Lofted Designs Marks 600th Etsy Sale

I kind of want to throw a party and do a happy dance, but it's really busy right now up in the loft so I'm just going to write this quick blog post and have my own private party while I make more jewelry.

I JUST HIT 600 SALES ON ETSY!!!!

In case you're wondering, the 600th sale was a customer in Canada purchasing a personalized birthstone necklace. Thank you to ALL of my wonderful customers for helping me reach this milestone!

Shop Small with Gus & Ruby Letterpress - Portsmouth, NH

If you're shopping in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, this holiday season, be sure to stop by my favorite store Gus & Ruby Letterpress at 29 Congress Street. They have amazing gifts for anyone on your list who has excellent taste, but best of all they are fully stocked with a fresh batch of Lofted Designs pet tags (see pic above)!

Also, they're running some great promotions this weekend for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Be sure to stop in for discounts, a goodie box giveaway, good holiday cheer, and coffee and treats for early shoppers. If you happen to be shopping for a pet-lover or a stocking stuffer for a furry friend, my pet tags are usually right by the register. :)

Happy shopping and many thanks for supporting small businesses!

Happy Etsy-versary To Lofted Designs

I don't know how this happened, but in the blink of an eye five years has passed. That's right. Lofted Designs has been on Etsy for five years! This may seem trivial to most of you, but to me it's absolutely amazing.

I opened the shop on a whim, never dreaming it would turn into anything lasting, and thanks to all of you—my loyal supporters, customers, readers and fans—I'm still making new things, selling my original creations and finding time to enjoy this creative outlet and expensive little hobby of mine.

Etsy has been good to me. It has allowed me to reach customers worldwide who would have never found me otherwise. I've sold my jewelry and pet tags (including lots of custom orders) to people all over the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK, New Zealand, Norway, Italy, Russia, Taiwan, Singapore, Finland, South Africa, Brazil, and many others. And it's still a rush to receive an international order, even after five years.

Other recent and exciting milestones:

• Hit my 500th sale on Etsy this year, and am now closing in on 600!
• Surpassed 400 followers on Facebook!
• Amassed over 500 followers on Twitter!
• Lofted Designs joined Instagram!
• Soon to be featured in a well-known magazine (more on that soon)!

Over the past five years, I've been constantly trying to improve my shop. Slowly, but surely, I've been optimizing my listings and trying to improve my photography. In 2013, I enhanced my About page to include behind-the-scenes photos and some insights about my process. I've also been an active participant in several Etsy teams, especially the supportive and innovative group Etsy MaineTeam — home to the some of the most creative folks you can imagine.

One area for improvement, and something to work on in year six: listing new items. Right now, I have nearly 50 new items in stock that are not listed on Etsy: rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more. During the coming year, I'll try to be better about keeping my shop reflective of my current creative direction.

What suggestions do you have for me? I'm all ears. And thanks again for your support over the past five years!

Craft Fix - Sunday, 11/25 - Kittery, Maine

Greetings, holiday shoppers near southern Maine & Portsmouth! If you are sick of maddening big box doorbusters, crazy check-out lines, and crowded parking lots, I've got the perfect event for you. Come hang out at Craft Fix on Sunday! 

Lofted Designs will be there with a table full of sterling silver necklaces, rings, tie bars for men, sterling & vintage button earrings, NEW Jamaican beach stone earrings, pet tags, leather dog collars from P.D. Barkington, and more! 

The Details:

Buoy Gallery (next to the Black Birch)

2 Government St., Kittery, ME

10am - 5pm*

*Come early to avoid the crowds and get the best selection!

I'll be part of a truly great (and diverse) group of vendors this year. From jewelry, greeting cards and handbags to fresh caramels, knits, yoga mat bags and paper cut creations, you'll be able to shop for handcrafted and vintage items for everyone on your holiday list! Artists include (click the links for a sneak peek):

• Megan Stelzer (organizer extraordinaire)
• Annika Wisswaesser
• Danica Carlson
• Byrdy Dilando
• Jennifer Richmond
• Amy Jane Larkin
• Amanda Telford
• Amelia Davis
• Liz Battle
• Dylan Metrano
• Elizabeth Doherty
• Glenn Dilando
• Dan Blakeslee
• Margaret Dilando
• Erin Molloy
• Virginia Davis
• Lauren and Josh of Green Foundry
• Sophia Selden
• Tracy Mastro
• Frostline

BONUS: While you're in town, check out the incredibly beautiful exhibit at Drift Gallery around the corner and also the open artists studios down the road at Art on the Hill!

York Village Marketfest

This Friday & Saturday!
October 12 & 13
9 AM-4 PM

Visit Lofted Designs this Friday and Saturday at the annual Marketfest celebration in historic York Village, Maine. The forecast looks lovely and I can pretty much guarantee you've never seen more beautiful fall foliage in a such a quintessential New England village setting. 

As if Lofted Designs wasn't enough of a draw, this festival features:
• Dozens of talented artists and craftspeople
• An amazing variety of delicious foods
• Sidewalk sales
• Musical performances
• A "prisoner performance" (WHAT?) at The Museums of Old York
• Petting zoo
• Scarecrow contest (vote for your favorites!)
• Book sale
• MUCH more! You can seriously make a whole day of it. 

I will have a booth just behind the big food tent on Friday and Saturday from 9AM - 4PM. Unfortunately, the event website has virtually NO information on it, however this newspaper article lists a schedule of events. I've also created a Facebook event with all the details.