Thursday, November 19, 2009
Sweetest Charms Available in Singapore
TOY OUTPOST
Address: Plaza Singapura #07-11B
Tel: (65) 62388322
Singapore
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
CuteHandmade.com found Simply Lin
I love their website, so many cute things in there, there are so many talented artist across the globe.
http://www.cutehandmade.com/?p=416
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Tara Included us in her treasury
Click on the picture to see more.
Thank you Tara for featuring us in your treasury :) Your selection is superb!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Chocolate Mousse
1 1/2 Box of All purpose Cream.
1/2 kilo of chocolate bar.
1 teaspoon of instant coffee
1/2 box of Cream cheese
2 Large Eggs
So basically you have to mix the eggs and all purpose cream together. Melt the chocolate bar in the microwave for 30 seconds then add it to your mixing bowl along with the all purpose cream and eggs. Stir continuously. Add the cream cheese and dash some instant coffee to the mix. By this time you can already get the taste, if it's a bit creamy just add more chocolate plus all purpose cream. After mixing you may put them in small glass containers or mini cups then chill it for a few hours before serving.
This is a SECRET recipe that I will share to the world!!! It tastes just like the mousse they sell in KFC :P
I also try to put crushed Graham crackers in the bottom of the cups to make it look nicer and it does taste good as well too :)
Martha Stewart yet? LOL, getting there, but not the jail part :P
Enjoy :)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Traits of an Entrepeneur
1. Drive - A high degree of motivation
2. Courage - Tenacity and persistence
3. Goals - A sense of direction
4. Knowledge - and a thirst for it
5. Good Health - taking care of one's body
6. Honesty - especially intellectual
7. Optimism - positive attitude
8. Judgement - knowing the wise from the foolish
9. Enthusiasm - excitement about life
10. Chance taking - Willingness to risk failure
11. Dynamism - energy
12. Enterprise - willingness to tackle tough jobs
13. Persuasion - Ability to sell
14. Outgoingness - Friendly
15. Patient yet Impatient - patient with others, yet impatient with the status quo
16. Adaptability - capable of change
17. Perfectionism - Desire to achieve excellence
18. Humor - Ability to laugh at self and others
19. Versatility - Broad interest and skills
20. Curiosity - Interested in people and things
21. Self - Identity - Self-esteem and self- sufficiency
22. Realism/idealism - occupied by reality but guided by ideals
23. Imagination - seeking new ideas, combinations, and relationships
24. Communication - Articulate
25. Receptive - Alert
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
WWW.OHMYSOCUTE.COM found Sweetest Charms
Just click on the link on what they have to say about us :) Thank you for appreciating our designs :)
Yours Truly,
Lin-Lin
http://www.sweetestcharms.com
http://simplylin.etsy.com
http://aroundtheworld.etsy.com
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Are you in a twitter twouble?
It's hilarious, I think I may be guilty of this. Oh no!! But I love twitter. It's really different now a days. How you can easily market your products through twitter or use it as a micro blogging and how someone random can instantly make random comments about what you just wrote. Nothing is really private these days even in Facebook and everyone is aware of that. But simply, NOBODY cares! Hehehe. But you just gotta love it.
And so, this is me twittering every miniscule details of my life. Wait! Let me twit that I just wrote this blog. Wait wait. tata :)
Monday, October 26, 2009
How do you make polymer clay beads?
There are different types of polymer clay available out there. But for me, my favorite is the Fimo. It's not too soft and not to hard. Just perfect :) But remember, it's up to you to decide which one is easier for you to condition.
Here is a compilation I got from Garie Sim
INFORMATION ON POLYMER CLAY
Polymer clay is nontoxic, man-made modeling clay material that work and feel like ceramic clay, it would not dry out when exposed to the air. The clay can be bake in a regular or toaster oven at a temperature of 275º F or 130º C as compared to ceramic clay which are fired in a kiln at 1500º F. Once baked polymer clay can be sand, carve, drill, buff and rebake eg.(when required to replace or duplicate broken feature to your creations). The clay is PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic. Similar plastics are frequently used in today's plumbing and water piping. Tiny grains of PVC are mixed with plasticizers and pigments. When the clay is baked at the proper temperature (varying from 212 to 275 degrees Fahrenheit depending upon the make and color), chemical changes occur and the particles fuse into a solid mass without shrinking. If heated again, the clay will soften slightly but not melt (technically it is similar to "thermosetting" plastics, but still has some characteristics of "thermoplastics"). Like many other plastics, if heated too hot it will darken, give off noxious fumes and possibly catch fire.
The clay are available in more than hundred of colors, depending on the brand of the polymer clay. Many colors are available, and most others may be mixed. The colors may darken slightly when baked. Transparency has not yet been achieved with anything other than one version of "Liquid Sculpey." (Of the solid types of polymer clay, "Transparent" clay is really translucent, though In very thin sheets it is almost transparent.) The newest clays are Super Elasticlay (it forms flexible and stretchy items when baked) and Liquid Sculpey (in clear and whitish verions which we are finding a number of new ways to use). There are also polymer clays which glow in the dark. Sculpey brand has several different glow colors, and Fimo Nightglow is also a glow in the dark clay. There are many options for artists, crafters and kids in using polymer clay, you can combined them with other materials and accessories to enrich your creations. Modeling with polymer clay can be time-consuming, but it is your passport to a rich and imaginative world of shapes, textures and colors. It will certainly help you to become a less stressful person. Polymer clay can help children develop fine motor skills and improve hand eye coordination. It motivate, encourage interaction, and turn the conceptual into reality. Creative play with clay creates confident artistic kids. It is most versatile clay art medium for the professional artists and crafters.
Polymer clay work well with surfaces like paper, aluminum foils, glass, ceramic, marble, granite, do not work well with plastic and finished wood surfaces. You can paint your models or creations with acrylic water based paints. Varnishing your clay creations with water based glaze (matt or shine) will improve the clay model and also removed some of your finger prints. When gluing polymer clays, used super glue gel or if you are experience liquid super glue. Beside super glue you can also use plastic cement, silicon glue and hot melt glue gun.
FIMO is an easy-to-use, extremely versatile plastic-based modeling clay, it is divided into Fimo Classic, Fimo soft and Fimo soft effect colours, combining both it consist of 72 colors.
Fimo Classic- the reliable Fimo quality, the clay is specially stable, it is slightly harder than Fimo Soft, it must be kneaded properly to achieve good result, The Classic clay is ideal for detailed and filigree modeling works. There are 24 brilliant colors it can be blended into 100 new shades and colors. As the clay block is segmented into 8 portions on the reverse, it makes easy to blend and produced the desired shades and colors with the consumer brochure, containing a blending table to help achieve more than 100 of colors
Fimo Soft is easily kneadable and thus instantly workable, it is available in 48 topical colors, consist of 24 basic and 24 effect colors. The softness of the clay is ideal for kids to inspire creative activities and work of arts, as it is easy to use.
Fimo MillefioriArt are handmade canes with colorful motifs throughout the whole piece. They come in round and square shape, cutting or slicing creates mosaic-like surfaces. Excellent for creating fun and decorative jewelry and are suitable for decorating pearls. The square Millefiori canes can create tiles, patchwork design and rugs for doll houses. They are available in 10 different design in square or round shape.
SCULPEY
SCULPEY Products consist of many exciting and different ranges, starting with Sculpey, Super Sculpey, Sculpey III, Granitex, Premo Sculpey, Sculpey SuperFlex and Super Elasticlay. They are all nontoxic, man-made modeling clay materials, it won't dry out when exposed to air and it feel like ceramic. The clay come in over 90 colors and become permanently hard after baking.
Sculpey original polymer clay, most economical it is easy to condition and ideal for basic sculpture and moderate detail. The clay come in white and terra cotta colors.
Super Sculpey is the ultimate sculpting compound, used by movie animation studios and professionals worldwide for prototypes, maquettes and all kinds of dolls. Its excellent tooling qualities make it the preferred choice for casting and all types of sculpture. The translucent effect of the Super Sculpey make it ideal for creating realistic figurines. When baked and cooled it can be sanded, drilled, carved and painted with water based acrylic colors.
Sculpey III is a very popular clay and is soft to use without too much kneading. Fun and easy modeling medium, bakes hard with a smooth matte finish in a ordinary home oven. Its softness can be rolled cut and extruded through the Sculpey Clay Gun.
