Planning for busy Fall Show Season

Today I stopped at my favorite coffee shop,CC's in Slidell,La, for some java and organizing. For any artisan out there knows that August is the month for organizing your thoughts and selling plan for the busy Fall show schedule. As jewelry designer, I live for this time. Even though sometimes sales are not the greatest, I look forward to meeting new customers and getting in the Holiday shopping mode.

As I sipped on my medium roast, I fully realize the chore ahead of me . The economy not the best, high unemployment, and customers buying only the minimum. Jewelry is certainly at the bottom of the buying totem pole !I made a list of what I need to get ready

1. Take inventory of materials you already have! Meaning realize what you have and make use of it.
2. On calender mark the shows you will do. By August you really should have committed to several shows already. Knowing this, this helps you set up design inventory.
3.Set time for home shows. This is really great one on one time with jewelry customers. This also reduces your overhead, as you do not have to pay booth fees.
4. Make a list of all jewelry you need to make. Yes, a daunting task. Here is the deal, set numbers of earrings, bracelets etc.... you need to make and really go through with it. Make an effort by end of August to finish all items on your jewelry making list. You will feel so good.
5. Also set selling goal, as in dollars you think you will sell. I know this is hard but you have to do it. Set weekly goals, in other words , one bite at a time. I learned that from my Mary Kay days.

The economy will get better and people will always find the money to spend on things they really want. I will update you on how I do with my list. Forge ahead creative people.

Welsh Corgi Olivia and Photography

My dog Olivia helping me while I take pictures of my designs. She had her eye on something else . I usually take pictures of my work outside for the best lighting. For you jewelry makers out there, customers want to visualize what jewelry looks like in natural lighting. It is also good idea to have earrings suspended so light is surrounding them, shows them up really well. Picture taking of your handmade items, jewelry or otherwise, evokes good mood in customers. Studies have shown lighting affect moods !

Holiday Season 2010

Expecting a very busy Holiday season this year. Will be busy with shows, art markets and wholesale to stores. I am starting to see a turn in the economy for better, people will start to buy more treats for themselves like jewelry.

More Earring Orders

Got call from one of the stores in New Orleans that carries my jewelry. They informed me that they have sold out of my brass earrings and need more !!!! That's good news.

Stores that carry Still Waters Jewelry

Still Waters Jewelry is carried at Judy at the Rink on Prytania st. and Miss Smarty Pants on Magazine st. in New Orleans. Also at Lee Tracy in Ocean Springs and Maggy Mays in Bay St. Louis , both in Mississippi. Visit these store and ask for Still Waters Jewelry

Pendants on Leather Cord

Here are some pendants that are made with 16g hammered wire and gemstones. I put these on leather cords.

These earrings are being carried at a couple of stores in New Orleans . I make these with 16g brass wire. Also making matching pendants.

Will stay up late again tonight to make some more hammered brass earrings. Maybe use tiger eye !

Creative Sleepless Nights

Last night could not go to sleep because of numerous designs in earrings I wanted to finish creating. Love times like that, you just can't put your tools down. As jewelry designer you live for those times.