Thursday, July 29, 2010

An Etsy Shop Review and Giveaway!!

Hey everyone!! Today I have for you, a review of an Etsy shop along with a giveaway!!
I love when things are handmade. To me, it makes each piece different and unique in it's own way. I have won giveaways before from Etsy shops and I think they are really great. And so I was overjoyed when Elizabeth, from USAFwife08, agreed to allow me the privilege of reviewing her site. And!! She was so kind and offered a giveaway of one of her tan Totes!!! There are soo many ways you could use this tote. Believe me, I would love one myself:)
Now, I spent a little bit shopping through her store. She does a lot of crocheting baby items but there were other items I found that were neat as well.

This is one of her crocheted items. These Baby Booties are adorable!!
I also liked her Quilted Pillow Case. This is a Patchwork Case and is very cute:)Then I looked through her jewelry. I like that these are simple but elegant at the same time. This Turquoise Bead Bracelet is something you could wear with a casual outfit or for a date night.

I have to say, one of the things I most liked about her shop is that her items are very cheap! I have been on some Etsy stores where the prices are more than I would pay in the store. But Elizabeth has very fair prices and much of her stuff is on sale right now. Overall, I would give this shop 5 stars!!

Now, Elizabeth has answered some questions I had for her and you can read them below.

Elizabeth, how did you choose the name of your shop?
I wanted my shop name to be me own name. It was the name of one of the mother's of King Henry's wives. I thought it was kind of catchy. However, to find my shop on Etsy, you have to search for the user name which I wasn't aware of for some reason so I suppose my shop name is usafwife08, which is based off my husband who is in the Air Force. Don't know what you can make out of that answer! lol. I wanted my shop name to be Elizabeth Howard but you can't search for it in the search data base, if that makes sense.

When did you know you wanted to open a shop on Etsy?

The moment I heard about the site I knew it was something I wanted to do. I knew several people who had friends who where using the site. I went and checked it out and I really loved it. I was trying to start my own website but I found that the community atmosphere of other people also selling handmade things would be more helpful and I would probably make more sales on a site such as Etsy.

How long have you been making items to sell?

I started earlier this year. Sales have been slow for me but they have started to pick up a little since I have been making summer items.

What type of items do you specialize in?

I started out making baby crochet items but they didn't seem to be selling as fast as I wanted so I whipped out the good old sewing machine and I am now making just about anything. My totes have sold out so I am really excited about that and I may start specializing in making totes. However, I will probably continue to make napkins, blankets and baby booties along with any other item I feel like making.

Is there any advice you can give to someone who is looking at opening their own store?
My advice would be to ask a lot of questions, especially toward the veterans on Etsy. I learned a lot about what to do and what not to do on Etsy. Here are some examples:
Make sure you have a product that is marketable. For the most part you know if it really could be, just be honest with yourself. As far as shops go, make sure you have clean crisp photos. Have good descriptions of each item along with the dimensions. Make sure your shop pleasing to the eye, a place someone would want to come back and visit. Besides that, never give up! The economy is slow right now and I think that is keeping a lot of people from buying. So, just hang in there and keep trek-in away.

What do you enjoy most about having your own shop?
I personally love to see the feedback! I love to hear that each person has honestly enjoyed the product and that they would want to come back to my store! It really makes me happy to see other people happy and excited about what I make.

READERS-Elizabeth has offered one of these totes for giveaway. No, it does not come with the stuff in it:) You get to fill it with what you want if you win it!! Read below and follow the instructions to enter the giveaway. You MUST follow directions.

MANDATORY ENTRY-Go to USAFwife08 and look around her store. Then come back and tell me in a comment an item you would like. It cannot be one I have named above!! You do not have to leave the product link but it has to be something in her shop.

EXTRA ENTRIES- Please leave a separate comment for each entry. If you get 3 entries, leave 3 comments. That way you get all your entries. I only put in however many entries are listed, so if you put in 3 entries in one comment, you only get one comment.

1.Tell me something you would carry in this tote or what you would use it for.
2.Add USAFwife08 to your favorite sellers. You must be a member of Etsy to do this.
3.Follow Elizabeth on Twitter.
4.Buy an item from Elizabeth's store. 5 entries on this. I will check with Elizabeth though to make sure the item was purchased.
5.Follow me on Twitter.
6.Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect.
7.Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed.
8.Tweet about this giveaway. Can be done 3 times a day. Please space them out. Also, please use the #giveaway hashtag and @ElishebaH
9.Blog or post about this on Facebook. 3 entries on this one as well.
10. Email this to a friend. You can get one entry for up to 5 people. So 5 is the most you can get for this entry.

