handmade – zen BLITZ

What is zen BLITZ all about?

zen BLITZ is still in its baby phase, & it’s been quite an adventure so far!

I think it’s important to reevaluate everything in your business as you go along, including your brand identity! This post is to share a little more about who I am, my brand’s themes, and the projects I work on.

As for me… I really love that wig; it’s just too cute, lol! I have a history of being a caregiver in my family, for my parents & grandparents; currently for my father. I also have an employment & education history in healthcare. ALS runs heavily in my mother’s family, so I’d like to be able to donate some of the profits from my shop toward treatment & research one day! I’m currently engaged to a super awesome guy whose love has set me free; the only thing really holding me back is myself.

I have a bit of a problem sticking with themes, lol! I’m a Libra, so I have a bitch of a time making decisions in general. Themes varying from vague (fun, spiritual, classy) to more specific (witchcraft, buddhism, steampunk, rave, hippie boho). I know I need to pick specialties & focus on a certain audience, but…that’s not me! That’s not very zen BLITZ. zen BLITZ is calm & crazy, spiritual & steampunk, yin & yang. Right now, I’m just testing what works well, & what doesn’t.

Another problem I have is sticking with any one project. Really, I’m “in too deep” with my jewelry making, especially since that’s what my fiance has been supporting most. However I’ve always been into all kinds of crafts, because my mother was super craftsy. I tend to have a few different types of projects going on at once, but I do also tend to finish one thing before adding another. So far, my shop is mostly jewelry – necklaces, bracelets, rings, & earrings. I also added some wine glass charms. I’m currently working on a set of crochet wine glass and water bottle lanyards, & then I’ll start working on some more jewelry. I just finished a set of ATCs (which were a bit of a ~~flop~~…learning experience), & have been working on woodburning a plaque for my sweet deceased kitty.

Seeing as jewelry is a very saturated market, I figure it wise to venture into other handmade markets wherever my talents lie. The only constant in life is change. It’ll be fun to watch my shop evolve over time!

“It’s important to reevaluate everything as you go along”

That’s advice I carry throughout all areas in my life. It’s always a good time to shed things that weigh you down, & change the things that aren’t working for you. “Every day is a holiday…”

That’s my brand identity!

What are YOU all about? Freewrite some random words, & let’s chat in the comments below!

And be sure to check out all the fun stuff in my Etsy shop at zen BLITZ

Check out these social media faves!!

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The results are in from last month’s analysis, and I’d like to share my top 3 items with you!

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Two of these items were made in response to other items, & one was a successful shot in the dark. I’m pretty proud of their popularity so far! Hopefully someone feels inspired to buy one!! 😉

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Coming in third, I call this super cool steampunk inspired necklace the “Steampunk Reject”. I actually included it in this blog post from back in January, “possible rejects” because it was so popular on Instagram despite its imperfections. Before, the beaded section was wonky, the gear pendant wasn’t what I thought it was gonna be as I was making it, &…I can’t remember what else I didn’t like about it. I just knew it could be better. And voila! I like it a lot; I couldn’t see myself wearing it casually, but I think it’d make a cool costume / festival piece!! With 24 likes on Instagram fixed, & 27 when it was a “reject”, it looks even cooler in person than pictures can show!

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Second most popular was this “Classy Hippie” necklace. Inspired by something similar on Pinterest, I figured I’d give it a shot since I have those pointy-shaped rock beads (lol! what are they called?! Anyone? Help? lol) It didn’t quite turn out as I’d hoped, but it seems to be pretty popular. I like that it looks handmade. It’s definitely unique, & I could see myself wearing it casually. With 11 likes total between Twitter & Etsy, I might be experimenting with this style a bit more!

