A little Thank You

As I near 500 sales on Etsy, I decided I would do something extra special.

A giveaway!

*hooray*

Everyone that makes a purchase between now (450 sales), and sale #500 will be automatically entered to win an item from my shop...........and, here's the best part......you get to choose it.

The fine print:

~purchase(s) must be paid in full in order to be entered

~each item you buy will count as an individual entry (so the more you buy, the more chances you have to win).

~The winner will be randomly selected (not by me) the day I reach 500 sales.

~The winner gets to choose the item(s) of their choice (valued at $30 or less, including shipping). OR the winner may use the $30 towards a higher priced item.

~The winner will be contacted via an Etsy Conversation (you must be okay with being contacted this way).

I am so grateful for every sale.....and for all the friends I have made since joining the Etsy community in 2008.

Thank you!!!

Take a look at my Etsy shop

Guinea Pig

This is the second order I have received for Wedding Favors........(in reality, it is the first, as it took quite a while to work out the details). It was a big order, and took quite a bit of planning on my part to get it done.

I like to think of it as my "guinea pig" Favor order. I made some mistakes, and learned quite a bit along the way. I have had large orders in the past (for different work, and mostly wholesale orders), and that knowledge certainly helped me devise a plan for executing this one.

I thought I would shared some organizational tips to for success, so if (and when!) you get a big order, you can execute it smoothly (pricing is a whole different subject!).

Feel free to add your tips in the comments!

1. Use an online calendar to mark important information (I used it to mark the dates I needed to order the cards, order supplies, etc...). And stick to it.

2. I created 2 files, one in my inbox, and one on my desktop to file all the information that was part of this order (correspondence, jpegs, etc...). It made it much easier to find what I was looking for.

3. I designated a storage bin for all of the supplies, and labeled it......and put it aside, so that I would not "accidentally" use them for other projects.

4. I always work on multiple projects at one time. But in this case, due to the amount of space I would need to glue and package, I was diligent about blocking time to work ONLY on this order. Having a clear, clean space dedicated to this order helped tremendously.

5. Take "in progress" pictures, and communicate with the customer. Had I not committed to doing so, I might have fallen behind. This kept me accountable.....and she loved seeing the whole process unfold!

Of course, some of these tips might not apply to you, but I'm certain you could tweak them as necessary.

Hope this helps. Enjoy!

Expo 2009

After a 2 year hiatus from exhibiting at the Craft Expo, I have returned to many familiar faces, and many new faces.

I love this show. Love it. The first time I participated was 9 years ago, and Tanner Glass was only about 2 years old. I was new to the Craft Show scene, and this was my first official "big" show. I immediately found a "home" here, and over the years have developed lasting friendships with some of my customers and other artists. It is the #1 reason why I love being here.

An added bonus is that I am able to stay with a cousin that I don't see often enough. It gives us a great opportunity to reconnect.

(Family is good.)

In traditional Expo fashion, the weather forecast is for temps in the 80's, and high humidity. It just wouldn't be the Expo without it!

If you find yourself near Guilford, CT today or tomorrow, make a point to visit the Expo!

See you there!

Rhode Island Loves Us!

Handblown pieces by Suzanne Tanner of Cranston turn house- hold items into eye-catching accessories.$18; tannerglass.etsy.com



The July issue of Rhode Island Monthly has featured eight talented Etsy sellers (including myself. Hooray!)



With a special mention of ArtsinRI (my Etsy Street Team)



Congrats to all those that were featured......especially my fellow ArtsinRI team members:

Pink Lemonade Boutique

Heather Jeany






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