Search results (tags) for: "newbies"

Owl and Blooms Bib Necklace

By AutumnArt, $35.

The Felicity Fascinator

By InkandButton, $18.

Red Cellular Necklace - Large

By RedThreadLetter, $19.

Life of a Zinnia 4 small block set

By bitsoftime, $38.

Baby Blanket - Pink Octopus

By iluvsugar, $35.

Large Red Tote

By JAnnaTextiles, $45.

Lion

By LaurieMade, $110.

Baby Indian Bodysuit

By deerdane, $16.

Yellow Teardrops Layer Necklace

By lushboutique, $85.

Handmade fabric storage bucket

By bubblesandboo, $35.

Hold Me-Neckwarmer

By LoveandKnit, $55.

Initial sterling scrabble pendant

By tinkertown, $45.

Happy Holidays Greeting Cards

By 2ndcoming, $10.

Marsh Wren

By AllieGreene, $75.

2-D Zoo Personalized Blanket

By elisehooperdesigns, $50.

Boutique Hand Painted Rag Doll

By futurerockstar, $35.

24K Gold Pecan necklace

By GurKimel, $90.

Ceramic lace flowers chain Menorah

By orlydesign, $65.

In deep of the night

By silkandmore, $150.

Ballerina Booties

By cazhoffy, $18.

Personalized Banner Necklace

By FruitionJewelry, $59.

Brass Lei

By dreamyvintage, $32.

Two Buds

By grassrootsdesign, $50.

Custom puppet art doll 16cm

By RoseLullabyDolls, $25.

Love that moves the Sun

By rawartletterpress, $16.

THE WHITE SHIRT - Katharine

By TheLittleNothings, $62.

3 felt wool bowls

By hold, $48.

ANY 3 PRINTS 4x6 Fabric Print

By bforbebe, $25.

Donut Scarf

By togethershop, $30.

owl salt pepper shakers set of 2

From AMradio, $23.

Tire track fingerless gloves

By Apogigi, $25.

Ice Cream Van (Blue)

By Hellomarine, $45.

Rascal Raccoon Hat

By amanitastudio, $20.

Thomas the Bunny

By OLBAPI, $65.

Acorn Mittens Custom Sizes

By thesittingtree, $28.

Gold plated circle posts with flowers

By InbalDesign, $38.

Mini Clutch in Aqua and Red

By LBGstudio, $18.

Check out more fresh shops with Pounce Undiscovered!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Gift Ideas

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Etsy Success for Beginner Sellers

2009-10-01T13:15:00-04:00

Welcome to selling on Etsy! When you're getting started, it feels like there are so many things to do for your new shop. You'll also want to check out the Seller Handbook — it contains links to lots of great articles to help you sell. Other posts to get you started include Welcome to Your Online Presence and A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Shop on Etsy. Consider this article the quick-start guide, with the most important things to consider for getting your shop in top shape!

Your Name

Having a great, memorable name is one of the more important things you can do to brand your shop and encourage sales. Having a shop name that people remember will encourage them to find you again! You want it to be easy to pronounce, easy to spell, interesting, and it should speak to your style or what your shop is about. Shorter tends to be better than longer. Avoid common words like "designs" or "creations," as well as number strings and consonant strings that don't sound like a word in your name — these make your exact shop name hard to remember. Avoid generic-sounding names; something unique, different, or unusual will be more memorable. As Danielle says in this post, "Make sure it's 'Google-able!' Sure the name 'FriedChicken' might be memorable, but if you go to Google and search 'Fried Chicken,' your shop will be a needle in a greasy (yet delicious) haystack!" Do some research on the Internet to make sure that another company doesn't already have the same name.

What shop names have drawn you in? What about these names interested you? Think about this in your brainstorming for the perfect name.

Your shop name and your Etsy username are one and the same. While you can't change your shop name on Etsy, if you don't like the name you have, you can start a new shop. Simply register for the new shop, and then put a link to your new shop in the Shop Announcement, item listings, banner and Profile of your old shop, and then list your items in your new shop. Here are some more tips on shop names.

Shop Setup

The Shop Setup Help Guide will give you step-by-step instructions for getting started.

Banner: If your shop was in the physical world, your banner would be the sign above the front door. Choose something that looks professional and that will give shoppers a sense of the mood or feel of your shop and makes them interested to scroll down to see more! Here are instructions for creating your own banner. If you have nice product photos, you can use these in your banner if you like. If you're not a great graphic designer, you can save time and frustration by buying a ready-made or custom banner from an Etsy seller.

Photo by rikrak

Avatar: If you plan to use the community spaces such as the Forums, Chat, Virtual Labs, or The Storque, a well-lit, well-cropped 75 by 75 pixel photo of your most interesting item can make a great avatar. It's the equivalent of wearing your pieces when you go out, and it advertises your shop while you are interacting with others. The other sellers and Admin (Etsy staff) in these spaces have the power to feature your items in Treasuries, on their own blogs, and around other spaces on Etsy, so show 'em what you've got!

Avatars by: spiderbite, beadsinthebelfry, greeniemarie, shrimpsaladcircus, studioelan, tissage, magicjelly, ThePaperAddict

Shipping: Set up Shipping Profiles in Your Etsy > Shipping Options to save time while listing. Ship internationally — international orders comprise a big chunk of the market on Etsy! Here is a good Forum thread for U.S. sellers on how to set up international shipping. More shipping and packaging how-to's can be found here.

Shop Policies and Profile: Fill them out! Policies define the rules for your shop and can answer buyer questions. The Profile page personalizes you; Etsy shoppers love that they buy directly from the artist, so tell them about yourself and your craft to get them interested in your work. Having these sections filled out will help build trust for your buyer, especially if you are a new seller and don't have feedback yet. Here are some tips for your Shop Policies and Profile Page.

Item Photography

Item photography is perhaps the most important aspect of your shop. On Etsy, you have one main photo and you may upload four additional photos. Use them all! Here are some tips below and explore these posts for further, in-depth suggestions.

Lighting: Use natural lighting. Either morning or early evening light works best. Avoid direct sunlight and harsh mid-day lighting. Inside, near a window, or outside (but not in direct sunlight) both work well. If the lighting is still a bit dark, increase the EV balance on your camera menu. This increases the "whiteness" in the photo. Avoid using the flash. If the photos look washed out, turn away from the sunlight.

