to Etsy or not to Etsy ... that is my question

I flounder and flip flop and just can't seem to decide, so I am starting here.  I've been making stuff for a long time.  Some of it is really lame (but that doesn't mean it wasn't fun to work on or didn't serve a purpose other than to take up some of my time), some has been alright with a generally soft to moderate appeal, but then there are those moments when all the stars align and I get it right ... the skies open and the angels sing kind of right.  I love those moments.  LOVE them.  

Lately, I have been playing with wire ... and rocks - beach pebbles, tumbled, semi precious.  I'm really liking it and have been getting really great feedback on the pieces, so that little voice has been whispering - "open and Etsy store ... you know you wanna".  The voice is right.  Sort of.  I do want to ... and then I think of ALL the reasons that I shouldn't and can't ... and it makes my brain hurt.

Here are some of my latest pieces:

Silver craft wire pod w/amethyst, hematite, rose quartz & quartz

  

A cool resin "cabochon" wrapped in silver craft wire

another silver craft wire pod - this one has a little TLC - turquoise, lapiz and crystal

 

A friend had the tourmaline piece, I just wrapped it for her so she could wear it

this amulet is from copper wire w/drawn beads - it's stones are protective in their properties

I don't know if it's the angle of the shot or if this pod actually has a bulbous part, but it's silver craft wire w/drawn beads (the little bulbs at the end of the wires).  This one has abalone, amethyst, garnet, lapiz, quartz and rose quartz

OK, now that I've shared my latest efforts, don't forget that I like to play with yarn, seed beads, and a bunch of other random bits-n-pieces ... so, here are my questions:

What are your personal thoughts on Etsy in general?

Do you think a shop needs to maintain a single medium? 

Or is it ok for a seller to offer a variety of items?

Honest answers most appreciated ... please & thank you.

Last Minute Shopping, Anyone?

I just found out that another friend of mine (check out her blog: HERE) has opened an Etsy store ... actually, she has three ... one for her vintage inspired pieces, one specifically for the earrings she makes and another for vintage beading and craft supplies ... all sorts of yumminess!

Here's a sampling of her earrings:

(click on the image to be directed to the Earring Emporium)

This one:

(click on the image to be directed to La Belle Savage)

and this one:

(click on the image to be directed to La Belle Savage)

and ... this one:

(click on the image to be directed to La Belle Savage)

Are samples of items you could find at her other shop:

La Belle Savage

Do yourself a favor and go check out the goodies she has for sale ... I'm pretty sure you'll be blown away & her prices are more than reasonable. Have fun ... and let me know if you decide to buy one of her trinkets (even if it's for yourself).

Oh! ... and if anyone happens to have an inexpensive and foolproof recipe for uber-tasy cookies, I am all ears! I have a cookie exchange party a week from today ... EEK!

Did Someone Say ETSY?

Nope, not my shop ... my really good friend Marilyn just opened up her very own Etsy shop. Marilyn makes these really amazing woodcut prints (yes, she carves the woodcuts herself and does all the printing by hand) and some clay prints, too. She is now making them available for purchase through Etsy.

Click on either banner to check out her shop

and the incredible work that she's listing.

Not only will you be supporting the arts, but you will be helping an inspirational homeschooling mom turn her dreams into a reality.

Good for the Soul ... Journal, Anyone?

A while ago Kathryn from Collage Diva celebrated a milestone birthday - she turned 40!! - when she discovered that this year I celebrated my 40th too, she wanted to send me a little somethin ... look at the sweetness that I received this past Saturday:

The lovely collage is printed on Chinese Dupion Silk.

The gorgeous lighthouse photo of Marshall Point Lightin Maine

is a Kathryn Antyr original photograph.

AND

The little moo card is simply adorable! - click on any photo to see more details.

Then today I came home to another piece of mail love:

How sweet is that packaging?

- uh, not the flowers ... I added those to keep the address's private -

Inside was a print from Elizabeth Beck of e.beck.artist

:

She had a contest (check it out here) & I lucked into being one of the winners (for asking the most questions - lol). I was able to pick out one of her prints - to see the set, visit her Etsy Store here - and have it customized ... I asked for "happy is as happy does" ... you know something ... I'm glad I did. When I look at this print I'll be riminded of that simple thought and who knows ... maybe I'll just do more happy.

