Artists Answer: Lori Anderson

Today's Artists Answer is from the bead soup lady herself. I first found Lori's blog when she started doing the bead soup swap over a year ago. I (like everyone else) signed up immediately and got some great swap partners and some great swap goodies.

I asked Lori to talk about a topic that interests her and she chose publication! Yay! This beady chica has been published in so many magazines and books and I'm looking forward to hearing her advice on publishing beady creations.

So...without further ado...

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I live in Easton, on the eastern shore of Maryland and I was introduced to beads when I was pregnant and on bed rest and a friend brought me some beads to play with. I got hooked. A year later, I jumped in with both feet and started exhibiting at juried shows in VA, MD, PA, NJ, and CT. I am largely self-taught, recently taking classes in metal smithing, enameling, and lampwork. This is absolutely NOT something I ever thought I’d end up doing, but I’m so glad I found beads!

What are your tips for selling your jewelry (in person or online)?

I sell the majority of my jewelry in person at juried art and craft shows. At these shows, I always mention my web site, my email newsletter, and my postcard mailings, and get sign ups when I can. I market to these customers when I’ll be at other shows arrive in their area, when I have sales, and when I upload a significant amount of jewelry onto my web site. I have a really loyal customer base, and they aren’t shy about telling their friends about me – I think good customer service is equally as important as beautiful jewelry!

I also sell quite a lot online, and just revamped my entire web presence this year. I’ve also had sales via my blog and Facebook. You just never know these days where people will find you!

 Have you done wholesale?

I’ve sold wholesale before on Wholesale Crafts.com, but now only have one account at a local gallery. Wholesale didn’t work for me because I make one of a kind pieces and because my prices aren’t set up to work well with wholesale accounts. Most wholesale customers want a 50% discount and they also like to have line sheets – a catalog of your pieces. I don’t like production work, so making the same thing over and over turned into a dreaded chore for me, and I dropped all my wholesale accounts when the contracts ran out. Most designers find that choosing just one method of sales is the best – retail or wholesale.

 Do you have any tips for anyone seeking to get published?

My first tutorial was published because I emailed the photo in to the editor of the magazine for consideration for the reader’s gallery. I had worked and worked and WORKED on getting that necklace just right and was so darned pleased when I was done that I just HAD to show it to someone who would appreciate it. I was shocked when the magazine asked to see it for consideration for a tutorial! I mailed it in, and I had my first tutorial published about nine months later.
Each magazine has its own rules and deadlines for submitting pieces for publication – some ask for photos first, while others ask for the jewelry first. Be aware that once your piece is accepted, it can take months before your tutorial is published – the industry runs on a different schedule and calendar.

As for pitching a book – look online for the various publisher’s web sites (or you can find this inside the first few pages of beading books) and find their submissions policy. Most will want a proposal letter and a few tutorials already written for submission. When you write your letter, be prepared to tell the publisher why your book is a good fit, and why your book is different than the books that are already on the market. Know your statistics – your blog readership, daily hits, etc. Do you have a web site? Do you Facebook? This will give the company a feel for how you will be able to promote your own book.

How do you market your work?

I have a huge email list from collecting (with permission) emails from customers at my shows over the past five or so years. I send out a newsletter at least once a month, sometimes two. I also mail out postcards with discount coupons right before a show. I use Facebook (but I try not to overdo it) and my blog (again, I try not to overdo it). I get business from customer referrals. And certain types of jewelry I make come up high on Google searches, so I get business that way as well.

What sale or published piece are you most proud of?

Hmm. I guess I have several. The two that startled me the most were my two most expensive pieces. Both were made with larimar, a rare gemstone, and were priced at $480 and $500, and I’d made them more as an ooh-aah piece to get people to stop in their tracks in the aisles – you know, make them stop and want to come into my booth to see more. I make pieces like that and I never expect them to sell because that’s not at ALL my normal price point. They’re just there for the ‘wow’ factor. Anyway, I posted on my blog, and it sold that day to someone in the Midwest. I sold the other one a month ago at a show. I about cried when she handed it to me and she asked me to put it around her neck.
The ones that I’ve ENJOYED the most are selling my Better Than Prozac necklaces.

