Friday, May 25, 2007

Featured Contributor - Greenwillow

Rawr. I need something soothing to calm my nerves! Everything is so stressful right now. Perhaps you know the feeling? Maybe looking at some pretty Etsy things would help. Luckily, I've found the right shop for that! Enter, Greenwillow!

Flower Notecards, set of 4

1) Your shop name:Greenwillow
2) Your real name:
Ann Todd
3) Your favorite breakfast cereal:
Cheerios
4) When did you begin creating?:
I've always loved to create. I began designing and sewing doll clothes as a child. I've always have loved crafts of any kind--just doing things with my hands. I have always enjoyed making my own cards and creations. I added art photography about 5 years ago.
5) Got a day job?:
I've been retired almost 4 years ago from career in National Retail Advertising for a newspaper.
6) Your inspirations:
Anything beautiful--including my grandchildren.

Flower Fairy


7) Creation that you are most proud of:
My daughter's wedding dress and her professional acapella singing group 19th century costume.
8) Explain your shop name:
Greenwillow is the name of a street we built a house on years ago. My husband picked the street name from a record jacket. My daughter lives there now, and she and I began a craft business about 5 years ago and named it after that street.
9) Final thoughts?
I create to make myself happy and others happy. I've always loved to create gifts for others, thinking that when they saw my creations for them, they would feel my love for them. When anyone actually likes something of mine enough to buy it, I am still thrilled.

Stitched vine pictures (pair)

Please go visit Greenwillow, and keep checking back for more interviews with amazing Etsy sellers!


feature written by lessthanthreedesigns

Featured Contributor - Eye Pop Art


Love structure and symmetry? Slightly compulsive yet love the funkalicious? Well, look no further! EyePopArt has exactly what you need! If you're anything like me, mandalas provide a relief for the compulsive parts while soothing the creative parts of my brain! EyePopArt takes mandalas a step further. She plasters them onto record bowls, record cuffs, and brightly-painted record clocks. Best of all??? She contributes to the All Things Etsy sample and promo bags. Her samples are gorgeous: mandala window decals in so many colors!!! So, ease the compulsive and creative in you! Stop by EyePopArt's etsy store today!


feature written by jessprkle

Thursday, May 24, 2007

jessprkle rocks!

So many wonderful etsians have helped out with this project, but I can honestly say that without jessprkle the 'All Things Etsy' bags'would not exist. She was brave enough to get the very first sample bag, and has been a repeat customer and faithful supporter ever since.
perhaps some of you have been lucky enough to recieve one of her perfect little sample packs - a business card with a coupon on the back along with a glass marble magnet and paper beads. Jes is wonderfully kind and an awesome etsy seller, with over 500 sales and perfect feedback. you really should take a look at her "Eclectic Collection of Innovative Expressions", there is sure to be something you'll love!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

thanks!

Big hugs to the awesome parkerlewislost and her fabulous mom for generously donating a ton of pretty organza bags for the project!

Thursday, May 17, 2007

F.A.Q.

it took longer than i thought it would, of course, and it seems ridiculously long, but i think it covers pretty much everything. blah blah blah send me your samples!

"All Things Etsy" Sample Bag F.A.Q.

Q. what is 'all things etsy'?
A. all things etsy (named in a forum contest by kreatedbykarina) is a way to get your store noticed. it basically works like this:-you send me your items (samples, promos, coupons, business cards)-i repack them into pretty organza bags (now with handstamped i heart etsy.com tags - thanks to sssmommy for the perfect custom rubber stamp!)-these bags are available individually in my shop, or in larger numbers as custom orders*much like etsy itself, this promotion is constantly growing and evolving to better suit its community. please feel free to post any questions, comments, or suggestions.

Q. so what's the point?
A. people who are brand new to etsy can get a taste of what it's all about with an affordable package of good vibes and handmade treats. your promo items get into the hands of people with at least one successful etsy transaction. they have already signed up for an account and figured out the payment process, so you (hopefully) don't have to train your customers.sellers who want to include things with their sales can quickly get items from a variety of other sellers without bumping down important street team info with multiple requests. instead of paying to send your promos to ten different places, you can just send a bunch to 'all things etsy' and they will travel across the u.s./canada/u.k/and beyond!

Q. sounds rad. i want my stuff to go in the bags. where should i send it?
A. convo octarine for the address.

Q. sounds rad. i want to buy one of those puppies. where can i get one?
A. as long as i have supplies and time to pack and ship, individual sample bags will be listed in my shop. if you find you keep missing out, contact me and i will reserve a listing for you.

