A Short Breather

I’m taking a short breather this week from interviews while I work on going through the new folks and pick the pretties that I want to feature.  I can tell you that it’s not always easy, by any means!  Everyone I have featured thus far has had so many, or such a variety, of things I’d love to put up that it’s very hard to choose!

So this week, I would like you all to look back at the people, the shops, the pretty things, and reflect on the message I spoke so firmly before, and during, the holiday shopping season.

Look back at the stories you’ve read, or, if this is your first time visiting my humble snippet of the cyber world, the stories I ask you to read.  Look at them, read them, and realize that they are human beings. Their hands produce things that are beautiful, useful, decorative, or all of the above.  Their hands produce things that you might just want or need for your own.  Their hands produced these things.  Not a machine programmed to produce hundreds or thousands.  Their hands made each one, and even the things that are “the same product” are each unique, because our hands can’t produce down to the micrometer precision.  Some are made to order by color or size, and some are altered or custom made.

Each item you have purchased through them has helped them pay bills, make their holidays more special, and of course, enabled them to continue to create things like the thing you purchased from them.  It has not gone to line the pockets of an already rich CEO, it has not cause a Large Company to outsource things to another country. 

Feel proud, if you did make purchases from hand-crafters.  Feel proud that you supported someone local, or if you bought something from a hand-crafter in another country, pat yourself on the back; you have made their hobby/business go international, and that item you bought may well be one-of-a-kind where you live now.  You have made them smile, made them a little more proud to do what they are doing, and as I mentioned before, might have helped them pay that overdue bill, helped them get that gift for their children, put some extra food on their table, and helped them get that one supply that had previously been out of reach to take their craft to the next level.

I keep hoping that this blog opens people’s eyes.  I keep hoping that the results of reading this are to think before purchasing something. Something this weekend made me think:

Over this past weekend, my niece watched me work while the girls of the family gathered for what we call “Girls’ Night” – Once a month on a Saturday, we gather, have food, watch movies, play games, and just hang out for the day, and have what equates to a giant sleep-over – no boys allowed, other than text messaging and the occasional phone call, until Sunday, or until bedtime (Good-night calls are always allowed).  She mentioned to me that she can’t wear earrings, other than the titanium piercing studs she had in.  I asked her why.  It turns out that, from the deductions I made from the questions she answered for me, she’s allergic to nickel, as so many are. 
BUT, she said she can’t wear gold or “gold plate”, can’t wear “silver plate”, or “hypo-allergenic” earrings.  I stared at her, and my sister asked her “So you haven’t been able to wear the jewelry Geri made you a few years ago?”  Chrissi shook her head.  I thought back to when I made that jewelry.  Back then I used store-bought ear-wires by a company that said they were nickel-free, and the silver-plating on the wires (that they said was steel, without nickel) was nickel-free.
Imagine my face, my mood, when I realized that … well… that was a lie.  I made her a quick ear-wire from the new plated wire I now use, and one from the sterling silver wire I use, and told her to put them in and tell me if they bugged her or made her ear swell like the others do (often within ten minutes, she told me).  She did, and didn’t have any trouble, after having them in for several hours.

Needless to say, I am quite livid at the company that I checked with through email and phone calls to be sure their products were nickel-free.

It also brought me back to my post that I mentioned that anything that has to proclaim “GENUINE!!!!!!”  … probably is NOT, and I mentioned it. The earrings she had been trying to wear, other than the ones I had made her, were all from discount stores, or places like “Claire’s” at the mall – places that have “Hypo-allergenic” earrings, or “Genuine silver” or “Genuine silver plated” earrings.  Funny, she can wear sterling silver and silver plated copper just fine, but she can’t wear any of the “Hypo-allergenic” stuff she bought. Shame she can’t wear the “Genuine” sterling silver stuff she bought.  It really made me angry, since I know what I have is standard 92.5 sterling silver, and she can wear that just fine.

It makes me angry that these companies can proclaim all they want that they are offering “GENIUINE” silver or gold at such discount prices, but when the allergic reactions happen because it is NOT genuine ANYTHING, they can sit back and shrug with a huge grin at your gullibility, and the hand-crafters are told “I’m not paying that exorbitant price for cheap crap!” when they see the price tag on handmade sterling silver or gold jewelry that IS genuine.

