I just posted these earrings in my Etsy store and I love them! Yesterday was beautiful here in LA and now with the time change... it's really feeling like spring and these "Spring Bud Earrings" make me think of just that!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Just Listed!
I just posted these earrings in my Etsy store and I love them! Yesterday was beautiful here in LA and now with the time change... it's really feeling like spring and these "Spring Bud Earrings" make me think of just that!
Monday, March 10, 2008
First Impressions
I was so excited when I made my first sale until I realized I didn't have a way to package it up. Since it was a person-person sale (through Craig's List) I had to come up with something quick so I dashed over to Michaels and grabbed your basic run-of-the-mill necklace box and tied a pretty bow. I wasn't satisfied though, just looked so... boring. Then my mom bought a pair of earrings and I put them in a little organza gift pouch and mailed them off. Still wasn't satisfied, again just seemed so...trite. If this is the first impression a buyer is getting after opening the envelope, I wanted it to be good.
I started looking around a bit more, didn't see anything I really liked, so I decided to make my own. They're super simple to construct - I actually remembered how from grade school. Basically just some folding with a few snips, so not real origami but close enough.
I choose pretty patterned paper for the top, and my bright lime green for the bottom and finish it off with a gold ribbon. I love how it looks and I hope my customers do to. You know what they say, you never get a second chance at a first impression.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Preparing for the Hypothetical Craft Shows
Alright, so I am all applied to the craft shows I mentioned below and now I really have to start thinking of my display. I'm lucky because my BF's company has an E Z-UP canopy that I can use for these shows and that right there will save me $200+. I guess for other structural items I just need a table. Easy enough to get one at Costco if I can brave the lines...
I'm trying to think of my display right now and I really want to hit up Ikea. I've seen some neat earring displays using some wire mesh and a picture frame that I want to try out. Plus I want to pick up some decorative boxes and bowls to double as levels and displays.
For the actual jewelry, I want to make some earring cards myself. I imagine it can be pretty easy - again because of the BF - he's pretty good at design and once I get something I like I plan on just punch two holes with a mini punch. I also want to make some necklace/bracelet holders too. Again, I think this should be pretty easy, just design it a business card shaped piece of cardstock, fold in half with the necklace in the middle and find a pretty way to hang them.
I'm also working on some book marks that would add a pretty element to the table. I'll need to go the fabric store and find a great piece to lay over the table. I'm thinking a bright lime green to go with my shop colors. And last but not least - I need to come up with a sign! I think this should be really easy, as my logo will lend itself nicely.
That's the basic. Then I need to add the touches. I'm thinking about framing little descriptions of the stones I use in my pieces and placing them next to the pieces where it's used.
...and then comes packaging and bags and promo items.... phew. I better go get started!
I'm trying to think of my display right now and I really want to hit up Ikea. I've seen some neat earring displays using some wire mesh and a picture frame that I want to try out. Plus I want to pick up some decorative boxes and bowls to double as levels and displays.
For the actual jewelry, I want to make some earring cards myself. I imagine it can be pretty easy - again because of the BF - he's pretty good at design and once I get something I like I plan on just punch two holes with a mini punch. I also want to make some necklace/bracelet holders too. Again, I think this should be pretty easy, just design it a business card shaped piece of cardstock, fold in half with the necklace in the middle and find a pretty way to hang them.
I'm also working on some book marks that would add a pretty element to the table. I'll need to go the fabric store and find a great piece to lay over the table. I'm thinking a bright lime green to go with my shop colors. And last but not least - I need to come up with a sign! I think this should be really easy, as my logo will lend itself nicely.
That's the basic. Then I need to add the touches. I'm thinking about framing little descriptions of the stones I use in my pieces and placing them next to the pieces where it's used.
...and then comes packaging and bags and promo items.... phew. I better go get started!
Monday, March 3, 2008
Craft Show Exploration
In my opinion, jewelry is an impulse buy. You see it, you love it, you buy it. Or at least that's how I am. I love shopping online, but few things don't work well for me: clothes, shoes, and jewelry. I don't know what it is that makes it less appealing or maybe I just think a little bit more about buying what I have tons of when I have to enter my credit card info.
So I've started to think about craft shows as another supplemental venue for selling my wares. Plus, I love the human-to-human interaction that is missing with online selling. I wanted to start off small - a church or school fair, something simple and not very intimidating. Turns out that wasn't as easy as I had anticipated.... After a month or so of searching through listings, I'm finding that most shows are pretty legit large affairs :-( I have found a couple though that make me think I can do it. There are three I'm looking at to start with:
1) Ventura Craft Fair, located at the Ventura flea market
I haven't read any reviews about this exact one, but one or two on it's sister Rose Bowl flea market/craft fair and they weren't all that positive... I'm not too dissuaded by this though because the fee is cheap ($25) and it's in about two weeks. I have little patience so this way I can get out there and jump in. Plus, by doing this, I'll be able to have actual pictures of my display that I can submit to other fairs I am interested in. So far that's been a big obstacle of mine...
