Search results (title) for: "jewelry"

Featured Buyer: Michele Foley of Chow.com

2008-11-19T15:36:00Z

This week's Featured Buyer is Michele Foley, an associate editor at CHOW.com, the destination for food, drink, and fun on the Web. Michele handpicks almost all of the products that make it onto CHOW, whether it be via her monthly product column called Wanted or through the TWICE-YEARLY gift guides. She's a huge fan of Etsy and has featured its wares on CHOW before—below are some of her favorite food related items, ripe for holiday feasting.

I've always been a big lover of good design. I'm enamored (and envious!) of folks who have a talent at being crafty and creating beautiful things. Doing product coverage for CHOW has been a great experience for me. As a result, I've spent way too much money on things for my home and have met a ton of really cool, smart designers. Whenever I am picking out things for the site or myself, I make it a point to showcase items that are unique and made with love. Etsy is an obvious place for me to turn!

Bon Appetit Creepy Crawly Dinner Plate by foldedpigs

The bon appetit creepy crawly dinner plate from foldedpigs appeals to my fondness towards entomology. I also like how it plays on ones fear of finding bugs in food. To me there's something intriguing about pairing the delicate with the scary.

Handmixer Sterling Silver Necklace by ballandchain

When I saw this handmixer sterling silver necklace, I knew it was the perfect gift for all my friends who love to cook—it's got wonderful kitsch appeal. I'm just starting to invest in jewelry myself, and I like pieces that can be fun and personal like the ones ballandchain makes.

What's the Word Platter by MayLuk

I recently started taking letterpress printing classes, which has turned me into a bigger font nerd than I already was. It's no surprise that this What's the Word Platter from MayLuk became an item to covet.

Block Print Nest Apron by artgoodies

I love all the items in artgoodies shop, but have especially fallen for the block print nest apron. I've always been a fan of vintage prints, so I like that she incorporates old biology patterns into her work. There's also something great about a waist apron: wearing one make me feel like I'm wearing a cute, new skirt.

Set of 3 Tea Towels by Patapri

Patapri's wares just ooze with cuteness, from the patterns to her great use of color. Her set of three tea towels made perfect (and super appreciated) holiday gifts for three of my friends last year.

The Buttermint Tiles by maiziejane

I'm all for using tiles in the kitchen, whether they're hanging on the walls or serving double-duty as trivets. The Buttermint Tiles by maiziejane are really fun and remind me of something I'd find in a 50's kitchen, from the pastel palette to the vintage-y appliances.

(Learn how-to make your own trivet in this Etsy How-Tuesday video.)

Stream O Conciousness by nonfictiondesign

Interesting dinnerware is a great conversation-starter, which is why I like nonfictiondesign's Stream O Conciousness platter. It's as if she took all these bits of life's ephemera and served them up on a plate.

Hot Air Balloon Tea Towel by annabelwaterman

I have a thing for tea towels. They can instantly change the mood of a kitchen by adding pops of color and design in unexpected places. In my home, I have a collection of towels that are actually used, and others that are just for display. The bold red annabelwaterman uses in her Hot Air Balloon Tea Towel is really lovely. Looking at it makes me feel like I'm on vacation somewhere dreamy and fun.

Porcelain Replica Milk Bottles by alyssaettinger

The minute I saw Alyssa Ettinger's Porcelain Replica Milk Bottles on Design*Sponge, I was smitten. Not only did I feature them on CHOW, I bought three for myself. I like that they are hand-cast using real antique milk bottles—I use mine to display fresh cut flowers in the living room.

Seven Deadly Sins Coffee/Tea set by Trixiedelicious

Trixiedelicious is yet another Etsy seller I cannot get enough of. She reclaims old plates and cups to make her wares, putting bold words on delicate pieces of china. Her Seven Deadly Sins coffee/tea set would be great for a tea party with friends, and the fact that every set you get is really an original (hand painted by her) is pretty cool.

And now, Michele shares some of her favorite Thanksgiving recipes!

Working at Chow has given Michele a lot of food insights. If you're looking for inspiration for your Thanksgiving table this year, check out Chow's Thanksgiving for Six Holiday Menu.

I am torn between two recipes as my personal favorites. If you're eating turkey this Thanksgiving, how about Bacon-Wrapped Turkey with Pear Cider? (Check out this fun video showing the turkey being prepared!)

Looking for a side dish or a vegetarian option? The Creamy Carrot Casserole is another favorite.

For more Chow's Thanksgiving menus, check out their Holiday Hub!

Thanks to Michele for all of her amazing picks! Check out CHOW.com for the latest in food, drink, and fun.

Hungry for more shopping?

Featured Buyer Series | House Warming Gift Guide | Food Posts

Stylehog's Red Carpet Jewelry Trends from Etsy Sellers!

2008-11-13T13:30:00Z

Here at Stylehog.com, we have been hunting all season for the ultimate statement necklace, one of this winter’s biggest fashion trends. When we checked out Etsy’s pages, we were ecstatic to find not one, but a bevy of sellers who have mastered the statement necklace trend that was spotted on the runways of some of the world’s biggest designers.

Two sellers really caught our eye. Ferociter’s Pretty Plume necklace not only demonstrates the statement necklace trend, but also incorporates feathers, another big trend for the fall, while melissaclemente’s Tomorrow 8 chunky, chain necklace featuring vintage charms and plastic baubles is another necklace we can’t wait to get our hands on. After finding these two statement necklaces, we think it’s safe to say we are hot on the trail of this trend!

