Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Google Groups
We have just started up a Google group, you should be receiving invitations by email in the next couple of days. If you have not received an invitation and would like to be a part of this group please let us know. Send an email to SOMA artisansguild @gmail.com.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The First Craft Show Sept 14th 2009
Nancy Cook of SewNancy with her beautiful hand knits, felted bowls and pocket books, and one of a kind baby outfits. Get ready for the fall with her felt acorns, they look super cute in one of her felted bowls.
Semiprecious by Alison Oxman. Alison's beautiful jewelry made with semiprecious stones is quite beautiful and very well finished with great attention to detail. Unfortunately Alison managed to avoid being photographed. Apologies Alison, please send me one to put in the post.
We all thank Katie Clayton of On the Drying Rack who pulled this event together in a very short time. Jazz up your bulletin board and fridge with her fun flower pushpins, magnets and paperclips.
Jo Bradney, award winning artist with her beautiful fine art prints and note cards, originals too. Check out her note cards documenting her garbage. Who would have thought that garbage could be so alluring!
Ann Vollum of BeastlyBeasties does t shirts and letterpress prints and notecards all adorned with wierd and wonderful beasties. The window was a nice sunny spot to be, but not great for photos!We would like to thank Nancy Cook ( SewNancy), Jo Bradney and Alison Oxman (Semiprecious) for joining Katie Clayton (On the Drying Rack) and Ann Vollum (BeastlyBeasties) at the first SOMA Artisan's Craft show at Express Yourself Studios on Springfield Avenue, Maplewood.
Although traffic was not great I think I am right in saying that we all found the show a great experience for learning from. We had fun trading ideas and getting to know each other better. I believe that everyone came away with something from having participated, new ideas, critiques, some of us made sales, and we have all had more exposure from this show than we would have otherwise had. So please contact Katie at somaartisansguild@gmail.com if you are interested in participating in future shows.
The Maplewood Patch
We had our first small craft show on September the 14th at Express Yourself Studios. Check out the article on The Patch.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Article on Maplewood Patch
We are very excited to have our group mentioned on The Maplewood Patch, please check it out. Other news is that we will be giving Jerry's Art Store at Essex Green a membership list. All SOMA Artisan Guild members will be able to get a 10% discount at the store. We will let you know when details have been finalized.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Meeting Sept. 10th at Kari's Cafe
Welcome! Katie and I would like to thank all of you who came to the meeting today. We were thrilled by the enthusiastic turn out, Katie counted twenty-two. We have a very diverse and talented group and are excited to be working with you all.
The first order of business was to introduce ourselves to each other and to say a few words about our craft to the group.
The up coming shows on Springfield Avenue, both at Express Yourself Studios and at Kari's were discussed. We will be finalizing the list for the show on the 14th tonight. Katie will confirm with those of you who signed up for that event.
The Etsy only show set for Oct. 5th at Kari's was also discussed. Kari suggested that the artists leave their work out on the tables for a week and that her cafe handles the sales in return for a fee of 10% of the sale price.
The idea for a big winter / holiday show at The Ethical Culture Society was very popular so we will move ahead with that.
We discussed posting information about our group to this blog, so please become a follower and check in regularly.
Our Facebook page was also discussed, all members will be sent an invitation to be a friend. Hopefully that will be up and running very soon. Please post images of your work here with links to your sites. As this page will be a marketing page for us all feel free to post your latest line and prices, Etsy shop etc.
Down the line we will put up a web site. Jo has kindly offered to put this together for us, but we will need to raise funds to pay for a web address and hosting. In the meantime we will make Facebook and the blog work for us.
Issues that were raised were:
• How to show that we are members of the group
• How do we link our online presence with the rest of the group
• Will Springfield Avenue be enough exposure for the group or will it become saturated
• How will the Etsy team work, and how do members indicate that they are a team member
We will be looking in to all of these issues and will keep you posted.
Please support the group, we ask you to send out email flyers about the sales to all your friends. Talk the sales up whether you are in the show or not. We will be sending out a file for the first show, it will be a little last minute but please let people know about the shows so that we can increase traffic.
Katie and I were interviewed about the group for the Maplewood Patch. We will post a link when it comes out... or check the Patch over the next day or two.
The next meeting is Friday 25th Sept. at Kari's at 7:30pm for Etsy members only.
Thanks again for coming and we look forward to working as a group with you all.
Ann and Katie
The first order of business was to introduce ourselves to each other and to say a few words about our craft to the group.
The up coming shows on Springfield Avenue, both at Express Yourself Studios and at Kari's were discussed. We will be finalizing the list for the show on the 14th tonight. Katie will confirm with those of you who signed up for that event.
