Scott and I share a love for the 3D art world/craft, It seemed only natural to pair up and collaborate, so we did.
Glass blower boy + metals/jewelry girl + love = (SF)2: Design
We started developing the idea during my extended visits to Columbus, Ohio. Scott is a cane man: To us non-glass people that means that LINE and COLOR are kind of his thaaaang. Cane can be glass rods/sticks of color or patterns. Patterns can be a mix of thin lines of color then twisted while hot. Anyway, Scott has a TON of cane that he's made over the last few years of various colors and styles. I was drawn to them and instantly started brainstorming ways to use them.
We started torching the canes, melting them into drops and custom fitting them into metal coils WITHOUT glue or adhesive. Then matching them with chains or ear wires.
Scott has had to make some cane for us and for that he has to be in the hot shop with all the large furnaces, kilns, etc. Thankfully most of the time, we have the canes and can torch them elsewhere. In Columbus, we'd sit in his living room, each with our own torch and melt glass (i do not recommend this. safety first.).
Pricing is hard for both of us to figure out. HANDMADE is expensive because of the time/labor that goes into it from someone who loves the craft and is trying to do what they love while making some sort of profit. Scott and I both have had tendencies to underprice our one-of-a-kind work during school. The public tends to have a set price range in their minds and when you ask for what a piece deserves, it's unreasonable to them despite the blood, sweat and tears you may have spent in labor. This production jewelry collection was important for us to be affordable to everyone. We know that it's probably underpriced but we'd rather share our art with a more general audience. One of our main goals for this collaboration is to make affordable handmade products.
We've mainly sold to family and friends especially around the holidays but are optimistic about the possibilities of reaching more people. Our Etsy site has not been successful but our Supermarket store has gotten a few orders! It makes us incredibly happy when people like our work. Scott had a booth of our work at a Columbus craft show where we only sold 1 necklace but you gotta start somewhere!
We're learning so many things along the way. We hope to continue to make our products for people who like them. It makes us happy to have the chance to do what we love together.
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