part 2 Ton Epoxy is another adhesive that gets a lot of mention, but I’m not a fan of it either. It has all of the problems that JB Weld has, except that it dries clear. It’s still unpredictable, and even MORE fussy to work with. It stinks, it’s horribly toxic, and it is sticky as all get out. I tried to like it, I really did. I tried 2 minute set, 5 minute set, 30 and 90 minute set times. All of them were so hit and miss that it drove me crazy, and I spent a lot of time fixing bad connections.

So, you still with me? Yay, you get a cookie!

Here’s what I like to use. E6000 http://www.dickblick.com/products/e6000-jewelry-adhesive/
I buy it by the case.

There’s a trick to using E6000, but it’s pretty common sense, really. First of all, you have to prep, prep, prep your surfaces. This is a great thing to do if you are bored or feeling uninspired. No creativity? No problem, get in there and prep your supplies.

The first step is to get a Dremel, or some other type of flex shaft with a grinding wheel. You’ll want a really coarse grit for this. Scuff up every surface that you want to adhere, and scuff it good. Then degrease all of the parts with acetone or rubbing alcohol, and let dry. Next time the muse hits you, you’ll be able to just grab a part that’s ready to go, and you will thank me, oh yes you will.

Now, apply a THIN layer of E6000. The strength is NOT in the volume, that’s a major mistake that most people make. If there is a bit of ooze, wipe it off with a Q-tip or a wooden popsicle stick, OR you can do your cleanup later.

PAY ATTENTION, THIS IS THE SECRET!

Clamp every single part that you are gluing. Clamp it like you’re afraid it’s going jump off your bench and run away. Clamp like you’ve never clamped before. THIS is what makes the adhesive really cure hard. Leave it for 24 hours, and you will have a very, very secure join. When it starts to set up you can clean up any oozing with a scalpel or extremely sharp craft knife, by trimming around your components and then gently teasing away the excess. You can only do this in the first 12 to 24 hours, after that it’s nearly impossible.

The bad news is, if you didn’t clamp the parts straight, then once the glue is set you will end up with a crooked assembly. I’ve had pieces where I’ve taken a knife blade and tried to wiggle them apart, and then I tried to pry them apart like shucking an oyster. No go. They were stuck, and stuck good, so make sure that you’re positioning is perfect.

The next day, give your work the “yank test” to make sure that everything is holding tight. Sometimes, rarely, when there’s too much humidity, Mercury is retrograde, and there’s a bad moon risin’, things will come loose and you’ll have to do it over. Better to find out now, rather than later.

Extra tip: If you are working in layers, start at the bottom and work your way to the top. Glue and clamp the pin to the brooch base, and let set overnight. If that’s holding well, the next day you can add some more elements, glue and clamp, and check. Then you can add the stones, finishing touches, whatever. It can take a week or more to make a really detailed piece, but it will be worth it knowing that you’ve done your very best every step of the way.

Now go make something cool!

You Already Own the Perfect Lipstick

2009-10-19T21:53:00.000-07:00

Really, you do. All of those failed lipsticks, the ones that you can't bring yourself to throw away because you spent so much money on them, they're just waiting for you. Every red that came out too pink, every coral that was too orange, every copper that was too gold, every mauve that was too gray. They are all your perfect lipstick.

The truth is, just like your ex, you had to see something in them when you brought them home, right? Of course you're wondering "What was I thinking?", but now there is an answer. We're going to combine them to enhance good points and downplay the bad points.

Step one, get a bamboo skewer or chopstick, and scrape all of the contents of your lipstick rejects into a metal cup. A measuring cup with a pour spout will be perfect for this. If it doesn't have a pour spout, you can take a pair of pliers and bend the edge to make a point. This is very important later on. Leave a tiny bit of lipstick in the bottom of each lipstick tube. They have a hole in the bottom, and you want to make sure that stays plugged.
Next, add some lip balm, preferably with sunscreen. Also add any blend you like of shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil or jojoba oil. This will make your lipstick smoother and keep your lips soft. If you want a matte lipstick, you can add some mineral makeup powder to take down the shine.
I can't believe I've been hoarding so many of these lipsticks!
Here's a shot of the crazy mish-mash. There's mood lipsticks, lip stains, lip gloss, body butter, jojoba oil, black gothic lipstick (!) hot pink, purple, silver, and a half a dozen reds that kept wanting to turn odd colors on me.
Now, put down tinfoil on your work surface. If you get the counter a bit damp first, the tinfoil will stick in one place and not fly around. Line up your empty cases. You won't need all of them, so ditch the dollar store lipsticks. Be a diva and save the Chanel and Lancombe cases!
Set your mish-mash over a pan of boiling water and stir frequently. It may take a while to melt at first. Resist the urge to put the measuring cup on direct heat. RESIST!
Some lipsticks will melt faster than others, so keep stirring until the mixture is completely smooth, and then stir some more. You can add a little vanilla extract right now if you want to.
Mmmmmmmm, raspberry sparkle! Can you believe how pretty this color is?
Here's the thing that really got me. I had discovered my "one true love" lip gloss, made by MAC. It's the only beauty product I'll drive halfway across town to buy. My new lipstick color is an EXACT MATCH! All those tones that "almost" worked, combined to make my perfect lipstick.
I couldn't photograph the next step, because I was using both of my hands. What you do is take your lipstick tubes and twist them down all the way to the bottom. Very carefully pour the lipstick into your tubes and set them aside to cool. You'll notice that the lipstick will start shrinking. When all the tubes are filled, let them rest for a bit.
While you are pouring, the lipstick will start to get cold. Put it back into the pan with the hot water and let it melt again. Go back and top off all of your lipsticks with a nice smooth dome. Unless you have a lipstick mold you won't get that pointy shape, but who cares?

