I have been having the same problem, since artificing and tailoring use the exact same special items like totems, bloods, etc. I have been buying them off the auction house to be honest, but only when they drop below 50c per.
my LW is over 200 at lvl 45 and i can tell you i bought a shit load of materials off the TP to make it happen.
the lower levels are the hardest though. it does get easier