Furry Friends

Adored these ads from the Oregon Humane Society the minute I laid my animal-lovin' eyes on them! They've been out for awhile now but I've seen a few posted out & about in Portland recently- still endearing! Someday, I hope to have a little animal sanctuary so I could keep all the critters I want to rescue.

This one reminded me that the other night Mark said that Boston Kitty & I have started to look alike! Maybe it's all my freckles & his splotches of orange?

See all the prints ads & commercial here: Oregon Humane Society

{{Image Credit Oregon Humane Society}}

Business Bits - Analytics

Topic: Google Analytics

Set up a Google Analytics account for your site or blog yet? If not, c'mon- hop on the boat...it's relatively easy (with the tools below), informative, and free!

If you're not familiar- Analytics tracks data regarding your site: how many people visit, when, who comes back, how they found you, and other important tidbits. And if you're already set up, but like me, need a refresher now & then- here's a list of links ranging from how to set it up to deciphering it all.

{Image Credit: Slow Pony Supplies. Graph Paper Fabric, lovely!}

What's the big deal? Analytics is the number crunching & smashing. Such an important part of your marketing strategy...it will let you know if that $50 ad you bought was worth it and just how many folks come your way from all your Twittering about. After you set up analytics, understand it, and then access it regularly you can make better decisions about your marketing plans...after seeing the data you just might make some changes or it might reinforce your decisions (like putting in countless hours to build a Facebook page).

Because, after all, numbers don't lie right?


Conversation Marketing - Video Tutorial on How to Set up Analytics here

Etsy Storque Article - Specific for your shop, click when logged into Etsy to find your own tracking number): here

Quiltish Article - Basic Glossary of Terms - written last year but still ever so helpful & written for the novice (me!) here

Video by Timothy Adams - Excellent video clearly explaining the data page by page here



*as you're browsing through these links you might notice that there are a few glitches in the Etsy/Analytics program. But, like anything else, I guess you take the good with the bad and make the most of it.

Happy Data Crunching!

Meet Lego Man

Here's Little Man Jack with his Lego Man that he aptly named, "Man." He & Mark have been creating Lego people all week- some thin, some muscly, some hip, and now this adorable guy.

Let's hope he stays intact for a bit, we're all getting a bit attached :)

Bright and New

can't wait to dig into this delicious pile! plan to make a few more of these:

frame purse in sky & gray

A Good One

{{ Image Credit: Paloma's Nest }}

{{wrote a big ol long post for this photo. but deleted it. the quote says it all really. just hope that in life i can be a 'good one.' }}

Business Bits - Marketing

Topic: Marketing - Mobilizing the Troops

A few weeks ago I wrote a bit about pre-marketing (read it here) ...to me, that means cultivating your story (your message, style, purpose...) because before your name gets out there, you've got to have a meaning to your name! Now that we've got started on that, we can hone in a bit on marketing, seemingly the topic du jour for small craft businesses & Etsy folk. If I can remind ourselves first of the definition a marketing we'll be on our way:

Definition: (according to the American Marketing Association) Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.

Notice it's an activity & process for communication. Advertising is just a piece of that process. That's where Twittering & Blogs & Facebook & such come in. But Whoa Nelly! Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves......

Image Credit: Paisley in Paris

I think before we even approach social media & how to get your name out there we need to focus a little bit on the basics. Like your marketing department. In all likelihood that means you. You are probably your marketing department. So before you can really tweet a tweet or blog a blog take a look around your department.

What have you got already? Who can you enlist in your PR campaign? How can you use the resources currently at your fingertips?

I'm talking about word of mouth. Your own private marketing militia....

I think it's sometimes easy to jump ahead & say, "What can Twitter do for me?" or "Let's see how many sales I can get from this Facebook thingy." (which, I might add- are probably a backwards way of approaching social media....) Anyhow, look around & here's what you might see:

* friends: keeping in mind appropriate boundaries & such....your friends can be amazing marketers! I've found that adorning friends with my items can get the ball rolling- makes me happy to create things for them & I can't even possibly count the number of new buyers I've made from people who say, "I'm a friend of Suzy & I saw the awesome card case she had, I want one too...."

*family: same goes for family (of course, you really want to maintain appropriate boundaries here- don't want ma & pa to feel pressured to push your goods) but I think being up front with my family & saying, "hey here's the deal. I was a teacher. Now I want to be home with my son. So I'm trying to make this thing work. I'd love your support." wow, good things can come from that.

*spouses/partners: my husband has helped me forge amazing relationships with a few of his colleagues. One gal is my ultimate loyal customer. I mean ultimate.

*mom's groups: my current mother's club has a section in our online forum for postings & bits of promo- nervously I put myself out there & have had wonderful support since....not just as new customers but as support from one mum to another.

* community & church groups: no need to be an annoying salesperson, but sometimes just answering the question, "So, what do you do?" honestly can lead to wonderful leads....