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Last but certainly not least, here is a fairly basic beaded macrame necklace that I call “Steampunk Love v1.2”. Last summer, I got back into jewelry making so that I would have something to do with my cousins when we were camping. I made my fiance a necklace similar to this one, & he got a lot of positive comments about it, so he insisted I try opening an Etsy shop. And here I am!! ;D Between Instagram, tumblr, & Etsy, this was my most liked item, with a total of 28 interactions! It might even be the most liked item I’ve posted so far, so there will definitely have to be more of these in the future!!

Be sure to check out ALL the awesome stuff available in my shop!!

I’m often adding new listings & trying new things, so keep an eye out!

Let me know what you think of these items in the comments below; I welcome constructive criticism as well as compliments!!

And if you do happen to see something you like in my shop, zen BLITZ, be sure to use code SPREADLOVE for 10% off anything & everything!

Have a great week, everyone!! ❤

How I Keep Things Organized With My Business Notebook…

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While I love my Bullet Journal (which I’ll have a post for in the future!), I knew I’d need a three ring binder for my business adventure. This way, I can keep things organized by tab, and I can move & remove pages with no problem!

Here I’ll share which tabs I’ve found most useful, & what for…

The first few pages are uncategorized. I keep a daily to do list, which I also use for random notes; I like being able to recycle the page when I’m done with it. Also uncategorized is my monthly business plan (which turns into my analysis page at the end of the month), and breakdowns of my business processes (production, sales, marketing, & bookkeeping).

Current projects : Whatever I’m working on in any of my business processes. Currently that means : info page for the product I’m listing next, notes for this very blog post, instructions & notes for crochet lanyards, and a brainstorm for my next series of products!
Blog / Social media : Mostly brainstorms for things to post on social media, including topics to blog about. Also an index of my posted blogs.
Financial : Cash flow reports, notes on overhead charges, my pricing formula, and a list of the sales & discounts in my store. (Here, have 10% off by using code SPREADLOVE)
Time & Activity Logs
Ideas : Brainstorms, & notes about trends. Also, instructions for ATCs, ideas for my steampunk / renaissance festival outfit, & a list of the creative endeavors my boyfriend & I are working on together.
Accomplished : Finished projects, so they can be rearranged before they’re listed in the store. Also houses my past monthly analyses, which should have their own tab soon.
Listings : The project sheets for each of the listings in my Etsy store, in order.

A paper & pen notebook works best for me in most situations…

…though I do use Evernote quite a bit too (another post for another time.) I actually think my binder is more versatile than even the cloud!

Do you have any notebooks? What for? Let’s chat in the comments below!

And don’t forget to check out all the new stuff in store at zen BLITZ!

Ghost Island Inspiration

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I thought I’d snagged my first sale, until I got to thinking about it…

A couple weeks ago, I got a message on Etsy requesting a custom order, even though I’m not offering them yet. I was initially excited for the challenge and came up with some cool ideas, but ultimately the project just wasn’t feasible. However, I still tried to put the inspiration to good use.

So, the conversation began in reference to one of my current listings, this unique macrame piece. The gentleman said that he was part of a crew who were doing a something special for the season finale of Survivor : Ghost Island, & he was trying to find a bunch of custom made macrame necklaces for about 25 people. He said they had a really cool pendant being made, which features the skull in the logo, & he wanted two-toned macrame necklaces with purple & orange beads, embedded pebbles, and/or a “nature” theme. He said he had a budget of up to $8 per necklace, but said he was willing to pay extra for any special beads. And he said he liked the simplicity of this necklace, which makes sense since the pendant is obviously the focus of the piece. He seemed to be getting irritated with my ambition (I just wanted to make sure I could help him! LOL), so I figured I’d continue the conversation after a good brainstorm & scavenger hunt…

After looking at the logo & contemplating what he requested, my boyfriend & I came up with some great ideas. White then black hemp, with wood tiki beads, an orange & a purple bead on either side, white pebbles netted in beside the pendant hanger, & an adjustable chain & lobster clasp closure. That would’ve been perfect! So, I went to four different stores, and couldn’t find anything suitable!! Especially not for such a low budget, which was a concern my boyfriend was very adamant about. Figuring I was one of several people contacted with this request, I let it fizzle.

