it’s an easy way to get a picture of the cover

it gives you a link to click through and shop, maybe add the book to your wish list, without having to type in the title.

So there you go, full disclosure. : )

Lark Books seeks images to publish in a juried collection of international studio jewelry. Each piece must prominently feature silver. Materials other than silver, such as stones or other metals, may be included, but silver must be the focus and should occupy at least 80% of the piece. We wish to showcase a wide range of techniques, textures, and finishes. All jewelry forms, such as rings, earrings, bracelets, brooches, necklaces, and pendants, will be considered, and all design styles are welcome. There is no entry fee.

http://www.larkbooks.com/submissions/artist-submissions

POSTERS.

Remember that people learn in different ways, by listening, visually, by reading, and through experience.

Give the information in multiple formats — then you’ll hit the right method for more people. And repetition helps too.

And, if you make posters, have them laminated and put them up on an easel, they’ll have a chance to read them when they have a moment, and you’ll have a prop. with visual cues for you to talk about.

This way, you’ll won’t forget anything, and the pictures will ensure everyone knows what you’re talking about. One of my posters shows pictures of each of the different firing methods for metal clay. So as I talk about the firing methods, I can show a picture of each one.

And remember to give people bathroom breaks. ; )

This has probably been covered before, but why are people using
bronze clay as opposed to casting?

It sounds like it’s difficult to get what you want, and rife with
failure, at least until you have done a significant amount of
experimentation.

Here’s my response:

Why does the mountain climber climb the mountain? Because it is there. Why does the bank robber rob the bank. Because that’s where the money is.

For those of us who work with (silver) metal clay, the BronzClay and CopprClay offer the next challenge. It’s fun to work with — it’s different from the silver clay. It’s also affordable enough to let kids work with it — something I’ve done.

It’s still pretty new, some people try it and decide it’s not for them. It’s highest and best use, to borrow a real estate term, has not yet been determined.

But why do we try? Because it is there.

http://www.museumofcontemporarycraft.org/programs_lecture.php

which lead me to these:

http://wdbannard.org/?mode=by&id=69 Craft and Art Envy

http://www.brucemetcalf.com/blog The Craft Gadfly, the blog of Bruce Metcalf

Here’s a transcript of a speech given by Bruce at SNAG 2008, which got some vigorous blogosphere response (terribly interesting, wish I could find that blog again).*

Bruce’s speech on the Indie Crafts movement is quite interesting, given his understanding of the history of the various crafts movements. http://www.brucemetcalf.com/pages/essays/diy_websites_energy.html

* Found it: http://www.imogene.org/blog/2008/03/09/confessions

Peanut butter and Jellyfish by sappymoosetree.com

On Metal Clay Gallery list a bit ago, there was this discussion about “what is indie crafts?” that started because someone was turned down for a show because her work was “fine crafts” and not indie enough.

I was surprised how many people had never heard of indie crafts.

In response, I posted this tome, thought I’d share here:

Actually the Indie craft movement thing is pretty big and I think we would be remiss if we dismissed it out of hand.

What is it? Near as I can figure, it’s a resurgence of crafts among 20somethings, sort of a ’70s back to the land thing, only this time the “land” is maybe vermiculture in your apartment, growing tomatoes on your balcony, and making your own stuff.

Not every Indie crafter is about making craft as an art form — for some it’s about making as much as they can of their own stuff that they use. Partly it’s an eco-thing — reducing the amount that they buy from commercial sources — so this aesthetic includes thrifting and remaking clothing.

I have a friend who buys as much as possible either 2nd hand or from Etsy.

The ’70s crafts movement was the 2nd wave (the first being the Arts and Crafts Movement), I see what’s happening now as a 3rd wave, and I think it’s a very good thing. We do need customers, don’t we? We need people to learn our Craft.

The 2nd wave was pottery, metalsmithing, fiber arts, wearable art. Now the Indie crafters are expanding the boundaries a bit — is a hand silk screened Tshirt an art form? Sometimes.

Not all young indie crafters are completely without standards, to say that all of them are is an insult to the young people who embrace Craft with a capital C and who strive to master their material.

And not all indie crafters are making stuff with skulls and such. It’s a diverse group, just as we are.

So, what is Indie craft? To see some, check out Craft zine (the publishers of the now defunct Craft mag.), Crafty Pod, IndiePublic.

It’s bigger than just young people who don’t want to buy soulless corporate stuff.

