Inpsired by Handmade: What I find "Pinteresting"

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CHECK OUT THE SF ETSY PINTEREST BOARDS!

I know I'm not the only one that finds Pinterest probably the most addictive thing since sliced bread... that is, if you love bread as much as I do.
 
OK... so maybe not all of your are Pinners... but did you know that Pinterest brings the most unique visitors to sites than any other?...and for this alone - climb aboard the Pinterest Train with me. (and feel free to ask me if you need an invite to start an account)



Some General Rules of Thumb for Success:

• Don't over-pin. Followers will unfollow if you've hidden all their followers behind your steady stream of Pin It Addiction
• New Pins should be pinned directly from the original website where the image/content was found so that the person gets the credit they deserve.
• Remember your audience - you can hide boards that are just for your own personal inspiration...if you want your content to be relivant to your followers, keep your visible content something they will find interesting... like DIY projects, recipes and inspirational quotes if most of your followers are Etsy fans.
• Pin Images that are clear and have good resolution.
• Curate your boards - make them specific and you'll get more followers - such as a color, cohesive theme, or type items (like favorite shoes, recipes or haunted mansions)

I found an article about Pinterest & Small Businesses that really shows the benefit of it for smaller businesses just starting out. About.com said: "Small businesses have started to see the value in Pinterest. Take for example graphic artists, photographers, interior designers and fashion designers, they are able to create storyboards showcasing their work. They have the freedom to display their work using their creativity, personal style and personality creating fantastic portfolios that can be seen and shared by other Pinterest users. This allows consumers to check out their work, prior to contacting them"

Our Leader in charge of social media - Lisa of TickleandSmash - has been SUPER busy building Pinterest Boards centered around our SF Etsy team! You know you'll get beautiful imagery straight from Etsy with our ever-changing boards. Plus! You'll be supporting SF Etsy Team Members with every RePin.

CHECK OUT THE SF ETSY PINTEREST BOARDS!

Lisa asked me to Guest Pin - YAY!
So I got to fill up a board with SF Etsy Peeps that I found amazing and inspiring. I kept in mind the rules of thumb above.

HERE'S WHAT I FOUND "PINTERESTING"! (ALL SF ETSY TEAM MEMBERS, TOO!)
--> clicky here

It was the First Pin that got me inspired!
Welp, it all started with Helen Pappas - my friend through Astra Brinkmann.
I saw a photo of her modeling an adorable yarn hat by FoxTree and I just had to pin it to my guest board because I was excited to see someone I knew who isn't part of SF Etsy (she does however make some rad backpacks that should be on Etsy)

From there, I Just kept my pallette cohesive....I stuck to picking muted colors for the most part, blended with peaches, pinks and oranges. I also kept my theme by sticking to SF Etsy Sellers only... since that way, members can re-pin from my board knowing they are supporting their local team members.

What I love about building a Pinterest board really brings my personality forward. Can you tell I pretty much look like my Pinterest board every day? OK... maybe I don't really... but I sure feel like I do...or I have dreams that I do.

Share links to your Pinterest boards below. I'd love to see what you find Pinteresting!

xo-Katy

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

Gathering Inspiration: From Yourself!

Need Inspiration?! Dig a little into your past and find some wonderful nuggets of awesome!

In November I decided that I'd pull together a calendar for 2012. And I started sketching out ideas for every month.... school bus, rain, flowers, Santa Claus and so on... until I had an idea for every month. Then I spend a good couple of hours starting my project before my project became too much for me to handle. Who starts a project for January at the end of November?! Especially as a craftswoman. I just didn't have time to really find that extra inspiration and time to complete the task at hand.

So I got this idea...dig through my favorites from the previous year!
I mean... hellooooo...duh.
I already had all of the months gathered up and scanned, I just had to curate the project and add in the months.

Plus! The project was almost all digital so I was able to offer it for FREE to my followers. I got so many happy comments about my calendar because people also loved my favorites as much as I did. Gathering the inspiration AND the materials from my year before helped me also to keep the project really cost affective, time affective AND also matchy-matchy.

FREE CALENDAR DOWNLOAD: GO GET IT HERE

Here is Feb... just in case you want to download it to your desktop.



