Glass Beads and Charm Bracelets – In My Studio

Good Morning,

Wednesday is here, half way through the work week!

This morning, I would like to show a selection of available bead colors, and styles.  I would also like to introduce a new item as well.  I suppose I could save them for Monday, but I am excited about these.

These are new, customizable, and sizable.  I have a selection of Sterling Silver Plated Charms from which I have created two Charm bracelets.   When I was a girl, everyone I knew had a charm bracelet or one of the those Charm Hanger necklaces that were so popular.  They are making a comeback this year, and I hope for years to come.  Below, one in a Rockabilly theme, that I just think is absolutely adorable, and one for myself.  More charms are always being added to the stock selection.  Drop us an e-mail and see if we have your favorites, or stop by the shop and select a pre-made beauty with room enough to add your own collection of charms later.

7-1/4″ in length is “Rockabilly Betty”, a theme bracelet with Chinese Coin, Dice (they move individually), Skull and Crossbones, Motorcycle and a Humming Bird or Sparrow charm.

Created for me, rarely do I make things for myself, but I just could not resist making a fun piece to wear when I go out.  Also to show more of the charms that are currently in stock.

Counterclockwise: Leaping Frog, Chinese Coin, Dinosaur, Seahorse, Initial K, Western Style Gecko, Initial A, Cow Skull, Airplane, Violin and a Penguin.

We also have earrings that have Dragons, Pegasus, Drum Kits, Frog Princes, Swans, and more that are also in stock and available for bracelets. 

Frog Prince, one of my favorites!

Sterling Silver Plated, highly detailed charms are available in a variety of things.

CZECH GLASS SEED BEAD SELECTION

All beads shown have been used in the creation of Chain Maille Bracelets and Necklaces that are currently in the shop. Still don’t see your favorite color?  Special orders are welcome.  Many of these are available in Birthstone colors or would make a fun alternative in, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Silver Lined Crystal, Emerald, Gold (Topaz), Pearl (White), Ruby, January or July Birthdays, Sapphire,

Clockwise:  Czech Glass in Cyrstal Blue Lined, Aqua, Crystal, Amethyst Aurora Borealis finish beads.  These prism in the light, blues, purples, greens, appear and disappear across the surface of the beads.

Clockwise: Czech Glass in Sapphire (mix), Black and Pearl Luster finish beads.  These are opaque with a lustrous sheen.

Clockwise: Silver Lined Czech Glass in Black Diamond, Emerald, Crystal, Sapphire, Amethyst, and Ruby.

Clockwise: Gold, Red, Green, Pink, Blue.  These are translucent, unlined colored class beads.  Very pretty, solid colors.

Clockwise: Czech Glass in, Orange, Red, Copper, Bronze, Silver and green in the middle.  These are opaque, solid colors.

Sterling Silver and Silver Plated items are available to build that special piece just for you.

E-mail us for a complete list of materials, including metal and semi-precious gemstone stock.  If we don’t have it, we can order it.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

Outside and Gemstones

Happy Friday.  The weekend is here and we should all breathe deeply, take a moment and relax, work week is over and we have earned it.

Sitting here trying to think of something to promote is never easy.  I have no idea half the time what to write, what readers may find interesting, entertaining, useful or worthwhile.

Instead of promoting something on the net and posting links, I thought I would take a minute to look outside and see if something out there wasn’t interesting.  You know what?  Outside is amazing!

So today I am promoting “outside”.  Funny that I would be doing such a thing on a blog, that I want people to read and comment on, and here I am suggesting that you turn off the box and go do something out of doors!

Many of you have seen this picture as it is posted on my wall and the Facebook‘s profile cover photo, but this is outside!  Beautiful, delicate, colorful, wonderful, awesome and inspiring.

Material in this lovely pink, would make a fabulous skirt or dress.  The yellow is bright and sunny, a nice contrast to the pink.  Green, yellows, and pinks are simple, fresh, colors for any Spring or Summer wardrobe.I get a lot of my inspiration from outside, and most of the materials I use come from outside.  Gemstones and precious metals are taken from the ground, and many are left in their natural state, shaping and polishing is all that has been done to them.

