New Changes // Getting Our Etsy Shop Holiday Ready

old look

For those of you who have been following the team here at Make. Shop. Live. for a while you have noticed the massive overhaul and major work we have been doing to the company this year. It is hard to believe what we have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time, but it is truly amazing what you can achieve with some determination and the right people in place.

new look

One thing I have realized since we did our re-branding and website redesign this summer is how wonderful things come together when you realize your strengths as well as weaknesses. It is hard when you have a DIY attitude sometimes to admit that there are somethings that maybe you could do but you should enlist someone else to do instead. I am so thankful to have had the pleasure to work with such amazing and talented people such as Sharon Fain of Fain Consulting, Steph of Hearts and Laserbeams, and my wonderful husband Kevin Sears as we put together all of our public image facets of Make. Shop. Live.! If I had not worked with these talented artists there is no way our website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Etsy Shop would all be cohesive and comprehensive in time for the holiday shopping rush. Not only would working on all of these things taken me away from being able to focus on making my crafts, I also wouldn't have been able to elevate the end result to the level achieved using my basic Photoshop and photography skills. I want to take a quick moment to not only thank everyone for their hard work, but to point out that you too have time to enlist the help of a graphic designer, photographer, and social media strategist in time for the holiday business, if you act quickly.

If all you do is tweak your photography, it is amazing how just investing in a few professional shots can elevate your products and brand! Plus, it can actually be more affordable than you'd expect. Here are a few examples of what we have been up to reworking our holiday inventory for 2012-

Upcycled Address Books:

Address Book (Before)

Address Book (After)

Reinbeers:

Reinbeer Holiday Ornament (Before)

Reinbeer Holiday Ornament (After)

Pincushion Rings:

Pincushion Ring (Before)

Pincushion Ring (After)

We understand that all small businesses run on a tight budget and some aspects (like hiring a graphic designer or photographer) may not be an option for you. We have compiled some suggestions below that can still make a huge difference for your business while being easy enough that you can do it yourself.

You can make a lightbox inexpensively at home with this quick tutorial. Having pictures of your products on a white background help your items make it onto Etsy treasuries helping with sales and other promotions.

Join an Etsy Team or sellers group.

Participate in common interest twitter chats and promotions.

Try a new social media platform like Instagram or Tumblr to gain followers while creating content for your business effortlessly. Here's a post we recently did that explains how easy and effortless it really is.

Promoting others helps promote you! By creating your own treasuries on Etsy not only do you do something nice for your fellow artists but your treasury can be seen and promoted by tons of other folks. Another great tip for spreading the love, while making treasuries know what types of products and pricing are on the market. Sometimes you can realize a gap in services and be inspired to make something that isn't yet available just by seeing what is already out there.

Send a handwritten letters to family and friends that you have been neglecting. It is always nice to receive a letter in the mail and what better way to spread the warm fuzzies then with a thoughtful note. By writing someone a letter that you haven't spoken with in a while you put your life in perspective and you realize just what things matter to you and what goals/plans you may have. I find that while writing people concisely what your plans are, you ultimately cut out the fluff and streamline what works and doesn't work for you.

Take a well deserved break and ask for help! No one expects you to be a craft super hero. If you begin to feel overwhelmed or a task is getting out of control for you, ask a peer for help/suggestions/critique to manage your task. They may just come up with a solution that blows yours outta the water and cuts the time! Then, you can cross promote both parties involvement and the collaboration becomes a win-win for everyone!!

And lastly, I must stress this one: force yourself to try something new that is stimulating each week. Maybe it's trying a new computer task like a plug-in or program, or maybe it is going to a place or event you have never been to. There has been so many times I have wanted to flake out on something that has been an invaluable and inspirational experience. If I had allowed myself to skip something I had planned on I would have missed out majorly. Life has a wonderful way of presenting exactly what you need to you. Make yourself available for these opportunities to come to you and welcoming new things by being flexible. You never know when opportunity comes knocking until you open the door!

I hope this info is helpful for you. If you have any additional advice or helpful tips to get others inspired and ready for the holidays feel free to leave the info in our comments section. :)

I hope to see you at CAFAM's Etsy Craft Night tonight!!!

XOXO, KC

4 Years!!!

Sorry for the late post guys, but I have been so wrapped up in anniversary fun mixed with neglected work it seems the day has gotten away from me! I am so happy and excited that today is Kevin and I's 4 Year Anniversary!!!! If you want to see some pictures of our wedding I blogged here all about our big day. 

Kevin and I exchanged presents before he left for work and I must say he out did himself again this year.

He adopted a sweet-faced Barn Owl named Rose for me from The Barn Owl Trust!!!

