Once upon a time, a couple of creative guys named Ram and Jason – who, perhaps like you, hold down serious day jobs –… more
Welcome to Meylah, a new network for artists and crafters. I'm Courtney and my craft is making jewelry. What's yours? I've… more
Hey, welcome aboard! My name is Mary Beth (but you can call me MB; everyone else does.) I've been writing my blog, Supafine, for s… more
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Since Meylah is based in Seattle, we want to get to know artists, crafters and photographers from the Pacific Northwest area. Toda… more
Have you noticed that the minute Halloween ends, it starts to look a lot like Christmas? These days, retailers pack up the bat and… more
Let’s face it: Women are always looking for an excuse to get together and throw a party! A few years ago, I was invited by a colle… more
When I was 6, my friends and I would go on a little door-to-door soliciting tour, trying to sell to our neighbors pictures we had… more
Every Person Has a Voice You may hear what they have to say, but do you really listen? For me, hearing means registering the info… more
Do you guys hang out on Flickr much? I will introduce registration on Flickr this weekend, but for now it's time to talk about a m… more
It's 14 days until Thanksgiving, when holiday season kicks into high gear. Don't worry – we are not about to suggest that yo… more
Imagine walking into a store and the lights are off. Everything is dark and you can barely see anything around you. How would you… more
In the second of our series of interviews with artists and crafters from the Pacific Northwest area – Meylah's home base &nd… more
With Thanksgiving around the corner, it's time to ask yourself if you really know how to make a turkey. Do you start with yarn, or… more
Support. Friendships. Visibility. Invitations to craft meet-ups. These are just some of the opportunities that can come from click… more
I remember the first time I set my eyes on a pair of handmade wire earrings. It was love at first sight. I was at a gi… more
With so many options for online marketplaces to sell your art and handmade goods, how the heck do you choose which one is best?&nb… more
Are you about to take the leap into your first craft show? Got the goods, but don’t know how to display them? At… more
Happy Thanksgiving! I know, probably not the first words you expected to read when the title reads the Twelve Days of Christ… more
As crafters and artists selling our own products, we all really want to get our name out there. We want people to see our logo a… more
Earlier this week, my husband reminded me that we should donate to Northwest Harvest, Washington’s statewide hunger relief a… more
If you love amazing art and handmade crafts, Seattle is the place to be this weekend, December 4-6th! Okay, close your eyes… more
This holiday season, many of us would rather do anything than trudge the megastores, stockpiling more stuff for people who already… more
As the holiday shopping season progresses, even the smaller retailers — that would be craftpreneurs such as yourself &m… more
As I outlined in my post earlier this week, having a product tag is an essential part of branding and packaging your products.&nbs… more
Welcome to the first day of Meylah’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway! Starting today and for the next 12 days, a fea… more
Welcome to the third day of Meylah’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway! On the third day of Christmas, Meylah is pleas… more
Welcome to the fourth day of Meylah’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway where a featured artist or crafter will be giving aw… more
Now that any lingering gingerbread men have been polished off and the crunching of wrapping paper is but a distant sound byte of a… more
Welcome to the fifth day of Meylah’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway! Today, we are privileged to introduce Crystaly… more
Welcome to the seventh day of Meylah’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway! On the seventh day of Christmas, Meylah is p… more
Welcome to the ninth day of Meylah’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway where our featured artist/crafter will be giving away… more
Welcome to the eleventh day of Meylah’s Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway! Today, we are so lucky to have Leah Pellegr… more
Over the past twelve days, we have featured an incredible array of talent from child painters to handcrafted soap makers and felt… more
Mistake No. 1: Putting off Paperwork It's important to remember that although your business will not see profit immediately, you s… more
Doves symbolize peace, and many people find their own peace in creativity. In that spirit, the Meylah team wishes you and your glu… more
As promised on my previous post, Selecting an Online Marketplace for Handmade Products, I wanted to share a few more items you sho… more
It's Day 1 of a new year! With all the talk of resolutions and starting with a clean slate (or even a clean desk, or a clean outfi… more
Everyone loves a pretty package. Unwrapping, opening, unfolding – customers enjoy the experience of receiving a package almo… more
Why is it important? For sellers of handmade items, packaging plays a dual role. First, the packaging brands your products and m… more
When I was searching around for inspiration for upcoming trends in 2010 I came across Trend Hunter, a site dedicated to spotlighti… more
Lots of creative types want to quit their jobs to pursue their passion full time. Easier said than done! Often, mortgage payments… more
Today, we have the pleasure of introducing Camilla of Stil Novo Design. We had the good fortune of meeting Stil Novo Design… more
