South Paw Studios Jewelry

Blog is still alive and well, Join Me!

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 14:21:00 +0000

Hello!
Please note that my blog is still alive and well. It has packed up and moved to a new location at http://southpawonline.com/blogs/southpawsays

Please head on over and Join Me!

With Love,
Katy

Sterling Silver Italian Chain bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:51:00 +0000

New Sterling Silver Italian bracelets.

August Birthstone Gift Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 22:11:00 +0000

August Birthstone Gift Ideas

This necklace and earrings set features Green Peridot Swarovski crystals. Peridot is the birthstone for August. The Swarovski Peridot crystals have a great translucency and eye catching facets. Great for all season wear.The chain is solid sterling silver, therefore is nickel and lead free. The Italian chain is stamped "925 Italy" and features round diamond cut small beads offering wonderful sparkle as the wearer moves. Available in 16" and 18" inches. The pendant it self measures 17 x 8.5mm and is anchored on a sterling silver bail. The earrings are solid sterling silver and measure 1 inch in length.
View the Entire Birthstone jewelry collection.

Luck of the Irish St. Patricks Day Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:50:00 +0000

St. Patricks day jewelry. Have the luck of the Irish in your side! This jewelry set features Peridot colored swarovski Austrian crystals clovers. The Peridot crystal Clover earrings are 1 inch in length and dangle from light weight sterling silver earwires. This Peridot Crystal Clover necklace features 12mm Peridot colored swarovski Austrian crystal clover pendant. The Peridot clover pendant moves freely on the patinaed sterling silver Italian chain. The Peridot clover necklace is available in 16" or 18" inches.

Timeless Valetines day jewelry gift idea for the girl that has everything

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:18:00 +0000

Valentines day gift idea

I know sometimes it is hard to find something for the lovely lady in your life that already has everything. One of the reasons I created this sterling silver necklace is because the "heart" is timeless symbol of our affection for one another on Valentines day. The clean lines of a solid sterling silver piece make this necklace a staple in the jewelry box. With sterling silver, there is no color, therefore this heart necklace, simply says "I love you", but will be very easy to match with many outfits.

The specs: This necklace features a 12mm hammered sterling silver heart drop. The hammered sterling silver heart is hollow, therefore giving it a light weight feel and has a shiny, mirror finish. The sterling silver heart is draped on a solid sterling silver, Italian chain, available in 16" or 18" lengths. The heart is removable, if you so desire. The sterling silver heart necklace features a simple lever clasp in the back for easy on and off wear.

Small Business Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:01:00 +0000

Why should you support Small Business Saturday?

I thought I would tell you what your valued business ensures and how it effects entrepreneurs such as myself each and every day. Entrepreneurs are a fascinating breed of people that walk through the gauntlet of fear and sometimes self doubt and come out the other end, turning their passion into a profitable business. I am a strong believer in doing what you love and fell SO blessed to be able to eagerly walk into my jewelry studio with a smile on my face. Yes, some days my hands are more sore than others from making jewelry, but it is always worth it. It truly fills my heart with gratitude every time a South Paw Studios piece finds a new home and is shipped out the door. Your patronage to small business is possible because of your continued dedication and passion to "buying handmade". The courage to step out of the big box stores and decide to opt for the "not so traditional gift" made by the "not so traditional person" is applaudable. Your business with SouthPaw Online.com ensures that I get to continue to safely walk my two young sons to and from school everyday, pay my mortgage, continue to grow my business each year and expand to include additional studio staff so I can take over the world (no, just kidding). I am not a gazillionaire CEO who wants to buy another boat and have it decorated with peacock feathers (although that would be very eye catching)... I am simply a wife, mom, and artist to the core who wants to continue to provide for my family. I am humbled by you... my valued customer.
Thank you for choosing my 'Small Business' this saturday:)

Pantone Fashion Color report Fall 2012

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:00:00 +0000

The Pantone Fall fashion 2012 color report is in!

