December Newsletter went out......

Make sure to sign up for next year's newsletters...don;t miss out on the updates, new shows and the Coupons!!!!!

www.robinspretties.com

This Weekend.....Nov 30th and Dec 1st

I will be at Floris Elem School friday evening....this is a great little show that I have done for the past 4 years. I will be there from 4-8pm. I will be at Island Creek Elem school on saturday from 9-3....this will be my second year there. Will have lots of bookmarks and watch charm pretties to choose from.....also you still have time to place your personalized orders....hope to see you there.

Holidays

The holidays are fast approaching......and your orders need to get to me very soon. Here is a break down of the holiday schedule for orders
Holiday Ordering Schedule

Nov 1st- Nov 30th Order taken and processed as normal. An average of 2 - 3 week delivery time

Dec 1st-8th I suggest Priority Shipping....Customer pick-up also available

Dec 11th-15th Priority Shipping required and if ordering a personalized order a Rush fee will be applied.

Dec 15th LAST DAY for Orders

Brooke Point High School this weekend.....

I will be at Brooke Point HS in Stafford, VA this sat from 9:30-3

I am getting ALOT of bookmarks and watch charm pretties ready....I just received a lot of charms...
so the teacher bookmarks will be back in stock...such a cute teacher gift for the holidays...only $12.00 each
.....and for the month of NOVEMBER I have a holiday special ***Buy 6 watch purse pretties and receive one FREE ****...perfect little gift for co-workers, secret santas, friends, babysitter and a great teacher gift.....only $14.00 each

Battlefield Middle School Craft Show

I will be at Battlefield this Sat from 9-3....this is a new show for me this year. Here is a link to the school's website for driving directions Battlefield

Check out my updated show schedule for more Nov and Dec shows.....

Finally a October Newsletter...wooohoooo

Ok..sorry for the delay....I am actually still having computer issues with my website...and I am unable to upload new items to my pages and my shopping carts :( so I went ahead with the newsletter but some items may be a little confusing when placing an order...just give me a call.... 540-657-1209 .....I am always here to place a personal order with :)

If you did not receive your newsletter or have not signed up for it...here is a link.....just look for the flying hummingbird....Happy Halloween......Robin

*new* Mommy Keyrings

Cute new key rings with your children's names, favorite colors and even charms of favorite things or sports......starting at 20.00...come check them out

Did you know I have a MySpace?

Come over and check it out.....make me a friend !
Robin's MySpace

First Day of School

...such cute pictures...I wanted to share with you.

My oldest is going to High School this year. My twins are heading to Middle School and my youngest is going into 4th grade. Time is going by too fast for me......

This weekend........Sept 15 & 16

I have a large 2 day show this weekend.....sometimes I wonder if customers know what goes into being at some shows......

Here's how I got into this one. I am new to this show....so i had to be juried in. I had to send in a few pictures along with my application. These had to be reviewed and then I was invited to be juried in person in front of the "panel". I brought a selection of my jewelry and spoke about each piece....prices...design...packaging...ect. In this case, I was asked to leave the room. I was actually alittle nervous...usually I can tell right away that all is going well....but when I was asked to leave, I felt a little like ..." hmmmm, maybe not" But I was wrong....they loved all of it...
....and so I will be there :)
Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild and Robinson PTSA present
The 18th Annual Arts & Crafts Showcase
Robinson Secondary School,
5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, Virginia
( off Braddock Road.)

Sat and Sun (this weekend)....stop by and visit....I am sure I will be impressed by what is around me....Robin

September Newsletter sent out.......

I actually got a newsletter ready before the month started...wow...a first :) Please sign up for my newsletter and I can send you your copy today.....coupons, show updates and new items.....

New Bracelets.....and they are so pretty :)

.....


I added NEW lampwork bracelets today to my website.....I made a few for my show this past weekend....sold 3 in the first 1/2 hour....and was so busy I never had time to make anymore to even lay on my table as a display.....I decided I better go ahead and finish some...get some pictures together and add a new page to the site

Click HERE to go see even more samples......and they are only $25.00

Ocean Pines Pi'oneer Craft Show

I will be at in the Ocean City area this weekend, Aug 4th, for a great show. This will be my 4th summer showing at this show. It has a great variety of crafts and art. Come out and say "HI"

New Charms for Soldier Bracelets

Come and see them all......Soldier Bracelets

July Newsletter sent out.....

