Winner of TracyBell Necklace Announced!

We have a winner for the Holiday gift Ideas $20 or Less give-away!  

Copper Stick & Beads Necklace 

(normally $12 USD)

  

This necklace was created and donated by TracyBell.   My thanks to Tracy for the donation and to all of you who played along and contributed ideas to the list!

The winner is...

Jerry from "Shadesongs"!

Congratulations to Jerry! 

Shadesongs was also on the "Holiday Gift Ideas $20 or Less" list, so make Jerry a winner twice by considering Shadesongs for your gift-giving needs!

Thanks again to all!   Until next time,...


Sharyl


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Graphic Credits:


Copper Stick Necklace photo, from TracyBell's Etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79558625/copper-stick-and-beads


Balloons:  http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/balloons/balloons_2/birthday_icon_balloons.png.html

Give-Away Reminder! You could be the Winner!

--SPECIAL GIVEAWAY REMINDER!--

Deadline Tues, Dec. 13, 2011

Drawing at 1:00am Dec. 14th Central Standard Time.

Copper Stick & Beads Necklace 

created and donated by TracyBell!

Copper Stick & Beads  ($12 USD)

Note:   I just purchased several of these myself for gifts, and Tracy has graciously donated one of her "Copper Stick & Beads" for a GIVE-AWAY for this blog! 

Rules for Give-Away:

• Please visit her shop and others listed on the entry from Saturday, then report back on a favorite item you found not listed on this blog entry.   (It does not have to be under $20.)    Provide a link to it in your comment.  You will be eligible for the drawing to win!   
• You may also provide a link from your own site 
• or another site you have found you think would be a great gift idea!   It doesn't even have to be jewelry.  See?  It's really simple!   So play along!
• All who comment to the blog with one gift suggestion and link will be eligible for the drawing.  Please comment directly to the blog this time, rather than my e-mail.   (Or do both, but still include the item in the comments please.)
• Deadline is Dec. 13 at midnight Central Standard Time, so do not delay!   I want to get this in the mail to you in time for the holidays!*

*If for some reason there is no winner, I will save the lovely necklace until after the holidays and we'll try again.  Perhaps readership is down because of the holiday season or the problem is due to the ongoing problems with Blogger.

Again, our sincerest thanks to TracyBell!   And my thanks to all of you for participating in this blog!   

Best wishes!

Sharyl

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P.S.  Last night I made my first attempts at 2 things I've been wanting to do:


1) Start an account on Facebook.  (I got on, but not sure what the heck I'm doing or how to find anyone!)   If YOU are on Facebook and are  interested in looking me up please do so.   I'm going to have to get a book like "Facebook for Dummies" to get going and learn all the jargon!   So far I found one friend, who I contacted, and 2 guys from high school, who I doubt would be very interested in my jewelry!   (Friends and tips welcome!)


2) I started rebuilding my website.   I took down the website, SharylsJewelry.com, when I started my Artfire studio due to the cost, but there is a smaller, free version available to KS businesses just starting out, so I'm going to give that a try, as one more way to promote my business.   My understanding is I can move my domain name over to the new site, so if people try the old one, they will find the new one.   It will take me a bit of time to finish since getting more items in my Artfire Studio continues to be my  priority (along with this blog, of course)!  I'll keep you posted!


For any of you who have tried pasting in PayPal icons so that people can purchase items right off your website or blog, how did that go for you?   I might try to do that.


Thanks again for your input!   (This won't win you a prize, unfortunately, but I do appreciate it!)


Image Credits:


Necklace by TracyBell, photo complements of TracyBell.


Person with question:  http://www.wpclipart.com/blanks/callouts/eyeball_character/.cache/bubble_eyeball_character_question.png

I heart macro: Bracelet Edition

Sorry I missed "i heart macro" last Sunday.  I just had some massive catching up to do!  A week later,  I'm still busy at it, but getting a bit closer, so I'm taking time to post and look at some lovely photos again this week.   That said, I've only had time to photograph jewelry,  part of my efforts to catch up with listings in my studio.   It'll have to be jewelry this week!


I just started a 10% off sale on everything in shop, and it just so happens, I worked on re-photographing and entering a number of bracelets online in preparation.  So bracelets it is!

Lime Green and Aqua Flowers are Fun Bracelet

Proper lighting is already getting hard to come by here.   I have a few good daylight hours in the middle of the day.   I've been taking the photos in the large front window which faces East.   We have these sheer ivory curtains that drape across a wide wooden ledge. 

Crystal Clear Bracelet

Occasionally, I'll take the photos on the bare wood or a tray, or some other object.   This clear crystal piece wasn't showing up well against the white tones, so I moved it to the ledge.  I never expected to pick up a reflection!

Ice Crystals in Moonlight Bangle Bracelet

Snow on Evergreen Cuff Bracelet

Tradebead Bracelet

Most often though, as you've seen in these photos, I just spread out the curtain and photograph the items there in the front window in the filtered natural light.   (I do get frustrated when I'm a bit too late and the sun begins to go down before I'm ready!)

