tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82622022235823987312024-03-12T21:22:59.289-07:00Stone Soup JewelryThoughts about metalsmithing, indie artisans, and life from Beth Falk, jewelry designer at Stone Soup.stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-64393531979703396232008-12-05T15:47:00.001-08:002008-12-05T15:49:08.608-08:00Stone Soup Video - make your own!<span style="font-family:century gothic;font-size:100%;">Thanks to Matt at <a href="http://www.1000markets.com/">1000 Markets</a> for suggesting <a href="http://www.animoto.com/">animoto </a>as a fun promotional tool! Animoto is a small, very user-friendly service that takes your still photos and turns them into a little video montage, complete with soundtrack. It's very easy to create a 30 second video (and for a small fee, of course, you can upgrade the image quality).<br /><br />I imagine I'll spend a lot of time this weekend uploading photos of my kids doing goofy things. Wait until they can see themselves on film.</span><br /><br /><br /><script src="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/46928cc51133af17/4939bd783be155c1/46928cc5788deb29/9c0cc76a/widget.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /></span>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-66886664422486508822008-12-01T11:34:00.000-08:002008-12-01T11:42:20.191-08:00There's no place like home<a href="http://www.1000markets.com/products/7420"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274907931746281730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 323px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-SLlMQgpWI-RnyBszBc4MlqnnC7Bmqgv8vBvShyG23mSyAM76tjsZxI5gpdCVa6x5ZocwNVuIBS7fkmLTO6OdPc6O11HeKMRfpw737gslopLXihgQMA9pH7UIpBvK007aeFo2mGUwQA/s400/1000bloghouses.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><font face="century gothic" size=2>I've been working on lots of these little houses lately. They've been very popular at craft shows, and they've become my regular donation for charity auctions. I like the idea of a house as a symbol of love and security, and it seemed like an appropriate donation for the local charity that's dearest to me - <a href="http://www.cradlestocrayons.org/">Cradles to Crayons</a>, which provides clothing, school supplies, baby gear, books and other essentials for low-income and homeless children. I have two young daughters, and when I look at them and think that there are other kids out there, just like them, who don't have all the things we enjoy, my heart hurts. Home should be a safe, warm place where kids don't have to worry about anything, and so many children don't have that place...it's hard to imagine that in this country where so many of us seem to have everything in excess.<br /><br />I'll be taking my 7 year old daughter to Cradles to Crayons next week to spend some time volunteering in their warehouse and to help her learn about the challenges that other kids face. I want her to be able to see how blessed our family is, and to understand how important it is to share what we can - especially now, with Christmas approaching, when so many kids are thinking about all the things they want.<br /><br />Why not do some of your holiday shopping at a fundraising auction this year? You can visit <a href="http://www.cmarket.com/auction/item/Browse.action?auctionId=73760006">Cradles to Crayons' auction</a> and can find plenty of other charitable auctions at <a href="http://www.biddingforgood.com/">Bidding for Good</a>.<br /><br />Buying handmade, and buying through auctions that support charities, is a wonderful way to give back to your community this year. </font></div>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-58084605503090455122008-11-24T13:05:00.000-08:002008-11-24T13:08:24.697-08:001000 Markets!<font face="Century gothic">I've just set up a new shop on the beautiful <a href="http://www.1000markets.com/users/stonesoupjewelry">1000 Markets</a> site. I'm excited both about selling there and about doing my holiday shopping (well, so far I've found a ton of treats to buy for myself, anyway).<br /><br />If you haven't seen <a href="http://www.1000markets.com/">1000 Markets</a>, go take a look!</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-3866205676080004732008-11-07T13:09:00.000-08:002008-11-07T13:13:28.476-08:00Change We Can Believe InIndeed. :)<br /><br />Perhaps I'm an elitist, but I'm so excited about watching a public dialogue that's intelligent, interesting and calm. And I'm so happy that my seven year old daughter still doesn't fully understand why electing a person of color or a woman is that big a deal. It gives me hope for her generation. Her four year old sister plans to be President, and will run on a no-smoking platform. ; -)stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-74181586277586139712008-07-30T05:08:00.000-07:002008-07-30T05:13:15.613-07:00A Little Wednesday Gift<font face="century gothic">To celebrate my new Fundamentals collection (see photo in yesterday's post), I'm having a little giveaway. Comment on this blog post, and I'll add your name to a drawing for a pair of Hammered Dome earrings, pictured here.