I want to encourage all of us to really think about the work we already do... how can we mold what we do into another project... take a piece of something, reuse it... push it into something new and exciting for yourself and see your inspiration come from within.

Since I posted my calendar online...I have had more than 130 views of the calendar, many people printed it AND I even sold 10 of them that I had professionally printed. I see a 2013 calendar in my future.

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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!

Pencils Ready?

Now that school has started and everyone is getting settled in...it's time to get some last minute goods that will make you look like the smartest mom, or the smartest student in the classroom. Buying handmade goods means you'll never have to wonder if it will last all year long... these Bay Area Etsy Sellers have some great goods. Give yourself a gold star for looking to Etsy for new clothes, school supplies and inspiring art.




1.) Keep Your sniffles to your self with an adorable Whale Tissue Holder

2.) Showcase your love of letters with this Steampunk Ring made with a Typewriter Key.

3.) Declare your wisdom with these inspirational bracelets stamped with meaningful words.

4.) Let everyone know how much you're in love with good grammar with this hilariously true t-shirt.

5.) Take the seat in the front of the class with this adorable chair.

6.) Give yourself a symbolic gold star for being so special with this star necklace.

7.) Let your inner writer shine with this adorable vintage typewriter print.

8.) Send off a greeting card to your friends you miss from summer camp that has academic appeal AND a little bit of humor.

9.) Keep your thoughts to yourself or pass notes to your best friend in this adorable notebook.

10.) Tote around your homemade lunch with your best friend the Narwhal.

11.) Write to your pen pal and tell them all about how great school is going but that your heart still belongs to them with this anatomical heart greeting card.

12.) Keep your room and your text books organized with small, but very useful leaning bookcase.

13.) Remind yourself that Biology can be fun and adorable...have a praying mantis print like this one in your room.

14.) Show up the first day of school with a dress that will knock their socks off.

15.) Score big with your friends when you bust out this vintage Yahtzee game!

16.) Show everyone how smart you are while Keeping your sammie cozy in this eco-friendly sandwich bag!

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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!

Inspired by Handmade - Pack it up, pack it in

This weekend I'm on a short trip to see family in Southern Idaho.
Although this trip is short...a summer trip to Idaho is something I've grown fond of. Born in Blackfoot, ID but raised in The Bay (and having a summer cabin in Montana)...road trips and airplane travel is part of my summer vacation each year....traveling is where I learned how to crochet...it's where I learned how to cross-stitch, I drew in my journals and it's where I found the most pleasure listening to Operation IV and Rancid as loud as I could (without my Dad hearing my music).

Packing up my things I thought of our Etsy team and how many of our members have such great items that are perfect for a road trip or a couple of hours on a plane with nothing else to do but waste a bit of time.

So this week, I'm in inspired by things you can bring with you while you travel. Functional pieces...things that I could use each year on my voyage to Montana and Idaho. Some of these items are from team members and some are just from our local community. I think you'll be inspired to get on the road to new adventures with these great finds!





1. bring a hat...buy something small that you can stuff into a small corner of your bag... this Cashmere Wool blend Handmade Cycling Cap by alloneword is a great travel companion! it will keep some of the sun out of your eyes while also keeping your head warm. The nights up in Montana can get really cool and I could also see myself using this on a morning hike around the lake.

2. a pillow is a must have! But not a huge pillow...come on...no need to pack yourself a large pillow... if you're on a plane, having a pillow to rest your head on while you take a little snooze is a luxury... have one that is totally AWESOME like this Day of the Dead pillow from MiVidaCreations just makes you look like that totally awesome traveler that you are.

3. Keep a log! I like to make Sketch Diaries of my trips. It's a way of being in the moment for me and also a way to remember how many great memories I have without being tied down with a camera in hand. punkrawkpurl makes some great little moleskin journals that are perfect for taking with you on a vacation! She's at the Hecho Local Event this Sunday...so save on some shipping and visit her if you have time.

4. pack an extra bag! I now what you're thinking...an extra bag? More stuff?! But seriously...putting a small tote into your suitcase will give you some flexibility on the road. What if you wanted to stop by that fruit stand you saw a mile back? All you'd have to do is have a tote like this one from jenspillydesigns and you're good to go! Not to mention, if you're anything like me...I always end up with too many things on the trip back to fit into my suitcase.