#14- Amethyst Jade and Black Bead Bracelet

Autumn's Bracelet

Well, that's just a portion of the bracelets,  and there are more necklaces and earrings too. (I'm up to 45 items listed now, but recently read that the goal should be 100!  We'll see...)    But I'll stop for today so viewers can head back over to Studio Waterstone see what other photos are showing at "i heart macro" this week!

"i heart macro" at Studio Waterstone

Thanks for stopping by!  (You are also most welcome to do some window  shopping before you move on!   Just click the caption link below!)    --Sharyl

"Sharyl's Jewerly" ArtFire Studio
10% off sale
Now through 12/23/11

Holiday Gift Ideas $20 or Less... + GIVEAWAY from TracyBell !!!

Looking for gifts but don't have a fortune to spend?   Check out these hand-made jewelry items you can purchase for $20 or less!  (Please check each site to see if additional taxes and/or P/H charges apply.)

Stop 1:  Visit TracyBell where there are not one, but 2 creative pendants with chains for sale--just perfect for all ages!  

Copper Stick & Beads  ($12 USD)

--SPECIAL GIVEAWAY!--

• Note:   I just purchased several of these myself for gifts, and Tracy has graciously donated one of her "Copper Stick & Beads" for a GIVE-AWAY for this blog!**   Please visit her shop and others listed, then report back on a favorite item you found not listed on this blog entry.   (It does not have to be under $20.)    Provide a link to it in your comment.  You will be eligible for the drawing to win!   
• You may also provide a link from your own site 
• or another site you have found you think would be a great gift idea!   It doesn't even have to be jewelry.  See?  It's really simple!   So play along!
• All who comment to the blog with one gift suggestion and link will be eligible for the drawing.  Please comment directly to the blog this time, rather than my e-mail.   (Or do both, but still include the item in the comments please.)
• Drawing will be held Dec. 13, so do not delay!   I want to get this in the mail to you in time for the holidays!

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Now, here's another from TracyBell:

Copper and Brass Flower Bezel Necklace ($12USD)

 Stop 2:  I found these earrings just looking on ArtFire and thought them to be lovely with a great price!  I know I'd love to wear these!  They are from the Shadesongs' Studio.  The owner is a weekend nurse on a Dementia unit and an award-winning jewelry designer with a focus on affordable, one of a kind pieces. I like this designer already!

Genteel Lovely Brass Aged Earrings ($12.50)

And though I might be in danger of this looking like a shopping list for ME, here's another one I'd love to have!  Do you have any Celtic-jewelry lovers on your list?

Tribal Celtic Knot Pendant  ($16.99 USD)

Be sure and see the special coupon code currently showing at the right side of the site and don't forget to enter as you check out!  

Stop 3: I've been marking favorites in Etsy from BethNadler Art for quite a while.  Her pendants ALL seem to be my favorites!  (And if you know a little girl who is a pony or cat lover, you'll find perfect pendants in this shop for her!)   I happen to like all the cheerful flowers and messages, like this one:

Glass Pendant and Chain in Love Dream Hope ($12 USD)

There's also this cute little holiday tree!

Christmas Tree Glass Pendant Stock Stuffer  ($12 USD)

Stop 4:  Is it too tacky to include a few from my own studio?    Okay, it is, but still,...

Snow-woman Earrings   ($8 USD)
(sorry, snowperson not included)

Tradebead Bracelet  ($18 USD)

Carved Bracelet  ($18 USD)


Now through 12/23/11 
at Sharyl's Jewelry!
10% off all items!
Prices shown here reflect pre-sale price.
No coupon required at checkout.

Okay, it's YOUR turn now!   Get busy window-shopping...or better yet go "real shopping" for hand-made goods, but please report back to us your wonderful findings so you have a chance to win even more!  

Happy Holidays!

Sharyl

P.S.  Anyone who would like to have their hand-made jewelry highlighted, please remember the offer still stands.  Sometimes I go out to people, sometimes people come to me.  It's great either way!   Just email me, and I'm happy to include you, whether you sell or not,  have your own blog or not, this blog is all about sharing!
  

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(**Please note:  The events of Tracy winning the last giveaway and offering this giveaway are separate and happened by coincidence.)

Graphics:

Holiday Gift:  http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/Christmas/gifts/gift_boxes/.cache/christmas_present.png

Gift Tag:  http://www.wpclipart.com/holiday/Christmas/Gift_Tags/.cache/gift_Tag1.png

All photos of artisan jewelry from owner's shops.

First Craft Fair -- Lessons Learned

I hosted my first booth at a small community holiday craft fair on Saturday.   Thanks to some very helpful guidance I received here, and by researching ideas about booths, displays, and more on the Internet and in books, I felt fairly well prepared for what would happen.  


Some of the ideas I read included:  

• Make the jewelry, not the table covering or other surrounding items, the focus.  (My sister gave me a nice fold-up table and a table cloth.  The covering is a lovely off-white with faint lines of silver and gold.  My display items were in natural tones of tan--light woods, fiber, craft paper, as well as black, and pewter.  I added a touch of red, silver and lime green in a very small festive decoration.)

