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.

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.
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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 columnist Deanne aka: DeannePace
Photo courtesy of WookieHeadGifts

Who hasn’t imagined one of your very own original designs gracing the pages, or even the cover, of a magazine? Well, it could happen to you and it’s not as intimidating as you might think. With new DIY magazines popping up all the time, there is sure to be one dedicated to your art or craft.

The first step is to find the perfect magazine to showcase your work. Interweave or Kalmbach Publishing are a couple of good places to start. All You Can Read also has a long list. Or, just search the internet for magazines about your craft. You may already have a favorite!

The next step is to obtain the submission guidelines for the magazine you choose. Magazines often post their “submission guidelines” on their website, if they accept submissions. Here is an example of submission guidelines from Create and Decorate.

The submission guidelines vary, but most require you to first submit photos of your completed design and a brief description of the process and materials for consideration. Once your design submission has been accepted, you will be asked for detailed step-by-step instructions and materials list. You will probably also be asked to mail in the finished item for photographing by the magazine. (Don’t worry, it will be returned!) It may take several weeks to hear from the magazine. Don’t be discouraged! There is plenty to do while you await their response.
If you haven’t already written your detailed, step-by-step instructions, now is the time to start. In my opinion, this is actually the trickiest part – remembering to write down each step without leaving out anything important. A great way to test your instructions is to have someone else try to follow them. If your design is for beginners, try to get someone that is unfamiliar with your craft to be your guinea pig. You will know right away if you left out a step!

Once you are satisfied that your instructions are complete, you can begin photographing the steps, if that is a requirement. If you are not sure that the quality of your photographs is ready for publication, send a sample to the editor for approval before photographing your whole process. Take a photo of each step of your instructions. Photographing next to a window is generally all the light you need. You can have someone photograph photograph the steps as you do them, but it’s entirely possible to photograph them yourself if your camera has a timer. Either way, use a tripod for super clear photographs. This is one instance where out-of-focus isn’t the desired effect. Edit your photographs for each step before taking photos of the next step. This will save you lots of headaches, not to mention time and materials.

Submit a good, clear photo of each step. The magazine may not use all the photos, but that’s the editor’s decision.

Once accepted, you may not see your article in print for six months to a year and the pay is probably not enough for you to retire. But, it’s fabulous advertising and you’re getting paid for it! Plus, you have just added another facet to your business. The magazine will generally post a short bio along with your photo and website or contact info so you will have a brand-new audience, not only for your finished artwork, but also for your tutorials should you decide to sell them online. There are many possibilities! You might find you love writing tutorials and become a regular contributor. This, in turn, could lead to writing your own book or collaborating with others on a book about your favorite craft. Or teaching!

Not ready to jump head-first into a tutorial? Or give up your trade secrets? Instead, you might want to submit a photo of your completed design for the reader’s gallery of your favorite magazine. Many magazines also post a reader’s galleries in their online version. It’s a great way to see your work in print and get some free publicity at a fraction of the effort of a complete tutorial!

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Photo courtesy of Proofreader

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By columnist Pam of ElectricPenguin
Photo courtesy of Gigglebot

Are you one of the world’s worst typists? Do you type words that your spell checker thinks are legit, but you don’t? Have you copied a listing description multiple times only to find that there was a very obvious typo, and now you have to edit 10 items to fix it? I plead guilty to all of the above. In fact, I recently discovered that my shop title had the word “jewelry” misspelled in it!!!! How embarrassing!

Even professional print shops can miss things. I once saw an announcement card for a doctor’s office that was relocating. It was being sent to all of their patients, suppliers, and referrals. The word “Batter” in the title had three t’s!! It had gone through multiple reviews too, so it was kind of surprising that no one saw it until after it was printed. That was a very expensive typo to miss!

Photo courtesy of DinkyDaisy

So I’m here to stress proofreading your descriptions, titles, tags, profiles, announcements, etc. Appearance is everything in the on-line world, and your photos, titles, and descriptions are what draws people into your shop and keeps them there. Let’s also realize that mistyped words may mess up Google Analytics.

