Sailorgirl now had an idea of how to make a seasonal living, craft shows!
In 2004 I dragged my laundry table out of my basement, covered it with a bright blue tablecloth and carefully placed my first pieces of jewelry on display. It was a beautiful sunny day, people loved my jewelry and I loved them and the whole experience. This was the very humble beginning of Sailorgirl Jewelry, (shameless self-promotion here) my company where I make and sell handmade glass jewelry.

My company is a little different in that it is a “lifestyle business”. 8 months a year I make glass beads and jewelry and sell at craft shows and online. The other 4 months I live on my sailboat in Florida/Bahamas. My online business is open year round. I’m a huge believer in creating the life you want and defining your own success.
In a previous life I worked at a software development start up that began as me and my boss in his living room, when I left it was at 80 employees. It was really fun at the beginning, and then it was not. Life is too short to spend time doing things that aren’t fun so I quit that job in 2001 to forge my own path.
With my background in the start up I thought that starting a jewelry business would be easy, after all, I knew about business. I was wrong. What I discovered is that selling work that you have made is far different than selling a product like software. Selling a product is just that, it’s a product. Selling handmade is about selling me, the artist, the creator, I am as much a part of the product as my jewelry is. Selling handmade is about selling a story. Fortunately I have a story, now I just had to communicate it to my people. Communicating what you do is marketing The beginning of Sailorgirl Jewelry was not without challenges. I was learning flamework. I was learning how to design and make jewelry. I was learning how to sail. I was learning how to live on a sailboat. I was learning how to sell my own work. I was learning how to run a microbusiness. There were a lot of sleepless nights and bad words said.
From the beginning I have opted to sell only at shows and online. I briefly flirted with wholesale however I couldn’t reconcile how that would work with my lifestyle. I refuse to do consignment for many reasons. The craft show season dovetails perfectly with my lifestyle. In a typical year I sell at 11 – 15 shows. Most of these are summer shows, outdoors in a tent. I take a bit of a break in the fall and then do a couple of large holiday shows. Then I pack it all up and hit the road.
As I was starting up the world around me was a changing landscape. When I began neither Facebook nor Etsy existed. People were only just beginning to sell online and blogs were few and far between. I coded my first website by learning HTML and using a notepad. People were leery of shopping online. For the first 5 or 6 years I simply hung a “Gone Sailing” sign on my website during the winter.
I have had a website from the beginning, as I already had a website called Sailorgirl where I published my writing about cruising. For the jewelry I added a small section with my craft show list and a few photos. Over the last decade being online has become a necessity for any business to survive. Every single person or business absolutely must have a website, even if it’s only a portfolio and contact information. I tried Etsy, it didn’t work for me, instead I have my own site on Shopify along with a WordPress blog and social media. I admit, I’m not the best at maintaining all of this but at least it’s there.
Technology has made my lifestyle a possibility in ways that I never could have predicted. I have an assistant in Canada who ships my work. I’m able to sit on my boat down south, read my email and forward orders to her. She ships them out, and the money is in my bank account! How awesome is that? I send a monthly newsletter to my list subscribers and do the social media from where ever I am.

While this sounds simple it is anything but. A business like mine requires a LOT of organization. I live by my planner and to do lists. When I finish my last huge craft show on December 1 (11 days, 12 hours a day) all my fellow exhibitors will be heading for their couch for a well deserved rest. I will be heading to the studio the next day to make enough inventory to cover 5 months of online sales. All of this has to be made, tagged and inventoried. There must be new items made and photo’d for next season so that the site remains fresh. Show applications for next season have to be sent in. My shipping process has to be documented so that I can hand it off to my assistant. She has to have enough shipping supplies for the winter, which must be bought. The list can sometimes seem endless.
Many of my non-crafty friends bemoan my lack of free time in the summer here in Canada. I can’t go to their cottage on the weekend because I’m at a show. I can’t go out for dinner during the week because I’m torching as I have a show coming up. I miss a lot of events due to my schedule (as does everyone on the show circuit). However I will be snorkeling for the entire month of March and during the summer I get to spend my days melting glass and making wearable art. How awesome is that?

