Etsy Crafter Diary - NabroDesign

The Mixology series continues with another mother of pearl pendant - but this time we are going for more natural, Earth-colors like nude and brown - and leopard pattern!! Now leopard - like all animal patterns - tend to fall into the love/hate category: people either LOVE them, or the complete opposite: refuse to wear them at any cost. I have to admit, I belonged to the latter group for a long long time. I thought animal patterns are tacky and cheap. Then one day I've seen these gorgeous heels with ocelot pattern - tried it on with the brown trousers I was wearing, and I was sold.  This pendant's center is a mother-of-pearl coin with leopard pattern painted on it. To compliment this I used brown soutache braid, cream pearl beads and for the bling I added a gold glass-crystal teardrop. I didn't feel to add a chain, so I finished the necklace with cream organza ribbon.  Statement pieces are not easy to wear, especially with patterns, so see how to combine this pe...

I often hear the following feedback when showing my creations to people: "These are beautiful, but I wouldn't have anything to wear it with."  or  "They're fab but only for an occasion." In my new Mixology series I will show ideas how to incorporate your NabroDesign jewellery into a casual, formal or office outfit. First: this lovely cyan&purple pendant with floral mother of the pearl coin center: Match it with a simple pair of jeans, white (or pastel lilac/mint top) and a pair of purple shoes to meet the girls for a cosmo on Friday night, go on a date or  meet your mum for Sunday brunch. Have a wedding or party to attend? Match it with a mint/cyan tulle skirt, a silk lilac top and strappy sandals to be whimsical but absolutely fabulous.  Business professional dress-code? Unless they have a set attire you have to wear, why not add a pinch of salt  color to your outfit? With a plain grey dress and some comfortable turquois...

Soo.. well. I am still in the planning stage, because I still have to work on the "how" part. Without the "how" my ultimate goals listed in my previous post will stay just dreams (or aternatively I can try praying).  So I start with the craft fairs - the aim is to attend my very first fair by the end of March. To achieve that I will need:  ❥❥❥ Stock  ❥❥❥ That is first. And I plan to create different styles and concepts to see what the customers will like. I believe around 100 piece together should do. I meat I were over the moon to sell like 15-20 on one day (is that number too low? or too high? god knows, because I don't) ❥❥❥ Display DIY ❥❥❥ I have a display set, but it is way to few.. I have DIY ideas to make more on a budget, but that's another post... ❥❥❥ Sort out the legal stuff like insurance ❥❥❥ I was told that local enterprise offices are great help, when I manage to get a day off from 9-5 I have to book an appointment and ...

So here comes my list of dreams goals for 2019: ❣ Start attending to craft fairs           ❥ I'd say maybe 5 in total is a good goal for start ❣ Launching a Bridal collection           ❥ then getting a retailer to stock it ❣ 50 Esty sales ❣ 100 in person sales ❣ Designing and sorting out proper branded packaging           ❥ for both in person and online purchases ❣ and finally: make my husband believe it, too, that this can work well enough for  me to go part    time - eventually. (he is a sceptic, but what can I do.. nobody is perfect) I will brake this down to quarters through the year and keep you (or myself in case nobody will be interested in reading me 😂) updated... they are might too brave or too optimistic, but definitely something to work hard for. Remember:  'Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.' Love,  ...

So here it goes. An overview of my 2018 on Etsy (what is basically less than 1/2 year as I started it in August).  About me: I am crafting since I can remember. I tried everything: jewelry, beaded animals, decoupage, embroidery, cross stitch, sewing... You name it, I definitely tried it - except knitting, I never was able to do that. So anyway, I am crafty. But I am also everything but persistent. I came across soutache jewelries about 10 years ago.  (For those, who never even heard of soutache: it  is a narrow flat decorative braid,originally  used in the trimming of drapery or clothing to conceal a seam. ) And I instantly fall in love. The lines and the whole looks were so new and pretty, I had to try to make them (obviously). But for years I just planned what I will make, bought tons of beads and braids and.. sigh.. but only made a few pieces for myself.  For years I also was toying with the idea of making money...