:: BrisStyle Information Sessions ::

Just when we thought it couldn't get any busier at BrisStyle HQ.....it's time to announce all the details for the remaining BrisStyle Information Sessions for 2011.

A big Thank-You to all who have attended this year's BrisStyle Information Sessions. As promised, we're excited to announce that our next two creative development sessions will be supported by the Brisbane City Council's Art Bites Program.

The sessions will still be hosted at our retro home in St. Augustine's church hall in Hamilton but the exciting news is that they will both be FREE events!

So, without further ado, here are the session details so you can make your bookings.....

:: OCT 22 :: From Hobby to Wholesaling ::

Pricing, Wholesaling and Consignment Tips for the Indie Crafter

Have you always dreamed of selling your handmade wares in a shop or gallery?  Let our panel of local experts give you some great advice on how to take your craft from hobby to wholesaling/consignment.
Whether you are just starting out or have been crafting for some time, this session will give you basic tips and tricks on turning your passion into profits.

This is the second in the series of Q&A information sessions where a panel of creative experts will impart their knowledge in a forum based setting. In this interactive session you'll gain insight into the different practices of each panelist and then have the opportunity to ask questions.

The who's who of your panel ::

• Vicki Sinclair from in.cube8r Brisbane
• Melanie Gray Augustin from Kimono Reincarnate
• Kellie Christie
• Belinda Chisolm from Sybella Boutique
• Amanda Whitelaw from Hungry Designs
• Nicole Zupanovic from Collecting Feathers

:: NOV 5 :: Social Media :: From Etsy and Beyond ::

With Jess Van Den from *bespoke zine* and Epheriell Designs

It's hard to ignore the popularity of social media in today's competitive marketplace. With so many social media outlets available it can be hard to know where to begin and how to make it work for any emerging indie craft business.

If you would like to know how to get started with social media and how to make it work for you, then this information session will answer all of your questions.

Presented by top blogger and social networker, Jess Van Den - from Epheriell Designs - participants will be sure to come away with lots of tips and tricks to kick start their success with social networking from handmade websites such as Etsy, to facebook, twitter, blogs...and beyond.

Bookings Open: 9am Monday 19th September

Bookings are Essential: call qtix on 136 246 or book online here

Session Dates:
Saturday Oct 22 :: From Hobby to Wholesaling ::
Saturday Nov 5 :: Social Media - From Etsy and Beyond ::

Time: 10am - 12noon

Place: St. Augustine's Church Hall, Racecourse Road, Hamilton, Brisbane

Price: FREE to all participants (bookings are essential)

Bring along:

• Your sense of adventure and humour
• A notebook and pen
• Your business cards to leave on our 'networking' table

Tea and Coffee are provided but please feel free to bring along a small plate of goodies to share for morning tea.

PLACES ARE LIMITED SO BOOK NOW!

Let's Go Shopping

Feeling crafty?  Why not purchase one of these rad BrisStyle items to help you out with your projects this Spring?

Patchwork doily pincushion

Moose and Bird

Vintage Family Circle 'Gifts To Make' Book

Under The Stairs

15 pastel blue doily sticker seals

3 Girls and a Goat

Gingham blue 'Invaded' fat quarter

Voodoo Rabbit

12 edible fondant baby onesie cupcake toppers

Enticing Icing

Next Saturday we'll start featuring some of the BrisStylers lined up for the next BrisStyle Indie Mother and Child Market on October 8th, so stay tuned for that one!!


To take part in our weekly Let's Go Shopping meme, post your Etsy finds on your blog then pop back here and add the blog post link below. Don't forget to link back to this post so everyone can check out all the fabulous Etsy finds. Anyone can play along so come join in the fun! 

Crafty D.I.Y

We were so taken with the classic, vintage style on the cover of the current issue of Peppermint Magazine that not only did we think it was worth another mention but we also wanted to play stylist to the lovely covergirl. We think this vintage inspired headpiece would look right at home with the lace dress on the cover!

The original concept for this headpiece is here and the tutorial is here! Thanks elizabeth anne designs for the great D.I.Y projects!

:: Lights, Camera, Action :: Info Session Wrap

Actually.... lighting, aperture, composition, angles, props, models, cameras and now action, with a capital A!

Mel captivates the audience

Melanie Gray Augustin, from Kimono Reincarnate, certainly had all her tips and tricks happening on how to take amazing photos for our online stores. As you can imagine we were all soaking them up like the veritable online-crafting-hungry-sponges that we are!

