Featured Crafter – TheBeadedLily

TheBeadedLily

How did you get into crafting?
I’ve been crafting for as long as I can remember, but I’ve only been trying to live off the income for a couple of years now. I’ve been selling jewelry on the side off and on for awhile. I started simply. A cousin and I sat down to engage in some bead therapy– which she swore by– while my grandmother was very ill. Soon I was buying beads, making things and giving them away. Then I started selling some things. It wasn’t till I found out that I could sell on-line that things really took off though.I found Etsy in January of ‘07 and opened shop there six months later.

TheBeadedLily

How did you take the plunge and start your business?
When I opened shop I knew that I wanted to craft full-time, but I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to hack it. Uncertain that I could make a go of it, that people would buy my designs, etc. A business license for the county was $100– which felt like a huge layout. So I waited till I was sure that this was really going to work. I kept track of my sales and reported the income under ‘other’ on my taxes for two years and in January of ‘09 I registered with the county, state and federal government. By that time I’d actually quit my job and though I wasn’t (and still am not) making a fortune, I felt things would continue to grow.

TheBeadedLily

What kind of crafts do you make? What is the price range? Where do you sell?
I bead. I started stringing without any real sense of self. I was just letting the beads take me anywhere they wanted to go. When I joined Etsy I felt the need to really put things out there that were me, that made a statement about my aesthetics– so my work got bolder, more asymmetrical, I started working with more artisan elements that I really hadn’t had access to before. The prices vary as widely as the pieces. Currently $12 to $240.

I also saw the need for lower price points and streamlining things like photography and listing. So I developed a line of wire or bead and wire jewelry that I call the Primitive Series. It’s made up of pieces that I can make over and over again and that are now my best sellers– due to price points between $10 and $50 and their wide appeal. I also work up a lot of custom orders in the series. People will admire a few pieces and then say ‘can you do this?’ and I can and do and then start listing that version too. The whole collection has grown organically like that.

Then I started beadweaving. That was unconnected to my business, I just suddenly developed a taste for it. All of my beadweavings are one of a kind art pieces and they currently range from $25 to $450.

I’ve got quite a few shops open on several venues but I work with my Etsy, 1000Markets and ArtFire shops on a regular basis. Once in awhile I’ll get a sale off of my blog or my Flickr account, or I’ll do a home party or craft show.

What advice can you offer others who are hoping to follow in your footsteps?
Momentum builds. If this is what you want to do, do it. Don’t give up. Don’t take a break. It wouldn’t have taken me near as long if I’d been sure this was what I wanted and if I hadn’t play the stop and start game for years.

TheBeadedLily

What is the best thing about having your own craft business?
The best thing? There are loads of good things, best is a hard call. It’s wonderful to get to do so much creating. It’s wonderful to make connections with fellow artists and shoppers who resonate with your work. It’s wonderful to not have to hate what you do for a living. I get to stay home a lot, which doesn’t suit everyone, but does me. I also love shopping for supplies and knowing that it’s something I just have to do. Guilt-free fun!

Read what’s going on with Sarah:

Sarah of TheBeadedLily

http://thebeadedlily.blogspot.com/
See Sarah’s latest work:
http://thebeadedlily.etsy.com
http://thebeadedlily.1000markets.com

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