Off to Jamaica (tomorrow) for a week. I really need this vacation and am so looking forward to it!
I have never been to Jamaica before and I have heard lots of great things so I am confident that we will have a great time.
We are almost packed and just have to do a few last minute things then we are on our way!
Things have been ultra busy with Blushing Pixie Jewellery in the last week. I have had quite a few custom orders and several regular orders plus I am in a new shop called Poppies on Brant. It has made things a wee bit hectic over the past few days but I am both excited and happy about the success as well.
That being said, a little R and R is just what I need. I think I will actually miss making jewellery over the next week but I am sure that I will also be inspired by the water and beaches and people so that when I come back I will be all set to create some really great pieces!
See you in a week...
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Spring is right round the bend...
and I could not be happier! Winter is my least favourite season so I am not at all unhappy to see it go :)
So much is going on in life right now! Mostly good so I am not complaining.
First of all, we are off to Jamaica on the 27th. My husband, my daughter, my father in law (who is great) and his wife (also great) and of course...me! It has been a few years since we have gotten away due to a baby being in the hospital and then my broken knee, so this vacation has been a long time coming. I have never been to Jamaica before and I am really quite excited.
Piper, my daughter is doing great! She is getting really good at walking and she feels quite proud of herself when she is walking around. She is such an absolute delight! She is 100% what I am most proud of in life.
Business is going great as well. I had a slew of custom orders that I am now nearing the end of. About 60 pieces of just custom work in the last month. It has been a real time juggle to get through them with my job as well but I did manage. If I could keep up at this rate, I am sure I can make my living with jewellery. Time will tell I guess!
It looks like I am going to have my work sold in two more shops as well. I approached one of them and then I actually got approached by a shop. This is very exciting (and a first) for me!
I have also been approached by a charitable organization and we are trying to work out a deal for some custom stamped pieces. I hope that we are able to work together on it.
Speaking of stamped pieces....I am having so much fun right now with that! I love the creative expression and endless possibilities.
Here are a few pieces I have recently done:
So much is going on in life right now! Mostly good so I am not complaining.
First of all, we are off to Jamaica on the 27th. My husband, my daughter, my father in law (who is great) and his wife (also great) and of course...me! It has been a few years since we have gotten away due to a baby being in the hospital and then my broken knee, so this vacation has been a long time coming. I have never been to Jamaica before and I am really quite excited.
Piper, my daughter is doing great! She is getting really good at walking and she feels quite proud of herself when she is walking around. She is such an absolute delight! She is 100% what I am most proud of in life.
Business is going great as well. I had a slew of custom orders that I am now nearing the end of. About 60 pieces of just custom work in the last month. It has been a real time juggle to get through them with my job as well but I did manage. If I could keep up at this rate, I am sure I can make my living with jewellery. Time will tell I guess!
It looks like I am going to have my work sold in two more shops as well. I approached one of them and then I actually got approached by a shop. This is very exciting (and a first) for me!
I have also been approached by a charitable organization and we are trying to work out a deal for some custom stamped pieces. I hope that we are able to work together on it.
Speaking of stamped pieces....I am having so much fun right now with that! I love the creative expression and endless possibilities.
Here are a few pieces I have recently done:
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sorry for the lapse in posts. Life has been busy, busy.
I have made the decision to leave my job in august and go full force with Blushing Pixie jewellery.
I am kind of freaking out but I am also so excited.
This has been a dream of mine for the past few years.
I am doing a few things ahead of time to get myself ready. I am working towards being debt free, I am saving some paycheques in my bank account and of course, I am working on increasing sales.
Lately I have had a few bigger orders and have faced the challenge of making tight deadlines and also looking after my smaller customers with the same care that I would if I didn't have the bigger orders.
This is something I am striving to do at all times. I think it will be a key component to my success.
Some crazy things have happened in my personal life over the past week as well but I don't think it is wise to post details on here. All that I will say is that it was a stressful week that has ended with a great sense of satisfaction and relief. It is amazing that really trying situations can bring a couple so much closer when they work together to resolve issues. That is one good thing we got out of it all.
