A fiddle

I fiddled today and made a few items, only have a picture on one though so you'll have to wait for the cuff and matching necklace. they were wire worked so it was fun to do. The pair also mached up to earrings i made last week.



Then this afternoon I was reading about macrame. i thought that could be interesting in wire, so I pulled out my thin wire and had a go. I like the finish although I need more practice. It will definately have an interesting effect when the half knots do their trick and curve around.



So introducing wire macrame.

The Market

Take a quick peek




I didn't sell too much but I had a great day. I took careful note of what attracted people and what they asked for. It was very frustrating when the one thing I was asked for I was unable to make.... Sale Lost because I didn't have matching beads.
Note to self I intend to make matching sets from now now on. Some things I can't. But for the most part I will be able to.
My wire cat and dog pendants also attracted attention, but I hadn't strung them I didn't have the leather but mainly I didn't have enough displays to showcase them well enough.
Note to self Get more displays, make sure pendants are strung.
It was interesting to see what people looked at and it was an eye opener.
On another note, when offered a position with a lot of traffic TAKE IT, sounds obvious doesn't it but my friend wasn't comfortable with the position we were offered and we were taken to another. I would have to say for the amount of people that passed through the markets we maybe saw 10%. By the end of the day she apologised I laughed and told her that next time I will choose the position.
Bring on next month. There will be changes.
I do know if I cold make those walls I would make a fortune LOL.

Some pictures

I saw this style of ring somewhere (sorry don't know where). Liked it thought I would give it a burl. The ring is adjustable and I made it from copper and glass beads. It looks really good in that colouration. I will be doing more in different styles and colours. The style is comfortable to wear.

Wave Ring
$11USD (including postage)

I have been doing wire writing, the girls have loved it as have their friends, teachers and our neighbours. It took me a while to get a rhythm but it is easier now. I just need to decide on the style. This style has only straight up and down but I think I prefer loops. I will need to track it down and give you an idea of what I mean.
If you wish to have a name pendant (pendant only) done in sterling silver it will cost
$13.00USD inc postage

I can also add a wire dangle for an extra $2 or a crystal for $3 but you will need to email me to let me know.

Red delight is a wire creation with some lovely little crystals. The design is very light and so pretty. I coiled it all by hand. This piece is made all from craft wire.








Butterfly Blue has swarovski crystal butterflies, craft wire and sterling silver. So very feminine.

Gotta admit

the nerves are settling in. Oh I know I will sell heaps at the show but the preparation always gets me on edge. Maybe it will improve over time? today I need to set up this tent. I want to be able to figure it out so that i can do it easily when I get there.
I also i'll also go grab some more change.
I have been praticing keeping my mouth SHUT. I have a tendency to point out the faults on a pice I have made. the thing is uless it is a glaringly obvios fault no one will notice. So in my head i have been going over what to say to customers and that does not include yes but look...
I don't think you ever move past that point. You will always see the faults.
I am going to paraphrase a quote

You will always make mistakes, an artist learns which ones to keep.

Preparing

I am really glad that I changed my mind and went for the walled tent if the rain keeps coming we'll need it. i will be going even if it is still raining. I need to do this show. I wnat to do it. The rain will be welcome and so I do not wish it away, it is needed.
But the tent will be a happy place.
I intend to have a floor covering. But I have no idea what. I used to have a rubber backed rug that would be handy. I will have to try and find it.
I have tried a new design for rings actually 2 new designs, one is an adjustable ring based off of something someone was wearing. The other ring, well, the design has heaps of potential but I am still trying to figure out how to finish it a litle more tidily. This ring may also end up being adjustable but it is a reall pretty design.

photos coming soon.

No time for making.

I managed to make a grand total of 1 earring this weekend not even a whole pair.
Sad very sad.
I don't even have a camera to be able to load up my photos. Actually I don't even have my camera to TAKE any photos.
Friday night was a good night though. I went to rangers with the girls for a second week in a row. How is this jewellery related? Well easy. The first week I taught the older group how to make beaded spiders. The boys were not that keen until they realised the beading meant they were going to make spiders. They made them, named them and then proceeded to play wit them the only way boys know how.
Attack, killer spiders. LOL
This past friday when I went again we made book marks. I did cheat a little and purchased some big platic beads to make the job a little easier but in the end the kids had a ball and made them look great. I also added a few to the lucky dip box that they have for anyone they may want to grab one. i did this wih the spiders too. There is always someone away or who loses theirs so at least they will be able to grab one.
Last week I made a fw earrings. they were all different although the pattern of some of them were similar. I am not going to display the similar ones if they sell fantastic I will put the next one up. I don't think I will use my bullk sale sign this time. I need to create a cutomise sign though.

Show

I have been busy making. Very busy.

I have a craft show coming up in 2 weeks and in that time I am also heading down to NSW for a weekend.
So it is busy busy.
I am taking a different approach to what I do this time. I have brochures and business cards. I am oig to do a FREE drawing, yes that's right FREE where the people could win a pair of earrings. i need to take photos LOTS of photos.

I also purchased a proper tent. Why? Well in this case I plan to do a show once a month I want some protection. The good thing is that I can also take it camping as extra shade. I am also solely concentrating on my jewellery this time. I am not going to sell my other things this time. I am sharing a booth with my friend who makes stacks of things including jewellery. Is she competition for me? Well not really her suff is very different to mine and people who want her stuff wouldn't be after mine anyway.
The advantage of sharing this booth is that if people stop to look at one type of jewellery they may scan across and buy from the other anyway. If they are with friends then their frends may browse across as well.

It also helps cut costs and you are able to have a break when you need to. the only downside is that I am going to have my girls with me. DH has organised stuff on the same day so they are with me. I will be able to let them wander so far but not too far.
I don't have a banner yet and i want one. But if I get a banner it could cause problems with my friend. But my aim is to get out there and get known for her it is more of a hobby (she works very hard fulltime) where for me this is a chance to stay out of that rut that I hated so much.

So lets see I have a free prize drawing, gift certificates, flyers with information on my parties and brochures for my mothers jewellery. Phew.
I also approached a business locally today and they want me to send information on doing wire work classes for them.

I am making a conscious effort to spot chances. I am stopping and asking people that may be able to help me. I still have to come up with a way of not stumbling over my words. But I will get there. So far there has been no adverse reactions and the way I am trying to word it is so that it is beneficial to them as well.
For example Ii approached a shop today and asked about teaching through them. They were open to the idea but became more receptive as I explained that the classes would be held there and the customers would buy there proucts through them.

How do I do this? I send the customer to the shop to book for my class. While booking (either phone or in person) the shop lets them know about the kit for the class which they must purchase from there. While there they get to cusomise their kit (choose different beads) and be encouraged to purchase some basic tools (not expensive).

I charge a fee for teaching them and maybe give the shop a cut for use of their shop. The class will last 2 hours. And I will do 4 different classes for beginners.

I have to email her my stuf so will get to it very shortly.