Each one is made with at least 105 handmade lampwork beads. I call them “Better Than Prozac” because you can’t help but be happy when you wear them – you can skip the Prozac that day! J

The first “dose” I sold to a woman who had just found out her husband had cancer, and she wanted to wear it when her husband went in for his chemo – she said she wanted him to have something cheerful to look at. We had a huge hugs and some tears over that one. (Did I mention I love my customers?) The second one I sold was to a woman who had just COMPLETED her chemo and was growing her hair back, defiantly refusing to wear a cap or scarf. She wanted to wear the necklace as a celebration. Each customer who’s bought a “dose” of this necklace has been special and as I’m making the necklace, I put a lot of love, good wishes, and happy Karma into them. They’re meant to bring joy and happiness to the wearer and those who see them.

Thank you Lori! It's so nice to get some tips and advice from someone who's so knowledgeable in the field. I hope that you learned a little about publishing and about Lori from this interview. If you'd like to see some more of what Lori does, you can find her at these spots:
Shop – http://www.lorianderson.net/

Blogs – http://www.prettythingsblog.com/

http://www.anartistsyearoff.com/

Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/loriandersondesigns/

Twitter – www.twitter.com/I_Make_Jewelry

Facebook – www.facebook.com/limamike

http://www.facebook.com/#!/LoriAndersonDesigns

Thanks for stopping by for this week's Artists Answer! Enjoy your Wednesday!

Artists Answer: Denise Yezbak Moore

Denise Yezbak Moore is a freelance jewelry designer who is frequently published in a variety of beading magazines.  Her fascination with antique jewelry led her to create jewelry.  She Lives in Orange County, CA with her husband Rusty and their two children Garrett and Britton.

 I first started noticing Denise's creations when I picked up my Bead Star 2009. I was so impressed with her creativity and sense of style. Her name immediately came to mind when I started looking for artists to feature for my series. I am continually inspired by her work and was so excited when she agreed to tell us a little about how she organizes her stash.

 How do you organize?

That is a funny question. I am forever in search of the perfect organizational system for the beader/jewelry designer. I do not think one has been discovered yet. For my personal bead stash I use black stacking trays that fit perfectly into an antique armoire. My findings and beading wire are kept in plastic containers that are also located in the armoire. I display my art beads and pendants in artisan ceramic bowls that I keep in my office. Some of my newly published designs or items for sale on Esty hang on a rustic wire tree.


My Art Clay Silver supplies are located on a workbench in my garage. I use a “Lazy Susan” stationary holder to display my tools and clay. I also have a nuts and bolts plastic rack that I purchased from Home Depot to hold smaller tools and molds.

What are your tips for organization?   

I design for Halcraft USA, the supplier of “Bead Gallery” beads sold at Michael’s.  Since I work with such a large volume of beads, I needed to come up with a convenient inventory system that would visually inspire me.  I decided to make a purchase of small round metal displays that spin.  I found rounders on eBay.  I group the beads into colors or materials.  It is a perfect system for me.  It’s like having a bead store in your studio (or my case “beading office”).  My hope is to one day transfer all my personal beads into this beading system.  It would require a considerable amount of time to restring my tremendous amount of beads. I think it would be worth it, I just need to find the time.

(I am loving this idea, it would make me feel like I was "shopping" for beads everyday!)

How do you stay organized as you work? 

Before I start designing, I select all the materials I will need and put them on a tray.  I then gather my beading tray, tools and Ott Lite.  I like to design at night on the couch.  I know it sounds strange, but this allows me the freedom to design and spend time with my husband and children.  My husband calls my workspace on the couch “the nest” because I am surrounded by everything I need.

How do you organize your ideas? 

Most of my designs are one-of-a-kind; inspired by the materials I am working with at the time.  Often, when an idea pops into my head I will sketch in a journal (I use the word sketch loosely).  I also have a binder were I file photos and magazine pages that inspire me.

Thanks so much Denise for your insight! I hope you've enjoyed sneaking around her creative space as much as I have. If you'd like to see more of Denise's designs, here's some places you can find her:

blog: www.Deniseyezbakmoore.blogspot.com

Etsy: www.Etsy.com/shop/rustyroxx

Thanks for stopping by Artists Answer! Don't forget to enter my bead giveaway from Monday's post! Enjoy your Wednesday!

Artists Answer: Lori Plyler

I'd like to start today's Artists Answer with a little personal story. Remember when I begged for your help in finding the perfect fall purse to replace my oh-so-loved handmade purple velvet number that I had bought from a local lady? Well, one of you (I'm sorry I don't remember who!) suggested today's Artist. So...

