Spotlight On Supplies

Monday, April 25, 2011

An Interview with... ThreadThisFabric!

When did you start selling?

Thread This Fabric launched in September 2010. It started out as a dream between two friends. Brittany has an Etsy shop and we would drool over all the pretty fabrics she used. As a joke we said, “Oh, we should open our own fabric shop and stop giving all our money to Joann's!” Then, when we actually started thinking about it we decided, "Why not?" We researched how to become a fabric retailer then opened our first account with Riley Blake and started listing! The rest is history!

What's your life outside of Etsy like?

We are two stay-at-home moms. I, Amanda, have 2 kids, Fallon(2) and Ethan(1 mo). I used to be a pharmacy technician but decided to stay home when I got pregnant with my son. Brittany has 2 kids also, Kendra(4) and Lucas(2). Brittany is a seamstress and runs another Etsy shop, HandmadeByBritt, which sells crayon rolls, aprons, backpacks, lunch bags, and purses. She sews beautiful things for both of our children and ALL of our friends!

What are your plans for your shop for 2011?

We are planning to add some new accounts. We are currently working towards Michael Miller. We also want to expand our appliqué section and add new designs and fabric choices. Also, Brittany is working on some PDF patterns for us to sell. We are excited about the new products we will soon have to offer our customers!

Do you sell in other venues outside of Etsy?

No, not at this time. Our big dream is to one day open a store in an actual building!

Favorite season? Favorite beverage? Favorite dessert?

Brittany: Fall, Coke, Cheesecake
Amanda: Winter, Dr. Pepper, Brownies

What’s your superhero power?

　We like to think that our superhero power is the ability to zap color and design into everyday living with our beautiful fabrics that can bring life into clothes, throw pillows, curtains, and whatever else our customers can dream up!

What's your top suggestion to new Etsy shops starting out?

The number one thing that has helped us is advertising. We advertise on craft/sewing blogs. You should match the content of the blog so that you are sure to target your customers.

Check out ThreadThisFabric here!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Tips and Tricks: Leather supplies

Words of wisdom from EarthlyLeatherDesign

I would never sell someone something I wouldn’t buy myself. I find that honesty builds the best customer relationship. But unfortunately, if you don’t know what you are looking for you may get a hold of a lot of crap (to be honest) It’s happened to me.

Leather is generally measured in ounces or millimeters, I use mostly 3 to 4 ounce suede which is about 1-2 millimeters thick. Pig Skin and Lamb Skin are generally very thin garment leather. If I use it for making bags I will generally double it up with some other type of leather to make it sturdier.

Cow which is suede or garment leather I use most often, suede is generally very reasonable to buy if you are starting out and the hides are on the smaller side. Usually cow garment leather hides are very large and pricey.

Buffalo leather is also very pricey but it is also heavy it usually is around 5-8 ounces but it is sturdy but soft. Heavy like belt leather but soft like garment leather. I think that is the best way to discribe it.

There are also heavier types of cow leathers used for bag making and belt making. Out of a whole hide you are lucky to get a dozen useable belts. It is cheaper to go this way, but if you are just starting out. I would suggest buying belt blanks from a supplier to get started.

EarthlyLeatherDesign is available to awnser your leather questions! Message her here.

Monday, April 11, 2011

An Interview with... EarthlyLeatherDesign

When did you start selling?

I decided to start selling towards the end of last year. I had so many friends requesting items from me; that I thought why not see if anyone else would be interested in what I am doing.
Since I am doing so well now, I thought selling supplies would be the next great step in my business. When I began I was looking around for supplies, but most places want you to buy in bulk. So now I buy in bulk and offer people what I couldn’t find before, a reasonably amount of goods at a reasonable price. I hope that it takes off, so I may eventually have to open a second store just for supplies.

Any new product lines coming out?

I really plan on working on my supply line this summer. I always have extra leather lying around; if I am not using it then I would like to see someone else give it a go at making something out of it.
I plan on offering a larger variety of leather, buttons, and hopefully even some tools. I want to offer leather lace, closures, and rivets. It’s a work in progress and I will get there and hopefully beyond.
What is great is anyone can use leather scraps for just about anything. I have a couple customers buying scraps for accents on there bags or to make strap closures for purses.
Leather has endless possibilites.

What are your plans for (your shop) for 2011?

I plan on to just keep on working at it. The shop is really starting to take off, and it’s great to see all of my hard work and hard earned money well spent. My life is always an adventure I can’t wait to see what is around the next turn.

Were you creative growing up?

