CheapTweet Blog

We’re excited to announce the newest CheapTweet Store – Jewelry Discount House.

Just in time for all the big spring and summer gift-giving holidays (Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings, showers, birthdays), our newest store is the perfect place to find beautiful jewelry at great prices. If you’re looking for earrings, engagement rings, watches, birthstone jewelry, gifts for children or any other jewelry item, then you should take a look at Jewelry Discount House. Plus, they offer free shipping on all orders and free sizing on all rings.

So, check out the new Jewelry Discount House CheapTweet Store and be sure you follow them on Twitter.

In CheapTweet Happy Hour #3, we discuss National Wear Red Day, Valentine’s Day, and the Super Bowl. We’ve got lots of great deals to tell you about this week, so sit back, relax, and just enjoy the fact that it’s Friday!

Links to the deals we talk about are posted below the video.

• Wear red, save 20% at Macy’s
• Some of our favorite jewelry designers on Etsy:
  • Naked-Jewelry
  • Sterling Roses Design
  • Lilly Queen
• Free two-day shipping on Kindle from Amazon
• Free bowling from Brunswick
• Super Bowl baby booties from Curious Workmanship
• Deals on new HDTVs

This week we talked to Suzanne, a designer of handmade jewelry made from vintage materials and owner of threepeats Jewelry. Suzanne is a public high school dance teacher in New York City, where she has lived her entire life. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, her blog and in her Etsy shop.

How did you get started making jewelry?

I have always collected vintage jewelry, admiring its workmanship and materials. But two summers ago, I realized that I wasn’t wearing any of it… it was too heavy or too fragile or too tacky! I was about to start selling it on eBay when I came across some broken pieces and I decided to see if I could take them apart and put them back together again in a way that would make them wearable.  I came up with a basic necklace design of three bead sections interspersed with three chain sections in one, long, continuous, claspless collage. I started wearing the necklaces and getting compliments. I started giving them as gifts and got more compliments. I have always been a buyer of handmade and vintage things, most recently on Etsy, so that was where I set up my online shop. I called it threepeats because the necklaces were three sections of repeated (recycled) vintage beads and chains! I recently branched into earrings at my customers’ request (it’s a great way to use up tiny amounts of leftover materials!).

Tell us a little bit about your jewelry. What sorts of pieces do you specialize in?

I make long, light, easy-to-wear, affordable necklaces and earrings from recycled vintage beads, chain, ribbon and lace. Each piece is UNIQUE! I’m not a fan of matching, symmetrical things – so my jewelry is eclectic in both the materials used and design.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Sometimes I am inspired by the vintage materials themselves and their colors, but I am also inspired by places I have traveled to and even sometimes specific people, like Bette Davis and Rachel Maddow.

How do you market or promote your work?

I am part of two great teams on Etsy, the Etsy Twitter Team and the Retro Handmade Team, and we all cross-promote each other. I blog, am on Twitter, run sales and promotions, and do giveaways.

How do you use Twitter to help with your jewelry-making and your business?

The Etsy Twitter Team is very active. We constantly tweet and retweet each others’ work and promotions. I notify CheapTweet whenever I am running a sale in my store and I like reading tweets from “regular” people to keep me informed about fashion trends.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started selling her/his own work?

As difficult as it may be, especially for some people, you can’t just sit back and wait for people to discover you and your work… You need to promote (yes, sell) yourself in as many different ways as you can. Figure in an advertising budget, even if it’s small, when you set up shop online.

This week, we talked to Camille Jackson, sole proprietor of Diamonds and Guns by Action Jackson.

Camille is originally from Houston, Texas, but has lived in Austin for five years and proudly deems herself an Austinite. She graduated from UT Austin in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in government and Spanish. And though she doesn’t have a degree in design or any of the arts, she’s had the creative juices flowing since she was very young. She’s had a musical instrument in her hands since she was nine. Since graduating, she devoted most of her free time to developing her jewelry business, Diamonds and Guns by Action Jackson, as well as writing and recording music for guitar, bass, and vocals (she hasn’t had the time to master drums quite yet). You can find Camille on her blog, on Twitter and in her Etsy shop.

