Sunday, November 30, 2008

Fabulous Find: Happy Hippo 3 Piece Gift Set

I came across this adorable set when searching for fellow EtsyBloggers Team members. How cute would your little one be in this outfit, handmade by Candy Stick Lane, for Christmas?

The set inludes your choice of a long or short sleeve custom onesie, Happy Hippo Easy Wearing Elastic Waist Pants, and our fabulous burpie.~Burpies are a stylish and affordable addition to your little sweeties wardrobe accessories.This Burpie is made from Cotton fabric wrapped around high quality, super absorbent cloth diaper.

Check it out here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_14&listing_id=16158467&show_panel=true

-Suzanne

Fabulous Find: Soft Knit Neckwarmer


With the winter storm that is coming today, wouldn't this neckwarmer by LazyTcrochet be a great find?! This neckwarmer, in steel grey, would be a perfect gift for mom, sister, aunt, or yourself this Christmas. Check it out here:
-Suzanne

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Fabulous Find: Fingerless Handknitted Gloves

These fingerless gloves, made of wool with a touch of cashmere, show off two of my favorite colors. Another item I came across in the treasury -- what a great gift for yourself or someone else! Check them out here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17595777

-Suzanne

Fabulous Find: Leash Hook Plaque

Here is a great item for all of us dog addicts out there! You know who you are! This is a great item from Jakeybb. Not only is it adorable but it provides you with a handy place to hang your buddy's leashes and such! Check it out here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16933273

-Suzanne

Featured Etsy Shop: Nostalgia Organics


Featured Etsy Shop: Nostalgia Organics




1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? My etsy shop name is NostalgiaOrganics. I sell all-natural, artisan soap and skincare products made with pure botanical oils.

2. What is your shop URL? http://www.nostalgiaorganics.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL? http://www.nostalgia.typepad.com/

4. When did you start selling on Etsy? I am new to selling on Etsy and recently launched one of my lines, the aromatherapy doll soap, in November.

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? I love the collaboration of creativity. It̢۪s a wonderful, supportive community of talented people from around the world.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
It was important to me that my products were not only natural, but functional and beautiful. I am excited to bring luxurious soaps to market that aren̢۪t full of harsh detergents, colors or synthetic fragrances. My soaps are created with an all-natural, vegetable base, colored with natural earth pigments and enhanced with aromatherapy essences from fruit, nut and herb oils. I also love to offer my collection in heirloom quality packaging, such as antique style apothecary jars or hat boxes, which can serve another purpose after the soaps are gone.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? We have a lot of lovely items in production that are not currently on our etsy shop (but will be soon). But, of the items listed, I love our aromatherapy doll soap collections. Our hand-crafted doll soaps were inspired by antique penny dolls and each collection was created with a specific aromatherapy blend to enhance positive emotions. They're very unique and always make people smile.

8. What teams do you belong to? None yet, but hoping to join a few soon.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? Online, I have a lot of fun at Twitter.com. I've met a lot of interesting people there and our fans can keep up with us daily at twitter.com/nostalgialife. I also enjoy participating in the Etsy forums. But mostly, I enjoy meeting and greeting people at local arts and craft shows, passing out samples and inviting people to learn more about us.

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy? Oh, there are many. But, if I had to choose a few of my recent favorites: I love the baby bunny slippers by Jenniferladd and all the sweet vintage trinkets at efinegifts.

11. What do you do in your spare time? I have fun exploring and learning with my 1 1/2 year old son, Michael. We get lost at the zoo or find a new slide to test at a local park. He is so much fun.

12. What blogs do you follow? I enjoy the vintage eye candy at velvetstrawberries.typepad.com and the sweet inspiration at sweetcandycreations.typepad.com. Those are just a few that come to mind, but there are many!

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share? Sure, I think this is an interesting bit about our products that your readers might appreciate. It took well over two years in research and development to bring my first collection to market. Not a detail was overlooked in creating each product: from the selection of hard-to-find botanical oils from remote places such as Bulgaria or France, to the late evenings designing vintage-inspired patterns and imagery for each collection. I've always believed that style and substance are not mutually exclusive, and it is my goal to offer products in which the finest materials, elegant design and handmade craftsmanship converge to inspire a fresh approach to skincare.

