The Weekend In Photos

Friday my dad came into town to hang out with us! How cool he took the day off! Yay! So I was totally busy all day and was not able to check out who won the bete-opening spots of Lollishops. Sadly, I did not win :( That's alright though! I'm thankful to all of you that were able to help me out and get your friends to help!

A fun day at the Museum of Science and Industry with Nana and Grandpa made for some cheezy photos after a long morning getting our family portrait taken! The last thing anyone wanted to do was more smiling!

Sunday took my little one and I to see HSM3 finally and I couldn't get over how much she loved it! Me? I cried like a baby again! haha! She was up in front of her little seat and dancing and laughing. We really had a blast getting to spend some time together! Mommy and Me moments are so great when you can get them away from the others. It's pretty vital to each of the kids, so we try hard to spend special time with each of them! The boys went to an indoor playpark and had a blast too!! My little peanut had to bring a bag of popcorn back to her brother and when we got in the car with the boys, her brother had brought her some ice cream! How great that they think of each other even when they are having fun.

Now it's time to get to work!

Your Weekend Shopping Guide!

From Left to Right-->

1.Pink Sewing Machine Necklace by MichellesCharmWorld (Free Ship on FIRST purchase w/ code: FREESHIPSCC)

2.Birdie Pouch by RebeccaBags

3.Tinkerbell Hair Clip by PunkyNMunky (Free Gift w/ Purchase CODE:FREEGIFTSC in message to seller at checkout)

4.PolkaDot Bag by CrossBonesCollateral (10% off order w/code : snarkyteamI will refund you the money after you have paid)

5.Strawberry Whipped Cream Ring by MichellesCharmWorld

6. Teal and Black Purse by RebeccaBags

7.Karate Girl Hair Clip by PunkyNMumky

8.Aligator Hair Pins by CrossBonesCouture (10% off order w/code: SnarkyTeamI will refund money after payment)

9.Butterfly Skull clips by CrossBonesCollateral

10. Variety of Ribbon Clippies by PunkyNMunky

11. Cupcake Pouch by RebeccaBags

12.Pancakes n Butter ring by MichellesCHarmWorld

Yay! It's friday! Now it's time to shop! At least that's usually how it works out around here. I figured I would kick off the weekend with a simple little photographed gift guide.

This is the Snarky Chicago Crafters Street Team, a street team for people in Northern IL that can't quite make all the Chicago meets. We're pretty small right now as you can see! haha!

Please have a look at our shops and if you use a discount code (if there is one for that shop), just purchase like normal and then wait for a revised invoice or pay and then get your discount refunded. You write the discount code in the NOTES TO SELLER! Feel free to pass this discount on to any of your friends and make sure they let us know in the NOTES TO SELLER how they found us!

If you are interested in joining our team, PLEASE click on SNARKY CHICAGO CRAFTERS STREET TEAM and the link will take you to our group page!

And The Winner Is...

Tea Party Necklace by MichellesCharmWorld 30.00
I was recently invited to a fancy tea party and was even required to wear a dress! I was told my prince would be escorting me and cake would be served. I open my door to find my 2 year old little guy waiting for me. He told me to close my eyes and when we arrived in the 'tea room' (playroom) I opened them and found an old sheet from the dress up trunk, being used as a table cloth (sometimes a cape, toga, picnic blanket, baby blanket) on a garage sale table (sometimes clubhouse, desk, boat, magic trick table). The top was covered with tea kettles, cups, and food. It was such a fun time playing with these kids, that I didn't want to stop! So I decided to draw names for my blog giveaway and have my little ones help me out!

All the names were written out on paper (Pink of course!), my Princess mixed them up in her little bowl with a spoon singing and chanting some weird song that she made up (maybe it was a good luck chant?) and then my Prince picked out 1 name. We opened it up and the 2 kiddies held it down since it kept folding itself back in! CONGRATS TO ALLY!!!! I will be emailing you shortly!! I wanted to hurry up and post this so you didn't feel I had forgotten, but for now i'm off to go and finish some of my tea and cookies which I have just been informed have gotten cold!

Thanks to all the commented and I will have another giveaway next month!

PLEASE HELP ME! Today is the last day for you to help me win a spot in the pre opening of Lollishops! Please click on the word Lollishop or even the photo below to look at their blog!

