Over 70% Off Hundreds of Items + Great News!

RELAUNCH CLEARANCE!!! For those of you who've been with us for a while know that back in March we had to take a forced semi-hiatus due to unfortunate personal circumstances.  While we were devastated to do so, we took advantage of the situation to work behind the scenes on revamping our brand to be even better for you.  New supplies, new labeling, new packaging. Now, we are ecstatic to announce that our personal circumstances have changed and we can start working towards acquiring a new place for our small handmade business!  We're beyond stoked to reveal and relaunch.  However, in order for that to happen, we first need to find new homes for all of our wonderful "old" inventory that doesn't fit the new look so we can start with a fresh clean slate of consistency. Over 70% Off Hundreds of Items We have posted items for sale on both Etsy and Facebook!  Several hundred items have been posted between the two, but HURRY because these goodies have been going quickly!  Products are priced at an unbelievable 70+% off, meaning price points between $5 and $7.50!  It is our way of saying THANK YOU for being so supporting during our semi-hiatus. FULL DISCLOSURE:  We keep samples of our products on hand to continuously monitor for quality control.  We were heartbroken to discover recently that a couple of our nail polish pendants had turned yellow, particularly ones with white or sky blue.  We believe we've identified the problem as our handmade water-based glaze interacting with the polish over time, and immediately switched to a non-water-based glaze to ensure this no longer happens.  One of the pillars of our business is providing you with handmade works of art that will last a lifetime - we are devastated to think we have not delivered on our ideals and guarantee.  Remember, we are always open to feedback so please feel free to e-mail us if you have questions or suggestions regarding your future purchases.

Kiva - Supporting Small Businesses

Have you heard of Kiva?  I hope so.  Kiva.org is a great initiative online that seeks to provide loans to individuals and small businesses trying to work hard to overcome the poverty in which they live.  Persons and groups seek loans for things such as education, their handmade or small business, arts, etc. Being a handmade small business owner myself, I understand the importance and impact of supporting this non-profit organization.  For as little as $25 you can support the story of your choice.  Until tomorrow at midnight, your donation to a woman in Asia will be matched.  Simply look for the (x2) badge to see which loans qualify for this amazing offer.  Go here to get started!  By using my affiliate link, I will receive a $25 credit, which means your loan will have TRIPLE the impact!  Isn't that awesome?!

Monday Mani: Colors by Llarowe in Nice Melons!

Today's handmade polish mani features Colors by Llarowe in Nice Melons! (from the Summer 2014 collection), a 5-free indie nail polish company located in Colorado.

Right now I have nubbins, which I hate, so I decided I needed to celebrate with a nice juicy color before fall sets in here.  I forgot at the time I picked it out, but I've actually already worn this color before.  Doesn't matter, though, because it's SO amazing!  I love me some coral palettes, and Nice Melons! from Colors by Llarowe captures the yumminess of a cantaloupe while also looking coral-y.  In low lights, it leans pink, but in warmer lighting it leans orange.  LOVE IT.  Plus it's *holo* and what's there not to love about that?  Colors by Llarowe applies beautifully on my nails and dries fast with my body chemistry.  As always, I use Zoya Anchor and Zoya Armor as my bottom and top coats, respectfully.

These photos were taken outside on an overcast day to demonstrate the polish's midrange tones of color.

Disclaimer:  All products were purchased with my own money.  All reviews and opinions are my own. Not affiliated with Colors by Llarowe or Llarowe.com.

Monday Mani: #fightforlightandlive and Girly Bits

Yesterday afternoon I discovered the #fightforlightandlive and #depressionawareness mani movement on Facebook.  Being a mental health professional first and foremost, I didn't want to miss out on participating.  I figured better late than never!

I had just opened up my three Mystery Bags from an exclusive sample sale for group members that handmade indie polish maker Girly Bits ran earlier this month.  The bags contained OOAKs, Oops, Prototypes, Testers, Discontinueds, and the like.  Among them was a beautiful green/purple holo duochrome (if I'm guessing correctly) and I thought it perfect to try out since it was a newbie and green.

While I had some application and drying issues - an anticipated risk of mystery samples - that affected clean up and appearance, it is quite the lovely color.  If the application issues were worked out (which may be the reason it didn't make it into production), I think this prototype would turn into a huge hit!  Next time I think I will build with super thin coats as I think I was a little overzealous with my painting.  This is two semi-thick coats with Zoya's Anchor and Armor.

Sadly, my camera was NOT cooperating with capturing the purple side of it.  When I walk into full sun, it turns into a full blown muted purple shade and the holo lights up.  While the naked eye can clearly see it, my camera clearly cannot.  Which is SO unfortunate because I wish I could easily show you how dynamic a color this is!  Instead, I tried my best with different lighting and angles in hopes of highlighting its beauty.

Post in the comments below what you think of the color!  And, please, help fight stigma surrounding mental illness and become an advocate for changing society's perspective.  Visit your local community agency or NAMI chapter, and help educate yourself and others about mental illness disorders.  Together we can #stampoutstigma and be agents for change!

Shade lighting

Direct sun lighting

(aka when my camera should have captured the purple instead)

Indirect sun lighting

(trying to capture the purple at a new angle)

Indirect sun lighting

Indirect sun lighting

(can see the purple a little bit)

Disclaimer:  All products were purchased with my own money.  All reviews and opinions are my own. Not affiliated with Girly Bits.

How NOT to Nail a Sale at a Show and What You Should DO Instead

Being a successful handmade business owner means being subscribed to lots of e-mails filled with tons of advice from business experts around the globe in order to help you run your business in the best way possible for your customers.  Today I opened an e-mail from Tracy and Robin of Flourish & Thrive Academy that contained an anecdote about losing sales and advice about what to do to nail that sale at a show.  I have inserted it below because I just HAD to share it with you all: not only is it a good idea to constantly be gathering data and perspectives from your customers, but it's also important to constantly be evaluating what you're doing in your handmade business so that it's running at its optimum.

"I’m often seeking out vintage fine jewelry finds, I even showed up at a vintage jewelry show on the last day about 90 minutes before the show actually closed! I was amazed as I observed the “busy” booths and those that were “dead.”

I am obsessed with vintage jewelry. I collect it and I was trying to get in as much as I could. I found several pieces that I LOVED but wanted to think about. As I walked around, I heard a couple of people complaining about how terrible their sales were! In fact, I was STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO HER ABOUT TO ASK TO SEE SOMETHING in her case.

Guess what I did?

I walked away! Yep, she lost the sale.

I found another amazing ring from another dealer with a snake motif. She and her partner were packing up and could barely give me the time of day. I LOVED the ring I tried on and it was a perfect fit. However, her level of service was awful so guess what I did....

I walked away! Yep she lost the sale too!

Next, I moved on to another booth and asked to look at something. Before the guy even took the necklace out of the case, he told me the price...when I didn’t ask. I still looked but guess what I did…(personally, I find this sales tactic as a sales repellent)...

I walked away! Another sale lost!

I came across a really busy booth. The two owners were each chatting up clients. I found several things I loved and asked if I could snap a few photos of the pieces I liked. Immediately, the owner engaged me and said, “I can open the case if you’d like better photos.” I thanked her and pulled out several pairs of earrings and a few other things I loved.

I ended up purchasing a piece (after the show) and will definitely be purchasing from her again.

The question I ask you. What made this person different than the rest of the people?

They all had lovely jewelry, but were they really deserving of my business? Only 1 out of these 4 people benefitted from my spontaneous jaunt to the trade show and I was ready to drop some cash!

Here is the lesson:

• Make your clients feel important! They will remember and keep coming back for more.

• Don’t EVER start your first interaction with a client by talking about price. I mean EVER! It’s a huge turnoff.

• If they ask about price, talk about the benefits first, then tell them the price.

• People who really love your work don’t buy because of price it’s because they love YOU and the work.

• Anything can happen at the last minute, so don’t ignore the last minute stragglers. They could make or break your day!

• The most positive people always win, have the best sales and make the most income. Always!

…....Even if their products are average.

Energy and keeping up the momentum is the MOST important factor to the success of your jewelry business..."

NOTD Handmade: The Power of Love by Girly Bits

The Power of Love by Canadian indie maker Girly Bits: "The Power of Love is a lavender holo sprinkled with lavender, sea green and silver holo glitter, plus purple shimmer and sparks of silver holo."

I was actually surprised after rereading the description because it looks more like a lavender polish with gold glitter at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, I can see all the lovely elements. :)

This color is so stunning. I had some difficulty with the application - it was on the thick side - but I think that's due to it being jam packed with glitter (and who can complain about being jam packed with goodies?!). I think this is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine! I can't stop staring at my nails.

This photo was taken in indirect sunlight.  Let me know in the comments what you think!

Disclaimer: Products in this post were purchased by me for personal use.  No compensation was given for this review.  All opinions are my own.  Not affiliated with Girly Bits.

