Patti, my pleasure, and thank you for your message! 🙂

Daisy, thank you for your lovely message, and for being a part of JMJ!

Thank you

Betty, Thank you for you lovely message, and I hope you have good sales this year!

Thank you, Dianne! Well said. And I, too, am an over-thinker. That trait may play a part in creativity. 🙂

Wonderful, Valarie! These pieces you create for people will be among their most meaningful jewelry. Thank you for sharing this.

Another way I try to make my jewelry meaningful is custom orders. I make a lot of jewelry out of broken China, and one day a client showed up with a box of broken “blue willow “ China that had belonged to her mother. She had me turn it into pendants and earrings for her sisters and nieces. It was a wonderful project, and I was happy to do it.

I have also put custom pieces together using birthstones or favorite colors. I like to think that somewhere the person is enjoying that piece, not for me, but for the memory attached to it

Hi Kerrah, you’ll find a lot of jewelry pricing info in this post here: Jewelry Pricing Formula.
That post also has links to other jewelry pricing tips and solutions.
Wishing you all the best with selling your jewelry at shows and farmers’ markets! 🙂

Katie Lynn, thank you for putting into words the way jewelry can enhance both the tangible and intangible aspects of a person. Your customers are blessed to have a personal shopping experience with an artist whose jewelry is much more than just “bling”.

Thank you so much, Consuelo, that’s so lovely to hear! I deeply appreciate your taking the time to let me know. And I’m glad you’re here making jewelry with us! 🙂

I’ve been in fairs next to a vendor selling their wares for $10… clients will pass them up spend a 1/2 hr. and & $100 in my booth just because you give them attention.

I just dropped $180 at a fair because the artist clued into my personality and it helped me make a decision between 4 different bracelets and almost decided on none. His extra attention to detail help me to make a purchase and my husband was in full agreement with him. It was well done….I’m not an easy sell.

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,
Deborah Leon

I absolutely feel that making, selling and giving jewellery is meaningful, on so many levels. For me, it has to do with the concept of beauty. One of my favourite quotes is one I first saw on the wall of my doctor’s office, underneath a beautiful nature picture:

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever and a possession for all eternity.”

I feel my purpose in life, or at least one of them, is to create beautiful things. Jewellery is one way I do that. I feel that when I create beauty, I am doing something that causes eternal ripples. It speaks of the creative Creator who has given me my creative gift. And it brings people joy, and a way for them to connect with themselves as they find the right piece for them.

Not to mention the fact that colours and gemstones and materials have certain energies to them, as well as the energy of the artist that is carried into the work. When you are wearing a piece of jewellery, it is much more than surface adornment. It strikes at core issues. It can heal us, lift us, and make us feel like who we really are.

I feel so blessed to get to be a jewellery artist!

At a recent show, my daughter called me on my cell while I was talking with a customer. Normally, in this situation, I wouldn’t take the call but in this case, I had to. Words like “please excuse me for one second” and telling my daughter I would call her back was all that was necessary to keep my customer happy. They also spent those few seconds looking at my items.

I think that women often buy jewelry that is meaningful for them. I had customers who purchased particular items because – it reminded them of their mother (she used to wear brooches and loved birds nest) or recently lost a loved one (and bought crosses for her and her daughters). These things are very important and I feel honored to be part of their journey. Who would have thought that making handmade jewelry would be so personal…and fulfilling!

If you can do it in a “prayerful” or meditative state, you have done something wonderful. Also, if you do your work with a heart of thankfulness that you have this skill, and this way to support yourself.

Thanks for your site., Janet

Cory, I remember when you first submitted a lovely photo of your jewelry to the gallery on my old website! 🙂

Bead-sista Shirley, it means a lot to me to know you take the time to fit my newsletter into your busy days as a chef – thank you!

Janet, I think one of the best things about a handmade jewelry business is that we have the opportunity to touch people’s lives one at a time. They don’t feel like they’re “just a number” with us, and we can give them the rare gift of being truly seen, heard, and valued.

Thank you for your kind feedback!

Yes, there is a video above – it’s just above the line that says “I’d love to hear what other ways you make your jewelry business meaningful!”

I’m not sure why it’s not playing on your screen – did you try refreshing your page?

There isn’t a secret to playing it – just click the big triangle in the center of the video to get it started. Please let me know if you still can’t get it to work.