Still Here

Yes, I am still Alive and Kicking. But, more like Rising from the Dead - my COMPUTER *seemed* to be having software issues, so I took it in for a tune-up. However, what I was actually watching was the slow death of my hard-drive. At first, it appeared that all my data had been sucessfully captured and transfered to the new hard drive.

I took my newly revamped computer home and started it up. Uh-oh. One complete folder of one of my jewelery sites was GONE. Frantic phone call. I was told, well, it wasn't there when we got it or it would have been transferred to the new drive.

Really? It was there when the computer was powered up on the counter. Big Problem.

After an eternity, data was able to be recovered from the old hard drive and I have been sifting through it and re-sorting into folders. The photos alone number over 32,000........yes, thirty-two THOUSAND.

So, this is going to take a bit longer, but just wanted to pop in, say "HI" and to let you know this:

NO, it is NOT too much trouble to copy your files to CDs or a USP stick or even a backup to an OUTSIDE SOURCE......a backup to your hard drive does NOT work. Please, take the time to copy (I prefer copy to backup because of the format) your important data to a safe place. Programs can be re-installed. Sorting "RECOVERED DATA" is a Pain In The Neck!!!!

An OLD Lesson

Many, many years ago, I was attending some Political Soiree with my (then) husband. It was very polite and people were going around Meeting and Greeting and shaking as many hands as possible.

I was introduced to one such gentleman as "So & So's Wife", when he smiled and asked me "And what do YOU do?" in a tone of voice that sounded like a Master patting the head of his beloved Dog.

I responded "I make jewelry".

He smiled a vacant smile (you ALL know what I am talking about) and said "Really! What kind?" as he was scanning the rest of the room.

I happened to be wearing a newly finished ring in 18k Yellow Gold, with a 3 carat Blue Sapphire Cab and Diamonds, holding my hand high so he could see.

Silence.

"Oh.......you make JOOOOOLLLLLLRY!!!" he said in a totally new tone of voice and looking me square in the eye.


This scene has always stayed with me, knowing the huge scope of the word "Jewelry" and its varied perception of "And what do you do?"

And, now, after so many years, I have decided that it is time for me to CLEARLY make that distinction via my Domain Name of my website. It, like my skills, have evolved to the point that I feel it is important to clarify that, not only do I make "jewelry", I make "JEWELRY".

So, I have changed my Domain Name from "PATRICIA RILEY JEWELRY" to

"PATRICIA RILEY METALSMITH"

Now, the pages have been re-directed, and no one really will see any difference, except me.

Why now?

It helps DEFINE the scope of the jewelry I create and how it is done. I believe this is important when there are so MANY "jewelers" around. I actually came to this decision last summer when I happened to be talking to a woman who works for a jewelry manufacturer of "high end costume jewelry", who told me that all their Sales Associates (all 1700 of them) are called "JEWELERS"

.......REALLY!!!

And, it appears, I am not the only metals artist feeling this way. I have noticed a growing trend - at many fairs we have attended recently, if the artist works in metals, look for the word "Metalsmith" in their name now.

Here is a newly finished project of mine:


Now, Back to Work!!!

January Winner

Congratulations to my January Winner:

ROBYN

Robyn will be receiving the Two Charm Necklace stamped with her own personal message.

The February Give-Away is this Open Washer Charm stamped with something we all need to remember to do EVERY DAY: Live * Laugh * Love along with a Birthstone Briolette in the Birthstone Color of your choice.



Will be back soon with news about a NEW WEBSITE that is where a person can make a Custom Request and an Artist will bid for that job...........

Monthly Give-A-Way

Beginning TODAY, I am actively seeking REGISTERED FOLLOWERS for my Blog. I know from my Stats there are regular readers, but I just added the FOLLOWERS BOX at the bottom left of this Blog.

For the first year (2011), I will draw a name from a list of ALL REGISTERED FOLLOWERS to receive the piece of jewelry posted for that month. Then, in January 2012, I will switch to drawing a name from the list of newly registered followers for that month.

For the month of January, 2011, this is the piece I have chosen:


Since the piece will actually be sent at the beginning of February, I have chosen a necklace with a "Live, Laugh, Love" ID Tag, a Birthstone Briolette, and a Heart Charm. The Heart Charm will be stamped with the:
Name of Your Choice and Date Stamp on the Back

I will draw the name on the first day of February so that even if you register at 11:59pm on January 31, your name will still be eligible. This is the procedure I will follow each month. I will contact you via email for all the important information and will announce the Winner within the first few days of the month. YOU WILL KNOW YOU HAVE WON BEFORE IT IS ANNOUNCED ON THE BLOG!!!

