Yay Google has given my blog a PR of 1. I am so excited. That was one of my goals for this blog for 2009, now I can focus on some of the other goals. I had a very kind follower send me an email on how to create a widget for my items for sale, thank you. I was able to add the widget itself to my blog very easily, but then I added pictures to the widget, and bang no pictures showed up. So I need to tinker with that some more, it might take a while lol. I am not really all that technical. I have almost all my new jewelry supplies I ordered, and I can not wait to get started on my projects. I like to wait until all my supplies are here, so I do not have to take everything out, and put it all back several times. I will be making a pair of matching earrings for my mom, for her birthday on Jan 5th. They will match the White Buffalo Turquoise necklace I made her for Christmas. I can not wait to share all my new projects with everyone. I would like to thank all my followers, and readers for such a wonderful year. Here is to a Happy and prosperous New Year. See you in 2009.
It took me all day today to figure out how to add the scrolling slideshow. As you can see it is finally there. I could not add prices to them, so if there is something you like, comment me or email me for pricing. All shipping is free if you order from this blog, to USA only. I am currently not doing international shipping, due to issues with my post office. It seems being rural, does not equal good service. I have so much more stuff to add, so be sure to check it out if you need a nice Valentines Gift for instance.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Pricing and Supplies
Today I am going to discuss my pricing, and where I get a lot of my supplies.
First pricing, I have no magical method for pricing my items. I love jewelry, and I love gemstones. I started by collecting the stones, then I had so many I figured I better do something with them. So I started to learn to make my own jewelry. As anyone knows who does this, at first your work is not really worthy of selling. I kept those early pieces, and used them as learning tools. I have chipped and broke expensive stones, as well as scratched and broke prongs of settings. I would like to get a soldering device so maybe I can fix the ones I broke, and can learn to resize my own jewelry. Setting gemstones, is not an easy task. I thought oh this will not be that hard to learn. Boy was I wrong. Now almost 5 years later, I would not say I am perfect at it, but so much improved. I price my items according, to what it costs me to purchase the items. It is my goal to create, and make quality jewelry that is beautiful and affordable. I do not do this to make a ton of money. I make jewelry because I love it, and I think everyone should have lovely jewelry without the expense. Some people tell me my prices are too low. If my prices are too low, that is because I got an awesome deal on the stones, and or settings, and can offer it at an awesome price. If something costs me more, than I have to charge more, though I still try to keep my profit marginal so it is affordable to everyone. If an item has to be relisted several times, I do usually increase the price to cover fees.
I try to buy only the best products. I use three sellers on Ebay. They all make the settings themselves using silver or gold and the molds to create the settings. I set a limit on high to purchase something, so I can keep selling costs down, to my buyers. I also purchase gemstones, and settings from Rio Grande. They advertise their prices as wholesale, but they are on the higher end of pricing. I do love their synthetic gemstones, and they are affordable. They also sell Moissanite, and their CZ's are exceptional quality. I love Fire Mountain Gems for their gemstones, and beads. I have bought settings from them, but I find their prices to be high, and their settings to be just plain. Jewelry Television is another of my favorites for buying gemstones. I love to purchase their parcels, but then it can be difficult to identify what you have. I prefer to buy single stones, so I have them identified already. I have also purchased their semi mounts, and settings though their prices can be high, and the quality not always the greatest. You can always return your items to them, however for a full refund. I have bought jewelry from them, and removed the stones, and put in my own stones. This is actually very easy to do, and can save a bundle of money. Ebay is a huge resource for buying loose gemstones. Of course you have to be careful of scammers, and people selling fakes and fauxs. Be sure to examine their feedback. Remember just because a stone is selling for an affordable price does not necessarily mean it is fake. So much of the jewelry and gemstone business, is inflated for the maximum profit to be made.
So as you can see it is my ultimate goal to share the wonder, and beauty of gemstones, and jewelry.
