Cheers to a New Year!

"Cheers to a New Year and another chance to get it right." ~ Oprah

Most of us have done our share of "reflecting" over the last several days...and I join the throngs of people who have resolved not to make a New Year's resolution.  I've listened to people in the media talk about how many people fail to keep their resolutions.  In fact, they say most resolutions are forgotten by June...and a lot disappear within several weeks! (Just check out the parking lot of your local gym now versus the middle to end of the year...that says it all!)

Needless to say, I'm not one to make resolutions because I'm the type of person who, when faced with a need for change, wants to do it then...not wait for a new year to begin on January 1st.  If I need to change my diet, a habit, an attitude, or find the need to exercise...why wait?  There's just no time like the present!

However, I do like to reflect on the previous year and decide what and where I want to go in the next year.  It gives me an opportunity to recognize my achievements and failures, and make sure I am continuing to look for new opportunities to grow and not "settling" or becoming stagnant.

As I balanced the books for C J Collection for 2011 (inventory and sales), I reflected...a lot!  I recalled every piece created, and every piece sold!  (I just love spreadsheets!)  I analyzed the data and tried to guess what 2012 might bring.  I was stumped...not because I don't have some thoughts and dreams for my business.  I was amazed at what 2011 brought my way...some good, some not-so-good...but through it all, I reflected on the blessings that were showered on me.  The year was bittersweet...the bitter was my early retirement...the sweet was the overwhelming response to my designs and creations...and the time I now have to serve my family whenever there is a need!

I do want to "get it right" in 2012, and with a lot of prayer, I hope to smile really big as I reflect again a year from now!  Bring it, 2012...I'm ready...I think!

Happy New Year to all of my family and friends!
Carole 

It's the Heart of the Family that Matters!

I'm sorry to say...I've had writer's block over the past several months.  On the other hand, I am happy to report, it's all due to the fact that I've been really busy going to craft shows and filling orders!

I think I could write a book entitled "A Beginner's Guide to Craft Shows."  I learned a great deal from this experience, and I am looking forward to what I can do next year!  My work was received well by the people who stopped by my booth...but I have to admit, I cringed when some of them tried to barter the price (flea-market-style).  I actually find that pricing a piece is harder than designing and making it...and to be honest, it's a fight to be paid the full amount of what a piece is really worth.  So, when someone looks at the price tag and they either do an "eye-roll" as they set it back in place...or try to barter with me, I have to quickly do some self-talk so I don't start emitting steam from my ears.  (I think this could be a whole blog topic in itself.)

With all of my 21 years in the world of customer service, I knew I had to listen to the customers and reach out in a way that would be different than all of the many talented jewelers out there.  While I didn't "make it rich" at the five craft shows I attended, I am "rich" by the experience.  I watched what people were drawn to, what they tried on, and what they said they were looking for in a piece of jewelry.

Out of my observations (and plenty of prayer), came my hammered silver Heart of the Family birthstone pendant.  People like custom-made...they love their family...they love to feel special...and this pendant hits all of those characteristics to qualify for "just the perfect gift." 

The heart is sculpted with 16 gauge sterling silver wire, the birthstones are 4mm bicone Swarovski crystals, and comes on an 18 inch sterling silver chain with a SS shepherd's hook clasp.  The heart is prayerfully hammered by me, giving it a lot of character.

At first I was frustrated with how I could possibly get the Heart of the Family pendant listed on my Etsy page...until I figured out that I could list them individually by the number of birthstones that make up individual families.  It works great...and now that I have one on its way to Alaska, I'm sure you can tell just how excited I am!

Family...something that means the world to me.  When I look at this heart with the birthstones, it gives me a quick picture of each family.  Some are extremely colorful...and each one is definitely unique.

Family...

          

          a. A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.

          b. Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place.

 

I love the second definition of the word "family." Recently, I viewed pictures submitted in a Family Photo Contest sponsored by Better Homes and Garden (which I don't recommend). I can tell you what a family is not...it is not one lonely bird sitting on a snow-covered branch, or a Christmas tree with presents waiting to be opened, or a Christmas tree that was set ablaze in the backyard, or even one cute baby sitting on a bench.  It is all of (b.) and then some...long-term commitments to one another = unconditional love, and acceptance of our differences.

 

As we approach this Christmas season...a time of giving and loving...don't forget the importance of family!  Don't count the number of gifts under the tree...the gift of family is ALL you need...trust me, you are truly "rich!"

 

Merry Christmas to you and your family,

Carole

'Tis the Season for Craft Shows!

I've never been one to go out of my way to seek out craft shows...until now.  I didn't decide to seek them out for my own personal shopping pleasure.  But rather, it is my first Christmas shopping season for being a vendor at craft shows.  Since the end of October, I have rented a booth at three events and have two more to go.  I knew going into it that I would have a lot to learn...but this has been a rather wild and crazy learning experience!  I thought I would share some of my experiences with you...

