Tila Beads

I purchased some Tila Beads when they first came out.  For those of you that don't know they are 5 mm square and are double drilled.  The ones I purchased were metallic coated.  I just loved how they look but for some reason I just couldn't make something with them.   It was like a mental block.  From time to time I would bring them out and play with them, broke a few and put them away.  Well this weekend I decided once and for all I would make a bracelet.  I was planning on making it with wire so I cut pieces of wire to the desired length and started laying it out.  It went well at first then the pressure started breaking the beads so I ended up making it using the Fireline like I do in beadweaving.

This is what I came up with!  Do you like it?   It has the appearance of metal and earthy feel.

"Oh What a Beautiful Morning"

The theme of this months Etsy Beadweaver September Challenge is "My Favorite Song" .  We were asked to create one new beadweaving of your own design (not from a tutorial, kit, book, magazine, or class) that best represents the theme.  I love music of all kinds so this was a little difficult for me to choose until I really thought about it.  Every morning for a few years, I have been going to "the Barn" and helping my two elderly aunts clean the horse stalls and feed and care for the horses.   The eldest aunt passed away a year ago but her memory sill lingers every morning as the other sister and I still go to the barn.   Most every morning as we were working she would break into song.  "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" and I would join her.  She was a very pleasant, good attitude lady and a joy to be around.  Now every morning I remember her and in my thoughts be singing show tunes with her.  FYI the other sister does not sing and always shook her head at us which made us giggle and sing harder.

"My Favorite Song" is titled "Oh What a Beautiful Morning"  is the opening song from the musical Oklahoma! written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein.

This bracelet is a very simple but elegant bracelet just as my Aunt Mildred was.  It was made in a simple 3 bead Right Angle Weave using two tone glass beads with gold colored seed beads as spacers.  It has a simple handcrafted loop and toggle clasp. It measures 7 inches closed and 3/8 inches wide.

Are We a Liability to Ourselves?

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the structure of my business.   It has been growing slowly as I venture out to more places.   Keeping up with it and my liabilities have me worried. 

Besides my on-line presence I have some of my items on consignment at two different galleries.  One of the Galleries is doing very well.  It is located in a vacation area.  Skiing in winter and camping in summer.   The Gallery owner contacted me recently with a client of hers that needed a basket wrap done for an enhydro crystal that contains prehistoric droplets of water and wanted to know if I could do it.   Of course I said yes.   So we made arrangements to meet.   When we met she had several different projects she wanted me to do.   Repair bails, restring beads and the basket for the crystal.   When seeing the crystal I knew it was going to be a big challenge because the crystal had fractures, and she had taken it to a Jeweler and he broke part of it and refused to finish.  He had told her he doesn’t normally do wire wrapping and she would need someone that did.   Because of my relationship with the Gallery owner I took it on, and we made arrangement to meet again 3 weeks later with the work completed.  

I did complete the job but was very worried the whole time about breaking it.   It turned out pretty good and she was totally happy with the wrap.  But the liability I undertook was tremendous.   The enhydro crystals are a bit pricey but this one meant a lot to her and I don’t want to think about what would of happened if I had cracked it more.   I have been looking into LLC’s etc., and I have come across this web site   http://www.hellocraft.com/2011/01/ask-a-lawyer-legal-structures-for-craft-businesses/   it gives tons of information for crafters and small business owners.  It is not meant to be legal advice but information for you.   You can also go to http://www.sba.gov/ for more information.

 Even if you don’t take big risks I would recommend learning more about your liabilities.   Even the simplest transaction can go bad.

Are You A Verbal Person?

I have come to the conclusion, well long ago I came to the conclusion that I am not a verbal person.   I do not like to talk on the phone and I would much rather sit quietly and work than gab with a bunch of friends or family.   When my daughters call me I will chat for 10 minutes or so but do not like long conversations, just long enough to find out what they are doing and if they all are well.    They can vouch for me that I will tell them my ear is getting hot and get off the phone.   I love hearing from them, in fact if I do not hear from them on a regular basis I get worried.   The reason I am telling you this is because I believe that is why I do not like to blog.  I am not verbal and I have to force myself to write about myself.  I tie this into not being verbal.

That being said I do realize that blogging is a necessary part of having a presence on the web.  So from this day forward I have made a commitment to myself to do a new blog at least once a week!  I think that the only way I will do things that I really would rather not do is make a commitment and do it!   One thing I know is that I do honor my commitments.

