Thursday 29 October 2009

EART TEAM BLOG RING : How do we cope?

My constant thought is always that why I don't have 10 pairs of hands and 48 hours a day! I guess it's the same story for us somehow, being wife, mother, artist and business woman at the same time. This week the EART Team Blog ring dicusses about how we manage to find time to create & be on an active Street Team & still have a life offline?

This is not easy! I used to have lots of troubles with this and get upset as I could not accomplish all my goals. Desperate to find more quality time for my children and taking care of my family, and sometime for myself to keep me sane, I started to think really hard bout it, trying to find a solution.

So I started to write down what I do and the time I start and finish. Guess what! I could not do it properly as I postponed to complete tasks. So, first tip: Never postpone! For example, I used to check my email in the morning - with my morning cofee, reading through the whole lot, knowing that I need to reply but thought - I'll do it later! Wrong move! It took me quite a lot of time to go back to those emails again to reply. Sometimes I didn't go back as I ran out of time so I would need to log back again in the afternoon. Now I answer my email right away if I need to and if I can when I finish reading it. Of course this is not only about emails!

Second tip: Don't set my goal too high! I used to set many tasks in a day for myself to complete. Then in the end of the day when I saw there was no way to complete them, I would get desperately stressed and things got even worse. I now plan to do a little bit less than I can . So when I complete my check list and still have sometime I can do some extra as a bonus for the next day. That way, everyone in my family is happy :-)

Third tip: Use any help available. I try to get my children involved in some housework but make it fun for them. I get help and they're proud that they can help. They learn a lot while playing. All are happy. They especially love helping in the kitchen and tidying in my craft room :-).

Finally: try to set specific amount of time for your work, your family and yourself and keep them balanced. Of course, sometimes in busy seasons when I was buried with orders I'd need to work over time in the night but I tried not to take the time I set for my familly.

PS: I almost forget the last (but not least) thing! Control your online time. Internet is SO time consuming and can be so additive. Don't log in ALL day. Make a time table for the internet to suit your need and stick to it!!!

If you are interested in how other EART TEAM members manage to be productive and still have their own life, please check the next blog of the ring http://www.aweshop.blogspot.com/

Wednesday 28 October 2009

SHABBY ELEGANCE BRIDAL BOUQUET GIVEWAY

Finally! Now it's time for this giveaway which was announced in this blogpost : http://hairbowswonderworld.blogspot.com/2009/09/bridal-bouquet-giveaway-shabby-elegance.html

I've chosen this time to start the contest to celebrate my best friend's (you know who you are :-) ) and my dear daughter 's birthday!!!

***** What is the prize: A custom handmade bridal bouquet as seen in the photo below - my best selling last season in the SHABBY ELEGANCE line. (This is currently priced at $125 in my etsy shop : http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32389599). The ribbon to wrap the handle can be changed to match your colour scheme. Depended on your colours, I can also add matching colour feathers or skeleton leaves but you need to confirm the colour availabilities. Simply convo me on Etsy or Folksy. I will need 4 weeks since the winner is announced to make your bouquet, and I ship your prize from the UK, so please allow time for it to arrive :-). There will be only one winner. The winner will be entitled to a 20% off if she/he wishes to order any matching items for the bouquet (second picture below - My SHABBY ELEGANCE collection)

*****What if I am not the winner: Second and third runner-ups will get small surprise presents. All others still can benefit from this giveway. I offer 15% discount in my etsy and folksy shops for everyone who enter this contest. This offer is available with any purchase from my etsy / folksy shops from 28th October 2009 to 12nd November 2009 including items in my sale and instructions/ebooks sections. Convo me on Etsy / folksy and provide the link to show you participated in the contest, and let me know what you want to buy, I'll revise the listing with reduced price for you.


*How do I enter : There are many ways to enter.

1-I've hidden 5 letters of the word P-R-I-Z-E in my etsy listing's pictures and my blog(4 letters in the listings and 1 letter in the blog). Hint: The letters are purple. You will find them and send me the links to those letters (Please convo me on Etsy / folksy). The 1st person who got it will get 15 entries, all other who found those letters will get 10 entries. (Please remember you need to convo me on etsy / folksy the links, not posting them here. Posting them here will disqualify you. Convo me on Etsy / folksy the links and leave a comment here to let me know it was you :-) )

2-Take a good look in my etsy / folksy shops and tell me which item you like the most and what you want to see more in my shops. Simply leave a comment here to let me know : 5 entries

3-Post this giveway in your blog, twitt about it on twitter, post it on your facebook, myspace or any public forum you are in , come back here and post the link to let me know : 5 entries

4-Follow my blog or follow me on twitter , leave a comment to let me know: 2 entries

5-Simply visit my blog and comment on any post, then come back here, post a comment to let me know about it : 1 entry

*How is the winner picked?

The contest will start today 28th October 2009 and last until the end of 4th November 2009 UK time. My daughter whose birthday is tomorrow :-) will randomly pick one amongst all the entries. I will post on Thursday 5th November to announce the winner.

