Happy Holidays!

It has been cray cray crazy busy around here.... filling orders, we've been going strong since July! Thank you all of our wonderful customers.

Today we just shipped out the last of the 50+ something orders to get delivered by Christmas..... whew!

We hopy hope everyone has a happy holiday and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Yummy Goodness!!

I love that mocha color of coffee you get when you add a little bit of cream and sugar to it... and I especially love it in my new turquoise mug! I had it made for me by fellow Etsyian- Karen Goldberg! She makes fabulous pottery pieces and now I am thinking I should've ordered two, just so I can share in the yummy goodness of this mug with a friend or my hubby!!!  I just Love Love Love the turquoise paint she uses-and well, because I mainly love the color turquoise - with a side of pink and grey is nice too! (LOL)  ;)
Karen's pieces are made well and are of true craftsmanship! She'll design any piece you see in her shop to your color specifications!

There's nothing like sipping your favorite coffee or drink in your new favorite mug listening to the rain showering down outside while your lil one sleeps! So much joy - from one perfect lil mug! Prefect evening to end the day!

- Plotting my schedule for the rest of the week for jewelry orders placed July 31st through the 3rd!

~Ciao
Layne

Jewelry Maker Style

So-my Plum District deal got a very positive response and I had to run out get some office supplies and make a plan to get organized! I am pretty much already organized but it was an excuse to get some more swanky notebooks and folders!

In addition to that, my sweet lil yorkie is one of the best assistants out there-she's always by my side in the studio... No matter how late I am working on creating jewelry and packaging orders! So for her today- in true jewelry maker style-a reward! One sterling silver necklace of her very own complete with a birthstone-pink for her Oct birthday, of course!

Do you think I should add these puppy necklaces to my shop for others to spoil their four legged friends?

Leave a comment-let me know!!

Ciao!

Plum District

So being a new mom, who also is a jewelry artist, I decided to feature my jewelry on the site Plum District - its a site that features products for mommies.... For Moms, By Moms!

Check out my deal here.

Handbags!

Every since I was a little girl and as far back as I can remember... I have loved purses, handbags, totes, cosmetic bags, you name it... I love bags! My mother and grandmothers would always complain about me running off in department stores to the purse section as soon as we got inside. I would want to be the cute girl with the awesome purse or tote. They knew, if I got lost (to them anyway) in the store... I would be in the purse section!!

Like jewelry, handbags are the only other fashion accessory that always seem to "fit", there's no sizes to figure out, no trying on to see if it makes your butt looks big.... it always fits. Now, of course, when I am buying a handbag I try it on to see how it wears on me, like... "is it me", or "will I look like the girl with the awesome purse" those kinds of things, and I also must say I try out my jewelry to see wear it hangs on the neckline... but in all reality - really jewelry and handbags will always fit, theres no, "I just had a baby, and my pants are tight, and maternity clothes are big" thoughts.... when buying these accessories.  Looking back, I think its funny... but to this day, I still love handbags so much, that I find myself always drooling over them, buying them - my husband even jokes around calling me a "bag lady" - its like I am in search for the perfect one, yet when I do, I am falling in love with another somewhere else!!

I totally should design my own handbag collection in addition to my jewelry. Don't you think that would be fun! I have loads of dreams of being a mommy mogul with my jewelry and accessories line! It of course, it would be so fabulous! Rather "Dashing", don't you think?? I dunno.. maybe I ought to think on that one!

Anyhow, until then... I can drool over other fabulous designer handbags. I ran into an college sorority sister a few months back, and saw her carrying a fabulous Glenda Gies handbag! OMG!! I was so excited to see the handbag... and her of course, but THAT Handbag... so awesome! So gorgeous, loved the fabric, and just wanted to fall out flat becuase it was so awesome! LOL - you know the feeling! You see, just a few months prior, I had seen these bags at one of the shows I attend, and knew I should've got one then! But I passed, yet, never stopped thinking about them. Anyhow, my friend was the girl with the awesome purse - and looked really good on her!

