Storque articles by TheStorque

All about Etsy FAQ Series: As the Storque Flies

2008-01-11T12:01:00-05:00

The Storque is still young and fresh-faced, having only been launched in September of 2007. We still hear people asking, "What is the Storque?" As part of our All about Etsy FAQ series, we're including this post: information about the Storque, how it works, how it serves the Etsy community and readers interested in the handmade lifestyle, and further, how you can get involved.

Upon reflection, we've come a long way since September of 2007. But the Storque editors feel that there are still ways to improve. We've just launched the video section as of January 2008, and we'll be making a push this spring to have a stronger Etsy video presence. Part of that includes getting Etsians involved: we want to see Your Handmade Stories and your How-to videos, and other video projects too. And to help support that, we'll be doing a series of How-to Make Your Own Video.

Editing the Storque is also a constant balancing act between content for Buyers and content for Sellers. Our hope is that this dual readership is interested enough in each other that you don't mind sifting through content a bit. We also plan to work more on syndicating content out and getting the Storque name out there into the wide world outside of Etsy.

All in all, Alison aka TeenAngster, EricB aka objecked , Tara aka weirdwolf and I love our jobs and we look forward to suggestions you may have in the comments below.

The Storque is Etsy's blog (what do you think we should call it?), for both buyers and sellers and readers interested in the handmade lifestyle. The Storque provides site announcements for users, as well as posts highlighting great handmade items for sale on the site and stories about makers. It's like a blog in that it's updated every day, throughout the day, and its content is organized into different sections, to better help you get to stories of interest to you.

Another special aspect of the Storque is the Related Items; these are listings from the marketplace linked at the bottom of each article. Most of the header images used to illustrate posts are from marketplace listings (some are from Creative Commons licensed flickr photos). In this way, the Storque can be browsed like a context-based shopping tool: a magazine embedded with handmade items for sale. Since we're telling the inspiring stories behind handmade items in our marketplace and sharing info from helpful sellers, it makes sense for the Storque.

How to Navigate the Storque

Click on any of the recent posts featured on the homepage of the Storque.
Search the Storque for articles by using the search bar (search by Storque tags only, tags and titles of articles, or tags, titles and body of articles).
Click on the main sections at left and they will take you to that type of content only.

SPOTLIGHT— Featured items and sellers from the marketplace.

THIS HANDMADE LIFE— Lifestyle pieces from the world of handmade.

CRAFTIVISM— Stories with a socially conscious mission.

HOW-TO— Indie-preneur info and advice as well as some how-tos for making stuff and help using the site for buying and selling

REVIEWS— Reviews of anything related to handmade: blogs, music, movies, equipment, shows...

ETSY NEWS— Updates about Etsy policy, new site features, press clippings

EVENTS— Heads-up and round-ups about goings-on in the in the world of DIY, handmade (especially events Etsians are organizing or involved in)

ETC— Fun, silly stuff like Etsy Pets and Funny Forum Quotes.
VIDEO— Get straight to a chronological list of the videos embedded within articles on the Storque.
Click on a Featured Column to get an even finer grained sorting of the content.
Click view all contributors to read the Storque by author.
Under featured columns, you'll see recent comments. Click on these to get right to what all the fuss is about.
Most Popular this Week and the Hall of Fame also give you a sense of what posts readers are finding most compelling.
You can click on that image "storque related items - 10x10 grid" to see the most recent related items we've curated on the Storque.

Once you've opened an article, you can:

Click on the tags at the bottom to see other similar content.
You can click on an author's avatar to get to a list of all the articles they've written for the Storque or to get to their shop and profile.
If you're a shopper, you should also click on related items to get to the listing page.
You need to be logged into Etsy to post your own comment.
Previous page and Next page get you to the previous or next article within the section.

As of September 2008, we post between 5-10 articles a day (less on weekends).

