I learned it from watching YOU!

Last night I was busy writing tutorials for a publication and didn't get any jewelry made but that's okay. I was thinking yesterday about all the things I've learned about Etsy in the past 2 years, as a Buyer and a Seller. And so I thought I would take this opportunity to blog about some tips on running an Etsy shop. Now, keep in mind, these are my OWN OPINIONS and this in now way is THE WAY, or YOUR WAY. I am just giving you my thoughts on how I like to see a shop run. Although I'm talking mostly about a jewelry, shop- these tips can be used for any type of craft.

Okay, the following things are important in running a successful Etsy shop.

* Take GOOD photographs of your craft.
HOW?
*Natural daylight, No Sun, No Flash- I've tried a lot of different ways, and have found that this is the best way. I have tried the Light Box and am quite disappointed in the outcome.
*Neutral backgrounds- Jewelry gets lost on backgrounds with busy print.
*Photograph things like jewelry, on someone! It helps the buyer see the scale of the piece.

*Give credit where credit is due! If you didn't make the jewelry elements used in your designs, don't make it seem like you did! That's like fraud- Do you have to list every single bead supplier? NO- but do list what the beads are- what materials they are.

*Write good and clear descriptions. Add humor! It helps! Descriptions don't have to be 150 word essays, however.

*Write a clear and concise shop policy and put in the appropriate spot- SHOP POLICY. I don't want to read all about your shop policy in the description of each shop listing.

*VERY IMPORTANT: This is like the most important thing for me, as a seller. COMMUNICATION is KEY. I don't know about you, but I shop on Etsy because I like buying handmade things. But more importantly, I really like that I can have communication with the crafter. This is something you don't get when shopping at any other online venue. But if you are a seller, create an open dialogue. SEND A NOTE confirming the purchase!!! I want to know that:
1. You got my order 2. You are proud of your craft and you stand by your handmade goods 3. That you appreciate my business and 4. that you'll be shipping my purchase on such and such a date.
Zero Communication from a Seller is POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. This is just my opinion. But I think most people enjoy the communication.

*BLOG!! People like to know how your creative process develops. Blogging is easy and can be quite fun. Even if you don't always have a lot to say, a picture of what you're working on or a picture of your workspace is always interesting to a blog reader and can spark lots of dialogue between blogger and blog reader. This in turn creates a RELATIONSHIP, which in turn results in repeat business at your Etsy shop.

*Self Promotion is important and EASY! And doesn't take that much time.
-FLICKR- upload pics of your craft to Flickr and add photos to appropriate groups.
-Twitter- announce sales, blog giveaways, or when you Blog or list new items in your shop
-Blog
-Facebook- Start up a business page. Announce when you have sales, giveaways, show pics of your newest listings

*Always leave feedback! BUYERS AND SELLERS!! Not only does this help future buyers at etsy shops, but it helps boost morale between the buyer and seller, and can in turn result in future business at your shop.

These are just some tips I jotted down yesterday afternoon. Do you have any Etsy tips you'd like to share?? I'd love to see them, leave a comment on this post! I hope this was helpful!

Rainy Day Blues

BRING ON THE SPRING! It's rainy. It smells like Spring. It feels like Spring. It didn't snow!!! This new necklace oughtta bring you that Spring feeling! I created this last night. I created the necklace around Jade Scott's copper Sylvia Pendant. The green and gold, and brown color palette is perfect for this time of year. I added in some wood, some big chunky stones, and some filigree brass rounds. I created the swirly hook and eye clasp out of brass wire.




I was a busy girl yesterday. There are lots of new goodies in my Etsy shop! Check them out!

HAPPY SUNDAY GIVEAWAY!

Beads donated by THE ORANGE BELL

Road Trip

I'm scootin' off to SUNY Oswego today to see my little sister at college. Her 19th birthday is next weekend but since she has a pretty busy schedule that weekend, I decided to go up and celebrate a week early! We'll probably hang out, maybe do a little shopping, go out to lunch, do some sort of girly thing. Too bad there aren't any bead shops in Oswego, that'd be perfect.
I did make her a super special something, jewelry related. But didn't take any photos of it before I boxed it up with a bow.
I don't have much to show you today. Most of what I did yesterday, sold quickly from the shop. The pretty Flower Discus earrings are still sitting in the shop though. Hmmm. Isn't that always the way? You create something that you think is really super great, and then come to find out, not everyone else thinks it's super great?





