A great way to start the weekend

I just got my 4 color business cards in the mail from overnight prints. I have never had “real business cards” printed for my business. For years I ran my little printer in to the ground printing my business cards and then cutting them. Oh the time I wasted! You can’t image how excited I am to have these. I struggled with the design. Ya I know the design is not that big a deal- big whoop right? There ia no great designing here, I just let me face and art speak for it’s self. I did several designs with and without my photo. My family told me I should have my photo on it. I am camera shy and not a fan of my own image. But the consensus was “who wouldn’t buy from that face” LOL My most logical son said “mom I like knowing who I am buying from” “it’s good to see a face with the art”. So I am stuck with these until I can get rid of 1000 cards.

Let me know what you think.

I am giddy with the thought of handing out business cards!

Thanks Overnight Prints!

 

Good Things Small Packages

It’s true good things do come in small packages. With one purchase you can get a sample of 8 artists work.

The Etsy Glass Artists (EGA) have put together a selection of sample sets for our summer promotion, a celebration of all things glass. Each collection will include 8 pieces. By one of 12 artists. The collections are composed of jewelry, gifts and designing components. Priced well below their value, it is a wonderful way to try out a variety of glass pieces. Shipping is included in the price of the EGA Collection and each participating artist has a different collection so be sure to check them all out.

The members participating are as follows:

To see all of the collections available search for “egacollection” or “egacollections”

EGA would like to thank Susan Sheehan for all her hard work putting the glass collections together and organizing this project.

 

Meet the Ladies

Long time no Blog- Yikes! Sorry to all my reader friends, been a little busy.

I would like to introduce to you my glass ladies. These little gals will dance on your neck to only a tune they can hear LOL Whispers of songs fill their little bead heads, happiness is their mantra.

In my 20 something years of jewelry my mind happened upon some little ladies I made from polymer glass and beads I made tons of them only to wave good bye when glass came into my life. I thought of them often and how I could cross over the design to glass and after nearly nine years the new ladies have arrived. I hope you will enjoy them they are a labor of love. I have one last armless cripples lady from ages ago as a reminder all things can be revisited.

As always-Thanks for looking

 

ETSY GLASS ARTISTS SPRING SALE
APRIL 28th – MAY 5th

Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Etsy Glass Artists are having a great sale. Each store will be having their own sale, everything from 10% off – BOGO 1/2 Off.

Check out the sale and shop now!

Here is a list of the participants…

Dee http://willowglass.etsy.com
Lis http://liskidder.etsy.com
Michelle http://shoozles.etsy.com
Jo http://dogmawglass.etsy.com
Susan http://susansheehan.etsy.com
Amanda http://rufusandroxy.etsy.com
Marcy http://StudioMarcy.etsy.com
Kristy http://chickadeebeads.etsy.com
Leah http://LeahPellegrini.etsy.com
Rhonda http://RWillisGlassArtist.etsy.com
Cari http://monkeyblues.etsy.com
Pam O. http://psodesign.etsy.com
Carol http://glasscat.etsy.com
Paula http://paulasstressart.etsy.com
Pam D. http://MyCabinCreations.etsy.com
Mandy http://prizmatic.etsy.com
Wendy http://wendylee.etsy.com
Sheryl http://jochris12.etsy.com
Crystal http://popko.etsy.com
Poppy http://groovyglassgirl.etsy.com
Molly http://msotherdenartglass.etsy.com
Vicki http://vickileigh.etsy.com
Kris http://creationsbykris.etsy.com
Amanda and James http://blackriverbeads.etsy.com
Lyn http://artemislampwork.etsy.com
Mary http://SierraArtGlass.etsy.com

HAVE FUN AND SHOP TILL YOU DROP!!!

 

Whats Up with me?

Okay Crazyness! I am prepping for a Home party for the 23rd of April. Then this week I got a call form Jacoby Art Center and Gallery, they have asked me to present my jewelry during an Art fashion Show. I can’t tell you how exciting this is for me. Needless to say I have been relising on Etsy more than I usually do because I have to add to my stash for these shows. So I apologize.

The Fashion show is – May 2 at 6pm
The tickets are 15 dollars in advance and 20 dollars at the door. This includes food and wine and show.

This gallery is huge and cool- can’t wait to show pictures. keep a look out

I have no idea how I will do or if I will fit in to the venue but it was so exciting to be invited.

Wish me Luck!

 

Flickr Muse-Wear The Art!

