More Amazing Art!

Check out this fine art photo from Jsun in Ann Arbor, Mi (one of my favorite cities in the world by the way!). His prints are available at http://jsun.etsy.com/.



Check out these great pendants and rings from AlloverArt! I can't decide which one I like best. Not only are these very well-made but they also come in a nifty little gift box too!









http://alloverart.etsy.com/




I came across Amelia Kay Photography in the Etsy

forums and had to feature her work. She is a mother of 2, from Denver, CO. Check out her beautiful prints at http://ameliakayphotography.etsy.com/ and her blog at ttp://www.ameliakayphotography.wordpress.com/!




















I love these organic crocheted face scrubbies from Laksaware! Her work was featured in the NY Times recently-Wow!! Check out her shop at http://laksaware.etsy.com/.

















Joannas Photography has beautiful fine art photographs. "Becoming" is by far my favorite and soon to be in a treasury if I can snag one! Check out her shop at http://joannasphotography.etsy.com/. She has a blog too: http://www.joannaphotography.wordpress.com/.

Check out this amazing pottery from Alma Pottery!! The

best part is she is from Royal Oak--practically my neighborhood. She is wickedly talented and offers a wide variety of pottery in her shop with a variety of price points as well. Awesome pottery I can afford? A definite DO! http://almapottery.etsy.com/

I love this ring from Silverknuten! It is wire wrapped and really unusual. Check out her shop at http://silverknuten.etsy.com/. She's also having a sale too at 20% off!

I am so excited to be a part of this! If you are near the Ferndale area, be sure to stop by. There will be some wicked cool artists there!

Spring Fling …A Craft Thing

Saturday, April 4, 12-7 p.m.

The Loving Touch, Ferndale, MI

20 VendorsMusic provided by DJsDaniel

Ryan Allen (Friendly Foes/TAN!)

JRC (EatThisCity.com)

Vendors include:
Bettula

Brash Design

Chain Chain Chained

City Bird

Comfortably Lovely

Jennifer Joy Creative

Kenny Corbin Photography

Kill Taupe

La Femme Monkita

Lilacpop

Michele Maule

Norma

Sean Hages

The Silent Giants

Space Age Love

Sparklepants Industries

Talking Squid

White Owland

And more…

So Many Great Artists, So Little Time

I have been coming across so many great artists and crafters and plan on featuring them all soon. But for now I just had to share this jewelry artist's work! Her shop is VernonBea Studio and she makes whimsical, one of a kind pieces. I want this owl necklace REALLY BAD! It's so unique!

From her bio:

"I've always dreamed of peaceful days filled with passion of doing what I was born to do...create. After graduating from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, I began working to "create" around the vision of others. Eight years later and inspired daily by so much around me, I realized my true desire was to create things that would bring joy to others, but were inspired by that which inspired me. My appreciation for unique and handcrafted jewelry and my desire for new challenges lead me to spend time with family in Arizona and Colorado while training in metalsmithing and dabbling with enamels. Drawn back to the beauty of Michigan, I’m now designing and blissfully creating jewelry in my own wonderful studio.

I love creating whimsical things that tell a little story, and organic shapes that take on a rustic feel. I seek out candy-like gems, vintage baubles and chunky turquoise. Surrounded by so much of what I love and with my cat Winston at my feet, I’m inspired by everything, everywhere! And I pour all of my inspiration into each little piece I create. It's peaceful and I'm enjoying every minute of it, just like I imagined."

Felt At Home

Thanks Phillipa for featuring me on your blog!!

http://feltathome.blogspot.com/

And be sure to check out the Felt At Home shop on etsy for amazing felted items!

We just saw Coraline last night and this doll reminds me of that movie:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20016566

Phillipa was also featured on the Storque on Etsy (Wow! by the way):

http://www.etsy.com/storque/handmade-life/boxing-day-hidden-origins-new-traditions-922/

Check out the Cinnamon & Honey Blog!

I've been featured on the Cinnamon & Honey blog! If you've never checked out this blog-you should! She features interesting artists and crafters but she is also really interesting herself. She is a freelance writer living in New York City who also crafts and she is a photographer. Her blog has won numerous awards too. She sells handmade cards in her etsy shop at CinnamonAndHoney.etsy.com. She has written for T.V. Guide and even has some books on Amazon! Wow! Be sure to read her story about the found money in Starbucks in the Writer's Workshop--too funny.

Thanks so much for featuring me Robin!

$25,000 Kresge Artist Fellowship

$25,000 Kresge Artist Fellowship Application Deadline: Feb 27th Posted: 2/16/2009


The Kresge Artist Fellowships recognize eighteen (18) artists whose commitment to innovation and artistic achievement are evident in the quality of their work. The Fellowships recognize creative vision and commitment to excellence within a wide range of artistic disciplines, including artists who have been classically and academically trained, self taught artists, and artists whose art forms have been passed down through cultural and traditional heritage. The Fellows are selected through an open, competitive, and blind process as judged by an independent Fellowship Panel.
Kresge Artist Fellowships in the Visual Arts are awarded in odd years (i.e. 2009, 2011, etc.); Kresge Artist Fellowships in the Performing and Literary Arts are awarded in even years (i.e. 2010, 2012, etc.).
PERFORMING AND LITERARY ARTS NOVEMBER 1, 2009
DEADLINES FOR APPLICATIONS
VISUAL ARTS FEBRUARY 27, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENTS
2009 FELLOWS IN THE VISUAL ARTS JUNE 2009 Information Sessions for interested Fellowship applicants are held each year at the College for Creative Studies. Please see Information Sessions for more information.

