g'morning

Puzzle magnets
Originally uploaded by lpdesigns

Okay, really...I think something's wrong with me internal clock. I somehow may have gotten on west coast time without ever going there. Heh.

I'm awake, blogging early in the day so hopefully, I won't be tempted to later and I can get some things done. I worked on two necklace designs yesterday. They're for my Minta collection. Note to self: next time you want to make a collection assembled all the materials for all the pieces first. Anyway, necklaces are a challenge to me, whether macrame or not. They're usually 18+ inches of beaded/knotted/chained loveliness, so they take longer than I'm used to since I have made mostly earrings. (speaking of, finished two more pairs of Dots...have yet to be photo'd and listed, but they're cute)

I know I've said it before. But I really do love how when I'm working, and not just ideating/stressing about work, more ideas come. It's a beautiful thing.

Have a show tomorrow and maybe Thursday. Crazy, yes? I haven't heard back about Thursday, though.

Thinking I should do a feature post because I know I get bored of just writing about me.

Post Picture: New magnets as yet unlisted. My camera is slowly losing the ability to focus. It's digital and about 4yrs old. This should be interesting.

Weekend Blurble- Restart

I'm getting lax with my no-computer-on-Sundays self-imposed rule. Really, it's for my sanity and that of my family. We have to share...I like to monopolize.

I'm getting back to goals, and trying to achieve more than I have. I get frustrated with goals too quickly most times and leave off with them rather than pushing forward. Why bother, I think. Not a good attitude. But it's the down and dirty truth. These are just goals for the shop, but goals for me as a person as well. If I feel badly about myself it will reflect in my shop and that will be no good. I'm tentatively excited. It'll be interesting to see where it leads.

I may get a custom order from Twitter. How awesome would that be? Ha!

Post Picture: Newest earrings at elpy. Helix in Black.

Hangin'

My client wants earrings for the younger girls and necklaces for the teenagers. Still not sure how many of each. So it's something.

I AM better today. Not so down. I listed some earrings, Helix in Black. I really like those. I'm tinkering with other color combos. They're small, Helixes, about the size of a quarter, but they can pack some much with the colors. I like them.

I cleaned some. My studio is also my bedroom. So it's super-tricky trying to keep all my craft stuff, except the sewing machine which Mom and I share, in my room with all my other things, clothes and stuff. I think it can be done. Right now the 'mess' is pretty organized. One day, maybe I'll have a whole room.

Post Picture: One of the sets I'd made. She didn't want sterling silver or anything like that. Still, her idea and mine just didn't work. I'll be giving her pieces like this.

Bummed

So I'm too expensive for my jewelry client. She was okay with my quote but then did some calculating and is scaling back, if she goes with my designs at all. I thought I was giving her a deal. But 14 sets of earrings and a necklace will be a lot in most places, never mind handmade.

I think I could have handled this better. I could have demanded a deposit, though I honestly had no idea what to charge, the idea has been changed a lot- super-fancy to all blue casual to a rainbow of colors with butterflies. *sigh* I could have made up something, just to cover the cost of supplies. At the end of this, I'll be lucky to make $50.

I stuck to my prices though. I decided I could break up the sets, do only earrings or only necklaces, scale back on the designs, for the price she wants. But I can't give her all of it and the design, too. Waaay too much work. I don't see the point of underselling to, as my mom suggested, 'Get my name out there.'

So I'm bummed. I had plans for that money, about $350. I needed that money. No one will hire me. I'm sad. I don't want to go negative...but I was hoping this was a break for me, for elpy, finally. Seriously, I'm thinking about taking some time off, after this, because it's broaching ridiculous how little has worked out for me and this. I've been at it for 2.5 years and am completely ensconced in the red. I've sold one handmade item on Etsy this year. One! I'm tired of working hard to make things that people like enough to compliment or heart but not buy, week after week after month after year. *sigh* I just...

Post Picture: Me fighting the urge to flush it all down the toilet...literally. Childish perhaps...this is a whole new level of frustration.

300

This is the 300th post here! Whoo! By far the longest I've lasted on any blog. Heh.

I'm almost done with construction of my jewelry commission. I keep talking about it, I know. I'll have to get some pics up soon so you can see what I've been doing. It's much simpler than most of my work, but it's nice and the mother and daughter like it, so I'm happy.

I didn't do the market this week. I may try to do both next week. I think it will be a lot...but Mom thinks I can because she's my encourager. I quail too often, shrink from things. I'll decide today. It's raining and soppy and the market is outside. So I'm glad I didn't do it.

Finished deconstructing and ironing the thrifted shirts for wristlets. One is a well-known name brand. Very high-quality, everything was french-seamed and the fabric has a wonderful hand to it. (the hand of fabric is similar to the tooth of paper...the feel of it.) I almost want to keep. Maybe I won't use it all.

Post Picture: Dinner yesterday, flick link here.