All He Wants For Christmas

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It's A Class Act

Class Act - a selection by MayBrady

Spend a lot of time in your workspace?  I do!  Here are a few ideas for keeping it bright and light... mb

From Runway... to Room

 

DKNY S/S11 Collection

Courtesy of Kelley Moore, For the Love of Design

Seattle's lifestyle expert and author of Cube Chic: Take Your Office Space From Drab to Fab, Kelley Moore has featured my Medallion vintage scarf cushion as part of her 'Runway to Room' interior design challenge on her blog For The Love of Design - doesn't it work perfectly to add a little catwalk to the lounge? Thanks so much, Kelley! mb

Passport to Fashion

Tan Chimera Ball Gown by Natasha Lazaravic, CANADA

The most exciting thing about selling on Etsy is that my customers are from all over the world - my wares have made their way to Belgium, England, France, USA, Latvia... it truly is a worldwide handmade market.

Here are few of my favourites from around the world.  Enjoy! mb

Water Sun Silver/Gold & Citrin Ring by Andreas Schiffler, SPAIN

Coral Carnival Bangles by Dirty Lush, ENGLAND

Denis African Print and Leather Bag by Out Of Afrika, USA

Turquoise Suede Spats by Veronica Vartic, BELGIUM

Bird on a Wire

For some reason, this morning I started thinking about a guy I met on a NYC subway ride last year.  He was a fashion student at Parsons, sat there painstakingly twisting wire into a purposeful sculpture.  I quipped that I remembered that exercise when I was a fashion student. 

Here's a collection of what others are doing with wire these days.  Enjoy! mb

Australian Flood Relief Appeal

Swoon Bracelet $26.00

Devastating floods have ravaged Queensland and other parts of Australia over the past few weeks, causing a disaster of the likes we haven't see in our lifetime.

If you'd like to help, visit the Etsian Australian Flood Appeal store, organised by the DUST team, where hundreds of items have been donated that you can purchase.  All profits are donated to The Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

What a fantastic way to lend a hand!  I applaud the volunteers administrating the store for all of their time and effort.

My heart goes out to all those affected by the floods.  mb

Angel Wings Fine Silver Necklace $50.00

Bandeau Style Birdcage Veil $100.00

Nostalgic Romance

Nostalgic Romance - a selection by MayBrady

Get swept away in the romance of times gone by... mb

Soft Focus

Hello December! by RedTileStudio

A Celebration! Gifts for Her by AngelsHair

A couple of my latest features on Etsy's Treasury, with thanks to the clever curators, mb

Owl and Fox Handmade Jewelry

I just got a pair of gorgeous red Japanese tensha bead earrings for my birthday.  And guess what?  They're from Etsy!  Check out Owl and Fox for some sparkly surprises... mb

The Sweetest Thing: A Chocolate Sale!

Who would you give these amazing handmade chocolates to?  I've been drooling over these creative goodies for a while now and thought I should share with everyone that Nikid's having a sale!  Great Christmas gifts (hint, hint).  mb

✿✿ NIKID'S BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY SALE ✿✿

✿ Thursday 11/25/10 @ 11:00 PM to MONDAY 11/29/10 @ 11:00 PM
✿ 10% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER - CODE: BF2010
✿ Door Buster: Free 1/4 Lb. cluster to the first 10 purchases on 11/26 (do not add it to your cart)
✿ Enter code in designated area when checking out and the deduction will automatically be calculated.

Gift Guide: All Australian Designers

Etsy's Thunder from Downunder!

Handmade Notebooks

Florentine Handmade Notebook from My Lander Books

Set of Covered Notebooks from My Lander Books

Handmade Paper Covered Journal from My Lander Books

I've just bought a gorgeous handmade notebook from My Lander Books for a birthday present, aren't these sweet! mb

Director's Cut

Cherry Cheesecake Bracelet by heartsabustin

Dogwood Earrings by heartsabustin

Fire Opal Earrings by heartsabustin

Summer Romance Ring by heartsabustin

So I'm into recycling, who isn't?  The key is to find new ways of creating coveted items... now how about this: 

"Precious metal clay is recycled from old film negatives, jewelry, and x-rays, ground finely, and mixed with a binder and water. The pieces are dried and then fired with a micro-butane torch to a fine silver finish".

