Monday, May 23, 2011

Owls Tags


Happy Monday!

It's a long weekend over here and I absolutely love it. Another day off to spend with my family, what not to love?

Owls....just can't get enough of them. They are just darn cute!


I have them with Happy Birthday wording and Thanks for Coming (to list soon!). If you'd like to have them personalized, sure you can! Change it to names, dates, etc.

Soon, they will be in invitations and cupcake toppers. Oh how fun making them!

By the way, we have 2 giveaways going on now:
They are awesome giveaways, so be sure to enter! :-)

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Giveaway: Pendant from Designs by Harriet

Win this beautiful and elegant pendant made by Designs by Harriet
.
The pendant is made of fine silver (99.9%) and is a triple diamond shape. In the center of the third triangle is a red cubic zirconia. It is hand textured and oxidized to bring out the design. The pendant measures 1 inch x 1 inch. Worth $38.00.
Get to know Harriet, she is our Saturday Artisan this week. There are many ways to enter. Please make sure you leave a separate comment for every entry.
How to enter to win:
Mandatory entry:
  • Go to Designs by Harriet shop. Return to my Adore By Nat blog and simply leave a comment here about your favorite item from the store.
Extra entries (only qualify once mandatory entry is fulfilled):
  • Earn 2 entries - Go to yesterday's post to know them more. Leave a comment there (yesterday's post) on at least one the following: what you learn from the interview, what you want to see more on her shop and why, or any constructive feedbacks are always appreciated. Come back here and leave 2 comments that you did, to ensure your entries are counted.
  • Heart Designs by Harriet (1 entry). Simply let us know your Etsy username.
  • Follow my adorebynat blog (1 entry). If you're already a follower, you still get an entry, just says you're following already.
  • Like my Adorebynat Facebook Page. Don't forget to say hi to me there and come back here to leave comment (1 entry). If you liked my FB page already, you still can say hi and earn 1 entry. I'd love to hear from you!
  • Follow adorebynat on twitter (1 entry).
  • Tweet about this giveaway, add "@adorebynat" in your tweet. (1 entry).
  • Blog about this giveaway to earn 2 entries. Leave two separate comments here please providing me with the link to your post.
  • Be creative and share the love! Refer your friends and family to enter this giveaway. Use your social media (other than twitter and blog) to shout out this giveaway. As long as you provide me a link or a way to confirm it, you'll earn 2 entries (two separate comments).
  • Purchase an item from Designs by Harriet and earn 10 entries for each purchase. Don't forget letting us know by leaving comments :-)

Contest starts now and ends on June 4, 2011. Contest opens worldwide.

Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you. Entries without contact information will be disqualified. Entries that do not follow the rules will be disqualified. Contest winner will be drawn on Sunday, June 5 by a random number generator, by the artist herself. Winner must respond within 48 hours after being contacted otherwise another winner will be randomly selected.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Saturday Artisan: Designs by Harriet

Happy Saturday, everyone! It's a long weekend over here and I'm looking forward for a good quality of family time and crafty away till my heart content. Lol.

Now, first thing first, it's my pleasure to introduce you to Harriet, the artist behind Designs by Harriet Etsy shop as our Saturday Artisan. Harriet offers unique handcrafted metalwork, wire and wire wrapped jewelries. Take a peek at her studio and get to know here more from our interview below.

Tell us a bit about yourself and what arts/crafts you make.

I am an art lover. Art is and was my career. For 25 years I was curator of American art at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. When that ended, I knew I had to stay in the arts, but this time I wanted to be the artist not the critic. I have a master’s degree in Art History, but never envisioned having a creative side. I began taking courses in metalsmithing about two years ago and followed that with classes in wire wrapping and most recently added the technique of precious metal clay (PMC). I favor creating pendants, but I also make earrings, bracelets, and rings in all three techniques. I am inspired by the art I have been exposed to over the years and am so thankful for my art historical and curatorial background. My goal is to create unique pieces that will make the buyer happy and their friends envious.

Which part of the creation process do you like the most?

I am still in awe of the finished product. In all my years as a curator the idea of producing something that others would love was the farthest thing from my mind. The fact that I can do it leaves me in a constant state of amazement. Of the three techniques that I use, I am finding that PMC gives me more options and opportunities to create really unusual designs. But I love all three techniques and plan to keep making jewelry using them.

