Friday, April 29, 2011

In Full Swing!

The coffee and Tea are brewing by the gallon


The torch is running non stop


I'm in full swing working on Mother's Day orders.

It makes me so happy to think of each lovely mom, grandma, woman that will open up one of my little boxes this mother's day and smile.

I am so blessed by each of you. Thank you!


I have closed my shop for the weekend and so I can devote all my time to finishing up orders.


I will reopen on Sunday.

Have I mentioned THE QUEEN BEE MARKET? May be once or twice? It's one week away!!!!!

Mark you calendars May 6th and 7th at the Del Mar Hilton! Shopping and gorgeous creative beauty at every booth!!!
As soon as I ship my last mother's day orders I'll start posting some of the goodies that will be there with me in Del Mar.
Can't wait!!
xoxo









post signature

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter at our house

We had a lovely Easter weekend.

We dressed up and went to Mass




We painted eggs, and had fun making messes.






We had family over and hunted for Easter Eggs and lots of ate yummy food.


Hope your Easter weekend was filled with Joy.


post signature


Friday, April 22, 2011

there is still time!!

I've had tons of emails today wondering if there is still time to get those mother's day orders in and if the sale code is still valid.


YES and YES!!!


I will be taking orders till 11:59m PST and the sale code is valid until 11:59 PST as well!



Sale code is ' MOMLOVE " for 10% off your entire order.





5 more hours to shop!!!


Quick shop info...


I will not be answering emails at all this weekend so I can enjoy the Eater Holiday with my Family.

I will be back to "work" on Monday.


Happy Easter!
xoxo

post signature

Thursday, April 21, 2011

2 more days to order !!

Today and tomorrow are the last 2 days to get your Mothers day orders in!! The sale is still valid as well Use code "momlove" at check out and receive 10% off your entire order!!

Quick remind your hubby or your kiddies :)

These have been some of the most popular choices this Mother's day season....


All you need is love Birthstone stacking set




My eclectic necklaces always one of my most popular!

My entirely hand formed Open Heart bracelet


Vintage letters with gem stone (some how missed listing this on etsy so it will be up by the end of today)



Sunday, April 17, 2011

Letting go

Image at elgarbort


One of the discussions that resonated most with me from the weekend at Creative Estates was the discussion on balancing family and business when you run a business from home. The reminder to take family time. To set strict business hours and hold to them. This is so difficult for me to do some days.


I think at times it's easy for us to forget there is a human on the other end of the computer when we shop online. A human with a family, a husband, children, with emotions, and some days with a very full schedule.


As customers, we send a message and want to know we've been heard and not ignored. We can get impatient, and even at times down right rude. As a shop owner it can be so discouraging to know you can't get to everyone every day. To end your day knowing you let someone down.


I struggle with emails. Big time. Because there are just not enough hours in the day to get to every single message myself. I wish there were. I want to personally respond to every single one. To thank each person for their sweet compliments on my work, to chat over artistic ideas for special jewelry, to hear about their story behind their request, and to thank them for choosing me to create such a special keepsake. I love this part of my business. I love the human connection.


But there have been too many times that I am trying to get through messages, and the kids want my attention. To show me a Lego creation. To ask me why black holes are black or some other silly or profound question that is nagging at their curiosity. To show me the picture they drew... just for me. Then I feel guilty. Guilty for turning off the computer and not getting to those last 10 messages, guilty for not turning of the computer and devoting every ounce of attention to the inspection of the latest Lego world.


So it is time. Time to let go. Time to accept I can not continue to run my business on my own. Time to set business hours and hold to them PERIOD Time to not feel guilty because I shut the computer down to play with my kids!


So it's time to let go! I am bringing on someone to help with emails and customer service. It is so hard to let go of this aspect of my shops, but I really feel so much better in making this decision. I took the advice of the "pros" from the creative Estates weekend and I took Saturday off and we had a full family day. I am so much more relaxed with Rob and the kids. More energetic and excited to get to my work bench this evening . So very confident that I need to do this so that customer service is not lacking.


Starting at the end of this week I will introduce my new customer service gal. She's excited to get to know you all and offer help where she can :) I will still handle most of the custom request convos myself, because when it comes to the technical jewelry stuff I'm the only one who can answer, but she will be on hand to answer simple questions, and send updates on production and shipping info.


I know this is going to be a tremendous help for me, and so much less frustrating for all my wonderful customers to not have to wait as long for answers!


Did you have a profound moment of realization this weekend, or maybe just some wonderful family time?


xoxo



post signature

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

catching up


Some days, weeks or even months life feels like a big game of catch up. I'm happy to say I'm finally feeling a little more caught up on life.

