How to Create a Facebook Landing Page for Your Etsy Business

 

 

There are so many wonderful things that I wish I could take credit for.  Take, for instance, a Facebook Landing page.  This is yet one more marketing tool for us business owners, bloggers, and self-promoters.

What is a Facebook Landing page?

A Facebook Landing page is a blog or fan page where first-time visitors land first.  By default people will land on your Facebook Wall, but it doesn't really do a good job in letting vistors know what your blog is about.

On a landing page you can put anything you want, such as:

    Introduction of who you are or what your blog is about.
    An opt in area for newsletter or email list.
    A call to action to become a fan.

(Thanks, Jasmine, for that explanation!)

I have recently gotten involved in a different realm of the blogosphere, and even there I am finding great tips that I can apply to benefit my Etsy business.  (This other realm is known as Oz to some, but as homemaking/homeschooling to others.)  I am learning that there are plenty of Etsians who are stay-at-home/homeschooling moms like myself.  Maybe you’re one of us?  One such “us” is Jasmine at Far Above Rubies, which is where I found this post, which led me to Blogging With Amy’s full article.

My life has me traveling a new journey at this time, but I am still working my Etsy shop!  That’s one thing I love about my business—it can go on the road with me and my family in our motorhome.  I can just sew as we go down the road.  Talk about multi-tasking!   My new Facebook Landing page is a great way to incorporate my personal blog with my shop.

And, just for the record, I use Blogger for my Inside Etsy blog, Weebly for my direct online store, and Wordpress for my personal blog, and I gotta say that Wordpress is getting my vote hands down!  Read this handmadeology.com article about choosing the right blogging platforms.

Why Bloggers Charge for Reviews and Giveaways

I am a blogger.

I used to work for free.

I can't afford to do that anymore.

That probably sounds a little opportunistic or perhaps arrogant, but it makes good sense when you really think about what reviews and giveaways mean for a blogger and for the business they are promoting.

1. Bloggers work hard for their money. No, this isn't some 80's song, it's truth. Giveaways and reviews require a tremendous amount of time and effort . We must try out the product, take quality photos of the product in action around our home, write a pithy blog post on the product, set up giveaway rules and dates, promote the giveaway in social media outlets, close down the giveaway, run a random selector for the winner, email the winner and the company, and take care of any follow-up that may happen after the giveway is finished. This isn't a walk in the park. It is hard work and a couple of boxes of cereal in exchange for all of this isn't going to fly with a blogger who truly knows the extent of her time and effort.

2. Reviews and giveaways are prime ad real estate. I have sidebar ads at RaisingArrows.net; however, those ads are not what get the clicks. That is why with every sidebar ad a company takes out, I allow one giveaway or review post per 3 month period. You will find that one review or giveaway or even just a mention with a coupon code as enticement will pay for itself over and over again. A lot of companies do not realize how golden a blogger's word is.

3. TANSTAAFL. To borrow an acronym from Richard Maybury of Whatever Happened to Penny Candy,

There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Not to say I won't promote a business for free simply because I love their products, they just shouldn't expect it. Companies would do well to realize blogging IS a business and just as you wouldn't dream of giving away your entire inventory for free, neither can you expect a blogger to hand out free reviews.

4. The gift that keeps on giving. Suppose I write a review post for a product. That company receives my top ad space (aka "a blog post"). Once that post is complete, I no longer benefit (unless the company has an affiliate program I have signed up for); however, the company has my stamp of approval and a post in my archives and a Google keyword or two that generate traffic long past my review post. The long-term investment a company makes in paying a blogger to host a giveaway or do a review is well worth the money.

5. Product is nice. Cash is better. Sometimes a blogger will work for product, especially if she really needs the product. However, unless a blogger approaches a company, it is unlikely she needs the product that company is selling. Assuming a blogger will spread the word about a product simply because the company gave her something for free is bad form.

I know this sounds hard-nosed for a woman who blogs at a Christian homeschooling blog, but the honest truth is my readers don't want me to be a walking advertisement. They want to read about homeschooling and large families and the like. The occasional review or giveaway I host at Raising Arrows is done with the same zest and zeal my readers have come to expect from my regular fare. Asking a company to pay for those reviews and giveaways is simply asking them to compensate me for the time and effort it takes to make their product look good without making my blog look obnoxious. It's a win-win situation.