Here are just some of our Featured Columns:

About Us — Get to know the Etsy admin.
All about Etsy FAQ Series — Learn about how Etsy, the company, runs internally.
Art of Pricing — A series for sellers on figuring out how to price your work.
Competitions & Opportunities — Check this out for contests, promotions and other ways to get in on the action.
CustomerCare — Pieces from admin on the Customer Support Team, with everything from helpful tips on how to use Etsy to updates on site policy and billing.
Etsy Community Projects — Projects that Etsians do together to get to know each other, have fun or do something that makes a difference.
Etsy Finds — Every day, one of the Etsy admin posts one of their favorite items from the marketplace.
Etsy Handmade Heirlooms — Call for videos about your family's most treasured handmade heirloom.
Etsy Love Stories — Romance, Etsy style.
Etsy Success Stories — Interviews with successful Etsy sellers, in which they share their useful tips.
Etsy's Most Hearted — Posts about much beloved Etsians.
EtsyLabs — Find out what is going on in the Labs and how to get involved, even if you're not in Brooklyn.
EtsyTeams — All posts related to Etsy Teams.
EtsyinthePress — Keep up to date with news articles and other media pieces that cover Etsy.
Featured Buyer — Posted on Wednesdays, these pieces invite notables and bloggers to choose their favorite items from the Etsy marketplace.
Forum Decorum — Etiquette for participating in the Etsy Forums.
Fresh Shops — Our weekly series highlighting new talented sellers.
Funny Forum Quotes — Silly and insightful lines from the Etsy Forums.
Gift Ideas — Seasonal content for shoppers.
Legal Info for Artists —Legal information for artists and crafters from Sarah Feingold, Etsy's in-house attorney and jeweler.
News from the Craft + Style Blogosphere
Online Workshops — Notices for live multi-user events. Get involved!
Open Studio Tour — Visits to artists, both Etsy sellers and other notable artists.
Podcasting Series — Learn how-to podcast and suggestions for what to listen to.
Recommended Blogs — Suggestions for cool blogs to read
Shop Critiques — Posts related to the Labs' live critiques of sellers' shops.
Shop Makeover Series — How-to make your shop better looking, more effective and more self-confident too!
Storque Newscast — Our video newscast. Entertaining and informative.
TechUpdates — Site announcements pertaining to site functionality and features.
Trends — Hot tends for shoppers
Your Handmade Stories — Our call for videos from sellers and buyers telling us how making things has changed their lives or supporting indie artists makes the world a better place

For Buyers:
There's plenty o' shopping content. Click through the Storque as you would flip through a fashion magazine, checking out the related items at the bottom of each article. Best place to start is the SPOTLIGHT section.

Every week we post a Trends piece or a Featured Buyer piece in the SPOTLIGHT section.
Daily, we post Etsy Finds which highlight a unique item on Etsy.
We also feature Fresh Shops as a way to highlight newbie sellers.
If you want to get more into the lifestyle content, try THIS HANDMADE LIFE.
Look for Etsy EVENTS in your area; some of these are local to Brooklyn and related to our office at the Etsy Labs, but some of the events may be featuring Etsy sellers in your area.

For Sellers:
The Storque is your go-to place for site announcements and ETSY NEWS, as well as HOW-TO s for indie entrepreneurs. Etsy Success Stories and Quit Your Day Job in the SPOTLIGHT section reveal some of the best kept secrets from Etsy's top sellers. TechUpdates offer you the crucial info. The Seller Handbook is our compilation of all the how-tos about selling published on the Storque.

Writing for the Storque
The Storque is written by Etsy admins, special guests, and members of the Etsy community, so in a way, it's like a community newspaper. Etsians can pitch an article to the Storque by clicking the "Pitch to the Storque!" link on the Storque's homepage. We, the Storque's editors Vanessa and TeenAngster, will get back to you if your pitch fits the editorial calendar and if we think your post would be of interest to readers. We apologize that we cannot reply to every pitch: we are just too swamped! Readers can click through to authors' shops and profiles linked to by their by-line avatars.

