My Top 10 Referrers from 2011 {sale}

Sunshine Yellow Garden Pinks Brooches

I can't believe that we'll be saying bye to 2011 tomorrow, but I'd like to thank all of you for the past year. 


I've accomplished so much and I am so proud of all my accomplishments. But I couldn't have done it without YOU! 

Thank you!

I was inspired by this post by Gussy Sews and took a look at my statistics and found out who my top 10 referrers from 2011 were:

1. Create With Joy

2. Emilysnan Can Craft

3. The Pleated Poppy

4. Maluba

5. Thirty Handmade Days

6. Blissful and Domestic

7. Little Miss Momma

8. Poisoned Apple Crafts

9. Wildly Woolly

10. Pretty Opinionated

~~Thank you :)

Delicious Doughnut Ring with Pink, Light Purple and Yellow Sprinkles

And guys, please stop by soon again.. I have SO much to share... lots of new products, friends I'd like you to meet and a bit about the past sales I've made (hint: the Doughnut Earrings and Rings and the Garden Pinks Brooches [available in four different colours thus far] are REALLY popular!!)




SALE!!!
I'd like to offer all of you a 25% discount off all products in our store as a thanks for being there for me this past year. Enter discount code NEWYEAR12 at checkout to claim your discount. [Sale lasts until 3rd January, 2012]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Would You Like to be a Sponsor?

Would you like to advertise with The Gentle Flower?

I'm super excited for the new sponsorship programme at The Gentle Flower!

I want to promote YOU and your blog, shop, business, etc.

The rates are super low, as the programme is just starting.

These are the two types of sponsorship spots that you can choose from:

PRICE: $10 per month or $25 for 3 months

PRICE: $5 per month or $12 for 3 months

You can sign up for a sponsor spot at any time during the month. Your spot will last a month (or however many months you buy) from the date I receive your payment.

Giveaways

The Gentle Flower has hosted lots of giveaways in the past, and they have proven to be successful. They are the best way to draw traffic to your business or blog. 

The giveaway post will link to all your sites, including your blog, shop, Facebook, Twitter, etc., in order to give exposure and traffic to you and your business.

Individual and group giveaways will run for 1 week each.

Group giveaways are at the end of the month.

All giveaways are promoted via Twitter, Facebook and Stumbleupon.

Features

The individual feature may be an interview with you (see interviews done in the past here), a review (that I do) of one of your products, a guest post (that you write), etc. Let me know if you have a preference, or else I will write a post about you, or chose to interview you. The individual feature will be posted a week or so before your individual giveaway post.

The group feature is a post where I write a short piece about each of the sponsors, including what your business or blog is all about. You may choose to write the short feature yourself. If you decide to write this yourself, you must send it to me a week in advance. The group feature post will be posted a week before the group giveaway post.

All sponsors have the opportunity to promote any shop discounts or promos that you'd like to extend to The Gentle Flower readers.

Ad-swaps

I'm also open to doing ad-swaps!!

Send me an e-mail here.

Product reviews

I'd love to review a product of yours! 

(This could be done as part of the individual feature or separately)

E-mail me here.

(NOTE: The info. above may change, so please keep checking back)

**** Prices are subject to change as the blog grows ****

Thanks for your interest in advertising with us :D

I can't wait to work with all of you!

A Perfect Present {one of many more to come} [gift guide]

Do you remember this necklace from the post about the Christmas Fair (Trondhjæmsdesignernes Eget Julemarked) ?

I just posted the beautiful, new Sunshine Yellow Rosette Necklace (mini) I've made to Etsy!

Head on over and check it out here... please heart it :)

It's the perfect present for your loved one - or yourself ;)

We only have ONE in store, so buy it while it's HOT and available!

We have matching products too.. check them out here.

PS. Also available in other colors... coming soon.

AND today and tomorrow ONLY, we're having a sale in our Etsy shop!

Use code SUNSHINE at checkout for 15% off all items! :D

Happy shopping!

