The Handmade Movement: Home of the Sneak Attack

	Date	Time (EDT)	Sponsor
Th	Sep 9	2:00pm	StockAnnette
M	Sep 13	7:00pm	WineMakersSister
Th	Sep 16	4:00pm	HandmadeBySandi
M	Sep 20	12:00am	Sneakerversary Week NO Sneak Attack today
Th	Sep 23	6:00pm	SNEAKERVERSAY CELEBRATION with prizes and loads of fun

The Handmade Movement Blog

December 10th: Sneak Attack Report–Jawbone1957 and journeylanestudio

ElephunksTrunk sponsored the October 22 Sneak Attack on Jawbone1957 and journeylanestudio. Jawbone1957 makes awesome polymer clay creatures and journeylanestudio makes beautiful handmade cards.

Celeste: What was your reaction when you first realized you’d been sneak attacked?

Jawbone1957: I thought it was great, although I really didn’t know what a sneak attack was at the time it was announced to me in an email. Seeing the items posted as sold actually made me fall off of my chair. Again thanks to everyone involved. It has to be the most ultimate welcome I ever had. I truly look forward to being able to join in a “ Sneak Attack” and passing it on. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Polymer clay is a very new material to me and at the moment of the “Sneak Attack” I was wondering if anyone was seeing my work. After the “Sneak Attack” I started getting more visits and that really added to the awesomeness of the “Sneak Attack.”

Ewan the Giraffe from Jawbone1957

Journeylanestudio: Hi! My being sneak attacked was an awesome experience that took me through a whole range of emotions. Honestly, my first reaction was just all out confusion. You see, I was leaving work after a very long and trying day with my kiddos. I had just spent hours repeatedly asking my kids to listen, pay attention, walk quietly, not mess around, etc… and it put me in quite the unbecoming mood.

So when I picked up my phone to see a text from my friend saying to rush home and check my shop because things were selling, I didn’t have any brain power left to process how or why that could be happening. I was confused, but brushed it off and assumed she just saw something incorrectly.

When I finally made it home, logged in for myself and saw with my own eyes what was taking place, my demeanor quickly changed. I went from driving home as Oscar The Grouch, to confusion, to being flattered, and landed on being touched. Honestly, the fact that there are people out there that would think to do this for others just warmed my heart.

My sneak attack meant so much to me, not only because it helped promo and elevate my etsy store, not only because it was my first day of sales, but also because it renewed my faith in people. It is such a lovely gift of kindness! I thank each and every one of you and I’m sure my students do too, as I’m certain I had much more patience with them in the following days.

Holiday Trees Blank Card from journeylanestudios

Celeste: Is there anything else you would like our blog readers to know?

Jawbone1957: To let you know a little more about me. I have been involved with the arts most of my life. Not only creating my own works, but having the opportunity to hang lots of shows and works of truly great artist. Form the Local Masters to American and World Masters of the arts. With my personal work I love the emotion of the characters I build, and the humor it might share. Although I do electronic graphics, video media and 3d animations, it is the clays, woods and metals that make me feel whole as an artisan and craftsman. Thanks Again for the “Sneak Attack.’

Fuuny Blue Stork from Jawbone1957

Journeylanestudio: Well I seemed to write a lot for question 1, so I think I covered most aspects of question 2 while doing so. I would like blog readers to know that many more items of all sorts will be joining my shop in January! Also, I hope each of you have a lovely Christmas season!!!

Seasons Greetings Bird Card from journeylanestudio

Comments (2)

December 7th: Sneak Attack Report–MonkeyDesignUSA, WestCoastOrigami, and HappyHoundCreative

On October 20, 2009 Stockannette sponsored an attack on MonkeyDesignUSA, WestCoastOrigami, and HappyHoundCreative. MonkeyDesignUSA sells commercial supplies for papercraft postcards. WestCoastOrigami makes origami boxes, flowers, and other paper art. HappyHoundCreative sells cards and custom stationary.

Celeste: What was your reaction when you first realized you had been sneak attacked?

MonkeyDesignUSA:Let me share with you my ignorance of sneak attacks right up front! To be honest, as a ETSY newbie I was thoroughly unaware of what a sneak attack was! However, when I began seeing more than the normal number of sales coming from ETSY and after I received your e-mail stating I was being attacked, I jumped online immediately to see what was going on. It was a truly wonderful experience! As you probably know, all of us put our heart and souls into the products we create and sell and it’s just so satisfying to share that with other people. It’s really not the money- it’s about receiving affirmation of an idea and the reinforcement to continue battling against the tide of unimaginative products to possibly add something creative to an otherwise barren retail landscape.

Monkey 1018 from MonkeyDesignUSA

WestCoastOrigami: Absolute surprise! I was busy that day so I didn’t check my emails until around midnight. My husband just gone to bed. I had 4 sales, don’t sound like much but it’s huge percentage when you only have 10 or so listings. I woke up my husband just to tell him about it I even wrote on my blog about the sneak attack.

Origami Thank You Notes by WestCoastOrigami

HappyHoundCreative: I had been participating in Sneak Attacks for a few weeks so I never expected to be a victim. At 7 pm that night I was searching everywhere for the link to the Handmade Movement website and remembered that the Sneak Attackers had a facebook fan page and I could find the information for the shops that were being attacked on there. I saw one of my cards in the thumbnail next to one of the shop announcements and thought for sure there was a Happy Hound impostor out there! I clicked on the link and was in complete shock to see that it was in fact my shop. I think I gasped out loud and my husband had to come check on me. I was so shocked and excited! It was fun to see the sales come in and to check out what everyone was saying on the thread. I will be forever grateful to such a wonderful group of giving and caring people!

