SF Bay Area Etsy Street Team

Savvy Enterepreneur: Using StumbleUpon to Drive Traffic

2012-01-26T09:30:00.000-08:00

I’ve recently become convinced that StumbleUpon can reallyhelp drive traffic to your website if you use it somewhat regularly. I’ve beenspending some time playing around and reading tips on the best way to utilizeit and being the generous geek that I am I thought I’d share a few tips forthose of you totally new to it all.

StumbleUpon is often described as a bookmarking site, but inmy opinion it works much better as a discovery vehicle and a traffic source. Itis a social network, so this means you need to interact and yes follow, notjust promote. However it takes much less diligence than Facebook and Twitter tostart seeing results.

Getting Started

First things first, set up an account, fill in your profileand interests and start following people - your friends, people you interactwith on Twitter and Facebook, bloggers you read, etc. I also highly recommenddownloading the toolbar for your browser it will make things much easier.

Once you’ve got your profile all set and are following a fewpeople, start stumbling. This means letting StumbleUpon suggest websites,images, and video based on your interests and what the people you follow like.This is the discovery part. You will undoubtedly find some new things thatinterest your, articles worth reading, and just generally entertainingstuff. The more you use it andrate things, the more you’ll find things that actually interest you.

A web page only gets into the system if a user likes it. Themore a page gets liked the more it gets shown to other users. If a page getsdisliked or no response it will eventually drop out of the system.

Distinguishing Yourself

If you are a helpful user you make the system better andpeople will take a look at what you recommend. It’s really that simple. Soevery time you find something on the web you appreciate, like it via yourstumble bar. It’s also helpful to write a quick review and/or add tags. Thiswill not only help you find the things you liked again, but will help otherusers get what they’re looking for.

Make sure to define your interests, not only will this helpyou find the types of things you’re looking for it will also help you establishyourself as a source for information around that topic.

Also join groups, search out new users and interact. It is acommunity and the more you give the more you get back.

Generating Traffic

First a word of caution, just liking your own pages can getyou removed from the site and it’s simply not being a helpful user. However youcertainly can like your pages, especially new blog posts, give them a quickreview and get them into the system.

If you submit something new you’ll get a window that pops upcongratulating you on a new discovery, take the time to fill in the tags andreview, it will help your content get seen by those who are truly interested init.

The thing about StumbleUpon is that while you can suddenlyget 1,000s of new eyes on your website, most of the traffic jumps off just asquickly. So you must still have great content, striking images, or usefulvideos. Content that has the potential to go viral is great to submit and alsohelps pull users further into your website.

So take some time each week to use StumbleUpon to find newthings, explore the community and submit one or two of your own pages. You willget little boosts in traffic and if your content is useful and engaging theywill come back and they will share.

Now go stumble and by all means follow me!

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Tech Tools: Pinterest

2012-01-25T20:55:00.000-08:00

Pinterest (Pin + Interest) has been gaining attention lately and it's a wonderful tool. A recent partnership with Etsy, millions in venture funding, and the fact that they are hiring like mad means you will probably be seeing a lot more of Pinterest and more ways to use it!

Pinterest profile page showing my latest "pins"

What does it do?
If you like to record inspiration, explore design (including typography), or have interest in the worlds of fashion design, home decor, and kitchen delights, you'll find a community of like minds immediately.

The "Pin it" button can be found
in the lower right of any Etsy listing.

Pinterest can be more (or less!) than all that though. It's simply an online bulletin board, where you can create your own public boards and sift through the collections of others. Etsy recently added a "pin it" button on each item listing, so it's easier than ever to share your own items, create collections and mood boards, and save ideas for gifting.

How do I start?

Pinterest is easiest to use if you are accustomed to other services that add a button to your browser searchbar, like Amazon.com's wish list button. If that makes no sense, you can still get started, just don't forget that you will be able to add your own Pins from any site once you get the hang of the browser bar.

First thing: sign up! Etsy has created an invite link. I chose to connect my account with Facebook so I don't have to remember new passwords.

Pinning from a browser window~

Next: go ahead and add the "Pin it" button to your browser. Use this link. Now, whenever you see an image you like, you can click the "Pin it" button (link) on your browser and add the image to one of your boards. Pinterest walks you through it via pop-up windows.

Explore! That's what Pinterest is all about, check out the categories up top, look for your friends by linking with Facebook, and start adding original content by pinning from sites outside of Pinterst itself. It can be easiest to pin from other users, but don't forget that's not all you can do!

Check out our collaborative board. Please post your username and a link to your profile in the comments below if you would like to follow and be followed by fellow SF Etsians.

Extra Credit:

You can add your own "Pin it" and "Follow" to your personal site or blog buttons if you host your own website.
There are mobile versions, you can take photos from your Ipad or Iphone and pin them.
Pinterest etiquette~ check out some emerging suggestions from other users.

Please do share your experience and questions in the comments below!

~Even

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: Build A Plan For Success

2012-01-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

Business plans bring up all sorts of feelings of dread. Wepicture thick tomes full of graphs, spreadsheets, and endless paragraphs onmarketing segements.

Today I want to you think about writing a different sort ofbusiness plan. This one is solely for you and will only take a couple hours ofyour time and will provide clear action steps for growing your business.

The Big Money Picture

Start with the big picture in money, what does your businessneed to make and how soon does it need to make that? There’s a time and a placefor vision and mission statements, but right now I want you to get straight tothe point. Focus on the business you want to build and how long you have tomake it work.

List out allyour possible expenses - rent, utilities, travel, marketing, employees, etc.and what you want to pay yourself to come up with a monthly income.

This number might seem scary big, but you want this to be asustainable business, not a hobby. You need to pay yourself well, invest in thebusiness (marketing, rent, conferences), and still have a cushion for theunexpected.

You also need to know how long you have for the business toreach this level. Do you only have 6 months of savings or do you have a 2-yearrunway?

The Right Now Picture

Now let’s look at what's already coming in. List all theincome you know you can count on and estimate what you’ve been averaging forall the revenue streams you have. Be as specific as you can even if you need toguess at averages.

If you’ve got revenue streams that you’re still building,but haven’t brought anything in yet, don’t forget to note those too.

What’s the difference in these two numbers? Are youthousands off or only hundreds? This will give you a better idea of how hardyou need to work, how far you need to go, and how long it will take you.

Where’s The Money?

Now let’s look at your time spent to bring in that income.What are you doing right now that’s bringing in the most money? Can you devotemore hours to it? What are you doing that’s bringing in the least amount ofmoney? Is it worth the effort, do you need to charge more, or are you stillworking to prove a model?

You might see that custom work brings in great money whenyou get it, but you’re not booking much. Instead you’ve been focusing on marketingyour online store. It might be time to switch your efforts toward booking morecustom projects. Or you might see that for the time investment craft fairs andtrunk shows just aren’t cutting it. You might need to cut the number you committo drastically and invest your time in securing wholesale accounts instead.

Building A Plan

Now that you’ve got a clearer picture of where the money iscoming from and where your time is best spent build an actionable plan to getyour numbers where you need them to be. Start with modest goals, but set themhigh enough to challenge yourself and keep things moving forward.

You might need to slowly extract yourself from the parts ofthe business that aren’t making money, before you can invest more time into theareas that are. Do you need to learn more about sales or gaining retailaccounts? Set goals like increasing your revenue by 20% or booking 2 newclients next month and build from there.

Numbers are hard to ignore, so taking a good look at themwill give you a pretty clear picture of what’s working and what’s not. It’seasier to build on what’s already working than add new strategies, products orservices that haven’t been tested.

What step can you take next month to get you closer to yourgoal?

This is the kind of work I do with my clients, becausesometimes it’s hard to do on your own. I help them gain perspective on wherethey are, where they want to go, and what paths will get them there. If you’vegot big goals this year send me an email and I’ll tell you how I can help.

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Crafty Computer Night Tuestorial

2012-01-17T14:33:00.000-08:00

With the new year comes new changes to your Etsy shop...refreshes and updates. Especially if you're paying attention to some of the current Etsy Newsletters with hold a whole slew of information on updating your Etsy page for the new year.

It's all a bit overwhelming to me. I mean...I get so lazy during the year that I end up with a mish-mash of products, lack of thought in my tagging and over all a huge mess. I'd like to say it's all because I'm just so busy creating new art all the time that I can't be bothered with my Etsy page... but it's really just laziness and because I'd much rather go to craft events than update my page.

So, I got an idea... why not have the event come to my house? I clearly needed some motivation to get some updates on my Etsy page completed... what better way to do that than to invite some Etsy people over for wine, treats and a computer workshop?

Last week was the first of many (I hope) SFEtsy Computer Craft Nights.

Here are the basic "rules", tips and tricks to a night like this:

- Provide a place to plug in for all of the invitees: Some people won't use the plugs, but some will require it. Plan ahead and don't invite more people than you have outlets.

- Determine the # of Attendees: Be sure to really be clear about the number of people you're able to house in your home. No need to over-pack your space just to allow as many Etsians to come over. And be sure to let others know when you've reached your max capacity... there's always next time. My house is a small Jr. One Bedroom. So I was only able to have up to 6 people. I think it was the perfect size when we had just 4 of us because discussions were more intimate and everyone was able to speak to the group.

- Comfortable Seating: I'm lucky to have a Pottery Barn sofa and two vintage wing-back chairs to have people lounge on...there was plenty of space for all attendees to stretch out and take over a corner of the room.

- Nibbles are Key: Never make someone work without a cookie to munch on. You could do a pot luck if you'd like. I didn't expect my attendees to bring anything...but they did and we had tons of food and a glass of wine for each of us.

- Discussions: Let's learn from each other about the process we use to update our sites. Do you use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements for photo re-touching? Do you have any questions on white-balance or color correcting? By the end of the evening we had all also liked one another's Facebook pages as well. Networking AND getting work done - awesome!

- Clean Up is a Breeze: Wow! There was literally ZERO to clean up. Unlike the past craft nights I've had...where I'm left with snip bits of paper, glitter all over, wet paint, dirty brushes and a giant craft mess... this was so easy. Everyone came with a computer, and no one left one behind. As the host, the only thing I had to do was set out some snacks and then pick up the snacks that weren't eaten.

- Introduce Your Kids & Animals: I think it's important to remember that we all are humans with allergies or personal space issues...and very few of us know each other personally. Therefore, if you're a smoker, have kids or you're a pet owner - put that out there in your invite. There's no shame in letting people know what they are getting into before they walk through the door.

We had a great time discussing tagging, best practices, Facebook Marketing strategies and getting to know each other during our meet up at my house. I've noticed that since I sparked the idea through our Google Group, many other people have also chimed in to say they are looking to do something similar. I think this is so great!

Here are some photos I snapped of my event last weekend.
Look! Collaboration and Working together as a team on something! That's Eko and Talia. I had never met Talia before, but I just love her stuff. She's the owner of http://www.etsy.com/shop/mycrobe. With her is Eko... her jewelry is here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ekojewelrydesign. She has such lovely things in her shop.

Here you see Rebecca Saylor and myself....well, my Photoshop screen as I update images for My Etsy...but I swear I'm behind the camera. :-) Rebecca is starting up a new shop. So we talked all about all the wonderful things that she has been creating. She just recently decided to do Etsy almost full-time. We were all ubber excited for her and the new adventure she's on.

Let me know if any of you end up doing another Computer Night and want to feature some of your tips and tricks in the team blog. Have fun Networking!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Treasury Team Presents: A Bit of the Bay

2012-01-14T06:32:00.000-08:00

This week's treasury challenge winner is Kristen Henry of ArtAtomic. Kristen's own work is a mesmerizing example of "geek meets artist". She describes her work, "Some things I do: artistically amplified visualizations of particle collision simulations. Hand embroidered cell diagrams. Shiny beads! I can't resist shiny beads." How fun!

ArtAtomic's Kaleidoscopic Cell by Kristen Henry

Her treasury is full of winter delights illustrating the design talent and a bit of humor that is found in our team. Each week we make treasuries including out sfetsy teammates. Everyone is welcome to participate as much as you like. To create a treasury that can be featured here on the blog, please:

include at least 4 team members (search 'sfetsy' in any category)
use the tag sfetsy team treasury on the treasury itself
make a mention of the team tag (sfetsy) and our blog address (sfetsy.blogspot.com) in your treasury description.

For the coming week, I'd love to see love songs (or any favorite songs) illustrated. It's not to early to share your valentine items~ Start treasuring and remember to support each other by searching for sfetsy among treasuries and commenting and sharing your favorites! Questions? Please message Even via Etsy.

'a bit of the bay' by AlphaRabbitOnline

all from San Francisco Bay Area artists and craftersTo find more items from the SF Etsy team, try the search term "sfetsy". You can also find out more on our team blog: www.sfetsy.blogspot.com

RossLab $16.00	KnitnutbyJL $12.00	iluxo $14.99
jeremiahcollec... $650.00	lucky8letterpr... $99.00	sharonzimmerma... $230.00
GeraldineAdams $22.00	danafong $10.00	prestonjewelry $140.00
SFlocal $2.50	SennandSons $80.00	RandomPrefect $22.00
GrannyPantyDes... $9.50	RedClayCo $59.00

~Even Howard

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

DIY Marketing at TechShop SF

2012-01-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

Successful marketing is about communicating with your customers in a way that makes you memorable. We all know the handmade/craft/artisan market is crowded one, so you need to put effort in to stand out.

