NICHOLAS DESIGNS has moved.
Sorry Google lovers, but I have found that Wordpress.com offers a much more wide variety of options and ease for Blogging therefore, Nicholas has jumped the fence and gone to Wordpress!
You can find me at http//:designersattic.wordpress.com
I also have more readers over there! Come and join my followers...
Nicholas.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
A reminder from Nicholas...
Just a reminder if you purchase from Nicholas Designs, remember to enter in the coupon code of
WHYNICHOLAS in order for you to get your 10% discount off all items purchased. (except shipping!)
XOXO
WHYNICHOLAS in order for you to get your 10% discount off all items purchased. (except shipping!)
XOXO
Nicholas reaches out to strangers....
I wish I understood the statistics on this blogging business. Like I have said before, it seems my audience is mainly from Russia...I just think that is the most bizarre! Russia...hmmmmm. I know you are our friends and at the same time rivals...meaning that we simply "keep an eye on each other". But no one from Russia ever says anything to me. Why?
I knew a Russian girl once. Her name was Katia. She had a runny accent. This was waaaaaay back when I worked at the Hanover Inn, back in the glory days.
Anyway, what's happening in the jewelry business? Well, I will update you on my nosey outbreak from last week. As it turns out this vendor for my eyeglass holders pieces was appreciative that I (so to speak) told her that her fly was down. However, SHE DOES NOT CARE. And to further my frustration, she won't change it and her emails to me are overly stocked with spelling errors, like she intends to do it to annoy me.
She is very nice and she is phasing out of the jewelry making business into the jewelry supply business. We have been conversing and she has given me many many interesting ideas to pursue in order to get some traffic on my site. Traffic first, sales follow. That's the way it's supposed to go. I need people poking around, checking me out before I can capture a sale. They need to know they can trust me, like me, respect my work and admire it. Then someone will make a purchase. I am going to make this work even if it KILLS ME!.
One of the things she suggested is to talk to others who are NOT in the business of making jewelry. To do this by forming what Etsy calls "Treasury's" from my site, "Nicholas Designs". So today I spent the entire day making treasury's. I made up 3 of them. 1 is called, "Anti-Valentine, How to kill, murder, off, lose your lover..." another is called "Absurd Valentines Day Gifts" and the last I put together was for all of the people whom I have purchased supplies from entitled, "My Favorite Suppliers, the best jewelry vendors".
From these Treasuries I have reached out and touched many people by including their products in my treasuries. The first one was hard to come by. The treasury's allow for up to 16 photo's to make your point. That's all they are, photo's of other's products with a title, that's a treasury. They can be quite powerful when you make your statement.
The "murder, killing" one was hard to come by. I started to collect hammers, then mallets, then I came across an old photo of a murder taking place and grabbed that. I stumbled around for a while and kept coming across differing kinds of "weapons" and different ways of "offing" another and finally, suicide. It came out great, very macabre, strange, scary, violent and just plain weird! Any one can see it, you just have to go to Etsy and look up the treasuries. Use the key words "anti valentines" and "how to kill". You'll see it, my picture is right there with the Shop name. My user name of PC and J is also there (I can't change that, I wish I could but Etsy won't let me, so I am stuck being known as PC and J which was my old shop name.) Sucks.
I've gotten many "cool!", "thanks for including my product..." and "really strange!" comments. I replied to as many as I could today remarking on their shops or products trying to stimulate a relational interest where they might be curious about me and see what it is that I do and visit my shop...hence, TRAFFIC! See how that works?
The other one was a lot of fun. I went through many shops and found the most absurd oddities I could find to present as possible "gifts" to a Valentine who "has everything...but I'll bet (s)he doesn't have these!" products! Many responses to that as well. The next couple of days will show whether or not the treasury idea worked. I am tracking my statistics through Etsy's "Search Ads" for a whopping 25 bucks a week! That's a lot for me. I am on my second week. I won't be able to do this for that amount of money again. They have lesser options 5, 10 or 25 a week. I can probably swing 10 and then 5. But that's got to stop after that.
The last I put together as a tribute to those vendors who have kept me happy with my choices of product that I have bought. Although the majority of my inventory comes from a local mineralogist and from "JoAnne's", I am quickly fading from JoAnne's view and getting more cozy with the local guy. I like to "touch and feel" before I buy.
Speaking of buying products, I am making my m-in-law a pendant of birth stones of her 4 kids as we are visiting her over the Valentine's Day week. Her birthday is on the 14th. The birthstones I need to merge together are 2 light blue, 1 pink and 1 red. I bought the pink and the red at JoAnne's without incident but JoAnne's was out of light blue. Therefore I had to order the light blue and make sure they are the same style as the pink and red ones. I chose Swarovski 10mm Heart Crystals, not mounted. I am mounting them myself with a wire technique.
I successfully wired the pink and the red one and they look terrific. See?
I bought a pair of blues from a vendor and when they arrived I noticed the drill hole in the upper center was terribly close to the indent of the heart. I tried to "wire" them and they shattered. Here is a picture.
Well, I wasn't happy and I wasn't happy with the color either. (would you believe I am playing "fetch" with the cat and his green ball? he's really returning it for me to throw again...this is the 8th time!, cool cat!)
So, I reordered and mentioned that the product shattered and I think it is because the hole is too close to the top of the heart. I received my order today and the color is good but it looks like they re-drilled the hole. It's not a tiny hole any more it's a pretty large hole, like they were trying to bring the hole lower into the heart but the product arrives already drilled and to make the hole bigger just makes the stone less stable. I plan to ask the vendor about this.
If I break them again, I don't know what I am going to do. Obviously go to another vendor but I may be running out of time. I want to get them completed and mounted on the silver pendant I bought before I fly to Florida on the 11th. I think I still have plenty of time. It's just odd, because it is so obvious that the holes are bigger and why would they think a larger hole would be more stable? It is still in the same spot only larger. Maybe I'm dealing with dummies. Who knows? we'll find out though.
Well, it's 4am and I should start doing some listing for my other shop, especially since that one is the only one that's making any money! I would say anything from Grampa's Attic that sells at this point is pure profit. It's all junk anyway! But a lot of people like it. One man's junk is an other's treasure!
Bye for now, my Russian friends! Any one else out there?
I knew a Russian girl once. Her name was Katia. She had a runny accent. This was waaaaaay back when I worked at the Hanover Inn, back in the glory days.
Anyway, what's happening in the jewelry business? Well, I will update you on my nosey outbreak from last week. As it turns out this vendor for my eyeglass holders pieces was appreciative that I (so to speak) told her that her fly was down. However, SHE DOES NOT CARE. And to further my frustration, she won't change it and her emails to me are overly stocked with spelling errors, like she intends to do it to annoy me.
She is very nice and she is phasing out of the jewelry making business into the jewelry supply business. We have been conversing and she has given me many many interesting ideas to pursue in order to get some traffic on my site. Traffic first, sales follow. That's the way it's supposed to go. I need people poking around, checking me out before I can capture a sale. They need to know they can trust me, like me, respect my work and admire it. Then someone will make a purchase. I am going to make this work even if it KILLS ME!.
One of the things she suggested is to talk to others who are NOT in the business of making jewelry. To do this by forming what Etsy calls "Treasury's" from my site, "Nicholas Designs". So today I spent the entire day making treasury's. I made up 3 of them. 1 is called, "Anti-Valentine, How to kill, murder, off, lose your lover..." another is called "Absurd Valentines Day Gifts" and the last I put together was for all of the people whom I have purchased supplies from entitled, "My Favorite Suppliers, the best jewelry vendors".
From these Treasuries I have reached out and touched many people by including their products in my treasuries. The first one was hard to come by. The treasury's allow for up to 16 photo's to make your point. That's all they are, photo's of other's products with a title, that's a treasury. They can be quite powerful when you make your statement.
The "murder, killing" one was hard to come by. I started to collect hammers, then mallets, then I came across an old photo of a murder taking place and grabbed that. I stumbled around for a while and kept coming across differing kinds of "weapons" and different ways of "offing" another and finally, suicide. It came out great, very macabre, strange, scary, violent and just plain weird! Any one can see it, you just have to go to Etsy and look up the treasuries. Use the key words "anti valentines" and "how to kill". You'll see it, my picture is right there with the Shop name. My user name of PC and J is also there (I can't change that, I wish I could but Etsy won't let me, so I am stuck being known as PC and J which was my old shop name.) Sucks.
I've gotten many "cool!", "thanks for including my product..." and "really strange!" comments. I replied to as many as I could today remarking on their shops or products trying to stimulate a relational interest where they might be curious about me and see what it is that I do and visit my shop...hence, TRAFFIC! See how that works?
