Elytra Giveaway!

You may have noticed things have been a bit quiet of late.... over the last few weeks I have had a number of things keeping me busy in my personal life.
BUT - Good News! I am back on deck and celebrating with a giveaway!

 

What is in the giveaway?

One lucky winner will receive the following great prize:
1 pair of Elytra Thai Jewel Beetle Wing* Earrings in your choice of Brass or Silver findings.

*ethically obtained wings

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!!!!

If the original post on Facebook reaches 50 shares, I will add more to the giveaway!
I will include a matching Elytra beetle wing necklace for the winner!

Giveaway:

Entry is super easy!  You must be a fan of our Facebook page.  If you ARE already, confirm just below via Rafflecopter. Or if not LIKE us via Rafflecopter below and confirm.

1 more additional entry can be obtained by subscribing to my newsletter. Click the Newsletter signup tab on the right side bar of this blog and enter your email address.  Again confirm via Rafflecopter stating your email address or already subscribed.

2 additional entries can be gained by sharing the original image on my facebook page. Type shared once you have completed this step.

That's it! 
Entry is open now to Australian residents only who are aged 18 years and over.  

I will cover the cost of shipping to your Australian residential address.  

Entries close at 9.30pm on Friday 16th August 2013.

(NZ residents may enter on the condition that they agree to pay registered postage costs of $22 for delivery of prize, US residents may enter on the condition they agree to pay the $27 for registered postage if they win)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Market Stalls & Events - Part 3

My apologies for the delay in posting this but I knew it would be a BIG topic and I needed the time to sit down and do it justice!

Today is the much dreaded, but very important topic.. of what to do when things go wrong!

It's all about perspective!

So you poured your heart and soul into getting ready for the markets and getting stock ready and you feel like all your time and effort was wasted!

Now... first up... before you lament and moan that you had the WORST market EVER! Let us look at a few things from a different perspective to see if it really WAS the worst ever.

The first thing I want to ask is: How many business cards or flyers did you hand out?
As much as we would like markets to be all about a bulging wad of money that we can do snow angels in when we get home, the reality is much different. We need to change our view and see markets as a great source of advertising. We have an opportunity to meet our customers in person, let them touch and feel our products and explain to them why our product is so special. This is SOOOO important as each business card you give out goes home with a potential loyal customer who will fall in love with your brand.

Lots of other things can make us FEEL like it was a bad market day and in fact when we get home and count up our money, sometimes the reality is that it was still a pretty good day. So what is it that can make us think it was the worst day ever?

• Never, ever compare!!! You might be thinking you are having an amazing day till the stallholder next to you tells you how much they sell. Always keep in mind EVERY business is different and it is easy to feel disheartened that they are selling so much and you are not. This can be for many reasons, product difference included.
• Atmosphere - Sometimes things around you on the day can affect how you think you went. It might be cloudy or dusty or you may even be next to the stallholder from hell who wants to whinge about every little thing in their life... including this market! Don't let those things affect how you saw the world that day.
• Baggage - What baggage did you bring with you on the day, were you tired, did you spend the day thinking about how that Uni assignment is not going to write itself, did you wonder if your husband fed and clothed the kids or if they are running around the neighbourhood naked and begging for food? Leave those things at home before you come to market and spend the day thinking about how amazing it is that you get to do this and spend a day doing something that is just for you!

Who's to Blame?!?

OK I am not naive enough to think that you will never have a bad market, in fact I have attended many!
But lets break it down and look at most of the situations that may come up and assess what can or can't be done and who is to blame in each situation.

Blame it on the rain:

By no means am I a Milli Vanilli fan, but I did think this fitted nicely lol!
The weather is one of those things that in reality there is no-one to blame. If it is an outdoor event all you can really do is check the weather forecast in advance and make the decision as it gets closer as to whether you will risk your products or not. Yes, you may have had to pay in advance, however market organisers also have advertising and hire fees to pay and whether or not you attend they still have to pay the bills. So you need to make informed decisions about whether to attend or maybe look for indoor market alternatives.

Very Little Sales:

Now this is the one that cuts the deepest! You pour you heart out into your creations and nothing or very little sells! This can be for a number of reasons.

