Seni Dalam Memberikan Harga : Hargai Hasil Karyamu

Sebenarnya sudah lama ingin mengangkat masalah ini. Karena masalah ini adalah langkah awal yang PASTI ditempuh saat kita memberanikan diri untuk berjualan. Dan hal ini sangat tidak mudah, apalagi kalau barang yang kita jual banyak pesaingnya, niat kita jadi naik turun antara iya atau tidak untuk memulai usaha. But first...kami coba ingatkan, marilah kita menjadi penjual yang baik. Apalagi kalau yang dijual adalah 100% hasil dari kedua tangan kita, lets put some respect for our own hardwork! 

...by Lacklusterco...

Memberi harga untuk barang yang kita jual dengan benar adalah gampang gampang susah. Harus memerhatikan banyak hal, mulai dari kualitas, daya tahan maupun daya beli konsumen. Dan usahakan jangan menjual barang dibawah harga pasar, hanya untuk menarik perhatian konsumen. Pakailah harga retail yang benar. Pada saat kamu memberi harga murah dibawah harga pasar untuk barangmu, maka:

- Secara langsung kamu mematikan penjual lain yang barangnya sejenis, yang menggunakan harga pasar yang benar. Apabila ada keseragaman harga untuk produk yang sama, maka keuntungan yang didapat akan cenderung stabil.

- Memicu tanda tanya pada konsumen. Kenapa barang yang kamu jual bisa lebih murah? Apakah karena bukan buatan tangan? Apakah karena menggunakan bahan bahan yang murah? Apakah aman dipakai? Atau jangan jangan dipasar banyak model yang sejenis alias diproduksi secara massal? Harga yang kamu tentukan merupakan sebuah cerita, jadi buatlah cerita harga yang baik untuk hasil karyamu.

- Tidak menguntungkan untuk diri kamu sendiri dalam jangka panjang. Katakanlah ada reseller atau butuh karyamu dalam pembelian yang banyak, lalu dia menanyakan berapa harga kulakan atau wholesale-nya. Maka kamu akan sangat kesulitan menentukan harganya, apalagi pembuatan dalam jumlah banyak otomatis akan menyerap tenaga banyak juga, yang mungkin saja kamu HARUS memperkerjakan tenaga bantuan lain.

...by Nine Muse Jewelry...

Let's start to count...

Materials + Labor + Expenses + Profit = Wholesale x 2 = Retail

Rumus diatas banyak digunakan (dan mungkin dianjurkan juga) oleh para etsian. Nah dari rumus diatas, ayo kita bahas satu per satu. Pastikan semua BIAYA PEMBELIAN MATERIAL tercatat. Jangan dilupakan biaya biaya kecil seperti beli lem, beli isi streples, atau biaya yang keliatan mata seperti kemasan dan plakban. Labor yang dimaksud disini adalah upah yang selayaknya kamu terima karena telah mengerjakan hasil karya tersebut. Kalau mau murah meriah, ya gunakan aja Upah Minimum Regional dikota tempat kalian tinggal.

...by Adroit Jewelers...

Ambil contoh UMR kota Surabaya Rp 1.260.000/bulan.
Rp 1.260.000 / 30 hari kerja = Rp 42.000/per hari
Berhubung maximal efektif kerja kita dalam 1 hari adalah 8 jam maka :
Rp 42.000 / 24 jam = Rp 1.750/jam
Minimal yang harus kita masukkan sebagai biaya upah adalah Rp 14.000 per hari dengan catatan kita produktif menghasilkan karya setiap harinya.

Ilustrasi perhitungan EXPENSES aka BIAYA bisa terwakili seperti perhitungan diatas. Kalau perlu buat rincian biaya detail seperti ongkos naik angkot untuk keperluan belanja material, beli ebook atau tutorial, kalau jualan diweb yang musti bayar ya masukan juga biayanya + ongkos paypal juga tentunya. Kalau dikita seringnya adalah biaya transfer antar rekening saat kita bayar pembelian material untuk project kita. Hayooo pasti kelewatkan biaya bank yang imut ini tapi kalau dihitung dalam 1 bulan bisa bejibun jumlahnya *smile*
Setelah ketemu semua biaya biaya dalam satu bulan, sekarang waktunya mengestimasi aka mengkira kira berapa barang yang bisa kita hasilkan dalam satu hari, lalu angka kira kira tersebut kalikan jumlah hari dalam satu bulan. Maka ketemulah estimasi rata rata barang yang kita hasilkan selama satu bulan (kalau digambar atas itu ketemu angka 62).
Lalu jumlah biaya yang udah dijumlah tadi dibagi sama estimasi rata rata barang yang kita hasilkan selama satu bulan. Maka ketemulah biaya yang harus dibebankan untuk setiap produk yang kita hasilkan.