The first step is to spell check – if you have access to a program that does that. Unfortunately, it can’t catch things like “tot he” for “to the” and “from” instead of “form” (my most common typos!). Oh, but I wish it could!!! Next, you should SLOWLY reread everything to be sure. Does it make sense to you? Is the grammar correct? Do you read it and wonder if maybe you typed it in your sleep because it’s so bad? If you have the Google toolbar, there is a spell check there. It comes in handy when you are writing while on-line.

After you’ve double checked it, have someone else give it a once over. You’d be amazed what other people see that you might skip over! I’m notorious for skimming over words like “not.” Sometimes that can be vital to the sentence! One seller I talked to had her 10 year old son proofread. He was really good at it too! If you’re a member of a team, you could ask them to take a look. They also might see important things that are missing, such as size or color of an item.

Hopefully this gave you a few tips to help improve your shop!

P.S I had 5 typos in this!!

Slide photo courtesy of sbartist
Edited by Barbra aka All About The Buttons

By Columnist Nina aka: mamaslittletreasures
Image courtesy of free-slideshow

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” We’ve all heard it before, and we all understand that if you ever want to get anywhere, you have to get started by taking that first step. But sometimes we feel so overwhelmed by all of the information, options, opportunities, and possibilities that bombard us everywhere we look, that it is common to feel completely confused. And when we get confused and overwhelmed, we just don’t do anything at all. Too many choices. Have you ever gone into a store and even though you really wanted to buy something, there were just so many choices that in frustration you just walked out without buying anything at all? That’s one of those times when you really need a list!

Perhaps you have also heard these words of wisdom: “The way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.” That’s the image you need to keep in mind at all times when you are trying to reach your goal . . . whatever YOUR goal might be. Probably YOUR goal is not to eat an elephant – but whatever you see out there in front of you might seem just as huge, just as overwhelming, and just as impossible as eating an elephant.

So HOW do you reach your goals in life, when everywhere you look you see obstacles that seem insurmountable? One thing that has kept me focused at times when life felt confusing and uncertain is this one little thought: “Just do the next thing.” I know that seems rather simplistic, but when you can’t see beyond the next thing, right in front of you, THAT is one thing that you can do.

What does that look like in reality? Here are a few things that have helped me sort through the explosion of information that sometimes makes me feel as if I’m drowning in words:

1. Make a list. How obvious is that? But don’t just make a list, break down your goals in measureable increments.

* For instance, say you want to start a business making bean bags. Here is how your list might start out:

A. Design five different bean bags

B. List all necessary supplies to purchase.

C. Schedule a specific time to shop for supplies.

D. Schedule a specific time to create 20 bean bags (4 ea. of 5 different designs)

2. Create inventory. Set aside one afternoon to make as many beanbags as you can to get started. Then schedule another specific block of time to make another batch.

3. Set up online shop to list and sell inventory (Etsy, Zibbet, Bonanzle, eBay, etc.)

A. Create personalized banner / brand

B. Stock your shop with inventory you have created

4. Establish online connections to promote your product:

A. Facebook fan page

B. Twitter account

C. IndieSmiles where you can participate in Happy Made Tweets at www.happymadetweets.com

D. LinkedIn account

E. Other social marketing / networking websites

5. Continue creating more inventory, stock your shop consistently, post your sales, promos, discounts, etc. regularly on your FB page, Twitter, and IndieSmiles.

6. Anywhere along the line in this list of “next steps” that you don’t know HOW to do something, simply ask for help! There are lots of people here at IndieSmiles who can either help you with a task or we know someone who can. Just let us know!

Now this is obviously a very simplified version of what it takes to reach your goals . . . . but if you simply don’t know WHERE to start, this is a great way to get going. Why? Because all of the projects on the list are SPECIFIC. That’s what it takes if you want to “just do the next thing.” You have to know what the “next thing” is! When you make your list, it might be different than this one, but here are the requirements for putting together a list that will work for you:

* Everything on your list must be SPECIFIC – don’t put down “make stuff someday,” but instead put down “make 20 beanbags on Thursday.”

