Becky Sharp Designs

For Your Valentine

2012-01-09T08:58:00.000-07:00

Don't forget your sweetheart this Valentine's Day! Shop now for cute heart pendants in my Etsy shop. Each hand-crafted stained glass pendant comes with a beautiful silver snake chain and a gift box.

Follow my blog and receive 10% off your order by using this coupon code: BSDBLOG2012

Paintings from today

2012-01-06T19:15:00.001-07:00

Click images to enlarge.

Watercolor Landscapes

2012-01-06T09:29:00.005-07:00

Several weeks ago I got the itch to paint. I had seen some landscapes on Etsy that I really loved. The colors, the abstract forms, the simplicity. Watercolor is my favorite medium for getting colors down on paper quickly. And each painting is a surprise, because if you get enough pigment and water on your brush, the result is really unpredictable. My jewelry is so precise and detailed, I really needed to just loosen up and enjoy a free flowing form of art for a while.

So after digging out my watercolors, brushes and paper, I got down to business. Working quickly and doing many paintings in sequence really loosened me up. I wasn't able to let myself get nit-picky over details, like I usually am. I also worked on a very small scale, about 5"x5", so I could produce more. I'm rather pleased with my first results, especially since it's been so long since I last picked up a brush. I am going to paint a lot more in the next few weeks. My goal is to get comfortable enough with the paint, and find a style I can call my own. Then I will start adding small, original paintings to my Etsy shop. I would love to offer people original artwork that will never be reproduced, at an affordable price. I don't plan to (and don't have the equipment to) produce high quality prints at this time, so original is what I can offer. I'm thinking somewhere in the $15-$30 range for small 5x5's and 5x7's that can fit into 8x10 frames.

Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!

Fused Glass Jewelry Sale!

2011-12-06T11:32:00.001-07:00

Come on over to my Etsy shop to check out great deals on my unique fused glass jewelry. Fused pendants and earrings are all 30%-50% off! Just in time for your Christmas shopping! To see what's on sale, click here.

A Peek Inside...

2011-03-21T08:19:00.003-06:00

Here's a look at my cleaned up art studio, along with my "helpers". While my oldest is at school, these two little ones like to play together while I work...at least for a little while.

I'm excited to announce that I'm back in business! I was tired of making excuses for not working on my stained glass. My "baby" is almost 18 months old now. I definitely had a LONG break. I was starting to go a little stir crazy not having a creative outlet. So a couple of weeks ago I got so fed up that I tore into my art room, which still had unpacked moving boxes, and whipped it in to shape. I re-listed a big portion of my jewelry in my Etsy shop, and started making new pieces too. It feels so good to be doing what I love again! It is truly a balancing act with the kids. I have to squeeze in work time between meals, diaper changes, snuggles, naps, and all my other mommy duties. I don't get as much done as I would like, but that's to be expected. My kids have to come first! Someday I dream of having uninterrupted work time. But until then, I'll take what I can get, while also enjoying the hugs and kisses from little helpers. :)

My latest work of art...

2009-11-28T17:12:00.006-07:00

I figured that there might be some of you out there wondering how I am doing after my previous post. I'm happy to announce that Alivia was born just over a month ago and is truly a joy. She came into the world safely, but 4 weeks early. She did really well and was already 6 lbs 7 oz at birth. After all the complications with my pregnancy, I feel so blessed to have her here safe and sound. She is absolutely perfect! It has been 3-1/2 years since my last baby and I had forgotten how one little person can consume so much of my time.

I keep telling myself that someday I will make jewelry again...especially since I finally have a daughter! Maybe she will share my love for art and crafting. But for now I am perfectly content spending my days with my husband and three beautiful children.

Room to grow...

2009-08-04T08:45:00.002-06:00

My family just relocated to sunny South Carolina. So far, we love it! It is a truly beautiful state to live in, and very much different than Massachusetts, though we will miss Mass for all of its unique beauty and qualities, especially those gorgeous autumn leaves!

During the move, all of my various websites went on "vacation". It was hard putting my business on hold, but also good to have a much needed break. Currently, all the websites are open again for selling in-stock items. Unfortunately, I don't have much inventory, and I'm not taking any special orders at this time.

Not that I don't have plenty of good reasons to be taking it easy. I am currently six months pregnant with my third baby. I've had many struggles with this pregnancy and found out recently that I have vasa previa, a very dangerous condition for the baby during the third trimester. Not to mention the fact that I have to keep up with my two boys (5 and 3) and unpack and reorganize my new house (quite the feat when I'm not allowed to lift anything).

Needless to say, my studio is still not set up. It's one of those things that has been set on the back burner for the past month. All of my glass, tools, and supplies are still boxed up, sitting in the art studio, awaiting my return. (You can see the room in the above picture, before our moving truck had arrived.) I miss the process of creation so much, but have so many other priorities coming before my work at this point. Only time will tell when I can start creating jewelry again. If all goes well with the rest of my pregnancy, and if my new little baby girl is easy-going and happy (as I'm praying she will be), then I can resume work. Until then, I will sit back and enjoy the time off while I can!