*****

Amy of RaisingArrows.net is the homeschooling mother of 6 living children and one precious little girl named Emily being held in the Lord’s arms. Her days are filled with giggly girls, rambunctious boys and sticky baby kisses. At night, she writes about it all.

Thank you, Amy, for taking time out of your busy day to pen this great information!

My Bearded Pigeon / Chunky Chooky

Stitched poem pillow
Also available blank or with unstitched lettering

As I was scrolling through discussions among Etsy teams, looking for something with an interesting enough title to read, “$20,000+ in Sales in 5 Months” definitely qualified as a ringer for peaking my interest.  You can either read the post over here at handmadeology or over here in the original post.

Let’s plunge even deeper into the mind behind MyBeardedPigeon.  There is more to her and her fantastic shops than meets the bird’s eye.   When you purchase from MyBeardedPigeon, you’re not just getting something – you are also giving something.  On top of having a wonderful product and wonderful code of social responsibility, the fabric used is exclusive to My Bearded Pigeon and not available anywhere else in the world!  Read on to find out your purchase helps to change lives.

This is as close as I'll ever get to the Bahamas.

It's hard for me to say that the economy is bad over here in America when people are still getting manicures and boob jobs, but the news would have us believe that the economy is bad. How are things over in Australia? Are manicures and boob jobs popular over there, too?

Apparently the retail sector is struggling.  Every shop seems to be having a sale at the moment and people are buying a lot online, especially because the $AUD is so strong at the moment.  I can buy a book on Amazon and have it posted to my house, rather than buy it from the shop down the road. Having said all that, I am not an economist but people are still getting boob jobs and buying flashy cars etc so.... who knows???

Is there actually a such thing as a bearded pigeon? Then there's the much more obvious question: why MyBeardedPigeon for a shop name? Feel free to blend the two questions into one answer.

Are there pigeons in Pittsburg?And those colors are astounding!

Yes, there is such a thing as a bearded pigeon.  It is closely related to the handlebar moustache pigeon but that seemed a bit wordy. Or, no, there is not, I just like beards, and I always feel bad for pigeons, they get such bad press, everyone dislikes them. You can decide which is the true answer. I wanted my shop name to be something intriguing... rather than organic cotton designs or some such thing. Lots of people comment on the name, in a good way.

You have a most awesome list of keys to your Etsy success over in the Etsy Success team (fitting I must say). Did you just stick to this list or did you do something above and beyond to get your sales to skyrocket? Or did your pillows just happen to hit the popular vein?

I reckon, apart from all the tips and stuff, I really just lucked out and hit a popular vein. Right place, right time. It is also a great gift for everyone, men, women, children, and kids, great gift for weddings, anniversaries, and momentos of places you have lived.... Also lots of big blogs have picked up the cushions and some magazines etc., apparently lots of people like maps. Yay!!

I do have a busy blog and am an active blogger , I post lots and visit other blogs too.  I get involved in swaps and donate things to raffles for say raising money for cancer etc. I have a much neglected facebook page, but I do not love facebook at all... I don't really get how to use it. I have a flickr account and recently joined twitter. That seems like a lot. It is. Spend small amounts of time on each one probably every day. Which brings me to a good point. I often see in the forums people saying things like "I have a life. I don't want to be on my computer all day." Well you don't have to be but you do have to check your email at least twice a day I think. However, if you don't want to spend time on the computer then you probably shouldn't be running an online business. It’s pretty simple.... and while I am on it, there seems to be so much whining and complaining on the forums - chill out people.

Give us a run down on why you donate $1 to microlending at kiva.org.

This pillow is not referring to the visitors on your couch.

I donate $1 to Kiva from every sale, because it is the socially responsible thing to do. I am lucky to be living in a safe country with a steady income, (I work 3 days a week and my husband works full time), and I can afford a $1 from every sale. During the aftermath of the New Zealand earthquake, where we have close family, I stopped donating to Kiva and donated to the Red Cross. I did the same for the Japan earthquake. I am thinking of switching from Kiva to Doctors without Borders soon, just for something different. I can keep reloaning with Kiva as people repay the loans, so it can keep going.

Now go return those pillows you just got from Wal-Mart, and buy some of Cath’s pillows instead!  At the very least, go follow along on her fantastic blog at http://chunkychooky.blogspot.com.