I would suggest to you all that if you have pieces that were “GENUINE!!!!!!” marked as such from a Big Store (like Target or Wal-Mart – those kinds of places), have them tested… but getting jewelry tested or appraised can cost, and unless you wear that piece often enough for the shiny coating to wear off and the greenish-blob of cheap metal shows through, or you have an allergic reaction, it’s not really worth the price of the appraisal.

One good thing did come out of finding out that Chrissi is allergic to nickel – she offered to be my tester.  Any wire or finding sample I can get into her ears that I use, she will have a sampling of so we can see if it makes her ear swell or itch.  If it does, I will proclaim that it has at least traces of nickel, and that it may cause an allergic reaction to those with allergies.  My customers may be few and far between, but I won’t risk their health like Big Companies seem to have no problem doing.

Hand-crafters like me DO have a problem with it.  Go back to those I interviewed.  Look at their item descriptions, and the materials they used in their work. Notice they’re not afraid to tell you what they use?  Notice how some actually put in alerts or notes if there might be hazards or allergy information?  You won’t find that kind of transparency from Big Stores.  In fact, when you ask, you probably won’t even get an answer. Ask a hand-crafter a question about them, or their products.  You’ll get an answer.

So I’ll end here with another generic “Buy Handmade!!!” statement, and a summary of so much of what I’ve said, and things those wonderful people I’ve interviewed have said:

When you buy handmade, you get better quality, better customer service, and an overall better product.
When you look at the price tag on a handmade item, remember there is more than just materials to think about – there is time, design, and many other factors that go into it.  Don’t expect Big Store prices – you’re getting what you pay for, and not cheap junk.
When you buy handmade, you support local, or international, small sellers or small businesses, not an already over-privileged CEO.
When you buy handmade, you are getting a product that will last – some may become family keepsakes or even heirlooms.
When you buy handmade, ask questions if you’re not sure about something, or are worried about allergies and such.  We answer, unlike Big Stores, some of which don’t even KNOW what their products are made of.

When you buy handmade, you’re getting a better product all around that is well worth the price. Keep that in mind when you shop – for any occasion.


EDIT 1/25/12:

On my Facebook page today, I mentioned something about “Alpaca Silver, which, after some research, I think might be that “GENUINE!!!!!” product base with the shiny coating.  And some of the information I found out about it makes me even MORE angry with Big Stores for advertising the way they do.  I found a fantastic site with a lot of information on Sterling Silver, and a little more information on how to shop for it, and what imposters to look out for.

http://www.sterling-silver.ws/

It includes information on aforementioned Alpaca Silver, and also information on allergies and also how to find test kits so you can see for yourself exactly what you have – Real silver, or NOT silver.

End Edit

Interview Series: Week 7 - Breath of the Dragon

Phew.  Weekly posts are fun to keep up with!

I have to admit it's a lot more fun to work with these interviews than it is to just type whatever is on my mind, what angers me, and try to find ways to inspire others to not only buy handmade items, but understand the process of how handmade items are made, the people who make them, and that this is how it all started; automated machines still can not recreate what human hands can, nor do many assembly lines take the time to carefully ensure quality.  Most assembly lines and automated machines also do not use materials that are as high in quality, instead opting for cheap, low-quality materials - to then sell at a "bargain".  Assembly lines and automated machines can never, ever, put as much love and pride into each piece, either, since those on assembly lines typically only have one or two bits to add, or they just assemble machine-made parts.

We handcrafters make each and every item with as much care and love as the previous and the following, and then we step back and either beam with pride, or frown and say "eh, it'll do", or shake our heads, destroy the work of art we created and re-do it better.  We would not allow a piece out of our hands that we ourselves would not purchase with our eyes for beauty, uniqueness, quality, and that sense of "It Must Be Mine!", or even "That Would Be Really Useful!" - At one time, remember, everything we did had that, because everything we did was hand-made, from clothing to cutlery, dishes to decoration.

The next artist I present to you, Sunfire of Breath of the Dragon Pyrography, has several items that offer both of those senses!  The intricacy of her work is unreal, and though I'm no stranger to wood-burning, I could never achieve the kind of work I want to show off to you today.  So I'm gonna shut my yap and let her have her say!

