Feature Friday ♥ Maid In England

With Christmas behind us and the New Year to look forward to there just seems to be a never ending list of things to do!  I hope that you can take a relaxing rest from all the hustle and bustle to grab your favorite beverage of choice, sit back, relax and get to know your fellow team member...

Maid In England

~ My Interview with Maid In England ~

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your shop?

I am an artist, knitter, spinner and crocheter. I enjoy my own company and the time that I can spend in my creative "bubble". Making time to create every day is essential to me and my well-being. I enjoy seeing the work of others and becoming inspired by the world around me. My Etsy shop is a perfect place for me to express my love of colour and fibre, and I am excited by the fact that the shop will be able to expand and grow in any direction, according to how I feel.

What inspired you to open your shop?

Knitting and spinning have become the best kind of addiction, and, as a Vegan, I have spent a good deal of time searching for animal-free yarns and fibres to work with. For the most part, my favourite "stash" has come from Indie dyers and spinners on Etsy. I then began to feel the need to be more hands-on, and create yarns in the fibres and colourways of my choosing. It then felt like a very natural step for me to then open an Etsy shop, making my yarn and roving readily available for others who wish to work with the same materials, suitable not only for Vegans but for everyone.

Besides designing & creating things, what do you do?

The are, of course, the unavoidable domestic chores. I also enjoy listening to audio books, reading and walking. Most of my time is focused on being creative, whether it is professional or personal, and I admit that even during my time away from it I am still thinking about it and how soon I can return.

Where, who or what does your influence come from?

Nature plays a big part, it is constantly surprising and dynamic. I would also say that inspiration comes from the films that I enjoy. 

What inspires you to be creative?

I suppose it is best described as a need or an urge to express myself. Working with colours, yarns and fibre is very tactile and comforting. It has a strong feeling of being “connected” to something that responsive. All of my work makes me feel centred, focused and sated.

How do you get out of a creative rut?

I can honestly say that I have never been there! If anything, there never seems to be enough to time get everything out of my system.

When did you first discover that you were or wanted to be an artist?

Since I was absolutely tiny. I can’t remember it happening. I learnt to walk, feed myself and draw. I was drawing and making things before I could read and write. There has always be something "companionable" about being able to create my own world.

Can you describe your creative process for us?

I work best when I am alone. I shut out the rest of the world and gather all of the materials that I will need. When working with yarn and fibre, I often already have colours in mind, and work with the dyes in the same way that I would create a palette of colours for a painting. Once everything is in place, I usually listen to an audio book or music on my MP3. Then, the only things that exist for me are my work, the audio and myself.

What is your most cherished handmade possession? 

I think that I would have to choose a small number of my own artwork. There are several portraits that I have painted or drawn, as well as a few “studies” of sculptures and abstract, that are very precious to me. It would be impossible for me to select only one.

Where do you see or want your shop to be this time next year?

I would love to have a large selection of yarn and fibre, and also carry handmade stitch-markers and “fibre-inspired” artwork, for knitters crocheters and spinners.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

It would be wonderful to be a vendor at fibre festivals and events. 

Who are your favourite shops to browse on Etsy?

There are so many excellent Etsy shops that I love, but a few of absolute my favourites are:

FeltStudioUK - www.etsy.com/shop/FeltStudioUK

Chimera - www.etsy.com/shop/chimera

Quovadishandspun - www.etsy.com/shop/quovadishandspun

Fuzzybunnyfibers - www.etsy.com/shop/fuzzybunnyfibers

What is your best advice to newbie Etsian's just opening their shops? 

I am still quite a newbie myself! But I would recommend to anyone to create and sell things that they absolutely love. Create the things that make them happiest. I also believe that good communication with customers is vital. I make every effort to respond to messages and sales the same day, and always confirm with buyers that their purchase is on it’s way to them. 

Where else other then Etsy can you be found on the net?

I am........

"MaidInEngland" on Ravelry - www.ravelry.com/people/MaidInEngland

"Maid In England Yarn and Fibre" on Face book - www.facebook.com

"1MaidInEngland" on Twitter - www.twitter.com

"TheRealMaidInEngland" on Plurk - www.plurk.com

And I will soon be starting to blog at therealmaidinengland.blogspot.com/

Do you have any coupon codes that you would like to share with our readers?

HappyNewYear - For 10% off of anything in my shop until the end of January 2012

Time To Vote

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas holiday this past weekend.  Since we have a few days rest before New Years holiday next weekend I figured we would get the matter of voting on last weeks Treasury Challenge out of the way. 