 If pillows aren't your thing, then surely you know somebody who has a baby who would love something from her second Etsy shop:  www.ChunkyChooky.etsy.com.  She even has an iphone app.  What will she think of next?  Whatever it is, I plan on doing a follow up piece to see how Cath handles tax time in Australia.  Stay tuned for the answer everyone wants to know -- how much of that money is she going to get to actually keep?


BTW, her shop is now over the $30,000 mark, only 6 weeks after writing her Etsy Success team post.  Whatever she's doing, she's doing it right!  Keep up all of your marvelousness!

Just Breathe treasury featuring MyBeardedPigeon.

Timothy Adam Designs

This should have been the first interview I did, but my life has a whole bunch of  “shoulda”s.  Tim Adam, founder of Handmadeology.com, owner of TimothyAdamDesigns, self-taught conqueror of SEO and most things internet, is now getting his turn to be featured here on Inside Etsy.

Without a doubt, Tim would surely be voted “Most Helpful” if ever there were an Etsy annual.  His giving nature does not begin or end in the handmade community.  It is simply an extension of the giving that he does on a daily basis in his home, his church, and his community—on or offline. There’s no luck involved when you work as hard as Tim does.  His success is well-deserved!

Do you consider yourself successful at this point? Granted, like mine, I’m sure your bar of success is raised everyday, but how do you feel about your business today?

I do!  Quitting my job in 2007 helped me realize that doing what I love and making a living can happen!  Sure, my business if ever-changing and evolving.  Flexibility comes with the territory of owning your own business. To this date, I am happy with where my business has taken me and the direction it is headed.

Unlike in my posts, where I constantly make references to my family, I don't see mentions of your family in your postings, other than the standard issue that you have one. (But I’m a tell-all kind of girl. I always say, "God knows the truth. What does it matter if everybody else does?")  Is your wife a stay-at-home mom or does she fly the "Corporate Woman" flag?  What does she think about all of these wonderful things you are accomplishing?  And if you just don't want to talk about your family, then we'll skip it, but I am curious.   It kills more than cats, I find.

My wife, Christina, is self-employed like myself.  She is an amazing photographer. Here is her site: Gracedesignsphotography.com.  I would not be where I am today with out the love and support of my wife. We have a 10 month old boy, Camden, and a Jack Russel named Sadie.  We live in a 1923 dutch colonial, where we mix our modern style with old architecture.

Why did you decide to make a hard-copy of your book "How to Make Money Using Etsy" instead of selling it as an e-book?

I really never was looking to write a book.  In 2010 the publisher came to me and asked me to write the book.  So making a hard copy with a larger publisher behind me was a simple decision to make!

Are you going to branch into offering affiliate programs for your book (and other awesome materials)?

We are currently working on an affiliate program for all the products that Handmadeology offers. We will be teaching bloggers how to make extra money each month from simply selling our top notch proven products.

What is the hardest part of being "Tim Adam—Handmade Etceteraordinaire"? (That’s my own personal name for you.)

I think the hardest part is separating work from family.  With work being one click away, it is difficult to get away.  I love what I do and I love my family, so defining that line between work and family time is something that I work on everyday.

Thanks, Tim, for all that you do for me and everyone else looking for a piece of that handmade pie.  You are truly an embodiment of what the Etsy community is all about.

Visit the Handmadeology shop on Etsy and peruse all of the helpful tools that have been packaged together to help you achieve success in your very own Etsy shop.

Tim can be found everywhere on the internet:

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/handmadeology

Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/TimothyAdamDesigns

Twitter @timothyadam

Blog:  www.TimothyAdamDesigns.blogspot.com

Etsy:  www.TimothyAdamDesigns.etsy.com

Leaning On the Promises

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand, stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God – Epheshians 6:13 – 17

Canes may not be a listed piece of the armor of God, but remember the miracles God performed using Moses’ walking stick? Judy Goddard, owner of Leaning on the Promises, uses her talent to create beautiful canes. Sometimes a person needs a little help standing, whether it’s on the promises or on the pavement.

What is a puzzle cane?

My canes contain word puzzles. They don't come apart or have moving parts. Each puzzle cane has an inscription that is either a prayer or portion of scripture that is incorporated in such a way that it is very difficult to read unless you know the key. At the bottom of each puzzle cane page in my shop is an explanation of how to read a puzzle cane.

