One thing I've discovered about selling: the more effort you put into it, the more effort is required to keep it up.
Case in point: Over the holidays I checked Etsy three or four times a day for sales. Most of the time there were none, but I re-listed anyway, just to keep near the "top" of the search "pile".
Then in January my family went off the deep end a bit and I barely made it on line for 10 days. Finally, I check and OMG: sales!
Yay! Oops!
Thank God for understanding customers. And other creative-type sellers who've done the same thing. After a blunder like that it's so good to know that I'm not alone!
That's my confession for the week. And rest assured, now that I've made that mistake I won't do it again (fingers crossed).
Another confession? I don't blog often because I don't like uploading pictures.
Anyone else?
Kelley
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Happy New Year!
Well, it's here: 2011. For someone born in the sixties, that's quite an event!
I began blogging in March of last year, about the same time I discovered seed beading and lampworking.
Since then, I've blogged about twice a month, mainly documenting my progress in these activities. (The weather in NY is just plain depressing much of the time. Like now, it's 9:15 in the morning and it's grey outside. Seriously. Grey. Yes, that's the "English" spelling of gray, and I'm choosing to use it.)
Anyone still with me?
This year you'll find me looking for the silver lining. I'll be seeking out the new and bold, exiting and dramatic, the soft and lush--in both color and form. I'll still use Pantone's latest color palettes and be influenced by the designs in BEADWORK and Bead & Button magazines, but I'll be looking toward nature's glory for inspiration.
And, of course, bringing you all the interesting things I find along the way!
Here's one: Pantone's new 2011 color of the year is Honeysuckle! I wonder what I can use it for first....
Kelley
I began blogging in March of last year, about the same time I discovered seed beading and lampworking.
Since then, I've blogged about twice a month, mainly documenting my progress in these activities. (The weather in NY is just plain depressing much of the time. Like now, it's 9:15 in the morning and it's grey outside. Seriously. Grey. Yes, that's the "English" spelling of gray, and I'm choosing to use it.)
Anyone still with me?
This year you'll find me looking for the silver lining. I'll be seeking out the new and bold, exiting and dramatic, the soft and lush--in both color and form. I'll still use Pantone's latest color palettes and be influenced by the designs in BEADWORK and Bead & Button magazines, but I'll be looking toward nature's glory for inspiration.
And, of course, bringing you all the interesting things I find along the way!
Here's one: Pantone's new 2011 color of the year is Honeysuckle! I wonder what I can use it for first....
Kelley
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Best Beading Book - Ever!
Well, I've found it: The best beading book ever is Embellished Beadweaving by Laura McCabe.
Yesterday I was wandering through Michales with a birthday gift certificate and couldn't find anything I wanted. On the way out (with some beading thread) I spotted one lone copy of Laura's book. I've been following her work as an Artist of the Year in Beadwork Magazine -- meaning she has a project featured in every (I believe) issue of 2010 -- and have been so impressed with the luxuriousness of her pieces and the amazing colors and color transitions I figured I'd give it a shot.
Well, I opened it and couldn't put it down. I actually tried to read it while driving. (Don't even think about it!) I had no idea simple embellishments were the key to creating the kind of jewelry I love.
I've got my eye on the April Showers Necklace (pg. 131), the Nudibranch Bracelet (pg. 83) and the Herringbone Cluster Earrings (p. 61), but, knowing me, I'll probably start them and say "wait...what if i did this?". That's the curse of the artist. We can't follow the rules even when we like them!
If for some reason you haven't heard of her yet, visit www.JustLetMeBead.com where you can see the necklace and order a signed copy of Embellished Beadweaving. You'll be amazed.
Think she'll sign my copy now?
Happy beading,
Kelley
P.S. This is my personal, unsolicited opinion. I don't know her; she doesn't know me. I paid full price for the book. (Just in case you were wondering.) :-p K
Monday, December 6, 2010
Win a Beading Kit!
Every once in a while I like to give things away, and what better time of year than December?
This time, the giveaway is through the Rochester NY Etsy Street Team's webpage: www.RochesterStreetTeam.blogspot.com. (Yep, you have to visit the team blog to see what it is. I'll give you a hint: it'll make a perfect holiday gift, but you'll want to keep it for yourself.)
The Rochester NY Etsy Street Team are an awesome bunch of small business entrepreneurs based here in Rochester, but selling their wares to the world through Etsy. Be careful, though: Every time I visit one of their shops, I find something I just have to have!
Happy Shopping, and don't forget to enter the contest by Tues, Nov 7!
Kelley
This time, the giveaway is through the Rochester NY Etsy Street Team's webpage: www.RochesterStreetTeam.blogspot.com. (Yep, you have to visit the team blog to see what it is. I'll give you a hint: it'll make a perfect holiday gift, but you'll want to keep it for yourself.)
The Rochester NY Etsy Street Team are an awesome bunch of small business entrepreneurs based here in Rochester, but selling their wares to the world through Etsy. Be careful, though: Every time I visit one of their shops, I find something I just have to have!
Happy Shopping, and don't forget to enter the contest by Tues, Nov 7!
Kelley
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