Crafty Saturday Show and Sell #12

An InLinkz Link-up

Crafty Saturday Show and Sell #11

Send in those links and let the world know just how crafty you are!

An InLinkz Link-up

Crafty Saturday Show and Sell

I'm a new host for the Crafty Saturday Show and Sell. I'm really happy to bring you this link party and I hope you'll join in by posting your links and sharing and clicking on others!

So to get started, just click on the link below to add your link. You can add one or two items from your shop as indicated in the text above. The party begins today and will run through Monday, March 3. All times are MST.

An InLinkz Link-up

New Saturday Feature: Link Party

Saturdays usually feature my random musings, which may or may not interest some of you. Yesterday I was contacted by Ellen from The Chilly Dog on Etsy, asking if I would like to join a link party hosted by her and Teena from Serendipitini. Of course I said YES! Link parties are fun and a great way to showcase other artisans. 

The Chilly Dog's Etsy store is packed with knitting patterns, needle cases, and completed knit items. She does some really lovely work and I had to add a few to my favorites. Serendipitini on Etsy puts reuse to beautiful applications in jewelry, sun catchers, and gifts. With all the talent that abounds in these two ladies, I am sure we'll find some lovely links to follow. 

So starting Saturday, March 1, the link party begins. Here is some more information. Remember, we won't start until March 1st, but this is a heads up so you can return here and add your links! I hope you will join us and get some exposure for talented handmade artisans. 

Saturday Musings: Why I turned off the stars

So I didn't literally turn off THE stars. But I DID turn them off on my Facebook page. Why? Is there something I'm trying to hide? No. But honesty is a big thing for me. The way that Facebook page ratings are set up are kinda screwy and they don't allow for honest reviews.

Freedigitalphotos.net

One of my friends posted the other day about a review she'd received stating that her product was messy and unprofessional. This friend, also very proud of the work she does and having received tons of other complimentary reviews, asked the reviewer what she had made for her and how she could fix it. There was, of course, no response because said reviewer had never purchased anything from my friend.

Freedigitalphotos.net by digitalart

I thought long and hard about this and decided to go in and look at my reviews and star ratings. I was plugging along at 4.5 stars. Not too bad. I can't please everyone, although I do try! However, all I had were stars, which were not followed by any comments or actual reviews. Someone had left 1 star and I couldn't think of a single customer that had ever expressed any displeasure with my work.

So I explored a bit further. Seems that the way Facebook has their review process set up is not very favorable for pages and businesses. People can come onto your page and leave however many stars they want or scathing reviews, without actually ever having experienced your product or dealt with you personally! I was a little bit shocked and sickened because this means that anyone, anywhere, at any time can pop on to your page and destroy your business!

Etsy has installed a similar review system, but someone actually has to purchase your product before they can leave you a review. And if they don't like it, at least it is an honest feeling based on something substantial.

My aforementioned friend also said that she looked at some of the other pages this reviewer had followed and found that she had a friend in the same business as my friend. (I know that's confusing, but I don't want to say names or allude to what she does.) She had left a 5-star stellar review on the other person's page. Hmm...seems a bit fishy to me!

Freedigitalphotos.net by ImageryMajestic

I think honest reviews are a way for sellers to show their customers that they can (or cannot) do the work they are saying they can do. If someone honestly likes something, they should let that seller know. If they honestly don't, let them know why. It's just too easy for dishonest people to abuse the system that Facebook has in place. So I shut off the stars.

If you want honest reviews of my work from customers, please visit my Etsy page and see what I'm doing for others! 

Why Buy Homemade?

Art Credit Stacey Sobelman https://www.etsy.com/shop/SMARTdesignsbyStacey

So this holiday season, you're probably going to see a lot more of the "buy handmade" slogans flying around. But why? Isn't homemade more cheaply made? Doesn't it cost more than buying from a big box?

The answers are no and yes. Okay, then what makes it better than a big box and why should I pay more? Here are the answers from my experience both buying and selling:

 What Makes Handmade/Homemade Better? 

When you buy something that an individual makes, you are buying something that they take time to make, usually one piece at a time, just for you. Most artisans that make items for sale make it with the conscious thought that people will buy their items. When people buy the items made by the artisan, that artisan also knows that they will either come back and buy from them again or they will leave positive or negative feedback if they are in a shopfront like Etsy, Artfire, or Zibbet. Negative feedback negates future sales. Shoppers DO read the feedback, just like on Ebay. If the artisan wants recurring sales and positive feedback, they are going to do their best to make your item to the very best of their ability. 

Unique Wooden Bangle Decoupage by UniquelyUJewelry on Etsy

So How is That Better Than Retailers? 

Reluctantly, I'll answer a question with a question. How many times have you bought something from a big box retailer only to find out later that it is falling to pieces or only lasts for a little while? Have you ever stood in line to make returns for an item that doesn't work? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you've answered the above question. When something is made individually, it also means that the item is of more value and better built than something that is made on a mass production assembly line. Rolls Royce, Bugatti, Ferrari...they all understood this. That is why you will pay more to own these vehicles as opposed to a Ford, Chrysler, or Chevrolet. They are individually made, with great care and precision, to give you what you pay for and with fewer problems down the line. 

