This was made from repurposed fabrics (it used to be a t-shirt), and sterling silver earwire (finding is not sterling). What do you think?

This month surprised me with lots of sales. I started see them coming at the end of November, but it was for the weekend of my birthday (December 5th) that they really kicked off! Well, is not that I became millionaire (I wish!) but it is really encouraging! I sold lots of scarves and I’m kind off running out of yarn, which is wonderful! I’m thinking that I won’t be buying much more, so I can concentrate on making mosaics and developing a new line for next winter. How cool does that sound?

But the BEST part of this month, have been my costumer’s emails. If the sales are the bread and butter, these emails are the marmalade! It feels so good when someone takes the time to write you and tell you how much they liked their scarf (I have this kind of reaction with my scarves, mostly), how they used them, how you help them to make a special gift….

One particular client wrote me the other day, and even sent me a picture! I thought it was so cool that I had to post it here, and he agreed, so here it is:

So I have to say… I received your scarf a few weeks back.. Im addicted to it!
It is a black white and red ring scarf… Which just happens to be my trademark colors.. ( my website, my promo pieces, my bizz cards ) (I’m a photographer)

I love this thing so much I hope you never stop making them.. Im going to try to purchase one or two more after the holidays. I wear it a few different ways but the really cool thing is…. when I find myself inside… like on a recent trek through the Brooklyn Museum… It got to be to warm… sooooo
I threaded one end of it through my belt loop!!!! Made for an instant Steven Tyler/ Nikki Sixx rock n roll look! Really snazzy was JUST long enough to keep from touching the ground ( Im only 5′8″ )and it looked soooo rock and roll!
I wish I had a pic to show you. I AM attaching one image of me wearing it. Hope you enjoy! If these things were half off Id probably wipe you out!

So guess who’s the one on the picture? Jason!!!! Thanks so much Jason, you cheered me up!

So you all people who own a “Sol del Sur original” as someone told me the other day… send your pictures! Tell me your story! It will just pay off all my work… I love it!

Yes, yes, I abandoned the blog. I’m sorry. I’m back. I promise I’ll do better this time. Specially because I started English classes today, so I’ll be writing a lot. At least I’ll have some material to upload if I don’t feel like writing something special for the blog.
I’ll try to be brief, because I could be writing all night with the stories I have and of course we all know I won’t do it. So:
After the census job, we had vacation time at home (meaning: husband was at home every day. good, but after 3 weeks not so much. Just don’t tell him, ok?).
At the end of May, we finally took a plane a flew to Colombia. There was my father in law and his wife. We visited Bogota, Medellin and Villa de Leiva. Beautiful and special. I was born in Bogota and never went back until now.

Then, plain again to My beloved Santiago de Chile. Family, friends, mom, mom, mom, mom. A little collapsing on my side. I won’t talk about that, now I’m doing fine.
Plain to Buenos Aires. Family there, although everyone seemed a little busy. Shopping, cold, handsome brothers, friends from USA visiting. My dad looks happy, so I’m happy.
Back to Chile. some city tour with American friends. Valparaiso. Maitencillo (amazing beach) with mom ans step dad.
Friends, family, you know. Home condensed.
Business ideas, shopping for materials. Some very interesting “work trips”. I talk later about that.
Yarns and ceramics, my new re-discovery.
Back to Los Angeles. Putting my new business together. Lots of work.
Sol del Sur is launched.
Sales! It feels so wonderful!
HUGE mosaic sale in my shop on 1000 Markets. Life is wonderful.
Wholesale inquiries for Sol del Sur. One never get back, other does, but hasn’t paid yet, so we’ll see.
Life is beautiful
I decided to start studying for the test for LEED credentials. Cool. Being environmental friendly and all that.
Today I started my English classes. I’ll also be taking a class called Small Business Entrepreneurship, online.
Did I mention that I got the driver license before the rip, and that I’ve drive twice since we got back, on my own? I’m proud of myself!
Oh! And I quit smoking, five and a half weeks ago. Awesome.

Ok, I promise to write more from now on, and explain some of all this craziness.
Good night!