Now you have a bunch of lipsticks that are all in your perfect shade! I can't believe I have SIXTEEN gorgeous new lipsticks, and I got rid of a shoe box full of ugly rejects. I had a ton of fun doing it, too. It was the perfect rainy day project (and living in Seattle, it's a good thing to have lots of ideas for rainy days!).

Helpful hint: Your perfect lipstick is also the perfect color for blush. Dab some on your fingers or a makeup sponge and use it like rouge. Put it on a shade darker than you think you should, and then set it with loose powder for a glow that will last all day long without touchups. You'll look very healthy and natural.

Disclaimer: PLEASE do not sell or give away your lipsticks! Keep them for yourself. Otherwise you'll be breaking every health and safety law known to mankind, and reusing the lipstick cases for commercial purposes is a violation of the manufacturer's rights.

Go No Poo, post #2!

2009-06-02T03:55:00.000-07:00

I read something interesting today. Soap is made from lye and oils, right? Well when baking soda and hair oil are combined, they turn into soap! That's why it works so well.

My hair feels really thick and bouncy now, and I have natural waves for the first time in my life! I cut about 4 inches off of the ends, as they were too damaged to save. Now I have really sleek and glossy hair. My biggest problem right now is static when I brush my hair, so I'm still using a tiny bit of leave in conditioner on the ends. Otherwise, my hair wants to get up and fly away!

I'm also going No Poo with Rivka, and she thinks it's great because she hates getting her hair washed. I mixed up a bit of conditioner with a bunch of water and put it in a spray bottle, and use it as a detangler for combing out her waist length, baby fine hair. All in all, I figure between the two of us we're using at the MOST, about 25 cents a month worth of products. :D

Take the Go No Poo challenge!

2009-05-15T09:26:00.001-07:00

No, it's not what it sounds like.

Imagine never having to buy shampoo or conditioner again, and having perfect hair all the time. If you color your hair, imagine the color staying vibrant for twice as long. That's the No Poo way.
Go No Poo - More Info

My hair has become impervious to shampoos. No matter what brand I buy, my scalp gets really oily, with dandruff on top. Ewwww! I was starting to wonder what to do next, when my friend Victoria posted about this in her LiveJournal. I'm going to give it a try.

I washed my hair last night with 2 tablespoons of baking soda diluted in one cup of warm water. Not only is my hair cleaner than it's ever been, it has tons more volume! It does feel a bit dry, so I think that maybe one tablespoon or less of the baking soda will work better for me. (I was skeptical - and I have long hair, so I had started out with the larger amount). I didn't use any conditioner or detangler, but I did take some extra time with my hair, using a soft brush I started working from the ends, and went up my hair a few inches at a time, in sections. My hair is so fluffy this morning, and not weighed down with product! It looks like I have twice as much hair as I used to.

Once my ph and oil production gets back to normal, I'll probably only have to use the baking soda once a month, and just use warm water to rinse my hair. The baking soda helps keep bacteria and fungal infections in check - that's where the smell comes from, not from YOU. If your scalp is healthy, it won't get stinky.

I'm thinking that this would be especially good for teens, who's bodies are going into massive oil overproduction. When I was a teen I'd wash my hair every day, and I still looked like Severus Snape. I would have been so grateful for a way to have nice hair, and not to have to wash it so often!

(PS: If you have flyaway frizzies, use an apple cider vinegar rinse. It smoothes down the cuticles in your hair and makes it really shiny.)

Cool new Ebay widget!

