congrats to ndnchick

Leannas lovely beaded tie tack made the FP of Etsy this morning! Way to go.

Thank you ZiBagz for a lovely Front Page

Thanks to Lisa of ZiBagz and her clever curation, we have 3 teammates who saw Front Page exposure last night. Congratulations to LaurenBPhotography, TeraBliss, and IrishBabies. All very beautiful as you can see.

Congrats to Leanna on her first Front Page feature

Beautiful feature Leanna, NDNchick looks great. Congratulations!

Congrats to 2 on the Front Page

DreamofaDream out of little old Leavenworth has actually been on the Front Page of Etsy several times lately. One of the cool things about this is the variety of choices. A tower pendant, a painting, and a wolf pendant. Beautiful work Jessi. Here they are:




Here is Lori from KiltedWoman with her beautiful water droplets necklce. Congratulations, Lori, the attention is well deserved.

Challenge Time Sept 14 - 19

For this weeks treasury challenge, we will be featuring a set of vintage LPs from 13thFloorVinyl. Great job on the photo, Natalie. That will be a great one to feature this week. Here is how to enter.
Anyone can enter this challenge and anyone can win. You do not have to join the Inland Northwest Team. Just follow these instructions:
1. Make an Etsy treasury between now and Tuesday morning, September 19th that features the inspiration item (record set above) somewhere in the first 3 rows of your treasury.
2. Use INWChallenge as one of your treasury tags.
3. Post this link in your treasury description http://ewateam.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-time-Sept-14-19.html
4. Post a link to your treasury here in the comments.
It is that easy. Natalie at 13thFloorVinyl will choose a winning treasury from the entries and post the winner here on the evening of Tuesday the 19th. The winner will choose the next inspiration item from their own shop and have the privilege of being featured in lots of fabulous treasuries.
Good luck!

This weeks winner

Congratulations Natalie on your winning treasury for the week. Some words from Kathy,"I want to thank the INW Team so much for the really great treasuries. They were all very creative and lovely. It was a hard decision. I really appreciate the promotion it has brought to my fledgling shop. You are all a very welcoming group and I look forward to many more fun times with the Inland Northwest Etsy bunch!"
Tune in tomorrow to see what we will be featuring this week from 13thFloorVinyl.

New Challenge Sept 7 - 13

Our new inspiration item is this pillow featuring the Monroe Street Bridge in Spokane. Here is how to play:
Anyone can enter this challenge and anyone can win. You do not have to join the Inland Northwest Team. Just follow these instructions:
1. Make an Etsy treasury between now and Tuesday morning, September 13th that features the inspiration item (Pillow above) somewhere in the first 3 rows of your treasury.
2. Use INWChallenge as one of your treasury tags.
3. Post this link in your treasury description http://ewateam.blogspot.com/2011/09/new-challenge-Sept-7-13.html
4. Post a link to your treasury here in the comments.
It is that easy. Kathy at VanishingPts will choose a winning treasury from the entries and post the winner here on the evening of Tuesday the 13th. The winner will choose the next inspiration item from their own shop and have the privilege of being featured in lots of fabulous treasuries.
Good luck!
Kathy is the newest member of the Inland Northwest Team. Here is her intro from our forum:
Hi everyone! My name is Kathy and I'm an architect in Spokane. I'm married and have two small children. I've had an Etsy shop for a while, selling my architectural sketches, but it wasn't very successful and I didn't try marketing it very hard. In May, I lost my job at an arch firm in a downsizing. I'm working part time now in a new firm and am revamping the Etsy shop to try to supplement the income. It may also be a great way for me to stay working part time, if we can make a go of it. It's been nice to spend more time with my kids.
Kathy plans to add more pillows and cards to the shop throughout the Fall. Congratulations again, Kathy, on being chosen the winner. I hope these treasuries make you feel welcome to the team.

