http://www.craftsyble.com/in-the-spotlight-alyxandrea-design/
I think it turned out really nice.
Follow me during my daily trials and experimentations as I try to survive 40+ hours of over-the-top stress working with people who are homeless while balancing home life and now trying to make it in the jewelry making business. Yikes!!
Showing posts with label custom jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label custom jewelry. Show all posts
Friday, October 4, 2013
Craftsyble
Just wanted to pop in and share that I was featured in today's Craftsyble blog.
http://www.craftsyble.com/in-the-spotlight-alyxandrea-design/
I think it turned out really nice.
http://www.craftsyble.com/in-the-spotlight-alyxandrea-design/
I think it turned out really nice.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
VAMPIRE DIARIES!?!?
I have mentioned The Promotional Frenzie Team on Etsy a few times but want to give another GIANT shout out to this amazing team. https://www.etsy.com/teams/7512/promotional-frenzy-team
I started creating and selling my jewelry in October 2012 and quickly realized that it is EXTREMELY difficult to sell jewelry on-line. Mostly because everyone and their mother is trying to do it. I was lost and looking for direction and I came across this team. I actually had to beg and plead to be let in because I didn't have enough "followers" to meet the criteria. Mona aka Sewing Grannie https://www.etsy.com/people/sewinggranny allowed me to join and became my mentor.
The team has helped my shop in so many ways and I have also had the opportunity to develop on-line friendships with people from around the world.
One of the many opportunities that have arisen because of this team is the opportunity to join
The Artisan Group
Janet Galla of Trinkets N Whatnots www.TrinketsNWhatnots.etsy.com is a member and let PFT know that they were excepting applications so I applied and was accepted.
I had to have one of Janet's rings!
So, The Artisan Group (TAG) is basically a small group of artisans who provides hand made gifts to celebrities, members of the press and other entertainment industry leaders. Major award gift events include The Emmy's, The Oscars and The Golden Globes.
These large events involve sending in 100 pieces of art to be given out at the "Celebrity Gift Lounge" before the event. TAG representatives at the event then make sure to get at least one picture of a celebrity with each participant's piece of art.
Making 100 pieces to be gifted is a little bit above what I am capable of right now. Janet Galla of Trinkets N Whatnots gifted her rings to the last Acadamy Awards. I decided to start out small and 100 of my business cards are being included in the celebrity gift bags at the 2013 Prime
Time Emmy's. My husband is working on adding some pictures of my products to my business cards for this event.
TAG is also occasionally contacted by stylists for different TV shows and movies. I watch very little TV but a guilty pleasure of mine is The Vampire Diaries. The stylist for The Vampire Diaries has asked TAG to provide 25 samples of jewelry to possibly be used on next season's episodes. They did the same thing last year and chose 13 of the 25 pieces that were worn on the show.
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Every time I watch The Vampire Diaries I watch the jewelry and dream about how exciting it would be if someone was wearing a beaded ribbon necklace. I am sure that my designs would grow in popularity if it could just be seen on this show which seems to fit perfectly with my style. I never could have imagined that it may actually be one of MY necklaces on the show!
So, needless to say I was extremely excited when TAG announced this opportunity. I was in the middle of meeting with a client at work when registration began so I was sure that I wouldn't get a spot but I did. I was so incredibly excited. I really hope the stylist is open to trying something new and different.
I'm still contemplating exactly what I am going to send but it has to be something I can easily reproduce. I'm thinking I may do paper beads so that I can continually sell the same design in my shop but I can still say that they are one-of-a-kind because no two beads will be identical. I may do a necklace similar to one of these but probably with red paper and black ribbon.
I started creating and selling my jewelry in October 2012 and quickly realized that it is EXTREMELY difficult to sell jewelry on-line. Mostly because everyone and their mother is trying to do it. I was lost and looking for direction and I came across this team. I actually had to beg and plead to be let in because I didn't have enough "followers" to meet the criteria. Mona aka Sewing Grannie https://www.etsy.com/people/sewinggranny allowed me to join and became my mentor.
