In greens and more greens...

Well, we've been busy on our Facebook trying to keep you all in the loop with latest stock items, dates, and markets.

So.... here are our market dates, so far:

28 November ~ Amcare market, Alberton
29 November ~ Walkerville Farmer's Market
5 December ~ Night Market at The Shed
6 December ~ The Shed AND Walkerville Farmer's Market
13 December ~ Bunny Park market, Benoni (to be confirmed)
16 December ~ Walkerville Farmer's Market
20 December ~ Walkerville Farmer's Market

I don't doubt there will be a couple more aded to that list, as our last 2 months are always ridiculously busy.

If anyone needs maps, gps coordinates,  we'll be dropping some on our Facebook page for you to use.

Inbetween and within it all...

Craziness level x10...

Right now as I have a brief still moment at The Master of the High Court (doing freelance work)... thought I'd do some blog work.

Its crazy that we are only weeks away from Christmas and stores already have had their Christmas stock out for ages already.
Well, we jumped on the bandwagon and have started booking ourselves for tables/stalls at Christmas Markets. We'll post a list once all the confirmations are in.

We do, however, have the next 3 markets sorted and will have one last off weekend before the next string of madness begins.

Last week we took stock to our first brick and mortar shop, Silver Dream Tattoos,  in Lancaster road, Boksburg.
So if you're up for grabbing your hands on some of our items, head over to their shop... they do great tattoos and piercings too.

We'll also be looking at renting a shelf space at a more local shop, and will post pictures as soon as we get the thimbs up... if we get a thumbs down, we'll need icecream donations please.

Apart from the short update, we hope you're have a great week and an even greater day...

Oh Christmas tree... oh Christmas tree...

I keep saying how I just cannot wait for 2014, so this horrible year can be over with... (isn't that how we sometimes feel about every year?)... but it hasn't been all bad.
2013, after 4 years of persisting, has been Wonder Struck Inc's biggest year so far. And because of you guys and how I'm pushing myself, I believe 2014 will be even bigger.
Positive thinking.
And positive action ;)

Between the new stock items/components/molds ordered, the new work being done on the online stores, the new "plans of actions" lining up... well. Who needs to wait for the new year?

I've been hum and hah'ing over the online stores over this year. Running costs versus maintenance versus sales etc.
There was never a question for me to keep Etsy, I would have previously sacraficed any of my other online stores just to keep the Etsy store going. But things have had to change a little.
While my Etsy store remains in "vacation mode", I will be paying more attention to our Storenvy and our MyStall online stores now.
Storenvy will be international and paypal friendly. You will need to be a member of Storenvy to "envy" or buy/order on it, and it's quite possible to just join using your Facebook account.
MyStall will be more for the South African peeps that want to pay in rands, and via debit/credit card or eft. Again, it seems you will need to create an account so you can order your "must haves" from any MyStall shops.

* OUR STORES ALSO HAVE THEIR OWN DIRECT LINKS AT THE TABS AT THE TOP OF THE BLOG*

For the last four years, I've been doing Wonder Struck Inc between having a day job, and for these last four years I kept thinking how much easier it would be if I got to do Wonder Struck Inc full time... well. How wrong have I been?

It hasn't been easy, whether its the weight of personal doom from the situation hanging over me, or the not being used to having so much time available. Who knows.

But to everyone that has been so amazing and patient waiting for me to get my footing, thank you! You are such amazing human beings! You have and still do make this all worth it.

In the meantime, while updating and fiddling and getting used to new stores and their setups, I'm also filling up new stock as far as I can while "on holiday". And while I wait for the other new stuff to come in (with the greatest anticipation).

And... thats the end of today's blog entry. The laptop battery and the phone battery are going dead and I have domestic chores to attend to >.< (oh the excite)

Keep safe, be safe and most importantly be with the people you love this holiday. 

~ ZOO ~

Song in my head...

This weekend was such an emotional and inspirational roller coaster, not just for myself but for fellow crafty, Heatherlynn.
No one was at markets this weekend, which was a major downer for us stallholders that were.
But inbetween all of that quiet and disappointment came a few sparks of inspiration and incitement.

18 and 19 May, Neigh-hours will be hosting the market side of the horse and dog champs at Kyalami Equestrian Estate.
Go take a squiz.
Neither Wonder Struck Inc or KopyKat will be there, but loads of amazing stallholders will be, so go support them and all of our awesome Equestrian disciplines.

This Sunday The R59 Shed will be having a car boot sale. Fun!
Again, we won't be attending as stallholders...or carboot sales, but can't wait to go peek what it's all about. See you there!

Then, thank you guys for the amazingly crazy stats on the Etsy store!
It's great knowing people are looking. It's greatly appreciated.

With South Africa's Mothers Day coming up, we hope you''ll all realise what a great woman you have in your lives.

