My Favorite Kind of Lace - Beaded!

The design for this necklace is actually one of my favorite designs. It's done using a beading technique called "Antique Lace." I learned it from a book that a friend gave me before I ever opened up shop, and I've made quite a few necklaces using it!

Spring Beaded Lace

I like this pattern because it looks like lace, but it's very modern! It makes a great choker, or you can wear it longer and twisted. I tend to stick to the chokers though. One of these days I really should make some bracelets with it....

Woven Patriotic Lace

Just to tell you how much I love this pattern, not only have I sold several of these, but I have one I wear (in black, purple, and silver), my Mom has two (one in blues, one in red), and my mother in law has one that matches the one I sent Veet! Whew. Wait...that means I need to make one for my sister in law...

When I was putting the necklace up for the giveaway I realized it had been awhile since I made one of these so guess what I'm working on right now? I'll show it to you next week :)

Winner and Your Color IQ...

Congrats to Viki who FINALLY was able to correctly guess the plan for my giant stash of fabric...a duvet cover! This French Lagoon button is on its way to her.... I'm sure it would have helped your guesses if I would have told you that there's 12 yards of the fabric (math error...should have only bought 6 yards but I wanted to make it reversible and listened to the fabric store employee who cut 6 yards of each fabric rather than 3 of each). Needless to say, there will be accent pillows happening as well!

Thank you so much to everyone who commented with their opinion on glazed vs unglazed button backs...You definitely reinforced my usual button/pendant back glazing habits so I will continue to do so (even though it can be quite a bugger at times). There were 20 different commenters for the giveaway so courtesy of random.org here is the winner....drum roll please....

#9 which belongs to Michelle Mach! Congrats Michelle!! I'll send you an email today so we can figure out what you'd like to claim for your prize!

I leave you with a fun little task for the weekend...
Check out the Color IQ test, where you organize color chips by hue to determine how accurately you perceive slight color differences. If you miss any it gives you a breakdown of the areas where you have more difficulty discriminating between the hues. Not that I'm competitive or anything (cough, cough) but I did happen to get a perfect score :) The hubster scored 15. Try it and let me know how you did!

Lone Snowflake Necklace

Even though my last fall and winter were very busy with the development of my new permanent studio in the Torpedo Factory Art Center (Alexandria, VA), I couldn't miss this season and not to create another winter piece. I didn't have enough time to design something like Lone Snowflake Necklace:



that made the First place in Ice Queen Challenge held by Bead Mavens, and idea to create a smaller necklace came to me. So, I went to Artbeads.com...


Then I narrowed my search to pendants... Good choice! But I had to go further, and my search for pendant crystals gave me the result I was in need of.


I decided, just two sorts of beads: TOHO 11/0 clear transparent and TOHO 15/0 black. In addition to that, amazing coral-like Coral Crystal pendants by Swarovski I found out on Artbeads.com became a perfect match to "coral brunches" woven using seed beads.



What about focal? I continued my search and discovered on the site a beautiful Flat Baroque Pendant Crystal by Swarovski, that looked like a flower, frozen in ice! Done! I believe you can guess the name of the necklace: Flower, Frozen in Ice.

Good and bad for online sales

As my regular blog followers know, I think there's a lot of luck involved in successful online selling (see this blog post on luck if you missed it). However, looking at my stats now another financial year has ended, there seem to be some patterns in my sales and some things that I can't back up with hard evidence, but are serious 'hunches' and I wondered how many of you agree that these are good or bad for sales and views? Here goes, and remember each one is just my opinion or gut feeling.

A great eternal truth of shopping:owls a

re really popular

The recent sunny weather prompted these thoughts and my first proposition:

Sunny weather is bad for online selling. People are outside instead of in browsing the Internet. So bad weather is much better for views and sales.

Winter, autumn and spring are better than summer for sales and views. Even if it's a bad summer in the UK, there's still less Internet activity. This applies to Etsy too, even though it's a global marketplace.

August is the worst month, October is the best. It's either very organised Christmas shoppers who are attracted to my shops, or the change to autumn sends more people to online buying.

Weekdays are better than weekends for both views and sales. The exception is late Saturday night when some folks clearly go back to things they spotted online earlier, and being at the most relaxed and happy point of the week, decide they will, after all, treat themselves.

Evenings are better than daytimes - certainly for views. But sales can happen at any time of the day or night.

Sales (as in discounts) and promotions are counter productive for smaller sellers without high numbers of returning/repeat customers. If your customers mostly find you online through searches (rather than being sellers on Folksy or Etsy themselves), then they are probably browsing your shop for the first time. That means they never knew what your non-sale prices were, and they probably don't care much if you've got 20% off today. In fact, if they like your product and it fits their needs, they may well have been prepared to pay the original price for it.

Returning customers are different but if they think you might be having a sale, they may decide to wait for it, and in the meantime get distracted and buy elsewhere. Better to offer your returning customers a discount for future purchases, then they may be attracted to buy whenever they see something they like, knowing they are making a saving.

And lastly, and most controversially...

Like marmite - love it or not, instant reaction

Hard selling and persuasion don't work. At least, not for me with jewellery. Jewellery's not like double glazing - you don't need to be talked into the merits of getting it, you either like it enough to buy it, or you don't.

Good pictures and descriptions help to reinforce that gut reaction you get when you see something you really like. But they don't actually sell items. 'Wanting' and 'needing' feelings control whether people buy things, even so-called impulse buys, and you as a seller can't really influence much whether your potential buyer has those feelings. Sure, you can tempt them. So the main thing is to make sure those potential buyers can see your products... and that means focusing on listing and SEO.

What do you think - agree or disagree?

On a sunny day,

Dress- Lipsy

Top over- Primark

Cardgian- Topshop

Necklace- Forever21

Bag- Vintage

Bracelets- Personal & Primark

First of all sorry for the lazy 'in the mirror facebook shots' The weather has been so hot lately! I love the colours of this outfit, all pretty spring/summer colours! I got sun burnt from sitting on my computer for an hour, so i was dreading going outside, but i only got brunt a little... which is not good, but i don't understand why i burn so easy? i re apply when i have been in water & re apply every hour, yet i still go beetroot red! i need an SPF 2039340203030.

I cleared out my wardrobe as you can see in the pictures above.. Took longer then i thought, i was tempted just to sleep on everything and do it tomorrow, but i pulled through!

I have been on the hunt down for affordable tickets to London today, as i am going there for a youtube event, after hours of searching i fount one for £7 BARGIN!!... But not one back, so i am just about to try and squeeze my tent into my suitcase.

Moreemilk

Sunshine Out of Lemons

This week has quickly developed into one of those weeks. You know what I'm talking about - those weeks where your constantly behind, drink waaaay to much coffee, and no matter how much you try to make things work out, nothing goes the way it was supposed to? Well this is definitely one of those weeks! That's why there was no giveaway put up yesterday, and not even a single post! Unfortunately, I'm not going to end up having a giveaway this week, but we're all ready to go for next week!

Now - let's make some sunshine out of lemons :)

Pettitskirt Bubble Romper

Isn't that little girl adorable? And I love the outfit!

Under Blanket Skies

I need to go take care of some paperwork this afternoon - 

and do you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to keep this picture firmly in my mind!

And hold onto the tranquility of the image.

Spring Fling Necklace

Ok so this one's from my shop...

But it always makes me smile! 

Now I leave you with a poem I wrote for my hubby one day :)

Not About Sunshine and Flowers

by Ruthie Stickney, 2011

“Write a poem” my hubby said,

“Why are all your poem’s sad?”

He asked, and then said,

“Write a poem that’s happy.”

“I’ll write a poem that’s happy,

A poem about sunshine and flowers,”

I told him, thinking that those,

Those are happy images.

“Don’t write about those,” 

He told me, “Not about sunshine,

Not about flowers, not these,

That is not happiness.”

So I’ll write a poem that is happy,

But not about sunshine,

And not about flowers,

Definitely not these.

Sunshine makes me think,

Think of good times,

And warm feelings, but…

This is not about sunshine.

Flowers are symbols,

Symbols of love and joy,

And close relationships,

But this is not about flowers.

Happiness, this is about that,

Not about sunshine and flowers.

Happiness is about much more,

Happiness is waking up,

Curled up in warm blankets,

And knowing that the sun has risen.

Happiness is about many things,

The birds of the air and the bees,

The bees that buzz and fly,

And where they find their nectar.

Happiness is about the simple things,

So yes, happiness is about sunshine,

And happiness is about flowers too,

But this is not a poem about those.

XqDesign's Wire Beaded Rose Ring

Got the opportunity to see, firsthand the tutorial of Miss XqDesigns’ latest creation, Wire Beaded Rose Ring - it was a wonderful feeling. Can’t help but admire her wirework skills and creativity so I asked her how she came up with the design. And she simply said, “It was for a simple reason. I have some wires and seed beads left, and hence, came up with the beaded ring. Wirework is wonderful. It is so flexible to create anything that comes into my mind.”

With a very simple reason Jane came up with this dainty looking rose covered with beads.

The beads added texture and glitter to the petals while the focal bead added identity. It does really look like a rose.

I’ve studied its appearance and I think with the tutorial, you can create an array of wire beaded roses using different colors that can complement your outfit and every season.

The tutorial is presented with full pictoral details in PDF form - so easy and fun to make. With beginner to intermediate wire work skills you’ll be able to create your own...

Wire Beaded Rose Ring.

You can check out more of XqDesigns interesting handmade jewelries at xqdesigns.

Download lots of free jewelry making tutorials at DiyLessons! Are you a jewelry (jewellery) making teacher/ tutor? You can also list your tutorials here too.Don't miss a post! Subscribe to Handmade Jewelry Club by Email FREE

On my to do list...

are a million things, and I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'm not even going to mention the To Do's associated with the Feathered Ones, who will be moving out of the house and into their own place in another day or so. I'll share my list with you if you'll share yours with me. Maybe then they won't feel so ominous?

Here's mine, in no particular order, reflecting the state of my poor brain right now.

1. Finish something, anything with seed beads!
2. Get back on the torch and complete my custom orders.
3. Finish taxes.
4. Figure out an inventory system that is more tax friendly (* I think I have an idea, to be shared soon).
5. Fix my friend's broken earring without melting it to pieces.
6. Finish a meanie ring for another friend's Christmas present (yeah, this is pretty bad, huh?).
7. Finish my Riverbed cuff from Kate's book (need to wire wrap lots of components).
8. Plant my potato tower.
9. Address the green moss invading the surfaces in our outdoor living areas, and the wood that has succumbed to dry rot.
10. Finalize summer travel plans.
11. Get cucumber and bean seeds in the ground.
12. Rework several pieces I'm not happy with.
13. Get more work photographed and listed in my Etsy shop.
14. Make ear wires.
15. More torch time to complete several experiments I have in mind.
16. Finalize show plans for later this year.
17. Think of something wonderful to do for my grandmother's 100th birthday celebration this summer.
18. Make more clasps (PMC).
19. My next tutorial.
20. I'm sure I'm forgetting one or twelve things, but you get the picture.

So, what's keeping you awake at night?

Oodles of Bracelet Bars...

Ok, not really oodles but quite a few! Also glazed back buttons and a couple of Big Circle connectors. These guys will be on the website tomorrow evening.

You still have time to enter the giveaway from my last post...I can't believe it but no one has guessed what I have planned for my fabric!

a new monday giveaway -

this is a signed copy of sherry serafini's book donated to us by jen!


i am still tallying up the books that you said you most treasured and will be sharing those results soon... 


how many of you work with seed beads? and if you haven't, do you see a new way to work them into your projects if you think outside of the box?


leave a comment to be entered... the winner will be announced next monday!

Gorgeous Sponsor Lovin'!

I have two of awesome sponsors to show off today! You are going to love what these girls offer. Stop buy there stores, find something you love...and make it yours!

Shop / Blog

You might remember Your Charmed Life from a giveaway we did together over the summer! Kelly makes GORGEOUS hand stamped personalized jewelry. Don't believe me? It was hard to choose a favorite, but today this is it (my favorite changes about every five seconds!)

Here's a little about Kelly in her own words...

I am wife to David and mother to Caleb [4] We live in Denver Metro area, Colorado. Originally Raised in Texas. Full time stay at home mommy and full time Etsy shop keeper. I love photography, making jewelry, planting flowers and spending time outside with my son. 

Im all about rustic! Anything battered, worn, weathered and dinged. I follow this style everywhere in my own home and especially on jewelry! Its different and breakth taking to see items that are out of the norm of a new look.

Go check out her store, I guarantee you will fall in love with Your Charmed Life!

 Website / Etsy

I think little girls look so cute in tutus. So, when I saw this store...I fell in love with everything! Butter Britches offers specialized tutus, crocheted designs....and Marine Corp Couture! Look at how absolutely adorable this tutu is!

Here's Butter Britches in their own words...

Our names are Hailey and Rachel, we are mothers, students, and Marine Corps spouses. We met while our husbands were stationed in Quantico, VA in 2006 and our friendship has continued to bloom ever since. We each have two beautiful children.

After many failed attempts to find unique and appealing Marine Corps gear for our children we came up with the Marine Corps Couture line and through that ButterBritches was born. We have an incredible vision and are ecstatic to share it.

