Creative People To Inspire Your Next Steps: Alana of Etta + Billie

If you had a chance to read over the newest Etsy article about Etta + Billie, you'll know that Alana started her company in 2009 and steadily grew her business until she was able to quit her day job about a year and a half ago. Her story is inspirational, motivating and just down right awesome-sauce. 

I've been watching her business grow for the last 6 years and she's always been such an inspiration for me - like, seriously - she's so ultra-cool. Her passion behind her business is clear, she's super nice, her brand aesthetic is stunning & you'll find that she's got a great business savvy about her. Also, she's a riot! Her warm personality fills a room & I just love her dry sense of humor.

Alana recently moved into her own larger studio space from her home garage - and about 3 weeks ago, we finally met up for some fun. She let me into her studio to make some soap with her and learn more about her technique. You can read about that on my own personal blog... Ylang-Ylang, Etta+Billie & other Curiosities

But, she also let me ask some questions just for SF Etsy & our community to help inspire you to follow your passions & expand your business towards the next step. Plus, I got curious and asked some questions about her products that I think are fun to know for future SF Etsy trivia nights. 

FAVORITE SCENTS, PRODUCT INFO & MORE, OH MY!:

Have your favorite scents shifted since you were a teen or do you find yourself still attracted to the same things?

My favorite scents have definitely shifted since I was a teen. I was very drawn to citrus or ginger scents (or a combination of both) when I was younger and now I love richer, earthier scents like patchouli, cedar and geranium.

What's your favorite product that you sell right now?

My current favorite product is my Bath + Body Oil. It's the perfect multi-purpose product. I use it instead of body lotion, I put a few drops in my hair as a leave in conditioner and use it at night on my face as a facial treatment. I ALWAYS travel with a mini bottle.

BERGAMOT GINGER SKIN BALM

I know my favorite product of yours rotates (because they are all awesome!). Right now I'm digging the Bergamot Ginger Lotion. What's the current customer favorite? 

Customers are LOVING the skin balms right now. Because it's cold and dry, our hands, cuticles, elbows etc are getting extra roughed up. The skin balm works wonders to soften and soothe dry skin.

How often do you test out new products? 

Not as often as I'd like!! About 3-5 times a year. I want that to become a monthly experience.

How do you keep yourself inspired to keep making and producing your product?

Recently, I've been working on collaborations with other makers to keep me inspired. I love learning more about others crafts and figuring out how to create something that captures the essence of another brand.

(you can check out a few of her collaborations with local companies on her website here: Ritual Coffee - Speakeasy Beer - T-We Tea) Also! Her Pumpkin Beer DRAFT Magazine last summer - how cool is that?!

RITUAL ROASTERS COFFEE SOAP

EXPANDING YOUR BUSINESS:

So many of the makers we know struggle to take that first step into wholesale & consignment opportunities. You're a true inspiration to those who are looking to expand their business into that direction... Knowing that you sell all over the US, can you tell us how you found most of these spaces?

That's correct, I do sell all over the US. A large percentage of stores have found me through craft shows such as Renegade. Others have seen my items on Instagram, SF Made and the San Francisco Green Business website. I've also participated in the SF Gift Show.

Display of Alana's products within Egg & Dart

For those looking to move into their own studio like you did to expand their business beyond their garage or home office - what is the most valuable lesson you learned that you wish you had known before you started the search for your current space?

The most valuable lesson I learned is that you have to be very proactive about finding space and have a clear list of must haves. It will make the process a bit smoother and make it a lot easier to say no to certain spaces. At a certain point in my search, I started to feel really desperate which caused me to consider spaces that truly weren't the right fit.

COMMUNITY & FAMILY:

Since the name of your business was named after your two grandmothers - how does your family play a part in your business today? 

My family is incredibly supportive of my business. Whenever they are in town, they are always happy to wrap product, help me make soap or do whatever is necessary around the studio. My dad also is my un-official Southern California coastal sales rep.

Do you have soap boxing parties during the high-volume seasons? 

Every holiday season for the past 3 years has had a weekly soap/product boxing party. It's a lot of fun. We wrap soap, eat a great meal and drink some wine. I'm always looking for people interested in wrapping a few 100 bars of soap in an evening. ;-) (hint hint)

Community is a huge part of the marker scene here in San Francisco - how do you participate? 

