Tag you're it!!

I have been officially tagged. This is a way to get to know outstanding artisans. Some of my favorites are at the bottom. Please take the time to visit them and get to know how great they are. Thank you to http://shinelikecrazystudio.blogspot.com/ for tagging me. Now I get to tell the world 10 things about myself.

1. I am a stay at home, homeschooling, mom of five fantastic kids. ( how's that for a mouthful)

2. I was born in Nova Scotia I have lived in Alberta for 25 of my 35 years but I am still an Easterner and I miss the coast like crazy.

3. I have multiple crafter disorder.....and I love it. I paint, sew, knit, crochet, embroider, cross stitch, bead, make jewellery, and can fix the kitchen sink.

4. I am in the middle of completely renovating my kitchen from top to bottom. I actually like doing renovations.....sometimes.

5. I suffer from Fibromyalgia, PCOS, Raynaud's disease and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Thus I work from home making jewellery for my store JewelledTrellis. I am usually do this around midnight because I don't sleep well.

6. I play the harp and play around a little on the piano. One day I would love to play my little harp for my grandmother watching the tide roll in on Cape Breton Island.

7. I have a degree in Interior Decorating.

8. I love to read. I read historical biographies, popular fiction, egyptology, epidemiology, fantasy, mystery, I have to admit that I don't read horror at all. I don't sleep very well as it is.

9. I love to dance. Ballroom. My hubby hates to dance so I have to hope that one day one of my sons will love to dance so I can have a great partner.

10. I am terrified to be in public. This is rather ironic as I was a great public speaker and debater in my youth. Now I prefer behind the scenes work.

Now that you have endured 10 things about me it is time to find out more about these other great bloggers.

1.http://yourstruli.blogspot.com/ Beautiful period reproductions

2.http://frogprincessdesigns.blogspot.com/ Jasmine is a gem and so is her jewelry

3.http://blog.mamaslittlemonkeys.com/ I love these monkeys!!

4.http://craftedbylindy.blogspot.com/great cards and tags

5.http://delightfulstitches.blogspot.com/ fun shop with great textile creations

6.http://alterityart.blogspot.com/ victorian wonder and founder of Artfire Victoriana Guild

7.http://bellissimadesigns-sherri.blogspot.com/ beautiful paintings

8.http://kaysommers.blogspot.com/ creative designs and so fun to read

9.http://www.HansenSoapCo.blogspot.com fabulous soaps

10.http://ashillustration.blogspot.com amazing artist a must see.

Christmas is coming....are you ready?

Wow! School has already started and I am begining to see progress in my store. My digital camera is overflowing with pictures that I need to crop and put into listings. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed....excited but ovewhelmed. I didn't realize that when my family decided to have a handmade Christmas that I would need to be working on it last January. I love the idea of a handmade Christmas but I should have been more organized. So I am working on my Christmas gifts for all and hoping that I can finish them in time. Wish me luck.......

I had a great laugh today compliments of this article
http://www.soloseo.com/blog/2007/11/03/what-the-customer-actually-wanted/

I think that this cartoon really hits the nail on the head. How many times do we have communication issues (see what the customer wanted first and last frame: tiered swing instead of tire swing), under budget for all those great projects, and get caught up in crazy marketing strategies or sales pressures?

We all must live in a media saturated world. Everyone must promote themselves be they doctors, lawyers, tradesmen, or small business owners. The big questions are, for me and anyone with a small business: How do we compete with big business? How do we market ourselves? How do we gain exposure? How do we show the value of what we do for a living?

I'm personally not a competitor. I'm a fighter if I think I (or my family and friends) have been wronged( my husband would say tenacious, driven, protective). But I hate competing with others. A competitor is defined as any person or entity which is a rival against another. I hate rivals. I like friends. I hate being a business rival of my friends business. And yet that is where I find myself. So I looked into many venues when I started. Some have great exposure, some have great tools for the sellers and others have great people.....can you guess which is my favorite?

I am lucky to be in a selling venue where people not profits are valued most. Don't get me wrong everyone is gearing up for the holiday season and hoping that sales increase. What I mean is that while I sell jewellery and so does the next person we work together on problems, marketing, sales tactics. There is still competition but not at the expense or detriment of another. So, I am learning how to be a competitive business. I am using a unique yardstick. I am competing against myself. Can I design a better piece? Can I bring up my sales? I am a difficult boss and I am not very good at all of the technological aspects which irritates me as I am usually pretty okay at most things that I attempt to do. Maybe that is why I get bored with them so quickly. So here I am lousy at marketing, a technological newbie, hates being in competition with others, and I start my own jewellery business one of the most saturated competitive areas of the handmade movement. Not to mention the competition from low quality, inexpensive (dare I say cheap), mass produced big box store offerings. For me there is no competition. A handcrafted one of a kind unique item is worth a packing box full of mass produced offerings.

So what do we do when we are pushing for that sale, gunning for that promotion, wanting to get ahead? Do we mud sling, defame, undermine others? Or, do we employ honesty, camaraderie, and support? Maybe the mud slingers and defamers will get ahead in the short run but there is no better way to be able to look yourself in the mirror than to show honor and integrity. Let your work speak for itself, work harder, work smarter, and don't get caught up in the" I have to be the best to be happy at all costs mentality."

Today I was featured in Kim's blog http://vabeachquilter.blogspot.com/2009/08/jewelled-trellis.html

I thought I'd put a copy of the article on my blog. Please check out Kim's blog it is nothing short of fantastic!

Thanks Kim for your support!

Jewelled Trellis
Robyn owns the "Jewelled Trellis" shop on Artfire.She specializes in "period" piece jewelry but also makes more contemporary pieces. All of her items arrive packaged in a gift boxed and tied with a ribbon.She has cameo pendants and earrings;

mother's or grandmother's family necklace (with customized birthstones); earrings; necklaces; and more! I just think the cameo set is simply BEAUTIFUL!
Posted by VaBeachQuilter at Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Looking for a unique gift???

Around this time of the year I have to start Christmas shopping. I know it seems really early but as a mom of five kids the earlier I start the better especially when I'm looking for something original. I also hate the Christmas crowds. My extended family has also made this the handmade Christmas. We are only allowed to give each other handmade gifts. No big box stores allowed. I love the idea of a more traditional Christmas full of thoughtful handmade gifts. Even if you can't make it yourself there are lots of crafters available to help. Anyone who feels like I do and wants a more handmade gift selection really needs to look no farther than Artfire for unique gifts for the upcoming holiday season.
If you are looking for handmade jewellery look no farther than my artfire store http://jewelledtrellis.artfire.com.

Sunburn and Smiles

Whew. I have all my plants bought for the year. I'm not going to mention what they cost...eeek....but they are mostly fruit trees and bushes so they are a one time cost. I have a wicked sunburn on my nose and cheeks but I love looking out my windows and seeing all the new baby trees. Now I need to plant the rest of my garden......I must plan.

It's Hailing

Today was a little cool but our rain has misread the seasons. It is hailing. It isn't enough to linger but it sure made an impression on my garden beds. They may not look large...about pea sized but boy do they sting. My oldest and I had quite the time tarping the tomato patch and covering the cucumbers and peppers. I love that you can see the hail in the last picture falling.