Featuring My Customer of the Month – Julie Anne Rhodes and the Vampire Diaries Convention Countdown!

Posted on June 29, 2013 by eldwenne

This is the second customer of the month feature and I’m SUPER excited to present Ms. Julie Anne Rhodes!

Julie Anne is a huge jewelry fan. As a matter of fact, her nickname is Jewels!

Julie Anne and I have much in common, including being incessant workaholics, creative souls, and devoting time to give back to others.

She and I connected by way of her phenomenal site: www.personalchefapproach.com – we worked together to create a pendant that Julie Anne sold out of her shop and we donated 100% of the proceeds to a charity that was near and dear to her heart.

Here is the stunning Julie Anne wearing Jodi’s Jewel for Jewels, our collaborative effort to fundraise against children’s hunger.

From there we just hit it off and she’s been an endless source of inspiration and support to me. She’s literally transformed my household with her Personal Chef Approach, aka PCA.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself, anything you’re comfortable sharing; family, work, philosophy, etc. Also, if you have a website or brick and mortar business, please feel free to include that info here!

First and foremost, I’m a mom to a beautiful daughter. I’m also the proud owner of the Personal Chef Approach.

Family comes first and in this day and age where time is a commodity, I strive to provide ways for families to eat better together.

Julie Anne’s website – http://www.personalchefapproach.com – incredible food and company await you here!

2. Do you have creative outlets? Tell us about them and if you have photos of your work, please feel free to share!

My work is a creative outlet – I paint with flavor! I am constantly challenging myself by experimenting with different ingredients and flavor combinations.

I’m also an avid art fan – I’m always on the prowl for inspiration!

3. What draws you to handmade jewelry as opposed to store-bought, factory manufactured pieces?

I like the personal touch that handmade jewelry has. Every piece is unique and I feel like it’s made just for me.

4. What types of pieces stand out to you, for example, wire work, crystals, etc and why?

I find something to appreciate in all kinds of pieces.

5. Is there something specific about Eldwenne’s Fantasy – Quality Handmade Jewelry by Jodi Zulueta that stands out to you? (Don’t be afraid to say no, Lol!)

Jodi puts her heart and soul into every piece she makes and it shows. I always get tons of compliments when I wear her jewelry!

Julie Anne wearing earrings I designed made of Bali sterling silver and Swarovski crystals. These are available in my shop!

Wow, thank you so much, Jewels!! I am fortunate to be a member of her site. Working my tail off every day leaves very little time to plan and cook healthy meals for my family and thanks to her, I’ve been able to do just that!

Please follow Julie Anne on Twitter @julieannerhodes as well as @therovingstove. Her FaceBook page is always a fun place to visit her as well: https://www.facebook.com/therovingstove

My daughter, Raven, is such a huge fan of your recipes and always looks forward to meals!

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your hectic schedule – I’m sending goodies your way!

Next topic on the agenda – gearing up for the Vampire Diaries convention in Parsippany, NJ! Whoo hoo!! I’m so excited and I’ve been cranking out tons of new pieces, including pieces that read “My Heart Belongs to a Vampire”, “Werewolves vs Vampires”, “Peace, Love, and Supernatural” (I know, it’s not Vampire Diaries related, but I have t tie everything in to Supernatural, you know that!)

My Heart Belongs to a Vampire Necklace – available at http://www.eldwenne.etsy.com

And very importantly – please visit my friends at http://www.carryonsupernatural.com – they provide a huge support network for Supernatural fans that are in need of a little help from their friends. I designed a bracelet celebrating the fantastic work they do and it’s available to purchase through their site. Every purchase will result in $5 being donated to support their hard work!

Keep Calm and Carry On…Peace Love and Supernatural

If you’re coming to the convention next month, please come visit me! Id love to meet you!

Here is my convention schedule for both Vampire Diaries and, of course, SUPERNATURAL!!

– The Vampire Diaries Official Convention 7/13/2013-7/14/2013 in Parsippany, NJ

– Salute to Supernatural 8/23/2013-8/25/2013 in Vancouver

– Salute to Supernatural 10/11/2013-10/13/2013 in Toronto

– Salute to Supernatural 10/25/2013-10/27/2013 in Chicago

– Salute to Supernatural 11/22/2013-11/24/2013 in Los Angeles, CA

– The Vampire Diaries Official Convention 12/14/2013-12/15/2013 in Orlando, FL.

My traveling jewelry business is just in its infancy and I’m really in need of support, so I’ve set up a Go Fund Me page that gives all of you incredible incentives! http://www.gofundme.com/2kwx90

Every donation receives a gift certificate towards any jewelry in my shop: www.eldwenne.etsy.com

If you donate $25, you get a gift certificate for $40! If you donate $50, you get $75! If you donate $75, you get $100!!! Ad it keeps getting better!

The gift certificates never expire! So you can hold onto the as long as you want! They’re only gone when you’ve spent them!

Thanks everyone and I hope I see you at one of the conventions!

Going Au Supernatural Part Deux, No Bathroom Issues, and the Joy of Epiphanies

Posted on May 6, 2013 by eldwenne

Well hasn’t this been quite a weekend…I ventured over to the Hanover Marriott, located in Whippany, NJ, to vend at the Salute to Supernatural Convention.