Here is a peek at all the cool goodies on top of adopting an owl :)

There is a version that comes with a tote and another choice with a plush owlet toy.  I am pretty stoked Kevin added the tote-

If you are interested in adopting an owl for yourself or as a gift the details are here.  If we ever find ourselves in the UK we unfortunately can't check in on the owls - they don't allow visitors since it is a sanctuary for the birds, however they have both a Barncam and Nestcam webcams where you can watch the owls from the comfort of your own home.

We will have dinner later tonight at Red O to officially celebrate our anniversary and I can't wait! I love, love, LOVE Mexican food and I have been dying to eat from Rick Bayless's amazing menu :) YUM!!!

Well, that's enough bragging from my end. Hope you are having a super day too!
XOXO, KC

How-To's Day: Filet a Soda Can

Kevin here,

This week's How-To is a technique I use to prep beverage can materials for some of our upcycled products.  It took me months and many cut fingers to hone my craft.

Soda Cans are cool because they have flashy graphics that marketing science totally knows what you like.  Except last year's silver polar bear can from Coca Cola in partnership with the WWF.  Sorry cute bears, but you were a little hard to see behind all the flashy diet-cola lies!

I heard Pepsi is nice...

These flashy images are printed on aluminum and that makes them recyclable but also good craft materials.  Here's my method for stripping the guts of a soda can to maximize the design real estate.

Items

• Exacto knife
• Flat edge surface
• aluminum can

Choose anywhere to cut down the length of the can.  Don't cut through the interesting stuff.

Start at the bottom of the can.  Slice around the diameter and cut the bottom off.  Removing the bottom, first, will make the last step much easier.

Hold the can upside down in one hand.  Peel the highest corner with the other hand and strip the can of the goods.  Since the heavier aluminum is at the top of the can, keep the tension where it is ripping to retain the most graphical surface area.  Roll the aluminum strip on a surface edge to flatten.

Being able to quickly strip the design off the can in the last step is actually kind of fun.  If you do several in one sitting it's like craft meditation. 

Of course, save the soda tab for other projects. I'm curious if other parts of a soda can make awesome crafts.  Let me know if you have made anything with the tops and bottoms of soda cans.  It should be interesting.

--Kevin Sears

We Found "New" Cool Vintage Stuff

We missed the boat going to Catalina Island for KC's birthday but thankfully the events led us down a road with a kick ass yard sale.  KC called me over to scour a box filled with slide carousels filled with pictures of landscapes and vacation photos. I have been looking at all of them finding my favorites for an upcoming project still in the works. Definitely something to do with lights, but not quite sure of the scale.

While we come up with a project to put these to good use check out some project ideas using slides from the web here.

Yesterday, KC took some time going to her favorite second-hand shops and found this shirt with a really great pattern:

Plus, she finally got me a typewriter for my studio!!!

The coolness  points she received with the typewriter wore off quickly when she noted that I should like the Boba Fett color palette - Nerd.

-- Kevin Sears

How-To's Day: Record Bookends

Recently we have been getting a lot of interest in our Record Bookends product at our first store in Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles.  Here at Make.Shop.Live we always prize process over product.  Sharing tricks and tips to reuse and upcycling materials is responsible and fun!  Follow these steps below to make your own Bookends out of Vinyl LP Records. 

Materials:

• Old Vinyl LP Records (preferably ones with music that will never come back in style -We prefer using one's that will no longer play without skipping )
• Heat gun/blow tool (~$40 found at most craft & hobby stores)
• Flat counter or table

Step 1:

Pick how much you want the height by overhanging the record on a flat surface.  Mark with a piece of tape to keep the height consistent.

Step 2:

Move the heat tool over the hanging edge alternating the focus between the far sides.  As the sides become soft, move the focus toward the edge's center and gravity will do the rest.

Step 3:

The record will cool quickly.

Note: You can use a heavy book to hold the right angle steady for a few seconds.

Step 4:
Enjoy the bookend and your book!

Thanks for tuning in for the tutorial ;)
--Kevin Sears

CRAFTED - Countdown to Launch: 5 DAYS!

We were at the warehouse all weekend! Here is some progress pictures of how our space is coming along for CRAFTED.

KC and I had such a blast work on the space together yesterday. It is really coming along! There is still a lot of work to be done, but by the Grand Opening on Friday we are confident that the store is going to rock!!!

Stay tuned for more fun to come!
XOXO, Kevin & KC

Patchwork Find: J. Holden Designs

One of the nice finds at Patchwork Sunday was these handmade wooden beer holders at J. Holden Designs.

And the creator himself below...

Kevin has always needed an excuse to make and drink beer, so be on the lookout in the coming weeks for his tutorials and blog journals of his first batch!  Now, is it necessary to grow a sweet mustache as well?

Let us know what you think!  Thanks to J. Holden Designs for the great Handmade product!

XOXO, KC

Unique LA Recap

We had a great time seeing all our friends, and new friends, at Unique LA this weekend.