I went to her shop and didn't find exactly what I wanted, but was blown away by the quality and all around good-lookiness of her work, so I started stalking her work and kept checking back to see what she was doing....

and then she did this:

 and I fell in love, threw it in my shopping cart and ran to the check out hoping no-one else was doing the same thing. (the woes of online shopping) I LOVE my new fall purse and have been carrying it non-stop since I got it.

Lori, with her talent and ingenuity went straight to my list of artists for Artists Answer and I was so excited to get her e-mail explaining a little about her creative process. So, without further adieu..

Here's what Lori had to say about herself (I'm sure she wants me to make it elegant, but I liked her version better!)

Began as a graphic artist in 1985-ish. Married, had kiddos. Began painting commissioned portraits and architectural renderings. Began making jewelry in 2005 when my daughter became very sick as a form of entertainment. I was hooked after that. I've sewn my entire life - making clothes, drapes, slipcovers, even padgent dresses. In 2009 I began making handbags and once again, I was hooked.

Can you describe your creative process? 

There's no real organization to my creative process, unfortunately. I usually work one of two ways. If I have a specific type of bag in mind, then I look to my fabrics and leather to find a good fit. If I have a specific piece of leather, for example a bomber jacket, then I'll take the sleeves off first, then lay the main part out and play with different things until I decide what to do. I guess that the common thread is that I play rather than sketch an idea.

How do you start? Do you use patterns?

I have patterns that I've made myself. I draw the pattern onto an ironed paper bag and cut it out. That way I can draw around the pattern onto the fabric or leather with a sharpie or fabric marker and just cut. Sometimes if I don't have a pattern I'll just use the ruler or various shapes to sketch directly onto the leather and then cut.

Do you have a technical tip to share?

Use interfacing or some form of stabalizer - it makes all the difference in the world. When sewing leather, you have to go as slow as a snail!

What is your favorite tool or technique?

I have two.  First, my seam ripper.  It's my new best friend.  Next is a VERY sharp pair of scissors.

Thank you, Lori! Reading about sewing brought back such fond memories of my mom sitting hours in front of a sewing machine with a needle between her lips muttering something about seams and hems.

If you'd like to follow Lori, or you just want a cool bag, you can internet stalk her here:

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WaterstoneJewelry

Website: http://loriplyler.com/

Bliggity-blog: http://waterstonejewelry.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by for Artists Answer! Have a great Wednesday!



Artists Answer: Erin Siegel

This week we're visiting with one of my favorite jewelry designers. A couple of years ago when I first started beading, Erin was kind enough to feature me on her blog. She was the first to do so, and since then I have followed her faithfully and she's never dissapointed yet!

I hope you enjoy what Erin has to say about being published and selling your work and that you get a little more inspired seeing her amazing jewelry.

 How did you start doing what you do?
I've always enjoyed the arts from a young age. I've tried various crafty things in the past such as painting, thread embroidery, candle and soap making and ceramics to name a few. In my twenties, I started attending a number of art shows and craft fairs. I found myself constantly drawn to the jewelry vendors and when I walked away from any show I had always purchased an item of jewelry. This pattern actually went on for several years before I finally got the hint that maybe I had a passion for handmade jewelry and maybe I should give beading a try for myself! Duh! :p That was over 6 years ago. I've been beading and making jewelry ever since then. I still go to a lot of shows and I STILL buy jewelry all the time! LOL! I can't help it!

 What are your tips for selling your jewelry either in person or online?
Well, I have sold my jewelry at local shows and fairs and I also have some experience selling online in the past, but more than that I've been a long time customer of artisan items. I'd like to share my perspective from that point of view and tell you what I like to see when I go shopping. Now, some of this might seem really simple and common sense type stuff, but I've experienced some professional artists not doing some of this basic stuff so I think it's important.

#1 At shows: A beautiful booth and display makes a great first impression. It lets the customer know you are professional and you know what you are doing.

Online: A nice banner and Great photos of your jewelry or handmade items!

#2 At shows: Greet your customer when they come into your booth and be friendly! A simple "Hello" and a smile will suffice. You'd be surprised at how many people don't do this!!!

#3 At shows: Don't talk too much at first! Give your customer a chance to take in your work and have a look around.

#4 At shows: Have all of your items clearly marked with a price.

#5 At shows: If a customer seems interested in a piece, then at that point proceed to tell them more about it. How you made it, what the materials are, etc.

Online: Detailed descriptions of EACH individual item. Try to avoid vague, general descriptions and don't put the same description on all your items!

#6 At shows: Do have some type of card that tells a little bit about you and/or your work.

