Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Whew!

It has been a crazy last three weeks or so! Just want you all to know that I am still alive and I will be back to blogging soon. Thank you for all of the orders, the wonderful comments, and the support. I made quite a few fabulous Etsy purchases from some of you and I am delighted with them as always!

"See" you soon! -Suzanne

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Featured Etsy Blogger Artist: Spotted Cow Soaps

soap peppermint holiday christmas candy cane Spotted Cow Soaps
Featured Etsy Blogger Artist: Spotted Cow Soaps



So, I went into this thinking.."okay, I'll do my artist feature on the Etsy Blogger this month real quick and be done." I checked out with three items about ten minutes later and never did my article!

Spotted Cow Soaps offers a wonderful array of goodies for yourself or your gift recipient this holiday season. They offer yummy and relaxing soaps such as this:
soap relaxing herbal
And sugar scrubs such as this that look good enough to eat!:

sugar scrub bath and body moisturizing cleanser
Lovely packaging such as this that will make your gift look outstanding (my candle packaging matches, you know:):

soap packaging kraft giftAnd body lotions that sound absolutely wonderful!:

body lotion moisturizing handmade And for those of us with allergies, they have delightful handmade scrubbies and wash cloths for the shower (of course I bought one!):

washcloth cotton handmade
bath scrubbie
The customer service was outstanding and I highly recommend you take a peek at this great shop! Check them out at: http://spottedcowsoaps.etsy.com/.


-Suzanne


Wednesday, December 3, 2008

What's the Big Deal?

bliss soy candle grand haven michigan
I often have people ask, "What's the big deal about Bliss Soy Candles?"

First...I only speak for my own soybean candles. I named my business, "Bliss," for a reason. When I first started making candles, the difference between mine and others was very noticeable. They were much stronger, burned better, and the colors were beautiful (thank goodness I paid attention in that Kindergarten class on blending colors!).

If you buy a Bliss Soybean Candle, here is what you can expect:
  1. Zero to little soot. Soy wax produces little to no soot if burned AND made properly (keep out of drafts, use the appropriate amount of oil, etc). I use the no more than the maximum fragrance recommended to make sure you don't get soot.

  2. An attractive container that you can be proud to display in your home. There is a reason why I search for cool lids and cute candle caps - I'm a very picky decorator! It would always drive me crazy when all I could find was jelly jars.

  3. A candle made with the best ingredients available. My candles are often pricier for a reason. You pay for quality. I don't buy from people who sell "discount oils." I buy the most awesome wax on the market. Most of my jars still say Made in the USA!

  4. Metal - free wicks. My wicks are all made with paper and cotton...period. No zinc or lead to worry about.

  5. A stronger candle. Most of my fragrances are quite strong. Cozy Home, Hot Apple Strudel, Clove, Victorian Christmas, Christmas Berry...oh I could go on! There are also several that are on the lighter side. Many of your vanilla or clean fragrances are softer. The food fragrances and fruit fragrances will knock your socks off!

  6. A better burn. If the instructions on the back of my candles are followed, they will burn across every time and straight down to the bottom of the jar using nearly all of the wax. And if you are a "liquefy" junkie like me, you'll love the burn pool on these!

  7. Beautiful colors. I love color and I am very picky about my dyes.

  8. A candle that supports American farmers...they make the soybeans (yep..this stuff really comes from soybeans!).

I'll admit it. I love my candles. If you look at my Etsy feedback, you'll see I'm not alone!

DISCOUNT!! If you read this entire article, take 5% OFF in any of my shops below. Just use the code BLOG at checkout and I will send you a refund!

Etsy: http://blisscandles.etsy.com/

ArtFire: http://blisscandles.artfire.com/

Lollishop: http://www.lollishops.com/bliss-soybean-candles-and-gifts

Regular Website: http://www.blisscandles.com/



-Suzanne



Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Fabulous Find: Donna Striped Rachelle Handbag


Fabulous Find: Donna Striped Rachelle Handbag

I was hunting around for some great EtsyBloggers finds and found this wonderful handbag/purse by TiLT Creations. And...the bonus is that there are matching accessories available! Here is the description for the great find:

"This larger purse is perfect for people who need to carry just a little more than the basics everyday. It closes with a zipper and has a flap that snaps shut. The main fabric is is a bold striped outdoor fabric. The flap and straps are both made from tan ultrasuede. Hiding under the flap is the same material as the blue scroll cotton lining. Decorating the flap is a wooden button. The bottom of the bag is seamless so there will be less stress from the things you carry. The roomy interior is fully lined and has both an open pocket and back wall zippered pocket."
-Suzanne

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

Saturday, November 29, 2008

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

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

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

Friday, November 28, 2008

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

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

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Fragrance Review: Cozy Home


My first fragrance review is on a fragrance that to many is second to no other - Cozy Home.

