I have had an active Etsy shop coming up on one year...well the word "active" is only descriptive of the shop being open for business...not the amount of business. Admittedly, I have not been an "active" shopkeeper. There are lots of excuses I can come up with to justify my inactivity, but I will not go on to list them. Shortly after opening my shop I joined one of the jewelry Street Teams on Etsy to help promote my shop. I volunteered to help the team with projects that just never materialized. My interest in participation dwindled based on the low level of activity and team spirit.
Then about a month ago our forum "Starving Jewelry Artists" decided to form an Etsy Street Team made up of forum members with Etsy shops... Starving Artists Team on Etsy "SATeam" ...the response was so phenomenal, it seemed to have slowed down the forum servers with the amount of activity in posts and new forum members. After about two weeks of accepting members to the Street Team the enrollment had to be cut off to keep the membership level in a manageable range while the team mission statements and participation guidelines were drafted and adopted by the administration team. Plans are to open application for membership sometime in March for a limited time...and to do so on a quarterly basis. It has truly been a whirlwind of activity and participation, as well as an attraction & incentive for membership in the Starving Jewelry Artists forum.
I have been involved with the Starving Jewelry Artists forum from its inception and now with the Street Team. There has been more activity from this team, that is just over one month old, than in the whole nine months I have been involved with the other Etsy Street Team...this bunch is motivated and the Team Leaders: Laurel (lavalleygirly) & Cathy (jeweledblossoms) are topnotch motivators.
Since the creation of this street team, I have seen an increase in sales activity, even though I am not particularly more active. I attribute this to the exposure we as a team have been garnering with our many outstanding treasuries...I believe we've had two front page treasuries on two consecutive weekends! This team is a treasury snagging machine...and they are all HOT!
The SATeam maintains a blog that promotes SATeam members, their blogs, team treasuries, profiles team members & their shops and offers information about products, techniques and all things jewelry related. Stop by and have a look...and if you see any active treasuries, give them a click and a comment.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
November Design Challenge "Bollywood"
The Starving (Jewelry) Artists Connection tsjaconnection.com....is a WebJam dedicated to a community of artisans, designers, crafters, hobbyists, collectors and enthusiasts of all things created by hand!
Our November design challenge is underway. The theme is Bollywood...a reference to the film industry of India. As a design theme, I see the wonderful design inspirations of India...the beautiful fabrics, prints, gems, fine gold filigree, archtectural details, most of which are very intricate, ornate and complex...I see vibrant color combinations, marvelous textured metals and sparkling luminous gemstones...What does this theme bring to your imagination?
Come to TSJA Connection and join in the fun. Anyone may vote and leave comments; you will however need to register if you want to enter a challenge so that you will be able to upload photos.
At the end of the month a poll will be posted for you to choose your favorite design. The favorite design & designer for each challenge will be featured both on the TSJA Connection and at Starving Jewelry Artists Forum home pages.
We hope you will decide to participate and share your creativity.
Happy designing...are you up to the challenge?
Our November design challenge is underway. The theme is Bollywood...a reference to the film industry of India. As a design theme, I see the wonderful design inspirations of India...the beautiful fabrics, prints, gems, fine gold filigree, archtectural details, most of which are very intricate, ornate and complex...I see vibrant color combinations, marvelous textured metals and sparkling luminous gemstones...What does this theme bring to your imagination?
Come to TSJA Connection and join in the fun. Anyone may vote and leave comments; you will however need to register if you want to enter a challenge so that you will be able to upload photos.
At the end of the month a poll will be posted for you to choose your favorite design. The favorite design & designer for each challenge will be featured both on the TSJA Connection and at Starving Jewelry Artists Forum home pages.
We hope you will decide to participate and share your creativity.
Happy designing...are you up to the challenge?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Plagiarism...NOT!
I'm not usually given to public rants...but a recurring topic seems to be rearing it's ugly head within the jewelry making communities...some folks choose to call it "Plagiarism".
