What is a FACEBOOK & TWITTER BADGE?

1. What are they?

-They are mini box that take a quick preview onto your social profile and activity, often used on blogs as a link to your social network.

2. How do I get myself this badge?

- For Facebook go ahead and go to the log-in page and scroll to the very bottom. There will be horizontal list of links. There you will find badge. From there it is very self-explanatory! You can create a badge for your personal profile, likes, pictures, and pages.

- With Twitter in order for your statuses to show in the badge, the account cannot be on a private setting.

- If not on a private setting, go to the Twitter log-in page, scroll to the very bottom, and click on about. Once on the about page, the sidebar has a link to resources. From there you can click on widgets, and it’s a piece of cake after that!

I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU 

This post has been written in collaboration with Wanda Hernandez for Evelyn Brooks

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CLUELESS ABOUT BLOGGING???

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To those who do are as clueless about the blogging world as I am, even the most simple of blogging tools and tricks seem close to impossible.

Headaches with RSS! Do you recognize this symbol? (see below)

1. To start, I quickly searched what an RSS was. And trust me that symbol within your blog or website is more important than what you think. Learn more about it

-It is simply a news feed that once someone subscribes to the blog, the “subscribee” gets updates on new post!

2. Now the question was: How in the world will I get the RSS gadget onto the blog!?!

-I went to the Blogger dashboard and clicked on designs. Even I, being a rookie to the blog world, know that if I want to make my web page look different designs is the first place I should go.

-Blogger’s helpful design layout of the blog, brought me to experiment with add a gadget. Easy enough, I found a gadget that said feed, which was exactly what I was looking for.

- Although this may sound like the end of my blogging problems, oh no, you are very wrong. It just brought me to my next head aching question.

3. Someone please tell me what my feed URL is!

-Feedburner provided me with what I was looking for…a custom RSS feed.

-Once on Feedburner, I signed in using my Gmail account. (Hooray for Gmail!)

-Next, I inserted my blog’s URL and proceeded with making a Feedburner account.

4. The need to know knowledge- you can’t skip out on this!

- Just because you have a Feedburner account and your Blogger up and running the RSS will not magically appear.

- Go to publicize, on the side bar you will find Chicklet Chooser.

-Go ahead pick your icon. I chose the standard RSS icon, this way my readers could identify it easily.

-After your icon is chosen, scroll all the way to the bottom and use as a widget in Blogger (or whichever blog host you are using. If you have your own template there’s an HTML code for that too!)

-Press GO! It will automatically take you to your design layout. Don’t forget to save

Hope this helps you 

Hasta la proxima

(This post was written in collaboration with Ms. Wanda Hernandez for Evelyn Brooks Designs)

ANY RELIABLE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMPANY… ???

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Is life all about money? Why is it that people sometimes only think about money first? Perhaps because there are bills to pay, which I totally understand. Sometimes it is money just to spend on incidentals over the weekend on drinks, parties, clothes, accessories etc.…

Why can’t young  adults place there energies thinking about their own future? Or how important is to learn every lesson they can learn from that employer where they work. If you are like me,  probably you won’t understand that until you have settled down in your life.

Traditional Latin America culture eases the pressure to think about your

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future, because your kids will take care of you when you get older. That the husband as the bread winner will provide for the rest of your life. Saving for the future is a major concern. I saved money to go to Europe, or to go to that resort in Cuba, or simply to go shopping to New York (just as I did once ), but what about 401k’s, social security? No for you, no way, no how. Far to often we live in the momentum of immediate gratification and simply because’ we are so passionate in everything we do.

I will add a little dark humor in this post that I remember commenting with some friends regarding the worst times of the economy. We were saying this while Americans were killing themselves because they lost their jobs. A Peruvian loses his job on Friday and I guarantee he is drinking and partying the same night and through the weekend.

I believe Hispanic culture is more cavilair, that no matter what we think ….things will get better, no matter what The reason is our faith that God has another door that he will open for you when another is closed.

At this juncture in my company I am looking for reliable people who are there when I need them. Responsible people who are willing to give me input when needed. Who are proactive.                                                 I learned this word that I heard 20,000 times while I worked for United Airlines.  BE PROACTIVE, YOU HAVE EMPOWEREMENT. Which means go the extra mile for your company. You are entitled to make a decision wherever you have to make it as long as it makes sense. Especially if it is for the good of the company (if you still don’t know what proactive is? CLICK HERE) Of course there may be mistakes because  you made a decision. However, you choose a decisive course of action. If that works great. If this does not you chalk it up as a lesson learned and continue to move forward.

When I worked for United Airlines, I really thought I was going be there until I retired and have my benefits of traveling for the rest of my life. But God had a different plan for me. I got laid off twice. The 2nd time I was living in Mexico and went back to my native Peru. While there I had an epiphany and realized that I didn’t belong with United Airlines.  I was an international girl who wanted to continue exploring the world and other cultures. So I endeavored and ventured myself off to the States for 6 months in March of 2003 without knowing that the very 1st weekend after my arrival, I would meet my future husband. Faith would have it that I got married eight months later. A door closed and another door had opened. Launching Evelyn Brooks Designs in June of 2004

So again God had a different plan for me.  Now I plan for my future, along with my family, performing in a rewarding career that is fulfilling to God great plan.