Something is happening, culturally. There’s a massive increase in the technology in our lives. Someone wrote about it in an article, sorry I can’t remember where I read it — the idea is High Tech, High Touch. We’re so immersed in technology — chained to your Blackberry anyone? — that we need as humans to do some things that are not technology based. Some you know, IRL (In Real Life) things.

Making your own stuff feels good, makes you feel human and capable.

The other half of the technology bit is –

the technology we use to make our crafts/art/stuff of everyday life that we want to be handmade instead of mass produced.

Right now, without leaving home, I can design my own fabric on the computer, have it shipped to me, and then make my own purse out of it. Is it less handmade because I didn’t hand silk screen the fabric myself?

There’s CAD/CAM. Is it still crafts if I design it on the computer and email the file somewhere and the product is shipped to me, did I still make it?

There are laser welders — if I laser weld a seem is that less handmade than if I soldered it?

Did anyone notice that the American Craft Museum changed their name to the American Design Something Museum? (Art and Design?)

There’s a change afoot about what matters — the making or the designing — and to a lot of people, the designing is the thing. Whether the item is produced in small amounts or large amounts is a separate choice.

Not everyone cares if it’s handmade.

I think that some people will always care.

Some of us just have to make stuff, and it’s important to us that it’s well made. Technique matters. Achieving mastery of our chosen field and material matters.

What do you think?
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Update: after pondering this more, I realized that I’d written as if every Indie Crafter is a 20something, when actually, some of the biggest names in Indie Crafts are Gen Xers.

Want to read more about Indie Crafts? The book, Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design is a great introduction, with artist profiles and essays.

Visit SappyMooseTree.com to see more great plushies and other cool products.

I’m curious, because of the recent discussion, on Metal Clay Gallery and Orchid, what the most common choice of names is? (name that you call what you do, jewelry wise.)

I created a one question survey to ask just that. (okay, there’s a 2nd question, but it’s optional.)

If you’d like to answer it, here’s the link:

Click Here to take survey

I’ll share the results here, thanks!

Back when I was the marketing director for all of the Wendy’s restaurants in Southern New Jersey, we ran a ‘crew incentive’ one month.

Everyone on the staff was given a stack of coded coupons that were good for a dollar off a meal. They handed these coupons out to their friends, family, the mailman, strangers, etc. The crew member who had the most coupons redeemed won a prize.

That was one monster of a month.

And it demonstrated two things. One: People like getting something for free, even if it’s just a dollar. Two: People feel good when they can give something to someone else.

Judy is a friend of mine who uses this same concept in her hair styling salon. She had custom-designed ‘gift certificates’ printed up. The certificates have a $10 value. But she doesn’t sell them: She gives them to her best customers to give as gifts. Why? Because her best customers are the ones most likely to recommend that their friends, family and acquaintances get their hair styled by Judy.

And now they not only get the opportunity to turn someone on to a great hair stylist, but they also feel good when they hand a friend a $10 gift certificate to be used on their first visit to Judy.

Think about it. Which would you be more excited about … going to a business a friend recommended, or going to a business a friend recommended with someone else’s money to spend?

There are a few subtleties to this marketing technique. First, you have to recognize that your customers are essential to helping you market. You must see them as your partners.

Second, you should accept that although there are some people who enjoy referring business to you because it makes them look like an expert, there are others who would recommend you, but they need a nudge.

Finally, because you’re probably introducing a new concept to them, you have to explain what you’re doing, and what they should do, the way a professor would.

For example, after a good customer has made a purchase, you chat with them to learn how they feel about dealing with you.

If their feelings are positive, you tell them that you appreciate their business.

Then you tell them that you’d like them to have two gift certificates they can give to friends who they think might like shopping with you, too.

Then you smile.

Then they smile.

It’s a beautiful thing.

Leave a space on the gift certificate for them to write the name of the recipient, and a space for them to sign their own name.

Then get a larger bag to take deposits to the bank. You’re going to need it.

About the Author: Dr. David Weiman, “the Jewelry Marketing Doctor,” is a psychologist and internationally-known expert on marketing and selling handmade artisan jewelry. He is also the marketing director for Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Step by Step Beads, and Step by Step Wire Jewelry. His new book, 101 More Jewelry Selling Techniques from the pages of Jewelry Selling Insights — along with many other books and tools for selling handcrafted jewelry — at http://www.MarketingJewelry.com where you can also sign up for his free “Jewelry Seller” e-newsletter.

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All Things Metal Clay is proud to be an affiliate partner with JewelryMarketing.com!