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Saturday, January 31, 2015

Mousie Sale! 35%, 50%, 70% off!

The cats are away, and the mice are trying to make room for all the goodies that are coming back!

So the mice have picked out some favourites for some simply dazzling deals! Too tasty to pass up on!


27750300200001 Swarovski Bead - 18 mm Lucerna (5030) - Crystal (1)
Let these Lantern-inspired Lucernas light up your designs - at the dazzling sale price of 50% off!




27753101001002 Swarovski Bead - 4.5 mm Simplicity Cut (5310) - Crystal Golden Shadow (1)Less is more and more is Simplicity.
Keep it simple with Simplicity Spacers - 35% off!


 
s30140 Swarovski Fancy Stone -  Crystal Letters (Article 4889) - H (1)Crystal Letters - letters from home, letters from the sky - how about 70% off Swarovski Letter rhinestones! 

And if that doesn't spell it out for you, how about these vertical letter cubes? 50% off!

 
s27587 Lampwork Bead Accessories -  Vertical Letter to fit Bead Pen - B (1)





And if you are thinking about a special centerpiece to go with your seedbeads - the mice are putting out these Swarovski Fancy stones - the big, the bold, the beautiful - rhinestones with real estate at a dazzling 50% off!
s37059 Swarovski Fancy Rhinestones - 18.5 x 27 mm Faceted Rectangle Cut (4627) - Chrysolite (1)
Quantities may be limited, so trap yourself some deals (never say "trap" to a mouse!).

The Business Chat - Step 1: Know what you sell

So you have made a pile of work and now you need to sell it. How hard can it be? It’s really easy to sell a few things here and there, but oh, you made a BIG pile. Oh, you want to actually make some money, you might even want to make things for a living. Well that’s still not hard but it takes a bit of smarts. 

Step one of how to sell your work is: Know what you sell.

Most new sellers will blink, and then wonder if this is a trick question. That’s easy, you think, I made a sweater/pot/earrings/pillow. That’s what I sell.

No.

That is your product.

People don’t buy products. People buy solutions.

It’s your job as a salesperson to figure out what their problem is and then position your work as the solution to their problem.

I hear you muttering away, just as I did when I first heard this. “There’s no problem, they just want earrings/mittens/art.” I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, if a customer just wanted earrings they’d go to a mall. The customer has sought out (through a craft show or online) HANDMADE earrings.

Time after time in my booth I hear, “wow, there’s so much talent here, I wish I could do something like this.” Are you listening? The customer’s problem is that they think they can’t create, that they aren’t artistic. And they think you are. The customer is looking for a creative story.

You need to sell you as a story. Give them a fully formed real live 3D artist. If you’re selling online presenting you the artist lends your work authenticity and depth. For those at a craft show I can guarantee at least 10 times a day you’ll be asked something along the lines of “how long have you been doing this?” or “where did you learn?”.

It’s hard when you’re starting out and haven’t yet fully claimed the word artist as you. Some people never really know what to say and just hum and fidget. But you, the savvy craftista, will be ready to continue the conversation and communicate your story. For communication is marketing and marketing leads to sales.

The second step to solving your customers’ problems is to communicate to them why your product will make their life better. This is explaining the benefits of your work, not the features.

While features are important and should be mentioned, if you want your customer to take out their wallets and hand over their hard-earned money you need to convince them of the benefits your product offers.

What’s the difference between a feature and a benefit?

- A feature is simply a characteristic of a product.
- A benefit explains what the customer has to gain by using the product.

The features are about the product. The benefits are about the customer.
Anyone can make a list of a product’s features. But it takes a bit of work to convert each of those features into benefits. A handy trick you can use is to add the phrase “which means…” to the end of each feature.

For example: a pair of mittens
Feature – made with 100% handspun wool.
Benefit – your hands stay warm and cozy.
“These are my beautiful mittens. I make them with 100% handspun wool which means your hands will always be warm and cozy.”

Feature - costs less 
Benefit - saves you money
Feature - comes in multiple colors 
Benefit - reflects your personality

Here’s your homework for this week. 

To get you started pick up your notebook and spend some time answering these questions on paper. Write several paragraphs on each question. If you feel too self-conscious at first write about yourself in the third person until you get the details down. Learn to spin your story.