Name:
It’s actually Connie, but I go by Sunfire, even at my paying job

Craft:
Pyrography, or wood-burning

Favorite material (or medium, whatever you want to call it!):
Obviously wood!

Most Popular Seller (whether it be online or at shows):
The Clean / Dirty Dishwasher Magnets and Hanging Signs

Clean/Dirty Dishwasher Magnet and Hanging Sign
I can see why people love these.  I wish I had known about these a few years ago! It would have made household chores so much easier instead of having to ask siblings or housemates beforehand, and they're attractive to boot!

What got you into your craft?




I was bored, and I wanted something productive to do with my time…. Someone bought me a woodburning pen and a slab of wood from the craft store, explained the theory behind it, and I was hooked.

How did you learn your craft?




As I said, someone showed me how it was done, and the rest came with practice. Learning the different tips, how the heat transferred, and how the different grains in the wood burn at different levels…. It was all with practice…

Perched Fairy Plaque
Stunning detail work, and a lovely addition for any Fairy lover or fantasy collector!

What about YOU? Who is the artist behind those wonderful items?




After high school, I served 5 years in the Navy. When they told me that they were trying to cut back, and I was offered a clean way out, I took it, because I wasn’t willing to keep putting my body on the line for a job. I’m currently working at a grocery store in the evenings doing freight, while going to school for Web Development. I live in downtown Wenatchee, WA with my high school sweetheart.

Celtic Triquetra Recipe Box
I wouldn’t mind having such a beautiful box to keep my recipes in, especially one so easy to clean!

What is a typical "working" day for you? How does it usually start and end? How many hours do you spend crafting? How many hours do you spend on other things? What about distractions? I know we all have them! Do you usually accomplish all you wanted to?



The last few years, this has been more of a hobby than a business, so I didn’t really have working days that were just for crafting. Working 5 days a week at the grocery store kinda cuts into my crafting time, so a lot of what I do is on days off or the hours before work. But once I have a project picked out and planned, I am pretty good about working on it non-stop until it is done (most of my pieces take 4 hours or less). Distractions are tough, since in our little one-room apartment, the only place for me to sit is at my desk, where the computer is. So Facebook, the blog and the Zibbet community get a lot of my time.

What happens when you Oops? Everyone gets one sometime or another! Do you get frustrated and destroy/start over, or do you go with the flow and see what comes out in the end?



With woodburning, it’s tough to deal with an ‘oops’…. You can’t just go back and take it apart (like jewelry or crochet), and you can’t really erase it or cover it up (like drawing or painting). I have to work very hard to avoid an ‘oops’, or else the money spent on the wood, and the time already invested, is lost. If there is a way, I simply adjust the design to accommodate the mistake. Other times, I leave it alone, telling myself “It’s handmade, there are supposed to be small flaws in it!” Rarely, the ‘oops’ is light enough I can simply sand it away…

POW/MIA You Are Not Forgotten Plaque
A sobering reminder in stunning detail. With customization options, this treasure could easily become a family keepsake or heirloom.

What is your design process like? How many tries does it take to be happy with the final product?




It kinda feels like the chicken-egg question – sometimes the wood comes first, sometimes the design. Either way, I take my paper and cut it to a size I need (usually the full size of the surface I am covering). Then I take the design (which is most often a digital image on my computer screen) and resize it until it fits the paper how I want. If words are to be added, I spend some time in Word playing with all the different fonts I have, to find something that is most appropriate. I’ve noticed that the tracing comes easier on designs I have done before, as compared to a new design I haven’t worked with before. I’m also noticing that the more I stick with a theme, the easier it becomes (celtic knotwork or tribal lines, in particular). Whatever the case, I have to decide on the final design before I ever start burning. Once the pen touches the wood, there’s no going back.

Elemental Wood Coaster Set w/Pentacle Box
No matter who you are, there is nothing like unique and beautiful coasters when you have visitors!

What is your greatest roadblock, be it government regulation or that little frustrating thing that just likes to sneak up and stop you in your tracks? Broken needle? Jump ring jumping out of your pliers? Thread knots? Cats? Dogs? The family hedgehog rolled about in your yarn basket?



