Holiday Etsy Fort Worth Team Sale!

Staring today, November 30th, you can shop various Etsy Fort Worth shops for our Small Business Saturday through Cyber Monday sale! This sale ends on midnight of Dec 2nd, so get it while the gettin’ is good.

Visit Dye2Spin (www.dye2spin.etsy.com) for a Buy 4, Get 1 FREE sale! Just use coupon code: EFWHolidays before checkout to receive your discount. More details are on the website.

Looking for other great handmade products from EFW members? Check out our website http://www.etsyfortworth.com for a complete list of participating shops.

Vote for Dye2Spin with Six Clicks every Day!

I ain’t too proud to beg!! PUH-LEEEEZ Vote for my yarn business, Dye2Spin! http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/79770

You have the chance to vote six times per day. Each of you can make a huge difference in the number of votes I get, especially if you return and vote every day and tell your friends!

I’m so excited about this opportunity for my business that I’m running a promotion right now: 20% off your entire purchase with the coupon code: SIXCLIX

Please take advantage of this discount! They don’t come around often!

Part I: Purple Cow Book Talk

This discussion basically covers the beginning of the book through page 53.  Please feel free to join our talk, even if you haven’t read the book.  These questions could prompt any of our marketing or business-minded friends to give valuable insights.

I’ve jotted down notes as I read through Purple Cow.  Feel free to answer any or all of these questions.  Please copy and paste the question into your Comment so others understand the question to which you are referring.

You may have your own questions or intriguing thoughts; awesome!  Please post your questions or thoughts so others can comment on them as well.

Overall Impression, Questions, and Thoughts on this Section

Remarkable marketing starts with a remarkable product or service, not vice versa.  So, how is your product remarkable or how could you make it more so?  How does it stand out among the competition?  Does this have to do with the story behind you or your product/service (because your story is more important to your customers, brand, and marketing than you think).

Page 4 – The postconsumer consumer reminded me immediately of selling online, particularly on Etsy.  Just when a person thinks they might be the only one doing (fill in the blank) you find someone else who is.

Page 7 – What “good stuff” happens when you create your product or apply your service?  How is your product/service uniquely yours?

Page 13 – “Most people can’t buy your product. They either don’t have the money, they don’t have the time, or they don’t want it.”  Ouch!  What a low blow!  But, this doesn’t mean we’re all doomed, this means we have to be incredibly special to our most important word-of-mouth-marketer-customers so they can do the most convincing and effective marketing work for us.

Page 14 – Don’t go down on your prices!!!!  If anything, go up!  “…if a company came up with a really neat innovation…we’d find a way to pay for it.”

Page 21 – “The new rule is: Create Remarkable Products that the Right People Seek Out.”  So often, I think to myself, “How can I sell to EVERYBODY?”  But, after reading this first section, that’s not good business practice.  The right customers will come back time and again, no matter if I offer free shipping or not.

Page 22 – Who are your Early Adopters?  These are the folks who will sell your product for you to their friends and family members.  And, I thought, a big part of their sales pitch about your product, will include your story.

Page 30 – “…it’s safer to be risky” in the creation of your product/service.  “…create things worth talking about.”  How do you do this in your business?  What could you possibly do differently?  Remember, train your brain to focus on your early adopters as your main clientele, not everyone.

Page 34 – “…make profits and reinvest them in something new.”  Reminds me of how Madonna and David Bowie are constantly in a state of re-invention and putting out something different, new, unfamiliar but familiar.  They usually look different with every new album.  How can you put this principle into your business?

Page 38 – Does your product or service offer convenience?  If your first inclination is to answer “no,” how can you make that into a “yes?”

Page 40 – “How smooth and easy is it to spread your idea” or product?  Have you put your top-selling product through this analysis?  If so, what did you find out about it?

Page 47 – “Why aren’t you cheating?”  Well… its unfair!  So, what unspoken rules are you abiding by in business that can be stretched, molded, broken, or just plain done away with?  And I’m not talking about moral codes or tax laws, but just “rules of business” that you think you must follow.

