Studio Update Pictures

Still a way to go with getting everything done and organized, but here is my studio/office in process!  All the cabinets are up on the wall - YAY!  Now more of my supplies and stuff will have a new permanent home.  The cabinets still need painting, the counter tops need to be laid and some misc tool and spool holders need to be installed, but it is finally coming together!

My resin casting now has it's own workspace!  Formica still to be added.

Upper Cabinet for all of my molds and lower for supplies and curing resin.

Double cabinet and counter for my beading area.  Dedicated space for supplies and projects!

Trying to make it work during the construction.

Getting better!  Will be able to move my laptop back in soon!

Studio Improvements

Over the next several weeks, my step-dad will be doing great things in my studio.  New cupboards, counter tops, storage....it will be a mess for a while, but it will be so worth it to have everything organized and easier to work with.  I'm planning at least three different work areas to keep my different crafts to their own areas, with proper room to store and use the tools and materials they require.

I will post photos of the progress as it happens :)

It's Official! I've Got Myself a Business!

Who has two thumbs and has her own LLC?  That's right, >this chick<!!

I went for simplicity for the official name, Aquarian Mind, LLC.  Has a nice ring to it, huh?  Well, I think so and couldn't be happier.  This is truly a "YAY!" accomplishment for me!  Step one in building my "empire" is complete, hahaha!!!

Guess I better brush up on those accounting skills I've ignored for the last six months being "unemployed"!  I'm thankful for the background in accounting and small business management I've had for the last seventeen years, and will definitely put it to use!

Merry Christmas/Plans for the New Year

Merry Christmas to everyone!

I'd like to give special thanks to all those that have purchased from me for gifts this year.  December has been phenomenal!!!  I never anticipated the number of orders I've received this month.  I am truly surprised and I need to give a HUGE thanks to Etsy and my customers!  You guys RULE!

For the new year, I plan on forming an LLC and continuing and gearing up what I started this year.  Once the company name is "official" and registered I will update everyone.  Since I just had more business cards made (doh!), it will be "Aquarian Mind (Something Something), LLC"....we still have to figure out the something something.  It needs to encompass all that I do and sell:  vintage, kids jewelry, adults jewelry, misc stuff on Ebay...  We're still thinking on it.

For tonight though, I plan on being with my wonderful family.  And probably watching a few hours of the yule log fire on TV.  It will be a welcome and much needed break from packing orders, making jewelry and other general craziness  :)

Quite Possibly the Best Soup EVER

Here is the recipe for my favorite soup! My husband and I both love Mexican and Tex-Mex food, so this one really hits the spot!  Love Food.com!

We do change the recipe just slightly and a suggestion: Add one can black beans and approx 1 1/2 cups corn. Stir VERY frequently after cheese is added - sticks to bottom of the pot OR BETTER YET, just add the cheese to your bowl when ready to eat.



Chicken Tortilla Soup II


By Eddie Shipman

Added November 17, 1999 | Recipe #4627


Read more at: http://www.food.com/recipe/chicken-tortilla-soup-ii-4627?oc=linkback


Ingredients:


Servings:8

Units: US | Metric

1 cup carrot, diced

1 cup celery

1 cup onion, diced

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 fresh diced garlic clove

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons corn oil

4 (15 ounce) cans chicken broth

1 (15 ounce) can tomatoes, diced (optional)

1 (10 ounce) can Rotel tomatoes & chilies, diced

1 (1 1/4-1 1/2 ounce) packet taco seasoning, I use McCormicks

1 (10 count) package corn tortillas (broken or cut into small pieces)

12 ounces chicken meat, poached, diced

1 cup milk

12 ounces monterey jack cheese or 12 ounces Mexican blend cheese, shredded
corn tortilla chips, broken into small pieces

Directions:


1  Saute carrots, onions, celery in corn oil, garlic, salt and pepper until tender.

2  Add chicken broth and bring to boil.

3  Add tomatoes, Rotel, taco seasoning, and chicken.

4  Cut Tortillas into small pieces and add to broth mixture.

5  Let boil for 20 minutes or until tortillas are thoroughly incorporated into soup stirring occasionally to keep from sticking.

6  Reduce heat and add 8 oz. cheese. Simmer for additional 10 minutes.

7  Add milk and simmer for additional 10 minutes.

8  If thicker soup is desired, add more diced tortillas and let incorporate into soup.

9  Garnish with shredded cheese and broken tortilla chips.

Now Shipping to Canada & Australia!

I hope to add more countries in the future, but as of right now, I've added Canada and Australia as ship to destinations. The thought of customs forms is far scarier than they actually are! Unless I have major problems with damage or loss, I hope to be able to ship just about anywhere in the coming months.

Treasuries Featuring AquarianMind74

I haven't updated in a while....some recent treasuries!

Success...Black Friday-Style

I'd like to thank everyone who helped make November a record sales month for me....which isn't hard since it's my first November ;)  Haha, ya gotta start somewhere, am I right?

