Winner Announced!

My thanks to all who joined in the July 4th Give-away!   The winner of the earrings is:   

Kathy Zeigler Lindemer

Congrats to Kathy!  

Hope each of you had a nice weekend!

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I'll also post a quick reminder that the sale at Metapolies™ continues until July 10th:

Get 20% OFF all items 

(jewelry, polymer clay beads, and 

metal components) 

with code:  

INDEPENDENCE

Thanks to all of you who have recently made purchases!   Newest items added:

Bottom left have sold. Others available as of this posting.
$12 a pair minus discount!  

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July Holiday Earring Give-away!

I had a sunrise/sunset scene in mind as I created these brass components,...then as I designed the earrings, I drew my inspiration from a rainbow.

But today, I'm thinking all these colors could also be spectacular fireworks,..   (yes, very quiet ones)!  

Then, finally, I got inspired to celebrate the July 4th holiday by giving these away!   (In the spirit of World Peace, I will send these internationally too, so please join in  the fun if you like!) 

If you would like to signup for this Give-away,...

•  Please leave me a note on the blog in the Comments section.  
• If you are on Facebook, just let me know where to look.  
• If not, please leave me an email address where I can contact you.  
• You may enter 2 messages if you like and I'll keep private the one with your email.  I just need some way to contact the winner.

You can get a 2nd change to win if you share the news with others and tell me where you posted it!


The give-away will be open for your entries through end of day Sunday, 7/5/15.  A  winner will be announced Monday, and will have until Friday, 7/10/15 to reply.  

SALE REMINDER:

Get 20% off at my Metapolies™ store on Etsy through Fri, 7/10/15 by using coupon code:   INDEPENDENCE

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Photos by Sharyl
Other graphics from wpclipart.com

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Winner Announcement and Sale reminder!

And the winner of the drawing for a pair of Sterling Silver "Matchstick Dangles" is...

.... Betty Winslow from Betty's Bead Soup!   She gets to pick the color (or 2 colors) she would like her dangles painted, and I'll make this pair especially for her!

While you wait for this to happen, please visit Betty's Etsy store and Facebook page!  (I've just been admiring her copper coil earrings!  Nifty design!)

Thanks to all who participated and helped me spread the word!  I very much appreciate it.  Congrats again to Betty!

If you didn't win but would still like in on the goods, a reminder that I have a Super Spring Sale going in both of my stores!   

Now is a good time to grab beads, metal components, (even jewelry) at these greatly reduced prices!  Sale ends Monday!

Hope you enjoy the weekend!!   Oh happy Spring!

~Sharyl

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New! Sterling Silver "Matchstick" Dangles + Give-away!

(Be sure to read to the end to find out how to enter the give-away!)

I'd like to show you a new line of components I'm making.  I've been so excited to announce these, and I've released the first five pair into my Metapolies™ store on Etsy!   

I'm calling them Sterling Silver "Matchstick" Dangles,

 and hope I haven't reused a term or concept 

developed by anyone else. 

These are handmade start-to-finish, and they begin with me using metal scissors to cut the silver sheet metal.  

The process of creating these involves a number of steps and takes 2-3 times as long as many of the components I create.  Sterling silver is not cheap, of course, but I'm pricing conservatively, hoping people will like them enough to try out!  

Currently selling for $18/pair.

There are a variety of colors and if I find interest in them, I'd love to add more colors!    (I'm not currently taking custom orders on jewelry or components, but I'm very happy to hear your color recommendations!    Any suggestions?)

You can find the following colors in my store now:

• Orchid (medium purple shade)
• Sage green
• Red
• Dark Violet (a very dark bluish-purple)
• 2-toned Blue (navy and medium blue stripes)

Give-away!

I haven't had a give-away for quite a long while, so I'm going to have a random drawing for a pair of these in your choice of color (provided I have it or can mix it)!   

To enter:

1. Please share this post on your own blog, Facebook page,or other social media. 
2. Leave me a comment on this blog of where you posted it.   (Please include link!)
3. Include your color of choice.

From the entries, one will be randomly chosen.

You have until Sat., April 4, at midnight Central time to enter!  

I very seldom get so specific with a give-away but I'd really like to reach a wider audience this time. Thank you very much for helping me spread the word. I am most grateful!  

Best Wishes,

Sharyl

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Getting my (Business) Act together + Give-away!

Just as 2014 is about to come to a screeching halt, I've managed to meet one more of my goals for the year!   (No need to add comments such as "It's about time!" or "Cutting it mighty close there!"  ha!)  




I've long wanted to get my own business domain name again.  I had one back in 2011 and let it go with the website I had.   I started on Artfire then, and went with theirs.


