Saturday, June 20, 2009
On Metal Jewelries :)
Website: http://bddesigns.etsy.com
Blog: none yet
Products: Hand Fabricated Jewelry (Metalsmith)
Country/Location: Monclova, Ohio USA
Can you tell us something about yourself? I'm a wife, mother and metalsmith. I "live" in my studio every spare moment while I'm not taking care of the kids - 12 hours a week my kids are in school, so that is my SOLID work time! I live in the middle of the woods - full of textural inspiration - and I love my life!
What are your goals for your crafting? To keep growing and changing and honing my craft, as well as help others who want to learn about metalsmithing
Where do you find the inspiration for your designs? Nature mostly. I love shapes, texture, WORDS (former English major in college - so I love words by default!!)
Describe your daily routine. Get the kids off to school with lunches in hand, check computer for messages orders and the like while drinking my first cup of hot tea (of English descent), get dressed into my *glamourous* jewelry crafting clothes (most people don't know that metalsmithing is one of the dirtiest jobs imaginable!!!!!), work for 4 hours until I have to pick up my son from preschool, be a mommy all afternoon - putting him to bed, getting ready for dinner, cleaning up the house, etc., dinner with my family, cleanup, homework, etc., put kids to bed around 8PM and then I'm back to work until 1AM. Get up, do it all over again! Ü
How long have you been crafting? my whole life - mom is an artist, dad is a hobby architect/builder, came from a LONG diy history, grandparents used to sit and craft with us for HOURS on end....it's in the blood, history, family....
Are you a full time or part time crafter? full time - this is my JOB that keeps my kids in school, my truck payment on time and some of our future (small, meager) retirement.....such as it will be when we're 90 and we can retire! Ü
What made you decide to focus on your crafting and make it a business? by default - my husband and I firmly believe in one parent staying home to raise the children. As he was the one to finish his college degree, he also got the job. I stayed home and "played"...until one thing led to another and I started selling my work. When my 2nd child came along and the economy tightened, I tightened my belt and began actively pursuing selling my work so I could stay home with him until he went to school....and here I am 4 years later and he will be in Kindergarten next year and I'll still be "home" working!!!
How do you market or promote your items and where can we see it? Etsy is my predominant selling site - I don't have time to run another site on top of Etsy. However, there are several shops and sites around the world that carry my work, but THEY do all the computer work (I really don't like the computer all that much!!). I also do several local ART shows every year and people know to come see my latest work there.
What can you say about your choice of work? I don't know how or when I'd ever do anything else. Metalsmithing is all-consuming, challenging (I get bored very easily!), FUN, messy (which fits my personality!), and there aren't limitations - the sky is the limit when it comes to fire and metal! It is the hardest most rewarding job besides being a Mom! It's a lot like being a Mom, actually! You are totally exhausted most times, but to see your little creation sitting there, gleaming in the sunlight, knowing that someone will take it home with them and cherish it.....you beam!!!
What can you tell your other fellow crafters? Keep at it. Find something you love, just for the LOVE of it, not because it may or may not make you money (althought that's helpful in today's economy)....be original and find your niche and then hone your craft to make it better and better. If you invest in your craft, it will likely come back as an investment!!! In more than just monetary ways!!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Ink Productions on the spotlight
Website: http://www.InkyProductions.etsy.com/
Blog: http://inkyproductions.blogspot.com/
Products: Victorian Inspired Floral Art Pendants
Country/Location: USA
Can you tell us something about yourself?
I've recently graduated from university with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Art - concentration drawing and painting. I love the rain, read romances, adore Victorian/Regency inspired jewelry and crafts, drink tea (favorites being Prince of Wales, China Black, Irish Breakfast, and Chamomile) always with a spoonful of honey and in desperate times sugar, and watch movies snuggled under a cozy blanket.
What are your goals for your crafting?
To give others joy. I want my floral art pendants to resonate with its owner and be meaningful to her, in and throughout her life.
Where do you find the inspiration for your designs?
The Language of Flowers (many guides online and off) provide me with a lot of inspiration. I troll for floral meanings that are evocative and sentimental. When I find flowers that appeal to me I do more research to learn how to draw the flowers and make an accurate or graphic representation of the flower.
Describe your daily routine.
When it comes to my work I research flowers for id
How long have you been crafting?
My mother will tell you I've been an artist since I could hold a crayon and scribble on the walls. I think I truly aspired to be one when I was in high school. I think now that I've graduated from college I am well on my way to defining my style and personal voice.
Are you a full time or part time crafter?
More than part time and less than full time! :)
What made you decide to focus on your crafting and make it a business?
I chose to start Inky Productions as a way to make my fine art affordable to all so that many could enjoy what I do and not just a few.
How do you market or promote your items and where can we see it?
I use Indeigo (I'm spotlight this week) which is an online Indie advertising venue that's free to use as long as you place the script for the ads on your website/blog and I'm a part of We Love Etsy social bookmarking site.
What can you say about your choice of work?
What girl doesn't love the idea of a romantic rendezvous with a secret lover? The act of exchanging flowers has long been established and in the past it used to be done as a way to exchange messages between lovers. While many flowers tell a tale of love and passion many others are sad and sorrowful and still more extol emotions and attributes. You can celebrate birth, love, passion, friendship, grief, hope - life with flowers. My pendants are not transitory like real flowers and will offer a lifetime of pleasure.
What can you tell your other fellow crafters?
The only thing one can give an artist is leisure in which to work. To give an artist leisure is actually to take part in his creation. -Ezra Pound, poet (1885-1972)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
How to Price Your Items
It's a free program that let's you price your items correctly with your supposed hourly rate and overhead cost. It wasn't built for mac users though, so if you are using one like me, just get a windows emulator installed. This is really a good tool for us to use. It even manages to give us the retail and wholesale price depending on the percentage you want to earn. Try it!
http://www.beading-software.com
Singapore - Finding Doinky Doodles
Look at all these creations. She lets other artists from all over Singapore showcase their products in her store. A counter part of this here in the Philippines is actually F*Art (Fashion art) in Quezon City. I'll tell you about Happy Andrada's store later on.
Weng makes colorful objects using 100% recycled clothing and excess fabrics from selected factories. She gets her inspiration from imperfection. Improvising and creating using limited fabrics to produce the styles she creates.
Another inspiring thing Weng offers is that, if you order in bulk orders from her, she actually collaborated with an organization called Mother & Child Project. It is an organization that provides sewing jobs for women from disadvantaged families. I hope Truly inspiring.
On finding Doinky Doodles
33 Bali Lane (2nd Floor) Singapore 189 869
Open: Tuesdays to Satrudays, & Most public holidays, 1pm - 8pm
Close: Mondays & Sundays, Christmas & New Year
Phone: 62922248
Mail: xin@doinkydoodles.com
Online: www.doinkydoodles.com
This shop contains:
90% Handmade works of Awesome Art
5% Lovely Vintage / Quaint Objects
4.5 Absurdities / Logiclessness
0.5% Noise from Thumping Needle Machine
Products: Women's clothing
Country/Location: Australia
2 thumbs up for this :)
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