In this 2-hour workshop, our very own SF Etsy team members, Genevieve Robertson of Lightbox SF and Shana Astrachan of Shana Astrachan Jewelry will inspire you with creative marketingtips that will your business cards worthy of framing, keep customers talking about you, and make you so memorable they keep coming back.

The best part is they'll show you how to do this on the cheap doing much of it yourself with inexpensive tools and of course the resources of TechShop and other great local businesses.

They'll discuss basic marketing materials you all should have and how to make everyone want to walk away yours, creative packaging ideas that will extend your brand image, and display tips to make your products stand out in craft fairs and retail shops.

What better way to kick of 2012 than by learning how to stand out and save money at the same time? Reserve your spot now!

Wednesday, January 18, 7-9pm
Saturday, January 28th, 2-4pm

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: Finding A Rhythm

2012-01-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

Starting the New Year we often feel full of promise andmotivation, but then find ourselves falling behind within a week or two andtotally back to our old ways within a month. I have some advice I think mighthelp, but it means adding one more thing to your list of resolutions for theyear.

This year I want you to listen to your body and mind to findyour natural rhythm and promise to work with the patterns that you alreadyfollow. I know the New Year is about quitting bad habits and starting goodones, but think of this as neither good nor bad, but celebrating and using yourexisting habits to make you more productive.

Finding Your Rhythm

With a little self-awareness you can begin to notice whattimes of day you’re most productive, when you hit a slump and when you need toadmit you’ve done all you can. By being aware of when you can focus best andwhen you’re easily distracted you can plan your big projects and mindless tasksto coincide.

Work With Your Natural Tendencies

If you wake up early bright-eyed and bushytailed, but findyour energy lagging by lunchtime, try jumping into a big project right away andsave the stuff that needs less attention for the times when feel your energywaning. The momentum of crossing something major off your list first thingmight even carry you through your lunchtime slump.

However if you’re more like me and pulling yourself fromsleep seems like minor torture, start with the easy stuff. Do a quick check-inof your calendar, to-do list, and email as you sip that first cup of coffee.Give yourself time to get in the work mindset, map out your day, prioritizewhat needs to be done, but also give yourself a specific point at which youswitch gears and really get to work.

I generally focus on getting a lot of little stuff out ofthe way first off, it sets my momentum for the day and clears out my latemorning and afternoon which is when I focus best. Around 3:00 I often feelmyself getting sluggish. So not only do I get a snack to boost my energy, thisis when I do my major email catching up and the time I check-in with Facebookand Twitter to do my social media marketing. Short attention span tasks aregreat for me at this point in the day. However when it gets dark I get a secondwind so I knock out one more project between 5-7 and sometimes pick it up againafter dinner.

Strict But Flexible

If you’ve never really paid attention to your energy levelsyou might not know where to start. Make note of how you feel throughout the dayfor a few days in a row. You don’t need to track every hour, but every time younotice a shift in energy jot down the time. Soon you’ll have a map of yourdays.

Then work out a schedule that makes the most of your energylevels. Test it for a week staying as close to it as you can before you makechanges. Do be sensitive to what works and what doesn’t, you most likely won’tnail it the first time around.

Also be forgiving, if you’re a night owl and there’s no needfor you to be up and productive before noon, don’t do it. There’s no rule thatyour workday needs to resemble anything close to 9-5. Instead don’t start workuntil 2 or 3pm and work into the week hours of the morning. I have friends thatschedule in a half hour nap almost every day because they’ve found that theirwork and mood both benefit from it.

I realize many of you have kids and husbands to work aroundand this might all seem easier said than done. However, I promise that with alittle awareness you’ll find out when you’re most productive and when you’releast focused, then just accept and plan for them.

What scheduling tricks help you stay productive?

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: Embracing Failure

2012-01-05T15:22:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

I love that feeling of turning a corner that the New Year brings. I know it's only psychological, but I truly do feel I have a fresh new outlook and sort of second chance. For me this year will be about facing fears and embracing failure. I am scared and exhilarated and I hope the feeling lasts all year long.

First a confession: I am a perfectionist. While much of the time my attention to detail serves me well it can also hold me back. I want to know everything I can before I jump into any project. I want to fit all pieces into place before I call something done. And most importantly I want to know I'll succeed before I try anything new.

This year will be different. I'm going to try to fail. I am going to fight my tendencies and jump into things without having all the knowledge. Don't worry I have a good reason for this. First it's because I suspect in the long run I'll accomplish more, both good and bad, but will certainly have a sense of forward movement that I feel last year lacked. I also suspect that by embracing failure I'll not only learn more, but might actually fail less. If I get an idea and put it into action without over thinking I'll begin to see results, good or bad much quicker. If I'm not getting the results I want I can tweak my idea and make changes just as quickly. Chances are very few will ever notice that there was a period of time where my idea wasn't working.

However the biggest reason for setting myself on a path to failure, actively trying to make mistakes, big mistakes, is that I'll truly begin to see that it's really not such a bad thing. I will know first hand that I can recover, that most people don't notice, that the world doesn't stop. I'll be less afraid in the future.

So while you may not be ready to actively try to fail I do encourage you to face your fears. Here's a little trick to make it easier. Imagine that thing you're afraid of - launching a new product, cutting your day job down to part-time, approaching retail shops. Imagine the absolute worst case scenario. If every bad thing you can imagine in relation to your fear were to happen what would it look like? I suspect it's really not all that bad. I suspect you could easily get out of the situation with only a few bruises and scrapes. By imagining your worst case fears you take away their power, you see they're not really that bad. You might even be able to see a way to avoid them entirely and still face your fear.

So here's to a year full of cuts, scrapes, bruises and failure! May we all brush ourselves off gracefully and walk away smiling.

What are your biggest fears for the year to come?

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: You Don't Have To Be Super Woman

2011-12-22T18:20:00.000-08:00

I'm sure many of you suffer from the same affliction I do... the need to do it all, perfectly, right now. However today I'm admitting defeat, not failure, just defeat. The holidays got the better of me, I made too many plans and promises to myself and it's just not all going to happen the way I want it to.

I'm raising the white flag of surrender, saying I just can't do it all and most importantly acknowledging this before I have any true battle wounds. I am not beat down and I didn't fail, I just bit off more than I could chew (pardon the mixing of metaphors, my brain isn't too sharp today).

I'm writing this because I had intended for a much more in-depth post on finding your rhythm to make your days more productive, but that's not happening. And after a little fighting back I realized that was ok. I don't always have to do it all, all the time, perfectly.

I'm writing this to remind you of that fact for two reasons. This is the time of year when we're most likely to overextend ourselves and pay for it in the end. It's also the time of year that we tend to reflect and turn toward what we wished had gone better.

I'm begging you not to do either. Most likely many of the promises you made over these past few weeks were only to yourself. Pick one thing, decide not to do it and relish the slightly lighter feeling your shoulders have. Then when you feel yourself starting to drift toward the "should haves" and "wish I would haves" of the past year, stop! Look instead toward all you did accomplish and what you learned that will take you further next year.

Now go enjoy your holidays knowing that even though you're not Super Woman, no one else is either and you're the smarter one for admitting it.

Happy Holidays!!!

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

SF Etsy Team's Holiday Show at Urban Bazaar

2011-12-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure to volunteer at the Urban Bazaar Vagabond Indie Craft Fair: Holiday Edition...

With all of the bigger fairs, Bizarre Bazaar & Renegade, it’s great that there are smaller fairs that house our teammates with such class. Brandi and Briana, co-owners of Urban Bazaar, did a great job organizing the event.
There was a wide selection of items for shoppers, a donation based Bake Sale & Hot Drink area, as well as a very well organized and well lite backyard for the artists to set up & sell in.

The Bake Goodies Table & Hot Drink Station were hits! People would stop off at the Bake Sale table and donated even if they weren’t taking a treat! Must be the spirit of the season! One guy gave $10 just to to be nice...and even when I told people items were donation based, they still wanted to give a little something to SF Etsy. Lots of people talked about how great it is that Urban Bazaar are so willing to help out local artists. Even though the baked goods were free...people were willing to donate anyway just to help out SF Etsy. How great is that?!

Once a person stopped off at the Baked Goodie table, they often were intrigued as to what was going on and wandered inside the shop, and to the back, for the Craft Show.

From What I hear, everyone had a great time and most booths were busy for most of the afternoon.

I wasn't able to be in the back area much, since I was out front most of the day...but here are some photos that I took from the event featuring some of our team members! I missed a couple of the team members because I was rushing to get back to my station...but I think I got almost everyone there.

I think what I learned from this show was that smaller shows really allow you to showcase your work in a way that connects with your customer a little better than larger shows. Everyone at their booth was able to spend time with their customers and get to know their market.

Can't wait to see what other shows are happening for everyone the rest of this holiday season.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Treasury Team Presents: Gratitude

2011-12-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

Our weekly team treasuries always feature SF Etsy Team members and they can be a great way to find gifts during this, the giving season. Steven Loscutoff of Giant Gnome design has created this week's Treasury Team winning treasury with "Hello Neighbors!" ~a 100% SF Etsy team member collection.

Steven's own works are a perfect vision of quirky gnomeness and could be just the choice for some holiday hellos of your own.

Gnome and Flower box set of 10 note cards by GiantGnomedesign

'Hello Neighbors!' by GiantGnomedesign

sometimes you don't have to search far...and that's what being a part of the SFEtsy team so great! be sure to check out local crafty SFEtsy people for amazing finds right outside your doorstep

theresajtoo $7.50	MeMakeStuff $30.00	TheEnchantedSq... $40.00
TinaFrancisDes... $22.00	GraphwicksCand... $14.50	mycrobe $6.00
necessarynonse... $14.00	ClayCat $45.00	MoMuertos $15.00
GeraldineAdams $22.00	SmoochyBabyDes... $37.00	roska $12.00
FlakEater $40.00	1byliz $36.00	ReCultivation $85.00

Each week the SF Etsy Treasury Team creates treasuries that feature at least 4 members and are inspired by a weekly theme challenge. Anyone can participate anytime! Please check out our info here. This week's theme is "holiday at home," please create your treasuries with the idea of celebrating one (or more!) of the holidays of the season in a specific place you love. Feel free to interpret the theme widely. We always post our blog address (www.sfetsy.blogspot.com and one sentence that instructs Etsy buyers our wares can be found with the search term "sfetsy". Questions and ideas? Please email Even via etsy or @ even howard @ gmail . com.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Join SF Etsy at the Vagabond Indie Craft Fair -- Tomorrow!

2011-12-09T05:09:00.000-08:00

We are so excited! Tomorrow is the last SF Etsy team show of the year -- the Holiday Edition of the Vagabond Indie Craft Fair at Urban Bazaar!

SF Etsy is a big fan of Urban Bazaar, and we're delighted to be working with them again on a holiday shopping opportunity that is sure to please. Come have something warm to drink, nibble on some sweet treats at the SF Etsy bake sale table, and shop with some of SF Etsy's finest artisans:

Art History Nerd
Estudio Martita
Heathered
Isobell Jewelry
Lady Alamo
Mz Creation
Nidhi Chanani Illustration
The Enchanted Square
Yarrow Jewelry
Katy Atchison Illustration

WHERE: Urban Bazaar's backyard garden
1371 9th Ave. (between Irving & Judah Streets)
San Francisco CA 94122

WHEN: Saturday December 10th, 12:30-6pm

ADMISSION: Free!

Visit the WEBSITE for more info, or the Facebook page and event page.

Hope to see you there! Shop local and handmade this holiday season!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: Bazaar Bizarre 2011 Recap

2011-12-08T08:44:00.001-08:00

This past weekend was the beginning of the Holiday Craft Fair season and many of us were at Bazaar Bizarre, including myself. I had the opportunity to be there all day Saturday in the Etsy booth representing both Etsy and SF Etsy. I have never been on that side of a craft fair for the whole day, surprising I know, but I don't sell products. I've spent time helping out friends for a few hours here and there, but have never been there from setup to break down before. I have to say the morning set up energy was my favorite part of the day. It was great to see everyone loading in boxes, structures and tables and making them into their own little storefronts.

We got set up quickly and then our morning volunteer, Claire, started heading out to find each of the SF Etsy team members that we knew of to get a sample for our booth. She made 3 or 4 trips to gather everything. Both of us were really impressed by the talent of the group.

We also had the opportunity to offer up a table for some of the team members to have a few hours of vending time. I must say I enjoyed having the company all day and the chance to get to know a few of the team members much better.

In addition to the selling and making friends we also got the chance to talk to a lot of people about Etsy and the SF Etsy Street Team. I remember one gentleman in particular that was asking on behalf of his wife, how to set up a shop and get involved in the local team. Our afternoon volunteer, Stephanie, also got to talk to a lot of folks about how supportive the local team is.

All in all it was an amazing day of handmade and great people. I loved being surrounded by all the talent. Thank you Etsy and Bazaar Bizarre for making it happen!

