My daughter, who is now officially a teenager
created a TON of kids jewelry over the summer and I am finally getting a chance to take pictures of them and get them listed on Etsy.
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 beaded ribbon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beaded ribbon. Show all posts
Friday, December 13, 2013
Kid-ding Around
I'm nearing the end of a very long first semester of graduate school. I just submitted my final assignment which was a policy analysis of Public Housing...yawn. So I can get back to focusing a little bit of attention on AlyxAndrea Design again.
My daughter, who is now officially a teenager
created a TON of kids jewelry over the summer and I am finally getting a chance to take pictures of them and get them listed on Etsy.
My daughter, who is now officially a teenager
created a TON of kids jewelry over the summer and I am finally getting a chance to take pictures of them and get them listed on Etsy.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Sweet Corn!!! & My So Called Life :)
It sure has been a LONG summer! I think I over booked myself just a tad. Full-time job has gotten too stressful for words and then I started a part-time job facilitating groups for men on probation and parole. It's something I've done before and REALLY enjoy it. However, 12 hour days just aren't for me.
Got some great news though, I got into graduate school so I'm actually going down to part-time at the one job and switching from working with women who are homeless to families who are homeless The families are not yet in the shelter because we have a long waiting list. I'm sure no one really thinks to get put on a waiting list before they become homeless! So, it will be nice to go down to part-time but I'm not looking forward to seeing kids who are sleeping in cars or on the floors of other people's homes. But working with single women gets difficult too because there is so much mental illness that makes everything so difficult. NO ONE would deny a person housing solely because they have cancer or heart disease but a person with severe mental health issues really struggles to obtain and maintain housing sometimes. It bothers me tremendously that people seem to think that mental illness is some sort of choice or a consequence for poor choices or something. Mental illness is biological and develops by no fault of the person.
Check out blogs from this insightful and amazing woman who was homeless if you want to learn more: http://www.squidoo.com/Homeless-Experiences
I really do have a passion for helping people with mental illness and I could probably go on all day about the injustices but I am BURNT OUT. I very much plan to return to mental health related work but if I don't take a break I may end up quitting forever. So, I'm going to work with families for awhile and see how it goes.
As far as AlyxAndrea Design goes you may have noticed that I've been a little absent. I've been doing a few art fairs but my on-line presence has been nearly non-existent. Just too busy but as I switch to part-time soon I'm hoping I will be back in full force. I also only have one more craft fair of the season which is the:
Sweet Corn Festival
Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18
Sun Prairie WI
http://www.sunprairiechamber.com/Sweet-Corn-Festival.68.0.html
This will be my first 2 day show and I'm a little nervous that my fibromyalgia body won't be able to handle it. But, I am excited because it is a really large festival and I'm hoping for some good traffic. Many of the other fairs I did this summer have been really slow. But since this was my first year I'm treating it as a learning experience. I rather expensive learning experience but I'm hoping I will do better to choose shows that will work for me next year.
Coming soon....I need to finally share my experience at the RAW Artists Showcase. I need to tweek a few things and get that up because it has been 2 months. I'm excited to share how it went but just haven't had time to write it all down.
I wish had some new products to share today but I haven't made much time for creating. The only thing I've been doing is getting products for a $10 and $5 table for craft fairs. My daughter made a ton of kids jewelry to be sold at $5 and I made some really simple adult jewelry for $10. I'm not planning to put any of the kids jewelry on Etsy but maybe whatever is left of the adult stuff after my last fair.
I've listed this one sad pair of earrings recently:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/158362036
http://www.sunprairiechamber.com/Sweet-Corn-Festival.68.0.html
This will be my first 2 day show and I'm a little nervous that my fibromyalgia body won't be able to handle it. But, I am excited because it is a really large festival and I'm hoping for some good traffic. Many of the other fairs I did this summer have been really slow. But since this was my first year I'm treating it as a learning experience. I rather expensive learning experience but I'm hoping I will do better to choose shows that will work for me next year.
Coming soon....I need to finally share my experience at the RAW Artists Showcase. I need to tweek a few things and get that up because it has been 2 months. I'm excited to share how it went but just haven't had time to write it all down.
I wish had some new products to share today but I haven't made much time for creating. The only thing I've been doing is getting products for a $10 and $5 table for craft fairs. My daughter made a ton of kids jewelry to be sold at $5 and I made some really simple adult jewelry for $10. I'm not planning to put any of the kids jewelry on Etsy but maybe whatever is left of the adult stuff after my last fair.
I've listed this one sad pair of earrings recently:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/158362036
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, May 21, 2013
RAW Artists Showcase
Sometimes I feel like this whole jewelry business thing is moving a little too quickly for my little brain. I've had so many amazing opportunities in such a short amount of time. It's hard to believe I just came up with my design 7 months ago!
So here I am with yet another first. I added a profile onto the RAW Artists website and expected it to sit and die there. Less than a month later I was asked to participate in Madison's biggest showcase yet.
Check out the website and you will see why I might be a tad bit scared out of my mind. First of all there are REAL artists attending, people who have been performing and creating art their entire lives. I feel like a total amateur.
