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Gift Ideas: Shop Local the Borough of Brooklyn, New York

2008-11-26T11:00:00Z

Alicia Kachmar aka EternalSunshine is a freelance writer, crafter, baker and sometimes pool-hustler. She has lived in Brooklyn for four years and contributes to BrooklynBased.net. We invited her to highlight some handcrafty talent from the "County of Kings" in this installment of our Shop Local series.

"In Brooklyn, it was as though you were in your own little bubble. You were all part of one big, but very close family...." Although this was uttered many years ago by a pitcher for the Dodgers, I think it still rings true today for many Brooklynites, and definitely for those who consider themselves part of the local DIY scene. We inhabit a rapidly developing part of New York City, and while some are wary of the changes, the creativity and number of artists living and working in all parts of Brooklyn is downright impressive, inspiring and exhilarating.

LoucheLab - Ned and Aya in front of a Brooklyn mural at the corner of Bedford and North 3rd right by the best place for bagels in Williamsburg! (psst! Check out the Handmade Wedding video Etsy made with them. Their love story crossed international borders!)

katecusack - In the midst of her supplies.

Naokosstoop - Prospect Park, her "second workplace during summer."

sweetestpea (now zooguu) - Jen, far left in pic, watching election results in Red Hook with some other Etsy folks.

luckyduckletterpress - Patrick in his printing studio near the Gowanus Canal.

fernfiddlehead - Cathy in Prospect Park with her dog.

kateblack - In her old apartment in Williamsburg.

EpochBeads - Tracie with her crafting supplies stacked to the ceiling.

VigilanteLabs - Lianna working on her patterns in Brooklyn.

My Etsy shop was born 2 years ago right here in Brooklyn, and even though it's a virtual shopping experience, it isn't without a personal touch — many of my buyers tell me cute stories and inside jokes about their purchases. My favorite came from someone just a few neighborhoods over from me, truly a "Shop Local" story: she bought one of my smiling crochet s'mores for her 4-year old son, who was overjoyed at the sight of the plush and promptly named it "Fred."

They took Fred out to the Promenade, a beautiful walkway in Brooklyn with a view of the Manhattan skyline, because he wanted "to show Fred the Empire State Building." Imagine this small child, facing the glistening lights of New York skyscrapers, holding up the soft s'more in his hands! When she told me this story, I felt so happy to be part of this "little bubble." Even though I will meet very few of my customers, we are "all part of one big, but very close family."

whimsyandspice - Jenna on the Promenade with Mark, the pastry chef part of their duo.

TeeShirtGnome - Ezra, at Fulton Ferry Park.

Please let Etsy's blog know about your favorite local Etsy artists. Pitch your town, state, country or region and let us know which sellers will fill their holiday-shopper-neighbors with glee (we're talking catalog-quality photos, 100% feedback, and top-notch items at a variety of price points); include a screenshot of your Poster Sketched picks and a link to a pretty photo of yourself in your neighborhood. Tell us why you love where you live and why these sellers are distinctive. We can't wait to hear from you!

Shop Local Posts | Gift Ideas | Shop Local in Your Area | {NewNew} York Team

Shop Makeover Series: Pimp Your Shop for 2009

2008-11-21T14:34:00Z

This installment of the Etsy Shop Makeover Series brings you to an important step: now that your shop is fit for public consumption, you gotta spread the word! Daniellexo gives you some tips on social networking and grassroots marketing. (Note: This post was originally published on January 28, 2008, but we've updated and revamped it for the coming year!)

I started on Etsy with blurry pictures and no idea how to run a successful shop. It took a year to make it to the now extinct Top Sellers list, but I did it. I spent roughly 10 hours a day learning about photography, d.i.y. marketing, the right time to list and renew and the other ins and outs of a successful Etsy shop. My first boost of sales came when I was mentioned in a rather popular blog. How did this happen? Not by accident. It took a lot of work. Read on to hear my formula for pimping your shop and getting sales.

Social Networking

Above: NeaWear tastefully "pimps" her shop on Facebook

Sure, you can spend a $1,000 on a tiny, tiny magazine ad. But, unfortunately, you can't click a magazine ad. I'm not saying they aren't good for building a brand, but it takes a lot of work to get a shopper from a magazine to their computer and then to your Etsy shop. I would work on your online presence instead if you are just starting out.

Where to start? First make sure your shop is focused. You need a target market; if you have a shop that's all over the map it will much harder to find your customers. Stick to a demographic, ie. teenage girls, new mothers or hipsters. Of course you can welcome all buyers, but it's easier to market with someone specific in mind.

Now what? Surf around and get familiar with the sites I link to in the rest of this article. Which ones look like the most fun to you? Sign up for those and test them out! When signing up, I suggest using your Etsy username and keeping all your accounts cohesive. You'll be easier to find that way. Now have a look at how much time you have per week. If you have a few extra hours a week, then focus on one or two social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter and Myspace.

Now don't get overwhelmed. Check out these sites and see which ones look the best for your market. It's better to have a few accounts on these sites and stake your own little area of the site instead of spreading yourself too thin. You want to build up your online presence with these tools. Make your accounts attractive to people browsing. The trick is to keep it fun, for you and your followers! Don't just post photos of your products that people can already find in your Etsy shop. Make sure you show them a bit about the maker behind the curtain; describe your process, your studio, your favorites, etc. Talk up your Etsy buddies too — share the love!

Social Networking Sites:
Facebook
Myspace
Virb
Twitter

Social Shopping & Bookmarking

Above: TomokoTahara socially shops on ThisNext, mixing her items with other great finds!