Amethysts and Rubies come in crystalline materials that are created in specific conditions to grow in geodes or other formations. 

Amethyst in a geode.

Rubies in their natural state, prior to cutting and polishing.  They appear to range from pink to a reddish-purple color.  Some seem to have milky white striations across the surface of the natural stone.

Idaho is the “Gem State”, the Official Stone of Idaho is Garnet.

Garnet is also a crystalline gem.  It comes in many colors from yellow to red, red being the most popular for jewelry.

Many states have official stones, Oregon’s is Rhodonite.  A gorgeous pink stone that looks somewhat like marble.

For designers of all types, nature is an essential part of the process.  Shapes, colors, forms, textures, even the numbers of leaves or petals on a tree or plant can play an important part in the creation of jewelry, fashion, architecture, and art.

The outside world is an amazing place, full of adventure and inspiration.  City or Rural area, there are parks, rivers, wildlife (even if they are pigeons), take sometime this weekend to rediscover the backyard, the playground down the street, the Zoo, your local Open Space or Walking Trail.  The Great Outdoors awaits!

Now, go outside and play!

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a wonderful weekend and in hope that the weather allows for outdoor fun and games!

Wednesday Tutorial Video Coil and Cut Jump Rings

Good Morning,

After spending much of yesterday trying to figure out how to use and navigate the new blog pages for Blogger, I thought we might test out a new post with something fun.

As I posted previously, I will attempt to upload one tutorial video a month.  This one (as well as others) May be found on Youtube, Dailymotion, alchemistsvessel.net or the Facebook fan page.  All links to these pages may be found on the menu to your right.

Today’s tutorial is coiling and cutting your own jump rings.  Youtube has some new features which include auto fixing the video you upload.  Perhaps it will make the video look better, one can hope.

Our next tutorial will cover making a pair of earrings.  Now that you have the basics down, we might as well put it all together and make something!

The video will not be posted until May, 2012, so you have plenty of time to prepare.  Want to make a pair along with the video?  The Supply list may be found below.

“Beaded Earrings” (sounds fun and interesting, yes?)

Supply List

Tools: 

2 pairs of pliers – Round Nosed and Flat or Chained nosed. 

Wire or Jewelry Cutters (aka “Flush Cutters”)

Materials:

1 pkg. of Jump Rings 4mm (or coil and cut your own, you need 2)

1 pkg. of Head Pins. (you will only need two, but extra is good!)

1 pkg. of Ear Wires (common in craft stores are Fish Hook Style)

2 Beads of your choice. (They should be 6mm to 8mm in size)

*6mm round red glass beads will be used for the tutorial.

Most of the items may be found at your local craft shop.  Don’t want to spend more than a couple of bucks? Checkout a Wal-Mart or other variety store, they usually have these kinds of things for $2.00 to $5.00.No special equipment is necessary, I bet most of you have pliers and a wire cutter at home.  If not, try a Wal-Mart or other variety store for inexpensive tools.  It’s not the tool it’s the craft-person using the tool that makes the pieces unique and wonderful.  Paint Brush or Power Tool, a human hand is still required to operate them.


When someone asks you where you got them, you can smile and say, “I made this.”

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  We would like to wish you a pleasant week.

Thursday – Featured Fashion – Weddings

Greetings,

This morning I arose and looked out my window to see the wonderful colors of Spring blooming and bright.  Inspiration is everywhere if you look.

Spring means new life, new beginnings, and for many it is also the Wedding Season that will slowly edge into summer.

Ladies, you can have that Traditional Wedding, but what about your jewelry?  You have the ring!  Now what?  Something borrowed, something blue, something old, SOMETHING NEW!

