Boo!

Happy Halloween from my favorite (and handsomest!) firefighter!

Marge

I'm a sucker for adorable baby animal photos...but, I must admit, my heart nearly melted when I laid eyes on Marge.  I adore this photo because it's simple & yet there's so much emotion in her big 'ol eyes...it's like she's looking right at us.  Loads of inspiration & reminders about life (for me!) in these moments when we can really see the feelings, personality & heart of another animal.

Fabric Flower Tutorial

I love making flowers out of things...felt, fabric, paper...and love it even more when they're made from scraps or recycled bit. So I was thrilled to find this fabulous & easy flower tutorial from How About Orange outlining how to make pretty paper flowers! I am imagining a cut up Crate & Barrel catalog would make a gorgeous holiday wreath.....

{image How About Orange}

New Clutches

Ta da! Here's a little sampling of new clutches & new designs. I'm still perfecting a few techniques but am pleased as punch with this new group, I just had to share!  Currently working with a bit more plaid, corduroy sheen, & more snap shut clutches.... coming soon!

Business Bits - Successful Tags for Your Etsy Shop

Seems like we're all hustling & bustling preparing our shops for the holiday season. One major worry for many shops is, "how will people find me?"  It's a valid concern any time of the year. With all that good stuff out there, it can be hard to get noticed. While SEO (search engine opitmization) is a major aspect to tackle, one easy thing occured to me, while brainstorming my "holiday plan" -what about my Etsy tags? Yep, you know, the little words in every listing that is used as search criteria.  Well, what have they done for me lately?

Or, more accurately, what have I done to them lately?

A quick scan through my shop revealed some glaring oversights. Oh, the shame! But setting aside an hour (more or less, depending on the size of your shop) can reap huge rewards.

I tweaked just a few items, updating them with more autumn-appropriate descriptors & words I've found most of my buyers using, voila! They sold by the end of the week.

{image: Sweetly Fallen }

So here's a few tips for checking your tags:

1. Variety:  think beyond what it is, try who it's for (women, hostess, infant), colors (check out a color wheel or chart), feelings (whimsical, modern...), what season it's best suited for

2. Read & Use Etsy's Merchandising Tips: It's a gold mine, really.

3. Check out this Etsy article & list on Descriptive Tags

4. Update Periodically:  Is your scarf a versatile spring layer but now also an autumn necessity? Change it up every so often.

5.  Check out the "Tag Report" from Craftopolis - gives data on what words people are using to find your items (caveat, isn't telling what keywords are not directing to your shop) Or if you're feeling extra inspired, Google Keyword Tool for more info & ideas

6. Edit. Edit. Edit.   I see misspelled words in tags so frequently. What a bummer! It's like giving away a chance to get noticed. Just think, maybe they searched for "turquoise" & you spelled it "turqoise." Chances are, you wouldn't be found.

7. Use them all! So many lovely shops pop in to ask advice & when I check out their tags they aren't using them all. Again, just more missed opportunities.

8. Varied spellings.  Think of your international & regional buyers here (gray or grey or gris, cheque or check, jewelry or jewellry, etc...)

9.  Use them correctly. Nothing aggravates buyers more than searching for a yellow polka dot head band and finding a black silk dress in the search results instead.

10. Reflect on your Etsy convos and personal discussions about your products for guidance. It may be clear that while you refer to your items as let's say, "wall decor" your buyers are writing inquiring about "nursery prints."

Alright, just a few little tips to get our shops all set & sparkling! I love to hear your feedback so please share any questions, tips, or successes.

{further reading}

Working on your holiday plan? Check out my "backward" planning post!
And there is still time to prepare & plan for a successful Open House Event :)

cloudburst

{image: awakes }

I blinked and now it's Friday.

It's been a week filled with curveballs, surprises, disappointments, and miracles.

And honestly all the emotions have left me a little tired & a little disoriented. 
I haven't gotten through that to-do list I had planned on. In fact, I haven't even written the list!

But despite the roller coaster, this week has also been filled with moments that have kept me grounded. Like the afternoon nap curled up with my son at my side & our kitty laying on my belly. Or the autumn morning spent enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with my best friend from college.  And when little Jack discovered Monopoly in the game cupboard and exclaimed (no joke) "how cool is this?!"  It was the trip to the pumpkin patch, the country oldies on Sunday morning, the assemblage of a toddler firefighter costume.  An evening out with so many fabric mavens & inspiring women. And Jack's sweet singing of "Happy on the nose, happy on the nose" ....which I later discovered was his rendition of "If you're happy and you know it." 