Thank you all for joining and any (reasonable) requests for future Give-A-Ways will always be considered!!

Etsy Valentine Coupons

Both of my Etsy sites are trying out a new feature that Etsy introduced about a month ago. Seems that now, after many user requests, they have added a Feature to the Checkout procedure where a Coupon Code may be entered for a predetermined discount.

In my case, I have added a 10% Discount to my sites:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PatriciaRileyJewelry?ref=pr_shop


http://www.etsy.com/shop/geminidesignjewelry?ref=pr_shop


It will be interesting to see how the Coupons affect sales from both the sites. While 10% does not seem like a huge amount, for jewelry, it actually is, since most individual artisan jewelers charge almost nothing for our labor......

This particular piece is ON SALE and will have the Coupon Discount added, so it is a (gasp!) BARGAIN (oh, how I hate that word in regards to jewelry)!!

Valentine Special

So, we'll see how this Experiment goes!!

USPS Express Mail's Dirty Little Secret

Because of the nature of my wholesale business, I use USPS Express Mail.

A LOT.

LOTS AND LOTS OF MOOLA A YEAR.

For the most part, it is relatively reliable and easy to print labels from the Click & Ship Online program that also gives you a discount for paying online. And, they advertise, you just drop off the package and do not have to wait in line with a package already labeled and paid.

How easy. How convenient.

Until you try to get a refund for a package NOT delivered AS ADVERTISED.

I had encountered some resistance when getting a refund before. Hoops to be jumped through at just the right angle. But, nothing like this morning.

MONDAY: JANUARY 3, 2011 9:27AM

I had 5 refunds due me. FIVE LOUSY REFUNDS. I took the Original Receipt that I printed. I took a copy of the USPS Track & Confirm printout showing the failure to deliver AS ADVERTISED. I was met with a SCROWL by the lovely Post Office Clerk, who snatched the papers out of my hand and strolled to the back room. After a few minutes, a different clerk came out to take care of the other customers, obviously glaring at me so all could see her displeasure.

After about 20 minutes, the clerk came back and told me she could only refund ONE of my five because her PRINTER WAS BROKEN.

Really?

First business day of 2011, 9:47am in the morning. Her printer is broken and I'll have to go to ANOTHER POST OFFICE.

REALLY!?!?

So, I come home and call USPS Hotline, who gives me the Local USPS Customer Service. I visit with him about my experience. And then go to the Home Base Post Office for this area.

This time, I am greeted with a smile and politeness. She takes my paperwork and disappears into the back "to confirm" everything, leaving one clerk at the counter.

THIRTY MINUTES GO BY.

She finally returns and tells me that only ONE is eligible for a refund because I had ONLY DROPPED THEM OFF AND DID NOT STAND IN LINE TO GET A RECEIPT FROM THE CLERK WHEN I MAILED THEM.

HUH?!?!?

Where is that rule when you are filling out and paying for the label ONLINE?
Where is that rule posted when you are in a lobby of a Post Office?
Where is that rule posted next to the words "Guaranteed Overnight Delivery"?
Where is that rule when the Post Office sings the ease of Click & Ship packages?
Why does the clerk not inform you that you will NOT get a refund if you do not stand in line to get that additional receipt?

Not sure what my next move might be, but be sure I am doing web searches for Class Action Lawsuits against the USPS Post Office for untruthful and misleading advertising and intentionally leaving out important information about their "guarantee" so they do NOT have to refund their failure.

Be sure of this: I will think twice before I pay for Express Mail to the USPS again.

I guess, more than anything, I am disappointed at the deception. I will certainly be more diligent in the future about learning all the rules and not being so trusting, which has always been my weak spot.

Good-Bye 2010

It is with much relief that I bid Ado to 2010.

When 2010 arrived, it was with much Hope that it would be better than 2009. Boy, was I ever mistaken!!! It turned out to be a Very Challenging and Sad Year, sprinkled with some Amazing and Wonderful Surprises that balanced 2010 to the Positive.

I am Truly Blessed with an Amazing Family who continue to delight me every day.

I am Truly Blessed with a Vocation and Avocation that Feeds my Soul.

I am Truly Blessed with Health throughout my entire Family.

I am Truly Blessed with My Friends, despite the fact we do not see each other enough.

I am Truly Blessed with a Safe and Comfortable living and working environment.

And, I am Truly Blessed with my Faith and Spiritual Cocoon that surrounds me at all times.

So, I greet 2011 with Anticipation for whatever it may bring.


May YOUR 2011 be everything you want and hope it to be!!