Good reviews equal repeat buyers and customer confidence

Retailers have no feedback system nor do they care about quality very much. I used to work in the restaurant industry and one of our main rules was that bad word of mouth travels much faster than good word of mouth. This is true! One bad experience can and will be retold thousands of times. One person tells another, then that person tells two or three of their friends, they tell two or three more of their friends and it snowballs. Restaurants have died because of this chain of by mouth feedback. Ask Bennigan's. HOWEVER, retailers don't seem to live by this rule. Walmart sucks. They have terrible service, terrible product, and if we're honest, terrible prices. Yet people continue to go there on a daily basis. If you return a product to Target, you blame whomever made the product, not Target. Why? Because we don't relate that Target is buying their products from the manufacturer - and continue to buy it independent of the negative feedback or returns - so we continue to buy it. There are exceptions, and I've only named two retailers, but many, many more have this same process. There is no responsibility. Eventually, the wholesalers of the item may recall a defective product, but it takes a very long time and a lot of press for this to happen at any level. Restaurants live by the rule because they are seen as a major front running supplier. They cook the food and deliver it. You don't blame the food supplier, the oven manufacturer, or the deep fryer - although these may also be to blame if they're buying cheap food and equipment - you blame the cook and servers. If the servers are rude and untrained, you also have a front runner to blame, not their trainers or managers. So you can hopefully see the correlation? 

Once again the people making your handmade goods are also the front runners. They are making the product. You can't blame it on the wire they use, the beads, the fabrics, or whatever else. 

Wire Wrapped Jewelry Set by Earthly Baubles on Etsy (click image for link)

Although great care is usually taken to provide quality products using quality ingredients, the final product and how it is made are judging criteria. Artisans will fail, repeatedly, if they don't produce a quality product. It's as simple as that. 

Why Should I Pay More? 

After the previous two answers, I hope by now you're getting the idea that to make quality, you must first buy quality. In my quilt process, I use two major ingredients that I must depend on to make good quilts: batting and backing fabric. The batting is all the guts inside between the top and the back. It has to be good, otherwise it won't hold up to quilting, use and washing. The backing fabric must also be of good quality. It has to be thick enough not to let the batting show through, not tear when it is being quilted, and iron out after washing. I want people to USE their quilts. I believe that if you're going to make and buy something, it shouldn't be on a shelf in the closet. That defeats the purpose! But I also want my customers happy. So to buy quality ingredients, I have to pay more than I would for the cheap stuff. I don't get quality cheaply. Even if I buy fabric and batting wholesale, I end up paying more for it than I do the cheap stuff. This is called investment and it must be regained to make a profit. 

Unique custom-made quilt by Freckle Dots

Quality ingredients and attention to detail also mean that I am spending a good deal of time on your quilt. The only employee I have is my dog Freckles. She is the costumer relations manager and business representative. She greets customers that come to the door, represents my business in name and attitude, and provides me with comfort and encouragement on a daily basis. However, she doesn't really help much in the design and manufacture process, nor does she assist greatly on the computer unless she's warming my lap. I only pay her in dog food and chewie sticks, so I can't count her as "helping" much with my quilts. Therefore, I am a one-woman operation and I take care of every aspect of my business like advertising, manufacturing, design, customer service, shipping, and purchasing. I invest countless hours in my business that I really don't get paid for in the final product. 

The hours I spend actually making a quilt add up. I cut the tees, starch them, iron, design, shape, sew, re-cut, sew again, sandwich, quilt, bind, package, and ship each and every one. This process can take up to 8 hours a day, for 10 days. I usually have other things to do like pick up kids, go grocery shopping, buy fabrics, feed the dogs, etc. so the entire process takes about 3-4 weeks. I honestly make less than minimum wage even after raising my prices if I consider the hours I put into each quilt. I enjoy my work, and the income helps with things like those pesky bills and gas, so I keep doing it. I will never become a millionaire though. 

Bugatti Wallpaper (click for link)

Because I am putting individual attention and time into each and every quilt, you can expect to pay more for it than the cookie cutter $25 quilt that comes off the assembly line and ends up at your local retailer. You can also expect better quality and longer enjoyment. My Bugatti verses their Ford, in other words. 

The Final Answer

Again, with the questions. Do you want quality or do you want crap? Do you want an individually made, one-of-a-kind item, or a cookie cutter product? Personally, if someone buys me something from a store I'm like, "Oh, wow, thanks." But if they take their time to make something for me, or buy something handmade, I'm like, "OH, WOW, THANKS!!!! This is awesome! Wherever did you find this? How did you make this?" If you have kids, you know this from your collection of  macaroni necklaces. It touches your heart. 

I'm not saying you should buy Joe's homemade television from recycled parts and rabbit ears, but you should definitely consider buying special items for special people. Have a friend that likes to sew or knit? Buy her a set of handmade wooden or leather buttons or some carved wooden knitting needles. She'll hold those up much more proudly and show all of her friends before she would something you bought from the store! 

BA Knitting Needles Giant by xiane on Etsy 

Boyfriend or husband have a collection of tee shirts taking up closet space? Have a quilt made for him. Check out the artisans on www.Etsy.com, www.Zibbet.com, and www.Artfire.com.

