A Friend of Mine…Pam Sani Part 2

For you my Friends,

Well, I promised to fill you in on Pam’s Jewelry Show.  Pam did well  though not as well as I had hoped.   I had been so excited and wanted Pam to do Super, Fantastic.   She passed on some insights that she learned through the process of this show and I thought I would pass them on to you.

Level of Preparedness:

1) To have a Great Show you need to be well prepared…from business cards to pricing.  You need plenty of stock, plenty of promotion and plenty of smiles.

2) Be honest with yourself about how much effort is required to: create your items, prepare them for sale, and to promote your event PLUS your level of willingness to do it .  If you are not up for it either get some help or reschedule, because it’s a lot of work!

3) Shift your focus from what you want, to what your customer needs:  from what you create, to pricing, to presentation it’s all about your customers.  So, make it attractive to them in every way.

4)  Once you’re prepared and everything is in order, enjoy your customers!  Have fun and those perfect customers will come to you!   AND Finally…

 5) Don’t give up!  All the hard work pays off.

These ideas have been very helpful to me as I am preparing for my own fall shows.  There is still a lot of work ahead so keep your chin up and just do the next thing!

Have a Great Week!

~Lori

A Friend of Mine…Pam Sani

Hi All, Happy Monday!

I know, I know!  I’m really just trying to get myself into a good mind-set to face another week.  How do you prepare yourself for the new week?

I have told you about my friend Pam before.  She is a brave soul!  Last Friday she had a jewelry show in her home.  She worked  so hard preparing for it.   I hope she got a really good return on all her hard work.  She has a good core group of people who come just to see what she makes and they buy from her too.  Can you imagine?  Imagine having repeat business…what a dream.  Just starting out I don’t even have a mailing list.  I would just send an invitation to everyone I know.  That’s about 6 people, ha ha ha.  She has had shows before so it is not as big of deal for her as it is for me but still there is a lot of work that goes into something like that and I know she wants to have good sales as well as a good time.

I’m scared to death to take on something like that, but as you know, anything I’m scared of I wind up walking right into eventually.  So, there is a fall fund-raiser at my church each year called “The Holly & the Ivy”.  I have looked into possibly setting up a table and selling my jewelry there in October.  We will see what happens and if I can pull this off.  It would be a great way just to get my jewelry out there to be seen in the community.

I’ll Keep you posted.

As for Pam…She’s a veteran jewelry show seller  and after having to take some time off she is just getting back into her groove.  I can’t wait to hear how well she did!  I’ll be sure to let you know too.

Have a Great Week!

~ Lori

Exciting News…A Good Dilemma!

Hey,

I hope your week has gone well.  I have some exciting news to share with you.  There is a corner store about 0.5 mile from my house.  It has been closed for 3 or 4 years but just reopened a couple of weeks ago.  It is a little quick shop/deli.  They sell milk, bread, eggs, cold drinks, sandwiches and such.  I was curious and decided to stop in and see what they had done with the place.   So, I stopped in the other day.  They redid the floors, painted and opened up the space for the deli counter.  It all looks really nice.  Of course I got into a conversation with the woman who turned out to be the owner, and in our conversation we talked about small business and trying to make a go of it in this economy.

I told her about my jewelry and she agreed to let me put a little display on her counter!  I am excited and overwhelmed as now I have committed myself to yet more work.  So, I’m on the hunt for a display and this is what I found so far.

It is generic and will hold plenty of earrings, bracelets and necklaces.  I think it is a good start.  What do you think?

Now how to pay for it…?

Have a Great Weekend!

~Lori

Balance, Simplicity & Organization

Hello Again,

Well it’s Friday and I don’t know about you but I am soooo ready for the weekend!  Last week I was looking for Balance, this week…I need a nap.  I couldn’t find it.  I think the Balance went out the window along with the Simplicity and Organization.

So, what about Simplicity and Organization?  Well, recently I was telling a friend how overwhelmed I have been lately and she said, “Simplify”.   She was right.  The problem is that I can’t really simplify very much.  I keep my life as simple as possible as a rule, because of the huge issues that I do face daily, I can’t handle many.  So that left me with…Organization.  UGH!

