Welcome to the wonderful world of HuckleberryBumpkin ! This shop is full of fun country-inspired items that take you back to a simpler way of life.
Showing posts with label CrossMarketing Gurus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CrossMarketing Gurus. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
WOW Wednesday
WOW Wednesdays with the Cross Marketing Gurus...
by Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream Creations
This week's featured artist is Kim from VaBeachQuilter.
Can you give us some links to be able to follow you?
Artfire http://vabeachquilter.artfire.com/
Etsy http://vabeachquilter.etsy.com/
Made It Myself http://www.madeitmyself.com/user/vabeachquilter.aspx
Twitter www.twitter.com/vabeachquilter
VaBeachQuilter's Blog http://vabeachquilter.blogspot.com/
Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shops-With-Less-Sales-Artfire-Guild/147888917526?ref=ts
by Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream Creations
This week's featured artist is Kim from VaBeachQuilter.
Kim has been featured in a USA Today - Sports Edition article by Seth Livingstone for her custom work for Yvonne Upton. Yvonne's son, BJ, plays (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays and her other son, Justin, plays (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
How did you get started with your craft/art?
I started as a cross-stitcher. An aunt of mine had been trying for years to get me into quilting. I finally did with the intentions of putting my cross-stitch designs into quilts. Needless to say, after a class or two, I realized how much faster you could have a create something (compared to cross-stitching) that I never really returned to cross-stitching. I'm a quilter...through and through.
What prompted you to set up a home-based business?
I had a decent stash...then after working at a quilt shop for 3 years, my stash was out of control. I saw a CNN article on Etsy and thought that I had enough quilts and ideas of things to create, that I could give it a shot. I joined Etsy in Jan. 2009. At a craft show, that April, another vendor told me about Artfire. I've been on Artfire since April 2009 and it's my most popular store (though Etsy is doing "okay"). I sell on a variety of other sites, as well.
What part of your craft is your favorite? (Designing, creating the actual piece, working with custom orders, etc)
Creating is my favorite part of my craft...though quilting, and more specifically, APPLIQUE is my real passion. I just LOVE to machine applique and when I get custom orders for anything appliqued, I'm really in my element!
How have you changed since starting your business? How has this impacted your craft?
I've broadened my sewn items...I make so much more than quilts now. Until recently, I haven't sat down and actually sewn any quilts (other than baby quilts that were gifts or custom ordered). But I've been making new quilts for my 4 kids, so I've enjoyed getting back to basics.
What is the most challenging aspect of running your business?
Just juggling 2 blogs, a personal FB page, business FB page, running an Artfire guild, the guild FB page, the guild blog, and all of the endless promoting that I do (on a daily basis)
How did you come up with your shop name?
Well...it's pretty self-explanatory...ROFL And I guess not very original, now that I look at it, but it's ME to a tee! VaBeach (Virginia Beach, VA) Quilter (ahem).... LOL VaBeachQuilter
Where do you see yourself in five years? Where do you see your business?
I was recently asked this, in another online interview, and I don't know...I don't see myself long-term....this is for FUN and I don't really look at it like a job. Though it was successful enough, last year, to pay for family day trips and completely paid for my family's Christmas, it's still for FUN. If it ever started to FEEL like a job and stopped being fun is when I'll close my shops' doors and quit the "business".
How do you keep a balance between home and business responsibilities?
I'm pretty lucky that I'm a SAHM. My youngest kids (at home) are 12 and 14 year old boys. They're old enough not to want to be with MOM and old enough to fend for themselves. By this, I mean, if I don't feel like cooking dinner one night, they'll make their own. Right now, they're in school all day and I'm home alone. Come summer, they'll be hanging out with friends and at camps, etc. so I still have lots of time to myself.
What is the funniest/craziest/most touching thing that has happened while having a business?
I'd have to say the best experience I've had, in the past year that I've been online, is all the wonderful people and good friends that I've met.
If you could give one piece of advice to others who are just getting started with their businesses, what would it be?
Promote, promote, promote. You have to do it tirelessly and endlessly. No one's going to promote you but yourself. I'd recommend starting a blog with a "theme" or "idea" or some sort. Start a Facebook fan page and join Twitter. Establish online friendships and networks. It's difficult and time consuming but well worth the effort when the sales start rolling in.
Can you give us some links to be able to follow you?