For us who love to travel, could you share a bit about your beautiful town/city?

For the past 30 years I have lived in Carmel Indiana, which is just north of Indianapolis. It is an amazing town that has grown from 8,000 to 68,000 since I moved there.


We have the newest and most up-to- date performing arts center. There are no traffic lights on our main thoroughfare only roundabouts. We have an arts district, a large physical fitness center, and one of the most sports oriented and highly rated high schools in the country. Carmel has one of the best and largest libraries, an outdoor walking trail and the Indiana Design Center which houses unique furniture, art, and fixtures. We also have a newly built outdoor mall called Clay Terrace which has shops, a children’s park and some great restaurants.


What is your best seller?

I don’t have a bestselling piece of jewelry, because all my designs are one-of-a-kind. As far as the technique that sells the best, it depends on where I am selling. Etsy sales are mostly precious metal clay, my home sales favor my wire wrapped pieces and in craft fairs I sell more metalwork. I do think my work in PMC will eventually become the technique that sells the most, since it has so much potential.


What is your goal for 2011? And are you on the right track?

My goal is to make my Etsy shop a success. This is my second try opening an Etsy shop. I had one for about a year without any sales and closed it after becoming discouraged. I didn’t realize that you can’t sit and look at your shop on the computer and wait for people to come to you. I completely changed my approach, and I have begun to attract interest and sales. I am determined to make this work, because I love making jewelry.


What is your favorite tool that you cannot live without?

My favorite tool is my butane torch. I use it for soldering metal, but I also use it to create fine silver pieces from PMC. It has saved me from buying a kiln, and it works just as well if not better. I have more control with a torch than with a kiln, because I can see what is happening to the metal. Take my torch away and I am lost.


Any advice for others running their on-line shop?

Although I am not yet an expert on what works and what does not, I think you have to really promote your shop. You can do this through social networks like Facebook, twitter and blogging. For an Etsy shop you should join teams, make treasuries, participate in forums, heart other shops and their items, and circle people, anything that gets your shop noticed. It takes time, patience and a never give up attitude, which took me a while to learn.


Saving money is important; tell us one thing you do to save money?

I shop around the internet until I find the lowest price for what I want. It takes time but it saves so much money. I also buy in bulk and during sales whenever I can.

Anything else you would like to share?

Don’t diet, it only makes you hungry. Smile when you are sad. Breathe deeply when it hurts. Always be thankful for today.

Stay-tuned for tomorrow's giveway. You don't want to miss it! :-)

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Would you like...


I've started featuring artists in 2010 and it has been a blast for me and them. OrlyDesign is one of them.

Every Saturday, I feature an artist from Etsy, and usually followed by a giveaway sponsored by the artist on Sunday.

This has been great so far and I get positive feedbacks from the artists and readers. The artists I've featured gained exposure and feedbacks, earned hearts, blog followers, FB fans, and even got sales. Please note that direct sales is not the main purpose of being featured although it does happen.

Right now I'm looking for more artists to fill for the month of July and August.

You can nominate yourself, or if you know a wonderful Etsy artist who I should feature, please let me know.

Here are some important criteria to be featured on my blog:

* Must have great customer service, first and foremost. Friendliness and going above and beyond are keys to successful business. If I don't see that in you then I don't think I can refer my readers to your shop. I want my friends to really enjoy their buying experience and I need to have the confidence that they will get that from your shop.
* Have at least 30 listed items in your shop in order to provide a good variety of products to choose from.
* Have great pictures: clear and crisp.
* Priority is given to those who sponsoring a giveaway.

Let me know if you're interested by leaving comment here or contact me directly. :-)

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Owl Dudes

Have you seen these dudes?

They're the cutest ever in the whole world. I'd like to say my DH is the cutest, but maybe the best looking one is more appropriate. Lol.




Okay...back to these dudes. Perhaps its that fashionly groomed mustache that attracts you? Or is it that fancy and neat tie. Whatever it is, I'm sure we get the excuse to love them :-) ... and yes, they are available at my adorebynat shop.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Alice in Wonderland Tea Bag Holder


Alice in Wonderland is certainly a timeless story and is a very popular story for any ages. Last week, I was approached by a client to create teabag holders for a baby shower that she'll be hosting in June.



