Christmas/Hanukkah in July

I am participating in the Christmas in July specials in my Artfire shop and Etsy shop this year by offering my customers 25% off purchases totaling $25 or more from in-stock items only (excluding shipping). To receive the discount, you MUST use the coupon discount code CIJ2012A. I won’t be offering a special like this for a long time, so order your favorite LindaB designs July 1. Most of my designs are one of a kind; there may be only 1 in stock. The discount does not apply to customer orders.

 

 

You can combine bracelets, earrings, wire wrapped rings and necklaces to take advantage of this terrific offer. Hurry and pick your favorites from my handmade jewelry designs – most of my items are one-of-a-kind designs. I also have Halloween, Hanukkah, Christmas, Easter, Passover, Purim jewelry and women’s wire beaded kippot for you to purchase.

Swarovski Crystal Christmas Tree Earrings	Shabbat Candle Earrings
Finer Jewelry
Red Round Swarovski	Joseph Swarovski Crystal Bracelet
Blue Sodalite Family Tree Necklace	Turquoise Red & Pink Swarovski Set

At Artfire, I do have a Christmas in July section, but I am offering the discount with the coupon code CIJ2012A for my entire shops with a $25 purchase, not on custom orders.

 

Spread the word to your friends and family about my jewelry and kippot designs, so they can get in on this event, too. Limited time offer – expires July 24, 2012.

Christmas/Hanukkah in July is Coming

I’m preparing my jewelry and accessory designs for Christmas/Hanukkah in July at my Etsy shop and Artfire shop. It’s the event you’ve all been waiting for: Christmas in July on Etsy and Artfire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You won’t want to miss the terrific coupon code and discount I’m putting up on July 1.

 

Here’s a peek:

 

You’ll be able to save on these designs and the whole shops. (Details coming!)

Artfire

Antique Pink Swarovski Crystal Necklace Set	Black Onyx Gemstone Dichronic Necklace
Etsy Serpentine Gemstone Necklace	Sapphire Swarovski Faith Bracelet

 

I’m very excited to be able to offer you some special discounts on my original designs, that are mostly one-of-a-kind. (I did make a different Faith bracelet for a custom order.)

Visit my shops on July 1st to see the discount and the coupon code to use.

Happy holiday shopping in July. Come back on July 1 or visit my shops for the big reveal (links are at the top of this post, or just click one of the pictured items.

 

Thanks for reading. I look forward to chatting with you soon.

 

(Disclaimer: Minimum purchase does apply to use the coupon code).

Wedding Anniversary

Tomorrow is our Wedding Anniversary. I'm so grateful that my Higher Power put Mr. B in my life because he has a wonderful sense of humor and keeps me laughing. 

Source: http://www.kickacts.com/


I couldn't do what I do without him. He's the chef, grocery shopper and the guy who plays fetch with Fritz for hours. The love and support I receive makes me feel like a Queen. 


Thank you, honey. I love you. 

Learning from clients

6.21.12 UPDATEs:

The client decided to keep the items. I'm so glad she changed her mind. Also, I'm grateful to my support system: my wonderful husband, members of the PFT Team on Etsy and Laura on FB, a teammate I just met online.

BTW, I did add new policies - they're pretty long, but I needed to step away and edit them later.

I changed my Etsy avatar and don't like it, so I apologize for it. I'll work on it more this weekend.

Linda B.

= = = =

Yesterday was a very challenging day for me as a small business owner. I had mailed out a custom order 2 days ago and received an email from the client indicating she was disappointed with the way the items turned out. I’ve never had this happen before. Usually, clients are thrilled with my work. Then, I realized that I don’t have policies in place to cover this type of situation.

For a custom order, like most vendors, I:

• require a 50% deposit  • confirm the order details  • notify the client of my progress  • create an online listing with pictures for the remaining balance due.

Listed on Etsy in Kippot section

My first response to the client was that I normally don’t take returns on custom orders. I had already ordered the supplies and completed the work. I said that I needed to think about it and get back to her.

I researched other jewelry shop policies and found that many makers do not accept returns on custom orders. It makes sense because there is an implied agreement once the client pays the deposit and purchases the finished item. In this case, when I sent the images, the client’s response was “looks great … I’m excited.”

However, client satisfaction and customer service are 2 things I pride myself on and I didn’t want to leave this client dissatisfied with my work.

My solution was to offer her the ability to return the items and that I would refund the price, minus shipping costs back to me. I also told her I would honor the multiple purchase discount coupon for future purchases that I had sent with her order.