Online: Completely fill out your profile page with info. about you and your work, your customers want to have some connection with who you are, since they can't see you in person. Also, fill out your policies page the best you can as well.

#7 Online: After a sale, send the buyer a thank you email or convo.

#8 At shows and Online: Keep the packaging simple but attractive and include a thank you note.

 Have you done wholesale?


No, I haven't done any wholesale. I sell my jewelry on consignment at a local gallery shop in my hometown, The Riverwalk Bead Shop and Gallery , where I also teach a series of beading classes and private jewelry sessions.

 Do you have any tips for anyone seeking to get published?


Well, I've only had my jewelry designs published a few times so far, I'm currently working on more of that now. My tips would be #1 Try to establish your own unique style and submit pieces that are different from what you've seen and #2 Follow the publishers guidelines to a T. If you do those two things you shouldn't have any problem at all getting published.

How do you market your work?

I market my work mostly online through my Blog, Facebook and Flickr sites.

Thank you so much Erin! I really hope you learned something from Erin, and I think I'm gonna print out her 8 points for selling and make myself a little checklist. If you want to keep up with what Erin is doing, you can stalk her here: (Oh, and she's expecting a little one, so if you wanna drop by and wish her congrats, I'm sure she wouldn't mind!)

Blog: www.erinsiegeljewelry.blogspot.com
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/erinsiegel

Artists Answer: Casey Dwyer

For this week's Artists Answer, I dove back into some of my favorite shops from when I first found Etsy. This lovely lady and amazing artist does such original and inspiring work that I had to introduce you.

Casey Dwyer is the creative genius behind The Candy Thief and I've asked her to share with us a little about her creative process, so let's dive in!

Casey graduated with a BFA from the State University of New York in Albany in 2005 and has spent most of the hours from then to now fashioning objects of desire. In 2006 she established The Candy Thief and offers a unique line of handmade hair accessories, handbags, pillows and small batch clothing.

Casey thinks of each Candy Thief piece as a place or surface where all her passions meet. A love of printmaking, folk art, fashion, nature, color, and the traditional arts are stitched together to create an absolutely one of a kind, handmade look. Simple, natural objects of beauty that befall one's everyday life inspire most of the imagery found in the work. Leaves, flowers, and feathers make up much of the Candy Thief aesthetic, and the ubiquity of such elements allow admiring clients to truly connect with the pieces.

1. What is your creative process? For me, working on a new collection of pieces always starts with a single image, and most often the image is something found in nature, like a leaf or a flower. Iʼll size up the flora pretty quickly, couple it with a color scheme, and envision a finished product. These things happen entirely in my head in a matter of seconds, and on average take place a few times a day, so it is really important for me to keep notebooks of ideas/sketches; you never know when you might need them!

2. How do you start creating?

Well, making a new piece or testing out a new product starts with my quickie sketche(s). I block print all of the felt used in my line of headbands, and many of the cottons used in my clothing and home accessories, so getting a nice linocut is key.

My images are hand drawn directly onto the block and carefully cut. After the initial carving, I do a few test prints (on fabric) and adjust the block with some additional “clean up” cutting if necessary. When Iʼm happy with the block and the print it yields, I move on to the product test phase.

When working with a specific design--something based on one of my sketches--I try like heck to make sure the first piece is as close to my original idea as possible. This really lets me see how and where I can improve the design. Once again, Iʼll quickly size up the overall look of the headband and see if individual pieces of fabric should be moved around for optimum aesthetic appeal. For those who donʼt know, my headbands are made from pieces of cut wool felt, layered and stitched.

This element of the design process is really fun; kinda like a jigsaw, except I decided where the pieces fit! Thing tend to get move around a bit and another test piece is made. When I the layout looks good I begin with embellishments. Iʼve recently really fallen in love with simple embroidery and using it to accentuate my hand drawn & printed images. French knots have been making quite an appearance in my latest work!

I let this last phase---the decorative stitching--- be pretty free form so that every individual Candy Thief piece is entirely unique!

3. Do you use patterns?
No, I donʼt use any commercial patterns. My line of headbands is entirely original in terms of design and donʼt require patterns, though, I have made myself some template here and there.
When I make clothing I base a lot of patterns off of existing pieces of clothing. They are, in general, the pieces that fit me well that I wouldnʼt mind having dozens of!

4. Do you have any tips for helping other artists with their creative process?
My overall advice for any maker, regardless of age or experience, is to constantly be experimenting and expanding your creative skill set. It keeps things fresh and exciting! And never cut corners. i.e.---donʼt rush things!

