The Evolution of the Black Apple

I'm still an enormous Black Apple fan. Which is mildly shocking to me because I'm a fickle fan. I get really excited by something and then my affections wan.
However, when it comes to Emily Martin and her creative genius--she never stagnates. Her artistic expression is always changing; evolving into something that resembles what it used to be--but somehow better. No, not better--that's the wrong word because I love all of Emily's designs and themes...
I still remember falling in love with her big eyed girls holding sugar bowls or standing in front of printed wallpaper and while that is still very tempting and appealing to me, her new Oddfellows line is equally, if not more desirable.
One of my favorite prints will not come as a surprise to you guys as it is titled The Candy Cane Train
I remember last year when I found a Black Apple copycat, Emily was shocked--but she was gracious and she earned even more of my respect. Whomever said that copying was the sincerest form of flattery, never had someone take something as personal as artistic expression and then exploit it for money.
It would be one thing to see someone copy your art and then hang it on their walls for their own enjoyment but to take the copied art and turn around and sell it at the same marketplace you sell your art, well--that's a different animal isn't it?
Back when I blew the whistle on the copy cat, Emily had around 10,000 sales--now her sales are in the neighborhood of 23,000! I think she's paying the salaries of several Etsy employees. *laughing*
Anyhoo,
I'm still one of her biggest fans; even if there are thousands of us!
:)
xoxo
~Sadie

Studio Update: Cotton Candy Christmas!

It's going to be a Cotton Candy Christmas this July! Here's a sneak peek of the beginning stages...

MMMM...Mini Cotton Candies...What could these be for??
Cotton Candy Wreaths? I'll be embellishing these soon!
Matching Cotton Candy Trees too! Fun!

One set will be given away on LolliShops.com
One set will be given away here at Craftily Ever After
and two sets will be sold at Sadie Lou Who!
Christmas in July! Why wait until December??
~Sadie

A Simple Plan...

I wanted to share with you my routine that I stick to when I want to promote new listings. I make sales when I use this routine so I'm confident that this is a useful guideline and if you're frustrated with a lack of sales, (believe me, I have been there too) then you'll try anything so what do you have to lose?
((hugs))
First, preparation of the listings:

• I take the item outside with my "photo kit". The photo kit includes: A box that has patterned paper taped to the side, this is my background. I have another piece of patterned paper for the bottom. I set the item on my makeshift stage and find the full sun. Then, I take my white, paper parasol and I block the full sun with the parasol but it's paper so the sun filters through, but it's not direct.
• I take several photos from all angles and I make sure my settings are right. I NEVER use a flash or photograph indoors if it's sunny outside.
• I go inside and upload my photos. Then I edit them at Picnik. Do NOT over edit your pictures or crop them too small.
• Now, I go to my SHOP and I list my items. I have the item next to me while I describe it, measure it and tag it. My tags need to be realistic--how would someone search and find this item. I don't use abstract tags like "cute" or "sweet" because nobody uses those words in a search. They use words like "pink", "doll", "earrings", "sale" (if your item is on sale, tag it with sale-it works)

Now for the Promoting!

• I upload the same pictures of my items at Flickr. If I have several items to promote, I make a mosaic of all the items together at Picnik
• Just a reminder about Flickr, you should use it to showcase your work, but do not put direct links to your shop in the description. You can't say "for sale" or watermark your images with a URL to a dot com. You CAN use blog addresses--which leads to my next point...
• BLOG about your new listings--talk about the creative process, list the photos, add links to your shop, then you can point people to your blog from Flickr, if they're interested in your new listings, they will find out where they are but you need to tell them! Also, your Flickr profile should have links to your blog and shop(s).
• I also update my Twitter account with a link to my shop that says something exciting like "Brand new listings" or "Studio Update!" You can direct them to your blog or your shops or both!
• Facebook has become a popular marketing tool but I don't saturate my friends with business spam--I think it's kind of tacky. I use my personal account for connecting with my friends and I use my Facebook "Fan Page" for my business--I keep them apart.
• Be a reciprocal artist-if you want people to visit your blog, you should visit the blogs of others. Be supportive, add comments, be encouraging.
• I also have been collecting the physical addresses of my customers and I plan on sending out a free gift to my clients this Christmas season--just to thank them. Everyone likes a freebie.
  

So those are my tips and while I don't sell like gangbusters or anything, I do make sales--I'm not complaining. I hope this has been informative. I'd love to hear your selling tips!
((hugs))
XOXO
~Sadie

Dream Crafting

This is Mabel...

I made her in a dream. I'm not sure if this happens to other people too--or if this is just weird so you'll have to let me know. I didn't just dream the finished project, I actually crafted her and could visually see the materials I bought or already had collected...
I want to make more! I can see all these other "Little Ladies" swimming around in my mind. I wish I had Mabel's hair...
You can find Mabel in my shop! Sadie Lou Who.
Happy Monday!
((hugs))
~Sadie Lou

Letting the Cat Out of the Bag...

Okay, I have to let the cat out of the bag because the cat is dying to get out...
Gumball Vintage is my new shop!
I was doing a little experiment to see if a brand new seller could actually "make it" on a brand new venue (LolliShops.com)
with a brand new name. I didn't want to open it under Sadie Lou Who
I opened its own Flickr
and its own Twitter and its own Blog
It's been a secret for awhile now and the experiment worked well--The shop has been successful. I just listed a bunch of items I gathered at our local Flea Market early this morning--COME VISIT!

Friday Night Movie: UP

First of all, how cute is Ed Asner? Answer: Very. I have a "Cute Old Man" crush on him.

Dan and I took 2 of our 3 kids to See Pixar & Disney's "UP" yesterday....(Natalie already saw it with her grandma)
I really didn't know what to expect as far as the story goes because I didn't see very many previews. I did know to expect greatness. Pixar has never failed to impress me. I think my favorite Pixar movie would be "Toy Story"-My least favorite (but still a great movie) would be "Wall-e".
This movie, "UP" has the best introduction to a story I have EVER seen (and I have seen a million movies). I have never heard such a quiet audience. People of all ages (My sons are 12 and almost 4) were captivated.
I also can't remember a movie that had me crying in the first 20 minutes or so.
Ed Asner is the voice of Carl.
I'm not going to tell you too much about this movie because I didn't know anything about it going into it and that's the way I like it. I think if I had known some of the simple story lines, I wouldn't have been as swept away right off the bat.
So all I'm going to say is, this is one of those family movies that is really worth the money to take the whole family and enjoy it together. It's a love story, it's an adventure, it's a comedy, it's a tragedy and the hero of the story is of an unexpected variety--(and also has the voice of Ed Asner)
I know that renting a movie and cuddling up on the couch with handmade popcorn and mugs of frosty rootbeer is a great way to watch a movie too--but this film has so many "larger than life" scenes in it, that they would be best enjoyed on a huge screen. It needs to be noted that I did not see the 3D version, nor would I want to.
I *hate* 3D--I am not a fan of 3D
Please go see this movie in the theater! You won't be disappointed.
~Sadie
xoxo

Showing Off My Wins!

I have been entering blog giveaways like CRAZY, ever since I created this Flickr Group to keep track of Cottage Style Giveaways!
There was also the Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway from the Twice Remembered Cottage--I entered as many of those as I could!
I won this Paper Doll Round Robin Book hosted by Mary Ann of Follow Your Bliss Designs!


There were dozens of contributing artists. This page features
DamselDesigns and Heidi Wallace (sorry, no other artist info on Heidi)
I also won this FABULOUS brooch from Mary's Granddaughter...
I love it! It's just my style and looks great on my inspiration board.
Thanks, Friends!
~Sadie