Such excitement!

Wow, today feels like such a whirlwind. 

I found out this morning that I got the job I had my heart set on at H&R Block!  Its in downtown KC and its much like the job I did at Citi before I moved to Redding.  The best part is that I got hired even though they knew I was preggo.  This particular job is a temp position that goes through January/February.  Thankfully, that was how long I was looking to work before baby came our way.  I start Monday.

Last night Danny sold a typewriter that we've had on his shop for awhile.  Its a good thing because we could really use the money now.  Turns out I actually HAVE to go shopping now since I have 2 tops and 2 bottoms I can fit into that would be appropriate for the new gig.  I love waking up to Etsy sales... doesn't matter if they are from his shop or mine.  It makes my day!

On a more random but hugely satisfying note, I cleaned out my email inbox.  My Outlook now has a grand total of 8 items in it... and 2 of those just happened that I'm about to file because I've already got them tasked.  I LOVE being able to see what's inside my inbox.  The computer screen is a little slice of heaven right now because of it...

May good & pleasant things come your way too today!

Front Page

I'm happy to say that Daniel's vintage shop (8 point design) made it to the front page of Etsy today!  We were out running errands and he had just gone to check his email.  He comes back to tell me that he received an email from Statsy saying his shop was just featured on the FP.  I got so excited I could barely help myself.  Here's a screen shot from today.  And, we're pleased to say that the featured item sold too!

As time goes by

I traded this sweet little desk calendar in February and I just now printed it on vanilla toned card stock.  Each month has a different design based on the shown damask print.  I realize I've already missed the first 4 months of the year, but who's counting? 

This and other digital files can be found at The Posh Event.  Brigitte's shop is chalk full of vintage style digital files in shapes such as favor boxes, note cards, and envelopes.

I think it looks quite quaint with my sepia toned thank you cards and old, cut glass lamp.    

The Price of Beauty

I meant to do this a very long time ago and totally forgot.

This past fall, I did a trade with Laura from SugarChills on Etsy.  She got some very sweet fabric bags for gifting and I received a pot of her Face Slime No 2 - healing oatmeal face mask. 

I'll admit.  I was excited, but not hugely expectant.  I have pretty sensitive skin and I've not found a really good mask in years.  So, I was crazy excited when this one was so utterly wonderful. 

 

I use it once a week per the directions and it seems like my skin is on a high for a good 12 hours afterwards.  It has this "I've been in the sun all day" sort of glow only without the actual tan.  How is that possible?  I have no idea.  All I know is that I strategically use it in the mornings before I want to look extra pretty for a day. 

I've been running low and meaning to order some more.  I've used it almost weekly and this pot has lasted since mid December.  As I was on Laura's Etsy shop today and I was trying to recall what size I usually order, I saw what reminded me to write this review in the first place.  She had asked awhile back if she could quote me and of course I said yes.  So, there I am at the bottom of the listing telling all of her shoppers how wonderful her product is.  And really, it is so wonderful...
 

How To Rock Your Hairpiece Part I

I got a wild hair this past weekend.  I decided to do a video tutorial on how to rock your hairpiece.  I'm not sure exactly where the idea stemmed from except that I've been living, breathing, and eating hairpieces lately.  It might have developed out of the last piece I made which was a 6 inch layered tulle hat-like thing with peacock blue feathers and a vintage button.  Yes, that was probably it.

So, if got a great hairpiece but just aren't sure how to make it work for you... this is perfect for you.  Part I focuses on the snappers specifically.  I'll do another one this week on hair combs.  Enjoy!

Not so much self-help

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately and I've, just this morning, discovered a bit of intrigue that I'm just itching to write about. 

There are a zillion and one blogs out there right now.  And, there are almost just as many blogs for social media tips, tricks, and cure-alls.  Personally, I can only read so many of these before I've heard it all.  I know that technology is ever-evolving and there's always something new and game-changing on the cusp of being released.  But, I'm officially over how to make the most of Twitter marketing and how to get more fans on your Facebook Fanpage.  Of course, as of today, "fans" are no longer fans but rather people that "like" you or your product.  Either way, you know what I mean.  I'm just tired of hearing the same thing in a new way.  