How did you get started painting?

I was a volunteer, working at my local hospital, on the oncology ward. As an artist I would go into a patient's room and start up a conversation. I would offer to paint a picture for them. Usually I would offer to paint a picture of their favorite place, either a favorite vacation spot, a childhood home, a favorite park, etc. I would ask them details and as they remembered, I would try to capture it. In this way, I got them to forget, for at least a little while, that they were the hospital undergoing chemo. It was kind of like a mini vacation. And then afterwards, they had a painting to take home that was a good memory of a maybe not so good time in their life, That was where I learned to stretch my skills and pay closer attention to details.

I love your shop name, LeaningOnThePromises. Did this just come to you or did you sit and think about it a while?

I knew that my puzzle canes would be inspirational in nature, a reflection of my Christian faith and, hopefully, a comfort for others. I fished around for a few days and when the name, "Leaning on the Promises" came to me I knew it was just right!

Are you at a point in your life where you have to use a cane?

Right now I am not in need of a cane. The first one I painted was for my God mother, who is elderly. She had gone through a serious illness and after her recovery still needed a little help staying steady on her feet. Especially as she was preparing to take her husband on a cruise through the Panama Canal!

Any thing else that you would like to add?

Not all of my canes are puzzle canes. I realize that not everyone who would appreciate a beautiful cane is interested in an inspirational one. So I also make beautiful hand painted ones that have no writing on them. I call them, "Non Puzzle Canes". 

I also have a Pinterest account under JudyAGoddard, and Stumbleupon also.  My blog is www.JudyAGoddardArtisan.blogspot.com

Both Judy and her canes are a work of art and a labor of love.  She would love to work with you on a custom cane for you or your loved one.

Precious Prints by Little Pergola

There are two things that I never wanted to be in life and that is an Elementary school teacher and a mom to four girls.  Not because I don't like those jobs, but because of the challenge involved in each of those jobs.  I tried my hand at being a pre-k Sunday School teacher.  We did more coloring than learning.  I grew up with four sisters.  I know the challenges that await, and I am not the mom to face them.  There are rules about locking your kids in their rooms these days, lol.  But the mastermind behind Precious Prints by LittlePergola is all of those things and more.

Nursery Art for Your Baby Einstein

It takes a special type of person to be an Elementary school teacher, especially in today’s crazy world where teachers have so little authority. Of course, the younger they are, the easier they are to teach. What grade do you teach?

I teach first grade. When I first started teaching 9 years ago, I realized that first graders have fresh little minds that are like little sponges waiting to be soaked with their first year of knowledge that will start their journey for years to come. They come in with knowing how to basically write their abc's and leave with making full sentences, amazing!

You referenced in a convo that you graduated on May 11th. Fill us in.

Mommy and Me Print

Yes, another one of the biggest days in my life was on the 21st of May. I graduated from New Jersey City University with a Masters in Educational Technology. Being in today's growing technology driven society, I felt like it would be a great investment to learn something that can support and aid our students technologically driven minds.



How has your recent experience with Heartsy been?

Well before it started I was excited and a bit scared. Only because it was a new experience, I thought it would be over whelming and that it would be too much to handle but once it started it wasn't as bad. Heartsy is a good way to get your name out there and hopefully have repeat buyers!

You are a member of lots of good Etsy teams. Which one(s) have you found to be the most beneficial? (And I’m not fishing for props for the Inside Etsy team, lol.)



Nursery Art for Your Little Man



Yes all the teams on Etsy are extremely beneficial and each is unique in its own way. I don't have a favorite but all the teams help answer any question and help Etsy members come over any hurdle they may have.

What type of printer do you use for best results?

I use an inkjet Canon printer, I feel that the color from inkjet printers looks more vibrant then prints from a laser printer, but that's just my opinion.

Raising four girls is probably easier than raising 3, since odd numbers tend to leave someone out. How do all of your girls get along?

I always say I have two sets of daughters. People say "two sets, what do you mean by two sets?". I have the two older set, 17 and 14, and the two younger set 8 and 5. Each two get along perfectly, but when they get mixed it's a whole different story!

Personally, it is so refreshing to see tasteful art for little guys.  Our family could care less about sports, and it seems like if you have a boy your room decorating options are sports and hunting.  My husband does hunt, but it's for the grocery aspect of it, not the sporting.  So thank you, Amy, for reaching out to us moms of boys!