The other one was a lot of fun. I went through many shops and found the most absurd oddities I could find to present as possible "gifts" to a Valentine who "has everything...but I'll bet (s)he doesn't have these!" products! Many responses to that as well. The next couple of days will show whether or not the treasury idea worked. I am tracking my statistics through Etsy's "Search Ads" for a whopping 25 bucks a week! That's a lot for me. I am on my second week. I won't be able to do this for that amount of money again. They have lesser options 5, 10 or 25 a week. I can probably swing 10 and then 5. But that's got to stop after that.
The last I put together as a tribute to those vendors who have kept me happy with my choices of product that I have bought. Although the majority of my inventory comes from a local mineralogist and from "JoAnne's", I am quickly fading from JoAnne's view and getting more cozy with the local guy. I like to "touch and feel" before I buy.
Speaking of buying products, I am making my m-in-law a pendant of birth stones of her 4 kids as we are visiting her over the Valentine's Day week. Her birthday is on the 14th. The birthstones I need to merge together are 2 light blue, 1 pink and 1 red. I bought the pink and the red at JoAnne's without incident but JoAnne's was out of light blue. Therefore I had to order the light blue and make sure they are the same style as the pink and red ones. I chose Swarovski 10mm Heart Crystals, not mounted. I am mounting them myself with a wire technique.
I successfully wired the pink and the red one and they look terrific. See?
I bought a pair of blues from a vendor and when they arrived I noticed the drill hole in the upper center was terribly close to the indent of the heart. I tried to "wire" them and they shattered. Here is a picture. Well, I wasn't happy and I wasn't happy with the color either. (would you believe I am playing "fetch" with the cat and his green ball? he's really returning it for me to throw again...this is the 8th time!, cool cat!)
So, I reordered and mentioned that the product shattered and I think it is because the hole is too close to the top of the heart. I received my order today and the color is good but it looks like they re-drilled the hole. It's not a tiny hole any more it's a pretty large hole, like they were trying to bring the hole lower into the heart but the product arrives already drilled and to make the hole bigger just makes the stone less stable. I plan to ask the vendor about this.
If I break them again, I don't know what I am going to do. Obviously go to another vendor but I may be running out of time. I want to get them completed and mounted on the silver pendant I bought before I fly to Florida on the 11th. I think I still have plenty of time. It's just odd, because it is so obvious that the holes are bigger and why would they think a larger hole would be more stable? It is still in the same spot only larger. Maybe I'm dealing with dummies. Who knows? we'll find out though.
Well, it's 4am and I should start doing some listing for my other shop, especially since that one is the only one that's making any money! I would say anything from Grampa's Attic that sells at this point is pure profit. It's all junk anyway! But a lot of people like it. One man's junk is an other's treasure!
Bye for now, my Russian friends! Any one else out there?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Nicholas has a dance with the Blue Nun...
Well here I am again. I'm back in the saddle again...It's 2:41am and I'm back on the keyboard letting my fingers do the dance of the millennium. I have my glass of Blue Nun, I have YOU to keep me company and I am happy as a turd. I wonder if turds are happy to be free or sad to be leaving....?
I did something today and I am not sure I like what I did or, if it was an appropriate thing to do. I hope I have some feedback on this because I need your help in deciding whether I did right or whether I totally screwed up.
I went to a site yesterday morning to buy some supplies from a vendor/designer who I have never bought from before. After my purchase I received the typical canned "thankyouverymuchforyourorder" message. Within that message was a bunch of apologetic statements from the vendor/designer about how crappy her photo's were, and that she was trying to be as professional as she can and that she was a "designer" and not a photographer, blah blah and finally, a plea for business. Odd, I thought.
I went to her site and poked around. Well, she was right, every picture I looked at (no kidding!) was blurry. She was right! Her photography sucked! But not only that, in the particular piece I was looking at had 2 spelling errors in the title alone and the description of the item was grammatically incorrect, so much so, that I had to read it several times in order to make sense out of it.
Now, here's the part where I have my trouble....let me ask you this, would YOU contact her in an attempt to alert her to the fact that there were spelling errors in the title? Well I did. I have done this type of thing before if I find a grossly misspelled word(s) or a math error, I have sent an FYI to the owner to let them know. Every time they have been appreciative, rightly so. If your fly was unzipped wouldn't YOU want to know about it? I am just the type of person that will discreetly let you know. (Where are the boundary lines for being "discreet"?) I consider it a service to my fellow sister/brother.
So, yes, I contacted her. But for some reason I didn't stop at the spelling errors. I told her about the grammar problems and agreed with her that she was no photographer. Every other sentence was an apology from me and I inserted many offers of help if she needed it. And I asked the "Who am I to..and who do I think I am..." when in fact she had hundreds of sales and I have not counted 4. She must be doing something right... right?
I have been too afraid to look at my messages. I have not checked that area in my daily routine of checking all the possible hot spots going on in my life. Therefore I have no idea yet of how she reacted. I tell you I was sincerely humble in my comments almost to the point of being embarrassed. I hope that came across.
I have just made up my mind to look and see if she has written back and to read her rebuttal, if any, before I go back to bed and catch a few more winks because, I don't want to wait until daylight and have to carry the guilt around all day. If I can get some sleep in between, somehow it makes the whole thing a littler farther away and not so hauntingly close.
I feel sorry for her. I probably should not. I probably should feel sorry for me for being such an ass. Why did God give me this terrible trait? Why is it MY job to tell people that their fly's are down? I believe there is one in 50 people who are like this and I have to be one of them. Bummer. My big mouth has always been my pitfall.
You know what? I really had no intention of writing about this when I first sat down. Perhaps the Nun makes you blue...hmmmmm. So I ask, What would you have done? I need some feedback here folks! Help me out.
Moving along. I am going to try like hell to post a video on this blog that I put together last week for my shop. I know that it sounds easy, post a video, but I can't get the damn thing to insert into my email the way that I want it to. I want it to just be there on the email where you see the little TV and the "play" arrow. I couldn't figure that out. I did not want to have to post-a-link to it but that is what I ended up doing. Perhaps I could not get it to insert the way I wanted it to, had something to do with how it was made and with what product. I hope it was that and not my ignorance.
Anyway, I am going to post the link here: http://www.photoshow.com/members/dbarrell/all
I hope you go there and from there, click on the little TV screen and play it. I think it came out marvelous! Just another advertising scheme.
Last week I also went through all my own jewelry pieces that I keep for my own wear. They were all ratty and worn and in desperate need of a "face lift". I basically remade them and used all sterling silver. Before I only had the ear wires in sterling as I am wicked allergic to cheap, inferior metals. (And "they" say I have "expensive" tastes...it's out of necessity, not want!) (What do "they" know anyway?) (And who ARE "they" anyway?)
I ended up making some pretty cool pieces. If you have an extensive inventory and a huge imagination, one can whip up a pair of earrings in about 6 minutes and 45 seconds! No Kidding! My next skill to tackle and conquer is wire wrapping. I can't figure it out! (again) "They" say once you know HOW to do it, it is pretty simple. Well, I can't imagine it. I think I have wasted 2 feet of expensive sterling silver 24 gauge wire just fooling around and trying! (gotta stop doing that!).
I just need to find the time and take a formal lesson. And I should do that just as I need to renew my CPR certifications. Which reminds me....I need to find a place where I can do that cheap. Since I work for myself I can not rely on my employer to provide the means. Another part of running a business that sucks.
Gawd, (I think that's cleaner than "God", it's also more "NewEnglandy") another blog without pictures...what do you all think? Can you read a blog with no pictures? Is it sort of like reading the comics page without the pictures, are they still funny? I hope so.
Going to close now and take a deep breath, cough, cough some more, and go and read my fated replies. I hope to remember to tell you how it all came out. (Another of the things that "they" say is...) things have a way of working out for the good, don't they? Let's hope so.....
I did something today and I am not sure I like what I did or, if it was an appropriate thing to do. I hope I have some feedback on this because I need your help in deciding whether I did right or whether I totally screwed up.
I went to a site yesterday morning to buy some supplies from a vendor/designer who I have never bought from before. After my purchase I received the typical canned "thankyouverymuchforyourorder" message. Within that message was a bunch of apologetic statements from the vendor/designer about how crappy her photo's were, and that she was trying to be as professional as she can and that she was a "designer" and not a photographer, blah blah and finally, a plea for business. Odd, I thought.
I went to her site and poked around. Well, she was right, every picture I looked at (no kidding!) was blurry. She was right! Her photography sucked! But not only that, in the particular piece I was looking at had 2 spelling errors in the title alone and the description of the item was grammatically incorrect, so much so, that I had to read it several times in order to make sense out of it.
Now, here's the part where I have my trouble....let me ask you this, would YOU contact her in an attempt to alert her to the fact that there were spelling errors in the title? Well I did. I have done this type of thing before if I find a grossly misspelled word(s) or a math error, I have sent an FYI to the owner to let them know. Every time they have been appreciative, rightly so. If your fly was unzipped wouldn't YOU want to know about it? I am just the type of person that will discreetly let you know. (Where are the boundary lines for being "discreet"?) I consider it a service to my fellow sister/brother.