I love that my craft has created such an amazing opportunity to connect with other makers throughout the city. I keep connected to other makers through my membership in SF Etsy, participation in events and through a mastermind group of makers called the Creative Business League.

WHAT'S NEXT?!:

What shows are you going to be part of coming up so that the team can meet you in person?!?

I'll be a vendor at the first ever Summer West Coast Craft in June and hopefully get to vend again at Renegade's summer show in SF.
Are your teaching any classes soon so that people can learn some of your awesome tricks?

I have a natural cleaning products class at the Handcrafted Studio School in early May and will likely teach a lip balm or bath product class at Workshop SF in the coming months. Check both sites for dates and details!

WHERE TO FIND ETTA + BILLIE

Her Official Website
Her Etsy Shop
Search for a Retailer Near You
Facebook!
Read about my fun day with Alana here
Her blog features interviews with shops her products are sold in plus totally yummy recipes!

Side note that I'm just SO grateful that our community here at SF Etsy has people like Alana to inspire us to keep going after our passions. Thank you to Alana for taking so much time with me over the last few weeks - I am forever grateful!

Alana in what I like to call her Mad Scientist Attire! 

UPDATE: April 30,2015 
SFetsy is Proud to Announce that Alana Rivera from Etta + Billie is our 1st endorsement as Kiva Zip Trustees. Share or Contribute to her Campaign Here  https://zip.kiva.org/loans/13757/i/jnr

For More Information about SF Etsy and Kiva's partnership: http://sfetsy.blogspot.com/2015/04/we-have-some-very-very-exciting-news-to.html

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, visit Our Team Page about joining SFEtsy!

Tuestorial: Calligraphy

Calligraphy is a skill I always wanted to learn, but wasn't sure where to start. When I saw that Urban Bazaar was hosting a workshop for calligraphy, I knew I had to join!

The instructor, Dave Goggin, believes learning calligraphy is important in a world where we depend on electronics. It has a rich history in our culture and a tradition that deserves to be past down to future generations.

Urban Bazaar's workshop schedule!

Materials Needed:

• Bottle of ink (Higgins Eternal non-waterproof ink is recommended)
• Pen points (there are about 50 different kinds so starting with #99 is best!)
• Off-axis pen holder
• Paper that is very smooth and doesn't bleed
• Cup of water
• Mr. Dave Goggin, the master calligraphy instructor 

(If you take this workshop at Urban Bazaar, all these materials are provided!)

All setup and ready to go!

Step 1:

Learn how to hold your pen and practice without ink first. It seems so basic, but you almost have to "un-learn" how you usually hold a ballpoint pen. The muscles you focus on is in your forearm, not your wrist. This is where having an instructor comes in handy. He or she can assist you to make sure you are holding your pen at the correct angle and using the right muscles. It takes a lot of focus at first just to remind yourself not to use your wrist, move with your forearm, sit up straight and to use a "light touch"on the paper.

Not bad for a newbie

Step 2:

Dip your pen in your ink and insert half way. Every few mins you should dip your pen tip in water and reapply the ink. It is easier to use a couple of extra sheets of paper as padding underneath your top page. The tip of your pen should be flat on the paper. You'll notice that your pen point has a slight gap on the tip that helps you get thick and thin writing. 

We practiced with swirls and designs provided in the first session. Our instructor showed us the Bio-Mechincal Landscape Theory that shows you that exact area you have to work with on your paper (this is definitely a "show, not tell" kind of theory). You gain speed and confidence over time, and can move on to letters. 

Calligraphy instructor, Dave Goggins

Practice, practice, practice

Step 3:

Practice, practice, practice! Soon you'll have a new skill under your belt and the best thank you cards around. 

There is so much to learn about this skill and three levels available to take! Check out all the details for upcoming workshops at Urban Bazaar here. 

To learn more about the rules of calligraphy and the latest news, join Dave Goggin's newsletter, The Pointed Pen, here. 

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Our Team Captain about joining SFEtsy!

The Art of Selling Online - Hosted by Storenvy

Last Thursday Adam Hendle and the awesome folks at Storenvy hosted a workshop to give online sellers, like us, more information and advice about.. well.. selling online!

