Thoughtful Teacher Gifts Under $30

Personal Teacher Gifts Under $30

There are two times a year when I get lots of requests for teacher gifts - the holiday season and the end of the school year. Often times, I will get an e-mail from a past customer who wants a special gift for their child's teacher and needs a suggestion. Here are my top 8 picks for gifts, each in a different price category.

I do also take special requests so if you see something you like but want it changed up a bit, please don't hesitate to contact me.


Gifts Under $10
Many times, it's the child themselves that is purchasing the gift and so budget is usually a little tighter. Here are very popular items that I suggest.

Tiny Antique Silver Hammered Earrings  - $6.00
These earrings are one of my top sellers. They are very small which makes them appropriate for anyone. Many times it is difficult to judge a person's taste when buying jewelry. These are simple and versatile.

Blue Sea Opal Quartz and Silver Earrings - $8.00
Another big seller are these blue sea opal quartz silver earrings. Everyone loves this color, it's so tranquil and soft, but without being too pastel.

Gifts from $10 to $15
I have so many jewelry pieces in this prices range, that it was difficult to select just two to display here. But, these both are nice choices and appeal to many.

African Turquoise and Gold Bar Bracelet - $12
I have this bracelet in both gold and silver, and both sell equally well. Bracelets are always a good selection for gifts and my friendship style bar bracelets come with a 1" extender for an easier fit.

Tiny Sterling Silver Nugget Earrings - $10.00
These earrings are a very new addition to my shop and I cannot keep them in stock. They sell as quickly as I list them. They are sterling silver, which is always a good choice for a gift. The sterling silver nugget is very small and lightweight, again very appropriate because they are versatile and fit anyone's style.

Gifts from $16 - $20
This category is probably the most popular price point for teacher gifts and my silver bangles are definitely the biggest seller for gifts.

Sterling Silver Bangles - $16 - $19
I have a wide variety of bangles available, but the birthstone bangles are, by far, the most popular. I offer each bangle in every birthstone color. These are great gifts because they have a personal touch.

Personalized Sterling Silver Bracelet - $20
This is one of my personal favorites. It's sterling silver and the chain is a bit chunky so it fits really well. Sterling silver is always a great choice and the personalized stamp makes it extra special.

Gifts from $21 to $25

Personalized Silver Necklace with Birthstone - $22
If you like the idea of the birthstone bangle, but are worried about sizing or not sure if your recipient wears bracelets, then the personalized silver necklace with choice of birthstone is a good alternative

Long Layered Antique Silver Necklace with Antique Discs - $25
If you notice your recipient wears a lot of jewelry, then long necklaces are definitely something to consider. This necklace layers very well with other jewelry and is so versatile, can be worn casually to work and out in the evening.

I hope this list helps! If you have any favorites of your own, please share in the comment section below.

Instagram Giveaway

Theresa Rose Designs Instagram Giveaway

I'm running my first Instagram contest. The winner will receive my very popular personalized sterling silver birthstone bangle.

You can find me at instagram: Theresa Rose Designs

To enter, follow these 3 steps

1. Repost this pic
2. Hash tag #lovetheresarose
3. Tag me @TheresaRoseDesigns. 

You must be a follower. Giveaway is open to U.S. only and will end midnight on Nov. 8.

November Birthstone Jewelry - Theresa Rose Designs

Handmade Jewelry - November Birthstone Ideas

November is just a couple of days away and it seems to be a popular month for birthdays. If you have someone on your gift list with a November birthday - here are a few ideas.

Personalized Gold Necklace with Topaz Quartz Stone- $20.00

 

Topaz Quartz Gold Framed Earrings - $12.00

Sterling Silver Topaz Quartz Earrings - $10.00

November Birthstone Topaz Quartz Sterling Silver Bangle - $17.00

Swarovski Crystal Topaz and Gold Bangle - $20.00

Swarovski Crystal Topaz and Sterling Silver Bangle - $20.00

Simple Jewelry Photography - My 3 Secrets

Simple Jewelry Photography Secrets

I'm often asked about my secrets to taking good jewelry pictures. I've been selling on Etsy for 6 years, and as you can tell from my before and after pictures, I've learned a few things along the way.