  1. How did you become an artist?
  2. How did you learn your skill?
  3. What training have you had? Have you studied with any big names? Taken a course at a well-known school?
  4. How long have you been making your current work?
  5. What did you make before this?
  6. What was your creative path?
  7. What is it about your current work/technique that lights your fire? Why do you do it?
  8. What new techniques do you want to learn? What’s in your artistic future?
  9. What do you love most about being an artist?

Now, take 10 of your “products”. Write down the features of each product. At the end of the features list add the words “which means” and write the benefits.

Go.


Friday, January 30, 2015

On sale this week! 25% off Czech and Japanese seed beads!

On Sale
this
Week - 2 weeks actually!

25% off

Seedbeads!

The Cats are
Away,
the Mice
will play
Sale!

6540305 Czech Seedbeads - 6/0 Seedbead - Sea Serpent Mix (20 grams)

sale runs till
Feb 11
midnight!!
More time to
shop!

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Mousey Confusion is a Good Bargain for you.

Never send a mouse to do a cat's job!

The mice got confused setting up the sale last night ... and put the

34760391023001 Swarovski Fancy Stone - 38 mm Disk (6039) - Crystal Copper (1)Fancy Stones on sale,

instead of the Fancy RHINEstones.

Sheesh - you can't hire good mice anymore!

s39488 Swarovski - Rhinestones - 23 mm Faceted Square (4675) - Crystal AB (1) But what the heck - let's put 'em both on sale and let you sort them out!

So, you decide, do you want Fancy Stones or Fancy STONES? Or, like Iggy Azalea, are you so fancy, you'll take both?  ;-) 50% off - you don't have to be fancy with a deal like that!




The Cats are away ...

The mice gonna have some fun!

tb11r904 Japanese Seedbeads - 11/0 Toho Seedbeads - Apricot CeylonThe Fearless Beader has headed off to Tucson for the annual bead extravaganza. She left the mice at home. The mice are going to get even.

What goodies have the mice got this week?
tb15r22 Japanese Seedbeads - 15/0 Toho Seedbeads - Silver Lined Light TopazThe mice love their num-nums, and this week, its Apricot Ceylon, Peach Blush, Butter, Lemon, and Tomato Soup! And if those 11/0 Toho seedbeads weren't enough for you, there is also size 15/0 Toho Seedbeads - for the mousie on a diet! 46 tb15r1829 Japanese Seedbeads - 15/0 Toho Seedbeads - Inside Colour Peridot / Jet Lustrenew choices - so, as diets go, perhaps something of a failure!


Back in the bigger beads, size db1842f Delicas - 11/0 Japanese Cylinders - Galvanized Matte Dark Copper [Duracoat] (5 grams)11/0 Delicas ... it's Delicas in Duracoat! The Duracoat is a more durable colour, so for those Galvanized colours, in applications like bracelets, where they get more wear, the Duracoat Delicas give you more options! From Matte Chocolate Bronze to Matte Champagne to Matte Cinnamon to Matte Cranberry and Matte Silver Lemon, the mice are partying hearty!


What else have those crazy mice been up to? Well - they decided to have a sale! A sale on seedbeads! All the seedbeads, 25% off - (including the new stuff!) - so stock up!





More Mouseplay!


Not content with just putting the seedbeads on sale - the mice have picked out some favourites for some simply dazzling deals!
27750300200001 Swarovski Bead - 18 mm Lucerna (5030) - Crystal (1)There's a light! (over at the Frankenstein place)
There's a light (burning in the fireplace)
There's a light, light, in the darkness of everybody's life
Let these Lantern-inspired Lucernas light up your designs - at the dazzling sale price of 50% off!




27753101001002 Swarovski Bead - 4.5 mm Simplicity Cut (5310) - Crystal Golden Shadow (1)Simplicity, it works for me
It keeps me beadin' hard ...
Keep it simple with Simplicity Spacers - 35% off!


 
s30140 Swarovski Fancy Stone -  Crystal Letters (Article 4889) - H (1)Crystal Letters - letters from home, letters from the sky - how about 70% off Swarovski Letter rhinestones! 



And if that doesn't spell it out for you, how about these vertical letter cubes? 50% off!

 
s37059 Swarovski Fancy Rhinestones - 18.5 x 27 mm Faceted Rectangle Cut (4627) - Chrysolite (1)
And if you are thinking about a special centerpiece to go with your seedbeads - the mice are putting out these Swarovski Fancy stones - the big, the bold, the beautiful - rhinestones with real estate at a dazzling 50% off! 


