Thursday, April 7, 2011

From OnFire For Handmade - This Week's Featured Artisan

Are You On Fire for Handmade?

This weeks Featured Artisan is Jewels by Trish. Beautiful creations by a beautiful person.  Trish uses a wide variety of gemstones, pearls and crystal in her creations! You can fine Jewels by Trish on:

Etsy

Artfire

Facebook

 

You can grab the code for your blog here: http://www.box.net/shared/vz9h4qjk77

Things I've learned because I look 15!

All my friends...and I do mean all...will at one point or another- point out and joke that I look like I'm 15.

"No, you look 12!" Someone else will say and laugh.

It's all fun and games I know...but there is a dark side to this.

To explain, I'm a 23 year old woman, young yes, but I'm an adult. I'm also 5'1, so I'm a petite person.

And you would think, "Well, what's wrong with that? - I'd love to look so young!"

My reply is that - "You really DON'T want to look that young!"

Why?

Because I have always had the problem of attracting the men who like...well...15yr olds...perhaps even 12yr olds. It's disgusting and it's degrading.

I don't JUST attract them. It'd be nice if all it meant was that they would stare and leer at me.

Instead, it has meant I've been stalked home, I've been followed at my heels by an older man with a knife in his hand and an extra large duffel bag across his shoulder (I scarcely got out of that one). I've had men at bus stops try and touch me, both drunk and not drunk. My petite size especially means they do not feel threatened and that I'm an easy target to overpower. I've had men pull off the highway to try and pick me up because I'm walking alone. They will talk to me and ask what classes I take in school...and when I pop out with the 'seriously? I'm not a child, I'm 23!" they are utterly shocked and in disbelief. Even a remark of 'I have pepper spray' does not deter them much as I'm so small I'm easily over powered.


So I have learned....there are INDEED predators out there, but they don't just prey on you through the interwebs - not even if you are alone. Many of these happened in broad daylight. Thankfully though I'm still here in relatively one piece.

Thankfully I also have a nice big german shepherd who is overly protective of me. If I ever feel threatened she picks up on my feelings immediately, and her happy cheery self turns into baring teeth and growling. I can walk outside again, and I will either get looks of fear because of my dog, or admiration because of my dog! I eliminate myself as a target!

I do know...even if my child is 15 - it is not safe for her to ride a bus! Traveling in twos is essential. These incidents were not all that far from each other, but because I look young and I'm a small person, I have attracted predators.

Thankfully i do not have children. I don't know how I could go on each day without worrying. Even when she is an adult!

Or I can make sure she has a nice big dog with teeth!

I would love it though...if I was allowed to bring my dog to work for THAT reason! Because it is not SAFE out there. I wish I could bring her everywhere because she is friendly to strangers - so long as you don't lunge at me or her.

So be careful out there. Because there are predators. I have to be mindful every day I'm out traveling on the bus or the subway, even walking down my own neighborhood where many of the predators approached me and it is very scary!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

My Upcoming Weekly Newsletter!

Newsletters are great ways of letting others know of upcoming Sales, but more importantly, it also gives exposure for old and new Artists both well known and undiscovered. I want to feature Sites that other Artists or Buyers might be interested in!


Newsletter Goal

To get YOU noticed and to offer great deals to people who love them. I love working with Artists, and there is so much amazing talent out there that I want to share it with others. I want to feature unique talent and different and unusual work. I want to help my fellow Team Members on Etsy and show the world how awesome they are! We have holidays and we have seasons, lets share our Spring clothing, jewelry, soaps, candles, umbrellas....you name it! There is no limit to the fun we can have!

How frequent?
 
I'd love this to be a twice a month Newsletter sent out on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month. That is my goal and it is an attainable one with your help!
  
How do you get in on it?

Reply to me with your talent you want featured, your upcoming sale or your event by Sunday to get in on the following Monday. Room is limited on each Newsletter, so contacting me quickly is essential.
Provide me with a CLEAR crisp picture of one of the items related to your sale or your event. If you want to be featured, provide a clear and professional looking photo of yourself and tell me a little bit about yourself and your work. Do you have an event on your Blog? Provide the details with the link to the Blog Event. Link me to the item that is on sale, or to your Shop and provide your name.
Not everyone can be accepted, and I will get back to all submissions. I am looking for a variety of different products - everything handmade of course. I will not saturate the Newsletter with similar items.

I want...

- handmade
- vintage
- suppliers
- bright photos (white background only)
- crisp photos
- link to your shop (or blog for blog giveaways and events)
- what's your sale and when it starts and finishes
- coupon codes

If you want to be featured, I want...
  
- unique items
- hand made
- professional looking photo of you or your work area
- a paragraph about you and your work (will also be featured on my blog in greater detail)
- link to your shop 

Please contact me ONLY through these ways. (I can't chase down every social network I use to find your submission)

Or contact me through Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/sahetah


How do I get exposure?