Challenge Winner

Some words from Tera "This was a blast and I appreciate everyone taking the time out of their busy labor day weekends to participate. Look forward to the next challenge!"
And the Winner is:

Kathy at VanishingPts is our new featured seller for the coming challenge. I will post here when she has chosen an item for us to feature.
Great work everyone, and congratulations to Kathy.

Treasury Challenge Aug 31-Sept 6

A winner has been chosen:

A new inspiration item has been chosen:

Here is how to participate:
Anyone can enter this challenge and anyone can win. You do not have to join the Inland Northwest Team. Just follow these instructions:
1. Make an Etsy treasury between now and Tuesday September 6th that features the inspiration item (Circus vaudeville showgirl earrings) somewhere in the first 3 rows of your treasury.
2. Use INWChallenge as one of your treasury tags.
3. Post this link in your treasury description http://ewateam.blogspot.com/2011/08/treasury-challenge-aug-31-Sept-6.html
4. Post a link to your treasury here in the comments.
It is that easy. Tera at TeraBliss will choose a winning treasury from the entries and post the winner here on Tuesday the 6th. The winner will choose the next inspiration item from their own shop and have the privilege of being featured in lots of fabulous treasuries.

Treasury Challenge Aug 23-29

Congrats to Megan. We are featuring her sugar scrub this week. How to play follows.

Anyone can enter this challenge and anyone can win. You do not have to join the Inland Northwest Team. Just follow these instructions:
1. Make an Etsy treasury between now and Tuesday August 29th that features the inspiration item (sugar scrub above) somewhere in the first 3 rows of your treasury.
2. Use INWChallenge as one of your treasury tags.
3. Post this link in your treasury description http://ewateam.blogspot.com/2011/08/treasury-challenge-aug-23-29.html
4. Post a link to your treasury here in the comments.
It is that easy. Megan at CountryBlossom will choose a winning treasury from the entries and post the winner here on Tuesday the 30th. The winner will choose the next inspiration item from their own shop and have the privilege of being featured in lots of fabulous treasuries.

Congrats to CountryBlossom!

Megan's "My Birthday Wish List" has been chosen as the latest winner for the Inland NW Treasury Challenge.

www.etsy.com/treasury/MTI1NDY5MTZ8NjA4OTQ5MDMz/my-birthday-wish-list


Thanks to all that featured my earrings last week.  All the treasuries were so gorgeous... it was extrememly difficult to pick just one! 

The next challenge featuring an item from CountryBlossom will be posted shortly.  Stay tuned!

New Challenge Open

Here is our new inspiration item

Anyone can enter this challenge and anyone can win. You do not have to join the Inland Northwest Team. Just follow these instructions:
1. Make an Etsy treasury between now and Tuesday August 23rd that features the inspiration item (feather earrings above) somewhere in the first 3 rows of your treasury.
2. Use INWChallenge as one of your treasury tags.
3. Post this link in your treasury description http://ewateam.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-challenge-open.html
4. Post a link to your treasury here in the comments.
It is that easy. Tera at CreativityisMessy will choose a winning treasury from the entries and post the winner here on Wednesday the 24th. The winner will choose the next inspiration item from their own shop and have the privilege of being featured in lots of fabulous treasuries.

Challenge winner

Thank you all who featured my mans shirt in a treasury last week. Look at the composition in this treasury. I have to say that is what won the challenge this time is the composition. I love how the colored backgrounds march down the page. Thank you Tera. And thanks to all who participated. I will be back here later posting the next challenge which will be something from CreativityisMessy.

Congrats to Ivy on the Front Page

Beautiful!