<br /><br /><a href="http://stonesoupjewelry.etsy.com"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAzrmcBaWIRU2HZTFLZ6ZLJ3n-dp0kgVo7NAEEtAEzFLym1V6W2LX9FqXbifK6RPO2tVwOAfmQ3IDClucWodHCCpfu5CeSpIDGb9j79HHFUApYbCHJMtKGuLYX5_HQJh7YfsXXY92fjk/s1600-h/dome+earrings.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAzrmcBaWIRU2HZTFLZ6ZLJ3n-dp0kgVo7NAEEtAEzFLym1V6W2LX9FqXbifK6RPO2tVwOAfmQ3IDClucWodHCCpfu5CeSpIDGb9j79HHFUApYbCHJMtKGuLYX5_HQJh7YfsXXY92fjk/s400/dome+earrings.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228778813464692722" /></a></a><br /><br />Happy Wednesday!</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-40870701722203133852008-07-29T05:09:00.000-07:002008-07-29T05:18:01.828-07:00The Fundamentals Collection<font face="century gothic">I've been selling these simple, versatile pieces at shows all summer. They're crafted of hammered, polished sterling, and they pretty much go with everything. I wear a bracelet like this one almost every day, and the hammered dome earrings have become my "go-to" earrings. My morning routine isn't exactly leisurely - I usually shepherd my kids out the door and hope that I'm lucky enough to have grabbed matching shoes, so I rely on these simple earrings to pull what I will loosely call my "look" together. The texture, which catches the light beautifully as the earrings move, is just enough to make them striking.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qKTl0-mnQBhyphenhyphenXeQmEWEnutCOw3c_f8vkOgivo_0tKvUCfeo1T2kCW2ewK5zYMtpWOakCIJcSC3VtmzuNdFH5YYwqwsYa4bv8JMfoxBRymrTamgmFQ6WXkJlAqbdfrrSc9eo42TeT_X0/s1600-h/basics+collection.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228408284596383090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qKTl0-mnQBhyphenhyphenXeQmEWEnutCOw3c_f8vkOgivo_0tKvUCfeo1T2kCW2ewK5zYMtpWOakCIJcSC3VtmzuNdFH5YYwqwsYa4bv8JMfoxBRymrTamgmFQ6WXkJlAqbdfrrSc9eo42TeT_X0/s400/basics+collection.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>I'll be adding some of these pieces to my <a href="http://stonesoupjewelry.etsy.com/">Etsy shop</a> later today.<br /></p></font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-63559046568279870682008-07-21T04:53:00.003-07:002008-07-21T04:56:15.419-07:00It's Becoming a Trend, I Fear<font face="century gothic"><div>Hmm. It's Monday morning, and my thoughts are a bit single-minded today so far. Seems like my last post was about not sleeping, too...seems to be a disturbingly common theme for me lately. I find myself daydreaming with visions of this:</div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qf2fl3N0d4vmjBPTSKGH6BNx99ClJqudN0k8aQyqXUloM7utkUkcdgOjo2YrMPkSzP9Qe8eOhIqVGwvFtXlCmZUtzwaj8Gj3VZ1_hlOdGeii9Hd5ftPW3LKPJDytsFWnsDHV6fS_ruM/s1600-h/coffee_beans.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225434356239826994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qf2fl3N0d4vmjBPTSKGH6BNx99ClJqudN0k8aQyqXUloM7utkUkcdgOjo2YrMPkSzP9Qe8eOhIqVGwvFtXlCmZUtzwaj8Gj3VZ1_hlOdGeii9Hd5ftPW3LKPJDytsFWnsDHV6fS_ruM/s400/coffee_beans.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When my coffee kicks in, I have a long list of projects to do. What's worse - using dangerous metalworking tools when I'm groggy or when I'm overcaffeinated?</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-65739919824579405162008-07-11T03:28:00.000-07:002008-07-11T03:34:03.970-07:00Cute doesn't always cut it<span style="font-family:century gothic;font-size:100%;">Not much to post today - sleep deprivation will do that to you. Let's just say that I am NOT a morning person, but someone else in our house is:<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:century gothic;font-size:100%;"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqTARg4YDecnSGODwD7qcg8oSZFHgiK2Qg-9tyQa17aRxvnQIqVDxzqGFpDpSIUK6xM59yjeB5puvXVsgJWa6gwsY2nlBDskLU0gMqxnqWIYHNuwVMkNQRNHWeznXsKaQz_zBX9ykAdI/s1600-h/outside.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221702461904620354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfqTARg4YDecnSGODwD7qcg8oSZFHgiK2Qg-9tyQa17aRxvnQIqVDxzqGFpDpSIUK6xM59yjeB5puvXVsgJWa6gwsY2nlBDskLU0gMqxnqWIYHNuwVMkNQRNHWeznXsKaQz_zBX9ykAdI/s400/outside.jpg" border="0" /></a> Adorable, yes (she's bigger now, but I love that photo). But she'd be cuter at 7 am than she is at 5:30. Know what I mean? </p><p>At least she got me up and moving...I have a show to prepare for (<a href="http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org/programs/artbeat/">Somerville ArtBeat</a> on July 19) and I need to get to the bench!</span><br /></p>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-76298148517801999842008-07-09T05:40:00.000-07:002008-07-09T06:12:36.623-07:00My New Site is UP!<font face="century gothic" size=3>I've just finished some significant revisions to my web site - a new look, new photos, completely different style. You can see it here (warning - it's a flash site, so it takes a few seconds to load):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stonesoupjewelry.com/">Stone Soup Jewelry</a><br /><br />I'm thrilled with this site so far. I purchased it through <a href="http://www.bludomain.com/">BluDomain</a>. Blu is a small company that offers dozens of funky templates and hosting. Their sites were originally designed for professional photographers, so they work well for visual artists, offering galleries and a few external links. There is a shopping cart available in some templates, though it's not the best for work other than photography. But I understand that there are some new designs coming out on July 25 with different shopping cart formats.