MiShel Designs

Valentine's Day is Just Around the Corner

Okay - We all know that Valentine's Day is just around the corner and since the beginning of the year, Pearls and Pearl Designs have been a big hit and I'm guessing there's some pretty smart shoppers out there buying early for Valentine's Day (hint: They've told me that's what they're doing!!)

You've all got your Websites and Facebook pages all decked out for those shoppers, right?

What's that? You don't? Me either, really.

Keshi Pearls by Michelle Buettner
As Seen In BeadStyle Magazine - July 2011

But, I have noticed that changing tags and re-listing regularly in my Etsy shop helps with getting noticed when people do a search so, here's a helpful link from Etsy on that.

TAGGING

You can use it not only to help you with your Etsy shop if you have one, but your Artfire shop, your regular website, your Facebook Business Page, or whatever social media or internet site you use to market your designs. Take the info that could be applied to you and your business and run with it!

I made special note of my best sellers over the past couple of months and yes indeed - the PEARLS have it - Hands Down!! So, I've got those listed first in my shop since that's what people tend to be looking for and, I have links on my blog for people to find out even more information on pearls as well.

Also, don't be afraid to give yourself credit where credit is due, pat yourself on the back or list yourself as an expert in your field - this is important if you want people to take you seriously.

I have a Pearls Diploma from GIA and list myself as a "Pearl Specialist" (my term, not GIA's!) and when my customers read my Etsy profile or look on the first page of my Website/Blog, they know this and realize they can ask questions and receive an educated answer; one they can trust.

So, go figure out what your best sellers are (or, what you'd like your best sellers to be), dust the shelves of your shop and brush up on your 'expert' skills and put yourself out there.

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love, and Sharing Your Talents!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Happy Friday!

Who says Friday the 13th is unlucky? Jason, who??

Lark Publishing - Studio Series

Well, it's lucky for me! I was the winner of one of the fabulous Lark Books that Cyndi over at Beading Arts and Mixed Media Artist is giving away this month.

Cyndi with Beading Arts

And guess what? It was the Earrings Book!!

Can You Believe That? Earrings are my FAV!

Earrings Studio Series
Lark Books

(Insert Shelly doing the "Happy Dance" here)

You really want to check this out because there's lots more books to be won this month, so don't miss out!

Click Here Now!

Oh, and I'm not doing too well on my Earring Wire video tutorial thing I mentioned a few posts back.

I may have to pull out the old PDF's of the earring classes I've taught and post those here for you until I can get the video thing to work out like I want it to.

I'll keep you updated on that over the next week or so - okay?

I hope your Friday the 13th is a very lucky one!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love, Lucky Numbers and Silly Superstitions!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

This or That Thursday!

Linking up today with This or That Thursday

over on Deb Duty's Blog.

Also, I'm giving a big shout out and huge "Thank You" to Brandi over at Brandi Girl Blog for her lovely tutorial on

"How To Make a Color Palette".

I'm extremely techno-challenged, as you've all heard me tell you, so this was a great thing for me to learn.

I'm going to use it this year when I'm designing jewelry and hopefully it will help me to throw more colors into my designs.

Have a great Thursday!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Gorgeous Colors!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Are You Ready for Tucson,....

Okay, so most of you know how excited I get to attend (and sometimes teach during) the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Bead Shows that happen in late January and early February of each year, right?

Oh, the pearls,...and beads and gems - oh my!

Well, this year's no exception!! Hopefully with out the hard freeze they had last year, but hey, I will not complain either way!!

Read my article from last year's show

over on the Beading Arts Blog

I'm always busy hunting down my favorite vendors and drooling over which Pearls are the best in town but this year I'm actually looking forward to scoping out a bunch of different things that I've never checked out or attended.

Some of my lovely finds

More beauties to take home

Always try something new and
venture outside of your comfort zone!

Here's a handy tip.

Get your Tucson Show Guide now!

If you've never attended any of the shows in Tucson during this time of year (and there's a zillion of them,...honestly!!) , you're gonna want to have a 'heads-up' on what's what, who's where and how to get around.

Meteorite Men in Tucson Again this Year

There were a couple of years where the freeway was under construction and if you didn't know your way around or take the shuttles, I'm sure you found Tucson a smidge challenging and your drive time a bit longer than expected - leaving you short on shopping and drooling time!

As for the Tucson Show Guide - I usually end up with about three of these babies in my car because once you get there they're all over and everyone grabs one and leaves it with me thinking I need another,...???

The Show Guide will help you find shows with fun things like this!!

And this wan't even the biggest one!!

This year you can even get your Show Guide digitally and not have to haul it around (How Cool Is THIS?!!) So take advantage of this nifty piece of technology, won't you? And if you have to have one you can touch and hold, take it with you when you get out of my car, we've got enough to wallpaper the moon with!

Tucson Sunsets are the best!

Also, you really do have to prepare for almost any type of weather. Seriously. It's cold in the desert in February - at least when the sun's not shining. It rains each year - truly - at some point anyway. And yes, when the sun does shine or if it's a bit over-cast, you need sunscreen people or your little noses and cheeks will turn a bit red! Just saying,....

The beautiful Santa Catalinas!

And shoes! Okay - you're talking to the shoe diva here (see my 'Shel' section of this blog and scroll all the way down - yes I have walked in those - but never at the gem show!!).

Fashion out the window - you don't want your tootsies keeping you from all those gorgeous treasures!