Did you sign up for my newsletter yet? If not, you are missing out on many coupons, show schedule updates and new product news !! Go over to my Website and scroll down the homepage till you see the flying hummingbird :)

Reston Festival

THIS WEEKEND !! I will be at the Reston Towne Center Sat and Sun from 10-9.....This is a great Arts and Crafts show. This will be my 3rd year and I should be in the same place. The weather looks nice so come on out and say "Hi" Reston Festival Website

New Babies, Brides and Grads....

Celebrate Fairfax is right around the corner...

Come see me this weekend, June 8th, 9th and 10th, at the Fairfax Government Center for CELEBRATE! Fairfax...I am in booth #932. Along with some amaxing craft booths and artists there is also some amazing concerts and music and fireworks EACH NIGHT !

June Newsletter sent out....

Did you get yours? no...well sign up for my monthly newsletter......look for the flying hummingbird on the home page of my website.....Coupons, show updates, new items and sales

....the Rush is over......but I still have GIFT CERTIFICATES !!!

The rush of Mother's Day is finally slowing down.....My last few packages went out yesterday.....I have a few more pickups that need to be packaged up and then I am done...

Remember, if you are reading this and have not pulled your Mother's Day gift together...I do offer Gift certificates. You can order them in any amount and it is a great last minute gift and then the Mom in your life can make all her own choices and create her bracelet herself. I print them out on a cardstock so they are wrappable. you could also roll them up, tie with a beautiful bow.....even add a few fresh flowers. I also offer a printable version that you can print yourself.

Rosslyn Artist Market - Every Tues from May to Sept

I have been invited to be involved with the Rosslyn Artis Market in Arlington, VA. I will be set up every Tuesday from 11-2 in the Anna & David Plaza, 1525 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington. This is something different for me ....to have the opportunity to set up my items every week for a few months in a row.....They put on a "Lunchtime Concert" series at the same time...so I think it should be alot of fun.

April 21st Show

Hi, come out and visit me at Springfield Elementary School on April 21st. The School is located at 7602 Heming Ct, Springfield, VA. I will be there from 11-4. I think I am in the cafeteria. Hope to see you there!!

I was accepted to the Celebrate FAIRFAX Festival

The festival is held on June 8th thru June 10th on the grounds of the Fairfax Government Center....here is a link to the website with times and directions http://www.celebratefairfax.org


This is a very large show with great entertainment (SMASHMOUTH wil be there!!! on Sat night) and as soon as I get my booth number and location I will post it here.....

Come see me this Saturday, March 31st

I will be at Courtland High School in Spotsylvania Co on Saturday...let me know you saw this post and I can offer you FREE SHIPPING on your order that day!!!!

Introducing New Bracelet

Message Bracelets
A Sweet Bracelet to show what you are feeling....my favorite is Live ~ Laugh ~ Love .....there are many message words to choose from.
Your bracelet can have 3 message beads, your choice of Swarovski crystal color and closure choice...$ 45.00
Have more to Say? Add an additional message bead for $10.00
Visit my Website to see more.....robin's pretties

Spring Spuce Up for my Show Booth

I decided I want to add more color to my booth so I redesigned some of my displays and signs...adding some stripes. I redid my business cards and handouts too....I like the new look...


My New Cards

Good Start to the Season

Today was my first show of the year.....got off to a slow start...not to many customers waiting for the show to start(honestly...given the choice, I would rather sleep in on Saturday too :) ).....but by 10am things started to pick up...and by 3pm I had done much better than I had hoped for such a early spring show. I have 2 more shows this month.....one next weekend, March 17th, I will be at Garfield Elem School in Springfield, VA from 9 to 3 and then on March 31st I will be at Courtland High School in Spotsylvania, VA...at little south of Rt 3

Stop by and say Hi...let me know you saw this and I will give you FREE SHIPPING on any order placed In March !!

Robin

ps...Mother's Day is May 13th

First Show of the Year!

