Elsewhere...

So, I have been trying to concentrate on spreading my selling wings a little and have been looking outward for venues. Etsy will always be my first love and I will always have my shop there. The site has grown so much since I first joined and there have been many great changes. Those four guys had a great vision and continue to amaze me with their energy and innovation. Without Etsy, I would more than likely have never had a chance to realize my passion.

With the coming together of the Etsy Hawaii Street Team, I've also gained the confidence and knowledge that I just might be able to sell elsewhere. These sellers are outstanding and have so much experience in selling in all types of venues. It's given me the push I needed to start thinking outside the boundaries of my computer monitor.

Where will I be willing to go next year? How far can I push myself? I know...it's not even Thanksgiving! But I also realize that if I want to make any business decisions for next year, I have to start planning NOW! I seriously thought that I could slide into this holiday season without any formal planning, but I've had a huge wake-up call! I should have been doing the planning 8 months ago!

I mean, really? Being a single mom, running a business, and working a more than 40-hour-week day job? It will take planning. My daily planner and calendar are going to be my new best friends! And damn the procrastination monster! "Seize the moment" will be my new motto.

How 'bout you? Got big plans for 2008?

For public viewing...

Tomorrow will be the first time I will take my wares out for sale in person. I'm very excited. And also quite frightened.

Selling my jewelry online is pretty easy when it comes to having to deal with rejection. I can't actaully see the lookers and lurkers as they peruse my shop. And unless someone has hearted me, I don't really sense any of the rejection at all. And watching the steady climb of views for each item can become a sense of security that my jewelry is getting some love from cyberspace!



And despite the excitement of putting together a display and creating a portable little shop, I am not without apprehension. I will be very happy if I'm just able to recoup my costs for the new set-up. What if I don't and the people just walk by with a polite smile? How will I feel? Will I be able to deal with that sort of turndown?

I create my pieces not with thought of sale, but because I am moved to create it. I imagine my love for making will overcome any negativity that I may feel tomorrow. And I will definitely report back here to let you know, dear reader(the one reader that reads this blog and I thank you for that!).

So stay tuned...

And for those on Oahu tomorrow morning, come check us out! We will be at the Aloha Stadium swap meet until 2pm. I will be there until 11am because I have to head off to my day job. Come see all the lovely things that our awesome Street Team has to offer.

See that banner up top? It was created by the awesome Martha Sanchez of Amor De Plata, creator of fine silver art jewelry!

Etsy Hawaii Team in action...

Here in Hawaii, not many people know about Etsy. I don't know if it's like that where you live, but here it's all about the mall shopping and mass-produced. I sometimes get the impression that handmade goods are not as appreciated and even looked down upon. That a handmade item has less quality than one that is created by some automaton. Maybe it's like that in most places.

I'm the opposite. I've always loved unique, original designs created by artisans. I can remember as a child growing up in Japan and visiting my Grandmother's village in Kakuda City. And visiting the local basket maker that lived across from her farm. I would stay there all day watching him create huge baskets for farm use and delicate little creations for gifts...stripping huge bamboo and slicing strips to use. He would walk to his supply shed and carefully choose the cut bamboo for his baskets. He would tell me that it was important to choose just the right one for each new creation. It was my favorite part of those visits, helping him to choose material for a new basket!

So, it was with great joy that I was able to find Etsy. Imagine a global marketplace for artisans and crafters of all walks to show their wares for sale. I was so excited! And it's been quite a journey for me to discover just what it is that's important for me as a crafter.

And now this awesome opportunity to be able to share Etsy with our state. Enjoy the photos...then take a look at the video of the segment that aired here last night!

A group shot of myself, Angela from AMKstitches, Cindy Cha, our reporter from KHNL, and Michelle of 3D Cranes.

Product shots from the three featured sellers. Along with bags and wooden creations from our Big Island seller, Sasaki Creations.

Happy faces! Relief that it's over and looking forward to a relaxing lunch with each other.

Our wonderful camera-guy, photojournalist Darin Akita. He was behind-the-scenes, but was instrumental in helping us put this segment together!

And here is the link to aired segment...Etsy Hawaii interview with KHNL.