Search results (tags) for: "san francisco"

Coast-to-Coast: Craft with Etsy Labs in Brooklyn and San Francisco

2009-11-26T10:30:00-05:00

This week we are pleased to announce crafting events across the United States! Join the Etsy Labs in both Brooklyn and San Francisco (and online!) for free hands-on workshops.

So, read on for double the crafty events this week...

Crafting in Brooklyn, NY:

Open Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn, NY

Bring along any project you'd like to develop during this week's Craft Night, or start a brand new project using our tools and extra supplies. To craft-finity and beyond!

When: Monday, November 30; drop in any time between 4 to 8 p.m. ET.
Where: Etsy Labs at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn:

12/7: Needle-felted ornaments with Nguyen from KnitKnit
12/14: Plush toys with Wendy from Scary Stories
12/21: Bottlebrush trees with Daniellexo
12/28/09 through 1/18/10: Craft Night Hiatus (No Craft Nights at the Etsy Labs during this time.)

A photo of Susan and Amy from a recent needlepoint Craft Night at the Etsy Labs.

Crafting in San Francisco, CA:

Student Night + Craft Bar With Etsy Labs at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco

Escape winter’s chill at the Museum of Craft & Folk Art! Join us for Craft Bar with Etsy Labs @ MOCFA, a free event co-sponsored by Etsy. MOCFA is throwing the gallery doors open for you to brush up on your knitting skills with a quick and easy hat project that will keep you warm and stylish during the winter months — it's perfect for gift-giving. Sessions are free and open to all skill levels, from beginner to expert. Materials and instruction will be provided.

Local artists Jackie Huang will be on hand for a plushie felting demo, and fiber store, A Verb for Keeping Warm, will share techniques for spinning yarn. Sip locally brewed Trumer Pils at the custom-built Craft Bar, visit the Open Source Embroidery Exhibition and pick up a new hobby.

Don't live in California? Fear not, MOCFA will also host a live demo of the evening's craft projects via webcam in Etsy's Virtual Labs for all of our faraway friends. If you would like to knit along with us, please download this free pattern.

When: Thursday, December 3 from 6 - 8 p.m. PT. Online demo at 1 p.m. PT in the Virtual Labs.

Where: Museum of Craft and Folk Art at 51 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA

Looking for further crafting inspiration?

How-Tuesday Projects | Supplies Category | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide

Will we see you next week? Let us know in the comments below.

Guest Curator: Shop Local With Diane Vadino

2009-11-25T14:27:00-05:00

Diane Vadino is a novelist, blogger, and printmaker. She is only 62 credits from completing an undergraduate degree in conceptual art. Her novel, Smart Girls Like Me, was printed in one language and in one country but earned an A- from Entertainment Weekly, and her author’s edition of it, with handmade covers, is available in her Etsy shop. She writes frequently about shopping around the world for magazines including Budget Travel and NYLON — in which she named Etsy as the "E" in the A to Z best things about America.

As a travel writer, I'm on the road almost constantly — I'm writing this column in a web cafe in Nepal, at the tail end of a seven-hour cross-country ride on a bus that bounced so hard the seats actually came loose. Bringing home unique, handmade pieces of art and design — and writing about them on my blog, Bunnyshop — are some of my favorite things about traveling, and I use Etsy's Shop Local feature constantly — whether to find cool designers when I'm away from home, or when I'm back in New York, hoping to buy (or write about) unique work from far away.

Bambina Vessels

I flipped when I saw these "Bambina vessels"— I love them, they're so gorgeous and delicate — by New Zealand designer Zekiah Heath (who goes by Popkraft on Etsy) at a small ceramics shop near Auckland, while doing a piece on NZ for NYLON. $26.

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Rhino Pastel Ndebele

This rhino is so adorable — the perfect souvenir from Johannesburg. By giggletree, $25.

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Taira Polka Dot necklace D

I love everything at the Homako shop, but this polka-dot necklace might be my favorite. Weirdly enough, I found her when I was looking for pieces from Japan — she's since moved to L.A., but I think they're just as good an aesthetic fit with southern California. Love them, love them. $27.

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The Royal Tenenbaums poster

There’s no shortage of amazing printed work in London, but these film posters by Claudia Varosio are some of the best I've seen. I love how she's able to distill each one down to a key image and the right colors and font. $16.90.

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Pure Noe Valley Honey - 16 oz, June 2009

I went to art school in San Francisco, so I know there's an unbelievable number of incredible makers-of-things there — including all sorts of homemade foods and drinks. I love that these honeys were made right in the middle of the city, in Noe Valley. By PollenPrincesses, $19.99.

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Small Porcelain Container

Shop Local is also an awesome way to find vintage pieces from around the world without leaving home — like this Chinese box from Singapore, now available from The Orientalist's shop. Most amazingly: free shipping to anywhere in the world! $50.

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Set of Pasta Bowls

I found these plates when I was writing about Etsy for NYLON and really wanted to include a designer from Brooklyn, my hometown. I was crazy about these hand-painted (yet dishwasher safe — always a bonus, even if I will be 100 years old before I have a dishwasher) plates from Michelle Antonisse. $65.

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Grace Backpack - Leather in Antique Brown and Brass

Ditto these pieces from Moxie and Oliver — I was looking for a designer based in the Northwest, and Seattle was the first city I searched. This is basically the most gorgeous leather bag I've ever seen — and completely handmade. $750.

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Reindeer, 7 x 8 Fine Art Print

I once had to do a story on independent designers in Los Angeles and somehow came across this amazing photo of a reindeer (which I thought was a moose for basically forever). Sharon Montrose has a collection of other awesome photos of real animals — including a goat, a sheep, and a pony. Ridiculously excellent. $25.

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WaXxe in Blushing Soft Pink - Luxurious Plush Leather Hobo

I've been looking for a shop based in Thailand — it's my next stop after Nepal — and randomly it turned out that my sister, who co-writes Bunnyshop, featured ZhenUN, which just moved there, last week. My favorite is this soft pink bag with a hobo-ish shape. By zhenunleathers, $159.

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Handmade limited edition vintage 1960s fabric dress custom size

I've been working on a piece on street fashion in Stockholm, so I decided it was time to get some for myself. I love everything about this dress, which is made from 1960s vintage fabric. Plus: amazing print. Plus: adorable sleeves. Plus: pockets! By cristinapires, $150.

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Philadelphia's ill

I've been scouring Etsy for something to get my sister, who lives in Philadelphia, for Christmas. This "ill" necklace from Sharif — based on the Phillies' logo — is a definite finalist. It won't heal a heart broken in game six of the World Series, but at least it's something fun to wear come opening day in April. $20.

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Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive!

Coast-to-Coast: Come Rock and Craft With Etsy Labs

2009-10-29T16:33:00-05:00

This week we are pleased to announce crafting events across the United States! Join the Etsy Labs in both Brooklyn and San Francisco (and online!) for free hands-on workshops to kick off a crafty month of November.

So, read on for twice the fun...

Crafting in Brooklyn, NY:

Open Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn, NY

This week we will stitch pincushions with Elizabeth from the band Elizabeth & The Catapult (pictured in the red dress above). The band will perform a very special live acoustic set of songs from their new album, Taller Children, at 6 p.m. ET in the Etsy Labs. For a preview of their music, be sure to listen to the songs streaming on their website.

When: Monday, November 2; drop in any time between 4 to 8 p.m. ET. Live acoustic set at 6 p.m.

Not in Brooklyn? Be sure to tune in to the Virtual Labs at 5 p.m. ET to catch the pincushion demo.

Where: Etsy Labs at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY

A big thanks to Spoonflower for donating the custom printed fabric we will be working with this evening!

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn:

11/7: Sock Monkey Workshop (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) with Fresh Art
11/9: Needlepoint with AMH Design
11/16: Bag-making workshop with Bags for the People
11/23: Rolling Ball Book Ornaments with Esther K. Smith

A photo of rawfish from last week's Craft Night at the Etsy Labs.

Crafting in San Francisco, CA:

Student Night + Craft Bar With Etsy Labs at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco

Get off campus and out of the cubicle! Come to the free Student & Young Professionals Night at the Museum of Craft & Folk Art, co-sponsored by Etsy. Join us for Craft Bar with Etsy Labs @MOCFA SF, see the Open Source Embroidery Exhibition, listen to a live performance by Bay Area artist, Beep!, and enjoy tasty refreshments from local artisans. Stroll through the gallery, visit the museum store, relax with your favorite drink, dance to the music or even pick up a new hobby. Crafting sessions are free and all materials will be provided.

Don't live in California? Fear not, MOCFA will also host a live demo of the evening's craft projects via webcam in Etsy's Virtual Labs for all of our faraway friends. If you'll be crafting along with us, be sure to download this knitting pattern.

When: Thursday, November 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. PT

Where: Museum of Craft and Folk Art at 51 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA

Looking for further inspiration?

Handmade Instruments | Handmade Portraits: Armor Guitars | Etsy Finds: Smells Like Teen Spirit

Will we see you on Monday for sewing and singing? Let us know in the comments below.

Artistic Endeavors: Matt Revelli of Upper Playground & Juxtapoz Magazine

2009-10-22T16:45:00-05:00

Upper Playground is a design force for a new generation, where underground artists emerge and art shows up on T-shirts, baseball caps, online videos as well as gallery walls. Bridging art and fashion, Matt Revelli, creative director of Upper Playground (which he founded in 1999), recently took on the additional role of editor in chief for Juxtapoz Magazine. It's hard to describe just how influential its pages have been for artists who insist on breaking down the barriers between fine art and pop culture.

Matt is a mixture of brain and athlete, "the last of the bohemian jocks."

"Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong, but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete....and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal...Does that answer your question?... Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club."

What got you interested in independent artists?
I'm a contrarian by nature so I think I'm drawn to handmade things and art because at the root of it there is a desire amongst the creators to go against the grain and make things that don't fit into a particular category.

The rainy season is coming and I'm looking forward to spending Saturday afternoons putting together all my paper dollies. Woody Allen Paper Doll by littlegreygoose.

Do you have any collections?

I don't collect anything except original art, and I only collect things from people that I like personally.