Becky Sharp Designs is Moving!

2009-06-25T07:09:00.003-06:00

My family is relocating to South Carolina! Thus, my glass studio will be moving with me. We are packing up July 1st and won't see the moving truck again for 1-1/2 weeks. So, I will be shutting off my various websites for the duration of the move until my studio is set up again at our new house. I may not resume business again until the beginning of August. Please bear with me during this transition and thank you for your patience!

In other news, we found out that we are expecting a little girl in November! My two little boys are especially thrilled to add a new little sister to our family. And I am glad to say that I am over the nauseous part of my pregnancy. Yeah! Now if I can just survive this move, life will be good. :-)

Waiting for sunny days ahead...

2009-04-22T11:19:00.003-06:00

Here in Massachusetts, we have been experiencing some patchy spring weather. It's been cool, cloudy and rainy for the most part. I understand the need for the rain, but look forward to the warmer, sunnier days of summer ahead.

I also look forward to not feeling so sick all the time! I am currently in the 10th week of my third pregnancy, and feel much worse than I did with my first two boys. Maybe this will be a girl? I can always dream... Also, my two little boys have been sick on and off for a couple of months. Needless to say, we have been cooped up in our house for a long time! So we are ready for healthier days ahead!

While I have been sick, my jewelry making and bookbinding have been put on hold, although I continue to sell the inventory I already have. I miss crafting extremely, but can't seem to find relief from my nausea long enough to get in my studio to cut glass. Besides, the moment I feel better I have about a billion chores to catch up on in my house. It's a never-ending job! Someday I will find the balance again. Until then, here are some sunny pieces of jewelry to brighten my day and yours!

Spring is in the air...

2009-03-16T03:47:00.003-06:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I gathered these green pendant photos to celebrate the holiday and remind me of the new life and rejuvenation this season brings. I realized that many of my designs are nature oriented. So much inspiration comes from the beauty that surrounds me. I can't get enough trees, leaves and flowers.

I'm also so relieved this time of year when the snow melts, the air warms, and little green bulbs start poking up out of the once frozen ground. I love spring! I always feel like I am waking up after a long winter hibernation. And now it's time to wake up my jewelry too. I have slowed down my production since the holidays, but am gearing myself up to pull out my glass, heat up my soldering iron and fire up my kiln.

And don't forget, all of my glass jewelry is 25% OFF at www.ShortFuseJewelry.com.

Where do you find inspiration...

2009-03-13T06:52:00.003-06:00

...when you're not feeling very inspired?

If I were a writer, I would say I have "writer's block". But I am an artist, so do I have "artist's block"? Sounds about right. It just seems like lately I haven't been in the mood to create anything new. Maybe I pushed myself too hard during the holidays and now I just need a break? Or maybe I feel discouraged by the decrease in sales? I can't blame the economy, because that is what everyone is doing right now. I'd like to believe that there are still people spending money out there. Or maybe I have PMS! Either way, I just haven't been feeling inspired lately. I'm sure you've all been there before. So I'm looking for some advice on how to get through slow times. If anyone out there has been through this before, please feel free to comment...

Becky Sharp Designs Facebook Page

2009-03-08T19:14:00.007-06:00

I created a Facebook page for Becky Sharp Designs a couple months ago. I am in the process of figuring out how to use it as a promotional tool. I already have several fans (mostly Facebook friends), but am looking forward to drawing in new people who could potentially be future customers.

And for any of you who are familiar with Facebook, they have revamped the pages to look just like profiles. It is a much more consistent and less confusing look. They also offer advertising for businesses. I've looked into it, but can't figure out exactly how much it would cost me. It's based on number of clicks, or number of times it appears on someone's screen, or something like that. But I believe they won't let you spend less than a $1/day for a basic ad. That comes out to a minimum of $30/month, which I don't think I'm ready to spend quite yet...maybe someday. I've gone ahead and added the link along the sidebar of my blog.

I will use my Facebook page to post photos of new products, as well as update fans about sales, etc. Also, fans can take pictures wearing their jewelry and upload it to the page. They can also write reviews. So please come be a fan of my new Facebook page!

A Freebie from FoundHandmade

2009-02-25T07:17:00.005-07:00

FoundHandmade is a site devoted to advertising your online shop, wherever it may be: Etsy, ArtFire, 1000Markets, personal website...

Normally, it is $5/month to buy one "block", which is basically a small image of one item that you are selling. They also offer larger blocks and featured item blocks at higher prices. If someone clicks on your image, it links them directly to that item in your shop. A great tool for bringing new customers to your website!

Right now they are offering a free 1-month block to anyone who posts about FoundHandmade on their blog. So, if you want a chance to advertise your handmade goods, vintage wears, or supplies, write your post and link back to www.FoundHandmade.com by 2/28/09. Then e-mail your blog link to info@foundhandmade.com. They'll send you details about how to upload your free block. Click here for more info about this freebie.

Slow, slow, slow...

