Sweet Harvest Earrings, $8.50. Matching necklace is here.
Only 72 days left 'til Christmas! International order deadline is November 1st.
Until next time,
Lori
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Best Selling Designs at Risky Beads
Today's post is a tribute to the best selling designs in my shop. You never know which designs will take off, but it's always kind of fun to figure it out. Here we go!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Consistently Inconsistent
One of the things I struggle with every day is my inability to keep a daily routine. For some reason, I get all judgmental with myself when I can't seem to find a good regime and stick to it. I've finally come to the conclusion (after 42 years, lol) that I'm thinking about this the wrong way. Yes, we all function in the paradigm of a 24 hour day, but I think my actual 'day' is about twice that. In the span of just about every 48 hours, I'll go through my standard phases of being hungry, wanting to get tons of work done, needing a hard core nap, needing some exercise, coveting my alone time and going crazy from lack of a social outlet. In other words, I think I cycle through my basic physical, mental and emotional needs every 2 days. Anytime I think that I need to do 'X' every day, it never happens and I end up frustrated with myself rather than realizing that I don't rejuvenate that way.
Hmmm, food for thought...
~Lori
Monday, September 19, 2011
If You're A Successful Etsy Seller...
Every day I spend a little time in the Etsy forums just to make sure I don't miss out on some important announcement affecting my business. One thing that I see over and over again is new folks coming in asking for the key to success on Etsy. Those threads are always populated with tons of advice from tons of smart sellers, but today, I think I'd like to turn it around a little and talk to the existing sellers vs. the newbies. I've been thinking about these concepts for awhile, letting them crystallize into things I think you should know...
If you're a successful Etsy seller (and YOU define success in this scenario, not me), the following is most likely true for you:
10. You're a self-starter. No one has to tell you to do anything. In fact, they'd probably die trying.
9. You're comfortable around organized chaos. You probably thrive in it, and when people aren't looking, you probably snort it.
8. You have a love/hate relationship with packing tape.
7. You are more curious than the most curious of cats. If it can be known, you'll learn it. You will do it completely wrong 500 times just to get it right once.
6. You dove into branding and marketing like it was a hot fudge sundae. You know how to tweet, plurk, facebook, pin, tumblr, relist, renew, blog... and more importantly, when to stop.
5. You accept, reject, mourn, adapt and change what you're doing or how you're doing it every 6 mouths. Psychiatrists marvel at your resilience.
4. If you go an entire day without a sale, you'll spend the entire night designing a new product for a new shop. If the drought persists into day 2, you're out jonesing for a support group only to come back to a sale in your inbox.
3. You have designated 'areas' in your inside your 'home' for designing your product, making it, photographing it, listing it, storing it, and shipping it, and by 'home,' I mean '1 bedroom studio apartment' and by 'areas,' I mean 'coffee tables.'
2. You learn something new at least once a week. If you don't, you get an itchy rash.
1. You've figured out the difference between 'successful' and 'busy.' This was the hardest lesson to learn, and you have the scars to prove it.
*whew*
I feel better now!
~Lori
If you're a successful Etsy seller (and YOU define success in this scenario, not me), the following is most likely true for you:
10. You're a self-starter. No one has to tell you to do anything. In fact, they'd probably die trying.
9. You're comfortable around organized chaos. You probably thrive in it, and when people aren't looking, you probably snort it.
8. You have a love/hate relationship with packing tape.
7. You are more curious than the most curious of cats. If it can be known, you'll learn it. You will do it completely wrong 500 times just to get it right once.
6. You dove into branding and marketing like it was a hot fudge sundae. You know how to tweet, plurk, facebook, pin, tumblr, relist, renew, blog... and more importantly, when to stop.
5. You accept, reject, mourn, adapt and change what you're doing or how you're doing it every 6 mouths. Psychiatrists marvel at your resilience.
4. If you go an entire day without a sale, you'll spend the entire night designing a new product for a new shop. If the drought persists into day 2, you're out jonesing for a support group only to come back to a sale in your inbox.
3. You have designated 'areas' in your inside your 'home' for designing your product, making it, photographing it, listing it, storing it, and shipping it, and by 'home,' I mean '1 bedroom studio apartment' and by 'areas,' I mean 'coffee tables.'
2. You learn something new at least once a week. If you don't, you get an itchy rash.
1. You've figured out the difference between 'successful' and 'busy.' This was the hardest lesson to learn, and you have the scars to prove it.
*whew*
I feel better now!
~Lori
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
It's a wrap ... more handmade boho bracelets
I'll be spending a lot of today stitching my brains out, so I thought I'd take a moment before I begin to showcase some of the latest designs I've made...
You can see all of my bracelets here. Back to the grind...
~Lori
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Fall 2011 Pantone Color Forecast
Just in time to start creating your Fall 2011 designs... it's Pantone's color forecast for my favorite time of year! The forecast is divided into colors for women and men:
Only a slight difference between the two really, but it's kinda interesting. Enjoy!
