Category: Etsy

Posted by Mother Eagle on in Art, Embroidery, Etsy, Learning, My Work

NEW: Classes now available – and shop update too!

Diligent fans of my website (I know you’re out there) may have already noticed that I have added a couple pages. Firstly, you can now get in touch with me even easier, as there is a nice simple Contact Me page.

But more excitingly, I have added a page called Classes: I now offer one-to-one teaching in my home studio in West Sussex. I have designed these classes based on feedback from my Instagram followers, and they’re all completely customisable to allow students to get tailored advice. Realising I also have followers overseas, I am also offering embroidery coaching, by the hour via Skype, to help with any of your embroidery issues or project problems. Go and have a look!

Finally, I’ve updated my Etsy shop – given it a makeover and made all my remaining Ritual Pieces pieces available for sale. There’s also a direct link from each piece here in my Portfolio to the listing where you can buy it. Easy!

 

Posted by Mother Eagle on in Embroidery, Etsy, My Work

Teeny Tiny Hot Cakes

button set2

I’ve been making more mini button badges.

badger

bee

toad

eye

hare

ladybird

stag

snail

owl

hedgehog

What do you think? They debuted on Facebook and seem super popular! I am really enjoying pushing myself to create things of equal quality to my regular work but even smaller. It’s an interesting process too as (some of you will know) everything I do is a ‘first attempt’ (I do a lot of planning). But with the execution of buttons, it’s been a little random as far as the outcome being perfect; some of these are, and some have been not quite up to my standards but I know how to fix it better for next time.

That little hedgehog is mighty loved by all I have to say.

Anyway so I am going to be continuing to make more designs of these, and get some proper photos done, and them all on my website for sale as my next collection, ready for spring. I think they are more wearable in an everyday way than my other work, and when I get them in my shop there will be the option to have them as buttons or badges. I have loads of ideas for this format – Toadstool collections, trees/leaves, birds, zodiac etc etc…Good to be inspired isn’t it?

button set

What else has been going on?

I had a good lot of end of year sales, a few bespoke pieces which was great. But also when they were ordered I was in a bit of a different creative head space (see above) and it made me feel a bit bla to be making stuff to order when I really wanted to be getting on with new stuff. I realise this is a terribly ungrateful sounding thing. I do know what a massive privilege it is to get paid for creating something you loved to create. But let me clarify: it’s the frustration of being interrupted whilst creating something new. All my work has always been the product of intense excitement in thinking of something and executing it, followed by the joy of someone else loving it and buying it (hopefully). Revisiting designs is something I also enjoy doing (see Hare/Moon Hare/Ghost Hare and numerous skull type things), but these are always done on my own terms. Basically I’m saying my creativity is a deep well of happiness and I want to make sure I’m always mindful of it not becoming a ‘chore’, lest it stifle creativity itself. I like to always be moving forward. And, you know, it’s my art at the end of the day so I can do what I like.

So, having had a good look at all my online things (website/blog/Facebook/etsy etc etc.) I realised I was presenting too much as ‘craft’ and not enough as ‘art’. That is to say, all my one-of-a-kind’s that have sold, I almost immediately make available as made-to-order items in my shop, which have benefited me in making them more accessible, but by its very nature I think has meant my creative process has often been interrupted by having to revisit points in my creative past I wasn’t necessarily that excited about at the time. Another thing I think is that it *sort of* devalues the bespoke stuff in a way, like how I make a big fuss about how long everything takes to embroider and create from scratch and it’s one-of-a-kind etc, and then you buy one and ping! It reappears as a made-to-order.

Also (I know how you love to hear all the endless thoughts about the same thing over and over forever in my head) having this as a system of selling doesn’t actually work as a long-term strategy, or even as a scenario where I am more successful and have more interest/customers/higher profile/whatevs. Because if I was enjoying said success, that would mean in theory that I am regularly getting multiple orders of existing designs which I then create on a first come, first served basis and am then unable to really progress with new work or larger client driven commissions.

This isn’t the same as being commissioned to do something totally new of course. And also I don’t want to be all spoilt and cut my nose off to spite my face.

So what’s changed? Something and nothing. Basically I’ve removed all made-to-order items from my shops – you’ll now only be able to buy the one-of-a-kind, ready-made items from my collections in the usual way. All designs that sell or have sold and were available as made-to-order can still be bought but only by contacting me by email as a special commission. All work I’ve ever done is pictured in my archive page, linked to the blog post about it and I’ve mentioned everywhere that’s relevant that any old designs can be ordered bespoke.

I feel I’m presenting my work more as the art it is, and it feels like the right thing for me, even though I’m basically making it harder to buy my work. But not if you really want to.

Posted by Mother Eagle on in Etsy, Shop Update

Update…part 2

Welcome to the new look Mother Eagle! Ive been working really hard getting the beautiful new logo (why the change?) into all the different formats – Facebook, Twitter, Etsy etc. plus getting new business cards and marketing materials sorted…

And creating new packaging! Now as standard on all jewellery! Includes a recycled brown card box (stamped with the Mother Eagle insignia) with cotton batting, black recycled tissue paper sealing your jewellery with a Mother Eagle vinyl logo sticker, then wrapped with Mother Eagle paper and tied with black satin ribbon. All purchases still include the classic logo temporary tattoo!

