MyHappyThings

The Artisan Element Struggle

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:22:00 +0000

Ach! I am amidst a struggle over the use of artisan elements ... particularly in earrings. I LOVE artisan elements. Lampwork glass, ceramics, cool/tribal polymer clay, PMC materials, metalwork ... I am in awe at the artist's patience and ability to achieve a vision from nothing. I am always inspired with an eternal list of design ideas for these pieces and it's so difficult for me to decide "which one" is the "right one" and then commit to it!

I have quite a few artisan elements on hand now and am awaiting the delivery of some very cool new things as well. I intend to use the various things I'm talking about, in earrings. I just love to have a "different" pair of earrings on - unique earrings ROCK!! But as I consider my options and await the new materials, I struggle with deciding what to do.

Most of the artisan items I choose could easily stand alone in an earring. No additional flash needed, no complex design in shape or size required to turn them into fabulous. They are fabulous just "being"! But I always feel as though I'm being lazy, or shortchanging the customer and the original bead artist, if I just use them simply in earrings. While I love them that way and would wear some that way myself, I always feel like I "could've done so much more" with them, could have offered more, they could become something even bigger. But with more and bigger comes a bigger price tag.

I find that my earrings sell very well when priced in the $15 - $25 range. But priced above $25, no matter how cool the earring or materials, no matter how many people "heart" it on Etsy, message me raving about them or tell me in person how cool they are ... they typically tend to stick around. This is the point where a conscientious jewelry designer has to start to ask: Is it my design? Is it my shop? Or is it just 'too much' for most people to pay for earrings? I look around and see many other people selling earrings in the $25+ price range successfully ... but mine tend to get "stuck". This makes me think that it's likely my designs, and not the fact that "the over $25 buyers" aren't getting access to my earrings.

To keep artisan element earrings in my optimal selling price range, I would need to keep the design more simple. Not combine artisan elements (which I LOVE to do!), or maybe choose the style or design that I LIKE, but do not LOVE. This kills me! I have such a hard time with this!

But having invested in so many artisan elements lately, I need to make a decision here about how I'm going to move forward. In other words, I need to PRIORITIZE. This is a concept I have struggled with my entire life (don't get my dad started on this topic!!). Making the sale, or offering my true vision. Hmm.

I guess if someone out there wouldn't mind being bold and telling me, "Susan, you just don't design over $25 earrings well" or "Your photos and designs don't really LOOK like they're valued at over $25", or "I think maybe you're the only one who thinks that's fabulous", etc. ... that would REALLY help me! The only feedback I've been able to get on the issue has been positive, people telling me that they really like my more expensive designs ... but this has been from folks who tend to spend a little less on earrings and wouldn't buy them anyway! And so I continue to struggle.

I'm thinking maybe I should survey my Facebook followers and see if I can get a feel from them? I only have a few people following me (I just started actually USING FB much for new jewelry releases) and they seem to tend to be bracelet and necklace fans ... but who knows, they might be able to help me out? In the meantime, if you happen to read this and are interested in sharing your thoughts, opinions or recommendations, I would DEFINITELY WELCOME THEM! :)

Please feel free to leave a comment, message me on Etsy or email me at MyHappyThingsHi@aol.com

Thank you!

V-Day HEART SALE Today!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:10:00 +0000

A quick note to let you know that I'm running a HEART SALE for Valentine's Day today!

15% off designs with HEARTS in them, in my Etsy Shop.

The sale is TODAY ONLY, and you still get $1 domestic shipping!!

http://www.MyHappyThings.etsy.com

Happy Valentine's Day!

More earrings!!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:21:00 +0000

Just a quick update to let you know I've just added quite a few earrings to the shop! Here's a sampling ...

I'm such a fan of turquoise now ... especially when it's stacked up!

Have always loved artisan enameled metal ... ahh!

Orange - one of my favorite colors - in stone with happy suns. Very earthy, very simple, very neat!

Beautiful muted shades, wound together in artisan matte lampwork glass. Ooh, awe!

Etched lampwork glass - it's like they glow! And over petite, artisan ceramic swirled charms? I'm in heaven!

I wish you well today ... and if the sun's not shining in your part of the world right now, try my new orange stone sun earrings! ;)

"About" Me

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:10:00 +0000

So Etsy has this nifty little section of our shops, that allows us to share more about ourselves, our craft and our processes. When I first started designing jewelry to sell, I really thought people couldn't care less about "who I was" and weren't really interested in the person behind the designs. But I was so wrong! Had I realized, I would've named my shop differently. Simply Susan, Simply Suz ... something like that. My Happy Things still suits me very well, but I find that people tend to remember my name before remembering the shop name.

ANYWAY since the "About Me" section became available, it's been in my "Ooh - this is great, I can't wait to do it some day" file. I think it's a wonderful idea. We all want to know something about the designer behind the design - if only how they look. We love that touch of human connection, that human piece of the puzzle to this entity we've come to know in our heads. For me, Eileen Fisher is a good example of this. I love her designs. They're effortless and casual, but have so many fine points of style and special-ness. I remember the first time I saw a photo of her - it totally completed the vision in my head of the brand and what it's about. She looked exactly like what I thought someone who would design her brand, would. It was so satisfying to know a little bit about the woman behind the brand and made me love it even more!

