Etsy Day In Nanaimo - A Big Success!

Well, as it turned out, 'Etsy Made In Canada Day' was a big success.  We had over forty Vancouver Island Etsy vendors participate and over twelve hundred people show up to the event.  Twelve hundred!!  There were so many people that most had to wait an hour or more to get in!  Needless to say, if Vancouver Island participates in Etsy Day again, (which I hope we do) we will definitely need a larger venue.  But I must say, other than that, the Nanaimo Museum was a very classy, warm and inviting venue to hold our first ever Etsy market.  We had several people comment on how impressed they were overall.

Here is a snapshot of our own A2Sea Creations table...

Micki of A2Sea Creations at our first, ever 'Etsy Made In Canada Day' Market in Nanaimo, BC

And my co-partner and pal, Cheryl...

Although Cheryl and I both decided that this will likely be our last market, (it's a lot of work and we're not getting any younger!) I still intend to get involved in helping organize and publicize any future Etsy Day Markets that might come up in the future - if I am able to at the time, of course.  I really enjoyed the process and I learned a lot.  I also got to meet, and am still getting to know, many of our wonderfully creative and innovative Vancouver Island Etsians in the process... a delightful perk.  There is sure a lot of talent on this island... and very nice people as well.

One thing I have to say about getting ready for this market is that it really motivated Cheryl and I to start making some new seaside creations.  Here are a few examples of some of the items we made for the market...

Getting Ready for our 'Etsy Made In Canada Day' Craft Market - A2SeaCreations on Etsy

Our newest Seaside Magnets sold like hotcakes at our 'Etsy Made In Canada Day' Craft Market - A2SeaCreations on Etsy

What little Girl doesn't want a 'Mermaid Wand'?! - A2SeaCreations on Etsy

 Cheryl's New Original 'Doodle Art' 

Needless to say, September was a whirlwind of activity for Cheryl and I and, although we were pretty pooped at the end of it all, we had a lot of fun. 

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New Things Happening!

I am such terrible blogger!  Where is the time to do all this stuff?  Heavens.

Well, I am on my own again - crafting, that is.  My co-partner is off and away at her winter home in Yuma.  Sniff sniff.  Oh well, she loves it there and has such a good time, catching up with friends, going to her quilting group and experiencing many new adventures!  I am so happy for her.  But admittedly, I do miss her around.  We always laugh a lot together.

As for A2Sea Creations, we have a bunch of new items in the Newfoundland to Nanaimo store, as well as in the Parksville Tourist Centre.  We just sold one of our very popular Wedding Ring Bearer's Boxes again, and one of our beautiful Mermaid Lights.  So things are happening around here.  It always pays to check out our 'Sales' section in case you see something you like - we might be able to remake it for you!  We love to do customized work.

As for me personally, I just opened up a new Art Gallery where I am now able to offer canvas, metal and acrylic prints, greeting cards, framed prints and phone cases. (iPhone and Galaxy).  This is quite exciting for me!  And great timing for Christmas.  It's so nice to have a platform from which I can offer all of these options.  And I have arranged for my old link: thesingingphotographer.com to go to my new site.  Pretty slick, huh?  That way it's nice and easy to remember.   (Pretty tricky, Micki.)

Well, I'm off to do some much-needed cutting back and cleaning up of plants in my yard.  It's quite chilly so I better bundle up.  Cheryl, on the other hand, is enjoying nice, hot, 26c degree weather!  BRAT!!

Mermaid Light - Tealight Holder - Glass & Seashell

Ring Bearer's Box - Beach Wedding Ring Holder / Pillow

All Over the World

We just shipped off a parcel filled with 10 'Message in a Bottle' favours to a bride-to-be in Martinsville, Indiana. Cheryl and I love the touching stories that we hear about how our customers plan to use our creations.  This particular customer plans to give out these bottles to everyone in her bridal party to write a note inside.  Then they will all throw their bottles into the sea.  What a great way to make memories on your special day!  I have asked her to send us a photo of this event and hopefully she will allow us to post it here as well.

One of the things I enjoy most about having a site on Etsy is the communication with our customers.  And it is a neat feeling knowing that our creations are in homes all over the world.  It makes our vast earth seem a little bit smaller.  After all, we really are all neighbours in one way or another. 

Micki of A2SeaCreations and A2SeaPhotography on Etsy

An Amazing Year

Seaside Silk-Lined Gift Box

Well it is certainly an amazing year for Cheryl and I both. It was strange how I had experienced a sense of excitement stirring within me in early January. I just sensed that something was going to be different and special this year. And I couldn't have been more right. In August, I am going to Italy, which is a lifelong dream that I never thought would actually materialize. It is still quite surreal for me as I drool over endless photos of Italy and plan my trip with Cheryl and our friend Dorothy. What a blessing to be able to go with such good friends and share this once-in-a-lifetime experience together.

Cheryl is also going to Africa this year, which is her lifelong dream. We will meet in Rome during the last half of her trip. It is so exciting booking hotels and planning our trip to the Greek Islands as well. Our favorite island so far that we have researched is Santorini. It is breathtaking in every way imaginable.

There are several other wonderful things happening in Cheryl's and my life this year... too many to mention here. But we are both so thankful and we're certainly enjoying the ride. We are very blessed.