A Non-satirical Print



I also want to put a plug in here for some of her wonderful satirical art prints.  They come e"quip"ped with the following phrases and advice:

Laundry Today Or Naked Tomorrow

Silence is Golden But Duct Tape is Silver

Everyday I get up and look through the Forbes list of the world's richest people.  If I'm not there, I get up and go to work.

Here is Amy with one the girls from her gaggle.  She can be followed through Twitter @LittlePergola.

Tole Mountain

Box o' Mandolin Strings

They say don't go up on Wolverton Mountain....  Argh, those commercials!  Everytime I hear the word "mountain" that silly song comes to my mind.  But maybe now that I've had the chance to get to know the shop Tole Mountain, she'll come to mind instead.  With over 300 vintage items to browse through, you should spend a little time getting to know her yourself!

How many finds have you had that you just couldn’t bear to part with?

None. Even though I find wonderful & unique items every single week at estate sales & flea markets, everything has it's price. When I find a fabulous item I only see one thing... GREEN! As in money - ca-ching! ha!

Why do you only ship to the US?

I hate turning down buyers who are out of the U.S. because all Etsy buyers are always so friendly and courteous. But shipping costs seem to fluctuate so much depending upon where you're shipping an item and sometimes the shipping can end up actually costing more than the item! And until you actually box it up and take it to the post office you never know for sure what the exact cost will be. If it's an outrageous amount then you've wasted time boxing it up and taking it to the post office and then the customer doesn't want it. So unfortunately I have found it easier to just not ship out of the U.S.

Do you have a specific place that you store your 300+ vintage items or are they just placed throughout the home as decoration until they sell?



One Most Awesome Honey Dipper



I have a lot of my items on shelves in my attic. Actually it's a good thing I started on Etsy because it made me clean my attic! Now I don't have junk in my attic, I have rows of wonderful items that will make me money! But of course there are always those items that I really think are special and I keep them for decoration until they sell. And then I have an excuse to go shopping again!!

Why the name "Tole Mountain"?

Years ago I used to tole paint. I sold to a variety of places such as Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Cincinnati Nature Center, Bob Evans General Stores and a variety of local shops. I was also featured in some country magazines like The Country Almanac. Now besides rescuing vintage items the only painting I do is on bird houses which I LOVE doing. I try to incorporate unique vintage items found at sales into them.

What was the coolest thing you ever found at an estate-sale?

I would say the coolest and most unusual find was a giant authentic steer's skull. And it sold to a lady in Texas! She was thrilled with it.

(I just happen to have a couple of photos of a cow skull in my digital download section.  Go figure....)

What are the things you enjoy outside of estate-sale shopping?

Besides going to sales I love reading Christian romance novels, gardening and making my fabulous bird houses.

Any thing else that you would like to add?

I have a very special little dog that came from a rescue shelter. She means the world to me and makes every day so much fun. Shelter and Rescue dogs bring so much joy into people's lives. They give back so much more than they take. I wish everyone would go out and adopt one!

Well, these aren't dogs, but it is a collection of some very vintage kitchenwares:  lemon press, tea spoon that holds your tea bag, a corn cutter, a cookbook from the '30s, and one of her salt and pepper shaker sets.  All of these wonderful items and more can be found in her shop.

The only place I can be found on the internet is www.tolemountain.etsy.com. I'm probably the only person left on the planet that doesn't facebook, tweet or blog!!

Valley Green Naturals

Valley Green Naturals has got it going on! Not only do they have dreamy products that cover the range of bath and beauty from head to toe, that have quite the "dream team" to back it up. And they get to create all of their body-safe, eco-friendly, and wallet-happy creams, lotions, scrubs, and suds in a beautiful old farmhouse in Virginia with acres of beautiful greenery to help inspire their creative zen.

I would love to see some pics of your 18th century farmhouse where you create all of you natural, organic, and botanical products! Do you have some you could share?

To see this and more photos, visit our blog.  The picture used here is the second one down on the right.

(Notice the resemblance to their logo.)

Do you purchase natural milk for your own consumption? Legally, it can’t be marketed for humans, but you can buy it marketed in different ways and drink it if you want. I’ve read all of the wonderful things about real natural milk and went to a goat farm and got me some! It was good! But too far for me to travel on a weekly basis.

