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Daily Wire Tip May 30: Wire Jewelry to Make as You Sell
Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
May 30, 2011
Question:
Hi Dale, now that we are coming up on festival season, I’m looking for a few quick and beautiful projects that I can “make as you wait” in a short amount of time for the customers. Any patterns you can point out would be very appreciated.
-Juanita in South Orange, New Jersey
Answer:
Hi Juanita, your idea of making “on-demand” customized pieces as the customer watches and waits, is a great way to attract additional attention to you and your booth!
To offer some attractive and quick ideas, I would first direct you to our Free Jewelry Making Patterns index. Albina’s Spring Flower earrings can be prepared at home by making some long coils of wire and then ask the customer how many petals they would like on their flower. Mary Bailey’s All-Inclusive Earrings pattern is another make-it-now design, where you could have a couple of sample pairs on display surrounded by beautiful beads a customer could choose from. You could also make matching pendants by using my Quick Bead & Wire Pendant instructions.
Left-to-rignt: Albina’s Spring Flower Earrings, Mary Bailey’s All-Inclusive Earrings, and Dale Armstrong’s Quick Bead & Wire Pendant
Summertime is the best season to make and market anklets! To generate custom sales “on-the-spot,” have 3 or more samples made-up and on display (using materials you have quite a bit of on hand) and place a bowl of beads nearby, for customers to choose from. Light-weight and fun to wear (as well as affordable to make) are my Bent Wire Earrings, shown in our Wire Jewelry Ideas section, and most folks find that they can easily wrap a puffed heart, sharks tooth or an arrowhead in less than 10 minutes by using the Anything Harness design (click here for some examples). Personally, my Puffed Gemstone Heart pendants in sterling silver sell for $15 to $18, and I include a simple silk neck cord for instant gratification.
A lot of folks who are experienced in ring-making like to make simple 1 to 3 bead rings on-demand at shows, and still others can wrap a rock within a few minutes, too! It’s your choice Juanita, I hope I have given you some ideas that will help your spring/summer show season become a success!
For further reading about getting ready for show season, I recommend my article Wire Jewelry Display & Booth Ideas.
Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
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DeLane
May 30, 2011 at 1:41 pm
Thanks for the great ideas for quickie jewelry. It is so timely for me. I have a show in June, and will be demonstrating for a short time. These ideas might really come in handy. I plan to use another of Dale’s suggestions about having some pre-made starter samples, then finishing them up. Simple Bangle Bracelets are what I will probably use, since they show off a great deal of the wirework techniques. Thanks!
dalecgr
May 31, 2011 at 12:25 pm
You are very welcome Delane – have a great show!