You can find the items above here:
Jewelry by Tara
For the steampunk style "Jules Verne Octopus Earrings", please visit us here:
JBT eBay
More to come stay tuned....
T☺
Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
New From Me At JBT!!! (How corny is that title???)
Vintage steampunk style jewelry, too cool for school!! LOL
You can find the items above here:
Jewelry by Tara
For the steampunk style "Jules Verne Octopus Earrings", please visit us here:
JBT eBay
More to come stay tuned....
T☺
You can find the items above here:
Jewelry by Tara
For the steampunk style "Jules Verne Octopus Earrings", please visit us here:
JBT eBay
More to come stay tuned....
T☺
Monday, August 17, 2009
I really don't like this:(
Here we go with another rant by Tara!
I'm looking through a well known site, that shall remain nameless, and I come across something unpleasant. No, it's not the usual things that upset me like animal carcasses, fur, or hate images. It's the ongoing destruction of vintage/antique books and other cherished items. Why the heck would someone tear apart books then turn around and sell them for altered art? Or my real peeve, destroying old watches and clocks for steampunk projects. Something is going on with that and it's not an old factory gone out of business. Which FYI is the lamest/oldest BS from a lot of plastic and brass sellers. "I have x amount of these items because I got them from an old factory that went out of biz", or "I worked at said factory". Most of these components turn out to be not even 5 year old replicas! Beware, especially when dealing with someone on the internet. It's sometimes hard to tell the differences with plastics, but I can usually figure out if the brass is vintage.
Back to the books, I totally understand if these are already trashed, but they have entire books for sale:( And where does one find 100's of watch faces? And why, oh why o, do we have to smash those vintage plates for reassembly???
My solutions to this problem? Go to the library and borrow some old books for your photo taking needs. Use some clip art you buy online or for craps sake Google free clip art and start printing out images. Maybe actually be creative on your own and scan images for your altered art projects? The plate breaking could be managed by going to garage sales/thrift stores and looking for chipped or broken plates. Hopefully, this is what most artists are already doing. For your steampunk creations visit your local swap meet and dump. Heck, if you have to you can even go dumpster diving!
Why the freakin' rant?? I love and admire everything vintage and antique. People should cherish and protect these rare reminders of the past.
Okay, gotta stop now time to eat a muffin and ponder why The Real Housewives of Atlanta is on T.V.
T♥
P.S. I absolutely love when people take vintage/antique cups and make them into candles. It's so darn cute and you can still appreciate the art.
I'm looking through a well known site, that shall remain nameless, and I come across something unpleasant. No, it's not the usual things that upset me like animal carcasses, fur, or hate images. It's the ongoing destruction of vintage/antique books and other cherished items. Why the heck would someone tear apart books then turn around and sell them for altered art? Or my real peeve, destroying old watches and clocks for steampunk projects. Something is going on with that and it's not an old factory gone out of business. Which FYI is the lamest/oldest BS from a lot of plastic and brass sellers. "I have x amount of these items because I got them from an old factory that went out of biz", or "I worked at said factory". Most of these components turn out to be not even 5 year old replicas! Beware, especially when dealing with someone on the internet. It's sometimes hard to tell the differences with plastics, but I can usually figure out if the brass is vintage.
Back to the books, I totally understand if these are already trashed, but they have entire books for sale:( And where does one find 100's of watch faces? And why, oh why o, do we have to smash those vintage plates for reassembly???
My solutions to this problem? Go to the library and borrow some old books for your photo taking needs. Use some clip art you buy online or for craps sake Google free clip art and start printing out images. Maybe actually be creative on your own and scan images for your altered art projects? The plate breaking could be managed by going to garage sales/thrift stores and looking for chipped or broken plates. Hopefully, this is what most artists are already doing. For your steampunk creations visit your local swap meet and dump. Heck, if you have to you can even go dumpster diving!
Why the freakin' rant?? I love and admire everything vintage and antique. People should cherish and protect these rare reminders of the past.
Okay, gotta stop now time to eat a muffin and ponder why The Real Housewives of Atlanta is on T.V.
T♥
P.S. I absolutely love when people take vintage/antique cups and make them into candles. It's so darn cute and you can still appreciate the art.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
-----------------Breaking News--------------Breaking News------------
Just found out that I am featured here:
Mariah's Creations
Thank you very much for the feature, I love that pic too!
Smooches!
