handmade feature and giveaway | byrdie graphics

June 2, 2010 separator etsy

I can personally attest to the sheer wonderful-ness of Byrdie Graphics, a lovely vinyl decal artiste. My ‘kitchen’ (hardly enough to call it its own room…) has been made new, fresh, and beautiful with pretty little Byrdie poppies. Sometime, when I’m feeling brave and organized enough to give you guys an apartment tour, I’ll show you the kitchen with the pretty little cupboard art. I also have a little birdie on one of my windowpanes and cute little chandelier on the wall. These sellers have some of the best customer service I’ve seen on Etsy or elsewhere. I asked for extra chain length for my chandelier, and they were ridiculously accomodating, and then my decals arrived literally three days later, complete with a test decal and detailed instructions!

Q. What’s the story behind Byrdie Graphics?
A. I always wanted to do something creative, and from my home.  I’ve tried a couple other “at home” jobs that didn’t pan out.  I even started an Etsy shop selling picture frames and onsies that didn’t end up bring in much money.  I learned how to make vinyl graphics years ago and thought, heck!  I can do this!!   I was so grateful to be able to be able to work on my own time with what creative ability I have and be at home with my babies.   As always, it is a risk buying equipment and spending that initial money, but it has been worth it!

Q. What is the best feedback you have ever received on Etsy?
A. Thankfully I get a lot of really great feedback.  I love to hear what people think of the product. This one is from one of my regular customers:

“My first stop for all my wall decal needs… I’ve gone through pages and pages of Etsy wall graphics but always find myself coming back here. Byrdiegraphics designs are elegant, classic, bold, and look like they were painted on. My friends are always touching what I’ve applied and can’t believe how much of a difference these wall graphics make. I could go on and on! Thank you so much for your help and great customer service.”


Q. You’ve had almost 3,000 sales in your Etsy shop alone! Where do you find the time to keep up with your booming business? 
A. Well, with 2 year old twins is it HARD to find time!  I do it all when they are happily playing (that doesn’t happen very often :), nap time, and when they have gone to bed.  It doesn’t leave much free time for me, but I find working pretty relaxing.  It is really great to have an outlet other than the cute little kids!

Q. If you could Byrdie-ize any famous building or celebrity home, which would it be, and how would you decorate it?
A. I would love to put bright colored blooms all over Donald Trump’s way-too-gold living room. 🙂

Q. What is the best advice you can give to somebody just starting out on Etsy?
A. Be patient!  It take awhile for people to find you and for sales to start coming in regularly.  The first couple of months I worried myself sick thinking that it wasn’t going to work.  A lot of times you have a product that requires some thought from your buyer.  Like size, how many, what color, etc.  They may fall in love with it today, but not purchase it for 3 months.  The other thing that I think is essential to do is re-post.  You end up giving Etsy a little more money at the end of the month, but you have to keep yourself at the top of the list.  There are so many great artist on Etsy so your stuff will get buried quickly.

Q. If you could only make your decals in one color, which would you choose?
A. Do I really have to choose!  If I were to do them in my own home, my first choices would probably be warm grey, olive, and burnt OJ.

Q. You’ve been featured on NBC! How exciting was that, and did it create a huge surge in business?
A. We’ve got a friend, Courtney Cachet, who is a regular on NBC.  She was kind enough to feature some of our items.  While it didn’t create much more business, it got our name out there.

Q. What is your favorite quote?
A. I’m not much of a quote person, but I do like fortunes from fortune cookies.  I have one taped to my computer that says, “Your business will assume vast proportions.”  Maybe if I read it enough times it will come true!!

a little more Byrdie:
______________________________

The Giveaway


One lucky winner gets a $35 gift certificate to Byrdie Graphics to decal to your heart’s content! This giveaway will end at midnight on Sunday, June 13.
  • To enter visit Byrdie Graphics, and select a favorite item and color. This step is mandatory, and please make sure to leave your e-mail address in your first comment.
Additional entries (Leave one comment for each entry.):

  • What would you make a decal of if you could create one from anything at all, as big or small as you wanted?
  • Become a follower of Shrimp Salad Circus (the blog) using one of the blog subscribe options on the middle sidebar or at the top right under the search bar.
This is up to three entries per person. Feel free to help me spread the word byTweeting, blogging, Facebooking or grabbing my button for your blog’s sidebar!