Well I'll give you a sneak peak of something instead. Here is a little something I like to call The Convertible. I created this piece yesterday and it won't be going into the shop just yet. Some publication will be gettin' their hands on this baby, if I'm lucky. It's a necklace. NO, it's a BRACELET!! But the coolest part of this piece is the beads. Christine Damm of StoriesTheyTell created these polymer clay beads. She sent me several sets last week. They are really super cool and unique and the colors are perfect for Fall which is what publications are looking for these days. Thanks Christine, for making my designs so easy! These beads, called Bumble Beads resemble little stripy dotty bumble bees. I love the color palette. They have some metallic highlights- in a beautiful copper color that pairs perfectly with the copper color Polester Chain.

The Return of the Mojo

That's what I'm TALKIN' 'BOUT.

I wish I knew where I come up with this stuff.
It's like, I walk into the studio,
and hours later I come out,
with something like this...

Faceted Ruby
Vintaj Brass Bead Caps
Round Rabbit Extra ceramic rings
Handmade earring wires



Amazing.

Mojo

One single phone call interrupted my mojo. There was real potential. This pair of earrings got out of my head before the phone call came. I was playing around with a new handmade earring wire design. There are a lot of possibilities, but the Raku Blue Seraphim nuggets were calling to me.

Buy them on Etsy

Switching it up a little!!

Good Morning ya'all! I always think of Paula Deen when I say that. She's the queen of YA'ALL.
So several things on the plate today. As you can see by the poll results, it was a close race! The Chinook Daisy connector bracelet won out over the owl necklace by only 2 votes! Thank you to everyone who voted. I am just waiting to receive another Chinook connector in the mail and then I will be posting step by step directions on how to make this bracelet! Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, I like the Poll option on the blog. It really is a great way to get a little blog input and it makes it easy for those blog readers who don't normally have a lot of time to leave comments.


Last night I finally got caught up with the past 4 weeks that I've missed Grey's Anatomy. I cannot believe they have Izzie getting cancer- that is just soooo dramatic. I think that the low 5% odds to live, is a bit much, don't you? Great show but come on people! I have more opinions about this but would rather not hash it out here.

Anyway, I was a beading maniac again last night and created the following pieces. I am particularly fond of the brass bird bracelet and I also am very fond of the Button necklace, but you know how I feel about buttons. This necklace took some time- almost 2 hours to create.

This is always a struggle, to be able to put a price tag on time. Pricing this necklace will be tricky. The pendant from Heather Wynn is a beauty, and the buttons are all antique. With exception to the button on the clasp. That sweet piece came from JoAnn Fabrics, if you can believe it!! The button on the button bracelet is also from JoAnn's!

I just want to say Thank you to that super special blog reader that suggested I check out the button collection at JoAnn's. I found really great deals, on buttons that are really quite beautiful and even though they are not vintage, they still add a great vintage feeling to my pieces of jewelry!

I've decided to switch it up a little today! I was talking with a friend through convo and she told me that she was bummed because she leaves for work before I even get out of bed in the morning, and does not even get a chance to see my newest Etsy listings until she gets home. So as I was writing her back, it hit me! WHY do I NEED to list things first thing in the morning? Why not try blogging, do photography all in the morning, but list things in the evening? And then I thought, wonder if that would change the amount of views that come in. I wonder if more people are looking or different people are looking around on Etsy after work. So today is the test. I'll blog the pieces, and then shoppers can all sweat it out, and I'll list them this evening in the shop.
Sound good? Hey why not. I'm my own boss right?

BY THE WAY- I'm going to have a little STIMULUS sale today. Take 20% off any one item in my Etsy shop. All you blog readers out there, just type STIMULUS in the Notes to Seller and I'll send you a revised invoice!

AND!!
I am only 3 sales away from 500 SALES! Be my 500th sale and get a little extra in your package! :)

Indigo Blues

This necklace was one of the pieces I created in last nights beading bonanza. Guess I was just in the bead mood as it seemed like the pieces just easily flowed out of me. I created this necklace around the blue glazed ceramic ring from my friend Nancy. I beaded the entired necklace and used a Vintaj Brass floral toggle bar at first. The bar wouldn't stay in the ring. I hate it when that happens. Had to take the whole thing apart, restring it, and create a longer beaded toggle bar that would stay put. I like this outcome. As you know, I love to do asymmetrical work. Once I started pulling in beads in this color palette it all seemed to flow. The polymer clay Mokume Gane rounds from Pam Wynn pull out the indigo color and the Felsdpar Jasper flat oval had almost the exact same veining through it as the polymer clay does! PERFECT!