How did you get started making jewelry?

Fashion and clothing has been a very integral part of my life since I can remember. Growing up, my mom made a lot of my clothes and always took me fabric shopping with her. I distinctly recall having to touch every single piece of fabric that I walked by, from the rich velvety deep blues to the vibrant pink and green Pucci/art deco mod pieces, and always being in awe of the multitude of colors and patterns that were available.

When I was about ten, I took up jewelry-making at the persuasion of some of my friends who were really into it,and after finding I was into it too, I realized they were on to something. My mom, who’s always been a huge supporter of mine and who’s always encouraged me to flex my creative muscles, bought me a case of really nice beads from our local bead shop around that time. I’m sad to say that my time spent making jewelry and beaded crafts for my friends and family didn’t last for too long after that. However, my love for fashion has persisted through the years and at some point in college, I found myself wishing I could make something as beautiful as the pieces on the pages of my favorite fashion mags. What sprouted from that was creating custom hand-painted canvas shoes and bags for my friends and eventually coming full circle to making jewelry again, which in a weird way has been somewhat bittersweet for me. Diamonds and Guns has been growing ever since.

Tell us a little bit about your jewelry.What sorts of pieces do you specialize in?

I love color. I think it stems from all the trips to the fabric store with my mom when I was young. In addition to that, I have an inexplicable fixation with shiny things. So, the colors incorporated in my work really run the gamut and almost every piece of jewelry that is currently available incorporates Swarovski crystals. I primarily use various plastics (cellulose, laser-cut acrylic, and lucite), polymer clay, and aluminum chains for the sole reason that these materials allow for the broadest range of color usage. My absolute favorite pieces to make are my cameo necklaces; there’s a certain sweetness and nostalgia attached to them that I really adore.  Overall, there is definitely a dichotomy within the jewelry I make, which even the company name is representative of: Diamonds and Guns. Diamonds are the finer elements like cameos, Swarovski crystals, chandelier pendants, etc…, while Guns represents the rock and roll elements of pistols, skulls, and thick-linked chains.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everything around me! I’m constantly thumbing through magazines, whether it’s the newest issue of Lucky or Austin’s very own Rare Magazine, which I always relish picking up with the start of each new month.  I love really classy vintage and retro relics and keepsakes. So everything from Audrey to vintage damask prints to steam punk aesthetics is always sure to be a worthy obsession for me. One of the most important inspirations for me is definitely music, which has always been a huge part of my life. The name, Diamonds and Guns, is also representative of this (you can tell I really thought the name through) as it is the name of a Transplants song. Whenever I’m making new pieces, I always make sure that I have music playing.  I think everything I’ve gained from constantly having music be a part of my life has bled over to what I’m able to do with my jewelry. I hope to someday buy all my favorite albums on vinyl when I have the money to do so. And who knows? Maybe the improvement in the music quality will translate to better jewelry.

How do you market or promote your work?

Ha ha. This is actually something I’ve only recently come around to realizing I need to do more of and with better techniques. On the whole, I’ve really just been trying to brave up to trying new things. I finally started selling in Austin boutiques and stores (you can find some of my work in Parts and Labour on South Congress Ave). I’ve recently signed up for more shows (to sell at) than I’ve done in the past to try and find my perfect niche, which includes Blues on the Green, Austin Roller Derby Tournaments, and Austin Fashion Week.

Someone suggested to me recently that I work more with putting myself out there for the online public community. So, I breathed a new life into my spiderweb-ridden blog last month and have been pouring in the hours on it since. In addition to my blog, I started up a flickr account so that I can provide archive slideshows of older pieces that I’ve sold for all to see. I have also been working to actively keep up with my Twitter and CheapTweet account. I think one of the keys to a successful business, especially in Austin, is word of mouth. With that in mind, I try to wear my pieces as much as possible and pass on to my friends as well as the members of the awesome Etsy Austin team what I’m up to.