I have made the decision to leave my job in august and go full force with Blushing Pixie jewellery.
I am kind of freaking out but I am also so excited.
This has been a dream of mine for the past few years.
I am doing a few things ahead of time to get myself ready. I am working towards being debt free, I am saving some paycheques in my bank account and of course, I am working on increasing sales.
Lately I have had a few bigger orders and have faced the challenge of making tight deadlines and also looking after my smaller customers with the same care that I would if I didn't have the bigger orders.
This is something I am striving to do at all times. I think it will be a key component to my success.
Some crazy things have happened in my personal life over the past week as well but I don't think it is wise to post details on here. All that I will say is that it was a stressful week that has ended with a great sense of satisfaction and relief. It is amazing that really trying situations can bring a couple so much closer when they work together to resolve issues. That is one good thing we got out of it all.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Brink of Wickedness
I am quickly approaching a cross-roads in life and I am both scared to death and excited!!
I am thinking of taking a leap of faith (in myself) and turning my little part time business into my living.
Long and confusing circumstances are pushing me in this direction but maybe it is just the kick in toosh I need. I can stay in my current job if I wanted but I can't do it with integrity to myself. So I am taking steps to set myself up and be as prepared as one can be going into business for themselves on a full time basis.
I am scared the sales won't be there but I have to believe in myself and I do have goals etc for boosting sales. I am also going to try and get some small business help locally to keep me on the right track and learn some new things.
So I am 99% there on this decision and I can't wait!
I am thinking of taking a leap of faith (in myself) and turning my little part time business into my living.
Long and confusing circumstances are pushing me in this direction but maybe it is just the kick in toosh I need. I can stay in my current job if I wanted but I can't do it with integrity to myself. So I am taking steps to set myself up and be as prepared as one can be going into business for themselves on a full time basis.
I am scared the sales won't be there but I have to believe in myself and I do have goals etc for boosting sales. I am also going to try and get some small business help locally to keep me on the right track and learn some new things.
So I am 99% there on this decision and I can't wait!
Monday, January 31, 2011
On The Eve of February
Well tomorrow is February first, which is the start of the downward climb towards the end of winter. Unfortunately it looks like we are about to get slammed with 20 to 30 cms of snow but at least the end of winter is in sight.
On the business front, I have really been feeling creative and have been making a whole bunch of different styles. It's been a blast!
One of the new things I am doing is metal stamped jewellery.
I like that I can do fun things and really be creative. I just need to get a smidgen better at the actual stamping but it is coming for sure.
Here is one of my latest and greatest:
Of course I am also still doing my regular style of designs. Yesterday I made this pretty little number:
On the business front, I have really been feeling creative and have been making a whole bunch of different styles. It's been a blast!
One of the new things I am doing is metal stamped jewellery.
I like that I can do fun things and really be creative. I just need to get a smidgen better at the actual stamping but it is coming for sure.
Here is one of my latest and greatest:
Of course I am also still doing my regular style of designs. Yesterday I made this pretty little number:
Friday, January 21, 2011
Great Wolf Lodge
We are off to Great Wolf Lodge tomorrow and I am very excited! We are having a much needed family fun weekend! I am sure we will all love it and the timing is perfect.
See you next week :)
See you next week :)
Monday, January 17, 2011
10% Jewellery Designer 90% Business Person
I think that one of the things that I hadn't really accounted for was that having a small business with jewellery design wouldn't actually mean making loads of jewellery! Lately I have been feeling like I am 10% jewellery designer and 90% business person. Well, actually, that would be the case if I was being totally responsible and organized. The truth is, I need to catch up on pictures, listing items on etsy, re-stocking shops, putting on price tags and doing the books. I should really focus on all that other stuff before I go making a bunch more stuff but it is so hard to do that! I have so many ideas and things I want to make. I guess it is part and parcel though isn't it? One day, when I am doing this full time I will have to be very diligent at setting time aside to do the less glamourous tasks that are necessary evils in this business.
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