Lady Three Write up!

As Written up in Artists and Fleas:

Lady Three Designs is part of that esteemed Brooklyn-based Etsy collective The {NewNew} that we have come to rely on for top-notch independent design. Lady Three delivers with her handmade and reworked vintage jewelry (above, middle) and it is a thrill to hold and behold. Check them out, you will likey. Saturday, Indoor Artist, Designer & Vintage Market, 12-8pm


http://artistsandfleas.com/2010/05/whats-new-from-who-may-29-30.html

Procrastination = Scared?

I am Back from a month long trip to China and I am not looking forward to getting back to the swing of things. I have looked at my desk (my workspace) more than a few times and I roll my eyes each and every time. Chris is asking me what I'm going to start doing with Lady Three and he tells me not to give up. I'm not giving up, I'm just not ready......ready to get my website hooked up, ready to get the creative juices flowing, ready to just do it and not be afraid to fail.

to do list:

1. Call fat Cow and see if I can change my home page
2. Go on Etsy and take my store off vacation mode to direct it to my Etsy Store
3. Fight the urge to Delete Everything on my Etsy page and start anew....
4. Order New Business Cards
5. Start thinking of a Jewelry Party at my home
6. Read the Markets book and pick a few to do
7. Bring a portfolio of my goods to various handmade stores to sell
8. Sign up for Holiday Markets
9. Catch up with the new new
10. Help Cousin Kim start her own Etsy page

That's what Ive got so far. I can do it.
Yes I can do it.....
God I hope I can do it....

Whats in a Name....

I recently Put it out there that I wanted to Change Lady Three Designs to Lady Three Alchemy....I feel it rolls off the tongue better.

I got many many replies on this matter and they were ALL unfavorable.

What I really Hate about my business name was simply the "designs" part. I feel its too common and dull.

With a lot of careful thinking, trying things out and lots of feedback from my friends and family, Ive decided to just be Lady Three. That's all. Its like being Gucci, or Versace....

So. Lady Three it is.

Branding is so important its funny. You need to be consistent and have this whole image surrounding your products. I'm working on it, but i think Ive nailed it. I want to be Vintage Old Classic Hollywood meets modern and Funky. That's who I am, and I am Lady Three......I love the elements of the old vintage and the emotions it exudes.

You don't get that anymore. Technicolor Bedrooms and Soirees and Grand Sets for movies....Nope not anymore man. Don't get me wrong, I love the movies now and how advanced we are but there is something about that old school movie like Gone with the wind, Anything with dancing and music and full on bands! I wish For a week that I could live in that time as a starlet working for RCA or another Hollywood movie company. I want to watch a black and white TV, attend parties with women in cocktail dresses and pearls sipping martinis. I want to play records and dance in the living room.

Ahhh the past...that's what I want my jewelry to make people feel. the excitement and beauty of the past mixed with the boldness and freedom of the Now.

Artists & Fleas - Williamsburgh Brooklyn

Shared a spot with My girl Julie of JulieArt on a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend! (see the Picture to the Left)

We Drove to the market so it was easy to get to and we scored a parking spot Right outside. I went in and checked in. I have never been there so I was surprised at the space. It looked like an old warehouse that was made to look used. I LOVED IT. it was very Trendy lol.

There weren't too many people out and about as I'm sure everyone was at the beach but the crowd was OK. We made a few sales and met some cool people. I even commissioned a Bathing suit from Knickers and No Fur Coat!! Ahh i cant wait to get it. I told her the style I wanted and she measured me and BOOM I'll have a cute little retro One piece alll fooooor meeeeee :)

Everyone should check Jana and her Company out: http://www.knickersandnofurcoat.com/

My thoughts are that in the Future I should NOT sell during a holiday where most people are on vacation :) But Overall I would Def do the Market again. I actually AM doing it again! I'm scheduled for the weekend after next :)

9th avenue Food Festival Craft Market

Let me start off with, THIS WAS MY MOST SUCCESSFUL DAY YET!! YAAAAY!

Getting to the West Side wasn't too bad, We took a cab from 79th and 5th ave Since I had to Pick up a table I was borrowing. When we got there there were a mess of people scrambling around to figure out where the Etsy Crafts space was going to be. It was total Chaos! people were angry, guys were bugging out no one knew what was going on......Until the fair people finally came over and gave us some spots. PHEW.

