World Tour Meerkat Giveaway News!

Wow! Alchemy brought such a lovely haul home with her from her tour that I am going show you the prizes over several blog posts, and remind you of the adventures along the way. Of course, Alchemy didn't start the tour until after poor Treasure went missing, so it's only fair to start with Treasure's part of the story. Sadly all her souvenirs got lost too, of course, but her hosts have kindly supplied some replacements, as you will see.



For a super-duper interactive version of Alchemy's map, made by the lovely Tracy of Tyarkoni CLICK HERE

Niftyknits Meerkat Treasure left Kent, UK back in November 2009 with a press send-off and video coverage! see VIDEO interview

Her first host was CuteDesigns, where she partied with the plushies and picked up a travelling companion, a cute amigurumi acorn. The prize package will include details of where to buy your own little amigurumi friend.



Now Treasure began her overseas adventure, and soon arrived in Israel where Arosha brought out the masculine side of this little meerkat, sunbathing on the beach and helping with metalsmithing. Arosha has replaced the lost brooch with a 10% discount voucher for either Arosha or Sleeks.



Treasure liked Israel, so stayed a while longer. Her next visit was with Inbaliya where she celebrated Shabat and had acupuncture to help her travel sickness (yes, really. The meerkat had acupuncture. Follow the link to see the photos) Inbal made a little sleeping bag for Treasure, but has replaced it for the giveaway with a 10% discount voucher.



Next Treasure went to visit SpringColors in Jerusalem for a Happy Hanukah! Treasure took away a fabulous beaded pendant which has been replaced in our giveaway by a $30 voucher for Springcolors.



After leaving Israel Treasure headed North to Estonia to visit 5erg.



After leaving Estonia, disaster struck! Treasure was on her way next to Turkey, to stay with Meltem who had plans for many adventures. Sadly, we had to declare a Meerkat Emergency, because Treasure didn't arrive.

The meerkats looked everywhere...



and after a while, decided that it was best for Alchemy to bravely take the place of Treasure. Alchemy set off for the USA, to MyMothersGarden, and we all expected Treasure to turn up in Turkey one day and continue with the tour. Sadly, poor Treasure is *still* lost, so please keep an eye out if you're over that way.

5erg has also sent replacement gifts: a felted lady and a pair of earrings.



Meltem very kindly sent a prize even though she'd been missed out of the tour: a beautiful sterling silver high heeled shoe necklace and *5* 10% discount cards.



As you can see, this did cause a little confusion. Alchemy's mum (pictured) thought the necklace was a homecoming gift from Alchemy to her! We've explained to her that the souvenirs you've seen so far are just a FEW of the prizes for our giveaway that Alchemy will take with her to her new home.

There are many more prizes to show you, and many more reminders of the adventure before we get to the giveaway itself...so I'll see you tomorrow, I hope!

More Meerkat World Tour news!

$2 earrings - really?

May I introduce my friend @5erg?

I suspect she's badly in need of some marketing advice as she has recently opened a new shop called 2 dollar earrings.

Can you guess what she sells?



Can you guess how much they are?



Can you spot the catch? NO, you can't, can you - because there isn't one.

I have already bought my first pair - indeed, they took me on a trip to London to meet @raisinlike

This pair!

I really like this pair too



- I already bought a matching bracelet from 5erg's other shop a while back, and these will go so beautifully.



Because 5erg is my friend, it maybe wouldn't be fair for me to say QUICK! Go take advantage of her outrageously cheap prices before she comes to her senses! 2 Dollar Earrings!

Let's meet ... 5erg!

I have a compulsion to pronounce names, I can't just read 5erg without trying to say it - so let's meet Surge (sorry!) of 5erg.etsy.com According to her profile she's Silja, but she'll always be Surge to me ;-) The shop's tagline is "If it makes you smile, it's worth it", which probably tells us how this interview is going to turn out...

Cats or dogs?

Black cats! And brooms, while I am at it.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

What? I thought it was the same thing :D

*philistine* spits nifty

Fruit or chocolate?
Chocolate with caramel. And whipped cream with chocolate. And pizza with meat and cheese. And then some oranges please.

Favourite colour?

I like color combinations. Lilac and black. Claret and moss. Purple and lime. Gray and yellow. Gray and any bright color.



Favourite meal?

Smashed potatoes with pickled cucumbers and sour cream.
Blood sausage with cowberry jam.
Mushroom pizza.
Pasta Bolognese.
As you see, I am totally useless when I have to choose only one thing.

City break or weekend in the country?

Weekend in the country. But in a very very modern house. And no wasp hives in the toilet. That would be the best.

Soaps or documentaries?

MP3 player with some great rock music.

Bath or shower?

Depends how rusty or how full of chlorine the water is. If it is very rusty, then definitely bath - you get a nice fake tan. And Chlorine water gives you great chemical factory scent, which can be put on with both bath and shower. So, it is all good.



What brought you to Etsy? Tell us about your shop. Do you sell anywhere else?

I have many different things is my shop. Needle felted mermaids for example and other felt items. Little oil paintings in ACEO format. I also list some bead jewelry. Currently I have some greeting cards and fridge magnets with my paintings printed on them too.
I like to look around in tiny handicraft shops and find different items, so I thought I might do a shop that felt a little like that. Maybe one day I will stick with one or two type of things only.

Of all the online selling venues, Etsy looked simplest. And it loaded faster. I don't have any other shops, only this one http://5erg.etsy.com.
I also keep a blog at www.5erg.com. I post photos of crafts, nature and people in Estonia and sometimes write about random topics.


What’s the favourite item you’ve made so far?

This mermaid: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22712979
She has attitude!


What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far?

White background listings are chosen for treasuries way less times than images with regular backgrounds.
At least it is this way with my stuff.
Also, freebies are kind of useless. Some people enjoy them, but as it appears really most of people just throw free gifts away. But I still sometimes pack something along with some orders, but not regularly.

If you could start again, is there anything you’d do differently?
Sometimes I have thought about making a new account with more regular name. Like just 'Mermaids" for example. Or "OilACEO". But I think 5erg is just fine too. I think it started like it had to, you have to do some mistakes to understand why and what you should do differently in the future.



How do you see your store developing?

At some point I though I will try to keep my listings number the same as my sales number. But I was busy with school for a while and couldn't keep up.
What I am doing always is trying to take better photos. I haven't built a light box yet, so I just try to wait for a sunny day or gather all my lamps in one place.
I don't see my shop being any different in the future, I think the size is OK now. I only have to work on details.

What have you been doing today that I’ve interrupted?

This is not the norm, but I was I was cleaning and re-organizing my room. In between I was reading about Argentina. And that is all :D

What’s your top marketing tip for today?

If you have come to conclusion about something and you keep doing the same thing you think is the best but have forgotten why you are doing it, then think it over.

Thanks Surge ;-) Don't miss a swim around the mermaids and more in 5erg.etsy.com
I'm off to www.5erg.com because I've realised I STILL don't know where Estonia is...