Accent Yourself Handcrafted Jewelry

I've Joined A New Etsy Team

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:10:00 +0000

I’ve always wanted to know what an Etsy Team is and now I’m going to figure out Etsy once and for all (and maybe actually sell some stuff)! I’ve been an Etsy seller (accentyourself)since the summer of 2007, but that doesn’t actually mean I sell on Etsy. Of my 11 sales, only five of them were actual pieces of jewelry (all of them the same item, too!), three were handmade components, and the rest were beads I wanted to get rid of. Of course, you can’t just join Etsy, open a shop, then expect the sales cash to come rolling in – it requires actual effort! Since I’m not the poster child for “Etsy Effort & Marketing”, I joined this group and hope to improve my status as an Etsian! Yeah, I’m pretty pathetic . . . but oddly enough, there are others in my same situation – I’m not alone!

Our Group

Our new team – SATEAM (Starving Artists Team) – is made up of members of the Starving Jewelry Artists Forum and formed in November 2008. The forum was started by a friend of mine a few years ago, and we’ve continued to grow and offer great information on metalsmithing techniques, seed beading, bead making, jewelry business, and more. We left out the “jewelry” in our Etsy team title to encourage participation from other artists and mediums. We’d like to be more diverse eventually.

Our fearless leader is Laurel Peters, aka Lavalleygirl. At the time I wrote this article, she has sold over 500 items in her shop(s) in a short amount of time – she joined Etsy in April 2007. I’d consider that quite a success and would take all the advice I could get from her. Along with Laurel, there are several other members who are volunteering their time with various tasks associated with organizing and running a successful Etsy team.

So, what is a Team?

An Etsy Team is an organized group of sellers who help market & promote each other, mentor newbies, offer critiques on shops (descriptions, tags, titles, etc.), photography tips . . . basically any information to help improve your shop & increase sales. Here is a link to the Etsy Team Informational Page. Yes, I’m finding out there is strength in numbers (& diversity). And, I’ll need to actually participate, keep my shop open and stocked, take great photographs, and be open to helping others. I think I can do that!

I'll be posting quite a bit more on this process. I am learning it takes a lot of people to volunteer their time to make a successful Etsy team. We have a variety of tasks, some requiring a lot of effort & time. Here are some of what is required to start an Etsy team . . .

* A leader to apply/submit membership to Etsy Administration.

* Make a team banner/artwork for the shop.

* Approve/add/maintain a member list. Some teams are juried. For now our team is not juried. And, membership will close soon. We are debating on how/when to open membership.

* Open & maintain a Team shop. Ours is SATEAM. We won't be selling anything in there, however, in the profile, there is a listing of all of our current members. So, it needs to be continuously maintained & updated with announcements, sales, membership, etc. (This is one of my duties.)

* Set up & maintain a Team blog. We have a few of our members that will be maintaining our team's blog that will feature members, post photos of work, and have team related articles.

* We also have a Flickr photo pool that features photographs of our members' work. I already had a lot of my jewelry uploaded in my Flickr account, so this wasn't a difficult task for me. It is just another way to network and show your skills! Here is one of my photo sets on Flickr.

*Set-up a separate Etsy forum within the Starving Jewelry Artist forum. This will be an area where we accomplish our tasks, ask for help & critiques, monitor Treasuries, mentor, and general communication. Keep in mind, one of the main reasons for setting up this group is to keep it a friendly place with no cat fighting allowed!

*Set up a mentoring program. Seasoned & experienced Etsy members will help the new ones learn the ropes. This will include everything from setting up an Etsy shop, to taking photographs, to setting up a Flickr account. We will have volunteer mentors for all aspects of Esty.

Whew! That is a lot of work! Luckily, we have a great group of people working together. We've "known" each other through the internet for quite some time, so we are hopeful our team will be very successful together. We've all had our own shops, but banding together will hopefully help us all achieve more sales!

Up next . . . . the fine art of creating a Treasury on Etsy. What is one? Why are they important? What's the big deal? I'll find out and write about it!

World's Greatest Sandwich

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:25:00 +0000

Here is my recipe for The World's Greatest Sandwich. Most of this creation is actually my husband's idea, but the end result was definitely a joint effort! It started out as a meal of meats, cheeses, bread, and salad, & wine but my husband decided to make a sandwich instead. It turned out to be his best idea in the kitchen yet!

Ingredients:

1 loaf of a good crusty bread
Extra virgin olive oil
Grated parmesan cheese
Hard salami (we usually use a couple different varieties from Trader Joe's)
Roasted red peppers (I roast fresh red peppers on the grill)
Soft mild white cheese (we use fresh mozzarella or Port Salut from Trader Joes's)
Trader Joe's Bruschetta (some of the best stuff on earth - square jar w/ a black lid)
Romainne lettuce
Balsamic vinaigrette (again. . . Trader Giotto's)

Heat the bread in the oven while preparing the rest of the ingredients. Slice when warm.

Take a few leaves of the lettuce and wash, dry & toss in some of the Balsamic Vinaigrette. Set aside.

To make roasted red peppers, clean & remove the seed from a red pepper. Brush with olive oil and put on a hot grill. Turning occasionally until the peppers are tender and the skin starts to flake off. I try to remove as much of the skin as possible, then slice about 1 inch wide.

To assemble the sandwich . . .

Take two pieces of bread, brush with olive oil & sprinkle a little grated parmesan cheese on the oil. Next, (in no particular order) add the salami or any Italian meat you choose, roasted red peppers, cheese (sliced or spread), lettuce, and a couple of teaspoonfuls of the bruschetta. Warning: this is a messy sandwich, but it tastes so good. Enjoy!

Notes:

* If you are looking for a low-fat, low-calorie meal, this isn't it! We usually treat ourselves to this very rich meal only once a month or so.

* Almost all of my ingredients come from Trader Joe's. I love that place!

* TJ's jarred bruschetta also is wonderful on pizzas. I use it as a pizza "sauce", but sparingly - a little goes a long way. It is very potent & full of flavor!

