Article by husband and wife team  – Hawaii wedding coordinators:  http://www.alohaislandweddings.com/vime/index.php

What in the world IS foot jewelry you ask? Most of the people I ask have never heard of it.  Others say ”sure” because they think  it’s like a real sandal with a bottom and jewels on top.  And still others believe they’re like what hippies used to wear made out of hemp.  In all honesty, they are nothing at all like that.  

Simply put, foot jewelry is a sparkling adornment for the tops of your feet.  Some  call them barefoot sandals, soleless sandals or bottomless sandals.  Believe it or not they’ve also been called footless sandals (although you must  have a foot to wear them!).  They’re most often worn by females who take good care of their feet and want to make them look prettier.  Brides and bridesmaids wear them for beach weddings, others just love jewelry no matter what the occasion – a day at the pool or beach to match your swimwear, with lingerie, without lingerie (oh my!) or maybe a get together with friends.  Any time you’re barefoot – is the right time to wear barefoot sandals.

Jewels by Jan barefoot sandals are created by stringing a pattern of beads, crystals or pearls into 2 loops of beads joined at the middle by a lovely centerpiece.  Each pair features an original, unique pattern in a variety of colors.  To wear them you slip your bare foot into one loop and position it around your ankle.  The 2nd loop goes across the top of your foot and is secured behind your 2nd toe.  With nothing on the bottom of your feet- they’re barefoot sandals.

Beaded foot jewelry can be created a number of ways.  Some are made with one loop of pattern attached to one strand of pattern with a small loop that goes behind the 2nd toe.  Our sandals are handcrafted with a double strand of pattern that features our “medallion-in-the-middle” a unique focal point that has become our “signature” trademark.  If  you spot a pair of sandals with a pretty medallion in the center, chances are it’s a Jewels by Jan creation. 

Now that you have a better idea what foot jewelry is, visit our site to see all of our designs.  I’m sure you’ll find the perfect pair just for you!

http://www.jewels-by-jan.com

I may be a bit behind on what’s new but I just found out that I could have a store in Facebook’s Mall.   So, Barefoot Sandals 4 U is yet another site where we offer our handcrafted barefoot sandals.  If you have a Facebook account you can access the  new site – otherwise you can visit our regular site – Jewels-by-Jan.  Social media sites are the newest and easiest way to advertise your products and the best part is…they’re FREEEEE!  Who doesn’t like free?

With summer 2011 starting today – June 21st – flip flops and bare feet will be the norm just about  anywhere you live.   And for those of you who like to have clean, manicured feet, this is the time to show them off.  Be sure to read our post on Barefoot Care to get those little tootsies ready for display.  Our poor feet take so much abuse that they deserve some TLC (and that means you guys’ too!).   If you live near a beach, remember that walking barefoot in the sand is just one of the ways the  musculoskeletal structure of your feet and ankles can benefit from. 

Both Jewels by Jan and Barefoot Sandals 4 U (4 U only accessible for Facebook members) offer 25+ different barefoot sandal designs.  If you want to find a pair to match your swimwear, we have the perfect pair for you; or, if you’re a beach bride planning a beach wedding, we can offer over a dozen different designs ranging from the traditional pearl to rhinestone.  And each pair features our distinctive centerpeice that is known as the “medallion-in-the-middle, a unique feature of each of our sandals.

WOW – we have had an incredible first quarter here at Jewels by Jan.  This reinforces the fact that beach weddings are still very popular.  We recently had a comment from a subscriber that there’s nothing sweeter than a barefoot bride – we have to agree of course.  There’s just something cute and adorable about a pretty bride showing off her popsicle toes in a pair of sparkling beach wedding sandals! 

This year we’ve seen more multiple pair orders where the bride orders a special pair for herself and then orders color-coordinating sandals for her wedding party in the colors she’s chosen.   Since we make matching earrings and double-strand bracelets there’s no need to accessorize further – everything matches perfectly.  These also make great bridesmaid gifts.  Our wedding collection includes several color options but we also handcraft custom orders.  Persimmon has been a favorite this year.   If you like pastels our Creme de Menthe, Lavender Romance and Pink Paradise designs are perfect.  If you prefer darker shades, Seaside Splendor and Romantic Ruby will catch your eye.  And if you want a color combination with pizazz our Tropical Sunset features hot pink and orange glass beads with clear Swarovski crystals.