SELECTION CRITERIA
The Kresge Artist Fellowships of $25,000 each are unrestricted and given annually to eighteen (18) artists who:
Have a demonstrated track record of artistic achievement and high quality work
Are current legal residents of the Metropolitan Detroit Tri-County area (Wayne, Oakland or Macomb Counties) in Michigan
Have resided in the area for the past two years, and
Are expected to retain residence in one of the three counties during the fellowship period
Must work in one or more of the disciplines reviewed each year
Have the potential to grow and advance in their artistic career during the fellowship period
Are at least 18 years old
Artists who collaborate with other artists, and who have an on-going demonstrated history of collaborative work, ARE permitted to apply under one collaborative application.
The Kresge Artist Fellowships are given each year to artists in the Visual, Performing, and Literary Arts (alternating each year between the Visual Arts and the Performing/Literary Arts).
VISUAL ARTSSuch as: art and technology, book arts, ceramics, collage, drawing, fiber, video art, glass, installation, metalwork, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and interdisciplinary work that includes at least one of these arts disciplines.
Who Cannot Apply?
Individuals who:
Are working toward any degree program, arts or non-arts related at the time of application, or planning to work toward a degree during the course of the Fellowship
Are residents of Michigan, outside of Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties
Are interpretive artists (such as actors, dancers, and musicians) whose art involves presenting the work of other artists as opposed to creating original work of their own (such as painters, choreographers, and playwrights)
Have received a Kresge Artist Fellowship within the last two years
Have received a Kresge Eminent Artist Award
Are immediate family members of the staff of The Kresge Foundation, staff at ArtServe Michigan, current Panelists, and College for Creative Studies staff overseeing the Kresge Arts in Detroit office.
Artist faculty and staff of the College for Creative Studies, NOT associated with the Kresge Arts in Detroit office, ARE eligible to apply.

SELECTION PROCESS
Panel Selection
The Kresge Artist Fellowship applications are reviewed through a blind process by an independent Fellowship Panel. Panelists are experienced and well-respected national, regional, and local artists and arts professionals and are selected according to the categories of arts disciplines being reviewed. The Kresge Arts Detroit Advisory Council selects Kresge Artist Fellowship Panelists who ensure knowledge of the art form, a balance of artistic perspectives, and an understanding of the local artistic environment. Panelists represent the diversity of artistic styles within the disciplines, as well as geography, ethnicity, and gender.
The Kresge Artist Fellowship Panelists remain anonymous during the selection process. The names of the Kresge Artist Fellowship Panelists are revealed once the Kresge Artist Fellowships are announced.

TO APPLY
Kresge Artist Fellowship applications are ONLY available online through the CueRate application system.
The application consists of the following, however, please see the Guide for more detailed information on the application requirements.
An Applicant Profile that includes the artist’s contact information, discipline information, and a demographic and professional development questionnaire
An Artist Resume/CV
An Artist Statement (1,000 words maximum, approximately two [2] pages), explaining the artist’s creative vision and work
A Narrative Statement (1,500 words maximum, approximately three [3] pages), stating: the artist’s overall plans for the Fellowship period how the artist will use their Fellowship time why the Fellowship will be pivotal in the exploration of their art form what the Fellowship will contribute to the advancement of their career
Work Samples in the appropriate format. For more information on the Work Sample Specifications, please see the Guide.
Two (2) Letters of Recommendation in support of your application from individuals with whom you have a professional relationship and who are familiar with your accomplishments
TERMS OF THE FELLOWSHIPS
The Fellowship period is twelve (12) months and begins immediately upon announcement. However, the fellowship period can be flexible according to the needs and plans of the artist as outlined in the application. An Orientation Session is provided for the awarded Fellows at the beginning of the fellowship period. Upon notification of a Fellowship award, artists must first verify their residence in Metropolitan Detroit (Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb County) by submitting residency documentation for the past two years. Acceptable documents include tax forms, phone bills, utility bills, bank statements, etc. Grants are given in one payment at the beginning of the Fellowship period. Most recent tax laws state that Fellowships are taxable income; please consult your tax advisor.
Use of Fellowship Funds
The purpose of the fellowship is to enable the artist to devote time and resources to whatever is necessary to deepen their art form, to experiment, and to advance their artistic career. Fellowship funding may cover any aspect of the artist’s life, such as, but not limited to, informal study, exploration of new artistic directions, overhead costs, travel as it directly relates to the artistic career, living, and other expenses.
Professional Development
In an effort to provide further support and services to the Fellows, ArtServe Michigan, working in collaboration with The Kresge Foundation and the Kresge Arts in Detroit office, will design and deliver a customized series of professional development and engagement opportunities for Fellows. Fellows may participate in a range of artistic and professional development activities created to specifically respond to and support their needs and expectations. Professional development activities will focus on providing artists at any stage of their career with the skills, resources, knowledge and connections they need to continue to establish and fulfill their artistic and professional ambitions.
Progress Reports
Fellows provide informal quarterly reports about their progress to the Kresge Arts in Detroit office throughout the Fellowship period. Fellows complete a brief final report at the conclusion of their Fellowship.
Kresge Artist Fellowship Festival
Each Fellow is encouraged to participate in the bi-annual Kresge Fellowship Festival, a public presentation of work by all awarded Fellows during each two-year cycle.
For more, go to: Kresgeartsindetroit.org

Awesome giveaway!

I am such a fan of good giveaways! Here is one you don't want to miss: http://rikrakstudio.blogspot.com/2009/02/lets-celebrate-2-year-etsy-versary.html. She is giving away a whole bunch of really nice stuff from her etsy shop in celebration of her 2 year etsy anniversary.





And don't forget to register to win earrings and a photograph from my shops on http://queenconger.blogspot.com/!





Here's an awesome blog devoted to GIVEAWAYS! Check it often because there are tons on there. I've already won some lip balm! Woohoo!


http://etsygiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/02/prize-pack-including-purse-wallet-more.html

Deconstructing a 1950's Era Cash Register

I found a listing on freecycle.org for an old 1950's cash register and quickly responded! I love freecycle--you never know what exactly you are going to get since there aren't any photos. My husband picked it up for me--which is a good thing because even though I am freakishly strong (it's weird really) this sucker is HEAVY!! The entire thing is made of metal and wood. Even after we took it apart, what was left of it is super heavy!

This thing has been in the backseat of my husband's car

for a few weeks now so we decided last night to bring it in and take it apart. I had envisioned sledgehammers, saws, lots of banging and cutting. But....we took the more reasonable approach and basically used a screwdriver and pliers.

Even with the lack of sledgehammers, every step of this was exciting! When one piece was pulled off, more interesting little pieces were revealed. (Although at first it was hard to get over all the dead spiders and things that emerged as well!)

My son really got into this whole thing too! He grabbed his "tools" and pretended to take it apart.

My main purpose for doing this (besides the fun of taking something apart) is to reuse parts for jewelry and for awesome photo taking oportunities. I strongly believe in recycling and re-using old things to make them new again.

I really can't wait to take the keys off this and make some cool necklaces out of them. We are trying to figure out a way to cut them off--if anyone has some good ideas please leave me a comment!! I'm thinking a metal jewelers saw...or a drummel.

Here's photos of the little price tag things that pop up when you punch the keys--talk about inflation!!