Caroline Hwang showed her art in the FIFTY24SF Gallery a while back and I've always liked how she can translate fine art into a craft format. Let's Rethink This Pillow by carolinehwang.

I started to realize that the things that you collect become a part of your life, and no matter how great a painting is, if I don't have a positive personal connection to it I don't want it in my life.

Do you make anything?
I don't really make things myself. I consider myself more of a producer, more comfortable behind the scenes.

I like how this photo manages to make pigeons look regal. Fantastic Blue and Gray Pigeon 8 x 10 Photograph by allisonostertag.

What do you love about your job?
The best thing about my job is getting to interact with some of the most creative people in the world. They allow me to see the world from a completely different perspective and challenge me to raise the standards of what it means to be innovative. Street art really only intrigues me when I see people trying to push conceptual boundaries — people who interact with the outside world and treat the outside as a larger extension of what was once only encouraged in the galleries and museums.

What emerging artists do you have your eye on?
People who inspire me in that world include Herbert Baglione, David Ellis, Blu, and Mark Jenkins to name a few. For pure graffiti and murals Augor, Saber, Mac, Retna, Revok, QS, and MQ off the top of my head, but there are literally hundreds of people whose work I enjoy...

Are you a producer, working behind the scenes? Which artists and creators inspire you?
Tell us in the comments below.

Etsy Finds Decor: Kaleidoscopic Collaboration

2009-10-04T09:49:00-05:00

This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the modern, colorful, art filled home of artist and Rare Device shop owner, Lisa Congdon. Located in the Mission District of San Francisco, Lisa shares her home with her partner Clay Walsh, their dog Wilfredo and two cats named Barry and Margaret.

With two different personal styles, the couple has focused on creating a modern home that harmoniously combines Lisa's colorful collections with Clay's minimalist aesthetic. Their creative compromises have led to a colorful yet calm home, filled with thoughtfully displayed vignettes and beautifully arranged exhibits of the couple's large art collection.

Lisa also runs an amazing shop on Etsy where she sells her original paintings and prints.

To view more photos of Lisa's modern home, visit her house tour over at Apartment Therapy. Check out the Etsy Finds below for creative decorating ideas that will add a balanced mix of color and modern serenity to the place you call home.

vintage enamel pot

From ModishVintage, $29.

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ENAMELWARE Set

From sweetshorn, $46.

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Mid Century Enameled Steel Pot

From ladiesandgentlemen, $35.

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MOD Finel Enamel Teapot

From findingfabulous, $95.

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Vintage Industrial Blue Metal Wall Shelf

From susantique, $22.75.

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Tupperware Stacking Spice Jars

From theowlery, $14.

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Made-to-Order Mini Bowl Set

By FoxAndClover, $58.

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Illustrated Melamine Dinner Plate

By MILLAMELLA, $15.

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Might I have a Bird With You

By cutpurse, $20.

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Little poppy bowl

By PrinceDesignUK, $24.

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Retro Kidney Orange Chenille Loveseat

By KLUpholstery, $695.

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Mountain Dweller Rose

By lisacongdon, $350.

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KIDNEY BEAN COFFEE TABLE

By lunarloungedesign, $110.

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mid century danish modern table set

From mortonsaltgirl, $45.

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Atomic Mod Chair and Love Seat Set

By tinygirl, $250.

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Siesta cotton canvas cushion

By roddyandginger, $38.

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bird sketches PAPER PRINT field guide

By dolangeiman, $45.

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Chuck (Blue)

By ashleyg, $35.

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spirit pony

By clarebowers, $150.

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rabbit speak-original painting and drawing

By prettylittlethieves, $36.

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Driftwood Coral Wall Hook

By Libbiehome, $22.

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Small Oval Print Chair Table Candles Silhouette

By nowvintage, $25.

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Bob Horner Original Splinterface Painting

By BobHornerArt, $40.

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Original OOAK HARPY

By kinsellaart, $65.

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TILL DEATH DO US PART

From CoolVintage, $8.50.

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The Man, The Moustache & the Up Flip

From slapmefabulous, $5.99.

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9 Cabinet Photographs of Men

From 23burtonavenue, $27.

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Cabinet Card Assemblage No. 04

From PetiteMichelleLouise, $10.

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SAILBOAT PILLOWCASE

By Royalkane, $14.99.

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ETC Sign Letters Vintage Antique

From VintageEmbellishment, $39.

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Porcelain Chihuahua Head

By kgrandey, $40.

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We Are Not Two We Are One screen print

By themountainlabel, $40.

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Mushroom of Linen and Blue

By chetanddot, $11.

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Zsuzsi Vase in White

By oneblackbird, $39.

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nighttime In the City -White - Handprinted

By nateduval, $50.

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curious at heart

From FromGraytoGold, $8.

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Vintage Mustard Yellow Ceramic Partridge Figurine

From SweetLoveVintage, $16.

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blonde redhead screenprinted poster

By neversleeping, $20.

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Looking for more styles and interiors? Check out our video series, There's No Place Like Here, where creative types show us their unique spaces — infused with their aesthetic and filled with the treasures they collect. Get involved and show us your amazing space in this Flickr pool.

Check out other Get the Look: Home Decor Editions.

A Cozy Home Gift Guide | Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares

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

Coast-to-Coast: Double-Stuffed Craft Night with the Etsy Labs

2009-09-24T14:30:00-05:00

This week we are pleased to announce bi-coastal crafting events! Join the Etsy Labs in both Brooklyn and San Francisco (and online!) for free hands-on workshops to kick off autumn, here in the U.S. of A. So, read on for double the crafting merriment this week...

Crafting in Brooklyn, NY:

Open Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in DUMBO

This week we're hosting an open Craft Night, as we usually do on the last Monday of each month. Instead of an organized project, this week we are throwing the doors of the Etsy Labs wide open and letting you dive into any project that strikes your fancy. Bring along any project you'd like to develop during this week's Craft Night, or start a brand new project using our tools and extra supplies. To craft-finity and beyond!

When: Monday, September 28; drop in any time between 4 to 8 p.m. ET
Where: Etsy Labs at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY

Upcoming Events at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn:

10/4: Church of Craft meeting

10/5: Exquisite Corpse Cards & Books with Esther K. Smith

10/12: Skeleton Softies with Diana Schoenbrun

Crafting in San Francisco, CA:

Craft Bar with Etsy Labs at the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco

Join us for the first Craft Bar with Etsy Labs @ MOCFA SF! Local artists will teach you how to embroider, or you can brush up on your knitting skills with a quick and easy scarf. Learn how to make a fun, free project that is perfect for gift-giving. Sessions are free and open to all skill levels from beginner to expert. Materials and instruction will be provided.

Don't live in California? Fear not, MOCFA will also host a live demo of the knitting project via webcam in Etsy's Virtual Labs for our faraway friends. If you're joining us virtually, be sure to download this pattern of the project (designed by Amelia Strader) so you can follow along.

The Craft Bar will also include beers and wine from the region, as well as DIY bar design. Don’t forget to peruse the gallery and Museum Store for inspiration! The Craft Bar with the Etsy Labs sessions kick off Thursday, October 1 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. PT in the Museum of Craft and Folk Art store. Admission is free. Stay tuned for details about Student Night at MOCFA in November.

When: Thursday, October 1 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. PT
Where: Museum of Craft and Folk Art at 51 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA

Looking for more crafting projects? Try these how-to's:

Tatami Socks | Like-New Shoes | Natural Dye | Tool Apron

Will we see you at an Etsy Labs event this week? Let us know in the comments below!

Etsy in the Press: Dog Days

2009-08-14T10:24:00-05:00

The dog days of summer are upon us once again. What exactly is a dog day? I am always interested by the origins of such terms, and luckily, Wikipedia is there to help:

The term "Dog Days" was used by the Greeks, as well as the ancient Romans (who called these days caniculares dies [days of the dogs]) after Sirius (the "Dog Star", in Latin Canicula), the brightest star in the heavens besides the Sun. The dog days of summer are also called canicular days.

Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time "when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies."

Good times! Luckily, we've managed to avoid the burning fevers and hysterics. (And thankfully, not everyone has become languid.) Take, for instance, the authors of the following pieces. The Globe and Mail and The San Francisco Chronicle discuss how Etsy is a great place to shop for home decor. Meanwhile, News Channel Five in Nashville, TN recommend us for wedding planning. The folks at TampaBay.com say, "Looking for a unique gift in a hurry? Turn to Etsy." Another notable press mention: PC Magazine selected Etsy as one of their Top 100 Web Sites of 2009, in the shopping category, of course! AlwaysOn also selected Etsy as one of their AO Global 250 Winners in the consumer category.

I think that one of the reasons that Etsy is such a great place to shop is because of the connections that can be made. This is the theme of a recent post on Willamette Live. Speaking of connecting, there is a great interview with our own Sean about our new Facebook Connect feature on All Facebook.

Another powerful tool for connecting is Twitter. The Business 101 series onTwitter.com featured Etsy as a case study recently, and ecommerce-guide offers some thoughts on tweeting as well.

Under the heading of fun seller news, drivebybags was profiled on Twin Cities Live, sharing the story of how their unique tote bag business came to be. In other exciting television happenings, RitzyMisfit had one of her necklaces featured around the neck of The Bachelorette on ABC! And finally, a love letter, featured on Auctionbytes, involving Italian boyfriends, Etsy, and vintage.

Happy Canicular Days to everyone! Enjoy the dog-themed Etsy items!

For more Etsy in the Press, go here!

Etsy Finds: Golden Gates

2009-07-16T12:00:00-05:00

Hello again, Etsy! Sue and Danny here from The Renegade Craft Fair. We just can’t get enough of the West Coast craft scene — our 2nd Annual Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco is this weekend: July 18 + 19 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. at the Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion. Located on the sparkling waterfront, those needing to cool off from all the excitement indoors can step right outside for a gust of refreshing Bay breeze! Our events are always FREE to the public and we hope to see you there!

The Bay is home to some of the most fantastic and stylish craft talent anywhere in the world. You’ll find everything from clothing, jewelry and accessories, to plush items, bath products, housewares, stationery, concert posters, greeting cards — you name it! Over 200 artists and craftspeople are traveling from all over to sell their handmade goods. What follows is just a snap-shot of the treasures you can expect this weekend!

