Pretty by Pistachio has moved!

Pretty by Pistachio blog has moved to a new home and has a brand new name.

Please visit:

lovebylouise.blogspot.com

The look and content will still be the same, i just fancied a name change. All part of a larger plan which will be revealed in due course.

I will also be using a new twitter name:

twitter.com/lovebylouise

101 things in 1001 days

The mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days

The criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part)

Key:
Not yet done
In progress
Completed

Start date: Tuesday 13 October 2009
Finish date: Tuesday 10 July 2012

1. GET MARRIED (Spring 2012)
2. Go to Ibiza with Dean
3. Go on a girls holiday
4. Take a weekend break with my mum
5. Go camping
6. Go to a festival – got tickets for Glastonbury
7. Visit Oxford
8. Visit Bath
9. Visit another UK City
10. Go to Cornwall and have cream tea
11. Sell my jewellery wholesale / sale or return to at least 3 shops (0/3)
12. Reach 100 sales in my etsy shop
13. Reach 250 sales in my etsy shop
14. Open a new online shop
15. Get my jewellery featured in a magazine
16. Send out a press pack to relevant magazines
17. Run at least 3 times a week
18. Run a 10k
19. Run a half marathon
20. Don't drink alcohol for a month, twice a year (0/5)
21. Lose 1 stone
22. Go a month without chocolate/sweets (0/30)
23. Go a month without fizzy drinks (0/30)
24. Learn Yoga
25. Learn Pilates
26. Get a workout DVD
27. Go on a bike ride
28. Do 100 sit-ups a day for a month
29. Play tennis
30. Learn to sew
31. Make an item of clothing
32. Learn how to oxidise silver
33. Learn a new craft
34. Design a website
35. Participate in the 365 project
36. Pay off my Credit Cards
37. Save £1000
38. Buy a new bike
39. Buy a sewing machine
40. Food shop online for a month
41. Buy a new camera
42. Bake a cake / muffins / cookies once a month (0/32)
43. Make breakfast for dinner
44. Make homemade ice-cream
45. Make a casserole
46. Learn how to cook a poached egg
47. Have a date night with Dean at least twice a month (0/64)
48. Treat Dean to dinner at a Goucho restaurant in London
49. Take a photo of Dean and I once a month (0/32)
50. Kiss in the rain
51. Cook a 3 course meal for Dean
52. Go to a football match with Dean
53. Write a love letter
54. Visit a mortgage advisor
55. Play 5 video games with Dean (0/5)
56. Spend the day in bed with Dean
57. Diary the wedding planning process
58. Go to the cinema by myself
59. Have a picnic
60. Give blood
61. Go to a Spa
62. Have a professional massage
63. Have a professional facial
64. Have a pedicure
65. Don’t buy any clothes for 3 months
66. Read 35 new books (0/35)
67. No TV for one week
68. Teach my brother to ride a bike
69. Go to a show in London
70. Have Afternoon Tea at the Ritz
71. Blog every day for a week (0/7)
72. Blog every day for a month (0/30)
73. Meet up with an old school friend
74. Go to the Ice Bar in London
75. Go to a poledancing class
76. Go to a dance class
77. Upgrade to a Flickr Pro account
78. Have a slumber party
79. Offer a monthly giveaway on my blog
80. Go for a walk in the rain
81. Spend a whole Sunday in my pyjamas watching movies
82. Go to a concert at the o2
83. Get another tattoo
84. Get another piercing
85. No takeaway for a month
86. Start a cleaning rota and stick to it for a month
87. Go on a night out with friends and drive
88. Have one bubble bath a week
89. Have a dinner party
90. Go to Ascot
91. Go strawberry picking
92. Become a redhead
93. Perfect the smokey eye look
94. Go Ice Skating at Somerset House
95. Go to 5 gigs (0/5)
96. Build a snowman
97. Play golf with Dean
98. Watch a sunrise
99. Go zorbing
100. Take Dean to Go Ape
101. Inspire 5 people to do the 101 in 1,001 days list (let me know if i've inspired you!) (2/5)

Im back!

