A Sense of Urgency.....

It has been a funny couple of weeks.  Since rephotographing all of my jewellery to get it all loaded onto my Folksy online shop, that is all I seem to be doing.  Resizing photographs, copyrighting them, loading them, adding the item description and size etc to the item, and so it went on....so now I have all 67 items on display in the online shop.  

Then I noticed the ability to link Folksy to Pintrest. This I did, and having done so spent another few days loading everything up on there too.  Looks good if I say so myself.

As if that wasn't enough, I then found on my phone that I could share the photos on facebook to Instagram.  So Guess What?!  Yes, I am now adding all 67 items to Instagram too.  I think I am about half way through.  I was hoping that I might be able to do it on my computer, but it seems it is something quicker to do on my phone.  I thought that adding it all to folksy with tags was bad enough.  Now everything needs #hashtags....and this is getting tiresome, even though I have copied and pasted into a note on my phone for ease, they still need adapting individually for each photo.  

Dont get me wrong.  I'm not really complaining.  I would just rather be making jewellery than all the online stuff.  But if it gets the word out there and helps to promote my existing jewellery, then once that is done I can crack on with the creating.  That's what I keep telling myself anyway.

And I guess the 'Sense of Urgency' is coming from the fact that I do keep making deals with myself.  Once I have uploaded on to Folksy! ....onto pintrest!.... onto instagram! ...must get it done before I get called back to the day job! ....will I get called back to the day job?! ....What if I don't get called back to the day job?!....What if it is both of us....?? (hubby and I both work at the same place and both still furloughed and both still waiting)......Must get it all done before we get called back!....Must get it all done and earning money before we get told no longer employed?! ...... and so the thoughts continue and the sence of urgency builds.

I think it is the not knowing either way.  The assumption that we are going to be called back at some point waning as the longer this does go on, this being furlough, the more we become engrossed in our lives and future plans at home, the harder it will be when we do get called back.  Yet at the same time, the longer it goes on, the uncertainty as to whether we will be called back increases, and so the urgency then becomes about getting sales of jewellery, getting my holistic insurance sorted, booking paying tarot customers in, getting my holistic skills back up to standard and booking clients in for that, sorting out PPE so that I can work on people rather than just doing video links for tarot and reiki.....Yes!  My mind is a whirl. 

I stay focused on each task, I write To Do lists each week to give myself goals, so that I am not just sat doing nothing worrying.....that isn't helpful at all.  Gotta keep the vibe high and believe in myself and my abilities and that whatever the outcome of furlough, it will be for my highest good, it will be for our best future, and it will give us time to get to where we want to be.  Basically, Everything is as it is Divinely meant to be and for my Highest Good.  And on that life affirming mantra I shall end.

Stay safe folks...and I'm not going mad at all....just focused and eager having finally got a plan for my future.  It will all happen when it is supposed to, and in the meantime I work toward it and trust that it will all manifest at the perfect time.

Blessings to All.

xxx

New look Website......and other stuff!

As Autumn takes hold and Winter approaches it is very much time to reflect on the past year.  I could have done a lot of things differently, but poor health and financial constraints have made this year a bit of a challenge, and so I am happy to be at a point where I can step back and review, and also plan for the coming New Year.

Firstly, I have a new look website which I have painstakingly built myself.  I am self taught in Dreamweaver, and whilst it may not be the easiest of software to get on with - I am sure there is simpler stuff out there - it is all I had access to it and so I took the plunge.  I am very pleased with what I have done.  It was certainly a learning curve, and I am already planning the next one and thinking of what I could have done differently!!  Anyway - it will do for a while. LOL 

Click here to view the new website.

We Are Bedford Pop Up Emporium

Until 15 December I have the honour of having a selection of my jewellery on display at a temporary Pop up shop in the new Castle Quarter of Bedford.  The shop, organised by the We Are Bedford group is for one month only and closes on 17 December 2011.  Don't let its 'temporary-ness' deter you from visiting....if anything let it emphasise the urgency for you to visit!

Why! - the pop up shop is about the community and it is stocked with loads of locally created handcrafted goods - all 100% genuine handcrafted items - art, fabric crafts, jewellery, furniture - all made locally.

So get along and have a look at what the best of Bedford have to offer - before its too late!!

New Copper Clay

With the price of Silver PMC today - and the fact it has increased so much of the last year - it has become difficult to maintain my creative activities, teaching has also seen some changes and the price of my finished products have also had to increase in line. 

However! There is a new kid on the block - Copper Clay.  It is worked in a similar fashion to silver clay, but it is so much more affordable - thereby making it an ideal starting point for anyone wanting to learn metal clay working, and it also gives me a new look to my products too.

I have tried a sample pack and today have taken delivery of a full pack of clay - which I will shortly be diving into in a creative frenzy!......so watch this space for new creations.

