Preparing For The Holidays

Good Morning,

It's the most wonderful time of the year.  The Holidays are upon us, Halloween is right around the corner, and for the handmade artist that is the cue to begin counting, organizing and producing items for sale.  Many artists tend to panic a little bit about this time of year.  Here are some tips for handling the holiday rush.

Inventory: What's in yours?

Time to do a little counting, or if you keep an inventory in quick books or other program, now is the time to go through it.  Check your items against your paperwork.  Check your pricing and make sure you have all those pretty things listed in your shop.

Do you have an on line shop? (Is that a silly question?)

Now is the time to go through every item in your shop, physical or otherwise.  Check for broken items and repair or replace them.  Are you sure you have everything that you have listed in your shop?  Take the time to check.  Did you sell a piece off line and forget to delete or deactivate the listing?  While your checking your shop look for those things, too.


Have you made new items?

Make sure the new items have a prominent position in your shop.  Make them the featured item, or be sure that they appear somewhere on the front page of your online store.
 
Do you need to make items?

Inventory looking a little thin?  Sold several pieces lately? You guessed it, now is the time to make something new.  Go through those loose bits and baubles, surely there is something you can create to fill out those virtual shelves.

Do you have the things you need to make items?

Those loose bits and baubles don't quite add up to a piece?  Make a list of only those things you think you will need to complete the piece or project.   It is very easy to over buy.  I know I can't walk into an art supply store without dreaming of uses for everything I see, but I only need clasps, so I get clasps.

Do you have packaging?

Do you have boxes, bags, filler, or envelopes?  No?  Well go get them.  Remember places like The UPS Store will charge you for the packing material as well, and the $3.50 you charged for shipping will not cover the cost of purchasing the boxes and things at your choice of mail service providers.

Do you offer gift boxes or wrapping with purchase?

You do?  Do your listings or shop state this is an option?  Sometimes a sale is made or broken because the customer is in a hurry and doesn't want to (or isn't very accomplished) at wrapping packages.  Think about creating a listing for Gift Wrapping the item when purchased. A small fee is acceptable for the service and you might be surprised that offering a small convenience will bring you a sale.

Do you have a tip or trick for getting ready for the holiday season?  Feel free to share it in the comments.

Thank you for stopping in and having a read.  In hope this will be helpful.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

Five Great Gifts to Give: Halloween 2015

Good Morning,

Halloween, my favorite time of year.  The leaves are changing color, there is a nip in the air, and the neighborhood is filled with Super Heroes and Zombies wandering the street.

This morning I thought it would be fun to take a look at some Spooky Handmade goodies for your celebration needs.

All items were chosen from The CraftStar a wonderful and unique shopping site full handmade goodies!

From: Oddball Art Co.


Spooky Tales 8x8 Giclee Art Print by Lizzy Love

This is an 8x8 Giclee Fine Art Reproduction of my original painting. It is printed right here in my studio using my Epson Ink Jet Printer and archival professional heavy weight paper with archival inks. It is signed, titled and dated on the back. There is a 1/4th of an inch white border surrounding the work for matting and framing. Please note that watermarks WILL NOT be on your print!

This Fine Art Reproduction with a Certificate of Authenticity will be shipped lovingly between stiff cardboard and will arrive to your home ready to be placed in your favorite frame.


From: Tom's Crafts
 Handmade painted Black Cat yard stake number 1

Cat is about 2 foot tall
To see more items from my shop, please visit


From: Royal MajesTees
 Trick or Treat Halloween Shirt, Long Sleeve Shirt, Womens

This long sleeve Trick or Treat Halloween shirt is perfect to wear on Halloween and all through the month of October. It features a black and orange color scheme. Each shirt is made to order. Please select your size from the drop down menu. Shirt is a womens heavy cotton shirt that is pre-shrunk.  If you are between sizes, size up. 
Please note these shirts are made to order so please check my shop announcement section for current production times. 


From:  The Feltery

Morty - Zombie Cat - Made to Order

 {M o r t y}

A B O U T: Risen from the grave this ghastly zombie kitty craves more than just brains and blood. Give him some love and maybe an ear to gnaw on while he picks a bone (or two!) with all of the other kitties in the Halloween Inspired Collection presented by The Feltery. Collect all your favorite monsters or just take him own. Don't worry he doesn't bite.... much!


