Merry Christmas Crafters and Beaders and Mormon Tabernacle Choir

I wish you a Merry Christmas! My fellow crafters of the world. I have learned so much about crafting this year. I have learned so much about the crafting business this year as well. I know I still have untested waters that I will soon be stepping in. I hope they are a little warmer with the coming year. I believe I can wrap up my 2008 crafting year with hope and diversification needs for the next. I am again reminded of one of my college professors. Back in 1979, I was to have an internship with a local clothing store. I was going to learn every aspect of the business. I was excited. My professor questioned the store owner about his future inventory. He was of the "preppy mindset". He believed whole-heartedly that the classic style, the preppy style, would continue into the future without problem. It would never die. Nearly thirty years later, I am reminded that, just as the market did change for his classic style, it has changed for my beaded jewelry. I've remembered her question and his answer many times since 1979, but I haven't lived it like I did this year. I've recognized the need to diversify in order to survive as a crafter. I wilsh you a Merry Christmas! My fellow beaders of the world. I don't regret a single solitary minute I have spent learning about beads! I love beads! I love beautiful stone beads from the earth. That there is so much inside the earth continues to amaze me. How awesome is it that you can find the most beautiful gems or the most beautiful green rocks! Maybe it's because I live in an area where there is mostly limestone that makes it so fascinating. The methods that have been invented to manufacture Swarovski Crystals and Pearls is quite spectacular. Crystals from Swarovski continue to be some of my favorites! I work with them and re-order them and sell them and re-sell them. And I haven't ever tired of opening a package from a bead supplier that sends me Swarovski Crystals or Swarovski Crystal Pearls. They are splendid. Daniel Swarovski did very well when he invented their process! The last but by no means least favorite of mine are the freshwater pearls. Can there be no end to Mother Nature's beauty? Finally, if I were to zone in on what keeps me beading it is that beaders don't bead the same ways! This is the very fact that propels me to continue beading. Creations are always spectacular and there are so many methods that anything is possible and the possibilities are endless! If you were to give the same identical beads to ten different people and asked them to make a necklace, there would be no duplicates! That is so stunning! I wish you a Merry Christmas! As my cold and laryngitis are finally going away, I extend my deepest sympathies to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I am so sad that I couldn't join you for the Christmas concert. I was so looking forward to performing a solo with your group this year. Perhaps, next year. As the year comes to an end, I am filled again with great dreams for success. Merry Christmas to everyone, may this season be one of renewal for you. And may PEACE prevail in 2009!

Things I Learned at the Craft Show Yesterday

Weather reports should be checked. The amount of money you spend on the entrance fee might coorelate with the amount of sales that you get. I still don't like craft shows. I guess that might be key. I want to stay HOME! That's my goal,,,,staying HOME! I don't want to go to craft shows.......well I don't think I do anyway. If I went to a craft show and actually SOLD something I might have a different opinion. I want to stay home and I want to make some money. I might re-visit the craft show occasionally. That is probably the best statement to make. Stay home Mail packages from home Make jewelry from home. Go outside to go visiting. DON'T GO OUTSIDE TO WORK! Well, that is the way it is, Sunday, December 7, 2008.

Beaded Jewelers: Find Your Niche and Set Yourself Apart

Dear Beaded Jewelers, I went to a craft show yesterday. I was full of excitement. Amy met me at the door and checked me off of her sheet. She then motioned and I followed her down the hallway to where my name was on a sign. She pointed to the floor and said that I had the area from that piece of blue tape to that piece of blue tape. I looked at the shop that was set up right next to me and said, "But she has jewelry too!" Amy, the gracious hostess, said that she would move me to another spot. As the set up time continued, the people with the booth next to me came in and they had JEWELRY! I made it through that entire craft show without a sale! I have been put in my egotistical place once again. Oh great. At one point in the craft show, my friend walked around and looked at all the vendors. She estimated that one in three or four was selling jewelry! This was a craft show for the elementary PTO. They made out like bandits. Each of the booths paid for their space, albeit a small amount, if you don't make your signup fee back during the show, you are certainly, most definitely in the proverbial HOLE! Since I know that I didn't have any sales and I know my friend didn't have any jewelry sales, I can assume that the sales were few for the other vendors. The traffic wasn't there. The weather was awful. There were too many jewelers too. So I have to dig deeper to find my niche. Finding a niche is a really great idea! I have to set myself apart from the competition. Adding services like credit cards will help, but it's not always the lack of service that inhibits the sale. Diversification of Product. Find your niche. Your niche is not jewerly,,,,it's not even beaded jewelry anyone can string beads. More on my niche tomorrow.

Craft Show Preparation 101: The Holiday Craft Show at the School

I have a sheet of wood in my dining room that was intended to be cut out to make a Christmas tree. It looks more like a Chinese Pagoda. Hmmmm. I should have made the Christmas tree last July so it would be ready for the craft show this Saturday! There is nothing like planning ahead. Today is my deadline for preparing for a craft show tomorrow. Wow, what a statement. Well, it is what it is, and from there, I need to get ready for tomorrow. The craft show is at an elementary school. My jewelry will be in my super-eclectic purse that my sister gave to me. I picture myself waltzing into the show space and placing my wares on a table. But, alas, it doesn't work that way for craft shows. The real picture is dragging a table out of the van and setting it up where they tell me. Then I can cover the table with the table coverings. It's the holiday season so that means lots of festive color. The table cloth is dark green because I like green and it works out for holiday craft shows. Levels are next. I have some boxes that I will either wrap in Christmas paper or stick under the table cloth. Both methods will give some height and create the levels that I need to display my jewelry. Eddie's spittoon will be inverted. The bottom of a spittoon is perfect for hanging necklaces. They can be covered too. Lots of color and levels are needed to make the table display but not too much. I am learning to appreciate doing things on a smaller scale. If I put too many decorations on the table, it'll be cluttered. If I put too many pieces of jewelry on the table, it'll be cluttered. The right combination is needed to make the event a success. So I have a table and the covering and some ribbon and lights. From this festive point, I will invert the spittoon and cover it with a white cloth. A necklace set will be featured on the spittoon. Other levels will be used to display some bracelets and earrings. I dream of a sell out! Oh, I am so sorry, but I don't have any more jewelry! All I have is this wad of cash and I plan to go buy more beads! I'll be back next week with lots more! That's been my dream.

The Chinese Pagoda will have to wait. I am glad I couldn't get to the saw. I can re-draw the Christmas tree, maybe next July, and be better prepared then. Of course, then, I won't want a Christmas tree, I'll want Gingerbread Men! Stay tuned and I'll tell you how it goes.