I’ve always been creative, whether I have been crafting with leather or making my own reenactment clothing. I have always had some sort of crafting project in my life. I’ve tried painting/drawing, knitting, quilting (thought I didn’t get very far with that project), wood burning, let’s just say if it’s a craft I have probably tried it.
But I love leather the most. It comes so natural to me, like second nature.

Favorite season? Favorite beverage? Favorite dessert?

I love Spring! Different kinds of Juices. I would kill someone for a Hot Fudge Spilt with Banana Ice Cream.

What's your superhero power?

I can see the future. It’s nice to know what your customers are going to buy so you can make it for them.

Any type of craft you would love to try?

I have always wanted to try pottery. It fascinates me; I really envy people that have that kind of talent.

What's your top suggestion to new Etsy shops starting out?

If your not doing something original at least try to make it your own. I’ve looked around and there are a lot of leather crafters out there. I have yet to find someone that does work similar to mine.
Don’t give up; you have to do the work to see the results. If you’re not out there promoting yourself people won’t find you. I probably spend just as much time promoting myself as I do working on items. It’s all about balance and finding what works for you. Most people like to be organized, but I find a nice dose of Chaos makes my world go round much easier. I always try to do things outside the box.

Check out EarthlyLeatherDesign here

Monday, March 21, 2011

Tips & Tricks

Tips for using vintage sewing supplies

from www.allthepreciousthings.etsy.com

Vintage sewing patterns are great value! The garments made from them often have a different (some would say better) construction than modern patterns - the long French darts on many ‘60s dresses, the shaping on sleeves and shoulders, fancy bodice panelling – the list goes on. If you don’t want to dive in, boots and all, with a total vintage look, try using a vintage pattern with a modern fabric, or vice-versa. You’ll get a really individual look to your wardrobe. If you don’t feel confident wearing vintage-inspired clothes yourself, try vintage kids’ clothes (great handmade gifts), vintage dolls clothes, or vintage inspired accessories like curtains, cushions or aprons.

Vintage sewing patterns are sized differently to modern patterns, so choose your size by bust measurement for most patterns like dresses and jackets, and waist/hip measurements for pants and skirts.

Vintage buttons are often little works of art in themselves. I keep my collection of buttons, colour-sorted in old gumball jars. A modern blouse or dress can be given a whole new lease on life by substituting dull, stock-standard buttons for vintage ones. Threaded onto elastic, they make cute bracelets, or you can make a rotating display by pinning them to a corkboard or a framed, fabric-covered piece of thick cardboard.

Vintage fabrics, handkerchiefs and linen can be combined with a selection of modern or reproduction fabrics, to make a gorgeous, one-of a kind patchwork quilt. (Helpful when you can only obtain a tiny piece!)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

How people find Etsy listings - Rokali post

On Saturday, Rokali posted on the Etsy forums with this information on how users find individual Etsy listings. The information was given as an introduction to changes that will be incorporated into the listing process (and as a consequence, the search and category structure). For now, it's interesting stuff to know:

- Only 22% of people arrive on a listing page through the search feature
- And 4% from a category page
- 60% of people get to a listing from a shop homepage or another listing (it's a 30%-30% split)
- External referrals are 9% (stuff like advertisements, blogs, etc)
- Internal referrals are 5% (other etsy pages... forums, treasury, activity feed, Storque)

What does all of this mean?!

The numbers indicate that browsing categories is not popular... I think we've all seen this. With the amount of items on Etsy, categories are just not an efficient way to find what you're looking for.

The search feature seems to yield a low percentage of visits, but it's actually the most effective way to get people into your shop (compared to external and internal referrals). The trick is recognizing that the listing that brings people into your store is only a 'gateway'. From there they are very likely to view other listings in your store.

How can I use this to my advantage?

These are all things we've heard before, but now we have the numbers to prove they work! Below is a list of suggestions to maximize traffic into and within your shop:

-Bring them in: Make use of all of your tags, and use them wisely. Research how similar items are tagged. Use your Google Analytics to see which tags are actually working. Swap out the ones that aren't. If you're uncomfortable with GA, you can use Craftopoli's Tag Report, which breaks it down into an easy-to-understand report, sorted by item.

-Keep them there: Use your item description strategically. Provide basic information about your shop and the item, as well as other relevant links within your shop: sections with similar items, specific complementing items, etc.

-Keep them interested: Having a buyer browse from item to item will depend on their confidence in finding something they like in your shop. A cohesive shop feel and style is a big part of that.

Use the comments to submit your own suggestions on how to take advantage of this information!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Interview with... allthepreciousthings

How did allthepreciousthings come to be?

