Raffle Winner?

Hey guys, just a quick follow up to the winner of my Dotted Clutch Purse Raffle at SF Market from June 19, 2010.

Unfortunately, both the winner and then the alternate winner did not claim their prize :-(  I'm really surprised because there were quite a few entries for the raffle and I was really excited about my first raffle (aside from the raffle at my Open House back in February 2010).

So what would entice you to actually claim your prize?  What prize is worth winning (besides the lottery)?  Let me know so that I can perfect the art of having more raffles and actual winners.  They are certainly a fun way to spruce up the average day :-)

Coupon Crazy!

It's official - I now have an almost complete shopping cart site hosted by Big Cartel (BC). The one advantage BC has over Etsy (for now), is that BC allows me to provide incentives and discounts to my customers.

For instance, yesterday, I announced (drum roll please) my very first promotion on my shopping page - a 20% discount off your entire order with coupon code KDFRENZ.  Of course, folks who signed up for my newsletter, Fanned me on Facebook and followed me on Twittter got wind of this first.  Now, it's time to share it with everybody else.  The code is good for the month of June 2010.

I love coupons.  When I buy online, before finalizing my sale, I always do a quick search first to see if there are coupon codes I can use floating out there in the nether world.  Sometimes, I get lucky :-) So my coupon promotion is my way to "pay it forward."

So send this blog to your friends, share it with others :-) I say that my shopping site is almost complete since I'm always in the process of creating some new product.

Which brings me to the topic of product testers.... I think I'll be looking for some male readers out there in SF (ages 20-40) willing to test out products.  Are you out there?

For the Kids

Although this weekend was Father's Day weekend, I got the sense it was all about the Kids!  Saturday was my Market-SF craft fair at The Blue Macaw in the Mission District of SF.  The day was blistering cold but it was nice and cozy inside the bar.  The lovely operators had cleared out the bar to make room for local SF vendors, including yours truly :-)

There were fun stuff to be bought and had, for sure!  Johanna, my immediate neighbor and visual artist extraordinaire, let me borrow her "fun for hours" pinball balancing puzzle thingamabobber.  Here's a picture to prove I actually did get all the pinballs balanced in each socket.

One of the most interesting toys I found were monster plush figures from the world of A Plush Plush.  They are handmade and stuffed with lots of love (and filling). Aside from the fact that the name is AWESOME and the toys are totally unique, each figure has a brief bio and story.  I can't wait until Andrew releases the full world of A+sh+sh figures. I'll be the Earthling eagerly awaiting it's complete debut! I'm also the proud owner of one of his very first creations.  That might worth something huge on the auction block one day :-)

Then there were some super cute children's accessories, including this adorable bib from Finch Designs.  It's so appropriate too because when I think of mixer beaters, I think of kids licking cookie dough from the beaters... Ah, some of the joys of child(and adult)hood.

 

I also couldn't help but notice the cute dolls made by Laurel here.  If they were edible, I would probably eat them up! [insert munching sounds here....]

 

These propeller cuff links by Riquelle also reminded me of being a kid.  Though, I was never really that into airplanes, my honey was a aerialphile (is that even a word?). In other words, he loved airplanes (and still does). Now, I know it comes a bit belated, but these cuff links would be the perfect Father's Day present for the Dad who loves planes.

What do you think?  What do you like?

Join Us Market-SF in the Mission

Hey Everybody!

kiu Designs will be at Market-SF fair on Saturday, June 19th in the Mission in SF.  It's a venue featuring many independent artists in the Bay Area, including yours truly :-) taking place at the wonderful Blue Macaw restaurant and bar.

12 noon to 6pm

Saturday June 19th, 2010

at the

Blue Macaw

2565 Mission Street (x 22nd Street)

San Francisco CA

To entice all my blog readers and wonderful kiu Designs fans, come to my booth and be entered into a drawing for a FREE, dotted clutch purse (excluding tax and shipping).  That's right, FREE :-)  The drawing will be held that evening and you don't have to be present to win.  But you do have to show up :-)

You'll also get a chance to help support other local SF artists.  Check them out here.  See you there!

Craft Fair Post-Mortem

Hi Everybody!

It's been almost two weeks since my very first craft fair at the Bizaar Bizarre Craft Fair at the Maker's Faire 2010 in San Mateo.  Lots of fun!  I have to thank my very good friend Lorianne for helping me all day on Saturday and my honey Mark on both Saturday and Sunday.  Not sure where I'd be without good friends and loved ones to help encourage and support me.

I also met many cool neighboring vendors who all had many unique craft items.  My neighbor Adam, at The Girl & Rhino, had the funniest screen tees.   More often times than not, I heard customers walking by asking him what PILF meant... too funny!  If you want to find out, check out his site. 

Nic, my immediate neighbor of Knickerocker, had some awesome insight about arranging payments at craft fairs.  She had the cutest lingerie and I admit, were just way too cute to hang on the racks.

  One of my faves were the black and white panties with butt cleavage!  NICE!  Who doesn't like butt cleavage!

There were too many to name, but Rebecca at Jim Dandy's created some of the prettiest feathered hair clips/barettes.  I love her stuff and want more, even though I'm a pony-tail type of girl :-)

As a newbie to the craft fair scene, I also had some great feedback from customers and faire-goers.  Apparently, the boys are also interested in purses too - though they don't call it that.  So as part of my upcoming future product, I'll be creating some new products that are gender neutral as well.  I had many other novice and veteran sewers compliment me on my craftsmanship, which is makes me feel so proud of my hard work (if I don't say so myself).

As part of my continual growth and expansion of kiu Designs, my shopping cart is fully up and running, though I still have to load more product.  Check it out: www.kiudesigns.bigcartel.com.  Can't wait to promote my new shopping site!  Stay tuned for an announcement and discounts!

-kD