On a similar note, I've also seen increasingly more and more blogs dedicated to supporting Etsy sellers and handmade advocates.  I've seen how to optimize search engines and tutorials on how to take magazine quality photos with your light box. Again, I can only read so many versions of these articles before I've squeezed out every last bit of usable information.  Suddenly and in a moment, the topic is exhausted.

That is why I'm so pleased to uncover a few new blogs that I appreciate, not because of their "how to use twitter to market your business" articles, but rather because of the honest and transparent approach to building something valuable.  Whether it be an online, handmade business or a bit of character within the depths of who a person is, some blogs just stand out because you know that the person on the other side of the computer holds a high regard for the empowerment of others.

I'm not going to name any names here, because I want to plant a seed.  As you are reading your favorite blogs, do a touch of evaluation.  Are there any links on your blogroll that challenge you as a person?  That encourage you to get past your fears of not succeeding or maybe succeeding at your business?  That move you to shift the way you think about why you do what you do?  If not, go find one.  It'll change your life.     

Change the World Ticket from AFavorite on Etsy

Spring is only so long

Has it really been a month since my last post?  And to think I thought I was getting better at the frequency of my postings.  Well, I will say much has happened in the course of 30 days.

I've thrown out some pitches for my products in Mother's Day & Bridal Gifts guides.  After about a month of doing so, I'm happy to report that I've landed a few.  On April 20th, my Winter Gemstone Wine Charms will be featured in a Mother's Day Gift Guide for Mainstreet.com.  Soon after that, I will have my Cranberry Hair Comb in the Bridal Gift Guide for PrettyCity.com and the St. Pete Times tbt edition.  It will also, in conjunction with the above, run in OrlandoStyleMag.com in May. 

I've also been exceedingly busy working on the ReddingHandmade Etsy Team! We've already done an open house, a peer to peer critique, a promo swap, and lots of brainstorming for the future.  In fact, we've got so many event ideas that I had to create another platform to launch from.  Just a few days ago, my fellow creative brainstormer Charmaine and me, launched Oh!Carousel.  Carousel is a creative collaboration to support local business by having as much fun as possible and by using as much spunk as we can muster!  What's on the menu?  Local events, workshops, classes, shopping experiences that will engage our community and educate them as consumers and creative people.

And, on a final note, I just made a Facebook Fanpage called "I don't mind spending more on handmade items."  Be a fan and join the cause!

ReddingHandmade

Have you heard about my newest project, ReddingHandmade? If not, you must not log into your Facebook very often. I'm MAD about handmade and I established a group to represent my obsession with it.

Ok, so I made the group for other reasons too. But one over the top reason (that is a great blog topic) is my obsession for all things handmade. And, strangely, as I get farther and farther into the making of the group... the love grows and grows. I used to just like handmade but now I adore it. I adore it the way that Audrey Hepburn adored classy.

Want to know more about my new project? Go check out ReddingHandmade now and see for yourself. Or become a fan on Facebook and support handmade artists. You can also follow our Blog and see the comprehensive list of local shops.

Etsy in USA TODAY

Here's a link from USA TODAY's website speaking the virtues of handmade and Etsy's part in making it more readily available.

READ THE ARTICLE

Handmade Heaven

I heart handmade. I used to heart it because I made it. Now, I heart it because I respect it. I respect it so much, in fact, that I made a club devoted to it. It's called ReddingHandmade. It's technically an local Etsy team made up of Redding residents that make handmade items.

I've been working on this group for a few weeks but I've been dreaming about it for years. Even before I moved to Redding, I daydreamed about a creative collective in all forms and mediums. I fantasized of creativity parties where we teach each other the craft that we ourselves have fine tuned. I rehearsed workshops where I could share what I've learned the hard way and others could spring from a higher platform than the one I started on. I envisioned an overall attitude of generosity in the way that creative people steward their knowledge.