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: You Can Judge A Gift By Its Box

2011-12-01T11:51:00.001-08:00

We’re officially in December, which means the holidayshopping season is in full swing. Many of you have already had Black Friday andCyber Monday sales and the holiday show season officially starts this weekend.I seem to be getting a new invite everyday.

Many people will be seeing your products for the first timein the coming weeks, both online and in real life. They are shopping forsomeone they care about and have most likely chosen to shop handmade becausethey understand the care that goes into each piece, not to mention it feelsgood to support artisans.

Make sure that your care and attention to detail carriesthrough to your packaging. Nothing is more disappointing than buying abeautiful pair of handmade earrings or a painstakingly crocheted hat only towalk away with it in a simple paper bag or receive it in a beat up paddedmailer.

This is your chance to make it the truly amazing and specialgift that it is. Take the time to wrap it in tissue paper that matches yourshop colors. Seal the paper with a logo sticker or even a simple circle ofaccenting color. Use the right size box that is sturdy enough to not get bangedup or crushed. Make the box unique by putting a stamp, bow, or even apersonalized gift tag on the outside. Include two business cards, one with thereceipt for the gift giver and one inside the box for the receiver.

During a show this can seem like a lot of work with someonestanding and waiting for you and others quickly lining up to ask questions ormake a purchase. But trust me when I say that if they can see the care you’reputting in, they’ll wait.

If you do most of your sales online include at least oneshot of what your packaging looks like. It may be that one detail that makessomeone choose you over a competitor. I know I’ve been swayed by thoughtfulpackaging.

Receiving and opening that box should be as much a treat aswhat is inside. It’s a sure way to make everyone feel special and for you to beremembered.

If your product or shop style doesn’t really work with atraditional gift box don’t be afraid to be creative with your packaging, justkeep in mind that you are selling an experience. From beginning to end theexperience should fit. The way you present your product, interact with yourcustomers, and package the sale should be as special and memorable as theproduct itself.

I’d love to hear some of the unique details you alreadyinclude in your packaging.

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

SF Etsy at Bazaar Bizarre This Weekend!

2011-11-30T10:45:00.000-08:00

We are so exicted about the Bazaar Bizarre craft festival this weekend! As you may know, the show has become so popular that they have moved to a larger location at the Concourse Exhibition Center East Hall -- now in its fifth year, the Bazaar Bizarre Holiday Fair is one of the best in the area!

You'll find lots of SF Etsy favorites as vendors at the fair (for a complete list, go here) and we're especially delighted to let you know that SF Etsy will be staffing the Etsy booth this year. On Saturday and Sunday you can come and chat with team leaders and volunteers all day long -- in addition to many other folks, on Saturday you'll find SF Etsy's Savvy Entrepreneur, Genevieve of Lightbox SF, and on Sunday you'll find SF Etsy's team captain, Jen from Mama's Magic Studio. The Etsy booth is booth 138, right by the main East Entrance, so please come by and say hello!

Will you be at Bazaar Bizarre this weekend? Leave us a comment so we know to come give your booth a visit!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Vagabond Indie Craft Fair with SF Etsy and Urban Bazaar

2011-11-30T09:05:00.000-08:00

SF Etsy is delighted to announce the upcoming Vagabond Indie Craft Fair at Urban Bazaar!

Last year, we created a magical Winter Wonderland in the backyard of Urban Bazaar, and this year we are making more craftastic magic in the same location. Please join us for a fabulous day of holiday shopping. Vagabond will be a fun, interactive experience for hip, socially-conscious shoppers to find unique and beautifully handcrafted gifts, all while supporting talented indie artisans. You'll recognize many SF Etsy favorites on the list of participants!

Art History Nerd
Estudio Martita
Heathered
Isobell Jewelry
Lady Alamo
Mz Creation
Nidhi Chanani Illustration
The Enchanted Square
Yarrow Jewelry
Katy Atchison Illustration

The wares that will be up for grabs include a wide range of jewelry, hair accessories, original and print artwork, knitted hats and scarves, purses & handbags, and home decor items. The show's blog has more info about these amazing artists and their unique items.

Be sure to stop by the SF Etsy Bake Sale table to grab some yummy treats and chat with our lovely Team Leader, Katy of Katy Atchison Illustration!

WHERE: Urban Bazaar's backyard garden
1371 9th Ave. (between Irving & Judah Streets)
San Francisco CA 94122

WHEN: Saturday December 10th, 12:30-6pm

ADMISSION: Free!

Visit the WEBSITE for more info, or the Facebook page and event page.

Many thanks to Urban Bazaar for their support of the SF Etsy team and this event. We will hope to see you there!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Thanks, SF Etsy!

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is your captain speaking, SF Etsy -- today, I wanted to let you know how thankful I am to be part of this fantastic community. It's such a pleasure and a privilege to work with the team and to be connected to the vibrant creativity and crafty goodness that can be found throughout the bay area.

Thanks to each of the SF Etsy members for being part of this team. Thank you for pursuing your craft and your creativity, for making things and collecting things and for sharing them with the world. And thanks especially to all the leaders and volunteers who pitch in to help out the team in so many ways. We've grown incredibly as a team over the past two years. SF Etsy is entirely run by volunteers, and without these volunteers we couldn't do the many amazing things that we do. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
SF Etsy, I heart you! Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Jen
SF Etsy Team Captain
the Mama in Mama's Magic Studio

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Friday Feature -- This Charming Candy

2011-11-18T16:02:00.000-08:00

This week's featured SF Etsy member is Kate, who runs This Charming Candy along with her business partner, Susan.

Santa, are you listening? I would love to get some of these in my Christmas stocking this year!

Salted Caramel Lollipops

Actually, anything from their Spice Rack collection sounds quite yummy to me!

Hang on to your taste buds and enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

We make handcrafted lollipops! Our process is long and involved. An example might be best.
We recently refreshed our Adventurer's Pack - it used to have 3 flavors, not 4, and we'd moved one of those flavors, Nutmeg Creme to the Spice Rack. So it needed some help. We knew that we wanted it to be more than just "flavors you don't normally find in a lollipop."

Susan thought of trying to hit a few different flavor themes: sweet (which the Pistachio-Marshmallow, the only holdover from the previous iteration, hit nicely), salty, tart, and spicy. We scoured cookbooks, books about flavors, kept our eyes open when we went out, brainstormed ideas, and asked our customers what flavors they might want to try. We came up with a few candidates for each theme. Susan made taste-testing models, which we distributed amongst friends and local customers, and asked for feedback.

After gathering all the feedback, we took the flavors that the most people liked OR the flavor that had the most enthusiastic supporters (Salted Anise was polarizing, but the people who like it? REALLY like it.) We did a few more iterations with our taste-testers to come up with the final flavors and recipes.

We eventually decided the Adventure Pack would include:

Sweet: Pistachio-Marshmallow
Salty: Salted Anise
Tart: Tart Pluot
Heat: Black Pepper Melon

It's been a success! We love getting ideas and feedback from our customers.

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

SFEtsy, EtsyRain, EtsyLush, EUC Team

3. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

This Charing Candy is actually 2 people: Susan and Kate. Kate lives in Sunnyvale, CA and is a member of SFEtsy, while Susan lives in Seattle and is a member of EtsyRAIN. We are in constant communication with each other. If it weren't for smartphones, the internet, a lot of trust, and all the communication, there's no way we could do this.

4. How did you get involved with Etsy?

Susan made fabulous lollipops, and Kate wanted to help tell the world about them. We knew we had enough interest from people that we could sell our creatively flavored candy, and we also knew that we wanted to make it ourselves. We didn't want to outsource it. Etsy was a perfect place! We launched our Etsy shop with just two products: Spice Rack and Fruit Basket (a previous version of the Fruit Basket that bears little resemblance to the current one). We've slowly added new products, revamped some products (like the Fruit Basket), and retired some others. Etsy has been a great way to bring our collections and flavors to our customers!

5. What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday?

My mom was a fantastic sewer. She made most of my clothes as a kid, and almost all of hers. I wish I'd been gifted with half her ability. I have all her sewing supplies now, and I'm looking to find the time to teach myself how to be a better sewer. We've ordered some fabric for our craft show tablecloths from Spoonflower, and I've gotten to practice by making those. It's small, but any chance to learn is a good one!

6. Tell us about your first sale ever?

It wasn't our first sale, but the very first day our shop was open, we were contacted by someone in Ireland, asking if we shipped internationally. Our Vanilla-Cardamom lollipops had caught her eye, and she really wanted some. Susan and I had never even thought about it - we assumed that we'd be based in the United States and anything international would be years off. We explained the situation to her and asked for a few days of patience on her part while we researched what, if anything, we needed to do. After some frantic forum questions and internet searching, we decided that we could ship internationally. We set our shipping prices, contacted her, and made the sale a few days later. It was quite the learning experience. It taught us that we should always be flexible and act as quickly as we can.

7. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

Blog
Facebook
Twitter

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: Finding Your True Fans

2011-11-17T15:02:00.001-08:00

The most important advice I ever give is this: If you don’tknow who you’re selling to you can’t build a successful business. You must beable to identify your target market.

You will spend time and money marketing your business, butyou won’t connect with anyone because you’re not speaking directly to anyone.The more specific you can be in who you’re talking to the more likely they areto hear your message.

So how do you get to know this elusive ideal client? Youstart by writing a description based on what you know. Who already buys yourproduct? Who gives you the most glowing reviews? If you’ve never sold, startwith who you think will love what you offer. List as much info about them asyou can: gender, age, where they live, pets they own, style of dress, food theyeat, where they shop, hobbies, etc.

Now think beyond just a basic description. Who is thiscustomer buying for? How do they decide what they buy? Where do they find newinformation and recommendations? How do they see themselves, trendy,sophisticated, outsider? Do they really have the money to afford what you’reselling?

You are not your ideal customer. You may have many traits incommon, but you have the skills and passion to make the product. You are notthe buyer.

Once you’ve got a basic description you need to do twothings. Observe and hang out.

Test your theory about who’s buying your products. Ask themquestions about who they’re buying it for, how they found you or what drew theminto your booth. Collect information to make that description even moredetailed. Notice who’s drawn in but doesn’t buy. Can you figure out why?

You also need to be where your ideal customer is. This meansyou need to get written up in the blogs and magazines they read. Are theyobsessed with vintage, always reading about home décor, or constantly lookingfor new craft projects? You might even try guest writing for some of the topblogs. You need to be at the events your ideal customer frequents or in theirfavorite stores. Think of where they socialize and put up flyers. If you selljewelry to 20-30 something women who have an independent style and love goingto see local bands you’ll do much better selling at NoisePop than at the SausalitoSpring Street Faire. You might even try going to more local music shows wearingyour most attention getting piece with a stack of business cards in your purse.

It’s an ongoing process but the more you know about yourtarget market the easier it is to reach them in a way they’ll pay attention to.

How many key details do you know about your ideal customer?

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Tuestorial - Baby Shower Planning - Part 1

2011-11-15T14:27:00.000-08:00

So this week I have exciting news - I'm going to be an Aunt! My big sister, Sarah, is having a baby boy...and it's my duty, as best future auntie ever - to throw her a baby shower that she'll never forget!

This week, I wanted to share my tips and tricks on how to plan a baby shower - or really any party without breaking your bank or your back in the process...all the while, looking like a professional party planner!

THE PRE-SHOWER PLANNING
My biggest advice for someone on a budget... use your resources! Ask your friends to take on a little bit here and there - and before you know it...you've got yourself a great party - with lots of meaningful details. This entry is broken down into two pieces...as you know, a lot goes into a great party...and I want to make sure I share my tips along the way.

The Theme for this party: Little Man

FIRST: Pick Your Color Story

For any party you might be planning, it's easiest to start by just picking the color story that you'd like to match everything to. Don't pick crazy colors - because in the end...it will be hard to find matching napkins...but look for something creative. I think I've mentioned this before, but Color Trends is a great online resource for all things COLOR. :) some people have already planned out great ideas for color stories.
Starting here is never a bad idea.

However, I started my planning a little different.
I looked to our own team member Shannon Hegarty who creates lovely digital scrapbook kits to provide the patterning for my invitations. I let her decide on the colors for the patterns – from there... I had my color story which I'll be carrying through the whole party.
Here's what she made:

SECOND: Invitations on the Fly

So this was my favorite part, because I got to use Shannon's patterns in my invitations & do a cute little baby drawing of my sister's baby boy - who has been given the name Odin (the Viking god). After I finished up my design (back and front) in Photoshop I actually ended up going to MOO.com and uploading three different color combinations for some extra whimsy. Look to your fellow Etsy team members if you're in need of a creative invitation for your upcoming party.

I also used my back design to make some great stickers at Moo later, which you will see on the cupcakes next week.

THIRD: Don't forget the cupcakes

I was going to order cupcakes from a local baker...but couldn't for the life of me think of where or how or or or...so many decisions! But then this little light bulb went off... my friend Cara! She runs a small bakery out of her home Brown Sugar Bakery over in the East Bay...and she would be willing to meet me on my way to the party so that my cupcakes are fresh and also don't get damaged.
Cara took the left over stickers I had from my invitation order for decorations... stay tuned for photos!

