Craft Cafe

Yesterday, I stumbled across a new selling venue that may be of interest to some!

It is very inexpensive and the setup looks good at first glance.  Keep in mind this is another site where it looks like you will have to do a significant amount of self-promotion.

Check it out!



Have a delightfully scented day! Suzanne

Wow 'Em Wednesday!: Julie and Co

Let me introduce you to ... Julie and Co.

1. What is your business name and website/shop URL? What do you create?

My shop is called julieandco and is found at http://julieandco.etsy.com I make hand-embroidered decorative thread balls. They are in the tradition of Japanese temari, an ancient Japanese folk art.

2. What is the theme or idea behind your website/shop?

I love all things handmade and particularly those things with threads -- pearl cotton embroidery thread is my primary fiber, but I also love metallic threads, silk threads and wool. I named my shop Julieandco because my family (my husband of 26 years and our daughters) are a huge part of my work and who I am. They are the "and co." of my work!

3. What makes your items unique?

Japanese temari has been around for thousands of years and is making a resurgence in modern culture and craft. I like to put my own modern interpretation to these ancient creations -- modern color palettes, unique design twists, updated forms.

4. What is your favorite item on your website or in your shop right now?

My favorite creation right now is a new temari pincushion, http://www.etsy.com/listing/53616411/temari-teacup-pincushion-hand , in a lovely porcelain Asian tea cup. I think it is adorable and so practical for a modern seamstress!

5. What teams do you belong to? How do we search for their items?

I am a happy member of the Etsy West Michigan team (etsywmi team) and the Homeschooling team (SHE team). They are great encouragers!

6. What is your favorite thing about handmade items?

I'm really into textures and fibers....I love things that have multiple types of fibers (I'm currently intrigued with nuno felted scarves) and textural delights.

7. Do you have any favorite finds by other handmade artists?

I love therainbowgirl's hand dyed threads ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/therainbowgirl ), and the gorgeous scarves of my friend Cathi in Portland ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/sassicathi ) and everything of one of my long-time favorite embroiderers, Waterrose ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/Waterrose )

8. Do you have anything else you would like to share? Other links?

I am planning on opening a new shop soon of my own fiber art! Please stay tuned as this is a whole new adventure for me!

Teaser Tuesday: Mint Chocolate Fudge

So I came along this wonderful stuff this weekend and put it on my favorites list immediately! Made by SexyStitches on Etsy, it looks delectable! Here is the link to the listing: http://www.etsy.com/listing/55469312/homemade-mint-chocolate-chip-fudge-2-lbs .

Wow 'Em Wednesday: Celebrate Today

Wow 'Em Wednesday!

Let me introduce you to ... Celebrate Today.

1. What is your business name and website/shop URL? What do you create?

My jewelry store is called Celebrate Today and can be found at celebratetoday.etsy.com on the wonderful Etsy site. I specialize in hand-stamped, personalized jewelry in sterling silver and gold.

2. What is the theme or idea behind your website/shop?

I enjoy making custom pieces that help you remember all you have to celebrate. High quality materials, attention to detail and excellent customer service lead to one of a kind pieces with initials, children's names, important phrases or dates that have meaning to you.

3. What makes your items unique?

My items are unique because they are designed by you! I am very flexible and I'll create whatever you're looking for! Want to add a birthstone or pearl?

Want a different shape or font? Need more charms? I love to work with your ideas and have found some wonderful new designs have been sparked by that collaboration.

4. What is your favorite item on your website or in your shop right now?

This is a very hard question. It is a serious perk to have all of these wonderful samples to wear myself! Right now, I am most enjoying playing with the fun crystal colors in the briolette designs. This particular necklace is my favorite color green and I wear it often:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53624432/august-birthstone-personalized-gold

5. What teams do you belong to? How do we search for their items?

I currently belong to the Etsy West Michigan team. You can find beautiful items by this wonderful group of artists by searching EtsyWMI.

6. What is your favorite thing about handmade items?

I have always tried to purchase handmade items for gifts and special occasions. I love that each item is unique and so personal. I also enjoy supporting individual artists.

7. Do you have any favorite finds by other handmade artists?

There are SO many! I am constantly adding new things to my "Favorites"

section and love browsing.

8. Do you have anything else you would like to share? Other links?

Thanks for featuring my Etsy shop! It is so wonderful to promote handmade items and support the great artists on Etsy. I hope you and your blog readers have much to celebrate today!

NEW Products on our Website!