Look for this in my Artfire shop

Lessons learned: 

• Create and post a custom order return policy and refer to it in my listings – draft in progress 
• Adjust my return/exchange policy by asking clients to return items to me well packaged with delivery confirmation – draft in progress 
• The need to be flexible when it comes to client satisfaction and make decisions on a case-by-case basis. I’m not a big box store, with a strict “you opened it, it’s yours” type of policy, nor do I choose to be.  
• I posted my situation in 1 of my Etsy teams. The members were supportive and suggestion ideas and they even helped me to laugh. They pointed out that I can’t please everyone all the time. 

Sure, I’m upset that this client is disappointed, but I acted with integrity throughout the order process. I stand by my work.

Question: Have you ever had this happen? What did you do? 

By the Sea BBAristans Team Challenge

 

As a member of Etsy Blogging Business Artisans team, a requirement is to participate in six of the twelve monthly challenges. June's challenge is called "Under the Sea," brought to you by Erika of Artful Rising.

The theme made me think of beaches, so I created an anklet with lots of charms to be worn at the beach, but not necessarily in the water. It’s to show off your ankle mostly. I used crazy lace agate, blue beads, and fish, porpoise and shark pewter charms.

 

By the Sea Anklet

 

I also made little shark earrings to match. It could also be turned into a bracelet if you’re not into anklets.

 

Do you wear anklets? Do they have charms? If you were to design an anklet with me, what would you want it to look like?

Treasury Love

Thank you to:

Butterscotch Treasury by Judy	Felted Bowl
Sky Blue by Ruth	Shabbat Candle
Black and White by Baskets by Rose	Small Basket

Thanks so much for featuring me in your Treasuries/Collections.

Chicago Jewish Festival

It’s been 1 week since I was a vendor at the Chicago Jewish Festival in Morton Grove, IL. I met 2 EtsyChai teammates who also had booths there. Unfortunately, I didn’t think about bringing my camera while I went for food or visited other booths, but I did take pics of my booth set up.

 

Here’s a picture of me (left) and Sue-Ellen of Accentricities. I also met Debbie from NoRunningwithScissors

The Jewish festival is one that I usually attend every 2 years and I was thrilled to be accepted as a Vendor. I saw many people I knew from my current shul and from synagogues I’ve visited. I did think of many people who are no longer with us (z’l) who I’ve gone with in the past. 

Before I forget, I’d like to thank my friend Alex for showing up and helping me pack up my creations and my car. You did a great job and it was great to see you and share ice cream with you afterwards. 

My most popular item was my dreidel earrings, but other items have found new homes:

Ricki bought this terrific necklace set	Alisa got a great deal on 3 pairs of these post earrings
A few rings went to a mom and daughter, I can’t find the pics (argh)
My turquoise and coral necklace sold	Adele from my shul bought a Dreidel bracelet set (similar to this one (and she wore it on Shabbat yesterday) – A similar set is available.
Dreidel earrings are in stock	Jasper Marble Wavy Bracelet – sold earrings, but I may have beads to make another set

 

I hope to see you at the next Chicago Jewish Festival in 2 years.

Artist Weekend Getaway

My husband and I were able to get away for a weekend visting friends in Wisconsin. To my surprise, it became an Artist Weekend.

Chris quilled the flower on this box.

Chris made these adorable lampwork bead figures

I watched Chris torch these beautiful glass beads

Here's the glass bead I made

Another design by Chris

The next day, we visited Chris's dad, and met his friends Sue and Al. Sue designs hand made stamped and die cut greeting cards. And, she showed us little favor gift boxes she created for her son's wedding.  They were beautiful and were decorated with flowers and the date.

Then, she showed us how to make this simple box using a snazzy tool to cut the box, and folded and taped the sides in about 5 minutes.

It was so fun to be with other creative people and watch them work. Now I can appreciate the time and efforts required to create lampworked glass beads.

For a fleeting moment, I thought about making similar little boxes for my jewelry. Sue was selling an extra machine she had. Then, I realized that paper is not my passion, creating designs with beads and wire is my thing.

Whew, I saved money on a tool I won't use much and I don't have the space for new tools and supplies anyway.

Have you watched other artists at work using other media? What did they create?

Chicago Jewish Festival Preview 6/10 event

Here are a few of the items I've made for the Jewish festival. Of course, I'll have more beaded wire kippot and Jewish jewelry at the show. They aren't listed yet, but if you'd like to order, contact me and I'll work on it for you.

New wire wrapped snap clip barrette

Silver Wire Sapphire Swarovski Crystals Beaded Wire Kippah

 Gold Wire Sapphire Swarovski Crystals and White Pearl Beaded Wire Kippah

Gold Wire and Red Sswarovski Crystals Beaded Wire Kippah 

Passover Charm Necklace

Seder Plate Passover Earrings 

Dreidel Charm Pearl Earrings

Come and say hi at the Chicago Jewish Festival on Sunday June 10 at the Cook County Forest Preserve in Morton Grove - on Oakton, just west of LeHigh.