So here I am with yet another first. I added a profile onto the RAW Artists website and expected it to sit and die there. Less than a month later I was asked to participate in Madison's biggest showcase yet.
Check out the website and you will see why I might be a tad bit scared out of my mind. First of all there are REAL artists attending, people who have been performing and creating art their entire lives. I feel like a total amateur.
It is a HUGE opportunity though and I am thrilled. Part of the event is to have professional photography of my display and products as well as a video interview at the event. All for me to keep for future promotion. From what I've heard it is also a great place to network and make connections in the local art scene.
I am a little worried about the whole "cocktail attire" thing. I work at a homeless shelter and wear jeans to work. I've never worn a cocktail dress in my life! Hopefully I can find something nice at a thrift store. But again, the excitement outweighs the scary stuff. I may be a tad neurotic and full of self doubt at times but I'm sure I will do just fine and will probably have a lot of fun. I hope I will be in a good spot to watch the music and fashion shows.
If you are in the Madison WI area and would like to attend please chose "AlyxAndrea Design" as the artist you would like to support when purchasing your ticket. A mere $10 gets you 5 hours of entertainment and visual art displays. There are a total of 30 artists being featured at the event so there is sure to be something for everyone.
Check back to see the dress I find and the jewelry I design to go with it.
If you are in the Madison WI area and would like to attend please chose "AlyxAndrea Design" as the artist you would like to support when purchasing your ticket. A mere $10 gets you 5 hours of entertainment and visual art displays. There are a total of 30 artists being featured at the event so there is sure to be something for everyone.
Check back to see the dress I find and the jewelry I design to go with it.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
AlyxAndrea Design will be at the 2013 Fresh Air Craft Fair
Music: Local folk/pop musician Adam Rostad will be performing from 12pm-3pm. This versatile artist creates original songs and unique covers in many different styles and genres. Don’t miss this up-and-coming artist!
Date: May 11th 2013, 10am – 3pm Rain or Shine
Location: Elver Park, 1250 McKenna Boulevard, Madison, WI 53719
What is the Madison Parks Fresh Air Craft Fair?
Madison Parks is pleased to host the Fresh Air Craft Fair on May 11th, from 10am-3pm. Local artists and craft vendors will be showcasing and selling their original works including jewelry, pottery, paper goods, glass works, and other handmade items.
Activities
Kids: There will be plenty of activities for kids including spring themed kid’s crafts. The Wisconsin Kiter’s Club will be flying kites for demonstration, as well as hosting a kite making workshop, so kids can bring home their own kite creation. Also, Madison Parks hayrides will be available for $2 per person around Elver Park.
Food: Attendees will be able to purchase snacks from Curt’s Gourmet Popcorn and Jim’s Kettle Corn. The Santa Fe Food Cart will be serving burritos, tacos, and other southwest classics. Music: Local folk/pop musician Adam Rostad will be performing from 12pm-3pm. This versatile artist creates original songs and unique covers in many different styles and genres. Don’t miss this up-and-coming artist!
Vendor List
- Jenny Blasen Pottery: Handmade stoneware pottery, coffee mugs, yarn bowls, ceramic plates, and soap dishes.
- Copper Heart Designs: Handmade jewelry created using a variety of metalsmithing techniques including etching, enameling, soldering and wirework.
- Makers Guild: Paper and Fiber Arts with a focus on eco crafts - felted crowns, whimsical up-cycled fiber critters, felted wool balls and blocks, pin cushions, journals and stationary
- Meredith Dillman: Watercolor fantasy art
- Danidorem: Handmade Eco-Friendly Jewelry
- JS Designs Studio: Custom children and infant clothing and accessories with comfort in mind
- Three Fates Design: Beaded art work
- Twisted Planet: Upcycled jewelry and crocheted stuffed animals
- Hazy Daze Glass: Unique handmade glass items
- One Thirty Jewelry: Handmade jewelry: Rough cut stones. Wood. Metalwork. Vintage chain. Organic. Asymmetrical. One of a kind.
- One Thirty Jewelry: Jewelry that combines metal techniques with traditional materials, including wood, semi-precious stones and vintage beads
- Shari Wittman: Paper creations including envelopes and note cards, as well as origami items
- Deirdre Adele Thompson: Beaded jewelry
- The Gourd Lady: Painted bird house gourds, butterfly houses, wood bird houses, and suet feeders, as well as solar garden art
- Mrs. Bow Wowz: Handmade dog treats
- Akarim African Enterprise: Hand woven baskets
- reVINYLized: Repurposed records created into fashionable jewelry, clocks, and other items.
- Randee’s Rock Gardens: Container gardens
- Aych: T-Shirt Design, Screen Printing, and Drawing
- N*Studio: Functional pottery/ceramics with a touch of color and whimsy. Textile goods, including handbags, quilts, and home accessories.