D o B:
October 23, 1784

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

— 6 1/2 inches tall (from ears)
— 3 1/2 inches wide
— Made of eco-friendly felt
— Stuffed with polyester fiber fill
— Safety eyes or felt eyes (mark in buyer note if you prefer felt eye's)

Each animal or item is personally hand sewn with love and dedication to insure that you are getting the best quality product.

 

From: Lucky Bee

Walking Dead Zombies Zombie Apocalypse Crossing Sign Signs Halloween Geekery Horror Lucky Bee Designs

 Got Zombies? This little piece of horror geekery features three zombies cautiously crossing the street. Are you ready for the zombie apocalypse? Each sign measures 12" x 5" and comes on a black ribbon hanger. Made from high quality vinyl on wood, It is a perfect way to get your zombie on. All of our graphics are hand drawn, and cut in vinyl.  Zombie Crossing sign comes in three colors, Bright Yellow, Blood Red, and Bright Blue.Please choose your color in the variant menu. I have tried to keep colors true to description, but please allow for variations due to monitor differences. 

Thanks so much for looking at Lucky Bee Designs!

 

Don't forget to check out the curated collection of Halloweeny goodness: Spooky Little Ghoul Like You 

 

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

 

 

Feature Artist: Green Owl Clothing

Good Morning,

Today's featured artist is Green Owl Clothing "Encouraging the trendsetter mentality."

 

Teal LED Tutu Skirt

LED Tutus are made with an elastic waistband and a Microwire strand of battery operated LED lights inside the layers of fabric. The battery pack has an on/off switch and fits snuggly into a hidden color matched pocket so that it stays in place and out of sight. Batteries are included and can easily be replaced so that you may use your awesome tutu more than once. Our LED tutus are lightweight, cute, sexy and very comfy to wear, perfect for any event.


Size Conversion Chart

Size / Waist

X-Small 0-2 / 24"
Small 4-6 / 26"
Medium 8-10 / 28"
Large 12-14 / 30"
X-Large 16-18 / 32"+

Please email us at info @ greenowlclothing.com for Questions or Product Inquiries.


Express shipping is available for an additional fee. Fee varies on delivery location and delivery service requested. 

 

White LED Tutu Skirt

LED Tutus are made with an elastic waistband and a Microwire strand of battery operated LED lights inside the layers of fabric.

The battery pack has an on/off switch and fits snuggly into a hidden color matched pocket so that it stays in place and out of sight. Batteries are included and can easily be replaced so that you may use your awesome tutu more than once.

Our LED tutus are lightweight, cute, sexy and very comfy to wear, perfect for any event.

Please email us at info @ greenowlclothing.com for Questions or Product Inquiries. Express shipping is available for an additional fee. Fee varies on delivery location and delivery service requested.


Size Conversion Chart

Size / Waist

X-Small 0-2 / 24"
Small 4-6 / 26"
Medium 8-10 / 28"
Large 12-14 / 30"
X-Large 16-18 / 32"+

 

Strawberry Pink LED Tutu Skirt

 LED Tutus are made with an elastic waistband and a Microwire strand of battery operated LED lights inside the layers of fabric.

The battery pack has an on/off switch and fits snuggly into a hidden color matched pocket so that it stays in place and out of sight. Batteries are included and can easily be replaced so that you may use your awesome tutu more than once.

Our LED tutus are lightweight, cute, sexy and very comfy to wear, perfect for any event.


Size Conversion Chart

Size / Waist

X-Small 0-2 / 24"
Small 4-6 / 26"
Medium 8-10 / 28"
Large 12-14 / 30"
X-Large 16-18 / 32"+

Email us at info @ greenowlclothing.com for Questions or Product Inquiries. Express shipping is available for an additional fee. Fee varies on delivery location and delivery service requested.

 

Thank you for stopping in and having a look, in hope you will click through to see what else is on the virtual shelves.

 

Do you have a favorite shop or artist?  Are you an artist that has a shop?  Let us know and we'll do our best to feature you.