I know, I have been MIA for the last few weeks. The boy and i moved house last weekend.

We have been in our new home for a little over a week now and i was itching to get the shops opened and start blogging again.

So... you can now shop online as normal at www.prettybypistachio.co.uk or http://prettybypistachio.etsy.com. Unfortunatly we do not yet have internet at home so I will be unable to reply to any messages over the weekend until further notice (hopefully within the next 10 days).

Inspiration Board :: Spring Wedding

Wedding Dress :: Mori Lee
Wedding Cake :: The Knot
Bouquet :: The Knot
Bridesmaid Dress :: Lou Lou

Unfortunately, I cannot credit the other images as I can’t remember where I found them.

Inspiration Board :: Winter Wedding

Wedding Dress :: Maggie Sottero - Melissa Brooch

Invitations :: Decadent Designs on Etsy

Ceremony :: Forever Photography

Bridesmaid Dress :: Ann Taylor

Welcome Drinks :: Flickr

Birdcage Veil :: Hair Fascinators on Etsy

Bouquet :: The Knot

Featured Seller: Paper Cut Industries

Tell us a little bit about yourself…
My name is Monica Majors and I am the creative force behind Paper Cut Industries, which is a top-notch stationery & design studio in Long Beach, California. I am a native Californian, which is rare, and I graduated from California State University, Long Beach and studied Art & Graphic Design. I have always been involved in art and always thought I would be a businesswoman. I found my calling by mixing them together. I have worked in the fashion trim industry and most recently with stationery and office product design company Knock Knock where my work was featured in magazines such as Real Simple and HOW magazine.


How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I have been selling on Etsy since 2008, basically when I first heard about it.

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?
I started selling on Etsy when I had a full-time gig, but now I sell full-time. Working with clients locally in person and via email takes up most of my time. I also get clients from my website papercutindustries.com or my blog papercutindustries.wordpress.com for custom projects.

What made you decide to open up shop on Etsy?
I started out wanting to sell gift and stationery designs. Working in the industry I was exposed to so many products and companies that I knew it was possible. I had so many ideas and I wanted to design everything! Things like journals, everyday cards, wrapping paper and personal stationery. I had a co-worker introduce me to Etsy and on her shop she was selling sachets. I fell in love! Etsy provided an excellent opportunity to get exposure and set up shop and begin taking orders. Etsy is such a great tool to get exposure and really attract the customers you know are looking for what you have to offer.

"My Eyelash Pattern cards came from make-up application sketches of eyeshadow that I would see in magazines!"

What inspires you?
I am inspired daily by so many things. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. I can look at architecture and fabric and be inspired. I have so many sketchbooks of clippings and samples of things I would love to reinterpret them into an awesome design or pattern for stationery. Seeing color in life inspires me too. When I look at fashion, especially I get so many ideas for new patterns and palettes. A simple zipper can turn into an amazing pattern! My Eyelash Pattern cards came from make-up application sketches of eyeshadow that I would see in magazines!


How would you describe your style?
My style is definitely for a new generation. It is very eclectic pulling things from various cultures and time periods. It is masculine & feminine, vintage & modern, and can often be interpreted as a great balance between uptown and downtown in look and feel. My designs are definitely not cutesy, but more stylish and chic. It is a true representation of my personality and who I am; eclectic and unique. My designs are a combination of my culture and environment and how I see things. It’s what sets me apart. They are very offbeat and growing everyday.

What do you like least about your craft?
Paper cuts. I love paper and sometimes it can hurt! My name pays homage to that.

"Do what you love! It is fun and will bring so much joy to your life."

Do you have any advice for other sellers on Etsy or those thinking about pursuing their craft?
Do what you love! It is fun and will bring so much joy to your life. Everyone needs a creative release and mine turned into a business, and so could yours! I love what I do and I love knowing every client truly appreciates my designs. Nothing beats the feeling.

