This Weekend's Festival That I'll Be At...

This weekend I'm going to be at the 8th Annual, Skyland, New Jersey Botanical Garden's Harvest Festival. Both days, Saturday and Sunday (10/3 & 4) from 10am to 5pm. Rain or Shine! Which is going to be fun cause I haven't gotten around to re-water proofing my tent... So, repeat after me: Rain rain... I'll be there anyway!

Um, and that's pretty much it.

Oh, wait, I'll also have a necklace at the Benefit Auction at the Mount Beacon Fine Art Gallery at 155 Main Street in Beacon, NY on Saturday the 3rd. Proceeds benefit the Aubrey Chibbaro Youth in Arts Scholarship so get out there and bid!

I'll have a picture of the item up for bidding right here on my blog by tomorrow evening... I'm still making it ;}

Oh yah. The MBFA Gallery is also going to host an, open to the public, Jewelry Party on Sunday the 11th. That would be with me, and my jewelry...

Wire Knitting on a Spool

So, if anyone is thinking about buying the book: Wire Knitting... on a spool by Sharon Hessoun, DON'T DO IT! It's a total waste of money and time... unless you want to get so frustrated that you feel like ripping the book in half! Seriously. I came THIS close every time I tried to follow the instructions. And I'm pretty good at figuring things out from books. Almost all the bead weaving techniques I know I learned from books.

Anyway... I got this book with a knitting spool and, even though it's supposed to be for people who've neither knitted or worked with wire, there are almost no illustrations and the actual photos are blurry. Plus, it's $20 for a book that looks like it was put together at Kinkos! Plastic binding through square punch holes and all.

I wasn't very impressed when I got the book but thought I'd give it a shot anyway. I picked it up and started and got frustrated and put it away (for a couple months before trying again) several times over the last 8 months. After about 6 tries to start learning how to do this technique, using the written instructions (that mostly read like jibberish), I once more restrained myself from flinging everything and thought back to when I was 12 - the last time I knitted or crocheted - and finally just figured it out on my own. After a lot of deep breathing.

To be fair, the first couple illustrations make it possible to follow the written directions, but that's just for wrapping the wire on the spool to begin with. After that, there are no illustrations and the written directions make absolutely no sense. Very annoying.

So, I finally figured it out on my own and knitted a few lengths of tubey whatsits and now I have my first necklace using wire knitting (on a spool):

Thanks again to Phil for the watercolor. It's painted to look like stained glass. But you knew that, right?! Oh, and there's some vintage beads and little brass flower links; Quartz, (reconstituted) Larimar, Goshenite, Peridot, and Peruvian Pink Opal beads; and all the wire is actually Gold Fill. [I grabbed the wrong spool for practicing and didn't realize it til I got home and saw the Brass spool sitting there. Kind of hard to tell the difference when the wire is that small, unless there's really good lighting. Good thing I didn't screw it up too much...]

So, whatya think?

I did another couple of banana sections (they really do look like it, only holey and in wire) with beads on them. Still working out the design and bits for using them. Then I figured out I could use wire AND thread. So I did a couple with some Fiber Artist thready stuff. That was actually really hard. I still need some thinking for the design and bits for those too. I'll post pics when I figure the other two out and get them finished up as well.

In case you've just fallen in love with it... I sent an e-mail to Riverwinds to see if they want to add it to my other h2o painting necklaces they have. Just waiting to hear if they want to carry it in the Gallery or not. If so, you can run over and get it there next week. Of course, if you just can't live without it and need it RIGHT now, let me know that (you just have to have it) and I'll make sure you get it. Right now.

Ok.

Back to the book.

I actually did some serious research before I ordered it and only got it because it seemed to be the only one of it's kind. If anyone knows of another wire spool knitting book out there for sale, please, let me know. I'd like to see it but, I'm actually thinking that after a couple months of working on my technique with this, that I'll have Phil take pics while I'm doing it and make my own book. Apparently, if I take it to Kinkos for "publishing", I can still sell it for $20 each, so I might as well give it a shot. Right?

