Color Trend For Spring and Summer 2020

I’m so excited about to find out what are color trends for this Spring and Summer. I probably partially wait for Spring this year more eagerly than any other year since this Winter we got no snow. Every time when little snow has rained, it has turned into rain before nightfall. So now I’m planning what flowers I want our Sunny balcony. 

So are you interest to know which colors are hot right now? If you answer yes, keep reading and I’ll reveal the hottest colors of this Spring and Summer.

I’ll use Pantone’s color chart since they are more accurate than any other color charts and in addition their colors are stunning!

Spring / Summer 2020 Color Palette 🎨 

PANTONE 18-1662

Flame Scarlet

Burning bright, Flame Scarlet exudes confidence and determination

PANTONE 14-1064

Saffron

Pungent Saffron adds a flavorful brilliance to the palette

PANTONE 19-4052

Classic Blue

A boundless blue hue, Classic Blue is evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky opening us up to a world of possibilities

PANTONE 15-5718

Biscay Green

An aqua shade connected to cleansing waters, Biscay Green cools and refreshes

PANTONE 19-0323

Chive

A savory herbal green, Chive imparts a healthy and restorative harmony

PANTONE 17-4021

Faded Denim

Faded Denim, a relatable and dependable blue conveys comfort and ease

PANTONE 16-1359

Orange Peel

Piquant Orange Peel introduces a tasteful tang

PANTONE 18-4528

Mosaic Blue

The teal Mosaic Blue displays an air of mystique, grace and depth of feeling

PANTONE 13-0822

Sunlight

Soft Sunlight invites happiness, pleasant cheer and a smiling presence

PANTONE 14-1318

Coral Pink

Coral Pink wraps you up in a warm and welcoming embrace

PANTONE 18-1345

Cinnamon Stick

Earthy and warm, Cinnamon Stick is sweet yet spicy

PANTONE 18-3513

Grape Compote

Grape Compote is a composite of mysterious and mellow purple shades

Naturally the color palette have four neutral colors that always included with any color palette.

1. PANTONE 16-1324

Lark

Authentic and low-key, Lark is an understated and versatile khaki

2. PANTONE 19-3923

Navy Blazer

Deep blue Navy Blazer is stylish and self-assured

3. PANTONE 11-4001

Brilliant White

Clean, crisp and pristine Brilliant White is suggestive of simplicity and modernity

4. PANTONE 16-3802

Ash

Solid and strong, eternally timeless Ash conveys a message of longevity

I’m sure that these colors will be seen in runaway, interior textiles, jewelry and I’m sure that many interior designer will use these colors as they plan new interior decorations. Colors are so important to us who design new jewelry, clothes or interior decorations. We designers love to know what colors are hot right now but how we ordinary people can use them in our everyday life? By buying new pillow case or other textiles that matches with these colors but I wouldn’t recommend to run in the stores and change your entire home so your home would be little while trendy. I would recommend to pick up maximum three colors that pleases your eyes right now and try to change couple things in your home firstly to see if you truly liked the color. 

~ Minna  

Learning New

One of the reason why I love to make jewelry is endless possibilities to learn new techniques and there’s tons of different kind beads and jewelry supplies. 

When I started to make my own jewelry more consistently my skills were basic level. I’ve always love to make my own kind jewelry and first one I made in kindergarten. I had long hair and my mom didn’t buy from me hair ties so one day in kindergarten there were box of different kind wooden beads and elastic cord. I was so happy that I finally could make hair ties. I wished that my mom would braided my hair in the morning but every morning was so hustling that she hadn’t time to do that. When I grew little older, I learned to do French braided to myself. 

Many years went by before I ended up back into jewelry making. I have made jewelry for my friend and myself but never sold any until I got chance to make jewelry for the sale. I was so nervous and hadn’t any thoughts what kind jewelry I wanted to do so I started to browse Finnish jewelry online stores and ordered few supplies. I made mostly flower earrings and simple stretch bracelets. I got more self confidence when people said nice things about my jewelry and actually bought them.

I opened my first a Etsy shop 2012 and year after that I opened second shop, BlueBellJewelry where I continued to sell cute flower jewelry but the path has lead me more Bohemian style jewelry.

Although I have done many years now jewelry, I find it so exciting to learn new. Couple years back I learned to do tassel earrings and brick stitch was firstly tricky especially when I needed to go second row and do same thing opposite way. It took me two days to learn it and I even had dream of it. 

I’m eager to learn constantly more and try to challenge myself time to time so I can evolve as a jewelry maker. Jewelry making is so relaxing and creative. You can make things always little bit better and little bit different way. Most important thing is to enjoy to make jewelry and have some fun.

Beginning of twisted two row seed bead bracelet 

Couple days ago I learned new way to make seed bead jewelry so browse YouTube and saw tutorial about “Tubular stitch” that is two row of seed beads that twisted nicely as you proceed. I learned it quickly since the tutorial was so clearly and made to friend my first twisted bracelet.

This was so easy and neat technique that invoked me crave to search more and my next goal is to make seed bead rope. 

