The creators of the German label SOPOPULAR Daniel, James and his brother David are fulfilling my criteria. With the mixture of edgy street wear elements and futuristic designs the label wants to create a grown-up street wear segment. The pragmatic, down-to-earth and even kind of minimalist style appeals to a lot of boys and men.

Most favorite piece: It’s tough to be so popular!

With the name SOPOPULAR (deriving from an interview with Kurt Cobain) the guys are on a mission: they want to catch up with the female world of fashion! The first step is made…
It is fashion from men for men! SHHWEET!

Here are some pics from last collections:

Fall/ Winter 12

Check out the recent Fall/Winter collection here!

Spring/ Summer 12

Spring/Summer 11

Spring/Summer 10

Me gusta!

This event was on Friday and it was a great opportunity to meet some fellow independent Bristol designers and to see some of the creative ways they upcycle and reinvent clothing.  Hopefully we will be showing the Beautiful Plumage S/S range at the next event.

In attendance were:

• Kim’s Klobber
• Katella Bilek Designs
• TwentyThree Workshop
• Pearl Bespoke Designs
• Fox and Feather
• Phoebe Wang @ 7th Sea
• Shop on Gloucester Road

And after a short interval:

• Portabella
• Cox and Baloney
• La Grace Ekall
• Sophie Hutchings
• Pink Lemons
• Bags of Love
• 71 and Queens

And here are a few of my favourite pictures from the evening…

(Source: The comments portion of this Social Media Marketing Survey >>> http://promotesy.com/home/handmade-survey-an-etsy-seller-social-media-marketing-survey/ )

This fact does not surprise me much.

Consider this … many Etsy sellers’ Twitter followers & Facebook “fans” are their fellow Etsy sellers.

Though some Etsy sellers (including me) do (from time to time) purchase some things via Etsy, they are there – mainly – to sell things, and not to shop. They become other Etsy sellers’ Twitter followers & Facebook fans to show their solidarity ( or to get “follow backs” &/or more Facebook fans )… not because they are interested to become other sellers’ loyal customers.

In my experience, social media marketing gives my products more “views” and “admirers.” Since higher numbers of admirers can be one of the factors that might persuade a prospective customer to purchase my handmade accessories & jewelry, social media marketing is not completely useless.

But … here’s the interesting part:

The people who actually purchased my handmade hair accessories and jewelry are not my Facebook fans, Twitter followers, or my Etsy shop’s or merchandise’s “admirers” .

Plus, even though they gave me positive feedbacks on Etsy, they do not follow me on Twitter or “Like” my Facebook page.

~0o0~

I also read that many Etsy sellers find that advertising their items on Etsy does not give them more sales either.

This doesn’t surprise me much either.

In my opinion, theoretically, advertising on Etsy gives sellers better chances to get their prospective customers to notice their products. But … here is the twist: Are the people who search for the kinds of item they sell are their prospective customers … or their fellow sellers trying to curate Etsy Treasuries or research their “competitors” …

In other words:

• The people who search for statement necklace on Etsy might not search for them to buy them.
• Some of them are looking for statement necklaces to feature in their Etsy Treasuries.
• Some others, on the other hand, are looking at other sellers’ statement necklaces to find out how the other sellers price their items, or to find out the keywords they use to tag their items, etc etc.

The question is, how many percent of the people who search for the items are your prospective customers?

This, we cannot know for sure.

~0o0~

Anyway, all those facts get me thinking …

And … here are my conclusions:

1. Etsy is an online craft fair.
   When people rent a booth at a craft fair, what they get is merely a space for them to display & sell their wares. Likewise, Etsy sellers shouldn’t expect Etsy to provide anything more than a platform for them to display & sell their goods.
2. Etsy is a gigantic craft fair, with more than 2,000,000 new items listed per month and more than 700,000 new members per month (Source: http://www.etsy.com/blog/news/2012/etsy-statistics-july-2012-weather-report/ ) … Etsy sellers who merely sit around and wait for the customers to notice their merchandise will be sorely disappointed.
   To make more sales, they need to find ways to catch (and keep!!!) prospective customers’ attention.
3. Social media marketing can help Etsy sellers to enhance their image, reputation, and online presence, but all those do not guarantee that they’ll get more sales.
4. And, lastly, and most importantly, to get more sales, Etsy sellers need to advertise outside of Etsy and / or get featured in influential blogs whose readers are the kinds of people who not merely admire, but purchase the kinds of items you sell and in the price range you sell them.

