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Archive for June, 2009

Put Your Creative Style Into Handmade Oil Paintings

Monday, June 8th, 2009

Oil paintings have always brought elegance and ambience to home decor. Many people buy original oil paintings as part of their hobby. But then those who can’t afford original art can certainly find a great alternative. Yes, an inexpensive alternative!

Acquiring original expensive paintings doesn’t fit everyone’s budget. So what’s the alternative if you would still want to own a handmade masterpiece in your office or home? The solution is an oil painting reproduction piece that can be purchased at a fraction of the original price. These oil paintings are near to exact replicas of the original ones. Now, you have to remember that these replicas might fall short on your expectations but then they are much more fabulous then those lifeless prints.

So how do they do it? Oil painting reproduction techniques are very complicated and many consider it an art form by itself. The process of reproducing great art must be handled only by experienced and expert artists who can jot down entire paintings of your choice in a superior quality oil painting form on a bare museum grade canvas. Paintings on canvas are stretched to fit across wooden frames. A gesso ground layer is applied to remove any acidic properties of the oil paints used. Next thing is to apply the pigments and mix it up with the oils like linseed, walnut, safflower, poppy seed and many more. The different ratios between oils and pigments generate lots of different effects on the canvas.

You can have almost any art reproduction done. The elegance of oil paintings is very much in style. These handmade masterpieces add lots of color and class either to your living room or office where you can hang wall art oil paintings. Some people would buy these paintings for decorating, others for collecting and few as an investment. But nevertheless, reproduction oil paintings are available in different shapes and sizes and are considered to hold the passion of the originals. For colors and texture that no print could ever reproduce, check out reproduced handmade oil paintings.

Reproduction oil paintings have made it possible to have a handmade Van Gogh or Picasso hanging in your home. Such exuberant masterpieces are now available at an affordable price for home decorating or even for your office adding a brisk look and a treasured feel.

Trying To Sell Your Handmade Jewelry

Monday, June 8th, 2009

When your studio starts to look like a dragon’s treasure stash, it’s time to start selling your handmade jewelry! Why not? You’ve been making jewelry for some time now, and all your friends and family have hinted they have all the jewelry they need for now. You’re so addicted to the relaxation and enjoyment of creating lovely pieces of jewelry that there is no way you can, or want to, stop. It’s really time to make your hobby pay for itself and earn some cash for yourself, too! Moreover, determining fair prices for your jewelry isn’t nearly as complicated as it first may seem.

There is a good variety of ways to sell your jewelry from a home-based business, and it’s sensible to start from, home. Setting up in a shop or boutique may seem glamorous, but it takes time, and usually eats your profits and some personal cash. Starting out small can be so much fun! With the methods below, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with your community and make it aware of your business, and form a network with other crafters, which can be a wonderful source of design ideas and support!
Home Jewelry Parties: This is one of the least expensive, fun and profitable bases from which to start your home-based jewelry business. You can host the party yourself or have someone you know host it for you. Invite several people, serve refreshments and show off your jewelry to your guests. Let the guests try on the jewelry, and provide mirrors large enough to allow them to see how well a necklace fits. Have a receipt book and plenty of cash change on hand, because you’re sure to sell some of your beautiful jewelry items!

Arts and Crafts Fairs Shows and Festivals provide a fun and exciting venue for selling your jewelry. It is a great way to meet fellow artisans, as well as establishing yourself in the crafts network. While you sell your jewelry, you may visit other jewelry booths, make friends with the owners and pick up tips to enhance your business, learn the latest trends and learn new designs. You may enjoy haggling with customers and learning how to correctly price you jewelry for optimized sales and profits.

These are just the three easiest and least expensive ways to start your home-based jewelry business. You may want to start with just one method, then gradually branch out into the other areas, concentrating on the most profitable. This is a sure way to maximize your profits, build a solid customer base and participate in a network of crafters who are just as enthusiastic about the jewelry-making business as you are!

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