Inspiration Knows No Bounds...

My inspiration knows now bounds, because even when I'm sick & tired  POOF! there it is...

So I'm laid up on the couch for part of this morning, not feeling too stellar, keeping an eye on the rugrat while Disney plays on tv.  And in my moments of I'm pretty too damned tired and icky feeling to sit up...I have this idea pop into my head.  While I usually send an personal email to my customers when I ship something, Storenvy has allowed me to make a more personalized shipping notice that does the same thing.  Any care instructions I send within usually, if they're applicable.   And I always try to remember to send a business card or two for both of my businesses, including a few to hand out to lucky friends.

Image used courtesy of Echoland

Customer service however often entails a real connection and personalization to ordering handmade.  It's not a requirement but it goes a long way towards making the customer happy.  Some people include cute hand or computer made tags.  Others include notes, and my friend Sarah of Echoland wraps hers in the most adorable little parcels.  I've also seen some of the branding packaging of Freckle Fox Boutique which is too cute for words even!

Image used courtesy of Freckle Fox Boutique

Tangent complete.  So my thought...it's a craft my mother started and one that I know with great care & skill can look absolutely fantastic.  Card making.  As I'm a major DIYer I always prefer to make something from scratch rather than buy it pre-made.  I think my customers will appreciate this, but really I'd love direct feedback!  (I do plan on adding cards to the store at some point regardless but this would be a nice jump off point in the mean time.)

So what do you think of handmade cards?  Do you have any you've received that have brought a smile or giggle out?  Have examples you want to share?  Post in the comments below!

Happy Crafting,
Aradia
of
Aradia's Hand

"Anchors Away" House Slippers Custom Order - Part 1

So first off let me just gush...I love my ball winder, any chance to use it is grandiose to me because it's just fun and it brings back some memories of playing with the one my grandmother had when I was little.

I'm taking a short break because I'm just all aflutter over this custom order.  Months ago I came across this fantastic pattern designer, Mamachee of Etsy, and she had the CUTEST house slippers ever.  Well originally I bought the pattern for myself, along with two others.  And while I have yet to make myself a pair (I know for shame!) I am now starting my fourth pair, and the second of nicely embellished ones.

Speaking of my grandmother I'll be pimping these out with vintage metal buttons emblazoned with an eagle holding an anchor.  Which to quote my customer:  "These are really cool and have an old school/military feel to them".  I couldn't have said it better myself!

To cap off the nautical theme I'm using Loops & Threads Impeccable Worsted in Aqua & True Gray, so it'll be like a cool misty seaside morning, with that touch of fog over the water.

Enough popping in though, my hands are itching to whirl my ball winder and fly with hook & yarn to whip these up, I can't wait to see them!

Be sure to check out Part 2 (to be linked soon!) to see the finished product and any updates!  In the mean time, peep my last custom pair made for a dear friend who loves skulls as much as I do!

Happy Crafting,
Aradia
of
Aradia's Hand

September Featured Artist/Crafter - Kristie of Aquarian Elegance

Kristie's Bio:
A wife of a US Marine and Mother of two boys and another little one on the way due in late February, I love to use my creativity and imagination while exploring local beaches with my family. In my spare time I create one of a kind hand crafted jewelry and beach life home decor.

1. How long have you been doing crafting?
I have been crafting for many years, from a very early age, I have always been interested in arts and crafts.

2. What inspires you the most?
I love being out in nature. The sights, the sounds, the peace and solace that one can find in nature, I find a lot of inspiration within nature. I also gather much inspiration from other artisans.

3. What is/are your favorite materials/supplies?
My favorite materials are: seashells, glass beads, metal charms.

4. Do you have a favorite tool?
I love my hot glue gun!

5. What is your work space like?
My work space is generally my kitchen counter or my dinning room table. I would love to have a real home office but for now, with wee little ones, I work within the sight of my rambunctious critters.

6. When do you find the most time to work?

I have a special time of the day which I call “Mama Time.” It is usually between the hours of 8:00 pm and 12:00 am. I get the bulk of my work done then.

7. How does your work fit into the rest of your life?
I love that I can create and do something that I absolutely enjoy within my home where I can be with my family at all times. My husband is very supportive in the sense that he offers me time to work and helps out at craft shows and festivals when he is able. My boys love to be involved as well.

8. How often a week do you get to work?
I have a goal of creating 2-4 products a day. With children, it doesn’t always work out that way but when my creativity is flowing, it is generally easy to accomplish.

9. Do you sell your work? Directly? Indirectly?
I am currently selling online. I also participate in various craft shows and festivals in Virginia.

10. Do you have a business (on or offline)? Consign?
I have four online shops. I have recently been offered to sell in a few cosign shops in the area and am waiting for the right offer and opportunity to be able to sell in gift shops and or boutiques in my area.

11. Do you have a website? Blog? Facebook profile or fan page? Myspace? Twitter? Pinterest?
Yes! I am on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter as well as Blogger. My websites are listed below.

12. Where do you feel your work fits in your market? (Do you concentrate on high volume, low volume; do you make multiples or one of a kind only; Walmart or Bergdorf Gelman?)
I would love to see my work in small town gift shops and floral shops. I am waiting on the opportunity and if an offer arises, I would be delighted! Almost every item that I create is one of a kind. My inventory currently numbers between 400-600 individual pieces. 