Rob had a chance to hang to of my shelving sets in my work space. thanks babe!!


They look amazing against my "ice cube" walls all loaded up with vintage spice bottles full of vibrant gem stones.

I'm still looking for the perfect set of bookshelves to house my order books, and workshop handbooks but I must say my space is coming together nicely :)
In between Mother's day orders I'm prepping for the next Queen Bee Market. Have you marked your calendar yet? It's May 6th and 7th and it's going to be HUGE!!! Hop in your car, charter a jet, plan girls road trip and come check it out!!!!
Just a reminder the MOMLOVE coupon is still good for 10% off & April 22nd is the last day to order for Mother's Day! Be sure to tell your hubby, every year it never fails I get a hubby who waited too long to order and then begs, cries, or pleads for me to take just one more order.

I'm a sucker and can't say no, but this year my hubby will be handling convos and customer service as we get closer to mother's day, and he's not afraid to say no ;)

xoxo

post signature

Monday, April 11, 2011

Back Home and a new design!

I'm back home from the Creative Estates conference. Tracy and I took a road trip to Arizona to attend.
It was a wonderful weekend. Lots of great tips and information were shared.

It was SO wonderful to meet some lovely ladies in person that I've "known" online for ages, and it was so much fun to meet so many new talented ladies. Tracy and I had some fun adventures on the drive.


But, as with any trip my favorite moment was walking back in the front door of my home and being tackled by 6 pairs of little arms and a smiling hubby.

Today it's back to normal life.

I'll spend the next 2 days catching up on emails and convos. There were major Internet problems at the venue so I wasn't able to get online while I was away. I know there are many of you waiting to hear back, answers are coming!!




Aaaand....


I posted this new design last week before I left.


My new set of stamps are adorable!!!!


The whimsical sewing machine is perfect for all those crafty moms out there. My hand written "I sew love you" stamp can be added on or left off.


and because your little ones are cute as a button 2 new button stamps :)
You can find it HERE in my shop


I also have a fun new line coming out this weekend! I'm looking for a mom of a newborn or young baby with hand and footprints.

These pieces will be so unique and special I can't wait to share them.

I need one volunteer for this!!!! email me at the contact info at the top of my blog :)


xoxo

post signature

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Sale code update and I'm off to Creative Estates!

I made an error entering the sale code into my shop system but It's all fixed now! Use code MOMLOVE in either my etsy shop or my bigcartel shop and receive 10% off of your entire order! Maybe something like this...

My stacking rings, BY FAR my best seller


My Open Heart Bracelet, one of my best sellers last Year!


or this.... my current FAVORITE bracelet. It hasn't left my wrist since I made it!


I'm a busy busy gal today! I'm heading out to AZ tomorrow To attend Creative Estates. My sweet Friend Tracy and I are driving out tomorrow morning. Girls Road trip!!!


So today I am official 1 1/2 weeks ahead on orders!!! I can't remember the last time i was ahead of schedule, it's such a nice feeling.

I am catching up on the last of my emails and convos that I have been so behind on.

I am cleaning the house, and prepping meals for Rob and the kids.

and still trying to figure out what to wear this weekend, especially after I got a big hole in my Favorite pair of jeans this morning :(

Shopping with 6 kids in tow isn't my idea of fun so I'll have to get creative with what I have in my closet.

what to wear what to wear!!!


Do you have a favorite go to outfit for special events?

xoxo

post signature

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Very important Mother's day order info and a SALE

Happy Saturday :) (SALE CODE BELOW KEEP READING!!)

With Mother's day just around the corner I wanted to post some important order info, Order Deadline info, and offer a sale for my lovely blog friends.

First... Due to the recent disaster in Japan there is going to be a shortage on PMC (precious metal clay) The Pure Silver Clay that I use is made exclusively in Japan, and though the factory did not sustain any damage, there is an energy shortage and production has been halted for some time.

I have stocked up on as much PMC as I could but when my stock is gone I will have to retire my PMC pieces until the factory begins producing again.

My PMC designs are some of my most popular so don't wait to order You can view them HERE





Second~

The final day to order is APRIL 22ND

This date is subject to change to an earlier date depending on order volume. I have 2 assistants to help me with mother's day order shipping and messages, but I am the only one who makes the jewelry and my little hands can only do so much :)


This beauty is new to the shop this weekend,

Vintage letter bracelet hand set with gem stones SO SO SO Pretty!!!!!
Third and What you really were looking for....
Because every mom deserves something pretty this Mother's day us code MOMLOVE when you check out to receive 10% off of your entire order. This code is good on the website and in my Etsy shop!!! post signature