It is closing in on a year since I finally got the hang of making bezels with a butane torch and some solder and brass without completely cooking the metal... and my skill level has come right along (although there are plenty more hours to put in). The last batch, the batch I took to Art & Soul, was well received and I'm ready to dive into making and selling handbag charms and pendants. I've even got some new ideas I'm ready to develop.
This holiday season I'll be setting up shop at some shows and developing more of a web presence. Etsy is a great marketplace but it is also a crowded marketplace and I'm not sure how to break through the noise. Having a website of one's own is probably the way to go, especially if ordering right from the website is an option.
We spent quite a lot of time in Portland talking small business - how to keep your focus, how to find your market, how to manage your time- and Southern Charm gave me lots of good, solid advice. On the plane home I played with words, brainstorming a better name for my line, and came up with "Ride & Shine" with the tagline "Jewelry for your inner cowgirl".
I'm keeping the western theme, which happily can include initials, and will certainly do custom orders.
And I'm so excited to have the beginnings of a "look" to my virtual and physical shops - leather, old traincases and suitcases, bits of vintage ribbon, pearls and crystals.
Southern Charm and I are both signed up for Stephanie Lee's Handbook of Elements online course starting next week and she will be loading us up with more techniques and inspiration that will only add to "Ride & Shine".
If you are reading this and you want something special for the holidays - let me know and I'll happily pull out the torch and the resin and the wire and get to it.
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