Cozy Home is a wonderful intermingling of sweet, crisp apple and sweet kitchen spices. The scent throw in my soy candles is simply amazing, fragrancing at least two rooms in my home. This is not one to buy in small quantities. I highly suggest at least a 16 oz jar if not the 26 oz because you will be very disappointed when the candle is gone. This candle is ivory in color to match any decor.

Keep an eye out for upcoming "you choose the color" listings. You will be able to order your favorite fragrance, regardless of what it is, in holiday colors!

Stop by my shop and sniff around a bit! You may have a hard time leaving :)

-Suzanne

The Economy is Bad ... Really?

I did a craft show yesterday that is usually one of the best in this part of the state. One of those ones where you pray you can even get on the waiting list. This show, typically a $3800 show for me cashed in at $2600 (ugh). I wasn’t alone. Several people reported barely making their booth fee. The reason according to most…”the economy.”

Every time I heard those words, I tried to hide my cringing and started my dissertation as to what really occurred. Why you ask? With a lot of hard work, I am doing just fine in this supposedly horrible economy. As a former English and Education major, I had many things drilled into my brain, one of which being to dig in and look at things from all different angles. I stepped back and looked at the realities of the day to put things into perspective.

1. Number one and most important of all, they changed the location of the show due to construction. Now add to that the fact that the only signage they put up on the old location was something saying “located across the street” – it really was not across the street – and you have your first recipe for disaster. Now throw in a parking lot one quarter of the size of the usual lot and you have people (many elderly) having to walk for several blocks in 30 degree weather – many wouldn’t bother.

2. The annual Santa Clause parade (pretty big deal here) got scheduled on the same day – ouch!

3. Two major college football games were televised that day – we Michiganians love our Spartans and our Wolverines (and also Ohio State for some reasonJ).

So with that, there really wasn’t much chance at record sales that day.

Now, looking at the big picture as a whole, is the economy really that bad? For those with investments and stocks, sure it looks bleak. I can’t imagine losing $20,000 per quarter in my pension (which I am seeing as an HR professional with my employees). While there are reports that unemployment soars well over 9% in Michigan, we forget that means there is 91% EMPLOYMENT! Those people are still buying. And as an Etsian, we have the opportunity to sell to the rest of the country as well – hooray!

So what does it take? It takes hard work. We can’t sit back and wait for the orders to come any more. As someone who works full-time and whose business is booming, I understand “busy.” Here are the things I do that I can fit into my busy schedule that you may consider:

1. List Three Times Per Day – Yep. That’s right. Budget 60 cents per day for your listings. Post one in the AM before you go to work, post another at lunch time, and one more before you go to bed. Those of us on the east coast often forget that when we are heading off to get some zzz’s, the west coast is getting home from work and they want to spend! After you do this for a while, you will find out what your busy days are and you can scale down to listing just on those days. Be patient! You need to get some sales and some feedback before the orders will start rolling in. It will happen.

2. Create Your Own Blog – No I am not able to post daily. However, I blog at least every 3-4 days but usually more frequently than that. I feature other Etsy Artists. I send a set of questions which they answer and then I format it for the blog. Total time commitment – about 15 minutes. Schedule that time in and it will be a breeze for you. I am also getting into doing what I am doing right now – help and advice. Not everyone will be able to do this but I guarantee it is worth it!

3. Blog Comments – Read and comment on other people’s blogs. Don’t make it time consuming. Make yourself a goal of reading two per week and commenting. That is more than manageable.

4. Twitter – I will admit I think Twitter is a little different..probably because of my lack of time. However, it is a fabulous marketing tool. You can go to Twitterfeed.com and have your Etsy listings go up on Twitter and your blog posts! That way people who follow you can see what you are up to. Timothy Adam Designs has great tips and thoughts on Twitter on his blog – http://timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com/.

5. Join Teams – I know some people don’t believe in joining teams but the value I have seen is tremendous. My teams are all incredibly helpful and “nurturing.” Not to mention their promo is out of this world! Find someone who fits your interests. Once accepted, participate at least once every couple of weeks in their forums or on their ING site.

6. Chat it Up in the Forums! - Wow does this make a difference!! Again, make a goal and try not to get addicted. Go in three times per week and make legitimate contributions. Only post all of your links when appropriate. I only add my blog address when I feel there is some value to the readers.

7. Treasuries – Make a treasury or set a goal for commenting. If you only have time to throw a few comments out there, make that goal and stick to it. This gets your avatar out there. I always try to comment on those that are brand new and they have two to three days to go.

8. Follow Timothy Adam Designs’ Blog – This guy is fabulous! He is so tech savvy and has such awesome advice. Make the time where you can to read what he has to offer - http://timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com/ Once you are rolling in the dough, buy something from him:)

There is much more to cover but these are the things that are somewhat quick and easy. You don’t have to take a beating from this supposedly bad economy. Just fight back!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please do me a favor and post a reply to this Forum thread (http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5923350)to keep my thread alive. I think a lot of people will find this info beneficial and I am afraid it will get buried. Thank you!