Photos by ecosilver, moop, locallibrary

Backgrounds: Shoot against a background that will complement your item. Think about color: What color background will create the mood that you are going for? If you're going for a sophisticated look, perhaps your dark brown item will look great against a pale brown background — think tone-on-tone, but make sure that your item stands out and is not swallowed by the background. Funky? Maybe try a color that is opposite on the color wheel, so a pale orange for your blue item. Modern items might look great with neutral colors, while natural and bohemian looks might look great next to natural materials such as plants, stones, etc. Maybe you'll have a collection of backgrounds with your color palette, and you can choose the best one for each item. Simple white backgrounds can be great for just about any type of item as well, and this will put the focus on your item.

For smaller items like jewelry, try placing these on props such as papers, old books, and tabletops. You may have a variety of materials in your home that will work well.

Photos by msbelle, SeaUnicorn, stamp

For larger items, look around the inside and outside of your home for good locations. Think interesting architecture, beautiful natural settings, walls with interesting textures, or even plain white walls. Is there a location nearby that would look great — perhaps a church, library, or abandoned building that would capture the mood of your items?

Photos by NHWoodCreations, sarahseven, arlenewatson

Consider including a photo that shows the item being used. This will give the potential customer important information, such as what the item is and how big it is. It will also allow them to envision the item on themselves or in their home.

Photos by CombustionGlassworks, MiaBeads, woodtec

Close-ups: Use the macro mode (flower icon) on your camera when shooting close-ups of jewelry and other small objects. This creates a sharp outline of your item. If the photo is blurry, try adjusting the zoom, or getting closer to or farther from your subject.

Angles: Most people start out taking product photos in the same way: They take the photo directly above, say, a piece of jewelry, and surround it with white space. You can make your photos more dynamic by taking the shot from a variety of angles and distances, and then choosing the one that best complements your item. Take a look in the Gift Guides to see how sellers have created interesting shots by using angles.

Photos by ZerbenaBoutique, firewoodfurniture, kjoo

Cropping: Photos that crop in interesting places create movement in the photo. It may allow you to get closer to the item for a detail shot. If your item is symmetrical, do we need to see the entire thing to understand it? Or would cropping off 1/3 of the item let us see more detail and look more interesting?

Avoid crops that are too "tight." This is where just a bit of the top and bottom of the item are cut off — it looks squashed! Take the photo from a bit farther away if this is the case. Even better, turn 3D objects like handbags a bit to the side for a more forgiving crop. Try taking 2D objects like notecards diagonally — this makes the photo more interesting, and will almost always make for a nice crop.

Etsy will automatically crop your photos for the thumbnails when you upload them. Consider while you are taking your pictures that vertical shots will crop mostly from the top, and a bit from the sides, and vice versa for horizontal shots.

Photos by shoofly, makalewakan, atelierBB

Grouping: Try arranging small items such as pouches, soaps, notecards, and cookies into a group shot. This can make the photo look rich and beautiful. Be sure to specify in the listing how many the customer will receive with their order.

Photos by SucculentsGalore, palomasnest, SunshineandRavioli

What is it?: If at all possible, show what the item is in the gallery (first) photo. If it's not possible, put what it is in the first few words of the title so that it is not cropped out when the customer is browsing in "gallery" (large photo) mode.

Additional photos: Your potential customer can't touch your item or try it on. Show them everything they want to know in the photos!

Show size by showing the item next to an object that everyone knows the size of. Human hands, flowers and objects that it would "belong" next to (such as a decor object on a bookshelf next to vintage books or some foreign money spilling out of a pouch) are great. Avoid unattractive items like paperclips and pennies unless they make sense. What does it feel like? Show the texture of your yarn or baked goods with a macro shot. What flavor or scent is it? Some blueberries and vanilla beans next to your blueberry-vanilla soap will look gorgeous and convey to your customer what it smells like.

Your descriptions may have some great ideas about what you might show in your additional photos. If you say in your listing that your scarf also makes a great belt, then show a picture of that to drive the point home!

Photos by karenssoaps, dolittledesign, OnTheRound

Upselling: Would the item be perfect with another item in your shop? Show two necklaces worn together to encourage your buyer to get them both! Would your art prints look great in a grouping of three? Show the customer a photo of that to get her excited! Even better if you offer a small incentive such as free shipping for additional items. Just make sure to be clear about what exactly is for sale with this listing.

Editing: Use a photo editing program to touch up your photos if necessary. Gimp is a free download that you'll love if you know how to use Photoshop, Picasa is a great all-around free program for mid-level skills, and an online photo editor like Piknic is perfect if you're not particularly computer savvy. If the photo is too dark, increase the brightness *and* the contrast. You can do this using "curves" in Gimp.

Getting Exposure

Categories: One of the best hidden gems for getting more exposure for your items is placing them in the correct Category. If your items will fit into more than one Category (for example, Knitting and Accessories), try putting some in one and some in another for maximum exposure. Once you have chosen your Category, choose from the related tags and/or look in the Category Browser to see what subcategories are available. Add any that accurately describe your item exactly as written into your tags, and your item will appear in all of them. Do the same with any sub-subcategories beneath the subcategories that you've chosen.

Tags: Tags, along with titles, are your search terms. Using keywords that buyers will search for will help put your item in front of them! Here is an article with a list of types of tags to help you brainstorm.

List Regularly: Right now, the default for Search and Categories on Etsy is reverse chronological order — newest on the top. If you have several items to list, try to space the listings out a bit. Here's a super-secret hack that a seller figured out if you want to make your listings go live later: create your listings, and go to page 5 of the listing process. Copy the URL from the address bar, and email it to yourself. You can then return to this later and click "FINISH." Test it first to be sure you are doing it right before prepping a bunch of listings!

Renewing: Renewing normally refers to reactivating a listing that has expired. Some sellers figured out that they got more hearts, views, and sales on days when they listed an item. When they did not have an item to list that day, they renewed an item. Renewing will move your item higher in the Category Browser and search results, and it costs the same amount as creating a new listing. We recommend that you only use this method if it is effective for you. (Learn more about how renewing works technically on Etsy.) Before using renewing as a technique for gaining exposure, first get your shop into tip-top shape and have "enough" items in your shop to promote!

Showcases: The Showcase is Etsy's advertising program. The Main Showcase is linked from the homepage of Etsy, and there are Showcases for each Category, the Gift Guides, and The Storque. Additionally, there are regularly specialized Showcases throughout the year. As with renewing, you will want to get your shop into great shape by using the tips in this article before you purchase a Showcase spot for maximum benefit. Having good item photos, descriptive listings, and enough items to make the promotion worth it are most important.

