Happy New Year!

Tomorrow is the start of 2011 - I wish you all health, wealth and happiness for the New Year!



This past year on Etsy has been a busy one. I've had almost 300 sales, have posted items to the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Maldives, Brunei and of course the UK and Ireland :)

I'm not really going to set myself New Years Resolutions in terms of goals for my business this year, but I do plan to blog more regularly, start a newsletter and set up a Facebook page for AMIdesigns.

Whatever your plans for 2011, I hope you achieve them :)

Merry Christmas!

Here in our house excitement is running high as Santa comes tonight. So I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas for tomorrow. May Santa bring you everything you wish for :)

Craftcult Treasury Widget

I might be a bit late to this, but I've just discovered the craftcult treasury widget
The widget can be used to post live, clickable versions of your Etsy Treasury lists on your blog or website.

You simply enter your etsy member name, decide if you want to post a list made by you or featuring you, decide on the size of the treasury and finally if you want it to be a snapshot or dynamic (changes as changes are made to the treasury)

You then click on the 'Get widget' button and simply add the code to your blog or website.


Thanks to CatherineAhern for featuring my Navy Pearl Cluster Bracelet in her stunning Navy Winters treasury.

Friday Round Up

Today is the last Christmas shipping day from the UK to USA, so in effect international Christmas shopping is over. Although my sales have been steady throughout November and December they haven't been as mad as last year. Maybe it's because there are so many new sellers on Etsy, maybe I just need to rethink my marketing. In fact, maybe I need to consider marketing LOL!

I've not been making many new things for my shop, as life has a habit of running away from me at this time of year. However I have some old things back in stock.

This Red, Silver and Grey Memory Wire Bracelet is back in my shop.


And making a return is this Burgundy and Silver Pearls Memory Wire Bracelet


And finally, a new thing! Purple and Pink Pearls Memory Wire Bracelet

AMIdesigns

Pantone Colour Selector

I came across a thread on the Etsy forums tonight which may be of interest to anyone who likes keep ahead of trending colours.

It was linking a couple of articles about the Pantone colour forecast for spring 2011. Just click on this link and you will be able to get a look at all the trending colours.

According to an article in The Independent 'Honeysuckle, a dynamic reddish pink, will be defining the mood of 2011 given its "uplifting" qualities.'


I think my Dark Pink Pearl Cluster Bracelet is pretty close in colour don't you?

Craft Fairs

Last year I got so fed up with poor fairs that had totally stressed me out beforehand, that I made a deciscion not to do any other than the one at my sons school this Christmas. But I actually found that I was missing them in a strange way, so ended up signing up for 2 others last minute.

And maybe I was just lucky, or maybe I've grown more experienced at what sells at these fairs, but I did my last one on Sunday and I've really enjoyed them and consider all 3 of them to have been successful.

For me, the nicest thing about them is that I get to make things that just don't sell well for me online, so I get to challenge myself to come up with new designs. The worst thing about them is when people take a quick glance at yet another jewellery stall and walk past without even taking the time to look at my work properly.

I think one of the things I've learned is to judge the fairs before agreeing to do them. In previous years I did all fairs that I found out about and on a couple of occasions just about scaped my table price. This time round I only did fairs with a small number of sellers and it has worked well.


Grey Pearl and Blue Crystal Necklace

Mondays Featured Seller

Today I'm featuring the work of fellow UK chat thread seller OneStopPamperShop Here you will find a yummy mix of candles, votives and gifts.

I love this idea of the 12 days of Christmas candles, with scents such as mincy pies, orange and clove and mulled wine.


And how cute are these Snowball candles?


And finally, how about this personalised Photo hurricane candle lamp?


Check out her shop for more goodies :)