Raffle Fundraiser please read and pass on for a special lady.

Hello Everyone,

There is a raffle for a gorgeous necklace that will be raffled off to help a young lady who was in a car accident a few weeks ago.  She lost her mother in the accident.
Please read the story here fanciful devices: Raffle Fundraiser and pass on to help raise money to help her recover financially.
Thanks so much,

Kathy

Thanks to everyone for all your support in my jewelry journey...

Hello,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Now for the next holiday to come and go soon to bring a new year.  I hope that it will bring a good year for everyone out there struggling.  It sure has been one heck of a crazy ride this past yea rfor myself and many others.  I thank God everyday for giving me my creativity so that I could and can survive this very poor economy.  I tell people who seem to be stuck in the negativity of it all to realize that you can only go down so far before you have to start going back up again.  I feel blessed to have my health, a roof over my head, food on the table and a wonderful group of family and friends.

Jewelry making has brought me such joy and I so wished I could just give away my creations.  I absolutely love it when people smile and make such a fuss over the necklace, bracelet or earrings they just purchased.  They go on and on about how beautiful it is and how they get compliments when they wear the piece.  Many of my friends and family give me a hard time about accepting payment for my jewelry.  They say I need to make a living and the money to keep making more so I should just take it and that's that.  One day I will be in a much better place financially and I won't forget how supportive and understanding they all were through this tough time.

Thank you to all of you out there who give me a "like" or a nice comment on Facebook when I post another piece of jewelry.  It means more to me than you'll ever know.  It keeps me focused and moving forward.    Sometimes people can be pretty hard to deal with and just the smallest positive reaction gives me faith in humanity.

Here are a pair of earrings I just made yesterday.  I hope you like them:)

Thanks so much for all your support and faith in me.

Kathy

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a very wonderful Thanksgiving day!

I have so much to be thankful for.

This year was one of the hardest years of my life.  I am so thankful to have a beautiful place to live, a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, good health and food on the table.

Thank you to all of my angels for helping me through this very difficult year:)

I am especially thankful to God for giving me my creativity to make jewelry.

God bless you all,

Kathy

Making more jewelry....

Hello again,

I spent the day working on another necklace.  I put together a few layers of brass on top of the stone cross.  The necklace measures 35 inches long and the cross is 3 inches long and 2 inches wide.  I don't normally like doing symmetrical necklaces, but that's just how this came together.
I really hope you like it.  My sister saw it on my FB page and loved it so much, I decided to give it to her for Christmas....she is going to wear it to her Christmas party.  Now I need to make a pair of matching earrings.:)

My jewelry journey continues...

Hello Everyone,

I have been so busy trying to get my new website going www.nouvique.com.  I am offering my original K Marie Designz in kits.  I will have pdf's with all the necessary information to put the kits together, including pictures, written step by step instructions and a list of all of the items in each kit.

I found out that putting my own line of brass together just wasn't working so I am staying focused on my kits.  I have been asked by so many people over the years to kit my designs and now I am.

I would love any and all feedback about the site.  I can only learn a long the way.

Thanks so much for your continuing support,

Kathy

New things going on with brass....

Hello Everyone,

So summer has come and gone.  My life has been a whirlwind since moving to San Luis Obispo.  I have been busy teaching classes and perfecting my new brass.  It has definitely been a trial and error process and I am still working on getting it down to an exact science.

I recently launched my new website www.nouvique.com where you can find K Marie Designz original jewelry kits.   I am still learning all the in's and out's of uploading photos, shopping cart, etc.   I will have "how to" pdfs along with video tutorials.  It sure is a ton of work to get any business started.

I am going to try to keep up on my blog so everyone knows what's happening.

I wish you all the best,

Kathy

New Line of Brass with Dark Chocolate Brown Patina

Hi Everyone,

I am so excited about making a new line of brass with a dark brown chocolate patina.

I am working with a couple of ladies that have the same views I do about brass for jewelry making and more.

I will keep you updated as we move forward.  I will also have pictures of the new line as we progress.

Take care,

Kathy

A new artisan support group starting soon.

Hello Everyone,

Since moving to SLO I have met so many wonderful people!  A customer named Donna came in the store when I first started there.  She was talking with me about starting a support group for local artisans.  We each have knowledge we can share to help each other grow our businesses.  I thought it was great!  I was elected to lead this group...hhmmmm....not sure how that happened.  Hey, I'm up for it.  Can't wait to have our first meeting.

Also more news about my jewelry line.  I just picked up 2 more jewelry reps who want to rep my line.  Moving right along.  I sure can't wait until I am so busy making jewelry I need to hire help;)

I hope this finds everyone well,

Kathy

A place to call home.

