On sunny days...

Between the nearly three week long post office strike (officially over during last week), standing in lines for three plus hours at a time at the labour department and being resinless... It's been difficult keeping up the pace.

But we're back!

Packages are being sent off again and resin work has commenced again.
Beading work is being...worked on and allowing all the goodness that these longer Summer days have to give, to swirl around us and soak in.

We have THREE operating online stores (Etsy, Storenvy, ideasmarket), the blog (hi!), the Instagram, Twitter AND the facebook page and Pinterest board.
There really is no reason not to be in contact with us ;)

Like us, follow us, pin us, buy from us, share with us. SOCIAL media and all ;)

There's no new market dates for Wanderland yet, but keep your eyes peeled for updates.

Lots of newness is being added to stock, and lots of things that we've painstakingly and lovingly made for you to use and wear.
Believe me... The pains in the hands from all the resin mixing, pouring, sanding and the beading....are worth it when you guys are happy with what we make.

Our positive note for today: "you guys are amazing. Don't ever let anyone let you think or feel any less than that."

Until the next blog update!

While Summer burns...

Despite being swamped for the last 4 or so days, seeing the sun out again and sweltering in the early morning heat, almost makes me miss the rain again.

But ...don't get me wrong. I love our summers, and the swish of fans, bustle of chatting birds, how my horses' coats glisten ...Yes. I do love Summer.

I also love handmade.
I have seen myself as a handmade "student"... constantly learning and developing. Admiring the work of those who seem to be born with "it".
So I've found some creative stores to share in today's post *yay* ~

THE TREE FOLK HOLLOW - hand carved wooden dolls and treasures from the earth.
I think this is my next international store to buy from.
Rocks, crystals, marbles, stones... encased in crochet "basket" necklaces. Simply beautiful little wearable treasures.
(as I don't have permission, I haven't used any of her pictures for this post, so you'll have to go see for yourself ;) )

BIGKIDDESIGN - from Durban, South Africa. YEA!
Give some local crafties love and support their art. Defenitely going to get myself those really really really rad Lego guy bookends soon.

ELLIOT JACKSON - I cannot stop looking in at this store. Unsual sculpted rings that hold my fancy long after I've closed the page. If you're not into BIG rings, this store may not be for you, but if you are into BIG UNUSUAL SCULTPTED knockouts... go look and see!


Then... Wonder Struck Inc stuff.

As we've been bragging, we'll be doing markets with The Journeyman this year, under the name WANDERLAND.

Next market:  7 February @ The Night Market at The Shed on R59. 6pm - 10pm.

Our first market this year as Wanderland, went far better than we expected. It was unusual seeing people out at the end of January spending money. So, to everyone who came past and supported our stall. THANK YOU!

Then... if you're not able to make it to the markets to visit our table, we have FOUR ways you can buy from us ONLINE.

Etsy
Storenvy
Ideasmarket
Facebook

No excuses to grab some of our very own handmade goods...

Have a fantastic Wednesday, its back to work here.

So far...

This Summer is sweltering... Fans are on almost 24/7 in the workroom, between the odd rainfall and sleeptime.

Tomorrow is our first Market of 2014, and also our first market as Wanderland (Wonder Struck Inc & The Journeyman).
We'll be at The Walkerville Farmers Market tomorrow, 25 January from 9am till 4pm.

Then it's a 2 week work space, then Wanderland will be at The Shed on R59's Night Market, 7 February.
From 6pm - 10pm.

Lots of newness has already sprung up on our Storenvy, and limited stock items on our Ideasmarket and Esty stores. Pick and choose through our awesome items.
90% of what we do is one of a kind, so there's a good chance that once the item sells, it will not be restocked. So take advantage while you can.

We're about to shut down shop for the next 60 hours for the market.
Shew, back to work then.

Have a great Friday peeps.

Sweet pervings...

I've been wanting to back to putting to blog, online stores that I find... the interesting and unusual and beautiful (all the things I long for Wonder Struck Inc to become... soon!).

Though I don't have permission to use any of her photos, I will link you to this store:

For Strange Women

As I peruse through her pages of items, I am left licking my lips and curling my toes at the pure visual beauty of it all. Oh the decadence!

One day I'll beable to afford to buy from her store, this is a goal I have now set for myself.

Go look in at her store and see just what I mean...

How could you go wrong with with perfumes like "decadence and debauchery", I mean, really? ;)

Then, I came across this store, via another jewellery artist (who I admire so much, just for her work and what she is going through right now).

