Let's learn something!

Here at the {NewNew} we're a pretty big group. At nearly 200 members, we also carry a pretty diverse skill set. To better tap into the collective wealth of knowledge, we've started a monthly workshop that will

Lori gives us a dose of Etsy SEO. She's what many would call brilliant!

photo cred: MiniatureRhino

cover a different topic each time. So far we've had a workshop on "Improving Your Etsy Sales," led by Lori from Lennymud, "Social Media and How You Should use it to Grow Your Business" led by yours truly, and just this week Jason from Merrimack and Monitor led a very informative discussion on "Building Your Own Website." Building a website can be an extremely daunting task, but Jason laid it out and made sure we had the step by step instructions on how to do it properly. He even willingly shared some mistakes he's made in building his site so we could learn from them. Thanks again Jason for such a wonderful workshop! You can check out Jason's website here. (I would like to note that I took most of the photos on his site - team collaborations at it's best! ) 

In the future we have workshops lined up covering a bunch of topics including graphic design, wholesale,  photography, and many more. I am curious if our readers would be interested in our workshops and which topics you would like to see covered. Is this something you would find useful? Let me know what kind of workshop you'd like to attend in the comment section below!

Kelley//www.kgudahl.etsy.com

New New Talks Shop

Recently the NewNew Team got together at Lorrie of Lenny Mud's studio to paint some pottery and talk shop.  Lorrie gave a great talk about simple, actionable steps we could take everyday to improve our shop visibility and SEO, search engine optimization.  This stuff can be daunting to learn, but Lorrie broke it down and we managed to have fun too!

This is why I love the NewNew so much - as a creative handmade business lady it can be overwhelming juggling everything, so it's great to have people who are eager to share their knowledge, and a group that supports each other.  It was great to sip some red wine, learn a bit and meet some new people!

Thank you Lorrie for the talk and my NewNew team!

JessicaMiniature Rhino

What Makes Valentine's Day Sweet To You

If you can't get enough Valentine's Day, then today is your lucky day!  Get your fill of sweetness from The {NewNew} and then check out some of our friends and their blogs about this notorious day of romance, flowers and of course sweets.

Andrea Davis: Pure Food Nutrition: Valentine’s Day Chocolate: Good & Good for You?

Ann Mehl: A Man and His Word on Valentine’s Day

Artists & Fleas: Gift Guide: From Brooklyn-Tough Love, Show Your Love, and Lovely Little Licks, Bites & Nibbles

The Bitchy Waiter:  F*ck Cupid

Brooklyn Flea:  You Gotta Have Heart

The Experimental Gourmand:  Valentine’s Day Special Dinner

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market:  A Blog Affair to Remember

Markets of New York City:  Love is in the Air: Three Great Valentine’s Dates at the Markets

Metalicious Jewelry:  Well Hello February 

Kumquat Cupcakery:  My Messy Pink Kitchen

Did I mention sweets? Chocolate and conversation hearts, what more could you ask for? Maybe a lot of them.  Did you know.....

A bowl just waiting to be filled with conversation hearts by LennyMud

• More than 36 MILLION heart shaped boxes of candy will be given and received this year. (www.sugarstand.com)
• About 8 BILLION candy hearts will be made.  If you put them all side by side they would reach from the city of romance, Rome, all the way to Valentine Arizona -- not just once mind you, 20 times and back again! (www.iowastatedaily.com)
• Those candy conversation hearts have been around a long time.  NECCO, the maker of them, started putting those catchy little phrases on them all the way back in 1866, and we've been in love with them ever since. (Sweethearts: The Continued Success of America's Favorite Valentine's Candy, 2010)

Of course, candy is only one of thing that makes Valentine's Day sweet for The {NewNew}, when I posed the question I found out there was a whole lot more.

