Holiday Traditions

Many families look forward to the holiday traditions they have established with their loved ones. Every year growing up, my mother would take me and my sister to our city's Christmas celebration. We would sip hot Dr. Pepper while walking through all the pretty light displays, roast marshmallows in a huge bonfire, make a craft in Santa's workshop, and then meet the big guy --Santa-- to tell him what we just had to have for Christmas. It was what I waited for each December.

Starting traditions with your family and friends at the holidays can make the season just a little bit more exciting. Me and my husband like to use the holidays as a reason to buy handmade. While big box stores are packed with stressed out shoppers, there's probably a local craft show set up in your area, with hundreds of artists just waiting to sell you unique, one of a kind pieces.

There are several local craft fairs happening in the next few weeks as the holidays approach. A quick Google search of your area will most likely turn out at least one or two shows, while there are two large indie shows produced by local crafters this season, right here in Oklahoma.

The Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar is an indie craft fair and community event with free admission in Oklahoma City, where unique artists show and sell their work to enthusiastic shoppers from all over the region. This year's show will be on December 10, 2011, from 11am-5pm at the State Fairgrounds in the Centennial Building. There are over 80 vendors to shop from this year, and the line up is full of Oklahoma artists! You can find the full list of vendors here.


The Alliday Show is a free to attend, all handmade arts and craft show happening on December 17, 2011, from 9am-5pm in Tulsa, at the Ford Truck Exhibit Hall at the Tulsa Fairgrounds Expo Square. The Alliday Show believes that there is no reason why everyday can't be a holiday. Over 80 artists will be in attendance, and you can view the list here.


Also, there are artists all around the world working around the clock to produce the best holiday gifts you could give this season.. and you won't even have to fight an old lady for the last one on the shelf. The Oklahoma Etsy team is a great place to start when you are doing your online shopping. This is a current list of the OKetsy team members. Another way to find OKetsy team members is to search Etsy using the "oketsy" tag.


No matter what your holiday traditions may be, consider supporting your local shops and artists this season. They are working double time to provide the best gifts for you, while hoping to provide for their own families. Where can we find you shopping this season?

Casey Maute is a contributor to the OkEtsy blog and lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She has worked under the name Lollywood from 2008-2010 and recently opened a new Etsy shop called OSO handmade. She loves craft shows, eating from food trucks, finding cool local shops, and working with PR and social media.

Managing Facebook Posts

Like Framed Cross Stitch by bombastitch on Etsy

Like every part of your business, your social media efforts should have a plan.

If you want to gain the most out of your Facebook fan page, take it seriously. This is free advertising for your brand, supported on thelargest social media network used daily. It's been reported that American Internet users spend more time on Facebook than any other website. 

Start off by writing some goals. What are you hoping to gain from your presence? What kind of results are you looking for? What do you want your page to say about your brand? Keep these goals somewhere you can see them when you are planning your Facebook posts. Stay true to what you are hoping to convey and consistently work towards achieving those goals. 

A fan page for your business is the place to talk about your shop, show off new items you are working on, get advice from your fans, promote craft shows you will be part of, and give fans a sneak peek at your life.

Post when you update your shop. Don't post a link to every single new listing, but if you add several new items, let your fans know! 

Post about sales you are currently running, when the sale ends, and any stipulations or rules.

Ask your followers for their opinion if you are looking to create new items. What colors do they like best for clothing or jewelry, do they prefer a certain type of shirt or chain, what size prints do they buy the most? 

Remind fans where you will be vending at and give them information about the shows. Link to the show's Facebook page or website so potential customers can get directions, show times, etc. Have a show that you aren't vending at, but will be shopping at? Advertise it and support your fellow crafters!

Give your fans a peek at your life. Show them where you create, post a recent photo from your world that means something to you, or share an exciting piece of news. When buying from a handmade business, fans want to know that you're a real person, too. 

A fan page for your business is not the place to rejoice about the latest football win, post an album of your latest vacation photos, complain, or give a play by play of your day's plans. This is a little too personal for a business page and you don't want to start too much controversy with opposing views. Keep things light and entertaining.

