Bring on 2012!

2011 was a great year for Hapa Girls and I have all of my fans, followers and customers to thank for it!!!!

I am now ready to embark on 2012 with new goals and resolutions.  I am also looking forward to gaining new contacts and bringing new designs to life. 

What's Coming in 2012

January 8, 2012 will mark my 3rd year on Etsy! It's been an awesome experience and I feel very fortunate for all of the followers, fans, admirers and contacts I have made through this ever growing Handmade Market Place.

If you did not know this by now, every year I have an ETSY Anniversary Giveaway!!  The first year I gave away a Cherry Blossom Key Chain.  The second year I gave away a pair of Cherry Blossom earrings.  This year, I thought I would change it up a bit!  I will be posting my, "Anniversary Giveaway" starting January 1, 2012 ~


Have a safe and Happy New Year!!!

"1000th Sale on Etsy Giveaway Winner" is...

Yes it has already been a week (a very busy one I might add) since my "1000th sale on Etsy Giveaway" begun!
I want to sincerely thank everyone who participated and left comments on my blog and Face book page.  I know with busy schedules it can be hard to keep up on blogging and facebooking!!

I truly appreciate everyone letting me know what their favorites items were and will be using that information to determine which items and designs I will be continuing to make in the following year!

The Winner is : Kathie @ Like A Box of Chocolates

Congratulations!!!

1000th Sale on Etsy Giveaway!!

When I opened Hapa Girls on Etsy almost 3 years ago, I never imagined I would have 1000 sales!  Actually it is probably more with all the custom multiple listings I've done, but still 1000!

 In honor of this personal milestone, I have decided to do a 1000th Sale Giveaway!!! You are probably wondering what you have to do to enter this giveaway?

Rules:
1.Visit my Etsy shop (if you haven't already) and take a look around.
2. Go to my Face Book Fan Page and post to my wall your favorite item in my shop.
3. Leave a comment and your contact info under this blog post.

How easy is that?

*I will be giving out numbers to everyone entering in the order of the information left in this blog post.
*I will pick a winner randomly with the help of Random.org.  I will announce the winner on my Face Book Fan Page!
*This giveaway starts TODAY, November 29th and will end on DECEMBER 6th (1 week from the start date.)

Oh! I bet you are wondering what I am giving away!!!!!  Well, since this ring was one of the top trending items on Wanelo with over 385 saves, I'm giving away one of my new Cherry Blossom Branch Adjustable Rings! You will have the choice of the Rounded petals or the pointed petals.

Good Luck and Thank You for making my 1000th sale possible!

It's that time of year...

When everyone is rushing to find the perfect gift for their family and friends.  If you are in need for help to find that special unique gift, Pinterest and Wanelo prove to be very helpful. Thousands of items from handmade Artisans can be found on both sites.

Urban Corner on Etsy

Lucy and Larry on Etsy

It's official!

Hapa Girls is kicking off the Holiday shopping season with the first of many Holiday items ready to ship!

I hope to get more pendants and earrings listed in the coming month.  All items will be inspired by the Holiday season but can be worn year round!!!

Pinterest and Wanelo

I know a lot of you are addicted to pinning products on Pinterest, I know my sister is!!  Has anyone tried Wanelo?  I came across Wanelo while looking at my Etsy Shop Stats.  I noticed I had quite a few visits from the site and thought I would check it out.  I signed up, it's free, and started searching through the many products displayed.  Like Pinterest, you can pin products to Wanelo the same way.  It's a great way to promote your products as well as find new products that are trending today.  Give it a try, you may find that someone has already been promoting your products for you! Pay it Forward!!

Just one of the many popular items on Wanelo

Get a jump start on this coming Holiday Season!

I can't believe how fast September has flown by!!  I told myself that I would be more prepared this Holiday season than I was last season so I will be stocking up on  Cherry Blossom earrings and Cherry Blossom Branch Cuff bracelets.  They were a hit last year so I hope to be fully stocked in that area.

I also hope to be adding a few "One of a Kind" items to my shop for those guys who always come in for that last minute gift!!! You know who you are - MEN!!!!!!