Our 4 finalists are....

• Cabaret by  Kat
• Exploring Your Own Style by  cherrytime
• Be Different I Dare You by  MadScientistsDesigns
• Daring To Be Different by  Starla

Please use the polls to the right to vote for your favorite of the above 4, the polls will remain open for 24 hours.  Next Tuesday we will have our next Treasury Challenge and the theme, chosen be a random word generator this week will be, "MODERN"  remember that it can mean anything to you.  Please remember to stop by this blog and check the Challenge Post for complete rules and featured shop.  Have fun! 

☺

Wonderful Wednesdays

"Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening! A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a Winter wonderland..."

 

Wonderful Winter whites from the Etsian Artists Team. To see more by each artist, simply click on their name. Enjoy!

JenniferLynnPhotos

CaliBrooklynDesigns

AnitaDeanSews

AWRdesigns

 

OddballArtCo

KrystenDesign

Rozmari

Splodgepodge

Tuesday Treasury Challenge

The Etsian Artists Team Tuesday Treasury Challenge is open to EVERYONE and not just team members so feel free to join us! This weeks theme is 'AVANT GARDE' and remember that it can mean anything to you. This Challenge will run for 24 hours, your treasury must be created within that time frame and NOT before. Come back on Sunday to vote for your favourite one. You must have all 16 items in your Treasury on Sunday to qualify as a finalist, if there are any missing items in your Treasury it will be disqualified. 

The Winner of the Challenge will be the featured shop in the next weeks challenge as well, they will win a featured blog post including an interview with pics and links to their items, if that wasn't enough they will also receive a spot on the side bar of this blog for one full week!

Here are the rules for the Challenge:

1) You must follow this weeks theme 'AVANT GARDE'

2) Spread the love... Do NOT include an item from your own shop & only one item per shop please

3) Must include 7 Etsian Artists Team Members or (search EAWT) 

4) Must include 1 item from this weeks featured shop BabanCat

5) Must include 3 New or Undiscovered shops (New shops = open for 4 months or less / Undiscovered shops = 40 sales or less) These shops can be team members!

6) The last 5 are up to YOU!

7) Include the Team Tag EAWT

8) Include that you are participating in the Etsian Artists Team weekly treasury challenge somewhere in your treasury description with a link to our Team Blog http://www.etsianartists.blogspot.com/

9) Post your treasury's URL here in the link up below to enter in this weeks challenge!

10) Your Treasury created for the challenge MUST be created within the 24 hour day of the challenge which is every Tuesday, it can NOT be created before hand or it will be disqualified! 

Your Treasury MUST be posted in the link up below to be entered, if it is not in the link up below then it is not in the challenge! 

Good Luck & Have Fun!!! 
☺

Marvelous Mondays

Enjoy these rich red & white items from the Etsian Artists team . . .

To visit the Artist's shop simply click on their name.

OddballArtCo

Splodgepodge

 

artbyamandachristine

 sassyhoops

Lissopa

 OneBarefootGypsy

 PearlesPainting

MadScientistsDesigns

Time To Vote

Get your voting caps on, it's that time again!!!

Thank you to all of the participants this past week, you all made beautiful treasuries with the theme "IMAGINE!"  However, we can only have 4 finalists and 1 winner!  Our finalists this week are...

1. Imagine White by  Cat Thomas
2. Imagine the World in Shades of Brown by  MadScientistsDesigns
3. Imagine by John Lennon by  mycherrytree
4. Imagine a Golden Christmas by  Becky Helmer

Please use the polls to your right to vote for your favorite of these four fabulous finalists!

Our next Treasury Challenge will run the full 24 hours of this coming Tuesday and the theme will be "AVANT GARDE"

Please remember to check the blog for full rules and to find out who is this weeks featured shop!  The theme can mean ANYTHING to you!

Most of all HAVE FUN!

☺

Word-of-Keyboard: Ways to Keep Your Online Customers Happy

As online sellers we have certain responsibilities to abide, and making our online buyers happy is numero uno!  Whether you are a new shop just starting out, or an existing shop with a well-known reputation, we always have to make the customer happy.  Making them want to be a recurring customer and tell all their friends, family, and co-workers about this wonderful experience that they had at your shop is what drives our sales.  It's all about word-of-mouth, or as online sellers, word-of-keyboard.  So how do we do this?  Let's discuss some fundamental solutions.  