I have not advertise outside of Etsy …

That’s the next step I need to take.

Finding a number of influential blogs whose readers are my potential customers is another one.

~0o0~

• Any comment / feedback / stories to tell? I’d love to hear them
• Are you a fellow Etsy Seller?
• Have you advertise in Etsy? If so, did it give you more sales?
• Does social media marketing give you more sales?
• Are many of your Twitter followers and Facebook fans your loyal customers?

- joyz*k (a.k.a. Miu Vermillion) of AngelicaBrigade

http://www.angelica-brigade.com

http://angelicabrigade.etsy.com

Today, I spent a few hours researching the most current shipping costs. The average cost of shipping one large-sized (approx. 6″) hair fascinator from the U.S. to another country (except Canada) is around $46.00

Just so you know, the $46 does not include the cost of the gift box I ship my handmade creation in …  and all the packing materials I use to make sure that the item will arrive in a good condition.

Personally, unless the item I’m planning to purchase is so gorgeous that it blows my mind, a $46.00 (or higher) shipping charge tends to make me to think the purchase over. And, more often than not, I end up purchasing a similar item from another retailer who doesn’t charge such an exorbitant shipping fee instead.

I know … It’s not the retailer’s fault that the shipping cost is so high. And, with the gas price on the rise, it really can’t be helped. But, it’s only natural for me to find another retailer who (usually) are located much closer to where I live and thus does not charge me so much for shipping.

Try googling this: charge “so much for shipping” and you’ll see that many people think that online retailer tends to charge too much for shipping & handling.

~0o0~

Personally, I never charge my overseas customers more than $20 (per item) for shipping. And, yes, it means that I always foot a part of my overseas customers’ shipping fee.

Is it bad for business, then?

Not really …

• Firstly … I opened my online shop less than a year ago; and, right now, building my brand’s presence trumps my wish of earning more profits from my new business.
• Secondly … I earn less profit than I potentially earn, but I do not operate at a loss.

But … it doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few things I need to do to keep my new business afloat.

And … I will start by finding  more ways to sell my products locally. I will start by selling my items to several local boutiques who sells the kinds of items that my customers (and I) love.

Trying to design mind-blowingly gorgeous items doesn’t hurt either.

~0o0~

-joyz*k of AngelicaBrigade

http://www.angelica-brigade.com

Writing knitting patterns is an exercise in brevity. The abbreviations, repeats and the lack of definite articles can compress pages of instructions into lines. No-one really knows why we do this, although it is likely that it began as a money saving strategy for mass market publishers, a pattern that used less paper and ink was cheaper to print and distribute.

As an independent publisher of knitting patterns I decided early on that I was not interested in making my patterns as short as possible. All my patterns are digital downloads, so I don’t have the paper and ink overhead. But I’m also not going to write out every instruction in full like the author of this great book of knitting patterns first published in 1846 and available now through Project Gutenberg.  I hope I’ve hit a happy medium, I certainly include lots of photos and descriptions and there’s always the hints and tips blog entry, if I feel that the pattern is getting too crowded.

Sometimes, however, I get a new idea and I can’t work out how to describe it in a sentence or with a photo. I want to write “this is where it gets weird”, a great example of this is the Robot pattern legs pictured above. The challenge gets even more complex when this new idea is destined to be published by someone other than me. Knitting magazines often have very limited space to squeeze a pattern into, there’s no room for a long explanations and they certainly don’t want boring technical pictures on their glossy pages.

Next month, one of my patterns is published by Knit Now magazine. I am really excited that they will publish my work, but I’m also nervous. Did I cram enough explanation in there? Did I over-explain? I guess we’ll find out soon.