Handmade Quote of the Day

"When you buy something made by a person, there is something special there, and you do feel it. The consciousness with which a thing is made is often more important than the thing itself." - J. Donald Walters

NOTD Handmade: Haleakala by Elevation Polish

I'm currently wearing handmade indie polish by Elevation Polish called Haleakala.  This absolutely gorgeous shade is a purple holo that lands somewhere between a berry and a wine shade.  My photo doesn't do it justice!

Earlier this week I wore Darkest Storm. I can never get enough blue!

BKD Signature to Launch a Mini Preview of the Newly Added Polish Jewelry Colors

BKD Signature in Sacramento, CA, is pleased to announce the company’s expansion of its nail polish jewelry product line.

Sacramento, California - May 30, 2014

BKD Signature (www.bkdsignature.com) of Sacramento, CA, is excited to announce the company’s newest addition to its Glam & Glitz Collection that features more indie nail polish brands.

BKD Signature will be debuting new polish jewelry on May 30^th in their Etsy Shop.  Two launch times will occur, the first at 12 noon Pacific Time and the second at 6 pm Pacific Time, in hopes of accommodating most time zones.  Most pieces previewing are one-of-a-kind and will offer a glimpse at the polishes that will be added to the BKD Signature Glam & Glitz Collection at the launch of the grand reopening (tba).  Soon, BKD Signature jewelry will permanently feature Colors by Llarowe polish, NailNation 3000 polish, Superficially Colorful thermal lacquer, and Girly Bits Cosmetics polish; in addition to its product line that already features My Ten Friends polish and Darling Diva Polish indie brands.  BKD Signature is also previewing for consideration of permanency Picture Polish’s 2014 Limited Edition shifting colors. 

While it has been difficult to be without a dedicated studio, the company has persevered and managed to commandeer a tiny creative space in order to continue creating their signature exotic papers jewelry and famous nail polish jewelry.  Currently unable to fulfill new soy candle orders (please contact the company for ready-to-ship soy wax products), BKD Signature hopes to be back in full force soon.  A grand reopening will be announced when they are back in a dedicated studio space.

Pieces from the Glam & Glitz Collection range in price from $20 USD to $30 USD.  Every piece of BKD Signature polish jewelry is handcrafted using toxin free nail polish, handmade glass tiles, and handmade glazes.  BKD Signature continuously searches for more indie polish artisans to collaborate with for their jewelry.

BKD Signature products have been gifted to Rachael Ray, Kaley Cuoco, Genevieve Gorder, Alison Sweeney, Brandi Glanville, Renee Zellweger, Stephanie Drapeau, and Selena Gomez and her band as part of The Artisan Group collaborative gift bags. BKD Signature jewelry was selected for inclusion in a special The Artisan Group Mother’s Day 2013 Collaborative Gift Bag and BKD Signature soy candles were selected for inclusion in a special The Artisan Group Earth Day 2013 Collaborative Gift Bag.  BKD Signature’s famous Birthday Cake soy candle was gifted to the press for the GBK’s 2013 Primetime Emmys Celebrity Gift Lounge.  BKD Signature products have been seen on KCRA 13 News and featured on multiple prominent blogs.

To learn more about BKD Signature, visit www.bkdsignature.com or e-mail bkdsignature[at]gmail.com. Select designs are also carried at Home Ec in Chico, CA; Taylor’s Art & Soul in Sacramento, CA; 4 Elements Yoga in McMinnville, OR; and online at Femme Fatale Cosmetics, Overall Beauty, and Edgy Polish. You can also become a fan of BKD Signature on Facebook, follow on Twitter, and follow on Instagram (@BKDSignature).

About BKD Signature

BKD Signature (http://www.bkdsignature.com) provides the world with elegant artisanal products that includes its distinctive one-of-a-kind exotic papers glass tile jewelry, sophisticated high-quality nail polish jewelry, and premium eco-friendly soy candles. The company, located in Sacramento, California, was founded in February 2009. BKD Signature jewelry has been featured on “The Vampire Diaries” and seen on actress Stephanie Drapeau, and is in the hands of numerous celebrities and tv/movie stylists. BKD Signature is a proud member of The Artisan Group, as well as Unique Women in Business and California Crafters Club of Etsy.

