Sorry if my spelling is weird...but I'm British!

It was a while back when I asked on the Etsy forums for some feedback for my shop. I felt very brave and was steeling myself for the critiques about to come my way. What I didn't expect though, was that some of my American Etsy reviewers would critique my spelling.

"You spelled jewelry wrong on your banner", said one reviewer. Oh no! Panic set in. After checking, I realised what was going on. My British spelling was throwing people off. And it still does, on occasion.

So here I am, giving you a heads-up that I won't be changing my spelling of the following words (sorry,  it just doesn't feel right):

organise
realise
oxidise

labour
colour
favour
behaviour
favourite

aluminium

jewellery
jeweller


Mata ne!
Victoria


P. S. And I also measure in cm and mm.....
P.P.S Even Blogger is pointing out my errors on this post by putting helpful red dots underneath!

End of Year Sale

I'm having an end of year sale on my Facebook page. Lots of OOAK jewellery available with free shipping.
Thanks for looking.

Victoria

Click below to visit my Facebook page:

bikudesigns END OF YEAR SALE

BEADS, BEADS, BEADS

Hi everyone,

It has been a VERY long time since I last blogged, but things have been very hectic. I had a baby 16 months ago, which meant that I have had only a small amount of time for creating. My studio space was given up for baby too, so I had no time and nowhere to work!

Baby has now started school 2 mornings a week, so I now have some time to destash and organise my studio before embarking on some new creations.

I've started to list my destash items on Etsy, so if you are interested, please take a look.
Looking forward to having a few moments to blog more often in the near future. Thanks for staying with me;-)

Victoria

Etsy Weekend Feature

Every weekend, I will be featuring one Etsy maker on my blog. I'm looking for items linked to Japan, zen or the Japanese design ethic. If you are interested in being featured, please post a message on the forum thread here.

This week I am featuring EcoChicHandknits. Barbara makes beautiful crocheted nesting bowls from 100% organic cotton yarn.


Read on to find out more about EcoChicHandknits

I am based in... Stony Brook, New York - which is located on Long Island.

I work from... My couch! I have a very small house that I plan on moving out of in a few years *hopefully* but its really the only place for me to work from. I have all my yarns stored in boxes in the closet and keep a few skeins out at a time. Its worked out well for me so far but I dream of the day I can have my own craft room.

My inspiration comes from... things that I would want and need myself. I started making these bowls because I wanted set. I needed a way to organize my dresser and my desk that would still look great. My shop is still very new but I am planning on adding a lot more items in the future based on things that you use everyday and I also try and create things that I can reuse to replace items that I would use and then throw away. I plan on having a line of coasters (so you would use these instead of a paper napkin each time) as well as a washcloths/dishcloths (rather then using paper towels). I like creating simple practical items that will brighten up your day each time you look at them. I am also inspired by our environment and try to do my little part to help out which is why I only use 100% organic cotton yarn (although I am looking into a wonderful new yarn that is made from recycled cotton so keep an eye out for that!).

The things I hold most dear are... my family and friends. I would be no where without them. I am especially lucky for my boyfriend who has been wonderful and very understanding as I have been starting my business. He has put up with many hours of being ignored while I crocheted on the couch trying to get items to post and filling orders and still encourages me to do more to help my business grow.

The 5 words that describe me are... creative, determined, perfectionist, caring, and fun .


The 5 words that describe my work are... organic, eco-friendly, practical, lovely, meaningful.

In the next year I... hope to have many more sales and have a very successful business. I hope to have a lot of different products to offer and hope that they sell steadily and eventually get that craft room ; )

You can also find me... Since my business is still so new I haven't had time to start anything else yet (like facebook, twitter, etc). I am working really hard to get some more items up in my shop first but I am going to look down all these avenues soon. Keep checking my store for updates!

Thanks Barbara for such an interesting interview. Check back next week for a new feature.
Have a great week all.

Victoria

bikudesigns event in November

Hi everyone,

If you are living in Japan and more specifically, in the Tokyo area, I would love to meet some fellow Etsians at my next event here in Tokyo.

Here are the details:

bikudesigns jewellery and greeting cards
Saturday 7th November 2009
11.00am- 6.00pm
Addis Restaurant and Cafe
Toritsu Daigaku
Meguro-ku
Tokyo

10% discount for Facebook fans:)

I hope to see you there. Please let me know if you are coming along on my Facebook fan page. If you're not a fan yet, why not join up?!

bikudesigns event

Sorry it's been so long since I last blogged but life has been pretty busy. I just wanted to let you all know that I will be having an exhibition of my jewellery and greeting cards just in time for holiday shopping.

Saturday 7th November 2009
2.00-6.00 pm
Tokyo, Meguro-ku

I may have the exhibition in a gallery or I'm thinking about having an open studio exhibition. I'll let you all know nearer the time. If you would like to come along for a browse and a glass of wine, please join my fan page on Facebook for more details.
Hope to see some of you there:)

Featured on Found Handmade Blog

I just found out that my Bamboo Pinky Ring was featured on Found Handmade's blog today. Some lovely shops on there...have a browse when you have a moment:)
http://foundhandmade.com/news/itemize

Cup ring sold

Well, it has been in my Etsy shop since the beginning with lots of interest and love (quite a few hearts) but until now nobody has been brave enough to buy it. And now it's on its way to the other side of the globe to its new owner. I now have to consider if I want to make more of these rings or just make one for myself so I don't miss this one too much:)
Should I continue to make more? Let me know your thoughts...