Many topics these days come with a “Dummy’s Guide” or rule book that explains how to act or behave. There’… more
This week, we embarked on a quest – which involved hours of arduous online window-shopping – for handmade products mad… more
I was sewing patchwork coasters, one of my favorite things to make. I had a mouthful of pins, the machine was whirring, and I was… more
Winter is a time when many of us feel like hibernating nesting and cooking. We cook hearty recipes, have people over (instead of g… more
Pricing your products is like walking on a tight rope, where you don’t want to lean too far to one side or the other, meanin… more
Why Is It Important? Gathering data and feedback from your readers can be vital in assisting you with making the right, informed… more
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When you find something you love, and want to make a career out of it, having the support of the someone you love really makes a b… more
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Why Is It Important? Creating a business card is the most common method to brand yourself and your company. MOO offers an innovat… more
Have you ever participated in an art festival or craft fair as an exhibitor and worried about preparation and all the items you ne… more
A few weeks ago, Justine wrote Vendor Benders: Top 5 Mistakes Online Shop Owners Make and the number 1 mistake was putting off pap… more
Valentine's Day doesn't have to mean robotically buying a dozen (overpriced) red roses or a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Bo-rin… more
It's got to be cool, unique — but not too weird — pleasing to the ear, with a certain memorable je ne c'est quoi. Man… more
We’re listening! Are there any topics you are dying to read about on Meylah? Our goal here is to make creative e… more
No matter what day it is, or what the weather is like – my Sweet Tooth wants to be appeased. It might be the end of a… more
Why is it important? As we discussed here, packaging is an important part of branding – and branding should always remain c… more
Earlier this week, Carmen of Carmen's Custom Creations reached out to us asking for a little help with her new store. Carmen… more
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Online shopkeepers have a lot of juggling to do: creative work, daily business maintenance, and tapping into social media. Yes, so… more
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Are you trying to grow your business? Of course, we all are! One of the best ways to attract new customers is to offer… more
Have you ever taken a step back to consider what draws you to the places you love to shop and why you always want to go back for m… more
My favorite thing about the handmade movement is how creative entrepreneurs can be so personal in what we make. Custom order… more
When I first started selling online, I made so many mistakes – from under-pricing to forgetting to factor in my time and fue… more
Why is it Important? The biggest plus about Scribd is that you can embed your document onto your website or blog using their shar… more
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You've got the product. You've got the shop. You've even made a sale! You've even made cupcakes to celebrate that sale! Now it's… more
It used to be that you entered a contest or competition because of the prize(s) at stake and the accompanying glory—"in… more
Over the course of the last few weeks I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Valorie Clifton of Artisan Originals. Valorie was… more
Those coiled copper earrings and plush octopi in your neighborhood boutique? They didn’t just magically appear there after c… more
Why is it Important? With over 50 million tweets being sent daily, it's essential that you create a unique look for your Twitter… more
Do you have multiple creative passions? Maybe it's photography and jewelry or pottery and painting...whatever the passions,… more
Creating a printed portfolio of your work is just another tool to help you promote your wares! This is already a common prac… more
Managing your inventory between your online and offline sales doesn’t have to be tough…to get started all you need to… more
You can feel it: Spring is around the corner! Despite Phil the Groundhog’s prediction for a long winter (boy was he right),… more
Did you know that quartz is known as a healing stone or that dandelion leaves are incredibly nutritious? To support the hand… more
What was the first decision you made when you started your business? Besides deciding on what you're going to sell and how m… more
There's no doubt that you've encountered buttons in your online travels – and chances are that you've even clicked on some o… more
Why is it Important No matter how easy it is to design your logo, it's important to take your time and consider the design.&nbs… more
We have been very fortunate to be a part of fantastic and supportive community since we launched Meylah this last fall. We s… more
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With spring officially here, it's natural to think about, well, nature. Flowers are sprouting from the ground and trees, and into… more
There are some days when I wake up in the morning, knowing that I have work to do, orders to fulfill and items to create for custo… more
A few weeks ago we met Kristin Walters of one9designs and we were immediately fascinated by her work in hand stamped jewelry and b… more
Today we have a wonderful guest post by Marigold Haske. Marigold is a regular reader and commenter on Meylah, and the author of t… more