About Stylehog.com: At Stylehog.com, fashion is our life, but since we’d rather make a mortgage payment than buy couture, we search the web for the latest fashion trends that won’t break our bank. Stylehog.com highlights the latest fashion trends straight from the runways of Paris, New York, London & Milan and provides readers with direct links to North American retailers offering similar trends but at wallet-friendly prices.

Trends | Jewelry Addicts Gift Guide | Jewelry tagged "Chains & Feathers" | Hot Jewelry Posts

Fresh Shops: DiscreetCharm

2008-11-13T11:15:00Z

I'm a big fan of anything of the natural history vein, so when I saw DiscreetCharm's animal inspired metalwork, I was hooked. Her jewelry features wolf heads and antelope horns, all small enough to carry with you. She's been on Etsy a little less than two months and is still getting her feet wet on the site. Here's a little interview we did with this Fresh Shop.

Can you tell us a little about the people behind DiscreetCharm?
I was born and raised in a small suburb of Chicago, but I've been living in Brooklyn since I graduated high school. I've always had an interest in jewelry and I had made a few pieces here and there, but August '08 is when I started to actively create a line. My boyfriend, Paris, actually came up with the name of my line. It comes from a film by Luis Buñuel, one of my favorite filmmakers. I wouldn't say his work directly inspires mine, but his films have a restless nature which I appreciate and relate to.

What inspires you as a creative person?
My first series was obviously inspired by wild animals. I love the shapes that I find in nature, but I am also really inspired by the experience of being outside. Going outdoors and exploring is a way for me to flush away all the BS that can stave off my creativity. In the summer of 2007 I traveled to South Dakota, and I was lucky enough to see male bighorn sheep. One generally encounters female and baby sheep, which have much smaller horns. The males are much more reclusive, but driving through Badlands National Park, I saw a whole group of them and it was amazing. Their horns have a beautiful shape and texture, and I made a pendant based on them. I also looked at a lot of National Geographic pictures and Ernst Haeckel drawings while creating this series.

I have already started sketching out my next collection. It is inspired by a whole mess of things including childhood, Art Nouveau, Dia de los Muertos and the Victorian era. It should be really interesting to see how the two collections reflect each other because the ideas behind them are so different.

How do you like Etsy so far? What are your favorite features of the site?
I love Etsy, it's a brilliant idea. I love the variety of things being sold. One of my favorite features is being able to mark sellers as favorites, so I can keep tabs on their goods. I also love being able to see that people have marked me as a favorite!

Anything else you'd like to add is also welcome! (Your blog, etc.)
I'm in the process of creating my website and it should be up soon. Check it out at discreet-charm.com. Thanks!

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

Quit Your Day Job: DownToTheWireDesigns

2008-11-10T14:31:00Z

Chuck of Downtothewiredesigns is now selling full time on Etsy. His story is a little ironic; his day job continued to pay him more and more as he worked less and less (they held him in high regard and truly needed him to stay on). He finally had to listen to his heart, taking the plunge into making and selling his own designs on a full time basis. Chuck has been successful ever since! Keep reading to find out more about his journey.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
I had dreams of selling my jewelry full-time long before I began selling on Etsy, but it has been Etsy that has made me believe that it is possible. Before I had a shop on Etsy, I sold mostly wholesale, which is extremely difficult. You typically have to sell your product at half of your retail price and it is very hard to strike a balance between finding a retail price that people are willing to pay and a wholesale price that you can still survive on. Plus, if you are working alone as I do, it is tough to produce in large enough quantities for wholesale success. Selling on Etsy gave me access to a retail clientele at a very reasonable fee. Instead of getting only half of the price of my jewelry, I was getting nearly all of it.

How long had you been on Etsy before taking the plunge into selling full time? What made you decide to do so?
I had been selling on Etsy about two years before officially quitting my job this summer. I think my situation with my day job was fairly unique in that I had a well-paying job that was very flexible. That is what made it so hard to ultimately leave. For many years, I was working nearly full-time at a machine shop, and was making and selling jewelry as a hobby. Although I enjoyed working as a machinist, it was never my passion. I knew that I wanted to be a full-time jeweler some day. Because the company I worked for needed me, I was able to cut back my hours little by little, even as they paid me more and more to keep me from leaving entirely. At some point, the thought of quitting altogether was outweighed by the money—I was making too much to quit.

