I've seen the phrase used in different contexts... "Don't quit your day job". And I've heard of entrepeneurs who have the "luxury of quitting their day jobs". But I really didn't expect Iwould be "leaving my day job" without a life preserver waiting. Fortunately, I have a very supportive husband who urged me to "roll the dice." In so doing, I have become a full time jewelry designer. Yes, I was putting in full time hours designing, fabricating, and marketing my jewelry before this, but there was this pesky thing stealing mind time and creative energy from me daily, called "a job".
Thank you Randy, for believing in me. This means more to me than you'll ever know. Now it's off to work! There are events to be planned, earrings to make, and dreams to be fulfilled!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Passion...The Secret of Design Longevity
I subscribe to an email newsletter about selling handmade jewelry. I have learned much from this experienced jeweler, who also happens to be educated and experienced in the psychology of selling. However, I did have a difference of opinion when he posted an answer to a question from one of his readers. The question was "should a jewelry maker create a lower priced line to capture the lower end of the jewelry buying market?"
His answer was NO. His reason was because the best designs come from the passion a designer has for designing and making jewelry. Huh? And that passion "sweet spot" occurs only at the higher end of the cost spectrum? I disagree.
I believe true passion for designing expresses itself at every end of that spectrum. One of the designs I am the most passionate about is a line of small earrings I've been making since almost day one of my venture into selling my designs. My "Itty Bitty Earrings" have been selling for $2 a pair since 2007, and I have not lost my passion for looking for tiny beads, dreaming up tiny designs, and providing these designs to customers who prefer subtle touches of shine to the oversized beads that are much easier to find. I am just as interested in the customers who buy these "low end" earrings, as I am the customers purchasing $50 or $60 necklaces. It never ceases to thrill me when young girls look through my designs and excitedly point out their favorites to their little friends, knowing that they will be able to buy something they can continue to be excited about. My hope is that I will be designing for these customers for years to come.
I have passion for every aspect of designing and selling jewelry. Remember that feeling on Christmas morning of being completely overwhelmed with excitement and happiness at the sight of all of the wonderful Christmas things? That is the feeling I get when I buy beads. First when I order them, then when they come, then when I unpack, sort and organize them. The proccess of designing and making jewelry is a bit like the "Christmas shopping" feeling. It's like putting together a gift that you hope the intended recipient will love. It's a surprise, it's a secret, it's put together with excitement and love. And when that recipient finds that design, and they gasp, squeal, or even just smile, it's an instant connection between me and that person. A stranger becomes a friend and that piece of jewelry is the connection that remains indefinitely.
Passion is the fire that permeates every design. If a designer's passion only sparks with the big things, that fire will not last. If the passion is only about the money, it's not true passion. My passion is to reach as many people with this powerful interesting medium as possible. So to all my friends and family...forgive my zeal for spreading the gospel of beads and wire. Passion.
His answer was NO. His reason was because the best designs come from the passion a designer has for designing and making jewelry. Huh? And that passion "sweet spot" occurs only at the higher end of the cost spectrum? I disagree.
I believe true passion for designing expresses itself at every end of that spectrum. One of the designs I am the most passionate about is a line of small earrings I've been making since almost day one of my venture into selling my designs. My "Itty Bitty Earrings" have been selling for $2 a pair since 2007, and I have not lost my passion for looking for tiny beads, dreaming up tiny designs, and providing these designs to customers who prefer subtle touches of shine to the oversized beads that are much easier to find. I am just as interested in the customers who buy these "low end" earrings, as I am the customers purchasing $50 or $60 necklaces. It never ceases to thrill me when young girls look through my designs and excitedly point out their favorites to their little friends, knowing that they will be able to buy something they can continue to be excited about. My hope is that I will be designing for these customers for years to come.