With love

Evelyn

ARTFIRE VS ETSY–Cause’ competition is good…

How important is marketing research, huh!? I am working on how to bring more sales to my e-store or better say how to sell more designs through different online stores. It seems like one/two aren't not enough…. How can a small jewelry designer entrepreneur do it?

Well, lots of researching, lots of reading and this is just the beginning. During my research I also found a book that explains clearly how to drive traffic to your website. The web traffic evolution guide
Photo courtesy of Webtraffic Evolution Insider

In my research of which stores are dedicated to sell hand-made, hand-fabricated jewelry/art, I found the most heard of ETSY and a new site named ARTFIRE (founded in 2008)

My next step, find out how good/bad or well recommended is ARTFIRE. So I goggled: feedback about Artfire; one of 1st sites to come up was www.HandmadeMarketing.org with lots of comments about how artisans and jewelry designers feel about artfire and their number one competitor etsy.



Some artisans said to be very happy with the results, some complain about artfire being new, some mention it is an advantage being new because there is still not many artisans selling as they are on etsy, some others are saying competition is good and also someone suggests don’t just list 12 items, go for more which means paying $9 monthly; and give it at least a year to make a final decision if it is good for you or not.

Again having your own business is not easy and it is always a roller coaster full of risks, good and bad days. In Spanish there is a phrase that I always think about “EL QUE NO ARRIESGA NO GANA”, which means IF YOU DON’T RISK YOU DON’T WIN...

Artfire is free for the 1st 12 pieces you upload and then unlimited $9, although I read that if you reach 5000 sold items, they raise your monthly fee to $20 dollars. I wish I could be paying $20 the next month, right? But I am sure everything takes time.


Do you want to know more about ARTFIRE??? - . Read a complete interview with John Jacobs (Artfire CEO)

Now I will talk about etsy…hmmm etsy, etsy, etsy…my personal experience…


I have sold my pieces there, NOT A LOT. I just stopped doing it because it is TOO MUCH TIME. Maybe it is me …I don’t know (please tell me if I am wrong- your comments are welcomed!) ; but it takes too long to upload a picture and also I feel like now there are so many more jewelers/artisans, different categories that makes it overwhelming for a customer to buy something. If I were to buy something from etsy ( I am speaking as a customer looking for a gift), it will probably have to be a very specific gift otherwise I wouldn’t do it. There is SO MUCH to look at, that makes me dizzy. And who has the time to look at soooo many pieces of jewelry to choose the right gift? Maybe there are buyers who have that kind of time, don’t get me wrong, otherwise etsy would not exist.

Will I try etsy again, YES just during holiday season which for us starts in September and I am pretty sure that people will be looking for RED JEWELRY and my RED HUAYRUROS will be perfect for the season.



The Passion Red Classic Necklace (picture bottom right) & The Classic Crochet Collection (picture top left) will soon be available for sale of etsy & artfire.

STAY TUNNED….HASTA LA PROXIMA;)

MY WORST TEACHER MADE ME A BETTER TEACHER?!

Oh yes I still think how it all  started?  It has been over two years of me teaching jewelry design, jewelry beading and answering a bunch of questions from young future designers or simply those who think of it as a business. Over the long run they realize is too hard and difficult to make it happen.

I have been invited to different presentations from for profit and  non profit organizations to share my experiences as a jewelry designer and business artist entrepreneur.                                                                                                                I remember volunteering my time to give a presentation for Empowered Women International, especially because this non profit helps immigrant artist through their Entrepreneurship Training Program to learn how to see themself as an artist but more importantly a BUSINESS ARTISTA.  I feel very compelled with their mission and the program. I came to this country without knowing how to introduce myself as an artist/jewelry designer, nor how to create a portfolio (now I have three different ones) and I learned that through that program I have also learned through perseverance and through other classes I have taken. We still make fun and joke about my 1st meeting with Mrs. Marga Fripp the director of Empowered Women International. She always says I remember Evelyn walking into their office/shop of Alexandria with a bag full of stones and even tools. All this to show Marga that I was a true artist who made her own jewelry. And YES I still giggle about that day and how I did my 1st introduction. Of course I will never go to any of my boutiques that now carry my jewelry line with my bag of huayuros and tools to introduce my new collection right?! But at that time I didn’t know what was best to do. Experience has given me confidence to present my work professionally and proudly.

Empowered Women International has open the doors of many inmigrant artists. Their histories have being featured in different social media, too. Above picture EWI artists, Marga Fripp (Director of EWINT) next to Evelyn Brooks

Time has given me confidence to present my work professionally and proudly.

I digress back to my teaching subject. I have lots to share and probably I will talk about it more than once. It is an honor for me to be recognized for my work as a teacher and recieve a diploma from the Montgomery College. WOW! It is an honor for me to be recognized for my work as a teacher and get a diploma from the Montgomery College….WOW!