Chartreuse Venetian glass necklace

Containerstore.com Jewelry Studio Remodel Continued

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 17:36:00 +0000

As I continue to clean everything up from my studio remodel last month, here is where it stands as of July 24th, 2012

I added two keyboard slide outs underneath for additional work space to place my tools. I bought them from Ikea for $9.99 each!

I invested in two white shelves from Lowes to get my bead storage off of my work area. I love the clean lines of these particular shelves.

Made a new, permanent work space for my laptop computer.

On this wall I added another shelf to lift all my camera lenses and mounts off the work area. Getting them off the table means they have a better chance of survival since I have 2 little boys (1 1/2 & 5 1/2 years old) that, for the life of them, can not seem to keep their cute little hands off mommies "toys". I told them that I don't want to share ;)

PicMonkey.com Photo Editing tool

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Playing around with a new online photo editing tool that i found. www.PicMonkey.com SO cool, fun and easy! had to share.

Jewelry Artist studio make over with The Container Store Elfa system

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:54:00 +0000

I have finally come to the decision that I do not think I will be changing career fields any time soon and it is long over due to do a full studio make over. I am in phase 1 right now with all new table tops and storage bins. I thought long and hard about what to buy with my limited budget, and how to maximize wall space and storage! I spent time scouring the internet, finding inspiration, and looking at all the possible places to purchase my solutions. I finally boiled it down to either Ikea and The Container Store…..The Container Store won!!! I fell in love with the versatility of the “elfa” system and its future expansion capability. We packed up my husband's truck and drove 3 1/2 hours to Loveland, Ohio and gave South Paw Studios a face lift. Here are some images of the transformation in progress.

Before

Prepping the room and clearing off the old work area.

Moving things to the other side of the room to make room for the new tables.

My husband putting the tables together for me.

Tables are up on one side of the room, now to make room for the other side.

Photography studio is set up, now I have to figure out what to do with the large open wall. I am thinking glossy white cabinets from Ikea (but that is a whole other blog post)

Other side of the room is set up now. Tables and "Elfa" storage.

Next is going to be a new area rug & custom roman blinds from some lucky etsy seller.

Here is a list of what I bought from the Container Store:

(4) Driftwood table tops size 24x54

(1) Narrow "elfa" 7 runner with 7 drawers

(2) X-Narrow "elfa" 7 runner with 7 drawers

(11) Legs

(1) 24x16 Driftwood shelf for the top of my Narrow "elfa" drawers

(1) Set of 4 casters

(2) Packages of drawer stoppers

(1) Drawer bin for the side of my X-narrow "elfa" drawers

(2) Packages of 4 runner bottoms for my Elfa drawers so my wooden floors dont scratch.

(1) package of 7 clip on labels for my elfa drawers.

Are you doing Pinterest?

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:42:00 +0000

So I started doing Pinterest. Anyone else? It is so addicting. I am such a visual person, so this is right up my alley. It is fascinating how the viral effect happen so quickly with Pinterest and how it just spreads like wild fire. I am hoping to spend more time on there and curate eye popping boards, but bare with me, I am still figuring this whole thing out. If anyone has any tips I would love to hear them. Comment below. I am escepcailly blown away by the amazing photography that is out there. Just stunning! I want it all!

January 2012 Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:07:00 +0000

Hello again, long time no see..... I have been having a wonderful January, planning my little heart out for my 2012 year and thought that my blog needed a little TLC. So why not do that with a fun giveaway! We all love free stuff right? So here it is!

3 Lucky winners will win 1 pair of these Swarovski crystal and pearl earrings (a $24 value)

And Winners are : Nancy, Roxy and Heather.
Thank you for your comments!

All you have to do is just VISIT and Comment! Easy pezzy right?