Like I said in my previous Facebook post, don't over do it in one setting. This just clogs up everyone's news feed and can look bad on your business. If you have a lot of things you want to say, space them out. Keep a word document going of posts you'd like to make, and post them in a timely fashion. 1-2 posts a day is great, 3-5 can be pushing it, and anything over 5 posts in a day is just overshare.

Social networking is what you make of it. Do a little or do a lot, it's up to you. Feel free to make your own rules, and change things to fit your business. The resources are there for you! Until next time, keep connected! If you have any specific social media questions, feel free to post in the comments and check back for my answers.

Casey Maute is a contributor to the OkEtsy blog and lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She has worked under the name Lollywood from 2008-2010 and recently opened a new Etsy shop called OSO handmade. She loves craft shows, eating from food trucks, finding cool local shops, and working with PR and social media.

Get Connected

Facebook Icon Pillow by Craftsquatch on Etsy

How do you hear about new stores in your area? I'm always on the lookout for a hidden gem.. a funky little shop with cool printed t-shirts and unique accessories and gifts for my friends. Do I have time to walk into every shop in town to hope to find something neat? Not a chance. 

As soon as I hear about a new shop, I google them and check for a Facebook page. Sadly, most of the time, they don't have a social media presence. 

Are you on Facebook? Yes. Are your friends, family, and worst enemies on Facebook? You bet. Why shouldn't your business be there, as well?

When I find a shop on Facebook or Twitter, I love it. I can see pictures of their store, see what kind of merchandise they have, and interact with them... at any time of the day. I can find out about sales, when they have extended or limited hours, and when they get in new items I've been wanting.

Online businesses are no different. Your shoppers are already on Facebook, so connect with them! It's easy to get your own Facebook page for your business, plus it's free. Facebook can walk you through it here. 

I'd like to go in depth in future posts about ways to make your Facebook page the best it can be.. so until then.. here's a couple things to note:

• Don't over-post. If you have a number of things you'd like to tell your fans about, post them over time. Blogs let you schedule posts, but Facebook does not (that I know of.. yet.) Keep a word document of posts you'd like to make if you think you will forget, and post them sporadically. Also plan to post them at times your readers will read them. If you are an online-only business (not a brick and mortar shop), limit your posts to 2-3 daily.
• Communicate! Social media is all about interacting with your fans. Answer their questions, ask for their advice on new items, reply to their posts, and be friendly!
• Get personal. Your customers aren't just buying from a company.. they are buying from a person.. and they'd love to know more about you. Isn't your handmade business a huge part of your life anyway? Not every post needs to be about your new products.. but share little snippets of your world. I love seeing what others are doing.. and how other crafters spend their time.

Your page is what you make it. So until next time-- post pictures, share interesting content, and publish your Facebook URL when connecting with your customers and fans: through your business cards, e-mail signature, on your Etsy page, etc. It makes a difference! 

Casey Maute is a contributor to the OkEtsy blog and lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She has worked under the name Lollywood from 2008-2010 and recently opened a new Etsy shop called OSO handmade. She loves craft shows, eating from food trucks, finding cool local shops, and working with PR and social media.

OKEtsy Featured Seller: TessaYvonne

Hi Tessa. Please introduce yourself. 
My name is Tessa Hamilton and I live in McAlester.  I enjoy many different types of crafts but above all else, I enjoy making jewelry.

Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes right from the items I use in my jewelry.  I start with a stone, bead, crystal, etc. and the ideas of how I want a piece to look just come to me from there.  I especially love making custom pieces because my customers help focus my creativity by giving me some ideas about what they like. However, I don't just get inspiration from the materials I use, I also get inspiration from things around me.  A change in seasons may direct my attention to different color choices or a fashion trend my challenge me to try different materials.

