Video: Watch Jewelyn Vanoni's Fidget Ring in Action - Art Jewelry Magazine

Here is another great video to help get you started making your own metal clay jewelry. Try this one on for size!
Video: Watch Jewelyn Vanoni's Fidget Ring in Action - Art Jewelry Magazine

Video: Rolling & Cutting Metal Clay - Art Jewelry Magazine

If you're interested in working with metal clay, then you're in luck! These next few videos will help get you started. This one will show you how to roll and cut your metal clay. Enjoy!

Video: Rolling & Cutting Metal Clay - Art Jewelry Magazine

Video: Lighting and Using a Torch - Art Jewelry Magazine

If you've ever been faced with the fear of lighting a torch to do your jewelry work (like I have!), then this video should help take some of the scare out of the job. Enjoy!

Video: Lighting and Using a Torch - Art Jewelry Magazine

.........................................................................Another Year, Another Memory!

Time goes so fast, so slow down and enjoy the moments! From our family to yours, we hope you had a beautiful Christmas and wish you an enchanting New Year!

It's Not Work If You Love What You Do!

 Recently, I found myself pondering over all the odd jobs I had been lucky enough to have in my lifetime. I remembered one of my first attempts at employment was working in a small inconspicuous fast food place. The kind of place where grease is so prevalent that it should be listed as an entree on the menu! I was young, green and found myself having to quickly learn how to count change back the customer.

Over the years my employment history varied from car wash attendant to store manager to payroll clerk to framer to painter to Avon Lady and on and on until I finally retired as a cryptologic technician in the U.S. Navy. My jobs were each as different as night and day.

While day dreaming about all my various escapades I realized that the ones I excelled at the most were the ones that I truly loved to do. It's a simple concept, but one that we often forget to practice. How can you do something to the best of your ability if you really don't love doing it?

Today, my primary goal in everything I do is to have fun with it, and to find that part of it that I love doing, and do it! I found my love of stained glass and jewelry making years ago, and have since enjoyed many years of creating and sharing my passion for both of these arts with my family, friends and customers. I've created many friendships with a vast array of artisans because of my love for these two art forms. I can honestly say that my life has been greatly enriched by having pursued my passion in these two fields.

My hope is that each of you will find a job that you love doing. One that you go to bed dreaming about, and then awake in the morning eager to do it. If you're an artisan, then you already know what I mean, but if you're not, maybe you ought to let your creativity take a walk on the wild side.

To get your imagination going I suggest you check out Issue 4 of the Copper Wire Jewelers Magazine. It's a highly informative online magazine filled with a multitude of designs and well written articles to help get even the slowest of creative juices flowing. I've posted the magazine toward the bottom of this page, so you've no excuse not to thumb threw it. Oh, and yes, we are again happy to announce that we have made it into the magazine...page 16, thanks to Lois and her publishing companions Meredith and Dani at Hot Glue Media.

Enjoy the read!

The Top 5 Art & Craft Show Display Mistakes

Booth Design
For those of us who depend on art and craft fairs as our primary marketing venue, we know too well that our booth is our storefront. When I have completed the setup of my booth, I always step back and view it as if I were a potential customer.
The prominence of my jewelry displays is key to whether the next customer walking by might venture into my booth or not.
A good booth design shows the artists attention to detail. The customer always responds to an artist with a sense of style and flair. A well thought out design will reward you time and again with more sales.

Too Much Merchandise
So you’ve made a lot of things and you want to try to sell them all. Remember, although variety is the spice of life, there’s nothing wrong with displaying some of your best pieces and holding the rest back to fill the gaps as they are sold.
If a customer does request a specific item, you can always bring out the “ones you didn’t have room for”. This is very intriguing to a lot of customers who will either ask to see your extra stock (and usually buy something from it), or will return to your booth several times to see what else you have put out.

Too Little Merchandise
There’s nothing worse than walking into a booth expecting to find all kinds of unique and beautiful things to look at, only to find the booth is half-empty. You feel as if you’ve just wasted your time.
There’s a negative vibe that is felt within the entire space. This unprofessional appearance leads people to think you may be going out of business and could make them leery of buying anything from you.
Always plan ahead and make more than you think you will need. The smaller items are quicker to produce, so make more of them. The larger items take more time, so have fewer, but more elaborate ones. If all else fails, take orders!

Lighting
Booth lighting really depends on the show you are doing. If you’re doing an inside show your lighting requirements may not be the same as an outside show. A general rule of thumb is if you want to showcase a display, then light it up. This can be accomplished in many ways.
Flood lights from the top middle of your tent are always effective. If you have a lamp or light source close by you can always incorporate it into your display. String icicle lights around the top of the inside of your tent, or work them throughout your display for a festive look. Be creative in your lighting design and your merchandise will roll of the shelf and out the door!

Be Accessible
Be the owner. Show people that you care about your work and are eager to share it and answer questions about it. You are the most important part of your booth. Be friendly, but don’t hang over them. Smile and encourage them to browse. You have a lot invested and this is your time to show your professional expertise and knowledge. Relax and have fun!

Looking for Something Different?

The holidays are upon us and gradually we are all trying to get that long Christmas list done. As always, we all want to buy that special someone something unique and different. If that describes you, then try checking out Crystal Wand Creations this holiday season. Shipping is only five bucks and there's a free gift with every order shipped. So take a deep breath and relax, we have you covered!

Crystal chandelier earrings - BeadStyle Magazine

Want to learn an easy pattern for making chandelier earrings? Check out the link below and start creating your own earrings today!

Crystal chandelier earrings - BeadStyle Magazine

Fall Beginner Stained Glass Classes

We will be offering our Fall beginner stained glass classes starting September, 21st 2010. Check out our website for all the details!

Copper Wire Jewelers Magazine Issue 3

Check out our article in Issue 3 of Copper Wire Jewelers Magazine!
Copper%20Wire%20Jewelers%20-%20Issue%203

Make a Statement!

The warm weather is upon us and it's the time we've all been waiting for - Summer Art Fairs!

When you've waited this long to unveil all those precious works of art you spent the Winter creating, then make a statement with your booth.

We all know what it's like to walk up to an art fair eagerly anticipating all the beautiful things we will see, quickly scanning all the booths to see which one peaks our curiosity the most, therefore, pulling us in first.

When setting up your booth space view it as if you were a customer. Ask yourself if your booth is one that creates the desire and intrigue required to make you walk past all the other booths just to see what is offered inside.

If you pass your own curiosity test, then you have succeeded in connecting with your customers on their most basic level, 'their need to know'.

It's take some work, and a little thinking outside the box, but if you try it you might surprise yourself and be rewarded for all your hard work in the end!