Wham Bam!!!

Ok, so I was going to post pictures of a new bracelet & earring set I have for sale in my etsy shop...when...WHAM, Bam!!! It sold. I love etsy! I'm not sure if i've mentioned that before. Getting my own website in shape to open for sale was a lot of hard constant work. I had to learn a lot about web design and creation, cyber marketing and other assorted things not necessary for a construction estimator (my day job) to learn! I am quite thankful that a friend put me on to etsy. No longer do I have to struggle with web design, wondering if it will all work when I'm done.

The bracelet that I was going to post in lieu of the one that sold whambam just SOLD! How great is that? We can market our jewelry, sell it to people around the country and the world and not even be dressed for the day! There is a LOT to learn about marketing and promoting of web sites, but I'm up to the challenge, these sales have bolstered my resolve! With the information presented by other eSMArts Team members and a little experimenting, I'm sure I make all of this work! I'll post the 2 pictures anyway...since I'm going to relist them. Just when I start to get discouraged....a sale comes along!

Thank you, Etsy! Thank you eSMArts Team!

SoSo Show

I'm back from what should have been a fabulous show at the Richland Art Fair in Richland, MI! OHHHHH, the rain, the rain!!! By the time we packed up Saturday evening, we were doing it in the mud! Despite the constant rain, there was a steady flow of people, but no one was really buying. This remains one of my favourite shows! Great people, great organizers and usually...great sales!

We are supposed to be at a show this next weekend, but I am still recovering from knee surgery and we've decided to sit this one out! We're off to Grand Haven, MI for the Coast Guard Festival Art Show the first weekend in August, though! We wouldn't miss it for anything!

I've noticed that the climate of shows has changed a good deal this year. Many people are at shows for the entertainment value, rather than the art itself. They are meeting up with friends, as usual, but there is very little buying going on. I think so many people are cautious of the unknown economic situation and are hanging on to their money. Thankfully, this is not everyone...but enough that it has changed the way many of us approach shows. I have started carrying fewer of my high end signature pieces and stocking more lower priced simple pieces, a lot of pendants on chains actually. This seems to be a good strategy at this point. While sales overall were somewhat dismal, it could have been a lot worse! (at least a good cup of coffee was available!)

Exciting things going on...

I had my first sale in the etsy bead store! WOOHOOO!!!!

I'm off to a wholesale gem & bead show tomorrow. They put it on 3 times a year and it is just amazing. An entire Embassy Suites hotel is turned into a bead show, with each room being its own little shop. I walk in, sign the registration and put on my Simply Willow name tag...and the bead lust overtakes me. Stones, pearls and crystals in every colour and shape imaginable.... I leave significantly poorer, but oh so happy. I can buy enough supplies at one show to last me a year. So naturally, we go to all 3 every year LOL.

While I am shopping for new beads and stones, my head will be here at home, frantically getting ready for next weekend's art fair. This show is typically my highest one day sales show of the summer season. Fabulous people, great organisers, a beautiful venue....I'm pumped even tho I'm not even close to being ready!

Simply Willow is growing like crazy. eSMArts team has been a great help! Etsy is offering me a wonderful learning opportunity and the website is coming along.

New Etsy Bead Store - OPENED!!!

Wow! Within the last two weeks, I've taken the plunge indeed! Opening an Etsy store for my jewelry and now today for beads, started a blog and done a lot of work on my Simply Willow website. I'm exhausted ... and ... exhilarated!


Check it out!


simplywillow.etsy.com
willowsbeads.etsy.com
simplywillowcreations.com

...and so it begins

This has been a long time coming. I've thought many times of starting this blog. Today's the day!

I've spent most of the day cleaning and reorganizing my studio. Our biggest show of the summer season is in two weeks. A clean studio seems to refresh, regenerate and allow for new ideas and creative energies to generate.

I've made several new pendants today. If i can figure out how to do it, I will post pics!