Readers and authors alike look forward to reading the comments on articles. These comments range in tone from virtual high-fives to thoughtful critiques.

One of our readers anndouglas, for example, commented:
"I'm new to Etsy and loving The Storque. Thanks for your great blend of helpful tips, fun-to-read writing, and things I have to check out (and possibly buy)."

Like any online magazine or blog, the editors reserve the right to remove comments that we deem inappropriate or offensive. The Storque is a live, public space for editorial content, and we urge commenters to reflect on their tone and message before posting. For in-depth, Etsy-focused discussion, you may prefer to post in the forums. From time to time, in fact, we'll close commenting on a Storque post and redirect conversation to a forum thread. In part, we don't want to splinter information and the valuable insight that comes when important topics like site policy or bugs are discussed or diagnosed.

Reposting Content
The Storque is published under a Creative Commons license which allows you to repost articles wherever you like, and we hope that you do so, as long as you give the creators attribution and link back to the original post.

For Media & Press inquiries:
Please see the Etsy About Page and Press Page. If you're interested in developing a Storque story for newspaper, magazine or TV, please email storque@etsy.com or press@etsy.com.

Storque Digest: January 2nd - January 8th, 2008

2008-01-08T15:10:00-05:00

It's been a busy week! 2008 looks to be a swell year. Catch up on the headlines from the past week with the Storque Digest.

Hot Posts:

Etsy Year in Review: 2007

Survey Says: Getting to Know You & Getting the Word Out
Have you taken our handy dandy survey? Do it today!

Etsy in the Press: Best of 2007 and Then Some

Cracker Crumbs and Packing Peanuts: Insights from Work-At-Home Moms to Boost Your Productivity

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: It's Never Too Early for Love!

The Shop Makeover series continues! Check out this article on the "fine print" of your shop for more info.

Other News Headlines:

Tech Updates: Shop Page Username Changes

SarahSays: Contest Law

Posts for Shoppers:

Etsy Finds: Grocery Totes Save the Earth

Shop Local: Vermont

Fresh Shops: JacobsEye

Just for kicks, we had a season showdown, with the Northern hemisphere's weather pitted against the Southern.

And here's the Southern hemisphere edition!

Etsy Trends: Cookie Magazine's Nursery Art Round-Up

Handmade Lifestyle:

Your Handmade Stories: Peeech

Fundraising for Dawn's Boys

Etsy How-to: Screenprinting and You

Posts for Sellers:

Wednesday Online Workshop: Shop Makeover series

Etsy Success Stories: jacquelineknits

Etsy Teams Digest: What a Wonderful Year

Forum Decorum: Taking Time for a Time Out

Customer Care Update: Canceling Etsy Transactions

Etsy Seller Inventory Worksheet

How-to Sell Sell Sell 365 Days a Year: Make Everyday a Holiday

Etc:

Wanna know more about the folks behind Etsy? We'll be posting little tidbits of info in our About Us series! First up: Chris aka RevolvingDork

And just for our own personal curiousity: let us know what you think the most compelling article was this week! Post it in the comments!

Winter/Summer Showdown: Northern Hemisphere!

2008-01-07T13:23:00-05:00

Today, the Northern and the Southern hemispheres will face off in a weather showdown of Etsy cuteness. Which season will prevail? Who has the better weather? Who has more flattering options for their current temperature? The tension is killing us!

Here we have many warm and cozy items for those living above the Equator. Snowy days may be upon us, but adorable accessories make the season a little more tolerable. Enjoy the cooler temperatures before the sweltering heat returns!

What's your favorite season: summer or winter? Leave it in the comments!

(Psst! Check out our summer themed Southern hemisphere edition for the flip side of this global coin!)