...from Vintage From Japan...

Berbicara tentang PROFIT sebenarnya tidak jauh jauh dari apa tujuan kamu membuka usaha ini. Apakah kamu tetap ingin seperti sekarang untuk jangka waktu tiga tahun kedepan? Apakah kamu ingin dari hasil karyamu ini bisa untuk mendukung keperluan biaya kehidupan sehari hari? Untuk urusan yang satu ini, murni keputusan yang harus kamu ambil sendiri. Kamu harus benar benar bisa menghargai dirimu sendiri.

Nah setelah keempat unsur dasar itu ketemu dan dijumlah, maka ketemulah harga kulakan aka wholesale. Tapi JANGAN berhenti sampai disini. Harga kulakan ini kalikan 2 sehingga ketemu harga retail. Kenapa harus seperti itu? Ini untuk berjaga jaga kalau ada pesanan dalam jumlah banyak. Jadi dengan gampang kamu akan menyebutkan harga kulakanmu. Tapi untuk yang tidak menerima pesanan dalam jumlah banyak, harga kulakan sudah lumayan meng-cover jerih payahmu dalam berkarya kok. Asal hitungnya dengan benar ya *grin* Tapi setelah dihitung hitung kok ketemu harganya muaahaall banget ya? Kayaknya nggak masuk akal untuk pasaran lokal. Nah...kalau itu yang terjadi, bukan harganya yang harus dirubah, tapi cara atau desain karyamu yang harus dirubah. Cobalah untuk lebih kreatif untuk mengurangi biaya biaya yang dikeluarkan, seperti menggunakan bahan bahan recycle - reuse, beli materialnya kalau bisa dengan harga kulakan, bisakah kamu lebih produktif dalam 1 hari untuk meminimalis ongkos kerja? Jangan buru buru merubah harga, coba lihat kembali cara kerja kamu selama ini. Apakah sudah seproduktif dan sekreatif mungkin?
Ok...selamat menghitung ulang harga hasil karya kamu. Remember...the right prices will allow you to reach your small business goals.

...by Invita Paper Studio...

Credit to :

Etsy Seller Handbook

Megan Auman

Outright

Giveaway & SaleTime

GIVEAWAY

Something free first right *smile* This time Agi host a gorgeous giveaway to celebrate her first etsyversary. There will be two packs given away for two winners! What are they?

- pack A is a necklace in turquoise and bronze

- pack B is a set of polymer clay cabochons handmade by her

To win one of those gorgeous pack, just simple visit her blog here before June 3rd 2012

SALE

Tree Wings Studio by Rebekah Payne has birthday 15% off for all items on her etsy shop thru May 26th 2012. A lot of cute polymer clay beads on her shop for your special project. Just visit there and you'll love them.

Bead History : Beads In Indonesia (Part III)

All the information is adapted from a book with title Manik-Manik di Indonesia (Beads In Indonesia). This hardcover book was published in 1993. And it seem to be rare book. We hope the author of the book doesn't mind if the contents of his book to be rewritten on this blog.

• Hardcover: 164 pages
• Publisher: Djambatan; Second edition (1993)
• Authors : Sumarah Adhyatman & Redjeki Arifin
• Language: Indonesia & English
• ISBN-10: 9794281697
• ISBN-13: 978-9794281697

(kiri) Relief batu candi Borobudur abad ke-9 menggambarkan wanita bangsawan dengan kalung kalung manik dilehernya. Dari Bernet Kempers,1959,gb.84

(left) A stone relief at the candi Borobudur, 9th C of a lady of noble birth, around her neck are necklaces of beads. From Bernet Kempers,pl.84

(kanan) Patung batu seorang ratu ditemukan di Tulungagung, Jawa Timur, masa Majapahit, abad 14, mengenakan kalung rumit diduga meniru hiasan dari emas. Dari Bernet Kempers,1959,gb.265

(right) A stone statue of a queen from Tulungagung, East Java, Majapahit period, 14th C, wearing intricates necklaces most probably, imitating gold jewelry. From Bernet Kempers, 1959, pl.265

Pendahuluan

Introduction

Manik adalah benda benda yang biasanya berbentuk bulat, dilubangi dan dironce guna menghias badan atau sebuah benda. Manik dibuat dari berbagai bahan seperti kulit kerang, kayu, getah kayu, biji bijian, merjan, keramik, bati, kaca dan logam.

