Because it's been so long since I've maintained this blog, I forget that things have happened that the readers aren't aware of! Like the fact that KelleyAccents is now a proud member of the Handmade in Vegas Etsy Team!
It's been an overall good experience for Karla. The moment she joined she was a member of a wonderful community that has been very helpful. It's also been the key to her attending the craft shows that she has/is attending this year. It's been a great time and we're both looking forward to watching and helping the team grow.
If you're a Vegas local crafter and are looking for a good group, check us out! If you're not local and still want a group to support you, check around. There are tons of teams and I'm sure you could find at least one that would fit you. If not, maybe you could start your own!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Treasuries
Karla has been exploring Etsy and all the wonderful things it can do, and she's discovered Treasuries. She's been making quite a few, and it's sparked some discussion between us.
If you're not familiar with Treasuries on Etsy, let me see if I can put it in a nutshell for you. The Curator (organizer of the Treasury) chooses a list of several items from across Etsy that they like and fit whatever theme they've chosen. Then, they give it a title and a quick little blurb to explain it, and post it for the world to see! The interesting bit is that you can't include items from your own store.
Obviously, when you make a Treasury, you want it seen by other people. You want people to comment on your selections. And Karla's been asking me how to make a good Treasury for others to see. Well, the Treasury doesn't do a whole lot to promote her store. The way I see it, it's a way to share her mood and her artistic tastes in a way that promotes other sellers on Etsy. Which is way cool, to be honest. And, it does get her name out there some more.
But that's the only way I see it. It's not something to strive to be the "best" at. It's another way for you to express yourself, your mood and your tastes and share with the world. That's it.
Thoughts?
If you're not familiar with Treasuries on Etsy, let me see if I can put it in a nutshell for you. The Curator (organizer of the Treasury) chooses a list of several items from across Etsy that they like and fit whatever theme they've chosen. Then, they give it a title and a quick little blurb to explain it, and post it for the world to see! The interesting bit is that you can't include items from your own store.
Obviously, when you make a Treasury, you want it seen by other people. You want people to comment on your selections. And Karla's been asking me how to make a good Treasury for others to see. Well, the Treasury doesn't do a whole lot to promote her store. The way I see it, it's a way to share her mood and her artistic tastes in a way that promotes other sellers on Etsy. Which is way cool, to be honest. And, it does get her name out there some more.
But that's the only way I see it. It's not something to strive to be the "best" at. It's another way for you to express yourself, your mood and your tastes and share with the world. That's it.
Thoughts?
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Getting Serious
We've ramped up for big business, now! Karla's busy working at her store, creating new items every day. I try to get online and list something, at least one thing, on Etsy every day. Karla has gone to a couple small craft shows locally and is prepping for a few larger ones as the Holiday season gets closer.
This is a crazy, crazy business! Being a craft artist is hard work and takes a lot of dedication. But, it's very satisfying when a piece sells. Which, to be honest, sales have been sparse of late. It's rough, putting your whole heart into a piece and then seeing it sit in your store month after month.
Etsy is a wonderful platform, but we haven't gotten very much exposure there. I'm scouring the 'net, searching for ideas and ways to promote. If you have a method that's worked for you, let me know!
This is a crazy, crazy business! Being a craft artist is hard work and takes a lot of dedication. But, it's very satisfying when a piece sells. Which, to be honest, sales have been sparse of late. It's rough, putting your whole heart into a piece and then seeing it sit in your store month after month.
Etsy is a wonderful platform, but we haven't gotten very much exposure there. I'm scouring the 'net, searching for ideas and ways to promote. If you have a method that's worked for you, let me know!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
New Ideas
I've been experimenting with a couple things this past week. Or couple weeks. I took a picture of the three bracelets I've done. On my left arm is a hemp and wooden bead bracelet. There is also a square knot bracelet made from strips of an old t-shirt. On my right arm, is an anodized steel bracelet. I once again discovered my joy of working with metal!
I love how the dark steel wire looks, but I'll need to figure out how to treat it. Since it's anodized, it can be dirty. I wore it while doing some service at church and my sweat pulled the oxidation off it and got my wrist dirty. Hmm... time for some more research and experimentation!
Let me know what you think about these.