Initially, I would like to suggest that if anyone is afraid of someone being inspired by your jewelry designs and possibly replicating or using an element in a design of their own...don't post your work on public forum boards. Most forums are about sharing what you know, inspiring others to learn what you have to offer and encouraging others to try new techniques.
There have been several posts recently on boards that I frequent, stating that if someone shows a design or design element that has been published in a "tutorial for sale", and the person did not buy the tutorial, but has figured out how to do it or possibly used another source of instruction/information to find out how to do it...that they are copying or plagiarizing the designer with the "for sale" tutorial. NOT...and then said designers will badger people to provide credit to them for the inspiration...well, if the "design" is the same I agree that it would be common courtesy to mention where your inspiration has come from...if the design is based on using an element of the original design I would say...the element has more than likely been used ad nauseam over centuries of time and... the only credit due is to the ancient civilization that created it.
Let me say, the techniques used in these tutorials are nothing new under the sun... they are not patentable and if someone is able to figure out how to work the technique without purchasing a tutorial...more power too them...and besides for some it is a matter of economics...not many can afford $5 - $20 for each tutorial that uses a different swirl, twist, connection, knot, wrap, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!!! Luckily, there are many who write tutorials of designs that originated from somewhere else and then will freely share this knowledge for others to learn as they did, without thoughts of copying or competition. Still there are others who will do the same only to "market" this knowledge and profit financially from someone else's creativity.
I, for one, have never purchased a tutorial for any jewelry design...I have used some free tutorials that show how to do basic techniques and will continue to do so as I progress through my quest to learn new techniques in jewelry making. I will purchase books that illustrate how to work in different wire, sheet, metal clay and other jewelry making techniques, I will search the Internet for details on techniques of interest, but I will NEVER purchase a tutorial for a specific design that employs techniques that are part of the public domain...if I can't figure out how to do it with the resources of my choice then c'est la vie and too bad for me.
So those of you who market your tutorials and expect credit for every swirl and knot that is similar to something you think you "invented"....lighten up!
Initially, I would like to suggest that if anyone is afraid of someone being inspired by your jewelry designs and possibly replicating or using an element in a design of their own...don't post your work on public forum boards. Most forums are about sharing what you know, inspiring others to learn what you have to offer and encouraging others to try new techniques.
There have been several posts recently on boards that I frequent, stating that if someone shows a design or design element that has been published in a "tutorial for sale", and the person did not buy the tutorial, but has figured out how to do it or possibly used another source of instruction/information to find out how to do it...that they are copying or plagiarizing the designer with the "for sale" tutorial. NOT...and then said designers will badger people to provide credit to them for the inspiration...well, if the "design" is the same I agree that it would be common courtesy to mention where your inspiration has come from...if the design is based on using an element of the original design I would say...the element has more than likely been used ad nauseam over centuries of time and... the only credit due is to the ancient civilization that created it.
Let me say, the techniques used in these tutorials are nothing new under the sun... they are not patentable and if someone is able to figure out how to work the technique without purchasing a tutorial...more power too them...and besides for some it is a matter of economics...not many can afford $5 - $20 for each tutorial that uses a different swirl, twist, connection, knot, wrap, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera!!! Luckily, there are many who write tutorials of designs that originated from somewhere else and then will freely share this knowledge for others to learn as they did, without thoughts of copying or competition. Still there are others who will do the same only to "market" this knowledge and profit financially from someone else's creativity.
I, for one, have never purchased a tutorial for any jewelry design...I have used some free tutorials that show how to do basic techniques and will continue to do so as I progress through my quest to learn new techniques in jewelry making. I will purchase books that illustrate how to work in different wire, sheet, metal clay and other jewelry making techniques, I will search the Internet for details on techniques of interest, but I will NEVER purchase a tutorial for a specific design that employs techniques that are part of the public domain...if I can't figure out how to do it with the resources of my choice then c'est la vie and too bad for me.