I hope that some day I can make this kind jewelry. Love to learn this kind technique 

~ Minna 

How To Host Giveaway In Instagram

Couple years ago I wanted to host a giveaway in my IG account but haven’t no idea what’s important, what I need to mention etc. So I researched couple weeks about how to host giveaway. As my research progressed in some point I felt overwhelmed about the information that I got. I felt like this wasn’t easy thing to do and yet many people host giveaways in Instagram and Facebook.

I decided to sleep one night as I usually do when I need to take distance on going problems. That’s pretty good to do with any matter if you don’t know or not sure how proceed on going problem. Somehow your thinking is much clearer after sleeping one night and you can solve any problem more efficiently.

Giveaway is pretty easy to host in Instagram and there’s isn’t much legal issues that you needs to be considered.

You will need three things before you can start to host giveaway:

• Instagram account 
• Product that you’ll be giving away 
• Photo of the product 

When you have these three things, you need to built up the caption of the giveaway. I like to include a separate photo that says “GIVEAWAY”. People will noticed it better if you have some kind stopping  image, otherwise people just scrolling the feed down without noticing that you have giveaway going because IG is all about liking someone’s photos.

So what’s important to write in the caption? I like to plan it beforehand and write it down in separate paper so you can read it over again and see if it’s clear enough. You can also show it to your friend so she/he can read it and give you feedback if it’s clear enough. 

When I think to do a giveaway, I like to start from rules. How people can enter your giveaway? It’s important that your rules are simple as possible. People don’t want to spend much time to participate your giveaway even if the product is interesting. So set up clear rules how people can enter your giveaway and are there any extra change to double the enter by tagging a friend. 

So your rules can be look like this:

1. Follow us (example @myigaccount) 

2. Like this photo and tag a friend who likes to have this product 

3. Comment a ❤️ On this photo

Or your rules can be look like this:

1. Follow 

2. Post your favorite photo of my/our feed onto your story. Tag me with hashtag (example tagging user myigaccount by using hashtag in front of the name, looking like this: #myigaccount)

3. Comment below two friends who would also love to win this.

You can decide what are your rules how people can enter your giveaway but I would highly recommend keeping the rules as simple as possible and not adding more than 5 steps. I prefer 3 steps because that’s pretty easy to remember what I need to do to participating any giveaways. Remember that when people are going to comment your giveaway, they won’t see your rules anymore especially if they hit comment button. Sometimes the Instagram gives a chance to leave a comment without hitting the comment bubble. 

After rules, I start to think the actual caption.

I like to tell firstly that this is a giveaway and little about the product that I’m going to give away. After that I decide if this giveaway open worldwide, only specific countries or locally. I also include in the caption how long is participating time and where I’m going to announce the winner. After the participating time is over, I go to modify the Giveaway post and write in the front: “GIVEAWAY IS ENDED” or “GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED” that way people know that they cannot no longer participate your giveaway.

After you have write the caption and setting up rules, you need to write this disclaimer in the end of the giveaway:

“Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered or associated with Instagram.Inc. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.”

I found above text in some examples how to host a giveaway while I was doing research and many people forget to add this in their caption. I understand that the above disclaimer is very important which liberate Instagram from your giveaway.

FjeldDesign have great giveaway going until Friday so you can go see how her giveaway looks like if you thinking to host your own giveaway or go just enter the giveaway.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7IpAXTBMpD/?igshid=12uze4rn47mr9 if the link is not working for some reason, click here: https://instagram.com/fjelddesign?igshid=ptbyupehzhhm 

I hope my blog post help you to host a giveaway in Instagram and feel free to leave your comment in below if you have any questions about how to host a giveaway.

~ Minna 

5 Different Seller Types

I’ve been worked as a seller many years. I’ve been mainly seller at grocery stores but I’ve also enjoyed to worked at clothing stores which are different kind selling than ordinary grocery store selling.

During my interior design studies I was seller at furniture store where also are a lots of different kinds carpets and rugs. After week internship I sold my first rug to a man who was looking for new rug but wasn’t sure what kind rug would look best with his floral sofa. I recommend one colored rug since the sofa would be so colorful and patterned that the room would look little mess if the rug would also be patterned.

I’ve also been cosmetic consultant in Avon and Oriflame which are also different kind selling. In addition, I’ve two Etsy shops which I opened in 2012 and 2013 when I needed new place to sell my handmade jewelry but that’s for my past and now heading to topic of the day or week.

I’ve been participating couple years now with my friend in local craft market days where people come to sell their handmade products. Can’t help to noticed every year same seller types that appear in the craft market days. Let me introduce them and I’m interested to know if one or more describing matches with you.

SOCIAL SELLER

Social seller are pretty common every craft market event you go. This type seller is usually highly extrovert and gladly talk with other seller. Her appearance seems happy and maybe have good looking outfit and makeup. The seller have wide range of acquaintances which always stop at her table to talk and gossiping. This type seller is not in craft market day to sell her handmade products but making new friends. Her top priority is talking with different peoples and she probably enjoys it. Extrovert people get strength when they are surrounded by different people so she can talk and gossip with them. Only minus side is that she probably won’t sell so much of her product.

