Special Designs for April! Happy B-day!

My niece April had a birthday earlier this month, and I did a little special design work to make it a good one for her :) She had been begging her mother (my sister) for a watch, and after showing her a picture of my first watch on Etsy (Watch the Sun Shine) she comissioned me to make a special piece for April. Since her favorite color is bright pink, I ordered some awesome faceted pink candy jade stone beads from GemmeTresor on Etsy and went searching for a digital watch that I could remove the band from. I knew I had found the one with this heart-shaped Hannah Montana watch face :) Even though I couldn't be there to see her open it as I live in NC and she lives in VT, I have heard that April has given the watch her seal of approval :)

Last Day to Enter for $10 Gift Certificate!

Be sure to enter today--and check back tomorrow for a NEW giveaway!

Google Analytics--Part 2: Adding GA Code to your Blog

If you do not have a Google Analytics account, see Part 1 of this series to get started!

If you are already using GA for your Etsy shop and want to get the same information for your blog, follow these simple steps.

1. Log in to GA and look below the website profiles section for a link titled "Add Website Profile"

2. Click the Add Website Profile link and fill in your blog URL and select time zone. (for "website profile type" at the top use the default setting of "new domain"). Click the "finish" button at the bottom of the page.

3. You will now be on a page displaying the tracking code for your new profile. Highlight the entire tracking code and copy as you will need to paste this in a moment.

4. Open your blog in a new tab or window and log in. In the Layout section of your blog find the link allowing HTML edits (see screenshot below for link location in Google Blogger)

5. Click the Edit HTML link and scroll to the very bottom of the existing code. Look for the following section of code:

6. Place your cursor just before the section of code, and paste in the section of code you copied from GA when setting up your profile.

7. Don't forget to save!

8. You're done! The report for your blog will show up in GA within 24 hours.

Did you find this helpful? Have additional advice for newbies to GA? Please leave a comment!

Another Great Ocean-Themed find on Etsy: Laffinggull

I found another great shop on Etsy today full of ocean-themed items: Laffingull! Follow the link to see more great lampwork creations!

Variations on a Theme

Recently I've been seeing a lot of neckware designs featuring a charm-adorned hoop as the focal pendant. I love the simplicity of this look, and decided to try several variations of the design in different colors. The Purple version, themed with charms reading "HOPE" is the first of these designs I have listed on Etsy: Circle of Hope

The other designs pictured here will be listed on Etsy this week :)

Circle of Laughter Circle of Creation

Circle of Dreams

Circle of Imagination

Ocean-Themed Friday: DreamWhimsy

Here's another great ocean-themed item from a great Etsy shop--DreamWhimsy! The Needle Felted Starfish Sea Star Echinoderm pictured here is another new favorite!

Ocean-Themed Friday: StudioMarcy

Glass is a fantastic medium for ocean-themed items! Here's another new favorite of mine from StudioMarcy on Etsy, Sally Found A Sea Shell!

Ocean-Themed Friday: Bellebeads

Here's another great ocean-themed find on Etsy! I've been in love with Bellebeads' beachy lampwork beads for awhile :) Periwinkle Tide (pictured here) is definately a new favorite!

Ocean-Themed Friday: Kimberquinn

I've been finding so many fantastic ocean and beach themed items on Etsy, I've decided to share them and the wonderful artists that created them!

First up, this fantastic Ocean Breeze Shea Butter Soap from kimberquinn on Etsy!

Do you have an ocean-themed item you'd like to share? Leave a comment with the link to your item and I'll take a look! Check back throughout the day as I'll be posting more of my favorite finds!

Ring Sale!

It's been quite a while since I have sold a ring through SmuTopia on Etsy, so I have decided to update my listings with SUPER SALE prices in the hopes that these rings can find a new home. The "Blue Jasper Bling Ring" pictured above is listed with a sale price of $8!

Are you having a sale? Post it here!

Google Analytics--Part 1: Getting Started

Now that I have been on Etsy for over a year with a good amount of success, I'd like to get more information about my web traffic and where it is coming from. One day I noticed something new in Etsy--the "Web Analytics" link in the left-hand menu of the "Your Etsy" screen. Etsy has made it very easy to set up analytics for your shop. Getting started it easy!

1. Go to Google Analyics and register for an account. (It's FREE!)
2. Follow the instructions on the site to add a website profile for your Etsy shop's URL.
3. You will be given a snippet of code when setting up the website profile. Copy and paste the small section of code reading "UA-#######-#". Each profile produces a unique set of code, so if you set up profiles for more than one shop URL, be sure copy the new UA#"
4. Go back to your Etsy shop--click on the link "Web Analytics" in your Etsy.
5. Paste the UA# from Google Analytics into the blank field.
6. You're done! Your first report should be available on Google Analytics within 24 hours!

I'll be posting more about my experiences with Google Analytics as I start using it and gain a better understanding of the available data and anyalitical tools :)

New Work!

