Etsy vs. Pattern

Today, I made the choice to uninstall my Pattern site on Etsy.  I was still in the free for thirty days timeline and the whole reason I added the Pattern site was because I wanted to draw more viewers to my eStore.  Some may say that I didn't give it enough time but after a bit of research, in my opinion, Pattern is just a fancy template of the same page for $15 dollars extra a month.  

Having bought domain names and purchased and published websites, my goal was to be able to add meta tags into my site so that Google and other search engines would find me.  However, when adding Pattern to your eStore, you are still not in control.  So, for me, Pattern is a great format to look at, but it did not bring any new traffic to my store in the weeks I used it.  

My domain name, which is LetOurLightShine.us will be directed to this blog and from there, customers may choose to go into Etsy and purchase an item they have found.  

I'm learning as I go and right now, I don't pay for any advertising because I am spending all of my time building my inventory of items. I still feel like I have creative designs in my head to add before paying for advertising. In the meantime, I am sharing new items on my social media sites.

The problem for new store owners at Etsy, due to the HUGE number of sellers on the site, is to be FOUND! At this time, I want to spend all of my money on materials and enjoy the design process.  I don't want to sell anything mass produced.  Each item is unique in its own way and when someone buys something from me, they have confidence that it was handmade in my studio and not mass produced and thereby loosing it's uniqueness.  

Someday, I hope to be able to share how my eStore was found.  In the meantime, it's off to more creative wire wrapping.  

Have a wonderful day!
God Bless, 
Jen

Patron Saint Charm Necklaces - St. Francis of Assisi

Two new Christian necklaces have been added to my Etsy store in the last few days.  I'm so excited to add two new additional items and also add an additional section of items (necklaces) to be able to expand my handmade Christian gifts!

I experimented with my design for a charm pendant in stainless steel.  I have had many requests for items made in stainless steel particularly customers who have reactions to other metals.  I was so excited with this design that I kept the first necklace for myself. :-)

Stainless steel wire is very hard and I use different tools for this wire because it is difficult to cut and bend compared to the softer metals.  When I was making several rosaries out of stainless steel, I developed several callus on my hands right away due to the strength of the wire.  At the same time, it is super lightweight and a joy to wear.  It's amazing how something can be so strong and yet so lightweight.  

Each of these necklaces may have additional charms added by the customer.  I do not use regular jump rings.  I always use key chain style jump rings so that charms or parts of the item does not come apart.  

Here is a sample of the new necklaces:

Some may ask why I did not list these two necklaces and just give the option of dove or cross charm since the materials and design are basically the same.  Since my clasps are individually made, as well as the charm pendant, I want to make sure my customers can look at each individual necklace prior to purchase.  Genuine handmade items are individual items and do not look like they were made exact like a machine so there may be slight variations in the wire. Through each item's photographs, customers may choose the exact item they prefer.

Hope you like my new charm necklaces.  Please sign up for updates by adding your email to our list.  I plan to make more necklaces in the near future with various Patron Saints, crosses, and charms. 

Free Shipping on EVERY order!!

Have a super day!

God Bless!

Jen  

New Sterling Silver over Copper Bracelet Wire Wrapped Unbreakable Design

I loved this bracelet so much I almost kept it!  LOL  The beads on this bracelet are vintage and made in Germany.  They are beautiful and the combination of silver and black is gorgeous! 

I used the unbreakable wire wrapping technique and two beads with a spiral, two with wire across the bead, and four that are regular wire wrapped beads. 

As always, my signature Christian charm is included.  On this bracelet, it is an open cross charm.  

FREE SHIPPING on every order!

Please stop by and give my new items a look.  Don't forget to sign up with your email if you want a notice for each blog post which will include special sales and coupon codes in the future.  

Take care and God Bless!

Jen  :-)

Unique Copper Bracelet added today!

Are you looking for something unique created in copper? Then I have the bracelet for you!

I love experimenting with new styles and designs. Today, I have added an "unbreakable" wire wrapped copper bracelet. I enjoy using vintage beads in my designs to create an item that can not be easily duplicated. My signature to each piece of jewelry is to add a Christian charm.