I have passion for every aspect of designing and selling jewelry. Remember that feeling on Christmas morning of being completely overwhelmed with excitement and happiness at the sight of all of the wonderful Christmas things? That is the feeling I get when I buy beads. First when I order them, then when they come, then when I unpack, sort and organize them. The proccess of designing and making jewelry is a bit like the "Christmas shopping" feeling. It's like putting together a gift that you hope the intended recipient will love. It's a surprise, it's a secret, it's put together with excitement and love. And when that recipient finds that design, and they gasp, squeal, or even just smile, it's an instant connection between me and that person. A stranger becomes a friend and that piece of jewelry is the connection that remains indefinitely.
Passion is the fire that permeates every design. If a designer's passion only sparks with the big things, that fire will not last. If the passion is only about the money, it's not true passion. My passion is to reach as many people with this powerful interesting medium as possible. So to all my friends and family...forgive my zeal for spreading the gospel of beads and wire. Passion.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Swimming Against the Tide
I don't know if it's a personality disorder, or if it is a trait that develops from being the youngest in a big family, but I am rebellious. My piano teachers couldn't teach me correct hand positions. My hands never wanted to be restricted. This is also why I am not a typist. Grounding me, as a punishment, was not very effective because I quickly learned how to remove window screens and find my way to my friend's house. I hate reading instructions. I put things together and then look at the instructions to figure out why my results don't resemble the picture on the box. And the best way to get my creative dander up is to tell me "this is the way it has always been done." Or "this is the way everyone else does it."
It shouldn't be a surprise that I approach jewelry design with the same attitude. When I got the go ahead to place my jewelry at the Quilted Bear for my first foray into retail, I was told that other jewelry vendors were having great success with chunky beaded interchangeable watch bands, my first reaction wasn't "Oh boy, I'll go make up a bunch of watch bands." My first reaction was "how boring is that?".
Unfortunately (I think it's unfortunate), the desire to have the same things that other people have, dress the same way that other people dress, do the same things that other people do, is more prevalent than the internal drive to be ORIGINAL, UNIQUE, DIFFERENT, SPECIAL! From my early days, the beat of my internal drum has lead me down interesting paths, to meet unforgettable people, and to create things that seem to spark that internal beat in those other rebellious spirits that want to swim against the tide of conformity and celebrate all things inherently precious!
It shouldn't be a surprise that I approach jewelry design with the same attitude. When I got the go ahead to place my jewelry at the Quilted Bear for my first foray into retail, I was told that other jewelry vendors were having great success with chunky beaded interchangeable watch bands, my first reaction wasn't "Oh boy, I'll go make up a bunch of watch bands." My first reaction was "how boring is that?".
Unfortunately (I think it's unfortunate), the desire to have the same things that other people have, dress the same way that other people dress, do the same things that other people do, is more prevalent than the internal drive to be ORIGINAL, UNIQUE, DIFFERENT, SPECIAL! From my early days, the beat of my internal drum has lead me down interesting paths, to meet unforgettable people, and to create things that seem to spark that internal beat in those other rebellious spirits that want to swim against the tide of conformity and celebrate all things inherently precious!
Monday, December 28, 2009
A Blog from the Fog
Winter in Logan, Utah. I think it was 6 degrees when I checked last. Good thing Tommy gave me a "Snuggie" for Christmas. You can't have too many blankets (or pillows... or shoes... or earrings...) It boggles my brain that as kids, we used to go out in this kind of cold routinely, with or without gloves or hats, and slide down frozen hillsides until we couldn't feel our feet. What were we thinking? And what kind of fun is that? It must have something to do with the rate of brain development in children.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Days Dwindle Down to a Precious Few...
Brrrrr! The weather man says no more summer. I have mixed emotions about that. I love summer and everything that comes with it. But I'm so exhausted from all of the events I've been doing that I'm ready to settle in for a long winter's nap. Well...at least ready to scale down my jewelry frenzy. I will be teaching classes at Hobby Lobby, and I hope to do the Winter Gift Market in December, but after October 17, things should shift gears. Stay tuned for more exciting adventures of... Wired Woman!
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