#meethemakermarch

[gracefuldawn]

Day 31 of March Meet the Maker is upon us! The very last prompt is your product in use or in the wild. I've already shared photos from my most recent customer reviews, so have this one instead! This shot was taken by @nowthatsbananas after she received her custom dreamcatcher from me, back in 2017! It was one of the first dreamcatchers I ever made, and as such, a little rough around the edges. But my methods improved and now I'm even faster than I was two years ago! 💠💠💠 #MeettheMaker #marchmeetthemaker #meethemakermarch #meetthemakerchallenge #GracefulDawn #gracefuldawndesigns #dreamcatcher #customorder #custom #order #request #product #feedback #customer #customerphoto #blue #black #purple #silver #handmade #handcrafted #handmadedreamcatcher #handcrafteddreamcatcher #feathers #feathered https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsMmA3Av-L/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ljdmkyaupm51

[gracefuldawn]

We're nearing the end of Meet the Maker March! I have mixed feelings: on one hand, this challenge has been fun, but on the other, life stress has been a very real thing this March. Anyway, on to today's prompt: packaging! I ship all my pieces in a reusable mesh baggie inside a sealed bubble envelope. For international orders I have to fill out one of these small packet slips, which gets attached to the envelope. If you choose to include gift wrapping, I will send your pieces in a gold or silver baggie! Larger pieces or orders with multiple items will get wrapped individually and placed inside an opaque and reusable satin bag! 💠💠💠 #MeettheMaker #marchmeetthemaker #meethemakermarch #meetthemakerchallenge #GracefulDawn #gracefuldawndesigns #juzu #juzubracelet #blue #bluebeads #packing #packaging #packagingslip #shipment #shipping #tassel #slaythespire #bracelet #stack #stackable #stackablebracelet #bluebracelet https://www.instagram.com/p/BvkefgIgJ47/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3m5bhesqll0r

[gracefuldawn]

Today's Meet the Maker prompt is dream collaboration. While there are a multitude of creators and bead stores I'd love to work with, my true dream collaboration is custom orders. I take all kinds of commissions, and I'll gladly create something unique and memorable for you! I love hearing what kind of style and design ideas you have, and I'd love to be the one who designs the perfect item for you! Head to my website for more info! 💠💠💠 #MeettheMaker #meethemakermarch #marchmeetthemakerchallenge #GracefulDawn #gracefuldawndesigns #custom #ideas #customitem #item #customorder #jewelry #handmade #handcrafted #handmadejewelry #handcraftedjewelry #necklace #earrings #bracelet #anklets #stackablebracelet #dreamcatcher #handmadedreamcatcher #handcrafteddreamcatcher https://www.instagram.com/p/BvMkz9Mgxs7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fxpo7s01633l

[gracefuldawn]

Mistakes are a part of running your own business, and day 18 of Meet the Maker just so happens to focus on that! I have made so many mistakes while learning how to run my own business, including: 💠 Charging too much or too little for shipping 💠 Poking myself with beading needles 💠 Buying supplies outside my budget And many more! Running your own business is hard, and takes a lot of dedication, especially when it's not yet your full-time source of income. But I plan to stick with it, and one day, all the hard work and mistakes will pay off! 💠💠💠 #GracefulDawn #MeettheMaker #gracefuldawndesigns #meethemakermarch #beading #beadingneedle #beadingwire #dreamcatcher #beadeddreamcatcher #white #silver #wip #workinprogress #handmade #handcrafted #handmadedreamcatcher #handcrafteddreamcatcher #necklaces #earrings #bracelets #jewelry https://www.instagram.com/p/BvKdVRMApZ3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v4ioso9hecdr

[gracefuldawn]

Yesterday's Meet the Maker prompt was photography, and today's prompt was how I learned. I don't have a photo for how I learned, but I do have this shot of my camera! My photography is all done outside, on sunny and bright days, to show of the true colours of my products. I use my Canon DSLR camera for all my product shots, but use my phone's camera for my Instagram shots. As for how I learned, I'm entirely self-taught when it comes to beading. I learn best by watching, and I follow a beading YouTube channel to pick up tips and tricks of the trade. I eventually plan to try my hand at wire wrapping, but that's definitely further down the line. I learned how to operate a good camera and use Photoshop back in high school (shout-out to the best teacher ever @ikonoklastfoto) and the camera was a part of my journalism program in college. 💠💠💠 #MeettheMaker #meethemakermarch #GracefulDawn #meetthemakerchallenge #marchmeetthemaker #gracefuldawndesigns #photography #canon #camera #dslr #canondslr #t3i #canont3irebel #selftaught #selflearned #tutorials #handmade #handcrafted #handmadejewelry #handcraftedjewelry #productphotography https://www.instagram.com/p/BvAxvWOAwkK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2berbjr88jve

[gracefuldawn]

Today's Meet the Maker prompt is reducing waste. I have a few different ways I do this, such as measuring the exact length of wire or cord needed for a piece to keep from cutting off unusable excess bits. My favourite way to reduce waste, however, is to take broken or unwanted jewelry from second-hand stores and take it apart, then recreate the pieces into something brand new, such as the first photo in the set. I took two different pairs of earrings and made them into a statement necklace. I also ship all my pieces with reusable bags, so they can be gifted! What do you do to reduce waste? 💠💠💠 #MeettheMaker #meethemakermarch #GracefulDawn #meetthemakerchallenge #silver #handmade #handcrafted #recycle #reused #secondhand #statement #necklace #handmadenecklace #handcraftedjewelry #handmadejewelry #bracelets #anklets #dreamcatcher #brass #broken #secondlife #combination #handcraftednecklace #handmadenecklace #reducewaste https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu4rGPJAg8K/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cwb6x531ib7u

[gracefuldawn]

Meet the Maker: Day 6! The prompt? Full time or part time. That's a tricky question for me. Not a day goes by where I don't work on a new product or enhance my store in some way, but I definitely don't have enough consistent sales for my store to be a full-time gig. The term "financial stability" is foreign to me, and times have definitely been rougher since my move away from Etsy in July 2018. I do plan to continue creating and pursuing my dreams, and I have faith that one day my store will provide enough income for me and my future family. 💠💠💠 #MeettheMaker #meethemakermarch #meetthemakerchallenge #GracefulDawn #gracefuldawndesigns #handmade #handcrafted #handmadejewelry #handcraftedjewelry #note #fulltime #parttime #job #selfemployed #employed #handwritten #earrings #necklaces #bracelets #dreamcatchers https://www.instagram.com/p/Bur1ZlsHHJz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hh3cth5pm85v

[gracefuldawn]

Meet the Maker Day 3! The prompt was flatlay, as in everything laid out flat on your work space. I physically don't have the ability to lay EVERYTHING out flat, plus my desk is taken up by my computer, so this will have to do! I do always have my agenda on hand, plus two designer bead boards and a necklace bead board. I have a total of 11 compartmentalized organizers, and a few random bags of miscellaneous materials. My work space isn't always presentable, but then again, it's a WORK space. Creativity creates clutter sometimes, and that's okay! (As long as it's kept under control, that is!) 💠💠💠 #MeettheMaker #meetthemakerchallenge #GracefulDawn #gracefuldawndesigns #meethemakermarch #handmade #handcrafted #handmadejewelry #handcraftedjewelry #jewelry #work #workbench #workspace #creativity #creativemess #earrings #bracelets #necklaces #agenda #recycled #recycledearrings #recyclednecklaces #recycledjewelry https://www.instagram.com/p/BukOcdlgNm9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1pyjryswf8z7v