I am a Christian Vegan and usually work with a variety of rescue dogs nearby. None of my designs include leather or animal products. 

When I am shopping online, I love to puchase with Free Shipping, so I have added Free Shipping to ALL items in my shop! 

Currently, I only ship to the USA but plan to add additional countries in the future. Thanks for stopping by!

Jen

P.S. Please add your email address to receive updates. :-)

One Decade Rosary Bracelet - FREE SHIPPING! & Orphan Squirrel Rescue

After a family weekend, I returned to work today to finish a One Decade Rosary Bracelet.  I've wanted to add one to my shop for a while and also wanted to add the feature of two areas to connect the clasp, so it would make the bracelet two sizes, depending on where you attach the handmade clasp.  If you like it, please take a look at this one decade rosary bracelet with additional photos: 

http://www.letourlightshine.us/listing/480660605/bracelet-handmade-light-blue-beads

My other announcement today is that everything in my shop has free shipping!  Today is the first day of fall so to celebrate that new beginning of cooler weather, I have added Free Shipping to all of the items in my store.  

***If you would like to know about new items in my store and special event sales, please sign up with your email address. ***

On a personal note, as I mentioned in recent posts, I am a major animal lover!  I love my pets and also wildlife.  I recently found a squirrel's nest in my mother's yard that was blown down by major winds we were having during a tropical system.  It was the largest squirrel that I've ever seen in a nest and it was alone. I would have left it for its mother to find, but there were several cats waiting for me to walk away so I had no choice but to take it with me.  Plus, the storm was actively in progress. Fortunately, I found a local woman who ran a certified rescue facility and we dropped the little one off with her, along with a new cage and a donation.  Due to the week of stormy weather, she was taking care of over 70 baby squirrels! Amazing!

Bye for now... God Bless! Jen 

In God’s future kingdom, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the goat … the cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together … and a little child shall lead them … They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:6-9.

About page - LetOurLightShine.us

I am really excited about my new website featuring an About page which shares a little bit about me as a new shop owner.  It gives me the opportunity to share a little bit about why I started my shop and a little of who I am.   If you would like to take a look, the link is below: 

http://www.letourlightshine.us/about

A big part of each day is spent with these special friends....

This is only two of the nine... all are either rescues or taken when a family member moved or had a baby.  They are all getting older now but still give me lots of joy. I would have shared more photos but these are the only two I could put my finger on at the moment. Being a Christian vegan is very important to me.  None of my designs include animal products, which I shared in yesterday's post. 

This weekend, I will be taking a break from my jewelry and rosary making to spend time with two of my grandsons.  

Have a super weekend! God Bless!

Jen  :-)

Christian Vegan & New Bracelets

One of the really nice things about selling on Etsy is the feeling of community between buyers and sellers.  Even though my store is online, there is a sense of knowing those who follow your business.  One of the things that you may not know about me, unless you read the fine print in my About section, is that I am a Christian vegan.  

For those of you who may not know the difference between vegan and vegetarian, vegans do not eat animals products of any kind.  They also do not use items that are made with animal products.  So all items in my store do not have any animal products in them.  For example, I would not use leather for my jewelry items.  

I also have a lot of rescue animals... I have six dogs, a cat, and a parrot.  Most were adopted.  All are getting up into their mature years, which worries me a bit.  The oldest is a parrot and the youngest is a boxer who is 8 years old.  All, as of this moment, are in pretty good shape. 

I plan to offer coupon codes in the near future on this blog site for a discount on my Christian jewelry and rosaries for first time purchasers.  I added two more charm bracelets to my online store, both with a Christian charm.  One with a dove and the other with a cross.  Here is a sample:

Since I am just beginning my online store, I only ship to the USA at this time.  I will get more familiar with shipping to other countries and try and add a few at a time soon.

Psalm 119:105 

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Etsy Store - New Look - Pattern

Today was one of those stormy days in Central Florida with a potential tropical storm overhead.  So, I decided to try my hand at the new program within Etsy called Pattern.  It allows you to set up a website within the Etsy platform with your own domain name, if you prefer.  I recently purchased the domain name LetOurLightShine.us and so I set up the 30 free trial of Pattern within my shop and LOVE IT! Please check it out and see how different it looks.  I now direct my Etsy store to my own domain name - http://www.letourlightshine.us   (Very pleased!)