And so, a week and a half ago, I began by emailing local Etsians and asked if they'd be interested in a Redding team. I have to admit that I was taken aback by the sincere and enthusiastic responses that I received from every one of the local artists I contacted. That enthusiasm has compelled me to action, and swift action at that.

I have already established all of the solid social media outlets that define our online culture. And now, we have our first meeting set for the end of this month. That means I'll get to meet all of the interested parties that want to see the art of handmade more accessible to the Redding community. I'm also in the works of planning an Open House for our debut. It will be next month.

If you live in or near Redding, have or desire to have an Etsy shop, and recognize the virtue of handmade, we'd love for you to join us! Even if you're none of these things, your support is imperative to our success. Check out the following links and let us know what you think. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and read our blogs once in awhile. And more than anything, support your local businesses!

Twitter: www.twitter.com/reddinghandmade
Facebook Fanpage: www.facebook.com/reddinghandmade
Blogger: www.reddinghandmade.blogspot.com
Ning Site (for Members): www.reddinghandmade.ning.com

Hearts for Haiti Etsy Shop

Kathy Duncan from Sacred River Designs on Etsy posted this on our ReddingHandmade team page today and I wanted to make sure everyone knew about it.

"I learned about this on Twitter Tracker:

HeartsforHaiti is an Etsy collective of donated items from hundreds of Etsy shops to raise money to rebuild Haiti. 100% of the proceeds from this shop (minus Etsy fees and Paypal fees) go directly to DoctorsWithoutBorders (http://doctorswithoutborders.org ) in bi-monthly increments. This shop has permission to use the DoctorsWithoutBorders name and a separate bank account and Paypal account have been opened to maintain the integrity of this shop.

Items have been donated from many individual shops; each shop has included their particulars ( country, shipping time) in each listing. All items include seller-donated free shipping (most worldwide, see individual listing) because the need is SO great, we want you to buy and help support Etsians helping Haiti. The theme for the next few weeks is on heart items but we have more than just that. Please browse our sections to the right and know that your purchase in this shop not only gets you a great Etsy item but it also helps alleviate the needs in Haiti through donations to DoctorsWithoutBorders (MedicinesSansFrontiers ).

TO DONATE:

Please send the following information in an email to etsyforhaiti(at)gmail(dot)com
and put "Hearts For Haiti Donation" as the title:

Your shop name (ex: SacredRiverDesigns.etsy.com)
Your location and country
Item Name/Title
Item Price (please do include this! we don’t want to undervalue your work :)
Item Description
10 tags
Materials used
Up to 5 clear photos of the item

*Please be sure to attach (or upload) all of the photos to the email. Make sure you are sending the sized-for-Etsy versions of your photos. If there is a problem with the photos being transmitted, we will let you know.

*Quantity: if you have a quantity greater than one of this item to donate, please note it here and remind us to RE-LIST it when it sells

IMPORTANT NOTES:

♥ Shipping: All sellers must ship items at their own cost. We would like to encourage everyone who can to offer worldwide shipping but understand that some items need to stay domestic due to customs restrictions. If you would like to restrict your shipping parameters please be sure to note that explicitly in your listing!"

One Last Time

So I thought it might be fun to sneak one more blog session in before I got my new template. I'm so excited that I don't want to go to bed. I just want to stare at my awesome new blog template that a fellow Etsian Carlynne Welch created for me. Its so adorably sweet and totally in sync with the new style of my shop.

I just wanted to give you a heads up in case you actually VISIT my blog and are confused by the look of it. Of course, most of you probably just read the imported version that feeds into Facebook. But I really do have an actual blog that I've tried to make relatively engaging. And seriously, it has some fun stuff on it as far as widgets go.

Ok, I'm probably being wholly self-indulgent right now; I just can't help myself. I'm just in the mood to type and my husband isn't around to stop me. I could go on and on. But I won't. I'll stop right now. Yes, now.