Pictures + News from "Trondhjæmsdesignernes Eget Julemarked 2011" (Christmas Fair) + New Products!

On December 3rd I participated in "Trondhjæmsdesignernes Eget Julemarked", a local Christmas Fair in Trondheim.

If you missed out on the fair, or regret not buying an item, please visit our online shops.

Links to our shops
Etsy  (International)
Epla (Norwegian)


The fair was a huge success! I sold lots of jewelry and took lots of pictures that I'd like to share with you! :D

NOTE: There are a lot of new products that are yet to be uploaded to the online stores. Please bear with me, but if you can't wait, comment below letting me know which product to post first!


Rosette Necklaces

Sunshine Yellow

Lime Green and Hot Pink

Lime Green

Off White and Firetruck Red

Leather Bow Bracelets

Daisy Brooches and Hair Clips

{The flowers are the same, but the backing is different}

Click here to buy the brooches and here to buy the hair clips

Garden Pinks Brooches

Click here or here to view the assortment of Garden Pinks Brooches in our online stores.

Dazzling Dahlia Brooches and A Ray of Sunshine Rings

The Ivory-coloured A Ray of Sunshine Ring can be bought here.

The Yellow A Ray of Sunshine Ring can be bought here or here.

The Dahlia Brooches can be bought here or here.

Doughnut Earrings and Rings

Doughnut Earrings can be bought here or here.

Doughnut Rings can be bought here or here.

Assorted Bracelets

Assorted Macramé Necklaces

The one to the right can be bought here or here

Blue Garden Pinks Necklace

{Sold}, but can be ordered here or here

I Heart Pink Pearl Delight Earrings

Click here or here to buy

Cookie Earrings, rings and Bearrings

Cookie earrings can be bought here or here.

The Bearrings can be bought here or here.

Christmas Baubles and Macramé Jewelry

The beautiful, Red Christmas Baubles can be bought here or here.

The Polka Dot Macramé Necklace can be bought here or here.

The matching Polka Dot Macramé Earrings can be bought here.

Overview

The most popular products were:

• Garden Pinks brooches (SOLD OUT)
• Daisy Hair Clips (BRAND new product, yet to be launched in our Etsy store, but are available in our Epla store)
• Doughnut rings (SOLD OUT)
• Leather Bow Bracelets (BRAND new product, yet to be launched in both stores)

Sold Out?
Don't worry if the product(s) on your wish list is sold out. I'm working on new products everyday, so there's no need to fret. (But please, do order ASAP so that the item will arrive in time for Christmas!! - Read about our Holiday Season Info and Offers here.)


Mailing List

I also created a mailing list which lots of customers signed up to on Saturday. I will be sending out regular e-mails with updates and exclusive offers for all subscribers.

If you would like to subscribe, please e-mail me your e-mail address and name, and your preferred language.

Follow Us for Exclusive Day-to-Day Updates

Please follow us via Google Friend Connect, buy signing up in the box to the right.

Also, please follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Custom Orders
We accept custom orders. Please allow 2 weeks for the item to be completed, and then shipped.


Contact Us
Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, requests or concerns!

Links to our shops

Etsy  (International)

Epla (Norwegian)

Thanks to all of you who stopped by on Saturday - it was a pleasure meeting all of you!
--Katrine

Important! Holiday Season Info. {discount}

Hi Guys!

Sorry I haven't been posting and replying to e-mails much lately.

I have a lot on my plate at the moment and it's all a bit overwhelming.

I have lots of tests, exams and hand-ins to do at school and I'm working hard towards the Christmas Fair next weekend.

There was also an overwhelming response to the option of being interviewed by me. I have posted a few of them so far, (read them here) but the ones I haven't posted yet will be up after 8th December. (Be sure to read them for lots of business tips!)

Hopefully my work load will be smaller by then :) I most likely won't be posting too much before then either. I hope you understand. However, you can follow us on Facebook and on twitter for daily updates.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and please use coupon code BLACK at checkout in the shop for a 20% off discount!