We don't purchase natural milk for consumption, but we have talked about getting a dairy cow for this purpose. At one point, I considered getting a couple of goats for their milk to use in our products. The problem with having your own goats (just like a cow) is that they need to be milked twice a day, at the same time every day. With our busy schedule, that's something that would be very difficult to do. So, the goats are on hold for now.



Milk-based products for you and yours



We do buy a lot of other natural food products. We love farmer's markets with fresh and organic produce, and we'll travel 40 miles to buy fresh Amish butter in the Shenandoah Valley. There's nothing like it! Here's a link to a blog post I wrote recently about buying natural goods.

So Valley Green Naturals is co-owned between you, your husband, and another couple. How did y’all link up on this business venture?

Our business partnership came together when Valley Green Naturals began to really grow. Art and I couldn't keep up with daily orders, while taking care of accounting, inventory, supplies and marketing all at the same time. Our business partner, Mary Hill, is a longtime friend with whom I had worked in Washington, D.C. She and her husband joined Valley Green Naturals when the company was a year old, in 2010.

Who gets to do what within the company?

 

Mary takes care of all of our accounting and supply orders, which is a huge job. She also works many days in the Valley Green kitchen, managing production for the ever-increasing number of orders we receive each day. Mary's husband, Doug Hill, is an expert in online marketing, and he acts as a consultant in our marketing efforts. My husband, Art DeVore, specializes in Information Technology, and he manages our customer database, web site, and social media links. My job involves developing formulations for our products, studying ingredients, press relations, customer communication, shipping, and lots of work in the Valley Green kitchen. All in all, we make a pretty good management team!

Sometimes, it just all comes together in a perfect blend.  Seems they've got four-part harmony.  Maybe a barber-shop quartet is in their near future.  I bet that would sit fine with the folks in Virginia's Piedmont.

Regardless of location, their day spa package is sure to be a hit with the loved ones in your life.  Lots of weddings, birthdays, and all around hostessing are ahead.  Show your thanks and appreciation with style, while doing your part to help "organify" the world around you.

To learn more about Valley Green Naturals, you can hook up with them at the following locations:

Main web site: www.valleygreennaturals.com

Etsy page: www.cindydevore.etsy.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Valley-Green-Naturals/125929227439654

Twitter: @valleygreengirl

Blog: valleygreennaturals.blogspot.com

Spring Cleaning, A Second Look

Hello there, my faithful followers!  My life kinda got turned upside down, but in a good way, so I have been a bad blogger these last two weeks!  I am working diligently at getting back on track to give you an interview to read every day.  I've got my questions out to LesperanceTile and to AshleySpatula.  As soon as I get those back, they will be posted, which should be within the next two days.  Maybe today?  It was completely my fault for not getting them over in adequate time.  Both of those ladies have extremely successful shops and need more than 24 hours' to write their responses.

And that's why I love my dog!  She really thinks I am perfect!  Shhh...don't tell.

Since I have no interview today, I am posting an article that I wrote for http://www.handmadeology.com/ a few months ago.  It is called "Spring Cleaning--A Second Look".

****

I only thought I was getting a head start on my spring cleaning list this year. At first glance, my cluster of wild plum trees still appeared to be skeletal. However, with a second look, I saw that, while yet unopened, the blossoms had already formed. I still had time, but barely, to rake all of the dead leaves out from under the tree and prep the trees for their spring debut. After two afternoons of raking and burning leaves, it was time to really get down and dirty.

If you take notice of the country roadside, you will see that wild plum trees frequent the fence lines. Now my personal theory is that birds eat plums. Birds sit on fences. You get the idea. Upon closer inspection you will notice that most of the time only portions of the tree cluster is still producing its sweet meat. Look even closer, and you’ll see the cause of the problem: webbing in the fork of the tree limbs. But it’s not the webbing that’s the problem. It’s what is inside the webbing, or, rather, what was inside the webbing. Hundreds of baby caterpillars. Hungry ones. And what do you suspect that they eat, this mass of hungry baby caterpillars? Blossoms and leaves.

