Wednesday, December 18, 2013

DIY Christmas Gift Tags

   Welcome to the Wednesday DIY project! Christmas is almost here and I hope you still have some gifts to wrap, so you can try these easy to make tags. You do not need to use Photoshop or to have a special cutting tool. If you have time, make them in advance and add more details to them. If you are in a hurry like me, here are some easy to make kind which could be made while wrapping.

   You would need plain tags( I bought  them in natural color because they have a more organic look), two sheets of “peel and stick” felt ( a red and a white), and ribbon from Michaels. You would have enough left for next year’s project or for birthday gifts tags later on.

    I made a snowman, by cutting two size circles and putting the last touches with markers. The tag is big enough to write a message on the back.


The other two are the shape of an ornament and one has an initial on it. Just create a shape on the back of the felt sheet, cut it and stick it on.


Have fun! Send me some pictures with your creations and I will post them here!



Monday, December 16, 2013

Artist Spotlight - Anna M from Gems Plus Leather

Welcome to another edition of Artist Spotlight. This week’s artist is Anna M  and her shop is called Gems Plus Leather.  Anna makes beautiful beaded jewelry and other items as well as hand tooled leather items.  Here is one of Anna’s beautiful items:


Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business

I fell in love with beading about 6 1/2 years ago when we moved to Cyprus.  I was bored and needed to find a hobby. Browsing the internet I found a beautiful beaded necklace.  Then I googled "beaded jewelry" and discovered many more beautiful items. I've realized that THIS IS IT! That's actually how I fell in love with beading.  I started out by "inventing my own techniques." Last summer I was also googling something and accidentally found some videos about leather tooling. That was exciting, so I had to try it at least once! Once I tried it I've realized that from now on my artistic soul is split into 2: beading and leather tooling. I combine them as well making jewelry with tooled leather elements, gemstones and beads.

How did you get your start?

I worked for a huge company with a great number of employees and when they saw my jewelry they started requesting custom orders.  I also began taking part in fairs and exhibitions, and one day I was advised to try Etsy.  I opened my Etsy shop about a year ago. My original website is
www.gemsforall.com because it was created long before I've added leather tooling to my skills. At the moment of creating my Etsy shop I was already tooling leather, thus I've named it "GemsPlusLeather."

Where do you get your inspiration?

It's very difficult to say what inspires me. In most cases new ideas come just before I fall asleep. I call it "twilight zone of my mind." I start dreaming and then I realize that the dream shows me my next project. Then I have to wake up and write down the idea, otherwise I won't remember anything in the morning. I know for sure that I've lost several ideas if I was too lazy to write them down straight away. I hoped I'll do that in the morning... Unfortunately in the morning I had just the memories of "some project I dreamed about" and couldn't remember any details.  Sometimes I get inspired by pictures, flower, and even movies... That's how I've created my rose, Prague belt, peony, Midway Geyser necklace, calla lily necklace, peacock necklace and many more other items you can find on my page and in my shop.
What has been your biggest successful moment so far?

For me my greatest achievement is my happy returning clients.  When people buy again it means you make good stuff. I always do my best and I want to understand my client better. That's why some of my clients become my friends later on. I always do my best to satisfy my clients because I don't want to disappoint them. I love getting their "wow" comments once they get their parcels :)


What challenges do you face selling online?

Well, until last week I didn't have any difficulties selling online. Last week one client unexpectedly "had changed her mind" because she told her man about the surprise she had ordered for him and he said he doesn't need it. It was the first time I've faced such a problem and it was frustrating; I also had to proceed with refund, order cancellation, renewal of the item, etc. Etsy order cancellation and refund procedure is not very clear but I've managed. I wish you'd never face such situation but if you ever would you may ask me; now I know how to handle it.


What advice would you give someone just starting out on Etsy?
The biggest problem selling on Etsy is visibility. There are billions of listings and if you don't advertise yourself there's a very small chance to be found by the buyers. Thus advertise, share, invite, create coupon codes, join teams and promote your shop wherever and whenever you can! Create clear and correct keywords for your listings and provide your listings with attractive pictures. I wish you good luck!

Thank you Anna for sharing your interesting story with us!
Well that wraps up another edition of Artist Spotlight.  We try and run this column 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…

Friday, December 13, 2013

Friday Finds - Gifts under $20

Welcome to another edition of Friday Finds.  Today's theme is "Gifts Under $20." 

