Wednesday, January 30, 2008

A few of my newest.....

Labels: etsy, gemstones, items, Jewellery, jewelry, new, silver

posted @ 11:49 AM
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Sunday, January 20, 2008

Just a few of my newest items...

Labels: etsy, gemstones, items, Jewellery, jewelry, new, silver

posted @ 3:55 PM
2 comments

Saturday, January 12, 2008

I love these new earwires that I made, they were a completely random idea too. They remind me of tiny wildflowers and I love the organic feel, the way the earwire meanders and twists.

Labels: earwire, flower, Jewellery, jewelry

posted @ 4:43 AM
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Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Happy New Year!
Even I can’t believe I let so long go by without an update. I am suitably ashamed!

I’m not going to even try to make excuses for myself. I have been just too busy these last couple weeks. I’m thinking of shutting down my kituchi shop. The truth is that I just don’t have the time to promote it. I sell my work outside of etsy as well as working on my TenJewel Etsy store and working full time. With Etsy, you sorta get what you put into it and that’s all there is to it.

Anyways, I hope that everybody had a great holiday.
I’ve personally just gotten so fat, I really have. I'm on a cabbage soup diet now.

Here’s some of my latest pretties:

Labels: gemstone, jewelry, kituchi, new, silver, tenjewel

posted @ 6:46 AM
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Saturday, September 1, 2007

Yes, that is a an odd title. I don’t really know where to start so firstly, let me say that there’s lots more new items added to my store =) I’ve been working really hard to create new designs, take good photos and actually list items. I had to sever my connection with a boutique that I sold my work through but it actually works out nicely for me because I won’t have such a hard time keeping my etsy store up-to-date and I won’t be under such pressure trying to add new items.

I was thinking about it for a long time and it’s such a difficult decision. My work sells for much more in boutiques and I get more money even when they’re screwing me. It’s also difficult to confront somebody with a professional attitude. What happened was that when they gave me a statement for the work that had been sold, they were listing the prices lower than what the work had actually sold for. They get a percentage of the sale price so this meant that they were basically keeping more money for themselves than agreed. I found out because I had an idea that there was something going on and I sent my friend down to buy a one of my designs from the boutique. Sure enough the price on my statement was different than the price she had paid. I was really livid about it so I went down with her receipt and my statement and confronted them about it. They said that THEY were disappointed by my actions!? I mean WTF? Was there an alternative? They said that it was just a mistake on that particular item probably because they had marked items down as 30% off. The discount was on their computers picelist and the statement had been generated from that but somehow the actual piece itself had inadvertently not been marked down on the price tag before it sold. Yes, well apart from my initial suspicions and the fact that I know what my works sells for, the ‘somehow” and “probably” or “inadvertently”, that was a reasonable enough explanation if it hadn’t taken them so long to come up with it! I said that I felt that there was no relationship of trust between us and that it would be better if I took my business elsewhere. It just goes to show how easily independent designers can get screwed, even the seasoned ones. I think that this is definitely a lesson for old and new designers to be careful with consignment even when everything seems to be in order on paper.

Oh well, on the positive side I’ve been featured on two blogs this week: http://jellybeansart.blogspot.com/2007/08/etsy-feature-tenjewel.html
& http://visitatwhitsend.blogspot.com

My gorgeous new hill tribe silver arrived too! I kind of just want to get stuck in. When I see pretty things then I have difficulty pulling myself back and being considerate about my designs. I’m going to take my new supplies, my camera, my sketchpad and myself to the Japanese Gardens to gather my thoughts and designs. I haven’t been there in ages and I could do with some wind down time anyway. The peace and harmony there is unexplainable. The Japanese Gardens at Tully are world-famous, considered to be the finest in Europe. The gardens are a hundred years old and trace the journey of a soul from oblivion to eternity. It’s really fascinating and gardens are not just horticultural but artistic, philosophical and historical. It’s such a beautiful place where every element comes together and every tiny little thing is a part of a bigger overall design. I can’t wait to go and gather some inspirations and hopefully I will come back with great pictures and some good designs too!