Three springs ago, I went out to check on the trees and from tip to root was a train of caterpillars in every direction. I wish I had taken a picture, because it was really just amazing. So Etsy! I couldn’t really be mad at them. They were just doing what they do. After all, it was MY FAULT for not preventing this problem, for not inspecting my trees sooner. Thankfully, I am surrounded by plum trees up and down the country roads, so my passion was sated elsewhere.



These are my plum trees in bloom 2011, pic available in my shop



I was also at fault for not knowing that this was a potential problem. If you have fruit trees, then sooner or later, you will have bug problems. (Learn about the tent caterpillars here.) Sometimes maybe just here and there, but eventually your tree will be the product of a swarm. Unless you know how to prevent it. The wise man knows, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." After googling my problem and what to do, I decided to take matters into my own hands. (PETA members, I urge you to turn away!) I mean, instead of purchasing a chemical to kill the caterpillars with, I was just going to kill them myself. After raising babies and having all manner of bodily fluids on you, what’s a little caterpillar gut gonna hurt? So the next spring, I inspected my tree daily, starting early in the year. I would tear the webbing down, smush it with my foot, and squish any remaining caterpillars on the tree with my fingers. They’re so extremely tiny at this point; it was a quick, painless death. The return was a beautiful bounty of wild plums. Already this year, even in February, I already had tent caterpillars hard at work in my trees, preparing for their emergence. Alas, this is not to be, for I have been hard at work, laboring for my love.

Are you picking up what I’m putting down here? There are so many parallels here to shop-ownership.

1. It takes a lot of hard work to have a productive shop
2. Most shops come from humble beginnings but grow into something beautiful if given time and room to grow.
3. There is always something that can cause damage. This could be either something you have done or something that you allowed to happen.
4. If you have bad policies, bad customer service, or bad products, a quick hands-on approach is best. Put everyone out of their misery, and take care of the problem immediately.
5. Your customer just has to go a little bit down the road to find an equally satisfying product.
6. Not knowing might be a good excuse once, but never twice. There is tons of help out there for you. Utilize it.

I hope you have been enlightened with part I of my Spring Cleaning series. Here is another great Handmadeology read: Give It To Me Straight – Truth in Business.

(And if you have never tried cleaning your house in high heels and pearls, well, you are missing out! It really tones those glutes, girls.)

MukiBubb

When Shannon Udell of MukiBubb looks at a swatch of fabric, she's piecing together her signature, sketchy-styled patches, pillows, potholders, and dolls.  She brings form, function, and funk all together to create some flair for your home.  After all, it's the little things in life that count--like having the absolutely cutest, funkiest potholders on the block! 

I love the out of the ordinary house-themed potholders that you have. Where did you (or why) come up with this outside of the box idea?

I developed the Su Casa potholder the year my oldest daughter went on her first mission trip to Mexico. The kids go every year to build a house and get to know the community. I wanted sell something unique to raise funds for the trip. The house shape was symbolic of the mission and, I hope a happy reminder to buyers of the good their purchase has done. Though my mission mom days are over, the design is too cute to quit and I absorbed it into my repertoire!

What part of your life would you describe as "crunchy" (per your profile)?

Given the choice, I'll go natural. My kitchen is stocked with homemade almond milk, kombucha, hummus, and whatever bread we've baked this week. I've taught my daughters (like my mom taught me) to cook, sew and generally do for themselves. Heck, my deodorant is homemade! Many the fabrics and materials I use in my dolls and patches had previous lives and still have a lot of beauty and use to them. It's that tactile, homespun sensuality I try to bring into my shop items.

Personally, I don’t eat avocadoes. I just didn’t grow up eating them, but I’ve heard they are delicioso. Do you have a favorite avocado recipe to share?

Avocados are a staple in our California kitchen. They have become iconic in my pot holders and patches. Lately, I love to cut them into spears and roast them for salads, but here's a sandwich recipe my mom and I love to make when we’re together.

1. Cut a baguette into sandwich length pieces, split so they open like a roll.
2. On one half, brush your favorite Italian dressing, on the other side put slices of sharp cheddar. Sprinkle with lemon pepper and broil to melt the cheese.
3. Pull the sandwiches from the oven and spread avocado slices. Close up the sandwiches and nom nom nom! Note: This might just be the messiest sandwich you've ever enjoyed!

What type of photography did your father work with most? What was your favorite piece?