Fabulous Find: Candy Cane Brownie Cookies

Here is another wonderful find I came across today in the Treasuries! This shop is too scrumptious to describe!! These are Candy Cane Brown Cookies from KE Cookies. You get a dozen and can even purchase special gift packaging!

Check them out here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16933273

-Suzanne

Featured Etsy Shop: Silver Lake Studio


Featured Etsy Shop: The Silver Lake Studio



What is your shop name and URL? The Silver Lake Studio
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5614518

I sell handcrafted sterling silver jewelry, sometimes incorporating stone and faceted gemstones.

Blog URL: I do not currently have a blog.

When did you start selling on Etsy? I joined last February and opened my shop in March,

What is your favorite thing about Etsy? The fact that there is so much diversity and talent in one place.

What is your favorite thing about what you sell? I am a bling kind of girl, so I love it all!

What is your favorite thing in your own shop & why? It has to be the pansy cuff bracelet that I just finished and will list tonight. When I finish a new piece, it automatically becomes my favorite.

What teams do you belong to? Metalsmiths In Action and Etsy Dallas.



What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? Without a doubt, it is talking to others in the forums. There is so much knowledge to be found there.

What are your favorite finds by other Etsy sellers? I love kathydkeith’s photography, Davidloongs jewelry, and I have a beautiful leather journal from MyHandboundBooks.
I am also in awe of the jewelry made by JoyfulCrow.



What do you do in your spare time? I love to cook and I have a new gas stove that I refer to as my Porsche. I also enjoy reading and I’m hooked on HGTV!

What blogs do you follow? Only one so far…TimothyAdams.



Do you have anything else to share? In 2005, after a routine mammogram, I was diagnosed with lymphoma. I started chemo the week before Christmas, and by February, after only 2 rounds of chemo, I was cancer-free. The Dr. put me through 4 more rounds to be safe. And, I’m still here!

Fabulous Find: Sweet Pumpkin Spice Soap

I came across this wonderful soap in a Treasury today and it just happens to be by one of our fabulous Etsy Bloggers Team members! Only 4 left as of right this minute and it (along with all over soaps) is 20% OFF!
Check it Out Here:


-Suzanne

Featured Etsy Shop: JoBead




1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?
JoBead sells jewelry and hair accessories, mainly made with Swarovski crystals.

2. What is your shop URL?
http://www.jobead.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL?
I do not currently blog, but you can find more info on me at http://www.jobead.com/

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?
Oct. 7, 2008

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
The entire community is very helpful and welcoming. It's nice to know that there are people willing to help you out and talk through ideas with.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
100% of the proceeds from JoBead go to supporting Wellspring International. It feels great to know that the customer is getting what they want and then is simultaneously able to help out someone else who really needs it.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
Currently, I'm partial to the 'Simply Fabulous Earrings.' They really do go with just about anything.

8. What teams do you belong to?
TeamCAC and CAST

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
Once a month, Miss Ruby Boutique in Milwaukee hosts a Girl's Night Out. I get to go in and make custom designs on the spot all night! We have chocolate and wine and I get to talk up Wellspring International.

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?

I find something that I love every day! I absolutely love things that incorporate great design with practicality, so for today I'll choose Funnyfinn and artology. They both make wonderful hats for kids!

11. What do you do in your spare time?
I didn't know the words spare and time could be used together! I'm a wife to my best friend and a mother to two wonderful little kids. Between all of the things that entails, running JoBead and helping out where needed, I guess I sleep through the rest of it.

12. What blogs do you follow?
Lots of family and friends - we're spread all over the world, so it's great to be able to keep up that way.

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?
I am so amazed by the work Wellspring International does that I'd like you to know about them! 100% of all the donations given there are used for projects like providing a home for AIDS orphans in Africa, feeding Iraqi refugees, providing shelter for the elderly and destitute in India and helping to rebuild an entire village in Indonesia after the tsunami. You can find out more about them at: http://www.wellspringinternational.org/ When you purchase from JoBead, 100% of the proceeds are donated here.

Featured Etsy Shop: Curly Girl Crochet


Featured Etsy Shop: Curly Girl Crochet



1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?
My Shop is Curly Girl Crochet and I sell hand crocheted treasures.