To enter, simply:

Visit my NEW website and pick your favorite item.
Post your comment here on my blog as to why you like it.
Please provide a working email address by entering it in my giveaway sign-up box below.
Leave your name in your comments so I can confirm and cross reference your email address as a valid entry.
For a BONUS Entry, please comment on facebook page about your favorite item in my shop too!
Extra Extra BONUS Entry, post this giveaway to your TWITTER! Include the link to this giveaway and the text @southpawstudios so I can track it and I know to add your Extra Extra BONUS Entry.
One last thing... A DISCOUNT CODE! Enter "WITHLOVE" to receive 15% off at my new website at www.SouthPawOnline.com also there is free first class shipping going on over there too (no code necessary).

Enter my Giveaway

Email Address: *

First Name: *

Last Name: *

The giveaway closes at Midnight (EST) on Friday February 10th! Up to three entries per person (comment on blog, post to twitter, comment on facebook).

Updates from me

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:17:00 +0000

I am still alive! Goodness it has been a long while since I posted last. Well alot has happened. I had another baby, a little boy to be exact. He is 10 months old now. We moved to a new home. Which we all love and now are all settled into (thought that would never happen). I have two new sales reps for my wholesale jewelry line, so that has been keeping me busy on the professional side.
Recently i just finished up a show at the University of Toledo, Art on the Mall. Which is always a great show to be a part of. Thought I would keep this short and sweet and let everyone know that I haven't meant to abandon my blog, just a lot of life changing stuff happened all at once in 2010 and the dust is FINALLY settling. I hope to post more often. My love to you all.
Thanks guys!

5 Steps to a Successful Etsy Shop

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:26:00 +0000

First let me start out by saying there is a learning curve and a boat load of trial and error to find out what works best for yourbrand and target market. I am going to refer to some core basics of what worked for my Etsy shops, pick and choose what you feel is best to implement for your Etsy shop and run with it!

1. Make the commitment to your Etsy Shop:

Opening and maintain a successful Etsy shop is not for everyone, it takes a daily (yes every day) commitment to make your Etsy shop successful. If you half a$$ it, you will get half a$$ed results. Go pro or go home is my motto. This may seem a little harsh, but it is a jungle out there and with over 100,000 Etsy shops competing for buyers, you have to set yourself apart and make your Etsy shop shine.
Here is a short list of some of my daily tasks on Etsy:

Listings are updated to have the best SEO relevancy for both Google and Etsy search algorithms.
Main images are retaken and descriptions are tweaked if I feel views are low.
Respond to all customer emails in a timely and professional manor.
Preparing for the next holiday to get items positioned for potential buyers.

Make the commitment, put your game face on and get your mind set right for the long haul. To get a successful Etsy shop up and running smoothly, it took me hundreds of hours of research (no joke) and about 1 year to finally start to feel not so much like a rookie. You will have mistakes, learn from them, pick yourself up, and keep trucking along.

2. Photography!

There are over 100,000 Etsy shops. In the jewelry category alone there are over 5,000,000 products (yes that is 6 zeros) competing for buying customers. Having great photography is one of the single most important investment (besides crafting your high quality products) that you should take special interest in to learn or either delegate out to a professional.
Here is why…you have to stand out amongst the crowd with great photography or no one is going to "click through" to your Etsy shop… period.
“But Katy!!!! It costs too much money to buy all this photography equipment!”…. If you catch yourself saying that now, refer to #1 on the list.

I first did delegate out to a professional, but soon realized that would get to be too expensive for me and my tiny business. I made the commitment to learn to shoot images myself, and soon realized I liked the flexibility of shooting whenever I wanted and not having to involve scheduling around another person. The expense of the equipment paid for itself in a few months.
For three years, after each holiday season, I used my profits to invest in great photography equipment. First year I bought a photography table top studio. Second year a Nikon D5100, and third year a Tamron 60mm Macro lens. I taught myself to use the equipment through trial and error. Again is all about making the commitment.

