Tell us a little bit about yourself
Hi, I'm Sheryl Westleigh and I'm obsessed with cephalopods. So the personal details I guess would be that I'm 27 years old, I live in western Maine with my family and a large number of pets including a llama. I'm very into science and skepticism, I love to read, and play with polymer clay.

How long have you been in business?
Around a year but things didn't take off until I opened my Etsy shop at the beginning of October 2008.

Did you start your business full time? if not, what made you take that leap into running your business full time?
I did but it wasn't a deliberate thing. I had been working as a substitute teacher and there was a paperwork problem that led to me not having my certification renewed in time so suddenly I'm starting a business and the job I was doing was gone at around the same time. I live with my parents and they've been very supportive, if it wasn't for them I don't think I could have gotten Noadi's Art off the ground. Things are now going quite well so that I'm looking for my own apartment with the goal of moving this fall.

Did you write a business plan? or do you set regular goals to achieve?
I don't have a business plan at all, so far I haven't needed one. I do set goal for each month and have a calendar full of things to do each month.

What selling venues do you use?
I sell primarily online. Noadi.Etsy.com is my main shop where I make probably 90% of my sales. I also have a shop at Noadi.eCrater.com that is mostly duplicate items, off season items (holiday ornaments, etc), and a discount section. Offline I sell at a handful or art and craft shows and an art gallery in Bethel, Maine, but those account for a small fraction of what I sell.

Give us one tip on how you stay motivated (to run your business full time)?
Be curious, explore new ideas, techniques, etc. You might have staple items that sell well that you have to make all the time but mix it up with new projects. You never know when one of those might lead to a new hit for you.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from to keep coming up with fresh ideas?
I love science, I try not to miss nature documentaries and I'm always reading new stuff. Cephalopods and fossils in particular I really love which is why they show up so much in my work. I also love science fiction and fantasy so you see that influence on some of my work as well.

What is your best advice on customer service?
Care about your customers, always keep in mind that if they are happy with the experience they may come back and buy more. The most important part of this I think is to keep them informed, tell them when they're order will ship and estimated time it should take, let them know of any delays, stuff like that. Second most important thing is to send your orders out with care, pack them neatly in the box, a business card, and thank you note. Pretty packaging and a free item are also nice touches if you can do it.

What is your favorite tip you received from a mentor or someone in business?
It's not something specifically given as advice from a mentor. It's actually a quote from one of my favorite television shows Mythbusters which is "Failure is always an option". Not everything is going to work and you can't be afraid to fail, you have to take some risks. Failures can teach you a lot.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, what would that be?
Don't do what everyone else does. Find a niche for your products, if you look at the most successful handmade sellers on Etsy they all sell something out of the ordinary. Someone might copy your idea but by the time that happens you should be established as the original (this is where persistently marketing your business is important).

If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be? LOL sorry had to add this, I feel like Barbara Walters - haha - I was going to take this out but there have been some great answers so I left it in :)
I don't think I'd want to be any sort of tree, they're stuck in one place. I'd hate to not be able to go out and explore.

Thank you so much for your time Sheryl!

Good afternoon .. It's Fridays Feature :)
This week we are talking to Jill from Georgia, of blue piranha She shapes precious metal into jewelry that merges minimalist style with urban glamour. Enjoy ...





Tell us a little bit about yourself...
My name is Jill Sharp. My business name is Blue Piranha Jewelry. My favorite hobby was jewelry design, but not that's how I make my living. Other hobbies (except for maybe shoe shopping) have fallen by the wayside. :) I began designing jewelry in 1998 and took the leap to business in 2002. It's been a wild, fascinating ride, and I wouldn't trade my day job for anything.

How long have you been in business?
In business for 7 years.

Did you start your business full time? if not, what made you take that leap into running your business full time?
As I mentioned, I was a hobbyist first. The leap came after I was laid off from a corporate job and we moved across the country. My husband was also laid off (same company as me; we met at work) and we moved from AZ to GA for his career. When we moved to GA, I began my business.

Did you write a business plan? or do you set regular goals to achieve?
I am terrible with the biz plan, but I do write a loose one every year to keep me on track. I have a list of goals to accomplish and work toward those.

What selling venues do you use?
My main revenue venue is festivals. I don't exhibit at small craft fairs, because I found that I am too high-priced or art-y for them. I apply for larger, heavily juried art festivals, because those bring my targeted customers to the event. I also have had an online site since I began my business. It doesn't bring a huge amount of revenue, but more than pays for itself every year. I have been wholesaling to retailers for the last three years or so. I opened my Etsy shop in January but didn't actually list products until April. I also have an ArtFire site, a shop on 1000Markets, and a Trunkt portfolio.

Give us one tip on how you stay motivated (to run your business full time)?
Motivation! I really have two things that regularly motivate me: a. I am passionate about what I do and love the challenges of running my own business b. I never, ever want to go back to a corporate job.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from to keep coming up with fresh ideas?
Inspiration comes from everywhere. I have a sketchbook and draw out ideas to play with as time permits. I currently have ideas for at least four new collections; it's just finding the time, and growing my skill set, to start working on them. Every time I learn a new skill I am thinking about how I can use it in designing. I learn by doing - very hands-on - so I've dabbled in PMC, fabrication, and other classes to get a feel for how I can broaden my skills.

