ETSY Success: DIY PR

Watch live streaming video from etsy at livestream.com

It feels like long ago, but remember when I spoke at ETSY Success as part of the Vivid Festival?  I promised I would post when my video had gone live on the ETSY site. And well.. I've arrived.

Now you can relish in how truly dorky I am. Truly. Dorky.

I can't watch myself because it is excruciatingly cringe-worthy. But I'll post it so you might be able to glean some PR tips if you need them...

Ok so this is me, with Jo Walker, the Editor of Frankie Magazine. Please keep in mind that just moments before going on stage, I was tempted to get in the lift and disappear for the afternoon.

You can thank ETSY for this video.

Giddy On The High: Etsy Success

Well that was the weekend that was folks. I'd been looking forward to Etsy Success for many weeks, and now #BOOM it's over.

I had such a blast meeting so many creative people, 300 of them, all buzzing in the one room. It was electric. It was such a coup to be part of it - one which I am grateful for. I got to meet so many excellent people - and on the flip side, endured the hangover from hell.

Someone really should have stopped me.

Hangovers are not my friend (are they anyone's?), and given I am a lightweight in the booze department, I feel they are totally unwarranted. I barely have a slurp of champagne before I've got to start tossing back the Nurofen.

But back to Etsy Success. The success of Etsy Success is really down to the people. I've said it before - Etsy has enabled so many creatives to come together and create a global community and business, that they would otherwise not have. Sure you can have a blog, and create community from that, or a Facebook page, but Etsy truly is the meeting place, the marketplace for creative geniuses to come together and share. And sell.

As a buyer, Etsy is like falling down Alice's rabbit hole. I can click through for hours finding more and more gold, right from the comfort of my couch.

In the coming week I'll be posting some more info on DIY PR. I promise I won't mention the goldfish again.

Vivid Festival:: ETSY Success

This weekend I am lucky enough to be involved in ETSY Success – part of the Vivid Festival. I’m talking DIY PR – a really, really practical guide to getting yourself out there. Because let’s face it, promoting yourself can be awkward.

Together with a host of ace speakers, such as Wee Birdy, the editor of Frankie Magazine – Jo Walker, and the CEO of ETSY, Chad Dickerson, it’s going to be a jam-packed day full of tips, tricks and case studies to help build creative businesses.
I am a long-time ETSY fan, and am really looking forward to this event both personally and professionally, as well as meeting some of the cleverest minds in the biz.
You can still buy tickets for the day here – and let’s face it – a day spent in the salubrious setting of the new MCA building, overlooking Sydney Harbour? Super fantastic. Plus there’s bound to be some top learnings from the day.
You can see how the day looks here.
If you can’t make it – the event will be filmed (eek!). You can read more over here.


image via the Etsy blog

For My Sisters

I found these via Marvellous Kiddo. I know my sisters will approve.

For Anna: the pink rabbit clutch
For Choc: the panda bear

From tsurubride - clever, tactile purses ready to be adopted.

PottyMouthMama of The Symmetrical Sewing

I had grand plans for sewing class last night. Grand plans. I thought I'd be coming back here today and showing you at least the front of my cushion for the Doctor.

Instead I came home early and ate cake.

It all started when I turned up with my fabric, and my idea in my head. It's a no-brainer for me. I have the idea, I just don't have the expertise to execute it. But given my sewing teacher's wealth of knowledge, I thought we'd whizz up the cush in under no time.

She pulled out her special folder of pattern ideas. Here's where I should have seen trouble. Trouble with a capital T. Maybe even underlined. There was nothing in this folder that replicated even closely what I had in my head.

I got a piece of paper, drew what she was proposing and realised it definitely wasn't compatible with what I wanted. So when she went away, I started cutting, and as I cut I fiddled around with the layout. I spent quite a hefty amount of time moving things around. Everyone else was a little concerned that I hadn't done anything except move fabric around - but you know peeps, it ain't a competition, and I'm just here to do my own thing.

So I finally got to a layout I started to like. My sewing teacher was on the approach. Her deft hands swiftly rearranged the entire layout, while telling me that "unless it was symmetrical it wasn't going to work". Dots in the corners. Animal prints in the middle. Block colours to break it up. Here's me having a nervous breakdown of sorts.

I'm not assertive. Gosh, I know I need to learn to be, but sometimes I don't want to offend. So in my gentle way, I tried to back out from this arrangement with an - 'I've left some of my fabrics at home so maybe I'll just wait 'til next week to go further'.

Would she have a bar of it? Uh uh.

She started pulling fabrics out of her stash to go with mine. These included a hideous egg yolk yellow that made my head hurt. Some other random bits. And a block of Percy the engine.

I knew someone small (ie the Doctor) would LOVE that block. But really, it wasn't working with the aesthetic I had in mind. I have saved all my bits of fabric. My Japanese buys. My naughty little purchases. I've saved them for something special. Percy - sorry - but it wasn't working. My sewing teacher was shocked.

It was at this point I realised what I needed.

Cake. (And more to the point Stephanie Alexander's Orange cake. Who knew 250g of butter and 1.5 cups of caster sugar could taste so darn good? Ok I did.)

I packed up, feigned tiredness and left. In a jiffy. Before any more of my fabrics could be tainted with Percy-ness. So this is what I have done. Or rather, haven't done. Cut up some fabric. Ta-dah!

Just like Cinderella, I wish a Fairy Godmother would come and tap her magic wand over my head and make me a stellar seamstress. A supreme stitcher. Or maybe I could just dive in and remember, it's just fabric, innit?

