Wishing all a very Happy 2013 ahead!!!

I am looking forward to a brand new year.

Haven't made any new jewellery or been active on my blog since I twisted my knee and fell at home at the end of November. Been using crutches ever since :-(.  Will be having an operation to get it fixed at some point early next year.....

But, somehow in this time of inactivity, my shop has had its first international sales and has made me so proud of my creative work especially with the feedbacks I have received....  I'm thinking it can only get better in 2013!!! :-)

Got an ebenk professional digital studio kit for Christmas, so can stop putting off building myself a light box phew!!! This hopefully would translate to better and brighter shop photographs in the new year.

Here are some useful business articles I came across recently..

Creating a white background inside a cardboard box

12 biggest mistakes jewellery designers make in business

Top 10 Ways to Use Pinterest for Business

6 Tips for Being More Visual With Social Media (Infographic)

See you all in the new year! 

Shop Christmas Offer

*********************************************************************************

Jewellery By Nneka is having a UK-Only free shipping Christmas Offer from now till the 20th of December 2012. Just use the coupon code NEWCUSTOMERXMASOFFER at checkout!

Thanks :-)

*********************************************************************************

That very first proper sale!!!

Waking up to an email notification of sale, O what a feeling!

Still working on tips I gathered for search engine optimization and getting brighter photos (not got round to the light box business yet) but it's good to know people other than family and friends actually like what I make. Not quitting my day time job just yet though :-D.

The etsy community (teams and forums) have been very helpful in offering advice, tips and critique.

It's all good!!!

Below are some of the items I listed in my shop today:

Gemstone Earrings in Genuine Red Stripe Agate Puffy Coin Beads

Gemstone Earrings in Genuine Green Chalcopyrite Donut Shaped Beads 

Funky Drop Earrings in Silver and Purple Aluminium Textured Twisted Cable Chain 

Pinterest-ing...

In my quest to make a success of my etsy shop I came across pinterest which I have found a little bit addictive hmmm.(pinning and repinning) I think it's because of the visual effects. Rather than pages full of texts you are drawn to images of what people find interesting. A few similarities to twitter and facebook in that you have followers and could get followed, also have 'likes' to your pins.

Check mine out http://pinterest.com/jewelrybynneka/

It might not generate sales immediately but it sure does get you/your shop more exposure. Within a few hours of joining , according to my etsy shop stats, I had a shop view from pinterest , I'm thinking that is an extra traffic source if nothing else.

It's, I suppose more about expressing yourself  ;your style, likes, future projects, wish lists, etc; and sharing these with others.

LightBox

I came across this fantastic blog detailing how to create a lightbox.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html

For a cohesive shop look and that fabulous all white professional background which brings out the beauty of jewellery pieces...can't wait to build one of those and update the photographs in my shop....watch this space.!

Latest makes...earrings.

Fancy Jasper Earrings

Green Quartzite Earrings

Midnight Blue Goldstone Earrings

Sage Amethyst Earrings

My first etsy treasuries

Delicious looking items in the Yum Yum!!! list.

and

A list inspired by sweet thoughts of my baby girl due next february My fair baby girl