I like this necklace because you can wear it with any part at the front. The clasp makes a nice focal at the front or at the side or the clay beads are a neat focal too!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THIS FROM MY ETSY SHOP.

Use the Muse

So remember back when I told you I was going to participate in the Use the Muse contest? Well they finally had the big reveal yesterday. You know, I entered but to be honest, I really wasn't sold on my creation. I doubted it. And it definitely didn't live up to the standards of some of the amazing entries.

I had the most fun flipping through to see everyone's submissions and I was thrilled to see people there that I knew, like Katie Nelson (who I met on the cruise!) and Andrew Thornton and Debbie from Prairie Emporium, Mary Harding, Melissa Lee, and Cristi of 2ifbysea. I wasn't a winner, but it was fun using elements that I normally don't use like seed beads, and crystals, and teensy tiny beads. I struggled with putting something together, and I felt like I HAD to use the little beads, although I know I didn't officially have to, something told me that I HAD to. It was weird, and I can't explain it but now that I see all the entries I wished I had used a bit more from my own bead stash. The lampwork glass rings that I used are from Blue Seraphim. They were the perfect color with the other crystals and pearls that were in the kit.

So anyway, here is my entry- Plum Opulence.
Make sure you head on over to The Beader's Muse to see all of the beautiful entries.

Routine

I have noticed lately that I am a real creature of habit. Here is a typical day:

Wake up. Pet the cat.
Go the bathroom.
Continue downstairs, immediately poor coffee.
Turn on the computer. Blow my nose.
Sip coffee while reading all emails.
Check blogs. Comment on blogs.
Check Etsy. Look at favorites. Look at favorite sellers.
Occasionally shop online.
Finish one cup of coffee.
Shower.
Get dressed. Hair. Makeup.
Make the bed.
Come down stairs, start breakfast.
Photograph jewelry.
Update my blog.
Upload pictures.
List pieces on etsy.
Eat breakfast.
Pack lunch. Run out the door to work.
Work all day.
Come home at 5.
Eat dinner. Do dishes.
Go to the studio. Bead
til 9:30pm. Brush my teeth.
Go to bed.

The only problem with this really set schedule, is that days blend into each other and I realized months have gone by and I haven't really done much cleaning of the house, or kept in touch with my Mom. Also I get a little bored and so I am vowing to not live this way all through Spring. I need to get some fresh air. A little exercise. Enjoy the other rooms in my house. Maybe help with some renovating. Ok, let's not go nuts here. Maybe not that last thing. But I need to switch it up a little. It's all slipping by! Life is too short! I need to live a little! But am I having FUN? yes, I enjoy beading, and I enjoy my job. But a bike-ride now and then might just be the ticket.

Don't forget to vote on the poll if you haven't already. It's to the <-------LEFT! I want to do a tutorial for the blog and want to know which jewelry designs you'd want to see instructions for. Blog readers Choice! Looks like right now, it's really close between the Chinook daisy connector bracelet and the owl necklace! Only 1 more day to vote!

Rejuvenating My Jewels

Dreaming of Spring, and inspired by Amy Hanna's book called

Rejuvenated Jewels: New Designs for Vintage Treasures

I created this necklace last night. The purple and green heart pendant was sent to me by the perfectly talented Mary Harding. It just screams Spring!! And so am I, these days. It was hard to wake up yesterday to see snow in the air. After weeks of no snow, I was disappointed and a bit sad.

I think that this is a wonderful example of executing a similar design but adding a bit of my own twist. Asymmetrical design incorporating wire wrapped beads and chain up one side, and a chunkier beaded strand up the other side. Instead of three way connectors, I used a wire wrapped brass button. The design that I was inspired by, had this same ring technique in the front- instead of a large vintage ring, I used a small handmade lampwork ring from Beads of Passion.