Indian Yellow

By lisacongdon, $350.

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Bhavacakra

By AchAchLiebling, $65.

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Girl and Guitar Letterpress Print

By cindytomczykart, $18.

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The Heated Owl Dishtowel-arctic blue

By theheated, $11.

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Moody Toast Pillow

By wonderthunder, $20.

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small bowl -- blue and purple

By panopoly, $9.

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Raindrops Collage

By erindollar, $20.

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GIBBS handspun 2-ply

By travelingrhinos, $35.

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Picnic Dress - Size Extra Small

By christinehaynes, $130.

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you wee dearie ring

By beebalalou, $7.

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Ceramic, skull pitcher and cup set

By skeletaldropkick, $60.

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Yellow and Orange Winged Goldfish Card

By DandyLionPress, $4.75.

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Kitty Egg Beeswax Candles - Set of 3

By kittybblove, $22.50.

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Olive Green Mantra Leather Wallet

By appetite, $38.

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4 Pint Glasses in your choice of designs

By BreadandBadger, $52.

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LRG Sprout Print Notebook

By Chikabird, $28.

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Bunny Bracelet

By mamaslittlebabies, $25.

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Squirrel Storing Acorns Pillow

By bonjourteaspoon, $105.

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Letterpress Limited Edition Print of 100

By sycamorestreetpress, $25.

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Vintage Necktie Wembley Dot Com

By tesak, $15.

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Yarn Keep

By inklore, $30.

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A bat mobile (but not the Batmobile)

By jenhewett, $50.

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Letterpress Birthday Card - Hedgehogs

By luckybeepress, $4.

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ladies necktie

By SuperSugarRayRay, $45.

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The Wendy Clutch

By anaapple, $31.

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Magenta Bunny Holder

By MaryBethsArt, $20.

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all that glitters ring

By cookoorikoo, $16.

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Birch Screen Printed Wool Log Pillow

By myimaginaryboyfriend, $45.

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Chainring Women's Capri Tights

By RedBootsDesign, $36.

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Pocket Notebook Three Pack

By theblackapple, $10.

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Green Apple - Handmade Soap - Vegan

By soap, $5.75.

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block print big buck stuffie

By artgoodies, $15.

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Will we see you in San Francisco this weekend? Let us know in the comments!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Craft Fair Posts

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Etsy in the Press: Summer Reading

2009-07-15T14:00:00-05:00

It's time to hit the beach, and accordingly, there's a need for some light reading. Personally, I prefer nonfiction for most of the year, but as things heat up, I like to find myself a nice page-turner. With that in mind, I'll be dishing up some quick reads from the interwebs and beyond, and maybe even some celebrity gossip. Feel free to read this poolside on your iPhone.

First up? Shopping. We love it! And we love it even more when it's done on Etsy. Which is why I was pleased to find just such recommendations from the San Francisco Chronicle, Examiner.com, Rhode Island Monthly, Wallet Pop, and Shelter Pop. The New York Times also covered Marian Lizzi's Etsy-fueled shopping habits, which you can follow on her blog, kraftomatic. It's a fun read.

Trends. They're trendy. They also offer valuable insights into the zeitgeist of a particular place and time in a given cultu— oops. Sorry, sorry. Light and fun. Well, I'll compromise. Here's a brainy take on a recent trend, the "Keep Calm and..." courtesy of The New York Times Magazine, by Rob Walker, who is no stranger to Etsy. One trend that is much more than a passing fancy is Craftivism, covered here in The Storque, and recently in The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. Another is the green, or eco-friendly movement, mentioned on the Mother Nature Network, and on Planet Green (congrats to the Etsy Organic Team!). Speaking of teams, the Etsy Plush Team snagged a cover story in Stuffed Magazine. Actually that is not a trend. I've gone off topic. Again.

Celebrities! We love/hate/stalk them. Sadly, Michael Jackson is no longer, but Paste Magazine chose to honor his memory with a collection of MJ tribute items from Etsy. Happily, Sarah Jessica Parker's new twins are healthy, and dressed up in these shirts from stoopher. Project Runway winner Leanimal gave us a nice little shout-out on her blog recently, as did Sheena Matheiken, half of The Uniform Project duo, on Glamour's blog. Speaking of shout-outs, Etsy was also mentioned on the hit Showtime series, Weeds.

For those of you who would like to contemplate deeply, you can ponder this bit from The Age, in Australia — where it is obviously not summer at the moment. An interesting read nonetheless. Thanks for stopping by, now go get to work on that tan! But wear sunscreen.

For more Etsy in the Press, go here!

San Francisco Etsy Meet Up June 9, 2009

2009-06-08T10:20:00-05:00

REMINDER: We can't wait to see you tomorrow! Please RSVP if you can come.

[The following was originally published on May 29, 2009.]

Greetings to our Bay Area friends!

As we mentioned in our Summer Tour post, a group of Etsy Admins will be meeting up in San Francisco, California on June 9th, 2009. We will be out in San Francisco for a meeting, and we are very excited to meet any and all interested Etsy members. Admins attending include Maria Thomas, Etsy’s CEO, Sara Hicks, Etsy's VP of Product, Chad Dickerson, our Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Jesse Hertzberg, Director of Business Development, and Carrington Williams, Director of Strategic Finance.

Come on by, say hello, and have some snacks and drinks on us.

If you plan to join us, please RSVP HERE.

Here are the meeting details:

June 9, 2009 – 6:00 p.m.

Crossroads Cafe
699 Delancey Street
San Francisco, CA
(phone) 415-512-5111

Hope to see you all there. Post in the comments if you want to come!

Etsy in Action: Bay Area Maker Faire in San Mateo

2009-05-29T13:28:00-05:00

For anyone who's ever been to an Austin or Bay Area Maker Faire, I'm sure you'll echo my sentiments that it is a respectable spectacle filled with spectacular spectacles. With an emphasis on the experiments of tinkerers from around the globe, it's a great way to get inspiration for new projects as we head into summer. This weekend's event in San Mateo, California, May 30 - 31, 2009, will not disappoint!

Steam carriage, photo by staxnet on flickr.

While this g33k gala is pretty out there, it isn't just for geeks. Maker Faire is a family-friendly event and attracts all walks of makers and explorers. In my previous jaunts to these events, I've met an architect who builds portable, modular, panoramic towers the size of a four story building. I've met people who build Tesla coils, just so they can have sword fights with lightning. I've met children who have built functioning robots, and bicycle enthusiasts who have built pedal-powered carnival rides out of recycled cycles. I've met people who use walnuts for gasoline, and a man who built a full size Babbage difference engine #2. As you might imagine, the list goes on and on, but certainly this is the hub where computer programmers, Steampunks, the Burning Man crowd, and the typical family of four can come together and rejoice in the marvels of mankind's imagination.

Naturally, you should expect to see some Etsy folks there too, so if you're coming to the Maker Faire, stop into the Bazaar Bizarre craft area and see the faces behind some of the glorious Etsy shops you know and love.

RedSheep battles AbsolutelySmall's chickenpants.

Etsy Admin Adam and I, Eric a.k.a. objecked, will also be on hand, with goodies and crafts. Make sure to stop in and say "hi" to us at the Expo Hall, where you can enter to win one of many Etsy tote bags stuffed with an Etsy t-shirt, Diana Eng's new book Fashion Geek* from My Craftivity Store*, Eco-Cotton yarn and sewing supplies, fashion embellishing goodness from ilovetocreate, cool markers from Marvy Uchida, coupons, and more!

Free stuff not enough...? We will also have a station set up for you to get creative and make your own comic strips!

Give a shout in the comments below if you'll be attending (or vending at) this year's Maker Faire. We hope to see you! Not in the area? Find inspiration in the Geek Chic gift guide right now!

*Psst... yes, you! These links include a 10% discount code for Etsy Storque readers.

About Us: Bryan aka bschwab

2009-04-24T15:25:00-05:00

Meet Bryan Schwab, an Etsy Admin who works on the Engineering Team. Bryan has been with the Etsy engineering team since January of 2008 and focuses mainly on payment system projects. He's based on the West coast, so we don't get to see him face-to-face all that often. We wish we could! His well-tempered voice comes through as insightful and business-minded when we hear him on the daily Engineering Team conference call.

Bryan Fun Facts:

Bryan used to work at eBay.
He speaks German and has a viking beard.
Schwab actually means Q-tip in German.
Bryan is also very tall.
He's a family man, with a wee one (actually not so wee! A 10-pounder!) recently born.
He lives in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife and two young children, though he lived in Manhattan for one year.
He is obsessed with Abe Lincoln.
He recently bought a painting with Boston terriers.
He ran a marathon.
According to Dan, he's really good at shaking exactly two aspirin out of the bottle.
He's an iPhone wiz and has every app known to man or beast, including that one that recognizes music.
His ringtone is Starship's "We built this city."
His first concert was Pearl Jam.
Bryan is a really good guitar player, and you can see awkward youth Bryan jammin' below. We think he looks like the perfect Zep fan.

Yum!

Etsy has had quite a growth spurt in the past year, and we have the awkward pictures to prove it. We've been posting a series of About Us pieces to help you get to know the Etsy admin (and since many of us work remotely, for the admin to get to know each other!). You've seen the admin badge, and maybe you're a bit curious about the person behind it! For more on Etsy's mission and about the company, please see our About page (the link is in the little blue footer of every Etsy page).

Some favorite shops below...

Etsy Finds Decor: Flea Market Fancy with SF Girl by Bay

2009-04-12T11:00:00-05:00

This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the San Francisco, California apartment of Victoria Smith. She runs sfgirlbybay, an amazing design blog focused on home décor. She also has a very successful Etsy shop where she sells hand silk-screened "Keep Calm, Carry On" posters, which have become one of the hottest trends of the season.

Victoria describes her decorating style as “eclectic, bohemian modern, with a mixture of lots of vintage pieces and mid-century modern pieces from all different eras." Her home includes a well-balanced mixture of flea market and Craigslist finds with furniture and accessories purchased from a few modern contemporary design stores (as well as Etsy!). Victoria's favorite aspects of her apartment include the wood-burning, copper-faced fireplace, the tall ceilings and the big bay windows which allow in a ton of natural sunlight.