BOGO Sale!

New season, new look! It's time for me to clear out my clearance section! I have a few items that just need to find new homes otherwise I will want to keep them all and my jewelry boxes are overflowing! (yes I said boxes!!). I figure a big sale is the way to go instead of having a sale section that I really don't like at all. I like my sections to have punch and pop!
All of these goodies can be found in my shop MichellesCharmWorld in the sale section! Right now you buy one you get a second choice for 50% off!!! Just wait for a revised invoice after purchase!
Rules for sale:
Both choices must be from the sale section.
Cheaper item gets the 50% off.
Must be paid for within 3 days.

*WHOLESALERS if you are interested in the entire lot, I have an incredible discount for you!*Alright now get shopping!

It's the last day to help me win a spot for the pre-opening of lollishops! You don't even have to buy anything! Just click on the photo and check out the blog! I need lots of clicks please! Thanks so much!!

My First Blog Giveaway!

Packaging of Swag Bags

In honor of my new shop opening up on Lollishops soon and my 1100th sale on my Etsy Shop, I want to have a little giveaway! You have the opportunity to win one of the gift bags I will be giving out to my first customers on Lollishops when the time comes! There is an assortment of sweet treats in here sure to curb your dessert cravings! Just leave a comment here on my blog post and I will draw a name on Thursday morning! Good luck to everyone!!You get all you see in the photo! Hair pins, a sweet tooth brooch, cell charm and lolly earrings!There is also a coupon included for more discounts!!

Be Sure to help me win a spot in the pre opening phase of lollishops by clicking this link to their blog!

Lollishops Coming Soon

Help Me Win! Lollishops is offering a chance to open up shop early to those that get the most hits to the lollishops blog! Just click on the photo or any of the Lollishops Blog links! Forward this blog on to your friends and help me win! If you help me out here, I will put your name in twice for the blog giveaway gift i'm starting tomorrow! Just make a comment and click on the photo!

I am developing a new line of sweet treats for my lollishops store that is coming so soon! Stay up to date on lollishops happening through their blog!
Opening November 28th!

Studio Organization

My Work Table, Click on photo to go to Flickr where you can read all the notes

Hi all! With the holiday production in full swing we really need to be ready for anything at the drop of a hat. So today is a lesson in organization! I always share photos of my storage table (old photo) in my studio and figured it was time to share more.

My storage table where plastic magic begins!

First let's talk storage table. All of those bins and drawers are labeled with the cost of each charm or bead x2 in there so that I know what to charge as I am making a piece. These are the AT COST prices. It also helps for when I have a party of people over to make things and they can see what their prices will total up to be as they create. (I want to own a funky bead and charm store one day!). Every basket on the table is a custom order in the works and it has a index card of the price quoted, pieces involved and other notes. I have a lot of trays and whozits and whatits around and those are for new charms and beads as they arrive in the mail waiting to be sorted further.

My work table should always be clear and ready to work. I need a clear environment in order to create. It must be inviting to get me to sit awhile. A big old mess makes me stay away. If you click on the photo of my owrk table above it will take you to my flickr account so you can see the notes. Everything has a place, right down to a tiny little pink container to hold my weddig rings when I work. My most commonly used pieces I keep on my work table so that I don't have to keep getting up and down constantly going to the storage table.

Spool holder now ring holder

Little odds and ends like Vintage jars and antique bottles and bowls can make practical holders pretty and inviting! I make chunky jewelry and some pieces like rings can't just go in a box and be safe all the time. So I bought this thread holder to hold all my rings. It also makes them super easy to find when they sell. This sits on my storage table for easy access. I am right now using a card table as my shipping center, but I am hoping to buy one of these soon:

The Microwave Cart from Target

Everything will then have it's own place and not just sit in a rubbermaid bin. When I have to get stuff out of bins and it's not visible it makes shipping a chore, I want it to be fun and inviting. And also when I have clients over I want it to look nice. The shelves will have wicker or clear baskets with no lids. Just clean lines. The top one will pens and markers, scotch tape, ribbons, business card box, customs forms and my stamp. The bottom basket will hold shipping envelopes, tissue paper, boxes and a roll of bubble wrap. The side hooks will hold scissors, tape gun and other on hand goodies. I'm hoping to have it all done and ready by the time my other shop on Lollishops opens up!

