In today’s blog post I am celebrating the fact that Helenka White Design turns 6 this September. I don’t know the exact date I founded the business, but according to my Facebook page I started it on the 7th of September 2010. My website – or rather the first version of it was launched a month or so later. It’s been a tricky six years with ups and downs. Running a small creative business where you do everything yourself – from creating, photographing, listing, updating the website, marketing and keeping in touch with the latest social media developments, accounting and PR is a lot of work.
I arranged these beautiful beads for the banner of my first website. – © Helen White 2010
I originally started my business like so many people who are making jewellery – my friends liked what I made and encouraged me to sell my makes. In the beginning I made all mistakes you can imagine – from buying too many supplies to creating designs I didn’t really fancy myself. I attended many craft fairs – most of them not really right for me and badly organised, which is why I have not booked any this year.
Second version of my website – Helenka White Design
I also opened an Etsy shop which I ditched this year. It wasn’t worth my while – instead I am focusing on my website. Now it’s in its third incarnation and I love it, because it has all the functionality I wanted but couldn’t have with the previous ones which were built with a different e-commerce platform. My current website uses WordPress and WooCommerce. I also have created a new logo which reflects better what my business niche is all about – cats. But not just cats – other animals too. Last year I started teaching myself sculpting with polymer clay – my favourite medium. Sculpting is very different from designing jewellery and I find it way more challenging. At the moment I am concentrating on animals and have created quite a menagerie. I keep making notes and taking photos as I go along so I can re-create them. When I start a new design it always takes ages and a lot of experimenting with proportions and figuring out the amount of clay to use in each step.
I’d love to eventually sell tutorials. Another thing I would love to do is go back to silver-smithing. A reason why I haven’t done so is simply costs and my health. I also still would love a kiln so I can work with Precious Metal Clay. I know you can use the torch, but it has its limits. I have to see if this is going to materialise. Kilns are not cheap and you do need appropriate space.
So these are some of my plans for the future. Here’s to the next years to come.
I want to thank all my customers who have supported me on my journey so far. Without you my business couldn’t exist.
Thank you xxx
Helen White
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