-Suzanne
Bliss Soybean Candles and Gifts
http://blisscandles.etsy.com/
http://www.blisscandles.com/

Etsy Bloggers Holiday Sale

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Bliss Featured on TheMaryGoRound Blog!


I have been so fortunate and blessed this week! I have been featured on another wonderful blog. Please stop by and visit! http://themarygoround.blogspot.com/


-Suzanne


Featured Etsy Artist: Alphabet Hill




Featured Etsy Artist: Alphabet Hill



1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? My shop is called, The Alphabet Hill. We specialize in custom alphabet photo keepsakes. Photographs are taken of architecture, nature, and everyday life and resemble the letters of the alphabet.

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

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

4. When did you start selling on Etsy? I started selling on Etsy on Labor Day 2008. Pretty ironic, isn't it?
5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? My favorite thing about Etsy are the forums. I have learned so much from talking with and bouncing ideas off of other sellers.


6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell? The best part of what I sell is that it every piece of artwork is customized. I have never created the same piece twice and that makes it so meaningful for me.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? My favorite item in my shop is the custom black and white framed alphabet keepsake. I really like the way the framed pieces look the best and the black frame that I use is gorgeous.

8. What teams do you belong to? I have just recently applied to the Etsy Moms..and I am looking for a Michigan team that is a little closer to me in Metro Detroit.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? The best thing I do to promote my shop is to pass out business cards and sell at local craft shows. I love talking to my customers and recommending Etsy to people.


10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy? A few of my favorites are...YUMMYBUBBLEGUM's necklaces, OKTAK'S handbags, and of course Suzanne's BLISS CANDLES, the three-layer jars are on my "want to buy" list.

11. What do you do in your spare time? In my "spare time", I am the mother to three boys, ages 8, 3, and 2. My "real" jobs are a first-grade teacher and volleyball coach.


12. What blogs do you follow? I am pretty new to the blogging world...I still am trying to figure out how to find people out there. Come find me and I will follow you! :)

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share? Thank you so much for reading! And thanks to Suzanne for featuring me, be sure and visit both of our shops. http://www.blisscandles.etsy.com/ and http://www.thealphabethill.etsy.com/.

Featured Etsy Shop: Michele's Essentials


Featured Etsy Shop: Michele's Essentials





1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?

My shop name is:

Michele's Essentials

I make and sell, candles and bath products

2. What is your shop URL?

http://www.michelesessentials.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL?

http://www.michelesessentials.blogspot.com/



4. When did you start selling on Etsy?

I actually started selling on Etsy back in April of 2007 in my other shop called 'Earth's Essence LLC' and most recently opened 'Michele's Essentials'

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

The people, they are so nice here on Etsy, they are very helpful, kind and very easy to work with! I have truly loved my time here on Etsy so far, even the slow times are good times, I have made a lot of true friends on here who have helped to inspire me through the really tough times.


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

Meeting new people then hearing how much they like my product. It still sends chills down my spine when someone tells me they love my products. It give me such a boost and a good feeling deep down inside. It is truly my motivation to continue to create!

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?

I'd say it is my 'Balancing Toner' because I wanted to create something for my sensitive skin that was alcohol free. Most all toners contain large amounts of alcohol in them, and WHY? There is truly no need to use such a harsh chemical on your skin. Sometimes the more natural you are the better you are!

8. What teams do you belong to?

I belong to:
Etsy's Military Brats Street Team
and
Pagans of Etsy Street Team
Both of which I am pretty active in on a daily basis, I have meet some very special people through my teams too.


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

Networking! I love to meet others, I like to meet other sellers because I really like to see what else people are creating, so far I have met so many people I don't even go and buy things at the local stores no more, why should I when I know I can purchase a high quality product directly from a wonderful person, rather than from a store where it's been mass produced.

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

hmmm, This is a tough one, what others make is always blowing my mind! So far I think my favorite is not a single one thing but a whole, and that would be some of the sculptors the people who make the miniature items for the doll houses, those teeny tiny cakes, and pies and the likes, those people blow my mind.... I can sculpt but some of what these people are making is just insanely small!

11. What do you do in your spare time?

I read and study, to further my education, my dad once told me, 'the day you stop learning is the day you die!' well I like to continue to learn, and better myself and my product for my customers, I feel it is my duty to offer them the most current and up to date information about their skin care that I possibly can give them. I am currently studying for the next faze on my journey, to become a licensed Aesthetician, so someday I can open my own Spa!

12. What blogs do you follow?

Barefoot Mommies, I am currently working with them on some promo things, I am giving away a $25 Gift Certificate, and next month I will be offering a huge give away for a chance to receive one of everything from my shop!

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

Uuummmmm, Only that I hope I have not bored you to death here and that if there is ever anything I can help any of you with, be it skin care a kind of soap you'd like specially made for you bath salts, you name it, please do not hesitate to stop in and ask! I am very convo friendly and I am always looking to challenge myself, my knowledge and my skills, on a daily basis!