NEW etsy group looking for KW artists

Do you have an etsy shop? Do you live in Kitchener or Waterloo? Are you looking to meet other talented artists… join forces… learn from eachother … grow stronger… better… and radically change the world of handmade? ……. okay maybe its nothing radical …since there is a lot of handmade action already taking place, but everything is better in a team right?!

SO JOIN THE NEW KW ETSY TEAM and be a part of something great for KW!

The team is looking for artist of all kinds.  Your goods must be handmade (by yourself) and you must live in kitchener/Waterloo or surrounding Area. We encourage our memebers to join Etsy, but it’s not a necessity.

• Each month Melanie will pick 3 artists from different categories and post their bio on the front page of the website.
• Allow shoppers to search the whole team by adding KWteam to your etsy listings (under catagory)
• Flickr KWteam group with postings of local shows, stores
• Soon there will be a forum for project talk, tips and methods.
• PLUS imadeit will be lending a hand in creating local craft shows for the artists. it going to be great!!

For info or to join the team email : MelanieMiljan@yahoo.ca

Current team:

Jewelry by Melanie Miljan lorieamoon designs silver lace weddings Kind Stones New Prehistory Orion Designs Zougeebean Gingham Skies RDM Designs PSodhi Two cent Sparrow Burlesque BabeJewelry by Mia Quingawaga Kelicious unbeige Kailey Hawthorn Kiki Bargain Boutique Anatomy of a Skirt urock EterKnity woman of the cloth Cherub Glass Works ErosDIY Sew Oiseau Roving Spinners Dark Sugar Boudoir Just a Little Creepy/a> Pick Stitch Black Orchid Designs Sewsemsem46 Nesting Emily Mostly Sundays Dessigned by Mere Peachy Creations My shabby Heart Ashley Marie Paperie Cutes and Turtle Craftabulous Deco Alley Frog Pond Collective Loving Heart Kitchen Table Absorbed Photography APGurl In Adams Fall Homestead Herbals Twilights Fall Pocomama Oh Sew Soft Little Ones Baby Shop

…..

there is a lot more coming with imadeit too…

have to go back for a little more training (icky school) but hopefully my brain will suck up knowledge quick-time, and i can grace you with the rest of the plan.

Avery is making eco-clothing labels

Along with their participation in Cotton Made clothing in Africa Project this big corporation has taken a step towards responsible economic, social and environmental practices that help build healthy communities around the world, and help other business owners do the same.

EcoFriendly™ Heat Transfers

As Soft On The World As They Are On The Skin.
Heat transfer designs offer far-reaching opportunities for both multicolor decoration and high comfort ‘tag-free’ labeling. Halo-Free ECO and ECO Stretch transfers are made from water-based ink solutions, are easy to apply and soft to the touch-the perfect skin contact solution.

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EcoFriendly™ Printed Fabric Labels

Organic cotton, natural bamboo and recycled polyester printed fabric clothing labels enhance sustainable garment ranges with a natural finish and authentic simplicity.

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EcoFriendly™ Woven Labels

Leading the way with an impressive range of eco-friendly woven labels, we offer organic cotton, natural bamboo and recycled polyester in blended and unblended combinations for all your sustainable apparel needs.

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EcoFriendly™ Paper Stocks

Graphic tags and tickets are excellent vehicles that can be used to convey retailer and brand sustainability messages to today’s discerning consumers. At Avery Dennison, we offer a broad range of single and two-sided coated and uncoated FSC and PEFC certified papers, Kraft stocks and a variety of recycled boards with up to 100% post consumer waste (PCW).

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Or hire an etsy artist to custom make personalized labels like these…

From MommieMadeIt

setting up your booth

Design your booth in a way that makes it accessible without infringing on your neighbor… there is nothing worse than arriving to your personal booth space to find someone else’s table sitting in it. Remember: Everyone has paid for their respective space, whether they use all of it or not… its theirs to decide. In most cases additional space can be purchased from the organizer

Create a flow of traffic… make it easy for shoppers to peruse you wares, and finally pay for their finds without interfering with those who are just starting to look. setting up your ’till’ at one end of your table/booth is one way to ensure this.

Make sure its visible… this applies to a number of things, starting with your product. if someone is across the room, can they see what you are offer? perhaps use some levels on top of the table. Is your business name visible? Are your prices visible? Not many customers will want to ask you for a price, plus if things get busy you may not be able to answer. Lastly, are YOU visible. if a customer does have a question they shouldn’t have to search to find the salesperson.

Be Noticeable… you want to draw attention to your booth and show off all your hard work (without interfering with other vendors of course).

Use Marketing techniques… like telling the story behind your craft. Customers who you interact with will be more likely to buy your products. They feel more comfortable with you if you are relaxed with them. Dont overwhelm your shoppers though… how many of us really enjoy the tactics of the retail sales person who greets you with “what do you want to buy from me today?”

Be excited and enthusiastic and friendly… and the best way to do that is to get a good nights sleep. Dont craft until 2am. Dont fuss with tags or last minute projects. Just relax and sleep. You will feel so much better during the show, and your kindness will shine thru.

