Written by columnist Rebecca of RaigeCreations
Slide and above photo courtesy of kitschville

What is it that men want? And how do we find it? These are questions that have plagued women since the beginning of time. Since joining the world of handmade and its venues for showcasing handmade, this question has been in the back of my mind. It is particularly challenging to find things men want in general, and even more so on these sites. My searches to find things for my husband has led me nowhere. I expressed this frustration to him, and he finally said, “I will look and see what I can find.” He found things within minutes! I should note he is an artist, and has very specific tastes which usually makes any search to find him things he likes near impossible. So how did he find things on Etsy and Zibbet so fast?

The first and most important thing I noticed is how he searched differently than I typically do. His searches are specific to things he likes or thinks are interesting, not broad terms like I would search. Then he weeds through to find things that surprise him.

He likes motorcycles, so he searched ‘motorcycle parts’, not motorcycles as I would have. He was surprised to find this cool clock lamp made from motorcycle parts by ChromeSculptures. He likes clocks and lamps, but would never search for those things. Add motorcycle parts to these things and it goes in the cart with a simple click.

As an artist exploring sculpture, he searched ‘contemporary sculpture’, not sculptures as I would have, and found this artist, Uturn. A figurative sculpture he liked pulled him into the store, but he really found his interest in the masks, and picked this great mask to add to his collection.

A search for just ‘masks’ would have yielded too many results not even close to his tastes.

My search terms led to very different finds, and the creators I found did not lead me to items he would impulsively purchase like these things he found. They weren’t ‘man-friendly terms’. For example, a clutch to him relates to a transmission, not a handbag. I never thought of that!

His searches generally do not use the plural, mine often do. His searches used terms that were specific to his liking while still general in terminology, a method I would have never thought of. And of course, once the search results come up, what peaks his curiosity takes him to an artist, and once in their shop, he finds the “it” he has been looking for without setting out to find it. My searches seem to be less of an adventure than his, but more an end results oriented search. We end up going down completely different paths, he finds items he impulsively must have, and I find items that he should have but probably will not like.

Acting on his attraction to vintage, he searched ‘skeleton key’, and was lead to coldtententacle’s shop, and ultimately to this great pocket watch. I never thought he would be interested in keys so that search did not occur to me, but that path led him to something else that he loves to collect – pocket watches with visible mechanisms.

He tried a search on Zibbet for fine arts as he is always interested in this market. His search was 2 simple words, ‘contemporary painting‘, not a search of fine art paintings like I may have. It didn’t take long to find Laura Barbosa and her Crystal Skulls painting.

The appeal to this one for him, other than the macabre, is the freedom to re-arrange and display the pieces how you like them best. Perfect for my perfectionist husband who prefers interactive, hands-on pieces.

He also discovered, by checking a tag on an item he found interesting enough to click on, search words can be found in tags. By adding the prefix ‘high end’ to ’sculpture’, seen in a tag, he found this dresser by GArtFurniture, and before I knew it, the cart was overflowing.

The dresser, come to find out, was not actually something he wanted for himself, but for our daughter. So it is true, they will shop for others, but it does have to meet their standards and criteria. In fact, GArtFurniture has another item that does have a very good response from men, a bouquet of hand carved roses, with a secret compartment for a small gift.

Now that is a man shopping with a woman in mind!

In the end, I discovered what my man wants, and how he finds it. We search completely different, follow distinctly different paths, and find entirely different items. My husband finds an item that peaks his curiosity and instinctively follows the path to his must have item. Men seem to shop impulsively. The thrill is in the hunt. The search is following the tracks. The purchase is the kill. Women tend to gather.

Hopefully we all can learn from this and find great handmade treasures for the men in our lives. I need to remember, he likes hard materials: metal, clay, and wood. I like softer materials: yarn, fabric, and sparkly things. Perhaps it is true, I am from Venus, he is from Mars, but now I think know what he wants and how to find it.

Article by columnist Linda aka LindaGJ
Photo above courtesy of NicoleHouff

I happen to have loved dolls since as far back as I can remember!

