Upcoming shows and Upcoming excitment

Spring is one my favorite time of the year. I love the warm weather and everyone is in such a good mood. The other biproduct of the warmer weather is craft shows! Finally everyone comes out from hibernation, stretched and realized it is more fun to be awake and look at all the pretty things! It is no secret I am happier selling my jewelry in person then online. Those that know me can chalk it up to my personality but I actually prefer meeting a person, getting a feel for them and then finding a peice of jewelry that I make that works with them. I put so much work into my jewelry lines that I love when I get to see the reaction of someone seeing it for the first time. Jewelry is so personal it is a tactile experience and online just doesn't do the same justice. (But come and check out my new store online here!) 

Also if you are in the area come and see me next month: June 9th at Clover Market in Ardmore & June 22nd-23rd at Manyunk Arts Festival in Manyunk on Main Street

I am very excited for both of these shows. Clover Market is one of my favorite events. Janet, the organizer of the events, does a great job picking the vendors. There is always a great mix and so many nice people there, both selling and attending. I always have a good time that day and since I have been doing that show for the past year or so I am very happy with the customer base I've cultivated there. Manyunk is another great show. Now that my studio is down the street from the fair it has begun to feel like a more personal place to sell my work. It is great to meet other crafters who all work beside me in that great arty town. I am lucky to be able to show off my work at these two great shows next month. So mark your calenders and come by and see me! 

It's been a good year so far

Life is always so interesting. One of the best quotes I can think of to capture how this year has been "Life is a rearview mirror, a small adjustment changes the view dramatically." I feel that these past few months have been precisely that. I adjusted my outlook in both my business and personal life and I feel that they are starting to change dramatically. 

I do feel that owning your own business is both a blessing and a burden. I LOVE owning my business. For as long as I could remember there is nothing else I have wanted to do. The hard part is that it is all you! No one else to run things past, every turn is a balance. No accountant saying a large purchase is not a good idea, no design buddy saying that new idea isn't gonna pan out. It is all you! The hardest part is the doubt. I suffer from what I loving call (though my husband may have other words for it) business induced manic-depressive syndrome. When things go well I am pumped!! I mean like let's pop the champagne, dance from the roof, I rule at life! When things are slow or something I didn't expect happens I am so upset. It is really hard, it crushes me. My company is my heart. They are so closely connected.  The problem I tend to have is comparing my business to other businesses I know. 

This year it was a revelation while talking to my friend Allison from Tigerlily Shop at the Buyers' Market. I was talking about some achievement she received this year and how, honestly, I was jealous that she accomplished it. She in turn said she was jealous of something I had done. It was eye opening that in this little exchange I realized I was fixating on other people's highlight reel comparing it to my blooper reel. The only true comparison for my business was my business a year ago. This surprising revelation has relaxed me and more importantly my anxiety that I am missing a big ship that I should be on. 

I am very proud of my work this year and I am even more proud with how far I have come. I started it on the weekends in my parent's basement and have worked to have a successful wholesale business as well as retail business. The work I make people wear and love. I have realized that I have achieved a large part of my dream. Hearing myself say that and looking back to the past is what has given me the strength and confidence to move on to reach the next level. I am very happy and honored that I get to do that. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world for being able to accomplish this. It is that moment of realization of how far you have come that makes the journey worth it. 

Busy Bee

I have had such a great spring so far! It is amazing how much you can accomplish once you put your mind to it! The biggest news I am happy to report is that my Braille necklaces where picked up by the lovely website Uncommon Goods. I have been working my tail off for all the new demand but am happy to state that every piece is still made entirely by me! I am very proud of this.

I also was able to upgrade my studio to a lovely space in Manayunk with windows! After working in a studio with two other artists and no natural light, windows are HUGE! I am happy to have a space to call my own and to practice my favorite working past time of singing! (It is very hard to do when you share a studio.)

Also coming up I have a few shows that you can catch my new work at:

June 3- Clover Market in Ardmore
June 23-24 - Manayunk Arts Festival
September 8-9 Brandywine Arts Festival
September 29-30 - New Hope Arts and Crafts

Please feel free to come on by and say hello. As always you can visit my Etsy shop if you are not in the area. I also have updated the stores where my jewelry is available. Shop local!

Keeping it goin'

My gosh is it really this far into January already? I feel like we just did New Year's last week! I normally take the first week of January off so as to try and get my creative juices going as well as take some time to wind down from the retail season and gear up for the wholesale season.

The good part of that is that I get to create new designs and expand on the lines that have done well all year long. I do love this aspect of my business. There is nothing like being able to sit in my studio and just simply create. It is really the best part of the job. (well that and not having a boss being bossy to me!)

I upside is that in a few days I will be unveiling some of my new stacked ring designs. I am very happy to announce that I have expanded the line to now include six varieties of five stone stacked ring sets as well as four more varieties of three stone stacked sets. I am so happy that my collection now includes these pieces. I will post pictures and etsy listings in a few days, so stay tuned.