Back Again.  I don’t know about you but I am not good at organization.  I am the stereo typical “Artsy Fartsy Messy Person”!  AND I HATE ORGANIZING!  I like things to be organized I just don’t like doing the organizing.  Several weeks ago I talked about getting organized and cleaning up my spaces.  Well, that  stuck a little, only a little.  The problem is I just can’t seem to get everything organized at one time let alone to keep it all that way.  I do a little here and a little there but over all everything is still a mess.  I really don’t know how people keep there spaces perfectly neat.  There must be a room somewhere in their house that everything gets dumped into, and then no one sees it.  I just can’t seem to keep the house “neat as a pin”.  It’s not possible!!!  Of course, I have plenty of help messing it up but not too much help cleaning it up.

So, if anyone out there has any ideas that could possibly help this naturally messy, artsy person I would really appreciate hearing from you.

Here are some organized messes that Keith made this week.  I Love Them, full of Color and Chunky!

This week’s Support Autism Bracelets made by Keith. I Love the second one from the Left!

Have A Great & Restful Weekend.

~ Lori

Wordless Wednesday

Keith, my Autistic son, Made These Bracelets to Raise Money to Help Support Autism. 10% of every sale goes directly to The Autism Society

Keith, my Autistic son, Made These Bracelets to Raise Money to Help Support Autism. 10% of every sale goes directly to The Autism Society

A Friend of Mine…God

Hi,

Did you ever talk with God and say “You have to work this out because I don’t see the way I am supposed to go”, and then an answer just falls in your lap?  Well let me tell you what happened.

A couple of days ago I asked God to give me direction for Keith’s future as all the things that I set up completely fell apart and I didn’t know what to do.  So I asked God to show me what to do.

Then this morning “the coordinator” from a local program that I looked into before Keith graduated, called me out of the blue and said that there is an opening in the program and we may be able to get Keith in, so I called Keith’s social worker.  She said she would call “the coordinator” and talk with her.  I haven’t heard back yet but who knows, this just might be the program for him.  It is a very good program from a great local university and I know Keith would be very successful in this program.  So, I am waiting to see what happens.  Please keep us in prayer.

I believe that everything will work out.  I believe the right program will come to light.  And I believe that Keith will get into the program that will be a perfect fit for him.  I know this with all my being, I just pray that it won’t take much longer.  It’s funny how when I stopped trying to figure it all out and asked for help God made things happen, not that I haven’t asked before but as the saying goes, Timing is everything.

What are you waiting for?  Have you done all you can do?  Has it all fallen apart?  Maybe it’s time to stop trying, and ask for help.  You never know, you just might have the answer fall right into your lap.

Just like these bracelets that Keith made.  Who knew he had such a knack for making jewelry.  He put all of these together by himself except the one on the far right which was his first so I helped him.  Amazing what just “falls into your lap” when the timing is right.  I am so proud of him and his good work.

Bracelets Keith Made to Raise Money for Autism

Bracelets Keith Made to Raise Money for Autism

Have a Great Week!

~ Lori

The Saga of Keith

Hi Everyone,

Well, I have to swallow my pride a little bit here and admit a mistake that I told you.  Last week I said that all funding to special needs individuals was cut.  That is not completely accurate.  All Wavier funding was cut, which of course is where Keith is.  So to Gov. Corbett, I am sorry for exaggerating the funding situation but I still feel that cutting the funding to those who can’t care or provide for themselves is wrong.

So, the good news is that we had a meeting with our Social Worker, J, who is the absolute best support services coordinator in the whole world, in my opinion.  She came to our house during her personal vacation time to fill out paperwork for new funding for Keith through Base Funding which is a different funding stream than Wavier.  We should know by this time next week if Keith has funding or not.

Please pray with me that this goes through so that Keith can go back to work.  I like being with Keith but being together 24/7/365 is too much for both of us.  Thank you.

On another great note, Keith made these two bracelets this week.  Pictures below.  I am waiting on puzzle charms for the bracelets to post them on my Etsy site.  They should be in next week. I am so proud of him for all his good work.  I am going to have to stock up on supplies so Keith has enough to work with. : )    We plan on donating  10% of the proceeds to Support Autism for every item that Keith makes.  If you are interested in knowing more about Autism check out these websites.

