To charge, or not to charge? June 22, 2008

You have just finished an amazing piece of jewelry. (It looks like something that would almost be too good for the queen of England). You add it to your growing inventory, yet when a customer kindly asks, “How much?”, you reply with a stutter and blank stare.

People who bead for profit often find that pricing is more complicated than the actual beading process. Yet, the following simple strategies will help you to charge the right price for your wonderful creations.

First, you will want to make sure that no matter how much you are selling your product for that you are happy with the price. If you feel that it can be tweaked, don’t be afraid to do so.

Secondly, make sure that you earn enough profit to go towards your own bank account and your supply funds. You never want to find your inventory short from lack of material.

Third, ask around. Talk to friends, family, neighbors, and fellow beaders. Show them some of the pieces you are selling and ask what they think you should price them. Then, you can get an idea as to what buyers will be willing to spend.

Lastly, look thoroughly at your product. Depending on what type of piece you have made, it’s overall durability and construction, and the type and quality of bead you use, you may want to charge a little more or less then you usually do.

The most important thing though about beading is not the money but the fun you have creating new pieces.

 

Local Bead Stores June 22, 2008

PICTURE THIS!

You wake up one bright, sunny morning. The birds are chirping, there isn’t a cloud in the sky, and flowers are blooming all about your garden.

You get cleaned up and head down to a scrumptious breakfast sitting on the table. After you finish eating and reading the paper, you decide that you’re in the mood to start a new jewelry project. However, when you pull out all of your supplies, you realize that your dull, boring beads just won’t cut it anymore. Unfortunately, you don’t know where you can get inexpensive beads quick and easy.

Your best bet would be the simplest one.

Open up your local phone book and look under beading or jewelry. You will probably find many small, yet local businesses that could really be helpful. Give them a call and ask if they have a website that you would be able to access.

If they do have a website that you can visit, give it a try. Usually, you can find a summary of upcoming classes, new products, and weekly specials. Also, most small businesses have wonderful sales in order to encourage new customers to stop in. And most beaders will find that local bead shops are very inexpensive because you do not have to pay for shipping and handling.

In addition, local bead stores are much more hospitable. Walking into a real bead store is much better than using the internet because you can ask questions and get a direct answer from a real person. To add, there won’t be anymore guessing as to what the color, “Lilac in the Golden Sun of Summer,” looks like. In a store you can see every thing up close to make sure that it’s exactly what you want.

As one can see, local bead stores easily beat the internet options. So next time you’re in a beading mood, pick up that phone book and get busy! 

 

 

 

Gallery June 22, 2008

Hey Beaders,

I promised a gallery….and here it is!!!

Make sure to check it out. I know the pics are a little small, so if you want me to email them to you, I would be happy to. ( When you click on the pics to enlarge them, some of it gets cut off!!! So sorry!!)

Please comment my pictures, I want to know what other people think of them!!!

I’m going bead shopping today, so I should have even more up soon!!!!

Keep on Beading,

~Taylor

Pictures of my Jewelry June 22, 2008

Hey Beaders,

I should have some pics of my jewelry up very soon, hopefully by the end of the day!!!

Check them out when you can!!!

~Taylor

Hemp is Back June 20, 2008

Imagine a model walking down the runway at a Summer Special Fashion Show. Out walks Cali-Girl. Her blonde hair is swept back into a wavy ponytail. A light brown eyeshadow is swept across her eyelids, accenting her piercing blue eyes perfectly. She is in an adorable two-piece bikini. Blue and brown polkadots stand out on a white background. On her feet are a comfortable pair of flip flops. And to top of the look, a thin hemp bracelet on her ankle. The rainbow design stands out from every other piece on the model, and each person in the room stares at the interesting piece of hemp.

While some may think that you have to spend hundreds of dollars to even try to replicate a piece of jewelry from a runway, hemp bracelets and anklets can easily be made for under $5.

If you walk into any craft store and head to the bead section, you will find seed beads in a small plastic tube. Depending on where you shop and what color and quality of bead you purchase, you can spend anywhere between $.99 and $3.00. (Hobby Lobby is a great place to start, here you can get a tube of seed beads for only $.99. Also, there are great sales on all different type of jewelry material every week. At www.hobbylobby.com you can find the closest store near you for your beading supplies)  The only other material that you will need now would be hemp string. This is a little pricier and is a bit harder to find in a surplus amount, yet if you search the internet for hemp string, many websites will pop up with different sizes, colors, and quality. ( www.hempjewelryshop.com has many different types of string, with some only costing $3.85). Other things that you may want handy would be scissors and tape. (Tape will be used to hold your bracelet on a table or hard surface while you are braiding so that it does not move around).

Some beaders struggle to learn the hemp techniques. ( I know I did.) However a simple solution that will save you string and time would just be to braid your hemp bracelet. Some benefits to braiding include:

~You use 25% less string

~It takes only a few minutes compared to the hour(s) to make hemp

~It looks almost identical

~It is smaller and not as thick as regular hemp

When I make my braided hemp, I start off by cutting three pieces of string. Usually, I have way more string to start with in the beginnning, that way i can cut off frayed or knotted ends. Depending on what size wrist you are making this hemp for, you will need anywhere from 12″ to 18″ of string.

To start, you will knot the string at the top, leaving about an inch of string above the knot. When I make my braided hemp, I count every braid i do the very same way. So the first string i use i say “1.” Then when i pull the second string, I say “2.” And so on. In order to be able to tie my hemp easily, I braid about to a count of 25 (you may take away or add any more that you would like). From there, I put on my first bead, which goes through the middle string. Then, I just start braiding again, holding the bead in place for a few pulls with my finger. I usually like to go up to 16 before I put on another bead, yet depending on your size you may have more or less. 

When you come to the end, you will do the same amount of braids you did at the top with a tail. Cut off the tail to match the top and you’re done. (If want, you may put a dab of craft glue on the knots to help them stay in place longer).

Hemp bracelets are really meant to stay on untill they fall off from wear and tear. Thus, if you do not want this on while swimming, in the shower, or at the beach, you may want to tie a looser knot when putting it on your wrist or ankle.

As you can see, hemp is not as hard as it looks, especially when you have faster and cheaper options.

So get out there and start braiding today to look like a runway model tomorrow.

Hello, Beaders! June 20, 2008

Hello Beaders,

Welcome to my very first blog! I am very excited to be able to share my beading experience with the world!

Since this is my first blog, it may not be the best but please bare with me! ( I am a perfectionist so it is going to be great in no time!)

If you have any comments, complaints, or constructive criticism, it is greatly accepted!!!!

Keep on Beading,

     Taylor