Getting Stuck In #Anywhere

So.... the shop is open, Wherever you decided to open it, you`ve made tentative forays into the forum, or maybe you jumped right in and made yourself at home. You`ve started looking at other shops and seeing some with lot`s of sales already and are wondering why it`s not happening with you.
It`s not enough to open a shop and hope for the best. The crafting and creating is the fun part. The selling is the hard part and the most time consuming. But, if you want to build a business it`s a necessary evil.
So you get started on a Facebook page. I learnt the hard way and by following advice that it needs to reflect who you are and what your business is about.
This advice is from Di of Adien Crafts giving hints and tips on a team forum thread on Etsy.
Don't just post a link to your Etsy shop item and expect it to sell. You're behind the counter of your shop remember, you have to SELL the item as if you were in a shop.
Links which just show up on your Facebook feed with a small photo will rarely encourage interaction, and that's what you want - INTERACTION with your likers. `Your fans`
If you've listed a new item, write a status update about your new piece, not too long.
Then click on the add photo tab on the status update and upload the best photo you have of your item.
Now add the link after your comment and post.
If you add it before it will come up as a preview below your comment, if you do it's not a problem just remove the preview and add the photo.
If you receive any replies to your posting remember to reply to them, just a thank you using the persons name, they've taken the time to comment or like your item so as in a shop, if someone commented on your new make you would thank them!
Now this advice was excellent, I discovered. Nowadays photos and links don`t get seen by many people. Written pieces get the most views. Adding a picture that isn`t a direct link to your shop and adding the link in the comments gives that piece a much wider audience, which is exactly what you want.


So much to think of and do
it was for me and will be for you.
For every high there`ll be a low
this is part of the natural flow.
Don`t give up, it`ll be worthwhile
your crafting will always make you smile.
There`s just something about a crafter`s life
a lot of happiness as well as some strife.
But we do what we love and love what we do
making things for others to buy and view!


Let me think now... how about blogging? A great platform to show what you do, to chat about your passion and engage other people.
How you may ask? Well I found blogger relatively easy to work out and use. Bearing in mind that I was a total internet novice at the time for anyone who already knows basics it will be a doddle.
Then you have to find your voice. To begin with too, you feel a bit of a twit at first, as though you are talking to yourself. To be honest, at first you pretty much are. But that`s okay because it`s in this period that you are finding your feet and learning that it`s okay to just be yourself.
I discovered quite by accident that people liked my verses. I added one occasionally and discovered my views went up alot on those days. I still didn`t make the connection though until discussing it with my younger daughter, she laughed and said maybe that was my `thing`. The more I thought about it and looked back through the more I realised she was right. So I began writing daily rhymes and have built my viewing public steadily ever since.
As with anything though, there are times that are busier and times that are quieter, despite your best promotional efforts. I have also learnt not to bother about it because I know it will pick up again.
So in a nutshell, you have to find your own voice and maybe your own `thing` that makes it popular and encourages people to return, be it rhymes, tutorials, special offers or anything else.
That`s probably enough waffle for today, more coming tomorrow, with more advice from other sellers.
Thanks for visiting, please come back soon. If you enjoyed this chat and found it helpful please share it with others. Thank you.

Getting Started #Folksy

Are you just starting out? New to online selling? Or maybe not be doing it for very long?
Then hopefully this will help YOU!!

Now I`m not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I DO know what it`s like from experience.
Picture this. A lightbulb moment...


I had an idea, sure that no one else had ever thought of it. I could sell online!! All the crocheting I was doing would have a purpose. Yay!!
So I start a shop after doing a bit of research into various sites available at the time. I settled on Folksy. I found the forums and it was the best move I could have made. Here was a lot of people who had been where I was as well as many right where I was.
Crafter`s are wonderful people, I`ve always found, who are always willing to help and answer questions and I can tell you, I asked a lot.
I had never been on Facebook in my life but was advised I should.
Never even looked at Twitter or had any desire to do so but opened a twitter account on advice. Then came this blog, also on advice.
Now these three things were a very important part of my business development had I but known it at the time.
They all help you to get seen in the wider world of the internet. Yes, it takes time to build and yes it will take a lot of hours of work but in the long run it will be worthwhile.
All that time is an investment in your business and if you are serious about making it work then you will find that time from somewhere.
At first it can be overwhelming trying to learn so much. It is easier I would think to do it one at a time rather than go out an do all three as I did. It meant that two of them got left by the wayside and only looked at occasionally until I learnt to manage my time a bit better. More on those tomorrow.


