Denise Sachs-Mishalanie- A Local Woman of Style & Substance April 9, 2008

I talked with my friend Denise Sachs- Mishalanie today and she’s got some great ideas going.  I am so excited to tell you about her work.  Not only does she have a part-time “serious” job, but she creates lampwork beads at her home studio several days a week, and does trunk shows at local bead shops.  Would you like to see her work?  I thought you might ask.  Either view her beautiful creations in person at Emmi Beads in Clinton, or Market Beads in Liverpool, NY.  She will be launching her own Etsy shop soon, so keep your eyes peeled for an update.  Thanks!

 

Self-Employment and the Modern Woman March 31, 2008

Being your own boss.  Just that phrase is enough to elicit sighs of fantasy from most 9-to-fivers.  It’s a dream that many people have, and some are able to make it happen.  Many people ask me how I went about becoming self-employed, so here are the steps I followed (of course, your path may be different).

1.) I learned many entrepreneurial skills from my mother, who was a Mary Kay Consultant for years in the 80’s - oh, yeah, pink everything!  She was also in Tupperware, Longaberger Baskets, Home Interiors, Partylite and Salleyeander Soaps.

2.) I became a Mary Kay consultant during college, which helped me pay for school and learn the basics of running my own business.  But I made a LOT of mistakes.

3.) I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art.

4.) I toiled in temp Administrative Assistant positions for four years after college.  I did learn more about being ridiculously organized, lots of computer and internet skills, and how to (prepare yourself for the cliche!) deal with difficult people.

5.) I began making jewelry on the side for fun after finding that painting portraits was simply not going to pay the bills.

6.) After realizing that the people in management at my last position were seriously ethically lacking, I decided that the time was right to leave, and launch my jewelry business full time.  This was also 6 months before my wedding!&

7.) I married my wonderful husband, who was very supportive of my decision to leave the old company and throw myself into jewelry making for real.  He has a full-time job, health insurance and 401k.  For those of you who are more brave, by all means, don’t let these things stop you from launching your business, but do seriously consider their importance, and estimate the costs you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket once you’re self-employed.

8.) I have slowly and steadily grown my business by maintaining and updating my shop-online website (new collections on a quarterly basis!), building pages on MySpace and Facebook, an Etsy.com shop, posting to this blog, and more.  In addition to online marketing techniques, having a small business is also about the personal connection.  I give out business cards constantly, donate jewelry to silent auctions, give a percentage back to charity at almost every show, offer host credit, and more.

Those are the steps! It’s not easy being self-employed.  In fact, don’t even bother if you aren’t willing to work half again as hard as you are in your cozy office job!  It’s not for the faint of heart, and you absolutely must have a supportive partner who is willing to go along for the ride.   If you are serious about getting your business underway, the first step (in New York State) is to check the Small Business guide on  the NYS tax website, sales tax info, and register your name with your local County Clerk and pay the small fee.  Also, check out the NY Loves Small Biz website, which has a lot of resources and information.  I hope this information has been useful to you.  Please feel free to contact me via my website,www.danasaylordesigns.com and send me any other questions you may have.

Welcome to my new home! March 31, 2008

I’m now blogging here at WordPress.com, where I can take advantage of additional features and options that my old blog didn’t have.  Be sure to check out my Blogroll (which does include a couple of regular ol’ websites) and read through my previous posts.  Thanks for visiting my blog.  Please subscribe and you’ll be the avant garde of Dana Saylor Designs knowledge!

Bold & Graphic March 21, 2008

I have been creating new items for my Summer 2008 collection (I know, what’s summer?). I’ve decided to call the collection “Bold & Graphic”. Right now, the bright colors of the 80’s - agh! - have snuck back into the stores, but also, interestingly enough, they have been combined with graphic prints and geometric shapes reminiscent of the Art Deco period. Art Deco just happens to be my very favorite historical period; I love the fact that women were beginning to define their own freedoms, I love the architecture, and of course, the jewelry. You, my lucky blog reader, are about to get a sneak peek at a few pieces from the new collection…prepare yourself mentally.

Women of Style & Substance March 5, 2008

I am launching an exciting new feature today- Women of Style & Substance will pick up where the fashion magazines leave off- we’ll learn more about women that I respect and admire, and you will too. They’re stylish, sharp and smart, and they’re just what we need more of these days! Sometimes, I’ll feature a celebrity, like Natalie Maines for my first edition. Other times, you’ll get the story on a local woman making her mark. Stay tuned for some great photos and great stories! Now…Natalie MainesShe’s from Lubbock, Texas, age 33, and as you can see, she is a woman of many styles…and haircolors! Just like me. *Sigh*. She turned the Dixie Chicks into an international hit-producing group when she joined them as the frontwoman. She co-writes many of their songs, and they became especially personal on their latest album, “Taking the Long Way”. Her comments about George Bush while at a UK performance caused an uproar among conservative fans in the States, many of whom began boycotting the group and destroying their CDs. However, these events turned into a positive experience for Maines and the “Chicks” because their music began to take on a more personal tone, and Natalie has considered it a form of therapy. Their audience has shifted, and the publicity introduced many new listeners to their sound, who might have dismissed them as “country” before. They have become genuine crossover hits with their Grammy winning album.Natalie has been selected as the “Woman of Style and Substance” for this edition because she stood up for what she believed in, even when it was unpopular. To do so, and to be in a very public role, must be incredibly difficult. She handled the controversy with grace and guts, and I applaud her. She seems to have gained more self-confidence since “The Incident”, and her unique beauty and style are magnified. You go, girl!Check out the Dixie Chicks’ website: www.dixiechicks.comPhotos from IMDB.com and WireImage.com

