New beaded and polymer clay creations

To be able make accessories, one must truly enjoy creating it.  You can't just throw in beads together or create polymer clay accessories in a flash.  One look at it and you will be able to see the time and effort that was used to create a particular item.  I've got supplies stacked in transparent boxes, I've got containers in all shapes and sizes as well as those little drawers where you can put the tiniest component in.  It looked like an obsessive compulsive world!    But I'm having so much fun!  Or maybe its how I was wired to be. I enjoy creating accessories in my bedroom.  For some reason, I work best that way.  Sometimes I would go to the garden and make some there as well.  After all I do my baking outdoors. I watch my electric oven like a hawk while at the same time spend some time with my loving pets. Here are some of my new creations.  I need to re-take pictures of my other stuff since I lost some when our computer was upgraded.

E is for Entrepreneur and E-Commerce

As I have mentioned in my previous post, I have become acquainted and familiarized with e-commerce and online auction sites.  So much so that I was even able to start shipping overseas my products.  Happy with the outcome, I proceeded to create my own business online.  Even before I ventured into accessory making and conducting workshops and livelihood programs, I was already selling online like any ebayer,

Like many others, I didn't give much thought about selling my used stuff or in ebay parlance, pre-loved.  But being the diligent researcher that I am, it dawned on me that like the accessories business there too was a big market for pre-loved stuff!  As if seeing all those ukay-ukays wasn't a sign!  If only I had more hands then I would probably be back on the auction sites selling also more of my pre-loved stuff! 

I sold my pre-loved stuff, then I went on to sell brand new clothes, hand made export quality shoes (I was overjoyed when it was featured on a magazine for call center agents!).  I got to export it overseas along with lots of maxi dresses, beach cover-ups.  

E-commerce allows people to pay with different payment methods and receiving your item by courier is far more economical than driving off to a mall for a meet-up (hello gas prices and hot weather!).  I always love the sound of our door bell ringing especially if I am expecting a package! HAHA!! I don't know if its just me but I love unwrapping parcels!  The e-commerce sites allows sellers to create their own sites, sell their products and do business with other people.  Its a virtual highway consisting of buyers and sellers!  

On the downside, there are buyers who are not familiar with the policies for online shoppers so they sometimes end up on the BOGUS BUYERS list and get a negative feedback or a negative strike if its in an auction site.  One can't just click away or order without paying for it.  There is a certain level of responsibility to it.  Make sure you are able to pay for your purchases before you buy.  If you can't then don't buy.  Pure, plain, and simple logic.  No excuses. Period.

How Did My Business Start?

Long before I started into handmade accessories I got to work for companies that was into clothes, shoes, etc.  The hours were crazy but like one businesswoman said learn from your experience.  I took note of the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Vowed to myself never to make those same pitfalls that others did.  I lost track of the many notebooks I wrote on.  Yes, in this day and age I still relied on my good old pen and paper.   

Turquoise Headband and bracelet se

The idea of starting my own business was always at the back of my head.  I bought business books and read almost every night.  I took notes of what business authors talked about.  I was particular about the amount of money that entailed the process of starting my business. I wanted to minimize my cost as much possible.  Thanks to the e-commerce boom my business took flight.  But that's getting ahead of the story.


I learned about e-commerce through a former officemate who was a big fan of ebay.  I on the other hand, got immersed into the virtual world of online selling because I was, yes "forcibly" made to learn the online trading business.  I was terrified of all the icons and feared that one button could ruin the templates or listings or other scenarios that constantly plagued my mind.  But since it was a job that I had to do I find myself learning all about ebay.  I learned how the Americans were all into ebay and what further revved up the motors of my brain was when I sold items online.  These were not by the dollar, the furnitures were being sold for thousands of dollars.  From ebay.com to ebay.ph and ebay.ca I cruised the virtual world and made a business out of it and I continue to be a believer in it. 

On my own site, I sold my first pair of handmade bracelets.  I remember my husband telling me are you sure??? If you can sell your handmade bracelet then I am hooked.  I will support you.  With those words ringing in my ears I sold my first lapis lazuli bracelet with swarovski spacers and earrings to match for Php 350.  My capital?  Less than a hundred!  I was shocked and in awe of the wonderful world wide web!  Most of all of the fact that these big old hands have what it takes to create handmade accessories!  Then I realized that there is a wide market out there for accessories.  The capital is not that big, but the rewards are certainly something to smile about and put a sparkle in one's eyes!!


Honestly, putting up your own business is by no means an easy task.  You must be VERY prepared for the uphill climb.  You must be prepared for the long hours.  More importantly you must be more than capable of multi tasking and you must be one hell of an organized person since you will be hearing more hats than you can imagine!  On top of that you must have GALLONS of patience. Best of all NEVER, EVER, rest on your laurels. Always find ways to grow without losing your focus.  Never lose touch of your purpose why you started your business.

Why handmade jewelry?

There is something about creating accessories on your own.  It gives you a sense of satisfaction after completing let's say a pair of earrings.  Every time I create a handmade jewelry, be it a pair of earrings or a charm bracelet, I cannot help but wonder as to how much effort I have put into every single component, from the design process down to the attachment of the final component.  

During the times that my hands are busy creating I barely notice the passing of time.  The more I make these handmade creations of mine, the more I become interested to see what I could come up with.

How did it all began? As far I can remember, I have always had reservations about me being able to create something with my bare hands.  Sure I love to paint, draw, heck back in high school I was so fascinated by the wonderful world of creating props, lighting and anything that led to production work for a school play or event.  I thought it was suitable for my big hands.  I dared not tread on the world of the miniatures or those who loved making dioramas and the like.  I felt I was like Gulliver and I would surely break components long before I could start anything out of it.  

But fate has a way of making its presence felt and she pushed and nudged and practically threw me into the world of handmade jewelry with my arms all akimbo. My first stretchable bracelet sent beads flying in all directions.  My first knot, the stretchable nylon snapped!  So, I tried again.  Needless to say my second try was not bad at all!  Needless to say, patience played a major role in my foray into the DIY route.  Plus, my first creation has greatly piqued my interest and I would scour the pages of every book and magazine that I could find.  I bought materials left and right, learned everything from scratch.