Whatever our bride wants we accommodate – it’s her day and we want it to be just as special as she does.

If you are among the thousands of unemployed who are job hunting, hang in there.  After being laid off in May I  am still looking.  In doing so, I’ve discovered that job searching in 2010 is much different than it used to be.  Resumes and cover letters require a totally different format and contract positions seem to out number direct-hire positions.  Maybe it’s time to try a few different tactics.

Instead of sitting on your couch for eight hours at a time  applying for every job that interests you, consider spending more time on a specific opportunity.  Focus on quality,  not quantity.  Revise your resume to zero in on the skills that you can bring to the company.  Write a concise, attention-grabbing profile that makes an employer want to know more.   Use industry-specific keywords and think of it as your 30-second sales pitch.  This demonstrates your ability to communicate and it exudes professionalism.

Try reaching out to a new company.  Look for jobs on Craigs List and TweetMyJobs, sites that career coaches rarely mention.   If you feel positive about a specific company you’d like to work for, reach out to them and tell them what interests  you.  Get connected with a professional networking site like LinkedIn.  These sites are composed of millions of industry professionals and allow you to connect with people you know and the people they know and so forth.

Finally, be focused, creative and persistent and don’t lose sight of your goal.

You’re probably racking your brain about now trying to figure out what to dress as for Halloween 2010.  Well, I have a few ideas for you!  Mother Nature went barefoot, just like I did for a 2009 party we attended.  Your date or your mate can be Father Time.

Why not go as a belly dancer?  Belly dancers sometimes go barefoot and if the party you’re attending will be held inside – order a pair of barefoot sandals to match your costume!

Wilma Flintstone and their baby Pebbles were barefoot.  Daisy Mae from lil’ Abner  never wore shoes.   Finally, go as a sexy Cupid! 

Just remember that all these costume ideas call for bare feet and what would be more appropriate than a custom-made pair of barefoot sandals to match?

 From among thousands of contestants, Jan Hansen/Jewels- by- Jan, Co-Owner/Designer of elegant beaded foot jewelry has been ranked #143 of the Top 200 in StartupNation.com’s 2010 Leading Moms in Business competition (www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-in-business), sponsored by Infusionsoft (www.infusionsoft.com). 

Over 709,000 votes were cast in support of the 2010 contestants, reflecting immense interest and supportiveness for moms building businesses at the same time they tend to their families.

 “We were thrilled when we received the e-mail ranking us among the Top 200 Leading Mom’s in Business”.   The winner’s profile for Jan Hansen/Jewels by Jan can be found at http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-in-business/contestant/8125/index.php.

We’d like to thank everyone who supported us this year with their votes.   Our vote meter was “ON FIRE” !

What does Mark Zuckerberg have to do with barefoot sandals, you ask?  Obviously the highly successful venture called Facebook that made him the “worlds youngest self-made billionaire” has nothing to do with beaded foot jewelry.  However, it has everything to do with thinking outside the box and being open to the wildest ideas you may have, then acting on them.

If you haven’t seen the recent movie about how Facebook got started you may not know that the seeds for the concept may have started when Zuckerberg was a high school student at a private boarding school.  Phillips Exeter Academy (known simply as Exeter) had a tight-knit community of students that lived on campus full-time.  Like every new student at this very prestigious prep school, Zuckerberg was given a copy of the school’s student directory called “The Photo Address Book”, which the students referred to as ”The Facebook”.  Not only did this directory allow students to find and contact their peers, it became a valuable resource for who’s hot, who’s not, who lives with who and who the new kids are.  Sound a lot like the Facebook we know today? 

