Friday Round Up

It's been a while but I'm hoping to restart my Friday Round Up

It's the last day of November and when I took a look at my stats, was surprised to find that although my number of orders is down from last November (53 last year, 40 this year) my actual revenue is bigger this year - so I"m happy!

I've listed a couple of new items this week.

Black Pearl and Rhinestone Necklace Earrings Jewelry Set


18th Birthday Charm Bracelet


and back to my early days with some new memory wire bracelets - Olive Green and Lime Pearl Memory Wire Bracelet

Friday Round Up

This week I'm managed to complete 2 out of 3 custom orders. For these 3 orders I've wire wrapped somewhere along the lines of 700 pearls, so I'm pleased (and relieved!) that I've got them done. I've also been trying to add some new things to my shop.

I've added these Bridal White Pearl and Rhinestone Fireball Sterling Silver Earrings These are made with handmade earwires from FoothillsFindings


I've been adding some new memory wire bracelets as well, including this Purple and Pink Pearl Memory Wire Bracelet


and this Burnt Orange, Champagne and Tangerine Pearl Memory Wire Bracelet This seems to be a very popular colour scheme for weddings this year, as I've had 3 custom requests since the beginning of January for bridesmaid accessories in these colours.

Friday Roundup

This week I've been busy with family things. My daughter had a concert at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Tuesday and then we spent Wednesday night in Dublin at the Miley Cyrus concert. I could spend an hour writing my comments on the concert but I'd hate to waste your time with my negativity :D

I was delighted to find myself featured in a Storque article this week. My Gold Bubbles Pearl Bracelet was featured in the Vote for the glitziest New Years Eve glamour article.


To match the bracelet I made this Gold Bubbles Necklace


Apart from that I have just been starting to make items to replace the ones I've sold. I had 140 items in my shop at the start of November and now I have 65. I just haven't been able to keep replacing the ones that have sold, so now things are slowing down, I will be spending my time making up stock again.

I've added a Sale section to my shop, so if you want a last minute Christmas bargain, check it out!

Friday Roundup

Well, I'm glad I decided to restock my Folksy shop last week, as I've had 4 sales in it! I've gone a bit mad as usual over buying beads, so have vowed not to buy anymore until Christmas, unless I really need to. I'm not sure yet what constitutes 'needing to' buy beads, but I shall be testing my resolve!

I have left some new items into the shop I supply and there were only 2 necklaces that haven't been sold since I last gave them some, so I'm well pleased.

This week I've been quite busy making up new bracelets for my online shops and have been swearing at the weather! As I take all my pics outside the persistant rain we have been having here is making photo taking especially difficult. I have been dashing out between showers to try and snap off a few shots - not ideal.

I have long thought about a black and white Bubbles bracelet and this week have finally made one. I called it the Guinness Pearl Bracelet and am pretty pleased how it has turned out.



I also made this Dark Olive Bubbles Bracelet which is a mix of glass pearls and Gutermann Haiwiian Beads.



And finally I made this rather bright Black and Emerald Green Memory Wire bracelet with a view to all those parties coming up.

Etsy Showcases!

I've always been a bit unsure about buying a slot on one of the showcases on Etsy, as I've not read particularly good things about them in the forums.

However I eventually decided to bite the bullet last Friday on the Fall Wedding Showcase and thought I'd share my experience. Coincidentally that was the night I was on the FP as well - typical!- so it's hard to tell which results have come from which!

The item I featured in the showcase, the
Fizzy Bubbles Bracelet is one of my best sellers as a bridal piece.



It didn't sell on Friday.

However I did get 4 enquiries about custom orders for bridesmaid accessories. 2 of these have become definite orders for multiple items, which is fantastic!

So would I pay the $15 again for a showcase?

Well, I wouldn't say definitely yes, but I may be tempted to do a wedding one again, as I do think it brought extra exposure to my shop. It's not something I would rush into though, as I think $15 is pretty steep for one days advertising.

Friday Roundup

Well the early part of the week was spent recovering from the maddness of being in the Storque Weekend Deals article. I had a total of 22 sales from Friday to Monday morning, loads of shop and item hearts and 2 custom orders. Who says being featured doesn't help sales?

This week I needed to have a bit of a break from all that handwrapping of pearls so I decided to do something with the chain I'd bought a while ago.

The first thing I made was this Pink and Purple Long Necklace I bought the beads when I was in Cornwall and love the vibrancy of them.


I also made this Black, Pewter and Silver Cluster Necklace, which I'm really pleased with.


And finally, of course I couldn't resist another Bubbles bracelet, this one is Pewter and Silver


So all in all a successful and busy week. Looking forward to a break this weekend in Scotland. Oh and I'm offering Free Shipping throughout my Etsy shop this weekend, so if you want a bargain, check it out!

Weekly Round Up

I ususally do my weekly round up on a Friday but I have something else planned for tomorrow, so I'm a day early!

I had ordered yet more Czech glass pearls and have been busy making more Bubbles bracelets in a variety of colours.

This one is a stunning deep red and thanks to the UK Street Team for their help with the name. After many changes of mind I opted for Cranberry Bracelet


For this Lemon Bubble bracelet I used lemon, yellow and creamy pearls that compliment each other.


I've finished my big custom order and it's given me an idea for a new range in my shops, so watch this space!

With the kids off school I'm finding it pretty hard to get much done really. I have had to complete the custom order so have found myself working later into the evening so I can do things with Alex and Jamie during the day. Has anyone else noticed that the nights are starting to get shorter? I notice the light starting to change around 8 o'clock, when it's pretty impossible to match colours exactly. Hateful thought that autumn is on it's way with the shorter days!

Friday Roundup

Before I went on holiday and shut my shop for a fortnight, I was a bit unsure if it would affect sales. I've read several posts in the forums about how taking a couple of weeks off can kill a shop for several weeks.

So I'm pretty relieved that my shop seems to have survived intact. I've had 3 sales since I reopened the shop on Sunday, which is above average for me! Not only that but I came home to a custom request for 8 Bubble necklaces, bracelets and earrings. What makes this even nicer is that is from a repeat customer who has bought some of my work before and liked it enough to trust me with her bridesmaids jewellery!
This is a great custom order in that every set is to be different and the bride-to-be is making the colour choices.

For this set she has chosen Silver and Pewter glass pearls together, which I think is a stunning combination and I may have to use again!




The bride-to-be also designed the earrings and I'm happy how they have turned out.

I also bought some more pearls in different colours and made up this Blueberry Bubbles Bracelet last night.


Once I get the custom order finished I'll be making up some other Bubbles bracelets with my new pearls which I'll show off next week!