2. What is your shop URL?
CurlyGirlCrochet.etsy.com


3. What is your blog URL?
I do not have a blog right now (not enough time!).


4. When did you start selling on Etsy?
March 2007


5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
I love the wide variety of creations. I sometimes find myself in wonder when looking at some of the handmade creations! I also love my Etsy friends and feel so fortunate to have met them. There are so many kind, thoughtful people on Etsy.


6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
I love creating something from yarn. I love seeing my creations come together as I work and become something.


7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
Right now, this is my favorite. The colors are gorgeous! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8634466

8. What teams do you belong to?
I have looked into a joining few Teams, but do not belong to any right now (again, not enough time!).


9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?


I enjoy monkeying around in the Etsy Forums. I also enjoy sending useful, promotional items to my customers along with their purchases.


10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?
I have so many and wish I could include everyone, but here are just a few of my favorites:
Love this necklace by rhbdesigns http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17278288
I want this chocolate mint yarn by larimeloom! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13160581
This Water Ring by jsurine is gorgeous http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_1&listing_id=16604188
Golden Apples of the Sun by ara133photography is a fine art photographic print that really I just love! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16231719
This gorgeous necktie lady pillow by twolefthands would look fabulous on my bed! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9342633


11. What do you do in your spare time?
Besides crochet, I love to read, gardening (especially flowers), watching birds at the bird feeder, spending time with my family, and watching movies.






13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?
I have taken the handmade pledge and love supporting other crafters and artists by buying handmade.

Bliss Favorites: Bears Baked Goods

Just wanted to give a little shout out to a wonderful shop on Etsy (especially for those of us who either can't bake or don't have time!).

I have bookmarked several shops that I love and this was one of the first. Being "food-motivated," it caught my eye right away. Don't worry...I'll feature some art too :)

What a wonderful gift for someone who has everything but could use a little "sweet" in their lives! Check out this scrumptious shop - I bet a treat and a candle would be an even better gift :)
-Suzanne

ArtFire - I Took the Plunge!


Just a little FYI...I took the plunge an opened a shop on ArtFire. I only have three items listed currently but I'll keep working on it! Wish me luck :)

-Suzanne

Featured Etsy Shop: Fairy Fae


Featured Etsy Shop: FairyFae



1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? My shop name is FairyFae and I sell images of my original fairy paintings. The images are prints which I make into greeting cards, ACEOs and larger prints for wall art.

2. What is your shop URL? http://fairyfae.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL? http://www.seefairies.blogspot.com/



4. When did you start selling on Etsy? September 7, 2008


5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? The community!


6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell? The creativity and the other-worldliness.



7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? I think I love the Basil Fairy the most. I worked hard on her and she is beautiful. I took photos of my own home-grown Basil for some of the images in the painting.


8. What teams do you belong to? I belong to the POEST team! Pagans Of Etsy Street Team


9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? Blogging. It is terrific fun!


10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy? Navajo handmade goat soap by Itafrank. She also has lots of other items in her shop. CardinalDesigns has terrific medicine bags that are so magical, as well as art gourds.



11. What do you do in your spare time? Spare time? What is that? Just kidding. I love to garden. But now most of the gardening season is over so I love to hike. I take my dogs with me. I also have 2 cats and 2 birds.


12. What blogs do you follow? I follow Blackfeatherfarm, Gypsymarestudios and Katherine a.k.a. Kathie's Corner, but my blog is very new and I want to follow some more!


13. Do you have anything else you would like to share? I would just like to say thank you very much and I would love to feature you, too! If you want to have me feature you, let's do it soon before the November is over.

Featured Etsy Shop: Ginger Snap Novelties


Featured Etsy Shop: Ginger Snap Novelties




1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?
Ginger Snap Novelties. I sell a variety of items, including handmade jewelry, bookmarks, original art, mini figurines, handpainted treasure boxes, and more!

2. What is your shop URL?
http://www.gingersnap1988.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL?

N/A

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?
October 29th, 2007

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
All the fun trinkets you find!

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?

How each one is unique and has a piece of my artistic soul breathed into it.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
Lola, my Zombie Chibi, because she is so horrific yet cute at the same time. I will never make another figurine like her.