So, yes, I contacted her. But for some reason I didn't stop at the spelling errors. I told her about the grammar problems and agreed with her that she was no photographer. Every other sentence was an apology from me and I inserted many offers of help if she needed it. And I asked the "Who am I to..and who do I think I am..." when in fact she had hundreds of sales and I have not counted 4. She must be doing something right... right?
I have been too afraid to look at my messages. I have not checked that area in my daily routine of checking all the possible hot spots going on in my life. Therefore I have no idea yet of how she reacted. I tell you I was sincerely humble in my comments almost to the point of being embarrassed. I hope that came across.
I have just made up my mind to look and see if she has written back and to read her rebuttal, if any, before I go back to bed and catch a few more winks because, I don't want to wait until daylight and have to carry the guilt around all day. If I can get some sleep in between, somehow it makes the whole thing a littler farther away and not so hauntingly close.
I feel sorry for her. I probably should not. I probably should feel sorry for me for being such an ass. Why did God give me this terrible trait? Why is it MY job to tell people that their fly's are down? I believe there is one in 50 people who are like this and I have to be one of them. Bummer. My big mouth has always been my pitfall.
You know what? I really had no intention of writing about this when I first sat down. Perhaps the Nun makes you blue...hmmmmm. So I ask, What would you have done? I need some feedback here folks! Help me out.
Moving along. I am going to try like hell to post a video on this blog that I put together last week for my shop. I know that it sounds easy, post a video, but I can't get the damn thing to insert into my email the way that I want it to. I want it to just be there on the email where you see the little TV and the "play" arrow. I couldn't figure that out. I did not want to have to post-a-link to it but that is what I ended up doing. Perhaps I could not get it to insert the way I wanted it to, had something to do with how it was made and with what product. I hope it was that and not my ignorance.
Anyway, I am going to post the link here: http://www.photoshow.com/members/dbarrell/all
I hope you go there and from there, click on the little TV screen and play it. I think it came out marvelous! Just another advertising scheme.
Last week I also went through all my own jewelry pieces that I keep for my own wear. They were all ratty and worn and in desperate need of a "face lift". I basically remade them and used all sterling silver. Before I only had the ear wires in sterling as I am wicked allergic to cheap, inferior metals. (And "they" say I have "expensive" tastes...it's out of necessity, not want!) (What do "they" know anyway?) (And who ARE "they" anyway?)
I ended up making some pretty cool pieces. If you have an extensive inventory and a huge imagination, one can whip up a pair of earrings in about 6 minutes and 45 seconds! No Kidding! My next skill to tackle and conquer is wire wrapping. I can't figure it out! (again) "They" say once you know HOW to do it, it is pretty simple. Well, I can't imagine it. I think I have wasted 2 feet of expensive sterling silver 24 gauge wire just fooling around and trying! (gotta stop doing that!).
I just need to find the time and take a formal lesson. And I should do that just as I need to renew my CPR certifications. Which reminds me....I need to find a place where I can do that cheap. Since I work for myself I can not rely on my employer to provide the means. Another part of running a business that sucks.
Gawd, (I think that's cleaner than "God", it's also more "NewEnglandy") another blog without pictures...what do you all think? Can you read a blog with no pictures? Is it sort of like reading the comics page without the pictures, are they still funny? I hope so.
Going to close now and take a deep breath, cough, cough some more, and go and read my fated replies. I hope to remember to tell you how it all came out. (Another of the things that "they" say is...) things have a way of working out for the good, don't they? Let's hope so.....
Friday, January 13, 2012
Nicholas rocks the boat...and picks up rocks.
To my dear International friends,
OK you guys...Please post some comments and let me know you are alive out there!
I have 2 friends from Russia and 3 from Germany.
Pray-tell, who are you?
We are having winter right now, what is your weather like where you are?
I keep in contact with a friend in Australia and she is in mid summer with a wedding planned for March which would be like our early fall season.
Early and mid fall seasons are the absolute best in my opinion, here in New England.
This woman is fantastic. She is a retro pinup and competing for the Miss Pinup title for Australia in February. She walks and talks the 1950's style of clothing, makeup and demeanour. Young and lovely. Quite a lucky woman. Other than her competition, (which is, I am sure, is a time consuming job), I do not know where or if she is employed by anyone else.
Me? I'm employed everywhere! At least I have been! I am a licenced Practical nurse and work seasonally for an immunization establishment located in Arizona. I must honestly say I am not much of a nurse. I keep up with my educational credits and I have enough working hours to retain my license, but that is all. I would LOVE to do some serious nursing but the nursing world doesn't care for people like me.
I have worked just about everywhere and only for a short period of time. I have the misfortune of carrying the disease of blabby-mouth, footin-mouth and lacka-tact. My skills were terrific but the world of butch boss-ladies and tender-frightened-bullied nurses are not working for me.
I work well with the immuno company because my bosses are all in AZ. I am terrific with the public and well organized and have honed my tasks to perfection. I have been able to be a success because there is no one around forcing their idea of wisdom, lifestyle and rules down my throat.
It's too bad most places to work as a nurse, have female supervisors. When it comes to this business of nursing, the old bags eat their young chicks. There are no "mentors", and no matter how much they say they appreciate your opinion and your ideas, they do not want their boat rocked.
I am a boat rocker.
You see, when people tell me these things in an interview, I believe them. I believe in honesty. don't ever lie to me, ever. I hate liars. Strong word, I know. "We welcome your input, "your opinions are highly valued, "any suggestions you might have are always welcomed, "If you can see where something could be improved, we'd love to hear it....." All of that is a lie.
The "American nursing" way, according to the places I have been subject to, is to keep your mouth shut, overwork yourself and stab anyone and everyone in the back whenever the opportunity arises. That is what I have observed, and I can't do it. Sad isn't it? Don't come here to America and expect to make a difference, that is just plain stupid. If you have a lot of money, you can do anything you want, but, most do not.
So nursing just isn't what I thought it was going to be. A waste of 2 years of education and 10,000. I suppose that is why I went to work for myself the majority of the time. If you can find an outlet for your own creativity, you will be a better person, a happier person and you actually see the world for what it is. It took a long time to understand that I am not going to change anyone, anything and certainly not the world, only my little piece of it and God help me if I intrude on anyone else's ground.
See? I am a boat rocker. I believe in honesty, sharing, mentoring and learning all that I can. If I could find a nursing position in a place where people upheld those characteristics, I would jump all over an opportunity to be a part of their team. However, people and places like that are no where to be found, at least not for me. I'm a hard fit, but when I do fit, I am a comfortable, reliable shoe.
So, here is Nicholas...Why Nicholas? Well, because Nicholas is free to be whatever she wants to be, because Nicholas has no boundaries, because Nicholas enjoys sharing ideas, techniques and conversation, because no one is holding Nicholas down and choking her and Nicholas provides a creative outlet for life's frustrations, fills the holes where relationships have left emptiness and Nicholas provides beauty and joy for others and makes them happy. I love Nicholas.
I want Nicholas to fly, with your help, she can and will. I am practicing my patience and becoming more creative and skillful as each day passes. But I am waiting on you...Nicholas can not do this by herself, she needs people like you to help her.
Just by visiting you bump up the traffic at the site and that is a wonderful sight indeed! People coming, people going, people browsing, people shopping and some even buying.
Tomorrow is Saturday and I am going to visit my favorite place, GemStone Gems off Route 4A in Enfield, NH. The place is a museum of rocks! The outside grounds are filled with Quartz Crystal Rocks and boulders...the inside is over crowded with some of the most beautiful stones you'll ever see. And Dunham's work is fantastic. You can buy pendants that are already wire wrapped, you can purchase precious stones and semi-precious ones too. Very exciting. I always plan for a couple of hours. It's always crowded in there, too many people, too little room, floor to ceiling stones, an abundance of help all in about a 20' x 20' tiny shop. It's like family when you walk in.
I need to pick up stock of white beads. I also want to start a few items that are small and dainty. We'll see what I come back with. One never knows until one gets home just what kind of treasures are awaiting in the bag.
Until later...
Remember, you have 10% off all items in my shop when you use the coupon code WHYNICHOLAS when you are checking out!
OK you guys...Please post some comments and let me know you are alive out there!
I have 2 friends from Russia and 3 from Germany.
Pray-tell, who are you?
We are having winter right now, what is your weather like where you are?
I keep in contact with a friend in Australia and she is in mid summer with a wedding planned for March which would be like our early fall season.
Early and mid fall seasons are the absolute best in my opinion, here in New England.
This woman is fantastic. She is a retro pinup and competing for the Miss Pinup title for Australia in February. She walks and talks the 1950's style of clothing, makeup and demeanour. Young and lovely. Quite a lucky woman. Other than her competition, (which is, I am sure, is a time consuming job), I do not know where or if she is employed by anyone else.
