Esty Newsletter and One Year Anniversary

Well two things I would like to post about today!

ONE - It was my one year anniversary on Etsy on February 19, 2011!
TWO - I made it onto the Etsy Newsletter for February 21, 2011!

ANNIVERSARY!

I was so excited to find out that I was going to be on Etsy for an entire year! Not only was I happy that I have been a part of the online selling community for a year, but I was also so excited to discover all I have learned as well as grateful for all the people I met.

In true, one year anniversary form, I would like to thank all the people who helped me get this far!

My mom has helped me in more ways than I can express on this blog! She has provided me with packing supplies, materials, egg dye, eggs, ideas, support, and so much more. She checks out my shop and sometimes knows I made a sale before I do. Withour all the help she has given me, I don't think I would have been able to run my online stores while in law school.

My sister Mary has taken me on numerous shopping escapes for craft ideas and items and talks with me on the phone weekly. She gives me ideas, support, and sadly the desire to go to craft stores daily. I am lucky to have such a creative sister who can help me grow my creativity!

My boyfriend Rob. This guy not only makes earrings for my craft shows, helps me at the shows, and lets me steal his car, he is always there as my support to help me get through tough days. He also is my business manager and talks me out of some bad business ideas. Also, he makes sure I don't sell my work short. Sometimes I feel my art isn't wanted and I try to cut prices to where I wouldn't be making any money, and thanks to Rob I haven't revisited that technique in awhile.

Family - My family in general understand how insanely curious I am to try new things, and I'm so lucky they never tried (too hard) to stunt my desires to break into a new craft. I cross stitch, knit, crochet, etch eggs, make cards, and jewelry. In the end, I love every craft I have ever tried and sometimes wish that it would be my sole profession. Regardless what I end up doing in life, I'm glad I got to try everything crafty I wanted to try so far... quilting... hmmmm I want to try quilting!

Etsy Newsletter

After my anniversary came and went, I as a little bummed I did not make it to 100 sales or 1,000 shop hearts. However, my sadness was gone when I saw on the Etsy Newsletter 1-21-2011 my etched egg! I got views, hearts, and even a few sales! I hope the sales and hearts continue as Easter approaches.

Thanks again for reading and I hope you check out my shop sometime!

Helping the Hectic Team Launch

On Etsy I found that more often than not, people are juggling responsibilities, such as jobs,, school, families, and so much more as well as running an Etsy shop, or even several Etsy shops.

While getting to know several working crafters, I also found out that time management was a major problem in some form for all these hectic working people. From regular listing, making time for crafting, making time for cleaning, as well as promoting were all popular concerns.

I began to wonder what best would help as many working crafters as possible. At first I would share my personal situation and tips I have learned or gained from others. However, I realized so many people have great ideas in some areas while needing help in others. What would best help such busy people gain help in the area they specifically need in order to do well in life as well as Etsy?

A TEAM!!!

I decided to create a team for the busy Estian. Helping the Hectic Team will allow anyone to join who wants to get and give tips about balancing work/school/life with Etsy. You can post your concerns and ask for help in a specific area and people with similar concerns will be able to come together and deal with that area, helping out several people at once.

It will also be a support group! The team is only a day old, but already I feel close to several people because they are dealing with the same problems as myself. In looking at comments, I think others are gaining this relief as well.

PROMOTION!
Also, this is a wonderful avenue to use in order to help one another promote. We will do team BNRs in time, treasuries, promotion days, blog features, and more. However, because the main reason for this team is because people are busy, the requirements will not be as strict as other teams.

The bottom line of this team is an aid for everyone. We can help ourselves through helping others! In addition we can gain views and sales at the same time, while also gaining friends.

I'm very excited about this team and cannot wait to see you there!

Soup Recipe for a Cold Day

Here is a wonderful soup for a cold day! The best cream based soup from Olive Garden. Making it yourself is easy and saves you so much money in the long run. If you have a SlapChop or some version of it, making this soup becomes an even bigger breeze!

Enjoy!