I've also updated the shop with some new goodies and some info. about holiday shopping -->

HOLIDAY SEASON OFFERS! 

I will wrap your presents in for FREE, let me know in the note to seller. I can also ship the present directly to it's recipient if you let me know in the note to seller (include their address). 

In order to be sure that you'll receive your Christmas orders in time for Christmas, be sure to order by December 5th. It will take at least 2 weeks for it to arrive (if shipped outside of Norway). 

For orders over $40, you will receive a little present.

I'm working so hard towards the Christmas Fair and there are sooo many goodies that will be be up for sale!! I can't wait! :D

I really hope to see you there if you're in the area, and if not, I'll be sure to post pictures and put the remaining products that don't get sold up for sale in the shop! :)

Interview with Matt Tolk Photography

Yellow Beach Flower

I've had the honor of interviewing a truly talented photographer; Matthew Tolk. Matt has the most beautiful photographs up for sale in his shop; Matt Tolk Photography! I'm intrigued  by his amazing photos and by what he has to say about his business. 

1. Name: Matthew Tolk
Age: 29 years old
Where are you from? Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2. Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop/ business.
I now live with my beautiful fiancée here in sunny San Diego, California. In 2004, I graduated from a small state school in western Pennsylvania, with a degree in Communications Media, and soon after that I started working as a Photojournalist. After my last job in Washington, DC working for a Russian news station, my fiancée and I decided to move back to San Diego, where we had lived for two years before back in 2008-2010. I'm working full time as a videographer / editor for a publishing company now. We are both so happy to be back in a city where each sunset looks better then the night before. I truly now believe that there is more to life then just trying to climb up the ladder at your job and enjoying the simpler things all around us. 

I try to capture and make peoples eyes draw to the simpler things in my photos. Whether that is a bird standing in water, both the water and bird so still and calm that its reflection almost looks like a mirror image. Or a chair that has almost been forgotten about. Sitting so long in one place, on a back porch that a plant growing from underneath the floor boards is wrapping itself around the worn wicker.

3. When did you open your shop? Why did you decide to start your shop?
I opened my shop in late June of this year. It has been a dream of mine for some time now just to try and see what would happen if I tested the waters and put my pictures out there, and I guess myself, to be criticized. So far I have been blown away from all the kind words and "likes" and views.

4. How do you promote/ market your business? What works best?
I haven't really had the chance to do much promotion yet. I'm hoping I can at least get a Facebook page up for my shop sometime soon. I know I'm way behind on the times. 

Sunset at Sunset Cliffs

5. What’s your favourite item from your shop and why?
My favorite photo from my shop.... I'd have to say Sunset at Sunset cliffs. It is my first photograph that I've ever sold. That's something I'll never forget.

6. Do you also do business offline? If yes, what do you prefer and what works best?
I'm just now getting the itch to pursue trying to sell my prints in a actual store. Have been putting it off but I need to just stop thinking about it and just try and do it.

7. Where do you get inspiration?
I'm not really sure where or what I get inspired from, I guess as corny as it sounds, the world does. If you can just slow your life down and look around, how could you not be inspired.

8. Who is your target audience? Who would typically buy an item from you?
I don't or haven't yet really tried for a target market, Ha might be why I just have one sale! Any advice from your readers is much appreciated!

Sea of Red in a Field of Gold

9. Do you ship internationally?
I hope and would love to ship internationally.

10. What has been the most challenging part of starting and running your own business?
Probably the most challenging thing about starting to sell pictures is just getting them seen. Etsy has become a very, very addictive thing (in a very fun way).

11. What has been the best part of starting and running your own business?
The best part of doing this is that its given me more of a drive to do something that I love. 

12. Do you have any business tips you’d like to share with us?
As for business tips, not sure if it's a business tip but I'd just say, if you're doing something that puts a smile on your face, I'm willing to bet that it will put a smile on someone else’s too. As long as you're doing what you love, you're being successful in a way, right?