8. What teams do you belong to?
As of now, none.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
Make some products for me and wearing them around town! Wearing your own items is the best (and most fashionable) advertisement!

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?
I Heart Seamonsters pendant, cupcake pincushion, black rose choker

11. What do you do in your spare time?
sketch, make jewelry and other random trinkets, create new t-shirt stencils, and other creative hobbies.

12. What blogs do you follow?

As of now, none.

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?
I am just a young housewife looking to turn passion into profit!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Featured Etsy Shop: Pedras



Featured Etsy Shop: Pedras


1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?
My shop name is Pedras (Means Rocks in Portuguese). I sell primarily stitch markers, but also crocheted items like wash/dishcloths and beaded items like charm bracelets.

2. What is your shop URL?
http://vanillalotus.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL?
I have one but shamefully don't update so just follow me on twitter http://www.twitter.com/vanillalotushop



4. When did you start selling on Etsy?
I started selling on Etsy May 16th 2007!

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
I like that Etsy is all things handmade. I love to look and own items that others have made. Plus it gives me a reason to craft without stocking up on things I won't get to use.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
I like selling stitch markers because I get to do tedious things with my hands. Most importantly I get to make beautiful useful things for crocheters and knitters. Especially the crocheters since I know how annoying it is to not find pretty practical light weight stitch markers.



7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
I like my charm bracelet the most with my scarf coming in second. The charm bracelet I like because 1.I love bracelets and 2. It just makes me proud since it's so pretty. The scarf I love because it is blue and short, I'm not a fan of long scarves.

8. What teams do you belong to?

I primarily belong to Etsy Texas Crafters. I have belonged to a few others but their set up was confusing and it just didn't feel like ETC does. So I gave up on those and am just an Etsy Texas Crafter. I love being a member of the group as everyone is so kind and there are tons of activities to do.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
I don't promote much until recently but the one promotion I have always done is just to interact with future customers. I love to talk to fellow knitters and crocheters, mothers, and crafters and just talk to them and find things we have in common. Creating a personal touch to your store I think is the most important promoting there is.



10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?
I love to see items that I would never have thought to look for but are so me. They are just your style and make me smile inside and out.
I love being introduced to steam punk and great sellers I would never have found on my own like julieandco, NothinButWood, norajane, TickledPinkKnits, Ninnerfish, joodito and many many more.

11. What do you do in your spare time?
Primarily I just do my stitch markers, and crochet/knit but I also garden. I love to propagate plants and grow things in the small space I have. I'm always online keeping up to date on my store and items but also researching plants and other things like that. Horticulture is my career and what I am going to school for, I just can't get tired of finding new plants and learning new things.

12. What blogs do you follow?
I follow lots of gardening blogs, I've been slacking lately. Every few months I switch it up and I'll primarily follow garden blogs or knitting/crochet blogs. I also follow the blogs of those that are my twitter friends. I have a list of probably 100 or more so I will spare you them all but these are my favorites.
http://www.penick.net/digging/
http://digitalflowerpictures.blogspot.com/
http://knitandtonic.typepad.com/knitandtonic/



13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?
Just want to say thank you for all my great customers and to those that are my friends on twitter, ETC, and Etsy. For all those that make handmade items, keep up the great work and don't get discourage because of no sales etc. If you make handmade items or sell handmade items give Etsy a try! Also follow me on Twitter, I love to meet new people and have fun convos http://twitter.com/vanillalotushop.

Featured Etsy Shop: Minoux Jewelry




Featured Etsy Shop: Minoux Jewelry

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?
My shop is Minoux Jewelry, and I sell...Jewelry!

2. What is your shop URL?
http://www.minouxjewelry.etsy.com/
My website is: http://www.minouxjewelry.com/

3. What is your blog URL?
No blog as of yet, but seriously considering it.

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?
September 29th, 2008

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
I love that there is no end to things to discover. From checking out a person who hearted you, then checking out their hearts, and so on, to reading the forums and blog posts and uncovering new Etsy tricks, I feel like every time I log on, I'm seeing new things, learning new things, and being richly entertained. And I get to call it work!

