Thursday, September 29, 2011

Bead Oasis Show

For those of you with an interest in beading, wire work or anything jewellery, the Fall Bead Oasis Show in Toronto is coming up. It runs from Friday October 21st - Sunday the 23rd, 2011.

It's a great place to stock up on supplies, make contact with new vendors and learn some new techniques in the classes. I'll be taking a few myself!

The best part about it is meeting like-minded people! So if you are in town that weekend check it out!

www.oasisshows.com

Just a few of the pieces you could learn to make!







Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Creative Spark!

I came across an interesting article that I wanted to share about making breakthrough's in your life and making your dreams become reality.

9 Ways to Spark a Breakthrough

1. Go Public - Voice your ideas. Put them out into the world rather than keeping them tucked away in a notebook.

2. Join the Club  - Find like minded people either online or in a community group.

3. Confront the Risks  - Look at the consequences of making changes; ie. less money for a a period of time.

4. When in Doubt, DIY - If help isn't falling into your lap, is there another way to approach the situation/problem?

5. Rely on the Kindness of Strangers - If you are having trouble financing your ideas try a global approach. Kickstarter (a Web site for creative types), allows you to post detailed proposals online and solicit pledges to make them happen. Also see IndieGoGo and RocketHub.

6. Know Your Strengths- Look at your strengths and how you can use them to your benefit and to the benefit of others.

7. Spread the Word - Create a public forum to discuss your ideas and start a conversation; ie. blog.

8. Cultivate Wonder  - Be curious and take joy in wonder. Try to get out of your usual thinking patterns.

9. Embrace Your Critics - Take in constructive criticism and let go of the rest. Nobody said that climbing a mountain or building a business was easy.

Read the full article 

I hope you get as much out of it as I did.

Namaste,
Christy

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Drum Roll Please!!!

Thanks to everyone for participating in Launch Day festivities!  From what I've heard from my Indie classmates it was a great success all around. Thank you!

In order to make the draw fair I've given everyone a number based on the order they posted a comment and used random.org choose the winner!

....and the winner of the $20 gift certificate to Pink Pepper is Heather Mullin!!!

You will have to let everyone know what you choose. Congratulations Heather! 

Monday, April 11, 2011

It's Launch Day!



In honor of Launch Day I will be drawing for a $20 gift certificate to be used at Pink Pepper.

 
All you have to do is: become a follower of my blog and leave a comment in today's post (Monday April 11, 2011) by Friday, April 15, 2011 at 12 noon EST. I will announce the winner on my blog on Saturday April 16th!

As an added bonus, all of my blog readers will get a 15% discount at my store until Friday April 15th, 2011 at midnight. Enter the code: INDIEBIZ15


Check out some of the great work by my classmates listed below.



 
 Alexandra Rae Design | Bibeez Baby | Bonita Rose | Brain Drops | The Busy Bean
Tag...You're It | Wish You Were There Then


Special thanks @eleventh monkey for being an organizational diva!


Happy Shopping!
~ Christy

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Indie Biz Launch Party!

 
I just finished an awesome online course called Indie Business 3.0 where I met a great group of talented independent artists and learned and amazing amount of information.

As a great way to finish off our Indie Business class there are a group of us who are launching our shops, blogging about our wonderfully talented classmates, having giveaways and offering discounts in our shops starting tomorrow.

I will be having a giveaway and a special discount for blog readers at my Etsy store. Stay tuned for details on Monday.

Christy

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Thinking... Thinking...

So it's been a while since my last post. It's amazing how being sick can knock you right off of your game. I got back on my yoga mat the other night so today I've decided it's back to my blog!

I decided that I'm revamping my Etsy store somewhat so I'm busily working away. I'm hoping that I can announce a relaunch date very soon. I've got swirls of ideas floating around in my head and making their way into my sketch pad... but time where are you??? I know, one thing at a time.

I took some time out on the weekend and visited the One of a Kind Show. I looked at it as a fact finding mission about design and display. I found it quite funny that I wasn't overly impressed by many of the jewellery displays. Some were too busy, and others just not inviting. The booths that I was drawn to had an open feeling and were not so overpopulated with materials that you couldn't focus on the actual products.

The words that I took away were: Inviting.  Visually & Graphiclly Stimulating.  Fun.  Whimsy. Hopefully, I can apply them effectivly to my next inranation of my booth and online shop.

This was my booth from an outdoor show that I did last year. I'm trying to figure out a way to add height to some of my displays and adapt for an indoor location. I'm feeling like some vintage inspiration is coming my way.

(check out the awesome table cloths that my Mom sewed for me!)


After going through the whole One of a Kind show, this was my favorite artisan from a purely creative standpoint.

Propane Tank Pigs! Awesome!


Happy Birthday wishes to my big sister today!
xoxox

namaste.
Christy


Sunday, March 27, 2011

Taking Flight in Crow

If you are just getting to know me, one of the things that I love is hot yoga! I've been practicing for a little over a year now. I started in an effort to define something for myself. I found myself in a world that was so focused on others that I felt like I was forgetting myself and just going, going, going. I forced myself to stop, take a deep breath, get over my Mommy guilt and just do something that was purely for me.

And what was the result? I am a happier person, and I believe that I'm a healthier person for those around me as well. Personally, yoga helps me to centre myself, focus, and be mindful of what I put out in the world.

So what does all of that bring me to? The other morning I found my centre of balance and was determinately able to hold Bakasana or crow pose!

I was still crow it when the teacher cued to shoot back into downward dog. I just held on until I couldn't anymore and then laughed. I'd finally gotten out of my head and just was in the moment.

Which brings me back to making jewellery. As I said before I'm taking Indie Biz 3.0 and it's awesome, but it can be overwhelming in the magnitude of work that is involved; especially for those/most of us who have a full-time job on-top of a start-up/part-time business and family. So my take away this week is that if I allow myself to stop, breathe, and be in the moment it's all achievable!

Next up... side crow


... and who knows what! ;)

namaste.
Christy

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Cannonball !

Here goes! My first blog post. Can I say that this is a little intimidating? ...just a smidgen. What prompted this you may ask? The need to make a change. So I'm not slowly walking into the lake for the first swim of the year, I'm doing a cannonball right in!

I started Pink Pepper about three years ago out of the simple joy that I get from making jewellery. It started with wire work and has moved onto chainmaille, crochet and semi precious work. If I think it looks interesting I'll try it!
 (some of my first chainmaille work)

Pink Pepper really blossomed into a business because I would wear what I had made and people would ask where I bought it. I would shyly say that I made it.

What was the greatest part about all of this you might ask? I could make anything I wanted and put it out there!  I also started to receive more custom orders with just themes/colour requests. As an artist I felt liberated to just create. I remembered what it was like to create for the simple sake of making something that you love. 

(The Scenic Route Necklace)
Moving onto a few years later and some sales under my belt, I'm looking to expand my business and learn more about making this more than part-time. So in comes Indie Biz 3.0!  I'm taking an online business course with an amazing group of like-minded artists of all disciplines. It inspires me daily. :)

What does all of this amount to? I'm working hard to create a sustainable, creative and successful business with an open heart and a positive mind. I hope that you can join me and follow along with my journey.

namaste.
- Christy