I’m pleased to share my interview with jewelry designer Susan Adams, who is the founder of It’s Better Handmade.

Please tell us a bit about yourself, and your background as an artist.

As a highly creative person, art is how I release tension and emotion.  I have always been accused of spending to much time on art projects since I was a very young child.  Then, as a musician, my emotions and creativity were captured in audio rather than in visual.  In 2004, I went into a recovery program for an eating disorder.  Little is allowed for women to do while they are in residency there.  Crafting, music and television pretty much summed it up for free time at the center.

I found a cabinet in the corner of the lodge with odds and ends of crafting materials.  Many of the other women had left their unwanted beads and string in the cabinet.  I found a small container of seed beads, glass beads and stretchy cord.  I made my first necklace from those.  When I left to go back home to be with my family and kids, we stopped at a bead store in the local town and purchased a few beading items.  I really didn’t know what I was doing, but had a ball doing what ever it was! This was the reason behind my business name My Father’s Gifts.  It was my gift from God to help me in my recovery process.

Vintage Style Garnet and Amethyst Crystal Necklace by MyFathersGifts

A few years ago, I had decided to participate in an Easter play called “The Thorn” as a costume designer.  Jewelry was one of the additions to those designs.  When planning out the Egyptian women, I found myself searching for history and information on authentic looking jewelry from that time period.  Many of the actors employed my artistic ability to design for them high quality jewelry that matched their costumes.  This was my first launch into my jewelry design business.  I certainly learned much about gemstones, precious metals and wire wrapping.

I quit my day job and sold locally in malls and through custom designing with appointment only.  But found it not as profitable. I launched my first basic website in 2006.  After moving to our new home out in the country in the Autumn of 2008, I almost gave it up.  But my friends and husband egged me on.  I was browsing through Google images for inspiration and found several Etsy sellers with amazing Lucite designs.  One in particular BellasBeadsandMore, Jules Tyler, became a good friend and she influenced my decision to become a seller on Etsy. This is how I found my first venue for selling online.

Summer Breeze Medium Ruffle Frosted Lucite Flower Bead Caps by BellasBeadsandMore

Let’s talk about It’s Better Handmade. The Facebook group page says: “A gathering place for artisans, handmade jewelry designers, promoters and jewelry connoisseurs to meet. Grab a homemade cookie and a hot cup of your favorite beverage. Share links, ideas, stories,your heart and soul!” What made you want to start this group?

I started the group on Facebook because I love gathering with other like-minded people who just need support and are searching for significance in a very immense world of artisans.  I have learned through mentoring, as well as trial and error, that Google is starting to capture our public conversations and indexing us.  I knew that content is what Google loves most.  Facebook is a viral way of marketing and shouting out loud what we love doing most, creating.  Facebook groups is an amazing tool to not only reach out to each other, but also share with our friends, families and fans.

A great man once told me that if you give yourself away, you will be a rich man.  You can take that literally or metaphorically. I feel that relationships are worth far more than any pennies I could earn.

What are the benefits for someone interested in joining It’s Better Handmade?  Is it free?

There are many benefits for someone interested in joining It’s Better Handmade. But first, security is a big issue with many people who are wary of loosing sensitive information.  I have helped many local businesses in the Colorado Springs area become a part of Facebook and learn how to use it more proficiently.  Social media tends to scare many due to the fact that our profiles and conversations can become public domain.  Facebook has become more experienced and secure in this particular concern with user tools that allow us to determine who sees us and what content we want them to see.  We have control.

Our group is fully open and free to anyone who becomes a Facebook user.  There are only a few guidelines for the group: stay on subject, stay positive, keep on open mind and help support others.  The point is to be inspired and be admired.  As each one of us visits the group and shares one of our latest and most cherished creations (or one you love if you are not an artist) and then share one from the It’s Better Handmade group wall to your wall, the tree begins to grow!  If everyone did this ever other day or so, the networking would be tremendous.  Then the links on your wall will be seen in your newsfeed to anyone in your circle of friends or fans.  When they comment on that post, then they leave tracks in their newsfeed for their circle…and so on.  Google crawls across our fresh content to pull information into the search engine making each one of us more visible.   The best benefit, we become inspired and feel like we belong!