So those of you who market your tutorials and expect credit for every swirl and knot that is similar to something you think you "invented"....lighten up!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Design Challenges...
The Starving (Jewelry) Artists Connection....tsjaconnection.com....is a newly created WebJam dedicated to a community of artisans, designers, crafters, hobbyists, collectors and enthusiasts of all things created by hand!
Aside from providing a platform for all members of this community to promote and exhibit their creative endeavors, we offer a connection to one of the most active, informative and friendly Jewelry Making forums online.... www.starvingjewelryartists.com or www.tsjaforums.com
Design Challenges
One of the regular features planned for TSJA Connection will be Design Challenges. We will start with a Jewelry Design challenge every other month. Each challenge will be based on a theme. Most challenges will be open to all techniques, however we may opt to include a few that are focused on specific methods from time to time.
There will be a poll for each challenge for you to choose your favorite design. The favorite design & designer for each challenge will be featured both on the TSJA Connection and at Starving Jewelry Artists Forum home pages.
Anyone may vote and leave comments; you will however need to register if you want to enter a challenge so that you will be able to upload photos.
We hope you will decide to participate and share your creativity.
The design challenge theme for the month of September is "Harvest Moon"...are you up to the challenge?
Aside from providing a platform for all members of this community to promote and exhibit their creative endeavors, we offer a connection to one of the most active, informative and friendly Jewelry Making forums online.... www.starvingjewelryartists.com or www.tsjaforums.com
Design Challenges
One of the regular features planned for TSJA Connection will be Design Challenges. We will start with a Jewelry Design challenge every other month. Each challenge will be based on a theme. Most challenges will be open to all techniques, however we may opt to include a few that are focused on specific methods from time to time.
There will be a poll for each challenge for you to choose your favorite design. The favorite design & designer for each challenge will be featured both on the TSJA Connection and at Starving Jewelry Artists Forum home pages.
Anyone may vote and leave comments; you will however need to register if you want to enter a challenge so that you will be able to upload photos.
We hope you will decide to participate and share your creativity.
The design challenge theme for the month of September is "Harvest Moon"...are you up to the challenge?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Taking A Step Back...
In February of this year I put up my first items for sale (online) in my dormant Etsy shop. I had opened the Etsy selling account in October of last year and was just unable to move forward with the listings...it has been revealed to me that this is not at all uncommon. I would equate it to a case of pre-nuptual jitters, cold feet, the moment of truth...faced with the possibility of failure I was immobilized.
After just a week or so, a forum buddy of mine saw one of the items I had listed in the Etsy shop when I shared a photo of it on the forum and rushed off to purchase it, I had my first online sale. In the next couple of weeks that followed, the same forum friend purchased two other items from me, one that was listed and one a custom order...I haven't sold a thing online since.
Yes, Etsy is oversaturated with jewelry sellers...many of whom are not designers or artisans, but hobby crafters with no concept of pricing for a profit...many of whom are incredibly talented designers and artisans that are very successful in developing a market and creating sales... and lots of others like myself that just cannot get arrested. I know that my jewelry is appealing, I get lots of hits and lots of hearts, I don't think that I am overpriced, but maybe that is an issue. Primarily, I have chose to list OOAK items many of which are somewhat labor intensive and only using sterling silver and/or copper, although recently I have listed a couple of items that also used 14K gold_filled...so maybe I need to take a step back and have a closer look at the big picture and break it down into little snippets.
I am planning a promotion offering 20% off everything in the shop as a "Virgo" Zodiac Sale...my birth sign is Virgo, Aug. 23 - Sept.22...so it will be a month long promotion. I plan to post on all of the social networks, forums, and blogs I belong to as well as send out emails to my contacts...oh, here I must confess that I have never formally sent any of my contacts a link to my Etsy shop...bad me!
I have also committed myself to making more less labor intensive jewelry, which will not only enable be to offer items at lower price points, but I will also be able to make more item in less time and build an inventory so that I can also include home parties or shows in my marketing plans.
