Trying to find my niche..

I have been beading for over six years.  I thought that I would gravitate towards a specialty over time.  In December I decided to make a choice in what direction I wanted to specialize in.  It makes things easier when I market if my jewelry is targeted to a certain group.

So, I choose making jewelry for mom's, daughters, and grandmothers as my primary audience.  The type of jewelry I will make the most is nursing necklaces as those have been some of my favorite types of necklaces to make.  Plus it helps both breastfeeding and bottle feeding moms which is win win.  

Happy Customer with a Teether Nursing Necklace

 The nursing necklace is designed to distract a nursing baby from pulling hair, scratching, or just looking wildly around the room.  It is a focal point for the baby but is still really pretty for mom to wear everyday.  I also sell a wood ring nursing necklace that has been extremely popular!  When my twins were babies anything that made me look better made me feel better too.

I also am working on wirewrapping for a more difficult challenge since I don't see how how could ever become bored with it.   I still plan on making other things I just needed focus.

Nursing Necklace listed this week

Click on Necklace to see listing

 
Sterling Silver and Amethyst Hoop Earrings

Click Picture for Listing Info

 I am currently working on a valentines day bracelet.  It is wirewrapped so I've worked on it over a couple of day now.  I have a few more necklaces to list yet and hopefully by then the bracelet will be done :)

Golden Globes Fashion

I've been checking around the web for the pictures from last nights awards.  I love the necklaces that were mesh and delicate.

I've always been a fan of small jewelry because any of the big beads just looks wrong on me.  I'm 4'11" so I have to be careful what I wear.

The earrings they had were really nice.  I especially liked the larger stones and the geodes that Kelly Osborne wore.  Really nice and different from the ever present chandelier style

 

It did seem kind of a low key night jewelry wise but there was enough to make me happy.  Also, the cover for Jennifer Lopez's dress was to die for.  I loved it! 

My daughter Squidly...

My daughter has been bugging me for a week to make this hat from Instructables.com.  I've put it off and put it off because sewing isn't exactly my favorite thing.  This morning she made me double pinky promise to have it done tonight.  Apparently breaking a double pinky promise is much more serious then breaking a regular pinky promise.

This will just add to her huge squid obsession that has been plaguing me lately.  She informed me before Christmas that she was changing her name to squidly.  She asked Santa for a squid and thankfully he came though.  Now, I can call her by her given name and Squidly is her new squid friend (Plush Giant Squid 20").  She told me today he smells like Santa's workshop and is allergic to water.  Oh and he inked Christmas lights in December now he is inking hearts because it is close to valentines day.  If only I were making this up :)

How did my little sweet eight year old because such an admirer of squid??  I honestly have no idea.  She's never been terribly interested in all things girl but sheesh...squid?  Really? I now know way more about squid then I ever wanted to.  We search google images to learn about different kinds a couple times a week.  Anyways this is me procrastinating so off I go.  I'll post pictures but for now here is a little preview.

Audio Books and Marketing

I just recently started listening to audiobooks because they get me through the boring chores, and driving back and forth to school.  The last one I've been listening too is In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms CD.  It has been enlightening to say the least.  Some of it I believe and other parts just aren't for me.

The other audio book is called Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs (New Rules Social Media Series)) about marketing your brand on the web.  I have never been very good with the marketing side of things.  I have worked on my photography, verbiage, and even my technical skills so this is the last thing that I really need to work on (besides a website). However, the bane of the small business is that I have to learn to do everything.  It takes away from my creative time but if I can't sell what I make then my business won't grow.  I can only make so many necklaces, bracelets, and earrings for myself and family. 

The one thing the book got me thinking about is how I don't really specialize in anything.  I suspect to get repeat customers I need to pick one unique thing about my business and promote it.  This is hard for me since I am sure I have crafting ADD.  I have been making jewelry going on nine years and I still move from one project to the next without a central focus. 

I have pretty much decided to aim most of my businesses at moms, babies, and children.  It encompasses a huge variety of jewelry.  Plus I can always work on the other stuff when I get time.  It works for me because I still get to work with a variety of materials but the focus will be on family.

That should be easy since my focus right now is my family.  So, next I will be making a plan on how to do that.  It isn't as fun as making jewelry but the rewards will be great.  I wish it came natural but I'm thankful there are easy references.  I wonder how everyone else markets their business online?

Earrings

I finally got around to making those earrings I posted the other night.  I wanted to learn the technique and what I learned is that I need more practice.  Still it isn't too bad for a first attempt :)







I'll most likely make another one sometime today.  I had a rough night sleepwise and I am feeling the pull of a nap!

Hello 2011

The kids came home today from my mom's. They had a wonderful time but were totally exhausted. So our plan to visit the aquarium got canceled until later. I think we are meeting up with Tabby on Monday to go to the Putt Putt Fun House. The kids will enjoy visiting with Korben.

Kind of sad we didn't get to visit much this holiday. Oh well, at least the strep is gone and we are all healthy.I was going to bead tonight but I got all caught up in programming my remote. We managed to save up and buy a TV and Blue Ray player. Totally cool how they all hook together these days.

I think I am going ton try and make some earrings like these: