ShaNic Design-Handmade Jewelry

The Chime Collection

2009-08-25T15:42:00.003-04:00

Anyone who knows me, know that I love hoops. They can come big, small, beaded, huge, you name it I love it. So, when I started making jewelry, I defiantly made sure that hoops was on the list of things to learned how to make.

When I'm done making the pieces, I can usuallycome up a name for them, either it is something self explanatory or it is a feeling I get from looking at it. Anyone who is an artist, knows that sometimes you can get a block, so I will ask a fellow Etsian (via Twitter) for a name that they think would best describe the piece. They have come up with some beautiful names.

I am really loving this collection, it is challenging me to be more open to how certain beads, colors, textures, can fit together. I want to push it a lot further.

This Collection is an expanding one, so expect more listings within the next couple of days.

I hope you like it.

Facebook Fan Pages!!!

2009-08-25T15:35:00.001-04:00

Hi guys,
long time no see.

If you frequent the forums, then hopefully you know that I started a Facebook Fan Drive thread. If you do have a fan page, you know that in order to get your store's custom URL, you need to have at least 100 fans. I don't know about you, but I am sick of the long URL's that comes with the fan pages, they are pretty hard to remember.

The thread has been a success for several people, including myself, with 68 pages and counting. All you have to do is, link your fan page and then go though the thread to fan others. The only hard part now, is going through 68 pages, it may seem like a lot, but it will pay off in the end.

Another good way to get fans, is to get your fan page badge and put it on your blog or website. (Look to the right to see how yours will look. )

I hope this was helpful.
Peace out

Stop the Spam

2009-04-30T15:59:00.001-04:00

I have been active on twitter for a couple of months. I like interacting with other sellers, friends, etc.

However, I have noticed that you have some people who will spam the hell out of you with their ads, from their Etsy shops, to their family members businesses, websites, etc. Don't get me wrong I have sent out tweets talking about items that I just listed to my shop or recent blog posts (lack there of), but that is only when I just listed the items or made the post, I don't twitter about it all day, everyday.

Some people take twittering their business to the extreme, with every single tweet being about their recently listed items, recently renewed items, ideas about how to sell more items, etc. If you go to their homepage, they reply to no one, because they are twittering about their business. They appear to have no interest in other people, which defeats the purpose of Twitter.

You need to switch it up a bit, respond to people, send out random info about yourself, have fun with it. Be a human, not a business twittering robot.

Rant over.

Key
Technorati Tags: etsy, twitter, spam

I so want another job...

2009-04-11T20:08:00.002-04:00

..but I know that finding a job right now would be very difficult to do. I like the people that I work for but, I am ready to have a job in my desired career field. You see, I work at a restaurant and sometimes you will have those customers that really piss you off and mess up your whole day. I should be use to it though, since all the jobs I've had has dealt with customers.

The fact that I am not working in the field I want to be in, has been really hard to deal with, to the point were I have been really bitchy to everyone and no one wants to be around me (yes it is that bad). I am working on changing my attitude and doing something that makes me happy.

Well, enough of my sad pathetic story.

Key

I am sorry

2009-04-01T02:31:00.003-04:00

I apologize that I haven't been updating my blog everyday or every week for that matter. I have busy with school, work, and trying to promote my shop.

To hold you over enjoy this video.

Photo of the Day #1

2009-03-13T19:24:00.004-04:00

I love photography. I will take a photo everyday and post it on the blog. You can join me if you like, just let me know if you want to participate and I will link your blog post. However, it can't be a photo of something you are selling. (too easy)

My niece Keanu

I Got a Feature!!

2009-03-08T05:41:00.003-04:00

I have the pleasure of being featured on Osceola Pottery 's blog. This is the first time, that I have been featured on anything. yeeepee:)

She has a beautiful shop, take a look at some of her pottery:

Snow Day in HotLanta

2009-03-01T19:08:00.003-05:00

It is SNOWED today!!!!!!!!

