Free Ebook: The Arts and Crafts Movement

Here's an interesting read for the crafty minded. Grab your free copy of The Arts and Crafts Movement for your Kindle today! Be sure to check its still free before you order.

Don't have a Kindle? You can download the latest Kindle for PC here (I love mine!)

5 Links Worth Reading

Wow how the week flew by! Lots on the go but in a good way! Here's this week's links worth checking out:

• DIY: Easter Bunny Bottle (SO CUTE!)
• How to Make and Use a Light Box to Improve your Product Photography (as a side note to this article they show some pretty fancy lamps, I just use a normal table lamp with a normal bulb although I know that switching out the lightbulb will give a different effect. If you are on a budget start with just the basics and use whatever lamp you have on hand, you will still see a big difference in your photos)
• Top 40 LOW BUDGET Advertising and Promotion Ideas for Etsy Sellers
• Bridesmaid on a Budget
• Doing a Craft Show for the First Time? What they don't tell you....

Local: Stock up at the Indoor Yard Sale!

Kawartha Lakes This Week is hosting their 12th annual Indoor Yard Sale on March 5th from 9-2 at the Moose Lodge in Lindsay. While I will not be taking my own table this year (I didn't think I could be on my feet that long at this stage of pregnancy) I will be making an appearance to help my mom. This year she will be destashing an assortment of quilting books, patterns, and fabric fat quarters so if you like to sew be sure to stop by her booth for some great deals!!!

If you are looking to clear out some of your own goodies there are still some spaces available. Table are $39.55 (tax incl.) and you can book your table by calling the newspaper at (705) 324-8600.

♥Featured Supplies Seller ~ Ruthkim♥

Our next featured seller is also a mother/daughter duo who sell a variety of craft supplies including "trims, pearls, headbands, tissue papers & combs in all shapes, colors and sizes." Be sure to stop by and visit their Etsy shop!
Ruth is originally from South Korea. She moved to California during the early 80s and became a US citizen in the mid 90s.

They share a bit about their shop:
" My daughter & I are run small businesses. I sell kitchen and household items, along with fashion jewelry in my offline shop and my daughter is trying to get a clothing shop together and the one thing we often need are supplies. We decided to set up an etsy shop with bright colors and unique and funky designs."

Beautiful Blues!

In case you missed last week's Exciting Earth Tone's you can check it out here. I think these beautiful blues would be perfect for any season but I think they are especially hot this upcoming summer season! What other colours do you think are going to be especially popular this year? Any fabulous aqua blues to share? Be sure to leave a comment, I'd love to check them out!

1. Turquoise Snag Free Stitch Markers by Forest Creations

2. Silk Headband - Belt - Choker in Sapphire Blue by KOOP de grace

3. Scrapbook Supplies Handmade Paper Embellishments--Beloved-OOAK by Queen of All Trades

4. LARGE PLEATED BAG IN SPRING BLUE by Handbags by Daphne

The Independent Sales Representative!

Hope that all the mommies out there had a wonderful weekend! Today I wanted to talk about having others sell your handmade goods for you.

I work a couple of days a week waitressing in a popular local restaurant. Some days I groan about having to go there but it is a nice way to get out of the house and interact with people who speak in full sentences (although that can sometimes be debateable too!) The other bonus is that I work with a lot of women who are very supportive of my handmade endeavours. Recently one of my friends at the restaurant asked if she could take a few of my things and sell them for me. I thought sure, why not? She did an AMAZING job and a couple of other girls have asked if they could do the same. Now I admit, this does take A) alot of trust in the girls that I will have doing this since they are taking finished products as opposed to a catalogue but I suppose you could do it either way AND B) it takes a bit of organization to keep track of who has what and who has sold what.

In total I currently have 3 ladies who want to participate and we are going to try this starting in June-December. I will make each of them a "bucket" which is a pretty little box filled with finished products all packaged and priced, business cards and an item of the month. The item of the month they will get to keep for themselves and this item will be order only for their customers. They will get the box on the first of the month and have 2 weeks to sell whatever they can at which time I will collect their boxes, money and any orders for the item of the month (which must be paid in advance). All of the girls have decided to take a credit for 20% of their sales to be used towards merchandise whenever they choose. One of the girls is getting married next spring and I know she wants to save her credit up to have me do the bridal parties jewelry. At the beginning of the following month they will receive a new box, new item of the month AND any order of the previous month's item for them to deliver. Kind of like a portable home party!

I'll report in once our first month is done and let you know how things turned out! Any suggestions? Anyone else have any experience with "sales reps"?

The NEW Treasury East!

