Sunday, July 20, 2008

Etsy 1 Year Anniversary Approaching Quickly

Wow. Time does fly when you are having fun! August 5th will mark my 1 year anniversary as an etsy seller and I just can't believe that I have been here a year.


Through this past year I have learned most of the ins and outs of etsy, completed all the necessary paperwork to become a ligitimate business, developed my craft to where I envisioned it and made enough money to keep it going without going in the red! But most importantly, I have made so many friends. Whether chatting in the forums, messaging within treasuries, or working with one of my team members, the etsy community is incredible.


Initially, I was so nervous to acutally open up a shop. I spent hours just looking at all the wonderful art and crafts on etsy as an unregistered user. Two weeks later, I took the plunge and believe it or not my first sale was 2 and a half weeks later. THANK YOU Deebs! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5043222. I will never forget my first sale!


Etsy makes it so easy to become part of whole. I joined street teams and met so many talented and wonderful people. I currently belong to etsyhookers, FAM (Fabulous Artistic Moms), Etsy For Charity, and Indiepublic. All of which have wonderful team members that show so much support in all ways: professionally, artistically and personally.


But the real reason for this blog entry, is to let everyone know that I am very excited about being around for a year. So, I am offering a simple raffle to celebrate. The prize is this grape bowl that I am most proud of and is valued at $30. This bowl measures 5 inches high and is 5.5 inches wide.


How to enter? Just reply with a comment here in this blog and I will have my husband pick a winner out of a hat. Include your e-mail address and when the winner is picked, I will notify them via e-mail to get the mailing address. There is no need to have an etsy shop - everyone can enter!


Winner will recieve the bowl and it will be shipped to them free of charge. This is totally FREE. The winner will be drawn on August 4 - exactly 365 days from my opening.


Just my way of saying THANK YOU for helping me make it through the first year. And I intend to be around for many more!


Cheers!

Val





61 comments:

BubbleGirl said...

Congrats Val! I hope I become as successful as you are by my 1 year anniversary. I'm so excited about the draw, I would love one of your fabulous felted treasures!!

Anonymous said...

I have been reading your website for awhile now and am quite impressed with your felted treasures ! I also am hoping to open my Etsy shop soon...I keep reading and looking at everyone's shops just like you did. Your work is wonderful and I do love your enthusiasm ! Long life to your success !
limarbitt@hotmail.com

TheWoodyNook said...

