tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35797417728358104402024-03-05T09:30:40.334-08:00White Dog StudiosA blog about handcrafted jewelry, especially my own.Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-69055838454578100722011-01-02T22:04:00.000-08:002011-01-02T22:04:32.405-08:00The Blog Has a New Home!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The blog has been moved to<a href="http://whitedogstudiosjewelry.wordpress.com/"> http://whitedogstudiosjewelry.wordpress.com</a><a href="http://whitedogstudiosjewelry.wordpress.com/">/</a></span>Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-49635799460569466452010-07-15T10:54:00.000-07:002010-07-15T10:54:12.936-07:00Asked to Donate an Item - and said "no"I have been asked to donate items before and I have done it, partially because I have worked for nonprofit organizations and feel a certain kinship for the people who approach me, and partially because I thought it might help boost my business. Last fall, I was heartened to hear that a piece I donated to a local nonprofit went for full price at auction, but it resulted in no business for me.<br />
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Recently, I was approached about donating this bracelet:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/50422915/lollipop-charm-bracelet"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhstaGPpVy7HqFGPsfZkMzr2tme-9oavHK-flnnJ4CZ3Ks6eoRjzFj4o_Nq-gtUQc9NSmSAn0HZk66nnPN1ZpNf6Zlll5Bujl69TQ-YO6jfAdP8fwukJNflyfhilZUtQ3wOnD9VjTky9YW/s320/lollipop.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I thought about it, but respectfully declined.<br />
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I happen to really like this bracelet. I bought the beads at a cool little shop in Laguna Beach on my weekend birthday trip a couple of months ago. I was looking forward to making something fun with the beads and I am thrilled with the results. I would be even more thrilled if I sold it! I think there is a time and a place for donations, but at this time, I don't have anything available for free. I work hard, as I know all of you do, too, to produce something unique and valuable for my customers and while I try to keep afloat in "this economy", I need a return on my investment. Right now, the warm feeling of giving cannot equate with the cash that I need to keep my business viable.Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-15140724507855008172010-06-30T13:37:00.000-07:002010-06-30T13:47:19.880-07:00Perceived Value of Handcrafted ItemsThere are a couple of Etsy threads going on right now that are addressing the concept of low prices equally the perception of low value. Does something priced low give the impression that the item is not as worth owning?<br />
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I have to say, "yes". I have only made a few Etsy sales - a lot of my sales are done offline - but I have noticed that is is my more expensive items that sell. Anything marked "SALE" just sits there.<br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/25458087/chunky-beaded-pistachio-bracelet">This is one of the most expensive items in my store right now, going for $70:</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/25458087/chunky-beaded-pistachio-bracelet"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4MKv0QZjFvs-ppNcmhemr5KcIR-bSbokP-Rr1qLF6o83edLFT9LQ9jyUjsB1ljhW9a-N3t7f8D3u9hixS25OEL9ZYKK6P2QLPkrnOEsRmimdsczkXQiC1blT27arDt6KrKfzbUk0tX24/s400/pistachio.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Would lowering the price to $50 make a difference? I don't think so. For one thing, I think this bracelet is worth $70, given the time and the materials. Second, I don't think that a buyer is suddenly going to jump on it because its $20 less. In fact, their perception of this bracelet's value will probably go down. So, I will not lower the price but, instead, wait for the right buyer who recognizes the true value of this piece.<br />
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.Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-14087115518086754152010-06-24T13:39:00.000-07:002010-06-30T13:48:26.609-07:00Search Engine OptimizationFor someone who really just wants to focus on creating jewelry, the business side of things can be overwhelming. Marketing, promoting, tracking...ugh. Yet, if I am ever to reach my goal of supporting myself as an independent jewelry designer, then I need to get a handle on the business side of my business.<br />