Hooray for these little moments to keep me focused in this magnificent, swirling, frightening, amazing cloudburst of life.

Business Bits - Backward Planning for Holiday Readiness

Can you hear it? That's the buzz of the holidays drawing near!  Seems like everyone's sharing their holiday collections & merrily preparing for the holiday rush & excitement.

{image: Sweet Petunias }

I'm trying not to be frantic or resort to panic and instead am planning "backwards." This is a nifty little technique I learned from my teaching days that hopefully can help you prepare your shop for the upcoming season!

What to do? Start with a goal & work back from there- determining all the little things you need to do by what date to achieve that vision.... In effect, you're creating mini-deadlines to ensure you meet your end goal.

To do this, I typically print off two blank calendar pages, one for November & one for December. I mark out all important dates such as my Holiday Open House as well as Black Friday & Cyber Monday and holidays affecting shipping schedules.  From there I also determine shipping cut-off dates for USPS packages (see the USPS 2009 cutoff schedule as a guideline- 2010 is yet to be released).

Then I move backwards & calculate things like this: (example)

by Dec. 20th prepare to close shop for vacation
Dec. 15th ship final holiday orders
By Dec. 1st plan on having 200 items completed & listed in Etsy shop
Nov. 25-29th advertise Cyber Monday promotion for Etsy Shop
On Nov.19th - have house cleaned & decorated for Open House
By Nov. 18th have stock of at least 300 items
By the week of Nov.15th I need 500 envelope mailers
By Nov. 1st winter collection must be completed, photographed, & listed on Etsy
By Oct. 31st send out invitations to Open House

Why is it helpful to plan like this? Well, when we just have an end date (such as Christmas) we tend to focus on that date as our "deadline"- when in actuality there are several mini-deadlines before then and really the 24/25th is not the real finish line....(unless of course you're promoting overnight shipping options on the 23rd). Because of this we often run out of time, save things to the last minute, or drive ourselves crazy trying to get it all done.


Instead, hopefully we free ourselves up for more creativity, other opportunities, and a chance to really enjoy this magical time of year!


More reading? Here you go!
10 Tips for a Successful Holiday Open House
Creating Gift Sets & Packaging for the Holidays
Business Bits - My Experience & Tips for your Etsy Shop

happiness is.....

...the pumpkin patch.

....finding the perfect pumpkin.

....being together.

....apple cider donuts.

    ...family

{even when you're sad because it's time to leave...}



Crisp Autumn Mornings

Hello & Happy Weekend!

We've had lots of exciting & crazy changes in our household this week (more on that later...) But what's really made it hard to focus is the amazing fall weather we've had here in Portland! Foggy mornings with sunlight streaming through, crisp air, and sunny afternoons. So although I was desperately holding on to summer there for awhile, I've finally given in and am embracing my sweaters, hot chocolate, brisk walks, and toasty fireplaces.

In effort to really get some sewing done I contemplated the possibility of moving my sewing machine outside. Is this possible? I don't know but it is so tempting.

I did, however, take my new fabrics outside to ponder & find inspiration. Here's a lovely little pile of corduroy, plaid, herringbone, and wool. Soon to be transformed into new clutches....

....if I can just get myself focused :)

Autumn Treasured

I am constantly amazed by the abundance of talent & beauty on Etsy. And never more so than during this time of year...it's like shops just burst with harvest lovelies!  Recently, I've been intrigued (ok, more like addicted) to the pounce feature which let's you find shops who are still awaiting their first sale. It's like panning for gold :)

Anyhow, I've created a treasury filled with eight new shops & eight favorites from shops new to me. Come by a take a peek, it's a little mix of autumn goodness!

Story of My New Brand Design

Still getting used to my new brand design over here. Sometimes I find myself just looking at- it's a mixture of love & pride I think.

But it really does feel like "me." 

I thought I'd share a bit of the design process....

So once I had finally decided that I had grown out of my last design & was looking for a transformation...I had to make a decision about how to get it done. And true to my stubborn, independent, must-do-it-all personality, I decided to give it a try myself!  

I considered embroidering my name on linen, using an extreme close-up of one of my products, or piecing together bits of my favorite fabrics as the background. But in the end, I didn't want to be committed to a specific print & since my shop doesn't focus on embroidery that went out the window too.

Sooo, I began focusing on colors...which probably became obvious with my excessive posts on color mixes & palettes! This is a little collection of color I made which felt like a good representation of me & where I wanted my shop to go.

So then, the design. I thought about it for about 2 weeks & then one day I just knew what I wanted; a handmade flower on top of linen.  I went for yellow on gray & scrapped the teal. That night I made a few sketches playing with the layout:

As for my typeface, I imagined either a typewriter-y or my own handwriting. Here's a few attempts:

Ultimately, I chose a typewrite print I found online.

