Sunday 21 October 2012

One Year on Folksy: Giveaway time!


I love giveaways as many of you will know!  This one is particularly special because I am celebrating my first complete year of selling on Folksy!  Today, I have chosen to illustrate my post with vintage inspired or vintage items from Folksy sellers and they are all under £20.00!  Don’t forget to click on the photos and they will take you directly to the shop.  Enjoy!


I don’t have any idea how I have arrived at where I am.  I have sold 121 items in my folksy shop! However, I know I aim to do three important things:

First, make high quality handmade items.  This is essential.  I have high standards and I don’t compromise.  I think about what I am making and ask myself “will this fall apart in five minutes time?”  Quality and unusual fabrics are also essential. This also applies even when I am upcycling!  I use strong threads and repeatable stitching in parts that will receive a lot of wear and tear. Interfacing, careful attention to detail and so forth...


Second, I believe my hard work and more hard work have helped!  I like to list daily and that is always a challenge because of the length of time it takes to make an item. Sometimes I give myself a break from the pressure!  I don’t involve myself full- time in the daily listing club on Folksy, but have month long breaks when needed.  I promote my items on Facebook, Flickr, Craftjuice, Stumble Upon, Pinterest and this blog – I am sure there is a lot more I could do, but time is precious so I only do what I can!



Finally, I feel having a variety of items in my Folksy shop is important, and I think this is a key to what I have sold.  I don’t sell just one type of item – I started with bags, but they are not big sellers (any bag maker will tell you) sure, from time to time I do sell them and that is always pleasing.  However, I love making my notebooks and journals and they have been surprisingly successful, also my purses have done quite well too.  Important to me is to make my items different from what else is being sold on Folksy – not always achievable because I don’t spend my time wading though the thousands of listings to see if someone else is making and selling the same item!!!


Is there a secret to my success?  I haven’t a clue.  In these times of austerity, recession and a negative economical climate, I think selling is really difficult.  I wonder what things would have been like for me if it had been a different time?  I am grateful for the friends and support and people I know on Folksy – my virtual family have made selling a pleasure for me – not a chore.  But, finally I am super grateful for my customers – they are fabulous – so wherever you are – a BIG thank you!


GIVEAWAY!

Now to the important bit that you have been waiting for! I am looking for a WINNER and a RUNNER UP for my giveaway.  I suspect you are wondering what I am giving away?  Well, the lucky WINNER can choose anything; I mean anything, from what is currently listed in my Folksy shop.  The RUNNER UP can choose anything up to the value of £15.00.  Unfortunately, each can only choose ONE ITEM.


What do you have to do?  I want you to have a browse in my Folksy shop and choose the item you would like to have if you were the WINNER.   (If the item you choose is £15.00 or under and you are the RUNNER UP you can have that item or choose another.)  However, if you choose the same item as the WINNER then you will need to choose another item.

I would like you to leave a comment on this blog saying which item you would like and why – please copy the item’s URL as it helps me to know exactly which item you are referring to.



PLEASE ENTER.  You never know if you are going to be the winner!

This giveaway will expire on Tuesday evening 23rd October 2012 at 9pm.  Soon after that I will announce the WINNER and RUNNER UP.  The method will be random and completely fair.  I want everyone to have an equal chance of winning.

Good luck!

Edwina
 
TOP TO BOTTOM: Tinker Prince, Blue Forest Jewellery, sew amy, Natalie Farrell, Adien Crafts, picocrafts, Say it, Handmade by Edwina

THANK YOU all for entering my giveaway to celebrate my first year on Folksy.

The WINNER is Kimberly Rampersad - Congratulations!
The RUNNER UP is Susan from So Choosy - Well done!
 

16 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your success! I'm sure the quality and hard work you put in are the key to that. I'm lucky enough to have one of your beautiful journals and can testify that it is a really unusual and well made product.

    Thanks very much for featuring my earrings in your vintage style selection.

    Here's to continued success,
    Alison x

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  2. http://folksy.com/items/3444582-A5-Handmade-journal-with-Cath-Kidston-Rosalie-fabric
    I would love to win this if i was the winner, your journals are all so beautiful.
    Congrats on your first Folksy birthday, and all the sales too, here's to many more sales.

    donna x

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  3. I ADORE this bag: http://folksy.com/items/3086498-Granuaile-bag - really beautiful. And I'm lusting after some of your notebooks and diaries too - spoilt for choice!