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With that in mind, I have spent a lot of time the past two days reading about SEO (search engine optimization). I was happy to find a great deal of useful information on the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">Etsy</a> forums. There are a lot of people who use Etsy as a hobby, but I am also finding that for many people, they DO make a living from their art and Etsy serves an important function for them. So, why not take the advice of people who are doing what I want to do?<br />
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After reading through posts on SEO, I realized just how ineffective many of my titles and tags in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/whitedogstudios">my Esty shop</a> were. Clever names, like you might find in the Sundance catalog, are not going to get my products on the first page of a Google search. I need to think like a shopper would think and use those search terms. Therefore, what I had just listed as "Eternity Necklace" became "Eternity Chain Necklace":<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/50089463/eternity-chain-necklace"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXzBhofcbTAeMMb6Nb7oQgw53hTtHNpbp7Yed-uodlpXwbNDSZVItpdvnz_w4BUbHxXHJ9iIIQU0RbqamslIUdJBVnmO4TOrEdOQo-QBwc0FoegBS-6jWZm_884Thgvqa11qMoQdMKnuz/s320/chain+necklace.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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and one of my previous listings, which I really thought would have sold by now has gone from "Shades of Brown" to "Shades of Brown Chunky Charm Bracelet":<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/25433104/shades-of-brown-chunky-charm-bracelet"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQ29XYCBg80wUbezuh3C82-3RbL8BySdXK062lIUcjpO834xaY-GxMhMZGG5VJx-JqTSpq5v3P-bVnRDfaMRAvK4ZWSAUDjGDduE7N9i17wMQoigFtVtV_MbUfY-i8YzbNvxQjZxaPaF2/s320/brown+bracelet.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I changed the tags, too. We shall see if it makes a difference, but it makes sense to me that I need to think like a buyer, not like a seller.Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-51199826277958803112010-02-20T15:51:00.000-08:002010-06-30T13:49:01.039-07:00Etsy versus 1000 Markets<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After taking a break from my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/whitedogstudios">Etsy shop</a> over the holidays, I am spending some reconsidering if Etsy is the right venue for me and my work. I also have a shop at <a href="http://www.1000markets.com/users/whitedogstudios">1000 Markets</a>, but just like Etsy, it gets no traffic without marketing. My view is that whichever way I go, I am simply renting shop space and I will have to drive my traffic there, so it is really a matter of which shop I want to drive traffic to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pro for Etsy: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has the name. It is hard to find someone in this business who has not heard of Etsy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The forums. They are very active and have been very useful for hints, suggestions, and a sense of community.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time - as in, I have put a lot of time into my Etsy shop. I think letting it go, or distancing myself from it, is more of a psychological issue than anything.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paypal allows for instant payment directly into my account. 1000 Markets uses Amazon Payments, which can take a bit longer because the money has to be transferred into my account.</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pro for 1000 Markets:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The look. It is a sleeker, more professional design that just looks cleaner.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is not as crowded - or shall I say bloated - as Etsy.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The quality of merchandise appears to be superior, compared to Etsy. I have thought for a while that Etsy was beginning to get watered down. There is some OUTSTANDING work on Etsy, but let's face it, some stuff that is, well, not.</li>
