Every day I spend a little time in the Etsy forums just to make sure I don't miss out on some important announcement affecting my business. One thing that I see over and over again is new folks coming in asking for the key to success on Etsy. Those threads are always populated with tons of advice from tons of smart sellers, but today, I think I'd like to turn it around a little and talk to the existing sellers vs. the newbies. I've been thinking about these concepts for awhile, letting them crystallize into things I think you should know...
If you're a successful Etsy seller (and YOU define success in this scenario, not me), the following is most likely true for you:
10. You're a self-starter. No one has to tell you to do anything. In fact, they'd probably die trying.
9. You're comfortable around organized chaos. You probably thrive in it, and when people aren't looking, you probably snort it.
8. You have a love/hate relationship with packing tape.
7. You are more curious than the most curious of cats. If it can be known, you'll learn it. You will do it completely wrong 500 times just to get it right once.
6. You dove into branding and marketing like it was a hot fudge sundae. You know how to tweet, plurk, facebook, pin, tumblr, relist, renew, blog... and more importantly, when to stop.
5. You accept, reject, mourn, adapt and change what you're doing or how you're doing it every 6 mouths. Psychiatrists marvel at your resilience.
4. If you go an entire day without a sale, you'll spend the entire night designing a new product for a new shop. If the drought persists into day 2, you're out jonesing for a support group only to come back to a sale in your inbox.
3. You have designated 'areas' in your inside your 'home' for designing your product, making it, photographing it, listing it, storing it, and shipping it, and by 'home,' I mean '1 bedroom studio apartment' and by 'areas,' I mean 'coffee tables.'
2. You learn something new at least once a week. If you don't, you get an itchy rash.
1. You've figured out the difference between 'successful' and 'busy.' This was the hardest lesson to learn, and you have the scars to prove it.
*whew*
I feel better now!
~Lori
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
It's a wrap ... more handmade boho bracelets
I'll be spending a lot of today stitching my brains out, so I thought I'd take a moment before I begin to showcase some of the latest designs I've made...
You can see all of my bracelets here. Back to the grind...
~Lori
Labels:
autumn,
bohemian,
boho chic,
bracelets,
customized,
fall,
handmade,
personalized bracelets,
risky beads,
riskybeads,
winter,
wrap bracelets
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Fall 2011 Pantone Color Forecast
Just in time to start creating your Fall 2011 designs... it's Pantone's color forecast for my favorite time of year! The forecast is divided into colors for women and men:
~Lori
WOMEN
MEN
Only a slight difference between the two really, but it's kinda interesting. Enjoy!~Lori
Monday, August 22, 2011
31 Days Til Autumn
Hooray! Autumn is officially 31 days away, and I can't wait! Just realized I haven't updated this blog in a month, but I have a good excuse: I've been stitching my brains out. :) Here are just a few of the new additions to the wrap bracelet line. These pictured below are ready to ship today!
There are many, many more in my shop ready to go and tons with optional custom buttons and custom charms. Leather choices have expanded to: black, dark brown, rust, off white, maroon, light pink, aqua, pale aqua, pale periwinkle, gray, navy blue and custom buttons and charms come in copper, aluminum, or brass! I'll post more of those later this week. Have a great Monday!
View previous bracelet post here.
~Lori
Single Wrap Autumn Squirrel. Isn't he a cutie?
(Makes you just wanna jump in a big ol' pile of leaves, huh?)
#69 in the revived Leftovers Series!
(Her big sister sold, but can be made to order again!)
There are many, many more in my shop ready to go and tons with optional custom buttons and custom charms. Leather choices have expanded to: black, dark brown, rust, off white, maroon, light pink, aqua, pale aqua, pale periwinkle, gray, navy blue and custom buttons and charms come in copper, aluminum, or brass! I'll post more of those later this week. Have a great Monday!
View previous bracelet post here.
~Lori
Labels:
autumn,
bohemian,
bracelets,
brown,
custom bracelet,
double wrap,
earth tones,
etsy,
fall,
handmade,
leaf,
leather,
leaves,
maroon,
neapolitan,
personalized bracelet,
squirrel,
triple wrap,
veggie wrap
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
My July Newsletter Is Out!
I've finally found time to publish a new newsletter! Click the image to read it and see the freebie coupon enclosed!
~Enjoy, Lori
~Enjoy, Lori
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Current Obsessions - July 2011
Now that the Casey Anthony trial is over (and DON'T get me started on that), I've found some new obsessions that are populating my life and unfortunately, my waistline. First up, my summer crush is back, Big Brother. I LOVE this show. I'm a true fan, watching the live feeds and everything. Is it the best show on TV? God, no. But it's become a summer vacay for me because I get to get involved, invested, and infected with a bunch of money-hungry personalities with varying degrees of social skills. It fascinates me. (Plus, watching people snore is really under-rated.) Also, I have a group of peeps that I chat with each summer so it's a big ole virtual reunion.