Biggest? Probably my inability to make up my mind. I am constantly revisiting ideas, changing things up, and I can’t commit to a specific thing/plan/etc. That’s part of why I don’t have a solid business plan yet, because I’m afraid once I commit to it, I’ll see something else that seems to work better. Not to mention that I keep wanting to try new things, instead of refining my current abilities… As for other frustrating things – I can’t stand when I trace a detailed design only to realize I missed tracing a certain part. Or when someone requests a custom piece with a name, but doesn’t have the correct spelling…

All important pricing... Do you have a formula? Do you wing it? Do you feel your work justifies your prices?




Usually I charge $10/hr of burning time, plus the cost of materials. Sometimes, like with smaller pieces, I can’t reasonably expect to sell an item at that price, so I don’t charge the customer cost of materials. My profits just shrink then. But with the bigger, more detailed, pieces, it’s easy to charge more. I easily forget that I am selling my skill in burning, and not just a piece of wood that has been decorated. So I imagine that I could charge more for my pieces and they’d still be appreciated, but by art-lovers, and not the everyday consumer.

Flame Rose Box
No matter how long I stare at this, I can't decide whether it's a rose, or a flame... Stunning illusion.

And of course, is there anything else you'd like to say to our "viewers at home"?




Aside from my woodburning, I have a second outlet for crafting – Turn Peace Around (link this to http://www.facebook.com/turnpeacearound ). I’m spreading a message of a pro-peace sign, one hand-crafted item at a time. I’ve learned to make hemp necklaces and to paint on fabric bags because of this little cause, and it’s starting to finally get some attention.

Thank you, Sunfire, for letting us all have a peek into your work and your world.  Being a wood-worker’s daughter, I’m no stranger to wood-burning, through I’ve never thought of doing anything like this. The most I’ve done or seen done has been words.  You take the art into so much more, and do such stunning things with it, turning otherwise ordinary things into priceless works of art!

Visit Sunfire at Breath of the Dragon Pyrorgraphy on Zibbet!

Interview Series: Week 6 - Jilly's Stuff Eye Catchers

This week, the hand-made nut will bring you something a little different.  Something that hopefully will catch your eye.  Okay, enough with the bad puns...

Today I bring you Jill of Jilly's Stuff Eye Catchers of Zibbet.  Jill makes, as her shop name implies... Eye Catchers.  What are Eye Catchers, you ask?  Well, keep reading and see if Jill and the beautiful ornaments she makes don't catch YOUR eye as well!

Name:  Jill Wilson
Craft:    Eyecatchers
Favorite material (or medium, whatever you want to call it!):
Old and new jewelry, beads and findings and anything that sparkles. 
Most Popular Seller (whether it be online or at shows): 
There are so many.  I do love any seller who creates items that are different and unusual.

Industrial Abstract Eyecatcher
This one certainly caught my eye! I could stare at this for hours, I think.

What got you into your craft? 




My love of large, bright and very colorful  jewelry.  These I would never wear and this was the best way I could think of to show them off.




How did you learn your craft? 




All is trial and error.  My background as a Michael’s Custom Framer taught me how to experiment with colour and really be creative with it.

Red Beaded and Charm Book Thong

I've never hand one of these, but it would be a very bright reminder of where you left off!

What about YOU? Who is the artist behind those wonderful items?
 

I am a young senior with a happy hubby, 13 year old son and a new puppy.  I love nature and find inspiration in everything I see.  My most favorite pastime is shopping at the local thrift shops.

Silver Angel Eyecatcher Ornament

This one would have so many places, it's hard to even list them all, let alone think of them all!

What is a typical "working" day for you? How does it usually start and end? How many hours do you spend crafting? How many hours do you spend on other things? What about distractions? I know we all have them! Do you usually accomplish all you wanted to?

 

My day usually starts at 5:30am with coffee and the arrival of Charlotte, a toy fox terrier that I look after weekdays for my girlfriend.  As the 2 dogs play, I enjoy my coffee with my computer checking out my shops, facebook, ebay and anything else that I find.  After getting my son off to school it is then time to sit for a few minutes and see what is on my craft table.   The rest of the day is spent with dog walking, housework, meals, marketing and networking and the usual household stuff.  I can get about a couple of hours a day into crafting if I have the supplies on hand.