Granitex is the clay that you can take for granite! Tiny fibers mixed into the clay creates unusual stone like effect, that you can imitate nature, excellent for diorama little waterfall, miniature landscaping and creates flooring for doll houses, adds great touch to jewelry, home decor that are easy to condition and tool. Available in 8 color effects.
Premo Sculpey is the premium polymer clay.The consistency of the clay texture makes it perfect for all applications. It is firm, smooth texture, durability after baking, great for creating millefiore. The clay when kneaded does crumble easily. It is densely saturated colors create perfect shade and colors. Premo Sculpey are available in 32 colors.
Sculpey SuperFlex is bendable and flexible! It come in 8 colors and this colorful version takes you to another level of clay creation. Your creation remain rubbery and bendable after baking, combining with the other Sculpey makes excellent puppets with bendable joints. Fun medium for kids, create springing or pop-up model design.
Super Elasticlay is ideal for making flexible one sided molds, extra soft and pliable to shape around even the most intricate detail. After baking it is permanently flexible, you can pour plaster of paris to create relief or used it as a push mold for polymer clay. Can used for repairing picture frames and create molds of your favorite creations.
Where to buy?
Photo Transfer on Polymer Clay
She makes it seem so simple :)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
On the Spotlight
*On Metal Jewelry
*Ink Productions on the spotlight
*A Crocheted Baby
*It's Dinner Time - Chimes!
*A wonderful soap discovery
*A mad hatter's Pottery
*Need A Pattern? Check out Sew Bettie's - Urban Whimsy
*Crafter on the rise - Holy Craft!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Business with a Heart
I want to share to you something I read from John Maxwell's book,
"One thing I’ve noticed about romantics: They try to create a new and better world from the drabness of everyday life. That is Starbuck’s aim, too. We try to create, in our stores, an oasis, a little neighborhood spot where you can take a break, listen to some jazz, or ponder universal or personal or even whimsical questions over a cup of coffee.
Who dreams up such a place?
From my personal experience, I’d say that the more uninspiring your origins, the more likely you are to use your imagination and invent worlds where everything seems possible.
That’s certainly true of me."
Howard Schultz - Starbucks Founder
From: John Maxwell's Put Your Dream to The Test
What Walt Disney and Howard Schultz tried to capture was their customers hearts. I've been reading a lot on business books and I can recall those movies especially Sabrina with Linus Larrabee representing a heartless man, saying "a walking heart donor" I thought that method was interesting. Be heartless, it's not personal, it's business. But maybe... that's not me. That's not what Sweetest Charms, Simply Lin and Beads Around the world is.
Most business these days, especially on the retail department, people just come and go and purchase the things they need or the things they desire. But after a couple of days they'd forget about the product that they bought as if it was just a momentary thing.
Though I know that I sell products, but what's different is that behind those products, I sell service. You see, Disney didn't just sell products, Starbucks didn't just sell hot white chocolate mocha grande. They sold experience. Service. Creating a customer relationship bringing the customer back. Most of our customers here are comebacks. Approximately 75%. We guarantee our products. And most of all we deliver service.
I am still studying the ways of how Disney works and every time I watch videos, listen to Disney music it just captures my heart in ways I can't explain. It feels like magic. And someday, if not now, we will bring that magic to you through our products. Help us grow, help us deliver this rightful service to you. You may email us suggestions through info[@]sweetestcharms.com So we can provide a better service.
I love this line of Mr. Schultz
"Invent worlds where everything seems possible."
Yours Truly,
Lin-Lin
http://www.sweetestcharms.com
http://simplylin.etsy.com
http://aroundtheworld.etsy.com
Friday, October 23, 2009
Updates
We are now an official group from Etsy :) It is already uploaded in their groups :) Yey!!
Lin
Friday, October 16, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Lin
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Seeing Clearly
I saw this video from Zappos.com. I'm actually trying to study them. You have to watch it first before you read my write up below or as well as Zappos.
"While the commercial is about bicycle safety, I think the message really applies to communications in the business world. On the marketing side, just because we buy an ad somewhere doesn't mean consumers will pay attention to it. Internally, just because all the factual information is emailed or said in a meeting doesn't mean that the message you care about has actually been communicated... The challenge for both is: How do you inspire people to pay attention to what matters to you? - Tony Hsieh - CEO zappos"
This is what I learned too.