After last week's flower power roundup, we decided to go to the other end of the handmade spectrum: the Men's Department. The onli… more
We have a winner! Meylah's March photo contest in search of green has ended with the spectacular image you see above from lo… more
Into each life, a little rain must fall – especially in April. So, it's always good to be prepared with some wet weather gea… more
Once you've established an online presence for your creative work, you may wonder about how to sell your work to retailers. Where… more
I used to think that nothing was better than having family members who support your creative business. I now stand corrected &ndas… more
Have you ever created a diorama? Not too familiar with them...I wasn't either until I met Teresa of Pilar Originals who crea… more
Today, it's our pleasure to introduce you to Mallory of Miss Malaprop, a handmade clothing designer specializing in original recon… more
Advertising is a hot topic among online shopkeepers: Should I do it? Where? How much should I spend? My ad didn't work – Is… more
Picture yourself at a party. An attractive stranger walks over to say hello. "Tell me about yourself," they say. "I… more
Sometimes we can all use a little music therapy to get us going, to keep us motivated, to block out other distracting sounds, or t… more
Today we are pleased to introduce Kerri Lawnsby of FOXY Fusions, an incredible glass jewelry artist. We instantly became fan… more
Did you ever think that you would be managing your creative business online? What about from an iPhone? Yes, it is a p… more
Advertising is a hot topic among online shopkeepers: Should I do it? Where? How much should I spend? My ad didn't work – is… more
Painting by Thaneeya McArdle The traditional portrait of the "starving artist" is being digitally altered. Being an arti… more
If you’re like me, you read every article about taking product shots that you can possibly get your hands on! Over the… more
Today, we have a wonderful guest post by Gina Morrison of Acute Designs. Gina is a freelance writer and Etsy shop… more
Have you ever had a caricature of yourself created? Have you ever wanted personalized stationery? How about both...tod… more
Advertising is a hot topic among online shopkeepers: Should I do it? Where? How much should I spend? My ad didn't work – i… more
A T-shirt sold via Hearts for Haiti, created by The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe When the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in Januar… more
Congratulations! Your Facebook fan page is up and running, you have added all the necessary structural elements and you are postin… more
We have another winner! Meylah's April photo contest in search of the best spring product shot has come to an end with the wonderf… more
Whether it's her banana bread, the way she used to dress you funny, or her knack for knowing what you're thinking, there are lots… more
It seems as though we're all connected to some form of social networking – whether it be through Facebook, Twitter, bloggin… more
Why Is It Important? Once you know how to create an ad yourself, you'll save yourself the money and time of getting someone else… more
You may recognize Jodie from Lova Revolutionary, our winner of April’s photo contest. In reviewing the incredible imag… more
I recently read an article in USA Today called ‘Handmade is the New Black’ by Laura Vanderkam, which talks about how u… more
Let's say you've created the next big thing and know that it's going to sell really well - as soon as people find out about it. S… more
Once your handmade goods are selling steadily, it's time to start thinking BIG...and BULK. That's right, it's time to think… more
Remember being told in school that teamwork was the best approach to a problem or assignment? Well, it’s often the truth!… more
Have you ever had the desire to be published or to participate in writing a book? Now is your chance! We’ve been… more
At one point or another it's going to happen to you. You sell your handmade item, pretty its packaging up, get it all snug in a… more
It's natural that your creative business success will ebb and flow. Typically, sales will echo the seasons – rising before o… more
She lives in a magic cottage and is known as the local eccentric! Today I’m delighted to introduce you to Violette, ou… more
Do you ever struggle with getting the perfect photograph of your products and wonder why the just don't look as good as they do in… more
Lately, I’ve been putting a lot of thought to how folks put together the best craft fair displays. I’ve been sco… more
You've got all the elements in place: your product, your shop, even a few customers. But how do you take it to the next level? Ho… more
Meylah: Please tell us about the variety of ceramic items you sell. Dawn: I have 3 product lines - decorative wall boxes and til… more
We are pleased to announce that we have another photo contest winner!!! Meylah's May photo contest for the best "Mother… more
Have you ever thought to yourself "why do I need a blog?" or "how can a blog help my creative business?" … more
We are reaching the day in age where customers have developed an expectation for small businesses to have an online web presence.&… more
With the spring/summer craft fair season well under way, you might be wondering, "Is it worth it to do art and craft fairs?" We in… more
So, what do you know? Whatever it is, we bet you can share some of your knowledge with others and maybe even sell some of it or… more
I'm so excited to have the opportunity to introduce you to Byte-Syze Learning today. I'll be teaching you how to make a simple pa… more
Today we’re interviewing artist, Hannah Rosner of Good River Gallery in Taos, New Mexico. Hannah creates beautiful original jewel… more