What is your favorite media to work with?
I would have to say that sterling silver has been my favorite media to work with so far.  Sterling silver isn't as expensive as gold and I presonally wear more silver than gold.  I love cutting, bending, and soldering sterling silver.  The feeling of working with the tools and manipulating something in my hands to make something new and beautiful is truely gratifying.

 Where would you like to see yourself 5/10 years from now in this project?
In five years I would like to offer a larger selection of jewelry and as I currently only sell my pieces within the United States I would also like to be selling internationally.  In ten years I would like to expand my shop offerings to a full line of woman's accessories such as scarves, bags, and hair accessories.

What is one of your keys to success?
The key to success for me this far has been to keep finding new ways to get noticed.  I talk about TessaYvonne on my personal Facebook page, I also have a Facebook page for TessaYvonne, I place business cards in several places in town, I talk about TessaYvonne to anyone who is willing to listen, I get involved in Teams like the OKEtsy Team, I create treasures, and I wear my jewelry.  One because I like what I make, but it's also easy to talk to a stranger about TessaYvonne after they compliment something I have on that day.

What is one crazy thing about you?
My stepdaughter said the one crazy thing about me would be my two stepchildren.  My husband might agree.  I love them all and while they drive me crazy from time to time, I would have to say that one crazy thing about me is I shop in color.  It's something I do without noticing.  Depending on how I feel whether I'm shopping for jewelry materials or for clothing, I will buy items in a monochromatic fashion.  One shopping trip I will buy oranges and another trip I may bring home greens.

What is something you would love to learn how to do?
I would love to learn how to speak Italian.  I think the language is beautiful and I would love to go to Italy in my lifetime and be able to easily communicate with the locals as I sample their cheeses and take in the views.  Delizioso!

What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is yellow.  Though I like all colors, yellow makes me think of lemon scents and bright sunny days.  It's a cheery, clean color to me.

What do you love about Oklahoma? 
I love the people of Oklahoma.  They are warm and inviting, hardworking and giving, and they would do anything to help family, friends, and neighbors.  I think Oklahoma, especially where I live, is an excellent place to raise children.  I live in a rather small area which facilitates a close community and the morals and values I was raised with are all around.

Be sure to check out Tessa's fun jewelry over at www.tessayvonne.etsy.com

And visit her on facebook at www.facebook.com/shoptessayvonne

Online Resources for Handmade Businesses

Hey guys its Brittini with a list of online resources for Handmade Business. I hope its helpful for you guys. 

Unanimous Craft

"Its a directory of resources for crafters artist and indie business owners"

Basically this site is dedicated to organizing all the sites, blogs, stores, shows reviews ect. You could literally spend hours reading and discovering all of its wonder. Plus its FREE!

visit here: http://www.unanimouscraft.com/ 

Etsy Seller Handbook 

Here you can find all of Etsy's How-To's and 'Need To Knows' about selling on Etsy in one epic list. I personally have read every one of these list and feel its essential, I mean come on they should know whats up.

visit here: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/the-etsy-seller-handbook-all-our-how-tos-about-selling/ 

Funky Finds

"Funky Finds goal is to promote all funky artist, crafters, & designers"

And they do just that, on their site they offer:
- A way to sell your items
- Giveaways
- Right On! Graphics
- Blog
- Funky Find Events
- A calender full of events and shows coming up

visit here: http://funkyfinds.com/ 

Handmadeology 

"Handmadeology exists for the purpose of teaching artist how to successfully sell their handmade goods online, and to feature the newest handmade, vintage, and supplies found on Etsy"

Features:
- Blog Features
- Etsy Tips
- Etsy News
- Top Links
- Crafty Ideas
- Gift Ideas
- Handmade Polls

visit here: http://www.handmadeology.com/ 

Etsy Forums

I am sure most of you have visited here, but if you are new to Etsy and have questions this is your place to go.

It includes:
- Announcement
- Site Help
-Business Topics
- Ideas (improve Etsy)
-Bugs (report bugs to Etsy)

Under the Community link visit the link that says Forums.