How do you use Twitter to help with your jewelry-making and your business?

I make sure I’m on CheapTweet when I make pieces that are real deals and when I have sales going on in my shop. I also try to connect with my friends to let them know what I’m working on and to encourage to pass it on. Like I said before, word of mouth is completely invaluable, especially when it’s via internet, which is arguably the most relevant medium nowadays.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started selling her/his own work?

Do I ever!  Take the time to ensure the quality and image of not only your work but also the pictures you take, your business cards, and any online promoting you do (blogging, Twitter, Flickr, shop appearance, etc.).

Ask questions. You would be amazed at the plethora of helpful information and resources that are out there for your use and digestion. Several books are available on how to build up a burgeoning business. People who have owned their own business know so much more than you could imagine, and every kernel of knowledge they possess is helpful because hey, they’ve been through what you’re going through! If you’re unsure about a certain direction to take with your pieces/work, ask people their opinions. I always post the newest jewelry I’m working on on Facebook so that everyone I know can leave feedback.

If you want to sell online, do it through Etsy. So many people have found out about my work through Etsy that would have never been able to if I’d originally just started my own website for my work. I’ve even sold jewelry to people in London thanks to the amazing network Etsy provides. On a similar note, if there is an Etsy team or a crafter’s organization near you, join! So much of what I’ve learned and have done has been in huge part thanks to my amazing Etsy Austin team. They are a big reason why my business has been able to grow and why I’ve had the majority of the opportunities I’ve had thus far.

This week, we talked to Alisa Treasurefield (@treasurefield). Alisa is a jewelry designer who lives in a very small town where she’s a mom to two delightful, teen-aged boys. One of her greatest sources of pride is how they’ve grown to be creative, inventive and resourceful, as well as good-humored! Alisa designs and sells jewelry and other treasures in her Treasurefield Etsy shop. You can also find her on Flickr and on her blog.

How did you get started making jewelry and other kinds of artwork?

I guess the jewelry was just a natural progression for a girly-girl sort like me!  I also like working small, so wearable art is perfect. I started drawing at a young age, maybe following the lead of my mom who is talented and artistic with many media, especially sewing and crochet.  My dad has always had a knack for wood projects and building.  I suspect a little of both my parents rubbed off on me.

Tell us a little bit about your artwork. What sorts of pieces do you specialize in?

For the past few years I’ve specialized in polymer clay jewelry.  I call my pieces “sculptural” because I often start with a lump of clay and just see what it becomes. I also do a lot of sketching that I later turn into jewelry. Lately, I’m getting back to the drawing and painting, and trying my hand at sewing and fabric art. I like to be challenged, so I try new things.  Hopefully, that keeps me and my art from becoming too boring.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Like so many other artists, nature is a huge source.  I’m also inspired by other art out there; whether ancient art or architecture, poetry, literature, my kids’ creations, or the things contemporary artists are doing.  I like to see how these ideas can morph under the influence of my mind and hands. Also, my imagination flows like a river when I close my eyes at night, but I’m not sure where THAT comes from!

How do you market or promote your work?

Flickr and my blog are the places I “Show & Tell” about my newest creations. I’ve exchanged links with other bloggers; occasionally, I place ads on blogs and other sites.

How do you use Twitter to help with your artwork and your business?

I always announce my special sales on Twitter, and sometimes tweet about what I just made.  I’ve been known to ask for input on ideas, too. I love the community aspect of Twitter and the people I’ve gotten to know there, so I mostly use it to connect with like-minded artists and business-owners.  I’ve found them to be incredibly supportive.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started selling her/his own work?

I would strongly advise anyone who’s selling their own work to be authentic in their creations, and to be positive in the image they convey to the rest of the world.  Tap into that part of you that’s happy and enthusiastic, that very thing that causes you to be creative in the first place.  The world is hungry for that. Never be afraid to share that part of yourself!

