Big Bead Sale at Jewelweaver

Jewelweaver is having a big year end clearance sale on everything. I've been a customer there for several years and their prices are very good, as is their quality. Read the descriptions - they're accurate so it's important to note if there are any flaws so you aren't disappointed.

Here's the sale details:

"We are offering a 7.5% discount on all orders over $50, and an additional 7.5% discount on top of the discount you would normally receive for all orders $100 and above. For example, if you place a $350 order, your discount would normally be 15%. For the duration of this sale, your discount for that same purchase would be 22.5%. Check the discount schedule on our home page for further details about how our system works."

I need more beads like I need a hole in my head...but I'm still going to browse. :)

Not Always as They Appear

A few folks have given me wonderful compliments about my photos...which I appreciate a ton. I never quite believe them though... =) I'm very hard on myself and being a perfectionist means that I'm never quite happy with things.

I think my photos are a gazillion times better than they were when I first started making jewelry though. And I think I manage to get some decent shots. I've learned a lot. Like, you don't have to have a "pretty" set up to get good photographs. And using the macro setting is vital.

I use a photo tent that I bought at least three years ago now (time flies) for around $300 (could've been more...I have a horrible memory) and it has paid for itself several times over. They have kits that start at less than $200...and of course there are lots of people out there who spend just a few bucks and make their own. I tried that but never could get the right effect that I wanted.

So, this funky set up in my kitchen....

Can yield this more attractive photo (not a perfect photo, I grant you, but better than many photos I see out there and 1,000 times better than the pictures I used to try to take outside)...

Pictures are the only way you can sell online and a good photo can be the difference between a sale and nothing. I rarely buy anything online if the seller doesn't have good photos that are detailed and show every angle as if I were able to handle the item myself in person.

My photos certainly aren't perfect and I've had a couple of complaints about not being able to tell the size of the item, but I try hard to make sure the photos represent as much detail for each piece as possible.

Mama's Little Helper

So...it's not easy to make jewelry with an infant, but I'm managing to find a way. He doesn't nap during the day and really doesn't like being left alone without being held. *sigh* I'm trying to train him to like the Baby Bjorn facing outward so he can see things. We're having mixed results. But on Saturday and Sunday I managed to get him to give me about an hour before the screaming started.


Here we are taking photographs. Boy is it hard to keep a camera still while juggling an infant on your front! Most of the shots came out okay though.




I've been posting a lot of new work and reposting some older pieces in my Etsy shop. And there are other items listed in my 1000 Markets shop. Items should still arrive in time for Christmas if orders are shipped by this Wednesday.

Glass bead and fringed necklace.

Fine silver and sterling earrings.

CPSIA Is a Nightmare

Government is such an intrusive force in our lives...as Reagan said, "Government is not the solution to our problems. Government IS the problem." That is never more true than these days we live in.

And if affects parts of our lives I never would have imagined...the CPSIA is the insane anti-lead / chemical law that, as usual, was passed with good intentions but has horrible ramifications.

If you aren't yet aware of this law and how it impacts small businesses, including stay at home mom's making children's clothes, consignment shops, even libraries and used book stores, you should really do even just a small amount of research. It doesn't take long to see what a horrible law this is.

There has been a stay on the required testing portion of the law, but there are some in government trying to end it and push forward to implement this ill designed law.

To read about some of the consequences of discontinuing the stay, head over to this blog posting by someone who has been keeping up to date on this issue.

We may be small individuals in comparison to large corporations, but if we come together we can make a difference!

Back in Gear

It has been a while...I went back to work this week and it's been quite an adjustment. Thankfully hubby is at home this whole month to watch the boy. :) It's a lot easier not having to drop him off at daycare yet.

I've also been on a roll listing new items (and relisting some older items) in my Etsy shop. I have a few orders and it's a lot of fun getting gifts ready for people to give.

Here are a couple of newly listed designs.

A tiny version of my fine silver Cherry Tree pendant necklace. I love this miniature style.


I made a fine silver version of this and it's sold (I can make more but just haven't yet). This is made with Bronze clay, which I won't be using anytime in the near future because I don't have a kiln yet...it can't be hand fired. But I have two of these small sea shell pendants that I made this summer. This is one that I made into a necklace with 14k gold filled chain.


I just love the color of these freshwater pearls. This is a simple, but I think elegant, pair of earrings.


I made this pendant ages ago, but this summer decided to add some color. Then it sat for another few months before I finally added it to a chain to complete the necklace. :)


If you're looking for something personalized...like my custom alphabet bracelets...let me know right away. I'm not making a lot of "made to order" items. Most of the items I'm listing are already made. I've got just a little bit going on in my life right now so the simpler this selling season is, the better. =)