Best places to stay you ask?

"Girlfriends"

Well, I'm really lucky and get to stay with one of my best girlfriends and her family. Our boys have been friends since they were two years old (we used to live in Tucson), and they always open their home to us. I usually check into the "Elliott Hilton" by myself for a few days first while I hang with Nina, some other girlfriends and my sis and check out all the shows.

Lunching with the girls

Then, the last weekend of the show, the hubby and son travel down and join me and both families enjoy a few fun days of searching for great treasures!

We have a tradition where after we're all done shopping we bring our goodies back to the house, have an excellent dinner that Nina always prepares to perfection, open a few bottles of wine and have "Show and Tell" - it's one of my favorite traditions!!

Cookin' with Nina!

Yes - we're all a bunch of dorks - but we do have FUN!!

Our boys are in high school now and they still enjoy this weekend w/us!! (Or at least they tell us they do!)

These two keep us entertained!

In another post, I'll give you some tips on some various shows and exhibits to check out, some great restaurant suggestions for your hungry tummy and a few other goodies to be found down in the Old Pueblo!

So, go download your Tucson Show Guide 2012
now and start planning away!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Gearing Up!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

Today's Your Last Chance!

Today's your last day to register for the

5th Bead Soup Blog Party over on

Lori Anderson's blog Pretty Things.

She's doing a lottery style drawing this time around

to keep in manageable since last time

there were well over 300 particpants.

So, if you've never participated before, or even if you have, go check it out and register for a chance to get in on the fun!!

Untile Next Time,

Peace, Love and Fun Things!

Cheers,

~Shel~

I Heart Macro - It's Sunday!!

Beautiful Colors!

As Always, Click To Enlarge.

Linking up with I Heart Macro Today,...

Spreading the LOVE in 2012,....

This is kind of like my Friday's Fab Favorites again. I wanted to share a few sites that I love to go check out and read - they're fabulous, have great content and some of them are even having give-a-ways and challenges to boot!

Regina's Writings - LOVE her blog! She has gorgeous jewelry and shares wonderful content and right now she's having a great Give-A-Way on her blog if you leave a comment and tell her about your New Year's Plans - so head on over there right now.

The necklace she's giving away is beautiful!!

Regina's Writings - Blog Give-A-Way

Michelle Mach's blog Beads and Books is always a fun place to check out and right now she's having a Valentine's challenge and it's not a bead challenge either!

Michelle Mach's Valentine's Challenge

And, it's FREE! (Can you believe I'm posting something that's not related to jewelry in some fashion?) Check out the cool challenge she's got going on and join in the fun!

Then, you know what's coming up right?

Yep, it's the

5th Bead Soup Blog Party over on

Lori Anderson's Blog, Pretty Things

and registration starts this weekend!

It's gotten absolutely HUGE the last couple of times she's hosted this awesome event and so this time it's going to be run by a lottery to keep it down to a do-able size for everyone.

So, head on over to Lori's Blog between

Saturday the 7th - Monday the 9th to register

and then hold your lucky rabbit's foot or whatever else you do for luck and pray you're one of the fortunate 200 who are randomly picked!! I participated this past fall and had a wonderful partner and a great time!

Lori does an excellent job of keeping everything fair, fun and fantastic!! (what a job though - I cannot even begin to imagine all she goes through to accomplish such a wonderful event!) And, even if I don't get to participate this go-around, I'm really looking forward to the reveal date on March 3rd (Just a few weeks prior to my birthday!) when everyone's creations will be revealed and I can drool over all the fabulous designs everyone creates - that part is SOOO much fun, let me tell you!!

I love sharing what other's are doing out there on the web in 'Jewelry and Craft Land' because there's so many talented people with awesome give-a-way, challenges, ideas and fun parties going on - what's not to love about all of them!

Drop me a line and let me know what you've got going on over on your blog and I'll do a little mention here or on my MiShel Designs Facebook Page and I'll send a couple of Tweets out into Cyberland for you as well!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Spreading the LOVE in 2012!!

Cheers!

~Shel~

This or That Thursday!

It's This Or That Thursday over on Deb Duty's Blog. Her photography just amazes me. It's like you can reach out and touch everything that's in her photos - I love it!!

So, not as good as Deb's,...or most other's over on her blog today, but these are the best I've been able to produce this week,...

Here's what's happening in my world today:

I love our roses and various flowers around out yard (they're in all my pics and I'm sure you're sick of them by now!).

Yes, this one is fake, but she changes colors once it gets dark and it's pretty cool!

Anyway,...I'm really loving our Grapefruit that are finally ready!

I'm making one of THESE yummy drinks with them and,....

I'm going to sit HERE and enjoy it while I take in the last of the Christmas Tree lights before they come down tomorrow.

The weather here's been in the high 70's to low 80's and so I'm getting together with my girl friends and we're grilling out some yummy steaks and having salad and great wine and loving the fact that we don't have to shovel snow in January!!

We're going to enjoy each other's company and try to convince Rox to go with us to Italy this fall (even though she's already been there,...done that!) and hang out with us while we stay at a farm house in Tuscany, sip wine, eat fantastic food and hopefully perfect or photography skills enough to take some really cool pics (where's Misha's when you need her, huh?!).

So, what were you up to this week, huh?

Please hop on over to Deb Duty's Blog for This or That Thursday - you will SOOOOO love it!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Enjoying Beautiful Moments in Life!

Cheers,

~Shel~

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