Alas, although I have committed to making simpler, more saleable items, I think I am still caught up in the "creation" of art jewelry...my satisfaction as jewelry artist is totally ensconced in creating...I am not a production jeweler and still find that what I make is not simple enough to translate into lower price points...what's a girl to do?
Well, I will continue to step back and hope to see the forest through the trees, I will continue to make jewelry that satisfies my creative spirit, I will continue to list my creations on Etsy and develop other non-virtual venues, and I will remain committed to finding ways to create more saleable less labor intensive pieces that will translate into $ales!
After just a week or so, a forum buddy of mine saw one of the items I had listed in the Etsy shop when I shared a photo of it on the forum and rushed off to purchase it, I had my first online sale. In the next couple of weeks that followed, the same forum friend purchased two other items from me, one that was listed and one a custom order...I haven't sold a thing online since.
Yes, Etsy is oversaturated with jewelry sellers...many of whom are not designers or artisans, but hobby crafters with no concept of pricing for a profit...many of whom are incredibly talented designers and artisans that are very successful in developing a market and creating sales... and lots of others like myself that just cannot get arrested. I know that my jewelry is appealing, I get lots of hits and lots of hearts, I don't think that I am overpriced, but maybe that is an issue. Primarily, I have chose to list OOAK items many of which are somewhat labor intensive and only using sterling silver and/or copper, although recently I have listed a couple of items that also used 14K gold_filled...so maybe I need to take a step back and have a closer look at the big picture and break it down into little snippets.
I am planning a promotion offering 20% off everything in the shop as a "Virgo" Zodiac Sale...my birth sign is Virgo, Aug. 23 - Sept.22...so it will be a month long promotion. I plan to post on all of the social networks, forums, and blogs I belong to as well as send out emails to my contacts...oh, here I must confess that I have never formally sent any of my contacts a link to my Etsy shop...bad me!
I have also committed myself to making more less labor intensive jewelry, which will not only enable be to offer items at lower price points, but I will also be able to make more item in less time and build an inventory so that I can also include home parties or shows in my marketing plans.
Alas, although I have committed to making simpler, more saleable items, I think I am still caught up in the "creation" of art jewelry...my satisfaction as jewelry artist is totally ensconced in creating...I am not a production jeweler and still find that what I make is not simple enough to translate into lower price points...what's a girl to do?
Well, I will continue to step back and hope to see the forest through the trees, I will continue to make jewelry that satisfies my creative spirit, I will continue to list my creations on Etsy and develop other non-virtual venues, and I will remain committed to finding ways to create more saleable less labor intensive pieces that will translate into $ales!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The Piano Man Tears Down Shea....
Yesterday, after listening to a week's worth of buzz on Billy Joel's "Last Play at Shea" concert to be played last evening, I was lucky enough to get tickets for my husband and I to take part in a little bit of music and Shea Stadium history. This is the last concert ever to be performed at Shea before it is demolished at the end of the baseball season, to be replaced by a new stadium being completed next door.
When I decided I was going to attempt to get seats, I called my husband to ask if he would like to go. He said "Sure, but don't go crazy trying to get tickets"...Well, I found lots of tickets available, but at what price? There were tickets available up to $9,000!!!! I'll just say that I paid somewhere between 2 - 6 times the $98 list price for two seats in the Mezzanine section. Later, when my husband asked how much the tickets were, I just looked at him and he said "Oh, I guess I really don't want to know, do I"? ... what a honey!
The air hanging over Shea last night was hot, humid & heavy, but that didn't stifle the electrifying energy in the audience and ON THE STAGE...The Piano Man is a tireless, self-deprecating, crowd-pleasing performer...the ultimate in entertainers! He performed for 3+ hours without an intermission, which was definitely an exhausting task under normal conditions, but in the sweltering heat of this July evening it was incredible.