The Autism Society – http://www.autism-society.org/

Autism Speaks – http://www.autismspeaks.org/

The Autism Foundation – http://www.thecenterforautism.org/autismfoundation

There is no conclusive evidence for a cause for Autism.  But in this mother’s opinion I believe that there is a genetic factor involved with some sort of predisposition that if all the right factors line up right, bingo, you have autism.  I do believe that there is an ecological or diet related factor as well.  What we do know is that Autism is neurological and often accompanied with Mental Retardation and even seizure disorders, like Keith.  Autism affects multiple areas of the brain’s function two specifically called the amygdala and cerebellum.  They effect emotions/understanding emotions and muscle control including muscles of speech respectively.  There are lots more interesting facts about Autism on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism.

I could go on and on but I won’t take anymore of your valuable time with it today.

Don’t forget the pictures!

Yes, I set up the pattern for this one and put the clasps on, but it was his first one and he completed the pattern and strung it independently. Beautiful!?!

This is Keith’s second bracelet. Yes, I put the clasps on but all I did showed him was one shiny bead then one frosted bead. He did the rest. I’m so Proud!

Frustrated!!! Good Idea???

Hello,

As you all know my son, Keith, is autistic.  Well I just got some bad news about Keith’s services Monday.  You may be familiar with OVR, the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, they help disabled people get to work with job skill training and possibly even some extra education funding.  Keith started the first phase of OVR training in June 2012.  He was being observed in work settings to determine his skills, strengths and needs.  Well, they were dragging their feet and now I know why.

OVR is short-term funding for work training and help to get a job.  If you need further, long-term job coaching then there are other services to pick up where OVR leaves off.  Well, ALL the funding for Special Needs services have been cut, yet again, by the state of PA and Tom Corbett.  So not only were SOME of the young people coming out of High School last year out of luck but, ALL the graduates who need help this year are out of luck too.  Plus they are cutting the funding of those who already have valid services.  It seems to me that if you are cutting the budget you should NOT cut the funds of those who CAN’T help themselves.

This is not meant to be a government bashing post but when the shoe fits…

Anyway, Keith has worked on some job skills and now they are coming to me telling me that they want to close Keith’s case because He will not be able to be independent in a job.  He needs long-term job coaching and because he has no long-term funding he will not be eligible for competitive employment, thus no longer eligible for OVR funding.  Catch-22!  Also he will not be allowed into the sheltered workshop either because they require funding too.  Keith now has no funding at all, no short-term funding, no longterm funding, nothing.

That leaves Keith at home with no training, no job, no support and no prospects!  I am infuriated by this!  We have worked hard in school all these years to prepare him for graduation, adulthood and work.  Keith has abilities.  He is capable of adding to the community and the economy but he is not able to do it alone, he needs help.  Keith wants to be a grown-up, he has enjoyed going to the workshop and working.  Keith needs to get out of the house and be productive, without mom.  This is not a case of laziness and refusing to work.  It is just the opposite.  He wants to work but there is no place for him.  Not unlike many very able-bodied adults out of work out there who are getting unemployment benefits.  Article On Special Needs Individuals and Work.

So, where does this leave us?  As my Grandfather use to say, up a creek without a paddle.

This is where my idea comes in.  : )  I am trying to get my business off the ground and the Autism Society can always use donations, so here is my thought.  Keith is perfectly capable of stringing beads on wire so what if Keith helps me  and we donate a percentage of the proceeds to the Autism Society.  This would help me, it would be very good for Keith and it will help other Autistic individuals too!

There, it’s all laid out.  What do you think?  Good idea?  Now, what are the logistics?  Anybody out there have any experience with fund-raising for a good cause that might be able to point me in the right direction?  I am already in contact with some Autism Programs.

Hey, I’ll let you know what happens.

~ Lori

Oh, just in case you are thinking that I should just pay for it myself, it costs over $26,000 a year for these services.  These companies charge between $15 and $40 (or more) every 15 minutes, not per hour.  So, you tell me, how am I suppose to pay for that?  Could you pay for it?  Do you make over $160 per hour?  I don’t.  It’s like literally paying a never-ending college tuition bill because Keith will never graduate out of Autism.

Wordless Wednesday

My Mosaic Match in Red, Blue, Orange & Yellow

My Mosaic Match in Aquamarine & Lime

My Mosaic Match in Purple & Blue

My Mosaic Match in Green

…Mosaic Matches