Let's make something together - October events & classes

Whew it's gonna be so good!

Oct. 1 Embroidered Halloween Cards
Mulberry Street Library, 4-5 pm

This program is for Teens and Young Adults, 13-18 years.

Oct. 5 Brooklyn Craft Camp
A day of DIY heaven making four projects with all tools and materials supplied, getting your nails did, drinking fancy cocktails and food, playing in the photobooth, and mingling with lots of creatives. I'm so excited about it! Check out the amazing classes: terrariums, glass etching, felting, loom knitting, embroidered sequin bracelets (with me!), and more.
+ Aaaand, I SPY DIY  is giving away a ticket! Ends this Friday 9/27.
+ See pics from the last event here: Brooklyn Craft Camp

Oct. 3/ 10 Stitch Dictionary
Purl Soho, 6-8 pm

Oct. 7 Make Your Own Monogram
Make Workshop, 6:30-8:30 pm

Oct. 12 Tea and Embroidery Workshop
Knot & Bow Studios, Saturday, 1:30-4 pm
Knot & Bow is a line of modern stationery goods, and event supplies.  They're hosting a series of carefully curated inspiring workshops in their new studio space.  We'll be making three projects: embroidered photocorners as featured in Country Living Magazine, gift tags and stitching up your own zodiac sign while sipping tea on a crisp fall day. All workshop details here.

So, let's make something together!

Etsy Success Event & the Bug gets internet famous!

Last night I spoke at Etsy HQ for their Etsy Success Series and you can sign up to view the talk here. I was really excited about the topic, Customer Service, because it is so important to me as a small business and also such a challenge for me. Keeping on top of custom orders and responding to an overwhelming inbox are huge struggles for me. I feel like I'm always behind since most of my work is made to order.

I really wanted to approach Customer Service form a sellers point of view. I kept these questions in mind:

• How can a seller make their job easier, more efficient, and streamlined in terms of customer service?
• How can we better connect with our customers?
• How can we build community with other sellers to help support each other and grow our businesses?
• How can I make my customer's experience the best it can be so that they not only come back, but also share their experience with others? 

Here's one of my slides. Bug made it into my talk not once, but twice. AND he even got a mention by one of the other speakers!

Here's a brief overview of what I talked about & some tips I learned from the event. I'd love to hear your thoughts and your own experience.

Customer Service Checklist
1. Great photographs, listing text and a policy page
- Answers buyers questions with images & text.
- Make sure to visualize and use the drop down menu for any options or customizations
- Break down your listing details: introductory paragraph, item details, processing times and shipping info.

2. Convos
- Join the Etsy Convo Improvements Team for the updated convo system. It's rad! Much more user friendly.
- Write with a smile! Avoid frustration with kind, short & sweet replies.
- Try your best to reply as soon as you can, at least in 24 hours. Answering convos helps make sales!

3. Be You
- Rock your About page with an awesome portrait and interesting bio. Link your FB, twitter & blog.
- Be as personal as you can with your customers. Use their name in all your communications. Thank returning customers!
- Join a team & try doing in person events like fairs or teaching.

- Share bits of your work & life on social media. Blog, tweet, FB, Instagram. You don't have to do it all. Pick at least one and run with it!

4. After the sale
- Celebrate! You are doing a good job and you need to recognize that.
- Make a strong “Message to the Buyer” that clearly states you’ve received their order, restate briefly your processing times and shipping days. Leave a link for your buyers to opt into your mailing list.
- Get organized. Print out orders receipts or make a simple sales document.
- Communicate! Update customers on their orders if there is any delay. 

- Let them know when their order ships, and provide a tracking number (US only).

5. Packaging
- Make it a treat! Personalize it with a handwritten note and make it a delightful experience.
- Say thank you with thoughtful extras and packaging. Target your extras to help market your shop. Sell prints? Include a mini print. Cards? Include a cute address label. It could be as simple as a postcard that features a beautiful image of one of your items.
- Include a business card and coupon code. 

- Aim for your customers to have a word of mouth worthy experience with your packaging & item.

Photos: Cheyne of Cut Out & Collect- thanks lady!!

You can sign up to view a taping of the event here.

Please let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from sellers & buyers. Any tips to add?

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday!

Come see me this Saturday at the Bust Craftacular! I'll be vending & teaching a class in the Bust Workshop Tent, 1- 2. We'll be making your choice of my Zodiac Embroidery Kits and learning all the stitches to make your own starry piece. The class is only 12 bucks and includes a kit. I'd love, love, love to stitch with you! More info here on the class. Email me if you'd like to reserve a spot: hello(at)miniaturerhino(dot)com

I'll be sharing a booth with the crazy talented Occulter. I'll have lots of kits, my book, Stitched Gifts, of course, and I'm working on some cyanotype pillows!!

BUST Magazine Craftacular and Food Fair @ DUMBO Free admission!
Saturday, May 4, 11AM-6PM

Manhattan Bridge Archway and Pearl Street Plaza, Brooklyn, NY

Zodiac Embroidery Class 1-2PM $12 for kit & class

Find me at Table 93 right behind the workshop tent.

Fabric cyanotypes ready to be stitched up into throw pillows...

Hope to see you at the fair!! 

Brooklyn Craft Camp...

...the craftiest day Brooklyn has ever seen...

 

On Saturday I was lucky enough to participate in the insanely fun Brooklyn Craft Camp teaching four packed embroidery classes throughout the day. The room buzzed with kindred makers learning to crochet, knit, create paper cut cards, realistic paper flowers, rad chunky-beaded jewelry, and make terrariums from some of my favorite makers, like Kayte Terry, Cal Patch, and Julie Schneider.

