What's your worth? Price your items right the 1st time.

Kasha Designs is my baby, so to speak. I love what I do and coming up with new and fun ideas. I want to give my items to new homes and have the customer love and enjoy them as much as I do. But I want them to love  the quality and love the price. I do not want to make items too high but I also need to think about how much time I took making the item and difficulty if any.
 When it comes to pricing many struggle and it's fully understandable. Some people look at their items and say what would I pay for it? Well that is okay to a certain extent, but not everyone will pay $20 for an okay necklace. Then there are the groups that take how much the product costs and then adds $2-$5 to make as their profit and does not take in anything else.
 
 So here is my method of pricing my items. Everything I buy I keep my reciept and log the price of items into an excel spread sheet and I take into account how many beads, pendents or what have you is on they strand. I price items per bead. So if there are 75 beads on a strand for $2 I take $2 and divide it by 75, and the solution I would round to .02 scents per bead. That sounds crazy but it really works.
  Well after getting a price per bead I have to take into account how long it took me to make the item and how much I am worth. Every artists takes time to make an item and we are all worth something by taking time out of our days to make these wonderful pieces. Are you worth $1 an hour? or $3 hour it's all up to your skill, quality, and devotion. Each person will determine his/her worth.


 So pricing my items I take bead/charm/material per cost, time, and worth and that is how I come up with my prices now. I have done this with items and I have gone down some $2-4 dollars because I was really over pricing it. I'm not saying I am not worth that much but what I put my worth at I am still making a profit, a profit to take Kasha Designs to the extreme that I want it to go. Some people raise prices to really make a killing, but I want to make money but I enjoy having happy customers and being happy myself. It's not about the money that I have started my own business its the joy I get in crafting and meeting other who enjoy and respect my work and networking with so many people in the same field. Hopefully the ones that are reading this now. Many people may shake their head but I've done the calculations yes I'm still making money and I have great customer service, without customers there is no business.


But now since I've had a sentimental moment lol here is an ebook (FREE) on pricing and value called an Artists guide to Pricing by blogger Brandi Girl. This is free so please download it and reference to it until you get comfortable pricing your items.

http://www.brandigirlblog.com/2011/03/artists-guide-to-pricing.html


I hope to service you soon with Kasha Designs products we always have stock and plenty more in the works. Have a great weekend!!


Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/

Determine your wrist size

Sometimes it can be hard making a bracelet for a friend especially if you want to surprise them with it but you do not know his/her wrist size. I have a small wrist, I can wear size 5" bracelets with no problem but that is not that average size for an adult so I have learned to make various sizes and deterime the average size that will fit most Americans. If you are just starting out then this chart I am about to link is one you should keep  handy and reference to. If you have been making jewerly for sometimes it's just something else to look at and see where most of your items fall.

http://www.onceuponaname.com/sizing.html


Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/

4th of July vase

I had posted a pic of my 4th of July centerpiece in a previous post but I got a flower arrangement together for you. I hope you love it!! 


Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/

Centerpieces anyone?

So I've been really going crazy with crafts... in a good sense. I love creating new things and offering them to a lovely home. So I started making some home decor items, vases/centerpieces. I have a few made up on the website so check those out. These can really be used for table centerpieces, accent pieces around the house and they can hold just about anything from pens and pencils, craft supplies, potpourri and the list can go on and on...

I would love to be able to do some center pieces maybe for a wedding or some type of celebration. I think they could be great pieces for guests to really enjoy looking at. I just wanted to share my craft that I was doing last night and like I said more are up on the website and are ready to go to new homes.

(4th of July centerpiece vase)

Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/
http://www.kashadsgns.etsy.com/

Web referral program

THIS JUST IN KASHA DESIGNS IS HAVING A WEB REFERRAL PROGRAM!!!

If you shop at Kasha Designs website tell your friends/family and you can get 10% off of your order. If you tell three people and they shop online you will get 3 10% off transactions. * One per transaction* Make sure they tell me your name so I know you are a returning customer.


Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/
http://www.kashadsgns.etsy.com/

Versatile baby/toddler blanket (boy)

Versitile baby/toddler blanket (boy) - Kasha Designs- handmade accessories
(CLICK ON THE LINK)
This is the versatile baby/toddler blanket I have made. This one is for a boy, but you dont have to get it for a boy; girls like blue too. It is 27" x 36" with a checkered print of stripes, white, puppy dogs and polka dots with green, brown and blue on the various squares. I have trimmed it with brown blanket bindind and on the back side of the blanket it is a navy blue finish.


I will be making the one for girls this week so it will be up soon. I have a few new projects I have been working on. Some home decor items, hand panting and decorating vases to use for flowers, decorations, or a holder to hold pens, scissors or your ring mandrel it's versatile too.


You can find this blanket on the website along with many other items and many more are coming soon.



Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/
http://www.kashadsgns.etsy.com/

Elegant Chandelier earrings

I was at home and I had some free time before bed and I added an extra hour of designing. I try and keep a good schedule of daily life and work(designing). Making a personal schedule like book keeping on certain days for 1-2 hours, designing on certain days 1-2 hours and then everyday activities... I'm sure you get the idea but it's a schedule that works for me. Well back to the point, I just wanted to share how I manage my time to make the items I get to make.


I came up with what I call the Elegant Chandelier earrings. I'm sure you have seen a basis of this type of earring but something about this one stuck out for me and I'd like to show you ; )


I had the following.....

Pick your style of beads you will need one good size main bead, I picked blue, and a hand full of other beads, in a smaller size and color of your choice as well as style. I went with a clear crystal/rock style bead. ( I got a long necklace from the Goodwill) I love recycling old jewelry from thrift stores. I did not count how many beads I put on each earring. I think it makes it more original; not every earring will be a like but by all means count yours if you would like.. continuing you will need a head pin to stick in your larger bead (my blue bead you see I have mine inserted that I closed with an eye) a medium jump ring and your metal earring.


You will also need a hand full of eye pins to attach to the eye of the head pin and the jump ring after you attach all three as follows.

When your earring looks like the above picture you can start adding your other beads. Using your head pins to insert through the bead color of your choice (my clear beads) start off by adding beads to the eye of the head pin and then go up to the jump ring and to the eye of the earring.

Keep going until you have a look that you like....

And here is mine : ) I hope you like it and go a head and try it out yourself. If you don't make jewelry these will be for sale on the Kasha Designs website. Happy Easter!!!

Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/
http://www.kashadsgns.etsy.com/

Happy Easter!

I just wanted to say Happy Easter to everyone. I hope you spent a lot of time with your family and had a great time and stayed out of this nasty weather. Have a great night and again Happy Easter

Krista
Kasha Designs
www.kashadesigns.webs.com
www.kashadesigns.etsy.com

Small Business Bible

Yes you heard right. I bought The Small Business Bible by Steve D. Strauss.(2nd Edition) Some people think seriously you got a book about business but please don't knock it until you try it. I'm into the first chapter and so far it has some pointers that I never thought about and have put to use. I also got some websites to look at because yeah I think I am good at my art, but for now I am the one having to be the accountant, marketer, owner etc so I need to get a basis of each category and then some.

($10.98 at Amazon.com I have the direct link in my previous blog post of recommendations)I will read this book, write down pointers and try them. I am very serious about Kasha Designs and I want to meet, greet and experience so many things and people on my journey.

I am very excited about my read and I hope you at least look into this book or another one. Again look at my recommendation post, there are craft books and business books I posted.

Oh I'll be using my beaded cross key chain and bookmark for this book.

($5 key chain/bookmark cross. You get to see it first. It's not on the website.... Yet)








Have a great Earth Day and Good Friday!!

Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/
http://www.kashadsgns.etsy.com/

New Product COMING SOON!!

I am so excited to share this amazing website I found today. It is www.artbeads.com, this is next to Hobby Lobby the mother of art stores, well for me at least ; ) I have come to announce that I have some new items coming in that I want to show and then when they come in, trust me you will hear all about it: ) I PROMISE.