Don't buy cheap, don't make big retailers richer with YOUR hard earned money, and do something unique this year! Buy handmade. Make it personal. Make it unique. Get more for your money. 

Tatting: The Resurgence of Age Old Techniques

What is tatting? Tatting is a form of needlework in which a person makes lace items out of thread using a needle or a shuttle. It's one of those needlework traditions which at one time was very popular among the ladies to add lace accents to towels, dresses, linens, hankies, and other items. Like many other forms of needlework (knitting, crochet, embroidery, crewel work, etc.) it fell out of popularity once women went to work and trims were mass-produced. There is nothing wrong with women working or buying commercial products, but handwork is a obsession hobby of mine I enjoy finding "new" things to learn based on long-lost techniques.

Recently tatting has had a resurgence of interest among needle workers and manufacturers. About 4-6 years ago I discovered shuttle tatting and made a few pieces. I didn't really enjoy it though, finding the shuttle difficult to control and work with. I wanted to try needle tatting, but mostly due to trying other techniques I never pursued it.

This past weekend, though, I bought a set of tatting needles. Of course they were from Hobby Lobby, my go-to place for most everything.
I already had some tatting thread from my previous venture. I sat down and searched for videos and tutorials on the web, finding the included directions a little hard to follow and really only good for one pattern! You can purchase a video or a book, but they run about $24 and I wasn't prepared to spend that much right away if I didn't want to pursue this new hobby.

Of course, you can't look up anything having to do with tatting and not run across some popular names in the field! Tatania Rosa, Totus Mel, and Georgia Seitz are all big names on Etsy, Pinterest, and through Google search. I honestly think that Totus Mel has the BEST tutorials and videos for learning to needle tat. You can find her on Instructables and YouTube or her blog I linked above.

Now, back to my experiences. Having some experience with the shuttle, I already knew how to make a ring, picots, chains and double stitches - just not with the needle! After a few tries I made a flower that turned out pretty good.

Tatted Flower

So then I moved on to making a bookmark, since I felt I had a pretty good idea of rings, chains, and picots now. It turned out pretty good, although I did miss a picot join, which messed up the end of it. But it's ok. Once I have it between the pages of a book, no one will know. :) 

bookmark

I took on a little more of a challenge and made a Cross bookmark. This was a bit more challenging because it involved directional changes and motifs. Yep, I messed it up here and there, but it is also just a test piece, so I'm not worried about it either. I view it as a great way to try out new techniques and figure out what works and what doesn't work. 

Cross Bookmark 1

Before I could give up for the day I tatted a second cross bookmark. This one involved split chains, which means using up the tail thread to make one half of the split ring and the ball thread to make the other half. It was fun and challenging. Again, small mistakes from inexperience! 

Cross Bookmark 2 with split rings

So that is a summary of my tatting adventures! I'm always wanting to learn new techniques and improve upon my skills. What is fun is that it seems at some time in the future I end up putting these techniques to use in other things. Tatting is great not just for bookmarks, but for making jewelry and adding lace accents to sewn items. Yes, I can even see them being used in mixed media pieces and art quilts! It's great to see traditions resurrected and new applications made with them. It's always better handmade!

Making a Chicken Tractor from Re-Purposed Items

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that I'm really big on re-purposing, recycling, and reusing items and materials. I love the cost savings and positive impact on our environment. So when I told my husband I wanted to move the chickens out of their run-down smelly coop and put them in a chicken tractor, he was a bit confused but soon got the picture. So he, also of the thrifty and gifted-in-reuse mind, made one for me!

 Our "tractor" was made using an old Little Tykes playhouse that the kids had long ago abandoned for the coop. He also attached a set of old training wheels. We'll need to find some bigger ones eventually, but they work for now. He also used pallet wood and chicken wire from the old coop to cover the windows, as we don't want our girls tangling with the cats or cars! The caging uses plastic netting left over from my drying rack and carbon fiber rods he salvaged from his work. Not everyone can get the carbon fiber rods, but I've seen people use PVC pipes in much the same way.

He created the frame work and used reinforced carbon tape for the joints, then covered it with electrical tape. (The tape had to be purchased, as did wire ties for attaching the netting to the frame. But it was minimal at about $6 for everything!)

The girls are loving all the crunchy bugs, the fresh green grasses, and access to more area! They haven't given me any eggs yet today, so I'll have to figure out a nesting box inside the coop. They're good and usually give me 4-5 a day, one per gal! Hubs said he'd make another one if I want more chickens. Hmmm...maybe   I'll be looking for a used playhouse soon. :O

DIY Fashion Redesign

Shirt to Skirt 

I have to admit that I spend quite a bit of time going through each and every link when I get my newsletter from All Free Sewing. I especially love their sections on DIY Fashion Redesigns. This is where crafty bloggers from all over the web are collected in one place to share their tutorials and patterns with the world. The best part? It's all free. Yep, just like the name of the website! (go figure)

There are some ads and links that you'd probably be better NOT clicking on when you go to the site, but I have found that all of the links in the newsletter and on the main site that lead to the patterns are all safe. I have found some pretty terrific ideas on there, many of which I have posted to my Pinterest "Sewing Ideas" board.

Yes, I'm also a Pinterest addict. There. 'Nuff said.

So what to do with all of these ideas? Here is what I do.

