Storing completed pieces

Now that i’m starting to actively put pieces on Etsy, I’m trying to figure out how to store completed pieces that are waiting for a new home. My current method seems somewhat effective, but I’m quickly realizing that it really doesn’t permit for good inventory control.

Right now, I’m using a small tackle box to hold all of the pieces that are either finished, or just waiting for a clasp. It keeps everything in one place, but it makes finding pieces quickly a real pain in the neck. To make matters worse, some pieces are in my portable store, and so I’ve often lost track of what I actually have on hand.

Not a good situation when you’re trying to be serious about doing business.

I’m trying to find a better solution. Ideas include a small accordion file or index card box. I can put one piece behind each divider along with a card containing all of the pertinient information, including whether or not the piece has been listed on Etsy, is away on consignment, or is in the portable store.

I foresee a major inventory phase going on very soon…

Introducing…Amber!

Amber is a pretty unique gemstone. Instead of being formed from some sort of mineral that has had an excessive amount of pressure or heat applied to it, it’s actually fossilized tree sap mainly located around the Baltic region of Europe.

Traditionally, amber ranges in color from a light opaque yellow to a dark, translucent brown. You can also find green and red varieties of amber. Regardless of its hue, it is a gorgeous stone that makes for gorgeous jewelry!

As a stone, amber has been associated with the Western zodialogical signs Leo and Virgo, a nod to its warm autumn tones. In Eastern traditions, it is associated with the tiger. As an essential oil, amber is thought to bring love to the user.

Selecting the right materials- wire

While I have designed macramé, beaded, and wrapped wire projects, my favorite is wrapped wire. The possibilities are endless when you are working with wire, and the options for wire you can work with are just as infinite these days.

Most designers would recommend you keep some low-quality wire around for develop and practice your design with. This conserves more costly wire for the actual project itself (and you flinch less when a design doesn’t work out the way you thought it would and you have to re-approach it).

I personally prefer sterling silver, silver-plated, and silver niobium wire when I work (I prefer creating silver jewelry), although I have done a couple of pieces in colored wire. In fact, the chain that I sometimes wear on my eyeglasses is made from a copper-colored wire. I work in 20-gauge wire almost exclusively, but will work in 22-gauge when I can find it. I prefer these two gauges because they can retain their shape through a hefty design without needing to be soldered or wrapped.

I’ve just talked about two different things here: the composition of the wire and the gauge.

Let’s deal with the composition first. You can find all manner of wire and bend it to your will these days. You can work in precious metals. You can find plated wires. You can find wires that have been coated in a light plastic that gives them a color. You can even find square wire and wire that has been twisted. My best advice: find the wire that will help you achieve the look you are going for in your design. Just be aware the precious metals can mar easily if not handled correctly, and the plastic will come off a coated wire if you’re too aggressive with it.

The gauge is a bit trickier. This one requires some experimenting on your part to find what will work best for your vision. The first thing you need to know is that gauge sizes work oddly; the smaller the gauge number, the larger the diameter of the wire. For example, I work with 20-gauge wire because 28-gauge is too narrow to hold my designs well. The larger-numbered diameters can create beautiful, delicate pieces, but if you add a bead, be prepared to either wrap the end around some part of the design or to solder your design. The wire just isn’t strong enough to hold it on its own. The smaller-numbered diameters are great for creating larger designs, but they can often be tough to work with for extended periods of time, so you may find yourself needing to take additional breaks. On the up side, you’re building incredible strength in your hand grip!

Wrapping wire is a great way to discover yourself through your jewelry design. Experment. Find what work for you and your style. Don’t be shy, and have fun!

Taking inspiration from your interests

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know that I like to consider the cultural aspects of designs and materials. I like to look at the role of jewelry in ancient cultures, and the role of symbolism in jewelry.

I had long thought myself a bit odd, but over the weekend I met someone who also blends their interest in ancient cultures with their jewelry design. In retrospect, though, I’ve read about people who have designed jewelry based around artifacts. Somewhere, I have a pattern for a necklace that resembles one of Cleopatra’s.

I’ve seen people create jewelry inspired by their love for a particular musician or song (I’d love to give that a try some time). I’ve seen pieces that incorporate bits of scrapbooking materials, made by scrapbookers. I’ve seen recreations of pieces worn in favorite movies and anime.

The inspiration for jewelry can come from anywhere, if you’re receptive. With a little creativity, you can create truly unique pieces of jewelry just by incorporating your own interests.

Somehow, I should figure out how to create something that involves my passion for teaching. Hmm…

The rosette

When I was a child, my grandmother gave each of us girls eternal knot necklaces. I think she got them as a special offer from one of the mail-order catalogs she enjoyed. The design was pretty cool- several rings linked into each other.

I really hadn’t thought of those necklaces until last week when I was working on the earring sets. I was making a series of set featuring a double rosette (a chain technique) when the memory just kind of attacked. Looking at the design, it really does look very similar to that eternal knot.

I’m almost half-tempted to see if I can get larger rings and try to create an actual eternal knot myself.

New items available at Etsy!

I spent last week working on some new earrings. So far, I have six designs planned, but have only tried out three of them. Two of the designs have made it into lovely earrings now available at the Etsy shop. ONe of them failed miserably and needs a serious rethinking before i can take it public.

I’m actually excited about this offering of pieces because it’s the first time I’ve made earrings. People have been asking me for earrings for some time now, and I can finally say I’m officially adding them to my available designs.

Check them out! Pick up a pair!

Tools of the trade

After many requests, I have spent this week making earrings for the Etsy shop.

The funny thing is, I have had this one pair made for over a year now, but keep forgetting to show it. Then there’s a series that I’ve been plannig to make. After a year of planning, they were made Monday night. Keep an eye on the Etsy shop for all of them!

While I was trying to figure out where I hid the beads for the Monday earrings, I found myself going through every single spot where I have suppies stored and sorting out things. Beads got sorted through the bead boxes (think fancy tackle boxes). Wire components and findings were sorted in thier tackle box.

It occured to me as I was working that I have a lot of tools. If you’ve been wondering what the hobbyist jewelry designer uses in her arsenal, I thought I’d share:

• Sketchbook (I keep sketches of past, current, and future designs in here, along with material costs, jig patterns, and associated notes. Eventually, I plan to have a picture of the completed design to go alongside the notes.)
• Colored pencils (I like a little color in my design. Plus, with my lack of artistic capability, it makes reading my patterns a lot simpler since I tend to draw them rather than explain them verbally. Makes writing up patterns a real drag, but it works for me!)
• Wire jig and extra pegs
• Round-nosed pliers (Two sets)
• Needle-nosed pliers (I have four sets of these in varying strengths. You can never have enough needle-nosed pliers)
• Flat pliers (One set)
• Bent-nosed pliers (Two sets)
• Wire cutters (Two sets)
• Files (Three of varying coarseness and shapes)