Hot Coals Only

13. If there were anything you could change about your business, right now, what would it be?
The only thing that I would like to change is just be able to find more time to scan pictures, my least favorite part of selling pictures online.


14. What are your goals and dreams for your business for the future? Where do you hope your shop will take you?
My goals for selling my pictures is just to be able to keep doing this for as long as I live. I hope to retire and keep doing this as my past-time and hobby.

15. What’s next now? Could we get a sneak peak of what you’ll be doing and sharing next? 
What's coming up in the near future for my shop? Well, some of my family was in town this past week. We went up to Venice Beach and LA, I tried to take some photos but mostly spent time visiting. ummm I have some ideas in my head for some new prints, just have to check back at the shop and see. (hooked haha)

16. Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I'd just like to thank you, Katrine. Thanks for just showing an interest in my photos and for really thinking they are interesting enough for your blog. Much appreciation to you and your readers.

Yellow Sunset

Isn't he talented!? I absolutely LOVE all his photos and I love how he says where each photo was taken. It makes me want to visit that exact place so that I can experience the beauty that he so wonderfully portrays in his photos. 

I can't wait to see what's next, because Matt is surely going places!

Please show Matt some love by visiting his shop (please heart him) and e-mail him if you have any questions or requests. Also, be sure to be on the look out for his Facebook page.

Be sure to leave Matt a lovely comment below with feedback, tips, your thoughts, questions, etc.

Like us on Facebook

The Gentle Flower is now on Facebook!

Like our page to get exclusive updates, info. and discount codes :D 

Check out our page here.

Other than that, I've been working on lots of new products today :D

Be sure to check back ;)

Interview with Emma's Earrings

Daisy Earrings

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Emma, the creative lady behind Emma's Earrings!

Keep reading to find out more about her and her business

1. Name: My name is Emma. 
Where are you from? I am from Massachusetts. 


2. Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop/ business.
I sell jewelry (mostly earrings, but do make other pieces). 


3. When did you open your shop?
I opened my shop this September. 


4. Why did you decide to start your shop?
I decided to open my shop because I had only sold at one event and wanted to expand. 


5. How do you promote/ market your business? What works best?
I started joining teams and spreading the word about my shop. 

Olive Green Earrings

6. What’s your favourite item from your shop and why?
My favorite item in my shop are the olive green earrings. 


7. Do you also do business offline? If yes, what do you prefer and what works best?
I do sell to friends and family, but rather if people do the transaction online. I have always wanted to run a business. 


8. Where do you get inspiration?
I had taken a jewelry class over the summer and decided to stick with it. 


9. Who is your target audience? Who would typically buy an item from you?
I make items for girls, some for children, some for adults. 


10. Do you ship internationally?
I currently only ship in the US and to Canada. If other places are requested, I will add them to the list. 

Green and Pink Earrings

11. What has been the most challenging part of starting and running your own business?
The most challenging and most frustrating part was trying to add all the listings. I wanted to just put them all on quickly, but it was time-consuming. 


12. What has been the best part of starting and running your own business?
The best part is learning tips from numerous sellers about starting a successful business. 


13. Do you have any business tips you’d like to share with us?
Be patient!! It takes time to get up and running! 


14. If there were anything you could change about your business, right now, what would it be?
I would want to put more listings up, which I am currently working on. 


15. What are your goals and dreams for your business for the future?
My dream is to have lots of sales, and to have a successful business. 


16. Where do you hope your shop will take you?
I hope this will help me in life and to also give me something to do as a hobby. 


17. What’s next now? Could we get a sneak peak of what you’ll be doing and sharing next? 
I am going to start making more necklaces and bracelets and may be starting a line of greeting cards. 


18. Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Use SNSEARRING for 15% off your purchase.

Blue Clay Earrings

Thanks so much to Emma for letting me interview you!

Your items are lovely and we wish you all the best.

Please show Emma some love by visiting the following links below: 

Shop

Plumdrop

E-mail

And be sure to leave a lovely comment for Emma below :)