What is Society6 and why is it different from Etsy?

For the past few months I've been talking about my design shop and Society6. But, really, what's with that? What is Society6? Why have a Society6 shop AND an Etsy shop?

It seems a big mess and a bit convoluted but it's not. They both serve different purposes and I use them both because they're awesome and they allow me to share my art on different platforms and, better yet, they'll allow you to share yours too.

What is Etsy and Society6?

Etsy and Society6 are both wonderful sites that allow artists to sell their work without having to buy a brick and mortar store. They allow anyone, at any level, to sell their work. The difference between Etsy and Society6 is that Etsy allows you to sell almost anything from yarn to pottery to art and Society6 allows you to sell art, which will be printed on mugs, mobile phone cases and canvases.

So, why not sell your prints and mobile phone cases on Etsy?

With Society6, the artist uploads their image and Society6 prints, imposes and creates the items they sell with your image. As such, the artist gets paid a commission for the use of the print but the creation of the art is where the artists' input ends.

For instance, my friend bought a mug with my cheerful floral watercolour on it. I received a small commission for it but I had nothing to do with the creation of the mug, I didn't throw it, fire it, paint it, package or post this item. I just lent Society6 the use of my image for them to use and sell on my behalf.

Love my colourful new mug via @LemonHive @society6 #pretty pic.twitter.com/dudeNIyWY7
— Dianne (@dnam0) November 20, 2014

From the lovely @dnam0

I LOVE Etsy and I love my store. I enjoy the process behind making the paper products and home decorations I create. It really is one of my favourite parts of the process. Etsy is one of the best places to sell your handmade products and you have the opportunity to make them your own but, the cost and time involved in using Etsy is higher.

In order to sell the products sold on Society6 through Etsy, I would have to be proficient with the printing process, have the machinery and technology to be able to transfer my product over to items like clock faces, laptop decals and mobile phone cases. The time, money and skill set it would take to learn how to do all of that is intense and would take away from my ability to be able to enjoy what I do, it'd also set my selling prices sky high!

Why use Society6 then, if you have no part in the process or you don't receive much payment for it?

I consider Society6 to be similar to a collective. It'd be incredibly expensive for me to put a print on a tote bag for every individual who suggests they want one. This way, I am able to create and offer my designs on items that I'd be unable to offer if I weren't part of this collective. Admittedly, I don't make much from the products sold but I'm also not losing money when Society6 offer free postage or 15% discount (like Society6 are offering today if you use the code GIVETHANKS), I'm not having to tackle with packages at the post office BUT I'm still offering my designs in ways that my customers actually want.

There is no price on that.

I love what I do, I continue to be thankful that others see the fun in my work and want it to be a part of their every day.

Is Etsy or Society6 better?

They're both very different entities and they're used for different things. I offer prints and cushion covers through Society6 that I'd be unable to offer anywhere else, I also allow others to see the prints and digital work that I don't sell on Etsy.

Etsy allows me to sell and show the physical manifestations of my work. Everything in my Etsy shop has a long story behind it. Each item represents hours, days, months and years of honing skills, developing my own personal style and my love of colour.

The benefits for and against Etsy and Society6 are vast, so it's all about making your choices.

 

Should I buy from Society6 or Etsy? What supports you more?

To be honest, you should buy from the shop with the things you like in them! I love the options Society6 offers for those who just don't need another art print on their wall. Sometimes you just want a mug or a cushion cover. Society6 doesn't offer me much in terms of commission but it does offer me invaluable insight into what form people want to see my designs and that's amazing.

Etsy offers more in terms of monetary value but I also have to invest the time taking photographs, creating the product, driving to get more ink for my printer, battle with the post office. It's all endless! But the joy that comes from being able to think up an idea, create it, post it and hear the wonderful feedback is absolutely worth the effort.

Neither venture really supports me enough to do this full time but it does bring me pleasure and both of them offer me the financial support to keep working on them and offering more products and items that people love.

Where do you prefer to buy, Etsy or Society6? Have you used either of these platforms before? Which would you recommend to others?

Gift Ideas for the Fab, Fun and Funky, Hard-to-buy-for People in Your Life

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Apparently I'm really hard to buy for (funny because I definitely don't have that problem myself!). Since becoming quite enthralled with the handmade and homemade marketplace, I've found myself with quite the collection of beautiful items that I've curated through Etsy and Society6.

This collection was created with bright, quirky and earthy styles and patterns. I love the mixture of simple and minimal with detailed and bright. This is definitely an awesome place to start when it comes creating your gift list for hard to buy for people!

For more collections of awesome gift ideas, you can check out my treasuries (specially curated items) via Etsy.