Enough about my shop!

I hope to have enough time to promote great gift ideas from other Etsy Artist.  I do most of my promoting on my Facebook Fan page, so if you would like to post your shop name on my page or follow me (no obligation), stop by and say Hi!

I love August!

I hate the fact that summer is coming to an end but I love the month of August because my daughter is turning 4!  Not only is it her Birthday but she is also starting pre-school.  Yes I have waited to the very end of her 3 years to put her in school and I am glad I did.  Although it's been great being a stay at home mom, it's now time to let her go.  I think she may have a hard time the first few days but I know I will have a harder time letting her go.

Happy Birthday!!!

 

 

Bring on the Holiday Season!

Look for new Fall and winter items in my Etsy shop!

I love Custom Orders!

I was recently asked to create a charm for a customers bridal bouquet. Her original charm was a bit of a disappointment and asked if I could make her another one.

 Thank you Kelli for sending me this photo of your beautiful bouquet!

What's New in August

I hope to get many new items listed this month.  I also hope to get a head start on Halloween and Christmas items!

This was a custom order!

Cherry Blossom Hair Picks!

August

I love this color!!

Happy 4th of JULY!!!

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION for Independence Day! ****July 1- 4 ***** This Weekend only - Hapa Girls is giving 10% off your total purchase! Coupon Code "JULYRTN" may only be used once per customer. Excludes Custom orders and shipping.Thank you!!

Shop these new items and more!

New Fun Treasury!

I Love, Love, Love Summer!

What's going on in the studio?

Key, Keys, Keys!

When I get an idea in my head, there is no stopping me!  Right now I am obsessed with making key style pendants.  These are my newest additions.

I have also added a new Lotus pendant to my ever growing collection of flowers.  I started making this blossom about a year ago but only offered it in my shop when one was made.  It is now available as a made to order item. Let's see how it does!!!

Spring Cleaning  

I know some metal artists participate in challenges such as "Ring a Day".  I would love to do that but there is not enough time in a day, week or month to devote the energy needed to come up with designs for a new ring EVERYDAY.  I also can't see myself creating so many pieces that may never find a new home but the plastic container I keep them in! 

On that note, one doesn't have to participate in a challenge to have excess rings and pendants. I think all jewelry artists/Metalsmiths, have pieces they have made tucked away in  baggies titled, "NEED TO LIST ON ETSY", or "NEED TO RE-PHOTOGRAPH"! 

It may have taken me 2 years but I final am starting to clean out those baggies and get these pieces out for public viewing!  Visit my "Is this Ring Your Size" section of Hapa Girls and get Free Shipping !

Change up your packaging presentation

When running your own handmade business, I feel the artist should stay as true to handmade as possible. After all, if a customer wanted something more commercial looking why not go to a big brand name store. 

I have always used commercially printed "Thank you" cards with all of my orders. I love the style of the card I use and they fit within my budget.  However, after using these cards for sometime now I would like to hand make my own.  Sounds crazy doesn't it? Seeing that I am so busy with being a Mom, homemaker and running a small jewelry business.

I have decided to start off small by first carving out my own Cherry Blossom stamp.  I think it gives my handmade products a bit of a personal touch.

I have yet to perfect the appearance of the stamp but feel it looks pretty nice! 

Recently I purchased a Letterpress kit for my Cuttlebug.  My next step will be to transform my design into a letterpress plate so I can letterpress my own note cards with this kit.  I am excited to try this new tool out and will blog about the results!!

Collaborating with other Etsy Artists can be fun -

Especially when it's your sister!

At Urban Corner you'll find beautifully hand wrapped leather bracelet decorated with Swarvoski crystals and Rhinestones.  Now you'll be able to purchase bracelets with my sterling silver and copper cherry blossoms.  I have customized my cherry blossoms to fit her leather wraps, not only as a decorative piece, but as a closure.

Have a peek into her shop and request a custom order.  I put my order in for a Triple leather wrap with these gorgeous 6mm red Agate beads.  I can't wait to share it with everyone!

