greenbeanbaby art

how to run a successful etsy shop...

many of us like to create in some form, right?! and wouldn't it be wonderful if we could bring in oodles of dollars for making what we love?! well, while i am not an expert in this matter,  i DO have a few opinions and ideas on how to run a successful etsy shop... [side note: yes, my own shop is empty for now but it's for a very good reason... and it will be back up by spring]

1. show off your work....

flickr is a wonderful spot to display your work and let others see the goods you offer... while you cannot put prices on your stuff within flickr or have a link on your photo page to your shop , you CAN have that link in your profile... there are TONS of groups in flickr that you can join and this will help you get your goods seen by many others... groups range from specific crafts to illustrations to specific colors to general topics [including an etsy group]

of course, you also have your blog for advertising... before you even put items in your shop, you can show what you're offering... especially if  you are going to sell one of those items [like a unique handmade skirt]... in fact, my big suggestion is making a specific date for adding a ton of goodies in your shop.... this will allow people to get their funds together and anticipate that date you will put it up... even if you have an etsy shop already up, you can do a "grand re-opening" and advertise a month in advance... everyone always enjoys going to  a store on opening day and it's no different than online...

2. but, what if you don't get much feedback or hits on your blog or flickr photos?! how will people even see your advertisement?

if you don't visit other blogs or check out photos of others, no one will know your blog exists... so that means, checking out people's links... go to popular blogs, go to average blogs, and find blogs by others who don't get much hits either... you may find some good online buddies who will inspire you and also give you a bit of confidence... after all, let's be honest- who likes keeping up with a personal blog if no one visits?! may sound superficial but it IS disappointing to find no one interested in what you do...

3.find other spots to advertise...
melissa garrett has a special spot on her blog that supports entrepreneurs... her prices are so reasonable! the first 3 months are free and after that, it's only $5 for an additional 3 months... it's a good start to advertise and it won't break your piggy bank... [note: i am sure there are other blogs and sites that small fees to advertise]

4. for those who do illustrations and like to sell them, try out illustration friday...

now, let's be respectful... if this week's theme is tales and legends, make sure whatever you are submitting really fits into the theme... by entering into such websites, you are advertising... people will discover your blog, your site, and may be interested in buying some of your works...

5. for those who do crafts or other handmade goods, you can submit your work too!
there are many contests out there that you can enter... you can submit your work if it fits... whip up has info on their submission guidelines... they also have whiplash, which is a contest... while you cannot use it to sell your work, it is A GOOD WAY TO JUST GET PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN MAKE... [again, its all about getting your work out there for others to see]... there is also craftzine, which does reviews of work... you can even suggest your site...

6. have a variety of prices and items...

pricing is always tricky when it comes to selling your handmade work... often you don't get the amount you deserve and rarely do you get paid for your time... but of course, you ARE selling to customers and NOT to big magazine clients or agencies... these are people who want your goods for personal enjoyment and not for resale or for advertising... so it's good to have a variety of items with prices ranging from high to low... you can sell your big items quite pricey... and you can have lil doo-dads for small dollar amounts...

here's my theory: there are people who are tight on cash but would love to enjoy handmade work SOMEHOW... for instance, they like my work... while, they may not be able to enjoy a custom illustration, they could afford and enjoy a mini illustrated notebook...  once they SEE how good my work is, they will WANT to save money to buy something more expensive later on... even for those  NOT tight on cash, allowing them a chance to buy something small and inexpensive will give them a chance to review your work... they see how well crafted your item is, and they WILL come back...

7. be willing to adjust your prices for a period of time...

yes,you DO deserve BIG BUCKS for your work but many people don't have extra money to buy unnecessary goods... for instance, people don't NEED a greenbeanbaby illustration... people don't NEED a handknit scarf... these are items that people use, enjoy, want, but CAN live without... however, you can ENTICE people to want your items by having a sale... you can have a one day sale where your prices are slashed by 30% or higher... you can have a buy one get one half off sale.... you can do free shipping for one weekend only... by being willing to adjust your prices momentarily, you WELCOME people of all financial status, into your shop... personally, i cannot afford to buy a $200 coat but if that coat is on sale for $10 [haha], i'll feel like a hotshot for being able to afford such a luxury and will rave about it to EVERYONE... while you don't have to have THAT extreme of a sale, a person can still feel like "wow, i got a good deal! next paycheck, i am gonna splurge at that shop"...

hint: sometimes if you start your shop with lower prices at first, it lures more people in... again, it gives people a chance to buy your work and review it [and rave about it]... you can slowly raise your prices and most people won't even complain... in fact, some may tell you "your work is worth WAY MORE than you charge!!!" and right there, it proves that people will be willing to pay the real price in time... but you have to give people a chance to know your stuff...

