Yahoo.... finally

Yahoo, I  made my first sale in my Etsy Shop.  It was a long time coming (although to some degree it's my fault as I don't always keep it up.)

Having the shop involves taking pictures (which I'm horrible at), assigning a name to the piece (which I always do with my metal clay pieces but usually do not with the beaded pieces),  and taking the time to sit  down and enter all the information into the computer.  Except for the picture taking it really isn't that big of a deal (unless one is lazy or just downright tired by the time evening rolls around; a hazard of getting older.)

I think part of the effectiveness of the Etsy site is to add new items to the store every day or every couple of days.  I've done this the past few days since I had a call from one of my aqua aerobic friends in Florida.  I promised her that I would post my anklets on my Etsy site by Monday as she is looking to do some Christmas shopping for friends.  (Boy is she on the ball, thinking about Christmas this time of year.  I need to adopt her style.)

I LOVE anklets.  (Just one of the many perks of summer.)  They are fun and sexy.  (Even at my old age!)

Hopefully there will be lots of people out there wanting anklets.   (Maybe I need to get some more sandals so I can photograph them with different colors and styles.  Sounds like a shopping trip to  me!)

A fallen woman

I have to admit that I've been on vacation (for a long time.)  Had a great time in the sun.  Got in lots of swimming (I'm tanner than I've ever been), golfing and lots and lots of shopping.  (If you've ever been to Florida, you know how addicting Beall's is.)

Our house here has a loft which wasn't being used this year, so I set up a metal clay studio up there.  It's a great space, I set the table in a position to view the television while I worked.  I've been so busy with other things that I only got up there a couple of times.

What I did do was beading (to try to use up some beads.)  My friend and I sat for quite a few nights working on beaded bracelets, anklets and earrings.  None of these pieces involve metal clay.  Now there is nothing wrong with beading, but I just never felt that's what I wanted to do.  (Basically I was being a beading snob.)  The reason I felt that way was the amount of beaded jewelry out there is massive.  Basically when I use beads, they are an integral part of the metal clay design.

These past few weeks my art has become a "hobby."  (I'm so ashamed!)

My vacation is over.  It's time to get back to work.  Time to get back to ART.

Making a dent!

My bead horde was out of hand.  It's been in my inventory for way too long and as I said in an earlier post, it was time to use many of them up.  That's exactly what I've been trying to do these past few days.   This time I have an assistant, as my friend Helen has been helping out by stringing and doing some designing too.

We've made a dent in the horde (but just a small dent.)  Nothing major, just some simple beaded anklets.  Now I'm not much of a bead artist (which is why there was such an eclectic assortment of beads.)  Considering that fact that I usually have a good eye for color, it's surprising that I have trouble picking out beads.  

If you've ever been to a bead store, you know how overwhelming it can be.  All those colors and shapes.   It's enough to make your head spin (which is exactly what happens to me.)  My daughter goes in and she can see in her mind's eye exactly what she wants to make.  

I guess I'm also influenced by my pocket book.  Many of the beads are expensive and I'm cheap.  Maybe someday when my ship comes in, I can head to the bead shop and choose my beads by what I really like.  Until then, I'll just keep working away trying to use up the hodgepodge and painting my toenails to match.  

Thnking ahead

In the retail world it's important to be about six months ahead in the calendar.  June is the month to start planning for Christmas.  Instead of thinking about turkeys in November, it's important to be in the mode for Easter.  You get the idea.

Unfortunately, my brain doesn't work that way.  When planning my daughter's wedding, I'm sure I drove her future mother in law crazy.  We worked well together, but I didn't start anything until about six weeks before the wedding.  (Don't worry, the major things were taken care of.)  What waited until school let out were the decorations, etc.  They got done.  They were beautiful and my daughter thinks her mother in law and I should open a party planning business.

Right now I am thinking about summer though.  (At least I'm four months ahead,)  I love anklets but have only made two of them.   Every year I plan to make some (usually in August..... too late.)  So I think my focus for now will be on the ankle.  After taking inventory (and seeing how many beads I have) it seems like a good time to make the anklets and use up some inventory.

The anklet in the picture is the only one I've made so far (but I've made it twice.)  Will post new ones as they get finished.    The anklet in the photo uses handmade jump rings to make the handmade chain.  My new ones will just be beaded to save time and cost.

(I've taken photos of my hands with my rings on and decided that I will never be a hand model.  But it's pretty sad when my foot takes better photos than the rest of me!)