Artfire http://vabeachquilter.artfire.com/
Etsy http://vabeachquilter.etsy.com/
Made It Myself http://www.madeitmyself.com/user/vabeachquilter.aspx
Twitter www.twitter.com/vabeachquilter
VaBeachQuilter's Blog http://vabeachquilter.blogspot.com/
Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shops-With-Less-Sales-Artfire-Guild/147888917526?ref=ts
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
WOW Wednesday
by Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream Creations
Meet another member of the Cross Marketing Team...Lisa from jYoulry. Her shops feature personalized photo items--great gift ideas for Father's Day!
How did you get started with your craft/art?
Several years ago I "discovered" photo jewelry... I had a necklace made with a photo of my twins which were 3 at the time. When I was pregnant with my baby, I contacted the woman that made it to order a new one when the baby was born. She was no longer making them, which of course turned into a great thing for me! I was really sad at the time because I loved my photo pendant of the boys and really wanted a new one of all three when the baby arrived. So I decided to make one myself! It didn't take long to realize I could not only make myself one, but I could sell them too. And that was the beginning of my new business endeavor...Now I am also adding a private collection of sterling silver photo jewelry I am designing myself!
What prompted you to set up a home-based business?
I’ve worked from home since I found out I had a high risk pregnancy over 7 years ago. I love it. I get the best of both worlds, I can work, be creative, earn a living and also be home with my kids!
Tell us a little about the artist behind the art?
Well most importantly I am a mother of 3 beautiful boys! My twins are almost 7 and my baby just turned 1. Of course I love to show them off, hence the photo jewelry, LOL. I am also an interior designer. Before relocating to Panama, yes the country, I lived in sunny SW Florida and had a very successful design firm. Unfortunately with the economy the way that it is... we decided to close the firm and move to Panama, where my husband is originally from. Because of the language barrier, my Spanish is not that great, I decided not to continue to design here. Although 3 boys keep my life spinning in circles, I needed something creative to do, so when the opportunity to make and sell the photo jewelry presented itself... I took it. Now of course the designer in me just had to come out sometime and that's when I created the "jYOUlry Signature Collection" a line of sterling silver photo jewelry designed by me (more to come).
What part of your craft is your favorite?
DESIGNING, hands down! It’s what I do, I am a designer. If I had someone else to do all the other stuff I’d let them. I love designing and creating new and beautiful things. That’s what I am working on now… designing a custom collection of quality photo jewelry you won’t find anything like it anywhere else!
What is the most challenging aspect of running your business?
Although they are my inspiration, my family also plays the most challenging part in my art. With three boys it is difficult to find time to myself to do the research of new products, to market my shop and to actually make my art. I am up a lot of late nights when the house is finally quiet. But in the end it is worth it to be home and watch my boys grow as well as have a fulfilling art hobby that brings me so much joy.
How did you come up with your shop name?
I sat with my laptop and just wrote down words, like picture, photo, design, etc... and played around with them trying to come up with something creative, something that wasn't already used. I was also playing with combining words and had inadvertently come up with more of a tag line, like "photo jewelry, where the jewel is you" and suddenly it hit me, the jewel is you... jYOUlry! I loved it instantly. I googled it and checked it out on etsy and no one was using it!!! So yeah, I found something unique, creative and describes what it is I do, at least I think it does, LOL.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Where do you see your business?
Actually as I said my favorite part is designing and right now I am trying to grow my wholesale program so others can handle the selling and I can concentrate on designing new and unique pieces of photo jewelry. I want jYOUlry to become a brand of photo jewelry people look for, not just an online store to shop in. I would love for it to be sold in boutiques internationally and worn by Hollywood’s best moms and dads!
How do you keep a balance between home and business responsibilities?
What balance…Was I supposed to be balanced? Honestly I don’t know. Most days I get my online stuff done when the baby is napping and make my orders at night once all the kids are sleeping. Other times I am up all night catching up and begging hubby to help me with the kids on Saturday so I can work. I guess it just depends on the work load at the time.
What is the funniest/craziest/most touching thing that has happened while having a business?
Well, because what I do is so personal. I mean complete strangers are sending me photos of their most precious possessions, their kids, we usually tend to get very close. It may be for a short while and only via email but when they receive their orders, even though they knew the item and the photo they are always blown away. It is so touching to be trusted with their gifts and to read some of the feedback I get once they’ve received their items. Lots of letters have left me in tears. I have done a lot of memorial pieces too, meaning with photos of a loved one passed away. To see the joyous tears on the face of the receiver is just so touching, that I could help to make a memory come alive for that person. It's truly humbling.