2009-03-02T03:03:00.000-08:00

Etsy Alternatives

2008-12-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the fabulous (and fed up) Etsy seller ScarlettCat for compiling this list of online venues for selling handmade arts and crafts. Go take a look at ScarlettCat's original artwork and wonderfully affordable ACEO's.

http://www.1000markets.com/
http://www.artfire.com/
http://www.artflock.com/
https://www.artfulhome.com/
http://www.artbyus.com/
http://www.artsefest.com/home.php
http://www.blujay.com/
http://www.bouf.com/
http://bigcartel.com/
http://www.buyitsellit.com/
http://www.craftmall.com/
http://en.dawanda.com/
http://www.ecrater.com/
http://www.elsewares.com/commerce/index.php
http://www.erayo.com/
http://funkyfinds.us/theshops/
http://www.folksy.com/
http://www.gozabo.com/
http://handmadecatalog.com/
http://handmadefusion.com/
http://hyenacart.com/
http://www.icraft.ca
http://www.kinfolkcrafts.com/
http://www.lollishops.com/
http://lov.li/
http://lunacraft.com/
http://www.madeit.com.au/
http://www.mintd.com/
http://www.myartplot.com/
http://www.mystore.com/
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/
http://www.papernstitch.com/
http://www.pinkdoodle.com/
http://www.redbubble.com/
http://www.rubylane.com/
http://www.silkfair.com/
http://www.shophandmade.com/home
http://www.shopify.com/
http://www.smashingdarling.com/
http://www.strictlyhandmade.com/
http://supermarkethq.com/browse/everything
http://www.thumbtackpress.com/
http://veganica.com/
http://www.wagglepop.com/bin/Auction
http://www.winkelf.com/
http://www.wwcrafters.com/
http://www.yabblebabble.com/
http://www.yessy.com/
http://www.yinia.com/
http://youcraft.org/
http://www.youcraftylot.com/index.php
http://www.zazzle.com/

Copy Cats - Why I'm not on Etsy

2008-11-26T01:38:00.000-08:00

Several people have asked me why I don't sell on Etsy anymore. It's a rather long story, but this website pretty much sums it up.
http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/

Here's my story: http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/?p=1631

I am sick and tired of Etsy being a place that supports copyright infringement, trademark theft and plagarism of all sorts. That site gives serious artists everywhere a bad reputation. Ever since I got off of that site, all I've heard from people has been "Good for you!" and "You're a professional, why were you even on there?" That alone is enough to make me wonder how much Etsy has hurt my reputation as a business person.

If you are using Etsy to sell a few crafts or as a sideline, then I'm sure it can be great, but if you are hoping to do your art full time, for a living, think long and hard about who you want to be associated with.

This year will bring many new venues from people who want to run their sites with integrity and honesty, and they will be very competitive. Don't think for a minute that Etsy is the be all and end all in the craft world. Creative minds are coming up with better mouse traps every day, and these sites are getting launched left and right.

Three more days until LolliShops opens!

2008-11-26T01:29:00.000-08:00

I can't wait! Here's a sneak peek at some of the vintage button rings I'll be listing. I've been photographing stock like a mad woman lately, and I'll be listing tons of sweet treats as soon as I get my password from SadieLou.

You can find me at http://www.lollishops.com/RivkasGarden on November 29th!

Time to lighten up!

2008-11-11T14:55:00.000-08:00

I loved the old fashioned look of my old blog, but it was just too dark. Winter is rapidly approaching, and I'm already starting to feel the effects of the shorter days. I figured giving my blog a little makeover would help to perk things up.
Here's a new ring that I will be selling on LolliShops. I have been using an old thesauraus to get some fun words, and I was quite amused to find these two words together. Do you believe in fairies? Clap your hands!

Wow, has it really been three months?

2008-11-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

Long time, no blog. Where does the time go? My daughter started kindergarten this year, so things were quite crazy for a while. Tuition, bus schedules, school supplies, uniforms, etc. Getting used to getting up early, packing lunches, doing homework, it's all new! It seems like just yesterday she was a baby, and now she's such a big girl. *sniff* Of course the biggest challenge is not going back to bed after she gets on the bus. I don't always manage to resist the temptation.

I've got lots of things I want to blog about, but for now I'm just going to give you what is quite possibly the best turkey soup recipe I've ever made. You'll need a crock pot, set on high.

6 cups of water
4 turkey wings
4 large carrots, peeled
1/2 of a large onion, peeled
5 celery stalks
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp dill leaves
1/4 tsp celery seed
1 Tbs parsley flakes
powdered chicken soup mix to taste (I like mine really salty)

Cook the whole thing overnight.

In the morning, lift out the turkey wings to a platter and separate the meat from the skin and bones. Discard skin and bones.

Lift out the celery, carrots and onion and puree in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Combine shredded turkey meat, vegetable puree and stock and warm through. Adjust seasonings if you like.

