Simply Shiny Life

As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m part of a wire wrapping jewelry artisan’s group on etsy. The other members of this group are unbelievable talented, and I thought I’d post a couple pics that really wow’d me.

So far, I’ve been impressed by the amount of involvement by its members and the amount of passion I’ve seen so far for furthering the Guild charter and its member’s work. I’ve been looking to join a smaller, more structured team for a while, and this looks like a good fit. Plus, the members seem to be funny, irreverent, and wowzer, did I say talented? A good group to ask my million technique questions and, via osmosis, glean some skills and knowledge.

Here’s another link to the blog : http://www.thewireartisansguild.blogspot.com

Wow.  It took 6 days to completely sort, box up and mail everyone’s FMG orders.  So what did I learn in this process?

 1. Make sure to tell participants to include their address when submitting funds via PayPal. Having to track down addresses and manually enter them into PayPal’s multishipping tool was a pain.

2. Ship via Paypal if it is domestic. Paypal’s shipping tool is very slick, plus delivery confirmation is only 18 cents for First Class, and free for Priority Mail. Nice. And if I can get the address issue resolved for the next group purchase, this will save me LOADS of time standing in line at the post office.

3. Don’t bother entering items into FMG’s online order form as it only holds 250 items. Just make sure we have at least 251 items and then fax the completed order to FMG. MUCH simpler.

4. Add a small amount to each participant’s order for tape, bubble wrap, paper and printer ink expenses. I didn’t do that up front on this one, but will on the next order. Also, charge a bit more upfront for postage. It is MUCH easier to refund than request more funds, especially when trying to determine PayPal fees for CC orders.

5. Request priority mail boxes to be delivered to my house at the same time the order is being sent. That way I don’t have to make several trips to several different post offices to pick up the right size boxes.

6. Enlist my spouse to help inventory the shipment. This saved HOURS of my time. Thanks honey!

7. Schedule sufficient bead fondling time.

Here’s my SNS for today. I’m rethinking my shop focus and inventory that doesn’t sell over the next couple of weeks is going to be recycled for parts.

Saturday Night Special!
From ShinyAdornment’s Shop
Good until Midnight central time tonight!

*•-:<¦>:-•:*”*:•-:¦:_* *_:<¦>:-•:*”*:•-:¦:_**_:¦:-•:*”*:•-:<¦>:-•*

Buy one ring or pair of earrings (except CUSTOM items) and get one of the same or lesser value FREE.

see my BOGO Section Here
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5295255§ion_id=5384308

And

JUST FOR ** SNS **

if you buy *ANY* THREE (3) items, I’ll ship them all for free!

Just put SNS-BOGO in your notes to seller and WAIT FOR THE REVISED INVOICE.
*•-:<¦>:-•:*”*:•-:¦:_* *_:<¦>:-•:*”*:•-:¦:_**_:¦:-•:*”*:•-:<¦>:-•*
Thanks for shopping!

Artisan Wire Wrapped Jewelry
HandMade in Kansas
By ShinyAdornments
http://shinyadornments.etsy.com

Ok, well, not EXACTLY an invasion, but a whole LOTTA beads and beady stuff.  I coordinated an FMG order for etsyBEAD and the JETteam and 65 lbs of stuff arrived at my house.

And, holy mama, the sorting ensues! 

 Thought I’d share some pics, just so you can feel the love.

 I should be able to start mailing completed orders on Monday. Some will be a bit later as I am waiting on about 20 items that we were charged but weren’t included in the order. FMG tells me they will be delivered this week though.

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE FOR ALL MY EARRINGS AND RINGS (except Custom) !! I’ll send a corrected invoice once you check out. So DON’T PAY right away. To receive the discount you MUST put BOGO in the notes to seller in my etsy outlet shop when you check out. PLUS, IF YOU PURCHASE ANY 3 ITEMS IN MY SHOP, you’ll get free shipping too. What a deal! PUT BOGO FREE SHIP in notes to seller.

Lots more styles available in my ShinyAdornments Outlet Shop

Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5W2Vr6HU7s

This week’s theme for the Wire Artisan’s Guild is magic, and I couldn’t get the Police song out of my head.

This artisan wire wrapped necklace with umbrella and heart pendant are constructed from sterling silver wire, black onyx beads and lovely pink tourmaline stone beads.  The necklace is black onxy rounds and sterling silver chain.

Overall length is around 22 inches, including the umbrella pendant.