Sharing your picks with others through accounts on social shopping and bookmarking sites can be a great way to promote buying handmade. Make sure you mix promoting your own work with other great finds! Link to your accounts on your blog and in your shop profile.

Social Shopping Sites:

ThisNext
Stylehive
Stylefeeder
Kaboodle
Wishpot
Zebo

Social Bookmarking Sites:
Digg
Squidoo
StumbleUpon
Wists
Magnolia
del.icio.us

Photo Sharing

Above: mLee uses Flickr like a photo journal. I love how her Flickr account is organized into sets.

Flickr is a great site for telling your story through photos. Buyers can start to connect with the maker this way. Showing your family life, process, studios, pets, and more can remind your buyers and friends that there is a real artist behind the work in your Etsy shop! This gives your work an intrinsic value and authenticity you just can't get with a mass produced item!

Blogging

Above: the {NewNew} Team all works together to maintain their well read blog. If you don't have time to regularly update your own blog, sharing the workload by creating a Team blog is a great idea!

A blog is an online journal that your readers can subscribe to in order to learn more about your work, process and life. I would recommend Blogger.com to get started. It's pretty easy to set up. Just like the social networking sites, you want to make your blog interesting and fun. Show your readers a bit about your life, your process, things you've purchased, places you've been, etc. Join the Etsy blog ring once you get going! I started a shopping blog, Gold School. I still have about 50 readers a day. I show them items I like that are reasonably priced (90% Etsy items by the way). I also have a link in my blog to my Etsy shop. That way, my faithful readers might think, "Wow. I like this gal's taste! I wonder what she makes?"

Above: PearsonMaron's Twitter always makes me smile!

Don't have time for blogging? How about micro-blogging? Twitter.com asks one question: 'What are you doing?' Answers must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the web. You can follow your contacts and gather followers. It's fun and addicting! Make sure you aren't just blogging about your work though — like usual, keep it interesting and fun! (Like PearsonMaron's tweets above!)

More sites to check out:

Niche Networking:
Ravelry (knit & crochet)
Designs To Love
DeviantArt (fine art)
Craftster.org (crafting)
DIYscene (D.I.Y. & alternative crafting)
BurdaStyle (sewing)

Skill Sharing:
Instructibles
Thingiverse

Video:
YouTube
Vimeo
Blip

Now get down a little routine.
Perhaps when you wake up you take a few pictures and upload them to Flickr. Then you blog about your strange dreams. Then you add a new item to Etsy and send it to all your social shopping sites. (Tip: Send your favorites to these social shopping and bookmarking sites too! If it's obvious you are just trying to pimp yourself people won't come back to see what else you've added.) Before bed work on your Myspace, perhaps.

From here you'll start collecting like minded social shoppers and perhaps you've bumped into a few blogs you like. Good! Bookmark those. You're going to need them. Find a day to yourself. Lock yourself up with some coffee and get motivated. Today you're going to get into a blog! It's cold-calling time.

I'm not going to list any blogs here for fear of 1,000 Etsy sellers contacting the same ones over and over. The trick is to find the blogs your potential shoppers read. Keep your target market in mind. Start with the smaller ones to build up your confidence. Find the bloggers email and really inspect it. What do they value most in the items they feature? How can you pitch your items in a way that would interest them and their readers? Make each email personal and specific to the blog you are writing to. Bloggers can smell a mass email a mile away. And it's not a nice smell. Oh, one more thing: don't just send them a link to your shop. Find the BEST item in your shop (and make sure its a nice clear photograph). Include a little something interesting about this item, how you made it, or about yourself. Make it easy for the blogger if they did choose to blog about your work. Send out as many of these are you can. If you don't get a response or only get one or two do not take it personally. Shopping bloggers get tons of unsolicited items sent to them. Start collecting another set of blogs to write to and have another stab at it.

Here's a sample letter:

Dear Gold School Creator,

I've been reading your blog for a few weeks now and I really love your finds (especially the weiner dog special last week!). They are all really fresh (and cheap)!

I'm writing because I think my work would interest your readers. Here's a link to my most popular item. I started making these when I broke my leg last summer and was immobile. I was so bored watching soaps all day so I decided to start embroidering these Soap Star Hankies.

Thanks for your blog and for supporting independant artist like me!

Happy Holidays,

Sally the Soap Star Hanky Maker

Keep these emails short, sweet, personalized and fun.

Getting Seen on Etsy

Above: ThePeachTree makes some gorgeous Front Page worthy Treasuries. And when these happen to land on the Front Page of Etsy, a link to her shop (just above the items) also gets a little bit of Front Page action!

Here are a few ways to pimp your shop on Etsy:

Make a treasury. I know it's not always easy getting a treasury, but try anyway. Set a timer for the next time a batch of them are about to expire and POUNCE! Keep your favorite items bookmarked and try to create a visually pleasing mix of goods. If you make a great treasury people will be interested in what you are doing in your own shop!
Renew. If you have the budget to renew once or twice a day (or more if you have lots of items in your shop) then I would really suggest it. It keeps you fresh in your category and puts you back in the Time Machine. Try different time of the day as well — I used to wake up in the middle of the night to renew!
Use your shop name as a tag in your item listings. That way if someone comes to the site and searches for you but mistakenly doesn't change the search drop-down menu to "seller" — your work will still pop up. Also use your shop name in your listings. The more the name of your shop is used on the internet, the more likely it is to come up in a web search.
Forums. Be helpful on the forums. Sure you can also post in the promotions section but you are more likely to be seen in Site Help giving some advice to a newbie. And make sure your avatar is interesting and clear so people will want to check out your shop!
Pitch an article to the Storque here. What are you the most passionate about? Can you write about your process? About your local craft scene? A review on a great sewing machine you just purchased? Let the Storque editors know why this would be a great article, who would be interested in it and why you should be the one to write it.
Comment on Storque articles that you really like. I'm not suggesting to comment on every article. Just those that really call to you. Leave a thoughtful comment and others will see your avatar and might just have a peek at your shop!
Attend Virtual Labs events. They are fun and informative (ok maybe I am a little biased). But they are a great place to connect with the Etsy community and get seen as an active member.
Join an Etsy Team. Of course, don't just join a Team to promote yourself. Join one to bond with other Etsy members and to help each other promote your work and Etsy together!