13. What is your favorite part?
I absolutely love doing custom orders. I love the challenge and the positive feedback I get from happy customers!

14. How did you get into crafting?
I have always enjoyed working with my hands, it would be safe to say around the time of preschool is when I got into arts and crafts. It is just something that never gets old.

15. Favorite deceased artist? Why?
In an art appreciation course that I took in College, I studied artists such as Monet. I really like the paintings of Monet. I like the way he captured things with feelings, capturing nature allowing the viewer to experience the light, the sounds, the water, the earth within the paintings.

16. Favorite live artist? Why?
I really love artists who tap into nature especially expressing awareness for the planet either through sculpture, crafting with recycled materials.

May your treasure lead you to the beautiful waters of our land.

Need your own seaside inspired treasures?  Long to have the beach in your home even if it's far away?  Brighten up your decor and accessories with a little Aquarian Elegance from Kristie!

Aquarian Elegance on Etsy

Aquarian Elegance Blog

Aquarian Elegance & Aquarian Elegance for Kids on Facebook

Aquarian Elegance on Twitter

My Pinterest

Thanks for tuning in for our Featured Artist/Crafter of the Month! We'll see you back in October with our next feature!

Branding 101: Consistency is Key

We all know that familiar red dot with the larger red circle around it... Target.  Then the two tailed mermaid of Starbucks which is modeled after Melusine.  The big, bright yellow M, or golden arches, of McDonalds.  How about something more obvious - Walmart, Michaels...the list goes on.  These are all stores or businesses, and also brands.

When I started my foray into re-vamping my business "branding" came up a lot.  And honestly I was at a bit of a loss for what it meant given that the context was never quite clear.  So if you're in that boat let me give you a paddle and help clear things up.

Your branding is the image of your business.  It's the name, the font used, the colors, and any logo used to represent your business.  It's also you, yes your face.  For big brands like the ones mentioned before, being human isn't such a big deal.  For small businesses however, representing yourself & your business as one entity is essential to your success.

The thing about branding is being consistent.  You want your logo, name, image to be so common place, that a stranger sees it and immediately knows who/what it is.  I know this can be tough for the artsy types.  You get pulled into the myriad colors, shades, fonts, and other stylizations to create your image.  The issue is that confuses people.  Sure it may be the same name, but when you used Arial here, then Georgia there, or some block font, or fancy script - it's hard to tell whether it's even the same thing.

As my business coach said to me while we discussed branding, your branding is the clothing of your business.  (Share this tidbit with your followers!)  For me that really hit it home and cleared up all of the vague references I'd been battling with.

So you know what branding is, now what?

Quick Tips for Good Branding:

• Be consistent.
• Same font.
• Super duper tip:  use a font that is free for commercial use.
• For your website:  stick to 2-3 fonts.  1) Logo font, 2) Heading font, 3) Body text font.
• Same logo.
• Use color & black and white.
• Have several versions and sizes.
• Save as a .JPG & .PNG.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help in making a logo.
• Same colors.
• Black & white not withstanding, choose 2-3 colors (remember we want to keep it simple) that compliment one another.  For help with this find an artist or someone with an eye for color & check out www.color-hex.com.
• Be simple & to the point.  (You don't need a fancy stylized graphic.  Your name nicely done in your chosen palette works just fine.)
• Your profile picture should nearly 100% of the time be YOUR face - not a logo.
• Why?  People connect with a face, a person, they develop relationships with people not illustrations.  (Is this an absolute, honestly no, but if you want to connect with your audience it's advice well worth following.)
• Make sure your image is consistent with your branding.  Funny, flirty, serious, ... being out of sync confuses people.

The big picture:  Your branding should speak to your market.  So when in doubt consider who you're trying to reach and what appeals to them most.  And if you've made your branding and you're not selling to who you intended, perhaps it's time to re-think your market!

Praise & Shoutout:  I owe much of my understanding to working with Laura George, a business coach for creatives.  While the information I've provided here is an amalgamation of my own thoughts, what I've learned from her, and research I've done online and through observation if you're needing serious help and can't "do it on your own" I highly suggest hiring her or another business coach.

Happy Crafting,
Aradia
of
Aradia's Hand

Creative Inspiration...All the time!

photo credit: Minerva Among the Muses by Hendrik van Balen

I don't know about you, but I find I frequently have this problem.  I'm settling down to bed, about to start working, or heck even driving and this lightning flash of inspiration hits me.  It seems it's never at a good time either.  When I should be doing something else or focusing my attention elsewhere.

For several years though I was out of touch with this flash, my muse I'll call it.  Why she left me, what indiscretion I performed to offend and cause her to leave I don't know.  I have to say it distressed me greatly as I don't believe in forcing inspiration or art.

But as before (when I was in high school and had my muse speak to me almost daily) I am struck often by the quiet whispering of ideas.  While the end result is much more on the physically creative side these days rather than writing creation is still creation.

So what inspires you?  Is there some invisible unseen force that pulls & directs you?  Are you inspired by things you see?

Happy Crafting,
Aradia
of
Aradia's Hand