Sleep Late Saturdays....Loving This!

Maybe I should TRY to get up...

One more stretch...

Nevermind....zzzzzzzzz

It's Fair Time Again, Spring Shows Starting with my Fav at Hallockville, Long Island

I love this Spring Show on the North fork of Long Island! Make a weekend out of it, visit the show, tour a vineyard and sample some of the local cuisine, great for the kids. Maine Coon Crafts will be Setting Up Shop, 

Come on down and say Hello!

Save the Date!

May 17 & 18, 2014

10 AM to 5 PM both days

6038 Sound Avenue, Riverhead

2014 Vendor Application  

Purchase Tickets for Charter Bus from New York City Here

The Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair is the first of its kind in the region to bring together the diversity of fiber arts activities! Visitors will see and learn how local artisans craft wool and other animal fiber into beautiful finished pieces of clothing and art. The fair provides two fun-filled days of demonstrations and hands-on learning that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Visit both days for a variety of demonstrations, workshops and local artisans selling their handmade supplies and products in the Naugles Barn Fiber Market! There is something for everyone, new and experienced fiber artists alike!  Enjoy lunch in the picturesque picnic area shaded by the apple trees. Maple Tree Catering will have a variety of local food and beverage items available for purchase. Martha Clara Vineyards will offer wine tasting, and the Hallockville Bake Shop will be offering delectable homemade baked goods, coffee and smoothies.

** For the safety of all animals on display at the event, please leave your dogs and pets at home. Thank you for your cooperation. **

Visit Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair on Facebook!

Animal Displays-meet the sheep, llamas, alpacas, and angora rabbits that provide the fleece and fiber used by fiber artists!

Sheep Herding-watch experts and their dogs move the sheep!

Llama Obstacle Course- watch an exhibition of animal footwork!

Sheep & Llama Shearing- learn how fiber is harvested during informative demonstrations by an expert shearer!

Carding-see raw fiber being de-tangled and “teased” apart!

Dyeing-learn how dyes transform fleece and wool into colorful fiber!

Spinning- watch how spinners and their wheels turn fiber into spun yarn!

Knitting- learn the basics of how to knit your own finished pieces!

Felting- see how you can create your own fiber art pieces using this interesting technique!

Weaving- see the Hallockville looms in action turning fiber into cloth!

Quilting- watch demonstrations by quilting artisans and try it out for yourself!

The Long Island Fleece and Fiber Fair is Co-Sponsored by Hallockville Museum Farm and Long Island Livestock Company. All proceeds support the educational mission of the non-profit museum farm.

Additional information can be obtained by calling the Hallockville office at 631-298-5292 or e-mail hallockv@optonline.net

Pictures, Worth a Thousand Words, or More

Pictures are in my mind THE most important aspect of selling your product. Scanning through Etsy Shops I am immediately drawn to the beautifully photographed, staged or unique photos that some 

shops set as their hallmarks. 

This Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaperStreetLabs uses beautiful photography and staging to set their aesthetic, well worth the time it takes to set up and shoot

Great Lighting, color balance and background

Up close, details, background, perfectly balanced shot, just makes the bracelet "touchable"

And then shops where it is obvious that the shots were taken with a phone camera, on the floor, with no lighting or thought given, absolutely terrifying....

Once I decided that I was serious about setting up shop, I invested in a Canon EOS Rebel 3, added a Macro Lense for close-ups, never regretted a penny spent on this, it takes gorgeous pictures, 

is easy to use and lightweight.

Hearts

We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.

Orson Welles

SEO - The Mystery

SEO - Search Engine Optimization, when setting up an Etsy Shop, Website or Blog these 3 letters haunt you. I have spent countless hours researching, experimenting and learning about SEO, with alot more left to figure out. 

What I have found works the best for me, my product and my Etsy shop is the following formula:

• locate shops on Etsy that sell similar items
• locate shops that sell similar items and have outstanding sales numbers
• click on an item and 

1. look at the description and verbage about the item
2. look at all of the items tags
3. look at the items Title and Description
4. Focus primarily on the first 50 spaces because these are the most significant when being searched out 

Weekly I go through a page of my items and "tweek" the titles, descriptions, shop verbage and tags. I also check on my Etsy Stats to see which keywords are coming up frequently in searches. By changing verbage, avoiding constant repetition and switching item tags I can attract more traffic to my site. I understand that this is a somewhat simplistic approach to the "SEO" process, but it works for me and hopefully can help others who are not so savvy on the process. Let me know!

DIY PomPom Hat Pattern

I love this pattern, it's easy and quick to make an adorable PomPom hat for your bestie. Add the monogrammed applique and it becomes a perfect gift or addition to a winter wardrobe. The pattern directions are for a 18 - 20" hat that would fit a 7 - 8 year old. I don't go by gauge, it makes me crazy, just too many variables, I go by eye and sizing. ☺

Hat Directions - Using Acrylic Yarn

Magic Ring, Chain 2, 9 DC in ring, join to first DC, ch 2
Row 2: 2 DC in each stitch around, join to first DC, ch 2 (18 DC)
Row 3: 2 DC in first stitich, 1 DC in next, repeat around, join to first DC, ch 2 (27 DC)
Row 4: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 2 stitches, repeat around, join to first DC, ch 2 (36 DC)
Row 5: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 3 stitches, repeat around, join to first DC, ch 2 (45 DC)
Row 6: 2 DC in first stitch, DC in next 4 stitches, repeat around, join to first DC, ch 2 (54)
Row 7 - 14: DC around (54 DC) do not fasten off, start first earflap
*You can add additional rows if you want a deeper hat

Earflaps

Row 1: Chain 2, HDC 10, chain 2, turn
Row 2: HDC across (10 HDC)
Row 3: HDC decrease, HDC in next 6, HDC decrease, chain 2, turn
Row 4: HDC across (8 HDC), chain 2, turn
Row 5: HDC decrease, HDC in next 4, HDC decrease, chain 2, turn
Row 6: HDC across (6 HDC)
Row 7: HDC decrease, HDC in next 2, HDC decrease, chain 2, turn
Row 8: 2 HDC decreases, chain 2, turn
Row 9: HDC decrease, fasten off leaving a long tail

*Skip 20 stitches along the front of cap, fasten on yarn and repeat for second earflap

SC around the entire hat and fasten off leaving a long tail

Attach Color Trim Yarn and SC around hat 2 - 3 times, fasten off

Braids

Cut ten 1 yard strands of the colors used, push through the last space in the earflap, knot close to the top, braid and knot at the bottom, repeat for the other side.

PomPom

Use a mix of the two colors to make a pompom of the size that you prefer, I do about a 4" wrap on my hat

Happy Crocheting!

Selling Success, Branding, Wrap it Up!

One of the things that I absolutely love about shopping on Etsy is when I get the package and it arrives in just over the top gorgeous wrapping, making even an ordinary order for parts super special. Wrapping and presentation is so important, it shows you care, and starts to establish "branding" for your Shop.

Your customer feels special when they receive their item beautifully wrapped, I know that I most certainly do. Your item looks special (we know it is), and it creates a "presence" for your line and your Shop. After all, if you are spending so much time developing, creating, photographing, advertising, the final arrival should be just as important.

Wrapping does not have to be expensive and it should represent your shop aesthetic. Check out Pinterest and Craft Sites for great ideas for packing and wrapping. I like to work with the banner in my shop, my logo and my design buzz to create my packaging. Like anything else, this too can be constantly evolving until you get that perfect combo.

Shipping a beautifully wrapped package is a must for selling success. A little time, investment and detail goes a long way and keeps em' coming back.

Keeping it Fresh, Tips for Success on Etsy

The next tip that I have for growing and selling on Etsy is to update and relist or renew daily. I know that it costs money to relist your items, but the old adage, "it takes money to make money" stands as a testament to business success.

It is imperative to stay at the top of search engines and to create visibility on Etsy, on Etsy searches and specialized categories. If you watch some of the highly successful shops on Etsy you will see their products come up in the top of categories all of the time.

When you relist or renew your items it does cost .20 per listing, and this can add up fast. But it is twenty cents well spent. What I do, and recommend doing, is to set yourself a budget, maybe a $1.00 or $2.00 per day, and relist 5 items at the peak afternoon hours, and again in the evening hours. By doing this your products will come up on the front page as "new listings" and have a greater chance of getting seen by prospective buyers. This takes time and patience, but the impact is well worth it.

Let me know how it works for you, hope to see great results!

Tips for Staying Fresh and Successful on Etsy

I have been a part of the Etsy Community for several years now. I explore all avenues of interaction on the platform and follow all leads for success. Over the years I have come across some fantastic suggestions and ideas and, of course, some not too great ideas. I have followed, implemented and dismissed much of the info that I have come across, but the great ideas and suggestions that have worked I will publish weekly, or as I come across them. 
Here goes...

List, List, List..... I started my shop with 50 or so items, I added slowly, duplicated where I felt necessary and kept building my Shop Inventory. When I reached 100 items or so I noticed an increase in Etsy traffic and my items becoming more visible in Etsy Catagory Searches. 

Eventually I got to the 300 - 400 range and the traffic from Google, Etsy and various search engines started to triple. It takes patience, an incredible amount of time and perseverance, but the more listings you have the greater the impact on search engines within Etsy and independently. I am currently pushing to increase my inventory to 500+ over the next couple of months. 

Many of my newer items are spin-offs of customer suggestions through custom orders. I am currently working on a new line of appliques for different applications and know that this will extend my line easily by 100 or more items.

I do know that you run across those "unusual" shops that list 10 or so items and have sales in the thousands, these appear to be shops that sell one item, that is either a novelty, supply or tool. These shops are definately in the minority and possibly have additional marketing strategies outside of Etsy. 

If you want to get noticed on Etsy, LIST.....

Last Minute Gifts, Still Time, Personally Unique, Monogrammed and Wrapped

More Great Ideas for the "I don't know what the heck to get" for Person on Your List

I randomly peruse Etsy, checking out the newly added items category, watching my feed from people who I follow, and checking out the front page. The other day I came across this shop:      https://www.etsy.com/shop/Growandmake or their website:  http://www.growandmake.com/. 






What a great gift idea! I originally searched them out for Cheese Making Kits this year, I thought that a Cheese Making Kit would be great for the people on my list that love to cook. I had no idea that they offered a full line of product making kits for all ages and abilities. 

They have wonderful Kits for Soapmaking, another item on my "someday to do list". But also a great way to introduce the process, will be ordering one of these for my Son who expressed an interest in this.

Soy Wax Candle Kits, soy wax being a renewable, totally green product, and who does'nt love Candles, you can never have enough.

These Kits are great, offering something new and creative to engage you this Holiday Season!

Holiday Hair Styles - Glam it Up!

This is a sneak peak at some of the new Barrette Styles that I am introducing at Maine Coon Crafts. I create these Hairclips by hand from polymer clay as the base. I mold and introduce colors to the mix until I get a Marbelization that I love. The Barrettes are then rolled, cut and baked. These clips are perfect to add some hair drama to the holiday parties, outings and events. Each clip has it's own unique signature.

I select stones, shell, beads, glass tiles, crystals and gold leaf to embellish with

No two pieces will ever be identical

These Hair Clips provide a beautiful piece of jewelry for your hair, I welcome custom orders, all items are created by me in my Long Island Studio and arrive gift wrapped and ready for giving, or keeping. These clips are perfect for the unique gift that no one else has...

DIY Boho Headwrap Pattern - Great Gift for Teens, Tweens and Friends

This is a pattern for one of my most popular Headband, Hairwraps, Yoga Wrap or Dread Wrap. It works up  super fast and super easy, makes a great gift or perfect for yourself. Any questions just drop me a note and I will do my best to respond with a day. Happy Crocheting!

I use any type of yarn that I have on hand, cotton is great if this is for a workout headband, acrylic in colder months

Stitches & Abbreviations:

Slip Stitch - sl st
Chain - ch
Skip - sk
Triple Crochet - tr
Shell - 3 triple, ch 2, 3 triple
Triple decrease - YO twice, insert hook in next stitch, YO, pull up loop, YO, pull through 2 loops on hook (twice), YO, pull through 3 loops on hook

Row 1 - Ch 5, tr in 5th ch from hook (2 tr)
Row 2 - Ch 4, turn, tr in same st, tr (3 tr)
Row 3 - Ch 4, turn, tr in same st, tr in next 2 sts (4 tr)
Row 4 - Ch 4, turn, tr in same st, 2 tr in next st, tr in next 2 st (6 tr)
Row 5 - Ch 4, turn, tr in same st, tr in next 5 sts (7 tr)
Row 6 - Ch 4, turn, sk 3 tr, shell in next tr, tr in last st (2 tr, 1 shell)
Row 7 - Ch 4, turn, tr in same st, shell in top of last row's shell, 2 tr in last st (4 tr, 1 shell)
Row 8 - Ch 4, turn, tr in same st and next st, shell in top of last row's shell, tr, 2 tr in last st (6 tr, 1 shell)
Row 9 - 10 - Ch 4, turn, tr in next 2 sts, shell in top of last row's shell, tr in next 3 sts (6 tr, 1 shell)
Row 11 - Ch 4, turn, tr dec, shell in top of last row's shell, tr dec, tr in last st (4 tr, 1 shell)
Row 12 - Ch 4, turn, shell in top of last row's shell, tr dec (2 tr, 1 shell)
Row 13 - Ch 4, turn, tr in outside st of shell, sk st, tr in next st and ch space, tr in next st, sk st, tr in next 2                    sts (7 tr)
Row 14 - Ch 4, turn, tr, tr dec, tr in next 3 sts (6 tr)
Row 15 - Ch 4, turn, tr dec twice, tr (4 tr)
Row 16 - Ch 4, turn, tr dec, tr (3 tr)
Row 17 - Ch 4, turn, tr dec (2 tr)
Row 18 - Ch 20, sl st in 5th ch of Row 1

We have a Winner!

Congratulations Lisa L.!

Winner of the Maine Coon Crafts Giveaway...

Lisa Won her Choice of Beanie

Just in Time For Holiday Gifting!

Teen, Tween, Teen-tween-style, Oh Yeah!

This is a New look for Maine Coon Crafts Kids Line, T Shirts, Hats and Wristers, 

Order individually, or all  for a Great Gift this Holiday Season.

Great Gift for the T'weens On Your Lists

Personalize and Monogram with Name Or Initial

Can Be Ordered in Cotton or Acrylic Yarn

Special Thanks and Shout Out to Riley Marie, Our Gorgeous Model from Adora Models, Who Really Rocked the Look

The Best Baby Beanie Ever - DIY Holiday Gifts

Best Baby Beanie Pattern

Materials: I use Lily Sugar n' Cream Cotton for a Summer Beanie, or any soft Acrylic Yarn for the Fall and Winter, or a Cotton Bamboo that makes a super soft and stretchy hat.

Hook: H/8 - 5.00mm Hook 

Gauge: 12 sts x 10 Rows in hdc = 4" *I don't get too crazy with the gauge, I usually work by eye

Size: Newborn ( 14 - 15" or so )

Stiches:

Ch = Chain

Hdc = Half Double Crochet

Inc = 2 Stiches in 1 Stitch

Sc = Single Crochet

Sl St = Slip Stitch

Directions:

*I do not join rounds, this hat is crochet in one continuous spiral making it super simple, You just need to count on your increase rounds to get the right size

Rnd 1: Ch 3, Make 8 hdc in 3rd ch from hook

Rnd 2: Hdc Inc in each stitch around, 16 stitches

Rnd 3: Hdc in next stitch, hdc inc in next stitch (1 hdc, 2 hdc) around 24 stitches

Rnd 4: Hdc in next 2 stitches, hdc inc in next stitch (1 hdc, 1 hdc, 2 hdc) around 32 stitches

Rnd 5: Hdc in next 3 stitches, hdc inc in next stitch (1 hdc, 1hdc, 1 hdc, 2 hdc) around 40 stitches

Rnd 6 - 16: Hdc in each stitch around until hat measures 7" from top

Finishing Edge: Single Crochet  once around, slip stitch in next 2 stitches to finish off, work in ends

To Make this hat larger I just add more increasing rows, being sure to increase evenly. I use this as my basic beanie pattern for my Maine Coon Crafts Line. To personalize I add Appliques to make a truly Unique Gift.

Happy Crocheting!