At CheapTweet, we’re always looking for interesting sellers, retailers and artisans to showcase in our weekly interview series. If you’d like to participate, send us a note!

This week, we interviewed Theresa Cole (@michiganhemp), the owner of Michigan Hemp, an online hemp jewelry shop.

Theresa is a Michigan-based hemp jewelry designer. She is almost 33 years old, married to the man of her dreams, mom of two boys, step mom of three boys, and is pursuing her bachelor’s degree through Oregon State University’s online program.  A few of her favorite things are sunsets over water, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the smile of a child. Theresa sells hemp jewelry though her Etsy shop. You can also find her on Twitter, Zibbet and her blog.

How did you get started making jewelry and other kinds of artwork?

About six years ago, my husband and I went to an arts and crafts show where I fell in love with an adorable little hemp necklace.  I was ready to buy it until I happen to look at the price.  It was way too expensive for such a tiny, simple necklace with only wooden beads on it.  It was at that moment that I realized that I could make better items from better supplies and offer them at better prices.  On our way home from the show, we stopped at the craft store and I have been making hemp items ever since!

Tell us a little bit about your artwork. What sorts of pieces do you specialize in?

Hemp jewelry is what I would consider “my specialty”, but I also make keychains, and my favorite: “Soulful Sandals”, which are hemp barefoot sandals.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Each and every item that I make is inspired by the beads that I find.  Lampwork pendants and beads are one of my favorites, as well as natural stones.  The color and feel that the beads give off generally control the color and braid pattern of the piece.  I also try to use handmade supplies as often as possible, and my goal is to make high quality, affordable hemp jewelry so that every hemp lover in the world can purchase their favorite item without feeling guilty.

How do you market or promote your work?

The  main way that I promote my work is through the Etsy forums.  There are so many wonderful artisans on Etsy that are willing to feature your items and help you out any way they can.  I absolutely love the Etsy community!

How do you use Twitter to help with your artwork and your business?

Twitter is a wonderful tool to help get to know fellow artists and get the word out about your business at the same time.  I usually tweet at least a few times a day and have met some great people on twitter.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started selling her/his own work?

Ask lots of questions!  When I first started selling my jewelry online, I had no idea what I was doing.  Over the last five months, I have learned a tremendous amount through asking questions in the Etsy forums!  If you are wondering about ANYTHING, the people there will help you through every step!

At CheapTweet, we’re always interested in talking to people who have their own stores or sell handmade or unique items. We’re looking for sellers and retailers of all kinds. Email us if you’re interested in being interviewed for a future post.

Today’s interview is with Vera Battemarco (@getglam). Vera Battemarco was born in Brazil and grew up two blocks from the beach, so the sun, the ocean, the sand and the big open sky have always been a source of inspiration for her. She has been designing and teaching others how to make jewelry since the 1980s.  Currently, she sells both her own designs as well as re-purposed vintage pieces. You can find Vera’s jewelry in her Ruby Lane store and in her Etsy shop, and get to know Vera better through her website, her blog and on Facebook.

Tell us a little about your background.

My academic background is in Architecture and the Arts, but jewelry has always been my passion.

In the early 80s I moved to New York City and immediately felt as if I had found a new home. I worked for Lisandro Sarasola and designed jewelry for his fashion shows. He was then as famous as Carlos Falchi for his beautiful and truly inspired purses and accessories.  Once Lisandro branched out into clothing, I became his Showroom Manager. We sold over $1M of his high end ready to wear that year, a first for his label. Our clients included stores such as Bergdorf, Saks and Neiman Marcus to name a few.  It was a wonderfully fun and exciting time.

As I had a child to raise and did not want him to grow up confined to an apartment we moved to Philadelphia where I continued to work on jewelry and sell to the local boutiques. I also taught basic jewelry making. The classes were small but always packed. It was very rewarding to be able to share my knowledge which is almost entirely self taught.