First off, customer service.  I've worked in customer service in one facet or another for the past 11 years.  I have worked at several restaurants and at galleries/artists studios and customer service was and still is the key to success.  Studies have shown that people will return to a restaurant with so-so food just because the service is excellent, and vice versa.  No matter if it's a restaurant or a store you are going to, it comes down to the experience you had there.  As Etsy sellers we don't have the ability to be face to face with our customers like other shops or stores, therefore, the communications we have with our customers have to be prompt, genuine, informative, and comforting.  Etsy is a global marketplace so we literally have to be "on call" 24/7.  Customers in Europe, Asia, Australia are looking at items and shops in the U.S. or Canada (for example) when it's 3:00 a.m. our time!  I'm not saying to stop sleeping and to stay up all night watching your inbox, but checking our email and messages should be the first thing we do to start our work day.  Weekends count, as well.  People don't stop buying on the weekends.  This is a full time gig, ladies and gentleman!  

When answering messages from a potential or a recurring buyer, we must always be honest and answer all of their questions.  Nothing is more frustrating than sending a shop questions in a message that comes back leaving you with those questions unanswered!  It is even more important now during the holiday season to make sure all their shipping, sizing, and other questions are answered efficiently and correctly.  Giving them more info about the product in which they are inquiring is never a bad idea either.  Don't go overboard!  You don't have to write them a book, but a couple extra sentences highlighting the items features, describing the color and texture, or breaking down the shipping details is appreciated by the customer and will make them feel more comfortable buying from you.  It shows you took just that little bit of extra time, unlike that other seller...

Ok, we all know customer service is important, but what else is there?  Photography comes into play here in a big way!  Since they can't physically pick up the product, touch it, smell it, get a good grasp of it's shape and personality we have to make sure all of that comes through in our photos.  Using natural light and backgrounds or props that will enhance the photo rather then distracting the customer from the actual product being sold is important.  A plain white background is always good, but depending on your product, shop, and personality you may not want to have that stark white background.  Using old books, fabric, or furniture work well.  Avoid shadows that drown out your product.  If you have an art piece, furniture piece, or home decor item showing how that item would look in a room setting really helps the buyer picture it in their home or a specific room of their house making them more apt to buy your product over someone else's.  You can purchase royalty free stock photos of rooms at shutterstock.com or other stock photo sites.  

Receiving a purchased item that looks exactly like what the photos that made them purchase it in the first place will make your customer happy, so watch out when you are tweaking any colors in Photoshop, iPhoto, or any other image editing software.  If you have dramatic colors in your piece, including a disclaimer in your listing about computer screen resolution may help you in the long run.  Most people don't take that into consideration or even know that everyone's computer screen resolutions and colors are and will be different.  

There are always going to be those customers who will want to return or exchange the item because "it isn't exactly what I wanted" once they receive it in person, in which case we need to make sure we make that customer happy in one form or another.  After working in customer service, especially when I was working at restaurants, I learned that that old saying "the customer is always right" is completely wrong!  People will lie just to get something for free.  When dealing with a difficult customer, however, it may be harder for you as a seller to want to make them happy, but that's our job!  You don't have to give away your soul to make a customer happy.  Find out what they want, and try and make it work as best as possible for both of you.  And hopefully you'll have way more nice customers than nasty ones!

Etsy and eBay already allow buyers to leave a shop or seller feedback, which makes the customer feel more in control of the situation, but going one step further and allowing them access to give your item, shop, or customer service praise on Twitter or Facebook is wonderful, too!  Ask them to send you a picture of your art piece once it's displayed, or have them post a reaction photo of them giving your item as a gift on Facebook or Twitter creates a more personal buying experience and will connect them more to your shop and product.  

I think I've given you enough to think about for now, but during this busy holiday shopping season remember these important tips and make your customers happy!  Follow-up with them, include a special coupon code with their purchase, or send them an extra little goodie!  I recently purchased three art pieces from a shop on Etsy and the artist included an extra ACEO card of another art piece!  I was stoked to see that (it's the little things...) So go on, and give them something to talk about!

Thanks for reading!

kristen

Havok Designs

Feature Friday ~ MischievousCreations

MischievousCreations

Big shout out to Cherrytime for so generously paying this feature forward to  MischievousCreations!

~ My Interview with Heather of MischievousCreations ~

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your shop?

