Promotional Frenzy Presents; Out of Whole Cloth BNR Treasury

A compilation from 8 fiber artists

We are now an official Etsy Team!

For details on joining go here ---> http://www.etsy.com/teams/7512/promotional-frenzy-team

We're giving you a sneak preview before we open so that you can look through these shops and pick out something you need and/or want. Try to get there as close to opening as possible so that you have a good chance of getting your chosen seller.

If you have not been to one of our Specialty BNRs here is how it works:

1) We fill half the treasury slots with 8 featured sellers. The other 8 are left blank.

2) The first 4 buyers to call and buy from one of the sellers get featured in two spots! These usually go fast, so don't delay. The first 4 must be from different sellers (for instance if someone has already called/bought from one articular seller you can't buy from that same seller to get the 2 spots). If you're heart is really set on that seller please wait and watch until just after the first 4 are taken and we have 16 items on the board and then make your selection for the usual 1 spot. You will also want to buy in as soon as possible so that you have the best chance of getting sales, as we have found it works better not to carry people over and to have fresh things each week.

3) Once we have all spots filled (after first 4 have bought-in) it reverts to 1 spot for to each buyer and you can buy from any seller.

4) Please help promote the BNR, and feel free to post your specials if you buy in/are featured.

Let's make this a huge success and show all these fiber artists some love! There are a wide variety of items from which to choose and you will almost surely find something you can use or give as a gift. Please don't hesitate to inquire about custom orders, as most if not all of these artists are very open to customization.

Also, if I buy from you, you just might end up featured in my blog!

Back in the Saddle Again-A New Direction for the New Year

Frost Grape Scarfette - $22.00

15 1/4" Long X 4 1/4" Wide

6mm thick

I was able to get my pictures to upload on this laptop and have been thinking about ways that I can sell more frequently, and I noticed that items such as hats, scarves, and scarfettes seem to be selling very well on Etsy.

Although Christmas has passed the cold weather will be around for several more months, so I figured I'd make use of it and make some of these wearable items and list them in my shop. I used to knit and crochet years ago but then didn't continue with it once I chose jewelry as my main medium to make and sell for my business.

If it's one thing I know it's that you never can be too sure of your product, as alot of the reasons that dictate marketability are out of an artist's control. You can make the most beautiful, unique, and even affordable product and today it might be hot and tomorrow in an instant the bottom could fall out and it will just sit there collecting dust.

In this depressed economy especially, business owners must adjust and adapt their business plans in order to survive.

I have learned a few useful pieces of information in the past few months.

1) The more necessary a product is the more likely it is to sell in a bad economy

2) Those supply stores that are continuing to do well despite the bad economy are those selling transparent faceted stones, diamond beads, and rough stones.

The agate and Jaspers in my supply store did not do near as well as I expected. Probably if I'd had Ocean Jasper that would move, but this seems to be one of the few exceptions to the rule. Finding a ready source however, has proved problematic. For those of you interested in Ocean Jasper I am working on getting one of my wholesale suppliers to work something out with a cutting plant in Madagascar where it is mined along the shoreline at low-tide.

Selling diamond beads is a longer-term goal, but carrying some of the other blingy stuff is feasible in the near future.

Carmella is almost out of her non-allergenic prescription dog food and the total vet bill seems to be hovering around $3,000 regardless of what I do. Donations for her expenses have completely come to a standstill as well in recent months, as have the blog ads.

If you are looking for a good inexpensive way to advertise these are $5.00 each and your little banner stays on my sidebar until it gets bumped by overflow (and those whose ads are there now have gotten quite alot of bang for their buck!)

If you are not in themarket for advertising please give this link to others you know who might be and suggest it to them. One thing I can say is that the number of followers and the traffic to this blog has really grown! That means you or others who advertise on it will be very visible!

If you read this blog please leave a comment at least every once in awhile. I always appreciate knowing that people are interested in the content and enjoy reading here, if they've seen my shop, like an item, what they like about it, etc. It is an artist's life-blood to know that their work is bringing others joy and that they have touched the viewer.