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But the ideas were just too cool to not try as one of my next series of listings (which I’ll start listing in my shop soon!) Voila : a reject!! Rather, a lesson in techniques. I didn’t even bother adding closures because it’s just going to have to be scrapped, even though it’s still kind of cool. I don’t like how I switched the colors; none of that turned out right. The beads are kind of lame, but kinda cool in how they go along with the logo colors. And I can’t net pebbles in hemp. Just not gonna work. Otherwise, I almost like it LOL, but it’s still definitely a reject!

“Success is a series of mistakes” ~ Billie Joe Armstrong

Even though this project didn’t pan out, it was a fun & educating process. At least I know I’ll be better prepared for future challenges.

What do you think?

Was $8.00 each for 25 necklaces reasonable?
Do you like what I came up with?

I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments below, or shoot me an email at ZenBlitz@yahoo.com

Have a great week! (And don’t forget to visit my Etsy shop!) ❤

What Are “Mala Beads”?

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As I list more items in my shop, you’ll surely see a few “Malas”. In case you don’t know what these are, let me share this wonderful concept with you.

Many cultures utilize this concept, especially within spiritual and/or religious context. Malas, specifically, originate in Buddhism as meditation & prayer beads. Typically, a mala is made of 108 beads, with an additional “guru bead” & a tassel. The beads are used as an abacus, to keep count of breaths or mantras. In other cultures, similar concepts are used such as with the Christian Rosary, & Pagan Prayer Beads.

20171117_184134 — One of my personal malas

I made one & began using them in my meditation practice as soon as I came across the idea. Personally, I usually use them to count my breaths, or to focus on a particular “vibe”. I’ve made different sizes, for different uses – My longer sets are stored on my meditation altar at home, while I wear smaller sets as bracelets for quick meditation sessions throughout the day, or just as a “reminder to be mindful”. Some are made of special beads for special purposes.

Mala beads can be a useful tool during mindfulness practice & meditation

If you practice meditation at all, I insist that it’s certainly worth having a set of Mala beads, if not several. I always welcome something new & refreshing to aid my focus, and my mala beads have been improving my practice for several years now. Make your own, or check out the ones available at my Etsy shop : Zen Blitz ❤

My Adventure Starting a Craft Shoppe

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I’ve been crafting since I can remember. My mother studied art in advertising, & was really quite talented. We had very different tastes, but I respect her creativity. She could do lots of things I’m not so great with such as ceramics, drawing, painting, knitting, & sewing. I lean more toward jewelry making techniques, crochet, and random things. She taught me yarn crafts when I was a kid – loop rugs, knitting & crochet. I taught myself how to sew at about 15. A problem I have is that I’m a bit of a “Jill of many trades, master of none”, but I’m learning to use that to my benefit, while still trying to “master” everything hahaha.

Where am I now? Well, my mother passed away from ALS when I was 15; we don’t have much of a family, so I live with my aging father to keep him out of a nursing home. My ex fiance & I were together for almost 11 years when he dumped me last year, & told me to “find someone who deserves me”. So, I did. I met Mr Wonderful through my cousins on my mother’s side, & it’s as though we were made for each other. But I’ll gush another time, lol. Point is, he encouraged me to open shop after watching me “throw together” bracelets & necklaces for my young cousins. I figured I’ve been tinkering with jewelry making for over 10 years, may as well see if I can make some money with it! The business end of things shouldn’t be too much for me. I wasn’t raised to be very organized, so I started reading up on how to be when I was a little kid. Now, I’m hyper-organized. Sometimes to a fault, but I can always figure something out. I’ve managed at a couple of the stores I’ve worked at in the past, one which had literally just opened & was being run by folks who had no clue about the business. My co-manager & I saved their asses to the point where they offered to pay for me to get a Bachelor’s in business. So, I’m sure I’ll have impressive Etsy skills with time.