Getting Featured: Your item may be featured in several places around Etsy: in Treasuries, which are chosen by Etsy members, and on the homepage, Gift Guides, Etsy Finds emails, and The Storque (Etsy's blog). The key to getting featured in all of these locations is having great item photos, using tags well, and being an active member of the community. Additionally, you may look at the merchandising articles each month to learn about upcoming themes and holidays that will be promoted. Use this information to help you tag your listings, or as a reminder of upcoming events for which you may want to create items. If you are featured in the Gift Guides, and you are able to make more of the item, you may increase the quantity of your listing so that your item stays in the Guide when it sells!

Your Items and Product Assortment

Creating a cohesive shop: Create a great assortment of products that work together. Think about the types of items that are sold together at retail stores. Some examples are: a women's fashion shop, a baby shop, a crochet shop, a home goods shop, a bath and body shop. This is not to say that you should *never* have items that don't at first seem to go together in your shop — there are a few sellers out there who are making this work because their aesthetic binds all their items together. The point is to be intentional about what you are selling.

Think of every item listing in your shop as an ad for all of your other items. Every time a customer finds one of your items, now they have access to the rest of your shop. Will that customer who is looking for a baby shower gift who you've brought in with your knitted baby hat want to stay to browse in your shop? If your other items are more baby clothes, accessories, toys or children's art, she most likely will. If she has to sift though your dish towels and nature photographs, she may lose interest, no matter how lovely they may be! Consider focusing on what you find most interesting or what's most popular in your shop. You may set up another shop for your other interests, but be aware that it is a lot of time and effort to try to market two shops. You may be better off focusing on one shop.

Having a cohesive shop will make it memorable! If I see a fabulous, feminine vintage-style necklace in a shop full of jewelry of a wide variety of different styles — everything from fun 'n' funky to sophisticated — I will probably not remember the particular shop. Conversely, if that same necklace is surrounded by jewelry in a similar style with an appealing color palette (and photographed in a similar way), it is much more likely to stick in my mind.

You may be worried that this will limit your creativity. Au contraire! you might find that this frees your creativity. It is very enjoyable to create a look and style that is uniquely "you" and to share your vision with the customer. Your style can (and probably will) change over time...but at a given moment, try to have a style that can be summed up in a few words. As you bring your unique style to your product photos and descriptions, your shop itself will become a work of art. Try it!

Photos by theblackapple, paradisehilldesigns, ruffeoheartslilsnoty

What to sell, and how to stand out from the crowd: There are so many wonderful shops on Etsy, that many newbies wonder how they can make an impact. Here are some tips for making your shop shine:

What to do in crowded markets: If you notice that there are lots of others sellers with items similar to yours, say, children's hair bows, you may try creating the items in a different and surprising material, or creating a new style of hair bow to stand out. You may stand out with fabulous photos, a great shop assortment, and lots of items for your buyers to choose from.
Find a niche: Better yet, find an undeserved niche to establish yourself in. Look around in the Categories and subcategories for inspiration...are there any where you might make a mark? For example, if you can make great gifts for men, you will find a market that is hungry for new sellers!
Create a new product, or find a new way of making something that's been around for a while. Some great examples are neawear, who became Etsy-famous with her "Wall Wear," a modern art incarnation of cross-stitch samplers, and girlsavage, who reinvented taxidermy as "Feltidermy" — stuffed animal creatures on trophy boards.

Relisting: Successful sellers use the "relisting" technique to create a profitable business. If you sell an item and can make the same item again, you can "relist" it by using the link at the top of the sold item page. This copies your listing and costs the same as a new listing. You will save time since you do not have to make, photograph, and create a description for your item before selling it again. Try to make items that you will be able to make again. If you prefer to only make one-of-a-kind items, be sure to price them accordingly (read: more expensively).

Pricing: Check out this series of articles for help with pricing. Most Etsy sellers who are new to retailing set their prices too low. Many find that they sell more when they raise their prices! Your price gives your customer a hint of the quality of your item, so make sure you are selling at a fair price! Ask for the price that your time and skills are worth. You will want to consider your material costs, fees and other costs associated with selling, and time spent making items, creating listings, and communicating with customers. You may consider using a combination of pricing equations and then comparing these prices with what the items would sell for in a boutique, or how successful sellers are pricing similar items.

Other Tips

Set up your shop stats: go to Web Analytics in Your Etsy. You will also want to set up Site Search to see what search terms shoppers are using to find your items on Etsy. See #2 on this article for instructions.
Enter your items into Google Base so they appear in the Google Shopping results. It only takes about 20 minutes!
Optimize your Etsy shop for Google.

Helpful Links

Etsy Hacks: This site provides time-saving tools that give you special functions for your Etsy shop, such as the ability to copy one of your current listings, or the ability to upload up to five photos at once while you are listing.

Craftcult: View your hearts in an easy-to-see list format. Also, see when you have been featured in the Gift Guides, The Storque, and on the homepage.

What are your top tips? We'd love to hear them in the comments of this article! ...But there are so many comments now, it's slowing down the page load. So please join the discussion in this Forum thread.

Prep Your Shop for the Holiday Rush: 2009 Seller Workshops

2009-09-24T10:29:00-04:00

Looking at the upcoming calendar can be a daunting prospect for Etsy sellers this time of year. If you're wondering how to optimize your shop to appeal to the coming influx of holiday shoppers, you're in luck! We've created a series of live workshops in our Virtual Labs, hosted by your fellow Etsy sellers and Etsy Admin. We'll talk about everything from developing the perfect gifts that will fly off your virtual shelves, to making sure you're prepared to ship all of those items.

These workshops are sure to whip you into shape for the holidays! Most will be held on Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET in Etsy's Virtual Labs. Core tips from these sessions will also be shared in the Etsy Success newsletters, so be sure to sign up here.

Wondering how our online workshops work? Have a look at this blog post to get a quick understanding of Etsy's Virtual Labs.

