HAPPY LEAP DAY!

Until 2:29pm (EST) get 29% off of your order of $29 or more! Just enter coupon code 'LEAPDAY' in at check-out. BIGGEST SALE EVER! www.sunshynesilverwear.com

Random Giveaway!

Enter coupon code 'MIAB' to get this message in a bottle pendant for FREE with your $40+ purchase at www.sunshynesilverwear.com.  There is only ONE available, so first come first served! 

The bottle pendant is 2 1/2 inches in length and comes with a 24 inch silver plated chain.

A metal filigree ring wraps around the top and bottom of the bottle  

Message is written in German and has sealing wax and stamp
binding it together

Bottle is 2 1/2 inches in length from top of the cork to bottom. 

This piece is sure to add a little whimsy to any outfit. :) 

8 Days a Week

One thing I have learned about owning my own business is that I put twice as much time into the business than I ever put into a 9 to 5. The other thing is, is that I don't mind one bit. The difference: I like what I do now.

one of my many work stations throughout the 
appartment

Before, I swear time stood still around 2pm. The day seemed so loooooong, almost torturous. Don't get me wrong, it was a steady paycheck doing a job I was good at and that I liked doing, but it was not my first choice in how I wanted to spend my day.  These days, in the blink of an eye, four hours passes by. Before I know it, the sun is setting.

Hard at work 

Believe me, it's not all sunshyne and roses though. The months after Christmas and before Spring are pretty hard, financially. There are no arts and crafts shows in this time and I have to rely web site sales to pay the bills. So far I have squeezed by unscathed. But being a full time crafter has many other risks.

In order to sell my wares, I apply to arts and crafts festivals.  Most are juried shows which means I never know from year to year if I will even get in. If I'm lucky and I do get in, there is a chance that the weather could be bad that weekend or that I will be given a booth spot that is not optimal, which means lower attendance and fewer customers.  

Rainy day at last year's Lilac Festival

Or worst case scenario. like last year's Lilac Festival, they closed down the whole fest due to inclement weather. According to most festival contracts, there are no refunds given to vendors if that should happen. (participation in most arts and crafts festival ranges from $75-$200 PER DAY!)

There are a great many risks to doing what I do, but I do it for the love of creating art. All of the decisions I have made are worth it when the customer in front of me is psyched with their new purchase. Every sale is appreciated beyond words and it is always humbling  when my work brings a smile to someones face. 

from now through 3/1/12, get 15% off of your entire purchase at www.sunshynesilverwear.com by entering coupon code '8DAYS' at check out. 

  

My Secret Wish To Be A Nomadic Vagabond

From the tittle alone, I'm sure you think I'm nuts.  Don't get me wrong, I don't find being a homeless person romantic in any way, it's about my perspective on freedom.

Since the time I was 15, I have always had a job and was able to completely support myself. I always thought that the more money I make the more freedom I would have and the easier my life would be.  But the truth is, if you are anywhere in between being independently wealthy and being homeless with no responsibilities,  you are tied down by something. 

Took this pic on my dog walk 2/22/12. We were
near  the Vet's Bridge.

I have worked hard to get where I am today. I moved out of my mom's house at 17, took an hour and a half bus ride to work for years, saved very extra penny and bought my house when I was 23. The thing is, the more money I made, the more possessions I collected and the more bills I had. In reality, I am no better off financially than I was when I was 15, I just have more stuff.

Home sweet home

What if, I just sold everything and released myself from the shackles of owning shit. I would be free to tramp around the country and the world. Sure, I would work here and there so that I could save up enough money to get from one place to another, but imagine the experiences I would have, the people I would meet, the things I would learn. I want life to be unpredictable, a surprise at every sunrise.

NYC bound 2008

Isn't that what life should be? A non-stop whirlwind of adventure!?! I would take the good with the bad and in the end I can only imagine the stories I would have to tell

Colorado hike, 2010

Basically, what it comes down to is that on my death bed, I don't want to have any woulda, shoulda, coulda's. We only get one life (as far as I know) and I don't want to spend most of it on auto-pilot doing the same thing day after day after day. Been there done that. I feel like the magic of life is found in the unexpected and you don't get there without a little risk taking.  I have seen it happen time and time again.  And I am a true believer that you may not always get what you want, but you will always get what you need.

