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Most Recent Posts Do you Squidoo? See who's lensworthy!Posted Apr-11-07 21:43:33 PDT Updated Apr-11-07 21:44:40 PDT The purpose of our Squidoo lens is to spotlight Ebay members who have interesting stories, contribute back to the online community in some way or are just plain fun characters. We also want to hear about those WOW sales. You know the ones -- bought IT at a yard sale for a quarter and it sold for mega bucks. We will also be profiling artisans who make what they sell. So, be sure to pass along ideas for new stories. Check it out Are you lensworthy? Go Squidoo! ... and please vote for our lens. Voting is easy. Step 1, slide the stars all the way to the right using your mouse. Step 2, refresh the page. That's it, you're done! Also, you can rank, or add, your favorite sites (including your own web sites). Try it out! Tracy Lens on: hawaiibeadsPosted Apr-11-07 21:10:10 PDT Updated Apr-11-07 21:30:30 PDT This is the first in our series of Lensworthy interviews. We take a look at Ebay seller Hawaiibeads Are you lensworthy? Go Squidoo! And don't forget to vote for our lens. Ebay ID: hawaiibeads Ebay storefront: Hawaii Beads Location: Maui, Hawaii Member since: Dec. 16, 2001 Sells to: Worldwide Price range: $9.99 - $325.00 Hawaii Beads 10 Questions with hawaiibeads Q1: You make and sell handmade jewelry on Ebay through your storefront Hawaii Beads as well as during craft fairs and in stores. What are some of your favorite materials to use and why? I am addicted to Vintage Swarovski Crystal. There used to be a little bead shop here that had vintage beads and crystals (the very shop where I took that FREE class). I have always been attracted to sparkly things. This love was brought about by hours of sitting on Mom’s bed with her and going through old boxes of Crystals and bead jewelry that had belonged to various aunts, and grandmothers, and all the wonderful pieces that she had herself. I also seem to love Freshwater Pearls, at least it must be true since I seem to have at least one strand of every color, size, and shape of Pearl available! Q2: You mention on your About Me page how you got started with beading was by answering a newspaper classified ad to attend a ‘free’ jewelry making class. Can you expand more on that? We have a little paper here and I saw the ad for a free beading class at our one bead store that we had at the time. I wanted to make some Christmas presents for my family and friends. I have always made at least part of the gifts that I give. And since I love jewelry, this was ideal. I made a cobalt blue and gold bracelet. I then purchased enough items and tools to make several pieces. I remember that I made my sister a necklace with cloisonné horse beads. And I was hooked! I could not believe how much money I spent that night, and I was a very regular customer of theirs from then on. And one of my favorite things that I learned from the teacher, was, when you squeeze the crimp at the end of a necklace or bracelet, give it one more ‘Fairy Squeeze’. And I have always done that! I love that term, and it always made sense to me. Q3: Can one ever have enough beads? (rhetorical, naturally) But seriously, what is behind the compulsion for beaders to own every single bead ever made? If there was a pill to cure this compulsion I am not too sure that I would take it! I might miss out of some wonderful beads. Everyday I when I am working I say, no more! Well, guess who was at the bead store today? I give you one guess! And every single beader knows just what I mean. I truly believe that it is just something that you are drawn to. There are many “beaders” who have never made a piece of jewelry in their life, but most people have at least that one little bead somewhere, that they love to look at and enjoy. Or a little bowlful that sits on their desk or mantle. Q4: What¹s the most expensive piece of jewelry you’ve sold and what was it? I would have said a wonderful pair of asymmetrical earrings that I sold on Ebay, that were a favorite, but my most expensive was at a weekly Craft Fair, here at one of the hotels. It was a fabulous necklace made of White AAA Freshwater Pearls, large Tourmaline nuggets, and 14kt Gold. A Japanese business man came up to my table, picked up my most expensive piece, and handed me the money, He did not speak English, and I did not speak Japanese. But it was a wonderful experience. I love knowing that I have pieces of my jewelry all over the world! Q5: When did you decide to turn your hobby into a business? What are some of your goals for this year? I brought home those first beads from my first class, and put them right out on my desk, and touched and looked at them for hours! My desk happened to be in the kitchen, and we had a little upholstery shop in our garage. Well, many folks came into the house and would see me working in the kitchen at my beads and enjoy it. Then I set up a little bookcase next to my desk to display my pieces. And that was the beginning of my beading business. This year, I would love to go to some new