Although I'm totally on board with the whole "About Me" shop thing on Etsy, I've been reluctant to actually sit down and do it! I'm a dreamer and I always have this unattainable dream of "perfectly fabulous" in my head. I'll never reach it. I'll never get it down on paper, in a jewelry design or whatever medium I'm working on at that particular moment. And so this high expectation or standard I have set for myself - floating around in the sky of perfect fabulousness - has kept me from putting anything down at all. I finally decided that I needed to find a "safety zone" in it, to allow me to at least start something. And then it dawned on me - it's digital. I love digital, because it can be ever-changing! I can type something one day and then go in and change it the next! It's the whole reason I switched from paper scrapbooking to digital scrapbooking, to document my cute little guys and our days and moments together during their childhood. It's freeing to know it doesn't have to be perfect (at least yet!)!!!

And so I decided to embrace it as a "continually changing, work in progress". And with this, I was finally able to put a little something to begin with, down for those who are interested to see. Whew! So I'm sharing the photo I've included and the little blurb I put out there this afternoon. It's a start ... at least it's a little something. I haven't done any "process" photos yet, although I have some ideas I'm kind of excited about. I'll have to tackle that another day ... you know, when I have the "perfect light", "perfect angle", "perfect set up", "perfect idea". ;)

... to put my story down in print! I'm a dreamer who loves "larger than life" and the potential for there to be "fabulousness" in everything, but also appreciates organization and orderly, systematic processes. The process part of me loves the idea of having a place like this to so neatly share more about me and my craft, but the dreamer in me knows I'll never get it all down to perfection, so I hesitate to even start to try!

I love the vision, I love working to color it in. I love to stop and take mental pictures, freezing random moments trying to savor them in my mind forever. I love jewelry (always have), how it can be extra-special, how great textural pieces feel so good, how it makes you smile to know you're wearing something you enjoy. I love how with a glance, it can put a little smile in your day. I think it's amazing that some people can start from nothing but raw materials (i.e., glass, clay, etc) and create something fantastic (artisan materials like ceramics and lampwork glass)! This appreciation and awe, leads me to love working with artisan pieces whenever I find something special. It's like I'm taking the little piece of wonderful and presenting it on a stage and announcing to the world, "Look how spectacular this is!" ... all by just designing a piece of jewelry with it. I love that designing jewelry is a process, that you get to try over and over again. It's okay to commit to one design, because there will always be more ... and my mind can keep dreaming!

So for now, that's a little bit "About" me, here at My Happy Things. Oh yeah, I'm an ex-Marketing Executive who's now a stay at home mom with two cuter-than-cute little boys. I've always been a dreamer ... I don't know what I'll be tomorrow ... but I promise to come back here and share some more with you, including some pictures of how I work! Until then ... be happy!

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today, and reading a little bit "About Me"! :)

It's in process!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:40:00 +0000

It seems sometimes that photographing and posting my designs on Etsy takes me so long! Just a quick post today to let you know I'm working on it! I literally have over 50 designs to post in the shop ... that's going to take me a while!

I got my collection of owl necklaces posted, please be sure to check them out in the shop! This is just the beginning of my "bird collection", which will be forthcoming over the next week or so.

I hope to get at least 4 or 5 things posted each day if not more, so please stay in touch! I also have some designs I'm in the middle of, so I hope to find time to get them finished and posted as well.

I'm trying to announce things on Facebook (follow me at My Happy Things!) as I'm posting, as well as listing them on Pinterest and sending Tweets as well. Please feel free to follow me at any and all of those locations if you'd like to receive an announcement when I list new items!

For now, I leave you with these few images of new things I've listed in the shop. More to come!

A bit of happiness for today, that I whole-heartedly believe ...

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were big things."

-- Robert Brault

So much jewelry ... so little self control!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:46:00 +0000

One of the most difficult things about being a jewelry artist (I think) is letting go! You find these wonderful materials and works of art that you procure, to utilize in your own creative process and then once your vision has come to life ... there it goes!

I tend to choose things I like or that I would wear, and that makes it even harder! I'm not very good at picking out colors that are in trend but are not my personal preference (i.e., purples) and still creating something I feel is worthy of offering for sale. And so, you can appreciate how difficult it is to be sitting here with literally piles and piles of jewelry in front of me! Ach! Quick - someone save me before I hoard it all for myself!

I've always loved jewelry and just the fact that I'm ever in the position to have a pile of jewelry in front of me, is completely delightful! Let alone the fact that I love it all! So I'm certainly enjoying the stock I have on hand, ready to be photographed and listed.

And so I offer a few photos of the tip of the iceberg ... some of the bracelets and a few of the earrings that I will begin to start posting in my Etsy Shop (hopefully!) later today. I'm especially charged up about the earrings, I am really in love with so many of my current designs. Many of the materials are artisan-crafted and the colors, sizes and styles are so fun! Well, I better stop gabbing and start working. I have some other things that need to be done before I can get to the photography! I hope you find something special somewhere in your day to bring a smile.

"Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response."

-- Mildred Barthel

Gone to the birds!!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:23:00 +0000

I don't know what has come over me, but I think I've gone to the birds! I'm not typically a "bird person". The trend to include birds in jewelry has been ongoing for a while now, and I've only made a few pieces with birds in them. I have to say, they've always sold right away, but it's never been a favorite thing of mine personally.

Well, these little guys have grabbed my attention!

Their whimsical designs, their vibrant colors, the wonderful textures and I think the fact that they're Artisan Artbeads - have won me over!

I can't wait to get the pieces finished so I can list them in my Etsy Shop! Hopefully, I'll have them up this weekend. In the meantime, I had to introduce them because they're just too cute!

I also have some super-cute birdies waiting in the wings ...

but they'll have to wait to meet you another day. ;) Stay tuned!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

And now, a sprinkle of happy ...

"The really happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery when on a detour."