Eventually I came to the realization that the time I was spending away from my studio was time not invested in making my business self-sustainable. For every hour I worked at the machine shop and every dollar I made there, I had to consider how much I was setting back my goal of working for myself full-time. Although I realized that I would not be able to replace my salary from the machine shop right away if I quit, I knew that quitting was the first step towards getting to where I really wanted to be. It was kind of a “no pain—no gain” situation.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time before taking the plunge?
Prior to leaving my job for good, I took the time to get a lot of organizational things taken care of so that when I did quit, I could use my time in the studio more efficiently. The two biggest things I did were to get all of my bookkeeping transferred to QuickBooks and to set up an inventory system. Both were very time-consuming undertakings that will, in the end, reduce the amount of non-productive time in my studio. I anticipate that these two steps alone will save me a lot of time when tax season comes around (a time when my productivity has lagged as my attention is focused away from my bench). I also decided to leave my job for good in the middle of the summer to give me time to start building up stock for the holiday season. I knew that the summer tended to be somewhat slow for me on Etsy, but I also knew that it was downtime that could be put to good use and that if I was able to get through it, I could set myself up nicely for increasing my sales during my busiest time of year. So as far as that goes, it is still a plan in motion.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
The biggest challenge of selling on Etsy is to not get complacent. The internet is constantly changing and you have to, at the very least, respond to those changes, if not anticipate them. You have to come up with new ways of keeping your shop fresh, even if your work is largely familiar. I have tried to be very creative in my on-Etsy promotions. My most successful effort came shortly after leaving my job for good. I came up with a promotion called “Ring for a Day.” My goal was not only to make and list a new ring in my shop every weekday, but to also challenge myself in terms of the materials I use and the styles of the work, and to even push up into a higher price point for my work. It was a huge success with most of the new rings selling, some within mere hours of listing them. Part of that was because I was posting photos of them in my Flickr account before listing them on Etsy. By doing this, I was creating an interest for individual rings, and for the promotion as a whole. This meant that my shop received a steady stream of views as people visited to see what was new for the day. I have two other things in mind for the coming months. Both are similar in that instead of just listing new work, I am challenging myself in the creation of that work in interesting new ways. My hope is that the challenge itself will draw as much interest as the pieces I create.

Off of Etsy, I have a Flickr account where I show my work and also a more personal side of my life. I hope that this allows my customers more insight into my inspirations and aspirations.
I am also a member of the EtsyMetal Street Team and participate in Team promotions, challenges, and advertising.
I am starting a blog soon where I will talk more directly about both my work and life in general. I like to write, so this will be a fun endeavor and I am looking forward to it. In my experience, customers appreciate the opportunity to connect with artists in a more personal way. If it was not important to them, they probably would not bother shopping on Etsy in the first place.

What have you found to be unsuccessful promotion or something that's just not working for your shop?
The “promotions” section of the forums is the fastest moving of all the sections and just listing something there and expecting results is unrealistic. Things get buried there in mere seconds. So just having a sale and announcing it there never seems to be really effective.

Walk us through what a typical workday might entail.

I try to have a plan for each day. I often have a to-do list and try to stick to that. In addition, I have a great old chalkboard from a
renovated school and I schedule my custom work and wholesale orders out on it.
The first thing I do every day is check my shop and answer any inquiries that I might have.
I also try to check the spot price for silver so I can try to place my material orders when the price is low.
Then I spend much of the day working on orders or trying to get ahead and build up stock for the future.
Additionally, I try to devote some time to working on a "new pieces" to-do list. This keeps my shop fresh and keeps my work interesting and challenging.
Many days will include tasks like preparing orders for shipping or shooting new work.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
I enjoy the autonomy. Working at the machine shop was, in many ways, similar to making jewelry—both involve planning things out and solving problems. But the creativity was limited at my day job. In the end, I was always making parts that other people designed and often did not even know what those parts were used for. There was never the same satisfaction from seeing a piece reach completion as there is when I make jewelry. I also love the freedom of deciding what to do each day. If I am feeling bored with filling big wholesale orders, I can always set aside some time to work on a piece that has been in my head a while. I miss having coworkers! It is so nice to have people around to talk to during the day—the radio is a poor substitute.

If you could go back in time before you took the plunge, what advice would you give yourself knowing what you know now? What would you tell someone else?
A time machine would have been very helpful in anticipating the recent financial meltdown! As that goes, my timing has not been the best. But I am confident that I am on the right track even if this holiday season is slower than those previous. Working a bit longer and saving more money would have helped, but then again, that was always what had held me back before, and at some point I just needed to go for it. Overall, I am very glad that I did. If you are wanting to do this full-time, you have to take it seriously and treat it like a real business. Make a plan and make sure you have a realistic idea of your prices. You only get to keep 70 cents out of every dollar—the rest goes towards taxes. That is very important to remember as you no longer have a steady paycheck with deductions taken from it automatically. And although you have the freedom to schedule your day as you wish, you need to make sure you are taking it as serious as you would any other job.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
My biggest goal is to become entirely self-sufficient. I don’t mind being a starving artist, but not if it is a permanent state. Along those same lines, I want to make sure I leave myself time each day to exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep, and have a decent social life. I am not going into business for myself to make my life more difficult. I also want to more effectively promote my shop off of Etsy. This is one area where there is definitely room for improvement.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Follow your passion. It is better to fail than to have never tried. There is nothing worse than living with the regret of not knowing whether you could have achieved your dreams. So far it is a struggle. I had great initial success with my Ring for a Day promotion, but overall my sales have slowed with the slowing economy. Regardless, I am hanging in there and taking a long-term perspective on things. I was never so much looking for instant success as I was looking to build success.

Thanks to Chuck for sharing his story and business with us! Check out the related items below to see some of his items.

You can find some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Trends: Stacking Rings

2008-11-06T16:38:00Z

When it comes to rings, why wear one when you can wear a few? Stacking rings can be worn individually for a demure, delicate look, or stacked together for a cumulative statement. Dress up your fingers and try out the many variations on the same theme!

