critical mass

Critical Mass is a concept I keep having to explain to crafters that are just beginning their art businesses. On one level it's comparable to the question, How many used cars does a used car dealer have to have to be taken seriously as a used car dealer? That amount of inventory is what I'm calling, critical mass. On another level it's that amount of inventory necessary to create the sales volume that I need to survive and prosper. In other words pay my bills. For a family headed out the drive way, in the family station wagon, for their annual trek across America, called a vacation years ago, it's the every thing's ready, " Has everyone gone to the bathroom?" Then here we go. moment. It's what NASA calls, "all systems ready, proceed with launch."
Thing is it's variable. You'll know when it's happened. There are some ways to calculate it.
Or at least get close to calculating it. That's what I'm blogging about this week. Brad

clearly there's an easier way

Clearly there's an easier way to get a bust to display a necklace on than ordering one just like everyone else's. Here are a couple of ideas. Glass slumping has possibilities. The process involves using a kiln to heat sheets of glass, at carefully controlled temperatures, over metal or ceramic forms. The glass is draped over the form and slumps or melts over the form. Might make wonderful display items. There is a less involved, though very similar process that can be used with Plexiglas. The temperatures involved are in the 400% range as opposed to the 1450 required for glass. Plexi is also available in colors and varying thicknesses. This process can be done in an ordinary kitchen oven. Be sure to have plenty of ventilation. Heat guns also get hot enough to distort plastic sheet stock. Hot plastics are also formed using vacuum tables. Basically if you can create the form you desire in wood, you can from plastics over it. That 'll get your cretive juices going. Have fun. Brad

Twigology

After a little while the commercially available jewelry display items all begin to look the same. While that may not be disturbing to large chain jewelry stores. It should be to artist craftsman. We make unique hand crafted, one of a kind or limited edition items. Creativity and the unusual are our forte. Our displays should represent that freedom of expression. The object is to present the jewelry in a favorable manner, that should be our main goal. With that in mind, let's set the plastic busts, those trays for pendants and those expensive risers aside, for a moment. We can always pick up the phone and have the little brown truck bring us more, if the muse fails.
Let's go for a walk in the woods for a while. The wild flowers are blooming. Trees are coming into bud. There are turtles and frogs to watch. Let's get Daniel Mack like on this display problem. What if we celebrated that rustic feeling, particularly with willow. Find a willow tree, or a whole low marshy area full of small willow. This material is wonderful to work with. The possibilities for bent willow are endless. Plus the material offers great color and interesting textures. Almost every area of the country has willow. I say that and I have to tell you that right here in St Pete, I'd bethat hard pressed to find a willow. I haven't seen one here. Here I find bamboo. Cool stuff to work with also. These materials have another advantage over buying finished displays. In some cases I've had people pay me to remove willow from areas near fields and pay me to remove bamboo from their yards. Amazing! Check out willow furniture and stick furniture on line. Daniel Mack is one of the artists-craftsman behind rustic. A site called twigfactory.com will be great for inspiration. Who knows you might even find a great chair to think in. For those of you that would really enjoy more thinking time, here's a hint to working with willow. If you wrap green willow branches around a cylinder and let them dry out they will remember that shape. These dry coils of willow can easily become circles. Enjoy