But seriously, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of orders the week of Thanksgiving.  It is a great feeling.  I'm out of everything, but it was well worth it!  I'm hoping Christmas will keep my orders consistent in December.  So far, so good!  All that work I've put in the last 6 months is starting to pay off.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale

I'm running a sale in my Etsy shop for 15% off plus a free gift!

Link to my shop!  AquarianMind74 on Etsy

The free gifts are pretty glass bead bracelets in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes.  I will send one for each item bought!  Offer is valid through Monday 11/26/12.

Adding to My Kids Line

Clip on earrings for girls with resin flowers have been a popular thing in my Etsy shop as of late.  Who knew they'd be so popular?  I certainly didn't think so, but I'm glad they are!  So I'm starting to add to the clip on inventory with more of 'em.  The style I'm adding will be able to have dangling charms, beads, pearls ....whatever I can find that is cute!  Watch for these in the coming week.  I'm planning on also doing some with Christmas beads!

In Case You Didn't Know...

Definitely not new news, but they had new badges, so what the hey :)

New YouTube Video

I don't know if it is 100% true or not, but I read somewhere that YouTube is one of the most used search engines, second only to Google.  Wow!  Now I understand why businesses do videos!  I decided to hop on the bandwagon too.   The above is my very first attempt at making any sort of video.  Don't laugh ;)

First Wanelo Sale!

This morning I'm celebrating the first sale I've made from direct traffic from Wanelo! I have thought that Pinterest would be the site pointing people my way, but it turns out all I usually get re-pinned over there is recipes! Wanelo is definitely geared more to the shopper and Pinterest more to the DIY/thrifty types. Well, at least that's what the users have decided anyway. I try to put at least a few of my new items over there a couple times a month. Although it seems like I've been doing the Etsy thing forever, it has only been since February. I have to say I'm pleased with where I am and hope it keeps ramping up! Jewelry is a hard thing to sell on Etsy as there are approx. 3.4 million pieces other crafters/designers are trying to sell! If you keep that in mind, I'm honored anyone has found my items, AND thought enough of them to buy them. I've come to find the best things you can do over there are: knowing and implementing good SEO to every item, and, promote, Promote, PROMOTE! Here is a link to my profile on Wanelo. Check out the site if you haven't already. It's nearly as addictive as Pinterest!

 

And Even More to the Reward....

Well if my last entry wasn't enough to make you cry, the saga continues.  Here is the email I received from the woman who bought the Mary medal for her mother....I hope she doesn't mind me copying this, but it is just such a wonderful story it deserves to be shared.

Here it is:

~ What a "Wonderful"surprise.....
Thank you so much....You have to know that you made my mom's heart smile today.
I first have to tell you what happened right before I went out to get todays mail.
I was sitting at the dining room table, mom was on the couch, crocheting, she says to me, what is that nice scent....smells like wood. I went over near to her and did notice a scent of what smelled like fresh cut wood.
See my dad was a carpenter......yeah....so I said..."dads in the house".....she smiled and said....wow, its strong!!!!
Well, we absorbed the moment and gave each other a hug.....
I now went to get the mail.......
We received the package, I hardly could control myself. I brought it over to my mom and sat down next to her.
I asked her if she remembered what had just happened and she said "yeah...dads in the house".....I said...."He really is here with us mom, and he wants you to have this"
Wendy I had to share this with you, because no matter the miles between people, there is a force that connects us all...If people could only realize this, the world would be a happier place.
Mom looked at the box and in wonderment said,"He wants me to have this?"  I watched, as she carefully took the box out of that heavenly sack. She kept looking at me and then the box, her eyes were showing wonder....as she lifted the cover off and slowly took out the cushioning from around her surprise, her eyes filled with the biggest tears I have ever seen. She looked at me,then the medal and said...."Thanks babe!!!".....{directed to my dad}
I told her how I found your shop and she said...tell her THANK YOU......
You are a thread in the quilt...........God Bless you and those you Love......You made two hearts really happy today!!!!Thank You bunches. You're a gem!!!!

Wow!  Such a powerful thing!  The string of emails to follow were so powerful to me personally that they have actually made me question my belief in a higher power.....and helped to restore my faith in humanity.  I have always believed in "something" bigger than me, I mean, how can you not?  There are just too many things that can't be completely coincidental in life.  But this.....just wow.  It turns out I got something from these women that I too needed - some loving light in a very dark place that I had slipped into.

I now know why I HAD to buy that medal.  It was meant for this lady's mom, and it was meant to come from me.  I was meant to learn something from the whole thing.

So.  Was it the Virgin Mary that was giving me the message, this learning experience?  I had been fascinated with her image for months before any of this happened, and in my heart I think I know.

Make that three hearts happy, Therese.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Unexpected Rewards (The Best Kind)

I just sold this vintage Catholic miraculous medal to a woman who is buying it as a gift for her mother. Her dad, who passed away 2 years ago, gave one of these just like this to her mom 64 years ago on their wedding day. Her mom lost the medal 20 years ago. My buyer bought it as a surprise, and I have no doubt her mother will love it.

I like my profit, but I think I love this story more ♥