If you are an Etsy seller or buyer you may have had the opportunity to check out some fabulous member curated features called treasuries. These are a great chance for Etsy artists to highlight their fav's from others in the community. Recently Etsy launched its new Treasury East with equal opporunity for everyone to create one (although I loved the excitement of trying to nab a treasury opening the old way!)

If you have not had the chance to curate your own treasury they are tons of fun...and completely addicting! Etsy has a great article about How to Make Treasury for those who are justing beginning. Tomorrow, April 27th, the front page of the site will be featuring some of the treasuries from the new Treasury East. I hope that one of mine make it!

Feel free to visit either of my treasuries, comment love is appreciated!

Spectacular Supplies
Lovely Lavenders

Hosting an Open House of your Handmade Goodies

I have written about hosting an open house in your home on Bijoux Designs For You blog but thought it was worth revisiting here. Open houses/home parties are a great way to increase sales, gain valued feedback and get together with friends and family. I will post separately about home parties (held by someone else) later this week. Last year I held a couple of open houses (one in the spring and one in the fall) and both had great turnouts. Here is the posting I wrote about it:

Yesterday was our open house in my home for friends and family. I had several visitors and many of them were first timers and even some friends brought other friends that I didn't know. I set up a small display in my living room using a dropleaf table, some tv trays, my entertainment unit and my patio table (on the other side of the room). It was open house style, with guests dropping by between 1-8.

Invites: I sent out an email to my mailing list, an invite on to my friends on facebook and put up a little poster at work. Just something simple with date, time, directions and a link to our Etsy and Artfire stores so they could browse ahead of time if they wanted to. I offered a door prize and had guests fill out a ballot with their name, email and a box to check if they wanted to be added to our mailing list (everyone checked the box) AND I had one girl book a home party.

I loved doing the party in my own home. I could invite guests on a day/time that worked for me, I didn't have to find a sitter for the baby, when there was no one here I could just work like normal, I set up the night before so I didn't have to rush AND there was no overhead cost or competition! If you have been contemplating having an open house I say go for it! Even with a small inventory it's great practice to work on your display and get the hang of dealing with customers face to face (especially if you have only ever sold online). You can also team up with another artisan in your area to offer a wider range of products and have them invite their friends as well.

Hope this was helpful to others who have been contemplating an open house. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

11th Annual Indoor Yard Sale

The 11th Annual Indoor Yard Sale, sponsored by Kawartha Lakes This Week

When: March 6th from 9-2

Where: The Moose Lodge, Lindsay

I did not attend this show last year, although a couple other artisans that I know did and had great results. I have decided to take a table and will be bringing along a selection of my handmade jewelry but the majority of my booth will consist of supplies including beads, charms, findings, fabric, ribbon and more! So if you are local to the area I would love it if you came by for a visit. Please note that I will not be bringing everything listed in our supply shop so if there is something specific you are after please don't hesitate to let me know and I can bring it to the show for you.

***MENTION THIS BLOG POST AT THE SHOW AND RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF EARRINGS OR BAG OF BEADS***

Make Your Own Beaded Bookmark!

I posted this on our Rouge River Beads blog last year but making bookmarks is so much fun I thought I'd share with you again. They are a fairly easy beginner project and make the perfect gift!

Supplies:

7" of beading wire

two crimp beads
a charm

6-10 beads depending on size

1 jump ring

1 beadable bookmark

flatnose pliers or a crimp tool

To begin, thread the beading wire through the crimp bead and the charm.

Bring the beading wire back through the crimp bead and crimp with a crimping tool, or flatten with pliers.
Add your beads in whatever order you like.



Add another crimp bead. Thread wire over the jump ring then thread the tail of your wire through your crimp bead and a couple of beads.

Crimp or flatten your crimp bead. Trim excess wire.

Open your jump ring and add the bookmark. Most bookmarks have a hole through which you can thread something. I find it easiest to attach everything to a jump ring. It's easier to turn around if you happen to have your charm backwards!


And voila! You now have your own bookmark to enjoy or give as a gift

For supplies you need to make your own beaded bookmark stop by Rouge River Beads.
Happy crafting!

Looking to spruce up your shop?

As I'm sure fellow artisans with online shops can relate, you definately wear more than one hat (artist, accountant, photographer, shipping and receiving, marketing guru and graphic designer).

Being in a partnership with my mother allowed us to take our own strengths and divide the roles. Mom takes care of all the bookwork and I have focused on the marketing and promotion of our shops. One of the things I have enjoyed the most is the creation of banners and ads. It's still a form of creativity only in digital format. I would love the chance to work with some other artists and fuel those creatives juices so I have offered a couple of banners and a project wonderful ad design option on Artfire. Stop on by and please feel free to contact me if you would like to offer me the challenge of designing something for you shop:)