The truth is, as I've expanded this year from one store to three, I've found it rather clumsy trying to direct people to "where I am."    3 stores, 2 store names, all those urls!

                                                                     Metapolies
                                                          (Etsy)
   
Sharyl's Jewelry                                                                   Metapolies
(Art Fire)                                                                                            (ACM)

Having 3 online stores may be an odd thing to do in the first place, but it's an experiment of sorts, and I'm determined to play it out a little bit longer.   

 You might recall that in May of 2014, I did some branding work and redid my business cards, (and banners, virtual and physical table ones).  Of course I did that just before deciding I would like to change my business name and open more venues!   Well, as I've been in flux, I've continued to use those cards, adding stickers on the back with the two new store urls.   (Yes, yes.  Tacky, I suppose.   But think of it as moving to a new location.  You "make do" until you get settled in, right?)



The other evening, I finally decided to get the domain name and create a one-page landing site (home page) for all my business needs.

  The url is:   metapolies.com.  

I do hope you'll check it out 

and give me feedback!

From the one-page website, you can (hopefully) easily get to all my stores and my social media (Blog, Facebook, and Pinterest).
I've tried to optimize it so it works well with computers,  tablets, and phones.    That's made the layout a bit tricky and not quite what I had hoped for.  I'd really like it to be attractive/inviting AND intuitive/functional.   I'm not sure if I've made the mark yet, but I'm going to begin using it.

Some things I can change, but others I'm limited by what this simple system can do.  

Please, please, please...
If you have ideas, suggestions, complaints, do let me know! I'm very eager for feedback so that this works well for YOU and anyone one else trying to find their way to my stores and social media contacts.  How can I make it better for YOU to use?

My main goal is, instead of directing people to 3 sites, I now will direct them to one only. ONE on my business card, ONE on Facebook announcements, ONE when I run into friends and family.  All the same ONE!  

Just:   Metapolies.com

Hopefully, it's all easy after that!   

As always, thanks for helping me out and sticking by me as I evolve!

~Sharyl

GIVE-AWAY!!!

We just hit 175 participants on this blog! 

Miss Val's Creations

was the 175th person.

Welcome, Val!

I've sent her a small sample packet of Metapolies™ goodies, but want to give the other 174 a chance too!    A look at Metapolies.com and a comment on my blog here by 12/26/14 will get your name in the drawing!   (Please make sure I can find you again on Facebook or  email, store, etc.)   I'll announce the winner on 12/27 and attempt to notify the winner.  If the winner hasn't claimed the prize by 12/30, I'll draw again.

I'm hoping to renew my blogging efforts in 2015 and if you are not a member, I hope you will join us!   

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Graphics:   wpclipart.com
Business card/photo:  Sharyl McMillian-Nelson, 2014.

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What's New at Metapolies™?

Wondering what's new at Metapolies (ACM/Etsy) and Sharyl's Jewelry (Artfire)?  
Plenty!  



1)   Last Sat. was the Grand Opening Event of the Artisan Component Marketplace.  Thanks to all of you who visited, shopped, and participated in all sorts of ways!   And thanks to Marla James for organizing ACM and the event!

The winner of the random prize drawing from Metapolies was....

Marybeth Rich!

Marybeth is the owner and designer at Forest of Jewels on Etsy.

You can find her store's page on Facebook too!

* * * * *

2)  Marybeth and many others (click here for list) will be participating in the Pine Ridge Treasure's Clay and Metal Blog Hop this Saturday organized and sponsored by Lisa Lodge!   While the designers are using packets featuring polymer clay and metal components from my stores, this is all Lisa's doing, and I'm so honored by it!   Over the past year, Lisa has collected the components for her unique designer packets.   (I don't even know what the packets look like!)

The fun part is that I just get to sit back and admire the designers' work.  I'm so looking forward to it!   

My sincere gratitude to Lisa for hosting this event and her support of me through the years.   Lisa is well-known for her blog hops, but be sure to look her up if you haven't already!

Where you can find Lisa online:

Lisa's blog,  A Grateful Artist
Pine Ridge Treasures on Facebook
Pine Ridge Treasures Jewelry on Zibbet

* * * * * 

3) A couple of weeks back, a few of us Kansas City area artisans hosted booths at the Holiday Treasures Craft Festival in Shawnee, KS.

I was there, of course, taking the photos!

Tanya Goodwin, my lovely friend from
A Work in Progress,
brought fun new chain maille necklaces,

bracelets,...

....as well as some of her lovely,
intricate bead work!

I love sharing a booth with Tanya!  

(This was our 3rd year of doing this event together!)