• Display things at varying heights for visual interest.   (There were different heights, but not well-planned. I have room for improvement here.)
• Jewelry looks best with lights.    (I asked for electricity so I could take credit cards via my laptop, so I was also able to lay out small white Christmas lights on the table.  I think that would work year round whenever electricity was available.)  People did actually comment on the lights.
• Have something close to the front of the table of interest to children.   Where they lead, their family members will follow.   It also gives them something of interest to touch rather than the jewelry displays.   (Over Thanksgiving, my sister-in-law and husband made up bracelet kits with  plastic beads in combinations of red, clear, and green and heavy paper string.)      

Just a bit of the great advice I got here:

• Not everything you use in your display has to match.   
• You don't need to purchase everything.   Look for items around your house.  
• Using unexpected items for display purposes brings visual interest to your table/booth.
• Wait to buy items for your display until you find just what you want.    

This sounds exactly like how I USUALLY shop, but not what I was about to do this time.   When I heard this, I immediately reconsidered an order I was about to make and made some changes.   Instead of ordering an earring rack I didn't really like or one I didn't have space for, I used two items from home and adapted for use as earring displays.  (One was a wire grill/cookie pan cooling rack.  I hand-sewed a bit of fabric on the back to keep my earring cards from tilting forward.  Then set it on an easel.  That one worked best.  Admittedly both of my earring racks looked okay, but turned out to have some stability issues!  No worries, by waiting, I've since found a rack I think will be perfect!)   I also skipped purchasing racks for the many pendants I had to display.   A few days after I placed that order, I found an interesting wall decoration and easel I used instead.)

I asked a question of you about what you might have forgotten to take to a craft fair...
I did a good job of remembering everything I needed to take, with one glaring exception--the camera!


So the few photos you see here were taken at home while preparing for the event.  My sister had her camera phone.  If she comes up with more pics for me, I'll post later. 


A few other lessons learned:


1.  There will always be more lessons to be learned.   (Very few people attended this event.   The weather was unpleasant, and the craft fair had a 3-hour lead on other events to draw people in.   That equated to poor sales, not just for me but for others too.   I can say now, I'll look more closely at the schedules before signing up, but...there were lots of seasoned veteran craft fair people here, and we all showed up together.  All I'm saying is that I imagine there is something to be learned every time I do a craft fair, and it will probably not be a lesson I'm expecting.


2.  When things are going slowly, it's easy to spend more money than you take in!   (I'm not the only one who confessed to doing this.)

Snowman Earrings

 for Sale at "Sharyl's Jewelry" 

3. Tweens can be your most serious and enthusiastic shoppers.   Handblown glass holiday earrings drew the most interest among this age group.  I only had a couple of pair.  Next time I'll have more.   The exuberance of this age group  brought others to the table too!   


4.  Not everyone "plays fair."   It can be a very competitive environment.   Do people not read--or just learn to ignore--space and table limitations?    (Will I be the same way after another time or two?)


5.  Some people are extremely generous in offering to help a "newbie" like me, to help get us in the loop of other fairs, show us the ropes, and offer encouragement.   And that's a really nice thing to learn.


To all of you who did the same, my sincere thanks.   


The winner of the give-away for providing craft fair ideas is "BeadBug" from TracyBell who emailed me a full page of ideas to consider. (Tracy will be the winner of a $15 gift certificate to Amazon.com or a shop of her choice.  I'll be in touch soon!)  My thanks to Tracy and all who commented and offered encouragement!   


Sharyl

Check out the ABS Ornament Blog Hop!

I've just spent some really fun time looking through the amazing work of our most talented bead artists!  (Notice how I claim them!)  


Their art form this time?  

HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS!    

Now I've made holiday ornaments before, but not like these!  These will NOT be what you are expecting--I promise you!   Just take a look!   


...Really, just do it!  I know you're busy, but it's way too much fun to miss!

Just click here
& you'll be immediately transported
 into a winter-wonderland of the ornament blog hop!

There's a giveaway of a  Bead Ornament Kit  and a $30 gift certificate to Humblebeads!

Then you'll see the links to all the participating blogs with their ornaments at the bottom of the page.

Have fun, happy holidays, see you back here next time!  

--Sharyl

Last Day of Grand Opening!

I can hardly believe we've already made it to the last day of the "Grand Opening Event" at Sharyl's Jewelry!   



I've made 2 sales, given away 2 pairs of free earrings and other free gifts.   There's still one more pair of earrings to go!   (That offer will extend until the 3rd customer claims it.)   


Thanks to my first 2 online customers and all window-shoppers as well!   I'm still adding items every day!


Items recently sold:

 

Items most recently listed:

 

Items about to be listed:

Click here to take a look at more!

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Image Credits:


Dec. 7 Calendar: http://www.wpclipart.com/time/calendar/12_December/calendar_December_07.jpg

Jewelry photos by Sharyl. 2011.


Sharyl's Jewelry Artfire banner by Andrew Nelson, 2011.