* You can also buy roasted red peppers in a jar at TJ's, but I've never used them on this sandwich. I always make fresh roasted red peppers.

Kitchen Island Counter Top Redo

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:04:00 +0000

When we moved into our house, the kitchen island was WAY too big for the space. So big, the refridgerator door couldn't open all the way. Who designs a kitchen like that? Who lives with a fridge that you can't open all the way? Huh? That was one of the main priorities on our "to do" list when we bought this house.

Here is a pic of the kitchen when we bought the house. See the "boob" lights on the ceiling? Those are next to go. I want can lights & a pot rack over the island.

Here is a pic with the new fridge.

Here is a pic of the new & smaller countertop. Of course, I couldn't find the matching laminate, so the countertop design shop suggested to go with something contrasting. Ideally, all new granite countertops would have been great, however, in the real world, that isn't in the Macy family's budget! The new countertop is small enough not to take up the entire room, but big enough to be useful - my Kitchenaid mixer will still work on it just fine!

Pool Table in the Dining Room

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:29:00 +0000

Who would put a pool table in the dining room?

I searched & searched the internet and found out that a putting a pool table in the dining room is becoming more & more popular. Our dining room is a wide open space that was sitting empty. Since we don't do much formal entertaining or dining, spending money on a nice dining room set seemed like a waste of money. We also considered putting some comfortable seating in there to make it an addition of the family room, but then you wouldn't be able to see the tv. The only logical solution? A pool table!

Here is a pic of the house before we moved in - previous owner's furniture. . .

Here is a pic of our new pool table in the dining room space (the French doors close, too) . . .

New House - Thanks G'ma Macy!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:30:00 +0000

Thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law, my house now looks and feels like home. She made a special trip up to Wisconsin from Florida to help me decorate, hang artwork, switch out light fixtures, hang curtains, and arrange our furniture. She has such a better eye for that kind of stuff than me.

Here are a few pictures from before we moved in. . . this is how it looked for the previous owners:

Here is the eat-in kitchen area . . . Last year, Barbara Sr. helped me refinish the kitchen table, baker's rack & another table. The light fixture is new - it replaced an 80's era gold thing.

This is the living room. It is large and had plenty of room for all of our big furniture. The only thing new in here is the tv stand, which we bought at World Market. It is huge, sturdy, and has plenty of room for the bigger tv my husband wants to buy some day down the road.

We are going to put a pool table in the formal dining room. Since we aren't a formal type of family, we decided to get something fun for the whole family that would get used. I'll take more pics when the pool table arrives. We removed the old gold chandelier and replaced it with a nice fixture that will hang above the table. I still need to paint the two stools black to match the bar table.

In the front room, we've made it into a den/computer/study room. It was a formal living room for the previous family, but we decided we wanted it to be a quiet place out of the way for homework & computer time. We removed 80's era gold sconces and replaced them with some cool-looking new sconces. (Actually, Barbara did that!). I still need to get some new book shelves & paint the little stool.

Thanks, Grandma Macy! You did a fantastic job. I'll try to get more pics of the upstairs bedrooms, kitchen (after the new countertop arrives), and the dining room when the pool table gets installed. We are almost finished!

Good Bye, Oregon. . . . Hello, Wisconsin

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:30:00 +0000

OK, so the past 2 months have been an absolute whirlwind for my family. I can't even remember the last time I made a piece of jewelry or posted on my blog or updated my website. If you think you are busy or have a lot going on, this is what I've been up to the past couple of months. . .

In late April, my husband got a call about a new job. As soon as I heard the words, "sure, I'm interested. . . ", I got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I knew if I heard those words, the job would be one that he couldn't turn down. So, we sat for a few weeks waiting to see what would happen with the job . . . turned out that the job was offered to someone else in the middle of May. Whew! I figured we were out of the picture and wouldn't have to pack our bags . . . . well, No! Shortly after the first guy turned down the job (mid-May), Jeff flew to Milwaukee for interviews. He got an official job offer on Sunday, May 25. Here is a timeline of my life the past 2 months.....

May 24 - Although we knew he was getting a job offer, we weren't certain of the terms. At this point, I wasn't convinced he was going to take the job. Plus, I figured it would take most of the summer to sell our house & I'd get to spend all summer in Oregon. . . . yeah right.

May 25 - Jeff got an official offer for his new job. It was one he'd be insane to turn down.

May 26 - We work feverishly to clean & declutter our house so we can officially put it up for sale.

May 27 - Our house was listed at 3PM; at 3:45 PM (while I'm still doing some touch-up painting), a couple stops by to see the house; at 5PM that same couple officially tour the house with their real estate broker; at 9PM we have an offical offer for our house.

June 6 - I get backed into in a parking lot. Not too much damage to my car, but enough to require a trip to the body shop. Luckily, the guy admitted complete fault & there is no out-of-pocket expense to me.

June 7 - Family flies to Milwaukee to go house hunting.

June 9 - Jeff & I find our house & make an offer.

June 10 - Our offer is accepted. (I also turned 40 this day!)

June 11 - Kids & I fly to Florida from Milwaukee for vacation to see Grandma Macy (we'd had vacation planned for a long time).

June 13 - Jeff meets up with us in Florida.

June 16 - Jeff flies back to Milwaukee for work.

June 18 - Kids & I travel back to Oregon - I'm so glad I won't have to make that trip anytime soon! Although I loved going to Florida, it will be so much nicer to only have a 2+ hour trip instead of all day, plus a 3-hour time change. West coast to East coast is no fun!

June 20 - Packed up my jewelry bench with my friend, Marleah. Thanks to my neighbor, Frank, the gin & tonics made that job much less painful! (Actually, the Tepley's kept the gin & tonics flowing all week . . . thanks, Caroline & Frank!)

June 21 - Going away party in our neighborhood. I miss our neighbors so much. Thanks for organizing the great party, Caroline, Liza & Kirstin! The food & margaritas were great!

