50 ITEMS TODAY!

Today in my store I've reached the 50 items mark. That wasn't my goal for last week Sunday. I wanted to have 100 items but i work so i don't have time to dedicated myself to my shop full-time. I think i'm going to take the leap though and do it soon.  From time to time I read about people who have done it and were very successful. I'm pretty sure people like Bill Gates Donald Trump and Steve Jobs were told no don't quit your job or don't drop out of school but they proved everyone wrong. Hearing stories as these are very encouraging to me. There is of course a lot of fear that goes with taking the leap of quitting your Job and starting your own business. My thoughts are often, " what will i do when the small savings I have run out", "how will I pay for my jeep? And of course I've not made hundreds of sales to live on. My shop has been open on Etsy for 3 months and i've made 3 sales. So yes many may say you are crazy wait till your shop starts bringing in consistant sales before you quit your job and focus on your business. Well, I think if i had the full time hours to work on my online store then maybe i will be able to see more profit! At this point in my life i dont have anything to lose. I'm young I am unmarried with no kids :) Now is the time to jump without a net! But like i said i am afraid. No one wants to leave a secure Job for a "dream" but i've read about many who have and they said although it was scary they have no regrets and would never look back. Etsy is a hard site to be on. why? well because there are hundreds no THOUSANDS!!! of shops on that site. You have to be oddly unique in order to stand out and it seems that EVERYONE is making the same thing. Nevertheless I never give up so i will go ahead and jump without a safety net in about 2 months! scared to death? YES afraid i will never succeed seeing as though i feel like i failed at a traditional career. Yes! My mother hates when i say I've failed at life but when you've really fought through hell to graduate school and you get a job and then lose it and then cannot get back into your field you can't help but feel like a failure. Unfortunately things have been rough for me for a couple of years now and even though i want to scream kick and cry I can't give up. I can only pray that this new coming year will be my year to shine.. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/STACIELAURELL?ref=si_shop

Victorian Vintage Charm Bracelet

Currently I'm on the hunt on the popular site Etsy to find Unique beautiful and high fashion Handmade items. Right now my obsession is Charm bracelets. Today's featured charm bracelet is one I found by artisan Cynthia Holvenstot on Etsy. Her store is called History in a Jewel. Here's one of her pieces...

There is also quite a few Turquoise beads from the Sleeping Beauty Mine just popping across the gold filled bracelet. As you probably know Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is known for its very vibrant turquoise blue color and the fact that it has very little in the way of matrix vines running through it for a more pure look.

Some of the other beads and charms are a Victorian carved heart Mother of Pearl charm that has a "W" in twisted brass wire, an old 30's plastic charm of a Scottie Dog, Pre-Ban Ivory Oriental charm, a locket with a cameo on the front, a Purple Sea Baroque Pearl, Opalescent Vaseline Swirled Art Glass Beads and much more.

I found another item of hers that I find to be just stunning.. take a look

You can visit history in a Jewel at http://www.etsy.com/shop/HistoryInaJewel?ref=seller_info