I’ll leave you with a quick quote from Elizabeth Zimmermann in Knitter’s Almanac (p126), solving this problem in her own unique way:

“Here are the directions, on 60 stitches for the blind follower. The thinking knitter can glean two different pairs from one chapter.”

Everyone has one’s own strengths, weaknesses, tendencies, and preferences.

I’ve tried to work against the grains more times than I should have; and guess what, those efforts were more trouble than they worth.

Working against the grain is not an easy feat. Plus, often, the result isn’t very good. For that reason, I’ve decided that I’ll no longer do things in the usual or prescribed ways. Instead, I will do things in ways that are natural and easy for me … in ways that will enable me to reach my goals with the least amount of unnecessary pains and troubles.

I call this Ethical Pragmatism

It requires me to spend more hours to define my goals and (through trials & errors) find the best ways for me to accomplish those goals … but it’s  worth the effort. This first step is not unlike plowing the soil: a necessary step to make sure that whatever it is we try to accomplish (in my case, growing my small handmade business) to happen.

As a [ newbie ] independent designer / handmade seller, I make it my habit to read as many small business articles/advices (and sometimes  books) as I can. There are so many business advices that are geared for small handmade businesses. Some of them are useful and thought provoking, but to me, they are not enough because there are so many things that are still left unanswered.

So, this is what I’m going to do: I’ll embark on trial & error processes, do tons of researches, and (through this blog) will share my experiences with you. Stay tuned~

- joyz*k of Angelica Brigade

http://www.angelica-brigade.com

Well – that time came last Friday when I got my email with my sign up link. I had until today to sign up and I did it yesterday! I’m really excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to see what happens next!

BUT – (there is always one of those isn’t there) I may not be posting as often as I have been for a bit. Just until I get settled into how to do things and how everything works – you know – just until I get my bearings. I don’t want to leave you guys hanging!

On that note – I will be posting about the run that Jeremy and I took together on Wednesday and how I discovered my phone isn’t quite what I thought it was. :/

1. Register for an account at sewbie.com

2. Like us on Facebook – facebook.com/sewbiedotcom

The second bracelet in our Fashion’s Night Out giveaway is by Sewsephine - “Wrapped Up Bracelet“. Ivory genuine leather triple wrap bracelet with gold tassel and contrast stitching.

To enter:

1. Register for an account at Sewbie.com

2. Like us on Facebook

3. Leave us a comment saying that you’ve registered

4. Optional: Share with your friends.

The drawing will be on Fashion’s Night Out, Sept. 6th. Good luck!

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Henry David Thoreau once wrote,

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

This post serves as a dedication to Thoreau’s articulate and inspiring words. As Wild & Free dawns on its second year, I’ve come to realize the power in this statement and the possibility of truly accomplishing what I’ve always dreamed.

This summer has been full of amazing opportunities and surprises, which have made my whole journey with Wild & Free so worthwhile. I never would have imagined my designs would be paired with such beautiful designers as Sugarhigh and Lovestoned and Omen Eye. The Feather Junkie put together this look book with two of my flower crowns and asked me to edit a few photos. So, of course I had to super saturate and overlay her images with some photographs of distant galaxies and stars.

I highly recommend you check out these amazing independent designers and help support their journey to accomplishing their dreams.

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Be Free. Live Wild.

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The Robot pattern is finally finished and is available in the Natty Knits Etsy shop and on Ravelry. It will soon be part of the Knit Picks Independent Designers Program.

Here are some hints and tips to help you get the best from your pattern.

A Note on Gauge

When I knit toys I always use needles that are one or two sizes smaller than recommended for the yarn. You don’t have to get the gauge exactly right, but you can check it by knitting a garter stitch swatch and holding it up to the light. If the gauge is tight enough you should only see pinpricks of light through your knitting.

Yarn Suggestions

I used Patons Canadiana for most of the Robots I knitted, it is 100% acrylic and comes in an impressive array of colors. I’ve also knitted some Robots in Knit Picks Brava Worsted, which is very similar to Canadiana.

