Czech Glass Buttons

I have a new obsession...czech glass buttons, whether vintage or new. These gorgeous little beauties can be all sorts of iridescent hues, with nature or art deco designs. I have been creating some wonderful pieces with them.


Czech Glass Buttons have been made for over 100 years and today many are still made by hand or by hand and machine. It is a many- step process to create these little works of art, but the results are well worth it!


For my creations, I have removed the shank from the back very carefully. As many of these are foiled to produce an iridescent colour, you could remove some of the foil, leaving an uncoloured spot which shows through on the front of your button. I have then set the button onto many layers of aged brass filigree. Many of the buttons I have used are large, approx 2" in diameter, so I've chosen dramatic filigree and frames to use as settings.





These particular buttons came from an etsy seller, AllBohemianGlass . She has a wonderful selection and very reasonable prices. I was also surprised by how quickly I received my purchase!

Hope you enjoy these as much as I have!

Willow is back in the house!!!

After an extended absence from my rambling posts....I am back! To catch you up a bit...over the past few months, we have moved our home and my studio, had an unexpected visit from my eldest son and found out that we are expecting a wee one! The latter came somewhat as a surprise for although we had been trying for around 2 years, we had both given it up thinking that we were too old.



I have been busy in the studio, getting ready for our exciting summer show schedule. After this summer, we will be cutting back the number of shows due to my already expanding waistline. I hope to spend a good deal of time updating our website and posting regularly Under the Willow Tree!

I have a tip for anyone out there who has a website or business that they are trying to promote. Sign up with Google Alerts. I did and a couple of days ago, I received an alert for all of the Simply Willow mentions out there that were new. Look at what I found! http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vintage-steampunk-jewelry-simply-willow I had no idea that this very positive and flattering article on my steampunk jewelry had been written! Google Alerts - check into it!

Tips and Tools

Over the next few days, I will share a few tips on bringing people into your craft show booth and ways to increase sales. This is in no way meant to be an all inclusive list and to some may even seem very basic. Hopefully, you can take away a suggestion or two that helps in some way!


Eye catching display. Remember that your display should be customer friendly. Displays should be at different heights, many at eye-level. Most customers will not bend down to look at your product. The easier it is for them to browse your booth, the better chance you have of making a sale. Check back soon for an entire post devoted to booths and displays!

Warm, friendly welcome. Make sure to welcome people to your booth. There are two schools of thought as to what to do next. I have heard that you should immediately try to engage the customer, get them talking. What has worked best for me is…after i have welcomed the customer, I let them know that if they have any questions to just ask. I then start re-arranging my jewelry, dusting, straightening hang tags, etc. I stay available and interested, but let them look. It is my opinion that you can push a potential customer too hard. We have all been in the furniture store where the salespeople follow you around…its annoying. Often, people know what they like and what they are looking for. They will ask if they need help or are interested in a specific technique or material.

Pricing. It is my preference to tag all of my items prior to a show. I have read suggestions that it may be better not to price, to get the customer to talk. Here is where you will have to find what works best for you. It is my belief that many people will be annoyed by having to ask how much each item is, perhaps to the point of not buying. Some may just assume that they cannot afford it...the old adage “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” at play. Make sure, if you do use tags, that your prices are clearly marked and easy to read.


Stay tuned for more tips soon!

Just the right show....

In more than 10 years of doing art fairs and craft shows, I have picked up some tips along the way...mostly from doing it wrong and looking for an easier way over and over! I will be sharing some of that information over the next few months!

If you can add anything, please do so!!!! If there is a topic that you would like to see...Leave a comment! Every bit of information that we can share helps not only our fellow artists and artisans, but also ourselves.

Today is all about finding the right show...

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a home & garden show trying to sell your handmade fishing lures or at a seaside resort with your knitted winter-wear? How about trying to sell your gallery quality high-end jewelry at a church bazaar? While these are extreme examples of shows that don’t perhaps fit the product, they do illustrate the need to match your product and business up with a show that’s a good fit!

Important things to look for when deciding on a show:

*How long has the show been in business? "First Annual" shows are not usually my 1st pick. Unless they are VERY well advertised, traffic could be iffy
*How and where are they advertising? This is important as you want as much traffic to the show as possible. More customers means more opportunity for sales.
*Do their customer demographics match up with your target market? For example…If you sell jewelry and your primary customers are women between the ages of 20 & 50, will you have a good audience at this show?
*Location, Location, Location. This is always a consideration. Is the show close to home? The higher your travel expenses, the more sales you need to make in order to realize a profit. You need to carefully weigh the potential sales and benefits of the show with the travel expenses you will incur. If a show has an extremely high attendance, especially in your target market, is very well advertised, has the potential for good publicity for your business…then travelling 250 miles or more may make a lot of sense!


