May is here

Last year I was at a show right now. It was one of those shows that I had many, many high hopes for and it was a HUGE busy. That is kind of how those work. It's the sneaker shows that do well (you know, the ones that you don't think are going to). I remember that the night before the show opened, there were all kinds of tornado warnings in the town I had my little tent and all of my inventory set up at. Yes, needless to say, I didn't get much sleep that night. But you can tell by the above picture, it was all well and good come the next morning. A few tents bit the dust, but our trusty one did not.

This year, I'm not doing any HUGE spring shows. I might go to a few tomorrow, to do some shopping, but I kind of doubt it. I think I'll stick around the house, work on some new designs for summer, dye some wool, bake some bread, head over to the farmers market (if the weather isn't scary) and just enjoy my time at home. It's been a bit of a crazy week, so time at home is welcome.

I am having a bit of a sale over at Idyll Hands - I've added some more items to my sale section here. If you prefer some yarn, I'm having a sale over at Wooly Hands as well - you can see that if you click here. Mention that you saw the sale announced in my blog and I'll refund your shipping via paypal.

For those of you keeping up with my mom - we had her 6 month follow up with the surgeon down at UAMS on Wednesday. The MRI scan was great! I was very happy about that. Sometimes I feel like we're all living three months at a time right now, but as long as those three months come and go with a good MRI, then I'm happy. Now, if only my mom would keep getting better and better and walking would come easier to her.

Well, I'm off to do interesting Friday type things - not sure what those are yet, but I'm sure they will come to me.

Say "hello" to my little friends

It's official, I have fallen in love with dying wool. Each time I've done it, I've learned another thing or two about mixing colors and I can't wait to dye some more next week. The last batch I did had more muted tones (still bright but not as neon). I added some browns and such to the colors and I love how they turned out. The ones pictured here are Desert Sunrise and Dusty Rose. Both are available in the shop.

I've been a bit busy this week getting ready to head out of town this weekend and haven't had too much time to work on stuff for either of my shops. I did make some jewelry for a birthday gift and finish up some yarn, but I've been doing laundry, shopping (every good vacation deserves a new pair of pants or shirt or something), and organizing my toiletries because they were here and there and all in a mess. Now I just have to pack tomorrow night and we're headed out of here early afternoon on Friday. Whew - I'm tired already :)

Aside from getting ready for this trip, I've been enjoying the crazy weather we're having. It was warm enough for flip flops and capris the other day (but I refuse to wear either of those in public until at least the end of April) and tomorrow they forecast snow and ice. I am not complaining, I'm a winter weather lover and I say bring it on just as long as it's cleared up in time for my drive down to Texas on Friday.

Let it snow.

Many Things

There are so many things I wish to do with my jewelry business in the near year. So many people are talking of branching out their business. Most of them are referring to finding multiple venues to sell on and while I might look into that, it isn't my only focus. I want to branch out in the type of materials I use.

I've been wanting to up the material quality on my bracelets for some time now and I think with January comes a chance to do that. I want to begin to only offer them in sterling and copper. I also want to being to offer sterling earings. I'll keep the necklaces and brass earrings as they are - I might add in a few silver necklaces, but that isn't going to be my focus... at least I don't think it is.

I've also got some new design ideas up my sleeve (I've already made one into something as seen above). I have not made most of them yet to see how they come across out of my head, but I hope to have to do that over the holidays.

Many exciting things will be coming, that I promise. Goodnight all!

Holiday Trunk Show

I've been busy preparing for a Holiday Trunk Show that I'm participating in on Saturday. A fellow AREtsian, NightSkyProducts, told the street team about the event and I jumped on board. I will be joining a few local artists/crafters for this show. There will be soap, paper goods, jewelry, scarves, massages, food and of course, wine! We'll also have door prizes and I'm offering a free gift to anyone I invite who brings a friend with them.

This will be the perfect opportunity to shop locally for Christmas and support the local economy and some local artists/crafters. If you're around here and want to come, leave a comment here and I'll send you more information.

