The Countdown Begins...

                               www.SSMDesign.etsy.com
Well, the countdown has begun.  I am now within the the final 2 week stretch before my very first public showing of my jewelry at the Stoneybrook at Venice Art Festival.  I still have quite a long list of to-dos, but the excitement and anticipation I'm feeling are palpable!  Honestly I don't know what to expect, I've been to art/craft shows as a patron before and my years of working events should have me well prepared.   It should be loads of fun and plan to drink it all up and enjoy each and every moment : )  But now to the final preparations...  and by all means, if you are in the area on Sat. Nov. 5th please stop by and say hello (directions are posted below)!

OMG It's Working...

                               www.SSMDesign.etsy.com

I've been reading the forums, watching countless videos, and working diligently on my SEO (search engine optimization) and holy cow, the changes I've made are working!!!  I keep a close eye on my shop stats and google analytics and my numbers, views, and favorites are going way up!!!  I still have a lot to do, but this makes it all worth while and definitely keeps the motivation alive!   WOO HOO!!!!

Goals, Goals, and MORE Goals...

                               www.SSMDesign.etsy.com

Since beginning the "Holiday BootCamp"  I find myself constantly setting goals and adding to my to do list, but isn't all bad!  Not only am I setting goals, I'm reaching and surpassing them too!!!  I set a goal to have 100 items listed in my Etsy shop before the holiday shopping begins.  I am proud to report that I have listed 96 so far, and have so many more items made and ready for listing that I will be well over the 100 mark by the weekend!!!  This boot camp has been such a great motivator for me, I'm learning so much in so many areas and seem to be working around the clock, but loving it all : D  Of course there is stress but it's a good kind of stress, the kind I put on myself to better my very own business.

If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say...

Remember the saying "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all", well I think more people should follow this rule.  Granted I did open myself up to the critique, however I was expecting at least a little constructive criticism, not the complete decimation of 2 years worth of hard work!  I know there are issues that need to be addressed, that's why I asked for help.  But I was expecting an objective and neutral view from a stranger to give me ideas on bettering my shop, however this was NOT helpful it was simply hurtful!!!  I'm not a wuss, I can handle a difference in opinion, but I've been working very hard to better my business and this just stresses me out, (telling me I need to change everything I've been working so hard to improve) plus it snuffs creativity.  I will overcome this, I always have and I always will.  But please remember in your daily round that words can cut deeper than a blade and the scars can last far longer!  Choose your words wisely and tread lightly on the souls of others and your own.  This is also a reminder that just because you think you've learned a lesson, don't think for a moment that the test is over!!! 

Motivation

So I've begun Etsy HolidayBootcamp.  I have fantastic buddies who are helping to keep me motivated with weekly brainstorming, and random messages of urgent persuasion and so far I've been extremely productive as a result!  Thank you to (in no particular order) Angela of Dolce Beada, Rachel of Exhausted Creativity, Jennifer of Thoroughly Modern Mommy, and my unofficial local cheerleader Meredith of Wild Woman Beads for your help, and creativity!  I couldn't do it without you all!!!  I'm slightly stress right now, the week 3 goals came out yesterday and I haven't even begun week 2 : (  more to add to the to do list I suppose.  Trudging ahead a little further everyday...  here's hoping this will be a productive holiday season for us all!!!

The Loss of Brilliance

The world lost a true visionary yesterday in Steve Jobs!  I find myself mourning the loss of a man I never met, but feel I know, at least a little.  As I type this entry on my MacBook with plans in the very near future to purchase an iPhone, I realize how much his body of work makes my work and life easier everyday!  As a very right-brained person Macs just make sense and anyone who owns one will tell you the same!  They come with a very small manual, which you really never need to open because all of it's functions work the way you think they should.  I find it interesting that Apple stock has been on such a roller coaster ride since his announcement to step down, how the thinking could be that Apple and it's innovative technology would cease to move forward without him at the helm!?!  Do people really think that such a genius would leave without first setting Apple's future in motion!?!  Steve Jobs was one man, one brilliant man who no doubt surrounded himself with genius to take his dreams to an infinite future of incredible advancements in technology!!!  Thank you Steve Jobs and all the minds of Apple for constantly transforming the world as we knew it for the better!!!