Sept. 24, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Product Development and Photography Hosts: Daniellexo & MaryMary Topics covered: Product development brainstorming session Colors and styles that will be hot this season Tips for photography and tagging from a merchandising expert For more info, check out these posts on creating great products.
Sept. 28, 2009 at 9 p.m. ET	Creative Ways to Gain Exposure Host: Amy from Pikaland Brilliant ways to gain exposure Building a solid reputation Start thinking outside the box! Recommended reading: Creativity, Competition and Copycats by Pikaland.
Sept 30, 2009 at 8:00pm ET Oct 1, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. ET Oct. 1, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. ET	Bigger Than a Breadbox: Photography for Medium to Large Items Host: Amby from JulipBags For more info on JulipBags, check out this Quit Your Day Job interview. Photography for 2-D Artists JenKiaba will cover taking photos of paintings, prints, collages and drawings. Jewelry Photographing for Etsy Host: Rhonda from ProlifiqueJewelry For more info on ProlifiqueJewelry, check out this Quit Your Day Job interview.
Oct. 8, 2009 at 5 p.m. ET	How to survive your first Holiday Season on Etsy Host: Aja from SagittariusGallery Topics covered: Question and Answer session for newbies Making your first sales on Etsy Lots of tips and insights for your first holiday season Check out SagittariusGallery's Ultimate Newbie Guide.
Oct. 15, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Tagging, Titles and Descriptions Hosts: Daniellexo, HeyMichelle, MaryMary, JulieinCharge Topics covered: Using tags to get noticed Creative descriptions to woo buyers Optimizing tagging, titles and descriptions for SEO Recommended reading: Guidelines and Tips to Tagging on Etsy.
Oct. 22, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Promo Mojo: Get Recognized This Season Host: Jen from JStephens13 Topics Covered: Spice up your shop How to coordinate your look and get recognized A complete look, from your shop banner to your packaging Etsy friends who can help Where to get labels, banners, tech help and packaging How to get the word out there For more info on JStephens13 check out this Quit Your Day Job interview.
Oct. 29, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Brown Paper Packages Tied up With String Host: Kristal from RikRak Topics covered: Beautiful, budget-savvy, eco-friendly DIY packaging ideas How to make a great first impression with your package How to efficiently organize your packaging supplies Packaging and shipping materials and shop branding For more info on RikRak check out this Quit Your Day Job interview.
Nov. 5, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Shipping Tips Host: TBA
Nov. 12, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Make the Most of Cyber Monday Host: Beth from DiffractionFiber Topics covered: Product tips Having a sale Promoting Customer service and more For more info check out these videos from DiffractionFiber's last workshop.
Nov. 19, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Customer Service for Your Handmade Business Host: Stephanie from StephanieFizer Topics covered: Great customer service communication Handling tricky situations with style and grace More nifty skills to help run your business For more info on StephanieFizer check out this Quit Your Day Job interview.
Nov. 24, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Staying Organized in the Holiday Rush Host: Nicole from Lillyella Topics covered: How to prepare your shop Maintain your sanity and stay on top of your work load Organization, time management and efficiency For more info on Lillyella check out this Quit Your Day Job interview.
Dec. 3, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Top Ten Tips to Bring in Last-Minute Holiday Sales Host: Corrina from Piddix Topics covered: Small changes that make a huge difference Research on holiday buying trends for 2009 Great places to find last-minute packaging supplies What to do if and when those sales start pouring in For more info on Piddix check out this Quit Your Day Job interview.
Dec. 17, 2009 at 4 p.m. ET	Holiday Recap and Party Host: Etsy Lab Rats Team Reflections, reactions, and fun!

Looking for more Holiday Tips? Check out this list of all our Holiday How-To's:

The Seller Handbook | Visit the Virtual Labs | Virtual Labs FAQ

Fresh Shops: Treeforyou, an Oasis in the Manchester Desert

2009-08-27T10:30:00-04:00

My name is Anne-Sophie Godby, a.k.a. treeforyou, and I'm a 24-year-old Belgian living in the UK. I started my Etsy shop in May, 2009. I just got married, and I’m planning on going back to Belgium at the end of the year. I started making jewelry when I was 16, and I never stopped! I also love sewing and cooking. I have just finished three years working as a French teacher, and I’m now going to concentrate on my shop treeforyou.

My two passions are tea (I collect teapots, cups and have a cupboard full of tea varieties) and trees. I love going for walks and guessing what type of tree is in front of me. I donate one dollar from each pet tree necklace that I sell to a charity called Arbor Day that plants trees.

A friend told me about Etsy a few months ago, and I’m so delighted to have joined because it helped me meet some amazing, friendly people. I love shopping on here too. You find so many unique and original items. I can’t count the number of times people have stopped me downtown to ask, “Where did you get your T-shirt? Is it from the High Street?” "No," I say, "Etsy!"

My studio is in my flat in Manchester. I work on a very big table, always drinking a cup of tea, with all the beads laid out in front of me so I can try different combinations. Manchester is such a big city; I really love it, but I miss the Belgian countryside a lot. So, it seemed natural to create these little pet tree necklaces. It is like having a tiny greenhouse around your neck. I have one and never leave the house without it. I've named it Terry!

I love nature and trees. I cannot wait for fall and winter to arrive so I can create more seasonal jewelry. I love working with the forest theme. A pet tree necklace would make such a good Christmas gift. I will have to make some special ones!

Further Resources:

Looking for more Etsy newbies? Check out our previous Fresh Shops coverage!

Vote! Who Has the Freshest Shop?

2009-07-21T10:00:00-04:00

There are some new faces in Etsytown and we want to help get them seen! We asked our readers to nominate Fresh Shops (shops that are three months old or younger and that don't have a lot of sales). Now it's your turn to vote! Tell us which new shop is your new favorite.

Next Monday we'll announce the winner, which — along with some of the top picks — will be featured in the Members' Choice Gift Guide and here on the Etsy blog. Show these new sellers a warm welcome and get out the vote!

Voting Posts | Voter FAQ

Etsy Finds: Emerging Artists You Ought to Know

2009-03-05T10:19:00-04:00

I fancied myself a curator this week and put together a collection of art from some of the newest sellers on Etsy. If you have wine and cheese nearby, feel free to sip and snack while you stroll through my virtual gallery opening. Check out the rest of the Artistic Endeavors series (and our Art Gift Guides!) for more curated art selections.

Nicky Arnstein

Portrait of a dashing fellow by pathamou, $30.

Mini Paper Mache 010

Creatures by Kawasaki artist mumbreeze, $25.

Built to Spill show poster

Screenprinted Built to Spill concert posters by theclearancesale, $35.

painting

Navajo inspired works by nightwoodny, $40.

Infanta holding a bunny. Ceramic sculpture, bell

Sculptures that ring by Berlin artist yalonetski, $50.

Rolling Contrivance by Merijn Hos

Limited edition, letterpressed print, a collaboration between Dutch illustrator Merijn Hos and Australian printmakers Wilkintie, $60.

We Are Not Two We Are One screen print by Christopher Bettig

Inspired by the band, The Kinks, and their song entitled "Strangers". By Chris Bettig aka themountainlabel, $40.

Green Electric Company

Original watercolors by Colt J Bowden aka nourishingflourish, $50.

one,two,tee

Handpainted shirts by aitchmade, $65.

Art Gift Guides | Artwork for Every Room Showcase

I hope you enjoyed my newbie art exhibit. Want to share your own favorites with the Etsy community? Hand pick your own collection of work in Etsy's Treasury!

