Art Shows How Much Inventory Needed

I got this from Firemountain Gems & Beads site. Useful advice when planning to do an Art Show or Craft Fair.

Art Shows How Much Inventory Needed

Q.
I am interested in selling jewelry at craft fairs and shows. I will need to have a pretty large inventory of necklaces, bracelets and earrings. What do you recommend as a good amount of inventory for a fair or show? Thank you!
- Vickie
A.
I wish I had a crystal ball. It's a common question, though, and a good one. There's no real way to predict what you'll need at any given event. And what seems like a ''large'' inventory to one jewelry maker may be small to another.

A little homework will help you decide how much to bring. First, contact the show or fair promoter in advance and ask for attendance figures from the last time the show took place. Also, ask for a flyer or vendor list from the last time it was held and contact three vendors to see what kind of volume they experienced.

If possible, visit and ''shop'' a show before renting booth space. You can walk the aisles and see how much jewelry vendors have on their tables and ask them if they mind telling you how much they brought with them for the event.

Bringing too much jewelry isn't as much of a problem as selling out is. I often advise that jewelry makers bring photos of each piece (this is good for insurance reasons, as well, in case of theft). If you sell out of a style, you can show the photos of those pieces and take orders to be delivered later.

Another tip is to bring extra material and tools with you so you can make up pieces on the spot! Making the jewelry right there can attract people to your booth (people love watching something being made).

- Dr. David Weiman
Dr. David Weiman, "the Jewelry Marketing Doctor," is a psychologist and internationally-known expert on marketing and selling handmade jewelry. He is also a jewelry selling expert for Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Ask the Experts online Q and A series. You can sign up for his free "Jewelry Seller" e-newsletter at www.marketingjewelry.com.

Resources authored by Dr. Weiman

Number of Beads per 16 inch strand

Number of Beads per 16 inch strand

When planning a jewelry design it's always nice to know how many beads to use on your piece, so this little guide line chart will help in letting you know how many bead strands to buy for your creations.

**Please note that the number of beads listed below is an estimate only. Number of beads may vary.


Size Number of Beads

Rounds

2mm 203

3mm 136

4mm 100

6mm 67

8mm 50

10mm 41

12mm 34

To see the rest of the chart for different shape beads go here

Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches

1 box (1 lb 2.4 oz) Betty Crocker® Original Supreme Premium brownie mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box

12 scoops ice cream, any flavor (3 cups)

Candy jimmies, if desired

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups, or spray muffin cups with baking spray with flour.
2. In medium bowl, mix brownie mix, water, oil and egg until well blended. Spoon into muffin cups.
3. Bake 26 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted near edges comes out almost clean. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
4. Remove paper baking cups. Cut brownies in half horizontally. Place 1 scoop (about 1/4 cup) ice cream between brownie halves. Sprinkle sides with jimmies. Freeze until ready to serve.

Makes 12 sandwiches

BettyCrocker.Com

Victorian Style Mourning Bracelet

Victorian Style Mourning Bracelet

In the Victorian era people carried jet when grieving for a loved one. They believed this black stone soaked up sadness and restored emotional balance. This type of amulet is still useful, especially if blessed with a prayer, incantation, or supplication to your personal God/dess.

The amulet should be carried until grief has lifted. Keep the stone with other mementos for those times when sadness returns, such as the anniversary of a death.

I have designed a victorian style mourning bracelet made with memory wire that I thought would be appropriate for this purpose or for just the look of a gothic victorian style piece.

Vamps Jewelry

Vamp~

How to Make a "Scrabble" Tile Pendant

How to Make a "Scrabble" Tile Pendant

Tile pendants are all the rage right now! They're so much fun to wear, like wearing a mini piece of art. What makes them hot/ popular is that almost any image or even family & pet images can be used.

Here is a really good video on how to make a 'Scrabble' Tile Pendant from Beadaholique.

Jewelry Style Timeline Styles & Periods

Jewelry Style Timeline Styles & Periods

Here is a nice article on the timeline of different styles periods of jewelry - from Victorian, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco & Retro.


VICTORIAN 1830's to 1900's

Nature was a source of inspiration for Victorians in the form of flowers, lovebirds, animals, and insects. Good luck symbols are found in clovers, horseshoes, and other symbols like hands, snakes, love knots, and crosses. Motifs include stars, crescents, slides, tassels on pins, fleur d'lis, stick pins, bracelets, lockets, and pocket watches Cameos.


ART NOUVEAU (1895-1915)

Nature motifs, including flowers just budding or in decay, which symbolized the energy and dynamic forces of nature. This nature motif also included animals, snakes, and birds, such as peacocks. Gone were the static Greek and Roman images found in Victorian cameos. They were replaced by women with flowing hair, sensual and passionate.


EDWARDIAN (1890-1920)

Edwardian motifs included garlands, bows, tassels, bar pins, tiaras, lavalieres, sautoirs, and multiple strands of seed pearls in choker length called dog collars. Many of the bar pins have a two-tone look - with a white metal top and yellow gold bottom.

ART DECO (1920-1935)

Unlike the Edwardians, this period's artists were seeking chromatic contrasts; thus, materials included diamonds matched with primary color gemstones like sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. Marcasite, glass beads, and even plastics appear in this period. Egyptian jewelry appeared & geometric designs.


RETRO (1935-1955)

Motifs include bows, ribbons, flowers, birds, patriotic themes, clips, large floral sprays, and suites of jewelry. Jewelry of this period was a combination of Art Nouveau's curves with the simple look of Art Deco but in a bigger scale.

How to make wrapped leather bracelets

How to make wrapped leather bracelets


Have you ever wondered how these cool wrapped leather bracelets are made? Here is a tutorial on how to make one! Click on the link below to see the how to guide.


How to make wrapped leather bracelets

Also a video to help you see the process in action.



Photo and tutorial provided by rings-things.com. Video provided by youtube AuntieBeads.com.