By Contributing Columnist Jay of Haffina Creations

Not many people know, but I am the mother of twin boys, and as such I understand how challenging it can be to be creative with twin bundles of joys dancing like a whirlwind through your house. Now let me introduce you to another mother of twin boys, who creates beautiful items whilst being a fabulous mom to her darling boys. Teri Landow is the driving force behind The Beaded Branch and my featured ArtFire artisan.

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
An eclectic mix of bead jewelry, sterling silver chainmaille, Bug Bag pouches, and of course, my very own line of Present Past Treasures.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
The name for my shop came about by combining several ideas:
1) I really love trees, and wanted to incorporate the idea of trees into my business name somehow.
2) I loved the idea of “branches” being related to arms, necks, ears, etc of a person and them being decorated with my jewelry.
3) When I started out, my designs were very simplistic bead earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I never really thought I’d expand out past the beaded branch of jewelry making. Of course, I was wrong, but I still try to incorporate beads in everything I sell.

How long have you been selling online?
I started my own online shop over 10 years ago. I ran into the trouble that so many do, though. After I got married, and started a family, the huge time commitment of having to maintain a website just got to be too much. So, I started exploring my options, and came across Etsy, then ArtFire. In November of 2008, I opened my Etsy shop, and then in May of 2009 I opened my ArtFire Studio. I still have my own website, and might actually get around to updating it now that my children are actually starting school.

What lead you to join ArtFire?
Many, many factors lead me to joining ArtFire. The sense of community was the main thing, but other than that, all of the wonderful features that AF offers. The guilds, the ability to have ten pictures of each product, the coupon and gift certificate codes, being able to edit everything in my store with a few simple keystrokes, the list goes on and on. The real clincher for me was when I made my first sale in my ArtFire Studio. I was so excited, I tweeted it on my Twitter page. When the owner of ArtFire sent me a direct message, congratulating me on my sale, that meant the world to me. I’ve never deleted that tweet, and still read it when I need a little boost. The fact that he took that time to do that was a real sign to me that ArtFire cares about the artisans that choose to sell there.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
I have to pick ONE? (lol) It’s a toss up between the coupon codes and the bulk editing feature. I love how easy it is to set up coupon codes for my customers. The fact that I can pick what code for the coupon will be is awesome, because it makes it much easier for me to keep track of when it was used.
The bulk editing feature is awesome. Being able to go in and reprice everything in my studio, or add tags to everything with just a few keystrokes, is wonderful and so time saving. It’s just so easy and convenient.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Read up on how to take really good photographs of your products. Make sure your photos are nice, clear, and in focus. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Learn how to market using blogs and social networks. Figure out all of your shipping prices before you start listing. Set aside money for advertising. Join guilds and participate. Make a lot of friends in the crafting world. We are the best support to each other when sales are slow, and we need a little mental boost.

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
I try to create the feel of a cozy and relaxed slightly upscale boutique where you never quite know what’s going to spring up next.

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
I don’t necessarily revolve my stock, but whenever I add pieces, I always try to make sure that I add an assortment of pieces in a new line at the same time, as a boutique would do when they received a new shipment, instead of one piece here and one piece there.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
Right now, at this moment, I don’t really have a favorite. Actually, at any moment it would be hard for me to narrow down my favorite of anything to one thing. I love pearls, and would incorporate them into every piece I make if I possibly could. I’m also currently exploring materials and techniques that are new to me. Polymer clay and epoxy resins are the big ones right now, and since I’m still in the learning phase of those two mediums, I get to play with them, and learn how to make pieces that are good enough to sell.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
Oh, several. I would love to learn to work with glass, and also I want to expand my knowledge of polymer clay, epoxy resins, metal clays, painting, and sewing. I love to learn new skills and techniques that can cross over from one medium to another, seeing how and what I can combine to create some new, unique pieces.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
Yes and no. Yes, I still sell my basic bead jewelry. I’ll never fully get away from that, and wouldn’t want to. But, because I get distracted easily, and my desire to explore new techniques often overwhelms me, I switch off what I’m working on at any given moment, and my lines are continually expanding and growing. That’s the one problem with having so many friends who are so very talented in different art forms. I see their work, and think “Ooohh, I’d like to try that!”, and I do.

