Success at your art? All you need is 1000 true fans.

1000 doesn't seem so hard, does it? 

 With all our social media apps and easy ways to communicate, it should be a snap to find 1000 people who really like your work.  All you have to do is reach them.  

http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2009/05/the_arc_of_comp.php

Assume conservatively that your True Fans will each spend one day's wages per year in support of what you do. That "one-day-wage" is an average, because of course your truest fans will spend a lot more than that.  Let's peg that per diem each True Fan spends at $100 per year. If you have 1,000 fans that sums up to $100,000 per year, which minus some modest expenses, is a living for most folks.

Asheville jewelry at Van Dyke Jewelry and Fine Craft. 

Map of Asheville Breweries

We had some people come in that were interested in touring the local breweries around town.  Most of them being a little out of the way, I couldn't give exact directions.  Well here is the solution:

http://beermapping.com/maps/citymaps.php?m=asheville

Fall Color Report for October 7

Here's a report on the fall color around Asheville this week. We are right on the cusp of seeing some change, and it's warmed up again. The next couple of weeks should be perfect timing for a weekend trip.

Our visitors are reporting some change up in the higher elevations. My favorites are about 45 minutes north or south of Asheville, north to Craggy Gardens, or south to Graveyard fields.

Asheville jewelry and fine craft at Van Dyke Jewelry.

Fall Color Report for October 7

via Asheville Travel Blog by Justin on 10/8/10

Changing Weather, Changing LeavesAlthough summer’s warmth lingered in Western North Carolina a bit longer than usual this year, the weather has quickly changed to ideal color-inducing conditions. The days are still warm and mostly sunny, but nighttime temperatures have been dipping into the 30s. Leaves stop producing green chlorophyll when they feel such cold, revealing their stunning fall

Ten Interesting Facts about Gold

Gold is on everyone's mind right now.  It's setting record prices at over $1300/ounce.  That's great if you have some gold to sell, but any custom designed jewelry is going to hurt the pocketbook.

Here are some interesting facts about gold, one of the most important metals in human history.

1.  Approxamatly 165,000 tonnes of gold have been mined as of 2009.  This is the world stock of gold, so there is a fixed amount is what get's traded back and forth, adjusting it's price in the local currency.

2. Gold is the most malleable metal known.  It can be worked into a sheet so thin as to be semi-transparent, and is even used as foil and food decoration.

3.  Semi-transparent sheets of gold are used in sun visors for space suits.

4.  Injectable gold reduces the pain and swelling of rhumatoid arthritis.  Though eating gold is non-toxic, it doesn't get assimilated into the system and goes out the same way it came in. 

5.  Gold's malliability makes a superior cap and crown then porcelain.  It's also a fashion statement to sport gold fillings.

6.  50% of all gold ever produced comes from South Africa.

7.  At $1200/ounce, all the gold in the world is worth approxamately 6.6 Trillion dollars.

8.  India is the largest consumer of gold, buying 800 tonnes of gold yearly.

9.  Many sayings involving gold have surfaced with a good connotation, eg. golden rule, golden mean, golden boy.

10.  Historically the gold standard is the most stable form of money supply and keeps inflation (and bad policy) in check.

Asheville jewelry by Van Dyke Jewelry and Fine Craft.

Is Bigger Better? When Bold Jewelry is Best

Chris Van Dyke's dad Terry packed up his Yamaha 250 from Bloomsburg, PA this summer to bring us a collection of large handmade pendants. All of them are real statement pieces, with multiple gemstones and precious metals. They are a beautiful addition to our collection of fine Asheville jewelry.

We love the large pendants, and Chris' latest opal pendant is a testament to that. If you like larger jewelry, a pendant should be the top on the list. As an accessory, nothing makes a statement like a bold pendant for a night on the town.

Here is a article on choosing and wearing chunky jewelry:

Is Bigger Better? When Bold Jewelry is Best

via Handcrafted Fine Jewelry Blog by John S. Brana on 10/5/10

Jazz Up a Simple Outfit with Bold Jewelry Big, bold jewelry isn’t for everyone, and it certainly isn’t for everyday wear but sometimes a bit of bling can be just what the fashion doctor ordered to jazz up a simple outfit and take it to a whole new level. The Little Black Dress is a [...]

Scene at Eliada Home corn maze

The Eliada Home corn maze is a lot of fun for the kids. I went a couple of weeks ago and had three of them convinced that goblins lived there. I would run ahead at any chance to hide, and by the end of it I had to stop because they would start bawling!

They really stepped it up this year, they have much more to do, including corn guns (that's right, and they shoot far!), a peddle bike track, and a pit full of dried corn kernels like sand.

The last two weeks of October they make it a haunted corn maze at night. Awesome.

