Screen Printing

I have been intrigued with the idea of screen printing for sometime now, so I took the leap and signed up for a class at the Etsy Labs. I'll admit, though, that I have absolutely no experience with it. For instance, is it called "screen printing" or "silk screen" or some other combination? I have no idea. But whatever. I did it.  

While waiting anxiously for the class, I received this screen printing kit for my birthday. I thought, "Hmm... maybe this is a sign that it's meant to be. Or maybe I've just been talking too much about it." The boyfriend didn't even know I had signed up for the class when I got my present.

I freaked out for a minute (i.e. a whole day) when I was trying to come up with a design to bring to class! I had grandiose ideas of creating something spectacular and being able to create a whole new product line from my first screen. Ha. 

Luckily, I had the help of my talented friend in the graphics department, Dave Beausoleil. He helped me modify my existing logo so that it was suitable for printing. I figured, at least this is an image I can use again for shop promotion or some other products in the future.

The class itself was great. Everyone was very nice, especially the teacher, Philip Sachs of Sheepshead design. There was nothing for me to be nervous about. I feel like now I can take my time to come up with some designs I really like and I'll know exactly how to use kit by myself. Even though I leapt ahead without knowing what I would use the printing for in the future, I am glad I went ahead and took the class. It was fun.

Thank you!

It has been a busy couple of months leading up to the Brooklyn Lyceum Craft Market last week and Christmas in general. Thanks to everyone who came out to the craft fair and everyone who has supported my little shop! It's amazing to think that people actually want to buy and use something that you have created. It makes me so happy.

It was my first time selling at a craft fair and it was awesome. There were lots of people attending, even when it was snowing one day and raining the next.

As an added bonus for my taste buds, the Brooklyn Lyceum sold delicious coffee, warm chocolate chip cookies, and some very tasty beer. It was a great weekend and I would definitely do it again.

There was also some amazing surprises and support from Etsy as well. On Cyber Monday I was featured in the Etsy Storque for free shipping. This lead to lots of views and a bunch of unexpected sales as I was trying to stock up for the craft fair.

And then suddenly this week, I found my russian doll coffee sleeve in the Etsy "Environmentally Friendly" Gift Guide. I was so surprised and elated. I couldn't believe it! Etsy rotates the gift guides on the front page and I happened to get this shot of it (my coffee sleeve is in the upper left hand corner).

I am so grateful to Etsy and to everyone who I met at the craft fair! It's been an exciting month.

Thank you so much!!