Rose of Sharon Jewelry

When Christmas decor appears in stores BEFORE Halloween – Shopping Fatigue hits. So why start promoting our handmade jewelry in Oct? Because we only make ONE of each!

The handmade jewelry produced by the 9 of us, aka Rose of Sharon Jewelry, are all one-of-a-kind creations. From a simple crystal anklet to an elegant Bali silver and lampwork necklace – each original design is unique.

 

Our work is only sold via our online store, Etsy and ArtFire and getting the word out means that I’m always telling the story of what we have for sale. I’m tweeting, blogging, sharing updates and sending our newsletters.

As with most retailers, the Christmas season accounts for the largest percentage of our annual sales.

Faithful customers - Sorry for overwhelming you with our marketing but we have to hit all the bases to ensure a successful Christmas season.

Asking a Favor

If you’re reading this blog post, you are either a handmade jewelry lover (and hopefully a customer), family member or friend.  I’d like to ask a favor – could you please share the message of our great handmade jewelry with your network of friends, family and business acquaintances?

We’re really appreciate the support and would be grateful for the buzz. You can share this post (see the icons below) or cut and paste the web addresses to our different stores. Perhaps you can heart our Etsy store, forward a special design you love (hint, hint – hubby) or just promote our jewelry to support the handmade community.

A big thanks to you all!

Our artisan line is at http://www.roseofsharonjewelry.com

Adornable Anklets is at http://www.adornableanklets.etsy.com

A.F.F. Jewelry is at http://www.roseofsharonjewelry.etsy.com

New Life Jewelry Art is at http://www.roseofsharonjewelry.artfire.com

 

If you have any questions or would like to share web links, let me know by sending an email to sharon@roseofsharonjewelry.com

 

A great business motto is “If if you don’t ask, you’ll never get what you need.

 

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Next month, grandson Hunter and I be creating gingerbread houses. This adventure (our 1st) was inspired by How to Build a Gingerbread House by Christina Banner.

The book is on order and we’ll be mixing, baking and blogging about our frosting adventures. If you’d like to follow along, be sure to subscribe to the RSS feed or email notice service.

To try the recipes and techniques for creating this seasonal favorite, you can pick up this book through the link below.

 

We’d love to see what you’ve created from gingerbread and lots of icing so be sure to post your comment and pictures here.

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The mind is a powerful tool in dealing with breast cancer. Today’s post shares ways to strengthen your mind and spirit to travel thru cancer successfully.

Betty (Mom) is a 20-year cancer survivor and Arden (hubby) has been free of lung cancer for over 25 years. Today, I’ll share a 5 tips that helped them travel successfully through cancer.

Believe in Life

The common belief that “they were not going to die” was prominent in their minds. Mom believed God didn’t want her yet and Arden felt this wasn’t how he was going to die. This focus on life instead of death can be a tough one (and may be fleeting from day to day) but it sets your mind on the right path.

Calm for Life

Multiple studies have shown that meditation has powerful benefits on our physical and emotional health. When you are dealing with a life-threatening illness, your emotions are in charge. With a body on high alert, its natural ability to heal itself is compromised.

Being able to calm your inner dialogue, lower your blood pressure, relax your muscles and keep your immune system working efficiently is extremely important when you are dealing with any type of cancer.

You can learn to mediate from a book (there are plenty available) but the best and fastest way to learn is through a class, audio book or video. Many gyms and health spas around the country offer meditation classes. You can also locate a class or tutor through a Buddhist monastery or temple.

I listen regularly to the Buddhist monk, Pema Chodron. Her voice is calming and her approach is excellent for beginners.

Walk for Life

Some of us find it difficult to silently mediate in a sitting position – walking meditation is a perfect solution (plus you have the added benefit of a mild exercise).  You’ll find easy to follow instructions on various web sites such as YogaTeacher.com and this YouTube video of the well-known monk Thich Nhat Hanh from True Sounds Video.