New Life for Old Jewelry February 22, 2008

I have been asked since I began making jewelry, “Can you fix my old broken necklace?”, or “What can I do with these loose beads that have been in my jewelry box forever?” And I have responded by evaluating the piece, or the beads, and basically giving a consultation on how it can be remade or revamped. Since this seems to be in high demand, and everyone has an old broken necklace lying around, I am now offering it as one of my main services.Dana Saylor Designs will now offer a Jewelry Clinic whenever there is a trunk show or event in public. I may even just have an open night where it is the main event. In order to gauge interest, I will be sending out an email to my customer base. Please let me know whether you need something worked on! I am willing to incorporate old (including antique) pieces into new designs, restring a necklace, or fix basic problems. I am unable to solder or weld, or reset stones, but most any other issue can be addressed. Check out my website for more details at: www.danasaylordesigns.com . Thanks!

How Do You Say That Again? February 8, 2008

Greetings, friends. I have been back on Etsy.com, the place to buy and sell all things handmade. Last July, I posted about 15 pieces of my jewelry on their site (each vendor has a little “store”) and tried to sell, but nothing moved. I have decided, after much research and obsession, to try again. I think I need to be more persistent, and utilize all the marketing and networking tools that Etsy offers its vendors. I posted about 35 items in my store there the other day, and bought a space in the Wedding Showcase for tomorrow, Saturday February 9th. Check it out at:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5098029Etsy has an amazing community of thousands of artisans and crafters who are talented and passionate. Check out the “hand-picked items” on the main page, as well as the scrolling thumbnails at the bottom, showing just-listed items.I love to see creativity at work! Support handmade! Thanks….

Shows Galore! January 28, 2008

I have been a busy bee, booking jewelry trunk shows at area workplaces, as well as several home parties. I love to do shows because it gives me a chance to showcase my work and meet all sorts of people. Come by and see me when I’m at your work, or book a home party and get free host credit! Here’s a list of where I’ll be:Friday, February 1st: St. Luke Health Services, Oswego (10:30am-3pm)Monday, February 11th: MetLife in Oriskany (9:30am-3pm)Wednesday, April 2nd: Heritage Healthcare in Utica (9am-2pm)Monday, May 5th: St. Luke’s Home in Utica (8am-3pm)Wednesday, June 11th: Blue Cross in Utica Business Park (9am-2:30pm)

What’s next? December 29, 2007

Ok, so now that we are all breathing a sigh of relief since the holidays are (pretty much) over, what’s next? My little brain has been pondering that since early December, in fact! For Dana Saylor Designs, what’s next is my collection for Valentine’s Day called “Transcendent Love” - thanks to my best friend Leia for the name idea. It will be a brand new jewelry line with the traditional red and pink, hearts, etc…BUT it will also include rainbow jewelry that celebrates love in the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered) communities. I wanted to do something that was inclusive and supports social equality. If you are interested in seeing the line, I am planning several shows at the beginning of February just in time for the day of romance! Check it out once it’s launched on www.danasaylordesigns.com - should be done by mid- January. These photos show some of the beads I will be using in my designs. Thanks, all for your support and interest.

It’s All Happening So Fast! October 19, 2007

When I started preparing back in August for the Rome Art & Community Center’s annual Holiday House, I thought, “I have plenty of time! I have three months till November to get jewelry ready, create a whole new tagging system, and come up with an innovative display strategy!” RIGHT! Now with a week and two days left before we leave for Italy, I am on full panic mode. Never fear, though- it all will get done. And with the help of my good friend Michele from My Pet Sitter (mypetsitter@hotmail.com !!), the show will be set up on my behalf while I’m gone. I admit, I’m a little OCD and it will be different to have someone else setting up my jewelry, but we’re going to have a dry run next week and I’m sure she’ll do great!On another note, the plans for my Holiday Artisan Showcase at the Stanley Theater are going very well! I am finalizing the menu with my Gourmet Food Tasting vendor, planning ads and marketing, and receiving vendor applications every day! Very exciting. I have gotten such a positive response on my event; it’s as if people were just waiting for it to be invented. Yay!So have a great weekend, and remember, I’ll be on vacation from October 29th-November 7th, so if I don’t respond to your emails, I’m not ignoring you! I’m just ignoring work for a little while.