Clearing Clutter

by D'Arsie Manzella of Mamacita Beadworks

We've moved into our new home! There's no washer or dryer, no cable and no internet (thank you library) but all this time without technology has enabled me to read a great book that I want to share with you.

I found this book to be very inspiring especially given my circumstance. My favorite part about this book is that it can benefit anyone at any time in life. Also it is a very fast read and Karen has a great sense of humor.

Why am I featuring the book here on a handmade jewelry blog? Well my dear crafty fantastic friends, if you are anything like me, every single item has potential for an art project! This book is motivating me to hone those little treasures down.

While you're busy de-cluttering, perhaps you'll come across some great components to include in your September Art Spark project which features the theme "SENTIMENT". It would be a lovely way to turn your clutter into art jewelry~

A few quotes that really touched me are:

*"You are connected to everything you own by fine strands of energy. When your home is filled with things that you love or use well it becomes an incredible source of support and nourishment for you."

*"Life is constant change. So when something comes into your life enjoy it, use it well, and when it is time, let it go. It is that simple."

*"Now you need to go around your home, look at all your belongings, and ask yourself, 'What is this saying symbolically? How is it affecting me energetically? Is it creating the effect I want or could I do better?"

*" Your body is the temporary temple of your soul. What you keep around you in the extended temple of your home needs to change with you as you change and grow, so that it reflects who you are."

I hope you take a minute to discover this book for yourself. If you get motivated by it, let me know!

Average vs. Excellent Customer Service

by Izzy Winterhart


About a month or so ago I had a friend create a very special logo for my UaCS shop.  It was long overdue.  Jamie (over at Uncle Jake Media) did an amazing job and I'm still crazy about the design.  I had him design the logo as a perfect square because I wanted my business cards to be 3x3.  

After the logo was complete I emailed a seller on Etsy who actually printed 3x3 business cards.  I could have gone with a big business supplier, but I really want to support our "handmade" community.  Oh my, I was super excited.  I then waited and waited and waited for a response.  Nothing.  So I followed up on the email by sending her a second email inquiring if she received the first email.  I got a response within five minutes.  In my first email I requested the logo be printed on white paper but she interjected saying that some colors don't respond well to a white background and asked if I could email my image.  She said she would look it over and get back to me.  I immediately did as she requested.  My excitement once again took over my senses.  Then I waited and waited and waited.  I again followed up but this time got no response.  Nothing.  I waited another week, emailed again and still no response.  I have to admit I was a bit chapped.  I had no choice at that point and ended up going with the big company, saved myself $5, received more cards AND got free shipping.  She missed out on an easy $50 in her pocket.


When I was younger I earned my living via retail.  In fact, I had to get a permit to start working at such a young age.  I slaved away in the world of retail until I was about 27.  In my early twenties I was employed by a sporting goods store and my managers name was Frank.  Frank taught me much about customer service.  He was my Sensi so to speak.  He was indeed the guru of all things customer service.  He never allowed cashiers to chew gum, each customer was greeted and acknowledged, each department kept tidy, customers were helped from the second they walked into a section, phones never rang more than twice and were answered in the most professional manner and folks received a great big "thank you" when they left, regardless if they purchased something or not.  Frank walked the floors of that store as though he were running for Mayor.  He greeted everyone, talked to everyone, was excited about being there to help customers and people loved it!  Not just the customers but the employees.  Frank made it very clear to all his employess that customers contribute to paychecks.  No customers, no paycheck.  And he was right.  All those nuggets of excellent customer service are permanently etched into my brain.  When I see bad customer service in a store I turn to my husband and say "Frank would never have allowed that".  I especially follow the Frank rules of customer service in my own business because my customers don't just contribute to my paycheck, they are my paycheck.  I recently had a conversation with my Sensei, Frank, and here's what he had to say.  "I think customer service goes back to the golden rule. Treat others as you want to be treated and never waste an opportunity to do something nice for someone. It usually requires a little extra effort but means so much to people. In a world full of technology and computer phones, old fashioned customer service has not gone out of style. I think it is more valuable than ever!"


Here are a few rules I follow when it comes to providing excellant customer service for my Etsy shop.
1 - When a customer emails to inquire about an item I respond ASAP.  I can't tell you how many times I've answered a customers email and they say something like "thank you for such a quick response" or "thanks for getting back to me so quickly as most sellers don't".  A potential sale is worth a quick response. 