Golden Sun Eyecatcher

I can't even begin to try to explain why I love this one. I'm not fond of gold, but this one just strikes me.

What happens when you Oops? Everyone gets one sometime or another! Do you get frustrated and destroy/start over, or do you go with the flow and see what comes out in the end?
 

I usually start over again.  An oops usually means that the metallic thread wasn’t strong enough.

 

What is your design process like? How many tries does it take to be happy with the final product?  
 

Usually just a couple of trys and, once again, only if I have the supplies on hand.  I take the focal point and start to arrange the beads and findings from there.  I start with two main colors and work from there.

Autumn Colors Eyecatcher

This one reminds me of the fallen leaves in the north. One thing I do miss in the south, colorful Autumns.

What is your greatest roadblock, be it government regulation or that little frustrating thing that just likes to sneak up and stop you in your tracks? Broken needle? Jump ring jumping out of your pliers? Thread knots? Cats? Dogs? The family hedgehog rolled about in your yarn basket?
 

Gotta be the dogs.  There is always a need to go out for a walk.

Mikasa Crystal Ornament Beaded Eyecatcher

This would be a perfect ornament during holiday season, or many other times a candle-light would be welcome.

All important pricing... Do you have a formula? Do you wing it? Do you feel your work justifies your prices?  

 

I price by double my cost of materials and add in for time.  As each eyecatcher has a different focal point I can price accordingly.

 

And of course, is there anything else you'd like to say to our "viewers at home"?
 

Do what you love and love what you do.  With time and some direction you can end up doing what you love to do most.

 

Important advice, and from one crafter to another, well taken.  I hope that others appreciate that not only do we love what we do, but we're not machines.

Visit Jill, and her wonderful eye-catching work at Jilly's Stuff Eye Catchers on Zibbet!

And now allow me a moment...
 

This is my sixth interview, and I have brought forward so far seven wonderful individuals who make things with their own minds, hands and hearts.  Nothing we all do is machine made for us, we actually get our own two hands involved, whether that means working needles, pliers, the sewing machine, or any other tool that helps us take raw materials and shape them into things that we then offer for sale.  We don't price cheaply, and you've seen some evidence of HOW we price, but perhaps, I hope, you're beginning to understand why.

When you buy handmade, you're first off, supporting someone local, not someone who drives into a city and sit in a huge corner or penthouse office, put their feet up, and watch money roll in from work done in another country.  You're not supporting a CEO of a Big Store and lining his pockets, you're helping someone local or close to home, or even across the world who doesn't just wait for their product to come from a machine, ready made, cheaply made with cheap materials.  You're purchasing something lovingly made by hands that love what they do with quality materials, and is quality made that will last, if not a lifetime, close to it, and may last lifetimes after your own. (I mean, think on it... I am still using bedroom furniture that my great-great-great (I think that's right) grandfather made for his granddaughter at the time, my great-grandmother, and not only does it still function, it's still beautiful.)

Don't just be willing to pay Big Store's CEOs, or support a factory in some other country.  Bring the jobs back to your home.  Support the hand-crafters.

I'm not done yet! I still have a few more responders to the calls!

Interview Series: Week 5 - Moonfire Creations

Greetings everyone, it's your friendly neighborhood hand-craft promoter back again with another shop, another artist, and more insight into how we, the hand-crafted community, work.

This week, I bring you another MadeItMyself shop, Moonfire Creations, where you can find one-of-a-kind jewelry and gifts made by an awesome artist - this time one from the UK!

Name:
Danielle (Moonfire Creations)
Craft:
Earrings.
Favorite material (or medium, whatever you want to call it!):
I adore the history behind reclaimed beads. I like to imagine the people who used to own them, and what life they have led, and in turn what the beads have experienced.

Most Popular Seller (whether it be online or at shows):
Each of my earrings are different, and so it is unable to asertain what item is most popular. However, more people have bought the longer drop earrings that I have made. Most of my selling has been in person, either at a stall or at an artisan community shop where some of my work currently lies. I have only recently started listing items in an online shop in the past month or so.

