Wedding Trends 2011

My shop has a variety of items with many great gifts for everyone.  However, a good portion of my work is dedicated to weddings with bouquets, boutonnieres, jewelry, and hair accessories.  Weddings are a so much fun, such an amazing celebration of love and life, and a great place to add individualization and personality.  Taking the advice one of my fellow bloggers, I've started to think about the importance of knowing my target clientele and also the purpose of my blog.  So, today I've decided to share some wedding trends for 2011.   Here's 5 trends  I found at the BeautyBridal.com

Vintage touches

Eco-friendly weddings

Modern choices

DIY weddings

Social media influence

I'll be sure to try to keep these ideas in mind as I develop new products for my shop.  Here's a few items I currently have for sale in my shop that fit in with some of these themes:

New items, take a peek...

Here's a few new items I posted today, take a peek....

To Deal or Not to Deal

Some of you are familiar with the site HEARTSY where various ETSY shops are featured offering exclusive limited time voucher deals.  I tried it out for the first time recently, purchasing a voucher that I used to order custom muslim bags for my merchandise.  I can't wait to get them!  It got me thinking, at the discount offered by most of the shops, is it truly worth if for the shopowner?  It is definitely a great way to get traffic to your shop if you are featured, and although it is not the best way to make a huge profit, hopefully it will bring back repeat customers.  So to deal or not to deal?  I've decided to give it whirl and see if I can get featured.  Help me out by voting "definitely yes" here:

https://secure.heartsy.me/deals/2559/like

And here's some work found in my shop, both new, renewed & updated:

Thursday Shout Out: Wedding Season is Here...






Origami Bouquet & Pinwheel Boutonniere Set, $74

 Thursdays are usually for a SUPRISE SHOUT OUT to another ETSY shop that I have done business with for product and service review.  This week I decided to break from the usual and give my shop, designs by Leah R. Hood a SHOUT OUT, something I have not done since starting this blog. 

Spring is upon us and with spring comes wedding season, which per the linked CNN article starts Memorial Day weekend and carrys through September.  I have developed a true love for everything wedding; I was a do-it-yourself bride from the invites, programs, veil, to my own fresh floral arrangements, bouquets, & boutonnieres.  Weddings cost most of us a small fortunate, and I like to find unique and clever ways to not only help make these wonderful occasions more cost effective, but also add some unique personal touches.  Over the last year, I have been developing off-beat and alternative bouquets and boutonnieres for my store and today I would like to share some of the items that are currently for sale or that I have recently sold.  These are perfect for a more traditional wedding, destination wedding, pretty much ANY wedding! 





Set of 5 Rustic Steampunk Boutonnieres $40



       

Romantic Pink Origami Bouquet $48

  

To the left and below are pictures of a recent custom bridal party order in Lemon Meringue Pie for a destination wedding in Las Vegas.  The bride has a gorgeous 8 flower origami bouquet with pinwheel accents, and the party each has either a pinwheel bouquet or boutonniere.  I love the color as it will pop in photos, especially against the kelly green dresses of the bridal party!   





Groom's Boutonniere



 

Set of 4 Rustic Fairytale Boutonnieres $36



Last but not least, I decided to share a few jewelry, favor, and accessory items from my shop.  Please be sure to visit my store today for many other great wedding and non-wedding ideas! 

Click below:

designs by Leah R. Hood

Wedding Section

Favor/Gift Section

Convo Leah R. Hood

Shout out Thursday: CSM Artglass Jewelry

 

Misty Pink Swirl Set

As part of my blog, Thursdays are for a SURPRISE "Shout Out" to another ETSY store for product information and a review, by me. These stores are ones that I have personally done business with and have been impressed with both their product and service. Today, lets chat about:

CSM Artglass Jewelry, a beautiful ETSY store featuring hand designed fused glass jewelry.  Here you will find gorgeous earring, pendants and sets as well as dichroic glass magnets and a few vintage items.  The owner uses only high quality items in all of her pieces and puts a lot of love into her work.  An art teacher for the last 30 years with a love for creating and painting, this wonderful shop owner was first introduced to the art of glass fusing because of her curious and creative husband who took a weekend class and got his wife first intrigued, then hooked. 

Regarding her work, CMS Artglass Jewelry states, " I hope you enjoy my artful and complex dichroic fused glass earrings and pendants. Each one of a kind piece is carefully designed and crafted with several layers of glass and several firings. Beautiful art takes time, care, and patience! This is why my shop is small--each piece gets alot of individual attention. Jewelry is priced according to size, materials and complexity."

Mystery Grab Bag

I happen to love surprises!  Hence, I was very curious about the mystery grab bag  offerred by CMS Artglass Jewelry for a mere $9.50 including shipping.  I purchased the item and waited, excited, to see what the mail might bring.  My order arrived very quickly and I was thrilled!  Inside was a beautiful pair of fused glass earrings with a pretty opalescent appearance.  I happen to be an October birthday girl, so these suited me perfectly.  The earrings are very similar to the ones pictured here below the grab bag and are a steal at the grab bag price!

CMS Artglass Jewelry not only sells on ETSY, but has her work in a few boutique shops and museum gift shops.  She does craft shows on occasion but regarding selling on ETSY reports it "is a great venue--I don't have to haul around tables and display racks."  What a true statement!  I highly recommend this store, her work (and her grab bag).  It's a perfect place to pick up a gift for mom this Mother's Day, for a friend, and especially for YOU!  Click on the links below and check it out today!

Romantic Firelight Earrings



CMS Artglass Jewelry Store

Contact CMS Artglass