Top Five Etsy shops?
Sketchbook - handcrafted soft goods http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=102421
Replicca - clothing company http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5316036
Lo Boheme - hair pieces http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6465412
You! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7065584
Me! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5688972

Top Five Blogs?
http://www.thinksplendid.com/
http://www.modishblog.com/biztips/
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/
http://funnel-eric-kass.blogspot.com/
http://papiervalise.typepad.com/scissor_variations/

Five Random facts about yourself?

1. I am addicted to TV series on Netflix. I will watch the full 3-hour disc straight.
2. I bought a 1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia a few years ago before I knew how to drive stick shift because I wanted it so bad. I learned real fast.
3. I can’t sit still for too long. Netflix is helping with that.
4. I love to go dancing.
5. I want a puppy really, really bad.

What is your favorite leisure time activity?
Riding bikes with my boyfriend Jason. It’s so relaxing.

What craft would you love to learn?
Sewing. I mean really, really master sewing.

What does the future hold for Paper Cut Industries?
Paper Cut Industries is growing so fast! I would love to eventually have a set studio location where clients can come and we can discuss invitations and custom stationery ideas. I hope to start letterpressed designs and begin distributing to local boutiques soon.

Shop: http://www.papercutindustries.com
Etsy: http://papercutindustries.etsy.com
Blog: http://papercutindustries.wordpress.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/paper_cut

DEAL OF THE WEEK ::Chrysanthemum Rings

Get these Chrysanthemum Rings in my online shop for only £5.00, usually £7.50.

Filigree base colours available in Antiqued Copper, Antiqued Brass, Silver Plated and Gunmetal.
Flower colours available in Black, White, Ivory, Fuschia, Maroon and Grey.

Subject to availability. This offer will end on Monday 21 September at 12pm GMT.

DEAL OF THE WEEK :: Peter Rabbit Necklace

New to Pretty by Pistachio is Deal of the Week. Each week, I will feature a different item from my shop at a special discounted rate.


Get this Peter Rabbit Necklace in my online shop for only £10.00, usually £14.00 or in my etsy store for only $16.00 usually $22.00.

Subject to availability. This offer will end on Monday 7 September at 12pm GMT.

featured seller :: a.n. original jewelry

Tell us a little bit about yourself…
Well, my name is Ashley, I just turned 25, and I live in the lush greenery in Upstate New York, Saratoga Springs/Lake George area specifically. I went to college at The Fashion Institute of Technology and lived in NYC for 4 years. I'm a huge dog lover, I have a mini dachshund named Vemelope Sweetie Pie Lover Lambchop or just "Mel" for short, and 2 pound puppies, a Rat Terrier Mix named Macy and a Lab/Bird Dog Mix named Marley.

How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I've been selling on Etsy for about a year and a half at this point. I believe I opened up shop in late January of 2008.

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?
I'm full time :) It's a lot of fun to be able to have Etsy be my job, I also have a website and blog I maintain so I keep myself pretty busy.

What made you decide to open up shop on Etsy?
I poked around on Etsy for a solid 6 months before I opened my shop, and now I wish I would have just opened one up right away! I loved the whole feel of Etsy. I thought there was some really incredible and unique work/artists on Etsy and was very impressed but the cutesy little front pages and Featured Sellers. Once I delved deeper and realized it was SUCH an active community within the Forums and Chat and even The Virtual Labs, I thought to myself, I NEED to get in on this!


What inspires you?
I'm inspired by so many things, it always catches me off guard. That being said, I'm not easily inspired. I can't tell myself to go take a nature walk to get inspired, it all need to just flow and happen organically. I'm obviously very inspired by nature and flowers and such but I also find myself becoming inspired a lot by music, directly or indirectly, fashion, other amazing Etsy artists etc. Most recently I've been inspired by just random words. I know that makes no sense but I hear a word, and then I start brainstorming things off of that word. It's all very 5th grade idea bubble spider web charts, but it works!