Google “walking meditation” along with your city and you’ll find classes, groups and churches which teach and sponsor walking meditation events.

Read for Life

Mom spent time reading the Bible for confidence and comfort. Arden discovered a book which he has given away repeatedly over the years that I’m recommending today.

The Cancer Conqueror by Greg Anderson was Arden’s bible during his cancer battle. There are multiple editions available through Amazon resellers and this book is  worth seeking out. In fact, Arden keeps an extra copy in his bookshelf to give to someone facing the words – it’s cancer.

Another powerful book from Anderson is a valuable tool on what to do when  the doctor says it’s cancer. Those words seem to make our minds go blank and inhibit our ability to address some vital issues. This book will help you do just that and more.

Share for Life

Family and friends are important part of your support system; however, they are also personally dealing with your cancer. When the diagnosis is breast cancer, seek out a support group who can listen, share and give you advice without “owning” your problem.

Many women have found deep and personal connections through cancer support groups. During your physical and/or emotional weak points, you’ll have a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on and another person to listen with you as your doctor’s discuss treatments and prognosis.

Please share this post with anyone you know who is dealing with the Big C. Whether they are the patient, family member or friend, these 5 bits of advice can work wonders.

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It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I’m featuring serious and silly posts about breasts. Today is a fun list of all the words for breasts. Feel free to add any I’ve overlooked.

No matter what you call them – it’s hard to ignore them! Gals – take charge of your body and find the right name for your Girls! LOL While #15 is my favorite – I think I’ll refrain from naming my pair.

1. Breasts
2. Boobs (also Boobies)
3. The Girls
4. Tits
5. Titty
6. TaTas
7. Bosom
8. Knockers
9. Bazoombas
10. Hooters
11. Honkers
12. Headlights
13. Jugs
14. Boulders
15. Cha-Chas
16. Udders
17. Rack
18. Bust
19. Charleys (from the Rat Pack era)
20. Melons
21. Mosquito bites
22. Puppies
23. The Twins
24. Fun Bags
25. Thelma and Louise

 

Hope you consider this post a light-hearted look at breasts as an off-set to the more serious discussions we’ll have throughout October.

Today Sandra and I are finishing the last of the beaded watches, enjoying long conversations and getting ready for her famous beef stroganoff for dinner.

Having Sandra here has been a wonderful vacation from non-stop marketing of Rose of Sharon Jewelry and worrying about slow summer sales. I’ve spent the past 10 days relaxing, creating and being together. Arden took time off too; so the 3 of us have “lived and loved” fully together.

As a small business person, often my days are filled with mundane tasks and trying to get the word out on all our beautiful handmade jewelry. At the end of the day, I realize I spent most of it at the keyboard and online.  That’s why a few days away is so critical to me.

Time off makes me crave the creative, just like a long winter makes me want to start gardening on the first warm day. I’m convinced that electronics (which I’m admittedly addicted to) can actually play havoc on our health and well-being. But surprisingly enough, I find that it can also adversely affect the business.

Being an self-employed, work-at-home Grandma has a lot of pluses and having 10 days with Sandra has been one of them!

Back to full-time blogging starting tomorrow!

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1-2-3-and more! Grab a lawn chair and start counting – fireflies that is. You can enjoy a lovely evening and help out science learn if fireflies are disappearing.

Scientists from the Museum of Science, Boston are trying to determine whether the glowing firefly is disappearing. By gathering data from volunteers from over 700 volunteers across the U.S.

There are over 200 firefly species found east of the Rockies (sorry folks, they aren’t in the West). A chemical reaction in their body creates twinkles in yellows, greens and pale blues.

Volunteers have a tough job – they are require to spent at least 10 minutes a week counting fireflies, noting their light patterns and various colors. They are still in need of volunteers and this would be a great family project.

The goal is to build a 10-year database of information for scientists to review. They started in 2008 and that data is online at Firefly Watch for everyone to review.