T♥
Mariah's Creations
Thank you very much for the feature, I love that pic too!
Smooches!
T♥
Coming soon from the past...
Straight from the crap, I mean craft table, it's some oldies but goodies.
"Cowgirls Need Luck Too" (Especially When Finding Their Keys)
Vintage Faceted Amber Earrings
"Baby, Your a Star!"
"Butterfly Beauty"
Not sure yet if these are going on eBay or Jewelry by Tara? So please visit both just to make sure you don't miss 'em!!
Jewelry by Tara
Jewelry by Tara eBay
Love ya later...
T♥
"Cowgirls Need Luck Too" (Especially When Finding Their Keys)
Vintage Faceted Amber Earrings
"Baby, Your a Star!"
"Butterfly Beauty"
Not sure yet if these are going on eBay or Jewelry by Tara? So please visit both just to make sure you don't miss 'em!!
Jewelry by Tara
Jewelry by Tara eBay
Love ya later...
T♥
Monday, August 10, 2009
Me and My Vintage Brass
A love story that knows no bounds... I spent my whole jewelry/antique appraisal life searching for these little treasures. I combined them to make unique and OOAK, (one of a kind), pieces. But like any love affair, our honeymoon had to come to an end. Yes, it was true, I was allergic to brass:*( Tried the gloves, tried washing everything off. Even tried the Hazmat suit! Okay, not reallly, but I considered it. Here are some fav's from the past...
So about a month ago I felt so upset about this, I decided to try again. Okay, so I swelled up some, had an itchy rash, and my throat almost closed off. But in the end, me and my love were reunited. You can view some of our newest vintage/brass art necklaces in my shop.
Vintage Art Jewelry
Sometimes in any relationship, the pain is worth it in the end.
Love you all...
T♥
So about a month ago I felt so upset about this, I decided to try again. Okay, so I swelled up some, had an itchy rash, and my throat almost closed off. But in the end, me and my love were reunited. You can view some of our newest vintage/brass art necklaces in my shop.
Vintage Art Jewelry
Sometimes in any relationship, the pain is worth it in the end.
Love you all...
T♥
Saturday, August 8, 2009
An excerpt from my latest book, "Jewelry.Com"
Jewelry.Com
“How To Learn the Ins and Outs, and tricks of the trade, to selling your handmade jewelry online, or anything else you make!”
By Tara Van Stelle
Jewelry by Tara
This Book Includes;
Tips on internet selling,
Setting up your own site,
Answers to most asked questions,
Where and what to buy,
Find It Free,
Top 10 Mistakes,
And much, much, more!!
Chapter 10
Common Mistakes We Can Easily Avoid
At one time or another, we will all make a mistake with our business. Whether it’s a mailing issue, broken item, or misrepresentation, we’ve all done it.
Here is my list of the top 10 mistakes that we can hopefully avoid.
1. Getting Angry With a Customer
This happens in my head a million times a month. But in reality, it is a definite no no. No matter what and I mean what, you will answer all emails, questions, and problems, with an immediate resolution, apology, and extreme politeness. You can be entirely in the right, it doesn’t matter. Every customer has the potential to leave negative feedback, and/or ruin your reputation. Plus, it is very hard to understand the tone of someone’s email. So please take the time to respond with kindness, before flying off the handle.
The exception to this would be customers who threaten you with bad feedback, or just want to yell. These offenses are not justifiable, and should be handed off to someone else, if you are on a large sit. If it’s your own site, and you’ve already shipped to the customer, it may benefit you to give them a partial or full refund. If you haven’t shipped yet, tell them politely that you don’t feel they will be happy with their purchase, and you’re issuing them an immediate refund. After that, no more emails, cut them off with kindness, and send them on their way.
2. Stuck In a Rut
Just because you like it, doesn’t mean it will sell online. Let’s try and understand that everyone’s got their own taste. Like it or love it, sometimes you may not be a good match for the jewelry market. There’s only one way out of this. Either you revamp your own jewelry style, or play to the marketplace and their whims. You may have to come to terms with the fact that your jewelry isn’t only a representation of you, if you want to make money.
3. Being a Stickler for the Rules
Have you ever heard the saying, “Rules Are Meant to Be Broken?” Even the best laid out store policies may need to be changed on a case by case basis. For example, do you really need a ship back on a $1 pair of earrings? Take the loss, and please a customer. The over referencing of policies to customers on your site, can also lead to profit loss. Some people are almost afraid to buy from merchants with a homepage full of rules. So don’t scare them off, be flexible! You are still in charge of your site, just easier to work with.