Our featured treasury is called just that and was curated by Sharon of wolfwhispersjewelry.  Here is one of Sharon’s featured items:

Gifts Under $20
2014 Desk Calendar - Vintage Fashion on Vintage Background - 13 Month - Jewel Case - December 2013 - December 2014 - SusanNewberryDesigns
2014 Desk Calendar ...
$15
Christmas balls / christmas felt ornaments / Christmas ornaments set of 3 / white blue turquoise gold Christmas decorations / Ready to ship - TaniaSh
Christmas balls / c...
$15
Mini watercolor pinecone, special holiday sale, winter holiday decor, tabletop decor, holiday gift, hostess gift, gift under 20 - HammerToLace
Mini watercolor pin...
$14
Desert Bloom:  Tree Wire Art - lifetimeofhandmade
Desert Bloom: Tree...
$19
Australian pressed flower cards, real wildflowers, native plants, blank all occasion, set of five, red blue purple gold - Jillsgallery
Australian pressed ...
$17.5
Harry Potter Hedwig owl mug - LennyMud
Harry Potter Hedwig...
$16
3 Autumn Leaves Under Foot Mini Candle Sampler - Scented in Cinnamon Snap, Fallen Leaf, Mac-apple - Autumn Minimalist - Sale Gift Under 20 - pebblecreekcandles
3 Autumn Leaves Und...
$12
Fall Foliage Tile Coasters (Set of 4) - RachelleIsmsDotCom
Fall Foliage Tile C...
$12
Crochet Christmas Bears Hanging tree ornament Amigurumi Teddy Bear Keychain baby shower gifts Kids Toy Home Decor Gifts under 20 - Whitesundays
Crochet Christmas B...
$10
skeleton key necklace, gift under 20, heart key necklace, bridesmaid gift idea, antique silver necklace, silver key necklace, 20 inch - SimplyLovelies
skeleton key neckla...
$16
Sheer and Satin Infinity Scarf - Butterfly and Floral Design - neckStyles
Sheer and Satin Inf...
$17
Fairies, Fairy Party, Fairy Magnets, Cyber Monday Sale, Set of 6 Magnets, Fairy Gift, Flower Fairies, Ceramic Magnet, Hostess Gift, Woodland - EveningEcho
Fairies, Fairy Part...
$14.5
Set of 2 Small Air Plant Vases (Pictured in Slate and Mustard) Wooden Home Decor Air Plant Holder Wall Vases Rustic Miniature Vases - Timberandcompany
Set of 2 Small Air ...
$15
Rustic handknit fingerless-gloves, rustic mittens, eco friendly, gift under 20, unique gloves - Taschenatelier
Rustic handknit fin...
$18
red cardinal- Mrs Cardinal- 5x7 watercolor print - bleuherron
red cardinal- Mrs C...
$16
Gray Glasses Case. Grey Reading Glasses Case. Eyeglasses or Sunglasses Holder. Mens Glasses Holder. - MallinaDesign
Gray Glasses Case. ...
$15

Here are some other great gift ideas for under $20.

 
CrochetFingerless Gloves by ScarvesandThings by WK
 
 
 
 
 

Phone - iPod Cover by Polar1Butterfly
Next week’s theme is “Gifts for kids.” 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 by Thursday afternoon.  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.  The goal, ladies and gents, is to get sales!
Remember, if you are selected your shop and one of your items would be featured!
Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time…

Monday, December 9, 2013

Artist Spotlight - Ashley Thorner of Ershware

Welcome to another edition of Artist Spotlight. This week’s artist is Ashley Thorner.  Her shop is called Ershware  Ashley makes hip, modern hats for babies and toddlers.  Here is one of Ashley beautiful items:

Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business

I am an artist turned designer turned momma and all back again. I have a MFA in Art and a MLA in Landscape Architecture, and a love for fashion, eco-friendly materials and processes, and dressing my son in the coolest clothes I can find or make.


How did you get your start?
As an artist and designer with a love for fashion and modern design I struggled trying to find unique, modern and affordable clothes for my son. It seems like clothing choices, especially for boys, are so one dimensional, cookie cutter. So I wanted to make some cute clever items for him to wear. I drew on my design sensibility, my past-life as a pattern maker, and my ridiculously heavy industrial sewing machine to take matters into my own hands.

Where do you get your inspiration?
My son is my inspiration. From his funny expressions, love of stuffed animals and pets to his endless spills and stains! I’ve always been a hat fan, knitting many over the years, so I started a sizable collection for him - he does look good in a hat as you can see - he is my main Etsy model. Inspired by a previous experiment with converting an old Chewbacca t-shirt into a throw pillow, I decided to create something one of a kind for him using a well-loved t-shirt. It’s a design and process that really stems from my art and design work. I’m drawn to modern simple designs on one hand, and kitsch/over-the-top art as well. You can see both influences in my hats.

What has been your biggest successful moment so far?

As my shop is still really new, the highlights have been getting added to high-quality collections, watching the dashboard numbers grow, seeing my first mention in a blog like yours!

