Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Featured Seller: Lanamarenco

Today's Featured Etsy Seller is Lana from Lanamarenco.

Lanamarenco features gorgeous handmade jewelry. Her PMC and Porcelain pieces are exquisite!

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you started your craft. I grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA and majored in Studio Art, concentrating in photography and ceramics. For the past few years I have worked at a paint your own pottery studio in Berkeley, CA. During the past 2 years I found ways to continue with pottery, learning to do what I love without throwing on the potter's wheel, I also discovered PMC (precious metal clay). I've been focusing on combining the two media and I think I have found what I was looking for my whole life: making jewelry. I was recently laid off and though that sucks, the past week has given me the free time to start my Etsy shop and really start my business. Now, I'm looking for ways to promote my work.

Besides crafting, what do you like to do. I have a puppy whom I love to train and play with. Since I got him, I go on a lot of walks and just love getting out into the sun and enjoy all that the outside offers. Not to mention that the outdoors fuels my creativity as I love floral and organic shapes.

How do you promote your work. I am trying to get to know other Etsy sellers through the online chats and the forums. I also have myself posted on my blog, website and Facebook. All my friends share my etsy links with their friends. Word of mouth has always been a great way of doing things. I have bought a couple of spots in the jewelry and ceramics showcase.

Name your top five books, movies, TV shows, musicians, or websites. DreamGirls (movie/musical), Michael Crawford (singer), Christa Assad (ceramic artist), Whitney Smith (ceramic artist who sells on Etsy), Ansel Adams (photographer), craigslist.org

What's next for you and your shop? I am currently look for a job, until then, I am focused on my etsy shop. Improving it by talking to other etsy sellers, promoting my work through other people I know in the field. Trying to improve what I make and create something everyone would want to have!

Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate it.

~Lana

Thank you Lana for sharing with us! I wish you tons of luck and success!

Lana has great presence on the web - please check her out at her
Etsy Shop http://lanamarenco.etsy.com
Website www.lanamarenco.com
Blog lanamarenco.blogspot.com
Facebook Page www.facebook.com/pages/Marenco-Art-Studios/148566765182523?ref=ts

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Featured Seller: Heroicbeer

Kathy from http//heroicbeer.etsy.com hails from my home state, California. (Ah how I miss California weather!) Her shop, Heroicbeer, offers amazing fine art photography prints.

Lantern - 8x10 Photo Print

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm in my late twenties and love taking photos. It's my creative outlet and it's a great excuse for me to go on a long drive and see something new!

How did you start your craft?
I've been taking photos since I was a little girl with a disc camera. I have my parents to thank for sparking my interest in photography - they were both hobby photographers.

Besides creating, what do you like to do?
When I'm not out on a photo adventure, I'm working on iPhone apps, playing with my cat Jihad, or baking something sweet.

How do you promote your work?
I keep a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/heroicbeer and like to make new friends in the ever-active Etsy forums.

Name your top five books, movies, TV shows, musicians, or websites.
My top 5 musicians:
Pavement
X (Los Angeles)
Smashing Pumpkins
Low
Yo La Tengo

What's next for you and your shop?
I'm moving to Los Angeles soon for work and fun. The change in scenery will no doubt inspire me and my camera lens!

Happy Sales Kathy!

Embarrassing bathtime photos!

Oh the shame!

In an effort to save a little cash, I have started to regularly groom our dog myself. Manned with clippers, a shaver, some shamp, and my husband, the whole ordeal takes about 30 minutes. This is record time considering I once cut and washed my MILs collie and it took 2 hours!!!

It never ceases to crack me up that when you add water, our poodle terrier furball turns into a cross between a rat and a squirrel.

Thought I'd share. :D

Can't you tell she secretly loves it.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Featured Seller: Squidooink/Somewearintyme

Thank you to everyone that checked out my new Featured Seller’s Featurettes and filled out a questionaire. I am so surprised at the response and I am so happy to be able to spread some creativity around!

If you would like a featurette and have an online shop, be it Etsy, Artfire, Dawanda, etc, check out becoming a Featured Seller!

On to my very first Featured Seller.....