This is what I came up with and I'll be making 20 of these for her. I also have it available for everyone else who is interested to purchase here at my adorebynat shop.


By the way, if you haven't entered to win 150 custom return address labels, you may want to do it now.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Giveaway: 150 Custom Return Address Labels

Win 150 Custom Return Address Labels, for your shop or personal use from Sporkfuldesigns. Get to know Meg behind Sporkfuldesigns. She is our Saturday Artisan this week. 


There are many ways to enter. Please make sure you leave a separate comment for every entry.

How to enter to win: 
Mandatory entry: Extra entries (only qualify once mandatory entry is fulfilled):
  • Earn 2 entries - Go to yesterday's post to know them more. Leave a comment there (yesterday's post) on at least one the following: what you learn from the interview, what you want to see more on her shop and why, or any constructive feedbacks are always appreciated. Come back here and leave 2 comments that you did, to ensure your entries are counted.
  • Heart Sporkfuldesigns (1 entry). Simply let us know your Etsy username.
  • Follow my adorebynat blog (1 entry). If you're already a follower, you still get an entry, just says you're following already.
  • Like Sporkful Designs Facebook Page. Tell her that adorebynat sent you there.
  • Like my Adorebynat Facebook Page. Don't forget to say hi to me there and come back here to leave comment (1 entry). If you liked my FB page already, you still can say hi and earn 1 entry. I'd love to hear from you!
  • Follow adorebynat on twitter (1 entry).
  • Tweet about this giveaway, add "@adorebynat" in your tweet. (1 entry).
  • Blog about this giveaway to earn 2 entries. Leave two separate comments here please providing me with the link to your post.
  • Be creative and share the love! Refer your friends and family to enter this giveaway. Use your social media (other than twitter and blog) to shout out this giveaway. As long as you provide me a link or a way to confirm it, you'll earn 2 entries (two separate comments).
  • Purchase an item from Sporkfuldesigns and earn 10 entries for each purchase. Don't forget letting us know by leaving comments :-)

Contest starts now and ends on May 28, 2011. Contest opens worldwide.

Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you. Entries without contact information will be disqualified. Entries that do not follow the rules will be disqualified. Contest winner will be drawn on Tuesday, May 31 by a random number generator, by the artist herself. Winner must respond within 48 hours after being contacted otherwise another winner will be randomly selected.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Saturday Artisan: Sporkful Designs

The Saturday Artisan is back!!

I'm thrilled to introduce you to Meg, the artist and owner behind Sporkfuldesigns, an Etsy shop offering custom photo cards for holidays, birthdays, invites for baby showers, birth announcements, weddings, save the dates, address changes, and more!

Meg generously share her words of wisdom, don't forget to take notes :-)

Tell us a bit about yourself and what arts/crafts that you make?
Ever since I was little, I've always enjoyed crafts. I made countless friendship bracelets, hundreds of bead critters, sewed pillows and pot-holders for my family, and even took up knitting. It wasn't until around Junior High that I was introduced to the graphic arts. When my mom got Adobe Photoshop on our computer, my love for graphic design began. I worked on my high school newspaper creating the layout, was part of the yearbook team and designed my senior yearbook cover, and continued my graphic design adventures through college. Today I am a graphic design and marketing professional by day and opened Sporkful Designs to unleash even more of my creativeness. I really enjoy what I do and enjoy helping others.


Which part of creation process that you like to do the most?
I enjoy that no matter how much you know, there's always more to learn. I always enjoy teaching myself new tricks, styles, and experimenting with new techniques.

For us who love to travel, could you share a bit about Minnesota?
Beautiful and awesome are the two words that come to mind about Minnesota. I love the beauty of all four seasons and how each season has it's own distinctive look. Minnesota is perfect in the summer with breath-taking state parks that have wonderful hiking trails that you never know what you will see. Minnesota is awesome in the winter as snowmobiling, ice fishing, and ice skating are some winter activities I enjoy. In the spring, it is amazing to watch the trees go from sticks to having leaves within a week (just takes a couple of rainy days followed by a couple of hot days!). In the fall, the trees are gorgeous with their yellows, reds, and browns. There's always something here to do whether it is look at nature,


watch a Twins game at Target Field,


or go shopping at the Mall of America.

