http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.276954773.jpg

This is what I have been working on....memory wire bracelets. I am at that place where in-between fancy, schmancy inspiration I am looking for an easy project, that is fun, wearable and fits the tenet of my shop.....Fun, Funky and Affordable.

Memory wire bracelets fit most wearers and you either slip your hand between the rounds or you can loosen the rounds and wrap it around your wrist. The memory wire does not lose it's shape and if you are using heavy beads it will not slip off if you have more than three rounds.

I made a cute little one for kids and you can see it in my etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BluJeanBeads. It is made from cute little wood beads and larger wood animal beads.  I think a little one would like it.

In early December, I will be doing a bazaar at McLane Elementary School in Olympia (December 2- 4-8 PM) and have been putting together items to sell. I know that at bazaars you get people with a range of budgets and holiday needs.  I put together a little basket of bracelets priced and geared for children's giving to parents and siblings.  I think it is very important that children think of others during "gift getting" time and start to give from a very young age.  My daughter had to start gift choosing and surprises for her grandmother's, her father and her brother, starting at age two.  She is the most thoughtful of gift givers.  The chosen item may not be expensive, it may be handcrafted, it may be an experience but it is always given in good spirit and it is always "right."  I think it is because she has had good practice in selflessness.

At the bazaar I also hope to have varying price points in items for adults and jewelry pieces that can be worn by men and women. I have started using larger lobster clasps not just as a "funky" item and a signature statement for BluJeanBeads but to make my jewelry accessible to folks with different abilities to fasten clasps. I also have pieces with magnetized clasps or no clasps at all (elasctic bracelets). Not every family celebrates Christmas so I try to keep my tags and jewelry boxes neutral.

So onwards to the studio...to creation...to joy!

Where is the Work Man?

So....this guy who says he is coming to work on the house said he would be here at 7 am. So I get up at 6 am let the dogs out.  Put them back in their crates and sit down to work on my website: www.BluJeanBeads.com.  Pretty dedicated wouldn't you say?

But I digress.....

Here it is quarter to 8 am and he still hasn't arrived. I know, I know....he said between 7 and 7:30 but what the hay?  I'm up....I don't want to be up. The dogs are imprisoned and he is now 15 minutes late.

Oh am I being a Miss Crabby Pants....Yes...I was out at an event last night and arrived home at 10:30 PM.  Had to eat and unwind....a mere 5 hours of sleep.  You are darn right I am a Crabby Pants.  Crabby Pants girls have trouble being creative and staying focused.  All that yawning, eyes watering, make it hard to get wire wrapped. 

I have product to put together for a December 2 show.  I don't have time to waste!

Web Presence

I have been working really hard to update my BluJeanBeads website.  Can you take a look and give me some feedback?

I find that even with the plug and play feature, I still had trouble linking this up with my Etsy site but finally managed.  Whew!  Three days of work.

E-Marketing is necessary but be warned it takes a little time when you are getting everything launched.  Then you have to make a schedule to keep everything up to date - which I have not done yet....that is why you see crazy random postings when the muse bites me in the butt. Lol.

Site:  oh yeah, easily distracted....It is www.BluJeanBeads.com. 

Shop Identities and Your Style

I was going over my Etsy shop: http://etsy.com/shop/BluJeanBeads and was amazed at some of my products.  I really love some of my older products. They are so beautiful.  Like this necklace:

I made it in the spring. I had gone on a business trip to the coast and stopped by a little bead shop on the way (in the little tiny town of Grays Harbor) and found these gorgeous garnets.  I had arrived at my destination in the afternoon and after dinner had some time to kill, so I pulled out my travel pack of beads and tools and created this beauty.  I just love the asymmetical gold clasp that looks positively lacy.

Then I continued looking and my eye landed on one of my newest creations. A bracelet. It is different...in tone....but beaded.  Still a singular strand of beads. No chains. But the colors vibrant and candy colored. The necklace is a gemstone and this is glass. Round and smooth characterize both.  I'll show you:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/81416472/orange-bracelet-happy-orange-candy

Are they really that dissimilar?  I don't think so.

I recently read a blog where the woman was suggesting that your shop has one style. Like if you made goth jewelry it should be a goth shop. But I don't know....I like wearing subdued, traditional jewelry with my blue jeans and my tee shirts and I love pairing crazy heart collage earrings with sheath dresses and sometimes a blazer and a skirt.  My ideal customer is a college student, living in a college town, like where I live here in Olympia Wa. Young people are still trying on identities and older folks, like me, who work with them - still are having fun.

How do you pair your jewelry with clothing?  Are you trendy? traditional? bohemian? hippie?  All the time? Some of the time?  Because you are young is it all trendy and inexpensive? Because you are old(er) is it signature gold and silver? 

Do you have one signature style in your shop or lots of things that speak to you - and hopefully your customers? 

It is Officially Fall

Fall is here.

Farmer Brown (me) has harvested her five little squash and brought them into the pantry from the garden. I have three acorn squash and two other fancy varieties that I have forgotten the names on.  The garden will soon be put to bed under a pile of mulch...weeds and old plants removed. Ready for the next garden season.

As the days grow colder and the outdoor season winds down. It is getting time to take that cup of coffee and tea and sort through all the autum colored beads - seeking inspiration from the leaves that are turning gold, russet and red outside the window.  It is time to scan the skies for the first birds to leave town for southern climes, and admire their tawny feathers. They will be the inspiration for some great color combinations.

Yes, Fall is here!