These are the round pieces that imprint the receipts--

These pieces actually ended up being perfect for necklaces. I need to shine them up and buff them--I'm so excited to use my drummel for this. I haven't used it in so long.

This is the used receipt paper!

Every time we banged on it you could hear the brass bell! I was so happy we got that out too.

Wow, was this a big mess on our dining room table!

But it was worth it. Hopefully I will get some nice pieces made with a bit of history behind them too.

Win Free Earrings Plus An 8x10 Fine Art Photograph

I've been featured on the Elle Blog of Elle Bee! Check out her blog and enter to win 5 pairs of earrings from my shop plus an 8x10 Fine Art Print--all completely free. Make sure to follow her blog too!

The Secret Etsy List! The most Useful and Hard to Find Links Relating to Etsy

I found this on Loose Wire Studio's blog and thought it was so helpful that I had to post it here too. It's got EVERYTHING you need to know about etsy including some links that are hard to find elsewhere!

To learn about the Showcase, see here:http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/how-to-make-a-treasury-the-nuts-and-bolts/688/http://www.etsy.com/showcase_gateway.phphttp://etsywiki.com/index.php?title=Showcase
Check out the Showcase Gateway to find out when they will be available for purchase:http://www.etsy.com/showcase_gateway.php===
To learn more about the Treasury, visit here:http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/howTos/article/how-to-make-a-treasury-the-nuts-and-bolts/688/http://etsywiki.com/index.php?title=Treasuryhttp://etsytreasurydemo.blogspot.com/
View the Treasury here:http://www.etsy.com/treasury.php
It is also availabe in a link on the Home Page. And remember there is a test treasury that is *usually* available!http://www.etsy.com/treasury_west.php
There is also a tool where you can prepare and visualize your treasury while waiting to nab one:http://www.etsy.com/poster_sketch.php
For a quick look, here's the box you'll see to enter your title:http://www.flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/2258410303
... and some quick tips for nabbing one. :)===
You can use Etsy Mini, found in Your Etsy.LOTS of buttons here:http://team.etsy.com/downloads.html
Another button for Etsy is located in the blog (not easy to find):http://blog.etsy.com/?p=131
Also in the Etsywiki:http://etsywiki.com/index.php?title=Embedding_SWF_on_Your_Site===
When I click on shops in (insert flash app here), they don't open up. Nothing happens! This is likely one of those situations where the first click opens up in a new tab or window. If you then navigate away from that tab or window, instead of closing it, subsequent clicks will open up in that *same* tab or window, but it won't move to the front. So check your tabs or windows in the background. If you can't find it, just close and reopen your browser to clear the situation.
Same is true for Time Machine, Treasury, and other flash apps.
Or... it could be a pop-up blocker.

==========I'm stuck in Gallery (or List) view!
This setting is stored in your Etsy cookies. Deleting them should clear the settings kept in them. How to do this varies with each browser. Alternately, logging out, closing all instances of your browser and reopening "should" clear it. But if a cookie has become corrupt, only deleting will solve it.
Here's how to delete just Etsy cookies:http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser

==========Sometimes when the Treasury is really busy, you may just receive a white page. A workaround to get in is to use a link to a specific treasury. You can always find a link from the Home page treasury. I just tested this and it's working right now. Sometimes when it'sREALLY busy, even this won't work.

==========Why are some Treasuries 2 days and some 3?
jared says:All Treasury lists are given 36 hours. Up to 24 hours is added on randomly at the time of creation. This random additional time is required to avoid the phenomena of sync.
I can promise you that the extra time is in fact completely random.
Here is the actual server side code::: var age = application.rsoSettings.getProperty("expirationAge");:: // add up to 24 hours randomly:: age += Math.random()*1000*60*60*24;
The Treasury lists are also sorted by 'Hotness' only by default.
As soon as someone manually changes the sorting column or direction (by selecting Title, Curator, or Expiration), the lists remain sorted in that fashion every time that person visits the Treasury. Same holds for page selected. from: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5257883

==========Can't access Treasury (or Chat). Doesn't connect!
The Treasury and Chat rooms require port 1935 to be open on your network.
Check if you have a firewall, and if so, configure it to allow TCP/IP traffic through port 1935.
All firewalls are slightly different so it's difficult for me to explain precisely how to do this.
It's best if you can talk to your network administrator or whoever in your household set up your network. Thanks and good luck!
Here's a great little utility (not Etsy's) that tests the firewall ports required by the Treasury, Workshop, and Chat rooms:http://yackpack.com/firewalltest/index.html
All tests should return success.
Here is a helpful article from Microsoft on how to open ports on Windows XP: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308127

=========="Connections" show who is connected by hearts. On and on and on and on...First it will randomly show you 5 of your favorite items. From there you can select the Little heart on the item and be brought to two of that person's favorites, with items... Then you can either click another heart to continue, or click the item if you so choose.
Just a fun way to shop.

==========Great stats here:http://majaba.org/heartomatic
And here's some helpful information about general traffic, accumulated by our own gemmafactrix from her own website...http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5021166
Also, FYI here's some Etsy traffic stats for the past 6 months from Alexa.com. http://www.iwebtool.com/alexa_traffic_rank?domain=etsy.com&data=r&range=6m
And, more interesting stats, thanks to KerriHale:http://www.quantcast.com/etsy.com

==========Dyno has posted a pdf over on the etsywiki with lots of pertinent info on the proportions of all image views on Etsy (first link here downloads the pdf): http://www.etsywiki.com/index.php?title=Photographing_items

==========Clearing cache:For many browsers, you can simply hold down the SHIFT key while pressing the refresh button (works for IE and Firefox).Here's some more detailed explanations for various browsers:http://www.americanfunds.com/help/clearing-browser-cache.htm

==========From the Selling FAQ:How do I become a Featured Seller?The featured seller is always hand-picked by one of the Etsy admins. We look for ingenuity, well-made items, interesting descriptions and top-notch item photos.(Source: http://www.etsy.com/faq_selling.php#featuredSellers ).

==========Those four little floating items at the top of the home page?jared says:Those are 'knockout' items. Knockouts are photographs that feature the item and follow all of the following rules:* absolute pure white background (#FFFFFF)* no cropping of the item or item's shadow* no graphic designKnockout items are periodically collected and added to a pool where they are randomly displayed in that area. The collection process is part robot, part human. About 50 unique knockouts are collected in each batch.---Here's a thread with a couple of techniques to create the white background:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5484630

==========I can't comment in Treasuries!
Treasury Comment limit: jared says:The number of comments each list in the Treasury can have is limited. The limit is not a hard number, it's more of a space issue. The Flash player has a maximum vertical height of 2880 pixels. If enough comments are added to a list, the box to add more comments gets pushed beyond this limit and disappears, just as imaginationalley (cool name) said.Remember also you must be logged into to leave a comment.