Can you give us some links to be able to follow you?
http://www.jyoulry.etsy.com/
http://www.jyoulry.artfire.com/
www.twitter.com/jYOUlry
www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=107975565894851&ref=ts
Meet another member of the Cross Marketing Team...Lisa from jYoulry. Her shops feature personalized photo items--great gift ideas for Father's Day!
How did you get started with your craft/art?
Several years ago I "discovered" photo jewelry... I had a necklace made with a photo of my twins which were 3 at the time. When I was pregnant with my baby, I contacted the woman that made it to order a new one when the baby was born. She was no longer making them, which of course turned into a great thing for me! I was really sad at the time because I loved my photo pendant of the boys and really wanted a new one of all three when the baby arrived. So I decided to make one myself! It didn't take long to realize I could not only make myself one, but I could sell them too. And that was the beginning of my new business endeavor...Now I am also adding a private collection of sterling silver photo jewelry I am designing myself!
I’ve worked from home since I found out I had a high risk pregnancy over 7 years ago. I love it. I get the best of both worlds, I can work, be creative, earn a living and also be home with my kids!
Well most importantly I am a mother of 3 beautiful boys! My twins are almost 7 and my baby just turned 1. Of course I love to show them off, hence the photo jewelry, LOL. I am also an interior designer. Before relocating to Panama, yes the country, I lived in sunny SW Florida and had a very successful design firm. Unfortunately with the economy the way that it is... we decided to close the firm and move to Panama, where my husband is originally from. Because of the language barrier, my Spanish is not that great, I decided not to continue to design here. Although 3 boys keep my life spinning in circles, I needed something creative to do, so when the opportunity to make and sell the photo jewelry presented itself... I took it. Now of course the designer in me just had to come out sometime and that's when I created the "jYOUlry Signature Collection" a line of sterling silver photo jewelry designed by me (more to come).
DESIGNING, hands down! It’s what I do, I am a designer. If I had someone else to do all the other stuff I’d let them. I love designing and creating new and beautiful things. That’s what I am working on now… designing a custom collection of quality photo jewelry you won’t find anything like it anywhere else!
What is the most challenging aspect of running your business?
Although they are my inspiration, my family also plays the most challenging part in my art. With three boys it is difficult to find time to myself to do the research of new products, to market my shop and to actually make my art. I am up a lot of late nights when the house is finally quiet. But in the end it is worth it to be home and watch my boys grow as well as have a fulfilling art hobby that brings me so much joy.
How did you come up with your shop name?
I sat with my laptop and just wrote down words, like picture, photo, design, etc... and played around with them trying to come up with something creative, something that wasn't already used. I was also playing with combining words and had inadvertently come up with more of a tag line, like "photo jewelry, where the jewel is you" and suddenly it hit me, the jewel is you... jYOUlry! I loved it instantly. I googled it and checked it out on etsy and no one was using it!!! So yeah, I found something unique, creative and describes what it is I do, at least I think it does, LOL.
Actually as I said my favorite part is designing and right now I am trying to grow my wholesale program so others can handle the selling and I can concentrate on designing new and unique pieces of photo jewelry. I want jYOUlry to become a brand of photo jewelry people look for, not just an online store to shop in. I would love for it to be sold in boutiques internationally and worn by Hollywood’s best moms and dads!
What balance…Was I supposed to be balanced? Honestly I don’t know. Most days I get my online stuff done when the baby is napping and make my orders at night once all the kids are sleeping. Other times I am up all night catching up and begging hubby to help me with the kids on Saturday so I can work. I guess it just depends on the work load at the time.
What is the funniest/craziest/most touching thing that has happened while having a business?
Well, because what I do is so personal. I mean complete strangers are sending me photos of their most precious possessions, their kids, we usually tend to get very close. It may be for a short while and only via email but when they receive their orders, even though they knew the item and the photo they are always blown away. It is so touching to be trusted with their gifts and to read some of the feedback I get once they’ve received their items. Lots of letters have left me in tears. I have done a lot of memorial pieces too, meaning with photos of a loved one passed away. To see the joyous tears on the face of the receiver is just so touching, that I could help to make a memory come alive for that person. It's truly humbling.
Can you give us some links to be able to follow you?
http://www.jyoulry.etsy.com/
http://www.jyoulry.artfire.com/
www.twitter.com/jYOUlry
www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=107975565894851&ref=ts
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)