Pudgynews And Views
If you're like me I'm happy it's finally spring although the first days of April are very winter like, I'm hoping for signs of spring soon.
Thank you to all who attended our "Tucson Sale". It was a huge success. We will continue to bring you bead show prices at our store.
We just struck up a deal with one of the largest pearl dealers in the business and although we have great prices and selection on our freshwater pearls you can expect to see even more selection and as always at unbelievable prices.
Please note...because of this months show schedule we have a limited amount of classes. Stay tuned for next months class schedule.
Pudgy Beads just got in new basemetal chain in four colors Sterling Silver, Black Ox, Gold and Antique Brass. To introduce it to you..we are offering it for $1.00 a foot...yes you read it right. We already have the best prices on chain in the the city or at the shows and for this month only you can purchase the new chain styles for half price..what a deal!!!
Creative Ways To Display Your Jewelry At Craft Shows
How you display your jewelry at a show can have a tremendous impact on your sales. Great jewelry presented poorly will give an overall poor impression of what you are offering. On the other hand you don’t have to get totally carried away in trying to create a display that overpowers your jewelry either. Clutter creates confusion in the customer’s mind and you definitely will not make as many sales…remember simple and tasteful is usually better.
Create a mood with your display and whatever you choose be consistent throughout your booth. For example if your jewelry is created with natural gemstones. Use natural fixtures like driftwood, rocks or sand. If your jewelry is vintage use a few antique items like antique photos or vintage hatboxes or even hats. A visit to second hand shops should reward you with some great props for your booth
Remember to stay with a limited color scheme don’t use multiple colors. Doing so will not only weaken your overall concept and image but take the focus from your jewelry in a negative way.
Here are some fresh creative ideas to use for your next show. Use them and see your sales soar…Good Luck at your next show!
1. Find an old frame at a thrift store. Staple wire mesh from your local hardware store and staple it to the back. Use a can of spray paint in your color scheme to spray the entire display. You can use this display on an easel or make smaller ones for your table and support it with bricks. For a table display I added a slat of wood to the back of the frame and used a hinge to support it.
2. Use a natural or painted wood shutter to display your earrings if you have them on cards. You can make your own cards and put a crease in the top to fold over the shutter, or if you use already made cards use a display pin to secure your carded earrings.
3. Try displaying your necklaces and bracelets on some inexpensive glass gems sold in craft stores or better yet collect some sand and seashells from the beach or some rocks from your local hardware store.
4. From a thrift store or yard sale buy a small Christmas tree and hang your necklaces and bracelets from it. You can spray it in your color theme or buy one in silver or gold.
5. Use some pillows. How about some rich Velvet pillows to strap some of your necklaces or bracelets over.
6. From a thrift store find a mirrored vanity tray. Use it to display a few chosen pieces on. If your jewelry has a vintage look use some old or new tea stained handkerchiefs and new or vintage gloves to give your display class and a vintage feel. , While you are at it add a black and white photo in an old frame.
7. Look no further than your kitchen and choose some unique bowls and saucers at to drape your jewelry. If you add some rocks or sand to the containers you can add some earrings or pins to make an interesting display.
These are just a few ideas. Use your imagination and create beautiful effective displays to not only compliment your jewelry but to sell it.
Wire Part 2
If you use wire in your jewelry, the more you know the better your projects will turn out. Check out some basics below.
Wire Shapes
The most common shapes of wire are round, half-round and square. The most popular of these shapes is round, although for wire wrapping the square and half round are used most often.
Wire Sizes
Wire is sized by its thickness. If you want to hang charms from a chain, the gauge of your wire should be thick enough so that the charms don't twist and bend. If they do, they may eventually break off. 24 and 26 gauge are relatively thin and are used primarily for wire crochet or coiling. 20 and 22 gauge wire is used most often and will suffice for most wire work like looping your beads or components together.18 and 16 gauge is a thick gauge should be used when you have heavy beads or pendants or when you are creating Hand-crafted clasps.
The most popular wire gauges are 14-guage to 26-guage. Remember the thicker the wire the smaller the gauge number. 14-gauge wire is thicker than 18-gauge wire and 26-gauge wire is thinner than 24 gauge. In countries other than the U.S. wire is sold in diameters measured in millimeters. The chart below gives you a gauge to diameter(approx) conversion. Popular wire sizes are 18-gauge to 22-gauge.
Gauge Chart with Diameter size
26gauge = .4mm 24gauge = .5mm
22gauge = .6mm 20gauge = .8mm
18gauge = 1mm 16gauge = 1.3mm
14gauge = 1.6mm
What is Wire temper and why it is important to you!
The temper of wire refers to the hardness or softness of the wire. Softer wire is easier to work with and gets harder as you work with it. Wire is sold in three tempers: dead-soft, half-hard and full-hard.
Which kind of wire temper do I want to use?
Dead-soft wire has been heated or annealed to make it more malleable and easy to work with. It will bend and coil without difficulty. You can create your piece and work harden the wire as you go or at the end in a tumbler.
Half-hard wire is harder to work with then dead-soft, but some wire jewelry makers prefer to use it. I usually let the project I’m working on help me determine the size or gauge of the wire. If I’m using a thicker gauge like 16 or 18 I prefer dead soft because its easier to work with. If I’m wire wrapping and using a thinner gauge like 20 or 22 I will most often will use half-hard. If you ever find yourself with only dead soft wire, remember you can work harden it by pulling on it, oftentimes just forming it into the shape you want it in is enough to harden soft wire.
Full-hard wire is wire that does not bend easily and is not generally used for wire jewelry making. You can use this type of wire to make spring back or hat pins.
We hope our articles are helping you to become a more knowledgeable jewelry maker. If you have any questions please send them to info@pudgybeads.com and we will answer it in our next newsletter or on our facebook page. Please be our friend on this blog and on facebook.
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