Shop and Save From my Etsy Shop

Take advantage of my new designs and save.  I'm offering a 10% savings from my entire etsy shop baysidewiredesigns.  Plus, if your total is $75 or more, you will receive a quality gift, plus I'm also offering free shipping on most of my smaller items.  All of these savings sure add up.  This means more money in your pocket for more shopping!!  That's what I'm talking about!!  I'm an artist who loves to dabble into a bit of everything and therefore you will find a wide array of interesting gifts and treasures in my shop.  I hope you enjoy your whole shopping experience.  Please use coupon code BAYSAVE10   at checkout to save your 10% and I will take care of the rest. So, grab your favourite mug and fill it with hot, freshly brewed coffee and slip on your cozy slippers and begin. :)  Click here to begin.

How to Get Crazy Traffic to My Etsy Store

If you're an artist who works hard at your craft and who doesn't have much time for networking, please, you need to read this:

I have been reading about this for some time now and it seems as though some spend much time with Social Networking and Tweeting in order to gain crazy traffic to their etsy shops and it's working great for them!  Being in business for seven years now, I understand that you need to bring people through your shop and therefore you need a way to build a client base, but my goodness, when you make everything by hand, it doesn't leave much time to spend networking.  I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that I can't believe it's the only way to success.  There must be other ways; less time- consuming ways.

As an artist, I often find myself in what I like to call "creative mode."  Once I'm in the creative mode, I'm inspired and I'm psyched to bring to life whatever I mustered up in my imagination.  Once I get going, I don't like to break the rhythm.  Because once I break the rhythm, it might take me a while to get it back again.  This is the dilemma I have:  How can I succeed in business and keep my "creative mode" going simultaneously??   I'm sure I am not the only one that feels this way.  It comes down to this:  If I spend all of my time networking and I lose my creative rhythm, I will be driving people to an empty and mediocre etsy shop... and that's no good.  I need to find a middle, a balance.  A method that will help me in all areas without hindering my creativity.

So, I'm on a quest:  I'm looking for different ways to make my etsy shop a great success without spending all my time networking.  If you have any hints and tricks on how you drive traffic to your etsy store, please share them here. I would love to build a resource page with a list of things to do so that I can do better and also help others who are finding it difficult as well.  Everyone on etsy deserves a chance to be seen and to make a bit of money.  So please, help me build a resource page.  Add your suggestions and share what you do for success.  I want to hear them all (even if they have to do with networking), or even if you think it's an insignificant little thing... I want to hear that one too.  Looking forward to your information.

From all of the artists who work hard at creating and whom don't have much time for networking, etc...,
Thank You!

Inspired by Autumn in New Brunswick

Last week the autumn leaves painted the hills and the mountains around us in a brilliant mixture of bright, fall hues: orange, red, yellow and greens.... The trees have already begun shedding their leaves and they're beginning to look bare and vulnerable.  I was able to capture some of that wonderful colour and freeze it in time in a photograph.  Please click photo to go to my etsy store if you wish to purchase this photo; it's an awesome piece of wall art!!  You will love this picture of the Canadian Maple leaves in all their glory!!

Unique Handmade Buttons for your Crochet, Knitting, Sewing Project

I've been working on a collection of really cool, fused glass buttons.  They're really nice and shiny which makes them especially appealing.  Gorgeous variety of handmade glass buttons on shank is the perfect finishing touch on your crochet, knitted or sewing project.  Add them to scarves, to gloves, to cowls for a beautiful jewellery-like finish.  Each one is hand cut, designed, fused and glued to shank.  Accessories with handmade buttons!!  Click on picture for more info on buttons and more selections.

Handmade Unique Sterling Silver Spoon Pendant Necklace

Not too long ago, I made this unique silver pendant from an antique, 925 sterling silver spoon that I purchased from a local antique store.  I wanted to give it a complete transformation so it wouldn't look at all like the spoon I first bought.  I decided to add texture to it by hammering it with different tools and then folding it and antiquing so that it has that black finish on it (it's not paint, by the way).  Then I wanted to push it a bit further and decided to introduce some of my handmade chain pieces with gorgeous Rainbow Moonstone dangles.

I think it all came together quite well.  It sure is different from anything I've every made and therefore I can say:  mission accomplished!  I hope you enjoy my new spoon and fork jewellery creations.

Handmade Unique Silver Rings Spoon Jewelry

I first fell in love with silver spoon rings when I was about 10-11 years old.  My uncle's girlfriend owned one of these and I always felt compelled to look at it.  Little did I know that one day I would be making jewelry as a business and little did I know I would be including these unique silver rings in my business.  

I love everything about antique silverware jewelry; not only the rings.  I also make very interesting and unique silver bracelets and silver bangles, earrings, pendants and more...  I will be posting these in the next few days.  I hope you enjoy this collection.  Now you have a chance to wrap up a little piece of history around your finger. 

New Item - Beaded Dragonfly Garden Stakes / Flower Pot Stakes Wire work

Dress up your garden, your pond or your flower pots around the deck with these fun and whimsical Dragonfly Garden Stakes.  Each one is unique in design and color with colorful, glass beads.

The Dragonflies are approximately 4-5" with hand weaved wire stake measuring about 15" or so.

Save 15% on these with coupon code: SPRINGSALEBAY at checkout. Click on picture below for more info.

New Item - Forged Silver Vine Hair Barrette with Coral

You will just love the Silver Vine Hair Barrette.  I made this barrette out of thick .925 sterling silver wire, hammered and twisted with great difficulty.  I added a touch of color with Red Sponge Coral (which represent the color of berries) with tiny 4mm Petrified Wood beads.  Although it is constructed with thick gauge, sterling silver wire, it is delicate in design.  The entire barrette is less than 4" long.  It's not suitable for silky straight hair, but holds nicely with thicker hair. If you have a vision and would love this barrette with different color stones or crystals and pearls, please email me.  I love custom work.  :)  These barrettes make great gifts for that special person in your life with long locks.  Click here for more info.



New Custom Order for Client

I made this Necklace and Earrings set as a custom order for one of my clients.  This necklace is made with a large, red Tigereye Cabochon and 14k gold-filled wire work.  The filigree design gives the overall feel of ancient, old world, Roman or Grecian Jewelry with a touch of Victorian.  I also handmade the chain links with a thick 20 gauge 14k gold-filled wire and finished it off with a sturdy clasp.  I really enjoyed making this design and I will put together a few more of these to add to my store as part of my new spring collection. 

This particular design would also be awesome for a wedding (by exchanging the red Tigereye for a whitish or even a Rainbow Moonstone would be awesome)!

My New Suncatchers Design for Spring

I just finished a really nice sun catcher design.  These will be part of my new Go-Green, spring collection made of recycled glass.  I will be making different designs, but this is the first of many I'll be designing.

I really like the contrasting colors between the dark red copper and the green glass.  The whole thing is constructed with very thick gauge copper. 

I took a picture against the wall, but these look their best in a window or out on the patio.  What a great garden accessory.

Here is the picture of my latest design.  Let me know what you think.  Please leave me a comment.