FORTH: Tie in the theme

To help tie in the theme (Little Man) into a couple other places. I made some Mustaches on a Stick which will be great for party photos.

Lastly, I purchased chocolate cigars as party favors to cheers to the occasion with a little fun sprinkled in!

Stay tuned for next week's blog entry where I show you how it all came together.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Treasury Team Presents: Handmade Gift Guides

2011-11-12T10:40:00.000-08:00

With nearly 850 interactions last week, our featured Etsy team treasury is "Gift Basket in Lime and Purple" by WellspringCreations. Her bright collection was inspired by gift ideas for her young niece. Judy of WellspringCreations sells gorgeous wire wrapped jewelry and shares her journey through her blog.

French blue glass and sterling silver cuff by Wellspring Creations

And her treasury~

'Gift Basket In Lime and Purple' by WellspringCreations

I've put together a gift basket for my niece. She's always loved bright colors and these items are right down her alley. Thanks to my sfetsy teammates for their contribution to this treasury.

Sunflower Macro Yellow Green... RiskLoveFreedo... $27.00	Purple Leather Journal with ... boundbyhand $29.00
Fox - Vintage Illustration P... polishedtwo $18.50	felted band ring with silver... ShanaAstrachan $125.00
Coasters - Lime Green and Pu... HandmadeBits4u $10.00	Green and White Scroll Clutc... BagBoy $45.00
Flower Hair Clip in Phlox Pu... BoutiqueVintag... $6.00	Handmade knit crochet vitami... Ayca $47.00
Snuggle Sack for Dogs or Cat... rendachs $34.50	Vintage Violet Couture Dress BlackLicoriceB... $110.00
Nature photo - Green Enchant... SFreedPhotogra... $20.00	Lavender rose necklace and b... soradesigns $26.50
16 teeny tiny miniature squa... teenytinyenvel... $8.00	Paradise Shea Butter Soap - ... KBShimmer $5.50
Mezmorize Purple Peacock Fea... erinkeys $12.00	Retro Dishes Vintage 1950s M... bythewayside $35.00

This week's theme: Feast of Gratitude ~think autumn harvest, entertaining friends, Thanksgiving, or create your unique treasury idea embodying something for which you are grateful.

All SF Etsy team members are welcome to participate in our weekly treasury team. Please check out this guide to get started.

~Even

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Friday Feature -- Tuesday Moon

2011-11-11T13:21:00.000-08:00

This week's featured SF Etsy member is Tuesday Moon, where you will find whimsical and wonderful art. I love it when the things that catch my eye also intrigue my kids -- and it turns out my favorite piece at Tuesday Moon is definitely one that got the attention of my son, who is somewhat obsessed with the ocean and ocean creatures at the moment. I just love the mix of realism and child-like lines in Sea Life 1 -- and the upside-down octopus is brilliant!

Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I offer a mix of original art and reproductions such as at prints and posters as well as mini-prints. Occasionally I will offer ACEO's as well. My creative process includes illustrations that are scanned in and then manipulated in Photoshop to create digital works. I also draw with a digital pen right onto Photoshop documents. When I want to get away from the computer I work in my studio (aka garage) and I create mixed media pieces usually with vintage postcards, old stamps, newsprint and magazine pictures. I recently did a piece that included a line of painted spheres and vintage photos of women from 1950 's or 1960's advertisements that were cut out and placed next to the ball. They each looked like they were part of the piece but it was a mix of acrylic, collage and gel medium and it had a lot of depth. I have learned through a process of watching others, studying art in college and by simply trying new things and making lots of mistakes. I truly believe that most artists require instruction from professionals. Though many say they are self-taught, they often lack basic skills especially when it comes to drawing and painting. I had amazing instructors in college and use many of those elements today.

2. To which Etsy teams do you belong?

SF Etsy and the Art Team.

3. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

I am a voracious reader and gardener and passionate about green living. My compost pile is a proud part of my garden. If I can get down to one bag of a garbage of week then my week is complete. I like lists and beautiful words so much so that I am a member of List Geeks and have a compiled a list of my favorite words. I am not traditional so I'm working on coming up with new ways to have a Christmas tree - that doesn't involve an actual tree. It's not as easy as it looks. Oh - I have a collection of mini Eiffel Towers. I went to the real one this past August.

4. How did you get involved with Etsy?

I have been involved with Etsy since 2007 and I read about it in a magazine and it sounded like a great opportunity to show my work. It was so new at the time that the marketing that is available now was only in the beginning stages at that time. I feel like I have grown with Etsy.

5. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

My Liquid Green Florals set is my favorite. I have sold this set many times over and it's my favorite color. The color feels fresh and crisp and since I am a summer person - not a winter person at all, the color reminds me of my favorite time of year.

6. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

Be comfortable with internet sales. There will be bumps along the way but enjoy the ride and learn all you can. Read up on SEM and SEO to get the most bang for your buck. Understand how to title pieces for the most impact. Understand the way a person shops on-line and keep current with your shop. Continue to relist items to keep your pieces near the top. And share your listings on other sites such as Stumble Upon, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

7. What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday?

Wax encaustics are amazing! That's my next endeavor I think. There is a lot of chemistry involved and you can't do it when it's too hot out. Also - you have to work small which is good for me as most of my pieces are on the smallish side.

8. What is the craziest gift you have ever received?

Well - it's either the craziest or worst gift. When I was 20 my boyfriend at the time gave me season tickets to Cal football. If he knew anything at all about me if would have known I don't like or watch football. Ever.....

9. What does buying and selling local handmade mean to you, and how has it affected your life?

Artists need all the support they can get from the community. With less and less money going to art programs it is more important than ever to shop locally, support art programs, support artists and invest in our local talent. Unfortunately the cheapest stuff comes out of factories so we need to get back to the roots of creation and let people know that buying from local artisans gives back and invests in our culture. It has affected my life because I think in my own small way it has given me the extra funds I have to make my life for me and my family better. We have also had more funds to buy from local artists so the art in our home reflects the talents of so many artisans.

10. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

My blog is The Art Planet and here is where I post about local art events, emerging artists and green living. I also have blog links to my favorite blogs.

Flickr
Imagekind store
Zazzle store

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: Writing An About Page

2011-11-10T19:06:00.001-08:00

Over the holidays many new people are going to be visitingyour Etsy shop looking for gifts for friends and family. They’re busy andoverloaded with items so you want to put your best foot forward and make aconnection with whoever you can. Besides having great photos and productdescriptions, your about page needs to shine. Remember they might be shoppingfor someone else, but they’re also taking note of what they like forthemselves.

The most clicked on page on any website, even your Etsysite, is the about or profile page. Buyers want to know who they’re buying fromand how you’re different. Your about statement isn’t your biography or resume,it’s just a few paragraphs that let your customers know what inspires you to dowhat you do and gives them a way to relate to you.

Do A Little Research

Before you dive into writing or revamping your own read asmany about pages as you can stand. Make note of sentences, phrases and wordsthat really speak to you. Why? Notice what points you connect with and whatparts make you gloss over. Use this knowledge to make your own profile fun andengaging.

The key points you may want to include are, who you are,what you do, where you come from (this may be literal or the path that led youto your current business), your inspirations, and what you do that’s different.You don’t need to hit on every single point and you may throw one or two moretopics in there if you’re relevant, but those are a great place to start.

Sitting Down To Write

Start with a point of reflection that customers can relateto, a personal story that is a sort of turning point or aha moment in yourlife. Once you’ve brought them in tell them what it is you’re really offeringand how it will make a difference in their life. Remember you may sellhandbags, but what you’re really offering is convenience and functionality.

Then move into telling us why you do what you do and whatspecific talents you have that make your product different. Bonus points if youcan fit in some version of this phrase, “Because __________ is important to me,you get a ____________ that ______________.”

If you’re really struggling with what to say ask friends andfamily to describe what you do as though they were introducing you to apotential client. They’ll most likely have a perspective that’s useful to you.

Most of all remember you can always go back and change itwhen you think of a better way to say it, but you need to get it down on paperbefore you can do any editing.

What are some of your favorite about or profile pages?

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Tech Tools: Librivox

2011-11-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

This week I'd like to recommend one of my very favorite resources, Librivox.org. Librivox is a free site for the development and distribution of audio recordings, all from books in the public domain. I often like to work on the construction portions of crochet jewelry while listening to audio books and I know other independent artists seek out background entertainment. Sometimes I think it is a great luxury to be able to sip tea, crochet colors, and listen to a story... it must be the nostalgic idea of an evening with company in the parlor! The challenge can be finding entertainment that is cost effective as well as actually conducive to productivity. Librivox fits all my requirements in this regard, I hope you'll try it and share your own listening recommendations.

What does it do?
Free audio books!
Librivox.org draws from public domain works (often found at Project Gutenberg) and with the input from volunteer readers as well as support staff creates free audio books in multiple formats. The catalog grows each month as new completed works are added.

The catalog is searchable by title or author. The interface is fairly simple, I've even used it on my mobile (Droid Incredible) to download a chapter at a time. If you use Apple products, the easiest method can be to download the entire book file onto your laptop or desktop, "add to library" with Itunes and then transfer from there to an Ipod/pad or phone. There are also third party (not created by Librivox) apps for the Iphone that will manage your library for you. The files are mp3 and should work with nearly any device/computer.

Why should I use it?
I know artists who use audio books as background accompaniment during the production phase of their work, passing the time learning something new or revisiting an old favorite. Many of us work long hours alone as we create works and manage our businesses, listening to audio recordings gives a sense of community while still allowing for the practical demands of productivity. Many of the works in the public domain are those which we may recognize the titles, but never actually had a chance to read. We can create our own continuing education by visiting both non-fiction and classic fiction works. I personally like listening to what, in the past, was considered light fiction, it now containing words on nearly every page worthy of college literature.

Recommended titles especially for our team:

Tristan and Iseult by Joseph Bedier read by Joy Chan
This is the classic love story told in the time of Arthurian chivalry. What makes it extra special is Joy Chan's perfect storytelling accent. This is a beautiful bedtime story too if you like a distraction from a stressful day...

Wild Life on the Rockies by Enos A. Mills read by Laura Caldwell

A reflective memoir written by the first Colorado snow observer, this is a perfect set of stories for the winter season. Each chapter chronicles a separate adventure and can be read in any order. The narrator sets a quaint pace, reminiscent of a wilderness wandering. A few great animal stories are included as well. I own a first edition of this book and it's wonderful to see the "Faithful Scotch" over 100 years later immortalized by Mills' love.

Well loved classics from Jane Austen, still relevant philosophical works on Democracy, and over 600 recorded poems give just a start to exploring the Librivox catalog. Enjoy!

Each Wednesday, I'm highlighting tools, websites, and mobile apps that can help our team. Please share your ideas in the comments below or offer tool recommendations with this form.
Thanks! ~Even

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Tuestorial: Pumpkin-Crazed Snickerdoodles

2011-11-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I was driving through West Marin in search for apples and there were all these sad little pumpkins abandoned in pumpkin patch fields. I asked my friend - "So, do they just leave them there to die after Halloween? Think of all the yummy stuff one could make with that!" I believe that's when I became Pumpkin-Crazed...this happens for most people when Starbucks comes out with their seasonal pumpkin spiced latte...but not me... it took seeing abandoned pumpkins to get my mind thinking about how to use them in my baking.

The next day, I made Pumpkin Biscotti. But the recipe I found online only asked for 1/2 a cup of pumpkin...and there I was with another cup to use up because a can of pumpkin is actually a cup and a half. Whoopsie - guess I gotta make more pumpkin treats - oh darn.
I guess I could have put it to good use inside a soup or something - but Pumpkin Snickerdoodles just sounded just a tad-bit more delicious.

Also - with our winter team show coming up - you can make some of these wonderful delights for the table and impress me...since I'll be there volunteering at the baked goods table.

I modified this recipe to make my version healthier, more moist and also more pumpkin-y.

For the cookies:
3¾ cups Red Mill Wheat Flour
1½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 cup unsalted Straus Family Creamery butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated organic cane sugar
½ cup organic (light or dark) brown sugar
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
2 tsp. Madagascar Vanilla Paste

For the coating:
1 cup organic granulated can sugar
2 1/2 tsp. Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice

Step one:
Combine wet ingredients... then put in all the dry ones. Usually I skip this step...but this is important here for these cookies since you'll want to make sure they stay fluffy - and this will help.

Step Two:
Chill your dough for an hour in the fridge. Why? Because you want to make sure your butter becomes firm again and your cookies hold their shape during baking. When you are mixing the ingredients together...the butter looses some of it's binding ability. Putting the dough in the fridge will bring the dough back together and make rolling your dough easier later down the line.

Step Three:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees - line your cookie sheet with a cookie sheet liner OR parchment paper. This is so the sugar coating doesn't stick to the cookie sheet. If you use a cookie sheet liner, not only will you be able to get your cookies off the sheet easily, you will also end up with a perfectly-perfect cookie bottom and your cookies won't dry out as much as they would if they were placed directly on the sheet.

