Here are a few bits and pieces I have been working on recently and am after some opinions..
Firstly here are a few of my Cocktail Stirers:
Full Pics, Tops and Bottoms
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_SAHrHH5tuxE/TEiV3JmS0vI/AAAAAAAAAE0/4PKpKlVej_M/s800/DSC_2551.JPG) (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/NQg8klicdseGcbTmfcUrC23d4RRaxY7f4P2A0jXlLco?feat=embedwebsite) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_SAHrHH5tuxE/TEiGmUfg1kI/AAAAAAAAADs/NZwTAMEpy0E/s800/DSC_2543.JPG) (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/j3NOBNAnmOvG6wTLdlVIdW3d4RRaxY7f4P2A0jXlLco?feat=embedwebsite) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SAHrHH5tuxE/TEiV2LCoefI/AAAAAAAAAEs/oaESU3A_WzM/s800/DSC_2549.JPG) (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/zP7ncpZ3QrLfyVaFSN1enW3d4RRaxY7f4P2A0jXlLco?feat=embedwebsite)
Now, they certainly need some refinement but my main cause for worry is how to sell them (If I do ever get around to selling anything). I think that normally stirers are sold in packs but I've never been a sets kind of person. Be it pieces or beads I just don't have the patience.
SO I guess my question is... is there a place for one off cocktail stirrers? Maybe if someone is making all the cocktails for a party or is that just wishful thinking.... :-[
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I've also been doing a drop pendant which is based on the design I had for my stamens a while back. I'd like to make these into keycharms or something but am having problems coming up with a connector? Any ideas? Best I have come up with so far is a nylon cord wrapped over itself and hung from a lobster clasp...
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SAHrHH5tuxE/TEiGp7HRkMI/AAAAAAAAAEc/BhoPaalFArM/s800/DSC_2521.JPG) (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/mhdjqM9Y-Y5B7CgEu72oYW3d4RRaxY7f4P2A0jXlLco?feat=embedwebsite) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SAHrHH5tuxE/TEiGpMtHOQI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/rXyyjq5vBFo/s800/DSC_2525.JPG) (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/2IbEJ57hW-MJbb0T0XNLdG3d4RRaxY7f4P2A0jXlLco?feat=embedwebsite) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_SAHrHH5tuxE/TEiGohm17NI/AAAAAAAAAEI/-Tg1CqeBq1o/s800/DSC_2529.JPG) (http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/TyyIn5tAVh356jGaQrMa4G3d4RRaxY7f4P2A0jXlLco?feat=embedwebsite)
BTW: Sorry for the really shoddy photography.... been playing around with Picasa and Piknic and can't seem to get the colours right.
I think they are great.
I don't know much about cocktail stirers, but why not list some singles, and see what happens :)
I would try a jump ring through the top loop and then chain to the lobster clasp. There are various styles of chain so pick one you think suits the keycharms. Using chain would be a bit more hard wearing I'd think. You can also tone the colour of the chain to that of the keycharm.
I agree list them separately. They are beautiful. Personally these are the kinds of things I would expect to see in one of the galleries in Cambridge.
As for the charm. I don't know what to suggest but I think that the nylon detracts from them. They are so mesmerising they need something more classy. Maybe a ribbon?
They're just fab, all of them! :)
I'd list the stirrers separately (or maybe put some in groups of 3?) and put a chunky silver ring on those pendants.
They are lovely!!
I think you could sell the cocktail stirrers in mixed sets: a bit like wine glass charms.
I agree that something more chunky would look great with the drops: maybe a ribbon or thong with a silver bead or spacer to keep the loop tight?
I sell cocktail stirrers singly. It was always the balance that tricked me as they should be heavier at base than top.
Ian
Lovely - and great colours.
Just out of interest - do cocktail stirrers sell Ian?