Unlock the month of May

with a handmade key by Hapa Girls!

 

Each key is hand fabricated and stamped with my signature. Now available on Etsy!!

Spring has Sprung!

Hapa Girls will be collaborating with Urban Corner! If you have not yet taken a look at my sister's shop, Urban Corner, now would be a good time.  I will be making a few silver and copper cherry blossom buttons for her beautiful leather wrap bracelets.  I am exclusively customizing my cherry blossoms into button closures for Urban Corner.  You will not be able to find these anywhere but in her shop!
I am excited and can not wait to show my fans and followers the final product!
Here is a sneak peek of the blossom closure!

Recycled sterling silver and bronze

Celebrating MOM

Mother's Day is fast approaching. There are many wonderful commercial gifts for Mom but why not give her something unique and handmade.

Flora and Fauna Press

Belle Terre

Angelina Fong

Wapa

Sarahespania

Where are they now?

In October 2009, I did a feature called "Exposure" on 8 Etsy artists.  I chose artists that had been on Etsy for about 1 year and had less than 50 sales, like myself.  So you ask, where are they now and how is their business doing a 1 1/2 years later?  Have a look at their shops now!

This is the post from October 2009.  Let's revisit them and show them some Etsy Love!  Click on their shop NAME to visit their shop!

This month I wanted to feature shops that were either on Etsy for more than a year and had less than 50 sales, or had been on Etsy for less than a year with less than 50 sales. My shop, Hapa Girls falls into the second category of less than a year and 50 sales or less. While putting this feature together, I got my 50th sale!!

I would like to help Expose everyone I have featured so they can reach their 50th goal.

Featured are 8 different shops from different areas of the art world. In photo order.

I found Studiondanale in the Etsy forums. I went to her shop and found this great children's painting of a train. I thought it was interesting how she had taken a 2-dimensional painting and turned it into a 3-dimensional painting by adding air dried clay. Studiodanale has many other unique items for decorating your nursery.

How can anyone pass up this lavender dandelion by ginaphoto . I think photographers don't get quite enough credit as I think they should. As we all know taking photos of our works of art can be frustrating. Can you imagine taking a photo of building or a bridge, outside, in a variety of light conditions? Gina is a 12 years veteran of photography and it shows! Her black and white cityscape photographs are amazing.

I originally found WhiteSparrowbindery on Twitter, or maybe they found me first! Either way, I was immediately drawn to their Giraffe Journal. I love writing in journals and my daughter loves giraffes, what a great combination! The Whitesparrowbindery offers a great variety of handmade journals, photo albums and sketch books ( a must for us artists). They even make holiday journals which make great gifts!

Drcraze, was found in the Etsy forums. I am so glad the Dr. replied to my post. As a jewelry artist and wood worker, I love to mix the two mediums. So naturally I was drawn to the idea of concrete, glass and metal. Though we think concrete is heavy, Dr. Craze's pendants look light and airy with the use of brass tubing inlays. Love it!

Studiomme, has been a favorite of mine for the past 6 months! Her Victorian inspired illustrations are amazing! Let me just say, drawing is a requirement for any art degree, but that doesn't mean we can all draw!!!! Some people have a gift for it and Megan has it! Megan is not only an Illustrator , but she is also a printmaker, photographer and much more.

I found Gr8clay while I was searching for sushi dishes! I think I have found them! Gr8clay offers great functional pottery with amazing detail. The Oxyblood mug is too die for...

Choumie7, Is another great Illustrator that I have been following on Twitter for some time now. Christelle has a dreamy style to her illustrations that radiate a sense of tranquility! I also like the idea that she has taken her original drawings and made them into jewelry and accessories. Can you say "Multifunctional Art"

Lastly, I found Rebecca of edwardandlilly on flickr. Her wool felt and embroidered bird ornament caught my eye, especially the lavender one! Her shop is filled with handmade embroidered items and plush animals, a sure "sweet" friend for your little one.

