Simply Charming in SC

So everyday, I venture over to Etsy to check out the items they have listed on the "front page." I'm always interested to see where the sellers are from, what they're selling, how they photograph, etc...

You guessed it. I'm looking for a pattern. And I'm trying to teach myself how to be a better seller based on the items the Lords of Etsy decide to put on a pedestal for the day.

Well today, there was a picture that caught my eye. A bowl of rhubarb. Innnnnteresting. Just what was this person selling? So I clicked on the picture and was whisked away to her shop.

Not only is she NOT selling the bowl, or the rhubarb, as is displayed in her picture (she's selling jam), she's only got the ONE item listed in her shop.

Now maybe I'm over-reacting here, but it doesn't seem fair to me that someone gets to be featured on the front page when 1) they have one item to sell, and 2) the picture she's chosen to represent her product isn't even close to what she's selling. She was only chosen to be featured because her picture fits the daily theme. And because it's artsy. Truly, it's a gorgeous photo and could probably be featured on the front of a food magazine. But that's beside the point. (Kudos, Jam Lady.)

Granted, I think selling jam is a wonderful idea, especially for Etsy. I'd love to see how she eventually packages it, and I think it's a great business plan. It's not something I've seen a ton of on Etsy, so good for her. My frustration is simply this: I've had a FULL shop for over a year, and I've never been featured. Now I'll be the first one to tell you that not all of my pictures are fantastic. I STRIVE to take "Etsy-quality" pictures, and it's something I battle with every time I list. But I also don't edit my pictures in any way---I don't photoshop them, or brighten them, or add anything to them. All I do is crop them. I feel like the pictures I put up are, if nothing else, honest of the product I'm trying to sell. (FYI: Any tips to make my pictures better are ALWAYS appreciated, and if anyone wants to send me a better camera just cuz I'm cute, well, I'd be thrilled!)

So tell me, am I over-reacting? Or do we have every right to be upset?

Best of luck to the jam-seller!

Things have really been picking up for me on Etsy!! I made a sale in July, another in August, and another one today! (Which may not sound like much, but after having NO sales for a super-long time makes three feel like a holiday rush! LOL)

I've been BUSY BUSY BUSY making new designs, and I'm excited to report that I finally got them photographed and posted on Etsy!!! Nine new listings!!! You'll have to go check them out. They are: Dreams in Moss, Enchanted Forest, Eye of Horus, Meditation in Mookaite,Kitty on a String, Heart in Chains, My Romance, Dots in Purple, and Simply Sodalite Bracelet.

In case you're not feeling like opening up nine new windows just to see all my new stuff, I thought I'd share my three favorites with you here. The first is a bracelet I made that was inspired by a special birthday gift I made for a dear friend of mine. I loved her necklace SO much that I really wanted to keep it...but don't worry, I didn't! Instead, I designed this beautiful bracelet with her in mind. This bracelet is called "My Romance," and I may cry when I sell it, I love it so much!!!





My next favorite is a necklace I called "Enchanted Forest." When I first saw the paper-thin hand-painted shell pendant of this necklace, I immediately thought of Bella and Edward from Twilight. Not sure why, but it inspired this beautifully romantic necklace that would look great with any great black top or dress.








And finally, a necklace inspired wholly by the awesome focal bead, called "Eye of Horus." For those unfamiliar the eye of Horus is an Egyptian symbol for protection. I love the colors of this necklace, and I'm thinking about entering it in TeamSC's October Challenge--themed "Halloween."








Hooray for creativity!! I'm hoping to have some new designs done soon, so I can keep posting to Etsy. I know, the more often I post, the more likely someone will see my designs. And I've been so motivated to craft lately that I just keep producing more stock!!! Now the real challenge is not to WEAR any of the jewelry I've created!!! What do you think?

I've been so busy creating new designs the past few weeks that I've hardly come up for air!! I recently discovered a shop in downtown Charleston called Black Market Minerals, and I've founds lots of new inspiration there! Going to the store is such an experience, but you can also find them on the web at http://www.blackmarketminerals.com/.


I've bought Botswana agate and freshwater pearls and moonstone. I've bought pendants made of African sodalite and kiwi quartz and tiger jasper. I've created necklaces with ceramic pendants and mookaite jasper.


I've got a TON of new stuff to photograph and list, which I'm planning on doing this weekend, so stay tuned!!


On a sidenote, I made a $6 purchase at Michael's that has TOTALLY changed how I make jewelry. It's a bead board!! It's made designing so much easier, which just makes me want to create even more! Who knew??
Stay tuned for new designs!!! (Can you tell I'm really excited to be designing again???!) :)

Hi gang! I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post on this blog. I'm getting seriously behind in keeping up with things!! But I guess it's a true testimony to how little I've been crafting. I have posted some new things on my Etsy site in the last few weeks, and I have a few new things to add. But a majority of my free time has been spent with the hubs, who took the summer off from school. It's been great fun!! But he'll be starting back in a couple of weeks, and I'll miraculously have a TON more time to blog AND craft. So hopefully things will start heating up here, as well.

I did manage to find a moment or two to enter TeamSC's July summertime challenge...and WON!!! My prize---I'm a featured seller on our team blog! You can check out the interview HERE.



I'm not sure if it'll mean more traffic to my store or not, but I'm hoping it will!!!



Meanwhile, in more personal news, I got a new wedding ring!!!





Explanation: Bri and I got married in 2004, and 3 days before the wedding, when I arrived at the jewelry store (which will remain nameless) to pick up my wedding band (which I had ordered in white gold, to match my engagement ring) they handed me a beautiful ring, precisely the one I had ordered. Except it was GOLD not WHITE GOLD. With so little time before the wedding, I had 2 options: let them send the ring back for the right one and NOT have a ring for the ceremony, or let them plate it so I could take it right away. Well, not having the ring wasn't an option. So, on the promise that plating wouldn't look any different from a white gold band, I had them plate it and we left.


Over the course of 4 years, we had to have the band replated twice, and it was time to be plated again. Brian said, "We're going to spend a fortune over the next 50 years replating this ring. Why don't we get you a new one?" So....we did! The ring on bottom is my engagement ring, and the diamond band is the new ring. I LOVE it! I can't stop looking at my left hand---it's like being engaged all over again!!! :)


I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and that you're out enjoying some summer fun, too! Until next time,

I'm so excited to announce that I finally got some new listings up on my Etsy site!!!!

I went ahead and took photos yesterday, so I was able to post some new stuff to my site today. I can't tell you how GOOD IT FEELS to be back to the jewelry-makin' grindstone!!! I've got several more design ideas that I'll hopefully have time to bring into fruition after this holiday weekend is over. This will be the proverbial end to most of our summertime fun, so I'll have lots of freetime to dig in and get some jewelry created!

I was actually really excited to learn that I've got 2 pages worth of stuff up again! It's been a REALLY long time since I had 2 pages of stuff on Etsy, that's for sure!!!

I'll leave you with a few of my favorite photos from my recent photo shoot---and a jolly "Happy Fourth of July, everyone!!" We'll be back Monday!!!

Simply Sodalite: Listed for $9 on Etsy. Sodalite is said to increase self-confidence AND creativity!

Fiery Rain: Listed for $8 on Etsy. First gold pair I've made in awhile, but who wouldn't pair these gorgeous carnelians with gold??!?!?

Summertime Mini-Surfboards: Listed for $8 on Etsy. I'm from the South Carolina coast, people! Surfboards are a must in the summertime!!!

I hope you'll venture on over to my shop and enjoy the rest of my listings!!! Happy Fourth of July Weekend, everyone!