Ask and You Just Might Just Receive

by Sherri Stokey

We all have those little things that we need or want just so.  After years of knotting, I like to think I know what things work best in my jewelry designs.  When I'm buying beads to use as focal pieces in bracelets, I want them to have two holes large enough for my cord to pass though.  If I'm buying bracelet bar connectors, I look for two holes on each end, instead of just one.  I also have colors I prefer and colors I avoid like the plague.  In handmade jewelry, these little details can make a big difference, even if they sound a little silly.

I spent quite a lot of time searching for the perfect components over the years with very inconsistent results.  Sometimes I'd find just the thing, and other times I'd strike out.  Then one day it finally hit me - you won't get what you want unless you ask for it.  It might not sound like an epiphany to you, but to me?  It was huge!

Many of the artisans who make jewelry components will take custom orders. I recently came across some raku pieces by Valerie Cristo of Clay for a Cure, but of course the ones I liked only had one hole.  I messaged her and asked if she would make the pieces with two holes and all that loot in the photo up there is the result.

Not only did Valerie agree to make the pieces I wanted, she took the time to ask some questions about why I wanted the changes.   Because she made the effort to understand why I was asking, she was able to suggest an alternative which led to these double shanked pieces I'm really excited about!

You'd think these pieces would hold me for a while, but since I was out pestering artists for favors, I hit up Sue from Star Spirit Studio, too.  Sue is always great to work with and when I asked about getting some of her designs on bracelet bars with four holes, she was most obliging.

*Swoon*  Aren't those amazing!  She actually made more than this and let me choose which ones I wanted.  I had a really tough time narrowing it down to a dozen.  Just look at those colors!  I can't decide if this one is my favorite:

Or maybe this one:

I do really like the spirit horse:

And this one just makes me feel serene:

Next time you find yourself wishing you could find a certain this or that, like a bead with a larger hole or a pendant with just a bit more blue in it, try asking!  That's part of the beauty of using handmade components.  Not every artist can or will take custom orders, but many of them will go the extra mile to get you just what you need.  It's worth asking!

Happiness is......

a returning customer.

by MaryAnn Carroll

Today I just want to share a little bit about what my friend and LMAJ associate, Karen McGovern, does with discs that I create specifically for her two or three times a year. What I love about working with Karen is that she gives me lots of freedom and doesn't put limits, directions, expectations, etc. on the custom order. I am not one for custom orders because I am a little obsessive and worry that things will not turn out okay. They tend to take me twice as long.  I prefer to create freely without the unpleased customer's fictitious voice echoing in my head, "that's not what I envisioned, wrong color,  I don't really like that... etc."

Karen simply let me know that she didn't need any reds or yellows. I forgot about the yellow part between the message I read upstairs in my house and the walk to the basement where my very messy studio is! Whoops! It's the old being in your 50's thing. You'll see a couple yellows below. I am not a fan of yellow, so it isn't something I tend to favor, unless it has earthy tones to it.

She did tell me the she gravitated toward the discs that are the light caribbean blue, so I decided to make lots for this order in various sizes. The discs range from eensy weensy (1/4") to large (1 3/8"). It is actually those two sizes that are the toughest to enamel. The larger take longer and many coats to achieve a rich color and with the smalls, you have to be careful to be fast, so that the copper doesn't melt in the flame. The color can disappear from that size in a couple of seconds as well as the disc itself!

Here is what I finished up last night.

What I find amazing is how Karen uses these in so many different ways. I think anyone that see her work would agree that she is incredibly talented.

And some of my favorites.....

Karen also offers a tutorial about one way to use discs.

You can find that HERE. You can also find more from Karen on Facebook. 

The Highs and Lows of Working Custom - By Karen McGovern

Yep, I'm going there.

I guess I should begin this post with a disclaimer.  What I'm posting is my opinion, so don't get all worked up about it.  What I am posting here is from the perspective of an artist who loves to create and strives to not only please her clients, but strives to communicate and create relationships with her clients as well.  My goal here is to hopefully help prospective clients and anyone interested in working custom with an artist to consider--and appreciate--just what the artist goes through when working one on one with a client.  Just like any relationship, there are moments of joy and happiness, and moments of...well...NOT joy and happiness.

