This week we’re featuring a Team that is really motivated and on its way to being a huge force in the Etsy jewelry world! The Etsy MetalClay Team is working hard to promote the art of precious metal clay and each other’s shops.  We wanted to introduce you to this interesting and relatively new medium and Team!  Much thanks to Team leader LoraHart for collecting these answers and being a positive member of the Etsy Teams program!

Can you tell us a bit about your Etsy Team? What’s the glue that holds your team together – location, craft, etc.?

Although our members are spread far and wide geographically, we’re definitely united by our love of all things metal clay. The Etsy MetalClay Team (also known by our Team tag — EMC team) is made up of a great group of talented jewelry makers who are, coincidentally, smart, supportive and heart warmingly enthusiastic.

Metal Clay is a relatively new material that not many folks are aware of, and we’re really dedicated to introducing it to as many jewelry
lovers as possible.  It mixes microsopic particles of metal with an organic binder and water.  Fire it at extremely high temperatures so the binder and water are incinerated and all that’s left is beautiful, solid silver; gold or bronze — and it’s a completely green material. It’s good for the earth and good for your jewelry box! Our goal is for this alchemously beautiful technological breakthrough in jewelry fabrication to capture the hearts and imaginations of the entire world! Mwahhh hahhh hahhh!

What does your Team do to help each other?

It’s amazing to me that in our short two months of existence, our members have collaborated to create a web site; blog; many team Treasuries; a logo and a Team buyers’ profile at Etsy so we can use the Etsy Mini feature to showcase our work on the web site.  An Etsy shop is in our future, but still a ways off.

What’s your favorite part of the Team program?

Ah, I’m a little challenged in the computer realm.  I’m an old fogey and definitely haven’t explored all that Etsy Teams has to offer yet, but I do get the daily EtsyTeamsSuperstars digest (although I’m a lurker for the moment), which has been really helpful, and we’re due to have our first “live” chat via the Teams room in the Virtual Labs later this month.

How does your Team promote Etsy and each other’s shops?

Many of us also have personal Blogs on which we post our Etsy triumphs.  I’ve made Etsy Minis of my favorites, used Etsy seller’s images in a monthly Blog Carnival I participate in (with full credits and links), and of course referred to my own shop numerous times.  When the Team blog is up and running, it will be all Etsy, all the time!

Tell us a bit about a current or past Team event or promotion.

We’re just in the planning stages of figuring out a Trunk Show or another Etsy event.  I know that Etsy has a full schedule, so it’ll probably take place at the beginning of 2009: a great way to start the New Year!  In the meantime, we’re looking for other dedicated metal clayers to join our happy throng.  We jury interested shops at the end of every month and I’d love to invite Storque readers to convo me if you’d like some more information.

Do you have any suggestions for new Teams or sellers who might be interested in creating their own Team?

I started the MetalClay Team because I saw a screaming need for it.  The Teams Profile page showed jewelry groups for metal fabricators, beaders, designers and those who just plain love bling, but nothing dedicated to metal clay.  If there’s a hole in the Etsy Teams profile that speaks to someone’s heart, they should look for other buyers or sellers of that craft and discipline or specific location and begin a conversation.

Does your Team have an exciting promotion, event or announcement to share?

We sure do!  Three members of the Team will be featured in a 2009 calendar called “The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry and More“.  Jennifer Smith-Righter of WearableByDesign; Liz Hall of LizardsJewelry and myself, LoraHart were really thrilled to be included.  The calendar is available at HollyGage.com

See more work from this Team by searching “EMC team“.  To find out more about Teams, make sure you stop by our Teams hub here!

Want to learn more about Teams?  Check us out! See you next week for another fun Feature on another great Etsy Team!