Someting New

Sorry it's been so long since I blogged but honestly there hasn't been anything to talk about.  Let me just say I've had some serious changes in direction for work and life.  I can't write about it because I can't even explain it when speaking to someone.  However, if I continue to have a positive mind and stay focused then I will meet my goal in 1 year. 

Mother's Day = Money (Hopefully)

There wasn't a blog from me yesterday because my day got turned around a little.  It started out just chillin out in the house and then something brought me out.  When I got out the house I took full advantage and didn't get back in until 12:30am.  I didn't realize it but this is the perfect week to go out because Mother's Day is right around the corner and I had many people asking to see my jewelry to purchase something for their mother.  If I would have been thinking yesterday would've been the perfect day for me to carry around my jewelry bag but I didn't have it.  That's cool because it still didn't stop me from passing out my business cards. 

While I was out I texted Nicole and she asked me to email her all my pieces I have for sale to her.  Hopefully she will buy one, which I think she will.  P.S. - that's the girl in NY - she's awesome!

Mr. District365 also is working his magic and trying to help connect me with other jewelry makers or people who can help further me along.  Also, I'm still working with the facebook page making and posting pictures and giving information about the stones I use.  I even try to share things about how I feel and what I want to use material wise.

Last minute I'm not going to the lounge tonight as I mentioned 2 days ago.  Why you asked, well first I'm tired from last night and two I don't know, but it's cool.  Gotta go and update my facebook page.  Hope you check out  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jewelry-By-Miava/199258913444783
 

Goldstone Is So Beautiful

I made another necklace today with the Goldstone beads I have.  They are not the focal point of my necklace but they just seem to go so well with the stones I have.  So today I decided to put them with this green and orange colored Agate I have.  I'd been wanting to make this necklace for awhile and today was the day I did it.  It was so beautiful out that I actually got a lot accomplished.  I was able to even people watch at Lafayette Park, but that's beside the point. 

So on my way to people watching, I was waiting at the light and saw that this lady on a wonderful leather and pearl necklace.  Now usually pearls are very formal and kinda boring, but with the leather it gave the pearls an informal look with an S&M twist.  I was all over it!!!  I've decided next trip to the store leather will be in my bag.  Plus I have enough beads where I can make something fun and funky with a little leather added to it. 

Also,  I've been keeping up with my facebook page Jewelry By Miava and I have 1 person (other than myself) that likes my page - I feel good.  I wonder if they read or have read my blog?

P.S.: Before I forget I might have an opportunity to show my jewelry this Wednesday.  Not quite sure as the place is a lounge and it's like a party or something going on but I got the "somewhat" invite from a person who is friends with the lounge owner.  It's kinda nerve wrecking for me to do things like that as I still suffer from anxiety really bad, but I can have a drink and be cool, but right now I don't have anything to lose.  So if I go what's the worse that could happen, nobody buy anything.  Well hell that would happen if I stayed home.  So at least if I do take this opportunity at least people will see me and I'll be out and about mingling around.  But like I said I'm not quite sure if it's going to happen but it's only 2 days away so I will let you know if I do it or not. 

I'm gonna leave you with the necklace I made tonight.  The Agate beads ROCK!  Hope you like it.

Possibilities

So I finally had the meeting with the guy from twitter and things went really well.  We talked, ate and I showed him my jewelry.  He liked all my stuff and thought there was great potential for me to go far.  He said he would try and help me as much as possible and even gave some great advice (which I'm always willing to take).  The thing that was so good about him was that he goes to all these different places in and around DC so he was able to recommend places to me that would be good for me to put on a show.  Despite the fact that I've been looking around for arts and crafts shows to display my jewelry, I still want to put on a show myself.  The only thing that's been hard is getting the people because I don't know alot of people and also if I did have a show in someones house I know, I don't want to post flyers all around DC and then have strangers show up - a little awkard if you ask me.  And also meeting the guy yesterday he gave me a great idea about possibly using this place BloomBars which is a non-profit place.  I think they allow artists to put on shows there, not quite sure I have to do more research. 

In the end he said that May could be a good month for me, yeah really, I hope so too but maybe he knows something I don't know. 

Aside from that things went good and I'm happy with the possibilities that could be. 