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164 comments

  3. I would like to have decals of the NY skyline, it’d look pretty cool in my living room!

  4. I like the Scroll Damask Light Switch Embellishment. What a neat idea! peanut[at]nyc.rr.com

  6. I love the Flowers/ Dots Pendant Swag with Birds item 30016 in brown and soft blue
    kimhigueria at gmail dot com

  9. I love the Personalized Name Pendant Swag w/ Birds. So cute! tylerpants(at)gmail.com

  12. I would choose the Large Branch Silhouette with Bird in black

    eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com

  13. I like the Modern Damask Tree- item 30032 – in black and turquoise.
    jswandrn at gmail

  17. I would love to see a decal that looked like an old fashion phone booth or a street sigh would be cool tooo. i am so glad i founf this sight!!!

  24. If I could make a decal I would definitely make lots of butterflies because they make me happy

  29. What a wonderful shop!! I would absolutely LOVE the Poppy Field item 30010 in Deep Red! Would look amazing in my newly redecorated craft room 🙂

    audreyscountrycrafts at gmail dot com

  32. I like the Big Floor to Ceiling Tree item 30026 in brown. stef4916 @ yahoo . com

  33. I have been eying your aspen trees for a while. I would probably pick the gray available or the black, eventhough I would rather have a darker shade of gray.

    boswife @ gmail . com

  34. I think I would make a decal of clouds and paper airplanes in flight. They have something similar at a place I worked at and I thought it was totally cute.

    Margaret
    [email protected]

  36. I would make some decals of baroque frames in different sizes to go on a big blank wall in my apartment.

  37. I love these decals. I’d pick the Large Branch Silhouette with birds in warm grey. That would be way cute in my new apt.

  38. I’m a blog follower using google friend connect!

    kelseylaster at gmail dot com

  39. If I could create a decal.. I would have some elaborate antique brass drawer handles copies, and then put them on my dresser.

    sugareaterATgmailDOTcom

  40. I love the Vintage Initial Monogram, and if only we didn’t have lumpy plaster walls in our apartment, I’d get two in deep red to go over my own and my boyfriend’s desks or maybe in soft blue to mark our sides of the bed.

    sugareaterATgmailDOTcom

  41. I follow Shrimp Salad Circus.

    🙂 Deb
    debyeo at hotmail dot com

  42. I would loooove to create a life-sized decal of a peacock for my bedroom.

    🙂 Deb
    debyeo at hotmail dot com

  43. I love the Scroll Damask- 18 graphics!

    debyeo at hotmail dot com

  46. I love the Birds on a Cherry Blossom Item 30001 in black!!

    kelseylaster at gmail dot com

  47. If I were going to make anything a wall decal it would be a plaid pattern. I think a small wall highlighted with a bold black and white plaid would be an amazing graphic statement!

    post #3

  48. These decals are so adorable! I love them all! My favorite is the tall aspen trees in warm grey. They make such a statement and would highlight my 12′ ceilings perfectly!

    post #2: I’m a follower!

  49. These decals are so adorable! I love them all! My favorite is the tall aspen trees in warm grey. They make such a statement and would highlight my 12′ ceilings perfectly!

  50. What would you make a decal of if you could create one from anything at all, as big or small as you wanted?

    I would make a decal of a bookshelf surrounded by my favorite literary quotes, for my office!

    amymbrennan {{@}} hotmail . com

  51. I subscribe through MyYahoo

    Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

    amymbrennan {{@}} hotmail . com

  53. I love these! I would choose the Birds on a Wire squares in Mocha. I have a two-story wall in my great room and these would look GREAT over the fireplace.

    amymbrennan @ hotmail . com

  54. Also, if I could create any decal I wanted, it’d be of a skyline that would sprawl across a wall – most likely in black.