Jewelry Addicts Gift Guide | Trends | Jewelry Category | More Jewelry Posts

My Top 10 Metal Clay Jewelry Items on Etsy

2008-10-30T17:06:00Z

Jewelry made from precious metal clay would make an exciting and unique holiday gift this season! Without further ado, my Top Ten jewelry picks!

Pendant by dinaalexander. Find more bunny pendants.

Precious metal clay contains microscopic precious metal particles and is dried and fired to create solid, dense beads, pendants, earrings, rings and more! Metal Clay artists on Etsy can be found by searching "PMC", "Metal Clay" or even "Fine Silver" (since the metal used in most of these pieces is fine silver).

Ring by SilverGarden. Find more leaf rings.

Necklace by WearableByDesign. Find more steampunk jewelry.

Necklace by kaleprimitifs. Find more pearl and silver necklaces.

Earrings by LoraHart. Find more dangling earrings.

Studs by NBDesigns. Find more hedgehog inspired items.

Necklace by chocolateandsteel. Find more AshleyG. chocolateandsteel Quit Her Day Job !

You can also see a cute video she made about her shop.

Pendant by CleverEndeavor. Find more high seas jewelry.

Earrings by BirdlandCreations. Find more birdy earrings.

Necklace by cherrycreek. Find more customizable pendants.

Want to meet some of these artists? The Etsy Metal Clay Etsy Team will be showing off some of their best items for sale in an online Trunk Show today, October 30, 2008 at 7pm (Eastern Time) in the Treehouse of the Virtual Labs! If you come, you might even win #8 (a Trunk Show door prize)!

More ways to shop:

Jewelry Gift Guide | Top 10 Lists | Metal Clay Jewelry

Etsy Finds: Color Me Beautiful

2008-10-22T09:00:00Z

Love metal-worked jewelry? Make a bold statement with colored metal jewelry that's been enameled or given a verdigris patina. These make great holiday gifts for jewelry fiends. Here are our top picks, with a few searching tips mixed in to help you find more!

Corsico Ring - Size 5

The turquoise-colored patina on this ring is called verdigris. Search for verdigris jewelry to find more gorgeous pieces like this. By AntiGenre, $34.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

3 X Red Necklace

Tuizui specializes in fine metalworked silver jewelry with glass enamel in every color of the rainbow. By tuizui, $135.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Moby

VerreEncore is known for her enameled jewelry in fun shapes. By VerreEncore, $38.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Cupped Red Padlock Earrings

These earrings have been colored red in a "super top-secret process." How mysterious! By DownToTheWireDesigns, $38.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

2 inch Verdigris Earrings

These stunners are simple and modern in shape, but the color ups the impact. By cynthiadelgiudice, $22.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Colorful Stacking Rings mini x9

Colored stacking rings are great because you can rearrange them for an almost infinite number of different looks. By Meetalls, $35.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

currency (bracelet)

Smashing has a shop full of enameled jewelry in pastel brights. By smashing, $55.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Aqua-Feather-Enamel-Earrings

I'm in love with feathers these days! Another shop full of gorgeous enameled pieces in a variety of shapes and colors. By jewelrybynatsuko, $42.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

bright blossom necklace

A pretty little flower with a yellow sapphire in the center. Lovely! By iacua, $72.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Jewelry Gift Guide | Showcase | Trends

Want to see Etsians in action? Watch these jewelry videos!

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

Etsy Finds: Don't Leave Home Without It

2008-10-21T09:52:00Z

A college roommate of mine was plagued by that horrid nightmare where you dream you went to school wearing only your skivvies. Such torment left a residue of exposure, vulnerability, and embarrassment that wouldn't wash away, regardless of the rounds of coffee I would skillfully pour down her throat to get her to 8:30 a.m. lab on time.

While I have never been tormented by that particularly disconcerting dream, I empathized completely, as I too have been plagued for much of my life by the fear of forgetting something important before I leave for my day — a special something that on the rare occasion I have been forced to go without, I have been rendered naked and powerless, shifting nervously as if someone would soon discover my apparent shame. What could possibly possess such power over me? What could shave from me every ounce of strength and confidence while weighing less than a river stone?

The answer is simple. A ring... preferably a big one.

Ribbons

Elegant, architectural, fantastical, yours... or mine. By OblikAtelier, $410.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

the OM ring

"Handmade with love." What more could we ask for? By monkeymeditates, $20.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

B.Concert Hall

Pure genius in hand. By Bumaye, $120.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Organico - hand carved nambaro wood ring

Organic, sustainably harvested nambaro wood. Look good and feel good doing it. By naturalezanica, $95.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Tiger Ebony Disc Ring

Simple, clean, and built for anyone. By marshatoh, $19.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

no. 6 Mahjong Ring

This lovely brings all my favorite materials in full circle. By foamywader, $8.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Custom Braille Ring

Gorgeous, graphic, with a subtle voice all its own in sterling silver braille. By StudioAMF, $49.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Press my Button Ring

Vintage wood, sterling wire... cute as a button. By maked, $17.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Bicycle Innertube Ring

I love the graphic quality of this ring made from a bike inner tube. LOVE it. By tigerlillyshop, $6.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorite

What are your must have accessories? Let us know if the comments below.

P.S. Check out this video — Process: Fused Dichroic Glass Rings by zulasurfing — for an inside peek at how one of the very many talented jewelers on Etsy makes rings!

