My Attempt To Be Coherent

Sometimes I make sense and sometimes I *don't*

Monday, December 29, 2008

So you want to be a successful seller on Etsy?




If your dreams of becoming a successful Etsy seller are fading fast, I have one question for you........are you a BUYER on Etsy? If you havent sold any items or many items....it's time for you to go shopping!!

Now dont get all worried, There are plenty of inexpensive things that are thoroughly wonderful!

But you need to establish yourself. People need to see your good feedback. If you are a trusted buyer then it goes to show you will be a trusted seller! It's not a backbreaking task for sure!

Here are a couple of things I have bought and LOVE!!!

MossyOwls.etsy.com EssentialGoodies.etsy.com (try 'Amazing Grace or Still!)

Happy shopping :)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

500th Sale on Etsy!!!

Simply AMAZING! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get anyone to notice you on Etsy much less BUY something from you? So, after about 1 1/2 years I have hit the milestone of 500 sales! Here is a picture of the 500th item sold...
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Not the most glamorous thing I sell, but they are something people like because I sell a lot of them.

I am going to have a little think back to when I started my Etsy shop. My friends were HORRIFIED at how cheap my prices were. Well, I had a PLAN...I had all this cheap but cute stuff sitting around. I had very few tools or equipment and I had a dream to learn how to solder and work with Sterling Silver..which I could not afford to do when I started Etsy. So the plan was to use the stuff I had to make sales on Etsy and then gradually start incorporating nicer components...along with a little higher prices.

Guess what? People BOUGHT from me....it was all just stuff that was languishing in my house...I put it together and people gave me money for it.

I saved up and bought a torch and various equipment.....learned how to solder....I now have a pretty darned nice studio set up.....paid for by ALL ETSY MONEY!

My prices are still low...but they are fair to me. I am doing what I love, just had my best month evAR.

There will always be more tools, gems and silver to buy...that is part of the FUN....but I am glad that my business plan has worked out so well. It feels DANG good!!!






Sunday, November 2, 2008

HELD......Sterling Silver and Pearl Necklace


I used to hold on to way too much. But as I've gotten older I train myself to let go of things that I dont need. But what I have discovered is there are plenty of things I've held onto that aren't things.....they are.....feelings.......anger, fear, resentment, toxic things. I'm getting rid of them slowly.

Now, everything and everyone I hold on to is a decision I have made that I want that in my life....well, some of you I'm sure I'm still deciding on.....oh, and there's a coat I've had for a long time that I cant decide about....but overall, I'm doing pretty well!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Sunday, September 21, 2008

AGING STINKS.....with a couple of exceptions....


Maturity....ah that elusive little bugger........no fair that it takes so long to come and you only get it in such small doses. And then you are too old and tired to care that you are mature.

Aging is so tough, but the best thing about it is that you begin to gain real perspective on life, the way you choose to live it and the things that get thrown at you during it.

I used to think that everyone needed to know every single thought I had. That somehow I would burst if I didn't share MY perspective on everything. Now, to be honest.....I have only made a few deliberate steps away from that...it's not been a 'growth/maturity' thing.....well, outside of the fact that I recognized that people didnt WANT to know what I thought about every single blooming thing. It was a big moment for me......someone actually TOLD me that they didnt need to know every single thought that went through my head and that my opinion would be more valued if it was meted out a bit. Wow, I was gobsmacked! What nerve, what kind of person would say that kind of hurtful thing to a friend...what a painful blow...what a MOMENT OF ILLUMINATION!

I wish I could find that friend, I wish I could tell her that even though she doesnt know it and isnt around to see it that I really did hear what she said. And it changed my life.

But......the tendency never really goes away.....I still have to really work hard to cork up the dam of words that wants to fly out....and I have limited success with it. But I am aware........that must be the part that growing older and maturing has to do with it......

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Kristine's Heart


I created this stylized heart for my Sister-in-law to be. The syombolism here is that the heart is composed of two separate pieces of silver, bonded (soldered) together. Each part adding it's own uniquness to the whole. This heart also has sparkly Swarovski crystals wound around it......like her sparkling personality, and it is a Big Heart (over 2" wide) like hers.



Sunday, August 10, 2008

For My Son's 21st Birthday


I made him this cross. It was a labor of love. I made it in a style I thought he would related with.