With all these changes I took the time to review my shipping policy too. Now that the pieces are becoming more intricate and also because I’m now selling framed art, I can no longer be as generous with the free shipping. This is simply because the work I am selling is basically one of a kind. Yes I can always replicate a design, but the beauty of buying truly hand made art is it really is one of a kind. Also as my ‘samples’ sell out pieces are becoming purely Made-To-Order. For that reason I would be devastated if one of my pieces was to be lost in the post, and if it cost more than £46 then it’s not insured. So for that reason, from now on all items over £50 will be sent Special Delivery, for everyone’s peace of mind. I have been criticised in the past for shipping with a signature-required service, (“it’s a hassle having to be in/collect from Post Office”) but as one wise person told me recently, if they can’t be arsed to do that then they can’t really care that much about the jewellery they’re buying.

But items under £50 will still be free shipping!

I hope you like the new look.

Posted by Mother Eagle on in Etsy, My Work, Shop Update

What I’ve been up to.

Hello friends. I know I’ve not been blogging with as much regularity the last couple of weeks. So I thought I would update you with what’s been happening behind the scenes:

Rebranding.

I had a logo, a logo I was quite attached to, and one that I designed. Here is the picture of the original drawing I did (I told you I’m not much of a drawer):

Then my lovely husband who has more patience with graphic design than me (BE PERFECT STRAIGHT AWAY) smartened it up for me into the classic tattoo style heart you know me by. But although I have been very attached to this little logo, I did design it back in 2006/7 when Mother Eagle first hatched, and the jewellery I was making then, as well as the idea behind the brand identity was very different. Completely different in fact – nowhere did embroidery feature whatsover. So I recognised it was time for an overhaul, I wanted something that would encapsulate the Mother Eagle of today. I needed help. I called these guys:

I’m gonna assume you get why their style would appeal. Here’s what they came up with for me:

So obviously a lot of behind the scenes industry commenced with changing Gravatars and banners and what not. And all the fun (not) of designing new business cards and logo stickers. And getting carried away and ordering lots of address labels and postcards too.

New products. 

I’ve been looking around for ages for an alternative way to mount my miniature embroideries for jewellery. The metal ones have been great, and a fantastic discovery to get Mother Eagle jewellery off the ground. One of the major down-sides though is that they are only available from the States, seemingly from just one person, and I also found the quality of the finish can vary. Plus being only plated brass they don’t quite match the quality of the hand work.

 These are custom-made, laser cut, sustainable birch wood shapes cut to be mini embroidery frames . They are amazing in real life.The bit in the middle pops out and the fabric wraps around it. I have had a back piece made too so when it’s all assembled you woun’t see any tatty edges. Plus it SMELLS LIKE BONFIRE. Being custom made I can also have whatever shape I like of course so this opens up infinite possibilities…bigger embroidered jewellery…large embroidered panels…CROWNS! No not really crowns.

I also wanted to change the hardware on the jewellery too, so have opted for a gorgeous antique bronze belcher chain and lobster clasp, and lovely tear-drop bail. They are really solid and all the links are soldered so really top quality.

I also got a pyrography pen. So now I can decorate the frames with wood burning and even sign and number the reverse of the jewellery, making each one even more unique.

Packaging

I’ve been upgrading the packaging. I will post pics soon as I get all my new business cards etc, but every piece of jewellery now comes boxed, double gift wrapped with tissue and ribbon, and all the usual goodies like temporary tattoo etc are included.

My own Mother Eagle website.

As you know my shop is on Etsy at the moment, and has been for years. Don’t get me wrong, I love Etsy, but as Mother Eagle has evolved I feel more and more like I want more control over the online experience of my customers, and as Mother Eagle becomes more and more visual and the story becomes more engrained in my work, well, the cookie cutter shops on Etsy just isn’t something I want to include in my plans for  world domination (disclaimer: I have no such plans).

So the other thing I have been spending my time on is building a new e-commerce shopping site where I can really reflect everything I do in a more whole way, encorporating both this blog and the shop. This will take a while. So I have been trying my best to keep the plates all spinning while this stuff has been going on in the background. I never did like being a plate spinner much. So I missed a couple blogging deadlines. And I know you’re used to seeing me churn out new projects week on week. This will resume.

Life

Just life.

So that’s why I’ve been a bit quiet compared to my normal regularity. For now blogging regularly is slightly kicking my ass so I am doing my best. I am starting a new collection of Toadstool jewellery this weekend so will share my work in progress pictures with you soon.

Finally, I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone reading this blog for continuing to do so, and for supporting me and Mother Eagle. All your lovely comments and things really mean a lot. So if you head to my Facebook page you will see a special extra 5% discount code off sale items until August 31st!