It's Christmas in July!

Ho ho ho! It may be 100 degrees outside here in Texas, but the Etsy Bloggers street team is bringing you a little bit of Christmas cheer... in July!

This year, make sure you have enough handmade goodies under the tree for everyone on your list. Stock up now and save big on some amazing artisan goods.

In my Freshly Crafted and Retrocrafted shops, take 20% off your entire order for the rest of the month!

Here's a peek at what a few of my fellow Etsy Bloggers have to offer:

Luscious pine-scented soap by spottedcowsoaps

Stunning Southwestern earrings by beadedtail

Super cute clutch by TiLTcreations

Adorable little girl's apron by veryverdant

Pretty hobo bag by nicodesigns

Check out this thread to discover all the super talented artisans participating in this sale. Happy shopping!

Memorial Day Deals and Biz Plans for the Summer

Summer's finally here! Cap off your holiday weekend with a visit to Artiste on Monday night at 9:000 PM for our last stocking in May. My fellow WAHMs and I are putting together a lovely collection of eco-friendly handmade goodness - a little of everything and something for everyone. In honor of Memorial Day, I'll be offering some deep discounts on in-stock items from both my Retrocrafted and Freshly Crafted lines, a couple of freebies, an auction or two, and the first of my Father's Day cards.


In the coming days, look for more Father's Day options to show up in my Freshly Crafted shop.

The beginning of this summer also marks the completion of my 2009 "go green" campaign. With the exception of just a couple of specialty items on metallic cardstock, my entire stationery line is now printed on 100% post-consumer waste papers, and accompanied by invitation-weight recycled envelopes. Over the past year, I tested a number of different cardstocks and am thrilled to have found a solution that is eco-friendly, beautifully textured, takes ink like a dream, and is nice and heavy for that luxe look and feel I'm so fond of. Thank you to the many customers who've given me such positive feedback on the new papers and our print quality - you've been incredibly helpful!


Also on tap for the summer is the continued development of relationships with my awesome retailers. Look for the launch of Orange & Blossom in the coming months. I'm so excited to be part of this adorable, Anthropologie-esque wedding boutique. Not only will the site offer several of my stationery sets, I'm also in the process of creating an Orange & Blossom exclusive item. At Orange & Blossom, "It's going to be a beautiful day..."


I'm also planning to expand the number of our products available at Flourish Boutique (Check out the owners on CNN!) This adorable boutique is moving to a new space and doubling in size soon. You go with your bad self, Vanessa!

Have a great weekend, everybody. Don't forget to check out Artiste Monday night - the best stuff goes fast, so be on time!

Advice for Artsy Bloggers

This week's featured Creative Blogger is Jill of Liv'nGood Jewelry. Jill is a chainmaille artist, lover of steampunk, and a dedicated, relevant blogger. I stumbled across a recent post with lots of meaty tips for successful blogging and wanted to share it with you. This post on checking the tone of your marketing message is also worth a read.

You can get your very own piece of Liv'nGood Jewelry at Jill's Etsy shop, her 1000 Markets shop, or her ArtFire studio.

Are you a creative blogger? The Creative Bloggers Blog Ring is all about paying it forward - supporting other creative people through blogging. You can get involved here.

New Stuff and Great Savings Tonight at 9:00!

Join me tonight at 9:00 PM for Artiste's first May stocking! My fellow WAHMs and I have put together a lovely collection of eco-friendly handmade goodness - a little of everything and something for everyone. I'll be offering big discounts on some new pieces from my Retrocrafted Paper Goods line. Here's a sneak peek:




If you're new to Artiste or to HyenaCart, you're in for a treat. All of our listings go live at 9:00 PM sharp, so be sure to scope out your favorites in advance and be there on time to pounce. Fair warning - the best stuff goes fast!

Great Gift Idea for Mom, Grads and Teachers!

Just in time for those spring gift-giving occasions, I present a few new personalized blank note sets from my Freshly Crafted line. These boxed sets are perfect for Mom, for the graduate headed off to school, or to show your appreciation to a special teacher. Take a peek:


The "Susan" Note - $12 per boxed set of eight


The "Linda" Note - $12 per boxed set of eight


The "Kelly" Note - $12 per boxed set of eight

These styles, plus three of my greeting cards for Mother's Day will be available at special prices tomorrow night at Artiste's last stocking for April.

If you're new to Artiste or to HyenaCart, you're in for a treat. Artiste brings you a wide variety of gorgeous, eco-friendly, handcrafted goodness, all made for you with love by a work-at-home mama. All of our listings go live at 9:00 PM sharp, so be sure to scope out your favorites in advance and be there on time to pounce. Fair warning - the best stuff goes fast!

Stuff I Love - Green Edition

April 22nd is Earth Day, and this week's EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival is dedicated to all things green. As you may know, I went green for 2009 with the introduction of 100% post-consumer cardstocks and envelopes for both my Retrocrafted and Freshly Crafted paper goods lines. I also make every effort to work with eco-friendly suppliers, primarily The Paper Mill Store, which uses 100% wind power in all of its facilities.

In celebration of Earth Day, today I'm showcasing some of my (literally!) green Etsy faves.


