Handmaiden

Silver Sensation

For a favourite friend I recently made this bracelet  for a special milestone birthday. Grey freshwater pearls and silver seed beads and sterling silver clasp. She's going to love it.

Sharon

Jet Black

While in Melbourne I seem to concentrate on my jewellery making as my sewing machine is in Singapore

This is the Celine bracelet in opaque jet black with sterling silver toggle clasp

 

 

Fern Bracelet using Czech glass drops and Tara Swarovski pearl necklace in Silver

 

 

Hope you like them

Sharon

 

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Melbourne Craft Diaries - Pearls, Pearls, Pearls

Did you know that most freshwater pearls are cultured pearls (human intervention) and that China is the main supplier of freshwater pearls?

Freshwater pearls come in different shapes, sizes and colours such as

Potatoe Pearls

 

Rice Pearls

   

Round Pearls

images thanks to Topearl

Akoya or saltwater pearls are nearly almost perfectly round which makes them perfect for matching in a strand. They have a better lustre and are more valuable..... and are also cultured and originally from Japan although now cultured in China and elsewhere

 

image thanks to pearl guide 

South Sea Pearls are typically much bigger and we have the best known Paspaley pearls in Australia. Have a look at a tour round their harvesting facilities and great photos of their fab pearls here.

I just love these pair - perfectly round south sea pearls with one carat diamond....one can dream!

Tahitian pearls are extremely rare and are harvested around Tahiti and the French Polynesian islands and are naturally dark in colour. For a look at how it's done stream this video here on pearl farming.

 

I have been hand stringing this Pebble bracelet with freshwater pearls and Toho seed beads(Japanese beads)........these pearls are from China.

 

 

I really love pearls

 

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Sharon

Pearly Whites

I made these Pearl Drop Earrings last night..........part of a range that I am working on for my Etsy store. I am continuing to develop and play around with my range. I am also taking some of my own advice on product development and pricing for Etsy.

UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT

I have not blogged about Range Development before but its important. If you offer something that is unique and different then you can set your own price within reason. You still need to be doing your research on competitive offerings and price points. You are in the gift giving market and your consumer will have an upper limit on what they are prepared to pay. A consumer can easily swap from $15 earrings to a brooch, wallet or scarf...... so what's unique and different about your range or item?

OPENING PRICE POINT

Within your range development you need to be offering alternative price points to attract a wider market. Have you thought about your opening price point? Something to entice your consumer to try you out. Maybe you are a new Etsy/Madeit trader with no history. Offer a good opening price point to entice new consumers who don't know whether to trust you or not. Then build up from there. Keep it simple. Have a number of key price points so consumers can trade up.

RANGE PRICING

Sometimes it's important to show a complete range across a number of price points to show that you are a player in a particular category. You might do most of your sales in the lower price point but when a consumer is looking for a more special gift they may come back to you for a higher price point if you offer one. Typically you may do 80% of your business turnover from only 20% of your items. So you can't afford to be out of those items. You may also find that only certain colourways within a price point or range sell. This is normal.

Remember to constantly evaluate what's working, what isn't and how I could do things better.

Sharon

Spiral Pearls

I am slowly finishing lots of my projects. I started this Spiral necklace in March and have been doing it in between everything else. It has taken many hours to do at a guess I would say close to 15. Over 200 Swarovski pearls and sterling silver seed beads.

Its quite a statement piece to wear for evening. It may look heavy but its not at all and I wasn't sure whether I liked it as I was making it, but now its finished I do. I used a spiral pattern and just to give you a view as to how one pattern even in beading can look totally different when using different colours, textures and beads...............no different to sewing, I am showing you 3 different designs using the same pattern

Grey Swarovski Pearl Necklace

Freshwater pearls and metallic seed beads bracelet

Tiny pearls and seed bead necklace

Sharon

Pearl and Crystal Earrings

These drop earrings are really easy to make yet look very special

I am currently working on this spiral necklace

I am using the same size Swarovski crystal pearls plus silver plated seed beeds to link it all together. I have used over 100 pearls already and I might need 50 more to get the right length.

See Pearls, Pearls, Pearls

Happy Beading

Sharon

Pearls, Pearls, Pearls

I love these Swarovski pearls. The first is a a gorgeous pewter colour that I can wear as a long opera length or double up into a multi-strand. I made a light grey drop earring to match ( I dont like too matchy matchy). The other strand is pale pink that is more traditional.

I have used freshwater pearls to make this spiral bracelet known as "Yoga Beach." In fact I just used leftovers from my bead stash..............yes I have a bead stash and a fabric stash