Before you arrive at the show:

there are a number of things you have to prepare yourself for.. making change, giving receipts, taking custom orders (or future jobs), and making everything look as smoooth as butter. customers may feel as though they are a bother if you are franticly looking for a pen to take down their name and phone number. a wonderful friend sparked my creative bug when she sent me this stationary holder…

mobile studio :: Bitter Betty Industries

Wouldn’t this be great to case all the necessities for a show? Pack it with all those things you need for each sale, plus its a unique way to store your money.

Here is a list of some common things you will need, thanks to GetCrafty and blogger Christy Peterson

Christy’s Show Checklist

Most Important
__merchandise

Big Bulk
__folding table (if not already supplied)
__chairs (if not already supplied)
__clothes rack
__full length mirror? (grreat idea!)

Stuff, Stuff, Stuff
__hangers
__business cards
__business card holder
__tags
__ribbon, twine, string
__camera
__notebook for mailing list sign-up
__receipt book
__change
__bags to put purchases in

Tool Box
__calculator
__scissors
__needle and thread
__safety pins
__sharpie
__pens
__hole punch
__tape
__calculator

Your Comfort
__hoodie
__water
__snack
__magazine/book

You really must must check out her site too… its perfect and simple. offers everything a blogger should have. but we can discuss blog nessesities later

supplies for sale

One of the artists from Rarefunk is selling leather and belt webbing to anyone that may be interested.

The belt webbing is black with red anarchy symbols, grey with red and black checkers and black with flames $3.00 a meter.

She also has black and brown thick dyed leather great for belts, brooches and some bigger pieces for other projects. Some veggy tanned leather un-dyed in bags semi small pieces also available. Bundles are anywhere from $8.00 to $25.00 depending or she will provide quotes based on the quantity you require.

Contact Scary Kerri at info@blackorchiddesigns.ca for pictures or to purchase.

Looking for a studio space??

The ladies over at Studio 490 (in guelph) are looking for a new studio mate… and if you act fast it could be YOU.

The studio is an open, shared space measuring about 800 square feet with original hardwood floors. One side of the space is a stretch of windows set in exposed red brick. The opposite wall is painted drywall, adding fabulous colour to the space.

It is on the second level of Building I at 490 York Centre near Victoria.

Rent will be in the area of $200/month

Louisa Kratka uses the space to do bookbinding, music (violin and singing) and other things.

Anne Hunt works in fibre – knitting, crochet, felting. Anne runs a weekly Monday night knitting group. If fact, they each hold workshops there (knitting, bookbinding) meaning if you had an idea for a workshop of your own, these wonderful ladies are totally flexible and willing to work out a time for you.

You can find more pictures of the space in the facebook group.

In the rest of the building there are several woodworking shops, a painter, dog school and girls’ softball league. The Flying Dance Co. and The Grotto Climbing Gym are in the same complex, but around the other side.

Contact the studio at studio490workshops@gmail.com for more information or setup a meeting.

Its quite a catch… and i dont suspect the offer will last long!!

craft table displays

since one of our biggest shows is coming up in April i thought it was time to post about how to make your table stand out from the rest.

I love the colourful blocks of wood used for this table, which she paired with a black table cloth.

Display Blocks :: Nightingayle

i also really enjoy the bright colour used at this table. in fact there are so many unique display items at this table i would probably run to see hers.

by thecupcakery girl

Keeping along the line of reusing + eco friendly i think this jewelry rack is just great.

stART in the PARK June 1, 2008 by ctomt

as always i love adding vintage items into my tables, like this thrifted travel case. why dont they make them like this anymore?

by Little Miss Stich

or a vintage dish to keep small things looking neat

by Lauren-Go-Lightly

by ohhellofriend

(in fact i really like that that this artist used a block to display the price)

Colourful buckets and tall racks are fabulous for getting the maximum amount of space out of your table

by Needlings

Hope this stirs up some ideas.

and dont forget registration is still open for the

BLOOMIN EARTH ECO FAIR

(Saturday April 25th from 8am-2pm at the Kitchener Market)

is your website helping you?

FIRST, i discovered this article of basic questions to help analyze your own website…

When potential customers visit your website let them know who you are and let them see what you’re all about. Communicate the message right off the bat. View your website through the eyes of the visitor. What does the text say about you and your products? Does it define and describe your products? Websites can often get caught up in flashy graphics and fancy fonts without telling the customer what the company is actually all about. Get to the point quickly so your reader stays on your web site and doesn’t bounce off. Keep them interested.

Read the rest… via Art Fire :: Online Branding by CT Jewelry Design

SECOND: get over there and setup a FREE account to sell your creative work. It took me about an hour to get mine going, which included entering all that personal junk about how and why. there are no commission costs, no setup fees and banners to add to your blog. Etsy is getting packed, and if your not seeing sales perhaps its time to branch out. why not have more than one sales location? Besides… its FREE. (no i dont work FOR them. i just get really excited when something is great!

Register for FREE on ArtFire.com