Etsy tips and being featured!

I am excited to be a featured artist 

on Sarah Leonard's blog today!

It is a cat-like curiosity.

Sarah is a creative, an artist, a musician, a writer, a blogger and a creativity coach, based in the UK.
-------------

The post is about.... the secrets of Etsy success!

I share my story, etsy tips for sellers, answer questions, and much more.....please check it out!!

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

This is my newest pattern...

"Making Merry..in October" #340

There is a joyfulness in the air.  

This little Pumpkin guy is making merry...in October!  

Make this embroidery design in a flash....so quick, easy and fun to do.  

Add color and glitter... this is simply sweet!  

Finish the design in a hoop with frilly ruffled edges....so unique

Finished design measures: 18" long with streamers x 9 3/4"

Embroidery design measures:3 1/2" x 6 1/4"

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

I just want to remind you to sign up for my emails

....it is right on the left side bar of my blog here...by my about me page link.

This is a great way to always see my freebies, new patterns, tips, ideas, and more!

Come to pin me linky party and thrifty thursday....so fun!

Business advice asked

Hi!  I was asked for some business advice about my patterns and I thought you might be interested too!

A sweet lady was getting into selling patterns on etsy and wondered about how I came up with prices and asked for any advice about selling on etsy.

 

I encourage you you all to start an etsy shop....I love etsy! It is great for people who sell their finished work too!

 I love creating a pattern design once and then have the capabilities to sell it forever. I never liked making a whole bunch of one item anyway.

I like to keep my price in a medium range....not too low or people will think it is not good or a low quality item.

Also, not too high because people have a lot of expenses and they will simply say no to a high priced pattern. I would rather have have a lot of medium sales than a few high priced ones.

Instant download is the greatest....no sending the file because etsy does this for you....and no shipping or printing! Although this is just on etsy and sites like this. 

I print and ship lots of patterns too depending on the business.

Getting a following is important....people need to know about you...blog, facebook, tweet...or whatever.  If they don't know about you or your items.... they won't come...it is as simple as that. 

 Enter submissions into magazines....they pay and are great to spread the word about you and your designs. Join link parties if you blog...they get other people to see your stuff.

One more thing that is super important....or you won't make many sales. Pictures are extremely important! Take good pics with no flash and not in direct sunlight. I made a light box from an old box to take pictures in. There are all kinds of tutorials on this on the internet. If the picture is gorgeous...it will sell your pattern.

Take a pattern or several that you have at home and really look at it.  See how they style a picture, cover, supplies, info, instructions, and patterns.  This gives you lots of ideas for how you would like yours to be.

 

These are just my thoughts and opinions...made from my point of view.

 

I hope you follow your dreams....it is getting easier and easier for home based businesses now!

 

Come to to Thrifty Thursday, Party bunch, and the Pin me linky party!

Meet Marilyn !

Let me introduce you to my pal Marilyn Gossett!

She is just the sweetest, most friendly, talented, creative, and prettiest lady ever!

She is a Designer("She will try almost anything"),

Author(40 plus how to books),

 and Consultant (CraZy TACKz and close to my heart)!

Marilyn designs and handcrafts original projects to enhance people's lives, celebrations, and special occasions.

She has a wonderful husband named Jamie and a beautiful daughter named Lauren Ashley!

Let me tell you how we know each other.....

She found one of my designs on pinterest and decided to look at my profile....to her surprise she found that we have a lot of similarities!

• We both design for a living....
• we both have one daughter...
• we both decided to stay home with our child....
• we both have very supportive husbands...
• we both have the same birthday too!
• We both live in the Pacific northwest
• Family is very important to us!

She reached out to me via email....and we have been getting to know each other ever since.  We share stories, advice, what's new, and always have a few laughs.

Let me tell you alittle about what she does...

She has created with Sticks sticks....and OMG...the Halloween ones are my favorite!

Lovely display of snowflakes!

She knows so much about crafting...

She has designed and has been published in lots of books. Over 40!!!

I bet you have some of her craft books from the past in your collection...I do!

 Some designs are just classic!

She does amazing workshops:

So very Pretty!

Love these sweeties....who wouldn't want these on a package or on your tree?

Ok...I am always attracted to Halloween!

She does product development with CraZy TACKz

Love these cheerful colors and how useful the crazytacks are....hanging necklaces would be my first use!

She designs for smoothfoam....love these snowmen!

Cute turkey...this would look great on your mantle !

Adorable birds!

As you can see...she has done alot....

And I have a lot more to tell you about her.

I will continue the post tomorrow!

There will be much much more!

Please visit her blog

and check out her website too!

I'm in the mood for love

Here is another wonderful Etsy Treasury.  I'm in the mood for love....in pink!

Please visit the etsy treasuries to get more details on these fabulous designs.

Such talented artist!

Such attention to detail!

I want these!

How cute is that?!!!!

I love valentine fabric....patchworked together.
I am still having my Sale....20% off!

On another note...I changed the look of my blog.  It was scary since when I changed templates I couldn't seem to go back to how it was before...yikes!  I was not happy....but I think I got it to look good .....Friday night I was soooo stressed. Why can't things be simple?  

Ribbonwood Cottage

I want you to meet Debbie from Ribbonwood cottage!  She is the sweetest lady...with so many beautiful design ideas, lovely pics, and fabulous items for sale on her etsy shop.  She has great design sense.

These are pics from her blog....she makes a lovely Valentine spread. Her family and friends are sure lucky!

Makes me want Valentine's day...right now!  Thanks Debbie for everything!