Up and Coming Jewelry Artist - 7 Year Old Jalynn Morter

This week's featured artist is my daughter-in-law's niece Jalynn Morter. She's only 7 years old and already showing signs of becoming a great jewelry designer and artist. It's so refreshing to see someone so young doing such great work. She has a good sense of color and loves making jewelry. When you read her interview you'll also see she has the right attitude to make it in this ever growing and saturated industry.



Jalynn can often be found in her family's basement where a small work station has been put together to nuture her love of the art. And, there is definitely an art to making stunning jewelry and finding your own sense of style. Jalynn is well on her way to becoming a true artist.


Interview with Jalynn:

Question #1 When did you start beading?

"This summer, because it was summer and I didn't have school. It was my hobby."


Question #2 Why did you start beading?

"Because I wanted to make money by selling my jewelry, so i can buy more beads to make more jewelry"


Question #3 What is your favorite thing about beading?

"Trying to make money to keep buying beads, to keep making jewelry."


Question #4 What is your favorite thing you have made?

" My brown and green necklace with matching bracelet, and my bracelet with my birthstone."




Please feel free to write a comment for Jalynn, say hello and encourage her to continue to grow as a jewelry artist. I'm so proud of her and her passion!

Thank you Jalynn for allowing me to share your jewelry with the online community!!

Kerri

This weeks Featured Artisan is Tina's Treasures! Tina has a wide

variety of handmade creations in her shop! Stop by and see them all!

You can find Tina's Treasures on:

Etsy

Blog

Facebook

Beadworks by Kerri - Featured Artist on Cafe Handmade

I'm so honored to have been chosen as a featured artist on Cafe Handmade this week. There are so many wonderful artists in the art community.

Here's a link to the article.....

http://cafehandmade.com/index.php/2010/09/featured-artist-kerri-white-beadworks-by-kerri/


Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!
As always,
Kerri

Season Change

As we approach the new fall season, I find myself reflecting on accomplishments and events that happened during the summer months. This summer was full of happenings both personally and professionally. My granddaughter celebrated her 3rd birthday, my parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and I got married. That in itself is a busy summer, but there were things that I accomplished professionally as well. After a year of business, a plan has emerged. I know they say you're supposed to write a business plan BEFORE you start a business, but that's not how I did it. I spent a year playing with beads, trying new ideas, and THEN came up with a business plan. Financially, it would have been better to do the plan first, but I feel so much more growth happened as an artist by not having a set plan this first year. I felt more free to explore my creative side and let a style emerge on its own. I now feel better equipped to focus on my plan.

I want to do some art festivals and then try out the wholesale market next year. Hopefully, the lessons I've learned this year will help me be better prepared to tackle the plan I've set for myself.

What do you plan to do to grow your business? I'd love to hear your ideas!!

As always,
Kerri

Married....on the beach....it was great!!!

It's no surprise that at our age, both Randy and I have been married before. So, when he proposed (and I said yes....heehee) we decided to do something special and different. I've had a smile on my face ever since and excited doesn't even begin to describe the experience of getting married on the beach in Jamaica. Runaway Bay is a fabulous super inclusive resort that lives up to its name. It was a wonderful week full of happy memories.

Here's my favorite picture out of all the ones we took while we were there....




I'll have some new designs in my Etsy shop before the end of the week so please check back often. CLICK HERE to view my shop.

Upcoming Wedding

I'm excited beyond words that this weekend we'll be on the beach in Jamaica getting married!!! Randy and I have been dating for 3 years and tying the knot just feels right. He's the love of my life and such a great man....they're hard to find these days too.

Once we get back I'll post some pics from the trip.

In the meantime.....enjoy life and be happy :) Oh, the little girl in the picture is our granddaughter.

As always,
Kerri

Current and Upcoming Shows

Can't believe summer is almost over, hope everyone has had a wonderfully fun summer so far. Soon it will be time for school, holidays and cooler days. Along with these come art festivals and craft fairs. Here are a few that I'll be involved in this year.

Current I'm in a Virtual Craft Show on Cafe Handmade. Please take a few moments to check it out. You can even vote for Best in Show.