I can’t wait to see what everyone else created this week. You can see too, by visiting our flickr group   WAG Flickr Group Images 

Treasure Hunt for a Shopping Spree
Join in a fun and entertaining treasure hunt and win a 24 hour shopping spree….

WINNERS: 
All correct entries in our St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Hunt will receive an EXCLUSIVE ONE DAY SHOPPING SPREE at select Jet Team members’ shops. Winners will be emailed a SECRET CODE to use for the spree.  Instructions on how to use your code will be in each shop announcement. Questions regarding shop sales or discounts are to be directed to the individual shop, not to the Jet Team.

Winners can use the code multiple times within the 24 hour spree. However, be aware that each Jet members’ shop is independent of all others and shipping fees cannot be combined between different shops. The “One Day Shopping Spree” for the winners will begin Saturday, March 15 at 12 midnight (EST) and end on Sunday, March 16th at 12 midnight (EST). 

LIST OF SPREE PARTICIPATING SHOPS
http://bdazzlingcreations.etsy.com (20% off)
http://beadifuldesigns.etsy.com (Buy One Get One Free)
http://beadsme.etsy.com   (10% off) 
http://bodyice.etsy.com (15% off)
http://CrystalImpressions.etsy.com (25% off)
http://cserpent.etsy.com (10% off)
http://DaisiemaiCreations.etsy.com (20% off)
http://dashery.etsy.com (20% off)
http://designsbycher.etsy.com (20% off)
http://emilini.etsy.com (15% off)
http://EmotionalOasis.etsy.com (25% off)
http://endlessbounty.etsy.com (40% off)
http://fishonthewall.etsy.com (25% off)
http://heloise.etsy.com (20% off)
http://jealousydesign.etsy.com (10% off)
http://jemsbyjbandcompany.etsy.com (25% off & free shipping)
http://Jewelry24Seven.etsy.com (20% off) 
http://KeelyB.etsy.com (20% off)
http://labelladesigns.etsy.com (30% off, free shipping)
http://littlebrownbird.etsy.com (extra 10% off, see shop announcement)
http://lushbeads.etsy.com (15% off)
http://malves1009.etsy.com (20% off)
http://michon.etsy.com (20% off)
http://missrie.etsy.com (10-25% off, see shop announcement)
http://redpanda.etsy.com (20% off)
http://SabbyBeadCo.etsy.com (20% off)
http://senseofstyle.etsy.com (10% off)
http://shazzabeth.etsy.com (20% off)
http://ShinyAdornments.etsy.com (Buy one get one free rings and earrings)http://SleepyGoldfishDesign.etsy.com (20% off)
http://trilei.etsy.com (25% off) 
http://vandiva.etsy.com (25% off)
http://wishonbish.etsy.com (40% off any one item)
http://zencreations04.etsy.com (15% off regular prices, free shipping: orders $75 & up)

In addition to the fabulous Shopping Spree, the first 20 correct entries, submitted by residents in the United States, will receive a pair of handmade pierced earrings created by a member of the Jet Team. Due to the complex legal systems in many different countries, the earring giveaway cannot be extended to etsy members outside of the United States. These are examples of earrings made by our members
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/2313953744_da6e53ee9a_o.jpg

INSTANT WINNERS:
During the hunt you will also have an opportunity to become an “instant winner.”  Keep reading this thread for instructions.  Instant winners will receive a handmade pair of pierced earrings created by a member of the Jet Team. Due to the complex legal systems in many different countries, the earring giveaway cannot be extended to etsy members outside of the United States.

So, how do you play and win???

These hunt directions are also located on the Jet Team Blog at http://jewelryonetsyteam.blogspot.com

HOW TO PLAY:
You are hunting for our Pot O’ Gold image which looks like this: 

There are no more than 17 shops to visit in this hunt.  All the items you look for should be on the first or second page in the shop.

Begin your hunt in Jet Team Shop at http://www.jetteam.etsy.com  In the Jet Team SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT is a clue that leads you to an item within the shop. Locate the item and in the DESCRIPTION will be the URL of the next shop to visit in the hunt. 

Go to the next shop, read the SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT for a clue to an ITEM in that shop. Locate the item and in the DESCRIPTION is the URL to the next shop. Keep a list of the URL’s of each shop visit during your hunt. Continue the hunt in this way until you find our POT O’ GOLD image in the last shop in the hunt. She will be one of the pictures in the last shop’s item. 