Etsy Year in Review: 2007

2008-01-05T12:35:00-05:00

It's been a heckuva year folks! Here's a video highlighting the many wonderful and challenging things we accomplished this year: the launch of Etsy Labs and the Storque, welcoming visiting artists like the Majestica Collective and Matty8080, meeting crafters at fairs across the country and at trunk shows in Brooklyn, adding site features like Shop Locally and Pounce, getting the word out about buyhandmade.org and getting to know over 100,000 new Etsians!

A big thank you from all of us at Etsy for making this such a great year. Looking forward to 2008!

Looking Back at the Storque: 2007

2007-12-28T22:17:00-05:00

Since the launch of the Storque in September 2007, many articles generated discussion amongst our readers. Below, we'll point you to some of the "most commented on" posts.

Some posts got people to laugh. Etsians got a kick out of pieces by aPassionForFashion's husband Jason: How Going to the Craft Store is like Going to the Gym and Families of the Addicted.

Some posts were more contentious. The announcement of Etsy's expanded Showcase program, Shiny New Showcases, met with calls for seller stats. The announcement of the Gift Guides feature also drew differing opinions and reactions from Etsians.

Recently, after the stress and excitement of the holidays, we posted a tongue-in-cheek call for the confessions of "cheaters" who didn't keep their BuyHandmade.org Pledge 100%. The pledge was — and is (it's not ending with the passing of the holidays!) — ambitious, and Etsians stepped up to the challenge with the earnest goal to give handmade items preferential treatment. While the BuyHandmade.org Pledge takes a hands-on approach to the serious political, social, environmental, and economic issues, Etsians aren't a rigid or humorless bunch. We gave it our best shot this holiday season and really, we want to continue! Because buying and giving, making and asking for handmade isn't just about signing your name on a website or just about this and only this season: it's a lifestyle choice and a paradigm shift. Check out this interesting forum thread for more of Etsians talking about how handmade has changed their perspectives on consumerism.

Etsians also like to hear from Etsy's founder, Rob Kalin aka Rokali. Sellers — and buyers too — have invested a lot of time and energy and money in Etsy and they want to check in and hear what the company's goals and priorities are. We did a podcast with Rob, Rokali's Ironing-board Chat, and readers can expect another post from him soon.

Interactive pieces called for participation by the community. Find Your Local Holiday Craft Fair! showed the remarkable amount of handmade selling activity going on around the world for the 2007 holiday season.

Virtual partying got people involved too. The Duel asked for your votes: Couch potato or Glammier than thou? Fun tie-ins with the frontpage got people's attention, like KarmaRox's Hidden Treasure post.

We did a couple interviews with celebs we thought you would enjoy: Amy Sedaris and Lotta Jansdotter.

The Costume-a-thon — Etsy's Halloween Costume Contest for which we partnered with Treehugger.com, BoingBoing.net, Conservation International, Craftzine.com, Threadless.com, Tcritic.com, Babble.com and Makezine.com — brought in many new readers and spread Etsy creativity throughout the web in the form of some amazing costumes. We're looking forward to launching more contests like Costume-a-thon in 2008.

More from the Storque:
We also started doing the Storque Digests, which collect the week prior's headlines. The Storque monthly Newscast is a series of informative, yet entertaining videos for your viewing pleasure. We'll be experimenting with their style and content in the coming months as we expand our video content. We'll also be experimenting with a Storque Index, as another way — a heavily alphabetized way — of finding what you're looking for. Speaking of Storque-centric content, The Storque Masthead & Tagline: We Need Your Input was not in vain! We will be implementing those changes soon.

Please post below and let us know what your favorite 2007 Storque articles were, and what you'd like to see more of in the coming months.

Storque Digest: December 19 - December 24

2007-12-25T13:27:00-05:00

Seasons Greetings to all who are celebrating right now. And for those who don't celebrate, thank you for being patient with us while we do funny things with trees and hang stockings in unexpected places in our homes. Here's the run-down of headlines from the past week of the Storque. Check out past Storque Digests to catch up on your reading!