Labels: consignment, design, etsy, featured, garden, japanese, jewelry, screwed

posted @ 8:58 AM
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Friday, August 24, 2007

Ok, I know I haven’t updated here in such a long time. Items in my store fell below 20 due to multiple orders so I had to work hard to put items back in my store. Lots of new items now! Lots of new gemstones too and my Andalusite arrived! Seriously, there are too many new items for me to show you here so I’ll just post a few of my favourites.

I realise that I missed a featured etsyian interview too and I’ll bring those back next Friday. I actually read on the forum on etsy that some people look for payment in the form of freebies and whatnot from people that they feature. I’m so shocked by that. The reason that I run these interviews is because I enjoy doing them, I love reading artists interviews and I’m genuinely interested in other designers work, what they’re trying to do and why. If you have a store on etsy and you want to be featured, it’s completely free so just comment here or send me a convo.

I’m going to have my Wrapped Sunstone Earrings with Hill Tribe Silver, Freshwater Pearl and Peridot http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6811312 featured on http://www.smidge.ca/. It’s a fantastic looking site and really well laid out. It showcases handmade items created by independent artists and has a different a theme each week. My earrings will be under this weeks theme of Shades of Summer. My favourite theme so far is probably Grassy Green: http://www.smidge.ca/grassy_green.html, such great items!

Labels: designer, etsy, features, Jewellery, jewelry, new, silver

posted @ 7:39 AM
0 comments

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

A few days ago another seller on Etsy contacted me for advice on photographing work for etsy. This is sort of hilarious if you only knew what a goofus I really am when it comes to photography. Admittedly, I’ve gotten better but a look at my sold items will reveal some very serious photography idiocy of gargantuan cringe-worthiness. Yes. Well, enough about that because I thought that I might as well post what I’ve learned about photographing your work for etsy…..

Taking pictures from different angles and getting down to the same level to take your pictures, not just holding the camera above the piece. e.g. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5710679

Using a neutral background is important. I made the mistake of using fussy backgrounds in the beginning and they really only distract from your piece. Mine were REALLY fussy. Before: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5643860 *cringe*Now I use natural fibre handmade paper e.g banana paper, wood etc. Just anything neutral and definitely not on a surface that reflects light. After: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6566074

Natural daylight is great and sunlight is better! I live in Ireland and it’s almost always dull, overcast and raining like hell but as soon as the sun comes out you’ll find in my garden taking photographs of my work. I love sunlight (not direct sunlight) and I use the flash too.

Zoom! Showoff the detail of your pieces and bear in mind what it will look like reduced to a thumbnail because that’s what potential buyers will see first.

Set your camera to macro and lock the focus. I have a Canon Powershot and it’s virtually always set to macro. Different cameras have different closeup capabilities but to lock the focus properly, hold the camera at an angle, zoom, position the piece {doesn’t have to be centred*, experiment a bit), press the shutter button down a bit and hold it. Now you have a focused view and you can evaluate and reposition if necessary or if you’re satisfied then push the shutter button down all the way and hold it until the flash goes off.

Hold your camera steady with both hands otherwise the photo will be blurred. Don’t be tense and rest against something if you have to. {use the tripod, if you have one}

I take lots of different photos at lots of different angles, and distances etc. and out of every 15 photos that I take I choose the best 5.

Images for Etsy must be in a jpeg format and square, at least 1000 pixels wide. *Since photos in etsy are automatically cropped to be square, when you take a photo bear in mind that a strip on each side will be cut off.

I think that you just get better at taking photos through experience and through experimentation.There’s lots more info about taking photos for etsy on the etsywiki too: http://www.etsywiki.com/index.php?title=Photos

Labels: advice, bright, etsy, jewelry, photographing, photography, photos, selling, tips

posted @ 12:54 PM
0 comments

Monday, July 30, 2007

I’ve been so busy creating with my new supplies and I think I’m in love with Hilltribe silver now. I sold the most expensive item on my etsy store yet, which was actually a grab bag full of supplies from a recent studio clean out. Wouldn’t you have guessed that the most expensive thing I sell on etsy would turn out to be supplies!