Beads are objects usually of round shape, which are pierced and strung together to decorate the body or an object. They are made of different materials such as shell, bones, wood, wood-resin, seeds, coral, ceramics, stone, metal and glass.

Daya tahannya, kemudahan membawa serta daya tariknya yang universil telah menjadikan manik mata uang di berbagai belahan dunia ini.

Their durability, portability and universal attraction have made beads units of currency in many parts of the world.

Manik mewakili bentuk seni yang paling tua dan boleh jadi merupakan perhiasan tahan lama pertama manusia yang digandrungi bukan saja karena keindahannya tapi juga karena kemampuannya menolak bala.

They represent the oldest form of art and were probably the first durable ornaments of men desired not only for their beauty but also for their protective qualities.

Di Indonesia manik ditemukan di ekskavasi arkeologis dekat situs candi atau tempat keagamaan, situs pemukiman dan di dalam kuburan. Manik juga masih banyak dipakai sebagai perhiasan pada upacara tradisional dan dianggap sebagai pusaka berharga dibeberapa tempat di Indonesia.

In Indonesia, beads are found in archaeological excavantions near temples or religious sites, sttlements and in graves. Many are still worn as jewelry on traditional ceremonies and regarded as important pusakas in some places in Indonesia.

Tampaknya, di Indonesia, sejak zaman purbakala manik telah memainkan peranan penting dalam upacara upacara kematian karena banyak yang ditemukan dalam kuburan kuburan batu zaman prasejarah (sebelum 400M) seperti di Pasemah, Sumatera, Jawa Barat, Gunung Kidul, Jawa Tengah, Besuki, Jawa Timur dan di Gilimanuk, Bali. Manik manik itu sering ditemukan bersama dengan perkakas dari besi, perunggu dan perhiasan dari emas dan gerabah. Manik dapat pula digunakan sebagai perhiasan. Patung patung prasejarah di Pasemah dan berbagai situs prasejarah lainnya memakai manik.

It appears that since prehistoric times beads have played an important role in funerary rites in Indonesia as they are found in various stone grave sites from the prehistoric period (before AD 400) as in Pasemah, Sumatera, West Java, Gunung Kidul, Central Java, Besuki, East Java and in Gilimanuk, Bali. The beads were often found together with iron tools, bronze and gold ornaments and pottery. Beads may also be used as adornment. Prehistorical statues at Pasemah and various prehistoric sites are wearing beads.

Pada periode klasik (500M - 1500M) manik mungkin digunakan sebagai manik upacara keagamaan dan juga sebagai perhiasan. Relief batu pada candi Budha Borobudur menampilkan para wanita yang memakai kalung manik. Pada situs berlatar belakang agama Budha seperti Palembang dan Muara Jambi di Sumatera manik ditemukan dalam jumlah yang lebih besar daripada di pusat pusat kerajaan seperti Trowulan di Jawa Timur.

In the classical period (AD 500 - AD 1500) beads might have been used as ceremonial prayer beads and also as adornment. Stone reliefs at the Buddhist temple Candi Borobudur depict ladies wearing necklaces of beads. In sites with Buddhistic backgrounds like Palembang and Muara Jambi in Sumatera beads were found in greater quantity than in royal centers like Trowulan in East Java.

Sekitar 1400M, kegemaran memakai manik diistana mungkin telah menghilang. Patung batu dari wanita kerajaan Majapahit, Jawa Timur (1292M - 1522M) memakai kalung yang menyerupai perhiasan emas. Sementara itu kini manik masih berperan penting sebagai perhiasan dan tanda kebesaran, demikian pula dalam upacara upacara tradisional di berbagai bagian Indonesia khususnya di Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara dan Irian Jaya.

About AD 1400, the fashion of wearing beads in the court might have disappeared. Stone statues of royal ladies of the Majapahit period, East Java (AD 1293 - AD 1522) are waering necklaces resembling gold jewelry. For the present, beads still play an important role as adornment and status symbol as well as in traditional ceremonies in various parts of Indonesia especially in Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara and Irian Jaya.

