Friday Finds-Fall Fashion

Welcome to this week’s Friday Finds! The theme was “Fall Fashion” and we selected a lovely treasury curated by Lena from “WhiteGirrafe”, and called “Cozy Autumn Fashion”. If you are a jewelry lover, you can find something for your new design from her hundreds of Czech beads, rustic, lampwork and glass beads. You can start with a basic string beading and make a bracelet first.

Here is a fall looking string of beads from WhiteGiraffe's collection:

Czech Glass Faceted Rondelle Beads, Picasso Brown Yellow

Treasury: Cozy Autumn Fashion We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Friday Finds. Next week’s treasury theme is “September Gifts”. If you have a treasury you would like to submit, just send me or Susan a link via Etsy convo by Thursday afternoon and we will take a look. Remember, if your treasury is featured, we will feature an item from your shop. Thanks for stopping by! Until next time… Zoica

Just Dance Friday Finds Art

Welcome to this week’s Friday Finds! The theme was “Just Dance”. I picked Susan’s treasury which has beautiful curated items. Do you have a ballerina in your house? Your daughter or granddaughter, or maybe you are a dancer. Here is to all of us out there who dance dream of dancing or have a dancer in our family.

                                                      Dance Wall Art Ballet 

'5, 6, 7, 8 Dance' by  snewberry55

Eiffel Tower Paris ... vannoriginals $50	4 Ballet Dancer Cha... BohemianFindi... $2.5	Black Swan - Femini... PiiaPodersalu... $21.5	Dancer in Watercolo... lauratrevey $55
Cocktails Dinner an... FlairDesigner... $27	All She Wants To Do... riskybeads $14.95	DANCE Art for Teena... NelsonsGifts $29	I Hope You Dance - ... darkerblue $16.95
Life Storm Dance in... TheVinylLette... $8.99	DANCING In The 192... DandDDigitalD... $1.99	Set of 2 Pink and W... Serendipitybo... $5.99	Pink ballerina Illu... Zoia $18

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Friday Finds. Next week's theme will be ”It’s your style!” How many times you said that to a friend or you heard it from a friend? Maybe it’s the type of shoes that you are wearing, the dresses, or bags that you like to have. It’s your style and your style is unique. If you have a treasury you would like to submit, just send me or Susan a link via Etsy convo by Thursday afternoon and we will take a look.
 Remember, if your treasury is featured, we will feature an item from your shop. Thanks for stopping by!

 Until next time…
Zoica

Artist Spotlight Zoica Matei from Zoia

   Welcome to another edition of Artist Showcase. Today I am going to tell you a little bit about me and how I got my start on Etsy. My name is Zoica Miesen, I have a business called Zoica Matei and an Etsy shop named Zoia. I always loved drawing and sketching and I used to illustrate as a fashion designer for apparel and bridal. Later, as a fashion design teacher I experimented with different techniques and started to draw again outside of class, this time to convey a message or an emotion. Here is one of my prints inspired by Paris travels:
                                                     
                                                         Paris Fashion Illustration

   I found Etsy in 2007 and immediately singed up for an account. I was amazed by the number of creative people found in one place! I was a buyer at first and later I start selling my eco-friendly garments. Since spring 2013 I moved on to create hand drawn illustrations, while having just a few fashion items in my shop, like apparel, accessories, and patterns.

                                                           The Mysterious Woman

   Because I love everything that relates to fashion, beauty and brides, my creations are a reflection of that love. I have a soft spot for bridal designs and enjoy doing custom wedding gown sketches. I also like creating illustrations that have an emotional message linked to them and reach beyond the pure beauty.

                                                       Custom Wedding Dress Sketch

   I love to make my customers happy and always like to see them returning. You called it success when a customer is taking the time to write you a note, gives you a great review, or sends you pictures with your creation.

                                                           The Little Black Dress

   There are also challenges selling on Etsy, a marketplace that has grown significantly since 2007 when I started. You need to be keener in advertising, in using the right social media, and presenting your product in a competitive way. The titles, images, descriptions, and tags are only part of helping your business succeed, and selling in a competitive market like Etsy involves so much more than that! There is always the visibility challenge and a new seller on Etsy needs to study all the rules of the marketplace before starting, but also to have a plan to promote the business and be consistent on doing it.