• Don't go into one of these events with a "Flea Market" mentality...No, I will not "haggle" with you over my price.  I've got to cover expenses, not just for the booth space, but also for cost of goods, packaging, time, and not to mention, gas money!
• Yes, there are quite a number of jewelers out there, but each of us has our own creative genius behind our creations.  I just love and appreciate other artist's talent.
• A craft show is a place where you can pick up some very unique items from some very talented people...handcrafted...not "manufactured" stuff...all the while, supporting local businesses or artists.
• I don't know another place where you can go to a concession stand and get a BBQ pork sandwich for $2.00 and a soda for $1.00.  Or, buy a coffee and get a donut hole free!

Family always strikes a cord with people..."The Heart of the Family" pendant seems to also strike a cord.  This has to be my most favorite piece of all time.  I was frustrated with trying to figure out a way to list them on my Etsy page...until today.  I finally have thought of a way to make it happen and I will be listing them in the next couple of days, so be watching!  Here is a picture:

This is a sample of a mother's birthstone (in the center) and two birthstones at the bottom of the heart which represents the birthstones of each child.  Today I made one for a Grandmother of seven...three stones in the center and four stones at the bottom.  It was beautiful!

The other most popular item was the "Tutu Cute" bears.  It's really not about a bear wearing a tutu as much as it is about the necklace and bracelet set that comes on the bear.  Once I am done with the craft shows, I will also start listing the "My Bear and Me" jewelry line on my Etsy page.  They really are adorable...and all of the jewelry is different...no two necklace and bracelet sets are alike!  So, one-of-a-kind jewelry for that special little girl in your life for only $24.00.

And my final learning?  Wear comfortable shoes!  I love my Danskos...worth every penny!

I hope to see you at a craft show soon,
Carole

Time Flies When You're Having Fun?

Has it really been three months since I last posted on my blog?  Where has the time gone?  Summer is now just a memory...but great memories were made with family and friends.  My North Carolina daughter and her family came for an extended visit, my parents came up from Florida for a month, and my cousins came up from Philadelphia...cousins I haven't seen in many, many years.  It was awesome!

Of course, I designed and created jewelry whenever I had a quiet moment.  I will admit, there were times when I didn't have any inspiration whatsoever, so my jewelry tools sat on the work table feeling quite neglected.  I was actually ready to give it all up...feeling as though my jewelry was pretty lackluster at best.  Needless to say, I did a lot of soul-searching...asking myself questions like, "Who would ever want to buy this stuff?" and, "What do you really want to do when you grow up?" And then...out of the blue...there were some sales.

As I started to make my way back to my workstation, and my hands gripped the lonely pliers, I felt confident that I could continue on my creative journey again.  As I began to think about how to market my collection, I decided to search for some craft shows for the Fall.  While this is a real stretch for me, I have been really determined that I need to take a deep breath, take a huge risk, and just go for it!

I am happy to report (I think) that I will be a vendor at three Maine Made Craft Shows - the weekend of October 29 and 30, November 12 and 13, and November 19 and 20.  Depending on how things go, there's a possibility I may do one more on Thanksgiving weekend.  In addition, I may also be having some home parties. Wow...and now another season will fly by!

You better believe my hands just can't keep up with my brain and all of the fabulous designs that I want to make before the end of the month!  I have been spending a lot of time with my jewelry tools lately!  If you're a friend of C J Collection on Facebook, you've seen some of my newest designs.  Here's one that I just finished yesterday, and I absolutely love it!

This Kumihimo necklace has so much bling, you need to wear sunglasses to look at it!  It's one of the most elegant necklaces so far.  Braided with black, silver, and charcoal AB crystals, it has a multi-rhinestone focal bead in the center. This necklace measures 18 inches with a 1.5 inch chain extender, and a sterling silver shepherd's hook clasp.

It's so good to be back at it again...doing what I really love to do.  Now to finish all of the items on my very long "To Do List!"

"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Carole

Dog Days of Summer

Living in the northeast, we long for warm weather somewhere around January. This year, the warmth arrived sometime in May, then it disappeared until July. Summer just can't come quick enough for us, but when it gets here, it flies by. There are so many things to do and we (I) start making lists because I don't want to miss out on any of it. As soon as I cross out one item on my list, there are two more to take its place. If you're a list-maker, you truly understand what I'm saying!

Needless to say, I've been really, really busy with my "To-Do list." (It's the first summer that I haven't worked at a job in 21 years, so this has been a treat for me.) I'm trying to juggle family and my jewelry business...both of which are things I love!  So far, July has had a wedding theme. I began the month by making a wedding cake...which is both fun and stressful all at the same time. I love creating and designing, and seeing the final product work its way from my head to reality. It amazes me every time. Here is a picture of the cake:

After finishing that project, I moved on to making wedding jewelry. Six of the eight attendants...got necklaces and earrings or bracelets and the two flower girls got bracelets. The necklaces and bracelets were created with 4mm plum Swarovski pearls and plum crystals...delicate and dainty. The Matron of Honor's jewelry was done in white rather than plum, just to make her a little bit different from the other attendants.

