Treasurypalooza: January!

Each month, the members of the Nutmeg Collective have the option to create a curated collection of items found within our Etsy-based shops in an effort to get to know each others' items and to help show off our beautiful work to others. So much thought and consideration goes into putting these collections together, that we decided to show off some of the top groupings from the past month.

 Back to Basics by The Toy Box by Vinny

All items shown feature Nutmeg Collective members!

 Connecticut Valentines for the Littles by Made by Jane

Another collection that is 100% members!

 For My Valentine by Queenvanna Creations

The top two rows feature NC members!

Icy by Evelyn Pelati

Featuring That Retro Girl, Jenny Fields Fiber, The Tiny Wren, Nutmeg Naturals, Start Talking Vintage, Sea Glass Designs, MSD Design, Designer Dwellings, and LilyPad Prints

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Click the photos to go directly to the treasury on Etsy, where there are clickable links to each item.
Which grouping is your favorite?

Kristen Skelton of Milo and Molly is a self-taught sewist, Kristen who runs her business while staying at home with her two small children.  Fueled by an endless supply of tea, she sews late into the night when the house is quiet, most often accompanied by her faithful poodle, Casey.  Stop by and see her collection of bold modern accessories and home goods.

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | miloandmollyshop@gmail.com 

Collaborating to Start an Etsy Shop: Mother-Daughter Team

 

When we first started our Etsy shop, which came shortly after my daughter, Glynnis, decided to make more bracelets to sell rather than give them as gifts for her friends, I was doing all the computer work and photographs while Glynnis made all the jewelry.  As we sat together talking and working, I'd watch Glynnis design something and got inspired to make something, too.  I've never been a creative type other than fun art stuff with my children when they were little.

I found that I loved working with my hands and making something pretty for someone else to enjoy. As we gained more experience and learned more about design and colors, we started to venture into different mediums such as silver and gold.  It is a wonderful experience to be able to connect with Glynnis on this level.  We bounce ideas, pictures, etc. off each other as part of our design process.  It is important to both of us to get feedback.  My prospective is from an older different generation whereas she is young and sees trends on her friends that inspire her.

Now that Glynnis is in high school and has more responsibility (homework, sports), I'm doing much more than I thought capable of.  AND I really enjoy it.  I especially love when someone tells me how much they like something I created.  It gives me a sense of accomplishment.  Glynnis will share ideas with me as her time permits.  I usually construct her designs.

As I said before, I am really the sole contributor to our Etsy shop.  I am a gardener during spring, summer, and fall, so the bulk of the work on Etsy gets done in the winter.

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Click the photos above to visit DiGiJewels

Diane of DiGi Jewels: It's my daughter, Glynnis, whose beaded stretch bracelets inspired our shop. We worked together to get the shop up and running, but she was the one to design and create. Now that she is a freshman in high school, I have taken over most of the running of our shop. She will design something and I'll construct it. I've been creating pieces now for over a year. I love the time we spend together. 
Pinterest | Wanelo | Twitter | Facebook 

Offering Shop Gift Cards

Source

Gift cards are a popular and convenient choice for customer's looking for a gift-giving option. Especially for businesses with longer production times this increases the sale probability when time constraints are a factor. Each time a gift card is purchased from your shop this brings the recipient (now a new customer) to your door. The best part? When using a gift card, customers tend to be less worried about price points!


When creating your listing make sure to follow these tips:

• Choose if you would like to mail a physical item such as a gift certificate or send a digital file also known as an e-card. Tip: Be creative because this is a nice marketing opportunity. 
• Be clear in your listing that this gift certificate is specific to your Etsy shop. 
• Decide how you will handle a carried balance. Revised paypal invoices are a great way to keep track. Include this information in the listing or have it accompany your gift card. 
• Update your policies to include your gift card information. 
• In order to accept gift cards you must enable "other" as a checkout option. This feature can be found in your Etsy settings. 
• Gift cards issued in Connecticut "may not have an expiration date or inactivity fee." Per the CT Department of Consumer Protection

Source

For the full how to listing guide you can read the Etsy Blog

Resources for customized plastic gift cards:

PlasticResource.com

SquareUp.com

CardPrinting.us

Written by Alonda Baird-Juhasz, owner of Designer Dwellings, who believes in adding color to life. An avid DIYer, sparkle-loving, all things fabulous addict, her shop features bright and fun home decor accessories and gifts. When not in the shop you can find her interior decorating or visual styling events and photo shoots.

Bidding Farewell.

