Wow I suck at blogging

So it turns out I suck at blogging.  Not something I am proud of, however I am totally aware of it.  Going forward I am going to try my best to keep up on it a little better.  I am aiming at twice a week to get into a better habit. I feel very overwhelmed when it comes to blogging, like I may be doing the wrong thing, doing it too often, not enough, not specific enough, too specific, to all over the place.  I had no idea writing for what is esentially myself could be so anxiety ridden. So I am taking the anxiety about how, why, when out and doing my own thing.

I love writing, in fact I moved to Vancouver in 2001 to go to the Vancouver Film school for script writing. I got here and found out how expensive it was and let someone elses opion influence my decision not to go.  Which is how I ended up working in the mutual fund world once again.  You know, to pay the bills, make enough to go to school.. it was supposed to be temporary.  9 years, 1 husband, 1 mortgage, 2 kids, a dog, and a new career later... I find myself sitting at the computer trying to find my writing bug once again.  How could something I moved to this city to do seem like such a chore now?

I started this blog at the same time I was starting my business,  I was told that's what you needed to do.  It seemed like solid advice and the right thing to do to help promote the business.  I didnt take into account that I would be spending 15 hrs a day working and thinking about my business,  and that writing about it may no longer be a "fun" idea, but yet another chore to do.

Despite this blog being writen and run in all the wrong ways according to some, I want it to be fun.  For me. So I may be talking about jewelry one post, about my business the next, and who knows... maybe tucked in there somewhere you will find a piece about me, my kids, my husband, or something totally random and wacky.  The funny thing is, that is me.  I am all those things and more.   So I guess at the end of the day, this blog is truly an Aly Dahl Design. 

Haiti Relief

In an effort to give back and help Haiti, Aly Dahl Designs will donate $25 from the sale of each fingerprint charm to the Red Cross in the month of February.

I was so personally saddened with each day I read, watched or heard about the earthquake and the devistation that happened to Haiti.   I have been connected spiritually to Haiti for years.  A family friend was an RCMP officer who was posted in Port au Prince 10 years ago,  he would show us pictures and tell stories of one orphanage in particular.  My family and friends have raised funds many years to help support that Orphanage, one year we raised enough money so it would have a roof, another year it was a floor.   With each time he returned so did bags of clothing, school supplies and life supplies.  I am not sure of the outcome of the Orphanage,  I am scared to ask him.

This is why I have chosen to donate my profits to helping people in Haiti. 

My heart goes out to everyone who lives or has loved ones in Haiti.

No matter how little I have, they have less and need it more. 

Procrastination at work

I am finding myself in a procrastinating mood...
You see I love to create, that is what I do, and love to do. On my creative days I get totally swept away into another land. My brain is working in a way that I don't get to use on a day to day basis (and for that matter most of my adult life it was turned off). So when it gets turned on, I have an incredibly hard time turning it off and going back to business.  Today is one of those days,  last Wednesday I picked up some fantastic new stones. (A piece of turquoise that is simply stunning, I have never seen a nicer piece). I came home Wednesday afternoon and have had a hard time stopping the creative process.  I love working with my hands, drawing, sawing, filing, sanding, soldering, torching.. oh it has been bliss. I love it. 
Here it is Monday, I have spent the last 4 days creating and now...I need to do financials, bookkeeping, paybills, planning, sourcing suppliers, and ...wait for it.. get up the nerve to call businesses I would love to sell my fingerprint jewellery in.  My dream would to be in Blue Ruby, they have great jewellery and I think my fingerprint line would be a great fit in their store.  I love going in the Robson st location in Vancouver, everytime I am in there I can visualize my display on the counter. I would also like to call a few childrens botiques I would love to sell my line in, one being Hugs N Huddy in Langford. 

Next is festivals and trade shows, which are the good ones, which ones I can afford, and which ones have people who spend money?  I spent 10 years in the Comox Valley and each year they have the Filberg Festival on the August long weekend, I go back that weekend as often as possible as I simply love it.
I just received the the application form to be in it (it is a jurried process as they get so many Canadian artists wanting to be in the show).  It costs money to apply, and the cost to be in the show is $700-$1500 for 3 days. Ouch.  I need to apply next week if I want to go in it. It is so hard to decide..


I find myself procrastinating all of these things.  I went to my facebook page, checked things out, now I find myself on blogger writing this.. when in reality I should be doing my financials, etc...

So back to my problem.. how do I get myself back in "business" mode?... I guess I will go pick my daughter up from school and then try to figure that out...  I'll let you know if I came up with anything!

Charitable giving

I have been struggling with new and effective ways my company can give back.
I have only been in business a few months however have found myself knee deep in donation requests already.

In order to give I have to have (otherwise there just isn't anything to give). I have come up with the idea that when there is an event that I would like to support I will offer a discount card that will enable the participants of that event to purchase off my website and when they enter that code a dollar amount or percentage will be donated to the cause they were involved with.

I see this as an excellent way to be able to afford to donate more, grow my business and get in the public eye.

The reason I started thinking about this is a good friend approached me to donate for a Canadian Breast Cancer fundraiser. Like most, I have been greatly affected by Breast Cancer with the loss of loved ones and family members. I am also proud to report that I also celebrate friends and family members that have survived.
In 1995 I raised the most money for the Run for Breast Cancer in the province. That is something I am very proud of. So that being said, this is a charity I wish to support, but how?

Was donating a fingerprint charm going to be enough? That is when I put my thinking cap on. This event is a huge event where opportunities for awareness of my product is evident and I would love to give SO much more than I have at the moment. So why not combine the two? After a sleepless night of contemplation I came up with a solution.

I will have 300 (Or how many people are expected at the event) special cards made up with a unique code. When someone from the event purchases something from my website they can use this code and $25 from each order will result in a donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

I think it is a pretty good idea, maybe I am off my rocker.. but I see it as a win win for both and I am able to potentially donate a lot more than a $100 necklace.

Any thoughts? Am I missing something? Has anyone tried something like this before?


I hold a few other charities and foundations close to my heart and think this may work for those as well.

Updated website

I have finally updated my website www.silverfingerprints.ca to include some pictures of pieces I have recently done and now have them available for sale on my site.

I have had an incredible Christmas season, sold a ton of custom pieces and had a crazy amount of fingerprint jewellery (jewelry) orders.

I am getting ready to launch the business in January and am hoping to get into some trendy jewellery (jewelry) and Childrens boutiques. If you know of any shops that my jewellery would be a good fit for please email me at aly@silverfingerprints.ca.

I am also looking for company to make some great looking and functioning packaging for my impression kits and for the final product.

Hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday season!

Happy Holidays from BC Hydro

Happy Holidays from BC Hydro

This link is great, you can play a fun game at the same time each person who plays BC hydro donates money to the BC Childrens Hospital Foundation.
It was fun and interactive and at the end of the game, you've done something great for kids.

Silver Fingerprints: Etsy, Xanga, Twitter and Facebook

Silver Fingerprints: Etsy, Xanga, Twitter and Facebook

www.alydahldesigns.etsy.com