Getting Started

Welcome to Meylah, a new network for artists and crafters. I'm Courtney and my craft is making jewelry. What's yours?

I've been in love with making jewelry ever since I attended a friend's handmade jewelry party a few years ago. I was fascinated by the fact that she had made all of the jewelry herself. I was also fascinated by the fact that people are willing to buy very similar jewelry in retail stores for much higher prices. I decided I was going to learn how to make jewelry, and started by buying a book, spending a fortune on beads and getting tangled up in wire.

After two years of jewelry making and hosting my own jewelry parties, I've learned a few things about working your craft into a business. One of the most important is that crafters can all help each other out. Particularly in our local communities. Although Meylah is open to the world, our Seattle base offers us the opportunity to really get to know the creative community in the Pacific Northwest.

In the "Glitter & Gold Stars" section of the blog, we'll turn the spotlight on Pacific Northwest artists and crafters with profiles and interviews. We'll also keep you posted about local creative events and news. Now, here's where you come in: if you know about crafty events or happenings, don't keep them to yourself. Give us the goods and we'll spread the word. If you live in the area, tell us about your blog, creative shop and the events you'll be participating in. We'd love to stop by and check them out.

In the spirit of passing on what I've learned as a novice crafter, I will also write about my own adventures in jewelry making and selling. Watch out for next week's post: Top 10 Tips for Hosting a Home Jewelry Party.