From the Etsy community, we have Jen!

She is a busy lady with not one but two shops - Squidooink, where you will find a ton of assorted crafts and destash, and Somewear In Tyme, carrying delicate times past inspired jewelry/vintage items.

Here are Jen’s favorite items from her two shops:

On A Wing steampunk earrings - SomewhereinTyme

I love the length and how it has wings and clock pieces in it. Its so unusual looking to me

Giraffe says Love - Baby congratulations card - Squidooink

I've always loved giraffe's and had to incorporate one in my shop somewhere :)” Me too! I hear giraffes and foxes are next!

Tell us a bit about yourself. I'm terribly at these so here it goes. I am as some tell me a "crafty oozing out of my pores" type girl. I am always making new items, or writing, or reading. Always doing something creative and sometimes I sleep. My two shops kinda opened by chance I think, I never really intended to actually sell my work. Shortly after being forced to move and having my heart broken I open Somewear in Tyme. I don't think it would have ever opened if I hadn't had that happen to me. Squidooink was created way before Somewear In Tyme but after I learned how to make jewelery.

How did you start your craft? I learned jewelry in high school and kept at it, ripping apart anything I could find and making it into jewelry. Then a friend of mind got me into paper crafting, the rest is history ;) shortly after that I wanted to learn how to knit so I taught myself.

Besides creating, what do you like to do? Read and write my own stories, I would love to have a story of mine published one day.

How do you promote your work? The etsy forums, anyone I met, I wear my work, or offer crafting services to anyone, spread my moo cards everywhere

Name your top five books, movies, TV shows, musicians, or websites.

Books:
InkHeart - Cornelia Funke
East - Edith Pattou
Lord of the rings trilogy - J.R.R Tolkien
I"m assuming that trilogy uses all 5 slots

Movies:
Penelope
Enchanted
Legend
Phantom of the Opera
moulin Rouge

Tv Shows
Bones
White Collar
Lie to me
Eureka
Warehouse 13

Music
The rasmus <3
Evanescence
Three Days Grace
Florence and the Machine
The Kin

What's next for you and your shop? Grow expand, make new unique items. Make more cards, since I haven't done that in awhile, as for jewelry I'm trying out the domino/ picture frame pieces and enjoying that. I'm hoping to show case my work in a market next year!

Thank You!
Jen

Happy sales to you Jen! I hope everyone takes some tyme to check her out.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Want to be a Featured Seller?!

Lately, I've been hanging out in the Etsy Chat Forums and discovering some amazing shops!

It always amazes me how much talent and creativity there is in the world. Every single shop, and there must be over 100,000 on Etsy easy!, has so much creativity, ambition, and hope that I find myself wanting to know more about them.

So, I've decided I would like to do my very only Featured Seller postings here on my blog.

If you would like to be a Featured Seller, please send me an email at TesoroJewelryArt (at) gmail (dot) com and the following information:

1. Your Name
2. Your E-mail Address
3. What is your website or shop's name and link?
4. Tell us a bit about yourself.
5. How did you start your craft?
6. What is your favorite item from your shop?
7. Besides creating, what do you like to do?
8. How do you promote your work?
9. Name your top five books, movies, TV shows, musicians, or websites.
10. What's next for you and your shop?

I will e-mail you back as soon as possible with the date of your Featured Seller post!

Can't wait!!!

Checking things off the old To Do List

Good morning!

Trade Days went well! I met a lot of nice people and saw some fun items! It was very hot and I think more people would have come otherwise. I bet October will be great!

I need to get myself in gear. I'm a little late in the week to make a Weekly To Do List but I just made one and man, I better get started!

To Do #1 - Make a fun Treasury!

Check. I would love if you would check it out and let me know what you think!