This is a great way to get veggies into kids, and you don't lose any of the nutrients. The soup will have a wonderful velvety texture and rich flavor. It freezes really well, but I don't think we're going to have much left over!

Enjoy. :-)

YouTube Video

2008-08-27T02:37:00.000-07:00

I'm just going to post the url, because it's 7.20 minutes long, and has music. This way, you can click when you actually have time to sit down and enjoy it.

Please, give me lots of feedback!

New Steampunk Jewelry Video

Introducing LolliShops.com!

2008-08-11T21:24:00.001-07:00

This is a juried site, and I've been accepted! I'm so excited and honored to be included. As much as I love my edgy, retro-futuristic steampunk work, there's still a soft, romantic, girly side that wants to come out and play. Now I have a venue that specializes in sweet, sparkly and whimsical adornments for both men and women (but mostly women). I'm going to start listing some of my button jewelry and cabochon jewelry that just seems to be getting lost in my Etsy shops.

The site will open to the public in the fall, and until then you can follow along in Sadie Lou's blog.

*cue Cyndi Lauper* Oh girls just wanna have fuuuuuuuun!

How to Create a Photography Studio in Two Square Feet of Space

2008-08-07T04:22:00.000-07:00

How to take pictures like a pro, or at least trick people into thinking that you have a large, spacious studio.First of all, get the best camera you can afford. Bring a piece of your work to the camera store, and a piece of something that you use for a backdrop, and use the store cameras to take pictures. Play with the different settings, but pay special attention to our dear, beloved MACRO setting. Your camera can make you look like a total genius, or a complete newbie, so think long and hard about spending that extra $50 for image stabilization (it's worth it!)

My personal favorite is the Canon PowerShot SX100IS with a 10x zoom. The camera increased the quality of my listings so much, my sales picked up immediately, and I had the camera costs completely covered within two weeks. Talk about a good investment!
Second, you will need a West facing window if you are an afternoon worker, or an East facing window if you are a morning person (I've hear they exist, but I've never been up early enough so actually see one.) Then, you'll have to clear off some space on that desk or table that's under the window. (HAHAHAHAHAHA! - no, really. You need to clear that off. )

You'll need some sort of white scrim to filter out the light and soften the shadows, without making the space too dark. I like white silk dupioni, which you can get at any fabric store back in the bridal section. Get two pieces. One for your tabletop, and one for the backdrop. If you want to be really efficient, have an extra piece on hand in case you get a big smudge on your tabletop cloth and you have to go wash it. You can use the backup and keep on working.
You'll need a few extra bits, like some 20# printer paper to use as an additional light diffuser for things that are extra glossy (like cabochons and watch cases), and you'll need a few nice props. The mistake that most people make is that they think they need a zillion props to keep their pictures interesting. Your WORK should be keeping the picture interesting, and the props should be there to hold your work up to the light. Clear and frosted glassware are always good bets. A simple necklace form and hand form are essential. I've found that a wine glass is perfect for earrings. Cheap and easy props can be found at NileCorp
Now here's the tricky part. You have to wait for a sunny day, where the light hits your window just right. In the summer, I spend at least half my day taking pictures. In the winter, I can go weeks and weeks without being able to photograph a single thing. The you get a sun break, you go madly rushing toward your little studio, get your work out, get the camera ready (Oh no, the batteries are dead!) Rush around looking for batteries, and then the sun will go behind the clouds for another three weeks.

This leads me to my final point. Be Prepared. Keep everything that's waiting for pictures in one place. Keep your photograph area clean and organized at all times. Do not let grubby little fingers play over there, do not set your coffee cup there, do not leave yesterday's mail there.

One last tip. If you have pets who shed, keep a can of compressed air handy and hold it an an angle to your tablecloth. Give it a good blast right before you start work. Macro shots will pick up EVERYTHING in the frame, whether you want it there or not.

Click through my Flickr Group, and you'll get a feel for the kind of natural light that I prefer to work with. No extra lighting of any kind was used. Just what the sun sent in through the window and the fabric.

Copper Jewelry and Nutrition

2008-07-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

I just learned the coolest thing today! I love working with copper, but I always worry about it turning my customer's skin black or green, and there's no way of knowing ahead of time if it will do it or not because everybody is different.

I know that copper is an essential element in nutrition, and I know that skin is a digestive organ, but I never put two and two together before. I just read that if copper turns your skin colors, it's because you're deficient in the mineral and your skin is eating it! The color it leaves behind is the oxidized leftovers. If the color is bothering you just keep washing wherever the metal touches you, and then put the jewelry back on. In a matter of weeks or months, you will no longer get a reaction from the metal, because your body will be "full" of all of the copper it needs, and won't be absorbing any more.

Wow! Who knew?

They like me, they really like me!

