Business Tips

Spotlighting can add a touch of drama to your images , but it doesnt work with all types of crafts. This lighting technique can easily be used with matte and flat- surfaced work, while shiny surfaces can be a nightmare to get just right. Lets start by looking at how to create a circle of light in the darkness; the simplest way is to use a snoot over the lights reflector housing. A snoot is simply a tapered metal cone that fits over the light and creates a small circle of light instead of a large area of diffused light. With your object on a black background, the circle of light will appear as a light gray area without well-defined edges. For a tighter circle with a better definededge, you need to use a spotlight (a light source with some sort of lens in front that focuses the light into a better circle).You can get all sorts of spotlights, and for small jewelry pieces Ive found that you can successfully use focused halogen table lamps for this effect. Both a snoot and a spotlight produce harsh, hard light. This type of light works well with matte surfaces but is not the kind of light to use with shiny or metallic finishes. The spotlight produces a hard, bright glare spotes

My time is limited and I can only work in 2-4 hour intervals. Are there any preventative steps that I should take to assure that my work will be in good shape when I return? Many hobbyists find themselves in the same position, and this is a very good question. We cant cover every possible scenario, but hopefully we can help. Obviously, there are areas where it wont make any difference if you get interrupted. For instance, pattern prep, glass cutting, fitting, and grinding. However, if you do find that you need to stop in the middle of applying copper foil, youll need to think about how long it will be until you can resume the job. If it will only be a few days, there isnt anything special that youll need to do. But if it will be longer than that (or you live in a particularly humid area), your foil may show signs of oxidation when you return. (Oxidation happens to metal when its exposed to the air. It can prevent a nice solder job, so its important to avoid it, or at least know how to clean it up.) To keep oxidation to a minimum, store the foiled pieces in a plastic zipper bag, or cover them as well as you can with plastic wrap. This will limit the amount of air that ca

Youve spent the last several days in a flurry of activity getting ready for the show. Reaching, lifting, bending, packing, shoving, sitting for hours during travel, standing in awkward positions while unpacking, setting up your booth, walking back and forth on uneven ground. Perhaps youve even been subjected to extreme temperature changeswind, rain, drafts. In any case, youre finally done. Youve certainly earned a few moments of relaxation, so you reach for a cool (or hot) drink, plop yourself down in a foldout or canvas chair, slump back, stretch out your legs, and survey the efforts of your labors. Now its time to get up and greet a prospective buyer. But you cant move! Pain shoots through your back, your legs and your shoulders. You look and feel like a chick trying to peck its way out of an egg as you struggle to get up and out of your chair. Here is whats going on : Those musculoskeletal problems from your past have just come back to haunt you again in spades. Old, forgotten injuries, some from childhood, have away of returning when you least expect them, especially at times of physical and emotional stress. The cause? Previously injured and weakened muscles a

We each have our own unique style of presentation and interaction with our attending students. That being said, I believe that there is a set of principles relating to the teaching process that might be useful to review and clarify so that they are readily available for future reference. Advance Planning You and your students will benefit if you ask them to bring either images or actual samples of their work. You will need to identify the point where each one is in his or her career so that you can work to move them forward from that point. Each will be different, and the more informed you are, the better youll be able to serve their needs. Do this as early in the class as possible, if not before. I also find it helpful to communicate via e-mail prior to starting the class with an encouraging note. Check the class listing in the catalogueit is common for the host to miss something or misstate something. You can give a bit more information in the e-mail. Be sure to mention what it is that you want them to bring to the classsamples of work, images, objects to work from, specific questions, or projects to work on. Decide in advance what the focus of the class is goin

Chances are, right now, in reading this blog post, youre avoiding an overdue task . I too was avoiding a laundry list of work-related tasks in writing this. Procrastination is a part of life, and its certainly always been a part of mine. As a teenager, my parents would accuse me of putting off everything from piano practice to math homework. Id vehemently deny their charges hissing back, I work better under pressure!The truth was, I often felt overwhelmed, under-productive and anxious. Over the years, Ive been able to combat my avoidance issues using 4 tools. The trick is constantly reminding myself of these actions, because they do not come naturally to me. 1. Just Say No! I say yes to everything. Need someone to head up that event? Sure! Want me to design 12 posters for the Car Wash? No problem! Take your kid to daycare? Of course! Saying yes inevitably leads me to bite off more than I can chew. I often say yes because Im afraid if I dont, the chore wont get done, or wont get done as well. I finally realized, so what? Chances are, if it doesnt get done, or done as well, it wont be the end of the world. 2. Keep your To-Do List Short. Once you decide what you are goi

We tell ourselves not to judge a book by its cover, but the simple truth is, we are attracted to whats attractive. On a recent hunt for a birthday present for my mother, I came across several beautiful handbags in several different boutiques. What ultimately influenced my final purchase decision was the complimentary gift-wrapping offered by one of the storeowners. The handbag itself wasnt any prettier or better quality than the others I was considering, but the packaging was beautiful. Brightly colored tissue, a big sturdy box, quality wrapping paper and an oversized hand-tied bow. No, it wasnt sealed with a kiss, rather a large gold embossed sticker with the boutique name and logo (theres nothing wrong with a little discreet self-promotion). Here are a few tips for better packaging-it might just buy you your next customer! 1. Show your customers what theyll get. The boutique I mentioned earlier had a gift box mounted on the wall near the cash register, so I knew what to expect. If youre selling online, provide a short description (or picture) of the packaging you provide. 2. Remember the details. Small items like earrings can be posted to a piece of cardstock cu