So now, of course, I just have to have one! And, I wanted to share that I have added a few handbags from Designer Glenda Gies to my online gift section. I just love these - they are so exquisite - luxurious handbags and totes. She really uses quality materials and hardware - so luxe! I am only featuring a few of her bags right now since I am offering them at a discounted price, I may end up adding more of her line (cosmetic bags and coin purse too), if all goes well!!

Check them out! I am def. going to have to snag myself one!

https://twitter.com/TheDashingPearl/status/228139602731474945

Want a particular Glenda Gies Bag, but its not on my website? Leave a comment of the style number and colors and I will see if I can get it added!

Personalized Especially For You!

Here's a custom charm bracelet made for someone special!

One thing I love about creating hand stamped jewelry is that no two designs are ever alike!!

Time flies!

So it's been five weeks since I brought home my little bundle of joy! Where has the time gone? I feel like he's grown so much in just a short time!

On the jewelry front-working on some pearl designs and new hand stamped designs!

Shipping orders from July 13 this coming week!

Jackson's Arrival

OK Friends....

Some of you may have known that I was pregnant and expecting our first child over the past few months, and now I have exciting news to share, my son, Jackson was born on June 16th, 2012!!! I am happy and overjoyed with our new edition to our family! Hubby and I are no longer 2 with a puppy... were 3 with still one sweet Yorkie!

After recovering for the past week, settling in, and figuring feeding and sleeping schedules (still figuring this out)... I am just now getting back into making jewelry orders, focusing on new items and balancing being a new mom.  I have a few weeks off as well from my day job and plan to take full advantage of balancing jewelry making and motherhood! So wish me luck! I always have new ideas and hope to finally be able to bring one or two to life!!

Any moms out there who balance it all?? Any suggestions, tips, or thoughts? Please leave a comment and share!

First Magazine Publication!!

So I decided to take a bit of a leap if FAITH and purchase some advertising space in Pregnancy & Newborn magazine to promote my hand stamped jewelry! (fitting being that I am a new mom to be- and that lots of mommies out there love my jewelry).

While the advertising cost may be small to some businesses out there- it was a lot for me to commit! But I think with some Faith, Hopeful prayers and a lil extra Love into my product line- I can get the growth I am looking for- praying, praying for the return on the investment!

Wish me luck! And check out the Free Stuff page of P&N June issue on stands May 28th! You will find me in there!

Mother's Day Weekend

Well I can't believe it's been a month already since my last post! Time surely keeps flying by. I've been busy in the studio preparing several Mother's Day orders and just completed the last one to be overnighted for one special mom!!

In addition, I have been doing those last minute preparations to prepare for the birth of my son! Only a few weeks to go!!! This past week has been rough on my body-I am very tired and starting to notice changes to my body to help get ready for the big day!!!

Below is a picture of some me and some of my girls at my bridal shower!

It was such a fun day!! 
I must say for being a "new mom to be" I feel like I am one lucky girl this Mother's Day!! I am excited for all the things to come with being a mother.

Even my lil yorkie, Lucy has been in on the family action helping us prepare-she climbed in this new car seat to show us how it will be done when we go to buckle in our lil new guy in car!!

I must say for being a "new mom to be" I feel like I am one lucky girl this Mother's Day!! I am excited for all the things to come with being a mother.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

New Toddler Name Bracelet

This lil cutie was created for a special little toddler girl named Lucy! She'll be styling this fun little piece in her family pictures coming up-custom created just for her!

So adorable!!

Sharing, Blogging, Business Branding and Branding You!

So I just checked into my IndieGoGo account, and I am sad to report no results on raising the funds to support my little business in my mini corner of the world wide web. My goal was to purchase advertising space in mommy magazines, and show off my talents of handstamping custom creations!

Advertising can be sooo expensive, and I have found a few magazines that would be perfect to be a part of... but I dont think I am quite ready for that advertisng expense! Although, I am ready for the next steps in growing my business to that level.

On the brighter side, I found three wonderful and helpful sites to help me learn of other ways promote, and thought I'd share them.

First up is:  The SITS Girls: a bloggng website helping other bloggers blog more effectively, creatively, and support others in "bloggy goodness" as they like to say! They even have free forums, and Blogging Boot camp! I am up for this lttle adventure of learning more in the craft of blogging. As we know I could be better about it, and blog more often. I have several thoughts and ideas that run and dance in mind each day of things to put on my blog and share, but getting them here is another story, and I'd like to make and extra effort to be more apart of the blogging universe. I think SITSGirls is a good place to start.