On September 25th I'll have a booth in the juried section of the Art Festival in Carlisle, PA. It'll be in front of Dickinson Law School with a special tribute to the military personnel in the area.

Then, on October 9th I'll be in Lancaster, a vendor at Art in the Ball Park. It's a fundraiser for a young boy who needs a complete intestinal transplant. The ball park in Lancaster donated use of the field for the whole day and there will be lots of entertainment. They're hoping to have 100 vendors for the day.

So...if you live in the area and looking for something to do, please come join the fun!

Oh......I've designed a new business card....what do you think?



As always,
Kerri

Colors of Summer Challenge Winner!!

I'm so deeply honored and excited to be the winner of this year's Colors of Summer Challenge put together by the Military Brat Team on Etsy. What a thrill!!

If you'd like to see all the entries, please CLICK HERE.

To view more of my designs, please CLICK HERE.

Thanks to all who voted for my cuff!!
Kerri

Designer Beaded Shawl Pins

I've been making beaded shawl pins since last fall and they're a big seller. I love making them because the possibilities are endless, they're inexpensive enough for gift giving and are just plain fun.

But, some people like finer gifts and accessories so I've started a new line of designer shawl pins. They're made using beads that are handmade, many by fellow Etsy artisans. So far, there are five in the series.....and they can be purchased by CLICKING HERE

New Product Line

Here's a new product line I'm offering to the cat lovers out there....ornamental cat necklaces with belly dancing bells added just for fun! They're be made using a variety of beads and strung on stretchy cord so they can slip over your cat's head easily. There are only a few in my shop currently, with more to come. As always, please don't hesitate to ask for a larger size or specific stone.


To continue my "giving back" efforts, 10% of the sale from the cat necklaces will be donated to the humane society each month.



Too see other colors and to purchase a cat necklace please CLICK HERE

Thank you!
Kerri

Marie Antoinette Beadwoven Cuff

I've recently started a new series of jewelry, cuff bracelets. They're fun to create and a very versatile addition to any jewelry collection.

Here's my latest....Marie Antoinette



And one that's part of my personal collection



Keep checking my Etsy shop....CLICK HERE.....because I'll be adding more in the near future!

Kerri

Published for the First Time!!!

I can't even begin to describe the excitement I felt when my good friend Kristie called yesterday to let me know my rainbow flourite pendant was published in the latest issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine. What a thrill!!!!!

Business Plan Basics

As I stated in the previous blog, a business plan can be as simple as notes jotted down on a piece of paper or as complex as would be needed for a business loan. At the very least, a busines plan should include the following elements:

1. Vision/Mission Statement
2. Marketing Strategy
3. Business Strategy
4. Financials

This blog will deal with the first element, the Vision/Mission Statement.

The Mission Statement is a brief description that explains why your business exists. Think about what is most important to you and what you hope to accomplish through your business. It would be good to have two separate statements. One that is very concise that you can use when you're talking with prospective buyers and another, more detailed statement that you would use in your company literature.

Here's an example of what I mean.....

Project Genesis is a company that provides assistance for people with disabilities. Their mission statement is "the independence of individuals in achieving and sustaining their full range of experiences, rights and desires." Fully written in their literature is the more detailed mission statement, "Project Genesis, Inc. believes that all persons, regardless of their disability, have the right to enjoy the same full range of life experiences which others in their community enjoy. We believe that each person who desires to live and work in their community can be successful."

For more information on how to develope a Missionn Statement, feel free to check out the site www.missionstatements.com.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, please feel free to leave feedback....

Thanks!
Kerri

A Business Plan - Why Have One?

One thing that's important for business owners (and that includes independent artists) is to have a clear set of goals. Where do you want to be in 9 months, 2 years, 5 years and beyond? Take some time to think about this and then write your goals down. This can be done informally in a note pad, or formally, as with a business plan.