Let me know if you want to reserve your copy now, I think I'll have it finished by Spring. Just leave me a message and I'll put one aside for you. Actually, I'll probably do it as a pdf, buy it online version first. Then, I guess, I'll shop it around to some instructional craft type publishing houses for printing. Since it's said that anything's possible, that means there's always a chance I can get it published by a real publisher too. Right?

You can start crossing fingers and toes for that outcome once I get the online version up. Talk to you more about it then.

Rained Out Today...

Well, it looks like the outdoor season of the Hudson River Market has been overshadowed by the amazingly wet wonders of the sky once again.

Sing along with me, won't you?

Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day...

So, looks like some kind of conspiracy to me. What? You think I'm nuts?! Well, I was incapacitated for Monday's Market and rained out for Saturday's... sounds like Somebody's trying to tell me something... what could that be? I guess the Market in Brooklyn next Sunday will be the test. Maybe you'll only see me in Brooklyn and other states for a while?

Ok, it's early and I might still be a little groggy from being asleep for the last 7 hours and a little cloudy eyed from the weather...

Still works out the same way:

No Hudson River Market in Beacon today. (Wonder if the Handmade Cavalcade is still on?) Mother Nature gets to apologize for this one, though... I am sorry if you were planning to meet me in Beacon today for picking up or swapping out or grabbing that one thing you've been thinking about since last time you oggled my jewelry...

If you can make it to Carroll Gardens next Sunday, it's under a permanent tent... only be cancelled if the weather is extreme... So, I'm going to assume it's a go!

E-mail if there's something you were coming for today that just can't wait, and I'll work with ya!

Enjoy the weekend and I'll keep you posted on any future INdoor events this Fall in the, um, near future.

Behind Every Musician...

So, this last week I helped Phil launch a KICKSTARTER project. Most of the video work, some of the vox pops in the finished video and a lot of the writing is my contribution efforts. Oh, and the cracking of the proverbial whip to get it done in a timely manner...

Now, hopefully, a lot of people will see it and want to be part of the project. One of my friends who I e-mailed it to said the music on the video was creepy and gave him nightmares. I said: thanks for the compliment on behalf of Phil.

We put the project description video up on Youtube if you want to have a Look at it Moove!

I also figured out how to do wire knitting (on a spool) last weekend so, I'll have some pictures of new work with that for ya'll to look at - hopefully - next week. Maybe at the end of this one, if I have enough time. Phil painted a few more mini watercolors for them so, now I just have to put it all together and take some pictures.

I'll post updates for shows and events for the end of the month and beginning of October at the end of this week or, at the latest, by next Monday.

Til then...

Sorry I didn't See You at Mower's...

Ok, I know that at least one person was looking for me yesterday at Mower's Market in Woodstock...

I wasn't there.

Woke feeling less than able and stayed indoors, resting, all day instead.

Sorry if you tried to find me and hope you can make it this Saturday instead!

Um, ya. Still feeling a bit yuck, so just wanted to say that before getting back on the couch. (moan grumble hate being under the weather)

Hope everyone had a great time on the long weekend and see a few of you in Beacon on Saturday.

Quicky Update

Hey eveery body!

Some of you know this because I told you, it directly pertains to you OR, you subscribe to and actually read my newsletter...

What?

This: I have several pieces of new consignment jewelry out in the world as of today.

Six necklaces at Paper Presence (296 Main Street in Beacon, NY 845-849-2443), and three (now, but soon to be a few more) at Pink Cloud Boutique (2 Main Street in Harriman, NY 845-238-2752) as well. This is the first consignment I've had at Pink Cloud. [Any and all help at making it one of many will be very appreciated...;]

While the idea of the necklaces is similar; both stores actually have different, exclusive to them, versions of a new direction for me: wire word jewelry.

Since I'm just figuring out how to do it, I started with the short words and, as I get more comfortable with it, I'll make some longer words and then work on some other styles and uses I have kicking around in my head a little later as well.

For now, you can get something like one of these (or actually one of these):

at Paper Presence and something like this one (or this one):

at Pink Cloud Boutique.

Paper Presence still has some of my picture frame jewelry as well. You can put your own image in them OR, you can take in the photo you want in the necklace frame, hand it over, and Lydia will shrink it down and put it in one of my necklaces for you. These are really great for a personal gift.