Kids love fireflies and an after-dark picnic would be a wonderful way to bond and learn about science. You can even observe them in your pajamas in your own backyard!

Growing up in Oregon, I never saw a firefly. I was lucky to spot my first firefly during a business trip to Indiana in my late 30s! I immediately became a kid again!

Southern states still have fireflies in the evening to take  some time to stop and watch. If firefly season has ended in your area, you can still volunteer early for next season.

Learn more about the Firefly Watch and become a volunteer before the season ends.

 

Reading aloud isn’t just for little kids. Reading aloud is a great way to connect with an ill parent, start talks with teens or share ideas.

  With two 4-year-old grandsons, I read aloud regularly. Every reading (even if we’re reading Green Eggs and Ham for the 100th time) is different. Orion loves to read the book from cover to cover. His favorite now is a big book of Berenstain Bear stories. Kael loves to interact with his new “Dangerous Dinos” book, roaring along with the T Rex and matching his collection of dinos with the pictures in the book. Reading preschool books aloud means dramatic voices and bold emotions.

In early scenes of movie favorite, The Princess Bride, Grandpa wants to read to his sick-at-home 10-year-old grandson who thinks being read to is  “for babies.” As the story unfolds, the wonder of being read too is revealed and the grandson cannot wait to continue.

Daughter-in-law, Dawn’s favorite class this term is all about children’s literature. Part of the class entails reading aloud to each other. She quickly learned how uncomfortable this can be for many adults – even ones training to be teachers. Dawn reads aloud daily to the twins and also to 13-year-old Hunter. It never occurred to her that Hunter would be too old to enjoy a well-read story. In September, she’ll be reading Hunter a popular young teen series, The Hunger Games.

Family reading can be everything from the Bible to Harry Potter. Reading to the entire family is also a way to start conversations, spend time together WITHOUT the TV and share a love of books. Select a book with classic elements with universal appeal. You can even pick books that are a bit above the comprehension level of the younger children as they will typically understand more than you might realize. Learning to sit still and listen is a wonderful lesson for young children.

Books that inspired favorite movies can be a good starting place. Even as the story is familiar, the process of reading aloud gives it a fresh feeling (and of course, many books are so much better than the movie versions!)

Make reading together an interactive event by creating costumes, wearing masks or hats and having people act out a specific scene.

As children mature, let them select a book to read aloud. Move on to letting them read sections or for books with lots of dialogue, have them read a specific character’s speech. Learning to read aloud is the first step to becoming a confident public speaker.

Reading to the elderly, disabled or ill has physical, spiritual and mental benefits. The sound of your voice calms, the ideas stimulate the brain and

Don’t have anyone to read aloud to? Why not volunteer at a local library, hospital or nursing home. There are also organizations seeking readers for taping readings of newspapers, magazines and books for ill or handicapped listeners. This human connection is a powerful one for the listener and the reader.

 

 

• Read Aloud Collection from LA Library system for older children.
• Ageless Sages – reading aloud to elderly video.
• Reading aloud to teens and preteens from Reading is Fundamental.
• Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic – reading opportunities
• Reading to Kids – volunteer reading
• Read Aloud America

 

So grab a book, grab a child, grab a friend, grab anyone who will listen and start reading aloud. I’d love to hear how you read aloud and how it benefits.

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Playing for Change is a powerful way to connect with people from around the globe through music. The organization, started by 1 man interested in sharing street music from around the globe, has become a wonderful tool for peace.

About 18 months ago, I saw a PBS report on the Playing for Change music and spent some time searching for a CD for Arden. The wonderful street and professional musicians had such a warm message and fabulous songs! I finally was able to sign up for a mailing list to be notified of its release. When Starbucks started carrying their DVD, I knew they were going to become a global influence for good music and peace!

The video below is a bit large for the blog but I felt it was worth the scrambled appearance for a day to share this!

 

 

Start by listening to their music, then join in on this wonderful project at Playing For Change.