Etsy to be Featured Locally

Through the Minnesota Etsy street team (teamMN) I've found out that a local TV Station, WCCO, is airing a news story this Friday night on their 10:00 pm news show about Etsy and the Handmade Movement. We are all hoping they mention teamMN, but even if she doesn't this will be great exposure for Etsy and the handmade community in Minnesota. If you are local to Minnesota, make sure you check out the story. You can also watch it on line after it airs at WCCO.com.
We are all looking for ways to promote ourselves in this slow economic times and are very proud that a Television station would be willing to promote Etsy. Even if teamMN is not personally mentioned, the group is now looking for more ways to promote and there are many ideas in the works.
We have a new member who has taken it upon herself to organize craft shows for all those who have not done a show and for those that would like to know about the upcoming shows, who would like to share a booth or those with tents for outdoor shows. We also have another member who is organizing a craft show for ALL teamMN members to hold in a central location featuring teamMN Etsy members. Looking forward to that as we are a large group, and never seem to be able to get together in one spot. What a grand idea this will be so that the people of Minnesota to see that there are many many handmade artists here and also a reminder to "shop locally".
For a listing of the teamMN artists and their etsy shops as well as blogspots and websites please visit http://tinyurl.com/b7ags4. Oh and please buy handmade.
to see my website, please check out www.wilmas-whimseys.com.
As a promotion for the upcoming airing on WCCO, if you buy one pair of ear rings, you can hoose another pair free. Buy two pairs, get two pairs free etc. Just let me know when you order put the words WCCO, or contact me directly at whimsey1947@hotmail.com.

Meeting New People

I must tell you all that I am a hermit! I have a craft that I LOVE doing and try to spend as much time as I can on creating not only beads, but jewelry too. I am lucky enough to be able to work from home and have been doing so for almost three years now, its really great, I get up 20 mins beforeI need to be at the desk and walla my day begins. when I am done with work, I walk around the office desk and to the torch desk so I can create my beads. Then I go upstairs and sit in the dining room and create jewelry. Actually I don't have a dining room any more, its the jewelry room now. We eat in the living room in front of the "boob tube".

There does come a time that you need to break free of you old ways and reach out and meet some people. I guess I have been lucky to meet two other beaders in this large city I live in and have become very close to two people. They are Deb "Hopeful Journeys" and Julie, "emt.jmb" Julie got me out of my house last year and introduced me to doing craft fairs, so now I can say that I have finally taken the step this year and signed up for quite a few shows. I had a show today and let me tell you the old feeling came back this morning, and I almost didn't go. After all my time could be spent making more beads right? Well the little guy who sits on my right shoulder whispered in my ear---"go, you have already paid for your spot and you have the chance to sell" Guess he won and I must say I am glad that I did as I now have met another great person. Sierra Hegstrom. Sierra is just starting out as a matter of fact this was her first show. She started and Etsy store Maximo Joe, and is in the process of loading her goodies in. I got hooked on what she makes and I now am the proud owner of one of her creations.

Getting out into the world is not the only way to meet new and exciting people. being a member of Etsy (whimsey.etsy.com) I was lucky to find a local "Street Team" which I have joined. I met some wonderful people there, but unfortunately have not had the chance to meet them in person as yet, just Sierra and her friend Amy. Hopefully that will be remedied soon. As I was lurking on the Etsy forums one day, I love reading them , I came across another street team called "eSMARts" This was started by a wonderful Lady named AnnaLee who has a world of knowledge and freely shares it with everyone. Anna Lee has taken me under her wing and has guided me with so many many things. Certainly made my understanding of so many things, I can't begin to tell you! Not only is she knowledgeable, she is a very talented artist, and is even learning another craft to further enhance her two etsy shops. Please ,if you have a chance, or will make a chance visit her wonderful shops. You will be amazed at the wonderful work she does. You can find her at - http://gahooletreedesigns.blogspot.com and here is an inside look at her blog- http://sassydlite.blogspot.com. And I also want to say she has become a great friend. I am blessed to have found her and the wonderful eSMARts team that has so many wonderful people on there, all whom I consider my friends (cyber buddies).