-- Author Unknown

Monday, Jan 28th - last day at Tuttle Crossing Mall!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:34:00 +0000

I can't believe it, but time has already been flying and we're nearing the end of January! My jewelry will only be on display at SIMPLY VAGUE in Tuttle Crossing Mall for 3 more days! It has been such a great privelage to have a nice inventory in the mall. It was a much different retail experience for me this time around. Usually my jewelry is for sale in places where "people go to shop for jewelry". This was the first time I tried offering my items in a more general, public settting. When traffic through the store was high, things went well! But in times when store customers are looking for jewelry only on occasion, I'm afraid I don't make enough to cover my costs of being there. And so, I will be packing up what remains of my inventory on Tuesday, January 29th. I'm so grateful to have had the experience and to have sold as much as I did, through the holiday season!

While I likely will photograph current inventory to post online in my Etsy Shop, I also am thinking about pursuing another retail location a little more actively. Between shows and my various retail experiences, I know that if my designs are placed where foot traffic is high and people are in the market for jewelry, I do quite well. I've never actively pursued placing my jewelry anywhere but online, but have been very, lucky to have happened into opportunities, or people have "found me" and presented an opportunity. I couldn't have been more lucky and I couldn't be more grateful!

Oceanic Adventure - artisan lampwork glass

I have recently found and acquired a wonderful variety of ceramics, which is a medium I adore! I really love to mix ceramics with lampwork glass, but frankly you can do anything with it! I'm excited to continue working with my new finds and look forward to posting them in my Etsy Shop.

A Few of My New Ceramics - in buttery, earthy, rich tones!

If you're not in the Columbus, Ohio area

but have seen something from the store inventory you like,

please message me and I'll reserve it for you

to purchase online from my Etsy Store!

You can contact me:

via my shop: MyHappyThings.etsy.com

email: MyHappyThingsHi@aol.com

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy your weekend. I'm enjoying the snowflakes softly fluttering down from the sky out my window. Of course, I say "enjoying" because I'm inside and don't need to go out in it today! :)

Happiness is not something you postpone for the future;

it is something you design for the present.

-- Jim Rohn

New Retail Location!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:53:00 +0000

I'm excited to let you know that my jewelry is on display for the holiday season at a new retail location:

SIMPLY VAGUE at Tuttle Crossing Mall

Columbus, OH

Just off the food court, with an entrance directly from the South parking lot as well, this shop features selected Ohio artisans in the marketplace.

They contacted me with an invitation just before Thanksgiving, and I set up my display about 2 weeks ago. Things are going well and I've already been re-stocking! Please make plans to stop in and take a look around, I have about 100 items currently on display!

Since I wasn't able to make any fall shows this year, this is the only opportunity to see my jewelry in person! Here's a sample of some of the items I just placed ...

A little lampwork glass in amazing hues ...

... in the ever-so-popular charm bracelet style. You won't believe the detail on this artist's glass, it's amazing! Bracelets in both ocean blues and happy brights.

Some earthy, gorgeous, buttery ceramics ... handwoven in natural brass into a simply scrumptious necklace, to wear with so many styles!

Lampwork glass that you'll swear are stones until you touch them ...

Irridescent opal created by the artist's flame in this amazing lampwork glass bracelet ...

Bracelets with wonderfully earthy, artisan ceramics. Warm browns and turquoise, I just dropped off two different designs - here's a peek at one ...

This stunning stone necklace is sure to go quickly!

The magic of the kiln fires beautiful shades of turquoise glazes into this awesome piece of ceramic art! Topped with a cool nugget of matte lampwork glass ...

A wonderful blue-green artistically graces this pendant, matched to a unique piece of artisan lampwork glass ...

I have just added a group of unique, artisan ceramic and stone pendant necklaces. Simple, long and stylish ... definitely unique!

And of course I have a vast array of earrings displayed ... over 60 designs! This pair is a wonderful new turquoise stone set with artisan ceramic discs, on my handcrafted sterling silver earwires.

My items will be on display at Simply Vague in Tuttle Crossing Mall

through the month of January, so please be sure to stop by!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today ... I hope you're enjoying

the holiday season!

50% Off Lampwork Earring Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:56:00 +0000

I'll be honest ... I'm just backed up on lampwork glass inventory! I love lampwork glass and have found some artists and designs that I fell in love with. Too many pieces in wonderful colors that I just had to have!

And so, I'm running a 50% Off Lampwork Glass earring sale in the shop. It's a great opportunity to get something really unique and different, at an unbelievable price. I have everything from fancy to more simplistic, rustic to more formal, bold to pastel, beachy to earthy ... there's a little bit of something for everyone! They're in a great variety of sizes too.

I hope you find something to suit! Maybe a special gift for someone? At these prices, it pays to plan ahead and get something you might need for someone special, later on!

Final 4 ... 40% off Sale!!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:58:00 +0000

That's right folks ...

my alma mater the University of Kentucky

AND

my home state Ohio State Buckeyes

are BOTH in the Final Four this weekend!

As game time approaches, I'm getting more and more excited!!

I was adding some new earrings to the shop today and decided to do something BIG.

BOGO - 40% off your 2nd pair of lampwork glass earrings

for a limited time!

If you're a lampwork glass fan, you know how pricey that handcrafted artisan element can be. And if you're new to lampwork glass, then welcome to the world of wonderful! Artisan handcrafted lampwork glass is amazing. What the artist can do with a glass rod under a torch, is unbelievable. It takes two days to complete a single bead ... TWO DAYS!

And some artists do some pretty cool things with glass.