4. Drama and Gossip
Just because you meet a lot of other sellers on the internet, doesn’t mean you have to make friends there. Sometimes these can be wonderful experiences, but beware… Forums and chat rooms can turn into a battleground. The last thing you want your customer to see is your personal information, attached to some negative words. This also goes for posting our beliefs, politics, etc. You may win over some new friends and customers, but you will risk alienating a lot more. Always remember, everything you say and do on the internet is there forever. Another thing that can cause a huge problem, is talking about your customers. So many times I see people bad mouthing sales. Even if we don’t know who you’re talking about, your negativity is reflecting on potential customers.
5. Selling supplies that you use for your best sellers.
I am so guilty of this! When I get a great wholesale deal I want to share it, and profit of course. It took me some time to figure out that one, if a customer wants to make it, they won’t buy yours. And two, if a designer buys it they will copy your design, and possibly undersell you. Ouch!
6. My work isn’t great…
Yes it is! Never say this, or downgrade yourself. Even if you get a bad case of the self doubts, there is no reason to project anything but confidence. Please don’t list something as not that good, damaged, etc. Just redo it, or reuse it in another way. You want all of your work to be up to a standard that your customers can appreciate.
7. Let Your Business Consume Your Life
Working diligently is fantastic, and I highly recommend it. But when it’s 2:00 A.M., and you’re still taking pictures, it’s time to stop. Burning yourself out can be discouraging to a new business. Set a schedule for yourself, and stick to it. This is something I still haven’t learned! Just like anything else in your life, don’t overdo, or take on too much at once.
8. Spending Too Much Money
Assess, assess, and then reassess. Keep track of what you spend on supplies, advertising, etc. Remember, your time is money too. Don’t just buy on a whim, comparison shop. And don’t buy in bulk if you don’t need to. Just because it’s a great deal, doesn’t mean you will be able to turn it over into profit. Spend slowly, and shop around.
9. Signing Up For Everything
Can you really manage 10 jewelry groups, 5 indie boards, 3 social sites, 2 blogs, and 4 websites? Probably not well, but I’ve done it. Better to just focus in on your main selling site, and a couple of your favorite ones. I do think you should have a site on a larger site, as well as your own. But when you start having 10 sub sites with selling capabilities, you can easily lose track of inventory. If you’re just signing up for marketing, and other advertising, more is always better.
10. Scatterbrained Site Management
This includes a lot of things; constantly changing themes, websites, domain names, and jewelry types. Your customer expects some consistency in your brand. So if you need to spruce things up a bit or add some new ideas, go ahead. But don’t change your site from purple skulls to blue shabby chic in one day.
Post your own ideas to comments of "Not To Do's".
Want to purchase this book?
Jewelry by Tara
Jewelry by Tara eBay
Only $10 get's you my vast wealth of knowledge, which was learned from screwing it all up! LOL
T♥
“How To Learn the Ins and Outs, and tricks of the trade, to selling your handmade jewelry online, or anything else you make!”
By Tara Van Stelle
Jewelry by Tara
This Book Includes;
Tips on internet selling,
Setting up your own site,
Answers to most asked questions,
Where and what to buy,
Find It Free,
Top 10 Mistakes,
And much, much, more!!
Chapter 10
Common Mistakes We Can Easily Avoid
At one time or another, we will all make a mistake with our business. Whether it’s a mailing issue, broken item, or misrepresentation, we’ve all done it.
Here is my list of the top 10 mistakes that we can hopefully avoid.
1. Getting Angry With a Customer
This happens in my head a million times a month. But in reality, it is a definite no no. No matter what and I mean what, you will answer all emails, questions, and problems, with an immediate resolution, apology, and extreme politeness. You can be entirely in the right, it doesn’t matter. Every customer has the potential to leave negative feedback, and/or ruin your reputation. Plus, it is very hard to understand the tone of someone’s email. So please take the time to respond with kindness, before flying off the handle.
The exception to this would be customers who threaten you with bad feedback, or just want to yell. These offenses are not justifiable, and should be handed off to someone else, if you are on a large sit. If it’s your own site, and you’ve already shipped to the customer, it may benefit you to give them a partial or full refund. If you haven’t shipped yet, tell them politely that you don’t feel they will be happy with their purchase, and you’re issuing them an immediate refund. After that, no more emails, cut them off with kindness, and send them on their way.
2. Stuck In a Rut
Just because you like it, doesn’t mean it will sell online. Let’s try and understand that everyone’s got their own taste. Like it or love it, sometimes you may not be a good match for the jewelry market. There’s only one way out of this. Either you revamp your own jewelry style, or play to the marketplace and their whims. You may have to come to terms with the fact that your jewelry isn’t only a representation of you, if you want to make money.
3. Being a Stickler for the Rules
Have you ever heard the saying, “Rules Are Meant to Be Broken?” Even the best laid out store policies may need to be changed on a case by case basis. For example, do you really need a ship back on a $1 pair of earrings? Take the loss, and please a customer. The over referencing of policies to customers on your site, can also lead to profit loss. Some people are almost afraid to buy from merchants with a homepage full of rules. So don’t scare them off, be flexible! You are still in charge of your site, just easier to work with.
4. Drama and Gossip
Just because you meet a lot of other sellers on the internet, doesn’t mean you have to make friends there. Sometimes these can be wonderful experiences, but beware… Forums and chat rooms can turn into a battleground. The last thing you want your customer to see is your personal information, attached to some negative words. This also goes for posting our beliefs, politics, etc. You may win over some new friends and customers, but you will risk alienating a lot more. Always remember, everything you say and do on the internet is there forever. Another thing that can cause a huge problem, is talking about your customers. So many times I see people bad mouthing sales. Even if we don’t know who you’re talking about, your negativity is reflecting on potential customers.
5. Selling supplies that you use for your best sellers.
I am so guilty of this! When I get a great wholesale deal I want to share it, and profit of course. It took me some time to figure out that one, if a customer wants to make it, they won’t buy yours. And two, if a designer buys it they will copy your design, and possibly undersell you. Ouch!
6. My work isn’t great…
Yes it is! Never say this, or downgrade yourself. Even if you get a bad case of the self doubts, there is no reason to project anything but confidence. Please don’t list something as not that good, damaged, etc. Just redo it, or reuse it in another way. You want all of your work to be up to a standard that your customers can appreciate.
7. Let Your Business Consume Your Life
Working diligently is fantastic, and I highly recommend it. But when it’s 2:00 A.M., and you’re still taking pictures, it’s time to stop. Burning yourself out can be discouraging to a new business. Set a schedule for yourself, and stick to it. This is something I still haven’t learned! Just like anything else in your life, don’t overdo, or take on too much at once.
8. Spending Too Much Money
Assess, assess, and then reassess. Keep track of what you spend on supplies, advertising, etc. Remember, your time is money too. Don’t just buy on a whim, comparison shop. And don’t buy in bulk if you don’t need to. Just because it’s a great deal, doesn’t mean you will be able to turn it over into profit. Spend slowly, and shop around.
9. Signing Up For Everything
Can you really manage 10 jewelry groups, 5 indie boards, 3 social sites, 2 blogs, and 4 websites? Probably not well, but I’ve done it. Better to just focus in on your main selling site, and a couple of your favorite ones. I do think you should have a site on a larger site, as well as your own. But when you start having 10 sub sites with selling capabilities, you can easily lose track of inventory. If you’re just signing up for marketing, and other advertising, more is always better.
10. Scatterbrained Site Management
This includes a lot of things; constantly changing themes, websites, domain names, and jewelry types. Your customer expects some consistency in your brand. So if you need to spruce things up a bit or add some new ideas, go ahead. But don’t change your site from purple skulls to blue shabby chic in one day.
Post your own ideas to comments of "Not To Do's".
Want to purchase this book?
Jewelry by Tara
Jewelry by Tara eBay
Only $10 get's you my vast wealth of knowledge, which was learned from screwing it all up! LOL
T♥
Friday, August 7, 2009
JEWELRY
Wordpress and I are having some challenges in our new relationship:( They won't let me Google my friends, or show my wares w/html. There are some little tricks to get around these things, but they are blocking me at every turn!!
Just a little sample of my pieces....
Hope we can work out our differences, or I'm crawling back to blogger. Stay tuned as we battle it out...
T♥
Just a little sample of my pieces....
Hope we can work out our differences, or I'm crawling back to blogger. Stay tuned as we battle it out...
T♥
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