June 23 - My van is picked up and loaded onto a car carrier for the trek across country.

June 25 - Movers come to pack the house. Cat is starting to go crazy!! She knows something is happening.

June 26 - Movers load our stuf onto a moving truck. Kids, cat & I camp out at our neighbors house down the street. Thanks, Sue & Eric!

June 27 - Our house closed. Spent the day with my buddy, Karen, and the kids at Green Peter Lake in Oregon. Gorgeous day. I spent that evening saying many tearful "goodbyes" to all my neighbors. Claire spent her last night at the Tepley's & Will spent his last night at the Vela's. My last night was spent drinking wine & eating fresh crab with Toby & Kirstin & Alex. A perfect ending to my short stay in Oregon.
June 28 - I took one last hike with Karen. I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. The kids, cat & I left Corvallis in the morning to head to the hotel airport so we could relax by the pool.

June 29 - Kids, cat & I fly into O'Hare. Jeff picked us up and drove us up to the hotel in Milwaukee where we stayed until we got our house.

June 30 - Drop off kitty at the vet to be boarded until we took possession of the house.

July 1 - My car arrives on the car carrier with a big dent in the front! The semi was in an accident, and of course, my car just happened to be where he got hit! More hassles. . . .

July 2 - Closed & took possession of our house. Yippee!!! During our closing, we got a phone call that the moving truck broke down in Montana and our shipment would be delayed for 2 days. Ugh. More time in a hotel room with no pool & 2 kids.

July 5 - Moving truck arrives!! Now the work begins!

July 9 & 10 - My brother, his wife & 4 kids stop through on their way for vacation. I hadn't seen my brother & his family in 2 years, since we left for Oregon.

July 11 - Jeff left for Las Vegas for work. Shortly after he left, my parents, my sister & her kids arrived for a week. We had 9 people in the house! Yikes. It went surprisingly well, actually.

July 19 - Family leaves to go back to IL. Old neighbors from Chicago come up to go to lunch with the kids & I. It was great to see them and it will be nice living so close to our friends in Chicago & family again.

July 20 - NOTHING! Kids & I hung out and relaxed. Did a little exploring around here.

July 21 - Jeff comes home from Vegas. And, we'll do more of NOTHING!!! Oh, I have to take my van to the body shop to get repaired.

Still on my "to do" list . . . find doctors for everyone, a family dentist, start working out again, sign the kids up for school, find activities for them (gymnastics, soccer, etc.), and more. I have so much to do, but one of my main goals is to get my jewelry bench set up some time soon. I miss playing with fire so much! My mother-in-law is visiting us 8/13-18. I'm really looking forward to her visit so she can help me decorate. She has such a great eye for those kinds of things. . . . something I really lack!

We're Moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:48:00 +0000

I haven't updated my blog in a while because I've been busy preparing for a move. Although we didn't want to move quite yet, my husband has been offered a job he couldn't turn down in Milwaukee, WI. On the positive side, we'll be much closer to family in IL. . . just a short drive down the road & a quick flight to Florida. Here in Oregon, we are soooo far away from everything.

So, now I'm trying to organize our move. We listed our home last Tuesday, and had an offer by Tuesday night. As of now, we are closing at the end of June. Movers are coming to pack & load the truck a couple days before. The pressure is on to find a home in Wisconsin so we don't have to live in a hotel or transitional housing too long.

This is all happening WAY too fast, but I cannot complain. This was meant to be. . . .

Jury for Fall Festival Art Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:09:00 +0000

Today, I had the pleasure of taking part in being part of the jury for the Corvallis Fall Festival. It is a large art & craft fair that takes place each fall in Corvallis, OR. Approximately 180 artists sell their wares, including: textiles, jewelry, wood, ceramics, watercolors, etc. There is a little bit of everything at this show - I've attended the past 2 years (as a shopper) and was impressed at the layout and the huge number of people in attendance. Of the 180 vendors each year, the top 1/4 - 1/3 in each category are asked to return the following year and don't have to go through the jury process again. I'm guessing the top sellers had sales well over $10K (easily). (What the heck am I waiting for?!)

Jury Process
There was a jury of 8 people, with 2 of the art fair organizers directing us. Among the jury group, there was a woodworker, a potter, a painter, a jewelry maker (me), a fiber/sewing artist, and a couple others. So, from what I could tell, it was a well-rounded group of people.

All the applications & photos were grouped according to category/medium. Each category group was passed around the table and we each looked at each individual application & photos. With each application & photo, there was a piece of paper where we rated the artist. We were instructed to consider the following:
* Originality - Is it different from work we've seen before?
* Craftsmanship - Is it well-made? Is the work complex? Broad range of skills & experience?
* Presentation & photos (see below).

After we reviewed the application & photos, we were to rate each application. Obviously, the artists/applications with the highest rating would be getting an invitation to join the fair next fall. The booth fees start at $100, plus 15% of total sales. After the show, artists report their sales and submit their portion to the Fall Festival organizers. Top sellers get invited back the following year.

So, for a few hours today, I learned quite a bit about the jury process for an art & craft fair. Here are some thoughts for you, if you are thinking about applying to a juried show . . .

* PHOTOS! Please submit good photos. If your photos suck, you will not be accepted, much less even looked at. You might be the best metalsmith or quilter on the planet, but if your photos are crappy, you'll never even get a toe inside the front door. The jury doesn't not have an actual piece of your work to touch, feel and examine, so the only thing we can go on is a photo example of your work. I probably passed & gave a rating of "1" or "3" on 20 applications just due to poor quality photos.

Here is a photo of a piece of my jewelry that I'm proud of. This would be a good example of what to submit for a jury. . . simple, good lighting (no flash, please), no busy background, close-up as possible of details, and clear/focused (please use a tri-pod!).

* Complete the application & provide details on your work. I liked reading what types of materials were used and how much of the process was actually done by the artist. Of course, you also need to meet the deadline & include any fees.

