My poor, sad MacBook was dying a painful and annoying death. I couldn't write any documents (even Google docs was poopoo-ing my computer), couldn't download or upgrade any programs, couldn't process any photos, and so on and so forth. It crept along slowly; thwarting any attempts at growing my business. So, now it's been relegated to the "sitting-on-the-couch-surfing-the-internet-or-lying-in-bed-watching-netflix" device. And in it's position is my new, awesome, gonna-make-my-life-better iMac!
LOVE!!!
In the past 5 days I've been able to research wholesale selling, download a few of my images that I recently took of my new collection, practiced working in Microsoft Word, made two price lists, and began working on my catalog. Hee Heeeee!
It's the little things....well....maybe not so little. It's bigger than my tele! I feel like I can get things done! I can accomplish all the things I want to do with my business. Designing jewelry, making jewelry, and packaging it.... all that's no problem. It's the marketing, business research, communication, record keeping, writing, cataloging, profit/lossing...and blah, blah, blah, that's hard to do. But now, watch out! It's all starting to come together. It's like the lack of technology was the missing link in my evolutionary life as an artist/entrepreneur.
In any industry it's hard to make quality items without the proper tools. Sometimes, as an artist used to making 3-D items, it's hard to remember that technology is equally as important. If I can't get my images out there, provide price lists or catalogs for my customers, if I can't reach out to the greater community, I can't do business. Struggling along with my laptop really put that into the for-front of my mind.
Now, if I can just figure out how to sync my iPhone to my iMac without
losing ALL of my information like I did the day before yesterday. Now
that was not so awesome. But this computer is mega awesome and WAY more tech than I can handle. I feel like I've grabbed on to 21st century tech and I'm flying in the wind like a tattered and slightly bewildered flag. But that's okay. I'll figure it out one of these days. Probably by the time I fully understand this computer it'll be a dinosaur like my MacBook.
But that's okay. I accept my limitations (which have now been greatly lessened by my cool apple-ness).
Did I mention how much I LOVE my new iMac?
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sanding, sanding, and sanding
I know my students hate it when they hear me say "Yes, you need to sand that piece of metal". I can see the thought bubble over their head and it says " I bet she doesn't sand as much as she's making us sand"!
But look! I do have to sand my metal before I cut my shapes out. You can see my glass of vino next to the proof of my labor! The truth is, sanding nights are spent in front of the boob tube with a glass of wine. Sanding isn't so bad then!
But look! I do have to sand my metal before I cut my shapes out. You can see my glass of vino next to the proof of my labor! The truth is, sanding nights are spent in front of the boob tube with a glass of wine. Sanding isn't so bad then!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
a few photo tips
Last time I checked in I had taken a series of photos that didn't work out well. This morning I set up my photo stuff again and took some shots. I'm MUCH happier with the way this session went. I opted not to use any lights and set up by my big glass doors. I used props instead of the traditional black background and framed my shots much better so there was a lot less editing needed.
Because I can't always tell if I have a good shot with correct lighting and clear focus I take A LOT of shots and cull the best out of the batch when I review them on my computer. I bracket my shots, meaning I take shots at different f-stops, to make sure I have the right lighting. If you have a "point-n-shoot" most models come with settings where you can manually change the f-stop. I recommend taking shots where different amounts of light are used for your exposure. Also, check your histogram which will tell you if your reflections are too bright or your whites are blown out. If that happens you lose detail. It's a great tool and you can find out how to access it per photo in your camera's handbook.
A while back my computer went kaput so I had to take it in and get some work done on it. I lost my Photoshop application so now I've been reduced to using my iPhoto editing options. It's not actually that bad, but it is limited. Photoshop elements is a great option and much less expensive. Having a way to adjust your exposure if things are a little off, or hiding some minor splotches, or even simply cropping your images is extremely helpful. Also, always remember to make sure your screen is at it's brightest level so that you're truly seeing your images. If your screen is dark and you do a bunch of changes they will be off. Probably to bright in the end. And make sure you duplicate your images before you make any changes so you have an original copy of your shots to work from.
Aaah look! A clear and sparkly diamond and no glare on the gold! Yay! The natural light from an overcast day and good exposure really made these shots SO much better than the images I took last night.
Now I have a few more pieces to finish and shoot then the new collection can be uploaded to my website. Phew! So close!
Because I can't always tell if I have a good shot with correct lighting and clear focus I take A LOT of shots and cull the best out of the batch when I review them on my computer. I bracket my shots, meaning I take shots at different f-stops, to make sure I have the right lighting. If you have a "point-n-shoot" most models come with settings where you can manually change the f-stop. I recommend taking shots where different amounts of light are used for your exposure. Also, check your histogram which will tell you if your reflections are too bright or your whites are blown out. If that happens you lose detail. It's a great tool and you can find out how to access it per photo in your camera's handbook.