Hot Posts

Etsy in the Press: New York Times Magazine Feature and Etsy in the Press: The Rachael Ray Show

Forum Questions Answered: Loosewirestudio

We launched a new shopping tool in TechUpdates: Shop Local and continued our Shop Local series from around the world on the Storque. See all posts.

Survey Says: We Want Your Input. We got an amazing response from this post which called for your ideas for what to cover in our survey.

Other News Headlines:

Tech Updates: New Storque Tools for Readers

Forum Decorum: Hey, Help Me Out!

Etsy in the Press: Right in the Middle of the Top 100

Lifestyle: Tis the Season for some wonderful posts by the community!

Last-minute Gifts or Ways to Entertain Younger Relatives, with abitabite's video How-to!

Christmas in Germany from strumpfkunst.

Kwanzaa: A Handmade Holiday from antb.

Etsian How-To: Make Your Own Holiday Stocking!

New Year's Party Guide! with TeenAngster.

And we had a "Handmade Story" video from leakarts: Why I Sell Handmade.

Posts for Shoppers:

Fresh Shops: avrilloreti

Featured Buyer: Celene Ryan and Steven Tatar of Ohio Knitting Mills

Stylehive's Picks for Holiday Gifts

As always, check out the Etsy Finds, for daily goodness!

Posts for Sellers:

Important billing info! Sellers should read these articles on billing and the new policy going into effect on January 1st, 2008.

Customer Support did this How-to: Photoshop Techniques for Mature Listings for sellers who want to prepare their MATURE content for public consumption.

Customer Care Tip: Proof of Shipping

Recommended Blog and Interview: SusyJack*. Interested inblogging? You should read this!

Need to catch up on past Storque Digests? It's all waiting for you, right here!

Your Handmade Stories: LeaKarts

2007-12-19T17:30:00-05:00

Another Handmade Story! This video is from LeaKarts. Thank you so much for sharing!

See jelene's video here. See the Etsy admins' and Cubistliterature's here.

Storque Digest: December 12th to 18th

2007-12-18T08:05:00-05:00

It's been an eventful week here at Etsy! Here's the round up, condensed for your consideration.

Hot Posts:

Etsy in the Press: New York Times Magazine Feature

TechUpdates: Shoppers Pounce on a New Flash Feature

Etsy on Your TV. And Your Computer. And in Print. (Psst! We were on the Rachael Ray Show!)

How-to: Sell Local

Billing Alert: A Reminder about the New Policy for the New Year

SarahSays on Etsy's Copyright Policy

Other News Headlines:

Open Call for Designers: BurdaStyle Wants to Hear from You!

Call for Entries: 1000 Handmade Greeting Cards

Tech Updates: Listing Process Augmented

About the Storque

Posts for Shoppers:

Featured Buyer: UrbanBaby's Brooke Showell

Have you been keeping up with our world wide Etsy tour? Check out the Gift Ideas: Shop Local, with places like Michigan, Belgium, New York State, Washington, DC, Argentina, Columbus, Ohio, Scandinavia, and Singapore spotlighted. This could be quite helpful in finding items before your holiday deadline! If you'd like to showcase your city, state or country, shoot us an email at Storque@Etsy.com.

Gift Ideas: Vegan Products

Hostess Gifts: Apartment Therapy LA's Laure Joliet

Fresh Shops: Berkley Illustration

Lifestyle:

Family Farm: From Sheep to Yarn

Remember to Share the Love this Holiday Season

Wine, Not Whine for the Holidays

Autism into Art: Siobhan Forrester

Album Review: Heart Comma Heart

Posts for Sellers:

Wednesday Workshop Wrap-Up: Gift Certificates in Your Shop

Etsy Success Stories: LuxeDeluxe

Get The Most From Your Post! (Using the Promos forum)

Your Shop 101 in the Virtual Labs: Help your buyers shop local!

Etsy Teams Mission: Ten Minute Marketing

Forum Decorum: Etsy's Suggestion Box

Need to catch up on past Storque Digests? It's all waiting for you, right here!

Call for Entries: 1000 Handmade Greeting Cards

2007-12-14T11:04:00-05:00

Are you a greeting card maker? Feel like your cards really pop?

If so, you should enter your wares as an entry for the 1000 Handmade Cards book project by Rockport Publishers/Quarry Books. The publishers are seeking beautiful examples of handmade greeting cards, and you could be included in the published work!

Cards eligible must be:

■ Watercolors, acrylics or any painted media
■ Block prints, silkscreens, or stamped cards
■ Drawing and calligraphy
■ Paper art and scrapbooking techniques
■ Photography
■ Hand-sewn or hand-stitched cards
■ Collage and mixed media, anything
from paper, plastic, and fabric to
natural and found objects
■ The sky’s the limit as long as it’s handmade!

For more information, go here!

Update: The deadline is March 15, 2008, but it is advised to submit your work sooner rather than later, as categories fill up quickly.

Wanna talk about it? Go to the associated Forum Thread!

Storque Digest: December 4 - December 11

2007-12-11T20:19:00-05:00

Another Storque Digest! See all Storque Digests by clicking on the Featured Column at left.

Hot Posts:

Special Interview: Amy Sedaris

Can I still get this by Christmas?

December Newscast

Yo, people! Find a holiday craft fair near you! Thanks to all the sellers who told us where they'd be.

Attention, Shoppers! yogagoat made a Crash Course for Newbie Shoppers that will help you on your way!

Big shout-out to FrucciDesign for her How-to Italiano!

Other News Headlines:
Submit your Crafty Videos to Todd Oldham on Youtube!

Searching has been improved

Etsy Statistics: 2 Million Items Sold

Etsy in the Press: JenniBOriginals on the Martha Stewart Show

Tech Updates: Pay NOW with PayPal

Posts for Shoppers:

Fresh Shops: GoBuggy

Have you been keeping up with our world wind tour? Check out the Gift Ideas: Shop Local, with places like Germany, Asia, New Zealand, Brooklyn, Australia, UK, Montreal and soooo much more...If you'd like to showcase your city, state or country, shoot us an email at Storque@Etsy.com.

There are some other fun Gift Ideas, such as Steampunk, Gothic Lolita and Saucy Domesticate.

Trends: Cookie Magazine on Fashion for Mom and Baby

Featured Buyer: Ai Ai Gasa Boutique

Recommended Blogs: Oh Joy!

As always, check out our Etsy Finds to get your daily dose of Etsy quirkyness. We try our darndest!

Lifestyle:

Why I Sell Handmade by Jelene

The Story of Quilts story by babyannequilts

Diwali: India's Festival of Lights story by MagdaleneJewels

A Joyeux Noël with the Santons of France story by lapomme , tortillagirl

An International Crafting Fairytale by FluffyFlowers , trailmixdesigns

For Sellers:

Etsy Success Stories: paperedtogether

The Ins and Outs of Consignment from SarahSays

Etsy Teams Mission: Ten Minute Marketing

Etsy Labs shop critique: Week 9 with OpheliaFelt took the hot seat!

Urbana held an Online Video tutorial: Stash Book making

Forum Decorum: For the Love of Mr. Ed!

13.5 Questions About The Showcase has been updated with info about the Category Showcases.

Events:

Etsy Teams Rock the Holidays Part 2: Global Teams

Etsy Teams Rock the Holidays Part 1: Local Teams

Plush You: The Trunk Show (and Book Signing!)

Etsy Pops Up in Soho

Bust Craftactular happened too and it was totally out of hand.

Etc.:

Etsians Cook Book Project: ApolloHillsCrafts's Browned Butter Potatoes Recipe

Need to catch up on past Storque Digests? It's all waiting for you, right here!