My free gift to the 90th buyer in my finished jewelry shop is still available and if you purchase my outerwear that counts as well. I just heard on the evening news that despite the economy online sales have increased 15.5%, so maybe that's a sign that things will start improving for me and other artists.

How about a warm hat or neck warmer? If you prefer a different color I have more to come, but this color is quite versatile with all the earthtones. I wanted something neutral but something more exciting than just a cream or brown.

Moss Hat - $40.00

Circumference 22"

6 1/4" high

features a lovely textured band

I am even considering making some leg warmers and knee warmers. I don't know if your knees get cold easily, but mine do. It's the strangest thing. Sometimes the rest of me will be warm enough but my knees and just above them are completely cold and I often wish I had something just to cover that part. As far as I know there is nothing commercially available just to cover the knees. Who knows, maybe more people have this problem than realize and I'll find a nitch market. If you are interested in some of these I would sure love to hear from you.

Wishing all my readers a happy and prosperous New Year!

http://Giftbearer.etsy.com

http://GiftbearerSupply.etsy.com

Gifts That Make You Feel Good!

Woodstock Felted (Fulled) Wool Purse - $65.00
Hand crocheted from 100% wool yarn, the Woodstock measures 10 1/2 x 14 inches

LazyCat Gifts is the brainchild of three friends, Kelly, Allison, and Stasia who decided to go into business together in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Kelly now lives in Philadelphia, but because of the internet and Etsy the three are still able to maintain their business together and list their creations long-distance as a cohesive internet presence!

The variety in their online store keeps customers interested, and the three partners do some interesting things with crochet. They use wire as well as yarn and are always looking for new ideas to make creative use of this skill.

Kelly has had the most experience, although the other two were raised learning how to crochet as well.

There is just something about these items that makes you feel warm and fuzzy (and it's not just the beautiful blue and green striped felted purse above). You can tell that the connection between these friends is really something special and that comes across through their art in what they offer for sale. It is certainly a feat to be seperated by miles and still remain close in spirit. These women communicate daily and continue to pull together to make this work when many others would be pulled away by other priorities and might have grown apart.

...

This elegant necklace in wire really would make a nice gift for a woman to wear for her wedding or just to dress up for fine dining, parties, and maybe to an office in a job where she needs to look the part. It reminds me of floating champaigne bubbles. Ring in the New Year on that very special date with your honey wearing this! Or better yet, present it to her on that special evening. When she opens the box you will be number one in her book for sure!

Philadelphia Necklace--Swarovski Crystals - $90.00
This necklace measures 18 inches (princess length), crocheted with Austrian crystal and pearlized glass on sterling wire.

If you know somebody who just recently had a baby, this would make a thoughtful and treasured gift. I remember when my son was little he could never have enough clothes. New mothers really enjoy dressing up their young ones!

Warm and Fuzzy Baby Booties - $15.00
Booties are sized for 0-6 months (4 inch sole). Ties on booties are functional. Booties are hand-crocheted with acrylic/nylon/rayon blend yarn and are machine-washable.

Here is a unique scarf with rounded corners. Very stylish, and it will do the job too!

Chamonix Scarf - $35.00
Hand crocheted from an acrylic blend and a ribbon yarn. Scarf measures 4.5 x 52 inches.

Some of their items can also be found at a local boutique called Suwanee Springs at 306 S. Main St. (in Ann Arbor, MI). Please stop in to see these exclusive pieces!

And be sure to go to their Etsy store to see what’s new and exciting for the holidays:
http://lazycat.etsy.com

To keep up with what’s going on with their lives and activities, see their blog:

http://lazycatgifts.blogspot.com

Cuddle Your Baby with Fleece from The Great White North

Diaper Cake

Toni Anderson came to live in Alaska 13 years ago, and she and her boyfriend, a firefighter, moved from Kodiak to the North Pole 3 years ago. The area is not all that remote as one might imagine with the typical images conjured up most associated with the Alaskan wilderness of dog-powered mushing sleds and unpaved and rugged terrain, primitive housing, and trading posts cut off from the rest of the world, but nevertheless, shopping is very difficult, the town having only a few stores and no mall. For this reason many local people buy online. There are only 2 stores that carry baby/maternity items in the Fairbanks area, the biggest neighboring town about 10 miles away with a population of about 30,000 people.