If I teach is because there is a necessity and people are eager to learn something new, something that can be used for themselves or giving away as gifts or simply as a relaxing way to de'stress. My method is VERY DIFFERENT, there is no ice wall barrier in my class, everybody can participate, we laugh and chat. However, when I have to say CHICAS ESCUCHENME! THEY DO! I think working for United Airlines helped me a lot in given me so much knowledge about customer service. Immediately making them feel at easy. That you are there to assist them is key to success in any business venture. Do never make anybody feel bad.

One of my worst experiences I had as a student; was when I went to take a class at the Torpedo Factory. . I had such an awful and complex teacher. Three students dropped the class. Her social skills were abrasive. So rough, that one day I came back home and told my husband: Thank God I do not suffer from depression because after hearing what I heard I would have probably jumped out of the 10th floor. I stood still and tried to be so strong every time I went to that class. The teacher whenever I asked a question, she pretended did not understand what I asked and asked everybody in the class: can anybody translate what Evelyn had said? or simply will cut me off when I would ask a question. Until one day I told her: LET ME FINISH… and she did

I have had the pleasure of not seeing her again. I promised to myself if I ever teach, I would never trample on the imaginations of others. As a teacher your responsibility is to lift and raise the potential of others so that they may reach their full creative potential.

I am soooo proud with my advance group (students Lucia Goldman & Milagros Murga) how well they are working - GOOD JOB! (see pictures below)

I have more teaching experiences I can share . If you like to attend one of my classes – Please visit my link http://www.ebrooksdesigns.com/teaching.html, classes can be taught in Spanish and English

Supporting our future designers…

 

The Brooks Family & Evelyn Brooks Designs supports students of the West Potomac Academy Fashion Program

My passion to support the community comes from where I come from and how I was raised. Also from my personal experiences. I wasn’t given the opportunity to attend a fashion design program at the age of 15 or simply getting an internship that could teach me about the fashion world.

When I agreed to partner with the Fairfax County Public Schools in becoming a mentor and to offer  young adults the opportunity to learn about the real business world, my day to day activities, etc… I took it seriously. The interns that have passed through my internship program they know I mean BUSINESS when it comes to work. I share with them my personal experiences and gives them the opportunities to share their thoughts in many aspects of my business. Also cause sometimes I need a fresh take.

I will be honest most of my interns have being VERY and EXTREMELY professional with the exception of a few that weren’t interested in the fashion world and other a bit lazy. But it is what it is. If I grant you the opportunity take advantage of it; if not somehow you will learn about the real world.

Part of my business mission is to help my community and we keep doing it. I brought  my little one, Tyler to the Runway Ready show produced by Maggie Francois & students of the West Potomac Academy Fashion Design Program (three of my internst where also in the show) and we simply could not miss it! He had lots of fun... Tyler  got to see his new friends, too;  (Lilly, Wanda & Joanna) at 1st he would not recognized them with all the make up on…but then he remembered them. Tyler knows that every Thursday they come to work with mommy and we try to keep him away so we can work QUIETLY at the studio but sometimes it is impossible.

While Wanda works on learning about the latest jewelry trends, Tyler got her iPhone to play with and he loves giving her some company. We lay things on the floor when we discussed to many subjects. NO! WE DON’T WORK ON THE FLOOR ALL THE TIME   Lilly another intern wasn’t there that day otherwise Tyler would have being all over her.

Men’s jewelry is sexy…BUT all HE wants is COMFORT!

Did you know there is a men’s jewelry study ? that says 60% of men would consider wearing jewelry, 42% don’t buy it because they don’t shop for jewelry, 37% of men don’t buy jewelry because they don’t feel confortable wearing it and that only 5 % were uncomfortable buying men’s jewelry.

I shared this study with you because it is important to know what men seek when shoping. What kind of jewelry they would wear so we could get the perfect gift for them. I have being reading different reports and seeing the lines of a mulitple jewelry companies that I admire, such as John Hardy & Simmons's. Both follow the studies needs and create comfortable jewelry for their male clientele.

"Men have traditionally been the biggest purchasers of jewelry, while women are the most important consumers of jewelry”,  Having said this, I invite you to treat the man in your life. Father’s Day is approaching and you could find the perfect Father’s day gift from my MOSCHIK MEN’S jewelry collection. Evelyn Brooks Designs has  a great selection of men’s jewelry. Pieces that are easy on the masculine eye, ready to wear and VERY COMFORTABLE.

The Moschik jewelry line is inspired by the Moche Inca culture mixed with modern designs and following the latest trends. My cuff bracelets & adjustable rings show  delicate minimalistic lines and geometric figures. While my rosaries has being a HIT & FAVORITE  among our male clientele.

My adjustable cuff bracelets & rings are also favorites by my men’s clientele. They can easily adjust the size of it,  wear the rings even if sometimes their finger is swollen and adjust the size of their cuff bracelets/rings even if you have lost weight

DON’T FORGET TO USE YOUR 20% OFF AT TIME OF CHECKOUT ON YOUR ONLINE PURCHASE – (USE CODE: ebd4u7Y) – LET’S CONTINUE CELEBRATING OUR 7TH ANNIVERSARY!!! – Offer ends June 30th