Jasper Gemstone Earrings

I made several pairs of earrings using silver wire and my leftover Jasper Gemstones from the choker project. I think I'm going to use them all up doing different earrings. Earrings projects are so quick and satisfying. And the more dangly the better! That's my opinion anyway. I need more practice with wire wrapping smaller beads. I used to be great at it, but it actually took me several attempts that didn't come out well before I got the hang of it with the Jasper Gemstones. Of course I cut those apart and started over with those beads. Any opinions on how to display earrings? I need something simple and portable so I can take them with me to work and show people what I've been up to.

A Pretty Stone Choker

I made this lovely necklace before Christmas time and have been having difficulty with procrastination.  I have finally put it up on Artfire.com to sell.  This necklace is made with two colors of stone beads. I was inspired when I saw the beads laid out in the store. They look beautiful together. The beads are shiny on the outside which is why it is so difficult to photograph. You do not get the true dark colors of the stone. The unakite is a forest green with pink and white swirls in the stones. The jasper is a dark maroon with flecks of black and light gray. They are reminiscent of polished granite. The stopper beads are sterling silver. The length of the choker is 16 inches and the closure is a strong magnet, which makes it super easy to open and close.
Soon I will put up my pink duffel bag and my pink purse.

Job's Tears

Sorry folks, it sure has been a while. My dog had to get surgery and between that and my regular old day job I just haven't had too much time to spend on my projects.  I have been able to complete a pink purse- an artistic piece with a woman's profile appliqued to the front.  I haven't put it online for sale yet, but I took some photos.  I also finished my beautiful pink duffle bag.  I must say I like this one and want to keep it for myself.  It is a lovely pink material on the outside, with a dark grey inner lining.  There is a hidden zipper pocket inside.  The top is draw string for easy access, I was thinking for sports gear.  The large beads are also handmade.  They are black polymer clay with a special shiny coating on the outside.  This one will go for sale online as well after I figure out the price.

I refinished my Job's Tears necklace today and made a matching pair of earrings.  I really like these.  I picked the Job's Tears seeds on a hike off of the Pali Highway on Oahu, Hawaii.  The seeds can be used without any preparation.  I alternated light gray Job's Tears with shiny white plastic beads.  The clasp is a barrel screw clasp.  The dangly earrings are also made of Job's Tears and the small, shiny, white beads. 

Artfire Listing

Building the Business

How scary, but how exciting!  I am going to buy a domain name right now.  It seems so permanent, and it makes me feel so official.  I have bought Dreamweaver and am going to begin building my site in earnest.  It's amazing how easy it is to get life get in the way of a few hours of work at night.  The television calls!  I have found that working from the laptop in my office is much more productive.  There is no television in here.  I have also made a rule about FaceBook, life's biggest time waster.  I can spend hours on there plowing my farm and setting up my restaurant.  So, in my office, there is no Face Book.  I have begun my pink and charcoal gray kickboxing bag.  It is going to be beautiful.  I cut out the pieces and they are now laying on my ironing table calling out to me.  I finally wrote out directions for the pattern as well along with measurements.  I love to sew on the fly, just cutting and going, but it saves time to have measurements written out.  And, should you decide to buy one, you know it will be of the same quality and measurement of every bag I make.  Can't wait to post the pictures. 

Creating my own Website

Creating a website has been more difficult than I previously thought.  Of course, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I didn't think I would be so hesitant about making the final moves.  I am determined to create my own website, and to further promote my business.  I have been continuing to research, using Christine Grier's Handmade Results as well as watching videos on the SBI! website.  There's a lot of interesting information about how to choose your niche and create interesting website content for the people you would like to attract as your audience.  Now that I have been researching I do realize that many popular websites are built with these theories in mind.  You go to a website because you needed information about something and then while you are browsing you see a link for something interesting that may lead you to click on an ad or even spend money.  Seems and sounds simple.  It has not been, there is a lot to do before you just decide to start a webpage.  You really want to have your stuff together before you publish.  As hard as it has been to get jumpstarted, I know that this is something that I really want to do.  I am starting to get that excited feeling in the morning when I wake up that I can do work on this project.  It's the feeling I get when I am starting a new toy or design.  It's keeping me awake at night as I start to piece together the content that I want to write about.  I think the reason I am excited is because I think the writing will be just as much fun as creating my jewelry, toys and clothes.  How awesome would it be to have a job that I love as much as I love sewing.  It's obviously just in the initial stages, but I am going to write about women like me, with active lifestyles in Hawaii.  It will be more than that, but I think that will be the most interesting part.  I will also link to interesting hikes and possible sports to try out here.  It will be a resource for visitors to the island as well as anyone who is relocating and wants to stay active.  I remember how difficult it was when I first moved here to find resources.  It is not easy out here unless you know someone.  Hopefully this website can be helpful for some people.  I am super excited about interviewing the friends that I have made out here to get their stories.  What better way to show my appreciation for them, than to write an article showing how awesome they have been?  Let me know what you think!