Manik lama dari Mesir, India, Cina, Asia Barat dan Eropa juga ditemukan disini. Beberapa contoh manik dari tiga negeri negeri yang pertama disebut, berasal dari tahun 200M. Ini menunjuk pada hubungan dini Indonesia dengan dunia luar sejak awal tarikh Masehi. Jawa (Yeh-t'iao *Garnet 1987, 27 dan Volmer et al, 1983, 28 O.W. Wolters 1967, 34 dan lampiran B, menyangkal saran Pelliot 1904, bahwa Yeh-t'iao adalah transkripsi awal nama Jawa dan episode Huangzhi, namun dewasa ini para ilmuwan Cina sependapat dengan pandangan Pelliot. Berdasarkan laporan Orsoy de Flines 1972 keramik Han telah ditemukan di Banten, Jawa Barat dan di Kerinci, di mata air Sungai Musi, Sumatera*) sudah disebut dalam Hou Han Shu (sejarah dari Han) di tahun 132M. Bab 28 dalam Hou Han Shu juga mengatakan bahwa rakyat dari kepulauan Huangzhi mengarungi lautan dan membeli mutiara, kaca, sutra dan sebagainya dengan emas. Mata dagang Indonesia yang disebut dalam laporan sejarah masa awal adalah emas, kapur barus, kayu cendana, rempah rempah dan cula badak. Berdasarkan sumber sumber dari Yunani dan India perdagangan dengan India dan Asia Barat pada awal tarikh Masehi sudah berjalan ramai.

Old beads from Egypt, India, China, West Asia and Europe are also found here. Some speciments from the first three countries date to AD 200. This indicates the early contacts of Indonesia with the outside worls since the beginning of the Christian era. Java (Yeh-t'iao *Garnet 1987, 27 and Volmer et al. 1983, 28. O.W. Wolters 1967, 34 and appendix B, refuted Pelliot's suggestion 1904 that Yeh-t'iao was an early transcription of Java and the Huangzhi episode, but at present Chinese scholars share Pelliot's view. Based on Orsoy de Flines reports 1972 Han ceramics were found in Banten, West Java and in Kerinci, at the source of the Musi river in Sm=umatera* ) has been mentioned in the Hou Han Shu (the history of the Han) in AD 132. Chapter 28 of the Hou Han Shu also mentions that people of Huangzhi islands sail the seas and buy pearls, glass, silk etc with gold. Indonesian items of trade mentioned in early historical reports were gold, camphor, fragant wood, species and rhinoceros horns. Based on Greek and Indian sources trade with India and West Asia was well on its way in the early Christian centuries.

Manik lama dari beberapa jenis yang sama, ada dengan warna berbeda, telah ditemukan di negeri negeri tetangga seperti Sri Langka, Thailand, Vietnam, Cina, Korea Selatan, Filipina, Malaysia dan Brunei. Hal ini dapat mencerminkan kebiasaan dan selera yang berlaku umum di setiap  kawasan. Perdagangan manik tidak selalu dalam bentuk produk akhir. Bahan baku lebih sering diperdagangkan daripada manik jadi. Sejak zaman Romawi batang kaca mosaik yang sudah dijadikan manik, sudah merupakan mata dagang penting. Dengan peredaran batang batang tersebut, kaca mosaik yang rumit menjadi terjangkau bagi industri kaca yang kurang canggih.

Several identical types of old beads, some of different colors have been found in neighbouring countries such as Sri Langka, Thailand, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. This might reflect the prevailing customs and taste in each region. The trade in beads was not always in the shape of finished products, raw materials have been traded more often than finished beads. Mosaic glass bars from which beads could be easily manufactured were an important trade item since the Roman period. By distributing the bars, complex mosaic glass was made available to less sophisticated glass industries.

on June 5th 2012

Penny Jewelry

Every country have their own penny money right. Or perhaps some souvenirs from recreation place which shaped like coin or ovel and have smashed in the back. These kind of things are unique for your project stash.

...from ethereal girls TOO

...from Silver Crow...

...from Weeds...

...from intothewoodscharms...

So...here the tutorial made by Jen using something like above stuff become more fun and intrigued. Plus see more design from here. Just CLICK here!!! and here too.

Now...it's time to see what other jewelry designer do with these kind of things. Each design has copyright by the designer, so please be wise to not copy it for your own benefit.

...by The FamiLee Jewels...

...by Yunikua Art...

...by ErtheFae...

...by Irene Hamdany...

...by jillmccp...

i heart macro - sparkle

When you selling something through online, the first thing is how to present the beauty of the items that you offer to customers. Although just a glimpse, but immediately drew attention. These photos took last month actually, when we tried to capture the beauty sparkle of this glass bead. With ordinary lazy shot, we got this result...

But this was not what we want it. Too lazy and common. So we decided to use sun morning light. Need couple shots and without hard worked, in a sense that just put the items, slider to the right, to the left, without having excessive body to determine the angle shot. Taaaaraaaa.....

Almost...but not yet!

This time we really need to 'up-side-down' to find the perfect angle. A single picture that can represent all of its - sparkle - wonderful shape - shades of colors.

Here the final result...

The Lucky Winner is...