5. Pack the First Aid kit! Okay...so maybe you dont' need one of these if you're flying...but how great would it be to have one of these handy when on a road trip? I love that this particular one by ReCultivation is vintage. Seriously, I'm one of those people who gets headaches from too much sun and also burns easily...having some aspirin, aloe and sunscreen by me on a road trip is a must! (can you tell I'm Irish? ha!)

6. A gift for the hostess. Packing a small gift for the hostess will make your vacation all that much sweeter! I like giving handmade soaps or scrubs to my hostesses. This one is just lovely to look at and doesn't break the bank! Plus, this soap by ettaandbillie is Rosemary Lemon... Mmmmmm... it'll make the clothes you pack it by smell that much sweeter!

7. Kill the boredom! I was pretty excited to see that Even Howard (nadene) had some great little DIY Kits on her Etsy. Yay! Her things are so beautiful and now I can work on killin' the time with something creative to keep my hands and mind busy.

8. Rock ON with ya bad self! Don't forget your iPod for some tunes along the way... when we drive out through Nevada, it's really VERY important to bring something to break up the trip and the radio stations are pretty much not happenin'. I love the iPod cases that EvelynX makes... she even has some that are made to order! Maybe you can get it personalized also so everyone knows how prepared you are for some rockin' out!! :)

What types of activities did your family do while you went on road trips as a kid? What traditions do you now have with your kids? I'm curious how many of us learned some of our go-to crafts while we sat behind our parents at the wheel.

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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!

How To: Create Buzz with Snail Mail & Cross-Marketing

If you know a little bit about me beyond the walls of SFEtsy, you know that I'm a Graphic/Web Designer that creates e-marketing campaigns for a large retailer here in San Fran. From online promos, online newsletters, Facebook content, to tiny little Facebook promos... I help to create that promo that follows you around on the internet. And although I tooootally believe and love online marketing...there is something to be said about Snail Mail that...well...just pulls at the heart strings.
That tangible gift you lovingly sent via USPS...it will be kept, it won't go into the SPAM filter, and your customer will really smile when they receive it....maybe even hug it!

If we all know that a little extra somethin' somethin' in an Etsy purchasers package makes their review of your site that much sweeter... how else can we use snail mail to inspire our customers?

Here's a fun thing I did that might inspire you to send out samples or a fun giveaway.

A friend of mine had made some beautiful postcards...and knowing that they were Free...I snatched them up. There I was...with a stack of postcards and a bit of time on my hands. So I had an idea... what if...I sent out a Facebook Message to my friends/customers and said... "send me your address and I'll send you something personalized and fun!"...
the addresses came pouring in! Free Stuff?! Noooo...for me?! Really?! Oooooo Ahhhh...
Before I knew it I had 30 names and addresses! :)

I took the cards and made 2 minute illustrations on the back of them...addressed them and shipped them out! Soon, I had comments from my customers that they - "I love your work, can I get my drawing as a painting?" and ..."this postcard is great!" "who made that?!". And...there you go! Cross-marketing!
without even really trying...and only a few bucks... I created extra excitement around my work and also marketed a friend at the same time.

Here are some more of the silly illustrations I did:







I encourage all of us to work together and cross-market our work...creating buzz for not just ourselves but also our community of Etsy Members will strengthen the community and also get others excited about what you are doing with your own art.

What Cross-Marketing have you done...what ideas might you have that could work for other members?

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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!

Inspiration in Your Family Tree

This week was all about family for me...going to visit family, looking at old photos and reminding those I love that I care about them.
It made me think...Mother's and Father's Day will come before we know it! I know I know...it's months away...but if we find inspiration now...we could be setting up our shops to really target customers already seeking the perfect gift for their Mother or their Father.

This week, I found inspiration by looking for items that reminded me of my family or a family memory.

When I start thinking of special memories or things that my family and I like to do together, I get inspired. Don't you? Here are some items that reminded me of my family and got me inspired to start working on Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day illustrations and art.