Victoria credits much of her inspiration to her creative group of friends and colleagues. "I just find artistic, creatively talented people fascinating and inspiring to be around. Most of my friends and colleagues are photographers, art buyers, painters, fashion designers, writers, or work in a creative field. I just get excited seeing what they're up to and feed off their creativity. I also get inspired by photos I find on flickr of great interior stylists' and photographers' work, as well as from design magazines and books, and film."

Visit Etsy's There's No Place Like Here flickr pool to view more photos of Victoria's home, and check out the Etsy Finds below to find out how you can add a little bohemian modern mix to your own home decor.

The Apartment, 2006

Victoria's apartment is filled with artwork that she likes to periodically rearrange to create a completely different look. This incredible print features a collage by Australian artist Kareem Rizk, appropriately titled "The Apartment." By kareemrizk, $34.95.

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Mid Century Tea Set

Victoria has an inspiring group of artistic friends, and what better way to get caught up with their creative pursuits than over a cup of tea served from a gorgeous vintage tea set? From seaglassvintage, $46.

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Vintage Barkcloth Roses Pillow

Handmade pillows made from vintage fabrics add pops of color on the couch, chairs and window seats throughout Victoria's home. I love the little pom pom edging on this pretty cottage rose pillow. By catnapcottage, $42.

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Gizella Vase with Spider Mum

Victoria likes to shop on Etsy for artwork and vintage home accessories. I spotted a similar vase by ceramicist Diana Fayt among the items in a little vignette on a side table in her living room. By oneblackbird, $38.

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Distinguished Gentleman Oil Painting Portrait

Victoria has an amazing collection of vintage oil painting portraits. This distinguished gentlemen is the perfect find to start a collection of your own. From sparkershop, $40.

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Chalkboard Plate . Wall Decoration

I love the giant chalkboard in Victoria's living room. It's a great way for guests to leave a note for their host, write down the menu for a dinner party, or play a wild game of Pictionary. By littlepaperhome, $18.

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the double sided vivienne beehive print neato

I spotted quite a few works by Matte Stephens hanging on Victoria's art-filled walls. This particular piece of a two faced girl with a big beehive hairdo stood out among the rest. By matteart, $35.

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Stacked Plywood Nesting End Tables - Washed White Finish

Add a touch of modern design to your living room decor with this stacked plywood nesting table. It's available in a wide range of finishing options. By michaelflynn, $285.

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Flock of Swallows Print Pillow

This serene cushion features a beautiful flock of swallows. It would make the perfect accent pillow on a bed or windowsill. By flockhome, $90.

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San Francisco Mug

I love a home that pays tribute to the character of its city or state. Victoria's home includes several works of art featuring San Francisco landmarks. This trolley car mug would look adorable with a little potted succulent on the windowsill. By HelloVictory, $12.

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Looking for more styles and interiors? Check out our new video series, There's No Place Like Here, where creative types show us their unique spaces — infused with their aesthetic and filled with the treasures they collect. Get involved and show us your amazing space in this flickr pool.

Check out other Get the Look - Home Decor Editions.

A Cozy Home Gift Guide | Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares

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

Etsy Finds Decor: Get Meghan & Shawn's Sunny Style (Without Blowing the Budget!)

2009-02-15T03:00:00-05:00

This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the San Francisco home of Meghan Kilgallen and Shawn Spreng. Their three-bedroom home is filled with light and color and has an incredible amount of open space. They gain their inspiration from flea markets, thrift stores and modern design and enjoy surrounding themselves with things they love. If you are interested in getting Meghan and Shawn's colorful, cheery look, check out this collection of Etsy items to help get you started. You can view more photos of Megan and Shawn's home and read their interview in the House Tours section on Apartment Therapy.

vertical leaf pendant light

This incredible graphic floral pendant lamp is the perfect way to add a hint of modern to any style of home decor. By meganauman, $240.

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Time for a Kitschy TEAPOT CLOCK ..It's VINTAGE too

A collection of vintage clocks is a great way to add a touch of the past to any kitchen. From PeppermintBark, $12.

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Maroon Lily of the Valley Towel

Liven up your kitchen with a few bright and colorful tea towels. By rustbeltfiberwerks, $16.

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Red Bird Pattern (9x12 archival print)

Brightly patterned artwork is another great way to introduce color into your decor. By Fortpolio, $20.

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FAB 50s Vintage MODERN FLORAL Hairpin Leg BENCH

Try using bold patterns in small accent pieces to create variety and texture. By fabulousmess, $150.

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Vintage Wood Coca Cola Shelf or Display Case

These wooden soda boxes make great wall shelves and are the perfect place to display all your little treasures. From ingenuityondisplay, $25.

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1900s French Game PRINT MAP South America Awesome early 1900s French game board print

Line a hallway with vintage maps and dream about all the countries you long to explore. We think these prints from an old board game put a playful twist on a traditional map. From inkpainter, $14.

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Accordion Collage Print 8 in x 8 in

We love the way Meghan and Shawn have included screen-printed posters and musical instruments throughout their home to express their passion for music. Check out johnwgolden's shop for a series of prints featuring a variety of different instruments. By johnwgolden, $20.

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Retro decor ideas -- 1975 Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book

Still need more inspiration when it comes to decorating? Start a collection of modern and vintage decorating books! From PardonMyVintage, $25.

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And if you're working on your own home decor projects, join in on Apartment Therapy's February challenge, Do It Now!

Check out other Get the Look - Home Decor Editions.

Home Interiors and Design Gift Guide | Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares

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

Apartment Therapy How-To: Use Vintage Accessories in a Modern Kid's Room

2009-02-11T17:00:00-05:00

Janel Laban, Managing Editor at Apartment Therapy Chicago, San Francisco and Ohdeedoh, shares some tips for adding vintage touches to a child's room. Practical, evocative, and oftentimes — economical!

One of our all time favorite tours on Ohdeedoh is of Oscar's room — bright green walls, great looking furniture and totally original accessories. His mom, Hillary, is the creative mind behind Wee Wonderfuls and has an unbeatable eye for style. She decorated Oscar's room with clean modern pieces mixed with warm, nostalgic vintage goods from decades past, adding a little bit of the history of childhood to the space. It's a look that adds real personal style AND can be done a budget.

Hillary included vintage toys and books, an old school kiddie record player and lps, a salvaged stepstool, globe and boy scout tray. The curtains are made from the lining of a vintage sleeping bag. Creating this look takes some searching, either through your local thrift store or online through the vintage offerings, but as a charming and more earth friendly alternative to the more commercial kids' decor options out there, we think it is worth the effort. We took a quick look at what is currently available on Etsy. Here are some of our favorites that would fit right into a nursery or "big kid" room.

For more inspiration check out the full tour of Oscar's Room right here along with Hillary's Wee Wonderfuls blog and Etsy shop.

If you're feeling inspired (and maybe a little bit competitive), enter to win Apartment Therapy's Do It Now challenge! You could win a sweet Etsy shopping spree!

Get the Look - Decor | There's No Place Like Here | Vintage on Etsy | Home Interiors Gift Guide

Handmade Kids Series | Children Category

Etsy Finds Decor: Get Mariah Gardner's Modern Classic Mix

2009-02-08T08:00:00-05:00

This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the San Francisco home of crafter, photographer and costume designer Mariah Gardner. Her home contains an incredible mix of classic furniture and trinkets, which almost gives the feeling of stepping back in time. However, her amazing collection of modern art and accessories let you know you haven't left the present. I could spend days exploring every room of Mariah's home, with its well-placed vintage finds, plants, books and curiosities.

If you are interested in putting your own spin on this classic look with a modern twist, check out this collection of Etsy items to help get you started. You can view more photos of Mariah Gardner's home and read her interview in the House Tours section on Apartment Therapy.

Emerson Swingline Automatic Record Player

As soon as I started touring the house, I could just imagine hearing the scratchy sound of an old record playing in the next room. From allunique, $139.95.

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Starflex Brownie Camera

Decorating with vintage finds is a great way to add a touch of your personality to your decor. Observe all the old cameras on mantles, dressers and shelves throughout the house. From FoundVintageStyle, $25.

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4 Vintage Medicine Bottles

I love the variety of plants everywhere in Mariah's home, especially the ones growing in jars and bottles filled with water. This set of vintage bottles is the perfect find if you'd like to start a water plant garden of your own. From MyVintageShop, $40.

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vintage American Tourister black Tri-Taper round suitcase travel case

Vintage luggage is fun to take with you on your travels. It also looks great in the corner of a room or stacked and used as a side table. From ModishVintage, $68.

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Vintage State plates

Creating a vignette with collections of souvenirs is a great way to remember the fun times from your journeys. From LoudMouse, $8.

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Original Encaustic - Untitled no. 15 (Middle Man)

The abundance of modern art helps breathe new life into all the timeless furniture and decor found throughout the home. By mimidoodles, $225.

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Mid Century Mccobb Planner Group Table and Four Chairs

This table and chair set has been refinished and is ready for many more family dinners or game nights with friends. From DecoDons, $550.

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pair of vintage CROWN jars

The display of old jars and bottles used to hold cooking spices makes me think that many great meals have been cooked in Mariah's kitchen. From atouchofvintage, $18.

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Vintage Chenille Bedspread - White on White Popcorn Tufts - Shabby Chic

I have been to so many flea markets and rummage sales trying to hunt down an old white popcorn bedspread. Now I feel silly that I never thought to look on Etsy. From catnapcottage, $65.

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Looking for more home tours? Check out our new video series, There's No Place Like Here, where creative types show us their unique spaces — infused with their aesthetic and filled with the treasures they collect. The first video features Boudoir Queen's 1920's inspired boutique.

And if you're working on your own home decor projects, join in on Apartment Therapy's February challenge, Do It Now!

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Gift Guides | Guest Curators | Trends | Gift Ideas

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

Etsy Finds: Getting Tricia Royal's Look - Home Decor Edition

2009-01-04T08:58:00-05:00

This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the San Francisco home of bits and bobbins artist and wardrobe_remix founder Tricia Royal aka bitsandbobbins. Her home is bright and cheery, filled with a hodgepodge of colorful vintage finds, quirky handmade items and artwork. Today we're going to show you how to achieve Tricia’s playful look using elements found on Etsy. You can view more inspiring photos of Tricia’s home in the Sneak Peeks column on design*sponge.

SO VERY HAPPY (version 3)

Start your day off right with a screenprinted inspirational poster with the sweetest message ever written. By dazeychic, $23.

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Green Antique Lace Doily Vase

Create a floral centerpiece in this beautiful Ikebana style vase: it provides a modern twist on a traditional lace doily. By kensgardenpottery, $25.

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Chalkydoodles Custom Oilcloth Tablecloth - LARGE 46x84 RECTANGLE

This table cloth has a traditional pattern, but the oil cloth fabric gives it a sleek look. (And makes it so much easier to keep clean.) By chalkydoodles, $38.

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Floral Tray

I love the centerpiece Tricia created on her dining room table by using a wooden serving tray and simple potted cacti. By CardBlanc, $20.

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Crochet Cacti set of four

This set of crocheted cacti is perfect for someone whose thumb is anything but green. By CatzillaCrafts, $45.

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Maharajah Tea-for-One

This gorgeous teapot was rescued by the artist and given a second chance to steep delicious tea once again. By SarahBurden, $30.

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Vintage Fondue - Orange and Mushroom Fondue

This vintage fondue pot will keep your guests entertained and their bellies full. From ThePinkBoutique, $24.

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Candle Block

These sweet little ceramic candleholders are simple enough to keep out on your dining table all year long. By juliagronski, $9.

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Jumping Monkey Granny Square Afghan

Snuggle up on a cold winter day under a cheery crocheted granny square blanket. By jumpingmonkeycovers, $68.

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Check out other Get the Look - Home Decor Editions

Looking for more home decor Finds? Try these Etsy links:

Entertaining and Decor Gift Guide | Housewarming Gift Guide | Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares

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

Etsy Finds: Partners in Design, Is it a Crime... ?

2008-10-18T09:00:00-05:00

...to steal this look? We think not! This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the home of design duo Ryan and Sarah from Lab Partners. Their space is filled with a colorful variety of mid-century inspired artwork and furniture, which adds a nostalgic feeling of childhood fairy tales to every room. You can view more inspiring photos of Ryan and Sarah's home in the Sneak Peeks column on Design*Sponge. Check out the Etsy Finds below for some items that will help you get the look.

J (jellyfish)

What two alphabet animals make up you and your loved one's initials? Mine is a crab and a jellyfish, and they make a really cute couple. Hang them on your wall with this “&” symbol between them to celebrate your love for one another! By JennSki, $14.

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Retro Red Glass Light

While you're all excited about celebrating your love, you might as well add a tiny touch of romance to the corner of the room with this lovely vintage red glass lamp. From JollyPollyPickins, $20.

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Antique arts and crafts mission mahogany chair early 1900

I love the way Ryan and Sarah used an old chair as a mini bookcase. This amazing mission style chair would look great in the corner with a stack of your favorite books. From thevintagesupplyco, $99.

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Jefferson Bullet Clock

Top off the pile of books with this beautifully designed modern vintage clock. From BooandPie, $50.

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Secret Book Box

I love a neat and organized living space, and these secret book boxes are the perfect way to hide little odds and ends, store your craft supplies or file away paperwork. From Antebelle, $24.

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large charlie bird print

A colorful and organized work area is sure to inspire many moments of creativity. The bird illustration in the upper right corner or Ryan and Sarah's office space is a print by the wonderful matteart, $60.

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Medium Jewelry frame-Ocean Blue with Silver

These gorgeous jewelry organizers are a great way to display a collection of earrings and necklaces, but I think they would also look great in an office covered in a collection of artwork, photographs, postcards and post it notes. By MorganDesign, $30.

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handsewn gold 7 inch wool felt owl plush

I love the funny collection of friends overlooking the Lab Partner's office desk. This stuffed wise owl will look very cute perched on a shelf or bookcase, and may even help you with your homework or Etsy shop listings. By wonderland5, $18.

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Frankenbot the Mega Scary Robot

Your owl friend will need a buddy, and this Frankenbot makes the perfect bodyguard and companion. According to Spaceboyjordo, Frank was built to protect your home from ninjas, cowboys, aliens, pirates, dogs w/ sweaters, creepy uncles, and emo kids. Just in time for Halloween! By Spaceboyjordo, $50.

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Check out other Get the Look - Home Decor Edition

Looking for more home decor Finds? Try these Etsy links:

Entertaining and Decor Gift Guide | Housewarming Gift Guide | Housewares Category | Vintage Housewares

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

Quit Your Day Job: Maryjanesattic

2008-10-06T12:53:00-05:00

Not long ago, I learned of a shop opening in San Francisco, California called Urban Fauna Studio. Its owners are Blas and Jamie, the husband and wife team behind MaryJanesAttic here on Etsy, and they made it their mission to open a brick and mortar venture. This exciting project would not only expand upon their own Etsy success, but they also decided to help out other similar Etsy shop owners through consignment in the store. Because of their recent selling success on Etsy, Blas was able to quit his regular day job to fulfill Etsy orders and expand their home business into the new brick and mortar shop. Keep reading to find out why they hold Etsy so near and dear to their hearts and what made them want to share that passion by helping out other Etsy artists.

When you first started selling on Etsy did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
Yes! Blas and I had been dreaming of opening our own store for years. We couldn’t really decide what to sell and how to sell it, at first. With a lucky twist of fate, we focused on handmade fiber art and supplies. We joined Etsy at the beginning of our handmade selling career as MaryJanesAttic. We were not quite sure how it would affect our sales, but it turned out to be an incredible resource for testing products, finding new customers and networking with other artists. Our Etsy business has been contributing to our income for several years, but only recently has Etsy enabled us to open our first brick and mortar store. We only felt it fitting to use our store to highlight other Etsy artists and that’s how Urban Fauna Studio was born. Urban Fauna Studio was our way to sell our handmade goods, commercial fiber art supplies and handmade items from over a dozen different Etsy artists!

How long were you selling on Etsy before taking the plunge into selling full time?
We have been selling on Etsy since 2005, and we made the decision last year to dedicate most of our time to selling online and in person. We open Urban Fauna Studio from Friday to Monday, and from Tuesday to Thursday, Blas packs Etsy orders and makes products.

What was the deciding factor resulting in your pursuing Etsy as your full time job?
Well, we looked at other success stories, we networked with other Etsy sellers, and that taught us a lot about what it means to find your happiness. We were told by several sellers that there never is a “good time” to start a business. That was really a deciding factor for us, the realization that our dreams would never be met waiting for an ideal time or a bigger number of Etsy sales. We had to pursue our business with full dedication! We also were in career transition. I was finishing graduate school and my husband was between jobs. We really needed to make our handmade business work for us. It had to be more than a hobby in order to pay the bills and put food on our table, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time before taking the plunge?
We did do some preparation. Since we already had our business licenses and tax papers we knew we had to work on our business plan. I looked at the Small Business Administration web site and learned about how to start writing our business plan as a brick and mortar. We have also worked hard to develop an identity with a distinctive logo and web presence.

We started wholesale accounts with various distributors and manufacturers so that we could have raw materials to use in our products. Now in our store we carry items on consignment and wholesale from other Etsy artists. As the business has grown, we have found that we have less time to produce handmade goods, so our brick and mortar store was created to carry handmade goods from trusted Etsians. We carry goods from Etsy artists such as: travelingrhinos, thespunmonkey, girlontherocks, redsheep, sighfoo, knittydirtygirl, theweekendstore, vozamer, nutandbee, craftyscientist, buttonarcade, alyssaettinger and more!

We also made decisions to invest in Quickbooks and Point of Sale Software that would enable us to watch what we sold and inventory all our items both on the Etsy shop and in our brick and mortar. We understood it was important to track which items were selling and which were not.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's you're best marketing tip?
I think some of the best ways to promote our Etsy store was to start a customer newsletter, start a blog (or two or three!), submit your products for review by other popular blogs and magazines, participate in Etsy Street Teams (we belong to the SF Etsy Team, Etsy FAST and The Needlefelters Team) and vend at local craft fairs. It is the combination of all these things that make up our promotional strategy, and we believe it gives us a chance to get higher visibility among a wide variety of customers.

Our best marketing tip? Encourage feedback and word of mouth! We believe each of our customers is valuable and we tell them that each time they purchase from us. We acknowledge the value of their opinions and ask that they continue to keep us and other handmade artists in mind when shopping for products. We believe when your friend tells you about that “cool indie shop around the corner,” it’s worth loads more than any newspaper ad could communicate. A customer’s satisfaction is important, so always see that as your #1 marketing strategy.

What have you found to be unsuccessful promotion or something that's just not working for your shop?
We have found that print coupons and ads don’t always come back to us. We attached discount codes and vary rarely did they get used. We also found that doing regular sales in the Etsy shop were not very effective. Instead we price our items at what we believe to be fair price points and stick to them. Our customers have been loyal to us because of our affordability and consistency, not because of any fly by night sales.

Would you walk us through what a typical workday might entail being your own boss?
Oh boy, we wish we had something you could call typical! Honestly, it can change from day to day for us. But we do have some routine on days the shop is open to the public:

Get up, answer e-mails and check Etsy shop.
Pack orders
Walk dogs
Drop off packages at post office
Grab coffee and go to store
Do inventory, stock shelves
Answer e-mails and order products as necessary, attend to customers
Pack second round of orders
Close shop, drop off second round of packages and home again to walk the doggies!

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job and is there anything you miss?
For Blas, he can say that he will NEVER miss having a boss full time. He enjoys being his own time manager. It makes us both feel empowered to be able to make our business decisions together without any other outside influences. He does miss the collegial atmosphere of having many co-workers. It can be isolating in many ways to own your own store, but the nice thing is you can get some interaction by popping over to the Etsy Forums and Teams, which are just a click away!

If you could go back in time before you took the plunge, what advice would you give yourself knowing what you know now?
Prepare your press materials sooner. Make more efforts to promote your products and your business on a regular basis. Systematically collect and record customer suggestions and comments about products. Inventory! Inventory! Inventory! If you don’t know what sold and how many, you’ll never know exactly what the moneymakers are.

