Got sale #5 and #6!

For those few that entered my contest what seems like forever ago, just wanted to let you know that I made my 5th sale yesterday! I just turned out that I got #6 almost at the exact same time. :-) :-)

I need to get some cash flow to pay for some doctor bills that are starting to seriously pile up so I had a special offer for my Unique Women In Business group yesterday. It generated two sales and some much needed cash for my next chiropractor appointment.

But in the mean time, I have to pick out a winner from my contest bowl! The winner will have her choice in colors for a custom made bead crochet bracelet. Since money is such a huge issue for me now, I'm afraid that purchasing beads that I don't have may not be an option. I apologize for that but hope that I will have something that will still be acceptable. :-)

So now for the winner.....

Dawn R. from from Shades Jewelry! :-) :-)

In order to celebrate my first 6 sales, I'd like to have a special sale. If you mention that you read my blog in your notes to seller, I'll offer 20% off your order and take off the shipping. This sale will continue until the end of the week, 4/12/09 (Easter Sunday) at midnight.

Congratulation Dawn! I'll be contacting you shortly on your prize. :-)

Undiscovered Shop

This cute little bracelet is from a fellow UWIB member,
amosaicstudio. I fell in love with the neutral colors in this bracelet and I love the beads! :-) The beads are all fused glass and I believe that she even makes her own fused glass beads! :-) :-)

The colors remind me so much of the Neutral Pink bead crochet bracelet in my own shop... so of course I'd naturally lean towards favoring this item over everything else in her shop. :-) :-)

Please check out this shop... there are so many little items in there and I know that you'll fall in love with her work. :-) :-)

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5840360

I saw that the artisian, Laura Aiken was featured in an episode of "That's Clever" - wow! How cool is that!!! So please show your support and give her some business or hearts! :-) :-)

Undiscovered shop

It's been a while since I've posted... I'm in the process of giving my shop items a bit of a make over. Not sure if it will help, but it's worth a try. :-)

This week I'm featuring a fellow UWIB member, littlepaperhome. I like... no wait, correction... I LOVE to browse through different shops on Etsy and Artfire and found this little beauty. What I love about this item is that it's made of tea cups that littlepaperhome found at an antique shop! She puts them on wire with a large s-hook so you can hang them outside as a decoration, birdbath, bird feeder or really small planter. :-) How cute is that! :-) :-) This is so clever and unique... and the cute little tea cup certainly helps. :-) :-) If I were not so gosh darn cash strapped, I'd get the one I'm featuring. :-) :-) :-) But if you have a few pennies to spend on something just really adorable, here is a link to her shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6893431

This is a brand new shop so please show your support and buy handmade! :-)

Take care,

Pinka

Undiscovered shop

This beauty is from the Magical Beadstalk Etsy shop. Isn't it beautiful? It's made entirely of amethyst and Bali silver. The clasp is sterling. I just love it!

I've been working so much with purples lately that I've fallen in love with the color. It's so complex and not so easy to match - so when I see a bracelet like this, with perfectly matching stones, I really have to give the designer credit. Awesome job Magical Bead! :-) :-)

What really made this bracelet stand out - even when I thought it was made of onyx or some kind of black bead instead of amethyst, was the little Bali silver spacers in between. I love those little daisy spacers and try to use it on a lot of my own creations.

You really need to check out this shop. It doesn't have too much but the few items she has in there are just breath taking. :-)

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=86376

Please consider supporting a shop with little or no sales. These shops can really use the encouragement! :-) I know that I did! :-)

Take care,

Pinka

My new creation

So here she is... finally! At last! This baby has taken what seems like forever and a half and three quarters to complete... I started this baby sometime last year - in the summer? - but don't know exactly when. I purchased the beads to match the awesome colors in the Tiger Jasper bead that I found.

This necklace was definitely a labor of love... I had started it when my arm was feeling okay, not great, but okay. See, I was in so much pain back then that I could hardly do any type of crochet at all. I was making little bracelets which were easier on my hands so I had to put this aside.

