Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Bristol Balloon Fiesta is the first major craft event I have sold at and I was very please with the results. It was four long and tiring days often the craft tent didn't close until after 9.00pm. The first day was a bit slow (the rain didn't help) but towards the end of the evening I sold a tiara which blew me away. It is not often that someone just buys a tiara from me on the spot. They often want it bespoked in some way. In fact, there was a lot of interest in my tiara's and hair accessories at the fiesta that I hope will generate a few orders. The next few days were good although it did quieten down for me on the Sunday. Being there inspired me to try a few more bigger events next year.


Great news. I have been asked to write some articles for Beads and Beyond Magazine. Not about jewellery making but about web design (my 'other' job). I am often asked for advice by crafters I meet about the basics of setting up a website and so suggested to the magazine that I could write a few articles for them. I was over the moon when they agreed so look out for my first article in their January 2010 publication.

They have several competitions for jewellery designer of the year in their September issue but hurry because the closing date for entries is 26th September.

To be or not to be - finally realising what I want to do . . .

When I started this blog I was determined that I would update it once a week. It’s surprising how difficult that has been and how easy it is to get distracted. It is at times like these you realise that it is not always that easy to have a full time job and still try and run another business so I'm going back to basics to get myself motivated.

Recently I’ve been thinking about my market. I started off by wanting to make artistic pieces of orginal jewellery and as time has past I’ve been diverted into making jewellery that is available everywhere. Not only is it impossible for me to compete with the prices in Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s for jewellery, but I don’t feel inspired to make it. I want to create original off-beat designs that you won’t find elsewhere and I vow that’s what I am going to do from today. Look out for new and inspired designs coming soon on my website www.bohochicjewellery.co.uk

My First Wedding Fair

I did my first wedding fair on Sunday and got a really positive feedback which has given me such a buzz. The fair was at Stanton Manor Hotel and was a small one which made it much more personal. The people who attended were genuinely interested and not just out for something to do on a Sunday afternoon and the other traders were really friendly plus lunch was provided by the hotel. I’ve already got an order for jewellery and a tiara plus an invitation to attend a ladies evening and prom festival. The hairdresser was also very interested in my hair grips and slides and I will be providing her with a display box to show her customers. I also got a list of names to contact. All in all a great result.

One of the traders I met was reverend Akasha Lonsdale from Simply Divine ceremonies (http://www.simplydivineceremonies.com/). She is an interfaith minister so if you want a wedding ceremony and don’t want a big religious affair then she will be able to help you.

Sandra Monger (http://www.sandramongercakes.co.uk/) made the most incredibly decorated cakes that also taste great. She also teaches the craft at the City of Bath College. If you want something traditional or a bit more individual she will be able to help you.

Pearce Photography in Chippenham (http://www.pearcephoto.co.uk/) will take the photographs so that you will always have something to look back on and remember your special day

Make Valentine's day romantic

With February 14th drawing closer it’s that time of year when romance is in the air. Every year flowers, chocolates and expensive candle lit dinners top the list of Valentine gifts but are they really romantic ?
If planning for the day highlights how important the gesture is then a survey on yell.com show that some people may be doing it from guilt or peer pressure and leave planning their Valentine’s present to 9am on the 14th with searches for florists rising 600% above the usual average and restaurants following closely behind.
I for one don’t consider a meal for two along with 20 other couples ‘Romantic’ and the respondents to a recent 200 survey on romance agree, with me. Even though we all love to be whisked away for a holiday, if that’s beyond your budget, smaller more personalised gifts where some thought has gone to it are much more appreciated:
- a handmade card
- a home made heart shape cookies or cake
- a meal with their favourite ingredients
- a tape of special songs
- a handcrafted piece of jewellery to match a favourite outfit from www.bohochicjewellery.co.uk

Marketing

At last I have managed to put some of my wedding collection up on my website. http://www.bohochicjewellery.co.uk/. Now it is just a matter of letting everyone know that I'm here and they can buy wedding accessories and gifts from me. Where do I start ? The list of options is endless

• Listing Websites


• Advertising in magazines/papers


• Craft fairs


• Wedding fairs


• Mailing lists


• Search engine optimisation and Ad words


• Leaflet distribution


• Word of mouth


• Contacting people already in the business - wedding planner, bridal shops, Wedding dress makers.