What is your best advice on customer service?
Be consistent and respectful. To me, customer service is part of the Golden Rule - treat others as you wish to be treated. Respect them as individuals and understand their needs. Then supply those needs. And treat everyone well. This results in very loyal customers.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, what would that be?
Don't operate from fear. No business can succeed without taking risks. Just starting a business is a risk! I spent time worrying about what people would think - what if I didn't succeed? What if no one liked my creations? What if I went to a show and sold nothing? What if I spent money on something that didn't work out? Once I really said to myself, "Well, what if that happens?" and realized that it wouldn't kill me, or kill the business, I stopped worrying so much. Now I view selling and marketing as a challenge. Kind of like a game. The rewards are out there; it's up to me to figure out how to reach them.

If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be? LOL sorry had to add this, I feel like Barbara Walters - haha - I was going to take this out but there have been some great answers so I left it in :)
A maple! Colorful, solid, and I'll be sweet if you want some sugar. :)

Places you can find Bluepirahna:
My own website is www.bpjewelry.com
1000 Markets is http://www.1000markets.com/users/bluepiranha
ArtFire is: http://www.artfire.com/users/bluepiranha

Thank you so much Jill for taking the time, it is appreciated!
Have a wonderful day everyone ..

Good morning .. It's Fridays Feature again which means the weekend is here!! :)
This Friday we are talking to Sarah from Georgia, of The Beaded Lily She uses 3 techniques (stringing, wirework & beadwork) for a beautiful and unique style of her own.




Tell us a little bit about yourself...
My name is Sarah Kelley and I'm thebeadedlily-- a self-taught southern gal with an intense love for art, beads and jewelry. I was born and raised near Savannah GA, USA. When I'm not working I'm sleeping, reading, drinking coffee while I surf handmade on the internet, blogging, taking tea with friends, cuddling my cat, Rip, or the resident rodent, haunting a sushi bar or puzzling with my family. But I work a lot.

How long have you been in business?
Officially, since the beginning of this year. Unofficially . . . when I started selling pieces it was to family, friends, and friends of friends. I did a few shows and home parties and I experimented with consignment. It wasn’t till I found out that I could sell on-line that things really took off. I found Etsy in January of ‘07 and opened a shop there six months later. Early in 2008 I quit my day job and confirmed that I really could do what I loved for a living. I registered thebeadedlily as a business in January 2009 and I've since opened shops on ArtFire and 1000Markets in addition to my Etsy shop.

Did you start your business full time? if not, what made you take that leap into running your business full time?
I'm a very cautious person and that's why it took me so long to go full-time. I've always assumed that the people who did what they really loved for a living were a breed above and apart from me. Somewhere in a sphere that I could only see. The cost to go official seemed so high that I'd spend all of the money I made on my jewelry on my business. And I was still in dream stage. So I held off until I thought it could really work-- until my sales were enough that I thought if I worked more on the business it could actually be profitable. During that time I paid taxes to the IRS on my jewelry-related income as if it were a hobby. Coincidentally, around that time I began really dreading going to work. I wanted to work at home so badly I could taste it. But it wasn't till I tried it, I took a leave of absence from my job and I tried working at home, that I realized that I could make it work. Then I made it official. Which was a huge relief. I paid the IRS, but felt lousy about not paying my GA sales tax. Plus I felt shiftless and unemployed even though I was working really hard. I'm still ecstatic to be able to say that I'm self employed. I work at home. Ask the IRS and GA Department of Revenue Sales and Use Tax Division.

Did you write a business plan? or do you set regular goals to achieve?
No and no. I've set goals sporadically, but I find that for me, putting that energy elsewhere just makes sense. If I write a list-- like daily or weekly goal list-- I can follow that just fine. But if I sit down, nail everything down and get comprehensive, I've found that I get so absorbed in the planning that I never do what I'm planning. I just plan. Plus, growth really isn't in my plans. I don't plan to take out any loans, open any stores, or hire any employees. It's me and the beads and I like it that way. If I went bigger I'd stop enjoying this. If I stopped enjoying it, if it became just a job-- what's the point? For me the point would get lost then. So I'm just plugging along, building momentum.

What selling venues do you use?
I have done a bit of wholesale, but it's not a regular thing and currently I'm content without the hassle of consignment and craft shows-- though I toy with both ideas now and again. I do a few home parties a year but my mainstay is the online business through Etsy, ArtFire and 1000Markets.

Give us one tip on how you stay motivated (to run your business full time)?
Well, it's this or go back to work! Running a business has stress associated with it, but when I compare that to the stress of working outside my home again I'm quite motivated!

Where do you draw your design inspiration from to keep coming up with fresh ideas?
My favorite place is my customers. Especially with my wirework people are always asking me to 'tweak' one of my designs. That often turns into a whole new branch of work. With my beadweaving I enjoy do themed challenges with some of the Markets and Street Teams I'm associated with. And materials, colors and nature inspire the rest of my work.

What is your best advice on customer service?
Treat them how you'd want to be treated. Not how you'd expect to be treated. Not how it's fair that they be treated. Treat them how you'd *want* to be treated-- and they'll keep coming back.