I used to keep a journal when I was a little girl. I would write down all my thoughts and hopes. It wasn’t always something secre… more
Is it possible to improve your search engine ranking without ever actually implementing basic SEO? Absolutely.I know I've covere… more
Is it possible to improve your search engine ranking without ever actually implementing basic SEO?Absolutely.In the first instal… more
The Meylah platform is built so that creative entrepreneurs have a blog merged with their online store. So, all you have to do i… more
Ever since I was a little girl I have loved Texans…so it was a true joy to interview Courtney Warren of Come Together Cards today.… more
Although we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, I must admit that I am not always a subscriber to that rule.First impres… more
Depending on where you live, school is out and kids are basking in the freedom of summer. But what about you – when was the last… more
Recently, I had a wonderful buying experience with Melissa of Brag About It on Etsy. Melissa makes beautiful hand stamped, custom… more
We all know that selling involves a lot of hard work and usually is split between making your products, sourcing your inventory, t… more
With competition fierce in the craft community, a great way to set yourself apart and grow your business is by building a communit… more
I recently noticed something after shopping at my favorite stores. Even if I only purchase two items, my receipt is so long that i… more
Oh, say can you see … some red, white and blue? The colors, sights, stars and stripes of July 4th find their way into the work of… more
We are pleased to announce that we have a winner from our June Photo Contest on "Summer Travel" with this image titled "The girls… more
It’s difficult to keep up with all the recommendations of what you should and shouldn’t do to make your online business thrive, so… more
If you're a creative entrepreneur, chances are you know blogging is a great way to raise your profile, attract more buzz and cust… more
Today we are pumped to have a guest post by Photographer, Surface and Graphic Designer Khristian A. Howell. Khristian recently pu… more
With more than 150 million accounts worldwide, PayPal has become a household name among online business owners, hobby sellers and… more
Do you have a Fan Page on Facebook? What about a Twitter account? How about a Flickr Photostream? All of these are fantastic on… more
Creative professionals are an eclectic group of entrepreneurs – and that is reflected in the clothes we wear. Unlike Wall Street t… more
Even if you draw a blank when you hear the term "screencast", you may have watched and learned from one in your online travels.Man… more
This week I read an article on The Contemporary Handmade Alliance about Facebook Faux Pas and it immediately got me thinking about… more
Today we have a wonderful interview from one of our favorites...Rachel of One Pretty Thing!For those of you that don't know, One P… more
What are you trying to get done today?Creative work? Blogging? Paperwork? Shipping orders? Photographing products? Catching up wit… more
Yep, you read it correctly...we have already selected our first winner of the What's Your Passion? Name Your Price Contest! Not to… more
We are so excited to introduce you to Meredith Keller of Smaller Box and her new eBook titled 45 Contests, Real World Examples of… more
Many of us struggle to find the right words to describe our products or to talk about our creative work with others. It's an awkwa… more
You knew that owning your own business would be time-consuming — even if you are doing what you love. But between managing your so… more
With over 150 million accounts worldwide and growing at over 100,000 new accounts each day, it's probably safe to say that you've… more
Finding gallery representation is somewhat intimidating to many and not all visual artists have natural sales ability. But, here’s… more
Twitter is one of the most common social media tools and can be incredibly powerful in helping you build your brand and catapult i… more
Artists now have many marketplaces available to them that make it easy to sell art, photography and handmade items online. There a… more
This past weekend, Meylah sponsored the 1st annual Conference for Creative Entrepreneurs here in Seattle. It was a fantastic conf… more
Online video is an effective way to connect consumers with your creative business in a way you can't with photos or the written wo… more
Do you know what “Link Love” is and why it’s important? Link love occurs when other sites post your URL, pointing traffic to your… more
Quitting your job to sell your creative work for a living sounds like an amazing but daunting goal. It's always inspirational to m… more
It doesn't matter whether you're new to the game or a seasoned craft seller, sales droughts can affect your business at any point… more
Have you ever written an eBook, produced music or created a short film? Maybe you've taken a phenomenal photograph or made patter… more
Tackling product photography, especially as a beginner can be an incredibly daunting task. Oftentimes I feel that people (includi… more
With online stores, photographs are the only way of communicating to a potential customer what your product looks like, so capturi… more
You are finally seeing progress with your online shop, and one of your unique designs has just been mentioned in a small magazine… more
Do you have a blogroll? A blogroll is a list of links to blogs that usually appears in the sidebar or at the bottom of a blog. Of… more
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