You can always raid your closets (yours, your kids', your husband's, your mother's - it's all good). Or you can go thrift store shopping. I really don't have much to raid from anymore, so it's off to the thrift stores for me.

I have a SmartPhone. Well, kinda. It's not that smart, but it is in that classification, so there it is. Anyway, I also have a Pinterest app on my Smart Phone. (I already mentioned my addiction, leave me alone.) When I decide to do some thrift store shopping, I go to my Pinterest app and look at my "sewing ideas" board. This contains some really great links to DIY refashion ideas. I follow the links, see what materials they are using for what inspires me that day, and make my purchases accordingly. It's not too hard. This also usually ends up in a trip to the hobby/sewing store for buttons, elastics, cording, ribbons, etc.

DIY refashion is so awesome because you can make virtually ANYTHING with a little ingenuity. Those high dollar runway items you so covet can be yours with a few tweaks and a sewing machine. Actually, I have completely filled my closet with DIY refashions before and had a whole new wardrobe for the next season. The only thing I haven't done? Cute boots. I love cute boots. I wear boots in the summer. I don't care. I love them. I hate heels, flats, sandals, flip flops -- all of those. But I love my boots and tennis shoes. Hmm...Guess I'll have to figure that one out!

A step in the right direction

When I really began crocheting in earnest, I started collecting yarn and patterns. At first, it was an innocent hobby. I discovered new yarns that weren't available in my local store. I had to have them, touch them, use them. I went yarn crazy. The patterns became organized on CDs and in filing cabinets. Then the pamphlets required binders with clear pockets to keep them organized. Eventually I had enough of these and books to fill up a bookcase. That was just the beginning.

Being a dedicated Eclectic, I found interest in other crafts. Knitting still required yarn, but new notions, needles, patterns, and books were also in order. Then came some sewing projects. These required fabrics. Yummy, delicious, colorful materials in solids, prints, and patterns that just needed one or two other matching fabrics. And of course, there are ribbons, rick-rack, pins, needles, bobbins, thread...books... you see where this is going.

Quilting required even more books and fabrics and a recent acquisition of said products from another crazy quilter left me with boxes filled and no place to put these wonderful treasures. Of course, I also didn't want to get rid of any of it. This is a sickness that crafters share, creating an idyllic world where they have all supplies on hand so they may continue to craft until they drop.

Our recent move not only lifted my heart and spirits, but it also gave me a craft area separate from my sleeping area. An entire room, dedicated to what I love. So after putting away the requisite things in the kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom, I got to unpack my sewing room. And I decided that now was the time to organize! It's been more than a week, and I'm almost done. But the rewards are decidedly worth the time and effort. Here is a sample of the fabric shelves:

I have also sorted through all of my sewing notions, eliminated two of the peg boards that were major eyesores, replacing them with storage containers in a cleaned out sewing desk. I do still have one peg board, but that has gone down from the 3 that I previously had that never really worked. 

The sewing machine, jewelry desk (yes, another obsession), and cutting table all have their little areas. I even have room to add a quilting rack if I ever decide that I want to hand quilt. 

I can't wait to get in and finish a couple of quilts and work on some other projects. I haven't even been to my local Hobby Lobby in the last few weeks; probably because of the move, the unpacking, and organizing, but it still counts. Of course, I have the garden coming up in a couple of months, and I'm collecting for that, so I may need some more bookshelves for the books. But we'll take this one step at  a time. :)

Handmade Holidays, Part 4

Well, didn't mean to leave you hanging, but I've been searching and searching for something to make for my 4-yr-old boy! He loves robots, action figures, Iron Man, DSi games, and things of that nature. He's a funny guy and loves to joke around. He also loves to build. I knew that my skills in robotics and plastic were limited, so I concentrated on the building. Building sets are expensive! He wants a Transformer Lego set that costs $18 just for a single little character. Lincoln Logs, Legos, Tinkertoys, Erector Sets, and all the others are crazy expensive ranging from about $20 to 100s. A real simple idea is to cut pieces of wood into blocks and sand and paint them. Another is to cut dados into wood boards and make my own squared "Lincoln Logs." I didn't really want cheap cardboard blocks, as in this house they would become dog toys or crushed under the more weighty toys.

He also has a lot of toys, inherited from the previous four children and some new ones of his own. He plays with most of them and we have a toy box. However, the little action figures and plastic blocks that he does own get left in the bottom. When he gets in the mood to build, the playroom gets destroyed because he has to throw out all the other toys to reach the bottom. So we need an organizer.

Not having $50 to drop on a storage unit, I'm trying to find the best way to build our own. I'm once again leaning toward using wood and PVC pipe or dowels. The actual form of the shelves is simply three pieces of wood connected with dowels.  We also thought about using the inexpensive clear storage bins you can find at dollar stores.

I couldn't find anything similar to this, so I'll probably have to do a tutorial on that one as well. Sorry this one isn't chock full of ideas, but this is the toughest one yet! Ideas? Suggestions?