Home is Where The Heart is by JDavisStudio

Mom has been making Valentine's day special for a long time and {NewNew} members Lorrie from LennyMud, Alton of AltonWeekes and Jill from JDavisStudio remind us how sweet mom can make Valentine's Day:

Lorrie's mom made the day special by summoning the Valentine's Day Pixie.  The Pixie is a magical creature that would ring the doorbell several times over the course of the day and leave presents on the doorstep.  Today, Lorrie shares the same tradition with her kids.

Alton's mom and her Valentine's day tradition are actually the driving force behind him starting his stationery design studio.  Every year Alton's mom would give him and his sisters a box of valentine cards to share with classmates.  Those little cards with cupid, hearts and sweet sayings were Alton's introduction to stationery beyond birthday cards.  It was the holiday of love that inspired Alton's love of stationery.

Jill's mom started sending her special Valentine's day care packages back in college and still does today.  They are filled will fun things like candy, silly jewelry, even the occasional McDonalds gift card. Way to go Jill's Mom!

I Do Card by Alton Weekes

Let's face it, nothing makes Valentine's day more romantic than a ring, and I don't mean the doorbell.  A ring is exactly what Loella from LoellaMedina and Angel from CardsInStitches got one Valentine's day.

With the view of the New York skyline in the night time sky Loli's best friend surprised her by popping the big question.

Now Angel, has a bit of a different story.  She got married not just on Valentines day 2003, but on the 5 am Eyewitness News along with 4 other couples!  She found out on Monday that she'd be getting married on Friday at Tavern on the Green in Central Park all expenses paid.  Now that's what I call one sweet Valentines Day!

Since The {NewNew} is an Etsy team made up of the best and brightest artists and designers in the tri-state New York craft scene, it is no surprise that DIY valentines are high on the list of sweet things about the day. Nothing makes Simone, from Groundsel, smile more on Valentine's day than a handmade valentine.  Anne from Felt It loves making valentines for family and friends with her three year old.  Each year her daughters designs become more creative and intricate, I bet it won't be long before she has an Etsy shop.  Jennifer from MellowBeing recalls Valentine's day as a time to make valentines for her mom and friends.

Love painting by LennyMud

Dinner, mix tapes and wearing red made the sweet list among {NewNew'ers} too.
Jody at AStudioByTheSea makes Valentine's day sweet by planning a special night out with her husband of 23 years.  But they do it a little different, they skip the February 14th crowds and inflated dinner prices and celebrate at a fancy restaurant a day or so off.  What a great idea, we may just do that this year too!

Te Amo Card by S2 Stationery and Design

Sara from S2 Stationery and Design has mixed feelings about the holiday but has a great tradition of making a mix CD she calls the "Love Mix" and shares it with friends.  It's her way to let them know that she supports and loves them no matter what.

The perfect notebook for February by CardsinStitches

Lisa from Pretty Stationery loves that Valentine's day is close to Chinese New Year so she gets to wear red and eat candy for two weeks.

And finally, Stephanie from MulryJewels finds sweetness on Valentines day by simply remembering and being thankful for all the love in her life, romantic and otherwise.





Wishing you all the sweetest Valentine's day.
Holly / EllisDesign

It's a {NewNew} School Year!

Head back to school in style with great gear from The {NewNew}.

Heading back to school doesn't mean shopping only at those big box department stores. There are plenty of unique hand crafted items that will have your kids (or you) going back to school in style.

Muppetloon Orange Fleece Hoodie $20

Let's start with the tiniest back to schoolers. Muppetloon creates hoodies and tees that all the kids in pre-school will be asking for. Since they're there to get smart, check out the selection of wise owl togs with appliques made from Eco-Felt. Stylish and eco savvy everyone will be saying "Now that's one smart kid."

PlayGroundRockstar VIP Tee $23

Have a little VIP who's all that and more? They'll head right to the front of the line (or class) in this Tee from Playground Rockstar.

LolaFalkDesigns The Urban Lola Tote $38

Need something to lug those books around campus? Then you really want to take a peek at the Urban Lola Tote at LolaFalkDesigns. It has plenty of room for all your essentials and it looks so much nicer than that standard issue backpack.