This morning, I updated the website with my new goodies! Check out these great newcomers for yourself and gift giving.

Pampered Pal Gift Set

While this is no newbie, it is one of my favorites! This great set includes a Premium 10 oz Jar, Tea Light 10-Pack, and filled Premium Votive Holder nestled in a thick kraft box with kraft shreds - all tied up with kraft wraphia! Buy it HERE.

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Maddie 8 oz Jars

Maddie is one of my favorite new additions for 2010! She is beautiful and is perfect for bathrooms and elegant areas of your home. I kept the label simple to compliment your decor. Maddie is fancy by design and comes packaged in a kraft box with our choice of ribbon. Maddie will be natural white/ivory in color. If you order two of the same fragrance, she can be dyed to the normal color - just ask! Buy it HERE.

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Boxed 16 oz Jars

Now you can get our awesome 16 oz jars boxed in kraft boxes ready for gift giving! Buy it HERE.

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Boxed 26 oz Jars

Now you can get our huge 26 oz jars boxed in kraft boxes ready for gift giving! This jar is becoming increasingly popular for Bliss addicts :) Buy it HERE.


Have fun shopping!

Bliss Soy Candles SALE Extended Through June 12th!

Now until June 12th, save up to 20% on our regular website - http://www.blisscandles.com/

• Save 20% on orders over $125 ~ use Code: SAVE20 at checkout

• Save 15% on orders over $75 ~ use Code: SAVE15 at checkout
  
  


• Save 10% on orders over $50 ~ use Code: SAVE10 at checkout

Have fun shopping!

~Suzanne~

SAVE up to 20% on Bliss Soy Candles ~ Memorial Weekend!

Now until June 5th, save up to 20% on our regular website - http://www.blisscandles.com/

• Save 20% on orders over $125 ~ use Code: SAVE20 at checkout

• Save 15% on orders over $75 ~ use Code: SAVE15 at checkout
  
  


• Save 10% on orders over $50 ~ use Code: SAVE10 at checkout

Have fun shopping and have a safe and happy Memorial Weekend!

~Suzanne~

Etsy Artist Feature: IllusionsbyDonna

1. What is your business name and website/shop URL? What do you create?

http://www.1000markets.com/users/13070

http://www.etsy.com/shop/IllusionsbyDonna

http://www.artfire.com/users/Illusions

I create one of a kind knits and jewelry.

2. What is the theme or idea behind your website/shop?

In early 2007 I spent 3 mos in Maine painting a house for a friend. The house was mostly empty, so to give me something to do I decided I would try some knitting. I quickly became pretty much obsessed with it. Upon my return home to Indiana my best friend twisted my arm into making some jewelry. By the Fall of that year I was selling knits and jewelry to friends. I became involved with Ravelry and met a local woman on there who encouraged me to open an Etsy store and become involved with our local Farmers Market. After a few months I opened stores on 1000 Markets and Artfire also.

3. What makes your items unique?
I have a background in art and as a decorative painter so color is my life. I get a lot of compliments on my color choices. Trying to do most things one of a kind keeps me looking for fresh ideas. I love making things that no one else has.

4. What is your favorite item on your website or in your shop right now?
I made the Horsey Hat as a special order for a girl I was working with one evening. I love the way it turned out. She was ecstatic! In jewelry, the Organic Leaf earrings are one of my favorites. They are very simple and pretty. I’ve been very surprise that they haven’t sold. I made a pair of earrings for my daughter on those ear posts and she gets a lot of compliments on them.

5. What teams do you belong to? How do we search for their items?
On Etsy I belong to the INCrowd team. Items can be found by putting the tag incrowdteam in the search box.

6. What is your favorite thing about handmade items?
Finding things that are one of a kind and knowing that someone put a piece of themselves into each piece.

7. Do you have any favorite finds by other handmade artists?

Omigosh! There are so many. I get the Etsy Finds emails and I’m constantly finding things that make me go WOW!! The creativity that I see is just amazing. Some things I see I just would never have thought of myself.

8. Do you have anything else you would like to share? Other links?

One of my hats was featured in a handmade blog called Meylah for green things having to do with St Patricks Day. That is the first time I’ve ever been asked to do anything like this so it is pretty exciting for me.

http://meylah.com/blog/212/Going-Green-8-Products-to-Celebrate-St-Patricks-Day

Handmade Directory: Bath and Body

The bath and body products on Etsy are just heavenly! You simply can't do better with expensive store brand items. Check out these great bath and body artists!