Step Four:
Make your dough into 2 tablespoon sized balls. Coat your little nuggets in the sugar & spice mixture. Place them 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Take the back of a spoon and lightly smoosh your cookie down (smoosh is a technical term for pushing down lightly). This will help them cook all the way through and also gives a nice "thumbprint" look to them.

Step Five:
Bake for 13-15 minutes each batch - let cool for 5 minutes before transferring your cookies onto a wire rack. Repeat until all the dough is gone. This recipe makes a boat-load of cookies - up to 6 dozen since I increased the amount of pumpkin. Which is why they would be perfect for a craft event - since you can help feed lots of customers who come to shop at our show.

Side Note:
About the Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice...
it's a combo of Cinnamon, Allspice, Nutmeg, Lemon Peel and Ginger - which is why I LOVE this stuff...it gives a great flavor to most all things that ask for Cinnamon and Nutmeg...and takes up much less room in your cupboard for those of us who want to save our pantry space for more art supplies. ;-)

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Treasury Team Presents: The Sky Tonight

2011-11-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

Our winning treasury this week is curated by Talia of mycrobe--a wonderful shop full of needlefelted feline delights. Her treasury had over 150 interactions and featured members of our SF Etsy team.
Scientist by day, Talia creates microbe inspired cat nip toys as a clever combination of her interests. She already has some great Christmas colored characters!

Christmas Fish ~wool catnip toy by Talia @mycrobe

~The winning treasury itself~

Sometimes it's hard to see the colors through the fog by mycrobe

Trotting Gray Horse Brooch P... drellajones $1.75	Child's Felted Elephant ... fiberpuppy $60.00
Beautiful Vintage Granitewar... onceupntym $22.50	sz 6.5 Gray Suede Pirate Boo... nickiefrye $48.00
Big Pink Music Permanent Pea... localcolorist $8.00	Seed Pearl Rosary Style Neck... BellaBeadsOrig... $67.00
California Wine Country Orna... GrannyPantyDes... $7.50	Charcoal and Light Pink Kitt... Rabbhats $17.00
Toy Bird. Felted Purple Soft... NattyKnits $12.00	Vintage Caribe Restaurant Wa... QuietRainz $8.50
Etched Blade Razor Twisted C... Strazor $49.00	Yellow Organza Petticoat Bum... Strazor $60.00
vintage tweed coat, fur trim... ElasVintageFin... $215.00	Gray Rose Necklace - Dove gr... soradesigns $52.50
Gloves with nails, for costu... SnippetFairy $13.00	Chunky Cowl Scarf Black Grey DiNuovo $25.00

This week's theme: Gift Guides!

Please create your treasury with a specific person or type of person in mind and tag the treasury accordingly. For example: "best friend gift guide"

To participate with your own treasury, please see this Treasury Team Guide.

Feel free to link to your entry in the comments below!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Applications Now Open for SF Etsy Team Holiday Show at Urban Bazaar

2011-11-05T11:28:00.001-07:00

I'm delighted to announce that the fabulous Brandi and Briana, owners of Urban Bazaar, have generously offered their space for a holiday SF Etsy show! Applications are now open for the December Vagabond Indie Craft Fair!

Those of you who were around last year may recall that our Winter Wonderland show at Urban Bazaar was a big success. We’re really excited about this year’s December SF Etsy show – a huge thanks to Brandi and Briana for co-hosting the event.

Applications are now open, and space is limited. This is sure to be a popular event, so sign up soon! Applications close November 15th.

For more information and to apply, go here.

QUESTIONS? Contact Brandi or Briana at Urban Bazaar: 1371 9th Ave, (415) 664-4422, or go to Urban Bazaar online.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Friday Feature - Accessory Extraordinaire

2011-11-04T12:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, Folks!

On this chilly, moonlit Friday evening, why not sit down with a glass of wine and start some early Holiday shopping? To kick it off, check out the fun trinkets over at Accessory Extraordinaire. Today's interview is with a gal who's creating super fun, affordable shoe clips and jewelry. Stocking stuffers, for sure! I love the versatility of being able to snap on the glitz - going from work to happy hour!

When I came across my favorite find, I realized these little cuties would make great bridesmaid gifts too!

find me

I'm sure you can come up with some clever ideas as well! Enjoy the interview!

1. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

Besides SF Etsy, I belong to Top Treasury, Etsians on Facebook, Etsy Success, I Love Art, Anatolians Treasury Team

2. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

The main item I create is a shoe accessory that was orginally designed to enhance plain flip flops. I soon learned it could be used on many different types of strappy shoes or anything that the elastic straps can wrap around. I wear it wrapped around a ponytail, on hat bands, around a silk or cotton scarf. I even wear it on some of my sleeveless V-necked blouses to create a sweetheart neckline. I came up with the name Accessory Extraordinaire because it has so many uses!

In addition to the accessory, I also have some earrings, barrettes and pendants.

find me

3. Tell us some other interesting things about you.

I love to upcycle old furniture pieces. Giving a piece of dull furniture a new personality gives me a lot of satisfaction, especially when someone else wants to have it in their own home.

Back in 2003 I moved to the Big Island of Hawaii to sell hand-crafted toe rings that I made using wire and beads. For awhile, I rented a space in a charming outdoor marketplace on Ali'i Drive and later moved to a spot closer to town where I was able to see the ocean and the cruise ships as they came and went. It really was a magical time for me.

find me

4. What inspires your creations?

I'm often inspired by the bits and pieces I use to create the shoe accesory. I gather most of the items from flea markets, garage sales, and thrift stores. Many times I will bypass a particular button or jewelry piece over and over...wondering if I will ever use it. Then, one day, I'll obtain a new piece and it works perfectly with the one I thought I'd never use!

5. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

Although there are lots of Etsy shops that have traditional metal shoe clips for pumps and other classic shoes, I don't think people are searching for removable accessories for their flip flops because the item doesn't really exist in the retail world. I do worry that when a customer views my shop they may think that the accessory is attached to the shoe in the picture even though most of my titles include the word "removable.'

find me

6. Tell us about your first sale ever?

I guess my first REAL sale, other than selling to friends and co-workers, was in my outdoor shop in Hawaii where I sold the toe rings I made. It was thrilling to have confirmation that a stranger liked what I made and was willing to pay money to own it, especially after I gave up everything in California to move to Hawaii!

7. Give us some insight on how you personally, or your shop, gives back to your community.

I have a friend that passed after suffering breast cancer 3 times and another friend who has, thankfully, survived many years after her bout with it. I donate 10% of the purchase price of ANY item I sell on Etsy, that contains any amount of the color pink.

find me - (and give to the cause!)

If you're a member of SFEtsy and would like to be interviewed, please contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio or ash from kellydrive.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: Craft Swap Recap

2011-11-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

One of the essential ingredients for success in running your own small business is a support group. As you're probably well aware the SF Esty Street Team is a great resource for just that reason. We have over 400 members in the Bay Area will all levels of experience and all sorts of backgrounds. There is almost sure to be someone who's "been there, done that" when you find yourself with a problem to solve. But beyond just being a resource for knowledge, having a group of like minded entrepreneurs to turn to when you're feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or simply beat down is invaluable.

All of this is why I was so pleased to hear that three of our team members have taken it upon themselves to form a meetup committee with the mission of having more in-person events for all of us to really get to know each other and make some deeper connections.

Lisa of Tickle and Smash, Rochelle of Haute Mélange, and Géraldine of Géraldine Adams Illustrations are the trio behind the most recent and biggest of these events so far, The First Annual Craft Swap. Held at TechShop, the afternoon was filled with all sorts of crafty goodness.

There was a plentiful swap table filled with all sorts of treasures.

GoGo Craft was in the house to to help us all make a banner with plenty of tools and supplies at the ready.

And one generous crafter donated boxes, upon boxes of inspiring materials.

This is just the beginning of many more events to come, from smaller monthly meetups at cafes and wine bars to bigger events with hands on demos and networking. So watch for updates on Facebook, Twitter and here on the blog.

Thanks again, Lisa, Rochelle and Geraldine!

Rochelle and Lisa (Geraldine was unable to be at the event)

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Etsy Classes at TechShop SF!

2011-11-03T07:05:00.000-07:00

Exciting news! TechShop SF has an upcoming workshop that is spot-on for Etsy folks. Read on for more info!

SF Etsy's own Tina of Better Off Wed is teaching Build a Killer Etsy Shop - A Step by Step Recipe on November 5th.

This course will give your handmade biz the rocket fuel you need to have constant sales on Etsy. This ain’t no touchy-feely lecture -this is about a tried and true strategy that will turn your crafty inclinations into a steady stream of cash. We won’t be talking about legal structures or book-keeping. Instead we’ll take a deep dive into the core of your business idea--identifying your customer, how to get found by customers, and winning sales. We’ll also take a magnifying glass to your product idea--including pricing, profitability potential and how to launch a full shop with almost no capital.

The recipe for success on Etsy is about accurately identifying market opportunity and executing an intelligent product strategy--I’ll show you how!

Teacher Bio: Tina Albin-Lax is a maker and serial entrepreneur with a love for strategy and teaching lean business methods. After some serious failures on Etsy, she launched a shop that made over 200 sales in less then 5 months. She makes 3K a month--almost all of it profit--and has to work on her business only one day per week. She’s distilled all of her experience into a precise step-by-step recipe that she’s thrilled to teach other Etsy entrepreneurs.

Can't make it November 5th? There's another session on November 12th! More info here.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Tech Tools: Square

2011-11-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our new Wednesday series~
Each week I'll be highlighting mobile apps, websites, and tech tools that are useful for those of us in the small business (or micro business for some!) world. With the help of our team members, I'll feature tools we can all use as well as some more specialized tech. You are welcome to post questions in the comments section if you need tech help at any stage.

Please share your experience and ideas for future articles with this submission form.

The highest user rating I envision is Excellent, meaning a must have for nearly all sellers and exceptional ease of use for the intended purpose. To kick off this series, I'll start with a tool that has earned this rating by my own use for over a year and by many of our members--Square. We've been discussing Square in our Google Group and it comes highly recommended from many of our team members. As we look forward to holiday shows, I hope you'll consider the benefits of accepting credit and debit cards from customers.

What does it do?
Square is two things: an app for your phone or tablet and a small device (that's square). It allows any seller to process credit cards at any volume for a flat rate.

Why should I use it?
The Square app and the combined device make it easy and fast for your customers to purchase with a credit or debit card. My experience is that this has quadrupled my sales at shows! The app is free. The device is free and will arrive by mail if you choose. You are only charged once you make a sale and the percentage comes off of the sale so there is no billing. Square works on the iphone, ipad, and Droid operating systems and with all major cards.

My experience is that customers are very willing to use the scanner and then 'sign' on my Droid phone. They can choose to have an email sent to them as a receipt as well. You can also process charges over the phone, by typing in the numbers rather than swiping the card. This is useful for wholesale orders or personal websites at a small volume.

Is there a trial/free version?
The best way to try Square is to go to the App Store or Market on your mobile or tablet and search for Square by Square Inc. The app is free to download. You do not need the device to use square, but without it, you'll need to type the card numbers rather than swipe.

Any downsides?
Square charges 2.75% on each transaction. (For comparison, Paypal generally charges 2.9% and 30 cents.) You do need a bank account for the deposit, this needs to be registered at the website: www.squareup.com. Square is one of the fastest ways I have seen to process a payment, but at a show, it still may not be as fast as cash, especially if you happen to be out of mobile range.

Have you used Square? I know some people further use it to capture emails for future mailings and personalize their receipts with product photos. Please share your experience in the comments!

~Even

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

The Art of Selling with Sharon Zimmerman

2011-11-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to share an announcement from an SF Etsy teammate, the very talented Sharon Zimmerman -- who will be teaching a class called The Art of Selling! Read on for more info!
Just in time for the holidays -- a class that teaches you how to capitalize on each and every sale! I would love to see a diverse group of artists for this seminar, so sign up soon!

We all put time into honing our artistic skills and our craftsmanship, so wouldn't it be great if we could apply this same dedication to selling our work? Wouldn't you like to have a spectacular holiday season of selling your art?

Come to this interactive workshop to learn techniques for selling your art work in person. More than just a lecture, we'll spend time practicing how to work with customers and learning how to treat every person who approaches you as a potential client. We'll go over a few techniques for dealing with the difficult ones too!

This is a great opportunity for anyone who plans on doing holiday art fairs, trunk shows or craft bazaars. The seminar will break down how to talk to customers, how to answer their questions before they ask, how to easily and clearly communicate what you do, your best practices when dealing with the public, and when to throw out all the rules and improvise.

Sharon Zimmerman brings more than 12 years of experience in retail and customer service to the table. She has sold furniture, vintage jewelry, baked goods, kitchen wares, organic vegetables, yoga (yes, really) and jewelry-not just her own, but other designers as well -- to people young and old, rich and poor.

Sharon will give you great tips on how to turn potential sales into actual sales and how to build customer relationships for the long term. No materials are necessary for this class, but bring a pen and paper, and examples of your work (photographs are fine too!) to share with the class.This class is open to artists of all stripes and anyone who sells art for a living. Join us for a fun afternoon!