 

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

Places To Shop

Good Morning,

Tuesday is usually full of gift ideas, but where does one go for those nifty gifts?

There are Flash Sale Sites, Corporate Sites, Look and Like Sites and then there are Handmade Sites where you can connect directly with your favorite shop or person.

The Alchemists Vessel has a website, and participates at two handmade sites, not including the blog where you can look and shop as well.

SHOP:

The Alchemists Vessel on Etsy

The Alchemists Vessel on The CraftStar

The Alchemists Vessel Official Website

Shop here on the blog via the Square Market tab at the top of the page or visit out website, you may also follow any of the links on the sidebar menus.

You can also find us on:

Facebook
Twitter

 Thank you so much for stopping in and having a look.  In hope you will come back again.

Friday Fun: The Tentacled Topper

Good Morning,

Happy Friday to one and all.  Are we ready for the weekend? I know I am.  

The blog isn't always all about business, we like to have fun and play, too.  Today I would like share a little bit of that with you.  

My friend and fellow artist, Debbi, from Yankee Burrow took time out from her busy schedule to crochet this wonderfully fun hat for me.  We found the pattern on line and Debbi took up the hook and some marvelous acrylic yarn in a dark forest green and worked it up.

This hat is a hoot, I love it and cannot wait to wear this out grocery shopping or to some other activity, snowballs fights would be good.

Although this particular item is not listed in her shops, there are other things that are just as neat.  I hope you will take a moment to click through and see what else this talented and clever crafter has on offer.  Perhaps you would like to request a custom order?  She does that too.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

Featured Artist: Fallen Star Creation

Good Morning, 

The blog is back, and it is my pleasure to introduce Fallen Star Creation on etsy.

Misti writes: I'm a stay-at-home mother of 3 young children, I am finishing up college in a couple weeks (YAY!), and then hopefully going on to become an Air Force officer. But for now I try to bring in what income I am able from my Etsy shop to help support my family.

Welcome to FallenStar Creations!! Everything is handmade by me and every item can be custom made to your specifications. Please do not hesitate to ask if I can change things for you and/or to give me feedback about anything. We have recently upgraded our shop to include items other than chainmail. 

Chainmail 4-in-1 Triple Triangle Choker Necklace

 This is a choker made from 16g 1/4" bright aluminum and anodized aluminum (the colored rings). I can use other materials such as sterling silver, gold, stainless steel, niobium, copper, and real bronze and more but the price will change. Message me if you're interested in different materials.

Different colors are available, just let me know which colors you want. The third picture has the colors I currently have in stock in the second and third rows but if you want a color I don't have in stock I can get it quickly. I will also need to know how long you want this item to be and what clasp you prefer. I do have new clasps available that are not shown.

***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SPECIALTY CLASP SUCH AS GOLD-FILLED, STERLING SILVER, ETC PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE BUYING AS THEY DO COST ME MORE TO BUY AND UNFORTUNATELY I WILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE PRICE. 

Large and Small Owls in Chainmail

These adorable little guys make great pets! They love to travel on keychains, on necklaces, and the little guys are just small enough to even fit on a bracelet. They are also content just relaxing around the house. To have them as a keychain I charge just a little extra. Please let me know what colors you want for your owl(s) since most of them are custom ordered. I do have my little Gryffindor owl and a large purple owl that need homes and can be sent to you right away. :)

 

Chainmail Dragon Adoptions

 Who wouldn't love to adopt a dragon? We search far and wide for dragons who want to live with humans and we try to match them with their perfect owner. Let us know what color dragon you would like to adopt (including eye and claw color if there's a preference) and if you have a preference for their personality. Knowing a little bit about the new owner of a dragon will also help us find the perfect dragon so s/he will fit in perfectly. Every dragon comes with his or her own adoption certificate. The dragons are approximately eight inches and can either hold onto keychains so they can travel with you everywhere, be made into a bracelet, a necklace charm (though they would be quite big), or they can just hang out with you without a keyring.

The first two dragons are Primo, a very artistic dragon, and Simmons, who is already adopted. Primo is still looking for a home and he would be great for someone looking for some creative inspiration.