I had a great original idea
but it wasn`t enough, I fear.
So I learnt and learnt some more
so weary I wondered what it was for.
I wanted to craft, it was my path in life
but I didn`t want or need all the strife.
The internet though is a vast place
a fact of life we have to face.

Some advice from other sellers.
From Jacqueline of JAustenJewelleryDesign
My main tip would be to have courage and faith in yourself and the items you make. You know how good they are, you just need to be able to show others the same! I can always remember my first sale in public, being really nervous. Once I started talking to people about my designs, what inspired me, how I made the pieces and the stones they were made of, I grew more confident and I got my first sale. Yay! Someone – other than family thought my jewellery was worth paying for and giving as a gift. That is a real boost and very encouraging.


From Edwina of Handmade by Edwina
If you are going to sell on line at a market place like Folksy or other – make sure you comply with everything they require. Check out the competition – see what others are selling that are similar to your items. Get involved with Forums and consider how you are going to promote your shop, ask for advice and follow through. Finally, have the confidence in either case – craft fairs or selling on-line not to UNDER PRICE your items. If they are well made, good quality, unique and of a high standard then set a price that is reasonable, but which reflects the individuality of the item (this is something I still struggle with after all the years I have been trying to sell!!)



It can be quite hard to start with and very discouraging when the sales don`t happen. But if you can talk to other crafter`s it makes it easier because they are either going through the same thing or have been there too. And of course when you have sales whether it`s the 1st, the 50th or the 100th that wonderful feeling never goes away. The excitement, euphoria and sheer joy, that someone likes your work enough to buy it. Now you`ve begun, what next?
Come back tomorrow to find out.
Thank you for visiting. If you have advice to share please do in the comments. If you enjoyed this post please share it with others. Thank you.

Orange & Purple #Etsy

Who knew the two colours would look good together. Not as brilliant as some combinations, but non the less better then I hoped. It was a theme for a treasury challenge for the On Fire for Handmade team on Etsy and looking through all the ones that had been done I thought I would go for this combination as something a bit different.
I hope you like it too and enjoy the lovely creations arrayed for your delectation today.
After a cold, cloudy and very windy day yesterday the weather improved in the evening. The wind calmed and we had blue sky and sunshine, very annoying so late in the day. Still at least we had some.
A week and a half until I am made redundant from my job and counting the days now. Since my hours were cut I only do 6 days a month but even that has become a chore. I can`t wait to be free and start a new phase of my life, I look at it as an adventure and can`t wait for the adventure to start.
As usual, to see a bigger picture or a description, just click on the item to view it in the shop.
ENJOY!!!
A poem I wrote last year after viewing some old houses in need of renovation.

The sun`s rays fill the room
dispersing all the dark and gloom.
Sunlight makes some things twinkle
as the dust motes rise and fall to sprinkle
in lines they seem to dance
almost alive as they prance.
Unused, neglected, oh so sad
with mould and damp getting bad.
Insects scuttle away and hide
hoping if they wait and bide
their time we`ll go away
and they`ll survive another day.
Cobwebs hang, almost like decorations
left over from long ago celebrations.
On every surface dust lies thick
mixed with grit from crumbling brick
What this place needs is a facelift
it would be a priceless gift!!



The Needle Palace. Atlas`s Knit Shop.

Creative Treasures UK. Designed by seragun.

Nesrin ART. HirasuGaleri.

The Yarn Kitchen. Womanly.

Kallie`s Cotton. Cosmic Hippo designs.

Meredithbead. Serendipity Candle Shoppe.

Beaded Nature. Sew Alisann.

NStellaDesign.

Hope you enjoyed today`s gorgeous array of orange and purple creations from the crafter`s of Etsy.
Thanks for visiting, please come back soon.