The team has helped my shop in so many ways and I have also had the opportunity to develop on-line friendships with people from around the world.
One of the many opportunities that have arisen because of this team is the opportunity to join
The Artisan Group
Janet Galla of Trinkets N Whatnots www.TrinketsNWhatnots.etsy.com is a member and let PFT know that they were excepting applications so I applied and was accepted.
I had to have one of Janet's rings!
So, The Artisan Group (TAG) is basically a small group of artisans who provides hand made gifts to celebrities, members of the press and other entertainment industry leaders. Major award gift events include The Emmy's, The Oscars and The Golden Globes.
These large events involve sending in 100 pieces of art to be given out at the "Celebrity Gift Lounge" before the event. TAG representatives at the event then make sure to get at least one picture of a celebrity with each participant's piece of art.
Making 100 pieces to be gifted is a little bit above what I am capable of right now. Janet Galla of Trinkets N Whatnots gifted her rings to the last Acadamy Awards. I decided to start out small and 100 of my business cards are being included in the celebrity gift bags at the 2013 Prime
Time Emmy's. My husband is working on adding some pictures of my products to my business cards for this event.
TAG is also occasionally contacted by stylists for different TV shows and movies. I watch very little TV but a guilty pleasure of mine is The Vampire Diaries. The stylist for The Vampire Diaries has asked TAG to provide 25 samples of jewelry to possibly be used on next season's episodes. They did the same thing last year and chose 13 of the 25 pieces that were worn on the show.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Every time I watch The Vampire Diaries I watch the jewelry and dream about how exciting it would be if someone was wearing a beaded ribbon necklace. I am sure that my designs would grow in popularity if it could just be seen on this show which seems to fit perfectly with my style. I never could have imagined that it may actually be one of MY necklaces on the show!
So, needless to say I was extremely excited when TAG announced this opportunity. I was in the middle of meeting with a client at work when registration began so I was sure that I wouldn't get a spot but I did. I was so incredibly excited. I really hope the stylist is open to trying something new and different.
I'm still contemplating exactly what I am going to send but it has to be something I can easily reproduce. I'm thinking I may do paper beads so that I can continually sell the same design in my shop but I can still say that they are one-of-a-kind because no two beads will be identical. I may do a necklace similar to one of these but probably with red paper and black ribbon.
I have two big events this week so I will hopefully be able to start working on something next week. I will make sure to share a picture when I am done. Any suggestions are welcome of course :)
Watch out for my next blog which will be the follow up to The RAW Artists Showcase which takes place this Thursday, June 20th. I had promised that I was going to share pictures of the dress I found and the jewelry I made.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Ladies Rock Camp
I recently participated in the most amazing activity ever invented...Ladies Rock Camp. grcmadison.wordpress.com/ladies-rock-camp/
When I arrived at camp on Friday morning along with 30 or so other women I had no idea how to play guitar and had definitely never been in a band before. We started with some silly activities to help us get to know each other. Among the diverse group of equally amazing women included a school psychologist, a physician, a project manager and a couple of women who were retired and this was on their "bucket lists." I came with a good friend of mine from work but many of the women had never met anyone else in the group before.
We met our coaches who are all professional musicians:
Beth Kille - www.bethkille.com/
Shawnie Marks - http://www.reverbnation.com/shawndellmarks
Anna Vogelzang - theanna.com/
Emily Hurd - http://www.emilyhurd.com/
**One of the songs she sang for us made me cry like a baby**
Henrieta Tornyai - http://www.henrietatornyai.com/
Marlo Dobrient
Julia McConahay - www.juliamcconahay.com
Then all the women who wanted to play drums took a spot around the room and the rest of us wandered around and joined a drummer until there were 5 bands.
My band from left to right is Karen (drums), Char (keyboards),Lynn (vocals), Pepper (bass), Nicole (lead guitar), Me (guitar).