Scene at Eliada Home corn maze

via Ashvegas by Ash on 10/5/10

Tips on buying pearls

Buying pearls can be confusing, with lot's of different names for them and an endless range of prices.  From wiki, here is what jewelers look for when determining quality:

The value of the pearls in jewelry is determined by a combination of the luster, color, size, lack of surface flaw and symmetry that are appropriate for the type of pearl under consideration. Among those attributes, luster is the most important differentiator of pearl quality according to jewelers.

All factors being equal, however, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. Large, perfectly round pearls are rare and highly valued. Teardrop-shaped pearls are often used in pendants.

We like to use mainly cultured pearls for our fine Asheville jewelry.  They are the most affordable and have a consistent luster on par with most saltwater or wild pearls.  They give the most bang for the buck.

With all the different brands floating around, it's easy to feel like you have to spend a fortune to get the best name.  This just isn't true.  Unless you have a lab to do testing on them, you really won't be able to tell the difference between cultured saltwater or freshwater pearls.  Look for the size you like, good symmetry, and a nice iridescence in the color you prefer.

The exception to that is the black pearl, still relatively rare and difficult to produce.  A nice black pearl can get expensive.  Here is more on the black pearl from wiki:

Black pearls, frequently referred to as Black Tahitian Pearls, are highly valued because of their rarity; the culturing process for them dictates a smaller volume output and can never be mass produced.^[

citation needed] This is due to bad health and/or non-survival of the process, rejection of the nucleus and their sensitivity to changing climatic and ocean conditions. Before the days of cultured pearls, black pearls were rare and highly valued for the simple reason that white pearl oysters rarely produced naturally black pearls, and black pearl oysters rarely produced any natural pearls at all.

 Black cultured pearls from the black pearl oyster – Pinctada margaritifera – are not South Sea pearls, although they are often mistakenly described as black South Sea pearls. In the absence of an official definition for the pearl from the black oyster, these pearls are usually referred to as "black Tahitian pearls".

One of the most valuably types of pearl is the wild South Sea pearl, which must be dived for, and comes in different colors depending on the host.  Sometimes black pearls are mislabeled South Sea pearls, further adding to the confusion.  The harder they are to harvest, the more valuable they become.  Before culturing pearls, three tons of oysters would yield only 3 or 4 pearls.

Pearls are another one of those heavily marketed industries that make you feel like you need to spend a fortune to get good quality.  This just isn't the case, if you arm yourself with some good information.

Here is a natural cultured pink pearl pendant set in yellow gold by Jim Charneski.  

For the full article from wiki, click here.

Buying Loose Gemstones Requires Due Diligence

Here is an article on buying loose gemstones. He mentions that you should see them before you buy, which is important, but above all trust your judgement. Pick out what looks good to you in regards to color, shade, and inclusions, if any.

It's fun to create a piece of custom designed jewelry starting with the stone. That way you get to be involved each step of the way.

Buying Loose Gemstones Requires Due Diligence

via Handmade Jewelry Shops by andrew on 9/13/10

Gemstones are natural formations of minerals found in the earth, and have been treasured for their beauty for centuries.  Sapphires, emeralds and rubies are the most commonly thought of gemstones, but many varieties such as topaz, garnet, and tanzanite loose gemstones are very popular, also.  With more than forty commonly recognized varieties to shop for, how do you decide what to buy?  Of course, the overall look and appeal of a stone is important, but there are other things to look for when you shop.

Loose Gemstones:  Quality is the Name of the Game

All gemstones are not created equally, and you will certainly get what you pay for when you go to buy one.  You will quickly see there is a wide variety of quality available in the loose gemstone market.  You can pay $10 for a certain gem of lower quality, and a superior quality gem of the same type will cost $10,000.  The difference between them is all about the color, clarity, cut and carat weight.  Those last four terms are commonly referred to as the “4 C’s” of gemstones, and you should memorize them along with a few facts about them before you shop for any loose gemstones.  Just because the stone you are looking at is huge doesn’t make it valuable – low quality stones can be large, yet not very valuable. Also keep in mind that just because the stone is part of a handmade jewelry set does not mean that you should pay top dollar.

Color is the most important factor when judging colored gemstones.  Very vivid and saturated colors are preferable.  Some gemstones have a muted, less vibrant color and will generally be worth less, even though they may still be perceived as very attractive.  Always look at gemstones in various types of light, not just the bright store lights.  Clarity is also very important.  Clear stones with no visible inclusions are preferable, and usually it is very rare to find such stones.  Emeralds almost always have visible inclusions, for example, but if there are none visible to the naked eye, they are considered flawless and will be very expensive!  The cut of a gemstone does not necessarily make a stone cost more or less, but definitely affects the way a stone looks.  A poorly cut stone will not let as much light into it, and it will look darker.  Well cut stones look brighter and more “lively”.  Large natural stones are quite rare, so generally are worth more, but the quality of the color, clarity and cut has to be high for them to be very valuable. Gemstones are measured in carat weight.  One carat equals 1/5 gram in weight.  Loose gemstones are minerals, and vary in weight depending on the mineral they are made of.  So, a one carat sapphire will be a different size than a one carat tourmaline, and a one carat topaz will be a different size than the sapphire or tourmaline.

