[Jewelry making - Article 00675] - Re: [Orchid] Wearing your jewelry creations

[Claire Padelford]

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Helen,

    I always wear my own creations, for several reasons: 

    1. Unless it's a customer-designed commission, I make what I like
    and, for the most part, would enjoy wearing myself. Why resist that
    indulgence when "It's what I do"? 

    2. Wearing your own work is the absolute best in terms of free
    advertising. I've had many people stop me to ask where I got my
    bracelet, earrings, necklace, etc. And, unlike a customer who might
    be stopped in the same way, I always have one of my business cards to
    hand out! 

    3. It's a great way to field-test my pieces, especially the more
    'iffy' or experimental designs. I like to see just how wearable my
    designs are, how they lie on the wrist or neck, how heavy they are,
    how they feel to the wearer throughout the day or evening, and how
    they hold up with repeated wearing, under different circumstances. I
    would much rather discover "re-design opportunities" prior to a sale,
    than to have a customer return something. 

    4. Market research. I can see what catches the interest - and the
    eye - of potential customers, and what goes mostly unnoticed. 

    If I plan to sell the piece, I will only "field test" it once, then
    clean it thoroughly and put it back in inventory. If I like it well
    enough, I will keep it and make another for sale or display it and
    make one for myself, when time allows. 

    I've had to learn to take photos of my pieces *before* I wear them,
    since I've had several pieces purchased while I was "field testing"
    them! 

    I once had a woman follow me around several stores in a mall, to the
    point where I started to become alarmed... until I saw that she was
    surreptitiously (or so she thought) eyeing my bracelet. I finally
    stopped, looked directly at her and smiled, and waited for her to
    speak (not wanting to make any assumptions). She blurted out that she
    loved my bracelet and would I mind terribly telling her where I
    bought it? We both had a good laugh about her 'stalking' me, and I
    had a new customer! 

Claire
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