Tribute to Blogger Colorful Crack: Manis for Gosia

Gosia of popular beauty blog Colorful Crack recently announced her retirement from her blog due to other commitments.  Her friends from the blogging community are coming together to create manis to wish her good luck on her next endeavors.  #manisforgosia

One of Gosia's favorite indie polish brands is Superficially Colorful Lacquer.  She swatches the new collections for the brand, and I noticed a trend of her creating an awesome accent nail for each swatch.  Pulling from my own SCL collection, I created a monochromatic mani using Eye of the Storm and accented the ring nail with a sparkly coat of Imaginary Narwhals to create my mani in honor of and inspired by Gosia.

Eye of the Storm is a very dark and cold blue, somewhat metallic, with a little bit of holographic glitter. In some lighting it leans more navy and in others it leans more blue.  It dries semi-matte with a hint of sparkle.  Imaginary Narwhals is a silvery holographic micro glitter polish with occasional silver stars in clear base. It's fun and sparkly, but you have to fish a little for the stars.  After two days, you can see there's minimal tip wear!

Indirect lighting on the pool deck

Shade lighting on the lawn

Disclaimer: all products were purchased by me.  No affiliation with Superficially Colorful Lacquer and its products.

Monday Mani: #52WPNMC - Elevation Walk A Little Farther and Girly Bits Winter Sanctuary

Week 32 of the #52WPNMC is about Outlines.  I wanted to try out my new zebra vinyls from Nail Vinyls and thought this was the perfect prompt to do so.  Now, as we've already learned, I don't own any neons, which, I have to admit, make for a pretty stellar zebra pattern.  So I had to make do.

Walk a Little Farther is from the January 2015 collection by Elevation Polish and is a soft baby blue with intense blue micro shimmer.  I wore it for one day on its own and got several compliments.  The shimmer is not that prominent unless under more intense lighting.  Formula was on the thick side so I actually created bubbles during application.  My nail chemistry has a harder time with EvP so I'm still working on my technique with it, but overall I would say it's a nice creme.

I laid down my nail vinyls and applied the sparkly gorgeousness that is Winter Sanctuary, a collaboration between Girly Bits and epic blogger Cosmetic Sanctuary.  It's a stunning medium to dark cobalt blue shimmolo with a hint of purple and a scattering of holo microglitter in it.  Now, I didn't put on enough to see the hints of purple, but I for sure see the lovely sparkliness of the microglitter.  This has quickly been put on my favorites list.

Here's my epic fail whale confession: I'm still perfecting my technique with vinyls in trying to figure out when to take them off for clean lines.  Instructions say right away, so the balance is trying to get the second polish on in one coat.  As a result, I tend to put on too thick a coat.  When I put on the PDQ top coat from Colors by Llarowe, it smeared Winter Sanctuary.  So I waited longer on the right hand before applying the quick dry topcoat (which seems counterintuitive, honestly) and it smeared a little less, but nonetheless smeared.  So not quite sure about that, but I'm hoping it's user error.

I definitely want to wear both these colors again, in a more monochromatic look to enjoy their full beauty.  Perhaps each with just tips for a little pizzazz (I'm starting to get bored with a monochromatic look, which is what I usually do to fully enjoy the beauty of polishes).  I'm loving the zebra look so I'll still be experimenting with those to get my technique perfected.

Let me know what you think in the comments!  Any tips or suggestions as to the smearing?

Indirect shade lighting

Indirect shade lighting

Indirect shade lighting

Indirect shade lighting

Indirect shade lighting

Direct sun lighting

Monday Mani is about showcasing beautiful indie polishes that I've purchased through lifestyle shots.  So many swatches out there are captured under lighting and conditions that aren't common of every day.  My intention is to show mani's under typical lighting and wearing conditions so you can decide if the beauty is right for you or not.  Please note that although colors are accurate on my computer monitor (Macbook Pro), colors do vary among devices.  Professionals blogger swatches are perfect - here's my life lessons from a handmade artisan.

Disclaimer:  All reviews and opinions are my own.  Products were purchased with my own money.  No affiliation with Girly Bits or Elevation Polish and their products.