Upon our return to New York City, the option to bring my business to a new level presented itself. Participating in several different wholesale shows including the JA Show, Accessories and Fame opened new doors. Met wonderful store owners and buyers including the Buyer for the Philadelphia Art Museum, who commissioned pieces, first for the Salvador Dali exhibit and more recently for the Frida Kahlo one.

We are now in a rural area near the Pocono Mountains. The unending year round beauty that surrounds me, although very different from the beaches in Rio, is nonetheless my home and the inspirational source of my new collections.  It also allowed me to revive my passion for vintage jewelry and components.  It seems that the vintage jewelry collection on my site continues to grow and expand. As most of my designs are one of a kind and cannot be reproduced I have rekindled the re-purposing of antique and vintage jewelry and findings.  Many times I will re-purpose a piece of jewelry that cannot be repaired and give it new life incorporated in a new design of my own.  The response to these is tremendous and they sell almost immediately.

How did you get started making jewelry?

My mother always had a wonderful appreciation of hand made things. She is the best seamstress I have ever known. I would always tag along to all the different classes she would take and she took as many as she could. We attended classes from knitting to oil painting. There was always something new to learn. A friend of hers taught her jewelry making and to keep me occupied she handed me pliers, beads and wire and I haven’t stopped since!  When I was 14 we walked into an accessories boutique in Rio. The owner happened to be there and admired my necklace, asking where I got it. I responded that I had made it.  She asked what else I had designed and could I bring it in for her to see. That second meeting resulted in an order for 144 necklaces which sold out in two weeks!  I knew then I had found my calling!

In addition to making and selling jewelry, what are some of the other ventures you’re involved in?

Currently I am an active member of JewelryRing and JewelryCollect, both are groups dedicated to research of Vintage Jewelry, Costume and Fine.

Tell us a little bit about your artwork.  What sorts of pieces do you specialize in and where do you get your inspiration?

Re-purposing feels so right to me now. I have done it in the past but because I now carry Vintage Jewelry on my site, I have great new sources and resources. It’s also a very strong trend in my opinion as we as a society have finally woken up to the fact we can’t just keep using up the planet as we have. With repurposing there is no waste, what would have been deemed useless some years back becomes the foundation for something totally new and unique.  I know I am not alone as the response to the collection has been tremendous.

How do you market or promote your work?

Always have professional business cards with you is the number one rule. I have my website which is optimized for search engines and acts as the HQ for online operations. I participate in forums, have two blogs (one is geared for collectors and the public at large, the other to designers and crafty people like me), Twitter, Facebook, exchanging links.  We also do art shows and even the better flea markets like GreenFlea, on Sundays at Columbus Avenue and 76th Street on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.  I started my current business there 11 years ago and many of my first clients have become wonderful friends.  Love seeing them!

How do you use Twitter to help with your artwork and your business?

Whenever a new item or design is added to the site it is tweeted, whenever we have a special promotion, I post it on CheapTweet.  Informational blog posts are also tweeted and I started a Twibe.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started selling her/his own work?

You have to be passionate about what you do, really passionate. Believe in yourself and your work. Be smart, focused and be persistent. And learn, learn, learn. As my mom always says, knowledge does not take up any space!

At CheapTweet, we love to talk to people who run their own businesses and sell things they make. If you’re interested in being interviewed for our blog, please send us an email!

Our next interview is with Jenifer Bryan (@lucybluestudio). Jenifer is an artist and designer from Austin, Texas who loves the idea of making wearable and portable pieces of art. She sells her artwork on Etsy. You can also check out her blog and find her on Twitter.

How did you get started making jewelry and other kinds of artwork?