3 Trees Dish by the brick kiln


Longevity terrarium by Warm Country Meadows


Absinthe photo charm bracelet by poetsummer


Green tea loofah soap by fresh & clean soaps


Earth spirals linocut by Studio 27


Woodlands earrings by Polished

Stocking with Artiste Tomorrow Night -- 9 PM EST!

Join me tomorrow night, Wednesday the 25th, at 9:00 PM for Artiste's final February stocking. I'll be bringing you lots of brand new stuff from the Freshly Crafted line (yes, I've been a busy girl!), and a couple of Retrocrafted surprises. Here's a sneak peek:



If you're new to Artiste or to HyenaCart, you're in for a treat. Artiste brings you a wide variety of gorgeous, eco-friendly, handcrafted goodness, all made for you with love by a work-at-home mama. All of our listings go live at 9:00 PM sharp, so be sure to scope out your favorites in advance and be there on time to pounce. Fair warning - the best stuff goes fast!

Steals, Deals and Free Stuff

Preparations are in full swing for our big family trip back to Seattle this weekend and let me just say how INCREDIBLY excited I am. We've not been back for a visit since our family moved to the Dallas area in 2006 and it's been a long two years. Can't wait to (please cooperate, weather) catch a glimpse of Mt. Rainier and see that gorgeous skyline surrounded by lush, wet greens and the winter greyish-blue of the bay.

While I'm out, the Etsy shop will remain open, with Valentine's Day shipping guaranteed. I continue to work on some special sets of valentines and hope to have them finished before we leave. As we know, however, sometimes life gets in the way. If it doesn't happen, c'est la vie. I will still have some special offerings for Artiste's Valentine's Day stocking on the 25th.

In the meantime, there are lots of places to get your Macaroni on (like that?) for cheap and/or free! First, today is the very last day of the EtsyGreetings thank you card promo. Participating EtsyGreetings members are offering free domestic shipping on thank you card sets. Check out my thank you card section here.


Second, I'm in the process of clearing out my studio in preparation for some big changes to my product line and am offering some ginormous clearance deals. Wonderland is closing for good this Saturday, and as a last hoorah, I've got a two-for-one boxed set and some individual greeting cards at 75% off.


In my little Artiste "nook," I have some special OOAK stuff and a custom package available for one more week.


And if you're looking for a freebie, you've got one more day to enter my giveaway on the EtsyGreetings blog. I'm giving away a boxed set of my "Just a Note" cards - just leave a comment on the post with your favorite item from the shop. While you're there, don't forget to take a peek at all the gorgeous handmade cards by those super talented EtsyGreetings members.

EtsyGreetings December Design Challenge

Since I'm always up for a contest, I was more than happy to participate in the EtsyGreetings December Design Challenge. This month's theme is "snow," and the challenge was to design a card, holiday-related or otherwise, around the designated theme. You can check out all the great entries and vote for your favorite here. My "Wonderful Time" card is #5. You can vote for as many cards as you like and one lucky voter will receive the winning submission. As of this writing, this adorable (moving!) snow angel card by CornerstoneLAE is in the lead:


Too cute, right?!

If you're new the the EtsyGreetings blog and you're the stationery-loving type, be sure to check back often for lots of awesome giveaways, tutorials, eye candy and great team promotions. In fact, join us in January for our "thank you" card promotion. Sneak peek here.

Hello, ArtFire!

As you will undoubtedly hear all about in the coming weeks, part of my grand plan for 2009 is to diversify - to start trying new venues and new marketing strategies, and to ultimately choose the right solutions for my handmade business rather than assuming there's only one solution for my handmade business.



I'd heard quite a bit of buzz about ArtFire since its launch earlier this year. But it was this article by Always Amy that really convinced me to check it out. I mean, for $7 a month, how can you go wrong, right? A few of the major selling points include

1. Super fast, super easy listing process
2. Stats, stats, and more stats
3. Aggressive marketing plans, and
4. (Did I already mention this?) VERY low operating costs.

Here's a peak at what the storefront ("studio") looks like:


Cute, right? As of this writing (just an hour or so after adding my first products), I've seen 40-ish visits to my studio and over 50 individual product views.

Care to be one of my first customers? Be one of my first three ArtFire customers and receive a second boxed notecard or thank you card set of your choice ABSOLUTELY FREE.

Ready to set up shop yourself?

Register on ArtFire.com

Stay tuned for updates on traffic and shop performance. Also coming soon - my report on yet another new-ish handmade venue, 1000 Markets.

November Sale at The Pear Project

Hear ye, hear ye! The November sale is now underway at The Pear Project. Shop now for the holidays and take advantage of these amazing savings on artisan goods.


Want to help spread the word? Check out this link. Happy shopping!

Bird On A Wire Christmas Catalog Is Here

Macaroni and Glue is thrilled to be a part of this year's Bird On A Wire "Favorite Things" Christmas catalog. At over SEVENTY (yes, that's seven-zero) pages in length, the catalog is truly a ginormous compilation of unique and wonderful ways to show someone you love how special they are this Christmas. Take a look - it's positively brimming with eye candy. Thanks to Deb of Bird On A Wire for the opportunity to be involved!

