Lots Going On!

I can't believe how much time has gone by since my last post.  It's been nearly a month.  I've been a very bad blogger.  I promis I'll try to do better :)  I've been busy working away at adding some bright and cheerful handmade buttons.  The ones here are cherry blossoms I think and can be found here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97185474/cherry-blossom-buttons-6-handmade  These are just so bright I really love them.  I've also had a mention on a very popular blog in Norway.  As a result I've had almost all my sales this week come from Norway.  I really appreciate all the attention this has brought my button shop.  It just goes to show you never know from one day to the next how a little mention out in cyberspace will impact your shops.  This has gotten me thinking that I should probably start to look for some blogs where my product might fit and see if they are interested in featuring my products.  I've done a couple of give aways and will probably do that a bit although I have to see if the blog is large enough for that to work in my favour.  Another exciting thing is a local biking magazine found my earrings on www.outspokenjewelry.com which is my other site where I sell jewelry made with my handmade buttons.  It's a small local publication but I figure for the price of a pair of earrings (they didn't ask to keep them but I offered them as a giveaway - they only wanted pictures) I thought why not.  I'm still new enough to this that it gives me a little thrill to think of my buttons in a magazine.  I've also had some interest from a magazine in Norway and I sent off some bird buttons to be featured/pictures taken.  We'll see if that works out.  Again for the small price of a set of buttons (again they didn't ask for the product - just the pictures) I thought I'd give it a try.  I do want to caution those of you who may read this that you want to be sure that whoever asks for your products to feature is legitimate before you send off your product.  I've heard of stories where there are people who go and ask for products to feature but they are just out to get product.  Most legitimate magazines will only need pictures and they'll also offer to send you a copy of the magazine with your pictures in it.  Of course I'm no expert and not all magazines work that way.  I just want to caution you to be careful as with anything you do.  Find out the facts before you give away your product.  My items are small and relatively inexpensive so I'm willing to take the chance (after I do a bit of research of course) but just go into anything like this with your eyes wide open.  It could turn out to be a great opportunity.  I always figure any advertising I get is a good thing even if it's a very small amount of advertising.