…brought us a W I N N E R in the Cartoon Caption Contest!

By Susan Rosen, Publisher


The winner GreenCleanShop of Etsy, came up with this winning caption:
“Oh no, my handmade Pig broke! “Can I turn this into handmade bacon and sell it on Etsy?”

Wow, I hope everyone enjoyed the fun cartoon contest as much as the group at Indiesmiles did! As you know, everyone that entered needed to choose a cartoon out of the two cartoons that were provided and then add a cute or funny caption. Two independent judges chose their favorite and then a coin was flipped (using an online randomizer).

I interviewed Jessica of the GreenCleanShop and I thought you would love to hear about her cool shop and her thoughts on Indiesmiles!

Jessica, how did you hear about the cartoon “caption” contest?
I heard about the contest through the Black Friday fan page. I just thought it’d be fun to enter.

Have you been to the Indiesmiles website prior to the contest?
Yes, I advertised on the site and also browsed through the shops.

What are your thoughts on Indiesmiles and the Coupon Directory?
I love it. I’ve told my friends and family to check out the directory look for shops to buy Christmas presents from.

Do you think it’s important for Indie shop owners to advertise their handmade and vintage shops?
It is so important! If people aren’t aware of our shops, they can’t purchase from us. It’s our responsibility to inform people of the benefits to shopping handmade and vintage.

I then asked “GreenClean” to talk about her shop and how she markets (or intend to markets) her shop name to keep it fresh in buyers minds!

I recently was interviewed on for a filler story on the Channel 6 news here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They run that story at least once a week which is great!

I have a lot of word-of-mouth advertising.

I hand out business cards to the cashiers when I’m checking out with my supplies. They always want to know what I’m doing with it.

I also post flyers where I can.

Would you reconmend the coupon directory to other Indie shops, and will you be returning to the coupon directory and other advertising venues on Indiesmiles?

“Indiesmiles Coupon Directory was great for my Black Friday sale. While it’s not in my marketing plan at this current moment, I hope to include it in my revised plan for 2010.”

Congratulations goes to Jessica because she won all these wonderful goodies! Yay!

Handmade Bacon Image courtesy of hmmmbymel

By contributing columnist Megan Eckman aka Studiomme

Many of my friends graduated in May and this will be their first Christmas truly on their own. As such, this means I’ll be sending them all ornaments to decorate their trees or wreaths or the bundle of pipe-cleaners they’re calling trees.

My mother started a tradition when I was little to buy my brother and I an ornament a year so that when we move out, we will have enough to fill our first trees. That’s why I think it’s so important to buy unique, handmade ornaments that will become keepsakes.

When choosing an ornament for a friend, their household, as well as their personality, must be taken into account. Do they have small children? If so, make sure the ornament won’t shatter and has no sharp edges. Do they have pets? If so, shy away from ones made with edible or smelly materials. I had a gingerbread man ornament made from cookies that my cat decided to try and eat last year, so I’m one less decoration now. Are they vegan? If so, what materials went into the ornament? Small considerations like this will negate any incidents that could come up once the tree is decorated.

Etsy can certainly meet any and all of these needs and guarantee you a unique and creative ornament that will bring smiles for years.

You can also check out the Indiesmiles Coupon Directory for some great sales and discounts on many Holiday gifts!

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Pictures courtesy of:

“Live Moss Glass Ornament” by ShaneLilyRain

“Recycled circuit board ornaments” by DebbyAremDesigns

“Red plaid chubbikin ornament” by Erinaellis

ADD A C A P T I O N……

Read more…

By Brandy aka Knittaddiction

Can you believe it is already fall?! Where did the summer go?
Here in Colorado, the Oak brush is alive with wild tones of gold, orange, rust and bronze. Like looking into an old jewelry box full of antique treasures…
The Aspens, with their tall white bodies, are topped off with beautiful shades of gold, yellow, orange and fading green leaves, shimmering in the warn sun and falling around you when the cool wind blows.
Also at this time of year, the Pine, Spruce and Ponderosa trees are so much more noticeable.. Perhaps they stand out more because the other trees are baring all. The landscapes open up to reveal thick, coarse barks, and wild spiky branches. Reminiscent of a funky men’s haircut, and a rugged chunky wool scarf with old jeans.
As you can tell, Fall is my absolute favorite time of year.
So I’ve gathered up some of my favorite items from the world of “internet window shopping” and put them together in 3 collections that remind me of the Landscapes of Colorado and the beautiful leaves and fall schemes that saturate them. I also added a little battle, The Department & Online Retail Stores Vs The World of Handmade. A little comparison of sorts.