Because I’m prepping for the upcoming holiday season I’m thinking a lot about gifts. You know what makes a great gift? A Sailorgirl Jewelry gift card! So I thought this month that I’d give away 2 (yes 2!) gift cards, each valued at $25. So here’s my question for you this month, if someone were to gift you with a piece of my jewelry, what would you like to receive?

A winner will be drawn at random on October 1.

To enter the giveaway: leave a comment below and tell me which piece you’d like someone to gift you with!

For more chances to win, tweet this giveaway and email me the link to the tweet.

Post this on Facebook and email me the link to the post!

Blog it and email me the link to the post.

O Canada!
In these interesting times that we live in, I am so grateful that Canada is my home. On July 1, 2017 I shall raise my glass and celebrate the 150th birthday of this large, tolerant, gun-free, tree filled and glorious land I call my adopted home. A land of opportunites, freedom, landscapes and most of all, Canadians. Oh, and snow, too bad about that part.
While celebrating I shall wear a piece from my O Canada collection, a limited collection just for this special day. Happy jewelry for a very happy day.

The collection can be found right here.

Here’s a quick look:

Every day for one week I will post new jewelry using only beads I currently have on my bench. Some days I’ll make one piece, some days I’ll make 10 pieces. They will be random work, all one of a kind. Priced very attractively. Some of these are ideas that I decided not to pursue further, some will be from collections that are now retired. I wonder what I’ll come up with …

All of them are available in my online shop.

Every day for one week I will post new jewelry using only beads I currently have on my bench. Some days I’ll make one piece, some days I’ll make 10 pieces. They will be random work, all one of a kind. Priced very attractively. Some of these are ideas that I decided not to pursue further, some will be from collections that are now retired. I wonder what I’ll come up with …

All of them are available in my online shop.

As I ran into my studio the day after returning home I had one focus, make new work!!! I have a sketchbook full of ideas and 3 shows in the next 3 weeks! Make new work! Make more beads! Find where all my beads are! And I looked around and realized, heck, I have a LOT of beads on my table! Like, an insane amount of beads. Except that I want to make new ones. After 13 years of beadmaking I have a boatload of beads. And jewelry. Except that it isn’t new. So what do I do with it? I strive to constantly have new and exciting things for you to see in my booth every year and making new work keeps me fresh. I produce work in collections each based on a storyline from my life. A lot of the beads on my bench no longer fit my current collections and look out of place in my booth. Hm. What to do, what to do. 

Introducing the Wonder Week. 

Every day for one week I will post new jewelry using only beads I currently have on my bench. Some days I’ll make one piece, some days I’ll make 10 pieces. They will be random work, all one of a kind. Priced very attractively. Some of these are ideas that I decided not to pursue further, some will be from collections that are now retired. I wonder what I’ll come up with … 

The very first Wonder Week begins on Saturday May 27 and continues to Friday June 2. All pieces will be posted here on the blog, on Facebook and listed in the online shop.

Oh boy!!!

When I’m wandering around down here on my adventures I spend a lot of time pondering. There is a lot of time to stare into space and contemplate the state of the universe and why chocolate is so delicious and other important matters. This year I’ve been pondering about adventures themselves. What exactly is an adventure? I had planned on being in the bahamas right now, snorkeling and sailing and I’m not. Yet I feel like I’m on a grand adventure. Last week I made my first edible loaf of bread in my tiny little boat oven! The oxford dictionary defines adventure as “an unusual and exciting or daring experience”. Was my bread very unusual and exciting? To me it was. I think that is part of the puzzle I’m pondering, what constitutes an adventure? An adventure is a subjective experience. We each have our own versions of adventures. I’m adding a new goal to 2017, to have an adventure every day. To lead an adventurous life. And I have a idea I’m tinkering around with that I could use your help with. I am putting together a list of adventures, like take a bus to the end of the line to see what’s there, or stroll along a riverbank, or hike to the top of a hill.