'Run away with the Circus' by tesorojewelry

Life Is A Balancing... junkyardglitte... $125.00	Circus Elephant on ... DotsAndDahlias $14.00	Circus Tent Sterlin... ThirtySixTen $26.00	The Big Top, Fine A... bomobob $30.00
ADMIT ONE 10 CENTS ... ruthmikos $20.00	Red and White Strip... thoughtbooks $12.00	neck loops circle s... missindie $30.00	Tom the Barker Prin... theblackapple $16.00
Red White and Black... olgaitaly $30.00	nancy drew hard hea... wendyandpeter $10.00	Vintage Circus Post... mybluetulipdes... $1.25	Pretty in Pink - V... MintyFreshFusi... $65.00
Circus Diamond scra... TheBlackSpotBo... $55.00	WHiMSiCaL Shabby Vi... LandofEnchantm... $4.29	NEW - CIRCUS Cupcak... DoodleZDesigns $9.00	Pantomime Mime Vint... AlteredArtifac... $3.50

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

The weekend has finally come! Ready to hit up Trade Days?!

A highly anticipated weekend is now upon me! I have been so busy working up to my first big market weekend that I didn't even get a chance to blog it.

This weekend, Friday September 17 to Sunday September 19, I will be at the Third Monday Trade Days showing off everything from my two shops TesoroJewelry and TesoroArt and a ton of never before seen stuff! I've been a very busy bee creating, crafting, wirewrapping, picture editing, and organizing!

So if you are in the North Dallas area, come visit me! The Market is upon from 9 to 5 each day and showcases over 400 vendors selling "unique gifts, delightful home décor, trendy clothing and accessories, sporting goods, antiques and collectibles, landscaping materials, tools, and small animals along with many specialty “state fair” type food concessions."

I'll be offering special discounts every day and many pieces with be 10-25% my Etsy shop prices with Texas Sales Tax included!

See you there!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

And the winner is....Did you win?

Good morning everyone!

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in my Giveaway this past week! I think it had a great turn-out with 128 submissions!

Before I announce the winner, I wanted to share some news! I got into a big craft fair in September. I am so excited - off my rocker excited! It's a 3 day event with over 120+ vendors. I can't wait but I am so overwhelmed getting ready! Anyone have any pointers for a big craft fair?

Ok, back to important business! Again, thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway. I wish everyone could be a winner so if you are a blog follower or reader (that's you!) I would love to give you 40%, hold on, 40% OFF, in my shop Tesoro Jewelry until Wednesday, September 1st 11:59 PM PST - that's 36 hours from now! Just enter giveaway anywhere in the "message to seller" and I will refund you via paypal 40% off your entire purchase! (Shipping is still free as always!). So, happy shopping!

I am pleased to announce the winner is......#102

d r u m r o l l please!

They call me Cee!!!

Congratulations and I will be contacting you shortly!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Giveaway: Ends Monday, August 30th

So I've kept it on the DL for a little bit but it's time....I've opened a second shop on Etsy, TesoroArt!!! I just added enough items to put my total items to a whopping 6 - yay! I have big hopes for this shop - I want to have photography prints, fine art paintings and drawings, and custom artwork. I am so so excited.

In more Etsy news, I was so excited to see tonight that I had 2 items featured in Treasuries AND 1 of the items was from my second shop. How cool is that?


TesoroJewelry Featured

TesoroArt Featured

So, getting down to the good stuff, it's definitely time for a giveaway! I think it is only appropriate that the giveaway item be one of the items that was featured in treasuries tonight.

Chunky Ring - White Rock Crystal, Sphere, Round, Fun

How to Enter?

1. Become a follower of this blog

2. Visit my Etsy shops, TesoroJewelry or TesoroArt & share your favorite item

3. Heart Tesorojewelry or TesoroArt on Etsy

Do you Twitter?

4. Follow my tweets on my Twitter

5. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (please post link to tweet)

On Facebook?

6. Follow me on my Facebook page

7. Share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook

Have a blog?

8. Blog about this giveaway (please post link)

9. Grab my button and post it on your blog

9 chances to WIN! Woohoo!

And the oh-so-fun rules:

Giveaway ends Monday, August 30th at 11:59 PM (PST). Winner will be contacted the following day.
This giveaway is eligible to Worldwide.
Winner will be chosen at random via Random Integer Generator.

Also important:

Please post a separate comment for each entry that you submit. Each comment will count as 1 entry.
Please make sure to leave your Facebook, Twitter or Etsy user name so I can contact you if you win!
Have fun and good luck!

