Handmade vs. Manufactured Jewelry

Heres a question for ya... have you ever gone to a craft fair and said "THAT costs $25 Dollars?!"  or  "Theres a reseller the next aisle up that has about a dozen similar designs for much less..." ?  I have a confession to make... I used to do that all the time!  BUT because I create my own jewelry and I know how much time and love goes into every piece, I tend to be willing to pay more for a unique handmade item vs. a manufactured item that has dozens of the exact same thing on display.

It all comes down to who is doing the work, the amount of time put into each piece and the cost of supplies to get it done.

Who is doing the work:  I have been designing my own jewelry for the past 4 years.  In those 4 years I have learned techniques and tricks to create the designs I love... and that make me proud to create my jewelry.  I still have alot to learn, but I am constantly working to improve my skills.  Now that I have more time to dedicate to my craft, I plan on taking courses and moving into other unique aspects of jewelry design like Precious Metal Clay (PMC) and metal working.

Amount of time:  Let me tell you... its not as easy as it looks to be a one woman/man show!  I just spent 2 hours shooting new pictures of my designs.  That totalled over 436 pictures... for about 25-30 items... each in different angles that capture the jewelry just right.    I still have to crop and edit my images so that you as a customer will get the best representation of my product, list each item and describe it as accurately as possible, and then promote that item to my target market to sell.  And thats not even including the time it took to make each piece!  Keep in mind that all of my designs are unique and one of a kind, so I do this everytime I make something new.  And now that I am collecting and using sea shells fresh off the beach, there are days dedicated to the cleaning, buffing and varnishing of each one.

Supplies:  If you put me in a bead shop... STEP ASIDE!  Im like a kid in a candy store and can spend hours looking for the right wire, the right crystal, the right color turquoise.  And while I try to keep my cost down as a designer, when I fall in love with a strand of beads... I have to have it!  There are so many places to go to find quality supplies and so many choices available.  I am slowly moving more into sterling silver designs which cost a little more, but I still offer copper and gold & silver plated to have a wide range of prices and design choices.

When I go to a craft fair now, I am more likely to stop by to look at the handcarved wooden jewelry box than its cheaper pre-fabricated version becuase I know all of the things that I listed above.  This piece is unique, time and effort went into into making it a beautiful one of a kind creation that is quality made.

I hope that the next time you go shopping at a craft fair you remember this little blurb from my experience as a buyer and seller... and I hope it helps you find that one of a kind piece that was somehow made especially for you.

Me ke aloha pumehana ~*~ Keala

In Loving Memory - Valaile Fuiava Jr.

A resolution to the Drunk Driving DEATH of my father in law is finally on its way!

On March 31, 2007, my father was killed in a senseless accident. He was on his way home from work, riding on his 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle when he was hit from behind by a drunk driver. The woman who hit him did not stop... in fact she continued to drag him under her car for 500 feet before crashing into a cement barrier. There were NO TIRE MARKS found at the scene... which means she never even TRIED to stop! He was less than 3 minutes away from the safety of his home when the accident happened. He chose this alternate route home to avoid exactly what it was that took his life.....A DRUNK DRIVER !

He was taken so suddenly away from a loving wife of 30 years, 3 children and their spouses, and 7 grandchildren. His congregation lost a pastor, the United States Marines lost a warrior and military veteran. His brother's and sister's lost a dear family member. The community lost a friend and advocate. He was a dear man, stern, strong, giving, loving, unselfish. Truly loved and adored by all he met, and above all RESPECTED. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his courageous actions during the Vietnam war... in which he saved many lives of the men who served in his unit.

My goal here is to share the life of my father. He is no longer with us in body but HE LIVED!

HE LIVED...unselfishly. He loved everyone, his family, and GOD. He served our armed forces in the United States Marines, and he served proudly. Upon retirement he returned home to the North Shore where he raised his family and served as Pastor of the Haleiwa Evangelical Mission. He also worked at the Army's Firing Range in Kahuku.

HE LIVED... He loved his wife and children, but his grandchildren were his world. He could be found in his down time, taking his grandchildren to the local pool. Swimming was his passion, and he wanted his grandchildren to experience the love he had for it. He would take his grandchildren riding around the neighborhood on his bicycle in the evenings when it was hot and humid. There was no limit to what he would do for his grandchildren, and he never questioned the time he would so willingly spend with them. He enjoyed the outdoors, he enjoyed life, he enjoyed helping those less fortunate... HE LIVED!

Two years have nearly passed, and not a day , or event goes by, where his memory or name isn't spoken. Not a day goes by where the burning question, "WHY?" is not asked. In my opinion it was not an accident..it was pure negligence, ignorance, with no concern or respect for life...that happened that night. Drinking, driving and speeding = the recipe for disaster.

We ask that you leave comments of love and support for Valaile Fuiava Jr. To remember that he is not just a name... not just a statistic... He was a man WHO LIVED!

Your support, your thoughts, your feelings ... will help when the time comes to give testimony to his life.

ALSO if you are on facebook, please join our group - In Loving Memory of Valaile Fuiava Jr.

Me ke aloha pumehana... Keala and the Fuiava Ohana

LINK TO NEWS STORY (watch the video) http://www.khon2.com/news/local/6821597.html
LINK TO NEWS STORY http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/04/02/news/story05.html