More About Short Row Shaping

The Robot pattern uses a technique called short row shaping. A short row is made when you turn your knitting before the end of a row. This means that some sections of your work will have more rows than others. The sections with more rows will arch, creating a three-dimensional shape. Each time you turn your knitting before the end of a row you create a loop of yarn under a stitch and a small hole in the fabric. So, when you knit back over a stitch that has a loop under it, you must knit into the loop at the same time as the stitch above it to close the hole. There’s a special blog post on how to close the holes and get a smoother finish just here.

Repeats

The repeats in the To Knit Body section are repeats of the first set of instructions, but with added stitch markers. Repeat 1, will actually be the second time you knit rows 1-10.

Pick Up Stitches

The Robot pattern contains a number of places where stitches are picked up through sideways stockinette stitch. As with any stitch pick up, the needle is pushed from front to back through one of the holes in the knitting, then the yarn is looped around the needle and pulled back through the hole. Pick up stitches through the center of a stitch. All the pick ups in the Robot pattern are made in every other stitch of the sideways stockinette stitch.

When you make pick ups through the foot for the legs, check that you are picking up stitches through the same column of stitches on each foot. This will keep your Robot symmetrical and help him to stand up.

How to PM Between Stitches

In this pattern, markers are placed to show where to pick up stitches for the arms. The markers go between stitches and they stay static in the knitting. When you place a marker it looks like this:

I always prefer to use a scrap of yarn as a marker because it won’t pull the knitting out of shape and it’s easy to remove. You can find more information about static stitch markers here.

3 Needle Bind Off Grafting

The arms and legs of the Robot are attached to the body using an unusual technique. I call it 3 Needle Bind Off Grafting. I wrote about it in depth in this blog post, which has lots of good photos.

Stuffing and Standing Up

Don’t overstuff your robot, the more squishy his stuffing is, the more likely he is to be able to stand alone. Too much stuffing will make the bottom of his feet too round or make his body too heavy to support on his legs.

Sewing Techniques

The only sewing in the Robot pattern is one seam in the body and each hand and foot. However it is a tricky seam. Each seam begins with the weaving stitch for sewing together the cast on and bind off edges of garter stitch. Then the seams switch to fake grafting for sewing together the cast on and bind off edges of stockinette stitch. Here’s how to use both techniques:

Weaving Stitch

To seam the cast on and bind off edges of the underside of the feet, hands or body, use the weaving stitch. Lay one piece of garter stitch fabric above another. Notice that each row has linked upper and lower loops. Sew through the upper loops on the bottom piece and the lower loops on the top piece, as shown below. You are creating sewn stitches over existing loops.

The tension of your sewing needs to be just right, neither too tight nor too loose. As you practice this stitch it becomes easier to judge the tension and make an invisible seam.

Fake Grafting

Lay one stockinette stitch piece above the other. Notice how each stitch forms a V shape. You make the seam by sewing Vs between the top and bottom pieces.

Sew from back to front through the middle of a V in the bottom piece. Then sew behind both arms of the corresponding V in the top piece and then from front to back into the original V.

Pull the yarn gently until your two stitches form a sewn V that matches the size of the knitted Vs.

Facial Features

One of the great things about knitting a Robot is customizing the face. There are many iconic robots in popular culture and as you can see from the photo below, it’s very easy to suggest a type of robot with just some felt features.

It would also be easy to modify this pattern to add an i-cord antenna or a control panel for the tummy, knitted using intarsia color work.

If you have any questions or comments which are not covered either in the pattern or here, please contact me through the NattyKnits Etsy shop and I’ll do my best to help you.

Style name: Jeanne (d’Arc) v.03
Original design by joyz*k of Angelica Brigade

The sculpture is 100% handmade, hand-painted, and lacquered by me.

The diameter of the headpiece: Approx. 6 1/2” (16.5 cm)
The diameter of the beaded center piece: Approx. 2 1/2” (6.35 cm)
Weight: 64 grams / 2.25 oz. / 0.14 lb.

Materials: Italian silk organza, silver-lined Delica seed beads, silver-plated beads, simulated pearls, polymer clay, silver pigment, high gloss acrylic lacquer, die-cut high quality felt, alligator clip.