~Lori
WOMEN
MEN
~Lori
Monday, August 22, 2011
31 Days Til Autumn
Hooray! Autumn is officially 31 days away, and I can't wait! Just realized I haven't updated this blog in a month, but I have a good excuse: I've been stitching my brains out. :) Here are just a few of the new additions to the wrap bracelet line. These pictured below are ready to ship today!
There are many, many more in my shop ready to go and tons with optional custom buttons and custom charms. Leather choices have expanded to: black, dark brown, rust, off white, maroon, light pink, aqua, pale aqua, pale periwinkle, gray, navy blue and custom buttons and charms come in copper, aluminum, or brass! I'll post more of those later this week. Have a great Monday!
View previous bracelet post here.
~Lori
Single Wrap Autumn Squirrel. Isn't he a cutie?
(Makes you just wanna jump in a big ol' pile of leaves, huh?)
#69 in the revived Leftovers Series!
(Her big sister sold, but can be made to order again!)
There are many, many more in my shop ready to go and tons with optional custom buttons and custom charms. Leather choices have expanded to: black, dark brown, rust, off white, maroon, light pink, aqua, pale aqua, pale periwinkle, gray, navy blue and custom buttons and charms come in copper, aluminum, or brass! I'll post more of those later this week. Have a great Monday!
View previous bracelet post here.
~Lori
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
My July Newsletter Is Out!
I've finally found time to publish a new newsletter! Click the image to read it and see the freebie coupon enclosed!
~Enjoy, Lori
~Enjoy, Lori
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Current Obsessions - July 2011
My next obsession is one I'm reticent to tell anyone about because I don't want you clearing out my store shelves! These new cookies, Newtons Fruit Thins - Cranberry Citrus Oat, are the freaking BOMB. If you like cranberry bread, you'll LOVE these things. And I'm not alone in this; my mother is hooked, too, and even though they make 4 flavors (Blueberry Brown Sugar, Chocolate Raspberry, and Fig & Honey), the cranberry ones are always almost gone. I'm starting to hoard these things, lol.
Have a great weekend!
~Lori
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
New Beaded Double & Triple Wrap Bracelets at Risky Beads
For those of you who've followed my shop over years, I've sure you've noticed that my style has changed somewhat. When I moved into metal stamping in April of 2010, a lot of my beaded work went by the wayside as I was so excited about working in a new medium. Well, now I'm beginning to re-incorporate more beaded pieces into my shop in a brand new way: trendy beaded leather wrap bracelets! If you pay attention on popular TV shows and to current fashion trends, you'll see that these bracelets are uber-popular. Luckily, they're also fun to make! Here are the newest additions to the family:
the triple wraps...
Each one takes 2.5 hours to complete!
the triple wraps...
Each one takes 2.5 hours to complete!
(Custom buttons could be your children's names or a baby's name, birth date, and weight, commemorate a great golf score or marathon time, wedding/anniversary details, graduation and school pride, a phrase you like, longitude & latitude coordinates, a thank you to a teacher, coach, or sitter, etc. Buttons can also be done in copper.)
And now for the double wraps! Each piece takes about 1 1/5 hours to complete.
(Custom buttons could be your children's names or a baby's name, birth date, and weight, commemorate a great golf score or marathon time, wedding/anniversary details, graduation and school pride, a phrase you like, longitude & latitude coordinates, a thank you to a teacher, coach, or sitter, etc. Buttons can also be done in copper.)
I'm working on several new designs each week, so keep checking my bracelet section for new arrivals. I have a new one in my light box waiting for some decent sunlight! Please note that designs marked with *** indicate one of a kind designs. Typically, this means that I don't have any more duplicate clasps to recreate that exact design.
~Lori
~Lori
Friday, July 1, 2011
Happy Independence Day 2011
Americana Hand Stamped Necklace
The summer slump has arrived just in time to celebrate the 4th of July and kick off my favorite summertime addiction...
Big Brother! I'm a pretty decent Super Fan of this show. I watch the feeds and get waaay too invested, but it's a nice vacay right before the Christmas rush begins! Thank goodness the Casey Anthony Murder Trial will likely be ending when BB13 starts 'cause I'm currently addicted to both!
~Lori
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Cat in Box - Supplies Arrive
Admittedly, I get excited when supplies arrive, but not nearly as excited as my oldest, Darcy, gets. This tall narrow box was impossible to resist!
She didn't object when I finally rescued her, lol!
~Lori
~Lori
Sunday, June 5, 2011
More Custom Gifts for Father's Day
Does Dad like to fish?
Is he a little off beat?
Maybe a little geeky?
Just the best ever?
See all of my manly designs here OR view my entire shop (450 designs!)...
13 days til Father's day!! And don't forget Grandpa!!
~Lori
~Lori
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Personalized Gifts for Dad for Father's Day
Father's Day is 25 days away! This year it falls on Sunday, June 19, 2011. Are you ready? Here are some gift ideas to help you honor the father figure in your life...
There are lots of other options in my shop as well! Get creative and design the perfect gift he'll never forget! All pieces enjoy flat rate shipping... $2.50 to U.S. & Canada, $3.95 elsewhere.
~Lori
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