May Design Challenge Winner!

Posted Thursday, May 28, 2015

May's Design Challenge had the theme "Simply Summer".
We had lots of lovely entries from our team member but the winning entry with the most votes was...



Big Fluffy Apple Green, Pink and Red Watermelon Bow. So Fluffy, Big, and Adorable! One of a Kind, Ransom Letter Handmade Bow Design. 

I make my bows by hand. This bow has 1.5" ribbon so it is large and fluffy. Hand tied and hot glued for durability. Bow tails underneath. I only use the best grosgrain. It's soft and shiny with a tight weave.

Here are some more lovely items from ransomletterhandmade

Personalized Handmade Hair Bow Keeper Hanger Holder Turquoise Lime and Yellow Applique Letter Monogram Sewn Chevron ribbon GiftBig Homecoming Ribbon MUM Hair Bow Mums Made to Order School Cheerleader Bow Prom SpiritPink Multi Color Bubble Dot Baby Birthday Bows for Toddlers or Babies two piece set of hair bowsBlue Chevron Paw Hair Bow Gold Yellow Ribbon Appliqué Feltie Dog Paw
Primary Color Hair Bow Blue Red and Yellow Ribbon  for Girls Primary Colors Outfits Snow White Birthday Baby head bandsLittle Leopard Print Puppy Bow Baby Animal Print Hair Bow Tiny Dog Bows Small Toddler Hair Clips Non Slip Grip Natural Cat RibbonBig Red White and Blue Bow USA Bows Patriotic Colors Fourth of July Dress Felt Stars American Flag Hair BowsHouston Texans Handmade Inspired Texans Headband Elastic bottom fabric head band
Powered By Toastie Studio - Etsy Tools

Meet Etsy seller DollQuiltShop

Posted Wednesday, May 27, 2015


This week we meet Etsy sell DollQuiltShop. DollQuiltShop has been selling on Etsy since March 2014. DollQuiltShop carries quilts for all doll sizes. Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.



Riley Blake Small Doll Quilt  Red Wine and Olive Colonial Patchwork Doll Quilt  Pink Doll Quilt for American Girl Dolls

What motivated you to start your shop?
My father paid for me to have private sewing lessons the summer I was 12 years old. My teacher came once a week and at the end of the summer I was making easy dresses and skirts. My Mom had taught me to knit when I was 8. So you can see that both my parents valued handcrafts and I grew up getting lots of encouragement and appreciation for whatever I made. Recently I bought a brand new sew sewing machine got excited about quilting again. I discovered that making small doll sized quilts was extra fun because I got to buy lots of of different fabrics and I could finish one in 2 days. I taught myself to free-hand machine quilt and stipple and my little quilts are perfect for that. I have a blast making these doll quilts and the entire time I am working on one I imagine a child somewhere playing with it. My mother made all my doll clothes and still, to this day, I don't know how she sewed all those tiny seams on her sewing machine. They were Barbie doll clothes, so they were really small.

What is the story behind your shop name?
I chose a shop name that I thought would best explain what my shop is all about. I realize it is not very creative or cute, but I wanted it to be informative and I was a little afraid to go with something less descriptive. I have another shop I named “vermontsnuggery”, which is a nicer sounding name, but for this one I wanted it to be plain, easy to remember and all about the product. It sort of limits what I can put in the shop, but I have other places where I sell other kinds of things.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
The most surprising I have found about my on-line shop is, and I don't really want to sound negative here, but it takes a tremendous amount of work to generate sales. If you look at my shop sales number is low. I think that is partly because doll quilts are not something people are routinely searching for. Unlike pot holders or diaper pants, "doll quilts" ranks very low in google search words. I utilize all 13 of my search words with all kinds of other words, like "table runners or toppers, changing pads, wall decor, etc.", and even though there is relatively low competition on Etsy in what I make, it is still hard going. I thought I had found a niche, like you are supposed to do, but still it is hard going to get a sale. I enjoy it so much, though, that I just keep going.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I really like my Civil War and Colonial Era quilts. I love anything really old, so that is my favorite kind of quilt to make. Even though I always think no one is going to like those quilts I am surprised when I realize that they have been one of my best selling categories. In my shop I don't try to compete with the modern, clean, spare sensibility that Etsy seems to like to promote. I can only do what comes from within, and that is more sort of cluttered and fussy. I try to keep it about the product, though, and not about me. I don't really think people are very interested in me as a person, although maybe they are.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

The most challenging thing for me is the social marketing. Keeping up with facebook, pinterest, twitter, my blog and learning more about other venues. I have to fit these tasks into my schedule whenever I have a few minutes, and since I really enjoy doing them, I do find the time to work on them. I also have found photography to be really difficult. I bought an expensive camera just for the purpose of photographing etsy items, learned to use complicated photo editing software, but still am not satisfied with the results. I have come to realize that a cell phone camera might take better pictures and be so much easier to use. I don't have a smart phone yet. so that is something for the future. (We have very spotty cell phone coverage here in the wilds of Vermont. Unbelievable, but true.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
My personal motto is, “play every day.” This is the message I want to bring to the world. Adults forget to play. Play is good. Let yourself go. Play! My mission in life is to bring fun into the world, every day for everyone. I still love to do what I did in the first grade--color, cut and paste. I love paper dolls, doll furniture and doll clothes. It's not so much about the dolls, but about all the doll "stuff".