I never did an event of this scale before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. One thing for sure, I didn’t expect Misha Effing Collins coming over to check out my wares.

The below photo: My starstruck daughter, Raven is beside me, my 8 year old son Phoenix is next to Misha, and my unimpressed husband, Merrill, is standing behind Phoenix. Said unimpressed husband did ask for, and receive a fistbump from Misha so that he could walk around saying he was “touched by angel.”

I was very fortunate to have the best vendor neighbors, hence, no bathroom issues (refer to previous post). One of my neighbors was a fabulous gothic horror writer, Ms. Eve LeStrange. (Her husband, George, was gracious enough to take the above photo of Misha!) I purchased both of Eve’s books: ‘Widdershins’ and its sequel, ‘Solitary Fire’. I started reading ‘Widdershins’ and I’m HOOKED!

If you want to get to know Eve LeStrange a little better, please do go to her website: http://www.evelestrange.com

My other neighbor, Shannon, produces incredible T-shirts for us Clifhangers – fans of Clif Kosterman, the bodyguard for Jared Padaleckicki and Jensen Ackles – the main stars of Supernatural.

Clifhangers can follow Clif on Twitter via his handle @bodyguardforJandJ

As soon as Shannon’s website is up and running I’ll make sure to post it here because I have to tell you – I have never worn a more flattering, well-designed T shirt. She also sells beanies!

Selling face to face to my target audience – I was in HEAVEN. I was surrounded by like-minded people who appreciated handmade jewelry. I did very well and I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!

As I was completing a transaction for one of my wire-wrapped geode necklaces it hit me. Hard. Why am I NOT doing this on a full time basis? The epiphany hit me like a freight train (please excuse the trite expression but seriously, I had to sit down when it occurred to me!!)

With that being said, I’ve decided to aggressively pursue the convention circuit! I’ve even been asked by Creation Entertainment to join them as a vendor for their upcoming Vampire Diaries convention in Parsippany, NJ this July!

I will also be doing the Supernatural Conventions in Toronto in October and in LA in November.

So it was an incredibly profound experience for me on many levels. But the most amazing part of it all was that I realized that I was finally in my element – being my own boss producing jewelry I am extremely proud of, meeting fantastic people from all over the world.

The little Winchester Sandwich didn’t hurt either (psst – I’m wearing my Clifhanger tee):

So a HUGE thank you again goes out to my fave neighbors, Eve and Shannon!

If anyone sends a little love to me via a convo at my etsy shop: http://www.eldwenne.etsy.com – you’ll get 20% off discount code!

Going Au Supernatural, Too Legit to Quit, and What if I Need the Bathroom?!?

Posted on April 28, 2013 by eldwenne

Here we are again with a complete nonsense title and you’re bracing yourself for who knows what…

I promise it won’t be too bad on the crazy scale – I think!

Anyone watch the hit show Supernatural? Or is it more sense to ask who DOESN’T watch this amazing show??

I am so super psyched because as of this Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5 – I will be in the same breathing space as the wonderful people who make this show so spectacular – its fans and actors.

A vendor’s table has been rented (oh my god this better work – it’s expensive as hell!). I will be pitching my wares in person to the crowds at the Supernatural Convention in Whippany, NJ!

Now I’ve done the flea market route, but this is different – my target audience will be there, not the senior citizens asking me to justify why I can’t charge $2 for a Swarovski crystal necklace.

In order to become a vendor, I needed to take the plunge – take my jewelry business and go the legal route – I am now officially a registered, legal business entity – whoo hoo!

The only challenge I’m really nervous about is the fact that I’m going to be alone, at least on Friday. WHAT IF I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM??? I think I’m going to have to strike some crossroad deals about my bladder for the day….or just hope I have friendly vendor neighbors.

I’ve spent the past several weeks in a creative binge – I cranked out close to 200 NEW pieces, in addition to my current inventory.

Some experimentation resulted in some fantastic new designs!!

This is my wrap necklace. I’ve done so many different versions of it but this is one of my first and I am so proud of it! It’s called “The Mermaid’s Folly”

Other pieces that I am really excited about are my woven pentagrams, found objects, Wiccan charm bracelets, wrap bracelets (smaller modification of my wrap necklace concept) and of course, more fun with my Jewelry in the Raw series!

I wanted to create a woven pentagram:

Using found objects was a blast – take a gander at my square plate with flowers:

One of many different Wiccan charm bracelets:

Wrap bracelets – LOVE this and made one for myself!

And one of the newest additions to my Jewelry in the Raw series, a gorgeous clear quartz geode ring!

None of these pieces are going to be available online – only in person at the Supernatural convention. Of course, if they do make the trip back home I will be adding them – to my BRAND NEW WEBSITE!!

http://www.eldwennesfantasy.com is in the process of being built and I anticipate it being completed within the next two weeks. I will let you know when the doors have opened with some really fantastic celebration offers!

My etsy shop, http://www.eldwenne.etsy.com, of course is still open for business as usual and I have many fantastic creations there ready for the picking.

If you email me at eldwenne@yahoo.com with the words ‘GOOD LUCK AT THE SUPERNATURAL CON’, I will send you a coupon code for a 20% discount off any item in my etsy shop (not including gift certificates).

So wish me luck! I’ll try to grab some pics for my next post to show you how absolutely amazing the Supernatural fans are!