• The economy - lets be realistic here.... many families are struggling and if you sell a non essential item like jewellery, well the chances are that your sales may have dropped. There is no-one to blame in this situation, except for maybe the politicians and good luck getting a solution there! What you can do to minimise the issue is to create a cheaper range of products or encourage multi-buys eg. buy 1 for '$x', buy 2 for '$y'. If people are still not able to buy, then simply smile, be friendly and talk to them. They may not be able to buy now, but hopefully down the track you will have made such an impression that they will search you out and purchase from you when times are easier.
• An unknown - People have a fear of the unknown and like to fully assess a newcomer (especially in rural areas) before they purchase. In general your first market in a particular area or at a particular market will not usually have great sales. There are exceptions to this, but in general this is what I have found to be true. I always try to attend at least 2 markets before I make a judgement call as to whether a market is viable for me and my products. There is no-one to blame in this situation and all you can do is be extremely friendly and talk to everyone and make sure they know that you are someone that is ready to serve them when they choose.
• Your products - Your products may not be right for the type of clientele at that market or if you sell a seasonal style of product you may have chosen the wrong time of year. For example selling swimwear in winter will probably not get a good result. If you have not made good sales take a quick look at your products and check your prices with friends and family to see if they are reasonable. Did you do your products justice in the way you presented them? Did you have enough stock and enough variety for your customers to choose from? This area relating to products is the one that you have the most control over and you need to constantly assess what reception your products are receiving.
• Lack of stallholder diversity - Unfortunately sometimes you will attend a market where there may seem to be a glut of similar products to your own. A good market organiser will do their best to ensure this does not happen but these things do happen at times. How can you combat this? Ensure you have a point of difference, work out what it is that sets you apart from the similar stalls and work on promoting that to your customers. Present your stall well and provide a display that really draws the eye. Check the 'feedback' section further down on how to address this if you feel this situation may have been prevented by the organiser by either approving less similar products or by not placing you in an area where you are close to competitors.
• Your attitude - I love that old saying of "you catch more flies with honey". How you treat your customers and potential customers will directly affect your sales or follow on business. Customers want to see a happy smiling person and someone that is interested in them as a customer. There is a fine line though, that you do not want to cross... do NOT be one of those sales people that customers fear will crash tackle them in the hope of making a sale!
• Lack of customers - this is one of those hard areas and I will go into that now as the next main area.

Poor Attendance:

Sadly, I have been at markets where you could fire a shotgun across the room and still not hit a customer!
There are a few reasons why this occurs, some of which can be preventable:

• The weather - as stated above, the weather can play a large part in customers not attending. Even with an indoor venue if it is a freezing cold, rainy day then most customers will prefer to sit at home in their pj's by the fire. All you can do is hope the next one is a nice sunny day, grab a hot cuppa tea or coffee from the food vendor and have a fun chat to your fellow stallholders. After all, why waste a perfectly good day out of the house away from the shackles of ironing and cleaning!
• Conflicting Events - Most market organisers will ensure that their event does not clash with any other existing markets in the area prior to working out their dates, however there will be the chance of one-off events every now and again being on the same day. In the case of a new market starting up on conflicting days to other established markets in the area, I would provide feedback to the organisers as they may not be aware of this. This will allow them to look into whether to retain their date or change it. If the one-off event is a large well publicised event there is not much you can do... except try and find out if that event needs stallholders for next year lol.
• Lack of Advertising or Communication - Sometime a market may be poorly advertised and it may not be clear to the public when it is on. I would definitely provide feedback to allow them the opportunity to rectify the situation. Check the feedback section further down on how this can be done.
• People forget - I know this sounds silly, but they really do! The town I live in has a market that has been going for years and years and years..... and yet I still hear people ask in surprise 'when is it held?' or even more often 'oh yeah, I forgot that was on last weekend'! There is only so much that a market provider can do to get people to be aware of the market, sometimes people simply do not get the message, even despite driving past the road signs every month.
• Did you tell people where to find you? - I know this sounds silly, especially in the case of large markets with advertising budgets.... but hear me out. No matter how big an advertising budget a company has, there will always be people that do not see or hear the advertising campaigns. They simply cannot reach everyone, this is why word of mouth is so important in getting things across! If you, and the other stallholders like you, each told 100 people about the market and they all came... how AWESOME would that be! If you don't tell your customers, who are your loyal and repeat clientele, where you will be, it will limit your sales on the day. They are already committed to your product and it is an opportunity to buy from you in person rather than online.  Social media is a great outlet, use it to inform your customers of where to find you. If you get behind the market, your customers will do so also.

Bad Organisation:

(Image of my cufflinks at markets courtesy of Scarlett Studio)

 
The best laid plans may still fail. There may be times where you arrive at a market and the area you thought you were allocated is no longer yours or the space and conditions are different to what you expected. Sometimes this may be due to stallholders pulling out and needing to reshuffle things or because the weather has altered or made muddy areas that are not suitable for access. The best way to avoid this causing too much stress is to always arrive on time and plan for the unexpected. Always ensure you make a list and check it twice so that you do not forget anything vital for the day.

There are times however, when your organisation is not the issue. I have attended markets and turned up on time only to find that the market organiser has not arrived and there is no one there to tell you where to set up. Or I have turned up and there is a volunteer who has no idea what is going on and what should be happening. Sometimes it is just a simple inconvenience and there is not much you can do, but if the organiser has caused something that has made things very stressful then ensure you give them constructive feedback in relation to it.

