Saved up

I have a few new pieces posting to the shop this week.

I'm considering creating and selling a tutorial for the Three Piece Convertible earrings (two piece pair below). Belle Armoire asked to publish one and I've also had a couple customers ask about one. What do you think?

for the Three Piece Convertible earrings (two piece pair below). Belle Armoire asked to publish one and I've also had a couple customers ask about one. What do you think?

I've written tutorials (one for the book, one for Belle Armoire) but with those I had some guidelines from the writer/editor.  It would have to wait until after the anthropologie order of course but I'd like to take more time to mull it over in my head.

I'd love to hear your thoughts - what do you expect from a tutorial that you purchase? What have you liked and not liked about tutorials you've purchased?

Game On

I'm happy to tell you that an order from ANTHROPOLOGIE is finally official. There was a bit of back and forth and a bit of "price point" and a bit of "ball park" and 37 emails, 3 phone calls and a vendor manual but its finally settled.

The samples

The size of the order initially suggested by the buyer (which is beyond my capacity at this point) has been whittled down to a very manageable quantity of seven different pieces with the ship date extended by a week. The flip side of that is that the pieces will only be available online. However the the flip side of THAT is that the samples may be included in a photo shoot which would be pretty cool, I must admit.

Its been a bit like jumping into the deep end really but I feel pretty good about it and I've certainly already learned a lot.  And now…its production time.

(The Etsy shop is relatively full and will stay open. I've even got some new pieces to add. Check back on Wednesday if you're interested.)

Today is the last day for orders in my Etsy shop before a bit of Christmas break. How much of a break it will be is yet to be determined as anthropologie is still working on my order which they expect to finalize by Christmas day at the latest.

Earthy beaded necklace

Now that the preliminary decisions have been made, I am working the an assistant buyer and buying operations coordinators and I do have to say that everyone I've talked to has been really nice. I sold a small selection of pieces to Terrain, anthropologie's earthy, garden/home goods "sister store", about 4 years ago so I'm still in the Urban Outfitters vendor system which makes things a bit easier. The legal vendor stuff is ever so fun to read (NOT) and a bit frightening at that.

And in other news... its so great to be part of a dark, jewelry finds collection over on Amy Tavern's blog. Probably no surprise that I love her work so I'm quite please to be there with such great company!

Active Waiting

So ANTHROPOLOGIE asked for a line sheet in July, they asked for samples in November, LOVED the samples in November and now, now I'm waiting. Waiting to hear if the price point is right and if they can accept the quantity I can produce.

I wasn't even going to share this, thinking that if it all goes pear shaped, am I really going to want to talk about it openly? But that sounds sort of like failure thinking, doesn't it?

And either way, this is not a failure. They're talking about 2000 pieces and my jewelry in all stores. That is not a failure. The fact that I can not produce 2000 pieces in two and a half months is also not a failure...but it SURE as heck gives one pause for thought!

I think I might be at a juncture. Stand by.

My husband has spent the entire Thanksgiving Holiday down for a count with some sort of bug and my reaction was to spend the entire holiday working. I know I'm on overload now because nothing is looking right. After reading this article on the dangers of multi-tasking for creatives and realizing that is exactly me, I decided I'm going to list a couple completed pieces in my Etsy shop and sign off for the day and go clear my head.

Last day for FREE Shipping (US and international) in my Etsy shop today - use coupon code THANKU on the last page of the checkout process.

Tiny one of a kind earrings. 

Thanks!

I have a LONG list of things to be thankful for today and one of them is that you've taken an interest in my work and take the time stop in here and see what I'm up to. That's a huge encouragement! Thank you so very much!

Now I'm off to feast with family and friends into the evening. Turkey, sweet potatoes, greens, pumpkin pie…the whole deal!

If you're interested I'm having a POP UP Black Friday Sale that lasts through the weekend. Use coupon code THANKU for Free Shipping on all purchase Friday, Nov. 29 - Monday, December 1.

The artists at my house: Part I

I'm so very thankful that I live in a house of creative people. This is something that Kyle and I as parents have focused on quite intentionally, that is, that everyone can and should be creative, whether it be with paints, or clay, or camera, or words, or plants or numbers. Creativity is needed in every area of life.

Ben has been happiest with a very fine black marker in hand since he was little. He likes line, he likes detail he likes order in all things, does it show?

Today, proudly, I 'm helping him get his Etsy shop up and running. The Robot Coloring page is the first thing we posted. The PDF downloads can be printed onto sticker paper, iron on transfers, shrink plastic or hey, just used for good old coloring fun! He's working on getting the prints posted sometime today and more coloring pages are in the works.