The items pictured here are some of the new things you'll see at this show. Other items I'll have there are my knit bracelets, necklaces, knit scarves and handspun yarn for those who are crafters.

By the way - THIS rocks my face off.

Christmas Sale Number 1 - check.

A friend of mine has already started her Christmas shopping with a few purchases from my shop and a custom order. I love custom orders. I always have, sometimes I wonder "why on earth did I say I'd do this" but in the end, I love them. This time I didn't grumble at all. I've needed a reason to make something, to sit at my table and play with my wire, chain, beads, and other goodies. I needed something to get my mind off of today.

Today was slightly more stressful (okay, extremely more) than usual. I suppose that is how cancer works. Some days are good, full of laughter and smiles and some are stressful, full of tears and the constant question of "why" going through my head.

I try to stay upbeat about this and for the most part I am. But sometimes I find myself thinking about my mom, some memories from the past, some from the way past, some from just a few days ago. They make me cry and I'm sure they will for a while. I don't know how this is going to turn out - hopefully it turns out well and she has many, many more years ahead of her. She's healthy, strong, positive, and loved. I just KNOW this will pass.

I just know it.

Sorry - this post went downhill fast, but it's hard to ignore what's on your mind. Perhaps some thoughts of future spinning adventures will cheer me up. Perhaps I'll go pick out some wool for my first attempt at the wheel... once it gets here.

Bon nuit.

Update Successful

What? I listed a new item in my Etsy shop tonight? Get out!

It has taken me just about FOREVER to get some pictures I liked of some of my new items. By forever I mean at least 3 weeks. They are not exactly my favorite pics, but they will do. Once the sun comes out while I'm at home, I'll get some really great pictures, but for now, I feel like I can list items again. Oh, and even better picture new, Canon is going to fix my broken camera so I'll really be back to normal soon.

I also sat down and fixed a couple of necklaces that didn't survive when my craft show display took a nosedive off of the window sill the other day. They are as good as new. While that didn't lead to any new items, I did sit down and so something at my desk. I finally unpacked the last 2 boxes of crafting goodies I had this past Sunday when I added a shelf to my set up. Now it's a mess.

I said I unpacked them, I didn't say anything about organizing them.

I still have grandiose visions of really putting a dent in getting the crafting area cleaned up and the guest room organized before Friday night. Barbara, a roomie from my days in Austin, is coming up for a visit and to watch The Longhorns trample the Razorbacks on TV (didn't get tickets to the game in Austin, so coming up to Fayetteville is the next best thing I though, and so did Barbara). It's not that I need to impress Barbara with my mad organizational skills, it's just that I want it to look put together for my sake. I want to be a good hostess with a relaxing guest room and amazing guest bath.

Ah well, perhaps it will be done in time for my next visitor.

I already know what a certain one of you will say - something along the lines of "it's okay to take it easy". I know it is... I'm guilty of being just like my mom. Always going going going.

Alchemy

Etsy has an area they call Alchemy. It's a great place to go and post something you are wanting but can't find on Etsy. I browse it once in a while for someone wanting a bracelet that I think I can do. The problem is my bracelets abstractly represent what people are asking for. I can't make a bracelet with a zebra on it but I can do black and white stripes. I almost had given up on alchemy until the other day.

Someone was looking for a bracelet with marigolds. I gave it a shot and my idea was accepted. The person wanting the bracelet even had some beads in mind. I'm really excited about the outcome and am waiting for final approval on the beads. The bracelet will end up representing marigolds, brown eyed susans, and blue grass flowers. I've posted the pictures here of the options I came up with (one obviously without the blue). I love all three and might make a similar bracelet for my brick and mortar shop feature in July.

I love doing custom orders as it forces me out of my safety box. I get in the habit of making bracelets I would wear and custom orders push me to do colors and designs I wouldn't have done without the request. They are educational and lucrative at the same time. I like that.

I have made some other jewelry this weekend. All necklaces for the shop in July. I don't want to take any of my items I have listed on Etsy for obvious reasons. I need to get some bracelets and earrings made, but I'm well on my way to getting enough inventory to make me happy.

