I love to read about other peoples days creating and how we all manage to fit everything in. Often in between designing and creating we are juggling marketing, pr and admin never mind looking after our families and keeping house. I wonder how many of us are reading emails or tweeting whilst trying to load the washing machine!!
Unfortunately I don't have a day in the life to share with you today, but I am in the process of contacting some fabric designers I have featured in Fabric Fridays to see if they would be kind enough to share a day in their busy lives. But I would also love to read about your days, whether you craft for a living or for fun and would love a sneak peak at your workspace. So please email me if you are interested in being featured in a day in the life.
In the meantime you may like to pop over to UK Handmade blog where they have a regular 'meet' section, with artists, designers and creative types sharing their workspace and creative lives with the readers. Also the Folksy Blog have regular posts meeting different Folksy sellers.
Showing posts with label folksy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label folksy. Show all posts
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Folksy Blog
I know many of you are sellers on Folksy and get involved with the forum but have you discovered the blog? There are regular features with today being the day you get to meet and learn more about other sellers. There are also articles helping you to create shop banners and get the most out of selling on Folksy. There are also opportunities to contribute, which I have done by writing a monthly post about fabric and sewing, well we all know how much I love fabric!! And of course there is always a Folksy Friday.
So grab a cup of tea and pop along for a read, here's my latest post
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Selling in Multiple Marketplaces
As is life wasn't confusing enough, the internet has added to such confusion for artists, designers and makers when it comes to selling their wares. The creation of Etsy, Folksy, Misi, etc are fabulous but also can create more computer time and less making or designing time.
Last week I wrote my first post for the UK Handmade blog discussing the pros and cons of selling in multiple market places. Whilst it may seem beneficial to try and sell your work in many different venues these will all need promoting, which as you know is very time consuming. So before opening a shop in every available outlet please read my post over at UK Handmade!
Last week I wrote my first post for the UK Handmade blog discussing the pros and cons of selling in multiple market places. Whilst it may seem beneficial to try and sell your work in many different venues these will all need promoting, which as you know is very time consuming. So before opening a shop in every available outlet please read my post over at UK Handmade!
Places to Sell Your Wares
{Folksy}
{Etsy}
{Misi}
{Artfire}
{Made It}
{Dawanda}
There are so many, please share any more in the comments section.
Also take 10 minutes to read the great advice from UK Handmade in response to Mary Portas' advice.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Facebook For Business
As I admitted last week I am a little social network phobic, so for todays post I have called in assistance, via Folksy forums and thankfully Victoria of Little Wren Pottery has come to my rescue. I will now hand you over to Victoria to tell you more about how to use Facebook for business.
Promoting your business on Facebook
As a small business owner one of the things you've probably heard people talking about are Facebook fan pages. Fan pages allow you to generate a following on the worlds most popular social networking site.
A fan page is connected to your personal Facebook account but it allows you to hide your personal details - like those embarrassing photos of you on your last holiday.
Anyway once you've got your fan page set up what do you do with it?
First your going to want to start furnishing your page with information. Be sure to fill out the 'info' page it'll allow casual browsers who don't know who you are to quickly grab the essence of what it is you do.
You might want to consider uploading some photos, these don't all have to be craft related. Since Facebook is about socially sharing photos and videos are the most popular communication tools on the site. When you add pictures to your gallery a message is automatically posted on your wall.
Adding an eye-catching banner image to your page can help pull people into your page particularly if its well designed. Try and treat this area as a free advert for you business. The maximum photo size is 200px x 600px.
If you banner doesn't look great as an avatar you can change the cropping position by selecting the pencil tool when you hover over the banner.
You can also customise the information on the left sidebar on your wall page if you add in http:// links to the text on your pages Facebook automatically converts it to a clickable link.
The next step is to start inviting people to join your page, the best thing about this is when someone 'likes' your page it appears on their wall for all their friends to see. Such is the beauty of viral marketing.
Interacting with your fans.
You'll want to try and build up a rapport with your fans, give them a reason to stick around. If you have other social media accounts try to make your wall posts different to your other venues.
Its more than likely you'll only get 10% of your fans actually wanting to interact with you but you need to be sure to respond to people. Part of the appeal of social sites is that you respond but you don't have to post messages all the time.