Looking for more jewelry Finds? Try these links:

Jewelry Addicts Gift Guide | More Handmade Rings | Big Vintage Rings

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

bekness is Etsy's new designer. She makes things beautiful! This is her first Etsy Find.

Process: Fused Dichroic Glass Rings by zulasurfing

2008-10-17T14:06:00Z

MP4 | Youtube | Blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

This month, to continue the Storque's jewelry theme, we bring you this video featuring Gil, a former owner of a demolition company who now grinds and fuses glass. zulasurfing is comprised of husband and wife duo, Gil and Irena, based in New York. Gil is originally from Israel and Irena was born in Russia. They fashion a variety of brilliant jewelry pieces in their small, but well equipped studio in the Bronx. We focused in on the difficult and time intensive process of making a dichroic glass ring; zulasurfing's results are absolutely stunning.

Dichroic glass is manufactured by vaporizing various layers of metal oxides in a vacuum using an electron beam. The vapor then crystallizes on the surface in a way that translates different wavelengths of light, producing a colorful sparkle. Gil uses this type of glass to his advantage by fusing it in layers with other pieces of colored glass and clear glass — unique designs appear embedded in the finished product. Gil and Irena work together to determine which colors, which type of dichroic glass, and which shape the overall ring will take.

We are happy to be able to share some of the finished rings themselves in the video because it is difficult to communicate their magnificence with photography alone, but even the videos don't do the rings themselves justice. They are truly majestic when beheld

Irene also does metalsmithing and glass etching and Gil makes some small sculptural glass pieces, so make sure to check out zulasurfing's other designs in their shop.

[etched glass pendants]

[casts of fused glass bricks]

[jewelry made from amethyst geodes]

Process is a new Etsy video series that features the intimate relationship formed between Etsy sellers and the handmade items that they create and make available to the world through their online shops. Process is not to be confused with a How-To video, as each video is intended to show each seller's unique artistic voice through the process by which their items come to be.

Jewelry tagged Dichroic Glass | More Process Videos on the Storque | Jewelry Lover's Gift Guide

Fresh News from Etsy Teams!

2008-10-17T10:51:00Z

We asked the Etsy Teams based on craft, medium or general interest what new things they have up their sleeves for the coming weeks. Below you can find charitable events, sales, specials and calls for new members from a handful of some active Etsy Teams. To join an Etsy Team, check out the Join page here!

The Natural Kids Team, with a focus on Waldorf-inspired and eco-friendly treasures for you, your children and your home, has begun some great cooperative advertising for the holidays! You can find more of their products compiled at the Natural Kids Store.

Pictured at left, Custom flower gnomes from paintingpixie of the Natural Kids Team.

The Etsy Jewelry Design and Supply Shops Team will be holding a Team-wide sale from October 17 - 31, 2008. To see a complete list of the participating shops, visit their Team blog!

On October 24 & 25, the Etsy Kids Team is having a buy one get one (also known as a BOGO) sale! You can see the list of participating shops on their Team blog.

Eco-Friendly Baby-Safe Crocheted Organic Cotton Baby Rattle - Mr. Monkey by locoMomma of the Etsy Kids Team.

Team Eco Etsy will be holding an eco-friendly basket auction from October 20th - October 30th, 2008, featuring eco-friendly handmade goods donated generously by Eco Etsy Team members. The contents of the basket are worth $300, and the Team is looking to raise money to donate to the Nature Conservancy by auctioning this basket off. For full details on the auction and how to participate, those interested should visit the Eco Team's website. To find items made by the Eco Team, search "TeamEcoEtsy".

The brand new Queer Etsy Street Team is currently seeking new members. Each week the Queer Team hops into the Etsy forum with FRI-GAY! The FRI-GAY thread is dedicated to special promos from Team members and the deals are sweet, hot and only last for a week. If you miss them at least there's always next FRI-GAY! The Queer Team welcomes all LGBTQIQ Etsians to join our frolicsome quest for world art domination through mutually supportive cross promotional efforts. If you want in on the action, visit the Team profile page or contact their fearless leader, queenofqueens.

Pictured at left, Happiness Wall Square from adorablefiend of the Queer Etsy Street Team.

The Etsy Friends Team is gearing up for their first monthly Team sale, “Sweet Treat Sale.” The sale will be from October 16th through October 19th and each participating Team shop will have its own unique and special sale. Discounts range from free gifts with purchases, to a certain percentage off. The information of what discounts will be available will be posted right before the sale kicks off on the Etsy Friends’ Promotional Blog.

At right, Waist Apron - Craft Show, Festival, Fair (Black Skulls Roses) by Sygnetcreations of the Etsy Friends Team.

Thanks, Etsy Teams, for your continued hard work in promoting Etsy! We can't wait to see all the wonderful projects Teams take on this Holiday season. Is your Etsy Team having a special event soon? Let us know in the comments!

The Corno Project: Unlocking the Jeweler's Block

2008-10-15T13:00:00Z

The internet is many things to many people. One of the common threads running through its infinite uses is communication, and it's from this global communication that the "Corno Project" evolved.

Take three jewelers in different parts of the world — the U.S., Italy and Scotland — who don't know each other. Throw in a photo-sharing social-networking site (Flickr) and the fact that they all have their own Etsy shops, and what emerges?