For three days we learned our instruments, learned how to write music and worked with our band coach to bring it all together. With the help of Beth Kille and Shawni Marks we wrote our song called "Don't You Wish You Were Me" and "Free Byrdz" were born.
On Sunday night at 7 pm we performed our song at The Brink Lounge in Madison WI.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=817606674628&set=vb.211702434&type=2&theater
I have never smiled so much, laughed so hard, felt so elated since maybe my daughter was born and possibly on my wedding day. Threw that in for Dale, my awesome husband who also recorded the video above.
I wore this AlyxAndrea Design original to help me feel like a rockstar :)
I can't wait to go back next year!!!!! I think the blisters on my fingers have finally turned to calluses so I can start playing again and hopefully learn a little more before then. A few of us even talked about continuing to play and start our own band.
It was a truly remarkable experience. You wouldn't know to meet me now but I was always terribly shy. I barely spoke until I was in middle school and would have panic attacks when giving speeches even in college. Making phone calls, talking to strangers, asking for assistance in a store, the list went on and on of situations that caused extreme anxiety for me for most of my life. I got over my fears by doing what I feared over and over again until it didn't bother me anymore. Every time I go to a training or seminar I make sure to ask a question a least once as a way to practice speaking up. I took a job as a hospital switch board operator several years ago to get used to making and receiving phone calls. I do group facilitation and volunteer to lead trainings, classes and meetings as much as possible in my career in social services. I haven't completely cured my social anxiety but I work on it every single day.
So getting up in front of a bar full of people to play an instrument I had just learned was a huge deal for me. I admit I was a little, ok a LOT nervous, but once I was on stage I felt exhilarated and just had fun. I REALLY had fun.
When I arrived at camp on Friday morning along with 30 or so other women I had no idea how to play guitar and had definitely never been in a band before. We started with some silly activities to help us get to know each other. Among the diverse group of equally amazing women included a school psychologist, a physician, a project manager and a couple of women who were retired and this was on their "bucket lists." I came with a good friend of mine from work but many of the women had never met anyone else in the group before.
We met our coaches who are all professional musicians:
Beth Kille - www.bethkille.com/
Shawnie Marks - http://www.reverbnation.com/shawndellmarks
Anna Vogelzang - theanna.com/
Emily Hurd - http://www.emilyhurd.com/
**One of the songs she sang for us made me cry like a baby**
Henrieta Tornyai - http://www.henrietatornyai.com/
Marlo Dobrient
Julia McConahay - www.juliamcconahay.com
Then all the women who wanted to play drums took a spot around the room and the rest of us wandered around and joined a drummer until there were 5 bands.
My band from left to right is Karen (drums), Char (keyboards),Lynn (vocals), Pepper (bass), Nicole (lead guitar), Me (guitar).
For three days we learned our instruments, learned how to write music and worked with our band coach to bring it all together. With the help of Beth Kille and Shawni Marks we wrote our song called "Don't You Wish You Were Me" and "Free Byrdz" were born.
On Sunday night at 7 pm we performed our song at The Brink Lounge in Madison WI.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=817606674628&set=vb.211702434&type=2&theater
I wore this AlyxAndrea Design original to help me feel like a rockstar :)
I can't wait to go back next year!!!!! I think the blisters on my fingers have finally turned to calluses so I can start playing again and hopefully learn a little more before then. A few of us even talked about continuing to play and start our own band.
It was a truly remarkable experience. You wouldn't know to meet me now but I was always terribly shy. I barely spoke until I was in middle school and would have panic attacks when giving speeches even in college. Making phone calls, talking to strangers, asking for assistance in a store, the list went on and on of situations that caused extreme anxiety for me for most of my life. I got over my fears by doing what I feared over and over again until it didn't bother me anymore. Every time I go to a training or seminar I make sure to ask a question a least once as a way to practice speaking up. I took a job as a hospital switch board operator several years ago to get used to making and receiving phone calls. I do group facilitation and volunteer to lead trainings, classes and meetings as much as possible in my career in social services. I haven't completely cured my social anxiety but I work on it every single day.