8. when you ship items from your etsy shop off to a customer, add on...

write a thank you note... throw in a bit of extra goodies... if you check out that person's shop or profile and see they like buttons, send them a few... or send them a wee bit of pretty ribbon... and of course, wrap your item elegantly!!!! you can buy color tissue paper at the dollar store, so it's not expensive to do this! wrap your items nicely and throw a bow on it... people love getting a chance to open up a gift [even one they bought for themselves]... the beautiful presentation will leave an imprint in their mind... they will see the time and effort you took to send out an item they paid for [and may have slightly regretted if they didn't even have the money to buy it in the first place but was enticed :)]

9. have a giveaway...
you can host your own giveaway or contest, which will help you in a number of ways... one, it brings people to your blog... it will give them a chance to view your site and take a look into your shop... it motivates people to check out your blog more frequently [especially to see if they won]... and for that person who wins, not only will they get a chance to review your work for FREE, they will [hopefully] rave about the win and tell others..

10. lastly, don't get too discouraged if you don't make many sales at first...

give yourself time... give your shop time... etsy is a big site full of thousands of crafters and their goods... while yours is unique and beautiful, it CAN get lost in the site... that is why advertising is important...  that is why it's so important to do something unique with your goodies when they are shipped off... if it takes awhile for a small business shop to succeed and get a profit, online shops are not much different... you put time, effort, sweat, and sometimes tears into your shop and having few customers CAN BE DISAPPOINTING... but don't give up... talk to other etsy sellers and ask them questions... find out what they do that makes their shop successful... again, be willing to adjust prices... be willing to take the time to meet other crafters... and when people compliment you, thank them! thank them for stopping by your blog...thank them for commenting on your flickr... if they inspire you, thank them for being an inspiration... all this will  give you and your goods a good reputation... and in time, it will give you a successful etsy shop...

note: please know that this post is NOT a 100% guarantee of 100% success in the etsy world... these are my opinions based off my experiences as a seller and as a buyer... i took the time to post this in hopes that some of this WOULD be of help :)

life with kids: chicken pox and teeth...

it's amazing how fast life can change... how people change and grow... not even a year ago, there were only three of us in this house [and one big belly]... now there is four... and not even a month ago, isabella was content in crawling and standing... now, she walks everywhere, pushing the tv buttons, grasping for cords, and desperately trying to run to the cat water bowl.... one moment she is in the living room and the next she is walking to another part of  the house... it's  time to get baby gates....

and diego.... well, he is a big boy for sure... and now, he is a big boy with a wee bit of chicken pox... it's not a drastic case- really, only a few bumps on his back and his hands... when he was one years old, he received the vaccine, which i thought was silly at the time... i mean, i had the chicken pox and survived just dandy.... and i always said that when he got older, i'd hunt down a disease infested child and rub him all up on diego... that way, he could have them when he was young and we could get it over with....

but now, we have isabella who isn't even one yet... that means, if she contracts them, she could get them again later on... so the doctor told me to keep them away from each other... that is like telling a kid to not drink milk while eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!...  isabella dotes on her big brother and to keep him quarantined will drive us all bananas...

how so!? well, miss baby girl is FINALLY cutting a tooth [yep, 9 months and without a single tooth to show for]... i mean, you can feel just a teeny bit of the tooth... i am  pretty sure this is contributing to her fussiness... she has been crying [loudly] for everything and anything... the only time she isn't fussing is when she is playing with diego or when she is walking around the house... so see, both kids need each other and it's impossible to keep them apart... so may diego's chicken pox go away fast and may isabella's tooth sprout out... in the meantime, diego is home from school while isabella fusses and walks.... they are quite the pair!

now, where's my pot of coffee?!

