What...another Giveaway?!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Yes! To celebrate achieving 1001 Likes on my Facebook page, I am happy to announce that you have another opportunity to win!

This time, The Navigatrix is offering two prizes: a £10 Voucher and a one-off, Steampunk unisex adjustable Canon Ring!

I really do value all the support a simple Like and a kind comment offer. Of course, I'm aiming to sell every item in my shop and challenge you all to buy things almost faster than I can make them!

Tell your friends! If you have a blog and would like a Giveaway widget to share my competition with more folk, just ask. I am also aiming to support my brother (of ArcaneArmoury) and my Etsy Team Captain (of Atomic Girl Cosplay ) so there are entry options to help them get more fans, too.

I look forward to your company, wherever we may meet across the vast aetherweb....

Welcome to my Shop!

Giveaway!

The Navigatrix Is One!

I opened my little Etsy shop on the 14th of February last year. To celebrate The Navigatrix's first anniversary, I'm having a giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway
This is the first time I've tried Rafflecopter, so do bear with me!

The Prize is this:

So, give it a go, tell your friends and let me know what you think.

Good luck!

Dressing Up for the Occasion

Co-creation is a wonderful thing!

I may be a one-woman business but I do not work alone. The picture above was possible because of two very special people, who also happen to be designers, creators and Etsy shop owners. My brother Matt (of Arcane Armoury) and I welcomed our Etsy Team Leader into our homes this week. Georgina (of Nevermore Dolls) Captains the Etsy Team In here Life Is Beautiful. 

The Navigatrix hadn't been around long when I stumbled across this team. I liked the atmosphere and the wide range of shops that dared to be different, so I joined. I posted a fair bit and soon I received the invitation from the Captain to become a leader. I'm still learning as I go but when I come across something useful, I tend to share it for others' benefit. Feels good, you know? Of course, I invited my brother to join us, too. I've seen this team grow from less than 100 people to nearing 300 now.

Since I'm talking about 'IHLIB' (it's a long name to type!) it seems fitting to mention that it had its first anniversary on 20th January. To celebrate we asked team members to post a picture of one of their items that best reflected the team, in order to collect them together and have a 'Pinterest Party' (my phrase). We got some great entries that you can see here: Pinterest Party Board. 

So what happens when Etsians get together? We had ideas about what we wished to achieve in the time we had. Georgina is preparing to open her third Etsy shop (her first was Unusual Fascinators). If you'd like a sneak peek at her efforts, go and look at Atomic Girl Cosplay. I've seen what she has achieved so far and I can't wait for her shop to open! Matt, a trained modelmaker with over 15 years of experience, took 'Cap'n G' under his (X) wing and introduced her to mould making and casting and she took to it like a duck to water. In return, we both have ideas to help Arcane Armoury grow and evolve. One week just isn't enough! Matt and Georgina 'pulled an all-nighter' in order to things made to a certain degree of finished :)

The highlight for me were the photoshoots. Firstly, Georgina modelled some of my new creations and a few currently listed ones to enhance the photo selections. Here are some of the beautiful results:

Green Velvet and Brass Butterfly Choker

"Turquoise Fancy" Beaded Chain and Earrings set

...and then it was my turn!

Now, to be honest with you, I'm not the most girly girl. Make-up and even jewellery tend to be reserved for special occassions. I only own nail varnish, lipstick and mascara (though after this experience, that will change). I think this was the first time I'd ever had my hair in rollers, too!

Georgina had promised me a makeover. It's great when others can see potential where you cannot. I know that good photos are a large part of the recipe for success on Etsy and 

help to bring out the potential in your lovingly crafted items. I know also that good photos help with shop promotion and that people like to know who is behind the creations, so I happily agreed to get all dressed up in my Steampunk costume and let her use my face as a canvas. Here are some behind the scenes pictures of the photoshoot: 

Getting the skirt to hang just so.

Behave yourselves, curls!

Me and Cap'n G ;)

    

There's a good view of the new items from here!

We all had a great time and it was lovely to work together. Etsy has brought us together and helped us to inspire each other. See what you can find there today...

I do love reading your comments and look forward to connecting with you, even if just for a moment. Wishing you a Fantastic February,

Sally-Ann ♡

Celebrate Love!

