I'm on Twitter....and I've finally figured out how to use it!

Okay so maybe I lied just a little about my expertise in the Twitter technology, but I finally have decided that hey, it's about time I tried it out for real. I've already sent out tweets, I have followed some people, it's all been very exciting :D

So check it out:

@BonnesAmies

Much thanks to Amy Courser for giving me the pep talk to actually get this in gear. She is a social media marketing specialist that came into the Summer Company program meeting and it was great to finally get some plain English answers about how to use the various social media that are out in the world.

Just to remind everyone that I'll be at the New Bloor Festival in Toronto this Saturday, so if you can't make it out, at least send some happy-good-luck thoughts my way!

love and lollipops,

michelle

A taste of success....mmmmm delish!

Third consecutive day of blog posts. holy bananas. I'm awesome. :D

Just thought I'd let everyone know that the Open House was a huge success!! I didn't get any pictures of my booth but I know the other girls did and will be asking to get copies so that I can post it up here to show all my lovely friends and family.

I made some great sales, and had a lot of fun meeting all kinds of business-y and government type folks who were all so supportive. Of course, now I'm completely exhausted but have so many ideas and exciting new things to work on. That's the life of a budding entrepreneur I suppose.

Did I mention I sold some jewelry?? Yes I did, but it was pretty much the highlight of my entire summer so I'll say it as many times as I like.

Thank you, kind people, for buying my jewelry, you have made me one excited and happy girlie.

Thanks a heap for reading, and enjoy these sticky hot summer days!

love & lollipops,

michelle

Sweltering heat and annoying kitties

Yes! Finally a consecutive blog post! oh-em-gee :D

Today's task was to do a mock up of my booth/table set up for tomorrow's event. I'll participating in an open house for all the Summer Company students, held at the Greater Barrie Business Enterprise Center (from this moment forth, it will be called the "Business Center").

It's so that all the important folk of this fine city can come take a look at all our cute little displays and ask us a billion questions and so on.

Of course, I'm a perfectionist and have spent all day trying to figure out how to make my table look pretty and still be functional, easy to set up and take down. It also doesn't help that I've never once in my life done this type of event and have no idea what to expect and that just makes me grumpy! Plus it's sweltering hot out, and the cat seems to think it's best to knock everything over and then pretend to be innocent. Really, cat? There's no one else here, so who are ya gonna blame?!

Whew!! Good to get that out. Here's a couple pics of the mock up:

Ignore the mess in the shelves and floor and what not. I think it's pretty cute. At least, it's pretty cute for a mock up. Let me know what you think!

Lots of loves and lollipops,

michelle

Just moved in!

So technically this isn't my first blog post, but it's my first post here at blogspot. I moved my blog over because I was having trouble with the way too technical Wordpress blog.

I moved over my previous entries, a whole two posts - I know, I know. I've failed as a blogger.

But I've made a New Year's Resolution (yes it's a little late. better late than never right?) to become a better blogger, and to keep this page full of interesting fun facts about me. Because a little narcissism never hurt anyone. Haha.

Business isn't exactly booming, but that's okay (for now). I'm working my little fingers to the bone making pretty things and while I may not have any money to pay my outrageous cell phone bill, I sure am happy. I hope to list a bunch of stuff tonight in my Etsy store, if I can stay awake long enough. It's only 10:30pm and I already feel like I could crash right here in my uncomfortable Ikea desk chair. Does that say old lady or what??

Here's the chair in my sa-weet work space:

Off to edit photos for my Etsy store listings!

loves and lollipops,

michelle

I'm seeing GREEN!

Wow! Apparently it takes a good three weeks for me to get my thoughts together enough to write another post.

But I have some stupendously good news: After much agony and little patience, I finally got the grant a.k.a. BIG FAT CHEQUE!!!

I just found out last Wednesday, so since then I’ve been a little overwhelmed with everything. As it turns out, running a business can be kinda stressful. And a whole lot of work. Who knew right?

Of course, there are some benefits. As in shopping for brand new equipment, glorious beads and findings and chain and wire and oh my! Plus, I just ordered a metal stamping kit – I simply cannot convey the volume of excitement and happiness over being able to get this kit (thanks a heap Summer Company!!). I’ll be able to make cute personalized metal name tags to go along with my theme of friendship jewelry. That is if I don’t smash my thumbs with that nifty hammer. I may be a tad bit accident-prone.

I just wanted to let everyone know that yes, I’m still alive and no, I haven’t developed that minor drinking problem (yet) but I must get back to designing some pretty jewellery for you all to buy!

There's me and Charlie the cat hard at work!

By the way, I’d like you all to head over to my shop so you can take a look at the couple of items I’ve managed to list. I’m just testing the waters, and trying to figure out how the wonderful world of Etsy shops work so hopefully I’ll be picking up momentum soon.

http://www.bonnesamies.etsy.com

Love and lollipops,

Michelle

brand new beginnings…

This is my very first blog post, and I hope to stun the world with my literary genius.

Errr....yeah, I'm just kidding about that. What I actually hope to do is share all the crazy, scary and exciting moments of starting my own business. Because I'm betting it's going to be some kind of wild journey that may or may not leave me with either a mild drinking problem or a few extra dollars in my pocket. Either way, I'll be writing all about it here.

But I'd like to take a second and share exactly what my business is all about.

Last summer, I started making my own jewelry and it quickly became a very expensive obsession. As all junkies do, I needed a way to make money so that I could afford this habit of mine. And I desperately wanted to be my own boss, so selling my jewelry seemed like a great idea.

Now how does selling a bit of jewelry turn into my full time business for the summer? Thanks to the Ontario Government and a little grant program called Summer Company, that’s how. This program is designed to help student entrepreneurs and provides start-up funding, training, a mentor and more.

It’s a huge process to actually apply for the program as per usual for government type things, but I’m almost 100% sure that I am accepted and I’m impatiently waiting for official confirmation and a big fat cheque.

I will then commence opening my Etsy shop, Bonnes Amies. The name is a French term for good girlfriends and my shop philosophy is to celebrate women and all their wonderfully unique relationships with each other. As in best friends, sisters, mother and daughters and so on. The shop will be filled with creative and stylish “friendship” style jewelry – a grown up version of those cute little braided bracelets we all use to make in elementary school.

And that’s just the beginning of things. Check back often, as I've got a lot more to tell you. May not be literary genius but I promise to be honest and hopefully a little interesting.

Love and lollipops,

Michelle