I’ve always been a maker. My grandmother and I would spend the summers making dolls, sewing props for games and drawing on every piece of scrap paper in the house. My dad got me interested in dollhouses and bought me my first package of polymer clay. My interest in miniatures eventually morphed into jewelry making. Throw in a couple of degrees in graphic design and photography and a love of travel and you have a mishmash of experiences that had to find an outlet. I think design school gave me the hand skills I needed to be comfortable making things I felt would stand up to everyday wear and tear, so in 2006 I finally started up Lucy Blue Studio.

Tell us a little bit about your artwork.  What sorts of pieces do you specialize in?

I specialize in belt buckles but also make rings, pendants, business card cases and cuff links. Basically, I create images, either through my photography or digital illustration/collage, and use jewelry blanks as the frames for my artwork. While I have a lot of art on my walls, I prefer my art to be functional, to be able to go places, to be out in the world.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Like most artists, my inspiration comes from everything around me. I am an avid reader and sometimes the way an author words something brings a particularly vivid image to mind or evokes a certain emotion that I feel is worth capturing. I am also very inspired by my dreams and find that my subconscious is much better at processing everything that has happened that day.

How do you market or promote your work?

I try to blog on a semi-regular basis. I also have a ball on Twitter. I relist and post new work and try to wear my pieces where ever I go. I have also recently hired someone to help me focus my efforts and market my work more effectively on a local level. Sometimes I think I am too much of a fluttery artist type and need help with the practical business aspects.

How do you use Twitter to help with your artwork and your business?

I use Twitter to share any specials I am running and announce new designs. I also use it to connect to other artists and just stay connected to the creative community. Twitter has been a great tool to find out about new artists, techniques and venues to show work.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started selling her/his own work?

My advice is to just be yourself. People can sense when your work exists for the sole purpose of making money. So I advocate making things that are true to you and keep you smiling. Being genuine goes a long way. It is also very important to be a part of a community. The more people you know and are involved with, the bigger impact you can have with word of mouth. Be original and exciting and people will want to help you and tell their friends about you. Also, be professional. Keep deadlines, have exceptional customer service, stand behind your work. Pay attention to details. If you make jewelry, keep the back side as clean and finished as the front. People do look.

At CheapTweet, we love to talk to people who run their own businesses or sell things they make. If you’re interested in being interviewed for our blog, please send us an email!  And check out our other seller interviews.

Our next seller interview is with Sharon Paradiso (@seedlingstweets), who designs and sells the jewelry at  Seedlings: Jewelry Because.  Sharon says she designs and creates jewelry as an escape. She’s been involved in website design and creation since the mid-1990s, after getting a degree in music composition. You can find her jewelry on her Seedlings Jewelry website and on Etsy. She also has a blog and is on Twitter.

How did you get started making jewelry?

I started making jewelry for myself because I was interested in the process and thought I could do a comparable (or better) job than what I saw at retail stores. When people started asking me where I bought my jewelry and I was wearing pieces I made, I would usually just give them what I was wearing or make them a pair. Friends and family started insisting on paying me and Seedlings was born.

Tell us a little bit about your jewelry.  What sorts of pieces do you specialize in?

I feel like a kid with too much candy at the moment, so many ideas and all of them begging to be created! However, I’m drawn to silver and copper, pearls, shells, glass (love me some sea glass and recycled glass such as krobo beads from Ghana), and amber. I love making custom pieces from random ideas too and get a lot of requests to just ‘whip up something in orange.’

I adore earrings and that has been my focus for awhile but the challenge of bracelets, necklaces and more is just too strong of a lure. This month I’m rolling out rings, stitch markers, maybe a tiara…who knows! I also recently did a custom order for a wedding that was a fun project so I plan on expanding specific designs for brides.

Beyond learning about as much as I can for materials and techniques — including metalsmithing, chainmaille, lampworking — my goals include using recycled metals, fair trade or ethically sourced materials, and using less toxic chemicals for my processes (more important now that I’m getting into metalsmithing).

Where do you get your inspiration?

