Shop Sale Today

With the sale of this bag donated by SouthernSweetTs, we have enough for our first donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. I will be making a $25.00 donation once I have confirmation that the bag has shipped.

If anyone would like to make a donation to the team shop, please send the listing information and photos to me at cabteam@comcast.net.

I would like to suggest that we continue with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through December. In January we can switch to another charity. I'd like to have suggestions from the team as to which charities we'd like to help next. We can change up every 3 or 4 months.

I have tried to relist bags about once every week-usually 4 bags at a time. That way we are only paying $0.80 per week or $3.20 a month plus any charges due to sales.

Team Successes~Studio Cherie

I was scrolling through my dashboard on Blogger today and noticed a new post by teammate Cherie of StudioCherie that I thought was worth sharing.

On December 17th the Simplicity catalog comes out with her patterns. How exciting! Here is a link to her blog for all the details on her success with Simplicity as well as some other Etsy pattern makers.

It looks fabulous Cherie. Congratulations!

Team Successes~HugsandHolidays

With over 620 sales in her Etsy shop HugsandHolidays, Sandy is one of our team's top ten sellers. What did she have to say about her success?

1. What is your full name?
I have 7 legal names (7 names, not 7 husbands) but my public name is Sandy.

2. What is the name of your Etsy shop?
Hugs and Holidays

3. Tell us a little about you.
I'm 60 years young and I still enjoy things that children liked before video games. I was born and raised in the South and I've made friends all over the world during the years that I traveled. I am one of the few old southern ladies that can't cook.

4. How long have you been crafting/making bags?
I've only been making bags 5 years. I've been crafting as long as I can remember.

5. What is your artistic background? How did you get started?
I have no formal training...except my mother was a professional tailor and I was taught by her. She made suits for heavy weight wrestlers. I just have a love for "pretty" and my mother taught me a great respect for "perfection". I started sewing with my mother when I was 8 because I had no one to play with. My mother said I was doing pretty good when I lined a Barbie doll wool coat in silk. (I still have the coat and the doll.)

6. What has been your biggest success on Etsy, or your other websites?
A few years ago I made a Victorian corset just to see if I could make one. My daughter said I should put it on ebay, and I told her that if she wanted it on ebay she needed to do it because I didn't deal with computers. Well, it sold in 3 minutes and she said I had to make another one. I made another one because I "always" do what my daughter tells me because she's smarter than me. They kept selling and I kept making them...I couldn't make them fast enough. They take a little time to make and they had to be perfect. I couldn't believe people would buy them for $350 and then ask for more. After one was worn in a "Miss Something or Other Beauty Contest" I realized that this type of sewing was too much for my back...so I quit...just like I quit making wool suits for my high school teachers. It was just too much because I still had to get my homework done.

As far as my Etsy success, I think I was flattered when other professionals made bulk orders from me for their businesses. They would tell me what they wanted to do and I would just start making bags.

7. Besides having a great product, what do you feel is the reason for your success on Etsy?
Pure and simple - God's abundant favor. I take no credit...He just blesses me with the ability and all that I need to do this. If it makes somebody happy, then I have glorified Him and had some fun in the process.

8. Do you have any Etsy selling tips?
Not really. Just sew things that you would buy and show them to others in a neighborly way.

9. What inspires you?
Everything and nothing.

Congratulations on your success Sandy. Thanks for sharing.

Team Successes~DSChicBoutique

This time we hear from Dawn of DSChicBoutique. Dawn has been selling on Etsy since February of 2008. In that time she has racked up more than 650 sales. Yay Dawn! You know the drill...

1. What is your full name? Dawn Stevens

2. What is the name of your Etsy shop? DSCHICBOUTIQUE

3. Tell us a little about yourself. I am 36 married and expecting my first child. (A girl). I am an auditor for a large financial institution in Oregon. My free time is dedicated to sewing and spending time with friends & family.

4. How long have you been crafting/making bags? I have been crafting since 1983 and making bags since 2000.

5. What is your artistic background? How did you get started? What has you’re your training? I am self taught for the most part but my great grandmother always encouraged needle point, latchhook, or something creative to keep all of us kids still.

6. What has been your biggest success on ETSY, or your other websites? I feel the number of return customers has been my biggest success.

7. Besides having a great product, what do you feel is the reason for your success on Etsy? Consistency with prices and my products.

8. Do you have any Etsy selling tips? Slip in a free gift when shipping an item for no reason and offer free shipping once in a while.

9. What inspires you? Fabric inspires me. The colors, texture, and details.

Team Successes~Aggieray

Aggieray is our team success story this time. Linda Souza is the creator of some wonderful bags. She has been selling on Etsy since January of 2008 as Aggieray and in June of 2008 she opened another shop called FabricPlace. Between the two shops, she has had over 1460 sales. Here is what she had to share...

1. What is your full name?
Linda Souza

2. What is the name of your Etsy shop?
AggieRay and FabricPlace
3. Tell us a little about yourself.
I live in North Kingstown, Rhode Island husband Russ and two adult children, Matthew and Michelle. I am a Paralegal/Real Estate Agent working for the same attorney for 30 years. I am a graduate of both Bryant University and Roger Williams University with degrees in accounting, business and law.

4. How long have you been crafting/making bags?

I have been sewing since I was in the seventh grade. I have always enjoyed crafting and sewing. I purchased my first sewing machine in 1982 a Kenmore and have been sewing ever since. I began making my children’s clothes when they were younger and would make my own curtains and home accessories. From there, my friends and family would ask me to make window draperies for their homes and I did that for a number of years. I started making handbags for my daughter and her friends from left over material I had from my drapery jobs. I fell in love with Amy Butler fabrics.

5. What is your artistic background? How did you get started? What is your training?
I am self-taught. I read, read and read some more. I love to learn new sewing techniques constantly. If I had to make the same item over and over again, I would not be happy!

6. What has been your biggest success on Etsy, or your other websites?
I am still trying to figure that out. Is the success selling as many items that you can on ETSY? Or is the success the positive feedback that you receive when a customer receives your product and is thrilled and happy to have such a wonderful item? There is a balance here that we are all trying to achieve. I will say that when I was featured on the Weekend deals and had maybe 50 orders in a weekend, it was very stressful and exhausting putting that all together (because of course, I kept relisting items that I had sold, had the fabric for, but new that I could make more of) and I really thought that I would not be happy if it was like that all of the time.

7. Besides having a great product, what do you feel is the reason for your success on Etsy?
Yes a great product and wonderful photographs is a priority on Etsy. However, getting noticed is the biggest challenge for everyone. The front page isn’t really the answer either. I have been there many times, received many hearts on the item for the hour that it is up and then the item never sells. Many of my sales came from being featured in the Weekend Deal and Gift Guides, which no longer exist. If you were lucky enough to be chosen, a mass email went out on Friday morning featuring a product from your shop and the sales rolled in. This has been replaced by the Etsy Finds emails.

8. Do you have any Etsy selling tips?
It is a constant strategy here on ETSY. It’s not about just having a great product, great picture and listing it and it will sell, the key is relisting and adding new items often at all times of the day and night. Another strategy that I have is having more than one category to list items in. As many of the members here on the Bag Team sell bags and purses, you are limiting yourself to only being see in that category, one of the most popular categories here on Etsy. Try to branch out into different areas that you have a talent and interest in. Check out other categories that will match your talents. This gives you more exposure on ETSY.

9. What inspires you? I love all of the beautiful fabrics that have emerged in the last ten years. If I am stuck artistically, usually a new fabric design with get me motivated to some up with something new and exciting.

Team Successes~ZigZagStitches

This week we hear from Catherine Wynne of Zig Zag Stitches. Catherine has had over 1650 sales since she joined the Etsy family in July of 2007.

1. What is your full name?
Catherine Wynne

2. What is the name of your Etsy shop?
ZigZagStitches http://www.etsy.com/shop/zigzagstitches

3. Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised near Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. I now live in Southwestern Ontario, at the Canada/U.S. border. I was a Kindergarten teacher for many years, and now I run my business from home, and enjoy other hobbies like knitting, spinning, and gardening when I have time! My husband is an artist and photographer, and we have 2 adult children.

4. How long have you been crafting/making bags?
I have always enjoyed sewing, quilting, and crafting. A few years ago I needed some storage for knitting needles and knitting projects so I created some needle rolls and project bags. They were fun to make, and when I had created more than I could use myself, I decided to try selling them. I hoped Etsy would be a good venue for my products, so I opened my shop in the summer of 2007.

5. What is your artistic background? How did you get started? What has been your training?
My grandmother was an artist, but I didn’t inherit any of her talent! I have no formal art training, but I have degrees in Psychology and in Education, and I have taken several art courses for teachers.

6. What has been your biggest success on Etsy, or your other websites?
The Boxy Bag is my most popular item. I have also made it in different sizes and proportions for custom orders. Some contacts through Etsy have led to wholesale accounts in the Canada, the U.S., Australia, and the U.K.

7. Besides having a great product, what do you feel is the reason for your success on Etsy?
Maybe luck? I joined Etsy when there wasn’t as much competition. I’m fortunate to have many repeat customers. I advertise on a website for knitters (www.ravelry.com), so I can reach my “target” audience.

8. Do you have any Etsy selling tips?
Make the best quality product possible, and try to be unique. I use many fabrics that the general population might not normally see. Post the best photos you can manage (I’m still working on that). List items regularly, contact your customers with a friendly Thank You, and ship promptly. I don’t have a blog, but I use Twitter, Facebook, and Ravelry for promotion. I belong to several Etsy Teams. I have never had time to be very active in the Etsy forums.

9. What inspires you?
The window of my sewing room looks out over our garden, and I am inspired by the colors in nature and the changing seasons. I am drawn to color, bold graphic design, and quality in the fabrics I use, for example, the current popular designer fabrics, cotton and cotton-linens from Japan, and handmade screen-printed fabric.

Thanks for sharing Catherine!

Team Successes~ Haut Totes

Melissa of HautTotes was kind enough to share some of her success stories with us. Melissa has had over 1690 sales in her Etsy shop. Here is what she had to say...

"Well today is actually my 2 year anniversary on Etsy (September 10, 2010). My full name is Melissa Lewis and I am the one woman sweat shop behind Haut Totes http://www.etsy.com/shop/HautTotes . I've been quilting for years, but started making bags basically 2 years ago when I opened my shop. I only sell on Etsy, I don't do local shows or have a website etc. I think my success on Etsy is in large part due to the fact that I have a good niche. My fabrics are more edgy than most you see out there. I've also used social media, twitter in particular to boost sales. You can read an interview about that here http://www.starleemagazine.com/uncategorized/2010/06/tote-maker-rule-breaker-risk-taker/#more-972

I've also started collaborating with several artists to print exclusive fabric with their art work, these bags have been very popular. I pay a royalty per bag sold, so it's a win / win. You can see all the bags with exclusive fabric here http://www.etsy.com/search_results_shop.php?search_query=exclusive+fabric&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6220636&view_type=gallery

I've written several "advice" posts on the Etsy forums that have been suggested in the Etsy success emails."
Niche Marketing
Etsy Opens Doors, but...
How I Got 3000 Shop Views...

You can HautTotes here:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/HautTotes
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HautTotes#!/HautTotes

Team Successes~ JenniferLadd

I hope you enjoyed reading about Studio Cherie last week. This week we are soliciting the advice of teammate Jennifer Ladd. Jennifer has been selling on Etsy since November of 2007 and she has logged 909 sales to date. Here is what she had to share with me...

1. What is your full name? Jennifer Ladd

2. What is the name of your Etsy shop? Jennifer Ladd

3. Tell us a little about yourself. I am a former French teacher turned stay-at-home mom for a beautiful 3-year-old girl. We adopted her from Vietnam in 2007. We are currently in the process of adopting our second daughter from Ethiopia (a gorgeous 6 month old baby)! If all goes as planned, we will be traveling to Ethiopia in October to meet her. I'm a Mommy by day and a purse designer by night - I have the perfect life ... I spend all day doing what I love!

4. How long have you been crafting/making bags? I have been sewing since I was a very little girl, but I first started making bags as a career about 3 years ago (a few months after my daughter was home). I needed a bit of a distraction from ABC's and Sesame Street, and sewing was a great creative outlet for me.

5. What is your artistic background? How did you get started? What has you’re your training? I have always been artistic and I try out as many different types of media as I possibly can. Sewing was one of my first loves, though - I learned to sew when I was about 3 years old by watching my grandma. I picked it up quickly and haven't stopped since!

6. What has been your biggest success on Etsy, or your other websites?
My biggest success comes from the smaller-priced items (wallets, coin purses, etc.). They make great gifts (for others or for yourself!) so they sell fairly quickly.

7. Besides having a great product, what do you feel is the reason for your success on Etsy?
I work hard at getting my name out there. I advertise, I contact blogs, I promote. It's a lot of work but it pays off.

8. Do you have any Etsy selling tips?
Great pictures are the key. I do a lot of shopping, myself, on Etsy. If I'm searching for something to buy, I am always attracted by light, bright photos. If a picture is dark, blurry, or boring, I just won't click (no matter how great the product may be!). I spent a lot of time trying to brighten up my shop, and I think it has a refreshing, fun look to it.

9. What inspires you?
I am inspired by beautiful color combinations. My brain just feels happy when I see beautiful colors together.

Team Successes~ Studio Cherie

Last week I posted some team stats. I gave you our top ten highest selling team members and told you I'd be sharing their success stories. Well, this week I'm going to start at the top with Cherie of Studio Cherie. Cherie has been selling on Etsy since April of 2008. In that time she has racked up 2236 sales. These are her responses to my questions about being a successful Etsian...

1. What is your full name? Cherie Killilea. Feel free to connect with me on Facebook.
2. What is the name of your Etsy shop? StudioCherie
3. Tell us a little about yourself. I am a wife and mother of 3 school age children. I grew up in Seattle and will always think of it as home even though I live 300 miles away now. I am part of a writers group here in Spokane. Becoming friends with the women in that group is a precious experience. I love hiking and other physical activity. I love to play games with the kids and I love to make things (duh.) I am currently teaching myself to crochet - with the help of a vintage book. I wish I lived with my sister because she is super creative (and good) in the kitchen. I wish my mom lived with me because she is awesomely talented and can clean like a magical fairy godmother. Other than the cooking and cleaning, my husband has himself one excellent housewife. Ha ha ha.
4. How long have you been crafting/making bags/patterns? I have been crafting my whole life. It was a huge part of my growing up. My mom sewed everything and I learned from her. I spent every summer in high school making my own clothes. I always wanted to be different.As far as making patterns for sale, that started with applying for a utility patent for a diaper bag I invented. To apply for the patent, I had to explain how I made it in such a way that someone else could duplicate it. I am a pretty slow seamstress, so I could never pump out a huge inventory for a shop. My plan is to keep making the patterns and sell them with cottage licensing so faster seamstresses can pump out inventory if they want.
5. What is your artistic background? How did you get started? What has you’re your training? When I want to learn a new craft, I go to the local expert to learn. I learned upholstery from a master in Seattle. Spokane is full of talented people and it is a small town compared to Seattle. So I learned freemotion quilting at the Gammil dealer, and that is where I quilt. I learn about working with leather from the people who do a lot of the rodeo queen sewing. (Have not had time to do much with that knowledge yet, but I am dreaming of an industrial machine for it.) I have a friend who teaches costume construction at a local university, so I run things by her from time to time. I learn from books too. I basically have my own ongoing education course constantly running based upon my current interests. I love to learn and I love to teach (through my patterns.) People who buy my patterns learn techniques that are original to me, discovered in my own trial and error search of the best way to make something. It is an ongoing challenge I give myself to take a ubiquitous item - like an eyeglass case - and make it in truly an original way.
6. What has been your biggest success on Etsy, or your other websites? I have to say my biggest success to date has been licensing my patterns to Simplicity. My first packet of patterns will be released on December 17, 2010. My destination wedding pattern pack is a celebration of that upcoming release.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/52092183/destination-wedding-sewing-pattern-pack
7. Besides having a great product, what do you feel is the reason for your success on Etsy? I think my cottage licensing terms are attractive to other Etsians. I am able to handle such a small number of sales of actual duffle bags or luggage tags or bridesmaid sets, etc. that I don't feel that allowing others to make those things and offer them in their shops makes competition for me. I have made and sold about 50 duffles in the last year, and I appreciate the other gals who make and sell the duffles. If all I did was to make and sell bags, I could never get the next idea launched. My list of upcoming patterns for the next year is about 14 items long. Wish me luck getting them all out.
8. Do you have any Etsy selling tips? My best tip is read Etsy's blog. They want you to succeed like no one else. Take their advice.
9. What inspires you? My family, my friends, travel, fabric, art, music, Proverbs 31

Studio Cherie-Etsy Success and Sewing Pattern Liscensing

Team Member Cherie of Studio Cherie has had some great success and an upcoming sewing pattern liscensing with Simplicity.

Cherie's Travel Duffle Pattern is so chic and sharp looking....it is no wonder they picked it up! This is due to be in the Simplicity books December 17, 2010.

I so love to hear the stories of someone that is finding great success, and find great inspiration in it.

Cherie was kind enough to answer a few questions I had....

1) How long have you been in business? I have been doing upholstery and making slipcovers for myself and local people since 1998. The bags started with a diaper bag I designed and made for a friend's baby shower in Spring of 2003. Time flies when you are doing what you love.

2) What is your favorite thing to work on? Travel related bags and accessories are high on the list and I have a few new things in progress right now, getting ready for my trip to Israel in November. I still really love furniture too, in fact my own house is due for a makeover. Clothing design and construction is my favorite though. It was my first love in sewing, but I just don't have enough time to devote to it.

3) When will the patterns be in the simplicity book The date I got from Simplicity is December 17th, 2010. Coming right up!

4) Any great advice you want to share and turning your dream into reality? Do your best and let your sales determine your area of focus.

5) Anything else you want to add...

I am blessed with very supportive friends and family and happy customers. I work hard to keep it that way. Like anyone else, I just wish there were more hours in the day.

Take a moment to congratulate Cherie and

Have a wonderful day!

Carried Away member is Artfire's Featured Artisan!

Congrats to TM Cynde Clark. She's the Featured Artisan this week on Artfire's main page!

read the full interview here