Having a Jewelry Busines in Country Australia

by Ines
(Bakers Hill, WA, Australia)

Some of my Jewelry

Wedunit Jewels, Western Australia

Listening to some of my fellow jewelry artisans from all over the world, I sometimes get just a little jealous.

I hear about courses to learn different techniques, arts and craft markets, gemstone shows etc. and out here where I am, there is - nothing.

If there are markets, they are stuffed with cheap mass produced jewelry, no courses to learn anything and certainly no venue to buy gemstones or other materials.

All I do, I have to do online. All gemstones/materials, I have to import which is rather pricey. All techniques, I have to teach myself and when it comes to selling, I had to learn a lot about internet marketing etc.

Things move slow, but they do move :-), but just sometimes, I get a bit jealous.

Ines
Wedunit Jewels

Comments for
Having a Jewelry Busines in Country Australia

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Having Patience
by: Anonymous

You have beautiful work !
I feel as you do ... However , that " Diamond "
so to speak , is somewhere out there to be
discovered !

Persistence is Key!
by: Kim

Your persistence is a very important quality to have when it comes to crafting and selling jewelry. There are very good tutorials on some websites, such as artbeads.com and firemountaingems.com. You can learn a lot through those websites. Just keep learning and see where it takes you! Good luck!

Thank you
by: Ines, Wedunit Jewels

Thank you for your comments.

I agree, you have to be persistent (I have been selling online for about 6 years now and it's about the 4th or so website we built...) and yes, tutorials, books and other websites are what we have to make use of.

I hear you:)
by: Gina

I also am a self taught jewelry artist -i had to rely on tutorials and alot of practice. I took a long time for me to get the confidence to think my jewelry was "good enough." I am there and moving forward, i am hoping for great things!
Stay positive and persue your passion!

Gina
www.asplashofchic.com

Being Outside of the Mainstream
by: Rena

Hi Ines,

I think your jewels are beautiful - a lot of your work is in a style I would totally wear. Love your website too - very nicely done. Although you feel you're outside of the mainstream, you've done an impressive job of making the most of what you have. You have a very professional presence and a lovely line of jewelry!

Thank you, Rena
by: Ines, Wedunit Jewels

Thank you for your kind words, Rena and thank you for providing such a great site and wonderful newsletters.

Markets, here and there
by: Tracy May

I(a Canadian) am married to an Australian and used to live there and I know exactly the kind of market you refer to(here we call it a flea market).
What you need to find (or even develop) is a juried show,where one must provide proof that their work is handmade, and manufactured items are not allowed. Even school fetes and church bazaars might be venues for you. Donations to silent auctions for charities is another way to get your name out. Perhaps getting the local paper to do an article on you and your work would help(interestingly enough,I have been at shows where an artist has been "in the news" and seen first hand how that lends some sort of allure to her work, and seen people flock to her display while ignoring a similar one nearby!Fascinating.
Have you thought of using uniquely Australian gemstones or themes?
As for shops, well here in the greater Toronto area, there are many, but some of them are just awful, the drive, gas, parking and lunch out are costly, so I find I order mainly online also!
Your work is lovely and I wish you every success!
Tracy (Whimsy Jewellery Design)

In the same boat
by: Maureen

I am very impressed with your jewellery, great design elements.
I can truly sympathize with having to be mainly self taught, buying all supplies via the internet. I am in New Zealand and it is harder to get the things one wants as it is a small country and marketing is another difficult area.
But we artisans are stubborn people and we do keep going. Keep your chin up and you will make it - your jewellery speaks for itself.

Thank you for your lovely comments
by: Ines, Wedunit Jewels

Some great suggestions there, Tracy. Thank you. I do the donations and have thought about the juried show and local newspaper article. I will look into that more closely.

I have tried contact with a local opal miner etc., but the sad thing is, the gemstones are more expensive buying here than overseas...

@ Maureen
My dream is to go and visit the Tucson gem show at some stage, wouldn't you love that :-).

Hopefully we can all enjoy lots of business success soon.

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