What is your favorite tip you received from a mentor or someone in business?
I don't remember how she said it, but Carol Dean Sharpe of SandFibers once told me that if I moved a certain way I'd limit my customer base. Then she pointed out that that may be what I wanted-- that I could actually be more appealing to a smaller base, or that I could play it safe and shoot for the middle. It was what I wanted, but I needed to hear, from someone who's business savvy I respected, that it was okay to do.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, what would that be?
Don't lose your momentum. If this is what you want, just plug away at it until it happens.

If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be? LOL sorry had to add this, I feel like Barbara Walters - haha - I was going to take this out but there have been some great answers so I left it in :)
I can see it in my head, but I don't know if it's even a real species. I wrote a poem about being a tree once-- the rather melancholic gist of which was that we are what we are, where we are but that nothing should stop us from reaching for something better. I'd be a tall, straight tree whose branches grow up more than sideways. I wasn't doing this at the time.

Read what's going on with me: http://thebeadedlily.blogspot.com/
See my latest work: http://thebeadedlily.etsy.com; http://thebeadedlily.1000markets.com; http://thebeadedlily.artfire.com

Thank you so much Sarah for taking the time, it is appreciated! Also, thanks for adding that second tip in the convo ... My second business tip.. When someone offers you some publicity don't play it cool. Jump dead square on it:)
Have a wonderful day everyone ..

Welcome to this weeks Feature Friday!
Today we are talking to Kristian McIntyre, of Creative Art and Soul, from West Virginia.




Tell us a little bit about yourself...
My name is Kristian McIntyre and I currently reside in the quaint little town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia. I'm 45 and actually looking forward to my hair turning gray. I'm into living a non-toxic, healthful & happy life. I have a home sandcarving business called Creative Art and Soul. I like to play my African djembe drum really loud in the stairwell when no one is home. I also collect vintage tiki mugs, tiki art, and other tiki memorabilia and I listen to old Exotica and current Polynesian pop while I work. I love being on the river or out in the desert or in the middle of the woods. I also love a good cold beer, breathing easy, dark chocolate, toy camera photography, time to myself, buttery popcorn, natural products, greasy Tex-Mex tacos & enchiladas with a fried egg on top, things made with bamboo, sunshine and blue skies, the songs of birds, toast (toast = fun), green superfood (you know the stuff with algae & wheat grass), ugly comfortable shoes, my pets, laughing 'til it hurts, piles of hot roasted green chiles, my boyfriend, shiny new tools, quiet evenings, lightning bugs, open-minded & honest people, camping, a really good original mai-tai, and stress-free days.

How long have you been in business?
That’s kind of a tough question as I’ve started (and laid to rest) several little side businesses on and off since I was in college in the 80’s. I’ve had a small import rug company and a small brass gift shop. I’ve sold chile ristras on the side of the highway while dressed as a big red chile. I’ve bought and sold items on Ebay and at flea markets, and now I have my wonderful little sandcarving business. I started Creative Art and Soul in 2005. The name Creative Art and Soul stems from my lifelong desire to unleash that nagging creativity bug, to produce something hip, cultural and expressive, and my willingness to look deep within my soul to find out exactly what I am made of and what fulfills me.

Did you start your business full time? if not, what made you take that leap into running your business full time?
Prior to starting Creative Art and Soul, I was a career non-game wildlife biologist for about 15 years. I loved my job because I got to work outside with wildlife and help conserve and preserve important wildlife areas. However, the last few years I ended up sitting in a cubicle for most of the time and was getting bored, unhappy and unhealthy. I went to a therapist who told me I needed a creative outlet...a hobby. I laughed and insisted that I was not the creative type. I took to heart his advice and went home and Googled "You don't have to be an artist". The first thing that came up was a company that sold sandblasting equipment. They had a video on their website with everyday people happily carving and sculpting fabulous items in glass, stone, and tile. After watching that video about 10 times that evening and after a few beers, I purchased a ginormous professional sandblasting system. I spent all of my free time after work putting the thing together, making messes, blasting holes in everything and honing my skills. I experimented with different substrates and tried my hand at selling on Ebay while I was still working full-time. At the end of the first bittersweet and exhausting year, my boyfriend found his dream job in West Virginia. I agreed to move with him under the condition that I get to take a break from my job for a year and pursue my business full time. It took a lot of planning, reworking, soul searching, and trial and error to find out what was really going to work for me and inspire me, as well as be marketable. I started to get frustrated after just 3 months of my full time business because I hadn’t yet discovered my true niche and I was reluctantly looking for a job. That is, until one day when I was cleaning out my jeep and found some colorful pendant stones I had stashed under my seat nearly 2 years before….and the light went on! OMG!!! I could etch these! I was so excited! I worked hard throughout the next few months to achieve the simple but classic style I now have for my pendants. It has now been 3-years since I etched my first Creative Art and Soul pendant and 3 years working my business full time. It has definitely been well worth it.

Did you write a business plan? or do you set regular goals to achieve?
I scribbled out a preliminary business plan for Creative Art and Soul during a small business course I took at a community college. The plan worked well for the class, but I didn’t follow it at all in real life. It just didn’t seem practical as unforeseen things happen every day: the market changes, my mind changes, trends change, among other things. I also took a course called “Finding your Soul in Business” and I learned many very important lessons they don’t teach you in any other business classes. Rather than set goals as most business owners, I list my daily, weekly, and monthly intentions in my trusty and most favorite tool, my moleskin planner. I learned that achieving goals (e.g., I want to sell $500.00 worth of pendants this month) can be difficult and not achieving goals can lead to feelings of failure, despair and frustration. Setting intentions (e.g., I will contact 3 new retail shops today and place a Facebook ad) is about me taking responsibility and control for the actions or tasks that I can and will complete. Committing to realistic intentions helps my business progress forward, keeps my attitude healthy, and my focus where it needs to be.