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
My favorite thing is when I meet someone who's been a fan of my work for a long time, and they're wearing something I made, and they really love the piece. It gives more meaning to sitting in my studio all day.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
My favorite item is the Round Up necklace, because I wear it constantly! When I'm feeling fancy, it works with my girly outfit, and when I'm feeling grrr, it works with my tough black v-neck tshirt.

8. What teams do you belong to?
No teams as of yet, but I've been eyeballing the Portland team.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
So far the most fun thing has been to check out all the opportunities for promotion that people post in the business section of the community forums.



10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14056571
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=fp_seller_3&listing_id=17373030
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13778367
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14056571

11. What do you do in your spare time?
Birding, reading, volunteering. One of the cool things about Portland is that there's
always something unique and free happening. Tonight I'm going to a lecture on bats!


12. What blogs do you follow?
Carrot box, the sartorialist, filly designs, MOD Mercury on Design

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?
I think that covers it!

SALE!!! 10% OFF


I have a SALE in my Etsy Shop this weekend! 10% OFF!!

To make things even easier for my customers, I have created special listings with the discount already applied! Here is the link to that section:


Have fun shopping! -Suzanne

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Features and Treasuries!

I am truly thankful for those who feature me on their blogs and put me in treasuries. Here are some that are up right now! Both treasuries are beautiful and the blog is just too cute!
Treasuries

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=34085
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=23432

Blogs

http://inkspotworkshopblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/happy-thanksgiving.html

-Suzanne

Taking Advantage of Black Friday


Competition is going to be tough this holiday season with consumers having fewer dollars to spend and making more careful selections for holiday gift giving. Harder yet for sellers of handcrafted products is the fact that the “big guys” are slashing prices to unheard of lows which we can not match and stay in business since we don’t mass produce. To all of this, I say “oh well!” I have made a plan for the day…have you? An aggressive plan may just be the key to winning the sales that you need this season.

Here is what my Black Friday is going to look like and what you can do to stay at the top of your game tomorrow:

1. Specials – I will be having daily specials targeting different customers. Figure out who you want to target and go for it! If you want those big sales, market to the people who have the need and the money for your product.

2. I’m going to blog like crazy! Artist features, fragrance reviews, specials, articles, gift guides, and more are in store for my blog. And I will be spreading the word to all of my teams and in the Forums. Review your own products, do special articles with words of encouragement for other artists, do short artist features, brag about that blog in the Forums!

3. Gift Guides – I will be putting together gift guides featuring other artists and promoting Etsy. This takes some time but you can start small. Pick a theme and feature four items. Do a short description of the items with links and away you go!

4. Listings – I will be listing and re-listing more than usual this weekend to stay on that first page.

5. Artfire – I opened a shop on Artfire and I am working feverishly to get it ready! Go to http://www.artfire.com/ today and get signed up. For only $7 per month, they have a fantastic low cost plan. Don’t have the $7? They do have a FREE plan too!

6. MadeitMyself – I will be doing listings on the MadeitMyself site too! This is another inexpensive outlet.

7. Lollishops – Lollishops is getting up and running this weekend. If I get lucky enough to be in the first beta group, I will be very active there this weekend!

8. Email List – I will be sending out an email to my email list with all of my specials for the weekend. If you have an approved list, use it to promote those specials and your blog.

9. Team participation – I will be blogging on all of my team sites linking out to my regular blog, my Etsy shop, my Artfire shop, and more! This is easy…just login and get busy!

10. Forums – I will be very active in the forums, helping other artists and making a contribution! Remember, doing nothing but self-promotion is a negative in the Forums. Participation is the key.

11. Blog commenting – Comment like crazy on other people’s blogs this weekend. Make sure you are logged in so that avatar shows up!

Notice that most of these items require no funds – just time. If you don’t belong to any teams, see if there are any you can join today! Most have an ING site where you can upload pictures, blog, share with others, comment, etc. It’s a great place to make friends.

Now…what is your plan going to look like for the day?

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

New Listing! Holiday Packaged Mayo 16 oz Jar



Check out one of my new listings! I will be feverishly adding items on Wednesday and Thursday in time for Black Friday and managed to get one up this morning for my new Holiday Gift Wrapped 16 oz Mayo Jar with Star Candle Capper. Keep an eye on the Gift Items section in my Etsy shop for more goodies over the next couple of days!
-Suzanne