How would you describe your style?
I would describe my style as clean elegance that doesnt take itself too seriously. It's simplistic, fun and feminine with a little bit of kitch.

What do you like least about your craft?
The chemicals! Yuck! I hate all the horrid chemicals I'm often exposing myself to while soldering or polishing etc. It's all very scary! I don't like to use things that have cancer warning on them daily so I will sometimes go into anxiety mode and try to work around soldering if I can. I need to invest in some more safety masks so I can have fewer nightmares about my toxic soldering binges!


Do you have any advice for other sellers on Etsy or those thinking about pursuing their craft?
Well, first of all I'd say if you thinking about pursuing your craft, go for it, you never know what could happen unless you give it a whirl. With a website like Etsy at the finger tips of the indie design community, there's nobody standing in your way but yourself. If your already on Etsy, duking it out for sales and such I'd first say, heres a big "high five" coming your way from me to you for getting out there and going for it! I'd also say, really be as self critical as possible of your shop. Are your pictures superb? Is your Shop Announcment fun, friendly and to the point? Are your Shop Policies clear and well thought out? Have you paid any attention to your Branding? All these things are so so important! When I look at my shop, I never think "Oh great! Everythings perfect!", I'm always looking at it critically and have a running laundry list of things I need to do to improve on my shop. Never stop evolving, and never "settle". Good is the worst enemy of Excellent! If you accept mediocrity from yourself, you'll never get to that place where you can sincerely sit back and look at your work and say "Wow". Beyond working on your shop, your photos, your item descriptions, I would also really recommend that people be as active as they possibly can on Etsy. Join in on discussions in the Forums, but remember that it's way more effective for your business and general appeal to remain fairly nuetral and friendly on those heated topics that might pop up from time to time, same goes for Chat. The Virtual Labs are a fabulous place to learn and grown as an artist and entreprenuer. I participate in them often, and love them!



Top Five Etsy shops?
Oh jeez, ya know, this is so so hard because my Etsy loves are so numerous! I really love the following five though, in no particular order, but keep in mind, I love so much more than just these shops :)

Lake Illustration: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=80455
Silhouette Blue: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5178427
Aliceapple: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=80455
Jellybeans: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=21665
AnniesSweatShop:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5133399

Top Five Blogs?
Gotta be honest, just getting into the blog thing and don't ever have TOO much time to peruse through some of the awesome finds and ideas on these blogs, but here are 5 blogs that I really dig :)

Modish http://modish.typepad.com/
Ponder and Stitch http://ponderandstitch.blogspot.com/
Brooklyn Weddings http://bklynbrideonline.com/
Design Sponge http://www.designspongeonline.com/
A.N. Original Blog (my blog :) ) http://anoriginaljewelry.blogspot.com/


Five Random facts about yourself?
1. My feet are enourmous, I wear size 11!
2. I have a frost bite scar on my hand from when I was 3, and it's in the shape of a heart.
3. I am a sucker for any and all live music.
4. One of my favorite things in the world is Chocolate Covered Gummy Bears!
5. I have a serious fear of birds due to the fact that I had a Pigeon fly into the side of my head in NYC, almost knocking me out completely! I had a headache for 3 days afterwards, maybe I should have visited the ER?

What is your favorite leisure time activity?
I really love listening to music, hanging with my family whenever I can, spending time outdoors, especially in the summer time in Lake George, I am obsessed with taking photos and really enjoy crawling around on the ground with my dogs :)

What craft would you love to learn?
Hmmm this is a really good question! Ya know, I think I'd be really interested in learning how to screen print! I LOVE LOVE LOVE all things screen printed so I think that's something that I'd have tons of fun doing and would be so useful!