The second dragon is Jackie, the pumpkin dragon. She is ready for adoption and still looking for a home. She does have some scratches on a couple scales that are not shown in the picture. I think it gives her some personality but I can fix her up a bit and have all her scales nice and shiny again if you wish.

Other dragons featured are Tun and Jack who are both adopted. Jack is made out of galvanized steel which is why he can stand like that. Everyone else is made out of anodized aluminum.

We're on the lookout for baby dragons and larger dragons at the moment too. Hopefully they'll be found soon!

Rings are made of either anodized aluminum and/or bright aluminum but I can do other materials as well including sterling silver, niobium, gold, copper, steel and more. The price will change if a different material is requested.

***Galvanized Steel has different properties than the anodized aluminum I normally use. It is not recommended to be washed, it can have an almost "dirty" feel to it, and you MUST keep it away from heat sources or else toxic fumes come off of the zinc layer of the steel. I do not recommend a dragon made of galvanized steel for children. It also makes a stiffer dragon than anodized aluminum which lets it sit up better.*** 

 

Chainmail Byzantine Bracelet

This is my favorite weave of chainmaille called Byzantine.

Different colors are available, just let me know which colors you want. I can also do different clasps. I do have new clasps available that are not shown. The rings are made of anodized aluminum (except for the copper which is, in fact, real copper) but I can do other materials as well including sterling silver, niobium, gold, steel, and more. The price will change if a different material is requested.

I will also need to know how long you want this item to be.

This is also great as an anklet. It can be made into a necklace for an additional fee.

***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SPECIALTY CLASP SUCH AS GOLD-FILLED, STERLING SILVER, ETC PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE BUYING AS THEY DO COST ME MORE TO BUY AND UNFORTUNATELY I WILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE PRICE.  

 

Chainmail Helm Bracelets

 This Helm bracelet is very beautiful and can be made from a variety of colors. The first color choice is for the large rings and the second color choice is for the small connector rings. Message me if you would like a different combination of colors. The first picture shows all the colors I currently have in stock in the large rings.

I even have a set of helm bracelets for Sailor Moon!! I will add in a discount if you buy the whole set. The second picture are my Sailor Moon bracelets.

***Charms are NOT included. I can add charms for an additional fee which depend on how much the charm costs me. Please message me first for this option.***

Different colors are available, just let me know which colors you want. I can also do different clasps. The rings are made of anodized aluminum but I can do other materials as well including sterling silver, niobium, gold, steel, and more. The price will change if a different material is requested.

I will also need to know how long you want this item to be.

This is also great as an anklet. It can be made into a necklace for an additional fee.

***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SPECIALTY CLASP SUCH AS GOLD-FILLED, STERLING SILVER, ETC PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE BUYING AS THEY DO COST ME MORE TO BUY AND UNFORTUNATELY I WILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE PRICE.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.  In hope you will take a moment to visit Fallen Star Creation and see what else is on the shelves.

How To Get Seious About Your Business

Good Morning,

This morning while checking my own on line sites and shops I came across this post on Etsy.  I used the copy and paste method to post it in its entirety, including links.  It's a short read, but very informative.  I think these things apply to any and everyone that has a hobby or career business in mind.

Story by Audrey Manning

Published on Jan 21, 2015 in Seller Handbook

Melanie Ann Green remembers clearly the moment when her hobby turned into a career. “I was sitting in the car with my dad talking about my ‘silly hobby’ when I realized that running my own creative business was what I wanted to do full time, and that nothing was going to stop me,” the Scarborough, England-based entrepreneur explains. Until that point, neither Melanie nor her father had considered her needle-felted bird shop, The Felt Menagerie, something that could become an actual job.
Eager to get started, she headed home to write out a five-year business plan. With that initial plan as her guiding vision, she started plotting out the steps required to reach her goals one at a time. Now, five years after that fateful conversation, Melanie’s shop has over 2,000 sales. She quit her day job at a local bookstore back in 2011, and hasn’t looked back since.
Taking your shop to the next level comes down to practically and emotionally preparing yourself for success. While the motivation to improve your shop must come from within, the following steps can help you create moments you’ll later look back on as critical turning points in your business’s growth.