Quantities may be limited, so trap yourself some deals (never say "trap" to a mouse!)


Click on a link or an image to go directly to the items, or review all the new items here!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Lampwork studio

the Lampwork studio is closed today and Thursday for equipment maintenance/upgrade. We will keep you posted, call before heading in to use the torches!


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

You'll Love our February Classes!

There's lots to love in February - Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, the Super Bowl... What? No Let's Make Jewellery Day? Well, no matter - we can make jewellery everyday!

We have three NEW classes in early February. Bonni shares her chainmaille expertise with a Japanese weave bracelet that incorporates crystals. If you're into wire, then you'll love Jen's new bracelet. Cindy is back with a new technique - forging! Discover how easy it can be to work with fire and bronze wire.

Of course we have lots of returning classes too. Those who have taken a soldering class can challenge their skills with Iris' bangle class. Anne Marie will show you how to bead embroider a 3-D form as well as create beautiful pendants with mixed media. Barbara is sharing her love of polymer clay and Pamela is teaching a beading stitch that is said to have originated in Russia. And there is still more!

Here are the classes scheduled February 1 - 15:

Sunday, February 1
Polymer Clay Pendant
Instructor: Barbara Colautti
11:30am - 4:30pm






Friday, February 6
NEW Crystal 8-in-2 Chainmaille Bracelet
Instructor: Bonni Poch
6:00 - 9:00pm




Saturday, February 7
Intro to Lampworking: Part B
Instructor: Amy Waldman-Smith
10:00 - 2:30pm

Nature's Muse: Beaded Art Doll
Instructor: Anne Marie Desaulniers
10:00am - 5:00pm


Hot Connections: Bangles
Instructor: Iris Rogers Melamed
10:30am - 4:30pm








Sunday, February 8
Exploring the World of Altered Dominos
Instructor: Anne Marie Desaulniers
10:00am - 5:00pm

NEW Wire Wrapping: Cubed Bangle
Instructor: Jen Rosen
11:30am - 2:30pm

Thursday, February 12
St. Petersburg Bracelet and Earrings
Instructor: Pamela Kearns
6:00 - 9:00pm



Friday, February 13
Open Metal Studio: Metalwork
Facilitator: Cindy Goldrick
5:00 - 8:00pm




Saturday, February 14
NEW Hot Forged Bronze Cuff
Instructor: Cindy Goldrick
10:00am - 1:00pm

Zig Zag Diamond Bracelet
 Instructor: Sureka Sriharan
1:00 - 4:00pm

The Basics of Enamelling
Instructor: Cindy Goldrick
2:00 - 5:00pm

For complete information about our classes and open sessions, including course descriptions, and class and kit fees, is found on our website. Click on classes and follow the links to the February class calendar.


Bring your projects and join us at our FREE open bead opportunities:

Wednesday, February 4
Open Bead Night
Facilitator: BeadFX staff members Bonnie Cottingham, Pamela Kearns or Malliga Nathan
6:00 - 8:00pm

Thursday, February 5
Thursday, February 12
Afternoon Bead Tea
Facilitator: Pamela Kearns
1:00 - 3:00pm

BeadFX is proud to offer these FREE sessions. In return we ask that you use our merchandise in our facility. Thank you.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

InspirationFX: Be-Leaf



InspirationFX

Get your creative juices flowing


Be-Leaf
by: Rae Huggins
I be-leaf in spring, I be-leaf in spring - oh, please - let it be spring soon!

In the mean time - here is a springy little number, inspired by these metal components. I thought that linking the three dangles together would be just a little bit more interesting than just having three separate dangles. That's why I doubled up the jumprings too - for a bit more variety.

The two pieces of leather are a bit of a tight fit in the tube, it helps to get one through as a start, and then stuff the other one in and drag it through with the first one.

I think the leafy crimp is a nice touch too, to match the leaf theme of the dangles. It always looks so coordinated when you can carry the theme through to the findings!

Enjoy!


