Colorado

I also added a little battle, The Department & Online Retail Stores Vs The World of Handmade. A little comparison of sorts.

Oak Leaves by knittaddiction featuring YOANA BARASCHI

Don’t you hate it when you find that perfect Scarf… The best pair of knee high boots… That wool coat that fits just right… And then you see – the price tag, the fabric content, the big nasty stain on the hem or the back, or it doesn’t fit right! Either too big, too small, too long, too boxy…. There’s some aspect of it that ruins it for you completely. And oh how it hurts when it was ON SALE and you can’t justify buying it. Ouch. Or perhaps you looked at it and said, “I can make that, better and less expensive.”
You’ll notice, I slipped the department and online stores right along in there with the lesser priced Handmade and Boutique items. Laying alongside one another they work so well, and you cannot tell the differences between them. Without looking at each item individually on it’s own site, you would never guess one from another. There are so many Handmade gift options and treasures out there waiting to be discovered. And likewise, there are many many wonderful bargain items out there, that rival the price, beauty and quality of handmade.
You can search for your perfect find anywhere. (Even yard sales!) Stores are so obvious. Online clearance, also obvious.

Don’t forget the handmade sites.
Even Etsy.com has promotionals and sales, and IndieSmiles.com is gearing up a coupon directory, where their sellers can offer discounts for you to take advantage of.

These are not just there to generate more business but to give You, the shopper, a chance to get something you might otherwise hold off on.
Utilize these opportunities, it will save you time and money, and prevent last minute teeth grinding, hair pulling, nail biting and nasty looks at the ladies hogging the isles in the stores at Christmas.

So my challenge and question for you today is: Why let yourself be limited to the department or online retail stores?

I mean hey, I love a good sale as much as anybody and I’m a self professed bargain hunter myself. I love comparing my amazing deals with my family and friends to see who got a more awesome sale, or deal, or “practically-for-free-it-was-so-discounted!!” items.
But I am also willing to pay just a little more for something handmade. I am also willing to put my money towards a stay at home Mom or a budding artist.
Perhaps a vintage item preserved for decades in Grandmother’s closet or Grandfather’s study.
Something handed down and lovingly preserved, now collecting dust in the antique shop.
Something sewn with a needle and thread, with little imperfections and well hidden or brazenly visible mending, adding character and charm.
Something knit with 2 needles and loving hands, with fiber collected from their beloved pets or salvaged from Great Grandmother’s sweater.
Something vintage, it fits perfectly, is the perfect color and looks like it came from a high end boutique.
Something 50 years old that looks like it was never worn, or even so worn that you know if it was that good then, it HAS to still be good now.
Retail Stores vs Handmade.
New vs Old.
Purchases vs Treasures.
Thoughtless Shopping vs The Thrill of the Hunt.

I encourage you to search out those items you really love. Compare those high end items to a handmade item or vintage item. Enjoy the hunt, revel in it. Search for that long lost treasure waiting to be found. That handmade item lovingly formed with 2 living hands and old fashioned tools. Or even that bargain that you can’t pass up.
You don’t need me to remind you that Christmas is 2 months away. Perhaps something I’ve put here inspires you to either find, or possibly even create that perfect gift for your loved ones this year.
Special thanks to IndieSmiles for giving me the opportunity to hon my writing skills again, and to the Etsy artists for allowing me to feature their loverly items!
Inspired by Fall, my first set, and my first time guest blogging, I present to you, the Oak Brush..
Enjoy,
Brandy
My Shop: knittaddiction.etsy.com
My Blog: just4knitsandgiggles.blogspot.com/
Or find me on Facebook and say hello!

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