It was an open event (with a $5 donation to the San Francisco Homeless Children's Network, who are based in the same building as Storenvy) and quite a few members of our SF Etsy team decided to check it out.


Since the Storenvy offices are the the Mission and no trip to the Mission is complete without eating Mexican food, a few SF Etsy members also met up beforehand for a sneaky burrito, before the workshop started at 7pm.


11 of our team members showed up for the presentation and it was great to meet a few more team members and put faces to Etsy shops and Twitter accounts! They were:
Eko from Eko Wright, Even Howard from nadene, Lisa from Tickle and Smash, Katy from Katy Atchison, Kathryn Hedges from Splendid Colors, Rochelle Foles from Haute Melange, Conor from San Francisco Terrain, Veronika from Recherche, Brandi and Briana from Urban Bazaar and me, Claire from Embergrass. Told you there were quite a few of us!

So what did we learn?
Well, the presentation was a very comprehensive look at all aspects of selling online and it was crammed full of information so there's no way I'm even going to attempt to cover it all here. I will leave you with some of the highlights, though, and a few quotes from some of our team members, taken from our recent tweetchats.

• Be self-aware, find a niche, be passionate about it.
• Recognize that not everyone is your target customer and find those people who are.
• Set realistic, achievable and measurable goals.
• Tell your story and carry your brand through in everything you do.
• Make sure your product descriptions include all the information the customer needs - they can't see or touch your product over the internet

"Pack good keywords into the first section-easy to do this if you start with the story + it shows the handmade nature better" - Jen (Acts of Craftiness)

• Take great photos of your products.

"Good light! One of the most important aspects of taking photos" - Claire Smith (Embergrass)

• Include more information on how your product is made, behind-the-scenes photos and lifestyle or 'lookbook' photos on your blog.
• Try to show scale in your photos, definitely make sure your photos aren't misleading.

"I made the mistake of using size ambiguous props.. people thought my handbags were change purses" - Lisa Spinella (Tickle and Smash)

• Always provide outstanding customer service and be a real person.
• Interact on social media like twitter, facebook and pinterest.

"I try to pretend my customer is standing there in front of me..what would I say, do to remedy the situation. BE Real" - Sarah Mones Friedman (birdbags)

• Admit to mistakes and apologize then try to fix them
• Packaging is the first impression your customer gets of you - make it good and consistent with your branding

"there is always a tough balance between presentation, perception and being eco-friendly" - Kathleen McMahon 

• Customer service doesn't end when you ship your product - follow up to see if they have feedback.

A lot of great resources were also thrown up during the workshop, you can find them over on the Storenvy blog on their recap of the event. If you wished you'd been there, don't worry, Adam will be doing the presentation again sometime, keep an eye on the Storenvy blog to find out when.

Upcoming Event

If you have a burning desire (or just a desperate need) to find out more about how to use Google Analytics, your wish has just been answered.

Google Analytics Workshop
September 18th
6pm - 8pm
Hosted by Storenvy, in conjunction with the SF Etsy Team

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Katy or Steph about joining SFEtsy!

Business Workshops Coming in April

I've got some great workshops coming up in April that I wanted to make sure you all knew about.

The first is a repeat of our DIY Marketing at TechShop SF with a different name, DIY Innovations in Personal Marketing. This 2-hour workshop will redefine what a business card looks like, show you why stickers and the laser cutter should be your best friend, and give you a whole new way to look at marketing materials. We'll spark your creativity and show you the tools you need to create business cards, portfolios, leave-behind gifts, and packaging that not only showcase your work in the best possible light, but express how unique you are. Armed with numerous examples, money saving tips, and firsthand experience, marketing pros Genevieve Robertson of Lightbox SF and Shana Astrachan of Shana Astrachan Jewerly will cover the basics of creative marketing and teach you how to make yourself memorable.

Saturday, April 7 2 - 4pm, register now.

Then there's two workshops happening at Parisoma, a co-working place in, yes, SOMA.

The Brand of You will dive deep into how to find your unique story, your ideal target market and how connecting those two will help you to stand out in the marketplace. We'll talk about the big vision, your personal strengths, and how to define your ideal customer.