Art is tricky.  It's personal, for both the artist and the client.  Artists are a bit crazy.  IT'S TRUE AND YOU ALL KNOW IT.  We pour our heart and soul into our designs and then offer them up to the universe in the hope that others will see and appreciate our vision.  It's scary and exciting and sometimes overwhelming!  But ultimately, so, so rewarding and renewing. 

 

Some of my favorite custom designs for clients ranging from a retiring art teacher
to a marine biologist, to a young girl celebrating the memory of her Grandfather.

So, you are approached by a client asking for a custom design.  What a thrill.  Creating something specifically for an individual, working one on one.  It's such an honor!  Seriously, when I am asked to create a custom design I am always excited and grateful for the opportunity to interpret someone else's ideas into 3-dimensional reality.  In theory, we work together and create something amazing.  That has happened for me many times, from creating a signature design commemorating a milestone birthday, to creating a design in tribute to a loved one's passing.  Each have been meaningful and inspirational to create. 

 

These types of custom requests are always welcome and give me such joy to make.  BUT....(you knew there was a but) this isn't ALWAYS the case. 

 

From the Make Believe--for the purposes of this post--Client (MBC)--You want a specific design and have a specific idea that you want realised.  You contact your chosen artist and if they accept this challange the work begins.  You asked for blue beads--a specific shade of blue beads.  Not aqua, not turquoise, not navy, not perriwinkle.  BLUE.  What is the big deal?  Why can't you find BLUE beads???  And you want those cool silvery beads you saw in that one design on the aritist's Facebook page that one time you were surfing the Web back in February of 2009.  Remember?  That one design with the cool silvery bead things? 

 

Make Believe--for the purposes of this post--Artist (MBA)--After frantically searching for days through all your old images you find what MIGHT be the correct image and forward it to the client. 

 

MBC replies--Yes, that's it!

 

MBA--Fantastic.  You acquire more beads, supplies, etc. for the design and spend a few days designing, mock it up, then send a photo of the new design to MBC.

 

MBC--Now that I see it again, I don't think the beads are BLUE enough, and those silvery things aren't what I thought they'd be.  Can we go GREEN with GOLD beads instead? Oh, and did I mention that I need this day after tomorrow for MY WEDDING?

 

MBA--Screams and throws their computer out the window.

 

Now, this is make-believe, okay?  BUT, things like this happen to artists all the time.  The saying goes that the client is always right, and you know what?  THAT IS TRUE.  If you accept the challange of a custom design you have agreed to work with that client until the dream is realised no matter what.  You, the artist, said YES.  Therefore, you the ARTIST must produce.  BUT, (this post is full of buts....) you can protect yourself and impart the seriousness of the collaboration with the client by setting up a few rules that MUST BE ADHERED TO by BOTH PARTIES.

 

These policies are for the benefit of both the artist and the client.  The more info you can give and receive up front will ensure a smoother transaction with no surprises (there are ALWAYS surprises, but at least you can say you tried). Gather as much information as you possibly can about the custom request before agreeing to ANYTHING.  Set a time limit.  I tell clients that a custom design will require 4 to 6 weeks to complete NO MATTER WHAT.  If it's finished early, great, but this gives everyone a cushion and space to work.  Require a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit before work begins.  THIS IS REALLY, REALLY important.  At least 50% of the total quoted price.  And, artists, don't agree to something you are not 100% sure you can produce.  Don't leave anything to chance.  If a client asks for a design that includes elements you had five years ago, be sure you can get your hands on those elements today!  If the design will be mostly hand-constructed you may need a higher deposit to cover your time and costs to construct.  Each request is individual and you can adjust your policies accordingly, but COVER YOUR BUTTS!!!  (See what I did there?  HA!)  Finally, upon completion, if for some reason the client is unhappy....well....suck it up.  You can try again, or move on.  You, the artist will have to make that decision, and hopefully this NEVER HAPPENS and the client is so happy she/he crys tears of joy over your creation.