Till next time,

Danielle

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Artistic Endeavors Series | Guest Curators | Art Category | Fresh Shops

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!

Featured Buyers: Sneak Attacks from the Handmade Movement

2009-03-04T17:30:00-04:00

Do you know how to do the happy dance? You will soon! Today Michael Phipps of phippsart.etsy.com shares his inspiration for the "Sneak Attacks" community project. Read on!

After several years of filling vending machines and stacking cans of food, I quit my job so my constant desire to create could be unleashed. Now on any given day I might be climbing scaffolding to work on a mural or using a microscopic brush on a book cover painting. When my sister introduced me to Etsy that first year as a full time artist, my mind started racing with ideas, and I decided I wanted to screenprint artwork onto shirts. Having screenprinted in college and then later in a friend's studio (where my darkroom was also the bathroom for an indie rock venue), it was a natural transition. I still remember making those first few sales on Etsy. Even now, EVERY sale is a thrill, but those first several were special. The feeling back then was powerful enough to positively affect my entire day.

Several months later, the memory of that exhilaration got me thinking of ways I might help other shop owners feel the same excitement, so I started a thread in the Etsy Forums entitled "Make Someone's Day," encouraging others to find shops without sales and to be their first sale. This went on for a few weeks and was even carried on by other Etsy sellers, some of whom went on to form the Etsy Patrons Team. I also figured that if it were a thrill to get one sale, how great would it be to suddenly have a whole swarm of business in just one day?

Thus the Sneak Attack was born. I started a thread asking if anyone wanted to take part in a "Sneak Attack" and explained the concept. It didn't take long before we already targeted two shops and had two more in the works. The excitement on the part of the shop owners AND the shoppers was so great that I knew I wanted to make this a regular occurrence. I quickly threw together the bones of a web site, which included a schedule of upcoming "attacks." (The site's now been completely revamped.) The response was overwhelming. For about a month we held Sneak Attacks every weekday, but that proved exhausting! So ever since we've been doing them Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The Sneak Attacks are no one-man operation. I couldn't do this all by myself — not even close. In fact, each "attack" is sponsored by another Etsy seller or buyer, who chooses the shop and coordinates it all. They start a thread in the forums, which serves as a sort of pre-game party before the appointed time. My biggest help through all this has been VintageEmbellishment. She's done more to promote and support the movement than one could even imagine. There's a long list of others who have made all of this possible.

I'm often asked how shops are chosen as "victims" of the attacks. First and foremost, no one should volunteer to be at the receiving end of a Sneak Attack. That's about the best way to NOT be chosen. It wouldn't be a "Sneak Attack" then, would it?! The shops need to have few or no sales, have been around for at least two weeks (preferably longer), they need to have some recent activity evident in their shops, and they need to have a good amount of quality, affordable products. We sadly pass by a lot of shops because they have blurry or dark pictures, incomplete descriptions, or nothing has been added or renewed for months.

Since the end of September, The Handmade Movement has sponsored 67 attacks on a total of 81 shops, resulting in 973 sales! That amounts to about $6000 worth of products bought from these up-and-coming shops over the course of just over four months. Here are the stories of just a handful of those shops.

Rachelherzog: "I had started my Etsy shop, Tickleworm, in September 2008. I put up seven items and kept working and adding more from there. (You check your shop like you check the phone for messages when you are expecting someone to call.)

In October, I was adding items, checked back and one of them was gone — at first I thought I didn't load it correctly (operator error), but then more items were gone. I saw I had a convo message, checked it, read it, and still it took me a second...I just couldn't believe I went from zero sales to a bunch in 10 minutes. I checked the thread and was reading what everyone was saying about my items...I couldn't believe it! It felt so great! Even if people didn't buy, they were saying such nice things! I honestly had tears in my eyes! PEOPLE WERE BUYING MY THINGS, THINGS I MADE!

The 'Sneak Attack' was my big break, so to speak. It kept me making more, better, different items! So now, I return every so often to buy from a shop that is being 'Sneak Attacked' because, well, it feels so good to do that for someone — and you get a great product."

Desertnana: "For almost three years I was a more-than-merry Etsy shopper. I finally took the plunge and opened my shop, but felt like a resident of Whoville in Horton Hears a Who. Desert Nanas Retro Ranch was full of goods, and I was like a Christmas elf reading, shooting, and uploading. (On dial up, mind you...) Then on December 8th, after an hour of shooting more items for the shop, I clicked on Retro Ranch to see 5 new orders! As I read the first order, I suddenly thought 'Wait-just-one-second...Did my sister do a big sympathy buy after listening to my repeated 'Steven Colbert fist-to-the-heaven' laments...??!' But no: the buyer's name is Heather (aka Winemakerssister), and in the message to the seller, it said, 'SNEAK ATTACK.'

My personal orbit shifted its axis, and I danced the desert happy dance! I shouted like Sally Field in her infamous 1980s Oscars Speech, 'They like me!' All of the hours and days of banging my head against walls of technological confusion were not in vain! I have customers!!! WinemakersSister was the first of this 'mysterious group' (Hautetotes, VintageEmbellishment, The Copper Cauldron, KreatedbyKelly), to respond to my mail, and I was not surprised to learn that a volunteer group of Etsy folk do this as a weekly hobby to surprise and encourage new shops!

With this wonderful burst of encouragement I went forth, forever changed by the kindness of these lovely ladies, having gained a dear friend (love you Heather) and wanting to share and give the same kind of boost to new and struggling beginners."

FartsyArts: "The 'Sneak Attack' is one of the coolest ideas to support new shops. KitsandCaboodles sponsored my 'Sneak Attack.' I am sure a lot of beginner Etsy sellers can relate when I say it takes a lot of hard work and outside the box thinking to get your shop noticed. Having a handful (or more) of people visit the shop AND purchase an item is a double bonus!! When I got the e-mail that I was going to be a 'victim' of a 'Sneak Attack,' I ran to my boyfriend in utter excitement and screamed, 'I don't know what this is but it's going to be FUN!' Once I realized what the whole game was, my eyes were glued on the clock and my finger was on my mouse ready to reset my browser!

...I am a regular visitor to the site to see who the next 'victim' is. It is a great promotional tool and so much fun to partake in as a seller and a buyer. I have participated in a past 'Sneak Attack' and the thanks you get from the seller spells happiness and it feels just great, and you get something cool for yourself too!"




