Hello Summer!

Hello much needed vacation time.

I have been MIA from my blog quite often over the last few months.
We had a tough spring in our house hold for a number a reasons.

As much as I love spring, I am ready to usher in a new season, and some much needed time off.

My etsy shop is closed until August first.
My other shop will remain open but I will not begin work on any orders that are placed after June 21st until July 15th.
All orders that were placed by June 21st have shipped out!

It was a crazy week getting everything finished up and shipped out.
Getting the House ready and our fridge stocked for our House Sitter.
Getting the kids packed for vacation.

We are off to go camping :) I love camping. Simple carefree days outside playing in the river and hiking through the woods with the kids. Cooking out doors and enjoying God's creations. I'll take the country over the city any day!

I will be posting photos of our adventures over on facebook often, and over hear if I get a chance to figure out how to post from my phone. No computer for a month!

Because I can't do a post with out photos here are a few sneak peeks of new designs that will debut when I reopen...


I love this pendant! From the front it looks elegant and simple with a gem stone of your choice sent in a sterling circle but around the outside edge I can stamp names or words (see the photo below :)

Secret message heart necklace set with a gem stone

My new "Color bliss" Ribbon wrap initial bracelet! These I love love LOVE! I've been working on these beauties for a couple of months now and I can't wait to get them up in the shop to share. I have so many color choices for the super soft silk ribbons. I adore color and I am so happy I found a way to pair vibrant color with the fluid grey of the silver. I'll have quite a few of these at the Queen Bee Market on August 6th.

Gem stone Tear drop necklace


Super secret stacking rings. A simple but fun twist on my ever popular stacking rings.

Instead of the names or words being stamped on the top of the rings I stamp the sides. When you slip them on they just look like beautiful set of rings, but you'll know they carry a special message or name on them :)

That's it for today! I hope you are all enjoying your summer :)

xoxo

New items in the shop and a SALE !!

Finally they are listed! So let's have a SALE to celebrate dads :)

Use code lovemydad for 10% off of your entire order!!!

The sale runs through the weekend and you have till 11:59PST June4th to order for Father's day.

The new Men's (or women's I seriously LOVE these rings!!)
These are only available in my bigcartel shop, they will be in etsy some time next week.

Hardware ring

New Font for the Vintage letters this pendant is slightly larger than the others!

Hardware Ring hammered finish

Wide Band hammered ring (can be personalized!)

Triple stack spinner ring


Enjoy your weekend

xoxo

Father's day order deadline extended...

We've had a little bit of end of the school year drama, including someone puncturing my tire at the market, leading to 3 hours at the Mechanic to get a new one in and on the Van. With 6 kids life stops with out the van!
Anyhow I have not been able to finish listing the new Men's line so I have extended the Father's day order deadline to June 4th! I will have the new goodies in the shops by the end of the night :) (pssst sale to follow)

One of the events keeping me busy...
My honey getting his hood at his graduation ceremony for his Master's degree in education. YAY honey!!!!



Hope you are all enjoying the end of the school year.
Any fun summer plans?
xoxo
Canela

Catching my Breath!

Just a super quick post to say I haven't gone into hiding :)

I'm finally catching up on life, post mother's day rush, post 3 rounds of the flu or some other tummy virus that hit everyone in the house, post queen bee market, and all the end of school year events.

Rob's Graduation is tonight!! Congratulations on all your hard work, late night classes and paper writing, honey I'm so proud of you :)

I'm getting back to taking custom orders this week.

The last day to order for Father's day delivery is June 1st.
I know it's just around the corner but I have a few new designs for Men that will be listed this weekend.
Like my new Hard Wear Line for men (or women!) ...

My new line of leather cuffs, lots more of those to come in several colors!!




Have a fabulous weekend!!

Happy (late) Mother's Day!

I'm a day late in wishing you all a very Happy Mother's day.
My mother's day was spent sick in bed all day.

I received a gorgeous bouquet of lilies from my mommy. Thank you mom, they brighten up my kitchen and make me smile every time I pass them!


My kiddies spoiled me with an armful of hand made cards. :)

Hope your Mother's day was full of Joy and Love!
xoxo

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

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.

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

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)

double vintage letters in script font

Mommy bracelet

Happy Easter!!

xoxo

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