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
The whole process of listing products in my Studio- pricing, photographing, descriptions, tagging, all of it. It can really drag me down. The way I deal with it is to just bite the bullet and do it. Generally, I wait until I have a stockpile of products made, and I do a several day long photo shoot of everything. Then I spend another day editing the photos, and then another day or two listing. It’s a very draining week or so for me, and I always refer to them as my “necessary evil” days.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
I try to keep it balanced, but there are some days when the lure of the online world is just too great, and I’ll spend all day chatting, and drooling over my friends new works. There are other days, however, when I have no desire to go online at all, so I just check my email once or twice those days, and leave it at that. Having kids helps keep the balance, because their needs come first. So, I do have to spend time offline feeding them, playing with them, reading to them, and doing arts and crafts with them.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
It used to be beads. Now, I have to admit, it’s pretty much whatever comes into view that I think I might be able to use. If I find a new craft that I find intriguing, I’ll buy just enough of the basic supplies to try it out. But even that I’ve slowed down on. I need to use up what I have before I buy anything more.

To see more gorgeous creations from The Beaded Branch check out her ArtFire Studio.

By Columnist Jay of Haffina Creations

There is something about wood, a warmth that few other materials can attain. My latest artisan feature is about a man who works with wood, shaping it into decorative and functional forms via the use of a scrollsaw. But then he gets creative, and introduces polymer clay to the mix. Let me introduce you to Chris Newcomb, aka Eaglehawk, the woodworking wonder behind C Newcomb Woodworking on ArtFire.

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
I sell various handmade wooden items. Currently I have ornaments, key chains, wall plaques, decorative plates and other personalized items. I will soon be adding a chess sets to my studio. Occasionally my wife will have something to sell on my studio that aren’t made of wood those items are few and far between.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
I couldn’t think of a name to use other than my name – C Newcomb Woodworking

How long have you been selling online?
Not very long, I had been selling handmade items to friends and family

What lead you to join ArtFire?
I chose Artfire because of their price structure I was not sure if I would be selling enough items to be able to justify Etsy’s pricing structure.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
My favorite feature on Artfire is the global editor it makes changes that have to be made to all the active products easier and quicker.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Make sure that you are prepared to promote your items.

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
I would like all my visitors to be excited about what I’m selling.

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
I offer sales frequently and try to get people to share through word of mouth about my shop.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
Currently my favorite material is oak; it looks elegant and is relatively readily available.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
I would love to work with some of the more exotic woods. I enjoy working with new woods it always presents a new challenge trying to learn how the saw would react to the wood.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
I’ve started selling more complex items and custom items. Most of the items that I started with were only available ‘as is’.

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
Generating sales and promoting my shop. I have a hard time trying to decide the perfect balance between proper promotion and unsolicited promoting aka spam.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
Since most of my day is spent at a computer for my normal day job, I find it very easy to stay offline when I get home from work.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
Wood and wood finishes seems to be my weakness on purchasing even if I don’t need it.

You can view more of Chris’ work in his ArtFire studio – C Newcomb Woodworking

Edited by Barbra aka: All About The Buttons

Slideshow image by James Oliver

By contributing columnist Donna Knox of GlassandWireGems

ArtFire has a new artifact that is only available to its PRO members. It is the “Certified Handmade Artifact” and it has caused quite a stir in the ArtFire community. Those who applied were waiting for this:

Congratulations! We have reviewed your application for the Certified Handmade Artifact and we find your ArtFire studio “GlassandWireGems” to be in compliance and eligible for the Certified Handmade Artifact.

Your studio has been awarded the Certified Handmade Artifact…<

ArtFire's Certified Handmade Artifact

The Certified Handmade Artifact designates a voluntary commitment to exclusively offering Handmade and Fine Art items on ArtFire. If you no longer wish to uphold this commitment, please contact….so that the artifact can be removed from your studio.

The initial announcement about the artifact included the following: 100% of the items in the Applicants studio must be listed in Handmade or Fine Art. Studios with commercially produced supplies and destash are not eligible. There are two exceptions that can be made. You may list Handmade supplies in the “Supplies >> Handmade Supplies” categories. You are also allowed to have gift certificates to YOUR studio listed in “Media >> Gift Certificates”.

Those who applied had to meet a number of pre-requisites, i.e. be a PRO member for at least 60 days, a member in good standing with ArtFire, have 100% of their items listed under the Handmade or Fine Art headings, have complete studios including an avatar, banner, complete studio policies and a Bio with a photo and their product photos had to be in-focus and of a reasonably sufficient size. In the application you had to describe your main handmade craft, explain the process you use to create your craft and provide pictures of your work space and a work in process.

