2015 Holiday Craft Fair Sneak Peek #3 - Beacon, NY

Today we are happy to share with you the second batch of vendors you will find at our Holiday Craft Fair this year.   We will have a nice mix of members of the team as well as other local artisans and makers bringing you a great collection of fun and unique gift ideas for your shopping list.  Go back and view our first and second batch.

If you are on Facebook and plan on joining us, click here to RSVP!

Beyond The Picket Fence

Pulp Sushi

Hudson Valley Makers and Artisans Cooperative

Indigo Lane Jewelry

Meet Our New Members: The Summer Edition!

As the days start to lengthen and Summer starts to wane, we get new members!  Please join me in welcoming the newest members of the Hudson Valley Etsy team, they've got some great stuff that I'm sure you'll like.

Graceful Feather Watercolor in a Vintage Wood and Gold Frame by KatieGroveStudios

First off is KatieGroveStudios by none other then Katie Grove of Rosendale, NY,  Her artwork is full of feathers and a few other bird related items, such as nests.  Each is displayed is a gorgeous hand picked frame, all vintage or antique.  The feathers are so soft and lovely! She'll also paint a feather you have if you'd like - maybe you have one from a special trip of hike?  Welcome to the team!

Faceted Ruby Quartz, Dumortierite, Kyanite Sterling Silver Necklace by OmiSilver

OmiSilver is brought to us by Mary Rembach of Hudson, NY.  Her shop is full of some yummy jewelry often made with stones and silver, and some lovely linked pieces using silver and/or cooper rings.  Her work was recently at the Emmys! You just have to check out her work! Nice to meet you.

Rabbit Necklace, Sterling Silver by Hoshika

We wrap up this set with Hoshika of Marbletown, NY, but you don't have to have lost your marbles to enjoy this work! Her jewelry is reminiscent of hand cut silhouettes, and often features soft edges and sweet animals. Other pieces feature geometric designs, but retain a certain fluidity that I really like.  Glad to have you here!

Well that's all I've got for you now, but what a great group it is! I can't wait to see what new shops will find their way here to join us next season. And remember shop local! That way you support your neighbors and our community.

Enjoy!

Amber

Join the Hudson Valley Etsy Team!

Are you an Etsy seller in the Hudson Valley looking to connect with other handmade businesses in the area?   The deadline to apply for the Fall is TOMORROW!   You can read more our team criteria and how to apply on our website and while you're there, don't forget to check out our gift guides!

Omi Silver At The Emmys!

We are so excited for Mary at Omi Silver!  Her jewelry made it to this year's Emmy awards!  Jo Miller from The Daily Show wore their Chainmaille Pendant Necklace with matching earrings made of sterling silver and faceted onyx handwired beads.  Congratulations to Jo and Mary!

In My Studio: Instagram 2.0

Recently our very own Hudson Valley Etsy started an Instagram account. I wrote a blog post introducing our new account and how to get started with your own Instagram account (click this link to view the original blog post)

When writing it I realized I had only touched on the tip of the iceberg and there was so much more to discuss. In this follow-up blog I hope to give some more tips and suggestions on how to get the most out of this uber popular social media platform.

To curate the best possible Instagram feed, create a cohesive look. By making sure your photos are of great quality and similar themes it will encourage people to follow you when they look at your profile. 

Think carefully about your posts content, don't be too "salesy." Bring your followers closer to you by showing them behind the scenes photos, your techniques and tips, your studio and inspiration and most importantly your personality.



Mira's Naturals have great continuity in their Instagram feed

Apps and Programs to enhance your feed:

1) If you generally do most of your craft business on a PC or laptop it is still possible to post to your Instagram feed without using your device. Download Gramblr a free program enabling you to select photos from your desktop and download them straight to your feed.

2) Also a useful program for your PC or laptop is Fotor. In this free program it is possible to manipulate, edit or collage your photos. Alternatively from your device you can use the Overgram app to add text to your pictures or Pic Stitch to make a collages and add frames.

Getting Ready For Show Season

Show Season is fast approaching and is already here for some. I usually don't do any before June and since June is almost here I am reviewing my show "necessities" the items that come with me to each and every show, the items that never change throughout the season. One of my most important items is... THE BOX.

It is a pretty little thing that I purchased at a Michaels Store on sale of course.

This holds all of my most important items to run my craft fair business. The items are always packed and when they run out are quickly replenished.

My Square reader really gets a workout! I have yet to try the Etsy reader but it's there just in case.

I have some office supplies, a small stapler and extra staples, a roll of sticky tags, small scissors, calculator, small notebook.

Advil, one for my knees and one to share.

Receipt books, business cards, lots of pens and sharpies.

 VERY important.... Tax ID Number and Breath Mints!

Everything fits neatly into this box.

And we are ready to go.

What items are your necessities?

Any good suggestions to add?

Have a great show season!

Susan DiGilio

digiliodesigns.etsy.com

More Signs of Spring

More Signs of Spring

with the Hudson Valley Etsy Team 

Hydrangea Card by Cynla

Sunshine Pillow by Quarter Life Luck

Little Bunny Keychain - Crochet PDF Pattern by the Pudgy Rabbit

Flower Bouquet Hair Comb by Pulp Sushi

Jody

a Studio by the Sea

Congratulations To Etsy!!