As always, each one is different enough to make all the new necklaces one of a kind.

And that's pretty much all I have to say today. Oh, except:

Thanks for caring and hope everyone has a greaattt weekend!

Trekking Cross Country, Wanna Meet Somewhere Along the Way?

Hey Everybody!

Just a week before I leave for the vast expanses of the great SouthWest. Stopping in Arkansas for Bethany's wedding and then on to dig up diamonds and get a good scare! Yep, dig up diamonds. Crater of Diamonds Park is just a short (relatively speaking) drive south from Fayetteville and they let you dig in the dirt and keep what you find (for a small fee) so Wish me Luck!

If I find anything good, I'll make something out of it... I like the look of raw diamonds. Oh, and if it's really good, I might just pay off some CC's... That would be nice too.

Then, we're off to Colorado to spend a night at the Stanley Hotel and see if we can get Phil to see a ghost. I've already seen a few and he says he won't believe it til he sees it, so Wish him Luck too.

Then, we're across to stay with my sister for a couple days in Park City before my first, ever, Park Silly Sunday Market. If you're around there on the 26th, I'll make sure to say hi! ;}

Phil has to leave to come back to work right after that and then I'll be on my own - with just my family and friends - for two more weeks before driving back. One more Park Silly before I go and then maybe I'll be stopping at your place for a Jewelry Party?

Somewhere inbetween I might even head NorthWest a bit more and join my dad for a day of opal digging too. Have to get the rest of my Utah party schedules finalized before I know if and when though.

So, what's up with you?

Oh, and here's a picture Phil took of some of the jewelry I made with his miniature watercolors - all originals and some are going to Raindance in Beacon and the rest are going with me to Park City:

New Shows Added

Looks like I'll be selling jewelry in Beacon in one more place:

The Hudson River Market. On Saturdays through Fall, at the lot between Hudson Beach Glass and Riverwinds starting at 10am. I'll have a booth on May 2nd, 16th and 23rd. That's this Saturday, in two weeks and again the week after that. 

I hope to see a lot of you at one of those and, if you're in the Atlanta area, I'll be at the Hatch Market Mother's Day weekend in Griffin, GA. I have booth number 40 in the pass through to the Garden area (first one on the left as you head to the Garden). 

Made a whole new Spring flower collection for the Mother's Day weekend show and finished up my pearl Spring Wedding collection as well. New stuff debuting at that show, so if you're in the area, be sure to come by and get the ones that works for you. 

Here's a few pictures of the Spring Flowers collection:

I'll be taking whatever doesn't sell in GA to the second Beacon Hudson River Market date, so you can get some of it there too  - if there's any left;]

And don't forget to come by Paper Presence on Sunday, May 3rd for your own custom made picture pendant necklace. For Mom or for yourself. 

This is Where I'll Be...

So, I got sick as soon as the store was all moved out. I had been holding it off because I didn't have time to get sick. So, it makes sense that once I did have time, that I would get sick. I'm better now. Even though there were snow flurries today. 

In sweat shop mode now that I'm feeling better. Making new jewelry for upcoming shows and what's it. Which are:

Stormville Fleamarket on April 26th. Look for me in the New Section just past the food vendors in Stall #T349. I have a new - regulation for most craft shows - white 10x10 tent so, look for one of those with my name on it and jewelry under it;}

Then, on May 3rd from noon to 3pm, I'll be making customized picture frame jewelry at Paper Presence in Beacon, NY. 

The next weekend (May 9th & 10th) I'll be in Griffin, Georgia for the Hatch Market. I'll be heading south on the 6th and heading back up the 11th. If you live in any of the areas along the route from NY to Atlanta, and would like to host a Jewelry Party, let me know and I'll schedule you in somewhere in one (or maybe even both;) of the directions. 

Hope I'll see some of you at one or more of the upcoming listed above and, that I'll get to do a whole lot more jewelry parties now that I have more free time. Hint, hint;}

The Skinny on the Stormville Flea Market

Well, we went to Stormville yesterday. 

Headed out with an hour to get there; just enough time to get there before the opening time of 8 am. Making good time, almost half an hour to get there and almost there when we got stuck in traffic two exits off the I-84 behind a small pickup - with a trailer - that had caught fire. The pickup, not the trailer. Took almost half an hour to get past that. 

Which meant, that when we finally got close to Stormville, it was exactly opening to public time so it took another half hour of stop and start traffic to just get in! Damn! Streams of cars from all directions! frustrating and kind of crazy! [Around 2pm I heard a woman in front of our tent talking on her phone saying she'd just got there, that it took her and hour to get in, half an hour in line to get food and another half an hour in line to use the bathroom...]

So, by the time we got to our space, driving through hundreds of people to get there - not one casualty, thank you - it was already 9 am; an hour into the event! By the time we got set up, it was 10 am... two hours late. Not a great start to the day but it was a lovely, bright sunny - if not a bit cold and a little windy - day. So, considering that, and what every regular vendor I heard talking about was saying (no one is buying this year), it was still a good day. 

Mostly because right as I was finishing the initial set up, Esther came by with Bill (yay!) and bought the Copper Carob necklace I made last year. It looked fabulous on her, I must say. That took care of my entrance fee and the other costs of getting there so that got my late day off to a good start. 

There were so many people there and a lot of just looking, but a lot of business cards were taken and there were a few small sales plus a lot of wonderful comments made; And at the end of the day, as the sun was setting, a woman who had looked earnestly earlier in the day came back - the only one of many who said they would who did - and bought 5 pieces in the brand new Old Czech Candy Collection. That made the day really worth it! Thanks Chris! 

Phil hasn't uploaded the pics he took of yesterday at Stormville yet, but here's one from the fleamarket we went to at Woodstock's Mower's Market in September:

That fleamarket was not really worth our time... but we had a little fun at least... and good pizza afterward. 

Last night we stopped by Beacon on the way home (to drop off a couple things and close up the shop - thanks for looking after pearldaddy, Mia!) and ate at The Piggy Bank. That was ok. If we weren't so hungry, we probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much... maybe. Well, the sweet potato fries were really good. Actually, I'm going to have my left overs right now for lunch. 

Then I have chores to do so that's all of the reportage for now. I'll write more as I'm getting ready for the Indiemade Craft Market (December 7th). Til then...

Come See Me in Stormville!

Well, I've been a little blog quiet lately, I know. Been getting ready for the upcoming shows 1st thing next month and in December and apparently, according to Phil, I've turned into something of a one woman sweat shop. 

So much to make and do to get ready and so little "free" time to do it in. 

Which is to say, this is as long as this entry will get. I'll definitely add another entry with a couple pics thrown in of the event right afterward but, then I have to make more stuff for December's outing. So thanks for checking in and I'll do my best to get more than one entry in a month in the near future. 

Thanks for caring and, of course, let  me finish by saying:  If you happen to be in the Hudson Valley on the 2nd of November, I'd love it if you'd stroll into the New Merchandise section of the Stormville Airport Flea Market and see what I've been toiling over. Who knows, maybe you can pick up a gift or two? 

The End of The Beginning - Or is it The Beginning of The End?

Well, I fought like a pit bull. I worked like a dog. The sweat, blood and tears that went into moving the store to Beacon does not seem to have paid off. Struggle and strife and no support from the original owner (and personal friend), and mostly just lip service support from the meager general public that does come through, has left everything teetering on the brink and now it looks like the year of hard work and money dumped into making it happen was wasted. 

Yes, this means Fish has said: "Close the store"

I say: "But it's only been a year! Though, it's been a hard and harried one... I put so much of me into this place it's a shame not to see it through to the rest of the year at least... Plus, I just got the online store up, we should at least give that time to bring in sales too..."

And other such things that constantly run around in my head. Torn between knowing that it's time to let go and the knowledge that the first year is always the hardest in a new business. Between exhaustion and the nagging voice that says: Hang on for just a little longer. Let's face it. 50 miles from the original location with virtually no original customers following us over is starting from scratch. I knew that going in. I thought Fish knew it and was going to help. Eh... Things aren't always as they seem or even as spoken of. Though, to be fair, he did try to take out a business loan. Denied. Not surprising in this economic climate I suppose. Or with Fish's track record of not really keeping track, and talent for getting ripped off and stuck in contracts he can't get out of. Oh, and for not getting paid for working. 

