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.

The BEST Jewelry Deals in Town...Still Posting Holiday Treasures!

Check out my Etsy shop and eBay stores for the best jewelry deals in town.  See 14K Yellow Gold and 14K White Gold treasures for prices starting at $22.99 to $350.00.  What you will see is Rings, Bracelets, Earrings and Necklaces.

http://www.janaesjewels.etsy.com/
http://www.janaesjewelandjems.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/janaesjewelsandjems

Of course, you will also find Sterling Silver Rings, Bracelets, Necklaces and Earrings in Gorgeous gemstones and fine metals. Each website has a contact form if you have any questions - OR are looking for a great deal!

Don't be shy...What do you have to Lose?????

Be Seeing you,
janae

Thankful for What?

I have 4 grown children of my own, 2 grown stepchildren (hate that step part), 5 grandchildren with many more to come (God willing) as the 5 only represents 3 out of 6 kids....and I am so very thankful for each and every one of them.
I come from a family of "scholars" that took school and education very seriously. It is in my blood to write as a form of expression - and public speaking isn't far behind.  At the Thanksgiving dinner table it is hard to judge the mood of my family in advance (depending on how harried I am feeling, how many of my dear family arrive late, whether young Troy wins or loses his 1st varsity football game etc, etc) but if I am still in todays mood I feel that I need to address what each of them mean to me. We've had many blessings mixed in with significant hits reflecting todays economy and I feel the need to keep a positive perspective on what family means in 2009 going forward.

Of course, my own children know about our culture of "speeches" before grace and dinner, but with the growing family and newcomers it is often amusing to see the quizzical looks on faces, or panic as they hear their names mentioned in welcome or appreciation...but this is what we do. And, this is what I will do on Thursday - Thanksgiving Day, 2009. I will give thanks to the Lord of all first, but also to my family so that they know how important they are to me (us), how pivotal a part they play in my (our) world, and understand what is expected of them as they grow to become the very best persons that they can be.

No one can ever be too loved, or thanked too much, or encouraged beyond need.

This is what I give back to the world...in the form of my family and acknowledgement of all of the special blessings that have been bestown upon me.

Laptop Crash and I'm Back - Finally!

...did you notice?

Well, I'm back.  It's tough to lose your "connection" to your business and the tools to your business. The hardware is hard enough to replace, but the software, urls, favorites, logins, passwords on and on.  It's brutal...
But back to business now...and it's closer to the Holidays.  Are any of you out in the world spiking any sales? Care to share?  I'd love to hear (as usual) what is selling in your world.

I've opened my Etsy store http://www.janaesjewels.etsy.com/ to Holiday layaway. It's easier to offer on Etsy than eBay or even my own website http://www.janaesjewelsandjems.com/ .  I'm willing to work out customer specific terms on a case by case basis.

So, if you or anyone you know is looking for top of the line jewelry products in Sterling Silver, Karat Gold and Genuine Gemstones...check out my Etsy store.

Until next time...

What jewelry are YOU buying for the Holidays?

Are you buying Gold...Silver...Earrings...Bracelets...What????
Just curious, of course.
I'm on my never-ending quest to find out what people want these days. Not to say that I'm clueless - I know what my current customers are buying.  I also know that as long as there are females (mostly females) on this earth that there will be a desire for jewelry.  And, since I want to be YOUR jewelry designer it matters to me what you are looking for.

It suprises me that folks are willing to purchase gold and silver plated items knowing that they will tarnish beyond repair and despite my general unwillingness to do so, I may actually break down and purchase some gold filled/plated findings.

For those of you not familiar - Findings are the bare bones of jewelry making...clasps, crimps, beads, headpins, jumprings, wire,  etc...all the the fastenings that hold the goods together.

Back to gold filled findings...I guess I can understand this for jewelry items not used every day as the price of solid gold is over 1K per ounce.  I always think of heirloom quality to pass down to your children - and grandchildren.  BUT, if that is what the buyer wants...I guess I will do my best pricing to keep the customer in solid gold - but if not successful - a sale in my shop is a sale I want to keep in my shop.  Make sense?

So far as silver plate is concerned - I will stick with Sterling Silver. The price of sterling is at a high these days, but not so high that I will substitute inferior product....and I promise you won't regret that.

Tah - Tah for now....

Did you miss me?

It's been a week - did you miss me?

October is Birthday month in my immediate family.  We have a stretch of 4 day intervals for a couple of weeks including my Mother-in-Laws 94th which was over the past weekend.  So, between that and my Open House on Sunday...I'm still trying to catch up. 

Deb Davey from Australia (Two Cheeky Monkeys - Etsy shop) won my Pink Tourmaline ring that was a featured giveaway at MistyRidge Design's Blog. I hope she LOVES it!