Promoting of course!
Would it not be awesome to see yourself in a newsletter and share that with friends? Subscribe and shout about it to everyone, share the love! Facebook it, tweet it, stumble it, share on Etsy with your Teammates, on your own Blog and even to potential customers! With everyone sharing and loving it and seeing YOU and your work featured, they will be impressed and love you!


What is not acceptable?
I can't accept everyone as there is limited space on each Newsletter, but if I can't accept you now - I can perhaps do so later.  

What I don't want... 
- Resellers
- blurred photos
- dark photos (exceptions for featured artists as long as the image is clear)
- Shops not on Etsy or Total Art Soul 
- nude or overly provocative content
- adult toys


What will this Newsletter look like?


It will look GRAND! With clear crisp photos, it will look neat and professional.  Here is an example one I have made so everyone can have a glimpse of what it will be like!


What will you get for subscribing?
A 30% discount coupon code sent to you that you can use ONCE in my Shop for your entire purchase!
So what are you waiting for? Subscribe and send submit your sales and offers!!
Contact me here:

Sunday, April 3, 2011

And how do you Burlesque? - Saturday's Feature

The movie Burlesque was great. I loved the dancing, there was a decent storyline but it was lacking strong, heart throbbing tragedies. It had the potential of being a stronger movie, but who cares - we were there to watch the dancing and the leg kicking.

The movie reminded me of two favorite Shops and what they had to offer.

What movie you say? Well here is a clip of one of the dances. Christina Aguilara is the Main Character in this movie.




With that said, I'm sure you know exactly the kind of things I'm about to show you!



I have never seen Greeting cards quite like this before, and they are certainly hard to forget. All of the cards are made of new and recycled materials all put together to make sassy dresses, masks and handbags.

Here are some to catch your breath!!


 Carole Art Deco Dress



Diamond Princess



Breakfast at Tiffany's



Are they not gorgeous? These are great greeting cards for the women who appreciates and loves vintage, or perhaps someone who just watched the movie Burlesque!

Check out her site for more great greeting cards. This is just a small sample that does NOT do the Shop justice!

Byslvar's Boutique Greeting Card Shop


The next Shop is for those with daring and sass. Nothing is more like the movie Burlesque than Burlesque costumes!!




Crash a Bachelor Party with your girls all dressed up in Burlesque outfits with the Bride taking the lead? That's the FIRST idea that came to my mind when drooling through Olgaitaly's Shop. Then of course there are Costume Parties, Halloween, Cosplay, and a whole bunch of other things. Perhaps a Burlesque Theme Wedding?


Black Iris



There isn't just the costume themselves, but there are also handmade accessories too! Check out this great, rich red plume headband.




Circus Corset



Alice in Wonderland


Are you drooling yet? I know I am! Check out these shops, they are amazing!

(Each image is linked to it's Etsy Shop and Item so please browse and enjoy)


Melissa

Saturday, April 2, 2011

A day out on the Town with a Camera and some Jewelry

It's been a stressful week, and winter full of surgeries. Thankfully that's behind us now, but I had my own doctor appointment to be worried about.

A few weeks ago I had what felt like a 'pop' in the back of my head, followed by a feeling of release. It was a painful but not an unbearable experience. However, when I thought that was the last of it - it was not. For a week following, every day I would feel a sharp pain in the same spot for a few seconds, and a cooling sensation in the surrounding area.

A visit to the doctor who checked me out from top to bottom says whatever it was appears to have passed. (for a week prior to the visit I had felt no more pain). We believe it was a small clot, but perhaps not large enough to get completely stuck. Perhaps I should lay off the coffee so my blood veins in my brain don't shrink so small.

I did however discover I have week lungs, I'm at high risk of Bronchitis, I'm prone to kidney stones (Which explains the pains I get in my sides from time to time) and I really don't feel like passing another kidney stone again. Lastly - as I suspected, my entire digestive system is completely messed up. Several years ago I worked, but had not enough money to put food on my table.  Such is the way of life. I was 25lbs underweight, and my digestive system has not recovered since.

The doctor's visit was followed by a few tough days to get through, but Friday came and it happened to be a fairly warm day with lots of sun, and the first time in a long time I went out to enjoy myself. Many hours of walking, some posing beside a fabric shop led to some decent pictures of two new necklaces I have made in the past week that will soon find themselves in my Shop.



Faceted Ultramarine Blue and Deep Purple AB finish Glass Bling Necklace









Amethyst Stone and Peacock Pearl Bling Necklace










I have many more to make like it before these end up in my Shop. I took my stroll down Toronto as a chance to pick up some supplies. I'd love to keep these for myself, they are sooo beautiful, and purple is a beautiful color on a woman!