3. Descriptions and Product Titles on Etsy:

Alright, you are committed, you have your product line ready to launch with eye catching images to “hook” potential Etsy buyers. Now you have to make sure your Etsy listing descriptions and titles are accurate.
Your listing title is recommended by Google to be no longer than 70 characters (that includes spaces) and should include keywords that you desire for SEO relevancy. Try to be concrete when writing your title; I personally do not recommend naming items with people names. Some people may disagree with me, but I look at it from a SEO stand point and Google will have no idea what you are talking about if something is titled “The whimsical Magdalene necklace”, and neither will a potential buyer. I would prefer something more specific like “White coin freshwater pearl sterling silver necklace”. Then to take it step further, take a key phrase from that title that you feel you want to target and repeat it in the description a few times to boost SEO.
Make sure your Etsy listings are completely accurate and honest of what you are selling. Include materials used, sizes of everything, processing times and so on. Customers need to feel confident about what they are buying and will be very disappointed if their purchase arrives and doesn’t live up to the expectation of the listing image and description. Your return rate will be high and Etsy feedback rating will low.

4. Outside Advertising for your Etsy Shop:

Now that your shop is ready, start funneling traffic towards it! There are so many opinions about social media and it can seem VERY overwhelming to think you have to do it all. I personally feel you don’t have to do it all to have a successful Etsy shop. I suggest picking 2 or 3 channels that you feel most comfortable, plan what you want to say and schedule it out. There at numerous social media tools out there to schedule your social media blasts and set it on autopilot. There are also ad placements you can buy from top blogs. Do your research and ask for their stats before you purchase any ad space. Make sure your customers’ demographic match those of the blog or else it might turn out to be a bad investment.

5. Don’t stop educating yourself on all things Etsy:

There is SO much to learn about running a successful Etsy shop, DON’T STOP HERE. This article is just the tip of the ice berg. It seems there is a new article written everyday about the ongoing topic. I personally have been selling on Etsy since August 2007 and feel the online climate is ever changing and getting more and more competitive each year. Guidelines to Google SEO change, Etsy seller features change, Etsy search Algorithms change, it simply never ends. Stay relevant and keep educating yourself. I recommend subscribing to some great newsletters. I honestly don’t have the time to source out the information, I love getting it delivered to my inbox.
Another great source of information is to get involved with the Etsy community and join an Etsy team. Believe me, your family and friends most likely have not idea about running an etsy shop and will get bored, real quick, when you “talk shop” with them about Etsy. Surround yourself with like minded people. They will be a great source of information, inspiration and support. Book shown is Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield.

Conclusion….
I am passionate about doing what you were born to do. I honestly believe that everyonehas a special talent that was given to them to share with the world. However, we still have to provide for ourselves, our families, have a roof over our head and put food on the table. Finding a balance between both our destiny and reality sometimes takes some blood and sweat (yes sometimes tears too) to produce results. Stay focused, and surround yourself with cheerleaders to help lift you up along this journey. Best of luck to you!
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June Earrings Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:38:00 +0000

BLOG WINNERS are : Mrs. Kitty, Hurdler4Eva on etsy, Jesslyn
thank you all for entering!

Hello again, I have been having a great summer, pregnancy still going great! I am now 26 weeks. We close on our new home on June 30th, and am getting extremely antsy to get in there an start decorating and get my new, larger studio all set up! SO to sum up, 4th of July is just around the corner and thought a giveaway was in order. So here it is!

3 Lucky winners will win 1 pair of these Natural faceted rock crystal earrings

All you have to do is just VISIT and Comment! Easy pezzy right?

To enter simply:

Visit my etsy shop and pick your favorite item.
Post your comment here on my blog as to why you like it.
Please provide a working email address by entering it in my giveaway sign-up box below.
Leave your first name & last name in your comments so I can confirm and cross reference your email address as a valid entry.
For a BONUS Entry, please comment on my etsy forum thread about your favorite item in my shop too!
Extra BONUS Entry, post to your TWITTER! Include the text @southpawstudios so I can track it and I know to add your BONUS Entry.

Enter my Giveaway

Email Address: *

First Name: *

Last Name: *

Email Marketing by VerticalResponse

The giveaway closes at Midnight (EST) on Sunday July 4th! Up to three entries per person (comment, twitter, forum). Don't forget to share this giveaway on your Twitter and Facebook...

