Big Cartel and ArtFire

Last week I signed up with the handcraft website ArtFire and listed 30 items for sales. I also joined Big Cartel with 25 items listed so far.

Well, after a week I can say that Big Cartel has had many more views than ArtFire.
That actually surprised me a bit. Big Cartel is a shopping cart and not a shopping mall like Etsy or Art Fire. I expected more views from ArtFire.



Chunky ammonite and turquoise necklace

I will watch both sites traffic for a few weeks. But, I think I will be focusing on Big Cartel.

I can't say enough good things about Big Cartel! They have excellent customer service. I have emailed them twice with a question. They respond back in a very timely manner and always have the answer you are looking for.

Bohemian Multi Strand necklaces

Missoula Saturday Market begins first Saturday of May. Thirty days is a real motivator to amp up my production. I am so excited to see fellow vendors, regular customers and make new friends.



This winter I experimented with new techniques. I am slowly learning metal fabrication. Going from a bead stringer to a metalworker has its challenges. You have to shift how your brain is accustom to designing.


I found this technique to be the perfect gateway for me into the world of metal working. It offers shaping metal, hammering it, playing with liver of sulfur and my favorite SOLDERING! I could solder all day. I love it. You have to have a delicate touch when using soldering wire. Heat the metal just right and with a steady hand ever so lightly touch the wire to the hot metal. Then you guide the flame just right to see the solder flow. Love it!

This Ethnic inspired multi strand necklace looks great on. The colors are perfect for a summer tan. I designed two pendants for it.



The month of May is fantastic at market. There is Mother's Day, high school and university graduation. With that in mind I am gearing up on necklaces one would want to buy as gifts. I love the bohemian, gypsy look of this one.



I hand made the pendant to have a 70's retro feel. The oranges, reds, and purples give it some funk. You can see more views of it at Gypsy Moon Designs.

Feeling refreshed in February

40 craft shows a year and a busy holiday season on line often leaves me in need of some time off. I take January at my leisure and try to refresh my inspiration.

It's now February and I feel ready to go! I am getting my inventory ready for summer market. Here are some of my multi strand designs.


Art Nouveau necklace This romantic multi strand necklace is designed in strawbery pink and green. I took this art nouveau charm and punched an extra hole in it and gave it a ink wash of color. I love the warmth of the cream pearls.

Rocher Chic necklace. I took this very bling bling CZ cross pendant and gave it some rocker chic appeal.

Dark Cherry pearl necklace Playing around making my own pendants. I started with some abstract paper and glued it down to a pendant base, added some glaze and layered a Victorian inspired charm with a wash of burgundy color.

Back to creating! Have a great valentine's day everyone!

Improving my SEO

I must be an adrenalin junkie! I was doing 2 craftshows a weekend and am relieved that the Sunday show has ended for the season. I am eager for the Saturday show to end, which is just a few weeks away.

As you know I now have my own .com shop and what a learning curve it is. I discovered this website grader from folks on the Etsy forums called hubspot It has been such a help. I see areas that need work and am googling trying to learn as much as possible.

One thing I have learned is how valuable links are. I am always linking back to my Etsy shop and I think I will start to link back to my own store.

Blogging is such a fantastic way to do this. So, I have worked on the beautification of my shop and now it is time to improve it's SEO. Gypsy Moon Designs Boho chic jewelry
And to help my hubby I am going to add a link to his store, aren't I such a good wife! LOL Mitchell Poor, Primitive Surrealism paintings

Also, I am going to start adding links onto the sidebar of my blog of all my favorite shops.

I really recommend you checking out HubSpot. They have helpful free videos and a website SEO grader.

New Boho Chic Jewelry Designs

As a designer I eagerly await the change of season in order to create new designs. It is so fun to go from a light summer color palette to a more rich fall/winter palette.

I created this chunky bohemian necklace is two color choices. Warm colors of tans, browns, olives and denim blue are glazed upon these large porcelain beads.

The pendant is a large copper oval with a pendant of Glazed Porcelain. I dangled the pendant on a tubular copper bail from Bali.

For a South Western flavor I teamed up the porcelain beads with turquoise color stones of Magnesite.

The tomato red chunky Bohemian necklace is paired up with round stones in a brown-black called Mahogany Obsidian. This one would look so beauty with a light cocoa silk blouse.
You can view here

Apple Annie necklace

Late winter is the time of year I start getting ready for my summer shows. I finally sat down and created my signature necklace.

My witty dad named this necklace! Created with over 300 apple seeds, Turquoise, Red Coral, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli.

This triple strand necklace is ever so light in weight. Perfect with a summer dress or fall sweater!

I really had fun designing this necklace. Apple Annie Necklace