Being Approached For Wholesale - The Good And The Bad

Every now and then I get a message through my Folksy shop or Artfire shop asking if I sell wholesale. Yes I do and I'm happy to discuss my terms with the sender.
There's just one catch - as it's a potential business "contract" I really do expect the initial inquiry to be business-like and professional.

Here's an example of a recent wholesale inquiry -

are you doing wholesale? if yes please let me know.I will buy. email ---------

That's it, no contact name, no other information! Doesn't exactly fill you with confidence does it? I normally ignore this type of inquiry but I did reply pointing out more info and a contact name would be helpful and not surprisingly no reply was forthcoming.

In complete contrast I was contacted by a fellow Folksy seller just before Christmas asking if I sold wholesale. She gave me information about where she would be selling my jewellery and a link to the the gallery so I could check it out. I know I don't have any control over what people do with my jewellery once they've bought it wholesale but it was nice to be given the information. Needless to say the wholesale sale went ahead.

So a few tips for anyone who wants to buy wholesale from online handmade sites -

Find out the seller's name - it's usually in their profile or at least use their shop name to address them!
Give a brief explanation as to why you want to buy wholesale and an idea of quantities
Give a contact name

It's easy to feel the potential wholesale buyer is doing us a favour but in fact it's the other way round - they have an opportunity to buy unique handmade items at a discounted rate to no doubt sell on for a reasonable profit - the least they can do is approach a seller in a professional manner - they may find doing so will result in more success :D

Torch Enamelling - What I've been Up To Recently!

I've admired enamelled jewellery for a while now and not too long ago did a blog post about Etsy seller tekaandzoe and her wonderful kiln enamelled creations. I didn't think at the time that it was something I would ever be able to do as the cost of kilns plus lack of space would be a problem for me.

That wasn't until I saw an advert for a torch enamelling tutorial from US jewellery supplies website Beaducation by Steven James. It's a great tutorial showing the basics on how to torch enamel on copper. Of course I bought it! I then spent hours scouring the internet for more information on torch enamelling, where to buy the tools I'd need and of course the enamel powders. There are quite a few UK sites selling enamelling supplies and tools but as usual I found the US sites had more choice (why do we always lag behind?) I bought some enamel powders from a couple of UK sites to begin with - Cookson Gold have a good selection but bear in mind the leaded enamels have to be sent by courier which costs £11!

So armed with my prepared copper discs, a not very suitable trivet (I've since bought two much better one's from Thompson Enamel), a small kitchen sifter as the proper enamel sifters I'd ordered hadn't arrive yet (patience is a virtue I know!) and a few opaque enamel colours I nervously "had a go".

My first attempts were amazingly fine which surprised me, just one colour on flat copper discs, although I was slightly alarmed when the red enamel powder turned black on contact with heat (that's normal!) and that was it I was hooked! As I read somewhere recently - enamelling isn't difficult to do it's doing it well that's the hard part.

What I've learned so far :

• You must wear a particulate mask when using powder enamels - some enamels contain lead, arsenic, cadmium and boron - not the sort of stuff you want to be inhaling

• You can use a butane torch for enamelling - it works fine for small pieces

• Yes you do need to counter enamel (enamel the back) your pieces. Copper and enamel expand and contract at different rates when heated and cooling down and counter enamelling the copper helps stabilise the tension between the two reducing the chance of warping and cracking

• Transparent enamels do need to be washed if you want to use them over other colours otherwise they can appear cloudy. You can get away without washing them if you're using them directly onto copper though

• A fired piece that appears fine at first can fiendishly change after a couple of minutes, hours, days or weeks! Cracks, pits, tiny hairs that you didn't see at the time of firing and black spots can appear which can be very frustrating

• If you see a black spot in the enamel as you're sifting don't hope it will "blend in" and not show when the piece is fired, it will!