Troubleshooting

So you've done all this and aren't getting the kind of response you would like? Here are a few things you can do now:

Hire a photographer. This could even be someone who is technically savvy in your family that has a nice camera. Get them to take some pictures for you and give you some tips on working with your own digital camera.
Attend the Etsy Labs critiques and workshops. (Usually every Wednesday and Friday — see the Storque's Online Workshops featured column for times.) You can really pick up some great tips at the critiques and workshops.
Ask a seasoned shopper for advice. Don't be too shy or sensitive! Ask them for their most honest opinion.
Try something new! Keep your shop fresh and dip into another category. Perhaps you'll find a technique or craft you may like even more. Think about a niche or need that may not be met yet on Etsy.

Whew. I hope that helps you and your shop in 2009. If you have any further suggestions for marketing your shop, let everyone know by commenting below! For further questions about selling, check out The Etsy Seller Handbook and the Shop Makeover Series.

Etsy Team Grants: Success!

2008-11-21T13:38:00Z

The past few months have been busy with lots of really fantastic Etsy Team events. Here's a wrap up of some of the wonderful Etsy Team Grant projects that have been recently completed, along with the sellers and their items. See here to learn more about Etsy Team Grants, and to learn how to join an Etsy Team, check the Teams Join page.

The Etsy Texas Crafters had a booth at Maker Faire in Austin, Texas, where they presented demos and gave information to Faire attendees. You can read a great blog post on the event with links to their participating members' shops and profiles here. Some of the members who lent a hand to the Team include TimaryArts, who makes crochet and felted items, like this Oatmeal Chubby Nesting Trio (on the left below), and crabappledesign, who incorporates vintage elements into her handmade items, such as this Vintage Paper Doll note card (on the right). Find more items from sellers in the Lone Star State by searching "TeamEtsyTX".

In North Carolina, the Hornet's Nest Team had great success with their "Craft Attack!" show in October. For great photos from this show, you can search "CraftAttack" on Flickr. The Team had beautiful weather, and below are items from a vendor and an organizer of the show. On the left is LazyDogPottery's Robin's Egg Blue Coffee Mug (on the left, below) and from HappyWhosIts, a Hyacynth Whypple - Hippo Hand Puppet - Crochet Amigurumi (at right, below).

EFA, or the Etsy for Animals Team, had a really great idea for celebrating its Etsy-versary. The Team organized a great ad campaign on fantastic shopping blogs, like Modish and Hostess blog. They tracked visitors from those sites by using a coupon code incorporated into the ad designs, so that they could tell how many sales the advertisements generated. You can show your support for this Team, which raises money for animal charities through their shops, by searching "EFA Team". On the left, below, is a set of Owls in Fables - Nesting Owls, by SavageArtworks, and on the right, the Offset Sapphire Ring from AlphabettiSpaghetti.

The Boston Handmade Team had a commanding presence at Boston's SoWa Open Market the weekend of October 16, and it was wonderful! They distributed business cards that were made up for the Team, and everyone loved the cards. They used the promotional cards to chat up Etsy, their shops and why buying handmade is important to everyone. Congratulations on your success at the market, Boston Handmade! Below is a Needle Felted Lobster, from Team member CozyCottageCreations, and a Poppy Princess Vintage Necklace, from Glamourpuss. Find more items from this Team by searching "BostonHandmadeTeam".

Thanks to all the wonderful Team members who make these fantastic events happen! We're looking forward to some exciting Team Grant events in the upcoming months. To find more information on Team Grants and learn how your Team can apply, be sure to check this Team Tip.

Team Grants | Featured Teams | Team Tips

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 20, 2008

2008-11-20T13:13:00Z

Inspiration can come from anywhere. As much as I'm inspired by visual sources, the written word has proven itself to be pretty evocative as well. Thusly, I've been very into quotes lately. A new favorite?

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” — Anton Chekhov

True words! With that in mind, here's some broken glass.

Google, in cooperation with Time Life, has posted a ton of photographs from the Time Life archive online, most of which have never been published before. This amazing photo is of a model for an exhibit at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. Go digging to find more treasures!

I'm loving Daniel Augschöll 's work. This particular series of photos is entitled "Americans in Sweden." (Speaking of Sweden: did you see Shop Local Scandinavia? Amazing!) [Via Design for Mankind]

Photographer Trine Thorsen has a great eye. This house is to die for! [Via Automatism]

I think this speaks for itself....! [Via Make Magazine]

Danish high school students created collages inspired by the rainforest, which were then sold to benefit buying plots of rainforest in Ecuador. The results are colorful and inspiring. [Via Ungt Blod]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 13, 2008

2008-11-13T14:17:00Z

Lately my mind has been taken over with "fashion thoughts." I spend my nights poring over the internet in search of the perfect coat (hood + long + wool + certain indescribable quality that makes it impossible to find), the perfect winter hat (not itchy + slouchy, but not too slouchy), the perfect rain boots: basically, the perfect winter wardrobe. It's taken over my mind's eye! Therefore, I must say: If you find something amazing that fits within these parameters, leave it in the comments! I'd be much obliged.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, on with the show! This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is complete with Swedish blogging, mid-century videos of thoroughly modern machines, gorgeous decor, avant garde fashion courtesy of Facehunter and found photos.

