Easter Jewelry

I just want to post a piece of jewelry that I made it makes me think of Easter. It is not to later to purchase it and have it sent to you or a loved one! To view it better please click on this link. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9666390

Also come back on Sunday if not before!! I will have my first interview with a fellow etsian here.

April I will be having a drawing for $5.00 off anything in my store. Don't miss out! Stay tune!!

Almost Easter Time!!

Our bundle of joy last Easter!

My boys named him Yankee.

He has been our family pet. He now does not stay on a leash he just lives out in our yard and at night he goes in his cadge so nothing get him.

I just had to share our bunnie with you all. It is almost Easter and I hope you are all ready!

Spotlight is on Becky Schreiner of: B. Handmade Designs

Could you introduce us to who you are and what you do?
My name's Becky Schreiner, and I am a wife, mom to two cute dogs (A French bulldog named Sunny and a boston terrier named Mr. bean), sister to the most excellent siblings, daughter and daughter-in-law to great parents. I absolutely love gardening and cooking and of course sewing. I'm a GIS'er (Geographic Information System Analyst) and Watershed Specialist by day and an Etsian by afternoon and night. I own b. handmade designs, a business that creates sewn specialties, from bags to baby items to bedding, you name it I can more than likely sew it for you!

What lead you to making handbags, purses and clutches?
I have a love for textiles, and a love for making others happy through my sewing. I recently rediscovered my love this past Fall, and thought what better to build handbags, clutches, baby items, bedding, and other sewn specialties for others besides myself. I also had a little bit of help – moral support wise – from my family and friends. Which one of my closest friends sent me a postcard stating, "The Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt. And my dream right now is to make a living sewing fun items.How long have you been in business?I'm pretty new to the business realm. I've been in business for one month as of 3/17/08, but I've been sewing for 15 years as of this year.

How did you hear about Etsy?
I heard about Etsy through a friend of mine, here in Helena, Montana.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
I guess I would have three favorites. The first being deciding on the fabric scheme, I love mixing and matching fabric. My second would be coming up with new designs, I love to be unique and I love to figure out how to put pieces together. It's all geometry. And finally the third would be seeing the reaction of people who have bought my items, if possible, or hearing about it.

What are some of the challenges that you have faced?
My number one challenge right now is time, time to work my other job and create new handbags and clutches. My number two challenge is pictures and the right lighting on my sewn projects.

If you could give one piece of advice what would it be?
Patience, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be.

Is this a full-time job or part-time?
Right now, I'm only creating on a part-time basis, I would love it to be my full time job, maybe sometime soon.

Anything new that you are in the process of making right now?
Spring flannel scarves, the Jenny Bag – which will be a cute little pink purse, which I am donating 10% of the sales to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, I want to make this one a regular on my site. I also have some canvas and twill bags up my sleeve.

Where did you learn how to make handbags and when did you start?
I'm self taught. And I would have to say I've dabbled in sewing handbags ever since I started sewing – 15 years ago. What inspires you to make these beautiful handbags?Polka dots and sassiness. I really think woman should have some form of polka-dot or something sassy in their lives and I think of my bags this way. Comfort. Fabrics have to feel good – like with my baby changing pads, I use minky, since it's oh so soft.

If you could pick on item from you store that you are especially proud of what would it be and why? This is a tough question. I really love my peacock dotty purse – the original one was sold, and this one is number two. It's a little different than number one with the use of silver polka-dots on black backing for the top piece, but it's equally my favorite. I also really am proud of the floral dotty – the sassy strawberry and cream bag with blue polka dots on the top.


Anywhere else we can find your products?
Not yet…. But I'm working on some options in Helena, Montana and hopefully around Montana for starters.


You can veiw Becky Schreiner etsy site http://www.rschreiner.etsy.com/ If you mention to her that you saw her interview on Gecko Jewelry Blog she will gladly give you free shipping.

What a day!!

Well I was all excited to meet with a lady and talk to her about shows and crafts etc. She was not able to meet so I need to call her and see if we can just talk on the phone. I was told she is hard to track down. I am a bit bummed... I did go to another store/salon that is looking at my jewelry. I made 2 sales and also did an exchange for an eye and lip wax for my jewelry! That was good! I also need to get a few stands and they will house my jewelry. I am pretty excited. That is two places in town that will have my jewelry. I have one more store that is not in my town but about 5 miles out of my town that wants my jewelry as well. We are trying to find a glass case to put my items in.

I also went to the post office to mail off a bracelet that a lady bought off of Etsy. She lives in Australia and I have never shipped out of country yet. I was so surprised that it only cost $1.80 to ship the item and it will take 5-10 days to get there. That was a big surprise and cheaper than I thought!

About the Necklace set below!!
Oh I forgot to mention the jewelry below this post is made out of paper beads. The women of Uganda make them for a living, income for their family. Some of the women or their kids have aids, others have lost their husband from a tragic incident. They are working to support their families. Part of the sales 20% and I will round up to the nearest dollar will go back to them. It is a great cause. If you want to donate just email me and I will tell you how you can send the funds to me and I will put in the account and write a check every month.

Update...

I have selected my first estian owner and I have also notified her and I am in the process of interviewing her. I will have the article and pictures of her store up by Sunday! So keep an eye out for that.
I am also meeting with a few business this week that have already told me that they will put my jewelry in their store. I am excited about this. I have been making jewelry all this past weekend. I am just so happy that it is spring break for us this week is a full week for me.

I am also meeting with a lady that makes a living on craft shows and her crafts. She is a lady that is full of information, I am so excited to meet with her tomorrow and get as much information as I can from her as well as contact people.

O.k. I am off to make some more jewelry and get my house cleaned. I will post back this week once I have some information on how things went with my contacts. Have a great day.

Tip of the Week!!
If you don't know what to do with your jewelry that has not sold for months. Why not put several in a bag and make grab bags. Put them in clear ziplock bags. Example you may have a $20.00 necklace and then add 2 sets of earrings. (earrings are cheap to make pretty much pennies) They think they are getting a good deal! Price it at $20.00. You can do $10, 20, 30. Or you can even say buy one get the other 1/2 off. Just to get rid of them and make a few sales. Hope this gets you thinking about what to do with jewelry that does not sell as well as get ready for the craft shows that are coming up!