ohhhh getting ready again!

I am getting excited for CRAFT ATTACK 2008 :) I hope it doesn't rain... it is about two weeks away from the big day.

I love this from Etsy Seller: Stargazer29609

This piece is called the Harvest Choker. It was made beautifully by an Etsy Seller (and fellow FDL Teammate of mine) Stargazer29609. I think it is PERFECT for Fall. I have so much respect for people who have the patience to work with seed beads. This piece however is not in her store - it is in the Fashion, Design, and Lifestyle team store on etsy.com and is FOR SALE. I suggest that if you can purchase this one of a kind piece, you do. If I wasn't getting my car serviced and waiting for my pay check, it might be different. ;)

Better than expected!

So I had my little booth at BazaarSpark this weekend and let me say - considering the economy and gas prices - I still made a profit (go me!). The whole event was very cool - lots of people came out and there was a very good variety of vendors and I was pretty impressed with the whole set up. There was live music, events for kids, crafts, food, and culture. I wish there were events every 2-3 months like this in every small city. Life would be different. This weekend was a chance for the community to realize that there is so much art culture in Raleigh and that they can involve themselves with local artists with out feeling inhibited. To me, that is so beyond wonderful.

For me personally, I can say it wasn't the best show I have been to - but it wasn't the worst either. I made a profit, and I got some people to sign up for my mailing list, and I met some awesome people who understood that my jewelry was a very high quality, not mass produced, and truly understood that each piece I make is one of a kind, which really helped drive the sale home for them. Some ladies tried on a necklace and were like "No one else will have this....I will get this one!" I have said in some other posts, but the feeling of knowning that a person is so happy and fulfilled with their purchase FROM me, is an undescribable feeling. As an artist I think sometimes you wonder if you are being appreciated, and on days like today you feel it completely. And thankfully - other artists were feeling this too (I hope, bc they were making sales too!).

I am doing another show in a few weeks and I hope that I get the same response. I think I came into this even with little to no expectations - this is mainly because I came into a city which I had NEVER been to before and got compliments that made me feel good. Even though right now, I am a lady with cramps (sorry fellas) that could kill - I threw on a smile, and unforunately not a windbreaker - it was so cold today. Like I didn't get the memo and thankfully brought a sweater and jeans - and chose not to wear my sundresses. hahha. I am excited for the next show!

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the weekend!!!

Getting Ready!

This weekend will be my first show since the spring. I am very excited to go to a new place and set up shop for a full day. I hope that people come out and support what others love to do :)

This week will be busy, getting everything together, making sure I have everything I need - especially change! I definitely have a ton of business cards, bags, and artist info cards. And I certainly have a lot of inventory... I hope it does well. I want to at least break even.

I hope yall have a great week!

Right on Track

I feel soo much better now that I have re-organized my earring racks for my upcoming shows! I even did inventory and had some time today to make 9 more pairs of earrings to fill up the missing slots! I think this will be so much easier because even though I used an Excel document prior, I have now organized them by price and rack and row - so each earring has its place - this way I can take inventory while selling, and determine if people have stolen from me (lets hope I don't have to take it that far though!). I think will do this again with my necklaces, rings, and bracelets - so we will all be on the same level and I can check my inventory on these items before I get to the show. I will also know how much I am valuing my inventory and set some selling goals for myself.

It felt good to make a few more pairs of earrings, it has been a little while since I have really sat down to create.

As for the farmer's market - I am still getting to working on that. It's like I think about it when I figure the office is closed, like when I am cooking dinner or something and then I think DAMMIT! I'll get to that tomorrow. Hopefully I will remember one time to do this during the day.

I sold some items today to my friend, that also felt good. She picked out a necklace and earrings for her friend. She has good taste ;)

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

Fashion, Design & LIfestyle Team and KIVA

The Fashion, Design and Lifestyle Team launched a new project called Sharing Hearts and Hands (Shh). They are partnering with Kiva to loan a portion of sales proceeds from their shops to small businesses through Kiva. What they make with their hands, they give with their hearts. Items are tagged as "fdlkiva". Every time $25 is collected, the Team will lend to another business. Check the FDL Team blog for more information.

I am so happy to be a part of this. If you go to the KIVA website, you can see where your money is going - which in my own opinion, really makes this organization awesome.

All of the items in the SALE section of my etsy store will have 10% of their sale go towards this great cause - I lowered some prices so now is a FABULOUS time to check out the sale items:)

BazaarSpark September 20, 2008

SUPER NEWS: I just found out I got into the BazaarSpark in Raleigh next weekend! I am very excited about doing a show - I have not done an official show since the Spring and am ready to get back into that. BazaarSpark is a really cool idea trying to get the arts into the local community and getting people out of enclosed malls. I love the idea :) You can check out their website and other events that will be going on next weekend @ http://www.sparkcon.com

Now I really need to get everything organized... this will be good!

Silent Auction!

There is a big fundraiser in my hometown each fall that benefits the local schools arts programs. This year is the first year I will be donating anything for the event. I am excited and nervous. I hope that the piece does well! I will let yall know hows it goes :) Cross your fingers!!! I sent in a bunch of business cards and artist information cards too so that they can put it next to my necklace.

My Treasury!

I just wanted yall to see my treasury incase you didn't click the link! So here it is....

Treasury Time!!!

I not only snagged a treasury on etsy this morning, but I am also featured in two other treasuries!!! I am pumped up right now please take a moment and check them out :) The amount of clicks (clicking each of the 12 items) not only helps people's views go up, but also makes the treasuries more popular - so the more clicks the better!

Here is mine: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=5663


the treasuries I am featured in
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=5649

and

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=5625


woohoo!

Fashion Design and Lifestyles Team (FDL Team) VIDEO

So my FDL team member Melisa thought it would be a very awesome idea to make a video to post on YouTube featuring some of our team members. I think the video looks great and really showcases what we can do individually and as a team.

Plus I like the songs too :)

Nurse Mouse

Nurse Mouse
Originally uploaded by The House of Mouse

If you haven't heard of The House of Mouse, you are missing out on some of the cutest little mice you have ever seen! I recently convo-ed Anna (the artist) to see if she had a Nurse Mouse. Luckily she did!

My grandmother was a nurse at Bellevue in NYC for a long time and has seen a lot of crazy intense things. She was gracious enough to take me to New York this spring so that she could go to her 60th Nursing School Reunion. My grandma is amazing and has always been there for me. Even though she hasn't been a nurse for a very long time, she still acts like one - I guess that's something you don't ever stop doing as a profession. She recently had a fall and cracked her knee cap and while I was home this weekend I was able to give her this mouse. She loved it! I am so glad she does :) I think it is especially relevant to her because during her time as a nurse, her uniforms actually resembled this!

I want to thank Anna for helping me give something so meaningful to my grandma. You are awesome ANNA!

Yall should check out her store on etsy too - you will not be disappointed! http://TheHouseOfMouse.etsy.com

September Goals

This month I would like to go a little more smoothly than last month. I am moved in completely and the studio is set up! I have some goals for this month that are a little bit more focused and more attainable than last months.

• organize earring racks by price
• create new inventory list of all items
• continue marketing etsy store
  
• keep up with the three teams I now represent
• work on getting a table @ the local farmer's market on saturdays
• Find a few more local shows if farmer's market turns out to be a bust
• have fun!
• I would like to have at least 3 online sales

I think these are pretty attainable! I hope I can accomplish what I have set up for myself.

Have an awesome week!