Kevin, ArtFire’s Director of Social Media, answered one question about the artifact this way: The Certified Handmade Artifact is intended to designate members who are committed to offering only handmade items. You may not sell any items listed in top categories other than Handmade or Fine Art if you want to display this artifact in a studio. Members are welcome to sell their commercially produced supplies, vintage, design, or media in a separate ArtFire studio. Likewise, the Certified Handmade Artifact is not required to list or sell items and is completely voluntary.

Needless to say, there were numerous questions as the process started. Some artisans were concerned about whether or not their shop qualified and several even elected to take supplies and other items out of their shop and open a second one. James Oliver is one of those who decided to do this. He told me that: For me to qualify for the Certified Handmade Artifact I needed to remove some Pearl strands I had listed. So I opened the new studio, River Road West, to list my pearl and bead collection. The Handmade Artifact is very important to me. I take my craft in the most serious way. Truly handmade.

There were also concerns about the photos that were needed. MoonlightEternal said: For the work in progress picture, does it have to be a picture of your main category (like my main category is jewelry) or can it be any work in progress? Kevin of ArtFire answered the question this way: It can be any work in progress, though preferably one you intend to list eventually. It is helpful if it is in your main category as many sellers have a certain “style” in their work, and seeing a half made piece that already matches the style of other work helps to build the case that they are the creative mastermind behind the work in their studio.

There were questions about the approval process. Some thought that artifact was easy to get and wondered about the fairness involved in reviewing the applications. Stained Glass by Katie made this comment in a forum about the artifact: I can also vouch for the fact that the certification was not a rubber stamp deal. Kevin contacted me for additional information, and included some other helpful comments, too.

After all of the work involved and uniqueness of the process, there was the thrill of knowing that those who have the artifact are special. Michelle of Creative Critters shared the following: I love seeing all these shops going for this artifact. I can’t tell you how proud I am to be a part of ArtFire. I’m proud of my fellow artists on here, and I’m super proud to display this artifact in my studio. I never had a doubt that AF would look at each and every studio, and give advice to those that needed it in order to qualify for the artifact. They’ve been very involved with the artists on this site since the beginning.

ArtFire has created widgets for those who have the artifact to use in their websites, blogs, on Facebook, Twitter, etc. There are six different sizes. Here’s one of the widgets from my studio:

You might also want to check out James’ studio. He has taken things a step further and even mentions the Certified Handmade artifact in his shop’s banner. Others who have received the artifact have blogged, tweeted and shared their excitement about in it many ways. The Certified Handmade Artifact is the latest benefit of becoming a PRO member of the ArtFire community. It emphasizes ArtFire’s commitment to its handcraft artisans.

By Contributing Columnist Jay aka HaffinaCreations

One of my favourite things to do is lose myself in a well written fantasy world, filled with magic and mystery and all manner of creatures, so naturally I am drawn to artisans who create items drawn from fantasy. One such artisan is Meri Greenleaf from Elfing Creations. She kindly agreed to answer my questions

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
Fantasy art and accessories, but everything is very eclectic: crocheted art dolls, runestones, costume ears (like elf, hobbit, faun, etc), horns, hemp jewelry, chainmaille, cartilage earrings, dreadfalls, crocheted bracers and cuffs… all sorts of randomness.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
Elfling Creations comes from my fantasy alter-ego who is half-Wood Elf/half-Halfling (an Elf/Halfling or Elfling for short); this is also where my alias Meri Greenleaf comes from- that’s the name of said alter-ego. Since almost everything I make is inspired by fantasy, it works well for my shop.

How long have you been selling online?
I started selling some art (mostly crochet) here and there on Etsy in early 2007, but I didn’t really start concentration on my business as more than a hobby until 2009.

What lead you to join Etsy?
One of my friends had mentioned Etsy- I can’t remember if she had already opened a shop there or had just been buying things, though. Anyway, it sounded like a great idea, so I started listing my jewelry and crocheted things there.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
The street teams- I love being able to interact with other artists who share my interests.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Definitely work on your photography to get good, clear, bright photos. I’m still learning how to take good pictures (my early ones were so terrible I’m amazed I sold anything), but when selling online it’s vitally important to be able to show off your work.

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
Like they just stepped into an elven forest, into a world of fantasy, magic, and color. That’s what I’m going for, anyway!

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
Almost everything I make is fantasy-related, and I have a tendency to work in greens and browns with lots of leaves and flowers. I’m a wood elf through and through so I have to remember that people do like colors besides the greens, blues, and browns that I gravitate towards.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
As much as I love all the art I do, I think crochet is my absolute favorite. I love how you can do pretty much anything with a ball of yarn and a hook; I can turn it into clothing, ears, dolls, accessories… pretty much anything.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
I’d love to learn how to spin on a spinning wheel someday. I can spin on a spindle, but I’d really love to be able to use a wheel, too. I’d also love to learn how to crochet wire (I crochet and I do some work with wire, but I haven’t combined them) and I’d love to learn more chainmaille weaves. And drawing- I’d love to get better at that.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
Definitely changed- I made a lot of simple crocheted things like wristbands to start, but as I’ve gotten more practice I’ve been making more intricate crochet like dolls, and the regular earrings I used to make have switched over to mainly cartilage ones. I can do a lot more types of art now than I could to start, so I’m making a wider variety now, too. (I have a very short attention span, lol!)

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
I have a really narrow target demographic, so my main challenge has been getting the people who are looking for fantasy accessories and art to find my shop. I cater to the Renfaire population, I think, and I’m not entirely sure if they’d know to check Etsy for things like that. Thank goodness for sites like Google, which I think is how people are finding me- and I’m assuming search engines help people find out about Etsy too, so it’s win-win!

How do you balance your online and offline life?
By not having much of an offline life, lol. I have health problems so making and selling my art is my job right now; otherwise seeing friends is pretty much the only other offline thing I’m up to doing right now, and they don’t mind when I bring my craft supplies along. Being creative with my art and writing (I do some fantasy short stories and run a “Dungeons and Dragons” game) helps keep me sane and gives me something fun and distracting to do while I work on getting better.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
Yarn. Ye gads, it’s like my yarn stash is spawning- and the fact that friends and family will sometimes gift me with found or randomly acquired yarn is *awesome*! I can never say no to yarn because I can always find a use for it, and usually pick up a skein whenever I’m at the craft store. I always end up with more yarn than I could possibly use- yet I never seem to have the color I need on hand, so that means I need to get more. There must be fiber-imps stealing from my stash while I’m not looking.

Delve into the world of Elfing Creations on Etsy. You can also find her on ArtFire and her own website.
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Part II by Contributing columnist Rebecca aka Raige Creations

Slide photo courtesy of All About The Buttons

Normally I am the type who embraces summer with no thoughts of the winter, cold, snow, or holiday shopping. Christmas is the last thing on my mind. I usually don’t even think of buying Christmas gifts until after Thanksgiving. Even then it is just a ’something I should think about doing soon’ sort of thought. Before I know it, Christmas is 2 weeks away and I NEED to start shopping. Those days are full of grasping, arguing about what to get, and quick! Needless to say, stress and desperation are the feelings that prevail until December 26th. Inevitably, I end up with generic, meaningless gifts that are relegated to the ‘donate’ bag by Easter. Year after year, I make a vow not to repeat these actions again. Yet while soaking up the sun and wasting away the lazy days of summer, I came to the realization that I was on the path to make the same mistake again this year. The rays of the sun and the sounds of nature reassured me there was still plenty of time. But then there was talk of Christmas in July by retailers. “Christmas? Now?” I thought. “Too soon!”, the sun tried to convince me. But after some contemplation, maybe this wasn’t a bad idea. Perhaps, just perhaps, the seasonal spell which had seemingly been cast, had falsely assured this weather would last. Logic crept in and started eating away at my summer fantasies. Not willing to completely surrender to reality, I managed to make my way to the house for the laptop to casually surf the web as I returned to worship the sun.

I found that Christmas in July celebrations can be traced back to 1933 in North Carolina. It didn’t take long after for the retail world to take advantage of this marketing opportunity in a time of generally slow sales. The first mention of Christmas in July in advertising was back in 1950, specifically “It’s Christmas in July at Browning King” (advertisement), The New York Times, July 20, 1950, p. 16. (Thank you Wikipedia) Since then, various retailers have used this campaign to stimulate sales, and the community of Handmade sellers are no different.

Sellers of Handmade and vintage items through most venues have completely embraced this tool, and you will be happy to find wonderful deals on all kinds of treasures. Off one wave, onto another as I surf some of my favorite sites and found a few unexpected discoveries.

To get in the Christmas spirit, perhaps some Nostalgic Victorian Childrens Christmas Gift Tags, by Southern Ladys Vintage. Gift tags are one of the things which we all need but never remember to buy until the last minute – or is that just me?

Let’s not forget the necessities for entertaining family and friends that is usually ’slim pickings’ in the weeks before Christmas. Green plastic plates usually adorn my table by default as festive serving dishes are always a last minute thought. But not this year. Resetar Glass Art Studio has a great solution, a White Christmas Tree Fused Glass Plate. Perfect for the hors d’oeuvres to go with the wine or the pastries and eggnog.
Speaking of wine, it would be nice to have an accessory to go with that too. These Wine Sock Bags by Catfluff, are also on sale for Christmas in July. The beauty of these is they can be used all fall, winter, or whenever, or even make great gifts for someone on your list.
Gift giving is a part of Christmas that we should look forward to, but for some, the mass produced commercial bombardment of options have left us dreading the shopping experience. For me, it has been particularly discouraging as I normally scramble to find something at the last minute at the nearest Super Center that the recipient would even want. I have discovered the Christmas in July sales provide the means to shop without the normal stressors of shopping in December. I can casually browse online and buy beautiful, handmade items made with care and full of meaning, without the crowded lines, the inevitble panic and grasping – and get a great deal!
I like to give gifts with significance to an individual that can be used year round. This Herb Gardening Planter, by AndrewsReclaimed on Etsy, is perfect for those people that love fresh herbs. Just pick up this set (BOGO sale!), either plant their favorite herbs or include a few packs of seeds, and it’s a gift that gives well past Christmas. That’s 2 gifts done in a single purchase.

What about those that are difficult to buy for? Yes, I know we all have them on our list, and it is particularly difficult because you have to get something for each one. This solution may be just the thing. A Catchall for all the little things they bring home and throw on the nearest table, or placed somewhere and forget where it was. Now they can can have a dedicated spot for such necessities or eccentricities. One can hope to achieve organization. A few family members of the male gender come to mind and would certainly benefit from more than one of these. Feltplanet is offering these great organizers in many colors and sizes of for any style and taste.

Rounding out the list are those teens who want everything new and trendy and cool. Those that fall into that category on our lists by far cause the most stress at Christmastime, not to mention the rest of the year. But a small token to let them know we ‘get it’ is usually appreciated. This Goth Rock Chic Skellington Cell Phone Charm, by itsmythingdesigns on Zibbet, might do the trick.
So now that I fully embrace Christmas in July and buying Handmade and Vintage, I encourage you to do the same. These are just a few examples of the variety and abundance of unique items that I stumbled upon browsing the Christmas in July Sales. Imagine what you you will be able to find. Rest assured, it will be a holiday season without the stress of frantic shopping! This year I am actually looking forward to wrapping meaningful, one of a kind gifts for those special people on my list. I never thought summer would include such pleasant thoughts of Christmas. This is definitely going to become part of my summer routine. And remember the sunscreen!

Don’t forget to check out Nikkie’s Part I on Christmas In July specials, artfire studios,Zibbet and Etsy spotlights for more great shops that may be having special summer promotions.

Edited by Barbra aka: All About The Buttons

By Contributing Columnist Jay aka HaffinaCreations

I am a Polymer Clay artist, and one of the best things for me about being involved with Polymer Clay are all the other ‘Smooshers’. One of my absolute favourites happens to be the Guildmaster of the Polymer Clay Smooshers on ArtFire, and one of my best friends. It gives me much pleasure to introduce you to Coltpixy aka Star.

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
Small sculptures, scale miniatures and some jewelry and accessories.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
I love and collect fairies. I have 100’s of them ranging from sculptures to paintings to just about anything. Magnets, a zippo lighter, pretty much anything. Many are handmade, some are not. A ColtPixy is a mischievous fairy.

How long have you been selling online?
I’ve been on ArtFire since 2008.

What lead you to join ArtFire?
I learned about ArtFire from an ad they had on a blog I read. I did not join it immediately. It was very new and I didn’t like the way it looked but I thought it had promise so kept an eye on it. I saw them make changes based on the sellers input. The staff were friendly and approachable. I joined and have been very
happy there.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
I like how buyers do not have to register on ArtFire to buy. I love that the studios are customizable so that they reflect the individual sellers. There are lots of great tools.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Read the Help guides. There are many available giving step by step advice along with screen shots to help you learn not only how to use ArtFire but how to use SEO and even payment processors, various networking sites, etc. ArtFire wants you to be successful and not just on their site but everywhere.