We both got Staff shirts from Caine's Arcade! Those games are honestly challenging!

KC snagged a few dresses at the Eva Franco pop up booth for a upcoming trip to NY. Kevin mostly ran the table booth and was happy to be so close to all the free drinks.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's tutorial and our extensive Unique LA coverage all this week!

love,

Kevin and KC

Meet Kevin Sears!

Hello Make Shop Live Community!  I'm the husband part of the business!  That's me below.

the one with facial hair

I'm really excited to start contributing to the blog and website content for Make Shop Live.  First, a little bit about me. 

I make several of the products found in our Etsy store.  The record stands or accessory table stands are forged by me, by hand.  I usually help with all the little things that pop up at Craft shows.  In fact, you might see me at the show table more than KC (she can't help but "contribute to the community" aka "shop").  So, I'll be the one selling you the Upcycled goods!  Of course, I'm the "strong" hands when it comes to moving all the goods physically too.  So weeknights and weekends are Craft time for me!

Full time I am a digital artist working in Santa Monica on film and tv visual effects.  I moved to LA after graduating SCAD in 2007.  KC transitioned from NY to LA in 2008 and we were married later that year.  Since then, the two of us have been building the Make Shop Live store and community!

thanks for meeting me,

Kevin Sears
http://www.kevinsearsstudio.com/demoreel.htm

Weekend Wrap-Up & Coming Up Nov. 21th- Nov. 30th

 (Kevin took this picture at Patchwork Culver City)

This weekend I was able to break away long enough to  get an update to my hair cut and watch the Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1, twice- lol.  It was so good! But seriously, going to bed late and waking up early to squeeze in everything is starting to take it's toll.  I could really use some R&R :)

 

I still have to pack for Thanksgiving, and I have some pictures that I took today that need to be re sized for Etsy and posted before heading back East.  I am very excited to see my family and Kevin hasn't seen them in forever so  everyone is really looking forward to seeing us.  My mother's sister is coming down to visit from VA which will be nice and we finally get to see my other aunts family- we weren't able to attend her and my uncles wedding so I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her family yet.  I am looking forward to food galore and amazing company this week- See everyone soon!

I will hopefully be able to keep on the same posting schedule but worst case scenario I will for sure be tweeting updates and finds over Thanksgiving.  Wanna know something even better though? You can get on our Newsletter which will have gift ideas and inspiration for you to make yourself, PLUS Holiday Discounts! Sign up here-

 

See all the hard work that's kept us so busy- mark your calendar for UNIQUE LA Dec. 3rd and 4th Downtown, LA. 

We are available 24/7 online in Our Etsy Shop- we have tons of new items that got listed over the weekend.

I hate to run, but I am so sleepy. More to come-

XOXO, KC (& Kevin)

Real Steel

Last week Kevin and I got to go to see Real Steel at the theater where the academy screens all their movies.

 

Real Steel was hands down one of the most enjoyable movies Kevin has had the privilege to work on. It was so much fun to watch  that we are planing on seeing it again  soon! While the trailers are good at showing you a taste of the main theme of robot boxing but they don't encapsulate all the emotion and fun that this movie is drenched with. It is much more Rocky-esque in the trailer (yes, there that element to the movie) but there is this wonderful modern father son dynamic that is heartwarming. I think moms would be pleasantly surprised if they tag along to this movie with the boys expecting fighting robots. Think the bit with the kid holding the keys hostage in the trailer- that is what the overall feel of the movie was like for me.

Here are some pictures of the Samuel Goldwyn theater and all the Oscar decor.

Let me know if you see it and enjoy it! XOXO, KC (and Kevin)

Wedding Wednesdays: Our Wedding Invitations and Cakes

Hi everyone! Yesterday I posted some fun pictures from Kevin and I's wedding- if you missed it, here it is. Today I wanted to share some details on a fun cake motif that is a fun way to incorporate fabric into your big day.

I really like that this cake inspired the tone for our invitations and ultimately set the tone for our wedding.  I made several versions before I came up with this appliqued and machine embroidered cake. The red and turquoise color pallet originally started out of necessity because our reception site was floor to ceiling RED, bright red, and I really wanted a colorful wedding and I wasn't sure how to work everything in.  

Honestly with the distance I was a super weird bride and didn't look at my reception site in person until the day before my wedding. I think everyone warning me just in case it would be a problem got me to think the red was an overly big deal... but it was minimal in hindsight. 

I am glad I got worked up about it though because number one in my planning became what to do about the red. Red is one of my least favorite colors- but for my family of die hard NC State Fans they were stoked to wear their favorite color to our wedding.  My Grandpa was so happy that after working at NC State for next to forever he had his favorite red dress outfit that he could wear.  Come to think of it the fashion at my wedding made an impact on my deep subconscious because up until our wedding blue in any shade wasn't really my thing either.  It really was these fabric cakes that started my obsession thinking back on everything. Wow! Thanks little fabric cakes and all of my girlfriends in their super cute turquoise dresses- I dunno what I would do without my turquoise now!

