I Fired My Customer!

What started out as a dream turned into a nightmare.  You've heard of buyer beware - in this case it was seller beware.  I'm looking back over the past few months to learn from the danger signals to see when this whole situation turned into an ugly mess so I never get caught up in this kind of thing ever again.  I've been doing this for 40 years and never, ever encountered someone like this. Impossibly demanding and impossible to please - if you are out there reading this you know who you are!

It all started when was contacted by a previous online customer back in February of this year.  She was in the process of buying a large amount of stones like jaspers, agates, carnelians to be made into custom pieces for herself.  Wow, I thought, I've really landed in a "pot of jam" here!   Now, I'm pretty easy going....too easy going sometimes for business.  I bend over backwards to give more than I promise and be ethical and true to my own standards of workmanship and pricing in the process.  Enough about me.........

My first clue should have been the sudden increase in the amount of emails and questions from this customer.  One email, two, even four in a day ok.......I'll go look at this online stone and give my advice.  I'll help you choose a match for what you have.  I'll tell you if its a good price or a quality piece of gemstone.  I'm now answering long involved emails for hours a day.....I should have stopped but the amount grew slowly and before I knew it.......I had 10 to 20 long detailed emails and questions each day, not to mention hours on the phone!

Then the request for in person meetings began.  One was okay.  No charge for design consultation.  Then I told her.....I'm packing, I'm moving - I'm temporarily unavailable, I'm overwhelmed.  She wanted to visit in the middle of the move on the weekend and discuss her design ideas.  I tried to discourage her from coming - I'm swamped.  I'm exhausted. I'm unpacking.  No - it was the only time she could drive and hour and a half to come see me.  Ok, come down.  I only have a few minutes to spare. She was annoyed when I didn't have unlimited time for her, annoyed when the neighbors stopped in with a cake.......

Then, she was annoyed with the first piece I made, annoyed with the result, annoyed with the price, annoyed with how long it took to get the piece ( I don't churn out pieces, I'm methodical and exacting).  She wanted to come down again.  Annoyed I was going away, Annoyed  I don't work on weekends. Annoyed I don't work nights.  Annoyed with the new price quotes, the design suggestions, the suggestions that a certain way wouldn't work or look good.  Annoyed that I didn't have 4 pieces done in one week. 

Now I'm feeling guilty working on other orders. Guilty going food shopping, guilty teaching, guilty seeing my kids......guilty going to bed!!!!

She is running my life. She is making me crazy!  I've finished half a very involved piece - she doesn't like the price, doesn't want to pay for work already done. Doesn't want to pay for the amount of silver, the amount of labor, wants it faster, cheaper......

ENOUGH!  Who cares?  I can't work like this.  I won't work like this.  Take your money back.  Take your stones back.  Please just go away.

So, I fired her! I let her go.......I can breathe now.  I can complete my other work for my other, very happy, satisfied customers.  I have a life again!

Wow, sometimes it's just not worth it.  I've gotten so many more orders now that I am no longer emotionally drained and tied to this woman's relentless demands.  I wish I knew who she went to after me so I could warn them- Seller Beware!

Iolite - An unusual pleochroic gemstone

Diamond, 22K Gold, Silver and Iolite
Ring by Nancy Troske

Iolite is an unusual gemstone that has "pleochroism" meaning it can show different colors when viewed from different directions. Iolite’s strong pleochroism makes it an effective light filter. Early Viking navigators used thin slices of it as a polarizing filter to protect their eyes when looking up into the sun to determine their ship's position. This interesting feature gives gem cutters a challenge; a well cut stone will show as a beautiful blue or blue violet instead of a smoky brown. Cutting orientation will drastically affect body color.

Before I knew better, I purchased an Iolite that arrived as a smoky brown. If I held it in a certain direction and  I would catch glimpses of a lovely blue. Later,  I learned that the problem was the cutter didn't orient it correctly. So, instead of seeing a nice blue violet face up color I only saw a smoky brown.  I've never set the stone in a piece of jewelry because it isn't smokey topaz or smokey quartz and the blue flashes are teasing hints of what it might have been.  Certainly a "learn by mistake" experience.

When Tanzanite was first discovered in 1967 by a Masai tribesman in a remote area of  Eastern Africa (Tanzania) gemologists thought it was  Cordierite, a well known transparent violet mineral known in the trade as Iolite. 

Hardness: 7 - 7.5 (Mohs scale)

Marquis Cut Iolites

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the nicest things about Iolite is the fact that it hasn't been "discovered" by savvy marketers.  Tanzanite became sought after because it was heavily marketed by Tiffany as an alternate to blue sapphire when the sapphire market's supply had become low and prices as a result skyrocketed.  I think you will enjoy a piece of jewelry made with Iolite.  It is gorgeous set in gold or silver.

The above ring is available for sale in my Etsy store:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/94179743/diamond-22k-gold-sterling-silver-and

I also have one more Iolite on  hand that is similar to the one in the ring, if you are interested in something else...don't hesitate to contact me: nancy@nancytroskejewelry.com

RUBY - the "King of Gems"

Granulated 22K Gold and Ruby Ring by Nancy Troske

For centuries Ruby has been desired as a symbol of wealth, success, love and passion.  It's in as much demand today as it was centuries ago.  In Sanskrit the term for ruby is "ratnaraj" or the "King of Gems." It is valued for its lush red color and it's name comes from the Latin word "ruber" for red.