Ok, I am not that excited. I had to work, so I wasn't able to enjoy it much. However my niece, took it upon herself to get my brand new camera (hmmm) and take some pics.

It doesn't snow much in Georgia, but when it does (even a little) everything shuts down. If this happened on a weekday, a lot of schools and businesses would have closed. etc...

I could have had a day off from school. I hope is snows tomorrow. lol

Adventures in Oxidizing

2009-02-19T15:48:00.014-05:00

I think it is important as a jewelry designer to learn new techniques. So, I decided that I wanted to try out oxidizing jewelry. I used the egg method, which in my opinion is easier then using liver of sulfur, but takes longer. Some people let their jewelry sit overnight, some wait a couple of hours.

Here is what I did:

Materials:
-2 eggs
-deep container (plastic or glass)
-string
-aluminum foil

Step 1:
Boil eggs

Step 2:
Get your container and tape string on either side

Step 3:
When the eggs are hard. Take the shells off and place the eggs in the container, use a fork to crush them. Take your jewelry and place them on the string. The cross pattern worked better for my pieces, because my earrings are big. If you have smaller pieces use more string across the opening.

*This is without the egg, I was trying it out.

Step 4:
Cover the container with aluminum foil, make sure you don't knock your pieces into the egg.

Step 5:
All you do now is wait. You can let it sit overnight, it's up to you.

Here is what it looked like after 2 hours...

I didn't want them that dark, so I buffed them to take of some of the darkness. Here is the finished product..

I hope that helped you. Remember this was my first time doing it, so...

Re-launch (finally)

2009-02-12T23:41:00.011-05:00

Hi guys. I haven't blogged in a long time. Sorry about that.

I had my shopped in vacation mode for two months. I couldn't find the inspiration or the funds to make jewelry (lol). Sometimes, your just not in the mood and I would rather make pieces that I love, rather then pieces that I just did to fill up my shop.

I am back in the groove and find making jewelry fun again.

So, my shop should be filled up with new items by Sunday. It would have been sooner, but my camera broke and it took a week for my new one to come in.

Look at what I have so far. --------->>>>>

Happy Inauguration Day!!

2009-01-20T17:35:00.007-05:00

I woke up at 9:00 am, to watch Barack H. Obama, become the 44th President of the United States of America. That's all. :)

President Barack H. Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-05T10:33:00.004-05:00

He won!! He won!!
This is a historical moment. I am so happy that I was able to share this with my family. Although, going to a party would have been fun too. lol.

I went on Etsy last night to celebrate with my Etsy friends. People were so happy, international Etsians were just as happy. You all know there had to be one hater in the crowd to try to spoil everything. I am surprised I didn't get muted. lol.

Now it's time for the real work to begin. WE are going to have to move forward as one country to get things done. I am sick of the separation. We can do this.

Eye love this Etsy seller

2008-11-03T02:34:00.003-05:00

I frequent the forums a lot. I have met the most interesting and talented sellers by participating in them.

I came across 5erg, while responding to her thread. She is a wonderful painter and jewelry maker. She was asking fellow Etsians, to email pics of their eyes so she could paint them. I sent her mine and waited to see what she would create.

Well, I woke up yesterday morning, got ready for work, checked my email, and saw a convo from her, which contained the listing for my eye. I came home from work and someone bought the painting, 5 hours after it was listed. How cool is that?

Isn't it pretty?

Here is another fellow Etsian, weirdbuglady.

5erg, is really talented. Take a look at her shop , blog , and DeviantART Gallery . It will be worth it, trust me.

New Chat Feature

2008-11-03T01:53:00.000-05:00

I have added a new chat feature to my blog. Anyone who knows me, knows I love to talk. So, if you have questions about my jewelry or you just want to chat, you can reach me in the chat box. It is connected to my Yahoo Messenger, so I will get it immediately. How cool is that? :)

More updates to come.

smooches xoxo

Rock the Vote

2008-11-02T03:22:00.000-05:00

Guess what tomorrow is? Come on guess..It's Election Day.