What selling venues do you use?
The majority of my sales come from craft shows and festivals (30-35/year) within my 4-state area (WV, MD, VA and PA). My main online selling venue is Etsy which I really love and have much success with. A whopping 1/5th of my online sales are from custom orders dreamed up by fabulously creative customers. I also recently opened a newer online shop on ArtFire. I’ve contemplated selling on other online venues in addition to Etsy and ArtFire, but I certainly do not want to spread my attention too thin and lose my focus. I do offer wholesale accounts and currently sell to retail shops in WV, NY, and MD.

Give us one tip on how you stay motivated (to run your business full time)?
Gratitude rules my motivation. I’m grateful and appreciative for each experience I have and how I grow and progress from it. Gratitude inspires me to move toward actions and activities that speak most deeply to my spirit, reconnects me with my authentic self, instills beliefs that even the seemingly impossible is possible, honors the best part of myself and what I do, helps bring clarity to my life, and contributes to my personal growth. Growth and success in my personal life lead to a prosperous business life. I find contempt and negativity to be the biggest demotivators.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from to keep coming up with fresh ideas?
My biggest inspiration comes from the diversity of people in this wonderful world of ours and their cultures, beliefs, and concepts. I am interested in iconic symbolism in world cultures (i.e., African adinkra symbols, Celtic symbols, Pagan and religious symbols, Spanish and Mayan symbols, Native American symbols, modern and pop-culture symbols, etc.) as symbols and icons provide concise pictorial information: a meaning, a belief, a myth, a concept, a history, a story or an expression which I find fascinating. Adding cultural expression to wearable art pieces speaks to people. It is thrilling when someone is drawn to one of my pendants; their eyes light up, they identify with it, and they seem to shine when they are wearing it. It is a wonderful thing to experience.

What is your best advice on customer service?
First and foremost is to be grateful to your customer. Your appreciation to your customer is evident to them from your wonderful unique handcrafted and well-made item, attention to detail, friendly service, prompt communication, careful and clean packaging, fast shipping, understandable and reasonable shop policies, and most important of all a simple and heartfelt thank you.

What is your favorite tip you received from a mentor or someone in business?
My father repeatedly told me to “Just go do it” years before Nike coined their famous slogan. Don’t worry about the obstacles, don’t worry about the time, don’t worry about the investment, don’t worry about what others are doing or saying, stop making excuses… Just go do it.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, what would that be?
Discover and follow your inner voice. Clear away any emotional, physical, and mental clutter. Jot down and follow your intentions. Be gracious and appreciative. Take criticism lightly… listen, and pay attention, but don't take it personally. Think positively. Believe in yourself. Just go do it.

If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be? LOL sorry had to add this, I feel like Barbara Walters - haha - I was going to take this out but there have been some great answers so I left it in :)
I’ve always loved quaking aspens. There is nothing like the smell of an aspen grove, clean, crisp and sweet. Aspen groves generally stand out from the surrounding environments with their tall trees, light bark, trembling leaves, brilliant greens and yellows in the spring, oranges and reds in the fall. Aspen groves maintain a high diversity of birds & mammals, bryophytes & butterflies. You can see and hear the constant activity, scurrying, singing, feeding, nesting, fluttering, tap tap tapping. Aspens reproduce by sprouting suckers….like little feelers radiating from the parent trees, seeking, growing, and spreading, much akin to how we in business tend to network to help our business grow. Aspens are survivors as they can withstand and regenerate fairly quickly after forest fires and harvest. Hmmm, I could mention another analogy to life or business here, but you get the idea.

Find Creative Art and Soul online here ....
Etsy: http://creativeartandsoul.etsy.com
ArtFire: http://creativeartandsoul.artfire.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/creativeartsoul
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shepherdstown-WV/Creative-Art-and-Soul/6156146051
MySpace: http://myspace.com/creativeartandsoul
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandcarvedpendants/
eeesh! I think I'll stop there!

Thanks Kris for taking the time and for offering such in depth and thoughtful answers. Good luck at all your upcoming shows!
- Dianne

Welcome to this weeks Feature Friday!
Today we are talking to Amy Hatch of Ruby Rose, from Washington. Her jewelry designs are soft and delicate, for the feminine side of you :)



Tell us a little bit about yourself...
My name is Amy Hatch, I live in the drier part of the beautiful Pacific Northwest with my husband, two boys- soon to be three boys in late August, and four hens. My hobbies are creating handmade jewelry, knitting, reading, and enjoying my family. I love color, art, classical music, antiques, flowers of all types and harvesting the fruit and vegetables from my husbands garden.

How long have you been in business?
I have been in business since September 2007.

Did you start your business full time? if not, what made you take that leap into running your business full time?
Initially, I did not start my business full time. I figured that I liked to make jewelry and that it would be fun to have something on the side to do as a hobby. However, in the last year, I have had quite a bit of success with my sales and that has prompted me to market more and get more into the business aspects of my Etsy shop.