Cheryl and I will be spending a lot of time at sea, which is also our passion. The ocean is a constant inspiration for us both as we create new nautical treasures for our site. One of our bestsellers are our gift boxes which are just so perfect for presenting a small gift to someone, or simply giving as a gift unto itself. We sold one to a man who was proposing to his sweetheart and wanted something unique to present the ring in. Our gift boxes are all silk-lined which makes the presentation very elegant. And they are embellished richly with nautical beauty. A perfect favor for a beach wedding or gifts for the bridal party!

Weddings Are In The Air!

Sandy Beach Wedding Guest Book

It has certainly been a busy month for weddings, it seems! One of the weddings was my son's and what a memorable wedding it was! Being the mother is, of course, a proud and happy moment... especially when you adore your daughter-in-law as much as I do. I am blessed with two daughter-in-laws that I certainly would have picked to be in my sons' lives. They are real treasures.

Perhaps because I am in the wedding mindset, or maybe because Cheryl suggested I finally get it finished, our first wedding guest book is on sale in our Etsy shop. Besides being natural and very pretty, it is affordable, which, I don't know about you, but when I got married we had to really pinch our pennies. And it is very practical because there is no text, only lines, so they would work beautifully as gifts for everyone in the bridal party as well. We can make them more masculine looking for the fellas, too.

Well now that my sons are both married, maybe I can look forward to more grandchildren! What a delightful thought! I think I may drop a hint here and there... just in case.

Win A Mermaid Treasure Pendant!

THE MERMAID TREASURE PENDANT GIVE-AWAY!

Cheryl and I are pleased to announce that we are sponsoring a Give-Away Contest and if you would like to participate in the fun, just click on the photo above and it will lead you right there to the blog that is featuring the contest - 'Tools Are For Women Too!' And while you're there, take some time to peruse through this awesome blog and see what they are up to and the wonderful art they help promote.

Our Mermaid Treasure Pendant is a darling miniature bottle filled with precious mermaid treasure which consists of baby seashells, white 'fish netting', glass bits that sparkle in the sunlight and tiny beads. The blue fluid is... well... we can't tell you because it is a magical, secret solution known only by mermaids and mermen. But we can tell you that it is non-toxic. The top has a very tight, secure fit. It comes with a pewter starfish charm tied on with raffia.

For those of you who believe in recycling (as we do) you should know that the glass bits inside the bottle are actually, and you aren't going to believe this, tiny bits of broken windshield glass. Nifty huh? Mermaids collect EVERYTHING!

Best of luck to all you participants. May the best Mermaid or Merman win!

Beach Wedding Hair Accessories

Mermaid's Delight - Scallop and Faux Seaweed Hair Barrette

I would be a mermaid fair;
I would sing to myself the whole of the day;
With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair;
And still as I comb'd I would sing and say,
'Who is it loves me? Who loves not me?'
I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall
Low adown, low adown,
From under my starry sea-bud crown
Low adown and around,
And I should look like a fountain of gold
Springing alone
With a shrill inner sound
Over the throne
In the midst of the hall;
Till that great sea-snake under the sea
From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps
Would slowly trail himself sevenfold
Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate
With his large calm eyes for the love of me.
And all the mermen under the sea
Would feel their immortality

Die in their hearts for the love of me.

Excerpt from 'The Mermaid'
by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Have you ever seen the movie 'Splash' with Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah? I found it delightful and have seen it more times than I can recall and still, I love it. There is something about the idea of mermaids that captivates me. I am not big on animated movies and yet I Iove 'The Little Mermaid'.
Christopher Columbus recorded sightings of mermaids on his 15th century voyages, and stories about the perils of the lonely mermaid and her tempting songs were standard sailors' lore until well into the 19th century. They say that the best time to observe mermaids are fine summer days when the sea is calm and the waves twinkle in the sunlight. It is also said that mermaids are easier to see at dawn or dusk, noon or dawn, being just visible at the extreme edges of vision, far left of far right. Mermaids should never be gazed at directly or they will disappear in an instant, as fugitive as a mirage.

If you, too, have a fascination for mermaids, you will appreciate our new 'Mermaid's Delight' Hair Barrette. It is a magical accessory for any bride having a beach wedding or for any woman who simply loves the sea. We will be adding more nautical hair accessories to our site soon, so keep an eye out from time to time!

May you enjoy many magical days by the sea not be afraid to believe 'the impossible'.

Our Journey

MERMAID TREASURE BOTTLE - COBALT BLUE

Well it's been such an adventure for Cheryl and I ... when I think of how it all started and where we are now, I never would have imagined it. From selling a few Christmas ornaments at our local art gallery to opening our own online gift shop and now, having our creations selling in two tourist gift shops ('Newfoundland to Nanaimo' and 'The North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre'), boggles the mind. I think that what I have learned through our journey is to never say "never" because, if you love to do something and you believe in what you do, anything is possible. One foot in front of the other.

Here is one of our latest creations... the "Mermaid Treasure Bottle - Cobalt Blue". A customer loved the other one she bought so she ordered one in blue as well. So it was sold almost as soon as we made it. Hopefully, we will find a few more cobalt blue bottles as they are very striking.

Tomorrow, Cheryl and I will be getting together to create a new tile serving tray as our first one was sold at the Nanaimo store. Good news! They are rather time consuming but the finished product is very satisfying. It can be used either as a tray or as a seaside art piece for the wall.

Well, today is yet another indoor day due to the fact that it is raining YET AGAIN! So time to catch up on some marketing and blogging. I will be creating a couple of new seaside creations for our site today, too. Good idea for a crummy day! So check out our site soon to see our new treasures! Hope you are having less rain than we are...