I am an artist, soul searcher, heart partner, mother, daughter, and sister. Determined to find my path. Determined to inspire, love, and create. I am ME. My Etsy shop is a place for me to put all of those parts of myself out into the world.

What inspired you to open your shop?

More than selling my art, Etsy was a place for me to get over being insecure about my work. It was WAY out of my comfort zone to throw my art out there as it is always so personal. I knew I had to find a way to get over my insecurities and Etsy has been a perfect way for me to accomplish that.

Besides designing & creating things, what do you do?

Taking care of my family is my top priority always. I spend a lot of time just doing normal stuff. Laundry, dishes, playing Mom's Taxi, and so on. I also teach art two days a week to the youth in our area at our local community center.

Circus Clown - Original ACEO ooak - FREE SHIPPING

Where, who or what does your influence come from?

Simply put...within myself. I work very hard to make sure whatever I'm creating is influenced by my soul and not by an outside source. I want my work to be authentic to me.

What inspires you to be creative?

Everything! I feel very blessed to have being creative be a part of my entire make-up. It comes naturally for me and since figuring that out I've been able to nurture that part of myself and watch it grow. Seems like I'm always in creative mode.

How do you get out of a creative rut? 

On the occasion I'm feeling a bit stuck I will do something a simple as mixing paint. I started a paint journal to log all the colors I have, and the combinations they create together. This really helps to get things rolling. I have found that since making art a part of my daily routine, I have fewer "ruts". Experimenting helps a bunch too. Playing and experimenting with mixing different mediums is so much fun and seems to really open that creative door.

Express from the Inside 8x10 Print - FREE SHIP

When did you first discover that you were or wanted to be an artist?

In the words of Lady Gaga, "Baby, I was born this way." I've always wanted to be and have been an artist. The hardest part was accepting that simple truth. Getting over the "good enough" hurdle and just letting me be me was a difficult process. But once I was able to build my confidence enough to accept that, my growth and abilities have really accelerated. I get better every single day. And I practice every single day.

Can you describe your creative process for us?

I just sit down and start. Usually I have no idea what I'm making or how it will turn out. I just go. Applying layers and colors, until it all just feels right. I create from my gut. Sometimes I will have a thought or a dream about a piece that will nag me like crazy until I create it. Those projects usually go pretty quickly as I have to get them out of my head to be able to move on. And more often than not I'm working on several pieces at once. I get impatient waiting for paint to dry so multiple projects keeps the flow at a steady pace. The biggest part of my creative process is to just let go and let whatever comes out be whatever it is.

What is your most cherished handmade possession?

I have a few things my grandmother embroidered on, a ceramic music box from my mother, and anything my children have made me. Of my own work, I have two canvases I just can't seem to part with. They still yank at my heart strings years after creating them.

Fly Original Mixed Media FREE US SHIP

Where do you see or want your shop to be this time next year?

I have so many ideas for my shop. Almost too many. LOL! I'd like to offer my work in ways that will be less expensive and still visually appealing. Which will mean a lot more reproduction type items. Right now my biggest goal for my shop is just to be able to share my work and my message with the world in a way that is inspiring to all. I want to have items that will make great inexpensive gifts, with positive heart jerking messages of motivation, inspiration, and love.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

Honestly, I don't think about that a whole lot. I will be wherever I am and that will be the perfect place for me. I'm excited to see where I end up as it has only been the last few months I made the decision to become a full time artist. 10 years is a long time to be doing full time art and I'm certain wherever I end up it will still involve art and be amazing.

Who are your favourite shops to browse on Etsy?

Any and all mixed media shops. Some of my fav's from the EAWT Team are... 

Mandarin Moon ~ www.etsy.com/shop/MandarinMoon  

Oddball Art Co ~ www.etsy.com/shop/OddballArtCo 

Cherrytime ~ www.etsy.com/shop/cherrytime  

Girl Burke Studios ~ www.etsy.com/shop/GirlBurkeStudios 

I always seem to end up browsing these shops. And there are so many more wonderful shops to mention it's hard to choose.

Bedtime Girl - Original ACEO ooak - FREE SHIPPING

What is your best advice to newbie Etsian's just opening their shops?

Do it because you love it. My shop hasn't seen much monetary success, however on a spiritual level it is one of the very best choices I have ever made. It's opened doors to contacts, different avenues to show my art, and loads of other amazing artists.

