Good intentions, bad timing

It didn't take me long to blow my blogging trend, did it?   Well, my intentions were good, but I caught an ugly germ and that knocked me out good for a couple of weeks.   And now that I'm just getting back to normal, I'm going to be away for a little while again.  

When I last wrote, it was was early in January, and I was so happy that it was starting out so well!   I had several really lucky things happen in a row that I wanted to share with you.  It's a bit late now, but I'll share anyway!  

First, I had some of my polymer clay beads included in two Etsy treasuries, both curated by Chris P. from DunroaminFarmDesign:

Country Charm

'Round Here

The next big thing that happened to me was that I entered the ABS Dec. challenge.   Not only did the necklace sell to one of my "new good friends" overseas... 

..but I won a random drawing for a $50 gift certificate donated by Stone Designs by Sheila!

Lucky me!  I had been admiring Sheila's work and was so pleased to go for a spending spree in her shop!   I couldn't decide what to get though, and spent a couple of days trying to make up my mind!   In the end, I added just a little bit more to Sheila's extremely generous gift and got these awesome beads!

I photographed them together with her lovely cards, but to fully appreciate these beads you must see each one close-up!

My sincere thanks to Sheila and to ABS for making the start of my 2015 such a good one!

While I'm still on the topic of Art Bead Scene, I'm so excited about the January challenge!   I hope some of you will participate!

I had beads already made I hoped to put in my stores that I thought would be great for this challenge!   But alas, my good luck ran a bit short.   First the germ, and now I need to take some time away for a week or two.   

Here is my plan for the stores:

Metapolies on ACM will be closed with expected reopening Jan. 30.

The other 2 stores are open for sales, but shipping may not occur until Jan. 30. If I can ship and/or reopen sooner, I will.   

For links and the most current updates please visit Metapolies.com.

Best wishes to each of you for the coming weeks! I hope they are good ones for you!

~Sharyl

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photos by sharyl

Clipart by wpclipart.com

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Curated Collections and MY NECKLACE SALE!

I have two items for you today, and they are  about MY STUFF... and MY STUFF ON SALE... so I'm sure you won't want to miss out!  (And now I'm wondering,... how many of you are still reading?)   :-)

I've been highlighted in 3 "Curated" Artfire collections recently.   People can so put much time and care into creating these, I want to show them off to you for their sake as much as mine!   It's interesting how creative some of curators are in terms of theme and content!     It's also fun to see what  items get highlighted together in a collection.   Hope you enjoy!

(I've given you a photo so you can find mine in the crowd, but hoping you'll have time to look at the other items by clicking on the collection name.  Thanks!)

Fresh Mint

  Curated by AccentsandPetals | Collection Published on 08-16-2012

The Wonder of Egypt

Curated by EyecatchersBoutique | 
Collection Published on 08-08-2012

School Dance Bling

Curated by Rocks4Magic | 
Collection Published on 08-04-2012

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In other news, the sale you've been waiting for...    ;-) 

"Sharyl's Jewelry" Necklace Sale!!!

"Necklace" and "Pendant" 

section items

are on sale starting.... NOW! 

15% off each item

Many new items just added!

IMPORTANT: 

Use coupon code: NECK15 at checkout.

•  ("Components by Sharyl" & "Hope Collection" are not included in this sale. Thanks.)  

• Sale runs through Sun. night, Aug 26, 2012. 

• Be watching Facebook for "Limited Time" special offers while sale is on! 
• Click here for "Sharyl's Jewelry" Facebook page.

• Hope you read that clear to the end!   If so, you could end up a lucky winner!

Have a great weekend!

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Celtic Collection on Sale--See Lastest Items Here!

I think the last--at least the last for now--of the Celtic Collection is in Artfire.   All pieces will be on sale through St. Patrick's Day weekend, then will return to regular pricing.   


These are all new pieces so I'm not sure when they will go on sale again.   If you are interested, I hope you can get them while they are on sale!


All things green from the studio have also gone into the "On Sale Now" section!   


Some, but not all, of these have been shown on Facebook, but I saved a few to share only with you here!  The latest additions:

Earthy Globe Pendant
(Lampwork--"Art by Lisi")

Earthy Globe Earrings

Lampwork -- "Art by Lisi"

Sold separately, but would look great together!

Green Agate Pendant and Gemstone Necklace

Pendant is silver filigree with green agate inlay.  

Necklace contains Green Aventurine nuggets 

and China Jade rectangular beads.

Green Memory Bracelet

Shades of Ireland Pendant

Hope you enjoy these!  You can see these and other Celtic and green items in the "On Sale Now" section at Sharyl's Jewelry!

For daily updates, visit and "like" the Facebook page!

Very best wishes!  --Sharyl

P.S.   I had a pair of my earrings listed in an ArtFire Curated Collection early this morning!  Visit the link to see which ones!  :-)

Goals for first quarter 2012

Short term/long term plans/goals...

     It's that time of year again.   


If I've learned anything about myself over time, it's that I don't enjoy long-term goals--anything approaching a 5-year plan gives me chills.  In my world at least, time has proven that life (and the world around me) changes too much over a 5-year period to predict that far ahead.  10-year plans are even worse, an exercise in futility, as far as I'm concerned.  For a large institution, 3-year goals are a necessity, but on an individual level are still troublesome.

Ever-changing computer technology began as I was starting my library career and has been another factor in my distaste for planning too much too far down the road.   Plan ahead, for heaven sake's, yes!   Please do!   But plan too far and you miss a lot of opportunities for things that are constantly changing in the meantime.   The following saying is attributed to John Lennon, 

"Life is what happens to you

 while you're busy making other plans." * 

Little did you know you would get my "philosophy of planning" along with my plan when we started!   