A New Open Treasury Challenge

The winner of last weeks Inland Northwest Treasury Challenge was BrandybuckClothiers with "Barely There"

The item to feature this week is:



Anyone can enter this challenge and anyone can win. You do not have to join the Inland Northwest Team. Just follow these instructions:
1. Make an Etsy treasury between now and Tuesday August 16th that features the inspiration item (the linen shirt above) somewhere in the first 3 rows of your treasury.
2. Use INWChallenge as one of your treasury tags.
3. Post this link in your treasury description http://ewateam.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-open-treasury-challenge.html
4. Post a link to your treasury here in the comments.
It is that easy. Cherie at Brandybuck will choose a winning treasury from the entries and post the winner here on Wednesday the 17th. The winner will choose the next inspiration item from their own shop and have the privilege of being featured in lots of fabulous treasuries.

Catching up on Teammates on the Front Page

Congratulations Pamela of SeeingisBelieving

Congratulations Cori of Corid


Congratulations to Natalie of That70sShoppe

Congratulations Rachel of OrangeThyme

Way to go Ivy! DistinctlyIvy

Interview with Pamela from SeeingIsBelieving

I think you will enjoy hearing about Pamela and seeing her beautifully organic shop with its wonderful works of art. She also has some great advice for us.

First off so everyone can get to know each other better what is your 'real' name? And where do you live? Tell us a little about yourself.

My Name is Pamela Petry and I live in Moses Lake, WA - a small town in Eastern Washington - with our son Skylar and our 3 dogs. I am originally from Michigan and moved to the Seattle Area about 17 years ago. Then moved over to Moses Lake about 3 years ago. I went to college for graphic design and chose Fashion Design as my Focus but never wanted to live the high pace lifestyle of the truly big cities. I developed a career in the sign industry from designer to production, all the way to sales. I hit pretty much every as aspect in the sign industry. Now I am a SAHM trying to make a name for myself with my art.



How did you learn about Etsy? How long has your shop been open?

I have known about Etsy pretty much from the time the site opened but never made the jump into it until I became a SAHM. But actually my friend Tracey of Summerone gave me the push I needed to actually do it. My shop now has been open about 8 months.


How did you come up with you shop name?
I have known since I was about 25 what my 'someday' business name was going to be. Luckily, it wasn't taken by any other person. I just figured that it could be incorporated with about anything I wanted to do, anything that I would eventually create.




What do you like most about your shop appearance? What would you like to improve?
I, actually, like everything about my shop. I have taken my banner and have created it into my logo and blog site now. The feel of the shop is how I want to portray my earthy pieces of art. The thing I would like to improve is the wording. I am not much of a writer, so, honestly, most of the similar items are cut and pasted with a few different words thrown in here and there.

What is your creative style? Is your work area neat and tidy or a disaster? What inspires you?
EARTHY is my style if you can't tell. lol I love nature and want my pieces to represent that. But I also have a whimsical side which you will find in my paintings usually. As for my work area, I would most likely say my work space is a semi organized... for me. You won't say that, looking at it, though. Before I get to making the pieces, I have to clean it up every time I get ready to create. My shop is in our garage and it just happens to be a collect-all place at the moment. But what Ceramic studio is spick and span?



What is your favorite Etsy story?
Not sure if it's a great story, but it made me feel great. I was at an art show one year and picked up a business card from the Artist to put in my "future have to have something from them one day" and tucked it away. Then when I became a member of INWteam I had notice that same artist CORID was in the group. I had written her to let her know I loved her pieces so much and at the same time she was writing me and telling me she liked my pieces and that I should make and sell beads. She was sure I would do well selling them. I have to say, my first sale WAS a set of beads that I created just because Cori said she believed in my pieces.


Do you have any advice you’d like to share?

Photos are the key. Practice, Practice, Practice. Get to know your camera and create a coherent look for your shop with photos, banner, copy etc. This doesn't happen overnight. And go on Etsy Success to find helpful hints for just about anything

Enjoy some of the great treasuries that have featured SeeingIsBelieving:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTgxMzQ4N3wzOTYyNDI2Nzg/upcycled-sun-bathed-beauties
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTA2NTMxNnwzOTg0MzI5NDA/the-woman-behind-the-work

Treasury Challenge 8/2 - 8/7

Welcome to another Inland Northwest Treasury Challenge!  This weeks treasury challenge will run from Tuesday, August 2nd until Sunday, August 7th.

