Pretty Packaging

Over the last year, I've been altering my brand's visual identity, shifting from a pale pastel color scheme to a sultry, lavender-centric palette.  This makeover has allowed me to indulge my innate desire to make everything pretty and feminine!

In freshening up the business I've also recently created a lovely new packaging kit to accompany each piece of Sweet Mud jewelry that is purchased though my Online Boutique or my Etsy Shop.

Pretty as a present, and ready to gift!

"What's in the kit," you ask? In addition to your fabulous new piece of jewelry, you'll also receive:

• One dainty pink and brown box made from 85% post-consumer recycled cardboard and paper, lined with a soft cotton pad. The box is tied with pink and brown ribbon and is ready to gift (to yourself or someone else!)
• One Sweet Mud Care Card which details how to keep your new jewelry looking beautiful for years
• One pair of earring backs (Hypoallergenic Rubber Earwire Guards included for drop earrings; Metal Ear Nuts included for stud earrings)
• One Contact Card which also displays vibrant images of my three most popular designs

So, whether you're shopping for yourself or someone else you can delight in knowing you purchase will arrive to you safely...and beautifully.

More images of my pretty new packaging. They're oh-so-photogenic!

Makes opening your mail a delightful experience! 

New packaging for a pair of Sweet Mud drop earrings!

(shown with  Hypoallergenic Rubber Earwire Guards)

All images copyright Cara Long and Sweet Mud Clay Works, 2012

Here's an interesting article. It's not surprising that most entrepreneurs (or aspiring ones) feel that financing ($$) is the biggest obstacle in growing (or starting) their business. Thankfully, there are still fields where a shoestring budget is enough to get the ball rolling. 

Read the full article from Forbes here

Sweet Mud Clay Works at the Kansas City Maker Faire!

What a great weekend back in Kansas City! I had such an amazing time at the Maker Faire:Kansas City event. I really enjoyed meeting visitors and talking with them about my work and process. I haven't heard the final numbers yet, but about four hours into the event on Day 1 there were apparently already 4,000 attendees! 

During the event, I had a large display of my jewelry set up so that people could take home their very own Sweet Mud jewelry. In addition to selling my work, I also conducted some live demonstrations so that people could see how I make my work. Although producing one piece of Sweet Mud jewelry is a lengthy process from start to finish, I was able to offer a summarized version using descriptive signs and sample pieces. People really seemed interested in seeing the porcelain in its different stages, as well as hearing my descriptions about the intricacies of the numerous steps involved in the production process.

I've posted some images below from the event!

Lovely image of the outside of the building. 

Photo courtesy of Maker Faire KC

 

A shot of the Grand Hall at 

Union Station Kansas City, about four hours in, on Day 1. 

Photo courtesy of Maker Faire KC.

The official Sweet Mud Clay Works sign!

My best seller rack + a nice reflection of the ceiling in the mirror.

Photo by Marty Long

A brand new design I debuted at this event! Just in time for 4th of July!
Photo by Marty Long

One of the Sweet Mud Sale racks. 
Photo by Marty Long

 

 My set up at the Maker Faire. My demonstration area was over to the left, behind the display.

My wonderful Sunday assistant, Laura, (who has worked with me for three years!) was able to chat with customers while I was doing demonstrations. 
Photo by Marty Long

A shot of some Sweet Mud sale pieces + best sellers on the main display rack.
Photo by Marty Long

I'm in demo mode here, showing how I roll out thin slabs of porcelain to make my jewelry. Laura explains to the customer how I also make each of the sterling silver earwires, individually, for all of my earrings.
Photo by Marty Long

I had many people ask if I was making pies. Although it's a similar technique, porcelain definitely doesn't taste quite as yummy!
Photo by Marty Long

The demonstrations really drew a crowd, and it gave people the opportunity to see that all of my work is created in multiple steps, over a substantial period of time. When you buy handmade, you're investing in something really special. 
Photo by Marty Long

A shot of the front of my table. The sign at the far end detailed the steps in my making process, from rolling out the porcelain, firing the work multiple times, and making all of the custom sterling silver components. 
Photo by Marty Long

Here's an image of the signs and samples I put out to show the progression of my process. And this is only the porcelain production part...making the sterling components is another entire process that takes place afterward. 
Photo by Marty Long

Work space in use + work in progress 

Photo by Marty Long

 

Tools of the trade + work in progress 
Photo by Marty Long

 Action shot of my demo! Making some pieces from my Faux Leather Fishnets line.

Photo by Marty Long

In addition to these photos, we also took some video of my demonstrations at the event as well. Those will be posted soon so be sure to check back!

In the meantime, check out what's happening with Sweet Mud Clay Works on our Facebook page, or do some online shopping in the Sweet Mud Online Boutique, or in the Sweet Mud Etsy shop. 

Sweet Mud @ Maker Faire: KC

I'm really excited to announce I'll be coming back to Kansas City next week to participate in this year's Maker Faire: KC at Union Station, Saturday and Sunday June 23rd and 24th!

Saturday, June 23, 2012,
9:30 am – 7 pm
 

Sunday, June 24, 2012,
9:30 am – 5 pm

What is Maker Faire: KC, you ask? Only one of THE top Maker Faires in the country, featuring some of the area's most creative and innovative Makers, Crafters, Inventors, Hackers, Scientists and Artists. 

From the Maker Faire: KC website:

     Maker Faire: Kansas City celebrates things people create themselves — from new technology and electronic gizmos to urban farming and “slow-made” foods to homemade clothes, quilts and sculptures. This family-friendly event demonstrates what and how people are inventing, making and creating. 

Early bird tickets are on sale now, and prices will go up soon! Many pricing options to choose from, for yourself or the whole family, and your ticket also gets you into SCIENCE CITY for FREE! 

To celebrate my return to Kansas City, I'm offering 15% off every in-person purchase of any and all Sweet Mud jewelry! Be sure to mention this blog post when you make your purchase, because the discount is only available for my wonderful customers and fans. 

*Discount does not apply to online purchases, and can only be redeemed 6/23-6/24 at the Maker Faire:KC event. 

What does your 15% discount mean, in money and fashion terms? Well, I'm bringing a huge batch of NEW pieces to debut at the show (my stockists aren't even carrying these new designs yet!), including pieces with 14 karat gold-filled earwires and accents instead of sterling silver, AND new pieces adorned with 18 karat gold luster!  And, that 15% discount will save you nearly $14 on a brand new Sweet Mud necklace! 

Want more information? Visit the Maker Faire:KC website to watch videos, purchase tickets, and learn more about what's in store!

Just a quick post to let you know I'm super excited to be participating in the Art For The Cash Poor sale at the Crane building on Saturday and Sunday June 9th-10th. This will be my first jewelry sale since moving to Philadelphia back in August, and I'm really looking forward to meeting other artists. If you're in the area you should definitely stop by!

I'll be debuting some new pieces as well as a BRAND NEW display that I'm creating to showcase the jewelry (I'm quite proud of it so far!). Pictures of the event will be posted within the next few weeks, so stay tuned!