My next obsession is one I'm reticent to tell anyone about because I don't want you clearing out my store shelves! These new cookies, Newtons Fruit Thins - Cranberry Citrus Oat, are the freaking BOMB. If you like cranberry bread, you'll LOVE these things. And I'm not alone in this; my mother is hooked, too, and even though they make 4 flavors (Blueberry Brown Sugar, Chocolate Raspberry, and Fig & Honey), the cranberry ones are always almost gone. I'm starting to hoard these things, lol.
Finally, my latest summer indulgence is these Weight Watchers Chocolate Dipped Strawberry ice cream bars. They're 80 calories per bar and they taste AMAZING! I'm not one to tolerate artificial sweeteners and diet-tasting foods, so when I say they taste delish, they do! The ONLY thing I'm irked about is that apparently they have a Dark Chocolate Dipped Raspberry Cheesecake flavor that isn't at my grocery store. Arrrgh! I think dipping just over 1/2 the bar in chocolate and not the whole thing is pretty ingenious. You get your chocolate fix without all the calories.
Have a great weekend!
~Lori
My next obsession is one I'm reticent to tell anyone about because I don't want you clearing out my store shelves! These new cookies, Newtons Fruit Thins - Cranberry Citrus Oat, are the freaking BOMB. If you like cranberry bread, you'll LOVE these things. And I'm not alone in this; my mother is hooked, too, and even though they make 4 flavors (Blueberry Brown Sugar, Chocolate Raspberry, and Fig & Honey), the cranberry ones are always almost gone. I'm starting to hoard these things, lol.
Finally, my latest summer indulgence is these Weight Watchers Chocolate Dipped Strawberry ice cream bars. They're 80 calories per bar and they taste AMAZING! I'm not one to tolerate artificial sweeteners and diet-tasting foods, so when I say they taste delish, they do! The ONLY thing I'm irked about is that apparently they have a Dark Chocolate Dipped Raspberry Cheesecake flavor that isn't at my grocery store. Arrrgh! I think dipping just over 1/2 the bar in chocolate and not the whole thing is pretty ingenious. You get your chocolate fix without all the calories.
Have a great weekend!
~Lori
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
New Beaded Double & Triple Wrap Bracelets at Risky Beads
For those of you who've followed my shop over years, I've sure you've noticed that my style has changed somewhat. When I moved into metal stamping in April of 2010, a lot of my beaded work went by the wayside as I was so excited about working in a new medium. Well, now I'm beginning to re-incorporate more beaded pieces into my shop in a brand new way: trendy beaded leather wrap bracelets! If you pay attention on popular TV shows and to current fashion trends, you'll see that these bracelets are uber-popular. Luckily, they're also fun to make! Here are the newest additions to the family:
the triple wraps...
Each one takes 2.5 hours to complete!
the triple wraps...
Each one takes 2.5 hours to complete!
(Custom buttons could be your children's names or a baby's name, birth date, and weight, commemorate a great golf score or marathon time, wedding/anniversary details, graduation and school pride, a phrase you like, longitude & latitude coordinates, a thank you to a teacher, coach, or sitter, etc. Buttons can also be done in copper.)
And now for the double wraps! Each piece takes about 1 1/5 hours to complete.
(Custom buttons could be your children's names or a baby's name, birth date, and weight, commemorate a great golf score or marathon time, wedding/anniversary details, graduation and school pride, a phrase you like, longitude & latitude coordinates, a thank you to a teacher, coach, or sitter, etc. Buttons can also be done in copper.)
I'm working on several new designs each week, so keep checking my bracelet section for new arrivals. I have a new one in my light box waiting for some decent sunlight! Please note that designs marked with *** indicate one of a kind designs. Typically, this means that I don't have any more duplicate clasps to recreate that exact design.
~Lori
~Lori
Labels:
bohemian,
bracelets,
custom bracelet,
double wrap,
etsy,
handmade,
leather,
personalized bracelet,
triple wrap
Friday, July 1, 2011
Happy Independence Day 2011
Americana Hand Stamped Necklace
The summer slump has arrived just in time to celebrate the 4th of July and kick off my favorite summertime addiction...
Big Brother! I'm a pretty decent Super Fan of this show. I watch the feeds and get waaay too invested, but it's a nice vacay right before the Christmas rush begins! Thank goodness the Casey Anthony Murder Trial will likely be ending when BB13 starts 'cause I'm currently addicted to both!
