So sad … :(

***official note from Eolande***

My dear customers and friends….

It’s time for me to say goodbye to SL!

The economy here has been too harsh to help support my family like it has in the past, and I need to move on to other means of income, and new artistic outlets.

I’ve been making jewelry in one form or another my whole life.  It started with beading, and then I went on to metals.  Back before I had kids I took some silversmithing and lapidary classes and fell in love, head over heels.  As I had son #1 and then son #2 jewelry making got stuck in the back seat.  Then I found out about Second Life, and I learned that I could make anything I want here, and make an income too!  The freedome to create diamonds and gold out of nothing was thrilling (it still is!)  For five years I’ve been here doing just that, having a great time, and helping to support my family.

Over the past couple years the economy has died a slow agonizingly painful death.  For me, it’s never picked back up.  I miss many of my friends who used to create alongside me, and being a social creature it’s hard to be so alone in my workshop.  I’ve never been a great business person…. I don’t have the right connections…. gosh lots of things really are what have brought me down to the point where I need to let go.

In the meantime, the opportunity to create and learn has re-entered my life!  At the persistent urgings of my family, I pulled out my collections of beads and findings and invested in some more goodies.  I’ve got an Etsy website up (www.jensearcandy.etsy.com) and have a good selection of reasonably priced and lovingly made earrings!  But I have my sights set bigger – I want to go back and learn more metal smithing.  Since I last took classes, a great new learning center has opened up in my city… and you can take courses, and use the studio space to work solo.  This will enable me to really make jewelry making a career.  I need to take a lot more classes before I can do that solo work though, and that’s where I’m asking for your help.  If you are inspired to help launch me into my new hobby/career please buy clearance items in my store (everything is 50-75% off), make donations to my tip jar, or even better visit my Etsy site and shop!

My main store in Kanya will remain open selling the clearance items as long as it makes sense to, no promises.  I’m going to try to sort through all the bits and pieces of unfinished projects and give out a few things, again no promises!  I don’t plan to have any stores open in SL after that….. I appreciate everyone’s offers of space, it’s just that I’m ready to close this book.

I have such overwhelming gratitude for every single one of you.  To say „thank you“ isn’t even a tip of the iceberg of how I feel.  You’ve gotten me through some of the hardest times of my life, I’ve made new friends, and grown personally from my experiences here.

I’m never more than an IM away – I never ignore anyone!  Please feel free to drop me a message anytime.
Much love, Eolande Elvehjem.

Etsy:  www.JensEarCandy.etsy.com
email/facebook:  jensearcandy@gmail.com