I haven't sold any coctail stirrers, but made up quite a few sets for hostess presents and xmas presents. I was quite amazed at the interest, and even had people coming back wanting more. I also think people like mixed sets, as they then remember which belongs to whom.
I wanted to make some stirrers with little spoons at the end (to pick up the fruit/nuts from the bottom when having that sort of drinks), but never got that far.
Me too Julie - I've made a couple of sets for friends and they were really pleased with them.... I must confess its not the sort of thing I would use at home... but.... just wondered what they would be priced at and it it was worth making more . What sort of length do you make yours? Im not sure if mine were too short or too long :)
These are some of the ones I made:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4135881648_540c2fdb47.jpg) (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4135881648_540c2fdb47.jpg)
These were made with 4mm boro rods, and they measured 15-18cm plus the decoration on the top. They seemed quite balanced for tall glasses. I tried to find 6mm boro tubes, to add coffee granules or sea salt rocks inside, but couldn't find any in the UK, so just used the tubes.
Cheers Julie - I did the flamey/twisty thing on the top as well. I think from memory that mine were a bit shorter than yours, should probably have been longer :)
I think I'll go and have a look on Etsy and see if anyone is selling them ref price...
I think this price is quite typical:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/50174353/set-of-4-multi-color-glass-swizzle
Well mine started out life as a commission from a friend who wanted to give them out as thank you gifts. She wanted to give each person a single one o each one had to be different. I was quite dubious about this to start with but she was happy with the ones I made her (slightly different to the ones I have shown here).
She told me she had a budget of £5.00 per stirrer but looking now this seems a little much? No I wonder if I took to much... even though it was her decision.... :-[
Stacy, if she was happy then it wasn't too much :) I'd say £5 each was more than fair for the effort involved and the uniqueness of the result.
I agree with Emma!! :)
and me ;D ;D ;D
They're lovely stirrers. I'd put them in singly a smart presentation box, that would make a gorgeous personal gift. I'm intrigued as to how you made them 'cos I had a go at it last week and they turned out beautifully but the decorative top part cracked. I'd annealed them with some beads. Do they need a different annealing schedule to beads?
(silly question time)
Everyone seems to have made theirs with Boro, is there a particular reason for this?
Quote from: Krysia on July 26, 2010, 11:28:18 AM
(silly question time)
Everyone seems to have made theirs with Boro, is there a particular reason for this?
From what I have read, the reason is that boro is much more temperature resistant, i.e. when suddenly being dipped into a very cold or warm drink, or into the dishwasher at high temps. Apart from that there's no obvious reasons as far as i know. It is a bit easier to make off mandrel stuff with boro as well, as you don't have to be so careful to keep everything heated all the time without it cracking. Having said that, I have made xmas decorations in soft glass (icicles) with no problem.
I'd say that is exactly it - temperature change resistance and easier to do sculpture.
Plus of course boro is great glass ;D
Quote from: dangerousbead on July 25, 2010, 10:26:45 PM
Do they need a different annealing schedule to beads?
I used the same annealing schedule I use for largish pendants. I did think I would have to use that as a starting point and maybe amend it a bit but when they were cooked I checked them with polarising lens and there were no stress points that I could see.
My biggest worry was my kiln having a bead door. I know with fusing this can cause an issue with the kiln being different temps and I was concerned that as the stirrers were quite long they would be annealing a different temps depending on where they were laying.
Quote from: Krysia on July 26, 2010, 11:28:18 AM
(silly question time)
Everyone seems to have made theirs with Boro, is there a particular reason for this?
I can only agree with Julie and Emma on this. But for me its not really "what can make stirrers with" but "what can I make with boro"... if that makes sense?
Hmm, I'll have to keep trying.
Stacy - yeah that makes sense.
Thank you for your answers. I am on a hot head and I have heard that boro is particularly slow to melt, to the point of being painful ::) So I guess this idea for something for my Dads stocking will have to wait for next year. I don't think I'd get away with asking them to make cocktails at room temperature... :D