* cultivating current online relationships: how can you better connect & collaborate with people you have already met & gotten to know? I'm excited to be strengthening relationships with a few other Etsy sellers in terms of my adding to my blog, introducing new products, & cross promoting.

*open up: ever want to have your own store? like your own actual shop? open up to friends, family & neighbors with what you do by hosting an open studio (read my experience here ) share your techniques & products while getting to know more people. this created a fantastic buzz.

* no brainers: carry those business cards! I can't count how many times I foolishly was without business cards, even once when I met an established crafty icon....so embarrassed about that one. Also, use your own products! What a dunce I felt like when so many moms were excited to see my items & at the next club outing I used an old HM bag. Must've answered, "No, I didn't make this one" a dozen times & the gals lost interest. Doh!

Ok, well that's just a list to get us started. Hope it was a bit of food for thought....Please add your tips for cultivating your marketing militia!

Further reading:
Excerpts from Malcolm Gladwell's Tipping Point: http://www.gladwell.com/tippingpoint/tp_excerpt2.html {admittedly, I feel his writing is a wee bit redundant but it's worth perusing}

Seth Godin's post on Word of Mouth: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2007/04/the_mechanics_o.html

Made to Stick: Book & excerpt on author's blog- http://heathbrothers.com/madetostick/

Quilt Crazy

Happy National Quilting Day!

Oh, I do miss making quilts....I plan to make one again sometime soon. To celebrate today, I thought I'd gather up a few lovelies: to learn, to read, to connect, to make, and to want.

To Learn: Quilting Workshops from fabric maven Denyse Schmidt

To Read: Etsy Article- Facts and Fancies: Quilts (featuring lovely quilt from Stitch in Dye)

To Connect: The Modern Quilt Guild

To Make: Sunny Tied Quilt from The Purl Bee

To Want: Cathedral Pin Cushion from Warm N Fuzzies

{{and now....to look back}}

one of my first quilts- a crazy log cabin quilt. I made it for Mark as a wedding gift....it's full of mistakes & need to be requilted....hope to revive it soon :)
I made this quilt when pregnant- kind of my gift to baby (didn't know if we were having a boy or girl...) put gobs of time into it & we ended up having Jack...decided he needs something a wee bit more manly.....

I'm feeling inspired to get quilting again!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Kiss Me, I'm Irish!

Mark & I were able to visit Ireland back in 2005. To celebrate St. Patrick's Day I'm sharing a few photos we took back then (yikes, seems like ages ago!). Plus, check out the link for a cute download below.

a pub in Ennis- I loved all the lights & festiveness of the street!

at the Cliffs of Moher- yes, it really was that blustery of weather conditions! I was frightened we'd fall off the edge, eeks!

Dromoland Castle- a gorgeous building, now a hotel for elite (not us)- we were absolutely not invited ...but, we snuck inside & up a closed off swirly staircase to the top of a tower & on the roof to take this photo {amazing we were sneaky enough to not get kicked out!}

part of Dromoland...can only imagine the history here...

an old church...wish i could remember the name!

no photo of both mark & i...but this one of me at the cliffs is one of the few i like....probably because my face is covered up!

Now, a few downloadable St. Patrick's Day cuties I found at The TomKat Studio

yum

printing these off for jack...he's really into playing match...I'll cut them up & use them that way, adorable!

Business Bits - Anniversary!

Hip, hip, hooray!

Today is my 2 year Etsy-versary! Celebrating with a special sale: $5 off orders of $30 or more and $10 off orders over $50 (see bottom for details)

{image credit The Cupcake Mint}}

Now, for the businessy bit: Bring Your Own Sunshine

Growing up in rainy, (I'll admit, sometimes dreary), Oregon - I remember my friend & I often saying (presumably while walking in the rain), "guess we just have to make our own sunshine." Maybe we had heard this quote by Anthony J. D'Angelo:

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. "

Either way, that sentiment has stuck with me & times when I feel like complaining or giving up I try to think of this. I believe it applies to Etsy folks, business owners, and stay-at-home moms trying to make it work....with the frustration & fear comes a lot of strength & perserverance. It's hard. It's sometimes stormy & rough. I realized a couple months into my Etsy experience that no one was going to light the way for me. I have to do it myself.

And every day I am inspired by other Etsy shops, blog friends, & twitter peeps whose sunshine I can see shining brightly!