This mood board I made from shops & items I'd stored away in my favorites, helped me narrow down the feeling, style, point of view I was hoping to achieve.

Then, off to gather supplies.... 

I found a lovely gray linen & a thick butter yellow felt.  As soon as I could, I hid myself away in the studio & made gobs of flowers. Felt poppies, linen chrysanthemums, cotton magnolias. In the end, I went with the felt poppy...the little flower that has become such a big part of my shop!

With the linen ironed & the flower perfect, I set up my photography area next to our big living room window.  Satisfied with what I saw, I handed it over to my husband who cropped it, added my typeface, & set the pixels. And then, quick as that, it was all done.

Hooray! I danced & jumped & squealed around the house...coming back to look at it again & again.   And two weeks later, I'm still admiring it......and the process I took to get there.

Business Bits - 10 Tips for a Successful Open Studio Event

Considered hosting an Open Studio Event? If not, you should! They can be really fun, rewarding, & open new doors.

Last November, I held an evening event for friends & family, and I'm planning another this year. So I thought I'd also list some quick tips that come to mind as I prepare for this year's bash!

{image: The Merriweather Council}

1. Set Up Shop- wherever that may be. Don't let not having a perfect studio hold you back- another part of your home, a friend's pad, or perhaps team up with a local business (many spots have little rooms they'd love to rent out or share for free!)


2. Set the Mood- spending a little time & money on decor & refreshments can go a long way. My party consisted mostly of moms who were getting out on Saturday night, I wanted to make it extra special for them!

3. Invites- get the buzz out early (now!), send invites consistent with your brand & give them something to look forward to, and be sure to include people new to you- or at least mention that invitees are welcomed to bring friends & family

4. Internet Advisor- I set up my laptop to show off my shop.  I had no idea how many people would be new to Etsy & online shopping in general. It was really exciting to share this with people.  I heard a lot of surprise & amazement at how lovely our shops are...sometimes it's easy to forget that this little beautiful handmade world is so new & unknown to others...even my friends!

5. Show + Tell:  People want to see, hear, know, understand how & where you make your designs. Be prepared to share!  Perhaps have some pieces at different stages or show off a technique (I'd love to see one of the jewelry mavens solder a ring!)

6. Storefront: People will buy things. Be ready for this. That means having bags, calculators, order forms, business cards, change, etc.. all ready to make their purchases.

7. Think Holidays: If your event is for the holidays, be thinking along those lines- vary your price points, offer gift sets, stock up on gifty items.  (ie. last year I spent a lot of time finishing a quilt for my event. My time would've been better spent making more bird ornaments. Not many folks are going to buy an $150 quilt for their son's teacher.)

8. Share the Love: Maybe partner up with another local shop to showcase more items, or contact them ahead of time to sell items that pair up nicely with yours (this will obviously take some working out...but could be very worth it!)

9. Make + Do: Give people things to talk about & get involved with- perhaps a raffle, designing a new piece, voting for a favorite pattern, choosing custom prints, interactive appetizers, trying one of your techniques, reading your catalog- basically, anything that will keep things rolling. It will take pressure off you & add bits of fun!

10. Something to Leave With:  Everyone might not purchase something but it would be nice for them to leave & take a bit home with them. Depending on the size of your party it could be raffle prizes, treat bags, handmade cards, sample items, cards with discount codes, or just a little thank- you note.


Hooray! Now we're all set to share our lovely shops & make this an amazing holiday season!

Please, please post any other tips you might have or offer your own experience. And if you do have an event be sure to take lots of photos & share them!

Kayak Adventure

{image: ejstefan}

I'm a bit of a cry baby. Some of you know this already. I cry when I read the news. I cry when I see roadkill. And I often cry when I try something new.

My husband is probably used to this by now. He has taken me on many adventures & I usually end up crying at some point. Not sobbing really, but just a silent flow of tears. I cried when we climbed Half Dome, when he taught me how to snowboard, & yesterday when we went kayaking for the very first time.  It sounds very unlikeable & babyish doesn't it?  Well, for me, it's a cumulation of fear & anxiety from hearing of too many mis-haps and the general sense I grew up with that, for whatever reason, I just can't accomplish certain things.

This is how I felt yesterday. Afraid of all the things that could happen, panicked about not being in total control, and the pervasive feeling of, "you're so not a kayaker'.

But after my momentary panic subsided & as we ventured out onto the gray & wide Willamette River...my husband said, "Isn't it funny how things can seem so scary at first?"

