Jeweltastic: Market Research?

We just spent our weekend at Capitol Flea Market.  For those of you we met, hello!  For those we haven't, weather pending we will be there next week.  What I've learned is that we need to incorporate things like crosses and turquoise.  We will be working on making new things this week to add to our collection.

Jewelry for kids and created by my children will have 50% of those sales going into a college fund for my children.  Yes, even the kids are involved and I do feel it is a homeschool lesson that will enhance their learning perhaps far more than anything else.

Other things going on... We have marked down prices and we will be redoing our online store.  The store will be down for a short time so we can reflect the new prices.  If you live in the Charleston, WV region we will begin implementing punch cards where you purchase five earrings you get the sixth for free.

 In the near future we will be holding jewelry making classes.  Be on the look out for that.  The best way to get the best bargain is to come directly to my mom or myself.  My husband tried to be a middle man and it isn't a good thing.  He doesn't make much sense on these things especially on the phone especially when I have kids screaming in my background.

Those are my updates for now.  Stay tuned for more.

P.S. When things get organized join us at http://www.jeweltastik.com

Jeweltastic: Capitol Flea Market

For those of you that are in the Charleston, WV area we will be at the Capitol Flea Market on March 26th and 27th,  April 2nd, 3rd, 16th and 17th.  If you're around look for the ladies in black t-shirts with lotus flowers.  We'll be there rain or shine, warm or cold.

In the near future we plan on offering jewelry making parties so keep your eyes pealed. 

Jeweltastic: Great Jewelry Blog

My mom's homemade birthday cake.

I have been having a tough time finding blogs on how to do what I'm doing.  When I Google Jewelry Blogs or search it, I typically get whatever Kim Kardashian is wearing.  This is wonderful for tweaking on design ideas but not what I'm looking for.

I finally found a blog that not only fits my niche, it also gives wonderful ideas and advice which I will be incorporating some of the ideas.  It's called Home Jewelry Business Success Tips by Rena  Klingenberg.   Rena discusses various aspects of her business and welcomes the ideas of others.  For me, she is a confidence booster.  I didn't know how I was going to do what needs to be done until I came across her blog.

Some of her tips would work for other home crafters as well, not just those of us who make jewelry.  You know how you host at home parties for various companies?  You can do the same for your home business.   This is something I truly never thought about.  I never became a representative for make-up, bowls, or pots and pans.

Had I known, I would have done this sooner with the cake decorating I like to do for my kids.  I will say I'm happier with jewelry.  Jump rings don't melt off of earrings in humid weather and if things go wrong it doesn't cost as much to fix.  I think I found my thing.

I'm also looking into gemology.  At some point in time I would like to offer services that can only be given by someone who knows all about them.  This is truly a life process and a lifestyle.  It's also proving that I need a sketch book to get my ideas out of my head so I don't loose them.  It's incorporating another thing I love to do,  Which is creating fashions, I can't sew that was never anything I could do realistically, but I have quite a few drawings of clothes I'd like to wear.  I can do the same with jewelry.

I'm looking forward to eventually being able to teach a class.  I  need a few supplies that I need to purchase.  I don't want to begin a class and not have things to support that class.  Soon, very soon, I'm hoping to put this in an unstoppable motion.

Jeweltastic: June Pearls

Almost twenty years ago, I purchased my very first piece of expensive jewelry.  It was 10K gold with 14K gold floral inlay.  I wanted a pearl as my stone but it wasn't something they offered.  I was, however, able to get mother of pearl.

I placed this ring on my finger and it was like magic.  It symbolized the month I was born, the month I would graduate high school, and my independence.  It was the first real purchase I ever made on my own without help from my family.  Even today, it's beauty surpasses my wedding ring.
 
What is the appeal that a pearl has?  It doesn't come in to existence like other stones.  Most stones happen through thousands and thousands of years of pressure.   A pearl is created from an under water creature either an oyster or mussels.  When something gets inside the shell like sand or a pebble something called nacre is placed on the object to protect the soft surface of the mussel, this is the substance you will find in a ring or piece of jewelry with mother of pearl as well.  It takes about eight years to form one pearl.

Pearl is the stone that represents those of us who have the zodiac signs of Gemini and Cancer.  Pearls are given on the first, third, twelfth,  and thirtieth wedding anniversaries.

Pearls were used in China for well over 5,000 years.  They have been exclusive to those of noble birth.  The Grecian s considered them as a symbol of love and marriage. Perhaps that's why we see so many brides to be making a peal purchase for her day.  Even I have pearl earrings and a necklace that I wore on my day.

The pearl is a wonderful and beautiful thing.  There is nothing quite like a pearl regardless if one is cultured (humans intervened) or natural.

Jeweltastic: Telling My Boss About Social Media

It happened a few weeks ago.  My husband decided it was a good day to see a movie.  We called my boss to watch the kids, my mom.  I had forgotten that I was holding a giveaway on Facebook.  I had hoped that my husband's ipod worked in the theater. 

I sat down with my mom.  Wrote down the instructions which were detailed.  Stay on this page, post "giveaway begins now please comment below this."  I told her to choose using random.org to come up w/ a random number and only use those that post  below what she posted.

This was all in the event that the ipod doesn't work in the theater.  The majority of the time I was worried about leaving my mom to social media, the movie could have been more enjoyable.   I had a bad feeling about it all the whole evening.

I came home to find that the winner didn't even post to the event page.  I had people upset with me and the only solution that was viable that I could come up with is to reward two people.  Not exactly the solution I was looking for but the only thing I could come up with to unravel her mess.

Moral of the story:  Never give your momma social media freedom.  The planet may explode.