Steampunk, Steamgoth, Neo-Victorian inspired Valentines Cards

The new range of OOAK* Valentines Cards

I'm still getting used to this online shop lark. For one thing, I'm used to getting myself in the mood for certain celebrations only a few weeks in advance. In stocking a shop however, it seems that you need to be months ahead! I can't quite see myself being ready for 'Christmas in July' (though I probably will promote any appropriate items around then). So although it's still January, allow me to be a little forward thinking in presenting these Valentines Cards: 

These were made possible thanks to a little co-creation. I found a wonderful graphic designer on Etsy who states that she is happy for her designs to be used in the creation of items to be sold on Etsy: Vectoria Designs

Each card is a *One Of A Kind creation. I printed the graphics on bronze card, both sides and have also decorated the interior of each. Rivets and brass clock hands, a brass butterfly and lace make these cards as special as the intended recipient is to you!

Each card comes with a printed envelope, slightly modified from Vectoria Designs' original.

The thing I love about upcycling - yes, the lace and brass decorations are re-used - is that every creation comes out differently.

If somebody came along and wished to mass produce one of my designs and would do so ethically and ecologically, I would probably say yes (I am intending to create a really successful business here and I've only so many hours to do it in!) However, one thing I love about my little Etsy shop is the creativity that working with various, limited materials inspires. I do like to find a theme and express it in various ways, so when I found these beautiful, grungy, neo-Victorian downloadable designs, ideas came rushing forth!

There is another reason to celebrate February 14th... The Navigatrix will be One! I'll be doing something special to celebrate....watch this space!

January has been a great start to the year. The Navigatrix has made more sales than usual and has been featured on not one, but two blogs! Take a look (explore their other posts and Follow them if you like what you see): Megans Beaded Designs and Tinytipis Blogspot. Thanks to the authors of both for a warm welcome!

Etsy Treasury 'I'm in Love with a Steampunk Pirate'

Bear with me, I'm still working out how to add things to blogs, so here's a screenshot of my latest Treasury (if you know of a better way, please leave a comment). Here's the LINK.  Romance, adventure, swash with a touch of buckle... enjoy!

Thanks for reading! Do share this with anyone who might appreciate it. Leave comments, too - I love to know what people think. Suggestions, constructive criticisms, links to relevant material and generally positive feedback are all greatly appreciated! 

Seasons Greetings!

Wishing all my customers, followers, Likers, team mates, fellow Etsians and supporters across the world a Wonderful Mid-Winter (Mid-Summer!) Holiday }:o

Sally-Ann ♡
P.S. You are hereby cordially invited to visit my shop between 26th - 31st December for a nice surprise! 

SALE! Just in time for Santa :)

Every item is giftwrapped!

FREE GLOBAL POSTAGE until midnight GMT on 22nd November with the coupon code EARLYBIRD1 

Postage will be the cheapest option I can use to get your parcel to you before Christmas.

More good news: from 23rd - 26th November, the free postage continues for all SALE items. Use the search terms 'black friday etsy' and 'cyber monday etsy' for Etsy-wide, on sale gift ideas!

Even more good news! If you visit The Navigatrix on Facebook and go to Etsy through the My Etsy Shop portal, you automatically get 5% off your order. 

Do please share this blog and anything nice you have to say about The Navigatrix. Every sale makes a much appreciated difference. Most of my materials are bought from local charity shops and the more you buy from me, the more I buy from them.

Do pop by soon...remember, everything I make is a one of a kind, each item patiently awaiting its perfect owner :)

Wishing you pleasant, relaxed, seasonal preparations,

Sally-Ann

Treasury Challenge

Etsy is more than just a shopping destination, it is also a community. Likeminded artists, vintage collectors and enthusiasts of many different genres gather in teams for mutual promotion, advice, support, inspiration and fun! I myself am a member of several teams but there is one in particular that I'm fond of. Probably because, of the five woman leadership team, I am one!

Recently, one of the leaders came up with a brilliant idea: to make treasuries based on one team member's shop, using items from 16 different Etsy shops. The chosen team member's shop is picked at random each time and placed in the top left hand corner. Here's my contribution:

To visit the actual Treasury where you can explore each of these items and shops in depth and Favourite ♡ them, visit Guardian of Dreams. From there, you can also explore other treasuries that I have curated. 

If you would like to visit our team, pop by In Here Life Is Beautiful and see what we're currently talking about.

In other news, I've recently begun using Instagram and having fun, both with pictures related to The Navigatrix and others. My username there is 'thenavigatrix'. Genuine followers are more than welcome; likewise, if you're on there, show me your pics! I follow those that really interest me.

Remember, you can also look up 'thenavigatrix' on Facebook, Pinterest and Wanelo. This being the first Winter Holiday season that my shop has been around, I'm doing as much as I can to promote it and I sincerely appreciate any and all help in this regard!

Remember, FREE SHIPPING until 22nd November!

Be well,

Sally-Ann