• Enamel pens (available from Thompson Enamel) are not very easy to use

• Two thin layers are better than one thick one

I'll stop for now but I could go on for much longer! Below are some of my fledgling enamel jewellery designs, I'm still finding my way and having fun experimenting. I'm pleased that some of my enamel pieces have sold which always helps when you're trying something new and wonder if anyone will actually like it! I'd love to hear from anyone with enamelling tips or anyone who's thinking of having a go themselves :D

Ivory and Coral Flowers

Purple and Lavender Discs

Opaque over Transparent

Seafoam Green and Chestnut Brown Flowers

Seafoam and Nut Brown

  Terracotta and Sterling Disc

New Earrings Project In Bead Magazine

Issue 28 of Bead magazine is out today and features a variety of lovely projects including my green freshwater pearl and sterling silver wirework earrings on page 45!

I forgot to take a photo of the finished earrings before sending them off to the magazine for photographing so here's a couple of the step-by-step photos I took plus a copper version of the earrings



New Year New Designs!

The New Year has inspired me to come up with some new earring designs. I'm going great guns at the mo - full of ideas and feeling like there's not enough hours in the day at the moment! I've even made a stock of ball-end earwires and headpins with my new torch ready for when I'm making earrings which is very unlike me, I usually make them as I need them.

I love my new torch but I'm still at that "slightly scared of it" stage which I'm sure will soon pass! It's soo much better than using the ring on the gas cooker and means I can ball the end of copper wire now (the flame on the cooker isn't hot enough). Here's a selection of what I've made so far soon to be listed in my Folksy and Artfire shops. I've also just finished oxidising some heart inspired earrings ready for Valentine's Day - I said I was going great guns!

Copper and riveted Sterling Silver Spiral

Swarovski Pearl and Sterling Silver Wirework

Lampwork Bead and TierraCast Violet Leaf Charm

Freshwater Pearl and Sterling Silver Disc

Copper and riveted Sterling Silver Discs



Lost Connection and New Earrings

Last Tuesday one of the things I dread happened and I lost my internet connection. Not a good thing when you sell online and especially at this time of year!  A phone call to my ISP informed me "everything's alright our end, you need to get BT to check your line". BT checked the line - it was fine so I reinstalled the modem drivers (yet again) but still no connection. Another phone call to my ISP and they suggested replacing the microfilters - "they only cost a couple of quid" the man said, actually they cost £10.99 each from Comet so needless to say I didn't buy them!
So after yet another phone call to my ISP they said they would send me a new modem - which still hasn't arrived!

In the meantime I had people I needed to email so resorted to using my mobile to get on the internet. Oh my God - how slow! Fine if you've got three other things to do at the same time as waiting for a page to load, they were taking at least five minutes. I did manage to relist an item in my Folksy shop - it took an HOUR! And that was just relisting!

I'm now online again with a shiny new laptop (early Christmas present, thank you Dad!) but I've got to admit I prefer my pc, the picture quality on the laptop is rubbish - all the photos on sites like Folksy are blurred and pixelated so if anyone has any ideas how to improve them please let me know! In the meantime I will continue to wait impatiently for my new modem to arrive..............

New Earrings
It was lovely and bright yesterday so I took some photos of the new earrings I made recently (before my tripod broke!) soon to be listed on Folksy and Artfire.
On a lighter note I did get a nice surprise in the post on Friday - a £200 tax rebate!

Dogtooth Amethyst and Sterling Silver Hoops

Botswana Agate and Sterling Silver

Green Freshwater Pearl and Sterling Silver

Dogtooth Amethyst and Sterling Silver

Go Handmade This Christmas - Nature Lover Ceramic Necklace

Are you looking for something different to give this Christmas? Fed up of the mass-produced stuff on the high street? Why not give handmade!

Giving handmade means your gift will be unique and original, made by a skilled crafter who loves what they do.
Show your love and give handmade this year!

Nature Lover Ceramic Necklace by Go2Girl on Artfire

Kila, the artist behind Go2Girl creates earthy, handmade original necklaces, bracelets, earrings and accessories. Her designs are inspired by nature.

Orbital Inspiration!

