April/May 2007
April 2007
I'm thinking ahead to May (and not even getting a panic attack!) Why? May is the busiest month of the year for my jewelry business.
May. Not November or December, with holiday season gift buying. Not the summer months, with all the craft festivals. May.
May is Mothers' Day. May is panicky brides ordering custom jewelry for themselves or bridesmaids. (I say panicky, because the non-panicky ones have already done this.) May is equally panicked mothers of the bride, ordering THEIR jewelry for the big occasion. May is graduations. May is vacation planning, with the requisite jewelry to match new outfits.
If you know you'll need jewelry for any of the above events, think about ordering it now, while we're both still fairly sane.
If your Mothers' Day gifts always come with the apology, "I didn't know what to get you..." send your loved ones over to my websites. If they're really clueless, tell them you want a gift certificate.
And if you're one of my findings/supplies customers, think about how you can use these occasions to grow your own business.
New this month: Findings: bead crimp covers, in 2.5mm and 3mm sterling and gold filled. Are you interested in other sizes? Copper? Write me!
Birthstones
April: Diamond
May: Emerald
--- No, I don't have any of these.
As always, if you want off this newsletter list, just write me. Conversely, if you know someone whom you think would enjoy this newsletter, pass it on and tell them to write me, and I'll add their name. Your email address is never sold, traded, or used to buy off-shore lottery tickets.
Till May,
Meredith
P.S. -- for those of you who are following my illustrious writing career, I recently won 1st Prize for the February-March contest on BoomerWomenSpeak. The topic was "What Is Your Dream?" Read my essay here:
http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com/display_stories.php?item_id=1734
May
Hi All,
I know you're thinking, "Meredith, isn't May almost over??" Yeah, I noticed that too. I worked 80 hours a week for three weeks in a row -- and then it was my birthday. (Non-perishable gifts, especially large sums of money, are always welcome 
) The good news is, I had a great birthday and I'm still alive to tell about it. The other good news is, my May craft fairs were all fantastic, and my work schedule will remain at a more humane level until the fall.
The biggest news not directly related to moi is the hike in postal rates. My bubble wrap envelopes, instead of being a regular envelope that just needed an extra stamp, have now been re-defined as a package, which is an entirely new and different rate system. For small items sent within the USA, this won't make a huge difference -- 50 cents to $1 extra -- not the end of life on Planet Earth as we know it, and still cheaper than UPS. For foreign packages, however, the reclassification as "package" means a huge rate hike, starting at $20 a package for just about anything. I'll go to the Post Office again to check this out -- I last went there three days after the new rates were in effect, and none of the tellers knew much of jack anything, because their new guideline books weren't very specific on many items. If I hear otherwise, I'll include it in the June newsletter. In the mean time, I'll research UPS again for overseas delivery.
I have some finished jewelry using moonstone, but not loose beads.
PEARL a soothing balancer of emotions.
I sell both pearl strands and beads (for re-stringing) and many finished jewelry pieces utilizing pearls.
Until June,
Meredith
As per usual, if you want off the mailing list -- just ask. Your email address is never rented, sold, or in any way given to a third party. If you've been inundated with offers for $1,000 gift cards for Victoria's Secret -- I swear that wasn't me! And if you know someone whom you think would like to receive this newsletter, forward it to them and tell them to opt-in by a simple Reply -- "add me" email.
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