Getting show ready

I am still in full on production mode, but I wanted to share some of what I've been working on lately.  I hope I have time to put all the new jewelry through a full on photo shoot before the show, but for now I just threw it all in a pile and snapped a shot.

Back to the bench!  I'm planning on working on bangles and bracelets today.  I'm a little unsure since I've made only a few bracelets in the past.  We'll see  how it pans out.  I hope you all have a fabulous day! :)

Legs like a new born colt.....

Not that I've actually seen the legs of a new born colt, but who hasn't seen the scene where the colt is born and then he tries to stand on his wobbly little legs. Just a shakin and a quakin. All cute and stuff.

So, I decided to add back in a Monday morning work that I dropped, like a year ago. It was brutal. My legs feel like lead weights on monday mornings. The class starts at 8:30, and I really think that it's about 30 minutes too early for me. Once I get back into the swing of things with Monday as part of my normal routine, I'll feel better about 9:00. Today I only felt better the last ten minutes.

Long story shorter, lots of squats have given me the legs of a new born colt. Shaky and quaky with soreness already slipping in.

I've been "watching" season one of Northern Exposure while I work for the past week. I mainly just listen to it, catching little snippets in between whatever I'm working on. I play it over and over, until at one point or another I end up watching the whole thing.

I love this show. I've seen it several times before, and every few years I miss everyone in cicely, Alaska. I'm captivated by the moose, and the Native American culture, which in the 1990's they called themselves Indians. And I'm bummed that I have to wait for NetFlix to send me disc 2. But, it will be here soon enough.

Sorry again for the no photos. It's just that not having the pressure to list something allows me to work differently than I usually do. I'm building a pile, working in stages. I suppose I could do process shots, but I'm too lazy and besides that, making metal jewelry isn't pretty. It goes through some really ugly stages before it's finished. I think seeing it like that takes away a little bit of the thrill of a piece.

I hope you all have a fabulous week!

Please pardon my lack of pictures. I always enjoy reading blogs and looking at beautiful photos, but I just haven't been spending that much time behind the camera lately. As a result, boring photoless posts.

We had an interesting long weekend. Saturday night we ventured out to the new Cowboy stadium in Arlington to see TCU play Oregon State. My husband is a football fan, and enjoys live sporting events, so he wanted to share that experience with the girls.

And what an experience it was! We unknowingly purchased tickets in the student section. Which would have been fine if we didn't have the girls with us. Different people kept wandering in and out from the same section of seats, and had at least 2 people to every seat. Not that they ever actually sat down or anything...and of course they were all drinking.

The entire game was spent just on the verge of an altercation between the college kids and an older couple sitting directly behind us. I was disturbed at the lack of respect shown by these kids to their elders. One girl argued with the gentleman at length, trying to justify their behavior.

I enjoyed the people watching more than the game which we could only see from the gigantic screens suspended over the field. My oldest daughter was fine and was ticked off when we left early. My youngest was fine at first and then became increasingly ticked off that she couldn't see anything. And was pretty vocal about it. Not that anyone could hear her... "Mom......they're acting as if no one is behind them at all!!!" in her most incredulous voice.

I really must get out more. I was rather amused by the whole thing. The whole adventure was
cut short after we got a beer shower from some drunk college student who threw his beer in the air, jubilant at TCU scoring a touchdown.

On Sunday, we went to friends house for dinner. On the menu? Duck three ways....we'd not tried duck before, and were quite impressed. Dinner was fabulous, the company wonderful, and the kids had a blast. It is so nice for them to be old enough to be trusted to hang out with their friends and hopefully stay out of trouble. Just really a lovely evening.

Today and yesterday seem to have disappeared, I didn't get any work done. I am excited to be spending the entire time the girls are at school tomorrow at the bench though. I went fabric shopping today and found the fabric I want for my tablecloth for the show. So, now I'll have to dig out the sewing machine. I'm giving myself until the 15th, and then I'm going to do a trial set up of my table and see what I've got. That will give me some time to fill in any gaps and refine my set up. I've got just over a month, but I know the time is going to fly...

TGIF!!

These are the 2nd pair of earrings I have made in this style.  I am really loving them!  I had a customer request moonstone earrings.  That's it.  Just moonstone earrings.  I love it when I can just play!