She's helpful, friendly, and really makes the day pass in such a pleasant way!

Thank you, Tanya!

Next to us this year, for the first time ever, was the Bagomag.com team of Mike and Carol.

Mike Flint is a lampwork
and stained glass artist.
And to support his efforts,
Carol made jewelry
to help show off some of his great holiday beads!

Friend, Patti B (not shown), even brought some of her handmade paper bead
jewelry pieces
and demonstrated her skills
in making paper beads for intrigued passers-by!

The stained glass fronts Mike makes for instruments drew much attention too!

Fisherman Banjo

Abstract Violin

TY, Jenna & Kevin!

We had a great day and enjoyed seeing our family and friends who came out to see us and lend a helping hand.  We were glad to meet lots of new folks too!  


Our thanks to all who support us, in so many ways!  Best wishes until we meet again!  ~Sharyl

* * * * *

Image Credits:

Pine Ridge Blog Hop Event Logo by Lisa Lodge

All other photos by  Sharyl, Oct/Nov. 2014

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A Mighty GRAND OPENING for Artisan Component Marketplace!

Although some of our stores have been open for several weeks, many new artisans have since joined us. So the time has come for the... 

GRAND OPENING EVENT!

Saturday, 11/8/14 

There will be sales, give-aways, and more! 

Please read on!

There are many great reasons to participate in this event!

~We have Artisan Kits to sell! 

~ We are having a giveaway!  

In fact, I currently see 10 prizes listed!

(See list of items on left side!  Info will be updated Sat!)  

Click here for Metapolies Give-Away Info

Handmade copper components by me,
Sharyl McMillian-Nelson

~We are having a Design Contest!

~AND... at least half of us are running special sales  for the weekend!

~You'll find my store, Metapolies™ on ACM too! 

Metapolies Discount Code: 

GRAND20OFF 

20% off all components

  Sat, Nov. 8th - Tue., Nov. 11th

(Metapolies™ ACM store only)

I've been adding new items and hope to continue through Friday night!

Winter holiday items included!    Below are new items in store and others that will appear there soon!    (Please, no reserves this sale.)

Reminder:  As always, if you shop more than one of my stores on the same day, I'll combine shipping and refund you additional amount! (Links to others stores on menu at top of this page!)

Many thanks for celebrating the ACM with us!

~Sharyl

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Images Credits:

Banner, ACM

Clip Art, wpclipart.com

Metapolies Giveaway & Collage, Sharyl

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Shai's a winner in so many ways!

Congrats to Shaiha Williams, winner of the Sharyl's Jewelry shopping bag from the Back-to-School give-away drawing last weekend!  

...And this seems a great time to mention that Shaiha has just opened a new store!  I've been watching her design pieces for quite a while, and I'm so excited to now see her designs appearing in her own store!  

Spring Green Pearls
Shaiha Designs

There are some lovely, eye-catching, unique pieces of jewelry there!  Please pay her a visit at:

Shaiha Designs     http://shaihadesigns.storenvy.com/

Shaiha Ramblings     (a truly delightful blog!)  http://shaihasramblings.blogspot.com/

Shaiha Designs on Facebook     https://www.facebook.com/ShaihaDesigns?ref=hl

Thanks and congrats again to Shai!  Our best wishes go with you!

~Sharyl

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Photo of necklace by Shaiha Williams.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

BACK2SCHOOL Sale & Give-away!

Back-to-school has always been one of my favorite times of the year!   It's full of new beginnings, new promise, high expectations, and anticipation!  

While the schools in our area started several weeks ago, I know some areas just began this week.   So I'm thinking it's not too late to celebrate with a Back-to-School sale in my Sharyl's Jewelry store on Artfire!  

Everything in the store is on sale for 20% off price shown through Sun. 9/7/14 with code: BACK2SCHOOL

• metal components 
• polymer clay beads 
• jewelry
• even Clearance items!

I'm also giving away a canvas shopping bag!  Check poster below for details!

Sale & give-away applies to Artfire store only, but please visit my Metapolies™ store on Etsy too!

Many thanks and Happy Back-to-School!  Let's celebrate!

~Sharyl

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Graphics:

Book Clipart: http://www.wpclipart.com/education/books/books_1/book_stack.jpg  

Jewelry photos & poster:  Sharyl

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Grand Opening Winners Announced!

And the winners are:

Prize #1- Shaiha Williams

   

Prize #2-Ann Schroeder

Thanks to all for participating in the Grand Opening events this week!

The sale at the Metapolies store on Etsy
is extended through Sunday, 8/17/14.
Code is:  GRAND16
15% off.

Most recent items added:
     

Thanks again!  ~Sharyl

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