Where else other then Etsy can you be found on the net?

heatherkross.blogspot.com/

twitter.com/#!/@SheRuns_HKRoss

www.facebook.com/heather.stanworth

www.ebsqart.com/Artist/Heather-K-Ross/47808/

Do you have any coupon codes that you would like to share with our readers?

EAWT1211 for 10% off anything in my shop.

Supreme Intentions - Bring It - 8x10 Print - FREE SHIP

Feature Friday ~ aeliosdesign

aeliosdesign

Black Gold Bracelet Genuine Greek Leather and Hand Painted Ceramic Beads

~ My Interview with Kat of aeliosdesign ~

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your shop?

I'm a Canadian designer with Greek roots. I moved to Greece six years ago, and have lived in both the capital and on a few islands. I'm currently on Crete and have my work shop set up as a retail space in the old town of Chania, near the harbour. 

Aelios is an ancient Greek word for sun. My fiancé picked it, and I loved it, so we branded my shop aeliosdesign. 

What inspired you to open your shop?

I believe that one should enjoy what they do. I have had many many jobs, starting from pre-adolescence. My family had a few restaurants, so I helped out from a very young age. I've worked in retail, the service industry, accounting offices, property management, even a tanning salon and a doctor's office while getting through university... I've done the 9 to 5, but none of those things were ever satisfying enough for me. I wasn't 'inspired' by a specific event, I just finally decided to do what I love. Now I enjoy my 'daily grind'.

Besides designing & creating things, what do you do?

I'm an amateur photographer. I always have my camera in my bag, because I don't want to miss an opportunity to capture a beautiful image. 

I'm a great cook (dad was a chef, and taught me to be creative in the kitchen). I especially enjoy cooking for friends and am known to host a fabulous dinner party. 

I love travelling and taking in new places and cultures. The diversity of the human race fascinates me. 

Latitude Longitude Upcycled Wood Bangle Bracelet: A New Geometric and Modern Take on the Original

Where, who or what does your influence come from?

Good design. Nature. Geometry. 

What inspires you to be creative?

A lot of things. Something just clicks and all of a sudden I'm designing something new. I'm working on a ring right now that was inspired by a lotus fruit my fiancé was peeling after coming home from the farmer's market. 

How do you get out of a creative rut?

I have a lot of different solutions for this. I might sit and browse through some design blogs, anything from home decor to packaging design... Maybe I'll grab my sketch book and just start drawing different shapes, or I might even just take a brake, go sit by the sea and watch the waves. 

Small Hoops Upcycled Wood and Sterling Silver

When did you first discover that you were or wanted to be an artist?

I've used creativity as an outlet for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I would rearrange my room often, and paint it with different techniques, textures and colours at least once a year. I think it drove my parents mad... I was always a DIYer and the satisfaction I feel at the end of any creative process, when I have the final design complete and ready for use is amazing. Doing something in the creative field was only logical for me. 

Can you describe your creative process for us?

Not really... I don't have a specific process. Sometimes I need to plan and make sketches, other times I just start making something from an image in my mind. Sometimes I need silence, other times I blast music. It really varies depending on my mood. 

What is your most cherished handmade possession?

There are so many.... A hand print plate I made in Kindergarten would top the list, and a blanket my grandmother crocheted for me is a very close second. 

Meteorite Sterling Silver Statement Ring Cocktail Ring

Where do you see or want your shop to be this time next year?

I'm planning on moving back to Canada in the new year, so I hope to get involved with the hand made community locally. Seeing as the holidays are approaching, I would really like to have a spot in some local and possibly juried shows this time next year.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

Living in a little house with enough land to have a vegetable and herb garden and possibly a few sheep (for milk and cheese) on a small island. I'd like to be working from a home studio while raising my future child/children. 

Who are your favourite shops to browse on Etsy?

There are so so many to pick from! 

I love the natural products and the Victorian feel of

www.etsy.com/shop/ForStrangeWomen

I really like the style of these photographers www.etsy.com/shop/CarlaDyck and www.etsy.com/shop/tombland

I'm a fan of hats, so www.etsy.com/shop/pixiebell and these decals are awesome www.etsy.com/shop/urbanwalls

Genuine Amethyst Necklace Oxidised Sterling Silver Gemstone OOAK

What is your best advice to newbie Etsian's just opening their shops?

Just do it!... or was that nike? :) I think it's important to just take the initial plunge. Open and list! Photography is also super important, but it's a skill you can work on over time. 

