new ventures in the distance?

a few years ago, i started making jewelry and selling it with my friends. the only problem was, it took me something like a year to get the hang of it and make professional quality pieces, and then there was just too much competition on etsy for jewelry. i had good prices and (i think) a good product, but it was just too darn hard to make any money at it.

for a while now, ive been wanting to get into a business thats a little more unique; where my product can get noticed because theres less of us selling it, and hopefully my style can stand out. i want to draw and paint custom portraits for sale on etsy. i havent really started working on this yet, its just an idea so far. im a fine art major, and i would love to make a little money off my talents on the side before i graduate and look for a full time job.

here are some of my human and animal portraits. some ive done recently, some a few years ago. any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated. <3

the flamingo i painted just a couple days ago as a thank you gift for a friend. the blue tropical bird i drew yesterday because i had the day off. :] tell me what you think! do you think i can make any money off commissioned pieces on etsy?

old stock

I'm planning on putting a lot of my older jewelry stock up for a clearance sale soon in my etsy shop. I feel like I have a ton of stuff just sitting around, not selling. I want to clear it out and hopefully, HOPEFULLY, get some new stuff up in my shop here shortly. So look forward to reduced prices on some cool and pretty things. :) And look forward to fresh and exciting changes.

: just to name a few ;)     Sometime this weekend will be the big markdown day.

A Beautiful Mess and Siam Orchid

check it out, everyone! i'm on A Beautiful Mess!! My faaavorite blog! i came across elsie's blog 2 or 3 years ago. i work at hobby lobby, and our store sold her "love, elsie" brand scrapbooking products. i fell in love with them, so i googled "love, elsie." and found A Beautiful Mess! i've been reading religiously ever since. <3

elsie is such an inspiration to me. really.

i made these nifty little buttons, so you too can share a link with the world! ;) hehe. copy and paste the code from the left sidebar to your blog. pretty please! :D

and in case you want to know, this is how my day went:

if you recall, i set up a both at the Street Fair in Yellow Springs, OH a few weeks ago. the booths on either side of me were selling Thai merchandise. I thought this was cool because i'm really interested in asian cultures, if you couldn't tell.. anyway, one lady gave a business card, and i emailed her a few times, talking about her shop that she's opening in New Carlisle, OH. well my bff, amber, invited me to go shopping with her today, then mentioned that she would like to check out the store, the Siam Orchid, and i was like, "heck yeah! let's go!" :D the store is even cuter than i had imagined! they have really cool authentic Thai merchandise at greeeat prices. unfortunately, they weren't open yet, (grand opening july 3rd) but the owners were there and let us in to look around and chit-chat. i didn't take any photos, because i thought it would be a little weird of me.. maybe next time?

on my shopping list for next visit:

• painted mango wood bangle bracelets (its super hard to find bangles that arent too big, and these fit just right!)
• ceramic essential oil diffuser
• maybe a ring or a pair of earrings??

i cant wait to go back! 

another etsy update

i updated my etsy again. here's whats new! :)

Windsor the Teeny Tiny Owl

Cliff the Teeny Tiny Owl

Grand Canyon Necklace

Few and Far Between Necklace

Dusty Path Necklace

Island Chain Necklace

A Walk in the Moonlight Earrings

Relaxing Lavender Eye Mask - blue

Relaxing Lavender Eye Mask - purple

etsy update

dont forget to enter this givaway! giveaway ends tomorrow at 6pm EST.

here are some new things / relisted things in my etsy shop. check it out! :)

more is coming! :)

oh! and i want to give a big thank thank you to all of you following my blog! i reached 20 followers today! yaaay! *breaks out the party hats and noise makers* thanks, everyone! :-D

rain rain, seriously, GO AWAY!

.
.




ive been working my butt off the past 3 months or so, and spending every dime i made on this street fair (supplies, table clothes, etc.) and the whole thing was a bust.. it rained all day, until about 4, leaving about 1 hour of real business. i spent $85 on the booth rental, and made $130, so i made $45. not counting the hundreds of dollars ive spent on supplies... anyway, i hate to be negative. im not mad about all this, im just a little let down. i was really looking forward to a successful day at the street fair.. oh well. ill try again in october. im not a quitter when its something i love.



you can see, the front of our tables are SOAKED. i had to move everything up about 3 feet for the first few hours of the fair.








we were so desperate, by 4:00 we were selling our soap and candles for buy one get one free- just to sell something. that would be two bars of soap for $3... yeah. and two candles for $6ish.


but like i said, im an optimist, soo im not TOO broken up about the whole thing. not the end of the world.

in other news, the boy in the booth next to me was extremely cute. i think ive seen him at the buddhist temple. hes thai, and i dont know anything about him, except that hes a very very handsome boy. i didnt talk to him, although i kinda wanted to. i just dont really have the confidence. i say stupid things to people who im NOT smitten with, soo yeah i can only imagine what dumb crap id say. plus, i like being single and free right now- i dont want the hassle of romance and heartbreak. *i know, i know, thats no kind of attitude* aanyway, my point is, cute boy. i like him.

new to etsy today

i photographed a bunch of my jewelry this morning but only had time to list two of them: Sunshine and Wheatfields Necklace, and Nature's Wonders Statement Necklace. im really looking forward to listing my citrus and ginger soap and my lavender oatmeal soap!! all in good time.

My Etsy

this is the blog of my crafty little life. i intend to make it all about my etsy and the fun, creative things i do from day to day. my mission statement: make the world a beautiful place, inspire others, make friends, sell some of my beautiful handmade creations. :]

my etsy: angiemayhandmade.etsy.com