Looks like that one might be some kind of virus he passed on to me. I suppose closing would be the acute solution. 

Cons: There's just not enough business and I've been unable to pay the rent on time for the last three months (still don't have the rent yet for this month) and barely able to pay the store bills... let alone my bills...  without back up and reserves, it means the end. Kaput. Over. Stuck so far in debt, the few improvements and ads that may help are out of reach and create a vicious circle. There are A/C issues and another portable that doesn't work that needs to be sent back but, to keep anyone in the store in the summer, A/C is necessary - it's also a necessity for me to be able to make anything and do the custom work  I am asked to do. Plus, I have artists booked for exhibits through until next Fall, so I'll have to cancel all those shows. 

Pros: (with some additional Cons) A lot of people are coming in and saying they will definitely be back - but (Cons:) they are taking an awfully long time to make it back in. Everyone likes the look of the store so the toil was worth it - but (Cons:) it was a lot of time and money that hasn't been made back yet and may have to be forfeited into the building if we close now. Custom work requests are picking up - but (Cons:) with the a/c not working and closure lurking on the horizon; it's a struggle to decide if it's worth getting a new one if we're closing because then I'll just have to sell it a month or two after I get the new one but I can't work if I'm sweating and no one will stay and buy anything to help us at least clear things out... Everyone likes the art work we've exhibited and a lot of artists want to show in our gallery - but (Cons:) I have yet to sell any of it. 

Oh, it just keeps going on. 

So, yes. The woes of being a small, non-essential goods, business in hard economic times compounds the first year business problems. And; with energy levels, morale, customers and therefore funds, running very low; it is with a heavy heart that I prepare to throw in the towel and work on developing Plan C. 

Apparently, Plan B didn't work. 

I should probably work on a Plan D and E just incase too. 

Sigh. 

I need a long nap, long vacation, steady income, and some perspective. 

Treasure is Where We Find It?!

You know the saying:

One man's trash is another mans treasure... well, that goes for women too... probably for some animals as well... It's a matter of taste and style and upbringing and interests. Always is, no matter what you're talking about. 

I personally love trash AND treasure. I like treasure from trash and I like some trashy treasures. I was a dumpster diver when I was a kid. That was some good treasure, I'll tell you what! 

We lived behind the local shopping center so we could go diving for everything from still good food to toys! Yes, there was a toy store that threw stuff out! Broken display stuff mostly but, there were the occasional broken but still fun toys too. Plus, the other side of the street had a huge vacant, hilly lot that provided a place to build a hidden fort - where we could stash some of our dumpster goods if only have a place to play with them so our parents wouldn't know we'd been dumpster diving - and a lot of native plants and animals to wonder at and catch. Something which made us well known in the pet store as well. Though, I kinda feel bad about it now, we used to catch blue bellies (lizards) and sell em to the pet store for a quarter... which we'd inevitably give them back for the privilege of watching them feed the MataMata turtle - who was supposedly 150 years old! 

Ah, good times. 

This was also a time when my Cracker Jacks were giving up the occasional cool metal toy - like working compasses - and my mother and grandmother were giving me their unwanted extra and broken costume jewelry. Which got even better as I was learning things like how to string jewelry from parental friends during our occasional weekend days at the flea market. Now that was a lesson in finding treasure wherever you looked if there ever was one. It may have even been my inspiration for some of the first jewelry I ever made - from Cracker Jack and gumball machine toys. Mostly earrings, but the occasional necklace too. Still have some of those somewhere. In a box in the garage no doubt. 

Since my mom was also a single one (hi mom!), I was  getting dragged to the field portions of her geology classes around that time too; due to lack of babysitters, and possibly the unending sound of "please take us". That was GREAT! We had our own hammers and got to search for fossils in the shale and sandstone along the creek just like all the adults. Found a geode or two and a fossil here and there. Nothing like banging on rocks to find treasure! Later, every time I went up to visit my mom and sis and aunt and cousins (hi everybody!), I got to wander around Park City finding crystals. Which I eventually learned to wire wrap and started making necklaces and earrings from. 

