New year new...me?

Firstly Happy New Year to everyone out there :) I hope the new year will be better than the last (or as good if you had a great 2016).
 
I don't believe in New Year's resolutions so haven't made any of those, however I have signed up for the 100 Day goal again. I realised that I never mentioned if I reached it last time, which I sort of did (I reached it a couple of days after the official 100 days had past but did indeed reach it). This time I have decided to work on my marketing skills as I am aware it's by far my weakest skill (read nonexistent). One issue is that the goal is supposed to be quantifiable (i.e I will sell this much or approach these many, or book these many etc)  and I can't think of a way to make me improving my marketing skill quantifiable? 

As a first step I have booked onto a Start Up show in London on Saturday which looks really interesting and is only £10. Some of the speakers cover marketing which is perfect. I must admit that I am quite excited.

Another update is that I have in fact moved and am currently renting a house with a friend at least until October this year. This place also has some attic space which I am using as a workroom and as I am finally back to working part time I am hoping this finally means I can focus on my jewellery.

So in answer to my title, definitely a new year but still the same old me, however currently maybe a bit less stressed than I was previously. Lets hope it stays that way!

Jewellery Photography

When I did the 100 day goal last year I asked the group for feedback on the photos on my Etsy page. I love doing my pictures with nature backgrounds but seeing most jewellery is photographed against a white background was worried that whilst I thought it suited it might not be seen that way by others. Luckily the generally consensus was that people really liked the backgrounds (thought I was told to be careful not to use colours which overpowered the pieces). I did however also get some other fab feedback from a buyers point of view asking that I included a picture of the piece in the box it will arrive in and one of it being worn so they can imagine what it will look like. I've therefore enlisted one of my beautiful stepdaughters as my model and keep making her model my jewellery whenever she happens to come home to visit (which sadly isn't so often) and obviously if the weather allows (which also isn't very often). 

I even got a couple done whilst in Sweden (thought I for some reason didn't bring all my pieces with me, which I blame the stress beforehand for). 

 

I think she got feed up fairly quickly when we did it in Sweden, after all there are more fun things to do than to stand around taking pictures of jewellery in the snow. 

Atleast the last time it was nice and sunny outside so a lot more fun. 

I also found out that my other stepdaughter is an amazing photographer, I'm quite good at setting the scene but no so much with the actual workings of a camera and how to make it do what I want, like focus (if my dad realised he would be very disappointed) , she on the other hand gets beautiful sharp pictures so I might need to convince her to take over the photography for me with me just setting them up (and then I can share some of her pictures with you) :)

The 100 Day Goal

I am still alive and still working on my jewellery. It's been a couple of paid months now on my reduced working hours and I must admit it's hard, however I am still managing. To help get me focused I have just signed up for the 100 day goal which is being arranged by the Business Bakery and I must admit I'm finding it great so far (only on the fourth day)  http://www.thebusinessbakery.com.au/the-100-day-goal-were-doing-it-again/
I'm currently trying to get some Christmas Markets booked and so far got one confirmed but will share details about that closer to the date.

Creative Skill Share Day

During Reading Art week there is a range of events being planned by different organisations across town. One of these is a Skill share day on at The Rising Sun Arts Centre the 5 July. The day will be full of different workshops and any proceeds will go to support the centre. If you are anywhere near I really recommend you go as the day should be a lot of fun and each individual workshop doesn't cost a lot (some are even free). I am running a bracelet making workshop between 12-14 (which only cost £5) but am definitely planning to try some of the other ones out myself. 

Help Needed

So I am trying to name my shop on Etsy but all the obvious things are already taken (and my name is too hard to remember). I am therefore putting the query out there for good shop names. Any ideas?
Thinking something along the lines of mythology, fairy tales or second chances. The first two as its my inspiration for making jewellery and the third as this is my second chance when it comes to jewellery making :) Will likely stretch to fandoms if its one I'm passionate about and the name makes sense. Any ideas are welcome

Here are some I tried already:

LittleSilverLinings
FairytaleJewellery
SecondChances
Fairytale endings
ShootingStars
Hope
Happyendings
yggdrasil
LifeGoesOn
Phoenix
Fairytaleendings
Fenix
Saga
MySilverLinings

Quick update

To prove I have no intention of going radio silent again I thought I better do a quick post with some updates.

1: I got an FB page now :) Its called  Lina's Silver Linings but I wont post a link as I've not yet set the name in stone (so not decided on the actual page address).
2: I've applied for one Christmas market and am about to apply for one more. If any are confirmed I will obviously post about it *fingers crossed*
3: I'm looking at returning to Etsy but am cancelling my old account and starting a new one (it felt like a good idea considering my RA hiatus and all).

In other news I've finally been given notice at work (the whole team, not just me) :( so need to decided what on Earth I'm doing next. Hiding in bed and pulling the duvet over my head sadly doesn't seem like an option. I'm hoping this turns out to be a good thing but currently it doesn't really feel likely.

Christmas is coming

My making has been plodding on, albeit slowly, and I was thinking it would be nice to do some Christmas markets in the area this year. They would need to be before the 18 Dec thou as I am planning to go home this year for Christmas. I am really looking forwards to that but seeing we got told about work just after I  booked the tickets the timing isn't the best.
Anyways, so far I've only found one market which I've tried to sign up for (still waiting for confirmation). Appears I no longer have a clue where to find upcoming art markets which is both sad any annoying.

Etsy, here I come?

Today is a Bank Holiday in the UK and it’s a grey and wet day here with the rain pouring down. Also it’s gotten cold and turns out my heater has died :( (hoping its just a fuse or something, not that I have a clue how to check), so I'm sitting inside at my computer in a thick jumper and woolly socks where I have ventured into the world of Etsy once again. As it’s been so many years since I used it I am reading up on how to sell on Etsy and wondering if I am able to change the shop name as it doesn't seem to fit me anymore. To much have happened in-between and I feel like my shop name should somehow reflect that.
It feels surprisingly daunting to be looking at Etsy, I mean I never figured out how to make it on there in the first place (not that I spent a lot of effort trying) and used it more to show my stuff whilst selling elsewhere. Trying to make a go of it I am worried I once again won’t be able to figure it out but also because it will be the first place I try since having had an involuntary break and trying to sell anywhere just feels excruciatingly hard. 

I'm still making stuff...

just not as much.

I am aware that since 2010 I've made 2 post on here and one of those was very depressing (true but depressing). Which likely also means not many will be reading this (as you'd probably thought I was gone and deleted me, which I completely get), but it still feels nice to write it. And this one is hopefully a bit more upbeat :)

Since my last post I've done a bit of jewellery, not a lot but at least some. My RA is going up and down but my fingers seems to be faring fairly well (knees, wrists and ankles are the main issue these days but still a lot better). I had as I was worried forgotten a lot of what I learned so not as smooth as I used to be but hoping it will come back as I go on. Also life & work has been taking up a lot of my time (I'm a bit of a workaholic) so the jewellery making has fallen to the wayside a lot due to that, which is bad but at least I'm honest. However it looks like my team might not have a job soon which is making me think about the stuff I want to do outside of work which I've been neglecting, and obviously making jewellery is a big one of those.

On the jewellery and family front I've found out that as well as my travelling great grandfather KnivKalle (text in Swedish) who I've known of all my life, I also have a closer (and alive) relative, an Uncle who makes a living out of making jewellery together with his missus. The are both exceptionally good and incredibly lovely and I'm very happy I've gotten to met them  :) As a jewellery maker without close friends that make jewellery its nice to have someone to talk to and they are very supportive. Also I guess this means Jewellery making really does run in the family... 

Anyway, my current plan is to give jewellery making a go again as I haven't tried to sell any of the pieces I've made since I got sick but just been giving them to friends. I don't have anything I've made recently to show but I do have some bits I'm working on to show I'm not lying.

I'll try to stick to it whilst I can (hopefully for years to come) and not get too frustrated when I fail and also figure out where to try and sell (start with Etsy I think). And I shall attempt to update my blog more than twice a year, thou I know even twice a year would be an improvement :)

So here I am...

I feel the need by starting this post by saying I'm sorry for not writing for so long.
But thinking about it I should really follow that up with  the clarification that it's not really my fault.
Reason for not writing anything is I haven't made anything
And the reason for not making anything is I haven't been able to,which in turns has made me too sad and bitter to even look at anything relating to jewellery.

So what happened you ask? Well if you read my other blog you probably already know the answer to that one (or look at my little profile ditty which changed), I've been sick and still am, and sadly will be for the rest of my life however long or short that might be.
I got Rheumatoid Arthritis which was viciously attacking my fingers (and pretty much all other joints). I am on medication thought (and a lot of it) which is kind of working and my fingers are back to normal (most of the time) and have been for awhile now, but I still haven't made any jewellery.
Now when asked I have a bunch of excuses for why I haven't been making any jewellery but that's all they are - excuses.
I know the actual reason and it sounds so silly I don't want to say it out loud, but the truth is I haven't been making any jewellery because I am scared. I'm scared that I wont be any good because it's been so long I can't remember half the things I've learn, and I'm even more scared that my hands might not been as good as I think and will start aching when I try to do the little details or twist the wire, because I do still have bad days when they get all swollen and achy. And I'm also scared that everything will go fine for a short while and then my hands will get worse again and I'll have to stop, and I think that might just break my heart.

But I don't say that out loud and the people that reads this aren't the people that I ever see, because I know what they would thing and say. They would tell me I'm silly and that I have to try, all whilst looking at me like I'm speaking a foreign language because they don't get how scared I actually am, and they don't get that I know it's silly and that I need to at least try.
So I will try, soon, because the other options might just be worse then the bad things that might happen if I do.
And when I do I'll let you all know, even if it's only something small. And If I fail miserably I will try to tell that too thought I am not sure I can.

Questions questions...

If you want to start up on your own (so to speak) who can you ask or where can you go to find out if you need any certificates such as health and safety and/or insurances?
I mean it's easy enough to just go along with an idea but then you don't want to be buggered because you find out you needed something that you didn't have.
I Know that if I do start my own business idea I need to register and I need public liability but other then that I don't have a clue.
How do I find out?

Christmas Craft Fair

I've just created a Facebook page for the Christmas fair I'm arranging on the 27th of November. It's the first event page I've ever done so still getting the hang of it! If you are interested in seeing what will be for sale etc please check it out and tell your friends too :-)

Christmas Craft Fair

27th of November 2010
All items handmade.
Coffee and cakes for sale.
Come in from the cold and support local artists whilst buying Christmas presents!
Above RISC and the Global Café in Reading

Today is a day of....

Jewellery work, craft work and art work!

I'd taken today off work to go for a meeting with the Berkshire Designer Jewellers but annoyingly it got cancelled last minute! The most annoying thing was the fact that since I've taken the day off this week to attend I can't then take another day off in a week or two for when they reschedule it, and it was too late to cancel the holiday. But except for the fact that I will now miss the other meeting it's not that bad. I had already planned to do some work for the craft event I'm planning after the meeting so now I've just decided I will spend the whole day working on that instead.

So today I am planning on making posters to see if I can find more people to take part, and then work on the design for the flyer's using the pictures I got from the people saying yes so far (come on people, more pictures!).
So far I got some brilliant Jewellers (me included), one that's confirmed she's taking part is the lovely Monika who does both paintings and jewellery. Also the wonderful Angela (who sadly doesn't have a web page).
And then it's the amazing Soobird who sells handmade hats (me wants) and fascinators.
I also have another 2 jewellers and a painter who are still making up their minds.
I believe this means my quota of Jewellery designers are well and truly filled!
I would really like to get someone that does knitting involved because I believe they would do well at a Christmas craft fair, if my sister Karin didn't live so far away (Sweden) I would ask her.

But I was given a great idea by Soobird on how to find some amazing artists and crafters in Reading so I will start with that today and see if I can find someone how knits and I'd also really like someone who sows (like little dolls and/or bags etc). Someone making cards and prints would also be good...

On a different note I now have a working torch! Yeah! Still getting used to it though since I've had mine for years so suddenly feeling very cranky about having to use a new one, and I appear incapable of figuring out the heat settings ("well mine didn't work like that" etc). Thou I did use it to make a really nice Lapis Lazuli bracelet at the weekend :-) At the moment I am trying to make up a load of stock so I can send it off to get hallmarked and back in time for the craft fair.

Anyways time to get to work!

Christmas Craft Fair

Christmas Craft Fair!

