Updates

After a hiatus over at another blog site, I've decided to return home.  If you have been following me over at that other blog, come on back here and keep track of what viadellaRosa is going to be doing for the rest of the year.

One of the things we're going to have is a featured artisan.  I'm a member of the Artfire Crazy Train Guild, and I want to represent my fellow artisans in a special way.  Over on the left there you'll see the featured artisan.  Go visit their shop and see the wonderful things they have to offer.  While the featured artisan on the Crazy Train changes daily, my featured artisan will change weekly, based on the artisans chosen for the week.  If you would like to be a featured artisan, please feel free to email me at support_vdr@outlook.com.  There's no charge to be featured; I just like to spread the love.

If you are a regular visitor to my store you'll see that the store has a different look and a different selection that has been rather slim of late.  The product line at viadellaRosa is expanding; currently, we will be carrying:

• Rosaries, Chaplets, and other Prayer Beads
• Patron Saint Necklace - ready to ship & made to order
• Women's Jewelry/Accessories
• Men's Jewelry/Accessories
• Unisex Jewelry/Accessories
• Keep Calm & Pray Your Rosary Pendants - ready to ship & made to order
• Handmade rosary cases & boxes

Also, check out our new policies for updates on shipping, returns and new contact information.

Sometime in mid-August or early September, keep your eyes open for viadellarosaHome.

Till later!

I'm Back! New Items from viadellaRosa - May 12, 2012

After a few days off, I've listed some new glass tile necklaces over at viadellaRosa:

Trinity Sunday

St. Thomas More

St. Rita of Cascia

St. Peter the Apostle

And this weekend, I'll be finishing the samples for Sampler Village and mailing out The Little Black Box samples.  

And goodness, I've got so many things coming into the shops for June -- but you'll have to wait for the new issuu to see what's coming!

Till later!

See Photo Below...

I've not been very motivated these past couple of days.  Probably it's because I'm dealing with a sick teenaged boy.  Suddenly, my baby's 8 years old again and needs his mommy to make tea for his sore throat.

I know, I'm loving every minute of it.

Anyhoot, viadellaRosa has been feeling a bit neglected as of late.  I check in every day, but I haven't done much in the way of prettifying it as I should.

So I go check in and what do I find?  I've been featured in a collection on Artfire:

Cross Your Heart

Curated By: BusyFingers

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Photography

That's me over there, second from left on the bottom row.  One of my glass tile pendants.  I had to smile and thank the curator for including me.  And look at the beautiful company I'm in!  I especially love the little cross that's first in the collection -- I might have to add it to my hotlist before I head off to bed.

 

Now all of this has inspired me to tell you all about my Rose Club.  As a member of the vdR Rose Club, you get a few perks that others don't.  First off, you get free shipping on everything you purchase in the store.  Join, get your code and you're ready to go.

 

You also get your own personal Patron Saint Pendant.  All I need to know is your birthday (or a birthday of a loved one) and you'll get your little pretty in the mail.  This alone is worth more than the whole membership, but it's a great way to get to know my glass tile pendants up close and personal.

Lastly, but certainly not leastly, you get once-monthly emails giving you an inside peek of viadellaRosa and getting exclusive savings on all of the cool things coming down the pike for the holiday season and beyond.  And when I say monthly, I indeed mean monthly -- I personaly enjoy quality over quantity, so I'm not one to bombard the email boxes of my loyal customers with all kinds of stuff.

And the cool thing is, you get this all for NINE bucks!  The pendant alone costs $12.  And since I always love to throw a surprise in every shipment, the good Lord knows what other goodies you'll get too.

Even if you're not ready to make any big purchases right now, go ahead and invest in a shot of free shipping, just for the holiday season.

viadellaRosa - New Directions

I've been in a kind of slump lately when it comes to my baby, viadellaRosa.  I have to keep reminding myself that it's a niche shop, and I won't be drawing all people at all times.  So, I've been taking a deep look at where I want to direct this business for 2012.

While the handmade aspect of viadellaRosa is never going to go away -- simply because I truly enjoy creating and crafting rosaries and other spiritual goodies -- I do intend to broaden my inventory with other items.

With that in mind, I'm working on developing a stand-alone website for vdR that will work in conjunction with the Artfire site.  Over there, you'll be able to find other products such as:

• prayer cards
• literature
• gift sets
• SOME rosaries and chaplets that I will be offering as a "starter" piece, for those brand new to the rosary or to the Catholic Church.  Sometimes the investment in an heirloom piece is not quite in the budget, but I still want sacramentals and devotional pieces to be attainable.

I'm looking at January 2012 for the launching of this website.  It's going to continue to have the same flair and modern style that you've come to look for at viadellaRosa, the product line will just be a little more diverse.

So keep an eye out!  I hope you'll enjoy the new look!

Viva La Organization!

No, that is not anywhere in my house.  Not the kitchen, the garage (what is that?), the bedroom, bathroom, or kid's room.  Nor is it, to my dismay, my home office.

Yet.

As far as organization goes, I'm one of those who need to take small baby steps.  One piece at a time, one section at a time.  Like eating a whole cow... one slider at a time (sorry vegetarians!).

I have made some progress on that path to organization, though.  I have all the paperwork for my Avon selling in one blue zipper pouch.  I do have a corner and re-purposed closet dedicated to the crafts.  You can actually find things on my desk.

And now, my home-business work schedule is finally set.  


Seriously, you say?  Yes.  I've been at this home-business thing since 2006 and now I decide to organize my time.  I suppose you could say my brain finally put down its foot and said enough was enough.


Those of you who are following my various shops and venues, I'm putting my "store hours" down just for you to keep track.  For questions, comments and feedback, I am always available, but these are the days and hours allocated to each shop/venue for now.  As I become more successful, these hours will change to accomodate.

The hours are all the same:  I'll be online exclusively between 8:00pm and 9:30pm.  Doesn't sound like much, but considering I can type 100+ wpm, I can crank out a lot of content in that time.  Kind of like the way I talk...

viadellaRosa:  The oldest, the queen/diva of the shops.  Monday is dedicated to this shop.  You'll get a blog post, some new listings, tweets and updates.

Avon: I put my Avon Lady hat on Tuesdays.  I'll usually be available online at my Avon Website, available for chat between 7:30pm and 8:30pm.  Again you'll get a blog post, new info, tweets, updates and maybe a giveaway.

Seriously Banners & Black Ink Alchemy:  All you sellers and art lovers out there, come check me out on Wednesday, both on Artfire and Etsy.  I'll update you on the newest designs, what I've got brewing on the back burner.

Keshkin Girl Jewelry:  I'll be dedicating Thursday to the sparklies.  Everything thing over at the Etsy shop is being updated to be bright and pretty for the holiday season, and on Thursday, I'll give you plenty Updates.

Haeven:  Now, haeven is back in a new way.  It still dedicated to everything for home and soul, but now I have a new product line that I'm really excited to share with you.  On Fridays, I'll give you all the details... especially about the great way you can take care of your Holiday shopping without killing yourself at the mall.






The entirety of Saturday and Sunday belongs to my family and me.  I may craft some on Saturday, though not much more than an hour.  On Sunday, off to church, Sunday School for the Tiny Dancer, and much needed rest.


Whew!  That felt good!  It's codified, and now I'm dedicated to keeping my schedule.


Like I said earlier... viva la organization!