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Welcome!

This issue is full creative inspiration, plus a few money-saving ideas for jewelry artists.

I've posted some tips for creating "new" jewelry supplies and displays from the ones you already have:

• In my "Quick Tip" section below is an idea for using up the little odds and ends of supplies that are leftover after you create a piece of jewelry.


• In the "Your Profitable Jewelry Business" feature near the bottom of this issue, you'll find inspiration for putting a new face on your current jewelry displays - and turning unlikely objects into jewelry components.

And in between, there's a wealth of inspiring new jewelry tips, ideas, and stories generously shared by our creative fellow jewelry artists.

I hope this issue chases away the winter blues - and helps you prepare your jewelry business for the opportunities that abound during the Valentine season!

~ Rena

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In this Issue of
Jewelry Business Success News:

1. Quick Tip: Turn Scraps into Jewelry Components



2. New Jewelry Business Ideas and Techniques:
   - 5 new jewelry business ideas
   - 3 new jewelry display / packaging ideas
   - 7 new jewelry making ideas
   - 7 new highlights from the handmade jewelry gallery



3. Your Profitable Jewelry Business:
   Put a Crafty New Surface on Your Jewelry Components and Displays



4. Neat Jewelry-Related Website:
   Got All Your Marbles?

Quick Tip:
Turn Scraps into Jewelry Components

Finishing up a jewelry project nearly always means that we wind up with a small pile of leftover odds and ends - short pieces of wire we trimmed off of the main part of the project, a few odd beads, a small length of beading thread, a couple links of chain, etc.

Over time, these small leftovers can add up to a serious pile of jewelry-making raw materials.

I like to fiddle with making these leftovers into usable jewelry components.

They're perfect for creating things like clasps, loops, extenders, dangles, charms, links, jump rings, bails, connectors, cages, spirals, fasteners, ear hoops, earwires, etc.

The components you fashion from these bits and pieces contribute a wonderfully unique, creative aura to handmade jewelry.

If you keep a little organizer container filled up with your leftover odds and ends, you can have fun digging into it and devising some creative new jewelry components while watching TV, waiting to pick up your kids from activities, etc.

It's nice to have an array of these unique components and findings made up in advance, so you can design them into your upcoming jewelry projects.

And it's even nicer to wind up with a great new collection of jewelry supplies without spending an extra penny!

Sell Your Jewelry Like Crazy
at Shows, Fairs, and Festivals
This Year

Discover hundreds of things you can do to sell more of your handmade jewelry at shows, in my book Ultimate Guide to Your Profitable Jewelry Booth.

Get this 176-page, step-by-step resource before your next show.

Help Other Jewelry Artists

If you find my jewelry websites helpful, please help other jewelry artists find out about them.

Near the bottom of every page on my sites is a box that says "Share This Page", which makes it easy for you to link to that page or share it around the Web.

Thank you for spreading the word! :o)

New Jewelry Business
Ideas and Techniques
from My Websites and Blog:

Jewelry Business Ideas:

1. Sell More Jewelry at Home Shows
   Joanne Stow Boyington shares her tips for motivating customers to buy more jewelry at home shows.



2. Making 3,000 Sales (or More) on Etsy
   Rita Juhlin shares her research on the strategies of super-successful Etsy stores that have made 3,000+ sales. Share your thoughts on Rita's conclusions!



3. Creating Souvenir Jewelry
   How a souvenir jewelry inspiration literally struck Marieke Treloar's studio, resulting in a beautiful selection of uniquely Australian wooden rings.



4. Digital Cameras for Photographing Jewelry
   I've just updated this article with more current recommendations, plus the camera I'm now using for my jewelry photos.



5. What's Going on? Why Aren't I Selling?
   See the advice given for Diva Chick, whose cheap clients expect top jewelry items at giveaway prices.

Jewelry Display and Packaging Ideas:

1. Booth for Uniquely Beaded Jewelry
   Aymee Torres feels she needs to update her jewelry booth, but isn't sure what improvements should be made.



2. Pedestal Cake Plate Display for Earrings
   Mary found this elegant crystal solution for displaying hook-style earrings.



3. DIY Display Stand for Rosary Beads
   Mary Varilly shares her do-it-yourself solution for hanging her rosary beads in her booth - based on a display by Beth Millner.

Jewelry Making Ideas:

1. How to Create Multiple Valentine Jewelry Hearts Quickly - Using a Hydraulic Press
   Don't miss part 2 of Virginia Vivier's fabulous instructions for creating a cool line of metal jewelry - quickly and inexpensively.



2. Cleaning Your Silver Wire Before Using It
   Michelle Buettner shares this easy way to make silver wire straight, clean, and super-shiny.



3. String Small Pearls (or Other Beads) More Quickly
   Try Wanda's time-saving tip for stringing small beads.



4. Make Friends with Your Electrician
   See the great jewelry supply item Nancy Vaughan's electrician gave her for free - which sparked a new direction for Nancy's work.



5. Reclaiming Dry Art Clay Silver Before Firing
   Lisle Skriker explains how to make dried-out pieces of art silver clay pliable again.



6. Unique Way to Use Brass Connector on Seed Beaded Choker
   Sue Charette-Hood didn't know how to incorporate a required component into her piece of jewelry for a contest entry - so she brainstormed this lovely solution.



7. A Beading Thread Tip
   Dianne Culbertson shares her secret of preventing Nymo-type beading thread from tangling.

Highlights from the Handmade Jewelry Gallery:

See many more wonderful new jewelry designs in the Handcrafted Jewelry Designers' Gallery! There are too many to list here - so these are just a few of the most unique new submissions:

1. Gemstone Briolette Drink Markers
   by Angie Simonsen.



2. Papaya Bracelet
   by Paula Huckabay.



3. A Butterfly in a Field of Flowers
   by by Karol Payet.



4. Cleopatra Necklace Set
   by Bonnie Firestone.



5. Galaxy Ring
   by Stacey Peterson.



6. Three Guitar Strings Bracelet
   by Joyce Roseman.



7. African Violet Bracelet
   by Terri Wlaschin.

Share Your Jewelry Content
and Get Great Exposure

I invite you to share your jewelry photos, tips, stories, tutorials, etc. - right here on my network of jewelry websites.

It's a friendly, creative atmosphere of ideas and networking.

You'll also receive links to your jewelry business, and gain exposure in the handmade jewelry community - and beyond.

Jewelry artists often tell me that the exposure they've received on my websites has brought them valuable new connections, opportunities, and traffic!

So come on in and take advantage of all these great opportunities for sharing:

Share Your Jewelry Content

(And of course, you always keep the copyright to all of your own content that you share on my network of jewelry websites.)

Sell Your Jewelry at Trunk Shows,
Private Showings,
and as Business Gifts

Learn how to sell your handmade jewelry to this HUGE untapped market, in my book Secrets of a Handcrafted Jewelry Shopping Service.

Get this 115-page, easy-to-read guide now, and make this your best jewelry selling year ever.

Your Profitable Jewelry Business:

Put a Crafty New Surface
on Your
Jewelry Components and Displays

by Rena Klingenberg

Spraying a new surface onto an item can give it a whole new identity.

If you haven't looked into spray paints lately, they've become much more than just paint!

They've evolved into a whole new universe of spray-on surfaces.

These crafty surface options can be a wonderful way to beautify jewelry displays (especially ones that are created from repurposed or lowly items).

They can also open a new realm of possibilities for objects you can use as jewelry components.

Here are a few of the crafty finishes that come in an easy spray-on version:

• upholstery paint (put a new color and surface on fabric jewelry busts / displays / table coverings)


• stone texture paint


• hammered-metal-look surface for plastics (could be useful in displays or jewelry components)


• marble / webbing-look paint


• stained glass paint (for coloring clear glass; lots of possibilities in jewelry - especially earrings!)


• fabric paint


• stainless-steel-look finish


• puff paint


• textured paint (who would guess what unglamorous items are hiding below the surface?)


• fake blood paint (may be useful if you create vampire / Twilight themed jewels, and displays for them)


• crackle paint (adds a nice shabby-chic accent)


• metallic paint


• non-skid finish (creates non-slip surfaces; may be useful in jewelry displays)


• wood stain


• chalkboard paint (turns your surface into a chalkboard; interesting possibilities for booth signs)


• frosted glass finish (could be wonderful in jewelry)


• glitter spray


• glow in the dark paint (possibilities for kids' jewelry, or for booth elements in after-dark outdoor shows)


• mirror paint (turns clear glass into a mirror; create your own unique booth mirrors from unusual pieces of glass)


• acid-free finish (makes paper acid free / archival quality - may be useful in jewelry tags and earring cards)


• magnetic paint (lightweight magnets will stick to the surface - could be useful in jewelry displays)


• irridescent paint


• pearlescent paint

Success Tips for Spraying:

Read the can to make sure the product will work on the surface you have in mind.

Whenever possible, test-spray a scrap or small hidden area of your project before opening fire on the entire piece.

Spray outdoors or in a VERY well ventilated area, well away from curious pets and kids.

Check the air current direction before spraying - and then stand with the breeze at your back, so the spray doesn't land on you.

Windy or dusty days are not good spraying days.

Multiple thin coats of spray, well dried after each coat, often look better than one heavy coat.

You can find these spray products in craft stores, hardware stores, and home improvement stores.

Neat Jewelry-Related Website

This week's neat site is Got All Your Marbles?, a line of handmade jewelry with interchangeable marbles and gemstones.

This jewelry line is based on components that open and close to allow the wearer to change out the focal stone or marble.

The designs are attractive and cleverly devised.

Got All Your Marbles? is a great example of versatile jewelry that can be worn in different ways - which is something customers often find irresistible!

Sell Your Jewelry Online

Grow a solid base of online jewelry customers, using the step-by-step strategies you'll learn in my book Social Networking: Sell Your Jewelry Online the New Way.

Get this 192-page, step-by-step resource now, and start growing your customer base.

Network and Get Noticed
in the
Home Based Jeweler's Showcase

The Home Based Jeweler's Showcase blog is a free opportunity to promote your jewelry business and find other jewelry artists to network with.

It's published by Rita Juhlin of Private Stock Jewelry.

To add your jewelry business to the Showcase - please email Rita Juhlin, at HomeBasedJewelers @ gmail.com .

SURVEY:
How Can I Make This Newsletter
Better for You?

If you haven't yet responded to my quick survey, I welcome your input!

Please take the survey here to give me your suggestions and feedback so I can make this newsletter a better resource for you.

I grant as many wishes as possible! :o)

Thanks so much.

My Jewelry Business Websites
and RSS Feeds

This newsletter highlights some of the latest jewelry business tips and techniques from my websites:

Home Jewelry Business Success Tips

Jewelry Display Ideas

Making Jewelry Now

Jewelry Business Blog

Each of these sites also has its own RSS feed. Look for the orange RSS symbol on the left-hand column of each of these sites to get the feed.

Thanks so much for joining me
for this issue of
"Jewelry Business Success News"!

~ May your jewelry journey be fun and prosperous ~

Contact Rena