</ol><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have not made a decision yet, other than to put more of my focus on 1000 Markets and see how I feel about it from the seller point of view. I would like to get some feedback from buyers, too, to see if it matters to them at all. But, eventually, one will have to take precedence over the other.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you would like to check out my 1000 Markets shop, this is a sample of what I have for sale:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZS_QB3emYBIvlEgzPnIW16jlbUHyuiuG_Z0P839-7Nn2_5lbA3QwGWB_YMpN_zOjGfW2TMPdGVOcpbvjSwYn5Ap5desJi3wWMkp7-Hg1_vjRSIWKtBswj3C1AFGLFLRJNfXRoLN9tNqwH/s1600-h/peace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZS_QB3emYBIvlEgzPnIW16jlbUHyuiuG_Z0P839-7Nn2_5lbA3QwGWB_YMpN_zOjGfW2TMPdGVOcpbvjSwYn5Ap5desJi3wWMkp7-Hg1_vjRSIWKtBswj3C1AFGLFLRJNfXRoLN9tNqwH/s320/peace.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.1000markets.com/users/whitedogstudios/collections/10725/products/114223"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PEACE PENDANT NECKLACE</span></b></span></a> </div>Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-2567597810107712362009-11-17T19:54:00.000-08:002009-11-17T19:54:30.361-08:00Twitter Promotion Going On Now<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I decided to have a Twitter giveaway On Monday morning, I sent out a "tweet" advertising that the 199th "retweet" would win this bracelet:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIuy6mNAxLxhlkNr9fLDP4DCvdD-iq5UPamjnYtLXRoY-jdcvEWo8Cdl5o0AEZZ5c-fDq9MLUoXYZhBBaelCPTGDIfXtsEGtBrglixXAqreHw7DSNDRTdVO-6nArJyhLph_00ffGoHYYo/s1600/il_430xN.72024758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIuy6mNAxLxhlkNr9fLDP4DCvdD-iq5UPamjnYtLXRoY-jdcvEWo8Cdl5o0AEZZ5c-fDq9MLUoXYZhBBaelCPTGDIfXtsEGtBrglixXAqreHw7DSNDRTdVO-6nArJyhLph_00ffGoHYYo/s320/il_430xN.72024758.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We are over half way there, so if you want to have a chance to win, follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/whitedogstudio<br />
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<span id="goog_1258515754171"></span><span id="goog_1258515754172"></span>Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-66212264077045178052009-11-02T21:24:00.000-08:002010-06-30T13:49:33.486-07:00Reusing and repurposing in your jewelry designs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64kcI1h-J5AFCctX1z3FYCIZZhlYdG5paahiQex5_88myoy2ma7u907wgmtKwbU2bdVAl35t4GOFrIAGCD9HDE5Atd9ltyfDiSqnFnH598zxQh3nzaxdg3mtMQgL4UZxw86UPoPT6R2A1/s1600-h/SDC11597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div>I recently made a necklace using a little bit of something old and a little bit of something new. A customer had found some old charms (as in 40 years old!) that she assumes her mother had engraved with the intent of making a charm bracelet. Most likely, she intended to add a charm every year on the customer's birthday, but the charm bracelet was never made. However, I gave those old charms a new life by mixing them with new charms that reflect the customer's current interests, such as a camera, a cute VW bus, a dog, a hammer, etc. So, instead of a charm bracelet, the customer now has a charm necklace!<br />
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Here are the "old" charms:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64kcI1h-J5AFCctX1z3FYCIZZhlYdG5paahiQex5_88myoy2ma7u907wgmtKwbU2bdVAl35t4GOFrIAGCD9HDE5Atd9ltyfDiSqnFnH598zxQh3nzaxdg3mtMQgL4UZxw86UPoPT6R2A1/s1600-h/SDC11597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64kcI1h-J5AFCctX1z3FYCIZZhlYdG5paahiQex5_88myoy2ma7u907wgmtKwbU2bdVAl35t4GOFrIAGCD9HDE5Atd9ltyfDiSqnFnH598zxQh3nzaxdg3mtMQgL4UZxw86UPoPT6R2A1/s320/SDC11597.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here is the new necklace:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtUH0XfmBbDVaLCvqVZwTuh-ptVAGai_9sgI64TshXKcBYcmn3-ghlr7gacmIEjW7VcRQWEJbO1S98QC7cwUWbxd9gqLhUSP2uXalwtNL2T3aPLC0IlYomzTAYBNOnc-edE3291jcm3t4/s1600-h/SDC11600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtUH0XfmBbDVaLCvqVZwTuh-ptVAGai_9sgI64TshXKcBYcmn3-ghlr7gacmIEjW7VcRQWEJbO1S98QC7cwUWbxd9gqLhUSP2uXalwtNL2T3aPLC0IlYomzTAYBNOnc-edE3291jcm3t4/s320/SDC11600.