I still walk around looking at the ground or sifting through the edge of streams and rivers; picking up rocks that speak to me everywhere I go - and sometimes putting them into my jewelry - however, I'm ready to move into a new phase along those lines. So, I'm planning to travel around to all the dig your own gemstone places in the US (everything from diamonds to opals and all the precious stones inbetween!) and incorporate the raw, uncut, might polish them a little first, precious gems I find into some truly unique stuff. I'm aiming to start next Spring. 

I know it won't be everyone's idea of treasure (even though, technically, it will actually be considered precious and therefore: actual treasure) but the raw and found have always captivated me as much as, if not more so, than the finely cut and polished purchases I've made, so I want to reflect that more in my jewelry. 

Now, all I have to do is make my life more conducive to that particular goal.  All help and suggestions welcome! 

A Blog By Any Other Name

Everyone is blogging. 

Everyone. 

Even Phil; who is a man of well chosen words. That means he's pretty quiet, for the most part. Though, when he has something to say, he has a lot of it to say. I think he stores it up. Usually he communicates through his music, art or photography. The last of which is the basis for his new blog, the name for which came to him before the content. Well, actually, when he went to start his blog, there were already two that had differently spelled versions of the same name Phil was going to use, so he settled on this:

Polly Blog Nature

Which is a play on his more well known online moniker: The Polywog

(and contrary to the copyright info at the bottom of the polywog site, I actually took both of the pics of Phil that he uses for each of the two sections on his website. I should probably make him credit me, noh?)

Not a lot of verbiage on this new outlet. Not a lot on his website either. All his descriptions, stories and musings are short and to the point but, I think, pretty interesting. Right now, there's just a small selection of his amazing nature photography (with a lot more to come) and a story of how one set of those photos came to be. 

I'll probably be getting roped in to check for mistakes and even edit those few words from time to time and even though it probably wont be updated on a regular basis, when he does update, he changes and adds a lot. So, if you like what you see, check back regularly - just in case. 

Now, if I can just get him to add his magic touch to the design for my blog... 

Writing For And About Others...

Guess what I did this week? Go ahead. I'll wait...

Ok. I'll tell you:

I wrote an intereview for Smidge. The Canadian website/forum/blog about all things Etsy cool and fabulous, and it's up there right now. It's on/with Jessica Pierce who created Spidercamp and it's all about her rude little rabbits - and pocket bacon - and why they exist. Oh, and about how super cool they are and how nice and talented Jessica is... ya, it's a bit kiss ass, but I really like her stuff (I got two of her rabbits for Phil, I'm looking at the little "poop" one now - I was the first one to get a tiny version, by special request, cause I'm so cool!;) 

I already know who I'm going to ask to do the next one too... the intereview on that is... but I'll let you know when I get a go ahead from subject and publication alike. 

Speaking of which, I have a spot in the Etsy group ad in the June issue of Bust Magazine that comes out today - well, probably just to subscribers - so peel your eyes for that and wish me money well spent! That would be another form of good luck...

I used this for my section of the ad:

But I haven't seen the ad yet... hopefully I'll be able to grab a copy soon and check out how it came out. Haha, I  just looked at the site and they have a single issue for sale, so I thought: I'll just have it delivered! Not going to happen! Cost me almost exactly the same price for shipping as the mag! Which would make the single issue cost, appropriately enough since it is the 15th anniversary issue, $15+! 

Crazy, I just checked out the bottom half of the online Bust homepage (under lady pink) and there was a picture of this past weekend's Beacon art event, Electric Windows! I missed it cause it was the exact hours the shop was open, but it looks pretty good. I'll definitely have to wander down and have look in person soon! Hmmm, seems you can let them know about special events right from and onto the website. I'll have to remember that for my next opening/special event! 

Ok. Got a lot to do and get done for the day so I'll leave it here for now and you guys go click around and check out and read and leave comments and have a fun day full of bad words and other things that start with the letter "B". I'm off to clean the bathroom! 

It's All About the Blog...

Talking with my significant where would I be without the other day and the topic of Blogs came up. As it does so often in the news and on comedy shows and other places in daily life these days, blogs just come up. This particular conversation started out:

Where did the name "Blog" come from?

