Book Review: MAKE A STATEMENT, by Janet Crowther & Katie Covington 25 Handcrafted Jewelry & Accessory Projects

Make a Statement is a wonderful book for the new person looking to make jewelry. The first 40 pages explain materials, tools, and techniques.  There are 100 pages of stylish project details with plenty of photographs.  The cover project necklace enticed me to order the book, but there are several others that I will be making for myself because they are in fashion.  

The projects are necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  However, there is a sampling of a ring, brooch, hair comb, and a shoe ornament.  The authors use fabric, chain, beads, rope, embroidery floss, stones, vintage components, leather, polymer clay, and sewing trims.  There is an excellent listing of resources, but it would be better if the specific resource for materials of each project were identified.  Finding the materials is often the stumbling block for beginners.  Overall, this is an excellent first book with trendy new projects!

Book Review: THE ALLERGY-FIGHTING GARDEN, BY THOMAS LEO OGREN Stop Asthma and Allergies with Smart Landscaping

This is a landmark book for landscaping public spaces, the landscaping and nursery industry, and anyone concerned about asthma and allergies.  Pollen is produced by the male plants, bushes, and trees.  The nursery and landscapers apparently have not been knowledgeable or motivated to plant lower allergy, non-pollen producing female plantings. 

Thomas Ogren, trained in agricultural science, began his study of pollen producing plants to re-landscape his new home for his wife who suffered from asthma and allergies.  This book is a culmination of more than thirty years of research.

The Allergy-Fighting Garden book is primarily a reference for the professionals in the horticulture industries.  After a 38 page explanation, there is a dictionary style listing of plant materials, wonderfully detailed, some with color photos.  The author, Ogren, invented the first allergy ranking scale (now used by the USDA) and assigned a rank from 1 to 10 for each plant in the book.  This book could be used by a Master Gardener or a very determined homeowner.  My advice to homeowners is to go to the website first (safegardening.org) or mention the author’s name at your nursery and your desire to purchase low-pollen plants.  

Disclosure:  I received this book at no cost to review from Blogging for Books.com.

Book Review: Go Ahead & Like It

Go Ahead & Like It

Jacqueline Suskin

This is a quick-read book offering a unique method for feeling good about life again.  Have you heard the advice that happiness is all about how we view things?  It is not obtained through external events, rather in how we view ourselves and the world.  We are in control of our happiness.  But, sometimes external events overwhelm and this book offers one method to prompt positive reflection. 

The author simply writes lists of what she likes.  She has done this since she was young.  Take this one step further to intimacy.  She shares her ‘I like’ lists with friends and perhaps acquaintances.  She shares many list examples in the book, her history of list making, and preferred situations for listing.

I like the “I like” lists because they are spontaneous, freeing, quick, and can be done anywhere / anytime.  I like birds flying, purple flowers, sounds that I can identify, clean sheets, and a good stretch.

I almost did not select this book because the cover title was small and the short introductory paragraph on the internet was not clear whether the book was to spark creativity or to help me organize my life.  I think the lists could be a useful creativity exercise.

Disclosure:  I received this book at no cost to review from Blogging for Books.com.

Sellers Choice 2015: Merchants Rate Top Online Marketplaces

Have you ever wondered where to sell your products online?  The established online marketplace sites, such as Etsy or Ebay, are probably the best place to start unless you already have a recognized brand or name.  These sites help to bring in the traffic.  You could also start your own website and beat the social bushes to promote traffic, but it would be a big uphill climb.

So, which site is best?  I want to share the online marketplace ratings by the sellers.  These rankings are published by ECommerceBytes.com in February.  Many of you may be familiar with Etsy, who received the highest ratings in 3 of the 5 categories and highest overall.  Amazon was second highest overall.  Bonanza ranked highest in communication to its sellers.  Ebay ranked highest in profitability.   Facebook is not the best place to sell according to this data, having the lowest overall ranking.

If you are an online seller or future seller, take a moment to study the different marketplaces and their product categories and niche audiences and then see how the sellers rank them.  The chart below and more details can be found at http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abu/y215/m02/abu0375/s02

For example, Ruby Lane is a good place for selling antiques.  Etsy is known to be the handmade marketplace, although the strict rules have been opened to allow more manufactured goods to be sold.  Etsy also has vintage and components for handmade.  Amazon is known for low cost, high volume manufactured goods.

Disclaimer:  I have no associations with the companies mentioned in this post.

EMERGENCY POST

Every photo link is broken on my blog!  I am working as fast as possible to get the photos back online.  Sorry for the disappointment.  Please come back again!

Top 6 Keywords searched on Pinterest for Jewelry

Pinterest SEO for Jewelry Businesses

Click here to find out the top 6 keywords searched on Pinterest for jewelry.
richmombusiness.com/jewelrypinterest

No tricks or gimmicks, you just have to give out your email address.  She will not spam you.  I have watched her videos and received good information from her for 1 year.
 
Disclaimer:  I receive nothing from the Rich Mom Business for posting this information.