20 % OFF BLACK FRIDAY thru CYBER MONDAY SALE!!

20 % OFF BLACK FRIDAY thru CYBER MONDAY SALE!!

20% off all orders using coupon code 

'BF2010'

AUGUST CLEARANCE SALE!!!!

August is the month that my very first little bundle of joy will arrive!!!! So to celebrate that, along with help pay for DIAPERS :) I will be running an AUGUST CLEARANCE SALE on my entire shop *UNTIL* our baby arrives. Due date is Aug 23rd, but who can know when he/she will make his/her appearance, so don't wait! Take advantage of this sale NOW!! Stock up on birthday/holiday/anytime gifts for friends and family!

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰ BOGO ✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

Buy one item and get the second item of equal or lesser value for HALF PRICE!!! (excludes shipping)

✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰

 

 

NEW ITEMS!!!

Just tried out a new little idea, what do you think?  These are the Crystal Delight Butterfly Suncatcher Sundrops!  Enjoy!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY SALE!!!

Hey everyone!

Just letting you know that I will be running a Christmas in July Sale all this July.  I will be featuring:

FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $15 AND 

all holiday items are 50% off! (see descriptions for qualifying items)

And a link to my shop:
Catch-A-Star Creations

Newest Design. Lovin it!

Currently my favorite item in the shop!! :D  hopefully more to come soon!

I'm in the NEWS!! :D :D :D

Please check it out!  I'm pretty pumped!

Saturday Spotlight- Catch-A-Star Creations

Oh MY! It has been a long time!

Well, a LOT has changed since I last posted here!  Looks like it was just before the big move from St. Paul, MN to Fargo ND and I haven't had time to post since!  :(  BUT, on the brightside it has been for a good reason.  The move was due to a terrific opportunity for me to get back to my roots, in two ways.  1.  To get back into academia, namely PHYSICS.  and 2. to go back to my undergrad alma mater : Minnesota State University Moorhead to teach in the physics dept.  WOOHOO!  No more corporate property management for me!  Along with that great opportunity came some even greater news!  I'm expecting!! :D  WHAT?!  Yup, that's right.  I am now in my 3rd trimester, due Aug 23 or so and very excited.  As is DH.  This will be our first and we just can't wait!

So, with the first semester of teaching and a new baby on the way, things have been a LITTLE hectic.  However, summer classes are wrapping up and I am hoping to get back on the ball with my art while I still can before baby arrives.  Maybe even saving up a little next egg to help cover costs during my teaching hiatus.

And that's my story.  So, be watching for sales and such this summer as we try to stock up on diapers! :D

Black Friday thru Cyber Monday SALE!!

Come check it out!!  I even have some new listings!!!

Black Friday thru Cyber Monday SALE!!

BOGO 1/2 OFF Sale at Catch-A-Star Creations!

enter code MNSALE in message to seller at check out to receive your discount!

Featured in TWO BLOGS!! :D

Hey Everyone!

Check it out!


Audrey's Country Crafts:

On her wish list: 



FoundHandmade:

HandmadeMN Team Sale This Weekend!

HandmadeMN Holiday Sale - November 13-15

It's finally here! Over 40 of our team members are participating in this weekend's Holiday Sale, with in incredible array of great gifts just waiting for you.

The sale runs from today through Sunday. Here's a list of participating shops. Now get shopping!!

Or jump right to MY shop.  I am offering  FREE Shipping this weekend on all orders.  Use code MNSALE at check out in message to seller and the shipping cost will be reimbursed via paypal.

Have a great weekend and HAPPY SHOPPING!!

HandmadeMN Giveaway - Catch A Star Creations

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to share another giveaway opportunity with you.  This week and next, my HandmadeMN team is giving away one of my Falling Leaves Suncatchers.

There are many ways to enter, all FREE!!  Check it out!

http://etsymn.blogspot.com/2009/08/handmademn-giveaway-catch-star.html

Good Luck!! :D

Harvest Moon by Hand Giveaway!!!

Giveaway - 16" x 20" Rolled Canvas Print

Harvest Moon by Hand’s sponsor, UPrinting.com, is rolling out a giveaway – 16x20 rolled canvas. Rolled canvas prints are perfect for home decor, photo prints, and signage. One lucky reader is eligible to win a free 16 x 20 custom rolled canvas.

The specifics:

Giveaway Prize: (1) 16x20 Rolled Canvas http://www.uprinting.com/Artist-Canvas.html for One Lucky Winner

Size: 16x20 rolled canvas

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the U.S.

Eligibility: Limited to U.S. residents due to shipping costs. UPrinting.com is hoping to negotiate better shipping rates soon.

Day 5: Who has The Problem to Your Solution?

Objective: Further identify a market and potentially suitable buyers by discovering the problems common to the market.Then using that information to build a profile of those most likely to buy

It is day 5 in this little event and we are going to take yesterday’s solution exploring to find problems looking for our solution. In other words, who wants what you have?
You’ve done the solution/problem thing and come up with a list of problems only you can solve. So, take a closer look at the list, are there any common threads that could link a series of problems/solutions together? I’ll bet there are some common problems out there.