In addition to updating my website, I also added another bracelet to my store.  The bracelet is made using the rosary "unbreakable" wire wrap pattern and I made it using gold brass with silver colored accents.  I, personally, like the mixture of metals within my bracelets.  All of my bracelets have a Christian charm and this one has a silver colored cross.  I also use vintage beads because I love the way they look.  Here is a photo below of my newest bracelet:

I never use animal products in my designs because I am a Christian vegan.  I love animals and nature! Everything is made in my smoke-free home.  

Have a great evening!
God Bless....
Jen 

NEW - Bracelets - Christian Gifts - Handmade - Vintage Crystals - Swarovski

Today, as promised, I added two new items into my Etsy shop.  Two beautiful bracelets which are made with the "unbreakable" rosary chain design; wire wrapped by me using Swarovski vintage crystal beads. I am super proud of both of these bracelets.  The clasps are also handmade and easy to use. 

Using a keychain style jumpring, I added a cross charm to each.  Any other charm could be added to this jumpring or others could be added. The blue bracelet also has a handmade charm with a Swarovski bead which is a permanent charm and woven into the design.  I am excited about my new additions to my Etsy store.

***SOLD***

https://www.etsy.com/listing/478134863/bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads

***SOLD***

https://www.etsy.com/listing/478132935/bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads

Originally, I only had rosaries and chaplets in my store but I know that sometimes people are looking for additional Christian gifts and so I designed the bracelets.  I love the rosaries with this "unbreakable" wire pattern and thought how beautiful they would be in a bracelet.  I hope you agree.  God Bless!  Jen

Pslam 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Prayer in Troubled Times & A New Item in my Etsy Store

Tomorrow is the 15th anniversary of 9/11.  You can't help but think about how lives were changed in moments, never to be the same again.  My heart breaks as I listen to the stories from that day in 2001 and know the heartache that will never go away for so many families and loved ones.

Yesterday, I watched a red-tailed hawk swoop down into my back yard and pick up a beautiful dove that I had been feeding at my bird feeders for weeks.  It was enjoying the sun and picking up fallen seeds. It's life was gone in an instant.  I was not happy to have witnessed this part of nature, but felt like I witnessed it for a reason. When I think about tragedy or loss of life, all life, I am again sure of how important prayer is in our daily lives.  

Last night, I looked for an app to begin a prayer journal.  There were all kinds of apps for prayer journals... one that you could share your prayer requests all over the world.  Others, like the one I chose, was to create a list of prayers that you alone would monitor and remember to pray for each day.  I like the fact that you can list your prayer requests and at times be able to see how your prayers were answered.  I know that won't always be the case but sometimes it will be possible.  Most of the time, I pray for ongoing requests that include health and safety for all of those that I love. There have been occasions where I have prayed in life threatening situations and the person made it through to continue their life. He doesn't always answer as we choose but I believe He always hears us and knows the desires of our heart.  

On a lighter note, in a few days, I'm going to share a new item in my Etsy store.  I look forward to sharing these newly designed items with you. 

Celtic Crucifix Rosary - Free Catholic App - Laudate

For those of you who would like to have a wonderful resource on your phone or mobile device, I have found a great one for you.  It is called Laudate and is available for Android and iPhone. I also installed it through Amazon for my Kindle Fire - free.

It has many resources such as prayers, New American Bible, Saint of the Day, Pray-As-You-Go and many others but the one in particular that I wanted to share is saying the Rosary.  It gives you many choices; which includes the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  For those of us who have not been a Catholic, all our lives, this app gives you many resources at your fingertips. The best part is that it is all in one place.

I'm sharing the One Decade Rosary that I finished and posted in my Etsy store earlier today, as I first mentioned in my post yesterday.  The beads are vintage Swarovski and I wire wrapped the chain with brass artistic wire 20 gauge.  This wrap is known as "unbreakable" with normal use.  I love this combination of wire and beads.  Many prayers will be said on this beautiful rosary.