We all know the rage about Barbie who was born in 1959, G.I. Joe, the Army soldier born into the world in 1964, as well as many other dolls made into the replicas of famous people and action figures. The list is endless!

Historians have traced dolls back to the ancient times used in ceremonies and rituals related to religion. There are so many types of dolls, cult objects to the primitive people, well preserved dolls fashioned out of stone, wood, clay, bone, ivory, and bronze have been found in Egypt, Greece, and Rome!

Dolls were used in a symbolic way, but also as play toys for children. In ancient Greece, examples of puppets with moving arms and legs have been found to be used.

For the Roman Catholics, most crocheted dolls were considered artistic masterpieces and used as representations of the nativity.

Before the 17th century dolls were not limited solely for children, boys and girls, they were also used for adults! Sonneberg, Germany is well known for it’s wooden dolls, and later also became the hub for the heads of dolls and by the dawn of the 19th century were made of china. The Parisian’s began developing dolls that would open and close their eyes, as well as speak!

Dolls have been made out of all kinds of mediums and surely have come a long way! They have evolved into resembling humans, animals, imaginary creatures, and the latest trends and fashions. Adults and children in all cultures, of all races spread throughout the world enjoy playing with the “the little play people”!

I searched for dolls on Etsy and came up with some of my faves, but oh, there are still so many more!
Today’s dolls come in so many forms, I pretty much stuck with the human doll in this article with a few other kinds. These are all handmade and a couple of them are even a “one of a kind” handmade pattern so you can make yourself or gift of a doll!

I hope you enjoy my little journey into the doll world, especially if you love dolls as much as I do. Make sure to enlarge the screen to see these fabulous “one of a kind” handmade dolls I found on Etsy!

Edited by Barbra aka All About The Buttons

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.
.

By Columnist Suzanne aka Nurses Naturally

Since ancient days rings and jewelry in general have represented wealth, power and status.The Greeks and Romans broadened the scope including cultural icons as more detailed designing evolved.

For as long as precious metal and gemstones have been used to create jewelry it has existed as a sign of wealth. Jewelry has also played an important part of religion denoting membership and status within the religion as well as various social groups

During the Medieval period is when rings became popular. All classes of people wore rings from the poorest to the richest. Rings were typically made of iron, copper, silver, and gold. The material of the ring worn usually indicated the class of the wearer.

Here is an interesting example in lovely leather by Dragonskins.

Mary of Burgundy became the first known recipient of a diamond engagement ring from the Archduke Maximilian of Austria. The history and tradition of the engagement ring began with this gift in 1477. Depending on the culture and country, engagement and wedding rings may be worn on different fingers.

One of the best known designs is the Irish Claddagh that also has an intriguing story attached to it.

Richard Joyce was among the crew of a fishing boat from the village of Claddagh, Ireland that was captured. He was to have been married that very same week. During slavery Richard Joyce was put to the trade of goldsmithing. Through the years of capture neither married. Richard Joyce created a ring for his love with a heart for love, a crown for loyalty, and two hands.

After Joyce escaped, he returned to the village of Claddagh and was overjoyed to see his love again and to know she had never married. She always knew he would return to her. He gave her the ring that has become known as the Claddagh ring. If the Claddagh is worn on the right hand with the crown inward (toward the wrist) the heart is not yet committed. If it is worn on the right hand with the crown turned outward the wearer is committed to someone. Finally, if it is worn on the left hand with the crown outward it means “Let our love and friendship reign forever, never to be separated.”

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-Rings&id=51128

This example is from the shop of clodaghmjewellery.

She says of her experience and this set “I am an Irish, Dublin based Jeweller. I have a degree in Craft Design and Metal work from the National College of Art and Design and my work has been purchased by the National Gallery of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin. I have always had a love of Irish History and Culture. I first thought of using reference to the historical design of the Claddagh, when I was asked to design jewellery for a Jewellery manufacturer here in Ireland. While looking through their range of traditional Claddagh Jewellery. I thought I could make a modern version without losing the essential elements of the Claddagh. Love, Loyalty and Friendship. What I produce is a ring that can be instantly recognized as a Claddagh ring but can be worn by the modern and discerning jewellery lover.”