$65
Sunday, November 13
1-4pm
Scintillant Studio
Class is limited to 12 people, so sign up soon!
Email Aimee Golant (info@aimeegolant.com) for your workshop
registration form to reserve your spot.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Thanks for a Fabulous First Annual Craft Swap!

2011-10-31T20:46:00.001-07:00

We came, we swapped, we networked -- we made banners! We had a great time at yesterday's First Annual SF Etsy Craft Swap and Networking Event!

Swapping some Crafty Goodness!

You'll be hearing more details about the event from our Savvy Entrepreneur this week, but I wanted to take a moment to personally thank the amazing SF Etsy Meet Up Committee for all their hard work putting together this event-- especially Lisa of Tickle and Smash, Rochelle of Haute Mélange, and Géraldine of Géraldine Adams Illustrations. A lot of planning and energy went into making the event a success, and we really appreciate it.

Big thanks as well to TechShop SF, S.C.R.A.P., and GoGo Craft for their help and support! And of course thanks to Etsy for the team grant that helped make it possible!

Lastly, on a personal note, I'd like to send out a big warm fuzzy gratitude hug to those of you who were behind the gift that I was given at the event. What a super surprise! It's been almost two years now since I stepped up as the team leader for SF Etsy, and it's been a lot of work, but I'm just thrilled by how much the team has grown and developed in that time. It means a lot to me that y'all would be so thoughtful as to get me something to mark my devotion to the team -- I will use my new car magnet with pride! (It has the SF Etsy logo on it and my own Etsy shop name and address, isn't that neat?)

From left to right: Rochelle of Haute Mélange , Jen (yours truly) of Mama's Magic Studio, Devon from TechShopSF (our fabulous go-to gal for help with organizing!) and Lisa of Tickle and Smash

Events like this are just one example of the awesome things we're now able to do, because of the hard work put in by many of the people on the team. Thanks to everybody who helped make this event possible! We're already excited about what the Second Annual might look like!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Meet Up Tomorrow! Don't Miss The Crafty Goodness!

2011-10-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about the SF Etsy Craft Swap and Networking Event tomorrow! Any time SF Etsy members get together is sure to be a Crafty Good Time -- but this meet up is going to be extra-special! I'm really looking forward to swappiong craft supplies, seeing some of my favorite SF Etsy folks, meeting new people, and making a banner with GoGo Craft.

Don't miss out on this chance to experience the fun of TechShop SF and network with SF Etsy! The meet up is open to the public as well as all SF Etsy members -- a $5 donation is requested -- and all the other info you need is at our RSVP page. See you there!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Friday Feature -- Stefanie Kraus

2011-10-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

I had such fun exploring the shop of this week's featured SF Etsy artist! And I was delighted to learn more about Stefanie, the creative force behind Handmade Jewelry by Stefanie Kraus. I love the one-of-a-kind "wearable art" in her collection, especially pieces like this ring featuring a picture of a vine:

Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

Making soldered pendants started as a side project when I had an art show at the Mendocino Art Center in 2008. I was showing my photographs there, and I thought that offering jewelry made from original photos would be a nice way for people to buy the photographs as "wearable art." The pendants became quite a success and I ended up selling them through the Art Center for almost a year.

My inspiration for both photography and jewelry comes from nature. I love organic shapes, the texture of twigs, the way a flower petal gently unfolds... I recently started adding jewelry made from precious metal clay to my selection and because I shape every piece by hand, often using molds made from nature, no two pieces are alike.

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

East Bay Arts Collective
EFA Etsy for Animals
SF Etsy

3. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

My other passion is animals and I am currently volunteering at two animal shelters in the Easy Bay and also a member of the Board of Directors with the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society. I have raised money for the shelter by donating all the proceeds from my store for two months, and I have also donated jewelry for fund-raising events. When both those passions come together, I feel happy and "complete". Other than that, I am a User Experience Designer by day and love my current position at a startup in San Francisco.

4. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

Marketing and promoting is very tricky. Since I have a full-time job, I can only dedicate a certain amount of time to my Etsy shop but I feel that, in order for people to find you, you constantly have to add new items. I wish Etsy would have more tools to help people promote their store.

5. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

Different versions of this cat necklace that I made for Halloween were sold four times. I love the necklace since it features a neighbor's cat that I feel in love with while I lived in San Francisco. Freddy, the cat, had a very hard life but so much personality and fierceness that he became an inspiration to me.

6. What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday?

I would love to learn lost wax casting. It creates similar outcomes than PMC but I like the more traditional approach of this craft.

7. Which one song describes your life the best? Why?

"Anywhere anytime anytime" by Nena and Kim Wilde. It perfectly describes how we, as humans, connect for a certain amount of time and how we can create wonderful relationships even if we came from different cultures. Having lived in the Bay Area for 13 years, after growing up in Germany and also living in Switzerland for 6 years before coming to the US, I can relate. I love this part in particular:
"Wrap your fingers 'round my neck
You don't speak my dialect
But our images reflect"

8. If money were no object for just one day, what would you do?

Take the money and donate it all to create a "state of the art" animal shelter.

9. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

Facebook
Flickr
Website

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

GoGo Craft's DIY Banner -- Make Yours On Sunday!

2011-10-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought there couldn't be any more Crafty Goodness happening on Sunday!

(What's that? You haven't heard about the SF Etsy Craft Swap & Networking Event on Sunday? Read on -- or Get ye to our RSVP page immediately!)

When you need a break from all that Swapping and Networking Action, you can get your crafty mojo on with GoGo Craft. Our fabulous planners have lined up a very special crafting activity -- DIY Banners! Many thanks to Lisa of TickleandSmash for the following announcement:

CRAFTY SWAP NEWS! At our Meet Up on Sunday, GoGo Craft will lead a workshop from 1-3 pm making SF Etsy Banners for your booth or studio.

For those attending that are not an SF Etsy Team member yet? - Not to worry. Create a self-affirmation banner with inspirational words to hang in your work space. Materials, tips, and tricks provided.

You can bring your own artwork/logo to add on if you wish. Feel free to bring your own materials if you like - you can add embroidery, ribbon, buttons, etc.... to customize.

DONT FORGET - This Weekend - OCT 30 - at the First Annual SF Etsy Team Craft Swap at @TechShopSF

WHATS HAPPENING..
SF Etsy Street Team with the support of TechShop, GoGoCraft and S.C.R.A.P. presents The First Annual Craft Swap and Networking Event For Sustainable Craft Making. Along with an afternoon of inspirational craft and networking, we are inviting everyone to bring their craft
items that they no longer have a use for to share with other team members in a Craft Swap!

Bring: Stuff to Swap, Something Finger Food / Snacks and Your Crafty Friends - And don't forget to bring a bag for your new craft swap Items you'll be taking home with you.

And there is a $5 Donation request.

DONT FORGET TO RSVP

Many thanks to GoGo Craft for their help with this event!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: All Fired Up

2011-10-27T14:34:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about why I do what I do. It's been coming from a place of trying to communicate to potential customers what we do and it can help them. A noble enough goal, but still rooted in the idea of reaching a broader audience so that the business becomes more successful.

So today I listened to a conversation between Tara Gentile and Adam King about Tara's philosophy on earning. I've got a lot to say about that, but I'm going to polish it a bit more before I share. However in the conversation Tara mentioned a book called Start With Why by Simon Sinek. I hadn't heard of it so I Googled it and found the TEDTalk I've embedded below. His book is now on my short list of must have right now. I want to share this talk with you because I really can't say it any better, but this is what I believe.

So listen, enjoy, and then tell me what you think.

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Tuestorial - BOO! Halloween Costume Ideas

2011-10-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday to all my Witches and Goblins!

Halloween is less than a week away...and if you're like me, finding the time to get costumes ready is just one of those things that gets pushed to the back burner until just before it's time to go out and get some candy! Not only that...I'm a cheap crafty lady...I'd much rather spend my money on craft supplies (and bite-sized Snickers) than a pre-fab Halloween costume.

As I was brewing up my spooktacular costume idea...other ideas popped into my head and I thought...self, this would be a great Tuestorial.
I sketched out some ideas for you... just in case you're still on the "haunt" for something easy to build just before you head out the door.

Don't mind my sketches...ha ha... they are meant to give you a little smile AND get the basic idea across for each costume.

------------------------------------------------------------

BE A BUNCH o' GRAPES! (for a kid or an adult)

Materials:
Purple Balloons
Black or purple extra large shirt
purple leggings
purple beanie

What's Great about this?:
if you get an extra large T-Shirt... you'll have some more room to maneuver around during the evening.

How To:
All you have to do is staple (or hot glue) the balloons onto your shirt. That's it!

- Extra credit -
Be a bubble bath! all you have to do here is wear all white, use white balloons and attach a yellow rubber ducky to either your "bubbles" or the top of your beanie!

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BE A PIECE OF SUSHI!
Okay, so this would work as an adult costume (if you just wore all white), but can't you see how cute it would be if it were on a baby?! And technically, this costume is a piece of Nigiri Sushi (just in case you get that hard question). :)

Materials:
White Onesie
Black felt
Orange Felt (the "salmon")

What's Great about this?:
Babies don't need to overheat in a large pumpkin for their first Halloween...and everyone will just love these creative idea!

How To:
hot glue the felt orange rectangle to the front of the onesie
Then, wrap the black band loosely around the onesie (measure the band on your baby first, so you know how big around you need it).

I think it goes without saying...you want to make this costume when the onesie is NOT on the baby... but I'm just sayin' that as a blanketed legal footnote.

- Extra credit -
Take a black baby headband and glue on a bright green piece of "wasabi" felt to the top of it. It will be the perfect accessory.

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BE CANDY CORN -or- A GNOME!

What's funny about these two ideas is that they are basically the same thing... just a different arrangement of colors! This means, you can look at what clothing you already have...and go from there!

Materials:
Long sleeve t-shirt in either orange or light blue
Pants in either dark blue, brown or yellow
Construction paper in either white or red

What's Great about this?:
Like I mentioned before, these two ideas are basically the same thing. AND they are made from very basic materials...so, if you needed to get one of the items quickly, you can easily get them at Goodwill or your local store.

How To For the Candy Corn:
Look at a piece of candy corn - as you can see...the candy goes from yellow(or brown) at the bottom, then to orange for the middle, and then white at the top. That's basically it. All you have to do, is where those colors and make yourself a hat.
For fun, you could glue candy corn to the hat (maybe just at the rim)...then people will know exactly what you are. Super comfortable and SUPER easy!

How To For the Gnome:
Similar to the Candy Corn...all you need for this is to wear a light blue top, dark jeans or brown pants (brown would be like David The Gnome) and then make yourself a red cone hat out of paper. Then, use a belt or a piece of felt to wrap it around your waste for that extra-gnomey look.
For the beard, you can just paint white on your face like a beard or leave yourself as-is for that young-gnome look.

- Extra credit -
Think of other costumes that you can spin off of this same idea... such as, a crayon! Make a hat, just like for the above costumes and then wear a matching shirt and pants. Using felt, cut out the word "crayon" and hot glue it to your shirt.
One of my favorite colors is pink... but maybe you'd want to be green or even magenta!

We are all very creative people... but sometimes, we have to push ourselves to think a little outside of the box during Halloween with very little time to take away from our Etsy businesses. Hopefully these few ideas have given you some inspiration.

PLACES TO GATHER SUPPLIES IN THE BAY AREA!

Scrap - a great resource for cheap craft supplies - all proceeds go to the Unified School District of SF

Our Craft Swap - THIS weekend!!! - This weekend, if you're feeling REALLY last minute...come to the Craft Swap and see if you can't swap someone for that last minute supply you couldn't find anywhere else!

Boneflowers! - a wonderful woman by the name of Jenna owns this great shop with amazing vintage finds and steampunk jewelry. She's also a great stylist and would be happy to help you find that perfect Halloween costume.

And for a final giggle:
This is one of my costumes I'll likely be wearing this year. My friend Astra Brinkmann (also the photographer) and I built this dress from an old prom dress I had laying around. Lots of hot glue to put that skirt together. Which comes to my final point... look around your house. Do you have a old prom dress you've been hanging out to? Maybe you can be a zombie bride... that's always a great go-to.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Social Media With Etsy -- All Week Long!

2011-10-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, everybody! Did you know it's Social Media Week over at Etsy?

We all have heard about how helpful it can be to use social media to help promote our Etsy shops -- our own Savvy Entrepreneur has had lots of great things to say about it! -- but if you're anything like me, you can always use some more insight into this area.

Every day this week, Etsy will offer all sorts of social media tips and tricks for everybody from newbies to experts. They will also be giving highlights from the Seller's Handbook, and livestream workshops and chats.

All this will lead up to Thursday's exciting event: comedian Eugene Mirman, Twitter's Elizabeth Weil, Amy Turn Sharp of Little Alouette, Etsy's own Laura Chin, and Jen Rubio from Warby Parker come together for Almost Internet Famous.

Intrigued? Excited? I know I am! Be sure to check out the full schedule for all the details and sign up for the livestreams to participate.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Friday Feature - Artful Hummingbird

2011-10-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, folks!

Today's interview is with jewelry shop Artful Hummingbird. Based in Oakland, this designer creates breathtaking trinkets with most intricate detail and care. Her media ranges in a variety of metals and stones - offering something for everyone.