the first packages of 2008

meet simone's paper people... aren't they just the cutest lil ladies?! they are tags that are too pretty to use so they will be hung up for all to see... simone and i have done swaps previously and its always a treat to share with her... this is the first time i got a peek at  her paper works... they are so well crafted and clean cut and assembled with perfection... and they make a gal wanna smile :)

she also sent more paper that are shades of black, white, and grays... those colors are not ones i buy often and yet am always diggin' in my stash to find some... she sent so many pretty patterns that will fill the need of such shades... simone also sent diego a mr. cool book... when diego saw it, he goes "oh wow! coooool!" he carries it around telling me that he likes the blue triangle guy :) the chocolates are yummy and the stickers will come in handy... isabella received a book too but it didn't make it into the photo...

look at these pretty papers!!! the purple stack is full of handmade papers ranging with glittery designs and sewn patterns... i have the perfect project for these babies and am looking forward to using them [and working on that project]... the inspirations pack is darling and will also be used... simone sent such a wonderful package and i am truly grateful for her patience, sweetness, and kindness!!!

colin johnson is a wonderful artist, i met via flickr... his paintings are surreal and his collages are an amazing site... well, he was selling a bit of his goodies on ebay, including these original 1979 flash gordon action figures... not only are they collectibles, but they were owned by colin himself... so when he gets to be a millionaire, these will be priceles :) these are mine in hopes that one day, when diego gets MUCH older and has his own collection to save, i can pass these to him [for display and not to play]... in the meantime, they stand in my shelf in the living room.... colin also sent me a slew of other goodies and toys for diego... a swell guy!!

lastly, just a bit more proof that miss isabella is on the go... she is walking better and better every day... my li'l munieca...

all about comics

"the xmen boy insisted on playing xbox 360 while getting x-rayed"

the illustration is finally completed after sitting on the table abandoned during all the new year moments... the background took forever to choose and of course, it's green... and both the wall and  the ground are the same papers used in the computer illustration and the baby screaming illustration... so, it's not that original but it works, right?! i considered on making a goal to NOT use a green background for a month but it doesn't seem feasible [or i am just too stubborn]... either way, this xmen boy has me revved to send  off some game related illustrations to a few companies... on that long to-do list...

"little wally spent his last dollar on a comic book"

and here we have a coupon holder.... the flash has got to be one of my favorite characters  in the dc comic world... if diego was to be a superhero [in the dc world], i'm pretty sure he'd be like wally west here... i'd like to be hawkgirl [without being a traitor].... most likely ramel would be superman, since he tends to go for those leader roles... isabella??!! hmmm, i'm not too sure on what she'd be... batgirl? however, it would be so cool to have the money that batman has and the cave filled with gadgets... and of course, having a butler who could do all the chores and rid the cave of pesky spiders and bats... you must admit though, living in gotham city or metropolis is quite hazardous... home owner's insurance as well as life insurance must be pretty high... [but if we had the money like batman, that wouldn't be an issue, eh?!]

so, what sort of superhero character would you be if you lived in the comic book world?????

[today has been brough to you by the letter x... and the number 22- HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY MOM AND POPS WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR OVER 23YRS AND TOGETHER FOR 3 DECADES]

report #7362A-4

isabella is  walking...

yep!! you read it right... she's been doing the weeble wobble for a couple of weeks but as soon as she hit the 9 month mark, the girl's been weebling and wobbling on a daily basis... you'll see isabella standing near some furniture and then she'll do a 180 and start the monster mash thru the room... she has the biggest grin around, with her tongue just hangin' out for pure balance...  it's a wonderful sight to see, as she is getting her way around the house... diego is the biggest cheerleader around, letting me know every moment she stands, every time she walks, and every turn she makes... lately, i've been getting that report several times within a five minute span [yep, that's a lot of reportin']

the photos don't do my baby girl justice [even though the latter is her taking off while trying to capture this milestone]... however, we have had another dilemma of the electronics... my new camera had to be returned to polaroid for repairs [or exchange]... literally, ramel and i have been encountering a situation frequently... from holes in pipes to leaky faucets to yet another leaky pipe... from computer drama to camera drama... and the moment we relax, a child awakens from a nap or a perfectly working faucet begins to drip like a bad bladder... 2008 began with a challenge and has been testing our patience, our willpower, and perhaps our relationship... these sort of situations are all common- nothing out of the ordinary- but still can be a tad frustrating when they happen one after another... but it can only make us stronger, right?!