==========Formula for pricing:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5002736

==========Common need when the Tabs page isn't working properly in Listing/Editing items.Also, when having trouble with the Profile page loading.Enabling Javascript:http://www.etsy.com/faq_enable_javascript.php(Or browser and OS isn't compatible with this feature. See approved browsers.)

==========For more info on basic soldering, here is a great forum post from DownToTheWireDesigns:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=39509

==========I updated my sections and now they're off - my items are in the wrong sections!Crazy sections In this threadhttp://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5058628RD said this:This happens when you add or remove listings from your shop and the batch sorting page is pulled out of your Browser's cache. To prevent this, try reloading the batch sorting page before clicking on the submit button at the bottom of the page.If this does not work, try clearing your browser's cache.

==========Person sees the following text on screen:"write about it in your Etsy blog (everybody has one) "Are you using Safari, by any chance? It has some issues rendering comments properly. Meaning, it's code on the page that shouldn't be showing. Etsy has obviously thought about having a blog for each of us at one point, a long time ago.Problem discussed here...http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5073049&page=3

==========In this threadhttp://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=42298 RevolvingDork says:"We've tested and are officially supporting the following browsers:PC:Internet Explorer 6Interner Explorer 7Firefox 1.5Opera 8Mac:Firefox 1.5SafariLinux:Firefox 1.5KonquerorPlease note that IE on the Mac is no longer supported with version 2.

========What does Etsy mean? How is it pronounced?It is a purposeful mystery. Answers have been:1. From a movie by Fellini2. It's latin for "and if"3. Rob's Grandmother4. It's Hebrew for TreeHere's the original thread discussing it:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=75
Here's a recent tv spot with another version:http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=96951@wcbs.dayport.com
More:http://www.thenameinspector.com/etsy/http://team.etsy.com/downloads/facts.pdf
FYI, it's pronounced like Betsy, without the B.

========Forum "Police".As Stella, an Etsy admin, once posted:"we do appreciate when our more experienced members *respectfully, tactfully and lovingly* help new users to understand how the site works, where to find information (including the rules) and alert the staff to problems privately via email or convo."http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5119173&page=25

========Why is Etsy slow?From this helpful websitehttp://www.kiva.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=99
They clearly describe"Why do sites load slowly or not at all?
This is a good question and we are asked this many times a day. Web pages can load slowly for a variety of reasons, here are the most common:* Internet congestion.* Too many people trying to go the site simultaneously.* The site does not have enough bandwidth to handle all the requests.* There are lots of images.* You have a slow connection.It is usually due to congestion on the Internet (lots of people online) or the site does not have enough resources (bandwidth or fast enough web server) to handle lots of people trying to get to it simultaneously. However there are some tools available to help figure out what is happening."Since I have windows, I used tracert to view my internet route and found two servers having problems today - both of them with my ISP.
See here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/531985666/
I also used Ping to check just Etsy.It's pretty handy. I've used these utilities many times over the years. If others have any other ideas or input, I'd be interested. :-)

========You *CAN* use the following symbols in your titles:- hypen( ) parentheses, comma. period' apostrophe/ forward slash0-9 numbersWe are *NOT* able to use these:" quotes& ampersand; semicolon: colon! exclamation point? question mark\ backslashpipe_ underscore+ plus= equal sign* asterisk@ at sign# number sign$ dollar sign< > angle brackets{ } decorative brackets[ ] square brackets

========(Was this for Treasury titles?)inName.restrict = " 0-9A-Za-z.,()[]{}'?!+=";Which basically means all letters, upper and lower case, all numbers, and the following characters .,()[]{}'?!+= are allowed.

========--- PAYPAL ---Secret Paypal Shipping Link:https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now

========Paypal Phone Numbers1-888-221-1161 (Toll Free for Business/Premier)1-888-204-4481 (Toll Free for Business/Premier)1-402-935-7733 (Personal Accounts)1-402-935-2057 (Personal Accounts)

========ShippingIf someone buys multiple items, here is an example of how Etsy tabulates:Primary / Secondary3.50 / 1.002.50 / .754.50 / 2.33Etsy picks the largest amount for the primary and then the secondary amounts for the others. So in this case,4.50 + 1.00 + .75 = 6.25========Cancel a Sale?1) Leave Appropriate Feedback2) Relist The Item, If Needed. To do this, click on Your Etsy, Sold Items, Select the item and you will find "Relist" at the top of the page.3) Report The Transaction, Using The Link On The Left Side Of The Help Page. Additional link under Your Etsy, then Cancel a Sale.Note That After Etsy Reverses The Transaction, #1 & 2 Are No Longer Available. Your Selling Fees And Relisting Fee Will Be Refunded. This can take from one day to up to a week. Sorry This Happened To You.

========jared says:Lists are removed from the Treasury when they expire. This happens on the server. There are no known problems with this process.The DISPLAY of when lists expire depends on your local computer's clock. If your computer's clock is out of sync with the server's clock, the time left to expire will be off. You can verify this by setting your clock ahead by a month. Look at the Treasury and all the lists will say they're expired.Depending on your operating system there are a number of ways to synchronize your clock to global atomic time.I am working on some code that should help compensate for clocks out of sync. It will be pushed live as soon as testing is complete. Sorry for the inconvenience.Posted at 11:48 am, July 17 2007 EST

========Littleputbooks tips for making listings ahead of time:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5147546

========Here's a Flickr group about art & craft fairs/shows (mostly setup pictures):http://www.flickr.com/groups/craft_fairs/

========Acronymshttp://etsywiki.com/index.php?title=List_of_Etsy_acronymshttp://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=24868

========Loosewire's Tips to Snagging a Treasury:-In preparation, sort the Treasuries by expiration date. Count back to 333 to see approximately how long it will be before they will become available. Check back before this time, as people will delete their lists.*Then*-Go to the last page of the treasury.-Sort the treasury by expiration date, so you can see the time count down.-You can click on the page number to update the time more quickly. It only does so automatically periodically.-Wait at that last page until the 333nd treasury expires. It will remain there expired for a few minutes. Last time it took 5 minutes for it to disappear.-This box will appear: http://flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/636016590/-DO NOT refresh. You may miss the box. I repeat: DO NOT refresh.-When the box does appear, type at least one letter in it to reserve it. Then think of a title and press Create.-Good Luck and have fun! :-) You *will* snag one.*Also*After you get one, a few things to know:-The little boxes to enter the numbers may not appear at first. Simply arrow out of your treasury and then enter it again. Then you'll see them and be able to proceed.-A lot of people are doing just what you have done. The Treasury is mighty busy. Things might be a bit slow. Continue to be patient. If something odd seems to happen, again, don't refresh. If need be, just step away from your computer for awhile, while everything processes.