About three months ago I found out that our health insurance would cover chiropractic services (yippee!) so I started visiting one... and many torturous sessions later, I started to feel a little better. I tried to play with other types of crochet to see how much

I could handle, and started adding more and more techniques each day. :-) :-) There was still a lot that I couldn't do, but this necklace was just sitting there - teasing me every time I looked at my unfinished box, just begging to be completed.

So a couple weeks ago I finally sat down and did what I could do pain free... I started to string what I needed of the beads to complete the rope. I think I strung about 10 feet worth. :-) No pain! :-) :-) I then took out my crochet hook and joined the threads to continue where I had left off. A bit of discomfort, but no pain! :-) :-) I was so excited that first day I actually worked on this for almost 30 minutes... then just because I have to, I put it down to not kill myself.

I woke up the next day sore, but not in pain, so I decided to let my hands and arm rest for the next couple of days - which actually turned into a week. Then on Tuesday I finally finished off the rope! I was so excited! I only had a few inches left to crochet and I had actually done it! :-) :-)

I ran across the street to the bead shop and got a couple bead caps, spacers and two of the most perfect red beads that tied the whole thing together. This is my necklace... my Russian loop bead crochet necklace that took me longer to make than any other jewelry item I've started. I keep getting asked if I'm going to sell it on my Etsy shop... I really don't know... I can really use the money, but who is really going to want to pay the $200 price tag that I'll put on it? I calculated that this baby took about 12 hours to make... and the formula of taking a multiple of the supply costs should be the selling price. No, not here. I'd rather keep it than not get paid what this items is really worth.

I keep running to so many people that work for hours on their items that they sell for just pennies above their supplies cost. It makes me sad that they don't value their own time.... but that's for another post....

Take care,

Pinka

It's still not too late for a free bracelet!

Last month I announced a contest to win a free bracelet. I've had 9 people respond on how they were going to spread the word that bead crochet is not dead! :-) :-)

http://pinkap.blogspot.com/2009/01/do-you-want-to-win-bracelet.html

Well, since then I've had 1 sale - but I still need 4 more to pick out that first winner. I've had more people following since I made that initial post, so if you believe that bead crochet is NOT dead, spread the word! Leave me a comment, email me, send a courier pigeon - whatever it takes to let me know how you'll spread the word and get more interested in either purchasing bead crochet or learning the technique themselves. :-) I'll add you to the list and once we get to 5 sales from my shop, I'll do a random drawing for a winner. :-) :-)

The winner will have a custom bracelet just made for them. Their colors, their size. :-) :-)

When you get your information to me, please include your name, email and/or site where I can get a hold of you if you win. :-) :-)

Okay, now it's your turn to tweet, blog, chat, or post on your wall that bead crochet is not dead! :-) :-)

Take care,

Pinka
pinka_m@yahoo.com

Free beaded ring!!!

Okay, I've been working like crazy to get some new stuff up in my shop and here is one! I just learned how to make these little rings on Friday from a friend of mine. I've been going like crazy they're so much fun to make! :-) :-) Here is a selection of just a few of what I made.

Now, here is the exciting part. I loved making these so much that I have way too many for myself now! :-) So, with each bracelet or necklace purchase in my shop, you will get a free ring! It will be limited to what I have on hand though.

If you really like the look of these little beauties, you can order a custom ring! Just let me know what your color preferences are, size and which style you'd like, and I'll make a ring just for you. :-) :-) Here are the styles:

I really wish I was able to get a clearer picture of this baby. This is the butterfly. This ring is made with a black bead base with a pink/fuchsia center and blue wings. Pick out as many colors as you want and I'll make your own little butterfly ring. :-)

This is the twisted ring. Two colors twisted together. It's the most fun to make so it's also the style I have the most of. If you order a necklace or bracelet, this will be the style you'll most likely end up with. :-) Just let me know what your color preferences are for the free ring and I'll see if I have one already made or one that may be close enough to substitute. :-)

I don't know how to describe this one other than wreath. I made this one with multiple shades of green and yellow 'thingies'. I just make them, I don't know the technical terms. :-)

I call this one chain. It kind of reminds me of links in a row... making a chain. :-) Choose as many colors as you want on this one. You can make the chain one color or two like I did here. It's all up to you. :-)

I'm working on some other bracelets that take a bit more time than these rings and hope to have them up in the next week or so. I've also fallen in love with another ring that is made with crystals and silver wire but I need new cutters really bad so that is on the back burner until I can afford a good set. Anyone have an extra that you're willing to part with for really cheap? :-) :-) :-)

I hope you enjoy my new rings!