And this week's featured item is this gorgeous necklace from KiltedWoman!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77597782/pink-scottish-sea-glass-necklace-with

Good luck and have fun! 

THE RULES:

1) Use the item above in your treasury. This item is from the Etsy shop KiltedWoman. Your treasury can have any theme you like as long as it includes this item.

2) This item MUST be placed within the first three rows of your treasury.

3) Tag your treasury with “inwchallenge” (all one word). We recommend you fill all of the remaining 17 tags with descriptive words pertaining to your treasury, as this will increase your treasury’s exposure.

4) You MUST post a link to your treasury as a comment on this blog post.

5) In the description section of your treasury you MUST include the URL for this blog post.

OTHER NOTES:

- You can make as many challenge treasuries as you want (as long as they include the featured item).

- You are not required to be a Inland Northwest Team member in order to participate in (or win) these challenges.

- Participants are allowed to win more than once.

- PLEASE make sure you don’t forget guidelines #4 and #5 listed above.

- If any of the above guidelines above are forgotten your treasury could be disqualified from this challenge.

Remember, you have until end of the day, Sunday, August 7th, to create your treasury (or treasuries). The winner will be announced shortly after the challenge ends.

If your treasury is chosen as the winner you will be notified as soon as possible. We’ll ask you to select one of the items from your shop to be featured in our next challenge. If you do not have an Etsy shop we’ll ask you to nominate a shop. We will also ask you to select the winning treasury for the challenge in which you (or your nominated shop) are featured.

Another Treasury Challenge Winner has been chosen!

Congratulations to KiltedWoman for winning the latest Inland Northwest Treasury Challenge!

Here is the winning treasury:

The next challenge will be posted tomorrow.  Don't forget to check back!!

Treasury Challenge 7/21 - 7/26

Another treasury challenge is ready to go, and this time we are extending the time allowed to make treasuries!  This weeks treasury challenge will run from Thursday, July 21st until Tuesday, July 26th. 

And this week's featured item is this adorable tutu by BlueBassinet!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74490029/cotton-candy-tutu-toddler-size-ready-to

Good luck and have fun!

THE RULES:



1) Use the item above in your treasury. This item is from the Etsy shop BlueBassinet. Your treasury can have any theme you like as long as it includes this item.

2) This item MUST be placed within the first three rows of your treasury.

3) Tag your treasury with “inwchallenge” (all one word). We recommend you fill all of the remaining 17 tags with descriptive words pertaining to your treasury, as this will increase your treasury’s exposure.

4) You MUST post a link to your treasury as a comment on this blog post.

5) In the description section of your treasury you MUST include the URL for this blog post.

OTHER NOTES:

- You can make as many challenge treasuries as you want (as long as they include the featured item).

- You are not required to be a Inland Northwest Team member in order to participate in (or win) these challenges.

- Participants are allowed to win more than once.

- PLEASE make sure you don’t forget guidelines #4 and #5 listed above.

- If any of the above guidelines above are forgotten your treasury could be disqualified from this challenge.

Remember, you have until Tuesday, July 26th, to create your treasury (or treasuries). The winner will be announced shortly after the end of the day Tuesday.

If your treasury is chosen as the winner you will be notified as soon as possible. We’ll ask you to select one of the items from your shop to be featured in our next challenge. If you do not have an Etsy shop we’ll ask you to nominate a shop. We will also ask you to select the winning treasury for the challenge in which you (or your nominated shop) are featured.

Congratualations to BlueBassinet for winning this week's INWTeam Treasury Challenge!  Here is her winning treasury:



A new challenge will begin this Thursday!  Check back to see what item from BlueBassinet has been chosen to be featured in the next challenge.  And don't forget... ANYONE can win!!