HOW TO WIN: 
Email the required information to this address: morganalexadesigns@gmail.com before 5:00 PM (EST) on Saturday, March 15th, 2008. Incomplete entries and entries submitted after the deadline time and date will not be considered.    

Your Treasure Hunt entry MUST include the following:

1.    The URL’s of each Jet Team shop you visited during the hunt

2.    Your Name

3.    Your etsy username

4.    Your Complete Mailing Address 

5.    Your email address

At the conclusion of the hunt, Saturday, March 15 at 5:00 pm (EST), winners will be notified via the email address provided with their entry. The winners’ usernames will be published in this thread and on the Jet Team Blog.

Additional information:

• The Jewelry on Etsy Street Team is the sponsor of the Scavenger Hunt.  Etsy is not a sponsor of nor affiliated with this hunt. 

• Buyers and sellers within the Etsy community may participate in the hunt. 

• No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited.

• JET members & their immediate families are not eligible to win.

IT’S SO SIMPLE…HERE’S A SUMMARY…

1. Record the URL of all the shops you visit in the hunt

2. Begin here  http://www.jetteam.etsy.com  

3. Read the shop announcement for a clue to an item in the shop

4. Find the item and in the description is the URL to the next jet shop

5. Follow clues through Jet Team shops to find a Pot O’ Gold image in the last shop

6. Email the list along with your name, your address, your etsy username and your email address to morganalexadesigns@gmail.com 

The hunt for the Pot O’ Gold begins now and ends at 5:00 PM (EST) on Saturday, March 15th, 2008,  Are you ready to go hunting?  Start here  http://www.jetteam.etsy.com 

Good Luck                       

from the Jewelry on Etsy Street Team

Etsy published its brand spanking new version of Alchemy, a giant electronic wish list of sorts for all things, or at least mostly all things, hand made. 

We, the lowly shopper, proclaim our need to the etsy world, and then etsy artists ‘bid’ to fulfill that need. For instance, I REALLY want some new super cool hoop earrings. I want some pretty particular designs and components and posted my request. Within hours I had at least a dozen custom hoop earring possibilities to choose from. Fabulous hand made hand crafted possibilities, all within my price range. Awesome. 

Etsy is still working out the kinks, as I saw a listing requesting used tshirts and another for sheet metal. So its not perfect, yet, but oh the possibilities.

I’ll post pictures of my fabulous custom designs as soon as I receive them. The anticipation….. 

Join the Jewelry on Etsy Team for our next treasure hunt, set to begin on Friday 3/14 at noon Etsy time!! You’ll hunt through member shops, find the clues to lead you to the next shop, and eventually get to the pot ‘o gold! Submit your URLs, and all correct submitters will be able to participate in a GIANT ONE DAY SHOPPING SPREE in participating JET member shops!

Also: The first 20 correct submissions (US residents only, sorry) will receive a lovely handcrafted pair of earrings from one of our JET members! We will also have some instant winners as well, so you’ll have to check back in the thread to find the announcement of these! Here are the ready for easter ones I am donating:

Be sure to check the Promotions forum at noon tomorrow for the detailed announcement of the Hunt. This is going to be a blast, and we hope you join us in the fun! Click here for the Promo forum link.

Sheela just sent out an updated list, and the ‘little’ group is up to 16 members. Wow.

So, without further ado, introducing the ‘WAG’ members:

Lisa from Julida Designs (julidadesigns)
Lissa from Lissa Harlin Designs (lissa73)
Katherine from Meristem (meristem)
Hee Soon from Sky Dreams (SkyDreams)
Aden from Aden Angier (adenangier)
Michelle from Revelations North (revelate)
Geraldine from Raeleen’s (Raeleen)
Shirley from Her Gypsy Soul (hergypsysoul)
Charlotte from Emerald Dolphin Design (EmeraldDolphinDesign)
Sue from Suesun (Suesun)
Natalia from Realisation Creations (realisationcreations)
Susanna from SuzyQ Jewelry (SuzyQJewelry)
Marcy from Follow The Red Brick Road (followtheredbrickrd)
Judy from JUMA Jewelry (jumajewelry)
Erin from Earrings By Erin (earringsbyerin)
Sheela from Eclettica, The Atelier (eclettica)
and me from ShinyAdornments 

This week’s challenge theme was picked by me; nocturne. Can’t wait to see what everyone’s interpretation will be.