Where else other than Etsy can you be found on the net?

This page has links to everywhere I am: www.about.me/katp

Do you have any coupon codes that you would like to share with our readers?

Sure! Enter 'ETSIANARTISTS' for free shipping this weekend, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th.

Treasury Thursday

( Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone this is a day late... )

 

Enjoy these fabulous Treasuries made by and featuring 
members of the Etsian Artists Team...

 

 

 

 

How To Use Twitter To Grow Your Biz!

Twitter is a powerful way to promote your business, connect with your customers and create buzz about your brand!

Using Twitter to grow your business is easy and can lead to much success, if done properly.  Here are a few tips to help you.

• Hash Tags (#) are uber important!  There are 3 things that will make a successful hash tag, short, sweet and catchy!  Use the hash tags to talk about themes so your followers can find you using these themes.  Using the same ones over and over in your tweets is a good plan.  Your followers will get to know and remember them and then use them to find your latest tweets!
• The best tweets to help you grow your biz are tweets that are retweeted because then you aren't just reaching your followers but your followers followers as well!  This can lead to your tweet having the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of people!  Plan your tweets so that they create curiosity and are user friendly. ie. links need to be shortened!  Be sure to retweet others tweets, this will lead to reciprocate retweets.
• Content of your tweets is also uber important! The best content to help you grow your biz is contests, specials and events!  This kind of content also has high potential for retweet!  You can even include specials for your followers who retweeted your tweet, this will benefit you in more ways then one!
• Lastly there are plenty of apps out there to help you out!  I recently came across a free one for Google Chrome called SocialBro and it is AWESOME! If you don't use Google Chrome then you can also find it available for Adobe Air as well.  This tool allows you to manage and analyze your twitter  account(s) all from your Google Chrome browser even when you are offline!  Some of the features are filter and order the search results using different criteria such as: number of followers, frequency of tweets, account age, recent activity, language, time zone, detect who is following you and easily follow them back, detect who recently unfollowed you and easily unfollow them, detect potential spammers, noisy users, influential users, famous people, newbies from amongst your friends and/or followers, visualize statistical information about your community: time zone charts, languages charts, users by number of followers, users by recent activity, etc., find out when your best time to tweet is and take advantage of every tweet you send, manage multiple accounts without logging in and out, analyze your competitors or other interesting profiles: copy their lists, follow their friends and followers, etc., analyze Twitter search results by users,  Import any text list of users such as: conferences attendees, your app users, etc., add notes and reminders to the users, tag users and much much more believe it or not! 

So as you can see this app has a lot to offer and completely free, making it even easier for you to make the most out of what Twitter has to offer for you and your business!  With sites like Twitter and FB taking such a hold on our population there is no longer any reason to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a marketing campaign and with the invention of apps like SocialBro and many others you now have all of the tools and resources at your fingertips to put together a marketing campaign that is honestly priceless!

Tuesday Treasury Challenge

The Etsian Artists Team Tuesday Treasury Challenge is open to EVERYONE and not just team members so feel free to join us! This weeks theme is 'IMAGINE' and remember that it can mean anything to you. This Challenge will run for 24 hours, your treasury must be created within that time frame and NOT before. Come back on Sunday to vote for your favourite one. You must have all 16 items in your Treasury on Sunday to qualify as a finalist, if there are any missing items in your Treasury it will be disqualified. 

The Winner of the Challenge will be the featured shop in the next weeks challenge as well, they will win a featured blog post including an interview with pics and links to their items, if that wasn't enough they will also receive a spot on the side bar of this blog for one full week!

Here are the rules for the Challenge:

1) You must follow this weeks theme 'IMAGINE'

2) Spread the love... Do NOT include an item from your own shop & only one item per shop please

3) Must include 6 Etsian Artists Team Members or (search EAWT) (will go back to 7 next week)

4) Must include 1 item from each of this weeks featured shops as there was a tie last challenge Cherrytime & AeliosDesign

5) Must include 3 New or Undiscovered shops (New shops = open for 4 months or less / Undiscovered shops = 40 sales or less) These shops can be team members!

6) The last 5 are up to YOU!

7) Include the Team Tag EAWT

8) Include that you are participating in the Etsian Artists Team weekly treasury challenge somewhere in your treasury description with a link to our Team Blog http://www.etsianartists.blogspot.com/

9) Post your treasury's URL here in the link up below to enter in this weeks challenge!