Onward!

I may not understand Swedish (yet!), but I do understand beautiful images. This space is so modern, so clean, so comfortable. I love it. [Via Purple Area]

This vision of the future, simply titled 1958, is a virtual time capsule back to the golden age of design. Enjoy a Mad Men moment with this tour of the modern house and office circa late 1950s. [Via Jezebel]

Found images are the best. This collection manages to be moody and evocative in the way that I adore. [Via Mashroob & Moustaches]

If you're seeking fashion inspiration, look no further than the street style shots of Facehunter. His shots are so spot-on when it comes to forward thinking fashion, and he's constantly traveling the world, so the dynamic is totally global. I love seeing what people in each country are wearing.

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 6, 2008

2008-11-06T14:08:00Z

Wow. This week has been an emotional one for everyone in the United States, and it's an exciting time to be alive. Now begins the fun time of year leading up to the holidays, filled with delicious pies (I hope to make a few this weekend! Inaugural pies!), old fashioned music, and lots of tasty smells and fuzzy sweaters.

With that in mind, more inspiration for your perusal: American photography from the last century, intriguing advertising, avant garde fashion and rugs to swim upon.

The work (and life!) of legendary photographer Berenice Abbott is the stuff dreams are made of. Her epic photos of New York were chronicled in the book Changing New York (which I now have to get my hands on), and she also did amazing portraiture. This is a woman who moved to New York in 1919 and lived at an anarchist house in Greenwich Village, then changed scenery to Paris in the 1920s while she worked for Man Ray, later returning to New York after realizing its photographic possibilities. Quite the life, this one! [Via Nothing is New]

Parisian ad illustrator Emmanuel Polanco's work is rad. [Via Black Eiffel]

I have recently become completely entranced by the photography of William Eggleston. His photography is so raw and sincere to the American experience, and it presents a compelling view into the lives of ordinary people. (His life was also pretty amazing, as evidenced by this recent article in New York Magazine.) Check out more of his photography here.

These rugs are amazing! I want to fall into them and swim around. [Via See Saw Designs]

I'm loving the work of lizarietz. Her photography, styling and fashion is totally on my list. Those layers! I covet!

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 30, 2008

2008-10-30T15:00:00Z

Where has the time gone? November is almost here, and my Elaine Benes costume for Halloween (tomorrow?!) is in a desperate race for time against the inevitability of a vintage Lucille Ball mask I have lying around. I'll let you know what the final verdict is...

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is all delicious bisque, pyramids, Scandinavian design, a crying tyke and John Waters' house. (YES!)

I am deeply in love with Richard Colman's artwork. He rocks my world. [Via About Today]

The work of Swedish stylist Sofie Andersson is pretty cute. Love all the patterns! [Via Desire to Inspire]

Todd Oldham's new line of books, entitled Place Space, is totally on my wishlist. The series explores "innovative, brilliant, singular places and the uncommonly devoted people that create them, one book at a time." John Waters' house (who I LOVE!) is included, as well as many others. Check it out! [Via Book By Its Cover]

Dutch Design Week is underway, and this rug by Julie Maeseele has captured my imagination. He's crying! [Via Bloesem]

Design*Sponge highlighted this innovative packing peanut light fixture. Learn how to make it here.

VeganYumYum's delicious delicata squash bisque recipe is sure to be a hit. This stuff looks BEYOND om nom nom nom.

Hey readers! If you (or anyone you know) has an amazing home, styled to perfection with a unique sense of decor that isn't cookie cutter, send us an email with a link to photos! (Please don't send photos, just a link to existing photos on the web.) Please make the subject of the email "Get The Look Videos." We might want to make a video with you!

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 23, 2008

2008-10-23T15:00:00Z

Eccentrics make the world go 'round. If not for the "out there" thoughts of a certain courageous and wacky brand of individual, a lot of great ideas would never come to fruition. With that in mind, always make sure to give new ideas a chance, or you could miss out on something really special. (Yes, I've been reading the inspirational blog mentioned below. You'll love it, too! Trust me.)

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is all inspirational messages, pagan ritual, Iowa (!), honeycomb and interiors. Onward!

Bohemia in midtown: Yes, it once was. This profile shows the artists that are desperately holding on to rent-controlled studio apartments above New York's famed Carnegie Hall. Many have lived in the building for 50+ years, and have built their own universes, like concert pianist Donald Shirley, shown above. Pretty amazing. [Via New York Magazine]

Looking for some inspiration? Do it the post-modern way and get it via Tumblr. New Resolution's many short, boxed quotes are totally refreshing. [Via design is mine]

Photographer Estelle Hanania's "Demoniac Babble" series profiles the ancient folk tradition of the "silvesterklause" in Switzerland, wherein local men get "dressed in wild, demonic outfits. They roam the landscapes from farm to farm, singing, drinking to celebrate the winter to come, and to frighten the bad spirits away." Their costumes are unlike anything I've ever seen — totally earthy and spooky. Pagan rituals, I love you!