May earring Give away

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:34:00 +0000

BLOG WINNERS ARE:
"very married", "Lisa R" and "Jan"

Thank you all for entering and until next time!
Hello again, well I've had a wonderful spring season, pregnant with our second child, and moving to a new home and getting a larger studios! SO I am pretty busy, so I thought what else can I do.... I thought a giveaway was a fun thing to do to get insight on what is appealing to you! So here it is!

3 Lucky winners will win 1 pair of these sterling silver earrings

All you have to do is just VISIT and Comment! Easy pezzy right?

To enter simply:

Visit my etsy shop and pick your favorite item.
Post your comment here on my blog as to why you like it.
Please provide a working email address by entering it in my giveaway sign-up box below.
Leave your first name & last name in your comments so I can confirm and cross reference your email address as a valid entry.
For a BONUS Entry, please comment on my etsy forum thread about your favorite item in my shop too!
Extra BONUS Entry, post to your TWITTER! Include the text @southpawstudios so I can track it and I know to add your BONUS Entry.

Enter my Giveaway

Email Address: *

First Name: *

Last Name: *

Email Marketing by VerticalResponse

The giveaway closes at Midnight (EST) on Monday May 31st! Up to three entries per person (comment, twitter, forum). Don't forget to share this giveaway on your Twitter and Facebook...

More news from the Mims household.

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:07:00 +0000

Well to continue with my "news about me" we are almost to the 4 month mark with our pregnancy, and I am feeling so much better then last time I reported in. I am also pleased to report that we are almost done with our search for a new, bigger home, fingers crossed that we will complete negotiations and get our contract sometime this week. Hoping to move in early to mid June, we have to get cracking on this since I am due in September and we have to get the house all ready for our new little baby, as well as our 3 year old all settled in comfortably.

As for art festivals this year, I am only going to do one, maybe two. Hoping to get in Art on the Mall again, here in Toledo Ohio. I participated last year for the first time and it was a blast (except for the crazy wind). Also on the possible roster is Harrison rally days in Perrysburg Ohio. Some dear friends of mine are volunteering to run my booth, since I am due Sept 27th and the show is Sept 18th. yikes, that could be cutting it close for me.

We find out the sex of the baby on May 5th, so I think I will post more then. I want a girl, my husband wants a boy. so the game is on!

And to sum everything up, here is a new necklace that I added, I simply love it.

Take care everyone and enjoy this amazing weather.

Big news!

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:02:00 +0000

Just thought I would come out of my cocoon and share the big news, my husband and I are expecting our second child! I am 7 1/2 weeks right now, and pretty sick. It is not fun, but since I have done this before i know i can do it this one last time. At least this time i know this ickyness will pass (hopefully) and then will be able to enjoy the pregnancy much more. Fingers crossed for a girl, we already have a wonderful little boy that keeps us very busy. He is 3, and when this one pops out he will be almost 4. He is very excited to be a big brother, although a little confused why mommy isn't feeling well. He keep asking if the baby is going to come out of my mouth. So CUTE! awww to be 3. I know some of you reading are mothers already, feel free to share your stories and how you got through the first trimester, I would love to hear them. I would also love to here how the first few months were for you after the baby was born and how current siblings adjusted. We are a little anxious about this part, since our son will be 4 and has had a little while of just him, mommy and daddy. Really dont know what to expect. So anyways, going to try to fill some orders from my two etsy shops, South Paw Studios and South Paw beads, but thought I would pop in and share the news, that is what a blog is for, isnt it? I know I will chat more as the pregnancy progresses. Have a great day guys!

Get you and your site Press Ready!

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Some of my goals for 2010 are to be more press ready for bloggers. I feel this is an untapped resource for promotion for my online Etsy jewelry store and hope to delve into it more in the 2010 business year. I hate writing and feel I am horrible at it, but really do try (as you can all see) . While researching the subject on how to get more prepared I found this great article by etsy on "how to Present Yourself to the Press" so I wanted to pass this information along in case any of you need a few tips, I know i do!
Enjoy and wishing you all a great holiday season and new year!