The historic concert was illuminated by special guests: Tony Bennett joined Billy on "New York State of Mind", Garth Brooks performed Billy's "Shameless", Aerosmith's front man Steven Tyler offered "Walk This Way", Roger Daltrey of The Who did "My Generation" at the end of which Billy smashed a guitar into pieces. The most poignant piece on the setlist was "Goodnight Saigon which featured a Military Chorus and other Uniformed Services singing the chorus "And we would all go down together
We said wed all go down together Yes we would all go down together". As if these performances weren't enough, during his second encore, Billy announced none other than "Sir Paul McCartney" which nearly brought the house down sooner than intended. Actually my husband and I were just leaving our seats to head for the exit at that moment...I would have been very unhappy if we missed this Royal Knight.
Billy, with unbelieveable stamina, continued to give the sold out crowd the performance & show of a lifetime and closed with Sir Paul on piano for "Let It Be"....The best concert I have ever been to, and undoubtedly will ever be to, had come to an end.
I feel so very lucky to have been able to attend this remarkable show, to have been one of the 55,000 that attended not only the last concert at Shea Stadium but also to have attended the very first in August of 1965...The Beatles started it and one of the Beatles was there to end it! How cool is that!
When I decided I was going to attempt to get seats, I called my husband to ask if he would like to go. He said "Sure, but don't go crazy trying to get tickets"...Well, I found lots of tickets available, but at what price? There were tickets available up to $9,000!!!! I'll just say that I paid somewhere between 2 - 6 times the $98 list price for two seats in the Mezzanine section. Later, when my husband asked how much the tickets were, I just looked at him and he said "Oh, I guess I really don't want to know, do I"? ... what a honey!
The air hanging over Shea last night was hot, humid & heavy, but that didn't stifle the electrifying energy in the audience and ON THE STAGE...The Piano Man is a tireless, self-deprecating, crowd-pleasing performer...the ultimate in entertainers! He performed for 3+ hours without an intermission, which was definitely an exhausting task under normal conditions, but in the sweltering heat of this July evening it was incredible.
The historic concert was illuminated by special guests: Tony Bennett joined Billy on "New York State of Mind", Garth Brooks performed Billy's "Shameless", Aerosmith's front man Steven Tyler offered "Walk This Way", Roger Daltrey of The Who did "My Generation" at the end of which Billy smashed a guitar into pieces. The most poignant piece on the setlist was "Goodnight Saigon which featured a Military Chorus and other Uniformed Services singing the chorus "And we would all go down together
We said wed all go down together Yes we would all go down together". As if these performances weren't enough, during his second encore, Billy announced none other than "Sir Paul McCartney" which nearly brought the house down sooner than intended. Actually my husband and I were just leaving our seats to head for the exit at that moment...I would have been very unhappy if we missed this Royal Knight.
Billy, with unbelieveable stamina, continued to give the sold out crowd the performance & show of a lifetime and closed with Sir Paul on piano for "Let It Be"....The best concert I have ever been to, and undoubtedly will ever be to, had come to an end.
I feel so very lucky to have been able to attend this remarkable show, to have been one of the 55,000 that attended not only the last concert at Shea Stadium but also to have attended the very first in August of 1965...The Beatles started it and one of the Beatles was there to end it! How cool is that!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Buried Treasury
I have an Etsy mini featured on Timothy Adam's Buried Treasury Blog. The Etsy shop with the most comments at the end of a week is named "Dig of the Week"...please post a comment on my Etsy Mini. If I no longer show up on the front page you can "dig me up" using the tags: art jewelry, handcrafted, or you'll find me under the catagory Art Metal Jewelry.
Tim is the creator of the "Handbook to Handmade" and is a champion at marketing Etsy shops...here is the link to Buried Treasury
Thanks for the support!
Tim is the creator of the "Handbook to Handmade" and is a champion at marketing Etsy shops...here is the link to Buried Treasury
Thanks for the support!
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