2009-02-19T12:03:00.003-07:00

Do you ever have those days where you ask yourself: "Why is it that I am doing this again???" I'm talking about this whole jewelry business thing. Don't misunderstand; I LOVE what I do. I'm not planning on stopping any time soon! But some days (or weeks) are harder than others.

Recently the economy has been going down the toilet, as most of you already know. But I told myself I wouldn't give up. I've continued to work as if nothing is different. I have made several new pendants and have daily updated Etsy, 1000Markets, and my main website. Granted, there's always more that I could be doing. I'm not too savvy when it comes to marketing. I really do the bare minimum: Facebook, Twitter, my blog, etc. BUT, it seems like I have not been making my normal amount of sales each month. At first I thought, maybe people are just being cautious, and not spending money. But as I scan other shops, I see sales everywhere!

Ok, I should stop the pity party. I have to confess that right before I planned on writing this post, I got a sale from my Etsy shop. Yippie! It had been almost three weeks since my last one. That is quite a dry spell for me, especially with how much listing I have been doing this month. At least I know the buyers are still out there.

So, I will keep plugging along, because that is what you have to do in a business. Someday I will discover the secret to successful online selling. It could be that I just don't have adequate time or energy to invest at this point in my life. I have to remind myself that it's OK. I do have two cute little boys to take care of every day. I can't spend every waking minute on the computer!

If any of you have any easy, non time consuming tips you can share, I would love you forever! In the meantime, here is my latest creation. I love, love, love these colors of glass!

Custom Design

2009-02-13T14:28:00.007-07:00

I love to get special orders from customers. It's easy when they request a previously sold item, or if they want something in a different color. But sometimes, custom orders can be particularly challenging if the customer really doesn't know what they want. They give me a few guidelines, but ultimately tell me that I'm the artist, and to use my best judgment. I don't know why this intimidates me so much. I design things from scratch all the time without anxiety. I guess it's because if I make something on my own, and it doesn't turn out like I'd plan, I just scrap it and move on. But when there is a customer on the other end waiting for some fabulous creation, I really feel the pressure. It's good for me, though. I have to force myself to be inspired, even when there is no inspiration there.

Recently, I was asked to make a pendant (a gift for the customer's wife) using birthstone colors for three different months. One of the months also happened to be their wedding anniversary. First, I had to check the months and see if I even had glass similar to these colors. Thankfully, I lucked out there. I had three transparent colors similar to amethyst, ruby, and blue sapphire. The colors would have looked better in opaques, but the closest stained glass store is an hour away. So I used what I had. The next step was to design a pendant that would combine the three colors in an attractive way. I've done two-piece pendants before, but never three. I tend to avoid multi-pieces in general because smoothing out the solder between glass pieces is very difficult. So this was definitely a challenge.

Attempt #1

The overlapping rings were to represent the wedding anniversary. I felt like it was a clever idea, but it ended up looking too cluttered, especially with all of the uneven solder seams underneath. I could tell that I just wasn't "feeling" this pendant, because the craftsmanship wasn't quite up to par, and it didn't really represent my signature style. So I scrapped it and tried again.

Attempt #2

This second one felt more like me. The shapes are more modern, and my soldering was much smoother. I scrapped the "rings" idea altogether and just went for spirals. I decided that I shouldn't try to cram too much symbolism into one pendant. In the end, what matters is that the customer is happy, AND that it looks pretty around the recipient's neck.

Painting as therapy...

2009-02-06T08:19:00.004-07:00

"Squares" - acrylic on canvas board

I used to paint highly detailed, labor intensive still life's and master studies in oils. This type of work usually only caused anxiety and frustration in me. I would get to a point during the painting where I wanted to throw my brushes across the room and slash a large hole in the center of the canvas. (I'm sure all of you painters out there have been there...) Nevertheless, I would always trudge through the frustration and finish the painting anyway, sometimes happy with the results, sometimes not.

Those days are over...for now, at least. Lately, when I feel like painting, I squirt a bunch of random colors out, grab my palette knife, and have fun. It's such a release for my mind to not have to think about what I'm doing. I love letting the color and texture take over. The process really does put my mind at ease. And even if I don't produce a great masterpiece, I still end up with something that's fun to look at. Which, in my opinion, is the whole point of visual art.

Bookbinding as therapy...

2009-01-26T12:09:00.008-07:00

Ahhh, yes...I'm making books again. I took a long break from bookbinding due to my recent obsession with promoting my glass jewelry line (which I will continue to do also, btw...I know, I'm crazy). But I really need to make books for my peace of mind. There is something very therapeutic about the cutting, folding, gluing and stitching of a book. And then when you are finished, there is this amazing sense of accomplishment as you hold it in your hands, open and close the covers, and feel the smooth blank pages just waiting to be filled by someone (other than me, of course). For some reason, I don't actually want to write in my books. I do have one that I kept as a journal, though I rarely write. Shame on me...

I just needed a little inspiration to get started making books again. I happened to meet a fellow Etsian who makes the most amazing marbled paper in bright, vibrant colors. So I went ahead and bought some full sheets from her Etsy shop: PersistenGreen. These are some examples of her paper.