========Why are items still showing that were listed more than 4 months ago?Let's say I have an item that I listed on 1-1-06.Remember, each time I renew, another 4 months is added to the expiration time.I let it expire on 5-1-06 and then renew it. Its expire is now 9-1-06.I renew it again on 10-1-06. Its expire is now 1-1-07.I renew it again on 11-1-06. Its expire is now 5-1-07.I renew it again on 12-1-06. Its expire is now 9-1-07.I renew it again on 1-1-07. Its expire is now 1-1-08I renew it again on 2.1.07. Its expire is now 5-1-08.If I do not renew this again, and allow it to roll along, when someone looks at the category anytime in 2008, it could seem like an unusually long expiration time.Does this now make sense?Here's another thread where this was discussed, er confused even more. :)http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5435050

========(Old) Info about sorting by views in this thread, where the previous problem was stated:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5154407

========'Buy Now' button not encrypted? See this thread for how to remedy.http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5195254Here's the resolution, as stated in two different ways:RevolvingDork says:This is an issue with the seller's paypal settings -- they will need to turn off their PayPal account's option to only select encrypted PayPal buttons, and open their account up to unencrypted PayPal buttons.dyno says:loginProfileSelling Preferences: Encrypted Payment Settingsclick Website Payment Preferences link: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_profile-website-paymentsscroll down to Encrypted Website Paymentsmake sure Block Non-encrypted Website Payment is marked OFF(Full error message is: The seller accepts encrypted website payments only. You cannotpay the seller through un-encrypted buttons. Please contact your sellerfor more details.)

========Here's a GREAT thread about Tags:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=23040Oh, and remember that you can use "NOT" to eliminate items.For example, looking for:woman dressbrings up a lot of patterns (sigh), so try this:woman dress NOT patternsstill brings up maybe some jewelry, so enter:woman dress NOT patterns NOT jewelryetc.

====================Why is Paypal charging a different amount for shipping?It's a Paypal setting that needs to be changed, so it doesn't override Etsy.*NOTE: Paypal has made some unannounced changes and you will see either one of these two options:**A)From the FAQ:http://www.etsy.com/faq_selling.php#paypal"Why is the shipping wrong on the PayPal invoice when I have the correct amount entered into my Etsy shop?When shipping on your PayPal invoice is incorrect, you'll just need to adjust the amount in your PayPal account settings. If you need to revise the invoice for the customer, go to your PayPal account and click on "request money".To check your PayPal settings:1. Log into PayPal at www.paypal.com2. Go to My Account > Profile > Shipping calculations3. Check the box at the bottom that states: Allow transaction-based shipping settings to override profile settings"Here are my personal screen caps of this original location of the setting:http://flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/623498701/in/set-72157594525465692/**B) See my screen captures of new screens here:http://flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/1281490344/"In your Profile...1) Shipping Calculations2) Check Shipping Method box, then Edit will become clickable3) Click Edit4) Edit Settings5) Override shipping methods per transaction? Select the "Yes" radio button.6) Scroll to bottom of the page and "Save Changes"---------------Also, when you begin the Paypal steps mentioned in Option B, above, and are instead given the option to Setup your defaults, I don't believe there's a need to do this - so don't. If there are no Paypal shipping defaults setup, then they won't attempt to override Etsy's transaction based shipping charges. Hope this makes sense. :-)---This is my own personal finding of where the same setting is within Paypal.Etsy is reviewing the changes and will be updating the FAQs. It seems this change was made in the US, but there are sellers (so far) in the UK and Australia that still see the old screens.

======================Multiple Chat Ghosts!In this thread:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5222765&page=2Etsy Admin jared says:Appearing multiple times in a chat room is usually an indication that there are network troubles between your computer and our servers.What generally happens is you are disconnected in some way, then you reconnect. When you reconnect, you see your old self still there. Theeason is because the way you disconnected confused the server, and it thinks you're still out there somewhere, just being very quiet.Eventually it will decide the connection is invalid and automatically remove these old copies of you. We call them ghosts.They're more spooky than anything. They don't hurt anything.If you're on a wireless connection, try moving closer to the source. If you have a network administrator handy, tell him you're dropping packets. Good luck!Posted at 4:45 pm, September 7 2007 EST

===============Okay to add one of your own items to a Treasury?1) When you create a treasury, it is stated in the Terms that it is not intended for self promotion. When you create a treasury, you are agreeing to the terms noted. See screen cap here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/22584103032) Admin has stated their position:From a previous thread about Treasury:"stellaloellaEtsy Admin:The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, ie. don't make a list ALL of your own items. The Treasury was created as a way to showcase the work of others on Etsy, thusly building community spirit and exhibiting respect for our fellow artisans.A curator may place one of their own items on a list if they feel it really fits their theme/aesthetic. However, Treasuries including the curator's own items are not likely to be promoted to front-page status (and if it is, we may choose to exclude the curator's item from the front page)."-------My added note:Just know that if you include one of your own items in a treasury, you do risk losing some potential customers, whether you agree with how they feel about it or not. It will happen.

==========Etsy Staff:http://blog.etsy.com/?p=378http://www.etsywiki.com/index.php?title=General_FAQ

==========Old news on Categories/Subcategories:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5218649

==========In this threadhttp://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5239561stellaloella says:Your Conversations are private.In cases of disputes or abuse, Etsy's Admin may ask your permission to view your Convos to get the full story, but this is rather rare.Posted at 7:25 pm, September 20 2007 EST

==========Press KitIn this threadhttp://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5291059wonderamy says:"The Etsy Press kit has a great video (or electronic press kit) on it, examples of lots of press clippings, and downloadable images.http://blog.etsy.com/?page_id=44I know that Matt has been working on press releases for our new Holiday Initiative, http://www.buyhandmade.org/.We also have just published a guide in the Teams section of the site called "How to write a killer press release for your Etsy TeamEvent," which has some simple guidelines about making a great press release:http://team.etsy.com/pressreleaseguides.htmlThanks for helping spread the word about Etsy!"