My Best Craft Show Advice

Casey Maute is a contributor to the OkEtsy blog and lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She has worked under the name Lollywood from 2008-2010 and recently opened a new Etsy shop called OSO handmade. She loves craft shows, eating from food trucks, finding cool local shops, and working with PR and social media.

The fall craft fair season is in full swing and most crafters are either living on caffeine as they prepare for the weekend's show, or cursing themselves for missing the deadline for yet another event.

I've been doing shows for 3 years now, and I've learned a lot through trial and error and the help of other crafters. I wanted to share one tip about shows that can save you a lot of money, time and effort.. I even made a little rhyme!

 Vend the shows you'd want to attend

 The 2011 Indie Emporium show in Tulsa,
taken by Briana Hefley Shepard of Bifftastica 

Vending at craft shows is a great way to promote your handmade business and gain customers, but you need to do some research before you send in your booth fee and spend countless nights preparing. My best advice would be to attend a show as a customer before attending as an artist. You may think you are missing out on a perfect opportunity by not applying, but like each artist-- each show is different. You'll want to take in everything and look at the show from all perspectives.. including:

• Is there an admission cost to shop at the show? If so, what incentives do they get for their ticket price?
• Who are the customers? Who is the show's target market? Do your items fit in with that market?
• Is the show 100% handmade, or do they allow resellers? 
• Is there a variety of artists? Over-saturation can cause shoppers to overlook your items, thinking, "I just saw that, I just bought that, I don't need to look at more of those."
• What is the crowd like? Ask vendors about foot-traffic and if they would do the show again. 
• Are there other activities at the show? Free music, food vendors, or children's activities can bring larger crowds, but just make sure that the main focus is buying awesome art, otherwise crowds may show up with little to no money for shopping.
• Who is putting on the show? Are they known in the craft community, is the show established, or will they disappear into the night with your booth fee and then cancel the show? Being a little bit cautious never hurt anyone.
• Do I have enough inventory to do a show yet? If you are just starting out and worry that you don't have enough product to even make your booth fee back, you may want to find a show that will let you share a booth with a friend. You can split the fee and will have someone there to talk to and won't have to worry about getting a stranger to watch your booth while you get food or use the restroom. Always check before applying that the show accepts booth sharing, since each one will have different guidelines.
• Finally, read the application and guidelines! Check for times you can set up, when your fees are due, is the show for crafters in a specific state, do you need a tax permit.. Most of your own questions will be answered in the guidelines!

 The 2011 Indie Emporium show in Tulsa, taken by Briana Hefley Shepard of Bifftastica

Researching for a show can seem like a lot of work, but if you can answer all those questions with positive responses... and the show has the environment you like and your customers would like.. then start prepping your application and get it submitted before the deadline! I've had great experiences with Oklahoma craft fairs, and am looking forward to vending at two this season! (The Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar in Oklahoma City on December 10, 2011, and The Alliday Show in Tulsa on December 17, 2011)

10 Reasons Why You Should Buy Handmade

Note: The following was written by OKetsy member StoryBuilderToys. Check out her blog over at www.storybuildertoys.com

With the holiday shopping season fast approaching (most retailers already have their Christmas items on the shelves) it’s time to start planning your holiday shopping lists. This year, why not be adventurous and try buying some handmade products for the ones you love? Why should you buy handmade instead of the usual store bought products you’re used to, well I’m glad you asked. Here are ten reasons why I think you should shop handmade for the holidays.