First pricing, I have no magical method for pricing my items. I love jewelry, and I love gemstones. I started by collecting the stones, then I had so many I figured I better do something with them. So I started to learn to make my own jewelry. As anyone knows who does this, at first your work is not really worthy of selling. I kept those early pieces, and used them as learning tools. I have chipped and broke expensive stones, as well as scratched and broke prongs of settings. I would like to get a soldering device so maybe I can fix the ones I broke, and can learn to resize my own jewelry. Setting gemstones, is not an easy task. I thought oh this will not be that hard to learn. Boy was I wrong. Now almost 5 years later, I would not say I am perfect at it, but so much improved. I price my items according, to what it costs me to purchase the items. It is my goal to create, and make quality jewelry that is beautiful and affordable. I do not do this to make a ton of money. I make jewelry because I love it, and I think everyone should have lovely jewelry without the expense. Some people tell me my prices are too low. If my prices are too low, that is because I got an awesome deal on the stones, and or settings, and can offer it at an awesome price. If something costs me more, than I have to charge more, though I still try to keep my profit marginal so it is affordable to everyone. If an item has to be relisted several times, I do usually increase the price to cover fees.
I try to buy only the best products. I use three sellers on Ebay. They all make the settings themselves using silver or gold and the molds to create the settings. I set a limit on high to purchase something, so I can keep selling costs down, to my buyers. I also purchase gemstones, and settings from Rio Grande. They advertise their prices as wholesale, but they are on the higher end of pricing. I do love their synthetic gemstones, and they are affordable. They also sell Moissanite, and their CZ's are exceptional quality. I love Fire Mountain Gems for their gemstones, and beads. I have bought settings from them, but I find their prices to be high, and their settings to be just plain. Jewelry Television is another of my favorites for buying gemstones. I love to purchase their parcels, but then it can be difficult to identify what you have. I prefer to buy single stones, so I have them identified already. I have also purchased their semi mounts, and settings though their prices can be high, and the quality not always the greatest. You can always return your items to them, however for a full refund. I have bought jewelry from them, and removed the stones, and put in my own stones. This is actually very easy to do, and can save a bundle of money. Ebay is a huge resource for buying loose gemstones. Of course you have to be careful of scammers, and people selling fakes and fauxs. Be sure to examine their feedback. Remember just because a stone is selling for an affordable price does not necessarily mean it is fake. So much of the jewelry and gemstone business, is inflated for the maximum profit to be made.
So as you can see it is my ultimate goal to share the wonder, and beauty of gemstones, and jewelry.
Monday, December 29, 2008
New Years Goals For This Blog
Well it is the end of one year, and the start of another. There are some goals I would like to achieve in 2009. This blog is fairly new, but I do have quite a few followers, thank you to all of you. I would like to get it ranked, it is currently at zero. I would like to add Project Wonderful, and earn some money off of add space. I currently offer a text link for 3 dollars per month, if anyone is interested. I would like to add a widget that will scroll pictures, and prices of items I have for sale. I love Etsy but if I could sell through my blog, without paying fees, that would be a wonderful thing. I also want to add a paypal button, for paying for items, and or Google Checkout. I want to have more contests, with free jewelry for prizes. I need to consider which items to give, and what the contest should entail. I have not done one in a while. I am thinking of having some guest bloggers, to blog about their different talents, and crafts. I want to add a statement about how, and why I price my items the way I do. Of course getting more readers, and traffic is a goal for most bloggers I know. I also want to continue to create, and design new pieces of jewelry. I have so many ideas, and can not wait to get to it.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
This is a handmade purse, made by my mom. It is a large purse, with two long straps, and a top button closure. It is fully lined with sage colored material, on the inside, and has chickadees and a birdhouse embroidered on the front. If you would like to purchase this lovely bag, or your loved one, comment here for pricing, or email me at darien04@gmail.com These are not available for sale in my Etsy shop, so be sure to ask if you are interested in it. The asking price is 39.99 with 9 dollars for shipping with tracking to USA. My mom was taught to make these lovely purses from a master seamstress, and then she embroiders on the images to the purse with her embroidery machine. They are one of a kind pieces, and they last a life time.
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