I don't know about you, but I am so ready for it to be over. I am tired of the negative ads, I am tired of the blame game, I can go on and on. It is very important that you get out there and vote. I don't care who you vote for, I know who I am voting for (look to your right:) ). Too many people have fought and died for the right to vote. Don't let that struggle and fight be in vain.

This election is historical on so many levels. We could have the first African American President or the first female Vice President.

What are you going to tell your kids about this point in history? That you went out and voted, volunteered, etc.. or you stayed at home and watched T.V., because you didn't feel like waiting in line to vote. Which would you choose?

Get up, Get out, and Vote.

Politics on Etsy: Good, Bad, & Ugly

2008-10-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Well, I frequent the Etsy forums a lot, particularly the ETC. section. When it comes to politics it can get very heated in there. I admit, I have been apart of the fray sometimes. When it comes to politics, I can be very opinionated.
Lately, I have realized that maybe I need to take a break from the political threads. That has been a hard thing to do though.

Some might say, that participating in political threads can hurt your store.

I personally, could care less if someone chooses not to buy from me, because of my political or social views. I sell a lot of my jewelry off line and I want, to of course see my online store succeed, but if that means I have to hide who I am to do that, then oh well.

If someone has something in their store that I like, I would buy from them. I could care less if they agree with me or not when it comes to politics*. I have meet strong, smart, and supportive members in forums, from both parties. I am pretty sure that I wouldn't have, if I didn't participate.

So, for all the newbies, don't be nervous to voice your opinons.
By the way I am a proud, unapologetic supporter of Barack H. Obama II:)

* However, lol, there are like two people in particular who, hell would have to freeze over, melt, and freeze over again before I would ever consider, buying from them.

New Layout

2008-09-20T20:55:00.000-04:00

Hi people,
I updated my template, because the one before was to dark. I wanted to brighten it up a bit.
I didn't know however, when you get a new template that it erases all of you widgets.
So, all of the links I added are gone. I will put them back up soon. Promise.

peace out

What was I thinking?

2008-09-14T16:16:00.000-04:00

So, I have been trying out new techniques in, regards to my jewelry making. Metal work is something that has been interesting me more and more. I know I should have used less expensive wire, before venturing into this, but I did not.
I purchased some half round sterling silver wire and I don't like it.
I love however, 16g round wire which I made these beautiful earrings from. These were sold the first day I opened my Etsy shop. I also love 20g round wire. I was thinking about putting it up for sale in my destash category, but the price of silver is down, so I won't get a return on it.
Well, I guess I will have to find some use for it.

The Link Swap/Your Shop Announcements

2008-09-09T01:12:00.000-04:00

I know the way things are going now, we need as much free advertising as we can get.

If you are interested in having your link on my blog, just comment and I will put it there. That's all. I really would appreciate it if you returned the favor, but it's up to you.

Also, if you are having sales, giveaways, or anything you feel like mentioning regarding your shop just let me know and I will post it. No problem. I will, have a advertising box available soon.

Let's support one another.

Wow I finally did it.

2008-09-08T02:25:00.001-04:00

This is my first time posting on my jewelry blog. I have been so busy with school, that I haven't had an opportunity to promote like I should. From what I hear having a blog is a good way to promote and a good way to allow customers to know more about you.

Well to start, I am a seller on Etsy, I have been there for about two weeks. I have had one sell so far (yay me). Selling online is a new experience for me. So, I am a little nervous.

I love creating different piece of jewelry, using different materials. I try not to do the same thing in my designs but, when it comes to earth tones, you will see that a lot in my pieces.

Through out this blog, you will get to know me more. I will post some things regarding Etsy, as well as some advice for potential sellers. I am learning new things myself everyday and I would only hope to pass my knowledge to those who need it.

To get and idea of what I am selling, here is a little video I made, enjoy: