Wednesday, May 30, 2012
June Round Up
Check out these beautiful items from our teammates! Each item was
carefully selected for this round up because of the beautiful photos,
and unique product. Enjoy!
Monday, May 28, 2012
300 Members Giveaway - Closed
Contest has ended, now is the time to VOTE for your favorite treasury...the winner receives the donated prizes below.
The MST Team is having a treasury contest to celebrate our 300th team member, and our 1 year anniversary! We have had some very generous shops donating prizes for our contest
(see below).
The MST Team is having a treasury contest to celebrate our 300th team member, and our 1 year anniversary! We have had some very generous shops donating prizes for our contest
(see below).
Here is how it will work!
1) Make a treasury using only shops that are MST team members. The theme is "The Best of MST."
2) Use each shop only once.
3) Anyone can make a treasury, not just MST team members
4) Tag your treasury with "MST300" and post its URL (tbd)
5) Only one treasury per person, please
6) The deadline for all treasuries is our 1st year anniversary, June 12th at midnight.
Once all treasuries are submitted, a URL to a poll will be posted. Please vote for your favorite treasury. The curator with the most votes wins! It's that simple!
If you would still like to donate a prize or coupon (either % off or $ amount off), please post it at www.etsy.com/teams/9623/mountain-standard-timers/discuss/10362264/
Make a treasury and win these prizes...
(collar of winner's choice)
Donated by MichelleMach
Donated by InfusedDesigns
Monday, May 7, 2012
CRAFT FAIRS
Are you thinking of doing some craft fairs this summer? Craft fairs are not only a great place to sell your items, but it’s also a great place to network, get new customers and make friends.
I try to sign up for a minimum of 2 craft shows a year. There are an abundance of craft shows during the holiday months of October – December, and that’s my favorite time to do shows. Since I’m on a budget, I have to be selective and pick ones that are not too expensive, but are advertised well and get a lot of foot traffic. I’m a big fan of the schools and recreation centers because they have lower vendor fees. I have done both outdoor and indoor fairs, but my preference is indoor because I don’t like those port-a-potties! But then outdoor shows attract tons of people.
Here is a list of some craft fairs in the Denver, Colorado area that I have done in the past or plan to do in the future. Also check out the link at the bottom of this blog to find a listing of fairs in your state.
People’s Fair (Civic Center), Denver, CO
June 2-3, 2012
Denver County Fair – (National Western Complex), Denver, CO
August 10-12, 2012
Highlands Ranch Arts Festival – Highlands Ranch, CO
August 4-5, 2012
Highlands Ranch Fall Craft Show – (Eastridge Rec Center) Highlands Ranch, CO
October 6-7, 2012
The Hill Flea Market – Boulder, CO
May 12 and August 18
A Paris Street Market – (Aspen Grove Mall) Littleton, CO
June 9; July 14; August 11; September 8
Denver Urban Market – (Skyline Park) Downtown Denver
Open the 2nd & 4th Thursday of the Month (May 24 – Oct 11)
Find fairs in your area by clicking here and searching your state. http://festivalnet.com/
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
May Spotlight is MoonSoul Jewelry!
Jessica Althouse, who resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico is this month's Spotlight. Let the light shine on her lovely shop full of fun and colorful hemp jewelry designs.
Infused Designs- How did you come up with the name for your store?
MoonSoul Jewelry- I have always loved the night and especially the moon – its beauty and the emotions I feel when I look at it. I moved to New Mexico 7 years ago from Chicago, and the first thing I noticed when driving up to my new home was the beauty of the dark night sky. It seemed so big, the moon and the stars so bright. I felt so connected, and that feeling never stopped. Hence the name, Moon Soul.
ID- That is a beautiful image. How long have you been crafting, and who taught you?
MJ- I have been making jewelry for almost 14 years now, and I am self-taught.
It started when I realized I had a knack for fixing store-bought jewelry, and at some point I thought, “I could make that”.
I began with simple bead stringing, tinkering with all kinds of materials and tools until I found what worked for me and held up the best. I used books to learn how to macramé and online tutorials to learn to wire wrap and then took off from there.
ID- Do you have any formal training in any craft/art subject?
MJ- Not really. My schooling and day job are more business and finance oriented, but I've always enjoyed art, music, and writing. I did take a jewelry class in high school that focused on real metal work jewelry making like rings and pendants. I would love to get into that kind of work again once I can afford to get the equipment and set up a bigger space for it.
ID- I know how you feel about more money and bigger space. In fact I'm sure a lot of crafters can relate. When did you open your Etsy store?
MJ- April 20, 2009. I used to mainly give jewelry as gifts, sell to friends and coworkers, and do craft shows. Finally a good friend of mine told me about Etsy and helped motivate and inspire me to open my own shop. It started out really small, just a few items with low quality photographs, but I believe it’s grown and really developed in the last year or so.
ID- Wow, a veteran! I would say your store looks like you have put time and energy into it. Congratulations on your anniversary! Do you have other venues you sell at, like craft shows or other online stores?
MJ- I do the occasional craft show, although it’s been tough to have the time these past few years. Etsy is perfect for me since I do most of my work at night.
ID- What is one of your favorite items in your store?
MJ- My cobalt blue moon hemp necklace, featuring a glass moon pendant strung on natural hemp with Czech glass seed beads woven into the design. (Pictured Above)
ID- It's gorgeous! I love the moon! Where do you gain inspiration for your items?
MJ- I usually find beads and materials that I love, and then make items to display these materials. I am inspired by the seasons as well, currently seen with the brighter items in my shop right now for summer.
ID- Do you feel like you have found a niche for the items you sell?
MJ- Finding a niche has really been a struggle of mine these past couple of years. Hemp jewelry and my men’s jewelry are my best sellers online, but I have a hard time sticking with one thing. I love so many methods of jewelry making and tend to go in spurts where I focus on one method and then move to another, depending how I feel inspired. I worry this makes my shop a little unfocused but it’s just in my nature.
ID- LOL, I understand. Where do you see your shop in 5 years?
MJ- I’ve thought about focusing on hemp, teen, and men’s items with my MoonSoulJewelry shop and creating a separate shop for the more feminine women’s items.
ID- What advice can you give your fellow team members?
MJ- Photographs are really important. This is another area of struggle for me, but with tips from a friend I’ve been able to provide stronger photos lately. A light box, a decent camera, and photo editing makes all the difference.
Great, Jessica, thank you so much for the interview and the advice. We all wish you luck in with your store in the future.
You can check out MoonSoul Jewelry at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MoonSoulJewelry Favorite her shop and some of her items to show your support!
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