A while back my computer went kaput so I had to take it in and get some work done on it. I lost my Photoshop application so now I've been reduced to using my iPhoto editing options. It's not actually that bad, but it is limited. Photoshop elements is a great option and much less expensive. Having a way to adjust your exposure if things are a little off, or hiding some minor splotches, or even simply cropping your images is extremely helpful. Also, always remember to make sure your screen is at it's brightest level so that you're truly seeing your images. If your screen is dark and you do a bunch of changes they will be off. Probably to bright in the end. And make sure you duplicate your images before you make any changes so you have an original copy of your shots to work from.
Aaah look! A clear and sparkly diamond and no glare on the gold! Yay! The natural light from an overcast day and good exposure really made these shots SO much better than the images I took last night.
Now I have a few more pieces to finish and shoot then the new collection can be uploaded to my website. Phew! So close!
Monday, February 13, 2012
taking photos
*sigh*
I spent tonight taking photos. Maybe one or two turned out well, but the rest look awful. It's hard to take pictures of metal. Getting the lighting right. Making sure there's no glare. Is there enough light? Is there too much light? Is there sparkle where there should be sparkle? blah blah yada yada
*sigh*
With so many artists opting to take their own photos, jewelry photography has become a lot more creative and the rules for the black, shadowed, background have loosened up a bit. I thought I might try to make my set up a little more traditional tonight, but once my images were uploaded I realized my lighting was pretty off and there were some focus problems.
So...perhaps it's time to invest in a proper lighting set-up.
I've found that using natural light tends to work out well for the type of jewelry I make. The steel is dark and the gold is reflective so finding something that doesn't get lost in the steel or glare off the gold can be frustrating. When it's cloudy out, which is often in Portland, the light isn't harsh or bright so I really like to take my photos in the morning and near my biggest window. Even outside, sometimes. I use white paper opposite the light source in order to reflect the light back onto the work.
I guess I'll be taking some more photos in the morning!
I spent tonight taking photos. Maybe one or two turned out well, but the rest look awful. It's hard to take pictures of metal. Getting the lighting right. Making sure there's no glare. Is there enough light? Is there too much light? Is there sparkle where there should be sparkle? blah blah yada yada
*sigh*
With so many artists opting to take their own photos, jewelry photography has become a lot more creative and the rules for the black, shadowed, background have loosened up a bit. I thought I might try to make my set up a little more traditional tonight, but once my images were uploaded I realized my lighting was pretty off and there were some focus problems.
So...perhaps it's time to invest in a proper lighting set-up.
 |
| This image isn't too bad. The lighting was okay from the start and there isn't much glare. |
 |
| Now, this one didn't seem to take to the lighting I had set up well. The difference between the gold and the steel reflected the light differently and the steel looks dirty and splotchy. The diamond is a blur as well. |
 | |
| I'm not too disappointed with this shot but you can see the earring on the left has some glare. |
I guess I'll be taking some more photos in the morning!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
diamonds!
Last summer I bought myself a few diamonds. I'd had students ask about how to purchase them and I was curious myself so I went down to a local guy and asked if he'd spend some time explaining it to me. And he did. And I mostly understand it all.
After about an hour of talking and playing show and tell I bought a few teeny-tiny, itty-bitty diamonds in white and black. Since then, they'd been sitting in my box of "stones I want to set but haven't yet" and taken out to gaze at on occasion. The night before last I finally set two of them. I just couldn't take it anymore and it was time.
Last year I added gold to my work and now diamonds. I'm not a big fan of bling, but a little bit is nice. Especially when it's paired with something a little rustic or non-traditional like steel. When I decide to make some changes to current work or explore design ideas, I work out the kinks on a few pieces of jewelry. When I have a finished piece I wear it for a while to see if there are any issues with how the piece wears throughout the day and pay attention to what's folks may notice about it.
This little guy is my favorite. A gnarly silver ring with a sparkly little black diamond set into the band. I can't wait to make more! Designing new pieces is one of my favorite aspects of studio work. Now I have to go back to the drawing board and figure out better ways to clean steel and then I can produce a much cleaner design mixing the diamonds and steel. Fun!
After about an hour of talking and playing show and tell I bought a few teeny-tiny, itty-bitty diamonds in white and black. Since then, they'd been sitting in my box of "stones I want to set but haven't yet" and taken out to gaze at on occasion. The night before last I finally set two of them. I just couldn't take it anymore and it was time.
Last year I added gold to my work and now diamonds. I'm not a big fan of bling, but a little bit is nice. Especially when it's paired with something a little rustic or non-traditional like steel. When I decide to make some changes to current work or explore design ideas, I work out the kinks on a few pieces of jewelry. When I have a finished piece I wear it for a while to see if there are any issues with how the piece wears throughout the day and pay attention to what's folks may notice about it.
 |
I tube set
this diamond in steel. It's a little rough but the diamond looks nice. I
have yet to figure out the best way to clean steel after soldering on
it, but I did notice that steel produces a really beautiful flux patina
that I may want to play with at some point.
|
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
working on the new collection
who's your best resource?
