Next steps on the road to a big show

Inventory System Established

I started with my friend 5 yrs ago, Marie Roozen to make money for Christmas. Jewelry by two friends was born. We found out that Intel had Holiday craft shows on 4 campuses. No fees for the table.  Duane  (my Hubby) just had to be the escort.  So bought $600.00 worth of Gemstones and started creating necklaces  and jewelry sets.  We did this for 3 yrs and then Marie went to college to become a hairdresser.  I had to come up with a different name.

The Howling Dog Jewelry was born due to my little partner Mesha a long hair Chihuahua who liked to sing to mattress commercials. He is now 14yrs old and will sing on command.   Marie was still there to help me sell at Intel. I am very grateful as a blind artist I needed someone with good eyes to help deal with more than one customer at a time. Marie totally understands my eye issues. Howling Dog Jewelry was still a hobby. Inventory what’s that?  I kinda knew what I had and I knew that I made money on each piece. Intel show averaged $600.00  year.

Still with a mindset of this being only a hobby I started selling at a 12 week summer market called Tuesday Night Market Place.  Show cost was $485 for the 12 weeks. My avg. for the past 3 years was about $1100 a yr.. Still NO Inventory per se , I knew I needed something but didn’t know how to start one from  hobby mindset to a business one. Inventory what is it?

Fast forward to today,  I have finally figured out an inventory system. Now I will be able to track sales, in turn will help me be better at purchasing products for my jewelry lines and styles.  This is a sample of what I came up with:

Love Beetle Rocks Line; BugN, Bug NS, BugB, BugBS, BugE, BugR,BugBr

Rose Jewelry Line; RN, RNS, RB, RBS, RE, RR, RBr

These stand for Necklace, Necklace sets, Bracelets, Bracelet sets, Earrings, Rings, and Brooches

All jewelry has been inventoried , priced, and labeled with inventory codes. Then we will inventory what is on display and a quick inventory at the end of each day. Well, that is an ambitious plan but I think it might help with what sold compared to receipts and check to see if there was any loss do to theft. Or we can just do a final inventory at the end of the show. If you have any thoughts on this please share. 

Thank you for visiting my blog.   I will be blogging my experience.

Cindy Peterson

Howling Dog Jewelry

“Follow your artistic passions, even with vision issues”

 

 

 

 

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My beginning process of making a line of jewelry………

First of all I needed a theme to get started. As I mentioned in  my first Blog Hop it would be for the love of beetles and rocks which brought back childhood memories.  This is what happened next…….

Making of the Beetle Bodies…….

I needed to make the beetle bodies for my new line. I was making imitation agates and turquoise from polymer clay.   A technique I learned from Tory Hughes.

This was the most time consuming part of the whole line.  I love these two technique and I have been given permission from Tory Hughes to teach the turquoise technique at B’Sue Boutiques Weekend Workshop Retreat May 15th – 18th.  It will be lots of fun!

Decision Time…….

As each beetle is unique,  I needed to make a decision as to which body went with which colored beetle and leaf.  Here are some samples ,,,,,

This was my process and no they did not all stay this way.  Beetles were changed and moved several times before I was happy with the look and style.  My line consists of Necklace, ring, brooch, bracelet, and earrings. I went through this thought process with each design.

On March 20th there is a BIG REVEAL of my whole New Jewelry Line

 THE LOVE BEETLE ROCKS!

 

 

Talented artists ….. and My creative thinking

I must say there are a lot of talented people in this group. Some of the jewelry focal’s that I’ve been seeing just lately are just beautiful. The designs the flowers the other bugs and the colors are awesome. I feel very honored to be in this group working with all of you and thank you Brenda for your leadership.

I want to see more pictures, I love pictures. My dad said I couldn’t read a book elicit had pictures. I guess that means I’m a visual learner. And right now I am thrilled with how my a get some my turquoise and my faux stones are turning out.

In part of my creativity with my bugs is finding the right body for each bug. You would think that any old faux stone would look good, that’s not the case. I am actually looking at each stoned in trying to find the right body for each bug. So know when you see my bugs there was a lot of thought put into how I wanted them to look. I feel like I am dressing my bugs.

So today I went through all my boxes and looked for all the leaves that I could find in all of my bezels and now they’re all grouped together in little containers so I can find them easier.

I just want to share a little bit of what I’m doing today and admiring all of your work and how you inspire me with my bugs. Some of the newer bugs are going to have cane work is bodies and that’s can create a whole new challenge because I’ll have to decide again what body with which bug.

I’m sorry I talk more when I use my Dragon speak software I can say more, take care and have a great weekend.

1. And remember the “LOVE BEETLE ROCKS!”

My new Blog Site

What’s new … How about Copper and Turquoise…………..

I just finished some copper bracelets with aqua faux opal cabs set on Rosy Copper  bracelet blanks.

Each bracelet has a different look based on the chain and style I used for the chain.

I really enjoyed making these bracelets will go on my Etsy shop.

The bracelets are 7″ in length but can be adjusted to fit your measurement.  I start with 7″ as it is the standard size for bracelets.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/howlingdogjewelry

I have added to my Aqua copper line with some faux turquoise I made with polymer.  It looks like the real thing too.  The next look to my line are Brooches.  I have only made a few, but in  my research of fashion is brooches are on the come back. First one, a cute butterfly and the second,  has charms, leaf branch, owl, a square design all in Aqua Copper finishes.  The STAR of each brooch is the Handmade Faux Turquoise I made.

Hang in there I am making the “LOVE BEETLE ROCKS! line.  This is just a tease..