Aches, Pains, and Droopy Eyelids

  Well, after much toil, teamwork and (at times) strife, our house is finally FOR SALE! Nancy (our Realtor) came by last night to finalize the paperwork and discuss the plan. Today I am taking pictures of the house and sending them to her, and hopefully by tonight, we will have a full, complete listing in the multi-listing directory! Yippee!!! Now with it all said and just about done, in reflection, the thoughts that come to mind… “Anthony and I are a Great Team!” “OH, does my body ache and my eyelids are BEGGING to close!”

Alas, I cannot indulge in my desires for a rest just yet because we are going to Pa. this weekend and will be leaving when Anthony gets home from work and we get the car packed. So, in addition to the photographs I have to take of the house, I have packing to do. And this trip is going to be a first…we are taking ALL THREE DOGS with us!  And not only that, this will be the first LONG road trip for Bam and Bella.  Normally, we take Bam and Bella to Anthony’s mom’s house, and we take little Sadie Magoo with us, but being that Anthony and I have plans to move in with my parents for a while, while our new house gets built (after the sale of the one we are in), my mom suggested we bring everyone to test the waters.  Soooo, we are all excited, and very curious to see how Bam and Bella get along with my mom and dad’s dog, Chelsea, and can’t wait to relax!  Did I mention I’m pooped?

     Once the online listing is available, I’ll share it on my blog.  Hopefully we will be fortunate ad it will have a quick sale.    In the meantime, I am going to catch up on some reading while everything is packed away and my plan is to take it easy…at least as easy as I can.  There are still things to be done, but I SOOOO need a rest.  In fact, I may just go back to bed because I’m about to fall onto my laptop…and I would much rather fall onto my pillow. 

Oh!  Before I go…I was so excited to find that I was featured in Etsy’s Storque again!  Vadjutka did an article on photographing jewelry and included mention of my adorable Cherry Drop Earrings!  Yay!

Click Here to See them in My Etsy Store!

If you’re interested in learning more about photographing jewelry, CLICK HERE to read the one in the Storque.  It’s in their How-To section and is titled, “How-to Photograph Jewelry: Get the Basics with Vadjutka.” It’s a good article – easy to read and understand for the average every-day photographer. 

Well, I’m off to bed – to take a delayed snooze… As usual, I got up to make Anthony’s lunch and generally I stay awake, but today… I’m going back to bed.   

Wish us luck and say a prayer that our house sells quickly!  Have a wonderful day!

 

My EARTH DAY item…

So, today, I’m simply going to share with you, my newest shop item.  I named it, “Earth Day Necklace” because I was feeling super creative!  HAHAH.  it’s cute though and I love the way it turned out…very fun and bohemian. 

If you want to view the listing in my store, CLICK HERE.

My Newest Creations…

Well, I haven’t been sharing much of my own creations lately, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share my newest Etsy shop additions with those of you who do not visit the store.  I visit a lot of blogs regularly, but don’t often venture onto my fellow etsy friends’ storefronts!  Awful me – I should probably try to make a habit of visiting their stores at least once a month.  So, here’s my newest additions from Nicole Lee Artistry’s Etsy Store and to make up for my shortcomings, tomorrow I’m going to post some new additions from my fave sellers.  I’ve also got a new artist to debut in the works. Enjoy! (you can click on any image below to learn more about that item)

HAVE YOU SEEN THE WAFFLES???

 

If you are an Etsy seller or your frequent the Etsy site, maybe you have or maybe you haven’t seen the waffles.  If you haven’t seen it, see here: http://www.etsy.com/waffles.php

 And another Etsy find today…WatchManNYC – he was the featured seller  in the storque and recently opened a blingin’ shop you should totally check out!  Make sure you read his feedback.

Introducing Greenbelts…

I enjoy introducing artists now and again, who really spark my interest, and I’ve found someone who not only makes astonishingly original pieces, but she does it using recycled materials that we all wear out and throw away – belts.

Her name is Shannon Ritscher.  She is from Seattle, WA.  Shannon is a part-time graphic designer and part-time crafter (Greenbelts), but she is also a full-time, stay at home mom to her 4 year old son – Henry.  (Round of applause for balancing all three and rockin’ it out on Etsy at the same time!)  She’s awesome, is an inspiration, has a ton to choose from on Etsy and I seriously have so many favorites, it makes my head spin!

I don’t know about you, but I think the growth process of artists, when they work from the ground up, is a beautiful thing.  Shannon started listing on Etsy in June of 2007.  When I asked her about her early beginnings, she recalled, making collars and cuffs for friends and family for Christmas presents just 6 months before she opened shop.  She said they liked them so well that she thought she’d try her hand at selling them.  As Shannon thought back, she said, “I worked out of my neighbors basement for one full year before my husband finally built me a little work space (shed) on our back porch just a few months ago. Yea!”  If you’re a crafter, you can likely relate.  I know I started working at the kitchen table, which was followed by a relocation to our home office, with yet another bulge into our guest bedroom.  I don’t think the growth and development ever ends. 