* Make a professional presentation. Whatever the jury asks for on the application, provide it! Extra photos were fine & welcome, but I especially liked the photos that had descriptions & labels of what I was looking at. Several of us often asked, "What is this supposed to be?" -- that isn't good for the artist.

Also, the professionalism in the application process made me wonder what kind of booth the artist would have. If their application and photos were sloppy, would their booth be sloppy/tacky, too?

* Know your market. If you do crafty country themed stuff and are applying to a fine art show, you probably won't get accepted. There were several applications of crafty stuff you'd find at your local craft store. These items (in my opinion) just wouldn't fit in this type of art fair.

All in all, I had a great day and learned a ton about the jury process for an art fair. Of all the groups, fiber/textiles, 2-d, and jewelry had the most applications. Leather had the fewest. There were some really amazing work included, but also a lot of crap.

Until next time. . . have a nice day!

Great Articles on Metals

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:34:00 +0000

Megan Casto, of Casto Creations is a buddy of mine in the jewelry making world. She has written a great article, "Rose? Yellow? White? What's the Difference?", which is about the differences in types of gold. . . and, another one, "Smart Shopping - Know Your Metals", which is also about all metals in jewelry. Both articles will help enlighten you on which metals to buy, how to make sure you get the most for your money, and what not to buy. Before you make any more jewelry purchases, read her articles first!

Way to go, Megan! Awesome articles, once again. You always have so much good information and are always willing to share. Thanks!!!

Sea Glass Charm & Mother's Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:38:00 +0000

The first two photos are of a custom order I received this week. A very nice fellow Etsian, Highdesertdiva, sent me her charm bracelet and requested me to make her a sea glass charm. She also wanted me to attach a bunch of charms for her. . . no problem! I had the perfect piece of glass for this project. Now all that I have left to do is toss the bracelet into my tumbler to make it look new!

The third photo is a baby shower gift for a friend of mine. Since this was her second baby, she already had all the typical baby gear, so I wanted to make something just for her! I used sterling silver discs and soldered initials that I fashioned out of 20 gauge wire. I drilled a hole into the top and attached thick jumprings and put them on a sterling silver snake chain. I hope she likes my gift! If you'd like one for yourself, a necklace like the one below, with 2 custom charms on a sterling silver snake chain costs $50.

I gladly accept custom orders to set your favorite piece of sea beach glass and turn it into a lovely piece of jewelry. Please contact me if you are in need! You can also visit my Etsy shop or my website to learn more about my jewelry.

Customized Sea Glass Pendants

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:35:00 +0000

I just added a service to my Etsy site. If you have a piece of sea beach glass that you would like made into a pendant, I am now accepting custom orders for your piece of beach glass. All you need to do is drop me a line and we can discuss your needs to have your piece of beach glass turned into a beautiful piece of jewelry.

Check out my Etsy shop for more information.

Bezel Set Sea Glass Pendant Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:31:00 +0000

by Barb Macy

Accent Yourself Handcrafted Jewelry

Corvallis, OR

Materials & Tools Needed:

* Bezel Wire – size & gauge is dependant on the size & thickness of the piece of beach/sea glass.
* Sterling Silver Sheet - 24 or 26 gauge is what I typically use.
* Sterling Silver Tubing – size depends on what type of chain used.
* Flux & Solder – Medium, easy, extra easy – you will need all three types.
* Sea/Beach Glass – you’ll want a fairly uniform piece, not too big, not too small; and as smooth & even all around as possible. . . . Kind of like a cab. Once you get good at making bezels, you can try an odd-shaped piece of glass. It just gets tricky if you have sharp corners or very thick pieces.
* Jeweler’s saw & bench pin
* Files & Sandpaper
* Torch, pick, tweezers, and basic soldering set-up.
* Quench bowl & a pickle bath – I use a homemade solution of vinegar & pickling salt. I heat the vinegar & salt solution in my microwave for about 20 seconds before I need to pickle.

1. Wrap the bezel wire around your piece of sea glass. Mark the end of the wire with a Sharpie. Make sure you measure a little bit bigger than you need – about 1/8 of an inch. You can always file down to size, but you can’t add to it later if you cut it too small.

2. Cut the bezel with your jeweler’s saw. I prefer to use a saw to cut the bezel wire because it makes a much cleaner cut. Although flush cutters do the job, they tend to pinch the end of the wire which requires much more filing to get a nicely closed seam before soldering. At this point, the bezel should be a little “too big” for the piece of glass.

Before I saw, I always lube my blade by running my saw blade through some bees wax. I saw with the piece resting on my jeweler’s bench pin. The saw should move in an “up & down” motion and stay upright and in one position. Using your hand as a guide, move the metal in the directions you want your saw blade to cut. You should not try to move your saw around the metal - you'll break a lot of blades this way!

3. File the ends of the bezel wire so they match up perfectly. You should be able to see no light shining through where the ends meet (before soldering). If you have any gaps, the solder will not flow. Solder does not fill in gaps or bring two pieces together. They have to be flush or touching in order for the solder to flow properly. Test to make sure the piece of glass fits. Re-adjust the bezel so the ends are flush again and ready to be soldered. You also should make sure the metal is clean & free of dirt, wax, and oils, which can hinder the flow of the solder. Rinse off well in clean water. (Tip: Flux also helps clean the metal, too.)

4. Flux the bezel (I use Handy Flux & a kids paint brush to apply), snip a couple of pieces of medium solder (I use wire solder) and set aside. If your piece has more than one layer or component, start with a harder solder and work your way down to easier flowing. For this piece, I’ll be soldering in 3 steps – the bezel, the bezel onto the sheet, and the bail onto the back. I start with medium flow to make the bezel; easy flow to attach the bezel to the sheet; then finish the bail with extra easy solder. Once you have the piece fluxed, solder the joint with the medium solder. Notice how I have the seam on top & on a “downhill” slant. This helps encourage the solder to flow in the right direction! Every piece is going to be different in this process. I just happened to have a bezel that would sit still and had a slant which made this part very easy! Quench & pickle before moving on to the next step.