Me? I'm employed everywhere! At least I have been! I am a licenced Practical nurse and work seasonally for an immunization establishment located in Arizona. I must honestly say I am not much of a nurse. I keep up with my educational credits and I have enough working hours to retain my license, but that is all. I would LOVE to do some serious nursing but the nursing world doesn't care for people like me.
I have worked just about everywhere and only for a short period of time. I have the misfortune of carrying the disease of blabby-mouth, footin-mouth and lacka-tact. My skills were terrific but the world of butch boss-ladies and tender-frightened-bullied nurses are not working for me.
I work well with the immuno company because my bosses are all in AZ. I am terrific with the public and well organized and have honed my tasks to perfection. I have been able to be a success because there is no one around forcing their idea of wisdom, lifestyle and rules down my throat.
It's too bad most places to work as a nurse, have female supervisors. When it comes to this business of nursing, the old bags eat their young chicks. There are no "mentors", and no matter how much they say they appreciate your opinion and your ideas, they do not want their boat rocked.
I am a boat rocker.
You see, when people tell me these things in an interview, I believe them. I believe in honesty. don't ever lie to me, ever. I hate liars. Strong word, I know. "We welcome your input, "your opinions are highly valued, "any suggestions you might have are always welcomed, "If you can see where something could be improved, we'd love to hear it....." All of that is a lie.
The "American nursing" way, according to the places I have been subject to, is to keep your mouth shut, overwork yourself and stab anyone and everyone in the back whenever the opportunity arises. That is what I have observed, and I can't do it. Sad isn't it? Don't come here to America and expect to make a difference, that is just plain stupid. If you have a lot of money, you can do anything you want, but, most do not.
So nursing just isn't what I thought it was going to be. A waste of 2 years of education and 10,000. I suppose that is why I went to work for myself the majority of the time. If you can find an outlet for your own creativity, you will be a better person, a happier person and you actually see the world for what it is. It took a long time to understand that I am not going to change anyone, anything and certainly not the world, only my little piece of it and God help me if I intrude on anyone else's ground.
See? I am a boat rocker. I believe in honesty, sharing, mentoring and learning all that I can. If I could find a nursing position in a place where people upheld those characteristics, I would jump all over an opportunity to be a part of their team. However, people and places like that are no where to be found, at least not for me. I'm a hard fit, but when I do fit, I am a comfortable, reliable shoe.
So, here is Nicholas...Why Nicholas? Well, because Nicholas is free to be whatever she wants to be, because Nicholas has no boundaries, because Nicholas enjoys sharing ideas, techniques and conversation, because no one is holding Nicholas down and choking her and Nicholas provides a creative outlet for life's frustrations, fills the holes where relationships have left emptiness and Nicholas provides beauty and joy for others and makes them happy. I love Nicholas.
I want Nicholas to fly, with your help, she can and will. I am practicing my patience and becoming more creative and skillful as each day passes. But I am waiting on you...Nicholas can not do this by herself, she needs people like you to help her.
Just by visiting you bump up the traffic at the site and that is a wonderful sight indeed! People coming, people going, people browsing, people shopping and some even buying.
Tomorrow is Saturday and I am going to visit my favorite place, GemStone Gems off Route 4A in Enfield, NH. The place is a museum of rocks! The outside grounds are filled with Quartz Crystal Rocks and boulders...the inside is over crowded with some of the most beautiful stones you'll ever see. And Dunham's work is fantastic. You can buy pendants that are already wire wrapped, you can purchase precious stones and semi-precious ones too. Very exciting. I always plan for a couple of hours. It's always crowded in there, too many people, too little room, floor to ceiling stones, an abundance of help all in about a 20' x 20' tiny shop. It's like family when you walk in.
I need to pick up stock of white beads. I also want to start a few items that are small and dainty. We'll see what I come back with. One never knows until one gets home just what kind of treasures are awaiting in the bag.
Until later...
Remember, you have 10% off all items in my shop when you use the coupon code WHYNICHOLAS when you are checking out!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Nicholas Has Sterling Silver Chains with Large Pendants Just for YOU
All of these Gorgeous Pendants are hanging on Sterling Silver Snake Chains.
Most are on 2mm, 30" long, a few are on 26" long
and the Pussy-Cats (below) are on 26" long, 1mm dainty chains for the pendant's smaller size.
All of these are $50.00, well worth the investment in these large stones and Sterling Silver!
Indulge yourself or...Purchase for your lover on Valentines Day which is right around the corner!!
Remember, use the coupon code WHYNICHOLAS for your gift discount of
10% off all items less shipping
just for reading my blog!
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| Turquoise Pendant |
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| MoonStone Pendant |
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| Close up of the MoonStone |
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| Banded Coral Agate Pendant |
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| Unakite Pendant |
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| Green Malachite Pendant |
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| Pink Rhodonite Pendant |
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| Howlite Playful Cat Pendant |
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| Hematite Sitting Cat Pendant |
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| Milky White Quartz Drop Pendant |
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| Banded Coral Agate Pendant |
Nicholas has a gift for you!
Hello out there!
I see I am being watched by faithful folks in Russia, Germany, Alaska and the US of A.
COOL!
I love you guys!
I have been a very busy bee this past week. I spent a solid 10 hour marathon photographing a lot of new items I have put together for you. Then it always seems forever to list them.
I want to let you all know if you are reading my blogs, you are able to receive a 10% discount on all items in my store!
At Etsy, we use what they call a "coupon code". Your 10% coupon code is called WHYNICHOLAS
When you are browsing my shop at this location: http://www.nicholasdesigns.etsy.com
Pick out your items and put them in your cart.
When you are ready to check out you will see your cart contents.
There is a column that looks like this:
Ship to [Box to enter country] default's to U.S.
How You'll Pay
Paypal Visa MC AE Discover (defaults to paypal)
Apply shop coupon code <--- PRESS <ENTER> HERE!!!
then enter the magic word WHYNICHOLAS
in the box that appears.***
Item total $50.00 USD THEN your discount will be taken
<--- off the item and shown here
Shipping $8.00 USD
Order total $58.00 USD
....blah blah blah
THANK YOU for following and visiting and SHOPPING! Enjoy your discount!
I will be entering in some new pictures for your very soon!
Ta!
I see I am being watched by faithful folks in Russia, Germany, Alaska and the US of A.
COOL!
I love you guys!
I have been a very busy bee this past week. I spent a solid 10 hour marathon photographing a lot of new items I have put together for you. Then it always seems forever to list them.
I want to let you all know if you are reading my blogs, you are able to receive a 10% discount on all items in my store!
At Etsy, we use what they call a "coupon code". Your 10% coupon code is called WHYNICHOLAS
When you are browsing my shop at this location: http://www.nicholasdesigns.etsy.com
Pick out your items and put them in your cart.
When you are ready to check out you will see your cart contents.
There is a column that looks like this:
Ship to [Box to enter country] default's to U.S.
How You'll Pay
Paypal Visa MC AE Discover (defaults to paypal)
Apply shop coupon code <--- PRESS <ENTER> HERE!!!
then enter the magic word WHYNICHOLAS
in the box that appears.***
Item total $50.00 USD THEN your discount will be taken
<--- off the item and shown here
Shipping $8.00 USD
Order total $58.00 USD
....blah blah blah
THANK YOU for following and visiting and SHOPPING! Enjoy your discount!
I will be entering in some new pictures for your very soon!
Ta!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Wandering Nicholas
Seems like I've had some wanderlust. I mentioned that I intend to restring all of my earlier pieces, well I spent an entire day on NYDay trying to put together a necklace that I tore apart. I guess I just didn't like the beads because after 3 hours I began bringing out completely different beads and pendants and the like and by 6pm that night I had an entirely different necklace than I have ever done before!
I had packaged up all the original beads from the early necklace and put them away in a nice ziploc bag. I had in front of me a really pretty and very unusual piece that I had no intentions of working on. I had been playing around with a few ideas in my head about these 4 large yellow-brown flat rectangular milky transparent beads that measure about 1 inch by 1 and half inch.
Alone, they are ugly, but maybe because I thought they were ugly, I was determined to do something with these beads. I wanted to make them beautiful. Is it possible for me to "fell sorry" for the ugly beads? Oh GAWD! That's just way out there, Reel it in Deb!
I had all these ideas of yellow and brown, yellow and white, what I ended up with was yellow and silver. I purchased a silver wire wrapped yellow stone over at Dunham's place, kind of without thinking and when I got that home along with all the other stuff I had purchased (this was about 2 months ago) I saw the dirty yellow wrapped bead. Again that same color is not pleasing but the wrap was stunning.
I found that the wrapped stone and the 4 flat beads I had from God-knows-where-I-found-them, matched perfectly. Odd. I was determined to make all those ugly yellow, dirty-looking yellow beads, beautiful. I did. At least I believe I did. When I take a picture of it to list, I will come back here and insert a picture of it.