This was one of the parts of this section of the book that stood out to me the most: “The influential sneezers, the people with a problem to solve – they’re open to hearing your story only if it’s truly remarkable; otherwise, you’re invisible.” How did this statement affect you or make you reflect on your current marketing plan (and we all have one, it doesn’t have to be written out)?

Purple Cow by Seth Godin: An Etsy Fort Worth Book Talk

Its time to begin our Book Talk about Purple Cow.  If you haven’t already, please get your copy of this book (available on Audible, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) so you can follow along with the discussion.

Let’s start with some Ps.

Purpose: The purpose of this Blog-style Book Talk is to reap the benefits of a group discussion about the concepts and content of Purple Cow without having to meet face-to-face.  We are all handmade small-business owners who see extreme value in standing out among not only competitors but the slew of information and products available on the internet.

Processes:  Basically, I’ll post some questions that get some chatter going through Commenting.  When a particular comment is hot and warrants its own post, I’ll create an original post so those comments can be streamlined and focused.  I encourage you to look through all the posts and comments so that you can read what your friends are saying and ask questions, agree, respectfully disagree with further information, or add to the discussion.  If you want to speak to someone directly, reply to their comment or use @username in your comment.

If you have a question or want to start a discussion that doesn’t necessarily go along with the particular section of the book or post that is current, please visit the “Purple Cow: Open Forum” section under “Purple Cow by Seth Godin.”  This is a place where anything and everything can be discussed about our Book Talk experience with Purple Cow (except for bad-mouthing the moderator, which is HIGHLY discouraged!).

Positivity: It goes without saying that positive talk breeds positive thinking and vice versa.  We are in this Book Talk together to help one another not only understand how Purple Cow can help our businesses, but to listen to one another about what Godin’s message does for our entrepreneurial experience.  Comments that hinder our growth will be removed from the board without permission-asking or pleading to edit.  Ain’t nobody got time for that!

If you have any suggestions or see something along the way that could work better for our group, please email me, Ashley, at craftcafedfw@gmail.com

Our first post will discuss Not Enough Ps (pg. 1) through The Law of Large Numbers (pg. 51).  Discussion topics will be posted before February 24th.  For now, let’s all introduce ourselves by commenting to this post.   Tell us who you are and what you do (the key to opening any good business pitch).

Goodbye Picnik, Hello Picasa!

Even though Picasa is not new to the world, its new to me.  When Picnik emailed everyone telling them that they were closing up shop, I was a bit depressed.  I grew fond of Picnik and I really like its features.  So, I had to move on and dabble in Picasa.  Here is my first collage creation.  Please enjoy and feel free to add your constructive comments below.  Is it too busy?  Is it hard to process what these photos are?  Does your eye travel around the collage or stay at a fixed point?  I’d like to know what you think so I can improve.  Overall, I want to make a collage that presents my product professionally and clearly to anyone who is looking at it.

If YOU are a Picasa expert and have some tips to share, I’d love to hear about what you’ve learned in using this free online tool.  My first question, “Is there an upgrade option like Picnik where I can pay a fee and get more features?”

Dye2Spin on Etsy: Hand-dyed and Hand-spun Fibers for the Fiber Artist

Dye2Spin’s February Sale on Etsy

Visit Online Fiber Artists for a chance to win!

From now through February 29th (looks weird doesn’t it?) any item in my Etsy Shop, Dye2Spin, will receive a 20% discount.  So, take a look around the shop and over 50 hand-dyed and hand-spun items, pick out your faves with pink or red in them, then check out using Paypal.  The moment I see your order, I’ll issue a 20% refund of all the items you purchased that have red or pink.  When I think about it, that’s nearly half the items in the shop!  OMG!

While you’re at it, you’ll still get free shipping to the US as usual PLUS an entry into the Fiber Indie eXperience February Gift Card drawing.  There will be two gift cards given away, one for $50 and one for $30.  These gift cards can be used at any of the participating FIX co-op shops.  Here’s a link to my blog post with all the FIX members and shops.  Happy fiber hunting!