I shared a small space with a cool lady who sold precious stone jewelry and though we were cramped in there, People came on in and looked! and they LIKED!!  My stuff. the other lady didn't do to well however. Her jewelry, thought beautiful, was very very expensive and she didn't accept credit cards.

I did well because my price range is really reasonable and I had Different stuff that appealed to many different people. Its a huge street fair on the upper west side with many different buyers who like different things. I also accept credit cards and talked up the people so that they knew I was the artist and collector and they were buying good stuff. the other lady just sat there.

Its really important to be a presence at your booth, but not in the buyers face. give them the autonomy to look and try on with no pressure. Of your stuff is good, they will buy it.

A few girlfriends came over to show their love and get some jewelry, there was a salsa dance company across the street that was great! the people were super friendly and nice, the food vendors were AMAZING, we had some sick spring rolls and sweet potato fritters. it was a non stop fun day.

So yeah I made a ton of cash and came home  with Chris so BEAT and TIRED but we managed to head on over to our favorite Restaurant (Bareburger) and eat ostrich burgers, with my fav Original Sin Cider and Sick Pecan Pie.  

It was a great day.

Shout Out to my Man

My Partner In Crime
My Papi Chulo
My Funnyman
My Love


Hes the best. He goes to ALL the Markets that I do just so he can be there for me and help me carry all my crap through the subway. He never complains that hes bored or hot or hungry, he just sits there people watching, looking at other vendors and always letting me know I'm on top of my game. He pretends to be interested in what I have to say about Jewelry and thinks its cute that I love Crafting.

He puts a pillow over his head at night so that I can stay up with some light to finish some project or just make jewelry.

He sits on the couch and reads, bored out of his head while I sew.

He Accompanies me to all the Estate Sales, Flea Markets and Craft Stores and will find something to do as I get lost within Shoe boxes of Vintage What-Nots and rows of crafting supplies. He doesn't follow me around asking annoying questions, he looks eagerly for the awesome piece in the box of old stuff that I may have missed. He scours Etsy for Vintage Kramer Jewelry for me to wear and collect and hes got Amazing taste.

I know hes not the only Crafter Boyfriend Out there, there must be more. Ive seen them all. Sitting at their crafter girlfriends table, hocking her wares and talking the customers up. Ive seen them set up the tables of their Ladies and sit in the background waiting patiently.

For all Our guys Do, They deserve a Shout Out!

Especially Mine.......:) Love you baby. Thank you for your immense patience and for being by my side.

Where do you get your supplies?

NYC is an insane Mecca of Anything. Anything you are obsessed with or passionate about, NY has at least 3 blocks dedicated to it. Stores Galore, a Shoppers Paradise. Lots of Options.

My Mecca is 6th avenue and Broadway between 35th and 39th streets. There are a wide Array of Bead and Jewelry supply stores Available. I've visited each and every one, and really they are all the same when it comes to price, but the selection ranges. This area is also next to the Garment District on 35th which has an enormous amount of fabric and Notions stores where you can pick up some vintage buttons or yards of lace to use in your designs.

The Search for Quality supplies and jewelry components is a long and tedious one. However, when you do find that Jewel of a store you make sure to never forget the cross streets. Here is my list of stores I Love to go to and buy from for all things related to my little business.

Michaels!!: Nuff ‘ said. That place is like an Opium Den. I have spent many hours in that store.

Beads World: Broadway between 38th and 37th Street NYC

Lavaliere Sterling and Stones: 6th Ave between 37th and 38th Streets

Fun 2 Bead: 6th ave between 38th and 39th Street

M&J Trimming: 6th Ave Between 37th and 38th Street

Fire Mountain Gems: They ship fast and have a great catalog. you also get a free tote bag when you purchase!
http://www.firemountaingems.com/  

ETSY!: I can’t tell you how much I really love Etsy and the suppliers. You can literally find ANYTHING. Love it.

Also Dollar Stores and 5 and 10’s are an awesome resource for anything your little heart desires. From Tea Lights, to Stickers to Bead Findings and Skittles to help you pull a crafting all nighter.

I also Like to go Estate Sale Shopping, as well as antiquing and flea market browsing for shoe boxes full of old vintage jewelry or metals that I can use in my Designs.

My favorite is coming upon something awesome that I could have easily missed had I not been paying attention. And I don’t pay attention as often as I should which is obvious by the way I’m constantly knocking into people in the street.

Crafts in Chelsea 5/8/10

Rain Rain Go Away.........Don’t Blow all my Stuff Away.....