What inspires you?
The world around me and things that happen in my life. When I get in a creative funk, I usually do a quick Internet search to get some ideas flowing. CD covers, book covers, and advertising are great to get the creative juices flowing.

Any advice for others running their online shop?
Don't give up. Even if sales are slow, there are always new ways to promote, more projects to create, and always ways to improve your shop. It takes trial and error to find what works best for your shop.

Always have outstanding customer service. People love to hear responses within a day and sometimes if you take the extra step to make sure the customer is happy, it could make them a repeat customer.

Be professional. Brand your shop, Facebook page, have business cards (and keep them on you as you never know when a good spot will show up for you to leave one!), and watch out for typos. Even for a handmade business, professionalism can go a long way.

Promote, promote, promote. You can promote some within the Etsy forums, but if you spend too much time on them it can be a waste. Try to advertise off of Etsy and even off-line.

Learn more. There's no such thing as knowing too much. Keep researching, learning, improving...it's never-ending, but it's worth it. It's great to learn new stuff.


Saving money is important; tell us one thing that you do to save money?
Be creative with how you do things. I was looking for a way to package orders and was originally going to use ribbon to hold photo cards together, but when I went to the store I realized that yarn was much cheaper and did the same thing. I'm always big on trying to do things yourself. However, if you know you can't make it look professional yourself, it is ok to get some outside help.

Stay-tuned for tomorrow's giveaway!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Giveaway Winner of LostRiverRags

Whoot Whoot! Who's the lucky winner this time winning LostRiverRag's giveaway? Congratulations, AmberRose (#119), you won your choice of soaps! Thank you to LostRiverRags for sponsoring this fun giveaway, and of course as always, YOU, who entered this giveaway. I know that we haven't had any new giveaway for the past 2 weeks, stay-tuned, as I'm bringing back the Saturday Artisan and Giveaways as of this upcoming Saturday. Happy mid-week, everyone!

Monday, May 9, 2011

BzzAgent Review: McCain Purely Potatoes

I love being a BzzAgent! I receive invitations to try new products and one of them is McCain Purely Potatoes. After saying 'yes' to the invitation, coupons were sent to me including a coupon to try the White Potato Chunks or Sweet Potato Chunks for free! Decision... decision... decision...

I picked Potato Chunks by the way this time but I will try the Sweet Potato this weekend. A busy mom like I am, having an on-line shop on top of my 9-5 pm day job as plus raising a 3 years old boy, I need something quick and simple in preparing family dinners.

I made mashed potatoes with this. Again, it's so easy and delicious! What so impressive is that it's made from 100% real potatoes. It's packed in a microwave ready bag and just pop it in the microwave in minutes. Skip the washing, peeling, and cutting and you can have your dinner ready in less than 30 minutes. Now that is what I call time-saver (and energy! Lol). You can find these in the frozen potato and french fry section of all major grocery stores. The price is reasonable ($3.49) minus $1.00 off coupon I have, what not to love.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Happy Saturday

What's the plan for today? I'm sorry to say that I don't have a Saturday Artisan to introduce today. I am on a mission to recruit, but in the meantime, I could be the Saturday Artisan of the day. Lol. I worked on 3 new tags this week. The Transportation on the Go like below is one of my son's favorite (no doubt about that!).



And my favorites: Mushrooms!! When I saw the images, I know I had to get them. They are super cute, with a touch of vintage, they are perfect to adorn baked goodies bags or anything that involves natural herbs.

This week, I'm going to work on a few more tag designs, complete orders to mail on Monday which will go as far as Honolulu, as well as take in-laws around for more sightseeing and shopping. The weather is not in our favor (wet...wet...and wet) but this weekend will be the last weekend my dad-in-law has before returning to Indonesia so we'll take what we can have. Whatever you'll do, I wish you all have a relaxing and yet fun weekend!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Banner


This past weekend, among taking the time to bring in-laws who just came from abroad for a city tour, I took whatever spare time I had to make this custom banner. I'm grateful that I have such awesome clients, including this special client who is so easy to please :-) She let me do my thing with a minimal specific requests.



I really hope she likes this banner I made for her daughter's birthday party.




I enjoyed so much making this adorable banner. It's colorful and cheerful, adorned with pretty ribbons. You can be sure that you will see more banners here.