 Ruby is the most valuable variety of the gem species corundum. Corundum is the second hardest substance on the Mohs scale, with a rating of 9. The most sought after color is a vivid, pure red.  The most desirable color is the so-called "pigeon's blood", a pure red with a hint of blue. Color saturation makes all the difference. Some rubies are purplish or pinkish and although some countries  will consider those stones to be ruby,  Gemologists in the U.S. would call them pink sapphire.  (Sapphires are also corundum and come in all colors, although most people think of sapphire as blue). Color is the most important consideration, with clarity a distant second. Large rubies are rare.

Star Ruby

Many rubies will fluoresce in long or short wave UV and this property can often be used to help identify a stone's geographic origin. Burmese rubies often fluoresce so strongly that the effect is noticeable even in sunlight; such stones seem literally to glow. Thai rubies usually do not show this characteristic.

Inclusions are common in ruby and not always an indication of lower quality. Rutile needle inclusions cause a  "silky shine".  Some rubies show asterism (a six ray star) and are cut into cabachons.  Transparent rough is faceted into rounds, mixed cut ovals or antique cushions.

If you would like a ring like this gold granulated one shown above made in your size please visit see my Ordering Information.

Speaking of Gemstones - What is Morganite?

Sterling Silver and Morganite Ring by Nancy Troske

A large deposit of "pink beryl" was discovered in 1911 in Madagascar. It's finest color is a deep magenta, but most Morganites offered in today's commercial market are  pale pink.

 Morganite is a variety of Beryl which also includes emerald, aquamarine, golden beryl and bixbite. Some gemstone dealers have called this gemstone "pink emerald." However, many consider this a marketing ploy because emerald has to be a particular green color of beryl to be considered emerald. Morganite's color can vary soft pink to violet to salmon or peach.

John Pierpont Morgan was a connoisseur of gemstones and one of Tiffany's best customers, therefore they named the newly discovered gemstone in his honor and set out the promote it. It then became known as Morganite rather than pink beryl.

As Madagascar's Morganite deposits declined, new sources were discovered in Brazil which then became the top producer. Brazilian Morganites tend to be a peachy pink rather than a violet pink.  The ring show above is a Brazilian Morganite.

Beautiful shades of Morganite - the "pink beryl"

One nice thing about Morganite is that it tends to be eye clean and when cut properly is a gorgeous, lively gem that's full of light and sparkle as in my Morganite and silver ring shown here.

Sources of Morganite are:
   Brazil
   Madagascar
   Afghanistan
   USA - Utah

Hardness and Toughness:

7 1/2-8 on Mohs scale (Diamond is 10)
Good Toughness

Care and Cleaning:

Try to stay away from ultrasonic and steam cleaning.  Warm, soapy water is best.  Dry with a soft cloth like an eyeglass cloth or microcloth.

More info on how to purchase this ring or have one made.

FREE PROJECT - Hammered Hoop Earrings - Great for Gifts!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

My little gift to you is a free tutorial on how to make these cute hammered hoop earrings.  They take under an hour to make.  I've made them with my students in jewelry making classes where I do not have a complete metalsmithing studio and torch for soldering so projects use simple tools.

They are shown here in copper but you can use silver, gold-filled or even gold.  You can make them larger or smaller....add beads or not!
You could even adapt this idea to make a bangle or a stack of bangles.

Download the instructions here and tell me how you like the project! Have a great holiday and thanks for reading my blog!

38th annual crafters' marketplace

It's that time again!  On November 19th and 20th the YWCA, Princeton, NJ is hosting the much anticipated 38th annual crafters' marketplace just in time for the Holidays! This juried show of more than 130 great artisans features upscale wearable art, pottery, glass, jewelry, and much more features crafters not only from this area, but also from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and beyond.

All proceeds benefit the YWCA Princeton and its Bates Scholarship program, which enables economically disadvantaged community members to participate in YWCA programs.

Participating Crafters 2011:
Adult Clothing
Artwork
Baskets
Children's Clothing
Clay/Porcelain
Dolls & Accessories
Fiber & Accessories
Glass
Jewelry
Metal
Mixed Media
Other
Paper
Quilts
Soaps & Candles
Wood

My booth is usually located in the Crafter's Courtyard, so if you visit, please stop by to say hello!

WHAT ARE WE?

Making an ear wire

Ok, I've been making and selling jewelry for over 30 years.  But what am I?  After all this time, I'm still not sure how to describe what I do when asked.  Besides teaching, what is the best way to describe a person who is:

• an artist
• a skilled metal worker who works in high karat metals such as 22k gold and .999 fine silver
• someone trained in diamonds and colored gemstones
• someone who has worked the commercial end of the jewelry industry as a bench jeweler
• some who is trained in very ancient jewelry making techniques that are not typical for someone in the trade such as granulation and chainmaking
• someone who does enameling on metal

Honestly, I still don't know.  If I say "jeweler" people think of someone who works in a jewelry store or does repairs.  If I say "goldsmith" it sounds like I only work in gold.  If I say I work with gemstones it sounds like I am a gemologist.  If I say "I make jewelry" people think I'm a beader that simply strings beads.  If I say "enamelist" then it seems like I just do enameling.

What term would encompass all these things?  Jewelry artist? Jewelry artisan? Craftsperson? Goldsmith?

You tell me!