In fact its probably better that you take it easy with posting status updates - basically don't spam people and occasionally talk about something other than yourself. I've found that jokes are good Facebook ice breakers, try and treat it as you would a party where you don't know anyone.
Offering special deals.
You can offer Facebook specific promotions such as giveaways and rewarding people who 'like' you by setting up hidden pages.
To create a dynamic page you'll need to use FML static pages which will allow you to load HTML and CSS layouts directly into a Facebook tab. If you're web savvy you'll find many tutorials on the internet, if not then you could consider leaving it to a professional.
Hopefully you'll have found this to be an interesting starting point in managing your fan page, but there are many approaches and remember there isn't any 'right way' on the internet.
Article by Victoria of Little Wren Pottery - http://www.littlewrenpottery.co.uk/
Thank you so much Victoria. Last night I created a Buttons & Bows page on Facebook and plan to upload photos and other details over the next few days.
To find out more about Little Wren Pottery visit -
{Website}
{Folksy}
{Facebook}
{Twitter}
{Blog}
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Soap - Good enough to eat!
There's something about handmade soap that makes me want to eat it! Don't worry I never have, it just looks so asthetically pleasing that it looks edible. I have to admit that I know nothing about soap making
but love to buy it for our home or for gifts.
See what I mean, Oreo cookies & milk, or is it?
Now it seems that aswell as many fragrance combinations there are different processes involved in soap making, including traditional cold and hot process soaps, glycerin or natural liquid soaps.
I have discovered today that soap makers have their own guild, The Guild of Craft Soap and Toiletry Manufacturers. The Guild was formed in September 2007 and has two main aims -
(1) To raise awareness of the legislative standards that are in place that apply to craft soap and toiletry makers
(2) To register as members of the Guild crafters who work in compliance with this legislation and who hold relevant public liability insurance
So whether you prefer the gorgeous slices from soap bars or novelty shapes there is plenty of choice, just on Folksy, with a selection of over 400 soaps.
All soaps featured from {Folksy}
For more information about Guild of Craft Soap & Toiletry Manufacturers visit their {website}
Monday, 19 July 2010
Advertising Winner Spotlight - Peculiar Forest
Today I would like to introduce you to one of my advertising giveaway winners,
Peculiar Forest designs and makes jewellery from art clay silver or PMC, from her home in France, having recently moved there from the UK. Lucky her!
Peculiar Forest started out using polymer clay about five years ago creating personalised wedding cake toppers, which she sells in her other Etsy shop, Hunter Designs.
Peculiar Forest has embraced selling on Etsy by joining Etsy Metal Clay Team and European Street Team.
I adore walking through the forest and Peculiar Forests jewellery truly reminds me of this!
Aswell as selling on Etsy, you can read more about the design inspiration on Peculiar Forests blog or find her on Folksy.
Advertising Winner : Peculiar Forest
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Ceramics
I have spent some time recently thinking about this blog and felt it needed some more focus and structure. Therefore I have chosen to write about and/or feature a particular craft or art or design style or practice each week on a Tuesday. There are so many talented creative people on Etsy, Folksy and many more sites that I am sure this will keep me writing for many weeks.....or years!!
I have decided to focus today on Ceramics. When I was at primary school we were lucky enough to have a pottery club, thanks to a talented potter being one of the class teachers and the school had its own kiln. I rememeber bringing home some interesting items for my mum, which have disappeared! I tried my hand at ceramics again when I was at university, even attempting to use a potters wheel, which again provided 'interesting' results! After this I decided to stick to Textiles and painting and hung up my potters apron.
Just a tiny selection of Folksy potters and ceramicists.
Monday, 12 July 2010
Advertising Winner Spotlight - Gooseberrymoon
Today I would like to introduce you to one of the winners of my advertising giveaway,
Gooseberrymoon designs her digitally printed stationery from her home in North Wales. With a passion
for paper, colour and design Gooseberrymoon combines these to produce a fabulous selection of stationery.
Aswell as creating beautiful notecards, Gooseberrymoon also designs wedding stationery and gift boxes that would make great favor boxes for any party or wedding.
Gooseberrymoon is a Folksy success story with 200 sales and I can see why, the designs are fabulous and would feed any stationery fans habit!
Aswell as a Folksy shop Gooseberrymoon has a website. You can also read about design insporations on the Gooseberrymoon blog.
