It has been almost FOREVER since I have posted here!
So what's new in the world of Blue Butterfly Designs?
I am not going to renew the website at the end of the year. It didn't bring me ANY sales, so I'm going to let it revert back to a free wix account, and sell through a site called storenvy instead.
http://bluebutterfly.storenvy.com
I will also be experimenting with taking orders through email.
I am having a clearance sale! I will feature some of the clearance products at the end of this post. It includes not only discounts on the products themselves, but also discounts on shipping, including FREE CANADA-WIDE SHIPPING!
I also plan to start using Youtube again.
I have a tumblr account, you can find me under the blog Blue Butterfly Designs.
Anyway, that's all that's new in the shop world right now! I know it's not much, but I've had some health issues that have prevented me from working on things. I promise to do better from now on!
Monday 1 October 2012
Monday 16 April 2012
Been a while since I posted, Hasn't it?
So. I am still around, I've just been quiet lately.
I have an injured foot right now (It's a long, nasty little story that I will spare you from reading unless directly asked) so I will have plenty of time to work on new products!
One of the items I plan to roll out this month is something I *think* I invented myself, though I am sure I got the idea from somewhere. Braided glass bead bracelets! I will post pictures as soon as I get a new camera, since my old one up and died on me >.< (That's an annoyed face for those unfamiliar with smilies)
My neck hurts right now from being bent over my beading all afternoon. I think I may need new glasses again. Ugh. Oh well.
(This may be the last time I blog in the living room, on Monday nights at least, Papa Cam is watching wrestling and it's loud and annoying hahahahahahaha)
Well, the TV channel ust turned over to the hockey game, if the Canucks are playing I just might watch. In the meantime, the cat and I are sitting on the couch being snuggly until I feel like doing some more beadwork.
Next time I will have some more shop information and some new products to announce, including those braided bracelets I talked about!
I have an injured foot right now (It's a long, nasty little story that I will spare you from reading unless directly asked) so I will have plenty of time to work on new products!
One of the items I plan to roll out this month is something I *think* I invented myself, though I am sure I got the idea from somewhere. Braided glass bead bracelets! I will post pictures as soon as I get a new camera, since my old one up and died on me >.< (That's an annoyed face for those unfamiliar with smilies)
My neck hurts right now from being bent over my beading all afternoon. I think I may need new glasses again. Ugh. Oh well.
(This may be the last time I blog in the living room, on Monday nights at least, Papa Cam is watching wrestling and it's loud and annoying hahahahahahaha)
Well, the TV channel ust turned over to the hockey game, if the Canucks are playing I just might watch. In the meantime, the cat and I are sitting on the couch being snuggly until I feel like doing some more beadwork.
Next time I will have some more shop information and some new products to announce, including those braided bracelets I talked about!
Tuesday 24 January 2012
Business Planning
Yesterday was an interesting day for me at EntreActive (The program for Entrepreneurs with disabilities). We started the section on writing our business plan, and essentially we had a round table discussion group where we went through the first chapter of our business plan individually, bouncing ideas off the instructor and the other participants. Now all I have to do is get to work putting it all in my own words, expanding on the notes, and putting it down in the business plan document.
I also intend to get back to work on my novel this week. I've had a long enough break since NaNoWriMo ended - it's time to finish writing and get to editing so I can take advantage of this year's createspace offer. I'm going to be a busy girl for the next few months!
Street market season starts in June, registration for most markets starts in March. Hopefully I can get a good table at a couple of markets and earn money to join some craft fairs in the fall - one of my business goals is to participate in five or more markets and craft fairs this year. It is so expensive to sell at a craft fair though. Well I am sure things will go well. I'm an optimistic person today.
This morning was my first session with the GROW program. It went well. Tuesday morning is jewelry making, so I sat and worked on some projects and chatted with the other ladies. most of them are considerably older than me and I'm not sure i fit in based on age, but once I started talking to the lady next to me, I think our age difference became a non-issue. I will give it another couple of sessions before I decide whether or not I fit in.
This afternoon when I go home from GROW I will work on some more jewelry and get some photos up in the gallery. I don't want to add more products to the store until some things start selling so I will be focusing on making products for the craft fairs and working on custom orders this next little while. But I will say that the more jewelry I make the better I get at it - so be on the lookout for some pretty epic products to come into the store later! I am even making my own watches now - I buy the watch faces and then add my own beaded bands to them. People here at GROW really liked the one I made for myself, so I made another one to demonstrate how I do it. They were pretty impressed.
