Monday, September 21, 2009

Take a look at these Unique Chess sets!

I found a bunch of very unique chess sets on Etsy that you have to see!

Check them out here on my Handmade Unique blog. Definitely worth the extra click ;D

~deb

Thursday, September 17, 2009

My first craft show ever went Fantastically good!

:D

I am thrilled with the process and outcome of my first craft show ever.

It was the Takoma Park Folk Fest and it was amazing. The show is very well put together and organized. There are a ton of super nice people and volunteers around to help and chat. And it is a very popular show, tons of people. The show itself is only minimally crafters, it's all about community and folk events like Thai Dancing demos and such, great music all day, community programs, lots of food, and more. My son had a great day roaming around.

I also had a great day. Sales were beyond what I expected and everyone was genuinely interested in the crafters and their wares. The crafters themselves were great, too. Lots of variety and all of them top notch with amazing handmade things to sell like gorgeous sculpture, great handbags, pottery, and much more.

If you live in the DC area and didn't get to go this year, definitely try for next! It's worth it!! I'll definitely be there again.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

EART Blog Ring Post: My Shop Goals for the Fall

This week's EART Team blog ring post is about our goals for our Etsy shop for the upcoming season!

Beside's the obvious goal of getting more sales, I think I'm going to try to spend more time in the community area. Posting to the forums, commenting on Storque articles (Etsy's Blog area), and generally just putting myself out there and getting involved with Etsy.

For my business in general, I have a few juried craft shows coming up that I'm working on and I'm going to look into trying to get some of my forged jewelry into some brick and mortar's around the country!

I'm supposing those two things will keep me hopping through Christmas! I just can't forget to gear up for the Holiday season's sales in the meantime! Hopefully it's a good year!!

Read what other Team members' goals are by reading everyone's blog ring post starting here: the EART blog

~ciao for now

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Did you know it's 09-09-09 - Time for a SALE!!!!

Cool! In honor of this unique date I'm holding a sale in my shop.

9 items are only $9. Find 'em and you've got yourself a great deal!!!

AWEshop.etsy.com

Monday, September 7, 2009

Happy Labor Day Everyone!

Wow, fall is coming quickly and I am excited! --Can't wait to start pulling out the Halloween stuff!!!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Blog Ring Post: What We Struggle With Most as Small Business Owners

This week's EART Team blog ring post is very topical for me, because what I'm struggling with most currently is TIME... as in; not enough of it, juggling priorities, and snagging some quality family time.

Running a business takes a lot of time. It seems sometimes that there is so much "stuff" to do for my business to function that I have a hard time finding the time to actually create, which is sad because that's the reason you start a handmade business in the first place - to create!

I'm constantly trying new systems from lists, to notes, to agendas, to staying up too late at night to try to get everything done. Some things work better than others but the thing that usually helps the most is to "get off the computer!" Computers seem to suck up time, hours pass in mere minutes and nights get incredibly short while your on it... which is why this post is fairly short today - I'm getting OFF the computer and creating! ;D

Have a great day everyone, see you tomorrow!!

Take a look at what other Team members struggle with by reading everyone's blog ring post starting here: the EART blog

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Wow, I always forget how hectic mornings are during the school year!

I've been super busy with so many things lately and now that school's started and the mornings and afternoons are busy with school stuff, I'm finding it hard to get anything done. Which is why I've been a little absent from here.

I do have to say, though, that I'm excited for fall (it's actually feeling cool outside - for a few days anyway, likely to get hot again). I love the smell in the air, the changing trees, and Halloween! I LOVE Halloween!!

Well, hope everyone is have a great start of the school year (and if you don't have kids, a great end of summer ;)

I'm still -diligently- posting new items to Handmade Unique. Remember to take a look at all the cool stuff!

~deb.

Wood & Copper! My jewelry display at the Weekend Boutique trunk show.

Display views from the Weekend Boutique! I love designing my display almost as much as I love designing jewelry! What do you think? Do you...