I would never refer to myself as a photographer and I have constantly struggled with my photography over the years, but with a lot of research and practice, I now feel like I've gotten a good handle on it. Here are my 3 top 'secrets' that I've picked up over the years.

1. The Right Camera and Lens

Have a good camera with the proper lens! Sorry, but this really is essential. The iPhone just won't cut it, at least not with jewelry. Jewelry photography has its own set of challenges and to get the fine detail that is needed, a good camera with the proper lens is important. I happen to have the Canon EOS 40D which works very well. But, here is the real secret - the 100mm Macro lens. Unfortunately, it can cost between $300 to $500 just for the lens. But, if money is an issue, the 50mm lens also works very well and you can get it for around $100.  These lenses allow you to get really good detailed close-up shots. 

2. Natural sunlight. 

This isn't as hard as it sounds. I still shoot indoors but next to the window (see the video link below for my 'perfect' location). Shooting next to the window allows me to get the natural sunlight that gives the best effect. I add 2 lamps on either side and I get a beautiful, natural setting that works for any color jewelry I photograph. Even better, with this setup I have no need for a light box. I've tried light boxes in the past with inconsistent results.

3. Wear White.

I went years without knowing this great secret. When you are taking pictures, the color bounces off of your clothing and wearing white makes you a natural reflector - cool huh! Wearing a different color shirt can create an off-color cast on your images, making the background color look dull or unnatural. I had always wondered in the past why some photo sessions turned out all wrong. Once I learned this secret, I've always had consistent photography.

Here is a video of my photography 'studio' setup:
Theresa Rose Designs - Jewelry Photography

I hope these 3 tips help you. Please leave a comment if you found this useful and/or you have additional tips to share.

How I Designed My Own Website Without Hiring a Webmaster

How To Design a Simple Website

Creating and maintaining a website doesn’t have to be a monumental task. I think one big mistake people make is that they look at big company websites and are immediately intimidated by the scope and grandeur of these sites. For most of us, it’s just important to have a presence on the internet that contains pertinent information and links to our product offerings on our shopping site, such as Ety.

While I maintain a successful Etsy shop, I also have my own website. This site shows my latest jewelry products in a slideshow and then has links to my Etsy shop, blog, facebook fan page, twitter, and pinterest. There is also an ‘About’ page and a ‘Contact’ page. It took me one week to create and I used all free code found on the internet! I can modify it at a later date as my needs change. But for right now, I have all my important information on one site.

I found a great site on the internet called Free Website Templates. I browsed through their templates until I found one that had the style I was looking for. One caveat -  there are some templates (usually the best ones), that do not allow you to download the code. You can only edit and publish from their site. I quickly dismissed those. There are still many free downloadable templates to choose from. 

Once you download the code, then it’s just a matter of replacing their logos, images, links, and text with your information. Fortunately, I used to be a windows programmer, so I do have a lot of comfort in coding, but html code is very straightforward and anyone can edit it in a simple text editor. The source code is not cryptic and one can usually decipher it readily. If you’re stuck on a piece of code, just google it! You’ll find all the descriptions you need.

The most difficult task was replacing the main body picture with the slideshow pictures. I found a great site on the internet that gave me the free code for the slideshow – with all the instructions needed to integrate their code. There’s even a discussion board to help!

The company is Dynamic Drive and their website can be found here:

http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex14/fadeinslideshow.htm

Once I edited the files, cleaned up my images, I copied all the files onto my hosting site (I use hostmonster.com) and I was instantly on-line! It was a great feeling to type in my website and see my jewelry on the internet.

I’m happy to help anyone who may have a question regarding what I discussed today. Please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll help any way I can. I realize that programming can be a bit daunting, but it is so worthwhile to have your own website!