Artist Hilary Berseth's sculptures are more than a little interactive — in fact, I'd call them collaborative. You see, he does part of the work, then bees do the rest. The resulting beeswax sculptures are the very picture of delicious. Check out the slideshow at New York Magazine. [Via For Me, For You]

Klas Fahlen's illustrations are pretty cute. [Via Design For Mankind]

A recent trip to my homeland (Iowa!) revealed a new book on my state's history. As a teen, amateur photographer Everett W. Kuntz spent his days taking photos of Ridgeway and its residents — so much so that he earned the nickname "Scoop." However, he didn't have the money to print said photos, and forgot about them after going to college. It was only sixty years later, as he lay on his deathbed, that he remembered the negatives. This virtual time capsule is "Sunday Afternoon on the Porch: Reflections of a Small Town in Iowa, 1939-1942," and the photos are incredible. Read the article here. [Via New York Times]

The Art of the Display photo pool on Flickr has many treasures waiting for you. This particular display comes came of ATLITW. Don't you just love the chairs? [Via PoppyTalk]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Featured Buyer: Holly Becker of decor8

2008-10-22T12:33:00Z

This week's Featured Buyer is Holly Becker, the editor and founder of the inspirational design and decorating blog decor8, drawing 20,000 worldwide readers daily. She has been blogging non stop since January 2006 and we’re particularly fond of her weekly column on decor8 called Etsy Take Five Tuesdays. She also authors a popular Etsy slideshow series for Domino magazine online, authors a monthly design column in the Boston Globe, and is a contributing editor at RealSimple.com. With 160 purchases made on Etsy, Holly demonstrates her support of independent designers by promoting their work and shopping from them. Today she’ll share some of her favorite Etsy artists and show some of their work in her own home.

Oh Etsy: What you do to me! I started buying handmade on Etsy in February 2006 — my first purchase was a cosmetic bag from SeaBreezeStudio based in England. I remember when it arrived how excited and impressed I was with the quality. I also recall the responsive and friendly seller who made a great impression on me immediately. After such a positive first time transaction, I felt inspired to shop Etsy again and purchased from Simply Photo.

To date I’ve made 160 purchases and I’ve not had a single issue with any of them. I’ve shopped from sellers as far away as Singapore and items always arrive on time and exceed my expectations. Some sellers even include sweet little notes and extras, like stickers or candy. The whole personal touch thing is super addictive, as you’ll never see big box stores include personal notes expressing their gratitude for your support. It’s one of the reasons shopping handmade is so special and worthwhile. There are beating hearts behind the products, real people creating items that give them joy and they spread that happiness to others, giving us a chance to own a piece of their special worlds.

When my purchases arrive I feel positively giddy! I give so many of my purchases to friends as gifts. They always ooo and ahhh over everything; the response is so positive that I shy away from giving big box gift cards (I once gave only gift cards) and shop Etsy when I’m looking for the perfect present. It’s far more personal and you have a chance to show your friend that you really put some thought into the gift. At one time I only shopped big box for everything. Now it’s my last stop. I feel proud that I’ve changed the way I purchase and as a result I‘m contributing to the success of small business not only in America but worldwide.

I thought that you may like to see a few of my favorite art prints and original paintings that I’ve purchased from Etsy ‘at work’, living in my home. My husband and I primarily reside in New Hampshire, but we just took on a second residence in Germany, where we live five months each year. I’m in Germany as I write this, and over the past eight weeks I had to take an empty apartment and create a home from scratch. Throughout the process my big white walls kept screaming for love, and since I’m not at the point yet to decide on wall color or pattern, I went ahead and placed some of my beloved prints from artists who sell on Etsy in my living room to make the room feel more like home.

[Work above is, from left: SamanthaHahn, JenniferDavis, Caitlin Shearer of Pepperminte, LabPartners, Kareem Rizk, Bubbo, and Ez Pudewa of WrenandChickadee.]

This is my art wall. Nearly everything is from Etsy, with the exception of the vintage gold swallows and the limited edition JenniferDavis print of a Mississippi riverboat. I installed these pieces to look as though they were flying upwards, away with the birds. I like to hang artwork in a fun, non traditional way.

Also, all of the prints can be removed and swapped out with others of equal size so I can rotate my collection without adding new holes to the wall. Huge perk!

I pulled this small city apartment (under 60 square meters) together on a limited budget, which is why you’ll spot some IKEA pieces. The trick when buying from stores like IKEA is to fill in the ‘blanks’ with things acquired from indie sellers and flea markets. This brings in your personality and a sense of history. I still have lots to do in this space and a coffee table to buy, but placing Etsy art around has helped to make me feel at home.

[Artwork on this shelf includes: Pepperminte, JenniferDavis, Bubbo, CreativeThursday, AliciaBock, and a brooch by Toast. I cannot recall where the darling bunny is from, as it was a gift, so if anyone reading knows, please comment below so others can find the seller who made it.]

The best part about having a picture ledge above the sofa (don’t worry, no one can hit the ledge if seated) is that it is my rotating art gallery. I can put whatever up on the ledge that inspires me at the moment, so it‘s fun to play around with and I do not have to mess up the walls.

This is my small, very naked dining room. I still plan to install a pendant light over the table, paint and upholster the chairs, and etc. but this is what it looks like today. In my cabinet is where I keep lots of handmade and flea market finds along with books and fabric. Lots of these things came from Etsy and were given to me by friends.

One of my favorite treasures inside of this cabinet is the original painting from Brooklyn artist CaitlinKeegan (top right).

This is my home in New Hampshire and a peek into my living room, where I also have an art wall. Not all of this work is from Etsy, and some are original paintings, but I’ll highlight those that are: MyFolkLover, mcaplan, JenniferDavis, ashleyg, MicheleMaule, even the little soft mushroom is an Etsy find from littlebirds, along with the vintage dish via bluebellbazaar, and the ceramic deer is vintage from pinkshowercurtain.

This is what you’ll find around my bedroom in New Hampshire. The photograph is from AliciaBock, and the plant and pot are also from Etsy (yup!) via GreenwareDesign.

This is what was on my dresser last time I checked. An original painting from CreativeThursday, along with a lion she made out of clay, and jewelry by JadeScott.