I also follow this jewellery designer/artist on Instagram, just so I can continually be left in tears at what I cannot buy from her. Her work is just beautiful... and that's putting it lightly.

Evil Pawn Jewelry

If you have a spare R400 or R500, at least treat yourself to one of her Elise Rings. They're too gorgeous for words.

Ok.. now that my wants and desires have been shown for the evening.

Onto Wonder Struck Inc. business I suppose ;)

I've been slowly, slowly adding some items onto the two operating online stores:

Wonder Struck Inc on IdeasMarket

Wonder Struck Inc on Storenvy

So go peek in and see if there's anything there that catches your interest... I'm still working through *all* our stock, taking pictures and loading as I go along. So please be patient so that you can have access to everything that those attending our markets also have access to.

What have we...

It's nearly...nearly halfway through January and what has happened so far into the year?

Personally... as humans we are often our own worst enemies.
For instance... leaving your desk chair right up to your work table, while you have a kitten running around alone at night, with full access to your workroom.
I have discovered I don't speak the sums of kittens when inputted into spreadsheets, I now know how to activate my laptop's wi-fi sensor (after it's been "mysteriously" de-activated, literally overnight). I also know that you cannot yell at kittens, mostly because they have no idea what you're so upset about and will continue cleaning themselves no matter how close the vein in your forehead is to popping.

And Wonder Struck Inc. discoveries so far into the year...
well, I have discovered I have amazing customers. You guys rock my world.
Also, setting up an online store on a South African "host" is not as easy as it seems... but perseverance and some colourful language and head/desk slams work.

So far I've been inspired by so many other online jewellery artists, as well as by what I've always really enjoyed doing, but never have.
Holding yourself back because of what the "masses may think" is probably the biggest block to creativity I have ever created for myself... ironically.
I have made jewellery meant to appeal to a great many people in hopes of success, only to find myself greatly unfulfilled by what I do. No offense to anyone on that.
Loads more work is being done and will be done that will reflect myself and my creativity far better this year. I feel it in my giant rubber crafty pants.

Then...

If you want to buy from us in good old South African Rands, feel free to visit our all new South African online store - Wonder Struck Inc.

And if you spend in US Dollars, or via Paypal, visit our Storenvy store to see what you can grab.

~ Zoo ~

2014... onward.

I'm not going to get all insightful and philosophical about 2013.
It's over and done with. Good and bad.

It's the first day of 2014, and as much as I'm not a believer in the whole "new years resolution" story (if you want to make a change, you'll make it whenever and whereever you may be)... I do intend to grow Wonder Struck Inc this year. With the help of great customers of course ;)
I've spent 4 years trying to fit Wonder Struck Inc in between the gaps of a full day job, until I found myself retrenched at the end of November. I don't wish to hang my head over this and cry and stress and worry.
All of that has and will happen, on it's own...
So onward!
If you are the resolution type, then this is my hope:

The the new year will be full of positivity, and blessings, even in the darkest of moments. I hope you see the silver lining no matter who and what you may encounter along your journey this year. And it will be a journey, because life would be less exciting if it was just a trip.
There will be things lost, learnt and gained. And it will only be you that can choose to surround yourself with as much positivity as possible, and with as many beautiful, soulful humans as you possibly can.

I am so thankful that the customers and likers of Wonder Struck Inc have been the light and the silver lining and the growth of what I now do full time (or until I find another day job I guess).

Today was spent the way most public holidays go around my parts... with my friends, one of whom is the wonderful free spirit Heatherlyn, of The Journeyman. 

Go follow her Facebook page aswell to keep up to date with what she does, and what she'll be doing as The Journeyman

As the year progresses, Wonder Struck Inc and The Journeyman will be operating at markets, rallies and merch stands as a collective called "Wanderland".

We'll be stocking not just our own, but loads of other really cool indie, handmade and eclectic stuffs.

For those who'd like a quick reminder on some dates:

6 January 2014 - Wonder Struck Inc re-opens. We'll be doing orders, invoicing and payment arrangements from Monday again.

8 January 2014 - All shipping will commence.

We haven't booked our first market of the year... yet. But keep looking in on here or on our Facebook to see what we'll be doing and where we'll be heading and setting up.

You can order via our Facebook, our Storenvy and soon from our South African friendly online store on MyStall.

New Stock:

New stock components, new molds, new pieces (limited and otherwise) are coming in over what will hopefully be the next month.

With Christmas happening right after placing most of my bigger orders, I think things would have been delayed in the postal system, so please be patient if you're waiting for anything. 

Terrarium necklace components, crow skull molds, lolita cameo molds, new cameo settings, rings, cameos... I'm waiting for all of it.

Also just (while doing my blog post) ordered in a small order of tongue studs. Mostly because mine are falling to pieces and I can't find anything I really like...so when the tongue stud order comes in, I'll pick out and do photos. 

They'll be available on all our sites/online stores for R20/US$2.70 each, excluding postage.

Our Lace & Wenches range of lacey goth inspired necklaces (necklaces, not chokers....yet)

We're going to be working more on "ranges" or "lines" if you will this year.

Making things a bit more organised and doing more of what we have always LOVED doing, whether it appeals to the masses or not.

Changes are a coming ;)

Also, if you're at any future "WANDERLAND" attended markets this year, you'll also beable to buy some select A5 and A4 prints from us on some of our best photographical efforts. 

You'll also beable to buy Squarehead shirts from our "Wanderland" tables at the markets too, in limited quantities of course ;) so first come first serve. If you haven't ordered from the stock via our online stores/pages, come to the markets and quickly grab as we will be doing VERY limited runs per size (as in ONE per size per run).

..... AH! I cannot believe how long this post feels.

Have I ever written such a long in depth one like this?

Well, the first of many for 2014.

Again, you guys MADE 2013 great for Wonder Struck Inc. and because of you guys we know we'll grow even bigger and better in 2014.

Let's do this!

;)  * Zoo *

Two days and counting...

Well. I must say that I have been quite a bit productive so close to Christmas...

If you prefer "photo" blogs, Wonder Struck Inc. now has it's very own Instagram and so does Squareheads (our "clothing" project with John).
So if you're on Instagram, go follow our two new accounts and see what we're doing and what we're about.

I've also been photographing loads of new stock, and adding it onto our Storenvy ~ I'll be keeping this store open, despite the holidays and our being shutdown otherwise.
But note, whatever is in stock is back up for sale from 6 January 2014 and posting/shipping commences on 8 January 2014.

I am setting some pretty high goals for Wonder Struck in 2014, and I know with you guys I can make them happen.

Now... GO ENJOY CHRISTMAS !

Oh Christmas tree... oh Christmas tree...

I keep saying how I just cannot wait for 2014, so this horrible year can be over with... (isn't that how we sometimes feel about every year?)... but it hasn't been all bad.
2013, after 4 years of persisting, has been Wonder Struck Inc's biggest year so far. And because of you guys and how I'm pushing myself, I believe 2014 will be even bigger.
Positive thinking.
And positive action ;)

Between the new stock items/components/molds ordered, the new work being done on the online stores, the new "plans of actions" lining up... well. Who needs to wait for the new year?

I've been hum and hah'ing over the online stores over this year. Running costs versus maintenance versus sales etc.
There was never a question for me to keep Etsy, I would have previously sacraficed any of my other online stores just to keep the Etsy store going. But things have had to change a little.
While my Etsy store remains in "vacation mode", I will be paying more attention to our Storenvy and our MyStall online stores now.
Storenvy will be international and paypal friendly. You will need to be a member of Storenvy to "envy" or buy/order on it, and it's quite possible to just join using your Facebook account.
MyStall will be more for the South African peeps that want to pay in rands, and via debit/credit card or eft. Again, it seems you will need to create an account so you can order your "must haves" from any MyStall shops.

* OUR STORES ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN DIRECT LINKS AT THE TABS AT THE TOP OF THE BLOG*

For the last four years, I've been doing Wonder Struck Inc between having a day job, and for these last four years I kept thinking how much easier it would be if I got to do Wonder Struck Inc full time... well. How wrong have I been?

It hasn't been easy, whether its the weight of personal doom from the situation hanging over me, or the not being used to having so much time available. Who knows.

But to everyone that has been so amazing and patient waiting for me to get my footing, thank you! You are such amazing human beings! You have and still do make this all worth it.

In the meantime, while updating and fiddling and getting used to new stores and their setups, I'm also filling up new stock as far as I can while "on holiday". And while I wait for the other new stuff to come in (with the greatest anticipation).

And... thats the end of today's blog entry. The laptop battery and the phone battery are going dead and I have domestic chores to attend to >.< (oh the excite)

Keep safe, be safe and most importantly be with the people you love this holiday. 

~ ZOO ~