What challenges do you face selling online?
The biggest challenge is discoverability. With so many shops on Etsy, it’s hard to rise above, to get noticed and start to get meaningful traffic.


What advice would you give someone just starting out on Etsy?
Be patient. There are so many other shops - figure out your position, your brand, and your style and stick with it. Keep at it, take part in the community, and watch those numbers grow. It’s exciting!

Ashley’s hats and her son are adorable!  I love how the hats are all upcycled too.

Well that wraps up another edition of Artist Spotlight.  We try and run this column every Monday and we’re always looking for artists to spotlight.  So if you are interested or know someone that we’d enjoy reading about please pass on the information.

Thanks for stopping by,

Until next time…

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Free Calendar Printables

I thought I would share my 2014 calendars with you that I currently have for sale on Etsy.  These are called jewel case calendars or CD calendars because they fit into a jewel CD case.  Currently I offer seven different styles to choose from.  So whether your style runs from traditional to modern, I have a calendar for you.

Here’s a month from my French Calendar.
 

Here’s a page from my Antique Door Calendar.

 
If you love interior design as much as I do, you will love this chair calendar which features mid-century modern chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames, Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright and others.

 

For all the fashion lovers out there, here’s one from my Vintage Fashion Calendar. 


For the young at heart, here is my shoe calendar that features a different shoe for each month of the year.
 
And for those that love dance, here is a page from my ballet calendar.


Feel free to print these to enjoy for the month of December.  Each page measures approximately 4.75” x 5.5” but you can print them any size you want.
These calendars make great gifts!  Check my etsy store, SusanNewberryDesigns, for more gift ideas.

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by.
Until next time…


 

Friday, December 6, 2013

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:
 
25 Snowflake Tags - Vintage Inspired Christmas Tags -  Holiday Gift Tags - Christmas Gift Tags - Distressed Tags - Snowflake Tags - PetuniasWhimsy
25 Snowflake Tags -...
$11
Floral Bracelet || Gift Ideas for Her || Organza Flowers || Holiday Gift Ideas - JewelrybyEmme
Floral Bracelet || ...
$75
Organic Facial Rounds in a Gift Bag, 10 GOTS certified Organic cotton Eco Friendly Ultra Soft Facial Pads, Holiday Gift under 25 - purepixie
Organic Facial Roun...
$18
Celestial nude -Sheer Lip Tint - Iridescent Nude with pink blue undertone Semi-Matte - soap
Celestial nude -She...
$8
Leather Key Sleeve / Key Cap / Key Identifier / Key Cover / Tan / Monogram / Made in USA - CicadaLeatherCompany
Leather Key Sleeve ...
$6
Vintage Fire King Casserole Dish Covered Casserole White Glass Dish Lidded Casserole Holder Warming Stand Mid Century Modern Retro Kitchen - stonesoupology
Vintage Fire King C...
$34
ON SALE 2014 Calendar - Eiffel Tower - Paris Calendar - France Wall Calendar - Travel Photography - Paris is always a good idea - Jewel Cas - SusanNewberryDesigns
ON SALE 2014 Calend...
$13.5
Heart gold necklace - with romantic ornaments engraving -  valentine's gift - for her-HOLIDAY GIFT- under 30- bridesmaids necklace-bridal - netalyshany
Heart gold necklace...
$29
Winter white, tan, brown, wild flowers, white wedding, neutral, snow, white, beige, modern decor, cottage, cabin, straw, simplicity, nature - bomobob
Winter white, tan, ...
$30
Wire Wrapped Brass Armband - Flower Arm Bracelet - Golden Upper Armband - Cocktail Jewelry - HyppieChic
Wire Wrapped Brass ...
$28
Golden White Flowers  Heart  SHEMA ISRAEL Texture Wall hanging  Handmade  Hostess Gift Homedecor - efiwarsh
Golden White Flower...
$28.5
Handmade Bamboo Wayfarer Sunglasses (Light Grain) - ShadesofBamboo
Handmade Bamboo Way...
$39
Shaving Bowl with a Mustache, Cream Moustache Shave Cup,  Unique Pottery Gifts for Groomsmen, Best Man by MiriHardyPottery - MiriHardyPottery
Shaving Bowl with a...
$32
Blank Recipe Book - Measuring Spoons (5 in. x 7 in.) - Size No.2 - Silver ink - BethBee
Blank Recipe Book -...
$20.95
Arrow Ring- Triangle ring- Knuckle Ring- Winter Fashion - ElishaMarie
Arrow Ring- Triangl...
$25
Stained Glass Box, Blue Gray, Keepsake Box, Treasure Box, Gift for Him, Desk Accessory, Home Decor, House Warming Gift, Holiday Gift - shopworksofglass
Stained Glass Box, ...
$34
 
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…