Well…for starters let’s look a few examples:

Lots of folks like to have art on their walls to make a room feel lived in so they would be looking for wall stuff but that’s a pretty wide open problem.

So step back and look at your work..

Can it be used for walls?

If so how?

How would you show that it works ?

So to get a little specific…

Let’s say, you’re a paper maker and you want to start making specific mixes of paper that emphasize color and texture and you want to frame them large.

The problem your stuff solves

is not only linked to folks looking for wall art, it is also a solution for people looking for large and unique wall art that isn’t a painting or photograph. You now have more information about who might buy your handmade paper wall art. You can stop here or go a little deeper…for now we’ll stop here.

Now, grab some paper and a pen and make a list of who might be looking for:

Wall art in general

Unique wall art

Big wall art

Wall art that is colorful

Wall art of hand made paper

OK….

you now have a list of who might be interested in your work next, look at the list and star those those who:

Might easily buy your stuff

Might be open to your “outside the box” style

Might share your vision

The Final Part

Take all of the information you have gathered so far about who might buy your stuff and build a profile of the ideal person you would like to have as a buyer. Think of it like this: “Who would I want to invite for dinner?”

Give that person a name

Give them an income

Give them a dress code ( how do they dress?)

Do they live in the city, the ‘burbs or the country?

What are their values? Are they close to yours?

The ideal buyer for the paper artist might be:

A mid to early career woman named Carlotta who works in design is single, owns a walkup in the city.

She commutes to work by bike or bus because she is environmentally conscious.

She also loves color and texture as reflected in the way she has decorated her flat.

She highly values handmade work to the extent she tries to buy mostly work made by people she can actually get to know….

You get the drift keep going until you feel like you’ve written about your best friend.

Ok everyone.  I am going to have to think on this a bit and things are crazy right now.... I am throwing it out there for you all to think about too and I will be back with some ideas!  :D

Day 4: What Problem Does Your Stuff Solve?

Objective: Identify the key problems your buyers in your market have and how you can provide the solutions that suites both you and them.

Yesterday we talked about benefits and hopefully you could see that all by themselves benefits are meaningless. See, the whole purpose for the existence of benefits is that they solve a problem or problems for someone somewhere sometime.
If those benefits are going to serve any purpose for  you, they have to really solve some problems that either have not been solved before, or they do so in some magical way that that only you can do.
You might be thinking…

Dude! I’m an artist, I don’t solve problems, I just make cool stuff.

Ding wrong !! Your art definitely does solve a problem so here are some problems art solves:

Problem:

Bare walls, room feels cold

Solution:

Painting, fiber hanging or photographs add life to a wall and warmth to room.

Problem:

Cheap dinner wear inherited from garage sale no fun makes eating dreary and discourages lingering and conversation.

Solution:

Custom made pottery that creates conversation and makes dinning fun.

Problem:

No where in yard to sit and contemplate my navel or nature or…

Solution:

Sculpture added to garden creates a quite contemplative space

Ok…got the idea?

Basically, what you are doing, especially since you are creating a solution without a problem, is finding the problem that fits your solution.
Why you say?
Because the rest of the world works by finding a problem and figuring out a solution, but because that doesn’t work for us creative types we have to do it our way.

Now…

make a list of at least 10 solutions your stuff offers


then list the problems needed to solve that solution or solutions.

Maria's Swag Bag

IMG_6029
Originally uploaded by Etsy Labs

That's my butterfly suncatcher!! :D In NEW YORK at ETSY!!! :D

Day 4: What Problem Does Your Stuff Solve?

Objective: Identify the key problems your buyers in your market have and how you can provide the solutions that suites both you and them.

Yesterday we talked about benefits and hopefully you could see that all by themselves benefits are meaningless. See, the whole purpose for the existence of benefits is that they solve a problem or problems for someone somewhere sometime.
If those benefits are going to serve any purpose for  you, they have to really solve some problems that either have not been solved before, or they do so in some magical way that that only you can do.
You might be thinking…

Dude! I’m an artist, I don’t solve problems, I just make cool stuff.

Ding wrong !! Your art definitely does solve a problem so here are some problems art solves:

Problem:

Bare walls, room feels cold

Solution:

Painting, fiber hanging or photographs add life to a wall and warmth to room.

Problem:

Cheap dinner wear inherited from garage sale no fun makes eating dreary and discourages lingering and conversation.

Solution:

Custom made pottery that creates conversation and makes dinning fun.

Problem:

No where in yard to sit and contemplate my navel or nature or…

Solution:

Sculpture added to garden creates a quite contemplative space

Ok…got the idea?

Basically, what you are doing, especially since you are creating a solution without a problem, is finding the problem that fits your solution.
Why you say?
Because the rest of the world works by finding a problem and figuring out a solution, but because that doesn’t work for us creative types we have to do it our way.

Now…

make a list of at least 10 solutions your stuff offers


then list the problems needed to solve that solution or solutions.

Ok, everyone with me so far?  Got your own minds churning?  Let's see if I can come up with TEN!!
1. Unique gift
2. brighten a window
3. brighten a mirror/bathroom
4. bring some fun/color into any room
5. custom pieces to fit your style/theme
6. creates interest
7. jazz up a cubicle or office
8. dont want the usual cliche bridesmaid gift
9. completely customizable for truly personal gifts
10. a fellow sneak attacker came up with this one for me:  "It solves the dilemma of what to get the sister who has everything."  Thanks Stockannette !! 
11. Bonus from LaBeq:  "decor that can easily be changed to match the season? Like if someone wanted an autumn leaf suncatcher for the fall, a wintery one for Christmas, a flower or butterfly in the spring or summer...so by just hanging up a different one, they can coordinate with the changing seasons"

Now for the problems:

1. need a gift for that hard to buy for person
2. boring view from your window
3. want some decoration on an over-sized mirror, bathroom with a theme
4. child's room, any room that is too plain, not personalized
5. unique theme with elements that are hard to match/find
6. that corner in your home that "just needs that SOMETHING"
7. office space boring and dull
8. need unique but similar bridesmaid gifts with a specific theme
9. need a gift that feels truly personal
10.  a fellow sneak attacker came up with this one for me:  "It solves the dilemma of what to get the sister who has everything."  Thanks Stockannette !!
11. Bonus from LaBeq:  "decor that can easily be changed to match the season? Like if someone wanted an autumn leaf suncatcher for the fall, a wintery one for Christmas, a flower or butterfly in the spring or summer...so by just hanging up a different one, they can coordinate with the changing seasons"
    

Any suggestions???

Day 3: Back to your stuff

Objective:  Learn the difference between features and benefits and how to use benefits to focus on value only you can provide.

Today we are going to start drilling down into those issues we uncovered on Day 1. Remember so head back here to jolt you're memory.

The baby step today will be more about that stuff you sell...so let's get started.

Ok, your stuff is...

Hand made, you put lots of sweat and tears and maybe some blood into making it,

and it is special, not doubt about it.

That specialness is what is going to be THE thing that none of your competition has, it produces benefits for those lucky enough to own it.

Because we are artists, we are going to take a different path here, we're not going to even think about features because features are like leather seats in a car.  We don't have no stinkin' features because all our stuff has benefits!! Pretty radical idea.

• Features come from saying "wouldn't it be nice if ..." without consideration as to whether the super cool feature added anything to the prospective owner's experience of using it.
• A benefit is something that happens to or for the person who owns your stuff, it is something  you or your stuff does that no one else does for their owners.

Example

The Bad

• My photographs are cool to own so you'll be cool if you have one.
• Your funky knitted wrap is all creative and cool....

Why Bad ?

• Sure my photos taken with that Holga camera are cool but maybe I'm not going for cool as a benefit.
• Or that wrap has more to offer than coolness.

The Good

• My Holga photographs make people think and see something new each time they look at them.
• Those photos can become a set, a wall collection.
• That hand knit wrap not only makes buyers feel warm it also lets them feel wild abandonment, joy, and because it specially made a connection with the materials.

Why Good ?

• The benefit of collectibility give the buyer of the photo permission to own more, and helps them in the design of their house by making rooms interesting.
• The wrap connects the buyer to the artists intentions as well as evoking other emotions. The fact that it is hand made as well as one of a kind encourages the buyer to feel special and have a creative connection with the artist.

Now...

• go out and figure out at least five, that's five benefits of your stuff; 
• do the same with yourself because who you are in your business can have as great or greater effect on who will buy your stuff.

Figure Out...

• Why would somebody want to buy from you?
• What do you have that can be of benefit to buyers that no one else can offer?

Ok, HERE GOES NUTHIN!

Benefits of my stuff:

1. brightens your day by adding splashes of color
2. plays with natural sunlight to enhance the benefit that it offers
3. each piece is unique.  no one can ever have the exact same one
4. lends a sense of fantasy, romance, elegance, playfulness, and whimsy
5. can be custom made for any interests/preferences
   

Benefits of me:

1. caring, invested seller.  
2. always interested in custom orders
3. continually upgrading, changing, evloving my work
4. attention to detail
5. passion for light and color and bringing that joy to others

So, what do we think of THIS?!  :D

I just discovered the amazing multitude of GIVEAWAYS!!

So, I just volunteered to help promote giveaways for my HandmadeMN team.  Apparently there is this amazing universe of multitudes of giveaways out there.  Oh, I suppose I knew it on SOME level, but WOW!!!  Just amazing!  So, I thought I would share some of these with all of you!!!  Join in the FUN!

http://www.vivawoman.net/2009/10/25/viva-woman-october-vivabella-giveaway/

http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.com/2009/10/autumn-candle-giveaway-ends-nov-15th.html

http://stuffundertwenty.blogspot.com/2009/06/giveaway-heavenly-hogg-lavendar-gift.html

I will list more soon! :D