Spring Colors Have Sprung!

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 March 20th is the first official day of Spring. After yesterday, I really feel like the season is here already! It was 60!! Yeah!

Here are a few items that continue to get me in the mood with their bright colors...


Bright & spring-like...complete with April showers that will bring May Flowers. I love this print. Michelle has great prints in fabulous colors!


Is it me or is neon everywhere right now? Maybe I'm just looking for it. Anywho!  Hook And Matter has an entire shop section dedicated to neon necklaces. They are all fabulous! (Hello, Neon Wishbone!)


Full confession - this clutch was my inspiration for this post. Love it! I like anything that makes traveling easier & chic at the same time. Plus, check out the back strap for holding it. Great idea. It makes me think of the grass in the Spring. New & bright! And very soon littered with Easter Eggs!

{KOOKLA SAMPLES by Kookla Makeup}

I don't know about you but I think these look delicious! It makes me think of the first outdoor happy hour of the year...for some reason...maybe that is saying too much about myself...Anywho! What a great way to try several lip glosses & find your favorite.

Get out there & enjoy this early Spring!


Kerry :: kbatty.etsy.com

I set goals...now what?

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{Rosie! The Biz Ladies cheerleader on Design Sponge}

The beginning of a new year means one thing. No, not hangovers! Ok, maybe those, but also everyone is talking about goal setting & I swear no one does it more than those of us in the handmade/small business category. All year long we are evaluating, changing, adjusting. This time of the year is prime for doing those things big picture style.

Got Goals?

Yes! But, now what? That's what I have struggled with in the past. How will I work toward these ideas every day? Last year my goals were to:

1. Produce more work
2. Focus. 

Kind of a do-more-by-doing-less approach there on number 2. Did I accomplish them? Yes...loosely. Mostly by sitting down & sketching out ideas. Many of them made it to the computer. Not many of them made it onto my shop, but design development takes time & I can't say it was easy to focus on one design at a time. So, can I do it differently? Well, yes...I'm glad you asked. Here's how...

New Year, New Strategy

I want to approach this goal setting/achieving differently this year. I don't want to load a bunch of pressure on myself, but my custom business grew leaps this year & I want to keep that momentum going. It's important to me to have a plan of attack. Here are a few links & tricks I've found helpful so far:

Designing an MBA: 4 Steps to your Best Business Year

Hello point number 1! Pick one point of focus because when you have a clearly defined point of focus, making those decisions becomes a whole lot easier. It's really a recycling of my goal last year, but now I see a better way to achieve it. My strategy is going to be break my focal points down by quarters. One point for the whole year is scary & feels like I'm climbing a mountain. I got a lot of mountains to climb!

Heartmade: Life is Messy Planners 2.0

Yes, these helpful worksheets are $40, but I need some ways to break down what I do each day/week. A $40 investment vs the money I will make if these work for me = no brainer to try them. Plus, who doesn't want to look at Mayi Carles little illustrations every day?

Rena Tom: Visions of a New Year

I have a big bulletin board above my desk (this one, actually, in case one of your goals is to redecorate your office space. Love!). WomansMedia.com suggests that visualizing yourself achieving your goals is half the battle. Done.

Clearly the World Wide Web has millions of sources for goal setting (pls share yours in the comments!!) and these are 3 places I have found helpful. The aforementioned article I read on Woman's Media.com noted that research shows people who write down their goals are more likely to achieve them. So, while there is not a right or wrong way to plan & execute your goals (see number 2 in the Designing an MBA article), writing them down seems like a good place to start. It certainly makes them easier to reference during the year.

Don't think that I didn't notice that I haven't actually stated my 2012 goals in this post. I know. They are still under refinement. I can't just say "I'm going to conquer the world!" and focus on it. So, I'm further breaking them down. Stay tuned. I'll see you back here for goal specifics in my next post & updates through out the year.

Best wishes & blessings for all our blogging/crafting community. Happy New Year, Everyone! 

Kerry


Just ONE day until the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade!

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Saturday is The {NewNew} Holiday Handmade Cavalcade
You Do Not Want To Miss This Event!


For one day only during the holiday season shoppers can load up on clothing, jewelry, accessories, paper goods, bath and body treasures, toys, housewares and more, all handmade by some of the most creative local artisans and crafters in the NYC metropolitan area.
Where: Public Assembly 70 North 6th Street in Brooklyn
When: 10 am-6 pm Saturday December 3rd


The first 200 shoppers to arrive will receive free goodie bags packed with a unique sampling of wares from the {NewNew} - so come early!


With each purchase, shoppers will get a raffle ticket entry for a prize package filled with great {NewNew} wares!