<br /><br />The people at Blu have been friendly, responsive and helpful. And I think my site's looking pretty good, if I do say so myself. </span></font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-76372113199216717662008-07-07T04:23:00.000-07:002008-07-07T04:36:19.806-07:00Free Shipping on Handmade Findings!<font face="century gothic" size=3>I've been very pleased with the response to my new <a href="http://stonesoupjewelrysupplies.com/">supply shop</a>, and so for the next week I'm offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders placed by my blog readers.<br /><br /><a href="http://stonesoupjewelrysupplies.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220233630579108802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCeEc3zqR-7jUa9jKtVW-QuGg5gX5mh6-liBQSNNtkaE4N35Ikq7SjdS_yMYgS3bMaUQwFaeQWBq9VjgRTYiTgmDpeVrwAKYp6x_bVCOiPWT1J-jcBx8qtLeNLsNLtSlJpExv3_1ByNQ/s400/Shop+Banner.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />In order to take advantage of the shipping special, you'll need to select "Store Pickup" as your shipping choice at checkout - even though I will be sending your package via US Mail. Blog readers will get a little bonus with each purchase, as well. :)<br /><br />If you have any questions, please leave a comment here and I'll respond.<br /><br />You see my handmade jewelry findings at <a href="http://stonesoupjewelrysupplies.com/">Stone Soup Jewelry Supplies</a>.</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-62366452620847638892008-07-05T06:15:00.001-07:002008-07-05T06:55:41.044-07:00Waiting...and Happy Meat.<span style="font-family:century gothic;font-size:100%;">Patience is not among my virtues.<br /><br />I've been working on a new portfolio web site for my jewelry, and I'm thrilled with the way it's turning out, but now I've reached the stage where I have to wait for propagation (basically, I have to wait for servers all over the place to pick up and recognize my DNS changes, and this takes at least a day or two).<br /><br />Unable to blather on about my work for now, I'll tell you about my latest foodie excitement. I posted a little while ago about the gorgeous produce we're getting from <a href="http://www.thefoodproject.org/">The Food Project</a> CSA, and now on top of that we've joined a terrific meat CSA through <a href="http://www.chestnutfarms.org/">Chestnut Farms</a>. I'd been growing increasingly ambivalent about eating meat - while I do eat meat, I don't much like the livestock farming practices I read about. I don't think it's reasonable for humans to treat other living things as a commodity, exclusive of any other value. Yes, animals in the wild eat other animals, and being a carnivore is not inherently evil. But forcing a cow to stand in feces, or a breeding sow to live in a 2 foot wide gestation crate where she can't turn around or stand up straight, is just cruel. I've seen photos of these farms, even ones that are otherwise clean and well run, and it makes me sick. Knowing that the animals at Chestnut Farms have room to move around, interact with each other, and get attention from humans is a big deal to me. I will admit that the thought of adorable piglets turning into dinner is something that I still can't quite think about.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37pU37LSNHWKA3eMshEbb27wdnjG2QgHEtz2j0oXxKw97pTcNYSCCsQlAHL6JWS1oFZQh9SOt6dOOstTN3tH_6YRxvIwidSQnv3kFXf3SuyShHixJaivRAv7I8wCBSK3IgSaaY2w93Aw/s1600-h/piglets_growing_well_ed.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219527471550317826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37pU37LSNHWKA3eMshEbb27wdnjG2QgHEtz2j0oXxKw97pTcNYSCCsQlAHL6JWS1oFZQh9SOt6dOOstTN3tH_6YRxvIwidSQnv3kFXf3SuyShHixJaivRAv7I8wCBSK3IgSaaY2w93Aw/s400/piglets_growing_well_ed.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I spend a lot of time, and undoubtedly a bit more money, trying to buy food for my family that comes from sources we can feel good about. It was getting harder and harder for me to believe that the meat we bought was safe for us (no hormones, no additives) and came from animals that were humanely raised. So when I read about the family who owns Chestnut Farms, and how committed they are to their animals, to the quality of the food they produce, and to sustaining the land on which they farm, I was thrilled. These are people who get it - and who work really, really hard to make a difference - and I feel privileged to help support that work.<br /><br />Of course, it's still pretty easy to be on the consumer end of all this. All I have to do is buy the food - the farmers here do all the really demanding work. But it's a start, and for now my kids are young enough that I can't really get them involved in the hands-on volunteer work at places like the Food Project. So for now, I take them to the farm to collect our produce (and pick some of it ourselves), and to the pickups for the meat, and I talk about why we're doing this, and hope that they're learning something important.