Typically it will start with a particular material such as some cool amber beads I found recently that look like little tree trunks. My brain will noodle on different ideas and I’ll either sketch out what I want to try or I’ll attempt it with craft wire first. Sometimes it will be the reverse i.e. the ‘make me something in orange’ request so I’ll start piecing together what I have on hand to see if anything just jumps out at me.

I’ve found that usually what I think is really cool, I’m the only one who does! It’s always my happy accidents that are popular with everyone else (like Peas and Carrot earrings). So I try to just let ideas flow out of my brain and not worry about what will happen.

How do you market or promote your store?

Everywhere and in every way imaginable! I have a huge network of family and friends that help with that too by passing along information about the website, passing out cards, and wearing my jewelry. I try to thank them as much as possible with test pairs (plus having a group of folks who give honest feedback is fantastic).

Social network sites such as Facebook have been great to stay in touch with customers and I use that plus a monthly e-mail newsletter to let them know about special sales or promotions ahead of the rest of the world.

I recently joined an Etsy street team, Team NorGa, that has been amazingly supportive and helpful in a variety of ways. Working with other folks who are going through the same things as myself and learning from their experiences or being inspired by their words is invaluable.

How do you use Twitter to help with your jewelry-making and your business?

At first I was very skeptical of how Twitter would be helpful or even interesting. I remember had a long conversation with my mom where I told her straight up I would never use Twitter…oh how that makes me giggle now. To be sure, it still seems a bit raw in how a lot of folks use it and for those people who are just, ‘here’s my ad, buy this, buy more, oh and this too,’ hopefully they quickly learn that is not the way to do things.

I primarily use Twitter to meet other crafty folks, get exposed to what they are doing, and just generally be helpful and share what I’m doing. The neat side effect is that it has had an impact on my business. I am just myself and typically pretty silly but I’m having fun! I do post links to what I’m working on and when I have new designs up, when I have weekend specials, that sort of thing.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started with her/his own store?

Find an active street team or guild based in your area or around your focus (such as eco-friendly) as it can really make a difference. You won’t feel like you are stabbing in the dark on so many things!

Set aside specific time to focus on your craft and separate it from the business end of things. When you find yourself more worried about your blog rather than your latest designs, it’s time to rethink.

Hopefully you are in a position where you don’t have to worry about sales, so don’t. Take the time to get your shop set up with good information, good photos, a consistent brand or design, and then get busy — take the plunge!

Talk to as many people as you can about their experiences and listen to what they have to offer for advice. Be friendly and helpful in return when you meet people who are going through the same as you. Give back as much as you can either monetarily (to your favorite cause — mine is Heifer International) or by sharing what you know, which includes tutorials or by featuring your favorite artisan’s work.

At CheapTweet, we love to talk to people who run their own businesses and sell things they make. If you’re interested in being interviewed for our blog, please send us an email!

Today marks the beginning of another CheapTweet blog feature – a weekly interview with a local or independent seller or small business owner.  We’re always looking for new people to interview, so let us know if you’d like to participate!

Our first interview is with Tracy Owens Chasteen (also know as @polishedtwo on Twitter). Tracy designs one-of-a-kind pottery shard jewelry, vintage-inspired earrings, and whimsical accessories in her Austin, Texas studio and sells these affordable handmade items through her online Etsy shop at http://polishedtwo.etsy.com.  You can also find her on Flickr and MySpace and see all of Tracy’s deals on CheapTweet.

1. How did you get started making and selling jewelry?

I started making jewelry about 10 years ago. I had been doing crafts ever since I can remember so it was just a matter of time before I got my hands on some beading projects. I tend to see interesting things in boutiques and think “I can make that!” I started out stringing beads on elastic just to make colorful stretch bracelets, but I had my eye on bigger and better projects. I really wanted to make chunky necklaces with big, bold pendants. I did some research on materials, read a lot of beading magazines and tutorials, and took an instructional class led by a jewelry-making friend. Meanwhile, I amassed large quantities of beads in every shape and color!

