New Tools

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am like a kid on Christmas morning when I get new tools in the mail!!! 

I had the BEST day today because I got to put out all of the new tools I have gotten in the last couple of weeks.  I haven't been spending much time at the studio lately because during the summer months I have my 13 year old grandson with me during the week, and he just isn't too much into watching Grandma work on jewelry! 

Anyway, I finally had a day to myself so I high tailed it over here to the studio this morning and started unpacking boxes.  Oh, what a fun time I had!! 

I set up my jump ring maker and disc cutter: 

Then I set up my new drill press

I also have a new flex shaft, but I couldn't put it up today because - silly me - I didn't order the stand for it!!  Got that ordered today, so hopefully will have it up and running soon!

My darling hubby got the vent hood installed last week, so now I can vent out some of those yucky smells that occur when you are torching things. 

I am holding my first class in the studio next Saturday, July 9th - Metal etching!!  I am so excited that it is finally coming together and becoming what I had dreamed of. 

I can't wait for tomorrow because then I will actually have time to play with all of my new tools!!!!

Open Letter To Etsy

I am posting this open letter to Etsy that was written by a team member of the Aspiring Metalsmiths Team.  It is absolutely unbelievable what Etsy has done to this lady.  She has (had) an amazing shop with over 2000 sales and never a negative feedback or complaint.  THEY CLOSED HER SHOP!!!  All on the word of 1 customer who had already posted positive feedback for the product she received. 

Please read the letter and you will see the entire chain of events.  If you are as shocked - and mad- as I am about the way this amazing Etsy shop owner is being treated, copy and post this letter on your blog.   It seems that the only way Etsy is going to listen is if this thing goes viral and they end up with a lot of really pissed off shop owners. 

Dear Etsy,
As much as I hate to bring our personal business into the public realm, you really have given me no choice. Phone calls, emails, and a fax have gone unanswered.

Here are the facts as backed up by transaction #, feedback left, and times and dates of convo's:
Jan 25th, 2011 - Transaction ID 42491682 - Sterling Silver Hammered Cuff Bracelet was ordered by buyer. It was shipped on 1/28./11 via USPS 1st Class Mail International.
Many convo's back and forth regarding shipping delay due to horrible weather on the east coast, and Canadian customs. I felt so bad about the shipping delay, and while she seemed to understand and was a congenial customer, I offered to send her a free sterling cuff as I felt bad about the delay. Sent new bracelet on 2/13/11.
Feb 17, 2011  - Positive feedback left for transaction:
"BUYER"says:                                               
Item was delayed in shipping but that was beyond sellers control. She compensated for the delay and was an open communicator. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from her store again.
At the time, I felt I was being played, as she suddenly received the 1st bracelet after I shipped the 2nd free bracelet. I thought "Oh Well, live and learn".

March 9, 2011 - received convo from buyer that free bracelet had not arrived. Told her to please let me know when it arrived.

May 4, 2011 - Received a very rude convo from buyer saying she still had not received her free bracelet. (2 months later??)

May 4, 2011 - Buyer files a dispute with Etsy. Dispute uses transaction ID# for the original piece she purchased, received, loved, and left positive feedback for.

May 4th - May 31, 2011 - Many replies on dispute page between buyer and seller. She was rude, defametory, and liable. She will not close the case until I send her another bracelet.

June 1, 2011 - Etsy closed my shop due to the dispute.

June 1 , 2011 to present - Many emails to etsy support, phone messages left on Etsy's voicemail, and a fax sent to their fax number - no response whatsoever.

I have tried really hard not to become angry over this. Everytime I log on to Etsy, I get a notice telling me my shop has been suspended, and to please check my email for more details. I have checked my email, my spam folder, etc - and have not received a single email from Etsy regarding this issue (other than the updates to the Claim posted by the buyer). When I go to read the forum for my metalsmithing team, there is a message that tells me "You don't have permission to participate in this discussion." - talk about demeaning. One would think that Etsy would at least evaluate a complaint for merit before closing down a successful shop with over 2000 sales, and over 1200 positive feedback. The buyer has 6 feedback, and should be banned for falsifying a claim, if not for her vitriolic, abusive convo's.

Etsy, I want to believe that no one there knows what is going on - that this is all some kind of automated computer program thing. I will really be angry if I find out that there is someone there that knows the details of this mess, and is choosing to allow it to continue. Part of being in a handmade community is actually being human. Maybe I should just go over to artfire and market myself there, as well as let all my 2000 buyers know why I left Etsy. I don't want to be that kind of person, but I feel my hand is being forced by your unresponsiveness. After 3 years, I deserve a response.