Tuesday, April 10 6 - 7:30pm, sign up here.

Following that is Crafting an Online Presence. This workshop will discuss how to bring your blog, website, newsletter and social networking together to present a unified brand identity online. It will assume some familiarity and experience, but not expert level with all platforms and will focus mostly on the types of content to post and how to build a strategy that will help you reach and sustain your goals.

Tuesday, April 17 6 - 7:30pm, sign up here.

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Genevieve not only writes The Savvy Entrepreneur she is the Co-Founder of Lightbox SF where she empowers creatives to take over the world. Check out the blog or how to work with her.

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Katy or Steph about joining SFEtsy!

Savvy Entrepreneur: Meetups, Business Groups, and Workshops

This past Saturday the SF Etsy Leadership team met to talk about big, bold plans for the year ahead. You’ve already seen a few things come to life, the SF Etsy Twitter chat and our first all team gallery show. We are all so excited and fired up to help build this community and support all of you in any way we can.

To that end, one of the biggest topics of conversation was what our role was in helping to organize various levels of get togethers. Here’s what we came up with, however we are totally open to suggestions and requests if you have an idea for something you wish would happen.

Meetups

We imagine meetups to be the social, community building side of SF Etsy. Our fearless leader Rochelle is the woman behind last year’s Craft Swap and will be pulling strings to make similar future events happen. We’ve got something in the works for May, but I won’t spill the beans just yet. If you have any great ideas for how all of us can get together more regularly or want to help out with meetups be sure to let Rochelle know.

As leaders we will organize a few of these a year with the intention of bringing as much of the team together as we can to meet face to face and make friends. Since we also know that many of you live outside of San Francisco we are looking for volunteers in the North, South and East bay to help us make these social events happen in your area. If this is something you’d be interested in contact one of our team co-captains, Katy or Steph.

Business Groups

A while back I wrote an article on the benefits of business groups and it motivated a lot of you reach out to one another to make something happen. That was exactly the intention. Business groups are your thing to manage and organize in whatever way helps you the most. It might be the same small group of you that get together once a month to share successes and failures or it might be a larger rotating group that meets every other week to ask questions of each other about running an Etsy shop. These can be as big or small, structured or casual as you want them to be.

However as leaders we’re here to support you in any way that we can so let us know if you need ideas on how structure one of these groups, have a group that needs more members or are in search of a group in your area. I personally would love to have a list of all the business groups that form so that I can help new members find the support they need. If you have a group you'd like me to be aware of just send a quick note with how often you meet and in what area. You are also welcome to add these meetings to our team calendar on the blog by clicking on the "Add Event" link just below the calendar.

Workshops

Yes, we also plan to have a few business success workshops for you before the year is finished. These of course are about building skills and knowledge to run your business successfully, although there may be a pre or post social hour added on.

We’re still hammering out the details of when and where, but look for one on branding to happen sometime toward the end of June and then a pre-holiday bootcamp workshop sometime in October. If we get a good response to these we’ll definitely plan more for next year.

So that’s our big plan for providing events that educate and bring you all together. As I said if you see something missing or have an idea for another type of event let Katy, Steph or I know and we’ll see what we can do.

We all look forward to meeting more of you in the coming months!

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Genevieve not only writes The Savvy Entrepreneur she is the Co-Founder of Lightbox SF where she empowers creatives to take over the world. Check out the blog or how to work with her.

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Katy or Steph about joining SFEtsy!

DIY Marketing at TechShop SF

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 marketing tips 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

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

Branding E-Course Just In Time For Back To School

It's back to school time and if you're anything like me September always brings on feelings of needing to take a class, add a new skill, or at the least visit a bookstore (I was an English major). If you're feeling the urge to learn, especially something new related to your business, you're in luck. Lightbox SF just launched a new e-course focused on defining your brand identity and target market called Ink Yourself.

This is the first phase we walk all of our one-on-one clients through as we feel it is the most crucial of building blocks for a successful creative business. After all it's hard to market a business you can't sum up in a simple sentence or to a group of people who's needs you don't understand.