This giveaway will end 8/6. Winner will be chosen through Random.org.

48 comments:

Vanessa said...

I love the pink cat apron.

Vanessa said...

I follow in GFC.

KP said...

I like the crochet button scarf

Unknown said...

I like the pink cat apron. But does it mean I have to cook while I wear it? Hmm.. let me rethink that! *LOL*

Unknown said...

I would carry my library books, of course. I have so many. Never enough time to read all the books I want.

Unknown said...

I added USAFwife08 to my favorite seller list on Etsy. I'm so glad I joined. Looks like lots of neat and unique items. Fun fun!

karenk said...

the 'blue stone bracelet' is beautiful...thanks for this givaway :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you all enjoyed my site! I have a new blog up, fyi!

http://myusaflife.blogspot.com/2010/07/august-already.html

Heidi V said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Heidi V said...

I love the Turquoise Bead Bracelet!

Thanks
heidivargas [at] live dot com

Heidi V said...

This tote would be my new library tote!

Thanks
heidivargas [at] live dot com

Heidi V said...

Following and Tweeted - http://twitter.com/HeidiVargas/status/19891851700

Thanks
heidivargas [at] live dot com

apple blossom said...

I loved the Pendant necklace and the pink cat apron and the Linen Clothes Pin Apron

Too much to choose from

Thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

I am a gfc follower

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

I would use the tote for carrying books to and from the library
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Stephanie said...

What pretty Neapolitan Napkins - I would love those, if I could choose one! Cheers, stephig13@yahoo.com

Michelle said...

I like the Pendant necklace
moma3homeschool(at)gmail(dot)com

Michelle said...

I would use the tote to carry the books I am reading. moma3homeschool(at)gmail(dot)com

Benita said...

I love the pendant necklace. So lovely!

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I would use it to carry pads and folders to and from work.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

GFC Follower.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Tori said...

love the http://www.etsy.com/listing/49637320/pink-cat-apron
vrtheriot@gmail.com

Tori said...

i would carry my teaching supplies in it.
vrtheriot@gmail.com

Tori said...

i follow you on twitter - mommatori82
vrtheriot@gmail.com

Beeb said...

I love the Pendant necklace: http://www.etsy.com/listing/44310373/pendant-necklace !

Thank you for the giveaway!

~Beeb

supercoupongirl AT gmail.com

Beeb said...

I would carry groceries in this!



~Beeb

supercoupongirl AT gmail.com

Yuki said...

I really like the Pinstripe Button Tote!!

yuki@michelf.com

Yuki said...

I would use it to go shopping, you know to avoid to use the plastic store bags!

yuki@michelf.com

Yuki said...

I hearted her shop on Etsy

CoccinelleEcolo

yuki@michelf.com

Yuki said...

I Follow Elizabeth on Twitter

@yuki_kokoro

yuki@michelf.com

Yuki said...

I Follow you on Twitter

@yuki_kokoro

yuki@michelf.com

Yuki said...

I follow you with GFC


yuki@michelf.com

ash said...

I sell Pampered Chef so I'd love to put my catalogs in this tote.

dyxymom said...

the button scarf is really cute. I am too hot natured to wear it but it would be cute on my sister. carebears81719ATyahooDOTcom

dyxymom said...

I would use it to carry my Bible, notebook, music books, and Sunday School Lessons in. carebears81719ATyahooDOTcom

dyxymom said...

I follow on twitter carebears81719ATyahooDOTcom

dyxymom said...

I follow your blog carebears81719ATyahooDOTcom

dyxymom said...

I subscribe carebears81719ATyahooDOTcom

Jessica said...

I love the muslin envelope totes
angeljmb at yahoo dot com

Jessica said...

I would love this tote for library books
angeljmb at yahoo dot com

Yuki said...

Tweeted

http://twitter.com/yuki_kokoro/status/20326985500

yuki@michelf.com

Things Sent My Way said...

The pendant necklace is adorable!

Mary Preston said...

The Green Baby Beanie is beautiful.


marypres@gmail.com

Crystal Arcand said...

My daughter would have a fit over the pink cat apron and I'd love to have the pinstrip totebag that has the three little red buttons on it.

(crystalarcand (at) gmail (dot) com)

Michelle Frame said...

I love the Blue Stone Bracelet.
mframe00@yahoo.com

Michelle Frame said...

I am a blog follower
mframe00@yahoo.com

Independentmami said...

I love the pink cat apron
http://www.etsy.com/listing/49637320/pink-cat-apron
super_alba_star@yahoo.com

Independentmami said...

I would use it to carry all my wedding planning items.
super_alba_star@yahoo.com

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