New Tree Challenge: 7/14 - 7/17

A big congratulations to GizmoFiberArts for winning the last treasury challenge!  Here is the winning treasury:




The item chosen for this week's challenge is this adorable hat crochet pattern by GizmoFiberArts.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70850529/crochet-pattern-girls-hat-3-months-to-10

THE RULES:



1) Use the item above in your treasury. This item is from the Etsy shop GizmoFiberArts. Your treasury can have any theme you like as long as it includes this item.

2) This item MUST be placed within the first three rows of your treasury.

3) Tag your treasury with “inwchallenge” (all one word). We recommend you fill all of the remaining 17 tags with descriptive words pertaining to your treasury, as this will increase your treasury’s exposure.

4) You MUST post a link to your treasury as a comment on this blog post.

5) In the description section of your treasury you MUST include the URL for this blog post.

OTHER NOTES:

- You can make as many challenge treasuries as you want (as long as they include the featured item).

- You are not required to be a Inland Northwest Team member in order to participate in (or win) these challenges.

- Participants are allowed to win more than once.

- PLEASE make sure you don’t forget guidelines #4 and #5 listed above.

- If any of the above guidelines above are forgotten your treasury could be disqualified from this challenge.

You have until Sunday, July 17th, to create your treasury (or treasuries). The winner will be announced sometime the following week.

If your treasury is chosen as the winner you will be notified as soon as possible. We’ll ask you to select one of the items from your shop to be featured in our next challenge. If you do not have an Etsy shop we’ll ask you to nominate a shop. We will also ask you to select the winning treasury for the challenge in which you (or your nominated shop) are featured.

Treasury Challenge 7/7 - 7/10

Time for another Inland Northwest Treasury Challenge!  This week's featured item is...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77216179/ginger-pear-olive-oil-cold-process-soap

THE RULES:



1) Use the item above in your treasury. This item is from the Etsy shop OrangeThyme. Your treasury can have any theme you like as long as it includes this item.

2) This item MUST be placed within the first three rows of your treasury.

3) Tag your treasury with “inwchallenge” (all one word). We recommend you fill all of the remaining 17 tags with descriptive words pertaining to your treasury, as this will increase your treasury’s exposure.

4) You MUST post a link to your treasury as a comment on this blog post.

5) In the description section of your treasury you MUST include the URL for this blog post.

OTHER NOTES:

- You can make as many challenge treasuries as you want (as long as they include the featured item).

- You are not required to be a Inland Northwest Team member in order to participate in (or win) these challenges.

- Participants are allowed to win more than once.

- PLEASE make sure you don’t forget guidelines #4 and #5 listed above.

- If any of the above guidelines above are forgotten your treasury could be disqualified from this challenge.

You have until Sunday, July 10th, to create your treasury (or treasuries). The winner will be announced sometime the following week.

If your treasury is chosen as the winner you will be notified as soon as possible. We’ll ask you to select one of the items from your shop to be featured in our next challenge. If you do not have an Etsy shop we’ll ask you to nominate a shop. We will also ask you to select the winning treasury for the challenge in which you (or your nominated shop) are featured.



Good luck and have fun!

Congratulations OrangeThyme!!

Rachel of OrangeThyme is the winner of the first ever INWTeam Treasury Challenge!  Whoo-hoo!!


Here is the winning submission:

'Shapes' by orangethyme  

Look for Rachel's featured item in our next challenge this Thursday!  Good luck!!

Our first ever Inland Northwest Treasury Challenge!

Welcome to the very first Inland Northwest Team Treasury Challenge.  For those that have not participated in a challenge before, let me give you a run-down of how it works.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76795601/sun-medallion-with-recycled-glass

THE RULES:



1) Use the item above in your treasury. This item is from the Etsy shop SeeingIsBelieving. Your treasury can have any theme you like as long as it includes this item.

2) This item MUST be placed within the first three rows of your treasury.

3) Tag your treasury with “inwchallenge” (all one word). We recommend you fill all of the remaining 17 tags with descriptive words pertaining to your treasury, as this will increase your treasury’s exposure.