</span></span>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-57838341482892828382008-07-03T03:57:00.001-07:002008-07-03T04:58:13.562-07:00Independence Day(s) - Indie Artisan Resources Series<font face="Century gothic" size=3>As Independence Day approaches in the U.S., I thought it might be a good time to start a series of posts I've been thinking about for a while - information about resources for independent artisans. I hope to be able to offer some suggestions about website design, hosting, ecommerce, etc, business planning, grants/loans, and perhaps even some craft-related resources for those just starting out.<br /><a href="http://www.zhibit.org/ad/refer?r*=stone2506"><br /><img src="http://www.zhibit.org/res/logo48.jpg" border="0" /><br /></a><br />Today's suggestion, for artists looking for simple web sites with some ecommerce options, is <a href="http://www.zhibit.org/">Zhibit.org</a>. Pronounced like the last part of the word "exhibit," Zhibit provides an easy interface for artists to sell their work. The advantages?<br /><br />- Low cost (the most expensive plan tops out at $139/year, and there's a simple plan for $3/month)<br />- Good features for the money. The "Gold" plan, at $9/month or $89/year, offers 500 product listings with photos, a guestbook (which will generate a mailing list for you), site stats through Google Analytics or SiteMeter, integration with PayPal, help with SEO, and full domain aliasing (which means you can point your own domain name directly to your Zhibit shop).<br /><br />Is it perfect? No, but it offers quite a bit for the price, and it's a great solution for someone who wants to be able to set up a site quickly and with little or no HTML knowledge.<br /><br />I've just opened my <a href="http://stonesoupjewelrysupplies.com/">jewelry supply shop </a>through Zhibit, and I'm quite pleased. There are other services at a similar price point (BigCartel, or even eCrater for free), and some others that are more expensive and sophisticated (Shopify, NetworkSolutions), and I'll talk about those. But for a simple way to sell your artwork online, Zhibit gets my vote.</font></span>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-41726576111588505292008-07-02T04:40:00.000-07:002008-07-03T04:59:01.058-07:00New Workspace, Part One and a Half<span style="font-family:century gothic;font-size:100%;">Getting there. Really.<br /><br />First of all, my new <a href="http://stonesoupjewelrysupplies.com/">handmade jewelry findings shop</a> is open and running (click <a href="http://stonesoupjewelrysupplies.com/">here </a>and see)! It's not fully stocked yet - still need to add more copper ear wires and a few new designs - but it's a start. If you have suggestions for the links/tutorials page, please let me know.<br /><br />Next order of business - I've made more progress in my workroom.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:century gothic;font-size:100%;"><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MuyxrhLTuKYOtgO0D1lbH18B13VmQS4zdGwCMV8kpnf_xRc9TaKCh4WMjbszKR6rY5G1WbJLy69VOpGlVFYwwbZxtg3UMF1U9x12c7sRfTzvGlAnFHRF1U8MyJbH5wnG_Y9ztPj37Fc/s1600-h/workbench1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218381308484816226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MuyxrhLTuKYOtgO0D1lbH18B13VmQS4zdGwCMV8kpnf_xRc9TaKCh4WMjbszKR6rY5G1WbJLy69VOpGlVFYwwbZxtg3UMF1U9x12c7sRfTzvGlAnFHRF1U8MyJbH5wnG_Y9ztPj37Fc/s400/workbench1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is another IKEA purchase (a Fredrik computer desk). I ended up choosing this because it had a nice big work surface, and the table height is adjustable, so I can put it up high enough to make saw piercing and wire work comfortable. I've been hunched over a table for far too long, and my old back couldn't take it. I chose this instead of a more traditional jeweler's bench because I wanted a wider, deeper table surface. I may invest in a different organizer for the back of the table, but for now this works nicely.</p><p>I've made a couple of purchases on Etsy to add some color to the room, including a beautiful little wall quilt and some button/textile art - so more photos to come when I finish the bench and get the walls dressed up a bit more!</span></p>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-51070737952819796622008-07-01T04:33:00.000-07:002008-07-03T04:59:32.578-07:00New Workspace, Part One<font face="century gothic" size=3>I did it. *pats self on back*<br /><br />I'm not finished yet, but I did manage to reorganize the bench I use for measuring/cutting wire and packing items to ship. This is why I love IKEA. I put this together using the base from an office cabinet (Effektiv), the frame and internal drawers from a wardrobe (Pax/Komplement), and a hanging wall rack from their laundry room storage series (Antonius).