2 - When someone places an order I ALWAYS send an email saying "thank you" and give them the time when I plan to ship.  I rarely get this when I purchase something on Etsy and it saddens me.  I think it's such a great personal touch to say thank you.  And I am genuinely thankful to that person for buying my jewelry so therefore it needs to be said.


3 - I send my packages out the day after the order is placed unless, of course, the order comes in on Saturday and I'm unable to ship on Sunday.  I remember one time I received a package from an Etsy seller two weeks after I ordered it and they lived in a neighboring state.  When a week passed and I hadn't received the package I emailed and got no response.  Needless to say that was the last order I placed with that person even though I loved their product.  If you aren't able to follow the 24 hour shipping rule then let the customer know.  Don't say "I'll ship it out soon", what is soon?  Try to be quick, give a date and stick to it.  Trust me on this, your customer will love you for it.  I've had many customers thank me time and time again for shipping out so quickly.


4 - I just revamped my packaging a while back.  I carefully place my pieces in a pretty brown box with a business card (I use these to hold my earrings and necklaces).  I then add a beautiful touch by placing a hand made paper flower on top of the box.  I purchase these amazing flowers from a seller on Etsy that I really like and I also throw in her business card (you need to give props where props are due).  Simple yet elegant.  You don't have to spend a fortune on packaging but it does make a difference.


5 -  I charge $5 for shipping.  You are probably saying "wow" that's a lot.  Well, not really.  I carefully place my beautifully packaged pieces in a small USPS priority mail box.  It's sturdy and doesn't crush my packaging.  I've also realized that the postal service seems to care more if you spend more.  Before I started using priority mail the postal service lost three packages that I had sent out.  Since priority mail, well, they haven't lost one.  Plus, and this is a big plus, you can track the package and your customer can track the package.  It is worth every penny.


6 - Since I get updated tracking emails via the postal service I know when the package arrives.  I will then take that opportunity to email the customer letting them know that the package should have arrived.  "Did it arrive safe and sound?"  "Are you happy with the purchase?"  And again I throw in a great big "THANK YOU!"  This is also a great way to get feedback that you might not otherwise get.


7 - I LOVE repeat customers.  I love loyal customers.  And that's why I always reward them in some way.  Either by giving free shipping or I'll make something extra to throw in the box or I'll give a discount.  This is a given.  These are the people who love your pieces so you and your pieces should give lots of love back.


Customer service.  Two simple, yet incredibly important words.  As Frank would say,  "If you are gonna be a bear, be a grizzly!".  In other words, don't just give "average" customer service.  Go that extra mile and provide "excellent" customer service.

Fall Fashion Forecast:: Useless Hype or Inspiration?

by Patty Lakinsmith

Do you pay attention to the seasonal fashion trends when you create, or are your pieces inspired wholly from within?  I have to admit, I have visited the Pantone site before out of curiosity mostly, but I have to admit that I've never been much of a fashion type.  Occasionally I will set out to create jewelry made to specifically coordinate with the colors in certain clothing I own, but that's the exception, not the rule for me.  I will definitely admit to being inspired to try different color combinations that I see echoed in prints that women are wearing.


Here's what they've been saying about this fall (since February, I might add):

“Designers take a painterly approach to fall 2011 by artfully combining bright colors with staple neutrals, reminiscent of how an artist would construct a stunning work of art.”

Pantone's "Sensible and Spirited" color palette for Fall, 2011.

Honeysuckle, Pantone's Color of the Year.

 Cool.  I think I might have accidentally bought a blouse recently in this color, although the tag inside actually describes the color as "Dark Retro Rose".  Here it is:

It's close, but maybe not the Color of the Year.  All I know is that I love it, it coordinates beautifully with the brown linen suit I wore it with, it really brings out a nice summer glow in my skin when I wear it, and  it allowed me to get the hell out of the store.  But you know, now that I think of it, I bought a blouse last year that's pretty much this same color. How on earth did they know?  Yes, I'm cynical.

Do any handmade jewelry artists really use this stuff, or is it just a lot of hype?  I guess if you're in the market to create jewelry that coordinates with what's on the fashion racks it might be helpful to pay attention to these forecasts.  But not all artists are even able to work some of these colors into the type of things they make, depending on the materials they use.  


