Handmade Must-Haves for 2013!

http://www.businessinsider.com/carole-king-house-idaho-photos-2011-8?op=1

Haha! Yes this is a must-have for me, but I'd bet it's not going to happen soon. This is a mansion in Idaho that Carole King was selling last year for 11.5 million, what a dream house for me! Take a gander if you want to be in a coveting mood!

So, seriously, I'm going to start up "Workin' It Wednesday" again. I love to promote the members of the Etsy teams I belong to, without whom we probably would not have kept on keepin' on in our Etsy store site. So here are some of my favorite items, that I think all us girls need (sorry, guys) in 2013!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/104013255/wholesale-avocado-cucumber-olive-oil

The first store up is Black Willow Soaps by Natalee Wright. Isn't this a lovely collection? Black Willow Soaps, Salts, & Candles sells handmade, decorative, botanical soaps that are infused with natural herbs to enhance the bathing experience, along with pleasantly aromatic candles and moisturizing bath salts. Additionally, she has homemade body sprays, sugar scrubs, foot scrubs, and herbal sachets. We use soaps everyday to wash with, why not use these lovely aromatic soaps?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/118082792/spring-greeting-card-colorful-flower

Greeting cards are something that I use often. This beautiful and bright card is from Lucinda's shop. Lucinda Myer, who owns This Art of Mine, is the leader of The Foxes Den Team, one of the teams I belong to. This is a team of wonderful shop owners who support and promote each other. We have a lot of fun together. If one of your goals in 2013 is to put some more time into your shop, come join us! Although promotion is a lot of work, I firmly believe it helps get your name and product out there, and others know who they can go to with questions.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/cutterstone?section_id=7339381

Finally, in our shop we have over 80 sterling silver box clasps for sale. Perfect for your jewelry making throughout the year. Through January 31, 2013 if you buy more than one clasp, I will refund you $5 for each additional clasp you purchase. And I will give you free shipping when you use coupon code FREESHIP. Please also put the words '$5 refund' in the notes at checkout.

Wishing everyone a very happy and prosperous 2013! God bless you all!

New Website!

Woo hoo! A new year (almost) and a new business plan (I think). Today I set up a new website, and I was really surprised that it was a similar setup like this website (Blogger). So that was pretty cool, and not too difficult either for a newbie to most of this. It is free for a year -- you can get your own domain name too. I have previously turned down the free for 30-60-90 days ones (ha ha, cheapo me) I have seen, but this was a great bargain!

 So here it is.....ta dah!....www.cutterstone.net.

Now I don't know if you are interested, or if you can even redeem this because I got it in my email, but here is the link for the free website from Intuit -- www.gybo.com/quickbooks.    

  

I just have to share with you my lovely granddaughter's senior pictures. Isn't she beautiful? Wish I could see she got her looks from me, but we're only related by marriage. :D

So now back to business. We have over 80 sterling silver box clasps in our shop. Now is the time to replenish your supplies to make new jewelry for your shop. Come check it out, and get free shipping with coupon code SHIPFREE.

Wishing all of our readers a very happy and prosperous 2013! God bless each and every one of you and your families.

Artist's Loft Team Product Catalog & Gift Guide 2012

Being an Etsy seller, I belong to a team or two. What is the advantage of joining a team? Well, let me just say you NEED to join some teams. They provide support when you're feeling burnt out, chuckles when you've had a bad day, and great tips for improving your products and shops. Promotion is a great benefit also!

One of the teams I belong to is the Artist's Loft team. One of the leaders, Sophie, published this great Holiday Gift Guide. It's really gorgeous -- come take a peek!

Supporting Small Business and Handmade this Season

These last few years, we have sure seen the importance of shopping local, shopping American, and shopping handmade. When I got married in 2010, I moved from upscale Orange County, CA to a city/county with almost the highest unemployment rate in the country, San Bernardino, CA. I know there are many cities that seem somewhat "normal" despite the economy, but many others are still suffering from depression with bankruptcy looming and no end in sight. Supporting your local businesses and handmade on Etsy and other sites this holiday season is a great way to help many talented craftspeople, some of whom still have a full-time job, survive these tough times. Plus handmade is a much better gift than the cookie-cutter item off the shelf of Walmart! I try to buy all my gifts handmade nowadays!

One of these talented people is featured on Etsy as Divine Lulu Creations. I asked Lulu a few questions about what it's like opening your own internet shop.

Lulu, some people open their little shop and then get discouraged quickly because sales are not what they thought they would be. What would be your #1 advice for a new Etsy shop?

Don't take it personal! I know that is SO hard to do, especially when you're pouring hours into your work sometimes, and you feel like your work shows you as a person or it means something to you. It gives you that "I have boulders in my stomach" feeling when you don't get any views on your work that you love so much and try so hard with, or even worse you get a lot of views and no purchases. It makes you think "Why don't people like my things? Why isn't it good enough?" The truth is there's A LOT of products in the world. Not only are you competing with other Etsy shops but you're competing with easy fixes for things like Target or Walmart. Try not to get discouraged. I keep a "field of dreams" mentality. If you make it, somewhere there's going to be someone who needs it or wants it. Make what you love to make, and hopefully one day you'll make money doing it! 

$13 Any Color!

$13 Fingerless Gloves

$13 Purple Skulls

Lulu's work is top-notch and masterful. She loves custom orders, so if you don't see what you're looking for, just send her a note!