In the past decade, I’ve made thousands of pieces of jewelry. Selling these creations was just a natural extension of my hobby since I couldn’t possibly keep everything I made. My online shop opened less than three years ago when I realized I needed a venue that would accommodate my busy schedule with the added flexibility to sell worldwide. I still show off my creations to my family and friends and always hope they’ll buy from me, but my Etsy shop offers greater selling potential.

2. Tell us a little bit about your jewelry. What sorts of pieces do you specialize in?

I call my jewelry colorful and eclectic—with a bit of whimsy—but I really specialize in statement pieces. I’m a big fan of chunky, bold necklaces and love using large, colorful pendants as a focal point. I was drawn to Ming Dynasty pottery shards when I saw them on truly unique necklaces in a local boutique years ago. The necklaces were exceptional pieces that were out of my price range, but my “I can make that!” mindset set me on the path to make my own jewelry. I love to work with these colorful porcelain pieces because I can lay them in a pile of bead strands and see the designs emerge. Other designs come out of my own needs—like wanting to have a different pair of earrings for any outfit in my closet—or thinking of ways to recycle vintage pieces and parts from abandoned or long-lost jewelry collections that have been hidden away in a drawer for decades.

3. Where do you get your inspiration?

I’m often inspired by shopping trips, especially a long day at a big flea market. I have to bring a notebook with me! I’ll see lots of great vintage materials and find inspiration in their history. I have to jot things down so I’ll remember how I want to use them when I get back to my studio. I love working with vintage buttons and jewelry parts – giving them new life in a modern piece of jewelry. The quality of vintage materials makes them great for recycling into new designs. I really like to mix old and new, so I’ll combine vintage parts with new materials to get my latest inspired designs. I also get inspired by the chaos of life. Some of my best necklace designs have sprung from a wild mix of orphan beads on my desk after a long, busy week when I haven’t put everything away. It may look like a mess to someone else, but I tend to find the most interesting and unexpected color combinations in an intermingling, wild pile of beads!

4. How do you market or promote your store?

My best promotional tools are new designs and great customer service. I find that personally thanking each customer, offering quick and affordable shipping, and making sure I always have something new in my shop has kept my customers coming back. To get the word out and attract new customers, I generally rely on social networking resources to promote my store. They’re free to use, so I am able to keep my designs affordable by not having a big marketing and advertising budget. I do this by being active on the Facebook, MySpace, and Flickr communities.

5. How do you use Twitter to help with your jewelry-making and your business?

Twitter has been an amazing resource for my business as a whole by opening up a new community of networking. Twitter offers immediate information without filling anyone’s email account. I use Twitter to show off my new Etsy listings as I add them to my shop—and also to give a sense of my personality. I let people know what I’m up to and how my day is occupied, even when I’m not making jewelry. Before I discovered Twitter, I had opened up a traditional blog site, but I never felt like I was interesting enough or had enough time to write compelling content when I really just wanted to be making jewelry. Twitter is great because I can always answer the question “What are you doing?” and keep it short. I can make a quick connection with my network—posting what I’m doing and reading a few posts to see what others are Tweeting about—then run off and make something!

6. Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting started with her/his own store?

My number one piece of advice would be “Do what you love!” I say this because when you open your own store, you are going to work at it more hours than you ever imagined. This is true with starting any business of your own. But if you love it, you can put your time in and personally feel the rewards of doing something that makes you happy. One other piece of advice would be to gain a true understanding of your target market and what speaks to them. If you want to sell what you have in your store, you have to be where your customers are. People who appreciate handmade are shopping on Etsy, so that’s where you’ll find me. And handmade buyers are active and vocal all over Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter—so when I’m not working/making jewelry, I’m interacting in those communities as an extension of my store. Be active in the communities where you find your shoppers and become a part of their networks. People like to buy from people they know, so making these connections is an important part of successful selling.

At CheapTweet, we love to talk to people who run their own businesses and sell things they make. If you’re interested in being interviewed for our blog, please send us an email!