Well first off I am getting from artbeads.com a Chain Stä,
As you can see from the picture it holds chain links for you. May it be bracelets or necklaces when you are trying to add charms with head pins, eye pins, loops etc I always seem to wish I had a third hand and with the Chain Stä I can have that third hand. While the chain is hung on the stand I can add charms and pendents straight to the chain link and even do wraps way easier.

(www.artbeads.com Chain Stä $12.07 it will be free shipping over $10 :) )




Then I have bought some watch faces that support breast cancer with the pink ribbon in the middle. I'm really excited to get those made because I have been running a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and % of proceeds each month have been going to them. My brother is running for them in the Chicago Marathon so wish him luck!!!

(Martell in the Chicago Marathon 10-10-10 twitter @MartellCBolden)


While I am trying with all of my might to hold my containment I am going to go make some baby/toddler blanket sets I have been dreaming about for days See you later in the blog.




p.s. If you shop at artbeads.com I was given this code to get 10% to share with my friends so have fun. ZZ-FRIEND10


Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/
http://www.kashadsgns.etsy.com/

Pricing your items guide

I just read this great blog, I mean it's fantastic for those who are looking to make their crafts a real business. You want to make a profit off of it but you also want to get paid what you are worth. If you do just make crafts as a hobby and just make a few extra dollars besided covering for the supplies that is fine. But read this blog, subsrcibe to the blog and download the free ebook that is offered on pricing you itmes. it's a great read and helpful for your business

Art Bead Scene Blog
"Pricing & Value"

http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2011/04/pricing-and-value.html



Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/
http://www.kashadsgns.etsy.com/

Recommendations on books for business and crafts

Here are a few links to some books that I love and recommend for running/starting a small business and keeping up on your craft. If jewelry making and sewing is not your craft. Go to my previous blog post and click on the amazon link and search for your craft. Eitehr way I recommend finding atleast 1-2 good books to read up on.









DONT FORGET CHECK OUT KASHA DESIGNS WEBSITE AT www.kashadesigns.webs.com

Read up on your craft

Anyone can make crafts, if you are self taught or went to school or took classes. Most crafts are really simple to catch up on but I would always reccommend that you read up on your craft. There are many things that you can teach yourself and be taught but there are even more things out there that can be learned and so many books that I have learned new techniques from that I did not know about. Do not think that you know everything there is to know because everyday someone could be coming up with something new.
Check out the amazon link to books and search for your craft and always feed your mind to keep your customers happy and your art unique.




Kasha Designs website
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/
http://www.kashadsgns.etsy.com/

Recycle & reuse

When falling in love you can sometimes see that you find yourself spending more to keep up with your love... I'm talking about crafts of course.
I got into fashion design, jewelry making sewing and many other crafts and after time trying to get a good stock started to buyers, you can find your pockets getting lighter and lighter. So the solution, recycle and reuse. I have so many extra pieces of jewelry I will never wear again, those pair of pants that got a whole in the butt from when I was having a really good time to my favorite song so what do I do? I throw them all into my reuse pile. I take something old and create something entirely new.
A hold shirt can become a new popular hand bag and that old necklace may become a new bracelet with some added beads from an other old piece of jewelry and well you should get the point. It helps when you are light on money but your creative mind will not seem to stop. I also find myself going to my local Goodwill or Salvation Army and going through their jewelry and finding some great items to add to my collection. I only pick those that are in good condition and can easily be cleaned.
So when in doubt if you find your start up is costing more than you are making just take a step back and I'm sure you can find items to recycle and reuse and if you have to go through your mom or friends stuff, I already have friends telling me to come over and take their stuff and I am more than glad to.


DONT FORGET CHECK OUT KASHA DESIGNS WEBSITE AT http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/

It's more than just making jewelry.