What does the future hold for A N Original?
Not too sure really. I hope the future holds a successful Fall/Holiday season for me on Etsy, as I'm feverishly prepping for one :) I'd love to expand my wholesale accounts and such. I'd also really love to get some of my pieces on some Celebrities to generate a nice little chunk of press. I wish I could say I have huge plans for my business, but really, I prefer to just go with the flow and see how high I can climb on this indie design ladder :)

press:: make jewellery magazine

Check this out! Pretty by Pistachio's first piece of magazine press. Following the launch of my new online store back in July, i sent out a press release to the editors of various publications. Imagine my shock when i was contacted by Make Jewellery magazine. Yay!

In the beginning...

So... you may know from my previous blog post that i have recently got engaged. Last weekend the boy and I set a date (well a year), we plan to marry in 2012.

I am feeling ahead of the game here on the wedding planning front. I am a little bit impatient and I love to plan and make lists and change my mind. This whole part is FUN for me. I have already started looking at venues online and we are hoping to view a couple next month.

I will try my hardest not to bore you with wedding planning details but I can't promise anything...

city break :: Turin

The boy and I spent last week in Turin, Italy. We arrived on Monday only to realise that their Monday is like our Sunday and pretty much everything was shut. It was quite nice to take in the City when it was quiet.


On Tuesday, we visited the 2006 Winter Olympic site. We were walking back over the Olympic Bridge when my gorgeous man got down on one knee and proposed, it was one of the happiest moments of my life and I was delighted to accept. We have yet to choose a ring but he got me a lovely date stamped ring with 04 08 09 from Nest in Bloom on Etsy.


We spent the rest of the week wandering the streets of Turin and sampling the lovely food and ice-cream on offer.

featured seller: ruby wren:

Tell us a little bit about yourself…
My name's Hayley, I'm 21 and live in Northamptonshire. I run two little Etsy Shops; "Ruby Wren Boutique" for my handmade jewellery, and "Ruby Recycled" which stocks my handmade eco-friendly greeting card range. I love girly things like long baths, jewellery, clothes etc...but also love my football team, and war-games on the Xbox 360. I may also be slightly obsessed with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, but I'm convinced that's normal, right? And all I watch on TV is American drama and property programmes...oh, and Columbo!

How long have you been selling on Etsy?
I registered on Etsy in March 2008 but completely forgot about it until my first sale last summer...I wonder now how I could ever live without Etsy! I launched Ruby Recycled in May this year.

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?

I work from home moderating and editing website content part time...it's a job I love, for a company I love, so I'm very lucky. One day, I'd ideally love to sell enough on Etsy to combine the two together to make a full time job out of it. I would love to spend the rest of my life being my own boss, working for myself.

What made you decide to open up shop on Etsy?

I discovered Etsy while looking for a product that I could visualise but couldn't find anywhere. I was on an endless search for that perfect item when I discovered Etsy, where I could buy all these amazing things that I knew I could have without knowing everyone else had the same thing, like most high street products. When I started making jewellery as a hobby, I didn't know what to do with all the necklaces I was making and remembered Etsy. Since then I've gained more of a business mind about Etsy and am making things to sell rather than selling things I've made. When I decided I also wanted to make greeting cards, Etsy was the first thing in my mind.

What inspires you?

There are so many amazing artists on Etsy and every time I discover beautiful items (which is very often!) and see other sellers being successful with their craft, it drives me to work on mine. One day, I want to be in an Etsy 'Quit Your Day Job' article also, so that inspires me too! My cards are inspired by nature and I sit with a view of my garden when I create them, so you can see the bird influence in a lot of my cards. Little boutique shops, 'old hollywood' and what other people are wearing inspires my jewellery, but most of the time I sit with my tool box of beads and it just comes to me.

How would you describe your style?

I think my style for both the cards and the jewellery are still developing and evolving, but I'd probably describe my jewellery as girly with a vintage feel, and the cards are definitely modern, simple with raw, textured paper.

What do you like least about your craft?

Probably the scrapes from raw wire! I love to wire wrap beads and glass, which gives lovely rustic results, but I end up with very sore hands at the end of it. There's also tonnes of jewellery sellers on Etsy, which makes it a very competitive craft to get into, but I guess that gives me the drive to work harder and create new, different things.