5. Once the bezel is finished, test to make sure the piece of glass fits in securely. There should not be a lot of room around the edges of the glass, yet you don’t want it so tight you can’t get it into the bezel. Once you know the bezel fits properly, you need to sand both sides of the bezel. In a “figure 8” and “backwards figure 8” pattern on a piece of sand paper that is laying flat on your bench, sand until both sides are smooth. This method of sanding helps keep the surfaces level/even for a nice uniform finish. ***IMPORTANT*** The bottom side of the bezel should fit flush against the piece of sterling sheet.

6. Lay the bezel on a piece of sheet. Using a Sharpie, mark around where you want to cut. Cut out a piece of sheet that is a little bit bigger than the bezel with your jeweler’s saw. Use your hand as a guide to slowly move the metal in the directions you want to saw. Avoid moving the saw & blade around the metal or you’ll break a lot of blades! (See Step 2)

7. Remove the glass from the bezel. Flux the sheet & bezel once again, and solder with easy flow solder. For a piece this size, I used about 5 small pieces of solder. I cut my solder into pieces about the size of a donut sprinkle and put them in a small container so they don't get lost or mixed with other types of solder.

Sometimes I have to gently push the bezel down with tweezers onto the sheet as the solder flows to make sure there is a good connection between the metal. After quenching, inspect the piece to make sure all the solder flowed in the correct spots & that there are no gaps between the bezel and the sheet. If you have a gap, you will need to solder again. ***IMPORTANT*** if there are any gaps after you’ve soldered, this means the bezel & sheet aren’t flush against each other. You will have to re-solder & push the bezel onto the sheet while the solder is flowing. Hold it down with your tweezers & remove the heat until the solder has held. Pickle.

8. Depending on how you want your sea glass pendant to look will determine how much of the sheet you have to trim away from the bezel. For this piece, I had a little ledge or frame around the bezel – about 1/8th of an inch. Sometimes I just trim the sheet flush to the cup. Leaving a ledge allows you to add embellishments like decorative wire or balls of sterling silver.

Here is a view of the trimmed bezel cup. If all goes according to plan, you should now have a rough, but custom-fitting bezel cup. You should not have any gaps between the bezel & the sheet.

9. I like my sea glass pendants to have an open back to let light shine through and enhance the beauty of the glass. To do this, first you need to make a divot in the center of the cup with a pick or a nail. Tap gently with a hammer to make the divot. Place the drill bit in the divot and slowly drill the hole. Hold the piece with your hand while you drill so it doesn't spin or move. You can use a regular drill or a Dremel. I use what ever is handy.

10. Thread your saw blade through the hole in the bezel cup. Re-attach your saw blade and make sure it is securely in place. Lube the blade and saw around the center of the bezel cup about 2-3 mm from the inside of the bezel. Don’t saw too closely to the bezel because you want to leave enough sheet to hold the piece of glass in place & add stability.

11. Next, with your saw, cut a piece of sterling silver tubing to be used for the bail. For this piece, I used 5mm tubing because I plan to hang the pendant from a ball chain. You can attach any type of bail you like. Tubing is a really easy way to make a bail and it is available in a variety of sizes. File & sand the bail before soldering onto the back. I used extra easy solder to attach the bail to the back of the pendant.

12. Quench & pickle! I use a homemade solution of vinegar & pickling salt heated up in my microwave. I use a simple glass dish for my pickle bath. Some people keep their pickling solution in a crock-pot in their workshop; however, I have a tendency to leave appliances on, so I just heat it up as needed. It works for me!

13. File & sand the various edges of the piece. I start with my file set (straight & curved) to get rid of the really rough edges first, and then I gradually start with rough sand paper and work down to finer sand paper until I get the finish I like before setting the piece of glass. 14. Using a bezel pusher and/or a burnishing tool, set the glass in the bezel by pushing down on alternate sides until you’ve worked your way around the entire bezel. After the glass is securely in the bezel, use the burnishing tool to finish smoothing the bezel and to get rid of bumps & ridges. 15. Once the piece of glass is securely in place, I usually sand it some more, then send it to the tumbler for a while to polish & bring out a high shine!

Spring Cleaning! Tumble Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:53:00 +0000

Today I stopped by the shops that sell my jewelry and most of my things are in desperate need of a shine & polish! For shops where I sell on consignment - Gabby's, Day Dreamers Beads, The Art Center (Art Shop) - I take the things home, throw them into the tumbler, re-package, then deliver back to the shop. This doesn't take a lot of time, and it helps keep the jewelry looking good. All of these items will be getting new cards & packaging. I've updated my earring cards & jewelry tags again, and want everything to be consistent & fresh for Spring.

At the spa that buys my things wholesale, I just take in my tumbler on a day when I'm planning to be in for services or if I'm going to be in the area. I show the front desk staff how to use it, and they clean the jewelry while they are working at the front counter. Jewelry that is clean & shiny will sell a lot faster than stuff that is tarnished or dirty looking.

My Jewelry Tumbler
I use a Lortone 3A with 2 pounds of stainless steel shot. I add the jewelry, some warm water until it is about 1 inch over the top of the shot, about 1/8th of a teaspoon of burnishing compound, then I let it tumble for about 20-30 minutes.

Homemade Tarnish Remover
For pieces that are very tarnished, I use a homemade tarnish remover. I use an aluminum pan or baking dish lined with foil, boiling water, and a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. All you have to do is dissolve the baking soda in an aluminum pan with boiling water, then add the jewelry. Make sure the tarnished metal comes into contact with the aluminum. If your silver is in between beads and it is difficult to make contact with the foil, crumble or wrinkle the foil when you line the pan. The tarnish comes off within a few seconds. It is amazing!!! I usually change the water after each bath. You will notice a sulfer smell & the foil or pan turning black - this is time to change the water because the process looses its effectiveness. After I remove the tarnish, then I tumble for a short while.

