Some websites that sell jewelry components have photos and tutorials that provide visuals that can give you inspirations or ideas of how you can use the materials or supplies you already have in different ways to develop your own style.

A piece doesn’t need to be elaborate to interest someone in buying. Just think how many of us buy, simple earrings that are versatile with a single stone dangle in various colors or maybe a cluster of stones or beads. Some have single simple chains with a cluster pendant or larger pendant. These are also our easy and favorite pieces for everyday wear. Then you also have larger or more elaborate bracelets, quick bracelets like stainless steel memory beaded bracelets which are easy to make and 3-4 wraps make a great looking bracelet in peridot and amethyst beads, or any other color wire or beads.
You can coordinate your beads with the pendant and earrings to allow the purchase a “set” or individual coordinating pieces, or unusual beads can be a set.

With your special pieces your inventory should allow customers looking for unique jewelry to find a variety of items at different price points to shop and purchase more than one or two items. I know a number of older women who prefer either pieces that are easy on with clasps that are toggle or fasten in different areas or like bracelets that are not closed with small spring rings since they may possibly live alone, but like pretty jewelry that they can clasp without assistance.
So I would say, if possible vary your inventory with a broader shopper base and offer a variety of items for a broader appeal and you should get more interest. I usually only make one of a kind item or one of a kind set of items but you could offer various color themes on your site.

I, for some reason, find it difficult to make something the same way twice! 😊 Best wishes as you continue. Keep reading Rena’s site she has such great information and advice! Search for past issues and information!

You say you love making jewelry and that it relaxes you. Sounds to me like it is a huge part of your life too. What if God put this desire in your heart with a purpose? We all have a purpose and we are all called to fulfill it while alive on this earth. I do not know your life story or all the details of you, but I do know that you matter to God and that He loves you ❤.

We may never know why we have to suffer with limitations this side of eternity but we can use the skills we have right now to do great things. I see your pieces and they encourage my creativity. Your work is unique and pretty.

Can I make a suggestion? In a quiet room sit down with a piece of paper and a pen, say a prayer asking God what your next steps should be and write down anything that comes to mind. He will tell you. Maybe not all in one day but He will direct you! Keep a journal and watch how things grow and flourish!!😊

Brittany, kudos to you for continuing to go to your craft table and making jewelry. When you finish the necklace you’re currently working on, we would love to see your beautiful work. When you feel comfortable with sharing your jewelry with us, you can share it here. Keep up the great work, Brittany! 🙂

I wish I had some insight but really all I have is my deep empathy and kindred spirit like pride for you and all you have acomplished. You are walking a difficult and often isolating journey… but please know, you are Not alone.

Reading your story it was if I had written it myself. I too am early 30’s, living with dad, on SSDI for migraines, depression, anxiety and a hormone disorder as well as alcoholism currently in remission. I know the desperate struggle of trying to push your body past it’s limits in an effort to do things that others can do. I’m fighting that today. I had wanted to make some jewlery… but I simply have too few spoons.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about Google Spoon Theory… also Jenny Larson’s Furiously Happy gives me strength and solice. There are days I still wake up and am in so much physical and emotional anguish that I wish I were dead. That’s a part of my struggle which I am torn between accepting as a product of the illness and fighting like hell against to try and be happy like a “normal person should.” (My words… when we really know there is no one definition of normal.)

I used to go out all the time and have loads of friends. I keep to myself a lot these days, but I’m working on reaching out slowly. I have been saying I wanted to blog for almost a decade, and just last month bought myself a little plot in cyberspace. I have yet to put it all together, but I’m hoping whenimakeitoutofbed.com will become another resource where folks like us can come together.

Until then, I hope you continue to do whatever feeds your soul… but at YOUR pace. My therapist is forever reminding me that we are on this journey of life simply to learn and experience. That’s what we are here for. And everything in our own time.

I sincerely hope that if nothing else you find solace in knowing that while our minds may tell us we are alone, you have a silent team cheering you on. Please count me as one of them.

Always,
Andrea

I am in the middle of setting up a blog on my website. I’ve also heard that every business should have one since it helps you connect more with customers (past, repeat, and potential) and Google tends to “like” blogs since they are a constant source of “fresh” material plus it makes your website more active. It’s taking me awhile, though, because I am one of those people who always HAS to have everything perfectly lined up before really doing or starting anything. Part of me wonders if I’m just stalling, haha. I do have a Facebook page for THB that I try to post on a few times a week. I also have a Twitter and Instagram but since I don’t tweet “in real life”, I always forget to do it for my business and my phone is so ancient, I haven’t really found a good way to utilize Instagram (but have been told I really need to). I also have Pinterest which I’ve been trying to get more active about. It’s just so much, but I think if I could just.. START and get the hang of things, it’d be less overwhelming than I think it’ll be.