Here's the link to my site: Theresa Rose Designs

Expanding My Business - fibi & clo Sandals

fibi & clo - cute and inexpensive sandals

I'm so excited to announce that I'm expanding my business! As my handmade jewelry line has grown and business is booming, I have been looking for opportunities that complement my jewelry. Quite accidentally, I came across Fibi & Clo at a Wink, Women's Inkorporated networking event. As I continued to see the shoes and sandals (due to Facebook posts), I became more intrigued with the company and their products.

A couple of weeks ago, I took the plunge and signed up to be an independent fashion agent with this marvelous company.

So, why am I excited about this opportunity? Here are my reasons:

1. Um, it's shoes!!! Beautiful, blingy sandals - nuf said.
2. I now 'own' my own shoe company and I get to share these shoes with my friends.
3. The quality of the shoes is great and because it is a direct-selling company, we can offer the shoes at almost wholesale costs - ranging from $30.00 - $99.00.
4. They literally sell themselves. Even my husband is a believer now that he sees people's reactions when I wear them.
5. I don't wear uncomfortable shoes (just ask my daughter!), so finding pretty, feminine sandals that are both comfy and flattering is always a struggle. These shoes are seriously comfortable! I can walk around in them all day. I won't sell anything that I won't wear myself.

One of the biggest draws for me was that this company is fairly small, especially compared to other direct-selling companies. There are only 2000 independent fashion agents in the entire country! So I consider this a ground-floor opportunity. Not very many people have heard of fibi & clo, so the market is wide open.


Sun Cascade Sandal - $49.50

Please visit my fibi & clo website to see all the available styles: fibi & clo.

If you are in the San Diego area and wish to host a shoe party, please contact me at theresarosedesigns@gmail.com. The hostess incentives are amazing!

$245 IN SALES – 1 pair of flat sandals or $49.59 credit toward a more expensive shoe.

$550 IN SALES – 2 pairs of flat sandals or $100 credit toward shoes of your choice.

$1000 IN SALES – 3 pairs of flat sandals or $150 credit toward shoes of your choice.

Also receive two items at 50% off and earn gift certificates for referring friends!

So, what do you think? Do you see yourself wearing these great sandals?

Theresa Rose Designs - October Daily Flash Sale

October Daily Flash Sale

October is a special month for me. On October 16, 2013, I finally was able to quit my day job to run Theresa Rose Designs full-time. To celebrate, I am going to be having a special sale each day of the month. I will be offering one piece of jewelry at 40%-50% off each day in October.

I will only be advertising my 'daily special sale' on Facebook and Instagram. There will only be one item available and I will select a different piece of jewelry each day. So be on the lookout starting October 1. 

To see the daily deal, follow me on Facebook and Instragram.

Here's the link to follow me on Facebook: http://facebook.com/TheresaRoseDesigns

Here's the link to follow me on Instagram: http://instagram.com/TheresaRoseDesigns

Look for the hashtag #TheresaRoseOctoberSale

Wink, Women Inkorporated - A Great Business Networking Group for Women

Relationships are the catalyst for success.
People do business with those they like and trust.
Serve as a resource, help others succeed. 

Wink, Women Inkorporated - Women's Networking Organization

While I've been more than happy to stay holed up in my little studio, wearing comfy sweats, and making jewelry all day, I realize the importance of meeting new people in order to grow my business in new ways. I've done a decent job growing my business by learning about Etsy, taking good pictures, and word of mouth. But there's a whole big world out there and I want them to know about me!

Networking is about making connections and building enduring, mutually beneficial relationships. Plus it's fun, especially after a few long days only conversing with my dog!

Networking is inexpensive. It’s full of like-minded individuals that you can work with or learn from in some way. Also, face-to-face networking events create lasting impressions in the minds of people you meet.

Last summer I joined Wink, Women Inkorporated, a women's business networking group based out of San Diego.

Here is the Wink Mission:
'Wink, Women Inkorporated^® is a faith-based business women’s networking organization. We have a vision for making business women’s networking better, more effective and of high integrity for all women in business. Wink events offer business insights and ideas, workshops, relatable topics, collaboration with like-minded women and lots of connecting with women ready to grow professionally and personally. Wink business women’s networking is open to all female professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners or independent contractors. We offer a fun, welcoming, professional environment of high integrity.Wink, Women Inkorporated is the Link to Business Women’s Networking.'