A few years ago I discovered the addictive pursuit of “Op Shopping”. Cruising Sydney’s Op Shops (“charity stores”, as they’re known overseas?) became my favourite way to spend time – sorting through them to find beautiful and quirky vintage gems. I hoarded a whole lot of depression glassware, buttons, linens, patterns, aprons and books, and eventually had to start buying glass display cabinets to house them all. My husband coined the phrase “all the precious things” when referring to my ever growing collections.

I realised that I had far more than I could ever use, at about the same time that I discovered Etsy (as a buyer) – so I decided to open a shop.

What do you do when you aren't selling supplies?

My part-time (paid) career is as a sonographer in a large diagnostic Breast Clinic – this means I do Ultrasound (sonograms), generally looking for breast cancer.

My full-time (unpaid) career is as a wife and Mum, to my 18 year old son, Mitchell, and my 16 year old daughter, Courtney, who has severe Autism and Epilepsy. When Courtney finishes school at the end of next year, it’s going to be harder for me to go out to work in the city, so my online work will probably have to take over as my main source of income.

What do you like most about selling supplies?

I love having the patterns, buttons and fabrics in my care for a while, so I can admire and enjoy them before passing them on. The graphics on the old sewing patterns are so beautiful – usually hand-drawn and coloured.

Selling vintage means I never know what I’ll discover next.

What are your goals for your Supply Business for 2011?

I have a pile of really old (1930s and 40s) knitting, sewing and crochet patterns that I want to restore and digitalise. When I have them organised, I’ll be opening my third Etsy store, www.PDFpreciousthings.etsy.com

And I’d like to start my own website and blog!

Are you an artist and do you work with the supplies that you sell? What is it that you make with them and do you have any tips for using your supplies?

I’m a lifelong artist. It’s just that the medium I work with keeps changing! I went to Art college for 2 years, and learned everything from drawing, to painting and printmaking. At other times I’ve dabbled in lead-lighting, quilting, photography and ceramics. Mum taught me to sew as a young girl, and that’s been an ongoing, evolving pursuit. I’ve only recently discovered vintage patterns, buttons, fabrics and trim; and it’s changed everything about the way I sew. Rather than buying modern patterns, I prefer vintage styles and always have an eye out for patterns to add to my own collection.

I love vintage fabrics, and have an enormous stash which threatens to take over the house!

My collection of vintage knitting needles, buttons and fabrics is my supply stash for my second Etsy shop, www.sewnewthings.etsy.com ,where I sell my upcycled knitting needle bracelets and handmade bags and accessories.

Visit allthepreciousthing's main store here: www.allthepreciousthings.etsy.com

Friday, March 11, 2011

Treasury!

New treasury by Fabric Place! Check it out, leave a comment, find the supplies you needed!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Tutorial: Bead-embellished fans

For a tropical spring wedding, we added sea-inspired beads to these wholesale bought sandalwood fans to create a memorable, useful and inexpensive wedding favor.

The first step is to decide on a length for your bead attachments, and lay out the beads you will use. We were making more than 50 and wanted to use up leftover beads from old projects, so we went with a sea-inspired palette and mixed up the bead order. Together, they looked coordinated but not matchy-matchy.

Our sandalwood fans came packaged in individual boxes, but these were for a wedding ceremony and were going to be displayed in a vase. We took the fans out of the boxes and took them to the recycling bin.

To facilitate an assembly-line, we cut all the pieces of beading wire first. Your wires will measure double what you want your final length to be, and then a little extra (I like an inch extra on both sides).

The fans have a metal loop through which we'll thread the beading wire.

Thread the beading wire.

Pull together both ends of the wire and thread the beads. We assembled first, crimped later. Make sure not to knock over the table and send all your work onto the floor...

Once the wire is threaded through the fan's metal link and the beads are on the wire, place a crimp bead onto both wires. Notice the seed bead finishing the assembly (before the crimp). Some beads, like that big green one have holes large enough for a crimp bead to slide through. Use a smaller bead between one with a large hole and the crimp, so you don't lose the crimp inside a bead.

Crimp the crimp. These I just flattened (instead of folded), because I was going to cut off the extra wire and didn't mind the 'rectangular' crimp. Trim the excess wire.

Congratulate the bride and groom!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Paper Supplies ..... What Would You Do with these? Wednesday!

Paper Supplies are so much fun-these finds go together and can be made into something special!

What can you do with these?

Envelope Seal Stickers Pink LITTLE BIRD SNITCHED Set of 32 from LillysPaper

Handpainted Artsy Borders - Pack of 6 from bonnierose

50 SETS authentic library cards and pockets / large set from schOOLLOcker

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Shades of Copper from azbluerockers!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Tutorial Thursday!