Yeah, so I was working, but not anymore. It was short and intense. I got a great tan, lost a couple of pounds, saw a lot of things, and have a little fun. When I was getting used to it, was over. And then, I had to get used to be unemployed again and it might sound weird but it was hard. I’ve come to realize I love to work and earn money. It makes me feel awesome. I complain a LOT about having to work in the same thing everyday, and I really don’t like that (routine), but I really was missing the feeling of being making money. I was in a great mood, and although I was really tired, I felt like going out and talk to people. Really. ME talking to people. I felt like I was back on me. Just like I used to be back in Chile, when I had job, apartment, friends, a common language and all that stuff.
I made this Treasury in honor to my job:

So it was good, but now it’s over. And now not only I am unemployed, but Cris is in a break from his job too, so we both are home now, looking for things to pass the hours. Obviously is not that hard.
We started doing a $5 yoga classes last week, that’s been great. And also practicing my driving, of course. I’m having the third try for the driving test in two days. We went to the optometrist also, terrible experience (and I’ve been wearing glasses for 15 years). And getting some stuff for the trip. We are counting down the days for our trip down home: Colombia, Chile and Argentina. We are leaving next Wednesday! YAY!

Hi there!
Mosaics have been doing fine. I’ve had two experiences lately:

Sold a mosaic coaster to an Etsy buyer. She wanted one of my on-fire coasters. I had two made, and they are very alike, so between all the excitement, wanting to send it fast, and taking Nico (my cat for those of you who don’t know) to the vet, I mixed up the sets and sent the wrong one. Let’s make it clear: I CHECKED it was the right one. Of course, I was wrong. The worst thing was that I realized the mistake after she left me a good feedback, saying that she loved them! Since honesty is one of my premises in life, I emailed her and told her the error (in case she didn;t noticed) and offered her an exchange, or a free magnet from my shop. She answered it was OK, but I insisted on the magnet so she chose one. That magnet was being featured in a Treasury from a well-known seller on Etsy, so I was expecting to make it to the Frontpage (homepage) of Etsy with that Treasury. So I emailed her back and told her that I would send the magnet AFTER the Treasury was over. Oh no! After I did it I felt like stupid. You would NEVER do that to a buyer! If someone buy your stuff, you just send it! Well, she didn’t answer to that mail, so I felt even worst. But what could I do by then? Nothing. So I waited, the Treasury ended, didn’t make it to the Front Page and I sent the magnet with a nice note and offering a future discount if she wants something else. Two mistakes, two solutions. She just emailed me very happy with the magnet. And I feel good about that!
These are the coasters that started all:

Second mosaic experience: I needed a sleeve, or envelope for my computer, since we are going on vacations and my mac is traveling for the first time (I really need to clean it up first so everyone can see it’s white). I found a couple on Etsy but had the idea of asking my sister to make one for me. She knits and sew a lot. I asked her but she’s busy, so I had the great idea of trying to make a trade. People on Etsy do that all the time, I was asked once but declined because, as you know, I don’t really buy much stuff. However, I had the idea (so I didn’t have to spend money: see how I’m not a great buyer?) so I browsed a bit and found some nice ones, but one specially called my attention: was a quilted sleeve, on green! What better? Some pink, but who cares with all that green, and it was a nice pink anyway. So I asked the seller, very worried about the possibility of a rejection, but lucky me, she was thrilled with the idea!! So, she chose three of my magnets (equaling the value of her sleeve), we both bought each others stuff, sent them, and everybody happy! I’m very happy with it and hope it lasts for many years. I like it because is really unique, made of pieces of fabric (just like my mosaics are made of pieces of glass), and my first quilt ever. Couldn’t be better!
Here’s the quilt:

I keep thinking, all the things I’ve learn since I started my shop on Etsy. I’m always grateful of life and specially Cris for give me the chance. I love him more for that.

Extras:
Good lazy life is not forever: I started working! Yay! I’m excited I’m gonna have my money finally and buy gifts for my sweetie!
Bought new clear-glass tiny tiles and I’m slowly making more coasters!
More explanations, later. I need to drink some wine now, after long hours of work.
:p

Oh wow! I don’t know why I didn’t do this before! There are some wonderful blogs out there (which makes me ask to myself why would somebody would read mine, but you know, who knows?).

Well, I know why I didn’t do it before, I was totally busy making new items for my super cool event that I already had, and making this site, and some more things, but they were that main. Well, just wanted to say that I found another super cool blog, I don’t know anymore which one I like the most, maybe all? Well, this talks about handmade goods, but also has a special section for business, so cool, I’ll need a lot of time to read it all, but I will. She’s Modish.

Now, I have to go out and buy my cat’s food. She’s doing great by the way, almost a miracle, But my miracle would be to stop giving her that awful medicines. She’s getting wilder everyday each time I have to give her the meds, and also is discovering more places to hide from me! Amazing! Sadly for her, our house is so tiny that it doesn’t take me more than 30 seconds to find her. Poor kitty!