Made to order.

www.angelica-brigade.com

www.facebook.com/AngelicaBrigade

Nuda’s Wrist Stuff 6 is made up of 2 strands in teal, purple, and gold glass beads and a piece of high quality textured black leather. Complete with a gold lobster claw clasp. All wire-wrapped for durability!

Nuda just posted her collection of bracelets. They’ve been a big hit for her this summer. I should know – I’ve already bought two. Shop her collection here.

P.S. Starting this new segment “Want of the Week”, meaning, you better jump on it before I buy it.

Shop the rest of Nicanore here.

>>> contemporary chainmaille jewelry by joyz*k of Angelica Brigade <<<

A unusual, dramatic, timeless, and elegant statement necklace.

Looks great with almost everything: tank top or t-shirt and jeans, business suit, cocktail dress, evening dress, you name it.

Made with meticulous attention to detail, one jump ring at a time.

Lightweight for its size (62 grams / 2.1 oz. /  0.13 lb. )

Adorned with Swarovski Crystal Pearls which are “perfect replica(s) of genuine pearls. They are similar in weight and behaviour, adjust to the temperature of the skin and are resistant to rubbing, scratching, perfume, perspiration and UV light. Above all, they are the first pearls in the world with a crystal core and an innovative, silky smooth pearl coating.” ( Source: http://www.create-your-style.com/Content.Node/swarovski-elements/Crystal-Pearls.en.php )

An original design by joyz*k from Angelica Brigade.

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IMPORTANT:
Each Swarovski Crystal Pearl has two (2) tiny (pin-sized) DRILL HOLES on them.

> > > Please look at pictures closely and see whether the drill holes makes you like the necklace less < < <

{ For example, on pic #1, the visible drill holes are on the 4th pearl from the left and the 2nd pearl from the right }

But . . . I love how the gleaming crystal pearls look with the chain. Plus, the people who saw me wearing this necklace do not notice the drill holes because they are hidden from view by the handmade chain. So, I decided to go ahead and create this necklace.

Currently, I’m in the process of researching and sourcing some materials (gemstones, crystals, handmade polymer clay beads) that can be good substitutes to the Swarovski crystal pearls. If you are interested, please contact me via Etsy or e-mail : angelicabrigade [ a t ] g m a i l – dot – c o m

Please see picture #1 closely and you can see those drill holes: one on the 4th pearl from the left & one on the 2nd pearl from the right.

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Style name: Gwynn

Length: Approx. 22″ (56 cm)

This necklace is finished with a gold-plated pewter (tin-based alloy) toggle clasp.

The color of the chain: Yellow gold, similar to 22 karat gold.
The color of the Swarovski crystal pearls: Gleaming Light Grey

Please remember that monitors with different calibrations might depict colors somewhat differently.

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Materials: Blue Buddha Boutique premium anodized aluminum jump rings, Swarovski Crystal Pearls, hammered pewter (tin-based) toggle clasp.

The composition of the jump rings:
Aluminum: 96.6 – 98.5%; Magnesium 1.5 – 2.1%; trace amounts of Chromium, Copper, iron, Manganese, Silicon, Titanium, Zinc

Maintenance:
The color of the chain can be scratched by harder metals,. Oils from your skin may change the colors. Some of the color can be restored by washing the piece in soap and water.

http://www.angelica-brigade.com

Inspired by the texture and pattern of the muscular system, intricate trapunto stitching mimics the muscular grain in pinkish nude lightweight wool and stone wool crepe.  The textured separates are paired with diaphanous fabrics, chiffon and silk jersey, to offset the weight of the quilted pieces and to craft a balance of the intimidating and ethereal.

Croquis are drawn in pen, clothing in marker and colored pencil.  Flat drawings are hand-drawn in pen.

Having trained in women’s wear at Parsons, Tomas loves that there are so many possibilities, from silhouettes to embellishments to color and patterns. However, he does claim that there is still a possibility he will venture into men’s wear in the future!