Take care,

Pinka

More undiscovered shops!

These adorable little dogs are from Paperquick on Etsy. These would be so perfect for scrapbooking!!! I thought of my son when I saw them and seriously thought about getting them - but then I remembered... I don't do scrapbooking!!! At least not yet. I see all kinds of goodies on Etsy and items like this really makes me think about it. :-) :-)

Not only does Paperquick have adorable scrapbooking goodies like this, but she has such an incredible selection of cards! Looking for thank you cards for a baby shower? She has cards that look like baby bottles!!! :-) Oh, everything is so cute and adorable in this shop that I know you'll enjoy just browsing... like I was doing for about 20 minutes before I started writing this post. :-) :-) :-) Here is her link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6757958


Now this shop shows so much talent in all areas it makes me jealous! The earrings pictures above are from Wireknot and not only does she have beautiful jewelry, but she has some awesome paintings as well! :-) I know how to make some jewelry, but I can't even paint a room without messing up! :-) I'm impressed with the wire work on the jewelry... because working with wire is hard on the hands... and to top that off, it's hammered to give the flat shape. That's even harder on the hands. No wonder Wireknot also paints! She needs something else to do that won't kill her hands! :-) :-) :-)

Wireknot has items in all price categories and taking into consideration the kind of work that goes into making some of these pieces, they seem reasonably priced to me. Fall in love with an item and help this shop make her first sale. Here is her link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5055627


I'll have more shops soon! I've been getting some awesome requests lately from others that have very low or no sales that would like to be featured.... so I've been busy! :-) :-) If there is a way I can help anyone I'll happily do it... and featuring other shops that are in the same situation that I'm in is my humble way of doing what I can.

Enjoy the shops!

Pinka

Contest update and Undiscovered Shop

Hello!

Just wanted to keep you all updated on the contest so far. I've had one sale so far... which means 4 more to go to pull a name for the free bracelet. :-) :-) So keep getting the word out that bead crochet is not dead and win a free bracelet! :-) :-)





I just found the most adorable little shop on Etsy! The picture above is "little girl reading book" and it's hand crafted completely of polymer. Isa17d, the person who created this little beauty, describes the time intensive process in the description - and I have to admit that I'm quite impressed! It take true talent to make something this adorable. :-) Just like the other shops that I've mentioned on my blog, this shop is still waiting for it's first sale. I hope that my little blog here will make a bit of a difference. :-) Here is a link to the shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6405893

I've been working on some new creations lately so I haven't been able to twitter, blog or do much of anything really, but I hope that once I get some of these new beauties photographed and up that I will see some new activity in my shop. :-) :-)

If you're a shop with very little or no sales and would like to be featured, please post a comment or send me an email: pinka_m@yahoo.com

Take care!

Pinka

Undiscovered shop!

Aren't these little earrings adorable? I loved them when I first saw them! :-) These little beauties belong to Paige's Beaded Designs - Unique Jewelry and Accessories for Teens. If these are meant for teens, I don't know how they would feel to see an old person like me wearing them instead! I really would wear these too! :-) :-)

Here is where you can find Paige's Beaded Designs on Artfire:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=16543



She only has a few items up in her shop right now but they are super cute!