1. Be original. Handmade products are usually one of a kind or produced in small batches so you don’t have to worry about gifting something the person already has or giving the same gift as someone else. Instead you’ll be able to find something just as unique as the person you’re shopping for and nothing brings a smile to someone’s face better than knowing you really cared enough to find them the perfect gift.
2. Support people, not companies. By giving your business to local artists and crafters you’re helping build a better economy without lining the pockets of overpriced corporations who’s only interest is the bottom line. People care about each other, companies care about themselves and getting as much of your hard earned money as possible. A crafter will appreciate your business while a corporation demands it. The choice seems pretty clear.
3. It’s more environmentally friendly. Handmade items are usually made from natural raw materials with much less waste and machine emissions than mass produced items. If your goal is to leave a smaller carbon footprint on the planet that you can’t go wrong with locally produced handmade items.
4. Build a personal connection with the person making your items. Craftspeople love what they do and not only does it show in their work, but also in their attention to customer service. Have a question about how something is made or what inspired it? Ask away and the crafter will be thrilled to tell you all about it. Handmade items have a story and a history that mass produced products will never have.
5. Avoid shopping at the mall. Holiday shopping can be pretty crazy and sometimes even dangerous as the days tick by. Why not save yourself the trouble of finding a parking space and braving the overcrowded big box stores by shopping local boutiques, craft fairs or even online handmade outlets like Etsy. Finding the perfect gift for a loved one should be fun, not frantic.
6. Get it customized. Since the items are made by real people you can often ask for little extras like customization or even fully commissioned work to your exact specifications rather than having to settle for whatever the store has in stock.
7. Handmade products are made with passion. Crafters pour their time, talent and passion into everything they make. Store bought items might all be the same size and specifications, but they will never have the heart or soul that a good handmade product is made with.
8. Quality counts. Because even the raw materials are individually selected by hand more effort is put into the quality of each individual piece. Crafters want each and every product they make to be of the very best quality as a testament to their work They don’t take mass produced shortcuts or shortchange the customer by using lower quality materials, just the best material carefully crafted into the best possible product.
9. More unique choices. An individual making a handfull of something is able to be more adventurous than a corporation which must sell ‘x’ amount of a product to be able to turn a profit. This means that handmade products can afford to be more unique and creative than store bought products.
10. More value for your money. Handmade items are made to last. While mass produced items must be made quickly for as little money as possible handmade products are made from only the best materials and techniques. Corporations don’t mind if their products break down over time, then you’ll just have to buy another one. A well cared for handmade product on the other hand can last generations. Perhaps that is the reason people are still crafting by hand today even with all the advancements in technology trying to render them obsolete.

Bonus Point! Know where your gifts come from. There is something empowering about taking control and making something yourself, or at least supporting someone who does. It’s making a conscious decision to spend your money on a quality item instead of a mass produced product built by machines and underpaid workers in a distant country. Show support to your local economy and buy from artists and crafters in your area this holiday season.

Lesson 2: Be Yourself

There are a bunch of local bars in the neighborhood where I live. Most of them have a retro or upscale feel to them. The buildings are well maintained and have interesting architecture and design. But this one bar really just looks like a hole in the wall. You know, the kind of bar you would expect to see in a student ghetto? No windows, no decoration, no class. Simply put, it looks out of place. I found myself wondering the other day why this bar doesn’t do something to make itself look more appealing to the eye. Why not renovate so you fit in with the rest of the neighborhood? I started thinking about how their business would bring in wealthier customers, and therefore bring in more money. But then it dawned on me that my assumption may not be correct.

You see, this people who run this bar know who they are as a business. They know that their bar appeals to a certain group of people, and they are not ashamed of that. They fit into an aspect of society. And perhaps if they renovated their bar to appeal to a different group of people, they business would no longer succeed. They may fit into the neighborhood better if they renovated, but they would be competing with local bars for the same group of people.

As small businesses (and humans in general), it is too easy to try to fit in to a mold instead of standing out as ourselves. While it is smart business to follow certain consumer trends and fashions, we do not want to change who we are in order to appeal to another group of people. We will just end up competing with other businesses for the same group of people, while leaving our original clientele without a business to serve them. And most importantly we lose sight of ourselves and our originality in the process. We are creators, not copiers. We cannot be afraid to be who we are, because really that is when we will be at our best. At the end of the day, I will succeed by just being me.

Welcome to Etsy

Dara's note: We often have newbies post in our forums with general questions of how to help their shops succeed. Because this has been a reoccurring theme, I decided that we would start a weekly post to help answer some general questions. Please know that I certainly am not an expert and that I am learning right alongside of you. 