All I know is that I found this delicious strand of fossilized coral at the gem show, and had to sit down and make some beads to complement them.  There's a lot of variety in each of the beads, which suggests many possibilities.  Now I'm thinking add some other gemstones to the mix that bring out the rose (salmon?) a little more, some antiqued brass, and I might have a nice piece.

Do you take your creative cues from fashion trends?  How many times do you find yourself wearing the "Color of the Year"?

September Art Spark

by Staci louise Smith

I was so happy to be able to do September’s art spark. There are many reasons I love September, it’s such a special month to me, near and dear to my heart.


First of all, fall is my favorite season. September’s cool nights and warm days always marked the start of my favorite time of year!

Secondly of all, I got married to my wonderful hubby 12 years ago on September 4th. It has been an amazing ride, and I love him more today than the day I married him.

Third and last of all- it’s the month that most of my kids were born in! No kidding! Only my daughter has another birthday- August, and that is because she was a few days early, or she would have been September too.

So as I was trying to come up with an Art Spark for September, it just seemed fitting to me, that it would be “SENTIMENT”. This month is so filled with special events, memories and occasions, that sentiment plays a huge part in it.
Sentiment is:

Personal experience, one’s own feeling, what one feels about something, tendency to be influenced by emotion rather than reason, sensitiveness to emotional feelings

(these are taken from a few different definition places which I forgot to note when I jotted them down…..sorry!!)

So an Art Spark is born! I want you to show us what you have made, with an item of sentiment, or with intentional sentiment……for example………..a stone from the first place you kissed the love of your life, used in a necklace, or a bracelet made for your best friend, in her favorite colors, and themes, to let her know she is like a sister to you. (I am doing the latter for this challenge, to be revealed later)

Here is the important thing……………….we want to hear the story behind it! Don’t be shy…………tell us why this has sentiment for you. Share with us why this design is so much more then meets the eye. Let us take part in your joy, your sadness, your friendship and love AND your creative process. Since this is such a broad and open Art Spark, this really is the most important part, so please share it with us!

To get us started, I went through my jewelry and found some pieces that have sentiment for me.

This here is one of the earliest pieces of jewelry I made.  Its a simple bead weaving technique that was explained to me by a friend.  The stone, a hematite, was given to me by my first love!  He said it was a stone of protection, to be given to someone you love...*swoon*  Anyway- to keep it special always, I made it into a necklace.  I guess some of my earliest work was pure sentiment!!!

This was a charm bracelet my mom bought for me as a young teen.  At the time, she bought me some charms for it, but they were just pretty, and didn't really mean anything....and, I never seemed to wear it.  So as a young adult, I re-made it.  The shell is is from my first trip to LBI with my (husband) boyfriend!  The earring I wore when he proposed.  The other earring was from my sister in law, whom I love like my own sis!  Turquoise, because I love it, it has history, and lore and is beautiful to boot!  The faux diamond pendant was the first piece of jewelry my father gave to my mother, then passed on to me.  A heart charm, for love, winnie the pooh, for the child in me, another heart for love, and the last charm is a purple czech bead with a moon and stars~ my best friends favorite color and theme!  It represented many important people in my life!

And this necklace was made from a sea shell that my oldest son gave to me, on our second family vacation to LBI!  It has a natural hole in it, and I wanted to do something special with it, because my special boy thought to give it to me.

So there are some examples.  Like I said, I plan to make a special piece for this challenge in honor of my best friend in the whole world.

And here is how you enter:

1. Take pictures of your creation (handmade with handmade jewelry or a handmade bead/pendant/component created by you)  and upload it to our Flickr account.  Please add creations that were made for this challenge only.

2. PLEASE tell us why this piece represents "sentiment" to you.

3. Since we promote "handmade", your piece must be at least 75% handmade. It may include handmade components by other artists, just please give credit to the artist in your description.

4. Only one submission per entrant, please. But you can and should include up to 3 images of that submission.  We do have another flickr site to share creations not related to ArtSpark called "Strut Your Stuff."  You can get to it by clicking the link on the left sidebar.

5. HAVE FUN with this!!!  Check in often to see the entries. The link to our Flickr site can be found on the blog sidebar.

Each Monday we pick a designer of the week from the entries.

Below is the grand prize~ (winner is selected Monday, September 26th)

The Prizes Below were all donated by members of the Beads of Clay Group!  (If you've never heard of them, I suggest you check it out.  There is a wonderful variety of ceramic bead artists, all making handmade beads!)