This upcoming Saturday, March 10, 2007 is my first show of the year. I will be at GarField High School in Woodbridge, Va from 9 to 3. This is a wonderful craft show with many different types of handmade items. It is juried which means each crafter had to send in pictures and be judged on their items. This always makes for a much nicer show for the customers. High quality items and no junk :)

If you are going to be around the Potomac Mills area, stop by and say Hi !

March Newsletter arriving this week

....watch for the March newsletter later this week....including my Spring Show Schedule and coupons !!

Not on my mailing list? Sign up now on my website...look for teh flying hummingbird near the bottom of the homepage

New Look for the Website

The new year got me thinking that my website needed an updated look and I am in the process of teaching myself Photoshop (not an easy thing to do) so I decided to combine the two and come up with a new look. I love what you can do in Photoshop and the "drop shadow" makes it all look so realistic.

So come take a look at the new site....My Website

Really Good Wire

If you think about it, you could put the most expensive components...gemstones, silver and crystals on any type of wire but in the end if it breaks, your expensive piece of jewelry is scattered all over the floor....never to be worn again.....I cannot stress how important it is to ask what wire handmade jewelry is made of. I use only the highest quality 49 strand, Teflon coated jewelry wire for all my pieces. I have been using the same brand since the beginning...it really is the best. It is water proof and rust proof. And it has a test strength of 26 lbs. You can rest assured that your jewelry will last a very long time from robin's pretties

Wishing for *S*N*O*W*

Around my house there is a lot of wishing and hoping for snow. My kids are wearing their PJ's inside out and just hoping for a day off from school.
Over this past weekend we went to visit family in Pittsburgh, PA and we saw lots of snow and it was so pretty...I wanted to share a few snowy pictures with you......

Why I only use SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS....

I feel Swarovski (pronounced Swore-off-ski) crystals are the highest quaility crystal made for beading. Swarovski crystals are meticulously crafted in Austria to the highest standards of quality. The beautiful color and unbelievable sparkle set them apart from other crystals. They are machine cut to provide flawless consistency. There is a rainbow of colors available which is wonderful because there is always a crystal to go with the mood of my creation. There are many knock-off type crystals that appear to be Swarovski but are not......and sell for a much lower price. You can be confident that my jewelry contains real Swarovski crystals. Here is an example of a "Points" Bracelet made with a beautiful
combination of colors : I have "Points" Bracelet available in single and Double Strands....to see more

Click Here to visit my WEBSITE

February Newsletter Sent Out !!

Have you joined my mailing list yet? A great way to get updates...show schedules...new items...and COUPONS !!! Just look for the flying hummingbird on the front page of my website.....

Click Here to visit my WEBSITE

Valentine's Day is right around the corner........

...a few examples.....

.....how it All Began.......

Here is the story of how this all began....a few years back, I was working full time and I wanted a mother's bracelet, I had seen them and just thought that was such a special thing to wear each day but they were so so expensive because I had four names to add. So I decided that i could do it myself...I have always been "crafty"....I can paint, draw and sew and I had made simple beaded bracelets in the past...so off to the bead store I went. I talked to the salesperson explaining what I wanted to do and with her help I had all my materials and tools($100 or so) in a tiny, tiny bag and now I was determined to make this. Well it took a few tries and alot of mistakes and redos but I made it and it was really beautiful...I still wear it !! I wore it to work...the girls loved it....I showed my family...they loved it....I even went to my children's dentist office and they loved it.....so I decided I can make and sell these. I found a small craft show at a local church and set up my table and my very few pieces of jewelry. I sold 3 Mother's Bracelets!! Friends at work ordered them. I started to apply to more shows.
I needed a business card ! I needed a name !!
So my daughter, who had just turned 5 at the time, called my bracelets "pretties" ....and so robin's pretties was born.

Alot has changed since the beginning....I now offer everything from earrings and bookmarks to Soldier bracelets and Watches. I started a website, started a mailing list (over 800 subscribers now) and joined a store. I am very proud of how I turned this into a profitable business. Although it is alot of work. You would be surprised by how much there is to do. From filing the state taxes, juried shows, updating my website, application deadlines (sometimes 6 months in advance), writing newsletters, packaging, shipments, post office trips (at least 2 times a week), and of course coming up with new ideas and making my jewelry....but I love all of it :) Come take a look at all that I have to offer.....