Not feeling too chatty today - so l will keep it short. I have a custom order that I need to finish tonight so I'll be on my way!
Holla back...

Open House on Sunday

Every day is a challenge - should I just list to my various stores or should I be making more stock? I'm not a depression child, but was definitely raised by one so I never think I have enough.
I made one bracelet today.
And, I'm keeping you all up to date on my blog.
I have a custom order that I will start tonite as I got the components that I needed today - save one but it is the finishing piece anyway.
I also have a detailed marquise citrine and ruby beaded necklace that I am working on.  It will have a double swag affect that is strung on beading wire and then attached to...either yellow gold or white gold chain. 
My dilemma - I like yellow gold and feel it compliments the yellow of the citrine beads AND the red of the rubies. Most people today are wearing white gold or sterling silver and it would look OK this way too..but...
Any opinions?  Of course, I want to sell it. Let me know your thoughts!
Now, on to my open house on Sunday.
My daughter-in-law Christina asked me if she could have a home party at my house. 
Sure, I said.
Well, she pointed out to me that we could double up and have it be a jewelry party as well.
Sure, I said.
I washed my windows in the living room today and changed my drapes from summer/fall to fall/winter. I need a focal for the center of the traverse rod that pulls all of my colors together - so I will be digging for something tomorrow.  I am seeing something with fringe that would pull together reds, blues, pinks, dark wood and antique furniture.  I will also need to set up my displays in a cohesive fashion.
Wanna come?
If you are in Massachusetts and feel like making the trip, leave a comment.  I promise I will get back to you.  Leave an email address to reach you.
Ciao!

Halfway Through October!

I've noticed over the years that Halloween as a celebrated holiday just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Well, I've never been big on "dressing up" for costume parties  - actually, I always thought of my birthday (10/18)  as the end of celebrations til Thanksgiving & Christmas and then a huge break from birthdays and more expense until the birthdays in my immediate family start rolling again the end of April.  I'm not particularly "set in my ways" but I just cannot afford more for Halloween than candy for the "trick or treaters" that ring my doorbell on Halloween night!  You see, I'm one of those Christmas shoppers that start early and don't stop until the stores close.  That's when it is over for me!
Not because I think that everyone is or should be like me BUT just in case I have a full store of  affordable jewelry gifts for your giftees...come check them out.  More than 1/2 of the inventory is under $30.00 but see for yourself @  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5722713 .

I've got a couple of new necklaces in longer lengths.  The 1st is 36 Inches of Sterling Silver chain with huge blocks of natural light Amethyst every 12 inches.  There is no clasp, but this necklace is long enough to wear doubled in several ways.

Also, a double strand - 42 inches of very light red Carnelian Rounds with Sterling Silver Cubes and a shorter strand of  Golden Coral Tubes, Bronze Freshwater Pearls and Hessonite Garnet Rondels. The colors contrast and blend beautifully and the two necklaces are totally independent of each other with separate sterling silver clasps - but are actually designed to be worn together! TWO for the price of ONE!

These necklaces will be listed in my Etsy store - and likely my eBay store as well.  If you are interested in them before they are listed...just leave a comment on my blog here and I'll see what we can do.  Oh, the price?  $29.99 for the Sterling and Amethyst piece and $34.99 for the Double Strand of Caramels and Browns!

Ciao for Now...

Some GREAT Holiday Gifts...Come See

As much as I want all of you to do all of your Holiday shopping with me (sm) I really want to share with you some of the CUTEST items that I have picked up for my grandkids.
1st - My granddaughter Samira, my one and only, is such a girly girl it's never hard to shop for her but she literally has everything....Well, I was perusing the Etsy Alchemy list (as usual, looking for work and looking to see what is selling) and I saw the cutest pens that were personalized....
So, you know I had to check them out. But you've got to see them too...

The maker of these beaded personalized pens is Dava6 -  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5976373 and she made these and had em shipped them to me in about 2 hrs flat! And, I had my choice of colors, choice of clip art, and choice of ink color even. Fabulous customer service and eager to please.  Just the way we want all of our shopping experiences to be. So, check out Dava's shop. In addition to these adorable pens, she also does hand stamping creations in birthday and all occasion cards,  journals - I even see some "Twighlight" themed merchandise in her store! Dava's got 2 "littles" and could use the work - Please do yourself a favor and check her out!

Now, on to another Etsy handmade find...