AlexandraFerguson Call Your Mother Pillow $89

Send them off to college with a subtle reminder from Alexandra Ferguson. "Call Your Mother," "Clean Your Room" and other good advice on felt applique pillows. Made from 100% post consumer recycled water bottles, these pillows keep the equivalent of 4 bottles out of landfills. Now if only they can keep their dorm room from looking like a landfill!


Looking for more? Just head on over to Etsy and search on NewNewTeam (all one word). You'll find plenty of colorful magnets for their lockers and to display their A+ work on the fridge at LuCrafts and PurtyBird $6-12. Unique clocks that would look great on a dorm room wall from CantAffordEmClocks $20. Travel mugs perfect as they run from class to class at LennyMud $20 and a great selection of journals and day planners from PriaVanda $15 and up.

Have a stylish and successful {NewNew}school year everyone!
Holly (EllisDesign)

Fourth of July finds from the {NewNew} team

The {NewNew} has plenty of ways to add some red white and blue to your Fourth of July celebrations. All handmade by local designers.

This sterling silver shooting stars lariat will definitely get you in the Fourth of July frame of mind.
$110.00 at metalsugar

Show off that feisty, firecracker attitude in this kid's screen printed tee.
$23.00 at playgroundrockstarDon't show up at your friends house empty handed this summer. Say "thank you" with a tasty bag of fiery Craque. These delicious bite-sized crunchy treats are covered in spicy chili chocolate,peanut butter & powdered sugar.
$12.00 at CraqueRockShopThe perfect skirt for the fourth of July weekend and all summer long. This versatile handkerchief skirt is accented with a patch packet and tile design screen print on one panel.
$74.00 at RocksAndSalt

After a long day at the beach, serve up mounds of ice cream in these fun "Feed Me" bowls.
$12.00 each at LennyMudHeading out for an evening on the town this Fourth? Carry the essentials for the night in the cheeky yet sophisticated LuLu clutch.
$58.00 at LolaFalkDesigns

Red white and blue vintage milk cap earrings to put you in a wholesome, all-American state of mind.
$15.00 at MilkMadeWish you were spending the Fourth at Coney Island? Even if you can't be there you can still find amusement by wearing this Cyclone pendant.
$25.00 at CitybitzLooking for just a little smidgen of patriotic flair? This embroidered pin should do the trick.
$25.00 at Urbahnika

Check out all the terrific items from the {NewNew} team on Etsy.

Holly Ellis EllisDesign.etsy.com

Summer Products from The {NewNew}

Do your summer in style with these nifty handmade items by members of The {NewNew}!

Add a touch simple yet sophisticated DIY flair to your summer wedding decorations with this flower garland by Pandawithcookie.

Pink Paper Flower Garland-Lovely Wedding Decor, $18

"Bee" prepared for picnics in the park and all your more casual outdoor affairs involving liquid refreshment with this cheerful pitcher by Lennymud.

Bee Happy Pitcher, $15

Keep the little ones cute and cool in these shortalls by Overallbaby.

Toddler Shortalls in Kokka Turquoise Sheep, $38

And for yourself or a friend, a breezy Trapeze Top by Vyphuisdesigns.

Fun Trapeze Top, $35

Get set for days at the beach or knocking around town with this cheerful Sunshine Tote Purse by jesswitaj.

Summer Sunshine Tote Purse, $48

Update friends and family, say "thank you," or send a simple summertime "hello" with beach-inspired notecards by MonicaMarks.

Summer Seashells - Set of 2 Note Cards, 5 x 7, Original Mixed Media Collage, Blank Inside, $10

Hold your childhood summertime memories near and dear year-round with this Ice Cube Popsicle print by Lipeony.

Ice Cube Popsicle 5 x 7 Print, $8.00

For more {NewNew} summertime products, click here.

Enjoy, and have a happy summer!

Linda
PurtyBird