10) Your Treasury created for the challenge MUST be created within the 24 hour day of the challenge which is every Tuesday, it can NOT be created before hand or it will be disqualified! 

Your Treasury MUST be posted in the link up below to be entered, if it is not in the link up below then it is not in the challenge! 

Good Luck & Have Fun!!! ☺

Are You Getting The Most Out of Your Internet?

The holidays are, well, I don't mean to frighten you, but they are here!  Thanksgiving has come and gone and now with Christmas and New Year's Eve approaching, you need to make sure that you are doing everything you possibly can to increase your Etsy Shop's exposure!

There are of course the obvious avenues to make sure you are tapping into, such as Facebook, Twitter, Etsy Teams,  and YouTube.  YouTube is a great (and free!) site to use for marketing your products if you create items that are interesting when filmed.  For instance, if you have some intricate and/or large art products you can set up a camera and film the art piece on the wall to give the viewer a more "there" experience.  Another way to use YouTube is if you have items that have a process.  You can videotape parts of the process, piece them together to show the beginning to the end!

Some other sites have been popping up on Etsy forums lately that I have taken an interest in, like pinterest, Stumble, and the recently launched Google+.  I am just settling into these sites.  So far, to me, Google+ appears (on the surface) to be similar to Facebook or Twitter and includes some of the same features us Etsy sellers are familiar with.  They have "circles" where you include friends, co-workers, clients, etc into your circle and they can view your activity, photos, posts and vice versa.  Though I am just getting started with Google+, I have heard from many people on Twitter and have read articles about how Google+ is amazing for freelance artists and designers!  It's free with a Google account, so it doesn't cost you anything if you haven't already tried it.

Another idea that has been circulating for  a few weeks is setting up your Etsy shop for the holidays.  Whether it be with seasonal decorations on your banner, a Christmas/Holiday sale announcement, coupon codes, or order deadlines for Christmas delivery, people will be more geared to order from your shop if you have at least one of those options presented.  You don't have to go to extremes, mind you.  You can stick to your specific style and shop presence by subtly inducing some holiday cheer to your shop.  There are a few of my favorite shops who have done it in their own way.  Check them out:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/tombland
http://www.etsy.com/shop/solocosmo
http://www.etsy.com/shop/1AEON
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BuyMyCrap

Those are just a few examples.  The last one I included because I really like the way they used the arrows in their banner to direct people to their shop sections and the Facebook and Twitter buttons underneath.  It's clever, cute, and eye-catching!  Anything that you can do to not only show your personality but drive people to your other social media outlets is wonderful!  Unless you have a huge marketing budget (which I know I sure as hell don't) free sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flicker, and Blogs are our best friends.  People don't always assume that you have a Facebook or Twitter page or even a Blog!  That's part of our job as shop owners to steer them in the right directions.

But if you are thinking, "I know about all those!  I'm looking for something more..."  Well, then get out there, silly!  For sewers there are several websites out there where you can create an account (for free), upload photos and post projects (for free), and post links to your site where that item is for sale, once again driving more traffic to your shop.  My favorites for sewing are BurdaStyle and Craftsy.  For artists, website such as Saatchi, Blue Canvas, and Abduzeedo are amazing!

So get out there!  Explore the World Wide Web and find all those sites out there that are all geared towards your style and needs.  There is something for everyone!  And who knows, you might have some fun and learn something, too :)

by
kristen shearon
Havok Designs

Treasury Thursday

Enjoy these fabulous Treasuries made by and featuring 
members of the Etsian Artists Team...

Wonderful Wednesdays

In the spirit of the holiday season, today's fabulous finds from the Etsian Artists Team inspire you to decorate that tree in handmade splendor!

A hand painted, onion shaped ornament from PearlesPainting.

An OOAK polymer clay, glass, and crystal ornament from MandarinMoon.

 

A fabric ball ornament from SewMyGosh1.

 

A red, green, and silver Chainmalle ornament from DoBatsEatCats.

 

 

A red crochet heart from cherrytime.

 

A vintage vacuum tube ornament from MadScientistsDesigns.

A hand colored cut paper snowman from starflycreations.

 

A red crochet heart stuffed with winter spices from BabanCat.

 

A set of 4 Swarovski crystal and lampwork bead ornaments from AnitaDeanSews.

 

An upcycled juice lid ornament from artagain.

And there many more great ornaments available from these terrific artists! Let's get those trees decorated! Happy holidays!