Monkeysalwayslook: "I was, of course, completely thrown off guard when I finally realized that I was a victim of a sneak attack. I can't really describe the feelings I felt except amazement, joy, surprise and overwhelming gratitude. Before the sneak attack, my store only had two sales. In my feedback to my buyers I said that this little gesture brought tears to my eyes, and when I think about it now, it still brings tears to my eyes. The generosity of complete strangers and the purchases that they made gave my little store the momentum and boost that has carried on to this day. Since the sneak attack, my store has had a steady stream of sales.

Because of the boost — and more importantly, the amazing generosity — of these people, I check in now and again at www.handmademovement.com to see who is up next — knowing that just a tiny purchase can make all the difference to the store's success, and [that it brings] motivation and joy...to the store's creator. I think this is what the handmade movement is all about: sharing in each others love, hard work, and care that is put into each and every item."


warpeDesign: "Being 'Sneak Attacked' caught me completely by surprise. I'd only been on Etsy for a month and was still on the low end of the learning curve. It was a challenge to figure out how to make my cards look special and if I could catch someone's interest among the ton of other cards that were posted every day. My cards are subtle, so it's hard to make them jump out from a tiny thumbnail. The 'Sneak Attack' was a wonderful affirmation that I had something special and that I was showcasing it the right way."

WontonLove: "It was a complete surprise. I was fairly new to Etsy at the time and never did I expect such craft activism to take place! The fundamental part of the idea touched my crafty heart. It's nice to think that anyone can sneak up on you, from around the world, when you least expect it, and you get a bunch of sales to boot!"

Now it's your turn to help create more stories like the ones above (and get some cool items in the process!). Check out http://www.handmademovement.com for the schedule of upcoming Sneak Attacks and join in on the fun!

Etsy Community Projects | Fresh Shops

Etsy Finds: Undiscovered Treasures

2009-02-26T10:00:00-04:00

Beware! There is a shopping tool on Etsy that might become a serious addiction. Your friends and family will become concerned. You'll be found staring at the computer screen, mouse aflutter, wondering what's just beyond the next click. This seemingly harmless feature is called Pounce, and it's a force to be reckoned with. Pounce with caution! Don't believe me? Just have a look at the Fresh Shops I discovered while pouncing and you'll be a believer!

Minimoog

By pulsewidth, $65.

unicorns are awesome

By septembear, $20.

Foks - long in cream

By celapiu, $70.

By turnyourhead, $149.95.

Eleven O'Clock in the Day (8 scenes)

By landfall, $130.

Rosenthal Classic Rose Container

By coucoumadame, $68.

Groovin' Threads

By ibwatson, $60.

White bear with a black ball, brooche

By ememem, $35.

Deer Heads are so hot right now II

By NonschoLarly, $99.

Trees in Love Pillow

By AtelierAfra, $32.

I can't believe some of these Fresh Shops haven't even had a sale yet! Come on!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Fresh Shops

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Etsy Finds: Who's Got Talent?

2009-02-11T07:55:00-04:00

We've been noticing many talented fresh faces here on Etsy. If you're into discovering the latest up and coming trends in the world of art and craft, then Pounce could become quite a habit. (It's addictive!) Check it out for yourself and be the first to find a few new favorites. Here are some Fresh Shops to get you started.

double layered skirt

By LoveToLoveYou, $68.

Diamond - Bookshelf

By LittleFishFurniture, $40.

venus flytrap tote

By flytrap, $10.

Bike O Rama

By nourishingflourish, $50.

Dala horse

By wallwork, $30.

Inskip Beardaclava

By Freight, $79.

Winter Samara

By UmbilicusDesigns, $168.

Tina Bowl

By lorikoop, $18.

Standing Together - Original Illustration - Free Shipping

By theblackbirdsings, $40.

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Fresh Shops

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Shop Makeover: Welcome to Your Online Presence

2009-01-22T14:00:00-04:00

Sellers, you may want to print out this Shop Makeover post and subtly plant it on the desk of your friend or family member who needs a nudge into the 21st-century and all that the web has to offer for independent artists and designers. Or, maybe it's you that has thought about taking the plunge to start selling online, but is still standing on the shore... well, have no fear...

This is a Shop Makeover for the crafter or artist who has, as of yet, only delved into the real, "offline" world of selling their art, craft, or vintage wares. This makeover is meant to transform the physical "brick and mortar" seller into a lovely online indiepreneurial swan!

(...We're joking with that crack about the swan.) As most successful artists and crafters would agree, you need to do what is best for you, and there is no one right approach for everyone. Many choose to sell through boutiques, galleries, trade shows, craft fairs, and other venues in addition to selling online. An online presence is just another option, with its own perks and drawbacks.

So, why get online?

Online Storefronts Have Low Overhead:
Get online and stake your claim on some sweet 'n' cheap web real estate! The low cost associated with an online presence is pretty hard to beat. A perfect starting point for online marketing is your own web address, or url. (This will act as your home base to which you can direct all your marketing efforts. Ideally, it will be someplace where people can buy your work, but at the very least, consider a photo sharing or portfolio hosting site.) If you have the ability or the resources, you can build your own website, or you could join a site that hosts independents shops, which is very affordable. Of course, we recommend Etsy (we work here!), but many options are available with varying features and costs. (You can get all the details on opening an Etsy shop here.) cobblerscabin points out that there are "no major expenses in starting online as there are in craft fairs such as tents, entrance fees, displays, etc. You don't have to transport all your items and do set ups and take downs." But remember, even if you only wish to present your crafts or artwork to brick and mortar stores or galleries within your city, an online address can be just the professional calling card you need show off your latest work — especially as more and more people are using the internet as a research tool prior to reaching out and making an initial contact.

Which brings us to our next point...

Peer Pressure (Get Online — Everybody's Doing It):
The digital era is here and now and it's only going to be made obsolete by something even crazier! Possibly... but seriously folks, online shopping is so very common these days. According to Nielson's January 2008 study (and that's a year ago, already), "More than 85 percent of the world’s online population has used the Internet to make a purchase—increasing the market for online shopping by 40 percent in the past two years—according to the latest Nielsen Global Online Survey on Internet shopping habits. Globally, more than half of Internet users have made at least one purchase online in the past month, according to Nielsen." During this economic crisis, people are still shopping online, even if it has slowed apace with offline shopping. Even shoppers that might primarily buy from you in a shop or craft fair might want to find you later. MamaVSoap underscores the benefit of having a web presence, "As a buyer, I have a problem when I purchase a small item at a craft fair and then can never find the seller again."