I am a regular Flickr user (flickerett), don’t let this be confused with some drug induced coma but I do  sometimes find my self lost in flickr flies. I know they are good when I find my self on page 25 and I am fully engaged. That is what happen when I found M-C1. I had seen her before commenting on others photos but for some reason had not went in to her file, that was a big mistake! She is just interesting and the kindest person to her flickr friends.

I was especially happy to see she uploaded and commented every day on flickr. Then there was this- she looks good in everything, so I wanted her to model a piece of my jewelry. I was giddy at the thought because I not only knew she would look good in it but she would take an excellent photo of herself in it. Just perfect to M-C1 style, she did not fail me! My pitiful hand photography pales in comparison to what she can do for my jewelry wearing it. Oh to be rich and pay a sweet model such as her.

My new flickr friend would not take the jewelry for free so a trade we made. I love that she told me it looked like the famous artists work Joan Miro-she is way too kind. Here is the piece she is wearing.

Later next week I will show you just what she and I traded with a link to her shop. If you would like so see this wonderful muse- her flickr file is here M-C1 -Thanks Gal

 

Upcycling-What to do with Grinder Bits

For 8 years now I have been using a diamond grinder and bits. So my collection of used bits, is crazy. I refuse to add them to land fill, I know things like glass and metal just never break down. I have tried the recycled bits and I have to say not impressed.

This is my son Sam’s dream creation he was so cute. Over Christmas break we brain Stormed about what to do with my use grinder bits “Robots MOM”Sam Said! That is what we did. Hand painted by Sam (12 yrs old) wired and beaded by MOM- He is so proud and so am I .

We talk about how to make the world better not about what is wrong with the world- I love you Sam

You can purchase Robot Sam from my Etsy shop http://shoozles.etsy.com

 

Studio Clean Up!

Oh yea such a fun topic I know! But important all the same.

This week I noticed a small wet spot at the back of my studio…hummm? Not good! And not so small. We had huge rain storms and well it came in at the back of my studio. Distraught? Nah! My New Years Resolution was to get the ol Glass Studio in good condition so I could show my studio for a Spring Open House, needless to say the flood sped thing up. So like I always say turn the Bad into GOOD and move on with YOUR life LOL.

It gave me a reason to rearrange and to throw out stuff. I am quite delighted with the results, so much so, I am willing to share with you what it looks like to this point. I am still working on the other side of the studio so there will be a part 2 to this post. If you go to my flickr you can take the tour, to see what all the stuff is but here is what I have done so far. I also hope this inspires others to get in their studios and clean, you’ll be amazed at the stuff you will find. I found a 4th edition Bead and Button magazine from 1994- Vintage LOL, it doesn’t even have any advertisements. They have come a long way!

Thanks for looking~Shoozles

 

Aha Moments in creativity!

Have you even been working on a project or been doing a process within creativity and realize -oh wow I should do it this way or hum I wonder if this will work- AND IT DOES?

Well I had one of those moments this week as I was doing my usual creative pushing. No Of course I am not willing to tell anyone what I did because that would give away my process LOL (sorry). BUT I do want to encourage any creative person to push their art in directions that say you can’t or possibly just possibly a product was marked wrong and that is why something is not working as expected- That is what happened to me. So I am quite please with the new results now that I have corrected the wrong LOL.

I have to say I am rarely disappointed when I do things in art that are out side the box or rules of product directions hahaha. Ask my friends I have discovered very cool things in doing so.

 

How To Get that Jewelry Business On Track This Year

Start your Jewelry Business of right this year by promoting and getting things in a positive direction. I hope I can help.

I love selling on Etsy but the bulk of my business is outside of Etsy. I simply use Etsy as my website for customers that can’ t get to me. If you treat it like that you will not be disappointed. That is my first and most important advice.
Promoting your business locally and to people you have already sold to is not a waste of time, trust me. Always keep a log of customers name and addresses they are the ones you can promote to through the mail, I feel like people still like to get a little paper in their mail box some times. Giving discounts and customer codes on your promos is key. I also write a tiny personal Hello! too

Start with a simple post card promo. Keep it simple but not cheap looking and make sure a photo of your jewelry is on that card so people know who that card is coming from. A logo for your business is a good idea.

Let them know it is special offer for a limited time, when it starts and when it ends and what you are offering. One side of the post card is for design and the other side is for a small blurb and address you know the drill. This is also a good time to introduce your websites!

This is easy and you probably already knew all this but hey I thought I would remind you to start the new year off right and welcome your customers with open arms.

Happy new year, be creative and may 2008 be super successful for you.

Hey and please visit my site for my special- FREE Goody with purchase- see my shop announcement. http://shoozles.etsy.com