Business Planning

I am interested in hearing from hobbyist and artisan jewellery artists in North America, especially in Canada, about how much you spend annually on tools, metals, stones, materials, and supplies to make your jewellery lines.  I am also interested in learning about whether there are certain months during the year when you make significant purchases - for example, when purchasing in preporation for a winter/christmas jewellery line.
This information can be averages or educated guesses. 
Since I am not asking for annual sales figures or other income information, I hope you will feel comfortable giving me information online, since it will be public on the blog.  Information about the purchasing practices of  WorkingSilver's customers or potential customers is very important to me, and will help me plan my inventory requirements and marketing strategies.
THANKS to all who provide me with this valuable information!!

Christmas Is Upon Us

Hello Fellow Jewellery Artists,
Do you plan Christmas jewellery lines, and if so, when do you start planning and purchasing the needed materials?
I had hoped to be more organized for this year's Christmas season, and although I am in 2 carft fairs with my Akasha jewellery I've had to scramble to make enough inventory. 
Maybe next year, I will have the time to actually plan and make a Christmas/Winter line.

Making Tension Set Rings

Hello fellow jewellery artists,
I love the look of tension rings and learned to make them in a two day workshop.  I had a great teacher (Kelly Allanson), and I use the techniques she taught me.  I've made two styles of tension rings, both very attractive styles, but I find they are quite difficult to make.  Maybe I just need more practice!!  I'm looking for ideas about how to form the silver band for a tension setting - OTHER THAN SHAPING THE SILVER AROUND A RING MANDREL.  When making what is called a comfort setting - using 1/2 round 5x3mm sterling silver "wire" - with the 1/2 round on the inside of the band, I find it so difficult to shape this very thick wire around a ring mandrel, even after anneling the wire.  I would love to get some new ideas on how to shape the band for a tension set ring.
Click on the link to view the tension set rings I've made - in the Akasha Jewellery section of my website.
Thanks for your ideas!!

Hello Fellow Jewellery Artists

I am new to blogging - this is my first!  My online shop catering to metalsmith jewellery artists is also new, and I would love to get your feedback on my site: http://www.workingsilver.com/ I developed my site out a love of hand forging silver jewellery and offer tools, stones, metals, and supplies for the hobbyist or artisan metalsmith jewellery artist.  My professional training is in social work, and I love my profession, but find that the creative process of making jewellery (pounding, shaping, texturing, working silver) is a wonderful balance for my counselling work - it's my therapy.  Sometimes my "therapy" can be frustrating.  I want every piece of my jewellery to be inspired, unique, extremely well made and finished - and this just doesn't happen very time.  Some pieces are beyond my current knowledge and experience - and I need to keep studying, learning, practicing, improving!!  I do continue to take classes - when available, but dream about taking intensive training in totally cool places like Taos, New Mexico, or Hawaii.  Someday I will!!
I am in awe of the truly creative individuals out there who create piece after piece of amazing jewellery.  I personally know some jewellery artists who inspire me - Kelly Allanson, Marie Cristine, and Nina Turczyn are a few who come to mind immediately.

One of my goals in developing http://www.workingsilver.com/ is to support the creative process in every jewellery artist.  To this end, my site has a Learning Centre with FREE tutorials (Featured Projects), articals, tips, techniques, tool demonstrations, and a glossary of silversmithing terms.  I have two great Featured Projects currently on my site, as well as a few tips and articals, with more to come. 

Thanks for reading, for checking out my site, and for adding to my blog!