2008-07-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

Even more shameless bragging. I'm trying to keep all of my blog mentions in one place. Some of these are repeats that just picked up the feed, but at least they liked my stuff enough to feature the feed post! :-)
The Vocab
RubyRunway
Splendora
GLITT3R
Selectism
Toxiferous
She's a Betty
Cufflinks Finder
AllChic.com
Limited Hype
PerfumeBest
Professionally Trendy
Miss Alt
Darkened Sector
BoingBoing
AisleDash
Sewing Divas
Carpal Tunnel
Infinite Cosmos Girl
StyleDash
Zedomax
Neatorama
Sabrinageek
Uberdandy

A Little Adventure

2008-07-14T03:13:00.000-07:00

Don't panic, it's not my house. This house is up the street and around the corner from my apartment building.

Today, I decided to go on a little photo shoot. I am madly in love with textures of any kind, and a burned out shell of a house turned out to be a treasure chest of images. (full photo set here. )

It was blazingly hot as I approached the house, but I could feel a cool breeze coming from the dark interior. Tall grass and wildflowers competed with the remains of the garden along the walk up, with lazy bumble bees droning about. The smell of linden blossoms and clover was so thick in the air that it tasted like honey on my tongue.

The house has stood empty for many years. It had no scent of it's own. No charcoal or soot scent, or even mildew or mold. I seemed oddly antiseptic. There was no sign of kids partying or vagrants squatting, either. Aside from a couple of tiny spiders, the place was completely deserted. The house stands on a large corner lot, quite separate from it's neighbors, with large laurel and rose hedges all around. I could have been in another country, or on Mars.

As I stepped into the cool, dark interior, it occurred to me that I hadn't told anyone where I was or what I was doing. Part of me thought that it was a stupid thing to do - what if I got hurt? Another voice chimed in that if I had told anyone, they'd just tell me not to go because it might be dangerous. To heck with that! I figured I had my cell phone with me, and that would just have to be good enough.

I stomped my feet each step ahead of me before I put my full weight down, in case the floor boards decided to give in. There was a full basement under me, and I didn't particularly want to end up down there. Some areas were blocked by debris, but by going around back I could reach just about all parts of the house. It was a very small, very badly laid out 1930's starter home, what a realtor would call a "cottage". It was probably sorta cute when it was new.

The location was amazing, the view from the back porch stretched all the way across Rainier Valley and beyond. I walked gingerly through the thick layer of charcoal and plaster dust on the ground, being very careful not to disturb anything. The house had the sacred feel of an Indian burial ground or a crime scene, or maybe a cathedral. I knew that I would only want to take pictures of things as I found them, not in any posed sort of way. The house rewarded me for my respect.

When I felt like I had seen enough for this trip, it was like being full from a huge buffet. The sights, sounds, textures, details were so filling. I knew that I couldn't just walk straight back to my apartment, so I took the long way around and photographed flowers along the way. (I'll save the flowers for another post.) The whole experience was simply delicious.

A Little Summer Sparkle

2008-07-09T19:49:00.000-07:00

Button bracelets have arrived! Some days I like working on one single piece, fussing and fuming over every tiny detail. Then there are days like yesterday, when Rivka and I sat down and played with my vintage button pile, sorting all the colors and coming up with fun combinations. I made 14 bracelets in 5 hours! Most of them are listed on my Rivkasmom shop, and a couple are in my two Etsy shops. I hope you like them. :-)

Best Advice EVAR!

2008-07-08T03:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you run across an article that says everything you've been wanting to say, only it's better. It's smarter, more informed, and more useful than anything you'd ever come up with in a month of Sundays.

If you have ever wanted to sell your artwork in stores, please read these two blog entries first. Then, go check out Alicia's shop, because she deserves it. :-)
Part 1
Part 2

The Joy of Patination

2008-07-06T16:31:00.001-07:00

This is a question I see time and time again in various forums. "How do I get a patina on my metal?" There are as many guides and recipes as there are metal workers out there, and Google can be a bit intimidating. I found this very easy and handy reference guide through "Old Home Interiors" magazine, and thought I'd share.

www.secure.sciencecompany.com
Supplies

ALWAYS use eye protection, gloves (latex are good, but nitrile are much better), an apron and good ventillation. Please keep all chemicals stored WAY out of reach of children, even if you think your kids are old enough to know better. Patination is a fascinating process, and if your little lab assistant want to play mad scientist, bad things could happen (G-d forbid). If the weather allows, I like to take an old ironing board and set it up outside.

You can't get better ventilation, and the outdoor light really lets you see what kind of colors you're getting. If you are doing heat processs, you can dip the pieces indoors, and then take them out to the ironing board to dry. If you stove has a ventilation hood, make sure that it actually vents outside, instead of just blowing the chemicals around in your house. (You'd be surprised how many vent hoods don't meet code. Mine blows the smoke directly up onto the ceiling, and into the smoke detector. Beep beep beep!)