Congratulations on your 1st year! I've only been on Etsy since April..and even though things are slow, I still love it!!
Beautiful Bowl and GREAT SHOP!!
Keeping my fingers crossed~X
;P
````
oh! almost forgot my email!
thewoodynook@yahoo.com

Silja Erg said...

Wonderful bowl :D
Good luck
with your shop!!

Andrea Baker said...

Congratulations!!!!! WOOHOO

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

Congrats of your anniversary! Your work is amazing.

:-) melanie

www.melaniescrafts.etsy.com

Bella McBride said...

Congratulations! I think this is a fantastic idea, and when I reach my 1 year etsyversary I think I'll have a give away too! Only 8 more months to go! Please enter me for the draw too (www.bellamcbride@gmail.com)!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your upcoming anniversary, Val. I opened my store on the 3rd!!

I hope your second year is even better than the first!! :)

New England Quilter said...

Val - I am so glad that I have gotten to know you this year. I love the bowls and balls that you have made for me. My little guy now uses your balls for his Little Tikes basketball hoop too - still need to send you a photo of that one!

August 5th is a special day for me too - hubby and I will have been married for 8 years!

Happy Etsy Anniversary to you! Do you even remember life before Etsy :)

Nora said...

Hi Val, Your work is so beautiful, I am always impressed. Wow you have done so well in just 1 year. I know nothing about felting but have that on my list of things to learn. I enjoy your friendship in our etsyhookers team group. So much fun to belong to such a friendly creative group. I hope I win LOL...that is the day after my B-day and would be a nice B-day present!
Nora

noradora@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Oh, enter me! I love your craft and you are such a good (truly good) friend and mentor to me.
kellyklem@cox.net

BubbleGirl said...

Oops, forgot to include my email...I need another coffee this morning.

bubblegirlknits@hotmail.com

Jane Pierce aka zJayne said...

ONE year anniversary, what a super milestone and a generous, "stunning" way to commemorate it. Bravo!

May each year multiply abundantly for you and yours.

Best,
zJayne
www.zJayne.etsy.com

zJayne at gmail.com

Meri Greenleaf said...

What a good idea to celebrate your Etsy Anniversary!

My email is merigreenleaf[at]gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Val- congrats on 1 yr. That is awesome! You have reminded me that I should start doing all that 'paperwork' but I don't want to... ambercrudele@hotmail.com

ChamberryCherry said...

Val...has it been a year already...I'll never forget seeing your felted treasures for the first time...I thought, "now she is a true artisan"! They are simply stunning and beautiful reflections of who you really are. I am so glad to have met you on etsy. One day I'll say,"I knew her when........"
piecherry5@aol.com or chamberrycherry.etsy.com

Chris said...

Congrats, Val! Beautiful bowl!

Anonymous said...

From: Honey Bee Crochet by Doris

www.SturmDM.etsy.com

Congratulations, Val, almost one year. I hope I can hang in there that long seeing how I've not sold anything yet.

I love that felted bowl. Thanks for offering it to us. I'm entering the raffle:

Doris M. Sturm
SturmDM.etsy.com

p.s. I use anonymous because I can never remember my password on here...sorry!

Doris Sturm said...

I remembered my password, Val, and here's my e-mail address that goes with my previous message....sorry!

dmsturm@hotmail.com

SturmDM.etsy.com

thank you very much!

Novita said...

Congrats Val!!! I always love your felted bowl....you do a great job...I would love have one of your bowl;)

novitajulien@yahoo.com

Laura said...

Congrats on a year!! I always drool over your items since they are not something I can make myself due to allergies. I would be thrilled to win something from a fellow "hooker."

Michele said...

Yippee Val. You do great work, I'd LOVE to win!!!

Michele
http://pandys.etsy.com
http://GriffinGear.etsy.com
mnothome@aol.com

Cindy Joy said...

Congratulations on a successful first year! I hope additional each one is more successful than the last! I think your grape bowls are just adorable. I think everything in your shop is great! You made me laugh with your list of street teams! I'm a joiner as well, though I can't manage to stay active in all of them at the same time. Oh well.

Cindy Joy said...

And I did forget my email!

cindy_joy@comcast.net

Thanks, Val!

Anonymous said...

That's so exciting and what a wonderful prize. I'm glad you are doing well.

Sam

Nations123@missouristate.edu

sue said...

congrats Val I admire your shop and gorgeous felted items. I am sure you will have many more years on Etsy

Krishell said...

Congratulations Val! I'm proud to be part of some of your teams. You make hooking fun. : )
Krishell
Blue Star Butterflies
bluestarbutterflies@gmail.com

frolicnfibers said...

Hello! I have a question for you. I noticed on your blog that you also sell on Silkfair...I haven't heard of them before. Do you like the site? Thanks! Diana

Anonymous said...

Congrats Valerie. Your felted pieces are beautiful!

Red Berry Crochet said...

Congrats on your Etsyversary Val! I wish you many more and much success! Your felted creations always amaze me :)

redberrycrochet@gmail.com

luv4sams (Lisa) said...

A year already - congrats Val!

Artifax said...

Congrats on your upcoming etsy anniversary!!

You have a wonderful blog!

rose AKA Walk in the Woods - she/her said...

What a beautiful bowl!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your anniversary! Big milestone in the life of crafters. I hope that I become as successful/maybe just half would work!!! Your work is beautiful. Thanks for the chance to win one of your one of a kind items.

ginny_aldrich@hotmail.com

Holly! said...

Congrats on your acheivement! I would like to enter :).

You can contact me through etsy

www.hollystott.etsy.com

Vanessa @ See Vanessa Craft said...

Congrats on 1 year! How exciting! Beautiful work! Count me in the contest :)

vanessamcoppola (at)gmail(dot)com

w said...

how exciting! congrats on your 1 year on etsy.

and that bowl is gorgeous!

wendiwinn.etsy.com

BackwoodSophisticate said...

Congrats Val on the upcoming one year anniversary!! I love everything in your shop and am so happy to be an owner of some of your beautiful creations.
Mel
backwoodsophisticate

April H said...

Oh Congrats! And what a gorgeous bowl!

Anonymous said...

Agent Kessler congrats on the 1 year anniversary! Wish you continued success in the upcoming years and I'm so glad I've gotten the opportunity to work with you!

Anonymous said...

Congrat's on your almost Etsyversary! I've still got a few months before my 1 year :)

Your felt work is so lovely!

Anonymous said...

congrats, happy 1 year!

enter me please
and if you want, come check out my giveaway!

http://www.holisticallyheather.blogspot.com

Pam said...

What a nice and generous way to celebrate your first anniversary on Etsy! Your work is all so beautiful. I just love looking at it! You are a true role model for all of us! Hope my email has sticky on it so your husband can't help but find it!!

Fairy Dust Crochet said...

Congratulation in your 1 year anniversary!
Your work is so very beautiful!
Cheers!!
Denise

Abby said...

I love what you do, Val! Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary!
HolyCraft

kim* said...

hello congrats with your shop opening and all the hard work you made it what it is right now

Zo-Be Designs said...

Wow, it's lovely. Congrats on your first year!

ieatbooks@msn.com

Lorissa J. Longfellow said...

Congratulations Val. Your shop is so beautiful. I love your bowls.

Unknown said...

Congrats on your fist year anniversary! You have an awesome shop and wonderful products!! I love, love, love, that grape bowl! :)

shoeforyou222@aol.com

pleasurearts said...

Congrats on your first anniversary.
Great work, they are beautiful

Sygnet Creations said...

Aug 2nd is my one year.. Best of luck on year 2.. I know you will have a great deal of fun and creative spirit!!

~Amanda, Sygnet Creations

Linda said...

Congrats on your 1yr with Etsy! You do beautiful work! Very lovely! I wish you much success:)

Linda
lmepler@gmail.com

Bagladee said...

rqqfantastic prize that bowl is so pretty, love your shop too. Congratulations on your 1st year....I too have also met some fantastic people through etsy :) and many more in the future I hope.

emma@bagladee.com

xx

Nicole said...

Congratulations on approaching your anniversary. How exciting! Where did you find out all the information about "becoming a legitimate business"? Do you have any specific tips of things you've learned in the year? That'd be cool to hear.

Congrats again!

Amanda said...

Oh cute! Congrats on the etsyversary!

Elizabeth Staley said...

Congrats on your Etsyversary! I've never seen your items before- they're lovely!

-Liz
liz@oap-studios.com

Lisa Abdul-Quddus said...

Yay one year! Congratulations! Wishing you much success in the years to come. That bowl is beautiful!

tattytiara said...

That bowl is so nice - you do great work.

sweetpicklespottery said...

Congrats Val! Your bowls are just gorgeous!! I love the pumpkin!! The grapes are so pretty too! I would love to have one of your felted treasures!!

Anonymous said...

I love all your felted treasures, they are so beautiful. Congratulations on your etsyversary!

Anonymous said...

Valerie....love your felted bowls...the pumpkin one you just sold is adorable!!!