While the weather is starting to cool down; and the nights are creeping in a bit earlier every day, Martha's work maintains the memories and excitement of summer and sunshine - in the warmth of the handworked metal, and the shimmer of crystals, quarts, or tiger eye. My favorite - something that I feel really captures that blissful feeling - are her adorably whimsical hummingbird gold hoop earrings.

find me

Enjoy the interview!

1. What is your shop name and URL?

Artful Hummingbird
www.artfulhummingbird.etsy.com

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

SFEtsy team; STAT (Self-Taught Artists Team); Etsy Success; Etsy Business Topics; Top Treasury

find me

3. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I make high-quality handmade jewelry. I also make handmade cards and handpainted silk scarves (though I don't have any scarves listed on Etsy...yet!

My background is a blend of self-taught and individual workshops. I worked at a bead store for 8 months; one of the perks was being able to take classes for free. Boy, you'd better believe I took as many as I could!

My creative process is really sparked by the materials I use. Most often, I am inspired by a particular strand of gemstones or color of Swarovski crystal. Color drives me; so do alchemy and transformation. I try to keep my work fresh, with a little twist that makes it different than other jewelry. I keep in mind the trends as well as classic design, and try to come up with something that blends them both. But you know what? It's color. Color, again, is what brings me joy. And I'm good with color, I'm proud to say!

find me

4. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

I volunteer for a women's organization called "Woman Within International" (www.womanwithin.org or www.ww-wc.org). Doing that has taught me a lot and helped me become more of the person I was meant to be!

I've got a huge soft spot for animals (we have four rescue pets), and in the past two years have become besotted with South Africa. I visited there in 2010 while staffing a Woman Within training weekend, and went on safari. The purity and beauty of seeing those animals in their natural environment was just mind-blowing.

5. What is your favorite item in your shop? Why is it your favorite?

I believe my favorite item in my shop - which has sold - is a three-strand bracelet comprising aquamarine, amazonite, pearl, chalcedony, blue topaz, rose gold, and more. (Pictured Below)The colors and textures are so delicious, and the little bit of warmth provided by the rose gold? OH man that's pretty. I actually felt sad (!) when this one sold, because I selfishly wanted to keep it for myself.

find me

6. If you had a gift certificate to Etsy for any one item you wanted, what would you buy?

If I had a gift certificate to Etsy, this ring would be #1 on my list: http://www.etsy.com/listing/79782309/morganite-and-14k-rose-gold-ballerina?ga_search_query=rose%2Bgold&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5263754

7. What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday?

I wish I were adept at what I consider "real" jewelry skills - sawing metal (tried that, cut myself), using a big torch (tried that, scared myself), and all the other precision stuff that contributes to making beautiful shiny objects.

find me

8. If money were no object for just one day, what would you do?

If money were no object for just one day, I would write check after check to charitable organizations that deal with animal welfare, including the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (they rescue and rehabilitate orphaned baby elephants). And, lest that sound too "Pollyanna", I'd buy a bunch of stuff, too...boots are always good. Yes, boots.

find me

9. What is the craziest gift you have ever received?

The craziest gift I ever received was...a horse. A retired thoroughbred racehorse. Who promptly kicked my ass by dragging me and breaking my shoulder. What's the return policy, please?!!

10. Give us some insight on how you personally, or your shop, gives back to your community.

I contribute monthly to the World Wildlife Fund, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and the World Society for the Protection of Animals. I volunteer to staff Woman Within International training weekends (I actually PAY to staff!) to help support other women as they find the answers within themselves to heal and grow.

11. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

www.facebook.com/ArtfulHummingbird.

find me

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: It's Not Too Late To Save Christmas

2011-10-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

With the recent onslaught of Holiday marketing and prep articles, some of which I'm guilty of writing, many of you may be pulling out your hair feeling you need to do it all. Right now! This very minute!

Trust me I know that feeling.

Lightbox SF is here to help. We've put together a Save Christmas Bootcamp to help you focus on one of 3 areas where we can help you make quick, significant changes.

If this is your first year doing major craft shows for the holidays we can help you put together an amazing booth display, feel confident talking to customers, and making sure your doing everything necessary to gain long term fans.

However if most of your sales come from an online shop we can help you tune up those item descriptions, get amazing product photos, and welcome customers into your best shop yet.

Maybe you're feeling you've got these two areas down pat, you've been selling at fairs and online years and you're doing just fine. But how's your publicity efforts going? When's the last time you were featured in a gift guide? Yep, we can help you with that too.

So let us help you Save Christmas! Sign up for our bootcamp by November 1st and we'll get you on your way to the best holiday season yet. After the 1st we're still willing to help, but we just may not have enough time to get it all done.

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

RSVP and Volunteer for our First Annual Craft Swap & Networking!

2011-10-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to RSVP for our Craft Swap and Networking Meet up at TechShop SF -- only 11 days away now! Collect your swappable craft supplies, sign up for the potluck item you want to bring, and be sure you have lots of business cards on hand to help you network!

We are also in need of some more volunteers for this event. Please sign up here to help make sure our First Annual Craft Swap and Networking Event is a big success!

Questions? Let us know in the comments! Hope to see you there!
(And thanks to Katy Atchison for the adorable flyer design!)

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Tuestorial - Pucker Up with Homemade Lip Balm

2011-10-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted...and for that, I apologize! But I hope you enjoy this week's short tutorial on making simple homemade lip balm. This project would be great for small Christmas gifts or a stocking stuffer...and it's a great introduction to what goes into lip balm for someone who is interested in taking some of the mystery out of this type of project.

Gather your materials!

- Pots or Tubes for your lip balm (20 small pots or around 12 tubes)
- lip balm base (see breakdown of this below)
- flavoring
- colorant (if desired)
- disposable eye dropper
- microwave safe bowl

STEP ONE:
To start you'll need a lip balm base.
Now - for mine, I just got a finished lip balm base from Brambleberry.com
BUT! here's a basic lip balm base which would be easy to also make if you wanted to buy the ingredients separately.

-2 tsp. beeswax (chop or grate it, then measure)
-2 1/4 tsp. jojoba oil

I've talked to a few friends who like to make their own lip salves and they say that getting the texture and balance right for your personal taste is the hardest part. If you want a softer lip balm, add more oil... a waxier lip balm is from less oil.

STEP TWO
Melt your base on a microwave safe container until it's melted. Some say you want to leave it in there for about 1 1/2 minutes...but it really would depend on your microwave. You don't want to boil your base...because if it's too hot, it will crack and break when drying in your pots. I just kept an eye on my base until it was melted all the way through.

STEP THREE
Add your flavoring and colorant.

1 oz. flavoring of your choice. (check out all these great options here... all food safe and yummy!)
.25 oz colorant (or a few drops)... also needs to be food safe.. like these

STEP FOUR
Using a disposable eye dropper, dispense your melted base into your lip balm base before it cools. You have to be a bit quick on your feet here so that the base doesn't cool before you've transferred all your lip balm into their finished pots.

TIPS & TRICKS

- I wasn't fast enough during Step Four, so my eye dropper got filled with lip balm and my lip balm started to cool in my bowl! Eeek!!! But... I'm a little smarter than the average bear so I just put that bowl back in the microwave for about 20 seconds until the material was warm again and kept going until I had used up all my base.

- To fix my little eye dropper, I did the same thing...just popped it in the microwave for a few seconds so that it would release some of the lip balm that was stuck inside. You don't want to cook any of the dropper for too long or you'll melt your eye dropper...and probably burn your little fingers when you touch it. So be careful!

- I think this would be a great little project for kids - ages 6 and up who can understand the concept of dangerous hot liquids. Kids would have fun choosing the color and flavors and giving these to friends at school for Christmas presents. For me, this project made about 20 little pots of lip balm.

- Total cost for this project is around $20. So it's truly an affordable gift giving idea.

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

DIY Display Tour: Urban Ore, Berkeley

2011-10-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Holiday show season is here! Part of preparing for the shows is coming up with ways to display your items. One must consider, table type, table covers, backdrops, signage, seating, displays, etc.- not to mention easy packing and keeping the weight light.

Hardware stores are fabulous places… but have you considered salvage yards and thrift stores? You can save a small fortune on base supplies and ‘ready to wear’ displays.

The other week I went to Urban Ore in Berkeley for inspiration. If you haven't been there yet, set aside a bunch of time- it's 3 acres of recycled goods!

I now take you on a photo tour of the nearly endless possibilities…

‘Ready to Wear’ Displays
Ok- maybe you aren’t so handy with tools or don’t have the space or the time to create your own. No worries! There are many ‘ready to wear’ displays available- baskets, glass/wooden/metal trays, shelves, glass front cabinets, window shutters, fireplace screens, mannequins, and even sections of actual retail display racks.

‘Some Assembly Required’ Displays
Have you ever thought about using an old wooden chair on top of the table for height? It’s an instant shelf and with some screws or hooks around the seat edges etc. you can hang plenty of items from it. How about using an old paned window with screws in the framing to hang items? Same thing goes for old cupboard doors and odd items like vintage washboards. How do you make them stand- screw a couple hinges between them to create a folding screen type of unit. Use old frames (you can even do a quick coat of paint) but use fabric or printed photos and some corkboard underneath it where the photo goes and create mini free-standing cork boards to pin your items to.

Seating, Lighting and Backdrops
Many salvage yards and thrift stores have tons of options here. You can find everything from retail and home lighting to room screens and folding chairs for you booth- even in painted colors! Maybe you aren’t into a rattan folding screen, but think of it spray painted apple green behind you with a sign hanging from it. It can help create a ‘booth’ feel even with just a table top display.

Raw Materials
Need height on your table- use old floor boards with old books or cement blocks between them. Want instant flat backgrounds under your items on the table- use old tile or mirrors.

A Final Note- Put It All Together
You can have a very pulled together look even with salvaged items. Pick one or two materials and use only items with those materials. Example: Glass and Iron- You can use dark iron wire racks and towers for hanging and a mix of glass trays on the table. Even if the trays are different styles, if they are all glass they will look consistent.

Look For Inspiration
You can search online for inspiration on how to use these materials. Use a search engine or check out Flickr or other photo sharing websites for these keywords:
Salvage display
DIY Display
DIY Craft Display
Show Display
Craft Display
Booth Display
(enter items you show) Display – i.e. ‘Quilt Display”

Enjoy creating!

Tara Evans -Velvet Otterhound

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

SF Etsy Members at the Harvest Market Benefit for SF LGBT Center

2011-10-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that the SF Etsy team is a sponsor of the upcoming Harvest Market Benefit for the SF LGBT Center! We are proud to support this worthy cause and several of our members will be vendors at this event, including:

Velvet Otterhound

Jen Oaks Illustration

Géraldine Adams Illustrations

This will be a family-friendly craft fair where artists will be selling their work, teaching their craft, and connecting with the artistic and LGBT community.

Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 1:30pm – 5:30pm
Location: SF LGBT Center @ 1800 Market St. SF
Cost: Free to all attendees

For more info, check out the Harvest Market Website

Other vendors also on board...

Red Shoes Photography
Steam Powell Industries
Petal Pictures
Dragon fly Designs
Phoenix Personal Training
Christina Westbrook Designs
Lumen Rose
Corinne Parker Crafts

All proceeds from the event are going directly to the Center, to support the most in-need members of our community. Hope to see you there!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Meet Up Coming Up! First Annual SF Etsy Craft Swap & Networking Event!

2011-10-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

We invite you -- SF Etsy members, blog readers, and creative members of the SF community -- to the First Annual SF Etsy Craft Swap and Networking Event at TechShop SF!

When? Sunday October 30th from 12 pm to 4 pm

Where? TechShop SF

How? RSVP here and then show up with crafty stuff, potluck items, and $5 donation at the door. Read on for more details!

SF Etsy Street Team with the support of TechShop, GoGoCraft and S.C.R.A.P. presents The First Annual Craft Swap & Networking Event For Sustainable Craft Making. Along with an afternoon of inspirational craft and networking, we are inviting everyone to bring their craft items that they no longer have a use for to share with other team members in a Craft Swap!

How does it work? The Craft Swap promotes the reuse and recycling of items and sustainable craft, as well as having FUN. All you need to do is bring a potluck item and craft materials that you no longer have a use for to donate to the event. After that, it’s a trading free-for-all! Do a little spring cleaning and refresh your crafting inspiration by taking out the old and bringing in the new! Don’t forget to bring an extra bag to take all your new free-cycled goodies home with you! Our friends from S.C.R.A.P. will also be on-site with a donation box for anything you want to send to a new home.

This is a SF Etsy event open to the community to support local craft activity that is also considerate of the environment, minimizing waste and maximizing fun. During the event TechShop will be providing tours of their facility, and will be doing demos on some of their equipment.

The SF Etsy Street Team has roots in Etsy’s beta grassroots marketing and was part of the original “street teams” concept for spreading the word about Etsy and handmade to folks on the street. Like the San Francisco Bay Area in which it is located, the SF Etsy Street Team is a vibrant and diverse community, full of creativity. We strive to support and promote local Etsy sellers by sharing expertise and advice, hosting local shows and events, and providing a valuable network of local talent and resources.

