July's birthstone is the ruby so here's a collection from the Buffalo Etsy Team including creations featuring bright ruby red!
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
Creative Spaces: Where Buffalo Etsians make their magic
A look inside the work spaces of our fellow teammates.
I love seeing where makers
and designers create their works of art. Their work table, their supplies, how
they decorate their space. Is it neat, clean, always organized? A messy tangle
of this and that? Folders full of ideas? Baskets of yarn, jars of beads, old
cans stuffed with well-worn paint brushes?
I wonder, do they listen to classical music or something soulful or jazzy while they work? Whether a little corner somewhere or a grand old attic, each space is so personal and should be just what the artist needs to dream up those designs and create those masterpieces.
I wonder, do they listen to classical music or something soulful or jazzy while they work? Whether a little corner somewhere or a grand old attic, each space is so personal and should be just what the artist needs to dream up those designs and create those masterpieces.
The first artist to be featured in this series is Shaun
Silverwood of “road kiln”. Shaun creates copper enameled jewelry and art. Besides
her Etsy shop, Shaun sells her work at many shows and gift shops.
She started her business as a sole proprietorship in 1996
after taking workshop classes with master enamelist, Shirley Rosenthal.
She opened her Etsy shop in January 2009 and started
actively listing her work in April 2012, after she had retired from teaching in
Buffalo.
I asked Shaun to describe her work space, how she organizes her equipment and supplies,
what she likes the most about it and what she would change or improve and to
share any tips she might have “keeping it all together” while creating and running
a business.
Shaun’s studio takes up most of her basement. She fires her pieces in one section where her
kiln is located and uses the saw in
another. In other areas she keeps found objects to be used in her wall
hangings. The rest of the basement is used for storing her displays and canopy.
She also utilizes a fourth bedroom and den when she has an upcoming art show.
Asked what she might change if she could, Shaun mentioned
proper ventilation. ‘” That is something
I might be able to have done this summer. If not, I will continue opening windows and
wearing double masks.”
When asked if there were something she would like for her studio,
she said she would like employees, who could help her with the non-creative part
of her work such as drilling, cleaning and carding the pennies she uses in her
jewelry.
As far as organizing the business end of things, “I am a
fanatic about keeping good books. I have
so many spreadsheets set up on my computer in my den. It’s a great place to
work as it looks upon gardens and has so much natural light. Since I sell to so
many gift shops, it is critical that my bookkeeping is always up to date”.
“My basement is organized in my own haphazard way. I use to
clean up every time I was doing firing but now after so many years, I know what
I need to keep close by and am comfortable with the way I work when I fire.” “Others coming in who know me would be shocked at what appears to be a
mess of disarray…but it works for me”. “Letting a little chaos into my life is
healthy as I am so type A.”
I can certainly relate to that Shaun!
Music also helps her while she works. “I like it upbeat and
happy and I think it shows in my work.”
Shaun is such a talented artisan and professional. It was a pleasure to learn about her creativity
and where she makes it all happen. Thank you Shaun.
Thanks to Carla Kestner for the wonderful photos. www.716buffalos.Etsy.com
~ Linda Richards www.LRichardsDesign.Etsy.com
Monday, June 9, 2014
Improve Your Etsy Product Photos: An Interactive Workshop
Are you looking for some guidance on how to take better
photos of your product for selling on Etsy? Why not join members of the Buffalo
Etsy Team for this special workshop on best practices in digital photography to
make your work stand out. This event will feature demonstrations and
techniques that will help Etsy sellers at all levels by emphasizing tips and
tricks ranging from knowing your camera settings, optimal image quality (for
posting on Etsy), lighting and more.
When: Tuesday, July 1, 2014, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Where: Creative Essence, 9450 Clarence Center Road, Clarence
Center, NY (corner of Goodrich, 2.5 miles from Main Street). Plenty of street
parking is available.
Workshop presenter: Mark Busch, photographer, website
designer, and internet marketing strategist.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? This workshop is open to Buffalo Etsy
Team members, and all who are selling their work online with a focus on Etsy.
Registrants are encouraged to let us know their photography questions on the registration form so we can address specific needs.
REGISTER NOW as seating is limited. Tickets are $7.50
per person. You can pay using your Paypal account. Light appetizers
and drinks will be provided. Street parking is available. We will also
have some Etsy swag to give away!
Register on Eventbrite here:
The Buffalo Etsy Team is grateful to Creative Essence whose
mission is to provide a community space that supports creativity using a
multitude of mediums where people come to share skills, inspiration and a few
laughs along the way. For more information visit their website at http://www.creativeessenceshop.com
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Tips & Tricks: DIY paint brush rest
Too clever by half!
I paint a lot of different colors at the same time. After getting really annoyed with having to lay wet brushes down all over my workspace (on my laptop keyboard, on rolls of tape, across the dirty brush cup ... ), I decided there must be an easier way!
I bought a pack of white Sculpey (because white is obviously what you want to put wet paint brushes on) and promptly left it on my desk for 3 months.
Eventually I got fed up with clumsily painting myself with a different color every time I reached for something, and knocking brushes off their precarious perches onto my (again, white - what is my deal) desk and made my stinking paintbrush rests already!
Sculpey comes conveniently pre-notched in quarters, so I took each piece and rolled it out into a tube. Then I used a wooden clay shaper thing that I had lying around to create the divots where the brush goes. You can see by the longest one that I didn't make the spaces big enough the first time I pressed into the clay. Whoops.
