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July 30, 2007

bad thread

I ended up trying to use galvanized pipe for stiffness for a canopy this weekend. One cross piece pipe had a damaged thread...so it wouldn't screw together properly - and I didn't think to bring thread cutters - silly me.

The Event was too hot for me - I was pretty miserable. I think I could have used my tent - it's big enough people could pass through - and with some shade I think more people would have stopped to look.

So I wonder if I should bring my market umbrella to JP this Thursday.

July 24, 2007

Stretching

Am scheduled to do a Fair this weekend on Saturday - in South Dartmouth - the organizer let me know that there isn't room for me to have a tent...so I'm going to have to punt & figure out some other way to have a bit of shade on the metals & pearls - and me too! SPF 50 only helps so much.

I'm thinking of PVC tubes - formed in an upside down U - clamped at the base into umbrella stands - so I can velcro a canopy over - though I suppose additional supports may be needed so the fabric doesn't sag too much.

I'll have to remember to bring the camera too.

July 16, 2007

Summer Flowers

I participate with the etsyBEAD street team. A global team made up of folks who make or create with beads.

The theme this week is Summer Flowers - if you search for EBTW on Etsy - you'll find the sale items for the week. Every shop is independent so the sales vary from % off to $ off to free shipping. But every tagged item has a sale price.

July 14, 2007

Mashpee

sigh

Mashpee is a cute Cape town and it was a beautiful day. Traffic was Ok (we did witness an accident, so didn't even run into the aftermath of the crash.)

Everyone was at the beach or the golf course. Perhaps if you vend at the open market, you need to pray for slightly overcast, chance of light showers kind of days where people go to the mall.

I tried 2 new things in my display. Both, I think, were improvements over the previous things I 'd been using. (It's hard to tell really since sales were like glaciers.) I've also decided to make my sign double sided.


July 12, 2007

Street teams

Last nite I had 2 meetings around street team stuff.
One for New England Street Team - fairly large disbursed group. Some really great folks; but there isn't much for organization or promotional plans. The other was held in a workshop and moderated by Etsy Admin SaraWearsSkirts with StellaLoella and Matt. It wasn't so much what I'd hoped when SP suggested it; but I did learn a lot about what Etsy expects and wants to do with and for Street Teams.

I also almost completed the sets of earrings I've been working on all week - just need earwires.

Annnndddd - got a call from a boutique gift shop where they are interested in carrying my work. sweet.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Mashpee Open Market with Betsy of StoneHouse Studio.

July 11, 2007

Blog updates

Was reminded this morning to update my blog. It's like exercise, going to the gym, or taking night classes; you never exactly know how you'll fit it in you day until you make it a regular thing. Every day.
Something unimportant drops off the list, or you get more organized or efficient.

So, last nite, I drilled and hammered and polished a dozen small, wee and sweet silver disks. pulled, measured and set aside some wire and started some stone selection - when I noticed that the New Treasury was almost about to open the floodgates! I haven't snagged a list since the new treasury was rolled out. So...I grabbed one for the NEST team :

These seem to be over 200 people in the new one ALL the time; I'm wondering if it counts differently, or if the latest version coincides with an uptick in membership...

Course I was late to bed & am now a little jazzed on a double shot cappa.

July 10, 2007

Street Teams

Have been working a TON on the Street Teams I'm a member of - they aren't very organized yet.
On one hand I'm not sure I shouldn't just spend my time doing my own promotions, organizing & shop work; and on the other - getting together with a chorus, gives you that much more breath, sound quality, range and volume.

But Most Exciting! Mary asked a very very vague question about Street teams in the forums - Sweety Prize suggested a ' Street Team Leadership' workshop or chat session & I asked her to make a place & time - that it was a fine idea.

Etsy Admin SaraSays then up and offered the Etsy (online) workshop for use since the response was so good. Perhaps I'll learn a few new tips & ideas - and if not I'm pretty excited to meet folks managing the teams.

July 05, 2007

APC - USPS

Recently I purchased a used graphics punch made by Tecre. They are a wonderful company, so you ay hear more about them later; but this story is about the US Postal Service. My MIL went to the local branch to pick up the mail & to mail this used punch back to Tecre in Fon Du Lac WI. The postal clerk told her that the zip code was wrong. So the package ended up not being mailed.

Today I took the day off to relax, clean, get ready for a party & decided I'd go to the post office. It was like April 15th - the line went to the door. I almost bagged it, but noticed a wee sign for APC, read it a little noticed, I could do delivery confirmation & packages. Found the thing in a lonely corner of the place & figured I'd give it a try. I'd heard other people who used them, like them.

Automatic Postal Centers that are not new, new, but still a recent self checkout center installed at many USPS locations. It has a scale and measuring square. It prints receipts & lables. I didn't have to wait in line.
It seems to ask more questions than USPS online or the postal clerk does, but it's so you can process multiple packages if needed. It was easy, no fuss and I didn't have to wait in line. (I know I said it already, but it makes you feel pretty smart if you aren't waiting behind the lady with 3 kids, in front of the college kid shipping home dirty laundry.)

One small thing I would add to them - a small table/shelf to finish sticking labels onto your package, in case someone actually does end up waiting behind you, you don't have to balance our box on the trash can to complete the post.

July 04, 2007

4th of July

going to watch fire works on the ocean in Rhode Island today. family stuff.

suspect I'll have a couple hours in the car, if I'm not driving I'll bring my plyers and make some components for a necklace or bracelet.

I also manage a street team blog for the New England region. So I'll update that page now as well.

July 03, 2007

Getting it Up

Noting too fancy to start...This is my profile on Etsy.

As an artist I love combining colors, textures, shapes, and materials; The engineer in me is thrilled with testing the limits of structure, creating forms, and planning & executing a design. New toys & technologies; learning ancient techniques and finding/reinventing an old craft bring me such pleasure.

I'm Betsy & I'm from Boston.

Check out my Etsy shop

Comment on jewelry (be nice, but I'd love to know what you like & don't like!) or add me to your hive : http://www.stylehive.com/ZestyB
You can see some of my other photos at Flickr
Add me as a flickr contact and you can friend me at MySpace too at http://www.myspace.com/zestybetsy - but I don't get there very often really
My new shop for de-stash & supplies is here on Etsy too - zestybeads.etsy.com

Send me a note. I'd love to hear from you. ♥

Interested in discussing wedding, bridal or grooms party sets, hosting a jewelry party in the New England region, a wholesale purchase or consignment arrangement please contact me.


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This'll do until I get it all set up spiffy