Mothers' Day Open House

First weekend of May was the second annual Mothers' Day Open House presented by Soulscape Artistry. Things were a little different this time as Sarah was off shooting a movie. I was on my own. I set everything up the night before and waited for the people to roll on in just like every other time.

Two people came.

Oh my. This is bad. I was prepared for a little quiet, but nobody!!!

Depressed, I went to bed and hoped that the Saturday would be better. It was a little better.

Eleven people came.

There is nothing quite like a time where you put lots of effort into an event and you're left sitting by yourself at home hoping to hear people at the door. The car doors from next door make you strain in hopes the people are actually coming to see you, voices make you look up to the window in hopes of seeing a face. Not pretty.

Things picked up a little in the afternoon. Some people stayed for a while. Others came and went fairly quickly. I was thinking that it was good that at least some things had been bought. Nelda had sold 3 beautiful handbags by the end of the day. Marjo had sold a rock and a plaque. Sarah had sold some things, as had I.

And so the day came to an end. Now for the truth. What had we achieved? Imagine my surprise when sales were added up and we had sold just over $800 worth of goods. OH MY GOODNESS!!

So lesson learnt. Never lose faith.

The work we do is of a wonderful standard and people really do love it. There is also the possibility of a couple of the ladies who came holding a showing for their friends. I do so hope it happens. I have always planned for the business to expand naturally as people come to know what we do. I hope I am not disappointed.

Onward and upward.

Australian Etsy Sellers Blog

There is now a blog featuring the many Australian artists who sell through etsy. Different people will be featured at various times. Drop in and have a look. Sometimes there will be competitions, (there is one going now) and news of what us 'DUST'ers are doing. Here's the link:

Aussie etsy blog

Squidoo

If you look to the side you will see a new link to my Squidoo lens. I decided to have a go. Pop on by and take a look.

Second Prize!

I just won second prize for my Designer Quest entry!! How exciting is that!!!!!! Yaay me.

See two posts down March/April Designer Quest for picture.

Happy Easter Everyone

The Night before Easter
Little bit of Easter Humour !!!

'Twas the night before Easter. All was calm and laid back.
Fred, the mouse in the kitchen, snarfed down a late snack.
The eggs were all dyed but still drippy and sticky...
To be honest, they looked just a little bit icky.
There were big jelly beans, chocolate bunnies and such,
And as Fred stuffed his face, he sighed, "This is too much!"
Phil and Rose were in bed watching late night TV,
While munching saltines with low-sodium Brie.
Then a sudden commotion rang out in the night.
It shook Phil and Rose, really gave them a fright.
Phil's hair stood on end, and his eyes bugged out big...
Rose whipped off the covers and knocked off her wig.
They lunged to the window, yanked open the blinds...
What they saw was amazing; it boggled their minds:
Across the night sky, with a noise like the dickens,
Soared a minivan drawn by eight overgrown chickens!
At the wheel sat a bunny -- cute, fuzzy and fat --
In designer blue jeans and a Panama hat.
Like a speeding space shuttle, those chickens they flew,
As the van driver called to each hen in his crew:
"Now, Ashley! Now, Sheila! Now, Kelsey and Bo!
On Bethany, Liza! On Daphne, on Flo!"
The van made its landing lickety-split ...
Nearly wiped out the shrubs and the barbecue pit!
Then up on the roof, much to Phil's consternation,
They squawked of egg prices and space navigation.
They made so much noise that Phil started to stammer,
"If you guys don't shut up, we'll get thrown in the slammer!"
Fuzzy hopped down the chimney, amidst all this racket,
And emerged from the fireplace, adjusting his jacket.
This bunny was chic, he had class, he had flair ..
Not your average bozo, not your typical hare.
His ears were enormous; his huge overbite
Was right under a nose like a pink neon light.
His manner was smooth, he was hip, he was cool;
This floppy-eared bunny was no fuzzy fool.
"While I'm here," he smiled, "Everybody relaxes ...
I'm not selling storm windows, won't audit your taxes.
I'm just here to bring you some fun and delight.
Eat, drink, and be merry! Let's party tonight!"
So they sipped diet soda and swapped silly jokes,
Those birds and their bunny just being plain folks.
Then flop-ears said, "Hey, friends, we've had quite a ball,
But my chickens and I are now due in St. Paul!"
He crossed both his eyes. Then he wiggled one ear,
And he yelled to his chicken team, "We're outta here!"
As the minivan rose in the 3 a.m. sky,
He called out, "Later, Phil! And to you, Rose, good-bye!"
As he sped out of sight, his two friends heard him say,
"Happy Easter to all! Have a beautiful day!"

