Tips to Grow Your MISI Shop In Spring!

I know the spring is generally considered the ‘slow time’ of year for many crafters and artisans. Craft shows aren’t as bumpin’, and it’s really hard to sell as much as you would during the holiday season when shoppers are loading up on gifts. Although this is true, I think this time of year has a lot more potential than meets the eye.

Spring is the time when cherry blossoms bloom, electric green leaves appear and everything is shiny and new. I think it’s also a time when our brains are bursting with new ideas and inspiration. It’s time to plant some biz seeds that will sprout into opportunities and success!

1. Get super clear on what you want to accomplish this year. This can be difficult because there are so many options, but take out your favorite notebook and let all your ideas flow. Pay close attention to how you feel about each of your goals. Do you feel inspired or tired? If you are not super excited about something, it’s better to just leave it on the back burner or scrap it all together. When you focus on what lights you up, it’s amazing how everything else lines up.

2. Clean up and organize your space. I know, I know…I sound like your mom, but it’s truly amazing what an organized workspace will do for your mental health! What you feel on the inside is a direct reflection of what you see on the outside so you want to make sure your studio or workspace gives you the creative energy you need as an artist. Make it a gorgeous space that inspires you and makes you feel good inside. If you are not naturally a gifted organizer, perhaps you could enlist the help of a friend who is. Bribe them with wine and sparkling conversation because who can say no to that?!

3. Re-connect with your customers. When you are so busy trying to do a million things, it’s easy to neglect your customers. This is not good, because without these lovely people, you don’t really have a business. Customers love to be acknowledged and appreciated so reach out and connect with them. Tell them what you’ve been up to and what you have going on in the next little while. If it makes sense, offer them a coupon that they can use online or at the next craft show you will be at. They want to hear from you! Also make a point of chatting up your regular customers at craft shows. Typically spring shows are less congested with shoppers so you have more of an opportunity to have a conversation. Ask them about their experience using your product and if they have any feedback. This information is gold so make sure you quickly write it down.

4. You know all the stuff you have been putting off for the past 6 months…DO IT! Again, sounding a bit like your mama, but you will feel amazing and your business will flourish. If you are not clear what you have been putting off, take a mental time machine back 5 months ago. Did you wish you have new signage, better hangtags, an opt-in on your website, sexy business cards, gorgeous product photos?? Yep, you know what I’m talking about! When we are busy it is so easy to put things off until ‘someday.’ To be a successful creative entrepreneur you have to get in the habit of doing. It’s one thing to have the best intentions and ideas (most of us do) but to really step up your game, do what you say you are going to do. You won’t believe the difference this will make on your business and your life.

Read more at designsponge.com

image source: childreninspiredesign.wordpress.com

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Photo Taking Tips For Your MISI Shop

Great photography is a necessity when you have a handmade jewellery website. Unfortunately, handcrafted jewelry is very difficult to photograph. Many jewelry artisans cannot afford to go to a professional and so they want to do it themselves. There are some simple techniques that even amateur photographers can use to obtain better results with minimal effort. The following suggestions should allow anyone to achieve results they can be proud of.

1. Improve Sharpness

The macro lens is a big help for the sharpness factor. Another key to a sharp image is a tripod. It is absolutely essential to use a tripod or similar camera support when taking pictures of handcrafted jewelry. A sturdy tripod is better than a flimsy one, but any tripod is many times better than no tripod. Always use a tripod and your photos will be sharp.

2. Get Lighting Right

Normally diffuse lighting works best for jewelry so that there is no glare. We cannot sit around waiting for the perfect slightly cloudy day to take pictures of new handcrafted jewelry designs. You have probably already discovered that an on-camera flash does not lead to good photos. Not only is the flash too bright at such a close distance, it will also create bright spots and distracting shadows. Rather than flash it is better to use continuous lighting for photographing handmade earrings and handmade bracelets. Using daylight balanced bulbs for lighting provide natural-colored light. You can purchase these from photography suppliers. We use 5200 K bulbs which resembles daylight most closely. Even these lights will need to be diffused and for that use a light tent as the diffuser.

A small light tent makes it easy to reduce glare and control shadows for handcrafted jewelry photography. These are commercially available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but are generally quite expensive. It is not difficult to make your own lighting tent from white rip-stop nylon material, a couple of metal coat hangers and double-sided tape. The light tent tends to soften the shadows and eliminate glare, while providing a clean and clutter free background. We place the tent on a glass table and have a light under the table to reduce shadows.