Victoria (Experimetal), Janos (blindspotjewellery) and Dauvit (The Justified Sinner aka Beardiebloke) all "met" on Flickr through a mutual appreciation of each of the other's works. They all make jewelry in very different ways, using different themes and materials. What they have in common is a love of making stuff! They use the internet to exchange ideas and practices, as well as swapping stories and jokes, hopes and fears, like everyone else does. It was from one of these idea sessions that the "Corno Project" was born...

Victoria posted a photograph of a charm necklace on Flickr — subsequently sold on Etsy — on which Dauvit and Janos commented. Dauvit (jokingly) suggested that he was so taken with the necklace that he might copy it, and Janos explored the folklore and cultural history referenced by the piece. Reminded of his native Italy, Janos explained how the traditional "corno" motif wards off evil curses — a sort of superstitious jewelry fob. From this discussion came the decision that they would all take the ideas generated by the discussion, throw in their own research and see what they came up with.

Jewelers BarbaraTaramasso and BongeraFiligrana, two talented metalsmithers from Genova, Italy, joined in on the experiment too.

It is fair to say that each maker produced something spectacular and, interestingly, something atypical of the work that they normally produce. The three makers involved in this project enjoyed it enormously and will be setting themselves more challenges in the future.

Beardiebloke, $360, Experimetal, $666, blindspotjewellery, $160, BongeraFiligrana, $145, BarbaraTaramasso, $210.

The experiment is one for makers everywhere and in every field to try out. Set yourselves challenges in small, supportive groups. Post the results online and invite comments... who knows where it might lead?

Post in the comments if you'd like to collaborate or have a story to share!

See a Craftivism post featuring Experimetal

Quit Your Day Job: chocolateandsteel

2008-10-13T12:12:00Z

After returning to work 4 months after maternity leave, Christine of chocolateandsteel knew it just wasn't for her anymore. She had a passion for working with her hands, and really missed her new son while back at her day job; so she made a plan. She took two weeks vacation from work and in that two weeks tested how her Etsy sales would be effected when she put all that extra time into her jewelry business. She ended up making more money in that two weeks than she did regularly at her day job; and that was when she knew she was ready to take the plunge. Keep reading to find out how Christine can live off of her Etsy sales while raising a child with her husband and to learn more about her, please take a look at the video she made for her handmade story.

When you first started selling on Etsy did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
I had far flung dreams of quitting my day job before even hearing about Etsy. Once I found Etsy and saw the success of many other sellers then I had goals of quitting my day job. It actually seemed plausible.

How long were you selling on Etsy before taking the plunge into selling full time?
I was on maternity leave when I discovered Etsy. I originally started selling on Etsy just to help make a few bucks while on leave. 4 months after having my son I went back to work full time. I was so miserable. I was sleep deprived and missed my son which seemed to magnify the real problem – I was completely unfulfilled in my job. My husband encouraged me to put more time and energy into my jewelry and less into my job. So after 6 months of being on Etsy selling a little here and a little there I took a huge risk – I took 2 weeks off from my job. It was an experiment to see what would happen if I put all of that time I was working at my regular job into making and selling jewelry. In those 2 weeks I made more on Etsy than I did at my regular job. Once those 2 weeks ended I notified my employer that I would not be coming back. Woohoo! It was so exciting and even more scary.

What was the deciding factor resulting in your pursuing Etsy as your full time job?
At the core of my decision was my lack of fulfillment. I really enjoy working with my hands and being creative. While my full time job started off like that, over time as the company grew and my position became more refined it lost all of the things I loved about it.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time before taking the plunge?
Not really. I kinda flew by the seat of my pants. I obviously had to research all of the necessary licenses that I needed. Turns out you need both a state and city tax permit. Who knew! Some things I have just learned the hard way. Google has been my best friend. I’m sure there are more effective ways to set up a business though.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business and what's you're best marketing tip?
The single most effective way has been craft shows. The best one was Renegade San Francisco. I got a lot of press and publicity from doing such a great show, not to mention all of the wonderful people I met there. I still have orders flowing in from the Bay area. I hope to do more big shows like that and I’d love to travel to Chicago and Brooklyn as well.

I am an avid blog reader. I read so many design blogs, just because I love to. Then I visit the bloggers they listed on their blog rolls. Then I visit those people’s blog rolls and so on and so forth. I could spend all day reading blogs if I had the time. Blogs have been effective for me because I participate. I comment on people’s blogs and I send in submissions. I just love making stuff so I have gotten blog mentions for anything from interior design (my apartment was featured on Design*Sponge) to crafty projects. Not everything has been jewelry related. But I have a feeling most people are nosy like me. I always check out people’s shops or sites regardless of what they are featured for.

My best marketing tip is that when people ask what you do – TELL THEM! I no longer say, “I’m a stay at home mom”. I say, “I’m a jewelry artist. Here’s my card. I work with fine silver… oh, this is one of the pieces that I made.” {show new acquaintance necklace that I am wearing}

What have you found to be unsuccessful promotion or something that's just not working for your shop?
I hate to say it but blog advertising has not really worked, which sucks because I spent money on it!

Would you walk us through what a typical workday might entail being your own boss?