                                                     
                                                             Vogue Cover Art Print

 Because in 2013 I changed directions from offering apparel to offering art prints and originals, my advice is to plan everything carefully: shop title, categories, and making sure the shop is cohesive. If the shop is not cohesive opening a second shop should be considered.

                                                     Red Dress Fashion Illustration

 This wraps up another edition of Artist Spotlight. This column is offered every Monday and we’re always looking for artists to spotlight. So, if you are interested or know someone that we would enjoy reading about please pass on the information.
   Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time…

Zoica

Friday Finds - Gifts for Kids

Welcome to this week’s Friday’s Finds. This week's theme is "Kid’s Gifts."  Our featured treasury is called “Gifts for Children.”

'Gifts for Children'

Beautiful handmade gifts for kids

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

 More Gifts For Little Ones:

I love you to the moon and back - Nursery Wall Art

Read me a story Tuck me in Say a sweet prayer Kiss megoodnight

Pink fashion illustration print – Ballerina Girl

And for older ones:

Black Ruffle Dress Fashion Illustration

 

It's all about the shoes

Next week’s theme is “Winter Wonderland.” You are more than welcome to submit a treasury and if your treasury is selected we will feature an item from your shop.  Just convo Zoica or myself.  We’ll let you know if your treasury is selected.

Also feel free to pin any of the items on our blog and follow our blog with bloglovin’.  The goal, ladies and gents, is to get sales!

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time…

Friday Finds - Gift Ideas for under $50

We had no takers this week for our recommended theme so I thought I would look at some of my favorite treasuries.  This one is called “Gifts Under $50” and was created by Sharon from wolfwhispersjewelry.

Here is one of Sharon’s lovely items:

Wire Wrapped Natural Black Onyx Gemstone Earrings

 

25 Snowflake Tags -... PetuniasWhims... $11	Floral Bracelet || ... JewelrybyEmme $75	Organic Facial Roun... purepixie $18	Celestial nude -She... soap $8
Leather Key Sleeve ... CicadaLeather... $6	Vintage Fire King C... stonesoupolog... $34	ON SALE 2014 Calend... SusanNewberry... $13.5	Heart gold necklace... netalyshany $29
Winter white, tan, ... bomobob $30	Wire Wrapped Brass ... HyppieChic $28	Golden White Flower... efiwarsh $28.5	Handmade Bamboo Way... ShadesofBambo... $39
Shaving Bowl with a... MiriHardyPott... $32	Blank Recipe Book -... BethBee $20.95	Arrow Ring- Triangl... ElishaMarie $25	Stained Glass Box, ... shopworksofgl... $34

Treasury tool by StylishHome.

 

Here are some other great finds that I found on Etsy.  Keeping with Sharon’s theme, they are all under $50.00.

This one is called "Girl in Pink" and was done by Zoica of Zoia.  Zoica does beautiful fashion illustrations and also welcomes custom work.

 

Here is a very cute French press cozy designed by Karen of ChocolateDogStudio.  I think my aunt would like one of these!  It's adorable and it's on sale!
 

I just ordered this for my daughter and can’t wait to get it.  Designed by Bobbi of MereBlissSupplies, it's a wristlet that holds your cell phone, credit cards and even some money.  Bobbi has a unique technique that treats the fabric so that it can be wiped clean.  I can't wait to get it.

Here is a beautiful cable knit pillow by Aura of Adorablewares.  Aura makes beautiful pillows.  I know because I have one!  Look at the detail on the pillow!

And finally here’s something from my shop, SusanNewberryDesigns, that has been very popular lately.  It’s a poem by E.E. Cummings and perfect for that special someone.  All you need is a frame! 

Well that wraps up another edition of Friday Finds.  Let’s keep this gift theme going.   The theme for next week is: "Gifts under $20”. If you have a treasury you would like to submit, just send me or Zoica a link via Etsy convo by Thursday afternoon and we will take a look. Remember, if your treasury is featured, we will feature an item from your shop.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time…