The Nutmeg Collective is comprised of an ever-evolving group of crafters.  Members join us to make connections and find resources, and along the way great friendships are built.  Occasionally, though, the time comes that a member leaves the group for bigger and better things.  Today we'd like to highlight a few of our outgoing members and encourage you to check out their shops.

We are bummed to be losing the great Lee Berman of The Octopress.  Lee has been a source of humor for the group, and also led our members in a fun screen-printing workshop.  He will be missed as he makes the move to New York.  Check out his shadow boxes and cards.

We are so thrilled for the newly-minted Doctor Jenn Honeycutt of Petite Maus.  She recently earned her Ph.D. from the University Connecticut, and we are losing her to the universities of Boston.  We wish her the best at her new job, and hope you will check out her gorgeous jewelry.

Kevin Peloquin of Rad Dad Tees is one busy guy, and with a new job at a local college, he's decided to close up Rad Dad when his stock is gone.  So hurry and get one of his humorous tees for the best dad you know, quick!

Christiane Burkhard of Lismi Knits is on her way to Germany with her family, and her shop will reopen on July 2.  Once it does, you should definitely take a look at her gorgeous hand-dyed yarns and patterns.

While these members are on to new ventures, we still have a ton of great active shops for you to check out.  Find them here!  And if you would like to join the Collective, our application can be found here.

Monthly Etsy Treasury Contest

Treasuries are a tool on Etsy that allow users to curate a collection of 16 items along a theme of color, holiday, mood, texture, or anything that inspires you.  This feature is a wonderful way to honor some of your favorite shops and items and helps introduce them to other users.  Each member of the Nutmeg Collective makes a treasury every month to help show off our awesome work, and we want to share it with you!

At the end of each month, starting with February, we're going to pick our top treasury selections from the month. Beautiful, well-promoted collections will be part of the criteria. Once the top picks are finalized, we will ask you to vote on your favorite choice right here on the blog.  The winner will be featured on the first Friday of the month.

Below you'll find some of the treasuries from January that were well-curated and promoted.  Be inspired by them, as well as all the great offerings from our team of Connecticut makers and artists!

Happy gathering!

**Don't forget - you can use the Treasury Box app for your Google Chrome browser to make curating a treasury even quicker.  Plus, it lets you convo all 16 features at once. If you convo the shop owner's that are featured, you usually get more views.  Treasury Box

Save Money (and the Environment) with Recycled Packing Materials

As a vintage seller, owner of Start Talking Vintage of Manchester, CT, I love finding something old and making it new again, through giving it a new home or upcycling it for some modern appeal. 

I value being able to re-use, which is why I find such joy in re-purposing vintage materials. My passion for "recycling" doesn't stop just there- I also pack my sold orders using recycled materials. Not only is it extremely cost effective, but also beneficial to the environment!

Photo credit:  Windell Oskay

Tips on how to use recycled packing and shipping materials:

1. Save save save! I squirrel away old newspapers, used tissue paper and packing materials from things that I buy for my personal use. I have a spot in my attic for paper products that could easily be used for packaging. 

2. Make your own paper shred! I personally do not like to package with advertisement flyers from other stores- but the light weight material is perfect for packing. I use a small paper shredder to shred newspaper inserts. I mix the weekly sales shredded paper with kraft paper shred that I also shred myself- using those brown paper bags from the grocery store! 

Here you can see my handmade vintage music score ornaments 

packed snug with my own paper shred, straight from my shredder! 

3. Reach out to your friends and family and have them save their newspapers , cardboard boxes and other papers that would be suitable for packing for you! When your friends order online, ask them to save the boxes and the packing materials that their orders were shipped in!

4. Try The Freecycle Network. Freecycle is a website where you can post things you are looking to give away for free, as well as things you are looking to get- for free! The site is broken up by town, so all the listings you look at are local. I have responded to offers for bubble wrap, packing peanuts and boxes - where I simply had to connect with the person offering the free materials via email, where we arranged for me to pick-up. I have also made "wanted" posts for packing materials and have gotten offers for items. The premise of the website is just as it's name sounds- to recycle materials you have by giving them away for free to someone who can use them. Not only can you get packing materials from Freecycle, but you can also get printers, clothing, furniture and other household items people are looking to part with. I have gotten a sewing machine from the site!

5. Mix recycled materials with purchased ones. I never skimp on packing materials, especially when I am shipping fragile items. I also have a supply of new bubble wrap, boxes and packing peanuts that I have purchase, because sometimes my recycled materials need some more support in protecting my products.