Right now, I'm really into lampwork glass discs. They're funky, a bit organically shaped and are so unique and cool! I've had so much fun designing with lampwork glass to create all kinds of fun earrings this spring. I think they can really "make" your look, no matter how you wear them. They're definitely eye-catching. Something special and unique. Clearly not store-bought, and definitely artisan.

I've just added a few new designs today, and have several of my favorites already in the shop ... so stop over and take a look!

And - a note for my blog friends - I have more coming! I have some cool, transparent lampwork glass discs in juicy, fresh colors waiting in my design area. I can't wait!

As always, thanks for stopping over (and sorry I've been out of touch blogging lately ... I've been caught up in multiple family projects for a bit!) and CLICK HERE to visit my shop and check out the rare sale.

Have a great weekend and GO CATS! GO BUCKS!!

Last Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:24:00 +0000

Today's the last day of my Spring Sale! 30% off everything in the shop ... so be sure to stop by before 11:00pm EST tonight to take advantage of the savings!

To follow this week's blog trend, here are yesterday's Top 2 admired pieces, still available in my shop:

Wildflowers & Willows artisan necklace - Sale price $30.80

And in a close 2nd place ...

Picasso Jewel Tone Copper Earrings - Sale price 14.70

The Spring Sale has been so much fun! Thanks to everyone who has stopped by.

Today's design note to myself, is to make a point to design some black and white jewelry. I put on a pretty fun, trendy black and white outfit today and was quite dismayed to find I did not have coordinating jewelry adequate to do it justice! I find that it sometimes can be difficult to get in the "black and white" mode of jewelry designing, because I enjoy designing necklaces & bracelets with artisan-crafted elements the most. Of course, they tend to lend themselves to a broader color palette, and I sometimes forget that we still need some clean basics for our wardrobe too! - I'll have to get on that. ;)

It's Friday, so here's a happiness quote to take with you through the weekend:

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

- Marcel Proust

Is there someone who makes your soul blossom? Your heart smile or feel like it's just been "hugged" when you're around them? If you encounter them this weekend, think about taking a quick second to tell them that they make you smile - it will be like a "hug" back to their heart. Not going to see the person, but they come to mind? A quick email or a nice little handwritten note is food for the soul ... and it will make you feel warm & fuzzy inside after you send it too! :)

Happy Friday everyone! Thank you for stopping by My Happy Things Blog and don't forget to pop in the shop before the sale ends tonight!

CAUTION! The end is drawing near ...

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Just a heads up for my blog friends ... tomorrow (Friday) is the last scheduled day of my Spring Sale!

Yesterday's "most admired" item was my Starfish Wonderland bracelet,which is made up of an exquisite collection of fine artisan lampwork glass and some natural elements. Pure high-end beach love!

Here's a touch of "happy" for today ...

"A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes."

- Hugh Downs

Best Value & Most Overlooked

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Spring Sale week continues in my shop and I still enjoy watching the "popularity contest" among my designs. I never know what's going to sell next and just when I think something's never going to move ... someone snatches it up! I can't tell you how many times I've tagged an item in my mind to re-design, and just before I get to it, someone selects it to purchase. I've mentioned before that I rarely keep designs for myself ... and I find the same phenomena with that issue. Once I think about pulling an item out of my shop, or keeping it at home when it comes back from the show circuit, it sells!

In looking ahead to designing for the summer, I'm thinking of approaching things a little differently. I typically don't "intentionally" purchase materials, knowing I want to make "that kind of jewelry" for a season. My process is much more fluid than that. I tend to select materials I like or that speak to me or move me, and then I wait until the vision flashes and I can see the finished design in my mind. So quite often, I have new materials in my hands but don't design with them right away. There are times when I sit down with some materials I want to use, and I "work" at designing with them, but the majority of what I make kind of comes to me randomly. Once I get a feeling or idea, I just sit down and go with it. But this season, I'm toying with the idea of being more intentional, and planning out what I want to carry in my shop and retail locations this summer.

Artisan Lampwork Glass earrings, new to the shop for summer
(Now $20.30 in my Spring Sale!)

I kind of giggle when I think of actually doing this, because I have no idea how I'm going to decide what my plan should be! I'm terrible at knowing and deciding what people will like. I literally just make things that I would like to wear, and then put them out there and see if anyone else likes them too. So often, I design a piece and see it used in a certain style and fashion in my mind, and am so surprised with who buys it and how they tell me they're going to wear it! I'm thrilled ANY time one of my designs moves someone, and they decide to make it a part of their personal style. But don't ask me to tell you what the trend will be, or what will sell well ... because I'm always surprised!

On this note, I share with you today two items from my shop, on sale this week:

"Best Value" - Interchangeable Hoops, now $38.50

BEST VALUE - I have a set of interchangeable hoop earrings in my shop, that are an unbelievable value. At regularly marked price, it was a good deal ... but now that they're on sale, it's almost crazy! The handcrafted & hammered sterling silver oxidized hoops come with 10 sets of dangles to use on them, to suit whatever you're wearing. They range in color, texture and finish and really give you an option for just about every day of the week! While I've had a few people look at them, I can't believe no one has snatched these up! You generally would only get 1 or two pair of hoops with a single dangle, for the sale price the whole set is being offered at now. Why do I offer the set? Frankly, I couldn't decide which to make one day, when I was running low on sterling silver. I only had enough left to make one set of hoops, but had all these ideas for great dangles with the oxidized, hammered style and color. I decided to go ahead and put them altogether, as kind of a bonus buy. I thought they would be gone right away ... but as usual, I have no idea what I'm talking about, and they're still hanging around! :) So if you're wondering what the best 'value' in my shop is right now ... this is clearly it!

"Most Overlooked" - Earrings now $14.70

MOST OVERLOOKED - You know how sometimes you find something that's just such a cool color, and has such a cool texture or finish that you love to stare at it? Well, the faceted glass in these earrings are just like that. A beautiful blueish-green jade color, the facets and perfection of this glass make them just dazzling. Not in a flashy, "HEY look at me!" way ... but in a "Oh yeah, you might want to take a second look" kind of way. I really love the hammered, trendy washer rings that link together and suspend the beads. The style is very current, and they're beautiful and very unique. But I've been surprised how much attention these earrings are NOT getting, in the shop! I'm wondering what it is that is making people "miss" them, or overlook them, because I'm pretty sure that if for sale in person, they'd be gone in a heartbeat. So I share with you the most "undeservingly overlooked" item in my shop right now ... these cool earrings!

"Most Overlooked" - Earrings now $14.70

I appreciate you stopping by today and sign off with a quote for today:

"Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling."

- Margaret Lee Runbeck

Perspective, A Crisis Averted & An Update

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:22:00 +0000

I'm opening today's post with a quote for today, because I think it RULES and I can't wait until the end to share it!

"When I was in grade school, they told me to write down what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, I told them they didn't understand life."

- Unknown

Art by Daina Deblette Scarola of
OceanArtStudio.etsy.com

I think I love this quote so very much because this was the mentality and perspective that my mother ingrained in us growing up. This quote could have easily been about her! We're generally happy people, and while I think that's somewhat born into our temperament and personality, I also think it's very much influenced by our perspective and heart - which is both conscious and unconscious. As I raise my 2 little guys, I try very hard to find opportunities to say these kinds of things to them, trying to instill this very basic perspective, which becomes such a very, very important part of your life.

I might have to have this quote made into art and displayed somewhere in my house. LOVE IT!

Okay, onto jewelry. :) Monday was an exciting day with my sale, as I enjoyed communicating with people about items they were interested in and appreciating how delighted they were to find something special! I had quite a few things to mail out and so after picking both boys up from school, we swung by the post office. I find that these trips are most successful with my 7 and 4 year old, if I plan for the little outing from their perspective. Juice boxes and a small snack (fruit gummies this time - a fav!) for the after-school ride, can go a long way to ensuring our experience waiting in line and completing forms and labels, goes smoothly.

Czech Glass beads from BeadAndRibbon.etsy.com

(just including them, because they're pretty!)

After taking care of international shipments and a successfully quiet and patient wait for our turn, I was finishing up addressing the postage-paid domestic labels at a little kiosk at the front of the post office. My 7 year old decided to "help out" and was handing me associated labels and packages, when he inadvertently held onto one of the labels in the process as he became distracted with something happening out the window. This resulted in me addressing the wrong label, and almost sending the wrong things to the wrong people. ---And of course, they were one-of-a-kind items, so it's not like I could've just replaced them, if we hadn't caught it. THANK GOODNESS, he noticed and shouted out "Hey! I'm still holding this label!". A small freak out, an "under my breath" stern lecture and a 2nd purchase of that same postage label later, I had collected myself and decided to be glad we had caught it in time to do something about it. And I made a note ... NOTE TO SELF: do all mailing BEFORE picking up the kids from now on! Whew! Crisis averted!

Monday's most popular sale items included the following 2 designs ...

Eclectic Orange & Red Flower bracelet

Caribbean Waters earrings

The sale is still running, if you'd like to browse around!

My Happy Things on Etsy

Thanks for stopping by!

Sale: it's in full swing!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:53:00 +0000

Happy Monday everyone! My husband has returned from an out-of-town trip, and so this Monday marks a "back to normal" day for my family. Although the boys and I enjoyed loafing around, letting the dishes pile up in the sink a bit longer and eating take out more than usual while he was gone, it's always good to have "Daddy" back and our family schedule back to normal. So I'm appreciating the fact that I have a special reason to enjoy Monday this week ... after all, how often do we jump out of bed and think "Oh good, the weekend's over and it's Monday morning!!" ??? ;)

My spring sale is up and running and I'm thrilled with how happy people have been as they've found something special to purchase ... and at a discount! Some of my favorites are already gone and I love seeing which designs people are drawn to. The first full day of the sale was yesterday, and the most 'oogled' items (that are still left) are in a 5-way tie! Here they are ...

Ceramic Sun bracelet

Picasso Jewel Copper earrings

Still Waters bracelet

Blue & Silver Artisan Lampwork earrings

Light Blue Artisan Lampwork earrings

The sale continues and I'm actually on my way to ship several packages to new and return customers, after posting this! Click on over to the shop and see if there's something to make your Monday, at a nice price!! I hope your day is going okay too. Maybe you can find something special to appreciate in it, if so far it's just been "a typical Monday"?? You know, buds peeking out early on a tree outside, how comfy the shoes you are wearing are, that you're having a good hair day, that you're looking forward to your Monday night TV show ... sometimes it only takes a little thing to bring a smile and warm the heart a bit!

A quote for today:

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.

- Groucho Marx

30% off my shop!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 21:01:00 +0000

That's right folks ... it's Spring Sale time - 30% off!

I've never run a full-shop sale before online, so I'm branching out and trying it! I realized I needed to move some things, when I was looking for a certain bead earlier today. I couldn't believe how many supplies I still have stashed, and realized how much jewelry there is to be created! I need to clear out some of what's online, to make room for new designs. I always love warm weather jewelry ... fresh, fun and so "see-able" in shorter sleeve lengths and open necklines. Plus, earrings just ROCK when you can shed that heavy coat or turtleneck!!

