A picture is worth a thousand words

I just made my first real purchase specifically for Sara O Jewelry. I know just how important photos are in jewelry design, especially if one sells online. So, after carefully researching and discussing my purchase with my husband, I decided on a table-top photo studio. I am convinced that this will help me to get better photos. I am also convinced that my pictures have to be better.

BeadandButton Class

I am teaching my first class at BeadandButton in June 2012. The project is from our new book Show Your Colors, launching in February 2012.

B121539 Soft Flex Company Presents: Bang Bang Bracelet from Show Your Colors

Sara Hardin Oehler

Wed. June 6 • 4:00pm-7:00pm - (3 hours)

Level: All Levels - Maximum Class Size: 12 - Class Fee: $95.00

Description: Mix it up with this unique bracelet design using colored beading wire and craft wire. Students will create shapes with craft wire using a Wig Jig and learn tips for work-hardened wire. Then weave the colored beading wire through the craft wire shapes to make this one-of-a-kind design. To finish off the bracelet, you'll learn everything you need to know about crimping.

Materials in Kit: Soft Flex beading wire in three colors, Soft Flex 20-gauge silver craft wire, 3 x 3 mm crimp tubes, two-strand clasp. A portion of this kit is underwritten by Soft Flex Company.

Show Your Colors Available for Pre-order on Amazon

Show Your Colors is official for sale on a pre-order basis on Amazon. The book will officially be out in time for the Tucson show, beginning of February. You'll be able to pick up a copy in the Soft Flex booth at the Best Bead Show and  if you like, both Jamie Hogsett and I will be on hand to discuss the designs in the book or to sign your copy!

The Best Bead Show

Feb 1-5, 2012

Kino Veteran's Memorial Community Center

2805 East Ajo Way

Tucson, AZ 85713

Hours:

Wednesday 10am - 8pm

Thursday 10am - 6pm

Friday 10am - 6pm

Saturday 10am - 6pm

Sunday 10am - 5pm

Classes: for information on classes held during the show please click here

Admission: FREE (there is a cost to take the classes at the show)

Free Make-It-Take-It in Scottsdale and Toronto

I will be teaching some variation of the MITI shown above at two locations in the next month on behalf of Soft Flex Company.

Double Joy Beads

Saturday 10-8-11 12pm-3pm (or until I run out of kits)

7131 E Mercer Ln - Scottsdale, AZ 85254 - (480) 998-4495

John Bead

Wednesday 10-12-11 & Thursday 10-13-11 (hours tbd)

www.johnbead.com - 20 Bertrand Avenue - Toronto, ON Canada M1L 2P4 - (888)755-9055

Starting a jewelry-making business

Starting Sara O Jewelry has been a long time coming. It is hard to believe that I am finally brave enough to take the plunge. I'm proud to announce my new ownership of www.SaraOJewelry.com. All that I need to do now to make it really official is file for my tax id number and start loading some designs into my new etsy shop.

Although I am not going to officially start promoting Sara O until January 2012, I felt like it might be nice to keep  track of my steps for others that might want to follow. Since it was scary and overwhelming for me, I figured that it might be scary and overwhelming for others to start their own jewelry-making business too.

Here is my getting started list:

1. Decide on a Name (much harder than one would think)
2. Facebook Fan Page
3. Twitter Account
4. Etsy Shop
5. Decide on an Email
6. Buy Web Domain www.SaraOJewelry.com
7. Start Blog and Create Tabs: Blog, Bio, Contact, Shop
8. Link Everything Together
9. Point Domain Name to Blog
10. Set Up Business License
11. Decide How to Package and Ship
12. Etsy Shop Policies - Returns, Exchanges, Shipping, Etc
13. How to take funds - Pay Pal, Swype, Etc

What am I forgetting? 

A Finalized Book Cover: Show Your Colors

I am so excited to share the finalized book cover. Our book is set to come out in very early Spring 2012! I chose to author this book under my new name, Sara Oehler.