Where it Started !!
I got started making jewelry right before Christmas a few years ago. I am sure you are thinking ... Why would anyone take on something like this in the midst of preparing for Christmas. Well ... when my children were younger we began a tradition of giving handmade gifts every year. We have run the gamut ... cookie mix in a jar, candles, crocheted afgans ... I made 12 in one month, 2 of them King Size, this is not a recommended gift for those with large families, etc. Anyway ... after the previous year's gift (the afgans) I decided that we needed something a little less time consuming. While visiting an Art Show I was given the opportunity to design my own necklace. I spent an hour sitting there picking colors, rearranging beads and basically hogging the design area. I was hooked!!! (especially since there were 3 people standing there waiting to purchase the necklace I made for myself) I went home and started researching the cost of supplies and discovered that I could make some really fabulous gifts and not have to break the bank (or give myself arthritis). AWESOME! And ... I could make each one in just a few hours. EVEN BETTER!! Next thing I knew the bar in my kitchen was covered with jewelry, and I was spending every night sitting on the floor in my living room blissfully creating more and more. Then came online auctions...
Selling the Jewels !!
My parents have been powersellers on 'the other auction site' for years and I have spent more than my fair share buying so when people started asking if they could purchase some of my designs I thought...Hey, maybe I can recover the costs of materials and have an excuse to buy more!!! I must say the people that I work with have been VERY supportive of this effort. I don't think a day goes by that I don't see at least one person wearing something I made. As for my sales...at first I thought nothing was ever going to sell. I tried different picture taking techniques, switched to a scanner and still no sales to write home about but in no time at all things began picking up (maybe due to all the positive feedback & repeat business from those who took a chance on me). I digress (it happens a lot, you'll get used to it)...I now have my designs in 2 brick and mortar stores, Overstock Auctions as well as 2 online stores. Another excuse to buy more supplies?? OF COURSE!!!
Where We Are NOW!!!
We started out on Overstock Auctions listing only finished jewelry products and due to the enormous response we received from buyers we have added wholesale jewelry supplies to our list of offerings...We now carry...Swarovski crystals, Sterling Silver Beads and Findings, Czech Glass Beads and Semi-precious Beads. We have also added a nice selection of Sterling Silver and Natural Gemstone Rings to our inventory.
Our goal is to constantly expand our offerings while maintaining the level of quality and service our customers have come to expect from Dragonfly Designs...