Rude Customers or Stallholders:

It can be very disheartening, but I have come to expect at least one rude customer at any given market. This may take the form of someone loudly telling their friend that 'I could make that' or any variant including the dreaded I could make it cheaper or better. What is worse is when they don't say it to their friend, but actually tell it to you after you have shown the item to them and described its great features. I know every inch of your body wants to throw the items in their face and yell at them "So make it then!". However simply smile and mutter something polite and move on to other customers that are more worthy of your time.

I have also noticed over the time I have done markets, that some markets will attract what I affectionately call "Market Nutters", these are those people that are somewhat lacking in their social skills, will loudly and inappropriately comment for all to hear and they make you want to sink below your table and hide till they have passed. What makes it worse is that they seem to never miss the market, yet they never seem to buy anything. My strategy has always been to look busy and talk to other customers in my stall or if all else fails... "smile and wave".

As mentioned earlier in this post rude stallholders can also seriously cloud your view of the day. You may also get rude people or stallholders asking you to tell them who your suppliers are, this is something you worked hard on and it can be a kick in the guts to find that someone expects you to tell them so they can make the item themselves. With all of these rude people, do not let them get to you. Repeat the mantra "smile and wave" to yourself and if all else fails imagine yourself to be Rico the penguin and contemplate what weapon of mass destruction you could throw at them.  **Please note: I do not condone ACTUAL physical violence of any kind**

Feedback: What is the best way to give someone bad news?

If you have looked at all the angles and discovered that 'yes' there were some issues with the market that perhaps the organisers should know about or could rectify, then here are some points to keep in mind:

• Take a DEEP breath - Before you rush off into battle with all guns blazing, take time to think about what you are going to say. Never act straight away, but go over in your head how best to address the matter so that your emotions are not running so high and you say something you will regret later.
• "If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all" - I love this saying and it is so important when providing feedback of ANY kind. People are always quick to deliver bad news but can I ask... have you ever told a market organiser what went well and thanked them for a good market? If you do have the intent of saying something negative or constructive, always start with a positive, start with what they did well and then suggest that perhaps this other area may be improved further to meet the high standards they provided in the other areas.
• Stick to the facts - Never add in anything that you yourself did not experience on the day. How can you give them feedback on something that you are passing on second hand. I am sure those people or stallholders that had those issues will pass that on themselves. Only give feedback on what directly affected your or your customers that raised issues with you.
• Think about the person you will be addressing - Always tailor your feedback to suit the person you are delivering it to. If it is a market run by volunteers and retirees (as many are), then cut them a bit of slack as in most cases they are trying to do what is best for you but may not have the resources to do so as effectively as other markets. You wouldn't want someone to swear at YOUR Nanna so treat them with the respect they deserve for giving up their time to try and help you have an avenue to sell.
• Everyone is human - Remember that everyone makes mistakes and no matter how much time the organiser has slaved away on this market there will invariably be something that gets overlooked or crops up unexpectedly on the day. If you are talking to them straight after the market, be aware that they might well be exhausted from a big day too and the last thing they want is confrontation. Tread delicately and wear a reassuring smile.

Now that you have addressed your concerns... go open your cupboard, have a glass of wine, and put the bad day behind you! Think on all the positives that came out of the day and look forward to your next event which will make the bad one seem like a distant memory!

PLEASE NOTE: If a market continues to go in a downward spiral or the organiser is rude or agressive when you politely address your concerns then you may need to weigh up if the market is a viable option for you. There are times when you simply need to cut your losses and look for alternatives that are more suited to you and your products, what works well for one person's products may not suit anothers.

STAY TUNED....

I hope this information has been helpful, stay tuned for the next installment which will be all about "After Market Follow Up".

Market Stalls & Events - Part 2

A big thankyou to all those that gave me lovely feedback about my last post. I am so happy that some of you found it a good read and hopefully there was some tips in there that were useful for you.

Today I am going to get to the next scary topic... market day itself!

"To market, to market, to buy a fat pig..."

So market day has finally arrived! You have spent all week packing, pricing and sorting through all the things you are going to take. If it is an outdoor event you have probably checked the weather forecast about 50 times by now, and more likely than not you spent a very restless night going over all the things in your head that you need to do and take.

So what do you need for market day?

Market Must Have List:

Here is a list of things that may be useful to bring with you on market day:

• Packaging and lots of it! Let's be optimistic here and think that we are going to sell LOTS of goodies.
• BUSINESS CARDS! We spoke about branding and name recognition in the last part, this is vital. Not everyone will have money on the day BUT everyone is capable of taking a business card.
• Tables and chairs (if not supplied)
• Tent Marquee (if outdoors and not supplied)
• Full length tablecloths. The full length allows you to place excess stock or empty boxes beneath your tables and out of sight.
• Calculator. Please remember this, in the excitement of a large sale I myself have miscounted and found afterwards that I gave a rather large dicount to the now ecstatic customer.
• Pens and Notepad. Chances are your pen will decide that today is the day that it will run out of ink so ensure you bring a spare. A notepad is a great way to take custom orders or jot down ideas on the day.
• Display items or racks, height is a great way to draw attention to your stall and items.
  