Have a great Thursday.
Victoria

Etsy Treasury

Thanks to lilyja for including me in her lovely treasury today. Check out the lovely beaded jewellery she has in her shop.

If you don't know what a treasury is, here's brief summary. Etsy members put together a selection of their favourite items based on a theme. They make the treasury online and sit with fingers crossed that the treasury they made will be selected by Etsy admin and make it to the Etsy front page.

Click here to view the treasury

Have a great day:)
Victoria

New work featured first on Facebook

I've been working on adding some colour to my work in the last couple of weeks. I gave my Facebook fans a sneak preview of some of these pieces already and none of them have been added to my Etsy shop yet.
Would love to hear your thoughts:)

Victoria

New work on its way

Before I move on to new work, I thought it was time to view my collection as it stands.
Hope you like it:)

Ikebana for a rainy day

It's been a while since I had a moment to blog lately. But I'm back!
Two ikebana arrangements for a rainy and miserable day in Tokyo:(
Enjoy!

Featured on the Etsy Front Page

Wow! I wondered why my hearts and views had gone through the roof when I checked today. And here's the answer. No sales from the feature, but it's still nice to see that I'm still being noticed occasionally:)
Happy days.
Thanks to naventin jewelry for choosing me.

And the winner is...

Introducing Bonnie and Bella the Springboards (Border Collie/ Springer Spaniels) who helped me to fairly administer my giveaway today.

I gave them two envelopes full of the competition entrants' names and asked them to choose one envelope. The names in the envelope they chose were then split into two and put into two envelopes and they were asked to choose again. We carried on doing this until we were left with one name.

I thought this was going to be a tricky task but Bonnie and Bella did what they were asked and came up with a random winner at the end (with the help of a few biscuits:)).

Are you ready girls?

On your marks...get set...GO!

Let's choose this one Bonnie! OK, Bella... Good choice.

Why didn't Victoria put some biscuits in here for us? What a meanie!

I'll take this one please. I get to choose first as I'm the big sister.

Is it OK if I choose this one Big Sis?

Yawn! We're getting tired now. We need some biscuits to keep our energy up.

Yes, this is the one I wanted to choose. I knew this one would win (because I'm the Big Sis). I knew all along that this one would be the winner.

What does it say, Victoria?

And the winner of the first bikudesigns giveaway is...

Sandie of ZaftigDelights

Thanks to everyone who entered the competition. Over 80 of you entered and left wonderful comments on my blog. I appreciate your support for my first giveaway.

I'll be in touch over the next few days to let you know about your free gift!

Victoria

Three Days left to enter my giveaway!

I'll be making the draw for my giveaway on Monday 6th April at 12.00 pm UK time. There's still time to enter if you haven't already:)
Don't forget, if you want to give my giveaway some publicity on your blog or website, I'll enter your name twice more so that you can up your chance of winning.
See the post below for details of how to enter or click the link above to find the info.

Only three more days to go:)

Only 9 days to the end of my giveaway competition!

Don't forget to enter if you haven't already. Still 9 days to go to the draw.

Would you like to up your chance of winning?
I will enter your name twice more if you advertise my giveaway on your blog. Just copy the photo and the text below with a link to my Etsy store on your blog and send me the link when you've done it!
Good luck.

BIKUDESIGNS GIVEAWAY STARTS TODAY!

The First bikudesigns Blog Giveaway

Signature bikudesigns Nest Wrapped Silver Ring (choose your size)

Saturday 21st March- Monday 6th April


Conditions:
Open to anyone, anywhere in the world.
The winner will be drawn on Monday 6th April when I'm in Scotland.
The winner will be contacted directly and the results posted here on my blog on Monday 6th April.

How to enter:

1. Go to my etsy shop here


2. Find your favorite item, write me an etsy convo naming it and saying why you like it. Leave your full name and address.


3. Write a comment on my latest blog post.

You have to post in both places to qualify for the prize draw:) Good luck everyone!

BIKUDESIGNS giveaway starting soon!

Only 40 hours left to the launch of my first giveaway. On your marks, get set.....

COMING SOON! bikudesigns giveaway

Watch this space for my first giveaway starting on Saturday 21st March!

You could own a bikudesigns signature piece, custom made for you in the size of your choice.

Etsy Front Page Twice in Two Days!!

I haven't been able to blog at all this week as I was sick for most of the week. However, my Etsy Store still continued to grow despite me being unable to work on anything. You know what they say... a watched pot never boils!
Bamboo Teardrop Ring was on the Etsy front page twice in 2 days which earned me a couple of sales and LOTS of views and hearts! Thank you if you added me as a favourite.
Thank you to Michon for featuring me in her treasury which made it to the FP. Thanks also to Etsy admin for choosing me:)