I asked Shannon what her favorite material or materials are to use.  I’ve already said belts were one, but you’ll see from her work, she also enjoys working with buttons, found objects, and bottle caps and humorously, a favorite of most but not often thought of, Shannon’s other favorite thing to work with is “time.”   

Shannon’s personal favorite of the items in her shop is a toss-up, but here was her response…  “The first one is a cuff made from a very cool weathered leather belt, a giant metal washer, and an amazing vintage dark abalone carved button. The contrast between the materials makes my heart flutter. I also have a soft spot for the red, white and black large cut flower cuff and collar setthat I have listed right now. I just about go cross-eyed every night, sitting and cutting out flowers (TONS of flowers!). I think they look adorable though – especially on. I love things that are girly but without all the frill.”  I’m sure there are lots of people out there that share Shannon’s taste!

When I asked her what she loves about handmade items, Shannon said she loves the unexpected aspect of handmade items.  Wonderfully said, Shannon’s additional comments were, “when you see something fantastic that is made from something else (recycled) and/or something that is uniquely beautiful – Well, there’s nothing better.”  She also added, “I do tend to gravitate toward recycled pieces because I love things that have a story behind them.”  I too love stories and because I’m a talker, love things that generate fun conversation!  Shannon’s items are and do, exactly that, which may be why I love them so much!  Plus, I’m an animal lover with three dogs – what fashionable, dog owner girl wouldn’t love having a matching dog collar and owner cuff set?  They’re sweet!

For all of our Etsy readers out there, I always think it’s good to know how other Etsians are promoting.  I’m a firm believer in working smarter, and not harder, so I’m regularly looking to borrow ideas from other successful people.  Shannon’s success has come primarily from promoting her items through her website, a blog, her Etsy shop, Myspace, and similar web based opportunities.  

Even though we are pretty much saturated by technology these days, I know some people still don’t realize the power and marketing potential of the Internet.  With 386 Etsy items sold and having 100% positive feedback, Shannon is one to prove that it works! 

Shannon says that most of her promotional efforts have been put on hold until her son starts school next year and she has a little more time to give it a good effort.  Currently, she has products in 8 stores, from Seattle to the UK.  She has a portfolio on TrunkT, her Greenbelts are featured on www.seekingdesigners.com and various blogs like www.pupstyle.com, itsthedogslife.com, www.treehugger.com, www.ourgreatgreenglobe.com, etc.  She is also gearing up to attend some local art/craft shows this summer.  Jeesh!  For having her promotions on “hold,” I’d say she’s pretty active and thriving!

Shannon had some kind words for me for featuring her in my blog, but after learning about her, her talents, and drive, I have this to say to her: Shannon –>YOU rock! 

High Five!

And lastly – one more thing about Shannon — she’s great because her birthday is the same day as Anthony and I’s wedding Anniversary…December 17th. 

Jewelry Survey — A STUPENDOUS SUCCESS!!!

Thank you to all who participated in my jewelry survey!  I collected my 100 participants within 2 hours!!!!  That is outstanding!  If you tried to participate and the survey link didn’t work, it was probably because I had already collected my 100 by the time you arrived to help me out.  Thank you for trying though!  I do appreciate it! 

To view all of the results, you can select the page I created (see top navigation of my blog) or click here –> http://nicoleleeartistry.wordpress.com/jewelry-survey-results-are-in/

Please help by taking my jewelry survey.

I’ve been wanting to collect information on what types of jewelry people like and what they are interested in, as well as what they would pay.  I’ve decided to put together a short survey, so if you could help me out, I’d appreciate your feedback!  (There are 10 Questions.)

Click Here to take survey

Where my inspiration took me..

Here are my creations from wood burning.  I’m quite excited!  There are so many possibilities!!!  I burned the wood, then adhered turquoise cabs to the design and coated it in two-part epoxy to give it a fun shine.  I plan to make it into a pendant, but it could progress into something all together different before I’m finished!  The side that doesn’t have cabs on it is still being developed.  I’m playing with the idea of where to place the turquoise.  I’ll let you know how it turns out.

 

Work in Progres…Seeking Opinions!!!

So, I’ve put this bracelet together, but don’t want to complete it until I’m certain of the design.  Could you please give me your feedback?  Here’s a pic. 
Thoughts?  Suggestions?

what a day!

The hubby is telling me to break away from Etsy and the computer, and it’s been a busy, busy day!  I can’t seem to find enough hours to get all that I want to do done, but I DID do a lot…alas – I don’t have time to blog.  :O(  

I didn’t even get time to attend to Day 5 task for my 30 days to a better shop…well, I’ll do it tomorrow…Friday – EVERYBODY DO THE HAPPY DANCE!  Anthony and I are going to Longhorn Steakhouse with some friends tomorrow!  Mmmm!!!  Mmmm!  Good!

Two great simple things to mention before I close - I’ve got more hearts on Etsy and I got another sale tody!  My pretty, pretty ”Tranche De Vie” Earrings that were featured in the Chittum Files blog – SOLD!  YIPPEEE!!!!  Here they are…on their way to a new happy home!