Hi Everyone,

God is GREAT!!!
I am now a featured artist on http://www.crushcrushcouture.com/category/DE.html how exciting!
I also have a great place to call home.  I will be moving in this coming Monday. YIPPEE!!!!!
It's been one heck of a journey to say the least.

I was teaching a stringing class to a very nice older woman last week.  She stopped by the shop on Tuesday to see about a wire wrap class.  I mentioned to her I was looking for a 2 bedroom to rent.  She said she was staying at her son's house but was moving out.  Her son's very good friend shares the house because he's in the middle of a divorce.  So she spoke with her son to see if he would allow Alicia and I to move in.  He said yes and the best part is it's only $700 a month all utilities included.  The house is only 3 years old and in a great community.  There is a swimming pool and clubhouse too.  I couldn't believe it...I guess I should know by now that God has a plan and I should stop worrying so much.

The other good news is Alicia was just hired for a full time job working in a new restaurant.  Oh and she already has a boyfriend.  He is Jennifer's (my boss) son Caleb (29) and he's 6'6" tall.  They are 2 peas in pod;), 2 hippy kids...so cute.

I am so excited about starting my new life here.  Now it's time to hit all the boutiques to see if they would like to carry my jewelry line. There a ton of them in a 50 mile radius from San Luis Obispo.  Everything is going to be o.k. Thank you God!

I hope this finds everyone well,

Kathy

Getting ready...

Hi Everyone,

I am getting ready for my big "featured artist" reveal on www.crushcrushcouture.com.  I sent in all of my photos, descriptions and bio to Charli and now I can't wait to see how everything will come together.
I came across this very profound statement this evening and thought I would share it with you.  It is how I feel about my jewelry journey.


"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning."

- Mahatma Gandhi

I would like to thank all of the people who stuck by me through these very trying times.  Especially God:)

Thanks so much,

Kath

More Angels...

So a bunch of new things are going on with me and my new life.

I had sent out several emails to bead stores in about a 200 mile radius of where I was living.  I heard back from a nice lady (Jennifer) who owns a bead store in San Luis Obispo, Ca.  We had several phone conversations and she asked if I could come up and stay a few days to see how things worked out between us.  Alicia and I went up and stayed at her and her husbands home for 4 days.  They were so welcoming and accommodating.  They even paid for a weekend class for me with a renowned wire working expert.  It was so fun to just sit and enjoy some time for me and to not have to think about my problems for a couple of days.  So after working with her for a couple of days, we both new it was a perfect fit.  She knew I knew what I was doing and that was a great comfort to her.  So she came up with a plan to get me up to SLO.  Her and husband have given us a place to stay at their home for a few weeks, and are paying our first months rent and deposits for our own place.  I was in tears when she told me the plan.  I just couldn't believe their kindness.  God is amazing!!!!!!!!  It still gets even better.  Alicia has had 5 interviews now in just the past 3 days.  She is super excited.
I have to go for now...will keep you updated.

XOXO,

Kath

A hand up by an angel named Charli....

Hello Everyone,

Things are definitely looking better with my merchant account and my jewelry journey.

I am now looking forward to working with a wonderful woman I met a few weeks ago.  She couldn't tell me much about her new website as it was a bit of a trade secret.  She did tell me it was like nothing I'd ever seen.  Well today I see what she means.  It is www.crushcrushcouture.com and the whole premise of the site is to look great and feel even better while giving part of all the proceeds back to your choice of charities on her site. With every purchase, she will donate 25% back to the charity you pick when you checkout.  How awesome!!!

I am proud to say I will definitely be a part of this website.  Thank you God for Charli, who is one of your angels.  No, not the kind that shoots you down, but the kind that gives you a hand up.  It just doesn't get better than that!

I will keep everyone informed when I am featured on her site.

Thanks,

Kathy

Playing the waiting game.

Hello Everyone,

What a gorgeous day we are having here in Santa Clarita, California!  It's in the 70's, sunshine with beautiful blue skies.
Now I am playing the waiting game.  I am happy to have such great success with my jewelry, but now I am in a stall pattern.  Waiting for the returns to show up on my customers credit cards which takes 5 to 7 business days. Once they are posted I can then go ahead and rerun their cards through my new merchant account which will post in my checking in 2 to 4 business days.  Hopefully by the beginning of the week I can rerun their cards.  I will accept any and all prayers;)
Ask anyone in my family who is the most impatient person.  They will say Kathleen and my dad.  I love the saying on my friend Nancie's fridge that says: God please give me patience....but I want it right now.  That's me in a nutshell.LOL
I hope this finds everyone well.

XOXO

Kath

My continued jewelry journey.

