Featured Artist Beccijo of The Enchanted Cupboard

I ran across the cutest shop! I was amazed by all the storybook characters, mermaids, fairies and playsets there. Here's an interview from Beccijo at The Enchanted Cupboard on 1000markets.

Tell us about yourself?
There are may parts of me and who I am. Mother, daughter, sister, wife and friend. I have always been a creator, painter, storyteller but my heart is alive with being a Toy Maker. I really feel I found myself, the part that thrives. It has made me see life in full color again. When I am creating I feel like my cells are singing!

What inspires you the most?
My childhood and my children. Many of the ideas came from my daydreams as a child and things I dream up for my children. Now as I move in to being an established Toy Maker I find myself watching how children play with my toys. Often times they will say things that I had not thought of like; "Where is the daddy mermaid?", now I am working on him and his name. My children now brainstorm with me about what else needs to be added to any of the toy series. My business has become a creative and fun part of our family.

Do you have any unique talents?
My painting has always been an important part of who I am. Sometimes parts get lost or unused as life takes over. My dolls let me paint and be creative in a very fun way. I am also very big on us being a green family and we have learned to make lots of the every day things we need by ourselves.

What promotional tools have been the most effective for your shop?
Teams and Markets, getting connected is good for marketing, getting ideas, and finding out the ins-n-outs of online selling. Being a good listener (reader) if you don't know the answer go Google it and learn.

As a handmade seller, what lesson did you learn the hard way?
During your down time stock up for big selling times. This past season really went by in a blur of swirling colors and fairies dancing in my sleep. I really felt like one of Santa's elves but unlike them my deadline was much sooner then Christmas Eve.

What is your best selling item?
My "The Fairy Ring" series are my best sellers, people just love all the wonderful delighted feelings these little ladies bring. The fairies, playsets, Playboxes, and accessories sets are bought for young and old. This past holiday season they have traveled all over the world.

Handmade Highway....

I just joined the Handmade Highway.

"The Handmade Highway is a living, dynamic directory of handmade sellers giving users 1-click access to handmade shops, products, pictures, location, seller contact info, and availability for wholesale, consignment, bulk discounts, custom work and availability for blog features and giveaways. The goal of Handmade Highway is to give buyers and sellers a reliable place to find what they’re looking for regardless of where a particular seller or a particular product is sold."

I'm can't wait to start featuring sellers from the Handmade Highway that have listed their shops as eligible for giveaways and features. This site seems like a really great way to network and meet new people in the handmade community. Check it out if you get a chance.

The Succulent Wife Market at 1000 Markets

I'm so very excited. About a week ago I got an email from a wonderful woman at 1000 markets named Anne-Marie. She invited me to join her new marketplace, The Succulent Wife's Marketplace.
The marketplace focuses on unique gifts that are made with passion and have spirit and meaning. She is handpicking items from different shops on 1000markets and is incorporating them into gift categories. Currently my hypnosis CD's are featured in Gifts for him (enhance sports performance hypnosis), Gifts for her (sleep soundly, relaxation, and weight loss hypnosis), Gifts for Mother's Day (relaxation) and Gifts for children (study effectively hypnosis).
She really has a talent for picking unique gifts. One new member of the marketplace has a fantastic shop. It's called ReArt. She describes her art as "...a convergence of personal joys, skills, visions and idiosyncrasies and I am delighted to share it. My pieces incorporate found objects and recycled odds and ends. I love to pick up rocks, beach glass and rusty things on the side of the road." Here are a few of my favorites in her shop:














Aren't those fabulous? Check her out if you get a chance.

I was asked to write a blog entry about being a hypnotherapist and the inspiration that led me to offering my hypnosis CD's online. I was also asked to provide a picture of myself. I quickly realized I really don't have many pictures of myself. Today I asked my boyfriend and his daughter to follow me around with a camera. I quickly realized I'm really not that photogenic, lol. I think I am much cuter ;) but here's the picture we decided on.
I hope anyone reading this blog will check out the new market. It's really great and I am honored to be apart of it.