This years Bridal Couture is about adding a spark and flash of color to yours or your Bride’s Maids ensembles.  Traditional White (Fresh Water) or  Colored (Dyed) Pearls and Swarovski crystals mix beautifully, to present a unique take on the traditional bridal necklace or choker.  Much time is spent fretting and worrying over color scheme and dresses, why not put a little thought into tying it all together with accent jewelry to match your Wedding colors.  A light touch or pink or sea-foam at the ear, or throat can enhance any parure (matching set of jewelry) with a point of soft pastel color to accentuate, highlight, and draw the eye to the face of the blushing and beautiful bride.Swarovski Crystal Pearl Selection available from Fire Mountain Gems.

A pretty Spring / Summer  Pastel Palette.

Bride’s Maids could have fun with this, each in a different note or hue of color matching the entire Wedding Party, from the Bride to the flower choice on the tables.

We would love to create the special and unique piece just for you or your Wedding party.  Give us a call, look us up on the web, all the links may be found to your right.  Let us work up that amazing and simply stunning adornment together!

A Random Friday

The weekend is here and I don’t think I have ever been so happy to see one!

Friday’s are usually links and promotions, I have been busy with classes this week and haven’t had time to look for much.  My plate is suddenly very full, which is a good thing.

I have been talking about starting to teach classes at Jo-Ann‘s.  Here is there website.  Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores.  From here you can find a store, look for a class, sign up for offers and even shop some of their items.  If you’re a craft-person this is a neat site.  You can even buy a class for a friend as a gift.

Yesterday’s blog discussed tools, a rotary or Dremel tool being the prominent tool.  Here are three links to the tool.

Dremel.com – Website Homepage.

Video Projects – What should I do with my Dremel?

Customer Creations Gallery – What other people did with their Dremel tool.  Some of the projects are amazing!

Like this Curly Maple Clock

A Hardwood Ark

Or this Wooden Sign

Tools are pretty cool.

Next weekend is the last Treasure Valley Market of the season, and I will be attending.  We’ll link the commercial and the event one more time next week.  I hope to see the locals there.

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!  Rest.  Relax.  Rejuvenate!

Featured Artist – Dremel or Rotary Tools

Instead of a Featured Artist today, I thought it would be fun to discuss tools.  No, not those kinds of tools, I mean the tools you use for crafting or DIY projects.

My friend, who is very knowledgeable about these things, and I were discussing Flex Shaft Machines and other shop / studio equipment, that is used during the process of creating, art, molds, jewelry, sculpture and even household repairs.

A “Dremel” is a brand of Rotary tool.  What’s a rotary tool?  It is a motorized shaft with a small accessory “heads” for sanding, buffing, polishing, cutting, drilling, etc.  Mine are ancient!  Here is what a new Kit looks like.  Dremel Tool Kit.

Not all of them are heavy duty like that one.  I was introduced to this cool little item during the conversation, and will share the videos with you now.  Youtube, as I have learned, has a wealth of neat instructional and tutorial videos on just about anything and everything you can imagine.

This nifty little piece of equipment that allows you “hands free” work. The Dremel 2500-01  Multi-Vise

Here is an instructional video on the Multi-Vise

What started all this talk of tools and various uses and attachments? A Flex Shaft Machine.  Here we see its uses in carving Green Jewelry Wax, as well as manual (hand-held) tools.

And I think that’s all for today. 

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.  Questions and comments are always welcome.  The weekend is almost here, we would like to wish you a pleasant day.

The Truth About Selling On Line

Good Monday Morning to you all.

I have had several conversations with people over the weekend about on line shops, new careers, the failing economy, and what we as entrepreneurial individuals can do to supplement the income or make ends meet.  A lot of people now turn to the internet for this and think that because one shop is doing well, so will they.

I do not wish to discourage or dash the hopes the those just venturing forth, I think many believe that they will open an On Line Store or Shop of their own through one of the venues, and that the money will just come rolling in.  

No.