So getting up in front of a bar full of people to play an instrument I had just learned was a huge deal for me. I admit I was a little, ok a LOT nervous, but once I was on stage I felt exhilarated and just had fun. I REALLY had fun.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Gift and Plant Fair
Please join me!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
St Ann’s Gym
324 N Harrison St
Stoughton, WI
Over 30 vendors will be available with gift items
Graduations, Weddings,
Spring & Summer Birthdays, etc.
Perennials & Baskets of Annuals will be available.
Other annual flowers can be ordered.
Proceeds benefit Journey of the Heart
Mission Trip to Indianapolis in July 2013
Monday, January 21, 2013
Etsy Teams and Another First
It's been about 3 months since I first opened a shop on Etsy. I took a picture of a necklace I made using my phone, uploaded the pic to my store and added a price. Absolutely nothing happened because the picture was terrible and the description was worse.
Then I discovered teams. Teams are little forums with groups of people with common interests. There are teams for asking questions or posting new items or for just about anything you can think of. I found a lot of good information and even got a full shop review from the "Helpful Relevancy Team."
The best team a person could ever find is the "Promotional Frenzy Team." You need to have 500 people following your shop in order to join which I had to work really hard to get to. But once you are welcomed into this amazing group of people that are becoming friends the rewards are limitless. I have gotten a ton of advice on how to improve my pics, descriptions and other aspects of selling on Etsy. My views have skyrocketed because everyone on the team must participate in activities which involve promoting each others items on Etsy and with social media.
I can also thank these incredible people at "PromoFrenzy" for helping me get my first sale. It happened less than a week after I was allowed to join.
I spend a lot of time on this forum both chatting with team members and promoting their items. It's fun and extremely helpful. If I'm feeling discouraged I get encouragement, if I'm having difficulties with my photos I get advice, if something positive happens I get applause.
I've actually withdrew myself from most of the teams I joined initially because they were basically just post and run teams. Meaning you post a link to your item and it just sits there and no one does anything with it. Basically a huge waste of time.
One other fairly helpful team has been the "Wisconsin Craft Fair Explorers." They don't seem to be terribly active but I found out about a craft fair that will be in Madison on February 9th. So I applied for the "Art from the Heart Craft Fair" which is juried and got excepted. I was really excited for about 2 seconds and then I realized that I had no idea what craft fairs involve and I have nothing to use for a display.
So I started Googling and got some ideas. I decided to see if I could find anything unusual to use for displays at thrift stores. I hit the jackpot on my first try.
The store had a ton of these new but not put together well table top easels.
I bought 6 for $6 each!! I tightened the screws and good as new. I also bought 2 tall candle holders with leaves that will be great for hanging necklaces off of.
I used ornament hooks to hang necklaces off of the raised part of the easel and ta da.....
I'm still a little nervous about the fair. I'm not much of a salesperson, I'd much prefer to give things away. Plus I'm terrified that no one will like my jewelry.
I took the 2 days before the fair off work so I can prepare and also shield my co-workers for my neurotic self. I'm sure I will be a nervous wreck and I will wonder around asking everyone I meet if I'm nuts for thinking I can do this and complaining I'm going to fail miserably.
Of course I'm fairly certain I will be just fine and I really do think I design jewelry that is unlike anything else available for people to buy but also beautiful and looks good. Sometimes there is a reason why no one makes something - it's not good but I don't think my design is one of those things.
So if you are anywhere near Madison WI on February 9th, stop by Union South on University Ave. for Art from the Heart.
Then I discovered teams. Teams are little forums with groups of people with common interests. There are teams for asking questions or posting new items or for just about anything you can think of. I found a lot of good information and even got a full shop review from the "Helpful Relevancy Team."
