Putting my foot down

After a little bit of encouragement from a friend last night, I have made the decision to apply for a space at Providence's Open Market.

If accepted, I will be at Lippitt Park Saturday mornings, starting May 22nd!  Wish me luck...

Make it! - Personalized mug

This project seems ridiculously easy. They even make chalkboard spray paint now!

I'm dying to make something a chalkboard, but I'm not sure a mug is the answer for me.

Etsy Says: Increase Your Reach

Got another email from Etsy today. She (we'll refer to Etsy as female) gives four methods of increasing my outreach. Okay, I'll give it a shot.

1. Use Your Connections
Etsy says that I should ask my fellow bloggy friends to post something "non-spammy" about The Mighty Sprout.
Umm... connections? I don't have any. And friends with blogs? Certainly nothing relevant. Okay, maybe I just don't feel like begging friends to write some shameless plug about my jewelry. Whatever, Etsy, let's try #2.

2. Team Up
So, now she wants me to join Etsy teams. Etsy says this will increase traffic to my page. Okay, so I checked out the teams that I can join. First shot, the RI team. Wellll... Apparently I don't qualify because you need a minimum of 10 positive feedback. I have 0. Not because I suck, but because who really leaves feedback these days?
Then I found an "Etsy Designs" team. Graphic designers. Okay, I applied, we'll see how that goes. Just so you know, all team seem to require some sort of proof of how awesome you are. Darn, I was kind of hoping for instant gratification. I'll come back to this.
[Fun fact: there's an Etsy team for Menstruation. Sweeeet.]

3. Make A Statement
Etsy says to get funky. Make something pretty outlandish. Something where everyone is like "woah, that's nuts." So, what, they want me to make a vagina necklace? Or thong earrings? Not my style. My rule of thumb is if I would wear it, I'll make it. I don't make things that I don't find attractive. Forget #3. Move on.

4. Be a guest blogger.
Etsy! Woah! Move back to #1! Remember that part about me not having connections? Yeaaaaah. Didn't think so. Screw you, #4.

Okay, WASTE OF TIME. I'll work on #2, but that's all you've got, Etsy.

Amos House opens its Friendship Cafe

Thursday evening marks the opening of Amos House's new Friendship Cafe.  Click here to read RI Monthly's write up of the cafe.
A new place to get lunch, and a great way to benefit your community. Congrats, Amos House!

Buy yourself a staple gun

You may have heard (or experienced) the overwhelming flooding of RI last week.  It was, and still is, pretty bad.  Thankfully, my house made it through! The garage? Not so lucky. 

Well, whatever. Who needs a garage anyway?

Saturday, Elan and I headed up to MA to check out a craigslist find.  We bought these crazy retro patio chairs, and then scored some ridiculously low priced outdoor fabric at Jo-Ann fabrics (who, as an entire store, was incredibly un-helpful).  

Refurnishing the four chairs (a favorite past-time of mine) was all fun and games until I stapled through my leg.

And in lieu of the gorgeous weather we've been having, I finally brought my seedlings outdoors.

Anyone got a good design for a raised bed?

To be or not to be... a vendor.

I have been considering the idea of applying for a spot at one of the local farmer's markets.  Although it seems like a no-brainer, a few things are holding me back.
1. Do I really have the time to create enough pieces to fill a 10x10 space?
We all remember how stressed I was about the last big event I participated in. Elan was probably contemplating murder, just to put both of us out of our misery.  And this would be so much more!
2. A 10x10 space requires some fashion of furnishing, of which I do not have.
So, now I also need to think about acquiring tables and possibly a tent. Plus, you can't just pop up some tables and say you're open for business. You need some finesse! How would I display the jewelry [that I have to find the time to make].  And then there's getting change, and bags.... and table clothes, at the very least.
3.  I like to sleep in late.
Yes, the market opens early, which means I would need to be there even earlier.  On a Saturday.  I know, I know, stupid reason.

So, thoughts? Has anyone ever done one of these before? Or want to share a booth? Or at least give me some words of wisdom?
Anything? Anything?

New items in the shop!

Once again, I acknowledge my absence.  And this time I have an excuse! YES! Here it is (as stupid as it may be)... I set up this blog to talk about my progress with making jewelry and starting a "business."  So, why the long silence? Because, up until a few days ago I didn't have anything to show for myself.
So, here's what's new in the shop:

I think I need to do some better photography...