3. Find the Perfect Exposure

Proper exposure is the last key to good handmade jewelry photography. If your background is actually white but appears gray in your image then the image has been underexposed. This means you need to let more light get to your camera’s image sensor. Adjust your camera exposure compensation setting to slightly overexpose the image. Nearly every digital camera has an exposure compensation setting, but you may need to read your camera user manual to find how to adjust yours. Once you locate the controls for exposure compensation simply increase the exposure until the image looks correct. We adjust the white balance so that the background shows white and this dramatically affects the crispness of the colors.

source: copperreflections.com

image: ohmyhandmade.com

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4 Ways With Doll Pegs

Add a little girly charm to your big day décor with these 4 easy and lovely ideas :

1. It's got your name on it

Paint your peg with acrylic paint to match your colour scheme, then write your guest’s name on using a thin marker pen. If you’re feeling even more creative, play around with colour combinations or write just their initials for a quirky take on place cards. 

 2. The bride & groom

For the groom: use a black marker pen to colour the bottom half of the peg, to make trousers, then add a strip of ribbon for the waist and stick on a small bow for the bow tie.

For the bride: cut a triangular shape of material, wrap around the peg and secure with glue. Add ribbon for a sash and bow. Use your marker pen to dot the eyes.

3. Message to you

Paint your pegs in colours and patterns to suit your theme – polka-dots and painted dolls look super cute for a kitsch, retro do. For the dolls; paint in the blouse and collar shape then use a marker pen for the buttons bow tie, hair and eyes.

4. Gifts for girls

Stick Washi tape around the top half of the peg for the blouse, and wrap folded crêpe paper around the bottom half to create the skirt, before gluing in place. Add a small bow to the front. For the wings, curl a pipe cleaner into a figure of eight, twist in the middle and glue into place.

source: youandyourwedding.co.uk

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5 Everyday Uses Of Nail Polish

Everywhere we look, it seems like a new nail art trend pops up. But aside from creating beautiful manicures, did you know that polishes can be used for a bunch of other non-nail tasks too? Here are five unexpected (and super handy!) ways to use them in your everyday life: 

1.) Organize your keys: For those of you with a jumble of keys on your keychain, this is an easy trick to help you distinguish which key goes where. Unhook the keys from your keychain and paint the tops of them different nail polish shades. For example, pink can be to your house, purple to your work, etc. You can even get more creative with patterns or use glitter – just coat one side of the key with glue, sprinkle with glitter, then let dry and seal off with a coat of clear nail polish! Or just use glitter polish :)

2.) Smooth over splinters: I think we can all agree that splinters are the worst – they’re painful, hard to get out, and can even snag your clothes. An easy solution is to just paint over any rough edges in your furniture or wooden hangers with a dab of clear nail polish. It will smooth over the splinters and prevent your clothes – and you – from getting pricked.

3.) Prevent tarnishing: As much as I love fun costume jewelry, a lot of it ends up tarnishing after only a few uses. I learned this trick from a friend, and now I do it with all of my cheaper jewelry! Just paint a clear coat of nail polish inside your ring or the back of your earring and voila – no tarnishing or leftover green tint on your skin!

4.) Stop runs in your tights: The dreaded jagged line in your tights might feel unavoidable, but you can stop runs in their tracks just by using clear nail polish. The next time you see a tear start forming, grab a bottle of polish and dab some over the torn area – it will prevent the tear from getting bigger, and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch it early and your tights will be saved! This also works for any clothes that you have that have started fraying.

5.) Seal envelopes: Save yourself from having to lick the icky glue most envelopes come with and seal with a thin line of clear polish instead! This is especially helpful when you are sending invitations, which require you to send and seal a bunch of envelopes in one sitting. 

Have you ever tried any of these tricks? What are some other ways you like to use nail polish around the house? Share your tips with me below!

source: michellephan.com

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How To Recycle All The Things

Below are some of the more perplexing Can-I-Recycle-This? items with tips for safely recycling them.

Plastic Bags — When you go grocery shopping, it’s generally considered eco-conscious to bring your own tote bags. However, there are times when you don’t have your own bags on hand. What, then, can you do about those pesky plastic supermarket bags, aside from using them for garbage and dog poo? You can recycle them! Some municipalities accept plastic bags (and other plastic-bag-like materials like plastic packaging and produce bags) in curbside pickup, but if yours does not, you need only venture as far as your local supermarket or pharmacy for a drop-off center!