Frogs are Hopping! #Folksy

I was going to keep yesterdays here for today but I found myself adding frogs.
I mean really? FROGS?
What possessed me? Apart from the face there were several on Folksy`s front page that looked really cute! It had me looking for more of them. When I put frogs into the search, I got 1 page, when I removed the S I had 4 pages. Very strange.
So anyway, here it is, for your delectation.
Now yesterday was strangely unproductive and yet productive. I spent all morning wrestling with some art I was trying to turn into PDF files, without success. Actually I couldn`t even get the first bit right, adding the wording properly. I`ve always done that afterwards before. It`s the putting it together on the computer. I tried different programmes and managed to add a layer to the original pic but it wouldn`t save it together. Back to the drawing board.
The afternoon I spent sewing on beads to jug and glass covers, so that was a job well done. Although I must admit I find it takes so long and is very fiddly, not my favourite job. They do look pretty when they are done though.
As usual, to see a bigger picture or a description, just click on the item to view it in the shop.
ENJOY!!!

Now can I make a verse about a frog?
Maybe I should include a log.
That helps the rhyme go well,
you like it too, I can tell.
Frogs croak and they are green
how cute in reality, yet to be seen.
Now when they adorn garden and wall
we don`t think they are slimy at all.
In our garden we had a pond
of which I used to be quite fond.
Baby frogs, they were quite tricky
it seemed they were very sticky.
Maybe not, they`d just dry out
I`d know when my daughter gave a shout.
On hot paving slabs they would dry
a ready meal for every bird passing by.
Gently, carefully, unpeeled and put back
the tiny frog never seemed to later lack
anything for it`s very daring deed
maybe each time it was the same bad seed!!



Walnut Tree Designs. Joys of Glass.

Monique Boutique. Funky Mosaics.

MinXtures. Natural Weaver.

Tom Brooke Woodcrafts. All good things.

Odd Sox. Art in Hands.

Urbaneye Cufflinks. Babaloola.

Gerda Bags. Thought Bubble Designs.

Hope you enjoyed today`s hopping array of frog creations from the crafter`s of Folksy.
Thanks for visiting, please come back soon.

Call Of The Wild #Etsy

Jen of Miss Bohemia is the Craftyfolk Shop Of The Week this week.
As you know the rest of the team, or those that wish to take part, promote her shop as much as possible in any way we see fit. Now this can range from pinning and tweeting, to sharing on many other sites, to doing treasuries and blogs.
Jens bio says:
I love arts & crafts, reading and life in general! Making jewellery started off as a hobby and quickly became an obsession :-) I'm now exploring other areas of crafting including altered art accessories, sewing and much more! My inspiration comes from books, films, love & life experiences and a touch of magic! Shop here for some bohemian glamour, darkly romantic pieces, vintage inspired jewellery, steampunk, Paris themes, Alice In Wonderland and fairytales!

Jen really has a lovely shop full of divine treasures that are great to give as a gift and even better to keep. Why not spoil yourself?
As usual, to see a bigger picture or a description, just click on the item to view it in the shop.
ENJOY!!!

The call of the wild is in us all
it can hold us in it`s thrall.
To be wild and able to run free
is better than any shopping spree.
Wild nature can be wonderful as well as bad
look at nature`s anger, that`s so very sad.
Storms and earthquakes that destroy so much
all because we are losing our touch.
We cannot take, then take some more
as we`ve been doing since days of yore.
We need to give back quite a lot
to redress the balance in the pot.
Else nature will really show us all
the real ferocity of her wild call.



Miss Bohemia. Michele Webber Art.

Looking Glass Designs. Brooklyn Love Designs.

Lottiemimi. Artapli.

Mish73 Eclectic Vintage Finds. Gills Pop Art Emporium.

Adelaide & Alice. ACYC.

Audrey`s Cat. Simply Sublime baby.

Gladys Paulus. SyoderCrafts.

Loutul. Patchwork Moose.

Hope you enjoyed today`s fabulous display of animal creatiuons, some wild and some not so wild, from the crafter`s of Etsy.
Thanks for visiting, please come back soon.