There are other things to consider that don’t have such a direct impact…Have you done a show with this promoter before? Are they vendor friendly? Is the booth fee proportionate to the number of shoppers? Does the time of year fit your product? Do they offer helpers to load/unload and tables if needed? Is electricity available?

“Shop” for your shows like you would your supplies. Make sure you apply for quality shows that are a good fit for your business. Remember that shows are rarely the same two years in a row, especially in this ever changing economy.

Good Luck and Good Shows!

Welcome to 2009 !!

Wow! This is my first post of the new year! The first of many as we move into this exciting time.

Today, a new president takes office, with a new perspective, new beliefs and new policies. With him, he brings hope and change. Whether democrat or republican, liberal or conservative, I hope that you are able to appreciate the possibility that this new president brings with him. The possibility that America can once again be a global leader, leaving behind the policies of the last 8 years. While there are many challenges facing the United States, there is now hope that we can move forward.

In the spirit of change that the country celebrates today....I have decided to make some changes here at Under the Willow Tree. Check back starting Monday, Jan 26th for exciting new features such as Artist of the Week, Weekly specials, Featured Jewelry, Marketing tips and All Photos All Day.


Celebrate the hope and change of this day...

God Bless America

Happy Holidays to all!!!

Twas the night before christmas and all through the house...
not a creature was stirring...not even the wireless optical mouse
the shop was open once again, although not quite yet fully stocked
if it wasn't up to full by mid-January, even I would be shocked

Ok, so I'm not a poet! The thought was there.

Our big show has finished and the shop is reopened. It has been a hectic few weeks and I'm glad to have a moment or two of quiet and catch up on some much needed blog time!

Bear with me as I continue restocking the etsy shop. A very successful holiday season has left Simply Willow with little stock! I will be a busy girl, designing and creating exciting new jewelry over the coming weeks. I am also exploring other venues for selling, advertising and marketing....but I'll leave those for another time!

I wish everyone the happiest of holidays....and the brightest of New Years!

willow

Etsy Shop Closing Temporarily

We will be closing our etsy shop Thurs evening (12/4) through Monday (12/8) to attend a local holiday show, Christmas at Wings. Due to the huge volume of shoppers at this show, I cannot guarantee that I will have any items purchased from etsy still in stock once we return. I will be removing all items from the shop during this time so that no one will be disappointed if an item they have purchased is no longer available. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. All existing and new items will be posted on our return!

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Simply Willow will be back to offer lots of new styles and "old" favourites for your holiday shopping on Monday 12/8!!!!

Have a great day!

Holiday Blues

I find myself making jewelry that is a bold blue lately...My creations are usually more earthy, more grounded. I found that odd that I would be out of my comfort zone, especially right now, as the holidays approach and Simply Willow is off next weekend to the biggest holiday show we do.

Blue, as my research has indicated, is a calming colour, one of stability and peace. It is the colour of the sky and the ocean and stands for constants in our lives.

I love that I unconsciously looked for a calming influence during this busy and potentially stressful time and found it in my jewelry!

If you are feeling the holiday blues....look for the calming influence in lapis or sapphire, iolite or azurite... and chase away the blues with a little blue of your own!

Cindy's Wicked Good Beadz

Looking for Trinity Brass filigree or any of the fabulous Vintaj products? When Vintaj went to a $200 minimum per order,it made it difficult for me, as a designer/artisan with a small business (Simply Willow) to purchase wholesale from them. I did some research into finding a retail vendor with prices and service that made me want to overlook the pricing difference between wholesale and retail. I found that in Cindy’s Wicked Good Beadz

Cindy carries a great selection and is constantly adding new products. She offers products from both the Vintaj and Trinity Brass lines, in addition to other products. Monthly specials and great customer service made Cindy’s Wicked Good Beadz a “must use” supplier for me. Although her orders ship from Alaska, I receive them here in Michigan quicker than many of the bigger “Wholesale to the Public” suppliers.

While there are many companies out there now selling filigree products, I highly recommend Cindy’s for the quality, pricing and the fantastic service.

If you decide to purchase from Cindy, please tell her that willow referred you!

