Feeling a little blue this cold Michigan Monday...Thought i'd cheer myself up a bit by taking a look around etsy. Hope you enjoy these Etsy finds as much as I do!
http://starfishclothesgirl.etsy.com/
http://annaleahdesigns.etsy.com/
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Gotta love that Michigan weather!
Its cold here in rural Michigan today with a chill that goes straight down to your bones. But, the weather forecasts are suggesting that we could see temperatures of 40 degrees or higher by this weekend.
What is that old adage? If you don't like the weather in Michigan, wait a minute --- it will change!
Until the temperature does warm, my studio surrounded by all of my new steampunk jewelry bits and bobs seems like the perfect place to hibernate.
Ghiradelli creamy hot chocolate, anyone?
What is that old adage? If you don't like the weather in Michigan, wait a minute --- it will change!
Until the temperature does warm, my studio surrounded by all of my new steampunk jewelry bits and bobs seems like the perfect place to hibernate.
Ghiradelli creamy hot chocolate, anyone?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
In the studio....
With some help from our new baby, Sam....I was able to get all of my orders out today and spend some much needed time in the studio. Ok, he slept peacefully, allowing me some studio time, but he's definitely earning his title of "Mommy's Little Helper".
My new best friend - our postal carrier - delivered some wonderful new silver filigree and stones. Soon, many of our most popular designs will be available in silver, as well as aged brass. With some additional assistance from my new little helper, hopefully I will have the new pieces posted to the shop yet this week!
The yummy Valentines treats for my orders came today too. I had to try them out, of course :-)
Monday, January 18, 2010
Inspiration
While working on my 2010 business plan, I have spent a lot of time thinking about my goals for this year - expand my line, blog regularly, do more shows, sell 2 new wholesale accounts a month, spend more time in the studio.... At first glance, my goals are a little daunting and enough to put me off for an entire year lol. But, I'm convinced that they are achievable. If i think it, i can do it...so I printed off some of my favourite inspirations to put up around the studio....
***You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do -Eleanor Roosevelt
***To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose one's self. -Soren Kierkegaard
***Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful -Joshua J Marine
***Unless a man undertakes more than he can possibly do, he will never do all that he can - Henry Drummond
***Go ahead and play the blues if it makes you happy -Homer Simpson (ok, this one might not be applicable to my 2010 goals, but i had to throw in the Simpsons, eh???)
As I move forward through this new year, my goal is to embrace the challenges and all of the new designs and creative moments that 2010 has in store for Simply Willow. Steampunk Airship TeleController Doomahicky anyone????
***You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do -Eleanor Roosevelt
***To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose one's self. -Soren Kierkegaard
***Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful -Joshua J Marine
***Unless a man undertakes more than he can possibly do, he will never do all that he can - Henry Drummond
***Go ahead and play the blues if it makes you happy -Homer Simpson (ok, this one might not be applicable to my 2010 goals, but i had to throw in the Simpsons, eh???)
As I move forward through this new year, my goal is to embrace the challenges and all of the new designs and creative moments that 2010 has in store for Simply Willow. Steampunk Airship TeleController Doomahicky anyone????
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Simply Willow in the News!
While i was away...a wonderful thing happened! I was contacted by a reporter for the local newspaper -- the Kalamazoo Gazette. He was doing a series of features on local artists, would I be interested?
WOULD I? It took about 5 seconds to decide that yes, of course, I was interested!
The interview was done over the phone, a photographer came out to the house the following week. The result? "Steampunk Jewelry reflect "Dark Romance" of Victorian Era"
A huge thank you to Simon Thalman and the Kalamazoo Gazette!
WOULD I? It took about 5 seconds to decide that yes, of course, I was interested!
The interview was done over the phone, a photographer came out to the house the following week. The result? "Steampunk Jewelry reflect "Dark Romance" of Victorian Era"
A huge thank you to Simon Thalman and the Kalamazoo Gazette!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Our New Addition
Over the past couple of years, exciting things have happened for us here at Simply Willow -- Paul and I were married in May 08, bought our first home in October 09 and on December 27, 09...we welcomed Samuel Padraig Cartwright into our family. Our beautiful baby boy was born 5 weeks early and spent 12 days in the neo-natal intensive care unit at our hospital, where he was treated for a breathing problem, heart murmur, jaundice and a lack of eating skills. But on Friday of last week, he came home to us.... He joins our large combined family with many brothers - Shawn, 22 Steffan, 22 Nathaniel, 19 Nicholas, 17 Zac, 14 ***His oldest brother and only sister left us way too early -- Michelle would have been 20 and Anthony would have been 26. Both are greatly missed.***
Amazing that such a little boy could change our life in such a huge way in a very short time...
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, SAMMY
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
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!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
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!
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!
Monday, January 26, 2009
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!
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!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
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
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
Thursday, December 25, 2008
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
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
Thursday, December 4, 2008
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!
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!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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!
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!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
OwntheHour.com
I have recently started advertising some of my pieces on a new ad site called Own the Ho
ur. 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!
ur. 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.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
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!
Friday, November 7, 2008
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 sh
oppers 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.
oppers 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?
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Green is the colour of my true love's eyes....
Well, ok...maybe not. But I'm certainly in love with green lately!
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...
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...
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