The design in the book incorporated large faceted wire-wrapped stones up one side, and instead I used beading wire and strung Czech glass beads, bronze color seed beads, and small coins of golden pyrite. And of course, instead of a typical clasp, I created my own using a large mother -of-pearl button.

This necklace was a bit time consuming. But I did manage to put together a pair of earrings too.

They incorporate little brass buttons and faceted Amethyst briolettes that I recently got in a trade with Kristin Huston. Check out Kristin's shop and blog! She's super cool. She sent me a goodie bag Full of fantabulousness. Yes, that's a made up word but it's the one that accurately describes the beads she sent!
Trading bead stashes is a great way to clean out your stock of stuff you don't use, and sending on to someone that looks at those beads in a totally different and new way.

Sunday

available for sale on Etsy.

Today is Day 3 of constant hammering. The roof is being replaced. Old Rust color shingles are lying in puddles around the yard, as new Black/Gray architectural shingles are being installed. It is changing the entire look of my Bungalow and I loooove it! I am actually more excited about the prospect that this will eliminate the leaking issues that we were having a few months ago.

The hammering is constant though, and I was really struggling in the studio yesterday so today I'm outta here. Heading to the Carousel Mall in Syracuse to meet my best friend Rosie for some shopping therapy. Plus we haven't gotten together in some time so it will be nice to catch up. Unfortunately, yesterday I blew most of my saved up cash, on some beads at EmMi Beads. Hate it when that happens.

After 3 weeks of struggling with Blogger, I still have not been able to replace my own banner on the blog. Frustration is an understatement at this point. I'm about ready to scrap the whole thing. It cannot be THIS hard to add my own banner. Well, Yes. It is. Have any of you had this issue before? It will not allow me to add a picture, instead of the title/description. It needs the title to be filled in. I find the picture on my computer, and attach it and when I go to View Blog, it's not there. Maybe someone can help me with this before I send Blogger a really nasty email letter? If you want to help, leave me a comment. What I want to try is, for someone to log in to my blogger account from their computer and see if they can attach a picture to the header.
Help ME. Pllllleeeeaaase!

My New Necklace

When I read Sharon's post last Wednesday, and saw this beautiful necklace that she had made, I knew I had to have it. We worked out an awesome trade and now it's mine! I love the Gaea pendant so much. And the way that Sharon paired the pendant with a key, and some bling. It's just the perfect combination!

She got this bracelet as a trade (with a couple of buttons too!)

Not only do I loooove making jewelry, but I love wearing jewelry too! I have acquired so much jewelry since I started selling on Etsy. It's the curse of Etsy, really. I can't seem to sign on, without finding something that I want, and now that I'm a blog reader too, it's become worse!

You can read more of Sharon's blog here. Sharon doesn't have anything in her Etsy shop. So go to Sharon's blog and tell her how you feel about that!! You want jewelry, and I do too!!

I almost forgot the Giveaway Winner!

Drum Roll Please!................ The winner of the lovely Chinook Daisy Connector Bracelet is:

ERIN SIEGEL of

EVERY HEART CRAFTS!

yay! Erin!! Congratulations!

You

were comment Number 12!!

Thank you Everyone who blogged, Twittered, Facebooked

and advertised the Giveaway! That was a fun

Twist and I was glad to see so many people participated!

The next giveaway will be some Lampwork glass beads from The Orange Bell! Coming Soon!

Button Mania!

I have been so inspired by buttons in jewelry lately. I just can't get enough! It's that perfect element of adding Old to something New- and the outcome is always so fun and unique! I am listing 4 new pieces using buttons, in my shop this morning. I need to try to get my hands on some more one-of-a-kind decorative buttons like the ones I used in the bracelets. The Burgundy button came from an etsy shop : ForsytheCompanyStore and the floral metal button, I think came from someone that participated in the swap. I wish I knew who! Leave a comment if you gave me this button! So if any of your see any suppliers that have cute etched shell, mother-of-pearl, or metal buttons that you think I might like, please let me know!

RAW Talent

Who: Magda Pasieka
Where: Flickr: MrumruGlass

I met Magda on Flickr. I fell instantly in love with her unique style and I finally received some of her beads yesterday. They take your breath away. They feel good in your hands.
This woman has Raw Talent. There is this certain something about her glass. Every bead is unique in it's own way. And the color combinations are brilliant. If I were a glass bead, I would be one of Magda's.
Magda doesn't have any etsy shop. But she is willing to sell her sets. Just send her a message through Flickr. Here is a mosaic of some of my favorites. (the second set down on the left, is mine!)