6. Keep your materials attractive looking- always make sure they are clean! Just because it is recycled doesn't mean it should look like you personally picked it out of your neighbors recycling bin. I use a stamp that I had customized of my store logo on newspapers, tissue paper and kraft paper packaging. I also incorporate using baker's twine and other frills to pretty up my packaging. Branding can be everything!

7. Keep the recycling process going! I like to include a card in my packaging that says "The packing materials enclosed have been recycled. Please do your part and keep the cycle going!" This reminds my customers to reduce, reuse and recycle!

Enjoy finding materials to use in creative ways to ship your products!


Written by Jessica Marie of Start Talking Vintage. Jessica is a 21 year old college student who has developed a passion for all things vintage and the rich history they carry. She enjoys treasure hunting for historic beauties at estate sales, crafting, sewing and DIY projects, especially those that upcycle vintage items and give then new, modern appeal. She is studying Early Childhood Development and Education with the future aspiration of being a preschool teacher- but will never leave her old-soul vintage passion or eye for design behind.

Shop Spotlight: Whimsy Ones

Andrea Dziadul, owner of Whimsy Ones, has always had a love for creating anything homemade.   With that, Whimsy Ones was created in July 2013.

"I am a wife to my high school sweetheart, Dan, an elementary school teacher, gardener and love the outdoors. I discovered a few years ago how wonderful it is to make almost everything homemade and how special it is to others. Now I want to share my talent with you!

Whimsy Ones offers monthly baby onesies intended to celebrate each month of a baby's first year. Parents are able to capture their baby's growth in a picture each month and have a treasured memory. My shop also offers monthly stickers, twin onesie sets, birthday tees and onesies, and custom single onesies and hats.

In the summer of 2013, I was invited to my friend's baby shower and didn't want to bring the typical baby registry gift. I felt that making her something homemade would be more meaningful to her. Friends at the shower loved my gift (and so did the new mom!) and suggested I start selling it. That's where the idea for monthly onesies came from.

My inspiration comes from the same inspiration I get from my third grade students - whimsical, fun, creative, bright, and cheery. I love putting my heart into my designs and knowing that memories will be created with my products. I also can tailor my designs to anyone's liking. I can match color and pattern themes.

I make my products using my own designs that I create on my computer. I then print them using quality sticker paper, or on quality heat transfer paper. To make outfits and hats, I use a heat press to transfer my designs. I use 100% cotton onesies and hats that are pre-washed."

See more of Andrea's work in her Etsy shop 

or connect with her on Facebook.

Would you like to be a featured in the Shop Spotlight?

Active Nutmeg Collective members fill out this form!

Shop Spotlight: Melley Nelson Design

Trish Nelson runs Melley Nelson Design: Architecture, Pen & Ink, and Anything Else.  Trish's pen and ink drawings are a meticulously crafted, thoughtful gift for anyone who loves their home.

"I am in architect, mother of three, and constant doodler.  I work part time with a construction company, I do residential renovations and additions, and I have an entire line of cards that I can't get out yet because they are just not right....but soon, someday.

My mother sold the house I grew up in several years after my father died.  She said a house needs a family.  My brothers and sister were already married and I was living a fun life up in Cambridge, so she had a point.  I drew a pen and ink picture of our home, made copies of it for my siblings and we all cried.  And then I started doing it for friends in book club, donating to the kids' school, and so on and so on.  Most everyone I have worked has a great story about the home I am drawing- good memories past, present or future."

To see more of Trish's amazing work or to request your own drawing,
please visit her on Etsy or Facebook.

Shop Spotlight: Petite Maus

Meet Jenn, a self-taught artist who has been creating since before she can even remember, and who has always been a very effervescent and outgoing individual: "At any given time I probably have vibrant pink and purple streaks in my hair!"  She's currently a PhD student and Instructor at the University of Connecticut getting her Doctorate in Behavioral Neuroscience, and her research focuses on the underlying neural mechanisms of schizophrenia. She loves working in academia, teaching, and she has a passion for her research. Her shop, Petite Maus, gives her a fantastic creative outlet when she's not in the classroom or in the lab.

"My shop, Petite Maus, was born from an insatiable need to create with my hands and a little nudge from a DIY family Christmas experience. I had never before made jewelry (besides the typical teenage friendship bracelets), but my cousin's wife wanted a pair of earrings for Christmas. I thought to myself, "Hey, I like making things, I'm going to try and make these earrings from scratch!" and so it began.

