Monday Motivation

I've got a bunch of things lined up this week...

On top of my regular web orders, I have some local custom orders I'll be working on-

A 2 inch sterling silver cross pendant
A 5mm wide hammered sterling silver men's wedding band
A pair of Double Loop Earrings with Blue Goldstone
A pair of Hammered Triangle Dome Earrings in Sterling Silver
I have to oxidize a garnet ring I already have in stock

Plus, since it's the end of the month, I've got to get some new inventory ready for Bella Luna. My student is coming tomorrow for her weekly Introduction to Metalsmithing lesson. Thursday we're having a barbecue with some friends.

I'd also like to have my Metalsmithing Sensei (haha) over for a play date in the studio sometime this week! I just got a new kiln last week, and she's going to teach me enameling. It's something I've wanted to learn for a long, long time. I already have so many ideas in mind! I haven't even fired the kiln up yet. I'm waiting for a shipment of PMC, and then I'll get started!

JEWELRY ARTISANS OF MAINE (J.A.M)
I belong to a local group called Jewelry Artisans of Maine. We're comprised of hobbyists to professionals; glass artists to beaders to metalsmiths. The activity in our group has kind of died down in the last year or so. We had a meeting last Wednesday night and are planning on trying to become more active online, and as a group in the community. I have already set us up with a Group Twitter Account. If you're on twitter, follow us! Our username is: MaineJewelryArt . We have also set up a J.A.M Facebook Group. Feel free to join at http://tinyurl.com/ccnvwt. We're also looking into doing more tours and group activities this year. In the past we've visited a glass blowing studio, had a guest instructor teach enameling, gone gemstone mining, and much more! I can't wait to get started planning some new events. We're also looking for new members. If you're a jewelry designer in the Central Maine Area, and would like more information on joining, please contact Doris Ayotte at 942-9863.

MOTIVATION
This summer, Dave and I will be rewiring and insulating the garage so it can become my new studio! I'm so excited! It will give me a lot more room to explore sculptural metal art, and for new equipment! One of the best parts though, is that my current studio with become a nursery for when we decide to finally explore the possibility of adoption. So I guess my Monday Motivation is sculpture and babies. Not necessarily in that order. :)

I hope you all have an enjoyable and productive week creating in your respective mediums!

New Format

So as you can see, I've had a bit of trouble this month committing to this lonely blog. I've come up with a new format and structure to kind of help me stay on task. I have so many groups I belong to, so many ideas running through my head, and so many new business strategies I could be blogging about, that when it comes time to post, my mind becomes a tornado of ideas and it's easier to NOT blog than to sort it all out. Hopefully this new format will help me with that...
Here it is:

Monday:
Jewelry Artisans of Maine
New Projects for the week
What's my motivation?/Finding my momentum
Tuesday:
Etsy Maine Team
Upcoming Shows
New wholesale/consignment partners
Wednesday:
Etsy Jewelry Sampler Team
I want to learn...
I want to teach...
Thursday:
Etsy Supplies Street Team
Business Tips/Strategies
Online Marketing
Friday:
What did I accomplish this week?
What could I have done to be more productive?
Weekend:
Shops I love
Featured Local Artisans
Blog Giveaways
Goals for Next Week

Not only do I think that this will help me stay on task, but I think it will help this blog become a more purposeful tool in my business success, and maybe even yours! :) Thanks again everyone, for following this little online piece of my mind!

The April Giveaway Winner Is....

Farmsteadlady! Congratulations, my dear! You can email me your address at amanda@riversidejewelrydesigns.com. I hope you love your Sterling Silver Corkscrew Earrings!

Come on, kids- It's April GIVEAWAY Time!!!

In an effort to say "Thank You" to everyone who has been following me, and making these last few months in the jewelry business so rewarding and so much fun, I've decided to give something away! This giveaway was inspired by Chocolate and Steel, another very talented jewelry designer whose blog I follow!

One lucky blog follower will win a pair of Sterling Silver Corkscrew Spiral Hammered Earrings! I made a pair of these for myself, and I wear them almost every day! They're so much fun!

Here's how to enter: Become a follower of my Riverside Jewelry Designs blog, and...

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RJDesigns and tweet about my giveaway. (1 entry)

Visit my etsy site at http://riversidejewelry.etsy.com/ and Leave a comment on this blog telling me which of my pieces is your favorite! (1 entry)

Join my Facebook Fan Page Group at http://tinyurl.com/cfmxjq and write on the wall! (1 entry)

Or, Purchase something from my ETSY shop athttp://riversidejewelry.etsy.com/ (2 entries)

Each of you could be entered into the drawing up to 5 times!