I’m currently taking some mini business courses online, which have been helping a little bit. I was thinking about getting a certification in Business Management through my local community college, but I don’t want to affect any potential financial aid I can get when I go for nursing. My boyfriend wants to start a business together, so I figure I should learn as much as I can while he contemplates what we should do. Really, I’m trying to lean him toward crafting things for my shop, because he’s incredibly creative & meticulous. Time will tell.

Starting a business takes months of preparation…

…and you’ll still never be ready for everything. But I think I’m doing pretty good so far. I’ve been working on “building my brand” on social media, though I know it has room to evolve. I have 15 items to sell, & I’ve just about figured out a “beta” packaging & shipping plan. The only thing holding me up is acquiring the packaging, which is no big deal. I intend to launch soon, & the wheels can start turning freely. Wish me luck, & keep an eye on my shop as it evolves!!

Twas a Handmade XMas… (lots of pics)

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Even the tree was handmade! (Kind of.)

The tree was actually once 8 feet tall and came with lights attached to it, but had been dismantled for a few uses. One was for our mini XMas tree, which my boyfriend made for me because our cats are too crazy for a normal tree. So, he grabbed a basket bucket out of the garage, stuck in some floral foam, & made a mini tree for us…

…after he made a gift for my teenage cousin. I was having a lot of trouble coming up with an idea for her; I know she likes peace signs, so he suggested he make a copy of the giant peace sign wreath he has hanging way up out front of the barn. So, he stripped all the lights off of several branches & wove the branches together to make a decoration I hope she enjoys for years to come. Maybe even throughout the year! Watching him make it was quite incredible; this man truly has the patience of a saint!

And he really loves to create. He browses the internet for all kinds of fun things to try. At work, he cut a few slices of wood to make a wall hanging, & blackboard notepad.

He got an old lightbulb from work, wrapped some copper wire around it, & made me a steampunk like earring display!

He made steampunk like stockings for his daughter & son in law. The pants used were from the local Salvation Army, we used bells from the Dollar Tree, & embellished one with a clock button & some chain, and the other with a handmade zipper butterfly & the decor from the bells.

I made some candles, which…I’m learning, lol. I think the wicks I have burn too quick for my soy wax. I also crocheted a really cute Batman plushie, but I don’t have a pic of it right now. I do, however, have lots of pictures of all the bracelets I made for my cousins…

These were made for my young cousins, a sister & brother (thus the similar styles, so they don’t argue haha)

Another sister & brother combo, both made with leather, for somewhat older kids. I really like how these came out!

And last but not least, my first men’s bracelet, made with leather & moonstone. I also really like how this one turned out.

Handmade items take thought, energy, and time.

And there were more that went around, including this cute fake tealight holder. (When the lights are off, it casts forest-like shadows on the walls!) I’d always wanted to make gifts, because I think it’s the right way to celebrate the holiday. Plus, I’m poor & trying to start a craft shop 😉 I’m really happy with everything, & I hope you enjoyed all these random ideas. Stay tuned, I’ll hopefully be opening up shop soon…!

“Zen” gift set

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I’d made my ex a mala bracelet a while back, which he promptly broke. So, I promised to make him a new one. Since I was also considering starting to try to make jewelry to sell one day, I decided to make an entire gift set to go along with the mala.

It took me a little while, but…

The mala itself is made out of beads he picked, including a stone skull, & mood beads. I added a seashell charm because he likes the water, & made it out of macrame hemp so that it would be more durable. While it could easily be worn as a bracelet, it’s meant to be more of a pocket charm. I included a painted rock from the creek in the mountains, & an ATC that lists types of meditation.

I doubt he’s been meditating…

Especially lately, with working full time, even though that’s when he should probably be doing it most. But he liked the gift. I was pretty pleased with it too!