Here is a a highlight of the process that I took to make these little cakes for the invitations.  The cakes don't have to only be for invites- I could see large numbers over them for table numbers and could be stitched or glued onto almost anything.

First, I just created a box the size I wanted to final size of the card to be to be and played around with layouts and fonts for the inside of the invite. I am pretty sure these cards are made to fit envelopes that were 4.75" x 6.5" so the card was 9" x 13" and I added small corner markings to know where to cut and fold.  One of the benefits to printing and making the cards was we were  putting very basic information on the invitation and it seemed crazy for someone else to make the cards. You can see at the very bottom of the postwhat the text inside the invite looked like. Here are amazing examples on how you could word your invitation. Usually too there is a sample in one of the many bridal magazines your reading that you can work off also. 

I printed of 95 cards on my home printer. Folded each one with a bone folder. Then cropped them with a craft paper trimmer to size. 

I drew by hand a cake that I liked and cut apart all of the pieces after numbering them.  There is a top piece of cake (1), a middle piece of cake (2), a bottom piece of cake (3), and a plate (4).  You could do as minimum as 2 different pattern and/or colors of fabric but I chose 4 all together.  Once you cut and number these pieces you can either use them as a template and trace around them on the paper side of the heating bond (which is what we did) or you could print out a sheet of paper where you have laid out the pieces on it in as many times as can fit and stick it to it to the back off the heat and bond.  Heck, now a days printers might could just print on the paper side of the heat and bond possibly now.

Our 3rd Wedding Anniversary

The Tuesday Tutorial Post is going to be replaced today with some highlights from our wedding. Tomorrow and possibly even all this week I am going to put together posts with pictures from our wedding and some tips I found along the way :)  Hope you enjoy!

Three years ago today, Kevin and I got married in my hometown, Raleigh, North Carolina.

This cake is the inspiration for the wedding and was the main part of our invitations I created for our wedding.  I made several versions before I came up with this appliqued and machine embroidered cake .  This color pallet originally started out of necessity because our reception site was floor to ceiling RED, bright red, and I really wanted a colorful wedding.  We chose red and turquoise as our wedding colors, however I made these cakes long before I picked the bridesmaid dresses or I would have brightened up the blues. Anyway,  I will talk more about this process in my handmade wedding post later this week.

When Kevin proposed just before Christmas '07 I was living in Brooklyn still.  I moved to LA in Feb. 2008 after we got engaged, and we got married in September '08.  Needless to say I was on a tight schedule, between moving and everyone living all over (Kevin's family is from outside of Dallas, TX) some wedding plans and decisions were made out of pure necessity.  It wasn't until our big day was done and I was home from the honeymoon that it even clicked what things to even do for a wedding.  I had two girlfriends get married before me, but for the most part within our circle of friends we were one of the first weddings. I didn't really have any insights and was all over the place in my vision, but once I took a step back and soaked everything up it made me kinda wedding crazy! There are just endless combination of all kinds of themes/ decorations that if I could get remarried to Kevin a million times over I would.  For now, I am into bringing my insights and tips to my friends, and you too.  Everyone deserves to make their big days as wonderful as they could ever dream it to be.

It has been so nice preparing for this post today.  I have been transferring the bulk of my wedding pictures off my external hard drive onto my new desktop, and I had no idea about some of the pictures I found! I was totally pleased at some shots that either I overlooked before or my style has just changed enough for me to see pictures different.  Whatever it is, I have been engulfed in all these pictures today.  Maybe it is that we only printed off a limited amount in the album we have so I feel like I have seen the same ones over and over too... Anyway, it is so nice going back over them and seeing all of our friends and family with us. Gosh, I love everyone so much it is just an emotional pat on the back to think of everyone coming out to celebrate us!!!! How did we get so lucky :)

Kevin, thanks for joining me on this crazy journey. I love you so much and I am so lucky to have you as a best friend and partner in everything- you are my rock.

Thanks for everyone for coming to our big day and celebrating our love with us!!! Every year  it is so nice being able to reflect on how special everyone is to me. I care deeply for each and everyone of the relationships I have been blessed to be a part of.  XOXO, KC

The VES Awards Last Night

We had such an amazing time last night!! I am having a bit of a rough morning because the food was set with no options and I ate things in hindsight may have been the wrong idea :(  Oh well, it was totally worth it!

The society and awards show is global so some of the guests traveled to come out for the evening. Everyone enjoyed mingling and having cocktails while a silent auction went on before the awards ceremony.  We had so much fun getting dressed up and going out!  We got to chat with a fun Brit who ended up winning an award for Harry Potter, and Kevin recognized one guy who one an award from his time at SCAD. Cool, huh?