Then bake in the oven on wax paper, wash the nasty clay residue off your hands 3 times, and voila! Clay paintbrush rests!
This has cut down the amount of times I've put a paintbrush on my laptop by at least 73%. Hey, old habits die hard.
If anyone has any little tips or tricks that help make their crafting process more efficient, I'd love to hear them! Please write in a comment below!
-- Jocelyn // paragraphloop.etsy.com
Buffalo Etsy Team Interview: Jessica from FastCrawl
Jessica opened her Etsy shop, Fast Crawl, in October 2011. Her plans and creations have evolved since she was first interviewed in May 2013, so it was time to catch up! You can read that interview here: http://buffaloetsyteam.blogspot.com/2013/05/monday-interview-with-jessica-from.html
You’ve recently made big
changes to your original your business plan. Where did the new direction come
from? Do you work with a mentor?
>>> I did make some big
[and a little scary] changes! I think
the problem was that originally I didn’t have a business plan — I was just sort
of winging it. The idea for a change
came when I realized my style and pricing were in competition with discount stores
like Wal-mart and Claire’s. I needed a
new clientele — one that would appreciate the handmade and unique pieces I was
making. I didn’t quite know how to go
about doing that until I got in touch with Elizabeth from Southern Carnival - https://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernCarnival
who graciously gave me all of the direction I needed. She’s been a fabulous mentor and cheerleader
for many, many months, though she’d hate that I called her that!
Tell us about your new line:
How are your new products different from your earlier products? Will your
jewelry line be continued?
>>> The idea behind my new products is more or less the
same, but the execution is different. My
biggest goals are to create consistency and quality while being unique and
paying myself for my time. I have
slightly shied away from “one of a kind” pieces in order to focus on items I
can make in multiples. Eventually I want
to be able to produce large quantities of most of my clips. I am focusing more on bridal hair pieces,
bridesmaid sets, and formal clips, though many of the items are versatile
enough you can wear them every day. Styles range from very ornate and decorative to simple and
understated. There’s a little something
for everyone. I am using this transition
period to eliminate the jewelry completely — my passion lies in silks.
You had a recent buying
trip to New York City. How did you find/choose your supplier?
>>> My ‘mentor’ Elizabeth found my new supplier
for me, and I feel like I owe her my first-born child as payment. Finding a
US-based source for my business was extremely important to me. With so much of the manufacturing businesses
moving overseas [especially in fashion], supporting locally made businesses and
nurturing business relationships is increasingly important.
In January of this year, I went to NYC to
source a custom silk flower factory. M&S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers is the last remaining silk
flower factory in NYC, the largest in North America, and they do everything out
of a space that is only slightly larger than my apartment. They are a family owned business that has
been operating in the Fashion District for almost 100 years. You can supply any fabric in the world to
them [I’ve seen flowers made out of python skin, velvet, hand dyed silk, and even
a Burberry scarf!], choose any die cut flower shape, and any mold to add
texture, and they will make it for you. The possibilities are limitless. They will provide leaves and petals, or create an entire flower to your
specifications. I chose the former,
though they have plenty of ready-made flowers stacked in boxes if I ever want
to go shopping!
My favorite part of the trip was being
offered the same flowers that were made for one of Oscar de la Renta’s runway
shows. How could I turn that offer down? I turned a trio of 3 velvet roses into a
delicate hair comb, and now have bragging rights that my flowers were made for
my favorite fashion designer.
Who is the FastCrawl customer?
>>> The Fast|crawl customer is youthful at
heart, while drawn to unique details. Many of my pieces have a touch of whimsy in them that speaks to first
time brides, debutantes, and anyone with a soft, vintage, and romantic side.
Has your marketing approach changed with the new
line?
>>> Marketing is tough no matter what your product and who your clientele
are! I am currently working with another
local designer, and dear friend, Alexandra Farrington, of www.AlexandraFarrington.com to develop a
website, and I am trying to be more cognizant of my social media presence. I’m on Instagram and Facebook, and am hoping
to get started with a twitter account soon. I’ve built wholesale pricing into my pricing model, so I’m going to
start looking into to get into some local boutiques by the end of the summer. Having local support is going to be key in
growing my “hair flower empire.”
What’s the best piece of
business advice you’ve received?
>>> Not to be afraid of
raising my prices! I have a notebook
where I write all of my prices — I know exactly how much money each rhinestone
costs, each bobby pin, each hair clip, and each flower petal. I’m not only the workhorse who puts it all
together, but I’m also the designer, photographer, editor, writer, etc. I’ve come up with a pricing plan and follow
it rigorously, so I make sure I’m not coming up with arbitrary prices, and am
actually making money instead of losing it!
Are your products available
locally, and if so, where?
>>> Not yet, but I’ve had a few offers. I’m still working on getting my product line
back where it should be before I start selling offline.
Lastly, and just for fun: If FastCrawl could have
any celebrity spokesmodel, who would it be?
>>> I’ve always thought that Rachel McAdams is
the perfect blend of Grace Kelly’s vintage elegance and romanticism. A little flower tucked behind her ear, or
pinned at the base of a formal updo would be just perfect. So if anyone knows how to get a hold of
her…you send her my way!
On Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FastCrawl
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FastCrawl
On Instagram: http://pinsta.me/fastcrawl
Many thanks to Nicole Johnson of Mealy Monster for initiating the original Buffalo Etsy Team interviews!
Until I ask questions again, this is Carla from 716 Buffalos wishing you a happy summer and loads of Buffalove!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
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