We have some great beads from NKP Designs, a stunning pendant from Marlas Mud, a recycled glass pendant from Artisan Clay, enameled charms and clay beads from MA Carroll, and a pendant and matching earring bead set from Yolandas Clay.

This would be a great addition to any bead collection.  So let us see your "sentiment", and get a chance to win!

In addition to all of the ceramic beads and pendants, you will also win this fabulous cabochon created by the folks at Cabbing Rough on Etsy.  Check out their shop....  You WILL be amazed!!

I'm not done yet.....

You will also win one year showing off your creation on our website.  Check out previous winners by going to "challenges" on our website.

I can't wait to see what you make!!!!

calling ALL jewelry folks who create handmade with handmade....

by MaryAnn Carroll

and..... at the end of this post, please check for the two winners of our doubles giveaway.

Are you interested in increasing sales?

Do you create your own components?

Do you create jewelry using your own components?

Do you do a little or a lot of both?

Do you create using mostly handmade created with handmade?

If you can answer YES to any of the "do you" questions, then you might be interested in joining us for the day with a group shop sale titled "Creating Handmade with Handmade."  If there is enough interest, you will be able to add your SHOP link to our blog via a post.   That day, those of us involved will hold our own sales unique to us.  What I mean by that is that if you choose to take 10% off in your shops or 50% off in your shops, that is entirely up to you.  You won't have to be at  your computer to monitor anything, but you will have to set up the sale to take place on the day that is decided.  Also, I ask that you use a coupon code if your shop is through Etsy.  If your shop is located somewhere else online, I ask that you use the easiest method available to offer the sale to customers.  Also, the more each of us chooses to blog about, add to facebook, twitter, etc. prior to the sale, the better it will be for everyone involved.

If you think you might be interested, simply leave a comment on this post stating that you are interested and more information will follow. 

Here is some of what LMAJ members are creating.....



Mamacita Beadworks



Under A Copper Sky

Summers Studio Etc

Maire Dodd

M A Carroll

Patty Lakinsmith

Staci Louise

Van Beads

Easy links to our shops are at the left of the blog thanks to Inlinkz! 

What a great discovery that was :o)

And the winners for these great earrings are:

Alice from the Bliss Guild

Please contact Maire through her Etsy shop by clicking HERE.

And for these great earrings, the winner is Beadroe.

Please contact Jean through her Etsy shop by clicking HERE.

Join us next Sunday for a giveaway that you don't want to miss!!!

~Thanks for reading~

MaryAnn

kindness

mary jane dodd

'it is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned

with the human problem all one's life

and find at the end

that one has no more to offer by way of advice

than 'try to be a little kinder'.

~ aldous huxley

for surely, nature can ravage... life can be difficult... so why aren't people nicer to each other?

my daughter and i went to the beach last saturday to wander the boardwalk and take a look at the building sea... 

the weather channel and other stations had set up in convention hall...

and here are some shots of the sea during the storm... (interestingly, i found a photo shot from very near to where i took the first one)... we heard that the concrete benches moved into ocean avenue... 

this is the inlet from the ocean (left) into the river i live on probably taken by the bridge tender... it is a large opening bridge that allows the sizable fishing boats through.... those are 2 and 3 story apartments across the street... 

and we are grateful... power outages, basement flooding, downed trees... grateful... my friends who live inland had 6' of water in their basement - and they are grateful... it took a couple of days for me to hear about the damage in new england... my thoughts go out to them... and i hope that fema is there for those who would have never thought to get flood insurance... 

and here i offer a stamping tip - not a tutorial - but a really helpful, material and wits saving tip... use a brass head or deadblow hammer when striking your stamps... steel stamps on a steel anvil or bench block hit with a steel hammer = double strikes, bounce backs... you need a hammer that absorbs the energy... in addition, all of that steel banging together creates work hardening of your tools which can eventually cause them to become brittle and break... 

The birds and the beads.... :o)

by Kelli Pope

With art show season upon me, things once again are hec -tic!!!!!!!!!! What a joy today to receive an e-mail from Mary Ann showing me my latest batch of beads!!

I think my Louisville Cardinal fans are going to LOVE the red!!!

And very soon, I'll be able to open my own kiln and see the incredible transition from clay to colorful bead! I can't wait!!!!!!