Did you write a business plan? or do you set regular goals to achieve?
I did not write a business plan, but I do have a fair amount of business experience in that I do the management work for my husbands busy Chiropractic office (bookkeeping, payroll, tax work, bills and invoices,marketing, etc.) As for regular goals, I do set them- I haven't made my goals yet, but I make sure that I take an 'action step' each day toward achieving those goals.

What selling venues do you use?
Currently, my one sales venue is Etsy. When I started out, I was selling on Etsy, Ebay, and RubyLane. However, I found I was kind pulled in several directions with different groups of customers, photo uploading, etc., so I decided about a year ago to streamline everything and focus solely on my Etsy sales, just because I like the website and the community. I advertise on three different blogs and another independent website which I know brings traffic through my shop.

Give us one tip on how you stay motivated (to run your business full time)?
One tip on how to stay motivated...Don't get discouraged if you make goals and they aren't being achieved right away- just make sure that you are taking the right actions on a daily basis to make those goals happen, and they will! Read business books and listen to self improvement and motivational cd's to keep yourself inspired and motivated!

What is your best advice on customer service?
Best advice on customer service...provide a beautifully crafted product and go out of your way to package it in a pretty and creative way, and ship it promptly! Go the extra mile when you can- I always thank my customers by tucking a little business card with a handwritten note into their package thanking them for choosing my shop. I also send an etsy conversation as soon as they have purchased their item and thank them and let them know when their package will ship. If time permits, I always try to ship their package out within 24 hrs of payment. In order to ship quickly, I have to have lots of things prepared ahead of time- a large inventory of the pieces in my shop, mailing packages with return address labels and stamps already on them, and gift boxes ready to be filled and wrapped with tissue paper. I am just really on top of keeping my supplies stocked as well! Also, I have postcards that I have had custom made for my business, and I always send out a postcard to each customer about a week after their order ships, and on the postcard I thank them for their order and offer them free shipping on their next order. I have had a wonderful response from this. If you want your Etsy shop to be an actual business, you have to market it like an actual business :)

What is your favorite tip you received from a mentor or someone in business?
Favorite tip received from a mentor or someone in business- Its actually 2 things- 1) have a blog that is just for your shop 2) On down days where you don't have any orders or very few orders- spend your time creating new products, taking new photos, replenishing your supplies, cleaning out your office space, etc. Spend your time productively!

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, what would that be?
One piece of advice to someone just starting a business- Be persistent. Being in business for yourself requires a great deal of persistence- you have to keep implementing different strategies and constantly assess what works and what doesn't work for you. If you love what you are doing, don't give up, keep trying new ways to sell your product, and you will!

If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be? LOL sorry had to add this, I feel like Barbara Walters - haha - I was going to take this out but there have been some great answers so I left it in :)
What kind of tree.....definitely a cherry tree! Every spring they burst with the most beautiful blossoms that give way to gorgeous, red, sweet cherries!


Thank you so much Amy for some great advice and taking the time!

Welcome to this weeks feature Friday. Hope your enjoying the interviews as much as I am. Everyone has been so inspiring and funny in their own way. This weeks interview is with Cindy of DesignedByLucinda from North Carolina, a designer who loves to work with gemstones .. Enjoy ..




Tell us a little bit about yourself... My name is Cindy Boardman and I love critters like cats and dogs. In fact, any stray critter that wanders by hungry and homeless gets fed and attention so they tend so stay at Chez Boardman months until I can find new homes! I wish I could just shut the door but stray critters just grab me....

How long have you been in business?
Off and on selling jewelry for 20 years. I have been selling under DBL for over 3 years now.

Did you start your business full time? if not, what made you take that leap into running your business full time?
I started just PTing it but then I heard of a local real life space that was affordable and only 5 minutes away from my house at a good price, so I leapt. I created stock like crazy and started covering my expenses by the 2nd month, so I kept on. Quality materials with good workmanship coupled with superior customer service brought customers back for more and more and more.

Did you write a business plan? or do you set regular goals to achieve?
I wrote a vague plan that set out where I wanted to get - - and it could probably use tweaking because all plans can be made *better*. My goals are to continue to grow my exposure, my sales and my product line every few months.

What selling venues do you use?
I use Etsy as my online portfolio. I also sell locally anywhere I can (pools, skating parks, private parties, nursing homes, etc) and I market my business cards worldwide. I also constantly tweak my Etsy SEO to catch the elusive Google and Yahoo search buyers (though that meets resistance from Etsy code sometimes).

Give us one tip on how you stay motivated (to run your business full time)?
I believe in my designs and I believe in my stones. I don't buy the stones if they make me go EH, I want WOW when I see them :)

Where do you draw your design inspiration from to keep coming up with fresh ideas?
It sounds crazy, but I let the stones speak to ME. They let me know when a design is MEH and when it is GOGOGO - - and I don't quit until I feel that GOGOGO from each stone.

What is your best advice on customer service?
Make it right - - always. Nothing you sell will ever reverse the potential damage one client of a $3 sale could make for your business so treat every buyer like gold :)

What is your favorite tip you received from a mentor or someone in business?
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. And try to keep stretching your line so you always find something new to offer :)

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, what would that be? If you *REALLY BELIEVE* this is your way, follow it, through brambles and backtrails and side jogs. BELIEVE in what you have and follow - - and don't doubt or you will crumble and sell books at a mall instead... E-tail and retail are HARD so get on your "can do" pants and follow through :)

If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be? LOL sorry had to add this, I feel like Barbara Walters - haha - I was going to take this out but there have been some great answers so I left it in :)
An Oak. Wide, deep rooted, good shade and when it goes, excellent as fuel for others :) It also feeds critters with acorns (see, I looped back to my critter love LOL!)

Good Morning All ... We're in for a few days of rain and cloud here in TO. I find these kinds of days great for creativity when the landscape and environment change. Everything is so grey and damp looking but get's even greener and more colorful so the contrast is quite inspiring.

Today's interview is with Jo of IDREAMICANFLY from San Diego, a talented and wonderful silver and gold smith. Enjoy ..

Tell us a little bit about yourself...
I'm Jo Hollingsworth and I currently live in San Diego, California, USA. I've lived all over the United States as well as in Germany and Canada, and my husband is from England and has lived in more countries than I have. We both love to travel - I think my favorite trip to date was spending Chinese New Year in Shanghai, China, although hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru was fantastic. I'm fairly introverted, so working from home in my little jewelry studio with just my dogs for company suits me perfectly. In my spare time I practice Krav Maga, which is a very practical martial art.


How long have you been in business?
I opened my Etsy shop in October of 2007.

Did you start your business full time? if not, what made you take that leap into running your business full time?
I had taken what I thought would be two months off between contracts to get some insurance repairs done on our condo after we had a flood. There were an incredible number of complications and the entire repair ended up taking 9 months. I was general contracting the repairs, so I couldn't even get in to my sculpture studio. Out of desperation I pulled out my old jewelry tools, ordered some silver wire, and started making jewelry again.

People started asking me where I got my jewelry. When I started selling my earrings right out of my ears, I decided to try opening an Etsy shop. I opened it in October, and it really took off during the Christmas rush that year. By the time the repairs on our condo were done, I was making a decent number of sales. My husband and I sat down and figured out that we could afford the drop in income as long as sales kept coming in. My sales have continued to grow, so I've never gone back to Corporate America. I don't miss it a bit!

Did you write a business plan? or do you set regular goals to achieve?
I never have written a business plan (I'm not sure I'd know where to start!). But I have a pretty good head for business, and I keep tabs on my profits and expenses. I don't have the next 10 years in my head, but I can generally see the next logical steps in the progression of my business. For example, I moved from gold filled to solid gold last year when I realized there was a gap in the market. Even though the pieces are more expensive, I see a lot more sales now that I work with solid gold.

My next step is to get my own website up and running. Although my sales on Etsy are quite good, I think diversity is key in any business, and depending completely on Etsy for my income makes me nervous. So I plan to have my own site up and running by the end of the year. I no plans to close my Etsy shop, though. My Etsy customers are wonderful!

What selling venues do you use? (please tell us the ways you bring your product to the marketplace)
Most of my sales are from Etsy at the moment. I have a 1000 Markets shop as well, which brings in sporadic sales, and I do the occasional Trunk Show, which I really enjoy. I've turned down all of the wholesale inquiries I've gotten to date, because to take the wholesale route would require me to drastically raise my prices on Etsy, which I'm not interested in doing at the moment. I find that selling almost exclusively online keeps my overhead low, as I don't have to keep an inventory of manufactured pieces and I have no craft show fees, travel time, and setup expenses. I do make 10-20 pairs of earrings at a time for my most popular designs, and I have a selection of one of a kind necklaces, but everything else I make to order.


Give us one tip on how you stay motivated (to run your business full time)?
I always have a list in my head of things that I want to do, so I have no trouble staying motivated! If I have outstanding orders, I work on those first. After that, I work on whatever catches my fancy for the day. There's a lot a variety in running your own business. I may decide to concentrate on photography, or market research, or learning a new technique, or searching for gem shows in my area, or updating my Facebook and blog... The options seem endless. There's always *something* that I'm in the mood to do.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from to keep coming up with fresh ideas?
My ideas come from such a variety of sources. Sometimes it's a design problem I'm having with my own jewelry. I recently got a cartilage piercing, which isn't quite healed, but I need to take my jewelry out several times a week for my martial arts class. The captive bead rings are a real pain to get in and out, and the open hoops I found were catching in my hair (ouch!). So I designed a new spiraling open hoop that goes in and out easily and hugs my ear so it doesn't catch in my hair. I love it!

My one of a kind necklaces are generally inspired by the stones that I'm setting. Each stone has its own story, and its own sense of style, and that inspires me to design a setting in harmony with the stone. I also study other jewelry designs, both ancient and modern. I'm currently intrigued by Maori and Navaho designs.

What is your best advice on customer service?
Communicate, communicate, communicate! Answer questions quickly and thoroughly, both before and after you make a sale. When I sell something, I contact my customers to thank them and let them know that I got their purchase and to give them an estimate of when their order will ship. When their order ships, I contact them again with tracking information or estimated arrival times for international shipments. I also like to make a personal connection with customers when I can. I've lived in a lot of places and visited even more, so often I'll add in a little note about their home town if I've been there. People who shop handmade appreciate that personal connection with the artisan.