TechShop is a membership-based workshop that provides members access to equipment, and instruction. You can think of TechShop as a craft gym for artists and makers but with tools instead of weights. During the event TechShop will be providing tours of their facility, and will be doing demos on some of their equipment.

GoGoCraft will be leading us in making SF Etsy Banners for your Etsy shop and event booths. GoGoCraft is a mobile crafting workshop for crafters of all skill levels and interests.

S.C.R.A.P will be providing some craft materials from their organization - SF Etsy Team can depend on S.C.R.A.P as a place to find all manner of materials for all our creative projects. S.C.R.A.P

We are asking a donation of $5 at the front door which will be used to facilitate this event.

We also welcome volunteers to help and ask folks to bring something for the potluck. We have two sign up sheets. One for the potluck where members bring a potluck item for the event and the other where you can volunteer to help out. All assistance is very much appreciated.

Potluck Sign Up

Volunteer form

Note: Because of the access to tools and craft at this facility please do not wear open toed shoes during the event for safety reasons.

We encourage all members to use Social Media and their blogs to talk about the event and our friends TechShop, GoGoCraft, and S.C.R.A.P. Any blogs or mentions about the event will be featured on the SF Etsy Blog post event. Videos and photos of the event are also appreciated and encouraged and can be uploaded to the SF Etsy Flickr account. Sharing = Community.

For More Information:

Rochelle Foles

Lisa Spinella

Géraldine Adams

Location:

TechShop San Francisco is located at 926 Howard Street, just 1 block from the Moscone Center. It’s 3 blocks from Powell Street BART station. Private parking lot at the TechShop building with a ten dollar per day charge.

Don't forget to RSVP so we know to expect you! And feel free to leave a comment telling us how excited you are about coming to the meet up!

Many thanks to all the members of our Meet Up Committee for their hard work on this event, and thanks to Etsy for their support in the form of a team grant to help fund our first annual SF Etsy Craft Swap and Networking Event. Hope to see you there!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Meet Your Fellow Creatives

2011-10-11T15:45:00.000-07:00

Lightbox SF is hosting an artist mixer at Secession Art and Design this Thursday, October 13th. In honor of Open Studios and our belief in getting your story out there, current exhibiting artists Heather Robinson and Rachel Znerold will be joining us to share a bit about their process with you.

Secession Art and Design is a great local boutique and gallery that showcases independent talent in an atmosphere that promotes community and artistic voice. We are very excited to welcome you to this amazing space along with owner and curator Eden Stein.

Of course we will have drinks and snacks as usual and fully expect lots of mingling and new friends to be made. So please join us, Thursday, October 13th from 6-9pm at Secession, 3361 Mission St. @ 30th.

We look forward to seeing you there, you never know who you'll meet!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Who's Your True Fan?

2011-10-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

I recently read the original article that Seth Godin and Chris Guillebeau have referred to many times, "1000 True Fans" written by Kevin Kelly back in 2008. Since then I haven't really been able to let it go. It brought up two core ideas for me that are extremely powerful when trying to get a perspective on your business model and ideal client.

Let's start with the business model first. Kelly's premise is that if an artist has 1000 true fans that support him by spending $100 a year, the artist can make a decent living and not have to worry about appealing to the masses. While a valid and interesting argument there are many ways to debate its merit. I won't bother with poking holes, instead I want to focus on the numbers. Ugh I know, I promise to keep them simple.

To me the idea of having 1000 true fans or ideal clients for my business seems like a high number. We're not talking mailing list subscribers or blog readers, we're talking people who buy what you're selling regularly. But I'm also not an individual artist, I'm a consultant. So I played with the numbers a little and thought, what if I had 200 ideal clients that paid me $500/year? Same end number and that seems much more doable for my business model. That's 2 e-courses or only 5 in-person sessions. I can see that happening.

Then I started thinking in terms of clients, what if I'm talking to someone who sells t-shirts at $25 each. They would need 1000 true fans to buy 4 t-shirts a year to make those numbers, is that realistic? I'm thinking that might be a little high, but what if they sold something else at a $50 price point? Do you see where I'm going with this?

Playing with the numbers is this way gives you a whole new perspective on how many people you need to reach and what you need to sell them. Maybe you really only need $50,000 a year or even less, or perhaps your work sells for $100-$500. Play with the numbers the same way to see what that really means in terms of items/services sold and total number of customers. You might even begin to find it fun.

The second idea that stuck with me was the definition of a true fan. Kelly talks about it terms of someone who loves everything you do and buys it all, he was focusing a lot on musicians. But I started to think, who is that person who would be so excited by every course, e-book, and workshop I could think of that they would sign up? What would I have to give in terms of information, support, and/or guidance to keep them coming back? I'm still working on that answer, but I'm pretty sure it'll help me grow the business.

Imagine who that person is that would want to own every piece of jewelry you make or would be so excited by the colors of yarn you dye that they buy some of each. Can you picture who they are? Do you know why they love what you do so much? Do you know how they found you and why they keep coming back? You are certainly on to something if you can answer those questions.

There is no solid right answer to either of these ideas, but I'm sure that if you even attempt to answer them both for yourself you'll gain some serious insight into what structure your business needs to take and who's going to support it.

I'd love to hear some of the answers you come up with.

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Friday Feature -- Vintage Fusion Jewelry

2011-10-02T12:35:00.000-07:00

Posting on a Sunday due to technical difficulties, this week's Friday Feature is SF Etsy member Elizabeth, the creative force behind Vintage Fusion Jewelry. I had such fun browsing through her shop! It's full of pretty shiny things, each lovely piece crafted from rescued and repurposed vintage jewelry to create something new and beautiful. I especially loved this Light Blue Cocktail Ring, which reminds me of some of the vintage beaded jewelry I inherited from my grandmother. Gorgeous!
Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

Vintage Fusion Jewelry uses old pieces and transforms them into fashionable wears for today. My main focus is cocktail and statement rings. I learned to bead around age 12 and I expanded upon my knowledge through self teaching and also through taking classes. I combined these skills with my love for hunting for treasures at garage sales, estate sales and flea markets. I love to find the beauty in objects that might otherwise go unworn or get thrown away.

2. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

I worked for several different baseball teams selling tickets. Most recently the Oakland A's. I am now working in sales in the Restoration Business. My company CRDN restores textiles after fires, floods or exposure to mold and asbestos. It is a very interesting niche market. I dream of being able to devote my full time attention to Vintage Fusion Jewelry but that time has not presented itself yet.

3. What inspires your creations?

I am inspired by color and the beauty in forgotten things. I love the process of hunting for treasures and then transforming them into one of a kind unique jewelry. A sense of calm and relaxation takes over when I am in creative mood.

4. How did you get involved with Etsy?

A friend told me about Etsy and I had no idea it even existed. It has been such a great way to set up my own shop and network with other artists. I love to support handmade so it has been an awesome place to shop, too!

5. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

It is important to be patient and realize that it will take time to make sales. With time and effort the sales will come. It has taken me hard work through participating in teams, networking at shows and producing a quality unique product. Also, having great pictures is important. I am extremely fortunate that my dad is a photographer. We will make a date and he rents a special lense for our shoots. We always try new backgrounds and colors to keep the posts unique and fun.

6. What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday?

I would love to experiment more with soldering. I have taken a class but I would like to take another one.

7. What has been your biggest success and/or proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop?

Making my first sale to a complete stranger. I have loved watching the positive feedback build up. There is nothing better than having people you have never met rave about your creations!

Craft Bar at MOCFA this Thursday: Photo Feelism!

2011-10-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

The marvelous monthly Craft Bar @MOCFA with Etsy labs is coming up!

This Thursday October 6th at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art
51 Yerba Buena Lane
San Francisco
6-8PM

October's CRAFT BAR brings author Leanne Prain to talk about her new book Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery and lead an exclusive workshop taken directly from the book. Have old photographs and postcards you have picked up at flea markets or your grandmothers house? Wonder what you're ever going to do with them? Photo Feelism, by artist Siobhan Long, explores adding embroidery and tactile elements to your photographs and other paper goods. We will have some photographs on hand, but we encourage you to get creative and bring your own as well!

$5 admission includes tips and tricks. Drinks kindly provided by local favorite Trumer Pils.

Hope to see you there! Leave us a comment if we should look for you!

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

It's Time To Plan Your Holiday Marketing

2011-09-29T14:46:00.000-07:00

We have officially hit Indian summer here in San Francisco and all I honestly want to do is soak up the sun with a beer in hand. So the shift to thinking about holiday marketing is a bit hard, but must be done.

What I want to inspire you to do today is to make a marketing plan for the holidays. Mapping everything out will help insure you don't get caught running out of product, will help you maximize all you marketing possibilities and take advantage of publicity opportunities. Consider each of the areas below in planning for the coming months.

Product Lines

If you have plans to offer any promotions or participate in trunk shows or fairs this season now is the time to stock up on inventory. You want plentiful looking displays to entice customers. You also don't want to run out of your best selling item just as your new retail account places an order. Take honest stock of what you have and what you'll need then place your materials orders now.

Publicity

At the beginning of August I wrote a post on Lightbox SF blog saying that you were already behind the gun for getting holiday publicity and generally that's true. However with the shorter lead time of blogs, there's still plenty of outlets to contact in hopes of getting into a gift guide or two, but you need to jump on it. Look to your favorite blogs first, have they made a call for products or did they do a round up in the past? Make sure your press kit is up to date and send along any appropriate samples. October is certainly not too early to get things in the mail.

Special Advertisements

This is the one time of year that spending a little on advertising can really be worth it, especially for marketplace promotions or shopping guides. But do take the time to do the research, how big an audience do they reach, is it really your target market, do they have any testimonials from past advertisers? Look to local papers who might feature a local or handmade shopping guide. Blogs that do a lot of product reviews often offer special holiday advertising also. It never hurts to look into it. Planning now will also help you keep on budget and not miss out on great opportunities because the money wasn't in the bank.

Marketing Materials

Do you have enough business cards and/or postcards for the holiday fairs you're participating in? Do you have enough boxes, stickers, envelopes or whatever you use to package and ship orders? You might even think of doing something a little different for the season to stand out. Holiday packaging and gift wrapping are nice marketing touches that customers remember. It can be as simple as themed tissue paper or ribbon with your standard packaging. This is also the time to think about refreshing or upgrading your display. A new banner or Christmas lights can go a long way to getting people into your booth and picking up merchandise.

Communications and Announcements

Use your mailing list, blog, Twitter and Facebook to keep your loyal customers up to date on everything you're doing this season, events, promotions, and new products. Encourage early ordering by offering a discount, provide dates, times, and links for all the trunks shows and craft fairs you'll be selling at, and remind them of all the online and brick and mortar locations where they can purchase your stuff. Make it as easy as possible for your customers to buy.

Use Your Calendar

Get everything on one calendar. Fill out whatever sort of calendar works best for you (online, planner, drawing your own grid) with all your holiday events, deadlines and promotions. Work backwards from event dates to schedule all the prep you need to do, that includes posting to Twitter and Facebook, sending out invites, and creating inventory. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time for shipping delays, possible mix ups, and the general chaos that accompanies this time of year.

If all that seems like an overwhelming amount of planning, trust me when I say taking the time to make a plan now will save you from most of the last minute chaos that the holiday season seems to bring. Start with the big events, the stuff already set in stone and plan backwards. Look to what you did last year if possible and plan for all the details you wish you'd been able to take care of.

Jordan of Handmade Success also has this great free planner to help you map it all out. You just need to sign up for her newsletter.

Now get planning!

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Time Travel

2011-09-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

My mind has been in the future a lot lately. Creating a future vision for your business is the first week's lesson in our e-course. The chaos at Lightbox SF has settled down a bit and we're planning to get some bigger, long term projects underway. I also see the holidays quickly approaching and I'm starting to think about what I want next year to look like.

We often hear advice telling us to stay in the present and focus on the here and now. And most of the time I would agree, having your head too far into the future makes you miss the amazing experiences and opportunities that are around you right now. However, when it comes to reaching goals and making big things happen, you have to be able to imagine the future.

Taking the time to create a vision of your business in the future, or any part of your life for that matter, makes it tangible. You can imagine how you'll feel when you get there, who you'll interact with, what it all looks like and suddenly the path getting there seems clearer. It makes it all more real when you can see the picture in your head.

So yesterday I was reading a blog post and saw a reference to this website futureme.org. It couldn't have come at a more perfect time. It's a simple website that allows you to send an email to yourself in the future. You schedule it for when you want it sent, a few days, a few months or a few years into the future, say what you have to say, and hit send.

It was a great reminder that while looking to the future for a path helps you get where you want to go, looking to the past for how far you've come helps keep you moving. We often forget to acknowledge all the hard work we put in and only focus on what we're going through or heading towards. Here's to taking the time to appreciate the past, present and future equally as we build the businesses and lives we truly crave.

Visit futureme.org and write yourself a note about what you hope you accomplish in the next 3 months, then sit back and see how close you come.

I encourage comments directly to this post, but also feel free to email me directly with questions, reactions, struggles, etc. genevieve [at] lightboxsf [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!