 

Now, for our Make Believe Client--if we could ask one thing, it would be to understand that as artists, we are all unique and interpret art and design individually.  What does that mean?  That means, that while we will do everything we can to make your design a reality, we will do so with our own artistic voice.  Please understand that this is what, hopefully, brought you to us in the first place--our original designs and creative expressions.  It may not be easy for us to create the same exact thing twice.  This is especially true for hand constructed designs.  Gemstones vary,  and getting that EXACT shade, that EXACT stone may be impossible, but I guarantee we will make something stunning anyway if you give us a chance.  We also are not psychic, and ask for your patience when working with you.  We also ask that you undertand and appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into every design.  While many artists hate the idea of time equalling money, we also do not work for free and the design process is a part of the creation process.  That layout we made for you several times to get the desigh just right?  That counts towards the purchase price of the finished work.  Hours and hours go into each and every design, and we love this.  It's what many of us DO FOR A LIVING and we appreciate your support and collaboration.  We WANT to do this, we are excited by the opportunity and we LOVE making an idea appear, solid, 3-D, to hold, wear and cherish.  It is an honor, seriously. 

 

So, bottom line, as artists we must individually decide to accept custom design requests--or not.  If you do, commit to that and give it everything you've got.  Even then, understand the power of the word, "No".  It's okay to turn down a request if you don't think you can fulfill it or make the client happy.  I refer clients to other artists if I think they can do a better job than I can.  Treat your client with respect and demand that they do the same for you.  As I said earlier, these collaborations are a relationship, with give and take and compromise.  They are also wildly satisfying and exciting!  Do you work custom?  Any clients out there with wonderful custom order stories to share?  Be nice, people....we all have horror stories, but I bet the great stories far outnumber the bad.  DO SHARE!!!! 

30 Beads Later by Kimberly Rogers

By Kimberly Rogers of NuminosityBeads

It was a seemingly simple request. A customer asked if I could make some more beads like these I had made which I had then sold to Nikki of LoveRoot on Etsy.

No problem. I had been using this buttery ghee color rod quite frequently lately.

and there's this raku frit which is one of my favorite surface additions. 

Frit is a crushed glass which melts into wonderful multicolor caramel organic splotches. I'm really a big fan of its effect for my beads.

So I made a bunch just to be sure I had a good consistent set of four knowing the "Law of Custom Orders" was going to come into play. I wrote about it on my Numinosity Blog here last year.

I came close but not close enough. Where were the lovely purples that had bloomed out of the raku frit?

Maybe I had used this honey swirl instead but I couldn't find any in my stash since I had come back from Arizona. I probably had left some down there. One of the pitfalls of being a snowbird and having two studios 

Then I found one lone rod left so I made up a whole bunch more with that color.

Turned out even less like I was looking for.

The glass can be fickle especially when you use the baking soda technique as I do to get a nice aged matte finish. You just don't really  know how it's going to come out.

But I had done it before!

Thankfully the beads I made aren't total rejects and I've been able to sell some already

I was encouraged by this one headpin I had made with the same combination

Here it is held up to the light.

So I went ahead and ordered more honey swirl which just happens to be in limited amounts at my supplier but I was able to secure a small shipment.

And tried again ...Nah!

And tried with a different frit that I was pretty sure I hadn't used before in this combination.

I had run out of options.

then I made this

with this plain old topaz

and I got to thinking maybe I should try two more combos because I was starting to feel quite determined and stubborn about figuring out how to achieve this effect again.

I applied the frit once more

After melting in the baking soda with the torch the frit began to bloom purple like a bruise on a prizefighter's face. I was so encouraged, I thought I'd finally got it!

I'm really happy with how these came out...however....

As you can see the colors of the frit really did their magic this time but the base came out differently. 

I think it's time to move on and be satisfied with what I've got because I've exhausted every combination and have come back to the conclusion that the glass is rather fickle with the combination of baking soda added to the mix and that's why I can't exactly promise replication of some particular beads.

Hopefully my customer will like what I ended up with regardless!