The day was planned to perfection by Brett Bara with no detail left out. Everywhere there was eye candy and an opportunity to get creative- pink table cloths, pom-poms, tassels, knit bombed couches AND a quick crafts and nail polish bar. I got fancy during the lunch break and did my nails - so fun! We had good music, great food, and fresh rosemary embellished fancy, pink drinks.

In my classes we learned the basics of embroidery and stitched up several new patterns I drew up just for this day, like feathers, arrows, a heart and leaves. It's always fun to see how people can take a pattern and make it their own.  Most of my classes had absolute beginners and I loved seeing them learn to embroider and get excited about what they were making.

I've also never threaded more needles in a day. I must have set some kind of record!

We made an epic mess. Threads and needles were every where. I had transfer paper stained fingers,  threads stuck on me, and a hoarse voice by the end of the day. I have quite a very fun job, but I was so exhausted by the end of this amazing day of making and meeting so many new people.

Thank you, thank you if you came out to Brooklyn Craft Camp. Thank you to everyone who took my classes - Please share your projects with me!

And a big, giant thank you to Brett for organizing the whole craftacular event!!

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Stitched Gifts Launch Party at Purl Soho...

You are invited!

I'm so very excited to invite you to the launch party for Stitched Gifts at Purl Soho!

The original embroideries will be shown, fancy drinks will be severed, I'll demo some sweet embroidery skills, sign some books, answer any questions you may have, and everyone who makes a purchase during the event will receive a free holiday embroidery kit I made just for the event featuring a project from, you guessed it, Stitched Gifts. More info on the event here on the Purl Bee.

I'm over the moon to have the event at Purl. I remember attending the book launch for Penguin Threads first set of books featuring the amazing stitch work of Jillian Tamaki. This whole book process has felt so surreal to me. It's about to get real real with a book launch party!

Please come out and say hello. It'd make me so happy to see you there...

What: Stitched Gifts Book Launch Party
When: Saturday, November 17th from 6-7:30pm
Where: Purl Soho, 459 Broome Street (Between Greene & Mercer)

Here are just a few of the projects from the book that you'll be able to see at Purl!

And here again are the details...
What: Stitched Gifts Book Launch Party
When: Saturday, November 17th from 6-7:30pm
Where: Purl Soho, 459 Broome Street (Between Greene & Mercer)

p.s you are invited for all time 

Renegade Brooklyn

Whew, what a crazy weekend! Renegade is always a whirl wind- the prep, the haul, long days on your feet, and the heat was intense this year. I can't believe this was my fourth year participating, and this year was better than ever for no other reason than I just let it be. No crazy expectations, I just enjoyed the process - styling the booth display, making lots of new products, and my very favorite - chatting with people who stopped by. Thank you to everyone who visited us!!












































































































































































































It also doesn't hurt to have a wonderful booth mate, Virginia & great neighbors (Fisk & Fern / Deer Badger). Virginia always inspires me to step up my booth display with her creative props and styling.  I took it as a great compliment when a few people weren't sure if we were separate shops. We make it fun by goofin it up...

















































































And then, that was that & we packed up and went home to the messiest little apartment (almost all my display is actually part of my home decor) but not before taking in the beautiful East River Park view....

This year I took a whole hour to walk around and brought back a bunch of handmade, beautiful goods. Can't wait to share with you soon.

Did you brave the heat & come out to Renegade Brooklyn? What did you get? Thanks again to all who came out, to the organizers, and anyone who stopped by and supported my work!!

Upcoming Classes at Pins & Needles....

Lets stitch together!! So excited to be teaching this spring & summer at a few different places. Here are some of the classes coming up...

What: Zodiac Embroidery Class
A super, fun and satisfying afternoon. We'll go over some basic embroidery stitches, and you'll even walk away with your own completed custom zodiac embroidery!
When: Sat. May 7th 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Where: Pins & Needles, 1045 Lexington Ave. 2nd FL NYC
How: Be in touch with P&N at 212.535.6222 or info@pinsandneedlesnyc.com or visit the shop!

&

What: Sampler Class

Another fun afternoon class. A beginner class covering the basics of embroidery - tools and materials, embroidery stitches, and you'll even walk away with your own completed custom embroidery!

When: Sat. June 25 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Where: Pins & Needles, 1045 Lexington Ave. 2nd FL NYC

How: Be in touch with P&N at 212.535.6222 or info@pinsandneedlesnyc.com or visit the shop!

More info here & visit the P&N site too! Check out how cute P&N is....

Hope to see you there!!

come make with me NY...

Mark your calendars for this Thursday's event at Kate's Paperie on 57th St. I'll be there throughout the day sharing my handmade goods and helping you make these sweet gift tags. I'd love to see you there!!

What: Kate's Paperie Trunk Show & Demo with Miniature Rhino
We'll be making colorful holiday inspired embroidered paper gift tags to help create beautiful packages for the season of gift giving.
When: Thursday November 11th 12- 7PM, Demo 5-7PM
Where: 140 West 57th Street, NY (212) 459-0700

outside l in

outside l in opens tonight, 4- 7 pm in easton, pa. the show explores the artificial dichotomy between nature and the man-made interior, between “outside” and “inside” spaces, and the human desire to connect with, be inspired by, and bring “inside” elements of nature.

unfortunately i can't make it, which makes me really sad. but if you are in the area, please check it out! i'd love to see images of the show. the work looks amazing...

kelly neidig

natalie tyler

matt adrian

my contribution

mercatile home
Outside l In
526 northhampton st
easton, pa 18042
opening april 10 4-7 pm
running april 10th - May 30th