What a Difference a Month Makes
Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 09:37PM 
The girls have been moved from their nursery bed to an alcove we've fenced off with baby gates. They're already amazingly mobile and vocal. I woke up at 5:30 this morning to a very wolfy chorus. The girls were standing up against the barrier, all in a row, with their little heads thrown back, howling at the tops of their wee lungs to be let out. Shena couldn't let them out so she joined in the howling. As if that wasn't enough noise, Feignan, our African Grey parrot, was impersonating them and howling right along. He's always good for an assist. *L*
The pups are drinking water, eating soft food once a day (though still nursing frequently) and they make it to the puppy pads at least 50% of the time. Clearly, they're gifted. *g* Left to right in the first photo are Zuzu, Izzy and Fiona. Moments after this photo was taken, Zuzu took issue with Izzy and pounced. Fiona stayed clear of the fray. She's not always as sweet as she looks in that photo, though. This evening she led a prison break.
In the second photo, Zuzu's playing with her mama and in the third, Izzy's having a little me time. They weigh about 10 pounds each now. Nathan has begun to see the possibilities for play; he constantly tries to get them to chase him. They take a few running steps then get nervous and run back. In a couple of weeks, we're finally going to get to see what Nathan looks like tired. I can't wait. *s*
On a Personal Note....
Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 02:03PM As was recently mentioned to me (thanks, Lisa *hugs*) it's been a long time since I posted any of our mountain life adventures and since we're having some excitement now, I thought you might enjoy the story. Feel free to skip it if you're not a dog person, you won't miss any new products or anything like that.
For some time now, we've been looking forward to having our own litter of Malamutes and we decided the time was right this spring because Nathan is old enough and Shena is young enough and we have enough employees now that we aren't too tired to enjoy the puppies. Nature took it's course and Friday was the day. Shena's labor began at midnight (Thursday night) and by 4am Friday our family was two beautiful babies larger. Shena did a fabulous job, knew just what to do and hardly needed any help at all. We sent out an announcement email to our employees, gave everyone the day off and we all went to sleep for a few hours.
When we woke up, I babysat the little ones so Shena could eat and go outside for a bit and we took the photo of me keeping the pups warm in my hand. We fed everybody else, had a late breakfast, then went about our business, cleaning up, etc., and going in to visit the babes from time to time. Nine hours after the second puppy was born, I visited the new mom and gave her a drink of water, then went to start a load of laundry. Fifteen minutes later, when passing through the room again, there was Shena, cleaning up a third puppy! Nine hours later! I couldn't believe it. I've heard of 2-3 hour breaks but never nine. We watched her closely after that but she seemed to be finished... again. Then three hours later, puppy number four showed up! So, two surprises and several changes of bedding later, here's the litter.
It turns out that it isn't all that unusual. Our vet told us that one of the dogs she cares for had two puppies on a Monday then three more on Wednesday. It's been 24 hours since number 4 showed up and we *think* Shena's really done now... but because of what the vet said, we can't be completely sure until I guess, Tuesday or so. *L*
The black one is a male and the rest are female. The one on the left in the closeup is Fiona and the one on the right is Isabella but the others don't have names yet. Now we just have to go sled shopping. *s*
A Special Interview
Monday, February 4, 2008 at 09:01AM Our much adored friend and long time customer, Jean Yates, has a new book out called Links. ( I can't talk much about that because I haven't seen it yet, though I am watching the mail.) Jean included some interviews in her book and is publishing them on her blog, one at a time, and this week is mine. I thought you might want to see it. *s*
My Interview for Jean's Book, Links
Along with the interview, Jean is debuting our new magazine ad and a sneak peak at our first Advanced Weave Kit which will be available the 3rd week of March. Whoohoo!
Are You an Artist?
Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 10:52PM One of the things I miss the most when we're really busy is the little (and sometimes not so little) philosophical insights that occur as a result of one's mind having the time and leisure to wander, ramble and ponder. I tend to do a lot of that sort of thing over the holidays. Nothing inspires an essay like a new bit of insight so... here I am. *s*
While reading some of the newsletters, forums and lists I usually don't have time to read while we're busy, I've noticed yet another round of trying to thrash out what is art and what is craft, who's an artist and who isn't, and what part does an art degree and/or self esteem issues play in that question. I couldn't even guess at the number of times I've read or heard that issue hashed out among jewelry designers and other people who produce things that might or might not be considered art, depending on who's offering an opinion. Inevitably in those discussions, there will be some who claim everyone is an artist, some who say there's nothing new under the sun (which I guess implies that no one is an artist), some who claim that artists are only those who've followed a proper course of study and been duly anointed, some who claim to be great artists but deign to show no art, some who show heartstoppingly beautiful work yet are unable to call themselves artists due to self esteem issues and possibly some other categories I've forgotten. As I'm sure you'd surmise, there is never any conclusion or consensus to these discussions and they usually peter out after a few people declare that art is subjective and in the eye of the beholder. The End... until the next time the subject is brought up.
I realize that all sounds a bit cynical but I really don't mean it that way. It's just intended to be a quick summary of an issue that isn't close to my heart because I've never really cared whether anyone else considered me an artist and I don't know why anyone else would care. Nonetheless, it is a question without a clear cut answer and, since my mind was free to ponder, I pondered how I would define art, were I doing the defining.
The answer I came up with is very simple. In my opinion, an artist is someone who successfully creates in tangible form something that formerly existed only in his or her mind. While it's in your mind, you can't show it to anyone. If you can recreate the vision which exists only in your mind in any form that you can show to another person, thereby sharing what wasn't possible to share before, that which you have created is art and you are the artist.
You might have a wonderful vision but no means to bring it into tangible form. That would indicate the lack of a suitable pallette of techniques. I could envision a fantasy sunset that would make a fabulous painting but I lack any techniques in that area so I could not bring it into tangible form as a painting. I might have the necessary pallette of techniques to bring it into tangible form as a 3D graphic, but perhaps my skill wouldn't be up to the challenge. So even with the techniques required to produce the 3D image, I might not have enough skill to accurately reproduce my vision in tangible form so that it could be shared, in all its glorious detail, with another person. In that case, my tangible work might be only a dim reflection of my vision.
As I see it then, an artist needs a vision, a pallette of techniques suitable to bringing that vision into tangible form, and the skill to do it justice.
If skill is lacking, even a glorious vision can't be properly communicated to another person. If the techniques aren't there, the artist will be frustrated at the inability to share the vision. But even if the artist has all the techniques and skill required to communicate every detail, someone else might not like the vision being shared and claim that it isn't art because it isn't appealing. Since it isn't possible to please everyone, it isn't possible to define art on the basis of public opinion.
If the definition of art is a vision of the mind, successfully rendered in tangible form... then since the person with the vision is the only one who can see it, that person is the only one who can possibly know whether the vision has been successfully and faithfully rendered in tangible form. That means you are the only one who knows whether you're an artist. No one else can tell you that. They can only tell you whether they like your art. *s*
New Weave Gallery Links
Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 02:59PM We're on holiday so I'm not really here 
but if I were here, I'd tell you that I've added a bunch of links to the bottom of our Weave Gallery page. These are all pages that are in development so none are complete. Some are barely there at all, others are only missing photos, but I've added them in case what you happen to need is available. Enjoy your holidays. *s*
Stones... to Tumble or Not?
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 12:37PM Here's a question from the mailbag that I thought might make a good topic of discussion. Please feel free to comment with your own experiences and we might just create the requested resource ourselves. *s*
"Do you know of a resource that tells you which gems/semi-precious that can/can't be tumble polished with stainless steel? I am looking for a general resource, but specifically moonstone."