I also have plans for a reorganisation of the store later in the spring time. I think I would like to organise it by category. having a seperate section for everything. Look for the new style some time in late February or early March.
Well that's all the news for today I think.
Michelle
I also intend to get back to work on my novel this week. I've had a long enough break since NaNoWriMo ended - it's time to finish writing and get to editing so I can take advantage of this year's createspace offer. I'm going to be a busy girl for the next few months!
Street market season starts in June, registration for most markets starts in March. Hopefully I can get a good table at a couple of markets and earn money to join some craft fairs in the fall - one of my business goals is to participate in five or more markets and craft fairs this year. It is so expensive to sell at a craft fair though. Well I am sure things will go well. I'm an optimistic person today.
This morning was my first session with the GROW program. It went well. Tuesday morning is jewelry making, so I sat and worked on some projects and chatted with the other ladies. most of them are considerably older than me and I'm not sure i fit in based on age, but once I started talking to the lady next to me, I think our age difference became a non-issue. I will give it another couple of sessions before I decide whether or not I fit in.
This afternoon when I go home from GROW I will work on some more jewelry and get some photos up in the gallery. I don't want to add more products to the store until some things start selling so I will be focusing on making products for the craft fairs and working on custom orders this next little while. But I will say that the more jewelry I make the better I get at it - so be on the lookout for some pretty epic products to come into the store later! I am even making my own watches now - I buy the watch faces and then add my own beaded bands to them. People here at GROW really liked the one I made for myself, so I made another one to demonstrate how I do it. They were pretty impressed.
I also have plans for a reorganisation of the store later in the spring time. I think I would like to organise it by category. having a seperate section for everything. Look for the new style some time in late February or early March.
Well that's all the news for today I think.
Michelle
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Merry Christmas!
Wow! Remember the Good Mood set that I mentioned last blog post? It sold within 48 hours! That definitely put me in a good mood.
There is a video up on the youtube page about how to make hemp/twine bracelets with beads. The youtube channel is bluebutterflydesigns.
I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas or happy whatever else you celebrate. There are so many holidays going on this time of year! I can't keep track of them all.
Combine with that the fact that my birthday is one the 23rd...
Amy's birthday was the 12th...
December is a weird month for me. So busy...so much going on...
Anyway! Shop news!
I'm considering bringing back the bottle cap earrings. They were insanely popular for an item that never sold...a lot of people really loved them but no one ever bought them. I want to try them again, hopefully those of you who liked them will buy a pair this time!
I've begun experimenting with making beads and charms out of polymer clay. I'm also making other things, such as magnets and trinkets. Looks for these items soon!
I've made some lovely "jean purses" that I want to sell in the shop as well. I plan to have a few of those made and listed in the shop by the new year.
Custom orders will be implemented ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1st, 2012. There will be a $5 deposit on all custom orders before I will begin work. This non-refundable deposit is to protect me and you. It protects me from starting a potentially complicated project only to have the piece get rejected and me not earn any money, and gives you piece of mind that I'm not running off with a bunch of money. Not that I would ever do that, but people have expressed this concern in the past when I was requesting full price up front.
That's about all for today! Have a great holiday everyone!
There is a video up on the youtube page about how to make hemp/twine bracelets with beads. The youtube channel is bluebutterflydesigns.
I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas or happy whatever else you celebrate. There are so many holidays going on this time of year! I can't keep track of them all.
Combine with that the fact that my birthday is one the 23rd...
Amy's birthday was the 12th...
December is a weird month for me. So busy...so much going on...
Anyway! Shop news!
I'm considering bringing back the bottle cap earrings. They were insanely popular for an item that never sold...a lot of people really loved them but no one ever bought them. I want to try them again, hopefully those of you who liked them will buy a pair this time!
I've begun experimenting with making beads and charms out of polymer clay. I'm also making other things, such as magnets and trinkets. Looks for these items soon!
I've made some lovely "jean purses" that I want to sell in the shop as well. I plan to have a few of those made and listed in the shop by the new year.
Custom orders will be implemented ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1st, 2012. There will be a $5 deposit on all custom orders before I will begin work. This non-refundable deposit is to protect me and you. It protects me from starting a potentially complicated project only to have the piece get rejected and me not earn any money, and gives you piece of mind that I'm not running off with a bunch of money. Not that I would ever do that, but people have expressed this concern in the past when I was requesting full price up front.