*How do I give you my contact detail?

This is very important! you need to let me know your email address or your etsy /folksy username so I can contact you in case you win. Either post it here in your comment, or convo me on Etsy with both your email adress and your blogger ID so I will know who is who.

So let's play! HAVE FUN and GOOD LUCK!

Again:

My etsy shop: http://www.hairbowswonderworld.etsy.com

My folksy shop: http://folksy.com/shops/hairbowswonderworld

Friday 23 October 2009

ESPRESSO OF LOVE

This is my favorite line of product. I love everything about it, starting from the name. The colour pallette I used in ESPRESSO OF LOVE is Chocolate Brown, Dusty/Antique Pink and Sparkly Gold. Sparkly and elegant but in the same time warm and welcoming.


The main materials are Cotton Fabric (I love how nice it frays) , Feathers - quite a few types- (they give beautiful volume and texture and a luxury touch), and Filigree and Glass Beads (how sparkly they are!). This line screams vintage yet still has something modern in it and it will be great for weddings in any season.
Available in my ETSY SHOP , please check it out! I will list a SAMPLE SALE PACKAGE soon - an awesome deal!
The line includes :
* Bridal bouquet
*Bridesmaid bouquet
* Mini top hat with birdcage veil
*OOAK sinamay hat (sold out! )
*Boutonniere
*Baby boutonniere and bow tie
*Hair flower

JUST FEATHERS

Here is another hair accessories collection of mine : JUST FEATHERS. The flora world is imitated with many types of feathers. I love how delightful and colourful it looks yet the flowers are still delicate. These so versatile hair flowers will be great for bridesmaids or even for brides, but also do very well for a daily wear.

Available in my ETSY SHOP



Thursday 22 October 2009

BRIDAL DREAM & SIMPLY FEATHERS

Below are some items from my new collections of Bridal Hair Accessories / Fascinators : BRIDAL DREAM & SIMPLY FEATHER

Available in my ETSY SHOP and currently priced from $32, these totally handmade items are surely an awesome deal. So drop by and check them out.

Have fun!


Wednesday 21 October 2009

*FELTASTIC*

This beautiful collection is now available in my etsy shop . New flowers will be added !


With the winter approaching, I feel the urge to create something welcoming and warm but still graceful and elegant. I thought of this felt material immediately and I totally loved it! My felt flowers are made of beautiful quality wool blended felt sheet. Each petal is hand-cut and carefully hand-shaped. I really love how they turn out, looking great not only for winter :-) . You can put them on your hair, use them to embellish your hat or purse or your jacket, give them to your bridesmaids or even wear them in your own wedding!

(From top left to center - clockwise : Calla Lily, Rose & Hydrangeas, Plumerias, Peony, Stephanotis, Hibiscus, Lilly)

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Fabric Rolled Rose Instructions...

... are now available in my ETSY SHOP .


I just love this flower as it's so easy to make, the effect is great and it's so flexible on material. It's good using scrap fabric, too. This flower can be used in so many different projects.

I mostly used it in statement necklace making and hair accessories but it can be attached to a brooch pin, a purse, or as an embellishment for your quilt , put on a hat, and so on. The limitation is just your imagination!


This set of instructions is now for sale in my
ETSY shop just for $5.99 and if you want to buy it directly from me ( leave me your email adress so I can send you a Paypal invoice) it will be only $4.99.

The instructions set has a lot of clear and numbered photos with step by step directions which will help you throughout all the way. I also offer unlimited email support if you ever have any difficulty following the tutorial.

*TESTIMONIALS:

Here is how butterflyam
on Etsy convoed me upon receiving this set of instructions :


by butterflyam
profile
shop
contact
Lynn!!!I am thrilled with your instructions. They are not only precise, but easily understandable in what I like to call an "apples and oranges" sort of way. I can't wait to try them out. Thank you again. Have a wonderful day!Christine
6 October 2009 5:37pm EDT


and here is her feedback for me :


What a wonderful person to deal with. Great communication, over the top customer service and a kindred spirit! Thanks so much!
butterflyam
10.07.2009

How to make a fabric rolled rose instructions PDF - reseved for butterflyam

Here is how oohsahsoriginals said in her feedback:

Fabulous directions...now can you come to my house & help me make them??????Great job!
oohsahsoriginals
10.19.2009

How to make a fabric rolled rose instructions PDF


So if you are feeling crafty, go to my store and check it out :-). Happy crafting everyone!


Friday 9 October 2009

Etsy Wedding Street Team: EWT Presents: Autumn of Giveaways Week 4!


You must check this out! I am giving away this beautiful hair clip. Please check this link for the rules
Etsy Wedding Street Team: EWT Presents: Autumn of Giveaways Week 4!

And remember that our wonderful Etsy Wedding Team is offering great prizes every week! There are so many easy ways to enter and it's fun, fun, fun!!! Good luck, everybody!!!