Stay tuned for later today when I feature and Etsy shop that continues to impress me and bring a smile to my face.

Lightening Doesn't Scare Me... from a distance

I spent close to an hour sitting on my bed and watching a lightening storm off to the south. I have the perfect window for viewing storms as it's on the 2nd floor and no building obstruct my view of the mountains that lie to the south of my little part of the world. The lightening was incredible. The sky never went dark (even though this was after 10PM) and strike after strike reached to the ground and through the sky with long, spindly fingers - as if reaching out for me. Thankfully I was safe inside. It was truly the best hour I have spent alone in a long time. I just sat there, watching, not thinking about work or about the complications life can bring, just enjoying nature.

I'm paying for staying up late now as I've been exhausted all day. I needed to come home tonight to work on some paper work for a shop I'll be featured in come next month, but I couldn't bring myself to doing that. I promise, I will work on it tomorrow. I also have a custom item to make for the person featuring me (she's paying me, it's all legit). I said I could have it done this weekend, so that is something else I need to work on... tomorrow.

I did manage to list the necklace you see above tonight. I'm calling it Orbital and it can be made in the sky blue you see at the top of this post or the striking red you see below. I can also make it in brown and green. Hopefully all of you will like it as much as I do.

Goodnight.

The Return

Red, Red Wine Earrings - found in my Etsy shop

It feels like it's been ages since I've had time to write a blog post. I've been knee deep in the largest event I plan at Walton Arts Center. We have a yearly fund raiser that we call "Art of Wine". It's a HUGE event, tons of wine, tons of restaurants, and an equal amount of set up and prep. It's fun, it raises lots of money, but it wears me out and keeps me from being a part of the human race for a few days.

But I'm back, and I'm going to be putting a bit of time into my shop over the next few weeks. It might not mean new items, but it will be cleaning up some things, making sure my pricing makes sense, maybe a sale item or two, you'll just have to check in to see what I'm up to. I'm hoping a bit of attention is what my shop needs right now.

Things are a bit slow in Etsy land which I might have originally thought was the economy, but I think it's also the arrival of summer. I've found myself sitting here less and less and wanting to be outside more and more. I even bought myself a cute summer tank top today. I can't wear that just sitting here, can I? I must get out, enjoy the warmer evenings, and enjoy life. Sometimes, that means not spending time shopping on Etsy. Perhaps the same goes for everyone else out there.

As I look out the window, I realize this evening will not be one to enjoy the summer, it's raining and the lightening bugs won't be out doing a show. Ah well, I'll find something else to do.

Goodies Waiting for Me

You know, there really is not anything better than opening up a mailbox and finding a package. I had a couple of packages of goodies in my box yesterday (but I can't reveal their contents just yet) and a package of goodies today.

I have fallen in love with antiqued brass. It really couldn't look bad on any skin tone. It's not silver, it's not copper, it's not gold, but it's a good mix of all three. The new infatuation has led to a few impulse buys. Antiqued brass opens up an entirely new realm of possibilities with my jewelry making. I can't do bracelets from it, yet, as I cannot find spools of the wire. However, earrings are quite possible and what lovely earrings I have come up with. I don't want to show them off until after the craft fair the first weekend of May, but they are lovely indeed.

The items pictured above were purchased from ProdigalProgeny on Etsy. I just ordered them the other day and here they are, in my hot little hand (literally). I can't wait to make them into earrings, beautiful, dangly, attention grabbing earrings. If they don't sell out at the craft show (which I really hope they do), I'll have some to list in my Etsy shop starting May 4 along with my new necklaces.

All I have to say is that it is going to be really hard not to spend my "economic stimulus" of $600 on antiqued brass findings.

Is the weather confused?

If I didn't know any better, I'd say we're still smack dab in the middle of winter. We had a few beautiful days in a row this week with weather warm enough for short sleeves. However, I woke up yesterday to a cold and gray day. Today is cold, gray, and rainy. It's hard to believe it was spring a few days ago.

