The Frugal Artisan

The whole first grade was taken to the J. Paul Getty Museum this week. Admission is free. (Parking personal vehicles costs.)

The only cost incurred by the school was for bus transportation, covered by our fundraising.

The kids brought a bag lunch. The experience is priceless for 7 year olds.

'Del Monte' west producing too much:

-romaine lettuce
-spinach

and not enough:

-grapes
-flowers

OK, can't complain about the flowers. I've had a gorgeous purple/white/yellow bouquet of iris and calla lily for 1.5 weeks. Do you EVER buy flowers? Coral, pink and yellow roses on the way.

This is our backyard garden. How much salad can you eat bleh, time to give away some romaine...

I have a little internet store and the competition for jewelry is fierce! But I also enjoy cross stitching and in the past made christmas cards for special family receipients. (It's addicting...)

Instead of trying to sell just one card at a time (who would purchase a single card on the internet?? Even if it is really gorgeous?) I had the idea to make a set of Thank You cards in a box set.

Off to take pictures last weekend, and one set just sold in a day! No promotion.

Looks like the competition isn't so tough in this new category. Here's a picture of one in a Set of 3 in the shop-

Whoa! It took 3 days of wrestling with the antennae, 5 calls to the tech person in India (how's the weather?) and about $100...

but we have 2 PCs and a couple laptops on wireless DSL in the house.

Will wonders never cease. The $$ didn't really hurt, the frustration cost more. (Me, not the DH who worked miracles with a few electrons).

For you trivia players:

Dr. Heimlich (inventor of the famous Heimlich maneuver) was the uncle of what famous TV sitcom actor?

Good luck! This one is kind of hard, clues forthcoming if you get stumped!

I am a proud new owner of Starbucks stock! HA HA

Have they played themselves out? My advisor thinks they are poised to expand a little into China for the 2008 Olympics.

It's worth it for a couple years.

Besides, I go there myself, too much

Our grade school has a FREE afterschool chess club (as probably does yours or the city rec dept).

I thought it would be 5 or 6 nerdy boys sitting quietly playing seriously.

HA! What a misconception. I volunteered so my 3rd grader would 'decide' to play.

There are at least 20 simultaneous games played at lightenin' speed (10 minutes). Well, a few of the games take longer.

The kicker is I know a few of the kids:
- one of the kids is the 'surfer'
- another is the 'slacker'
- there's alot of girls too

So if you have a need for NO Cost activities, try out the chess club. My kids already knew the basics, and it is a NO Brainer this is better for their brain than sitting around the TV/computer/video game.

Helping my MIL sell her very nice but space gobbling square dance petticoats. I put 2 up on Yahoo auctions because there is no fee whatsoever at this time.

Yahoo allows 10 day runs, automatically renewable for 5 times (for a total of 50 days). These were on their second 10 day run.

I will ship as soon as the buyer pays (nervously waiting...)

Fun Fun Fun!

For the last few weeks (maybe after the forums were updated?) I can't log in to the forums sporadically.

Yesterday I could log in, today not.

I enter the correct name and password and even get the 'Thank you for logging in...redirecting you' page. But then I am back on the forum page NOT logged in and NOT allowed to make posts, etc.

I can't even put a post in the 'New Forum Bugs' thread HA HA. I see others had this problem in that thread.

So can someone do this for me? Or I will try to log in again later or in another day to get help.

Funny, I get logged into the blogs just fine

I am 'advertising' eye candy for your easter basket :: NO CALORIES

This is for the person who can't live without American Idol.

It's available in my shop (click on Etsy: Pretty Cheap Jewelry under 'Sites I Frequent' right margin).

Thx for lookin

What can you say to a smart alecky 3rd grader? He highly suspects I am the tooth fairy and runs around proclaiming he wants $5 and big ticket toys under his pillow!

I try to retort, "If you know the tooth fairy's secret, then the magic disappears and you'll not get any more visits!"

The tooth fairy still leaves only $1 be it for a 6 year old or older in our house

But it might be a Silver dollar, or a golden Sacawega dollar if you truly believe...

This book has many great free leads in advertising and marketing for small internet entrepreneurs.

And I took it out of the library! Yipee, free, free, free!