Just added

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:17:00 +0000

Today has been a busy busy day! I made one little goal too, I finally have 2000+ hearts on etsy. Also a pair of my erinite earrings made it into the etsy Storque blog post.

I am also working late tonight and decided to list something new, so here it is.... (drum roll) a deep midnight blue, oblong freshwater pearl capped by a patinaed, sterling silver balinesian cap. On the top is a simple gray fresh water pearl for detailing. The pendant is 1 1/4 inches and comes with a 16" Italian sterling silver chain. The chain is blackened to show off detail. Fun necklace, I love this piece.

So there you have it, Enjoy and I am going to finally be off to bed.

New Additions

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:52:00 +0000

JUST ADDED!
These earrings are on light weight sterling silver, hand fabricated ear wires. They feature a dark enchanting tanzanite / dark sapphire blue faceted round and coin cubic zirconias drops. They are anchored on sterling silver fleur de lis design chandeliers. Great movement. Eye catching. The earrings measure just over 1 1/2 inches.

These earrings are on light weight sterling silver, hand fabricated ear wires. They feature a dark enchanting Jet black / brown faceted round cubic zirconias drops. They are anchored on sterling silver fleur de lis design chandeliers. Great movement. Eye catching. The earrings measure just over 1 1/2 inches.

These earrings are on light weight sterling silver, hand fabricated ear wires. They feature a dark enchanting tanzanite / dark sapphire blue faceted and coin cubic zirconias drops. They are anchored on sterling silver filigree design chandeliers. Great movement. Eye catching. The earrings measure just under 1 1/2 inches.

Enjoy everyone!

New additions

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:36:00 +0000

OK, i have been working all day on photography and listings so here they are.This necklace is 18 inches in length with a sterling silver toggle clasp in the front. The toggle clasp is accented by quality, high luster Labradorite "Flash" that has been individually wire wrapped into sterling silver chain. The Labradorite has little too no pitting, great color translucently, eye catching sparkle and luster.Goes great with a "V" neck top.This necklace features a smooth, eye flawless, periwinkle chalcedony drop. The drop is accented by sterling silver balinesian beads and lime green freshwater pearls. The pearls are wire wrapped on patinaed sterling silver chain. The necklace measures 18 inches and has a sterling silver toggle clasp in the back for easy wear. Great for all year long.This pendant features a 25mm hammered sterling silver loop with a light blue glass, pointed oblong oval with sterling silver speckling. The glass bead is about 30mm in length. The chain is sterling silver and measures 18 inches. The precious metal silver leaf inside is the signature style of the venetian glass. This pendant will be great for the all season wear and add an element of interest to many outfits. Has a sterling silver toggle clasp in back for easy on and off wear.
This necklace features Micro faceted green amethyst and Rose Quartz wire wrapped drops. The sizes of the store are as follows starting from the top to bottom, 9mm, 11mm, 12.5mm.
These facets are top quality, eye flawless, great clarity and symetrical. This is a one of a kind creation. I love this necklace and will be sad when it is gone. The drop measures 2 1/2 inches including the sterling silver oval. The chain measures 18 inches with a sterling silver toggle clasp in the back.

SO that wraps it up, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them :)

In a Time Crunch! help is here

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:29:00 +0000

It's the one thing everyone I know wishes they had more of: Time. If you could buy it on Etsy, it'd be the hottest product listed, especially as the holidays approach.

But despite modern attempts to get a handle on our time with everything from computers to iphones, we often find ourselves with to-do lists that never seem to end. Add owning your own business to the mix of family and daily demands and its a wonder that we get as many things done as we do!