August Blog Carnival Post

What was your favorite BOOK, MOVIE or GETAWAY SPOT over the summer?

If only this question was about the Spring because I would have a lot to say (see the 20+ posts from April & May about our Europalooza). Oh well.

Sadly, I did not get a chance to read as much as I would have liked to this summer BUT we did see a tonnnn of movies: Grown ups, Eat Pray Love, Inception, Expendables, Eclipse, Despicable Me, The Other Guys, Salt. I think that's it. Whew, that's an embarrassing list.

Out of all of them, I'd have to say my favorite was Inception. I loved the concept and how it all played out. I love Ellen Paige and Leo de Cap so that helped. It was a tid bit long but I walked out of that movie not having any questions and just replaying it in my head - which never happens! I don't remember liking a movie that much since Avatar.

What was your favorite movie this summer?

EtsyBlogger featured Etsy Artist - Patch

Every month the Etsyblogger Team features an Etsian. So, without further ado, the August Spotlight is Patch. Now Patch must be a very busy bee because she has not one, not two, but THREE shops. I have one and a quarter shops and I'm overwhelmed. Below are her three lovely shops and a favorite item of mine from each shop!

Patch First Shop - lovely beaded Swarovski and bridal custom Jewelry

Handmade Jewelry - Simple Long Pearl Necklace - 53 inches with Vintage Silver Flower Brooch

Patch Vintage Shop - Unique Vintage Clothing

Vintage Blue Navy Dress

Patch Supply Shop - Packing supplies and other crafting stuff

Purple and Blue Theme - Origami Flowers - 10pcs

Happy Shopping!

Friday, August 13, 2010

There's no I in TEAM but there is ME

I've joined my first ETSY TEAM. I'm so excited to be apart of the Etsy Bloggers Team. This week happens to be their team anniversary AND they are doing a huge team-wide sale.

You can check out the whole line up of Etsians participating in the sale - over 50 shops!

Etsybloggers.blogspot.com

Happy shopping!

Friday, July 30, 2010

Treasury Love

I missed this weeks Treasury yesterday what with operation buckle down going on. So I was so THRILLLLLED this morning to get a message from Etsian NVBlondie that one of my Peace Sign Rings was included in her lovely treasury.

Check out this Hippie Chic treasury here!

Thanks NVBlondie!

***

Check back often because I feel a giveaway coming on! If you have a blog and are an Etsian, do you like to do giveaways? I think that it is a lot of fun. To help me out and maybe you out in the future, here's a list of places that I know of that you can submit your giveaways to:

The Give-away Diva - Easy blog to submit your giveaway for jewelry, apparel, and accessories!
Giveaway Scout - They are a giveaway search engine that publishes your giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, newsletters, etc. Their giveaway categories include everything - cooking, home and garden, fashion, jewelry, art, books, and more! You can submit your blog to be added to their network here and submit your giveaways here
Etsy Giveaways - Submit here any handmade items in your giveaway
Your Twitter
Your Facebook page

Happy Friday/Saturday everyone!!!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Heigh ho Heigh Ho

Watch out! Big things are coming!

Well, at least for me. I have been putting my nose to the grind, working 24/7 on revamping my Etsy shop, taking pictures by the thousands, creating a new website, situating a domain, products for a 2nd etsy shop (still daunting), reading countless articles online about selling, and snagging promos wherever I can find them.

I really want to put 100% into this and while I feel I have, I'm plagued with doubt. Oh well, good thing I've adopted the motto, "build and they will come."

What I am sure about though, is that I'm exhausted! Starting your own super small home based business is not an easy task as I'm sure anyone who has a small home based business can tell me. But, or rather, BUT, I am having fun! And I'm sooooooo excited to be doing something I've always wanted to do. Create (hopefully soon, for a living).

For instance, I was given the opportunity to create a page for the Diary 2011 Project. It is a great collection in calendar form of creative works from hundreds of artists around the web!

I am not a paint shop expert and I had a horrible time trying to take a picture of my tiger but I think it all worked out well. I'm so excited!

Happy Thursday!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

The giveaway winner is....

Wait, a prelude first.