"The name Petite Maus comes from two passions: "Petite" is from my French heritage, and means small (I am very short!), while\"Maus" (pronounced just like mouse) is the German word for "mouse", and reminds me fondly of the time I spent living in Germany, and reflects the love I have for my research. This also perfectly symbolizes my work - a combination of small, petite gemstones and details, as well as an occasional scientific flair.

"I rarely, if ever, design my pieces ahead of time. Rather, I let the stones and materials speak for themselves, and find that the spontaneity of creation best influences my designs. If I am in the midst of trying to create a piece, it is almost impossible to see my work bench, as I have so many materials out at once to see how things fit together. Since most of my work is born in this manner, much of my pieces are limited edition - meaning that there is only one of them ever created (so the customer often has a truly unique one-of-a-kind piece that no one else will ever have!) or that each design only has a handful of design 'siblings'. As an person who revels in individuality, I find that this makes for a special and intimate experience with those who purchase my designs."

To see more of Jenn's work, find her at Petite Maus or her website,

or visit her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
email: petitemaus@gmail.com

Would you like to be a featured in the Shop Spotlight?

Active Nutmeg Collective members fill out this form!

Shop Spotlight: Smirking Goddess

Suzanne Urban runs SmirkingGoddess: Magnets and pinbacks that provide a dose of "home-brewed" funny to lighten your day. Her large array of humor has finds for co-workers, friends, family, geeks and cynics alike.

"I reside in Windsor, CT with my husband, malti-poo and house rabbits in an antique home built in 1664 by Reverend John Moore.  It's even registered with the National Federation of Historical Homes.

I am a former commercial illustrator, graphic designer, and gag writer.  When I entered the work field, known as a "day job", I kept up with some freelance assignments but focused my efforts on creating my own designs and products for my Etsy shop.  My first shop, Smirking Goddess, features my own magnets and pinbacks that I write and design in Photoshop and then hand press in my studio.

I stumbled upon Etsy in 2009. Initially I placed prints and small format paintings of my whimsically humorous work in my shop. However, due to my day job I needed a faster product to produce in order to build up inventory. I started experimenting with magnets featuring my own designs and home-brewed wit.  The magnets sold very well at local Connecticut indie shops and in my Etsy shop. I love to wordsmith, make people laugh, entertain people, and their success has allowed me to continue along this path. I've since shifted my prints and original paintings to my second shop on Etsy, Suzanne Urban.

My magnets and pinbacks are created in Photoshop, printed on my R2000 Epson inkjet printer with archival inks on acid-free Epson paper. I hand press them in my studio using a tecre handpress machine.  My illustrative paintings are painted by hand using high quality acrylic paint; my prints are scanned, adjusted in Photoshop, and printed on my Epson printer."

To find out more about Suzanne and her shop, please visit her on Etsy or Facebook.

Would you like to be a featured in the Shop Spotlight?
Active Nutmeg Collective members fill out this form!

Written by Alonda Baird-Juhasz, owner of Designer Dwellings, who believes in adding color to life. An avid DIYer, sparkle-loving, all things fabulous addict, her shop features bright and fun home decor accessories and gifts. When not in the shop you can find her interior decorating or visual styling events and photo shoots.

Shop Spotlight: Pure Naked Soap.

 
Meet Erin of Pure Naked Soap. Her products are made with as few ingredients as possible to keep them as natural as possible. She uses ingredients that she has personally tested, along with family and friends. Her ingredient list is "naked" to her customers and will always be posted on her items.

"I am a mom, social worker, and creator of products that I can use based on my odd range food allergies and sensitivities (corn, gluten, almonds, other odd things). I began cooking from scratch to heal my insides, and now I make everything I put on my body!

"Many years ago I was diagnosed with several allergies. I noticed that I was also having some skin problems like dermatitis, eczema, and breakouts. I started learning about all the hidden food additives that were causing internal and external reactions. Slowly I started trying new ways to cleanse and nourish my body. Eventually I realized that not only the food items I was eating were causing skin reactions, but several of my organic skin cleansers, shampoos, and so on had many of the ingredients that I was avoiding consuming. Over time I found I had some wonderful skills at crafting allergen-friendly skin and personal care products and wanted to share."

To learn more about Erin and her products, find her at Pure Naked Soap,

as well as on Twitter, Instagram, Wanelo, and Facebook.

Would you like to be a featured in the Shop Spotlight?
Active Nutmeg Collective members fill out this form!