I haven’t heard of Craftori – I will have to take a look. I try to vary my prices based on the actual setting or style. Maybe having more of a pricing variety might help as well?

I appreciate your input! And I love your avatar (wolves!).

Rena – Wow, thanks for replying! And thank you for your kind words. I have gone through some of the posts in that section – well, all of the sections really – and have already found some great advice. I haven’t read all of them, though, but I’d like to. It’s helpful knowing there are other people in your boat (or if not in YOUR boat, at least paddling somewhere close by in their own vessel).

I went to a women’s conference with my mom that let us have tables set up and stuff. I sold a few things but the entire process was exhausting for me because I was constantly worried about forgetting something and really brought too much stuff to begin with. I know I need to work on it and figure out some way to handle the stress better and not spend so much energy doing stuff online because I think I could definitely have some success selling in person.

I don’t know if I’d “trust” anyone to help me actually make the jewelry, but I’ve thought about trying to get some help with other things like social media, marketing, etc. – mostly the stuff I’m spending a lot of time and energy trying to understand and do that right now is taking away from the other things like updating my website and listing new items.

LeAllyson – Aww, thank you so much 🙂 That means a lot. I got a new camera for my birthday back in March and it’s AMAZING. I love it. My website is also a source of “pride” because I taught myself CSS and coding so I could change certain things and make it look the way I wanted it to. That took a long time but it was worth it.

I’d love to sell more on my website simply because Etsy’s fees are so high (compared to other similar, less well-known sites). Plus I’m not a big fan of the changes they’ve made (like advertising other shops on your listings when people are viewing them from a mobile device and allowing all of the manufactured / non-handmade stuff) and it’s hard being “found” there, especially in jewelry. I used to sell on my website before but the only buyers I had were people I either already knew “in real life” who knew about the fees or past / repeat customers who liked something on there instead of what I had on Etsy. I didn’t make enough, in the end, to be able to continue doing that when I had to renew my website subscription but it’s something I really, really want to do again and be more successful at.

Thank you so much 🙂 I try to not let my thoughts of “not being good enough” totally eclipse the fact that I HAVE done well and SHOULD be proud of what I’ve accomplished. The depression makes that a bit harder, though, since it likes to pick up any mild non-positive thought and spin it into something super negative and crippling. I think I’m just really in a rut right now and need to find a way to get out of it.

Rena has some great tips for you in her comment. As a jewelry maker who only sells online, I believe you can feel good about doing your business that way. You can also continue to grow your business that way. Most of my business is through my Etsy shop, and then I now get regular business each month through my shop that I set up on my own website.

It is a bit trying to coordinate inventory between my website and Etsy. If you don’t want to tackle that, then staying on Etsy alone with a link through your own website like you have done is a very viable option.

I believe the best way for you to succeed is to lean into your strengths, which will empower you to succeed. Don’t feel bad about what you cannot do because of your disabilities. You have done very well so far with your business.

Wishing you great success!

I’m going to give you some things to think about as you decide where you want to go with your jewelry business.

But first, have you gone through our Disabilities & Jewelry posts here? You’ll find a lot of lovely kindred spirits, and posts with workarounds for both jewelry business and jewelry making. You may find some good insights there for the direction you want to go.

You mentioned you have a limited attention span and that you’re extremely worn out. So as you decide which direction you’d like to go with your business, you may want to be careful to avoid over-committing yourself.

Know how much time and energy you can realistically put into your Etsy shop, and how much time and energy you’ll have left for an additional venue such as a shop or show.

That’s one of the most important things for any jewelry artist, when deciding on a new direction for their business – to be realistic about the time, energy, and quantity of jewelry you can commit to your new direction.

You also mentioned that you do everything yourself, except for mailing your jewelry orders.

If you do decide to expand, it may be a good idea to consider having some help for the actual making of your jewelry. If your family doesn’t have time to fit that in, you might consider hiring a responsible high school student to help you make enough jewelry to fill your orders without wearing yourself out.

These are just some of the things to consider before you make any decisions.

I hope you’ll post later with an update! 🙂