Day of the Dead & Halloween 2012

Display

As a proud member of the Etsy Austin street team, I have been working hard to prepare for our festivities during South by Southwest (SXSW), one of the most popular weeks in the capital city-- and a must-do event for anyone interested in independent films or up-and-coming bands. With so many people converging in our beautiful city, our team will have a tent set up at Hill Country Weavers on South Congress Avenue. We'll be selling the fruits of our artistic endeavors, demonstrating craft techniques, and giving out promotional items from noon to 7 pm on Saturday, March 14; Sunday, March 15; Friday, March 20; and Saturday, March 21. With lots of our Etsy Austin team members participating in these festivities, and the need to fit many of us in the small space of your typical vendor tent, we each took on the challenge of designing our product displays to fit on the footprint of an 11" by 17" piece of paper.

To show off my jewelry, I had to visualize my display with some height. I sketched out my idea noting the dimensions and showed my husband. After a trip to the nearby home improvement store for some boards, screws, spray paint, and hooks, he took the task to heart and turned my sketch into a budget-friendly, space-constrained display for my handmade wares. While this setup maximizes height, the boards open up to a width of 11 inches and they are 17 inches across, neatly fitting within the required table space. The hooks can be arranged and re-arranged to suit the products I have left after each day's sales. I've included some of my best-selling jewelry on the display--each tagged on a business card--including my "Yarnballs" earrings, bright orange "Tangelo" earrings, and lots of mini pottery shard necklaces.

If you're in Austin either of these weekends in March, I hope you'll stop by our tent at Hill Country Weavers to say hello, see our goodies in person, do a little shopping with us, and maybe even watch one of our members give a craft demonstration. If you can't make it, please check out our goodies at http://www.EtsyAustin.com or shop online with me at http://polishedtwo.etsy.com for pottery shard jewelry and whimsical accessory designs.

Tees

As a proud member of the Etsy Austin street team, I am excited to tease you with some information about our activities during South by Southwest (SXSW), the highly anticipated event of the year in the heart of Texas. Members of the team have been working our tails off to recycle our friends' cast-off T-shirts into messenger bags that we're screenprinting and stuffing full of awesome crafty goodies including earrings, brooches, postcards, soaps and lots of other samples of the wares we artfully design and sell at http://www.etsyaustin.com/.

Not only will we be handing out over 300 of these handcrafted messenger bags-- we will also have a booth set up at Hill Country Weavers on South Congress Avenue where we'll demonstrate some of our favorite crafts, such as finger-knitting a pretty scarf (no needles!). We'll also be selling some of the products you see in our online shops. Our booth will be set up from noon to 7 pm on Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15 and we'll be back out on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, 2009. Look for us in our cool blue Etsy Austin T-shirts that have been screenprinted with our team logo. The shirts make a great souvenir and can be purchased for $18 at our booth. *hint, hint*

While you're out and about enjoying all of the parties, please come by to say hello, do a little shopping, and show the love for the hard-working, creative, and friendly Etsy Austin team members.

Thanks

One of the great things about the Etsy experience is the handmade touch. Everything handmade is made with a bit of love--and that makes your buying experience extra special. I keep this in mind when I pack up my jewelry to send it off to my customers. Before I seal their package shut, I personally thank each one of them. Each purchase means so much to me, and I want my buyers to know that.

I am so excited to extend the handmade experience by now using handmade thank you cards with my orders. I'm using these beautiful Asian-inspired mini cards by Jennifer of http://lillypea.etsy.com. She lovingly handstamped these images on premium papers. I have always loved paper and these feel so wonderful to write on--making the thank you process a real pleasure to complete each mailer. I also love them because the orange and brown combination is a perfect match with the colors in my business cards.

You can find the "Tracy" mini cards, blank greeting cards, and adorable sets to use for any occasion at http://lillypea.etsy.com.

Yarnballs

Tonight I was setting up for the Etsy Austin meeting when I received a link to a customer photo. My beautiful customer Karly of www.shesewslovely.ca is modeling her new pair of Yarnballs earrings purchased from my etsy shop. Karley is a 25 year old Canadian who is an avid crafter, knitter, scrapbooker, and quilter. She sews the cutest handmade nursery wall hangings, felt owl brooches, felt baby books, and coffee sleeves.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14169598

Tangle

I started making a necklace called "Tangle" to coordinate with my best-selling "Yarnballs" earrings. I was so excited to see my necklace modeled beautifully on Jennifer Tanner McGuire, one of my first "Tangle" buyers and a fellow Austinite! The necklace is an 18-inch-long sparkly ball chain with a messy ball of wire.

Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Tanner McGuire. Read her blog at http://www.mamasingstheblues.blogspot.com/

Valentine

This is just a little note to spread the love and wish you a Happy Valentine's Day! I have been inspired to make some love-themed jewelry, posting my latest creations in my Etsy shop. If you need a little something for a great gift, be sure to visit http://polishedtwo.etsy.com to see my latest creations, like these red and white coin pearl earrings called "Valentine."

Treasury

I have had the great fortune of being included in some gorgeous Etsy treasuries over the past week. Treasuries are a beautiful showcase of the amazing array of talent found while shopping on Etsy and I am always excited to be included with the other artists chosen for these aesthetic masterpieces. Sometimes I find myself going to Etsy just to see what treasury they have featured on the front page-- and you can do this often because they change nearly every 20 minutes!

The treasury shown below features green and purple goodies and is a showcase of Austin talent. Each item above was made by a member of the Etsy Austin street team.

This beautiful treasury of blue and yellow goodness includes "Flourish"--one of my one-of-a-kind Ming Dynasty pottery shard necklaces.

My "Yarnballs" earrings were included in this selection of shimmering handmade goods. It was a real treat to be included along with all of these artists.

This red and gray selection of beauties made it to Etsy's front page. That was an exciting moment for me! Treasuries are just one reason that the Etsy community has been a great home for my jewelry for the past two years.

Valentine

There are a lot of amazing artists in Austin-- and many of them are Etsy sellers! As you consider what to get your loved ones for Valentine's Day, be sure to check out some of the crafty creations made by Austinites like these.

Networking

In addition to adding new items daily to my etsy shop to realize an increase in sales, I've also begun some networking efforts. One of these efforts was joining a Yahoo group called Unique Women in Business. Together, we're a group of women each with our own business. We are women who want to sell more. The members have businesses ranging from handmade goods (several with etsy shops), to direct sales (Avon, Tupperware, Pink Papaya), and boutiques. Members of the group support each other by purchasing products from each other. We can send emails about sales, specials, shipping deals, freebies, and samples. The only requirements are that new members make their first purchase from the member who referred them and that each member makes at least one purchase per month from another member--no minimum purchase amount. I joined in mid-June, became official by buying from the group's founder, and had at least four members (maybe more!) purchase jewelry from my etsy shop. I am definitely looking forward to the coming months as more new members join. Drop me an email or comment here if you'd like to join our supportive group of shoppers. If you join directly through our Yahoo groups website, please let them know that you were referred by POLISHED. And, as far as first purchases go, I have lots of items that are $10 or under--including shipping.

Apples

I love making fruit-inspired jewelry. I'm not sure why, but maybe because they're a combination of nature and food...and I always crave their sweet flavors. I've already made earrings fashioned to look like oranges, berries, and pears. I've been wanting to make some apples for months, but I can never find the right beads. Today I gave up on traditional red and decided to use some beautiful honey toned faceted glass. Voila! Golden Delicious Apples. Tasty, don't you think? These earrings are the newest addition to my etsy shop of handmade accessories. http://polishedtwo.etsy.com

Treasuries

What a great day! One of my creations was included in two etsy treasuries in one day. YAY!

Both curators chose my "Bartletts" earrings that are fashioned to look like market-fresh pears in a delicious yellow-green.

CRAFTzine

My favorite crafty magazine is Craft: -- its so meaty and chock full of modern, fun projects, often with an eco conscious. Many of the crafts recycle common household items to create something newly useful or just plain cool. I was excited to find out that reps from the magazine would be in Austin for a party at The Work*Shop on Sunday, June 1. Better yet... an on-site PROJECT!

In addition to many wonderful hosts and special guests (Jenny Hart of Sublime Stiching, DIY personality and knitting rock star Vickie Howell, and vinyl accessories designer Jenifer Nakatsu Arntson of Arntson Designs, among others), the party involved delicious treats, tons of doorprizes, and a chance to express some creativity amongst fellow crafters with the sample project: button bracelets.

