Show Time! Part 1: My Booth

  Vacuum tube ornament set "JOY" in silver

I participated in my 1st full-blown show this past Saturday, October 13th, at the 47th Annual Melbourne HAMFEST located in Melbourne Florida.

**A hamfest is a gathering of amateur radio enthusiasts were people buy and sell a variety of used and new radio parts, equipment, computers, odds and ends, and other things including jewelry and toys.**

There are tables inside the auditorium and set-ups outside in the parking lot known as a "tail-gate" area. I was in the tail-gate area (which is much less expensive than inside).

My tail-gate spot

It was a last minute decision (which I do NOT recommend... hahahahaha). Since it was an amateur radio show, I brought my vintage vacuum tubes to sell and a sampling of my jewelry and vacuum tube ornaments.

 My jewelry and ornament display

 Christmas Ornaments

Success!! I sold enough to cover the tail-gate spot cost, tickets, and food with a little left over. Of course that was before I went shopping.... :-) 

But, more on that next time...

How did your 1st real show go? What did you learn? Inquiring minds want to know! (OK, maybe we're just nosy...)

xo ~ Mad

Dark Side of the Net Goth and Halloween Links: New Dark Links for September 10, 2012

Check out this cool Goth blog that I was featured on for my bat ring and vacuum tube earrings:

Dark Side of the Net Goth and Halloween Links: New Dark Links for September 10, 2012: DARK ART: Agostino Arrivabene This Italian surrealist artist features Biblical, religious and mythological themes in his artwork. His pai...


xo ~ Mad

Optimize Your Etsy Shop FREE with the EtsyShoptimizer.com

Image from Purpose Advertising

I just used this cool app as a tool to point out things that I needed to improve in my shop. It was very easy to use and allows you to go directly to the listing or  area of the shop that needs "optimization" to work with Google's SEO (search engine optimization) search. By optimizing your shop and listings, you make it easier for Google to find you.

The app points out things such as listing titles that are too long, how many pictures that you have in your listing, and how your shop is laid out including sections, profile and policies.

So take a spin and try it out. It's fun and easy.

Optimize Your Etsy Shop FREE with the EtsyShoptimizer.com

What did it tell you? 

xo ~ Mad

Pretty Packages All In A Row...

Yesterday, I (finally) took pictures of my packaging. I even started to add them to my listings. :-)

When going through my packaging, I realized that I have several tags and ribbons that do not match with my shop and packaging... hmmm... what's a girl to do? I've decided that I am going to start adding a few extras to packages going to other shop owners and with packages of supplies. That should work right? It's a win-win situation. I pass on something that I'm not likely to use (and is cluttering my work area - which doesn't need any help, but that's another story) to someone who hopefully CAN use it. Yay!

Here is how the photo shoot came out:

The beautiful butterfly note cards are from

 Yesterday's Memories 09.

The cute scalloped Thank You cards are from

 The Craft Shedd.

How do you package your items for customers? 

Leave a comment and let us know.

xo ~ Mad

Back To School!

Woohoo!! Today is the 1st day of 4th grade for my daughter. To celebrate, I'm bringing you some of my favorite school supplies on Etsy. Enjoy!

Backpacks:

by catbirdcreatures

by wwwthisandthatgr

by wwwthisandthatgr

Reusable Sandwich Bags:

by OYCreationsToo

by BirchTreeBags

by RandomSacksOfKindness

Lunch Bags:

 by JBworld

by bowpeep

Pencils:

by ColleenAndCohort

by RightBrainy

by LizOhsiekDesigns

Do you have a favorite back to school supply on Etsy? Please share!

xo ~ Mad

Packaging For Success

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, I thought I'd address the subject of packaging... 

As many have said before me, people buy from Etsy shops for the personal touch of getting a special item directly from the maker. I recently read "Packaging That Packs A Punch Article: Call for Responses!" in the Etsy Success forum. They've set up a Flickr account with loads of examples of packaging to help your packaging to stand out in a crowd: etsypackaging. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites:

by mula jewelry

 

by MsSpanner

 by NoaSharonDesigns

by SteampunkFabricDream

by GreenRibbonGems

by Arketypes

How do you package for success?

xo ~ Mad

Is It Worth It?

      Recently, daniellexo from Etsy wrote a blog, How to Beat the Etsy Sale Addiction (and Make More Money!) . She talked about the high that you get from seeing that Sales number rise. Instead of valuing yourself and your work, you begin to set your value goals based on the number of sales you have. I agree, this is NOT the way to run a business. Read the whole article here.

     Danielle has some really helpful advice. The trick seems to be to believe in yourself and the value of your work. Make smart choices so that you work smarter, not harder. Keep a positive attitude and set business minded goals. Sure, that sales number is exciting (especially when you hit landmark sales), but you are running a business and you have to make sure that you are also profitable. Remember not to sell yourself short. This is not a yard sale, it's a business.

sign from missyscakesandaprons

      I am very lucky that my husband has a job that allows me to do what I love. I try to sell at prices that are fair to both me and my customer and am grateful that I do not have to survive on what I make! I am working hard to improve my work, my shop, and my business skills. I take classes, comment in forums, ask for critiques, and listen when people make suggestions. Sometimes I follow advice, sometimes I don't.... :-)

from ilanastangerross

 What are YOU doing to improve yourself and your shop?

xo ~ Mad