==========Links to other places you sell?This is from another thread that went round in round in circles until it encountered the administrative lock:stellaloellaEtsy Adminstellaloella says:This thread, much like the last one on this topic, is just going in circles.The actual rule is this:"Don't post links or URLs anywhere in your shop to another web site for the purpose of encouraging buyers to purchase your items off Etsy; this is considered fee avoidance."D&D > Selling: http://www.etsy.com/dosdonts.php#a4We've clarified the rule in several places:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5346512&page=29http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5346945&page=3http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5346945&page=10
If you have further questions about linking/posting the URL for *your* specific website, please contact support [!at] etsy.com and they will assist you.

========Gleaned from the forums:CRAFT FAIRS High end shows:http://zapplication.org/http://www.juriedartservices.com/
Lots of shows. Lots.http://eventlister.com/http://craftlister.com/
A good festival to followhttp://www.hpifestivals.com/
Others:http://www.artandcraftshows.net/http://www.artfaircalendar.com/http://www.bazaarbizarre.org/http://www.collectiblewebs.com/http://www.craftmasternews.com/http://craftsreport.com/showfinder/http://www.fairsandfestivals.net/http://www.festivaldirectory.com/http://festivalnet.com/http://www.indiecraftfairguide.com/http://www.indiecraftshows.com/http://www.sunshineartist.com/http://craigslist.org/ . Serious. :)
Midwest Shows:http://midwestartfairs.com/home
A newsletter for events in the PA/OH/WV/MD areahttp://www.craftconnection.net/

========Unable to write comments in Treasury or Chat? Can't type in the box?There is a known issue with Safari on Mac.There is a newer issue with Vista and IE.For the Safari issue, you can hold your cursor over the box while typing. This sometimes works. Other have said opening a new window works.For Vista, assure you have the latest flash player herehttp://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/about/
Best to assure You have version 9,0,115,0 installed, but unfortunately for that, issues still remain.Jared is aware of this, and he rocks, so be sure a fix is on the way.This is assuming you are logged in, of course, as you need to be. :)

========In this thread: (Old info, as new color picker was implemented 02-08)RD says:The average color is generated and stored automatically when you upload an image -- there's nothing extra you have to do to be included in the color picker. :DANDIn this thread:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5040666
Jared says:It's a balance between taking a good, descriptive photo while also satisfying the color averager.One especially good trick is to use a solid white or black background. Backgrounds of this nature are ignored from the average, thus giving a more pure representation of the color.

========Jewelry Suppliershttp://www.firemountaingems.com/http://www.artbeads.com/http://www.fusionbeads.com/http://www.thunderbirdsupply.com/http://www.metalliferous.com/http://www.jewelrysupply.com/http://www.trashcity.com/http://www.monsterslayer.com/What am I missing? Oh- http://www.riogrande.com/
You have to call them to get a login, but it really only takes about 3 minutes and a few simple questions.

========Can't find my items in Google!In this thread:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5407835
kfarrell says:Since google works on indexed information (meaning they crawl Etsy periodically and store the information on their servers rather than go out to Etsy every time you search), newly listed items may not show up in google.There's a lot of info that goes into how Google ranks their results, including how many other websites (and which ones) link to a page.The shops that show up at the top of the Google results often will have been featured on another site, giving their item more "importance" in Google's rankings.The best way to improve your chances of coming up in a google search is to promote your work off etsy. If you're concerned with bringing traffic to your items from within Etsy, make sure you have clear photographs and descriptive titles/tags. That way when someone uses the Etsy search function, they'll be able to find your items :)

========Can we use the Etsy Logo?http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/etsyNews/article/etsy-trademark-permissions-program-this-aint-no-cease-and-de/15/

========Refusing Service:http://www.etsy.com/storque/article/607/

========Gift Baskets:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5405120&page=7
stellaloella says:littlebitsys makes a great point (pg 6). This is one of those things that requires some case-by-case examination to determine if something fits into the rules of not. I'll do my best to explain the basics, but please keep in mind that specific items may fall into different shades of this gray area. This is about finding a balance between the focus of Etsy being handmade goods and what it means to "hand-assemble" something from commercial components. Here goes...Gift baskets made entirely of non-handmade (commercial) goods including a non-handmade container are NOT allowed.A gift basket that mixes some non-handmade (commercial) goods with your original handmade items is generally ok -- IF your handmade goods are the majority/focus of the overall product. The commercial goods are a "bonus" in this situation. (This is similar to including a non-handmade makeup brush in a set with handmade makeup. It's like a free gift with purchase.)Gift baskets or sets comprised entirely of your own handmade goods (including the container) are totally a-ok!Diaper cakes are a unique situation. They're different than a standard "put stuff in a basket" gift basket, since they require creative crafting to sculpt the components into a cake.Posted at 10:33 am, January 9 2008 EST

========Cool Propay Discount Link!http://www.propay.com/?refid=ETSYOLCM
Also, there's a user here called PropayMike who would be able to help with any questions, problems. Here's the thread link where he posted more details: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5318693

========Where else to sell?http://homegrownmarket.com/http://lov.li/http://en.dawanda.com/http://rubylane.com/http://mintd.com/===dottyral says:Found it. Here's part of what she said...stellaloella says:If you want to discuss the pros & cons of other selling venues, you're welcome to do this in our Crafting & Business forum. We generally allow those discussions, as our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and we understand these other sites may have something different to offer each individual. Please note, we do not allow the outright promotion of other venues (just discussion).

========Can I change a listing from one product to another entirely different one?
dottyral says:The only quote I could find was from ages ago from RD. Stella's discussed it in the forums more recently but I can't find it.Anyway, here's what RD said...RevolvingDork says:"We ask that seller do *not* edit their items into different items -- as DD's initial problem has demonstrated, this messes up all of the metadata attached to the listing.Favorites, view counts, date listed, past sold receipts, order histories -- all become innacurate if an item listing is altered competely.This affect not only the seller, but also their buyers and anyone else who has interacted with the listing."

========Visited Treasures not updating?http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5249954
Also, in this thread http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5453310
Or...jared says:Be sure your Flash cookies are enabled.To do this:1) load the Treasury2) right click (command click on Mac) anywhere over the Treasury lists3) select 'Settings...' from the menu that appears4) click the folder icon tab5) move the slider to 100kb or greater6) click the 'Close' buttonThe instructions above set the available disk space for your Flash cookies to 100kb. The Treasury uses your flash cookies to keep track of which lists you've been to.

