Facebook Follies

I wanted to share with you about a wonderful group I participate in on Facebook.  The group is called "It's Better Handmade" and there's a number of moderators.  I'm sharing this because many people ask me how to go about getting more traffic to their websites.

I enjoy "meeting" new people online, especially other jewelry designers.  What I've enjoyed by participating with It's Better Handmade is meeting other artists that don't create just jewelry.  I love seeing the hand crocheted or knitted items, the sewing people do amazes me.  My mom taught me to sew as a kid, and let me tell you, the patience of having to cut out your pattern, then iron it to get the creases out (does everybody do that, or was that just my mom?) Then the whole pinning and cutting... I'm getting anxious just typing this.  Thus, I'll leave the sewing to all you talented seamstresses out there!  I saw this Totebag (Click here to see it) for the first time from SLM Petersen on the "It's Better Handmade" group's wall.

Here's a few pointers to follow the "Group Etiquette" and make the most of being part of the group.
1.  When you're posting items on the wall, post other people and other Etsy or Artfire Stores listings in addition to your own.  So if you have a few buddies that all sell handmade or vintage, team up.  Share each others listings.
2.  When you see someone showcase a beautiful creation, share it on your personal or fan page wall. Make sure you leave a comment on the original post to let them know you are "Sharing" it.  This is how you start to form new friendships.
3.  When people share your items, make sure you thank them!  Chances are their friends and fans contain hundreds or even thousand of people you've never met before.  By them sharing your item, they are exposing you as an artist - AND giving you a positive reference - so now your work can be seen and purchase by a group that may never have found you before.
4.  As people start to share your work, you'll find a few true gems.  Those people that are always sharing and spreading the handmade love throughout facebook.  Appreciate these new friends and friend request them.  This way they'll see when you post anything on your own wall and you on theirs.

Hope these few tips help.  Facebook groups are no different than working in a group in person.  If everybody shares each others' work, the network of viewers for each of the participants Etsy or Artfire stores multiplies ginormously! 

Ready to meet new people?  Here's the link to find "It's Better Handmade" Group on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=105522456148677  

Events:
Seashell Sundays - Everything people share is beachy themed.... seashells, sand dollars, dolphins... or aquas, blues and sandy hues.
Zero Zoom Tuesdays - This is fun!  On Tuesdays we all try to feature artists that have just opened their online stores and have zero or very few sales.  This is particularly helpful for people that switch selling platforms for getting visitors to your new store.  So it doesn't matter if you've sold hundreds of items on Etsy, if you open a new Artfire store the participants are happy to share your creations and get you some sales in your new store.
Go Green Wednesdays - This is a day dedicated to recycled and up-cycled crafts.
Color Me Friday - Each Friday we feature a different color/color scheme for all the items featured on that day.  This Friday (July 30th) the theme is "Some like it HOT!"  All hues of reds and oranges are in the spotlight!

I'd love it if you join me in the fun.  You don't have to participate in every single event, but when you do have fun with it.  Meet new people, share other artists' work, they'll share yours and you'll expand your network of handmade lovers!

Make sure you grow today! Meet new People & have FUN!
{Hugs!}
  Dawn

http://www.facebook.com/designsbydawnmarie
http://www.facebook.com/dawndoucette
http://www.twitter.com/designsbydawnmd

We Need Your HELP!

A short time ago I posted about Beads of Courage, an organization I have known about for quite some time now.  Beads of Courage helps children with cancer and other horrendous illnesses that are undergoing treatments.  For each treatment the child goes through they are given a special bead to symbolize their courage and help tell their story.  Some of those children have strands and strands of beads symbolizing hundreds of treatments - blood transfusions, chemotherapy, spinal taps... I can't even imagine.

Here's a story that our local news station ran about Beads of Courage and the Children's Hospital of WI some time ago.  This was my first introduction to their incredible organization.