;-)

Have a great week, readers/followers.

~Zoo

Post Easter buzz....

Well I hope everyone had a delightful and blessed Easter weekend.

We have now moved stalls at Wyetti Market, which was as busy as can be expected over the long weekend/Easter/Rand Show ...so sales were dismal. But the company was great...even under all the drizzle. At least we never got rained out.

Wonder Struck and KopyKat (Heatherlynn) are hoping to get stall space for the R59 Shed this weekend, and again for the R59 Shed's night market on 26 April.

If you want some low priced deals on some of our makery, follow us on Instagram: zoocatty

Also don't forget to visit our stores. All of them are linked here onto of the blog ;)

Big smiles...

Well... still recovering from a long day out on Sunday.
But, I am so extremely happy and thankful to EVERYONE that came to buy and look in at our stall.

3 of my new necklaces inspired by the "theme" of Sunday...sold out!
we were barely unpacked when the first of the 3 sold. The other 2 sold in moments after.
So thank you everyone for not only liking what I make/stock but just for coming out to make the market a success.
Boo to those that didn't get dressed up, where's your inner child?!
To the knights and trolls and middle earth kids, you were all so amazing!!

Sadly, because of battery issues, I didn't take any pictures, but I'll see if I can get ahold of some so that if you were in Gauteng and didn't go, you can see what you missed!

Then store news:

Freedom v.1 tees - we still have loads of stock from this run of prints, so grab yourself a shirt either from our Etsy or Bigcartel store for UNDER $15 (excluding shipping).
South african buyers, this tee will cost you R95 (postage is R35).

Freedom v.2 - thanks to John at Nuclear Design for our upcoming Tee collab design. As our stock lowers on the other tees, we'll setup a run of these new unisex tees, so watch out!

Squareheads - because of our single workloads and projects, this project is moving really slow for John and I, but it WILL be happening, so keep watching out for it.

The Quotable Zoo - my new sideproject...
Those who know me best know that I am very much a stationary/typography/word/quotes/font junky, so I decided to create an outlet for it ;)
I have registered a store with Etsy, but it's not ready yet to make an official "opening". I am so excited to start listing prints!

Again, thank you to those that read this blog, support our Etsy store and who follow us on Twitter. It is YOU that will help me take this to where I'm dreaming to go with it.

Much love. Blessed be,
~Zoo~

Seasonal...

Ah wow. May was indeed a rough month for Wonder Struck Inc.
Though we did *exceptionally* well at our Wyetti Market stall, I was unproductive for about a week, what with being owned by flu and all.

June has started off quietly, and we're anxiously waiting to get started with all our new products and collaborations with some very talented humans.

Some of our new products will be available for a sneak peek at tomorrow night's market at Henley Arms.
It's also the owner's birthday and we're dressing up in the theme of the evening: Arabian Nights.
Come by for some crafts, drinking and fun ;)
So onward into June.
Lots of newness, new hairstyle/colour, new products, new collaborations, new customers...and lots of good business!

Have a great Thursday humans :)

our "DEADLY CARNIVAL" bracelet sets are R30 / USD8.00 per set, excluding shipping.

black and white cab necklaces (in several different designs) are R45 / USD9.00 each, excluding shipping.

Dancing... in the rain.

Well... it feels like forever since I've updated. Probably because of how much has been done since the last update!

A *complete* stock count has been completed. Pricelists and accounts updated.
We have a snazzy photographer playing with the stock and... we've still got another 12 days before our next market.

Also...the work on the logo is just going so well! I can hardly wait for it all to be finalised!

John and I have also made some progress on Squareheads stuff... which you'll have to check on the blog for ;)

But that's all for today's blog post...
My favourite sond ending for today's post is "Vicious Circle" by Aaron Lewis.
Until another post :)
Have a great 86400 seconds today!

This Madness is for you...

Its May.
April's public holiday frenzy has subsided and we're hitting the grindstones once again.
Well... Wonder Struck Inc has had some good and some bad on the sales front over April, but money is still tight.
My Squareheads partner, John, is feeling it too. But we are still doing what we can to get Squareheads merch going, just keep an eye on the blog for news ;)
In the meantime...
Maruchka, the brilliant little nutter that will be modelling Wonder Struck Inc and Squareheads merch, also has a creative side of her own, a side that we will be showing off in expanding Wonder Struck Inc stock.
Our first T-shirt design collab with talented little Maruchka is officially in the works!
We talked, we decided....and yesterday was my first glimpse at what will be our first official design for shirts.
Wonder Struck Inc will be making these new products available at local markets and on Bigcartel.
We *will not* be putting this on the Etsy store, because the shirts will not be hand screenprinted by us (we do not have space at the moment to do this ourselves).
We'll load the stock as they become available.
The first run of shirts will be limited to a very small quantity, but as we go along, more stock will become available.
Then for the handmade stuff...
We will continue with our handmade jewellery and crochet items which are available not only on the Etsy store, but at local markets and from our Facebook page.
Before I sign off, for our Etsy buyers, thank you so much for the support and feedback you have given us over April.
It is greatly appreciated!
And with that!
Toodaloo.
~Zoo~

New views...

