In the five months or so that I have been selling online, these are some of the things that I have learned:
1. Do not forget why you do what you do.
When I first ventured into making jewelry, all I wanted was to make my own set of Goddess prayer beads. As I said in my Artfire Bio Page, that little, seemingly harmless "experiment" has turned into a passion for making beautiful things that other people can wear. I make jewelry because I love jewelry -- and I love them because a favorite piece always brightens my day when I put it on no matter how gloomy it is outside (or inside me). I realized that I found fullfilment in making something by hand that has the ability to make someone feel good about themselves, to add a bit to their confidence, uplift their mood or simply make them smile. I make jewelry because it is a way for me to reach out to people I will probably never cross paths with and let them know that they are special and that they are beautiful. This is why I do what I do. To forget this would kill my passion for this creative endeavor and could, in effect, kill my muse.
2. Do not undervalue yourself.
Agonizing, this one. Pricing is such a delicate matter when one decides to sell what one makes. For me, the agony has gone beyond hitting the right formula to get the perfect price -- it has been (and continues to be) an ongoing battle between my inner critic telling me my work is not worth that much and the higher me that insists I am deserving of more. Happily for me, the one that says I am worth it wins most of the time. But it is still a struggle. Does this happen to you?
It is important that we don't undervalue our work as it is a reflection of ourselves. This has nothing to do at all about humility -- but it has everything to do with pride in your work and loving yourself.
3. Your competition isn't who you think it is.
Who do you compete with? Who are your major competitors?
With the variety of tastes and styles in the market and the number of talented artisans that cater to each one, competition in the form of other jewelry artisans should not be my problem. My problem should be creating pieces that I love and getting them out to people who I know will love them as well. There are plenty of jewelry artisans out there but I no longer see them as competition -- rather, I see them as partners who will help satisfy a market segment that I can't cater to simply because what they want is not what I make. I will, however, compete against myself -- so that those who like my work will continue to get the best of what I can give them.
4. There is no shame in saying your name.
Having been raised in a culture where tooting one's own horn is considered bad form, I had a hard time finding my voice and saying my name out loud. I used to be very shy about promoting my work. Heck, for some time only my close friends knew that I made jewelry and to this day, only a handful of them know that I paint and collage. I have just started to unlearn this -- and I am unlearning it fast. It is not bad form to show the world what you can do -- keeping it to yourself and not allowing anyone to share in it is.
What's your name? What do you do? Tell me so I can tell the next person so they can say your name too.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Four Letter Words: DARE
Look around the corner and go see what's on the other side. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
Smile at the person standing next to you in line. Don't worry about looking foolish. Think about what could happen if they smile back.
Take a new route to work today. Take a new route home. Don't see it as a deviation but as an adventure.
Wear that outfit you've been keeping in your closet for so long - who cares what other people say. You've been wanting to wear it because it is so YOU.
Tell someone how much they mean to you. They've probably been waiting to hear it for a long time.
Just for today, look at that dream straight in the eye and take the first step to make it real. Who knows, the rest of the steps you need to take, not apparent for now, might just appear.
(
Smile at the person standing next to you in line. Don't worry about looking foolish. Think about what could happen if they smile back.
Take a new route to work today. Take a new route home. Don't see it as a deviation but as an adventure.
Wear that outfit you've been keeping in your closet for so long - who cares what other people say. You've been wanting to wear it because it is so YOU.
Tell someone how much they mean to you. They've probably been waiting to hear it for a long time.
Just for today, look at that dream straight in the eye and take the first step to make it real. Who knows, the rest of the steps you need to take, not apparent for now, might just appear.
(
Monday, August 9, 2010
August Sale and New Collections
Just as I was working on my August promo, a wonderful artisan over at Artfire, CCTexan3, suggested that we revive the Artfire Stimulus Sale this month. Well, I love a sale and I especially love an activity that is fun so I jumped right in.
There are tons of great items on the AFSS pages -- from jewelry, to supplies, to vintage items, art work, beautiful photographs and prints, bath and body products -- the list just goes on and on. Simply type in AFSS on "Search" and allow yourself to be surprised and delighted by the great discounts offered by so many artisans. I have put up a few of my items on sale -- some discounted by up to $10.00 off their original price.
Last week, Artfire also launched the Artfire Collections and members are now allowed to publish their own collections for everyone to see! I've put up a few and in doing so, I've discovered just how talented the people on Artfire really are. There are a lot of lovely things to choose from and as I made one collection, another idea for a new one popped right up. Making the collections was a sure eye opener for me in terms of spotting talent on Artfire. Here are a couple for you to check out: Vintage Runway and It's About Time.
August looks like a super busy month for me. I'll be putting up new items in my shop, visiting an interesting place in town that I will share with you and of course, I'll continue with posting the Four-Letter Words. Hope the rains over here in Manila don't dampen my spirits!