    Happy Shopiversary. x

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  4. You have so many cute stuff!, one of my favorites is http://folksy.com/items/3444582-A5-Handmade-journal-with-Cath-Kidston-Rosalie-fabric. I love floral patterns and stationary and this has both! thanks for the giveaway.

    k_rampersad03(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  5. Happy 1st folksy birthday Edwina. Well done on your sales and here's to many more.
    I would love to win one of your journals, they are all so beautiful. My favourite one is....http://folksy.com/items/3286778-A4-Vintage-style-journal-or-sketchbook

    Susan x

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  6. Happy 1st folksy birthday!

    The secret to your success isn't really a secret. Your items are beautiful so it's no wonder you have done so well!

    This diary cover is my favourite http://folksy.com/items/3642174-2013-Diary-cover-Vintage-chic- very pretty and as someone who's hubby does shift work, very practical too!

    Here's to many more birthdays and sales!

    Thank you for doing this very generous give away!

    Carol x

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  7. You make such beautiful items Edwina that is why you are successful. It is obvious that they are made with such love and care.

    Great blog as usual and very generous of you to do a give away.

    I am a great fan of your collage journals and notebooks, the Japanese Geisha ones in particular.

    http://folksy.com/items/3721870-A5-Japanese-Geisha-Journal-

    Happy First Folksy Anniversary!

    Shirley x

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  8. I love your work especially the vintage style journals, but I really do need a new make-up bag :)! so this is my favourite item
    http://folksy.com/items/3270938-Silk-Patchwork-Cosmetics-Purse-

    What a fab first year sales total, Happy Folksy'versary' and good luck for the next year

    Max x

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  9. As you know i am a huge fan! Thanks so much for including my tags in youyr blog. I just LOVE this bag and have coveted it since first seeing it. The colours are so bright and cheery, and has a bit of a vintage feel which is what I love

    http://folksy.com/items/2920466-Rosalie-bag-made-from-Cath-Kidston-Fabric

    Will go and tweet your fabulous Giveaway now :-)

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  10. Well done on so many Folksy sales in your first year.

    My favourite item has to be my little girls favourite item in your shop. She has just turned 4 and when I was browsing your shop she said ooh mummy look at the pretty doll. http://folksy.com/items/3742314-Happy-Matroyoshka-purse

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  11. Hi Edwina, congratulations on such a successful first year on Folksy. Your items are all beautifully made, and very appealing so I'm not at all surprised you've sold so many things. I've enjoyed having a browse through your shop, and without a doubt my favourite item is the Mucha journal http://folksy.com/items/3286778-A4-Vintage-style-journal-or-sketchbook My daughter also loves Mucha so it would be a fantastic Christmas present!
    Hope the next year goes as well for you!
    Best wishes
    Chris xx

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  12. Firstly Edwina, big congrats on your first year, I just love everything you make, you put so much detail in your work and I've not seen anything like it! My favourite item would have to be the sailboat notebook http://folksy.com/items/3539877-A6-Handmade-Sailboat-note-book-, I just love the simplicity of the fabric and the motif it just adorable!

    I wish you every success in the remainder of the year and many more in the future :)

    Colleen x

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  13. Congrats on your first year on Folky, that is super news and Thank you for offering us the opportunity to win one of your lovely creations.

    I love your shop and I think I really like the A5 Japanese Geisha Journal: http://folksy.com/items/3721870-A5-Japanese-Geisha-Journal-

    It's very pretty.

    I wish you the very best in all that you do and may you keep selling your beautiful creations for all to see.

    Ana

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  14. Doen;t that first year go quick and despite what we think are slow sales they soon build up. Well done :-)

    This is my choice of item
    http://folksy.com/items/3338002-London-tote

    I love the fabric that having the Olympics brought this year - and what a lovely keepsake for a Great British Year x

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  15. Congratulations on your 1st year, surprising how those sales soon add up.
    Saw you hadn`t had many take part so thought I would try my luck again. Didn`t enter before as I was lucky enough to win all those fab prizes last time. Fingers crossed though.
    Took me ages to look through and decide as I love so many of your gorgeous creations.
    Went for this one in the end, it`s fabulous.
    http://folksy.com/items/3642174-2013-Diary-cover-Vintage-chic-

    Linda

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  16. Happy 1st Folksy birthday and congrats on your success so far. I love your things as you know, and making a choice was difficult, but this is my very favourite: http://folksy.com/items/3468154-Handmade-fabric-covered-sketchbook
    The fabric is absolutely gorgeous and I LOVE the colours!

    Thanks for yet another amazing giveaway, and I wish you lots more success and loads more sales in the future,

    Margaret

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