Making Clay Jewelry

The Process:
The process of making clay jewelry is much more complicated than one might imagine. I like using Sculpey III clay. It comes in a great variety of colors and I can usually get two or three items of jewelry from one small package of clay. I use a clear acrylic roller to roll out my clay because when I mix clay or add colors I like to see what is happening when I roll! I want my clay to be consistent in depth so I have made a board to roll my clay on with three different depth markers that make sure when I roll out my clay it is consistently the same depth.

The Inspiration:
The inspiration for my handmade clay jewelry comes from many places. I am fortunate enough to live on the north shore of Lake Superior where inspiration reigns. I also live in the woods where mother nature provides me with her never ending beauty day after day. I also find inspiration from life's experiences. Each one of my pieces is telling a story.

How it Came to Be:
My passion for clay and crafts in general comes from a place of healing. I have degenerative joint disease in multiple joints and working with clay is a way for me to step away from my pain. It is in fact, a therapy. Crafting has always been therapeutic for me, it gives me something else to think about, something else to focus on other than my pain. Doing something that you love, and something that helps at the same time? Does it get any better?

Hy Hope:
Having an online store has always been my dream. Making clay jewelry that can tell the stories of the life I live and the place that I love and sharing these little works of art with the public is my dream. My clay jewelry is not glitzy or glamorous. It's everyday jewelry that you can dress up on Sunday to wear to church or wear it with your jeans or shorts. It's jewelry that I wear. It's jewelry that you would wear.

Conclusion:
For me, making clay jewelry is not just putting out as many pieces as possible. Each piece takes time and thought and means something. It means something...

http://northshoreclay.etsy.com

Minnesota Etsy Street Team

I've joined the Minnesota Etsy Street Team! I've still to learn all the benefits of this great team, but just by reading the digest for the past few days they have a lot to teach me. It appears that this group is a way to connect with other artisans from Minnesota or even more local and promote our Etsy stores. They are a source of support, inspiration and that dose of encouragement that we all need once in awhile.

Let me hear your Minnesota Etsy Street Team stories!

My hubby wants to know how I can belong to a street team when I live on a dirt road...sheesh

Funny Craft Fair Stories

Craft fairs are a great way to spend a summer afternoon, unless you live in Minnesota where the wind can howl at 40 mph off the big lake. No kidding! I went to a craft fair today and learned a vital lesson regarding displays. All of the crafters (poor things) had outside displays and the temp was about 58 degrees with a serious wind blowing off the lake. They were spending more time holding onto the canopy to keep it from blowing away than talking to potential customers. So the lesson here is, be prepared for anything, especially when you live in Minnesota. If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute. Sheesh...

Do you have a funny craft fair story to share? Tell me about it here. Thanks and I will look forward to hearing your funny tale.

Rainy Day Crafts

I've tried some new clay techniques over the past several days with some beautiful results. I use Sculpey Polymer Clay for my projects and have found it to be very versatile. I love the way it blends and how I can use it to make abstract "scenes" with it.

It's raining and cool today so I will spend the day in the studio, (I love it when a plan comes together) and not feel one little bit guilty about not getting anything else done today.

I'm interested in connecting with other artists who are doing handmade items and finding out how they are selling their wares.

Away for a Day

Taking the day off and heading north along the shore I hoped to relax a little and maybe hand out some business cards, after all I do like a little get away by myself once in awhile. The farther north I drove, the darker the clouds and my mood. All I could think about was my husband, my family, my home and my work, pretty much in that order.

Returning home felt good. Checking on the family, the garden and getting back to the details of my life and my work was what the doctor ordered after all. Like Dorothy says in the Wizard of Oz, we don't have to look further than our own back yard...

It's good to be back.

Another Day, Another Dollar or Two

Making a sale is always so exciting. The feeling remains new and exciting even after the first few sales. There is something so validating in selling something that you have made with your own two hands. Making something that you love and finding out that someone else loves it too and is willing to buy it from you remains one of the best highs I have ever experienced. It keeps me going into the studio day after day and makes me want to be a better artist.

I am interested in how other artists have felt during this experience. Please let me know if the presure of making a sale has influenced who you are as an artist. Do you feel free to create what you want to create or are you creating what the public wants? Does where you live influence what you create or are you flexible enough in your craft to be able to change depending on where you are and what the local flavor is? So many questions and so little time... Take the handmade pledge!

I also love vintage items and when I am not making handmade items I spend my leisure time collecting and selling vintage items. Feel free to check out my store at:
www.goodneighborvintage.etsy.com
Have a great day and until next time, craft on!

Keywords

Okay, business owners, I've seen websites where we can pay big bucks that will help us find "keywords" that our customers use to "find" our products. What do we as "salespeople" need to know about "keywords" to better sell our products? Again, any ideas?