small bead stores in out of the way towns. Usually, you can find some very wonderful unusual beads there. Also, to find that one exciting and great new way to put those beads together that is completely new (if only to me!). Q6: What artists (or movements) inspire you and your work? I love Art Nouveau and Art Deco style and designs. This has been the case all of my life. I love the buildings built in these years, the style of print, the clothes and of course the jewelry. Right up into the ‘40’s and 50’s. The elegance and romance of earlier years. That combined with the colors of nature right outside my door are my biggest influences. My friend that used to shop at my bead store when I had it, and now has her own bead store around the corner, is one of the best, most creative beaders that I know, and she loves to share. And my beady buddy friend here, who always helps me to get back on track when I start to stray from my beadwork! And is also always happy to share new beads and ideas with me, we are always teaching each other something new. Q7: Taking pictures of jewelry is notoriously hard. Your pictures are amazing. What’s your secret(s)? Practice, practice, practice! I listen and learn when I ask other people that take great photos, how they did that! Plus, I really study other listings that have photos that ‘pop’ to see how they accomplished that effect. Backgrounds are so important. Finding colors that make a piece even more 3D. I used to do a lot on white, or cream, and that is changing now. My latest photos are on more unusual backgrounds. And use that little thing on your camera that looks like a tulip! That tulip is your friend. Natural indirect sunlight, not direct sunlight. I am finding that I get much better photos in couple of hours before sunset. Q8: Being a frequent board poster AND an artist who makes jewelry and runs a business, how to you find time for it all? I never ever leave my desk. I am chained to my computer, and all I have to do is spin my chair and I am at my workstation! Actually, I can’t really call this work. I am one of those lucky ones that I get to do what I love and get paid for it. So, I can sit here for hours and make my jewelry, shove some things aside to make room for a photo, and turn and post the listing. I am pretty well organized. (Virgo). All beads, crystals and findings are in well marked, labeled containers. I can clear my desk in a matter of minutes. (Tho you would not know it if you looked at my desk today). Be organized, and if you are like me and only have a limited area to work, try to put things away before you go to bed. Q9: What sage words of advice can you give to crafters thinking about breaking into Ebay¹s handcrafted and/or jewelry market? I would give them the advice that I was given when I started to sell at craft fairs. A great friend and jeweler told me “If you make something great and it sells well, expect to see it on the table next to you within a week, and every other table within two weeks”. So, you always have to be learning something new, pushing yourself to try out a new color combination, or a new twist of a tool that gives your pieces your personal unique style. And never stop taking classes if you can. I still take so called beginners classes if I find someone new giving it. You will always learn some little trick to make each of your pieces a little better. Don’t sell anything that you would not be proud to own yourself. And you have to list, and join groups and hand out cards, and anything else you can think of to promote your business, because no one else is going to do it for you. Q10 (fun question): If I could trade places with one person for one day, who would it be? I would like to trade with that first person who first put that “bead-shell-seed” on a piece of sinew and hung it around their neck, and knew that they had just done something very special, something artistic. What a feeling of joy that first moment is when any beader does that, and to have been the first to do that, to do something that has fascinated mankind for thousands and thousands of years! Now that would be cool! A new look + No April Fools Day salePosted Apr-01-07 21:43:28 PDT Updated Apr-01-07 21:45:06 PDT Spring has sprung in a big way at tracys-treasures & the
treasure trove. As some of you know, I garden in my spare time. I've taken some
of these past weekend days to get out in the yard and clean out the flower
beds. Inventory clearance on handmade artist jewelryPosted Jan-05-07 12:22:28 PST
Hello again friends New year = new deals at The Treasure TrovePosted Jan-04-07 17:59:21 PST Updated Jan-04-07 18:06:43 PST Welcome friends and thank you for finding your way back to The Treasure Trove We're busy cleaning, cleaning, cleaning out our house and our store for the new year. That means great deals for you. We'll also be running some .99 cent auctions, so check back frequently. Want to be the first to know about new listings? How about coupons and sales? Then subscribe to my newsletters here All my best, Tracy |
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