Caught Up in... Real Life

Ahhh - the Holiday Season...
I don't know about you but I've been sooooo busy.  Part of my busy always tends to be spinning my wheels and feeling overwhelmed about all that I have to do.
Like -
Finish decorating the tree...I'm about to put it off until tomorrow (sound familiar?)
Wrap presents...there's always tomorrow (sound familiar?)
Clean - I mean really clean the house for the family gathering on Christmas Eve and Day (sound familiar?)
I just get so overwhelmed - and then of course there's the regular stuff too - like laundry, and cleaning the bathrooms!

What's really been bugging me though is slacking on my blog.  I'm not sure that anyone (besides me) even reads it, but just in case you (or you) do, I hate to let you down. So, I'm here to check in and see if you guys are doing OK. 

I'm OK too.
Salute!

So Much to Think About...

I wrote a  letter to my President today.  Yes, to President Obama - the President of the United States.  I know that I am not alone being hit hard by the economy today, but I am in such a desperate place that I have nothing to lose, and everything to gain....so I put it all out there and will wait to see what (if anything) happens.

Now, don't get me wrong - I have worked all of my adolescent and adult life and have never felt that anyone owed me anything...not even my own family.  But it's different today.  Today you have to advocate for yourself - for your basic human rights in every way - and only the strong survive - so I must be feeling strong today cause I'm determined to survive.

Root for me - OK?
(thanks)

Good News! It has been a Buy & Sell Weekend...

What that means is I was able to purchase a couple of gifts that were a bit pricey for my grandkids because I had a pretty good selling weekend!

You know how they say "easy come...easy go"? Not me, not to be corny but it's definitely "hard come...easy go"!

Anyway - Christmas is all about the kids.  The big ones and the little ones.  My husband has the youngest spirit of anyone that I know personally.  I've actually seen the 10 yr old in him as he exuberantly slid down a railing (at 65 no less).  He is a bit older than I - and is quite proud of the fact that as the sign in our kitchen goes: "An Old Rooster and a Young Chick Live Here"

So, when it is said that you're only as old as you feel - no doubt it is more true than false.  Not sure how I got on this subject - but hopefully it will have made you smile.

I'm smiling!

Been Sick AGAIN...but Gotta Dance!

Just a bad cold - nothing serious.

BUT, I have Hubby's Christmas Party tonight, so I have been (under orders) to rest since Monday so that I can be ready to dance my --- off tonight.  We have a reputation (of sorts) to keep up...kinda funny..our kids would think it hilarious that we manage to be the life of the party!

Anyway - yesterday I spent some time trying to figure what to wear. That's always an issue for me, and if I don't figure it out so that I'm ready (on time) it can put a damper on things.  Nothing new...but I have a lot of clothes to choose from.  I have 2 or 3 dresses that I'm considering with a definite front runner in black.

Now, I'm a jewelry designer - right?  I feel that I need either a "statement" necklace in silver tones or none at all....and then earrings to match, of course.  Problem is that I've always been a Gold girl, or a multi-colored Gold girl, but I def need silver or white gold tones for the likely dress that I will wear. Well, no problem I'll just make something ....

But it's Chistmas time...and I still have tons of shopping to do and I have to finish my jewelry gifts...and I'll be late...and in trouble....

Oh boy, I'm gonna have to skip the statement necklace.

See ya!

It's All About The Future!

Well if you read my post yesterday - I've had some hard decisions to make regarding how I am spending my money in this tight economy with jewelry design being such a glutted market. So, today I cancelled my ProStore account. I was intending to do it anyway, BUT was turned on to Alexa which gives ranking info and great stats on your site traffic and found that my domain did not register AT ALL! 

No wonder I have no sales...

Now, I'm no brainiac when it comes to the www, and I certainly have much to learn... but I work really hard, and I expect that the web developers that sponsor such sites and promise to market them will do so. When I called to cancel, they wanted to give me credits and work with me but I know now that it is a wasted effort.

BTW, this Blog of mine is way down in the ranking...way down...but I can see that it's gaining a little every day!