I took an 18 inch black cord with silver cord-ends and removed the lobster clasp and the receiving loop and chain. I must have spent at least two or more hours trying to come up with a color combination that would complement these yellow beasts. Red, brown, black, white, blue, nothing went with them, they either overshadowed the beads or contrasted terribly. Tigers eye brown was very close, I spent the most time with all of the tigers eye I had but I ended up putting all the colored beads away and brought out silver findings. YES.
I strung about 12 inches of the 4 yellow beads plus I found 2 coin beads that were very very close in color with some black strewn through them, plus my pendant and made a simple pattern using only silver beads to complement the yellow. It worked. I attached the foot long string to the black cord ends making one end a toggle clasp in antique Bali SS. The black cord goes around the back of the neck and the ends connect on the upper pectorals nearly level or just below level with the shoulders.
I restrung this section several times, too long, too short, too ornate, then just right. I wanted it to hang a few inches below the collar bone as this would be the usual place just below the neckline of most tops. That way the piece would rest on the cloth as a back drop instead of your skin. This particular color of yellow ought not to be against your skin, it may make you look jaundiced! A Black, Brown or dark blue top would complement this necklace immensely!
I can't wait to get it listed. Pictures will be taken this week and I will get this one and a couple more I have put together out so you can see them. I hope soon I will get more traffic at my site, I need the attention!
I also need you to follow me here, I hope y'all find me, I am looking for ways to find you!
Needing you,
Ms. Nicholas
I had packaged up all the original beads from the early necklace and put them away in a nice ziploc bag. I had in front of me a really pretty and very unusual piece that I had no intentions of working on. I had been playing around with a few ideas in my head about these 4 large yellow-brown flat rectangular milky transparent beads that measure about 1 inch by 1 and half inch.
Alone, they are ugly, but maybe because I thought they were ugly, I was determined to do something with these beads. I wanted to make them beautiful. Is it possible for me to "fell sorry" for the ugly beads? Oh GAWD! That's just way out there, Reel it in Deb!
I had all these ideas of yellow and brown, yellow and white, what I ended up with was yellow and silver. I purchased a silver wire wrapped yellow stone over at Dunham's place, kind of without thinking and when I got that home along with all the other stuff I had purchased (this was about 2 months ago) I saw the dirty yellow wrapped bead. Again that same color is not pleasing but the wrap was stunning.
I found that the wrapped stone and the 4 flat beads I had from God-knows-where-I-found-them, matched perfectly. Odd. I was determined to make all those ugly yellow, dirty-looking yellow beads, beautiful. I did. At least I believe I did. When I take a picture of it to list, I will come back here and insert a picture of it.
I took an 18 inch black cord with silver cord-ends and removed the lobster clasp and the receiving loop and chain. I must have spent at least two or more hours trying to come up with a color combination that would complement these yellow beasts. Red, brown, black, white, blue, nothing went with them, they either overshadowed the beads or contrasted terribly. Tigers eye brown was very close, I spent the most time with all of the tigers eye I had but I ended up putting all the colored beads away and brought out silver findings. YES.
I strung about 12 inches of the 4 yellow beads plus I found 2 coin beads that were very very close in color with some black strewn through them, plus my pendant and made a simple pattern using only silver beads to complement the yellow. It worked. I attached the foot long string to the black cord ends making one end a toggle clasp in antique Bali SS. The black cord goes around the back of the neck and the ends connect on the upper pectorals nearly level or just below level with the shoulders.
I restrung this section several times, too long, too short, too ornate, then just right. I wanted it to hang a few inches below the collar bone as this would be the usual place just below the neckline of most tops. That way the piece would rest on the cloth as a back drop instead of your skin. This particular color of yellow ought not to be against your skin, it may make you look jaundiced! A Black, Brown or dark blue top would complement this necklace immensely!
I can't wait to get it listed. Pictures will be taken this week and I will get this one and a couple more I have put together out so you can see them. I hope soon I will get more traffic at my site, I need the attention!
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| Well, it's Jan.11 and here it is. Not bad...huh? The ugly duckling got pretty! |
I also need you to follow me here, I hope y'all find me, I am looking for ways to find you!
Needing you,
Ms. Nicholas
Friday, December 30, 2011
Do I Have the Time to be Nicholas?
(updated at end of this post...)
It's been a couple of days now since I spoken to 'yall. Is there ever any time to be what we are supposed to be? Since I've been away I have intended to begin restringing all of my earliest necklaces and put on a more comfortable clasp around the neck. Have I done that yet? NO!
Often, life gets in the way of what one really wants to be doing. I try not to let that happen, but I am not God, (thank God) and stuff just come flying at ya and you either catch it and work with it or let it hit you in the face.
I did sneak in a "remake" in the beginning of the week on one of my favorite early necklaces. It's the Cobalt/Indigo blue one. Obviously when people (me) begin a new line, a new hobby or such, they improve with age as they go on, as I have. See where I started from?
Better techniques, better quality and better materials have happened. I need to reel myself in and retain these pieces as they are and not be tempted to use the original design to enhance upon it or change it which is exactly what I did with the blue one. Oh, it's much more comfortable all right, but I did change it. Now the old one is just nostalgia, I liked it too.
Got to NOT do that. Don't I? Now, it's a new piece and needs new pictures, and a new listing. Just thought I'd make more work for myself, just what I need to do. But you know, it's easy to restring, just keep your mind from wandering and saying to (my)self, I've got a much better separator than the one I am using, I think I'll change it...and that is how it starts.
As I think about this in more detail, perhaps new pictures would be a good idea. My props, models and style has also gotten better and I could do more justice for these earlier pieces if I did up new photo's. That way I can accommodate my uncontrollable urge to remake, change out and improve on the old!
There, I talked myself right into it! Now I am free to do as I wish. Well, that's what it's all about anyway isn't it? Doing what you love is doing what you wish and following your dreams is following your heart which is falling back on personality traits that I do not wish to change. Like holding back. Like restraining myself. Like reeling myself in. I don't like to do any of those things.
So, now I can say, come and see my new line of old necklaces? my new line of earlier necklaces? remakes of the old? improved materials and techniques? I won't advertise anything like that. As a matter of fact, I won't even mention it in the listings. They will just be remade sturdier and with stronger and more comfortable materials.
Thanks for helping me through that! Ever feel like your talking to yourself? I have no followers yet and I don't think anyone peeked at my blog yet, so it's still a virgin waiting for someone to come and comment on it, ask questions about it and chime in on the discussions I have with myself. Yes, it would be nice to have some company.
Here's a pic of the early necklace as it WAS.
Like this clasp? OUCH!
So, I will be focusing on that for the next week. I hope I make good progress! I'll be taking new photo's as well.
Here it is...I am back (1/11) to show you how it all came out! I think these chain drop earrings in the same cobalt/indigo Blue is a sharp looking pair! Come and see and be A M A Z E D !
Bye for now!
It's been a couple of days now since I spoken to 'yall. Is there ever any time to be what we are supposed to be? Since I've been away I have intended to begin restringing all of my earliest necklaces and put on a more comfortable clasp around the neck. Have I done that yet? NO!
Often, life gets in the way of what one really wants to be doing. I try not to let that happen, but I am not God, (thank God) and stuff just come flying at ya and you either catch it and work with it or let it hit you in the face.
 |
| The Early Days... |
I did sneak in a "remake" in the beginning of the week on one of my favorite early necklaces. It's the Cobalt/Indigo blue one. Obviously when people (me) begin a new line, a new hobby or such, they improve with age as they go on, as I have. See where I started from?
Better techniques, better quality and better materials have happened. I need to reel myself in and retain these pieces as they are and not be tempted to use the original design to enhance upon it or change it which is exactly what I did with the blue one. Oh, it's much more comfortable all right, but I did change it. Now the old one is just nostalgia, I liked it too.
Got to NOT do that. Don't I? Now, it's a new piece and needs new pictures, and a new listing. Just thought I'd make more work for myself, just what I need to do. But you know, it's easy to restring, just keep your mind from wandering and saying to (my)self, I've got a much better separator than the one I am using, I think I'll change it...and that is how it starts.
As I think about this in more detail, perhaps new pictures would be a good idea. My props, models and style has also gotten better and I could do more justice for these earlier pieces if I did up new photo's. That way I can accommodate my uncontrollable urge to remake, change out and improve on the old!
There, I talked myself right into it! Now I am free to do as I wish. Well, that's what it's all about anyway isn't it? Doing what you love is doing what you wish and following your dreams is following your heart which is falling back on personality traits that I do not wish to change. Like holding back. Like restraining myself. Like reeling myself in. I don't like to do any of those things.
So, now I can say, come and see my new line of old necklaces? my new line of earlier necklaces? remakes of the old? improved materials and techniques? I won't advertise anything like that. As a matter of fact, I won't even mention it in the listings. They will just be remade sturdier and with stronger and more comfortable materials.
 |
| Cobalt/Indigo Blue Random Design.. |
Here's a pic of the early necklace as it WAS.