Hello Everyone,

Ok, so I am having a bit of a merchant account problem.  Come to find out just after charging all of my customers credit cards, I get audited.  Yes audited.  Apparently when you run a credit card over the allotted daily amount, the merchant people don't like that.  It has now been almost 2 weeks and I still don't have any money in my checking account.  I ended up changing to a more expensive well known merchant account and will hopefully have everything back to where it should be.  I am excited about this!  What a learning experience this has been.  I am glad it happened at the beginning of my new jewelry making career.  I guess you just have to work out all the bugs before everything comes together.
I can't wait to see how things progress with www.crushcrushcouture.com.  I am super excited!

I hope this finds everyone well.

XOXO

Kathy

My stay in California so far.

Hello Everyone,

I am dedicating this blog to all my angels, but a special dedication to my son who never stopped believing in my ability to create.  Who pushed me, and still does everyday to follow my dreams and to never give up.

Well it's been one heck of a ride since moving to California.  I started out doing one of my hobbies (dog training), and am now onto my other hobby of jewelry making.
I have actually turned my hobby into my new career.  The recession kicked my butt!  I've been unemployed now for 2 years. I did have a job for a couple of months working for an online bead store as a jewelry designer. They didn't like the fact that I was making my own jewelry and trying to market it, so they fired me.

The thing I keep telling myself is I'm glad I don't have little kids anymore.  Although my daughter moved out here a few months after I did to seek a better life.  She ended finding a temp job and then got laid off just a few weeks after my job ended.  I have spoken with so many people who have lost everything like myself but who have little ones.  This is hard enough for an adult to go through, no less trying to take care of a family on little to no income.

So here I am in California, wondering what in the world am I going to do.  Fortunately I had a childhood friend (I found on Facebook when I first moved to Cali) who gave us a safe place to stay.

You know I've debated telling my story because it isn't fluffy, roses and sunshine.  Being homeless is the most humbling experience I've gone through in my 46 years here on this earth.  However, I learned many things over the last couple of months.  Mainly how grateful I am to just have the simplest things like food and clothing and shelter.  Maybe you think I am exaggerating my situation, I wished I was.  But here's the good of the bad situation.  I absolutely believe God sends you angels!  One such angel helped my daughter and I learn that you can truly, without a doubt, count on God.  He never lets you down and will always provide a way for you to exist.  When we just didn't have any way to pay for gas or buy food, he provided. I would get a check in the mail from a rebate I had forgotten about.  I would travel to Santa Monica and go from boutique to boutique to see if anyone wanted my jewelry.  Sure enough I nice shop owner fell in love with it and said to come back in a few weeks.  The day I returned, God sent me another angel, my new jewelry rep.  She happened to be at the boutique when I brought my jewelry back.  She also loved it and asked if she could be my rep.  God is GREAT!!! I would also meet a complete stranger in the parking lot of a grocery store (we had $8 left).  He saw my out of state license plate and welcomed me to California.  We started talking about kids and life and before I knew it he took every bit of money he had in his wallet, gave it to my daughter, and ran off so we couldn't hand it back.  I have another angel who allowed me to set up a small table in front of his little gas station and sell my jewelry, that day we literally had no food left.  I met another angel who fell in love with my jewelry and continued to by a couple of pieces a week. I still think she did it not just because she loved jewelry, but she wanted to help me and my daughter.  She'll say otherwise.  Ok, so I have one more.  A friend who introduced me to a woman who is starting a new online jewelry store that wants to feature me as a designer.  The store is based on giving back.  How things come around in a circle....just amazing!

And now we have a place to live because I met 2 more angels, a husband and wife who had a 40 ft R.V. just sitting in their yard.  They had rented out in the past for people in transition.  It sits on 2 and 1/2 acres with shade trees surrounded by horse ranches.  So peaceful and beautiful!

So because my jewelry is selling, I am little by little by little making it day to day.  All thanks to a stranger who took us in, allowed us to stay in a room above their barn and gave us hope.  Everyday the angel would leave a small index card with a scripture, or a copy of a story of faith, or just a little note of inspiration.  She didn't know how much it meant to us to get these things everyday and that my life will never be the same because of it.  Thank you Nancie, you saved my life.

I forgot to add one more angel.  I went to Chase Bank to see about opening a checking account with them.  The lady I spoke just loved my jewelry.  I had to explain a bit about my situation because my credit is now shot for the next few years.  Just before I left the bank she stopped me and said she would like to buy me my business cards....how bizarre!  She said she believes in me and loves to support women owned businesses.  Thank you God for bringing me all of these angels.

Trying to promote my Etsy store.

Ok, so now I have some of my jewelry up on my Etsy store.  Next, trying to promote it.  What to do?  I just created an Etsy link on my facebook page.  I will now work on getting it out there.  Any help would be greatly appreciated:)