You have Vicki Diane, of VickiDianeDesigns on Etsy,  listed as First Officer “Butterfly” – which is a great title! What does Vicki do for this group?

Vicki Diane was a Link Love Discussion participant that became a part of my fan and friend base way before I came up with the group idea.  She had a flamboyant personality that is attractive the first moment you meet her.  I know we would be “partners in crime” right off.  When I created the group, I found her networking abilities as a basic member to be outstanding.  She was literally fluttering all over Facebook telling everyone about this great group.  I have never seen someone have so much activity in her newsfeed!  It was because of her that the group grew so incredibly fast.  And she doesn’t just spam you, she connects with you and compliments you, she supports you and keeps up the conversation!  Very amazing woman!

Butterfly Stroke by VickiDianeDesigns

I found the group growing at 100 members per day in the first week.  I knew that I was going to need a better way to make sure everyone got a welcome.  At 600+ members, you can imagine the time it would take to keep up the conversation with everyone.  So I felt that the one person who had earned the right to become a part of my foundation for It’s Better Handmade was Vicki Diane.  Butterfly was just the name that fit her best, especially since she loves butterflies.

There’s a difference, as we all know, between someone spamming a page with their shop and product info and then not participating any further. How are you encouraging your members to keep this group interactive and interesting?

That was a hard lesson for me.  I received some negative feedback about posting too much on my newsfeed the first week.  I was so excited about the growth factor, that I got message happy!  So, with many apologies, I began seeking better techniques on communicating tools and ideas.  That was how I came up with the ~post one, share one~ idea for each member!  Takes only a minute or two to post and then share.  No one gets spammed and everyone gets a chance to be seen!  However, the limit to posts on the wall of our group is not limited.  There are a few very active members of the group that love promoting other artisans.  I even have invited many marketing consultants like Mommy the Marketer to the group to offer help in teaching our members how to be more effective.

<Author’s note: fellow Handmade Spark writer Amber Jordan is the creator of Mommy the Marketer!>

Has anything surprised you, or stood out, since people starting joining It’s Better Handmade?

Yes, first, the growth factor is incredible.  Second, sales for many active members have sky rocketed!  Then, one day, we got a visit from Artfire.com CEO John Jacobs with a really encouraging thumbs-up comment.  It seems that we are starting to become noticed and that’s what it’s all about.  Artisans work hard and put their blood, sweat and tears into their creations and their businesses.  They deserve to get noticed!

One other thing that has come to my attention, that Facebook is growing and changing.  It has become one of the most fast growing networks on the internet.  Many businesses just don’t know how to use Facebook and how to customize it for their preferences.  There is a growing need to Social Media Marketing Consulting.  Because of this, I hope that I can continue to learn and grow so that I can become an asset to not only the artisan community but also Facebook.

Hope Believe Dream Keychain by akhjewelry

What are your long-term hopes and dreams for It’s Better Handmade?

I don’t have many of those for the group.  I just want to see the group continue to grow and hopefully encourage each other.  I get more out of possibly changing someone else’s life than my own monetary gain!  I do hope that the inspiration that I receive from the group will encourage me to keep up with my craft for years to come.

In general, if you had to give fellow artists and crafters one main bit of advice, what would it be?

“The possible’s slow fuse is lit by the Imagination”  By Emily Dickenson.
You can do anything you put your mind to.  Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t, your not talented enough, or that you don’t have the money!  If you have a passion, don’t let monetary limits stop you!

I have one motto I live by…
Accept the things I cannot change,
the Power to change the things I can,
and the Wisdom to know the difference…
One day at a time.

And finally, what is your own special way to relax and unwind from a day of creating?

Well, that is a bit difficult to say, since creating is how I relax and unwind…but there are a few things I need to regroup.  Getting up super early is the only way to go with three very active kids…First, worship, prayer and scripture. Second, time with my kids.  Third, an over nighter every month(as we can afford it) alone with my husband.  (He works from home too.)

I always struggle with focusing on my business and creating without those important things. I learned a bit ago, that if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of others.