Dear Matt,

Ahem. It's my birthday in 69 sleeps. I'm just saying...

Kid Wrangler Required:: Apply Within

For the past few days the Doctor and I have been butting heads like two little billy goats. A combination of overtired mama and defiant child. Anyone want to babysit?

So while he's attempting some 'quiet time' I've been trying to write some thank you notes. I love thank you notes. I love writing them. I love receiving them. And I love great letterpress. Here are some of my Etsy favourites so you can share the love too (and if you babysit, I'll be sure to send you a thank you note or two).

Sarah Jane Studios: sweet, whimsical illustrations, gorgeous cards - you can't go wrong with anything from her shop.

Sycamore Street Press: I've told you about them before, I'll tell you again, witty, quirky and the best stock. I love to love these cards.

Every Jot and Tittle: I learnt about these from one of my favourite blogs ever - Dooce. Such cute, neat gift tags, such bright colours. I've got them. I love them. And I love finishing off a wrapped gift with these tags.

Papered Together: cool, a little quirky, beautiful cards.

And finally, I've been keeping this one a secret, but hey - sharing is caring Dutch Door Press have the most beautiful cards. I love them. Covet them. They are stylish. Frame-worthy. Do you love them too?

Hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve. I hope the New Year holds great plans in store for you! Well will see... I plan to be fast asleep when 2009 rolls in. Boring I know, but I'm not a NYE junkie. Though five years ago tonight is when Matt and I met at a party. Ahhh yes. The night I forgot his name at least a dozen times, and introduced him to everyone (who he already knew) as my husband - and subsequently forgot his name again. Now how's that for sozzled psychic powers?

I Think I May Be In Love. Again.

Is it too soon to fall in love? Surely not? I dumped the bin a couple of weeks back. I'm ready to move on from that garbage. Boom boom!

I have a new crush.

I've always loved Etsy. Since way back when. And now I've found a new favourite to flirt with. Roma Winkel.

To lust after. Check it out. Hand painted softies. So beautiful. So amazing. So cool. Discovered via here.

Anyway - found this one word meme over at allsorts. I'm playing. I'm that kind of gal.

Where is your mobile phone? handbag
Where is your significant other? work
Your hair colour? brown

Your mother? beautiful
Your father? thinker
Your favourite thing? family
Your dream last night? lost
Your dream goal? midwife
The room you're in? messy
Your hobby? writing
Your fear? spiders
Where do you want to be in 6 years? elsewhere
Where were you last night? here
What you're not? busty
One of your wish-list items? house
Where you grew up? Tamworth
The last thing you did? kitchen
What are you wearing? stripes
Your TV? quiet
Your pets? fish
Your computer? laptop
Your mood? tired
Missing someone? Choc

Your car? messy

Something you're not wearing? dentures

Favourite shop? bin
Your summer? verge
Love someone? hellyeah
Your favourite colour? yellow
When is the last time you laughed? bed
When is the last time you cried? today

-----------------------

Won't you play too? Tell me if you do.

Three posts in one day? Must be your lucky day. WOOP!

Ergh, Hi!

I've been at work for most of the day, and I am completely pooped. Work combined with a 10 month old baby who thinks it's ok to be awake from 12:30am - 3:30am means I need matchsticks to keep my eyes open.

I'm off to bed to watch the last episode of Project Runway.

Things I did today:

- unknowingly tooted at a Nun who was driving 20 kms down a 60km road. Oops. Sorry little Nun.
- ate two ice creams - it happens - I deserve it, I'm tired, I can justify almost anything

- listened to The Frames while I sat in stagnant traffic

- bought buttons for the Doctor's pjs - home stretch - woop woop!

And just before I hit the hay, here's an Etsy recommendation. Just how cute are these?

Unfortunately for me, our dollar is the pits, but if it was top of the pops, I'd be stocking up on these babies (and anyway, they're very, very reasonably priced) - they're amazing delicate beauties! Click here to visit the gorgeous shop. Oh heck, once I get paid I am there!

Etsy Love

Quite often you can find me on the internet, spending loads of cash.. Well, dreaming of spending loads of cash, on loads of things I don't need.. Loads of beautiful things. And then when I get to the end of the transaction, I close the screen. I'll share some of my current Etsy love so we can pretend we're shopping together, giggling in the changerooms and all that.

While I'm not doing so well on making handmade goodies, I'm going great guns at buying handmade.. Just don't tell my husband.. Nah, it's all for Christmas presents anyway - don't get your knickers in a knot Matt!
How cool are these knits from Yokoo?? Dang, we're heading into Spring/Summer.. Next Winter, I'm there!

I saw this dress/top from NZ duo AnemoneCrafts featured on Bliss (and subsequently bought it for my baby girl) how cute is that? And it's not pink.

From Melbourne's Peta Pledger this cute shirt.

And now if you thought I had just gone into some sort of fashion-frenzy, I'm going to do a switch stance 180 and show you...


..the most beautiful paper goods from Sycamore Street Press. I bought some beautiful cards from here, and I am going to go back for more, I love them so much.


...I bought this necklace ages ago. I love it. It's so bright and quirky, and - as a double bonus - it's a great nursing necklace because the little one has so much to look at and feel.. PolkaDotThunder has lots of cute and kooky pieces to choose from.

..this gorgeous apple jar from Ladies & Gentlemen... (plus check out their gorgeous blog here)

..and a beautiful selection of vintage pieces from Paper Dolls For Boys.. Check out those chestnuts (with witty captions to boot!).

I'm all shopped out and off to bed. Peace.