When I was young, I remember driving up and down dusty Gold Country back roads with my dad in search of "just the right shot in just the right light." I learned a lot about color, composition, patience and a sense of place back then! My dad's photo experience has run from portraits, to advertising, to abstract art to landscape documentation. He has recently picked up his musical roots and tours with his band. You can find a lot of his work at  hilaryfmarckx.com

So you survived California in the 70’s, huh? Was it a wild ride or were you just a people-watcher?

I was a kid in the 70's and in they were some very creative years. Sacramento was still sort of a small town back then and I recall exploring alleyways, churches and galleries while adults were busy elsewhere. I remember our home full of artists and musicians, and I’d listen in on a lot of wine-soaked conversations about poetry, ecology, theology and self-expression. There was a lot of open space and freedom then and you'll see that freedom echoed in the birds and blooms that are iconic in my appliqué and machine embroidery. Whenever you see wavy horizontal lines in my work, you can be sure I was thinking about the Sacramento or American Rivers!

Anything else you want to add?

Yeah, here's a fun fact. I can't stand twitter. Not as a concept or anything, I'm sure they are lovely folks, but it just does not suit my way of encountering the world. So just recently, I stuck my tongue out at the e-guru world and pressed the delete button. Come on over and check out my blog at thingsarelovely.com or my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ThingsAreLovely

Or, hey, just shoot me a convo at my shop. I'd love to see you there!

Thanks so much for giving me a chance to share and for offering these daily artist’s stories. They are a real inspiration!

Thank YOU, Shannon, for being a willing participant.  I'm so glad I asked you all of those wonderful questions, because you had some wonderful answers to go with them.  And, while I don't eat avocadoes, my husband does.  Maybe if he's nice to me today, I'll actually make him some dinner tonight.  Sandwiches again?  :)

BirdyBoots / UpAndAwayPatterns

Necessity is the mother of all invention, and I know that mothers of squiggly children's feet everywhere will love BirdyBoot's line of handmade soft soled baby/toddler shoes.  Not only are they eco-conscious (made from upcycled and recycled materials) but they also look cute doing it!  The elastic around the back makes sure that shoe ain't going nowhere!  (Also available in a ballet-flat style without the elastic.  And she has boy styles, too.)

But she has more than just shoes available.  She has organic wood blocks, children's clothes, headbands, and more wooden toys.  And that is just in her first shop, BirdyBoots.  In her second shop, UpAndAwayPatterns, you can find the patterns behind some of her products so you can get creative all on your own.

I just love looking that the picture you use for your shop’s logo! It is hilarious. Very Maisy Mouse. Who thought this up?

When I first started my Etsy shop, I sold only children’s soft soled shoes so I wanted to base my logo around that…in about 30 seconds, I used a Sharpie pen to sketch out my ‘bird in boots’ logo and uploaded it to my computer. (I am not known for my patience.)

Have you made any adult-sized slippers? They look so comfy!

No, I haven’t, but I do want to make myself a pair when the weather gets cooler! My dad requested a pair last Fall and went so far as to trace out his foot for me, but I have yet to make him a pair!



Hmmmm...would she make these in adult-size also, I wonder?

Wow! You have your products from coast to coast literally. They can be found at Stoopher & Boots in NYC and at the Bella Vita Boutique in Oakland, CA. How did your products find a way into those two stores?

The owners of both of these boutiques found me on Etsy and asked if I would do larger orders for their shops...wholesale is a great thing!

Are you the one doing the hand-cutting on your wooden toys?

No, my husband cuts out our wooden toys. He also does the initial sanding and then I take over painting and finishing the toys.

I have to insert here that as the mother of a 4 year old, she wants everything pink.  Yesterday she asked for  pink alligator.  Sadly, I had to tell her no.

My husband met on the job and we liked it so much we worked together a second time. Have you worked with your husband before or is teaming up with him on the shop a first-time thing?

No, this is a first-time thing... and I think it's good we still have our day jobs separate :) (big smile)

And here is her big smile (And what a wonderful smile it is):

Her two young daughters also make her smile, and her blog is dedicated to leaving them pearls of wisdom.

Follow her at http://www.pearlsformydaughters.blogspot.com/

and

FB – www.facebook.com/birdyboots1

She also runs sample sales of her clothes, for all of you moms who love a good bargain.  (or aunts, grandmas, friends, or if you are a hoarder and just can't pass up a great deal, lol.)