Jamberry Nails and New Starts

Ok, I guess I kept thinking I would post this, but didn't, so close to some other cross stitch updates, but I will do this first, and then later post the cross stitch. 

So, the new year rang in more new things.  I have still been hoping to generate some new income that wasn't all stitching or typing. A little smaller, more, compact, "easier"(lol) ideas.   So I signed up with Jamberry.  These are nail art wraps to cut to fit your nails.  Think vinyl with adhesive.  So with a little hair dryer heat, and snip of some scissors, you can have pretty little art on your fingers and toes, that last about two weeks.  There are several other nail items, including polish, vitamins, a box of the month, etc.  Even matching sets for kids!  And of course, you can sign up to sell, as well--no inventory to keep, other than your sign up start.  It seems cute, fun, and reasonably priced.  Since I started with the late winter season, I got a lot of catalogs for the winter, and the spring ones are already in progress.  So, email me, and I will send you a free catalog and a sample nail, in the US.  That will be good permanently, any catalog I have on hand, going forward.  And I am on Facebook, too, I will have some updates there from time to time.

New starts for cross stitch.  I started QS Chocolate, Chocolate, and More Chocolate, HAED, Randal Spangler piece.  It was what I had handy, but not what I planned on working on.  It was going well, until I got a cold, and pinched a nerve in my neck.  I put it down for a while.  And I have gotten kitted materials for the HAED freebie SAL, doing the QS Frogs Kissing.  I have just barely put any stitches in it, so not much to see there.

I am also beginning the official descent on selling beads.   It will take some time, doing it properly.  I will still list some Swarovski crystals and sterling silver findings, I think, as a newer switch, for a while, since I have people still looking for bead items.  But I am dropping the standard fire polish and delicas, etc that I have had cluttering the store for forever.   It's time to make room on ebay for the cross stitch pieces.

It's Been A While

 

So this is just the online art image of what I had started a few months back, that would be easier.  Called Tiger, by Design Works.  I have made a good dent in it, for being a dark 14ct, but as usual, things went a bit haywire, and I haven't picked it up lately.  Hopefully, it's time to pick up the needle and attack it, it's a lovely, easier chart. 

 

So anyway, I moved again.  Kind of abruptly, towards the end of the summer.   Where I was before, was a nice break to hide out and de-stress, but I wasn't making progress really for income and productive things.  I had an offer to move back to an old place that I was familiar with, to give me a bit of a breather, and get my head on straight.  Other than catching up on making some money, and just figuring out what I might want out of life, in a more personal sense, I obviously still disappeared a bit.

 

There are only so many hours in a day, and some of the crafting and business end went by the wayside for a while.  I was waiting for an advertising ad copy to be done and published, much delayed, but that seems to be out circulating now.  (I can't go by and check, but online traffic is increasing.)   I've become quite anxious to get back in the swing of things again, and have gotten back to sorting, and working the business end, selling craft items online, Ebay and Bonanza, and working on Facebook, general social media.  A full time thing in itself, right?  And, of course, mentally fresher for some more challenging projects and ideas.

 

Hopefully, all is well in everyone else's part of the world, and really, I'll be back much sooner with some more updates!



Do Over

I usually always post pics now when I post, but am not up to it right now.  Soon, I hope--I think.

So, I've been struggling with some really stupid personal.....crap.......off and on.  Really for years. (Ha, my entire life!)  Always some humdinger combination.  And I finally decided to make a break from it all.  And I did.  At this age and station in life, not a lot holding me in place.  So I grabbed some of my craft stuff, and walked away from the rest of my life as it was.

Crazy or just ballsy, whichever. (And broke!) Happiness is important.  Living life how I want is pretty crucial.  And it just wasn't happening.  And I have been continually frustrated that my crafts/art still seemed to take a pointless backseat to other things that just don't matter that much to me.  I am not complete without my creativity.  And that's how I want to make a living and be known.

So, here's to a complete do over on life at this moment.  It's all on me now.  And I anxiously look forward to having some new things to finish and share soon.   Cheers!

Ad copy

I thought I had posted this already.  Guess not!  This was the ad for restaurant tables.  I went by to see if the tables were in place yet, but not yet. Good thing, since I'm not quite as ready as I'd like.  The last stitching project I finished sold before I could put it as a steady piece available(hummingbird).

So now I am busy trying to get more things ready.  And as always, there isn't enough time in the day for all the things going on.  But busy is good. At least the beads that I have up are selling.  I'll get there, over time. Not as fast as people want, but well, such is life!

Hope everyone is getting back into a routine after the holidays and ready for spring.

A Real Business Start!!

So I signed an advertising contract today.  A little bit of awkward timing, but it fell into my lap and would have been silly to turn it down.  And the turnaround time is pretty quick, it may be running in about a month.  I still have to work on the ad copy and just how I want it to look, in only a few days, that's part of what is awkward, since I didn't quite have things in place like I wanted, I thought that would be at least two months from now to have the site(s) in nicer shape.

The other part that is awkward is that I don't seem to have enough of the right product ready.  I had started filling the back items, craft and bead items to sell to have some rounded stock and be sure to have lookers/customers while having a little more(a lot more) time for significant finished items to be listed.  And the craft items are doing well, I'm really pleased to see traffic and sales picking up.  But I'm still in that weird space of not having the finished items, and a collection of them, at the ready, to put in a nice section, to get that started.

So, I am definitely still looking for cross stitchers!!  Stitch For Me  website has most all the details.  This is for those that love to cross stitch already, and would like to make money as a work at home project.  If you are looking to stitch, please email me directly here, not on the business pages.

More details and links coming soon! The image is clickable above to the business Facebook page--the working product pages are coming.

White Rose WIP

Probably my last update for the year.  It's been a while since I posted anything on this one.  This is White Rose from Mystic Stitch.  Nearly 1/3 of the way done.  No whites.  Black background being stitched, and this is 2x1 on 22ct white aida.   My notes say I started this in Mar 2011. 

I keep thinking this may be my first significant sized piece to finish.  But we'll see, I have at least one that I would like to start in January, that I want to finish within the year.  And another, adult themed one, that I would at least also like to start, can't help it, I need to get that one started, too. And I have plenty already started, most are more simple and smaller pieces.

So next year, I'm already planning.  I've bought hopefully a large chunk of all the supplies I will need, for those projects anyway. (Plenty more stash as it is!)  So other than a few misc bits, I hope to truly not be adding to my personal stash and list of immediate projects and such.  Good for trying to get things before DMC prices go up and anything else.  I always use my specials and coupons, too...I really hope to stick to that much better.  But that will all be for my next post, the first of 2014.  The year flew by, hope everyone is doing well!

Pixel Mosaic XMAS Bunnies

First plate of my pixel mosaic XMAS Bunnies finished!  Only 3 more plates to do before I can put it together.  This is plastic pegs that fit on a clear acrylic pegboard. Tiny, tiny.....like 2mm pegs.  Whoever said one of these baseplates could be done in 4-7 hours is off their rocker!!    Faster than cross stitch??  Not by much.  Anyway, love it, frustrating, challenging, but addicting.


Real work...eh, that's gone by the wayside, at least for now.  At least making some progress on these other things, bit by bit.  I've changed up sites, I will need to adjust all the links......took down the store, and for now putting everything that is finished, on a WordPress site. Maybe that will be easier for a while.   And as always, still looking for people that want to cross stitch from home!