Changes Occur

If I have seemed absent lately it's because my life as I've known it for the past seven months has changed quite a bit. A little more than a week ago my former editor, from the newspaper I previously worked at, asked me to come back to work. This was the second request. I took that as a hint from the universe and decided to just go with it.

So, now I've been reinstated to my former arts and entertainment reporting self. I'm happy to be back to work, seeing lots of old friends and colleagues and getting swept up again in my love for writing and interviewing people. Let me reiterate -- I do love it -- tremendously so.


But to be frank, I can be quite a shy and awkward individual at times. So having a job that forces me to be around people and talking to plenty of strangers is part blessing and part distressing. Most people who know me would probably disagree with my self-analysis, thinking that I'm an outright confident extrovert, but I usually hide my character quirks well.

Do note that this will not affect my dedication or attention to the Petite Minx shop.

Unrelated & Exciting: Recently a lovely acquaintance of mine posted an interview about me and Petite Minx on her blog, Exquisite Event Planning. Stop by, and don't hesitate to comment. She loves meeting new people and is such a sweetheart. ♥

Monthly Biz Goals: August

It's time to get all my eggs in a row. Wait. Is that how it goes? Well, whatever. You know what I mean. This is my first time participating in Modish Biz Tips Monthly Goal Meetup. For all of you small biz owners who are living under a dinosaur sized egg, see above, and don't know about Modish Biz Tips, check it out. It's handy dandy.

Goals for August
♥ Finish painting my studio.
♥ Move into my back yard studio! (I can't wait to show you guys the pics.)
♥ Make at least two items per business day.
♥ Post two items per biz day. (Duh.)
♥ Query five or more blogs for features.
♥ Begin working on new wholesale offerings.

That's it. Nothing to get scrambled over.

Petite Minx Launches Web Site

Big news! Petite Minx now has its own Web site at petiteminx.net. It's super user friendly, and my favorite part about it is how large and clear the images are when clicked on. Best of all, at purchase time, customers won't have to create an account like they would on many other sites. Simply use your credit card or PayPal account. Easy peasy!

In other big news, Petite Minx jewelry is now also available via Lounge Luxe.

New Jewelry and Business Updates

New jewelry! Everything I make from now on is just for the Peach Festival and won't be in the Etsy shop. However, I'll be more than happy to make duplicates for anyone who asks. Just shoot me an e-mail, or follow the link to the shop and post a querry.

I finished this chocolate and raspberry collection today. (Top left to right - Peas in a Pod earrings, Espresso Beans earrings; Bottom left to right - Chocolate Raspberry earrings, Peas in a Pod bracelet)

I'm in the process of adding photos and descriptions of new jewelry to my newly minted Flickr photo stream. It'll be updated regularly as I continually make more items in preparation for the show. Also, my Flickr widget will be on this blog's sidebar soon, so you can peek in every now and then to see what's new.

Woodland Nest necklace and Peas in a Pod Asymmetrical

I'd love to hear what you all think about the new jewelry. Which is your favorite piece? Mine is the bracelet below.

While antique hunting today, I met a really nice couple who gave me just the nudge I needed to get a merchant account for the festival. So if all goes according to plan, I'll be accepting credit cards at the Peach Festival and at future shows.

I named this one Chocolate Blueberry Surprise.

They also filled me in on a couple more upcoming festivals in Louisiana and are interested in viewing my jewelry for a possible wholesale order. That makes two querries in the matter of a week that have all but fallen into my lap. Holy moly! Everything is really begining to happen for this little business of mine, and I'm super excited about what's to come for Petite Minx.

Beads, Freelancing and My Playlist

New item in shop: Asymmetric Blossom and Beads

I'm so excited to have gotten three packages in the mail yesterday evening. Two bundles were full of beads that are so gorgeous I have to keep touching them. I am itching to get started making more jewelry for my booth at the La. Peach Festival.

Beads, beads, glorious wooden beads

The other package had a book in it that I've been hired to edit. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be asked to do this by the writer. It's a huge honor, and it's something that I truly enjoy doing. I'm a nerd. I know.

This is a small fraction of the bead shipment I received in preparation for my booth at the Louisiana Peach Festival.

Some of you may be wondering why anyone would ask me to edit a book. Jewelry is only one of my loves. I'm also a writer. My previous job was as a reporter for a daily newspaper. That's how I had the pleasure of meeting the writer of the book. One day I got a press release about it and the next I was sitting in a coffee shop interviewing this fascinating individual. All in all, I ended up writing three articles about her and her book.