Handmade Holidays, Part 1

A lot of us would really like to be able to do a handmade holiday, but we have pressures from our kids, advertisements, and society in general to buy the name brand toys, clothes, and other things that make retailers rich. Well, this year I'm sick of it. Fortunately, I have some artsy kids that love items crafted by hand. Not to say they don't appreciate the $40 - $70 toys on the market, but with 5 kids how in the world does one do that? What makes me the most angry is that same said toys will inevitably break within just a few minutes, or, God willing, days. Your hard earned money is sunk in the trash bin or the junk toy pile with little more than pretty wrapping paper to console you and your child. So why not make something that will last and maybe bring more joy than plastic playthings? We're also going to try to be realistic about this. Kids aren't dumb, and they will know if you used toilet paper rolls to make trucks. So we're going to go a little beyond that, stay within an inexpensive realm, and find some really cool ideas.

First up: Girls. I think girls are easy. Maybe because I am one, but they are delighted by things that are fairly easy to obtain. My 6-yr-old is really into hair bows. She thinks they are the greatest things ever. Bad news is: Mommy doesn't have a lot of ribbon and can't tie a bow very well, so I had to find out how to do these. I love to sew, and I think that gives a lot of room for improvisations. CreativeMind on Cut-Out-And-Keep had these really cute, simple little bows that would be perfect for little embellishments:


See Fabric Bows and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

I also shared with you last week about Duct Tape bows. I mean, you can make enough for your child, your child's friends, all your nieces, and maybe even grandchildren (if you're of that age) from a single roll of tape. And it costs about $8. Nice little gift I think.

Most little girls also love dolls. Trying to find a doll pattern that isn't scary is the real issue here. Mine don't really care for dolls, though. However, same 6 yo loves "Hello Kitty." I found this really cute felt doll on Cut-Out-and-Keep by Danyelle W. that is crazy inexpensive to make. Buy one pack of felt squares and you can make 10 of these for almost nothing!


See Felt "hello" Kitty Doll and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

I should also mention that this kitty's head is not really that complicated. It's round with ears. So you can make pillows, appliques, hair bow accessories - it's really limitless.

Next time, I'll be posting some things for my bigger (10) girls. If you have some suggestions, let me know in the comments! Here's to a Happy (and inexpensive) Christmas!

The End Result

Although it took a while, and a lot of time away from other things, I have finally finished my baby t-shirt quilt! 

This was my 15 minutes of fame on Facebook last night. I'm with a little group that buys and sells locally, and the mother of the child that I made the quilt for posted a picture of this on that group. I've now had about 6 different requests for t-shirt quilts. Now you might see that some of the lettering looks a little off center, but that is due to the way the shirts were cut. They were cut before I received them and I didn't have a lot of seam allowance on them, so I had to improvise. A few were lay in a little sideways. But it all worked out. The sashing and batting are turtles on a green flannel background. It was so soft I wanted to cuddle under it! 

The best part about doing this entire project was the joy and memories that the parents will get out of it. They will be able to pass it on to him and he to his children. To know I was a part of that makes me nearly giddy! 

If you would like to contact me regarding making a t-shirt quilt, just email me and we'll talk! Now I'm off to do some more cutting and planning, since I have 2 more on the roster right now. I never really thought of myself as a "quilter", but sometimes the best things to happen to us are not the things we plan. 

Where have you BEEN?

Well, I've been very busy. Sorry I haven't posted. My last post was a rant against Artfire. I did leave that site, and haven't regretted it since. I have gone back a couple of times to looks at some items from other artisans, but I can honestly say that I don't like the new look or format, so I really do not feel that I am missing anything. That said...

I was also very gun-ho about getting ready for Christmas. That hasn't happened either. I was approached a couple of months ago about making a custom quilt for someone. Now, as you can maybe tell from reading this blog, I've never really explored my quilt-making persona. I can make quilts, I have done applique and patchwork, even so far as making pet beds with quilted tops and built-in zippers. In February I decided to make a quilt for our home. It's still in limbo, waiting for me to finish the others. Long story short, I volunteered to alter a wedding dress for a friend, which led to her recommending me to make a quilt.

Now, I have heard how things, like cats, find us but we don't find them first. Apparently, my quilt-making skills while still blossoming are in high demand. Especially in the t-shirt quilt category. The custom quilt I just finished is a baby t-shirt quilt for a baby's first birthday. The next one (or two) will be memory t-shirt quilts. I'm excited about these, but before they come along is a quilt I'm making in trade for piano lessons for my girls. So I've been sewing, and quilting, and designing, and researching - quilts.

I also want to mention that along with all of this, I have been organizing and running a charity that sells cookies and using profits to purchase Thanksgiving dinners for people in our community. There is so much more involved in this than one would imagine. We have to calculate every little cost, price the cookies accordingly, bake many dozens of cookies for shows and individual orders. Once all of that is in place we have to track what we sell. Once the total profit is calculated we track down people to give the dinners. Now we're in shopping and delivery mode. It's been a long trek since September.

So we've been busy, but ready to get back into the business of running a handmade studio (with potential quilts included) and selling online. Happy holidays to all of you, and hoping to post more often!

Artfire's Bad Move

Let me begin by saying that I have been a member of Artfire since early 2009. I began with my first online account selling dog clothes and never sold a thing. I did not move to Etsy until 2010, nearly a year after being on Artfire. I have been with Zibbet almost since their inception. I have loved Artfire, heralding its benefits and supporting their artisans for the past couple of years. I was seriously disappointed when they stopped showing newly listed items on their front page, thereby decreasing potential views exponentially. They only show curated items that make it to their front page. That was their first strike.