Second: I stumbled onto the Blog: Rags to Stiches  - where Alissa blogs about her life, dreams, struggles and triumphs. And it is through her inspirational blog featured on the SITSGirls site, that I also found the thrid great site....

Passionfruit: where bloggers can sell and promote other small business and blogs through thier own sites and to others alike. So I signed up for an ad space on Alissa's blog - a small advertising piece of change to learn about the process and set up my account there as well. These three sites were just one little glory of my day!

I orginally set up this blog to talk about a day in the life of a jewelry artist.... an rightly so, I will. But after today's adventures of surfing the net... it will include the journey of not only crafting, and creating jewelry, but now also the aspects of building a small business brand. And in addition to that, I hope to incorporate this blog mainly as a place where you can learn more about me - not only as the artist who creates those custom pieces but also the woman who shares her journey in life with family and friends!

So, as an add in here for the first time... something more personal.... My hubby and I are expecting our first child this summer! I am excited to say that I am just around 11 weeks away form the big day. We've had lots of homemade projects going on up to now (guest room redo to baby room), and I think it would be something neat to share...

So stay tuned to The Dashing Pearl, because there's more to come form this creative crafting, jewelry artist, wife, and mommy to be..... and I cant wait to share with you!

Help Me Advertise

SO I signed up at Indie GO GO to help spread the word about some advertising goals I have for my small business! You can see my campaign for investors here!!

http://www.indiegogo.com/Hand-Stamped-Jewelry-Business?a=463595

I got somereally great information from an article in Women's day Magazine about starting, funding and running a small business. Thought I would share!

Spring is on its way!!!

Lots of things coming this spring!!!!!!

For starters, we have great market totes availble, perfect for Easter baskets! They can be monogrammed with your initials or name, and are just too perfect! Two sizes and lots of colors available. Click the photos for options available!

This necklace is perfect for the mother in your life... Mom necklace that showcases the year she became a mother!! A coin pearl is added with pendant making this one sweet necklace!

Mother's Day is also in the coming months, and we hope to have some thoughtful goodies for the moms of your life - check back oftern for a giveaway and discount offer for Mother's Day!!

Win FREE MARKET TOTE for Spring!!!!

Enter To Win this Market Tote Mini - All you have to do is FOLLOW this BLOG!!!!!!!

Busy Busy Busy!

So I havent blogged in a about a month, but I must say, I have been busy! Doing taxes for the prior year, and updating The Dashing Pearl website.... so much do, and so little time. While I have completed either one of those tasks, my goal is to complete the taxes by the end of next week... and to update and add products to be added to the website by the end of Feb.

I fugure if I post this goal in writing - there will be something out there keeping me to it! Espcially with our first born baby on the way.... there is much to do business-wise and baby-wise before the baby comes to ensure a smooth transaction!

While I am not posting anything new, I thought I would share snippets from my old blog, while this blog is still in transition.

This link provides all of my old postings on a day in the life me - the artist behind this unique lit business. Enjoy!

Georgia Bound...

Headed to Georgia this weekend for the Americas Mart gift show!!!! Should be interesting and am excited to find some new products to add under the gift section of The Dashing Pearl website!

www.americasmart.com

Wholesale bead show!!

Today I picked up some goodies for some more handcrafted hand made pieces to put in my shop for The Dashing Pearl! Love bead shows! So many possibilities to come out of these gorgeous beads!!! And of course.... Pearls!!

One sweet yorkie

So... I have this adorable yorkie named Lucy and well, she has to wear her hand stamped jewelry too!!!

New Year... New Things to Come

So it's a new year and there are a ton of things on my list to do and be this year. For starters it is to blog more regularly about the daily life of The Dashing Pearl and all the exciting things I've got planned for my little boutique shop in its little corner of the world wide web. I hope to bring in bits and pieces of my life and all things with running my small jewelry boutique business.

It may get silly, even crazy at times, but it will things to share about the day in the life of the artist/owner of The Dashing Pearl.

Happy New Year!!

Enjoy!!

Layne