The very day that the paper arrived in the mail, I went to work. I already had some textblock paper cut and folded into 5x7 sections. I just had to trim the edges, cut the covers, punch some holes, glue on the marbled paper, and stitch it up with some bright orange thread. And voila! Here it is:

A Valentine Giveaway!

2009-01-11T20:38:00.003-07:00

My friend Jess and I are in cahoots to give away this lovely necklace for Valentine's Day. Check out her blog to find out how you can enter for up to five chances to win this pendant. And receive 25% off your first order from my website just for entering the contest! Good luck!

An honest review: Selling Venues

2009-01-07T12:56:00.010-07:00

There are some great new venues for selling hand-crafted goods online. Some are established and many more of the websites are still in the Beta phase of their design, so they are offering free sign-up, free listings, etc. It's a great opportunity to open up shops all over and get more exposure. Here's the run-down of the different selling venues I have come across, and their pros and cons (in my opinion):

1. www.ETSY.com - est. 2005, for selling handmade, vintage, and supplies
--Free to open a shop, $.20 per listing, 3.5% commission per transaction, uses Paypal (who also charges a commission)
--Pros: well established website, large customer base, very friendly and helpful forums (unlike any I have ever seen)
--Cons: very competitive - over 308,000 sellers, check-out is confusing - results in non-paying buyers
--My Etsy URL's:
-----www.shortfusejewelry.etsy.com
-----www.beckysharpdesigns.etsy.com

2. www.ARTFIRE.com - est. 2008, in Beta, for selling handmade, vintage, and supplies
--Free to open a shop, free to list, no commission (during Beta phase), optional $7/month for life account with added benefits, uses Paypal
--Pros: no risk because it's free, set up similar to Etsy (use your same shop graphics, etc.), provide shop stats through Google Analytics with verified account
--Cons: still very rough and doesn't "look" as nice as Etsy, many hiccups in site programming, for example: tagging, search engine, and shipping profiles do not work properly, many features say "coming soon", forums are pretty confusing to use
--My Artfire URL:
-----www.shortfusejewelry.artfire.com

3. www.1000Markets.com - est. 2008, in Beta, for selling hand-crafted goods
--Free to open a shop, free to list, 5.5% commission per transaction, uses Amazon payments (fee included in the 1000Markets commission)
--Pros: Juried site - only top-notch sellers allowed, beautiful platform - very streamlined site with virtually no hiccups (that I have found), more artistic and less "crafty", contains juried Markets that contain similar merchants - higher chance of being seen, shop stats provided for free
--Cons: very new site - small customer base, only uses Amazon payments which isn't as common as Paypal, and thus can't support international sellers or customers
--My 1000Markets URL:
-----www.shortfusejewelry.1000markets.com

4. www.ShopHandmade.com - est. 2008, in Beta
--Free to open a shop, free to list, no commissions (paid by sponsors during Beta phase)
--Pros: no risk because it's free, and supposedly, they save 25 sq. ft. of endangered rain forest for every item sold, other than that, I haven't found many pros on this site
--Cons: shops are awkward, strangely organized, distracting and slow java scripts, many hiccups in programming, no forums or community support, little activity on the site
--My ShopHandmade URL:
-----www.shortfusejewelry.shophandmade.com

There are other sites as well. I had a shop at Mintd (based in Australia) for a short time, but it was even more awkward and badly designed than ShopHandmade. After reading a couple of the forums there, and noticing that many threads had posts that were two months old, I discovered that the site is basically stagnant (not well-maintained or promoted), so I closed up shop.

And of course, there's eBay, but I feel that it is not the best site to respectfully sell fine art. I think e-Bay looks and feels like a flea market. So, I choose not to sell there. Although, I'll gladly buy supplies there.

I've heard of Trunkt.com, which is a juried site which is very reputable. But, they deal mainly with connecting artisans with wholesale buyers. That doesn't work too well with small time producers like me.

So, that about sums up my list of selling venues! After reviewing all of these sites, I can clearly see that besides my personal website, it would be best to promote my Etsy and 1000Markets shops. Etsy has already proven itself to me, since I have had over 100 sales in the last year. And 1000Markets has the most potential for future success as I see it. I hope this has helped any of you that are considering opening up more stores! It has certainly helped me to sort this all out in one post.

Don't drool on your keyboard...

2009-01-06T20:46:00.007-07:00

My second treasury. I must have been really hungry when I created this theme. Did you know that people sell baked goods on Etsy!? Handmade indeed...

View it full size HERE to see ooey gooey detail. It will expire Thursday night.

New Look for a New Year

2009-01-03T21:59:00.003-07:00

As most of you have probably noticed, I have started using a new shop name at many of the new venues I sell at. It started back in October, when I first came up with the name Short Fuse Jewelry. I opened a new Etsy shop at first, and now have signed up at Art Fire, 1000 Markets, and Shop Handmade with the same name. Only time will tell how successful these new selling venues will be. Regardless, the name is catchy, and I like it. So I think I'll keep it.