Please be sure to visit Butter Britches, their clothes are absolutely adorable...and I'm almost wishing I had someone to dress up in Marine Corps Couture!

Blogger-Land

Sometimes I am really thankful for this blog.

I have met some fabulous people and made some amazing real-life friends.

I try to make it clear to all my friends...I'm here for you, no mater what.

But I guess I could put it on my blog more, even if I don't "know" you...I'm here for you.

I think the same could be said about most bloggers.

We are always here for each other.

This morning I woke up to a few entries about one of my favorite bloggers.

Then I got to her blog.

I've read that authorities have been contacted.

There are comments saying she is "fine."

But please keep Jessica in your thoughts and prayers.

Jessica guest blogged for me in the past

about the Hardest Job in the Military.

To all my bloggy loves...I am always here for you.

Treasuries and Collections of the Week

Please visit these lovely Etsy treasuries and Artfire collections that I was featured in this week. You never know what you might find...

Etsy Treasuries

Spring Colors Just for You! Team WWES

Spring with my FB and Twitter Friends!

Whisper In The Woods

Artfire Collections

Multistrand Bracelets - A fashion MUST have

Perfect Pastels for your Pretty Easter Dress

Memory Wire Bracelet Collection

Leap into Spring with Lavender and Purple

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handmade Artist Forum Featured Artist: Flower and Bud

I chuckled when I saw Flower and Bud Jewelry was the featured artist this month on HAF. I have recently come to know about Flower and Bud from Twitter. She's a fellow jewelry artist making necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Flower and Bud also makes rosaries and rosary bracelets.  They're very affordable and great for upcoming communions and Easter gifts.

For the next several weeks, her shop is featured on Cafehandmade Mother's Day Gift Guide. She needs votes! Be sure to hop over and click on her booth stars and item stars. I know she would like to make a good showing. So let's show her some love!

After you're done voting for her, hop over to her For the Love of Beading blog and follow her. She's got a fun blog with how to's and insight.

Petite Lookbook: Crochet and the Blues

A few weeks ago I saw this darling skirt on ModCloth and fell in love. It had poor reviews, but upon a closer read, I saw most purchasers were just disgruntled at how small/short it ran (jackpot!). The skirt was sold out then, so I signed up for a restock notification. Last week, an S popped back, and I pounced.

Top: Converse for Target chambray shirt, sz XS (taken in) (buy here)

Jacket: H&M sz 2   Belt: came w/ Forever 21 shorts

Skirt: Social Hour Skirt sz S courtesy of Modcloth

Shoes: I.N.C. (old) (similar here) 

Bag: B.R. Satchel (old)

For those of you who aren't familiar with ModCloth, it's an online retailer founded by a husband-and-wife team who love thrift shopping for vintage finds. A lot of their apparel is hand-picked from smaller, indie designers, and they also have true vintage finds up for sale. New arrivals are updated daily, and the cutest items sell out fast. Shipping is a $7 flat rate, and return shipping is free.

On this sunny but brisk afternoon, I grabbed my trusty chambray shirt and layered on an H&M woven blazer (recent, $34.95). A bright satchel added another dimension of blue, and juicy orange nails brought a spark of interest. I stuck with earthy brown accessories to tie the look together.

This is the same top/belt ensemble as my last outfit post, which just shows how versatile & loved they are.

I realize low-heeled shoes with busy ankle straps do nothing for short legs, but I don't mind. I love the casual-chic look of ankle straps plus the comfort of these low wedges.

For a size S, this skirt runs small but still does not fit me perfectly. It fits similar to a size S from Forever21, and sits lower on my hips. I'm using a wide elastic belt to hold it up higher. This causes bunchiness problems with the lining as I walk, but I still don't feel compelled to get alterations.

For those interested in a dressier, more conservative rendition of this skirt, check out the Ann Taylor Factory (outlet store). My special visitor Jen and I had a field day with these. The skirt retails for $89 and the dress retails for $198 (awfully high for the outlet, I know), but the crochet is heavy and gorgeous in person. When Ann Taylor (regular) came out with this last year, it sold out within days.

The sales weren't too stellar this weekend, and alterations are going to be costly, but I brought this dress home with me to contemplate.

Petite Lookbook: Crochet and the Blues

A few weeks ago I saw this darling skirt on ModCloth and fell in love. It had poor reviews, but upon a closer read, I saw most purchasers were just disgruntled at how small/short it ran (jackpot!). The skirt was sold out then, so I signed up for a restock notification. Last week, an S popped back, and I pounced.

