Viking Knit: "Night of the Dragon" - 26gauge black double knit bracelet
Quick pre-bedtime post. Finished off a Viking knit piece last night. This is another one I had in process in January (why yes, I did have 3 projects going simultaneously, why do you ask????). I made it with the dragon head clasps. I debated that, they weren't as high a quality as I thought they were going to be but I have put 3 coats of jewelry shield on & am resigned to the fact that I can't justify charging as much for them as I'd really like because of it. They are very unique & I can't find much like them. I'd prefer to get similar higher quality ones I've seen at 2 shops online but they are more than triple the price (especially once you add shipping) & I just can't spend that much right now to get them, especially since I bought a bunch of these when I saw them. Maybe in the future.
Again, because of what is involved with weaving the beads in this one I take more time in it so not able to charge as much as I'd prefer. I am taking a lesson from someone who saw a previous post & kindly pm'd me with their thoughts. I am pricing this just below where I would prefer to price it, but not as low as I would have in the past because I need to not train people to undervalue my pieces & work. I took that advice & put the previous Purple Dancer & Whirling Dervish prices up to a level I was more comfortable with.
Do any of them fully cover my labour? No, but they cover more than the 10 to 15% I used to only cover. I think it's a start and I will keep it in mind as I continue to make and price things.
Speaking of making I feel at lost ends, much like I do when I finish a really good book, only this time with my VK. I want to create something else but not sure which direction to go. Partly I'm leaning towards something kind of simple and quick that I can price decently, but partly I'm leaning towards something not quite as fanciful as I've done recently with those 2 necklaces but maybe something not too simple nor too complex.
I'm feeling especially inspired by ancient cultures, the history & link to the past part of VK as well as my personal interests. I am also leaning towards trying to design something more masculine/butch/not overly feminine. I have a lot of pieces that are more 'dainty' (thinner gauges, crystals/shiny). While Mother's Day is on the horizon next month & I should be designing for that (Father's Day is Sept here I think), I am feeling pulled towards the other end of the gender spectrum. Thoughts are thinking & I might go through my "stones" box & pull out a bunch of pieces I want to play with to see where they take me. I am also feeling pulled to some pieces that the lovely SeaHaven sent me while I had the other 3 projects going on & am considering pulling something out of there instead. So yes, thoughts are thinking like mad little hamsters hopped up on caffeine & Red Bull. Who knows where their little plastic balls will come to rest?????
On to a couple pictures of the dragon bracelet. I am going to take this up to Craftworld tomorrow. I've put $67.00NZ on it, would feel better putting maybe $72 to $80 on it, but don't feel it's quite worth that given the clasps aren't as high quality as I thought they would be & give that I feel I can improve in my designs. One option is to leave out the beads, that would save time & materials. Another option is to put beads in the middle. More materials in that case (more wire & more beads as I would have to knit them on a bigger tool & would take more than 52 beads to fill the woven tube) but possibly more potential for awe & thus more for potential to charge what they would be worth. Again, more to think about.
Anyway, onto the part you've been waiting for: picts!!! It is 26 gauge black Parawire (my chosen wire), with foil-lined 2x2mm cube beads & alloy dragon head clasps. I do like these claps, even if they aren't the highest quality.
(darn, forgot to check the colour on this one before I saved & uploaded it -- a bit too much blue!)
So my challenge to you: if you saw this piece, *and money wasn't a factor* what is the most you would pay for it? And/or what are your thoughts for my next project??
More comment(s) at Red_trillium's Dreamwidth journal. Come join the conversation! You can comment there using OpenID or ask me for an invite to create your own account.
Again, because of what is involved with weaving the beads in this one I take more time in it so not able to charge as much as I'd prefer. I am taking a lesson from someone who saw a previous post & kindly pm'd me with their thoughts. I am pricing this just below where I would prefer to price it, but not as low as I would have in the past because I need to not train people to undervalue my pieces & work. I took that advice & put the previous Purple Dancer & Whirling Dervish prices up to a level I was more comfortable with.
Do any of them fully cover my labour? No, but they cover more than the 10 to 15% I used to only cover. I think it's a start and I will keep it in mind as I continue to make and price things.
Speaking of making I feel at lost ends, much like I do when I finish a really good book, only this time with my VK. I want to create something else but not sure which direction to go. Partly I'm leaning towards something kind of simple and quick that I can price decently, but partly I'm leaning towards something not quite as fanciful as I've done recently with those 2 necklaces but maybe something not too simple nor too complex.
I'm feeling especially inspired by ancient cultures, the history & link to the past part of VK as well as my personal interests. I am also leaning towards trying to design something more masculine/butch/not overly feminine. I have a lot of pieces that are more 'dainty' (thinner gauges, crystals/shiny). While Mother's Day is on the horizon next month & I should be designing for that (Father's Day is Sept here I think), I am feeling pulled towards the other end of the gender spectrum. Thoughts are thinking & I might go through my "stones" box & pull out a bunch of pieces I want to play with to see where they take me. I am also feeling pulled to some pieces that the lovely SeaHaven sent me while I had the other 3 projects going on & am considering pulling something out of there instead. So yes, thoughts are thinking like mad little hamsters hopped up on caffeine & Red Bull. Who knows where their little plastic balls will come to rest?????
On to a couple pictures of the dragon bracelet. I am going to take this up to Craftworld tomorrow. I've put $67.00NZ on it, would feel better putting maybe $72 to $80 on it, but don't feel it's quite worth that given the clasps aren't as high quality as I thought they would be & give that I feel I can improve in my designs. One option is to leave out the beads, that would save time & materials. Another option is to put beads in the middle. More materials in that case (more wire & more beads as I would have to knit them on a bigger tool & would take more than 52 beads to fill the woven tube) but possibly more potential for awe & thus more for potential to charge what they would be worth. Again, more to think about.
Anyway, onto the part you've been waiting for: picts!!! It is 26 gauge black Parawire (my chosen wire), with foil-lined 2x2mm cube beads & alloy dragon head clasps. I do like these claps, even if they aren't the highest quality.
(darn, forgot to check the colour on this one before I saved & uploaded it -- a bit too much blue!)
So my challenge to you: if you saw this piece, *and money wasn't a factor* what is the most you would pay for it? And/or what are your thoughts for my next project??
More comment(s) at Red_trillium's Dreamwidth journal. Come join the conversation! You can comment there using OpenID or ask me for an invite to create your own account.