• Spare products. Bring a variety of products to suit a variety of budgets, spare stock can be left under the tables or in the car.
• Rubbish Bag. Markets are run in many cases by volunteers, please make their job easier by taking your rubbish with you at the end of the day or disposing of it thoughtfully.
• Water bottles and food. Some markets or events you may not get time to leave your stall to go buy food or there may be limited food options. Bringing your own ensures that you get much needed nutrition and hydration throughout the day.
• Panadol. Better safe than sorry, sometimes the bright sunlight or loud noises of a crowd can get too much.
• Scissors, blutack, cable ties and sticky tape for unexpected adjustments or repairs.
• Price tags or labels. There will always be one or two products that you may have overlooked when pricing.
• Adequate Cash Float. This can vary depending on your price range of products, how many people are at the event etc. For myself I usually have a float of $100-$200 depending on the event.
• Basic Tool Kit. For myself as a jewellery stall I always to try to bring some basic tools and supplies. Not everyone has the same sized wrist or neck and the ability to make on the spot adjustments can mean the difference between a sale and no sale.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses. If it is an outdoor event PLEASE remember sunscreen! I have come home looking like a lobster WAY too often because I thought I would be fine under my market tent.
• Tissues and Lip Balm. On a cold, dry, winters day, you will thank me for this addition.
• A cash tin or apron. I LOOOOOVE my market apron!!! You will not catch me wearing a bum bag! My market apron was made by the lovely Little Pink Carnation and was worth every cent! It has lots of pockets to stash various items in and a few zippered pockets to keep my cash secure. I have a lockable cash tin for when my apron gets a bit too full of coins and the like.

Buddy Up.

This is one of the BIG things that I think is really important for you. If you have not already done so, find out if any other stallholders that you may know will be attending that you can setup near. If  you don't know of any, and the sites are not allocated, look for the stallholder that seems the most relaxed and prepared on the day and setup near them. This is valuable for a few reasons.

Number one - inevitably you are going to require a toilet break at some stage through the day and unless you are lucky enough to have a friend or family member in attendance with you, you will need someone to keep an eye on things while you are attending the call of duty. This also applies if you need to get some lunch or stretch your legs.

Number two - if the person beside you is a seasoned stallholder you have a wealth of information right beside you, ready to access! They will be able to tell you all about the market you are attending and can hopefully give you some valuable tips specific to that market. This is the MOST important reason for buddying up and can start to build a network of knowledgeable contacts that you can ask questions of when they arise. They may even have suggestions of other events you could attend.

Setting up.

One of the biggest tips I can give you, is to arrive early. Do not turn up half an hour before the market starts and think you will be able to get everything done that you need to do. If they allow 2 hours prior to market start for setup, then use that time to it's full extent. It is your first market and you may need to fiddle with things a bit to get everything setup the way you want.
If you want some tips on how to create a great display, this link by Gazebos Asutralia has some great tips.

(Image of my necklace at markets courtesy of Scarlett Studio)

YOU!!!

Did you know that you are the most important part of your stall? And I know you think that, "of course I am part of my stall". But are you really? Many stallholders can make the mistake of thinking that just being there and having a great stall is enough. This is not the case. YOU are the most powerful advocate for your products. If you sell jewellery, are you wearing any of it? If you sell clothing are you modelling any of it? If you are not going to wear your products why should other people?
Plus there is the fact that no-one else knows your products as intimately as you do. You know how many hours went into creating that particular item, what supplies you used, how many hours of research you did. If you see a customer looking at your products, tell them about it. Show how passionate you are and why it is such a great item. If you are not excited about your goods, they will not be either.
One of the biggest things that turns off a customer is seeing a stallholder sitting down and not being involved in their stall. I know it is not possible to stand all day, but if you are sitting down are you still engaging with your customers?  Are you greeting each one with a smile or a "hello"? 
Make every customer that steps inside your stall feel important... because they are! Without them your day is just a day out, lugging heavy boxes of stock around.

Children.

At most markets there will be children and I have a few things that I do with my stall that may not be something you wish to do, but I am mentioning it anyway as it brings me something much better than money... happiness!

As part of my stall I always place some cheaper items towards the front of my stall in little baskets or chests. Why do I do this? I remember going to markets as a child with my hard earned pocket money and searching out that beautiful item that I could bring home and treasure. You may not make much money from this but trust me when I say that having those little treasures will make a child's day!

 (image of my products courtsey of Just for Mum's of the South Burnett)

I have always had the policy with my stall that I give out a few free things to children - always asking the parents permission first though! If I see a child in or near my stall that is upset, giving them a little gift to take their mind off it, costs me almost nothing but is invaluable to that parent who can now browse your stall in peace. They may not buy anything but you have gained two things: a warm fuzzy feeling seeing that child's smile and a parent who is grateful.
The same applies to those children that seem to 'touch' everything. You know the ones, they are followed by a stressed out parent who is constantly saying "put it down" or "stop touching!". These kids love to touch sparkly things and your $200 necklace may have caught their eye! By giving them a stamp or a little hairclip you have probably saved yourself hours of trying to reconstruct a necklace that has been smashed to pieces on the ground or drooled on. Again, seeing a child's smile is worth any minor cost you outlay to achieve such a result.

Have some fun!

Remember that market day is not just about sales! You are meeting potential repeat customers, you are networking with other businesses, you are advertising your product and you are seeing firsthand the joy that your product can bring people.
Don't spend your whole day worrying about how much money you have made (in most cases I don't count my money til I get home) but allow yourself to enjoy the day and simply smile!

"... home again, home again, jiggety jig!"

You have spent a BIG day at your first ever event!
You have now deserved a well earned break. Go home, put your feet up and have a nice soothing cup of tea and if you have made enough money... spoil yourself by ordering some take away for dinner.

STAY TUNED....

I hope this information has been helpful, stay tuned for the next installment which will be all about 'What to do when things go wrong!'

Market Stalls & Events - Part 1

Getting Started:

I have been attending markets and events for over 3 years now. By no means am I an expert, but I have gleaned some valuable information along the way. I am also privileged to be part of a local network of handmade small business owners that have enabled me to further add to my knowledge in this area.

Quite often I get asked by businesses, new to the market scene, for tips and advice on how to get started or how to overcome difficulties with markets. So I have decided to blog about it... so that it may be of use to others out there that are in a similar situation. And partly because I am lazy and it will save me re-telling things lol.

Please note that most of the tips are given from the perspective of a handmade products business but many of the tips can be applied to other businesses also.

Let's start at the beginning!

Ok... now I have my sister to blame for this, as she loved this movie and I had to endure many viewings of this as a child! So now everytime I think of the phrase "let's start at the beginning"  I always get this Sound of Music song in my head!!!




The most important thing to start with, is to find and locate the events and markets in your area.  In many cases your local visitor information centre will have a list of them. However, when in doubt, my old friend "Mr Google" is invaluable at searching them out!

Choosing your market or event:

Then comes the hard part! You need to look at the market, maybe even go along as a customer once or twice, and determine whether the market is suitable for your products. For example does it get the type of customer you are searching for? If it is a cheaper flea market style event then I can guarantee you, you will not get people wanting to pay for high end items! They are there for a bargain and nothing more. These markets can be a great stepping stone in the beginning when you are trying to find your feet as the site fees are usually much cheaper... however in the long run I do not think it does your handmade products justice by selling there and competing with the made in china products that are mass produced at a price you simply cannot compete with!

So sit down and ask yourself some questions, when choosing the event:
1. Who is my product for?
2. What is my price range? (I will get to pricing your products at a later date)
3. Is this market specifically catering for business like my own? (there are many markets out there that are only for handmade businesses)

What makes you unique?

Another important question to ask when looking for a new market to attend is: how many other similar sellers are there at the event with products like my own? If there is an oversaturation of a particular product, as a new seller (who has not established a regular market clientele yet), you can easily get lost among the other established businesses. In the case of handmade jewellery this is usually quite hard to avoid as there are many of us.

Some market organisers are great at their job and they will try to restrict the amount of sellers of a certain product.  This does not always happen though, so before you take the step out to setup a stall, ask yourself... what is it about you or your products that is unique? Do you have a story to tell? When the customer comes and looks at your stall is there something that will set you apart from the others? Are your items packaged beautifully? What will your display look like?

Branding, branding, branding!!!

If you don't already have a name for your business NOW is the time to do so, before you even setup a stall you need a name! You need business cards, labels with your business name on your product and you need signage! Why? Because to establish a regular and repeat clientele, people need to associate your products with a name and a face or logo. If it is a large market, when they get home they will go through their purchases and if you have clearly put your brand on a product they will remember that name again and will start to associate your name with that product.  This means that at the next market if they see your business name again they can easily remember it and return. Signage and labels and cards don't need to cost the earth, Vistaprint is a great place to get them cheaply (especially if you are on their mailing list you can take advantage of their free offers).