That’s basically how the whole day went. After schlepping my Neatly Packed wheelie Bag of jewelry, display supplies and a chair. I also had an extra bag with the cool frame I made ( from a previous entry) since it does not fit into the Wheelie Bag. The Trek from Astoria to Chelsea by train is a gruesome one; I had to switch at 42nd street and IT IS A HUGE STATION with LOTS OF STAIRS. So I have to pick up the wheelie and carry it around. Needless to say I’m out of shape so it was hard.
I get to Chelsea amidst everyone setting up, find my little place with my rented table and start unpacking. Now, it’s at this time that I notice how crappy it is out and how Everyone Else has a tent but me. SO I think to myself, I can probably get a Tent at Gristedes or maybe Duane Reade? WRONG. FAIL. I ran around Looking for one, leaving my stuff in the care of the ladies across the way only to come back as it starts Pouring......POURING.

I bet you’re waiting for the part where I get stuck in the rain and all my stuff is ruined.... but AHA! The wonderful ladies across the way hauled my table and stuff under their tent!!! HOW NICE! I was floored. That was so nice. THEN to top it off they offered to Share their tents with me....FREE! I definitely offered to pay them but they refused. To keep this short, I wanted to pack up and go as all my stuff, including jewelry, purse, chair and ME were getting soaked. However, they convinced me to stay as the weather had to get better and I would definitely have fun with them. So I stayed. And though the weather got better (it stopped raining and it was sunny for a bit) and I had a great time with the girls and learned a lot as well as shopped at the other awesome vendors who were there, The wind was so incredible that we all had to leave early as all our stuff was blowing away and it was starting to get dangerous. I made a few sales ( mostly from one of the girls I shared the tent with) but nothing great. Our booth was awesome and people were definitely checking it out, but the foot traffic just wasn’t there I guess. All in all it was a really cute market, lots of different vendors, Lots of cool artistic and creative stuff. It’s too much of a haul for me and since I don’t plan on owning a tent anytime soon I may not do it again :( but we shall see. When they start allowing Shares I will be able to sell with my Jewelry Partner in Crime, Julie.
PROS:

• Well Organized

• Very Large Market, all down one street

• Nice area

• Different mix of vendors - all different stuff
• bathroom in the school on the same street
• lots of Family, Definitely more family oriented market

CONS:

• You need a Tent and a Table, although Renting is Sometimes an option

• hike to get to by subway ( for Astorians at least)

• lots of vendors = Competition, you need to step up your game!

SHOUT OUTS!

The following are the ladies who adopted me and treated me so kindly. THEY ROCK and ell should check out their stuff. They have some beautiful and funky Stuff! I hope they forgive me for misspelling their names.

Keri: The Funkstress Mastermind of “ ZZsROCKnRECYCLABLES” a funky and monsteriffic collection of up cycled children’s wear that is hand painted with monsters and fuzzy things. She also makes recycled tutus that are great for kids and adults alike. Her Stuff is fun, unique and environmentally conscious. Not to mention FUN and RAD like she is! Keri was the Funky Fun one who also had a lot of positive energy and very nice things to say about the rain as I was cursing it under my breath. OH and her Business Cards are Friggin cute and Unique! She heat Pressed her Etsy Store Name as a business card onto Jeans and cut them out in squares. I hate to give away that secret but its Suuuuuch a good one! Check out Her Etsy Store: http://www.zzsrocknrecyclables.etsy.com/

Leslie: Proprietor of "Elle F Bijoux" a beautiful assortment of empty Pocket Watch Necklaces filled with assortments of Gems stones and sparkly stuff. They really are beautiful pieces and really creative, they aren’t something I have ever seen and will ever see. They’re truly unique and Original. Leslie was the Positive Energy and Positive thoughts of the group. She was all about it! Check out her Etsy Store: http://www.elefbijoux.etsy.com/

Mellissa: Doesn’t sell, but was a good friend of Keri's and she was an awesome help. She provided the car for the other girls and the manual labor as well as helped with Tent Hold Down as it was almost blowing away and helped grab everyone’s stuff that flew away. She was also really cool and funny. I have to say, I really felt the "superwoman" vibe from her.

I also have to give a shout out to some vendors that I thought were especially awesome:

Miniature Rhino - www.Miniaturerhino.com

*Jessica Marquez, the designer set up the cutest little wooden booth. The sign Read “letter writing service” and is homemade and so vintage looking with a working blue typewriter that you can write your letter on! You are then able to put it into a lilt glass bottle, cork it with a real cork, add a little charm of your choice to it and she can seal it with wax…….to be sent to the one you love….or it can be a really nice hate note. I am going to send one to my Love One Day….she even mails them for you! And did I mention her prices are great?