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
A sense of playfulness. I really hope that my shop and the things that I create make people smile.

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
Everything from my colorful banner and avatar to the items that I make.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
I have worked in many different mediums over the years. Right now my favorite is polymer clay. The possibilities of what can be done with it are endless.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
I would very much like to play with precious metal clay.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
It has changed quite a bit over time. My first job was as a teenager designing and painting murals and huge signs for a big real estate company in Texas. The man who owned the company saw some of my pieces
that my high school art teacher had entered in a gallery show and liked my work.

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
Time management. I live in a rural area where the only internet option is dial-up. For me the most challenging thing is having time to do everything I need to do online and still have time to create, take care of family and other offline responsibilities. No matter where you sell online or offline people cannot buy from you if they do not know who you are so I have to schedule time to network and promote at various sites online.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
I can’t stand to sit for very long so I go back and forth from online to offline. I am blessed to have wonderful people in my life both online and offline. They are all very important to me.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
I don’t think I understand the question. I really need all of them from every medium.

Drop into ColtPixy on ArtFire and see her fantastic Polymer Clay creations, you will not regret it.



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By Contributing Columnist Jay aka HaffinaCreations

The ability to crochet well amazes me, the ability to crochet well with wire astounds me. Catrin aka Catswire from Germany crochets with wire, incredibly well. She graciously agreed to answer my questions.

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
I sell mostly jewelry crocheted, knitted or spool knitted from wire, beads and nowadays polymer clay. I just started to list my wire crochet sculptures as well.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
The name came up with itself, even before I opened an online store. I have been called Cat by my friends forever and I work with wire.

How long have you been selling online?
Since February 2009.

What lead you to join ArtFire?
I saw a report about Etsy on German TV. When I looked it up on the net, I stumbled upon ArtFire. A few people from the handmade jewelry forum that I had joined already had ArtFire studios. Their experiences sounded good, so I decided to give it a try.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
That is a tough question. ArtFire has lots of great features, like the Etsy importer, the Tweet button, the global editor, the possibility to edit/delete/deactivate an item right from the listing, the merchandizer and they add new ones all the time. If I have to choose one, it would be the global editor.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Work on your pictures. Online shopping means your pictures really have to bring across the message of what you sell, so show your item from all sides if necessary. Size is important. Even if you tell about the size in your description, it is helpful to show scale in one of the picture, may it be a necklace around a neck or a miniature with a coin. Be creative using your tags. Think about how you shop online first and then list accordingly.
And get your name out there!

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
In fact I want them to feel comfortable and have fun. I want people to feel they are welcome, no matter if they want to spend a small amount, a large one or just have a look and want to ask something.

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
I try to bring across the message that beneath the avatar and a banner there is a human. I hope customers will be able to tell from my bio, from my descriptions etc. that they are welcome and that they can talk to me.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
My favorite tool is always the one I use at the moment, but I’m still addicted to the crochet hook. For someone like me who didn’t like to crochet with yarn it’s unusual to love it so much when I do it with wire. The possibilities seem to be endless and I’m sure I have barely started yet.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
I would like to learn how to make lampwork beads. Glass has always been fascinating to me.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
I added items made differently, but I still sell the same kind of items as well.

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
Taking pictures and promoting myself. I never used to take many photos before I started selling online, but I experiment a lot and try to catch up on things I don’t know yet.
Promoting myself is hard because I don’t like to talk about myself much. I joined social networks and try to learn from others how to do it right, though.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
As I have a daytime job , I do have an offline life automatically. I meet friends, I love to watch movies, but I have to admit that my craft follows me everywhere. It’s easy to take it along, I craft during my commute, during the lunch break and so on. If there is a real balance, I seriously don’t know.
What I know is that sometimes I have a phase in which I try to cut down on computer time. I guess I need that to get back into balance.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
In the beginning I got too many large beads because I couldn’t resist them. I try to cut down on that and just buy what I really will be able to use.

Catswire on Artfire is well worth a visit, you may not want to leave.

By Publisher Sue aka Alongcomesmary
If you haven’t found Twitter you are missing out! Because now there is a new website brought to you by Indiesmiles.com, a twitter app of sorts that provides tweets from only handmade and vintage shops! Happy Made Tweets finds those who post on twitter about Etsy, Folksy, Artifre and Zibbet!

