Here we are

So, Here we are! My blogs are now completed.... well for this English project. I actually think I might continue blogging.... maybe a different blog though but still this was a really fun experience. So my last design as I said there were going to be five were some simple beaded bracelets. Simple but sweat. My expectations were met and have gone way beyond. At first I was unsure that people would like what I do. And then the comments start rolling in. :) I was so happy because they were all very supportive. My friends always tell me to start a business and thought that they were out of their minds. But, then I started thinking " hmmmm.... maybe this could get me somewhere. " I'm definitely very happy with everything I've learned. I'm pretty sure there's tons more that I could go on and on about. Jewelry making is my passion. It's what I want to do in life! I also found an interesting design I would like to share with you guys. It's a wire name necklace. Basically with some silver-plated wire and some pliers skills you can create a personalized necklace. It's a challenging task because you want your letters to be uniform and proportional. This is just a fun little project that I'm going to try out. Oh! And I'm also very happy that people like my designs. My friends always tell me this but I'm like you guys always say everything is good. But now random people are coming up to me and saying where'd you buy that! I'm supper happy about that! I still haven't thought up of a name for myself because I want it to be really creative. I've already looked at a couple of business card suppliers so I'm gonna order some of those. Finally, I'm going to make as much stuff as I can so that I will be ready to start selling by this summer! I'm happy with all of the things I've learned on this fun adventure and hope ( not hope... I'm sure ) that they will help me grow my business. So, here we are 5 blogs later! :)     

Tips and New Design

So! This is my fourth blog! The past few days I've been watching tons of videos on how to start a business. I have also found out that a friend of mine has started beading and am very happy that I inspired her!

A beading program is offered in Montreal in french at Ecole des metiers du Sud Ouest de Montreal, CSDM

In this 16 month program, you will learn how to become a Jeweler, Watch Repairer, and Jewelry Sales Clerk.    

As for tips: PRESENTATION!..... It's important. 

One thing I learned about presentation is that it is just as important as your actual item. But, in another person's video, they said that it is the object that counts, not it's packaging. So, I go with both sides. Presentation is important for when you are doing a gallery or expo, because you want certain things in your piece to shine. One way of presenting is on plain cloth with stands made for jewelry. This is a classic way of presenting. To makes things more fun, you can use different objects as stands for example a mini shelf.

Also! Wear your products everywhere so when people see it they will be interested in what you have to offer.

Business Cards: business cards are important to have so people know your name and where to contact you

It's one of the most important parts of starting a business! Place these cards anywhere you can. Give them to everyone you can. And the best part is that they are not very expensive. So, I'm definitely going to make some or order them. 

Your NAME is very important. Not your name name.... Gloria. Nope, that's not it. Make up a business name that will stick in people's heads. I'm still thinking up of one though. 

An important thing I also learnt was that don't let peoples comments get to you. For example: if someone says, " well I can make that," ignore it. Homemade things are time consuming and worth a lot more than mass produced products. 

Never send out a package without getting your money order first.     

Here are some links if you are interested in this career: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/AuntiesBeads#p/u/54/Sy7ANouk20Q  

http://www.youtube.com/user/SoCraftastic#p/u/12/Kb9YfF1eXlw

The one with socraftastic is the basically the person who inspired me to start crafting. And notice how the video is all around making a CRAFT business. I would like to do both. Jewelry is just the basic thing to start with and then add different things. ( EX: polymer clay charms that i make... etc... ) 

So! Now I know how to put pictures! So here are the designs I made:

1. Here is the new design: a wrap bracelet

 

    2.  Here is the pandora style bracelet 

3. Here is the charm bracelet and pearl ring. 

Here are the designs from other projects: 

So that's it for today :) Enjoy :) 

Making Progress

Okay! So as promised, I have created two more designs. I've loved wearing these the past few days. Since I'm not very " tech savy " and don't take pictures of my work, I'm just going to briefly describe them. One is just a simple silver plated ring with four pearls  woven in the grooves of the template. The other is a charm bracelet. It has a peace sign, a heart, a few random charms and pearl beads between each one. 