If you need to do patination when it's cold outside, set aside a room where you can open a window, and then bundle up! Close off that room from the rest of the house so that you don't end up heating the whole outdoors. A bathroom with a window to the outdoors is perfect, and you can plug in a hotplate to do hot process dipping. Do not be tempted to work with chemicals indoors and then think you can just crack a window later to let it air out. You'll end up with a migraine or worse before you know what happened. Remember, children and pets will feel the effects of chemical vapors much sooner than you will, so don't go by what you "feel" is safe. Always err on the side of caution.

This is by no means a complete tutorial. Read up a lot, go have fun, and expect the unexpected! Patination is a very unpredictable process, and you never know what you'll get.

Selling Internationally

2008-07-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

First off, I now have the song "We are the World" stuck in my head, so I thought I'd share the misery.

Now, on to business. It's no news to anyone living in the US that the economy and the exchange rate for the US dollar is down the tubes. You can blame any presidential administration you like, but it won't change the facts. If you want to survive as a business, you HAVE to think globally. There have been weeks on end where I didn't see a single US sale, but thank G-d for Australians and Swedes! (smooch! love you guys!)

I'm in a rambling frame of mind, so I'll list some tips and bits of advice in no particular order:

Buy a postage scale and get a chart from your post office for estimating shipping expenses.
If you get an order from Italy, don't turn it down, but DO send an email stating that it can take up to 3 months for a package to arrive. Give the buyer a chance to cancel the sale, and then insist that they pay for extra tracking. From the US, Global Priority starts at $25.00 extra in postage. Italy has an insane list of restrictions on what can be brought into to country, so make sure that the buyer knows that there is an excellent chance that whatever they get will be held up in Customs, possibly forever. Buyer Beware!
Every other country (except possibly Nigeria) is just fine to ship to, and will take a few days to 3 weeks, maximum.
Shipping Global Priority from the US is NO guarantee that your package will actually be received within 2 to 3 business days. It may still get held up indefinitely at customs in the receiving country for weeks and weeks. This recently happened to me with a shipment to Denmark.
When you are writing, get into the habit of being aware that you have a global market. Little things can make a big difference. Instead of saying "things are more expensive here" try saying "in the US". "Here" could be anywhere, and it's annoying to assume that everyone knows where you are. Instead of saying "local shipping" you could say USPS or US postal service. Instead of saying "overseas shipping" you could say "for shipping outside of the US". It takes a bit of getting used to, but it makes your statements much clearer and helps avoid confusion. It's also just plain more polite.
In your website profiles, list more than just your city name. Not everyone knows where Springfield, Ellensburg, or Bjrkvvstron are. (I confess, I made that last one up.) For example, "Seattle, Washington, United States" or "Sidney, New South Wales, Australia".
When you ship, use Tyvek envelopes or sturdy boxes. Anything less will get shredded. I have received bubble mailers from overseas that were hanging together by a fiber, and the contents bursting at the seams. I'd much rather pay a few extra dollars for better packaging, than have my item fall out mid-transit and have to deal with claims forms and grumpy customers.
I'm sure I'm forgetting some important points, so please feel free to add your comments. :-)

Etsy Tip - The "Sneaky" Template Trick

2008-07-03T22:13:00.000-07:00

Everybody has been begging Etsy for listing templates for three years now. For those of us who sell similar or duplicate items, this is a royal PITA, especially with tags, which are the bane of my existence. There are two ways to do a "work around" listing template.

1. Wait until you sell something, and then use that sold listing as a "new listing" template, editing the old listing to fit the new item and then renewing. Make sure that you proofread all of your changes really well!

2. If you don't want to wait until something sells, here's the super sneaky trick. Each template you want will cost you twenty cents. You will need to have TWO shops to do this, or have a friend help you out. List an item for twenty cents. Quickly go into your other account and buy it, or have a friend buy it. (If you wait too long, someone might see a twenty cent bargain and snatch it up, and then you're really in trouble!) DO NOT cancel the sale through Etsy once you make it. This will remove the listing from your sold items, you will lose your template and you will have to start over. Just check the "paid" and "shipped" boxes, and don't leave any feedback for that transaction.

(Buying from your other store is technically against the Etsy TOS. Some people do it to bump up their feedback scores or sales figures. The way I see it, you're not doing anything to deceive anyone and you're not pretending to be anyone else, so I figure it's not so bad.)

When you choose option two, make sure that you change the .20 cent price to the price you actually charge! I made that mistake once, and ended up selling someone a pair of $15.00 earrings for twenty cents because I had to honor the sale price. Again, proofreading is your friend, especially if you do your listings late at night, when you are more prone to overlook things.