Like this clasp? OUCH!
So, I will be focusing on that for the next week. I hope I make good progress! I'll be taking new photo's as well.
Here it is...I am back (1/11) to show you how it all came out! I think these chain drop earrings in the same cobalt/indigo Blue is a sharp looking pair! Come and see and be A M A Z E D !Thursday, December 29, 2011
Nicholas spreads the Joy....
Well, my husband had his birthday the other day and we had cake and ice cream for anyone who happened to come by. His Mom called from Florida and the phone was passed and passed and passed around. She insisted on buying her granddaughter's some jewelry from my shop for their Christmas presents. She must have over heard me talking about how much energy, time and money I have dumped into Nicholas Designs and have not yet had an Internet sale. Prior to this I only sold perhaps 4 pieces of jewelry and they were not out of my new line.
Tickled, I brought out everything I had and of course the girls went for the Turquoise and the White Cabochon pendants. (The white one will be posted this week) (Each are $105.00). My mother-in-law flipped and gave me a $40.00 limit for each.
They picked out, all on their own necklaces that happen to have their Grandmother's antique beads and lace that was given to me (which I took apart and redesigned into more "modern" pieces, fresh and colorful).
Julia picked a Clear Glass Murano Heart-shape with a green squiggle swirl inside resting on a very long piece of vintage ivory colored lace that belonged to her Grandmother.
My other niece, Serena picked out a green, white and yellow beaded pendant necklace also in Lariat length. The Green Agate beads came from an old piece that her Grandmother had which I tore apart and created this one. It is loaded with crystals and silver charms, just lovely.
Ironically, my brother-in-law jumped in and suddenly decided to buy his wife a necklace as well. He also picked out a beauty that again, had his Mom's antique beads..in this one, vintage Amethyst nuggets (paired with aquamarine and silver charms galore). How wonderful that they all have a little piece of this great lady to claim for themselves!
Well, that's what's been up since Christmas. Family, friends and good hard work.
Bye for now...
Old Nick was good to our loved ones!
Tickled, I brought out everything I had and of course the girls went for the Turquoise and the White Cabochon pendants. (The white one will be posted this week) (Each are $105.00). My mother-in-law flipped and gave me a $40.00 limit for each.
They picked out, all on their own necklaces that happen to have their Grandmother's antique beads and lace that was given to me (which I took apart and redesigned into more "modern" pieces, fresh and colorful).
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| Julia's Christmas Gift from Nan |
Julia picked a Clear Glass Murano Heart-shape with a green squiggle swirl inside resting on a very long piece of vintage ivory colored lace that belonged to her Grandmother.
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| Serena's Christmas Gift from Nan |
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| My Sister-in-Law's Christmas Gift |
Bye for now...
Old Nick was good to our loved ones!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Nicholas made a booboo....
Well well, it looks like I may have stepped on someones toes. Ouch! I was on my FB page and I was
inviting everyone I knew or had common friends with to come to visit my FB page, Nicholas Designs
shop, Grampa's Attic shop and this here Blog Why Nicholas?
It seems I did so to at least one person whom I apparently did not know nor have familiar contacts with and he or she sent in a bad, nasty, naughty, angry feedback letter to FB and I got my fanny reamed out!
I am SO sorry to have offended, bothered, insulted, hurt, annoyed you whilst trying to befriend you.
I always thought we could use all the friends we could get.
I am doing my best to expand my identity on line, to yes, ADVERTISE. There, I said it. I am sending out ADVERTISING to my family, friends and potentially new friends. Many many of you accepted my friend request and I am so very happy! Thank you, thank you! I need ALL of you. I need you all to visit me frequently and leave me messages and feedback and yes, leave A LITTLE LOVE along the way.
To those whom I may have and did, ANNOY, Please forgive me. And for the rest of you...Thank you for being with me and helping me get my business and clientele going!
God Bless ALL of you, even the Grinch and especially his poor little doggie.
Deborah Barrell
inviting everyone I knew or had common friends with to come to visit my FB page, Nicholas Designs
shop, Grampa's Attic shop and this here Blog Why Nicholas?
It seems I did so to at least one person whom I apparently did not know nor have familiar contacts with and he or she sent in a bad, nasty, naughty, angry feedback letter to FB and I got my fanny reamed out!
I am SO sorry to have offended, bothered, insulted, hurt, annoyed you whilst trying to befriend you.
I always thought we could use all the friends we could get.
I am doing my best to expand my identity on line, to yes, ADVERTISE. There, I said it. I am sending out ADVERTISING to my family, friends and potentially new friends. Many many of you accepted my friend request and I am so very happy! Thank you, thank you! I need ALL of you. I need you all to visit me frequently and leave me messages and feedback and yes, leave A LITTLE LOVE along the way.
To those whom I may have and did, ANNOY, Please forgive me. And for the rest of you...Thank you for being with me and helping me get my business and clientele going!
God Bless ALL of you, even the Grinch and especially his poor little doggie.
Deborah Barrell
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Twas the night before ole St. Nicholas....
Well here it is Christmas Eve day, early morning for me. I have my bowl of grapes and my Sunny D and I am ready to tell some more of the story of Nicholas.
I saw our girl tonight, she popped over with a carrot cake for Christmas. Mmmm. It was (is) really good, and no, we haven't eaten it all YET. I had the opportunity to give her the necklace I made her of Purple glass beads splashed with aqua and silver with a few aqua spacers and crystals to shake it up a bit (as if purple needs any "shaking up"). On this, hangs the 2 inch moonstone she admired so much. WHY DIDN'T I TAKE A PICTURE?
She's not one to "moon" over things or jump up and down with glee and I could see that it was killing her not to be able to jump up and land a sloppy smooch on me! Yes, I think she really liked it. She kept on about how all her clothes were either purple or blue! So, yes, I did well. She did well too because I ADORE carrot cake and the frosting, oh to die for...I believe she did the frosting by hand, else, how do you get that carrot cake frosting, you know that taste, come out all creamy and chocolaty? I don't know how I just hope she makes more of them!
I remember for Thanksgiving, she woke me up (she has a key and a way to get in) with a cookie platter containing 9 (or 12) tiny little individual chocolate cream pies! Imagine that! I was so tickled I ate one in bed without utensils, right out of the pie tin! Right then and there. She thought that was so funny. But in fact, it was SO good!
I guess that's what started this whole gift thing.
I was going to say that I don't normally give things away (such as a $75.00 necklace) but, that's just NOT true. I give everything away! I do! Drives my husband mad!
I remember last year I was looking for this 8 ft. long heavy duty dark, cobalt blue velvet ribbon edged with gold that had a heavy Christmas bell on the bottom for balance. I tack it up near the ceiling, (we have really tall ceilings), and as Christmas cards come in I staple them to the fabric so I can see them all and it makes for a nice "Christmassy" wall ornament.
Anyway, last year I was crazy mad to find the damn thing and it was just plain no where. So, I made a new one, Same thing only I had a nice light blue ribbon with silver edging and a bigger bell, (a real cow bell) I had confiscated from some yard sale. (Pause, eat a bunch of grapes....).
This year I found the ribbon I made last year and it dawned on me...I gave the original away a couple of years ago. It was after Christmas and I was breaking down everything and I can't for the life of me think of who I gave it too, but I did! I recall saying... here... like this? You can have it!
I don't mind giving things away but I think I should keep a list so I don't go crazy looking for something that isn't there. Know what I mean?
Well, let see, what did I do today? I finished my mother's bracelet and earring set up. The first bracelet I made was too big. I know, cause it fit me and my mother is about 98 pounds. She doesn't like things that are too big (like me!). Anyway, I made her another one about 5 inches instead of 7. Perfect! fit me real tight, should be perfect for her. Its of Aqua Blue and Very White 1/4 inch shell cut squares. The iridescence is amazing on these. I got them from Dunham. He's got great stuff!
I made sure my pattern was purposeful and not random and everything was "perfect". Her tiny little earrings are really cute. I hope the jeweler's glue holds. She doesn't have pierced ears so I bought a few pairs of sterling silver clips for her. I glued an aqua square like a triangle on to the front of the lobe piece and strung one square to dangle underneath. Simple, small. Just the way she likes it.
So that pair was done. I do want to open a line of clip earrings that are made of fine materials I think that's a corner of the market that is relatively scarce. Perhaps I could fill the needs of many who have no holes in their ears?
I also made a pair of real shell, well they are all "real", I mean someone took one of those curled up shells and cut the curly protruding end off. They are left un-dyed, so it's natural looking. I glued that on to the lobe piece and called it good. WHY DIDN'T I TAKE A PICTURE? (Think I am getting the message to record everything?)