The Etsy only show set for Oct. 5th at Kari's was also discussed. Kari suggested that the artists leave their work out on the tables for a week and that her cafe handles the sales in return for a fee of 10% of the sale price.
The idea for a big winter / holiday show at The Ethical Culture Society was very popular so we will move ahead with that.
We discussed posting information about our group to this blog, so please become a follower and check in regularly.
Our Facebook page was also discussed, all members will be sent an invitation to be a friend. Hopefully that will be up and running very soon. Please post images of your work here with links to your sites. As this page will be a marketing page for us all feel free to post your latest line and prices, Etsy shop etc.
Down the line we will put up a web site. Jo has kindly offered to put this together for us, but we will need to raise funds to pay for a web address and hosting. In the meantime we will make Facebook and the blog work for us.
Issues that were raised were:
• How to show that we are members of the group
• How do we link our online presence with the rest of the group
• Will Springfield Avenue be enough exposure for the group or will it become saturated
• How will the Etsy team work, and how do members indicate that they are a team member
We will be looking in to all of these issues and will keep you posted.
Please support the group, we ask you to send out email flyers about the sales to all your friends. Talk the sales up whether you are in the show or not. We will be sending out a file for the first show, it will be a little last minute but please let people know about the shows so that we can increase traffic.
Katie and I were interviewed about the group for the Maplewood Patch. We will post a link when it comes out... or check the Patch over the next day or two.
The next meeting is Friday 25th Sept. at Kari's at 7:30pm for Etsy members only.
Thanks again for coming and we look forward to working as a group with you all.
Ann and Katie
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Agenda: Meeting Sept. 10, 10 am Kari's Cafe
for Meeting on Thursday September 10 at 10am at Kari’s Cafe on Springfield Avenue, Maplewood.
1. Introductions. A chance for everyone to introduce themselves to the group and to show samples of their craft
2. Craft shows / Events.
Dates as follows:
• September 14th, 21st at Express Yourself Studios Maplewood
• 26th at Aristocrats Then & Now on Irvington Ave., South Orange
• For Etsy members only:
October 5th at Kari’s Cafe
• October 31st. Festival Springfield Avenue
3. Advertising
• A banner on Springfield Avenue
• Flyers for shows
• Press / on line
4. Blog
somaartisansguild.blogspot.com
We will be using this blog to post information to the group. Apologies to those of you who signed on as contributors. This blog will only be posted to by Ann and Katie. On it you will find:
• Information about meetings: agendas, minutes, time and location of up coming meetings.
• Information about up coming shows and events.
• Please post comments and questions
5. Facebook
This is where we will be inviting you to post your images and post comments.
6. The next meeting will be on Friday Sept. 25th at 7.30pm at Kari’s Cafe on Springfield Avenue in Maplewood. This meeting is for Etsy members only.
7. Comments, suggestions, questions. Sign up and table fees.
1. Introductions. A chance for everyone to introduce themselves to the group and to show samples of their craft
2. Craft shows / Events.
Dates as follows:
• September 14th, 21st at Express Yourself Studios Maplewood
• 26th at Aristocrats Then & Now on Irvington Ave., South Orange
• For Etsy members only:
October 5th at Kari’s Cafe
• October 31st. Festival Springfield Avenue
3. Advertising
• A banner on Springfield Avenue
• Flyers for shows
• Press / on line
4. Blog
somaartisansguild.blogspot.com
We will be using this blog to post information to the group. Apologies to those of you who signed on as contributors. This blog will only be posted to by Ann and Katie. On it you will find:
• Information about meetings: agendas, minutes, time and location of up coming meetings.
• Information about up coming shows and events.
• Please post comments and questions
5. Facebook
This is where we will be inviting you to post your images and post comments.
6. The next meeting will be on Friday Sept. 25th at 7.30pm at Kari’s Cafe on Springfield Avenue in Maplewood. This meeting is for Etsy members only.
7. Comments, suggestions, questions. Sign up and table fees.
First Meeting Thursday Sept. 10th at 10 am
Thank you all for your interest in our new Guild.
Our first meeting is on Thursday September 10 at 10 am at Kari’s Cafe, 1883 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood, NJ. (Tel: 973.762.6788) Do not worry if you can’t make it we will post the agenda and minutes for the first meeting on our blog. The cafe is located at Springfield and Prospect, the best place to park is in the municipal lot between Park and Indiana on Springfield. Parking is free.
Please come with your ideas of what you would like the group to achieve and ways you can help, also please bring a sample of your work to share with the group.