I wake up when my son wakes up – usually at 7:30 with him yelling from his room “mommmmmmmmmy wake uuuuuuup!” (I’m not a morning person.)
We eat breakfast together and then he watches Mickey Mouse and I check my emails, quickly read some blogs, relist items that sold overnight (thanks Australia – you always make my mornings nice).
My son and I then walk the dogs and he rides his bike. We come back in and while he eats a snack I print out my orders for the day.
We are off to do fun and wonderful outdoorsy things. This is when inspiration usually strikes that’s why there are so many nature themes in my work.
When he naps in the afternoon. I get cracking. First I package any orders that need to be shipped and drop them in our postal box before 4pm. Then I get started on new pieces. The afternoon is also the perfect time to photograph new pieces. The light is perfect around 3pm.
This schedule has been increasingly difficult because my son is not napping every day now. But next week he starts preschool in the afternoons and I will get 3 1/2 hours 4 days a week to work. I can’t wait!
Back to family stuff until I put my son to bed at night around 8:30. Then I work again from 9 to midnight.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job and is there anything you miss?
I love the feeling I get every single time a piece sells. I’m still in awe that someone is willing to pay money for something that I created. It’s the greatest feeling in the world. I really miss the steady income and benefits from my old job. Creating a budget was incredibly easier when I knew how much money was coming in every month.

If you could go back in time before you took the plunge, what advice would you give yourself knowing what you know now?
I don’t believe in regrets at all. So this isn’t a regret but I realize that it would have been a lot easier to take this plunge before having a baby. Our expenses increased a lot after having a child so that really adds to the stress. But I probably would not have been as motivated to take the plunge and the risk if I didn’t have the desire to be home for my son. As far as business advice, I would instruct myself to conserve earlier. Luckily my plunge to self-employment has coincided with the desire to live a simpler existence. It would have been nice had I done that a little earlier and not spent so much money on unnecessary things. Living a simple existence in Los Angeles is not an easy thing to do. I am surrounded by people with expensive homes, clothing, cars and strollers (you would not believe some of these strollers – I saw a stroller that was a vespa). But something about pursuing my art has brought me back to my roots. I enjoy gardening and cooking and shopping at the local farmer’s markets. I have to give a shout out to my favorite blog here. Wolfie and the Sneak!

What advice would you give someone else thinking about taking the plunge to sell full time on Etsy?
1. You have to believe in your work
2. Sell at craft shows. Even if they end up not being the most profitable the contacts that you make will be priceless. (Craft Show & Events How-Tos)
3. Work on your photography constantly. Even if it takes 3 hours to get one good picture. Online the only thing you’ve got is your picture. (Photography How-Tos)
4. Provide excellent customer service. Even if your feelings are hurt by someone’s comments always remain professional, friendly and generous. Really generous! (Service Tips for Sellers Series)
5. Do everything you can to create a strong online presence. Post on blogs, have a blog, participate in groups (Flickr, Etsy forums, Etsy teams, trade groups, local events).
6. And now for my soapbox speech:
I think it’s really important to acknowledge that even though we are selling primarily online and it’s seems anonymous, it’s not. We are all people with something great in common – a creative passion and a desire to follow our dreams. I’m shocked sometimes at the communication I see in the forums between people. When I meet people in real life that sell on Etsy there is an instant camaraderie because we know we share a goal. That attitude should be there in all of our communication. It will only serve your business well.

How's it going so far, are you supporting yourself?
It’s going really well. My husband is a freelance writer so sometimes having two freelance incomes can become terrifying. Sometimes it’s great though. We piggyback on each other when one has a good month and one has a challenging month. And then sometimes we freak out together because we are both completely broke (August has been tough!). I am certainly “supporting” myself but I am still working towards stability. We are more “hand to mouth” than we’ve ever been before but my wonderful friends always remind me how far I’ve come in one year. I am managing to hold on but looking forward to increasing my business at the same rate or greater within the next year. Putting it into perspective, by leaving my corporate job I have traded one stress for another – emptiness and unfulfillment for lack of stability. But I realize that if I continue to pursue my business with the passion that I have, that lack of stability will decrease. While had I stayed in my corporate job that unfulfillment would have only gotten worse.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
I’ve got so many exciting things in the works right now. One of which I can’t reveal just yet and it’s killing me. I did a collaboration with Boygirlparty that turned out so great! I will be working on a couple more collaborations with some of my most favorite Etsy artists. I also hope to release a collection of rings in October (I’ve been saying this since May, so fingers crossed). While I do have specific sales goals for my Etsy business, I try not to focus on that too much. I think it will service my business better to focus on keeping my shop fresh and exciting with new pieces and great art.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I really appreciate all of the support I have received from Etsy, Etsy sellers, and Etsy buyers. I really am one of those cases that can say, “Etsy changed my life”. Thanks!

Thanks to Christine 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.

Etsy Finds: CNC Beauty from nervoussystem

2008-10-12T13:16:00Z

I have a bit of an obsession for art designed by humans that's created with the help of machines. While browsing for robot-enabled art, I found this amazing jewelry by Jesse and Jessica of nervoussystem. The two of them are a team and they make their work with a CNC waterjet. CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control and used to be used on industrial equipment to make cars. Now there are all sorts of computer controlled contraptions you can use to make your designs come to life — including sewing machines, lasercutters, cutting plotters, 3D printers and nervoussystem's tool of choice, the waterjet! Fascinated by their work, I asked them a few questions to fill me in on how they do what they do.

