YAY!

Yay! My tiger ebony necklace made it to the front page of Etsy.

Giveaway

Just came across this awesome giveaway for a cute Attitude Fairy necklace. It is so cute! If interested you can enter here.... http://studiomme.blogspot.com/2009/07/2nd-giveaway.html

Jewelry Giveaway

In Celebration of reaching 100 Sales on Etsy I am having a giveaway.

The prize……is a cobalt fire ruby moonstone and sterling silver necklace. Very simple, very dainty with a gorgeous pink color. Perfect for summer!





To enter the giveaway…..

♥ Go to Mrsfatface – pick out your favorite item and come back here and tell me what it is and post the link – 1 entry

For extra entries…
♥ Blog about my giveaway and come back here and post link – 1 extra entry
♥ Twitter about my giveaway and come back here and post link – 1 extra entry
♥ Twitter about your favorite item in my shop and come back here and post link – 1 extra entry
♥ Follow my blog and post comment letting me know (if you already follow you can post that) – 1 extra entry
♥ Follow me on twitter and come back here and leave a comment letting me know – 1 extra entry
♥ Become a Facebook Fan of Mrsfatface (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Charlotte-NC/Mrsfatface-Handcrafted-Jewelry/114181250691?ref=nf ) and leave comment here letting me know – 1 extra entry
♥ Update your Facebook Wall with a link to an item by Mrsfatface that you love and post a comment here with a link to that facebook post – 1 extra entry

The contest ends on 7/23/09 and the winner will be announced on 7/24/09.

Christmas in July Sale

I am having a Christmas in July Sale effective 7-8-09 to 7-22-09. All jewelry items have been marked down 20% or more. I have even reduced items already on sale. I will not be having another sale until November. Here is the link to my shop: http://www.mrsfatface.etsy.com

New Listings....

Two Newest Etsy listings.

Here is a gorgeous eye catching necklace. This necklace was created with a white freshwater coin pearl, a flashy labradorite briolette, a pale green prasiolite pear briolette, and a fine silver hammered teardrop made by me. These have all been beautifully wire wrapped with sterling silver wire. I have added light gray Swarovski crystals as accents at the front and at the clasp. This necklace measures 18 inches and has a sterling silver hook clasp and a sterling silver rolo chain. This can be worn casual or for dressing up.

Here is a gorgeous Golden Yellow Agate Druzy necklace. This sterling silver necklace measures 18 inches long and has a sterling silver hook clasp with tiny white moonstone rondelles for accent. This is a very large stone with beautiful crystals. Druzy (can also be spelled drusy): When ground water carrying dissolved silica is forced into a porous area of the rock, rapid cooling often occurs, causing the formation of tiny crystals on the surfaces or in cavities of the rock. The clear crystals often form on top of previously deposited minerals. This is called a druzy.

Front Page 6/12/09

Found my Turquoise and Wood Necklace on the front page of Etsy this morning.

Etsy Yart Sale 2009

I am participating in the Yart Sale on Etsy this week sponsored by Team ESST. I have a yart sale section in my shop with jewelry items marked 20% off or below. You can check them out here http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5520812&section_id=6177729 ! You can also search Etsy using the term Yart for some fabulous deals. Happy Yarting!

Whoo Hooo!

Ok so my hubby has sold another painting. This is truly so wonderful. We are very happy about this! He also listed his new series of Wild Hares on Etsy. They are really cute and the pictures do not do them any justice.

Sold another painting...

My hubby sold a new painting in his Etsy shop. We are very excited. We have been working hard to promote/market his art work. You can check him out at http://www.mrfatface.etsy.com

Wickedly Chic

Just got an email from Wickedly Chic letting me know that my necklace has been featured in today's Daily Ditties. So awesome. Check it out. http://www.wickedlychic.com/category/Daily+Ditties/

Blog Feature - Say Your Piece

This weeks blog feature is for Eileen at SayYourPiece. She creates Custom Ceramic Gifts on Etsy! She says, "Have your say at Say Your Piece! Here you'll find affordable handpainted & kiln-fired ceramic pieces that express the sentiment that YOU choose." I really love this adorable teardrop Missing you dish. What a great item to send to someone you are missing.

Tell me a little about yourself, your store and what you sell.

I am first and foremost a mom to my (eek!) sixteen year-old daughter and wife to my husband of (omg!) twenty-five years. I have two Etsy stores (okay, one is MUCH more active than the other!). At SayYourPieceToo, I offer whimsical hand-painted bisque plates and tiles for special occasions. At SayYourPiece, I sell hand-built ceramic pieces of many different designs; all of which can be customized/personalized to make them that much more special for each of my clients.

