Friday, June 29, 2012

JoyfulJems - an online shop & unemployment project...

After a loooong hiatus, I'm finally returning to the blogging community! 

Being between jobs has some perks, most specifically more available time to create jewelry (and learn how to sell it online), explore other crafts, and reflect. I have learned that I like to stay busy -- apparently this was patently obvious to everyone who knows me...  Going into this (hopefully brief) period of unemployment, I realized I could make choices and plans to better set myself up for a healthier life.  One of these choices: opening an online shop to sell some of the jewelry I make (I'll include a little bit about the internal challenges I've come across related to this semi-ambitious goal in future posts).

I am thrilled to announce my new Etsy shop: JoyfulJems!  I've included one example of my jewelry work below, and you can see more of my work at www.etsy.com/shop/joyfuljems.  You can also just follow the blog, as I'll post updates when I have new designs to share! 

In order to open the Etsy shop, I had to experiment quite a bit (and do a little research at the library and online) with my little point-and-shoot digital camera to get pictures good enough for the site.  Although my siblings are very talented photographers, I am only just beginning to explore this art!  I'll leave you with this example of my hard work... :-)

Yellow jade, peridot, and sterling silver earrings -- one of my favorite pictures from my first photoshoot!