Applications being taken!
Artist and crafters needed for a Christmas fair above the Global Café in Reading on the 27th Of November.
If you are interested please email Lina at:lina@linaj.co.uk
Price £20 for a full table with the possibility (depending on interest) for half a table for £10.

Only rule is that what you want to sell have to be made by you!

Bloody annoying!

Last week my soldering torch gave up the ghost and I had to buy a new one.
When I went to the shop they were sold out of the one I already had but sold a smaller one. This one according to the box have the same heat etc and is therefore suitable for soldering.
Well OK it does probably have the same heat but the flame is so fine I can only heat up very small items so not very good :-(
So now I will have to wait until next weekend to go see if I can buy another torch with a bigger flame.
Also that means I will spend even more money! Not good :-(

Anyways I decided to not be negative and just do a ring since the size means I should be able to solder it. Then when I've polished it ready for soldering and got it all heated up...the gas ran out!!

OK I know I'm probably being more annoyed then I should be but argh!!!

I wonder if I have bitten of more then I can chew?

I have been thinking for a long time about arranging a place for people to sell there art objects (and mine) but I’ve always chickened out. I mean you have to hire somewhere and get posters and flyers done. Then you have to find people to take part so you pay for the cost of renting somewhere then you have to make sure you get people to come (because can you imagine how horrible it would be if no one showed up?).
And I guess that I’m mainly worried I would screw it up.

Now I am the most organised person that I know (especially when I put my mind to it) and I believe I know a lot of people in Reading, but it’s still scary.But then what’s the point if I don’t do it? I mean isn’t that at least ten times worse then if I do it and it goes badly, because otherwise I will always be thinking what if…

So I’ve looked into it and even reserved somewhere and on Tuesday I have to give a definite answer and sign myself up (or not).

So if I do and whoever reads this lives in or around Reading, you better come along and have a look or I will be miffed! :-P

As it stands the plan is:

Place: Above the Global Café in Reading
Date: 27 November (which just happens to be my birthday too).
For sale: All things handmade!

If you make stuff and think you might want to take part let me know and I’ll send you details.

I just hope I am making the right decision!

Do you make stuff? Then look here!!!!

Hi all,

I am trying to sort out a handmade event for the beginning of December.
So if you are interested in renting a table at this event in Reading please let me know. I doesn't matter what you make, the only rule is that it has to be handmade.

At the moment things are still quite sketchy. I do have a venue in mind but need to see if I can get enough people interested to be able to meet the costs.
The cost looks to roughly be £20 per person but depends on how many people I can get interested in the idea. This fee will pay for the venue (and a table if you need it) as well as flyer's and posters.

If you are a painter I also have a lot of wall space so am considering renting out the wall space too (if you aren't interested in a table) If you are an artist that want wall space as well as having a table there let me know.

So if you might be interested and want me to keep you in the loop please send an email to: lina@linaj.co.uk

Look what I made!

My torch died! It's now as dead as a dodo. Which is obviously causing problems on the jewellery making side of things. At the moment I am completely broke but I can't manage without a torch so will need to buy one at the weekend (or order one if nowhere around here sells them).
But in the absence of jewellery making torch I've done a new tiara instead as well as used shrink plastic for the first time.
And if you want to see the outcome, here is the Tiara:




Ans here is the shrink plastic (it's a broach)


Sorry about the crappy pictures but it's like ten at night and I'm sitting by my computer desk.

On all other fronts life is slowly ticking along and quite nicely at that. I got a couple of ideas but don't know if they will bear fruit yet. Might share when I'm not so tired.

Etsy sellers

Etsy is an American website that sells handmade or vintage items. There is so many stunning things on there at all times and I do encourage you to have a look. It doesn't matter if you aren't American since it's now spread all over the world.

When I was in Seattle I meet one of the sellers on Etsy and she even gave me a purse she'd made (it's both pretty and nifty), and today I noticed these...

...absolutely gorgeous brooches that she has posted on there so just had to do a link on my blog:
Ziggybaby On Etsy

Webpage

I am planning on updating my jewellery webpage.
I would appreciate some volunters that could check it afterwards and give me their honest opinion on things such as layout, easy or hard to navigate and quality of pictures (not clear enough, to much coulour in the background etc).
Anybody feel up to it?