One more thing, I put up a facebook page dedicated to my jewelry called "Jewelry By Miava".  For some reason it's linked to my personal facebook site but i'm thinking that could be a good thing for those that don't read my blog or go to my Etsy shop could then see these post I put up and go there just to be curious.  This is definately going to be a challenge because I usually don't write on facebook but now I'm going to have too but just in a business way.  Hey another thing for me to learn about.  I swear I hope this pays off in the long run cause I would be really pissed to put all this effort and time into something that doesn't pan out.   

Praying For Something Good

Since I went out on Thursday I've been laying low in the house for a couple of days making necklaces.  I made this light weight Rock Crystal, Tourmalated Quartz and Pearl necklace.  The Rock Crystal is clear so it has a very spring/summer look to it despite the darnkess of the Tourmalated Quartz.  I've been trying to make more necklaces that people would want to buy for the spring/summer time but it's kind of hard because when I go and buy beads I always gravitate towards heavy looking stones or darker colored stones. 

Aside from that I'm finally going to meet this guy today who would be helpful in getting the word out about my jewelry.  He runs a really good website for things to do in DC and we've been trying to meet for about the last month but something always happens where we can't meet.  But today is the day.  He's already seen some pictures of my work but it's nothing like seeing it in person.  It's going to be very informal at Bus Boys but you never know what can come of an informal meeting. 

You know the title of this post is Praying for Something Good because now I really need some additional prayers. I find myself doing things I would have never done before and it's getting really hard.  I'll just leave it at that.  I still have my Etsy shop which I check more than I want to on a daily basis only to see the numbers the same and no request to buy anything.  Just for fun here's the shop name http://www.jgirlred.etsy.com/  Oh but I do have some good news - I did find a site where I was able to make a free banner for my shop.  So instead of it being super bland with bad pictures, it's just bad pictures with a nice banner.  LOL!  Hey if I don't have a sense of humor who the hell will?  But my next purchase will be the necklace stands/statues.  It's a good investment especially when doing shows.  It shows the necklaces off instead of them just laying down on a table.

Ahh other good news, I got a response back from Crafty Bastards and they haven't posted their application but it will be up soon.  So I'm gonna keep an eye up for that.  If I can get in there it will be amazing.  Their next show is in October in Adams Morgan so you know that's gonna be big.  I must also say that I have this really good woman who's been helping me and I kind of look to her as a mentor somewhat.  We don't speak on a regular basis but she always sends me information for possible craft shows to sign up for. 

Anyways,  one more thing to be happy for is today is my 1 year anniversary. 

Here's the necklace I made yesterday.  My camera really sucks and this is under the best light in my house.  But I hope you enjoy.

Questions

Why do people leave you when you need them the most? 
Does being successful mean you have to be sad?
Is traveling your own path right if it makes you feel wrong?
What good is anything if there's no one there to share it with?
If you don't have anyone to talk to is it okay to talk to yourself?  If you don't know the answer then what good is it to talk to yourself?  Where then do you get the answer from when you need one?

I'm in a sad mood right now and since I'm the only person that reads my blog I guess no one else will judge or answer my questions. 

Good Night. 

Dainty and Feminine

It's been about a week since I've made a necklace and this morning I made a beautiful necklace with Rose Quartz and Pearl.  I wanted to do something dainty and feminine since my last two necklaces I made were kind of funky looking.  Considering the weather here in DC has been hot and sticky, this light hearted necklace goes perfect with the weather and would go perfect with something light and airy. 

Let me switch to another topic which is my shop that I have on Etsy.  I've placed 6 necklaces up for sale and haven't sold anything.  I'm not expecting for people to automatically buy my stuff because I realize that my shop isn't all that appealing.  I don't have a banner, no colors to catch peoples attention, and no shop name, just not so great pictures of my jewelry.  Compared to the thousands of other people that sale on Etsy, this shouldn't come as any surprise but I'm gonna be honest and say that it is a little shocking.  Maybe that's just my ego speaking because I think my stuff is great. 

However, because I want to be successful with my jewelry business and things are getting a little stressed for me and money isn't falling from the sky, I'm going to definately start working longer and harder to get what it is I need.  Don't get me wrong I thought I had been putting in long hours but I need to do more obviously.  Anyways, I'm going to leave you with a picutre of my new Rose Quartz and Pearl necklace. 

Enjoy!