Now You See It. Now You Don't

I was on a roll this weekend.  I listed four new items to my Etsy shop, which to do so in one weekend, is an incredible feat for me.   All four pieces were ones I just made up last week and I was excited to be able to get them listed so quickly. 

Two of my goals for my shop this spring are to add some lower priced items and to start a bridal section.  The four listings this weekend were a step in that direction.  One necklace and bracelet coordinate and would make a lovely bridal set.  With their listings, I went ahead and set up my wedding section and now have 5 items in that section.  The other necklace and bracelet coordinated as well and were by far my favorite of the two sets.  I had found this delightful turquoise enamel on copper cross and designed the set for it.  I used one of my all time favorite stitches, a flat spiral for both the necklace and bracelet.  I just love the texture of this stitch!  For me, it works up quickly, thus helping to keep cost down.   And if done just right, it can become a reversible stitch.  That is exactly what I did with it.  Worn one way, the set is copper with a hint of turquoise and worn the other, it's turquoise with a hint of copper.  I also made it so the cross pendant will slip off the chain, adding to the piece's versatility.  The bracelet seemed to call for a little more substance, so I joined two rows of the spiral together to make a luxuriously textured cuff.  This was, in my opinion, one of the prettiest sets I've done in a while.  Can you tell how enthused I am over them?  So enthused, that I just had to take them in to my office today for "show and tell".  My co-workers seem to be just amazed by my work.  They all think I am this hugely talented artist and are just awed by my artistry.  (At least, that's how they make me feel and who am I to correct them?!)  Anyway, after a co-worker commented on how much she liked them, I had to demonstrate how wonderfully versatile the two pieces are.  Then a second co-worker asked how much I had them listed for and when I told her, she wanted to know if she could just buy them now.  Let's see.  Cash sale or asking her to buy through the shop?  I'd lose the 40 cent listing fee but not have to pay the other fees.  Okay.  Cash sale.  Funny thing is, my buyer told me she really doesn't buy much jewelry for herself but she was just absolutely taken by this set and had to have it.  My kind of buyer!!

So for those who hearted my turquoise and copper pieces yesterday after I listed them, I apologize that they were gone so quickly.  Guess maybe in the future, when I have something I feel such enthusiasm for, I should take it to my day job for show and tell before I list it!!

Sometimes It Pays to Show Off

As evidenced by the lack of posting here on my blog, my internet presence has been lacking for the last few months.  That's due to a combination of holidays, falling into a personal slump, being ill, losing motivation and just life events in general.  But the holidays are over, I'm feeling okay now and I'm slowly finding my direction again.  One thing that always helps me jump start my creativity is the Etsy Beadweavers team's monthly challenge.  We always skip January due to holiday obligations but start again with February.

The theme chosen for February was Royalty Thoughout Time.  I chose as my inspiration, Princess Grace of Monaco and created a simple, yet elegant, necklace that I like to think she might have enjoyed wearing.

Simply Regal

My boss likes to see my new pieces so I often take them in to show her.  She used to have an embroidery business and enjoys handcrafted work.  So, as I had in the past, I took this new piece in to share.  She immediately suggested that it would make a perfect wedding piece and before I knew it, a couple of my young co-workers who are planning weddings, were oohing and aahing over it.  One young lady asked for my card and the other decided instantly that this was what she wanted for her wedding jewelry.  After discussing personal preferences, we came up with a plan for necklace, bracelet and earrings and this week I will present her with her wedding jewels.  Here is a picture of her pieces in progress:

 I will still make earrings for her, but she hasn't totally decided on a style and we have a few months yet to work within.  She is so excited to have a set that is hers and hers alone.  Although I am toying with the idea of developing a bridal line, I promised her that I would not make another necklace exactly like hers.

One other nice development came from my showing off.  Another co-worker wanted something special for her daughter's prom and asked if I could make something.  They didn't have a dress yet but were leaning strongly toward pink.  On a whim, I went ahead and made up a couple of designs in pink to show her.  This is the one she chose:

Again, this has sparked the idea of creating more simple, yet pretty and elegant, designs for my shop.  It was so funny through all of this that although I don't make a secret of my side business, and in fact talk about it a lot, I kept hearing comments like, "I didn't know you made things like this!"  Well, now you do.  Guess I need to show off more often!

Saying Good-bye to Old Friends

Has it really been almost two months since I've written a blog post?  Incredible!  Where on earth does time go?  I've been extremely busy during that time with the day job and getting ready for and attending craft shows.  In some of my, evidently, weaker moments, I committed myself to two shows the end of September and first of October which were just one week apart and again in November to two shows just one week apart.  This weekend was the last of the four shows and I'm breathing a sigh of relief.  I made it!  And I would have to say that all four shows were successful shows in their own fashion; some with sales and some with sales and networking with other artists.

Normally, my floral work sells well at both the fall and the Christmas shows.  My jewelry, while much admired, does not sell as well in my area because of its price.  Occasionally, I will sell a piece or two to someone who recognizes its artistic quality and is willing to pay for it.  Those sales keep me going as an artist.  So, I continue to bring my bead work for display at craft shows, hoping for that one buyer who will toss a scrap of appreciation to my artistic soul.  This last show I received more than scraps.  I practically got the whole loaf of bread!  This was the first show I have done in the last 11 years where my jewelry sales made up the majority of my total sales!  It was manna from heaven and bittersweet at the same time.  Because my bead weaving does not move very fast, I've carried some of my pieces to many, many shows.  So when they finally sell, it's like saying good-bye to old friends.  I'm pretty sure they all went to nice new homes, though, where they will be appreciated.  And next up for me, in two weeks, is an honest to goodness art show where I will display my bead weaving.  I am so excited to be doing a show where I know there will be no products mass produced in China or anywhere else and passed off as handmade.  I am also excited to be doing a show where my work is considered to be art, at least  by the organizers.  Will it be feast or famine?  I'm hoping to come home soul full.

A few of my old friends who went to new homes.