What do you do when you aren't working?
I am a RN and work part time in long term care and I really like my job. I was born with an undeniable, overwhelming drive to be creative and I get depressed if I can't do something creative every day. Ours is a multi-generational home and I love having my children and grandchildren around. We have worked out our “spaces” and times to be together and to not be together. I sing in a church choir, take piano lessons and read voraciously. My idea of cleaning my house is to rearrange everything and put out seasonal decorations. I am a native Vermonter and love all the seasons, including winter and mud-season. My husband and I take care of our 18 month old grandson 4 days a week, 12 hours a day. Our schedule works around his Mom's schedule and so he is always with one of us. It's a very busy life.

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
I have a blog called “Living and Knitting in Vermont”. You can find it at http://vermontknitting.blogspot.com/
I post treasuries and tiny articles about all sorts of things. I would love some new followers. I am on Ravely as wisewoman and would love more friends.


DollQuiltShop is offering 20% items in their store using the code EK20
 
Indigo Blue Colonial Patchwork Doll Quilt  Madder Red Thimbleberries AG Doll Quilt  Island Vacation Doll Quilt

Treasury Challenge #60 - Blue skies and stormy clouds

Posted Saturday, May 23, 2015

The theme for the EtsyKids Team treasury challenge #60 was "Blue skies and stormy clouds".
Our team members created lots of beautiful treasuries featuring some amazing items, but the winner is...

Stormy Clouds bring Blue Skies, Rainbows and Shine 

You are going to fall in love with these children items! Bring on the storms! So I can see the Rainbows Shine!
Sunshine and Cloud Clippie, Sun and Cloud Feltie, Sun and Cloud Hair Clip, Embroidered Felt Clippie, Hair Clip for Infant, Baby Toddler Girl
$3.50
Rain Cloud mobile - baby mobile - crystal mobile - sun catcher - clear crystal rain drops - Nursery Decor - MADE TO ORDER
$88.00
Rainbow and clouds TWIN Bodysuit Set, Great Shower gift for TWINS or siblings
$52.00
Girls dress handmade with summer sunshine and cloud
$62.00
Baby Bodysuit  - One Piece - you are my Sunshine Bodysuit
$24.00
Life Isn't About Waiting For The Storm To Pass | Nursery Art | Wall Art | Subway Art | 5x7 | 8x10 | 11x14
$10.50
decorative pillow "happy cloud" for nursery room in light blue
€22.00
Customized name banner with 2 air Balloon ornaments, Fabric name banner, BLUE color pattern, baby boy wall decor, 2 air balloons for FREE!
$8.00
Gender Neutral Minky  Blanket - Coffee and Cream - Etsykids Team - Baby Blanket - Minky Blanket Gender Neutral - Gender Neutral Blanket
$38.50
Bright Happy Sunshine Headband- Perfect Summer Accessory for Baby Girl
$6.00
You Are My Sunshine Shirt or Bodysuit - Embroidered Shirt - Baby Shower Gift - Sunshine - New Baby - Girly shirt
$24.00
Doll Face Baby Nursery ..Sensory Pillow - Security - lovey - PILLOW BABY Hattie -Round - Rainbow RIBBON Pillow Great Shower Gift - Etsykids
$18.95
Storm Cloud Hair Clip- Meet Miss Stormie
$3.50
Boy Star Garland - made with wool blend felt in blue, grey, white and yellow, perfect for baby nursery or kids room
€12.00
Over the Rainbow Hair Clip
$6.50
Minky Baby Blanket Quilt Cloud 9 Happy Drawing Elephants Organic Cotton Top--Made to Order
$48.00
Powered By Toastie Studio - Etsy Tools

Thank you Ainsleylane creating such a lovely treasury!

Ainsleylane sells boutique kids clothing with fun prints and embellishments and super hero capes. This spring ruffle skirt in floral print & pink chevron are a perfect match for this treasury! Visit her shop to see more of her wonderful creations.


May Design Challenge. It's time to Vote!

Posted Friday, May 22, 2015

For May our Design Challenge theme was "Simply Summer" We have lots of lovely entries from our team members, browse down and vote for your favourite item! Voting is open until 27th May. 