What is your favorite tip you received from a mentor or someone in business?
Take things one step at a time. If you try to do everything at once it can be so overwhelming that you'll quit before you even get started. Just concentrate on the next few steps.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, what would that be?
Be true to yourself - you can only make your own art. If you spend all of your time trying to figure out what everyone else is doing, you'll always be one step behind.

If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be?
I think I'd like to be a sequoia. They live for such a long period of time - imagine everything they've seen!

I am all over the web these days. Keep up with me (if you move that fast!) on:
Website: http://www.idreamicanfly.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/i-dream-i-can-fly-artisan-jewelry/86635717026
Blog: http://idreamicanflyaway.blogspot.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/idreamicanfly

Thank you very much Jo! Your time and inspiration is appreciated.

Hi all! We are enjoying an absolutely beautiful day here in Toronto, not a cloud in the sky, no humidity and a perfect temperature, ahhh the early days of summer are the best! Hope everyone is having a FAB day.

This weeks Fridays Feature is Sarah of vineyardsky.etsy.com, from Martha’s Vineyard. I hope you enjoy your read - get inspired, learn and have a little giggle :)



Tell us a little bit about yourself...
Hi my name is Sarah K. Young, beads are both my passion and my profession. I chose to name my business, Vineyard Sky Bead Design because it incorporates both my initials and dearly loved home, the island of Martha’s Vineyard. This is both a tourist destination, in the summer, and somewhat remote the rest of the year. While my business is very busy in the summer, the off season offers much in the way of solitude, beauty and time for creating new work.

Beading has been part of my life since childhood. My parents have both always had creative interests, painting, sewing and gardening. I’m quite sure that my grandmothers love of antique glassware has influenced my own love of color, texture and light. My interest in beading led me to a job managing a bead store, loved that budget! At that time I also started taking lots of classes to learn some of these techniques; knotting with silk, lampwork glass bead making, macramé, furnace blown glass and color theory. I have taught quite a few beading classes, written for Bead & Button magazine and traveled to lots of bead shows around the country.

Wherever I go I often have a beading project with me, I love the portability of my medium and I find it difficult to just sit. When I used to fly rather often, I took several bracelets to crochet. In the summer I spend as much free time as possible sailing and find it quite enjoyable to work on beading at sea, not usually while we’re under sail but more often at anchor with calm seas! Macramé, one of my favorite techniques, is both a natural and traditional pastime for the marine environment.

Owning my own business means that I’m pretty much at work whenever I’m not sleeping! There is always something to work on, designing, creating, ordering supplies, bookkeeping, marketing, research, never a dull moment. While I enjoy being independant I do miss the camraderie of a work environment where I felt part of a team. I get some sense of that team feeling from the other vendors when I do a series of outdoor summer art and craft shows.

When I’m not beading I can be found beach combing, knitting or crocheting, practicing my photography skills or biking the many roads and trails nearby. I very much enjoy helping others with any kind craft endeavor that I have familiarity with, even if I’m unfamiliar I’ll give it a go!

How long have you been in business?
I started selling jewelry professionally in 1992, at first through local craft shows, a few times a year.

Did you start your business full time? if not, what made you take that leap into running your business full time?
When I first started selling it was still my hobby and I hoped to make enough to keep my supply of materials replenished. It was several years after I moved to the Vineyard in 1997 that I realized that even though I no longer worked for a bead store I was still purchasing with that mindset, a full palette of materials and good range of colors. With an ample stash, a growing record of sales and repeat customers I decided that I should pursue jewelry making as a full time endeavor, either that or I had to seriously curtail my shopping habit! I am also fortunate in that there are at least five artisans markets, or craft shows, that take place here in the summer every week.

Did you write a business plan? or do you set regular goals to achieve?
No I did not start with a business plan, and I admit that with some embarrassment. I do have to say that I’m very organized and keep lots of notes about any ideas I have to improve my business. My to-do list includes daily, weekly and quarterly tasks which need to be accomplished. These are not always completed but if the priority is high they will be.

What selling venues do you use?
My sales are the greatest at the shows I do here on the island. There is a juried Artisans Festival that takes place on holiday weekends and biweekly through most of the summer and early fall. Through the summer months there are several local flea markets specializing in antiques and art. One is held at our local art center once a week and a local church has biweekly flea market. In the summer I’m working outdoors a lot, my tent is white and the colors of my materials really look great in the natural light.

For the past several years I’ve had a retail outlet with Rainy Day, www.rainydaymv.com, a lovely shop here in Vineyard Haven. I have a line of custom coordinated designs on consignment at Shibori, also in Vineyard Haven, selling artist made tie dyed and shibori dyed clothing. I’m currently working on an order of jewelry for consignment with Vineyard Backwater, an outdoor clothing store, in Edgartown.

My own web site, www.vineyardsky.com, was my first online selling venue. Since late in January I’ve also had a shop on Etsy, www.vineyardsky.etsy.com. Wished I’d joined when someone suggested a couple of years ago!

After selling for through several summer seasons I realized that come fall, things really dry up around here sales wise. Off island shows are not impossible but with ferry fees and travel related expenses, it seemed wiser to reach out via the internet. That is what propelled me to start a web site, I have a wide range of visiting customers here in the summer and this has been one way of staying in touch for sales throughout the year.

In the off season I do occasionally travel to do trunk shows. I’ve gone as far as New Jersey and often try to coordinate this with a visit with friends or relatives along the way. Living on an island means that an off island excursion is a good time to work in as much as possible in the way of shopping and catching up with friends and family.