How long have you been making the craft/art that you sell? What started your interest in it? How did you learn? / What made you decide to turn your art/craft into a business? What support or inspiration have you had along the way?

I’ve been working in ceramics in various forms for about six years now. It began when I first saw a ceramic piece bearing the imprint of the hands and feet of my good friend’s little one. I just fell in love and SO wished that I had been able to have one made for my little girl. By that time, though, my daughter was already well past babyhood. My heart actually ached at the idea that I’d missed out, and the idea slowly grew that I would start a small business making sure that other moms didn’t have to feel the way I did! Because I was totally committed to being home to raise my one and only, it seemed the perfect idea. That was the beginning of Clayful Moments (http://www.clayfulmoments.com) and “KidPrint Keepsakes”, which is a business that still exists today, and has expanded to include several other activities.In ceramics, one learns by doing… and wrecking a lot of clay! I started with the KidPrint Keepsakes, moved on to pouring my own pieces from slip, then worked on improving my hand-painting technique, and finally got into hand-building the small pieces that I sell on Say Your Piece!. The inspiration for most of what I do comes from my deeply held belief that family and commitment are the most important things in life. Anything that celebrates the special times in our lives, the dedication that we have to one another, and the absolute blessing that is our children is inspiration for me. Fortunately, I find that so many Etsy clients feel the same way, and so are enthusiastic about and supportive of my work. It is, truly, very validating and very gratifying.

Do you have any other hobbies / interests?

Outside of my family and my work, my greatest enjoyment comes from watching my daughter play sports. She is a wonderful girl, a great student (okay, she gets all A’s, but I have nag her A LOT!), an exceptional shortstop and a MONSTER defensive basketball player. Her father and I soak up every second of her play that we can.My other new hobby is following blogs! Until Etsy, I had no idea that there were so many creative and talented people out there with their own blogs. I marvel at people who have so much to say and who take the time to say it! I especially love food-related blogs like Sunday Baker (http://comeandpeek.blogspot.com/) and another by one of my fabulous clients called The Cutting Edge of Ordinary (http://thecuttingedgeofordinary.blogspot.com/). Of course, MrsFatFace has been added to the list very recently!

How long have you been selling on Etsy? Do you sell full or part time?
I signed up at Etsy back in April of 2008, but really didn’t nurture it because I was in the middle of a very large preschool project with Clayful Moments. I really got going in July, and so now have been working at it for about eight months. Hard to say if I do it full time or part time… sometimes it seems very part-time, other times it seems that there isn’t enough time in a day!

Do you sell outside of Etsy? If so where?
I maintain a website for my hand-built and hand-painted pieces (http://www.say-your-piece.com), but have recently streamlined and linked everything over to Etsy. I’m considering other venues, and if I can find one that markets itself well, I will certainly pursue it.

What is your favorite way to promote your Etsy store?
Honestly, this is probably my biggest area of weakness. I’m happy for opportunities such as this… blog features have been very helpful. I do spend time in the Etsy forums, usually though the motive is to learn something new or get a specific question answered. I must say that I have been extremely fortunate that many of my clients who have happened across my work on Etsy have become almost regulars. The fact that they can get gifts that are tailored to their friends and family, and that these gifts can’t really be found anywhere else seems to bring them back again and again. I do hope that this is something that continues and grows over time.

Do you have a blog? If so what is your blog address, and what do you feature / write about?


I do not blog. Because it seems that EVERYBODY else does, I have considered it, but I simply can’t figure out how I could keep one going for more than a week! I have plenty to say, but most of it isn’t related to my work. The danger for me would be lapsing into political discourse and I’m a firm believer that politics and business should not be mixed (witness Washington DC!).

What is the thing that you are most proud of?
Not surprisingly, I am most proud of raising a lovely girl and nurturing a marriage that has provided my daughter with an understanding of the importance of family and a strong sense of security. Having two parents who model and consistently verbalize their commitment to doing whatever is right for the family will be invaluable to our daughter as she embarks on her life. Making sure that she is educated, healthy, happy, well-balanced and a good human being is everything to both of us.

What do you wish you had more time for?
I don’t think there’s a mother out there that doesn’t wish for more “down time” with her family. Unfortunately, it’s not my activities that create the time crunch; if it were, I’d just rearrange my schedule! Between my husband’s work and my daughter’s school, sports and friends, the time just doesn’t exist. So we do the best that we can with the time that we have.