So anyhow, The new blog look will debut this coming week. I'll let you know (for the folks that only read the feeds) so you can go look around. For those of you that are awesome enough to actually make your way to the blog page, well... you'll know it when you see it.

Happy New Year!

Wow, its so hard to believe that I've not blogged pretty much this entire month. I know I went through a solidly uninspired chunk of time where words were not adequately available to me. Instead of words, I used my hands and made art. At the time, I recall being frustrated that I could not blog. But, rather than talking about creating, I actually did create. I created my new hairpieces and tons of new necklace designs. I did a little dreaming and established my resolutions for this coming new year. I also had the pleasure of taking part in some shows around town. I love doing shows! There's just something about actually getting to paint a moment with your words to someone about your art. Its lovely, really.

Enough excuses about why I've not been keeping up with my blog. Or, I suppose another way to look at is that the above just gave the crash session update. Either way you consider it, I'm thinking I need to move on and post my goals for the new year. So, here goes nothing!

1. This year I'd like to make my jewelry business income my primary income.
2. This year I'd like to participate in 3 (yes, 3) big shows comparable to Shecky's events.
3. This year I'd like to again have my own studio space to work in easily and without restriction.
4. This year I'd like to organize my business.
5. This year I'd like to be able to sync up with the wholesale calendar and venture into that arena.

Ok, I'm thinking 5 is a good starting place. I also think that all of the above have solid, measurable levels to gauge how I'm doing.

So what are YOUR resolutions for your business this coming year?

My Minimalist Side Emerges...

I have a friend that is new to Etsy. He's a graphic artist and he does fabulous work. He also is a minimalist. The proof is right here in his newest project, a 2010 desk calendar. Go to CHANCELLOR DESIGNS Etsy shop now to see more...

Thanksgiving Weekend Sale

From now until Cyber Monday, you'll find all sorts of sweet little discounts, promotions, and deals tucked in and throughout the Etsy Shop. We'll list just a few of them here to get your attention. Also, follow us on Twitter to see them first!



Winter Wine Charms



OOAK Hidden Rooms Necklace



Mermaid Earrings



Valentine Wine Charms



OOAK Chardonnay Citrine Necklace

$10 Sale

My favorite Etsy team is hosting a "$10 & Under" Sale all this weekend! There will be tons of special deals that you will not want to miss!

Click here the comprehensive list of participating shops.

By the way, get a set of the gossamer studs in plated metal for $10 this weekend only. Their the ones that made the front page of Etsy last month - twice.

Always talking about trading...

I know, I'm always talking about trading. I can't help it. I love trading. I mean I LOVE trading. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'd trade for everything if I could.

I did some trading last Sunday, as a matter of fact. I tried to keep my trading controlled in this 12 hour trading frenzy. My motivation was the flashback of my ridiculously large shipping bill from last time. So, I tried hard to find things that were specifically on my Christmas shopping list. I think I did a pretty fine job. Here are some of my new toys...

This gorgeous scarflette is from mireilles.



here's this sweet little passport cover from owlsay.

Sugar & Spice

So I made it to Etsy's front page again today with one of my newest pieces. It's a mixed shell shard necklace entitled "Sugar & Spice". Unlike much of my work, it is plated metal but it's a great price - $19. However, feel free to special order the gold filled version for $29.

Anyway, I just wanted to share. I was so excited when I found out about an hour ago. It's so funny how I'm not aware that I've ever been featured on the front page until the last month or so. It's a huge thrill!

Featured

Here is the front page treasury from etsy.com that I was included in last week. I just had to post it because of how gorgeous the blues and creams look together. And, I'm developing a necklace to go with these earrings. Just something to think about.

Front Page of Etsy

The gorgeous Gossamer Earring Studs that I listed last week made it to the front page of Etsy today! I can't tell you how excited I am! I'm excited because I've been on Etsy almost five years now and I've never been on the front page.

Ironically, earlier this month Etsy was doing a Weekend Deals promotion and one of my items was handpicked to be featured in that showcase as well.

That's all I have to say today. I'm just thankful...