Most of the time we focus so much in our tasks at hand or work that we forget to see the funny things in life. That's what I learned from watching this video. I love focus and focus is good. But we need to breathe and remember to smell the fresh air. Just make sure to breathe somewhere fresh or that would be disgusting. LOL!
So what did you learn from the video?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Daily Freebie: August 1, 2009
Note, they have to actually be a fan and message us okay??? :) and you can suggest and have as many as you want, 50 people per $25.00 goodie bag. That's a crazy thing. :D
$25.00 worth of goodies, beads and charms. That's a lot. And it's only for today. I'm feeling a little crazy :D
To suggest friends on the fan page, its on the upper left side, below the cupcake picture :D really easy :D
50 people is not a lot. I know most of you have hundreds of friends in your facebook :)
Thank you for participating in this promotion.
Yours truly
Lin
facebook.com/simply.lin
Beads Around the World on Facebook
Boogie Woogie Ep. 1
GoAnimate.com: Boogie Woogie by tingalinglin
Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
JEWELS by Jules found Simply Lin
Yours Truly,
Lin-Lin
http://www.sweetestcharms.com
http://simplylin.etsy.com
http://aroundtheworld.etsy.com
Saturday, June 20, 2009
On Metal Jewelries :)
Website: http://bddesigns.etsy.com
Blog: none yet
Products: Hand Fabricated Jewelry (Metalsmith)
Country/Location: Monclova, Ohio USA
Can you tell us something about yourself? I'm a wife, mother and metalsmith. I "live" in my studio every spare moment while I'm not taking care of the kids - 12 hours a week my kids are in school, so that is my SOLID work time! I live in the middle of the woods - full of textural inspiration - and I love my life!
What are your goals for your crafting? To keep growing and changing and honing my craft, as well as help others who want to learn about metalsmithing
Where do you find the inspiration for your designs? Nature mostly. I love shapes, texture, WORDS (former English major in college - so I love words by default!!)
Describe your daily routine. Get the kids off to school with lunches in hand, check computer for messages orders and the like while drinking my first cup of hot tea (of English descent), get dressed into my *glamourous* jewelry crafting clothes (most people don't know that metalsmithing is one of the dirtiest jobs imaginable!!!!!), work for 4 hours until I have to pick up my son from preschool, be a mommy all afternoon - putting him to bed, getting ready for dinner, cleaning up the house, etc., dinner with my family, cleanup, homework, etc., put kids to bed around 8PM and then I'm back to work until 1AM. Get up, do it all over again! Ü
How long have you been crafting? my whole life - mom is an artist, dad is a hobby architect/builder, came from a LONG diy history, grandparents used to sit and craft with us for HOURS on end....it's in the blood, history, family....
Are you a full time or part time crafter? full time - this is my JOB that keeps my kids in school, my truck payment on time and some of our future (small, meager) retirement.....such as it will be when we're 90 and we can retire! Ü
What made you decide to focus on your crafting and make it a business? by default - my husband and I firmly believe in one parent staying home to raise the children. As he was the one to finish his college degree, he also got the job. I stayed home and "played"...until one thing led to another and I started selling my work. When my 2nd child came along and the economy tightened, I tightened my belt and began actively pursuing selling my work so I could stay home with him until he went to school....and here I am 4 years later and he will be in Kindergarten next year and I'll still be "home" working!!!
How do you market or promote your items and where can we see it? Etsy is my predominant selling site - I don't have time to run another site on top of Etsy. However, there are several shops and sites around the world that carry my work, but THEY do all the computer work (I really don't like the computer all that much!!). I also do several local ART shows every year and people know to come see my latest work there.
What can you say about your choice of work? I don't know how or when I'd ever do anything else. Metalsmithing is all-consuming, challenging (I get bored very easily!), FUN, messy (which fits my personality!), and there aren't limitations - the sky is the limit when it comes to fire and metal! It is the hardest most rewarding job besides being a Mom! It's a lot like being a Mom, actually! You are totally exhausted most times, but to see your little creation sitting there, gleaming in the sunlight, knowing that someone will take it home with them and cherish it.....you beam!!!
