Weekly BEST: All About Cats

This week, I have the pleasure of featuring All About Cats, a handmade shop from Vermont.  The owner, Linda, inherited her creative side from her mother.  You can read about their relationship here on Linda's blog.  Linda's favorite crafts are sewing and painting, and she puts her talents to good use in creating fun and imaginative toys for cats (and trinkets for their owners).  Her use of bright, bold colors and animal patterns make her items truly "pop."  Here are a few of my favorites from the All About Cats Etsy shop:

Dora The Duckling Organic Catnip Bell Cat Toy $6.00

Two Balls Organic Catnip Bell Cat Toys $6.00

Four Whimsical Fabric Cat Magnets $8.00

Four Reversable Cat Print Fabric Coasters $8.00

Linda's toys can be made without catnip if you prefer, so feel free to contact her if you would like a special order made.  Find All About Cats at these locations around the web:

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AllAboutCats

Shop 2: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThisAndThatInVermont

Blog: http://allaboutcatsetsy.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/All-About-Cats/178751288826475?v=wall


Which item from All About Cats would you give to the cat lover in your life?  Be sure to let us know in the comments!


Until next time,
Elle


I'm a part of an Etsy team called Boosting Etsy Shops Team or BEST. The purpose of the group is to provide promotion for each team member through our existing social networking accounts. Each week I'll be doing a blog feature about a different team member.

Weekly BEST: Sandyvern

This week I'm featuring Sandy's Handmade Soaps & Things (sandyvern on Etsy), a unique shop from Stamford, CT.  Sandy describes herself as a "self-taught crafter" and has developed skills in soap making, knitting, and jewelry making.  While I'm only featuring her soaps here, be sure to check out the link section at the bottom of the post to find some of her knitting and jewelry (the monsters are too cute to miss!).

Sandy has been making soaps for three years through both the cold and "melt and pour" processes.  Her ingredients include oils, butters, lye, goat milk, oatmeal, and honey.  Interestingly, a batch of soap can take up to six weeks to perfect.  Be sure to check out her Etsy profile here for more information about her creative process.

Here are a few of the scrumptious soaps for sale at Sandy's Handmade Soaps & Things:

Toasted Coconut Bar $5.95

Soap Popsicles $4.95

Brown Sugar Scrub Soap $4.95 

Blueberry Crunch Soap $5.95

Sandy has a variety of other offerings that I did not have room to share with you here, so be sure to check out both Sandy's Handmade Soaps & More and her other shops.  Find Sandyvern at these places around the web:

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sandyvern
Shop 2: http://www.etsy.com/shop/monsterlovemadness
Shop 3: http://www.etsy.com/shop/simplysandysthings
Blog: http://theadventuresofsandyvern.blogspot.com

Don't forget to come back here and let us know in the comments which item(s) you like best!

Until next time,
Elle

I'm a part of an Etsy team called Boosting Etsy Shops Team or BEST. The purpose of the group is to provide promotion for each team member through our existing social networking accounts. Each week I'll be doing a blog feature about a different team member.

Weekly Treasures: Amber Sunsets In Your Life

Continuing this week's "sunshine" theme, I'm pleased to share with you a treasury by the talented Freedom32 on Etsy:



My beaded peace sign bookmark made it into this beautiful color-themed treasury:

Beaded Gold Bookmark $15.00

Be sure to check out Freedom32's original paintings and other items, as well as the shops featured in her treasury.  Feel free to leave a comment both here and on the treasury to let us know what you think!

Until next time,
Elle

Weekly BEST: You Are My Sunshine

Speaking of sunshine, this week I have the privilege of featuring a shop that always brightens my day!  You Are  My Sunshine is run by Nina, a jewelry artisan and vintage treasure seeker from the "Sunshine State" (aka Florida).  The name of her shop has a touching origin, which you can read about on her profile.  While Nina does have a separate vintage shop, You Are My Sunshine has a sophisticated vintage feel of it's own.  Natural themes and bright, bold colors abound in her many accessories and statement pieces.  Here are a few pieces I'd love to own:

Recycled Vintage Bobby Pin Set $10.00

 

Classic Oval Rescued Vintage Earring Ring $7.00

 

Necklace, Like a Monet Painting $50.00

Woodland Fabric Flower Bracelet $25.00

Nina has the entrepreneurial spirit in her blood and her shops are evidence of both her skill as an artist and as a business owner.  I encourage you to sit back and enjoy flipping through the many pages of her items, as there's no telling what treasure might grab you!  Find Nina and You Are My Sunshine at these places around the web:

Shop 1: youaremysunshine.etsy.com
Shop 2: mysunshinevintage.etsy.com
Blog: ninas-day.blogspot.com
Flickr: youaremysunshine-etsy.flickr.com
Facebook: youaremysunshine.facebook.com
Twitter: twitter.com/mysunshine4etsy

So what's your favorite thing from or about You Are My Sunshine?  Let us know in the comments!