So to sum this up, Thanks to Julie who has gotten me out into the craft show circuit; a very special thank you to AnnaLee (be sure to check her shop and blog) and all the wonderful people from both teams, I guess I am a three quarters time hermit now!

Till my next ramblings....

Wilma
www.wilmas-whimseys
www.whimsey.etsy.com

Hooray we have Spring!!!!!

Time sure does fly by when you are working and creating with your craft (beads and jewelry). I have been busy with all, especially since I have my first craft show of the year coming up in two weeks at the Crystal Gallery Mall. Please if you get a chance be sure to stop and say hello.
Well as I said I have been busy with my crafts, and had to go to the bank which is located over near Ridgedale. While in the area I decided to go to Veberod Gem gallery as I needed a few supplies. Lets just say that was the wrong thing to do! I met the wonderful Ladies that run the place and talked about anything and everything for about two hours. Well when you are in that type of store, you can't help but chat things up a bit. Oh and now I have another new craft I would like to learn, its lapidary!!!! Yup I fell in love with the cabs and stones and so want to learn how to do that, and a few other things too....Boy my plate will be full
Currently i am working on Viking Knit and making a necklace and earrings. My beads fit on them great, so will be thinking about different combinations to make up. Also have been doing chain malle which I love too. I add my beads to the bracelets and earringsI have been making. Its so nice to see that Spring has finally made it here. While out getting the mail the other day I noticed I have some bulbs popping up!!! They need to be transplanted to the back garden though as they don't receive enough sunlight under the big tree. Have to get my son to dig them for me to transplant them. I am a little gun shy of putting things in the back garden as last year and the year before we were bothered by the "pocket gopher". He did a number on my back yard, and ate all my plants too. I am so glad he loved my Iris's that took 3 years to finally bloom. I was so happy to see them finally blooming and they were so very beautiful too. I got them from a co-worker, I traded some beads for some Iris bulbs. So sad, and now they are all gone.
Guess to be on the safe side I will just scatter some seeds and hope for the best. The only perennials that mr. pocket gopher didn't touch are my climbing rose bush and my regular rose bush. Everything else he ate GRRRR. You would think having a daughter working in a Nursery that I would have flowers and trees all over my yard. She is too busy to take time to send Mom some plants.
Well I need to get back to working on my jewelry as I will be a busy one this weekend I received two special orders for bead sets that I need to create and make. Hope you all have a wonderful week and until the next time......

Wilma
www.wilmas-whimseys.com
http://whimsey.etsy.com

Spring???

Mother nature has decided that even tho the calendar says spring, she is not done with winter yet! We had 6" of snow dumped on us this week. We are all hoping that was the last storm of the year, but time will tell.
I have been busy lately, not only with my day job, but also getting items ready for the craft shows that are coming up. My first one is next month in my City of Crystal. Its on May 3rd and 4th. I am looking forward to it and all the up and coming ones! I will l let you know when I will be doing a show again.
Funny how when it comes time for a craft show my house becomes a sea of beads, findings and all the trimmings I add to what I make. I love doing this craft, it really soothes the nerves! I have been blessed to have many online friends who are always willing to share knowledge and ideas to me to help me and my business grow.
I am a member of the MN Etsy Street Team and they have just started a challenge for us! The challenge is to do a random act of kindness and goodness. Something I participate in regularly in a forum I belong to. Boy does that make the heart feel good when you can do something to brighten someones day. Jenna from ArtisticEdit ion.etsy. com and TheCozyCorse tCuff.etsy. com
She is the one who came up with the challenge, oh if if you get a chance check out he shops. Really nice things in there. I have been thinking what I can do to join this challenge, hmm a rough one. I am sure something will come to mind. I did promise her that if she gave me a list of who is participating that I will put them in my blog for all to see who is participating.
I am going to try and get a little side show going of my Etsy store so that when you read my blog you can see what I do. But for now you can check out my Etsy store at http//:whimsey.etsy.com. Also you can check out my website at e www.wilmas-whimseys.com and,on ebay at whimseypaint. And I can't forget the Just Beads site whimsey.justbeads.com
Wow I sure have plastered my name all over here! I hope if you do check me out you find something you like!
So till next time, I am off to make more beads, and sure hope spring shows up at your house really soon.

Wilma