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pQqoGlUNaEyhslFpUbmogEvXiRXJ5_DNwbtNTYlbS9ECUlAkaSaerID5JBHIisLZprQWoIGWaaanbfMHoW3nhq3trKwH02IKyJ9CqZJ7JR06m-Bj4hd6wQM3J3C0o-O3g8dQB76ZTXs/s1600-h/workshopmailcenter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218007853013988162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pQqoGlUNaEyhslFpUbmogEvXiRXJ5_DNwbtNTYlbS9ECUlAkaSaerID5JBHIisLZprQWoIGWaaanbfMHoW3nhq3trKwH02IKyJ9CqZJ7JR06m-Bj4hd6wQM3J3C0o-O3g8dQB76ZTXs/s400/workshopmailcenter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Antonius wall rack is exactly what I've been looking for - gets the wire up out of the way, but easily accessible. And it comes with little boxes, clips and hooks, so I can keep all kinds of supplies up there, within reach.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GpBHzoRPSnSLFZ0EBvvIUAEDcHM8cVArnz522gxwDbEr0Cqh8iDuIZzG2hUixLBTAp-TeusEiloIltilnhMGtF58aUYemttQGueK73VGx0rBFa5OYPucw7DyfsyWnmv7gRUZRk0MDbI/s1600-h/workshopmailcenter2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218009036938365218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GpBHzoRPSnSLFZ0EBvvIUAEDcHM8cVArnz522gxwDbEr0Cqh8iDuIZzG2hUixLBTAp-TeusEiloIltilnhMGtF58aUYemttQGueK73VGx0rBFa5OYPucw7DyfsyWnmv7gRUZRk0MDbI/s400/workshopmailcenter2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The top drawer is the Komplement jewelry drawer with dividers, and it's perfect for working on orders from my <a href="http://stonesoupjewelrysupplies.com/">supply shop</a> - I use the small compartments to separate invoices and fill them with small bags of findings as I complete each part of the order. The second drawer has packing materials, and the tray on top has my tissue paper and labels, so I can put everything together. And using the Effektiv base meant I could raise the height of the unit up over 36 inches, which makes it comfortable for me to stand there and work without hunching over.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfNB9_fGaVNi7WhsljwvvMVHLl4pt1pkg1C56G_rYp8d6FSXum2hL2UsYMwNzVi5AS66loOiDucE4G4Jvcy83uv3GJ8LXcAOOEL5rmO3Y_36T4bYmqvGniyMFjp4H3MS3TDhRJxio1AA/s1600-h/workshopmailcenter3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218009829879666130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfNB9_fGaVNi7WhsljwvvMVHLl4pt1pkg1C56G_rYp8d6FSXum2hL2UsYMwNzVi5AS66loOiDucE4G4Jvcy83uv3GJ8LXcAOOEL5rmO3Y_36T4bYmqvGniyMFjp4H3MS3TDhRJxio1AA/s400/workshopmailcenter3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm thinking everyone else isn't likely to be as interested in my workshop reorganization as I am, but I also know that I love to look around people's workspaces, and seeing the tools and systems they've used is really helpful.<br /><br />Just wait until you see what I'm doing with my workbench. The IKEA obsession is getting a little creepy - but it just works so well. Oh, and the artwork on the walls is courtesy of my 6 year old daughter, but I'm busily buying art from some other places to further decorate the space.</span></font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-47809684597051562022008-06-30T06:53:00.001-07:002008-06-30T06:59:17.189-07:00Clearing Out the Underbrush<font face="century gothic" size=3> Change is good.<br /><br />And there's a lot of it happening around here. I've spent so much time lately thinking about my goals for this work, both in terms of what I want to do artistically and what I need to do to grow my business. I read some posts on <a href="http://luannudell.wordpress.com/">Luann Udell's blog</a> this weekend, where she talked about reorganizing her workspace, and how she couldn't focus on her craft until she'd cleared out some space, both physical and mental.<br /><br />So, this morning I'm in here trying to forge through the clutter and finish the workroom improvements I started more than a month ago (hangs head in shame). I can't bear the thought of taking "before" photos, but I will post some pics when it looks decent. So stay tuned.</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-83105044681002340862008-06-26T07:00:00.000-07:002008-06-26T07:11:47.068-07:00Changes to Stone Soup Jewelry Supplies<font face="century gothic" size=3>I'm in stage one of redoing my handmade <a href="http://stonesoupsupplies.etsy.com/">jewelry supply shop</a>. I have some new photos, a new color scheme, and some new designs coming soon.<br /><br /><a href="http://stonesoupsupplies.etsy.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216190996479278578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4IadKbsq8IbKsoo-5y8nuZ8-LRMExLhXegEn9f5XtPZmd4UCjeK_fF-Xf6VMRShe5Ex9DODJaoySpbSZ5dmXb_uHJhFNHNgk_np_nQFQvbMbrneb3jpMmFWqvGfBiO665mVMwt8BhU8/s400/Shop+Banner.jpg" border="0" /></a>Stage two: moving the shop to an independent site. My goal is to finish the move by the end of July. When I do that, I'll be offering some special sales to friends and mailing list subscribers, so <a href="mailto:supplies@stonesoupjewelry.com">email me</a> if you're interested, and I'll send you the super secret discount code!</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-25600348094614514092008-06-25T09:06:00.000-07:002008-06-26T12:36:39.341-07:00Produce from Another Planet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZjJIRDEF8j0zPaNgX3OZoCeci5lqDDB-tOcmAKIO7iJLzbfGfXYT4kfM4j1Tto6J693dAJaCVIa5wCMkMj2l0WfBTYchoGFHddqI8bNYbkKOfX_7NEaArQSSB4mO0QUhmaaBT2L9d44/s1600-h/csajune24.