Catalog....

So, I was at a certain fast food restaurant a few weeks ago...buying my extraordinarily healthy dinner of fries and a smoothie, when a gal behind the counter said 'Oh my gosh I love your necklace!'... of course I said 'Oh thank you.  I made it and I sell them.' - you would have thought I was giving money away!  Women came from the deepest recesses of this store to see my necklace and get my card.  One of them asked 'Oh, do you have a catalog or something?' to which I responded that no, I don't have one as I'm the only designer and make it all myself.  She got me to thinking that maybe she's on to something.... maybe I SHOULD do a catalog.  What do you think?

Pros:
- I make several different types of jewelry
- It would put images of my products into many ppls hands without having to drag pieces everywhere I went (although I do anyway)
- It would remove the internet barrier, meaning, them going home, pulling out my card and actually looking at my website
- It would offer me a way to leave my tracks in places I go...i.e., offices, churches, restaurants


Cons:
- Price - NOT cheap
- I do 'one of a kind', which means that once the piece is sold, it's gone - thereby making the piece in the catalog void
- Prices can change
- Because I make each of my pieces, all are copywritten - the risk of copycats increases (although maybe that's a Pro?)
- Do I put my phone number on them?  Maybe the whole world doesn't need to know how to contact me =)

 Here are some examples of different types of jewelry I make:

Hand knotted pearls:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/99495081/hand-knotted-pearl-and-shell-necklace?

ChainMaille Bracelets:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/115818697/square-champagne-gold-bracelet?













Hand poured resin (Also do pendant parties where you can make them too!):
http://www.etsy.com/listing/110873553/pretty-purple-pendant?
 











Stringing:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/108688883/green-blue-and-white-necklace?

Badge Holders:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/108857062/badgelanyard-holder-multicolor-swarovski?












Braiding:
 http://www.etsy.com/listing/102767109/the-most-beautiful-necklace-ever?

MultiStrands:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/110531697/mother-of-pearl-multi-strand-necklace?

Sneeky Peeky!

Another piece that I made for the no-show bride.  STUNNING purple pearls, white pearls and gorgeous crystal cubes.  I think it's hot.  =)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/122000276/custom-bridal-pearl-and-swarovski

Inspire me....

Man - the last few days have been....blah.  I dunno why.  I think I'm still a little tee-d off about the no-show.  Normally, I hang out during the day and before bed, I stop in my beading room and make something sweet.  That's kinda the way it's been for the last few months.

This last week or so...not so much.  Perhaps it's still this infection bit (Sinus and ear infection) or maybe just the winter blues.  I've been feeling kinda sad lately, mostly, missing the things I don't have and wish I did.  Most notably - friends and community.   I'm finding that after nearly 6 months of living in MN, the relationship part of life is still the, by far, the toughest part.  I don't feel like I have solid friendships, outside of a few family members who can't be my entire support network.  Family is a treasure and really, one of the largest reasons I moved home, but they can't be *everything*.

I'm missing having girlfriends to call and go out to dinner with or just come over and be silly with.  It's a piece of me that is really missing and I'm kinda out of ideas as to where to look.  I'm in a small group through a local church, however I find that the group is pretty surface-y.  There isn't a lot of deep, honest conversation.  I haven't found it a place that I can really kinda lay it on the line, if that makes sense.  More importantly, it doesn't really feel like a place where people WANT to go deeper.

Wait - how did a blog about beading turn into this?  Anyway - I'm hoping to get out my amethyst for Feb and make some really cute pieces!  I'll keep you posted!

In the meantime, have some ideas of where to meet some great folks?  I'd love to hear your ideas!  Btw - I don't do bars or places like that....I'm a good girl =)

Brides! Bridesmaids! and Maids of Honor! Oh my!

SO.... I'm excited to share with y'all that I will have my first official wedding consultation tomorrow!  I met the Mother of the Bride (MOB) at a show a few weeks ago, who fell in LOVE with a piece but wanted it in a different color.

She was *so cute* to watch with this necklace.... she came over, talked to me about it and tried it on.  She noted the clasp (one of my favorite things about making jewelry), the little details and called her daughter (Bride) to get over and see it.  Daughter couldn't come, so a photo was sent... next thing I know...I'm showing MOB some pearls I have in the color they wanted and how I could change this and that to make it work for them.  As the day went on...I spy MOB coming back to the booth to look at it again....and with a friend....and Mother of the Groom (MOG)....reaching AROUND other customers to take it off the bust and show this one and that.... I felt like a rockstar!

Tomorrow - show time!  I've worked on a necklace redux with the correct colors and a little kick.  I've also made 1 other option and hope to do another.  I don't want to overwhelm them with choices, but DO want to offer something different since I've never seen the dress, the bride, the colors, or really *any other details*.  Do you know how HARD that is?!  Tonight, I came to the realization that the MOB fell in love with a piece that I made because I needed something new, not because I was trying to impress someone or find a Bride and that's the approach I needed to take with the other pieces....so.... keep your eyes peeled for the new version!

Here's something similar to the piece MOB fell in love with (the REAL one I need to pillage from) =)