Help me out with decorations!

Hi everyone,

Putting a post up here just to ask if anyone knows any good etsians to get Christmas decorations from? My boyfriend and I are getting our first proper tree and we'd really like some nice original baubles to put up on it, and use for further Christmases. If you, or a friend, are doing decorations point me in the right direction! I'm starting to get repeat work in my shop now so hopefully I'll have a few dollars spare to get something nice!

Long time no speak!

It has been a couple of months since my last blog post, so I must apologise for neglecting you lovely people! I had a bit of trouble at work as my position was no longer needed so I was made redundant, but now I have a new job and a bit of time off before starting up again so I can get back to it.

Speaking of which, I finally made my first sales! The lovely Krystyne over at The Ivy Keep purchased some product descriptions, as she was needing some templates about the history of different types of tea to help promote her wonderful teas. She has been a pleasure to work with and I would definitely recommend browsing her wide selection of loose tea leaves!

As ever, any of you needing promotional writing for your shop, please head over to my shop and have a look at my listings. If you think of anything you need that I don't have a listing for just let me know and I can always sort out a custom listing for you!

I won a prize!

Lots of bloggers from Etsy have wonderful giveaways, and although I enter many I never thought I'd win one.

But today I got a message from the lovely auntiejill informing me that I had won her giveaway! I'm very grateful, and soon this cute little guy will be winging his way to me:

Seriously, how cute is that! She has loads more adorable plushies over at her store. so go take a look!

HandWritten features - arionjewelry.etsy.com

After my hectic birthday weekend I skipped last weeks feature, but for our second feature here at HandWritten, we have ArionJewelry! All the work in this shop was created by Jihee Kim. After growing up in Seoul, South Korea, she moved to America to study and now lives in Seattle with her husband and children. She uses high-quality materials to make beautiful, affordable jewelry for every occasion. I hope that you will love her items as much as I do!

Singing Bird with Pearl Egg Earrings

1.How did you get started out on Etsy?
First of all, I think I need to tell you how I started to make my jewelry. One day, I enrolled in a "how to make earrings" class at Community college by chance. Since that class was availabe on Saturday, and the oil painting class which I orginally wanted to sign up to was full. I never expect that class was going to change my life. I couldn't stop thinking of new designs after that class. I kept making them and finally, I decided to make jewelries for the rest of my life! After that decision, I was looking for the way to sell my jewelry through internet. I didn't know Etsy at that time, but I expected that there might be a kind of mall store for those who are making crafts. And I found Etsy!


When I make jewelries, I am always thinking of the person who is going to wear them and doing my best to help that person look more beautiful and feel more confident. I hope my dedication and efforts show on my jewelries.



2.What materials do you enjoy using the most when creating pieces?
 I use a lot of different colors of gems, such as carnelian, amethyst, peridot,quartz, and, of course, pearls with silver or sterling silver. Pearls are forever and will be one of my favorite gems. Lately, I found a beautiful bronze filigree at beads store and I fall in love. I am going to add oxidized silver, bronze and PMC (Precious Metal Clay) in my jewelry line soon. 

Royal Earrings

3.How do you gather inspiration for your items?
 Looking at gems itself give me alot of inspiraion and imagination. All kinds of different colors, shapes, cuts of gems make me think alot. I got inspired by a lot of things such as flowers, birds and patterns as well.
I often visit local art museum to get inspired by paintings, objects or ancient jewelry. Whenever new design comes up my mind, I draw my idea on my design book to remember them.
And when I found suitable material for that design, I make them and put them on my Etsy store! The most great pleasure to make jewelry is creativity. Creation of jewelry with beautiful materials makes me feel so live, happy and instant gratification. When I am at bead stores, I feel like being at candy stores like a little girl.



4.What is your favourite thing about Etsy?
First, Etsy is so easy to start. I became an Etsy member with no internet business experience. To be a seller on Etsy, there is no limit of your location, age, life style, day job or experience. All you need is a camera, a computer and your talent with a bit of enthusiasm. There are alot of sellers from all around the world like Europe, Asia and Australia with all different back grounds.


Secondly, there is a community forum to get information or help about technical matters, business advice or sometimes even emotional encouragement from other Etsy members. Recently, I joined a lot and the responses were very helpful, honest and quick.

Thirdly, it doesn't cost too much to start and maintain.



 5.What do you see as the next step for your business?
Since I started Etsy store not long ago, many people don't know my "arionjewelry" yet.
My short term goal is people reconize and get familiar with my arionjewelry brand with trust and happy memory so that I can have steady sales everyday.
For my long term goal, I would like to see my arion jewelry on display at one of the famous Department store's jewelry line.

Life is full of surprise like my jewelry class. I hope for the best and I am trying my best every day to make my dream come true and to become a proud mom and wife.

Red Siam Swarovski Crystal Necklace

So please, hop on over and check out ArionJewelry! She has some really wonderful items and I wish her every success!

HandWritten features - http://batwa.etsy.com

As I mentioned in my previous post, I recently posted a thread on the Etsy forums looking for someone to feature on this blog. I got a lot of great responses and it was so hard to pick a seller, but once I saw Batwa's great selection of wallets, checkbook covers and clutches I just knew that I had to feature her!