Then again, I'm writing this as I wait for my massage appointment. And I am sure I will ponder it more as I'm snuggled under my down comforter  in my warm bed in front of the plasma television. Maybe I should just shut up and appreciate all of the things I do have and just keep surrounding myself with people who love me.
I guess its a choice between comfort or adventure.
Maybe I could find some comfort in adventure.
Maybe I should stick with the adventure I find in comfort.

Holy Crap! I really did it!!

For as long as I can remember, I have always been a huge fan of the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers and the like.  In 2006, my friend Kadi convinced me we should pay our way to the shows by selling help necklaces in the parking lot. My love for creating things, music, and conversing with people from all walks of life were merged all in one day. I was hooked! 

Kadi and I at the Darien Lake 'Dead' show in 2006.
One of the first times selling my wares 'on lot'

Now, I could afford to go to more shows and enhance my concert experience as a whole. For years to come I would walk around the lot, make a few bucks and always make it into the show, sold out or not. It was heaven. 

2008 'Dead' show with Kadi and Denae at Penn State. 

I traveled all accross the country funding my love for music and travel selling hemp necklaces and in late 2008 my first spoon pendants were born. They debuted at the Phish reunion shows at Hampton Colosseum in VA, early 2009. 

Day 1 of the 3 day run

OK, so we didn't get into the 3rd night at Hampton, tickets were going for
$700 each! We did have an amazing time hanging in the parking lot
though.  

  Next thing you know, I hang up my spoon rack and upgrade to an EZ-up tent to sell my wares. Not only an I selling at shows now, but I apply and get into a bunch of local arts and craft shows. I'm loving life! 

with the EZ-up, now i can hang out all day in the shade!

There is just one last step in the progression of music+craft selling, and that is to apply to a music festival. These festivals are usually 3 days long with live music at all hours of the day and night, thousands upon thousands of attendees and everyone camps out right on site. An amazing experience and one I would recommend to anyone with an open mind. These festivals can be life changers. AND I JUST APPLIED TO BE A VENDOR AT ONE OF THE GREATEST FESTIVALS IN THE USA! 

official 2012 advertisement 

All Good  is a combination of everything I love. Good music, good people, good friends and hopefully a craft vending spot! 

Oh yeah! 

It's a lot more expensive than the craft shows I am used to, but the whole experience alone will be worth it ten fold. I'm so psyched about it, I REALLY hope I get in! 

Wish me luck!!!

Beauty All Around

Before I quit my day job I was always in a rush and constantly running late. It was as though I was living life with tunnel vision trying to perform all of my responsibilities for the day.  Now that I'm self employed I have finally found a little more time to appreciate the world around me. It's although the blinders have been taken off and I am no longer living on auto-pilot. I am surprised daily with the beauty right in my own back yard.

For the last 4 months or so, I have been taking random pictures with my iPhone on my daily walks with the dogs.  Here are just a few of the little slices of loveliness I happen to capture along the way. 

Before the first frost

fast forward 30 seconds to the torrential downpour.
We were 1.5 miles from home  :(

My neighbor's tree. Looks so lovely in the winter against
the white snow.

Pretty moss! And it is just as soft as it looks ;) 

The day after a huge snowstorm. Thank you plowman! 

Get that stick Beasley! 

Found on the side of the Vet's Memorial Bridge. Not sure
what it means, but it looks pretty cool. 

 This last picture collage was a gift to my sister for Christmas. All the photos were taken on the same day, on the same walk. It's funny, the things you see when you are actually looking. 

Looking for love in all the right places

Now through 02/22/12 get 15% off of your purchase at www.sunshynesilverwear.com by entering 'LIVELIFE' at check out. 