Holistic Therapies

Finally, I can't remember if I have already mentioned this, but I am now also offering Reflexology and Reiki treatments at The Mews Osteopathy and Sports Injury Clinic in Bedford.  Although more of a medical centre the clinic does offer some holistic therapies such as Homoeopathy and Nutrition, in addition to Osteopathy and sports massage.  An now, of course, Reflexology and Reiki.

For more details about The Mews Clinic - Click Here.

For details about Reflexology and Reiki - Click Here.

Well that is all for now folks - hope you have a look at all the links above and by all means share them with any interested contacts - the folks following the better!

Bright Blessings to all
xx

Prices!

I do so hate to discuss money and prices etc but needs must and all that.......

The price of Precious Metal Clay has increased considerably over the last 12 months - particularly over the last few months.  This time last year a 16g pack of PMC cost around £24, then it went up to £27.  At around Christmas time it went up to £33, and then with the VAT increase to £37.  Then the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan.....Of course all our thoughts were with the people of Japan - all of us stunned at what they were having to endure.  I certainly couldn't comprehend losing absolutely everything in a matter of seconds, watching loved ones be washed away.  About a week later I realised that I might actually have just gone out of business......the manufacturer of PMC is in Japan, and on further investigation I found that they had plants close to the damaged reactor.  It wasn't looking good for a while, but as it turns out the PMC plant is actually in the south of Japan, and so thankfully was not directly affected.  However, the above events did have an affect on the stability and price of the Yen.  The result was that the price of PMC rocketed further, and whilst the UK Distributer had held off any price increases until last year, it was not longer possible to cover any fluctuations.  Therefore, after the earthquake a further couple of price increases - the same pack of PMC now costs in the region of £45 (inc VAT).  

Whilst other UK suppliers may well have kept their prices as low as possible for as long as possible, I expect that they too will also have to adjust their prices very soon, if they haven't already.  Even the other brand of metal Clay - Silver Art Clay has also increased there prices by around 60% in one go - so this is happening across the industry.  From my perspective, as I get discount from one supplier I will remain loyal to them because it still beats the cost of getting my supplies from those whose retail price may be slightly less.

Workshops

This of course has had a knock on affect on the cost of my workshops and the way I charge them.  In the past I have offered all inclusive workshops - prices to include the materials used.  This is no longer possible due to the way the cost of PMC has increased so dramatically, and that it is likely to continue to increase in line with the price of silver.  Because of this - my tuition is now restricted to One ot One sessions and Small Group Tuition (up to 3 students on a course), and these are priced for my time, knowledge and overheads only.  Students will now be required to source and purchase the required materials for the tuition session themselves, and bring the materials to the session. 

My reason for this is that over the past year I have arranged workshops with third party organisers in advance for their advertising etc, and by the time we have got to the workshop and me ordering the materials, the price has increased beyond what my discount will 'buffer', and I have ended up teaching for a lot less or in some cases nothing, as I have had to cover the difference.  Not a good situation when trying to feed a family!

The website is gradually being updated to reflect this, and whilst I enjoy teaching I am drawing back from the number of places that I teach and also the number of coursed that I put on.  I will now be booking the small workshops when I have sufficient numbers interested in attending.

Jewellery

Of course the above price increases have also affected the price of my jewellery.  Older pieces are still priced at what the raw materials cost me when they were made, and it is only the new pieces that are now reflecting the recent price increases.  It has also been necessary for me to increase my hourly rate - and so together in comparing the older pieces against the new there is a noticeable difference in price - but I believe that you are still getting value for money in buying my jewellery directly from me.  Were my Jewellery to be in a gallery or a shop it would be around 30 - 40% more expensive, which I think may well price it out of the market!

I will therefore continue to sell my jewellery directly to the public myself, either through markets, craft fairs or from my website and I trust that those who are already lovers and wears of my jewellery will continue to support me and spread the word about my lovely and beautiful creations.

Thanks to those who have continued to support me during what has been a difficult financial and economic climate for those in the 'luxury' businesses.

Bright Blessings to all xx

Next workshop Saturday 26 March

There are still places left on my workshop so if you fancy a day out being creative making fine silver jewellery - then click here for full details.  The deadline for bookings and payments is Tuesday 22nd.

Picture shows an example of the types of jewellery you may be able to make on the day - of course of your own design - you can expect to make at least 2 pieces - maybe more depending upon size.
These items were created on another recent Intro workshops, and none of the students had prior experience.

The next workshop is to be held on Saturday 23 April and the topic is PMC & Fused Glass - click here for full details.

This is the style of jewellery we will be making on the day and again, many on the workshop had not had prior experience, though some had already attended an Intro day.  Not all the students wanted to make two glass pieces, so they made some 'just silver' items in addition to their glass with silver surround.

Check out the full website for details of all I do - click here

Hope to see you sometime soon

Bright Blessings to All