June 2, 2012

Designing vs. Selling

When I started making jewelry, I did it because I love jewelry and I wanted one of everything.  (I still do, if we're being honest here.)  And since I'm not independently wealthy I had to figure out how to make things for myself.  I made pieces that I loved, in  the colors that I love.  And then...

I had too much jewelry and friends encouraged me to sell some pieces.  Hmmm...  I could sell a few pieces to pay for more beads.  Good idea.  So I set up my online shop and started selling.  Sorta.  Items weren't flying off my virtual shelves or anything.  So I did some research.  I improved my photos and spruced up my shop a bit.  And I tried making what I thought people wanted to buy.  The "experts" said I should have a variety of colors and patterns in my shop to appeal to more buyers.  Made sense.  So I made pieces that weren't what I loved necessarily.  

And guess what - those didn't fly out of my shop, either.  By this point I was pretty much sure I was never going to make a success of the selling thing, so I went back to making things that I love.  And I discovered the secret (for me, at least):  make things that you love and be happy with what comes.  I  I'm happy sharing my things with people who appreciate them.  Life is good.

So when you look around my shop, what you'll see there is me.  Me in an elegant mood:



Or me in a playful mood:

Or me experimenting with color:

Or me playing with my favorite color:


But what you'll always see, is me.

13 comments:

  1. loved what you wrote here....I seem to do the same(only not in mini macrame)... I tend to make things that i like (unless someone asks me for a certain colour/style/size.)so glad im not the only one!and even there i tend to put in a 'little something' of me! :)

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    1. Yep, I've decided even on special orders, if I can't love it, I won't make it.

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  2. I love what you wrote. I also love what you make, everything is gorgeous.

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  3. It's taken me a long, long time to realize that I'm happiest when I only have to please myself. Great post!

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    1. I agree - and it's a strange circle... I seem to sell more when I make what I like.

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  4. I think what you wrote will resonate with many people! I've been through this process too, trying to make what people will buy comes up to bite you in the end :). you can get suggestions or even requests from customers, but in the end it's YOUR work!

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  5. I love what you wrote!!
    You work is gorgeous!!

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  6. Really well said Sherri! I might not sell much, but as long as I do what I love I'm happy, and that's what art should bring: Happiness!!

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    1. My daughter offered these words of wisdom once: it's not the goal, it's a benefit. Definitely applies to selling.

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  7. I think that your work is just gorgeous and in the end it all comes down to you being happy with it.

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I'd love to hear from you!

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