Please come back and comment when you're finished letting me know which of these things you've done! It will be a lot easier for me to keep track of what's what that way! I'll add your name to the drawing the appropriate number of times! I'll be announcing the winner on April 14th- so be sure to check back! If the winner doesn't comment to claim their prize within a week, I'll have to pick a new winner!

Thanks again everyone! I can't wait to see who wins!

New Doin's

I've found that I'm not very good at blogging every day. I used to write all the time. I wanted so badly to be a poet when I was a teenager! I still have the old notebooks filled with my teen-angst poetry. Some of them weren't so bad. I was even published in a book once when I was young, but they're all dark, dreary, 'woe is life' type poems. I guess I'm not used to writing when things are going good for me! About 5 years ago things started looking up, and I don't think I've written since. I'm a little out of practice!

Anyhow, there are some exciting things happening. I have an appointment with a coastal Art Gallery next Tuesday. The owner saw some of my work online and said she loves the bigger, artsier pieces that I make.... thinks they'd be a great addition to her gallery! I was really excited-I have trouble selling the more expensive pieces myself. My clientele generally likes jewelry in the $20.00 - $120.00 range, and even when the economy is better. It's hard to sell the $400.00 pieces.

I also was recently contacted by a girl who is looking into going to school at the Bennet Street School in Boston for jewelry design. She said she has always wanted to pursue a career in jewelry design, but needs a little prior knowledge before they'll accept her. I've agreed to give her beginners metalsmithing lessons, starting next Wednesday, April 8th. I've been approached by people before wanting lessons, but never quite felt confident enough in my own skill level to oblige. I've recently come around. PLUS, I'm always trying to talk metalsmithing and jewelry design with my family, but they stare at me with blank faces. It will be nice to have someone to talk to about my passion, and they be truly interested in what I'm going on about!

I held my first Jewelry Party of the season on March 27th. Not very many people came, but it was an awesome party, nonetheless! The ones who couldn't attend sent blank checks with the people who DID come! I love it when that happens! It feels good to know that people feel comfortable enough with my work to do that! The hostess bought the new 'Copper cut-out Necklace' I made a couple weeks ago. It's wierd, but I was sad to see it go! I almost kept it for myself. I know it's the name of the game- and I should be used to it by now, but sometimes I'll make something that is really special and I feel like theres a part of me in it. I didn't want to let it go! I'm glad it found a good home though! The hostess is one of my best customers!

I love Jewelry Parties! Working from home leaves me with cabin fever sometimes. It's nice to be able to go out and socialize- even if it IS for business.

I took Saturday off for the most part- just spent the morning packing up and addressing packages to ship. By Sunday, I had a page-long to do list, and I'm just finishing up today. I have a few new designs in mind, but they're going to have to wait until later today or maybe even tomorrow! I'll see if I can stay on track and blog about my new stuff when I do get them out of my head and into tangible form!

I guess that's all for now. Thanks for reading, peeps!

Ribbon Candy

Oh, I lied! I said I hadn't had a chance to work on any new designs! How could I forget this stunner? :) My sister in law said it reminds her of Ribbon Candy at Christmastime- hence the name! Here is the Ribbon Candy Necklace with Faceted Garnet. Whaddya think?

Birthday Week

So it's been a crazy last few days. My sister, husband, and best friend planned a birthday party for me on saturday. I had a blast, and so many people showed up that I was a bit overwhelmed! It was so much fun, though! I will tell you- a little word of advice: Don't ever let anyone tell you that 28 is not old. I never felt older in my life then when I woke up on Sunday morning! I just can't party like a teenager anymore. It's official! So I took Sunday off too. There was no other option. I was a hot mess, and there was no one to blame but my aging self!

Yesterday was my actual birthday. I spent it trying to catch up on all the work I had missed throughout the weekend. It was nice and quiet in the studio. My mother was away, my sister was working, and my husband was on the computer all day. So I had the whole day to be creative! It was nice. I made a TON of earwires to go out for supplies orders from my second etsy site (http://riversidesupplies.etsy.com/), and finished up a few projects I had started for the jewelry party I have booked on Friday. I also was able to make a beautiful Baby Blue Topaz Necklace for a raffle my Aunt is doing to benefit a woman with multiple brain tumors from her hometown. I'm glad I was able to finally get it done for her! If anyone wants info on how to either donate, or buy raffle tickets to be entered into the drawing to benifit this wonderful woman, leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.

Anyhoo... I haven't really had the opportunity to develop any new designs the last few days, but I'll keep you all posted when I do! Enjoy the Spring! :)