My shop has moved.

I have decided to focus all of my energy on one selling site rather than two.  I have had two many people tell me they can't find my shop on Etsy.  That's ridiculous.  Even with my username and my shopname I have had several people tell me it is hard to find.  How are strangers supposed to find my shop if my friends can't do it?  I have simplified everything by creating a blog site where I will sell my items under my own domain name.  It is exciting envisioning myself as a businesswoman.  Please check out my new site by clicking here or simply type in http://amberelyse2.blogspot.com.  See you there!

Working on the Business End of Things

I've been listening/watching to some videos about the CTMP theory of building your business. Very interesting stuff.  It is the first time that I have really understood why you want to target your one group of people, or your niche.  I always kind of thought that it would be selling out to pick a target audience and gear your product towards them, but after doing some research I feel like slapping myself in the head for not going with it a long time ago.  Of course, there's a lot more to it than that.  I've learned a ton from handmaderesults.com.  It's gotten me thinking about actually having a business.  I think previous to this I've wanted to sell my stuff, but I hadn't wrapped my head around the thought of having my own business.  Now I'm super excited.  Will keep everyone posted when my ideas are more goal oriented and focused.  Biggest advice was to take these beginning steps slow, not to rush it.  The beginning planning stage is the foundation and if it is weak it will crumble.  So I'm going to try to go about this in a way that will hopefully have me working from home in a few years.  Who knows.  Wish me luck!

New Strategy

I need to regroup.  I read an article this morning that made me really take a look at how I have been attempting to get started selling my items.  I have been going about it all wrong.  I love looking at my Etsy site and seeing my items up there, as if they are sitting on a shelf in a store for anyone browsing to stop and look at.  The truth of the matter is that the Etsy and Etsy like websites are so jam packed with other people with similar items as mine.  For me to assume that all I need to do is put those items on a website and people will randomly stumble upon them and then buy them no longer seems like a good idea.  I'm glad I went that route and will keep my Etsy shop open, but I will be revamping my whole strategy soon.  I read an article by Christine Gierer titled How to Get Results Selling Your Jewelry Online and it's obvious that she has been through this process before and had some real life strategies to take a look at.  The truth of the matter is, I have to decide to run a business not a hobby.  That transition hasn't happened yet.  I have only dabbled in selling online and although I have sold a few items, it is literally friends and family and a random person who stumbled upon an item they liked.  So.  Instead of forging ahead blindly, continuing to hope that luck will come my way, I am making a commitment this year to start an actual business.  I know in my heart that I make quality toys.  I know in my heart that I can make awesome jewelry.  My friends and family have said I should sell what I make.  The difficulty is how do you tell strangers how awesome it is?  I do not come from a business background.  This has been my challenge.  This is why I have been only posting sporadically on this site.  I just haven't felt like I've been going in the right direction.  I haven't felt that "Aha!"  I am going to keep up my site, but the first step of my new strategy is doing a lot of research to find my niche.  I may limit myself at this time to research and of course, building a stuffed Minotaur for my brother.  That challenge had me stumped for a while, but after a wonderful dream last night I figured out how to modify one of my existing patterns to create a stuffed, standing mythical minotaur (half man, half bull).  I think I am going to go a little whimsical and combine soft, snuggly materials with a gruff pattern (and nose ring of course). 
I will continue to post as I research, but feel free to leave a comment if you're interested in any of my items or are thinking about how to create a custom toy! 

Hawaiian Style

I finished the first in my series of Aloha Print Elephants. This one is a bright yellow with delicate white flower pattern.  The eyes are coconut shell buttons.  The feet are full of plastic beads for weight.  I will be taking better photos later today and posting on Etsy. The buying link is soon to come!