I'm trying out Etsy's new functionality "Etsy on Sale". It assists you in listing the sale prices and setting everything up logistically. I'm hoping it runs smoothly ... I guess we'll know soon enough, if anyone takes advantage of the sale!

So 'click on over' to the shop and see if there's a little something you'd like to have ... and be sure to get it while it's discounted! I'd love it if you'd pass the word to a friend!

Thanks & happy shopping!

Sale Item today - sharing a smile

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:41:00 +0000

Honestly, I'm not having a great day today. I'm a pretty happy person, so it's rare that I say out loud "Hey, today's not fabulous!!". I'll be honest - it started out by finding that some wild animal had gotten into our trash early this morning. I was less than happy as I waded through the muddy ditch, wearing inappropriate shoes, picking up the remains of my kids' macaroni & cheese, my Chipotle container and a myriad of other grossness with my bare hands. I kept thinking about the wild animal who had slobbered all over the pieces I was picking up and trying to corral back into the bag. This was after the kids and I lounged a little too long this morning, forcing a race to get ready and off to school in time. I'm not an "early" person by any means, so we're often hurrying off to wherever we're supposed to be, but today for some reason I was a little more disgusted with myself than usual for knowingly putting a pinch on time.

I couldn't find an outfit that felt comfortable (do you ever have those days?), then I wasn't happy with any jewelry selections I attempted. We didn't have much to choose from for breakfast and the toast we ended up munching didn't thrill the boys or me. I had planned to do a bit of shopping today for a few things I needed, and actually stopping for a bit of pleasant lunch somewhere I always think about stopping but never do ... but it doesn't look like that's really going to work out in my schedule after all. I won't go on with more small instances of non-fabulousness and bore you.

I know none of this is earth-shattering. Everyone's safe. Everything's fine. We're still functioning and the day continues. It's just that I had envisioned today being a day with a "touch of fabulous" for myself (I don't often take those, so I look forward to them when I get the chance!), and instead I ended up disgruntled. I think disgruntled is a good word. Not actually mad, not a big problem, not stopping you from functioning ... just continuing about your day with less than a smile on your face. You can get through - there's just no party. ;)

Just as I was about to cave in to the disgruntled-ness and ditch my semi-stylish outfit I had finally found for sweats and a t-shirt, I stopped and decided to try to do something to force a smile back on my face. So I decided the best way to do that, was to help someone ELSE find a smile ... and put a newly released piece of jewelry on sale! Not only might that put a little niceness in someone else's day, but I obviously would be pleased that someone chose my design and made the purchase.

Artisan Lampwork Glass Disc Earrings in Pale Blue and Sand

And so today, these new earrings that were just released last night at $29 in my shop, are 30% off! They're so fresh and clean. The colors remind me of the beach, but I love how they're not "too beachy", so you could wear them everyday with a variety of styles and fabrics. I'm hoping someone finds them and takes advantage of the sale. It's a funny thing with my jewelry - RARELY do discounts make a difference in my jewelry sales. It seems that with my designs, either you like it or you don't, and/or you can afford it right now or you can't. Discounts of 20%, 30% or even 40% rarely make an item sell in my shop. Even at shows, I see the same thing. I've tried running a "get the 2nd pair of earrings half off", towards the end of my show season ... and I still have people who just love my stuff and are buying 5-10 pieces and they didn't even see the sale sign, or I have people who buy one pair and when I tell them about the sale, they still just purchase the one pair. I've had people tell me that I'm not charging enough for my jewelry before, but never have I had someone (or overhear someone) say that I'm over-charging. People seem to realize that the value is represented in my pricing. So I go back and forth on running sales online. Sometimes I think it at least might draw new people into the shop to take a peek, who might not of found me otherwise ... and other times I think I'm running them just to give myself something to do and think about! ;)

Either way, I hope YOU are having a happy day. If these earrings are calling your name, enjoy them at 30% off! Thanks for stopping by today!

Starfish Dreams: Earth and the Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:07:00 +0000

I'm quite smitten with the most recent addition to my online shop!

Toward the end of last summer, I found myself entering the starfish craze. Since Ohio is not near the ocean, I've never been one to go crazy over the "ocean" or "beach" themed things. Sure, I love them as much as the next person, and absolutely wear them while on vacation at the beach, but had been missing the sweetness a tiny touch of the sandy beach can bring to everyday life, even here in Ohio. It's no secret that I love "earthy" ... and I find it's quite delightful to use little bits of the beach, with some of the more rustic, textural elements.

I've had this selection of stones for some time in my stash. I've always appreciated them ... so much so, that I was afraid I would "under-use" them in a design. I wanted to make sure they were utilized in such a way to bring out the wonderful texture and earthy shades prominently enough to do them justice. I've also always loved this ivory lampwork glass design. Originally, I had full sets of it in different shapes and sizes and enjoyed using every single piece! I'm down to the last few rounds and thought one was just perfect for a special touch in this design.

While I love the theme and detail in the beautiful elements, my favorite aspect of this piece is probably how "rich and luxurious" the finished design is. Clean ivories, mixed with a depth of earth, crowned with warm and shiny mixed metals. Ooh la la!

A Special Little Surprise Sale - maybe a bit of sunshine?!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:20:00 +0000

I've had a lot of people visiting my shop and taking a peek at these two items lately! Admiring, re-visiting ... mulling the decision over whether to purchase or not, whether the price is right, whether the time is right. I know that feeling of visiting and re-visiting something you would like to have, but for one reason or another, just aren't sure you can get right now!

Well, I thought I'd surprise some of the "visitors" with a little price break. I've taken 15% off both of these items for a short time, just in case it helps someone say "Yes!". I thought it would be a nice surprise for someone when they come back to the shop next time, to find a little good news & sunshine waiting for them. :) I know I would love that!