Little known facts about me & my family:

1.) My dad was a potter when I was growing up. He can center and throw a bowl in less than 30 seconds. Zoom!
2.) My parents and I have collected over a million vintage buttons...glass, metal, shell and original plastic. :)
3.) My mom has always been into knitting and making textiles with yarn...we have a large loom in our living room.
4.) My dad has a degree in Ceramics but also a minor in Marine Biology, Jewelry Making and Marine Biology.
5.) My Grandmother was a Tule Painter and spent time teaching decorative painting classes in her spare time.

I'd love to know if any of the items in your shops were inspired by your family.

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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!

Finding Inspiration - Get Outside!

(hero image hoodie bear - white and aqua by xmoonbloom)

All over the news these last couple of weeks...we've been hearing the same thing...
"See the 3/4ths of the country swallowed by a blizzard?...yeah, that's not us."

And while I'm tempted to stay in and get my work done (lord knows I can always find more work to do)...I'm also happy to report that I've been getting OUTSIDE! Out in the 60 degree bay area weather...sunny blue Skies. Sure, I might still need to rock my always-needed silk scarf while I'm in the shade...
but I'm outside...Living it up and finding inspiration outside while my friends on the East Coast are staying in and getting cozy.

Finding inspiration outside in the big city, or out in the country keeps our minds happy and gets ideas flowing. So, while you can, take a step outside for a walk. See what inspiration comes out of a bit of fresh air.

Here are some SF Etsy Team Members that are Inspired by Handmade - and for SURE inspired by being outside!



What kind of inspiration did you find these last couple weeks of beautiful weather?

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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!

Inspired by Handmade - Everybody's Engaged!

So, as many of you might know... December is the most popular month to get engaged! So, therefore...January is when things really get started with wedding planning. As artists, this is the perfect time to get inspired and think of ways you can market your great products to the bride and her wedding party.
Here are some ideas that I brewed up this week:

Do you make childrens clothing? Think about making baskets or bags for the flower girl or ring bearer to bring down the isle.

Do you make jewelry? What about making a listing for multiple matching sets of earrings?... something for each of the bridesmaids?

Do you make mens clothing? A listing for matching groomsmen accessories would be a hit!

Are you a potter? Many couples have a candle-lighting ceremony... customized candle holders could be a great addition to any wedding! Something they can display in their home for years to come.

Don't forget the guests! Think of ways to market your product as small gifts for the guests? Jams and Jellies can be great wedding favors - just customize the label for the bride and groom's special day!

Many of our team members already feature some great items that could inspire you to think of creative ways to add bridal/wedding items to your shop. Here are some of the items I was able to find to start getting inspired:



Tell us - what ways are you marketing your shop to brides this Winter?...or does this spark some ideas/inspiration?

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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!

Inspire Your Inner Crafty Cupid

I once saw a greeting card that was a connect-the-dots cupcake...hand stitched right on the card. OMGz - adorbs.
It had a hand-stitched line + numbers on the front of the card and in the shape of a cupcake. I was so inspired, that I started to sew designs on greeting cards and made a whole slew of collaged valentine’s day cards that ended up being pretty darn special.

Taking that inspiration, this week’s Inspired by Handmade article comes from handmade SF Etsy Valentine’s Day gifts! Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and if you’re like me, you like to give a handmade gift to your special someone or your best friends on this day. Giving a gift that is handmade is a serious treat! Admit it, you’re never disappointed by a gift that was made with love.

I figure, there’s at least a few of us that either need some good inspiration to get our handmade gift ideas brewing...or maybe you just don’t have time to make your special someone a gift this year. What could be better – than having a community of people to turn to when you’re in a Valentine’s Day bind?

Here’s some ways to get inspired for awesome Valentine’s Day gifts this year.

• Have a Card making Party! Invite some friends over and put out lots of scraps, paper, glitter, string and every nick-nack you might have tucked away in your supply closet – you’d be surprised how many people reach for that collection of old buttons you’ve been hoarding.

• Commission something from your favorite SF Etsy Team member! Collaborate with another artist to make your dream Valentine! Or treat yourself this year to a special something by your favorite local artist. What better way to say you heart someone than to ask them to help you create something for you this Valentine’s Day?