Then I remembered she gave me a silver and gold, intertwined metal bracelet that I said I could make smaller for her. Well, that was tougher than I thought. I literally had to break the metal in order to remove 4 links. Then I didn't have a clasp as I broke them off and had no way to weld them back on!
Ooops. Not to worry, after fooling with it a while (grapes, grapes..) I put new Gold plated clasps on it, a hook and eye. That's all I had for gold. It came out rather nice. I just hope that it's not too small now. But the 2 bracelets I worked on for her are about the same size now, I'll find out tonight when we open presents. I hate to disappoint her and I have enough guilt for the entire world! Anyway with the links that I took off, I made her a pair of matching earrings to go with the bracelet. Like I said, I hope the jewelers glue holds!
Enough about Mom.
The final piece I worked on was a new creation for the sterling silver Sets in the shop. I adore the red nugget and Hematite piece I did the other day and I just got in new SS "tubes" that are "twisted" instead of smooth like the ones on the red necklace. The tubes keep the stones a "said" length apart from each other. I like that idea. so, I ran with it.
Twisted tubes, small round white beads, and (just got these in too..) tiny Hematite heart shapes and I surrounded the Hematite with clear Swarovski crystals (like on the red one, I used gray crystals). The whole neck piece is two inches longer than the red one and this one hold a 2 inch triangular White Agate that's been polished. The gray streaks in the white stone play off the gray Hematite in the necklace. I think this is the finest one I have ever made.
I truly believe I just keep getting better and better. My designs are becoming more conservative and my work is much more precise.
I am so happy. I just hope to sell some pieces so others can enjoy them as well.
I'd like to do the same style only with pink and gray. I think that would be awesome. Although I have something else up my sleeve for the pink. Maybe I'll just make 2 pink ones that will solve my dilemma. I have this gorgeous 1 1/8 inch Heart shaped Stone. I have to go look and see the type of stone it is as I bought it a few weeks ago and I forget things. Thank God for receipts!
Well, I prolly ought to shut up for a while. We have Christmas after dinner on the 24th which is today. We will be enjoying lobsters for dinner at my Mom's and then presents. I think I went overboard on my husband, nothing "special" or specific, just a bunch of stuff he doesn't need as usual. I concentrated more on his sore back and picked up a back brace he can wear at work and I picked up a chair liner that you plug in and it massages you and heats up. I hope this helps his weary back. I hate to see him hurt.
Christmas day we will visit his sister and their tribe, maybe stay for dinner. The day after Christmas is my husbands birthday. I need to get on the phone and call everyone and invite them for "cake and ice cream". Usually my mother-in-law does that but she moved to Florida. I miss her terribly.
So I will end today with a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Jolly Whatever you worship.
God Bless you all, and to all, a good night!
Jolly ole Nicholas signing off.
I saw our girl tonight, she popped over with a carrot cake for Christmas. Mmmm. It was (is) really good, and no, we haven't eaten it all YET. I had the opportunity to give her the necklace I made her of Purple glass beads splashed with aqua and silver with a few aqua spacers and crystals to shake it up a bit (as if purple needs any "shaking up"). On this, hangs the 2 inch moonstone she admired so much. WHY DIDN'T I TAKE A PICTURE?
She's not one to "moon" over things or jump up and down with glee and I could see that it was killing her not to be able to jump up and land a sloppy smooch on me! Yes, I think she really liked it. She kept on about how all her clothes were either purple or blue! So, yes, I did well. She did well too because I ADORE carrot cake and the frosting, oh to die for...I believe she did the frosting by hand, else, how do you get that carrot cake frosting, you know that taste, come out all creamy and chocolaty? I don't know how I just hope she makes more of them!
I remember for Thanksgiving, she woke me up (she has a key and a way to get in) with a cookie platter containing 9 (or 12) tiny little individual chocolate cream pies! Imagine that! I was so tickled I ate one in bed without utensils, right out of the pie tin! Right then and there. She thought that was so funny. But in fact, it was SO good!
I guess that's what started this whole gift thing.
I was going to say that I don't normally give things away (such as a $75.00 necklace) but, that's just NOT true. I give everything away! I do! Drives my husband mad!
I remember last year I was looking for this 8 ft. long heavy duty dark, cobalt blue velvet ribbon edged with gold that had a heavy Christmas bell on the bottom for balance. I tack it up near the ceiling, (we have really tall ceilings), and as Christmas cards come in I staple them to the fabric so I can see them all and it makes for a nice "Christmassy" wall ornament.
Anyway, last year I was crazy mad to find the damn thing and it was just plain no where. So, I made a new one, Same thing only I had a nice light blue ribbon with silver edging and a bigger bell, (a real cow bell) I had confiscated from some yard sale. (Pause, eat a bunch of grapes....).
This year I found the ribbon I made last year and it dawned on me...I gave the original away a couple of years ago. It was after Christmas and I was breaking down everything and I can't for the life of me think of who I gave it too, but I did! I recall saying... here... like this? You can have it!
I don't mind giving things away but I think I should keep a list so I don't go crazy looking for something that isn't there. Know what I mean?
 |
| Mom's Christmas Shell Bracelet |
 |
| Mom's matching Shell earrings CLIP ONS! |
I made sure my pattern was purposeful and not random and everything was "perfect". Her tiny little earrings are really cute. I hope the jeweler's glue holds. She doesn't have pierced ears so I bought a few pairs of sterling silver clips for her. I glued an aqua square like a triangle on to the front of the lobe piece and strung one square to dangle underneath. Simple, small. Just the way she likes it.
So that pair was done. I do want to open a line of clip earrings that are made of fine materials I think that's a corner of the market that is relatively scarce. Perhaps I could fill the needs of many who have no holes in their ears?
I also made a pair of real shell, well they are all "real", I mean someone took one of those curled up shells and cut the curly protruding end off. They are left un-dyed, so it's natural looking. I glued that on to the lobe piece and called it good. WHY DIDN'T I TAKE A PICTURE? (Think I am getting the message to record everything?)
Then I remembered she gave me a silver and gold, intertwined metal bracelet that I said I could make smaller for her. Well, that was tougher than I thought. I literally had to break the metal in order to remove 4 links. Then I didn't have a clasp as I broke them off and had no way to weld them back on!
Ooops. Not to worry, after fooling with it a while (grapes, grapes..) I put new Gold plated clasps on it, a hook and eye. That's all I had for gold. It came out rather nice. I just hope that it's not too small now. But the 2 bracelets I worked on for her are about the same size now, I'll find out tonight when we open presents. I hate to disappoint her and I have enough guilt for the entire world! Anyway with the links that I took off, I made her a pair of matching earrings to go with the bracelet. Like I said, I hope the jewelers glue holds!
Enough about Mom.
The final piece I worked on was a new creation for the sterling silver Sets in the shop. I adore the red nugget and Hematite piece I did the other day and I just got in new SS "tubes" that are "twisted" instead of smooth like the ones on the red necklace. The tubes keep the stones a "said" length apart from each other. I like that idea. so, I ran with it.
 |
| White Agate Pendants with Hematite |
I truly believe I just keep getting better and better. My designs are becoming more conservative and my work is much more precise.
I am so happy. I just hope to sell some pieces so others can enjoy them as well.
I'd like to do the same style only with pink and gray. I think that would be awesome. Although I have something else up my sleeve for the pink. Maybe I'll just make 2 pink ones that will solve my dilemma. I have this gorgeous 1 1/8 inch Heart shaped Stone. I have to go look and see the type of stone it is as I bought it a few weeks ago and I forget things. Thank God for receipts!
Well, I prolly ought to shut up for a while. We have Christmas after dinner on the 24th which is today. We will be enjoying lobsters for dinner at my Mom's and then presents. I think I went overboard on my husband, nothing "special" or specific, just a bunch of stuff he doesn't need as usual. I concentrated more on his sore back and picked up a back brace he can wear at work and I picked up a chair liner that you plug in and it massages you and heats up. I hope this helps his weary back. I hate to see him hurt.
Christmas day we will visit his sister and their tribe, maybe stay for dinner. The day after Christmas is my husbands birthday. I need to get on the phone and call everyone and invite them for "cake and ice cream". Usually my mother-in-law does that but she moved to Florida. I miss her terribly.
So I will end today with a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Jolly Whatever you worship.
God Bless you all, and to all, a good night!
Jolly ole Nicholas signing off.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Nicholas Takes Care of Her Own....
I just finished up a necklace for my mother in law. It is so simple, It's lovely. I have a 24 inch sterling silver snake necklace and I added a 20mm heart made of white shell. put the two together and viola! Elegant and simple. WHY DIDN'T I TAKE A PICTURE OF IT?
I mailed it yesterday along with a ton of packages that were orders from Grampa's Attic, That shop is taking off really well!
Then I finished up a pendant necklace for the girl who walks our dog and shovels our walkways after a snow storm. Takes her a while to come and shovel but if I have to wait a couple of days, then so be it, I am thankful that she does it.
