i CANDY - 7th Edition

So I'm feeling a little nostalgic for the '80's today and making this collage just makes me smile:)

iCandy is brought to you today by Inkspot Workshop, as always.

Just in case you are an '80's memorabilia collector or in need a themed gift, these folks have you covered.

Lost Mitten, Whimsy Press, The Pendant Factory, Creative Rampage, Love Lee Soaps

ENJOY!

Not Your Regular Jo!

Look what arrived on my front porch yesterday. I could not wait until this morning when I knew I'd be brewing up a fresh cup of my new jo. Thanks to Carol, over at Pike Creek Coffee Roasterie for doing a trade with me, I know have 2 pounds of this superb, whole bean {you're not a real coffee drinker unless you grind your own beans:}

I'm a sucker for adorable packaging. French Toast {I'm drinking right now} and Cinnamon Hazelnut {will be my second cup} are the flavors I ordered and boy are they smooooooth! They use 100% Arabica coffee and roast daily in Wilmington, Delaware. Pike Creek Coffee Roasterie also has won the "Best Of Delaware" 2008 Best Coffee Critics Choice! OK, now I'm really sure I need a new coffee maker to even brew this pedigreed coffee:)

The Winner Is....

With the help of Nathan, my trusty assistant, we've got a winner for

Inkspot Workshop's FREE LUNCH Giveaway!

Tins and Treasures

will be winning this great set of cards made up as a collaborative effort among six Etsy card/stationery sellers. If you would like to purchase this set, they are available in my shop.

Thanks for playing! check back soon for more FREE LUNCH!

Inkspot Workshop On The MAP

I thought it would be fun to have some posters of the US, Canada and Europe in my office with bright red push pins every place I have sent an order. So I found 2 such perfect posters online as well as some push pins and went stabbing away!

Several minutes and sore thumbs later, the FULL picture was in place. I discovered that Inkspot Workshop is in 29 states, plus Canada, Norway, Thailand, England, Australia and Belgium. Thank you everyone!

My goal is to be in all 50 US states, so I've come up with a very special offer. Be the first to order from the following list of states and receive FREE SHIPPING on your order over $20.00. Just mention this blog post in the "notes to seller" section of your order checkout process and I will refund your account.

Alaska
Nevada
New Mexico
Wyoming
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Kansas
Oklahoma
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Kentucky
Mississippi
Michigan
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine
Delaware
Virginia
Iowa

! FREE LUNCH !

Who says there is no such thing as a FREE LUNCH?

Today at Inkspot Workshop we're serving up a heaping helping of teal with a side of red! Lucky Duck Designs was nice enough to contact everyone shown in the picture to see if we wanted to do a collaborative project and here's the result. You get a chance to win your own variety pack of Etsy artists' cards.

Win All 6 Cards Shown

How? Just Post Here

Friday, August 22 - Monday, Aug 25

a random winner will be drawn by my trusty 2.5 year old assistant

Featured artists include:
Just Another Day Designs
Lucky Duck Designs
Yours Truly
Tatsuko
JMillen
Wine Makers Sister

GOOD LUCK!

i CANDY - 6th Edition

Instructions: For full viewing pleasure, click on collage

Ok, it's Wednesday, which means it's iCANDY day! enthusiastically brought to you by Inkspot Workshop {as always}

First up are these precious hand printed ribbons from Leili Laloo. Aren't they just adorable? I've contacted the artist to see if we can work on a collaborative project, utilizing some of my own designs on some ribbon for a few ideas I have in my head. I'll keep you posted. This artist also has great prints, check out her shop. Next are these unique pieces, reminding me of fresh picked berries, from tqb designs. All of her work is from circles and/or spheres, a girl after my own {heart} In the mood for journaling? how about these fabulous books from Peep Paper.

Enjoy! if you have any ideas for future iCANDY features, just drop me a line or place a post here. Thanks for visiting.

Sneak Peek

I've been a busy bee and have finally put the finishing touches on Inkspot Workshop's 2008 Holiday Line. You are the first to see it! The line won't be available in my shop until sometime early October, but if you wish to purchase something sooner, just send me an email or leave a post here and we can set something up.

With a full line of personalized cards, hang tags and mini gift enclosures {plus a few other tricks up my sleeve} I've got you covered. Plus all my designs are able to be made into invitations, so start planning that fun, annual Holiday party that will have folks talking for years! Need some help with entertaining ideas? Swanky Tables is my GO TO spot.

Nerd Alert

Ever since I learned Excel, several years ago, I have become a data junkie {in addition to reality tv junkie:} For my day job, I am constantly having to analyze my sales territory which has helped me to be extremely proficient in Excel and the entire spreadsheet phenomena.

Since opening Inkspot Workshop on Etsy, just a few months ago, I have been keeping my own spreadsheets but nothing like the depth of information I found by Simple Solutions. First I must mention that I too found this product by pouncing away on Etsy. I know when you think of Etsy, you think "handmade" gifts, not spreadsheets, right? Well the way Etsy has been growing, adding several thousand new sellers and buyers each day, it's a wonder these "Etsy Seller Tools" folks did not show up on the scene sooner!

This seller, who is a number cruncher for a fortune 500 company by day, is very helpful if you just tell him what your business is {any business, not just an Etsy store} he will suggest spreadsheets just for you. In my case, since I sell paper goods he suggested the "Pick 3" plan. I received the Product Pricer, Product Analyst and Sales Tracker, all for just $13.00. I have been tinkering around with these sheets all weekend and I am so impressed with these little tools, thought I'd do an entire blog post on the subject.

The Product Pricer does just that, helps you break down your materials cost and reminds you to include labor. I really think the Time Tracker piece to this sheet is ingenious! There is actually a cute little timer built in, which allows you to time yourself as you make a product. That's definitely new to me.

The Product Analyst is like having your own personal coach telling you the status of your business. It will help you analyze your products to find out how long your products are listed before they sell on average, and approximately how many of each of your products will sell each month. This sheet will also tell you how long your product is on the market based on the day you list it. You can utilize this information to find out what items you should be making the most of! The spreadsheet was designed to work with your billing CSV spreadsheet. Once you download one, or all, of your billing statements, you can quickly upload the data all at once to quickly analyze your data.

Sales Tracker helps you figure out if there are better days of the week and/or times when you get the most sales. Pretty helpful if you're trying to plan a productive week.

Most importantly, Simple Solutions also offers products for your personal use, such as a Personal Budget and Retirement Calculator. If you are a data geek like me, or even just a wannabe, check them out!

I {heart} Flipping Out!

I confess, I am a reality TV junkie! Have you seen this show on Bravo called Flipping Out? It is my favorite show right now because it literally makes me laugh OUT LOUD, all the time! Very few shows other than The Office can claim that status:) Everyone on this show has the driest sense of humor, especially Jeff Lewis, the perfectionist, sadist, real estate flipper this show is about. You can catch this show on Bravo, Tuesdays at 10e/9c or just TIVO it. My husband says Jeff is the gay version of me, not sure if that's a compliment or not?

i CANDY - 5th Edition

Instructions: Click on collage to get full effect!

This week's i Candy feature is enthusiastically brought to you by Inkspot Workshop {as always:)

While pouncing away on Etsy, I found these talented fellow sellers. Their colorful images really "pounced" out at me. Starting from the top row, I'd like to introduce you to Joom. Don't you just love these modern and colorful prints? They have amazing pillows too. In fact, I just bought these prints, plus another from the shop, to use as a collage in my dining room. Next up is Flower Press with the loveliest hand block printed tea towels, so dainty. Grand finale is Olive, with her fun textiles. I love the color combination of this pillow, on the chair, next to the painted console, against the green wall. I think I may have to use this as a color combo inspiration for some new stationery designs.

What do you think? If you have some iCANDY, please send it to me. Thanks and enjoy!!!!

Blog Worthy

BEFORE

Back on Father's Day I posted about Stacie at Sugar Dreams Bakery and her amazingly tasty and every so moist, Gluten Free Coconut cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Well, she did it again!!

I recently had a houseful of family and needed a great cake to go along with my Mother-In-Law's fabulous cooking. My husband has gluten-free needs and typically we find most GF baked goods to lack moisture and flavor. This is not the case with Sugar Dreams Bakery, I can ASSURE you!

Never in my life have I had a coconut cake like this. It's not too sweet, just perfect, dense and moist. I could make a meal out of the cream cheese frosting alone. The fact she also has gluten free recipes is just another perk. Stacie is super talented and only weighs about 30 pounds, so I'm pretty sure she's not sampling any of her yummy treats:) She also has perfected the art of shipping her cakes and cupcakes and is gaining quite a following. If you are ready to try the best tasting cakes and cupcakes - EVER - Stacie is offering a 10% discount to all my blog readers on orders over $35. Mention this promo in the "notes to seller" section during checkout. The shop.

AFTER

The Winner Is...

VROOM!

From: High Desert Diva

She will be receiving a set of 12 VROOM Cards from Inkspot Workshop

and a set of VROOM gift tags!!

Thanks to everyone for participating in my FREE LUNCH and helping to name my newest shop additions.

Proud Mama

So ....here I am on the train last week, alone with my 2.5 year old son, a huge suitcase and my son's car seat, going to the Atlanta airport. It was packed and standing room only, so I squished my way to the back and found myself standing next to a very un-annoyed woman, even though we had her flat against the wall with all our attachments:) We started chatting and she informed me she was a proud grandma of a few little ones herself, which explained her pleasant demeanor, despite out cramped quarters and the fact she probably had lost all circulation in her legs.

With the 40 minute long train ride ahead of us, we found all sorts of topics to talk about, mostly family and of course I could not resist bringing up Inkspot Workshop. Not only was this super sweet woman a proud grandma, she was also one proud mama and with good reason. She informed me her daughter was an author and happened to be on the NY Times Best Seller's list for several weeks now. Her name is Emily Giffin and her current best selling book is titled Love The One Your With.

I wish I could say I was an avid reader, but was too embarrassed to let this woman know that my copy of Eat, Pray, Love {started last November} had sadly been collecting dust on my nightstand for months and the only other book I've read lately is Goodnight Moon! Additionally, the only books I've been reading these days are about starting your own business and prior to that they included all baby and toddler books.

Sharing this encounter with one of my good friends and bookworm, she gasped when I told her who I had met. She enthusiastically told me she just finished the book and said it was one of her favorites, plus she had read many other books from this young, talented author and mommy.

That's all I needed! Today I'm on my way to the bookstore to pickup a copy and will begin this fun read, I could use a little escape:) Plus, how many people have a NY Times Best Selling Author living right in their own neighborhood? I can't wait!

i CANDY - 4th Edition

Instructions: Click on collage to get best effect!

Ready for another weekly serving of iCANDY, enthusiastically brought to you by Inkspot Workshop?

Here we goooo... I just love letterpressed items and at some point in my life I am going to give this ancient printing technique a try. The texture of the imprint and the 100% cotton papers they are printed on are like luxurious linens. I'm dedicating this weeks iCANDY to letterpressed coasters, exclusively. I'm pretty sure these little gems would be used as decorations at my house, not for drinks:) they are just too perfect. Allow me to introduce you to fellow Etsy sellers and extremely talented letterpress operators; 12fifteen, The Paper Peony and Sarah Parrott. ENJOY.

If you see some items out there that you deem iCANDY, just leave a post. I'm always looking for crisp and colorful items to feature.

FREE LUNCH !

...so... they say there is no such thing as a free lunch?

Not here at Inkspot Workshop!

Inspired by a recent visit from my Dutch friends, I came up with these fun notecards, feeling all Europey and all.

You can even have these personalized with your name or any saying you wish!!

They Need A Name

I'm giving away a set of 12 to one lucky blog reader

August 5-10

Simply leave a comment with a clever name for these little cuties.

I will choose my favorite and you win!

Good Luck and Have Fun Always!

Open to USA and Canada residents

Bespoke Corner

Back from vacation, but still feel like I need another week to sleep! Travelling alone with my 2.5 year old son was very taxing, great fun too:)

Before I left I was very busy printing, folding and sending out all Inkspot Workshop orders and a great idea came to me... I get many requests from customers to make custom printed items, hence my slogan "bespoke note cards..." so why not have a feature here in my Blog focusing on the different types of custom requests I get here at my workshop? In a pinch, I quickly grabbed some of my son's sidewalk chalk and came up with a logo. What do you think?

Inkspot Workshop has gone international {apparently} for the whole month of July! It seems like every other order I received was from afar. I have met so many nice people and am quickly learning the ins and outs of international shipping.

Here are some 3x3 inch enclosures a lovely baby blanket maker in Thailand requested me to make.

Next up from Norway, a complete set {personalized note cards, business cards, stickers} for a sweet first grade teacher. She liked my Sherbet Dots cards and had me make them in her school's signature colors. Ironically, the school's logo also contains three dots, so it really worked out well. Hopefully the rest of the faculty will need some:)

Never thought my little woodys would be used for something in conjunction with a wedding! but how cute are these Thank You's for a bride and groom to be? They are big surfers and are having a summer color themed wedding. All the fun papers shown in the background match the wedding colors and are the envelope liners.

It is so much fun to take an idea and run with it, so it is with great anticipation that I await all custom requests. Stay tuned for more Bespoke Corner and interesting ways in which customers get inspired by my designs.