Sharma Designs - Behind the Scenes of a Handmade Jewelry Business

This is Harder than it Looks!

Etsy is a hard place to sell jewelry!  I am so spoiled because I had a huge following when I had my main website and newsletter subscribers.  While that was too overwhelming for me at this stage of life I enjoyed the volume of jewelry that was being made and sold.  I think I hear crickets in my Etsy shop!  Ha ha  My sister in law told me that 2200 start an Etsy shop each month.  Is that true?  That's AMAZING!  No wonder it's so hard to get going over there!  Correction:  It's 2200 buyers/sellers a day!

Do you guys think Etsy is intimidating?  I was in a bead store the other day and I heard a lady tell the owner that she had nightmares after looking through Etsy.  Seriously?  Fantastic dreams of beautiful lovlies for me but no nightmares!  What do you think?  Is Etsy intimidating?  Does it seem like a pain to sign up to buy things?

I know that it just takes time to sell but in the meantime I have added lots of yummy photos to Flickr.  You can see my cool badge to the right.  Think of it as eye candy.  Find something you like and then you can head over to Etsy and buy it.  Woohoo!

My contest is going VERY well.  A ton of sign ups and millions of compliments so I know that people still enjoy my jewelry.  That makes me happy.  I still love to make it. 

I added two new things today so feel free to check them out.  I'd love to hear any feedback you may have about Etsy in general, tips for selling on Etsy or comments about the jewelry!

Win a Necklace!

Wanna win a free Sharma Designs necklace?  Well head on over to Rare Bird Finds and enter the contest.  Our sponsor for this week backed out and well...I have all this jewelry...so I decided to sponsor it myself. (it starts Feb 24th so if you are reading this late Sunday night just wait a day)

It's easy to enter so get over there!

I added lots of new goodies to the shop this weekend so go check it out too!

Pretty Pretty Pendants!

How great are these pendants?  Seriously, I think I've dreamed about them before.  Anyway, I have a few more of them that I am waiting on some beads for but in the meantime enjoy these!

I want this one for myself.  Of course I do right?  Isn't that what I always say?  But seriously this time I do!

Out of Supplies!

I hate it when I don't stay on top of ordering supplies!  I ran out of some important vital supplies yesterday and now instead of making use of the fact that my sister is in town to help me with the girls (that's not why she is here..it's just a perk) I have to twiddle my thumbs.

I guess we will just have to go shopping instead.  Maybe it's not so sad.

I did upload a few new necklaces/earrings last night including the necklace above which I really love.  I have always adored those beads.  They are so dainty and pretty.  The perfect necklace for a black shirt or dress.  Also great for those of us who don't look good in a red shirt but love the color.

Here are the earrings that you can buy to go with them.  So small and so cute.  I just love this set.

So many things!

Wow!  I forgot how much work it is to run a little store and have a life!  I have utilized every spare moment for the last few days.  Nap time is no longer nap time/computer time for me.  Now it is picture time!  Fortunately my older daughter is totally into it.  She loves looking at all the jewelry and loves watching me pack things up.

Anyway, I have been busy making lots of pretty things.  I honestly made some of my very favorite pieces the other night.  Those of you that know me are rolling your eyes and saying "They are all your favorites!'  Which is true because I truly do love every piece I make but some have a special place in my beady heart.

Like the one above.  I had to rip it out of my own evil clutches to take the picture.  I LOVE it.  Yes I could keep it for myself but I never do.  I like to spread the love. So enjoy!

I also changed up my Etsy banner and added more pendants and beads so go check it out!

At Long Last

I had some of these fabulous pendants a few years ago.  The website where I bought them sold out of them pretty quick.  I have searched for them high and low for years...seriously spending hours upon hours.  This week through a lucky twist of fate I have some more in my posession.  Finally!

The above necklace is the purple jasper.  I think the website I got them from originally called them sugilite jasper.  I might call them jaspagate.  Jasper is quartz that it is opaque.  I did a whole post about it here

These pendants are mostly opaque but they do have some crystals/translucent parts to them.  They kind of look like crazy lace agate beads that have been drilled vertically instead of horizontally across the bands.  But hey...I'm no gemologist.  I just love the pendants!

The turquoise one is especially pretty.  It has many colors in it and reminds me of water.  When I bought it before it was called "Sky blue jasper".  Very pretty!   

I also uploaded some vintage lucite earrings.  I have had a thing for lucite for a long time.  I especially love the marbled look some of the pieces have.

All of these beauties are available in my Etsy store!

More New Pretties

I added 2 necklaces tonight as well as some pendants and beads (ie supplies).  I know more than a few of my friends/customers dabble in jewelry making and I have quite a stash.  I am selling them basically at wholesale cost.  I need to de-stash big time. 

Hi.  I'm Sharla and I am a beadaholic.  The first step is admitting you have a problem right?

Anyway, there are some great deals for the hobbyist or designer.  My pictures are so pretty that it makes me want to buy them!  See?  I am sick I tell ya!

Here are a few of the beads/pendants:

Matte Onyx Flower Pendant

Pink Crazy Lace Agate Pendants and Beads

16 inch Strand of Brown Shell Beads

Carved Brown Shell Flower Necklace

Carved Brown Shell Necklace

SNS

On Etsy, many people do a SNS on Saturday.  SNS stands for Saturday Night Special.  I have to admit that I have participated in a few SNS in my day.  Of course I was the one buying.

Anyway, tonight until midnight PST I will be offering 20% off everything in the store.  Just go through the checkout process but don't click through to paypal.  Wait for an invoice from me.  I will revise it to reflect the 20% off.

Until I get a few more sales under my belt I figure it's a good way to get my name out there.  So take advantage!

New jewelry in my Etsy shop!

I LOVE this necklace!  These pink/orange stripey czech window beads have me drooling.  I seriously want to keep this necklace for myself.  And truth be told...I want to keep most of the new necklaces.  But then my Etsy shop would be even more empty. Sad.

Those of you who used to buy jewelry from Sharma Designs know that I used to have new jewelry nearly every week.  And lots of it.  Unfortunately, 2 kids slow you down a lot.  I really am having fun making the new jewelry though so even if I can't be the jewelry powerhouse I once was I figure I can still have some fun.

Small Carved Filigree Shell Necklace

I may just run off to Hawaii with this necklace.  It needs a tropical setting.  Doesn't it look like gorgeous tropical waters?  Again, it has those amazing striped czech window beads.  I'm obsessed I tell you.

Wire Wrapped Hollow Wave Shell Necklace

Oh wow look at that...more window beads.  These remind me of something but I can't put my finger on it.  The wave shell is one of my favorite pendants.  I have been hoarding them.  They are just so unique.  I haven't seen them in anyone else's jewelry.

Crab Fire Agate Faceted Heart Necklace

I realize I have been throwing around the word "favorite" alot but seriously...this is my FAVORITE pendant.  Most dealers call it fire agate.  After some researh and seeing some reall fire agate in person I have to concur that it is not exactly fire agate.  So I will go with the other name which is crab fire agate.  Honestly, it is just gorgeous.  I just stare at it lovingly.  And how appropriate that it is a heart.

Okay there are many new pretties.  I could wax poetically about each and everyone but I must go to bed.  So I leave you the pictures instead.  Go check them all out!

Oh, and I added some of my best selling style of earrings.  See them here

Filigree Carved Flower Shell Necklace Filigree Shell Flower Necklace Carved Wood Flower Handmade Necklace

Few More Necklaces