 

Components

Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need!
Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

The Business Chat - 10 steps to selling your work

Boy is my inbox full lately! Too bad they aren’t the “You’ve received a new order” emails, but hey, it is January so no one is really expecting those. No, most of the emails are “gee, it’s a new year and this year I really want to sell my sweaters/earrings/soap/pottery. I saw you at a show and thought you might be able to help me. Tell me how to sell my work.”

The answer is yes, I can try to help. 

I can tell you about how I got to where I am, and I can outline some steps that you must take. What I can’t do is make the decisions for you, or give you a magic bullet. I got to where I am by persistence and hard work. Harder than it needed to be because when I started there weren’t all these resources online. Persistence because there is no overnight success, there is no quick and dirty way to sell $10,000 by next month. It takes time. It also takes a lot of work you probably didn’t realize or don’t want to do. Simply making your work is not enough. You need to market it in order to sell it. And selling it is why you are here isn’t it?

So, in a nutshell here is how to sell your work.

1. Know what you sell.

What do you sell? Not sweaters/earrings/soap/pottery, you sell you the artist,  you sell magic, you sell a story.

2. Know who you are trying to sell it to.

Know your target market, exactly. You can’t be everything to everybody and you’re wasting your time trying. Find only those who LOVE you and talk to them.

3. Find a place to connect with those people.

Do your research and find where your people are and where they shop. 

4. Tell those people what you sell.

Great product descriptions. Great photos. Tell the story behind your work. How you make it. Why you make it. 

5. Let them know how your product will make their lives so much better.

Benefits not features. No one cares what the item is, they care about how it will make their life better.

6. Make it easy for them to give you money.

Once they think your work is going to change their lives, how do they get it? Do you have an online store with a nice clear shopping cart, a big screaming green “BUY NOW” button? Can they come to a craft show, are you in stores?

7. Exchange their money for your work with a giant smile and a big thank you.

Customer service is everything.  

8. Let them know how they can come back and buy more.

Repeat business is critical to your success.

9. Keep in touch.

A second sale is so much easier than the first. They’ve already told you they like you. Don’t ignore them. Say hi.

10. Repeat. Over. And over. And over.


Each of these points is a whole story in itself. So sit back amigos, over the next few weeks I’m going to tell you about all these things.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

A Tiny Flat - Overlooking a Twisted Square


s43428 Shaped Glass - 3 x 5 mm Tiny Flats - Miami Coral (20 grams)It was a tiny flat, only 3 x 5, and although it was painted a cheery s10884 Flat Cut Tablet - 9 x 12 mm Beveled Oval - Coffee House (1)Miami Coral, the dense Grey Fog had taken the shimmer out of her Dark Sapphire eyes.

Kelly Green watched a Beetle Back crawl up the wall, and idly munched on some Party Mix. She thought of going out to the Coffee House, but it just seemed too much for her her Beveled Flat Heart.

Suddenly she heard the voice of the Old Coppers43425 Flat Cut Tablet - 16 mm Beveled Flat Heart - Aqua (1) in the Twisted Square, outside hers43455 Charm/Pendant - Delicate Dragonfly - Sterling Silver (1) window. "Shark, Shark," he called, and she heard the clip-clop of hooves - a sound that had not rung on the cobblestones for years! She ran to the window, and saw a Mint Unicorn dancing across the square. She stared in wonder, as a Delicate Dragonfly swooped down over the square and dropped a load of Wild Limes. With a roar and a splash and a gurgle, Seafoam Givre AB poured into the square, washing away the grey. She could see a Mermaid splashing in the water, carrying aloft two glasses and a bottle of Champagne AB.

The water rose higher and higher in the square, and she could hear the patter of dog paws from the apartment above, and then a splash, and then an owl swooshed down to land on a limb that was now growing out the side of her building. s43452 Charm/Pendant - Dog Paw Prints - Sterling Silver (1)"Come," said the owl, in a surprisingly high-pitched voice. The owl stared at her with glowing eyes that looked more like Cat's Eyes. By now, the water had come up to the window sill. The mermaid, who did not look the slightest bit distressed,  swam over and rested on the sill. "Have you seen the Sandman," she asked? Kelly shook her head, "No," - unable to find any words. "Oh," said the mermaid, disappointed, and she grew parrot wings and flew away, a little lopsidedly, as one was bigger than the other. She had left a glass of Champagne on the window sill, however, and Kelly reached for it, and took a sip.