Part of this whole branding thing is having an online presence. This is vital! Some customers may not have cash on them that day, but if they have an avenue by which they can contact you inbetween markets to purchase or enquire it WILL make your business much more successful.
There are a few options for this when starting out. Facebook is one of the easiest and most cost effective... why? Because it is FREE!! Set up a business page on facebook with all your vital details.
Another option is online stores like Madeit, this is a great way to have an online shop without the overheads of your own website fees. You pay a listing fee for each item you list and can setup your own storefront complete with individual banner. Think of it as an online handmade marketplace, so that when you are not at market you can still sell your products... and not just to your nanna and her friends. ETSY is another online selling avenue and if you don't have an account with them yet you can use this link to get you started with 40 FREE listings, which is a great way to test the online waters!

It's those little touches that make all the difference!

Think now, about how you are going to display and package your products. Simply throwing a few items on a table will not get you many sales. There are lots of great ways to package your products, again tools like google and pinterest are great ways to look up ideas. It does not need to cost much, but make sure that your packaging ties in with your products. For example, why package your items in bright girly pink bags if you are selling mens products? Sure the bags may have been cheap and on sale, but if they don't match your products it can be somewhat off putting.

In terms of your actual market display, when first starting out ensure you practise your setup at home. Set everything up on a table at home. Now take 5 steps back and REALLY look at your display. Does it have height or levels? Does it stand out? Do you have too much or too little on the table? Ask a friend or partner to have a look at it and critique it for you also. PLEASE bear in mind that if you are attending an outdoor event you check that everything will be secure and sturdy and that the wind cannot knock things over. From someone that had the fun of picking through the grass to locate 144 pairs of earrings that had been knocked over, please listen to my advice to avoid a similar situation. I got my Dad to reinforce the base of the earring stand with a big block of timber after that event!

Booking in.

Now to get those contact details for the market or event that you have chosen and book your site! Some markets will have special requirements in regards to what you need to bring, others will provide some things for you. Ensure you read ALL market information thoroughly!!! You have only yourself to blame if you do not ask the questions you need beforehand.  If there is a contact number for the market organiser, save it into your phone or write it down. You never know when you may need it or what may come up. Familiarise yourself with the stall layout if you have been given a map of your location.

Most of all: Good Luck with your decision to take this big step into an unknown new world!

STAY TUNED....

I hope this information has been helpful, stay tuned for the next installment which will be all about market day itself!

Steamy Giveaway!

I have had this ready for a week or two but life got in the way, as it is want to do... but now here it is!

 

 

What is in the giveaway?

One lucky winner will receive all of the following great prizes!

A Winged Steampunk Ring from artistic designs - Flights of Fancy:
Vintage watch mechanism set on high quality sterling silver plate stampings all microscrewed onto an adjustable silver filligree ring base. Valued at $70

A Fabric Stretch watch from Me & Leigh Creations:
Made with elastic to fit all size wrists. Valued at $22

Handbound and covered Goldfish Notebook from Katherine Appleby Art:
Hand covered and bound as a hard cover notebook using custom designed fabric that has been treated and transformed into strong book cloth.

Sponsors:

Please click the images to be taken directly to the giveaway sponsors websites.

Giveaway:

Entry is super easy!  You must be a fan of our Facebook page.  If you ARE already, confirm just below via Rafflecopter. Or if not LIKE us via Rafflecopter below and confirm.

1 more additional entry can be obtained by subscribing to my newsletter. Click the Newsletter signup tab on the right side bar of this blog and enter your email address.  Again confirm via Rafflecopter stating your email address or already subscribed.

1 additional entry can be gained by sharing the original image on my facebook page. Type done once you have completed this step.

That's it! Entry is open now to Australian residents only who are aged 18 years and over.  

I will cover the cost of shipping to your residential address.  

Entries close at 9.30pm on Friday 10th May 2013.

(NZ residents may enter on the condition that they agree to pay registered postage costs of $22 for delivery of prize)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Butterfly Garden Giveaway

One of the main reasons I decided to start a blog was to have access to a better platform by which I can do giveaways.

So here is the very first one for my blog!

What is in the giveaway?

One lucky winner will receive all of the following great prizes!

 

A Real Butterfly Wing Hairclip from artistic designs - Flights of Fancy:
The butterfly is ethically obtained and has been specially sealed and then handpainted in layers of resin. Once the resin process is completed the two halves have been reassembled to form a natural 3d pose.

A pair of Glass Pearl Earrings from Kayla's Kreations:


These beautiful silver and purple earrings were made by my 8 year old daughter Kayla.

 "Vintage Butterfly" bunting from Couture Crafts:

 
This One of a kind bunting measures 2.6m long with 12 double sided flags per bunting.
Handmade using quality & designer fabric.

 

 

"Coming up Roses" Bib Front Onesie in Sz0 from Molly and Mama:

This bib front onesie is beutifully embellished and RRP is $20.

Handbound and covered Noah's Ark Diary from Katherine Appleby Art:

Hand covered and bound as a hard cover diary using fabric that has been treated and transformed into strong book cloth.