From Rickson Jewellery we find another version of this timeless ring. Rickson is an independent jewellery artist and designer who creates high quality, unique creations in precious metals and gemstones. She works exclusively with the lost wax casting technique which means she carves her ideas in wax and then casts them in the desired metal.

She says of this ring,”…the classic design has the hands holding the heart in what I consider a very detached manner. When I was commissioned to create a ‘funky, modern’ claddagh ring I was so excited, I wanted to find the ‘essence’ of the Claddagh ring. Since it’s about love, closeness, loyalty and faith, I finally settled on the position of the hands cupping the heart in a more intimate manner. I love my Claddagh ring design because it melds the traditional elements of the hands, heart, and crown, into a modern, heartfelt, artistic ring. ”

Puzzle rings, are also sometimes called Turkish Wedding Rings or Harem Rings. The story is told that in ancient times a Turkish nobleman was so in love with his wife that he wanted to be sure she was faithful to him while he was away. He asked his jeweler to make a puzzle ring for his wife that would fall apart when removed, and he would not tell her the solution.

A traditional puzzle ring is a type of finger ring made up of four, six, eight, or twelve interconnected rings. Contemporary designs include rings of three, five or seven bands. Puzzle rings often appear to be endless knots.

From the shop of nellyvansee: I got interested in puzzle rings when I found an ancient puzzle ring in an antique shop. It’s so old the person didn`t have any of the modern tools to make it. Everything was hand made, even the wire was just hammered down. I looked at how it was made for months trying to figure it out. It took us about 2-3 months too come up with a functional puzzle ring design.”

Another category of interest includes gemstones and birth stones. It is difficult to determine with any certainty in what country precious stones were first worn as ornaments, but the consensus of opinion seems to point to India.
Around the world and throughout the ages, people have noticed and appreciated the beauty of gemstones, often assigning these gems special powers. Many, like amethysts, have interesting histories and the details may be found through various museum, geology and internet sources.
Remember next time you put on or purchase a ring…there may be some great history behind it.
Slide photo courtesy of cavaliercreations.

ShareThis

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

This Part I series of Christmas in July is by:

Contributing Columnist Nicole M., Sugar Shox Craftsaka
Nicole M., Sugar Shox Crafts

So many sales, so many items…so little time! The Christmas spirit is in full swing on Etsy this month during the site wide Christmas in July sale.

The Christmas in July sale is a long-held tradition among many Etsy sellers. It is offered on an individual shop basis, with each shop offering its own special offers. These offers can range from free or discounted shipping, percentages off on sales, free items with purchase (“Buy One, Get One Free,” for example) to special items that are exclusively listed for the CIJ sale.

CIJ has a huge list of participants this year. The sale’s organizer, Cindy (aka DesignedbyLucinda), said there are at least 750 shops participating in the sale and more are signing up for it daily. Interest in the sale grows each day—the original post in the Etsy Forums that announced the sale has had 2,687 replies at the time of this writing, and continues to be resurrected each day on the fast moving Business Topics message board.

Anything allowed to be sold on Etsy is on sale as part of CIJ.

“Soaps, jewelry, vintage, food, holiday items, clothing, art—you name it, someone is probably having a Christmas in July sale for it,” said Cindy. “Some shops even have Christmas in July sections dedicated to the event.”

The CIJ sale is a handy marketing tool for sellers, as well. Historically, it is a retail marketing plan for boosting sales during a month where business would normally be slow, Cindy said.

“It feels like Christmas to sellers, because July can be one very slow, broke month,” she said.

Don’t wait until Christmas, though, to take advantage of CIJ! The official sale only runs until July 25th. Luckily, many sellers like Minifood and The Whirlwind are extending their sales to at least July 31st. A more extensive list of sellers who are extending their CIJ sales can be found here.

Here are a sampling of even more extended Christmas in July sales from other sellers; Crochetize is offering 20% off orders, and also free shipping when two items are purchased. Purchase any 4 items at SupplyOwl’s shop featuring paper goods and embellishments, and receive a free item (no limit!). Finally, Dishhandbags is having a “Buy One, Get One Half Off” sale on everything in her shop!

Still interested in participating in CIJ as a seller? It’s not too late to sign on! Sellers can keep their sale up for as long as they’d like. There are no sign up forms to fill out to join in, just follow these steps:
• Tag the items you are offering for the sale with christmasinjuly and/or cij tags.
• Mention your sale in your shop’s announcement message.
• Add a short passage about your CIJ sale in your item descriptions, if you’d like.

Don’t forget to promote your sale! Use your blog, Facebook, Twitter, the Promotions Forum on Etsy…the sky’s the limit to all the ways to promote it, and it’s up to each seller to get their name out there!

“Spread the word yourself, because that brings the best results…ultimately we have to create our own buzz,” Cindy said. “People won’t know about the CIJ online sale unless they know it exists, so shout the word!”

ShareThis

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.

Article by columnist Linda aka LindaGJ

“My favorite subjects are drawn from nature, my imagination, childhood fairy tales, dreams, and occassionally a combination of all the above.”

Deborah Hill grew up in the Appalachian foothills of northern Alabama and she has been living and working in Houston, Texas since 1992.

“Art has always been a part of my world. My grandmother was a bird watcher and I enjoyed sharing that knowledge as a child. We would sit on her front porch and draw birds together, talking about the color of their feathers and the different calls each bird made, what color eggs they laid, and which one migrated. I found it all fascinating and still do.”

“My grandfather was a storyteller and could spin a yarn so well that my head would fill with images of talking animals, trolls and pixies.”

“My Dad is also quite the talented artist even though he never pursued it as a career. He would often sketch us at the table when we were doing our homework.
He’s especially good with the human figure. He knew so much about the natural world as well and would point out specific characteristics about trees, plants, animals, and their habits. He’d also talk about the changes that occurred with the seasons. I really appreciate having learned how to observe nature from my family; it has a huge influence in the art I produce today.”

Deb grew up in the country at a time when there were no computers or gaming gadgets. The television was black and white and there were only two channels, so naturally she spent a lot of time reading in the summer. She read in color!

“It was great fun to “redo” the illustrations in storybooks to me, Grimm’s Fairy Tales is and incredible source for the imagination. Authur Rackham remains one of my favorite artists/illustrators. I was enthralled with Frank Frazetta too. He did all those wonderful covers for the Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan series and I read them all! Then I would try and copy the art from the book jackets or paint pictures of other passages from the book.”

“You know when you used to ask children what they wanted to be when they grew up? The girls would say ‘a nurse’ and the boys would say ‘a fireman’. I knew when I was 5 years old that I would be an artist. It is my personal opinion that we are all born creators of some sort and as we grow older we forget that important part of ourselves.”

After Deb went to college, she began painting large outdoor murals, billboards, and faux finishing for two decades! She was also taking private watercolor classes with Wayne Spradley, which is now one of her favorite mediums!

“I enjoy working with acrylic in thin layered washes in much the same manner as watercolor. Mixing various water media, such as watercolor, gouche, inks, and acrylic continue to fascinate me. I’m most comfortable working with acrylic, but prefer the challenges that watercolor presents. I’m also a wee bit compulsive about adding ink to my pieces.”

Trees, with an unique quality of Deb’s, are actually her very most favorite subjects to paint.

“My preferred time of year to observe trees is in the winter. This time of year, when the leaves fall, I miss that. Oh I love the shade summer trees provide and the beautiful colors of fall, but there is something starkley majestic about a tree with all it’s limbs exposed and spread against the sky. I think I must have something to do with the feeling the quietude and patient anticipation of the coming of spring. Trees are my favorite subjects to paint. I have a few old friends I watch through the seasons around the neighborhood.”

Deb has participated in several group shows in Houston, has artwork and murals in private homes and public institutions. She lives with her husband, Greg, and a menagerie of pets, paint, and adult children flowing in and out of their home.

To see more of Deb Hill’s work please go to:
www.DebHillArt.com

or DebHillArt

Check out Indiesmiles “Happy Made Tweets“

Articled edited by Barbra aka All About The Buttons

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!

?