Etsy reached a huge milestone yesterday by going public and began trading in the NASDAQ market (ETSY).

As Etsy sellers, many of us here in the Hudson Valley are able to sell nationally and globally and Etsy has provided the outlet for that.  We are excited to see what the future has in store for Etsy and it's community!

Etsy took over Times Square yesterday to #sellerbrate the occasion and set up a Pop-Up Market just outside of the NASDAQ building.   Sellers were brought in from around the world (!!) to showcase the diversity of makers that make up the Etsy Marketplace.

They could not have asked for better weather and there was a ton of media present for the event.  It was very exciting to witness even if I was just a spectator.  

The Signs of Spring

The Signs of Spring

from the 

HudsonValley Etsy Team

Purple Butterfly Rug by Twisted Thread and Hook

Dancing Pocket Vase by Hester's Studio

Sweet Leigh Flower Earrings by Merry Alchemy

 

"The Sisters" by Digilio Designs

Jody - A Studio By The Sea

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home.

Card design by The Illustrated Rat

Spring Green Is Here

Not to get too ahead of ourselves with the warmer temperatures we've been having in Hudson Valley but we are antsy to see some GREEN! Click the below image to check out one of our latest team Etsy treasuries curated by Hester from Hester Studio.

In My Studio: Creative Block

Storyboard

Creative block is that awful feeling when you just can't get into your groove, your studio gets you down and  your ideas dry up. I periodically suffer from this malady and have found some great ways to help me out of the funk.

1. Make a story board. Rip out pictures you like from magazines and brochures. Stick them down on a large piece of paper.

2. Take a creative field trip. Go visit a museum, gallery, ikea! Or take a class. Seeing what is happening in the outside world might help spark an idea

3. Look at the forecasting reports and see what colors and imagery will be on trend for the following season.

4. Clean up and organize your studio, a long forgotten scrap of fabric or sketch you put away might spark a great new idea. And a clean and organized studio will give you the space you need to create when the ideas start coming.

   

   A page from an old sketch book might spark an idea

5. Talk to store owners where you sell your products. What has been selling well and is there anything customers have been asking for. Look at comments you have received at craft fairs or conversations on Etsy. Customers sometimes give us great ideas for new products.

6. Listen: I have recently found some great podcasts that have really inspired me and given me a lot of good tips for running a small craft business. The best of these is called 'Elise gets Crafty'

7. Silence: Great ideas come sometimes from giving yourself a little distance and space from your studio. Take a walk, a yoga class, go skiing whatever you enjoy and just let your mind relax and see where it wanders.

"Inspiration is hard to come by. You have to take it where you find it." Bob Dylan

Good Luck and Good Making!
Sarah
So Handmade

What's New In February

It's the last day of February and many of us on the team were cooped up in our homes letting our creative juices flow!  Today we want to share some of our new items added to our shop in February.

Agate Necklace from Pulp Sushi

Beard Oil from Hudson Naturals

White and Silver Leather Owl Mask from Dara Gallery

Monster Tooth Pillows from So Handmade

Organic Cotton Long Scarf from Huzzah! Handmade

Ugly 70s Mug from Hester Studio

Silver Heart Felt Cup Sleeve from Quarter Life Luck

Polymer Clay and Mix Stone Necklace from Melissa Anne Designs

There is a lot more where that came from. You can see our full list of February new items on our Etsy page.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We wanted to celebrate Valentine's Day a day early on the blog by sharing a couple of Valentine's theme Etsy treasuries featuring items from our members.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Valentine's Day: Free Printable

Happy Valentine's Day

from the 

Hudson Valley Etsy Team

Print out borderless on 8.5x11" card stock, makes two per sheet, use invitation envelopes 4.57x5.75" 

Link to Free Printable

Visit our VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE for more great gift ideas!

Jody

www.astudiobythesea.etsy.com

Is Your Bowl Empty or Full?

Throughout the year, many of you probably get so many requests: to donate an item for a gift basket, an auction, a charity event or Fundraiser. Of course, we are not in business to give away everything we make, but often, a cause will speak to our hearts and we feel impelled to give.

There is a nationwide organization Empty Bowls through which potters across the country make bowls and then sell them at events to raise money for the hungry in their communities. Sometimes the bowls come with soup (for a $10 or $15 donation). Sometimes they are sold through Silent Auction. Some events have performances and music; others are quieter affairs.

When you are an artisan and do much of your work isolated in your studio, it’s so easy to get tunnel vision. But if we have a gift and a passion and can afford to do so, I believe there is nothing as rewarding as giving back to the community that sustains you.

I’ve been a part of Empty Bowls in Warwick, NY for the last several years, and when the date for this year’s event was announced, I was already feeling on overload from having committed to so many other things, and trying to keep up with stocking the stores I am in, getting ready for shows, updating my Etsy site….writing blogs…you know, the familiar gamut.

Yet there was no question in my mind that I had to make time to start making bowls because the effect of “giving” in my experience has always been life giving. It sustains me, it cleanses my soul, it makes me happy. So if there is an organization that speaks to you and makes your heart leap a little, I encourage you to make the time to get involved. I promise you that the energy you will get will be immeasurably more than you expend and will spark your creative juices in new ways.

Roberta - RG Clay Creations