    Thanks!

    breakchop [[ @ ]] gmail.com

  55. My favorite on the site is the Tall Aspen Trees. It’s a real statment piece, and it sets the mood in any room.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    breakchop [[ @ ]] gmail.com

  56. I heart hot pink
    Shabby Floral Flock Damask- 12 graphics – item 10006.

    koeyleeyee at hotmail dot com

  57. I would make an old fashioned sewing machine and have it on the wall near my desk. I think it would be cool to see and old one and a new one. ambrerose(!at)aol(dot)com

  58. What a cute store with so many choices. I would probably choose the Shooting Flower Laptop Graphic in a red. So pretty! ambrerose(!at)aol(dot)com

  60. And if I was to create my own decal, it would be guinea pigs – as I am a huge supporter of a guinea pig rescue in Australia.

    kyliept(at)gmail(dot)com

  63. this one is just amazing..-

    Leafy Branch w/ Birds item 30021

    nitzan.sc(at)gmail(dot)com

  66. I love the “
    Deer Light Switch Embellishment item 30025″!

    samyrocks92 at msn dot com

  69. I love the Bloom Variety – 7 Graphics – item 10024 in Yellow! So happy! shelbysanchez at gmail dotg com

  71. I love the Retro Bullseyes, I think they would be awesome in turquoise!

    claudecampeau at videotron dot ca

    Thanks for the chance to win!

  74. I like the best Flowering Branch with Bird item 30008 in brown and turquoise. thanks
    lubaska dot k at gmail dot com

  76. Enter me please! I love Apples Item – 24 graphics -10004 on brown and green!

    Ana Belén R.M
    fisiwoman(at)hotmail.com
    Spain

  78. I’d love to make decals of ticket-shaped frames (with the notched corners). I’d put those on the wall then use them as picture frames!

  79. My favorite is the Birds on a Wire Square decal in red! We don’t have a headboard so this would really spice up the wall above our bed 🙂

  81. I love Owls and cute birds…so maybe that’s what I would like to see more.

  82. Love her shop! Glad I found her here. The Big Tree Growth Chart item 30015 is my favorite. The brown and white color and maybe some blue are perfect for my son’s room.

  83. This one!! Large Branch Silhouette with Birds item 30011 in olive would be great!!!!!!

    sarahrl at hotmail dot com

  85. Love the Bloom 10 graphics in soft grey.

    nordstromemily(at)hotmail(dot)com

  86. If I could have a decal of anything it would be a large classic car – maybe a ’57 Buick Special to go in our bedroom – or maybe a Vespa for the office.

    sarahmarietownsend(at)gmail(dot)com

  87. Love the birds on wire – lime maybe? Navy? I just can’t decide which color I like best.

    sarahmarietownsend(at)gmail(dot)com

  91. If I could make a graphic out of anything, I would make one of a castle on a hill, because I’ve always wanted to live in or near a castle.

    Kristin.brown106 AT gmail DOT com

  92. I would pick the Large Antique Iron item 30003 in black or any of the metallic colors!

    Kristin.brown106 AT gmail DOT com

  93. if i could make a decal, it would be a silhouette of a flower garden, perfect for any rom in the house!

    fertawert AT yahoo DOT com

  94. i like the Shooting Flower Laptop Graphic item 40003 in navy color.

    fertawert AT yahoo DOT com

  96. If I could make a decal, it would be of a Corgi running. They’re so hysterical when they run.
    LauraL444(at)yahoo(dot)com

  97. I think I would have to choose the Custom Alphabet Blocks in black.
    Thank you!
    LauraL444(at)yahoo(dot)com

  98. If I could create a decal of anything I would get a silhouette of my family!
    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  99. I follow Shrimp Salad Circus!
    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  100. My favorite is the Vintage Initial Monogram- item 50001 in violet or deep red!
    Thank you for the giveaway 🙂
    hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

  103. I would love to have bamboo, or a dandelion with some of the seeds flying out. Thanks1

  104. I love the Tall Aspen Trees in silver metallic. Contact info on my blog. Thanks!

  105. If I could create my own decal design, it would feature my dog riding a bike!

  106. Tall Aspen Trees in Olive. Perfect for my stairwell which has, for years, been lacking that special something!

  108. If I could design my own I think I would like to do a profile of my son at various ages. I would choose grey or black and use it in the bathroom.
    kowandamcbride at yahoo dot com

  111. If I could make any decal, I would make a huge decal of many of my favorite quotes to put in the study!

    northssclub at yahoo dot com

  112. My favorite is the Dandelions Vinyl Wall Graphic, in Yellow!

    northssclub at yahoo dot com

  113. Being a dog lover, after seeing her poodles, I would love to have small terriers or such as a Scottie But I would love my own Pembroke Corgi decal.

    briarrosefarm[at]hotmail(dot)com

  115. Wow, what a beautiful design, that is the Leafy Branch with Birds. How wonderful to have the chance to own that!!

    briarrosefarm[at]hotmail(dot)com

  116. If I were to create a decal I think I would like board game pieces (dominoes, scrabble tiles even monopoly marker silhouettes) or billiard balls.