In the meantime...I have GREAT jewelry and Fabulous prices in my current shops....

http://www.janaesjewels.com/ and http://stores.ebay.com/janaesjewelsandjems

Check me out!

C'mon...just a peek (sm)

New website for janaes jewels with SoopSee

Well, I'm the eternal optimist plugging along trying to make some money on my Bee-yoo-ti-full jewelry and yesterday spent some time catching up on reading the blogs I follow when I read about an opportunity to launch a new website that will carry my domain but use my pics and listings from Etsy. I saw this posted on http://www.divine3designs.blogspot.com/ blog, and she said that it is simple to use...and it sure is.  It is still in Beta form, so the Intro rate is really inexpensive...or you can also get a scaled down version for free.

Well I jumped on it because...for those of you who read any of what I write, listing on the various websites that I have shops on is WORK. The beauty of the SoopSee site is that I can register my own domain but still import the pictures, descriptons and pricing that I have already established in Etsy. I can then use my Etsy shop shopping cart through Paypal for payment.  In addition, I can import my blog and twitter account to my new site, get google analytics  and also track my Etsy "heart" activity.  So - the 2 are somewhat tied together but with the distinction of http://www.janaesjewels.com/ vs. http://www.janaesjewels.etsy.com/.

I will probably now cancel my eBay ProStore (http://www.janaesjewelsandjems.com/) that is just not user friendly and has had little or no traffic since I reopened it a few months ago. I do much better on my regular eBay site with my premium store than I do in the ProStore...

So we'll see how it works out. You might want to see for yourself if it is worth it.  Take a peek at http://www.soopsee.com/  to see if there is any benefit for you.

And me...well I'm just as hopeful as can be...

Til tomorrow

Feelin' the Holiday Spirit Today

Yesterday we got lazy, but today daughter Annie, Hubby and I got busy and decorated the house - at least part of it.

No tree yet - but the lights are on - the furniture is moved around to accomodate the extra trimmings and we are looking quite festive!

So, decide to close out the day with you, my dear bloggers, if any of you are listening (or reading).  My spirit is lifted today

Ruth, you are in my thoughts...here's hoping you'll get the next vacation. (sm)

Later.

Chillin' with Hubby and Maggy

It's been a cold, damp and dismal Saturday here in Southcoast, MA. After running my regular Saturday errands with Hubby we headed home with plans to take the Christmas decorations down from the attic. Got home, started watching movies, got lazy and put off the Christmas decorations for another day!

Oh, by the way...Maggy is my 4 year old (bossy) pomeranian!

The good news is that I rarely chill with Hubby...he's a western movie nut, and watches Encore's Western channel every spare moment he has. During that time I'm usually making jewelry, listing jewelry, writing on my blog, dropping EC's etc, etc, (you know the drill). 

But today I'm just chillin...

I have more than enough jewelry inventory so taking a break there...more than enough listed...so taking a break there too..  Besides listing is WORK!

All snuggled up in a fleece, on the couch with hubby and John Wayne's McClintock playing on the TV. Peace...and Harmony. It's a great night!

Am I Spinning My Wheels???

I'm probably the only one that can answer that...
I'm starting to feel that I AM spinning my wheels tho -
I tend to be very spiritual and this afternoon while cutting down brush, vines and some mysteriously sown elderberry bushes, I found myself looking for answers...

I design jewelry and sales are flat.
I tell others that only the strong survive in a competitive marketplace - Yes that is true, but with my limited resources and burgeoning debt, I am feeling very grey.
I am one of the strong...
But will I survive?

I'm looking for a sign...
I'd like to win the lottery tonite...
Or something...

Any ideas?

Ciao!

Blogging For Sales Brings Friends Instead

In trying to increase sales to my online shops on Etsy and eBay I've been following the sage advice of the many with more "blogging" experience than I. I've been dropping ec's (entrecards) for credits and find myself lost in a blog while trying to increase my speed and intensity of dropping.  For those of you that may be lost with this conversation - check out the entrecard immediately to the right of this post. You may join me and many more like me that are trying to build...something...it's not a one size fits all agenda.

