Where Have I Been? What Have I Done? Am I Back or Am I Just Visiting?

Hello everyone!! First off, I to apologize - I haven't been around much and I thought that this would be a good time to spend some attention to my much neglected blog. A lot has been going on - most of it elsewhere on the Internet. So, sit back and I'll fill you in on what I've been doing. We all know that I started this blog to chronicle my first year in business and I have to say it didn't turn out quite as I imagined. I'm telling you ignorance is beautiful thing because had I knew then what I know now I would have done everything differently. Everything.

First off, let me just say that I couldn't have found a worse time to start a new business. I guess the economic downturn was a little worse than I thought it would be - I've given up trying to be an optimist and have turned to pragmatism to get by. I can pinpoint the absolute date and time my business went down the crapper - December 13, 2008, 9:00am. The date of my last show and my last sale (insert weak smile here). Coincidence? I hope not. Quick! Someone buy something from me just to let me know I'm still in the game!!! And then there was my "Six Weeks of Christmas Give-Away" - which was a lot of work and didn't generate much interest in my business. I won't be hosting anymore of those for quite sometime.

So with that, I sort of put my jewelry business on the back burner to focus on my other business, Dragonfly Photography. To be honest, the financial output for photography is considerably less than it is for jewelry - I have to keep replenishing my jewelry supplies (and that ain't cheap let me tell you - have you priced the cost of silver lately?) With photography - once you've bought your camera and lenses (or make due with what you got) the cost to go out and shoot photographs is practically nil if your shooting digital. Mind you - I haven't made a sale on any of my photographs this year but I was accepted on Trunkt. :) Which is a good feeling for me as I had been turned down several time with my jewelry. Also, I've opened another shop on 1000markets showcasing my photography.

While the economy isn't helping my business' out any I've decided to put this down-time to good use. There's going to be a redesign for Dancing Monkey Jewelry on Etsy. I'm going to re-photograph all my jewelry, add some necklaces to my inventory and a couple of other items. Also, spend sometime creating some new jewelry.

I hope I'm not coming across as whiny or negative - that's not my intent. It has been frustrating to put in a lot of work and get little in return. Part of my reason for staying away was to spend time with my husband - we've both made sacrifices and it was time to sit back and reconsider what I wanted to do with my business and how much time I wanted to dedicate to my business. So with some much needed clarity I believe I'm ready to get back in the saddle again and get back to the business of selling jewelry.

Lastly, I have to say, aside from non-existent sales, I really have no complaints. I have a husband that loves and supports me and we both are still employed. Life is good and we've got our health. It's all good.

Until next time - take care.

martha