IN STORE NOW: Handmade One of A Kind Christmas Card Packs

I have got my creative hat on again. I'm not quite sure what it is about this time of year but it really inspires me to start dusting off the paint supplies and organising my massive pen collection. I mentioned earlier that last year I had experienced great feedback on the mini Christmas card collection, so, this year, I made even more!

You can find them in my Etsy shop. If you want a single greetings card or a specialised set of greeting cards you can contact me directly.

What do you think?

Big Business Changes, Valuing Your Creative Process and An Etsy Sale

It's amazing that a few years ago I opened my Etsy shop and it was fabulous. I was really excited to start selling cards and I really threw myself into it; I created lots of sentimental and inspirational pieces and I enjoyed it greatly. My favourite and most successful cards were listed last Christmas and they all sold within a few weeks. This was so exciting for me. Around the same time, I received a custom order for over 200 Christmas cards to be used as place cards at a wedding. A few other custom orders for births, valentines day and weddings came in and I enjoyed that people thought my work good enough to represent them on such special occasions.

This little journey of creating and producing items that people want to buy is an amazing experience but there is something to be said about enjoying the process and the creation. I kept trying to design, paint and produce items that I thought people would like and love but often it wasn't 'me'. I like detail, texture and colour that wasn't overly present in the first things I created. It's not that I dislike the items I produced but I didn't feel like they reflected me or the full extent of my abilities.

One of the best things about creating items that weren't me was that I had many opportunities to push myself and explore more, to create more and develop my style. Although I haven't consistently posted my work online or on Etsy, I have been showing them off in real life. The feedback has been inspiring, amazing and touching, from people telling me that they would recognise my work outside of my shop to those people who were surprised when I told them my background did not include a degree in Fine Art. It's been a process.

I loved that people were enjoying the items I created and that they wanted to buy them. However, Etsy takes up a lot of time and a lot of work. The hours that go into maintaining and promoting an Etsy business is insane and although it is rewarding there was something that just didn't feel right. A single card takes hours to brainstorm, design, create, photograph and promote and for a while it just felt exhausting. Yes, it is a labour of love but it is also a goal of mine to price my items reasonably. Under-pricing and under-valuing my product means that I am undervaluing my skills, talents and time. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to make millions from illustrating card, plant pots and whatever else I want to put my hand to, but I would rather take longer to create a piece that brings me a deep sense of satisfaction and price it accordingly than create things that I can afford to sell at such low prices.

Having such a wonderful mentor/friend/supporter is helpful. This lady has encouraged me to price accordingly, increase the quality of my product and, generally, given me that inspiration to keep creating and, as she puts it, "put it out there for people to actually see". Initially, I was reluctant to price as all the pricing formulas have suggested but, as she correctly put, if people want to pay $5-7 for a card they'll go to Hallmark and buy a standard printed card. This is true and if I want to make my art into a business then I just can't compete with those prices but I can compete with the unique, quality and originality aspects.

I'm wondering if anyone else has struggled with finding a balance in a creative business...have you? Do you have any resources

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So, I'm having a sale. All the cards from over the past year are on sale for a fraction of the cost, prices range from $1.50-2.50 CAD. There's also a very special offer to those that follow me on social media, if you want more than 5 sale cards you can get them for $5. All you have to do is 'buy' the 5 that you need but send me a private message and I'll reimburse you any difference.

BIG SALE on Illustrated Art Cards

I'm selling off excess product in my store. 50+% off many items and, for my lovely readers on social media and the blog, you can buy 5 cards for $5, which is, really $1 a card. Just contact me on Etsy and we'll figure it all out together.

Tomorrow I'm going to be talking about why I'm putting everything on sale and explain some of the changes that are going to be happening around here.

Painted Plant Pots

A while ago, I posted a picture of a hand painted planter to my Instagram/Facebook and the feedback I received was amazing. I had been thinking about trying something new, doing new things and moving away from card making. One day, The Canadian came in from the shed declaring that he was throwing out some plant pots because they were too grungy, knowing that I am of a 'waste not want not' mentality, he asked if I had any ideas for them before they found their way to bin. Not one to turn down an opportunity to think outside the box, I grabbed them and got to work.

People have always commented on and 'liked' my work when I've shared it but this was different. All of a sudden, people who had previously been ambivalent about purchasing my art were now expressing interest in purchasing it.

I enjoyed the painting I had done on the large pot but it was a 10 hour investment and, at that moment, it wasn't a viable option for selling.
I took some time, purchased little plant pots to paint, researched how to seal the paint on the pot and got to work.