Further Resources:
In addition to Etsy, I am continuously inspired by the blogs on my visual blogroll.

Thanks, Holly! Your space is quite inspiring (and Etsy filled!) For more of Holly's great taste, check out her blog at decor8blog.com. Looking to do more shopping? Check out our decorating posts and Featured Buyer series.

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 16, 2008

2008-10-16T14:03:00Z

Fall puts me in a contemplative mood. All I want to do is sit under a tree and re-read all of the classics of my awkward years while watching the leaves fall. Moody, dark shapes are all I can think about, in both fashion and Halloween trappings. (Gotta love getting in costume!) The following collection of links and images isn't particular creepy, but it most definitely reminds me of that special crispness that defines autumn.

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is all early morning meditations, the fashion of the elderly (they do it best!), modern tin types and Cruella de Vil. Read on!

I'm totally a morning person. I love that precious time before you leave the house is one of silence and beloved routines, and I'm not the only one to think so. New book A Year of Mornings: 3191 Miles Apart chronicles the photos two women took of their mornings and subsequently posted on Flickr. Though they didn't know one another — and have only met once — there is a striking similarity between their photos. Worth a look. [Via Simply Photo]

I'm totally digging the work of painter Jackie Tileston. I love the patterns and the fact that it gives off an appearance of moss crossed with filth. Love. [Via Design Milk]

The blogosphere is all a twitter over Advanced Style, the street style blog based on the principle that as people get older, their fashion gets infinitely better. The photos above are of the inimitable Irene Williams, the "Queen of Lincoln Road." This colorful South Beach native made all of her own clothing and was quite the fashion plate and tourist attraction. She was also the subject of a short documentary — I can't wait to see it!

Since finding this handy (and might I say, amazing!) Japanese gadget, I've been making all of my images look "vintage." Here's to modern tin types! [Via Simple Lovely]

This fashion editorial from Vogue Italia is utterly captivating. Entitled "Future Couture," it's a mixture of Cruella de Vil, some warped version of Godzilla, Mad Max, killer fashion and sideshow all rolled into one glorious spread. I love it. [Via Gnarlitude]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 9, 2008

2008-10-09T17:45:00Z

Photography is a funny thing. While I consider myself to be a "wordy" person most of the time, the pull of an appealing visual is something that I just can't fight. That's why Etsy and the blogosphere at large are such attractive places to linger — so many images to parse through, digital trails to follow, styles to absorb and tastes to inspire.

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is all comfort food (tarts!), technicolor architecture, ideas for home projects and graphic clothing design. Read on!

See ya, summer! Cannelle et Vanille has a delicious recipe for a plum and almond tart that makes the changing of the seasons seem oh so sweet.

Marimekko's fall clothing collection is bold and beautiful. I love all of the circular patterns! [Via Oh Joy!]

Laura Kicey's digitally manipulated architectural photos make for some colorful browsing. [Via This is Love Forever]

This awesome how-to gives instructions on how to jazz up a plain window shade with faux bois accents. I like! [Via How About Orange...]

Design*Sponge has some totally inspiring 3D wall paper designs, where you simply paint over the raised design to create an interesting texture. Now I'm thinking of how I could do this myself...

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Etsy's Guide to Blogging

2008-10-09T10:49:00Z

Starting a blog is a little intimidating. Where should you start one? What should you write about? How do you get people to read your blog? I popped over to the Forums to gather tips from some Etsy bloggers. I knew I would find nuggets of blogging wisdom to share, and I was not let down. Read on to hear the community's tips, as well as my own!

Starting a Blog

Recycledideas says: I chose Blogger.com because it's free and requires no familiarity whatsoever with HTML, which is perfect for me; although I like learning new languages, I really have no interest in talking to computers in their language. http://newfoundlandnews.blogspot.com

I like Blogger, too. It's free and pretty user friendly. Some other popular blog publishers are: Typepad, LiveJournal, and Wordpress. You're going to need to choose a layout, and if you don't know html, these publishers have templates for you to choose from. You can also search for free layouts on the internet or hire a designer to create something original for your blog. There are even some blog designs you can purchase from Etsy graphic artists!

When thinking about naming your blog...

elanknits says: Have your blog name the same as your shop name so you're easier to find. http://elanknits.blogspot.com

Many Etsians preferred simple designs, without too much flair. A lot of bells and whistles can drive away your readers.

fenrislorsrai says: Many folks read at work and nothing will get you off their reading list faster than music announcing they are slacking at work! If you want to have a music player, set it to play only when someone clicks on it. http://fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com

Once you have your blog set up...

melsdolls says: The first thing any new blogger should do is claim their blog on Technorati. Technorati is the largest directory for blogs, and having a presence there is essential to your blog's success. http://pinkcrabcreations.blogspot.com

and...

poshdoodles says: My tip is for those who use Blogger to try Googles's free analytics tool: http://www.google.com/analytics.

It can tell you:

How long people stay at your blog. (So you know if they only stay a few seconds — then your attempts may not be working so well.)
How people find your blog — where they come from and what keywords they're using, so you can see what promotional sites work best for you.
What entries people are reading.

And loads more. If you are keen to promote and expand your business, stats really help. http://poshdoodles.blogspot.com

Creating Interesting Posts

I think most Etsians in our forums discussion would agree that your blog should not just be about the work you sell. If we wanted to read that, we would just have a look at your Etsy shop! Your blog is a place where you can connect on a personal level with your readers (and potential customers.) Write about your process, your inspiration, your favorite restaurant, your exciting family news!