* Everything on your list must be MEASUREABLE – again, don’t just put down “set up online shop someday,” but instead put down “set up Etsy shop Tuesday night.”

* Everything on your list must be “CHECKABLE” – what that means is that you need to be able to KNOW when something is finished / completed, so that you can check it off of your list. Why is this important? Because then you will see your progress!

So, list-making is not easy for all of us, but I promise you if you can learn how to be a successful “list-maker” you can reach any goal, simply by “just doing the next thing” on the list. And since I’m such a great “list-maker,” I would be happy to help you with your specific list-making project. Just shoot me an email and I’ll see what I can do to help you get that list started and get you on your way to reaching your own goals.

Slide show photo courtesy of PreciousKnitsShop
Edited by Barbra aka: All About The Buttons

Photos and article by Columnist Deanne of DeannePace

Our family (me, my husband and five dogs) took to the road this spring for a really long camping trip. Although my husband had wanted to take this trip for several years, his job and other things had gotten in the way. But this spring, the sun and moon and stars aligned in such a way that we were finally able to take his longed-for trek Out West. Now, I love a road trip as much as anyone, maybe more, but I was hesitant to be separated from my work and tools for an extended period of time. If you are like me, you can get a tiny bit crabby if don’t create every few days. But, my super sweet husband bought me a Stanley Fat Max rolling tool chest that held just about everything I needed – so off we went!

I didn’t really expect to have the time or opportunity to make many pieces – and I was right. But I felt better just having my tools and supplies with me. As it turned out, the time and opportunity to create something fun presented itself within our first week on the road and in a way I hadn’t expected.

As we traveled through the Ozarks in Arkansas, we happened upon the most idyllic place to camp, called Byrd’s Adventure Center. It was early in May and we were weeks ahead of tourist season, so we had the place pretty much to ourselves. Now, that is the way to camp! And we were so grateful that they would allow our five furry kids. After my husband checked us in, he came back regaling me with stories about the resident dogs: Skip, the dog in charge, and Blackie, who had apparently been abandoned there. (Don’t feel too sorry for Blackie – this is a place any dog, heck, any person, would be glad to be abandoned.)

Skip is the owner’s little dog and is obviously the apple of his mother’s eye, in addition to being top dog in charge. After meeting them, I just felt inspired to create something to honor their special bond. So, I rolled out the Fat Max, took out my tools and got to work at a nearby picnic table. The piece I created was a little sterling bone-shaped pendant, stamped with Skip’s name, accented with a tiny cream pearl and hung on a dog-tag type chain. I wrapped the necklace in my signature box and ribbon and waited for the right time to present it; I’m always uncomfortable watching someone open my gift, especially something I made!

When Mrs. Byrd came by our campsite, I gave her the gift, told her it was something for her and Skip and insisted she open it a later time. I didn’t see her again before we headed out, but my husband stopped by the office and told me she was wearing the necklace and said she really liked it! I was so pleased.

It was fun and gratifying to make something with no strings or expectations attached. I didn’t have to price it, photograph it, describe it, or post it anywhere. I also got reacquainted with some little-used tools and experimented with some new techniques, like fusing.

I had to leave behind my beloved and much-used bench grinder (too big), which gave me the opportunity to brush up on hand filing (yikes!). Soldering was not feasible since I also had to leave my pickle pot behind (too dangerous). This gave me the opportunity to experiment with fusing fine silver. I think I need to take a class! But, I finally produced a fused heart pendant that stayed together! I was also able to use my favorite cold connection technique – riveting!

It was just so liberating to realize that I could complete a project on the road, outside the conveniences of my studio. Kind of like artists who paint en plein air – I was metalsmithing en plein air – and it felt good!

edited by Barbra aka: AllAboutTheButtons

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.