Finding the right set of tools and materials to physically construct your objects is really important. I think artists need to be open to lots of experimentation. This being said, I can offer a bit of advice for anyone out there who is interested in block printing on felt:

Speedball easy cut lino blocks are the way to go. You can create a deeper relief, which works well with the thickness of the wool felt. Iʼve also found that some fabric inks (I use screen printing fabric inks) require an extra bit of textile medium to yield a rich print.
Keep some on hand!

5. What is your favorite technique?
Again, the block printing is really my cup of tea right now. I love how organic the process is, and that the final images scream “HANDMADE”! Itʼs great to see the hand of the artist in all elements of the design. Iʼve got nothing against screen printing---I just really love the slowness that comes with blocked prints.

Thank you, Casey!

If you want to keep up with this amazing artist, here are her links so you can stalk follow her. 

Website

Flickr

Etsy

Thanks again dear readers for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about one of my favorite artists and some new techniques and skills that you can use in your own creative process! Enjoy your Wednesday!

Artists Answer: Belinda Saville - Inspiration

Sometime last week, I started thinking about how I could change and re-arrange my blog to be a little more outward looking. Frankly, I'm kinda tired of talkin' just about beads! (I know, I never thought it would happen either.) So, I'm introducing a new weekly feature that I call Artists Answer. I've chosen four topics that I want to deal with:

Inspiration
Creation
Organization
Publication

I think that these are all things that interest jewelry makers and jewelry buyers. Each week I'll feature a different artist and their answers to some questions dealing with these topics.

Okay, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to our first artist:
Belinda Saville

Belinda is a bead artist from Perth, Australia. I've been following her beadventures for a while and I'm constantly amazed by how she translates her inspiration into amazing works of art.
I asked her about her first introduction into beading and my jaw dropped when she said she started in 2008 after the birth of her daughter. Me too! (well, except the daugther part).
Belinda has kindly agreed to share with us how she gets inspired to create her art. I hope you enjoy reading the interview and that you'll stop by her blog and her Flickr gallery to peruse her amazing creations.

What inspires you?
I can find inspiration just about anywhere. My main sources of inspiration stem from colours, forms/shapes, mother nature, art, archaeology, music, history, textiles...the list is always growing! Sometimes a single word can be enough to spark an avalance of ideas. What images are conjured in your mind when you hear the word, 'Csarina'? Or 'Rockpool'? Or 'Transylvania'? I have created necklaces based on each of these words alone! Your own imagination is an endless source of inspiration and is unique to you.

Garland of Galatea

Do you sketch?
If I'm inspired by something I see when I'm out shopping, or a fleeting image on the television, I will sketch my ideas as soon as possible so I can play with those notions at a later date. Mostly I just start pulling out beads as soon as an idea hits me!

Wind Dancer

How do you find inspiration?

More often that not, inspiration comes to me! Do you receive catalogue or 'junk mail' in your letterbox? If so, don't be in such a rush to throw them into your rubbish bin! Take the time to flick through each page and tear out any images that inspire you. I have a notebook full of such images!

You may find inspiration in a beautiful arabesque quilt cover, or the swirling lines of a wrought-iron candelabra, or the multi-colored stripes of a beach towel. How about the geometric pattern on a coffee mug, or the texture of a woven basket, or the floral fabric of a pretty dress. Look for interesting colour combinations. There may be a photograph of a pile of plain-coloured towels, which individually are rather boring, but collectively offer a beautiful colour palette. Be open to possibilities and collect anything that inspires you!

If I'm researching a particular theme or subject, the internet is the best (and quickest!) resource. My local library comes a close second! I will often wander the isles of a library with no particular idea in mind, just being open to possibilities and new inspiration. I have come home with books on everything from Art Nouveau, to photography, to Ernst Hackel's Art Forms in Nature!

Symphonie de Tulipes

Can you give us an example of a piece of work that was inspired?

My 'Sunflowers bead embroidered necklace was directly inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's series of Sunflower paintings. I wanted to translate his sunflowers into something tactile, dimensional and wearable. This is still one of my favorite creations yet!

Sunflowers

I hope you enjoyed reading a little bit about how another artist finds inspiration. I hope it will give you some ideas to take away for your own inspiration.
If you'd like to see more of Belinda's work, (and who wouldn't!) please visit her
blog: http://belindasaville.blogspot.com/
or spend some time browsing through her Flickr gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/belindasaville

Enjoy your Wednesday!!!