Marcia Ramsland comes to our rescue with Simplify Your Time: Stop Running and Start Living, a book that aims to help you organize and prioritize your life without going crazy in the process. She takes us back to basics with some useful sanity savers:

Use a Calendar - this simple tool can help you keep everything together at a glance, and that can be invaluable. Hanging calendar, computer, planner, blackberry, i phone- WHERE you keep it isn't important. Keep it in a way that makes it easy for you to refer to and USE.
Use a List- your short term memory can only handle 7 things before it begins throwing out tasks. A list helps you take control of your day and to-dos before they take control of you, and also helps you see where the pitfalls are. Are you overscheduled? Do you need supplies or to prepare for a meeting?
Plan Ahead- At night, take a break to think about tomorrow and what you will need- or want-to do the next morning. At noon, plan your afternoon. Assess what works and what doesn't, and adjust your list to fit what works best for you.
Make 1 day each week Free Choice- one day or night a week, write "free choice" on your calendar and STICK TO IT. Do something you WANT to do, whether it's spending time with your family, shutting the computer off, taking a walk in the woods, or just relaxing. This recharges your inner batteries and gives your brain a quick vacation. The extra energy you have after doing this will help you accomplish more in the long run, as well as handle stress more effectively.
Prioritize- everyone from our parents to our teachers and bosses remind us to prioritize. Decide the three most crucial tasks for that day, and do them FIRST. Not only does this give you a sense of accomplishment, it also insures that you won't be putting out fires later on something urgent that just "didn't get done" while you were working on other, less important things.
Do 1 action per day that will help keep your life simple and in order
Don't Be Afraid of a Routine - I freely admit that routines make me want to run screaming for the door, but having a few routines is actually as good for adults as it is for kids, and takes some of the stress out of your everyday life. Grocery shopping, bill paying, gym time, errand running, etc are all good tasks that can be scheduled for the same time each week, taking out the guesswork.
Write in Pencil - this is good to remember, because life happens to all of us, and the best laid plans can be scrapped by emergencies, suddenly urgent tasks, and a host of other unexpected events. Writing your calendar in pencil makes it easier to be flexible.
Control your Email- Schedule times to check your inbox ( 7am, noon, 4pm, for example). Invoke the 2 minute rule. If it can be handled in under 2 minutes, do it right then. Your inbox should be kept empty, so delete it, file it, or answer it. Longer responses can be addressed the next time you open your email.

Focusing on how we use ( or don't use ) our time can help us pinpoint stress and eliminate it long before crunch time hits, and that is the best sanity-saver of all. Well, besides an emergency stash of chocolate, of course!

This article is curtosy of Kristen from Fire Bird House on Etsy and The Etsy Twitter Team Blog!

Give Away

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:30:00 +0000

WINNERS Are : wantsandwishes, Nicole, Debby, Jodie, and Cory. You have all been contacted via email. thanks for entering!

Hello all, well I've had a wonderful summer and wrapped it up with a great labor day weekend here is Toledo, Ohio and have been thinking all week about my next giveaway. With the holiday season right around the corner and trying to get my etsy shop ready, I thought a giveaway was a fun thing to get insight on what is appealing to you!
So here it is!

5 x $25 Gift Certificates to 5 Jewelry Fanatics!

All you have to do is just VISIT and Comment! Easy pezzy right?

To enter simply:

Visit my etsy shop and pick a favorite item
Post your comment here on my blog as to why you like it.
Please provide a working email address by entering it in my giveaway sign-up box below.
Leave your first name & last name in your comments so I can confirm your email address as a valid entry.
For a BONUS Entry, please comment o n my etsy forum thread about your favorite item in my shop too!
Extra BONUS Entry, post to your TWITTER! Include @southpawstudios and I will know to add your BONUS Entry.

I will be giving away 5 complimentary $25 Gift Certificates to my etsy shop to help jump start your holiday shopping! The giveaway closes at Midnight (EST) on Wednesday September 30th! Up to three entries per person (comment, twitter, forum). Don't forget to share this giveaway on your Twitter and Facebook...

South Paw Studios in Storque Article

noreply@blogger.com (South Paw Studios) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:27:00 +0000

I made it into the Shades of Blue Storque Etsy article today. Yippy me!
It really looks lovly. I am honored and just wanted to share.
Here are the Sapphire Blue Cubic Zirconia earrings that made the final cut. They are $22