I know that I was going to go and reply to all my deviantart messages and comment on everyone’s deviations but I went looking for a new car instead. I bought a silver Nissan Micra that I’m going to name “Betsy”. Every car I’ve ever had has actually been named Betsy and this one will be no exception. I love Betsy!

I’m so happy but in a penniless sort of way so I really have to keep my hand out of the cookie jar for a while. This is proving difficult since I keep seeing stuff that I really want so I’ve devised a cunning plan of hearting all the items that I’m going to demand as Christmas presents in a few months, lol!
new items: -

Labels: car, citrine, crystal, deviantART, etsy, handmade, hilltribe, jewelry, lemon, moonstone, new, pearl, photography, prehnite, quartz, rose, ruby, silver, sunstone, tourmaline

posted @ 1:02 PM
0 comments

Thursday, July 26, 2007

My blog has had a make-over! I think it's much more simple and easy to read now.

I visited my DeviantArt page today with great intentions of replying to my messages but every time I blink there are like 100 more of them. I feel guilty for hiding out and not replying when people have taken the time to look at my work and comment on it so I'm going to go through them all at the weekend. I just hate sending repetitive messages and I want to look at other peoples work and give them some sort of valuable feedback. I hate sending messages like "wow, that’s great!" or "beautiful!" because It sounds like I didn't really look or I'm a serial bestfriender. I know it's much more useful for designers to hear what works or doesn’t work with the design.

I've gone mad making earrings lately. I started to make my own earwires, which I put off for a while because I was nervous that I'd forget to file one of them and somebody’s' ear would get ripped off. I understand that customers prefer jewelry that doesn't maim them, lol. It really is simple though, you just wind the wire around something like a fat marker then cut up one side like you would for split rings, turn a loop at one end, file the other end and that's it. Now if only it would stop raining, I could take nice photos of them all!!

Labels: blogger, Blogging, design, deviantART, earrings, Jewellery, jewelry, making earwires, silver, template, website

posted @ 12:28 PM
0 comments

Monday, July 23, 2007

Ok, I've been very busy creating new items for my shop and taking better photos too. I got some beautiful labradorite and moonstone that have gorgeous rainbow flashes and beautiful rose quartz that goes great with my pink tourmaline and pearls.
I consigned some of the items that were in my shop so I had to overwrite the listings :)

I've been really busy with commissions too! I get to design the jewelry for two Debutantes and I can't wait to see them in their dresses wearing my jewelry and hair accessories . Hopefully I will get some photo's of them looking fabulous too!!

Labels: commissions, debs, debutante, gemstone, Jewellery, jewelry, labradorite, moonstone, pearl, prehnite, quartz, rose, silver, sterling

posted @ 2:47 AM
0 comments

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

L@@K what I bought: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5659171
Granny Smith - Prehnite slices and wrapped silver earrings from Glimmerjewelry. The first thing that just really caught my eye and that I absolutely *had to* have in a long time. Glimmerjewelry’s shop is packed full of fabulous jewels!!

The other thing that I discovered is http://www.beaut.ie/blog/ Beaut.ie, the Irish Beauty Blog, which is updated a couple of times a day and is run by two sisters, self confessed product whores, who offer beauty info, reviews, DIY, advice and a good giggle :)

Labels: beauty, Blogging, blogs, cosmetics, earrings, etsy, finds, jewelry

posted @ 3:31 PM
1 comments

Monday, June 25, 2007

I just finished re-designing both my sites and linking them back to etsy. Etsy doesn't allow you to post links or URLs anywhere in your shop to your website as it encourages buyers to purchase your items elsewhere and that's considered fee avoidance. You cannot list an item for sale on Etsy and then list the same item for sale anywhere else.

Previously, I had been listing items on etsy and listing different items on my own website. This became a bit difficult for me, like trying to run numerous shops when all I really needed a website for is to drive more traffic to my etsy shop and list more information, have a page with it's own look and feel that tells people what my designs are about.

I've basically taken advantage of Etsy mini to create my website and all my items are linked back to etsy. All items can only be purchased through etsy so it's not fee avoidance. Hopefully things will just be much easier now.

Screenshots:

http://www.tenjewelcollection.com/