Most jewelry artists are known for a specific look.
Think David Yurman and you know there will be twisted sterling silver involved in every piece. Bankable and something customers come to depend on.
But what about an artist just starting out? Should you stick to a particular look or design or should you branch out and have a wider field of possibilities?
This is something I'm working through myself.
In the early 2000s when I first started making jewelry, I followed the herd. Doing the easy stuff - the stuff I saw on other shop sites and at craft fairs.
The problem is, I don't want to be known for stuff you can get at craft fairs. I don't buy or wear that kind of jewelry and making it doesn't appeal to me.
So. I need to define my style and therefore my customer. In doing so, that means I can jettison some of the fussy/cutesy stuff that used to be in my line at first. Also, I can identify a particular type of jewelry that will help bolster that style to the customer.
Enter the Asymmetry line!
This is my first step in carving out the Wire Smith's niche. The design itself is highly adaptable as you can see. It can stay simple and a little rustic, or it can be embellished for a bit of bling.
It has lots of things I love - clean lines - I loathe fussy jewelry. And gemstones! Nothing fake or plastic here and lately I've found suppliers that carry higher grade stones than many other sources. Over the years it's become really important to distinguish my jewelry from the herd and using better grades of gems is a key way to do that.
Also, I love high-shine and polish. You won't see any "aged" or "antiqued" metal here. To take that idea one step further, I use fine silver to make the chain which gives it an upscale sensibility - something you can be proud to wear and even mix with your "good" jewelry. And, maybe most importantly, it's still handmade. It isn't "perfect". There's an organic, semi-free-form vibe about it that signals an artisan piece, not something off a factory floor.
Most of all - it's repeatable! I can hit the bench and make components in a time frame that is manageable and quantifiable. That's VERY important to make sure you price your work correctly and that you can always have new pieces to introduce.
Hopefully it will sell and become a staple in the Wire Smith portfolio. I know I love them and so there have to be other women who will as well. Women who want quality handmade that she won't see on everyone she meets. Pieces who signal her style - natural, uncluttered and colorful. With polish and a bit of elegance. That's my girl!
Think David Yurman and you know there will be twisted sterling silver involved in every piece. Bankable and something customers come to depend on.
But what about an artist just starting out? Should you stick to a particular look or design or should you branch out and have a wider field of possibilities?
This is something I'm working through myself.
In the early 2000s when I first started making jewelry, I followed the herd. Doing the easy stuff - the stuff I saw on other shop sites and at craft fairs.
The problem is, I don't want to be known for stuff you can get at craft fairs. I don't buy or wear that kind of jewelry and making it doesn't appeal to me.
So. I need to define my style and therefore my customer. In doing so, that means I can jettison some of the fussy/cutesy stuff that used to be in my line at first. Also, I can identify a particular type of jewelry that will help bolster that style to the customer.
Enter the Asymmetry line!
It has lots of things I love - clean lines - I loathe fussy jewelry. And gemstones! Nothing fake or plastic here and lately I've found suppliers that carry higher grade stones than many other sources. Over the years it's become really important to distinguish my jewelry from the herd and using better grades of gems is a key way to do that.
Also, I love high-shine and polish. You won't see any "aged" or "antiqued" metal here. To take that idea one step further, I use fine silver to make the chain which gives it an upscale sensibility - something you can be proud to wear and even mix with your "good" jewelry. And, maybe most importantly, it's still handmade. It isn't "perfect". There's an organic, semi-free-form vibe about it that signals an artisan piece, not something off a factory floor.
Most of all - it's repeatable! I can hit the bench and make components in a time frame that is manageable and quantifiable. That's VERY important to make sure you price your work correctly and that you can always have new pieces to introduce.
Hopefully it will sell and become a staple in the Wire Smith portfolio. I know I love them and so there have to be other women who will as well. Women who want quality handmade that she won't see on everyone she meets. Pieces who signal her style - natural, uncluttered and colorful. With polish and a bit of elegance. That's my girl!
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