Check out heartsabustin's shop for something special that's not just recycled, but truly unique. mb

In Focus

Indian Summer in Paris by YannPendaries

Grey with a Spark by MidnightCoiler

Follow Your Dreams by MyFairMaiden

Etsy Fashion & Accessories Show by AngelsHair

A few of the gorgeous treasuries I've been featured in this week. mb

Sunrise Orange

Aqua Print Silk Dress by MayBrady

Whenever I style for Etsy photographs I accessorise with Emmy's ever-expanding collection, but sometimes end up digging into my own.

My latest shoot involves this gorgeous, incredibly long, bright orange scarf a friend hand-knitted for me whilst visiting her parents in England.  It arrived in the post complete with photographic instruction sheet of 'how to wear' possibilities, including draped over her Dad in his armchair, hilarious!

I love handmade gifts, they're always that little-bit-more-special... mb

It's Just a Dress?

Black & White Silk Kaftan Dress by MayBrady

Ever wondered what it's like to be a 'handmade' artist?  Let me walk you through the making and selling of just one dress.  The one above, for example. 

It all starts with fabric selection.  I visit my supplier every week or two in the hopes there will be new additions to their clearance of designer ends.  Some of the pieces on offer are almost too-good-to-be-true: luxurious printed, pleated, embroidered, sequined, beaded and otherwise embellished silks, cashmere, lambswool and more.  Working in this way, the fabric forms the inspiration for my designs.

I found this piece of white silk chiffon with black trees and foliage print on Friday and knew it would be perfect for a kaftan.

Then I cart the fabric home (on foot, a truly low-carbon footprint) and lay it out ready to cut.  Often, using designer ends means working with what you've got as they're often short lengths, although this means a lot of my items are "one offs", a real value-add.

I spend the next little while rotating from cutting table to plain sewer, to overlocker, to iron and back again.  One final press and... it's a dress.

But it doesn't end there.  Now, to market and sell the dress.  Enter Emmy, my trusty model:

Presentation is key in persuading a potential customer to click (or not to click).  I style Emmy in various wigs and accessories to give a finished idea of the garment.  I'm creating a look, not just a dress.

Then it's time for lights, camera, action.  I have a new wall in my workroom where I'm creating a proper studio, but until that's finished I'll settle for whatever I can get my hands on (see photo above, to the right - yikes).

After the photo session, I download and edit.  There's a knack to creating 'cover shots' for Etsy, as their listing photo generally decapitates the model unless you leave enough head-room. 

Once I've narrowed down my final photos, off to my Etsy shop to start a new listing.  Title, description, tags, photos... et voila!  For sale.

Right, to let the masses know.  I mainly use twitter and facebook to keep in touch and also Handmade Spark.  I'm an active member of a number of Etsy 'street teams', which means a number of hours online making and supporting treasuries and forum threads.  In return, other members might feature my items.

Then there's stats.  Thank goodness I was an analyst in a previous life!  They're key to building a business and I'm all over it.  I'll be monitoring the response to my newly listed dress through Etsy, Google Analytics, Craftopolis and even the comments in treasuries if/when it is featured.

Finally, when the dress does sell, I communicate with the buyer and complete the administration side online.  It will be wrapped in tissue with a note, then packaged up and it's off to the Post Office.

So you see... it's not just a dress.  mb

Wishlist

Cherries & Chocolate by nikid

Hammered Fine Silver Necklace by Linden Leaf Studio

Ebony Necklace & Earrings Set by fushciabloomstudio

Cedar Waxwing Art Block Painting by redtilestudio

It's the same every year, it starts in January: "what do you want for Christmas?" and "what do you want for your birthday?" (which is in November). 

My family is in New Zealand so it makes things a little tricky... this year, I'm pulling together a wishlist entirely from Etsy.  Not only will I be supporting handmade, it's shopping heaven!  These are a few items that feature in my wishlist... so far. mb