She saw all the beautiful pendants I purchased over at Dunham's Gemstar Gemstone shop on Route 4a in Enfield, GAWD, I LOVE THAT PLACE! It's a rock museum and should be listed as an attraction in the town of Enfield. Perhaps I will recommend that.
Any way our girl had her eye on a moonstone pendant. So, what colors do tweens like? Purple! I matched purple glass beads that had a tiny bit of silver and aqua splashed on them with lilac colored round beads and created a really cool pattern. It turned out really great, I had to restring it 3 times because I screwed up the pattern, (never be in a hurry!) but it turned out perfect, tight, and gorgeous!
A huge moonstone pendant hangs in the center of this 20 inch necklace. (she is small). I hope she likes it! I can't wait to give it to her. I love to give her things, we never had a child and I would hope that if we did, a girl would be alot like her. WHY DIDN'T I TAKE A PICTURE OF IT?
She has also been the 'girl behind the ears' in many pictures on Nicholas Designs' web listings for earrings. She is my model. I can't show too much of her as she is so young so we get her hair done like I would do mine and she has the cutest ears!
Here she is modeling the matching earrings to the Red Nugget and Hematite Necklace...
She models for my new collection of hypoallergenic Sterling Silver Fine Jewelry. She is the model behind the Turquoise pendant (below) and the Hematite and Red Nugget pendant, here.
They are both just beautiful! and so is she!
I can see quite a few people looking at these but no one has bought anything yet, I am wondering if the price is scaring them.
You get what you pay for and if you want the best, you must realize that my pieces will last a life time as I have built-in safe guards against the clasps fraying the wire as in this one that boasts a "dainty" Hematite heart about 1/2 inch, more Hematite squares and red nuggets and genuine Swarovski Crystals.
The Turquoise Pendant is about 2 inches long. The Lariat (long length) is really made well, rugged with natural Turquoise. I am asking $105.00 for the Turquoise and $75.00 for the Hematite. I don't think that's too much considering how much work goes into them and the quality of the materials is the best I can find anywhere...
Pretty huh?
I have a most gorgeous pair of pink Quartz earrings with Sterling Silver. Everyone seems to be looking at this one as well but no bites yet. These are so dainty and ornate, nothing brash or loud, just some shiny silver holding a dangling 1/4 inch pink Quartz rock. They are going for $47.00. For the materials and the work involved, they are worth it! (I actually started out pricing it at $65.00).
I mailed it yesterday along with a ton of packages that were orders from Grampa's Attic, That shop is taking off really well!
Then I finished up a pendant necklace for the girl who walks our dog and shovels our walkways after a snow storm. Takes her a while to come and shovel but if I have to wait a couple of days, then so be it, I am thankful that she does it.
She saw all the beautiful pendants I purchased over at Dunham's Gemstar Gemstone shop on Route 4a in Enfield, GAWD, I LOVE THAT PLACE! It's a rock museum and should be listed as an attraction in the town of Enfield. Perhaps I will recommend that.
Any way our girl had her eye on a moonstone pendant. So, what colors do tweens like? Purple! I matched purple glass beads that had a tiny bit of silver and aqua splashed on them with lilac colored round beads and created a really cool pattern. It turned out really great, I had to restring it 3 times because I screwed up the pattern, (never be in a hurry!) but it turned out perfect, tight, and gorgeous!
A huge moonstone pendant hangs in the center of this 20 inch necklace. (she is small). I hope she likes it! I can't wait to give it to her. I love to give her things, we never had a child and I would hope that if we did, a girl would be alot like her. WHY DIDN'T I TAKE A PICTURE OF IT?
 |
| Cute Ears...Huh? |
She has also been the 'girl behind the ears' in many pictures on Nicholas Designs' web listings for earrings. She is my model. I can't show too much of her as she is so young so we get her hair done like I would do mine and she has the cutest ears!
Here she is modeling the matching earrings to the Red Nugget and Hematite Necklace...
 |
| Hematite Heart Pendant with Red Nuggets |
She models for my new collection of hypoallergenic Sterling Silver Fine Jewelry. She is the model behind the Turquoise pendant (below) and the Hematite and Red Nugget pendant, here.
They are both just beautiful! and so is she!
You get what you pay for and if you want the best, you must realize that my pieces will last a life time as I have built-in safe guards against the clasps fraying the wire as in this one that boasts a "dainty" Hematite heart about 1/2 inch, more Hematite squares and red nuggets and genuine Swarovski Crystals.
 |
| My Turquoise Pendant...YES! |
Pretty huh?
 |
| Pink Quartz and Sterling Silver Earrings |
Well, come and visit, I have invited those people to my facebook page that I think may wear jewelry and have an appreciation for fine jewelry. There is also a good amount of fashion jewelry available for those who do not have an allergic reaction to nickle and lead. What I have shown here today are those pieces that are hypoallergenic.
Talk later! comment, send messages and visit! Wish we could have holiday cocktails together!
Deborah.
Carry on Nicholas
Yes yes! I hit the new post tab. and this comes up. cool.
Ok, what's been happening...I want people to know about "search ads" on Etsy. I paid 10.00 for 10,000 what they call "impressions" which are pictures of my work in Nicholas Designs that come up within the first 25 images shown when someone uses a keyword "tag" that applies to my pieces. So if you went to Etsy and typed in "necklaces" I should be one of the items within the first 25 images of necklaces in the world of Etsy.
Well,.....I bought the 10,000 impressions for 7 days. On the seventh day, they had shown 3,191 impressions as of 2am before my time ran out. So, I sent them an email and they have not yet gotten back to me as to why and where are the remaining > 6,000 impressions that I paid for?
It will be interesting 1) IF they even get back to me and 2) what they plan on telling me.
I wonder if I will get a refund?
So anyone out there using Etsy's search ads ought to be very cautious. I think it's a rip which is unusual because Etsy is really a very good "landlord".
'nuff of that.
Well, almost enough. I complain because I am not getting the advertising I need. I have tried 'showcasing" and now "search ads" and nothing is working.
I am making more sales in person than what I am spending on line. What shall I do?
I could try Google ads. Anyone done that? I'd be interested to see if that works better.
You know what is really kinda sad? Is that vendors must PAY in order to have their items show first after a search word is put in. I find that awfully deceptive. It rubs me the wrong way yet I am doing it. Why can't things just happen normally? If there is a way to make a buck someone will find it.
sick, sad and sadistic. Welcome to the world.
This post is terrible! How depressing! I think I'll end it and start a new one, much more uplifting!
Ok, what's been happening...I want people to know about "search ads" on Etsy. I paid 10.00 for 10,000 what they call "impressions" which are pictures of my work in Nicholas Designs that come up within the first 25 images shown when someone uses a keyword "tag" that applies to my pieces. So if you went to Etsy and typed in "necklaces" I should be one of the items within the first 25 images of necklaces in the world of Etsy.
Well,.....I bought the 10,000 impressions for 7 days. On the seventh day, they had shown 3,191 impressions as of 2am before my time ran out. So, I sent them an email and they have not yet gotten back to me as to why and where are the remaining > 6,000 impressions that I paid for?
It will be interesting 1) IF they even get back to me and 2) what they plan on telling me.
I wonder if I will get a refund?
So anyone out there using Etsy's search ads ought to be very cautious. I think it's a rip which is unusual because Etsy is really a very good "landlord".
'nuff of that.
Well, almost enough. I complain because I am not getting the advertising I need. I have tried 'showcasing" and now "search ads" and nothing is working.
I am making more sales in person than what I am spending on line. What shall I do?
I could try Google ads. Anyone done that? I'd be interested to see if that works better.
You know what is really kinda sad? Is that vendors must PAY in order to have their items show first after a search word is put in. I find that awfully deceptive. It rubs me the wrong way yet I am doing it. Why can't things just happen normally? If there is a way to make a buck someone will find it.
sick, sad and sadistic. Welcome to the world.
This post is terrible! How depressing! I think I'll end it and start a new one, much more uplifting!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
So many words, so little time...
Or was it so much time on my hands and so few words? Nah.
Who has so much time on their hands? very few.
Who says so little? Very few.
Blogging I suppose, is alot like listening to yourself talk. And if there is one thing I know how to do...that is listening to myself talk.
I tried to complete the "about me" section of this brand new blog and apparently it didn't like what I had to say because it crashed.
Perhaps I should close this one to see if it too is going to vomit my words out and die on the floor like a writhing squashed bug.
hmmmm.
Deb
Who has so much time on their hands? very few.
Who says so little? Very few.
Blogging I suppose, is alot like listening to yourself talk. And if there is one thing I know how to do...that is listening to myself talk.
I tried to complete the "about me" section of this brand new blog and apparently it didn't like what I had to say because it crashed.
Perhaps I should close this one to see if it too is going to vomit my words out and die on the floor like a writhing squashed bug.
hmmmm.
Deb
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