During a conversation with a close friend today, I talked about my goals and what I was learning during this process of growing my business. It was good to hear it all out loud. Stating my goals to my friend made them sound more realistic and attainable. It also sparked the marketing guru that lives inside my friend. Later in the day she took some time to look at my newly re-vamped website and wanted to chat some more.
While we were on the phone Lisa navigated around my website. She "thought out loud" as she was looking and noticed a few things that didn't seem inviting to her or that she felt were missing. At first I felt a wee bit put out. Didn't she know how much time I put into my site!? Wasn't she aware of how expensive it is to hire someone else to design and then update the site!? How could she not understand how lucky I was that I found a web hosting site that was designed for artists!?
Then I thought about it. She was doing me a favor. While she, a customer, was looking at my work she had feelings about her interaction and had some issues with ordering. That's really helpful information. She also noticed that I was lacking a page that talked about me, and hey, who doesn't like to talk about themselves! Even though she loved the overall look and feel, and the organization there were aspects of the site she felt were impersonal and didn't reflect me as the artist behind the work.
After a bit more chatting I continued on with my day and jotted down some notes in my "studio to-do list". Throughout the evening I thought about my conversation with Lisa. I thought about how much we miss each other, how nice it would be if we could visit more often, and how lucky I was to have a friend who was so invested in my success. Sometimes in moments like this it dawns on ya, that your family, your friends, even your colleagues care about your successes. They're interested in what you're doing and how you're doing it. Just like you are in them.
Our friends and family want us to do well because they love us and want to see us succeed. They want us to be happy. They'll buy from us, tell their friends about us, and speak our praise whenever they can. They also take the time to review our websites and look at our pictures. They wear our jewelry and hand out business cards. They are our best resource for information on how our customers view our business. I've been so involved in the making that it's hard to be a viewer. I'm too connected to everything. As an artist we want someone to critique our work. The same should hold true for the business side of our studios.
I have a few more things to think about adding to my website. Looks like I have a lot more pictures to take and some more writing to do. I value the thoughts and opinions of my friends and family and I'm feeling pretty lucky. And practically speaking, free marketing advice is pretty nice.
For those of you who are interested in making your own site but haven't the skills (like me) there is a great web hosting site called Other People's Pixels. It was created by artists for artists. It's an affordable way to create your own professional site where you can showcase your work, sell it, and connect. You get 30 days free and they're so helpful. Try it!
http://otherpeoplespixels.com
Tell them Melton Metals Studio sent you!
While we were on the phone Lisa navigated around my website. She "thought out loud" as she was looking and noticed a few things that didn't seem inviting to her or that she felt were missing. At first I felt a wee bit put out. Didn't she know how much time I put into my site!? Wasn't she aware of how expensive it is to hire someone else to design and then update the site!? How could she not understand how lucky I was that I found a web hosting site that was designed for artists!?
Then I thought about it. She was doing me a favor. While she, a customer, was looking at my work she had feelings about her interaction and had some issues with ordering. That's really helpful information. She also noticed that I was lacking a page that talked about me, and hey, who doesn't like to talk about themselves! Even though she loved the overall look and feel, and the organization there were aspects of the site she felt were impersonal and didn't reflect me as the artist behind the work.
After a bit more chatting I continued on with my day and jotted down some notes in my "studio to-do list". Throughout the evening I thought about my conversation with Lisa. I thought about how much we miss each other, how nice it would be if we could visit more often, and how lucky I was to have a friend who was so invested in my success. Sometimes in moments like this it dawns on ya, that your family, your friends, even your colleagues care about your successes. They're interested in what you're doing and how you're doing it. Just like you are in them.
Our friends and family want us to do well because they love us and want to see us succeed. They want us to be happy. They'll buy from us, tell their friends about us, and speak our praise whenever they can. They also take the time to review our websites and look at our pictures. They wear our jewelry and hand out business cards. They are our best resource for information on how our customers view our business. I've been so involved in the making that it's hard to be a viewer. I'm too connected to everything. As an artist we want someone to critique our work. The same should hold true for the business side of our studios.
I have a few more things to think about adding to my website. Looks like I have a lot more pictures to take and some more writing to do. I value the thoughts and opinions of my friends and family and I'm feeling pretty lucky. And practically speaking, free marketing advice is pretty nice.
For those of you who are interested in making your own site but haven't the skills (like me) there is a great web hosting site called Other People's Pixels. It was created by artists for artists. It's an affordable way to create your own professional site where you can showcase your work, sell it, and connect. You get 30 days free and they're so helpful. Try it!
http://otherpeoplespixels.com
Tell them Melton Metals Studio sent you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)