so in the meantime, you will see grainy photos again, as the old camera is back in use... artwork is being created but not as fast as i hoped... the etsy shop is on hold for now until early summer... and the website is being worked on slowly and with dedication... thank you all for your continued support!!

a wonder of paper...

meet carlos molina, the paper genius... he's a a Puerto Rican artist living in new york city... and as you can tell by his name and photos [and the title], he loves working in paper too... in fact, he creates 3d paper sculptures which are just absolutely fascinating... they are vibrantly colorful and well crafted... carlos' artwork is truly a wonder...

 how he began working in paper:

"i started working with paper, when I was a little kid about 5 or 6 years old.  I will wake up in the middle of the night and I will not be able to go back to sleep until morning. So I started getting out of bed and started to play and make stuff. Paper was the must readily available material I was able to find. My mother kept a box of old magazines that we would use for our school projects. I would spend hours looking at the images, colors and textures of the different kinds of paper. I would meticulously choose pages by their color or pattern to make my paper creations.

I have a special memory of creating my first nativity scene out of little cones that I made from recycled manila folders as the character's bodies. I then covered them with my chosen pages. I will make tunic sleeves from complementary papers. For heads, I would used small balls of cotton covered with the tissue paper that used to wrap our freshly baked bread from our neighborhood bakery. I remember that my creation was so celebrated by my large extended family. They all thought that I was very talented, strange but talented! ;-)

I also remember making a collage with my grandfather's Social Security check. I loved the pattern printed on them. That creation somehow was not very celebrated! ;-)"

carlos also makes the most interesting paper shoes... yes, paper shoes!!! ironically, there is another carlos molina who happens to make real shoes.... so i decided to ask the paper genius about this coincidence...

"i have been making paper shoes for a long time. i find out there was another Carlos Molina making shoes (although real ones!) when people started contacting me and asking about sizes, etc. When i went to make my website i noticed he was using carlosmolina.com, so i used my full name carlosNmolina.com, with the N."

a wild coincidence! admittedly, i think the paper shoes are far more beautiful... could you imagine going into a gallery showing created to resemble a shoe store? and inside all the shoe boxes are carlos' miniatured sculptured heels?!  a shoe store filled with these miniature paper shoes?! now, that would be a cool gallery showing! but i'm diverting... you can check out more of his creations here... 

feel free to check out his various sites including his etsy shop... he makes the most beautiful 3d paper ornaments, which are perfect for all year long... in fact, now that valentine's day is nearly here, this might be a good gift for your sweetie pie, or your favorite crafty valentine buddy... enjoy :)

note: carlos' official website and carlos' photos

the tale of the computer

once upon a time there was a husband who wanted to get his wife a computer... the husband had a well working imac and this is what she used for several years but she never actually had her own... well, this husband decided to buy her an ibook for christmas... and for 17 days, this wife was as content as could be... however,  there was a tad bit of worry that the computer would crash and she'd lose her files...

one day, the ibook wouldn't turn on... at all... after many hours, she managed to get it on and then once again, it turned off... for days, it couldn't be fixed... one evening, the husband managed to turn it on and retrieve her vital art and photo files before it shut off again... thankfully, those files were saved back onto the old computer [the husband's imac] and he promised to get her another computer...

as her computer was being shipped, the husband bought the software program for the ibook [after all, he had to erase the computer's hard drive to get it working again... perhaps if he could reinstall the program, this computer could live again]... the husband attempted to install the software but alas, the ibook failed to accept it... thinking it could be the cd software, the husband attempted to install it on the old computer [the one that had the wife's files on it]... again, the cd didn't work...

it was a grim new year's day as the old computer's hard drive corrupted... just like that, the wife's files were gone... lost forever... all her scanned illustrations, photos of illustrations, etsy goods, random photos, and ideas were gone... four years worth gone...

to the husband's dismay, the cd he received was bootleg and corrupted not only his computer, but several other people's as well... they were left with a blank computer [with two new/used ones still being shipped] and without any files... the kid's pictures were saved up until a few months ago... the wife tried not to cry as she knew her husband felt horrible... there was nothing that they could do except begin fresh again...