What advice would you give someone else thinking about taking the plunge to sell full time on Etsy?
Take it slowly, in stages. Don’t give up. You will make mistakes. We all make mistakes, and the best we can do is grow from them. Surround yourself (online and in person) with friends and colleagues who support what you do and share common goals. It’s important to have a support system. We would never have gotten this far if we did not have the support from lots of fellow crafters and business people.

How's it going so far? Are you supporting yourself?
We’re doing well. We are getting incredibly good feedback both online and in person. It means a lot to us that our Etsy customers see the potential our business has to offer!

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
We want to sell more of our handmade kits and increase our product offerings by 30%.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Etsy has been a lot of support and inspiration for us. Thank you! You are helping us pursue our dream jobs. We are incredibly thankful for all the people that shop here and the crafty friends we have made along the way.

Thanks to Jamie and Blas for sharing their story and business with us! Check out the related items below to see some of their items. You can find some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

About Us: CB aka longhaul

2008-08-20T12:07:00-05:00

Chris Bohn aka CB aka longhaul works on the Engineering Team, specifically on database administration. One of the many things that CB deals with on a daily basis are sprocs. Now if you don't know what that means, don't you worry, it is not your job to know about or deal with such things — it's CB's.

Notice how Etsy hasn't been crashing at all lately? CB is another member of the team that keeps Etsy operating as smoothly as possible. He's also working hard with Haim, Dusten, Ian, Paul, George, and Joe P to move our servers to a new — more optimized — space. These guys don't get enough credit ... because if they're doing their jobs well, you don't notice what they're doing!

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CB Fun Facts:

CB and his family live in San Francicso, and he brought them to NYC for an Engineering meetup so they could see New York.
CB's real name is Chris, but we already had admin Chris aka RevolvingDork, so he was relegated to CB.
He owns many guitars which cause him to "rock hard" according to various sources.
Has been known to belt out a mean rendition of Don't Fear The Reaper.
Give him a beer and swears like a sailor.
Among engineers, CB is used as a verb. In other words, if you go drinking with him, you're likely to show up to work the next day and say "I got CB'd last night."

CB of yesteryear, looking like a psyched funeral parlor organist.

CB cuteness:

Etsy has had quite a growth spurt in the past year, and we have the awkward pictures to prove it. We've been posting a series of About Us pieces to help you get to know the Etsy admin (and since many of us work remotely, for the admin to get to know each other!). You've seen the admin badge, and maybe you're a bit curious about the person behind it! For more on Etsy's mission and about the company, please see our About page (the link is in the little blue footer of every Etsy page).

Some longhaul items below...

Etsy in Action: Upcoming Events August 7-14

2008-08-07T11:55:00-05:00

Summer is in full swing. Why not get out and see what your fellow art and craft lovers are up to? Here are a few of our picks. Let us know what's happening in your area by sharing in the comments below.

Chicago, IL: August 7

Faythe Levine is a filmmaker, author, independent curator and creative director who is currently documenting the rise of DIY and the new wave of art, craft and design in the United States in her film, Handmade Nation. The heart of this new wave of creativity is the community, which is equally influenced by traditional handiwork, modern aesthetics, politics, feminism and art. More information here.

Stop by the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum to see a 20 minute sneak preview from a work-in-progress from the feature film to be released in 2009. After the screening we will hear from Faythe about her thoughts on craft, community, and the nature of DIY. Crafters, artists, filmmakers, labor artists and the general public are all encouraged to attend!

Brooklyn, NY: August 11

Come visit the Etsy Labs for a very special edition of Craft Night. The Etsy Labs and Sweet Tooth of the Tiger join forces to create a recipe slam! We'll be sharing recipes with one another and binding them into little cookbook zines. Come early for a reception from 5-6pm replete with sweet treats. The serious crafting will run from 6-8pm. Learn all about the event here.

San Francisco, CA: August 15

Join the American Craft Council for a lively conversation on the topic of The Politics of Craft and Design. The conversation will delve into how craft and design manifest at the cultural cutting-edge and how makers respond to issues of urgency in the current political climate.

Featuring :

Tina Barseghian, Editor in Chief, Craft Magazine

Garry Knox Bennett, Artist, American Craft Council Fellow

Rob Forbes, Director, Studio Forbes

Robin Petravic, Co-owner, Heath Ceramics

Edie Kahula Pereira, Artecnica

Stephanie Syjuco, Artist

Moderated by Andrew Wagner, Editor in Chief, American Craft

When: Friday, August 15, 2008 from 6-8 p.m.
Where: The Golden Gate Room, Fort Mason Center
Admission: $12 (cash only), includes entrance to the American Craft Show on Saturday or Sunday.
Free with Friday show admission and for American Craft Council members

RSVP by August 11, 2008 to ahenry@craftcouncil.org or call 212-274-0630 ext. 274.

While at Fort Mason, visit the American Craft Show, where over 250 craft artists will be presenting their latest jewelry, furniture, clothing, home décor and more. Enjoy fine wine tastings, new artists, a featured green component, live demonstrations and walking tours. Friday and Saturday, August 15-16 (10 am-6 pm); Sunday, August 17 (10 am-5pm).

Call for Volunteers: The American Craft Council is also looking for volunteers to help run the event. They need assistance with everything from light set-up to registration at the door to light clean-up. In exchange, you'll receive eternal graditude and free admission to the program. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact email MHampton@CraftCouncil.org.

San Francisco: Call of Vendors

Bazaar Bizarre SF and the curator of Plush You are teaming up to bring you the indie collaboration known as You Bazaar! This event, held on November 2nd, 2008, will feature 30 select craft vendors selling quality handmade wares and a series of rotating workshops throughout the day with some of your favorite plush designers.

The deadline for applying is August 15. This is a first come first served show. Applications will be approved as they come in and will be juried by the organizers, so apply here asap.

Made it out to any events we've listed in this column? Upload your "Etsy in Action" photos to Flickr here.

Etsy in Action: Upcoming Events July 12 - July 17

2008-07-10T16:08:00-05:00

Have ya heard?

San Francisco, CA: July 12th & 13th

Renegade Craft Fair!

Come on by and say hello to Etsy and a whole slew of Etsy sellers at the first Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco. We'd love to meet you in person, so pop on by! (And you'd better bring your wallet because this fair's gonna be a doozie!) Check out the featured items at the bottom of this article for a sneak peak!

North Perth, Australia: July 12th

Made On The Left Designer Market featuring works for Etsy's very own Made on the Left Team. This market will feature a wide array of Western Australian handmade art, jewelry, clothing and more, so this is an unmissable event, and the place to pick up fantastic fashions and gifts from local makers.

Call for Vendors: Brooklyn Urban Arts Market

This open-air market will have music and visual art performances, and will house 40-50 artisans, vendors, and entrepreneurs hand-selected for their innovative creations and fresh, urban perspective. Click here for more info and to download the vendor application.

See our previous Etsy in Action posts.

Handmade Portraits: Topsy Turvy Design

2008-06-27T15:27:00-05:00

MP4 | Youtube | Blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

(music by Jon Brooder)

Milliner Kim Dye of Topsy Turvy Design has always had a passion for history. From a young age she built elaborate sets and costumes, in an attempt to recreate the bygone eras she'd read about in books. Nowadays, her handmade hats channel this passion and combine her interest in theater, costume, puppetry and architecture. She dreams of the day when everyone will return to dressing up for every occasion with hat and gloves. However, for now she makes do constructing beautifully anachronistic hats for burlesque and circus performers, and the occasional fashion daredevil.

Etsy sent independent filmmakers Anne Alvergue and her husband Michael Isabell, aka milorocks, to visit Kim at her home and studio in Oakland, California. (See Anne and Michael's film production company's site, EyeSpyFilms, for more information on their work.)

Want to learn more about burlesque and circus couture? Check out our coverage of this burgeoning fashion phenomenon!

Watch our other Handmade Video Portraits and subscribe to our Youtube Channe

Etsy in the Press: Creative Ventures

2008-06-26T15:12:00-05:00

June has been buzzing with talk of crafty entrepreneurship. Where to begin? How about Sydney Stoyan's heart warming tale of her Etsy experience in the National Post? It is our favorite kind of story: buyer needs necklace, buyer finds Etsy, buyer meets seller, they start a friendship. Buyer goes on to form relationships with other sellers, and discovers the pleasure of the relationships and meaning that come from buying handmade. Describing her new found joy, she concludes by saying, "You simply cannot buy this kind of thing from Louis Vuitton."

The Wall Street Journal published a piece recently describing how online selling has opened new doors for artists who want to make a living from their passions. In a similar vein, Etsy features prominently in a cover story in the May issue of Entrepreneur's StartUps magazine. The article gives some good advice on pricing and marketing your creations online, as well as tips for real-world displays. It also provides insight on the relationship between art and commerce. The Boston Business Journal just ran a thoughtful story about the rise of Upcycling, a favorite practice of mine. The current issue of Crochet Today magazine has a great introductory piece about Etsy as well, featuring interviews with Matt and a few Etsy sellers. Express, an offshoot of the Washington Post, also ran a story detailing the challenges facing upstart handmade businesses. Steve Berger, CEO of the Craft & Hobby Association, was on ABC's Money Matters, talking about the recent boom in crafting (Americans spend $32 billion on craft supplies annually!). He spoke about what crafts are popular these days, and how the internet (and Etsy in particular) has influenced the recent growth and changed the crafting culture.

On the buyers' side of things, Etsy fan, Rob Walker, was interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, talking about his new book, Buying In (in which Etsy is mentioned). In the interview, he tells a short but amusing tale about a tie that he recently purchased on Etsy. Finally, the cultural media site artinfo.com recommends Etsy as a great place to begin collecting affordable art.

That's all for now, friends. Happy reading!

Etsy in Action: Upcoming Events June 6 - 13

2008-06-05T12:03:00-05:00

Hey Etsians! Get off the internet (but come back to us later) and meet your crafty friends in person at the following events...

Friday, June 6th

World's Largest Plush Show: Crammed Organisms from 7pm - 11pm, June 6th in St. Louis, Missouri. Starclipper's gallery will be filled to the brim with a collection of unique plush art. Browse the exhibition and see pieces from some of the best plush designers working today! Check out the featured items to see Etsy sellers who are participating in this show!