Until next time,
Elle

I'm a part of an Etsy team called Boosting Etsy Shops Team or BEST. The purpose of the group is to provide promotion for each team member through our existing social networking accounts. Each week I'll be doing a blog feature about a different team member.

Weekly Treasures: Orange You Wanting a Bit of Sunshine?

I hope the weather where you are is as gorgeous and warm as it is here.  I'm so glad that all of February wasn't a snowy/rainy drag!  Danaemau brought some of that sunshine to Etsy last week with a beautiful orange treasury:



This fabulous buyer was kind enough to include one of my own items in her gallery - my deep orange ladybug earrings:

 

Wood and Crystal Earrings $12.00 

For more of Danaemau's treasury lists, be sure to visit her profile (linked above).  Feel free to leave a comment here or on the treasury to let us know what you think of the collection!

Until next time,

Elle

Weekly BEST: Alexander's Designs

This week I'm introducing you to not one, but two talented artisans from Missouri.  Alexander's Designs is a joint venture run by a husband and wife team, Jenny and Skip.  Both have been making jewelry for several years and they each have developed rather sophisticated talents, including fused glass techniques and metalsmithing.  The end result is a collection of unique, handcrafted wearable art pieces blending glass, semi-precious stones, crystals, and precious metals.  Here are a few of my favorites from this shop:

Chessboard Sterling Silver Ring $58.50

Dichroic Ugly Glass Pendant $11.25 


Fused Glass Striped Pendant $10.80

Blue Bubbles Fused Glass Pendant $13.50

Although it should be obvious that the prices I post in my blog features are subject to change, I do want to point out that Alexander's Designs is having a sale right now.  These discounts are only good until 2/25/11, so be sure to check out the shop now to get what you want!

Find Alexander's Designs at these places around the web:

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/alexandersdesigns
Shop 2: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ClassicallySimple --> Fabulous items on sale through tomorrow 2/23!
Shop 3: http://beaderydestash.etsy.com

Blog: http://alexandersdesigns.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alexanders-Designs/117051398358147

After you're done shopping, be sure to come back and tell us which items are your favorites and/or which ones you purchased!

Until next time,
Elle

I'm a part of an Etsy team called Boosting Etsy Shops Team or BEST. The purpose of the group is to provide promotion for each team member through our existing social networking accounts. Each week I'll be doing a blog feature about a different team member.

Weekly BEST: Too Much of a Good Thing

Long time readers of the blog may remember this shop from an earlier feature in September 2010.  Too Much of a Good Thing has really grown since then and I think you'll fall in love with the new items!  For those of you who don't know, Leyla (the artist) has a variety of crafty talents ranging from wearable art to paper crafts to amigurumi.  When I first introduced her I wanted to show off her beautiful cards, but this time I'd like to showcase some of her unique and colorful accessories for you:

 

Red Zipper Flower Brooch $9.00

Tan Neutral Zipper Flower Headband $12.50

Chocolate Brown Slouchy Beanie Hat $18.50

Sage Green Ear Flap Beanie $19.50

For more crocheted goodies, zipper flowers (how cool are those!?), and many other handmade items, make sure to mosey on over to Leyla's Etsy shop and browse around!  Find Too Much of a Good Thing at these places around the web:

Shop: TooMuchOfAGoodThing.etsy.com

Blog: leylafolsom.blogspot.com

Also if you're local to Salem, Oregon or just happen to be out that way, check out this link to find out where you can purchase Leyla's work in local shops.

What is your favorite item from Too Much of a Good Thing?  Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,

Elle

I'm a part of an Etsy team called Boosting Etsy Shops Team or BEST. The purpose of the group is to provide promotion for each team member through our existing social networking accounts. Each week I'll be doing a blog feature about a different team member.

Weekly Treasures: Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day from Elle's Beads!  Although I do not have any personal attachment to this holiday, I know there are many who enjoy it and I wish those people a romantic and meaningful celebration.  And....umm....Happy Monday to the rest of you!

(Oh, lighten up - I hate Mondays too!).