Here's a detail:

(remember, you can click on any image for a larger version)

Finally, Sadie and I have taken the plunge and are making our very own Soul Journals.

First a little background ... Kathryn had mentioned the soul journal project and then within a day or so I saw it again on Grrl+dog's blog ... they had come across Sarah from Caspiana and were joining her challenge. Part of me wanted to jump in, too, but I resisted. The next thing I know nearly a month had passed. Well, I recieved just the nudge I needed (in the form of - "do it anyway!") ... so, I am ... and Sadie is, too. I went back to Sarah's original post ...

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Soul Journaling-

I’ve been dreaming about a project I’d like to do with you all for quite some time. It is part journaling, part mixed media or visual journal. I have been mesmerized by all the visual journaling that I have come across lately. I have lots of trouble starting projects like this…the ever feared blank page and not knowing what to write. In good old fashioned creative writing they use prompts to help you get started. So why not start there? I’d like to give you daily prompts to journal along with me. There will be both writing and mixed media prompts. You can choose to follow me exactly or break free on your own and just use my idea as a starting point, it’s up to you. So without further a due… I’m challenging you to start a Journaling journey with me!

Sadie and I went out and bought our books (Sadie has given me the OK to talk about her part in things, but I am not allowed to show the pictures of her progress). She picked out a red crocodile-looking-leatherish book and I picked this one:

Once we had our books picked out we were supposed to glue random Dictionary or book pages to the first 3 pages in your journal. They could be ripped or hanging off the edges or neatly trimmed. We don't have any old dictionary's or books to use ... instead we printed a bunch of random stuff and collaged the pages (how does one count the pages? is front one, back two, next three? or is the spread considered a page ... after this first part, I beleive each side is a page on its own ...). Here are my three (double page spreads) collages:

I thought it was interesting that Sadie and I gravitated to a lot of the same stuff.

Next: start writing on the first page over your dictionary pages. Start with the prompt: “Today I feel…” Write for at least 5 minutes and circle or rewrite any words that catch your eye in your text that describe how you are feeling. If you run out of things to say, just say what’s in your head…”today I feel stupid for listening to Sarah about this whole journaling thing…” Rewrite the prompt “today I feel…”every time you get stuck or start a new thought . Write for as long or on as many pages as you want.

so, we did ... here are two of my pages all written over (double page spreads):

That was it for the day. The next prompt is to gesso over all the written pages and to CLAIM our books (we're already there, but I don't have photo's at this time ... and am not really sure that I am quite done with the first attempt at claiming my book - Sadie, on the other hand, has claimed hers and it looks REALLY terrific). Tonight we'll be starting on Day 3. As soon as I post this, we'll be picking out our armor!

If you've ever found yourself wanting to work on an altered journal, but didn't know where to begin, this just might be the thing for you ... in case you didn't click the link above, here's the first Soul Journal Post from Sarah ...

... happy is as happy does!

Phish and a little "Show and Tell"

I feel a bit of a ramble coming on ...

... first, Phish is currently playing (Billy Breathes). It's D's CD. This is so goofy ... D and I have been together for over 10 years and every time he plays this one (seriously, EVERY time) I ask him who it is - I REALLY like it a lot and I forget until the next time he pops it (I have a handful of CD's that I play and play and play simply because I like to sing-a-long and love who I love). Back to Phish ... so, D plays this CD earlier this weekend. I got smart this time - I added it to the 5 disc player and plan on listening to it for at least this next week ... I figure if I can get to the point that I can anticipate the next song then I'll remember who I'm listening to. I just visted their website (to get the links for all you loverlies) and saw that they are more prolific than rabbits. *giggles*

Speaking of websites ... a friend of mine has decided to sell some of her personal care products that are simply ... indulgent. :) I took a look at her site earlier and asked if she'd mind if I went in and switched things around a little. With her blessing, I have made some changes ... AND ... all of the photo's that are now on her website (with the exception of her adorable niece on the home page) are my photograhs. How cool is that?!?

Which leads me to the photo's that I used on her website:

Feel free to click on any of the above images to view them larger.

Go visit deirdre's INDULGENCE to check out her site and her stuff, too.

OK, so I have a question ... is there a market out their for photo's like these? I have been playing around with the idea that I would like to open my own ETSY store and ideally I'd like to sell other creations, but these are my photo's, so I think they's count ... let me know what you think.

Thanks! ~M~