What is your favorite part of the day?
It’s a toss up between the end of the day when we are all finally home together, and the time during the day when everyone is gone and I can fulfill orders or create new pieces. Playing with clay can be exceptionally therapeutic…. hence the popularity of Play Doh!

Check her out at www.sayyourpiece@etsy.com and tell her Mrsfatface sent ya!

Origami Jewelry - Paper Displays of Affection

Paper Affection was started on Etsy by Suanne. She is a super talented origami artist. I love her many different creations. She makes earrings, necklaces, ornaments, hair pins all using her paper creations. Suanne was kind enough to answer a couple questions about her craft and how she got started on Etsy.

Tell me a little about yourself, your store and what you sell.
I'm Suanne and I love origami! I'm 22 and I just started my real life job in the big city. I'm an origami artist and I try to make it more practical and sell origami jewelry, hair pins, and ornaments.

How long have you been making the craft/art that you sell? What started your interest in it? How did you learn?
It’s been about 13 years now since that fourth grade class where I made my first crane. I first got into origami because I had this problem with sitting still when I was a kid. I discovered that folding paper helped me concentrate in class while I took notes. This was especially true in college and long lectures and I honestly believe I did better in class when I was folding! I'm mostly self-taught, but I love me a big advanced origami book!

What made you decide to turn your art/craft into a business? What support or inspiration have you had along the way?
As I made more and more origami, I realized that if there wasn't a real use for my models, and they'd all go to waste - and I couldn't let that happen! So I set out to make my origami functional - jewelry was my first thought, and I'm exploring other mediums. After I sold a few pairs on DeviantArt, I realized my idea was good enough to have my own store. Other DeviantArtists have been supportive, especially my friend Mel, who owns sugarposse.etsy.com.

Do you have any other hobbies / interests?
Real Estate (is that weird? That's my day job) I also love photography, New York City, drawing, sculpting, and summer. :) And hugs. I love hugs.

How long have you been selling on Etsy? Do you sell outside of Etsy? If so where?
DeviantArt if people don't want to sign up for Etsy, but thats about it.


What is your favorite way to promote your Etsy store?
Blogs :) I'm in the forums a ton too!


Do you have a blog? If so what is your blog address, and what do you feature / write about?
DeviantArt is kinda like a blog, but more an online portfolio. http://www.pandacub143.deviantart.com/

Where do you hope to see your business / Etsy store in the future?

I'd like to just keep crafting. Some day I'd love to do a craft show and show off what I can do, maybe have a celebrity wear something hehe. But I craft to make myself happy. No big dreams here :)

What is something that you want to make SURE you do in 2009?

Not get fired from the day job. :)

What is the thing that you are most proud of?

After 5 months meeting my sales goal that I made for 1 year. I'm doing way better than I thought I ever could!

What do you wish you had more time for?

Crafting

What is your favorite part of the day?

My favorite is Saturday mornings, when I get to photograph what I made that week - all my hard work goes into a pretty picture for everyone to see and I love choosing angles and playing with colors!

Oxidized Beauties

Scored a treasury on Treasury West. I am in love with oxidized sterling silver. I love the way it makes the gemstones POP. The oxidized silver really electrifies colors.

You can check it out here... http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=48906

CarLe Etc... Redesigned Bags & Jewelry

Carolyn from CarLeEtc was nice enough to answer a couple of questions about herself and how she got started crafting on Etsy. I love her fabulous Rag~Bags!

I have crafted all my life. I love to create and make great things. In my life I have owned and run 3 antique shops, I love anything vintage. I try to sell what I create and in my etsy shop it is Rag~Bags, embellished purses, and soldered / altered jewelry. I joined etsy in Aug.2007. I guess I have been selling part-time on etsy and not promoting it well either. I do sell locally at home. I have been making Rag~Bags and soldered jewelry for 4 or 5 yrs. You know my mother and grandmothers had always sewed and made things all my life.

What do you enjoy doing outside of Etsy?
I do enjoy decorating and gardening too.
Do you have a blog and what is the address?
My blog address is: http://carleetc.blogspot.com/ I am a beginner blogger, trying to learn.
What is one thing you would like to accomplish in 2009?
I would like to be a big seller on etsy in 2009.
What are you most proud of?
Most proud of my Rag~bags, I think they are unique.
What do you wish you had more time for?
I wish I had more time to create.
What is your favorite time of the day?

Favorite time of day would be when I could create.

Please check out her shop and tell her that Mrsfatface sent ya! http://www.CarLeEtc.etsy.com

Hanami Gallery - Origami Cards and Ornaments

These are the beautiful creations from Hanami Gallery. She creates beautiful cards and ornaments from fine Japanese papers. My favorite is the Red Butterflies card above. She was so kind to answer a couple of questions for me about herself and how she got started crafting.