{{sale info: runs from 3/15- 3/19. include "2 year" in message to seller to receive discount as paypal refund. or if preferred, a revised invoice can be sent. }}

Pretty Poppy

a few new lovelies to share:

{{plus my Modern Patchwork Cosmetic Bag is in the Etsy Finds Voter, stop by & see all the quilty pretties! }}

personal favorite!

true red

frenchy

of course, there's orange

newly obsessed with pintucks

plan on writing off manicures as a business expense. (clearly, it's needed....)

more pin tucks...

little felty garden

Spring Easter Egg Card Tutorial

Hello Spring!
The blossoms are definitely here in Oregon & with Easter drawing near, I pulled out a card I made for Jack last year. Freshed it up a bit & added a few instructions so you could make your own. It's a great for using fabric scraps & I'm also going to use it as example for Jack to make a spring collage- glue fabric bits of grass & eggs on card stock. {More projects on my tutorial page: http://quiltish.blogspot.com/p/tutorials-and-ideas.html}

i love how it's patchworky & crazy stitched

the one from last year. messed it with my writing :(

materials: blank card or cardstock, fabric bits for eggs & grass, scissors, pencil, thread *( fray check if you please, fusible interfacing if you want to go all out)

stack your fabric bits. draw an egg ( i did free hand, which is why it looks like a gumdrop...but ah, well). i think cutting them out in pile is easiest.

look at your pretty little eggs.

cut your grass fabric in rectangle slightly smaller than your card. plus, consider how high you want it. ( i.e. are you the wait till the grass is knee-high before mowing kind of person?)

sketch some grass on the back. you can see my lawn is very rough & spiky :)

if you cut wisely you'll have two pieces (for two cards!)

arrange your eggs on the grass. be sure that part of the egg is covered by the grass. this is the only tricky part of making the card. this is how the eggs will stay attached. *if you like, you can dab a bit of glue or spray adhesive (though i'd be a bit cautious of bleed through) -plus you want your eggs & grass to move a bit freely...well, at least i do.

stitch. this is the best part- you can stitch in a crazy pattern- just be sure to "catch" each egg, you might need to fold bits over, so be prepared to use your nimble fingers. as a tip, i think it's easiest to sew the two sides of grass in place first. you could obviously get more advance than i & use a more planned stitching approach, fancy thread, fray check, etc.

Presto! Cheery card for spring!

For the kiddos: same idea as above but instead of stitching, they could glue the fabric bits onto the cardstock. .. add baby chicks, birds, & butterflies as you please :)

Check out my Tutorials Page for more projects!

Sneaky Peeky

Got some new stuff in the mix. Lots of it still in my head but here's a little sneak peak:

Treasure- Moss + Blossom

My list of vices includes: soy lattes, 'healthy' rice krispie treats (brown rice syrup + peanut butter - happy to share the recipe!), fabric shopping, twitter, and now - etsy treasuries. i love making them. well, i've only created three so far, but what an exciting way to share things you love & dream of....

here's one i made this weekend. instead of watching the oscars & during half time of the blazer game. inspired by spring here in oregon- moss & flower blossoms.

click the photo to visit treasury & leave a comment, let me know what you think!

Business Bits - Marketing

Topic: Marketing (well, pre-marketing actually)

Marketing on the mind. Seems like lots of Etsy shops anguish over it. Or at least give it a lot of thought. I know I do.

When something, like marketing, seems so vast & unfamiliar & daunting as marketing I like to take a step back & examine what the heck all the fuss is about. So decided to look up the definition of marketing & break it down a little bit. I know we all like quick fixes & hear the comments, "will Twitter work for me?" "maybe I should just get on Facebook. Maybe that will help." Image Credit: Zuppa Artista

Definition: (according to the American Marketing Association) Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.

What really jumped out to me here is that marketing is a process. It's communication. To hear experts speak of it, it's a whole story.

A story in that it's an entire feeling/image/idea/truth. Think of shops or business you love. I bet they have a clear story.

Advertising (buying ads, promoting on twitter/facebook, purchasing flyers) are only a part of marketing.

I remember back in 2008, my shop had been up for a few months. It had a bunch of items listed- not really cohesive. Not really true to my own style. Just made a bunch of stuff. My photos were terrible. My announcement & profile were stiff & boring. And then...I bought an ad for $30. Thinking that would help. Of course it didn't. Even if that ad had garnered thousands of hits, did I really want to advertise my shop at that point?

No! What I needed in my first step of marketing was to figure out my story: my style, my photographs/image, my purpose, my ideas.

what is your story?

looking for more business related posts? My list of "business bits" has a whole slew of articles!

For the love...

of color.
i love watching my little jack with color.
but you probably know this already.
i babble on all the time.
that's what moms do, right?
he's got his own little quirks & techniques that stop me in my tracks..
and i take a second look at color.

like how he's begun coloring in this very 'patchworky,' (dare i say, quiltish?!) kind of way. filling all the space but sort of uses blocks of color. i could watch him do this for hours. he's quite methodical about the whole thing....moved beyond his squiggles & circles (here's a post i gushed over that) and i just love it.


here's a shot of him sorting his crayons...another of my favorite things to watch. mostly because one day he just started doing it, i never showed him that. and i thought, 'wow, he thinks in color.' i especially love when he puzzles over it- like the white one there in his hand -sometimes he makes connections i never would've thought.

he's just a charming bit of inspiration. helps me see the wonders of it all....