Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It........First Party Of The New Year!

Out With The Old, In With the New

Almost. It's a New Year....and the button above reminds me that it is way past time to update that graphic. Alas, time is all I need to accomplish that task. However, none of that changes the fact that it's PARTY TIME! I know, this news just wiped away all the worry your were having over when I would be able to squeeze in a new button design. Thank goodness.

If you're new to Mercantile Muse and the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Party here's the digitty dig details.

You probably already know about etsy (where we have a shop) and the handmade  movement, resurgence of everything vintage and the explosion of blogs by little peeps like me. Behind that movement are a gazillion creators, pickers, photographers and bloggers who run their own shops and blogs, competing against all the big guys who have gigantic marketing budgets. These little people don't and it's important to me, for a variety of reasons, to give these hardworking people a leg up on the big competition anyway I can.

That brings us to the link party.

The Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It link party is a place for these shop owners and bloggers to share links and introduce new people (like you) to their wares and their blogs.

It's not just for them though. It's for you. It's an all-in-one free for all where you'll find a great variety of products and blogs, just waiting to be discovered by you.

Plus, it's a party. What more can I say?

Shall we?

 

1. black shrug by MIRIMIRIFASHION  2. ‘masquerade mask by monkey thumbs

3. new year banner by mulberry creek  4. treble clef stencil by Cosmic Emotions
5. champagne glasses by amys vintage decorium  6. customized champagne bucket by Susabellas
7. white chocolate and raspberry fudge by SadiSweetShop  8. friendship sister painting by Sascalia

Remember, even if you don't own an etsy shop or online business and you don't blog, you are still invited to this party. It's a fun place to window shop and see what you might have been missing until now.

******If you're linking up your shop or blog, please read these guidelines before linking up.******

*If you like Mercantile Muse enough to link up, please follow too. There are plenty of ways in the sidebar.You'll also find me on Hellocotton.

*Don't link and run. Be kind and follow links others have left behind.

*Link once for your shop, once for you blog to save space for others.

*You'll also find Bates Mercantile Co. here: facebook, pinterest, twitter, tumblr. It's be great to connect with you as many ways as I can.

*I've said it before, but I can not stress enough that I can't make these parties and success without your help. Can you share a link to the party? Blog, tweet, facebook, pin, share on any etsy teams? If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse button page) and feature it on your blog, that would be wicked awesome. Everyone is welcome here, so be sure to tell your friends.

*When you take part in the link up, you'll go on the Mercantile Muse mail list. {Correspondence will come from the address pbates at speakeasyinfo dot net.} I'll let you know when the next link up party is underway so you join in again, and about other happenings at the Muse.

*BY ALL MEANS, let us get to know you better. Leave a comment that tells a little more about you, your shop or blog. Need help to get started? 'What did you do to ring in the New Year'

Time to get down! (If you're reading by email, click here to go to the party). 

Have a great day. The wind is wild here. Balmy though, so this is good.

Ciao for now,

A Merry FREE Printable & Link Up Party

Do Like The Sign Says

Eat, drink and be merry. I love that saying no matter the time of year, but especially at the holidays.

I think it speaks to me because it reminds me of some of my favorite times with family and friends; of gatherings I hold dear to my heart. 

I hope it speaks to you in the same way. 

I created this free printable in Illustrator and would like to give a nod to the graphics fairy, who was nice enough to share the pine and pine cone clipart for free. If you haven't stopped by her blog, you really should. 

If you'd like to download this FREE printable wall art, click right and save the jpeg image below to your computer, OR download the pdf here. 

You Are Cordially Invited

It's party time again!  Grab one of the Irish coffees from the buffet, and be sure to top it off with some real whipped cream.  Then settle in, get to know the other party goers, and if you have an online shop or blog, be sure to share their links. If you don't, browse around. You won't believe the wonderful things you'll find in the shop link up and the great reading you'll find on the blogs.

Now, go and enjoy yourselves.

It's pretty easy. PLEASE READ THIS before linking:

*After you've linked up, take a look around Mercantile Muse. We'd love you to follow if you're so inclined. 

*Post one link. Two if you link one under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers).

*Be kind and check out other's links that catch your eye. You never know what may come back to you for supporting small shop owners and bloggers.

*Share a link to the party. If we all share, the party will get more traffic which benefits us all-- blog, tweet, facebook, etc. If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse's button page)  and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome. 

*Leave a comment and check back Friday when I feature some things I've found through the link up. It could be you!

First up, the shops.

And last, but not least, the blogs.