The good news is that they are going national and chapters will be opening up all over the U.S. Not only am I meeting other women business owners, I am learning so much because they have fantastic guest speakers at each meeting. Examples of some of the speaking events I've attended are:

• Facebook Ads and Boosted Posts
• The 30-60-90 Day Plan for Your 2014 Sales
• The Entrepreneur Mindset Panel 
• Leverage: The Secret Weapon of Successful Solopreneur's

Since joining Wink, I have seen my jewelry sales double - yes, double! It isn't because I'm selling loads of jewelry at the meetings, it's because my mindset was completely changed from hobbyist to serious business owner. I have learned so much about running my business and have gained more confidence in myself.

This summer, I became the Chapter Leader for the Carmel Mountain Ranch group. I have met so many fantastic business women. Women that are in all different stages of running their own business, some part-time, some full-time. It has been truly inspiring being around such motivated people.

I found Wink at Meetup.com. Meetup is a great site where you can find a wide range of groups for every interest imaginable. While there are many business networking groups in every city, it's just a matter of finding the one that suits you. For me, Wink was the perfect match.

Here is their website for more information on Wink:
http://womeninkorporated.com/
If you are interested in starting a chapter in your city, please e-mail me for more information.

The Carmel Mountain Wink meetings are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Claim Jumper at 12384 Carmel Mountain Rd, San Diego. Meetings run from 11:45 to 1:15. You can find more information at the meetup site: Wink, Women's Inkorporated.

A Simple, Effective Facebook Contest That Will Gain You More Fans

Running a simple Facebook contest

I frequently run Facebook contests, but last week I ran a contest that had a twist. I actually found this idea from a Facebook account that I follow. Instead of just asking people to comment in the post, I added a new requirement - each entry had to tag a friend. Both the entrant and their tagged friend would win a sterling silver bangle.

It worked great! By requiring entrants to tag a friend, I had much more engagement and exposure to new people that have never seen my page. My current fans appreciated being given the opportunity to help their friends win jewelry - it was a win-win all the way around!

I highly recommend trying this yourself. And please comment below and let us know how it worked out for you.

3 Things Many Sellers Don't Do Before Opening a Store on Etsy (and Should!)

Do you want your Etsy shop to be a hobby or a business?

Etsy will take you through the steps to open your Etsy store, but besides knowing how to functionally set up your account, choosing your shop name, etc., here are the 3 things that I believe are vital to have completed before opening your 'doors'. However, I consistently see new sellers that start selling without completing these 3 things, and it leads to frustration, a bad experience, and in many cases, an early close to the shop.

1. Create a professional shop appearance.
Before listing your first item, you should have your bio, about page, and policy page completed.
A policy page is so important and a well designed, informative page can save you plenty of headaches down the line. Here is where you enter the following information:

• Return & Exchange Policy
• Payment Options
• Shipping Information
• Additional information such as custom order policy, wholesale offerings, etc.

I personally think your profile picture should be a picture of you, not of your product or even your logo. Other people may differ, but I believe it adds a personal touch and people like to see who they are purchasing from. Especially in the handmade world, when a customer can see the designer/owner, it adds to the experience.

2. Have at least 20 to 30 items made and photographed.
This will ensure that you are starting out strong and have a full shop right away. I personally will not purchase from a shop that has only a handful of items displayed. It doesn't give the appearance that the owner is serious about their business. Granted, there are some shops that are highly specialized and only make custom pieces. Then it is understandable that they can only list a few at a time. But, those are the exception. You also want to start off with a good momentum, and having 20-30 items ready to list immediately will get you on the right track.

3. Know how to ship your product and have the supplies already on hand.
This may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many times I've seen the question in the forums with the title 'I've sold my first item. How do I ship it?'. Before opening your shop, make sure of the following:

• Determine your shipping method - Etsy shipping, Paypal shipping, Stamps.com, or good old-fashioned stamps.
• Purchase appropriate envelopes, boxes, shipping labels, stamps, packing material, etc.
• Practice at least once shipping an item. You can even ship it to yourself or a family member. It may cost a couple of dollars, but knowing how the procedure works ahead of time is well worth it.

