Working Hard....

I am trying really hard to promote my Etsy store/work.

The last couple of months have been almost dead as far as sales go. Only just this past week I have sold a few things and it's certainly brightened me up!

I want to get my shop with at least 2 pages full by the time I have my Christmas sale, but it's hard to get going (nothing new there!). Just last week Summer had a super bad fever reaching temps that were going to make us head to hospital. Fortunately she got over it after a few days and then hasn't come down with anything since. So we're not really sure what was wrong.......

I am so glad for modern science and remedies.

Summer and I spent the day at my Mothers yesterday. It takes me about 2 hours to drive there and then 2 back.....so it's a big day out for us. But it gets us out and I get to spend some much needed time with my mum and Summer gets to play with the parrots and see her gram & pops. It's worth that long ride.

This is my latest piece:

I am still enjoying my new background and look of my shop.

Still wasting time on Pinterest lol....

It's been overcast here for days now....humid and no rain.....well there was a little rain the other evening, actually it looked like it would storm, but it didn't. It's great for my photography!!

Going through some stresses at the moment, but I have to remind myself that we are fed, clothed and have a roof over our heads and we have each other and that is a heck of a lot to be happy about! And I get to have a hobby like this. It's hard sometimes to not get caught up in a bubble of my own trouble. Thinking of Jo  right now .... hope you get better hun ♥

And I hope everyone else is well too!! Sending out much love to you all 

Em ♥

New Background & Jewellery

Thanks to those of you who gave me your opinion on my background choices...I finally redid all the photography for my shop and I love my new background. I didn't end up going with what I posted about, but it got me to the choice I eventually made. 

It's cohesive, fresh and bright and I love how my shop looks now :)

As much as I thought the grey was for me, I was tired of it. Yes it helped my silver work stand out, but it was kinda lacking that certain something...

I have been trying really hard not to let the lack of sales get me down and stop me from making new pieces. It's damn hard though. When I make a sale it kinda motivates me to make more jewellery......when those sales completely vanish into thin air....well my desire to create kinda goes with it - as I'm sure is the case for many creators out there.

Now I just figure that, I have the supplies there, so I may as well use them and enjoy myself!! And I am definitely working on stocking up to do my first market someday soonish. I think I have an idea how I want to make my set up and once I have that figured, I will be able to see how much stock I need.

Next is a picture of a ring I just finished up this morning:

Yes I have been incorporating my latest skill with my new work lol...so I guess there will be a heap of work with tube set gemstones. I'm also working on my plain bezel settings - I find them the hardest to make look nice as there really is no forgiveness in the edge, not like scalloped or sawtooth or like those fancy bezel wires...you can kinda get away with all sorts when you use those settings, but with plain bezel.....well you can't get away with much at all! The reason I want to do more with this bezel type is I think it gives a more finished look to my work, as much as I enjoy using the fancy bezels, I want the stones to stand out more and the embellishments I use around the stones. I'll still use the other wire...but I want to get this wire perfected!

Apparently it's going to start heating up here this week....not happy....not happy at all. I still hate the heat, as much as I did last time it was hot. I can forsee a huuuuuge power bill at the end of the year :(

Well that is it for now....I have a couple of pieces I need to finish up and photograph and list over the next few days. Oh and I did a treasury this morning...first I've done in aaages. It was fun though and I tried to stick to a colour theme (which I find hard).

Have a great day :)

Em ♥

Changes

I'm no further with my pieces from my last post lol.

Summer is sitting on the desk next to me chatting away, whilst flicking through a catalogue, most of what she says I can't understand, but it's cute all the same :)

Well I have been changing the photo's of my jewelry for my Etsy shop. 

I am undecided if I am happy with the new shots or not, I don't really have many people to ask opinions of either.....so I'm asking you guys for your opinion. 

Which do you prefer?? As much as I like the grey, I think I find it boring. It does help the ring stand out, but the picture itself doesn't draw me in particularly. And now I've changed a heap of pictures in my shop, I'm not sure that having the exact same background for every piece is the way to go either. I don't want to clutter up my shop by having all different pictures, I like to keep it sameish. I dunno...I hate making these kind of decisions :(  It's lots of work to change everything, but I want it to look right.

Thanks for your help guys :) 

Em♥

On The Bench

I think I am slowly coming out of my creative block.

 

It's been a few weeks since I have made something decent - i.e non little instant gratification (kinda) pmc things. And I have been really down lately about where Etsy is taking me. I know that the Economy has taken it's toll...and the changes Etsy have made, have only made things harder for me. 

Still getting favourites......but no sales...not even with a 15% off sale in my shop :(

I am over it though.

For now I am trying to work towards my goal of stocking up for the Markets.

There really isn't much else I can do. I will still list all my new work in my shop, but I won't relist much anymore. I really haven't seen much return for bothering, though I know they still recommend you do (of course they do!).

This morning I have played a little at my bench on these things:

Then after house work and washing etc, I made these yummy yums:

Then...thanks to Jo from Gemhaven, I have been wasting time doing this

lol

All the time I waste at this computer could be put to Much! better use....

but nah. I love the internet. I've learnt sooo much from the internet over the years, it's gotten me where I am today and I'm happy for that...cept for the big butt haha.

Well I am about to make some curried egg sandwiches for lunch and then hopefully get back to the bench before making Spaghetti Bol for dinner :)

How is Etsy and it's changes working for you now?? Do you think you have it sorted? I don't :(

Em ♥

Bah Humbug...

I'm tired. 

Tired of Etsy and tired of trying to figure out how to make it work for me and my teeny tiny shop. Just as I felt I had a little itty bitty future there, it all comes to a screeching halt. 

I am fully aware that I am not the only one .....

There are sellers there, that are in a much bigger predicament than I.

Fortunately for me this is only a hobby.

I feel bad for those who need to make a living from Etsy and are now struggling.

I've tweaked and retweaked and fiddled and fumbled with my tags and titles.

No idea if what I am doing is doing me any good. 

Just confused.

Frustrated.

Irritated.

Pessimistic.

Now I wonder if even having a sale is worth it. Would anyone even find me to bother buying? Do I have to always have a sale to make a sale?? Yes, I still get favourites....but not as many as I did when relisting was the key to it all.

More and more the markets are calling my name. But sadly as a side effect of Etsy's Relevancy change, I've been super unproductive. Unmotivated.  Sure, I've tried a new technique out and succeeded. And I want to do more with it. But as for making things for my shop, I've made about 1 pair of earrings :(

I know I need to get making and stocking my shop if I want to be more successful, to reach a broader audience, to keep people coming back. But now in the back of my mind is 'is it worth it'?? If big shops can't be seen, how will mine? I will NOT sell on the other E. No Siree. And there really isn't any other avenue for me to sell through online.

Sigh. . . not upbuilding I know. 

But sometimes it helps me to write it down and put it out there.

Any advice?? Tips??

Em ♥