Here's a look at the Valentine's Day treasuries I've posted over the last month in case you missed them:




I hope you'll have fun browsing though the shops.  Go easy on the wine and have a great night! :)

Until next time,
Elle

Weekly Treasures: Be My {Foodie} Valentine

This is the last of the 4-part treasury series celebrating the creative ways Etsians express love.  This week's theme is food love and is designed with the foodie (food and/or wine aficionado) in mind:



I hope you enjoy browsing through these artists' shops! Please feel free to comment here or on the treasury and let me know what you think!

Until next time,
Elle

EB Friday Hotlist: Why People Should Buy From You and Not a Big Box Store

This week I want to talk about the indie movement in general.  Regardless of whether or not you sell online or at craft fairs or both, regardless of whether this is a hobby for you or a business or both, you are selling your items so that people will buy them from you.  Your motivation may be different from the next person, but the basic goal is still the same - sales.

Stories by vasta on Flickr
Used under Creative Commons
license

How do you get sales?  At the most basic level, getting sales requires 1) having a product and 2) putting it out for sale.  To make a sale, you also have to set a price for the product and pricing your work can be a somewhat contentious issue among indie sellers.  Some businesspeople lament the hobbyists who can charge less for their work because profit is not their motivation.  Some hobbyists lament that their work is seen by some as inferior because it is frequently (and incorrectly) assumed that price is directly correlated with quality.  No matter where your items fall on the pricing continuum, and no matter what criticism you receive (i.e. your prices are cheap so you must have Walmart quality items or why buy from you when I can get the same thing 75% off at Walmart) there is still a huge difference between your crafts and the similar items people buy at Walmart.

So why should someone buy a (insert name of craft here) from you as opposed to Walmart?  I can get cheap, trendy jewelry there for a fraction of the price of some I see on Etsy.  I can buy crocheted cozies, dyed scarves, and trendy shoes all in the same place without paying shipping or walking around a dusty farmer's market in the heat/cold/rain.  What makes the handmade or vintage items you sell better than the mass-produced beauties in stores like Walmart?

Stories by normalityrelief on Flickr
Used under Creative Commons license

Only you can answer that question specifically.  Maybe you've spent weeks combing over thrift store shelves and antique malls to find those perfect dresses and brooches and silk ties for your vintage shop.  Maybe you fire up the kiln every other night to finish up the pottery you take to the local market each week.  Perhaps the beads you use in your jewelry came from your grandmother, who is the one who taught you how to bead 40 years ago.  Everyone's special selling point will be different, but the point is that every indie shop, handmade or vintage, has a story behind it.  Telling this story in a compelling way is what will draw people to your shop instead of the big box retailers.

This week's suggested reading list will give you some ideas on how to figure out what your story is and how to turn that story into selling points to present to potential buyers.



Suggested Reading:

Buy Handmade: Why Buy Handmade? - Article with some of the reasons why people are choosing to buy handmade.  Check out the list of links for ideas that may help you with developing your story and deciding why your indie shop is unique.

Etsy Blog: How to Sell Your Story with Johnny B. Truant - Article with great ideas on how to incorporate your story into your item listings to get people more interested in buying your items.

Etsy Community: Etsy Shop Makeover Challenge: Storytelling - Step-by-step article that helps you define your story, develop it, and turn it into a compelling artisan/shop profile, from the talented storyteller whose YouTube video I've embedded above.

Until next time,
Elle

P.S. My six word story is: Strength is the will to overcome.  What's yours?  Leave it in the comments after checking out Suggested Reading article #3.

Weekly BEST: MysticWynd

"An awareness of peace and love rose anew, 

As the spirit found truth and the Mystic Wynd blew..." 

This week I have the pleasure of introducing you to Mystic Wynd, the shop owned and operated by BESTeam leader Karen.  Karen hails from Scottsdale, Arizona and started expressing her creativity at a young age while living with her family in Chicago.  Mystic Wynd is primarily a jewelry shop, though you will find little trinkets and handmade accessories sprinkled throughout the various sections.  Although she features a very diverse range of styles, her use of categories makes it easy to find what you want.  There really is something for everyone here, the reasons for which you can find in Karen's Etsy profile.  As such, I've tried to pick items from different style categories to share with you:

Peridot Swarvoski Crystal Chandelier Drop Earrings $14.50


Rose Necklace in Champagne Blush $31.95


Green Apple Turquoise with Pearl Necklace $44.95


Magenta Pink Heart Charm Necklace $12.95

You can find Mystic Wynd at these places around the web:

Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mysticwynd

Shop 2: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MWElegance

Shop 3: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheCraftersCabinet

Blog: http://mysticwynd.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/mysticwynd

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mysticwynd

Be sure to check out the shop and come back here after browsing to let us know which jewelry style is your favorite!