Ok, so I have to go and buy her food. I was thinking in taking the car that my lovely husband left at home, and drive on my own for the first time. BUT the place is in a really busy street, with no parking, and who wnats to get complicated. But the other thing is that since I got my new tennis, and I’ll start working in 3 weeks, I was thinking I should start training and just walk. (job will take 8 hours walking every day!!!). So I’ll better walk. I’m off.

After all the Create:Fixate anxiety, these past two weeks have been very relaxing on the mosaic-making side. But I haven’t been laying on bed with my cat Nico, as I would really like to do. No, I’ve been doing some things I had a little behind, and all art or business related.
I’ve been doing some network with my new friends of California Crafters Club on Etsy, very funny and nice people! I’ve been doing some networking on Etsy, but also been browsing a long list of blogs that another seller on Etsy handed out to me, so I can ask to be featured on them, and spread the word about my work. So I’ve benn reading a lot today, and among several nice blogs, I found the Heart Handmade blog really cool, complete, and interesting. I’ll write them a note, hopefully they like me and feature me!!

On the other side, I’m preparing myself to a long-waited trip to San Diego, were I will meet lots and lots of other freak-mosaic people like me! The two highligts for me, will be the construction of a collective mural, in which I’ll participate, of course! and the other will be a silent auction, were I’m participating too, with my purple box. I hope somebody likes it!! Oh, I almost forgot, there are two more things: the market, of course, were i pretend to spend the money i got from Create:Fixate, and luckily, get a lot of freebies! And the last and more important, is the inspiration. The convention goes together with the mosaic art show called Mosaic Arts International, where I’ll be honored to admire the works of some of the most important mosaic artists now. And that’s open for public, at the Museum of Man in San Diego, until April 26, so if you have the opportunity, don’t miss it!

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Well, it seems like since I have my lovely website, I haven’t make a single post!

Truth is, I was sooooo busy I didn’t have energy to write. Lots of things to do, lots of thigs have happened.

First one, off-mosaics, my beautiful cat almost die!!!! It was awful!! We had several terrible days, wondering what the outcome would be, but for now it seems she still has many years of purring to come! She had a kidney failure, so we still have to inyect her with IV fluids, and give her a couple of medicines, but she’s getting better each day so that makes me reeeally happy. Go Nico! (is a she, but her weird first mother named her after the model/singer…)

Second one, I had a show this last weekend!! I know, I know you are supposed to post about shows BEFORE they happen but, well, I was too busy making new stuff for the show, and not feeling like writing at all, but, whatever. Next time.

The show was totally great, a LOT of people saw my art, I had a lot of feedback and that is always a pleasure. Also there were so many different people there, totally fun! By the way, the event I’m talking about is called Create:Fixate, and if you can attend one, do it! I think is totally worth it. There were about 30 featured artist, vendors (that’s me!), live music, live Dj’s, live artists. Really cool!

And I discovered one thing: kids love my mosaics! There was a preview, so there was some kids with their parents, and a couple of them just hold my mosaics and wanted to take them home with them! So funny! (parents didn’t think the same, apparently). LOL

Well, after all the nerves and work, the show is over and I’ve spend these days posting all the stuff that I made for the show and didn’t sell, so my shops are looking full and nice. Take a look!

Welcome to my new website!

This might confuse you, since you can find really old posts here… well, they were all imported from Blogspot, yeah, so I didn’t have to start all again…. well, this blog looks a little too clean for now, but hopefully soon I’ll start adding more fun stuff to make it look like a reall blog, that meaning, a little messy.

For now, you can navigate the site, or read my old posts, I hope you enjoy all! Of course, everything will be revised in time, but now I just want to make my hands and eyes busy cutting tiles, not typing or reading tutorials about wordpress…

Thanks to all who helped me with ideas and critiques, and specially my lovely brother-in-law, who made the setup of the site for me. THANK YOU!

I’m so excited! Well, is not that I have them in my hands already, but I ordered a set of beautiful business cards, with my new site on them. I won’t give you the address right now because the site is not yet functional, but it will be when I have the cards in my hands (hopefully in a week?). But, I can show it to you. Aren’t they gorgeous? Oh, and they will have rounded corners
By the way, I’m also checking the fonts. I have to pick one for the menu in my new site. Not sure yet. I’ll decide when I publish this post.

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