To make this project, we covered a wrist-size piece of elastic with the colorful buttons of our choice. Our project tables were spread with supplies, including thousands of buttons--one of my very favorite crafting supplies! I settled on a vintage-styled color scheme of aqua and orange, the same colors in my mid-century modern style home. After making my bracelet I considered the fact that I don't really have much in my wardrobe to match this cute new piece of jewelry... all the more reason to go SHOPPING!

Many thanks to Rachel Jane Hobson of Average Jane Crafter for a great time and a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends.

Shards

When I first started making jewelry about 10 years ago, it was all because I'd lusted after some gorgeous necklaces in an exclusive boutique. They were beautiful combinations of semiprecious stones with painted floral pendants. I wanted them--every last one of them. They were like nothing I'd ever seen before at department stores or other boutiques I'd shopped in. The problem was that they were waaaay out of my price range. As someone who's been "crafty" ever since I can remember, I left the boutique thinking "I can make them!"

I researched the supplies until I found a source and took lessons in jewelry making from a friend. I read every jewelry magazine I could get my hands on. I spent a lot of free time in the jewelry aisles of craft stores and browing the selections at my local bead shops. Since that day, I have spent the past decade amassing thousands of beads, learning new jewelry-making techniques, and experimenting with color, mixed metals, and styles of the past and present...but I always come back to the pottery shards.

Birds

It all started with birdy necklaces--the ones with two birds building a nest together on a pewter tree branch. Then I had to make bird earrings--flying swallows with Czech glass flowers to give them a bright shot of color. I have now moved into bird hair accessories. Cheep! Cheep!

I made these sweet "tweets" as bobby pins that can be pushed into a messy ponytail, especially when you need a funky party accessory for a night out. You can also use them to pull your bangs over to the side (my personal favorite) or push a cowlick behind your ear. When you don't want to adorn your 'do with these feathered friends, they can also be perched on the page you've just finished as a sweet bookmark--or perched on your collar as an alternative to a brooch.

Still

I am still on the earrings kick. Still have dozens of ideas to turn into real, wearable earrings. Arrrgh! I wish I did not need to sleep.

More

I'm still making earrings. Whooooooooooooooeee... Here are the orange ones I've been making (while consuming lots of Clementine Cuties, my favorite oranges).

Earrings

I've been on an "earrings" kick lately, busting out new earrings every evening, taking photos, and loading them onto my etsy site. I've been to three wonderful bead shows over the past two months and picked up lots of gorgeous Czech glass--both vintage and new beads. I have spent the past week making different combinations with glass, brass, and gemstones and loving every one of them. I must have found my muse during South by Southwest as I am anxious to create, create, create. Perhaps I need to get out and see new live music more often!

Elijah

Just one more cool thing about South by Southwest (SXSW): Elijah Wood as DJ for the Bust Magazine party in Austin on the afternoon of Saturday, March 15. I went for the crafts. I went to say "Hey!" to Jennifer Perkins, my fave DIY show hostess. And I went to see what music Elijah would bust out of his iPod. The bonuses: free drinks, free tote bags, and more free drinks. I love this town!

Sweet

On Tuesday, March 11 we went out for the evening to see a few bands--none we'd ever heard of, but we were open to seeing what was on the venue for a South by Southwest (SXSW) party at The Beauty Bar on 7th Street in downtown Austin. Upon arrival, the inside stage was between sets so a DJ was spinning a very cool mix of tunes. (I guess I don't get out much in the club scene because I'd never heard Dolly Parton's hit "9 to 5" mixed with a beat as a dance tune, but it was pretty cool to hear that song and reminisce about the movie.) When the band was ready and came on stage, they pretty much knocked our socks off. They played this music that I'd never thought I'd own up to liking--something like a blend of the Black Crowes, Jim Morrison, Led Zeppelin, and Blue Oyster Cult--and seemingly straight out of a time warp from the 70's. The guys all had Jesus hair and tight 70's pearl snap shirts and they rocked it out like they owned the hippie rock movement. The band, Scorpion Child, is one I'd definitely go see again--possibly even with my parents (Gasp!). For some reason, I think they'd dig their classic rock vibe, as long as they're wearing ear plugs to tune down the volume.

This is the greatest thing about South by Southwest... Heading out for the evening with an open mind and stumbling upon something super sweet and memorable in your own backyard--a band that you never knew existing, but have to definitely go see again. I have Scorpion Child on my "must see" list for 2008.