Giveaway! Enter to Win Custom Oragami Earrings!

While you still have until midnight tonight to enter last week's Smu*Topia giveaway, I am posting a new contest now for a CUSTOM pair of these oragami crane earrings! The winner will receive a pair of earrings featuring oragami cranes in the color of their choice.

Contest Entry Dates: Friday 3/27-Thursday 4/2 @ Midnight

To Enter:
1. Visit SmuTopia on Etsy
AND
2. Come back here and post a comment giving me some sort of feedback on my shop (what would you like to see more of? Do I need a new banner/avatar? Which categories need more items? etc...). Each comment will receive one entry.
*OR*
3. Make a purchase from Smu*Topia and receive two entries.

Last Day to Enter Giveaway!

The giveaway I posted last Friday is closing at midnight tonight! See the original post and enter to win: http://smutopia.blogspot.com/2009/03/friday-freebie-enter-to-win-this-charm.html

Good Luck Everyone! I will draw the winner from a hat tomorrow morning and post here :)

What’s in a Name?

I have created a new jewelry design that can be worn as either a necklace or converted to a bracelet by removing the chain. I love the look and the idea of my new pieces, but can’t decide on what to call them. My husband and mother have been hard at work helping me think of names. So far, my best idea is “ShapeShifters”, my Mom’s best is “Chameleons”, and my husband is completely stuck on calling them “Neckbraces” (he is very amused with the idea, and thinks it will get attention due to curiosity.)
I need your help! Please leave a comment weighing in on the name issue—feel free to propose something new or to lend your support to an existing option!

Chaotic Aftermath of a Successful Show

As I mentioned in my last post, my show on Saturday was a success--unfortunately, the aftermath of a successful SmuTopia show includes a good deal of chaotic messiness! Most of my inventory and displays are still packed up from the show, with a few boxes rifled through to find specific items I needed right away. Hopefully this weekend I will have time to stuff all of the bulky displays into the craft room closet, which will give me space to put the room back to rights :)

Successful Show! Designer's Downtown Market

Saturday was my first show of the year, the Designers' Downtown Market in Raleigh! I did quite well, bringing in about $200. Not my best show of all time, but certainly worth the trip :) After looking at this photo I think I'm going to go for a different set-up next time so the big table is across the back of the booth facing front. That way people will be able to see more as they pass by. My most exciting sale of the day was the purchase of the first SmuTopia "Shape-Shifter", a new design I have devised for an item that can be worn as either a necklace or a bracelet (I'll be posting Shape-Shifter photos and additional info soon!)

Friday Freebie--Enter to Win This Charm!

Happy Friday Everyone! I can't wait until my show tomorrow--very exciting! I can't wait to show off all of my new work :)

In the meantime, I have posted this week's Friday Freebie: the gorgeous zipper pull charm pictured above!

To Enter:
1. All followers of my blog will receive one entry. (Click on the "follow" button on the right side of my blog to become a follower if you're not already!)
2. Visit SmuTopia on Etsy and pick out your favorite item, then come back and post a comment here listing your favorite for one entry.
3. Any purchases from Smutopia on Etsy will receive TWO entries.

I will put all entries in a hat and draw a winner on next Friday, 3/27/09.

Good Luck Everyone!

600 Hearts! Celebrate with FREE Shipping!

When I logged onto Etsy this morning, I had a wonderful surprise waiting: my 600th heart! To celebrate I am offering FREE shipping to all destinations on all purchases! Thanks for the love everyone!

Http://smutopia.etsy.com

Rainbow Road

So I haven't had as much time to work on SmuTopia as I would like since getting my extra week of prep time, but such is life :) My hubby came down with Shingles and has needed some TLC. Now I realize it is already Wednesday and we're back down to less than 3 days until my craft show! Woo Hoo! My displays are done and I finished putting all of my new earrings on cards over my lunchbreak today. If I can get everything priced tonight I will consider it a major accomplishment (especially since I often find myself finishing up pricing as I set up on the day of a show.

