Open up shop?

I am dying to open up my Etsy shop.  I even listed the addy on my bidness card but its still not open.  I sold 1 item to one of my best friends just to make it easy for her to pay.  So its actually set up, but I haven't nothing listed I should say.  Etsy is a great place and space to showcase, market and sale handmade and unique items but it is very intimidating.  The jewelry business is very saturated because it's so easy to get into.  Just speaking from personal experience, when I was checking out different creative avenues for myself to get into, I settled into jewelry very quickly and easily.  I knew it was something that I would always do and I've been deeply interested in, but I also figured I would do other items as well. (I still believe that I will)  Since I've been making jewelry, everything else went to the back burner.  So needless to say, I'm not the only one drawn to the craft and Etsy is the best place to see this.

With all that being said, I am still dying to have a shop.  I love everything about the site and the community that it has developed.  I think it is one of the best places/venues in 2012 to actually own and have the opportunity to own a business.  I am trying not to let the work that's involved and the saturated market hold me back but it's hard to not let those facts enter my mind.  So I think I will conduct an experiment and open up a shop in bigcartel which from my understanding looks to be another avenue where artists can showcase and sale their work.  I've actually purchased from this site some fly earrings. So I figure I can open up a free account and list 5 items as a tester to see what it feels like to have an online shop.  I find this to be less intimidating.

I'll keep you posted.........

Michelle, my bell

I had been inspired by my coworker/customer to create a different type of earring.  Everyday when you see her she has on 2 different earrings.  She has so many that she just grabs 2 in the same color family and keeps it moving.  If you happen to catch her with a matching pair on, that's when you notice it and ask what's going on.  So early on I knew that I was going to have a Michelle inspired earring.

She put in a custom order; something with a curvy, swirl and something else blue.

Here's what I came up with. What do you think?

Aluminum wire - I love these and will most likely add these to inventory

Taking and styling photos is still a challenge but I'm working on  it

This is a blue bottom heavy hoop with a dangle piece.  Good for everyday.

Packaged and ready to go

Show and Tell

I think I'm starting to get the hang of wrapping these rings.  These were the biggest for me so far.  They are polished stones that I originally bought to wrap for myself but someone else saw them and loved the stones and wanted rings so I sold them.  :-)  

At one point during the process I was having trouble and my Knight in shining armor came to rescue me.  Hubs really has great ideas and some creative juice flowing around in there that he is not ready to claim yet but I'm on to him.  Anyway let me know what you think.

       

This one is my favorite

Show and Tell

I think I'm still a little kid at heart because I have a hard time letting go of everything I make for other people.  Here are 2 more custom orders.

Happy New Year!!!

I was supposed to share this last year (haha - that joke never gets old with me) but I've been terribly busy.  I had a wonderful Christmas!  I got an iPad and a slanket and I swear you'd think I didn't get anything else because every nightI curl up on the couch and fall asleep with my iPad.  I think that thing has some sleepy threads sewn in it.  My in-laws came to visit us from Rome and we had a great time!

For 2011 I had very small goals followed my a challenge for cocobliss.  I just wanted to sell 5 items.  The challenge was to have 5 different sales and I'm happy to report that I exceeded that goal!  I have lots of goals for cocobliss this year.  The main one being that I want to actually generate an income and turn into a solid business.  A lot to ask for in a year but it will give the focus to make sure that cocobliss is a priority.    

Anyway I wanted to share pics from my biggest order so far.     

Bottom heavy hoop packaged and ready to go

These rock and rolls are proving to be the most popular design so far.

These Moondoggles are my personal fave!

Regular sterling hoop

I call them the chain game

The Purple boxes are my signature box

Two-toned wire wrapped hoop

Needless to say I am still having a blast doing this and am getting great feedback.  My other main goal for 2012 is to find and further develop cocobliss's unique style.  I don't feel that I am there yet but I am getting there.  I have 50+ sketches and millions more ideas in my head so I'm about to get to work!

Happy 2012!!!!