Either way, the goal is to have a "sold" listing to work off of as your template.

Edited to add: I've recently emailed with Erin in Etsy Admin, she says that this is NOT ok. Now, if everyone starts using my method, maybe admin will be annoyed enough to actually give us a real listing template, just like all the other sites in the world.

The Web Host of My Dreams

2008-07-02T23:56:00.000-07:00

I love Volusion so much, I want to have their internet babies. Their customer service is so good, it's stunning. There are much cheaper eCommerce sites out there, and if you are not planning on growing a large company then a smaller site will be a better option for you. If you are planning to ever have any employees, do wholesale, dropship, manage a warehouse (or multiple warehouses!) offer LiveChat support, or any other bells and whistles, then Volusion is the only place to look.

I searched for months to find the right web hosting solution for me. In my case, I make several different lines of products, so I needed to be able to sort by an infinite number of reducing categories. Most websites did not allow more than one sub category per main group. Volusion is infinitely expandable, so no matter how big my company gets, I will never have to leave for a company that will be more capable of meeting my needs. This is very important, because I HATE moving!

Volusion offers over a dozen different shopping cart companies, with several different levels of processing. They have stock templates (a bit too spendy for my taste), in house designers if you want them, and in house consultants. They also offer SEO (search engine optimization) services when you are ready to get your name out on the web in a bigger way.

I checked different companies that review eCommerce sites, and Volusion always came in at the top of the list. I was actually getting worried that they were too good to be true, and that somehow this was a scam. "Nobody is that perfect!" I thought.

Here's what really closed the deal for me. I am NOT a computer person, by any stretch of the imagination. I use an ancient iMac because it took me forever to learn it, and I don't want to have to learn a new machine. Computers frighten and confuse me, and generally make me say bad words. Volusion offers step by step video tutorials as well as written tutorials for every single aspect of the site. The tutorials can be paused and backed up as many times as you need to figure something out.

They offer 24 /7/365 "live human being who speaks English as a first language" tech support. You can choose between phone, LiveChat or email as communication. I chose email because nothing I was working on was time sensitive, and the longest I have ever had to wait for an answer was four and half hours - in the middle of the night on a weekend! During business hours my emails are answered in about a half an hour, tops.

I explained that I was not a computer person, and they used very simple straightforward language with me, explained things clearly (speaking sloooowly and using little words!). Then, they checked back to make sure that things were working for me, THEN they asked if there was anything else they could do for me! I think I nearly fainted. This was not a fluke. Every single time I've had a question my experience has been the same. Everyone is pleasant, professional and helpful.

I also want to give a shout out to Jess Bryant (jessica-bryant@uiowa.edu) who did all of my web design and countless little revisions. She's fast, friendly and fabulous. Do yourself a favor - before you spend money on an expensive template, or spend all of your valuable time trying to do it yourself when you'd rather be crafting - let Jess give you a bid at least. Tell her Grace at Rivkasmom sent you! (I don't get a penny, I just really like her.)

Edited to fix typos. Why do I keep wanting to call them Volution? It's Volusion, with an "S"!

I'm so excited :-)

2008-07-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

I just made my first sale in my own, personal website! Not Etsy, not Ebay, just Rivkasmom.com. :-D I feel like such a grownup, like when the training wheels come off of your bike for the first time, and you're flying down the street with nothing to hold you up except your own skill.

I've heard people over and over say "don't put all your eggs in one basket" when it comes to online marketing, and it's so very true. Ebay sales are in a major nosedive, Etsy's servers were down for maintenance for several days, and I still had a place for people to find my work.

If you are serious about your work, you really need to get your own domain. If you're just starting out, buy your domain anyway and have it point to your Etsy, Mintd, Trunkt, Dawanda, or other selling venue. It will help you in Google rankings and be a great place holder for when you're ready to expand. It's only about $10 a year (if you're in the US) and it will also keep someone else from using your business name.

In the world of commerce, this is a crucial rule: It's not who thought of it first, it's who REGISTERED it first. This goes for trademarks, copyrights, domain names, and just about everything else.

Next up, I'll go into more detail about my website and webhost, as it really deserves it's own post. For now, I'll just say that you should go look at www.Volusion.com, because they rock my socks.

~Grace

Grrrrr. Etsy not working right now.

2008-07-01T02:12:00.001-07:00

Etsy is currently switching servers, and lots of people (including me) can't get in at all. This makes me all sorts of cranky, because I have a TON of things to list.

In the meantime, here's a picture of some of my new rings. They are made with words taken from scrap booking sheets, sealed under lucite magnifying cabochons, and then mounted in vintage copper ring bases. The rings are adjustable to fit most sizes, and are very comfortable. The words say all kinds of nice things like Live, Hope, Joy, Love, Breathe and Heart - although one of them says Panic.