As always, I do have an Annual Plan.   But it floats in my head and is constantly updated. I'll mention that again later.


What works best for me is a Quarterly Plan.   So mine follows:

1. Complete my launch of Facebook.     I have Facebook up, but need to get links from blog, website, and Artfire site up and running, and promote FB site to reach at least "25 Likes."


2. Consider advantages/disadvantages of adding Twitter.  If adding Twitter as a marketing tool, do it this quarter or integrate it into Annual Plan.  


3.  Build a small collection of jewelry for kids, tweens, and teens.  (I've just begun to work on this one.)   Once I have a few items listed in collection on ArtFire, begin marketing.


4.  Figure out how to do variety of types of sales on ArtFire so I can have various promotions throughout the year.  For instance, I would like to be able to have sales on specific items and would like to make coupon codes work properly.


5. Become more active in the ArtFire community by joining an ArtFire Guild and begin building "curated collections."


6. Continue attempts to create an interactive atmosphere on blog.   


7. Dedicate more time to making jewelry.


These are not in priority order.  If it's not obvious to you already, this blog and your interaction are very important to me.   So the fact it appears near the end is only a sign that it's an ongoing project rather than a "do one-time and check-off-the list" type item.   For further evidence, note that making jewelry appears last in the list!   

Regarding my Annual Goals, I will say that they include broad categories such as enhancing my jewelry-making skills and building my business.  In order to reach those goals here are a couple of My Objectives:  


1. Learn to make at least one type of jewelry component of my own. This is a very high priority.  I would like to be able to make a greater part of my jewelry by my own hands.  It might be a type of bead or focal or it might be a component (such as earwires or a wider variety of earring and bracelet clasps) that can be used by myself and/or others who make jewelry--but something more that I bring to my jewelry and possibly offer for sale to others.


2. Another item I would like to achieve this year is to take at least one class in jewelry-making of some type.

So there it is.  Like the last time, I share my plans with you so you know what I'll be working on and can give you progress reports to keep  me accountable.  And you might find me asking for advice at times.   I always appreciate your willingness to share your ideas.


If you would like to let us know your upcoming plans and dreams, I encourage you to add your comments on this page!   


Many Thanks and My Best Wishes for the New Year!


Sharyl
Sharyl's Jewelry Studio on ArtFire
Sharyl's Jewelry Website
Sharyl's Jewelry on Facebook  

If you are on FaceBook, 

please consider visiting my "Sharyl's Jewelry" FB page 

and clicking the "Like" button 

next to my name at the top of that page!

Thank you!

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P.S.  I may have my links to Facebook set now.   Please try them out and let me know if you find anything not working correctly.   Still need lots more "likes" though in order to rename my page!  Thanks for helping!


  
Graphics:


Writer:  http://www.wpclipart.com/world_history/old_devices/.cache/quill_writing.png


Columbus explaining his plan:  http://www.wpclipart.com/American_History/discovery/Columbus/Columbus_explaining_his_plan_to_the_monks_of_Burgos.jpg

Arrows:  http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/arrows/angled_arrows/.cache/arrow_action_blue_SE.png

Slow but sure:  http://www.wpclipart.com/education/proverbs_illustrated/proverbs_3/slow_but_sure_wins_the_race.jpg



Citation:
*The Quotations Page, http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/571.html from Michael Moncur's (Cynical) Quotations

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i heart macro: Christmas Special with Santa

Happy Holidays! 


Actually, I'm not sure the "i heart macro" event is going on today, but because I have my photos ready, and it's Christmas, I'll put them up!


For years I've had a Santa collection.   Every year I would either buy or be given a Santa or two.  I finally had to call an end to it, but I still get an occasional one and always love it!    Most of them are carved wood or made of resin.   Most, but not all, are tall, slender Father Christmas types.    They are each unique though, so for your viewing pleasure...(drum roll, please)... I photographed a few for you.    I started out trying to get the whole body in, but decided, "Hey, this is MACRO!   Go for the faces!"  So here you are!

A very different looking one from most of my collection.   

Can't decide what his ancestry would be.

He's a thick, rounded fellow.

Like several of my stick Father Christmas figures, 

this one is very tall and slender, 

fairly jovial, 

and has a lot of stuff on top of his head.

Not sure what that's about. 

Never heard of a backpack, I suppose!

This one is dressed in white from head to toe, 

but others are in red or dark green.

Tired, serious, old Father Christmas.

Happier, but very, very old.

Even his clothes look old.

Very stylish beard though!

Now what a happy-go-lucky guy this is!

I bet everyone gets gifts on this Santa's list!

He thinks everybody is good!

Wooden, cut-out Santa.  

Previous job as a Poker Player.

His face isn't telling a thing!

Big cheeks.   May have been a relative of mine.

My husband got me this one a year or 2 ago.
He's a Librarian Santa.
My husband and I are both librarians!
Book in one hand, computer in the other, just like in "real life!

Hope you enjoyed this little collection of Santa's photos!

Happy Holidays!  

Sharyl

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P.S.  For my jewelry friends, I got some good news this morning, I just have to share!  I received this message:   "Congrats! One or more of your items has been featured in a new collection titled: "Amazing Earrings Collection", curated by Jewelry-Findings-Supplies; Great job!.....Thanks for being a member of the ArtFire community. Obviously your work is getting noticed!"

Okay, so this may be like getting a letter from the President of the U.S. on your birthday, most likely a form letter, but still, hey, it's my first one, so I can be in blissful ignorance for just a little while!   

Here is the link to the curated collection:    http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=31670

One more reason to go have myself a happy day!   You do the same!