Kitchen Progress

We - no I shouldn't say we, I should say JOE, has been diligently working on the kitchen in our house. Here's where we're at now.

BEFORE:Notice the lovely flat oak cabinets and the outdated white ball knobs! And the nice off-white appliances (with exception to the dishwasher which is black) The walls are white. The tiles are off-white with mauve tile accents. ooooh, I know. You are sooo jealous!




Here's what we've done so far:


Joe painted the cabinets cherry red. The walls are now gray and he cut and hung and painted nice bright white crown molding. The knobs are new, rustic and black- hammered iron knobs and drawer pulls. The window trim was painted white.
The backsplash, Joe painted metallic silver.
We replaced the refrigerator and stove with black appliances.
This is the nook for the kitchen table.

I am hoping I can get my hands on something like this table for this spot:What still needs to be done in the kitchen:

New counter tops- probably laminate, that looks like granite, and in a dark charcoal gray
Flooring- Possibly light colored wood laminate flooring
New sink and Faucet
Replace ceiling fan with regular Ceiling fixture
Replace light over the sink with Pendant light- punched tin
Replace light over kitchen table nook with something more modern/retro
Replace that shelving area in nook with custom shelves for wine
Replace white microwave for black microwave

It's coming along! I am excited for the end product. I think it will
totally reflect our style and give the kitchen an updated look
that will work until we can do a total renovation with new cabinetry!

ArtBeads.com

When was the last time you checked out http://www.artbeads.com/? If you haven't recently, check it out now! I have created this asymmetrical necklace design using one of their new Bronze pendants. It carries the quote from FDR: " All happiness is the joy of Achievement"

I used some really gorgeous teal keishi pearls (BeckHuBeads), lampwork glass discs from Serena Thomas, a faceted Labradorite nugget flanked by Vintaj brass bead caps, and some blue stick pearls separated by small bronze glass seed beads. The brass flower toggle matches the color of the pendant perfectly and to add a bit more of this bronze color, I included a small textured brass round within the keishi pearls.
Artbeads.com has sent me these products to review on my blog and I have not been paid for my endorsement of this product as it pertains to the products received.

Want your own Bronze pendant from ArtBeads.com? CLICK HERE:

Bronze Pendants

Sale Continues

Here is a sale update for you. I have marked down a couple more pieces in my shop on clearance. Some of the pieces I listed the last few days have been here in my shop before, and then they went away for a while, and now they're back. I marked a few of them down. Click here to go to the clearance section.

Also, HOW ARE YOU PASSING THIS UP? Mom wanted me to tell you that she is extending her buy one get one sale through another week! This lovely multi-color crazy quilted tote is just waiting to be snatched up. This is definitely my favorite one out of the bunch and if you don't buy it, I'll have to and there are beads to be bought. And I don't need another bag. BUT YOU DO! So click here to go to Mom's Etsy shop.

Give a Little, Get a Little!

This is my new motto. Sometimes you've got to give a little to get a little. And so far, it's been quite true for me. And that's why I'm having ANOTHER GIVEAWAY! Yippeeeee! WAHOOOO!!!


The lovely and Talented Mellisa of Chinook Jewelry was kind enough to donate a Daisy Connector for one of my beloved blog giveaways. I have created this earthy delight, using the Connector. It's a lovely sage green color, perfect for the upcoming St. Patty's Day holiday! Wood bar nuggets, and small copper seed beads make up the bracelet, with a large carved Unakite focal bead. And of course, this design would not be complete without one of Erin's sweet little ceramic leaves. I added a little Czech glass flower for good measure. oh yea, and I made the brass hook clasp myself!

This bracelet measures 8 inches long but fits more like 7.5 because of the chunkier beads.

What do you have to do to get in on this Giveaway extravanganza?

Leave a comment on this post (only one per person please)
AND
You must Blog, Twitter, Facebook, or advertise in some way, my giveaway!
Let me know in your comment how you plan on passing on the good word.
Feel free to copy and paste the photo on this post.
Be creative!!
I will draw a random winner from the comments on MARCH 20 (friday)
Don't forget to leave an email so I can get in touch with you if you win!

Good luck to everyone!!