For Ink Yourself: Discover Your Unique Story we've taken the information, advice, and insight we give to our clients over the first 2-4 meetings and packaged it into 5 weekly installments of a lesson, assignment and follow-up. The idea is smaller digestible chunks, but in a shorter period of time. Each Monday you'll receive an email with a link to download that week's lesson and assignment. Then on Thursdays you'll receive another email with further insights and a little added motivation. We've also set up a forum so that you can share questions, experience and successes with the group. We want to you to finish this course with new friends in addition to a more polished brand and clear idea of your target market.

The course begins this Monday, September 19th so register now!

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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

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

Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs - All in One Place

Photo provided by CCE

If there's one thing we can understand as members of SF Etsy, it's the thirst for knowledge. Whether it's online in forums or in our Google Group, we're always asking questions about anything & everyting. And we love to help each other out - because we all want to get further with our businesses.

But what if I could tell you that you could have a chance at getting all of your small business questions answered in one weekend? What if there was a place where you could go right here in San Francisco and be schooled by the best people in our field?

There are people who have been where we have been & gained what we seek. Through lots of trial, error and a few sage tips along the way, these individuals have helped gather a wealth of knowledge throughout the years of pioneering their own dreams into realities.

And they're all here this week!

This [weekend] the Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs comes to San Francisco, bringing three days of specific, hands-on programming aimed at helping creative professionals become better business owners.  The conference covers both universal issues like intellectual property and small business taxes as well as grander topics like opening a brick-and-mortar location or getting your first book deal.

This year’s event takes place at the historical San Francisco Women’s Building and features dozens of prominent speakers with complicated titles such as: designer, paper engineer, and TV-and-radio personality Jeff Rudell; artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon; and author, publisher, and designer Meg Mateo Ilasco. 

According to 2010 attendee (and 2011 volunteer) Samantha Barsky, “I could try to gather all of the information I need from various web sites, books, workshops and college courses, but at CCE I  got most of my questions answered in a single weekend for half the cost of one continuing ed. class. 

Get your passes to CCE here!

As if that wasn't enough incentive to get you excited about CCE, plenty of our SF Etsy folks will be there SPEAKING! Look out for:

• Genevieve Robertson & Shelly Kerry of Lightbox SF
• Kevin Clarke of Bug Under Glass
• Samantha Barsky from Noteify! 

Check out their discussions & workshops on the schedule here.

I know I'm trying to pin down my schedule of discussion, but there's so many great topics, it's hard to make any final decisions! I hope you'll be able to join us this weekend!

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

Upcycled To-A-Tee Workshop with GoGo Craft at Teahouse

There are many exciting things to be had in Berkeley, but a more than a few gems are found when you ask around. I recently was speaking with my friends at Teahouse Studio about the goings-on in their fair city and was excited to hear about something happening right there next week!

Teahouse Studio is a new space in Berkeley run by local artists that enjoy promoting wonderful creativity & sustainability in our everyday lives. It's no wonder that they would want to host a workshop with GoGo Craft! Creativity & sustainability is totally their market! And in fact, they usually bring it to you!

Check out this fun new workshop next Tuesday at Teahouse! It's only a hop, skip & a jump away from BART, too!

Upcycled To-A-Tee Workshop

Join GoGo Craft at the fabulous Teahouse Studio in Berkeley, CA for a series of modern and hip make-and-take projects.  With fun friendly attitudes and the expertise to inspire any level of maker, our crafting workshops are a fun way to embrace your creative side.

What Do I Get?

• All materials, tips, and tricks provided
• Expert instruction
• Drinks and light refreshment
• Participants come away with a cool and stylish handmade item

What  Does It Cost?

• $20/person

What Can I Make?

Upcycled To-A-Tee- Tuesday, June 28th 7-9pm

Got a closet full of tee shirts that are just taking up space?  GoGo Craft will show you how to make a boring, stretched-out old tee into a gorgeous necklace!  Not too handy with a sewing machine?  Not to worry!  This low-sew projects can be completed in one “crafternoon” with our patterns and a needle and thread.   If you aren’t quite ready to cut up your own tee, GoGo Craft will provide you with one.