Like any business it is A LOT of hard work, time and effort on the part of you, the seller.  There is merchandise and merchandising, most sellers have items or an inventory available for sale before they “open” their shops.  Merchandise is the items you make, merchandising is keeping those items you make yours and “branding” them specifically for you shop.  No, I don’t mean get out the Branding Iron and start marking things with your initials, I mean learning and recognizing what makes your items unique and different from an others.  Do you use specific items, colors, natural or man made materials?  What makes your items special, desirable, wearable, printable, buy-able?

Then there is marketing.  How do people find you?  Do they know you exist?  Where are you located?  How do you accept payment?  How do you drive customers to your shop or site?  Do you have a physical address or venue where people can shop with you?  How do you increase traffic to your shop or site?  How do you get people to buy things?  Why should a shopper buy your item instead of purchasing from someone else?  All that has to come from your brain to the page or site.

Advertising is how people find you, and it is expensive.  Whether on the web or elsewhere, advertising is key.  It is also important to let people know you have opened a shop and have things for sale.  Social Networking is great for this, but can only take you so far.

Currently Facebook and Etsy rule the on line world.  There are something like 1,265,543 shops on Etsy, I saw this number some time ago, and can not find it again.  This venue connects sellers and shoppers WORLD WIDE, and it continues to grow daily!  That’s a lot of competition.  How does one stand out in a sea of people?  That is an individual trick I have yet to learn.

Facebook has lots of widgets to get your shop or site connected to a fan page via their site.  Etsy also has several free widgets by third party developers that can help promote you shop on blogs, Facebook, Google Plus, and your own site.  Of course the work is up to you, finding these things, getting the links and connecting it all falls to the Shop Owner, no one will do it for you.

Wow, Alix, that’s a lot of work.  When do you find time to actually make anything?  Scheduling my time has always been something I have always done well.  I find a groove with a flow, and I stick with it.  One has to discipline themselves.  Yes, I’d love to go play in the park, but I have to finish this first!  Diligence is just a quarter of the battle!

The reality of The Alchemists Vessel

On average, I make about two (2) sales a month from Etsy, and nothing from any of the the other sites I use or have a presence on.  THAT SUCKS!  Because I have other ways to supplement the income, I can live with that, but in reality that is terrible!  I should be making two or more sales a day!  How does one accomplish that with hundreds of thousands of other jewelry makers vying for those same shoppers dollars?  I haven’t the foggiest idea.

Below is a list of what I do to keep up my skills, my traffic flow, customer base and new items when I have them.

Currently enrolled in Jewelry Design and Repair Classes: Certification for repair will be given after course completion.

Jo-Ann Fabrics, Contracted Instructor: Currently teaching Jo-Ann’s Brochure Projects

Treasure Valley Flea Market:  This is a once a month venue open to the public, and it exactly what it sounds like an open market venue to hawk your wares.

Facebook

Etsy

Blogs

Google Plus

The Offical Website

Cafe Press

My Webees

Linkedin

Delicious Stacks

Pinterest

Wise Stamp (E-mail signatures)

Word of Mouth

Business Cards

Tutorial Videos on Youtube (once a month)

I think I have forgotten one or two, but that’s about it, and I do that every day!

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  In hope that discouragement is not the main theme of this post.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant week.

Friday Links

Happy Friday!  The weekend is finally here and that means relaxation!

Today I had a lovely conversation with a friend of mine.  We spent a couple of hours on the phone discussing business, marketing, Business names, strategies for everything, including where to find material.

Since this week has been all about The Alchemists Vessel, let’s put all of links in a list, of course they can all be found to the right on the side menu bar, but this is maybe easier to look at.

Office Website

Facebook Fan Page

Etsy Showcase on Facebook

**Shop on Facebook 

MyWebees

Tutorial Videos on Facebook (These may also be found on Youtube)

Cafe Press

Etsy Shop

We also have listings, stacks and stuff on Delicious, Pinterest, Linkedin, Google Plus pages, a wordpress blog, and all kinds of places to find us across the web!

**[This app is from Facebook, you may buy directly from the page without leaving facebook or requiring an Etsy Account]

Thank you for stopping by, we would like to wish you a pleasant weekend.