Electronics — You know the situation: You’re cleaning out your closet and you find all manner of tangled cords with nary a matching device in sight! What on earth do you do with all of these defunct chargers and connector cables? Instead of simply tossing them into the trash, you should know that these, along with most other electronic objects, can indeed be recycled! Many municipalities, New York City included, will collect most electronics (even large televisions and computer monitors) after making a pick-up appointment. In fact, after 2015, New Yorkers will be required by law to recycle such objects. Be sure to check your local municipality’s website to see if they have a similar program. On the off chance that they do not, fear not! There are many stores that offer electronics recycling free of charge! Office Depot, for instance, will accept any electronics that fit within their recycling boxes. If you’re an Apple-phile, you can rest assured knowing that all of your Apple products can be dropped off or mailed to any Apple store for recycling— they’ll even give you an Apple gift card in return! Best Buy will also take your electronics off your hands, even if you didn’t purchase them there! Perfect for those obsolete cellphones, chargers, CD players, etc!

Clothing and Shoes — If you’ve simply outgrown or gotten tired of your clothes and shoes, the logical thing to do is donate them to a thrift store. What, though, do you do with fashions and footwear that have become too worn out to be useful? It turns out that you can still drop them off to those very same places. Both the Goodwill and Salvation Army have programs that will accept unusable clothing and textiles and recycle them into things like mattress filling and carpet underlay. If you have worn out denim, the company Cotton From Blue To Green, will take it off your hands and turn it into insulation. If you have old sneakers that can’t be repaired, Nike offers a program that turns old sneakers into track flooring.

Packaging Supplies — If you work in a busy office, it’s likely that you receive a lot of packages and, subsequently, scores of mismatched packaging supplies. Common sense tells you that simply throwing out styrofoam packing peanuts, cardboard boxes, and bubble wrap is a bad thing, so what to do with those pesky things? As it turns out, you can recycle these items at the same place you picked them up from! Participating UPS Stores will accept your used packaging supplies. You can also check out The Plastic Used Fill Council for more local drop-off sites.

Food — That’s right, you can even recycle food. Some municipalities (like Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco) already have curbside recycling programs in place that will collect your compostable food scraps. If your city is still waiting for such programs, however, you might be able to donate your food scraps elsewhere! Many local farmer’s markets, for instance, have drop-off centers for compostable food and household waste. Make sure to check with your local market first!

Everything Else — Whether it’s used house paint, an unfixable air conditioner, car tires, or old furniture, chances are that you can, in fact, recycle it! Although most municipalities will not accept such items through their regular curbside pickup, many have regional drop-off centers that will accept just about any sort of household waste for recycling. Check your local municipality’s website for information about local drop-off centers and what kinds of objects can be recycled. You’ll probably be surprised at just how much can actually be saved from the garbage dump!

source: designsponge.com

Recycling Guide 

Recycle Now

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4 Lovely DIY Camera Straps Projects

1. Leather and Chain Link Camera Strap

Supplies:

-Purse strap with attached snap hoop

-Jump rings

-Cable-Ink chain

-Swivel lobster clasp

Step 1: Cut two 9-inch lengths of cable-link chain with jewelry wire cutters.

Step 2: Using pliers, link two 8-millimeter jump rings, then attach one of them to an end of one chain. Repeat with two more jump rings at the other end of the chain.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2 with four more jump rings and the second chain.

Step 4: Snap open the hoops at either end of the purse strap. Attach a chain to each hoop by sliding one of the chain's outermost jump rings onto the hoop. Snap both hoops closed.

Step 5: Using pliers, connect a 32-millimeter swivel lobster clasp to the jump ring at the end of each chain. Finally, fasten those clasps to your camera and start clicking.

source: countryliving.com

2. Toy Camera Strap

Supplies: 

- Needle nose pliers

- Clasps

- Copper wire

- Safety pin

- Leather cord

Step 1: Cut cord into 3 pieces, attach one end with safety pin to something stable (I used an armchair) & braid until desired length. I made mine 35 inches.

Step 2: Slip ends through clasp.

Step 3: Fold over & wrap excess with copper jewelry wire. I used the pliers to clamp ends down (so I don't get poked) & I trimmed the excess leather.

Step 4: TA-DA!!! Now you have a super simple cute camera strap!

source: pocketfulofpretty.com

3. Chain Camera Strap

Supplies:

- 2 m of strong but lightweight bronze chain

- 2 sliplock buckles

- 50cm of strong nylon webbing

- E6000 glue

- Scissors

Step 1: Cut the nylon webbing in half.