Please watch this video from WISN 12.  I can't embed it, so you need to click the link to go to their website. (Right Click and Open in New Window)  http://www.wisn.com/video/19300295/index.html

That story moved me more than I can even express.  I felt for the families, I felt for the kids... and as someone that's grown up in a family with all sorts of health challenges I can empathize with all of them.  I wanted to help.  Right now, the Pepsi Refresh project is offering $25K to each of the 10 best ideas in the month of July.  Beads of Courage is in the running... we're really close, but we aren't there yet.  The ideas that are ahead of us are also really wonderful ideas -with really loyal voters.  However, I believe that if you show a child love and compassion, they will grow up doing the same for soooo many more people.

Here's where I'm begging strongly asking that you help out Beads of Courage.  We can vote daily... and it's only through July 31st.  So 6 more days.  We need to move up to #10 or Better to win one of the grants.  It just takes a minute to register (which you only do once) then once a day log in and click "Vote for this idea."  It's the only vote I cast because I really, really want BOC to move up.

Here's the website for the Pepsi Refresh Project.

http://www.refresheverything.com/beadsofcourage

Please go vote, then tweet this and share it on your Facebook wall, and e-mail it to anybody that doesn't partake in social networking.  If you belong to a group of like-minded people, ask them to do the same.  It will really make a difference if we all can help in the last 6 days!  Let's show the kids just how much we care!

Hope your week is spectacular!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Prize Update - Blogmania Prize Package is Growing!

Our Blogmania Prize Package continues to get better and better!  Stacy Petersen, an incredibly talented crafter has created a new product that she's also including in our HUGE Blogmania Giveaway!  I personally love these recipe books!  Not only are they cute, they are absolutely practical!

Finding the perfect gift can be complicated and adding a personal touch can make the task even more daunting.  So where do you go from here?

You go to SLMPetersen's Etsy Shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/slmpetersen?section_id=7131769) and pick up one of these cute Recipe Albums.  Then when it arrives in your mailbox you tear into it with excitement and joy, fill it with your favorite recipes, wrap it up in pretty paper and give it to that special someone.  People appreciate "Recipes from the Heart" because you've put it together with love and you're giving them a taste your family recipes!

These great little albums make great gifts for ANYONE!  Yes, anyone – Mother, Father, Grad, Bride, Groom, Best Friend, Love of your Life.
Need ideas on giving? 

-  That next Bridal Shower you are hosting, ask each quest to bring a favorite recipe or two to fill the little album with, at the end of the party you can present the bride to be with a lovely gift that represents everyone who was at the shower.  This is a gift she will treasure and use for years to come.
-  That Family Reunion you have planned for this summer is going to be loaded with great food!  Ask everyone who will be attending to bring a copy of the recipe for the dish they will be sharing and tuck them into one of these albums.  What a great way to remember all the food and all the people you love.
-  Off to College!  What a better gift to give the kid who’s headed to college this fall.  Fill it with all their favorite dishes and copies of mom’s easy to fix dishes.  Won’t take up much room, but just might cut down on the home sick feeling when comfort food is the cure.


There really are endless ideas for the great mini albums!  Be creative and get giving!  I just love how creative Stacy is.  Like me, she is a die-hard foodie.  So we share a lot of food stories, memories and great ideas.  To connect with Stacy, please check out her blog - http://slmpetersen.blogspot.com.  You can also find her on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SLMPetersen2!

Want to learn more about Blogmania or interested in joining our team?  Click on the "Blogmania" tab above to get all the information you need an meet all of our sponsors!

Blogmania - Twitter Party with PRIZES!

Blogmania bloggers are all about building relationships - between our blogs, our cherished readers, the online community and business owners. We value each other's opinion as we all are endeavoring to make the best choices for our home life. So it seemed natural to partner up with The Lane Real Estate Team and Breebee's blog to bring you our first ever twitter and blog blast party.

The Lane Real Estate Team is all about building relationships through communities - specializing in Kennewick Homes for Sale. And Bree is a blogger - and a mom - trying to think outside of the box and help build community ties in NW Columbus OH via her Kid event website! Our other twitter party sponsors also offer items to help strengthen and maintain relationships - from stationary to hand stamped sentiments.

