Artisan Created Jewelry: Not Made in China

I discovered Regretsy recently, thanks to the suggestion of my friend and comrade, Thelma Farrah Diaz.  If you haven't seen it yet and you want a good laugh, check it out. 

It got me thinking about the most challenging aspects of my business:

1. People want me to make another artist's design.  Only cheaper . . . AND
2. Competing with cheaply made Chinese goods at rock bottom prices which make my stuff appear "expensive".

By the way, that's NOT the world's tiniest violin playing in the background, and I'm honestly not whining. But how are people going to know the difference between something that is artisan-created and something someone bought on eBay from China for resale, unless the artists educate their clients??

Here's an example of challenge #1.

One of my potential customers saw this design and wanted me to make one like this.  I was hugely flattered that the client thought of me and wanted to give me the business.

 Problem is, it's not my idea.  This idea was the creation of Moon Raven Designs. If you love it you should by it from Michael Doyle, who thought it up and then created it (after who knows how many hours of trial and error!)  It's only $59 which is very reasonable for such a unique design and quality workmanship. 



Now THIS is my idea.  I have the original drawings and the prototypes created in copper to test drive the design before attempting it in silver. I named it the Growing Family™ Charm Holder Pendant.  I copyrighted the design - not that that will stop someone from copying it.  It's virtually impossible to prevent the theft of an idea, unless you have a team of lawyers and a healthy bank account.
Shameless Plug:
It's available for order in my Etsy shop or on my Facebook page.  It's cheaper on Facebook because I don't have to pay commission, that simple. 

Here's an example of challenge #2

The  charm shapes I use to represent children for these pendants are gender-distinct and include the birthstone for the child, a design I also created.  Each one is made by hand in sterling silver and must be formed, soldered, pickled, tumbled and buffed before delivery to the customer.




They're $6 each or 3/$15.  Sad thing is that you can get a sterling silver "boy" or "girl" charm online (made in China) for half that price.

Check out what it takes to make ONE of my charms:

I start by cutting uniform lengths of sterling silver wire and bending them roughly in half.

I wrap the wire evenly around my round nose pliers to create the "head" of the boy or girl charm - an improvement on my original design that allows for more uniformity and faster processing time. 










Next, I bend the "shoulders" which will eventually be square for boys and rounded for girls. 

Now the charm is ready to be fused using a butane micro torch.  Since the wire is a smaller gauge, it easily fuses with a medium pinpoint flame. 

Once the soldering is completed, the charms are placed in an acid bath to remove firescale, and given a good scrub with a brass brush and Dawn.  I use pliers to create the final shape (girl/boy) before putting them into the tumbler for 2 hours to burnish and work harden. 

Of course, there are some items I simply can't afford to make myself and I buy them from a supplier - but I do make every attempt to purchase from a US manufacturer.  (For example, the tiny 8mm x 5mm sterling alphabet charms I use on my charm rings and most of my finer chains are from a supplier.)  But the vast majority of what I make is created with my own two hands.

Don't get me wrong . . . I understand the desire for cheap goods in this economy or any other.

Like China's.     Which seems to be doing really well lately . . . . .