New Etsy shop, new jewelry

I've set up my new jewelry shop on Etsy, and I'm working on stocking it with jewelry, such as this set:



I love the Day of the Dead skull design. It's from Gaea and it's such a beautiful pendant.

I have my mini photography studio set up, and I'm experimenting right now with different options on the camera, trying to get things to look nice on the computer screen. It's a challenge!

I'm so excited about making new jewelry. I have a wonderful bead collection, honestly, and I just need to find the time to craft some new things.

Fighting against complacency

Occasionally I realize that it's been a while since I updated the content of my eBay or Etsy listings. I do change the pictures for each item, but I don't often look at the basic text, things like shipping policies. Shipping methods. Personal policies.

Now that eBay has stopped the purchase of shipping insurance on listings, I need to revamp all of my listings to remove the sentence about insurance. But it also occurs to me that this is a good time to review the text of my listings.

Recently I had a customer who mentioned that they felt my policies were too vague. In the ensuing emails, I had difficulty in communicating what I thought were very clear ideas. However, I am grateful to the customer for making me take a closer look. Rereading it right now, I noticed that I could change the wording to make it even clearer.

I think it's a good idea to continually test and retest our work, and even though the basic text at the bottom of the entry can hardly be considered "work," it still deserves attention.

To do, or not to do

One thing I struggle with incessantly is trying to decide what to do next. It's a very simple question, of course, but there are so many possibilities that it can often overwhelm.

Yesterday I decided that this weekend should be All Jewelry All The Time, but today I find myself emptying the last few boxes leftover from the move--framed pictures and decorations. I wish I had done this before the garage sale, as I'm finding a few items that I'd like to get rid of. Still, it's good to do this, but there is no jewelry being made. Nor photographed.

I have been fairly motivated about listing a piece of jewelry each day in my Etsy jewelry shop over the last few weeks. I have missed a day or two, but overall I've managed to keep it up. I feel like I'm posting it to the void, most days, but at least the shop is starting to look full. I am getting to the end of my original set of items, though, and I really need to start making new things and, more importantly, getting the photos together so that I can continue listing them.

I'm trying to understand what I need to do to be where I want to be. I am always thinking in a million different directions and sometimes I wish a giant glowing arrow would descend and point me to the Correct Path.

Spookyheads for me to play with

I have just received my special order from Melanie of Earthenwood Studio! These adorable little handcrafted ceramic sugar skulls are awesome and I can't wait to make new jewelry with them.

Happy Hallowe'en!

I hope you all had a lovely, spooky day!

The days grow shorter

The pond has leaves floating on the top of it. The trees are getting bare. I'm starting to want to withdraw into myself, and I find that I want to make jewelry. I have house guests this weekend, but I have Monday and Tuesday to myself, and I think I will do a little playing with beads on those days.

Plus the mini photography studio needs to be set up again...

I think it's time to experiment!

The listing continues

I've put all sorts of new items in my eBay shop! I've found some lovely base metal chandelier earring findings, and some great vintage Japanese marble glass leaves.





The earring findings are really beautiful. They're so easy to use to make earrings--just attach hooks to the top, and hang a few crystals on the bottom of each!

Committing to jewelry

I've been so absorbed in selling jewelry supplies that I haven't done much in the way of jewelry recently.

So I've decided to commit myself to listing one piece of jewelry a day in my jewelry Etsy shop. I'll try to keep this up until the end of the year. At worst, it gives me some practice with my photography skills, right?

Jam-packed weekend!

Tomorrow I'll be at the West Michigan Bead Expo in Grand Rapids, MI. And then on Sunday I'll be at the Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild Bead Bonanza in Southfield, MI. I'm running around the house, packing everything, rebagging inventory, and printing out more signs.

Hope to see you all there!

Milwaukee bead show

This Sunday I will be at the Knot Just Beads Milwaukee Bead Show from 10 until 4. It takes place at the Milwaukee Wyndham Hotel near the airport (the address is 4747 S. Howell).

I'm still packing and putting together my merchandise. I'll have some new things and a lot of great closeout beads, as always.

Hope to see you there!