Oh Christmas Tree note cards from HappyHoundCreative

Celeste: Is there anything else you would like our blog readers to know?

MonkeyDesignUSA: It’s interesting that papercrafting is still in its infancy in the U.S. In Taiwan where these are designed and printed, Monkey Design sells over 800,000 cards annually. While are numbers are nowhere near that yet, we’re hoping that more Americans come to enjoy the art of papercrafting.

For Monkey Design, ETSY has been a good way to test our product concept, get feedback from the crafting community, and to simply create a “buzz”. Because we carry over 130 different models, we’re unable to list every one on ETSY. So, we hope that people who like our designs will look for them at independent retailers near where they live (there’s a list on our website) and if they can’t find them there, request Monkey Design by name.

Robot 1091 from MonkeyDesignUSA

WestCoastOrigami: I have a blog that I just started. It’s focussed on Canadian handcrafted products or supplies, please let me know what you think . I started this blog because I enjoy researching other crafters so I’d like to share my thoughts and findings with others.

In addition to Etsy, I also have another online shop. This shop focuses on regular items customers who usually order in higher quantities such as weddings or showers. Even so, there are a few that like to buy a couple for their own enjoyment. I’m currently redesigning the shopping cart but I take order by email and can send Paypal invoices.

Origami Roses by WestCoastOrigami

Etsy is the store that I list items that doesn’t fit my online shop profile. I like Etsy as those who buy has a great appreciation of the time put into a handmade item. An example is that I love making origami roses made from handmade paper from Thailand. I could make it with regular paper, and it would be more cost effective, but visual impact is not the same. The store is a little bare but I will be listing more very soon. I’m have more envelopes to list and working on Valentine’s Day and maybe even for Chinese New Year. (It’s the Year of the Tiger and happens to land on the same day as Valentine’s Day)

HappyHoundCreative:I love sneak attacks! They are so addicting and fun. I am so amazed at the kindness and generosity of the group and am making such wonderful friends. I am completely addicted to handmade and love etsy. I have a blog , am on facebook and I have a website.

Perpetual Spring custom notecards from HappyHoundCreative

Comments (2)

September 1st: August 27 Sneak Attack Report–ardiegaye and janiece59

ElephunksTrunk sponsored the August 27 Sneak attack on ardiegaye and janiece59. Ardiegaye sells a little bit of everything, including jewelry, cards, soap, and blankets. She got 24 sales from the attack Janiece59 sells beautiful artwork and got 15 sales from the attack. They agreed to be interviewed for this blog.

Celeste: What was your reaction when you first realized you had been sneak attacked?

ardiegaye:This was a wonderful experience. That week was especially busy because my out of town guests were leaving the next morning and I had to fit gym and special dinner parties all in. Friday evening after coming home from the airport, I got on my computer and learned the great news. I was shocked and so happy, I decided to make personal gift wrap for everyone who purchased. It was my way of saying thank you and giving back.

LAVENDER TO GO by ardiegaye

Janiece: Wow, what an awesome surprise. I was talking on the phone to my daughter and opened my email to 42 emails and saw the first Etsy transaction. I was so excited and still wondering why so many emails so I started scrolling to find one transaction after another. I tell you I started shaking with excitement and a little confusion. It took me a while to figure out what was going on and when I did the biggest smile came over my face and stayed. What a awesome, friendly, giving, game to play. What a great sense of community you all have to use your time and money to give someone a hand up. I’m am impressed beyond words. It wasn’t the sales that left me speechless it was the giving and I can’t thank you enough. I want to join in your merry prankster world as often as I am able.

Dance as if no one where watching from Janiece59

Celeste: Anything else you’d like our blog readers to know?

ardiegaye: When I was four, I recieved a child’s needlepoint kit for Christmas, I have been crafting ever since. I have always entertained myself with craft. My husband gets tiffed because when I leave the house my purse, book, and craft bag usually follow. I don’t like to waste a minute of crafting time!
I worked for years outside of the home and did not have alot of time for crafts. Since retirement, crafts became my life. There are not enough hours in the day. I made my first bracelet when my mom passed away. I made a breast cancer bracelet to wear in her honor. Friends and co-workers asked for them. The rest is history one bead at a time.
A life-long dream was to own a gift coffee/shop. I never dreamed everything in my shop would be made by me.
I am honored to be attacked and given notice by the team!

GOLD FLOWER by ardiegaye

Janiece: About me…. I have been making things with my hands for a very, long time. When I was 5 my grandmother handed me a needle with some bright colored yarn in it and said make me something pretty. She taught me simple embrodry stitches that I would use to make flowers and such on the edges of pillow covers that we would then donate to charity auctions. My mother then taught me to crochet edges on these pillow cases and I loved it. My grandmother would take me across the creek to where a public dump had been long ago. We dug trough the piles of old bottles, chunks of metal and such in search for treasure. Basically any thing that looked interesting. With that she taught me to see things as they could be and not just what they were on the surface. I have used the skills of my ancestors to jump start me in to the world of art having won many awards and scholarships along the way. I have had the privilage to do my art for movie studios, theme parks and many large corperations. I have been blessed to be able to make my living with my art for 30 years now, throw in a few real jobs and a lot of bartending and waitressing. LOL My shop, my work, it’s all about my family, my friends, the people who always show up when you need them, (and attack you, lol) It’s about trying to see things as they could be beyond what they are. I hope you all enjoy your purchases. Know that they have a lot of my heart in them. I am honored that so many bits of me are about to travel in so many new directions.