Where I get my supplies

"Dear KitschenSink, 

I really do like that piece of jewellery you made there.  Say, where'd you get that wonderful [insert appropriate supply here]? I'd like to make something like that myself.

Yours sincerely,

Fellow (lazy) jewellery maker and seller."

"My dear boy! Do you ask a fish how it swims? Or a bird how it flies? Nosiree, you don't.  They do it because they were born to do it. Just like Willy Wonka was born to be a candyman, and you look like you were born to be a Wonkerer!" (Photo credit: from a movie blog here)

"Dear KitschenSink

I love that cool [insert any KitschenSink item here] you have in your shop.  How did you make that?

Another (lazy) jewellery maker and seller."


"Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple" (photo credit: blog here)

Fact is, I spend an awful lot of time (and I mean a lot) sourcing supplies. I spend a ridiculous amount of time looking for the best prices and best quality.  I spend a lot of time and money experimenting to create something unique.  I also spend a fair bit of time on forums, Twitter and other channels building a rapport with other crafters/sellers to create a mutual sharing environment, and share what I feel comfortable with.  I do run a business, at the end of the day.

I knew it was bad manners to ask someone where they got their supplies from just because I am generally good with etiquette (personal friends - hush, now), but it's also confirmed in "Craft Inc" (book by Meg Mateo Ilasco) "Creative-business owners work hard to find their vendors, so it's not fair to ask them to give away their hard-earned sources".  Cheers Meg.  I often resist the temptation to ask other makers where they manage to find such cool components. I, however, resist!

So, where do I get my supplies?

........Loompaland :)