Can you tell me about your design process?

We start by coming up with a concept which can either revolve around an inspiration, a form, or a manufacturing process. A few examples would be the forms of radiolarians, aggregations in nature, or using a laser cutter to 3D layered object. When fleshing out this concept, we will come up with system we can work with to realize the design and explore variations. When I say system, I mean this very generally; it can be a construction method that constrains the form or a physical simulation or almost any well defined constraints with parameters we can vary. Often we codify this system by writing a small program. This program can then generate an infinite variety of forms changing based off of parameters that we can vary. After playing around for a while, we pick our favorite results and use a computer controlled machine to realize the design.

Do you collaborate or help each other on your work? Or do you work independently?

Most of our work is collaborative. Of course one person is usually more responsible for one line or another. Jessica primarily came up with the radiolaria line, and Jesse was mainly responsible for the dendrite line. However, in practice we work very closely together, so it is difficult to assign credit for one thing or another. This is not so easy at times since our opinions often differ greatly.

What is the process like to design and work with a waterjet?

We use the waterjet to cut our rubber pieces. Working with any 2D cutting machine tends to be very similar, though there are different dangers you have to watch out for. Designing on the computer makes it very natural for us to use a machine like a waterjet to realize our design. Ultimately, we use a waterjet in particular because it works well with the material properties of the rubber. But since we have to outsource the waterjet (they are very expensive), the process of testing out a new design can take a very long time. In the near future, we may have more direct access to a waterjet, which will be very exciting since you can cut 3D forms out of materials like marble.

I noticed you opened up the sourcecode on your designs: Can you tell me about that?

A large part of our work is about opening up the design process. While crafters are often open about their work, the design world is traditionally much more closed. That's why we have our applets online with the source available. We'd love to have more documentation about our work available as well, but until then people should feel free to ask us any questions if they are interested in how we make things.

Do you have new projects or designs coming up that you're excited about?

We are going to have our first felt products in October, which will be the first chance we've had to add color to our line. We are also building a CNC router, so we are looking forward to some more 3-dimensional products routed from wood.

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Watch our "Process" videos which show how sellers make things.

Storque Posts tagged "Jewelry Shopping"

Handmade Portraits: Bruce Metcalf with Bonus Audio Podcast

2008-10-10T12:43:00Z

MP4 | Youtube | Blip.tv | Subscribe in iTunes

(Music credit: Lineland, photos by: John White Wilson)

Bruce Metcalf has dedicated almost forty years of his life to the creation and historiography of American Studio Craft. He makes his exquisite jewelry with the utmost care and precision. On average most of the pieces take two months to create, whereas some take years before he perfects the final nuances.

After stints as sociology and architecture majors, Metcalf found himself transferring to the jewelry department during college in 1970. It was a bold move because the crafts weren't highly regarded within the fine art establishment at that time. However, the move felt right, and studio craft is where Metcalf has stayed ever since.

Because “fine artists” wrote about craft only as functional and not for display, Metcalf decided to set the story straight and represent himself. He began writing about craft history and theory. Currently, Metcalf is in the process of finishing up a text book on the history of American Studio Craft, the first of its kind.

Over the course of the last decade, the number of craft departments across the country has continued to dwindle. Although newer generations of artists embrace studio craft, academia still does not embrace its importance within the fine art establishment. Metcalf spends much of his time — when not producing work — talking to heads of art schools, academics and art critics about the importance of studio craft as part of formal fine art training. Although Metcalf acknowledges that many talented and successful artists are self taught (he himself is self trained in woodworking), he maintains that the best training still lies within a formal setting with a teacher as a mentor.

Metcalf has become an outspoken figure at the intersection of craft and fine art worlds, but recently at the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) conference, his comments led to another controversial role in the eyes of a new crowd. He sparked a dialogue between generations of crafters — his peers in the older, more established Studio Crafts/Craft as Fine Art generation, and the younger, technology-infused, DIYers of "Alt craft."

After the conference, crafter imogeneANDannie posted "Confessions" on her blog that, in a very personal way, focused in on Metcalf's remarks, and in doing so, unveiled the perceptions of the two disparate sides. Folks chimed in with their opinions, and in some cases the conversations were heated: the generations clashed over technology and the role of formal education, as well as the differences between spontaneous, punk rock craft for the masses vs. the carefully crafted, luxury pieces sold through dealers or galleries.

At the Connect/(Dis)connect talk at the American Craft Council, Metcalf discussed these matters with Chanel Kennebrew (you can get to the podcast through our Storque post). During the talk, Metcalf was in part amused, recalling his rebellious student days — and another part of him was willfully steadfast in his views on the social and economic differences in practices. History seemed to be repeating itself, as a younger generation with new tools and a shifted horizon line bucked "the way things are done."

In addition to this Handmade Video Portrait, we've produced an audio podcast with out-takes from the interview with Bruce Metcalf. His theories on the relevance and importance of craft have helped bring clarity to the discussion of studio craft's place within the art world. And because we just couldn't get enough of discussing the Alt vs. Studio craft debate, we invite you to listen in.

Watch our other Handmade Video Portraits and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!

See Bruce's website for more of his work: www.brucemetcalf.com

Please share your thoughts in the comments!