Has this inspired you to get organized?

Lovin The Lolli World

Be A Lolli! Make Sure You Tell Them MichellesCharmWorld Sent You!

So I've fallen in love with a new marketplace and it has not even opened yet! It's Lollishops and it's girly, lacey and frou frou friendly! When I saw friendly, I mean it! I've never felt more welcome amongst people i've never even known!! I'm all about the PINK and this place is perfect for me! Right now I have to be happy getting my fix from the lollishop blog ! Check it out, there are featured sellers there and you will get just a tiny bity little taste of what's to come on lollishops! Be sure to check out all you can and the blog is the perfect place to start! It's a juried site, which means you have to be accepted to sell there and I was thrilled when I got my little Welcome aboard the good ship Lollishop letter!! If you think you may not be accepted, give it a try anyways! I didn't want to keep wondering what if what if, so I went ahead and applied! And YAY ME! so now i'm getting ready for the new place with a new line exclusively found only at Lollishops. Due to Launch on November 28th, I will be sure to post all the latest about my shop here!

For now check out the blog, check out the homepage, join us in the forums and check out my page and drop me a line! If you decide to apply mention my name MichellesCharmWorld let Sadie know I sent you!

Checkout this weekends featured seller too! She's a true inspiration!

http://lollishops.blogspot.com/

This Weekend In Photos...

A Front Yard Cemetary Screams Halloween

My Trio of Ghouls Ready To Trick or Treat

Loads of Goodies From a Day of Antique Shopping

At The House Of Mouse- Tips for Vacationing

Mousie Goodies by MichellesCharmWorld 5.00-30.00

When I go on vacation, I'm the type of gal that likes to dress up her basic outfits with pieces that go with the vacation type of theme! It's like clothing with a purpse or something! Our next trip is to Disney World! And incase you didn't get it from my being a Disney Bride....well i'm in LOVE with Disney World! hahaha! We go every year and sometimes even twice a year!! Shh...we keep our second trip very top secret because we hear too many complaints from family members about our obsession!! The next trip is in January right now and we can't wait! I've also discovered this awesome new fan site: MickeyFanatic. Alot of good info to be found there!!

I'm a bit obsessive when I go on vacation and have even been known to bring my ENTIRE shop inventory with me to ship out while gone! I did this last on our trip to Mexico, since we were gone a long time! To Disney, since it's just a week or 2 I usually just bring my computer to stay up to date and my drill, pliers and findings so that I can make goodies while on vacation and have them ready to list when I get back!!

Another awesome thing about Disney is that we love our home away from home resort The Pop Century! We always request and are willing to wait for 1st floor near the Classic Hall in the 70s section. We always always decorate our door and window and in the window is a little window ledge that I use to put goodies found on our vacation, but I also put some of my pieces in the window on stuffed animals or statues that we bought :) On our door, I have a little magnetic cup of business cards! I have always, every single year made at least 1 sale back when I got home from my cards down there! One has become one of my best customers AND...since I was always wearing my stuff I have even sold some pieces right off my neck or around my wrist! Amazing what promoting yourself can do!

So even on vacation, remember you can still do a little something to get the word out!

Two Shops Continued.

Goodies and Treasures from MichellesCharmWorld & TheFunkyBeadNButton

Part 1 is down below if you want to start there :)

Looking at the listings all together in 1 shop just kept telling me, though they were the same parts, they didn't look right selling together.

I knew right away the name I wanted for my supply shop, since my destash usually wasn't the normal silver charm and pretty bead. My stuff at MichellesCharmWorld is known as Funky and Chunky, so I wanted to carry some of that over to the other shop so they would have consistency even though they were 2 different shops. TheFunkyBeadNButton was born! It was amazing how quickly it all came together and within my first few days I had been selling like crazy! I couldn't believe how easy it was. Then...I started to get busier in my other shop and the destash buckets kept filling up. TheFunkyBeadnButton was getting neglected and I just didn't have the time to keep up with checking 2 email accounts, and listing in another shop.