Step 2: Slide one end of the nylon webbing through the camera strap holder on the camera.

Step 3: On the outer lower half of the nylon webbing, thread one of the sliplock buckles.

Step 4: Fold the chain in half and slide the two loose ends onto the nylon webbing.

Step 5: Double the nylon webbing over and pass back through the sliplock buckle.

Step 6: Thread the other loose end through the sliplock buckle and reinforce both ends with E6000 glue.

Step 7: Press down to dry and feel free to reinforce the glue with some hand stitches through the webbing. Finally, repeat this process for the other end of the strap.

source: apairandasparediy.com

4. 70's Style Camera Strap

Supplies:

- 2 yds cotton webbing

- Masking tape

- Acrylic craft paint

- 2 swivel hooks

- Fabric glue

- Needle and thread

- Metallic leather or vinyl (optional)

Step 1: Measure out the desired length of your strap and add 2 inches.

Step 2: On a work surface use tape to create a geometric design taking care to make sure tape is fully adhered to the webbing. We used the rounded side of a bone folder to smooth the edges on the tape to be sure our paint line were crisp.

Step 3: Now the fun part, apply paint to webbing. Be sure paint is dry before attempting to remove tape. Watching paint dry is a skill that takes practice.

Step 4: Now that your strap is looking amazing, slide the ends through the swivel hook giving yourself about an inch of strapping on the reverse side and glue. Be sure to give the hook a little bit of space to move when gluing.

Step 5: Because you’re hanging your beloved camera around your neck add a few stitches to the glued area for good measure!

source: designlovefest.com

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How to Organize Your Craft Room

It's time to get those craft supplies organized, ladies! If that seems like an insurmountable and extremely expensive task, just check out these easy tips for getting it all together in a creative way that's sure to appeal to the crafty gal.

 
1. Get it together

First things first — before you can organize the supplies, you need to organize and sort them. While you're sorting, toss anything you know you won't need. Once you have everything sorted into different categories, you'll have a better idea of what solution you need. Remember, your stash of supplies will likely grow, so make sure you have enough storage space to accommodate your growing collection.

2. Use rods for rolls

Every crafter has a variety of ribbon, paper and other supplies that come on rolls. To keep it in good condition and easy to access, install rods to hang them on. You can use store-bought rods with rubber stoppers in a craft closet or insert dowel rods purchased at a hardware store in a row in a laundry basket by running the rods through parallel holes. Just make sure the rods are at least somewhat easy to remove so you can add new rolls and take off empty ones.

3. Repurpose old glass jars

For things like buttons and beads, a lot of crafters use the same toolkits carpenters and contractors use to store screws, nuts and bolts. That's a great idea, but it's not the only way (and let's face it, those little plastic kits aren't really that cute).

Instead, you can mount the lids of old clear jars of various sizes to the bottom of a cabinet or shelf using flat-head nails or screws (make sure the nail or screw isn't so long that it goes through the top of the shelf. Then just put all your supplies in the jar and screw it into the lid, where it will stay suspended and make it easy to see what's in each jar.

Extra small items like eyelets can easily be stored in little pillboxes (you know, the kind that show the days of the week?). Just use tiny labels for each individual container or glue one of the items in that container to the outside so you can easily identify which supplies are where.

4. Tins or pails for longer items

If you need a place to store pens, scissors, craft knives and other longer items, store them in a series of vintage pails or save old coffee or chip tins and wrap them with beautiful contact paper. The pails can also be hung from hooks placed on the bottom of shelves or cabinets. Alternatively, use a wine rack with clear tubing.

5. Think outside the craft store

Desktop stadium-style organizers are perfect for small scrapbooking decals, stickers and similar supplies and the tiered levels make it easy to see everything you have at a glance. Those plastic sleeves for photos or trading cards also work well for this purpose and can be stored in a binder with index dividers for labeling and categorizing.

Desk drawer organizers, accordion files, file carts and more can be used for a variety of purposes. But it doesn't stop at the office. Shower caddies, glassware and bowls, closet organizers and more can be repurposed for your craft supplies.

Don't be afraid to hang things in unusual places, either. A canvas shoe organizer can be hung on a curtain rod to do double-duty as an organizer and curtains. The possibilities are endless.

source: sheknows.com

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Featured MISI Crafter - Minerva

Our talented MISI maker today is Minerva with her shop DemeCrafts:

What is your shop's name and how did you decide on it?