I absolutely love the finished planters and I wasn't sure about selling them because I adored them. The Canadian eventually persuaded me to sell them, so out came the camera and on came the click-click-click.

A few people have said that they'd love these plant pots but they're not really into the idea of 'planting' things. These pots would be great for little succulents but they're also good for:

• hair slides, ties and clips
• loose change and coins (thank you @dnam for that!)
• nail polish, nail files, orange sticks
• pens, crayons, colouring pencils (if, like me, you like having little pots of pens around the house)
• little cat toys
• jewellery
• all manner of things!

Do you have any other ideas?

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All these pots are available on sale now at The Lemon Hive Etsy Shop.

Hand Painted Planters

I have added some new items to my Etsy shop. There are three hand paint plant pots on the site. If you use the code 'HPPTLH15' you can receive 15% off any purchase in store. The code is valid until Sunday, 5th October 2014.

What do you think of these pretty little things?

Bespoke Valentine Cards

 

Valentine cards are a big deal. Especially when you're at that awkward pre-I love you stage. Getting the right card for someone without saying I love you or being overly soppy, or getting that card that is exactly what you want to say, whether that be overly smushy or awkwardly loving, is a hard mission.

So, I debated a while over what type of cards to offer in my shop. I REALLY ummed and ahhed over whether to stock The Lemon Hive with one of a kind cards, for you to look over and just pick out. In the end, I decided to only offer custom made valentine's day cards. I wanted to offer a bespoke experience for the man or woman in your life.

I have 10 spaces. Prices start at $6. I can guarantee that your cards will be one of a kind and I'll work with you to make it perfect! Contact me today or just order custom on Etsy.

Cyber Monday Giveaway and 5 truths 1 lie

Rhi was on the blog a few weeks ago, talking about jewellery and everything that is awesome about having a little business.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday really make a good dent on your monies. So, when Rhi approached me and asked if she could offer a little money spending reprieve to one of my readers, I was really excited. After I heard her pitch, I decided to join in the fun too. We are both offering $15 toward the purchase of any item in our respective Etsy shops. That's $15 for The Lemon Hive and $15 for Rhinestone and Pearl.

The giveaway lasts for 4 days, and some of the bonus entries can be done more than once!

5 truths and 1 lie

Deanna of Casinos to Castles caught my attention a few days ago when she wrote a post looking at 5 truths and 1 lie. After a little peer pressure on Twitter, I was persuaded that I should write one up too, so here it is:

** If you do actually know me and the answer, just write it in the comments or on twitter, but don't let on that it's the real answer**

1.
I wish I could build a good snowman. but I'm too embarrassed to go outside and make one on my own for fear that I will be labelled the 'town eccentric'. No one else seems to be interested in snow man building.

2.
I have had someone threaten me with a pool cue and back me into a corner brandishing the object. It was scary but I managed to talk my way out of it.

3.
I am scarily competitive when it comes to monopoly. I must defeat everyone and if it looks like my strategy is failing, I get super drunk and pretend to fall asleep. Better to be disgraced than pitied!

4.
I have a deep love for mainstream television, films and books. Don't even get me started on vampires! I read all the Twilight books in a week.

5.
I once had a spider crawl over my leg, which started a 17 year hatred of spiders and phobia that peaked at age 21. I had some 'spider therapy' and now deal with spiders with more decorum than screaming and running away.

6.
I speak enough German to 'get by' on the basics, I know enough Arabic words to deeply insult and graciously offer my greetings, I know some of the more advanced grammatical structures of French but I have little love of the language to maintain a working vocabulary in my head. I also speak foreign languages better when I'm a little inebriated. 

Cast your votes on Twitter or through the comments below (remember that a comment counts as an entry so remember to fill in the form above).

The Lemon Hive on Etsy and Using Greetings Cards for Expressions of Gratitude

I have been working away like a fiend on my Etsy shop and it is now officially ready for Christmas and holiday business.

With these brand new features:

	Now you can buy all your favourite cards from the lemon hive for even less!	Each card is an original, hand painted or hand drawn notecard. These are not prints! They double up as art and look fabulous in a frame and they are individual. As unique as you and the recipient. Basically, they are a gift in themselves.

Why did I start creating hand painted cards?
Having moved to Canada and having left all of my friends and family behind me, I was finding it difficult to afford sending them gifts all the time. It wasn't the gift itself but more the postage costs. I wanted to give them something they could frame, that would bring them joy when they picked it up at the post office or when it landed in their letterbox. It was frustrating not knowing where to start. So, eventually, I started making my own cards. Writing great words in them and expressing my gratitude for their continued existence in my life and for their friendship and love.