But back to my point...
I'm making friends!
I'm finding some like me with similar interests...
and I'm finding others that are totally diverse with nothing obvious in common except that for one reason or another their "hook" gets me.

So, I'm making friends...and hoping to sell some jewelry as well!
Like I say in my sales scripts  - Take a Chance...What Do You Have To Lose?"

I'm practicing what I preach!
Tah-tah for now

20% Discount & Free Shipping at janaesjewelsandjems eBay Shop!

Totally forgot to mention that I am having a 20% discount sale on all of my fine jewelry in my eBay store...PLUS Free USA Shipping!
Check it out:
http://stores.ebay.com/janaesjewelsandjems

My Etsy shoppers...if you convo me and know what the deal is (etsy20) then I will give you the 20% as well. You get free USA shipping already.
http://www.janaesjewels.etsy.com/

I have the Best Prices in Town!

Cyber Monday? Was it Good For You?

Well, almost 9pm ET on Cyber Monday.  I did lots of online shopping for 2 of my daughters...so made some sellers very happy. What was in it for me?  I got Microsoft Cashback credits for one, and double eBay/Paypal cash back credits as well! So, definitely was worth my time.

I sold a few things in my eBay and Etsy stores over the weekend and I'm still listing every day to keep my shops full and also to get some of my lesser seen items some exposure.  I'm trying to retrain my brain to make and sell niche items that other people want...not so much make and sell what I like.  My own personal style is pretty diverse - but not necessarily for younger adults - or tweens even.  From what I see on the Etsy Alchemy - there is a gold mine to be made for sellers of jewelry that appeals to those particular age groups. Will it be as much fun tho? That I'm not sure of...

One more thing...I listed 7 Pay It Forward (PIF) items that sold out in about 24 hrs. Tonight I received a request from one of the buyers to PIF a handmade glass pendant to me in my choice of colors.  I tried to refuse as the intention meant more to me than a pendant for myself, but was coaxed into it (sm) in green (the color of my eyes).  In fact, I love hand cut glass - and this will be quite special. So, here is a shout out to surlymermaid on Etsy!

Write to me dear readers...I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Party Tonite! Gotta Get Some Rest...

I love to dance...
Almost as much as making jewelry!

Tonite hubby and I are going out dancing - so gotta drop my cards and take a nap! 
Buy, buy
(sm)

Affordable 14K and Sterling Silver Jewelry for Sale...Check It Out!

I just know it's going to happen...
I'll get a serious shopper who decides to shop for several gifts and VOILA...it makes my day.

My strategy is to keep my items fresh and keep listing new items daily. I usually design and make jewelry in stretches and then list in stretches. Well between now and the New Year I will design and list more simultaneously to keep the new items flowing....

Hopefully in and OUT the door just as quickly...(sm)

Just in case you don't know where to find my items...
http://www.janaesjewels.etsy.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/janaesjewelsandjems

Ciao for now!
(shop, shop, shop)

PIF - Pay It Forward in JanaesJewels Etsy Shop? Good Karma!

Although I have dealt with unemployment and illness (and all of the major economic factors that result) in my immediate family over the last 2 years, I still have much to be grateful for. I also have the humility to know that there are many more out there less fortunate than I.

So, while listing on Etsy today, I once again listed several items in my PIF section, and hope to add at least 15 more. So far I am listing Sterling Silver Gemstone earrings for .20 cents with $2.00 shipping. I will probably expand that to include bracelets and rings. You know why? Because the Holidays are about giving to others, and I cannot imagine the blow to the spirit for those who have nothing to give to their children or other loved ones.  Fortunately I am able to make many of my own gifts, and am savvy enough to make a few dollars here and there...but many are not.

So, this is how I am filling my spirit this holiday season...
If you are one of those in need there are no questions...no judgement.  Visit my Etsy shop at http://www.janaesjewels.etsy.com/ and see if I have anything that fits your needs in my PIF section.

Blessings to us all.