I have to admit that I wasn't prepared in this area, which is why I emphasize it here in this post. I didn't expect to sell my first piece of jewelry within 1 week, so I hadn't purchased the bubble mailers yet. So when I woke up to my first sale, I had to rush to Office Depot to purchase (very expensive) envelopes. I then made a mistake creating the shipping label and had to cancel it, and start over. Learn from my mistake!

Here is a good Etsy article regarding how to set up your shipping profiles:
Etsy Blog - Create Shipping Profiles

So, while there are other areas that are extremely important before setting up shop, I chose these three to discuss because I believe they are ones that are overlooked more often than others.

Remember, you want to have a professional shop - this will go a long ways to ensuring your success!

Summer - Simply Sublime

I'm not ready to give up on summer yet. It's September, but it feels more like July here in San Diego. That was the inspiration for this collection. A simple lace dress, cozy flats, and nude nail polish. Perfect for a summer evening.

Paired with two of my jewelry designs, the long antique silver necklace and matte silver teardrop earrings, simple, yet elegant.

And what summer outfit isn't complete without a siberian husky puppy!

Summer Cool....

Theresa Rose Designs Jewelry and Cabi Spring 2014 Collection

We're still in the heat of summer but evenings in San Diego can get a little cool, especially by the beach. Wearing a sweater doesn't seem right in August, so the CAbi Net sweater is the perfect option. It's a cross between a sweater and a loose cami - perfect for a summer evening. I paired it with my Deconstructed Brett Jeans (also from CAbi). Unfortunately, these two items are from the Spring 2014 line and are no longer available from CAbi. However, I have found both of them on Ebay, so there's still time to snatch them up.

Simple hammered matte gold earrings are lightweight and don't break the bank. I have them selling in my shop for $7.00. The Aquamarine Gold Bangle completes the look at only $22.00.

Simple flat sandals are a must this time of year and always match anything in my closet. I'm loving these Tory Burch sandals - not to mention that match perfectly with my jewelry!

Links to the above items:

CAbi Net Sweater 

CAbi Deconstructed Brett Jean 

Tory Burch Miller Metalic Sandals 

Tiny Matte Gold Hammered Earrings

Aquamarine and Gold Bangle

Other links:

View my Polyvore Summer Cool Set...

My CAbi Obsession Pinterest Board 

#Hashtag - Understanding Hashtags and How To Get Started Using Them With Your Business

Either you run the day, or the day runs you.

- Jim Rohn

While I've been tweeting and posting my way through the Social Media World quite regularly, I have to admit that I've been a late-comer to utilizing hashtags as part of my social media strategy. I finally decided it was time to bite the bullet and get started utilizing hashtags. 

What is a #Hashtag?
Simply put,a hashtag is an easy way for people to categorize, find and join conversations on a particular topic.by a number sign (#), the hashtag is paired with a word or phrase to perform a variety of functions. attach hashtags to tweets and posts as search mechanisms, categorizing tools and marketing tactics.


Hashtag Formatting 
The hashtag is used to highlight key words or topics, and can be placed anywhere within a post or tweet.

• Not case sensitiveMust contain at least one alpha character. 
• Cannot be all numbers (ex: #1234)
• Can be combination of letters and numbers (ex: #4change, #iPhone5, #good4you)
• No special characters (ex: !@$%&*)
• Must be all one word with no spaces (ex: #SocialMedia, Not #Social Media)

Why Should You Use Hashtags For Business
First and foremost, it increases your exposure on popular social sites. More visibility and exposure is why we're on these social sites. More exposure gets you more followers, and since hashtags are used to categorize subject matter, it helps you get the right type of followers by targeting your audience. 

 
4 Steps to Getting Started With Hashtags
If you're a complete newbie to hashtags, these 4 steps will get you going in no time.