New Friends and Possibilities...

Yesterday was kind of rough.  I am realizing that I know quite a few people, but there aren't a whole lot of them that I would truly consider friends and that saddens me, a lot!  There are many reasons I can think of and I'm working on myself as well as my situation, but I also feel that one shouldn't have to change who they are to be loved!!!  So I am choosing to see today filled with possibilities and my future as being just as open : )  I have so much "new" in life right now that I can't see it any other way, so here's to tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that etc...  I too am on the edge of glory, if only for myself!!!

Me a teacher...

I have had several people not only suggest that I teach jewelry making and also ask me to teach them.  I feel as though I have only scratched the surface of designing jewelry myself, so the thought of teaching is a bit terrifying, I wouldn't even know where to begin.  However, when discussing this with a friend she reminded me that passing on my own knowledge will lead to learning from my students as well.  Needless to say, I am considering it, but I'm also not in any way closer to actually holding class and I know that the path will be laid in front of me if that is where I am to go.

Productivity

Although I have been quite ill for the better part of a month, first with food poisoning then a nasty chest cold, I have still managed to complete a few items on my ever-growing checklist!  The biggest accomplishment being my application submission to the 2010/11 season of local art & craft shows, with  5 entries and locations throughout Sarasota county, plus a confirmed date for the Stoneybrook at Venice FALL FESTIVAL (Nov. 5th for 11-3pm).  Now I must work feverishly to increase my stock of jewelry, not to mention focus on listing items on my sites!

Consumer Empathy

After several days of back and forth messages in the custom ordering of my art/craft show banners I can now empathize with my customers placing custom orders with me.  It is truly a leap of faith, going from the idea and picture you have in your head to the hope that your communications will convey that thought with the creator and the that the finished product will come out the same or possibly even better!  There is anxiety with wondering if it will in fact come out favorably, will I love the actual product as much as this picture in my brain.  It is quite the process, custom ordering, there are so many decisions to be made and the lovely lady I've been working with, Krista of the Girls mom, has been an absolute pleasure to work with making the process virtually effortless of my end (aside from my second guessing myself)!  This has been a learning experience for me, one that will most definitely make me a better seller : )

This week...

This has been an interesting week to say the least.  It's had its highs and its lows as any other and I've learned a few new things.  Today, for example, I came across another Etsy seller boasting 250 sales in 2 months and while I am proud to keep company with such an entrepreneur I cannot for the life of me understand how!?!  Just as in other facets of business, it doesn't seem to matter what your product is or how great the quality, no, it's all about the marketing!  I have to say this is very disheartening : (  And someone I thought was in my corner it turns out is not.  I was able to help someone else out though, so score one for me.  Here's to hoping this is a better week overall!  Cheers!

Happy Thank You More Please!

I recently watched a movie of the same name (recommended) and have adopted the mantra!  With the website up and functional and my very first sale complete and delivered, new orders on both etsy sites, and many other other blessings to count, I feel that it is very important to acknowledge all of the good in my life and give thanks regularly to keep the flow open!  It also helps keep my focus on the positives and away from the negatives : )  and so I find myself saying more and more HAPPY THANK YOU MORE PLEASE!!!

Pride and Accomplishment

I know that pride is one of the seven deadly sins, but damn it I am proud!!!  I feel such a huge sense of accomplishment upon the completion of my website!!!  MY WEBSITE, that I BUILT, just me, only me    : D  and it took almost a month, but I did it!  Blood, sweat, and tears went into the making of this site.  Well maybe not blood, there were definitely tears, lots of tears.  Now all that is left to do is fill it with my lovelies : )  They say that if you build it they will come, so come and have a gander, and maybe buy yourself a little something...  www.JewelryPersonified.com !  Enjoy!