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana

1 lb. Italian Sausage
2 lg. Baking Potatoes, sliced in half, then in 1/4 in. slice
1 lg. onion, chopped
1/2 can Real Bacon Bits
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Cups Kale or Swiss Chard, chopped
2 cans Chicken Broth
1 quart water
1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

Cook sausage in a 300 degree oven, about 1/2 hour, drain on paper
towels and cut into slices.

Place onions, potatoes, chicken broth, water, garlic in pot and cook
on medium heat until potatoes are done. Add sausage, bacon,
salt and pepper to taste and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Turn to low heat, add kale and cream. Heat through and serve.

Successful I Made it Market! Weekend!!!!

I want to thank the I Made it Market! people for allowing me to be a part of their two events on February 11 and February 12!! Both craft shows were a great success and not only did I have fun and make some sales, I met some wonderful crafters from around Pittsburgh.

I Made it! Original on February 11, 2011 at Pittsburgh University had a great crowd of crafters as well as a wonderful student turn out! I myself broke down and bought wonderful coconut bath bombs and vegan citrus lipbalm.

I Made it! Mine on February 12, 2011 was a different event in an open house of a new apartment building complex. I was positioned in an apartment's living room with a silk screen artist as well as a jeweler. Tim (artist) and Florence (Jeweler) were the best room buddies I could have asked for. I hope to feature both on my blog in the near future!

Tonight is my final show for a while. It is for the Love of Friends Pittsburgh and will be held at the Space Gallery in downtown Pittsburgh from &pm to 10pm. I hope to see some familiar faces as well a sell some eggs!

Wish me luck!!

Introducing Yourself On Tape - What to Say in Self Promotion!

Recently I was given the wonderful opportunity to be videotaped talking about my egg craft as well as demonstrating it. It will be on a Pittsburgh craft website as a series of introductions to local crafters in the city.

When starting the process I thought I would have no problem, that I could naturally speak in front of the camera and the process would go by so quickly and smoothly I wouldn't even break a sweat. Boy was I wrong!

Not only would I freeze in front of the camera, I would get down on myself for not saying the right thing or stumbling over my words. I wanted to make the video perfect, but at the same time I didn't think it necessary for me to dwell on the tapping until the day had arrived.

I decided to share some tips I was given by the wonderful women working with me that day in order to help anyone else who ever has to deal with preparing to either speak to a group about their crafts, get videotaped, or even just to talk to people while at a craft show.


TIPS:

1. Make sure you talk about yourself! - When I started talking I assumed all people cared about were my eggs. However, this is very untrue! People want to know about YOU too! They want to know why you make your craft, how long you have been making it, why you do it, how it makes you feel, how you make the time, and anything else you can think of! People really want to be able to put a face to the craft item they may buy from you. To remember you and talk about the artist with others when showing off their purchase makes the fact it was handcrafted all the more special.

2. Talk slowly - I realized I can talk a mile a minute, and it may sound perfect to me, sometimes others are still trying to put together one sentence I said while I'm finishing up the next. I was told to pause after two or three sentences. It forces you to slow down and allows people to really understand everything you are saying.

3. Make eye contact - Whether you are being videotaped or talking with people, eye contact is important. Make sure to take the time to look at who you are talking to. If you are demonstrating a craft, stop for a little bit to explain what you have done. If possible, letting people touch your project also connects them more with what you are making. I realize this can't happen with all crafts, but sometimes even having a reject item for people to handle is a great substitute.

4. Think about it in advance - One of the most important things to do it to think about the interview or just possible conversations that may arise at a show. Think about answers to questions like how long have you been crafting, what do you love best about it, and so on. Make questions you think people will as, or if you are doing an interview, ask what kind of questions you can expect. The more you think about it and practice answering the questions out loud, the better you will be when the time comes!

I hope this helps out. I find that more and more people are shy (like myself) though they are secretly outgoing, and their crafts reveal that. However one of the best promotional tools we have is talking to others ourselves. Word of mouth can only go so far, it's your mouth and what you say that will best aid your sales and image people have of you!