OwntheHour.com

I have recently started advertising some of my pieces on a new ad site called Own the Hour. They allow etsians to purchase one hour blocks of ad space on their site for 50 cents each. (yes, that's 50 CENTS!) You add the link to one of your listings...one per hour slot and they do the rest!

The OwnTheHour FAQ section states that they advertise on Facebook, Google, Twitter and other sites .

I think this could be a great tool, as long as they are reaching our target markets.

I can neither confirm nor deny that I've had sales generated from this site at this point, I'm not even sure how to tell on etsy!

Until I have a way to gauge the effectiveness of the site, I will happily continue advertising Simply Willow earthy romance and Victorian inspired jewelry....one hour at a time.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!!!!

In a Simply Willow first...We are having a Exclusive Black Friday Sale! All orders placed on Friday, November 28th through Monday, December 1st are eligible for the Buy One Get One 50% off sale. Just put "BLACK FRIDAY" in the notes to seller as you check out! We will refund the discount via paypal.

We are also offering FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the world!

As an added bonus, the first 10 orders placed on Friday, November 28th will receive one of our gorgeous beaded keychains FREE!

Do your Black Friday Shopping from the comfort of your own home! Shop http://simplywillow.etsy.com/ for gorgeous nature-inspired jewelry, unique victorian type pieces and aged brass earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets!

First Show of the Holiday Season

We are off to our first holiday show of the season tomorrow, at the local community college, KVCC. This is usually a very well attended show with hundreds of artists all with unique and very creative wares! I look forward to this show every year. I see many people I know from my work or play...and have a chance to start my own holiday shopping.

This year, naturally, brings some concerns about the economy, especially here in Michigan. With the highest unemployment rate in the country and increasingly high prices for food, goods and services, many here are barely making it. Is jewelry in their budget this year? Tomorrow will tell that tale.

In the meantime, I continue to work frantically in my studio (before and after work, that is!!!) so that we have a full booth, with many wonderful new designs to choose from. This year, we are also offering dove chocolates to shoppers who want to "Guess that Stone!!" I have a variety of stone nuggets available for people to guess the name of the semi-precious stone. Naturally, everyone will walk away with chocolate, but it creates an opening, a conversation piece. If you can get them to talk, you can get them to buy. At least, that's the hope.

Hope and a whole lot of hard work is what I take into this holiday season....

How about you?

Green is the colour of my true love's eyes....

Well, ok...maybe not. But I'm certainly in love with green lately!

Green rings....earrings...necklaces and bracelets! I've outdone myself! I really love some new components I recently ordered. Bead caps that look like little blossoms leaves, victorian style ring filigrees just waiting to be formed and adorned....earthy coloured beads in wonderful shapes and sizes.

Many people think of green and think of money, a specific holiday or a favorite item. Throughout time, however, green has been the colour of healing, of balance and harmony within ourselves and in the outside world. Green is the colour of nature and the earth, of growth and renewal. It can soothe and relax the soul.


I think green appeals to me just now...as the natural world around me is shedding its green for another year. These beautiful pieces are a reminder that it is only temporary. Spring will come, the world will come alive once again...



in all its glorious shades of green...

Tweet Tweet

Being a little slow on the uptake sometimes when it comes to new technology....and most definitely regarding social marketing type of websites, i put off learning about Twitter until YESTERDAY.

Twitter is a micro-blogging site. You post little snippets about what you're up to during the day, allowing people who are "following" you to read them.

I couldn't see the point in this until yesterday, when I posted a link to a new pair of earrings I had listed on etsy....suddenly my views went up on that item. Hmm....so I posted the link for one in Twitter that I had not renewed or just listed....the views went up. Wow! Very cool! In the 20 or so hours that i have actively been "twittering", I have not had any twitter generated sales, but...I think I am finally using it properly! I have posted about our current sale - free shipping on all orders, US and International through October. I have posted links to specific pieces. I have posted treasuries that I've found and unique items from other places on etsy. I am trying to promote others, as well as myself.

I have been watching the posts, seeing what some of my favourite etsians are up to. I am really enjoying the site!

Who would have known?

Tweet...Tweet....

http://twitter.com/simplywillow

http://twitter.com/willowsbeads

The Rich Colours of Autumn

An amazing array of rich colours, bronzes, greens and golds awaits us in the coming months as autumn tentatively makes its presence known. The leaves here in Southwest Michigan are already changing, the temperatures dropping into the 50’s and 60’s.

