I think I need a push

For some reason, I cannot bring myself to get an Etsy shop.  I've gone to the website, checked out all the terms, talked to a few people about their sites (some pro, some con), looked through the listings, and still can't seem to bring myself to make the commitment.  I have always been afraid of the future unknown - and this is definitely a future unknown.  Plus my brain is totally wrapped around another upgrading change at the moment - expanding my shop at The Schoolhouse.  Adding another 'booth' space to my shop, which means removing a wall, rearranging my stock, AND - taking on another $100 in rent every month.  THIS is a big step for me, as I am never sure what I will bring in from one month to the next.  And I keep wondering if having that Etsy shop will bring the extra that I need to keep things going, to still have enough extra to visit that big wholesale show coming in April, to have a little left over to say I'm finally REALLY making a profit.  It's all very scary.  My Thursday morning group, which is all about positive thought and prosperity - all think I should do it, and of course, the girls at The Schoolhouse think I should do it.  Not just because it's a big jump in rent being paid to them, but because it would truly add to the ambiance and flow of the area my shop is in. They feel my excitement, too.   I have big plans involving rugs, and lamps, and furniture, etc. - so it will initially cost me much more.  I don't have just pegboard walls and bags and strings, folks.  I am a designer of ALL things, and that includes my spaces - living and working and playing.
Lots to think about on this Monday, which just happens to be a holiday, which I forgot about, so I've attempted to check the mail AND go to the library.  At least the coffee shop was open....

Of Buddhas and butterflies....

Just spent a quiet Sunday morning compiling a bead order.  It's so fun!  Granted - the final PRICE isn't so fun, but the joy of new beads and the gratitude of my customers for carrying items that the other guys do not is PRICELESS.   That's why it was so fun to be the buyer for the new age bookstore for awhile.  We would go to wholesale shows like G&LW, I would choose all the lovely stones, jewelry and other imports, as well as a few beads for myself - and then send the OWNER in to pay.  NOW THAT'S SHOPPING!   I still enjoy it....even if I'm the one doing the paying now.   I just have to spread it out a little more.....
Not much else to blog about today - and it's going to be a busy one.  TWO birthday parties - one for a 6 year old (they grow up so fast), and one for my BFF Tracy.  One oclock and 6 oclock.  Lunch, cake, dinner, drinks and probably more cake.  YIPPEE!
TTFN

Rising above....

That is my aspiration of the moment.  Rising above and letting go of my resentment for another vendor at The Schoolhouse.  I really need to work on it, as there is nothing I can do to change the situation except ACCEPT.  And I'm finding it hard to do.  Because she's just so darn smug and passive aggressively sappily sweet that I just want to smack it right out of her.  But I can't.  I need to try to go within and center and calm and remember that her issues are HERS, and let it go.    Rise above.  Easier said than done.
That's all I've got for a blog topic today I'm afraid.  But maybe it can be food for thought for everyone as we move into the age of Pisces. 
Namaste.

Vintage Bonanza!

I love my friends at The Little Red Schoolhouse.  When they go shopping for antiques and collectibles, they also look for the perfect vintage BEADS for me!  In this case, though, the vintage beads came to US!  Apparently, someone showed up with a truck load of estate items - among them a large, paper grocery bag full of vintage circa 60's and 70's costume jewelry.  None of it really worth much as a whole - BUT - broken down, and sold as beads, wonderful beads - I think I can make something off them.  And the best part - because there were so many other treasures among the items that the dealers bought - the costume jewelry WAS FREE!  I LOVE FREE BEADS! They're so good for the profit margin!   So I spent the better part of my afternoon breaking down vintage strands of lucite, glass, wood and other interesting things.   There will be an entire section (or basket at least) devoted to vintage bits and pieces.    Yay. 
Things are looking up and forward for Cool Moon, that's for sure.  I'll be expanding my space again; I'm going to break down and get an Etsy shop, and may even get a Google website.  I'm passing on doing the EBay thing again for now though, until I see how the other ideas play out.  Didn't like their total disrespect of me as a FIRST TIME lister - they could have been a little more understanding and apologetic about pulling me.  They sent me a survey - and I gave them a piece of my mind....
Nighty night.  Off to continue reading 'The Lovely Bones'.  Don't know why I never read it when it came out almost 10 years ago.  Always meant to.  Now I am.  Not into it enough yet to say I love it - but it's an interesting take on how this author perceives heaven.   I'll let you know my final cheer or jeer when I'm done....

Photos!

Here are my latest treasures....the top left is "Singing the Blues" - a blue agate cab, surrounded with peyote and embellished RAW, edged with a matte magatama.  I also used Kyanite and Blue Goldstone in the strap, along with creating some cute embellished RAW tubes.  More time consuming than plain peyote - but WOW!  Love this - it's for sale at the shop - $75.00
The center is the 'before' photo of the cool vintage butterfly necklace I found at The Schoolhouse.  Those little details in the wings are all filigree - begging, no SCREAMING - to be beaded.  This may be a project for later down the line - but thought it was cute, and the price was right (free! because of a gift certificate). 
Lastly, we have Cool Moon - my logo resined onto a clear glass tile.
These are created by my friend Jessica.  She does a great job - she can pretty much do any photo you wish - check out her Etsy site - GlassyChicShop.
I decided to do 'plain' on this piece after all, because of the simpleness of the logo pendant.  I've already worn it, and love it. 
That's all for now.  Off for a busy day of checking in NEW BEADS!  All 12 months of Swarovski bicones for the Birthstones, as well as some other fun things too.
TTFN

An old piece renewed

I've got lots of photos to take and post, but until then, here's a photo of "Aqua Goddess".  This piece has been around for several years, and is one of my first "Face of the Goddess" series pieces.  As she sat in the case, or went on the road to shows, her silver accents were exposed to grimy air, and consequently turned BLACK.  She's been put away in a bag for awhile, because I was deciding about redesigning or even a complete start over from scratch.  Then I received a miracle in a spray bottle....an order received from a wholesale vendor included a free sample of some SPRAY ON silver cleaner.  This small spray nozzle allowed for a small concentration of silver cleaner to go right to the silver itself, and not on all the other beads too, like dipping it would have had to do.  WOW!  It looks like a brand new piece.  I may still redesign the necklace part, as it's in need of a fresh design, but the silver surrounding the face and actually sewn in to the fringes looks amazing!  I will definitely be getting some of this wonderful spray on cleaner the next time I order from that vendor!
Much more to post - "Singing the Blues" is now finished, as well as my logo pendant, and that photo of the great vintage butterfly that's in need of beading....
TTFN

Photo postponement

I had hoped to post some photos of some cool stuff with this blog - but the camera was not available when I needed it.  So maybe in the morning - or tomorrow evening.  In any case - tomorrow's posting should include some new creations.
Boy, Mercury Retrograde sure is kicking my butt this time around.  CLASSIC stuff happening, that's for sure.  The EBay thing - Mercury Retrograde.  Changing schedule.  Mercury.  Camera.  You guessed it.  And now for the latest - I have to return Tracy's birthday gift because she already went out and bought it for herself.  Brat.  So back I go to get her the first thing I had in mind.  Classic. 
Not feeling like cooking tonight either - which is either Mercury Retrograde, or just plain laziness, I haven't decided which.  I'm volleying back and forth between Jade Garden (chinese takeout 2 blocks away), or Sammy's Lounge - sports bar around the corner.  Either way, even though they are close to home, it means putting on shoes and coats and going back out into the frozen north again. 
Toodles - off to get the noodles.....:0)