I've been trying my best to list at least one new item every day on Etsy with a long-term goal of reaching 100 items. I have a long way to go, but I did manage to reach 60 at one point this week :) Of course, I won't mind at all if my inventory decreases due to sales! Here's a sneak preview of some items that will be listed this weekend. Enjoy!

Bead Destash Bash!

I'm trying to organize my craft room (a never-ending task!) and I've realized I sorely need to destash some supplies--especially beads! I have so many beads I'll never use, I would rather see them go to a good home :) Check out SmuTopia on Artfire to see what is already listed--unfortunately I have a 10 item limit for my basic account on Artfire......if you're looking for something specific feel free to email me as what you see on Artfire is only a small sample of the supplies I would like to destash :)

Where Did the Time Go?

Looking at the calendar this morning I realized I only have two more weekends to prepare for my next craft show. Yikes! I'll need to spend a good deal of the time I have left refreshing my inventory--I always like to go to the Designers' Downtown Market with a lot of new work to keep my repeat customers interested :)

Luckily, I have TONS of new beads from my recent bead binge to use in new designs. My most recent work I'm calling the "Blossoms" collection--Here's the first piece:

Peaches and Cream

SmuTopia Jewelry Giveaway: $10 Gift Certificate! (4/12-4/30)

Congratulations to last week's winner Aik who will receive the Starfish Hoop Pendant from my previous giveaway!

My new giveaway will accept entries from today through the end of April and the winner will receive a $10 SmuTopia Jewelry gift certifcate that can be redeemed at either SmuTopia on Ety or SmuTopia on ArtFire.

To Enter:
Receive one entry for each of the following:

• Visit SmuTopia on Ety then come back here and leave a comment about your favorite photo or item.
• Visit SmuTopia on ArtFire then come back here and leave a comment about your favorite photo or item.
• Visit SmuTopia on Flickr then come back here and leave a comment about your favorite photo or item.
• Post a link to this giveaway on your website then leave a comment here with a link to your site.

Good Luck Everyone! And be sure to leave your email address if it isn't in your profile so I have a way to contact you if you win!

LOST fans everywhere!

I found a kindred spirit on Etsy yesterday--a fellow LOST fan and jewelry maker DeniseJewelryDesigns! If you're a follower of LOST, you need to check out this shop! (If you're not a follower of LOST, you should be!) In addition to the awesome bracelet pictured here and the others in the shop, you can even request custom items!

Awesome Trade! I'm so excited :)

One of my favorite things about Etsy is the opportunity to interact with other sellers--especially trades! I did a good deal of holiday gift 'buying' through Etsy trades last year, and now I'm hooked on the barter system :)

This morning I completed a trade with FaffCreations that I consider my best trade yet! FaffCreations will be receiving two SmuTopia pendants, and I am getting this completely awesome squid pouch! Go to Faff's shop and check out the other photos of this item--the fabric inside is custom printed with Faff's original squid artwork!

New Work! More Beachy Goodness :)

I took LOTS of pictures for new listings this weekend when the sun was out :) Here are a few selections from the weekend photo shoot to get you in the mood for summer!

Look for these items to be listed soon on either Etsy or Artfire :) Two of these pieces (top and bottom photos) are part of my new "ShapeShifters" collection and can be work as either a bracelet or necklace.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Weekly Smu*Topia Giveaway! Fri. 4/3 - Thu. 4/9

It's Friday, and I've picked a winner for last week's giveaway......it must be time to post a NEW giveaway!


This week's prize is the "Starfish Hoop" pendant pictured above. Pendant is 3 inches long and comes on a 16 inch chain.

To Enter: Receive one entry for each of the following:

• Visit SmuTopia on Etsy then come back here and post a comment about your favorite item.
• Visit SmuTopia on ArtFire then come back here and post a comment about your favorite item.
• Post a link to this blog or one of my shops on your website then post a comment here with your URL.
• Become a follower on this blog.
• Make a purchase from SmuTopia.

Entries must be received by Midnight EDT on Thursday 4/9/09. I will compile all entries and draw a winner on Friday 4/10 and post a comment here. I will also be contacting the winner via email--make sure you leave your email address if it isn't in your profile!

Bead Binge!

I must confess, I've been binging on beads! I've placed quite a few orders on Etsy in the past few weeks (doing my part to stimulate the economy!) and can't quite seem to stop :) The beads pictured here are from these fantastic Etsy bead shops:

BeadYouNeed

The Bead Station

PenGwynneBeads

GemmeTresor

FabBeads

Have you discovered any fantastic bead shops lately? Post them here!

Anyone up for the Beach?

It's been getting warm and sunny outside, and I'm definately ready for a day at the beach! In the spirit of summer, I've been adding ocean-themed items to my shop. Here are a few photos of my favorite ocean-themed items :)

I've also found some great ocean-themed items from other artsists on Etsy. Here is a great steampunk piece from asphaltqueen

Do you have ocean-themed items in your shop? Post a comment and leave a link!