Everyone needs a little Exposure now and then. For some of us having an Etsy shop is a business and for others its just a hobby. Whichever it may be for you, it never hurts to help someone else attain their goals.

Thank you to all the artist that allowed me to feature them.
Please leave a comment and visit their shops!

I just want to say.....

Thank you!
March was awesome for Hapa Girls!
For starters my silver cherry blossom ring made it to the front page of Etsy!  To top that, my cherry blossom branch cuff made it into the Etsy Finds daily email!

It was the perfect month to have been featured as I am donating a percentage of my sales to The American Red Cross to aid Japan in their time of need! I'm excited to donate and feel very appreciative to have had such a great month.

I just want to give a big "Thank You" to all of my new customers as well as returning customers!

Let's help one another.

Hapa Girls will be donating 20% of all purchases this month to the American Red Cross to help Japan in this time of need. 

New Cherry blossom lantern pendant

This is the second lantern pendant I have made.  This one was a little more challenging but I think it came out great.

It's always nice to make it to Etsy's Front page!

The last time a ring of mine was featured on the front page of Etsy, I was not home to see it. So you can imagined how shocked I was to log into Craftcult and see over 140 item hearts! My first thought was, I might be on the front page!!! I was!!!

I find it amazing that in 1 hour on the front page of Etsy can generate over 30 new shop hearts, 140+ item hearts (95 of those hearts just on the ring featured) and 3 sales. 

Thank you to Pilulajula for featuring me in her treasury!

Something New!

My Cherry Blossom lantern pendant came out exactly the way I envisioned it! I am very excited to be added this one of a kind piece to my Etsy shop!

Free Shipping Through End of February!

Although it's too late to ship by Valentines Day, I am extending Free Shipping on all of my "Ready Made Heart" items!! 

Heart Bangle

All of the Heart items are one of a kind!

February is filled with hearts!

Holes in My Heart

   It's February and Etsy shops are filled with hearts.  From small hearts to big hearts, whole hearts to broken hearts, hearts are every where!
    Isn't amazing how two tear drop shapes set side by side can affect a persons emotional state.  What is it about the shape of a heart that makes people so happy?  After all, an anatomical heart looks nothing like the shape everyone calls a heart.
   Though theories vary on the origins of the heart shape, people all over the world recognize this symbol for love.  Every year people search for the perfect heart gift to give to their loved ones.
Click on the link below to view my collection of Hearts in my first curated Treasury 

I Heart You

 

I love my New Piggy!!

I just got my new Piggy today and I love him!!! I had him custom made by Ruth Jensen of Sparkflight on Etsy.  He is perfectly sculpted from copper wire and sits in my kitchen.  I think he may be waiting for a friend to play with!!! 
Please take a look at Sparkflight as Ruth is an amazing artist! 

Something for Dog Lovers!

Tanner

When I'm not taking care of my busy 3 year old daughter, and I am not working in the shop, I love shopping on Etsy! My most recent purchase is for all you Dog Lovers!! 

Tanner my Vizsla,  is always cold. So I thought I would find him a coat.  I came across Cozy Horse on Etsy.  They make Custom Horse Blankets & Dog Coats.  I simply gave them Tanner's measurements and 2 weeks later Tanner has his new coat! I love it!!

New Heart Helix Piercing for Valentines Day

I will be making these sterling silver Heart Helix piercings through February.

Find this on Etsy

Look for "Four Leaf Clovers" In March!

I love making new things!!

Custom orders are always welcome...

My Heart Capsule

And the winner is......

Congratulations to Abby! She was winner of my, 2 year Anniversary on Etsy Giveaway!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated, new and old follwers!!!  I had many more participants this year than I had last year which made this giveaway even more fun!!

Stay in touch with my blog, Facebook and Etsy shop as I am closing in on my 400th sale. I will be giving a free gift with the 400th sale!!

New Heart Collection

I have created two new heart pendants for Valentines Day!  I hope to have a few more within the next 2 weeks.  Each heart is hand fabricated and is "One of a Kind".

My Ripped Heart

I'll Keep Us Safe

I'll Keep You Safe

Prisoner of Love