Back in the Saddle Again

After a long sabbatical it's time to "Get back in the Jewelry making Saddle Again". The year of 2010 was a very "Life Changing" year for very many people, not only in the United States but around the world.

I myself searched around the world for interesting ideas on how to change up my designs and present new creations to the public. I also shopped at countries like China, India and many other overseas locals looking for unusual findings to use while making my jewelry. But I kept coming back to my favorite Artisans located right here in the good 'ol United States. I made a few items toward the end of 2010, but haven't started making anything just yet in 2011 as my plate is full. I have recently taken on the role of "Caregiver" of my 86 year old Father, and this takes up a great deal of my time. But I fully intend to jump back in with both feet as soon as I can develop some sort of rhythm.

Things Change - You Gotta Change with The Times

I took a good hard look at what product seemed to be selling, and the earthy and more vintage jewelry is what most clients preferred.

So it seems I am on the right track with my

more recent creations and vintage inventory.

In my most recent pieces I have added Jade, Imperial Turquoise, and have tried to mix stones to add dimension and texture. By not only combining stones and colors to create dimension you also create the possibility of matching pieces to create a jewelry wardrobe.

There are so many talented artists creating jewelry today and it is hard to compete with them. So the only thing to do is do the best you can do, and hope that people see what you see, and hope that they feel the need to have the piece that you created for someone like them.

I have also discovered a wonderful Artist who creates beautiful fine silver cast pieces, and I am enjoying designing with them in my designs.

Re-Shoot and Re-Work

Hi all. Well the Holidays were a whirlwind for me, I hope that they were happy and warm for you. I myself took to time to rethink my jewelry gallery. So I took the time to reshoot most of the pictures of the jewelry, and will try and reshoot the rest over the next few weeks. The original shots didn't do the products justice. People kept telling me that the jewelry was much prettier in person then the pictures on the internet, so I am striving to get better pictures posted. I also decieded to launch a huge sale. I'm calling it my Inventory Sale. I am also offering free shipping on some items. So you can not only save on the Inventory Sale but also get free shipping.

I sold my favortie beaded necklace and bracelet set to the sweetest young lady over the Holidays. By the sound of her voice and her enthusiasum they are perfect for her. The set was so colorful with a mixed variety of natural stone beads, foiled seed beads, and fire polished Czeh beads.

Anyway that's it for now.

Thanks for visiting.

Kimberly

Long Time No See

Well the Holidays will be on us soon, have you finished your shopping. I started early and I am just about done. With constantly adding to my other Gallery it hasn't left me much time for this my jewelry shop, but as of today Sunday November 15th, I am going back to making my jewelry. I actually made this last weekend. The photo doesn't really do it justice as this is made of carved jade, carnelian and red jasper.
I enjoyed making this, and it really put me in the Christmas spirit. I'm not really one to like all the Christmas costume stuff, but something like this might become a collectible to pass down to the grand kids. I have really been happy with how the Photo Gallery has been received. It has been visited quite regularly by several individuals, and has even developed a fan club. How exciting is that??????

I feel so fortunate that I live in Utah as it is one of the most beautiful states in the US, and it has many older Edwardian and Victorian homes. There are several homes around that were built in the 1800's and are accompanied by barns and outbuildings which are my favorite things to photograph.
As a landscape and architectural photographer I always ask permission, and in doing so I get some pretty good leads. Or even some times a call ahead.
In Utah you might even get a story or the full history on the property. That is even better than the photo sometimes. I have met a lot of really wonderful people that way. I have a couple of Facebook friends that do fabulous work with animals and I am hoping to go that way soon. But right now I have this facination with buildings, plants and rocks. After I get this out of my system then I will turn my attetion towards the fury things.

Ok I also want to say that I am not a politically correct person and I refuse to say anything but "Merry Christmas".

Tickle Your Fancy and So Much More!

Oh My Gosh I Did It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really can't believe that I did it, I finally opened my own photography Fine Art Print Gallery http://secretgreenhsephoto.etsy.com/.

After taking a ridiculous amount of digital photo's for several years, and talking myself out of thinking that I was any good, the butterflies got the best of me. My sister Christy was the first to tell me that my floral shots were of professional quality, and they were cell phone pictures. Cell phone people!! Then my husband started noticing that my "pictures" were better than his, and he had always fancied himself a "photographer". My father was next and then my daughter who is an actual part time paid photographer. That is she is good enough, (even fantastic) but she'd rather paint.

Well after only having my site up 24 hours I've had 3 individuals show interest.

Wish we luck.

Great Big Hugs, n Kisses

Kimberly

Ok the "Vintage Stuff" Is Finally Here!!!!