Author Unknown

March/April Designer Quest

So all the entries for the latest DQ are in. I'm pretty chuffed with my entry. I'm really hoping to get some responses this time. Here is a picture.

Designer Quest Catch Up

In the past I have shown you my designer quest entries and let you know how I've gone. Well, as in other things, I'm behind. But I've just had the pictures done for me so I will show you the entry from late last year. The theme was wire. We received a heap of copper wire and a pack of beads and that was it. This is what I made. I love it. AND it's already sold. Yaay me!!

The Necklace

and the matching Bracelet.

I always like to see people's comments and 3 people voted me their favourite this time. Encouraging.

Time Flies

Goodness times flies when you're distracted. It's been four months since my last post. What with Christmas and family distractions a business can be left on the backburner very easily. But, I'm pulling myself out of my pit and I'm back. Notice the very cool 'mini etsy' to your right. Very cool. There are some new items for sale. I have two new designer quest items to show you but need photos taken first. So hang around. I will be back.

Update

Just a quick update. It's been just over a month but I've been so busy.

Designer Quest: didn't get any response again but out of 80 entries only 40 people voted so what kind of indication is that? Disappointing. I'd like to know what people think of my piece even if I don't win the big prize.

Open House: the Open House sales I have held over the last month have been very successful. The one at my house was the most successful to date. I sold over $1000 worth of jewellery! This weekend just gone was the OpenHouse in Bathurst. It was also very successful, especially being the first one. I made just under $500. Finally, things are starting to move.

Website: go check it out. I'd love some feedback. Finally, it is taking shape and looking a little like artistic people are involved. There is writing and pictures. Yaay!!

Designer Quest

Well, today is the posting day for the entries for this Designer Quest held by the Australian Beading Forum. The pack this time was showcasing some new ceramic beads and provided by the Australian online store Crystal Flair.

Here is my entry.

Necklace contains aventurine beads along with the various ceramic beads. So, as before, my aim is to have 3 people vote for me in the people's choice awards after the main event. I did better than the last few times in the fact that I didn't add too many extra things. The only things added this time are head pins and a little bit of wire. I didn't use one of the clasps though. It will be interesting to see how others used the supplies.

Every bit counts

Well, I have spent the last two days at the Sydney Bead and Gem show. Caught up with some people and manned the stall for Guru Creations. I took some of my wrapped beads that I posted below and was asked to do a magazine project based on the idea but kept simple. I'm excited. Every little bit helps. This was possible because of a contact I made last year at the show. Austalian Beader Magazine has become a fabulous magazine for beaders. Most of the projects in it are fairly basic but beautiful. The layout is really great and there are heaps of articles included about trends and artists and events which not all the magazines have. I hope this goes well and I do become published.

Being Australian

Now, I love being Australian but.....

Everytime you need to do something with other people in other countries they are in a completely different time zone. Not as in 5 hours different, but they work at what is my 1 and 2am. Really quite frustrating. I think I'm going to be short of sleep some weeks. I wonder if daylight saving will make things better or worse?

On the up side, I have found some very good American based networking groups that I will, hopefully, be able to gain much from. The ad of the previous post is for a fair that I am a part of. It's on for the coming two weeks. Small Business owners are showing their goods and you get to talk to the owners about who they are and what they sell and why they think their products are worthwhile. There are also discounts and special offers being given. Hopefully it will be another avenue for me.

Ad for Small Business Referral Network

Win a Shopping Spree

Visit our events and sign up to win a $25 Shopping Spree with our vendors in October.

Two ways to get in you may sign up once and then if you make a purchase from any vendor this month you will get extra chances to win.

Two Weeks of event starting Oct. 1st thru the 15th. Come join the fun. Win Prizes and find the BEST Pre-Holiday Prices of the year.

Shop online and save Gas, SaveTime, Save Your Sanity. Get it done early and relax right through Thanksgiving.

http://expo-connector.com/chat.htm

Pictures of my wire wrapping work

Finally, I have been able to borrow a camera to photograph my work. I have been making so much lately and it has been frustrating not to be able to show what I do. When I sell things I will be able to buy my own camera, but that is a while off yet. I have made necklaces and earrings, but the things I am most proud of are my wire wrapped beads. I'll show them off today.

First up, an absolutely gorgeous lampworked bead by Wendy of Guru Creations. She's going to send me broke that girl, I just cannot resist her work. I wire wrapped it in 14k gold filled wire and am really thrilled with its simplicity. It looks really classy.

