Small Changes in My Mindset

Well friends, some things have happened since I last chatted at you. I set up a pop up at my hair stylist and nail tech’s 5 year salon anniversary. I started and ended a part-time job. I also started a new full time job. I have made a few more decisions lately about my jewelry business. I will be opening an Etsy site for sales! I’ll show you what I’ll have for sale on there and how to reach the site. I’ll talk more about these today.

The salon anniversary was amazing! I reconnected with people that I met at the grief circle I participated in last year. I met new people. I made custom pieces for people that I met. For good I sold a good bit of jewelry, among them were my favorite pieces. I’m sad I can’t wear them anymore. Still, I’m so happy they have a new home where people can wear them proudly. It was so nice to see others connect to and enjoy what I made. These are some my favorite pieces that have new homes. Lacy cooked all of us breakfast, Kelly chatted with everyone! This even showed me that people like what I’m creating and it’s got the possibility to become my future.

I started working part-time at a hardware store to keep me from feeling like I wasn’t contributing to the household. Then suddenly, or it felt like it happened suddenly, I got calls for interviews. A couple of them were for different chemistry labs. A third was at a data processing center. I’ve accepted a position that will give me the chance to sell at some markets. I can also go rock hounding this summer with friends. Additionally, I am considering doing a few markets with a friend co-running a booth with her.

With the creation of my Etsy shop comes with learning how to take better pictures and new marketing skills. I’ve been paying attention to what people are asking me about what colors of stones I have. I also watch what seems to be selling the most and gets the biggest “oohs” and “aahs.” I’m looking at creating more of those pieces. Creating what I like most isn’t always the same as what the general public like. With that in mind, going ahead I plan on creating more pieces that are more universally liked. I am up for that challenge for sure. I need to do a few things I need to do before I start selling on Etsy. I need to write better descriptions of my pieces. I also need to take more pictures/videos of each individual piece. Lastly, I need to decide the best lighting for the pictures and videos. I will experiment by taking pictures in various locations. I’ve also started to create earrings to match some of the necklaces offering a discount on sets versus individual items.

I have taken and participated in various online tutorials and classes. They range from photography to using AI tools and marketing. I found many of the classes through Facebook, Instagram and through a group I joined. I decided to join a small business group here in Nevada. This group offers free online classes and both online and in-person advising. Through this group, I watched a webinar class about photography. I’ll talk more about that below. Sadly, some of the classes I participated in were live videos about the basics of marketing. They provided a high-level overview with no true details. To get more detailed training, there was a rather large fee. There were also no real one-on-one mentorship options. I understand that teachers or creators need to make money when they create a class to learn more. Yet, it ended up making me feel like a bait and switch happened. So now I’m looking at those ads with more skepticism than before.

Through a Nevada small business group I was able to take a photography webinar for free. I am exploring their library to find additional resources. These resources will assist me with all aspects of owning a small business. The photography online webinar I watched taught me more about staging my jewelry items. It also showed me how to arrange them to get the best out of my pictures. I learned more about using the pro aspect of my phone’s camera. I had basic knowledge of taking pictures, but this has helped me up my game. I need to find a place in my house or outside where I can get the best pictures of everything. I have velvet covered display boards. When I take pictures, you see every little bit of lint, dust, and hair on them. This happens even after I use a lint roller to remove as much as possible.

I participated in a three day online class. During the class, I learned how to use various AI tools to create a logo. My goal was to make a more rounded and more cohesive brand. Through this class I was taught how to use chat GPT, Pinterest, Adobe Color and Ideogram to create a logo and find my brand colors. Both chat GPT and Ideogram are new to me to use so that was fun. I did go through a number of different iterations of a logo but ultimately the first logo I created was the one I liked the most and does fit me and my brand image. With this class I also got greater insight into my brand colors and moto or concept. I have always felt that with stones and minerals, some just call to you or you to them. Jewelry is no different. I want you to see a piece and feel a connection to it. Do not just pick it out because it will go with one outfit or one event. I want you to be able to wear it with everything from jeans and a t-shirt to a fancy outfit. You can see my new logo with my colors below, let me know what you think.

As always drop me a message and like if you enjoyed reading about my jewelry and rock journey. If you have questions, ask away. If you would like to hear more about the journey I’ve gone through and am going through, please don’t hesitate to ask me. I’ll be happy to talk one on one or talk about those items or ideas in another blog. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day where ever you are on this lovely planet.