I went ahead and bought the domain name: shortfusejewelry.com and currently have it linked to my Becky Sharp Designs main website. So, you can type either name into the URL address and still get my website! How cool is that? I have even uploaded a new logo to my main site and changed to a great new turquoise blue color scheme. Check it out HERE if you haven't already seen it.

FRONT PAGE!

2008-12-31T16:20:00.004-07:00

Ok, I just have to brag a little bit... Every once and a while (but not very often), one of my items makes it into an Etsy treasury (where Etsy members hand-pick 12 items to show off in a mini-gallery. See this post). Etsy admin chooses a new treasury every hour (approx.) to be on the front page of Etsy. So, if you are lucky enough, your treasury, or one that you are featured in, could be on Etsy's main page, where thousands of people will see it!

Yesterday, one of my books was in a treasury. Later in the day, I happened to be viewing the front page at just the right moment...and there it was, my book! I snapped a screen shot before it disappeared. Then the book sold a few minutes later. Here's a shot of the front page:

Come check out more great Etsy treasuries HERE.

My first treasury...

2008-12-30T20:17:00.006-07:00

Click here to see it:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=29865

I finally snagged a treasury on Etsy! For those who do not know what that is, I will explain: A treasury is basically like a mini online gallery that I get to curate. It is not to promote my own work. It is for me to show off the beautiful creations of other Etsians. I have carefully chosen 12 items from different Etsy shops that I think are great! And they fit my personally chosen theme: My idea of going GREEN. Please check it out and let me know what you think. It will be online until Friday evening. Enjoy!

NEW YEAR'S SALE! 25% OFF all glass jewelry!

2008-12-29T12:45:00.004-07:00

Becky Sharp Designs is kicking off the New Year with a huge SALE! 25% off the entire inventory of stained glass and fused glass jewelry.

Sale starts today, but won't last long, so come shop and save NOW!

Neon Series Dichroic Jewelry

2008-12-26T20:43:00.004-07:00

I love this new dichroic glass. Some of the colors are so bright, they seem to be illuminated from within. Here are some of my latest pieces:

Holiday Artisan's Festival

2008-12-10T09:18:00.006-07:00

Here's my set-up at the Greenfield Center School Festival last Saturday. I'm so pleased with how much my display has improved since my first show almost two years ago. This is the first show using lights. I found these halogen desk lamps at Wal-mart, normally $13 each, for $5 each because of a pricing mistake! What a deal! It really was a necessary addition, as it added the much needed "bling" to my jewelry. The silver solder and dichroic glass really sparkled, as they should.

Overall, the show was a success, about average with other shows I've done. I still wish to have sold more, but with the economy being what it is, I am grateful for any sales, and for the experience.

Now I have a large inventory to work with, as I have been creating jewelry constantly for the past four weeks and only made a dent in it at the show. But there is still plenty of time for holiday shopping, so I best take advantage of it while I can. I need to get busy listing the rest of it on my website. So I'm off to work!

Free Shipping and a Free Gift Box!!!

2008-12-08T11:31:00.002-07:00

Through the end of the year, Becky Sharp Designs is offering FREE SHIPPING and a FREE GIFT BOX with each purchase. This is a great deal for all of you who are looking for that perfect gift online. And, you can have the gift shipped directly to friends and family with a personalized message from you!

Orders received and payed for by Dec. 18th will arrive in time for Christmas! Don't hesitate. Come check out the latest designs NOW!

Holiday Artisan's Festival

2008-11-25T12:51:00.005-07:00

Info for everyone living in or near Massachusetts!!! I will be selling my stained glass and fused glass jewelry at the Holiday Artisan's Festival at the Greenfield Center School. The event is on Saturday, December 6th from 10 am to 4 pm. The school is located at 71 Montague City Road, Greenfield, MA 01301. The school's website has more details HERE.

I am even more excited about this festival because the school hand-picked the 25 vendors that are participating. And they are only allowing artists who hand-craft their own products. I was lucky enough to be chosen, and I'm sure there will be some great one-of-a-kind hand-crafted goods for sale. If you are close by, please come and see me! I'm sure you'll find lots of great gifts for your friends and family (or yourself!) There will be a silent auction to which I am donating a glass necklace. A portion of my proceeds will be donated to the school. And there will also be gift-making workshops for the kids, so bring your families. I look forward to seeing you!

If you can't come, but want to see my jewelry, please check out my website: www.BeckySharpDesigns.com

Just for Fun

2008-10-14T22:11:00.003-06:00

I made this necklace the other day when I had an overwhelming desire to bend some wire. It was a lot of fun, and took forever to make! It's made out of 16 gauge silver colored copper wire and fire polished glass beads. If I ever get my hands on (or can afford) enough sterling silver wire, I'll use this necklace as a prototype to make another one. But in the meantime, I'll have fun wearing this one.

Fused glass is here!

2008-09-25T14:53:00.006-06:00

Here's the pendants before I fired them.

Before...

12 hours later...and some wire wrapping and picture taking...

Before...

After...
Isn't fused glass amazing?

What a difference good photos make...

2008-09-11T09:24:00.005-06:00

I am amazed at the response I have already gotten from my new product images. I had two sales yesterday: one for jewelry supplies and one for a pendant that has been on the site for months. All I did was take new pictures and re-list it yesterday. And I sold the new split heart pendant the day before that. Hmmm...red seems to be the color of choice. So, lots more red on the way!

Going Good...

2008-09-10T12:26:00.003-06:00

I'm at 85 sales on Etsy now! And, I even had a sale on my main website just the other day. A new customer found me by searching on Google. That doesn't happen very often, since I don't pay for advertising or anything. So I was very pleased. Hopefully they will love what they bought and come back. Better yet, hopefully they will spread the word and send more customers my way!

And I just posted a couple more new items. Here they are. I love them both!

I haven't used my kiln yet. I want to SO bad, but haven't read through the instructions all the way. That might be kind of important when heating something up to 1500 degrees F. I don't think I want to guess. So, I better go get reading!

Light box or Cat box?

2008-09-05T12:23:00.003-06:00

This is my cat Tally's favorite new place to sleep. It's rather annoying when I go to take pictures of some new pieces of jewelry and there is cat hair everywhere! Oh well, she is cute anyway...thought I'd snap a few pics.

My two year old just fell asleep. It's a miracle! Or, a wonderful birthday gift to me today. I think I'll go solder some more jewelry!

As if I didn't already have enough hobbies...

2008-09-03T23:02:00.005-06:00

My husband bought me a glass kiln for my birthday. It's a super nice one, too. I am stoked!...no pun intended. I have wanted to try glass fusing for some time now. I plan on adding a whole new line of fused glass jewelry to my shop once I get the hang of it and come up with some creative designs. Luckily, the kiln came with some sample glass for me to experiment with. Then I will be able to order whatever else I need online, since I can't seem to find a stained glass supply store less than an hour away from here! :( Anyway, here are some pics of my new kiln.

Pretty big interior, big enough to slump a large plate.

Totally programmable!

New Listings!

2008-08-31T14:26:00.007-06:00

Here they are...the first two pendants finished in Massachusetts, along with my new photography style. I am really happy with how the pics turned out. These pendants are now available for purchase in my Etsy shop. More to come...

Jewelry in Action

2008-08-22T20:51:00.003-06:00

An old friend of mine from high school got in touch with me recently. She saw my jewelry online and special ordered eight pendants of the same color, but different shapes, for the bridesmaids and flower girls at her wedding. Today, I was browsing Facebook and saw some pics of the wedding. And, I saw my jewelry being worn! I normally send orders out and never get to see the recipient of my creations! It was a real treat.

Plugging along...

2008-08-17T16:50:00.002-06:00

I haven't finished those new pendants yet, but I am up to 79 sales on Etsy. Now I really need to list some new stuff and pull in some customers!

New Projects...it's about time...

2008-08-15T09:25:00.005-06:00

Ok, so I didn't do so great in the last two weeks accomplishing any of my goals. But I am happy to say that I'm trying to make up for lost time. I am finally working again!!! Last night I prepped several new pendants. I was going to just make one from start to finish, but as usual, I started cutting the glass and couldn't decide on just one design. So I did some sketching, then cutting, grinding and foiling. Then it got too late, so I couldn't do the soldering last night. Hopefully, I will finish a couple tonight. I am SO excited to finally be making jewelry again!

My Etsy Goal

2008-07-29T15:53:00.004-06:00

I'm at 75 sales now on Etsy, and pleased with the positive feedback I've received from my customers! And I seem to continue making sales, despite my lack of new inventory. My main website, however, continues to decline in hits, because I know nothing about marketing. But I am prepared to let that go for now, because of the promising future I see on Etsy, and the success I've seen others have on Etsy. I think that the benefits will outweigh the listing fees I will pay.

I have also had much success with my recent clearance sale. I am excited to clear out my older designs to make room for the new ones coming soon. I have had a long vacation (if it can really be called that) from making jewelry during our transition across the country to our new home. But, my art room is almost organized enough to start working again.

I figured I would make some new goals regarding my business here on the blog. So here they are:

1. Post on my blog at least once a week to keep track of my progress on goals.
2. Create at least one new piece of jewelry to completion every day.
3. List at least one new piece of jewelry for sale every day.
4. Revamp my Etsy site - new pricing for new items, new chain/cord selection as separate listings, possibly a new style of product photography. (This goal may take a few weeks to complete.)
5. Ship out orders within one day of receiving payment.
6. Record sale transactions on my business spreadsheet to track expenses/profit.
7. Reach 100 sales by the end of August.

I'd better get to work!

New Wire Wrap Style

2008-03-16T22:17:00.003-06:00

This is a new pendant I just made. I have seen this style of wire wrapping done be several other jewelry designers and wanted to try my hand at it. I love the look of the wire across the glass instead of around the edge. And I love being able to use some of my photography. I plan on making more. Hopefully everyone will like them as much as I do!