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215859626331631794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZjJIRDEF8j0zPaNgX3OZoCeci5lqDDB-tOcmAKIO7iJLzbfGfXYT4kfM4j1Tto6J693dAJaCVIa5wCMkMj2l0WfBTYchoGFHddqI8bNYbkKOfX_7NEaArQSSB4mO0QUhmaaBT2L9d44/s320/csajune24.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Century Gothic;" size="3">After threatening to do it for a few years, we finally joined a CSA this season. <a href="http://www.thefoodproject.org/">The Food Project</a> in Lincoln, MA has a lot going for it: a beautiful farm in an almost unbelievably idyllic wooded setting; gorgeous and tasty produce; a well-considered and apparently successful community outreach mission. The project brings kids from urban neighborhoods out to the farm to learn about agriculture and business. The kids manage the crops, harvest the produce and sell the food at local farmers' markets. Some of the food is sold through CSA shares, and some is donated to local shelters. It's sustainable, local, organic (not certified, but free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides) agriculture.<br /><br />It's enough to make a good old fashioned bedwetting liberal like me faint.<br /><br />And did I mention that the food is gorgeous? This week's share included a few spectacular treats like garlic scapes and kohlrabi, both of which prompted my 6 year old daughter to ask, "Are those really things to EAT? They look like little aliens."</span>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-19734342968381202812007-12-03T06:21:00.000-08:002007-12-03T06:28:40.461-08:00The Business of Craft Online<font face="century gothic">I hear many artisans worrying this year about slow holiday sales. Just like traditional retailers, individual craft sellers and gallery owners rely on this sales period for the bulk of their year's revenue. And slow sales now make for difficult times.<br /><br />One of the business lessons I've learned this year is that it may not be wise to focus exclusively on internet sales. Certainly, marketplaces like <a href="http://www.etsy.com">Etsy</a>, <a href="http://www.smashingdarling.com">Smashing Darling</a>, <a href="http://www.indiefinds.com">Indie Finds</a> and Aussie site<a href="http://www.mintd.com"> Mintd</a> are opening up some new venues for sales by independent artisans. But I think people are still somewhat wary of a purchase based on photos alone, especially a higher-end craft purchase. So much of the allure of handmade goods lies in things one needs to experience in person - texture, subtle color variations, the way a piece of jewelry sits on the body. When buyers can't experience that first hand, they may turn to another source. I'm working hard to get my jewelry into local retail stores and galleries, where customers can see what they're getting first hand. <br /><br />But I do have online shops, and I want them to do as well as they can. Because there's such a limited opportunity to showcase your products in a small onlins space, one of the keys to online sales is product photography. It makes sense to invest time and money in good equipment and good photos - you don't need to go spend thousands of dollars on a high end digital SLR and studio lighting equipment, but a good light box (homemade is fine) and, most important, the right light bulbs, are essential. Here's an example of how lighting affects photos. This picture was taken in my homemade light box (corrugated cardboard, with white tissue paper sides), using two nvision 27 watt daylight balanced compact fluorescent bulbs from a big box hardware store.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stonesoupjewelry.com-a.googlepages.com/gardeniabracelet1.jpg/gardeniabracelet1-medium.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.stonesoupjewelry.com-a.googlepages.com/gardeniabracelet1.jpg/gardeniabracelet1-medium.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The next photo, of the same piece, was taken in a light tent purchased from <a href="http://www.tabletopstudio.com">TableTop Studio</a>, using two 30w trumpet top daylight balanced bulbs. The green background is a piece of cardstock. The white to black sweep background, which real photographers can achieve with good lighting and experience, is a paper background that I purchased.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stonesoupjewelry.com-a.googlepages.com/gardeniabracelet2bw.jpg/gardeniabracelet2bw-medium.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.stonesoupjewelry.com-a.googlepages.com/gardeniabracelet2bw.jpg/gardeniabracelet2bw-medium.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The difference is, I think, dramatic, and the lights were the single most critical piece of equipment. I find that customers respond much better to high quality, professional-looking photos. Good clear photographs are also critical for applications to juried shows.<br /><br />One of my goals for next year (yes, I'm planning for the slow time in the midst of the holiday rush) is to continue to work towards improving my photos. I'm even considering sending a few pieces to a professional who specializes in craft photography to see what happens.<br /><br />In the mean time, I'm going to finish my holiday shopping - and continue buying handmade!