Upper Echelon

It seems that if you do enough good business with the right people, more good business will come your way.

I LOVE my clients! In the past 3 weeks I've gotten 4 new referrals... all of which turned into sales and custom repairs.

One is a new jewelry shop owner who has been open for about 3 months doing repairs and custom design. His wife called me one day, said she had gotten my name from a Master Goldsmith in Manitou Springs... and that they were in need of someone with gemstone knowledge and expertise. Jeremy and I drove to their shop, I went in to just talk about what I do, and it turned into my biggest single sale of the year. They have been buying pieces from me every time I visit ever since... and the stones are SELLING like crazy!

Two of the jewelers I got as a referral from a client in Boulder. Their gem cutter retired in June, and they didn't know where or how to find a new contact. One guy sucked up his pride and went across the street to his competition, who was happy to share my business card.

The most recent is the kind of client I've been waiting for. He is a jewelry designer. His business is drawing designs to-scale, taking the pictures to private individuals, and selling the drawing then creating a piece from that. His first order was for a monster Topaz... something that would be a centerpiece to a huge pendant. I found a piece of rough, and cut it custom for his needs. It ended up being right at 60 carats... He said to me yesterday, "You have done everything you said you would, when you promised, and exceeded my expectations. From here on, you're my gal." My gemstones are being worn by the upper echelon of Colorado (and a Broadway actress). I'm pretty giddy!

Juggling

So I'm keeping my sanity for the moment.

The home business isn't slowing down. Chores keep piling up with the laundry. The front yard is nearly finished. The new bedroom only needs baseboards. My family needs help with my niece up in Denver. I'm tired.

Somehow I'm making it through with minimal collateral damage. There are days it takes all I have to not break down and cry over the long list of things that need to get done but just can't... and I'm seriously considering writing my congressman to add about 4 hours to a day to give me some extra time to get shit done.

At least there's August to look forward to. Hubby and I are taking a well-earned vacation... our 4th cruise. This time we're going to Alaska! We started looking back and this will be our first vacation with just the two of us in over 2 years. We've done lots of traveling with friends & family... but I guess since we're together 24/7 we haven't really thought about getting away with just us.

Just a few short weeks and we'll be off and away from work and cell phones!!!