Hand-dyed BFL by Dye2Spin on Etsy

Craft Masters, by Michael’s Craft Store

Hey craft friends! I wanted to let you guys in on the news that I was selected to compete in Craft Masters by Michael’s Craft Store.

I submitted a 30 second video about my favorite craft project about dyeing my own fiber, spinning it into yarn, then knitting it into a baby cardigan.

I’ll be competing against two other local crafters in what I’m calling “Iron Chef for the Creative Types.” There’s going to be mystery items we are mandated to use in our project as well as a time limit. In the end, our work will be judged (by whom I don’t know yet) and then someone will be declared a winner.

Its all very surreal at the moment and I’m really excited to be able to do this. Should be lots and lots of fun!

The taping is on Friday the 13th.

Wish me luck. And, since you’re here, please tell me what some of the most important items in a craft store are that I should remember to pick up on my shopping spree (they allow us time to gather materials from Michael’s before the competition the day of the shoot). Also, if you have links to any really cool craft project ideas, please include those as well. I’ve been scouring Pinterest and the internet in general to try to expose myself to as much as possible. I have no idea what I’m in store for. Something tells me that I’m not going to just be able to knit a hat and win this thing! Plus! I’m not allowed my spinning wheel!!!! GASP!

Learn How to Dye

Learn How to Dye.

Guest Blogger Katie Toohil: Coffee & Crafts, Nov. 27th

The Craft Cafe is a Magic Place.

Welcome to your Craft Room away from your Craft Room.

On November 27, I lugged my giant container of craft supply giveaways, my spinning wheel, and a pair of unfinished knit legwarmers from my little enclave in Oak Cliff to the Craft Cafe, this time being held at Ashley’s casa in Fort Worth.

When I walked into this gathering of nimble fingers, I immediately felt energized. Okay, that might have been the energy drink I had prior to showing up, but I’m going to say it was the electricity of the Craft Cafe. I tossed my container of craft goods to the wolves  – errr, I mean, civilized ladies who sifted through my craft room clean-out pile without salivating or foaming at the mouth, swear – and tried to figure out what the heck I was going to work on.

Manda, Angeel, and Amber, tearin' it up!

Let’s dye fiber! No, ’twas not the time, for the lovely Jennifer was in the kitchen whipping up some delicious quiches and some unadventurous people didn’t want quiche in a gorgeous mauve & slate colorway. Pedestrian, I tell you!

My attention thus skittered towards the even turn, turn, turn of Ashley and Manda saddled at their spinning wheels. Manda was working on some yarn for a co-worker and Ashley for a friend.

Ashley's spinning, legitimized by the "Spinner" sticker on the floor.

I checked out my modest mile of roving, sighed deeply & dramatically, and decided that none of my colors were right and turned to the next project on my list.

I scooted my booty in between the two aforementioned spinners and whipped out my knitting project, a pair of thigh-high legwarmers that were slated for use in my dance work. I turbo-knitted for a few hours in a lovely circle of women doing the same and momentarily enjoyed Cinder backin’ that ass up on me.

You're mine, all mine.

Amidst other cries of, “Oh, I finally finished this project!” – I finally finished my project. I’m a real knitter now!

Katie the Knitter

And that’s what Craft Cafe is all about, in my eyes. So much of what we do as crafters is done in solitary environments. It was fantastic to come together and share our projects and eat quiche and make inappropriate jokes with other people. Sound like something you’re down to do? Check out our next meeting on January 22. I’ll be seein’ ya at the Craft Cafe! Til next time.

Written by Katie Toohil, Blog Contributor at the Dallas Observer, Dallas, TX

Yarn Dyeing Preview

Here’s a little preview of what I’m doing, and dyeing today. I’m experimenting with my first sock blank dye project. I’m dyeing some Merino/Tussah Silk roving for the first time. And after that is all finished, I hope to have some time to dye some half-ounce bundles for a basic felting kit. Fun times with fiber.