On the way ...

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:35:00 +0000

A quickie post today ... just to share a few fabulous new pendants I just ordered from Heather Powers at HumbleBeads!

I saw these last night and just haven't been able to take my mind off of them! I was thinking of purchasing just two of them, but loved all three. I justified splurging for the 3rd, because I'll probably keep one and that will take me back down to my original "two" I intended to purchase, to design something for the shop or a show with. [How many times have I said, "I'm going to keep one for myself" ?! All the time - and I never end up keeping one! I guess that's better than the other way around - saying I'll sell them and then keeping them for myself. ;) ha-ha! ]

I love blues and greens, and I'm expecting some new lampwork to arrive in these shades soon. My favorite combination ... ceramics and lampwork glass, I can't wait to receive them and get started! Yum!

Hoarding - the confession

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:46:00 +0000

Hoarding ... this is literally what I've been doing with a wonderful stash of beach stones, for a year now! I've always loved the "river rock", "beach stone" thing ... and had dreamed of creating jewelry with some. Perfect designs, that are versatile and can easily be worn with many different things. Pieces that bring a unique touch to your look, definitely custom, and wonderfully neutral, yet interesting. Love them, love them, love them! Last year, I was able to shop for some in person, and was BEYOND delighted!

The whole purchase experience should've given me a hint of what was to come. I almost broke out in a sweat, looking over all these wonderful organically shaped stones ... trying to decide what and how many to get. I had an idea for every single thing I saw. I loved every single one I saw. I wanted singles. I wanted coordinating groups. I almost had a meltdown! I couldn't even get my mind focused to decide how much I should spend on them at one time. I finally settled down enough to select a handful of tiny pebbles for bracelets, some matching pairs for earrings, as well as a few nicely sized focals. It pains me even now, to think back about the others I left there ... I should've known I would not be able to let them go!

I admire them weekly, thinking about how great it will be when I can wear them. But for a year, they've sat. You see, I have a real problem making jewelry for myself. Every time I finish a piece that would be perfect for me, or one that I'm really in love with for one reason or another ... I can't let myself keep it. I keep thinking, "If I love it this much, then surely someone else will love it too ... and that would be one more sale ... so I really need to let it go". It's like I would be wasting it if it stayed with me. -I know, it's a little nutsy. After all, a woman who designs this much jewelry, should be able to wear a piece or two of it herself! Although I couldn't bring myself to keep them, I also couldn't bring myself to let them go! And so the hoarding was in full swing.

I was digging through my stash the other day, amidst a driven intention to use materials that have been around for a while, and came across some great lampwork glass. Some were tiny - perfect for earrings, other pieces were more medium-focal sized. I instantly had visions of some great beach-themed jewelry, that was neutral enough to be worn in a "non-beachy" way. I made myself pull out the stones and had THE BEST time working with them as I brought my visions to life!

I'm really happy with the way the pieces I've completed so far, have turned out. I think each piece nicely complements both the stone and lampwork components of the designs. I believe I was able to successfully get past the hoarding, because in the back of my mind I kept thinking ... "since they're kind of beachy and I'm posting them online, I'm sure they'll be around for a while - so I can still enjoy them". That's the problem with making almost entirely one-of-a-kind jewelry designs ... once they're gone, they're gone!

I'm not sure if this is a confession, or something to make myself feel better by getting it "out", since I'm letting them go! It's funny how we can create emotional stress for ourselves in our minds - I'm the queen of it! Thanks for stopping by & have a great day!

Decisions, decisions!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:02:00 +0000

Drooling, I scurried to open the package of these wonderfully earthy, picasso beads when the mail arrived the other day. My mind had been racing since I placed the order for the special bead mix, but mostly I wanted to see the warm, earthy colors for myself and hold them in my own hands. (jewelry is so wonderfully tactile!)

Two designs were on my mind ... a necklace and a bracelet. The eclectic mix of shapes, earth hues and texture were calling me to find the perfect ceramic pendant, or maybe a great rustic metal focal, to create a warm and wonderful necklace.

I could also see a great bracelet, one that was warm and mixed with metals ... one that you wear because you love the feeling it gives you when you look at it - whether it matches your outfit or not! I let a day or two pass to mull over my design ideas now that I had the wonderful materials in my hands ... and was surprised by what I actually did with them!

As wonderful as the necklace and bracelet would have been, I was drawn in the end to create four sets of earrings! Warm, rustic, rich and slightly sophisticated in that chic "JJill kind of way" ... each pair could be worn with so many different things. I felt that each design set, came out with a style that could be subtle and muted, while making a great statement in a quiet, intriguing sort of way. The kind of earrings that once people notice, they take a second look to appreciate the detail.

I photographed them in the "new look" (discussed in my last post) and I'm hoping they show online okay. They're in my shop ... so hopefully someone will fall in love with the earthy, rustic look, like I did! As always, thanks for stopping by!!

Online Shop: MyHappyThings.etsy.com

Trying something different

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:23:00 +0000

Selling your jewelry designs online can be much more difficult than one might think. It's very difficult to convey all the qualities of your design in photographs ... especially if you're not a skilled photographer! It's a challenge to make people comfortable enough with what they see online, to go ahead and make the purchase. So many people who have looked at my jewelry online tell me, "Your jewelry is beautiful online, but it's GORGEOUS in person! You can't pass them up once you've seen them!". While it's very complimentary, it's also frustrating. What's the magic formula, to make my specific jewelry style work online??!!