although this wife has no files on her new computer [except for one teeny folder] she is not entirely sad... after all, she has her blog and her flickr... she can retrieve her photos by downloading them that way but of course, that is going to be a long process... she also had to wait to get her scanner installed, simple programs installed, and her vital programs [like photoshop, illustrator, dreamweaver] installed... it's all a time consuming process but at least she wasn't left entirely helpless...

so in the end, the wife received another computer, also an imac... it sits in her studio with internet access and a scanner nearby... she has been working on new illustrations so that she can have files in her teeny folder... the wife is no longer sad, just temporarily inconvenienced... it's a new year with a new computer and a new file folder...

now, just to get that printer working...

what is beauty?!

beauty is a set of notecards handmade by gracie bella butterfly... perfect for using as thank you cards for any etsy sales... these li'l notecards are elegantly made and were a gift from miss gracie... beauty is miss gracie and her sweetness and kindness... i only wish the photo would have done her cards justice... actually, this is a scan [maybe i should've photographed?!] beauty is meeting wonderful and talented people like her who are supportive and giving...

beauty is watching your daughter grow up and take walking steps without assistance [or with any furniture nearby]... today she just hoisted herself up and took 4 good steps before she stopped, stood there, then plopped herself down... beauty is watching her give a stranger the mean look as she clutches for my shirt tighter...  it's nice to be loved...

beauty is trying to get a good mother/son photo while avoiding being tackled and strangled by that son who thinks its all a game... beauty is watching him grow up and talk more and clap whenever isabella stands on her own... beauty is watching him read a few words and seeing him carry a conversation on the phone with his gramma...

beauty is a  wonderful espresso machine... thanks to sweet margaret, she sent such a lovely lovely surprise... now i can finally use all my lactose free milk [that i won't drink unless making hot cocoa]... now, diego can have steamers without us spending money at starbucks... although it's only been 4yrs since i was a barista, i cannot wait to put the nearly forgotten skills to use... yes, beauty is not having to pay for a latte... beauty is being able to make 10 lattes in one day... beauty is having a friend sweet enough to send such a gift...

beauty is jewelry handmade by that same sweet margaret... as you know, i am a big fan of her work... she made this beautiful necklace and pair of earrings...  beauty is being able to look nice using jewelry as a tool... even though i  don't go out much, a mama needs to look pretty to feel pretty... now, just to get some blush and lipstick for my pale face ;)... the beads are emerald green [sorry again, for the lack of photography skills]

beauty is knowing it's a new year to grow, learn, and love... what is beauty to you?! make a post on this topic, and share your link :) i would love to read it!!!!

technical difficulties...

hello all! thanks for baring with me in this new year.... i've been computer-less on and off for awhile... some days i have internet access but no files to upload... some days i have files to upload but no program to open such files... and other days, the woes of computer drama leaves me running to halo for another escape... yes, creating more artwork is a part of my new year's resolution... after all, there is much to do and enough paper to complete it all...

enough excuses, right?! who wants to read a blog full of excuses ridden with more excuses? nah, we all prefer pretty pictures and lovely tales... and while i may not have the loveliest tale to tell, i can show some pretty pictures... this illustration is of isabella late at night... yes, part of our new year's resolution was to get her into her crib to sleep... this meant trying out the ferber method, also known as "crying it out" which is not easy on any of us [and our ears]...

prior to getting her into the crib, isabella used to fall asleep in her carseat with the sound of spongebob music in the background... horrible, eh?! so with baby lullabies playing softly in the background, isabella literally, screams to be held... she will stand in her crib hollering loud enough for the lower tenant to hear... then she will sit in her crib, holding her glow worm and rocking it while it sings to her... after five minutes, i will check on her and lay her down in her crib, patting her on the back... isabella will moan a bit and then relax... i leave and there goes that siren of shrills!!!! after 10 minutes, we do the patting and relaxing... for the first two nights, it took about a good hour for her to calm down and fall asleep... now it only takes a half hour...

a half hour of screaming... if we recorded her, we could make a new version of smoke alarms... that girl has got some lungs on her... such a sweet doll and while i don't like to see my children cry, i REALLY don't like to hear her scream... so with the image of her screaming it out in my head, an illustration was drawn...