I also began a group on Artfire to help promote listings. The groups are very ineffective and hard to manage because they tools are not there to stay in contact with the members. After a year of promising that they would work on the groups, Artfire decided they would work on other areas and the group upgrades were pushed under the rug. I finally turned the group over to another member and dismissed the stress it was causing me. Straw #2.

Yesterday (July 15) Artfire announced that they will be eliminating their basic seller accounts unless these accounts upgrade and go pro by August 15. They will lose over 42,000 accounts if these sellers decide not to upgrade. While the primary store that I have on Artfire is a Pro account and will not affect me greatly, I do not feel that this a good move by Artfire. The final straw.

All this said, Zibbet sent out a letter to all of their members today. Zibbet is in NO WAY trying to cast stones at Artfire - they would never do that. But they understand the frustration and value that Basic members can bring to their site. While I would also like to see Zibbet bring back their newly listed items on the front page (hint, hint), I would like to post this letter here on this blog for all to see. Zibbet has implied permission to do so in their letter, along with a warm welcome and a 45 day free Pro account for new members coming over from Artfire.

I love Zibbet. They community is warm and inviting, the administration (esp. Jonathan Peacock) are amazing and open, and the listings are simple to create. I don't visit there as much as I should. However, because of Artfire's bad move I am considering shutting down my Pro account there as well. Why would I stay somewhere that can barely get me any page views or sales? I got in on a $5.95 a month group deal, but it does very little for me at that price. I pay a nominal fee at Zibbet and get twice as much. So take it for what it is, like it or leave it, but I'm passing on my thoughts and Zibbet's invitation to you!

Here is the letter:

16th July, 2011

Artfire is Removing Their Free, Basic Accounts From Their Site - What Does Zibbet Think About That?

Firstly, I want to make it abundantly clear that I am not here to throw stones at Artfire. The purpose of this email is NOT to tell you that Artfire is doing the wrong thing - they are doing what they feel is necessary based on their unique situation.  The purpose of this email is to inform you about our reasons for keeping Basic accounts here at Zibbet.

In this email we'll cover a few things (it will be a long email - read when you have time!):
1. The details
2. Why Zibbet won't be getting rid of its free, Basic accounts
3. Are Basic Artfire sellers welcome on Zibbet?

1. THE DETAILS
For those that have never heard of Artfire or don't have a clue what we're talking about...

Artfire is another handmade venue, similar to Zibbet. They had a free, Basic account and an upgraded, paid account - again, similar to Zibbet. Yesterday they announced officially that their Basic Accounts would be shut down on August 15.

How many sellers will this effect?

Over 42,500 active Basic sellers will lose their shop (about 75% of their total sellers), at which point around 350,000 items will be unlisted from the site (about 25% of their total items).

Why have they made this decision?

You can read the full, official announcement here.
2. WHY WON'T ZIBBET BE GETTING RID OF ITS FREE, BASIC ACCOUNTS AS WELL?
Zibbet and Artfire are two different venues, with two different leaders, with two different strategies for moving forward.  At Zibbet, we're a metrics driven business, which means that we track LOTS of different things - the numbers don't lie and we base our decisions on those metrics.  I want to share some of what we know with you, to help explain why having free, Basic accounts at Zibbet works well...for us.

SEO benefits
Firstly, I've harped on and on about this - the more active items we have on Zibbet, the more buyers we will have. Basic sellers list items, and those items help to bring in more buyer traffic - for everyone!  Basic sellers only account for 15% of the total sales on Artfire. They also only account for 25% of the active items - Do you think that would have something to do with their low sales percentage? You bet it does.  Less items, less traffic, less sales. Period.

On Zibbet, our Premium sellers make up 24% of our active sellers and account for around 70% of the sales. Our Premium sellers do get more site exposure, have better tools and features to help them sell more and have unlimited, non-expiring, listings. There's no doubt that Premium is the way to go on Zibbet.

We know that Basics will upgrade to Premium when they see the value to do so (and we certainly hope they do), but even if they don't that's ok - because...

We make money off Basics too!
We have a couple of exciting partnerships launching in the future which will allow us to make a small cut off each sale that is transacted on Zibbet (Basic and Premium). This DOES NOT come out of your pocket - you are not charged a cent, nor will you even notice a difference to your service. These partnerships will be announced when we are ready to roll them out.  Basic sellers make sales too, therefore they will make us money. Just another reason why Basic sellers add value and are here to stay at Zibbet.

Basic sellers need time to upgrade
Our metrics tell us that Basic sellers need time to decide whether to upgrade or not and we're willing to give them the time that they need. Some sellers will never ever upgrade, and that is something that we're aware of and are fine with. Hosting costs are so low these days that these sellers are literally no burden on us financially.

Check out this graph which shows historically how long it takes for our Basic sellers to upgrade to Premium. Most upgrade within the first couple of weeks (as you can see below), but there are still sellers upgrading every day in the 365 day period shown. This means that the Basic account is serving its purpose as a 'taste-tester' that compels sellers to upgrade over time - which puts money in our pockets to keep making Zibbet better and better...

The graph below is a little more crazy and complex, but I'll try to explain. We track your activity (sales, upgrades, downgrades, etc) based on the month and year you signed up to become a member of Zibbet. We call this your 'cohort', which is the group we associate you with for the life of your account. This allows us to find 'trends', which is why I say that we're a data driven company - the numbers don't lie, and they help us to base all our major decisions on.  This graph shows the percentage of seller registrations that go Premium. And as you can see, over time a greater and increasing percentage of sellers will upgrade to Premium over time. The higher lines, representing a greater percentage of sellers that have gone Premium, belong to earlier cohorts. You can see that from the February, 2010 cohort, 20.85% of the seller registrations we received that month have upgraded to Premium.  Therefore, we can again conclude that over extended periods of time, more and more sellers will see the benefits of being Premium, and upgrade.


3. ARE BASIC ARTFIRE SELLERS WELCOME ON ZIBBET?
Yes!  We welcome them with open arms, all 42,500 of them can make their home at Zibbet and they can bring all 350,000 items with them (and hopefully list 50 items each to make over 2 million items!).  This would bring huge SEO benefits to Zibbet and will increase the sales of all our sellers.  If you love Zibbet and you love sales, you should be telling Basic Artfire sellers to join us.

To help make spreading the word even easier, I've created a special coupon code that will give them a free 45 day trial of our Premium Account (monthly or yearly). The code is: WELCOME

This offer is valid until August 15.  Or, they can just sign up for a free, Basic account and upgrade when they are good and ready (or not).

We also have an Artfire Importer, so setup will be quick and painless!  They can import all their items in with a few clicks of the mouse!

If you have bothered to read this far, thank you!  I hope that what I have said makes sense and you can clearly see why Basic accounts are valuable to us at Zibbet and our reasons for keeping them around - for good!  If you're from Artfire and you're reading this, we welcome you to give Zibbet a try. You'll love what we're doing here and the community is super friendly!

Have a great day and please feel free to post this entire email where you feel is necessary to inform all handmade sellers.

Regards,

Jonathan Peacock
CEO, Zibbet.com

---

Follow us on 

  Like us on 

Countdown to Christmas

Hmm...So what do you all think about the new Blogger homepage? I tried opening it in my Google Chrome and all I could see was the title bar. Not a lot of help there, Google! And the fact that it doesn't open in your own browser is not a real confidence booster.

Anywho...I don't have a whole lot to say. My Bead~N~Knot studio is having a sale - 15% off everything - until July 15. It's my mid-summer sale, so enjoy it while it lasts! And did you know that there is now only 167 days left until Christmas? I'm sure you'll find something in my shop to tickle your fancy. If not, let me know what I can make for you! I'm adding a Christmas Countdown to my blog. Yes, it will be here soon. No, I'm not pushing the issue. But with 5 kids and a very extensive family I like to get a head start and little items for all.

I love Christmas. I like the smells, sights, sounds, weather, baking, and most importantly the meaning behind the entire holiday. It's funny to me that the most significant Christian holiday is also the most celebrated by all people, both Christian and non. What does that say about the impact of Christianity? I think that if you're going to celebrate it you should celebrate for the right reasons - and know what you're celebrating. Do people in Britain celebrate the American Fourth of July? How about Hanukkah? How many non-Jewish people celebrate that? Yet, everyone wants to celebrate Christmas - then complain when we use our Christian symbolism and words during the holiday! I don't wish people a Merry Christmas unless I KNOW they are Christians. Why would I? It would be like wishing someone in a foreign country Happy Thanksgiving. It's a Christian holiday, folks, and should remain that way.

I'll be bringing some crafts that I find, sales, and beautiful things your way over the next 167 days. Hope you enjoy them!

Spring Break is over - but not at Artfire

Well, we made it through spring break. I traded my sister three girls for her two boys. So yesterday I had four boys here at the house and she had five girls at hers. The played dress up and watched princess movies. The boys? We had pizza for dinner and watched tv. I was sitting in the living room tatting when they woke up the next morning. I hear their little voices start talking about the dinosaur pictures on my sons' bedroom wall.  I smile at the cuteness. Then I hear the conversation turn from dinosaurs to farts. Had to roll my eyes at that point. I knew I was in a house full of boys! So we ended spring break on a really cool note. Here are some Artfire items to help you end YOUR spring break.
MoonofGlass

Can't you just see this vase with a bunch of wild flowers in it? I mean the hand-picked kind your kids can't resist plucking from the ground and handing to their queen mother. Usually dandelions and small weed-like flowers that no one else wants, but is a perfect gift for mommy. This is certainly above weed status, but would hold all that love just perfectly!










LynetteSadowyStudios

These are some of the most exquisite hand-painted wine glasses I've ever seen. They have beautiful white roses and the words "live, love, laugh" on them. My husband and I will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks. These would be such a beautiful addition to our celebration!










Mygabbysattic

Now that spring break is over, get out this beautiful cupcake stand, whip up a batch of ooey, gooey, cupcakes, frost them with some decadent frosting, put them on this plate, and enjoy all for yourself! Ah, yes, heaven. The best part - upcycled glass. The dome is so that you can cover them and admire them whilst you eat the others. ;-)










RusticWonders

A perfect display for all those breakable fairy and miniature collectibles we all have. Maybe it would even provide a buffer zone so they don't get knocked off the shelf! These beautiful wooden mushrooms would make a fabulous addition to your fantasy collection.