As we have mentioned before, there are two things that we gonna pick 1 lucky winner, first is Free E-Book about blogging and the second is Goodybag from WWF. Lets count-down for the winner...03...02...01...

...Red Firework by Ebi Emporium...

Ina

...for free e-book Follow The Path by Lori Anderson...

Ivy Rompis

...for reuse bag & leaflet from WWF...

...Congratulations by Banner Bash...

We will contact you as soon as possible by email or inbox. Congrat once again to both of you. Hopefully this can give you the inspiration to always be a creative person *fighting*

Make Your Own Coil Crimp Ends

This step by step tutorial is made by Keirsten Giles of Lune Dreams. Great technique and make you more creative with wire. A lot of her design using leather, ribbon and cords. We visit to our local customer online store, and mostly they're rare to use ribbons or cords on their jewelry design. Hope this tutorial will give you more knowledge. The tutorial will be part into two. Just simple click link below...

Part 01

Part 02

Now...it's time to take a look some her design. Please be wise to not copy the design for your own benefit without permission. 

Bracelet Bright Colors Lampwork Glass Lime Green 

Blue Turquoise Orange 

Antiqued Copper Silk Ribbon Flower Spring

Earrings Purple Flower Blossoms Fuchsia in Copper, 

Magenta Lampwork and Violet Seed Beads

Pendant Lime Sterling Silver 

Fiesta Glass Yellow Southwest Ethnic Mexico Summer

Imagine...

We all love to see celebrities on red carpet right. So now...we try to imagine, what if we dress them. Sound so fun right...And now, we pick Julia Stiles. Why?!? Cause recently our creative director LiliKrist seen her *accidently* in movies and TV series that she watch. Julia doesn't immediately strike you as a sexy and famous international artist, but when you see her on movie or TV series, there is something in her will get your attention. When you have wonderful weekend, just try to watch her at 10 Things I Hate About You or meet her at something with conspirasy on The Bourne  trilogy or perhaps in sexy appeal for Save The Last Dance and for relax-time just watch her lucky story in The Prince And Me. And this is it what made us pick her for our first Imagine blog post, her statement... 

"I like analyzing human behavior. It's complex. That's what keeps me going."   

Now...lets see what we can do for her. Feedback is welcome as always. But please be gentle with our lack of fashion styles ok...03...02...01...

West Meet East

...by Idha Jacinta Sh...

...by Khatulistiwa Jewelry...

...by Eclu...

Walk With Me

...by Hydra Heart...

...by Eleven44...

...by Tas Batik Indonesia...

...by yuccabloom...

Dexter Goes To Golden Globe

...by Renaissance Clothing...
credited to: 
©2009 - 2012 Tati Dietrich and Lilies of the Valley Design CANADA

...by Sofia Paramita Dewi...

...by Adriana Soto...

Listing May 11th 2012

...whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children, and the one most important of all the things we can give to them is unconditional love. Not a love that depends on anything at all except that they are our children...

Rosaleen Dickson

June 1st is International Children Day, so lets celebrate our childhood and our kids childhood. We have been amazed by how complex our conversations with our child have become. This change has naturally led us to praise his growing abilities, because we now sense that they understand and accept it. So it's perfect moment to make something special for them. And for this special project, we have choosen special items which are reputable with its save materials.

...imagine...

 ...play...

...funny clown...

...pure white...

Continue to next theme. This time theme has similarity with last month when we brought Earth Day. On June 5th we will celebrate World Environment Day. And the theme for 2012 for this day is Green Economy. Does it include you? The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.

Practically speaking, a Green Economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity andecosystem services. These investments need to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes.

But what does all this mean for you? If the Green Economy is about social equity and inclusiveness then technically it is all about you! The question therefore asks you to find out more about the Green Economy and assess whether, in this country, you are being included in it.

...chlorophyll...

...new colors of owl...

...lion...

 ...mountain lion...

 ...tiger stripes...

On June 21st usually on northern hemisphere, it's early of summer. We still use Pantone color trend for spring/summer 2012 for the guideline to make some new colors glass beads. Still remember with Tangerine Tango, Solar Power, Bell-Flower, Sodalite Blue, Cabaret, Cockatoo and Margarita? Summer is on our doorstep, are you ready?

...summer pallete...

 ...cockatoo...

 ...margarita...

...summer wild...

...blooming gardens...

...dragonfly...

*fighting*

Lets bring the summer spirit and our childhood memory into brand new design of yours. Challenge yourself to the limit of your life sublime. And leave the rest to the damn luck of the world. May your summer be bright and joyful with your children's laughter, together into a gentle breeze of nature.