He describes his label, TOMAS, as “refined yet wearable art” that targets determined, cosmopolitan women. The four designs we have

available on Zoora are just that: effortlessly wearable. The flowing silhouettes are flattering for just about any body, yet the pieces have a look that makes you feel that they are so incredibly unique. If there is anything we love above all else, it is unique designs that fit!

For each individual piece, Robin focuses heavily on the silhouette first. Once he has added detailing to perfect the design, he ventures out to find the colors and patterns that will work best. The result? As Robin claims, “ECP — Easy Chic Pieces.” We couldn’t agree more!

So, we have once again found a perfect match for Zoora. A big welcome to TOMAS, and happy shopping fashionistas!

Mother of pearl is the inner shell of a pearl-bearing mollusk;

When this mollusk produces young, the young lives inside the parent. In order for the young to protect its tiny existence, it begins to fortify the inside of the mother-shell with layer upon layer of inexhaustible secretions of nacre (the same substance pearls are made of). The colors and iridescence of mother of pearl depends on the type of mollusk and the components of it’s surrounding environment.

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In many cultures throughout history, pearls themselves were discarded in favor of the iridescent mother of pearl shell; legend claims that Indonesian children once used actual pearls as marbles.

The Ancient Sumerians, Mediterraneans, Turkish and Chinese have used Mother of pearl for centuries in jewelry and incredibly ornate inlays. In Egypt, decorative mother of pearl dates back to at least 4200 BC.

View all Mother of Pearl jewelry from Eva Shaw Designs in our Marina Collection

View all pearl jewelry from Eva Shaw Designs in our Marina Collection

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Pearls are one of the few organic gems. When a foreign substance enters the shell of an oyster or mollusk, the creature coats the substance in layers upon layers of nacre to protect itself, thus forming a pearl.

Prized by rulers such as Julius Caesar, pearls were one of the most valuable substances in the ancient world. Ancient Roman general Vitellius financed an entire military campaign with the sale of just one of his mother’s pearl earrings. The epic Greek poet Homer wrote of pearls as early as the 7^th century BC. 14^th century Venetian adventurer Marco Polo described the pearl encrusted robes of barons and knights at the birthday festival of the notorious Mongol emperor, Kublai Khan.

19^th century painter John Singer Sargent used seven separate brushstrokes, each with a distinct hue to realistically depict a single white pearl. This subtle luminescence, or “orient” of pearls, paired with the unique way they are formed, made them one of the most valuable substances in the ancient world, even more-so than gold or diamonds. Pearls are the birthstone for June.

TYPES OF PEARLS:

Natural, round pearls are the result of the natural efforts of salt-water oysters, without anyhuman interference.

Natural freshwater pearls are smaller, slightly oblong and form in freshwater mollusks.

Cultured pearls occur when a foreign substance in injected into a living oyster, thus prompting it to cover the foreign substance with layers of nacre. The nacre conforms to the shape of the substance and can produce pearls with a variety of shapes.

Oysters that form Keishi pearls reject the foreign substance that enters their shell; thus the pearls are formed without a nucleus and are therefore 100% nacre. They are often highly valued for their spectacular, rare orient and often have a much higher luster than even the finest cultured pearls. The word Keishi means “poppy seed” in Japanese.

Sweet Delicate 70′s Style. click on the pic for mo’ info

mmhmm

Click for more info

Red Stripe Chevron, Baby

Organic Bamboo Denim Handmade Obi

click here for more info

DAYLIGHT One of a Kind Jersey Dress

Organic Cotton Jersey Dress OOAK

Twists and Turns and Hugs and Flows

ORACLE Hooded Dress

ORGANIC Geometric Dress // One of a kind

and lots more here!

As an independent jewelry designer, I have so much admiration of others who also are true to their passions and are lucky to be able to make a living creating beautiful things. New York City based designer Grace Sun‘s line embodies both uptown chic & downtown cool. I can totally see my chic & cool quotients edging higher if this lil flirty number’s in my closet. It’s a featured and favorite piece at the premier online global network of independent designers — StyleTrek.com (brainchild of fellow Academy of St. Aloysius High School alumna Cecilia Pagkalinawan @ceciliaNY).