Jill of Different Trades - Miss Lulu Divine

Glasses case $6 

Continuing with the promotion of a great handmade shop, Divine Lulu Creations, I asked her: 

Lulu, what is the craft/skill you want to tackle next?

This is a toughy, because I actually have several different project "supplies" already. haha! I'm a mess, literally! I love diving into new things and trying on new hats. My husband says that I'm a Jill of different trades at heart. I just love to create and I see things out in the world and I think "huh, I could make that!" and then I have to try. Often some of my attempts are just awful, or I don't really enjoy them and feel inspired. So far the two that seem to have "stuck" is Sewing and Crocheting.... next year I plan on trying Bottle Cap Necklaces, Needle Felting, and a little bit of painting (rocks, that is!). I hope that one day my shop is as diverse as my tastes and hobbies, and that it truly is a place to show my creative side. It's on the way!

Girls, isn't this just normal with us? We want to try something new, think we can do it, buy all the supplies, and with our very busy schedules just never get a "round tuit"? Lulu has branched out nicely -- she offers aprons, fingerless gloves, glasses cases, and Star Wars necklaces in her shop!

Darth Vader Hemp Necklace $8

Jabba the Hut Hemp Necklace $8

Emerald Cove Skinny Super long infinity crochet scarf $15

Custom Creations from Lulu

Hooray, the Holidays are coming! What a great time to support the USA and the many talented artists out there in Etsyland and elsewhere. I belong to a handful of supportive teams, and Artist's Loft  is a group that is very helpful on promoting and brainstorming and just about whatever you need! If you'd like to see what we are all about, here is our Facebook link: Artist's Loft FB Page  and here is our Etsy Team link: Artist's Loft Team on Etsy.

The shop I have chosen to devote 7 days of blogging to is the fabulous Divine Lulu Creations. Lulu (that's what we call her but her real name is Elizabeth) will custom sew or crochet many different items for you. She loves special orders, just convo her! Kiddies want special colors for their crocheted gloves? No problem! My favorite item is her "full coverage" aprons...they are wider on the top and have straps to put your arms through instead of ties, so no more hair tangling! I know when I'm in the kitchen I use my apron for my hands...but....if anything wants to spatter, of course it's on my chest! An apron is also a very thoughtful hostess gift.

Full coverage apron $15

Unique and comfy strap system

I wanted to know some more about Elizabeth and how her shop came to be.

 Lulu, what is the inspiration for your shop name?

My real name is actually Elizabeth, but when I was a little girl my Dad used to call me Lizzie Lu. My dad is SO not big on pet names or cutesy "show your feelings" stuff, so it was a big deal to me. It stuck! In school people started calling me Lizzie Lu and then, Lulu. When I met my high school sweetheart (now my husband) he suffered through many girly movies with me, one of which is still my favorite "Pride and Prejudice". There's a part where Mr Darcy asks what he should call Lizzy and she replies "Goddess Divine". So, Lulu Divine was born and then I love to create.... so you get the idea! 

          

Pima Cotton, Brown & Lilac $22

Here are a few more gift ideas from Divine Lulu Creations.

Kelly Green Crochet Fingerless Gloves $18

Mint Green Earwarmer/Glove Set $14

Come back tomorrow for another interview question and more great products from this talented seller!

Workin' It Wednesday 8/21/12

This week I have two very talented artists doing two very different crafts. 

First up is Cindy (Durnell) Friend and her shop Handmade by Cosmo. She and I had a little conversation when she first joined Etsy, because I thought we might be related. Her maiden name is the same as my grandmother's and she lives in the same state my grandmother was born in. I didn't recognize any names she gave me, but I'm holding out for a score! Genealogy through Etsy, who woulda thunk!!

Anywho, she makes adorable stuffed critters in three different sizes, all hand stitched, and is very reasonably priced! Who wouldn't love to get one of these cuddlies as a special surprise? She also loves custom orders, so convo her up!

When Pigs Fly $10

Party Elephant $10

Dolphin $10

Next up is Cristina Jaco, a very talented painter from Brazil. Her shop is found HERE. Here is what she says about her work -- 

"Contemporary Brazilian Art - Original oil paintings and watercolors of people, animals, landscapes and still lifes. My number one goal is to evoke an emotional response in the viewers of my work. I paint with vivid, intense colors and love to capture expression and detail."

Her work is bright and beautiful, and there are many pieces that would look fabulous in MY house, on MY wall.

Red Tulips II Still Life $50

Rainbow Bridge Landscape $75

Red Macaws $75

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My husband has done quite a bit of cuttlebone cast jewelry in his shop. I really love the texture of this material, it's so versatile and very unique. It's like a fingerprint -- the cuttlebone gets burnt up in the casting process, so no two pieces will ever be the same.

What is a cuttlebone? Cuttlebone is a hard, brittle internal structure found in all members of the cuttlefish.  Cuttlefish are marine animals of the same class which also includes squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. Today, cuttlebones are commonly used as calcium-rich dietary supplements for caged birds, chinchillas, hermit crabs, and reptiles. Because cuttlebone is able to withstand high temperatures and is easily carved, it serves as mold-making material for small metal casting for the creation of jewelry and small sculptural objects.

Here are a couple of my husband's lovely creations cast in cuttlebone.

Cuttlebone Cast Ring $60

Brazilian Agate & Zircon $154

Diamond Engagement Ring $215

Numbers 6:24-26 "The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."