</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-69836982505758053452007-11-30T06:50:00.000-08:002007-11-30T07:02:59.045-08:00Holiday Sales and Business<font face="century gothic">Now that we've survived the infamous Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I'm thinking about this year's sales patterns and how to plan for 2008.<br /><br />Business thinking can be tricky for artists. So many creative people struggle with the idea of asking for money for their work, no matter what they think about its artistic merit. I think it's particularly awkward when we've started a conversation with a potential customer that centers on the work itself - we get to talking about design and color and style, and then it seems strange to bring money into this relationship that's started to develop as a personal one. I know that, when I speak with people at craft shows, I end up with lots of intimate information about their lives. For some reason, stories about crazy mothers-in-law seem to come up more often than anything else. ;-)<br /><br />In all seriousness, though, art as a business has its own nuances. As individual producers, our businesses are limited by what we can produce with our own hands. The idea of coming up with a design and leaving the construction to someone else isn't appealing to me right now - but for many artists it's the only viable way to a significant income.<br /><br />Liz Fuller's blog, <a href="http://www.morethanweknow.com/2007/11/30/todays-woman-entrepreneur-beth-falk/">More Than We Know</a>, offers advice, information and insight to women entrepreneurs, and she's featured a few artists (including me!) lately. Check out her site for more thoughts about art and business.<br /><br />And now for something completely different: I have to share this new design, because it's so close to my heart. I call these "Sarah's Style" earrings, as a nod to my six year old daughter. Sarah has her own inimitable sense of style and quite definite opinions about not following the crowd. I hope she'll hold on to these traits!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.trunkt.org/client.listing_more.cfm/id/1293/pid/14129"><img src="http://www.trunkt.org/custom/image/productimage/14129_image.jpg"></a><br /><br />Happy Friday, everyone! Here's to a restful and renewing weekend. </font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-22708148709950414902007-11-27T08:30:00.000-08:002007-11-27T08:33:17.981-08:00Want More Color?<font face="century gothic">How's this for bright and fun? Etsy's <a href="http://www.whirlwend.etsy.com">Whirlwend</a> seems to be catering to one of my big weaknesses: fun felted bags and goodies!<br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7988589"><img src="http://images.etsy.com/all_images/b/b83/7c2/il_430xN.14417587.jpg"></a><br /><br />I would be thrilled to receive this bag as a gift. I'm just sayin'. :)<br /><br /></font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-75704277195712140382007-11-26T04:51:00.000-08:002007-11-26T04:59:05.730-08:00Cyber Monday? At least it's not the mall..<font face="century gothic">So, today's supposed to be the big crazy online shopping day. I did get up really early (not so much by choice), and I've made a few purchases, but at least I wasn't standing outside in the cold or fighting over a parking space.<br /><br />This week, I'm looking for gifts for younger people in my life - my children, my niece, some young cousins. I want gifts that are unique, safe, interesting for the kids, and full of bright color. How adorable are these little Waldorf-style dolls from Etsy seller <a href="http://www.germandolls.etsy.com">germandolls</a>for stocking stuffers? I want a set, but I can't decide whether to spread them out among the younger kids or just give my little daughter the whole set so she can have a family full of these soft babies.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7998106"><img src="http://images.etsy.com/all_images/3/3b9/2b8/il_430xN.14447667.jpg"></a><br /><br />I love the colors of their little outfits and the mix of skin colors. Just beautiful.<br /><br />So, get out there and shop! And buy handmade. It's so much nicer. </font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-6962508706838129222007-11-24T07:02:00.000-08:002007-11-24T07:25:05.914-08:00Buying Handmade for the Holidays - How Does Your Flower Grow?<font face="century gothic">So, if I'm serious about this Handmade Pledge, I'd better get shopping!<br /><br />The biggest problem is that the more I browse around for gifts, the more things I see that I want for myself. ;) My wish list is getting really, really long.<br /><br />Here's my Trunkt wishlist - some really, really beautiful work there: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.trunkt.org/client.wishlist.cfm/id/673">Stone Soup Jewelry's Trunkt Wishlist</a><br /><br />And my Etsy browsing is endless, I think. I want to share a couple of cute flower finds today.<br /><br />My newest favorite shop is <a href="http://www.happyhousequilts.etsy.com">Happy House Quilts</a>, with some really cute hair accessories, lovely greeting cards with felt pins attached (these would be great for gift wrap), and best - <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8020898">craft kits</a> for ornaments, felt hair accessories, pins, etc. I have a niece who'll be getting one of these.