Oh my goodness! I love to look for and look at all kinds of amulet bags. This came up on my search on Artfire tonight. This is called Native American Maiden Amulet/Spirit/Medicine Bag and was made with glass seed beads and lined with deer skin. If anything, this is worth to look at! The seller, Forbesfarm, has all kinds of neat stuff in her shop and I'm really impressed! She has a really nice price range and an awesome selection. Here is her shop so you can check it out yourself:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=16376

So there are my two undiscovered shops this time around. If you're a seller that has had very little or no sales at all (like myself) and would like to be featured here, please let me know! You can post a comment here, send me an email or look for me on Etsy or Artfire. :-) :-)

Take care,
Pinka
pinka_m@yahoo.com
http://pinkap.etsy.com
http://pinkap.artfire.com

Free Form Crochet/Knitting

I am so tired! I'm actually really *really* tempted to do this tomorrow but I know that if I put it off that it will never get done. :-)

I just came home from spending two days at a free form workshop with Prudence Mapstone. :-) :-) Oh my gosh, it was so much fun! I've known Prudence for a few years and have been playing with freeform for as long as I've known her, but to see the familiar garments and any new garments that she's created is just the neatest thing ever. I get so much inspiration and a new energy from each piece. Plus the other ladies in the class and I all have the same excitement - you can feel it in the air... a bit of nervous energy at first, then you get to know the ladies sitting near you... then you start walking around getting new ideas and letting those creative juices going. Your hands no longer work as fast as your brain comes up with ideas! Then you find out that the 2 or three ladies next to you are feeling the same... then as you get up to stretch your legs, you find out that the rest of the class is the same way!

Prudence will continue her classes tomorrow and on Saturday but I need to get things ready for my son's birthday party on Saturday... so I could only do the two days. I did have a great time though and it was so much fun seeing Prudence again and meeting new friends. :-)

Okay, so what am I going to do with my new found creative energy of freeform? Probably what I do every other time. I scrumble my heart out to add to my the growing stack of scrumbles that I've made in the past. I really don't know why I can't finish something in freeform... I just have so much fun making the smaller pieces and just can't see how I'm going to put it all together. I also am not sure what I want to make with all of my pieces either... a shawl? jacket? purse? Oh! I don't know. There may be enough to make all of them... I just somehow have to get over this no-finish syndrome I guess. :-) :-)

Okay, I want to give a quick update on the free bracelet contest before I forget. I have 9 entries so far but no sales. I've been working on updating a few of my pictures in my shops so I hope this will make the bracelets look a little more appealing. :-) :-) So let's just keep getting the word out and hopefully I'll be giving away a free bracelet soon! :-) :-)

Take care,
Pinka

Do you want to win a bracelet?

Okay, so here it is. I need to get my little bracelets out to new homes and I really hope that this contest will get this going. :-) :-) I want to make a bracelet in the winner's choice of colors. :-)

I need your help to get the word out that bead crochet is not dead! Bead crochet is beautiful, fun and a heck of a lot less expensive than diamonds! :-) :-) If any of you know me personally, you will know that bragging about my work is very out of character, but I do think my bracelets are pretty and are worth the price I've given them. I want to find people that agree with me and want to take one (or more) home. :-)

So, here are the details...

I have 15 bracelets currently for sale on Etsy right now and 10 more that I haven't posted yet. I want to sell these bracelets! :-) :-) For every 5 bracelets that find their way to new homes, I'll make a custom bracelet for a lucky winner. Here is how you can qualify:

Post a comment or send me an email - whatever you feel like doing - and let me know that you are getting the word out! Post about bead crochet (and maybe a link to my Etsy or Artfire shops) on your blogs, Twitter, write across your forehead or whatever feels right to you to let people know that crochet - especially bead crochet - is alive and kicking! :-) I've been told that bead crochet is dead, I have to prove that these people are wrong. I've been asked to sell my bracelets for below my material cost, but I think they're worth more!

So send me your name and email address and for every 5 bracelets sold, I'll pull a name out for a custom bracelet. Let me know how you're getting the word out. Did you post to a Yahoo group? Which one? :-) Did you blog about it? Send me the link. :-) :-)

This contest will go on for another month and will end on February 28th, 2009. One free bracelet per person - sorry that you can't win twice. I'll email winner as each 5th bracelet is sold to ask for color preferences. I can only work with what I can afford so please no super expensive bead requests like sterling silver, karate gold, natural stone or crystal beads. I will do my best to work with what you would like for your bracelet. :-)

Let's get going! :-)

Pinka
http://pinkap.etsy.com
http://pinkap.artfire.com

Meet Painted Pete

I was in the Etsy chat in the 5 minute featured seller this morning and met an artist that has some incredible items! This talented guy is Painted Pete! He has a nice selection of items in his shop. He's a talented painter, sculptor, wrought iron artist. Check out these items!