I'm in the process of polishing a bunch of Bali silver spacers & beads for my friend who owns one of our local bead shops - Day Dreamers Beads, in Corvallis. Her tumbler is buried in her garage! Anyway, the selection of Bali stuff was getting pretty black, so I've taken a bunch home with me to brighten up for her - so far, most of it looks brand new! I hope it helps her sell a lot!

How to Make Your Own Ear Wires

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:19:00 +0000

I recently posted that I'd add pics of how I make my own ear wires. Well here is a simple tutorial. By the way, it took me less time to make these ear wires than it did to complete this blog entry!

Materials & Tools Needed: round nose & chain nose pliers, flush cutters, 20 gauge sterling silver round wire, a round pen or pencil, tumbler or burr cup (optional).

1. First, cut round sterling silver wire into 1 3/4 - 2 inch pieces. Make sure all of your pieces are the same length.

2. Next, with your round nose pliers, make a loop at one end of a piece of wire. I make the look going against the natural curve of the wire. You might want to mark your round nose pliers at the point you make the loop for more consistency.

3. Using the pencil or pen as a guide, wrap the wire around making a hook. At this point, I go "with" the natural curve of the wire.

4. Make a small bend in the end of the wire with your chain nose pliers.

Tips:

* Practice on copper wire first. Don't waste your expensive sterling silver wire!

*After practicing on copper wire, decide what size you like and stick with it! It will help you become more consistent in making your own earwires.

* Use a file or burr cup to soften the ends and to get rid of sharp points.

* Tumble the batch for 20-30 minutes for added hardening & shine.

* I like using 20 gauge wire. I've found that the ear wires are more substantial and hold the little plastic ear wire keepers more securely.

Working on My Sea Glass Pendant Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:22:00 +0000

Well, I spent most of the day & evening working on a tutorial for making a bezel set sea/beach glass pendant. It is something I've been wanting to do for a very long time, so yesterday, I got out my camera and started taking pics of the entire process. I have almost 100 pics taken so far, and still need some more! Yikes!

So far, my document is 6 pages, with 24 color photos. The project is a bezel set piece of cobalt blue sea or beach glass, that will eventually be hung on a chain & taken to The Art Center (Art Shop) in Corvallis, Oregon.

I am going to need to test subjects to try this tutorial once I get it finished. If you are interested in proof-reading or testing it to make sure the tutorial is worthy to be posted or sold, please send me an email to let me know. Send me a note with your email address and I can send you a copy of my rough draft.

Thanks for browsing and have a nice day!

How to Make Your Own Earring Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:35:00 +0000

I like the look of home made earring cards. It just seems to work better (for me) with my handmade jewelry. Plus, it helps me create specialized packaging for the different shops where I sell my things. I print all my earring cards at home on my laser printer. And, I use the perforated business cards that you can buy at places like Staples & Office Max. Here is an example. I buy packs of scrapbooking paper from Wal-mart, Target, and other craft stores.

I start with my cutting mat that I used to use for quilting, a rotary cutter, a large ruler & scrapbooking paper. I usually work with the large books of coordinating colors & patterns. I also use different color schemes for different shops. For the salons, I use the bright, bold patterns shown. For the art galleries, I use a darker, more subdued color & pattern scheme. Line up the paper and cut a 4-inch wide strip.

Next, after I have a stack of 4-inch strips cut, I cut those strips into cards that are 2 1/2 inches wide. Your finished card should be 4 x 2 1/2 inches.

Tear or cut apart the printed business cards. Make sure you have them printed prior to attaching them or you won't be able to get them through your printer. Attach with any adhesive, like a spray or double-sided tape.

Pierce two holes in the finished card. I like to use a safety pin or a lapel pin because it has a very sharp point and makes a small, tight hole that keeps the earring securely in place.

Finally, add an earring card adapter to the back. I purchase mine through JS Ritter and they are not expensive.

I apologize for the poor picture quality, however, today is a dreary, rainy day in Oregon and there just isn't any good light coming through my windows! But, you can get the basic idea of how to make your own earring cards without spending a lot of money.

What I like the best about this type of card is that you can make endless designs and you aren't stuck with one style like you would if you used professionally printed cards. A couple of my shops don't allow me to put my website on my earring & jewelry cards, so I have the freedom to print different versions on the business cards. Right now, I think I have 4 different versions, plus several different color schemes in shops.

Have a nice day! And, thanks for stopping by my blog!

A Collection of Hoops

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:11:00 +0000

Over the Easter weekend, I was able to take the time to work on an order for HBS Express. It is a little shop near the Oregon State campus. I am aiming to make simple things geared for a younger crowd, so I went with sterling silver hoops in a variety of sizes & a small group of black & orange beaded drop earrings. I now have almost 30 pair of earrings made & ready to deliver! Finally!

Finally! I Had Time to Work!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:27:00 +0000

Well, I finally sat down tonight and made time to work on a bunch of earrings I need for a wholesale order. I've committed a mortal sin in the handcrafted & wholesale world. . . . I'm way overdue on an order. I told my client that I'd have a large batch of earrings ready 2 weeks ago, and they still haven't been delivered. Life has just gotten in the way, I guess. Plus, I'm not really motivated to pull all-nighters any more. Sleep, my health & sanity are much more important in my life. (Sorry, Lisa!).

So, tonight I got back to work on my earring order. . . . I'd made some hoops a couple of weeks ago, and tonight I made some more in different sizes. And, I finished a large batch of ear wires. I use simple hook-type ear wires for most of my designs. They are very easy to make and it saves a lot of money making your own. How do I make my own ear wires? Well, here are a few easy steps. I will add pictures as soon as possible. . .

1. Cut 1 3/4 - 2-inch lenghts of 20 gauge sterling silver round wire. I prefer 20 gauge wire because it makes a nice & sturdy earring base that also can hold an earring keeper or plastic post on securely.