My Perfect Handbag

2008-03-13T14:16:00.003-06:00

Here are the pics of the handbag I made for myself. I sewed it together with my old Singer, fighting it the whole time. When I was almost finished, my Singer refused to do the final stitch around the top. Hence the need for the new machine. My bag is finally done!

My New Sewing Machine

2008-03-10T19:49:00.005-06:00

No more fighting with my 40-year-old Singer sewing machine. (No disrespect to the old Singer...it's been there for me over the years, but just isn't what it used to be. And thank you mom for handing it down to me!) Here's the BEAUTIFUL new replacement, equipped with all the bells and whistles that I need.

I love fabric...

2008-02-23T00:21:00.004-07:00

Ok, besides being my new hobby, handbags are my new obsession! And I think I'm addicted to buying fabric. I love the colors and textures...reds, greens & golds...chenille, velvet, corduroy...it's all wonderful. And when I look at all the fabrics next to each other, I picture what they would look like all sewn together into a neat little bag with handles.

I went fabric shopping tonight and spent more money than I had planned on. Some of it was on sale, but not all. I kept trying to put things back, but couldn't. But I look at it as an investment in my business. I am planning on making bags out of all of the fabrics I bought. I want to start selling a few and see how it goes. I love making handbags, and like other women, can't seem to have enough of them! Hopefully, there will be women out there that love my new creations as much as I do. I guess I better get sewing!

My New Hobby

2008-02-20T00:03:00.005-07:00

I recently looked all over for the perfect handbag. I already have a large hand-made tote bag that I bought at a farmers market before Christmas. I love it, but it's rather large. I wanted something smaller, with a certain kind of upholstery fabric and a certain number of pockets inside. Oh, and a handle long enough to go over my shoulder. (I'm not picky at all! :-) But I couldn't find one anywhere. Then I decided, as always, if you want something done right...do it yourself! It can't be that hard, right?

So, I went shopping on President's Day (lucky for me, because there was a 50% off everything sale at JoAnn Fabric). I found some GORGEOUS red velvet tapestry/upholstery fabric, some other coordinating fabrics to go with it, and a pattern of course. Then, my 4-year-old and I took a number and waited for OVER AN HOUR just to get the fabric cut. Everyone and their sister was shopping for fabric, apparently.

Today I made a "practice" bag with some cheap fabric just to see how the thing would go together, and to experiment a little bit with adding pockets, etc. After a little frustration, and some seam ripping, I actually finished the thing! It even has two pockets and a pen holder! The only problem...I forgot to put in the magnetic clasp before stitching the lining into the exterior of the bag...oops. And, I didn't make the handle long enough. So, this bag will now be handed over to my son to do with as he pleases. When I get brave enough to cut the expensive fabric, I'll complete the "real" bag. I will post pictures when the masterpiece is complete! In the meantime, here is a picture of the prototype.

The Sugared Plum Boutique

2007-12-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

Come to another fun holiday show and find the perfect gift for everyone on your list! The Sugared Plum Holiday Boutique will take place in Herriman, Utah on Dec. 14-15, 2007. I will have a booth there selling my books and jewelry. There will also be many other great Utah artisans selling their handmade goods. Check out the details and see who's participating by visiting the Sugared Plum blog.

Holiday Goodness Giveaway

2007-12-02T16:01:00.000-07:00

Learn how you can win a $20 gift certificate from Becky Sharp Designs! If you have a blog, you can enter. Find out how on my friend Ann's blog right HERE.

I would also like to report that the Holiday Open House in Salt Lake City at Central Book Exchange was a success! Many women came and loved my jewelry! They purchased some for themselves and as gifts for others. I received many comments about how perfect the jewelry is for people that are normally hard to buy gifts for. I even sold two of my hand-bound books. Overall, I am very pleased. Thanks for everyone's support!

Holiday Open House

2007-11-26T00:32:00.000-07:00

Any woman who loves books and jewelry and who is going to be in the Salt Lake City area this Friday, November 30th, is invited to a Holiday Open House at my sister's book store. The store is called Central Book Exchange, located in Sugar House on 1100 E across the street from The Soup Kitchen. The open house is a "girl's night out" to eat, mingle and shop for great holiday gifts, including all of the books at the store, and featuring stained glass jewelry by me! It will go from 7-10 pm and it will be a lot of fun. So come see us on Friday night!

First Sale on Etsy!

2007-10-28T23:08:00.000-06:00

Yeah! I finally made a sale on Etsy, a necklace and a book! I am so excited to break through the newbie barrier. Maybe now people won't be so hesitant to buy from me. It really is wonderful to be picked out of the endless sea of merchants on Etsy, where there is SO much to choose from, and so much competition. The day got even better when I made a sale on my main website, also: two necklaces that were new listings. I just love it when people like something that I've created. It makes me even happier when those people then wear the jewelry proudly, or use the book for something important. I never thought this could be so fulfilling! Thanks for listening to my happy ramblings!

Website Updates

2007-10-27T02:07:00.000-06:00

My 25% off sale is now 30% off! And I've added an awesome new feature to my website: Design-a-Pendant. Check it out!