I love how the dark steel wire looks, but I'll need to figure out how to treat it. Since it's anodized, it can be dirty. I wore it while doing some service at church and my sweat pulled the oxidation off it and got my wrist dirty. Hmm... time for some more research and experimentation!
Let me know what you think about these.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Walmart Photo Printing Kiosk
Wow, Karla has fallen in LOVE with those things!
If you're not familiar with them, it's and instant gratification item that's absolutely AWESOME and very well put together! You can load your media onto the kiosk via just about any data card, CD or even scan them in. You can even transfer them from your phone via bluetooth, or hook your camera up to it with the USB cable! Once your pics are on the machine, you can print individual photos, add borders, create collages... *sigh*
Needless to say, we've spent quite a bit of money there and have several new photo collages around the house. It's a very, very cool toy and the results are just gorgeous. Once you pick what you want, it prints your claim ticket and all you have to do is go to the photo printer and scan your claim ticket in 3-4 minutes and there are your pictures! And the price is extremely reasonable for what you get. $0.28 for a single 4x6 print. You pay that even if you add a border.
This is not to trump up Walmart. Personally, I avoid shopping there if I can. But this is a deal that we just can't pass up.
If you're not familiar with them, it's and instant gratification item that's absolutely AWESOME and very well put together! You can load your media onto the kiosk via just about any data card, CD or even scan them in. You can even transfer them from your phone via bluetooth, or hook your camera up to it with the USB cable! Once your pics are on the machine, you can print individual photos, add borders, create collages... *sigh*
Needless to say, we've spent quite a bit of money there and have several new photo collages around the house. It's a very, very cool toy and the results are just gorgeous. Once you pick what you want, it prints your claim ticket and all you have to do is go to the photo printer and scan your claim ticket in 3-4 minutes and there are your pictures! And the price is extremely reasonable for what you get. $0.28 for a single 4x6 print. You pay that even if you add a border.
This is not to trump up Walmart. Personally, I avoid shopping there if I can. But this is a deal that we just can't pass up.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Photo Management
I received in our email an article from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. The article is here and is titled, "Pixel Perfect".
It has a lot of advice on how to maintain and manage your photo files of your jewelry pieces. Or of any photos you take with the plan of using them in different media. I intend to implement this today, if I have time to take some photos. (I really need to!)
In our case, we may be small and unknown now, but someday we'll have a design worthy of appearing in a magazine or such, and we'll need to have high quality images for printing. Or, we'll want to make our own printed newsletter. In that case, we'll need high quality images for the printed version and lower ones for an online version.
Up until now, I've only been keeping the photos that we use to put on Etsy. And they are only a 1000px square; Sadly inadequate for any kind of physical printed format.
I hope someone finds this article useful, as I did.
It has a lot of advice on how to maintain and manage your photo files of your jewelry pieces. Or of any photos you take with the plan of using them in different media. I intend to implement this today, if I have time to take some photos. (I really need to!)
In our case, we may be small and unknown now, but someday we'll have a design worthy of appearing in a magazine or such, and we'll need to have high quality images for printing. Or, we'll want to make our own printed newsletter. In that case, we'll need high quality images for the printed version and lower ones for an online version.
Up until now, I've only been keeping the photos that we use to put on Etsy. And they are only a 1000px square; Sadly inadequate for any kind of physical printed format.
I hope someone finds this article useful, as I did.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Dark Shimmers
"A flash in the Dark. A glimmer of color in the gray night. A bright glimpse of light, flashes... then disappears. Dark Shimmers. Appearing on a throat near you!"
There's my movie trailer for this latest piece that I've called "Dark Shimmers". The stone is really dark, but has beautiful shimmers of green and blue with maybe a hint of red streaks. The pearls brighten it up, but don't overpower the beauty of the pendant.
This one was a true collaboration. We both contributed to the design and the work to get it done. It's very satisfying to complete a piece like this, especially when it's so loved by the person who commissioned it. Here's a photos of the completed piece:
There's my movie trailer for this latest piece that I've called "Dark Shimmers". The stone is really dark, but has beautiful shimmers of green and blue with maybe a hint of red streaks. The pearls brighten it up, but don't overpower the beauty of the pendant.
This one was a true collaboration. We both contributed to the design and the work to get it done. It's very satisfying to complete a piece like this, especially when it's so loved by the person who commissioned it. Here's a photos of the completed piece:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
