My favorite Etsy Shops.

Today for our EART Blog ring is discussing what Etsy shops are our favorites. I am so excited to be writing this post, because there are so many great shops out there that it is hard to see them all. Hopefully you can brows by my favorites and make them some of your favorites too!

Here we go!

1. SMDstudio.etsy.com - Steve Drew is a super talented artist who has found his niche in the art world creating realistic landscapes, birds and much more on canvas.

2. Luxbeads.etsy.com

I have gotten some of my favorite gemstones from this shop, and have always have a great experience! Love the fact that I can but small amounts of many stones. This way I can get more diverse design work done for the same amount as a strand of one type and cut of gem.




3. EclecticArtisansTeam.etsy.com

Of course this in one of my favorites. So many great artists in one place! What a great mix of talent. Come check it out.




Want to see some more favorite picks from EART artists? Follow the blog ring around starting here at the team blog and read through some other great posts!

Christmas in October

I here people laughing about it all the time, but it seems to be more true every year. This week for the EART team Blog Ring we were asked how early we start preparing for the holidays in our shops. Well, seeing as this is my first year at this I have had hard time gauging when to start "hanging the holly" in my shop, as it were.

I have been working on some holiday designs since mid-October, and am planning on listing them by the end of this week. I guess we will see if it was too late or too early once I get that done.

I hope that Halloween was not an indicator of how my Christmas/ Holiday items will do. I only sold one pair of Dia de Los Muertos earrings, but I think I may have listed everything too late. Hopefully things will be a little more productive this go around.

Want to find out how the other EART team members are getting their shops ready for the Holidays? Head on over to the Eclectic Artisans Team Blog and work your way around the ring. Who knows, you may be able to fill out your Christmas wish list while you read!

My Favorite Thing

As a jewelry designer and artist, it is really hard for me to pick out just one piece that I have made and call it my "favorite". I love all of my creations because they all cam from my heart. That being said, there are some pieces that I have made that really grabbed hold of me so to speak, and led me by the hand through the creative process.

This is one of those pieces. It is named "Inspiration" because it inspired me to use different items as focal pieces in my jewelry.

The focal piece of this necklace is a Czech Pressed Glass Button. The button itself is new, but it was molded using the original antique molds, and was crafted in the exact manner that this company originally did more that 80 years ago. I was impressed with the craftmanship of the button as well as how easy it was to use it just as I would a precious stone.

Inspiration - it is found in the strangest places! That is why this is the favorite item I have in my shop.


Want to find out what the other artists in the Eclectic Artisans Team treasure the most in their shops? Stop on by the EART Team Blog and follow the ring around. I'm sure that you will enjoy the stories that they have to share with you!

Happy Thursday Everyone!

I need to go shopping!!

I mean it! I NEED to go shopping, just not for me personally- for my shop. The one thing that will stop an artist dead in their tracks is running out of their medium of choice. Well I am fast approaching the point where I hit a brick wall.

My favorite wire to work with currently is 20 gauge, dead soft sterling silver. Well... I a am running very low! So I guess a trip to www.Monsterslayer.com is in the near future for me. They have such an amazing variety of metals, chains, and beads. I could spend hours looking around online. I know, I know... it is a sad state of affairs when a girl is more interested in her next silver wire purchase than the next pair of shoes she will buy.


So, as much as I would like to say that my next shop purchase will be these FANTASTIC set of Wubbers pliers, it won't be ( maybe next time...). But that doesn't mean that I will have anyless fun with the purchase that I will be making!

Want to read about what other EART team members are shopping for to complete their shop? Stop by Diva Dea's blog and find out whether her next purchase will be a "need" or a "want". Who knows, maybe she is in the market for a little from both catagories...

Troubles and Trials

Even though I love designing and creating jewelry, I still have periods of time that I find myself struggling. It is not the silver or beads that give me trouble, but rather the business of, well, running a small business.

My biggest trouble when it comes to running my little corner of cyberspace is time management. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the business of getting business that you end up being a hamster on a wheel, always running but never really getting anywhere!

I am still learning the ropes of online selling, but one thing I have already seen is that it can consume you if you let it. When that starts to happen it is probably best to take a deep breath, take a step back for a second and them regroup and reorganize. It is really important to me that Indigo Orchid Designs stays something that is beneficial to me and my family, and does not become a burden.

Are there any things going on in your life right now that seem to be a struggle for you? (I'm sure there are, everyone has some struggles now and then). Take a step back, reevaluate and regroup! You will feel better for having tackled it, even if it doesn't get completely solved.

Reading about others struggles can help put our own in perspective and give us motivation to take them on! Go, and stop by Michelle's Charm World's blog to see what struggles she tackles as a small business owner!