The first one above is called Gravity. He has another one in blue colors. I love the colors and shading and it's such a simple concept that he makes work so well! If I had the money, I'd get the red one so quickly. I have no idea where I would hang it, but it's just so cool! :-) Here's a link so you can look at his other pictures.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19107691

The middle one pictures above is one of his shrunken heads. I have to admit that this one makes me squirm. It's kind of creepy but I can't stop looking at it! It would be a great Halloween decoration, or if your house is like mine, then it would be a good decoration for the office all year long! :-) I know my husband would totally love it, but I just can't scrape the money together for this one. Even if it creeps me out, it's so unique and would fit way too well with our office decor that I'd love to have it! Here's a link so you can look at the pictures from other angles and get the ordering information:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19030714

The last one above is probably my favorite. I love the look for wrought iron and I wish I had started decorating with some wrought iron pieces for my home so I could continue adding pieces like this one. I may try to fit in a piece here or there but for now all I can do is wish. :-) Here is the link to the piece above if you're interested in more information:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19107352

Since I can't afford to make any purchases myself, I know that I can at the very least help another artisan hopefully get their first sale. :-) I find so many neat items that I'd love to get... but I'd need to win the lotto to be able to afford it all! :-) :-)

So keep checking in to see what other treasures I find. I try really hard to find the ones working on their first sales so if you want to be featured here, send me an email, make a comment... just get a hold of me any way you can! :-) :-)

Take care,

Pinka

Bead Crochet

I was in a chat room in Etsy a few days ago hoping to find a trade of a bracelet or two for some basic necessity items like soap or shampoo. Since I want to support the crafting and handmade community as much as possible and I can't really afford these kind of luxuries right now, I really wanted to give a few of my bracelets to someone that would appreciate it and give it a good home. :-)

Well, what ended up happening was some negotiating for bead crochet lessons for soap and making a custom bracelet for some yarn. :-) :-) I'm very pleased with the outcome, but it still does not give my babies a new home. But I just think it's funny how instead of reducing my ever growing inventory of bracelets, I end up teaching others how to make their own. :-) :-)

So here I am continuing to work hard to promote these little bracelets with hopes that someone will appreciate their value and buy one (or two or more!) :-) :-) But I'm finding that more and more people want to learn to make their own. So should I try to concentrate on teaching instead? I've taught a few people to bead crochet through email before so I know I can do it, but really... how much would a person be willing to pay for an on-line bead crochet lesson?

Any thoughts or ideas? :-)

Pinka

Undiscovered Shops

Okay, so I was looking for some crochet items in Artfire this morning and found a shop that had some incredible stuff! Here is my favorite:



This is a hand painted, Blue and Gold Macaw ploymer clay pendant. Isn't it cute? I originally found ArtisticJen when I clicked on a cute little crochet purse that was listed in Artfire. I was oohing and aahing when I found this pendant. I'm such a bird brain that it really stood out for me. :-) I'd love the shop even more if she had a Timneh African Grey pendant or even a Nanday conure (hint, hint Jen!), but she does have others that are really neat.


Here is Jen's description:

Product Description:
his pendant is a painted Blue and Gold Macaw. The painting was done right onto the clay and sealed for protection. The back is covered with a matching clay cane in a feathery pattern.

It measures 1 3/4" across.

All beads are hand created by me. They are then baked and handed sanded before I apply 2-3 coats of an acrylic finish to them, also all done by hand.

Shipping is thru First Class mail. Insurance is optional, but highly recommended.Canadian orders are shipped thru First Class mail.

If you want to look at more of ArtisticJen's items, click on the link below:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=16922



I fell in love with this little lady right away. What a lucky crafter to find a model to show off her items - and willing to work at such a young age. :-) :-)

This little hat is available from sweetbabybowtique on Etsy. Her shop is filled with little jewels like this. This one is called Crochet Baby Beanie Hat Grosgrain Big Bow- RED.