Now Available at The Pear Project

Macaroni and Glue is thrilled to announce that our stationery line is now available at The Pear Project. Lovingly curated by fellow artisan, Brooke Fuller, The Pear Project is a small business run out of a studio in Coastal North Carolina that specializes in artisan goods for everyday life.

We search the globe for well made innovative products that make life sweeter. We offer products from well known artists as well as a taste of something new. Take a look at our products and enjoy. Our team is passionate about finding the perfect products for the site to create a quick and easy shopping experience for our customers.

The shop offers an exquisite selection of hand-picked bags, jewelry, household items, paper goods, and fine art. From wall decals to letterpress coasters to adorable little clutches, The Pear Project is a treasure trove of unique and lovely gift ideas and special ways to treat yourself.

We're so honored to be a part of this exciting collection of artists and designers. Visit the shop here or check out The Pear Project blog for shop news and musings on the role of artisan goods in our everyday lives.

Newsletter or No Newsletter -- That is the Question

This morning finds me battling equipment issues, as seems to be the case at least one week out of every month. Ah, the perils of small business ownership... So, given that my time and attention is required today in areas other than writing, I'll keep today's blogging to a minimum. I do, however, wish to pose a question for my fellow small business owners about using newsletters to keep in touch with customers.

With the holidays fast approaching (much faster than I'd prefer, truthfully), and given that I'm a greeting card company, I've been seriously considering using a newsletter to help spread the word about the availability of my holiday designs, opportunities for custom ordering, and Mission Soldier Support, the EtsyGreetings project to get handmade cards into the hands of our troops overseas so they can send them to their friends and families in time for the holidays.

I do have an existing (relatively small) mailing list, and have done mailings in the past. But my business has grown to the point that I feel a more, shall we say, professional newsletter is in order. Price, however, is of course an issue, particularly with the astounding number of equipment expenditures that have been required in recent months.

Constant Contact seems to be the standard email marketing service for small businesses. However, as I understand it, there is a monthly fee. And, frankly, I can't see myself using the service more than a few times per year - more than that would feel spammy to me and I fear my customers would balk. I've heard of a few pay-per-use companies (MailChimp, I believe has been mentioned by some fellow Estyians?), but haven't a clue as to which is the best fit for my company.

Which brings me to my question(s), fellow business owners, should you care to weigh in: How do you use email to keep in touch with your customers? Are you happy with your service? How effective are your email campaigns at driving repeat business? How do you handle opting in? Via blog or direct customer interaction?

Your opinion is very much appreciated. Without you, how would I ever accomplish a thing? And with that, I'm off to the printer wars. Check ya tomorrow when, hopefully, I'll be up and running again.

EtsyFAME Feature On This Mom's Life

I'm a little behind on this one, but I wanted to send a shout-out to Andrea Baker of This Mom's Life and Andrea Baker Designs on Etsy, and fellow EtsyFAME member, for featuring Macaroni and Glue earlier this week.

Let me introduce you to Macaroni and Glue. She’s super awesome and so easy to work with. Actually when I placed my custom order with her, she was thinking along the same lines as I was and that made for a super team. I ordered some pink and white thank you cards for my Mary Kay business. She customized them with the word thank you on the outside. My customers love them...

You can read the rest of the article here. Andrea actually made me the cutest little keyring/business card cozy which has now become the single most important thing in my (giant) purse.


I not only use it for my cards, but also as a mini-wallet which can take the place of said purse on short jaunts to the store or walks to the park. I'm such a nerd that I've even attached it to a caribiner, so when all available hands are occupied with kids and/or shopping carts, I can clip it to something. I'm sure I look really cool with my keys clipped to my beltloop and my iPhone in its little armband-thingie, but whatever. I'm all about hands-free!

Thanks again, Andrea, for the feature!

Photography Follow-up -- My New "Studio"

Last month I told you about my most awesome birthday gift EVER, a professional light cube to replace my cardboard home-built version that was literally coming apart. I promised to show you my set-up, so here it is:





As you can see, I use the removable top as the bottom of the cube so I can continue to use my beloved dark woodgrain background (my kitchen table, in case you've ever wondered). Another side zips open - that's the side I shoot through.

To my surprise, the new lightcube actually lets less light in than did my homemade version. So I struggled to find the right camera settings for days on end before finally deciding that I simply needed a third light source (duh!). So I'm now using three office-type lamps, each with a 100 watt GE EnergySmart DAYLIGHT bulb, and I'm happy with the results. With just a teensy bit of contrast correction in Photoshop, here's what I get.

New Holiday Designs and Savings for Blog Followers

I'm happy to announce that the remainder of the Macaroni and Glue 2008 holiday line has been completed and boxed sets are available for purchase in the shop. It's not too early to stock up for the season to come! Order your cards now and have one less thing to worry about after Thanksgiving. And, if you add this blog to your "follow" list, you can receive a $1 PayPal refund for every holiday card set you purchase - just add the code "FOLLOWER" in Notes to Seller at checkout. Here's a peek at some of the fun new vintage-inspired designs to choose from: