Monday, September 22, 2014

Hastypearl...Backstage!


Hastypearl...Backstage!

I got the idea, to show you the Backstage of a Hastypearl sale, 
after Seth Apter issued a call 
for artists to send him pictures of their Studio Tables!
It has been fun to see the responses and the sad  state of affairs 
of Art Tables from around the world ;)

I wont just show you my table, 
but I will also show you what happens After the table!

Lets face it...Your kitchen, garage, sewing table, garden, office
...anywhere that you are in the middle of a project, 
can turn into a "Chaotic Zone" in a hurry.

Ahh...but such are the Wonders that can happen There :)



So, here is my table this morning.
I'm currently working on some angels.

Not so bad, really, but the piles on the floor 
surrounding it, make me look like I'm playing 
the Twister Game sometimes.

What I thought would be fun to post about today, 
is the "step by step" of what happens when
 I have a sale in my Etsy shop, called Hastypearl.
We will go...Backstage!

And by the way, all you have to do is register
and have a credit card, to purchase something from Etsy.
Etsy has made it Incredibly easy to shop online.

If you haven't shopped there yet, you HAVE to take a look.

Its mostly about Handmade, and Vintage Resale.
A Perfect combination, for me!


So, when you have an Smartphone and you have an Etsy sale, 
you hear the sound of a cash register.
It literally says...Cha Ching!

Mostly Anywhere that I am when I hear that Cha Ching...
I do a Happy Dance!

I LOVE knowing that someone, 
from literally Anywhere in the World, 
has found me and loves either my Art, 
or a Vintage Item that I have found!

I still consider myself an infant in the Etsy game, 
and I have had my Hastypearl Store 
for a year and a half, but I confess, a sale Never Gets Old!

So, yesterday, while I was listing some new items, 
I heard the sound...Cha Ching!

Happy Dance Ensued :)

This time...a sale came from Houston, Texas!

My sweet... dear, deer...was to leave home !


I keep most of my items, in labeled boxes in a closet.
That way, I can dependably get the purchases out the door, in a day.
I usually get them out the Same day. 


I do the typical packaging that You do when You ship....
However, when I have an item that is extra fragile...
like the ears are on my little polymer clay deer, 
I turn to my dependable egg crate foam mattress!
OK. Its a little unconventional, but its super affordable and 
its worked to safely carry my art all around the world :)



Here is a picture of my deer, safely packed inside.
Im telling you. I felt a little sad. 
Like I was sending a child to camp!
He looks so cute, don't You think!



So, I happen to KNOW this Particular customer...
yep, its my youngest Son!
Hes been such a Great customer.

I always feel a little silly...because...he could come here 
and take anything he wanted for free, but he wouldn't.
He constantly encourages me. 
Its nice when you know that someone that loves you, 
is also proud of you, right? :) 

Plus, I think he kind of likes the convenience of 
comfortably shopping, 
and knowing that I will wrap his gift for him ;)

He bought... dear, deer, for his girlfriend Valencia's, birthday.
Shhh. Don't tell her.
Its a surprise!


EVERY person who buys a treat from Hastypearl, 
gets a handwritten thank you note 
from me, and some surprises.
I think this is actually one of my favorite parts.
I love thanking and connecting 
personally with my customers!

I couldn't help but slip in a necklace 
that I had made and a pouch of lavender.
The resin filled charm has 
a piece of vintage ephemera of a butterfly, 
a beautiful piece of vintage bridal lace, 
a garnet bead, and the word...become. 



Finally, it was time to put it all together.
I happily do this for customers, that are sending a gift to someone. 



I added one of my Hand Painted Watercolor cards 
with a message about... becoming.



Etsy is set up for us buy our shipping labels, 
even International labels, through them,
but if I can save money by using the USPS, 
I will use Click and Ship.
Its sooo nice and easy, to buy postage at home. 


By now, I'm in the home stretch.

Three of the One Million things that I have learned 
in the last year and a half are....

1. Never put your packing tape over your bar code. 
It causes issues with the machines 
trying to read the numbers.

2. Use a black marker, and scribble over any other bar codes 
that are on the outside of your box. 
The machine reads the first bar that it scans, 
and your box may go to who knows where!

3. Before you tape, shake your box. 
If the contents rattle inside, add more "stuffing" 
until the rattle goes away! 
You've already seen that I use foam, 
but I also use Larry's plastic,
 that covers his clothes returning from the cleaners. 
Its free and a great way to recycle.


I asked my lady mail carrier, 
if I could put my Domestic boxes in our mailbox 
for her to take to the PO for me. 
Being that we live in a small rural community, 
she agreed. 
That has really saved me time :)

Of course, even though I can buy 
my International postage at home, 
it always has to be checked in
 and scanned at the nearest US Postal Office.

Then, I come back to the house,
 and start the process all over again!

Creating or Finding, Photographing, Photoshopping, 
Researching, Listing and...

 Waiting to hear that Awesome Cha Ching! :)



I always ask my customers what they 
will do with their Hastypearl purchase.
I have heard some of the MOST AMAZING STORIES!
People have the Greatest Imaginations.

Then there are the unusual, 
like four of my Wire Ornament Hangers, 
were used on the set of 
last years top Tony Award winning 
Broadway play, 
and I haven't heard back yet, 
but I recently sent an item to a 
Set Decorator in Burbank, California. 
Gets the imagination going, right? :)

So, Farewell...dear, deer.

I will miss you, but you will bring Joy!



So, I hope that was fun for You, 
or maybe even helpful for you in some way.

Now, you know what its like Backstage...Hastypearl!

And I Gladly join the ranks of Messy Artists and Humans around the World!
Where there is a Mess...there has usually been some Fun!!

I hope that you will consider doing your up coming 
shopping on one of the many Online Handmade sites. 
You cant beat finding original items AND 
having them delivered right to your front door! 

As Always, I'm So glad that you stopped by...
and thanks for the challenge, Seth!

xo Laura












2 comments:

  1. I absolutely loved seeing the backstage view of Hastypearl. What a great idea!! You are so organized--love the peek inside your closet with all the labeled boxes. Very, very neat! You are right--the 'cha-ching' never gets old. Even my daughter does a happy dance with me when we hear it. lol! Wishing you continued success with your work. xo, Suzanna

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    1. Suzanna, so fun to hear from you:) I just checked my Etsy, and you and Carla Trujillia, two of my favs, and I , were side by side of on one of my customers favorites! I felt very honored! If you are still excited with as many sales as you have, then that is a great testimony of how much fun having a shop on Etsy can be! Here's to lots of Cha-Chings, for everyone! Best...Laura

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