We attended a small political “coffee” a few nights ago. I really try to stay away from politics having had enough of it in my gifted and talented education work, but I wasn’t given much choice for this one. When we arrived, the first thing that caught my eye was a piece of jewelry walking by. I tried not to accost the woman wearing it, but finally got close enough to determine that it was one of my sets. You’ve seen a picture here in an older blog. It was made of 5 round copper discs and a handmade chain. It also had matching round disc earrings. I was really tickled to see it and learned that the person’s husband purchased it at one of the stores for her birthday. I was so pleased, you’d have thought I just laid an egg. . . . I think this was the first time I’d seen one of my pieces on someone that I had never met. It was neat! Since I only work with one store here in the town where I live, it’s pretty unlikely to encounter my own jewelry on someone else. I don’t see too many women with jewelry on here at the ranch!

The woman wearing my jewelry didn’t know who had made it. This made me think about branding (not the type with fire and iron or as we do it here-dry ice, alcohol and iron) and how I might do a better job of labeling my work. Most of the store owners tell the customers the story behind the jewelry, but once a piece leaves the store I imagine this is forgotten. Therefore, I’m considering investing in tiny stamped metal jewelry tags to go on all the pieces. I’ve looked at this before and felt it was too time consuming, but now I’m thinking about it again. Do any of you other designers do this? I’m not as concerned about pieces such as the one pictured below. Those that are strung are not as important to me for branding as the more unique metal pieces, although the one below is pretty special.

 

 

[ labradorite, tiger eye and Chinese picture jasper with seed beads– all from Magpie Gemstones www.magpiegemstones.com) ]

 

 

 

 

 

Then again, the metal pieces are perhaps occasionally too unusual for me to want them to wear my brand.   I’m not sure how I’m going to complete the one pictured here, but I like it! It’s one of those pieces that keeps evolving. Originally, I was soldering some silver wire to the diamond shaped copper piece. Before I could move the torch, I was watching the wire melt and spread on the copper creating an unusual metal effect. It sat on the workbench for weeks before I tried a little fold forming. Then it sat a bit longer. Finally, this week, I added the cab and copper and silver wires. If I ever complete the piece, it will certainly have a story behind it.

Why is it important for people to know who made their jewelry? There are, of course, many reasons but my primary business thought today is so they will know what “brand” to look for if they like the first purchase and want something else. There is also the ego angle, but I’m not going to make any money based on that one.

I think I need to get out more and conduct surveillance to try to capture a peek at my designs walking by. That way I won’t be quite so surprised when I meet one face to face. If I can put a little Dreamcatcher Designs tag on the pieces, the person wearing one won’t be so surprised when I say hello.