Oh no it’s already AUGUST! Holy moly where has the summer gone? Our thoughts are shifting towards fall and back to school. The hot summer days are numbered. For me this means that I have to start thinking about DUN DUN DUUUUN!!!, the holiday.

As someone who ultimately produces goods to sell, the holiday season is one of the most productive and crazy times of year. Jewelry is a popular gift item, and I would be a moron not to have jewelry made and accessible to the buyer. Yep, that is you! I remember last year, I spent every night at the studio. I didn’t have a plan. All I knew is that if I could just keep making stuff, I would be OK. By the end of it, I was completely burnt out.

Looking back, I’m glad I worked that hard, but did it really need to be so stressful. I could have genuinely benefited from a goal and furthermore a plan to reach that goal. For those of you who know me personally, you know that goals and plans are probably two of my biggest weaknesses. I’d rather fly by the seat of my pants. See where the wind takes me. You know, live life as an adventure! The unknown/unplanned, although fun, is just not going to cut it this year! So I'm going to do it. I'm going to go against all of my internal being and I am creating a plan! And dangit, I'm going to do my best to stick to it.

The first step of the plan is to make myself and my work more available. I refuse to start an etsy and drown in the sea of terrible jewelry, so that is out of the question. Facebook for business doesn't seem to be all that good at showing you my content unless I pay for it. Followers on instagram are awesome, but it's essentially useless if you want to post a link. So I'm taking matters into my own hands. I want to build up my mailing list. I want to supply to you all good content. I want for members of my mailing list to get the first chance to buy something, before anyone else. To be able to purchase a unique one of a kind piece of jewelry that will last a lifetime. I'm even considering making a members exclusive line. I want for shopping and working with me to be as easy, awesome and fabulous as possible.

xo, meritmade