Back to Blogging

It has been a long time since I blogged. Between graduating from law school, taking the bar exam, and moving, I was too busy to get anything done on here. Now I am in the new apartment, working on drafts for shows almost every weekend, and waiting for the bar exam results. It is not the perfect time to blog!!!

Recently I got into making cards more than before. Mainly because I now have a craft room!! I'm so excited to have a room devoted to me. I use it for crafts and for office work! As a result, I was able to spread out my card "crap" and have been making lots and lots of new cards. I currently have about 55 waiting for new homes. Hopefully thin October 15 craft show will be a place where several of these little guys find a new owner.

This was just a quick update to show that I will be trying to blog much more regularly!

Happy crafting!!

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!

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!

The Shop of the Week - SENSORYFELTEDS!

Presenting a Felter I find to be superb in all aspects of life....

SensoryFelteds!!!!

** Check out her etsy shop and read on for a wonderful insight into her world!!!

Here is a fantastic shop I think everyone should check out and get to know! Connie (shop name SensoryFelteds) She creates lovely unique felted bowls, brooches, and more!

Not only does she felt, but all the items have the additional sparkle of beads and bling!

(to the right is Connie's felting area... even the stoarge area looks crisp and bright! There is no way to create the items she does without a smile on her face I am certain of it!

Here's a little bit about Connie:

She began as a dancer, teacher, performer and choreographer. She has been involved in all sorts of crafts like knitting and pottery

Now she wet and needle felts. She has won awards for this wonderful craft!

Connie is a Movement Therapist and works at a school for the deaf here in Maryland. She works with children with disabilities doing yoga and movement activities.

She is a happy grandparent and a beagle!!!

I spent some time in her shop and fell in love with her items and the fact that she has such an interesting life that flows into her crafting... Did you know an item of hers made it into Peacefelt2010? She worked on and "mailed to another felter in New Zealand. This piece was photographed and mentioned in an international felt magazine

Look at how adorable Connie's youngest grandson is! What bright faces the two of them have.

Also check out this cool wall hanging that incorporates her felting... she sent it to me and a seriously considered using the picture as my laptop background.... so beautiful!

Check out some more items in Connie's etsy shop!

Making Your Mark - Signing Crafts

When a artist finishes a work of art, the final touch more often than not is to sign the work. Picasso, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt always signed their completed works. The same should be true today with any artist or crafter. A work is never completed until it is signed.

Signing a craft not only personalizes it for the person who purchases it, but it always allows for extended promoting after the craft is sold and with its new owner. Though today the business card takes on the job of speaking for the artist when he or she is not there to take credit for a work, the business card falls short of always staying with the object itself. A person may lose the card, place it somewhere else, or simply decide not to keep it. Signing the object itself always keeps the artist with the product.

Today, it is important to take pride in one's work. No matter how small or simple you believe your work to be. Taking pride in your work not only makes you more excited with your finished product, it also adds a special feel for the purchaser.

It is also important to date the item you created. You easily provide the purchaser a remembrance of when they purchased from you. If the item becomes a present it also helps to aid the recipient's memory of when they received the present.

All items should be signed. Even if you think your item cannot be signed without ruining it, take a good look at the item, most likely, there is a place perfect for your John Hancock.

How to Sign Difficult Items:

Knitting - Use an embroidered piece of fabric and sew into the inside or corner of the item. Even if it is something like a scarf, a sewn initials piece of fabric is not a nuisance for the purchaser.

Cards - You can either invest in a personal signature stamp or buy "handmade by" stamp for sale in several craft stores, then sign your name. People love to see that the card they bought or received was made by a real person, and was not picked out at Hallmark.

Ornaments or small figurines - Underneath the item, use a small pen to write you initials or shop name.

Miscellaneous items - Try to look at you item to find an area that would either been unseen or out would nor mar the overall look of the item. Use wither your initials, name, or shop name.

In the end, signing your work, is a most important step to take before deciding your item is complete. You provide addition promotion, remain connected with your work, and add importance to this handcrafted item.

People appreciate seeing signatures for the sheer fact that that signature is proof the item they bought was handmade by someone, and not a mass produced item. Instead, they own something completely unique and special.

When you finish your next creation, make sure to place your signature on it. Take pride in your work and attach the mark to pove what you made is one of a kind and special to whoever buys it.