New Year's Resolutions

Hello,
I was so sure that my new line of jewelry was going to be my big break! Didn't work that way, oh well, back to the drawing board...

I've been thinking about what to do to increase my productivity and my sales of my jewelry, especially on Etsy. So I came up with some goals, which, because of the time of the year it is, I'll call resolutions.

1. Put enough "Beadwoven" items in my etsy shop that I can join the Beadweaver's Team
2. Identify my target markets and learn how to market to them. Do the marketing and promoting and advertising that successful Etsyians say you need to do to be successful.
   
3. Develop a marketing Plan, broken down by month, then weeks. This way I can stay on track and know what I need to do day by day.
4. Make the designs that I have planned. Really give them a chance to be out there, instead of letting fear stop me. Fear of not using the beads for their perfect design, and also fear of letting my designs be "out there". (If I don't put my best efforts forward, they can't be rejected, and I can blame my lack of sales on the fact that I don't have any "fabulous" pieces.)
5. Remake some of my best sellers, and continue to make items that sell well.
6. Make more earrings (this is my challenge, because it is difficult for me to make unique, interesting earrings).
7. Do more craft shows and try to get into more "artist or artisan" type shows.

Pendants

New merchandise on Etsy!


I started making pendant necklaces. I know, like everybody else... Well, mine are going to be different! I needed something I could make in a more "mass produced" way. More stock, quickly. Also, I really wanted a way to make jewelry that "SAYS" something. Has a message, even if it's a subtle one. I tried last year, and experimented with making watercolor paper "cabochons". But, while they worked, and a couple of them came out GREAT, the idea of beading around them was intimidating. So, it never got done.

Anyway, flash forward... my sister was talking to me about someone from etsy that had been in a magazine. Mass producing things, not one of a kind, and was so successful, that she, and her husband were able to support themselves. Got me to thinking. One of a kind is great. And fabulous jewelry is great. But, for me, right now, spending two weeks on one piece isn't going to work. I'm not well-known enough to command high prices. And I'm not fast enough at beading. It would take me two weeks to make one thing that was an involved pattern. And, I get bored too easily. Sooo, what to do?

I though of these pendants. Before I bought the supplies, I made sure that I had enough ideas for at least 50. At the time I was painting quite a bit, so I planned on making some with my own art work. That will happen eventually, but for now, I'm focusing mainly on photographs.

My brother has had a digital camera for a long time (he's on his third, now). And we've been to Yosemite a lot (my Aunt lives an hour away). So, I have the photos. It was just a matter of making them work. More on the process later...

Peace

What is everybody searching for? Peace...

Here are some Etsy picks to inspire some quiet, "Be Still" moments.

Noisy Confusion Life Peace Soul Vinyl Decor Wall Lettering Words Quotes Decals Art Custom Willow Creek Signs

Little Tree - fine art black and white photography print of a lone little Christmas tree in the snow

Be Still necklace no.2

“Peace be with you.” Luke 24:37

Sunflower Necklace

Here's the necklace I just made for myself (last week). The lime green necklace was made a couple of years ago, when I went to Utah to visit my sister (to match the cutest tank and sweater that I got from Walmart).
I spent so long making, and remaking the sunflower, I didn't have time to make the necklace. I think I'll make a plain tubular herringbone out of dark amber 8-0 seeds. That way I can interchange the pendant. Especially when I learn how to make fall leaves with a St. Petersburg stitch.

Begin the Begin

Well, I did it! I've been saying I was going to start this for well over a year, but at least I've done it now.

This blog will be all of my ramblings about my creative life... designing and beading and selling by Brown Iris Creations.
Brown Iris Creations is the name under which I sell my handmade beaded jewelry.

I currently do the selling part only on etsy- www.browniriscreations.etsy.com
But I have signed up for a shop on Artfire. And I'm looking into Zibbet. And 1000markets, although I know I'll have to get a lot better at the photography portion of the process before they'll accept me there. (But I'm working on that too!)
I have decided also to take my beadwork in a little different direction. That is, more variety, but also more of the kind of jewelry that I'd like to wear myself. So, more beadweaving, more flowers, more drama. (More on that later!)

(I made myself a necklace (well actually, only a pendant) for my birthday party last week. It was a flower that I got from a magazine that I modified to make it into a sunflower. Then I thought about how to make it fuller, so I made another one. Still not perfect, but I liked it. I took a picture of it with my phone, so if I can figure out how to upload it I will).

Have a good week.

Be of good courage,And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.
Psalm 31:23-24