Relatively new, I am posting in Arts & Crafts for Sale instead of Jewelry (which is full of spammy high end commercial stuff).

Just poppin' in to write in this great thrifty idea.

Display of jewelry is more important than it should be. But, it's true, a good display makes or breaks interest in the item.

The high end jewelers buy factory made displays. Everything matches, polished look, etc. At a cost which I'm unwilling to invest at this time.

Us hobbyists must be more creative and inventive.

Here is a professional, easy, inexpensive display idea I came up with. Photos below correspond to each heading. Did I mention these were inexpensive? These boards cost $0.80 ea to make (I made eight).

Materials
Foam Core Board, cut into your size need
Fabric, recommend short nap faux black fur
Hot glue gun

NOTE: Use a coupon for almost 1/2 off foam core board! One standard board made 4 jewelry displays for me.

NOTE: Use a coupon for the fabric! Instead of $17/yard black velvet (normally for jewelry display) I choose a nearly equivalent soft black faux fur on clearance for $3/yard.

Step 1.
Center board on fabric

Step 2.
Glue two opposing edges of fabric to back of board, stretching fabric slightly if necessary to maintain nice smooth front.

Step 3.
Glue remaining edges of fabric to back of board, tucking in and making neat corners.

Step 4.
Mount items on board with straight pins and display on stand (available at craft store in the photo frame area).

I'm going to take an indefinite break from this blog. It might be awhile, like Mr. Winkle.

Needed is more time into marketing and promoting Pretty Cheap Jewelry, just turning 1-year-old. So off in search of more bargain lovers, jewelry aficiandos, and crafting audiences.

It's been a good time. A nice crowd here, educated, helpful, positive and not too inexperienced in life.

I'll be looking in now and then at the forums, a post here and there. So keep on keep on. Thanks,

ps, they have the greatest smilies here anyway.

I tried to invite the craigslisters over to us here on savingadvice.com by posting on their frugal forum,

and it was removed,

twice!

What's up with that? Is craigslist afraid of a little competition?

Rings & Things (a major catalog bead supply) runs an annual design contest.

Maybe will enter these earrings (LOVE briolettes).

Their words: "All entries must be submitted online or postmarked by 11:59 p.m. (PST) Monday, March 5.

Prizes range from $50 to $750 Rings & Things gift certificates. In addition,
all winners and additional top picks are featured in our online Design Gallery, and some designs may be featured (with credit to the designer) in our catalog and promotions. That's exposure to over two million people worldwide, which you can use for "as-seen-in" promotions of your own!

Enter up to three pieces, and choose from six contest categories. For details and to enter, see: http://www.rings-things.com/contest/2007/index.htm

To review last year's winners and additional top picks, go to:
http://www.rings-things.com/gallery/index.php?cat=13

Ever searched Yahoo groups for bargain shoppers?

There are a dozen which WANT you to post for sale items. Check out Bargain-Finder, ForSaleCheap, A-Big-Sale, etc. There are hundreds of members, at least a small percentage of which really want to bargain shop.

Your 'ads' get delivered right to a person, unlike posting for sale on Craig's in which you wait for someone to see you.

There is some terrible spamming, but not enough to discourage me from getting delivered to hundreds and hundreds of email boxes.

And while you think it over, plan ahead for Mother's Day! Richly made pearl spray earrings in traditional gold and red and white are available from Pretty Cheap Jewelry for $10

www.prettycheap.etsy.com Thanks for looking.

I was invited by the Australian Gem Club to sell items on their internet marketplace (auction/buy it now).

They charge no fees whatsoever. I don't know their reputation, but the site looks well constructed.

It looks neweish and is free of spam so far and I hope it stays that way.

Great opportunity, visit Pretty Cheap Jewelry there if you like!

www.search-the-world.com/auctions/index.php

If a bunch of lions is called a pride, what is a bunch of bananas called?

For extra credit, what is each individual banana called? (No, it is not just 'banana')

Good luck and have fun!

According to my sources,

How much money changes hands in a typical given day all over the world?

Come on, admin probably could get this one.

Watch here for answer soon!

