Craft Brokers look for quality design and execution, good value and most important, realistic production schedules. A craft broker might be a good idea is you have a minimum production of $1,000.00 a week and your crafts are unusual or extra special. Craft brokers usually charge 20% commission on each sale.
Craft brokers are only really geared towards to people who have done well and tested products at retail craft shows and are looking to get into real volume wholesaling. A key ingredient in getting your product to sell in catalogs is they have to have a different spin. Even people who have already mastered their media and are doing well in retail craft shows need that extra zing.
The best and most innovative products have come about when someone has come into their studio or office on the weekend to make something really special for a close friend that is different from their regular line. That is when the best products are created.
If you have a product that can fill a need, do it effectively and sell it in volume, a craft broker might be something you want to check into.
As always, craft on!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
American Pain Foundation
The American Pain Foundation and the Health Central Network have once again collaborated for the second annual"Pain and Creativity Exhibit" to give those with chronic pain a way to express their pain through music, writing, still life, video, quilt blocks, and artwork. Selected participants will be highlighted through video, online and print to share their stories of pain.
If you are a quilter who expresses your pain or a loved ones pain through quilting the APF urges you to send in an unfinished 10" by 10" unquilted block to be added to the "Pain Quilt." The deadline is August 15 and you can learn more information at www.painfoundation.org/.
Deadline for other forms of expressions of pain through art is September 15, 2008 and you can find more information at www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/create/apf
If you or someone you know has chronic pain the American Pain Foundation is a wonderful source of information, treatment options and support. You don't have to do it alone...
If you are a quilter who expresses your pain or a loved ones pain through quilting the APF urges you to send in an unfinished 10" by 10" unquilted block to be added to the "Pain Quilt." The deadline is August 15 and you can learn more information at www.painfoundation.org/.
Deadline for other forms of expressions of pain through art is September 15, 2008 and you can find more information at www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/create/apf
If you or someone you know has chronic pain the American Pain Foundation is a wonderful source of information, treatment options and support. You don't have to do it alone...
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Featured Artist
A few days ago I had the privilege of getting a message from a fellow Etsian stating that she had featured one of my pieces of jewelry on her blog http://sweetvib.blogspot.com I appreciate the unsolicited advertising and am returning the favor. Please visit sweetvib's store at http://sweetvib.etsy.com for really great wrapped porcelain jewelry and lots of jewelry supplies. I just purchased some gorgeous wooden beads and can't wait for them to arrive! To be so supportive of each other at Etsy is just one of the benefits of the Etsy community. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the beauty and creative energy that all of the worlds artists had could somehow meld together and bring peace to our troubled world. It will start with me. Thanks sweetvib.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Blog Reader Only Sale!
I know you're out there! If you are a fancier of my North Shore Clay and Craft Blog and I know I have at least one or two! I am offering a special deal to you. Pick anything in my store at http://northshoreclay.etsy.com/ and tell me that you read my blog in the message section of my store before you pay and I will give you $3.00 off any one item. Hurry, this is a limited time offer. This sale will end at noon on Saturday August 13, Central Time. Of course, payment must be received before I will ship your item. This offer is only available to my blog readers! Check back because I think this is a lot of fun and am going to start running a sale for my readers every Thursday. Happy Shopping and Craft On, my friends, craft on!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Summer Sale
Summer Sale
North Shore Clay
$2.00 off any one item
August 14-August 21
Watch for new items to be added soon!
Handmade clay jewelry! Each piece tells a story...
Find yours...
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Make What The Customers Want
I wear the necklaces I make all the time. I usually wear the ones I like the best. When I first started making necklaces from clay and I wore them, I really didn't get much feedback. Now when I wear them, I get lots of attention. People ask me about my necklaces. They comment that they like them. And I try to remember to take my business cards with me everywhere I go.
Today, I wore a different clay necklace that I have made. It is a fish. The clay fishies are really cute, but just not my style of jewelry. Anyway, I got more comments on that little pink fish than on any other necklace that I have worn over the past six months. What lesson can I learn from this? What should I be thinking about when I am creating my clay jewelry?
Just when I think I know what will be a great selling item. Things change. I think that's a good thing. It will keep me on my toes. But I need to remember to always think about what my customers will want. What I like, is not necessarily what my customers will like.
Today, I wore a different clay necklace that I have made. It is a fish. The clay fishies are really cute, but just not my style of jewelry. Anyway, I got more comments on that little pink fish than on any other necklace that I have worn over the past six months. What lesson can I learn from this? What should I be thinking about when I am creating my clay jewelry?
Just when I think I know what will be a great selling item. Things change. I think that's a good thing. It will keep me on my toes. But I need to remember to always think about what my customers will want. What I like, is not necessarily what my customers will like.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
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
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
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