4) You MUST post a link to your treasury as a comment on this blog post.

5) In the description section of your treasury you MUST include the URL for this blog post.

OTHER NOTES:

- You can make as many challenge treasuries as you want (as long as they include the featured item).

- You are not required to be a Inland Northwest Team member in order to participate in (or win) these challenges.

- Participants are allowed to win more than once.

- PLEASE make sure you don’t forget guidelines #4 and #5 listed above.

- If any of the above guidelines above are forgotten your treasury could be disqualified from this challenge.

You have until Sunday, July 3rd, to create your treasury (or treasuries). The winner will be announced sometime the following week.

If your treasury is chosen as the winner you will be notified as soon as possible. We’ll ask you to select one of the items from your shop to be featured in our next challenge. If you do not have an Etsy shop we’ll ask you to nominate a shop. We will also ask you to select the winning treasury for the challenge in which you (or your nominated shop) are featured.

Thanks for playing! Good luck!!

Interview with Lori Cook Of Kilted Woman

I enjoyed learning more about Lori and her unique and exciting shop. She also shares some wonderful advice on how to market your shop.

First off so everyone can get to know each other better what is your 'real' name? And where do you live? Tell us a little about yourself.

Lori Cook, I live in Richland, WA with my husband and two sons. My husband is from Scotland and right now I am sitting in the local Aryshire, Scotland library using their internet service. I am originally from a small town in Oregon. I met my husband on match.com and we have been married for 6 years. We enjoy traveling back to Scotland about every two years to visit family, beach comb and take pictures. I really enjoy old cemeteries and artful stonework found in the graveyards here. I have been a registered nurse for about 20 years. I currently work with the elderly but previously I worked in a state hospital for the mentally ill for 13 years.

How did you learn about Etsy? How long has your shop been open?

My friend Dana was selling her jewelry on Etsy and I decided to give it a try. I began in November. I had picked up many pieces of sea glass and sea pottery on previous vacations in Scotland so I started making necklaces with it. Now can't seem to stop creating things! My shop only has a portion of what I have made and I am nearly at 300 items listed!

How did you come up with you shop name?

I started Scottish highland dancing two years ago and I wear a blue tartan dancing kilt. Originally the dances were only performed by men and only men could wear the kilt. It was a novelty to see a woman in a kilt and was considered very daring. I thought Kilted Woman would be a good representation of what my shop was about.

What do you like most about your shop appearance? What would you like to improve? I like my banner. I took the picture in Dunure, Scotland which is the location of one of my favorite ruined castles. I need to improve the brightness of my pictures. I have some pictures I took in full sunlight which turned out well but I find I run out of time to retake the rest of them.

What is your creative style? Is your work area neat and tidy or a disaster? What inspires you? I like to keep things tidy, I have little labeled drawers where all of my things go. (Sort of like a nurses medication cart!) I like to look at a piece of glass or pottery and imagine where it has been and who used it for what purpose. I put things together one way and then take them apart and put them together a different way. It might take me several tries to get what I like. If I wouldn't wear it then I won't sell it. I am inspired by Scottish history, architecture and scenery. It is full of depth and layers.

What is your favorite Etsy story? (ie: a funny sales story or customer interaction.) I can't think of anything funny that's happened but I have met many fellow TriCities sellers and have made some new friends through Etsy. I find that really the most enjoyable part of this site. I just sold some wine charms to a lady in Scotland and sent them by mail from Washington before I realized I could have pretty much hand delivered them to her this week!

Do you have any advice you’d like to share?

Take great pictures, that is the key to selling things people can't actually touch or see. Use the Etsy application to make a catalog of your things and leave the catalog in the break room at work. Buy a purse with windows in it for photos and use it to display your wares-works well for selling jewelry.

Enjoy some of the wonderful treasuries created by the INWTeam featuring Lori's items.