Lesson 1: Don't Get Discouraged

We all know how it is. You finally get the courage to set up a shop and list your babies, your creations, for the world to see. You dream of being an overnight success, and yet at the same time you are afraid of being an overnight failure. You check your email constantly for any sales. One day passes, then another, then another. Still no sales. Maybe a week passes, or two or three. Perhaps a month or more. Doubt starts to set in and you begin to wonder if you ever should have done this. You start to doubt your abilities and talent. 

The good news is you are not alone! Most of us are not overnight successes on Etsy. Most of us do not bring in enough sales in our first few months (or years) to quit our days jobs or take lavish vacations. It takes time, lots of time, and effort to succeed on Etsy. Often times newbies will post in forums their discouragement and wonder what they are doing wrong. While we all have things that we can improve on (are we ever really satisfied with our photos?), not being an overnight success does not necessarily mean that you are doing everything wrong. Take time to learn what to do right by reading articles and blogs, but mostly give yourself time to learn and succeed. Don't let a lack of sales drive you away from Etsy. Make a decision that you are not going to quit or give in, and come learn with the rest of us! We are so glad that you are here :-)

Meet Our Newest Contributer

Hello dear OKetsy readers! My name is Brittini Flowers; I am the gal behind Oh honey child. I am a 21 year old wife and mother to four fur-babies :). I have been a crafty maven and attending craft shows and festivals ever since I was a child. I live in western Oklahoma, I sew, I hunt for vintage treasure, I take pictures, I live a true DIY lifestyle and man oh man do I love it! I blog about my life and business on my blog, www.ohhoneychild.com

I am so happy to be blogging for OKetsy.  I plan to share lots of advice, DIY’s, and craft show tips for all my fellow indie business gals.

My first DIY project will be a simple fall pumpkin, good for around the house décor!

For now,

-britt

OHC

OKEtsy Featured Seller: Luksi Creations

Please introduce yourself and your shop.
Luksi Creations (family owned mainly run by me Kiamichi Goodbear) -Oklahoma City - Traditional Native American and non traditional beadwork, jewelry, illustrations, plush dolls, woodcarving, custom painted clothing, sewing (quilts, pillows, bags). There are 4 of us, and one apprentice, though right now most of everything is mine. I run this craziness with my mom Catherine and my sister Mauli and my husband Frank also make things for us. We are training my daughter in various things so she is also involved.

What is/was your inspiration?
When I was growing up, my grandmother was always making something. She was sewing me doll clothes for my barbies, she made my clothes, she made dolls, her and my mom would quilt, my mom taught me how to bead. It was just always part of my life. I love doing it. Which is why I think my business has such a wide variety of things. I learned to make doll patterns and clothing patterns from my grandma and my mom and I love making dolls. Doing that and the beadwork just make me happy. Plus I love to draw.

What is your favorite media and why?
Beading is mine. It is calming to me, plus it is part of my heritage. I do lots of beadwork for my family for their dance regalia and I also do it for other dancers as well. I have recently started doing more non traditional pieces for other people. It is very time consuming though. I think people don't understand the time that goes into it.

Where would you like to see yourself 5/10 years from now in this project?
I would love to be doing this full time and making a decent living from it. I wouldn't mind having a little storefront, someplace to sell things and maybe teach classes on how to do things. I would really like to teach beading classes.

Do you have any keys of success to share?
Keep working, build up an inventory. Get out there to shows, even if they are small ones. I set up in the Plaza District once a month and it has been a great experience. You meet people and you never know what kind of opportunities you can get out of it. I also market like crazy on twitter and Facebook and Tumblr. Just keep at it and don't get discouraged. Eventually sales pick up, they just started to for me! It's kind of exciting.

Tell us one thing crazy about yourself.
I can't sit still. I have to be constantly doing something. I get really fidgety if I am not making something, reading something, anything. It drives people crazy lol.

What is something you would love to learn how to do?
I would love to learn how to make stained glass. It's something I have always wanted to do.