Well Happy Sunday readers!

Its a post rain day here in the Vaal and wow, this weather! I could very well have my laziest day planned out.
Blanket on the grass, under a tree, surrounded by puppymonsters and a vintage print Alice In Wonderland in hardcover in my hand!

But before all of that.

This Saturday (despite it being a long weekend), we have one of them "hectic market days" coming at us.
We'll be at Wyetti from 9am to 3pm...then! 200 people are gathering on a farm to watch bands late into the night and we'll be there with a merch table setup.
I'll be confirming those details tomorrow but I'm so chuffed people go out of their way to invite Wonder Struck Inc to take part in these things.

I've also been *trying* to get some items made that I can duplicate as I'll be trying to get us into retail establishments. *holds thumbs*
But we'll always stay handmade!

I have *some* clarity on my move...
I stopped by what will soon be Wonder Struck Inc headquarters yesterday and... well, there's so much work to do on the place.
We have the house being cleaned right now, then the painting starts in the next couple of weeks, then a whole new kitchen installation is happening (I still cannot believe what the previous tenants did to the place).
Then there's tiling, carport and fences to erect. Security installation, door and window to the as yet undefined backyard....
So yes. In short, the move probably won't even be happening by end of June.
Sigh
We hold out hope though.

So until then, Wonder Struck Inc will be operating as per usual.
Hope you'll continue to read, to buy, to support.

We'd appreciate if you tweeted/pinned/facebooked our items on Etsy ;)

Until the next entry. Head on to a gorgeous fulfilling Sunday!

~Zoo~

Here or there...

Work, work, work...
Though the fact that we are lucky enough to have work...should leave us breathless with appreciation.

Been spending the last couple weeks slowly adding new listings onto the Etsy store and the views/feedback has been so loved.
Thank you!
I've got alot more to add, but there's also the monthly night market at Henley Arms happening on Friday so I'll wait till that's over before adding anything new.
There is, however, a wonder I have lingering...with the *possibility* of my move to my new little home happening end of April.
To have a huge clearance sale...or not.
I'm talking 40 or 50% off kind of sale.
Will have to do sums and things before deciding. And there's always the unsurety of peoples' participation in the buying part.

I am however very excited with designing a work space for Wonder Struck Inc and I'm excited about crafting it messy!
The renovations (a new door and window to the as yet unenclosed backyard being one of the projects) haven't even started.
So I'm a little scared about expecting a "move in" date... hold thumbs and spit out wishes!

In the meantime...
Maruchka, our lovely friendy, who has also agreed to being Wonder Struck and Squareheads' model...is also a budding graphic designer who is working with me on a still very secret Wonder Struck project which we hope to reveal soon. Yippeeeee!

Till then.
Welcome home Autumn... 

Take it off! ...10% at least

Everything has just been so crazy, but I eventually got around to loading our 10% off coupon code on our Etsy.
On checkout the coupon code is - HAVE10OFF
It'll even apply to any new lsitings I put up during March, so go get some discount!

Alot of the new stock will have more crystals and glass and semi-precious beads, like our key inspired necklace with 5 dyed agate beads and a rhinestone blinged out key pendant.
(R80 including postage in South Africa)

Please keep in mind that no 2 crystals (dyed or natural) will look identical, not even dyed agate. Though we try use the closest matching ones in pieces like this.

(Due to some technical issue (our photos not wanting to load correctly) we can't show you any new goodies on this blog post, but they are on our Etsy store now)

What a weekend! ...

Well... our one and ONLY "down the rabbit hole" necklace was sold this weekend along with the ring we made to match it (but didn't list).
We've "de-activated" Down The Rabbit hole on our Etsy for now.
We've just had a swarm of unexpected sales this weekend...and this week is going to be spent making more stock for a "ladies tea" this Saturday.
And we thought it would be a quiet month ;)
 

Strangeness and charm...

Well... anyone who attended the Wyetti Market had a ball of a time. As dismal as sales were, it was just such a beautiful day and we got rained out in the final hour.
Ha!

Tonight we'll be at the Henley Arms for their monthly night market (drunk people and money)

Some of our newer pieces will be on our table as well as our 50% off stock.
ONLY for those buying directly from our table, this 50% off will be available via this blog from tomorrow morning.

We'll also be running a celebratory 10% off from tomorrow morning till the end of March on our Etsy ...in happiness of my stepmother's birthday this month and pre-easter goodness.

Hope you'll take advantage ;)