While Etsy is down, I spent most of my time listing a bunch of my "Cuffless" cufflinks on my personal website. These are so much fun! Some of them are made with watch movements, but a lot of them are made out of vintage buttons. These are great because cufflinks are back in style, and now you can enjoy the look without spending a fortune on a whole new wardrobe of french cuff shirts. Simply snap these onto the buttons of your favorite shirt and they will stay on nice and tight. You can dance the night away without worrying that they will come loose. You can see them all here at Rivkasmom.com (search "cuffless" in the upper left hand search box)

Fake it 'till you make it.

2008-06-27T00:42:00.000-07:00

This post is about attitude adjustment. Is your glass half empty or half full? How you present yourself is how others will see you. You have to promote yourself and talk yourself up, even if you don't believe a word of it.

Let me give you a real life example.

For the first year or so of my business, things were going pretty slow for me. People would ask me how things were going, and I'd say "Meh. I'm waiting for sales to pick up." or something to that effect. My realtor is also a good friend of mine, and he has my business card, but he had never even looked at my shop.

One day, I got blogged by a big website and my sales picked up significantly. My realtor happened to be in the area dropping off flyers, and he stopped by. He asked me how my business was doing, and I said "Great! Sales are really going crazy!" He perked up and said "Oh really? Can I come in and take a look at your stuff?"

All this time, he never even bothered to look before, and now he was totally intrigued. He ended up buying a pair of cufflinks and two pair of earrings for his wife! He also wants to bring his wife over later to look at more of my work. He said "I had no idea you did things like this!" What was different? My attitude.

No one wants to hang out with a loser. I don't for a minute think that he had been consciously avoiding checking out my website or anything, but really, why should he want to look at stuff that no one else wanted either? People only want what other people want.

Do you ever notice that when you're single and looking for a date you can never meet anybody, but the second you start seeing someone seriously, all of a sudden people are paying more attention to you? It's the same thing here.

YOU have to create the "buzz" that you and your art are desirable, popular, and very "in the moment". If you build it, they will come. Yadda yadda yadda. The bottom line is, if YOU aren't excited about your work, why should anyone else be?

Shameless Bragging!

2008-06-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Styledash.com

What is "Creating Fearlessly"?

2008-06-26T01:48:00.000-07:00

A little background information first. My mother is bi-polar, and my sister and I grew up with very different personalities and coping mechanisms. We were (and still are) like night and day. My sister is very logic driven, very controlled. She likes her life safe and predictable, because we never had that growing up. I, on the other hand, embraced my craziness a little bit too well, exploring drugs, alcohol, rock and roll and everything else a bohemian lifestyle could provide. I figured that if things were going to be a rollercoaster, then I had better learn to enjoy the ride.

My sister does beautiful needlepoint and counted cross stitch. It looks so perfect it could have been done by a machine. Not me, I prefer to draw my own embroidery designs directly onto the fabric and let my needle and thread ramble along like an overgrown garden. Patterns? We don't need no stinking patterns!

Thankfully, I can say that I've calmed down quite a bit in my *ehem* old age, but I still tap into that delirious energy when I start creating. This, is my fearless creating. Being willing to push your materials past their breaking point, using them for things they were never meant for, in combinations that usually only occur in dreams that you can't quite remember. The trance state of transcendental absinthe fuelled bliss, but without the nasty hangover.

"How does one get there?" I hear you ask. Well, that is what this blog is all about. The crazy, the mundane, and everything in between. This blog is dedicated to the creative process.

Your first assignment is to try something new. If you work in silver, take some scrap and torture it. Wrap it around everything you can find. If you are using glue, try using it on anything you can get your hands on. Combine colors that you think are absolutely hideous together, and leave them overnight - see how you feel about them in the morning. Make a beloved family recipe, and *gasp, horror* CHANGE one of the ingredients!

If you are in therapy, it would do you well to record how all of this makes you feel. You'll be amazed at some of the emotions this can bring up. If you really pay attention, there may even be memories of being told "how things were supposed to be", where you got programmed into thinking that things only had to be a certain way.

A word of warning, though. Don't try this with materials that are so expensive that it would give you fits if they got ruined. If your are on a limited budget, don't try that new technique out with 14k gold, if sterling will suffice. The idea is to push your boundaries, not give you a nervous breakdown!

~Grace

Hello and Welcome!

2008-05-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

I've got a ton of ideas floating around in my head, so I decided to start this little blog. I'll be posting crafting tips, marketing tricks, cookie recipies and updates on my own crafty goodies. I'll also be doing articles on some of my favorite online sites and product reviews.

Please feel free to comment. I hope you enjoy it!