Pervasive Time and Space:
You can reach an audience of potential customers beyond borders and make connections to people in foreign countries. This opens your shop up to different time zones, and, even more close to home, you can "extend your hours" by having an online presence. gufobardo, who is based in Sardinia, likes that her shop is open 24/7. The internet never sleeps! We've witnessed this right here at Etsy, as it has grown into more and more of a global marketplace. The internet also doesn't have bad weather! HendersonPipes has been disappointed by craft fair turn outs,"Paying a large table fee and then having Michigan weather dump a bunch of snow, keeping people home, is a huge downer." That said, being "placeless" online can be challenging — where do you hang your sign for all to see? You'll need to put yourself in front of "virtual foot traffic" where online shoppers will find links to your items. Many sellers do this by purchasing ads, joining group marketplaces where they know shoppers will be searching for products with keywords or "tags", and by generating buzz through print and blog coverage. Another challenge? "It's difficult to stop 'working' on your Etsy shop. It's so much fun, it's hard to say 'I'm done for the day,'" says littleTstudio.

No Face Time:
This is one aspect of selling online that feels very different for the real-life-entrenched, and for some folks, the lack of face-to-face interaction with customers is a bonus. Selling online works particularly well for shy people or people that have a hard time acting as a "salesperson live and in person" as thedreamygiraffe put it, and hey, also people who like to stay in their "jammies" all day, as FashionCandy says. Parents who want to be with their children can work from home, as BululuStudio noted. But for some people, selling online feels, well, isolating and too "computery." In other words, if you thrive off of your embodied presence, it may take some time to figure out how to translate that through a keyboard. Direct emails or the Etsy email system (called "Conversations" or "convos") are a fairly intimate way of communicating with customers, and it's up to you to find your own professional/friendly tone. Online language may be chirpier and come in quick spurts (especially for Twitterers), whereas some forum-regulars prefer on-going text-based discussions, while some folks like the interactivity of the Chatrooms and the real-time, webcam-enabled Virtual Labs. Bloggers will tell you that sharing their lives and creative processes through their blogs can garner them quite a following. So in a way, you get to document your life and have your face-time on your own terms (on your good hair days). All kidding aside, it's an art form in itself to be able to express your personality and your vision largely through text and photos (perhaps short videos too). There is the flip side of face-time: you'll need to get close to your postal carrier! As sugarlotusdesigns pointed out, she's still trying to figure out the "complexities of postal rates!"

Get the Tech (the Hard and Software of Selling Online):
We know a couple of people who seem to have this electric charge running through their bodies that makes computers just randomly start whirring and hiccuping until they're kaput. So if this is you, you need to do something about that (take tai-chi classes?), because there's no denying that you're going to need some electronic equipment if you want to sell online. Once that's taken care of, the required gadgetry is pretty straightforward. You'll need a digital camera. You'll need a fairly speedy internet connection. You'll need a computer with enough juice to store photos and run Photoshop and a word-processing program (though you can use Picnik and Google Docs which are free browser-based applications). And you'll need to enjoy these things! It takes time and passion to shoot photos that conjure the artistry of your pieces. You have to be able to sign in and check on your online presence often. Just because you aren't physically there, doesn't mean you don't have to be virtually "there" and checking to see if you got messages or sales.

It can be daunting, true, but launching your online presence can be a very fruitful endeavor if you stick with it. One of the most amazing things about Etsy is the community of sellers who will share advice and how-tos. We will welcome you!

What do YOU tell your friend or loved one who views selling online with trepidation, but has the potential to start an Etsy shop that would blow everyone away? Comment below! For more, see also this forum thread where sellers quoted in this post shared their experiences.

And if you're participating in the Shop Makeover Series, post a link to your before and after shots! Check out the Etsy Shop Makeover Flickr pool here.

Seller Handbook | Shop Makeover Series

Etsy Finds: Fresh Shops that Will Leave You Speechless

2009-01-14T07:24:00-04:00

When I was home for the holidays, my dad told me a funny story about the naughty things he would get away with when he was a young schoolboy. Every week the teacher would make the class write a story using all the weekly spelling words, and every time he would write, "The spelling words for this week are..." and just simply list the words. So...the Fresh Shops for this week are...

Music

By tushtush, $35.

desire

By joettamaue, $120.

Blue Blossom Dog Hat

By BeanTownHandmade, $22.

Handmade, Natural, Found Hardwood Wall Sconce 10

By woodstocklamps, $110.

Green Bow Brown Beanie

By MeandTex, $35.

Maple Bucky Light

By robotink, $100.

Love you, love me brooch. Brass and button bead pin-brooch.

By luxandlove, $35.

Long White Birch Tree Log Bolster Pillow

By chicsindesigndotcom, $50.

SALE-SWEATER DRESS WITH SHAWL COLLAR

By Lirola, $72.

Drop Cookies 3 Ways

By buttermilkbakeshop, $20.

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Fresh Shops | Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Gift Ideas

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Fresh Shops: New for '09

2008-12-31T08:37:00-04:00

Get fresh for 2009 by shopping the vast pool of new-to-the-scene Etsy sellers! Here are my Fresh Shop picks for this week. I found most of these via Pounce, where you can discover brand spankin' new Etsy artists or see what has just sold. It's magical, really.

Bunny Dish

By wesleyharvey, $70.

Purple Ear Flap Hat

By StitchShop, $69.

Eye - Original Painting on Wooden Plaque

By ambrosebird, $45.

The Beekeeper in Barley

By hurleysashimi, $65.

Bamboo and silk dress

By econica, $95.

Pollen . Lion . Brooch

By juliepollen, $24.

1950s studio metalware enamel on copper dish

By BlueRidgeEstatePicks, $10.

Helin Earrings

By SigneNjust, $260.

Recycled Magazine Picture Frame

By twofold, $14.

We hope you are having a great holiday season! Do you have any great stories to share? Submit them to the Hello Craft Podcast. Whether it's a weird or wonderful handmade gift you gave or received, a family history full of crafters, or a random amusing anecdote, Hello Craft wants to hear about it from you. Find out more here.

Read about more Fresh Shops on the Etsy blog.

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Storque Featured Buyers | Trends | Gift Ideas

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Fresh Shops: MattiasA

2008-12-25T15:30:00-04:00

The illustrations of Mattias Adolfsson aka MattiasA hum with imagination — the characters emerge from the page like they're prancing out of a fully formed make believe world. This Fresh Shops brings original watercolors on paper to the Etsy Art Category. Below, you can see a work in progress:

Mattias gets inspiration from the landscape of his father's birthplace: a small island on the west coast of Sweden called Stora Kornö. Nature seems to be his imagination's elixir, as he "and my wife start the day with an hour long walk in the woods with our dog. It's a great start to the day and starts the brain thinking on new pieces. I also find that running is a great way of getting new ideas, there is something to the fact that you are moving that gets the creative juices going."