Until next time,

Elle

I'm a part of an Etsy team called Boosting Etsy Shops Team or BEST. The purpose of the group is to provide promotion for each team member through our existing social networking accounts. Each week I'll be doing a blog feature about a different team member.

Weekly Treasures: Helloooo Yellooooww

My yellow beaded chunky ring is making waves again in a lovely treasury featuring members of the Queer Etsy Street Team.  Check out the entire treasury below or click here:



Be sure to check out all of the shops, including the curator's (AllThatIAm).  She makes beautiful wire and gemstone jewelry.  Here's one of my favorite pieces from her shop:

Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant $395.00

Feel free to leave a comment here or on the treasury to let us know what you think of the selection!

Until next time,

Elle

Weekly Treasures: Be My {Geeky} Valentine

The third, in what I have now decided will be a 4-part treasury series, is yet another unconventional collection of items pulled from Etsy search.  This week's theme is geekery and has some great gift ideas for those who have nerdy chick or geeky guy to buy for this V-day:



I hope you enjoy browsing through this collection and the artists' shops.  Please feel free to leave a comment here or on the treasury to let me know what you think!

Until next time,
Elle

Weekly BEST: WriteOwl

This week I have the distinct pleasure of introducing you to Write Owl Designs (WriteOwl) from Portland, Oregon.  The multi-talented shop owner, Jean, got her start in journal making at the age of eight.  You can read about her source of inspiration here on her Etsy profile.  Write Owl journals are perfect for doodling in, crafting poetry, and so much more.  Jean encourages those who buy her items to use them as platforms for creating their own art.

Writing has always been therapeutic for me, but most of the journals I've had over the years have been spiral composition notebooks.  If I could go back and replace those drab, boring notebooks with handmade works of art, these are the ones I couldn't do with out:

Pink and Brown Cupcake Hardback Journal $26.00

Romantic Vintage Postcard Hardback Journal $26.00

In addition to bookmaking, Jean also has a knack for making great desk accessories to go along with the journals, namely hand-painted pottery.  Here are a couple of my favorite pieces:

Peach Lace Ceramic Pencil Cup $15.00

Set of 2 Teal and Brown Lace Coasters $10.00

Keep in mind that Write Owl Designs also offers custom orders for those who don't find the perfect item already sitting in the shop.  Find Write Owl around the web at these locations:

Twitter: twitter.com/writeowldesigns
Facebook: facebook.com/writeowldesigns
Blog: writeowldesigns.blogspot.com
Livejournal: writeowldesigns.livejournal.com 

Make sure to check out the shop and, as always, come back here and let us know what items you like best!


Until next time,
Elle


I'm a part of an Etsy team called Boosting Etsy Shops Team or BEST. The purpose of the group is to provide promotion for each team member through our existing social networking accounts. Each week I'll be doing a blog feature about a different team member.

Weekly Treasures: Be My {Gothic} Valentine

This week my Valentine's Day-themed treasury is a bit darker, but in a good way.  While I'm not a part of the Gothic subculture, I do find some of the Goth-themed fine art and handmade items on Etsy to be quite beautiful and filled with complexity.  I decided to feature some of these items in a small 12-item treasury I put together using Etsy search:

'Be My {Gothic} Valentine' by ellesbeads

Beautiful collection of Gothic valentines and romantic items pulled from Etsy search

Original Art Card '... oddballartco $25.00	Dark Victorian Valentin... SpiritedWoodla... $9.00	Blood Red Rose on Gothi... robinhoodcoutu... $28.00
Tree of Hearts piasayshi $6.50	Desdemona Necklace DesignTheory $85.00	LOVE/HATE 8x10 art prin... ArtByLupeFlore... $12.99
5 Gothic Black Floral H... DawnToDuskGift... $22.50	The dark night - black... floraljeweller... $18.00	Valentines Large Gift S... rockinpapernsc... $2.50
Only Have Eyes - Goth G... GingerDead $2.75	Black Leather Love Cuff... LoveAtFirstBlu... $75.00	Rorschach Romance Silk ... LunaLacunaAtel... $25.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

I hope you enjoy browsing through these artists' shops!  Please feel free to comment here or on the treasury and let me know what you think!