Our Party Theme: "Building toward Blogmania with The Lane Real Estate Team" http://www.joelane.com/

Info on the Blog Blast:

If you post on your blog(s) our announcement between now and the twitter party you will be entered to win $100 cash. If we reach 500 blogs there will be two additional $50 drawings, totaling 3 winners! You can email Bree, breejanderson@gmail.com or blogmaniapr@gmail.com for the HTML code for blog(s) links and some posting specific OR ask me (Designsbydawnmd@gmail.com) for info and I will provide you with an HTML code.

Please return with your specific blog post links on Bree's Blog, under her Twitter Party PAGE tab.

Info on the Twitter Party:

9:30-10:30pm, Sunday, August 22nd, EST we will party!

There is a custom tweet grid and a linky for early RSVP. RSVP'ing early also enters you into special drawings. You do not have to RSVP to tweet and win but the 'extra' will not be available.

You can win both the blog blast and at the twitter party!

RSVP at BreeBee's:

Sweet Jewelry Surprise

One of the greatest joys in life for me is surprising someone with gratitude completely out of the blue.  Everybody has struggles with one thing or another in life - especially lately it seems - so if I can give someone a smile, or add a little joy to their day it completely makes my day! 

Such is the case with these adorable purple earrings.  I made 2 pairs, one to give as a surprise gift, the other to put in my store.  My friend has no idea these are coming to her.  I only wish the package had a voice recorder for when she opens the package... because girl, she is going to squeeeeeeeeel with joy. That I'm sure of!

If you haven't done something out of the blue for anybody lately, maybe this will inspire you.  My mission in life is to spread love and share smiles.  Since I took the oath of Large Hearts & Giving Spirit in an undisclosed location, a gazillion years ago... I've seen so many smiles.  And I know, smiles breed more smiles!  Woot, woot! 

I hope you give someone one of your smiles today!  Because I KNOW you've got plenty to go around!

Have a superfantastic* day!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

*Superfantastic is an unlicensed trademark from my really, wonderful cousin Lexi.  It's her favorite word and just saying it puts a smile on my face.  Thanks Lexi for always making me smile!  You're a true gem sweetie!  Love ya!*

The Perfect Seed Bead Bracelet

So what do you get when you clean up - err, uh... organize your crafty area (in my case, the entire dining room).  And let me tell you, the dining gods are sending me many thanks for taking the steps to reveal what the dining room table really looks like.

I have this bag 'o beads... you know the kind.  The bag that you just toss random beads in after you finish a project because you're too 'rushed' - because I'm certainly not lazy ;) I'm just to rushed to put them away in their proper spots.  Two of these, three of these... half a dozen of those... and slowly you build up a bag 'o randomness.

Well when you 'organize' your wonderful craft area suddenly this bag 'o randomness just calls your name and says... "Use me... I'm beautiful."  And you look at that bag of beads and you reply, "Yes you are!" 

Between your artistic instruments and the beads, you let the random beads, colors & textures create the special piece of jewelry.  And this time, it created what I consider the "perfect" piece of jewelry.  A bracelet that you don't need three hands to put on, that goes with your favorite jeans and doesn't require you to lose 20 lbs for it to fit! :)  Yes, that my dears is the ultimate perfect jewelry!

Get your hands on this Wrapped Seed Bead Bracelet! You know you need it! :)

Jewelry Swap

A while back, I had blogged about a jewelry swap I did with a good friend Kell over at Beadativity.  Rather than swapping beads and jewelry components, I made a wire crochet necklace for her and she made an incredible seed bead woven bracelet for me.  It was so much fun and gave us each a new piece of jewelry that we wouldn't have otherwise. 

Well, my dear Kelly wants to share the love with other jewelry makers and bead-a-holics!  She's organizing a jewelry swap on a grand scale!  To sign up to swap jewelry with other wonderful jewelry makers, go to her blog post click here.  Leave a comment and you're in!

I think this will be so much fun, and we'll get to meet many new friends in the process!  I hope you can join us!  The more the merrier!  Can't wait to see everybody's creativity in action! :)