I found a tutorial on YouTube that is a video for a Peyote Stitch Beaded Bead.

Thought it was interesting and thought I would share.

If you have a tutorial that you would like to write up and share with us-please let us know!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

T Tuesday ... Supplies that begin with the letter T

You will have to click on the pictures to see what TERRIFIC "T" Listings these Supplies are!

And here is a list of T Adjectives for when you are listing(or in general really)-can you use any of them?

taboo
tacit
tacky
talented
tall
tame
tan
tangible
tangy
tart
tasteful
tasteless
tasty
tawdry
tearful
tedious
teeny
teeny-tiny
telling
temporary
ten
tender
tense
tense
tenuous
terrible
terrific
tested
testy
thankful
therapeutic
thick
thin
thinkable
third
thirsty
thirsty
thoughtful
thoughtless
threatening
three
thundering
tidy
tight
tightfisted
tiny
tired
tiresome
toothsome
torpid
tough
towering
tranquil
trashy
tremendous
tricky
trite
troubled
truculent
true
truthful
two
typical

Monday, February 14, 2011

An interview with appliqueheaven...

1) How did appliqueheaven come to be?
" appliqueheaven is supposed to be all appliques and my other shop northernwarmthings is supposed to be things I make...however people keep buying appliques from both shops and i don't get much else done...that's ok...I love just doing...make and do...my first shop on etsy was selling mitt and moccasin patterns and what I had made but thhe price of shipping is so high it made me feel bad....so appliques for now."

2) What do you like Most about selling Supplies?
"What I like the most is the people I meet and what they do with what they buy from me...interesting and creative. "

3) What are your Goals for your Supply Business for 2011?
"My goal is always to do a good job and see what happens. I love having shops on etsy and meeting people all over the world. Once a buyer in Latvia told me her sewing machine didn't work and by email we fixed it...that was memorable.!! "

4) Are you an artist and do you work with the supplies that you sell?
What is it that you make with them and do you have any tips for using your supplies?
"I use the appliques I make...mostly on grandkids clothes and have made plain iron ons to patch my husband's clothes. I also use them in baby quilts that I make for gifts....and i have used them for greeting cards. I used some to decorate a hard plastic garbage can and that was fun. When our snow melts I plan to decorate some big rocks with appliques.

I love selling the appliques as supplies and see what buyers do with them...they often make kids' clothes and sell them in their own etsy shops. Some etsy shops use them to make hair clips or bibs or cards or you never know what next. I have regular buyers who use them for their own kids' clothes."

5) What do you do when you aren't selling supplies?
"I am in my 60's and have been sewing since I was a kid and started on a treadle sewing machine. I love to sew leather and it is especially fun as it does not ravel and looks so rich. When I am not making appliques you will find me making quilts and the last one was bought by our bank manager. "

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Contest Time! You could win a $25.00 gift certificate!

Spring is just around the corner in the

Northern Hemisphere

and we want to be ready for it!

Our First Contest will help our team with that!

Check it out and get involved!

Contest:

Can you design a SPRING themed SOS team avatar?

Create a Spring themed avatar for your chance to

win a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Nomad Crafts Etc!

Plus a Featured Etsy mini spot of your shop

on the Team's Blog at the top corner of the page for 1 week!!

This contest starts today and you will have until

February 27th to create and submit your design.

Then for 1 week we will post ALL of the entries on the blog

along with a poll where we can all vote for our favorite design.

Whoever's design is voted number

1 wins the contest and the fun prizes!

Submissions:

Send your entry as an attachment to me through Etsy Convo.

The avatars must be 170x100, jpg/png/gif.

If you are unsure how to size it-you can send

your picture to me as it is and I will do it for you.

You have from Sunday February 13th to Sunday February 27th

to submit your design-that is 2 weeks!

Rules:

1. One entry per team member.

2.Your entry must be YOUR own design

-but you can get someone to help you

format your entry if you need help.

3. You MUST be a member of the

SOS team to enter your design.

4. Your Entry MUST be Spring themed.

You can sign up to become a team member here.

(Voting rules will be posted when the voting begins)

Please remember that this is meant to be fun!

I hope you all participate and submit a design!

I know you all will come up with some great

avatars and I know I can't wait to see them!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Follow Friday

This is where I will do a log of all team members links

-lets support eachother's efforts to

promote by following Facebooks, Twitters, blogs, Flickrs, websites and so much more!
_________________________________________________
Here are the New Links for Friday February 11th 2011: