FINDING A NAME

I am in the process of getting ready to open a sister store to my Colorscape Designs store on Etsy.com. My new store will contain decor accents for your home. Some of these accents will be hand made-made pillows, hand-painted rugs, frames, paintings and much more. I have always had a passion for decorating my home, so I thought why not use my artistic abilities to create my own line.

My questions out to you readers is what should I name my new store. I would like to tie it in to my jewelry store. One way by doing that is have a tag line that says "by colorscape designs". So please let me know any suggestions you might have.

Over the next couple weeks I will start showing on my blog sneak peaks on the merchandise that I will be carrying.

My Basement

Today has been day of noise I am having a basement system installed along two walls i my basement. This to prevent water from coming in, and when it does make it in, the water drains into the system and is pumped outside. This way I have a dry basement and not a wet one. However, it has been a loud day. The workers have to jack-hammer two feet in width along the walls of my cement floor. It is interesting listening to that vibrating sound for hours at a time. I do not know how the workers doing the job handle it. I went downstairs to check on how things where going and the work doing the jack-hammering just looked miserable ad very dusty.

Well the day is almost over and they seem to be almost done. The fun part begins afterwards. We have a finished basement already, so they workers had to take down some dry wall and tiles off the floor for the installation. Now we have to re-install all the dry wall and tile. Plus, we have a bathroom down there that had to be torn apart as well, so we are going to remodel that whole bathroom. It was this awful 70's blue, so I am happy to update.

This is all just the fun part of home ownership. But, I would not trade it in for the world. Even though house can sometimes feel like money pit , and the economy is bringing down the values of everyones houses, it is still worth it in the end.

CT Etsy Team Meeting With Admin Beth

This past Saturday the CT ETSY Street team had a great meet and great with ETSY Admin Beth. She came in from NY to meet with the team on feedback to make ETSY even better. A lot of good suggestions came out of the meeting for improvements on ETSY site. Plus, team members got out and about to meet other team members. I even found out about a group of local crafters that meets 5 minutes from my house. Overall, it was a very productive two hours. I hope to see some of our suggestions show up on the ETSY site.

TQB DESIGNS - Featured Artisan

The artist I would like to feature today is TQB Designs. She is a fellow Etsy Artisan. Every time I see one of her pieces I am just in Ahhh! I love every single one. Her play on colors is absolutely breath taking.
Each piece is made up of tiny seed bead spheres, plus just newly added — her squares, that she hand weaves over wooden forms. These beautiful beaded shapes are then accented with a stylish, hammered, sterling silver wire. Each unique piece is a modern statement.
I have not yet purchased my own piece, so many strike me, I just do not know what one to go with. I am just waiting for that one that screams my name.
Take a look at her stuff, I know you will just love them.

Alyse Vordermark Handbags

I have decide to start featuring a Etsy seller on my blog when a product jumps out at me.

Today I would like to talk about Alyse Vordermark Handbags. I just saw the greatest bag by her named "Black and White Flower Handbag". I just love the pattern and the black & white color. It would be a great addition to any summer collection. She has so many other beautiful bag styles and patterns to choose from. Ahe will customize the frabric and the style bag you choose. As customer you will end up with your own unique designer bag that noone else will own. Plus you are supporting an artisan and the hand-made movment. Go check it out!

I HAD MY FIRST ON-LINE ORDER!

I am so excited. I had mt first on-line order yesterday. I was on cloud nine all day long. The customer bought this beautiful necklace shown, which was one of my favorites. It is amazing how one sale can just boost your soul, and give you hope.

I also have my jewelry displayed for the monthe of April at Rainy Day Paperback Exchange in Bethel, CT. So, I hope I sell some pieces through her as well.

Better Connecticut

Spread The News!

The CT Etsy Street Team is going to be featured on the TV Show "Better Connecticut" Tomorrow morning at 10:00 am. Check it out and help support the Artisans.

We are hoping with this feature we will get more publicity to our stores and to Etsy
I know many of my fellow artisans have great work to sell. Take a look at http://www.mskittyfibers.etsy.com she has some great stuff.