Top: Converse for Target chambray shirt, sz XS (taken in) (buy here)

Jacket: H&M sz 2   Belt: came w/ Forever 21 shorts

Skirt: Social Hour Skirt sz S courtesy of Modcloth

Shoes: I.N.C. (old) (similar here) 

Bag: B.R. Satchel (old)

For those of you who aren't familiar with ModCloth, it's an online retailer founded by a husband-and-wife team who love thrift shopping for vintage finds. A lot of their apparel is hand-picked from smaller, indie designers, and they also have true vintage finds up for sale. New arrivals are updated daily, and the cutest items sell out fast. Shipping is a $7 flat rate, and return shipping is free.

On this sunny but brisk afternoon, I grabbed my trusty chambray shirt and layered on an H&M woven blazer (recent, $34.95). A bright satchel added another dimension of blue, and juicy orange nails brought a spark of interest. I stuck with earthy brown accessories to tie the look together.

This is the same top/belt ensemble as my last outfit post, which just shows how versatile & loved they are.

I realize low-heeled shoes with busy ankle straps do nothing for short legs, but I don't mind. I love the casual-chic look of ankle straps plus the comfort of these low wedges.

For a size S, this skirt runs small but still does not fit me perfectly. It fits similar to a size S from Forever21, and sits lower on my hips. I'm using a wide elastic belt to hold it up higher. This causes bunchiness problems with the lining as I walk, but I still don't feel compelled to get alterations.

For those interested in a dressier, more conservative rendition of this skirt, check out the Ann Taylor Factory (outlet store). My special visitor Jen and I had a field day with these. The skirt retails for $89 and the dress retails for $198 (awfully high for the outlet, I know), but the crochet is heavy and gorgeous in person. When Ann Taylor (regular) came out with this last year, it sold out within days.

The sales weren't too stellar this weekend, and alterations are going to be costly, but I brought this dress home with me to contemplate.

the concrete jungle of zen

'move and the way will open.'

~ zen proverb

the weather is getting nicer, the kids are getting outside... and that now means trips to the skate park... and when one arrives, they do not want to leave... 

watching the kids, many doing the same moves over and over again, i came to a great appreciation of what was going on here... mind - body balance... overcoming fears and trying new things... pushing themselves forward... 

being... 

the rhythmic sounds of wheels rolling, decks grinding, boards jumping... 

as the hours passed, my mind got to wander... both settled and energized by the young people out there who were making efforts - going home with personal triumphs and lessons learned... i got to coach nick through a new move - understanding the physics of skateboarding, i always lamely think that the kids will just be so interested to know that they are applying science at their play... (they like 'mythbusters', i try)... 

we all have things we are afraid of - things that might be looming... but just remember, it is in the practice of doing that we conquer our fears... i don't tell my kids not to be afraid - that is ludicrous... i suggest that they own it - and overcome it... and then rejoice... 

find something you fear - be it a technique or medium - and go for it... and if it all goes amiss, you learned something from that... if there is a tutorial you might want to see, let us know... in fact, you can do so now... 

skateboards and sweatshirts and pads, metal working tools, your mind, whatever you exercise - here's wishing for you something to look back upon with pride at the end of the day... 


and some days it's ok to be pleased with the fact that you just got through it... 

More Beadies For Sale

So I am back from the British Craft Trade Fair (BCTF) and busy making up orders. It was a really positive experience and learnt a hell of a lot from it. There are a few things that I would now do differently but all in all really good feedback was received.

This morning I decided to do a car boot sale to get rid of some unwanted items. Made a decent amount of money which unfortunately will be paying my credit card off :-(

I have ideas for some new ranges that require a little cash so some of my beads that dont make up my collections will be for sale. I still have a fair few beads that need to go to new homes and here are just a few.

Murano Glass Stars 13mm available in green, blue, dark gold. Each pair is £2.00 including postage

Murano Hearts also available

A 23" strand of various semi precious stones including Cherry Quartz, Tigers Eye, Goldstone, Jade, Black Agate hearts, Rhodonite, Jade Hearts and Jasper - £4.50 including postage

15.off 10mm Swarovski Crystal hearts in Bermuda. £4.50 including postage

17.off 20mm Jade hearts £4.00 including postage

15.off 15mm Black Agate Hearts £3.00 including postage

16" strand of 10mm Goldstone beads £2.50 including postage.

This is all for now bit still a few bits to go. If you are interested please dont hesitate to get in touch via: mail@zazu-jewellery.co.uk or leave a message on the blog