A business plan takes considerable time to research and to write, is it worth it? Most financial sources require a business plan before they will consider investing in your business. This includes banks, venture capitalists, and sometimes your own family. A property owner may require a business plan before he will consider leasing his property to you. Potential employees may want to see the plan before coming to work for you. Significant suppliers often will ask for your plan, and with a good plan you may be able to get better credit terms than without one.

But, the most important reason for a plan is to give yourself a guide to your future. A well written plan provides a road map to your business's growth, allows you to measure progress toward your goals, and it lets you know if the business climate is changing (and whether you need to change your plans too). It will guide you in your decision making throughout your business.


The next blog will talk about the business plan in more detail.....

See you next week!!

Thank you,
Kerri

Moving Forward

I recently took a short business course geared specifically toward creaters/designers and gathered some useful information. For those of you who are already successful in your business, this will just be a refresher. For those of you who are just starting out, or who want to fine tune your business, I'm going to be doing a short series on business basics.

The first topic will be Branding.....

1. Develop a consistent body of work (can be mixed mediums if style is consistent)

2. Establish your core identity (decide what's most important to you and have that guide your business decisions)

3. Your visual branding has to fit your work

a. Logo - can be a small section of one of your products
b. Font - use the same font on all literature
c. Color Scheme - use the same colors on all literature

If you follow the above list, peope will better be able to recognize your work and identify with you.

For more information on this topic, please check out the site

www.madsencycles.com

Hope this gave you some food for thought....
Kerri

Saying Goodbye For Now......

Soon I'll be saying a temporary "good bye" to Hearts Abound, but it's not a sad farewell. I'll be shipping this beauty off to Fire Mountain Gems for the second round of judging and photography. What an honor!! I almost fell over when I read the letter from them.

Wish us luck!!



Kerri

Interview with Fellow Etsian

I'd like to introduce everyone to a new friend of mine on Etsy, Chel, of Fresh Picked Candles. Her candles are friendly to the environment, smell great and look great in your home.

She definitely knows her candles, having started making them over 30 years ago! In her shop profile she even explains soy and palm wax, which is what she uses in her candles.

Here's a little bit more about her, via an interview:

What types of items do you sell?
I sell scented natural wax (soy and palm wax) candles that I make in my kitchen at home. I primarly offer "fresh picked" fruit scents, but I have other fragrances available by custom order through Etsy, as well as unscented candles.

Where is your work available for sale?
I sell my candles online at Etsy (FreshPickedCandles.etsy.com), eCrater
(FreshPickedCandles.ecrater.com), Artfire (FreshPickedCandles.artfire.com), and 1000Markets (FreshPickedCandles.1000markets.com) as well as at local arts and crafts shows around the San Francisco Bay area.

How did you get started making your candles?
I started making candles with my mother as a child in the 70s. Candle-making was a very different experience back then. The only wax available to us was petroleum-based paraffin, and we used bits of crayons as dye in our candles. In college, I started making my own candles, and more recently become interested in making more environmentally friendly candles. I now use vegetable-based waxes (soy and palm) instead of petroleum derived wax. I am currently experimenting with pure essential oils to make an entirely new line of candles.

What other types of art do you make for fun?
In addition to making candles, I am a metalsmith, specializing in sterling silver gemstone jewelry and hypoallergenic earrings. My jewelry is available for sale on Etsy (http://lavajewelry.etsy.com), Artfire (http://lavajewelry.artfire.com), and 1000Markets (http://lavajewelry.1000markets.com). I also love watercolor painting, knitting, and crocheting.



Please check out her Etsy shop by CLICKING HERE!

Thank you, Chel, for taking time to talk about your wonderful candles!

Kerri

Inspired by Nature

Nature provides inspiration for jewelry artists in the form of stone choice, color choice and design choice. All you have to do is look out the window or take a walk through a park to be inspired by nature. Behind our house is a 100 acre community park that has a nature trail. While this week the weather was cooler and rainy, last week was absolutely gorgeous and my daily walks along the nature trail inspired this necklace. The feature stone is a beautiul piece of fuchsite that has been surrounded by dark green and smokey topaz seed beads. The fringe and necklace chain follow the same color scheme adding dozens of crystals for style.