Sponsors:

Please click the images to be taken directly to the giveaway sponsors websites.

 

Giveaway:

Entry is super easy!  You must be a fan of our Facebook page.  If you ARE confirm so just below via Rafflecopter or if not LIKE us via Rafflecopter below and confirm.

1 more additional entry can be obtained by subscribing to my newsletter. Click the Newsletter signup tab on the right side bar of this blog and enter your email address.  Again confirm via Rafflecopter.

That's it! Entry is open now to Australian residents only who are aged 18 years and over.  

I will cover the cost of shipping to your residential address.  

Entries close at 9.30pm on Friday 13 April 2013.

(NZ residents may enter on the condition that they agree to pay registered postage costs of $22 for delivery of prize)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PROJECT: Easter Egg Cages

DIY Project.

Goal: To create an Easter gift for the non-chocolate lovers!

So much chocolate gets given at Easter time and it seems such a waste, well... unless you love chocolate!
I however am not a huge fan of chocolate and while I know that many of you cannot cope without the indulgence, I am quite happy to have alternatives.

So what can you give to people like me, or those that may be diabetic, or even to your childrens school teachers who probably get passed so many eggs from their little charges that they have no idea which student gave them which eggs?!?

I thought this was a cute alternative and could even be used as a table centre piece at Easter time.  To be honest it has enough cute, woodsy charm that it could be used all year round or even for wedding tables!

What you need:

Miniature Birdcage ornament ( I got mine from the Reject Shop)
Sphagnum Moss or similar
Artificial Eggs (in abundant suppy at the moment)
Feathered Butterfly (can be found out florists or cheap shops)
Dried Vine (can be found in bundles at florists and dried flower stockists)
Glue

Instructions:

Grab a small amount of vines. Using your hands gently twist it around and around into a circular shape. Tuck and weave any loose straggyly ends into the edges of the nest. This creates a bit more stability and more of a nest feel. Gently place it into the cage and re-shape as necessary. Add a few touches of sphagnum moss to bulk it out and to hide some of the gaps in your nest.

Add eggs... I fiddled with a few different combos of colours and amounts of eggs, but honestly nothing beats the simplicity of 3 beautiful eggs!

Then get your feathered butterfly and glue it to the outside of the cage.

All done!

Admittedly not the most difficult or time consuming project but I think it is effective nonetheless. Even better is the fact that it costs well under $10 per cage!

Quist Quest

The life we plan to have:

Each of us go through life with all sorts of plans and ideas of what road we think our life will take.

As a child we may plan what job we may have or how many children we may have. As a teenager we dream about the person we may marry. Once married we plan our dreams together of what shared ideals we wish to pursue.

However sometimes life does not go the way we wish it to. Our dreams of how many children we will have, may be shattered by the news of infertility. Our plans of growing old with our partner may get cut short due to illness or disease. The idea of having your own mother watch you raise your children may not come about as you lose a parent early.

Whatever life may bring, there is always a certainty that you simply cannot plan everything and at times there may be devastating situations that cross your path.

So what happens when our plans go catastrophically awry:

Some people are markedly changed for the worst through such circumstances and depression and anger may haunt them. Others become amazing people that shine forth to all that see them and hear them.

It is this second type of person that I want to aquaint you with!

Meet Rebecca:

I spent much of my high school years with a friend named Rebecca, and though our lives are no longer so closely entwined due to distance, I was shocked to hear some devastating news last year.

At the end of last year I found out that my friend, who is very young and has 2 beautiful young girls, has stage 4 cancer!  She has 5 cancers in her liver, many in her stomach lining and 1 large one in her colon. 
Now for most people this would shatter their lives completely... and I am not saying that it is not shattering their lives. However, my beautiful friend is displaying such strength, faith, courage and beauty throughout all of this and I do not think anyone that has contact with her has not been affected by it.

You can even watch a Youtube video of Rebecca talking about how this new part of their life affects her and her family and her faith and courage here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vSHIXwcLRE

So why am I telling you all this?

No matter how strong a person may be and how many amazing people surround them and support them in their difficult journey, there are always huge costs involved with the type of medical treatment that Bec needs. I may not live close enough to help clean her house (and those that know me and my house, know that that is not really my forte anyway), or have lots of money to donate.... but I do make jewellery and I would love to help in some small way.

For me a butterfly is all about transformation and new beginnings! 
I know Bec is on a new journey and I beleive she is being transformed into an even more amazing and beautiful woman!
So I am going to auction off one of my blue morpho butterfly wing hairclips (pictured below) with all the money to go to Bec.

If you want to bid on the item head over to my facebook page and put in a bid, the higher it goes the more I will add in for the winner. Auction will end on Wednesday night at 8pm.

 (image courtesy of heels & bows photography)

In the meantime if you cannot bid on this item, please keep Bec and her family in your prayers.

