Craft Catch-up, Etsy, new ideas and shows

I can't believe it's already February and once again I haven't blogged in quite some time.
I have been very busy with my crafts and the sale I made yesterday made January my best month on Etsy to date (I know, go figure).

I've been quite busy online recently, I had a few treasuries last month and I had items in several more. And just this morning, I found out that one of my items were featured in a blog ---->
(link at the top on right side--- thankyou so much to byRobinLynn of Etsy!!)

I've been building up some supplies, getting ready to make a push to increase my inventory levels. I've been buying quite a few glass beads and I have several pieces of jewelry quality sea glass waiting to be drilled. My creations with sea glass did very well last year and I hope to keep finding quality pieces to create with.

As far a craft shows go, I'm hoping to be at the Lacey show in early April. I'm considering a show in Sewell, NJ in late March. It seems like it's going to be held at a boutique and it'll be the Grand Opening for the store, so it'll probably be well attended.

I'm hoping to squeeze in an early March show, if it's local and then start preparing for the summer and fall shows.

If you get a chance, please visit byRobinLynn's etsy shop-
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5375750

And a big Thank You, once again for featuring my Lovey Doves in your blog today!!

til next time...
R

January updates, craft shows, what's new

Well it didn't take long before I broke my New Years Resolution about blogging several times each week. Burnout from the holiday craft season and the holiday season itself, left me wiped out and I needed a break to re-charge my engines.
While I don't have any craft shows at this time to prepare for, I have been busy over the last week to week and a half, creating some Valentine's Day gifts for my online shop at ETSY.com. The creations have been well received to this point and my magnets continue to garner a lot of views.
So far the New Year hasn't been as slow as I thought it would be. I have several sales this month, along with a reserved order listed on the ETSY site ( custom made order for a customer who saw one of my bracelets!) I've been pleasantly surprised by the flow at ETSY even after the holiday season.

I'm still patiently waiting for Volume 2 of Handbook to Handmade (produced by Timothy Adams, an ETSY seller and now book publisher) I have 2 pages in the issue and I can't wait to see which pictures were used and how the book turned out. Okay, I really ran out of patience about a week ago...but I'm trying to play it off --ya know, whatever- on the outside, but "is it here yet" every time I go to the mailbox on the inside...LOL

Looking at a craft show possibility for the tail end of February, but it's the weekend of my sons B-Day, so I don't know if I'd like to do it. I did hear there were only 5 jewelry tables as of last weekend. Tempting...very tempting! (especially if I have my handmade book to put out as advertising!!!)

Okay, let me go get my little hand-held flags and flag down my mail-person...LOL

til next time...
R

Featuring "Ribbon Craft Boutique"

My first feature of 2008, I'm going to feature a new Etsy shop owner from my home state, New Jersey. Jenna, a stay at home mom of 3, opened her shop Ribbon Craft Boutique , http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5409699 in November of 2007. The former teacher enjoys hobbies but never stuck with one very long, until there arrival of her daughter, the youngest of her 3 children.

Looking at all the girly items, Jenna found herself drawn to a long-forgotten crafting bug and she became interested in creating her own pieces. With no prior crafting experience, Jenna finds her inspiration comes from her daughter and "a love for pretty things."

Jenna says she's "learning as I go and coming up with ideas as I go along and see what different materials are available." Looking at her shop, it appears that she's a natural and it won't be long before Ribbon Craft Boutique makes their first sale.

2008 Resolutions

For this New Year, I hope to follow these "resolutions"...

1- No last night hectic creating, completing or designing of new items. I also hope to have all new items for all craft shows underway more than 1 week in advance and no more 1am nights the week before a show.

2- Spend more time with my family and work more efficiently this year.

3- More quality promoting on the ETSY forums.

4- More Blogs, especially features on fellow Etsians and suppliers. I'd like to have the time to blog 4-5 times each week.

5- More quality items, even if they come at the expense of items that sell well, but offer
a low return on my time and investment.

I think if I can stick to these resolutions, I can easily accomplish everything I plan to do this year. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out Etsy last year and I think I have a basic understanding of what will work for me and my shop. I hope to continue to offer my "wearable art" creations and offer new items that visitors to my shop will find exciting and different.

Later tonight, I'll be sending out questions to 1 supplier and one new ETSY seller and the 1st response to the questions will become my 1st feature crafter/supplier of 2008!

til next time!
R