Step 1: Find Popular and Relevant Hashtags In Your Industry

• Start following companies in your field to see what hashtags they are using and what type of engagement they receive. Look for a mixture of large and small companies, including your direct competitors.
• Check Hashtags.org for trending and popular hashtags.
• Search glossaries or directory of terms published by professional associations or other groups.
• Input hashtags at Tagboard.com to see how they are being used by other people and companies.
• Search Iconosquare.com for hashtags used in Instagram.  

Tagboard.com

Here's an example of a typical display by entering the hashtag '#handmadejewelry' into Tagboard. I can then view other hashtags users entered in the same post.

Iconosquare.com
In the below example, I entered '#handmadejewelry' and looked through the feed until I found some posts that looked interesting and had good engagement. I then clicked on the photo to display the hashtags being used. 

  

Step 2: Create a Hashtag Spreadsheet

Below is an example of a spreadsheet I started. In the first section, I listed other jewelry designers I follow. Then I created columns for typical jewelry categories I use. The bottom group of columns list my other interests, hobbies, and topics I also tweet, blog, and post about, so I also needed hashtag ideas for them.

This is a living document that I modify on a regular basis. It's great to have it handy whenever I'm posting so I always have a list of hashtags I can use.

Step 3: Start Posting With Hashtags on Your List
Now that you have a good list of starting hashtags, start tweeting and posting. If you are getting stuck on where to begin, here are some good suggestions:

• Participate in Daily Trends. #ThrowBackThursday and #FollowFriday are examples of popular daily trends. There are also numerous daily trends in many industries. Find one that matches your business and post every week.
• National Day - There is a 'national day' for just about anything you can think of. Find some that pertain to your business or interests and post something relevant on that day. You can always find a hashtag that describes the day.
• Look for trending topics or search a hashtag to join the conversation.
• Post or tweet while you are at events, conferences, or even out to dinner. Be sure to take pictures and include them in your post.
• Do you have a good tip or advice related to your field? Tweet about it.
• Retweet other posts that you find interesting. People love to be retweeted. Make sure to thank people who retweet your posts too.

Below are some examples of good tweets:

Humorous take on a trending topic.

 Great tip that people will tend to retweet.

Thanking people for retweeting is always appreciated.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Only use 1 – 3 hashtags per post/tweet. Overuse of hashtags leads to less engagement
• Don’t use the same hashtags in every post or tweet -  mix it up.
• Don’t input hashtags that are not relevant to your post. 
• Don’t hijack hashtags involving sensitive situations. 
• Don't hashtag every word (i.e. #I #am #so #excited #today)  
• Don't hashtag the same word more than once (i.e. It is my #birthday. Here is a photo of my #birthday cake, my #birthday presents, and my awesome #birthday party!) 

Epic Hashtag Fails

Don't try to capitalize on a sensitive issue.

Asking for retweets is always bad. It looks spammy when linked to a disaster.

 I don't even need to explain this one.

Or this one.

Step 4: Create Your Own Hashtags
Now that you've gotten comfortable using existing hashtags in your posts, it's time to create your own hashtags. This is where branding comes into play, so be sure to create hashtags that are unique to your business name. I use #TheresaRoseDesigns and #TheresaRoseJewelry often in my posts.

• Keep hashtags as simple and short as possible.
• Don't customize beyond what's necessary. For example, there is no need to add the year to the following hashtag: #JewelryTrends2014.
• Test your hashtag on social sites such as Tagboard and Twitter to make sure it's unique and more importantly, appropriate.
• Make sure your hashtags are clear, unique and relevant.
• While you can design a hashtag using CamelCase (for example: #TheresaRoseDesigns), it's always a good idea to test it using all lower case. Can you spot the problems with the below hashtags?

Finally, here are a list of useful sites that help you while researching hashtags: 

Hashtags.org 
Lists popular and trending hashtags, along with article and news about hashtags. Includes analytics for a fee.  

Tagdef.com 
Lists most popular hashtags for the week, all-time, new tags, and top users. Gives definitions for popular hashtags. 

Tagboard.com
Input a hashtag to see how a hashtag is used across multiple networks. The results show posts from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Vine, and App.net. 

Trendsmap.com 
Shows relevant hashtags that are being used in your geographic area.