I have been working on a new project!  I have been using 14/20 gold filled wire and making chains to go along with wrapping cabs in the gold filled wire!

 

Congratulations to the Winner of the January 2013 "Rising Star" Challenge

Ok here it goes!  A little late starting in January!  Here are the voting results for the Etsybeadweavers January Contest!  I came in second in the public polls and tied for 5th place in the internal polls.

http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

Congratulations to the Winner of the January 2013 "Rising Star" Challenge

Congratulations to the winner of our January "Rising Star" Challenge HannahRachel for her beautiful Mermaid's Abalone Beaded Collar! HannahRachel won our member poll with 24 votes, as well as our Blog poll with 78 votes!

The runner ups are as follow:
2nd place - Tiger Pendant by jewelrybyjane29 with 73 votes
3rd place - Life's Little Things by CherCMeyer with 25 votes
4th place - Beaded Ribbons and Bows by TerahClassyCreations with 24 votes
5th place - Coral Sparkles Set by AnnaCohen with 23 votes
6th place - Pink Golden Necklace by SpringColors with 21 votes
7th and 8th places, with 15 votes each: Pea-Clock Steampunk Necklace by beadn4fun and Golden God of the HAPPINESS by Maewa
9th place - Cotton Candy by terran with 14 votes
10th place - Golden Turquoise Mask Bracelet by savoystudio with 13 votes

1st place

2nd Place

As you will see they are distinctively different in technique style and form!

Our next competition deadline is February 5th!  With a theme of Japan!  This could be very colorfull!  I'd better get crack'n if I want to at least place!

Sorry everyone I have been overwhelmed with life!  I am trying to get back into the swing of posting and keeping up with everyone else's posts.  Give me a couple days and I will be back up and running!  Thanks and have a good day!

Maddy
Jane

Customer Service Basics

Customer Service Basics
Most of what I am writing here is just common curtesy.   The rules for selling on line really aren't different that selling in person except for a few points.  The problem comes when we forget that the message on the other end comes from a real live person!    Thanks to the popularity of social networks like Twitter or Facebook, customer complaints are no longer just between you and the customer.  One of the best ways to handle the complaint is before it happens.  By that I mean if you keep the communication open between you and your customer in most cases you will alleviate if not avoid any complaints.

Here are some tips for you to follow:
1.  You have a comment from someone liking your work what should you do?
This one is simple but very easily overlooked.  First you must decipher if are they a colleague or a potential customer.  When I get a praising message I first check to see if they have an on-line store and whether they make similar items as I do.  If they do I thank them and comment on their work as well.   If they sell different items than I, they could be potential customers also, or are indeed customer be sure to thank them and tell them that if the have any questions to contact you.  You really should answer as quickly as you can.   If you have a full time job also you should set aside time every night to answer questions and comments!

2.  You have a message questioning whether one of your items comes in a different color?
Here is what you should do:  If you don't mind custom orders by all means answer the question and tell them when it is ready you will list it and email them immediately.  And do it.   If you don't have it available in their color or if you just don't take custom orders you must let them know ASAP.  Don't keep them hanging, because you don't want to loose them as a customer.  Trust me nothing can be accomplished by stringing the customer along and in the long run they will thank you.

3.   Great you have an order!  Communications don't stop here!  Send them a thank you message immediately.  Send them another one to let them know that the package has shipped.  I send a thank you note with my orders also.  Be sure to include either your business card or information on the card for questions and for more orders.

4.  I do a follow up also thanking them again and reminding them what you have available or a link to your shop.

5.  Complaints!  Item wasn't as expected!  Definately appoligize immediately...  Ask how you can make it right... I had a customer once that ordered a key chain.  The listing had the actual size listed but the photograph made it look larger!...Because the selling price was very low.. I told him he could keep it, and I refunded his sales money less shipping....he was happy.  To me, it wasn't worth having an unhappy customer....  But if the sales price was higher I would of definately had him return it, and either refunded his money or given him store credit.

Customer Service is the most important rule.  Honesty is the Best Policy. Integrity – Be honest and own up to your mistakes. Communicate what you plan to do to change or prevent the same mistake from happening again. Don’t be fooled into believing that a regular ‘mea culpa’ will get you off the hook. At some point the plan to fix the problem must take effect!