Give us one tip on how you stay motivated (to run your business full time)?
I’d have to say that repeat customers are my greatest source of encouragement. It’s wonderful to hear that they are still enjoying the pieces that they’ve purchased in the past! To have them buy again confirms my belief that my work is well made and that the designs evolve and change enough to inspire new interest. I also feel blest to be able to use my creativity everyday and make things that make people feel happy and maybe even more beautiful.

Where do you draw your design inspiration from to keep coming up with fresh ideas?
Thankfully I seldom seem to want for an idea, there is such an endless array of material right here in my little studio! If I do feel a need for inspiration I love to look through some of my older designs, that will sometimes jog a memory of a variation that I thought of while making those pieces that I’ve yet to try. Sorting out or otherwise organizing my beads is also very worthwhile. I’ll often come across a bead in a shape or color that I haven’t seen in awhile and that gets the creative juices flowing too.

I love to take photographs of the nature around me and will often look through those. Springtime blossoms in soft oranges inspired some recent designs. Beach scenes offer a lovely earthy palette that I favor and can include a beautiful variety of blues from the water and waves.
It’s very exciting when I’m inspired in an unusual way. I’ve been known to jot down a phrase or some sort of descriptive text that is totally unrelated to beads, or jewelry in any way. Food descriptions can be quite interesting to look at in terms of color and texture combinations!

What is your best advice on customer service?
Share your knowledge and enthusiasm for the medium you are working in. I present each piece of jewelry with a folded tag that describes the materials that went into design they are buying. My display is artful and feminine but there is also an area of my table dedicated to work. I always have materials and tools with me so that I can adjust an necklace or bracelet, modify and earring, or even custom make something for the customer on the spot.

What is your favorite tip you received from a mentor or someone in business?
Creating designs that are distinctly yours will pique interest and selling a high quality, a lasting product will inspire confidence in your customers.

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, what would that be?
Take classes, read books, join a group of others who share your interest, learn your craft. There is a lot that one can pick up on their own but if you are truly dedicated to the craft you love you’ll always find something new to add to your repertoire of skills.

If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be? LOL sorry had to add this, I feel like Barbara Walters and so far the answers have been really interesting and inspiring :)
Bwahaha, a bead tree of course! That was my first thought, what fun to find branches full of sparkling treasures at my finger tips. My second thought is that it would be wonderful to be a huge old maple tree. I’d share sweets in the spring time, provide strong sturdy branches for tree house building in the summer, fall would mean a glorious riot of color and in the winter field mice would have a merry home amidst the roots!

~~ for summer season shows where you can meet Sarah or check out her classes go to .. http://www.vineyardsky.com/show_schedule.php ~~

Good Morning .. I'm so excited to bring you the first interview of my Friday's Feature series. Every Friday I will be interviewing a jewelry designer that has taken that step into running their own business full time. My hope with these interviews is to encourage, inspire or help you move forward. Have a wonderful Friday!

Our first is with Darrah of OTIS B, from New Jersey, a completely self taught jewelry designer. briguysgirls.etsy.com


How long have you been in business?
Well, I have had jewelry making as a hobby for about 7 years, but have been doing this as a business now only since December officially.

Did you start your business full time? if not, what made you take that leap into running your business full time?
My husband's job does not pay great at all, and he is self employed which makes it harder sometimes...many times, lol! So I had to do something so that we wouldn't be living paycheck to paycheck anymore. IO started on Etsy ion December 2008 with the thought that if I sold a few items a week then it could help pay at least the utility bills. I never expected to be paying ALL the bills, but that's where we are now. Now Brian's income is supplemental to mine.

Did you write a business plan? or do you set regular goals to achieve?
Ugh, no, I'm sucha slacker. Like I said, I really never expected this to work like it is, now I don't even have TIME ot write one!
What selling venues do you use?
Well, Etsy is my primary selling venue, but through Etsy I have had the opportunity to meet other boutique owners who now have my items in their shops as well!

Give us one tip on how you stay motivated (to run your business full time)?
My family motivates me. The very real need for the money to pay for day to day necessities drives me. If you want to succeed, you have to have dogged determination, and I do! If something isn't working, change it until it does!

Where do you draw your design inspiration from to keep coming up with fresh ideas?
I have made a LOT of different styles of jewelry in the past 7 years and so I look at old pics of those pieces and tweak them to keep them fresh. I also look at fashion magazines to see what's hot.

What is your best advice on customer service?
Be super courteous and friendly and helpful. And if you make a mistake, be honest and upfront. What is that saying, You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar?? SO true. And treat every customer as if it were your ONLY one!

What is your favorite tip you received from a mentor or someone in business?
DON'T GIVE UP!

If you could offer one piece of advice to someone just starting a business, what would that be?
Definitely budget. I have not been great at budgeting (remember, I have no business plan, lol!) Work well within your means and make the VERY BEST of what you can afford at the moment. And when you are selling that item, whatever it may be, if it is online, take AWESOME pictures of it. OK pics are not going to cut it 99% of the time. They must be GREAT.

If you were a tree what kind of tree would you be? LOL sorry had to add this, I feel like Barbara Walters :)
HA! A weeping willow. Grand and graceful, with super long arms to enfold all those I hold dear to me :o)