Looking through my Blog reading list the other day I visited wirework jewellery maker Linda Jones' blog The Wireworkers Guild where I found a tutorial taken from one of Linda's books for her Orbital Rings.

I liked the idea so thought I'd have a go at my own variation of the design.

I used 22g (0.6mm) copper wire as it's easier to wrap and using a thick felt tip marker pen wrapped the wire five times around the pen to create the hoops.
Instead of wrapping the wire all the way round the hoops I wrapped it three times at the top, made a hanging loop then wrapped three times at the other side before trimming the wire and tucking in the end at the back.
I used the other end of the wire to make a few wraps at the bottom of the hoops for balance then trimmed the end and tucked it in at the back.
As the hoops were a good size I had enough room in the centre to add a green opal bead which attaches in the gap left by the hanging loop and dangles in the centre of the hoops. I decided not to hammer them as I didn't want the flattened look then oxidised them (of course!) and attached copper earwires.
I'm really pleased with the end result and the fact they are pretty easy to make. I'm planning on making a Sterling Silver pair possibly in 20g (0.8mm) next!
I've just listed this pair in my Artfire shop and they will soon be listed on Folksy too.

Stunning Lampwork Beads By Art By Lisi On Artfire

Browsing Artfire yesterday I came across a fabulous shop selling handmade Lampwork beads made by Lisa of Art By Lisi. The bright and colourful photos drew me into her shop where I discovered a large selection of beautiful and very covetable beads.

Lisa lives in Florida and discovered lampwork beads after picking up a copy of Bead and Button magazine back in 2002. She learnt all she could about them, bought the equipment and hasn't looked back since!

As well as selling on Artfire, Lisa also has shops on eBay and Etsy. She regards the day she picked up that copy of Bead and Button as a blessing and I've got to say I agree with her!

After much deliberation I bought a set of these Terracotta Turquoise beauties below. How gorgeous are they??! 

To see more visit Lisa's Artfire shop : Art By Lisi

New Earrings

It was such a lovely bright and sunny day today I thought I'd make the most of it and take some photos of the earrings I finished at the weekend.

I'd got busy with my disc cutter again and made two copper pairs, a riveted Sterling Silver disc design and a pair with mint glass rondel beads and handmade Sterling Silver beadcaps! All oxidised and polished up while I watched the Man Utd game on Sunday!

New Tools New Jewels!

A couple of months ago I suddenly developed an interest in stamped metal jewellery. After reading Lisa Niven Kelly's book "Stamped Metal Jewelry" I went on a spending spree and bought myself some metal stamps, a disc cutter, hammers, a dapping set, sheet copper and Sterling Silver and hole punch pliers!
I also managed to get a security stop put on my debit card due to all the online purchases I was making but a quick phone call to the bank soon sorted that out - very embarrassing when you're trying to pay for your shopping in Tesco!

 So armed with my new toys and after teaching myself how to rivet I've been making some new jewellery. I've discovered I love circle designs and abstract holes and I have a bit of a leaning towards the geometric. I haven't gone down the stamped names on bits of metal route yet, I know it's very popular but it doesn't fill me with much creative joy to be honest, I prefer to let my imagination run free!

Here are some of my new designs - most are available in my Folksy and Artfire shops

Coming Soon To Artfire - "Collections"

Artfire are currently testing their newest "gadget" called "Collections".
Similar to Etsy's Treasuries, Artfire's Collections will allow users to browse the site and select items that catch their eye by clicking a button on the item page which will then be added to their Collections page. You then give it a title and set it free!

Easier than doing an Etsy Treasury as you won't have to look for the item url AND the shop owners whose items are picked will automatically receive an email letting them know! Other people can see, rate and leave comments for each Collection and they will be used on the Artfire frontpage. Fab!

It's still in the testing phase at the moment with the Artfire "mavens" doing the testing to find any last minute hiccups but will be unleased on the rest of us very soon. How fab!

I was lucky enough to have three of my items chosen for three collections so far. Thank you StitchnTyme, ShinyAdornments and Drunkenmimes.......................