Advertising Winner - Goosberrymoon
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Stationery - Rekindling an old love
When I was about ten I would save my pocket money to go and buy these gorgeous coloured pieces of writing paper and envolopes that you could buy singularly from a local bath goods shop. The papers were gently scented by the aroma in the little shop and all the girls in my class would collect different colours and write little notes to each other on these lovely sheets of paper. Recently my passion for stationery has been rekindled by looking at stores on Folksy & Etsy that sell beautifully designed stationery, including Gooseberrymoon, one of my advertsing giveaway winners. But more about Gooseberrymoon another day! Today I am going to share some of my new wishlist buys. So grab your shopping bag and come along.....
Perfect for teachers presents.
Original Notecards!
My Husband would love these!
My son is in a production of Wizard of Oz next week, so very apt!
Printable Stationery pdfs that you can use again & again, how fab!
As you can see there are some great designers out there, maybe one day I'll have enough time to learn to use Photoshop and create my own. In the meantime I'm stocking up on printed papers!!
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Fabric Friday - Patty Young
This week has flown by and I cannot believe it's Friday already. As the end of the school year draws nearer here in the UK life seems to get even busier. Well in Buttons & Bows tradition it is Friday, so that means it's Fabric Friday.
Today I have chosen to look at the designs of Patty Young. Having grown up in San Jose, Costa Rica, Pattys family moved to the United States in 1987. Two years later Patty started her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and Photography, graduating in 1993. Initially Patty worked as a graphic designer for a number of marketing agencies, until in 2005 she left the corporate world to be a stay at home mummy.
However like so many women who become SAHM's, Patty started her own business. Drawing on her creative talents Patty launched MODKID,LLC, a design business that specialises in children's boutique sewing patterns. Patty has also started MODGREETINGS, which is a showcase of her original art work in the form of greetings cards.
Patty has also designed four fabric ranges for Michael Miller fabrics, Andalucia, Mezzanine, Flora & Fauna and Playdate. These are all very vibrant in their choice of colour and the prints reminiscent of european travels, not surprising that Andalucia is inspired by the beauty of Southern Spain and Mezzanine draws inspiration from ironwork and fretwork Patty saw on her travels to Northern Europe. Her third collection, Flora and Fauna, is an eclectic mix of hummingbirds, moths and daisies, in bold fushia and lime contrasting with the neutral palette of black, grey and white. Pattys latest collection, Playdate, is a bright, fun mix of little girls and lollipops.
I am continually inspired by so many women as they combine working from home businesses in design whilst being a busy mum. Patty Young is no exception, she has sucessfully created two businesses, designs for a major textile company, all whilst being a mum. I love to read Patty's blog and follow her tweets and of course I adore her fabrics!
As you can see Patty Young fabrics are gorgeous and very versatile, have fun sewing!
P.S. Appologies for the delay in posting , I had problems with Blogger.
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Buttons & Bows Giveaway
Last week was exciting, well for me, as I reached 100 followers on this blog and 300 followers on Twitter . So to say thank you to all my lovely followers I thought I would have a giveaway!
You can win one yard of each of the ribbons in the mixes and 10 of each of the buttons, simply by following me here or on Twitter. I will randomly pick a winner on Monday 21 June.
You can win one yard of each of the ribbons in the mixes and 10 of each of the buttons, simply by following me here or on Twitter. I will randomly pick a winner on Monday 21 June.
These are all available in my Folksy shop!
GOOD LUCK!
Sunday, 13 June 2010
Handmade Wedding - Keepsakes and Gifts
As I come to the end of my Handmade Wedding feature I thought I would focus on keepsakes and gifts for your wedding party. I'm sure as you plan for your wedding you will collect little bits & pieces that are important to you and also from the actual day, that you will want to treasure. Aswell as planning your own wedding list, I'm sure there will be little gifts to buy for bridesmaids, best man and ushers. These all can also be handmade and personalised to make them even more special.
Something for the grown up bridesmaids?!
I have of course only featured a small selection over the past week and there are many more artisans working to bring you beautiful handmade items to help make your wedding day very special. I hope that I have showcased the work of these artisans to prove that weddings can be created without entering a major high street store.
Now all this talk of weddings and searching for gorgeous things has made me want to get married again....of course to the same man. However this will wait as we plan to renew our vows for our 20th anniversary. In the meantime I may well start a wedding blog as I have enjoyed this so much....I hope you have too!
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