Rosary - Handmade - Catholic Gifts - Green - One Decade Rosary- Vintage Swarovski Beads - Celtic Cross - Unbreakable Rosary

Celtic Chant Music before Prayers

When I was listening to Pray-As-You-Go last night before praying, the music for that day really touched me and prepared my soul for prayer. It was calming and asked you to turn all your burdens over the God. I wanted to share it with you. Come Be With Me

It is a Celtic style chant by Keith Duke. The lyrics are:

Come, be with me

All you who carry heavy burdens;

I will give you rest,

I will give you rest.

I am currently working on a Celtic cross one decade rosary, which I hope to post tomorrow. The traditional five decade rosary shown below is made with Vintage Swarovski® crystal AB, 8mm faceted chessboard round (5005) beads. It is strikingly beautiful! The color in the beads are amazing! I am proud of my rosaries. The beads are heirloom quality.

Please take a moment and listen to the chant above and let your soul feel at peace before you begin your prayers.....  

Rosary - Handmade - Catholic Gifts - Celtic Cross - Multifaceted Chess Iridescent Vintage Beads - Five Decade Rosary

Fifty's Jewelry, Now an Heirloom Rosary

When I began collecting jewelry in the 80s and 90s, it was because I loved beads.  Beads of every color, but particularly crystal beads.  My mom always loved jewelry and had boxes of bead necklaces given to her by my dad in the 50s and 60s and earlier.  We would look through these boxes together and talk about one, then another.  I know it was her love of jewelry that encouraged my love of beads. 

 

Rosary - Handmade - Catholic Gifts - Pink - One Decade Rosary - Vintage Pink Glass Beads - Pink Austrian Crystal Beads

The one decade rosary (above) that I finished last night and posted in my online storefront today at Etsy (LetOurLightShine) was one of those beautiful beads, transformed from a 50s necklace into this beautiful rosary.  Most of the glass and crystal beads during that period was Swarovski, Czech or Bohemian, Murano or Venetian, and West German.  This rosary combines the beautiful pink glass beads and Swarovski pink bicone and round beads.  Unfortunately, once these glass beads are gone, they are difficult to find.  

I am thankful that I collected beads because I love making rosaries and the design combinations are endless.  

The thing that stands out in my mind the most is that jewelry styles come and go but rosary beads are a link between you and your prayers and many are passed down through generations. I hope that the rosary and chaplets I design become a meaningful part of someone's prayer life and are heirlooms that they or a loved one will treasure forever.  

Rosaries - Extra Strong

Making rosaries is something you do from your heart.  For me, it is more of a calling than a business.  However, you have to pay for your supplies so that is where the "business" facet comes in.  My goal is to sell enough rosaries to buy more supplies and continue to create these beautiful building blocks to prayer.  As a retired teacher, I'm not trying to make a living with my rosaries.  I hope to let a little light shine through each one.  

Strong rosaries aren't something that everyone looks for in a rosary. A rosary can be delicate looking, yet strong.  That is what I've learned about making some of my rosaries with stainless steel wire.  The reason I know this wire is the strongest is because when I make a rosary out of 20 gauge stainless steel wire, the proof is on my hands.  Due to the strength of the wire and the strength you need to turn the wire into the loops you need in your rosary, you create a callus on several places within your hands.  When I first started making stainless steel rosaries, I noticed that my hands were no longer smooth on the inside.  I decided it was proof that these rosaries are extra strong. 

An example of a stainless steel rosary that I have in my shop is below.  Under normal use, it would be next to impossible to break the wire on this rosary.  

The beads that I use are vintage beads because I like the fact that they are difficult to find and it makes my rosaries unique.  Each of us, that make rosaries, try and make our own set of characteristics that make our store stand out.  For me, the vintage beads make each rosary or chaplet so much fun to make and an heirloom treasure.  

Matthew 5:16
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Rosary - Handmade - Catholic Gifts - Red - Crystal Vintage Beads - Swarovski beads - Miraculous Medal Centerpiece - Made in USA - Gifts