Windy Evening

Well it was one crazy evening last night. We had winds at 60 mph here in Connecticut. It was crazy. I was so freaked out. At one point in time the wind got so loud that it sounded like an airplane was diving low on the house. I actually ducked down on the couch because I thought the windows where going to blow in. The lights flickered on and off, and I could hear branches hitting the roof. This just went on all night. I was thankful I did not loose power.

This morning I got up to go outside and take in any damage. The only somewhat major problem I could find was a large branch came down and landed on the cable wire. So that is going to take some clean-up. Thank goodness my other half came home this morning from his Snowboarding trip to Utah.

Frustration Sets In!

So I have had my online store on www.etsy.com, www.colorscapedesigns.com set up for just over a month now, and I still have not received a sale. I have to a kind of cross road with my jewelry trying to decide what to do. On one hand I so enjoy making my jewelry, but on the other hand the frustration sets in when I am not selling anything. So the question I ask myself is how am I going to support my habit? I cannot keep creating jewelry and just let it pile up, or keep spending more money on supplies when nothing is coming in return. I get complements on my jewelry all the time, and the girls at work just eat it up when I bring it in. So I am not sure where my problem lies. What should I do? Can anyone help me with some answers?

So where do I go from here. I have only signed up for two craft fairs so far this year, plus I have a consignment space for a month as well. These all take place during April and May. So I hope these will guide me in what direction I should take. I really do not want to give up may jewelry. Someday I would like to own my own business, either it be my jewelry or owning a cute boutique that sells handcrafted items that I could include my pieces as well. I guess I need to stay on target for that goal.

I know my thoughts are all over the place, but this is how I am feeling inside. I just want a clear answer. But this is life, and that does not always happen. If you are reading this, please post me your thoughts on what I should do.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Craftastic

Hi All, it is Craftastic time. Please go and check out some of the great artist on the CT Etsy Street Team. You will not be disappointed.

Snowy Day in Connecticut

Well here comes the snow. It is a beautiful snow day in Connecticut today, and it is still coming. I believe we probably already have at least 6 inches on ground. These kind of days are great, you just want to curl up in a blanket and watch a good movie with a cup of hot chocolate. I am actually working from home today, so I don't have much play time until 5:00 pm. then I can get out my materials and start playing around with some new jewelry designs. Here is a great picture of my dog Bela Lugosi not enjoying the snow. He is too cute!

I did some networking this morning, and I have booked my first spot at local book boutique for a month. I also have inquired about showing my jewelry in a garden boutique in LA. I believe that would be a good fit for my flower pieces. I hope to hear back a good response.

As of yesterday, I became a official member of the CT Etsy Street Team, check out there bog at http://ctetsyteam.blogspot.com/. I am slowly becoming an Internet social butterfly. It is fun learning how to network over the Internet.

If you are on the east coast, enjoy the Snow!

THE START

Well this is start to my first blog. I never thought in a million years that I, Kelly, would be blogging. But from what I read from other artists, this is a great way to get yourself out there and to be noticed.
I have been an artist since I was a child. I rember my first art show when I was in six grade. My featured piece was my very first oil panting of a large field with a barn in the distance. I painted it from the materials of a beginners art kit my father gave me that christmas. My inspiration was the many shows of Bob Ross that I watch on Sundays with my father. I received many compliments, from which, an artist soul was created.
I countinued my love of art throughout high school, where I continued to paint and discover the joy of ceramics. Even during the summers I would take an art class at a local studio. It was in my early twenties when I decided one day to tray out jewelry making. This idea came to me after one of my trip to the mall to buy a new outfit. I had decide to stop by the local craft store and pick up some beads to make a new necklace to match my new outfit. How great would that be.
After 4 or 5 shoping trips and 4 or 5 new pieces of jewelry, I realized what would I do with all the extra beads, so I just kept in making pieces. I loved making the pieces, trying new techniques and designs I saw on TV. After a while a small inventory started to build up, now it was time to try an sell. My mother informed me that her church was having a fall craft fair, what a great way to start selling.
Well it has been alomost 10 years and the craft fair scene has got very old. Last year I decide it was time to get off my butt and start selling my jewelry elsewhere. I have now set up website, www.colorscapedesigns.com, store on Etsy.com, and I am waiting for my first sale. I also started to market myself to local boutiques and I actually signed up for my very first jewelry class in metal smithing, which I am really enjoying.
So, I hope you enjoy reading about my journey.