Another lampworked bead by Wendy. I'm not quite so happy with this one. I couldn't get the wire to bend enough and so, in my opinion, there is too much going on over what is already a busy bead. Oh well. It's sterling silver so I'm not just going to cut it off. I'll see if anyone bites. I do like the curl at the bottom of both these beads though. It makes them better balanced than others I've done.

This is a Carnelian bead I bought over a year ago. I just loved the orange and the shape and that touch of white patterning at the top. So pretty. One of those purchases where, once you've bought it you have no idea how to use it. Finally I thought of this pattern and I think it's stunning. Simple, elegant and very special. I think I will buy some carnelian beads and string it somehow. The loop at the bottom of the sterling ended up facing the wrong direction to what I intended but the design ended up better that way anyhow.

This last one is a bead by Anne Dundas. She makes beautiful lampwork beads. I have used a lot lately. This one was so much smaller than I expected it to be that I was at a loss as to what to do with it. I was quite excited to realise I could wrap it. It's not the best, but it's not too bad and it's the first one of this shape I've done. The loops are too small for my liking but that was all the wire I had left. Again, sterling silver.

I'd love people's comments on these wire wrapped beads.

My First Jewellery Class

Well, yesterday was my first 'official' class. Some of the teachers at school put their names down to attend and I had six ladies. While teaching is what I do all the time and I'd had some girls come to learn at home from me, I hadn't done this officially yet. I organised packs for them to choose from. They had a choice of 3 colours. They also had a choice of two bracelets to make with these beads; easy, medium and difficult. They were all really pleased with what they had made. Most chose the medium bracelet.

I have my name down to teach a class during the holidays. On Friday I find out if there is enough interest for it to go ahead. I hope so, as that would be with people who have never met me before and would spread my possible clientel.

New Banner

Well, I asked Anne, another Australian etsy-er to retouch my banner for me. She did it in minutes and it looks so much better. Finally a banner I'm not ashamed of. Check it out.

If you click over to my etsy store you'll see it in its full glory. I'll have to work out a way to use this on the website. Still waiting on that manual by the way.

Anne also did the avator for ClayGraphia (see link) and touched up the banner there too because the original was all fuzzy.

I have been putting together some wonderful pieces in the last couple of days. A lovely Lapis Lazuli necklace. I wish I had a camera to take a pic. I'm finally coming up with some ideas on how to use all my beads and stones that I've had for over a year.

If only I would sell.....

Advertising

So I have started on the crawl to learn about how to advertise myself. I have found this fun site where you give your link and then review and visit other sites to tempt others to come to your site. Joined today and started. It will be interesting to see the traffic that comes here and if any results come from it. When I do more on the website I will link that one up too. If you're interested in this click the link button in my link list - the one under etsy.

Talking of the web site. I emailed Rob explaining how I wouldn't be able to go up for the training as yet and he's sending me a manual. Yay! I'll be able to start doing stuff.

DUST

In the interests of advertising my wares I'm joining DUST - Down Under Street Team. This is a group of Australians involved with etsy who are joining together to help with promotion. Here is the pic.

Website

Well, finally ClayGraphia has her new banner up. I like it, it's bold and clear. Hopefully Rob will send it down to me soon and I can put it up in the etsy shop for her. I emailed Rob with some requests a while ago, just things to do on the site but nothing has been done. I wonder how I handle this. The problem is, that I was expecting to visit him much sooner than this for my lesson in how to do the updates on the site myself but Marjo is so busy that I can't get up there to visit. Tis a dilemma. I wonder if I can learn on instant messenger? I'd love to get the site looking better. Everything moves so much slower than you want or expect. Oh well.

The good news is, that I've had a few hits to the site via the ads I've put up over the place. That is a good sign.

Took my jewellery into school last week and set it all out. Sold 10 things. Not bad going. Also had several orders placed. This is encouraging. It's just I need these sales more often. Here's some things I sold...

Collaboration

Well, the designer quest is over and done. Nobody voted for my piece! People have no taste. I'll just assume that, as they closed the site while voting should have been taking place that people have forgotton to vote.

I have been gradually changing the galleries on my website. Logged into the manager part the other day but am not brave enough to change anything yet. It's a shame it's going to be so long before I can get to Rob for my training.

I have finished my pendants from Stiletto Heights. My 'Stiletto Collection' is now for sale at etsy. Here is what they look like. I really enjoyed the coiling and will do a lot more of it.