There are tons of great items on the AFSS pages -- from jewelry, to supplies, to vintage items, art work, beautiful photographs and prints, bath and body products -- the list just goes on and on. Simply type in AFSS on "Search" and allow yourself to be surprised and delighted by the great discounts offered by so many artisans. I have put up a few of my items on sale -- some discounted by up to $10.00 off their original price.
Last week, Artfire also launched the Artfire Collections and members are now allowed to publish their own collections for everyone to see! I've put up a few and in doing so, I've discovered just how talented the people on Artfire really are. There are a lot of lovely things to choose from and as I made one collection, another idea for a new one popped right up. Making the collections was a sure eye opener for me in terms of spotting talent on Artfire. Here are a couple for you to check out: Vintage Runway and It's About Time.
August looks like a super busy month for me. I'll be putting up new items in my shop, visiting an interesting place in town that I will share with you and of course, I'll continue with posting the Four-Letter Words. Hope the rains over here in Manila don't dampen my spirits!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Pie Story
Some decades back, an American couple were on a teaching program at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna. One of the members of their staff was a Filipina who worked as their secretary.
When it was almost time for their term at the university to end, the couple, thinking that their loyal and efficient secretary would need something to fall back on should she lose her post when they left, thought of paying for her to get classes in cooking and baking.
Well, a few months after she finished the course, the couple's teaching term did end and she lost her secretarial post at the university. Putting her newfound baking skills to task, this creative woman took an ingredient that was easy to find in her town -- buko or very young coconut meat. She came up with a recipe to turn the sweet, soft, white coconut meat into a pie. Emboldened by encouragement she got from family and friends who tasted her sweet concoction, she decided to set up a small shop selling only buko pies.
What she did not realize when she first put those pies up for sale was that she would be spawning a whole industry that has put their little province of Los Banos, Laguna in the consciousness of every Filipino (and even a few foreign) gourmands. She also did not expect that years after she first opened her little bakery, a hundred or so other bakeries selling buko pies would mushroom all over Los Banos and even invade some of the malls in the city.
As a child, we would take the hour and half drive to Pansol, Laguna to swim in the crystal clear hot springs and our mini-vacations would always be capped with a visit to the little bakery where this province-wide industry started. It remains simple -- people say it is the same structure that was put up when the business was started many, many years ago. Yet long lines of cars and people indicate just how popular this place is. To this day, despite the hundreds of bakeries just like it selling buko pie, D'Original Buko Pie remains the Queen of All Buko Pies. The original owner's children have managed to maintain the lightness and crispiness of its golden crust and the buko filling is still made out of the sweetest, most tender morsels of young coconut. It is so good I could eat a whole pie all by myself. My relatives in the United States always schedule a trip to Los Banos just to get another taste of these pies.
What makes this story remarkable for me are two things: first, the woman who created the recipe for the pie had no idea just how big it would be. She simply needed to make some money for her family -- and she just put her new skills and creativity to task. To date, hundreds of households earn their income from selling buko pie and it is, as I mentioned earlier, a huge money-maker for the town. Second, you never know what a random act of kindness and concern for someone in your circle can start. The American couple's concern for their Filipina secretary was, in a manner of speaking, the flint that lighted that fire. They just wanted to make sure she would be alright in case she lost her job when they left. Well, to my estimate, she did more than be "alright".
How about you? How brave are you when it comes to putting your skills and creativity to task? Have you helped someone out just because you felt they needed it, without thinking too far ahead of how they would pay you back or if they would even make use of the help provided?
When it was almost time for their term at the university to end, the couple, thinking that their loyal and efficient secretary would need something to fall back on should she lose her post when they left, thought of paying for her to get classes in cooking and baking.
Well, a few months after she finished the course, the couple's teaching term did end and she lost her secretarial post at the university. Putting her newfound baking skills to task, this creative woman took an ingredient that was easy to find in her town -- buko or very young coconut meat. She came up with a recipe to turn the sweet, soft, white coconut meat into a pie. Emboldened by encouragement she got from family and friends who tasted her sweet concoction, she decided to set up a small shop selling only buko pies.
What she did not realize when she first put those pies up for sale was that she would be spawning a whole industry that has put their little province of Los Banos, Laguna in the consciousness of every Filipino (and even a few foreign) gourmands. She also did not expect that years after she first opened her little bakery, a hundred or so other bakeries selling buko pies would mushroom all over Los Banos and even invade some of the malls in the city.
As a child, we would take the hour and half drive to Pansol, Laguna to swim in the crystal clear hot springs and our mini-vacations would always be capped with a visit to the little bakery where this province-wide industry started. It remains simple -- people say it is the same structure that was put up when the business was started many, many years ago. Yet long lines of cars and people indicate just how popular this place is. To this day, despite the hundreds of bakeries just like it selling buko pie, D'Original Buko Pie remains the Queen of All Buko Pies. The original owner's children have managed to maintain the lightness and crispiness of its golden crust and the buko filling is still made out of the sweetest, most tender morsels of young coconut. It is so good I could eat a whole pie all by myself. My relatives in the United States always schedule a trip to Los Banos just to get another taste of these pies.