International Day of Happiness

Today, March the 20th, marks the International Day of Happiness.

Which leads me to ask: "What is it that bought you happiness today?"

Here are some of the things that have bought me happiness today:

 

I had some images arrive in my inbox today from the amazing Heels & Bows Photography! Photos like this of my work, make me DELIRIOUSLY happy! I was asked to lend some pieces that would suit the lovely Amber's eyes. I think the silver and blue tones of the pieces I made suit her perfectly and I am so delighted that what I pictured in my head worked so effectively when combined with the model and photographer.

Ahh... soothing chamomile tea. Happiness is sitting down to a lovely warm cup of chamomile tea while responding to emails and just taking a minute to breathe. The cup also brings me fond memories of my husband and kids giving me this cup as a present. And seeing the chip on the edge reminds me that I have beautiful children who, despite the fact that damages may occur, will empty the dishwasher every day for me.

Large parcels of supplies, like this one that arrived today, make me feel like a child on Christmas day. I love digging through and pulling out all the awesome pretty things and can't wait to play and create with them!

In my life I have SO many things to be thankful for and things that make me happy.

I hope that you also found some measure of happiness today.

Who am I?

So this is my first journey into the big, scary world of online blog's!

It was suggested by some of my Facebook fans that perhaps a blog detailing my creative journey and some diy projects would be a good read. Since then I have been debating where to start? The beginning always seems to be the best place, so here goes...

The creative journey begins:

I am very blessed to have been raised by a Mum that had a love for making things and instilled that in me from a very early age. So many different art or craft activities were lovingly and patiently shown to me. I have memories of FIMO clay, hobbytex pens, paint, plaster, fabric puff paint pens, crosstitch, long stitch and some weird plastic melt stuff that you could make jewellery from. When I was in high school Mum taught me how to make jointed teddy bears too. Most of my high school years I spent sketching various images and drawing fashion outfit designs in moments where I was bored or had free time. I also filled notebooks with poems and songs that were filled with the usual teenage views towards love and friendship.

The creativite journey becomes essential therapy:

Fast forward to 2009... and I am in one of the darkest moments in my life.  I am struggling with severe daily chronic pain which makes me barely able to get up out of bed or walk around the house.  This alone would place a strain on anyones mental health. Add to this the fact that my amazing mother passed away only a few months prior and that I have a 1yr old and a 3yr old who are relying on me, and I can tell you I was not in a good place. I was very blessed to have amazing, supportive people that could help a little bit with the kids and the housework here and there, I don't know where I would have been without their support.

As part of my health issues I was sent to a pain management clinic. One of the first questions they asked, in the initial interview, used to find out more about your health and lifestyle, was "Do you have a hobby?". I had still been dabbling in various creative pursuits up to this point and thought the answer was yes.  A week or two later found me pulling out a beading kit that my mother in law had bought me, I figured that I may as well do something while I am lying on the couch. I completed the kit and found I enjoyed it and it helped to distract me. So I indulged in that great pasttime of internet shopping and I looked for some supplies to make more things.

Creating jewellery gave me a great feeling that I had not found in other creative outlets, I will admit that my first pieces were in no way anything fantastic and in fact were quite basic, but I loved it! Don't get me wrong it was not a magical switch that made everything better, I still needed medication and lifestyle changes to cope with the pain and the depression of dealing with all the things happening in my life at the time, but it did help immensely.

The journey takes a new turn:

I then had the encouragement of some amazing people that would be instrumental in me taking this journey even further. A few lovely ladies from my church recommended that I should start selling my jewellery as they really liked it and could they buy some. Of course I said 'yes' because there was no way I could keep the masses of jewellery I was starting to create but I couldn't stop making them either.

The biggest encouragement however came from the lovely Judith from Beads Online. I had started to buy some supplies from her and was asking her lots of questions about different techniques and supplies. Judith was so patient and helpful and even encouraged me to submit some designs for her website's inspiration gallery at the time. Through Judith's encouragement I started to broaden myknowledge and skill base and found that the internet was a great source of knowledge.

September of 2009 saw me create my very first real design, I say that because it was the first design I really planned and thought about and tried to tell a story with. And thus my Secret Garden Choker was born!  Not only was it what I consider to be my first real piece, it also won a design challenge too! You can find details and an image of the piece here:

I still have this necklace and I don't think anything could make me part with it.

The journey is always growing and changing:

So since then the journey has continued.  It has had its' up and its' downs but I can say without a doubt that I LOVE what I do! From it's beginnings I have progressed over time to taking different steps in the journey: creating a website, doing markets, having featured artist articles in magazines, creating projects for magazines and of course meeting so many amazing people along the way!!!

(Image courtesy of Fable Photography)

So this is me (my apologies for such a long story) and I look forward to sharing the rest of my creative journey with you.

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