Featured Seller - Artisan Silver

Hello!

As part of this new blog of mine, I thought I would feature some talented makers and artisans.

The very first to be featured is Traceyann from Artisan Silver

My name is Traceyann and I love to live in Sunshine Bay on the Isle of Wight. 
 
What do you make? 
I make vintage fashion jewellery and fine silver jewellery. 
 
Why did you start making jewellery? 
About two years ago. I crushed my hand whilst trying to save some ducklings that were stuck down a hole. The ducklings are now fully grown and living happily at the local hospital duck pond. I needed to find something that would rehabilitate my hand and jewellerymaking was perfect. 
 
When/ how did you start crafting? 
I've been doing arts and crafts for as long as I can remember. I followed my dream to go to art school and then promptly got a job working for the NHS. Reality bites. 

 
When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell? 
I have been selling for about a year, but its only in the last few months that my sales have really taken off. i am so grateful for the support of my lovely customers. 
 
Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job? 
Gosh - I would love this to be my main job! I work four days a week as a medical secretary. 
 
What do you love about your medium, what do you hate? 
I love the flexibility of precious metal clay, but I hate how it dries out so quickly. 
 
Where do you get your inspiration from? 
We have a huge collection of art books at home and I love walking so I get a lot of ideas from walking along the beach or the coastal path. I like organic designs. 
 
What is your favourite music to craft to? 
Don't laugh - Charles Aznavour. So romantic and an easygoing voice. 

 
What is your favourite piece of your own?
My silver ivy leaf ring. it was my first design with a textured ring shank. I wear one myself and always get positive comments on it. 

 
Where do you do your crafting (specially built studio - sofa??) 
Our spare room has become my little studio with my lovely kiln and a desk covered with projects in progress.

If you haven't checked out Tracyann's shop yet, I would definitely recommend it. Some of the vintage goodies are amazing.  


If you would like to be featured, leave a comment below and I'll come and check out your shop.

How to price your handmade items

This is probably one of the trickiest, and most important aspects to get to grips with when you're setting up or growing an online shop.

I found a great article on this topic which I thought others might find useful to others - all about pricing your handmade jewellery.

It all comes down to working out your wholesale price first, which could be simply defined as:

Materials + Overheads + Labour + Profit = Wholesale Price

s?  Well basically, its the following simple sum:

Remember when you're pricing materials, to include the postage and packaging costs that you incur from your suppliers! It all adds up.

Overheads could be the price of a craft fair table, or display, a tripod for taking your fabulous pics.. etc.....

Do take a look at the original article for more detail - well worth a read.

Some other interesting links on this topic are:

http://jewelrymaking.allinfoabout.com/features/pricing.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4746812_price-_and-other-craft-items_.html

At the end of the day, I think most of us are a little guilty of under valuing ourselves and the items we lovingly make over hours, or even days. Pricing our handmade wares at a fair price, taking into account the effort that they take is the way forward. Lets face it, I bet we have all seen some items that just seem "too cheap" and it puts us off making the purchase.

 I'd love to hear other people's views on this subject, and if you have any other useful links please share them in the comments below.Overheads + Labour + Profit = Wholesale

How to work out wholesale prices

So just how do you calculate these magical wholesale prices for your jewellery designs?  Well basically, its the following simple sum:

Materials + Overheads + Labour + Profit = Wholesale Price

Welcome.......

...to my new supplies blog! Glad you're here!

I decided to start up a little supplies shop on Folksy, to sell off all of those extra bits and bobs that I don't need any longer, and free up a little space in my making drawers! As well as a few things that I think people would love - great tools, and also some tutorials.

Sooooo I thought it would be a good time to set up a little blog too. This, I'm hoping, will be the perfect place to share any shopkeeper or jewellery making tips I stumble across, which don't really "fit" in my main jewellery blog.


Please go take a peek at the new shop, I'd love to know what you think!