Want to be included? Email me!

Handmade Directory: Baby Items

So many cute baby items on Etsy and Artfire....check out these great shops!







Want to be included? Email me!

Handmade Directory: Home Decor

Etsy is the absolute best place to find Home Decor! Check out these great shops!











Want to be included? Email me.

Fabulous Finds: Pomegranate Fig Laundry Soap

When I get super busy with orders, I tend to buy little things to "sooth" and "pamper" myself. I decided to try some handcrafted laundry soap from Maylee's Garden on Etsy about a month ago and have been addicted every since! Everything she says about her soap is true.

Because of allergies, I have had to buy fragrance free soap and dryer sheets for the last couple of years. So...needless to say, buying laundry soap with fragrance was a gamble! I have no issues whatsoever with the Pomegranate Fig, Lilac, or Lavender Vanilla. All have the perfect amount of fragrance which lingers days after the linens are washed.

I highly recommend this soap....not only does it do a wonderful job of cleaning your clothes and linens but it is a wonderful little "pamper" if you need it!

-Suzanne

Fabulous Finds: Wristlet for I-Phones, Cameras by janinekingdesigns

One of my favorite Etsy sellers is JanineKingDesigns. This wonderful shop features high quality handbags, laptop bags, wristlets and more. Last year, I made my first purchase from this shop and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and detail.

These little wristlets are heavily padded and extremely well crafted. They are the perfect size for the little cameras that are so popular and are also a great size for the IPhone or ITouch.

Available in a variety of fabrics, these products are a must have for us technology junkies!

Featured Etsy Seller - That's Me!!

I am so blessed to be the Etsy Featured Seller this weekend starting November 6th at 1PM EST! Check out the interview on the front page of Etsy - http://www.etsy.com.

I was contacted a few months ago by Etsy and asked if I would like to be a Featured Seller. At the time, I really didn't realize what a big deal it was. Don't get me wrong...I knew being featured would be awesome...I mean it's the Front Page for three days! However, I had no idea what this could mean for recognition and sales.

Since I was contacted, I have been keeping a close eye on the Etsy Featured Sellers and realizing I better get ready to be super duper busy...just in case! I have seen some sellers with 50 sales in an hour, 50 sales in a day, and even saw one with 20 pages of sales over three (3) days! That's about 500 orders!!

So wish me luck and thank you for everyone's support this last couple of years...I would not be this successful without you!

Incredibly Grateful,

Suzanne

Fabulous Finds: "Conley" the Sock Monkey by the Monkey Shop

I adore anything from the Monkey Shop on Etsy but Conley is just way too cute! Everyone needs a sock monkey :)

You can find Conley HERE in The Monkey Shop on Etsy.com!

Fun Stuff!
-Suzanne

Fabulous Finds: "Around the Daisy" Necklace by JustJaynes

JustJaynes has some of the nicest, best quality jewelry around. She is an active member of the Etsy West Michigan team and sells on Etsy, Artfire, 1000 Markets and possibly more!

You can find this delightful necklace HERE in JustJaynes shop on Etsy.com.

Have fun shopping!
-Suzanne

Fabulous Finds: Autumn Apples Greeting Cards

I did a search for my wonderful Etsy West Michigan teammates (just search "etsywmi team" on Etsy.com) and found this delightful little autumn card!

You can find this card as well as others HERE in TrinasTrinkets shop on Etsy.

Joy!
-Suzanne

Fabulous Finds: Maple Leaf Necklace by TimothyAdamDesigns

While perusing Etsy this weekend, I came across a wonderful piece by TimothyAdamDesigns. What a wonderful way to embrace Fall!

This items sells for $43 and can be found HERE in TimothyAdamDesigns shop.

Loves :)
-Suzanne

Fabulous Finds: "Alice" Ring

When logging in to Etsy this morning I saw this beautiful ring on the Front Page. Those who know me understand that I am addicted to brown and the style is just gorgeous.

Want one? This ring sells HERE for $185 at http://jasminescott.etsy.com.

Loves :) Suzanne

"Treating" Myself!

After working, working, working my fingers to the bone I decided it was time to make my own Etsy purchase! As usual, I drifted toward the food as I remembered the yummy fudge I bought last year from KandyKettleKitchen on Etsy.com.

You must try this shop if you have a sweet tooth :) Check it out at http://kandykettlekitchen.etsy.com.

Enjoy!
Suzanne