Two (as yet unreviewed personally), but highly recommended sites for small business advice with loads of free info:

www.smartbiz.com
This was referenced in a 'Small Business for Dummies' type book which indicated this site refrained from alot of extraneous advertising and got you straight to the info.


www.marketingprofs.com
This was given to me by an experienced advisor from the Small Business Development Center. They are a resource available in my area associated with the community college. FREE small business advisors! So lucky to have such a service. Especially look at the archived articles within this site, covers all topics (marketing, taxes, you name it). You can subscribe for their newsletter free I think.

Anyone bought helium balloons at their local 99C store?

Today is Thurs and I need to decorate for birthday parties Sat and Sun in the house (both kids have birthdays this weekend). If I buy them 2 to 3 days ahead, will they stay afloat?

I believe they are mylar not latex :?

Yikes! My mom bought a load of birthday clothes for my little girl this past week. From Nordstrom! (Expensive!) And many do not fit, too big!

Nordstrom, king of service, allows you to go to an actual store instead of returning via mail. So off we'll go soon,
but what to exchange for???

Grandma wants good quality togs for her little one, but kids don't care about clothes!

Maybe: (1) kids shoes for a wedding we are going to in May, both my son and daughter need some; (2) ???

The home-based jewelry businesses have a continual raging debate on pricing. Those creating for a living (or a substantial income) are infuriated with those who do it for a hobby.

In the end it's always a stalemate. Life reverts back to demand and supply, the market shall govern.

Here's my latest creation (below, at least I'm trying), which is intended for an art show in April. I'm setting the price higher than I used to, however, lower than the pros.

BUTTERFLY GARDEN NECKLACE & EARRING SET
Three filigree butterflies anchor the double strand, hand made chain composed of pearl, amethyst, tiger eye, fiber optic, gold tone, and glass beads. Matching earrings are hung on gold plated wires.

My small artisan jewelry crafting business has been a creative pleasure positively affecting my otherwise professional and family lives (except for the computer blogging time consumed!)

Yet it's been a struggle to label myself: entrepreneur? artist? jewelry designer? small business owner?

I've passed the city-supported Arts Association gallery for years, and from the exterior it was always a bit imposing and slickly professional.

Wishing to expand Pretty Cheap Jewelry's horizons, I went in yesterday to see if I fit in. WHOOPEE! It instantly felt like home. The exhibits were interesting but not stand offish in the least. Two cases of jewelry were comparably priced as my own. I breathed a large sigh of relief.

The attendent was another jewelry designer I intentionally stopped by to visit. She introduced me to the gallery manager, they were both hugely supportive.

Needless to say, I forked over the moderate membership fee and gleefully signed up to volunteer. THEY WANT ME TO EXHIBIT, SELL and do it again.

I'll try to get used to calling myself a jewelry designer

Here's one to exhibit-
Victorian Cupid Bangle
Composed of a mixture of vintage and new glass beads in varying golds. A cupid charm dangles from the end.

"What is State Farm?"

That's what my kid asked on the drive to school. In the next 10 minutes, I gave her a simple, how-it-affected-her lesson.

We went over insurance for our home, we went over insurance for cars, etc.

The other two kids in the car, my 8 year old and the 7 year old neighbor asked good questions:

Can you stop paying it? (Yes, but the company does not have a promise to pay you anymore)

Can you restart paying it? (Yes)

What if you can't pay for car insurance? (You don't get a drivers license)

Tomorrow Maybe we can touch on how math is used in the insurance business!

Have you tried Craigs List for furniture, household items, sports items?

I've been looking for a desk suitable for my 1st grader's room to more formalize a homework area and establish good study habits.

First stop-the thrift stores. Ugh, they were bad values! Most were in the $35+ range and were beat up/needed paint.

Next stop-browse the internet for unfinished furniture and/or Target type places. There were suitable styles but in the $100 range.

Last stop-craigs list. For a few weeks I looked in the for sale 'furniture' section. The first one I loved was a great price and great item and sold to someone else the next day. There are others who know great deals out there But patience paid off and there was a darling inexpensive 5 drawer desk with fancy brass handles for $10. We snatched it and my little one has put her 'laptop' on it ever since.

What children's song did Burl Ives record which involves a pre-chrysalis lifeform?

Good luck and watch for the answer here

Here are my new car magnets for Pretty Cheap Jewelry.

In car obsessed California, I feel arrived.

Nothing silly about the fact that the instant they went on every little mile is a business tax deduction.