So I suppose the real question is how much do I want to spend. My first view was as little as possible but if I want this venture to work then I have to put something into marketing and getting the word out there that I exist !!

I've done the things that I can do 'free'. There are a few craft and wedding websites that have free listings that I have found so have added my name to the list and I have e-mailed local shops and suppliers to tell them I exist. I intend to also give them a call later in the week and see if I can visit them.

I attended a local wedding fair the other week. It was quite a large fair with lots of stalls and two fashion shows. There were also a lot of people there, it felt a bit like a cattle market and you had to go with the crowd. I felt a bit overwhelmed by everything so have decided to attend a few smaller venues where I hope it is easier to get to chat to the brides. I have also gone for the 'leaflet distribution' option at some fairs where they distribute your leaflets in their 'goodie' bags and you get a contact list of attendees. To encourage people to visit my website I have a competition going on until 30th April to win £300 of jewellery and hair accessories.

I'm excited and scared at the same time. I'll let you know how I get on.

Life is frustrating

I didn't manage to take photographs on my new camera last night as I couldn't find the battery charger - aaarrrgh.As I said the camera was a Christmas present from my partner Keith and the last time I used it was just after boxing day. I searched high and low last night getting totally frustrated in the process. I needed o get some photographs of my tiaras to the printers as I need my leaflets for a Wedding Fair at the beginning of March and my printer is going away ski-ing on 6th February. (oh by the way my printer is Keith's sister - Sue who has a printing and web design compnay http://www.pixel-print.co.uk/. She is really competitively price and friendly so if you are looking for a printer give her a call !!)

I eventually gave up and took the photographs on my old camera but they weren’t brilliant and the most infuriating thing is that I found it this morning, in the kitchen, by my mobile charger. At least tonight I might get the time to take some images and put them onto my website.

Photographing your stock

Well I'm lucky, my day job is IT related and I have another career writing websites so I created my own http://www.bohochicjewellery.co.uk/. For the design I didn't really want anything too flash and something a little quirky that reflected my style. I feel that I could work on it a little bit more to get it right but the most important thing is getting the stock on and that takes a LONG time, especially if you want it to look good.

When I buy jewellery from a shop its see it , love it, buy it and I need my photographs to convey that emotion of love it so that I can convert it to got to buy it but boy is it hard !!

It has been trials and tribulations all the way in getting decent photographs. I've experimented with settings on the camera, bought a light box, bought lights each development increasing the satisfaction I had in the photographs but eventually I decided it just had to be a new camera which my partner Keith got me for Christmas and tonight will be first time I will have a play with it and see whether it makes any difference. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Starting a jewellery business

I've been making jewellery for about 3 years now. It all started when I attended a craft fair with bits and bobs I'd picked up from e-bay and saw the wonderful jewellery made by the people on the stalls next to me and I thought - I can do that !! Now according to my sister I've always had that trouble. Where most people normally think 'that's lovely, I'll buy it' my thoughts, from a young age has been - that's lovely I'll go home and make it (and usually tonight). So I bought some tools and findings and put some pieces together and did a number of craft fairs and the pieces sold. Over the last few years I've just really played at being a jewelley maker, dipping in and out, usually around Christmas. At the end of last year I decided I wanted to make a go at making it more established, probably the wrong timing, given that we are in a recession, but if I don't try then I'll never know as they say and I'm always up for a challenge. This blog is to log my endeavours into the world of hand crafted jewellery. If you want to see my website check it out at http://www.bohochicjewellery.co.uk/.