========Making headpins, tutorial:http://silverriverjewelry.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-make-sterling-silver-head-pins.html

========Someone is using my photoshttp://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5445308

========How to charge a different price?Instruct your buyers to do one of the three:1. Convo you and wait for you to adjust the Etsy price. (hardest)2. Buy through Etsy and wait for adjusted invoice (most common)3. Let them know you will Refund through Paypal (also works)After the fact:1) If they have not yet purchased through Etsy, just adjust the Etsy price.2) If they have already "bought" through Etsy, but not yet Paypal, just send them a new (revised) invoice. To do so, go prepared with the buyer's email address to Paypal. Click on the Request Money tab. It's pretty straightforward after that.3) If they already have paid in Paypal, click on the Details of the Paypal transaction and look for the Refund link at the bottom of the page. http://www.flickr.com/photos/loosewirestudio/1313665150/in/set-72157594525465692/It's your choice how you want to handle a sale. Good luck! :)

========International rate chart! Easy!http://www.shelfmasters.com/InternationalRateChart.aspx

========Changing items a flaggable offense?http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5464091&page=2
Stella says:The Terms of Use says, "Each unique item must have its own listing." (Source: http://www.etsy.com/terms_of_use.php ). The "changing a listing" rule is not explicitly outlined in the DOs & DON'Ts, but will likely be added when we revise the document a little later this year, just for clarity.Please do NOT change a listing to a completely different item. There are several reasons for this:-- fee avoidance: each item should have it's own unique listing and therefore it's own listing fee of 20 cents-- confusion for other members: someone may have the item in their shopping cart, favorites, a Treasury, the Gift Guides OR otherwise bookmarked in some way-- database unhappiness: when all the identifying info for a listing is changed, it can cause technical problems in the database (editing one or a few things about a listing is ok, but total change is bad)In short, don't do it.If you have reason to believe another seller has done this (like an item you hearted is now different), please email abuse [!at] etsy.com and we'll look into it.

========Adding EtsyMini to Blogspot:Layout TabPage ElementsClick "Add a Page Element"Select "HTML/JavaScript"Paste the javascript code there.Save Changes. And save again.

========Alchemy not updating sales total?In this thread:http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5520300
kfarrell says:Alchemy sales won't show up in your sold item count until you upload pictures and click the "complete" button in the bid. Once you click the "complete" button, the item will appear on your Alchemy page in your shop, your sold items page, and shopping tools like Pounce and Time Machine.We'll update the FAQs to make this a little clearer. Thanks!

===Poster Sketch not saving?http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5594508jared says:The Poster Sketch uses your browser's Flash cookies to save data. If your Flash cookies are disabled or full (there is a 100kb limit by default), the Poster Sketch will not save and will not display an error.This means a couple things:* Poster Sketch will only save on the computer you make it on* your Flash cookies must be enabled for save to workI will work on updating the Poster Sketch to display when it is unable to save your work.In the meantime, make sure your Flash cookies are enabled and not filled up with junk:* right click (control click on Mac) anywhere on the Poster Sketch tool* http://www.etsy.com/poster_sketch.php* choose 'Settings...' from the menu that appears* click the little Folder icon* move the slider to the right* set to 100kb or more (I keep mine set at 1Mb, which is just fine)

That's a lot of info but hopefully helpful!!

WooHoos

I sell gently (sometimes new) clothing on eBay and have been doing so for years. I love it, although it is a lot of work! Mostly because I am so anal about the photos being perfect. I also try to find stock photos of models wearing the clothing and that takes a lot of time. But it also helps it sell so I guess it is worth it. I get my clothing from a variety of places. Most of my merch (like my cool lingo?) is from area rummage sales at churches. I am very fortunate to live near affluent areas where people will spend hundreds of dollars on an item, wear it a few times, then give it away. I am really serious about these rummage sales and actually put the dates on the calendar and plan around them--really they are THAT GOOD! Right now in my closet I have a pair of black wool Jil Sander pants that are worth about $400 and I got them for a mere $1! I have many more stories about my various finds and where I get stuff but I will save that for another post...plus I just am not sure I want to share my secret bargain hiding spots yet!! Ha!

Anyway, on Etsy I peruse the forums quite often so I decided to take a look at the eBay forums. I don't know why I've never done this. Someone started a threat called "Have a Woo Hoo this week?" and I was intrigued. People posted items that they sold last week and made a "woo hoo" sale. I am so amazed at what people will buy and especially how much they will spend! The most woo hoo's posted were vintage (if you can call 1992 vintage...this means I am vintage! Ahhh!) Ralph Lauren sweaters. We are talking the super tacky sweaters with big flags or bears across the front! And one of them actually sold for...drum roll please...$299!! Really? Really. So when spring finally gets here I will be on the search for old Ralph Lauren sweaters. The tackier the better I suppose! Feel free to post your woo hoo story here if you are an eBay seller too. And in the meantime, if you see someone walking down the street wearing a really tacky bear sweater from the 80's or 90's, grab it and run...or better yet just offer them about $10 for it and see what happens. Who knows? Maybe you will have your own "Woo Hoo."

New Jewelry Added

LilacPOP Handmade Jewelry

I added these items to my shop today.

Great Finds on Etsy

Some of the latest great finds on Etsy!

Olivemac
Prints from Olivemac, a new store on Etsy that features her cute illustrations. I'm sure she will soon be HUGE on etsy! I'm just waiting to start seeing her prints show up in treasuries.

Her prints are all $18 each and adorable so check her out!

Suezybees

Such cute felted items in this shop-

you have to check them out!

Butterfly Felt Handbag $80

Felt Gadget Cozy $23

Organikx...inspired by nature, made by hand.

Beautiful jewelry!

pacifica... boro lampwork barrel, hand forged sterling silver pendant necklace $49

FringLore

Love these reworked pieces! Lots of Steampunk style jewelry.

Numerology Steampunk Dial - Antique Cash Register Key - Typekey Three $57

ElinThomas

Check out her textile jewelry! Every piece is like it's own little environment. So amazing.

Sea anenome sculptural crochet necklace $265

Felt and crochet brooch
by ElinThomas $58

Free Business Cards-No strings!