I don't know of a definitive resource and I don't really see how there could be one because a lot depends on the quality of the stone. Low quality stones that have cracks and fissures or are chalky aren't as likely to take the millions of tiny pings of tumbling as well as higher quality, more solid stones. And that's just one example of a difference... any stone could have a flaw that doesn't show itself until it's tumbled. The way I see it, though, that flaw is going to show itself sooner or later and I'd rather see it while I still have it then after its gone to a customer.
If you're concerned, the best thing to do, in my opinion, is sacrifice the least appealing stone in the strand and tumble it alone. There's usually at least one stone that's a little wonky so throw it in the tumbler overnight, examine it closely the next morning and you'll know what to expect. As for moonstone, I've tumbled it dozens of times and never had a casualty so you're probably pretty safe with that one. *s*
-- Aislyn
Tumbling More on Pricing
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 at 09:44PM I've had several questions lately on pricing and, while replying to one asking whether $175 is a good price for a bracelet, my answer accidentally turned into an essay. So I thought I'd just post it here, instead. *s*
Pricing is not a one size fits all proposition because it's less about inherent value than it is perceived value. In other words, an item is worth exactly what someone is willing to pay for it; no more, no less. So I can tell you whether the bracelet is worth $175 to me but that doesn't do you any good because I'm not the person you hope to sell it to.
I have an analogy for you that will initially seem unrelated, but it'll make sense in the end. When taking a photo, you can set the lens opening (aperture) to a certain size and the camera will determine how long the shutter must remain open in order to get enough light through an opening the size you chose. Or, you can set the shutter to a certain speed and the camera will decide how far the lens must be open to get enough light within the time frame you've chosen. One setting dictates the other. If you choose a tiny lens opening, giving the aperture priority, then the shutter will have to be open a long time to get enough light. If you a choose a fast shutter speed, giving the shutter speed priority, the lens will have to be open wide to get enough light.
Pricing is a lot like that, in that the price you choose dictates your market or the market you choose dictates your price. You get to pick one or the other. If you pick the market, meaning that you choose a place where you want to do your selling because it's convenient or you like it or whatever, you're stuck with the prices that market will bear. If a flea market is your sales venue of choice, you're stuck with low prices and, in order to be profitable, your items have to be inexpensive to make, both in terms of materials and time. Think of that choice as the Market Priority Model. You choose the market and the market dictates the price.
If, on the other hand, you choose good prices -- and I think $175 is a good price -- then you have to find the market that will bear it. By that I mean that you have to come up with ways to get your product in front of people who will see $175 as a fair price for it. There are plenty of people in the world who recognize fine craftsmanship and won't settle for anything less and it's quite possible to find them. But you do have to know who you're looking for. (See the other posts in Sales and Marketing for more on this.) Think of this choice as the Profit Priority Model. You choose the price and the price dictates the market.
You'll often hear jewelry people claim that they can't raise their prices because, 'people in this area won't pay more than $x'. In that case, the person is choosing the market (for convenience or other reasons) and that market is dictating the price. That's a perfectly viable choice but it is a choice. The person could, instead, give the pricing priority and seek what might be a less convenient market that will pay higher prices.
It's important to realize that the choice between the Market Priority Model and the Profit Priority Model leads to two completely different types of businesses. Each has it's own advantages and disadvantages. Both are viable business options but they have little in common with one another.
The Market Priority Model
The biggest advantages are convenience and quick sales. The sales venues are close, easy, comfortable or all of the above, and the customers are often friends and acquaintances from work, school, community activities, etc. It's easy to be one's own target market and to predict what will sell within one's own peer group so sales can be fast and furious, inspiring a burst of early confidence.
The disadvantages are that, for the vast majority of us, selling within our own peer group means lower prices than we'd like to get for our work. Trying to keep the prices low means not getting to use all the nicest materials and not being able to spend a lot of time on each piece... unless a person completely sacrifices their profit margin, in which case it's a hobby, not a business. At the lowest price points, even discount store jewelry competes for the same shoppers. Although sales are initially easier, production is harder because a low profit margin means that a great many sales are necessary in order to make a substantial profit. With that many sales required for true profitability, a person will eventually exhaust their own peer group and have to cultivate outside sales in order to continue to grow. That means that, to make serious money, a person will eventually lose the convenience that made this method appealing in the first place. So although this method is great for small money and very nice in the short term, if the goal is really comfortable money, in the long run, this method is probably the harder way to go.
