Supporting local artists and promoting yourself.

When I pack and order and get it ready, I like to ad that "extra touch" to the order. I wrap the item in a little pouch, add a thank you card with a personal note, ya know.. just the little things.

I was buying hand made note cards from a little store that featured local artists. I like to keep note cards handy for when I take a notion to sit down and scribble out a hello to someone I have had on my mind for a few days. It is a good feeling to promote other artists, isn't that why we have our wares out there? For others to buy? That little store closed *sniff* and I got lazy. I was out buying groceries one day, and found an assorted box of blank note cards and threw them in the cart and was on my merry way.

I needed to get back into that 'Buy Handmade' mode and not take the short cuts, but I didn't know what I wanted. I wanted a note card, but I didn't want anything big. I wanted something cute that set apart the order from any others that customer may have received. Honestly, it isn't that I couldn't have done it myself, I could. But Why? I have so much going on, to take the time to buy all of the supplies to make the cards I want, to take the time to sit down and make the cards I want, I would not have the time to make the jewelry I want. That make sense? How was I going to find what I wanted for cards. How was I going to find that perfect accent to all of my orders? So I took a bit of inspiration from items I had received in the past.

Here is an example:
I won a wonderful crocheted necklace from Be~Jeweled by Jana back in April and blogged about it here. Here is this simple, yet elegant card, a small gift box wrapped in a bow and including a signature sticker. Inside was a cute little printed thank you card and a little bit about the item. Brilliant!! Jana's hand writing is art in itself.


Or how about:
I ordered a pair of earrings from Ahtee's Designs. I had had my eye on them after see them on her blog and just had to have them. I blogged about them here. I loved her little box wrapped with a ribbon and the store logo sticker on the top.



And then there is:
In April I also won a pair of earrings for Pearl and Pebble and blogged about them here. Her packaging was simple, but so beautiful, and her hand writing - Oy, to die for! April was a lucky month for me :)


I stopped in a few local stores that offer a schmattering of products from local artists and didn't really find what I wanted. Then I headed to ArtFire.com. Isn't that what it really is about? Promoting artists, hand made items, artist community and a sense of belonging? That is where I found Peculiar Parchment. What a fun store!!! Tons of cute little card offerings for all occasions.

I got this great assortment of mini thank you cards. They are about the size of a business card folded in half.


These are the perfect size. Not too small, so I can get a personalized note in there, and not too big where I feel I need to write more to fill up the space.

Have you seen my hand writing? *rolls eyes* I really don't want to write anymore than I have to. I have worked on computers too long, and believe I have lost the gene that allows me to control a pen and push it on a piece of paper. I am really embarrassed to write thank you notes with orders, but at the same time, it is part of me so I should embrace it......right???
This is a sample of my writing.


Can you read it? It is very frustrating to my mother, who had penmanship in school to see my scrawling.

Buying these little accents from other artists is a great way to support their craft and a great way to set you apart. Taking the time to add that personal touch, is a great way to promote yourself and your craft by having the same quality of customer service as the quality of your product.

What are your ideas on packaging and personal notes with your orders? Do you feel it is necessary or is it overkill?


Oh yeah, and Jana's necklace...... goes GREAT with my tie dyed overalls :)



Have a great weekend kids!!!!