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HOW TO WEAR YOUR
BAREFOOT SANDALS 4 WAYS The
sandal is made of 2 equal loops. Hold the sandal with the small beads (seed beads)
at the top. Carefully place your whole foot into the lower loop and secure around
your ankle. Then stretch the upper loop so that the seed beads go behind your
2nd toe. (Be
VERY GENTLE with your sandal. Even though it is made with strong cord, it CAN
break if stretched too far.) The
sandals can also be worn with certain types of shoes. Flip-flops and strappy-sandals
are ideal. To wear your sandals WITH shoes, hold the sandal the same way, slip
your foot into the lower loop and secure around your ankle. Slip your foot into
your shoe, then place the seed beads over and behind your 2nd toe. Your
sandal can also be worn as an ankle bracelet! Put both loops together, slip your
foot inside and place the medallion in the front. And, try twisting the upper
loop before securing it behind your 2nd toe. Be a trend-setter and try this for
variation! Great
for the pool, the beach, parties, weddings -or just decoration for your pretty
feet!
IN
THE NEWS: As
seen in the San Diego Union Tribune Barefoot Bride - Not one to miss an entrepreneurial opportunity, San Diegan Jan Baker sent a pair of her homemade bridal barefoot sandals to the young couple whose British West Indies wedding was planned by NBC "Today" show listeners. (In case you're wondering what a barefoot sandal is, think of a string of pearls, Swarovski crystals and semi-precious gems artistically wrapped around the ankle and anchored by the big toe – no sole, of course.) The bride-to-be let Baker know she liked the innovative sandals but had no say in her wedding wardrobe. All was not lost, however. Baker contacted a wedding Internet site . . . . six of her sole-less shoe designs will be offered on its Web site in February.
STYLISH
TWIST: Jewelry can be worn alone or with sandals
By Joanne Boeckman, Register
Business Writer, Des Moines Register
August 10, 2004 : Pat Jones is working
with her sister, Jan Baker of San Diego, to create Jewels by Jan, decorative strings
of glass beads that can be worn on bare feet or with strappy sandals. WHAT
THEY ARE: Beaded barefoot sandals. A
souvenir gift from Cancun was the inspiration for a new business two sisters started
as a way to work together. They are creating, marketing and selling foot jewelry
called a barefoot sandal - a beaded loop that wraps around the foot behind the
heel and is secured under the second toe. The
beads can be worn on bare feet, over strappy sandals and flip-flops as a decorative
element or, by doubling one of the strings, as an ankle bracelet. "My sister and
I always dreamed of being in business together," said Jan Baker, 56, a native
Iowan who now lives in San Diego. "But we didn't get into this to make a lot of
money. We did it for fun." Pat Jones, 54, is the operations manager of the company,
Jewels by Jan. "We've had a couple of cousins, myself, my sister, even my husband
has helped make them," Jones said. Jewels
by Jan are made with Czech glass beads in aqua, pink, royal blue, black, purple
and multicolored with silver or gold accents. A decorative medallion connecting
the loop in the center creates a focal point on top of the foot. Medallions are
mother-of-pearl shapes such as hearts, decorative buttons or fun shapes such as
sunglasses and turtles.. . . They're sold in gold organza bags. The
idea for Jewels by Jan came from a pair of barefoot sandals Baker's friend brought
her last year from Mexico. Baker decided to replicate them, with modifications.
She strung better quality beads together and substituted the small seed beads
for the part that wrapped around the toe to make them more comfortable. She added
the medallion as a focal point. When
friends told her they liked them, that was the encouragement Baker needed to make
it a business. "I had absolutely no background in this, but I'm creative anyway,"
she said. "I do calligraphy and scrapbooking - I just never thought I'd be doing
jewelry." Baker
turned to the Small Business Administration for advice on setting up a business
and took a class from Service Corps of Retired Executives on managing a business.
Jones' daughter, Jackie, helped them draw up a business plan and has given them
marketing ideas. Baker and Jones got serious about marketing and selling Jewels
by Jan about March this year and estimate they have sold 500 pairs per month.
. . .. Many
sales are by word-of-mouth, Jones said. "I had a woman in Dahl's stop me the other
day and ask where I got mine. I sold her a pair." Mary Morning of Clear Lake saw
the Jewels by Jan in the beauty salon where Jones works part time. She bought
a black and silver pair. "I fell in love with them right away. They are so comfortable
and I get so many comments on them," said Morning, 76, who wears them for social
occasions as ankle bracelets or with sandals. She gave another pair to her daughter,
Linda Hendricks, 56, of Des Moines. "I like to have fun in the summer," Hendricks
said. "They're pretty cute, novel, different. I like trendy." She wears them with
sandals or alone. "It's just like a little jewel on the foot," she said. Their
customers are mainly women who have polished toes, but Baker and Jones continue
to brainstorm about potential markets. They are considering making Jewels by Jan
with pearls for brides getting married on the beach. They mention fun character
medallions that would appeal to little girls. "Our next venture is hair jewelry,"
Jones said. | 
Newest
Trend! As seen in upscale retail stores! Adorn your feet with these Gorgeous Handcrafted
Beaded Barefoot Sandals. 
"Just wanted to send you a picture of my Bridesmaid's and I with our gorgeous sparkly sandals on at my wedding, everyone loved them, in fact we wore them the whole time, we never wore our fancy shoes that we bought. 