New Sale

2007-10-22T14:39:00.000-06:00

I've gone ahead and discounted all of my plain glass pendants, necklaces and earrings. Pretty much all of my original items are now 25% off. The sale doesn't include anything I've added to the website this month, such as wire & glass jewelry. It also doesn't include books, chains, or gift certificates. The point of this sale is to move out some of the older inventory to make room for new designs. So take advantage of it while it lasts! Thanks!

Update on Etsy

2007-10-22T14:11:00.000-06:00

Well, I've had several items listed on etsy for a week now, and no sales. I think my prices might be too high for that market...there is SO much competition on that forum. You almost have to post something new every day so that people will see your shop, and have low prices as well. So, I did a bit of research on other etsy shops similar to mine. I ended up having to lower my prices just a tad and lower my shipping prices also.

Feel free to get in on the bargains at www.beckysharpdesigns.etsy.com. It might help to have someone buy something there anyway, so I can get some feedback as a seller on etsy. People might be hesitant to buy from me, being a new seller with no sales and no rating. I appreciate everyone's support.

Etsy.com

2007-10-17T17:17:00.000-06:00

I've listed a few of my items on Etsy.com, which is a HUGE hand-crafted sellers' market. I'm trying to get my name out to a wider audience...even international! Hopefully, this will help. I have to pay a small fee for every item listed, and when it sells, so my prices are a bit higher than on my main website. So please continue to purchase directly from beckysharpdesigns.com since you already know about it.

Mainly, I've written slightly more detailed descriptions of my products on Etsy, so check it out if you feel like it: www.beckysharpdesigns.etsy.com

There's also tons of other cool handmade items on Etsy, pretty much anything you can imagine, made by people all over the world. Another great reason to check it out.

Success!

2007-10-09T22:43:00.001-06:00

I have solved my attribute picture problem! It was an accident how I stumbled on to the solution, and it's backwards from the way the program is supposed to add images, but it works nonetheless. So now I have little pictures of each chain style on each product info page. I am SO excited, as I have been frustrated by this bug in the program for two months now. Detailed pictures of each chain style can still be viewed by clicking the "View Chain Styles Here" link found at the top and side of every page.

More Sales to Come

2007-10-09T13:19:00.001-06:00

The weekend sale went very well. I had a lot of help from friends and family who were spreading the word about the sale and my website! So thanks everyone! I had a lot of hits on the site this weekend, which means people were looking. That's a start.

I plan on moving a lot of my older inventory into the "Specials" section very soon, so be on the look out! I'm developing a new line of jewelry that I think will be a beautiful addition to the products already listed. There will be more wire wrapped glass and a lot of wire overlays and filigree. The level of intricacy and craftsmanship will be vastly improved. I will also be adding different finishes to the solder, such as copper, black, and antiqued. I am constantly learning new techniques and trying to improve the quality and uniqueness of everything I make. So out with the old, in with the new!

In addition, I will be offering leather cords and new chain styles. And if I can ever figure out how to fix the bug in Zen Cart and add images to my product attributes, I will create a design your own pendant page. Customers will be able to select the shape, size, and glass color of their very own custom pendant. Wish me luck on that one...I can't seem to get an answer from anyone at Zen Cart about my image problem.

So keep checking the website for new additions. I plan on getting the first new things on the site by the end of this week. Thanks again for your support!

2007-10-05T10:18:00.001-06:00

Come check it out!

Desktop Images by Sharp Photography

2007-10-05T01:25:00.000-06:00

I've been working hard to learn HTML. It might as well be Greek. It is however becoming easier and easier the more I do it...like anything I suppose. But I have a sneaking suspicion that I've barely scratched the surface of web design. I know basic page layout, text formatting, image insertion and linking pages. When I successfully linked my first page I felt like I had performed some amazing feat...I was extremely proud of myself! Then a couple days later I realized that what I had done wasn't all that profound. In fact, it's pretty basic. Oh well, at least I had a moment when I felt like a web designing genius.

So, to practice my new skills, I've added a link to a page of free desktop images; photos taken by my husband and myself (aka Sharp Photography.) We took macro photos of the flower beds that I slaved over all summer long. I personally think they are the most gorgeous flowers ever, but that's my opinion. I've edited all the images to several different screen resolution sizes; hopefully you can find yours. I'm providing them to you because I love to share photography, and I wanted an excuse to design more web pages. So enjoy, and wish me luck on this whole HTML thing.

The link can be accessed from the Becky Sharp Designs homepage, the sidebar of this blog, or right here. Happy downloading. :-)

What is Art?

2007-09-29T18:14:00.001-06:00

I'm not really going to answer that question. I already wrote a paper about it in college, and I think I exasperated the subject. Anyway, is there really an answer to that question? Let me know if you have any ideas.

I'm not really sure what this blog is for, other than to ramble on aimlessly about what I'm doing to produce art these days. I finally discovered my passion in stained glass and bookbinding. Now the trick is to actually make money doing it.

That's it for now...later I will post pictures of new projects, ideas, etc. In the mean time, I'll try my best to keep the motivation alive.