We covered everything two young artistic females could cover.  We talked about college experiences, how we got into metalworking, jobs, the economy, family, relationships, what we want out of life, and how we see art fitting into our futures.  I showed her my studio space, my newest work, and we also looked at some of her spectacular rings.  All in all, it was a fun time.

It was nice to get the perspective of another artist trying to make her way in the world doing what she loves to do.  Although we live in two very different places, our experiences, goals, and vision of what we want our lives to be are very much the same.  The whole experience reminded me that that I do not spend enough time talking with other artists about their experiences.  After all, we are all working towards the same goal, to live beautiful, creative lives, and we need to support and encourage each other whenever possible.

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook

My wonderful models from Models for Charity.
The fabulous stylists from Citrine Salon.
Jack the Radio, for the best music at the show!

Here are a few of my favorite photos of the night:

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook

While I typically work in sterling silver, for fashionSPARK I decided to explore some new materials, namely stainless steel.  It was quite a learning experience, but I’m excited about the result.  Now I’m not going to post any images of my finished jewelry and spoil the Friday night surprise, but here is a before picture of some stainless steel blanks that later became a flashy necklace and bracelet:

Want to see the finished product?  Come out to fashionSPARK!

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook

After a fun filled night of fashion at fashionSPARK on September 16, I will also have a booth at bazaarSPARK.  A unique outdoor shopping experience, bazaarSPARK consists of a diverse group of vendors selling everything from clothing, jewelry to crafts and, of course, food!  Come stop by my booth and say hello.  I will have all of my fashionSPARK jewelry on display, and tons of fun sale jewelry that is just calling your name.  I don’t know the exact location of my booth as of yet, but will post that as soon as I know.

bazaarSPARK hours are:
Saturday, September 17: 10am-6pm
Sunday, September 18: 11am-4pm
Downtown Raleigh

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook

fashionSPARK
Friday, September 16, 2011
8pm
City Plaza in downtown Raleigh

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook

Stay tuned for another new material on the horizon for the fall, stainless steel!

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook

It has definitely been refreshing to work differently.  This bracelet, made entirely of hardwoods, was hand-turned on a lathe by yours truly.  I also love the idea of doing wooden bangles for Spring and Summer.  I still have a ways to go, so stay tuned for how this idea progresses!

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook

If any of you know of a boutique or gallery where my work might sell and are willing to put me in touch with the owner or buyer, I will take it from there and see if they would like to pick up my work.  If the referral results in a new wholesale account, then as a thank you I will send you my Oxidized Gold Leaf Drop Earrings pictured above, a $163 value absolutely free. These sterling silver and 23K gold leaf earrings have been a huge seller and look absolutely great on everyone.  I promise you will love them!

If you have a referral just email me at claire@emilyclairedesigns.com.

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook

1. Marketing- While I did make some improvements in my marketing plan, there are quite a few things I still need to work on.  For instance, I should have been posting on this blog regularly, I should have approached more stores about carrying my work, etc.

2. Business Planning- I definitely wrote my 2010 business campaign plan last January, but once it was finished, I never looked at it again.  Business plans are designed to help you track your progress and meet your goals.  I might have done a better job of meeting my goals if I had referred to my 2010 Business Plan on a regular basis.

3.  Production Pace- While I am very efficient in my studio, there are quite a few more steps involved with getting my work ready to sell, other than the actual fabrication.  For instance, I have to price my work, photograph it, and add it to my website.  This can be a long process, but I need to make it quicker.  The sooner my work is available for purchase, the better.

I could keep going with this list, but I’ll just stop there, since these are the three main areas where I think I need to improve.  In fact, if I really commit to making positive changes in these areas, I should stay very busy in 2011.  I’ll keep you informed on my progress. =)

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook

1. I started my Studio Collection.  This group of work is a product of some of my most creative moments in studio.  I really am glad that I created this collection and plan to keep adding to it, as I feel I can continue to grow and challenge myself through this body of work.

2.  I finally started my monthly email newsletter, and so far it’s been a great way for me to stay in contact with my customers.  Sign up here!

3. I was accepted as one of the jewelry designers for the Raleigh based fashionSPARK Fashion Show.  You might have read about it in previous posts, but it was a great experience and I was happy to be a part of such a great event!

4.  My holiday sales where the highest ever on record since I started my business, thanks to all my wonderful customers!  I love you all!

5. I took an online marketing course to learn more about how to market my work.  Stay tuned for how I will put what I learned into practice in 2011 =)

Thanks for reading!

~Claire

Share on Facebook