What can you tell your other fellow crafters? Keep at it. Find something you love, just for the LOVE of it, not because it may or may not make you money (althought that's helpful in today's economy)....be original and find your niche and then hone your craft to make it better and better. If you invest in your craft, it will likely come back as an investment!!! In more than just monetary ways!!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Ink Productions on the spotlight
Website: http://www.InkyProductions.etsy.com/
Blog: http://inkyproductions.blogspot.com/
Products: Victorian Inspired Floral Art Pendants
Country/Location: USA
Can you tell us something about yourself?
I've recently graduated from university with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Art - concentration drawing and painting. I love the rain, read romances, adore Victorian/Regency inspired jewelry and crafts, drink tea (favorites being Prince of Wales, China Black, Irish Breakfast, and Chamomile) always with a spoonful of honey and in desperate times sugar, and watch movies snuggled under a cozy blanket.
What are your goals for your crafting?
To give others joy. I want my floral art pendants to resonate with its owner and be meaningful to her, in and throughout her life.
Where do you find the inspiration for your designs?
The Language of Flowers (many guides online and off) provide me with a lot of inspiration. I troll for floral meanings that are evocative and sentimental. When I find flowers that appeal to me I do more research to learn how to draw the flowers and make an accurate or graphic representation of the flower.
Describe your daily routine.
When it comes to my work I research flowers for id
How long have you been crafting?
My mother will tell you I've been an artist since I could hold a crayon and scribble on the walls. I think I truly aspired to be one when I was in high school. I think now that I've graduated from college I am well on my way to defining my style and personal voice.
Are you a full time or part time crafter?
More than part time and less than full time! :)
What made you decide to focus on your crafting and make it a business?
I chose to start Inky Productions as a way to make my fine art affordable to all so that many could enjoy what I do and not just a few.
How do you market or promote your items and where can we see it?
I use Indeigo (I'm spotlight this week) which is an online Indie advertising venue that's free to use as long as you place the script for the ads on your website/blog and I'm a part of We Love Etsy social bookmarking site.
What can you say about your choice of work?
What girl doesn't love the idea of a romantic rendezvous with a secret lover? The act of exchanging flowers has long been established and in the past it used to be done as a way to exchange messages between lovers. While many flowers tell a tale of love and passion many others are sad and sorrowful and still more extol emotions and attributes. You can celebrate birth, love, passion, friendship, grief, hope - life with flowers. My pendants are not transitory like real flowers and will offer a lifetime of pleasure.
What can you tell your other fellow crafters?
The only thing one can give an artist is leisure in which to work. To give an artist leisure is actually to take part in his creation. -Ezra Pound, poet (1885-1972)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
How to Price Your Items
It's a free program that let's you price your items correctly with your supposed hourly rate and overhead cost. It wasn't built for mac users though, so if you are using one like me, just get a windows emulator installed. This is really a good tool for us to use. It even manages to give us the retail and wholesale price depending on the percentage you want to earn. Try it!
http://www.beading-software.com
Singapore - Finding Doinky Doodles
Look at all these creations. She lets other artists from all over Singapore showcase their products in her store. A counter part of this here in the Philippines is actually F*Art (Fashion art) in Quezon City. I'll tell you about Happy Andrada's store later on.
Weng makes colorful objects using 100% recycled clothing and excess fabrics from selected factories. She gets her inspiration from imperfection. Improvising and creating using limited fabrics to produce the styles she creates.
Another inspiring thing Weng offers is that, if you order in bulk orders from her, she actually collaborated with an organization called Mother & Child Project. It is an organization that provides sewing jobs for women from disadvantaged families. I hope Truly inspiring.
On finding Doinky Doodles
33 Bali Lane (2nd Floor) Singapore 189 869
Open: Tuesdays to Satrudays, & Most public holidays, 1pm - 8pm
Close: Mondays & Sundays, Christmas & New Year
Phone: 62922248
Mail: xin@doinkydoodles.com
Online: www.doinkydoodles.com
This shop contains:
90% Handmade works of Awesome Art
5% Lovely Vintage / Quaint Objects
4.5 Absurdities / Logiclessness
0.5% Noise from Thumping Needle Machine
Products: Women's clothing
Country/Location: Australia
2 thumbs up for this :)
Updates
Thank you for your support.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Christmas Sales
On Amazon’s peak day, Dec. 15, customers ordered a record 6.3 million items, or almost 73 items each second, the company said. Last year, the peak day was Dec. 10, when customers ordered 5.4 million items. Click here to read more.
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