With The Good Comes The Bad

The past couple weeks have been pretty amazing. Orders are keeping me busy and I'm overflowing with ideas! In one of my last posts I talked about splurging on some items, I was able to get everything I wanted for pretty good prices now I just have to wait for them to come in the mail (it's killing me!!!!). I am super excited about everything! I even plan to switch the type of resin I use, this will allow me to polish the finished product and the quality is much better. I should have everything switched by the end of January (that's my goal!). That reminds me I need to make a goal list!!! I do it the beginning of every year but sometimes forget about it :/ this year will be different.

But of course with the good comes the bad. This leads me to tell you about a few struggles I've had the past couple weeks. Of course (as always around this time) I'm sick and that isn't helping with anything. Yesterday I went to the bank to get approved for a home loan (I've been looking at houses again!!! Even found one I really like) but since I'm self employed things are a little trickier....needless to say since my taxes weren't descriptive enough and I'm not doing all the same work I use to I will not be able to get a loan until after my taxes are done. This lead me to cry in the parking lot of the bank but thinking about it more and more it's actually probably for the best since I still have 6 months left on my lease and I can look around at more houses. One of the main things I was worried about was not making as much as the past two years so I went home and started adding up what I've done for the year and it turns out this year is the best yet!!! It also made me realize I really really need to keep things organized!!! So for the next couple of days I will be getting things ready for taxes and all that fun stuff!

In the end the bad ended up being not so bad and it's all how you look at it right?

Psssstttttt

Just put up some sale items in the shop! New listings are also being put up as I type! Go check it out!!

Splurge!

At least 7 new designs coming out very soon! I am very excited about these ones!
Since I have to make some pairs to photograph before selling I will be selling the sample pair for 1/2 off! They will range in size so all is fair. I will probably put the notice up on my facebook fan page or tumblr so keep an eye out!

Since things are going well and I'm keeping busy with my shop I am going to splurge and invest in some much needed equipment! First off a digital caliper, I have one that isn't digital and basically sucks. Second off is a vacuum pump! I've been eying these for awhile and really need to get one, it will help out with quality and save me time I just need to find the right materials to build it. Hopefully I'll be able to get both before the end of the year or improvise and use something similar.

New New New!!!

There are going to be a couple new designs coming up in the next couple months! I am very excited about them and can't wait to share!

Another new and exciting thing is I made a light box last night for photographing! I'm always trying to improve on everything especially photos. This project was soooo simple and cheap and it improves my photos drastically. I really should have done it a long time ago. Before doing it I thought my pictures were pretty decent (they weren't horrible) but it was such a pain to take them! My previous solution was a piece of paper on the windowsill with direct sunlight, now I don't even need the sunlight!!! I think that is the best part especially since it gets dark around 5 now :( here are some before and after pics
Windowsill

Light Box


This makes me beyond happy. Now if I could just make one that I could fit in hmmmm....
The only thing that sucks about it is I'm going to have to redo a lot of photographs :/ but it will be worth it in the end.

On a Lighter Note!

Things are going great! I have been super busy (crazy busy!) and even though it can be frustrating and hard I love it. I was able to figure out some new/better improvements with my plugs and making them. I even cut out one step so I am able to make them faster! My ideas and designs are always improving and I won't stop until they're perfect. I have had one of my friends (who's pretty rough on plugs) beat a couple pairs up but ALWAYS REMEMBER I stand behind my product 100% if you bough something and need a fix tell me! I love to hear all feedback good and bad, it helps me improve my techniques.

One last thing! Coming in 2011 I will be setting up my own website (no worries I'll still be on etsy!) where I will be selling all types of plugs in all types of materials! I will stay that I may stay away from selling acrylic jewelry. Yes it is cheap but it's not the safest thing, there are many other better options out there and I want to be able to offer you those at an affordable price. Hopefully I'll be able to set that up once etsy calms down.

PS TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO GET (made to order) ORDERS IN IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR ITEM BY THE 24TH!!!

Mini Rant

Okay okay okay I said I was going to try not to rant and what not but I need to get a little something off my chest and it's 4am so there's no one awake to talk to.

There is another plugs company that has recently shown up, not a problem at all I love to support small companies especially plugs! I am friends with other people that sell them and I try to help others out when starting up.

Anyway they started following me awhile ago on a couple websites (I'm going to be very vague here as to not give out what websites or specific info because I really don't want to give them a bad name) so I followed back. Recently I was looking at their products and come to find out they started doing one of my ideas, I won't lie I was a little bummed when I saw it. But not a big deal, kind of flattering if you think about it. I was looking on their website again today and saw another one of my ideas :( For some reason it just really bums me out, I understand no idea is really original but really??? And it didn't take them to long to do it after I did, coincidence? I think not.

Okay end of rant, thanks for listening! I understand I'm probably being petty and whatnot but I'm allowed that every now and then. And this is my blog dammit!!! Hahahaha jk.