That's about all for today! Have a great holiday everyone!
Wednesday 7 December 2011
New Website! New Products!
Blue Butterfly's online store is now located at http://www.bluebutterflyjewelry.com take a look!
In honour of the new site, I have posted all new products in the store. There's a lot of neat stuff there, if you ask me, including several necklaces, bracelets, earrings, classic wire-wrapped pendants, and the beautiful good mood set, pictured below.
This set includes earrings, necklace, and bracelet, and features hand made chain links made of silver-plated wire. The necklace boasts a lovely Mirage brand mood bead in the style Fancy Flame.
I also have several items made from vintage glass beads, including these two lovely bracelets.
Customers in Canada are likely to recieve Christmas orders in time if you order within the next TEN DAYS. US customers may not recieve theirs in time for Christmas, so order at your own risk!
Keep an eye out for more new products! Also, watch for more frequent blog posts, including some special features on the life of a jewelry maker, jewelry making in general, and the trials of running a home business.
In honour of the new site, I have posted all new products in the store. There's a lot of neat stuff there, if you ask me, including several necklaces, bracelets, earrings, classic wire-wrapped pendants, and the beautiful good mood set, pictured below.
I also have several items made from vintage glass beads, including these two lovely bracelets.
Keep an eye out for more new products! Also, watch for more frequent blog posts, including some special features on the life of a jewelry maker, jewelry making in general, and the trials of running a home business.
Thursday 27 October 2011
Welcome to Blue Butterfly Blogs
Please bear with us as we build the blog and the main website. It has been a while since I have done this. :)
Hi! My name is Michelle and I am the owner and artist at Blue Butterfly Designs.
Originally from Ohio, I now live in Victoria BC with my wife and cat. I make handmade jewelry and accessories in my home as part of my therapy for Bipolar 1 Disorder, and I sell what I make here.
My shop is called Blue Butterfly Designs. I came up with that name for several reasons, the number one reason being that the butterfly is a symbol of hope, strength, and change, which are three very important concepts when dealing with mental illness. I felt that "blue" flowed very well with "butterfly" and so Blue Butterfly Designs was born.
The shop started out on NoobTrader, but no one seemed to be able to find it or trust it because no one had ever heard of NoobTrader, so I decided to move on to Etsy since it is far more trusted and widely used. After taking a class at Business Victoria aimed at helping people with disabilities start their own business, I moved the shop here in the hopes of having more control over it.
My jewelry is made of anything from recycled buttons and ribbons to glass gems and polymer clay. I will work with anything I get my hands on, and sometimes it comes out beautifully and gets posted here, other times it comes out not-so-beautifully and I learn a new technique or concept to apply to future designs.
I find inspiration in the people, places, and things around me. I feel that there is truly a little bit of myself in every piece, and each one is unique (Even if I make more than one similar, they never come out the same way!)
Later on I plan to add more to the shop, particularly things like purses and wallets. I also plan to sell some paintings.
Hi! My name is Michelle and I am the owner and artist at Blue Butterfly Designs.
Originally from Ohio, I now live in Victoria BC with my wife and cat. I make handmade jewelry and accessories in my home as part of my therapy for Bipolar 1 Disorder, and I sell what I make here.
My shop is called Blue Butterfly Designs. I came up with that name for several reasons, the number one reason being that the butterfly is a symbol of hope, strength, and change, which are three very important concepts when dealing with mental illness. I felt that "blue" flowed very well with "butterfly" and so Blue Butterfly Designs was born.
The shop started out on NoobTrader, but no one seemed to be able to find it or trust it because no one had ever heard of NoobTrader, so I decided to move on to Etsy since it is far more trusted and widely used. After taking a class at Business Victoria aimed at helping people with disabilities start their own business, I moved the shop here in the hopes of having more control over it.
My jewelry is made of anything from recycled buttons and ribbons to glass gems and polymer clay. I will work with anything I get my hands on, and sometimes it comes out beautifully and gets posted here, other times it comes out not-so-beautifully and I learn a new technique or concept to apply to future designs.
I find inspiration in the people, places, and things around me. I feel that there is truly a little bit of myself in every piece, and each one is unique (Even if I make more than one similar, they never come out the same way!)
Later on I plan to add more to the shop, particularly things like purses and wallets. I also plan to sell some paintings.
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