Q. sounds rad. i want to buy 5 bags to give to my best customers as thank you gifts. can i do that?
A. if you are an etsy seller, you can purchase 5 or more bags for a total of $1 each (more outside continental u.s. - prices may change based on actual cost of packing materials/shipping) these bags might be a bit smaller than the individual bags, but they are still very cool and your customers will love them. contact me for a custom listing. ***there is currently a short waiting list for multiple bags - request now, pay when your package is ready to ship***

Q. sounds rad. i want to buy 50 bags to give away at my craft show/birthday/charity event/cuddle party. can i do that?
A. i am working on this - eventually i'd love to be able to offer 'etsy party packs' or something like that. until then, convo me and i'll see what i can do for you. ***update aug. 07 - i am currently filling one large order for a craft show - i'll let you know how it goes!***


Q. how much does it cost to participate?
A. whatever it costs you to ship your items to me.

Q. what should i send?
A. business cards are good, biz cards with coupons are better, promo items (stickers, buttons, magnets, etc. w/ your shop name that you don't sell in your shop and might be made by someone else) are very good, small samples of your work are the absolute shizz and will make people fall in love with you. also make sure your etsy shop address is clearly on your cards or attached to your item. (if i happen to get biz cards with no etsy address, i won't include them, but everything has been perfect so far). if you need help deciding what to send, post here and we'll try and give you some ideas.

Q. how much should i send?
A. there are no limits. the more you send, the more exposure you'll get, so it's up to you. most people are sending about 50-100 items.

Q. how much are you making from this?
A. the bags are sold at no profit, just packing and shipping costs. anything extra goes back into the project, purchasing more supplies, or sending packages to crafty v.i.p.s. i actually lost money on the first round, which is why the prices were revised. as the bags get larger, prices may increase.

Q. are you insane? doesn't this take forever?
A. yes. it is rather time consuming, but my two main crafts are resin casting (lots of drying time) and wire wrapping (can only work so long before my paws get sore) so i have the time right now. ***update: i have much less free time since taking over the store @ 517521, but i'm still finding time to do the bags*** if i ever find that i am too busy to continue, i will pack up all the promos i have and pass the torch to a volunteer.

Q. why are you doing this?simply because i love etsy. i joined as a buyer but eventually realized i could try selling too. now, not only do i have my own for real licensed business, people worldwide are wearing jewelry i made, and i feel like part of something big. i have made a little money, but more importantly i've gained a lot of confidence, and met some amazingly talented friends. things like the insane chatroom/group shopping experience and the workshop make me feel like i'm seeing the future of the internet. etsy labs is better than any workspace i could have dreamed of, i am both inspired and dying to visit. when i catch niblets of info about the possible future of etsy, more often than not, my heart is touched. can doing business possibly be this fulfilling? as i'm working to improve my own thing (right now i'm not listing much as i am trying to build up stock to do shows and approach boutiques ***update - i have done shows and have my stuff in stores and have my own freaking store, thanks in part to the confidence i've gained through selling on etsy!) i wanted to do something to help etsy and my fellow sellers. i wanted to create a fun and successful promotion that is open to everyone from top sellers to designsbysupersockmonkeybeadmama78. i hope you like it.it has been quite a bit of work, but so fun to meet so many nice people and see everyone's stuff! i am not a fiber person usually, but the samples i got of tisjewelart's 'flawful fibers' ( http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=81310 ) are truly awesome, and something i otherwise never would have paid much attention to, no matter how many times i saw a picture of it on the computer. some things you just have to touch to understand (and then desparately want to buy more of). there are so many scented products that sound like they could be great, but the only things i know i like are fuzzybunny's soap (particularly http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5039597 ) and xiane's sexy bath stuff ( http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5378917 ) because i got to try it. and now here i am, recommending it to all of you...see how this sampling works out for everyone? ;) ***those links may be old, i've tried a lot more stuff since i first wrote this***

Q. how did this get started?
A. shortly after i started selling, i had the idea to make up little promo bags to hand out around pittsburgh. i figured, i was going to be talking about etsy anyway, i might as well promote the site in general as well as my shop. that thread is here: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5007012 response to that was so good, i decided to take it to the next level. i asked for some advice here: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5024120 and started the thingie here: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5029579 had a contest to find a name here: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5031211 and posted an update with that name here: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5034791 and the most recent updates were here at one time: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5038772 but are now here: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5111217 the f.a.q. was first posted here: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5049721

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the All Things Etsy blog. Here you will find project updates, photos of fabulous crafty promos, and featured Etsy shops.


Visit octarine.etsy.com to get your own All Things Etsy sample pack*.


If you would like to send promos, please convo octarine on Etsy to request the address.



*listed when in stock, almost always available by request. contact octarine for reserved listing or custom orders of multiple bags.