An InLinkz Link-up

Day2JNAC: 13 Days of January Nail Art Challenge - Happiness

So apparently I can't read and thought today's prompt was a tape mani.  Whoops!  BUT french tips *do* make me happy, so this still counts, right?  This was my first time using decorative tape so I still need some practice on using it right.  Also had trouble getting it to stick.  And WOW I did not realize how poor a clean-up job I did - once again that darn camera is unforgiving, huh?!

Although I prefer to freehand french tips, I used some tape guides to help me create tips on three nails, and accented my pointer with two strips of silver decorative tape.  I used BEWBS! and Ashes Ashes for the mani, both by Darling Diva.  Formulas are on the thicker side, but boy are they rich, deep colors kissed by holo.  Despite the formulas being a smidgen thick, it creates a solid finish - almost reminiscent of rubbery, perhaps - that is not prone to chippage.  The following are indoor pics from tonight, I'll do outdoor pics tomorrow if my mani survives well enough.

And outdoor pics in the shade!  With a JUICY bottle shot of BEWBS.

An InLinkz Link-up

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..."

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.

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!

UPDATE: Earth Day Gifting

As you all know, I got super lucky recently and procured a spot in an artisan gift basket opportunity for Earth Day.  Thirty amazing gift baskets stuffed with artisan handmade products will be delivered to 25 celebs and 5 press for the upcoming holiday.  Today, I had to submit my photo for the guide that will accompany each basket.  I took hundreds of photos and couldn't decide on one.  This is my first time having my photos in an official guide and I wanted it to be perfect.  Below is the photo I settled on with the help of the Coordinator.  I will be sending each celebrity my awesome luxurious soy candles, one Birthday Cake and one Mango Peach Salsa, my top sellers.  The following talent will be receiving my eco-friendly soy candles: Hayden Panettiere, Ginnifer Goodwin, Edward Norton, Adrian Grenier, Kate Bosworth, P!nk, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rachel McAdams, Emily VanCamp, Woody Harrelson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Daryl Hannah, Malin Akerman, Ted Danson, Orlando Bloom, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Hartnett, Sting, Barbra Streisand, Alicia Silverstone, Courteney Cox, Cameron Diaz, Sheryl Crow, Mark Ruffalo, and Natalie Portman.

Going Wholesale!

I've always been interested in doing wholesale, but have not had the good fortune like other artisans to be approached by businesses.  Back when I was going to school in OR, I did meet with one local business with all of my inventory and, to my surprise, she bought from me right on the spot.   Looking back on the meeting... wow, was I naive!  And while the experience was interesting, to say the least, it did get my feet wet (but boy oh boy I didn't know what I was doing!).

Recently, I learned how big a deal going wholesale really is.  That there's lots of paperwork involved on both ends of the transaction.  And then there's this thing called a "wholesale kit": line sheets, lookbooks, contracts, business terms, permits, etc.  Being overwhelmed/confused by this info is an understatement.  Feeling lost may be more accurate.  Hopefully my desire to do wholesale propels me to easily figure this all out (ha!).  Oddly enough, there really isn't anything out there on Google for doing it yourself, and I can't afford someone else doing it for me right now.  So perhaps, once I figure it all out, I can throw together a wholesale-how-to for newbies.  For now, this is one of the best, super simple resources I've found: by The Mother Huddle.

There are several great boutiques in the town of my grad school - the community is really rallying around emphasizing local and handmade, which is great.  I decided to muster up the courage (not sure if that's the right word, but it certainly took me out of my comfort zone because I hate doing anything where I feel unprepared or uneducated) to approach one of them via e-mail.  Because I don't know the technical/professional way to go about it, I spoke from my heart instead.  I was pinning my hopes on perhaps a small boutique owner being more sympathetic to my naivete.

Lucky for me, the owner said yes to an appointment!  She didn't specify whether I'd be a wholesale or consignment account, but I'm going in with samples of all of my jewelry line.  Seeing as she owns a boutique filled with unique finds, I figure my OOAK Chiyogami jewelry would be a perfect fit.  This morning I started some fresh samples, and below is a pic of my progress from about an hour ago.  My appointment is in a couple days.  I'm super nervous, but I'm going to try my best to be prepared.  Wish me luck!