2nd Coming - www.2ndcomming.net

I bought a card that reads” Fuck it, Were going Dancing” and that requires no explanation. they have a lot of really nice Sassy Art prints.

Yania Creations - http://www.yaniamor.etsy.com/

Beautiful and fine quality gemstone jewelry. Her stuff is so dainty and classy I just love it!

And I love Supporting my Fellow Artists on Etsy…..<3

Brooklyn Indie Market is a WIN

LadyThree was at the Brooklyn Indie Market this past Saturday and LOVED IT! It was a beautiful day and life under the tent was cool and crisp. This was my second Fair ever and the first of the summer season, and I learned A lot. First off, this is a really good fair to start with if your a Newbie. The Organizer, Kathy Malone, was such a great Hostess. From the very beginning in applying until close down for the day, she was prompt with emails, organized, courteous and and overall really really Super nice lady. She cleaned up the tent as we were setting up, when it got windy she got up on a ladder ( in a skirt BAD ASS!) and put up some tent walls so our stuff wouldn't fly around. towards the end of the night she came around to each booth and offered us a glass of red wine for our second wind. NICE!

I also met some really nice crafters. Honestly all crafters pretty Rockin' but this group in particular was great. it was the opening of the Brooklyn Lyceum so about half the vendors that could be there were there and there weren't tons of buyers, but that made it less nerve racking for me. Honestly, My sales were good, I made back my table money and then some. I liked that it is a smaller Market and That i was able to get to know my fellow Artisans. I was able to have conversations with them, get to know them, share some tips and learn a lot. There were 4 jewelry booths including myself, but we were all different. Kathy did a good job in spreading us out and not having similar vendors.

As a smaller Market I felt it was great. That can be both a Pro and Con, however I personally find More good in it than bad. Smaller Market = less vendors for less competition. You can get more personal with the vendors and Customers and really stand out. You are able to think more about how your product is being viewed and you can fine tune your displays. I had a lot of time to think and talk and really think more about my presentation and what direction i wanted to go with Lady Three.

So to make it easy on the Eyes here are the Pros and Cons of the BIM:

PROS:

• Kathy Malone, the Organizer, Was GREAT attentive to the sellers and customers alike
• Really nice Vendors with some great products
• Wide Range of Products for all tastes ( Cards & Paperie, Vintage Jewelry, Handmade Jewelry, Natural stone Jewelry, Fine Jewelry, Purses and Bags, Clothes and best of all CUPCAKES!!!!)
• Foot Traffic was AWESOME - Great Location on Smith and Union
• Good marketing of the market
• Smaller Market, but with quality goods, NO JUNK!

CONS:

• Brooklyn Lyceum was close by which can hurt the Brooklyn Indie Market BUT If BIM is marketed at the Lyceum it could bring some Crowds over to the BIM....so this isn't really a con.....

Things I Learned at BIM:

• If you are sitting or standing in back of your table, your display should not block your View of your Buyers and Merchandise
• Try not to make your table so Busy and keep everything  Organized
• SALE DISH: key to having people stop by your table, keep it stocked with stuff
• Always encourage Touching and trying on, the friendlier you are the better but  Try not to be too overbearing
• A good table cloth and sign will really pull your booth together
• Get creative with your display, you don't want to Blend in!

Overall This was a Fabulous and Awesome Experience. I was with Chris all day so that was great (Hes the love of my life) the location was awesome and there was a really good diner across the street for snacks. I made some sales and people liked my stuff so that was a much needed ego boost. I will be back on June 5th and am going to see about some other dates in August.

YAY FOR THE BROOKLYN INDIE MARKET!!!!!!

DIY Earring Display

CHECK IT! I have been on the prowl for display Ideas that really work both visually and are portable and easy to carry as i have no car and take the subway/ my feet to get to Markets.

SO Ive seen a lot of displays with the mesh you find on a window ( the screen) and you use that on a frame and VOILA! you have a neat little display.

I have two really nice frames I purchased  at Michael's in a bind  (so I definitely paid a little too much for them) but oh my are they lovely looking. Very Classic. I figure however if i ever find an awesome antique frame ill sub that in. But for now, these are great. I have a gold one and  a silver one in the same design.