I find that my beadweaving works best when I don't plan out an entire piece before I start, rather letting it evolve into it's own. I let the stones "speak" to me and creating a piece of jewelry becomes like music....one note building on the next until a masterpiece is created.

With that in mind, I'm going to start doing a series of works in progress, showing you how a work comes together.....

If you'd like to purchase this item, please CLICK HERE.

Sometimes You Just Have to Keep It!

I don't do this very often, but sometimes I fall in love with a piece and decide to keep it. This necklace is one of them. The combination of colors is awesome and the chain matches the fringe. I've titled it Heavenly Butterscotch.

To see more of my designs, please CLICK HERE

Rainbow Flourite Wire Wrap Pendant

I'm a beadweaver by trade so when I decided to expand my jewelry line with wire wrapping, I wanted to somehow add a beadwoven style to my designs. This pendant is a result of that desire. There are 2mm hematite beads incorporated into the wire wrap frame. I'm curious if anyone else other than me feels this gives the wire wrap a beadwoven feel to it.

Don't be shy now, let me know what you think.......
The pendant is available through my Etsy shop by CLICKING HERE

Have a great day!
Kerri

Valentine's Day Jewelry

It's getting close to that time of year again, the holiday for lovers (or should we say for florists and candy makers....LOL)! How about treating yourself to a pair of earrings to wear, treat yourself to something nice. Here are a few of my new pieces that will be available in my Etsy shop within the next couple of days.



These cute hearts within a heart earrings are perfect for the person who likes hearts and nothing else. Simple yet elegant and can be worn with any outfit. These are my personal favorite.









These blue beauties are stylish and versatile, although they won't go with as many colors in your wardrobe as the plain hearts.




If you'd rather have a necklace, here's a Valentine necklace just for you....



It has love written all over it with the added feature of containing amethyst, the February birthstone.

I try to have a little something for everyone......

These pieces will be uploaded to Etsy shortly, please CLICK HERE to view these and other designs handmade with love by yours truly.....

Thanks!
Kerri

An Interview with EightyMillion

I want to introduce you all to a great fellow Etsian, Jennifer, from Eightymillion. She does photography and makes some of the cutest notecards I've seen. Here's one of my favorites.....it's so cute!



Okay, when you're all done ooohing and aaahing, on to the interview....

Question: How did you get started in photography?

Answer: By accident, I was searching for a new direction to take my notecards in and that took my to my photographs. One photo led to another and now I've created a whole new product line.


Question: What is your favorite subject to photograph?

Answer: My three dogs - Hardy, House and Disco. They are just so entertaining to me. I love to capture how much they enjoy life. A spoiled life, that is.


Question: What does the future hold for Eightymillion?

Answer: A lifetime membership with Etsy, of course. Running my Etsy store full-time and I'm looking to expand my shop to include T-shirts for Men/Women/Kids/Pets. I also want to write children's books.


Question: Tell us a little bit about your experiences on Etsy.

Answer: Where do I start? Before I fully knew all of what Etsy has to offer (and still learning), I was chosen for a "Sneak Attack". I met so many great people there, who have given me so much advice and encouragement with my shop. Through each sale you've met someone new. The Etsy community is very strong and helpful and every experience I've had there has been nothing but positive.


Question: Is there anything else you'd like to add before we wrap up the interview?

Answer: Just wanted to say a very sincere "Thank You" to you Kerri for taking the time to do this interview. This has been yet another great experience....


THANK YOU, Jennifer, for allowing me to introduce you to my friends. Your notecards are adorable and a pleasure to give.

Anyone interested, please CLICK HERE, to view more notecards done up by Eightymillion!

As always,
Kerri

Back to Work

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to let everyone know that we're all moved and settled in our new house now. It was hectic and not quite the right time of year to move, but we're sure glad we went through the trouble. The place is just perfect for our needs and pleasures.

Here's a picture so you can see for yourself....






My next blog will be an interview with fellow Etsian, Eightymillion, who does photography.

Thanks for your patience and patronage!
Kerri, www.beadworksbykerri.etsy.com