Stockton says: Blog about your work and the things that inspire you...but also write about others' work! Not only does it make your blog more interesting, but it draws in a bigger readership as you start linking to other sites and blogs. http://www.stocktonandco.com/blog

melissakate says: Mention Willie Nelson and Taxes :) That brought a lot of viewers my way!

InkspotWorkshop says: I like coming up with weekly features; this way I can anticipate topics each week. For example, I have a weekly feature called iCANDY, where I feature my favorite Etsy sellers. I also have a feature called Bespoke Corner, where I feature different custom work, not necessarily every week, but definitely each month. http://inkspotworkshopblog.blogspot.com

LittlePaperDog says: Show work in progress. I love seeing how people create such amazing stuff. http://LittlePaperDog.blogspot.com

lookmamamadeit says: People LOVE tutorials and are always searching for them. If you can make and post a tutorial or two, and name it and tag it properly, it will keep bringing traffic to your blog. All kinds of tutorials, I guess!

As on Etsy, try to be original, professional, and to have good texts and photos. I advise non-English native speakers, like me, to try to blog both in your language and in English, and to use a good spelling tool.
http://ameninabrinca.blogspot.com

notagoose says: Have contests. People LOVE contests. Honestly, I'm sure there are legalities involved that you may want to look into, but I'd just do these random contests for piddly prizes and people flocked. For example, I'd have people design banners for my site, then post them and have people vote on their favorite. The ones who made submissions would invariably post a link of my blog to their site begging their readers to come vote for them, and those people would end up subbing to my site.

EyePopArt says: Try a poll now and then! I just posted one on mine at http://eyepopart.blogspot.com

SunshineandRavioli says: I would suggest posting lots of good pictures. I prefer blogs with lots of eye candy, and I'm sure I'm not alone....more great pictures, less words. There are too many great blogs out there to visit to be able to spend 20 minutes reading one post... http://sunshinenravioli.blogspot.com

Staying Motivated

larsandaddie says: I carry my camera with me almost everywhere — having pictures to post keeps me motivated to update. http://larsandaddie.blogspot.com

This is a great tip! In addition, if you have a Flickr account, set up the "Post to Blog" function. This motivates me to blog more. I upload a photo and then can easily create a blog post with it!

Diffraction says: Chances are you aren't going to feel like blogging every single day, but you must really have a new post for your readers. So on the days you are feeling very productive, schedule two or three days in advance. This feature is available on most blogging platforms and enables you to take a breather if you need it, without letting down your readers.
dif-fraction.blogspot.com

TotusMel says: I've made blogging part of my morning routine so it's never hard to do. http://totusmel.blogspot.com

tizzalicious says: I stay motivated by having a few theme days, like on Sunday I feature a Cute Craftster of The Week, an Etsian with a shop full of cuteness. I also stay motivated from the nice comments I get (ask questions in your posts!) and from seeing how many visitors I had on my stats :) http://blog.tizzalicious.com

Building a Readership

DirtySanchez says: My best advice is to be a blogger, not a crafter who has a blog. My blog has been going for well over six years now, and it covers everything — family, work, beekeeping, soapmaking, random crap, the whole nine yards. To gain and keep a readership, the blog needs to be interesting for everyone, not just other crafters, you know?

susansheehan says: Put your blog link in your shop announcement, in all email signatures and and forum signatures. Join blog rings or collective groups. Can't find one? Start one of your own. I started flaminghot.wordpress.com as a way to get flameworkers blogging and provide a way to generate traffic to their sites.

TheBrassHussy says: My best blogging tip is not about your own blog, but to find other blogs that interest you and comment on them. The blog owner will probably check your profile out and could buy from you or include you on their blog. Which I think is a great way to bring in traffic to your blog.

sewbettie says: To gain readership, participate in the blog community. I try to visit about ten new blogs a week and leave a comment. They almost always come check out my blog and I come across new ideas, inspiration, and resources. You can find new blogs on the Etsy Forums or by clicking the blog links on your favorite blogs. http://craftyourselfrich.blogspot.com

This happens to be my very favorite blogging tip: I give it often! You can also check out TeenAngster's series on the Storque — News from the Craft & Style Blogosphere.

RenewedResources says: I am using Scoutle and Entrecard to help bring in folks to my blog. http://etsysupplyshoppe.blogspot.com

There were a few mentions of Entrecard, which I had never heard of! Great tip!

I hope these tips motivate you to get started blogging, or to update your blog today! If you have any additional tips (or questions) please post them in the comments below.

For more how-tos about selling, see the Seller Handbook.

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 2, 2008

2008-10-02T14:37:00Z

Inspiration is all around us, all the time. What one might see as a pile of broken glass on the street, another envisions as a magnificent mosaic for their living room wall. A door might just be a door to some, but to others it's the beginning of an inspiration board all about the power and magnificence of peeling paint and weathered wood.

With that in mind, here are some of my inspirations this week! I'm feeling rich colors, minimalism, modular fashions and cute little cottages in the woods. Read on!

Design*Sponge posted a sneak peek of Swiss Miss' amazingly minimal Brooklyn digs. Very inspiring! So clean and white! Love it.

Anja of EstateSale has put together a most ingenious fall lookbook for her vintage finds that is totally prop styled and magazine worthy. Her photos are amazing, her finds are cool — get shopping!

A View To's inspiration boards are always so visually striking. This particular board is pretty much my aesthetic to a T. Old photos, hands, fossils and bunnies, oh my!

Come Spy with Me's collection of Pierre Cardin's mod fashions is totally worth a look. Fashion is so cyclical — I feel like so many of these ideas are recycled today...

Flora Douville always manages to set a tone and take photos at just the right angle. This particular cottage door reminds me of my wish to someday be a little old lady with a garden and a green door.