I probably got the biggest thrill from creating the bride's bracelet. As I began putting it together, I became more and more excited about the outcome. It has sparkle and shine like nobody's business! Anyone who knows me, knows how much I LOVE bling! This piece has more "bling" than you can imagine, and unfortunately, it doesn't show up in pictures. So the next item on my "list" is to figure out how to capture "bling" in a photo...which may involve a new camera or some photography lessons, or both. Of course it didn't help that I dropped my camera in the lake...but that's another story for another day.  Here's a picture of the bracelet:

I wish I had room to post all of the wedding jewelry pictures. If you want to see more, you can become a fan of C J Collection on Facebook and peruse the photos that I posted there.

Now that I've crossed that project off my list, I am trying decide which item I want to tackle next. I'm somewhat sad that I don't have another wedding project...since I crave "bling"...guess I'll have to see what I can do to create some sparkle and shine during these Dog Days of Summer!

Enjoy every moment...summers are too short, and so is life!
Carole

No More Teachers, No More Books...

One of my childhood chants at the end of each school year was, "No more teachers, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks." Like a great many kids, I had a strong dislike for school. It wasn't until many years later that I had a change of heart. I just loved this chant...mainly because it meant spending the entire summer vacation up to our camp on Sebago Lake. I have sweet, fond, and strong memories of my summers there and was probably the only member of my family who loved it the way I did.

When my twins were young...probably as far back as when they were five or six, they played school every afternoon after they got home from school. By the time their little sister was able to walk and sit at a make-shift desk, they were excited that they had a "student" they could teach! I remember the days when I would be getting dinner ready, listening to them play school...no TV...just good clean fun teaching their student, who might not have always been cooperative, but that's another topic for another blog. ;o)

As time passed, their "playing school" turned into a real calling. Donna graduated from UNCW with her teaching degree in elementary and special education. Today she is a middle school special education teacher. Debra is working on completing her degree so she can focus on the social work side of education. She has been very active in assisting in her children's classrooms and directing children's ministry for several years. Yes, I am a very proud Momma.

So, this gives you a little more insight as to why I have changed my childhood chant into a grown-up cheer for our teachers! Now, I know my children didn't always have good experiences with all of their teachers, and we had some battles throughout the years. But the majority of their teachers had a heart for kids, academics, and growth on both an intellectual and social level.

Last week, I decided to give two of my grandgirl's teachers a custom-made bracelet from the C J Collection as a thank-you gift for their hard work. Since I don't like to give random gifts, I quizzed the girls about their teachers...what colors do they like, what do they wear for jewelry, and so forth. It helps give me inspiration so it's not just another gift that they throw in a drawer somewhere. (I've got some inside scoop as to what teachers like for gifts and what they don't like!) So, after we talked about their teachers, here's what I came up with:

This fifth grade teacher likes neutral colors and loves jewelry...freshwater pearls and illusion crystals with silver shepherd's hook clasp and chain to make it adjustable.

This third grade teacher loves purple...made with light purple quartz, variegated square glass beads, and darker purple illusion crystals, with silver shepherd's hook clasp and chain to make it adjustable.

It might be time for me to come up with a new chant I can teach my grandkids...maybe it will be as "catchy" as the old one. Any ideas? Teachers rule, students drool...oh wait...I think I'm confused with another "chant."

Okay, so I'm off to create something more original!
Carole

"Grandmothers are just antique little girls."

Little did I know over fourteen years ago that I would love, love being a grandmother. Since I was feeling too young to be called the "G" word, we decided my grandkids would call me "Mimi." Yes, I am one of those people who are quite sensitive about the "number." And no, I will not be getting over it anytime soon!

Over the past few months I have been able to spend more time with my grandchildren. What a treat! Most of the time, they make me feel young. They are growing up right before my eyes, and that's when I feel old!  In a few days, my fourteen year old grandgirl will be graduating from eighth grade...it just doesn't seem possible! Another granddaughter and grandson are going from elementary school into middle school. Wow! Where has the time gone?

This week, I created a necklace, earrings, and bracelet set for Gabby's eighth grade graduation. She will be wearing a pink and black semi-formal dress and will be looking oh so grown up! The necklace is made with light pink Swarovski pearls and silver crystals, and multi-faceted clouded pink crystals that add just enough sparkle and bling. Here is a picture...

While I am excited to see her all "dolled up", I don't know if I can make it through this graduation with emotions in tact. Gabby is a great kid...sensitive, creative, loving, and beautiful, and I've begged her to stay a little tyke. (I've actually asked all of my grandkids to stay small, but they aren't listening.) G has told me a couple of times that adults aren't invited to the dance that's going to be held after the graduation ceremony. Thinking her comment was funny, I told her that I already had my dress...I am chaperoning it. She didn't laugh...which made it even funnier! I'm not actually going to be a chaperone, but I'm kicking myself for not calling the school to volunteer. No problem, I have more grandkids coming along and then there's always G's junior and senior proms! ;o) More than likely, she won't be amused by this thought, but I do like to tease her a little bit now and then. Adore you, Miss G!

Happy 8th Grade Graduation to G! I am so proud of you...I can't believe this Mimi will have a grandgirl in high school. I know you're trying to make me feel old...but I'm fighting the feeling...hard!

"A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance."

Carole