I'm still going forward with some spring designs and preparing for the craft show in May even though I want to cuddle up under a blanket on the couch and eat cookies and drink tea. Thankfully, my being on the front page the other day is still fueling my desire to sit and make wonderful things. I did a few bracelets today and might sit down to a few pairs of earrings like the ones above.

Today would have been a perfect day to work on some promotional items I'm sending down to TwistedPurl for her weekend at Toad Suck Days (yes, it's Toad Suck Days) later this season. But alas, I'm at the mercy of Zazzle while waiting on my new business cards to get here. I'm planning on tying coupons to business cards. The cards have pictures of my items so hopefully that will entice people to come do a bit of shopping on my Etsy shop. It will be my first time to send some promo items to another shop owner to pass out and I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity to do so. Thanks, TwistedPurl!

15 Minutes of Fame

For a portion of this afternoon, I felt like a celebrity. No, not the kind who go to rehab before they are even old enough to legally drink, but the Etsy kind. A fellow member of AREtsy and my coworker, BeadedBombshell, let me in on a little secret this afternoon. One of my bracelets had made it to the front page.

WHAT? My bracelet? Front page?

In a moment of disbelief, I found myself fumbling across the keyboard to make it to the Etsy front page. There it was - Desert Oasis sitting on the front page amongst some beautiful items in an incredible treasury. The treasury was created by Zygopsyche and can be found HERE.

It is amazing how many views my little bracelet received and how many "hearts" both my shop and the bracelet took away from this experience.

Of course, the front page is short lived and life goes back to normal once the next fabulous page of goodies goes up, but it was fun while it lasted. And in case you don't believe me, see below for yourself!

The Day The Views Died

Today was an interesting day in the world of Etsy. If you are an Etsy seller and haven't been stalking the threads today, go check out your item views. Notice something?

No, you're eyes aren't playing tricks on you and no, you have not entered the twilight zone. Our views are all reset, back to 1. Etsy explains it this way:

Today at roughly 2:15pm EST, there was a failure on one of our load balancing machines that rendered the site inaccessible. We recognized the failure immediately, but were unable to restore full connectivity until 3:30pm EST.

Unfortunately, tracking down the issue required all of our servers to be reset, which in turn erased all view tally data from listings. It is unlikely that we will be able to retrieve this data to bring them back, but we will try.

We're now investigating the causes of the issue, and tightening everything back up. Those that had a showcase scheduled for today will be refunded.

We apologize for any inconvenience this outage has caused, and we’re doing our best to ensure that it won’t happen again.

Well, at least we got a quick explanation, but I'm still left with a sour taste about this. I was one of the many who used the views to help determine the popularity of an item (should I make more, should I wait until it sells, etc) and the amount of views when first posted. Those things are important to shop exposure, not necessarily sales, but we all know, selling items is only part of the Etsy equation.

*sigh* There really isn't anything that can be done and I suppose it will be interesting to see what items start to get new views in my shop even though they have already been listed. For example, in the screen shot above, all items are at 1 view except my Sea Glass Kaleidoscope Earrings. Not sure what drew people into those... perhaps a treasury? Who knows, I shall go checl.

It seems as though life will go on and the sun will come up tomorrow. This isn't the end of the world, just one of the hassles of business I suppose. So I shall take the Etsy lemons can go make an Etsy Lemon Drop.

Almost There

I've been telling everyone who cares that I don't blog and visit other's blogs because I'm addicted to the internet, but because it's a good way to get the word out about your shop (and get some good reading in as well). Today proved that. My coworker/friend/fellow AREtsian , Beaded Bombshell, recently let me know that Lee Ann Westover of The Lascivious Biddies blogged about a friend of her's who has an Etsy shop. I completely took advantage of that post to comment about my shop as well.

It looks like that bit of commenting paid off today:
The Tiny Guide

Hooray! She likes my new earrings (found above). I knew she was my favorite when I heard that she was a fellow alum of The University of Texas in Austin.

See - blogging and following blogs is important. Don't limit yourself to artist and crafting blogs, branch out. Musicians have a HUGE following and if you like their music, why wouldn't they also like your hand made goodies? Makes sense to me.