Do you have any advice for other sellers on Etsy or those thinking about pursuing their craft?

I've found that Etsy is about more than just the product itself...customer service, photos, packaging all make a huge impact as well, so it's always good to put some extra effort into your shop even once you're happy with the product. As Etsy is primarily American, it's always nice to find members from your home country, so I make sure to tag my items with 'UK' also to make sure my fellow Brits can find my items too.

Top Five Etsy shops?

This is going to be difficult!
Pretty by Pistachio, of course!
Pocket Studio
Prince Design UK

Bungalow
BlytheKing

Blogs you follow?
I rarely remember to check blogs regularly, but the blogs I do follow are:
http://prettybypistachio.blogspot.com/
http://www.indiequarter.com/blog/index.php
http://lillyella.blogspot.com/

Five Random facts about yourself?
1. I suffer from Fibromyalgia which is a chronic pain condition...it's frustrating and painful but I probably wouldn't have been pushed into selling on Etsy otherwise.
2. I enjoy having the tv on while I work and have probably gone through all my House and Bones boxsets a dozen times each.
3. I was a Time Team bone-washer for a local excavation.
4. I have an organic vegetable garden and get so excited when I eat things I've grown myself.
5. I have a phobia of lifts/elevators and take the stairs where I can.

What is your favorite leisure time activity?

When I'm not working on my products or at the computer promoting them, I like to watch films, photography or go find ducks to feed.

What craft would you love to learn?

I'm jealous of anyone who can make clothes! I would love to be able to make my own clothes and bags.

What does the future hold for Ruby Wren Boutique / Ruby Wren Recycled?

I recently signed up for my first craft fair so I'm really looking forward to having an offline venue to sell at. It's my dream to be able to work full time on Etsy, so I'd love that to be a possibility in the future also.

Ruby Wren Boutique

Ruby Recycled

Ruby Wren Blog

beautiful boutiques: wren boutique

Casey Gregory and Jemima Johnson opened Wren Boutique in June 2007, with a mission in mind: to create a boutique store with friendly staff, beautiful clothing and stylish products for you, your family and your home.

Their intention is to look for quality and they pride themselves on their careful sourcing and selection of products from the UK and around the world.

They are committed to keeping their ideas and products fresh and ever changing.

Wren
17 Salisbury Street
Blandford Forum
Dorset
DT11 7AU
Tel: 01258 488 766
Web: www.mywren.co.uk

20 things:

1. I love storms
2. I have had 4 cars in 3 years
3. I love the colour green
4. I sleep way to much
5. I used to have ears that stick out - now just one does
6. I have had a hernia
7. I want 3 children - 2 boys, 1 girl
8. I love staying in
9. I have never broken a bone
10. I am always hungry
11. I'm really stubborn
12. I prefer shopping online than on the high street
13. I spend way to much time on my laptop
14. I want to live abroad for a few years
15. I still call my mum, Mummy (she hates it)
16. I met my boyfriend on the internet
17. I am obsessed with the weather
18. I love City breaks
19. My parents are deaf
20. I have a life plan - marriage, kids etc...

about:

ABOUT PRETTY BY PISTACHIO

pretty by pistachio is a blog for all things pretty. You can expect a variety of daily features including window shopping, beautiful boutiques, featured seller, weekend deals and monthly giveaways.

ABOUT LOUISE

My name is Louise, I am 21 years old. I have a day job in marketing which i love. I live with my boyfriend, Dean and our two cats, Ruby and Leo. I dye my hair too much, get excited over anything to do with stationery & have a serious addiction to property programmes. I’m a huge fan of chick lit, tea, high heels, american TV shows, anything pink, ASOS, my two gorgeous cats and my handsome boyfriend. I am unable to fully relax at weekends and have decided to spend my time creating handmade jewellery to share with you lovely people.