ETSY - Time to make it happen

So far I have had 3 sales on etsy. But not any of my necklaces. I get lots of good feedback from people saying they are unique and sure to do well. BUT no sales...

Are they too expensive - well with the exchange rate soo bad at the moment I really have no choice or I will loose money.

SO what is it? I don't know.

I think I am going to try some paid advertising and see how I go...

FINISHED

Finally we have finished my studio and I now have a wonderful space to work in and make a "mess". My bench didn't turn out how I wanted it. It wasn't cut to the correct size so we had to do it ourselves, but that meant pulling the legs apart and cutting everything down - something I didn't want to have to do. I want to use it - so we just adapted and even though there is part of the frame sticking out the side I think I will find it useful for using to clamp things etc.

Now I have purchased some supplies from the US and I am waiting for them to come, along with my KILN. Yeah I have got a Paragon SC2. I wanted the SC3 but was too expensive to ship to Oman!!! More than 250US dollars so that was not such a viable option.

So now I can really get into my lampworking and silversmithing!!

BUT

on a sad note for me...

I am going to have to go back to work for 1 or 2 days a week or so. Nothing set just some temp work. I don't want to leave my babies... and I want as much time as possible to use my creativity. But has to happen sometime so...

Will let you know how it goes.

ETSY - YEAH

Last night I finally listed my first 3 items in my ETSY shop!! I am very happy with how it looks. Now I just have to build up my profile around the world so people get to know my shop. I think it is going to be a hard task but anyway will see how it goes...

FAIR TRADE

Etsy

I have been working on my etsy website all day. Took photos of some of my jewellery this afternoon but i am not completely happy with the pics. Will try again tomorrow. I am really happy with my avatar. It looks great. So hopefully in the next day or 2 I will have a few things up for sale!!!

Thai Hill Tribe Silver

My favourite kind of silver - Hill Tribe Fine Silver

I came across their blog tonight and found these exquisite pieces!!

Feel Bad!

Ok so our maid lasted 3 days... It wasn't that she was bad - but she wasn't GOOD either. We did make a mistake though. We thought her english was ok but in the end we spent too long trying to get the message across and we just didn't want to deal with that, let alone our 3 year old son trying to communicate with her. Plus she was very slow at everything. So she spent the entire time getting absolutely no where. Therefore I have had to look after the kids all the time while she worked and my studio has not been touched since the weekend. I feel bad that we had to ask her to leave - she really did have a good situation here and she didn't make it easy for us - she begged me to let her stay. But how can I leave my 2 boys with her and feel completely at ease - I can't. So that's why we have to find someone else.

SOO now we are back to the start again!!! It is not easy to find someone good. Plus our expectations just keep increasing as we gain more experience with what we don't want. I hope we find someone soon cause I really want to get jewellery making...

Our New Maid

Coming soon...

Diana starts tomorrow - so I will update on how it goes.

I don't know how I feel completely about it. Excited to perhaps finally have someone willing and wanting to work. Someone to do everything! I still HATE saying maid and Nanny sounds better - but they don't really fit the typical "nanny" mould as they really are maids. 2 1/2 years and I am still not comfortable - I guess that comes with the fact that in Australia it is not viewed in the best light to have a "maid" in the way that we do. But it is the norm here. I have actually been viewed as "abnormal" for not having a maid for 3 months now.

So I am looking forward to having someone cook, clean, wash, iron and babysit.

Creativity

I mainly have my childhood and upbringing to thank for my creative abilities. My Nanna and Grandmother both being artistic in different ways - exposed me to a variety of media and techniques. My mother also extremely creative encouraged my abilities and provided me with the necessary materials to "experiment". Being early childhood trained I have developed an awareness and appreciation of the importance of creative exploration - particularly in the early years... I am a strong advocate of "creativity in the classroom"!

In later years my travel throughout many countries of the world has shaped my ideas about creativity and broadened my interests. My move to Oman has enabled me to explore ideas and experiment with materials that I did not imagine possible.

TOP 5 Holidays

1. Gran Canaria
2. Thailand
3. Barcelona
4. Greek Islands
5. Jordan

Travels that have impacted on my creativity - changed my perspective...

1. Venice
2. Paris
3. Oman
4. Dubai
5. Bangkok

Now I start to think about WHY?

For many it was not at the time - it is now that I look back that I realise how much one particular trip impacted on my thinking or ideas. When I sit down now to make something or create - inspiration comes from those experiences.

I almost forgot how important Australia is to me also and how our yearly trips home have certainly changed my style and ideas.

MY NEW STUDIO - Taking Shape

Yesterday we started on my new studio. We got a painter in to save us some time. So now the walls are painted. Today we put the underlay down in 1 room. The other will have to wait. (We got sidetracked making the kitchen for Josh.) It's amazing what a little bit of paint and new flooring can do to a room. The rooms looked pretty bad before we started. They were supposed to be maid's quarters. There are 2 rooms and a bathroom. We decided we may as well do both rooms and clean them up. Then I have 2 rooms to set myself up in.

I can't wait to actually get started on making the lampwork beads and silversmithing. I have a few more supplies to get and then I will be organised. I found a great silversmith supply shop in the Souk. When I set out to find something I eventually find it here in Muscat. It may take me ages but I will search the entire city to find what I need.

Once we have done the flooring then we can put my workbench and storage together. Then setup the torch, oxygen and gas. I can't wait.