My Internet connection has failed me. Dark days are ahead For the next 10 days, or so AT&T estimates (please universe, don't let it be for that long!). I wasnt even able to do Friday Finds yesterday :( Nevertheless, my iPhone and I have become very close, dangerously close. We bonded wonderfully during or euro-vacay but now it's more of a love hate relationship. My iPhone is just not productive or conducive to all things etsy and online marketing.

OK back to bigger and better things. It's time to announce last weeks giveaway winner of the Howlite Ring (see post for picture). There was 114 comments for the giveaway! So awesome.

Drum roll please.

Random integer generator (random.org) says....

That's Deanna! Congratulations!

Have a happy weekend everyone.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Treasury Thursdays

Did you know "Tesoro" means Treasure in Spanish? So, naturally, Treasury Thursdays are my new favorite day!

Today was my first treasury in forever so I was a little rusty on how to go about doing it on Etsy's Treasury Page. There have been some modifications since my last treasury. A couple wonderful Etsian's sent me links to their items and it was "love" at first site. Today's treasury comes at no surprise!

Now, I know today is not Tip Tuesday but did you know that if you have a shop on Etsy and sign up for Google Analytics, you can see how many Treasuries you are in at any give time. Included in Craftopolis' wonderful Etsy tools, check out the Treasure Tracks at http://www.craftopolis.com/#com=tt and give it a try.

How many Treasuries are you in today?

Happy Thursday!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

What's up Wednesday

Until I can think of something better. Today, I feel like saying, What's up?

Today, nothing - BUT, I have high hopes that I will work on my checklist and just maybe, if I'm good, make some jewelry or do a bit of drawing.

Being your own boss is exhausting, mostly because, if I perform badly, I can't fire myself. I'll just end up having to be rehired.

Tomorrow, I've pre-decided, is Tesoro-y (a.k.a Treasure-y) Thursdays. So, if you are an Etsian, please comment with a link to an item of yours and what theme you think it'd be perfect for. Check back tomorrow to see the group - you'll probably be in it!

Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Tip Tuesday: Backgrounds for Etsy Photography

I have been inspired to do a theme day every week. We'll see how it goes!

Yesterday, for the first time in months, I photographed an item to sell on Etsy. It took me a minute to shoot, about 10 more seconds to scoot my chair two inches towards my Mac, 15 seconds to load the pics into IPhoto, and then finally 35 seconds to upload into Etsy. What is that? 2 minutes!!!

What do I credit? Not my lovely Mac, not my camera with its wonderful macro setting, but my background and location. More specifically, my placemats placed strategically infront of a double window.

I went through a lot of different backgrounds. Some were good, some were horrible, some pissed me off. I finally found "the one" passing through the aisle of Target. A cream-colored textured placemat. Beyond forces that I do not get, it worked. Now, they may not be the best pictures on Etsy (actually, I'm sure of it) but they are the best I've produced.

Here's a comprehensive list of all materials I've tried as backgrounds before finding "the one": (Please note: I am absolutely not saying that these do not work as backgrounds because I have seen fabulous pictures including most of these on Etsy. They just didn't float my boat. That's all)

Backgrounds:
Placemats
White paper
White tetured paper
Colored paper
Colored textured paper
Mirrors
Reflective black surfaces
Kitchen cutting board
Windowsill
Wood
Fabric
Ribbons (Glued nicely next to eachother)
Screening (the kind from a sliding screen door)
Foam
Carpet
Tile samples
Linoleum
Paper towels
Bottom part of wicker baskets

So my tip for the day, if you haven't found "the one" already, maybe try some of the above background ideas in your next item photoshoot. And, if what you use is not listed up there, please share your "the one"?

Don't forget! 3 days left in my giveaway. Participate here!!!

Good luck & Happy Tuesday!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Managing Mondays: Clutter is not conducive to creativity...right?

I had a beautiful post ready for you today. It was full of hope, angst, and strategically placed comedic relief but Blogspot ate it. It was there and then it wasn't and I just can't bring myself to repeat myself (I admit, I don't remember most of it). So I'll just move on.