The inspiration for her business KuddleBugs Threads came from the seamstress’s two 15 month old twin daughters, Tori and Trista, and a need among the local mothers for quality and selection in warm clothes for their children. At sub-zero temperatures the winters can get pretty brutal in the North Pole, and making her fleece baby accessories gets her through the long, dark days (maybe nights would be a better description).

“Where I live the temperatures are very crazy” she exclaims. “The summers can get up to 80 or 90 degrees F and the winters plunge to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. We already have 5 inches of snow on the ground and the temperatures have been in the single digits! One of the things that are so interesting to me is the change in daylight hours. The summers get up to 21 hours of daylight on the longest day, where in the winter, the shortest day of the year has 2 hours 40 minutes of daylight!”

She buys most of her supplies nearby because she wants to support the local economy, and because the cost of shipping these materials to Alaska is too expensive.

Among the unique items she offers are infant car seat covers (a must-have in that bitter cold weather), booties, hats, and mittens made for Toddlers. These ice blue and white mittens will keep even the worst chill out of tiny hands.

Toni recently just finished a local show at the Ft. Wainwright Army Base, her first one, and it was a lot of fun and a great success! Her boyfriend had to work that day so she just packed her two girls into the car and set out on the new adventure on her own. The experience went smoothly and she says the twins were a big help.

She has only been in business 1 month, so she is not sure whether or not there is a big tourist market for her items, but so far she has sold mostly to the locals out of her home.

The Diaper Cake (shown at top) is really creative, and it looks like it provides enough to last a new mother a very long time. It would make a clever gift for a baby shower.

These Disco Party Booties are one of the few items Toni carries made of lighter weight cotton. They sure aren’t that typical muted pastel you see in all the commercial stores.

One thing you'll really notice is all the unique and different fabric prints. The maker has chosen quite a selection of cloth that is anything but run-of-the-mill; some of it even comical. Check out this Monkeying Around car seat cover.

All items available through her Etsy online store are shipped Priority Mail and can take approximately 3-5 days for delivery. She ships on Thursdays, but if you need your piece sooner that may be prearranged. Toni ships her work worldwide by First Class mail.

If you’re looking for something specific she will accept custom orders. Please contact her through Etsy to let her know what colors and specifics you are looking for.

In addition to her finished babywear Toni also offers Gift Certificates!

Keep on the lookout for more of these creative items coming soon!

See her Etsy shop at:
http://KuddleBugzThreadz.etsy.com

And to stay updated on the artist check out her blog at:
http://kuddlebugzthreadz.blogspot.com

Tickled Blue

The artist behind Bluebaby, known only as Amanda creates primarily crocheted amigarumi dolls which remind me a lot of Anime characters, and other crocheted things. She also carries a few pieces of jewelry.

“My usual screen name is briensbaby” says Amanda, “(Brien being my hubby's name) but I wanted to do something different for my Etsy shop. Blue is my favorite color, so i just stuck that in place of 'brien' and voila! bluebaby was born!”

Amanda at first wanted to make a whole body for her stuffed dolls, but one night, before attaching the limbs, she thought that the little guy she was holding looked cute just how he was...with no arms or legs, so she decided to leave him that way, and apparently her customers agreed, as they have now started to sell!

Her creatures have attitude with names like, Evil Elmer

Crochet Dude,

Stanley Stoner,

and Pooping Pete.

Some of them have zany, or mischievous-looking eyes made from felt. These are sure to tickle your funnybone.

She makes a variety of styles of hats that are both stylish and comfortable.

Etsy is the first venue where she has ever tried to sell her work. In the past she has given her items away to family members as presents, but now that her husband is the only one working outside the home she is using her talents to make some money on the side.

Amanda makes her items the best way she knows how, and devotes lots of hard work, concentration, and faith to each one in hopes her work will pay off.

Watch her Etsy store for more winterwear and afghans this holiday season.
Find more at:
http://bluebaby.etsy.com
To learn more about the artist read her blog at:http://bluebabyhomemadegifts.blogspot.com