In keeping with its tradition of partnering with local non-profits, the {NewNew} will have representatives from The Brooklyn Community Foundation, an organization that improves the lives of Brooklyn residents and their communities.


Hope to see you!
Holly / EllisDesign

Great Gifts for $25 or Less

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I hear many of my friends saying "I'd like to get something really unique for my Mom (Dad, Aunt....) but I am on a tight budget this year."   Finding that unique and one-of-a-kind gift does not mean you have to break the bank, in fact you can find many wonderful gift ideas for less than $25 in the Etsy shops of The {NewNew} team.  Plus, when you buy your gifts at an Etsy shop you are supporting the efforts of independent artisans, designers and crafters.

Head on over to our Gifts Under $25 Etsy Treasury to find out more about these items and the shops they are from.  If you are in the New York area you'll find all these shops (and more) at the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade on December 3rd.  Over 35 local artists, designers and crafters will be at the Cavalcade for your shopping delight.  We'll be at Public Assembly, 70 N. 6th Street in Brooklyn from 10 - 6 on December 3rd.


Hope to see you on December 3rd.
Holly / Ellis Designs

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale from The {NewNew}

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It's that time of year again....so get your Black Friday sneakers and your Cyber Monday computers ready to scoop up savings.  Over 30 members of The {NewNew} team are offering special savings Friday November 25th through Monday November 28th.  We will be featuring items from these members over the next few days to get you in the shopping and saving spirit.
Use coupon code THANKFUL2011 to get in on the deals (unless otherwise noted). 


Participating in this spectacular sale from The {NewNew} are:

            mVOLIe free domestic shipping
Groundsel 20% off
Ellis Design free domestic shipping
AdornmentsNYC 15% off
EllisDesign, lamusekalliope, Big Bridge Studios
JDavisStudio free domestic shipping
Kelley Gudahl Photography 20% off
Chelsea Rainbow 15% off and free domestic shipping
Edward Owl 20% off
AmiTown Creatures 15% off (use code BlackFriday 2011 and CyberMonday2011)
AmiTown Creatures, Brooklyn Owl, Underground Crafter
SaruStar 20% off
l'atelier des bijoux 15% off and free domestic shipping
lamusekalliope 20% off
Virginie Millefiori 15% off (use code cyber)
Absynthe Jewlery  15% off and free domestic shipping on orders over $100
SaruStar, AdornmentsNYC, Chelsea Rainbow
Nemesis Jewelry 10% off (use code Thankfull2011)
Big Bridge Studios 25% off all apparel
Pinot By Lyn 15% off
Brooklyn Owl 25% off
Super Foxy Sweets 15% off (use code holiday2011)
Groundsel, JDavis Studios, Simply Nu
Fernando Jewelry free shipping
Simply Nu 10% off
Agita Inc 15% off (use code holiday2011)
4USimply 10% off and free shipping
The Trouble Factory 15% off (use code holiday2011)

Want more? Head on over to Etsy and check out these Treasuries:
http://etsy.me/s6JDsd
http://etsy.me/uNevou


Happy Holidays and have fun shopping
Holly / EllisDesign


Keep in mind, I have made every effort to provide accurate sale information but typos happen.  While I doubt it will happen, in case it does, information provided on each individual shop is accurate and up to date.

Be a Better Blogger

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We NewNew folks are an ever-evolving bunch. Always trying new things, trying to better ourselves, our crafts, our businesses.

Enter NewNew Team Workshops!

Did I mention we are also highly talented & helpful?? We are helping each other by pulling from the talents of our members who are willing to share their expertise in areas such as photography or design by distilling the basics down to the rest of us.

Last night: Basic Business Blogging by Sara Stroman of S2 Design & Stationery.

Sara has been blogging since 2005 & had a wealth of information & experience to bring to the proverbial table. She even brought us handouts! Oh, and wine & pizza! We know how to do it up in the NewNew.

We talked about a range of topics. Many questions were asked. We were like sponges, soaking up Sara's knowledge & enthusiasm for blogging.



The number 1 take away 

It was a 2 hour workshop, so there was plenty to think about (did you know Facebook has guidelines for promotions on your page?!). But, what is the one thing you should remember?

"Write about what you know & love,"said Sara. So simple. Yet, for many bloggers, that's tough. I think we forget that. Especially when you're running your own little business. We're all out there trying to promote, promote, promote, craft, craft craft. As Sara also said, do not feel limited by your general topic. We're creative people in a creative business so run with it. I find that advice freeing!

MAJOR kudos to Sara for her work putting this together. Want to see her in action? Check out her blog here. I look forward to diving into the articles she gave us for reference (hello handouts!). And! To putting her good advice into practice.

Kerry of K. Batty Design & Stationery