Sign up here

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

San Francisco Hearts ART - Etsy & Crafting Community Connect at MOCFA

Etsy Meet-Up for I Heart Art: San Francisco at the MOCFA
Photo courtesy of Vanessa Bertozzi - Etsy Admin

One of the best things about running an Etsy business is experiencing a great sense of community with other creative entrepreneurs. What's even better is when those same individuals can connect with other local businesses, museums and schools to strengthen and build up that very same community to whole new levels!

We had a GREAT turnout for our I Heart Art: San Francisco Meet-up at the MOCFA this past Saturday, April 2nd. Not only were SF Etsy members coming from as far as Mt. Shasta, CA, but various Etsy Admin joined us for an open discussion about what this new program could mean for our local artisans, artists, and crafters.

Etsy's I Heart Art programs vary from city to city, but the common goal for each and every project has been to enrich the creative communities in which they take place. This can often be done by connecting the different demographics within these communities while working closely with various organizations to be able to make art and craft more accessible and meaningful to the general public.

Local SF Etsy Team members brainstorming ideas for I Heart Art: San Francisco
[Left to Right: Katy Atchison, Jen Johnson, Genevieve & Shelly from Lightbox SF]
Photo by Steph Cortés

This past Saturday, before the larger meet-up, a bunch of savvy small business owners from the SF Etsy Street Team came together to meet with Vanessa Bertozzi, the Director of Community & Education at Etsy, to brainstorm about what we envisioned I Heart Art to look like in San Francisco. "The idea is to dream BIG," Vanessa beamed, "And once we've got the ideas out, we can focus on what we really want." This opened up a whole series of lists: from local businesses or collectives that were already on board with the vision of a more artful SF to incredibly helpful resources & activities to assist local sellers honing their craft. A few of these included:

• Open studio tours of various local artists in neighbourhoods all around the City
• Workshops or panel discussions guided by SF Celebrity Sellers to help Etsy business owners with everything from effective social media marketing to fab product photography tips & tricks
• Special showcases and events held at museums like the California Academy of Sciences and Museum of Craft & Folk Art that invite the public to participate in hands-on workshops
• And in Portland, they've done a successful Mixer Match! - which is kind of like Speed Dating for Etsy Sellers, but more like "Speed Networking—a whirlwind night of rapid-fire elevator pitches and electrified business connections!" [Read more about I Heart Art: PDX's Mixer Match here]

Those are just a few of the many ideas so far. At the core of every I Heart Art program is collaboration with and within the local community. SF Etsy folks, and likeminded local creative types, this means you!

Tons of SF Etsy members and local business owns alike, mingling at the MOCFA
Photo courtesy of Vanessa Bertozzi - Etsy Admin

It was fantastic to see so many people come out to the meet up, and there seems to be a lot of interest in what I Heart Art: San Francisco might look like. We are very excited by all the possibilities and still in the planning and preparing stages for this project. We welcome your input, and if you have relevant resources or info to share, we'd love to hear about it! 

If you have feedback or suggestions -- for programs, workshops, events, etc -- we'd love to hear that too. Please leave us a comment or you can convo SF Team Leader Steph of nerdJERK or Team Captain Jen of Mama's Magic Studio.

Stay tuned for more details about I Heart Art: San Francisco in the coming weeks!

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

Marketing Your Art By Telling Your Story

In preparation for our upcoming workshop Shelly and I have been spending a lot of time talking about what branding means and how to define it for yourself. Our discussions have brought up some really interesting ways to approach one of the biggest questions a creative entrepreneur has to answer. So I thought I’d share a few thoughts to get your mind working and give you an idea of what our upcoming “Marketing Your Art By Telling Your Story” workshop will be like.

I used to think branding was just about logos and colors. While this is definitely a part of the mix, I now know that branding is also about an experience. So that’s one way to approach defining your brand. What sort of experience do you want your customer to have? Are you about luxury, convenience, or solving a problem?

Brand can also be about lifestyle. This is where knowing your target market comes in. Your messaging, packaging and interactions with the customers need to support their lifestyle. Are you targeting busy, working moms or active, outdoorsy college students? Not only are their needs different so is what they’re attracted to.

While creatives and artists are often very closely associated with their brands, creating a brand identity can also be about creating the best version of yourself. Your target market will often view this as the idealized version of who they want to be. Everything that you do surrounding your product or service can make them feel as though they are achieving that ideal.