Mattias has also been a fan of Tove Janson (of Moomin fame) and Herge (the Belgian creator of Tintin) since he was young. "As a child my parents used to take me and my twin sisters to a lot of exhibitions and museums that played a big part as well in influencing me."

Mattias has been making art his whole life, but only in the past two years has he been doing his own work fulltime. Spending time with his family — his wife, two daughters and a terrier too — is a great part of his life.

When I asked him what he likes about selling on Etsy, he told me he likes "the fact that you get feedback directly and that you can see who hearts our shop."

You can find out more about Mattias' creative process on his blog: http://mattiasa.blogspot.com

Looking for more Etsy newbies? Check out our previous Fresh Shops coverage!

Etsy Finds: So Exciting to Me, Yeah!

2008-12-24T08:26:00-04:00

In my hunt for the latest Fresh Shops to highlight this week, I sat back in my chair with Kool & the Gang's inspiring song “Fresh” playing on repeat through my computer speakers. I didn't have to look very far to find the latest, most talked about shops that have come into Etsy town. After a quick glance through the latest additions on my Favorite Sellers list, I bring you Etsy's freshest, most exciting new shops.

WARNING, but completely optional... Don't go any further without this lovely accompaniment.

Curly Maple Wood Bowl 017

This beautiful wood turned bowl would look perfect on a coffee table filled with felted acorns or pebbles. By makye77, $35.

Sunday sensation

Ooo la la. I like! By serpilerol, $50.

Costura Del Centro De Atras...Couture Du Milieu Du Dos

If I owned this shirt, I would never want to take it off. By artlab, $125.

French Cameo

A crock of succulent genius. By SASSYspaces, $30.

Woodland Animals Paper Clips

If getting more organized isn't on your resolution list for the New Year, then you should add it right away. (Just so you have an excuse to buy everything in this adorable shop.) By DeskDiamonds, $8.50.

EXTREME RUSTIC WOOD SWITCH PLATE COVER DOUBLETOGGLE

These switch plates speak to the side of me that dreams of one day living in the woods in a log cabin. By againstthegrain13, $18.

Faux bois shirred cotton bolster pillow

Speaking of logs; this is so amazing! By sewfaux, $115.

Wool Felt Party Kitty Red Pocket Watch Jewelry Pendant

Kitty cats in party hats! By rebeccashapiroart, $12.

Frozen 5x7

This gorgeous photo adds a spark of life to a dreary winter day. By ships, $12.

Primitive Vintage Bottlecap Christmas Ornaments

These primitive bottlecap ornies turned this Charlie Brown tree into a really lovable little tree. By poetsdaughter, $12.

Trio of small bottles

These amazing ceramic bottles make me miss the days I'd spend in my studio covered in clay. By potterbird, $45.

Still feel like being surprised? Try these Etsy links:

Pounce | Treasury | Time Machine | More Fresh Shops

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Etsy Finds: New Talent

2008-12-18T08:53:00-04:00

Seriously guys, just stop it. My pocketbook can't handle any more handmade and vintage gems from your Fresh Shops! Your talent + Pounce = a dangerous equation. Here are my top must-haves-from-our-newbies for this week. Maybe I'll see a few of these under my tree?

Wonky Hand-cast Ceramic Candlestic

By LucindaChips, $20.

Ziggy Wallet (Red/Lime)

Many other fabulous color combinations in this shop! By hedilu, $54.

Pear Blossom Branch in Polka-dot

By greenbeings, $35.

Lace Ring

By inbalbittan, $79.

forgotten

By squirrellove, $40.

Bag A

By cleverscene, $175.

Rockabilly Dress

From whiteelephantsale, $10.

Pink Flower Nordie with Ear Flaps

By LEEISULA, $30.

Kitten 8 x 10 Art Print

Only 4 in stock! By waitominute, $10.

Want to learn how to make things? Get fresh, yourself! Learn how to make a pretty holiday garland with this very easy video how-to.

Read about more Fresh Shops on the Etsy blog.

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Storque Featured Buyers | Trends | Gift Ideas

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Etsy Finds: Hot Off the Presses

2008-12-11T08:04:00-04:00

Looking for new talent on Etsy? You're in luck! This week's edition of the Fresh Shops series highlights new artists on Etsy, some of which have no sales, some with but a few. If there's one thing that joins all of these items together, it's the raw talent behind them. Any of these items would make great holiday gifts, so support a new shop and make someone's day!

Attack of the 50 foot woman

By elzaweirdart, $40.

sTyle - Ring

By Fordos, $62.

Nezumi hand knit grey mouse beanie

By NolaHats, $30.

Little Blue Round. A ceramic and glass pendant.

By Cooked, $35.

Safari Elephant

By LucyBlaireCreations, $45.

SILK SCREEN PRINTED cushion

By rachelpeloquin, $30.

ozetta large warmer-charcoal grey

By ozetta, $80.

two evergreens - cross stitch

By treefox, $16.

Three-stranded shell necklace

By terminy, $25.

Looking for more shopping inspiration? Be sure to tune in to our Shop Live event with editors of Teen Vogue tonight, December 11th, 2008 at 7PM Eastern Time.

Still feel like being surprised? Try these Etsy links:

Pounce | Treasury | Time Machine | More Fresh Shops

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!

Etsy Finds: Fresh on the Scene

2008-12-04T08:30:00-04:00

Here at Etsy, we're always looking for talented new artists, and these up-and-comers do not disappoint! This collection of items comes from Etsy shops that are less than three months old — some with no sales, some with a few. Fresh talent grows around these parts! Any of these would make great holiday gifts, so support a new shop and make someone's day!

Anteater plate

All of lukaluka's illustrations have captured my heart. Check out her shop for more finds. $30.

doily clock

Clean, modern design. By andfurthermore, $22.

BIG RETRO CAMERA - Original drawing - 11.7 x 15''

This is an original drawing. Get it while it's hot! By CB78, $65.

ODDITY Oxidised Silver Letter Stamp Band (Ring)

Are you an oddity? By elsieowl, $25.

Blue Tree Stump

Tree stump embroidery? Yes, please! By MiniatureRhino, $35.

Reindeer, 7 x 8 Fine Art Print

These animal prints are so beautiful. I see them in a child's room. By SharonMontrose, $25.

polka dot neck warmer

Fashion meets function. I want one of these really, really bad. By kaylim, $35.

Bottles

The busy colors of this print makes me infinitely happy — like pixie sticks. By threesistersink, $15.

The Proposal

This original painting is like a harlequin romance cover and pop art made a baby. By nakintisch, $1,500.