New Designs!

On Instagram I follow several small businesses who make the same as I'm trying to.  I realized that a lot of what they make is what I want to start producing and I didn't want to be stuck with no business because there's no variety.

So I looked online for ideas for jewellery that could help me, this is when I saw that some people had made pendants out of wire.  I new I had the materials to hand so I figured why not give it a go.  So I got to work incorporating my love of jewellery and Christianity.

The finished product is above and I have to say I quite like it.  There are a few flaws that will need to be sorted out, like the fact it's top heavy and turns it's self upside down quite a lot.  There is also the fact that the wire I used is not the strongest and can be easily bent out of shape but I think this can be sorted by either making the pendant smaller or getting stronger wire.

I'm glad this idea worked and that I have a new design to add to my collection.  With this I know there are so many different variety's I can make; I'm excited to get to work making them and then trying to sell them.

Making Things

Today I went to a meeting to see someone about getting a grant to help fund my business and pay for the different tools I will need to make jewellery.  He had a lot of interesting thoughts about my business and said finding the funds was my only problem but all they offered was loans and I don't want to go down that road.  So I figured the best course of action at the moment is to make and sell what I can with the funds I have and see if I can make enough to afford the kiln and tools.  Fortunately I have the funds to be able to buy a desk and chair to home my sewing machine that will sit in my make shift studio in the garage.

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I decided today was also the day that I get to work and start making what I'm going to sell.  I already had the pieces cut out and measured so all that was really needed was to stitch it all together.

I looped ribbon through and stitched snap fasteners on either end of the ribbon, but when I tried the finished bow on I noticed a flaw.  With these types of fastenings there is only one size and definitely no guarantee that everyone will have the same size neck.  My dad thought of the ingenious idea of using Velcro because this way the customer can adapt the size to suit their needs, plus it's a lot easier for me.  A win win situation.

Starting my own business!

For the past year or so I've been jumping from idea to idea of what I want out of life and a career.  While looking everywhere to find a job I realized I really don't like the thought of working for someone else, it clicked then "why don't I just start my own business?"

So, I've decided to do just that.  I wanted to make and sell handcrafted silver pendants for necklaces and earrings, but seeing as I can't afford to do that yet I'm starting with bows and collar necklaces that I will make my self.  When things start picking up I can then look into creating the silver pendants and expanding my business, but for now I'm just happy I'm finally going somewhere.

I know it's going to be a struggle getting started and marketing but I'm confident I can do it and I'm looking forward to getting started.