This simple and beautiful wall decor was made with paper doilies and orange thumbtacks. Against the white wall with the blue velvet couch, it's pretty heavenly. I have a new idea for my apartment...! [Via See Saw Designs]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Tech Update: Tweaks to the Storque

2008-09-25T15:27:00Z

Dear Readers, (sound of airhorn)

Did the new Storque reach out and bite ya? Have you noticed? We've made some tweaks to the Storque's layout:

The homepage of the Storque now defaults to the "all articles" lay-out. Many of you wanted a more blog-like layout in order to see the most recent posts at a glance. This will give you an overview of the 15 most recent posts (which is roughly two week day's worth of content). You can still use the brightly colored Sections to navigate through the various types of content.
Video embeds now show up right there in the list of articles. We were hearing that it was too hard to find videos, so we hope this helps. We also change the Section title "Multi-Media" to "Videos" to make it more intuitive. (Pssst! Don't forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel too!)
We added the tagline "Etsy's Handmade Blog" to better communicate what we're doing.
We have a new "Hot Posts" feature on the left side bar.
We gave the Storque Showcase some design treatment to make it stand out as its own thing a bit more.
We adapted the layout of comments to better utilize space.

Change is good!

Let us know what you think in the comments below. We really, REALLY value your input, you lovely readers!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: September 25, 2008

2008-09-25T14:39:00Z

It has finally happened: I'm wearing tights, a sweater and boots. Fall is here! YES! Now all is well with the world. (For today, that is.)

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is full of whimsy, Polaroids, voyeuristic kitty experiences, patterns and fabric. Read on!

The Porter Polaroid Project presents a whimsical view of New York that I've never experienced before. It's quite addictive. [Via Royal Quiet Deluxe]

If you are suffering from a lack of feline companionship and are looking for a few quick purrs, Cats I Am Near is the most amazing voyeuristic kitty experience out there. Simply put in your city or zip code, and voila! You'll know what cats are snuggling in your neck of the woods. This little kitty comes care of ClatieK on Flickr. [Via For Me, For You]

In today's heated political atmosphere, it's important to think about what came before, just to keep things in perspective. These photos from historic Democratic and Republican National Conventions past are very revealing. Suffragettes unite! [Via Nothing is New]

Looking to take in some awkward photos? Let Sexy People be your guide. This collection of terrible/beautiful photography will surely make your day. If you want to submit, you should know that they only accept studio photography. We have a soft spot for awkward photos here at the Storque — just take a look at our About Us series.

Have you heard of Bon Bon Kakku? It's amazing! This fabric design website functions like popular T-shirt design site Threadless — simply post your design, people vote, and if it's loved, Bon Bon Kakku will produce it to sell! It's pretty rad.

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: September 18, 2008

2008-09-18T15:00:00Z

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere is all photography. Some of the photos are pleasant reminders of autumn, others are projects to do (faux bois walls, anyone?), and some are simply examples of the wonders a camera can produce.

Read on!

If this isn't fall, I don't know what is. Photography blog Shorpy posted this adorable glimpse into autumns past. Eat that apple, baby!

Readymade has great instructions on how to produce a faux bois effect for your walls. [Via It's Knot Wood]

Don't these photos make you want to spend some time outdoors? Elisabeth Dunker makes the world a little brighter. [Via Fine Little Day]

Interested in typography? (Specifically, the bad kind.) Check out the Bad Type Flickr pool devoted to detailing all the imperfect signage and lettering out in the world. [Via Uppercase Gallery]

Anne Naumann's photography is completely and utterly stunning. Her blog, strandgut, is also pretty awesome. [Via What Possessed Me]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: September 11, 2008

2008-09-11T15:00:00Z

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere salutes autumn while bidding adieu to warm summer nights. The links ahead are all things that make me supremely happy—and I hope they will inspire similar emotions in you as well!

On the agenda today: The Happiest Book in the World (YES!), the oldest abandoned prison in the United States, tempting tarts and beautiful interiors. Onward!

Artist Alex Ostrowski's Happiest Book in the World is an intriguing project. According to his mission statement,

"In one way or another we are all looking for happiness. Some people even say that man's sole purpose for existence is to hunt down and capture this intangible and elusive treasure. In 2006 researchers at The University of Leicester concluded that Denmark is the happiest country in the world — this was good enough for me. In March 2008 I made the decision to visit happiness, and embarked upon a pilgrimage to find it. My experiences are presented in this book.
Only one copy exists."

As you can clearly see above, his aim is true. Have you visited happiness lately? [Via heartthrobs & villains]

James Merrell's photography is so awe-inspiring. I love the jumbled art effect in this room, and just learned that the artist behind the mysterious blue faced portraits is Vladimir Tretchikoff, sometimes referred to as Tretchiko. Mystery solved! [Via Design*Sponge]

Cannelle et Vannelle's food photography is heavenly. I haven't attempted to construct any sort of tart in this lifetime, but with results this decadent, I'll have to get on it asap. Beautiful!

Flickr photographers Curious Expeditions are mavericks, explorers and global adventurers, seeking out "the wondrous, the macabre and the obscure from around the globe." (In other words, my idea of a great time.) They recently ventured to Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The prison is an ominous fortress of a building erected in 1829, which makes it the oldest penitentiary in the United States. After closing in 1970 and being abandoned for many years, it now serves as a museum. The photos are amazing.

While Fashion Week is all fine and good, sometimes it's the clothing that's worn to the shows that deserves more attention. These stylish audience members were attending the Preen show, but made statements of their own on the street outside. (Doesn't that puffy hipped dress remind you of Leanne's design on Project Runway?) [Via Refinery 29]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!