And I thought, yes it is funny. Funny-ish. But true. Paddling away I recalled many others times I was scared witless and then somehow my brain clicked & overcame and then, well- things became easier & enjoyable.

I know I will get scared & cry again. Probably sometime soon. But I take comfort in knowing there is a mysterious little voice inside that will invariably say, "Allisa, you can do this."

Halloween Tutorial Round-Up

We've had "Monster Mash" on repeat over here. Jack's nutty over this song- his version anyway, "I do the Moonster Mash. It's a great old smash."  Oh, how I love that kid.

Anyhow, here's a few easy projects to keep us busy this weekend & get in the Halloween spirit.

{left to right)

1. Paper Pumpkin Lanterns -Martha Stewart
2. Boo Bags -The Long Thread
3. Paper Garland -Paper Crave
4. Paper Dancing Skeleton -Sewing Stars
5. Fabric Scrap Garland - Me
6. Fabric Napkins - Purl Bee

know a fun tutorial, printable, or DIY halloween project to add to the list? do share!

Makers Must - Chatting at Candied Fabrics

Hello!
First off, thanks so much for sharing in my blog & shop makeover - the comments & feedback are overwhelming and I am so thankful for such an amazing & lovely community!  All the good cheer made me think of this quote by Mark Twain,

"I can live for two months on a good compliment."

Well now, I think I'm all set for the rest of this year & well into 2011! 

Today you can find me over at Candied Fabrics as part of the Maker's Must series where I'm sharing just a bit about my creative process. While you're over there, you must check out her Mod House Ornaments- so clever & cool. 

and just a bit of happiness for the day:

from one of my new favorite shops, Honey & Jam Photography

Extreme Makeover Edition- My Shop & Blog Get a New Look

So happy & excited to share the new brand design for my Etsy shop & this humble little blog o' mine!


Change has been stirring for awhile now but as soon as this design popped into my head, I just knew it was right for me & the direction I'd like to take my collection.

I really savored the design process- choosing color palettes, fabric swatches, sketches, making a mood board, creating & photographing the flower on linen, and then the magical part where it all comes together via my husband & the computer.

Of course, change can be hard.  The little patchwork field was something my husband created when I first started my shop. He designed it with my favorite colors, country spirit, and happy disposition in mind.  In many ways it represented a bit of what I've always longed for- wide open spaces out in the country.  He coined the name, "qultish" as well- a hybrid of my pervasive habit of adding -ish to the end of words and my initial bags which featured a quilted exterior.  Times have changed & my outlook & style have transformed a bit too. So even though I'll always be more country than city, I've developed a more modern perspective that I hope will shine through in my shop...and in the designs I create.

But for all his time & thoughtfulness, I'll love that little logo forever. And I'll be keeping "quiltish" for my blog too- as I continue to develop my love for quilting & patchwork- but am moving forward with the 'allisa jacobs' brand.  I guess it doesn't get more "me" than that!

Sooo, what's next? Look for more posts on label & packaging changes as well as new clutches, bags, & accessory sets in the bright prints I love but also a few herringbone, plaid, & linen fabrics.

Thank you so much for sharing in my makeover moment! It really does feel like a sassy new haircut :)

pssst.... for those of you who love blog buttons, I thought I'd give it a go while I was at it & create one you can grab & display on your blog! 

grab the code:

<a border="0" href="http://www.quiltish.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/abi2xs.jpg"/></a>

Shop Makeover Preview

 

What an exciting week it has been! On Thursday I mentioned that change was brewing over here & felt so supported & energized by all the lovely comments & cheers ~ thank you!  

And so, the transformation of my shop & site has begun....I sketched new designs, scouted different fabrics, attempted various techniques, brainstormed new directions, and....created my new "look" - which I am so excited to unveil tomorrow! In fact, I am just bursting with excitement and thought I'd share this mood board of inspiration...a bit of a preview.  For me, it reflects bits of calm, simplicity, countryside, happiness, modern-ness, and classic pretty-ness.

I can hardly wait to share my new look...I told my husband (who was such a generous help in the process) that it feels a bit like being on an Oprah makeover episode with a sassy new short haircut & a modern wardrobe.

So, I'd love for you to stop by again tomorrow & share in my makeover moment!

Bits of Inspiration:
top:  Blouse by LaMarquise des Anges , Poppy Print by Indira Albert, Divine Twine by Olive Manna
bottom: Fall Photograph by KristyBee, Art Print by Dazey Chic, Linen Fabric from Linen Life

Hello October - Charley Harper Print

{"Octoberama" image courtesy Charley Harper}