I'm really surprised that these baby hats haven't started selling sooner. She has 18 items total but no sales. Her prices are not bad considering the kind of work that goes into each little treasure. Here is sweetbabybowtique's description for the hat pictured above:

This adorable baby beanie hat was created using our 1 1/2" grosgrain ribbon to created this 4" big bow. Bow is attached to an alligator pinch clip for easy removal, so in the future your little one can wear just the bow alone too!

Hat fits ages newborn to about 12 months of age best.


Here is a link to this shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7341


Okay, so there they are! :-) One undiscovered shop from each, Artfire and Etsy, with hopes to get something going for these shops. Take a look around - you never know what you'll run in to! :-) :-)

Take care,
Pinka

To learn or to create?

I have no idea if anyone else has had this problem, but I'd love to hear from you if you do... I've been getting so little sleep lately that I'm tired even in my dreams! I had a dream last night where all I wanted to do was stay in bed and sleep. So I woke up exhausted. But as soon as I heard my 4 year old moving around in his bed through the monitor, I knew that I'd have him cuddling with me for a few minutes before getting up. :-) :-) That's my favorite time of day and I want to make sure I'm awake for that. :-) :-)

So I've been working on so much lately... so much but then so little too! I've been working on trying to get my bead crochet bracelets 'out there' by trying to network like crazy. I've been learning about Twitter, posting on places like Etsy and Artfire, I've been adding listings to new shops like Buy It Sell It and Silkfair. I've been reading a lot too... learning about Google Analytics and even set my Artfire shop up. But I have no idea how I did it because I haven't been able to do that with Etsy or Silkfair - and I know that both have it available. I set up my Google account to use Google check out though I'm not sure if I did it correctly, but it's a good thing that I'm in the habit of checking everything at least once a day just in case I actually do make a sale. :-)

So with all of that I've been ignoring my bead crochet. I don't mean to because I have so many ideas going on in my head that I can't get my hands to move fast enough to get them all started. It's a good thing that I keep a sketch book on hand at all times or else I'd forget before they can be created. :-) :-) The past couple days have been especially hard because I've been itching so badly to create that I've been trading sleep for creating time. I'm please with my few crazy ideas and have even altered my original ideas for new ones. :-) The lack of sleep though does play around with my eyes so when I look at my piece again when I'm a little more awake, I can see that my color choices were not the best. :-) :-) But that is easy to fix with the next one - I just want to make that first sample. :-) :-)

Okay, I'm done here for now. I have another idea going around my head but I need to make lunch for the 4 year old first. Then maybe read a comic book or two to relax. :-) :-) My son has been going nuts over the Star Wars Clone Wars cartoons - and now we're reading the comics. They're not as fun as Captain Underpants, but they're still fun. :-)

Take care,
Pinka

Artfire Shop

Store not available

I'm on Artfire now! :-) I keep hearing how Artfire is so much better than Etsy... we'll give it some time to see how true that is. I've started off with the 10 items max that it allows with the free account and if I can make a couple sales, then maybe I'll just yank the plug out of my Etsy account and just sell there.

I'll just have to see what works. Promoting is so time consuming and so hard... it takes up so much time on the computer and that is the part that kills me. I really don't know what else to do. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope the little bit I can do will help. :-)

New item posted on Etsy

I posted another Javanese face bead necklace on Etsy today!

Here is the link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5236817

It's really cute because this little guy has a face on each side! So this necklace does not really have a 'wrong side'. :-) :-) No matter how you put on the necklace, he will always be facing the outside. :-) :-)

I decided to make the necklace with pleather - the fake leather - not only to keep costs down to make this little treasure more affordable, but pleather seems to wear a little longer than regular leather. At least in my experience, I've always had leather necklaces get brittle and break or kind of crumble apart after a little while. This is especially true if you wear the necklace during the summer when it's warm....

Even if this little guy falls apart with normal wear, I will replace the pleather with more pleather or real leather if you prefer. :-) :-)

Take care,

Pinka