Choose Your Loose Gemstone Jeweler or Retailer Carefully!

As above, quality counts when choosing where to purchase a loose gemstone.  Generally it is preferable to buy gemstones where you can see them before you buy.  Ask to see the stones up close, not in a package or plastic, and look at them in different types of lighting.  Also, ask to see appraisals and certificates that should accompany loose gemstones.  If you are refused, do not buy anything there!  Don’t be taken in by a dealer who tells you a stone is worth much more than they are asking you to pay.  A reputable, honest jeweler/dealer will talk to you and answer all of your questions.  Remember, you aren’t going to get a gemstone that is worth $1000 for $100!

Just by knowing a little about loose gemstones, and keeping in mind the 4 C’s, color, clarity, cut and carat weight, you will greatly improve your chances of finding and buying a good quality loose gemstone.  When you are shopping for cheaper jewelry, such as cubic zirconia rings, or any fashion jewelry like sterling silver hoop earrings, you don’t need to be as cautious as you do when you shop for quality gems.  Find a great jeweler, and you will definitely end up with a beautiful stone to add to your collection!

Price of gold goes over 1300

We are all feeling these astronomical gold prices.  It's amazing how fast even the littlest amount of gold brings the price of any handmade custom designed jewelry through the roof.  It's hard for jewelers who have to spend a fortune on keeping inventories up, as well as the consumer, who make feel like they are getting taken.

The question many of us ask is how long it's going to stay at the current level.  I wish we had a crystal ball, but with the state of the world economy it doesn't look like its moving down any time soon.

Here is an article from JCK, an jewelry industry publication:

But analysts don't see the price rising forever.

With gold prices settling at over $1,300 two days in a row, investors are saying that price level may be here to stay. 

“The longer gold can hold that level that stronger this new range becomes,” wrotethestreet.com. 

The site quoted an analyst as saying “investor sentiment remains very positive towards gold.”

 The gold price hit $1317 this morning, a new record, though it soon slid to $1307.

Analysts said that “marco-economic uncertainty” is driving the current upward push. And yet most forecasters don’t see the price of gold rising forever. 

Industry analysts, meeting at a professional conference in Germany, declared that the gold price will mostly hold steady over the next year.

 And another analyst told the Telegraph,  “Historically gold has not always been the safe haven it is portrayed to be today and there is every possibility that the price will fall, especially if we start to see real signs of a global economic recovery.

Meanwhile, you can save your wallet by repairing or cleaning up your existing jewelry collection, or shopping for estate pieces.  Silver is another option, though even that is high at the moment.

Cleaning Custom Designed Jewelry

I came across this article about the care and cleaning of your fine jewelry.  Custom designed jewelry, if properly designed for wear, requires very little maintenence overall, but you will want to inspect it periodically for loose stones and have it cleaned once in a while.  You can perform a quick test yourself by pressing lightly on both sides of the stones in your piece with a pair of thin tweezers.  If they wiggle at all bring it in to a jeweler to have the stone re-set.  This shouldn't be a substitute for having a trained eye periodically inspect the piece, but it's a good habit to get in, in-between inspections and cleanings.

Here are some more tips from www.barbieinablender.org:

Training Your Fine Jewelry:

The first thing you should do is to give your fine jewelry its own little space for when it is not being worn and train it to stay there. Jewelry items do not live or party well together. Much of the damage, other than wear, that is done to jewelry happens in jewelry boxes. Stones scratch each other and the metals around them.

 

Cleaning Your Fine Jewelry:

The best way to clean your fine jewelry is with a soft (used) toothbrush and a mild dish detergent. If the pieces are very dirty, you can soak them in detergent and water.

 

Any competent jeweler can polish items on occasion, but this process also removes small amounts of metal and so should be used sparingly.

 

Checking for Wear and Tear:

Over time, gold and silver will wear down. This can happen over months or years. This can be a problem for people who do certain kinds of work. The solution to this type of problem is the use of heavier metal in the prongs, the use of platinum for the setting or the use of a bezel setting to secure the stone. Prongs should be checked occasionally and if thin they should be replaced.

If you invest in quality made pieces you will have very little maintenance to worry about, aside from the occasional cleaning.  It's worth investing in better work simply for the piece of mind.

Here is an excellent video on cleaning your jewelry from Youtube.