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBA7qIW5BHjWHLi6ZNMuttvbvFfcFfNkB-0f9GxocqGi6v0NFtb_dPz5xCuUlT56ZA-An1YFeOBMixgLoUJAC44Zjh839h2wPs_AHdX1tK0l0TWNzL-tE4Pz-EbNeEnTuYccGX1APapph/s1600-h/SDC11607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBA7qIW5BHjWHLi6ZNMuttvbvFfcFfNkB-0f9GxocqGi6v0NFtb_dPz5xCuUlT56ZA-An1YFeOBMixgLoUJAC44Zjh839h2wPs_AHdX1tK0l0TWNzL-tE4Pz-EbNeEnTuYccGX1APapph/s320/SDC11607.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think it turned out great and the customer was very happy that she was finally able to wear the charms that her mother bought for her! If you would like me to create a similar piece of jewelry for you, just contact me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-71257973244644628512009-10-19T21:41:00.000-07:002009-10-19T21:41:41.700-07:00Follow up to selling artisan jewelry on craigslistWell, the craigslist experiment ended with no sales. I did have a few views, but not even enough of those to warrant using craigslist again. It was worth a try, though, since there is no cost and I remain convinced that selling jewelry on Etsy is impossible without multiple methods of outside promotion. There is simply too much competition in the jewelry market on Etsy to expect buyers to find me. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFRLiaU0V_-_DtYvT_-8ms9jgVBQEmDf3jUBV_GTDFEfIakev7LDva0Kb6unAhZob2uQQszR37H9slP056NYQMVd9WHksKfBeZ6ufEwB0doDMeeuyOavOyLYY-5xkpjgtSQ9_3vs9dAsP/s1600-h/lime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
</div>However, it is interesting to note that I did make a sale on Ebay last week. I offered a charm bracelet as $60 or best offer. I received an offer of $45 the next day, which seemed reasonable because it was a piece I wanted to move anyway (which is why I chose it for Ebay, understanding it would go below my $60 set price). So, I am trying again and just listed this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25342824">recycled glass pendant necklace</a>...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlMNmimYTh-0Xk83MErx70t8EhdJa593DRKcRDcqq3xHdwvAvHjm4gOo-amxF6u3szcZKPMTTbverBGGWhTa6Gm1ZzWw5Sn1t-zsrRQJwl_GG8Es6u1zZdfjQcDY26VUD_0MBl-lh19yq/s1600-h/lime+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlMNmimYTh-0Xk83MErx70t8EhdJa593DRKcRDcqq3xHdwvAvHjm4gOo-amxF6u3szcZKPMTTbverBGGWhTa6Gm1ZzWw5Sn1t-zsrRQJwl_GG8Es6u1zZdfjQcDY26VUD_0MBl-lh19yq/s320/lime+3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-82170539396634559862009-10-08T09:56:00.000-07:002009-10-08T09:56:59.795-07:00Selling artisan jewelry on craigslistLike many artists who are trying to sell their work online, I am always looking for ways to increase traffic. My most recent "experiment" is posting ads on craigslist and directing potential buyers to my <a href="http://www.whitedogstudios.etsy.com/">Etsy shop</a>. I posted my first ad three days ago and while I have had a few more visitors to my shop, there have been no sales yet. I have used craigslist many times in the past to sell household items, but never my own work. It remains to be seen if craigslist is like Ebay, where everyone is just looking for a deal. I will keep readers posted on the success--or not--I have using craigslist.Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-65326724499894892472009-09-17T20:05:00.001-07:002009-09-17T20:05:56.809-07:00Believe<p>Today I watched young 17 year-old Melanie Oudin's exhilarating win over Maria Sharapova in the U.S. Open. Stamped in Oudin's tennis shoes is the word "believe", obviously there to serve as a reminder to believe in herself. Her confidence shines through in her tenacious style of play and she is truly a joy to watch.</p> <p>Believing in yourself is often half the battle when taking risks. As artists, we put ourselves out there everyday. We create because we love it, but when we decide to take the risk to try and sell our creations, we are opening ourselves up to praise or, in some cases, criticism. The mentally strong people who continue to believe in themselves, even when times are tough, will ultimately find success because when it comes right down to it, if we don't believe in ourselves, why should anyone else?</p> <p>This is one of my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25433104" mce_href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25433104">favorite bracelets</a> that I have made. The pewter charms read "live light", "integrity", "laugh", "inspire", "create" and..."believe".</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25433104" mce_href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25433104"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-30" title="il_430xN.72023737" src="http://whitedogstudios.