What is your favorite color?
Mine is red, my mom's is yellow, my husband's is green, my sister's is purple, and my daughter's changes between purple and pink.

What is one thing you love about Oklahoma?
The people really are very helpful in a crisis. It always astounds me how the community comes together here when it is needed. I think it's amazing.

Check out this great local seller at the following:
Blog: luksicreations.blogspot.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/LuksiCreations
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Luksi-Creations/245385691533
Tumblr: luksicreations.tumblr.com/
Deviant Art Page: luksicreations.deviantart.com/
Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/luksicreations
Zazzle Store: www.zazzle.com/luksicreations
My Portfolio: kiamichigoodbear.carbonmade.com/

OKEtsy Featured Seller: The Cozy Pumpkin

Please introduce yourself.
Amanda Lipscomb - Edmond, OK - Children's Decor (Sewing and Art)

What is/was your inspiration? My kids. I never got into sewing until I had my son. Once I had him I wanted to make everything he had in his room unique to him. I had already been painting just for fun but I got into mixing medias for my children's rooms and more fun art sprung from my little imagination.

What is your favorite media and why? Sewing. I love that I can mentally shut off everything else and just focus on creating, and creating something useful at that! :) I get such pleasure out of using the things I've made.
Where would you like to see yourself 5/10 years from now in this project? I honestly don't know. I'm just kind of riding the wave as it were. We shall see where it takes me. I'd love to say just creating creating creating. Whether it be for my shop or just for myself and my family. That's all that matters to me in the end. Well...as far as my crafting is concerned. ;)

Do you have any keys of success to share? Ha! I wish. I guess it's to make connections and surround yourself with family and friends who believe in you. (Maybe enough to be your first customers!) Because until you have a support system to help you get going it's going to be a slow start!
Tell us one thing crazy about yourself. Oh my! Hmmm...I can often be caught listening to The Imagination Movers (a kid's music group/show) in my minivan, cranked up loud, singing my heart out...and my kids aren't even in the car with me! (I should hang my head in shame at that!)

What is something you would love to learn how to do? Sew my own clothes. It scares the begeezes out of me. I don't know why.

Favorite color? Robin's Egg Blue. And yet, I don't think I have that color anywhere in my house. Weird.

What is one thing you love about Oklahoma? That it's not as humid as South East Texas! :)

Check out Amanda at the following places:

Blog: www.thecozypumpkin.com
Shop: thecozypumpkin.etsy.com
E-mail: thecozypumpkin@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cozy-Pumpkin/198905650140667

OKEtsy Featured Seller: Chocolate Dog Studio

The featured seller of the week is Karen from Chocolate Dog Studio. Karen lives in Tulsa and loves sewing and paper crafts.

Karen, where does your inspiration come from?

My main inspiration comes from the colors and textures in the paper or fabrics. I love putting different colors and textures together in the fabrics and then also the paper crafts. It gives me great joy to see a fabric or paper, envision a completed item, create it and then see the finished item. It is exciting to me to see things appear out of raw materials, recycled materials, or gifted materials that were useless to someone else. It is a little addicting to take a piece paper that someone was going to throw away and make something to sell.

What is your favorite media to work with?

My favorite media is (at this time) working with the paper and then also fabric. In the past I have crocheted, knitted, dabbled in different drawing mediums.

Where would you like to see yourself 5/10 years from now in this project?

In about 5/10 years I hope that I am still following this path laid out before me. I just have no idea where it is heading. I am much happier when I am creating than when I am not creating. It is just something I have to do, whether it is appreciated by buyers or not. :0) Though like everyone, buyers are confirmation that I am doing the right thing!

What is one of your keys to success?

Be nice and kind to everyone that comes across your path, regardless of how they treat you. You are leaving a lasting impression with suppliers, customers and other sellers.

What is one crazy thing about you?

20 kindergartners with paint and paintbrushes doesn't scare me. A regular class full of kids with an academic subject is terrifying! (I used to teach art.)

What is something you would love to learn how to do?

I would love to weave with a giant room sized loom. It just sounds like so much fun.