2. On on end, made a small loop with a round nose pliers.

3. Using a pen or pencil, wrap the rest of the wire making a large "hook" with a tail.

4. With your chain nose pliers, make a little bend in the end of the tail to finish the ear wire.

5. You can add additionals steps of hammering the wire and/or tumbling to soften the cut ends & harden/polish the earwire.

Big Ass Hoops!

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:49:00 +0000

These are my current favorite earrings. Made out of 14 ga. sterling silver wire, soldered & hammered into shape, they are attached to hand-formed sterling silver earwires made out of 20 ga. sterling silver wire. The connecting jump rings are also hand-cut by me. The hoops measure over 2 inches in diameter and dangle nicely!

Generally, when I cut rings, I use a hand saw to cut rings larger than about 5 or 6mm in diameter. Anything smaller than that, I use my Koil Kutter & Dremel to cut them. I actually enjoy sawing metal with a jeweler's saw. I find it relaxing. The hardest part about forming hoops that are large like these is trying to keep their form and joining the ends together precisely. It can be a challenge!

This pair of earrings can be purchased from my Etsy shop. To see more of my work, please visit my website, Accent Yourself Handcrafted Jewelry. Thanks for looking & have a great day!

Briolette Flower Pendant Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:29:00 +0000

I've written a guide on how to make Briolette Flower Pendants a couple of years ago. I saw something similar to these demonstrated on a couple other websites, but decided to change it up a bit for myself and "make it my own"! I'm sure I didn't invent this technique, but you are free to make as many of these cute little flowers as you want! When finished, I string them on a leather choker, finished with sterling silver ends & a clasp. They also look great on a sterling silver omega chain or a wire choker.

I use both semi-precious and glass briolette beads and a variety of smaller beads for the center of the flower. For the wire-wrapped portion, I use 22 ga. dead soft sterling silver wire. To sew the smaller beads into the center, I use .010 or .014 SoftFlex beading wire. When finished, I tumbler the entire pendant to harden & shine the wire. You could also tumble the pendant before you sew in the center beads.

Pictured above are some examples of finished pendants. I typically use flat faceted briolette/teardrop beads that are about 12mm x 18mm & side drilled -- sometimes smaller ones, which make really cute flowers. I've also made the smaller flowers into rings (see below). With the 12 x 18mm size beads, the finished flower is approximately 2 inches in diameter.

To view my tutorial, it is published on my website at http://www.accentyourself.com/. Here is a direct link . . . Briolette Flower Tutorial. Feel free to use my techniques in your jewelry making activities. If you are going to sell these using this technique, all I ask is that you give me a little credit......thanks!

Here is a link to a wonderful tutorial on how to make wrapped wire ends for leather cord, by Cheryl Coccaro, of Gypsy Woman Designer Jewelry. It is an AWESOME technique & they hold up beautifully. I use this technique on all my leather cord necklaces now. I attach a jump ring and a lobster clasp to the ends. Previously, I used hook & eye crimp ends to finish the choker, however, I had too many of them break, fall off, and just not work properly. This is a MUCH more secure technique for finishing leather cord. Thanks, Cheryl!

Enjoy making these cute flowers. They are a great piece to wear in Spring & Summer and make a great gift for the gardener in your life!

More Wholesale Thoughts From a Buyer

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:16:00 +0000

In addition to my last post on wholesale jewelry sales, from the viewpoint of the shop owner or buyer, I found a couple more tidbits on this topic. This was a post on a thread in the Etsy Business & Crafting forum on wholesaling.

Etsy member, amyblandford, said, "...my two cents worth (probably two dollars worth by the time I'm done typing) as a former buyer/manager of a gift store ...(pretty big store- southern California, independent, total sales in the millions annually)....

If we did't think it would sell in our market for double the wholesale, we didn't buy it. There's no 30% on some things, 40% on others. If we thought something would sell for more than double, we'd try it, keeping in mind that we aren't the only place to buy it. [Interesting side note- some companies insist that stores sell their product for MSRP. If you don't, & get caught, you lose your dealer account. No markups OR discounts. Examples are- Dept 56 Christmas Villages, Sandicast animals... TY during the Beanie Baby craze... but that's unusual & only works for companies whose product is in demand. It's important to them that the end consumer knows they can get the same deal anywhere.] .....anyway - We had about 30 local crafters who sold things on consignment. The store took 30% of the retail. The artisans/crafters tagged their items themselves, knowing that they'd get 70% of the sale price. We sent them a check once a month for whatever sold the month before. For the "extra" money the crafters got, they were responsible for restocking their items & the store didn't take responsibility for things damaged or stolen (as they do on things they've already paid wholesale for.) Whenever we had a sale, like- "20% Off Everything", the crafters got their regular amount & the store "ate" the discount. . . .

The biggest problem buying from crafters is that SO many didn't ship on time. We'd give every new order a ship date and a cancellation date, and if the stuff didn't show up on time, it usually got cancelled. Unless it was something I ordered for myself! :-) .....basically, if you want to be in business, act like it. "Sorry it's 2 months late, my dog got sick" doesn't cut it......

Most branded their items w/handmade hangtags that gave a description of the item & a brief note about the artist. Which helps the store to promote them, and gets customers excited to collect more. But if it had a website listed where people could buy it directly? I would've cut that off. I want them to come back to my store to see what's new, not never have to come back! I always thought the crafters/artists were what gave the store it's SOUL, and set it apart from all the other retail options people have. Those were my favorite days - getting a big box from the UPS guy that said "Sew Be It" or "Tattered Rabbit Farm", and ripping it open to see what I'd be spending my next paycheck on!

Bottom Line - You'll have a better chance at landing a wholesale account if:

* You are able to give a 50% discount - even if that means raising your retail prices.

* You ship & deliver the goods on time. Be prompt.

* You have your things tagged & packaged professionally. Ask about the possibility of having your website information on tags & cards.

