Good News!

Hey everyone!

I know it has been a while, but I'm actively trying to make an attempt to get back into blogging. I've been spending some time working on a pen pal documentary blog called The Not Quite Dying Art (follow me here). I wanted to get back into the snail mail community so I've been working hard to get involved with sites that incorporate swapping letters and packages with crafting and other hobbies. =)

But that's not the only good news! I was asked to table at a gaming convention! I will be selling my goods at the upcoming September convention, Queen City Conquest!

If you've been watching my Etsy mini along the left sidebar, you'll notice my inventory has changed to include some geekery! Dice pendants, bottle cap necklaces, and soon I'll be adding complimentary pin-back buttons to match the bottle cap necklaces.

However, to add even more excitement, I now have a facebook page, found here!

I am also working on new Valentine's Day gifts. I know, I know, it's only August. What the heck am I doing planning this far in advance for a holiday not due until next year?

I learned how to craft some things and they make for a much less expensive gift made from the same cute materials! So instead of charging something like $12 to $15 for a booklet that just looks pretty, I can lower the price by almost $10 for something small but functional (and still adorable)!

Updated Etsy Shop! Plus, 5% Off!

Zipper Necklace

Real Swarovski Crystal Heart

Real Swarovski Teardrop Crystal

Looks like a rainbow in the right light.

Cameo flower pendant. The only gold/bronze item I sell.

Can you believe this was a glass bead?

This was a brooch!

Made from a vintage chandelier that's over 100 years old!

Made for a pin, I took this and turned it into a ring.

Aren't these just gorgeous? Look at all the different colors!

And now, for the best part-- the discount! To get 5% off your next order, use the coupon code WINTER11

The site can be found by clicking here.

Love you all! Have a happy holiday and wonderful new year!

I Have Returned!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to say I'm sorry for taking such a long time to update. I know my previous update wasn't in the best of spirits but that's how I've been these past few weeks, not in the best of spirits. School has been busy and I had some personal problems to deal with, and in a few weeks I'm going to embark on a journey only the truly gifted can reach the end of. This journey is called NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month. It takes place during the month of November and the goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in only the month of November.

Yes, I know, I'm crazy, but if I can pull this off, I will achieve one of my personal goals, which is to finish a novel that I've begun. I have tons of stories lying around my computer and my father's computer, awaiting completion. This November I will write a brand new 50,000 words to a story idea I'm also using for my screenwriting class this semester and next semester in school. This will ensure a thorough tale, which I've entitled Lucidity.

My story is a dark fantasy about an artist who gets sucked into a war in the Greek Land of Dreams and must confront her tragic past in the face of a supernatural force threatening world destruction.

I created another blog which I plan to update daily and dedicate solely to NaNoWriMo, which can be found here. Any support you guys can give me would be much appreciated. Last year I didn't get any support and only reached 26,000 words. I'm hoping this year things will change. =)

One way you can help me is to send me letters, postcards, photos, post-its, or any other type of message you can think of (messages in bottles would be well-appreciated, too). Describe a dream you've had in a letter or send a photograph of your favorite hangout or a place you think is really cool. These letters and photographs will inspire me create one of the main cities in my story, set in the Greek Land of Dreams.

Please send them to:

Alyssa Ricigliano

460 Franklin St.

Buffalo, NY 14202

I know the dangers of posting my home address so just to let you know, this is an office address, not my home address. I pick up my mail and packages from this address so no worries about the dangers of posting my information on the internet. I don't live nearby this building, but I have my mail delivered there and then saved for a once-a-week pick-up. If you'd like to become pen pals, I'd give you my home and/or dorm address, but that's a request for a separate post. =)

One final thing before I leave you is in regards to my craft show two weekends ago, October 9th. I sold five items, an equivalent to $13, followed by an additional 2 sales the following week for a total of $9. I didn't break even with the cost of the show, but I'm going to try again at this weekend's show. Wish me luck! Take care, everyone!

Amvets Discoveries!

So I embarked on an adventure to Amvets with my dad in search of display items for my upcoming craft shows. I made out quite well, finding not only a bunch of display items, but a ton of new crafting supplies! I found plastic canvas, a bag of new embroidery hoops, and a bag of multi-colored yarn skeins. Those will be put away into their respective homes. I discovered this amazing fabric, too! I'll hopefully have enough to use it as a tablecloth before I find something else to do with it.

For the Win

Great news! I heard back from both craft show managers and I've been accepted into both shows! The first and more expensive of the two has an easier payment system. They gave me paperwork to fill out and asked for a check order, which I can definitely pay.

The second, however, expects me to use PayPal, which I have to use for Etsy but apparently never activated the account for. Plus, I don't have a credit card and my bank account is too depleted to pay the fee and also have enough to keep the account open, so I'll have to stop at the bank and deposit some money, or pay my dad cash and just put his credit card on file instead.

Am I the only person on the planet who likes having cash more than having a card? I find myself spending so much more with a card. With cash, I know I have exactly what I have, and that's it, so I spend it more wisely.

But anyways, I'll be able to pay for the first show, no problem. I'll send in their money order sometime this week or the beginning of next week. I believe their show is also October 9th, which is the closer of the two shows. The second show is October 23rd, and assuming I can figure this PayPal stuff out, I'll have two shows to attend! =)

I'm SO excited!!! And now I have to ask you guys again, same questions from the previous post. Does anyone have any display arrangement ideas? Like should I put place cards with the name of the item I'm selling in groups?

I was thinking I'd have a deal of some sort, like if a person spends more than 25 or 30 dollars, they'll get to pick a pair of earrings or a bracelet for free. And I was hoping I'd be able to stick a business card, a "Buy Handmade" pin, a hand-written Thank You card, and a piece of candy or cookie into little recycled PVC boxes to give out with each purchase. Does that sound like a good idea?

Wish me luck! More details to come! =)

Wish Me Luck!

So as you all are aware, I make jewelry, scarves, clothes, and other handmade goods to sell online at my Etsy shop. However, I have yet to sell anything despite how appealing I try to make my items seem, with their prices as low as they are and their pictures as professional as I attempt to make them.

I found the courage in myself to make business cards and pins, among other essentials for running a business, and today I finally found that courage again and went onto craigslist to search for churches hosting craft shows. I found two that were within 15 minutes of my house and sent e-mails to their managers. I have yet to hear back, but I'm hoping that slots will be available and that I'll be able to buy one. They are being held on two separate Saturdays in October.

This will be my first craft show and I'm looking forward to setting up a display and a table! =)

I may have to make a sign or have one made, and get a nice tablecloth for the table. I want to find some sort of jewelry display and maybe a rack for clothes. I might enlist my father to help me build an all-encompassing display for jewelry, then have some extension piece to hold scarves, belts, cowls, and shirts. Does anyone have any display arrangement ideas? Like should I put place cards with the name of the item I'm selling in groups?

I was thinking I'd have a deal of some sort, like if a person spends more than 25 or 30 dollars, they'll get to pick a pair of earrings or a bracelet for free. And I was hoping I'd be able to stick a business card, a "Buy Handmade" pin, a hand-written Thank You card, and a piece of candy or cookie into little recycled PVC boxes to give out with each purchase. Does that sound like a good idea?

Please wish me luck, you guys! =)