What makes this story remarkable for me are two things: first, the woman who created the recipe for the pie had no idea just how big it would be. She simply needed to make some money for her family -- and she just put her new skills and creativity to task. To date, hundreds of households earn their income from selling buko pie and it is, as I mentioned earlier, a huge money-maker for the town. Second, you never know what a random act of kindness and concern for someone in your circle can start. The American couple's concern for their Filipina secretary was, in a manner of speaking, the flint that lighted that fire. They just wanted to make sure she would be alright in case she lost her job when they left. Well, to my estimate, she did more than be "alright".
How about you? How brave are you when it comes to putting your skills and creativity to task? Have you helped someone out just because you felt they needed it, without thinking too far ahead of how they would pay you back or if they would even make use of the help provided?
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
My Harshest Critic
She turns up her nose when it's not pretty enough for her and stalks right out of the room shaking her head, uttering several loud NO NO NOs. She picks up beads and stones and insists that I pair this with that -- if I don't she'll pick up my tools and try to do it herself.
Drape a necklace she likes around her and she grins from ear to ear and walks around the house like someone on America's Next Top Model. I once said she looked pretty and she gave a me a disdainful look -- and pointed out with an emphatic shake of her head that she was NOT pretty, she's "Gohjus".
When I look at her I keep thinking - Be afraid. She'll be two soon.
Drape a necklace she likes around her and she grins from ear to ear and walks around the house like someone on America's Next Top Model. I once said she looked pretty and she gave a me a disdainful look -- and pointed out with an emphatic shake of her head that she was NOT pretty, she's "Gohjus".
When I look at her I keep thinking - Be afraid. She'll be two soon.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Four Letter Words: SALE (Part 3)
It's still Christmas in July on Artfire, so let's go
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine vintage shops!
Artfire has great vintage shops and they are in full swing participating in the Christmas in July sale. Here's nine offerings from nine lovely shops:
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Ten sales for these shops
There's a fab guild on Artfire called Shops with Less than Ten Sales and they run a blog that features fantastic, undiscovered artisan shops. They just don't write features on those shops mind you, but each week, blog readers get a chance to win a lovely item from any of the artisans who are members of that guild. Check out the guild blog here -- who knows, you may be the lucky winner of this week's giveaway!
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eleven more days of Christmas
That's right. It has been said that the Artfire Christmas in July sale ends on July 25. But not for Spiral. I'm extending the sale for another eleven days or until July 30, 2010. Was thinking that maybe you had not gotten around to starting your shopping this year and giving you more time to do so will be my pleasure. Check out some of the latest listed items:
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve months of promos!
Who says Christmas should be celebrated only once a year? It's my favorite holiday and I thought I'd celebrate it year round with monthly promos and special offers for all those who drop by at my shop on Artfire, Spiral. Promo announcements, games and giveaways will be announced here at my Artfire blog so be sure to visit often and see what's new! Christmas season starts in August!
Whew! That's twelve days -- and it doesn't stop there. Artfire and its members are open year round and the sales and promos never stop. Please don't forget to visit any of the shops featured here for the best deals and the finest handmade items around.
Merry Christmas - in July!
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine vintage shops!
Artfire has great vintage shops and they are in full swing participating in the Christmas in July sale. Here's nine offerings from nine lovely shops:
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Ten sales for these shops
There's a fab guild on Artfire called Shops with Less than Ten Sales and they run a blog that features fantastic, undiscovered artisan shops. They just don't write features on those shops mind you, but each week, blog readers get a chance to win a lovely item from any of the artisans who are members of that guild. Check out the guild blog here -- who knows, you may be the lucky winner of this week's giveaway!
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eleven more days of Christmas
That's right. It has been said that the Artfire Christmas in July sale ends on July 25. But not for Spiral. I'm extending the sale for another eleven days or until July 30, 2010. Was thinking that maybe you had not gotten around to starting your shopping this year and giving you more time to do so will be my pleasure. Check out some of the latest listed items:
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve months of promos!
Who says Christmas should be celebrated only once a year? It's my favorite holiday and I thought I'd celebrate it year round with monthly promos and special offers for all those who drop by at my shop on Artfire, Spiral. Promo announcements, games and giveaways will be announced here at my Artfire blog so be sure to visit often and see what's new! Christmas season starts in August!
Whew! That's twelve days -- and it doesn't stop there. Artfire and its members are open year round and the sales and promos never stop. Please don't forget to visit any of the shops featured here for the best deals and the finest handmade items around.
Merry Christmas - in July!
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