As for the most important thing about this blog are the tips. So after watching more videos on building up a business, I've learned different things. The most important thing is what I've heard and seen doing by a lot of people. ALWAYS HAVE STOCK.... not soup stock, what am i cooking :) no! What they mean by this is to always have pre-made items even if it is a huge amount compared by your estimated amount for selling. This way you will never have orders - unless custom orders - . Basically meaning that you will not have stress about who ordered this and who ordered that.

Pricing has come up many times but one thing is for sure. YOU are the only one who can price your work because you know how much time and effort has been put into it. 

VARIETY!!!!!!!!!!! The word variety has come up many times. You always want variety for your customers! You never want to be seen as just like everyone else or Oh! I've seen that just about a thousand times. What I've just said applies to everything though. If you are playing piano do you go for a well known song or your own original one to stand out? I can honestly say that my pieces are sometimes similar as others. But, of course with tons of experience, I'll be able to make even more unique pieces. 

Okay! Guess that's enough for now! Be sure to check out the next blog because I found a video on Displaying and Presentation and really want to watch it but just didn't have time. Hopefully this weekend I'll get to it but for now adios! :) Also, I have two more designs to go! Making progress over here! 

The Past Few Days

Alright, so here's the deal. My goal in the past few days has been to find pieces of jewelry that are I guess you can say are " in style. " I want to make versions of these pieces with my own personal twist. Kind of like a trademark that makes it my own. I have definitely seen a lot of people wearing pandora style bracelets. Now, these bracelets are pretty expensive. Not everyone can afford it. So, with a few materials, tools, and beads, I was able to create this type of design. It was super simple and really fun to create! After calculating the price of the materials to create this work of art, I figured out that it only took $4-5 dollars. 

With that being said, I have been searching up different jewelry making tips about pricing. On the weekend I was walking around in Walmart and was in the jewelry section for inspiration. I always look at prices because I want to see what would be considered expensive and what would be considered reasonable. Many items that I looked at were actually quite overpriced after quickly factoring in material costs. Later that day, I went on Youtube to watch some videos from one of my favorite channels auntiesbeads. There are a series of videos that teach beaders how to start up a beading business. The video I watched was on pricing. Here's what I learned : #1) First, calculate the cost of materials you spent to create the piece and double it. #2) Add on an hourly rate that you want to pay yourself. ---- Wait!----- okay... so just then I thought to myself, " what if it took me like a long time to think it up! And then they said to make quite a few of that particular piece so the time can be divided among " x " number of copies. 

Alright, so this is basically what I've been doing in the past few days. My goal for the next couple of days is to create two more designs that will be good sellers, as well as, searching up other important tips for me to get a jump-start on this creative career. :) Let's do this... :) 

Here we go!

         Welcome to my blog! So, I've been making and designing jewelry since last year. It has been an interesting hobby to learn because there are so many different techniques to use. I find that jewelry making is really all about creativity. I am also highly interested in learning how to start up a business. This is what my blog will be about. My goal is to see what my hobby can become. I would like to know the schools available in Montreal in order to develop my skills. Since I was little, I've always enjoyed art. In one of my drawings, I drew myself painting and told my teacher to write, " I want to be an artist. " As I got older, I started learning more about different types of art. This is how I stumbled upon the art of jewelry making. I started building on this skill by researching and watching tutorials to create new designs. I would like to know what people sell and see what others want to buy. With this I'm hoping to complete at least five designs that I think will catch people's attention. I want to  make designs that will make people go, " Wow, you made that!"  By the end of this journey, I would like to know everything there is to know about starting up, specifically in this field. I expect to learn most of the basics of starting a business as well as other helpful tips in order to make this activity a success. Here we go.