December Madness

Every year is always the same with me. I swear that I will not wait to do everything until December but then every year December rolls around and I am always behind the 8-ball. This year is no exception. I have yet to even buy a holiday present.

The good news is that my little hands have been busy working not shopping lately. Between filling orders, making stock for shows and custom work I have been spinning around like a dreidel. It always makes me feel so great to be able to make gifts for people. It is so great and one of the things I love most about what I do.

The way you guys get to reap the benefit of my hard work is I have a bunch of shows coming up where you can get some of your own Rachel Shoshana original jewelry.

I will be at Red, White and Brew 33 High St Mt. Holly this Thursday 4-7pm.
Crafty Balboa at the Broad Street Ministry in Philadelphia 11am-pm.
The Island of Misfit Toys at Olivet Church Studios 5-9:30pm.

I have to say I am really excited to be doing all of these shows. Come on by to see me. I will be the tall girl in most likely a bright color smiling at her favorite time of year!

New Contest with Anna of Shmitten Kitten

I am so happy to announce that my sister Anna and I are doing a joint contest! A few months ago I made Anna a necklace simular to my Braille line of work with the word "SHMITTEN" written on it. She has been wearing it for months now and has gotten so many compliments on it!

Now is the time to get your own! Simply sign up below and you will be entered to win one for free!! The contest ends this Friday, Oct. 14th at noon where I'll notify the winner by email. Good luck! 

ENTER TO WIN HERE! 

Mailing List

Get love notes and special previews exclusively delivered right to your inbox! Just fill out the form below and you will get all this and more.

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Email Address  *

First Name

Last Name

Nice Things You Want To Tell Me

A year later

A year ago this week I started an idea for a personal happiness project. I think is seemed to appeal to me as I continually felt that I wasn't challenging myself, not really personally or in my business. I did feel like I was stuck for a while. I didn't live like life was a gift everyday I was just sort of blindly going through the motions.

I do feel the past year has really challenged me, as well and made me stretch past my comfort points at time. There were parts about the endeavor that I really loved about what I learned. For the first month I decided to embrace new things. It was a fun month of trying new foods and saying yes to new opportunities. It really did help remind me that saying yes is fun. I have tried to carry that idea over in the past year. 

Making time for friends also has made my life better this past year. I have in the past two weeks made lunch dates to be able to see everyone I care about more. Things like that make me so happy there I no reason to not do them. Also the idea of saying yes to social situations by accepting more invitations. It is totally a weakness of mine but saying yes when people want to share their happiness with you is a great habit to get into. 

This year I did my first trade show and began to really take my jewelry business seriously. By treating it as a true business others have begun to treat it as such as well. The air of professionalism rubs off and for so long I was scared to see it that way. I do love what I do. I love having a creative outlet and I love the look on someone's face when they find a piece of jewelry they love and get to wear away with them. It makes me happy on a level that nothing else does and I am happy to have that in my life. I am happy I get to do that. I feel blessed for it and I cherish that I get to live my dream. Few do and I am thankful I am one of them. 

Lastly, I do want to thank everyone of my friends and family that has supported me in my quest for a happier and more balanced me. Though this year has sent a roller coaster of friendships. While a few friendships have wained, more have grown and I am thankful to have such amazing people in my life. Also a special thank you to my amazing boyfriend who has made it his year's aim to help me find happiness at every turn. I feel so lucky to have all of you in my life. Thank you for making my year great but above all thank you for making my life better. 

New items

For those of you who have seen me around town lately I have a new necklace! I am calling them bubble necklaces as they kinda remind me of champagne bubbles. (what else do you call a cluster of circle shapes?!) I seriously love these necklaces.

The great news is that they are now available for sale!! I have four varieties now. I am so excited to be able to start selling them. Come check them out on my etsy site and since I love all my readers if you put in the code Bubble10 you will get 10% off the WHOLE site! Wow!

Here are some pictures below, but come on to the site and get some fun new jewelry.

Victoria Bubble Necklace

 Lisa Bubble Necklace

 Melissa Bubble Necklace

 Stephanie Bubble Necklace

These necklaces are so beautiful. I do really love them. And just think right now they are 10% off. That makes their original price of $260 down to $234. Great for summer!

Big Changes

There has been a lot going on with me right now. The biggest is a half-cross town move that is happening tomorrow! (EEEE!) I am very much excited about it but it has been hard packing up my whole house. I also have had very little time to do anything business related this week and I think it is taking it's toll on my creative spirit.

About two weeks ago I started to tinker around with a new line. I have been wearing one of the pieces around town and have gotten an AMAZING response to it! I am really excited to unveil it at Art for the Cash Poor June 11-12 and then at Manayunk Arts Fest June 25-26 (as well as Etsy for those out of towners.) . I really can't wait to see how everyone responds to it.

I have to say with the weather warming up I feel like the best is yet to come. I can't wait for all the fun this summer is going to have.

New designs will be up on etsy next week so stay tuned for some more stacked rings and three stone necklaces. Our new featured ladies are Miriam and Victoria. They are beautiful if I do say so myself.