The Profit Priority Model
The biggest advantages are getting to use all the nicest materials and take all the time required to do spectacular things with them while making a healthy profit that allows for growing one's business and having a comfortable life. And, of course, the luxury of pursuing quality over quantity is more satisfying to the soul.
The disadvantage is that sales are neither quick nor convenient. They require time, effort, cultivation and reinvestment of profits. More investment is required upfront, in terms of both money and skills. This is not the way to go if you're trying to be profitable quickly; it takes work and patience. This method takes a long term plan and a serious business mindset... but the payoff of success is serious business profits, happy work and a manageable workload because a healthy profit margin on each item means you can afford to turn down work when you run out of time. In the short term this method is harder and requires more of a person... but it has much better potential for long term satisfaction and business success.
When a jewelry designer comes from a privileged background, she's able to cultivate a Profit Priority Model while keeping all the advantages of a Market Priority Model in that she's selling to her own friends and acquaintances. If it happens that those friends and acquaintances are celebrities whose photos are snapped while wearing the jewelry, her jewelry business might become successful overnight. That's the best of both worlds and we'd all love that kind of opportunity. Since envy makes for bad karma but the universe smiles on wishing well for others, I propose that while we're honing our skills, working on our businesses and sowing the seeds of our own future successes, we should also cover our friends in jewelry and wish them all great fame and fortune. *s*
This and That
Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 09:20PM Since I've been scarce lately, I thought I'd take some time tonight to post some general news about what's been going on around here.
As you know, it took longer than usual to catch up from Christmas, partially because we had a bit more time off but mostly because there were just a lot of orders. Thank you for that. *s* Obviously, we are caught up now but, as I mentioned previously, we're running on a 4-5 business days shipping schedule for awhile longer in order to get stocked up. In most cases, we're still shipping faster than that, but by not promising to ship faster, we're able to schedule production more efficiently and that's helping us get the stock up.
During heavy rush periods, we don't have the luxury of time for things like reorganizing and adding new products so that kind of work really piles up. Now that things have eased off a bit, we're starting to get some of it done. Leigh is straightening out the inventory and arranging things more efficiently. Valerie is about to tackle the task of learning to do the copious paperwork required for foreign orders which will free up a bit more of Gary's time for making rings. Meanwhile, we're all constantly juggling such tasks as keeping Nathan Jr.'s head out of the trash bins, letting him in and out all day long, getting our ankles bitten and, of course, puppy cuddles. Happily, we all love dogs. *s*
Most of my time lately is spent taking photos. The new weave kits are in progress but I'm also revising the instruction books for all the existing kits. The project kits are done but now the weave kits are getting a massive overhaul with a lot of additional information added and all in full color. (Once those are available, we'll set up an upgrade system for those who've purchased weave kits with the original books but would like the new books.) I'm also reshooting all the photos for the website. I'm spending so much time under bright lights, I should have a tan by now. *snort*
All this revising does slow progress on the new kits and I know that waiting is hard but the result is a level of depth in the weave information that's a bit staggering, even to me. Those of you who choose to upgrade to the new weave books for kits you already have will be shocked at the sheer amount of fully illustrated information they contain; things that go well beyond learning the weave. The books for the advanced weaves are being prepared this way from the beginning and when you see them, you'll understand why they took so much longer than anything we've done before. So as hard as it is to wait for new kits, trust me when I tell you it's harder for me... because I can't wait for you to see them. *g* I can promise you that they're worth every minute of the wait... and you know I keep my promises. *s*
New Ring Sizes Added
Monday, February 26, 2007 at 03:51PM In case you've wondered what's been keeping us so busy lately (too busy to post, for instance) I thought I'd show you. His name is Nathan, Jr. (which will be funny if you've seen Raising Arizona but otherwise, not so much) and he's Shena's new favorite toy.
Copper Clasps & Beads
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 08:27PM Most of the copper resources originally listed here seem to have had problems of one sort or another so we're starting over. Keep in mind that I've never purchased copper components personally (because I tend to mix copper and sterling and then use sterling components) so these are all sites that have been recommended to me or that I have reason to believe are nice. Please feel free to review them and share your own experiences with a comment.
Argentium Clasps & Beads
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 08:14PM There aren't many options available yet, but I've been told of these two:
Rings & Things
G&S Metals
Resources Precious Metal Wire
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 08:02PM Some good sources are:
Hoover & Strong
Metalliferous
Embellishment Techniques
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 06:34PM Once you've learned a few chain weaves, chances are you'll start thinking about how you can embellish them with gemstones and beads, so I thought I'd organize a few good sources for learning those techniques in one place.
My favorite is, of course, my own. *s* I'm writing a book on embellishing chain and the first chapter of that book comes as a gift with our Earring Designer RingSet. (The booklet is not available for sale.) You can read more about the set and the book here.
I highly recommend the tutorials of Eni Oken which are available on her website.
I also highly recommend Robbie Ward's books, available at Metallique-Bijoux.
That's enough to keep anyone busy creating for a good, long while. *s*
Resources Tumblers & Stainless Steel Shot
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at 03:44PM One good source is...
Tumblers
Stainless Steel Shot
2 of the 1lb. Mixture is perfect for the 3lb Lortone.
(1 will work, it just takes longer.)
More on Tumbling
Monday, January 15, 2007 at 09:30PM I get a lot of questions about tumble polishing jewelry and I will eventually rewrite our Cleaning and Polishing page with additional information but for now, I thought I'd try to cover the questions here.
Vibratory versus Rotary
We've added a couple of vibratory tumblers since that page was written so I can now offer some comparative information. The vibratory definitely works faster. Some people claim the vibratory is more gentle and maybe it is, since everything in it shuffles around on top of the shot rather than rolling in it, but since I've never had anything, even the most delicate wire earrings or stones, damaged in a rotary, I don't know that more gentle is of any actual benefit. The vibratory is quite loud and requires a good deal more shot. Since the shot can cost more than a tumbler, this can be a bad thing. Gary prefers the vibratory tumblers because they hold a lot and they're faster but he's tumbling massive numbers of rings. I still prefer the rotary tumblers for jewelry because I'm never tumbling great quantities at once, I'm never in a huge hurry and it makes a soothing, swishy sound that isn't annoying.
Hardening: Fact or Myth?
Some people say that tumbling doesn't actually harden the metal. I know otherwise because of an experiment we did when we got our first vibratory.
Gary wanted to know how long we should tumble rings in the vibratory in order for them to match the hardness of the rings tumbled in the rotary. He tumbled four batches of 16g/4.5mm rings in increments, increasing by a half hour each time, and put cryptic labels on them so I wouldn't know which was which. I made a bit of chain using our normal rotary tumbled rings in the same size, then I worked with each of the mystery batches of rings to find the one that most closely matched the stiffness of our usual rings. I picked out the match, but I also put the mystery batches in order from the least time tumbled to the greatest, based on how hard the rings were. If the rings weren't hardened by the tumbling, I don't see how it would have been possible to order them as I did. The difference was significant enough that it was quite easy to order them correctly.
Stones and Glass
I still tumble everything I make and I still haven't had any damage... except for one small thing. I tumbled some pink mystic topaz which is actually white topaz with a coating on it that makes it pink. I forgot it was in the tumbler, left it all night, and it was white topaz when I took it out. So again, tumbling anything with a coating is risky business. It could probably tolerate a short tumble but not all night. I recommend test tumbling a single bead when it's important. I wish I'd taken my own advice on that because those earrings were really nice when they were pink. ~wry smile~