The design a day challenge

In an effort to boost my inventory and thus my exposure on Etsy, I have been making a new design a day. Today I made 3 different pairs of gemstone earrings each in a different color. I pic'd and posted them this afternoon. They already have a couple of views which is great! I also joined http://stumbleupon.com which kind of makes me think of making a video, some of the things and artists I saw on there are so cool! Now I just need to find a simple jewelry design that I can video tape in front of camera. 

Verdigris Patina Start of the Trial

So today I learned a few valuable things about Verdigris Patina. I've always loved the look of that aged green on garden rooftops and thought it would meld quite nicely with my Summer jewelry pieces, including copper flowers, leaves, and different types of Fauna. So I googled "Verdigris Patina Solution". Behold! A fellow Etsian's shop popped up, so I ordered a small, cutely designed bottle of teal filled patinaing glory. http://missficklemedia.etsy.com
  I'll state now that the seller did clearly state to either purchase how to color using patina's from the shop or look it up yourself. Easy! I thought; it's probably the same process as using liver of sulphur to color metals,           Step 1: Heat water
Step 2: Mix Sulphur
Step 3: Add Metals
Step 4: Wait

So after about 5 minutes of completing this process I returned to check on my copper flower. It was not green, it was nowhere near green, it is in fact covered in a reddish rust that appears to be flaking off of my flower and into the bottom of the coloring bowl.
  Maybe I should have invested in the coloring instructions after all. After a good hour of searching for information on google, I've discovered Verdigris is POISONOUS. Great, so now I have to purchase some type of shelack to cover the "verdigris" finish on all of my pieces. This already is a longer road than I wanted to go down. If I knew it was going to be this much of a bother I would have just faux painted it on or tried to figure out another technique. Well, now I'll try to paint it on directly to the copper findings, I just have to remember not to touch anything and wash my hands really well.

I'm Back and Business is Blooming

So I finally joined an Etsy team, I've been busy promoting and discussing my jewelry, (as well as making it). Getting a drill has probably been the best purchase for my business to date. The possibilities are endless, I am drilling and riveting like crazy. Although I haven't had any sales in the past month, (unless you count a lost earring replacement an order; I don't), my views have skyrocketed. My shop is now a vibrant colorful place filled with bright spring beads and crystals. I added a facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simone-Sutcliffe-on-Etsy/158588467526544 and have been tweeting like mad. Now I just need to up my inventory for craft fair/ street fest season and I'll be good to go.

I have been trying to clean the apartment, organize studio, and get through a load of laundry all day. The child however has other plans. We went on a walk into to town earlier, so that I could mail a replacement earring to a client. Babybjorn; thank you, it was the first time in a week I have been able to go out sans a screaming child. He did however wake up immediately upon arrival at home and has not gone to sleep since. I know he's only a month and a half old, but it's like he planned this crying, colicky marathon for the day I get my extremely large order of fun new findings. So instead of cleaning, instead of jewelry making I have been at the beck and call of the child. My shops birthday is tomorrow and I want to post a bunch of new slightly cheaper items and tweet all day tomorrow to celebrate. So I guess I will be up all night mitering away in my studio, putting together the "Gypsy" Line a concept I've been working on for awhile using Picasso beads. I have 2 items in my shop already but I want to add alot more.

Joining Etsy Team!

Today I started off my day with a large cup of Chai tea, and the inclusion of Etsy teams through my shops doors. I joined

Handmade Jewelry Guild 

because a: it seems like an interesting "club" if you will to be a part of 

b: I didn't have to wait to be critiqued by the other members to gain inclusion

c: It already has a lot of members, and thus a steady following

I added my Citrus Sorbet Necklace to their March Jewelry Competition, it's the one featured at the bottom of my blog page, representing an Irish Flag color combo. Contest ends on the 5th of March ,I'll keep you posted as to the winner, and let you know if I place! I continue the never ending mission of recreating my entire jewelry line, in different color combinations to list on my new up and coming jewelry website, independent from Etsy.

Upping Inventory

So I spent yesterday getting together ideas for my new collection that will be featured on my jewelry site. I mainly want to build on what I already have and just make the items into more cohesive collections. I totally forgot it was a holiday yesterday; and went all the way to the post office to mail packages. Oh well.....I'll just have to fit it in before baby's doc appointment this afternoon. In the meantime I'm snuggled up with a bowl of hot Cinnamon oatmeal, looking at the snow outside and thinking....beads,beads,beads! 

New Website!

I am now in the mist of putting together my first website, independent from Etsy. The difference's between Etsy and my new website is that on Etsy many of my pieces are one-of-a-kind; meaning the materials I have used were foraged or vintage findings and cannot be duplicated, seeing as my supplier has run out of them. So I have spent all day going through my inventory, looking at every single piece, to see what can be duplicated in the same style but using different color combinations. So now I have to concentrate on basically rebuilding my entire shops inventory, restructuring my social networking strategy (everything is connected to Etsy: twitter, THIS blog, etc.). Tommorow will be a long day; hopefully monster baby goes easy on me and I can get through some of the redesigning I need to do. As for the items left on my Etsy site, I guess I'll just let them run their course until they all expire in late April. And now for the new templates, business cards, and beginning! I will miss the Etsy community; but I think on my own I will be more dedicated to my own thoughts and ideas.

Windy Saturday

So I am stuck at home; I was going to the post office with the child, but the wind is literally blustering my plans. I need to ship this package for an order I received 2 days ago, but I am alas today homebound. How late does the United States Post Office stay open on Saturday anyway? My sister was going to help me out but she is waiting for the cable guy.

New Earrings

A yellow daffodil necklace gone awry led to a beautiful pair of earrings this afternoon. The only gripe I have is that my studio is in close proximity to the child making it impossible to drill, nail, or hammer any of my components together. So I have to drag the whole kit and caboodle out to the living room every time I have the urge to rivet! Had a repeat customer purchase another pair of earrings from my shop today, http://simonesutcliffe.etsy.com  , I also placed an order with my favorite supplier, http://jansjewels.com  , she has the most eclectic mix of metal findings, filigrees, glass navettes and swarvoski rhinestones, basically every material I use in jewelry! I love to peruse the thousands of items on this site. To sleep for now, but only because the little monster is also asleep; hey I see my chances and I take them.