My shop’s name is DemeCrafts.  The word ‘crafts’ is quite common and at first I didn’t want to use it, but I went for it as I can knit, cross stitch and crochet.  I spend more time knitting nowadays, but I might be adding cross stitch and crochet in my shop in the future.  So ‘crafts’ would capture all three forms.  As for ‘Deme’ is short for a word I like and is relevant to my work.


How did you get started in your particular craft and how long have you been doing it?

My grandmother taught me knitting, cross stitching and crocheting at a very young age.  I’m pretty sure I was about 6 years old when I did my first cross stitch, which I still have.  I have spent about 30 years cross stitching (on and off) and still do when time permits. 

Even though I hadn’t knitted for several years, I still remembered the basics and got into it again in 2005.  Apart from a couple of lace knitting stitches a nice lady showed me, I learned everything else on my own through countless mistakes and hours of practicing.  I’ll never forget unravelling entire scarves, which had already taken me many hours to make, to reknit them better.

As for crochet, it’s something I would like to improve in the future when I get a chance.

Are there any negative aspects to doing your craft and if there are how do you work around them?

What I would call a negative aspect of doing crafts, knitting in particular, is when others copy your work.  We are in a creative business and we all need to create from our own imagination and try to make our work as unique as possible to appeal to our buyers, our target market. 

Those who copy do not give themselves a chance to discover where their own imagination can take them and how unique and talented they can be. I do believe fortune favours the brave, so I try to focus on myself and my work and create patterns from ideas that come to me even at the oddest times, like when I wake up in the morning or when I’m grocery shopping.  However, as my original patterns are copyrighted, if need may be, I will not hesitate to take the necessary action to protect my work.

What tips would you give to anyone thinking of starting your craft?

If you start it as a hobby, then it would be to just have fun with it.  Being involved in crafts, such as knitting, has a lot of benefits, even therapeutic benefits.  It’s great for relaxation of the mind, like yoga, and as a creative outlet.

If you are starting this as full-time job, be prepared for the amount of time and effort you need to put in.  It’s like any other full-time job.  I actually work longer hours now than I did in my previous office job, but I enjoy every minute of it.  And keep on top of the finance/business part of the job too!

How did you find Misi?

I found out about Misi from literature I was given at my local Business Gateway office.

What is your favourite item in your own Misi shop?

So far, if I can call one item my ‘favourite’, it would be my Fashionable scarf, mohair and silk neck accessory.

The yarn is the finest yarn I have ever worked with.  It’s challenging to knit with but at the same time so luxurious and the end result so rewarding. It also happens to be the yarn I used to try lace knitting for the very first time.  


What is your favourite shop on Misi (besides your own)?

I am back to my Misi shop after a few months of break so I haven’t had the chance to have a proper look around yet.  However, there is one shop that has caught my attention, called CaractacusPots.  Pottery always catches my eye, especially small and useful things for the home.  They remind me of my grandmother’s small ceramics in the kitchen.  I also like the blue color in pottery and Caractacus Pots has lots of that.

 

Random Facts about you:

What is your favourite season and why?

It would have to be the summer since the weather is warmer and swimming in the sea is irresistible.  However, I like all seasons for the charm each one has.  Autumn: for the gorgeous warm colors everywhere.  Winter: for the snow and the cosy days in.  Spring: for the green and life that starts to appear.

What is your favourite food?
My favourite dish is spaghetti with meat sauce, similar to bolognese but different recipe.

How many DVDs do you have?
Oh many!  I love watching movies, especially witty comedies.

What is your favourite animal?             

A ladybird

What actor/actress would you NOT kick out of bed? 
My favourite actor/actress are:  Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman and Meryl  Streep.

I would let them sleep on my couch, but I’m too selfish when it comes to my bed!

Thank you for chatting with us, Minerva. 

Stop by her shop on MISI for more gorgeous items.

xxx

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Wrap up for winter with MISI

It's time for the coats and hats and gloves and scarves.
Wrap up everyone, winter is here!

Purple Star Boutique

The Shopworn Angel

Ty Siriol

ZB accessory

Telfer Designs

Rainbows n more

Visit MISI for more ways to wrap up this winter.

xxx

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Spiders!

Be warned, if you are not keen on spiders, do not scroll down any further as I am posting Spider Pictures to celebrate Halloween on MISI...

 Baronyka

Just Victoria

Minxtures

Ravens Stained Glass

Loisinaballerina

Webspida

Beenbags

For more spiders and Halloween Treats visit www.misi.co.uk.

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