Well the "Vintage" items arrived and I was so excited to see that the quality was so far beyond what I expected it to be. Even though I searched the internet, and estate sales for weeks to find the right pieces, I just didn't expect this outcome. I am so tempted to keep everthing for myself. But being in business for myself I can't really do that.

With the economy the way it is, when you get a really good product you have to present it to the public so that you establish a good customer base. If you don't provide them with a good product, then they will never know what good customer service you provide, and what great packaging you have etc., etc.. So good marketing and a good product are the first steps.

A perfect example is this little Sterling Sombrero set. It looked really good on the internet but when I received it, it was in such great shape and heavy I wanted to hide it in my jewelry box as if no one would know that I was keeping it. But it seemed that with each bubble wrapped package I opened, things got even better. So I gave up and just listed everything on my website one by one. Trying not to be disappointed.

In order to see everything that I received, check out my "The Secret GreenHouse" website, or by clicking on the green "Vintage" above, or the green "Sterling Sombrero" above.

See you next time.

Love you,

Bye, Bye

Kimberly

I've Named the "Things" that are coming "Beaded Charm Chains"

Well here are the crazy little "Things" that I told you about in the last posting. I still haven't received the package with the "Vintage" products. So this is the best I can do for new products right now. These were so much fun to make but time consuming. They are made of silver and pewter charms and silver head pins. All of the beads are glass. The larger glass beads are retro floral in multi colors just like in the 60's and 70's. Very mod if I do say so myself. (OK so I dated myself. I was a teenager back then. Yes I was a cowgirl but I was a hip cowgirl. Long hair and peasant blouses. I loved it. I loved the Turquoise and Silver and beaded necklaces and Earrings. But mostly I loved having the long straight hair. That seemed to be the only thing I could do without to much work. It just grew. I didn't have to do anything to it.) OK back to the subject at hand. The silver and pewter charms are really cute. Most are very Victorian or Vintage looking. There are cubes that are decorated, some little lacey ones and then little double sided lunar charms. Even little animal charms with fire polished glass marbles in their little bellies. As you can see there are even little hearts with flowers. I even put little made with love tags on them. Each one comes with a cell phone strap, a lobster claw clasp and a split ring. This allows you to use these in any way you choose.
The Strap can be used on a cell phone, on several cameras, on a belt loop, or a purse handle. On some of the shorter Chains you can clip them to a pet collar, or to a book mark or even to a jacket zipper. There are so many things tht you can do with them, I just haven't thought of it yet. I'm leaving it up to you to come up with some more ideas. Anyway I am still taking pictures and getting these on the site. They'll be ready soon.

Bye Bye for now.

Kimberly

Holidays are coming soon are you ready???

Happy Holidays? As a Shop and Gallery owner I know well that you need to start preparing early for the Christmas Holiday. I myself started my personal shopping back in July and only have a couple of my family members to buy for. Being the only one designing and creating the products I offer puts the pressure on to make at least 5 pieces per day so that when the holiday crunch hits, you are well stocked and you have enough product and assortment to offer your customers.

My problem is, is that I never stop thinking. I have too many ideas and I want to do them all. I do believe though that if you choose to do one thing, and do it well, that you will do a better job of it. I just have never been able to do one thing.

It's like the way I clean my house. I get distracted. I will start cleaning one room and if I go to another room to put something away, and I see something that needs to be picked up, well I'll pick it up. Then I start cleaning that room.

Well while I have been waiting for my "Vintage" items to arrive I couldn't just work on my "Old Jewelry Stuff" so I worked on my "New Multi Use" jewelry "Things". They are so colorful and fun looking. I put a cell phone loop, along with a split ring, and a lobster claw clasp on each one so my customers have several options on how they choose to use these new "Things". Just a few ideas I had were on cell phones, key chains, dog collars, as a purse decoration or maybe even clip it on a belt loop.

I don't know how many I am going to make. So far I have only made a few. They are all different. Lots of bright floral and glass beads, silver and pewter chunky charms. The floral beads are multi colored and retro 60's and 70's glass. Then there are all kinds of little silver and pewter dangley charms.

So what I will be offering is my "Custom Designed and Handmade Jewelry Collections", my "Vintage Mexican and Sterling Silver Jewelry" and then my fun little handmade "Thing Collection".

Anyway that's what I have decided to offer so far. I do have something waiting in the wings that I am working on and it's a big surprise. But I think I am going to have to set up a separate web site from the jewelry site for it.

Well that's all for now. See you on Facebook or my Etsy website.

Bye Bye

Kimberly