I went to college for mathematics and economics, but I've always loved art and crafting. I learned how to fold origami when I was very young. My first books were from Tomoko Fuse and I still have her books to this day! I also drew, painted, and took photography. My grandmother also taught me how to knit and I enjoyed knitting capes for our chickens in the winter. HAH. I love paper. I tried to think about how I could showcase some of the great papers I have. My mom has always loved collecting cards. I thought making cards would be a great way to showcase the paper, and I could always use them if they did not sell! My family and fiance have supported me and helped me when I get down about my craft. My inspiration is the paper. Really I look at each sheet of paper and think about what type of design would best showcase the paper.

As for other hobbies or interests, I enjoy knitting and just learned how to crochet. I’m expecting some dyes and will try hand painting yarn! I also enjoy playing video games! HAH. It is a lot of fun when I can really escape into other worlds. I just started selling on Etsy in January 2009.Before I moved to Providence I showed in a gallery in Pennsylvania for a little while, but the commission was a bit much. I also had a website, but got rid of it to make another new website that is currently in progress. I also have a blog where I try to show some items from my shop every now and again.My favorite ways to promote my store is probably word of mouth.

My blog address is: http://hanamigallery.blogspot.com/ I write about anything I am doing currently!

I hope I can sell my cards to people who will cherish them and the words written inside forever. So, I hope I will have sold more cards by the end of the year!I want to make sure I stay positive. It’s hard to start a business and to get a reputation built. So, I just really need to stay positive and keep trying at my store. I’m proud of my work, to an extent! I am a bit of a perfectionist. HAH My favorite part of the day is when I can hang out with my fiance and kitties.

You can check her out at http://www.hanamigallery.etsy.com/ and tell her that Mrsfatface sent ya!

OMG! Mrfatface on Front Page!

OK Mrfatface (my hubby) has made his first appearance on the FRONT PAGE of ETSY! We are very excited! Hopefully this is one of many.

Renegades - Handbags and Rockstar Accessories

Renegades is an Etsy shop run by Stephanee from Indiana. Stephanee says "Renegades designs are made to showcase your individuality and creativness in a world that would like us all to just grow up a bit."

How long have you been making the craft/art that you sell? What started your interest in it? How did you learn?

I remember as a kid getting the craft kits for Christmas. Make your own candle or friendship bracelet... I did not care about any other gifts. I just wanted to make something. My drive to create has always been like that. I have tried just about every craft I can get my hands on. Right now I am making (and selling) purses, wallets and accessories.

What made you decide to turn your art/craft into a business? What support or inspiration have you had along the way?

For the past several Christmas's I have not had much money for gifts, so I made them. Those gifts were cherished much more than gifts I had spent tons of money on. And with a walking billboard like my mom, the orders came rolling in. My dad had always inspired me to think outside the corporate box. He has been my inspiration to keep going!

Do you have any other hobbies / interests?

As a hobby I will find a new craft or a new technique. All of my free time is spent creating something.

How long have you been selling on Etsy?

Do you sell full or part time?I have been a member of Etsy for 2 years. I have only recently started adding items to my store and promoting. I have a 9-5, but I would give it up in a heartbeat for a full time Etsy store.

Do you sell outside of Etsy? If so where?

I only take custom orders outside of Etsy. But I am determined to start the craft fair circuit this spring. I'm also building up inventory to take to the brick and mortar shops in my hometown.

What is your favorite way to promote your Etsy store?

I think blogging is fun. I stress about it a lot because I am afraid I am not too interesting. I do not even know if anyone reads my ramblings... but I will still write. My mom is my favorite way to promote! All I have to do is make her something and she will tell everyone she knows!

Do you have a blog? If so what is your blog address, and what do you feature / write about?

http://renegadesdesigns.blogspot.com/ So I'm supposed to have a theme? No... I just talk about whatever pops in my head, mostly just stuff about my shop.

Where do you hope to see your business / Etsy store in the future?

I am hoping to grow and evolve until I can do this as a part time job.

What is something that you want to make SURE you do in 2009?

I am going to promote the crap out of my stuff. I promise to go to one craft fair. I also vow to approach 2 shops to consign my items.

What is the thing that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit. My dad instilled that in me at a very young age. I have always wanted to work hard and work for myself!

What do you wish you had more time for?

There is never enough time for marketing. But honestly I wish I had more time to just dabble... and make random things for no reason... just because they make me smile.

What is your favorite part of the day?