What is your favorite color?

Green, some pinks, and red are my favorite colors. I wear green most often.

What do you love about Oklahoma?

I love Oklahoma people, they are friendly, concerned and most of all Real. We are used to wide open spaces, fairly large cities, small towns, backwoods.

Be sure to check out this week's featured seller and all of her fabulous sites:

Blog:http: http://www.chocolatedogstudio.com/

Twitter: chocodogstudio

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Chocolatedogstudio

etsy shop http://www.chocolatedogstudio.etsy.com/

Etsy Shop Tips

Hi! My name is Danielle Furstenberg. I live in Oklahoma City, and just started doing Etsy as a full-time job when I finished school in May. It looks right now like I’ll be writing for the OKEtsy Team Blog on the second and fourth weeks of the month.

I just officially started my business in January of this year, so I thought it might be a good idea to share two of the most helpful things I did when getting started. First, I super duper duper recommend signing up for and taking a free New Business Workshop. The Oklahoma Tax Commission offers one every few days all over the state. I was able to take one just a few blocks from my house. The one I went to was about three hours long, but the time flew by because it was SO informative and helpful.

I knew very little about the legal side of starting a business, so this workshop helped me a lot. I learned how to register for a FEIN number, open a business checking account, officially register my business, report sales tax, register my trade name – and I learned about things I can purchase for my business that are tax exempt.

Secondly, Etsy offers so many helpful articles for getting started. In the months prior to opening my shops, I tried to read a few articles from the Etsy Seller Handbook every night before going to bed. By the time I was ready to officially open my shop, I had learned a little about everything from photography and writing item descriptions to shipping internationally and pricing items.

Having that base of knowledge was incredibly beneficial to me starting out. I try to still read a few new articles from Etsy each week, so I’m always learning, but in reality it’s been several weeks since I’ve made time for that.

I hope my suggestions can help any of you that are just starting out! Also, if you’re new to Etsy and have questions or are confused, please head over to the OKEtsy Team Discussion Board! There are a ton of really nice people there that would be more than happy to help! Thanks!

Featured Etsy Seller

Our very own KeysAndMemories was the Featured Seller on Etsy on November 27. Check out her interview here. Elizabeth is one of the team's most successful sellers and an all-around sweetheart. Congratulations on being featured!

Craft fair tips

The fall craft fair season is about to come into full swing, so now is the time to prepare. We did a post in February about how to prepare for a craft show. A little later, we posted some booth inspiration for your perusal. Last week, our own AudreyEclectic, who will soon round out her first year on the circuit, wrote a nice post on her blog about her experiences with craft shows and some tips for beginners. It's a great read for brand-new booth dwellers as well as those of us you've been around the block at least a little while. Another team member, ChristieCottage, has run a feature the past two Mondays about craft shows. Check out today's and last week's all about upping the ante at shows.

While we're on the subject, what's your favorite thing about fall shows?

South Tulsa Music Fest

If you're looking for a fun way to spend the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, then head to the Jenks Riverwalk for the South Tulsa Music Fest. Starting at 2 p.m., enjoy great music and the handmade goodies of some great local crafters, including Audrey Eclectic, Sweetheartville, and members of the Tulsa Craft Mafia. Admission is totally free, so come out and enjoy the local arts and the first inklings of fall.

Friday Finds: Back to School

Hordes of Oklahoma kids are hitting the books once again. Luckily, Sooner State Etsy sellers have tons of fun, handmade supplies for the return to the classroom.

What was your favorite subject in school?

Friday Finds: All Felt Up

Oh the puns I came up to title this week's Finds. Just consider yourselves lucky. :)

Anyway, this week we celebrate the wonderful material that is felt. Check out these great, creative pieces using our favorite craft-stash staple.


So go on. Hit me with your favorite "felt" pun.

Friday Finds: The Sweet Stuff

This week's Friday Finds comes straight to you from the bakery. These goodies are all inspired by desserts and the sweet teeth (tooths?) that crave them.



What's your favorite decadent dessert?