Checkbook cover in Anna Maria Horner

1.Tell me a bit about yourself and your business
I'm a wife and mom to two amazing kids. I've always loved crafting and I'm an avid DIY'er. I started Batwa April 1st 2009 but I had no idea Etsy would be as addictive as it has become.

2.How did you get started out on Etsy?
I think I heard violins when I first found Etsy! I initially started out making hair accessories, but my love of fabrics and purses took me towards a different direction. I started out with wallets when Batwa was first "launched", but have recently expanded my line to include checkbook covers, cosmetic pouches, and small clutches.

3.What is your inspiration for creating your items?
 I think the inspiration for my items come from the fabrics themselves. Each one is so beautiful; from colors to textures. I have so much fun deciding which fabric I'm going to play with next.

Wallet in black and blue

4.What is your favourite thing about Etsy?
It's so hard to pick one favorite thing about Etsy. If I really had to choose it would have to be the Treasury. I love perusing all the pretty treasuries and I always have a great time looking at the groupings from someone else's perspective.

5.What do you see as the next step for your business?
The next step for me would have to be brand recognition. Realistically though, with a family and a full time job I know that that's going to take some time. But one thing's for sure - I'll be having fun the whole way there!

Cosmetic case in Alexander Henry

Everyone should definitely go and check out all of her wonderful items! The fabrics that she uses are fantastic and the craftmanship is definitely top class. I'm honored that she allowed me to use her shop as my first feature!


Visit Batwa now!

My first sale!

I got my first sale. It was a trade with the lovely lady who designed my banner and item pictures, and in return I wrote a brand new fall-inspired shop announcement for her! You can see it here:

http://dayzeelove.etsy.com

hopefully with some examples of my work more people will show interest and the sales will begin rolling in!

Want to be featured on my blog?

I've only had my blog one week, but I'm already itching to do a feature! I started a thread on Etsy, so all you have to do to have a chance to get featured is to head on over there and let me know! Even if you don't make it this week, I'm keeping a list of the best stores that post with a view to feature them in recent weeks.

Have a look, and if you choose to put your name down good luck!

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6265530

Searching for Jewellery! and birthday shopping

There are so many wonderful things on Etsy, and I'm looking for something for my sister's birthday. Does anyone have any really great jewellery shops that they can recommend? It can be your own or someone else's so long as the stuff is good! I love brass and bronze and vintage looking pieces especially.

I might even buy a couple of pieces for myself, as it's my birthday next week and my boyfriend is letting me shop!

My first Treasury!

After all day waiting with baited breath on the Treasury page on Etsy, I finally managed to snag one of my own! I'm really pleased with the result, and I hope that all those featured are as well! A screenshot for posterity is below, as time with them is fleeting, and also a link directly to it. Please have a look and comment, and enjoy getting ready for fall!

Getting ready for fall!

MySoti

Although most of my work is done on Etsy at the moment, both myself and my partner are involved in many other internet pursuits.

Currently, my boyfriend has not one, but two t-shirts on the MySoti Most Wanted list. MySoti (which stands for "My Stuff On The Internet") is a print-on-demand service which graphic designers and illustrators can use to upload their designs and have them sold as t-shirts. It costs nothing to upload designs and the artists gets a commission amount of their choice for each t-shirt sold. The also provide canvas prints as an alternative to t-shirts. It's a really great opportunity to get your art printed professionally and a chance to get your work more widely noticed.

Everyone should check it out! Below is a selection of t-shirts designed by my partner the top two of which are currently on the front page!

First sale blues

A lot of Etsians that I have spoken to talk about the first sale being the hardest, and I'm finding that to be very true! Every day I log into my Etsy, hoping to find a sale or a convo requesting my services, but all is quiet. I've been posting on the forums a lot and going in the chat, and I have had a lot of positive comments but nobody is biting as yet.

I'd love to hear your stories about how you got your first sale. Or, if you're still waiting, how you're working to get it! I'm hoping to get mine soon, but for now I'll just keep promoting and making friends, because despite the lack of sales I've found that Etsy is a great place to be.

Brand new blog for a brand new shop!

Hello everyone!

my name is missyoshi, otherwise known as Roisi. After starting up a shop on Etsy I thought that it would be a good idea to start up a blog in order to promote my own work, and the work of others that I enjoy! Please, if you come across this then follow me and I will be sure to follow you back! I'm really loving the community on Etsy so far and I'm hoping to make more new friends through here.

First off, a little about myself and what I do. I am a 21 year old writer, games tester and dreamer from Birmingham, UK. A friend of mine had mentioned that a lot of shop owners on Etsy would come to her (a graphic designer) and ask for her to help them out with their product descriptions, biographies and shop announcements. It seemed like there was a niche open for a service to help people improve their shop through creative writing, so here I am!

Right now I only have three listings, and no sales as yet, but I'm hoping to really help etsians out with their stores! If you feel like you don't have the money spare, I'm open to simply giving you advice and pointing you in the right direction.

So for now, tata and I look forward to working with some of you!