|
|
Post by fernwood on Apr 24, 2022 0:11:09 GMT -5
Great find on a local Facebook market page. Little glass bottles, bail caps, jump rings and some crushed Sugilite. I saw the ad about 10 minutes after it was posted. Sent a PM to the seller. She responded about an hour later. Since I was unable to drive the 12 miles to her place, until Monday, she offered to deliver the items. I saw the ad at 6:00 AM. She dropped the items off at 9:00 AM. I had purchased some items from her a few years ago. She remembered me. Since she was so nice and did a delivery, I gave her a few special rocks. She loved them. So, what am I going to do with little glass bottles? Make pendants and earrings. Some will have crushed rocks/glass in them. Some will have 1980’s Turquoise or red coral chips in them. Some will have small fossils in them, such as coral branches or snails. Some will have herbs/flowers in them. Some will have hops in them. Some will have real maple syrup in them. Now for something completely different… I am going to make some “Beerrings”. Earrings with beer in them. I mentioned this to my employer. He suggested I make some winerings, too. He loved the idea of putting beer in some of the bottles for earrings. My first thought is to sell the pendants/earrings for a very low cost. About $5.00 each. Do you think that is too low? I paid $30.00 for the box of components. My average cost for a pair of earrings would be between 15 and 50 cents each. Time to make a pair of earrings would be about 10 minutes. The earrings would have surgical steel posts/wires. All earring/pendant cards will state what is in the bottle(s). The beer ones will state the name of the beer. These will be sold at a craft fair my employer is hosting. Would like to hear what you all think about this idea. Thank you. Here is what I purchased yestrday.      |
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Apr 24, 2022 7:23:45 GMT -5
Pretty cool idea Beth!  I think the $5 is a little low for something that is seemingly pretty unique. I think if you sold them in the $8-10 range, you'd sell to just as many people. However...the $5 makes them super affordable and people might buy two sets for $10 if you leave them in the $5 range. Here's the world we live in today...I'm guessing you're going to need a liquor license and have to ID the buyers if they contain actual beer and wine. I think the idea of actual booze in the bottles is super cool...but it might be smarter to use colored water in the bottles. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer...I would just hate to see something negative come out of this. |
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Apr 24, 2022 8:32:55 GMT -5
I think I might agree with jasoninsd on the liquor. Why not call them cool names but put colored water in them.
I think you'd probably have to epoxy the corks or tops on with liquid.
$5 seems too cheap - maybe $ 10 , with a 2 for offer , like 2 for $ 15 ?
They will be unique & novel so you should get paid for your time & thoughts in it.
Looks like you could have fun with them.
Patty
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Apr 24, 2022 10:29:58 GMT -5
I bet you wouldn't get into trouble selling such small amounts of alcohol, but you could always ask your local board about it. (We have an ABC board- don't know what you have.)
|
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Apr 24, 2022 10:36:53 GMT -5
Having brewed beer in the past, I would have to add in the possibility, that continuing fermentation inside those little bottles, might cause them to explode at a later date . So I might suggest you test this concept, before going to market 
Patty
|
|
pizzano
Cave Dweller 
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
|
Post by pizzano on Apr 24, 2022 11:18:58 GMT -5
Cool stuff......
Regarding the booze idea.....
I know you have worked with and have dealt with micro-brew establishments..........so, do a little research, ask the tavern folks about the bottling of spirits. Every State's laws differ.......home brewing (and amounts) are only one aspect of the process. The bottling and distribution for sale or otherwise consumption by those other than yourself are a whole different ball game.........even with the small quantities you propose......!
Stick with the non-perishable ideas......less headaches to deal with.....shelf life won't be a problem.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Apr 24, 2022 12:39:14 GMT -5
If you don't use alcohol, put a little drop of bleach in them to ward off algae.
|
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Apr 25, 2022 7:17:25 GMT -5
Thanks everyone.
Yes, the bails/covers will be permanently attached with epoxy.
Would sell only to those age 21 and older if they have alcohol in them.