I have always known that I want to convey the style & feel of my jewelry in the photos I post online. I've been using a natural wood for my background since opening my shop, as it gives a touch of the "Coldwater Creek, JJill, Chico's, Silpada" style that I've always loved. I think my designs have a touch of this style, and so I felt the background was well-suited for presenting and conveying my pieces. While fans of my designs tell me they like the presentation, I still have been dissatisfied with the blandness and lack of color and crispness, in my photos. It was just missing something. While I was very appreciative of a very successful holiday sales season overall, I couldn't help but have the feeling that people struggled with knowing whether my jewelry was "very nice", or "nice enough" from my online photos. I started designing jewelry from a budget-friendly perspective, and am still at the point in my career where I need to sell, sell, sell! So the price doesn't always indicate the quality.

I've been searching and searching to find what it is my photos have been missing; what it might take to "upgrade" them, to more appropriately convey the quality of my designs. I think I've come to the conclusion that the wood must go, and something that provides a little more sophistication, without being too stark or shiny, must replace it.

I had just finished a few new pieces of jewelry that I love, love, love! Not only are they TOTALLY "me" ... but they're crafted with unique, artisan, quality elements. After packaging and shipping the designs I was sending with my lampwork glass artist friend to this weekend's show, I turned to the new earrings and necklace and decided now was the time to try the change. So this is what I've come up with. I like that it's still neutral, but has a bit of warmth - like my designs - but is not too distracting. I like the stones, and that I could use other items as subtle hints of the feel or theme of the piece, without distracting or vastly changing the look of my photos, keeping them cohesive. I think the photos in this setting give the designs some prominence, and set them apart a bit ... letting you know they're special, and [hopefully] conveying handcrafted, artisan quality.

... but I'm not sure ... !!!

I thought I'd try these and let them "sit" for a while. Feel free to let me know what you think, if you have an opinion! You're welcome to leave a comment, or email me at: MyHappyThingsHi@aol.com

So glad you stopped by, thank you very much!

What? Ahead of schedule?

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Raber) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:08:00 +0000

I design jewelry for a lampwork artist. When she takes her lampwork glass beads to bead & jewelry shows, she finds that she sells more beads when she has jewelry displayed. The more jewelry she has displayed, the more ideas people get and the more likely they are to purchase some beads, and quite often, a few different sets. At first, this baffled me. The beads are gorgeous all by themselves. I always tell her that if I don't have an idea off the top of my head for a bead or bead set, then I can lay her bead down on the table and just 'spend time with it ... and it talks to me'. Now - I'm not a voo-doo kind of person, nor one who listens to spirits or anything. I just really love thinking creatively about things that I think are pretty, or have some qualities I like ... and envisioning what they could become. It's kind of like I close my eyes and see what I'm thinking the piece "feels like". Then I try to turn that "feeling" into a vision, by attaching colors, shapes and sizes to the feeling's vision. Next of course, is identifying, recognizing and choosing the materials that fill that vision and bring a tactile element to the vision.

After she told me how much my jewelry helps to sell the beads, I started to notice how I also often am drawn to samples in stores or online, to jumpstart the creativity, or provide some frame of reference for a new material. And so our relationship goes where I use her beads in whatever designs I can dream up, and they are displayed at her shows and are for sale as well. I am grateful for the opportunity for the sales (and the fun to free-design!), because my boys are still a bit young for me to be able to get away to do shows myself very often. 2-3 local one day fall shows are all I manage right now in person.

In typical "Susan style", I'm usually last minute getting my designs together for her. I'm down to the wire finishing up projects, or thinking up a design for one last bead, with just enough time to price it, pack it all up and ship it, in time for her to receive it before she leaves for her next show. I think some of what I design for her is my best work, because I'm not as worried about finding someone to buy it ... I feel more free to just "do whatever" and follow my creativity. But due to my "last minute" nature, I rarely get to offer these pieces in my online shop. Most of the time, the designs will sell at the shows and I'm continually making up something new to send (last minute, of course!). Well for some reason, I have two necklaces done early this time! Of course, that may be because they just missed my shipping deadline for the show she's at this weekend ... but I'm going to go ahead and call these "done early" anyway! ;)

In the blue piece, I love how the ceramic's dark teal blues have a shimmery quality to them, in a somewhat whimsical design. I think it relates wonderfully to the presentation of the same colors in the lampwork glass bead. I love how the bead is an organic shape, so it's a bit more "free form" like the whimsical swirls, but yet the measured dots across the center offer some uniformity. I think it makes for a nice balance, but is still fun and intriguing. The satin cord kumihimo braid takes the piece in an aquatic, "aquarius" kind of direction in my eye.

The brown necklace has a wonderful sense of warmth. Earthy, natural, woody, it offers open arms for a nice hug. The natural imprints of leaves on my artist friend Helen O'Donnell's pendant, along with the wonderful caramel-y woody colors she used in her glazes, leads naturally to a mish-mash of natural woods and stone. The interestingly shaped Kazuri bead stops the eye, to take notice of the wonderful, surprising flashes of blues and greens across the surface of the lampwork glass round. I love the opportunity to add something special at the transition to chain on one side ... and in this instance, I felt a little cluster of wood, stone & crystal, hinting at the colors from the rest of the piece were just perfect. I love that this piece can be worn at varying lengths. I'm big on sweaters in the winters here in Ohio, and I love to have a substantial, earthy piece to add something special to a sweater and jeans. By being able to adjust the length, you can find the perfect placement with your cardigan, heavy wool sweater, turtleneck or even open neck blouse or tee.

I'm thrilled I have them ready with enough time to share them in my shop. Enjoy!