ParadisePotpourri

Chocolate AND coffee in one wondrous collection of scented yum! Scent makes such an impact on our lives. I would think that just this combination would make for an eye-opening morning and a dreamy day.












greggsgoodies

And summer is coming. That wondrous time of the year when kids are out of school for months at a time. Hang this picture in your den to remind yourself that there ARE idyllic moments that we will never forget. Moments that will live on in our memories - even after all the "things" have disappeared. We won't remember the broken television (maybe) or grandma's antique vase that was smashed into 5 kabillion pieces (most likely). Like a photo, the good stuff will live on and we will appreciate the grandkids.

Spring Break

When you have five children on spring break, things get broken. Four of the five are pretty good about not breaking things, but accidents happen. Even today while we were grocery shopping we became the store menace. Nothing was actually broken, accept peace and tranquility, but there was a mess involved. Out of my goodwill and loving heart I bought each of the five a can of soda from the machine outside of the Kroger. They don't usually get soda - sugar, fats, addiction, cavities - all the good stuff. But today, even the baby got his own can of soda. (You're already seeing the disaster in this, aren't you?) So, we proceeded to go shopping. About 1/2 way through the store, baby tips over his coke and spills it from the pork to the chicken, getting it all over my boots and my dress. Then after that mess was reported to the proper authorities (meat guy with a mop), we made it about two more aisles (milk, cheese) before my youngest daughter proceeded to spill her coke. This time mom made them go to the restroom and get paper towels to clean the mess. We moved the wet floor sign over where the spillage was, kids were forced to finish or relinquish their cokes, and we finished our shopping trip.

Also, within the same period of time (one short week) my baby of 2 1/2 years has broken one television, many DVDs, a few toys that don't belong to him, and an armlet. So, to me, spring break means a time of great celebration and joy in the beginning of a fresh new season and hope. However, it also means we will eventually need to replace things. So with that thought in mind, here are some fantastic Etsy finds, in case something of yours get broken - or needs replacing - or you want something new, just in case.

Some Breakable Things...but good to have around

RedCrowArts

Stained Glass Mosaic Mirror

This mirror is not only beautiful to look at, but serves a double purpose. If positioned correctly, you can see what is going on behind you while you are not looking. The kids won't even know they're being watched. Besides, with your lovely face positioned in the center, the image of beauty will be complete!
















Warm Country Meadows

Moss Terrarium Inside of Libbey glass Apothecary Jar

This lovely little world may transport you to another place and time as you gaze longingly into it. The little polymer clay mushroom makes me think I'll see a fairy hiding beneath it or perhaps boldly sitting and tatting upon it. They could hide anywhere in that delicious jungle of greenery. There are times when the noise going on around me is obliterated by the beauty of something serene and natural.








awade1663

 Hand Painted Rose and Daisy Bottle with Free Flowing Spout

This lovely little bottle would have a variety of uses. I can see it used as a bottle for your favorite vinaigrette dressing to use on those crisp summer salads. However, the artist provides a variety of intriguing uses - making it very wise to invest in a few of these beautiful bottles. If you decorate your life with beauty around you, you feel beauty everywhere. I'd keep this one away from the kids, though!

AND some unbreakable things...

fashiongreentbags

Is It Hot In Here? t-bag

Not sure if this sentiment could apply to me, but I think the idea is on fire! No, this is not a t-shirt. Well, not anymore. It's a bag! This crafty crafter has transformed t-shirts into reusable tote bags that are practical enough to take grocery shopping! I buy A LOT of groceries, and sometimes the bags are so small and expensive that I MUST resort to additional plastic bags. This nearly kills me, so at only $7 and with a ton of room, these won't break the bank, they'll save the world!















Metmorphosi

Recycled plastic chandelier DARMALAMP

And who says your lamps and beautiful chandeliers have to be made out of glass? Artist Darma Chavarria says that they can be made of plastic. And better yet, plastic reclaimed from used plastic bottles! This light is so stunning, no one would ever know it is plastic or recycled. The details are magnificent.






bagsagain

Plarn Coil Basket

I've seen plarn used in a variety of ways, but this is new, useful, beautiful, and most appreciatively unbreakable! I love the colors, the nesting ability, and the variety of uses these plarn bowls could provide. Earth friendly, they make a statement that you are a steward of your environment - and have a ton of chic-ness.



The artisans showcased here today can all be found on Etsy. Just click the links and zoom off to their shops. Shopping and creating handmade are the best ways to save money, time, and the environment. You support small business, artisans that are alive, and reinforce a struggling economy. When you move away from big business that hires overseas and produces cheap goods through slave labor, you make a statement about your values and your commitments. Handmade releases creativity and gives insight into new ideas. You won't see any of these things in the big box stores. Especially any made with the love, devotion, time, creativity, talent, and hard work these artisans put into their crafts.

I give links to books on Amazon that I think you may like, because I think everyone should find their inner crafter. If something appeals to you, look into it. It doesn't hurt to try. You won't be an expert the first time, but you may find something you love to do. So get crafting, people! I need more stuff to showcase.