Trying new things

I have recently joined etsy.com and set up a shop, beadhappy4u, to show off my jewelry. Actually, I want to sell my jewelry. Since I have been a part of etsy, joining in February of 2010, I have sold 3 items. Yep. Three. In a blatant attempt to boost exposure, following the cyber space Gods' advise, I am blogging.

Trying new things baffles most humans. It is difficult to step outside your comfort zone. Yet we must do exactly that in order to grow and mature. At least that's what I keep reading. I'm not so sure. Somedays, I only want to crawl into my den of security and stagnate with my complacency. But I digress . . . I'm supposed to be growing here.

So by posting these random thoughts, people are going to read what I have written and come visit my jewelry store on etsy.com. I'm not really sure how that is going to work. I don't know that what I say or write is all that interesting, or that I have a particular whit that will attract readers. I do know that my jewelry is one-of-a-kind. I haven't seen anyone else do what I do with shells.

I know that when I set up my shop at the Venice, Florida Saturday Farmers Market, I sell. I have customers return to me year after year for new products. When I set up my shop at the pool bar of Holiday Inn, 67th Street, Ocean City, MD, people buy my stuff. They call me year after year, to buy more. And I have a group of dedicated patrons, via facebook and past customers.

But how do I get my jewelry to stand out among the thousands of jewelry makers in cyber space? I'm not sure. There is this thing called SEO's - sorting tags. Making sure you have the right words for the search engines of goggle-sphere to find you. This blogging stuff. And networking. AYIEEE! But what I really want to do is make my art!

My business name is really Don't Worry, Bead Happy. But there are others that hold that name, too, so I modified it to beadhappy4u. When I first began making jewelry, my best friends, Mary and Kim, insisted I come up with something catchy and memorable. Something beachy, since I work with shells. Something reggae, since I am enamored by that island beat. As we drank our margaritas around the kitchen table of truth, I jokingly said, "What, like "Don't Worry, Bead Happy"?" Later, my friend Kim, brought me my logo on a business card. The best part is the tag lines:

"products of the earth" and my title of "Queen Bead"

I think I should stop here. Something tells me not to write too much. I'll post more on the tag lines later. Then there are the bar stories I must relate (my day job is a night job of tending bar). And dog stories to share. Oh my life is so interesting, you will be riveted to my every word. Or so I hope.

Listen, in the meantime, you have a great day. Enjoy the day, capture every moment. Stop in and check out my jewelry. I have great graduation gifts and stuff to brighten your summer wardrobe.

Peace,

Susan