Earring (gold): Handmade Wooden Brown 

Beautiful, warm, golden brown.  These remind me of amber-gold leaves in Autumn!

What got you into your craft?




When I was little, there was a local fayre in a nearby church. In there was a stall selling handmade earrings. I had recently had my ears pierced, so my mum bought two pairs for me as a treat. I still have those earrings, but I cannot and could not feel the care and attention in them that I give to each and everyone of my unique pieces. That, and my ever growing craft box items were itching to be used.


How did you learn your craft?





It was self-taught. I forgot exactly how I learnt it. I think it was trial and error.

Earring (silver): Handmade 'blue Globes'

These say "mystic" to me, almost as clear and pure as a seer's crystal ball speaking deep secrets.

What about YOU? Who is the artist behind those wonderful items?

What would you like to know? I like being generally creative, I have knitted, crocheted, worked with textiles, iris folding (a card-making decorative technique), latch hooked, worked with clay, worked with wood, to name a few. Anything that gets the creative (moon)fires blazing! My current 'moonfire' is for earrings.


What is a typical "working" day for you? How does it usually start and end? How many hours do you spend crafting? How many hours do you spend on other things? What about distractions? I know we all have them! Do you usually accomplish all you wanted to?



My usual day is not spent crafting, unfortunately. It is spent working on my brand new blog and my new and shiny website. It starts when I have drank enough tea to be awake enough to focus, and it ends when my head hits the pillow (although I know my mind is still working on designs and other ideas whilst I sleep). Oh the dreaded 'D' word! I am rather partial to playing online games, answering emails, and general procrastinational style activities. As such I usually have a huge 'to do' list.

Earring (gold): Handmade Green Twist

Bright, vivid and gives people who see it no chance but to comment! I love them.

What happens when you Oops? Everyone gets one sometime or another! Do you get frustrated and destroy/start over, or do you go with the flow and see what comes out in the end?


 
When I Oops, it is usually just the silver-plated and gold-plated findings not waking up yet, and like most people awoken from a deep slumber, they get rather annoyed and ping the beads all over the room! So, a large part of my Oops is to hunt down the beads that have escaped.

Earring (silver): Handmade Purple Beads

These remind me of fresh purple plums and call just enough attention to accent!

What is your design process like? How many tries does it take to be happy with the final product?




I am an artist, and a self-proclaimed art critic (of my own work). I do see room for improvement, but I guess those tiny individualities that each of my pieces have add to the charm of them being unique and handmade.



What is your greatest roadblock, be it government regulation or that little frustrating thing that just likes to sneak up and stop you in your tracks? Broken needle? Jump ring jumping out of your pliers? Thread knots? Cats? Dogs? The family hedgehog rolled about in your yarn basket?

 

My greatest roadblock has to be storage for those earrings that I have made. I have to keep remembering that I need to take photos of my creations for you all to see, and unfortunately that takes time as I'm not a whizz with the camera -I'd much rather be crafting. The family hedgehog, doesn't have much interest in beads and shiny silver-plated and gold-plated metals, it is the family magpie I worry about!

Necklace: Spiral Cage

Beautiful spiral work, and such a wonderful selection of what to put inside it!

The all important pricing... Do you have a formula? Do you wing it? Do you feel your work justifies your prices?

 


I have to say, I am still in the trial and error phase of my prices. Quite a few people who do not know the current prices have quoted me double of what I am asking for, so I still think there might be scope for amending the prices.

Handmade Keyring: Spiral Silver Colour

Another lovely spiral, another lovely assortment of choices to make a lovely shiny to help find that pesky keyring!

And of course, is there anything else you'd like to say to our "viewers at home"?




I think a shameless plug is in order here. Moonfire Creations' official home is www.moonfirecreations.net. You can see a full portfolio of those I have photographed at www.facebook.com/MoonfireCreations. If you would like to ask me more questions, or comment on my answers, please contact me at handmade@moonfirecreations.net.



A huge thank you to you, Danielle, for sharing a look into you world and your beautiful creations! Make sure to visit Danielle at Moonfire Creations on MadeItMyself!