It seems that the most elusive thing to new crafters or “dabblers” is how to create a product line. How do you go from the early phases of making stuff to give to your friends as gifts to making stuff that you want to sell (and that people want to buy!)?

Here, I put this question to Annie of Imogene, a jeweler who uses mostly sterling silver and traditional metal fabrication techniques to create simple and lovely pieces.

Annie says:

I went to university for jewelry and metalsmithing, but when I graduated, I discovered that I didn’t know how to market these skills or where exactly to go with it. Shortly after school ended, I was offered a job as an assistant to a jeweler. I turned this down because the pay was dismal and offered no health benefits on top of that. Instead I worked as a legal secretary. By the time I left my cubicle, I was earning almost three times what I would have earned as an assistant to this jeweler AND I received health benefits. While working at the law firm, I opened up a little online boutique representing indie designers. I guess this was my own way of keeping craft in my life. I began to sell my own jewelry creations in the store alongside the other work that I carried just to “see what would happen.” I also participated in craft shows as the boutique. I then realized that my work was as marketable as the work of the artists I carried in the shop! The income from my day job and craft shows allowed me to expand my jewelry line and eventually quit my day job. I’ve been selling my work now for about four years and have been self-employed for a little over one year. Now I carry only my jewelry line in the boutique.

My advice to everyone is to believe in yourself, your vision, and your product. You have to push forward with no fear. I’ve been rejected to many shows (even Crafty Bastards!), I’ve encountered criticism, skepticism, you name it, but you just have to pick yourself up and move forward. Constantly work to improve and innovate.

Annie’s comments about fear are really valuable. When asked this same question myself recently, I answered that the real failure is the fear. Many new crafters are afraid of failure and the truth is that as long as you are making something that you are not failing, you are learning and getting closer to your goals.

You can check out Annie’s lovely jewelry at Booth #119 this Sunday, September 28th from 10am-5pm at the Marie Reed Learning Center in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC.

I met a crafter the other night who asked me a really interesting question. How do you go from a “dabbler,” someone who makes all kinds of stuff to a crafter with a brand and a product line? How do you go from the early phases of making stuff to give to your friends as gifts to making stuff that you want to sell (and that people want to buy!)?

I thought I would ask some of this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors this question. First up is Tamara of Block Party Press. She uses hand carved stamps (blocks, hence the Block Party title) to create amazingly textured polymer clay jewelry.

Here you can see how her work has progressed. The pendant on the left is from 2006 and the one on the right is brand new.

Question: How long did it take for your product line to become what it is today?

Answer: It has taken about 2 1/2 years. I stumbled upon my signature technique quite by accident while trying to make myself a pendant I couldn’t find in the store. Around the same time I found Etsy and thought I would give it a try. I had been a stay at home mom for 3 years, and I had been trying to come up with a way to make some money so the planets aligned and I started Block Party Press. Honestly it was the right product at the right time. I wish I could say it was a brilliant scheme that I had planned all along, but it was just me jumping in with both feet hoping to make it work. I learned all of what I know now about selling my art by doing it.

Question: What did you start making at the very beginning?

Answer: In the beginning I was strictly making pendants. Basically I had very little jewelery making skills or supplies, so I worked with what I had and at the time I thought the majority of buyers were crafters, so I thought selling a “supply” rather than a finished piece would be more profitable. Eventually I have expanded to finished jewelry pieces and now I am moving into creating wall art and home decor items. I think it is important to always keep innovating. I am always trying to think of new products, new color combinations or new themes for my art. I am always working on something new and I think that keeps things fresh for both me and my customers.

Question: How did you know when you got it right?

Answer: Honestly, I didn’t know. I knew that I liked what I was making and I just hoped someone else would too. I knew that other people really liked what I made from sales and from comments from fellow artists and crafters. Their comments and support and customer feedback made me want to continue to improve and create new things.

Question: How did you know it was time to start selling your creations?

Answer: I think when I found a technique that worked for me, that I enjoyed making and a venue that worked for me I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try. I knew very little about the indie craft scene and have never been to art school, so I was pretty in the dark about the possibilities of selling my art and so my expectations weren’t very high. I also had the encouragement from family and friends which is always helpful.

Question: Final thoughts?

Answer: My main thoughts are make something unique, make it well, love making it and know your audience. Take a chance.

Tamara has a blog where she writes about her craft and her inspiration. I love how she is always examining texture. Check out http://blockpartypress.blogspot.com/

You can find (and buy!) some of Block Party Press’ work at the Crafty Bastards Arts and Craft Fair on September 28th. She is booth number 38.

If you would like to share your From Dabbler to… story, email Tina at craftyupdates@washingtoncitypaper.com