I received wonderful feedback about these cards. They became my go to for letting my loved ones know that I still missed them even if I couldn't afford to send large fancy parcels of maple syrup.

I started working on my art technique and dabbling in different styles and it's fair to say that now I definitely have a rhythm and a definitive style.

What makes the Lemon Hive Etsy Shop special?
Customisation. I will tweak, add to, make and design cards for you. I just completed a 130 Christmas card order for a bride in London. She wanted to have greetings cards at her reception that doubled up as place cards. It was a brilliant experience and I'm really looking forward to seeing them in action.

I put customer service as a priority, with a 10 day turn around. It was intense but she received the cards within 2 weeks of ordering them.


Writing the cards is another service I offer. I am very mushy gushy by nature but I know this isn't for everyone and it can be difficult to think of the write words (see what I did there? right/write?). I  am happy to chat with you about the recipient and pop it all into the card, posting directly to the person you miss. It saves you an extra postage cost and makes for a really awesome experience for the person receiving it.

How has been an expat affected your take on notecards?
I must admit, I didn't really 'do' notecards before moving. Then my friends started sending me beautifully written notes and postcards. It was then that I realised I genuinely looked forward to 'just because' mail. I started decorating my envelopes and writing beautiful sentiments. I never throw a card away. They are all here in a, once little but now big, box in my office. Every now and then I look through them.


Expressing gratitude and greetings cards
Recently, I've been talking a lot about gratitude, what it can do for you and what it is. For those who are familiar with the 5 love languages, mine is words of affirmation. I like to express my love for others through telling them what they mean to me and why I think they're fabulous. Being able to put this in something pretty and offer them a gift at the same time is part of what makes The Lemon Hive store so special. I want to broach that gap and be able to offer a great gift regardless of cost.



They're also a great choice for secret santa gifts and they pair up nicely with a bottle of wine!

Handmade Christmas Cards

Black and White Mini Christmas Cards

Is it too early to start the discussion on Christmas cards? Probably but I'm going to do it anyway. Christmas is getting closer and I decided to make some Christmas cards. I will be putting them in my Etsy Shop today and tomorrow. This entire past weekend was focused on Christmas cards and Christmas. I've had Christmas carols bouncing around my head since Friday.

Not your traditional Christmas colours. Turquoise and Purple Christmas Collection

I have a seven packs of 10 to sell, each pack with it's own individual colour scheme. Each pack costs $11 plus postage.

Red and Purple Christmas Collection

There are also large cards for sale too with a discount code (buy 2 get the 3rd for free) available if you enter this code at the checkout LH3for2 (this code cannot be used with the multi packs).

Each card in my shop is hand drawn, hand painted or a mixture of the two. They are not prints and are definitely one of a kind items. I spent all weekend making, photographing and writing up my Etsy products and I'm really impressed with how the finished product looks.

Is there a design or type of card that you would like to see? What else would you like to see in the shop?

A very merry collection: yellow and turquoise Christmas collection

I have included a nice new footer on my blog (see the bottom), which will enable you to check out my wares whenever you drop by. Clicking an image will take you straight to the shop where you can explore even more items.

What do you think? Is this your style?

Practicing with Coloured Pencils

 When I first purchased my sketchbook I practiced with pattern. Using inspiration I found on Pinterest, I combined, copied* and developed my own style.

Pattern inspiration: Top Left, Top Middle, Top Right. Pasta drawing was just practice.

I started studying other people's work, and then, I moved on to drawing what I could see. Namely, pasta and fruit. It was really rewarding to see my drawing style develop and to practice different techniques.

Fruit Inspiration: Pineapples, Cherries

Personally, I love ink. Any ink. Ball point pen, biros, expensive flowy ink pens, felt tip pens. I love being able to build texture and detail. Pen has always been my thang.

Then I decided to get brave and start using coloured pencil. Something that I had never really done before. Colour scares me, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed using colour so much that I kept going, I started adding colour to everything and using colour to further develop textures, depth and detail.

 

I am really enjoying the development that I'm seeing and it makes me really proud. It's so tricky to start practicing a skill that has been dormant for so long, but it has been worth it.

If you're liking my style and want to see how you too can buy a little bit of it, head over to my shop and check out the cards I have for sale. My special offer is still going strong, so don't forget to enter the code at the checkout.

* Personally, I believe copying is a good thing, especially when you're starting out. It allows you to practice rather than be creative, which are two daunting things when you're starting to draw again. I am not suggesting that you copy and sell your work or even claim it to be your own, I am saying that you should look to other people's work, try out their moves on paper and develop it into your own. Never take credit for work and ideas that are not your own. It's just not cool!