Pictured is a sample of how I package my earrings. I print business cards on my printer at home - those perforated Avery brand you can buy at Staples - then I glue them onto a piece of scrapbooking paper for a framed or matted look and added strength. I have different color schemes for different shops. I attach an earring card adapter onto the back, so they can be hung on an earring spinner. Finally, I punch two little holes in the card so the earrings fit tightly and won't fall out.

My Introduction to Wholesaling Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Barb Macy) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:56:00 +0000

I've been a member of various jewelry-making forums for the past several years and have learned a ton from people who participate. I've learned everything from blogging & website design, to new jewelry-making techniques, to basic business principles. One person I've learned a ton from is Megan Casto of Castocreations. (Here is her Etsy Shop) And, she is the person who I looked to originally for advice on selling wholesale. We are moderators on the jewelry-making forum http://www.starvingjewelryartists.com/.

Why Wholesaling Works for Me

I've come to terms that my website is only a gallery. I don't have the knowledge or resources to have a high-profile website, invest in advertising, continuously update, or hire a web designer. Plus, my photography skills are marginal & I'm horrible at taking photos of new creations. As a direct result, I do not get many sales online. I also do not participate in many craft/art fairs or shows. At this point in my life, I do not have the time or resources to commit to an entire weekend fair or nag people to host in-home jewelry parties. I have a family and family activities that take a priority to my jewelry business. So, that is why selling my things on consignment & wholesale work perfectly for me.

Benefits of selling wholesale include:

* A large sale at one time. Payment is usually made in full immediately or within a few days.

* I don't have to sit at art and craft fairs and sell my goods. I don't have the time to commit to fairs at this point in my life. Maybe someday when the kids are older and more independent.

* I don't have to take photos of every single piece of jewelry I make. I only take pic of pieces I'm especially proud of. Even then, if I need to get things to a shop, and I didn't get a photo, I don't sweat it.

* I don't have to constantly monitor my website - that doesn't get much traffic or sales! Selling online is a very competitive market. I don't have a large online audience or customer base.

* I work on jewelry, tag & package, write up an inventory, deliver to the shop, and finally get paid.

Not For Everyone

Wholesaling is not for everyone or every product. Not every crafter or artisan wants to wholesale & give a 50% dicount - this would dip into their profits greatly - plus, a lot of artisans & crafters are already well-established online and do quite well on personal websites & other selling venues like Etsy. I don't wholesale all of my products. Most of my chain maille jewelry is not sold at high discounted rates becaues they are so labor intensive. For example, if I sold my Jens Pind necklace at 50% in a huge wholesale order, I'd end up making less than minimum wage for my hours spent cursing at that thing! When I sell a piece on consignment it is for a rate of 60-70%, which makes it more worth my time. Plus, most pieces I sell on consignment in galleries are things I can duplicate and list on my Etsy site.

What Works For Me

I do sell quite a bit of sterling silver fashion jewelry & simple metalworked pieces at wholesale prices because I can make a decent profit and the buyer can also make a profit. Earrings are a perfect example. Although they can be labor-intensive, when you account for making headpins & earwires, the market will allow for a higher mark-up when compared to the actual cost of components. Earrings are an "impulse buy". Generally, they are sitting in a display near the cashier and are priced between the $15-30 mark. An easy sell. I've also found the simple metalworked pieces that can be duplicated or varied easily are also popular - simple necklaces, simple rings, bracelets, etc. Mostly, I sell things on wholesale that range in price from about $15 - 75.

From the Shop Owners Point of View

A recent forum thread on this subject helped inspire me to write this entry today. Etsy Member, NormaW gives these tips from a shop owners point of view:

* Wholesale price needs to be 1/2 of your retail price. 50% is a general rule of thumb, although some artisans & crafters give a smaller discounts for large orders - 30 or 40% is also sometimes a wholesale rate. The store needs to be able to mark up the pieces and be able to make a proft, too. The shop owner has to pay for the retail space, utilities, advertising, staff, etc. All the overhead that the artisan does not have to pay. If you can't give a 50% discount, consider marking up your prices a little.

*Don't sell your things online for less than they are priced in a retail setting. It isn't fair to the shop owner if you sell the exact same product on your website or in your Etsy shop for 1/2 the price. Shoppers are generally internet-savvy these days, and can find out how to buy your things online. Why would the customer ever return to the store? The shop owner will be upset and won't continue to purchase your goods. Plus, as Normaw says, this situation makes it impossible to promote you in her shop. . . She isn't going to promote your website or Etsy shop if everything you have is 1/2 the price!

* When taking a large wholesale order that isn't local, it is OK to ask for a downpayment of 50% when the order is placed, then payment in full when the order ships.

* You don't need to spend your time & money on boxes or fancy packaging. Normally, a shop owner is going to use his/her own boxes and bags. I do put all my earrings on my own earring cards that have my name, my business name, and/or website. One of my shops does not allow me to have my website address on my tags.

My Guidelines for Wholesale Orders

A lot of my guidelines came from Megan Casto, so "Thanks, Megan!".....

* I give a 50% discount on orders of $400 (retail) or more. For follow-up orders, I'll go less ($200+), but only if the relationship with the shop is healthy -- things are selling, I get paid in a timely manner, my jewelry is displayed professionally, etc.

* I offer some display options, but generally the shop provides their own display items. Earring card adapters are a must, though! I couldn't live without these little guys . They instantly turn my business card size earring card into a hanging card that can be hung on earring racks and spinners.

* I give my retailers a Sunshine Polishing cloth so they can try to help keep the sterling silver looking good, although that is a challenge at times. I also will routinely take home items to run them through my tumbler to brighten & polish. I want my things looking their best, even after the sale has been made.

In conclusion I have to say one thing . . . Of course, I'd love to sell all my things at the regular retail price. But, that isn't reality for me. If I sat here at home, listed all my jewelry on Etsy or on my website and waited for them to sell online, I'd be way in debt! Whenever I do sell a piece of jewelry from my website or Etsy shop, I consider it a bonus and usually end up putting that money back into my business to buy new tools, equipment or more silver! Best wishes in all your jewelry making adventures!