Help me with my list. Name an adventure big or small (in 20 words or less). And this leads me into…

To celebrate the spirit of exploration I’m giving away a pair of my Explore the World earrings. To enter to win leave a comment below and name an adventure.

New year, new years resolutions. Not. It seems silly to start a resolution just because of a calendar. If you want to change something, do it. I do however have several rituals that coincide with the new year. I do an annual review both personal and professional. And I set goals for the coming year, both personal and professional. And I pick a word to guide me for the year.

This year my word is Implement. I have a whole bunch of plans that have been on the drawing board for way too long. Time to do them.

Implement.

Do you do a word of the year? What’s your word?

To celebrate the beginning of 2017 I’m going to give away a $50 gift certificate so that you can pick out your own prize. To enter to win leave a comment below and tell me your word if you have one, or say hi if you don’t!

They stood there, giant mountains of teenage boy hulks casting a shadow over the booth.

Teenage boys on their own are an uncommon sight in my handmade glass jewelry booth. They are not my usual customer and on day 6 of a long show I am perhaps not as patient as I should be. I’m thinking “move along now”.

“Can I help you?” I ask Hulk 1 briskly.

There’s a shuffling of feet, a dropping of head and then a squaring of shoulders. A big intake of breath before a tiny whisper in a shaky voice.

“Need a present for my mom”.

This stops me. I assumed they were on a school trip and hiding from a teacher. Who’s going to look for 2 teenage boys in a bright coloured jewelry booth?

He’s stll looking at his feet and his friend is looking at the jwelry.

“What about this one?” asks Hulk 2.

“Dunno,” replies Hulk 1.

“Or this one?” asks Hulk 2 holding up a $450 statement necklace.

“Dunno,” replies Hulk 1 before visibly recoiling when he catches sight of the price tag.

“Maybe I can help,” I say. “What’s her favourite colour?”

“Dunno”.

“Does she wear a lot of jewelry?”

“Dunno”.

More squirming. Then he looks at me and in a barely audible voice he blurts out, “She doesn’t live with me. I haven’t seen her in a year. She’s coming for Christmas. I want to get her something really nice”.

“Oh.” My heart breaks just a tiny bit for this giant boy.

Together we look at some options. I point out some of the most popular colours and styles steering him to the less expensive pieces. When I hold up each option I ask them “What do you think about this one?”

Grunt. Hulk 2.

Shrug. Hulk 1.

After about 15 minutes I leave them to it. For almost an hour they stand there whispering to each other. Between them them take up at least a third of my booth speace. Ladies wander in and out, there’s laughter and small talk. It’s all light hearted fun. Many a glance is shot in the direction of the intense cloud of concentration the 2 boys are surrounded in.

He choose a small Snow Queen pendant. It told him it was a great choice. He like it because of the simple elegance, like he remembered his mom.

As I handed him his change he once again looked searchingly at me, “Do you think she’s like it?”

I hope so. Whoever she is, I hope she knows with just how much went into that choice and with what hope and love it was purchased. I hope she know just how lucky she is.

Um… yikes!!! In just 28 days I’ll be standing in my booth at the One of a Kind welcoming you to my world. And in just 12 days I’ll be in my booth at Circle Craft in Vancouver. 12 DAYS!!!! Right now that world is piled all over a couple of tables and the floor. There’s boxes of packaging arriving that I have no room for. There are boxes of boxes, shiny bright teal boxes that soon will contain lovely jewelry. And there are lists upon lists upon lists of stuff still to do.

So let’s have a quick recap on what happened over the past 2 weeks. Here’s what I was  supposed to do and what I actually did.