I'll certainly be busy this week. Here's a list of the music I'll be listening to.
* Jeremy Larson
* Death Cab for Cutie
* Paramour
* Sufjan Stevens
* The Shins

Why Being Laid Off Pays Off

Image found here.

A few months ago I was liberated from the 9 to 5 grind when the newspaper I worked for downsized and I became one of the millions of unemployed.

I experienced so many emotions at once. Sadness, relief, panic, nostalgia and determination. As soon as I heard those words, "We're going to have to let you go," it seemed like the worst thing that could have happened. But as I was sitting in that room with my former editor I had a change of heart. I chose to look at unemployment as the best thing that could have happened, because somewhere on my list of "Things I want to be when I grow up," was to be self-employed.

Sleeping in makes me all fuzzy inside. (I think this image is from the now defunct Domino mag.)

As a young adult, self-employment once seemed to me like a brass ring that was too high to reach. What were my qualifications exactly to do such a reckless thing as to carve my own path, swinging from one ring to the next without a safety net?

True, I haven't "made it" yet but I'm meeting my small business goals every day. One accomplishment leads to the next, and each month that passes the list of those achievements gets bigger until one day you wake up and think, "I've finally arrived. Look at how far I've come."

At least, that's what a successful musician I once interviewed told me. I think I'll take his word for it.

So here are my Reasons Why Self-Employment Rules:
* I get to wake up when I choose to. This is the honest to god, absolute most wonderful thing about working for myself. (That's not to say that I sleep until noon, because I don't. Not even close.)
* The coffee at the "office" is of good quality and is never burned.
* It's a short commute from the couch -- where I drink said morning coffee -- to my work desk.
* And I get to wear my p.j.'s all day if I so choose.
* Lunch breaks last as long as I please (as long as goals are met, of course).
* Any time the work gets too tedious I can take a break to play with my dogs, go outside and get some sun or watch some tube.
* This is one for my former co-workers. My office has windows. Yes! There are four of them.
* I call the shots on what to make, how much to charge, how my business effects the environment, what image I project and what I stand for.
* And last but not least, no one will ever tell me these two damning words, "You're fired."

Let's Talk Craft Shows

Check out this curio box tutorial.

After the ups and downs of a roller coaster month I'm finally hitting my stride, making Petite Minx products and posting listings at the shop. With a craft show at the Ruston Farmers Market on May 9 on the horizon and a couple locations asking for displays, I need all the drive I can muster to crank gobs of jewelry out.

You can check out photos of the last showing I did at the market here. Back then I was using my name for my business.

Photo from Country Living.

I've been making jewelry for six hours a day lately -- sometimes more. Each passing day the pile of finished jewelry at my work desk grows and grows. That's my favorite part of doing jewelry full time -- tracking the identifiable progress. That's also probably why though a part of me dreads balancing the books, I enjoy it. The numbers don't lie, people.

CRAFT SHOW DISPLAY IDEAS

* Fabric covered bulletin board for earrings and necklaces with fun push pins.
* Tree branch necklace display. Branches can be sprayed black, white or silver and stuck in terra-cotta pots dressed up with paint, ribbons, buttons, etc.
* Small picture frame earring displays
* Hand painted canvas banner
* Small black and white photo displays for interest

I'll update with photos as these things are checked off my list.

Petite Minx Web Shop Opens

"Dream Catchers" by Petite Minx will be available at 3rd St. Market as of Saturday.

Yesterday's meeting with the boutique buyers I previously mentioned went well. They ordered multiples of several items, which will be delivered to the shop this Saturday. If you're in the Monroe area check out Petite Minx jewelry for yourself at 3rd St. Market.

This necklace is available through the Petite Minx Etsy shop.

Today I also made Petite Minx jewelry available online at my Etsy shop. The selection is limited right now, but will be stocked in the next couple of weeks. Check it out!

The Possibilities Are Endless

A view from my messy desk while I'm at work creating new jewelry

This week has been a whirlwind of activity at chez Petite Minx. After finally receiving all of my supplies I've begun to make the jewelry that is beyond anything I've ever done. I'm super excited to reveal it all here but have little time on my hands to do so at this point.

More exciting yet, I have an audience this coming Monday with two buyers at a local upscale home and accessories boutique. By Tuesday I'm hoping to have my jewelry on display there. Send me some luck, friends.

By Monday I need to have fabricated one set of all designs in the new line of jewelry. Then I need to get right back to work to make duplicates of each for the gallery that is already selling my work. I just got word that the older jewelry I supplied the gallery has sold quite well. I'm anticipating at the beginning of next month my first paycheck as a self-employed woman. Woo hoo!