International Hanseatic Days

International Hanseatic is the biggest event that Pärnu (Estonia) is hosted in last 20 years.
450 sellers on craft market, 4 days filled with culture events, more than 80 delegations from other countries and estimated 100 000 visitors in total.

The symbol of hanseatic days is red apple and entire city is filled with them. Simple, but cute, isn't it?

I've been selling on market yesterday and today. Tomorrow is the grande finale, which means that event is over. We prepared for this for months and then it just ends. A bit sad, because at the moment the city is filled with people and positive energy, but after tomorrow everything will be same again.
Market is nice, but we're not doing very well. I've sold some stuff, but not as much as I expected. Most people I've talked with say the same - people are looking, but not buying. Is it about economy? It should be better now, if to believe news.
Anyway, I'll do my best tomorrow and hope it won't be so slow. Next big craft event is in Pärnu on 14-15th of August and we plan to take part again.

The big event is here!

Dear friends,
I just came from opening ceremony of International Hanseatic Days.
This is the biggest event in last 15 years in Pärnu. 4 days of folk culture, handmade market, people around Europe and much much more!
As Pärnu is a city between river and sea, the opening ceremony was related to water. Thousands of people came to see it and the feeling was rather great! I like the big red apples all around the city, which you can see on the official web page. They're bigger than I am. Photos coming soon, I promise.

Tomorrow the market starts. I still have things to finish, but most products are labeled, packed and ready to go! Here are a little hint about what we're offering:

Only bad thing is that I broke two toes today. Yes, it's bad, the bone is broken and I can't walk much.
It was kind of silly accident, I ran to the sofa while I was finishing stuff here and hurt them pretty badly. And of course, two people on the opening ceremony had to step on my foot too :)
But no worries, I'm a tough girl, I can handle it.

After the big event is over, I'll start working on pre-Christmas items. Every year october-november has been crazy and this time I hope to be more prepared. Plus I have some designs to do for magazines.

Share your gorgeous postcards!

Hi dear friends!

I know that a lot of you have already received your postcards. So do I.
Florigamigirl made a real surprise to me.
I was expectind a post card, but I got two! I adore her little fabric flowers with button hearts since I visited her shop for first time. Now I have one of my own in my card, with wonderful positive message "peace, love, creativity".
But there was another, very special French postcard (left side on the photo). With real stamp where it's not possible to read the date posted, but Flori wrote it should be from 1910-1920. Signed from Marie to Emile.

I'm curious to know more about it, maybe Flori can explain does she know the story behind this card. I'm trying to find someone who can help to find out when it was sent (maybe the stamp helps?).
Big hugs to Flori and all others who participated!
I hope you all got a new friend and it's not last time when you surprise her with card, because it's always fun to get something by mail.
Don't forget to share your blog posts!

International Hanseatic Days in Pärnu

As you may know, I'm preparing for International Hanseatic Days which will be held in Pärnu, 25th-27th June.

I ordered a baby booties pattern for making some pairs for my niece, but ended up sewing them to the fair also. I found a seamstress who is helping me and first 20 pairs are ready.
I love them! Now need to figure out how to decorate the booties. Maybe some embroidery and fabric flowers, what do you think?

 Soon I'll make a blog post for postcard swap and you all can link your blog posts there! I know that most of you already sent the card and maybe some have also received it.

Monday Moodboard: Rain

Raining cloud by atelierpompadour, purple rain journal by Kreativlink, rain drop earrings by vantidesigns, watercolour personalised print by chichiboulie.

After a week of sunshine it's rainy in Estonia. It's cold. No, it's freezing! And that's why my moodboard looks rainy too.

My laptop is still broken and I can't blog as much as before, but addresses for European Postcard Swap has been sent and I know that some of you already finished your postcards too! I'm going to make mine in next few days.

I'm preparing for International Hanseatic Days in Pärnu. I haven't participated in such a big event before and I want everything to be perfect. Ordered item tags from Singapure, thinking how to make paper bags, how much inventory I have and so on. Only one month left!

Announcement about postcard swap

My laptop broke this week and you won't hear from me in next few days, I don't have access to internet. Hopefully I'll get new laptop next week.

Everyone who sent their addresses for postcard swap: may I ask you to do it again?
I hope I can restore my mailbox from old laptop, but just to be sure no one will be missed.
People are still welcome to participate. More information here.

Pimp up your item photos

I just read Mouse's post about how to get Etsy sales you want and got a lot of inspiration for improving my store.

Woolmint is a brand new shop, but I've been on Etsy for at least two years and I believe I have some experience, although I still have a lot to learn.

Last year my biggest goal was making eye-catching photos. If you create tiny items, it’s not such a problem, but with knits it can be rather hard to make it stand out.
Biggest thing I learned was that you don’t have to show whole product on your thumbnail photo.
But I did it for a long time.

Great example is my neck warmers. I used a mannequin for photographing them. Here's the first photo I made:

 The photo is fine, you see what you’ll get, but for reaching next level (which was getting featured in treasuries, blogs, etc) it didn’t work. Looks kind of boring, right?

So I took a neck warmer, curled it up, added some pearls, used two lamps (I took them off from wall for turning them on the way I needed) for getting good light and made a photo that features only one edge of the neck warmer.

After using it as a thumbnail photo I got more views, features and sales. I sold around 20 neck warmers before Christmas and people wanted to order more, but I just didn’t have enough time for all custom orders.

Second thing I learned was getting out from home. Natural light works best for me, if it’s not too sunny or too cloudy day.

There are so many inspiring things outside – old benches, historical buildings, green grass and blue sky. Find what’s perfect for you and make it work.
I live in apartment, I don’t have my own garden, but I often took a bag of fingerless gloves and found a place where to photograph them. Sometimes it was funny to sit on a bench and make photos of my own hand (when I didn’t have a model to use), people walking by and thinking what you’re doing. But it pays off!
Before and after:

I know people have different opinions for using real models for photographing clothing.
I’m in favor of using a model for my knits. I do have a mannequin, but if people are buying with their, eyes, they usually want to see how the garment keeps shape and so on. And for me it’s better to improve my designs if a real person is wearing it, I see details, their weak and strong sides.

I’ve never had a problem with it. I’m sure there are people who won’t buy from me because of it, but no one ever told anything about it. And I’ve sold most of my knits.
Also, my items intend to get more on the treasuries (and to FB) if they are photographed like this.
Before and after:

I know I still have a lot of work to do for getting great images. Sometimes it's hard to find time, but lets be hones: if you don't invest your skills and time into your shop, it will never pay your bills.