I've decided to dedicate Monday posts to keeping myself in check. Monday is the start of the work week for most so it's the perfect time to get my ducks back in a cute little row and take on the week. The Hub just started his new job over the holiday weekend and since I am attempting the challenge of "struggling artist" and staying home, I will work when he works so I feel like I have a job instead of a really awesome job where I stay in my PJS all day making jewelry and painting. If I don't make that mental agreement with myself, I could lose perspective and go wild and crazy, like read all day. I'm just saying.

So, first day on the job, I've failed already. If I didn't like me so much, I'd be fired because I slept in. However! he had to wake up at 5 am and I can't do that. I just can't. My body rejects every bit of that idea. So, I have completed another inner contract with myself to wake up a few hours later than that and work twice as hard to make up for lost time.

What'd I accomplish this morning? A huge project - my workspace! It has taken me 2 weeks to situate myself a conducive workspace for my jewelry, art, and crafts.

I expect that it will be clutterly organized within a couple of days and a full blown out warzone by this weekend.

Aside from this, I have built massive checklists to organize the constant nagging voice in my head to get crap done! I need to update my etsy item tags, reshoot items, organize my pictures, sort through magazines, buy supplies, etc. I want to create but I just can't with all of these things still on my checklist!

For all creative souls out there, how do you motivate yourself to do the not-so-fun stuff involved in your hobby/business? I think the not-so-fun stuff covers everything else besides creating the art, am I right?

Sunday, July 11, 2010

I have a celebratory surprise!

So this morning (errr, this afternoon) I woke up and really wanted to do a sale. Today's a big deal and I thought I should celebrate it here as well.

Today's my wedding anniversary to the love of my life. 2 years down! What? Like its hard? (what movie what movie?)

We originally wanted to get married on 7-12, which was a Saturday in 2008. After some bridezilla drama (not mine) with our reception place, we decided to get married the day before, a Friday, 7/11. Even though this meant we would be sharing our wedding date with a gas station, it quickly became our favorite date:

1 - it's so easy to remember i'm fairly certain my husband can never forget it
2 - i don't know why we didn't notice before but, 7 is his favorite number, 11 is mine
3 - it's the week after July 4th so doing something is usually less crowded and less expensive
4 - um, free slurpees at 7-11 on every anniversary, hello?
5 - it will always be the day I married my best friend who I love a million peanut m&ms

So, how should we celebrate it here?

In continuing with my love for the number 11, all rings in my etsy shop are $11.00. Just $11. This means a discount of 15% - 45% off on all rings!!!

The schematics: Purchase any ring(s) in my shop tesorojewelry.etsy.com and type "anniversary" in the message to seller and I will refund you via Paypal any amount over $11 per ring (excluding the $1 for shipping). If you would prefer not to use Paypal, let me know and I will send you a revised invoice. This sale will end today, Sunday 7/11, at 11:59 PM PST. (Update: Let's make it until tomorrow, Monday 7/13, at 12:00 PM PST. This way its a full 24 hours).

And there is still lots of time to enter my giveaway for a free Howlite Ring here.

Officially non-newlyweds

Old married hag here...

Tomorrow, tonight, this morning, whatever, currently...today is my 2nd year wedding anniversary. I can NOT believe that 2 years has gone by, flown by actually.

We currently do not have any tentative plans for our big day except ask ourselves all day long, "What were we doing exactly 2 years ago?" When that gets boring, around 7, dinner and a movie sounds good. We haven't done that just the two of us since Paris (sometime in very early May).

I'm also super stoked that my first blog giveaway since our irresponsible euro-vacay has received a bunch of participants. Yay! Everyone has until the end of Friday PST to comment here.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Giveaway: Ends Friday, July 16th

Now that my hubby and I are a bit settled here in Texas and my jewelry inventory has been laid out and organized into a less-horrific mess, I think I'm feeling my creativity mojo returning. To celebrate, I thought it was about time for a Giveaway.

Since its summer, I thought, they need something fun, something cute, and something simple. So, here ya go, a fun, cute, and simple Howlite ring to accessorize your favorite summer outfit. Please, it needs to be put to work poolside and/or during strenuous beach or lake lounging.