I was looking for some little shoes for my youngest grandson DJ.  He's a little slip of a 15 month old  boy who has some health issues and is always cold so, I was looking and looking and looking through the many Etsy pages of shoes and slippers until I found "Shoopers".  OMG - these were perfect, warm enough to keep his little feet warm while indoors, but durable enough with a textured faux leather sole so that on quick trips out DJ can keep his shoopers on! Now, did I forget to say that DJ's Mom and Dad, Sis and Bro are all HUGE Steelers Fans?  Well, that was the deal breaker right there. And, here is a pic of them...

I can't wait for him to see these! DJ's whole nursery is Steelers! Well, credit to the Etsy store on these. Check out Momsblankies @ http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6222259 where Mom Shaunna makes her "unique and stylish gifts for babies".

So, that's it for today.
GREAT weekend to all...

Sold in Five Minutes Flat!

I guess it doesn't take much to amaze me - and I'm always so happy with sales, so imagine how tickled I was to complete listing 5 items on Etsy last evening and found that a pair of bright orange faceted carnelian and sterling silver earrings I had listed had sold before I even finished listing the matching bracelet! I figure they sold within minutes of listing...now why doesn't that happen all of the time?

That is one of the really great things about having an Etsy shop...your listings are posted for all to see, and some really do watch the listings as they come up and grab really quickly whatever it is that they like.  Perhaps it was the bright orange that caught this young womans eye...

Anyway, I'm still ramping up for the Holidays.  I do see some clear trends, but am wondering what are you seeing? Feel free to leave comments.  I would love to hear your point of view.

S'all for now...

Stretch Bracelets for Nerve Damaged Wrists in 14K and Gemstones...

Well, I know I didn't create stretchy bracelets but I call the ones I make my "Comfort Line" or "Signature" Pieces.  Why?  Because I make them out of 10K, 14K and 18K Yellow, Rose and White Gold...and yes of course Sterling Silver too.  Add Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstones to the mx and what you have is an incredibly lite and comfortable bracelet that can be worn by women or men that have had nerve damage in their hands or wrists and cannot normally tolerate a watch even on their wrist.  That would be me - and I now have made hundreds of them for people with the same problems.

Oh yeah...
AND, they won't snag your hose or tights
OR, catch on your delicate fabrics
ALSO, they are less expensive than a typical bracelet in Silver or Gold because you're eliminating a clasp, crimps, jumprings etc...

What do you think of these?  They are custom made - just think about your favorite gems and what you would like them to look like on a bracelet..

Then there are far less formal and less expensive bracelets - more gems than gold ...

The price for what you see above ranges from $19.99 to $75.00 and even though I mention that I make my "Comfort" bracelets in Sterling Silver - all of the bracelets that you see above are in 14K Yellow Gold, 10K Rose Gold and 14K White Gold

You can place orders here on my blog site through the comment link - or at my Etsy store - for which you'll find a link on the right column on this blog.

I also sell them on eBay as seller janae33 and janaes jewels & jems or http://www.janaesjewelsandjems.com/

Think that about covers it..

Any questions - let me know!

Solitary Sunday, World War I Souvenir of France SILK Apron, Vintage Linens...and more

As Hubby is helping eldest son in his kitchen design, I am taking a restful day puttering through my blogs and catching up on others news as well as my own. With the help of others I have experienced a huge increase in hits to my Etsy shop which will hopefully translate to Holiday shopping and sales.
Specifically, thanks to Heather of Misty Ridge Designs http://mistyridgedesigns.blogspot.com/ for sponsoring one of my semi-precious gemstone rings in her blog giveaways. There is still ONE week to go, so it isn't too late to sign up to win this beauteous Pink Tourmaline, White Sapphire, Sterling Silver Ring! Just click on the url and look on the left column for "blog giveaway".
C'mon - it's a win-win for sure.
On to other fronts...I have been listing and selling Vintage Linens for a dear family friend who is caring for her Mom in assisted living. Mom is suffering from Alzheimers disease. Assisted living is very costly and all self pay in this case so the family is liquidating all assets to keep Mom in the very best care. My ebay shop is chock full of Tablecloths, Napkins, Tea cloths, Pillow Cases, Scarves, Runners, Doilies and more.
One of my featured articles up for auction and very, very special is a Post World War I "Souvenir of France" silk apron.  It is one of the very delicate embroidered types made out of the most fine of silks and is in exceptional condition. Please check out my auction and/or spread the word to any of your acquaintances that collect Antique items from the Post World War I era.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350261133698&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Isn't it just gorgeous?

The bid price is really low right now with no reserve. Check it out!
So, what else is new?
Today feels like a comfort food day. It's in the low 60's but will drop very low tonite.  Maybe some hot soup or stew for dinner?  Kale soup with Portuguese sausage (Linguica) would be wonderful. Do any of you deliver? (sm)
I guess that's it for now.
Love to all...