Plays With Beads

I've had great response to my newest Etsy adventure, PlaysWithBeads, the place I offer free shipping on all beads, gemstones, Swarovski crystal, sterling silver, and other cool stuff for jewelry and craft projects. In the past 5 days I've made 9 sales, more than the entire time online selling jewelry. There is definitely a market for supplies, and I intend to continue to find fabulous prices and offer great deals to my fellow Etsyians. I just made a very exciting purchase from a personal friend who is liquidating her beads and sterling silver findings, including Swarovski. I got a great deal from her which I will be posting and passing on over the next few days. I am a big fan of Swarovski and don't think anything equals it in beauty and quality. I'm really excited to be able to offer it on my Etsy site.

3 Treasuries in one week!

I am so excited, I just have to brag. It's been slow starting but this week my products are featured in 3 different treasuries! A treasury is when someone chooses their 12 favorite things on Etsy and makes a display. It usually stays up for about 3 days and those chosen have pictures of their items on display. :) I'm including pics of the treasuries. :)

Branching Out

From time to time I'll sell a little bag of beads or something similar on Etsy and it seems like the supplies sell faster than jewelry online. My theory is that people who buy jewelry would rather pick it up and try it on before buying it. I'm still going to sell jewelry online at http://elegantbydesign.etsy.com but I've re-opened my original shop called PlaysWithBeads to sell just beads and supplies. So come by and visit if you have a minute. Here is the site address: http://playswithbeads.etsy.com.

I should have everything posted there this weekend.

I love fairies...

...so when I saw this fun little thing, I just had to add it to this blog (not to mention I love LOVE purple!) :)

Your fairy is called Columbine Goblinglow

She is a bringer of riches and wealth.

She lives in mushroom fields and quiet meadows.

She is only seen on midsummer's eve.

She wears lilac and purple like columbine flowers. She has gentle green wings like a butterfly.

Get your free fairy name here!

Friends and Family discount

I have been toying with the idea of a friends and family discount in my Etsy shop for a little while and have made a decision to offer 15% off to friends and family (and friends of family and family of friends). In addition, anyone who reads this blog here and requests the discount receives 15% off on any item in my shop. (Insert HOORAY here)!!

So.....if you see something you like/love/have to have/can't live without in my Etsy shop, and you decide to purchase it, during checkout there is a box to enter notes to seller. Enter: 15% friends and family discount, and I will adjust the total and send you a new and improved invoice for the item you like/love/have to have/can't live without.

You will not find information about this on my Etsy shop at all so it is my gift to you for being a valued friend/family member/blog reader. Here's a sample:




Happy Shopping and thanks for looking :)

~Mary

Pearl and filagree silver necklace

Just messing around with uploading pics from my Flickr site...it's all fun times. :)
This is one of my favorites....think Wedding?? (No not mine!)

Pearl and filagree silver necklace
Originally uploaded by ElegantByDesign

Flickring

This online marketing is a lot of work! I'm in the process of uploading my photos to Flickr. "They" say that helps. Whether it helps my business or not, it's still a lot of fun! Stop by and take a look if you have a minute. And maybe even leave a comment or two! :)
http://www.flickr.com/people/elegantbydesign/

So much to say, so little time

I've joined the world of bloggers! I feel like I've moved up to the 21st century! Actually I've recently started my jewelry design business and really trying to get it off the ground. I have a site on Etsy (http://elegantbydesign.etsy.com) and I participate in craft shows. Etsy is an online marketplace similar to amazon.com but everything on the site is either handmade, or supplies to use for handmade items.

I started making jewelry in Dec 2007. I had recently graduated from college and wanted a hobby. I thought it would be something fun to try so I bought some books, looked at some websites and bought a bunch of tools and supplies, including a laptop and digital camera (both used, of course). Now 3 months, (approx) 40 necklaces, 25 prs of earrings, 5 bracelets, 6 watches, 1 charm bracelet, and 1 eyeglasses chain later, I'm ready to rock and roll with this business. Sales on Etsy are slow, to say the least, but I understand I have to give it time to grow. I can do that.

In the meantime, I love to sit and design and plan and re-design and create new pieces and styles of jewelry. The final product is never the same as the product intended at the beginning. Jewelry pieces seem to have a mind of their own but I work "with" it and am always proud of the final result. I chose the name "Elegant by Design" because the feeling I want to communicate with my jewelry is a feeling of elegance and pampering when wearing my jewelry. I wear each of my pieces for at least a few hours before listing them for sale to make sure the workmanship is acceptable by my (perfectionist) standards. If not, I take it apart and start over. I'm learning new techniques, tips, and tricks all the time, and currently have a wide variety of styles to choose from. There is a slideshow at the bottom of this blog's main page with several of my pieces. I have many more I haven't photographed yet and will be adding in the next few days. I also love to do custom orders so if there is a particular special something you have in mind for yourself or someone else, please feel free to contact me, either here, or on my Etsy site.

Craft shows seem to be a good investment for up and coming artisans. I did my first show Thursday night with the Idaho Indie Street Team, a group of Idaho based Etsians, and didn't do too bad, considering I was tucked back in the corner of the back room. I made some awesome new friends, handed out a ton of homemade business cards, and sold a few things too. It was a great time, and I left exhausted, yet energized and look forward to my next show on 4/12, next Saturday in Eagle. Woohoo...now go shopping! :)

Thanks for stopping by.