Taking the Etsy Holiday Boot Camp Pledge!!!!

I, Eternal Stardust Designs, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!

Blog Carnival: Weddings

Our Etsy Bloggers blog carnival host this time, Patch, has asked us a couple of questions about weddings:

1) Show us your wedding photo!! or anything from your wedding day.. or
2) Any items in your shop that you think they can be on somebody's wedding day..

Well..... I can't show anyone my wedding photo or anything from my wedding day because I'm not married and never have been. *sigh* However....

I do have items in my shop that I think would be perfect for a wedding day - and if my shop wasn't on vacation until September 19th or 20th, I'd give a link. But for now, I'll just post a photo of the items in question. :)


Cream & Brown Floating Bead Necklace

And let's not forget the matching earrings:


Cream & Brown Earrings (to match the floating bead necklace)

I think those would be perfect for a bride and could be done in other colors if the bride wanted - or could be made to match the bridesmaids' outfits instead. :)

I Learned A Lot and Sold Nothing

I learned a lot at the Art in the Park festival, but I didn’t sell a single thing. From what we’ve been told, I am the only vendor who did not sell anything at all. It pretty much stinks that I didn’t sell anything but I did learn some very important things.

A bit of background: It rained. Most of the day. We ended up leaving early because I was soaked and freezing. Now on to what I learned. LOL

• Get a tent. I don’t care if you think you won’t need it, get one. You’ll need it eventually.
• Bring an umbrella. When you’re transporting things from car to booth, you’ll need something to keep from getting soaked.
• Don’t forget the chairs! My feet, knees, and back were screaming at me by the time I got home, and I was only there 3 of the 6 hours of the festival.
• Don’t think you can get by with just a card table.

The person I shared the space with and I barely got anyone to even look at our items. We decided it was due to us not having a tent or having a professional looking setup. Everyone else there had tents, racks, tables, etc, and we had just card tables with nothing else to use for display purposes.

We will be attempting Art in the Park again next year, but next year, we’ll be better prepared!

Fall In The Air

Fall is a time of year that I actually like really well. It's cooler but not too cold. The kids are back in school, meaning that the neighborhood is a touch quieter during the day. The crisp fall air makes me want two things - Halloween and to start crocheting the big blankets and afghans that will keep myself and others warm this winter.

Fall is also the season that finds Sioux City's Latham Park holding it's annual Art in the Park festival - which the last piece that needed to fall into place for me to be able to be an artist vending my items there has fallen into place as of today, so I will definitely be there - this year on September 18th.

Latham Park is a gorgeous, privately-owned park that is a favorite spot for weddings here in Sioux City. It has a fountain, roses, and it is just a really beautiful spot. Art in the Park is one of the things that they do throughout the year and it brings to light the park and local artists! I am proud to say that Eternal Stardust Designs will be a part of the festival this year and I hope I'll be there next year as well!

Are there any local art festivals or craft fairs that are held annually at a specific time??? If so, do you attend as a patron or as a vendor??

Blog Carnival: Quarters

Our Etsy Bloggers Blog Carnival host this time, Judy has given us a couple of very interesting questions:

1. Are you in the first quarter of your life (up to age 25), second quarter of your life (up to age 50), or 3rd quarter (beyond age 50)? Describe your goals and dreams for your current "quarter." How have they changed over time?
2. Describe someone who influenced the person you are today, or who motivated you to do something. Explain how this is so. Is this a positive or negative?

1 - I'm in the second quarter of my life. Wow that sounds so weird to think that I am in the second quarter. :/ My goals and dreams for this quarter is to get this business of mine off the ground! :) I love my crafts and would love nothing better than to be able to just do them and not have to worry too much about anything else - but I also have a goal of getting a decent full time job so that I can have my bills paid so I can just worry about doing my crafts. :)

2 - My mom motivated me a lot - she always encouraged my creativity and I think she would have been proud that I finally took steps to try and make a go of selling my craft work! :) This would definitely be a positive thing! :)

So what you do you make of our two questions this week?? :)

Is It September All Ready??

Wow - time sure flies. It seems like only yesterday it was January 1, 2010 and now here it is the 7th of September! I can't imagine where the time has gone - especially since I really haven't been all that busy! :)

I've been a bit busy the last week or so - I've made a few hats - yes, I'm going to post pictures below:


Floppy Brimmed Hat w/ Pink Flower (Custom Order)



Mesh Cap (Custom Order)



Crocheted Hat (Custom Order)



Earth & Sky Stocking Cap



Mesh Cap in Bright Yellow



Mesh Cap in Watercolor



Turquoise & Lime Stocking Cap

There's what I've been working on. A friend of mine had suggested I do so because the weather is starting to get cool and people would be looking to get new hats and scarves. :) It made sense so I made some hats.

I'm getting ready for a festival called Art in the Park that's done here in Sioux City's Latham Park. Latham Park is a private park and this is one of the events that they hold each year. This year I'm going to have my first year as a vendor. I'll try to take some pictures to post here on the blog. :)

Ok, as it's 4:43 AM and I should be asleep, I'm going to go for now! :)