My favorite time of the day is the morning drive to work. I commute 30 min each way. It gives me a meditation time to reflect on the day ahead, what I have done and what I need to do. I usually get most of my great ideas during that time. The sunrise always greets me.

Please go check out her cute shop and tell her that Mrsfatface sent you! http://www.renegades.etsy.com/

THEWILDHARE'S BLOG GIVEAWAY

Just wanted to let all my bloggy friends know that thewildhare is doing a giveaway for one of my necklaces on her blog. It is really simple to enter. You can check her out here http://www.thewildhare.blogspot.com/ The above picture is the necklace the winner will receive. It is a beautiful sterling silver necklace with a large imperial turquoise focal bead with tiny smokey quartz rondelles. All sterling silver chain, wire, and clasp. Giveaway runs from 2/16/09 to 2/19/09.

Moonofglass - Fused Glass Jewelry and Home Decor

Moonofglass is an etsy shop run by Elizabeth from Tennessee. She creates fused glass jewelry and home decor. She was kind enough to answer a couple questions about her Etsy shop and how she got started on Etsy.

How long have you been making your craft/art that you sell? What started your interest in it? How did you learn?

I started working with glass doing mosaics and stained glass about four years ago. About a year ago, I finally decided to take the plunge and buy a small kiln. I've been fusing since then, and invested in a larger kiln at the beginning of last year. I actually started working with glass because someone suggested that I needed a hobby. I never realized how addictive it would be! I'm entirely self-taught. I've learned a lot from books and the Internet, as well as just experimenting on my own.

What made you decide to turn your art/craft into a business? What support or inspiration have you had along the way?

I haven't had a single job that I could see myself doing for the rest of my life. Art is the only thing that's ever been consistently in my life. Usually, I do something hardcore for about six months before I get tired of it. Art, though, is something I never have been able to take a break from.

A few friends of mine suggested that I try to sell my stuff. So I gave it a shot, and started selling locally. When I began selling, I realized that this was a lot more fun than my day job, and something I could do forever, so I started building my business. One day, I hope to be a full time artist!

Do you have any other hobbies / interests?

A ton! I'm an avid reader, I have a penchant for musical theatre, and I love hiking and backpacking. You'll also find me with a video game controller in my hand from time to time. Playing video games are a great stress reliever for me!

How long have you been selling on Etsy? Do you sell full or part time?

I've not been on Etsy for every long. I opened up shop on October 30, 2008. I'm only part time now, selling just enough to keep me in supplies. :)

Do you sell outside of Etsy? If so where?

I have a few regular local customers, and I've done a couple of craft shows. I'm working on getting my work in local stores.

What is your favorite way to promote your Etsy store?

My favorite is the Etsy forums. :) This isn't always as productive as other methods, but it does give interesting results! I also use Flickr and rely heavily on hits from Project Wonderful.

Do you have a blog? If so what is your blog address, and what do you feature / write about?

I do blog, mostly about my shop and business goals, and sometimes I review advertising ventures. The address is http://moonofglass.blogspot.com/.

Where do you hope to see your business / Etsy store in the future? Eventually, I would like to be a full time artist. I think Etsy will be a significant chunk of my revenue. I'd like to be making at least ten thousand dollars a year from Etsy sales sometime within the next few years.

What is something that you want to make SURE you do in 2009?

I would really like to get my work featured in a gallery.

What is the thing that you are most proud of?

Handling the business myself. I have some health problems that make consistency difficult for me in most things, but my business is something that will always have my attention, no matter what.

What do you wish you had more time for?

Experimentation. Since I'm working full time too, I only have the weekends to really "play" with my glass. During the week, I have planned things that go in my kiln each night, so I don't get as much time to do the artistic work then.

What is your favorite part of the day?

Evenings. Once I get home from the commute, I get to play with my dog, then get to work in my studio.



Please go check out her lovely shop www.moonofglass.etsy.com and tell her that Mrsfatface sent you!

Charmdesign Giveaway

Ok, I came across this giveaway from charmdesign on http://rainbowswirlz.blogspot.com/, and it is a good one. You should check out her shop she has some really pretty purses, pouches, and market totes in the most beautiful fabrics. The rules for entering the giveaway are easy:

Go to Charmdesign, look around.. come back & tell us your favorite item from her shop! Please be sure to leave your e-mail address in the entry.



Earn extra entries: *Subscribe to our blog. Do no forget to activate your subscription. *Blog about this giveaway on your Blog. Be sure to leave a link to your blog in your entry.
You will receive one extra entry into this giveaway for each of the above actions you do.



This giveaway will end on February 11th at 12:00 am. (Central Standard Time).