Tuesday, December 9, 2008

YES!


I did it!! The "show" was a great success. My mom's friend has the most beautiful house. It's an old carriage house (pounds and pounds of oats fell out of the ceiling when they redid the kitchen) and it was decorated so beautifully for the holidays: picture rolls and rolls of holiday ribbon, their spools stacked and their ends twirling around our wares, lots of candles, a roaring fire, twinkling lights . . . It really couldn't have been a more perfect setting for us.

Her daughter's photographs were in the dining room, on the table, on easels around the room, and popping up out of the drawers of her antique sideboard. The other woman we grew up with, Jennifer Smith Donaldson is an oil painter and her paintings of local scenes were in the living room in front of the fire and on easels on the bookcases around it.

My jewelry was then interspersed throughout the rooms, in and among their work. I had my antique printers' tray filled with rings, bell jars with moss laying under them and jewelry beneath them like little pixies in the woods, antique jars with my necklaces strung from them, and of course, lots of old photos in the mix. I loved the way it all looked, and my stuff really looked great with their work. It all "clicked".

And I sold so much!! I sold out of all my new necklaces, most of my little pocket bags, tons of rings, and my charm bracelets and necklaces even did pretty well. So I am thrilled! I mean, really thrilled. It's the first time I have felt like this little business might actually take off. Now my next goal is to get the website up and running. I am having such trouble with Zen cart, but I actually met a woman at the show who's husband is currently out of work. He is a computer scientist. She offered his services, so I'm going to email her and see what he can do. It's worth a shot, right? Maybe he and I can help each other during these crazy economic times. That's what it's all about, helping each other realize our dreams!

So I did it, and I'm proud of myself. I even chatted with people about my work and tried really hard to "sell" myself. Because that's the worst part for most of us. Putting yourself out there and saying, "I'm good enough" and "look at me". Not easy. But I did it!!

Now you go do it, too!

4 comments:

Steph said...

I am so excited for you!!! It all sounds so beautiful, the house, the twinkling lights, the vintage displays. And I LOVE the necklace in the photo.

Congratulations Amy ... you did it! xox :)

emily said...

yes with a capital yes! i am so happy for you, amy. it's all happening!

Amy said...

So proud of you Amy! Seriously, just ecstatic! Now, how do I get to buy some?

kelly barton art + design said...

amy...that is so great!
i didn't even know you made
jewelry. do you have a store?
can i buy it? i dig that necklace