Well, here we are at the end of school week 2.  The tantrums from my little one seem to have abated.  Thank God!  It is quite an adjustment, but I think we are all getting used to it.  Luckily my girls LOVE school.  I love seeing them so happy and excited to start their day.

My oldest is 8 and in 3rd grade.  She is starting to become more interested in what she is wearing and how her hair looks, and what jewelry she should wear.  It really is cute to see her preening in the morning.  She wants to spend her allowance on make up.  That, I don't think I 'm quite ready for.  This year is the year of the sequin for her it seems.  About 80% of her new school clothes have either sequins or glitter.  So sparkly!!

The house is quiet right now, except for the gentle snoring of our not so miniature schnauzer.  Poor guy is getting old, and spends most of his time sleeping.   So, I am off to clean house (YUCK), and then finish up a couple of projects I started yesterday.

I was feeling a bit uninspired yesterday, but still managed to start 2 pairs of earrings.  Why do I love making earrings so much?  I just don't get it!  Everything I make seems to be earrings.  I don't know.  I guess I'll just go with it.

My husband bought tickets to a college football game at the new Cowboy stadium.  So, that's what I'll be doing tomorrow night.  I am trying really hard to gear myself up for it.  I'm not really into sports of any kind.  If hard pressed, I would prefer basketball.  I don't even have a clue about how the game of football is played, the rules or anything.   But, he hasn't been to the stadium yet (the girls and I got to go on a tour with the girl scouts earlier in the year), and he is really excited to go.  So, for my hard working hubby, I will grin and bear it!  :)

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!!!

Marketing?

In a recent post, I told you all about the goal I had set for myself to reach 100 sales in my jewelry shop within a year. I had a comment from a follower (hi Lori!) asking me to share my marketing strategies.

I was really quite flattered, and I even had to smile to myself a little. Me? Marketing strategies? Oh, don't get me wrong. When i first joined Etsy, I spent a lot of time reading the forums, the Storque, any advice I could get from anywhere really. I even bought one of those e-files from a seller on Etsy that would give me the magic formula to lots and lots of sales.

I came to the conclusion that all the advice was pretty much the same. Participate in the forums, FaceBook, Twitter, start a blog, re-list your items often. Basically live your life networking.

So, after one whole year, 100 sales in my jewelry shop, and 200 in my supply shop, I feel like a seasoned veteran. Not really. It feels like it has been much, much longer. I am so grateful for all my customers. Every sale does feel great. But, I suppose it is human nature to want more.

I have miles to go in the honing of my craft, and in every aspect of running a teeny tiny business. But, I am encouraged to continue. My primary job is, and always will be, taking care of my family. I am completely blessed to be able to stay home with my kids. But, the older they get, and hopefully more self sufficent, I feel that I must have an occupation. Again, I am blessed that I can work from home in spare moments and when the girls are in school. Maybe one day I'll even make money at it! Lol

So, what is the answer to the question of marketing? Truthfully, I don't know. I can only tell you my take on things, and how they pertain to me. I have a FaceBook page for my business, and it is linked to my Twitter account. I love facebook, but I really only post a few times a week. I like to post links to new listings, or new blog posts. Or sometimes just something that is on my mind, or a fabulous etsy find that I can't resist sharing.

I blog. I really love following blogs, and I enjoy blogging myself. My blog is primarily about business, but I get some other stuff in there too.

I go through waves of thinking I need to be posting in the forums, but truth be told it just really isn't my thing. That and I find it a HUGE time sucker.

Which brings me to what I think the bottom line is. You have to spend time creating and putting out the best product you can. Yes the networking is important, but if what you are putting out there doesn't appeal to the crowd all the networking in the world isn't going to bring you sales.

I read somewhere that the age of the average etsy buyer is around 27. I don't know how accurate that is, but it wouldn't surprise me a bit. I am just beginning to understand who my target audience is. Really, the target audience of all of us who make jewelry....we are looking for women who love jewelry, who don't want to wear something just like what everyone else is wearing, who understand and appreciate quality. Women who understand and appreciate what it means to support an individual and their vision, and not a corporation who shipped in jewelry from overseas.

You must create a product that people want. If you build it, they will come...."marketing" or not :)