Saturday, June 7th

Indie Craft Experience (or ICE), kicking off in Atlanta, Georgia from 11am - 6pm in Centennial Olympic Park. In addition to an amazing assortment of handmade goodies, ICE offers crafting workshops, vegan baked goods, live bands and a clothing swap benefiting local charities.

Connecticut Etsy Team Jewelry Spectacular in North Haven, Connecticut from 10am - 4pm. Get to this early — they are giving away 200 pieces of jewelry to the first people to attend! See their Jewelry Spectacular site for details.

Printing Party with Lotta Jansdotter in San Francisco, California from 5pm - 8pm. Get your hands dirty with Lotta Jansdotter, the fabric printing queen! Wine, music and crafting? What else do you need in life? See Lotta's blog for the details. Not on the west coast? Keep reading for a Lotta event near you!

Monday, June 9th

Craft Night at the EtsyLabs in Brooklyn, NY from 4pm - 8pm. Join us and learn how to make lip balm! You can also bring your own project if you wish. Lots of chit chat and giggling.

Coming Soon!!!

And don't make any plans for next weekend if you are close to NYC. You're not going to want to miss this summer's Renegade Craft Fair, June 14th & 15th, featuring a whole slew of Etsy sellers and a giant Etsy booth!

If you are coming into town for Renegade, do not miss Lotta Jansdotter's printing party here on the east coast on June 13th in her studio in Brooklyn. See Lotta's blog for the details.

Etsy in the Press: Bay Area, Steampunk and Teched Out

2008-05-29T12:24:00-05:00

Here's a tasty tidbit from my hometown press, the San Francisco Chronicle! Ms. Macmillan came to visit us a little while back, and you can read all about it here. She also wrote a companion story featuring local seller BirdNerd. A bit of California sun shines on Etsy.

Gizmodo, a popular gadget blog, posted about Steampunk jewelry and edmdesigns' cufflinks get a nod.

Techy folks, you might be interested in following the buzz about Etsy's use of "Force10 Networks®, deploying the TeraScale E-Series® family of switch/routers and the S-Series family of access switches," to which we say Hooray! Our very own Dusten Splan, on the Sys Ops Team, provides some interesting quotes about the inner workings of Etsy.com and the internet, what we non-engineers like to refer to as a "series of tubes."

"Having everything at full line rate is a significant plus because in the last six months, we’ve grown more than 50 percent and in the next six months we could easily grow another 50 percent if not more. Knowing my network infrastructure is not going to start dropping packets as soon as we start reaching certain thresholds is something that will enable me to sleep better at night," Splan says.

This gives us some insight into what the engineers are working on and how they're planning for growth. Dusten refers to our network as the foundation for Etsy, and sellers and buyers and admin can attest to that. We're glad you can sleep better at night, Dusten! Haim is not spontaneously combusting as often either.

For more Etsy Press coverage, go here!

Call For Entries: American Craft Council Show, San Francisco

2008-05-09T18:43:00-05:00

The American Craft Council Show will be taking place in San Francisco from August 15-17, 2008. We just found out that they are currently accepting entries for the AltCraft section of the show. The deadline is soon, so I encourage everyone to get a move on! Here are the official details:

Due to the success of the AltCraft (formerly New Wave) section in Baltimore, the American Craft Council is now accepting applications for the San Francisco show at Fort Mason Center, August 15-17, 2008.

Ten makers will be juried into this bustling section, which celebrates the populist, experimental and youthful vitality of the renewed handmade movement. Artists who have never exhibited at an American Craft show may apply.

Located on the San Francisco waterfront between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge, this show serves a well-established audience of Bay Area craft enthusiasts, including a growing demographic of younger craft admirers. The average booth is valued at $1,000 but as part of the Council’s commitment to indie crafters, the cost of participation is just $300, which includes a 10-ft table in a shared loft space. Plus, there’s no application fee!

The deadline is May 23. Please submit:

(3) low-resolution images of your work
A brief description of your work (materials, dimensions, techniques)
Your contact information (mailing and email addresses)

Send submissions and inquiries to Erika at ebrown@craftcouncil.org.
The subject line should be: San Fran AltCraft Application

Finalists will be announced in June.

“I am excited to see the American Craft Council reaching out to our creative community and providing us with an affordable opportunity to participate in their established craft show. I see this as a positive step, opening the dialogue between generations and a chance to expose a new audience to our way of thinking.” - Faythe Levine, Director and Co-Author of Handmade Nation

About the Council
The American Craft Council is a national, nonprofit public educational organization founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb. The mission of the Council is to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. Programs include the bimonthly magazine American Craft, annual juried shows presenting artists and their work, a leadership conference, the Aileen Osborn Webb Awards honoring excellence, workshops, seminars, and a research library.

We posted a piece with Monica and Andrew as Featured Buyer not too long ago. You can also check out other posts about more Competitions & Opportunities.

Mega-Beth Tour: San Francisco Edition

2008-04-29T11:20:00-05:00

Picture: bethela (Beth), oishiiknits (Erika), bemidesigns (Christie), handcranked (Robyn), curbsidetreasure (Annie), theseawithin (Nadine), 2inspire (Eleanor), localcolorist (Nancy)

Meetings and the Web 2.0 Expo brought me out to San Francisco last week, which also gave me a chance to sit down with some of the members of the SF Bay Area Etsy Team and the California Crafters Club of Etsy (CCCOE) teams. We met at the Ferry Building, also the home of the farmers market, outside of Peet’s Coffee for an early morning chat. A random woman, who did not know of Etsy (or any of us) joined in. Turns out she designs shoes and localcolorist gave her the hard pitch to start selling her designs on Etsy!

I had checked out these sellers' shops before I got there, so I knew this was a very talented group. But when I met them, I found that not only were they passionate about their own work, but also the work of other Etsy sellers. Many talked about helping other sellers get started and what they learned from other sellers along the way. They were also brimming with ideas, outlined below:

Ways to promote/highlight a sale in shop – handcranked suggested it would be great to have a way conduct a sale in your shop – either all items or a part of a shop, without having to re-enter all the prices in the shop. Also suggested:
- A way to easily shop sales, a promotional area where buyers will be likely to find it (probably unlikely buyers are in the forums).
- Alerts when an item or a shop in your favorites has a sale.
- Promo codes – ability to conduct sales with promo codes, to track where people are coming from.
- Ability to shop sales by price range
More Offline Teams Events – Encourage teams to have more face-to-face interactions and partner with local artistic museums, shows, etc. It is great for sharing ideas and promoting Etsy in the offline world.
Etsy-sponsored live events – Sponsored events across the country for sellers to come together and learn new skills and share ideas.
Sort favorites – The group was in agreement that sorting favorites will make shopping much easier, driving increased sales.
Ability to adjust for sales tax – Option to clearly state relevant taxes for specific items or specific states in the checkout process. Some items require taxes, some only require taxes in some states, etc.
More ways to help and welcome newcomers to Etsy – Some thought Etsy can be overwhelming to some at first. Here are some suggestions to make learning how to use Etsy easier:
- Step-by-step instructions to use the site – Create a “how-to” that is easy for a new buyer or seller to find and easy for someone to direct a new person to. “The site can be intimidating to a lot of people at first.”
- FAQs on the top navigation bar
- Glossary – a list of “Etsy” terms for newbies and not so newbies
Treasury notification – ability to opt in to get notified when you have been included in a treasury
Favorites for forum threads - Easily keep track of threads that you may not have anything to contribute to but want to save.

All in all, a great discussion. So here's a little about the sellers. Localcolorist, formerly a stage set designer (sounds like a fun job!) now makes delicate orgami birds. Bemidesigns has a few businesses; she makes hemp jewelry, sells supplies in her withlovedesigns shop and has a letterpress business. Inspired by her twin sister, 2inspire creates cards and stationary. As a complement to this business, she also uses her own style of calligraphy to address invitations, tags, etc. Both Bemidesigns (letterpress) and 2inspire (cards and calligraphy) have seen a dramatic increase in sales after the handmade wedding series.

Below we have theseawithin modeling a quilted neck warmer/cowl designed by French designer malam.

I can see why she owns three of these unique neck warmers. Theseawithin was also sporting a screenprinted wallet by quietdoing handmade.

Theseawithin is talented in her own right, creating great bags. She is looking forward to teaming up with her sister who is a screenprint designer and use the screenprinted fabric designs for her bags.

Handcranked, modeling a screenprinted shirt by avalove, recently opened her shop and is full-time designing after leaving her job as a copy writer for an advertising agency at the end of last year.

Handcranked designs silver jewelry and her designs were recently discovered by a magazine through her flickr stream. You never know where people will find you!

Curbsidetreasure design mixed media collages and even brought her collage journal with her.

Above, curbsidetreasure is showing us her tote made by maryink.

Oishiiknits (oishii means delicious in Japanese) is also a new seller on Etsy. She is currently in design school and has lots of artistic projects on her plate. Here she is showing all of us her adorable knitted baby hats.

A close-up of her hats — I love all the bright colors.

It was a great conversation. I got lots of ideas not only for Etsy, but for my own personal shopping (this could be dangerous). Thank you to all the sellers who came out to share their personal experiences.

If you are interested in joining a Team or to start a group similar to SF Bay Area Etsy Team or the California Crafters Club of Etsy, check out our Teams section! Meet your fellow sellers and make connections today!

Craft Congress: Round-up from San Francisco

2008-04-10T15:56:00-05:00

I had a great time at the Craft Congress, except for the sudden and intense migraine (but that’s a story for another time. A big thanks to Callie from Church of Craft, Marie the Bee from the Sampler, Zak (an Etsy engineer), and a few other helpful crafters who nursed me back to health!).

Wow- there was so much to take in at the Craft Congress! Rachel Hospodar from MediumReality did a great job running the show. This year's Craft Congress was held in the beautiful Brava Theater in San Francisco:

I attended a talk on real-life networking, moderated by Lorraine Sanders of SF Inide Fashion blog. Sherry Huss from O'Reilly (CRAFT and MAKE Magazine) recommends sending a short, direct follow-up email after you meet a person you want to network with. Betsy Greer of Craftivism.com urges crafters to just keep it real and be nice when approaching people whether it's face-to-face or online, and refuses to buy into the idea that there’s a hierarchy in the craft world.