  117. I love the big tree growth chart! I also like all the poppies, particularly the white.

  119. i’d make a decal of an ice cream cart found in the streets of manila.

    writetoroa(at)gmail(dot)com

  122. Hello, I love them all…I’m addicted to her creations. My fav at the moment is Big Tree Growth Chart item 30015 that would suit my baby’s room that we are redecorating….I keep my fingers crossed. Thank you for the great chance
    [email protected]

  124. It may be unoriginal, but I love the very first item: the Wild Flower Bunch item 30007 in turquoise, hot pink, and burnt orange

    mail(at)jennystamos(dot)com

  125. Just came back from Florida, so I’d love to make a wall decal of a palm tree with a little lizard somehow involved.

  127. Love the Modern Tree with the STORM GREY for the trunk, BROWN/OLIVE for the leaves. omydarlingblog(at)gmail(dot)com

  129. If I could make any decal of any size, I would dedicate one to my favourite hockey team!

  133. If I could make a decal of anything, I’d probably go for a life-sized line art of the TARDIS from Doctor Who.
    Fanatic? …maybe…

  134. I’d have to go with the Birds on a Wire in Turquoise as my favorite. Everything in this shop is really wonderful though, which makes choosing a favorite hard 🙂

  137. I like the Giraffe Growth Chart in bubblegum jk{dot}gorcery{at}gmail{dot}com

  138. If we could turn something into a decal we’d love to see what our Einstein design would look like as a laptop skin 😉

  139. What a great shop, we really enjoyed reading the interview, great info and tips. Our favorite is the vintage initial monogram (item 50001) in black.

    [email protected]

  144. Dinosaurs. I would like giant wall decal dinos that stretched way up on the ceiling! Hell, I would dig it more if they were plush… Ooh, I need to go make things!

  146. I’m diggin the giraffe growth chart. I think teal would match both of my kids’ rooms!
    messy_mcspud (@) hotmail (.) com

  148. what would i design? i really like funky Op Art stuff. there’s one on sale in her store called Modern Circle, i think something optic and eye-tricking would be cool to have on the wall, like that! different Op Art stripes, possibly.
    hey, how about POP art? any cheesy, funky pop art characters? maybe a Warhol Banana (if it isn’t copyrighted, sigh). fun times!
    @FlamingBlingy
    phranne[at]yahoo.com

  150. i think i’d love the Bloom Variety item 10024, in yellow (like the pic)!
    @FlamingBlingy
    phranne[at]yahoo.com

  151. If I could make any decal I wanted it would be a detailed palm tree. My bedroom is tropical theme- so this would be a perfect addition!

  153. i really like the houndstooth pattern as well, so to answer the create anything at all question, i would say some kind of pattern – waves, basic geometric shapes in a continuous pattern or lines in different widths.

  154. my favorite is the bloom graphic in white. it’s gorgeous! i absolutely love all of these graphics.

    malialittlefield at gmail dot com

  156. If I could create my own decal, I’d make a huge (HUGE) tree. Probably an oak. With very detailed branches. I’d put it behind my bed so the trunk would be visible through my bedframe and the branches would be splayed on the wall over me and I’d feel like I was sleeping under a tree every night.

  157. I love the half tree with birds–so cute! And my favorite color is probably “lipstick,” it would brighten up my pale yellow bedroom.

    vivalaevolution at gmail dot com

  158. I love wall decals, though I have never used them! I’m not sure how well they’d work on my textured walls…

  162. I would love to make a decal of a flock of birds. I know she has one available, but it’s not my favorite because all the silhouettes are identical. =)

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