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8020898"><img src="http://images.etsy.com/all_images/5/5ce/4b3/il_430xN.14523228.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br />I'm also loving <a href="http://www.peggradyart.etsy.com">Peg Grady's</a> flowers made from recycled aluminum cans. Again - great for gift wrap. I'm trying to waste as little as possible in wrapping gifts (I'm always consumed with guilt at the idea of all that paper being tossed after such a short life!), and these are not only made from recycled materials, but can have a life of their own after they're removed from the gift. Wouldn't you love a collage of these in a wall frame?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6706028"><img src="http://images.etsy.com/all_images/a/a5d/a14/il_430xN.10279283.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br />Next? COLOR. Lots of it. Stay tuned.</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-2562901670332342062007-11-15T04:41:00.000-08:002007-11-15T05:30:49.219-08:00Sublimely Ridiculous<font face="century gothic">Today's workspace is one that I love not only because of how it looks, but because of what comes out of it. Etsy seller <a href="http://www.artsy.etsy.com">Artsy</a>, featured this week, has an eye for the silly and sophisticated. This is upcylcing with a BIG wink. And a work space that's orange, to boot - an underappreciated and truly fabulous color.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.artsy.etsy.com"><img src="http://images.etsy.com/all_images/8/897/688/ifs_fullxfull.5000335.jpg"></a></center><br /><br />When I get down to serious work on my studio space (I promise, it's happening), I want one of Artsy's assemblages on a shelf in there for inspiration.</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-40648680127280239572007-11-14T04:37:00.000-08:002007-11-14T04:50:46.652-08:00Fabulous!<font face="century gothic">Last week, when I was blogging about great bags, I mentioned <a href="http://www.mandinka.etsy.com">Mandinka</a>, who puts together bags from men's suiting fabric and finds a new way to look at something familiar.<br /><br />Today, I'm loving the ties from Etsyian <a href="http://www.toybreaker.etsy.com">toybreaker</a>, who continues the spin on men's fashion with fabulous ties. If you've given your dad a boring tie for every holiday for the past 20 years, shake him up a little with one of these:<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7835080"><img src="http://images.etsy.com/all_images/8/85d/ff2/il_430xN.13924371.jpg"></a></center><br /><br />That one is cool, though if you're looking to make a different sort of statement, there are noose neckties, too. And these ties are made in a truly fabulous studio space. See how great design comes from a great environment? Check out toybreaker's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toybreaker/sets/72157600964621824/">Flickr photo group</a> to see more of this great studio space. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.toybreaker.etsy.com"><img src="http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c48/beth568/toybreakerstudio.jpg"></a></center><br /><br />What's going on for me today? Some reorganizing at home, and a promise to myself to get at least a couple of hours in my own workroom. I'm thinking pearls for the rest of the week.</font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262202223582398731.post-71382979080600000552007-11-13T04:35:00.000-08:002007-11-13T05:05:09.660-08:00A Different Kind of Room<font face="century gothic">As I sat last night and thought about more workspace images to share, I found myself drawn more and more to the thoughts I had yesterday about a workspace being an intellectual or emotional space. And the <a href="http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/index.php">One Laptop Per Child</a> project provides just that. This isn't an artisan project, per se, but there's plenty of creativity and great design in both the concept and the execution here.<br /><br /><center border="0"><a href="http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/explore.php"><img src="http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/xogiving/g1g1/xo_intro_v2.jpg"></a></center><br /><br />I love everything about this program. I love the fact that the laptops run on Linux. I love the fact that there's a solar energy panel. And the idea that this project will make new kinds of education available to children who have so little...well, it really seems to good to be true. I hope the program works as well as it sounds like it will. My big concern for now has to do with the way the laptops will be distributed once they reach the target countries (for the donor program, those are Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti and Rwanda). I have my fingers crossed that the organizations distributing them to kids will hang in there and make this all come together.<br /><br />What a great way to empower kids. </font>stonesoupjewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16687427581515217519noreply@blogger.com0