BKD Signature Takes Giving Back To A New Level

As you all know, the furbaby assistants and I here at BKD Signature like to charitably give back to the animal shelters that have been a part of our lives.  Not only have I volunteered at several shelters, but I would not have been able to rescue my three kitties from the streets if it were not for the help of local shelters.  Over the years, we've run special auctions, promotions, and products that have benefited the various animal shelters we know on a personal level.  Amongst the many things we're researching right now during our down time is how to bring you newer and cooler products.  Among our ideas is a line of polish jewelry dedicated to donating proceeds to our animal charities.  One month after our grand reopening (tba), we're hoping to launch a special line of charity jewelry by teaming up with indie polish makers to create exclusive LE shades. The listing would consist of a special limited edition shade created by an awesome handmade polish maker and a piece of jewelry made by BKD Signature featuring said polish (basically, this listing would consist of two products - polish and necklace - for around $35 USD with 100% of proceeds going to a specific shelter).  Of course, this is all in the brainstorming phase, but we're optimistic we can make it possible! We're hoping to find indie brands eager to collaborate for our idea.  If you are the owner of a handmade nail polish brand interested in learning more about this idea, please leave a comment below or drop us an e-mail!  We anticipate this won't happen for another couple of months, but do realize that brainstorming early is important in order to accommodate for the creative process and testing periods of new polishes.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!

Here at BKD Signature, we're committed to helping the earth as much as we can.  Sometimes this can be difficult since the most gorgeous and fancy packaging available to us is not usually eco-friendly.  However, our commitment to being earth friendly is more important than lots of glitter (and simple is sometimes better, right?).

We recycle or reuse all packaging materials that come in from supplies. We're researching new packaging for orders right now during our semi-hiatus and are hoping we find an eco-friendly look we love. Our soy candles are eco-friendly in that we pour into tins that are reusable and we use soy wax that is the best out there (biodegradable, kosher, vegan, etc).  We use handmade glass for our jewelry.  We continuously strive to use 3+ free polish, but we must confess that we recently discovered that SOPI is not cruelty free like we thought.  We were beyond bummed to discover this so we will be changing that once our supplies run out so we can switch over to exclusively using CF polish.  We mistakenly (and naively!) thought that all brands are cruelty free now!  However, we are very proud of the fact that about 90% of the polish we use is from handmade businesses.  All but one of our suppliers are small businesses (Sephora is the exception), all but two of which are here in the USA.  Two handmade polishes we use are international (one from Israel and one from Australia) and we think it's pretty cool that we're able to support our artisan friends abroad, too.

We're always seeking ways to be more earth friendly and improving upon our current systems!

New Additions to the BKD Signature Polish Jewelry Line

When our polish jewelry line first launched, we only used My Ten Friends Nail Polish. Then we expanded to include our friends at Girly Bits and Darling Diva Polish, and have an exclusive line at Femme Fatale Cosmetics. We're ecstatic to announce that, during our research phase right now, we've obtained permission from Colors by llarowe, NailNation, and Superficially Colorful to use their polishes as well! We love supporting indies and hope you're just as excited as us for these gorgeous additions to our jewelry line.

Calling All Bloggers!

We're looking for bloggers to post our press release for free when we do our grand re-opening! We have no set date for it yet since it's contingent on a few things, but we like to plan ahead.  No minimum stat requirements - we're simply looking for any and all bloggers on the internet who post press releases from small handmade businesses. Drop us a line so we can add your e-mail to our list!

THE PRODUCT PUBLICITY VIRTUAL SUMMIT from Launch.Grow.Joy - Highly Recommend!

I have been listening when I can to Launch Grow Joy's PR Summit this past week.  The interviews are 1/2 hr long, which is great (no two hour webinars for me!) because I can listen while doing mindless business stuffs.  HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU LISTEN.  She is LITERALLY asking these experts the EXACT questions I want to!  http://www.launchgrowjoy.com/welcome-publicity-summit/  I have not listened to them all yet, but I'm loving what I'm hearing so far (except the first one.  She didn't give any new info I didn't already know, kept skirting fully answering the questions, and my e-mail inbox later indicated she just wanted to sell her product).  LOVING this Summit!  You should definitely tune in as soon as you can.  I am learning so much and I am ecstatic about that.  Thanks Andreea!

The Silver Lining

While going on a forced semi-hiatus made me a sad panda, I have to admit it has stirred some excitement in me over the past couple of days.  I've come to realize that it's the perfect "excuse" to utilize all the ideas swimming in my head and educate myself further about running my handmade business at its optimum.  So, it appears, when my semi-hiatus is over I'll be coming back with a Grand Re-Opening: bigger.badder.faster.stronger as they say.  It's pretty exciting to think that I've found the perfect "excuse" to revive my blog, lock together my branding with cohesive photos and new packaging, elevate my marketing to the next level, and release new products... plus much more!  Can't wait to turn all of my ideas into reality in a way that makes perfect sense. :)  Yep, everything happens for a reason, as they say!