Not As Easy As It Seems ~ Javagoth's Blog

Tamera's Tips & Bits
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The fallacy of the statement "Do what you love and the money will follow"

Published: 11-25-2011 10:25pm
Posted In: Not As Easy As It Seems
Today I'm going to reference a topical rant posted by my friend and roommate because not only am I the friend she's referencing in the post, it's something I'm living right now (warning - she uses some strong language).  My "day job" for the last decade has been software testing.  Except that I haven't managed to land a software testing job in the last year and a half.  As I was getting closer to the end of my unemployment I thought maybe this is the Universe pushing me to finally get my jewelry/craft business started on-line.  I've been making beaded jewelry and accessories for a number of years now.  I've occasionally showed at small ve... » Read More

Looking on the bright side

Published: 11-25-2011 10:23pm
Posted In: Not As Easy As It Seems
The bright side of low sales at the Kitsch & Stitch event is that I have a fair selection of stock now and can spend some time working on improving my Ice Resin skills and techniques and learning more bead weaving stitches.  I want to do more experimentation with combining stitches and just playing around with designs.  I've been looking at the class list for a local beading shop I frequent but I'm not feeling pulled to any of the classes.  I think this is an indicator that this quarter is the time for my own experimentation.... » Read More

A disappointing set-back

Published: 11-25-2011 10:07pm
Posted In: Not As Easy As It Seems
I think I've mentioned here before that I'm trying to get into the local Arts & Crafts Fairs circuit.  I've mostly done smaller fringe group sorts of events - aimed at a specific and somewhat small group of people (ie: the steampunk vendor fairs I did earlier in the year).  The Shoreline Arts festival was the first larger festival I've tried and I had good results there.  It's hard to get into the crafts fairs on an unemployment budget - especially since there's no guarantee of making that money back.  Still, if you don't try you definitely won't succeed so I have been trying some of the middle of the road (price and attendance wise) festi... » Read More
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