If you haven’t had a relationship with Happy Made Tweets then you haven’t found the handmade and vintage FUN! When visiting Indiesmiles sister website this morning, some tweets stood our and caught attention! The following Tweets provide some insight as to which tweets can be eye catchers and helpful when promoting your business!

It’s amazing to watch Happy Made Tweets, because it shows that most people that are promoting on Twitter seem to be Tweeting about Etsy shops. Where are all the sellers from the various other venues? If you sell on another website, such as Zibbet, your tweets will show up on Happy Made Tweets as well, so use Twitter to your advantage and promote away!

The following Tweets are a great example of what you can do to not only get your shop and your items noticed, but how you can be a thoughtful Tweeter!

Jacksknits offered this tweet:

“JACKSKNITS 10% off all items in my folksy shop until 25/6/10 …..please message me first http://www.folksy.com/shop/jacksknits ”
What a great way to get the word out about her sale!

Jacky from Folksy indicated that custom orders are always welcomed!

This next seller tweeted about being a busy bee!:

“AnnabelBurton I have been busy! >http://www.folksy.com/shops/cherrytree”

“I love combining sewing, knitting and crochet altogether and this bag combines all three. I like the fact that the strap unties so can be adjusted and is plenty long enough to wear across the body.

Sometimes general Tweets also can grab people’s attention!

Here is an Etsy Tweet that gained attention on Happy Made Tweets, it was actually a RT

“monikadesign @demure4you TY so much! RT So Cute! RT @monikadesign: NEW! Ladybug Coasters set of 4 by MonikaDesign on #Etsy http://ow.ly/1Xsyx #handmade”

Monikadesign is a lucky gal, there were many Etsy tweets, but this one is an eye catcher!
Seems that Indiesmiles it not the only place where MonikaDesign’s is featured, seems that she was interviewed by
“Woman’s First” magazine in 2009! Congrats Monikadesign’s!

RT help others, it’s always a nice way to PIF on Twitter!

An Artfire tweet from a very grateful studio owner!

“sisterjewelry SJ’’s Pink Lemonade Watch http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1336031 ”

“I feel very honored.I’d love to be in your article.Please send me a link, and Ill make sure it gets around to others….”
Giving your item a catchy name often makes people curious!

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By Contributing Columnist Jennifer aka Haffina Creations

I find beautiful jewellery inspiring, and I love to learn more about what drives other jewellery makers. Let me introduce you to a wonderful jewellery maker who sells through ArtFire. Her name is Natasha and she is the creative force behind Mother’s Love. I wanted to learn more about her online selling experience, so I posed her some questions.

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
Affordable, beautiful jewelry. From special occasion to night on the town, to just your every day style.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
I started the studio so I could spend more time at home with my son. So it really was out of a Mother’s Love

How long have you been selling online?
I’ve been selling online since July of 09, but creating long before then.

What lead you to join ArtFire?
I joined Artfire because I really loved all the features and promise that the site has.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
At the moment, my favorite feature is the merchandiser. I like to be able to pick and choose what the customers are going to see first.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Go Pro! There are so many more perks once you go verified. It shows the customers that you are committed and all in all is just a good investment.

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
Natural. I want them to feel good in their own skin. Take pride in the style you love!

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
I stay true to myself. If I start to create something and it just doesn’t seem like something I personally like, then I’m not comfortable with pushing it on to someone else.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
I’m really enjoying the wirewrap. I’m totally amazed at how a piece of metal can be molded and shaped how you want it to!

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
I’d love to work with making my own glass beads. It’s something I’d like to learn in the future.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
My passion has always been jewelry. Different shapes, styles, colors..but always jewelry.

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
Communication. Sometimes your offline time gets in the way of being able to communicate as often as you’d like.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
I try to spend at least a couple hours tweaking and promoting in the mornings. But my attention first and foremost goes to the little man. When he’s occupied, it’s much easier to be online.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
All sorts. I could have a ton of beads, spacers, findings, that I forgot I had and still shop for more. I’m like, “ooooh, I like!” and then I buy. It’s like an addiction.

Natasha has a wonderful eye for detail, and a visit to her ArtFire Studio, Mother’s Love, is well worth it. And even if you do not find something for yourself, you might find something for a Mother you love.