Tonight, I tried the mesh idea out on the Gold one. I went to Home Depot today and purchased a huge roll of Mesh for $6, and have so much left over I have to think of something creative to do with it. I have a nice little Back and Decker Staple Gun, Stapled the Mesh to the back of the frame, and BLAPOW! an awesome and large display to hang all my earrings for sale. Yay!

BOOKS and the Bookstore Obsession

Went Shopping today. Again. For books. I love books. I especially Love craft books. I love the little 6 shelf Sew Section in Barnes and Noble ( I scored an Educational Discount!! 25%!!) and I love the 2 Shelf Beading and metal work section and I love the clearance section.....I just love it. Granted, I buy 30238 books a year and read 4....but i have them and I love them and they give me a warm fuzzy feeling of education when I see them. Yep, i love books.

I love the smells, the new crisp papers, the gloss and the pictures. I love the fact that they are unbroken and have yet to be read and defiled by anyone. They are new and ready to go. i especially love just grabbing them from the shelves into a little pile on my arms and the excitement it gives me.

Books are a great resource for inspiration. Regardless of the fact that you may read it once, breeze through the pictures a few times. Its the High you get from the possibility of ideas, from a change, from something new. Seeing an awesome set of earrings and knowing that you could do that too.....or at least try. I love learning about new techniques and possibilities and living vicariously through the craft artists in them. They make it seem easy and Quick. Like I could make a whole slew of shirts, baby blankets, earrings and home items in one weekend.

I love sitting on the floor of a Barnes and Noble Reading away. Its Free really. But I always end up buying at least 2 books....

Timeline Part II

* 2007 - 2008 : Set up an Etsy Store, started researching what people were buying, the styles and finding my own niche. Decided upon a Logo that is ever changing, colors and ect.

*2009: Formed the NY Artisans Collective with some great girls and got motivated to take my crafts to another level.

*2010: Joined the NewNew Collective in Brooklyn and have officially thrown myself into LadyThree Designs.

Along the way I learned how to Solder metals (still not very good at it) , cut hard metals, use a power drill on sensitive materials, Threw myself into Paperie and scrap-booking, STAMPING! i love stamping.....Have spent countless hours on YouTube "How To's", Learned to Knit, Crochet, Honed in my Sewing Skills, Spent many a night reading craft books, Sharing tips and ideas with other awesome people, Melted records into Bowls, tried and tested lots of different jewelry techniques, Bought and tested different glues and adhesives, visited many different antique and vintage stores, Went to many estate Sales, picked my favorite tools, became a hardware store guru and have pledged that this Christmas I will hand make 90% of my gifts! PHEW. yep. thus is the journey of a crafter.....

The Beginning

I started the 'about me" section with : Twenty Something Female on the verge of a Mental Collapse when she thinks about her Future" and quickly deleted it. I dont think I am Mentally Collapsing, Not really, but it sure feels that way sometimes.  So I am going to use this blog for a number of things, but mostly to find answers for a few questions:

1. How do You turn a passion for something into a career/very lucrative Side job that can help financially pay for a down payment on a condo, trips to exotic countries and a new Car for Mommy?


2. Why is it that women can do everything these days, but feel so inundated by all the options and possibilities?

3. How do we narrow down the possibilities and options to only stuff we can be good at and actually love and make money from? ( I know im not the oly person who thinks this)

4. Whats the best way of going about all of this, Still being a superwoman, super daughter, super girlfriend, Super Friend and still Keep sane, in this nasty Friggin Economy! argh.

Girls Girls please raise your hand, I cannot take all the advice given all at once!!! man oh man. this is going to be a fun journey.

I guess I should start with a little timeline.

* 2001College- Started making Jewelry for shits and giggles. then found that I really liked it.

* 2005- After College- Got really good at it, started going to flea markets and buying old vintage jewelry found in Shoe Boxes and fixing it up to make my own versions of AWESOME.

* 2006-First Apartment in Astoria - Finally had some money ( credit cards) and got into the Michaels Scene. Oh that devilish Michaels, its like a crack den for Crafters!! not only can you do jewelry, But they have Knitting, Paper, Stamping..... OH MY! ALSO Discovered also that the Dollar store is a great resource for cute odds and ends that can be used in EVERYTHING.

Ok its almost 3am. Chris is sleeping next to me and is taking the whole bed. Must go to sleep before he Dominates the bed!
More timeline tommorow.