Faythe Levine showed a clip from her doc Handmade Nation (see a post about the doc here, and see her Featured Buyer piece here).

I also sat in on a talk with two theater producers — Ben Peoples and Sara Huddleston — who led a workshop about how to stay organized with your workflow whether your a one-man band or managing a team of others.

To-do lists: take the time to do them first thing. Have priorities and long-term goals. Keep those goals visible in your studio. Use BasecampHQ, GoogleDocs for online colloboration and try somehting creative like a restaurant order rail with your tasks as bills.
Good Communication: Be very clear about the expectations with each project you work on, especially when dealing with outside parties. If you're going to miss a deadline, let the person know as soon as possible: apologize, let them know it won't happen again and give a realistic estimate of when you will deliver. No sob stories! If you're setting the deadlines, pad them with a few extra days. Remember: it never hurts to follow-up phone conversations with emails detailing the important decisions you make.
Production: Even if you're a one-person team and you're making one-of-a-kind items, you can still divide your tasks into stations and save time by concentrating on one station for a designated amount of time. Rachel Hodopar from MediumReality recommended identifying how many different hats you wear as a one person business and divide these tasks up so you can better organize your time.
Motivation: Don't have TV or other distractions in your workspace! When you're feeling low, look at books or websites of your favorite things, work by artists who inspire you or go for a walk in a place you've never been before.

Debra Roby of BlogHer brainstormed with folks about online social networking tools. I learned a lot in this workshop! Her mantra: "Social Media is marketing." She walked us through making a social media map of our own — take a piece of paper and divide your paper into 4 quarters. One box is for your outgoing messages, second is for your incoming items like RSS feeds, third one for your marketing, and then the last one is community building. Here are but a few of the tools you should check out, perhaps news ones to add to your maps:

www.sk-rt.com might be better suited Etsians trying to spread the word about posts than D igg, which has a reputation for having techies as its user base.
Debra swooned when someone mentioned Twitter. The Storque (follow us!) is twittering too. You can read more about Twitter in this post.
Everyone is using flickr.com to share their photos. While flickr isn't meant for pushing — ahem — selling your items, it's a great way to show your process and also share a bit about your handmade lifestyle. Watch this space for a how-to about the dos and don'ts of flickr.
ning.com, which allows you to create your own social networking applications.
StumbleUpon and del.icio.us are other socially-networked ways of bookmarking and sharing your finds on the internet.
Blogs. Everybody's got a blog. There are some Etsians who join forces in things like blog rings (see Etsy Team Tips: Etsy Teams Blog Ring!).
Etsy mini is a widget that allows your shop or favorites to be posted on your blog or website. Check out this how-to for the Etsy mini: TimothyAdamDesigns' Etsy Mini How-to Video.
Use an email listserve or newsletter to keep your customers updated.
Stylehive, a networked shopping site for trendy items.
Google Docs are a way to collaborate on documents. You can upload Word docs or spreadsheets and share them rather than using attachements or just create them right there in Google Docs, publish them to the web, or use them for your internal purposes. You just need a free Google account. It's also great if you don't have compatable software, like Excel or Word.
utterz.com allows you to upload text, photos, video or voice from your phone to your blog.
seesmic.com lets you use audio and video online really easily, read more here.
This one could be really useful: shareaholic.com: "makes it easy for you to submit the web page you're on to your favorite sharing or bookmarking service, including: digg, del.icio.us, facebook, friendfeed, google bookmarks, magnolia, mixx, reddit, stumbleupon, tumblr and twitter. You also have the option to e-mail the web page directly to a friend."
socialmarker.com is another one of these sites that aggregates your aggregators.

I was so excited when everyone decided that Etsy was at the center of their social-networking maps!

The Art Craft vs Craft Craft talk was really interesting as everyone pushed the idea that craft is whatever you want it to be. Claire Joyce who makes glitter paintings talked about how she first started using glitter to annoy grad school snooties. Mike Homes from the Velvet da Vinci Gallery noted that we just have to wait and see how people perceive art and craft in 10, 20 years. Garth from Extreme Craft said, "If you want to be seen in galleries, go for that! If you want to go for the boutiques or craft shows, go for that!" Brent White from Impeti warned of the dangers of being pigeonholed with a DIY aesthetic, when handmade can be very refined and craft-oriented as well.
It’s a time when the boundaries seem to be falling away, but at the same time panelists brought up the need for more exploration into the histories of the indie craft movement. This segued into a challenging discussion of country craft; oft-poo-pooed by tastemakers and indie crafters as cheesey. And yet, many crafters took to the mics to proclaim their respect and admit their soft-spot for country craft; acknowledging that without it, there wouldn't be an indie craft movement. Most of us learned how to crochet or stencil or glue from our mothers or grandmothers while helping them make the time-honored wooden coat-hangers painted with ducks in bonnets.

I also had a chance to meet Etsy sellers Girlontherocks and KatyKristin who professed thier love for the new batch shipping options and the ability to download your shop’s sales figures. Here they are pictured with Caitlin Phillips of www.rebound-designs.com:

A new Etsy seller, ShanaAstrachan, who specializes in high-end art jewelry told me that Etsy seems to be catching on in her art jewelry circles, where artists have traditionally sold their work through galleries and specialized shows. She’s optimistic about Etsy as a new venue for art jewelry, where pieces easily run into the thousands of dollars. We spoke a bit about how useful an extended profile page would be, with space for a portfolio of work not for sale, clippings from press pieces, gallery shows and more info about the artist. She told me she currently uses Etsy as her e-commerce function on her own website, an option appealing to many already established artists.

Sadly, I didn't get to all of the panels and there were so many people I'd wanted to meet. Next time!

Finally, as a lead in to our soon-to-be-launching eco-friendly series Earth Tones, I want to give a shout-out to Autumn Wiggins’s presentation on the environmental impact of crafting. We've invited her to write a Storque article version of it. Autumn writes for craftingagreenworld.com and runs an Etsy shop at stringtheory, as well as spearheading the StrangeFolk festival. Her thought-provoking talk pushed crafters to reflect on where they buy their supplies. She’d done some research through a survey we’d linked to here on the Storque. I was happy to see that 46% of respondents cited Etsy as one of the places they buy supplies; this means that for the most part, they’re buying handmade supplies or de-stashed supplies which would otherwise be thrown away. Many Etsians make it a practice to use found materials and upcycle them into something new, rather than sending them to the landfill.

Autumn brainstormed about a website that would allow buyers to offer up unwanted goods to local sellers to be upcycled and transformed into remade goods. Wouldn’t that be an awesome feature to offer in a new supplies section on Etsy? (Hint hint to the engineers…Think Shop Local, meets a reverse Alchemy meets a new Supplies section!)

Autumn took this a step further, citing Cradle to Cradle, and reminding us that even if many crafters are remaking items from what would otherwise be trash, not all of crafters’ supplies are produced through environmentally friendly or socially-conscious methods. According to her survey, about 90% of respondents cite chain stores as their source for supplies. And so Autumn called for innovative organic and non-sweatshop produced crafts — supplies designed to be upcycled in ways that don’t produce unintended harmful effects such as pollution or wasted energy. Do these supplies exist? Where can we get them? Why isn’t there a store specializing in earth-friendly crafting supplies?

Considering the already huge market for craft supplies, it’s curious that larger stores like Michaels, or producers like Martha Stewart haven’t launched these products, which are in demand — at least judging by the thousands of sellers on Etsy. Maybe Etsians have to let these companies know! I’d like to start a petition calling for more eco-friendly options for craft supplies.

Comment below if you’d like to see such advancements in eco-friendliness! Also comment with any eco-friendly options for supplies that you know of — through your local craft store or online. If you make eco-friendly supplies, post below. We want to know all this for our upcoming Earth Tones series.

Who's going to the next Craft Congress???

Craft Congress: San Francisco, Here I Come

2008-04-05T12:39:00-05:00

UPDATE: I'm HERE!! And I'm live-blogging off and on today in the Storque room of the Virtual Labs!

[This was originally published on March 25]
I'm so excited! I'm going to San Francisco to unite with other people in the handmade movement! I will be representing Etsy at the April Craft Congress. Matt went to the last one in Pittsburgh and got a lot out of it.

About Craft Congress:

"Craft Con was born in 2007 as Craft Congress in Pittsburgh, PA . This launch event brought together more than fifty indie craft show organizers from across the US, Canada, as well as the UK, to share knowledge, skills and experiences. Topics ranged all the way from guerrilla marketing strategy to securing corporate sponsorship. Colleagues from across the world were able to meet face to face for the first time. Establishing a strong and supportive network for those who attended, the event also sparked crucial discussion about the future of the craft movement.
Read more about 2007:
New York Times
Washington City Paper
Craft Con 2008 heralds huge growth for the project. The event in San Francisco has been planned via the internet by crafters from all over the world. April’s conference will welcome participants from all areas of crafting, making a special effort to connect younger and upcoming crafters with the experience and savvy of their antecedents. Craft Con will facilitate much broader discussion and planning in key areas of concern for the movement, in particular the viability of sustainable business and enterprise and establishing the permanence of crafting in society."

Take the CraftCon's Survey:
Part of the mission of the Craft Congress is to conduct some research about crafters. Please help out the movement by taking this survey. It will help us get a more accurate picture of how we crafters get supplies.

How Etsy is Helping:
Etsy is donating money to sponsor three people who want to attend. We give the money; the Craft Con decides who gets a leg up.

How to Register:
Go here to register. Be forewarned: we have a sneaking suspicion that their form doesn't like Firefox. The organizers announced that they've had some problems with registration. So if you haven't gotten a confiramtion, you may need to register again!

"If you had filled out an application but did not receive a copy of it in your own inbox, then we didn’t get it either. However, we really want you to come to Craft Con, so you should definitely head over to the application page and give it another shot. There is little more annoying on the internet than losing info you typed to a glitch in the system, and we apologize for any frustration this may have caused. Please contact us at info@craftcon.org if you have any questions."

So let me know if you're going in the comments below. I hope to see you there! Below you'll find some picks from San Francisco shops that I found through Shop Local and some other choice items.