Perfection

Most of my life I have trudged, blood sweat and tears, chasing perfection.  I know now that there is no such thing and consider myself a perfectionist in recovery, but like anyone in recovery I have lapses.  Most of the time they only affect me, however some days when I am at my most frustrated, I lash out at those closest to me : (  I usually take it all out on myself though and recognize that I say things to myself that I would never dream of saying to another human being.  I don't know why I'm so hard on myself, but I've heard it said that we are our own worst critics, I can certainly attest to that!  I was accused once by someone trying to hurt me of not being detail oriented.  And honestly I know to the core of my being that nothing could be farther from the truth!  For me the beauty is in the details, the little unexpected touches you may not even notice until much later.  But why is it that something you know to be false can have such a lasting effect!?!  I try to remind myself that you get what you give, and there's enough negativity in the world with out me adding to it.  So be good to yourself because no one else has the power to make you happy!

Victories

I had a much needed victory yesterday!  I'm feeling confident enough now in my techniques and design abilities to experiment and had this idea to attempt something that others have not been able to do successfully.  I'm not going to go into full detail here because I don't want to disclose my approach, but the photo is proof of my victory : )  The failures I've been dealing with of late have tested my confidence to continue, but in hindsight, that is simply the universe's way of helping us appreciate the victories.  And victories, no matter how small, can raise the spirit just enough to persevere!

Sometimes when you win, you lose

I had to eat crow today!  And what really sucks is that I know I'm right, but they have what I need and I can't find it anywhere else, so here I am asking for forgiveness when I am in the right : (  And just so you can see where I'm coming from, I stuck to my guns and requested a refund that I knew I deserved and after several emails I got it, but then the next day my full order that I spent an entire morning preparing was deleted by the company!  And the worst part is, with as many internet companies that supply jewelry findings I can't find a single other one that carries these parts, so I have to ask for a pardon.  Compromise... sometimes it works in your favor and sometimes it doesn't!

Craziness

Life has been a bit crazy this week!  My husband separated his shoulder in a watercraft accident on Sun. and can't do a whole lot for himself, my sister-in-law gave birth to a beautiful 6lb 11oz baby boy yesterday (10 days early), and my older sister is in town for a visit, plus the usual day to day that throws you for a loop!  So, I've been a bit lax with my posts this week, please forgive me.  I'm hoping this coming week will be more sedate : )

It's easy, yeah right

It's easy to say something is easy when you know what you are doing, but when you are learning something new and completely foreign the hurdles can be extremely frustrating.  As I said in a previous post, I am building my own ecommerce website with no prior training in doing such a monumental task.  And when I started whining in frustration about how stupid it makes me feel, my husband ever so sweetly reminded that "I'm not stupid, just ignorant".  Now you may be thinking what an a-hole, but he's right if you take a moment to consider the point.  We are all ignorant of what we do not understand because we have not learned the skill, technique, or language.   And before I started reading about and practicing html, css, and other internet speak I was ignorant, but now that I'm forced to study and learn it I'm not!  And while I can't say at this moment that I will ever truly be good enough to help someone else, it is making the process a little easier to create changes within my pages now that I possess the knowledge of the code.  Never stop learning, learn something new each and every day, even if it's something small : )

Independence

I am so immensely thankful for the freedom to be able to have my own business and be independent of the corporate world!   Independence to me is the ability to be myself, do what I want when I want, show my face, choose my own clothing, walk around anywhere I wish, and own my business, and these are only a few examples of the freedoms I usually take for granted!!!  "Independence Day" helps to remind me of what so many others only dream to have!!! And so, I say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the men and women working and fighting every day to keep our freedoms!!!  Happy Birthday America, land of the free and home of the brave : D

Here is a link to another great cause ~ http://operationtankyou.blogspot.com/