Booth display
For Vancouver. I found last years checklist, good thing I am excellent at keeping notes. I’m going with the same display so it’s fairly easy. I am constrained by the fact that I have to build the booth out there and bring everything else, like curtains, packaging and product on the plane with me. Shipping is prohibitively expensive and I am so fortunate that my product is small. I have a list of pieces that I get cut at Home Depot. I am bringing my trusty cordless screwdriver. Add in a can of lime pop paint, some blue curtains and Bam! Booth. It’s a good thing I’m handy with power tools. I do want new photos, these will also be used in Toronto. On the list for this week is to decide on which photos for the booth.

Display for Toronto. I’m going with hard walls like I had last year. I really liked the look of these. The debate is whether to rent them again (yikes it’s expensive!) or build them. Building them is a bit of a pain because I have to rent a van to move them as they won’t fit in my car. And after the show I have to store them somewhere. And next year I think I want a different size booth. So I’m going with renting them. Again, I have last years notes so nothing too hard with the actual structure.

I have worked out a display for my long necklaces, that’s the good part. Here’s the bad part. My usual source for acrylic displays tells me they no longer do what I want done. Crap. So I’m trying to source out having these displays made. Within the next week before I leave for Vancouver.

New booth sign. Not done. Designed yes, sourced out and ordered, no.

New silver charm. Working on it. My original idea turned out to be less than functional. Great in my mind, not so much in the prototype. I still have high hopes this will be ready by the show. It’s going to be awesome just you wait.

New booth photos. Well this gets interesting. The photos I use are a mix of jewelry and inspirational, where the jewelry comes from. Those are easy in that I know the photos I want to use. Except that I have a ridiculous amount of photos and they aren’t really well organized. I’m searching for a specific boat at sunset photos. I have over 5,000 photos. Talk about a needle in a haystack. Argh.
The jewelry photos have become a bit more of a problem. The photos are of the work on display. This means that I actually wrote down what I’m exhibiting and guess what, I have too much work. The variety of work is bigger than my booth space. Now I know that I don’t have to put all my work out but it’s really hard not to because I love it all. So I’m trying to curate a really good selection that shows the best of the best. Vancouver is even harder because my booth is smaller. Cramming in too much just leads to overwhelm. Once I have laid out exactly what I’m showing then I can take some photos. So on my list for this week is that task, layout all the work, take some photos and have them printed in large format.

Social media. OK, I’ve been not bad with this. I’m managing to do a daily photo which I really like doing. Ideally I would have a bank of photos so that I can schedule them instead of doing this daily. Put that on the to do list.

Production. Torch torch and more torching. Then bead cleaning and assembling. Lots done. What I’m working on now is mass producing best selling items. Like my XL Ocean pendant. I know it sells well, the question is how many do I need to make? This year I’m introducing this size on a new heavy silver chain and also making it in 5 new colours, (why make my life simple?).

One small glitch is with my competition piece for the One of a Kind show. The theme is silver and gold and I know exactly what I want to make. Except that it is technically near impossible. Still working on that. The real glitch is that I am out of gold leaf. Leaf comes in small sheets in tiny books. I have a book of gold leaf that has been sitting here for years. Unfortunately I didn’t check to see how much was in it, only 1 sheet out of 25 left. So… I can’t find a supplier in Toronto that has any. I have ordered some but it is in the mail. This may not arrive in time for me to make this before Vancouver. Good thing I have a week in between the shows.

It’s been a busy 2 weeks. Next week will be the stupid busy week. Here’s what I need to get done:

Vancouver show packed by Nov 6. All jewelry cleaned tagged and bagged and in my carry on. Yes, I bring my entire inventory in my carry on luggage on the plane. All the display items packed in my suitcase.
Long display busts designed in a CAD program and sent to somewhere unknown to be produced.
Booth sign ordered.
New photos shot and printed.
Production. Make more more more more and then some more.

26 days Toronto people. 12 days Vancouver people.