Friday Finds: Promote Your Shop!

I've found a shop on Etsy that is perfect for all your promoting needs. This shop is called Bitsy Creations, and there's a sister-shop called Bitsy's Greetings where you can find all kinds of great cards and stationary.

But my focus is on promotion items today. Now is the time that shops should be getting the materials they need to get the word out for Christmas shoppers. This postcard would be perfect to include with current orders. You could remind people about buying handmade Christmas presents, or you can promote a sale or just highlight a few items from your shop. Now's the time to start planning, and Bitsy Creations can help with Custom Postcard Design.
Or maybe you've just started your own business and you're looking for a professional logo to start the branding process. It's good to put your brand on your business cards, online or print advertisements, and product labels. Here's a great package to get you started with a custom logo and branding package made just for you.

And last but not least, I think it's very important to include thank you notes in with your orders. And it's even better if you can put your brand on those too. Bitsy Creations has these great customizable Thank You Cards. They're just the right size for including with your orders.

Find out more about Bitsy Creations through her shops, Twitter, Blog and Facebook.
http://bitsycreations.etsy.com and http://bitsysgreetings.etsy.com
http://twitter.com/BitsyCreations
http://bitsycreations.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BitsyCreations/103261504547

Caturday Finds

Here are a few Caturday Etsy items I found while browsing today. Enjoy! :)

Paws (set of 5 cards)
by Heidi Shaulis

Custom Kitty Cat Shoes
by Em & Sprout

Little Enid in Red Chair
by Harry Boardman

Featured Shop: Create a Thought

CREATEaTHOUGHT is a lovely Etsy shop containing all kinds of handmade, vintage, and upcycled items. There are many unique items to choose from including great handmade journals and cards. But for I must admit to being biased toward candle items, so I picked this Vintage Wood Star Candle Holder as my favorite item.

This excerpt from CREATEaTHOUGHT's profile gives some insight into motivation behind the craft.

"CREATEaTHOUGHT's mission is to help you do just that. I provide items that fit your personal writing and recording style. If you find that you are in need of a different style I will strive to create a personalized item just for you! Each journal is created to be unique and one of a kind.

I want to be able to provide you with something that is not mass produced. You will not have to worry about someone saying 'I have that same journal!'"

Also, be sure to check out the CREATEaTHOUGHT blog at http://createathoughtetsy.blogspot.com/

I've put together a sampling of items by CREATEaTHOUGHT to create this Spotlight on ByHand.me. Please feel free to go to this Spotlight to see the whole selection and leave a comment.

Friday Finds

Some favorites I found while browsing today. Enjoy!

Click here to see the full Spotlight on byhand.me.

Cards from Audrey!

I just received this lovely set of 6 handmade cards with matching envelopes! I got them from Audrey at Audrey's Country Crafts for participating in her Crafty PIF (Pay It Forward). (See more about my PIF here.)

I absolutely love these! I am such a card addict! How did you know?? These are so lovely and well made. I definitely recommend everyone check out Audrey's Etsy shop.

I have been a little slow with making the PIFs that I'm sending out, but rest assured they are coming!

So again, thank you, Audrey! You always have such great swaps and fun stuff on your blog! :)

Featured Shop: Susan Itkin Batik

Susan of Susan Itkin Batik has a wonderful shop selling a great variety of batik items. She's got pillows, clothing, cards and more!

What is "batik"? Susan explains:

"The batik process: A design in melted wax is applied to the fabric, which resists the dye. After successive waxings and different colored dye baths, the wax cracks, creating the characteristic batik crackle. When the wax is removed, a unique work of art is revealed."

Even though I love playing with wax I think I'll leave batik to the experts like Susan!

Here are a few of my favorite items from her shop.


Batik Scarf Top


Batik Pillow



Batik Card

Susan explains here a little about her shop and her art:

"I am a batik artist and create batik paintings, wall hangings, prints, home decor (pillows, napkins, runners) and clothing. I also use prints of my batiks, which I decoratively mount, to make into cards for all occasions.

"Much like the flora that inspires my work, batik is an imperfect perfect art. As no two leaves are alike, no two batiks are alike. Just like the colors on a flower's petal, the dyes on a piece of fabric blend a little differently each time. My anticipation and delight in each blossoming flower reflects my hope and joy each time I remove the wax from a completed batik. Through practicing the art of batik, I have found that, to me, there is perfection in the astounding range of colors in the world. The beautiful imperfections in the batik process have taught me to value the unique and enjoy the unexpected.

"I live in northern NJ with my husband and two children. I have exhibited and sold my batiks in the New York metropolitan area since 2003. Most recently I exhibited at the Belskie Museum of Art and Science in Closter, NJ, participating in their second fine crafts show. My cards are for sale year-round at the Belskie.

"And, of course, my work can be purchased at my Etsy shop!"

Etsy shop: http://SusanItkinBatik.etsy.com
Website: http://www.susanitkin.com

Featured Shop: Pine Shore Studio

Helen of Pine Shore Studio has lovely original mixed media paintings as well as cards and ACEOs. This shop is one of my newest favorites on Etsy. The scenes she depicts are gorgeous; Surf's Up is a wonderful example.

Artist Statement:

"Fragmented by rock forms, forests and turbulent waters, these multi-layered landscapes of mixed media define my work. Using only calligraphic brush strokes to defne detail, the mix of color is splashed through an assortment of watercolor and rice papers,papyrus and fibers. My palette reflects the influence of the atmospheric effects that I have witnessed from the mountains of upstate New York to the beaches of the Jersey Shore."


Beacon Pt.




Floral Splash


Artist's Bio:

"Exploring mixed media art has been Helen's quest in recent years. She is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts). A BFA in Graphic Design introduced her to a career in the commercial arts. Freelance and teaching assignments ranging from coloring books to spot illustrations later evolved to include employment in signage and display.
Helen was born in upstate New York. Her childhood exploration of fields, lakes and mountains inspired her early interest in art. While raising three daughters, her interest in painting was never forgotten. Today she exhibits her mixed media paintings at outdoor shows and galleries in the northeast."

You can find Pine Shore Studio on Etsy at http://PineShoreStudio.etsy.com or at www.helenharrispaintings.com. And check out Helen's blog at http://pineshorestudio.blogspot.com.