Indie Cupcakes courtesy of Tanz

Morning Tea was once again reminiscent of a CWA get together with Indie Cupcakes and other home baked delights ...and then we were all rarin' to go again to get as many more tips as we could from Mel.

It was such a successful session that we will repeating it at least twice in 2012. So stay tuned for all the dates coming soon and in the meantime fire your camera up for the 5 hot tips from the day:

1. Turn off your flash and use natural light wherever possible
2. Crisp clean pics are the go - use your aperture if you have one on your camera
3. Shoot from different angles and remember the rule of thirds in your composition
4. Keep your background simple and show your item in situ (modeled)
5. Be consistent with your style / overall look

Once again a big Thank You to Mel and to all those who came along to share the day. To keep the session and the tips alive, we'd LOVE you to share your hot tips, so please leave a comment here or on facebook!

STOP PRESS: Very exciting news indeed coming real soon about the October 22 and November 5 BrisStyle Information Sessions. Mark the dates in your diaries as it's going to be very exciting!

Minty Fresh!

For all you magazine lovers out there, the latest issue of Peppermint Magazine is out now! Hooray! We absolutely adore the cover of Issue 11.....classic, vintage style never goes out of fashion! Wouldn't you agree?

Issue 11: so pretty!

Pick up a copy at your local newsagent or pop over to the Peppermint website and subscribe for just $44.00 AUD! Happy reading!

:: I Heart Etsy :: Notes :: Part 3

Welcome to the last installment of our :: I Heart Etsy :: Information Session SNAPSHOT notes.  If you missed Part 1 or 2 you can check them out here and here.  Today we will be discussing the ins & outs of getting your shop noticed: listing/relisting, Etsy Communities, telling the world and staying active. We might even include some useful links for further reading! If you're after more info we will be running the :: I Heart Etsy :: Information Session again next year, so stay tuned for all the deets!

Image Courtesy of Wicked Child Designs

 Listing/Relisting

• Uncle Gravy's Renewing Agent - for automated 'hands free' renewing of your Etsy listings or 'hands free' relisting of your sold items.  This article has more info as well as download and installation links. Free 10 Day Trial!
• SimpleList2 is an iPhone/iPad or Android app specifically for Etsy sellers.  There's more info over here.
• Relist to the US market before you go to bed or first thing in the morning.  Between 5am-8am is ideal!
• Relist regularly - hourly, daily, weekly depending on your level of business.
• The more you list/relist the more you will be seen on the first pages of your given category.
• Renew sold items that you make multiples of instead of creating a whole new listing.

Etsy Communities

• Important for support and making connections.
• Join an Etsy team such as BrisStyle. For more details on becoming a BrisStyle member click here.

Tell the World
Spread the word about your Etsy shop via a Facebook fan page, a blog or a Twitter account. There's a great article over on the Marketing to Women Online blog all about why social media is so valuable.

Stay Active
Buyers want to trust you, and the more active you are on Etsy, the more they know you've invested in your new endeavour.  Keep adding stock to your shop and check out other ways to connect with your community.

Useful Links
There's a lot that goes into opening a new Etsy shop but it sure is thrilling! Just take it step-by-step and be realistic with your expectations.  Cherish your first views, hearts, conversations and sales.  Before you know it you'll be a pro and will hardly remember how nerve-wracking these first steps were. Here are some links to help you get started:

• Etsy Apps and Shop Tools
• How-To's about Selling
• Shop Stats
• Etsy Success eNewsletter

We hope you've enjoyed the 3 part :: I Heart Etsy :: Information Session SNAPSHOT notes. For more info on upcoming BrisStyle Information Sessions pop over to our website.

Let's Go Shopping

Need a hand with your photography posting on Etsy?  Here's a few BrisStyler pics we thought were pretty fantabulous. The handmade items for sale are pretty awesome too.

For more hints and tricks on photography, we hope you've signed up for the Lights, Camera, Action BrisStyle Info Session today. It's gonna be ace!

Resin bead long necklace

Strat Designs

Skinny resin bangle in putty grey

Drift Gifts

My childhood home archival art print

Penelope and Pip

Green turquoise studs

Hot Toffee

Valentine's cherry red love paper garland

3 Girls and a Goat

Peace crane brooch

Kimono Reincarnate

To take part in our weekly Let's Go Shopping meme, post your Etsy finds on your blog then pop back here and add the blog post link below. Don't forget to link back to this post so everyone can check out all the fabulous Etsy finds. Anyone can play along so come join in the fun!