QUIET SELLER 

Quiet seller is usually very shy person which isn’t necessarily bad thing. She come early to set up her table neatly and have few products. This quiet seller will sit whole day without saying “hello” to unknown people that are walking by her table. She won’t talk much to other seller and sales are low. This type seller is usually introvert type people who only wish that someone will buy her product. 

AGGRESSIVE SELLER 

Aggressive seller is very loud extrovert person so that everyone will notice her. She have wide range of friends and acquaintances that will stop at her table to talk and gossiping. Aggressive seller is usually have mentioned that she is at craft market day so that everyone will come and buy her product.This type seller is interested only money and won’t accept “No” as a answer. She keep talking about her product until it’s easier to buy something in order to move on. This type seller’s flaw is to force people to buy something from her whether they like it or not. Have you ever buy something that you will regret later at home? If answer is yes, you have faced the aggressive seller that will only cause you bad mood later. 

FRIENDLY SELLER 

Friendly seller is usually very nice person who smiles often and greets people politely. She won’t mind if you like to just watch her product and let people to decide if they want to buy something. She usually have good sense what people are looking for and keen eyes to observe buyer’s reaction. This friendly seller is usually extrovert type but can be also mixed combination of extrovert and introvert. This type people falls between extrovert and introvert and she can be as social as extrovert but enjoys her own time too. Friendly seller is prepared to tell you more about her product without forcing you to buy something. She always leaves back door open so buyer can say no too without hurting her feelings. This type seller usually makes pretty good sales because she always leaves people with happy mood and people are usually happy with their purchase. 

CRAFTING SELLER

Crafting seller usually come on time to craft market day but can be also late. Her appearance is usually modest or vapid. This type seller consider her time so valuable that she carries unfinished projects with her so she can make them while waiting the sales. Did you noticed, while waiting the sales. That’s right, she isn’t there to sell actively her product nor making friends. I’ve always wondered why this type seller come to sell her handmade products while she obviously consider more important to finish her product. This type seller like to sat in corner and not pay any attention people that bypassing her table. This type seller needs to focus more being present when she’s at craft market day in order to have more sales. 

Here’s my five seller type that I’ve noticed over the years while being seller at craft market days. There’s also one type seller too which likes to walk and look people’s selling table and maybe take photos of their products. This type seller consider her product as a best of all and she secretly likes to makes copies of your product. Seller seems to be friendly but I often got feeling that she’s jealous somehow too especially if you make more sales than her.

Did any these seller types matches with you or did you fall between some? Please leave your thoughts in the comments. 

~ Minna

What’s Up BlueBellJewelry

End of the last year I planned what topics I’ll write for this year and I thought to start every month by writing what’s new in my little Etsy shop business.

As some followers might know, I had to close my Etsy shop for end of the year and now I’m finally back. It was weird to keep my shop in vacation mode since every day I felt like I need to list something in the shop and then I remembered that my shop is in vacation. 

It’s been seven years now when I opened the BlueBellJewelry. Originally I had idea to sell everything flower related jewelry but surprisingly the path took me more bohemian way and I’m happy with that. BlueBellJewelry allows me to create playful and colorful jewelry. Last Summer I found joy of crocheting and it shouldn’t be a surprise that more crochet jewelry are coming in BlueBellJewelry’s selection.

This short video is from local vocational school where I was selling my handmade jewelry. 

It’s the same school where I graduated a interior designer. It was fun and productive day. My friend sold

almost all my big wooden earrings 😂

Our selling table at local craft market day. Somehow as interior designer I wanted to organized the table. My idea was built up somehow so all the things wouldn’t just lay on table in flat. I want to create more professional looking table so if you have any suggestions or ideas what I can do, please comment this blog post 

Last December I was also attended two local sale events where I was able to sell my handmade jewelry with my friend who brought her beautiful bags and pouches too. We shared the table together and must say that I’m little proud that our handmade jewelry and items ended up under local people’s Christmas tree 🎄 

Local craft markets and Summer markets are pretty new thing for me and I don’t currently have fancy rackets for my jewelry but I’m looking for them. If you know a place which can ship worldwide and where I can get reasonable price jewelry rackets, please comment below. When I go local craft market day I try to decide what to take with me. It’s always little bit difficult to decide what to take with me from two different Etsy shop selections. I don’t usually take bracelets or necklaces with me since the length depends who wears it and I don’t want to carry with me all the parts so I can adjust the size. Making jewelry requires space that we often don’t have in the selling table. I wish I have car and license to drive so it would be easier to go different local sales which annually hosted nearby but I only got bicycle which is loaded with bags so selling place needs to be pretty close. I bet me and my friend are pretty fun looking when we walk with my bicycle with all the bags. I always have image of Chinese woman which bicycle is loaded with things 😂

I’ve been also noticing different selling types when I’m at craft market and my next blog post I will tell you more what I have discovered from craft market. 

I hope your New Year has started well. I have so much ideas and goals that I want to achieve this year so hopefully we all achieve our goals whether it’s big or small 😊

~ Minna