1. Create a Designated Workspace

By devoting a physical space to your work, you give your creativity a home. “My first step in moving from a hobby to a business was carving out a permanent physical space to work,” says Tanya Duncan of Waldorf, Maryland-based quilt shop Spool and Thimble. Think outside the box and use your imagination to create a functional workspace where you can leave in-progress projects out until they are complete. While it may not be possible to dedicate a full room to your business, you can claim a nook of your own in the form of a desk, corner, re-purposed closet or garage.

You will do your best work in a space that’s not only functional, but also visually inspiring. 

When finding storage and organization solutions, be mindful of how things look and feel. If you’re happy with how your space looks, you’re more likely to show it off proudly on your About page and in person. “Treating my business as deserving of a physical presence enables me to bring clients into a professional-looking home studio, albeit one that has a dollhouse in the corner and crayons on the floor,” Tanya explains.

2. Creatively Visualize Your Own Success

We all think we want to be successful. But what does success really mean? If you had it, what would it look like? Would it mean reaching a set number of sales? Having your product featured on your favorite blog? Becoming an entrepreneurial role model for your kids?

Take a few moments to jot down the images (and words) that come to mind when you think about success. Meditate on these words and images until they form a clear picture. Next, imagine yourself experiencing this success. How would you feel — proud and prepared, surprised or possibly scared and overwhelmed? By creatively visualizing what being successful would look and feel like, you can then start putting together a plan for getting there.

3. Face Your Fears Head-On

If you find it difficult to picture your own success, fear could be getting in your way.  Some examples of common success blockers include fear of failure, fear of being judged by others, perfectionism and fear of success itself. Maybe you worry that true success would bring on a larger volume of orders than you could physically handle, cost you precious time with your loved ones or have a negative impact on your creativity. Whatever the fear, try to recognize it and acknowledge the role it’s playing in your business.

“Become a student of yourself,” suggests Heidi Ahmed, owner of the Columbus, Ohio watercolor shop Lost in Reverie. Heidi speaks from experience; she’s well aware of the role anxiety and fear can play in a shop’s growth. In the past, when people would ask Heidi about her shop, she would nervously start listing all the things she was accomplishing. She later realized this was her attempt to prove her business’s legitimacy not only to others, but to herself. “I came to dread the question, ‘What do you do?’ because the truth was that I was ashamed of my business,” Heidi admits. It was only when she faced her insecurities head-on that her confidence started to grow.

4. Develop a Business Plan

Laura Mays of Quincy, Illinois-based wedding invitation shop Lama Works credits her entry in a small-business competition as her real turnaround moment. “During the competition, we sat down with mentors and created a business plan — something I had never considered doing before,” Laura explains. “It made me put down on paper who I was, what I did and where I wanted to go in the future.”

The competition granted her second-place recognition and increased confidence. “It made me feel like a business, not just a hobby,” she says of the win. From then on, when people asked Laura what she did, she swapped saying, “Oh, I just make invitations,” for, “I own a wedding invitation business.” Check out How to Write a Creative Business Plan in Under an Hour for tips on getting started with a plan of your own.

5. Set Actionable Goals for Your Business

Once you have a grasp on what success looks like to you, the next step is to break it down into smaller, achievable goals. From there you can turn each goal into a series of tangible steps that you’ll tackle one by one. For example, if you want to introduce a new spring product line, you must find the time to create it. Instead of just thinking about it, carve out distinct time in your schedule to devote to product development and production.

While completing each smaller step, imagine yourself achieving your larger goals as a result. “I started seeing more success in my shop when I began setting specific goals and visualizing myself reaching them,” says Ontario resident Ann Turner, owner of the beach-themed jewelry shop Nautically Inspired.

While we’ve all heard stories of accidental success, most success stories require vision and planning in addition to hard work and drive. “You need the fire in your belly to take your shop to the next level,” says Stephanie Maslow-Blackman of New York jewelry shop Metalicious. “It’s up to you to make things happen.”

Was there a moment in your shop’s development when you decided to take things up a notch? Share your turning point in the comments below.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.