Regards,
Steph

Artfire Shop

Sales have completely tanked lately on etsy, so we are trying another site called Artfire.  I have attached a link to the right that will take you to our Artfire Shop.  We are also keeping our etsy shop for now.  I will be adding new products to both shops. 

I have really become disillusioned with etsy.  They just keep changing everything and most of the changes have not been for the betterment of the sellers, which I don't understand at all as etsy was started for that very purpose.  It would seem that a lot of these changes would be shooting themselves in the foot because if we don't sell, they don't make as much money either.  I don't understand why, when something is working, the powers to be can't just leave it alone.  Why do they feel that they have to keep changing everything? 

Anyway, we are starting to look for other avenues to sell our jewelry and will be looking at starting our own website in the hopefully near future.  So for now, please check out both our etsy shop and our Artfire shop for wonderful new jewelry pieces. 

We want to thank our truly wonderful and loyal customers who continue to support our effort.  It gets very discouraging at times when the sales just don't happen, but then we do a local show and our wonderful customers arrive and give us such amazing feedback and buy new pieces of jewelry and we feel encouraged again.  Thank you. 

Something New

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  I had a good day.  I did something today that I NEVER do.  I got up, cooked breakfast for my husband and then I went back to bed!  I didn't get up until 11 am!  That felt so good.  I have been pushing myself pretty hard getting ready for The Burlap Harlot Show and Roses and Rust, and I just ended up absolutely exhausted. 

I spent the afternoon sewing, which is something I don't do much of anymore.  Not because I don't like to sew, I actually love to sew, but because I just never have time.  I want to have some new and fun things to sell at the upcoming shows - something besides jewelry, so I spent the afternoon making adorable burlap gift bags.  The ones I made today are small, about 5" x 8".  I plan on making some a little larger if I can find the time.  They aren't quite done - I still have to put handles on them, so I am not posting a picture yet. 

I spent yesterday doing something new too.  I was just burned out on making jewelry and I was sitting in the studio staring at a basket full of vintage flatware wondering what I could do with the larger pieces.  I decided to pound the heck out of them and flatten them.  Then I heated them and turned the handles up to make a hook.  I stamped words on them and they became hooks for various items.  I will also be selling these at The Burlap Harlot Show and Roses and Rust.  I have another idea that I will work on tomorrow. 

I had a couple of other ideas pop into my head today too.  I'm excited to be doing something New. 

Creative Idea Theft

CREATIVE IDEA THEFT



I decided to do an article for our blog about "Creative Idea Theft", because as artisans we will all deal with having our ideas stolen at some point. It is so frustrating to have this happen because you put so much of yourself into your creative thinking. To have someone come along and look at what you have done and go "Oh I love that, I'm going to do it", and then they turn around and make and sell the very same thing, is very disheartening.
I have had people say that I should take it as a compliment that someone likes my designs enough to copy them.......well I don't.........I look at it as theft.

And that's not to say that it isn't ok to follow trends and styles or to see a "look" that you like and then come up with your own designs in relation to that style, but to "copy" what someone else has spent time and mental energy on is just wrong. It's very unprofessional and unethical.

How can we protect ourselves from this? Unfortunately, it is almost impossible. You cannot copyright an idea, only a tangable product and to get a copyright for each and everything you make would be expensive and very time consuming. So, I guess all we can do is hope that there are not too many unethical people out there.

I know everytime I do a show there will be at least one person that says to their friend, "Oh, I can make that". They probably won't though - at least not to sell. But for people who are in the business of selling what they make and they turn around and start selling what they have copied -- it's just wrong.

My First Bezel

I have been doing a happy dance all afternoon!!  I have been wanting to learn how to make a bezel and set stones for a long time, but have always been afraid to try it.  Well, today I said to heck with it, the worst I can do is ruin a piece of copper.  So, I went for it.  

I had a piece of copper that I had already designed and etched, so I measured the bezel wire around my stone, cut it and filed the ends.  Next was the soldering.  Mind you, I am not very good at soldering yet, but it worked perfectly!!!  So, by this time I am feeling pretty darn good.  

Next it was time to solder the bezel to the copper piece...........oh my, I was getting scared.  I put both pieces into the pickle solution to get them really clean, centered the bezel and added the flux and solder.  I remembered that I needed to heat the entire piece evenly and as I was moving my torch around the piece the solder melted and flowed like a river!!  Oh my gosh, I had done it!!!  

This would be happy dance time!  I was so excited!!  

Ok, so I had to calm myself down because there was still one very important element to this project..............the stone had to fit.  It did!!! 

Another happy dance!!!  

I know my piece is not perfect, but to me it's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!!!  I can't wait to do it again.