Craft Diva

Start a Craft or Jewelry Business

Former Bead Store Owner
I used to own a bead store, called Dolphin Crafts. While I loved having the store, my children were much younger when the store was open, and it proved to be too difficult to be a full time mom and a full time store owner. I closed the around 8-9 years ago, and temporarily put my arts and crafts on hold, while I raised my children.

North Carolina Craft Studio
Now that my children are older, 18 and almost 14, I am thinking about opening a craft gallery/artist studio. I'll probably wait until we move to North Carolina, as I really don't want to be in Florida anymore. It doesn't make financial sense to start a new business that will be moved out of state in just a few years.

We purchased land in western North Carolina a few years ago. Our plan is to sell our house in Florida, and move to North Carolina within the next few years. I would like to have a craft studio, on our property, that is separate from the house. I can have my workshop setup, without having to worry about making a mess in the house. I can teach classes and have open studio days a few times each year.

Books for Starting a Craft or Jewelry Business
I have been researching a few books that contain information on the kind of shops and businesses I admire, to get ideas for my own boutique. Here are my book recommendations for anyone looking to open their own boutique, shop, craft studio or gallery.

I own all five of these books, and have read them all many times. While these books are probably available in paperback, I like to purchase hardcover books whenever possible. Hardcover books hold up better to repeated reading, compared to paperback books, and I just think a hardcover book, with it's dust jacket, adds a bit of class to my bookshelves. You may be able to borrow some of these books from your local library.

1. Turn Your Passion Into Profits; How to Start the Business of Your Dreams. By Janet Allon and the Editors of Victoria Magazine. Published in 2001 by Hearst Communications, hardcover, 219 pages.
2. The Specialty Shop; How to Create Your Own Unique and Profitable Retail Business. By Dorothy Finell. Published in 2007 by Amacon Books, hardcover, 226 pages.
3. Specialty Shop Retailing; Everything You Need to Know to Run Your Own Store. Third edition, by Carol L. Schroeder. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, hardcover, 412 pages.
4. The Business of Bliss; How to Profit From Doing What You Love. By Janet Allon and the Editors of Victoria Magazine. Published in 1999 by Hearst Communications, hardcover, 222 pages.
5. A Shop of One's Own; Women Who Turned the Dream Into Realty. By Rachel Epstein and the Editors of Victoria Magazine. Published in 2002 by Hearst Communications, hardcover, 223 pages.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Heart Themed Jewelry

 

Necklace by Lynn Smythe, featuring art clay silver heart pendant by the artist.

Heart themed jewelry can be enjoyed anytime of year, not just on Valentine's Day. This post features some of my beaded jewelry creations which feature one or more heart components.

 

Beaded necklace by artist Lynn Smythe.

 

Beaded necklace by Lynn Smythe, featuring amber heart pendant, lampwork glass beads, vermeil bead spacers, and swarovski crystals.

 

Beaded pendant by Lynn Smythe, featuring Venetian lampwork glass beads.

 

Beaded bracelet, featuring fused glass hearts created by Lynn Smythe.

 

Beaded bracelet by Lynn Smythe, with vintage German heart beads, seed beads and vermeil clasp.

 

Close up of beaded bracelet created by Lynn Smythe. Featuring new Czech glass beads, vintage German glass beads and Venetian foil-lined glass beads wire-wrapped with copper wire onto copper chain.

 

Heart necklace and earring set by Lynn Smythe. Featuring lampwork glass beads, swarovski crystals and sterling silver.

 

Heart themed necklace by Lynn Smythe. Featuring lampwork glass beads, swarovski crystals and sterling silver.

 

Beaded heart watch created by Lynn Smythe.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Fused Glass Pendants and Cabochons

 

Fused glass cabochons by Lynn Smythe

A few years ago, I became interested in fused glass. I purchased a small, bee-hive type kiln, by Evenheat, a few books on basic glass fusing, and a bunch of glass and glass cutting tools. I taught myself the basics of glass fusing and started making a variety of fused glass beads, cabochons and pendants.

 

Close-up of fused glass beads, created by Lynn Smythe, used as a focal point in a beaded necklace.

As my interest in glass fusing grew, I bought a bigger kiln, so I could start making larger glass pieces such as plates, bowls and vases.

 

Fused glass pendant by Lynn Smythe. This piece required two kiln firings. A basic, square shape was fused in the kiln, the piece was shaped with a diamond band saw, then the piece was fire polished in the kiln.

Here are a few photos of my fused glass cabochons. Glass cabochons can be used in beading and applique projects, silversmithing, art clay silver and wire wrap pieces.

  

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Sculptural Peyote Stitch Beadwork

 

Close up of sculptural peyote necklace featuring fused glass donuts by Lynn Smythe

I got into sculptural peyote stitch a few years ago. It's a free form method of bead weaving, which can be done with a variety of bead sizes. You can also embellish free form, or sculptural peyote stitch pieces with a variety of buttons, sequins, nail heads and other decorative accents.

 

Sculptural peyote stitch bracelet by Lynn Smythe

Free Form Peyote Stitch Classes
I used to teach sculptural peyote stitch as a two day class, back when I owned my bead store, which was called Dolphin Crafts. I'd like to get back into teaching bead and jewelry classes someday, my dream is to have a craft studio, which is separate from our house, when we relocate to North Carolina.

 

Sculptural peyote stitch bracelet by Lynn Smythe

Fun With Color
Sculptural peyote stitch projects are a lot of fun to create. I always decided on a color scheme, using three main colors, then set up a work area with all my beads and embellishments in those colors. For instance, jewel tones, would be beads in the emerald, amethyst, topaz color range, as shown in the first bracelet pictured in this post.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva

Beaded Needle Cases

Three beaded needle cases by Lynn Smythe

Beaded needle cases were all the rage a few years ago. They are a bit like a larger version of a beaded bead. Beaded needle cases are popular among beaders, quilters, sewers, and anyone else that uses a variety of sewing needles in their craft work.

Beaded turtle needle case by Lynn Smythe. I created a pair of matching earrings, using size 14/o seed beads. View my Turtle Powered Beadwork post to see a picture of the earrings.

 

Detail of turtle needle case

Wearable Work of Art
Both the body and the lid of the needle case are beaded. Decorative fringe is usually added to the bottom of the needle case. I liked to add a beaded strap to many of the needle cases that I created. That way you can wear your needle case as a piece of decorative artwork.

Pretty cool, a functional craft tool become a one-of-a-kind work of wearable art. Here are a few more pictures of my beaded needle cases, which feature my own designs.

 

Patriotic needle case by Lynn Smythe

 

Detail of patriotic needle case

 

Long and skinny beaded needle case by Lynn Smythe. Featuring size 14/o seed beads. Fringe beads include copper, freshwater pearls and goldstone beads.

 

Beaded needle case by Lynn Smythe. Featuring a citrine cabochon on top of the lid.  Fringe beads include Swarovski crystals, copper, freshwater pearls, tigereye and amazonite.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Craft Diva