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/il_430xn-720237371.jpg" mce_src="http://whitedogstudios.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/il_430xn-720237371.jpg" alt="il_430xN.72023737" width="430" height="322" /></a></div>Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-54874055967282296392009-09-17T20:04:00.001-07:002009-09-17T20:09:00.861-07:00About pricing<p>I think that artists undervalue their work far too often. When I go to shows or browse online and see handcrafted pieces selling for a price that I know will barely cover material costs, if at all, I cringe because this sets the market lower for my work. I believe that my work has value and that incorporates not just the material costs, but the time it takes for me to develop the design and make the piece.</p> <p>I try to offer a range of pieces at various prices. For example, this bracelet, for sale on <a href="http://www.whitedogstudios.etsy.com/" mce_href="http://www.whitedogstudios.etsy.com">my Etsy shop</a>, is only $20, which I believe is a fair and affordable price:</p> <p style="text-align: center;" mce_style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30426435" mce_href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30426435"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19 aligncenter" title="Bohemian Bracelet" src="http://whitedogstudios.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/il_fullxfull-88766796.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://whitedogstudios.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/il_fullxfull-88766796.jpg?w=300" alt="Bohemian Bracelet" width="300" height="225" /></a><br /></p> <p>This bracelet, on the other hand, took much longer to design and create, so it is priced at $70:</p> <p style="text-align: center;" mce_style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25458087" mce_href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25458087"><img class="size-medium wp-image-20 aligncenter" title="Pistachio Bracelet" src="http://whitedogstudios.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/il_430xn-72108128.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://whitedogstudios.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/il_430xn-72108128.jpg?w=300" alt="Pistachio Bracelet" width="300" height="224" /></a><br /></p> <p>As much as artists all enjoy creating for the sake of creating, we also need to be paid what we are worth. Don't undervalue your time and your talent. If you do quality work and pay attention to marketing, the sales will come!</p>Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579741772835810440.post-48247483345631552912009-09-17T20:00:00.000-07:002009-09-17T20:07:53.154-07:00On inspiration for creation<p>Every artist has their own people, places, or things that inspire them to create. It could be the love of your life, a favorite spot in the park, the sounds of children, or in the case of us desert dwellers stuck in the inferno that is July in Phoenix, the dream of escape! The design for this necklace came to me on a 115-degree day when I was dreaming of beaches and oceans. As I typically do when I am developing a design, I arranged my materials and just let the inspiration take me where it wanted to go. The hemp that I used for the cord and the vibrant colors said "islands" to me and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28347917" mce_href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28347917">Island Necklace was born.</a> What inspires you?<a href="http://whitedogstudios.wordpress.com/wp-admin/The%20hemp%20that%20I%20used%20for%20the%20cord%20and%20the%20vibrant%20colors%20said" mce_href="The hemp that I used for the cord and the vibrant colors said"><br /></a><br /></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28347917" mce_href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28347917"><img class="size-medium wp-image-13 aligncenter" title="Island Necklace" src="http://whitedogstudios.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/il_430xn-817830151.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://whitedogstudios.wordpress.com/files/2009/09/il_430xn-817830151.jpg?w=300" alt="Island Necklace" width="300" height="224" /></a></div>Michelle Moyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13914016138621764164noreply@blogger.com0