~Lori
Labels:
america,
americana,
bb13,
big brother,
indepdencence day,
july 4th
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Cat in Box - Supplies Arrive
Admittedly, I get excited when supplies arrive, but not nearly as excited as my oldest, Darcy, gets. This tall narrow box was impossible to resist!
She didn't object when I finally rescued her, lol!
~Lori
She didn't object when I finally rescued her, lol!
~Lori
Labels:
cat,
cat in box,
darcy
Sunday, June 5, 2011
More Custom Gifts for Father's Day
Does Dad like to fish?
Is he a little off beat?
Maybe a little geeky?
Just the best ever?
See all of my manly designs here OR view my entire shop (450 designs!)...
13 days til Father's day!! And don't forget Grandpa!!
~Lori
~Lori
Labels:
dad,
daddy,
father's day,
grandpa,
papa,
personalized fathers day gift,
pop
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Personalized Gifts for Dad for Father's Day
Father's Day is 25 days away! This year it falls on Sunday, June 19, 2011. Are you ready? Here are some gift ideas to help you honor the father figure in your life...
There are lots of other options in my shop as well! Get creative and design the perfect gift he'll never forget! All pieces enjoy flat rate shipping... $2.50 to U.S. & Canada, $3.95 elsewhere.
~Lori
Labels:
dad,
daddy,
father's day,
gifts for him,
golf,
golfer,
personalized fathers day gift,
pga
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Rio - Go See This Movie
Brought to you by the folks who made Ice Age, Rio is a fabulously hilarious movie. You'll love it; your kids will love it, and your booty will be shaking like a polaroid picture. ;-) I mean, George Lopez is the toucan. How can you not love that?
~Lori
~Lori
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Recent Handmade Purchase - Caribbean Scents Soy Candles
It's once again time to gush about a recent purchase! I do this periodically as it's become a crucial step in my Retail Therapy, lol. Today's praise comes from a seller I've bought from before--Caribbean Scents on Etsy! Since I've been getting uber-busy again with Mother's Day, Graduation, Father's Day, etc., I decided to splurge and spoil myself with my favorite drug of choice--handmade bath and body goodies. As I've said before, I'm hard-core addicted to the Brown Sugar Fig scent Ana makes. I've tried similar scents from other shops, and they literally made by stomach turn. Not Ana's. Ana's makes me so freaking happy. (Don't ever let anyone tell you aromatherapy doesn't have some truth in it.)
So, this time I decided to try her soy candles because, like I said, spoiling myself.... I bought 2. One in a glass jar and one in a little tin. They both smell unbelievable. This candle in the glass jar, though...well, I think I'm in love. It has a wooden wick which is something I haven't tried before, but I'm hooked now. When you burn it, the wood adds a trace of a fireplace scent and it actually crackles a little. For real. At night when I'm trying to wind down, I burn it for a few minutes in the darkness of my bedroom. Peace in a jar, I tell ya. Peace. In. A. Jar.
Know that my effusive praise comes only from the heart when I brag about these products. I do it because I enjoy it, and I figure, you might enjoy it, too. It's fun to lurk and see what other people buy, isn't it?
~Lori
So, this time I decided to try her soy candles because, like I said, spoiling myself.... I bought 2. One in a glass jar and one in a little tin. They both smell unbelievable. This candle in the glass jar, though...well, I think I'm in love. It has a wooden wick which is something I haven't tried before, but I'm hooked now. When you burn it, the wood adds a trace of a fireplace scent and it actually crackles a little. For real. At night when I'm trying to wind down, I burn it for a few minutes in the darkness of my bedroom. Peace in a jar, I tell ya. Peace. In. A. Jar.
Know that my effusive praise comes only from the heart when I brag about these products. I do it because I enjoy it, and I figure, you might enjoy it, too. It's fun to lurk and see what other people buy, isn't it?
~Lori
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Time to Remember Teachers & The Graduate!
It's time to remember teachers of all stripes and of course, the 2011 graduate! Don't forget your child's aftercare teachers, troop leaders, and camp counselors! Need a specialized gift for the graduate? Be sure to check out the Weapon of Choice series where I have over 50 charm choices including: medical, calculator, microscope, scales of justice, beaker, molecule, tons of sports, typewriter, laptop, instruments, and crafting/artist charms. Here are some other ideas:
(can be customized. please ask.)
(for the dance teachers!)
(back side customization available)
Most designs in my shop can be customized, so if you'd like to include more info, please convo me and ask! I'm happy to help. All pieces ship for a flat rate! $2.50 to U.S. & Canada, $3.95 elsewhere. Shop here!
~Lori
Labels:
class of 2011,
customized,
education,
gifts for teachers,
graduate,
graduation,
risky beads,
teacher,
teachers
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