My employer (brewery/tap house owner) said there should not be a legal problem selling such a small amount permanently enclosed.
I will do some more investigating.
I am a little torn on pricing right now. Will make a final decision after a few are made.
|
|
CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
|
Post by CLErocks on Apr 25, 2022 14:20:34 GMT -5
Those little bottles are adorable. Great ideas! can't wait to see them!
|
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Apr 26, 2022 6:52:51 GMT -5
CLErocks . I made one pair of earrings this AM. Black coral.  Just need to glue the tops on these. A variety of stone chips including clear quartz, flourite, amethyst and some unknowns.  The coral ones took about 10 minutes to make. The chip ones took longer, as I had to sort tiny chips from extra small ones. Hard to see in the photos, but the top openings of the bottles are about 1/8" in diameter. I used hemostats to pick up the stone chips. The caps are not attached to these yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Apr 26, 2022 7:23:13 GMT -5
Beth, Is this a one time be there when the time is right purchase, or does this source exist for others. I have a friend who has been searching for a reasonable source for a project involving rock chips. BTW you should be receiving a parcel from this way as promised.
|
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Apr 26, 2022 7:59:48 GMT -5
Beth, Is this a one time be there when the time is right purchase, or does this source exist for others. I have a friend who has been searching for a reasonable source for a project involving rock chips. BTW you should be receiving a parcel from this way as promised. Dunno if they still have them or not. I purchased about 24 bags of tiny and extra small rock chips from Fire Mountain jewelry about 5 years ago. They were on clearance at the time. Some of these chips are about 1mm in size. The larger ones are up to 1/4" wide. I remember I got a discount by purchasing in 12 bag lots. The bags are about 3" by 1.75". The bags ended up being 25 cents each at the time. I have seen small rock chips available from The Rock Shed, too. |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 26, 2022 9:55:44 GMT -5
Beth, Is this a one time be there when the time is right purchase, or does this source exist for others. I have a friend who has been searching for a reasonable source for a project involving rock chips. BTW you should be receiving a parcel from this way as promised. I think you were referring to the vials, correct? If so, tell your friend to do a search for rice name grain vials. |
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Apr 26, 2022 13:27:20 GMT -5
Yes, I was referring to vial/small bottles. Thanks.
|
|
CLErocks
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2021
Posts: 342
|
Post by CLErocks on Apr 26, 2022 19:10:16 GMT -5
|
|
gemfreak95
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2020
Posts: 127 
|
Post by gemfreak95 on Apr 27, 2022 15:34:23 GMT -5
So, what am I going to do with little glass bottles? Here's a project idea: when the Air Force sent my uncle and family to Germany I made my aunt a "Home Away from Home" necklace. The center pendant was a small glass bottle of sand and water from Lake Erie, corked and sealed with wax, and a wooden Ohio cutout courtesy of Home State Apparel. The rest of the necklace featured small beach stones, shells, and driftwood, some of which I dipped in epoxy and sprinkled with sand so they looked fresh from the lake. |
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
|
Post by gemfeller on Apr 27, 2022 18:33:50 GMT -5
fernwood, I used to use similar findings for what were called "Floating Opal" pendants and earrings. I used crushed precious opal chips immersed in glycerine to make very showy jewelry. The opal came from unstable material not suited for selling as cabochons. You have to be VERY careful not to get glycerine on the areas to be epoxied. Any glycerine smears will prevent bonding.
|
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Apr 29, 2022 3:09:47 GMT -5
I made a few yesterday. Decided assembly style would work best. I filled some bottles and applied corks to prevent contents from spilling. Will attach the caps and ear wires all at the same time. Plan on crushing some more rocks next week. Labradorite, Quartz, Amethyst and Tigers Eye to start.      |
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 29, 2022 11:17:52 GMT -5
Those look really cute, Beth! If you put glycerin in them like gemfeller used to, it will make the colors in the stones really pop. |
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Apr 29, 2022 11:48:49 GMT -5
Those look really cute, Beth! If you put glycerin in them like gemfeller used to, it will make the colors in the stones really pop. Will be doing that with some. |
|
