Front Page Love!

I remember the very early days of Etsy when a treasury list made it to the front page and stayed there for a day, sometimes a little longer. Now it is a constantly changing feature and I rarely get to see my own items when they make it there. Thankfully there are now wonderful little programs that let me know. So, even though I didn't see it at the time, it was lovely to visit my Facebook fan page and discover that one of my pieces had a moment of fame.

Finally!!

A few weeks ago, as I was making inventory for this Summer's markets, I realized I couldn't remember the last time I made anything new. Sure I have made some designs in different stones or metals. But it has been ages since I designed anything. So I took a few days to do what I enjoy most about all this, creating.
I'm very pleased with the results. I have been working in a smaller and smaller scale. It is amazing how much my collection has changed since that first year of chunky beaded neckaces. I also finally got around to photographing the plethora of items I have made but never posted to my Etsy shop. Right now I have 75 items to be added to the store, YAY!! Here is just a taste of what I have been working on.

Michelle Necklace - Rose Gold & Sterling Silver - Small $28

This design is available in three sizes. Currently I have it in Sterling Silver, Gold Filled and Rose Gold with Sterling. I'm ordering some White Gold as well and will be pairing that with oxidized Sterling, which I am very, VERY excited about.

Willa Necklace - Sterling Silver & Peridot - Small $39

The Willa Necklace has been a part of the shop for a year now but this version is my favorite. It is just ONE INCH across, slightly smaller than a US Quarter. What I love about this size is I am able to use gemstone chips. I have had them in stock for a while but they were too small for the original design. So far, I have made this version with Peridot, Emerald, Aquamarine, Tanzanite, Andaulisite, Tourmaline, Spinel and some genuine Sleeping Beauty Turquoise.

Olivia Earrings - Sterling Silver $32

This design was first inspired by a tree I used to walk past all the time in Australia. I originally designed the Olivia Necklace which was a larger scale with several stones added. I had several requests for earrings in the design but I just couldn't make it work. Now my skills have evolved and I can produce smaller, more consistent results. I'm really pleased with the design and I'm extra pleased that the photos do them justice. I'm considering offering them with a stone between the top of the stem and the earring hook. But for now, they are available like this is Sterling Silver, Gold Filled, Rose Gold & White Gold.

In addition to these new items, I will be adding more Berry Pendants, Berry Rings, Ursula Rings and Natalia Earrings to the shop. I also have the Lynn and Lynnette Earrings in a smaller size. I will be adding these items over the next week. A secret sale is coming up in August when I return from a computer/cell phone/responsibility free week on the Maine coast from August 10th - 15th.

And last, but not least. I have caught up on my Gift Certificate drawings. I have drawn 20 names from a hat to win a $25 Gift Certificate to my shop. I am notifying the winners today. Check your email to see if you have won!

*sigh*

I'm so bad at keeping on top of updating this blog. Perhaps it is because it is not humanly possible to complete all the things I must do in a day. However, there is hope! My lovely mother, Catherine, is arriving in a few hours to spend five days with me. In just a few short weeks the outdoor show season begins and she is here to help me get prepared and organized. With this new found organization, I hope to be on top of updating my store and blog more often.
This week I have added several new items to the shop for the first time in way too long. I also have hundreds of more items to photograph and post. My current goal is to have 250 items in the shop by the end of April.
In addition to adding many new items to the shop, I am also running a Secret Sale from today until April 30th. The sale is open to all mailing list members.
Join the list to be included!
I have also created a FaceBook group and fan page for The Pebble Collection. Check out both of those. From the members of the group and fan page I will holding a monthly drawing for a $25 gift certificate to the shop!
Join the Group!
Visit the Fan Page!
And finally on a personal note, there is a new addition to The Pebble Collection family. On March 15th I adopted a three month old puppy. His name is Otto and he is half Australian Cattle Dog, half Pekingnese. And yes, the combination is as strange as it sounds. He has brought great joy to my life and is excellent company in my studio.

Happy New Year!!

From the window of my studio, I watched the sun rise on the first day of 2009. From this cozy little room I reflected on the passing of 2008. This time last year I was in Australia. That seems like a distant memory now. Many things have changed and people have come and go from my life this year. My journey saw January in Australia, February to June in California, June to November in Vermont and finally November to now back at home in Boston. Through it all I was very fortunate to be able to take my little business in my suitcase with me. It has been a great adventure these last few years. And now, back in the place I intend to grow old, I'm ready to thrive.
Here's to positive change for my life, my business, my country and my world in 2009.
Happy New Year!!

Busy, busy, busy....

After a year selling exclusively online and in boutiques, I am going back to my roots. I began my career as an independent designer at The South End Open Market in Boston. I signed up for a whole season's worth of Sunday before I had even made my first piece of jewelry. Though it was frightening and stressful, that first season formed the foundation for what my business is today. Now that I am back in New England, I'm ready to load up my Saab wagon and head to the shows. I am very lucky to be participating in TWO new markets this holiday season.
Nearly every Saturday from November 1st until Christmas, you will find me at:
Design Hive

Maria Baldwin School (formerly the Agassiz School)

28 Sacramento St. (off Mass Ave. @ corner of Oxford St.)

Cambridge, MA 02138

Then on Sundays you can find me at:
The Prudential Center Artisan Market
800 Boylston St
Boston, MA 02199

As if that wasn't enough of The Pebble Collection, you will also find me at:
SOWA Holiday Market
December 13 & 14
74 Union Park Street
Boston, MA

*sigh*
Just looking at the list of dates exhausts me! But I am really excited and hope that anyone in the area will come out and see me and my collection in person.

A Whole New Look....

If you have been a regular customer, you might have noticed that my packaging has gone through several evolutions. While in the US, I have always used Oatmeal colored recycled paper boxes. When I was shipping from Australia, the postal regulations there required a different style of packaging. I spend countless hour cutting and folding little matchbook boxes and individually wrapping each one. The result was quite lovely but took a lot of time away from other important things like designing new jewelry.
Now that I am back in the US for good and finally have a respectable studio established, it is time to realize the vision I have had for my brand. I absolutely fell in love with this particular Damask pattern and have been incorporating it into my packaging and web design ever since. The former version was sweet and lavender. It was nice, but didn't quite communicate what I wanted. Well, I have finally had the chance to work on the evolution of this theme. The result, I think, is spectacular. I had custom stamps made by another Etsy seller. I have used the stamps to hand print the top and bottom of all my boxes, a tedious task I assure you! But it was well worth it. Along with a new shop banner and website, the packaging really pulls together the collection. I'm very excited about the new look and hope to see the reaction of my customers showing up in their feedback.

Gremlins....

So, I have been intending to write a daily blog post and include lovely photos of works in progress, studio shots and the things that inspire me. However, it seems that Gremlins have made off with the battery charger for my brand new digital camera. Literally, it has been used twice and then mysteriously disappeared. Refusing to believe that it is gone, I have searched the house about 27 times to no avail. On Friday I broke down and ordered a new one, an action that will likely cause the original to magically appear. So apologies for the lack of new posts. There are lots of new and exciting things going on behind the scenes and I can't wait to share with you.