The story “says” that in Zuckerberg’s senior year he successfuly convinced the student council of Exeter to have the IT Department put the full contents of the photo address book online.  This may very well have been the beginning inspiration (along with a little luck and opportunity) that grew into the social network called Facebook.  He went on to attend Harvard, majoring in Computer Science, started building HTML code in his Harvard dorm room, eventually dropping out to embark on the journey that made him wealthier than Steve Jobs, Apple CEO.  (Be clear that I am NOT suggesting that anyone drop out of school!)

Fast-forward to 2010 and 500 million users on Facebook,  Zuckerberg’s advice  “have a strong sense of what you want to do and build a really good team” could be the start of YOUR success.  He also advises those with web sites to display images of people to keep visitors on your site because the most engaging thing online is other people.  Open your mind to prosperity, look further into the “what-if’s”, be open to the unexpected and don’t let the unexpected pass you by.  Now get out there and start building YOUR claim to fame!

Who knew that our feet could be a sexy part of our anatomy?  When you think about all the abuse they get every single day how can they stay soft and pretty enough to have sex appeal?  Referring to a previous post entitled 12 EASY STEPS TO GET YOUR FEET I SHAPE FOR WEARING BAREFOOT SANDALS, the ONLY way to have beautiful, soft and silky feet is to give them loving care.  Like having a pedicure.  If you’ve never treated yourself to one, make an appointment….today!  Not only will you walk out of the salon with pretty toe’s, you will have had a VERY relaxing experience.

The first time I put on a pair of barefoot sandals, I looked at my feet in a whole different way.   There was just something that the sandals did that changed the look of my feet.   I’ve always been someone who took care of my feet for as long as I can remember.   I’ve always worn polish on my toes because it made me feel – and look – like a girl.  So when I slipped into that first pair of bottomless foot jewelry, I instantly felt sexy.  Having my feet adorned with crystals made me want to grab a teddy out of the closet!

There are millions of people who feel that a woman with a sexy foot is an incredible turn-on.  Add a pair of sparkly barefoot sandals to that woman and you’ll wonder why you’ve never bought a pair for your wife or girlfriend.  With a wide variety of colors and designs, Jewels by Jan will give you many choices.   Just visit our website and choose the pair that appeals to your taste or her’s –   it could add a little excitement to your day (or night).

I just came back to my home office desk after putting lasagna in the oven.  If you’ve never made lasagna from scratch (made your own sauce, prepared the ricotta, mix the meatballs, brown them, cook them in the sauce, then slice them, brown the sausage and boil the noodles) my advice is to start a few days early.  The prep work takes time but you’re not done until you put it all together.  Like any time-consuming project, the reward is well worth the work.   It’s like making a pair of sandals from start to finish – a process that requires an investment of time and a passion for producing your best work.

Of course it all starts with the order. Each order is a custom order based on the customer’s shoe size.   The first thing I do is pull out my women’s foot sizing chart to see how long to cut the length of Stretch Magic.   The chart is pretty handy because it shows how many inches each shoe size measures from heel to toe. Next I assemble all my parts. (I keep my beads in clear, 8-compartment plastic cases.  Each case is labeled with the  name of the design and everything I need to make that design is inside that case).  I use a handy bead mat to construct the sandals  on-it’s soft and cushy and the beads stay where you put them.

Before I actually start, I make sure I have all the parts I need and then lay them out in little piles. Since we make our sandals using tiny seed beads for the “behind the toe” portion, I add those to the cord first.  (You’d better have good eyes for this part – it’s a lot like threading a needle.)  Looking at the image of the design I’m making I follow the pattern using the parts on my mat.   Some designs take an hour, some two but the finished product is a satisfying accomplishment.  The sparkle and twinkle of those crystals make me forget that I just spent a long time stringing beads.

We receive  rush orders frequently.  In most cases, the bride has just found our site,  found a pair that she loves and HAS to have them within a day.  If it’s humanly possible – I’ll stop what I’m doing, make them and rush to Fed Ex or UPS.  I was a bride just 3 years ago so I know how important the little details are.  Making a bride happy is just what we do.

By the way, the lasagna turned out very well – maybe my best yet!

JAN