My doctor told me about a website that will print you business cards for free. The only thing you pay for is the shipping--under $10. I am pretty happy with the cards. They have quite a few designs to choose from. I think I would have changed some of the info around. It's hard to follow their "form" if you have more than one etsy website you want to put on there. But, hey, they were free and I like free! The absolutely only catch is that they put their website on the back of the card. I can live with that.
www.vistaprint.com

Timothy Adam Designs

Timothy Adam Designs

Top 10 Monday on Timothy Adam Designs Blog

Yay, I made it into Timothy Adam's Top 10 Monday list! I am so excited about this. My big red bead ring was chosen and has gotten some very positive feedback. If you haven't checked out his blog, you should! It's really great. And his jewelry is amazing.
Timothy Adams Designs

Check out the top 10 and all the nice comments: http://timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/02/top-10-monday-2909.html

Big Sale at Oceanside Creations!

There is a big winter sale in Oceanside Creations's shop on etsy from now until February 14th. Enjoy 20% off items that are already on sale plus free shipping!

Amanda, the artist behind the shop is 24 years old and was born and raised in Southern Maine. She is a pastry chef at a local fine dining restaurant by day. "I've been pretty crafty my whole life and jewelry making and working with beads was one thing I was really into. I had been making jewelry for myself and my friends as a hobby and for Christmas presents this past year I decided to make jewelry for all the ladies in my family as well as my fiance's family. I had alot of them tell me I should be selling my jewelry, and with a little encouragement I set up my Etsy shop. I am a pastry cook at a local fine dining restaurant, but as it is winter there hasn't been alot of work available so I've had plenty of time to enjoy my jewelry making," says Amanda.

Amanda uses high quality materials in her jewelry such as Swarovski pearls, amethyst, and jade. She also has a special "wedding" section with beautiful selections for a bride to be to wear on the big day. She uses a lot of elegant wire wrapping in her creations as well.

She is a proud member of the Etsy Maine Team which you can check out here: http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=5647553

Visit her shop at: Oceanside Creations and take advantage of her great sales!

Etsy Stats

This was on the Etsy site in case you missed it. Thought it was interesting in a non-exciting, business way.

Every year, January is an interesting month at Etsy: we know that sales will be down when compared to the prior month, December, but listings will go up, as folks re-stock their shops after the holiday season. We also pay very close attention to how sales change from week-to-week. As we approach Valentine’s Day we expect the last week of January to exceed the first.We were pleased with January results: the numbers exceeded our expectations in these difficult economic times.The stats:

• 
  $9.9 million of goods were sold; roughly 23% below December's sales figure (sales for the last full week of January represented a 9.3% increase above the first full week of January).
• 
  That represents 683,369 items sold for the month, a 16.2% decrease from December's stats.
• 1,203,417 million new items were listed in January, up from 1,098,644 items or 9.2% vs. December.
• 138,000 new members joined the Etsy community, 16.3% below December's record number of new members.
• 443,468,017 page views were recorded on the site, an 8.1% increase compared to December.

Treasuries

Thank you poppyswickedgarden for including me in your treasury! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=37696 Check out her shop too! Thank you LizardQueenJewelry for including me in your treasury too!http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=37764Be sure to check out her shop as well!

How To Make Your Photos Front Page Worthy

I have this goal: get one of my items on Etsy's front page. I have set this goal and I have read scores of etsy articles and blogs to help me get there. I finally made it with one of my photos! I figured I should share some of the information I've learned along the way. When browsing through the many shops belonging to people posting in the critiques forum I see over and over again awesome products but poor photos. You can never get featured or on the front page that way. And I really believe that to be really successful on etsy you need to get featured in treasuries. Besides, when you go to a job interview you wear your best outfit right? It's the same way with your shop. Your shop is getting interviewed by the possible buyer.

First things first: do not photograph your item on your bed, your hardwood floors, your favorite blanket, or worse, on a messy table. If someone sees your messy workspace, chances are they won't want to buy something that came from a messy house! Ew. Analyze your photos and think, "Would I buy this from someone else based on these photos?"

The easiest thing to do is to buy a piece of foam-core from the store. You can buy it at an office supply store, a drugstore, Walmart, Target, just about anywhere they sell office supplies. It provides a blank background so that your item will be featured. Then, try to use natural light. Sometimes it works to use full sun, but usually just indirect sunlight works best. Set your camera to "flash off" and possibly even use a tripod if you have to. If you have nice color on your walls, you can use that as a background if it fits with what you are selling. Think of using unusual props, like an antique book, the edge of a teacup for earrings. The best way to come up with ideas is to see what other sellers are doing that do make it to the front page. Browse through the treasuries too. Add the item to your favorites and look through them for inspiration when you are ready to start taking pictures. And the most important thing is to get a few shots really close! If it's hard to see any detail on the item, chances are no one is going to buy it. Think of tilting the camera to make it more interesting. Look at your object and close in on the most interesting part of it. If your camera won't get up close, buy a magnification filter for it. If you are using an automatic camera rather than an SLR (the kind you can change the lenses with) then you can still buy a filter and just hold it up in front of the lens. You may have to switch your camera to manual focus for this. You can buy these filters on ebay or a camera store. They are not that expensive and will make a world of difference with your product. If you are selling clothing, buy a mannequin from ebay. You can get partial ones that hang on the back of a door for about $20 on ebay. (I love ebay by the way. I have sold almost 2,000 items there!)

After you take your photos, you really need to edit them to make the colors pop and spiffy them up a bit. I strongly suggest using picnik.com!! It is the coolest site. It is free with no strings attached. It lets you upload up to 5 photos at a time (or you can upgrade your account for $24.95 and upload as many as you like). Then you can go to 'edit' and either use the autofix or click on 'exposure' and brighten it up a bit and give it more contrast. Then you can go into 'create' and have some real fun with it. You don't want to go too crazy with it though--the item needs to be true to life. But here you can boost the color a bit (use the sliders to turn it down because the first setting it does is way too boosted!), add a vignette (my favorite feature), or even make your background black and white and leave the object in color. Saving it is a breeze and you can even resize it to 1000 pixels when you do it. Did I mention how much I LOVE this site?!

Another way to analyze your photos is by creating a treasury mock up and seeing how your item fits in and looks right. You can copy the treasury that is on the front page and just replace one of the items with your own photos. Does it look good? Here is the link to the treasury poster sketch to get you started: http://www.etsy.com/poster_sketch.php

Basically, keep learning by looking at what other's do. Read the articles in the storque--they are great! Here are some helpful links:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/shop-makeover-series-feature-friendly-photos-3222/
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/shop-makeover-series-are-your-photos-frontpage-worthy-3178/ This one is my favorite and where I learned the most!

Coming soon--ways to get your shop noticed!