- ECE’s Candle’s: All-natural 100% Soy Candles
- Valora Vintage: Vintage rings and earrings, as well as hand blown glass ware
- Ashley Schultz: Handmade polymer clay sculpture and hand beaded glass/stone jewelry
- Selina De Haan: Beaded jewelry – Bracelets, earrings, and necklaces
- Bibi’s Arts: Handmade sterling silver, copper and brass jewelry
- AlyxAndrea Design: Beaded ribbon jewelry and accessories
Admission
Free
Parking
Parking will be available at Elver Park in parking lot adjacent to the Craft Fair as well as in the additional lot at Elver Park.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
I survived!!
Yes, my anxiety had me a little neurotic this last month or so waiting for my first craft fair. I started making my unique jewelry designs less than 4 months ago and even though I have not sold much it has been a whirlwind. I started a website, a shop on Etsy and I'm trying to master the world of on-line sales (much more complicated than I could have ever imagined). I was able to get my jewelry displayed in a store and I am involved with the group that is working on establishing a community market in the small town I live. Then I was in a craft fair for the first time.
The fair was in a gorgeous new building in down town Madison WI. The parking was very limited and apparently the organizers did very little advertising. The only advertising anyone knew about was ads in the student newspapers. We all know that college students are not known for having a lot of money. So, the turnout was very low. I have some mixed feelings about this. If it had been really busy I would have been really anxious and may have felt really overwhelmed and unprepared. BUT, as it turned out I just barely sold enough to cover my booth fee and I did not cover the cost of transportation and food for the day.
I was able to meet a lot of the other vendors and enjoyed getting to know some really remarkable artists. I still have to go through the business cards I collected and I will make sure to give a shout out to them.
I am fairly happy with my display and got a few positive comments. I few people really liked the business cards, tags and banners my amazing husband designed for me.
Overall, I loved the set up, the other vendors and how my display turned out but I definitely would have liked a better turn out. I'm signed up for another fair in March for a fundraiser craft fair and fashion show. So, we will see how that goes. I'm still debating whether or not I want to apply for any more for this year. If I do I also need to make sure the times are shorter. Seven hours in a chair I am not used to is too hard for my Fibromyalgia. I am still very sore today so I probably shouldn't put my body through that again.
The fair was in a gorgeous new building in down town Madison WI. The parking was very limited and apparently the organizers did very little advertising. The only advertising anyone knew about was ads in the student newspapers. We all know that college students are not known for having a lot of money. So, the turnout was very low. I have some mixed feelings about this. If it had been really busy I would have been really anxious and may have felt really overwhelmed and unprepared. BUT, as it turned out I just barely sold enough to cover my booth fee and I did not cover the cost of transportation and food for the day.
I was able to meet a lot of the other vendors and enjoyed getting to know some really remarkable artists. I still have to go through the business cards I collected and I will make sure to give a shout out to them.
I am fairly happy with my display and got a few positive comments. I few people really liked the business cards, tags and banners my amazing husband designed for me.
Overall, I loved the set up, the other vendors and how my display turned out but I definitely would have liked a better turn out. I'm signed up for another fair in March for a fundraiser craft fair and fashion show. So, we will see how that goes. I'm still debating whether or not I want to apply for any more for this year. If I do I also need to make sure the times are shorter. Seven hours in a chair I am not used to is too hard for my Fibromyalgia. I am still very sore today so I probably shouldn't put my body through that again.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Yikes!
Tomorrow is the big day...My first every craft fair.
Art from the Heart at Memorial South in Madison WI
I'm so nervous! What if no one likes it? What if no one buys anything? What if my fibro pain is too much to bare?
I took 2 days off of work so I can make sure I am ready to go first thing in the morning. My amazing hubby also created new business cards for me and a banner to hang.
I should just title every blog "Another First" because I keep delving into new adventures. Yesterday I met with a group of people who are interested in doing a farm market in my little town of Edgerton WI. Some people tried last year but it flopped. This year we are hoping to be a little more organized. My hubby wants to do social media and other marketing and I'm going to have a stand for my jewelry. I can't think of anything more lovely than sitting outside on Saturday mornings, talking to my neighbors and possibly selling a few items. I can also bring my supplies and create while I'm out there.
I am also working on some new designs which have become really popular. Some really loopy necklaces and headbands which I don't have any pictures for yet.
Art from the Heart at Memorial South in Madison WI
I'm so nervous! What if no one likes it? What if no one buys anything? What if my fibro pain is too much to bare?
I took 2 days off of work so I can make sure I am ready to go first thing in the morning. My amazing hubby also created new business cards for me and a banner to hang.
I should just title every blog "Another First" because I keep delving into new adventures. Yesterday I met with a group of people who are interested in doing a farm market in my little town of Edgerton WI. Some people tried last year but it flopped. This year we are hoping to be a little more organized. My hubby wants to do social media and other marketing and I'm going to have a stand for my jewelry. I can't think of anything more lovely than sitting outside on Saturday mornings, talking to my neighbors and possibly selling a few items. I can also bring my supplies and create while I'm out there.
I am also working on some new designs which have become really popular. Some really loopy necklaces and headbands which I don't have any pictures for yet.
This first one sold within a few hours of listing it at www.AlyxAndreaDesign.etsy.com
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