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. 

An Update from Micki

It is truly hard to remember to update our blog in the midst of daily life and all the distractions that come with it.  And I am very easily distracted - much like a crow to shiny things.  So here I am finally focused on updating our blog and letting you all know what is happening on the home front.

We have been contacted by the Tourist Centre in Parksville, BC to bring in our handmade beach treasures to show them in person.  They discovered us through our online shop on Etsy.  We are excited about having another place to sell our products.  So if it all goes well, you will soon be able to see A2Sea Creations in Parksville!  That will be our fourth town, which is very cool!.  It is very validating to have people seek you out and ask if they can carry your products.

Also, Cheryl has been hard at work creating her quilting magic once again.  Her newest creation is a lovely wall hanging called 'Around the Pond'.  Check it out...

Around the Pond - Quilted Wall Hanging

We have also added something new to our shop since our last posting.  I took a pottery class and ran right home and created a few pieces for our shop.  We have sold a couple of them already.  Here are a few more...

 

Something Fishy - Nautical Pottery Pendant

 Ceramic Wire Wrapped Starfish Pendant

 Oceanna - Mermaid Sea Queen - Handbuilt Clay Face

Hopefully, in the near future, there will be more pottery items to choose from.   It has been fun learning a new medium.  Have a great March everyone!  I am looking forward to seeing more of the glorious sun and planting more flowers!

(Micki also has another Etsy Shop called A2Sea Photography and a singing telegram business called Tickleberry Telegrams.  She also has a coffee table book for sale on Blurb called An Ocean View.)

Our Great Adventures!

I realized that I have sadly neglected our blog here... I have been putting a lot of time into creating our new Vancouver Island Etsy Team blog  and working on our Van Isle Facebook page but neglecting my own blog in the process.  I have to say that it's been fun, though... I get to correspond with various team members and enjoy getting to know them. 

But back to us.  My dear partner in crime, Cheryl (of our shop, A2Sea Creations) is away on her dream vacation... an African Safari!  It has been her lifelong dream to go there so I am ever so happy for her.  I haven't heard from her for a long while so I am really hoping she didn't get eaten by a lion or get stuck up a tree in the jungle all tied up in vines!

But Cheryl isn't the only one going on an adventure... I will soon be off to Italy which is MY all-time dream vacation!  I will be meeting Cheryl and our mutual friend Dorothy, in Rome and spending three glorious weeks in the most deliciously romantic part of the world!  The only sad thing about that is my husband won't be able to come.  But you know what they say about the heart growing fonder.  I will sure miss him!

So we will be closing up shop very soon and off I go into the wild blue yonder!   Sono così fortunato! Evviva! Ciao a tutti.  Micki