A productive Sunday...considering

The one major downside of quitting a 9 to 5 to follow your dreams is not having medical insurance.  I didn't really feel the loss of it until I woke up with an ear ache today. I'm talking ice pick to the brain kind of ear ache. Thank goodness my sister had a full prescription of amoxicillin she never used that she gave to me.
You know, it's not really even the cost of the medication, hell, it's free at Wegmans, its the cost of the doctor's appointment to get the prescription I already know I need. Time to cut corners folks, and with a little knowledge of my own body and a little internet research, I'm cutting out the middle man and going straight for the antibiotic.

So even though i'm in a bit of pain, I still managed to get a bunch of custom orders finished today. All while watching one of my favorite shows from the 90's 'My So Called Life'

(Jordan Catalano, what a dream boat!)
At this point I was feeling pretty productive, so I treat the doggies to a long walk before the sun went down. We usually go for a good trek every day, but I had pretty much written off even leaving the house when I woke up to my ear infection.
I have been playing a game with the dogs. Tell them to sit and stay and see how long they do what I ask before they run full speed towards me. We got pretty far today. I'm proud of my good girls.

This video was taken at the Seneca Park bridge. Unless it's sunny and at least 65 degrees out, it's usually pretty deserted. Perfect spot for a little doggy exercise! 

My second new hobby: horseback riding

I am actually writing this post from the indoor ring where the horses get their exercise when the weather is bad.
My friend Jordan works here and she has been kind enough to let me go out riding with here a few times. Today's ride was beautiful. The snow started to fall on the trail in big white flakes. It was like the inside of a snow globe. Skipper, the horse I have been riding is thankfully very obedient and gentile. This is definitely a hobby I'd like to continue to pursue.

'Word of the Week' continues!

Now that show and festival season is upon us, I will be reinstating the 'word of the week'
The word of the week is good for $3 off any online purchase, just enter word in at check out.
-or-
When you see me at arts and crafts shows, its worth $5 off of your $25 or more purchase and $3 off your purchase under $25, just state the 'word of the week' when you see me at my booth.
This week's 'word of the week" is VALENTINE (seemed pretty appropriate)

Expires 2/18/2012

One of my 3 new hobbies: screen printing

For those of you who don't know, I quit my 9 to 5 last May to pursue my dream of living off of my art. Because this is the slow time of year for arts and crafts shows, I thought I'd put my time to good use and take on some new hobbies and learn something new.
A few weeks back I started shadowing at my uncle's screen printing shop in Medina,NY called "Outdoor Adventures" this past week we finally got to some hands-on work. Yesterday I designed my own t-shirt from start to finish.
I really got to see how much work is involved in screen printing. I designed my own artwork, touched it up on the computer, shot my screen and printed a t-shirt and hoodie.
I think I'm going to have to make at least 6 more T-shirts do I can wear one every day! I'm so proud of them!

Loving Pinterest

Hey folks,
I had so much fun looking at everyone's entries from the last contest I decided to do an ongoing Pinterest challenge.  Every month there will be a new winner!
All you have to do is pin any image from my web site: www.sunshynesilverwear.com onto a Pinterest board of your choice and on the first Monday of the month. I will connect with the winner through the contact info on your pinterest profile.
The monthly winner will not only be judged on creativity and quality of the boards, but also on how many 'likes' and 'repins' your board has total. So don't forget to share, share, share your boards with as many as you can.
The Prize: a $10 e-gift certificate good for 3 months towards ANYTHING in my shop. (yes, even custom and made to order pieces!)
e-gift certificate can only be used in one transaction, if whole amount is not used, balance is forfeited.

As of right now, Pinterest access is by invitation only. If you do not have a Pinterest account, e-mail me at Sunshyne_silvewear@hotmail.com and I will send you an invite.

Good luck and happy pinning!!

And the winner is...

The winner of the Sunshyne Silverwear Pinterest contest is....

"For the love of books' by Courtney Day!

Check out her cool board here: http://pinterest.com/court_rae07/for-the-love-of-books/

Courtney, please e-mail me at sunshyne_silverwear@hotmail.com so that I can send you your e-certificate for $25. 

Thank you to everyone who participated. This was so much fun I am thinking about doing a monthly giveaway! 

Details to come...