Members will be invited to post images of their work and inspirations to a Facebook page that we are creating. More on that at the meeting.
We will be using our blog: somaartisansguild.blogspot.com to pass on information to you and to post the agendas and minutes from our meetings.
Important! We need a commitment from eight Etsy members in order to form our team. Please give us your commitment as soon as possible if you would like to participate.
We look forward to seeing you on the 10th.
Ann and Katie
-
SOMA Artisan’s Guild
Our first meeting is on Thursday September 10 at 10 am at Kari’s Cafe, 1883 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood, NJ. (Tel: 973.762.6788) Do not worry if you can’t make it we will post the agenda and minutes for the first meeting on our blog. The cafe is located at Springfield and Prospect, the best place to park is in the municipal lot between Park and Indiana on Springfield. Parking is free.
Please come with your ideas of what you would like the group to achieve and ways you can help, also please bring a sample of your work to share with the group.
Members will be invited to post images of their work and inspirations to a Facebook page that we are creating. More on that at the meeting.
We will be using our blog: somaartisansguild.blogspot.com to pass on information to you and to post the agendas and minutes from our meetings.
Important! We need a commitment from eight Etsy members in order to form our team. Please give us your commitment as soon as possible if you would like to participate.
We look forward to seeing you on the 10th.
Ann and Katie
-
SOMA Artisan’s Guild
An Introduction to: SOMA Artisan's Guild
Artists Katie Clayton of CraftyKatie (CraftyKatie6.etsy.com) and Ann Vollum of BeastlyBeasties (BeastlyBeasties.etsy.com) are starting up a group to help local artisans promote and sell their work both locally and on Etsy.
We are inviting artists and crafters who either have or are planning to start a small business selling their work. The group is a local group for South Orange and Maplewood artisans, we are also extending the invitation to our neighboring towns. There will be a sub group called SOMA Etsy for those of us who have Etsy stores. This group will be registered as an official Etsy team.
Our goals are:
• networking
• self and cross promoting
• sales and marketing
local exposure through newspaper and magazine and on-line articles
increased exposure through Maplewood on line and SouthOrangePatch
• local shows and selling opportunities
• facebook
• blogging
• local craft shows
For Etsians:
• shop critiques
• how to shoot better images of our items for sale
• how to increase sales
These are some initial ideas. There will be no membership fee to join the group, however we do expect all members to share their expertise with the group. For certain events we may need to collect a fee to cover any expenses for the group.
If you are interested please e mail us at with the following information:
somaartisansguild@gmail.com
• name
• name of business
• type of business
• e-mail address
• do you want to be an Etsy team member
• telephone number
• an expertise that you are willing to share with the group. (don’t worry if you can’t think of one now)
The first meeting will be held on Thursday September 10th, at 10 am and there after the meetings will most likely be on the first Thursday of the month. If you can’t attend the meetings do not worry, we will be able to communicate on line too. At the first meeting we would like in put from you all as to what you would like to contribute to and what you would like to get out of this group.
We look forward to hearing from you all. Please pass this information on to anyone whom you think might be interested.
Best wishes,
Ann and Katie
We are inviting artists and crafters who either have or are planning to start a small business selling their work. The group is a local group for South Orange and Maplewood artisans, we are also extending the invitation to our neighboring towns. There will be a sub group called SOMA Etsy for those of us who have Etsy stores. This group will be registered as an official Etsy team.
Our goals are:
• networking
• self and cross promoting
• sales and marketing
local exposure through newspaper and magazine and on-line articles
increased exposure through Maplewood on line and SouthOrangePatch
• local shows and selling opportunities
• blogging
• local craft shows
For Etsians:
• shop critiques
• how to shoot better images of our items for sale
• how to increase sales
These are some initial ideas. There will be no membership fee to join the group, however we do expect all members to share their expertise with the group. For certain events we may need to collect a fee to cover any expenses for the group.
If you are interested please e mail us at with the following information:
somaartisansguild@gmail.com
• name
• name of business
• type of business
• e-mail address
• do you want to be an Etsy team member
• telephone number
• an expertise that you are willing to share with the group. (don’t worry if you can’t think of one now)
The first meeting will be held on Thursday September 10th, at 10 am and there after the meetings will most likely be on the first Thursday of the month. If you can’t attend the meetings do not worry, we will be able to communicate on line too. At the first meeting we would like in put from you all as to what you would like to contribute to and what you would like to get out of this group.
We look forward to hearing from you all. Please pass this information on to anyone whom you think might be interested.
Best wishes,
Ann and Katie
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