The best team a person could ever find is the "Promotional Frenzy Team." You need to have 500 people following your shop in order to join which I had to work really hard to get to. But once you are welcomed into this amazing group of people that are becoming friends the rewards are limitless. I have gotten a ton of advice on how to improve my pics, descriptions and other aspects of selling on Etsy. My views have skyrocketed because everyone on the team must participate in activities which involve promoting each others items on Etsy and with social media.
I can also thank these incredible people at "PromoFrenzy" for helping me get my first sale. It happened less than a week after I was allowed to join.
I spend a lot of time on this forum both chatting with team members and promoting their items. It's fun and extremely helpful. If I'm feeling discouraged I get encouragement, if I'm having difficulties with my photos I get advice, if something positive happens I get applause.
I've actually withdrew myself from most of the teams I joined initially because they were basically just post and run teams. Meaning you post a link to your item and it just sits there and no one does anything with it. Basically a huge waste of time.
One other fairly helpful team has been the "Wisconsin Craft Fair Explorers." They don't seem to be terribly active but I found out about a craft fair that will be in Madison on February 9th. So I applied for the "Art from the Heart Craft Fair" which is juried and got excepted. I was really excited for about 2 seconds and then I realized that I had no idea what craft fairs involve and I have nothing to use for a display.
So I started Googling and got some ideas. I decided to see if I could find anything unusual to use for displays at thrift stores. I hit the jackpot on my first try.
The store had a ton of these new but not put together well table top easels.
I bought 6 for $6 each!! I tightened the screws and good as new. I also bought 2 tall candle holders with leaves that will be great for hanging necklaces off of.
I used ornament hooks to hang necklaces off of the raised part of the easel and ta da.....
I'm still a little nervous about the fair. I'm not much of a salesperson, I'd much prefer to give things away. Plus I'm terrified that no one will like my jewelry.
I took the 2 days before the fair off work so I can prepare and also shield my co-workers for my neurotic self. I'm sure I will be a nervous wreck and I will wonder around asking everyone I meet if I'm nuts for thinking I can do this and complaining I'm going to fail miserably.
Of course I'm fairly certain I will be just fine and I really do think I design jewelry that is unlike anything else available for people to buy but also beautiful and looks good. Sometimes there is a reason why no one makes something - it's not good but I don't think my design is one of those things.
So if you are anywhere near Madison WI on February 9th, stop by Union South on University Ave. for Art from the Heart.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Custom piece
A friend of mine asked me to make a custom necklace for a good friend of hers. Her friend who is 39 just found out that she has a 7cm tumor in her brain. My friend wanted me to use her favorite color green and find a pendant that portrayed a sense of peace. She expressed that there are few other sentiments for her friend from childhood who will soon be leaving her 2 young children.
I was worried that I would have a hard time but me friend was happy with it. I wasn't able to take a quality picture of it but here it is.
I went to the craft store with no clue what I would get. I ended up going with a phoenix because it represents rebirth or transformation. I also feel all birds portray freedom and insight.
I've been in social services for over 10 years and it's a new concept for me to help people in this creative way. Just like counseling someone in my office doesn't solve a problem creating a piece of jewelry doesn't either. All we can ask for is that our words or actions may offer a little bit of comfort when life hands you a lousy hand.
I'd love to hear thoughts about this. Thank you!!!
www.alyxandreadesign.webs.com
I was worried that I would have a hard time but me friend was happy with it. I wasn't able to take a quality picture of it but here it is.
I went to the craft store with no clue what I would get. I ended up going with a phoenix because it represents rebirth or transformation. I also feel all birds portray freedom and insight.
I've been in social services for over 10 years and it's a new concept for me to help people in this creative way. Just like counseling someone in my office doesn't solve a problem creating a piece of jewelry doesn't either. All we can ask for is that our words or actions may offer a little bit of comfort when life hands you a lousy hand.
I'd love to hear thoughts about this. Thank you!!!
www.alyxandreadesign.webs.com
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