Make it a great one in your corner of the world, and I'll do the same from my little corner office and studio.

Adios amigos, 

Art Prints Are HERE and Gotta Have It Shop/Blog Link Up

Business Before Pleasure: Ready To Print and Roll

I am happy to say, that after much rolling around under my desk, moving computer, rearranging wires, reconnecting wires, setting up the new printer, ink and drivers, we are in business.  Our first art print rolled off the production line yesterday. It was printed on our new Epson R3000 with archival Epson Ultra Chrome K3 pigment inks with vivid magenta, on beautiful Aurora acid free art paper and it looked fabulous.  Can I get a whoop whoop? Perhaps a Hallelujiah? It's been a long-time a-comin'.

I'll be signing all of my original illustrations on the back, so you know that you've received something directly from the aritist.  I am now busy trying to update the listings in Bates Mercantile Co., our online etsy store, to reflect that we now carry prints, in addition to our printables. 

One thing about the whole set-up process. If we can put a man on the moon, why or why must we have this knarly mess of wires attached to computers?  Just wondering.

Onto the party.........did someone bring the salt for the margaritas?

Gotta Have It Shop and Blog Link Up Parties

I'm a pay it forward kind of gal (if you missed yesterday's Favorite Finds post, don't miss the shops I included this time around). I like supporting small business owners like myself. We need all the help we can get. So, in that vain, here are our Gotta Have It Shop and Blog Link Up Parties.  They're a place for fellow online shop owners and bloggers to promote their shops and blogs for FREE. So join in and link up!

It's pretty easy. Really. Here's all I ask:

*Consider following Mercantile Muse if you like our blog. On the righthand sidebar, there are several ways to follow.

*Post one link. Two if you link one under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers)-- be sure to scroll down further for the Gotta Blog It link up.

*Please check out other participants that catch your eye. You never know what may come back to you for taking a moment to support fellow participants.

*Share a link to Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It if you can. The more traffic the link ups get, the more it benefits us all. Much appreciated if you blog, tweet, facebook about the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It.

*Leave a comment...(how's the party is working for you, how you found it, and did you get traffic from the last party).  

*If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button for this free promotion link up party from Mercantile Muse's button page and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome. 

Time to party! Oh man, someone spilled their drink already..............

Now for the blogs......Gotta Have It Blog Link Up. Post 'em here!

Have a great Wednesday. The sun is shining here. Will do my best to get out and about with the hound at the end of the day. 

Be sure to stop back tomorrow, as I'll be announcing our next giveaway.

ttfn,

You're Invited to a party!

RSVP: Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Free Promotion Party 

Hi Guys, it's time for our 2nd link party, after a very successful first. This party is now scheduled to take place every other Wednesday.  Good news.........Mercantile Muse's free promotion link up party will now not only be a place to link up your online shop, but also a place to link your blog.  Please be sure you're linking your shop/product under Gotta Have It and your blog under Gotta Blog It! As links are added, you may have to scroll a little further down to reach Gotta Blog It. 

In case some of you don't know, I've run my own adv/pr/marketing firm (Speakeasy) for 17+ years in the 3D world.  Combine that with a personal mission to pay it forward, my love of all things artistic, crafty or vintage and this is what you get: a place for etsy shop owners, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers and bloggers to promote what they do. It's a natural extension of my 3D and online business, Bates Mercantile Co. So take advantage of it and add your link.  Today on the Muse, it's about you!

Here's all I ask:

*Keep it to one link under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers).

*Please take a moment to click on links of other participants that catch your eye and see what they've got. You never know what you might find, perhaps something you've just GOTTA HAVE.  You also never know what may come back to you for taking a moment to support fellow participants.

*If you can share a link to this promotion party, the more traffic the link ups get, the more it benefits us all! So it is greatly appreciated if you blog, tweet, facebook about the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It free promotion link up party.

*Leave a comment and let me know if this is working for you (or how it could work better) and how you found the party.  Did you get traffic from the last party?

*If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button for this free promotion link up party from Mercantile Muse's button page and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome.  Thanks to those who already have!

*Consider following the Muse if you like this free promotion opportunity. Check out the right hand sidebar for ways to follow!

*While you're here, check out and enter our current giveaway. Click on picture in upper right hand corner. It's just for fun!

Did someone bring the champagne, because it's time to party!

If you liked this free promotion party, don't miss Stacey's link party at A Sort Of Fairytale tomorrow! And if you missed her tutorial here on Mercantile Muse yesterday, be sure to check it out.

Thanks for coming to Mercantile Muse's Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It party! Come again.