I find my jewelry now is picking up so many of the rich colours and textures of the season. I’m very excited about this week’s new designs and look forward to displaying them at our show in Jackson, MI on 10/12/08.

After this season’s erratic weather, I am very relieved to be heading indoors for shows once again.

I am on FIRE today…with ideas to rework, reorganize and redecorate my studio. On a weekend trip to Barnes & Noble, I found a lovely new edition of Cloth.Paper.Scissors’ “Studios”. (http://www.quiltingarts.com/shop/StudiosMagazine2008.html) There are a number of stories with photos about studios of various artists around the world, as well as organizational tips from an expert. Some of them are absolutely gorgeous, others I can see myself working so very well in.

All I can say is… “WOW” My head full of ideas about making this work for me or reworking that so that it is more useful…all while in the back of my head is this little niggle, something I’m forgetting.

Photo boxes decorated in earthy designs labeled with the supplies in each, little tin and copper containers holding bits of this and that, antique cake plates with glues and paints and several tall old printers cabinets….all waiting to be filled with the various supplies around the studio… yet….

I look around my studio, which looks, I might add…as if Hurricane Willow has recently made landfall….and realize I am in serious need of a makeover. But..

Oh yes! Its holiday production time! My dream studio makeover will have to wait until time and budget will allow.

In the meantime, a huge thank you to Interweave for this dream inspiring issue of “Studios”.

Shows and Shops and Galleries OH MY!!!

It is shaping up to be yet another busy holiday season for Simply Willow! We have several large shows booked, have jewelry in a couple of shops around the country and will be participating in 2 holiday gallery shows.

The Krasl Gallery’s Holly Market in St Joseph, MI http://www.krasl.org/hollymarket.aspx was a wonderful venue for us in 2007, our 1st year of participation. They artfully and very professionally display works from invited Michigan artists…and host a week long show with ongoing special events. It’s wonderful exposure for the artists, an opportunity to sell in this fabulous lakeshore community and a great way to promote handmade artisan products! I couldn’t be more excited! I am creating a number of special pieces for the gallery, some from our new Victorian line and a few of my signature pieces, as well.

Time in a bottle...

So where DOES all of our time go? In looking over our fall schedule, between art fairs, craft shows and sporting/band events for teenagers, I've decided that time management needs to be my #1 priority. (naturally, i was in a lack-of-caffeine-induced haze at the time)

Honestly, though...I realised that I often spend 1-3 hours per day on the computer, another 10 hours or more at the office (this honestly should be cut in half .... wonder if my boss would agree!) and some more of that precious commodity engaged in conversation, eating or driving in the car. Since I don't think that law enforcement officials would appreciate me making jewelry while driving and eating is necessary to the act of living..... I have decided that I must limit my online time if I am to meet goals for upcoming shows and orders. Do i say goodbye to facebook and weloveetsy, my streetteam and indiepublic? I think not, but I do need to find a more time effective way of managing all of those groups and applications!

Jim Croche and your wonderful bottle....where are you?

Inspiration....

A beautiful sunrise, the colour of Lake Michigan during a storm, a kids' kaleidescope, a cold drink on a hot day, a haunting melody...

Inspiration comes from a variety of sources and isn't limited to things that we see. Music has often inspired me....one of my favourite pieces of all time was created a number of years ago while listening to the Magic Flute, letting the melody of this famous opera wash over me.

I posted a piece to my etsy shop this morning (http://simplywillow.etsy.com/) that was inspired by a butterscotch sundae. Yummy, much like the delicate necklace that it inspired! One of my latest favourites....Ancient Treasures...was inspired by a Lisa Lynne cd that I keep in my studio.

Life itself is inspiring, channeling it, being available to it is the key to opening your creativity. Live, breathe, feel, see, listen and taste your way to inspired creations...

mornings....

Mornings are a beautiful thing! Quiet, dark, full of mystery and surprise. How will this day unfold?

I am a morning person...I know, you'd never have guessed. I am one of those unique oddities to most of human-kind. I leap out of bed at 4:47 each morning, eager to see what awaits. I read, create, write, mess about with my unruly hair...all before most people have even dreamt of that first cup of Mother's nectar (coffee, of course!)

Sounds fill the morning, the first cars carrying people up much earlier than I...on their way to work, the birds chirping playfully and the soft hum of my husband sleeping. This is music to create by! Several pieces of jewelry have been completed this morning, more than a couple moved on to various stages in the process.

Soon, I will be sitting in my office at work, dreaming of this morning time...

where did my cup of coffee go, anyway??