Meet Etsy Seller Eight Thousand Miles

Posted Wednesday, May 20, 2015

This week we meet Etsy seller EightThousandMiles.  EightThousandMiles has been open since August 2014 and they make fun comfortable attire for children.  Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


Handmade reversible cotton quilt - 45" x 60" - Sun & Snowflakes  Handmade cotton quilted reversible jacket (kids) - Unisex (Rainbow Ikat & Black/White geometric) Bohemian Chic Hipster Childrens Clothing  Handmade reversible cotton quilt - 45" x 60" - Star & Tree


What motivated you to start your shop?
I have always believed in the power of design, much before I even decided to dedicate a career to it and train formally as an Architect/ Urban Designer.
The underlying fact about us Architects is that most of us believe that we are capable of designing everything  - from clothing to cities. Even before I went to Design School, I found great pleasure in small design projects, such as designing my own outfits to up-cycling old raggedy pair of denims into vintage purses.
Thus be it sartorial or spatial; design at any scale has always given me a high like none other.
I have also always wanted to start my own independent design venture that encompassed not only architecture or urban design but traversed the scale of design, from S,M,L to XL (ranging from designing for children all the way up to interior architecture/ urban design). However I was quite clear from the start that design entrepreneurship would have to go hand-in-hand with social-entrepreneurship. So I devised a business model that would operate with 'social impact'/ 'social responsibility' at its crux.

What is the story behind your shop name?
The idea of 'eight thousand miles' was born somewhere while traversing along the 8000 odd mile distance that separates my two chosen homes - Mumbai & New York. Ironically enough, 8000 miles also happens to be the diameter of the earth - metaphorically symbolizing the antipodal locations of these two cities. 

Thus the name 'eight thousand miles' - which only seemed apt for a brand venture conceived on a journey, that aspires to bridge the cultural and cartographical distance between the two; that celebrates the idea of home as a place sans borders; embodies the belief that all individuals are born as non-conformist, free-spirited wanderers with the world as their oyster.


What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
That it takes a lot of marketing efforts/ research/ big learning curve to foster online sales.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
We love making all of our items, as they are all unique and a lot of thought goes into their creation/ design and execution. However our most favorite items are our Handmade Reversible Cotton Quilts.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
Getting enough attention to the etsy shop. Also 'promoting listings' is kind of expensive.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
Our brand - eight thousand miles - is a young dynamic lifestyle brand with a bohemian-chic
design aesthetic.
With our eclectically created, contemporary product-line, we hope to strike a chord with like-minded global aficionados the world over. Our designs marry the vivacity of the bohemian, colorful care-free aesthetic
with the minimalism of an uber-modern design sensibility, thereby aiming to celebrate free-spirited self-expression.
Most of our products are made of natural artisanal fabrics, many of which are hand-block printed traditionally; primarily cottons and voile.
Our designs reflect a play of a diverse eclectic palette of prints, with an emphasis on gender-neutral styles & reversible patterns, vibrant colors & many textures.
Characteristics such as simple cuts & silhouettes merged with playful styles ensure that the fabric is the key focus & comfort is the top priority.
Our environmentally-conscious design approach entails up-cycling older vintage fabrics and utilizing industrial waste textiles whenever possible in the creation of many of the products.


What do you do when you aren't working?
There is hardly a time of day when I am not working really. Being an entrepreneur entails living, breathing and sleeping with one's venture - and I am a classic case of that.
My typical weekday stretches between 9 - 12 hours and depending on the season, the weekends are either spent working or rarely, at leisure. When I am not putting out fires 8000 miles away on calls with India or furiously exchanging 'whatsapp' messages with the production/ printing staff in India, I am usually designing our new line/ sketching new print ideas or reaching out to new customers, stores/ creating social media campaigns -  sometimes even doing all this at once. Life has become quite some sort of a juggling act since I turned entrepreneur and I am loving it every bit!
I am also a 'single weekday mom' to my almost 4 year old daughter as my husband is a consultant who travels 4 out of 5 weekdays.

Still whenever possible, I take time out to watch movies (I love cinema of every kind), cook and entertain at home & at the slightest opportunity given, pick up my bags and travel :)


Please tell us a little about the children's items market / handmade movement in your Country?
I live between New York and India, so I will throw some light on the children's items market back in India.

The children's items market in India is a new-age phenomenon, relatively speaking as compared to in the Western world. What that means is only recently has it seen tremendous growth and potential with a lot of brands diversifying and start-ups venturing into this stream. Be it organic apparel-design to franchising Western brands to retail in India, there is huge demand in the children's items industry there. In such an environment, consumers are happy to embrace any brand or product that comes up with a new idea and an appealing product-line so to speak.

Also, the buying capacity in the Indian market is huge and demand is very high - not only in urban India, but also in smaller towns.


Handmade cotton quilted reversible jacket (kids) - Unisex (Orange/ Black & White chevron) Bohemian Chic Hipster Childrens Clothing  Sleeveless cotton quilted reversible jacket Vest (kids) - Unisex (Orange peacock print) childrens clothing, bohemian chic cottonHandmade cotton quilted reversible jacket (kids) - Unisex (Orange/ Black & White geometric) Bohemian Chic Hipster Childrens Clothing

EightThousandMiles has an ongoing discount on their etsy shop for the entire month of May.
Use COUPON CODE - APRILSHOWERS at checkout for A FLAT 50% OFF ALL THROUGH THE MONTH OF MAY!



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...