There’s a lot to think about when creating a brand identity. Some of it is about external factors and perfect personas, but a lot of it is about your unique qualities and passions. By using what is uniquely your story you can stand out in the marketplace. In our workshop, “Marketing Your Art By Telling Your Story” we’ll help you find that unique story and show you how to use it to create a personalized marketing strategy.

Both Shelly and I will lead this 3-hour workshop and we’ve limited the attendance to 15 people so that everyone will get plenty of individual attention. You’ll gain a greater clarity on your brand identity as well as developing action items for a purposeful marketing strategy.

When: Thursday, March 24th 6-9pm
Where: a.Muse Gallery, 614 Alabama St.

Sign up now to be one of the lucky 15 people to attend this workshop!

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

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

Saturday Workshops with Raissa Bump Jewelry & Knitwear!

Raïssa Bump Jewelry & Knitwear, a San Francisco based member of the SF Etsy team, is proud to announce the launch of Saturday WORKSHOPS! Three hour or six hour workshops are held in a creative studio/workshop/showroom gallery called MondaySpaces.

Workshops are designed for anyone to have a new experience in both jewelry and knitting and to take home a handmade piece. No experience necessary! Private and semi-private in-depth, individualized instruction is also available.

You could make beautifully colorful pendants like these, or other lovely creations! If you are interested in learning something specific email raissa@raissabump.com to suggest a future workshop that you would like to see.

Raïssa Bump studied at Rhode Island School of Design, Alchimia School of Contemporary Jewelry and Penland School of Crafts. She exhibits her jewelry and knits in galleries and boutiques across the country and has been 'making' since she was a young girl. Over the years Raïssa's passion for adornment has only grown and she believes in sharing her knowledge with others through teaching.

Go here for a complete list of workshops. And leave us a comment if you're planning to sign up!

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

Get Support To Keep Your Resolutions

In this first week of the New Year we all have the best intentions. We vow to lose weight, take better care of ourselves, have more fulfilling lives, and work on our careers. I have talked often about setting goals; I think they are the key to moving forward and making progress. If you don’t know where you’re going how will you ever get there?

While the feeling of inspiration is still strong and you’re managing to stick to your resolutions I encourage you to also look for the support you’ll need to carry through to the end. This support may come in the form of a peer group where you get advice and understanding from others who are doing or have done something similar to you.

When Shelly and I finished the business plan for Lightbox SF we started a women’s business group. We have nine members and meet once a month on a Sunday for brunch. All of us own our own business, but are at various stages. Some are still perfecting logos and building websites, others have been in business for years. When we meet everyone gets a turn to share her successes and struggles from the past month. We ask each other for advice, feedback, or to just be a sounding board. We go to each other’s events, we spread the word about amazing accomplishments, and we’re all just there having similar struggles.

Another great way to get support is to have just one buddy, someone to tell your goals to that will hold you accountable and ask how things are going. I made the resolution this year to spend more time on my photography. The best way I could think to do this was to create a photoblog and make myself take a new picture each day. I told my fiancé about the idea and we decided to do it together. Now if I think about not taking a picture for a day I feel as though I’m disappointing him. I also see his posts everyday and they motivate me to pick up my camera.

Of course I feel one of the best ways to get the support you need is to be a part of your larger community. That may be crafters, jewelry designers, knitters, etc. Etsy is of course a great way to make those connections and ask questions and as we’ve seen the SF Etsy Street Team grow by leaps and bounds this year, there is no end to the support you can get here. However I also encourage real life interactions. Going to community events and art openings, attending workshops, and just generally putting yourself out there will allow you to meet more people who can support you in reaching your goals.

So as you push forward on your New Year’s resolutions ask yourself what would make the road a little easier. Do you need to learn a new skill? Do you need advice from someone who’s done it before? Or do you just need someone to listen when the going gets tough?

Now for the shameless business plug, Lightbox SF is holding two workshops this month to help you reach your New Year’s goals. Social Media For Artists will be on Saturday, January 15^th from 11am-2pm and Writing a Press Release That Calls Attention will be on Saturday, January 29^th from 11am-2pm. You can sign up directly on our website. And if there’s anything else you need help with, contact us to set up a free consultation.