How many people do you know who make jewelry? For a hobby or for business? You can ask any of them they do it because you can never find the same piece of jewelry anywhere, it's relaxing and rewarding. I know someone who makes jewelry and in the small cornfield town we live in, it's true we are surrounded by cornfields lol, but we have bought the same beads and what she came up with for them was something completely different from what I came up with. It's really amazing, I try and think, okay how many other people have access to the exact same product and what have they made out of it? I would love to find some to see their art, because in turn it is an art, a creative art. Singing isn't for everyone, playing the guitar is not for everyone as well as a sport or fixing cars but those of us who can take much pride in it. Never get upset or discouraged if you get a few people who do not like what you make. There is a style out there for everyone. Some people make elegant jewelry, some people make costume jewelry, some make big and flashy jewelry. Everyone needs a piece of jewelry for that one occassion. Keep shining and keep beading.

DONT FORGET CHECK OUT KASHA DESIGNS WEBSITE AT http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/

Great blog for entrepreneurs to read

This is a blog that I read on etsy.com It was so great that I just had to share it. I will be taking the advice that is given in this blog and put it towards Kasha Designs because I love what I am doing and only want to see it grow. I can say that I too have put myself in a job field that I thought I always wanted. I go there and now I see I need to stop pushing it and do what my heart is telling me.

Enjoy,
Krista - the link is below

"Quit Your day job: Snapcrafty"

http://www.etsy.com/storque/seller-handbook/quit-your-day-job-snapcrafty-12552/?ref=sell_blog_post


Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/
http://www.kashadsgns.etsy.com/

Inspiration

Alot of things inspire people to want to do something. Mine I think is a bundle of many things, people around me who want to see me do something with my life, parents and siblings and my son are most likely my main inspirations. Well with personal inspirations comes outside inspirations. I grew up in a home with a mother who is what I call the queen of crafts. I do not know one thing she couldn't fix, make or figure out. Every creative string in me came from her. Well getting to the point every Sunday morning I would wake up to shows a long the lines of Sewing with Nancy.
After time, i would pick up on what the shows were about when it came time for me to make something; of course with a lot of help from mom. When I was growing up Nancy did a lot of clothing but now the show shows crafts around the house and quilting which I would recommend this show to any creative mind that is out there, but just don't be surprised if it's a lot of quilting talk.
What I'm saying is dont just be inspired by your surroundings go out and find outside inspiration. From shows like Sewing with Nancy or this new show called beads, baubles and jewels. This show is on weiu(PBS) through direct tv showing every Sunday 1:30 (central standard time) I'll try and find a showing on sewing with nancy if needed. But beads, baubles and jewels has a website if you do not own direct tv at beadsbaublesandjewels.com Honestly I really dont know how new this show is I just caught wind of it this year, I dont watch too much tv.
There are other tools that I use to get new ideas or learn how to do things that I can not quite pick up. Youtube is very good for that. Now all of the videos can become very overwhelming but, if you take the time and look you can find some really great videos. I'll have to make a blog list for you for the top 5 videos that I found that have made me better at making the crafts that I love.


Krista
Kasha Designs
http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/

Welcome note.

I am very excited to finally address my business Kasha designs to the world. I have kept it quiet for some time so I could get everything in order but now i'm ready to shine.

Kasha Designs is a business that I started sometime after I started making my own fashion designs. It offically got a name after I asked my best friend Tasha to join me in making purses, necklaces, bracelts and etc. It's where the name Kasha came from adding our names together, (Krista and Tasha)

Like I said I had started making my own designs but I work full time, have a 2 yearold and I am a full time college student. It became difficult and nerver racking putting due dates on outfits and not getting them done. I admire people who can handle it withe a schedule like mine or eve worse but I wasn't cutting it.

I had already thought about branching out in accessories but after pondering I knew that starting with accessories would be best for me and so far it has been great. Kasha Designs has a web site at www.kashadesigns.webs.com I host parties at my house for people to come in and learn more about me and what I do and of course buy what they love and I take request if needed.

There is plenty more to come with Kasha Designs, keep a look out on our website http://www.kashadesigns.webs.com/  and video blogging at www.youtube.com/model4yourlife

Happy designing,
Krista
Founder of Kasha Designs.