The 2 emails is my biggest problem, I already have too many windows open when I work, I didn't need another one. I wish I wish Etsy would let us put 2 shops under 1 email account, that would work so much better than this.

So it started again. I was putting destash in MichellesCharmWorld and it was getting cluttered and messy. It was time to add on the Destash shop into my daily schedule and try and work with it. I now check in in the morning and renew, relist or list anything I have to bring up. I answer all my convos three times a day in that shop and still ship daily. It's rough keeping up with, but I recently hit 100 sales and haven't looked back. Keeping it fresh and updated seems to be the key. People don't want to buy from stale looking shops :)

Get out there, open those shops, dust the shelves and get a schedule going. It's not easy, but it's a necessary evil~ Also keep in mind another shop brings exposure to your current main shop!!

Do I Need 2 Shops? The Big Question!

Chunkalicious Plastic Chain by TheFunkyBeadnButton 5.00

I always hear, in the forums, do I need 2 shops? I hear it from everyone, including myself! I was a fan of the 2 shop process for a long time, but just didn't have the time to run 2 shops and my kids and my real life orders and custom orders.So I started adding my destash items into MichellesCharmWorld. The first thing I noticed? It became a cluttered mess and began to look like a giant yard sale! I make and sell button bracelets and necklaces at most of my craft shows, it's pretty much what i'm known for in the area.

Summer Surprises Button Bracelet by MichellesCharmWorld 40.00

So alot of my destash was buttons that I didn't use. I used bold, big and bright buttons, so I was destashing neutrals and golds and color pallettes that just didn't look right in my shop at all. I found I was renewing stuff just to move my destash off the front page. Sales started to slug a bit and I was wondering if it was because of my destash being on my front page or something of that sort. THEN I was starting the long process of getting ready for a big move and had to start destashing some of my very own goodies! So I knew there was a lot more to go. It was time for another shop.



To be continued...

Tuesdays. Better or Worse Than Mondays?

Tea in the morning ring set by MichellesCharmWorld 12.00

I needed almost a whole pot of tea this morning. My eyes just didn't want to open and the poor kids just wanted mommy to play and play! My little alarm clock baby even slept in until 930!

I think my body knew the mountain of custom orders that awaited me in the studio today! I have work to finish up and get mailed out by friday and i'm only halfway through!

My Studio Where All The Plastic Magic Happens!

My storage table as you can see if full of insanity, all the boxes, bins and baskets on the table are custom orders I have going on. I swear my studio looks the same no matter how much work I actually get done that day! hahah!

So off I go to play, craft and maybe join the circus next?

Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down

I Hate Mondays 8x10 by Papermoth 18.00

Mondays... They always remind me of everything I need to do! My scheduled time begins again and it's time to start getting the dust out of the shop that usually accumulates over the weekends. Monday is for hardcore promoting to bring in new people this week and sending out a coupon code to my big regulars to entice them back into the shop.

Change up those featured items and give everyone something new to look at, maybe run a special on the items featured in your shop!

Renew some stuff getting less and less looks at the back of your shop, maybe try and rephotograph them in a different light and different backround.

Lollipop Bracelet by MichellesCharmWorld 14.00

Sometimes a white backround will clean everything up and give it a fresher, brighter look. At other times colored backround gives that knowckout punch you need! I used to be a fan of all the same backrounds for the sake of cohesiveness, but recently have begun to discover how some items truly do look better on a jazzed up backround.

Mondays are a time for me to get ready to start the week with a bang and set new goals to match! This week, I intend to blog daily, read at least 3 blogs a day from fellow bloggers too! I am hoping to close sunday with 14 sales. So off to work I go!

Have a great day Everyone and go out there and make it a great one!

Are You Ready For The Holidays?

Gingerbread House Brooch by MichellesCharmWorld 5.00

Holiday shopping season has begun and it's time to start bringing customers into our shops! Let's show them that online shopping is what they want to do this year! No crowds, rude employees and best of all you don't have to spend 7.00 on coffee to keep you energized to go from store to store!

Coffee Cup Earrings by Charlieccbb 15.00

Have you been preparing? Promoting? Getting the word out? My newsletter went out with a special holiday savings code for everyone that gets it. I started giving free earrings with some orders and a little note that says: Don't forget your stocking stuffers! I posted new holiday themed fliers at coffee shops and sandwich places that showcase live talent. (They seem to be geared towards the artsy crowd). I've got 2 Holidays and Hot Chocolate home parties booked!

