This week the Etsy Teams program welcomed its 400th Team! Here is a small sampling of some of the wonderful things the Virtual Etsy Teams are doing. Virtual Teams are groups of buyers and sellers who join together based on a common interest, not just based on location. To learn how to join a Team, check the Join page. 

Sellers Assisting Sellers is a new Etsy Team we’re very excited about. This Team, formed by a group of dedicated sellers in the Etsy Forums, aims to help newbies with the the following aspects of selling on Etsy: Etsy Do’s and Dont’s, Etsy Terms and Conditions, Shop Critiquing, Photographing small products, Photoshop, Treasuries, and Customer Service. It’s so wonderful to see the community pro-actively organizing to help one another.

Congratulations to the Etsy MetalClay Team! Four members of the MetalClay Team are featured in an upcoming calendar titled “The Art And Design of Metal Clay Jewelry“.  There were over 250 entries and only 39 photos selected.

The Paper Designs for You Team is running a promotion from September 19 – October 24, 2008. The participating shops include designdolcezza, valmade, balsampondsdesign, matdi123, milestonesnmemories, scrappybugsdesign, gojodesigns, distinctivemoments, capturedtimebooks, lotsofbubbles4me, 62cards, papermajekbyann, ravynfaire, thesavvystitcher, and scrapsbydenise. Check their shops for Fall/Halloween related handmade items, such as gift cards, paper piecings, tear bears and more!

The theme for the Creative Glass Guild’s October Challenge is “Thankful For….” It’s a good time of year for all of us to think of the things in our lives that we are thankful for: our families, our health, our freedoms, and so much more.  Each person’s blessings are as diverse as their individuality.  Visualize in your mind a work of art that encompasses those feelings. Head for the studio and create your inspired entry for this month’s CGGE Challenge using the theme “Thankful for….”. The challenge runs from October 1 and ends promptly at midnight October 25th. Each member may submit one entry only in stained, fused, lampworked or mosaic glass by listing it in their Etsy shop. All entries are to be posted to the CGGE Challenge Group on Flickr. Voting will be open to all Etsy members and the winner of the challenge will be featured on our CGGE Home Page. So CGGE artists, put your thinking caps on again this month and let the world know what you’re especially thankful for in you life.

Etsy Beadweavers Team is helping to fight breast cancer! Twenty five members of the Etsy Beadweavers (EBW) have joined forces to help fight breast cancer and create beaded squares to be included in Jeanette Shanigan’s 2009 Beaded Quilt. Jeanette sews the squares together to form the quilts and then frames them in shadow boxes.  Finished quilts are auctioned at the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee, WI, and the proceeds are donated to the Medical College of Wisconsin Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 100 percent of the donations go directly to research. This year’s theme is “Bead artists have the heart to take on breast cancer” and all squares will include a heart motif.  Almost $10,000 has been raised for breast cancer research from the sale of the quilts.  EBW members have set an October deadline for themselves in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  You can see photos of quilts from previous years here. 

The Edible Arts Team is having a Bake Sale on October 1st, 8pm EST in the Virtual Labs! Come join them for games, giveaways, and great sales! Pre-order now for the Holidays! Why spend all of your free time in the kitchen, when Team EEAT can do it for you! Search “team eeat” to see all the amazing goodies the team has to offer.

It’s time for The Spirited Autumn Event! From Monday, September 22nd (the Fall Equinox) until Monday, October 6, Members of the Earthpath Artisans Street Team are offering special promotions on selected items in their shops. The event focuses on Autumn themed and Magical items, just in time for Halloween! Search Etsy using the “TSAE team” tag to find participating items. There are hundreds to choose from!  Promotions range from specially made items just for the sale, to discounts on tagged items, free shipping, or free gift with purchase. Each participating shop is offering something special!

Team ESST, the Supply Street Team, is having their “Supply your Holidays Sale”, from October 8th through October 12th.  Team members’ shops can be found here.

The Quiltsy Team held an excellent, successful Trunk Show in the Virtual Labs. Members of the Team took turns displaying their beautiful handcrafted, quilted items. To see some of the gorgeous items by this Team, search “Quiltsy Team“. 

The Etsy Teams are constantly working on really fantastic projects. For more information on Etsy Teams, visit http://team.etsy.com.  You can find a recent update on the local Teams in last week’s Teams Digest.