Just as she did, there was a loud knocking at her front door. She turned to answer it, and standing in the doorway was a tall, shadowy figure. "Aha," said the tall man, "I am the Sandman, was there just a mermaid here for me?" "Why, yes," Kelly squeaked in surprise, "But she just flew away." "Oh dear," said the Sandman, clearly disappointed. "What is this," Kelly asked, gesturing to the Silver Lined Aqua that was lapping at her third floor windowsill. Is this a flood?" "A flood!" cried the Sandman, "Mais non, not at all. This is only a Spring Leek." And he ran to the window, his footsteps making a loud pounding noise as he ran. Dimly, she heard him call as he dove through the window and into the Emeraud et Sapphos sea that lapped at her window, "Miss, Miss! It's Building Maintenance! s43411 Flat Cut Tablet - 8 x 12 mm Rectangle - Sandman (1)You called about the broken pipes ... . "


Hope you are having a better day than Miss Kelly Green and her plumbing problems! Click on a link or image above or check out all our new items.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

It's a bird - it's a plane ...

It's just one more day to get 20% off our fabulous selection of over 360 colours of SuperDuos.

The hot new shape that is sweeping the beading world.

You know you WANT them!

20% off

SuperDuos!

s34611 Czech Seedbeads - 2 Hole Superduos - Olive Jade

Try out these

two-hole shaped

beads!

Sale ends next Wed midnight.
Items held in shopping cart
will change price automatically at
midnight.

Discovering more about: Soldering Sterling Silver



Bangles
What is soldering? Soldering is simply joining two (or more) pieces of metal together using an alloy of that metal, called solder. An alloy (a combination of the metal plus another metal) is used because the goal is to flow (or melt) the solder before the piece melts. While there are other methods to connect pieces of metal, soldering is the most precise and, if done properly, leaves no mark on the piece soldered.

Iris Rogers Melamed has developed a series of ‘Hot Connections’ classes exclusively for BeadFX, taking students from the basics of soldering through more advanced techniques. Each class has projects that both teach and result in great pieces of jewellery!

Double Dome Metal Beads
Iris also incorporates other metalsmithing skills such as sawing, piercing and filing into the curriculum. Sterling silver is the main metal used for projects especially in the introductory classes, but other base metals, such as copper, are included in the “Mixed Metals” classes.

“The Hot Connections 1: Intro to Soldering class offers a great foundation and understanding of soldering”, says Iris. “Many students come into their first class intimidated by the whole process and uneasy about using a torch. Once they realize that everything is explained and demonstrated in a logical manner they start to relax and enjoy themselves. As I say many times, this is really a hands-on class – my hands on yours guiding when needed.”

Bezel-set Ring
There is a strong emphasis on safety in Iris’ classes, not only for using the torches and tools in the studio, but also for setting up an in-home soldering station.

“Once you master the basics of soldering,” adds Iris, “a whole new world of jewellery making opens up. One of the reasons I teach is seeing the thrill the students have when they have successfully soldered their pieces.”

After taking the Hot Connections 1 class, students progress to Hot Connections: Bangles and then on to the other classes. Other projects include the Spinner Ring, the Interlocking Ring, Double Dome Metal Beads; and Bezel Set Rings and Pendants expand the students' skills even more.

Mixed Metals
Iris has added a weekday afternoon Hot Connections 1: Intro to Soldering class to the February schedule. “Not everyone is available on the weekends; I want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to take the class. If there is a demand for weekday classes we will schedule them.”

In addition to her classes, Iris also leads Open Metal Studio: Soldering sessions where her soldering students can bring in projects to work on and get advice and tips.  It’s important to note that the Open Metal Studios are not classes - students must have taken Hot Connections 1. The open sessions are ideal for those who are unable to set up a home soldering station or who want a little extra guidance.

Upcoming sessions with Iris Rogers Melamed:

Thursday, February 19
Hot Connections 1: Intro to Soldering Afternoon Session! 
12:00 - 4:00pm

Open Metal Studio: Soldering
6:00 - 9:00pm

Saturday, February 28
Hot Connections: Spinner Ring
10:30am - 4:30pm




 
Saturday, March 7
Hot Connections: Interlocking Rings
10:30am - 5:00pm





Saturday, March 14
Hot Connections: Connecting Components
10:00am - 5:00pm   

For complete details about each class, including class and kit fees, please refer to the website.