I started revamping some of my older still unsold stuff in my Etsy Shop and getting my new line in shape for my soon to be open Lollishops Store! I've sent out an email to my friends and family asking for them to support handmade artistst (not just myself) and hopefully they can purchase at least 1 item from someone! All the bills I have paid with snail mail have my business card with a discount code on them too.

Time Necklace by MCW 13.00

It's time to start getting all our ducks in a row! Just this weekend my inboxes have been full of requests for stocking stuffers and holiday gifts! When those words come out it is time for me to get my rear in gear and get the holiday promos going! I am thinking of rethinking my packaging to fit the season a bit more too! What are you doing to prepare?

Colorful World of Plastic

Rainbow Acrylic Rings by 4.00: PenGwynneBeads

I love plastic! I love the way it smells, the colors it comes in, the designs...everything! I'm a plastic fanatic. Sometimes being a plastic worker, I get the disapproving look at craft shows, especially when they come over to my booth and see that some of my work is priced higher than theirs! They key here is to always remain friendly! Even when they tell you it's Kids stuff. I still smile, tell them I like their work and let them know that at many craftshows their are people of all types!

The best part of the day is when my booth is constantly crowded and I am making sales! It makes me feel good and let them know that I know what i'm doing here :) At the end of the show, I usually try and exchange business cards with the other vendors so that they can see that no, what I do is not kids stuff and yes it does sell it was not just a fluke of that one craft show.

Plastic is my childhood, it does look like kids stuff, heck it USED to be! I love giving it a new look, reviving the old and making it funky!! One day plastic will get it's revenge and people will stop looking down on it :) Until then, my love affair with plastics will continue!

Plastic Assortment of Treasures Made Yesterday by: MichellesCharmWorld

Crack That Whip

Pin-up Wallet 9.99 by: tofunkytown

It's time for me to get serious today and get some work done! I've been doing customs for the past 2 weeks and doing a lot of fooling around outside with the kids! When naptime would approach I would hop on the computer! I take a schedule to my daily life and it looks like I have to schedule my work blocks too! A schedule within a schedule sounds so rigid, but if I don't sales start slowing down and before I know it I'm just fooling around on the computer and playing Mahjong or something! hahaha!!

Mahjong Bracelet 15.00 by: MarciaMenedez

So today, I am going to do a little bit more of my gingerbread house for the challenge on lollishops! Then, I have to make a few earrings that I have sketched out and hopefully I can churn out a bracelet and a necklace too!! These are my latest faves in the earring department! I totally fell in love with these little birdhouses when I saw them, so I had to make something with them! I didn't like the whole plain jane look of them, so I added a heart to the front and that helped and now they are sooo fabulous! Alright off to work!

Tiny Birdhouse Earrings 8.00 by: MichellesCharmWorld

It's Going WHERE?

So, some of my new CANDY SWEET LINE jewelry is headed to the Playboy Mansion Halloween Party this year! Can you believe it? I just about died when I got the order and the custom requests! How fun and totally cool! Here are some example pieces:

Lollipop Shop Earrings 4.00

Lollipop Shop Necklace 14.00

LOVE Hard Candy Ring 7.00

Cotton Candy Creation Necklace 16.00

Needless to say, I'm super thrilled and hoping that this will be some great advertising!!

Making an Advertisement

So i'm trying to make an ad for my new lollishop and I'm not having ANY luck at all, I have what I want right there ^ but of course no success in actually getting it to the right size or anything like that! Go figure! I also need it in a .jpg and this one is not. Oh why couldn't I be a computer genius??

Any ideas anyone?

Gingerbread House Contest

Gingerbread House Challenge

So it's time to get started on the gingerbread house challenge for Lollishops! I'm super excited! I've got the structure going on and we got all our supplies this evening! I just want to dive right in and get started, but of course I don't want to rush it. I'm sketching it out with my husband helping me out with his point of view so I don't go too over the top....but over the top is good in Candyland right???

My Flickr Page has this picture with notes of what all I have going on:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michellescharmworld/2951010288/