This question is much like the question:

Why do they call them "Biners" in the U.S. and "Crabs" in Oz? 

It's the kind of question that leads to the pondering of such things as:

If they were made famous in another country, would they be called something else? And what would that something else be? (this is the cue for you all to jump in with pithy comments!)

The answer to the Q. that started the whole thing is inevitably: It's short for web log. As far as I know. But, people were doing this long before it was common and commonly known as a blog. So, what was it called in the early incarnations? 

Web Diary. Blather. Newsletters. Letters. (another perfect place to add comments and ideas about)

As many of you have already read, or knew before, I'm not really partial to the blog moniker. It sounds like a verbalized euphemism for online diarrhea... or vomit... which, I guess, in some cases it is. 

Personally, I prefer to think of it all as a kind of cathartic release. A silently verbal pressure release valve. (another cue for comments right here)

When I join the forums and read the advice for why and how you should blog when I'm roaming Etsy, they all seem to allude to the "promotion" issue. Ok. Some are just straight out saying: Blog to promote! I'm not really in agreement with this advice. On the whole. Obviously, there is some shameless self promotion featured prominently on my blog site. There is also some promotion of others and recommendations of things I think are fun and entertaining. However, I don't feel inclined to use the wordy aspect of the blog medium for shameless mememeness. 

Ok. The whole thing is not always about me, but in general, it is my thoughts and what I'm doing. THAT is the point of doing this though, isn't it? To express thoughts and ideas to and with people you don't connect regularly enough with or who you might not connect with otherwise? My intention for starting this was to allow my friends and family a place to check in to see what I'm up to and get a feel for what my life is like when they aren't around (which is, with most everyone I know living in another state or country, unfortunately most of the time). Sometimes that includes stuff about my jewelry (which then pertains to my Etsy shop); sometimes it's just random thoughts expressed on the computer (which is aimed primarily at my friends). Depends on where my head is at the day I sit down to write and what pops out through my fingers when I actually get into the act of spewing. 

Well, yes. Spewing. That is definitely the way it feels, AND, definitely the kind of thing that fits right into the sound you get when you talk about the thing you are now reading. They do call it a BLOG; and what sounds more like an onomatopoeia for spewing than that? 

The Revolution May Very Well Be Online

Whew! This running three business things is taking it's toll. I'm ready to go back on the road. Waaay more relaxing! 

Just opened another Etsy store for pearldaddy Wed. Extra pearls and clasps and things like that for sale. Right now, supplies. More pictures taken and some jewelry will get added in the next couple weeks too. So, I've been doing as much promotion online as I can - mostly while at the store - and trying to get all the things that keeping that place open entails too. Which is a lot. Have a couple custom orders I have to get to next week. Had to order some things for that so I have a week before I can really get started. 

Big art opening on Saturday at pearldaddy too. Party with music and all planned. So, there is still that to prepare for. Just finished the store newsletter today and'll get that cleaned up and off in the virtual mail later tonight. I also added a new listing on my regular Etsy site today. Spent the morning editing the photos and writing the description then did a bit of promo surfing. In the Treasury, leaving comments. In the forum joining in conversations and leaving links. Going to blogs and commenting there. (oh, I've got a pendant and chain in the Smidge May Giveaway; if you want to leave a comment there for your chance to win it: http://smidge.ca  OR you can always just get one from my Etsy store below)

My whole week has pretty much been spent in front of the computer. AND, I'm looking to pick up another part time job that will require an additional 10 hours or so infront of the computer. One of those do from home things working for someone else with an online store presence. 

I added a bunch of new links on this blogsite too. Some fun stuff to do and great places to look for cool stuff. Some Etsy related and some not. Look around and see what you can find. I'll probably be rearranging it as you look so don't freak out if you come back from a link and the link is somewhere else. I think I'll spend the rest of the week changing the blog layout around. Just so I can burn the hell out of my retinas! 

I don't think it's possible to spend too much time on the computer, no matter how nauseous it makes me feel. No matter how much my arms and wrists hurt. No matter how much my eyes burn. The computer is where it all happens! I have to be where it's all happening! 

Heck. I think I'll just set myself up with a table and a tent and hit the road! 

See that blaaahhg later in the year;}