2) Chalk Art in the Park, West Hollywood
Again, this one is cheap ($25) and located nice and near-by. It's the first year they are holding the festival so we'll see how it goes. Once again, definitely motivated because of the experience factor it will offer.
3) Art in the Park @ Dinosaur Caves, Pismo Beach
While this one is a little bit out of my geographic location, I'm kinda excited for it because me and the BF are going to make a weekend of it in May. The fees a bit higher here ($70 for one show, 60 for three, etc.) but I feel like I got a deal on the others so that's okay with me. They have one show at the park a month from May - Nov.
In addition to, of course, hoping to sell lots of my jewels at these fairs, I also hope to drive some traffic to my esty site and find some buyers that way. You know the usual, hand out the business cards, see if anyone wants to sign up for a mailing list. I'm also curious to see peoples reactions/impressions when checking out the wares in person.
One of the huge perks in my head of doing more than one of these (and telling myself I will do more!) is that it makes it easier to rationalize all of the upfront costs - a canopy, set up, tables, displays, etc. I figure I have to make the investment sometime, so why delay? I've been looking around a lot on flickr and seeing the different displays that people have there to get some ideas and it actually looks like a lot of fun!
I still have to get through some paperwork, but I'm hopeful and really, really excited.
So I've started to think about craft shows as another supplemental venue for selling my wares. Plus, I love the human-to-human interaction that is missing with online selling. I wanted to start off small - a church or school fair, something simple and not very intimidating. Turns out that wasn't as easy as I had anticipated.... After a month or so of searching through listings, I'm finding that most shows are pretty legit large affairs :-( I have found a couple though that make me think I can do it. There are three I'm looking at to start with:
1) Ventura Craft Fair, located at the Ventura flea market
I haven't read any reviews about this exact one, but one or two on it's sister Rose Bowl flea market/craft fair and they weren't all that positive... I'm not too dissuaded by this though because the fee is cheap ($25) and it's in about two weeks. I have little patience so this way I can get out there and jump in. Plus, by doing this, I'll be able to have actual pictures of my display that I can submit to other fairs I am interested in. So far that's been a big obstacle of mine...
2) Chalk Art in the Park, West Hollywood
Again, this one is cheap ($25) and located nice and near-by. It's the first year they are holding the festival so we'll see how it goes. Once again, definitely motivated because of the experience factor it will offer.
3) Art in the Park @ Dinosaur Caves, Pismo Beach
While this one is a little bit out of my geographic location, I'm kinda excited for it because me and the BF are going to make a weekend of it in May. The fees a bit higher here ($70 for one show, 60 for three, etc.) but I feel like I got a deal on the others so that's okay with me. They have one show at the park a month from May - Nov.
In addition to, of course, hoping to sell lots of my jewels at these fairs, I also hope to drive some traffic to my esty site and find some buyers that way. You know the usual, hand out the business cards, see if anyone wants to sign up for a mailing list. I'm also curious to see peoples reactions/impressions when checking out the wares in person.
One of the huge perks in my head of doing more than one of these (and telling myself I will do more!) is that it makes it easier to rationalize all of the upfront costs - a canopy, set up, tables, displays, etc. I figure I have to make the investment sometime, so why delay? I've been looking around a lot on flickr and seeing the different displays that people have there to get some ideas and it actually looks like a lot of fun!
I still have to get through some paperwork, but I'm hopeful and really, really excited.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
The apple seed
Here is my first post in the new blog and I'm really excited to get started! To begin, I want to tell a little bit about myself and what's going on with the apple seed from apple and star.
My name is Caitlin and I love to make jewelry and crafts. I have a shop over at Etsy, apple and star. I've been selling since mid-December and have had a few sales so far. Most have been from friends and family, but I hope to increase my reach soon. I'm starting this blog as a peek inside the experiences of a crafter out there trying make a few sales and gain some exposure.
It's been a learning experience. Getting exposure has been the hardest part - right now I'm on Flickr, squidoo and lov.li . I try to post regularly in the Etsy forums, but I find that too often I have nothing to add to the discussions. I know jewelry is probably the hardest category out there. Everyone says to make your work stand out, but sometimes that's hard with jewelry. Currently I am trying to expand my shop to include add'l items that might bring some new buyers in - wine charms, cards, etc. I've just begun experimenting with Shrinky Dinks (there must be a better name!) for jewelry and other applications and I am loving it! I was pleasantly surprised to learn that you can do more with them than create miniature cartoon characters.
So who knows what will happen, guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Wish me luck!
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