Share some of the goals you’ve set for the New Year and what steps you’re taking to make sure you reach them.

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

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

GoGo Craft at Urban Bazaar!

Need a good excuse to visit Urban Bazaar, that fantastic shop owned by two fantastic SF Etsy members? (Aside from all the cool stuff and cool folks that you'll find there, that is.) Well, here it is!

GoGo Craft is having a Workshop at Urban Bazaar! You'll get to hang out with amazingly crafty peeps and learn to make an upcycled sweater cup cozy and pin.

What's GoGo Craft, you ask? "A full-service eco-conscious mobile crafting workshop providing exciting and accessible make-and-take workshops for all ages."

And it's brought to you by Amelia and SF Etsy's own Kpoene' (look for more exciting stuff from Miss Mignonette very soon here at the SF Etsy blog!) -- two crafty gals with tons of creativity. Sure to be a good time!

Mark your calendars for November 14th from 1-4 p.m. Tickets available here.

I'd totally be there, except we're already double-booked that afternoon with birthday parties. Ah, the busy social life of the preschool and kindergarten set! You think I'm kidding... I'm NOT! My kids have more parties than I do. Sigh. Clearly I need to set aside some "Mama Time" for the next GoGo Craft Party (aka Workshop, but we know these peoples know how to have a good time) -- because Crafting is Good For The Soul!

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

MOCFA Craft Bar Reminder!

I've been asked by the lovely folks at MOCFA (that's the Museum of Craft and Folk Art, dontchaknow) to remind you about the Craft Bar THIS THURSDAY at 6 pm!
And here's a sneak peek at the plushie itself -- isn't it darling?
Hope to see you there!

Craft Bar at MOCFA on April 1 -- No Foolin!

Heads up, SF Etsy folks! The monthly Craft Bar with Etsy labs continues next month at MOCFA on Thursday April 1st! From 6-8 p.m. you'll have the chance to learn about upcycling old sweaters or participate in the more free-form crafty social gathering, stitch-n-bitch style.

You can check out the Storque Post or the MOCFA website for more information. Hope to see you there!

Art for Kids from The Enchanted Square

Got kids? Got kids who love art? Then you'll be very interested in this fun news from SF Etsy team member Ruth of The Enchanted Square!

The Enchanted Square is thrilled to announce our first camp, Color for Kids! It will be held Spring Break week, April 5-9, in the mornings from 9am-12pm.

Ruth says, "My classes focus on nurturing the budding artist in your kids. I teach them techniques on how to use color in various ways in their art. This class will expose them to color theory in fun lessons. From basic color skills through how to combine colors in various projects in amazing ways."



Classes are designed for 3rd grade through middle school. For more information, check out the webpage for The Enchanted Square.

Craft Bar with Etsy Labs at MOCFA

Looking for something fun and crafty to do next month? Join Etsy Labs (and hopefully other SF Etsy team members) for a Craft Night at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco!

The next one will be held on Thursday March 4th from 6-8 p.m. and will include guided knitting lessons as well as learning how to crochet with recycled plastic bags. Hope to see you there!

For more info, check out the MOCFA site here.

Upcoming Workshops!

Looking to learn some new skills in the new year? SFEtsy member Heidi Rand of Garden Delights Arts & Crafts has two great workshops coming up!

HANDMADE JEWELRY WITH YOUR INKJET PRINTER

January 16, noon to 3:30.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, learn to make personalized jewelry with your own images or artwork. We will explore techniques to create unique earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pins from paper and fabric that you print on your inkjet printer. We will each complete at least one project at the workshop. Canyon Trail Art Center in El Cerrito.

$35 plus materials. Pre-registration required via email to Heidi at heidirand@gmail.com

EXPLORING LUTRADUR

January 23rd, noon to 3:30.

Learn how to create a wide variety of sewing, mixed media, and crafting projects with Lutradur, an exciting new product that combines the best qualities of fabric and paper. We will explore a variety of techniques in working on your personal project, including printing your images with an inkjet printer.

$34.00 plus materials. New Pieces Quilt Store, 1306 4th Street, Berkeley CA 94710. Pre-register at New Pieces, 510-527-6779.