• Encourage your honey or your best friend to only shop local or through SF Etsy... Showing some love towards your local community is probably the best gift of all.

Don’t disappoint your special someone... Get inspired! Make something or buy something local and handmade!

This week, I made THREE treasuries to inspire my Valentine's Day cards this year.
Here are a items made by our team members (and a couple of their friends) that would make great gifts and could inspire you to make special handmade presents this year instead of picking up that combo-pack of Hallmark cards at your local corner store. (but, really...who here would ever do such a thing?)









For those who have already started your Heart-Day Gifts...Where did you find your Valentine’s Day inspiration this year?

-Katy

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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!

New Year - Get Organized!

For this week's Inspired by Handmade article, I wanted to talk a bit about getting organized this new year!

We all did it, we all "let our studios" go a bit over the holidays...now that it's a new year, we can get back on track and get organized!
For me, I look for baskets to organize new art supplies I was given over the holidays - or to keep my yarn from taking over a shelf in my small apartment.

Here's a few items made by SF Etsy Team members that might inspire you to take a look around your studio and get organized. I know it always helps me to get things in working order before tackling new art projects.



Main Image by boundbyhand

How do you get organized at the start of a new year?

-Katy

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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!

Inspired by Handmade: woodworks

This week, I chose woodworks as our inspirational theme as I was searching for places to order wooden letters for my baby-to-be. Hehe, that sounds a little silly... but you get the point: the little guy taking over my belly. :) I'm so glad I chose this theme because I found SO many wonderful creations made out of wood! It's amazing to see all the different things that can be made out of our natural surroundings:

1. Say "I do" with these sleek wood inlay wedding bands

2. Give your tot a little bird teething toy

3. Tiny twig pencils to write your notes

4. I'm lusting over these awesome Nuzzles

5. Unbelievable toothpick model of San Francisco by Scott Weaver

6. See what it takes to turn wood

extra: Beautifully designed bamboo iPhone cases by Grove

Have you crafted something out of wood? Or have you found inspiration out of wood? If so, please share!

-Akiyo ;)

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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!

Inspired by Handmade: tie the knot

Love is definitely filling the summer air! I'm surrounded by friends who are planning their big day or have recently walked down the aisle. It's such an exciting time for not just the bride and groom but even for family and friends.

There's so much inspiration on the internet on how to give your wedding day a special personalized touch. From wonderful blogs like Style Me Pretty and Once Wed to online shops that sell handmade wedding goods. I used a lot of these wedding sites to help get my wedding together last year and one of my favorite touches was this handmade clay bouquet by Deb of Keepsake Blossoms. I love how I can hold on to it forever and remind me of my special day. :) So, I've chosen "tie the knot" as my theme this week and these are just a few of my favorite inspirational wedding picks!

1. A beautiful butterfly vase for a simple centerpiece

2. Send an intricate wedding invitation and wow your guests

3. Dress up your heels with these

4. Something new and something blue

5. Gift lovely ring dishes for the bride-to-be

Did you add any handmade or personalized touches to your wedding? Where did you find your inspiration?

-Akiyo ;)

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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!

Inspired by Handmade: off to the beach!

Hello! I hope you are all enjoying your summer so far. Starting this week, I'll be sharing an Inspired by Handmade post every Wednesday full of handmade finds that have inspired me. Hopefully they'll be inspirational to you too! There'll be a different theme each week, starting with today's "off to the beach!" finds.

The weather's been warming up here and I've been wanting to hit the beach for a while now. I actually haven't been to the beach since we moved up here from Southern California 2+ years ago! If you know any great beaches in the Bay Area please do share. ;) So, for my first post I decided to find inspirational beach themed items to mentally cool me down from the heat. Hope you enjoy!

1. Save Our Seas print - 50% of the proceeds go to the National Wildlife Federation's cleanup project!

2. DIY sweet tanktop Anthro-knock-off tutorial

3. Yummy Starfish Sugar Cookies

4. Count the Waves print

5. Bring the waves into your home with these awesome Coastal Line Soap

6. Beach Memories pocket watch

If you have any suggestions of themes you'd like to see, let me know. :)

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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!