Just before leaving the house this morning, I snapped this photo with my phone--these are a few of my favorite bracelets laid out chromatically on top of one of the wooden display hands my grandfather made for my booth. I am especially proud of the watch (yellow) as it is only my second watch design (the first was the watch I made for my own wedding!)

Weekend Giveaway 3/13-3/15: Beads!

Welcome to the weekly Smu*Topia giveaway! This week's prize will be a lot of destash beads in your favorite color! I have lots of orphan beads and other leftovers looking for a good home--the lot received by the winner will be valued at >$10 worth of beads!

To Enter:
1. Visit Smu*Topia on Etsy and look through my sold items to select one that you think I should relist.
2. Come back here and post a comment telling me your selection from #1 and your favorite color (so I can pick out your beads if you win!)

Good Luck Everyone!

New Sign Waiting for 3/21

Well, I'm a bit disappointed that my craft show has been pushed back to 3/21, but considering the nasty weather we are supposed to have this weekend I'm sure it is for the best. No one wants to look around at an outdoor market in the rain. Also, I have an extra week to prepare :) My new sign (pictured above) looks much better than the old one--now I have some time to freshen up my display set-up. First, I'll be touching up my existing display pieces. Much of my set up is covered with green fuzzy fabric and after my last show I need to go over everything with a lint brush :) It's a little work, but it makes things look like new! After that I'll be setting out my inventory for a "dry-run", which will help me decide whether I need to make any additions to the set-up before the show. With this extra time, I'm sure I will be able to make a few extra improvements!

Designers' Downtown Market Postponed to 3/21

I just got word that this weekend's market has been postponed to 3/21 due to the ominous weather forecast. I hope you will visit me then--see the DDM site for details (link in upper right corner of my blog.)

The Final Countdown

No, not the 80's song...........:) It's the final countdown to the Designers Downtown Market this Saturday 3/14 from 9-3 in downtown Raleigh! As I mentioned in my last post, I had set a goal to finish my new sign last night, and it actually didn't take as long as I thought it might. The finished product is far better than my old sign, and can be read clearly from further away. My only concern is that it is not water resistant--luckily it cost me less than $5 to make so it won't be a big loss if it does get wet :)

Someday soon I am going to commission a graphic artist to design a Smu*Topia Jewelry logo and have it printed onto a vinyl sign along with business cards and other promo materials........but I"m getting ahead of myself :) Next up on the preparation list will be evaluating my displays and making upgrades and repairs as needed. I also may try to get a head-start on pricing/tagging my new items so I'm not up too late tomorrow.

Wish me luck!

Sprint to the Finish!

Only a few days left until my first show of the season, and it is going to be right down to the wire on preparations (as usual!) If you have ever sold your handiwork at a craft show, you know that 1. there is no such thing as starting early enough on preparations, and 2. Displays are always a work in progress. It is definately a learning process and I have had ideas to improve my set-up after every show I have done.
Right now I have most of my inventory set up on display in my craft room and I only have a few alterations to the display scheme planned, but the new sign I've been meaning to make is barely even started. That will be a project for tonight :) Tomorrow night will be reserved for final display prep and, if I'm lucky, a little last-minute jewelry making. Friday night is my last chance for prep before the show on Saturday, so that evening will be reserved for pricing/tagging and packing.
If you happen to live in the Raleigh area, come visit me at the Designers' Downtown Market this Saturday 3/14 between 9am-3pm!

Weekend Giveaway: $10 Credit at SmuTopia!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Since we are about to begin the weekend, it's time for another SmuTopia giveaway :) This week's prize is a $10 credit to SmuTopia! I will select the winner at the end of the weekend and send out the good news on Monday morning 3/9.

To Enter, you must leave a comment with the following information:

1. What have you created lately? (Post a link or Photo and show us your work!)
2. What are you planning on doing for fun this weekend?

Good Luck to all who enter, and have a great weekend!
-Jessica Smutek