Obama vs McCain

Nope, no political rant here. Fooled ya didn't I? Although, I do have a preference, I'll never tell! Just a little preview of what Etsy sellers have to offer as far as campaign goodies. Republican or Democrat, you'll have plenty to choose from this election year. I think that as we get closer to November, the number of shops offering political merchandise will only increase. Alas, poor Hillary has all but disappeared, but if she pulls out a VP nomination, she's sure to make a comeback. In the meantime, check out the shops above and below for some fun and cool Obama and McCain paraphernalia.

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Sale or Bust! ~ Final Update

After 2 weeks of experimenting with the renewing/listing v.s. not renewing/listing I've come to the conclusion that yes, renewing and or listing does actually make a difference. On the days where I didn't even look at my shop, there wasn't much activity, but when I kept myself at the top of the searches by listing and/or renewing I got much more traffic which actually equated into a few sales. So, in order not to be invisible, listing and/or renewing must be made a priority. So, ok Etsy, lesson learned. :)

Free Shipping Special!

So for the rest of the summer, I'll be offering Free Shipping to the US and Canada! I'm very excited about this sale. I personally love Free Shipping, so I hope buyers will appreciate it as well. I wish I could do this for international customers too, but this would cut into my profit margin way too much. Yay for Free Shipping!!!! Check it out :)

A Viewless Day

Wow, unless majaba has gone totally wonky, I've had 0 views to my shop today! Yikes, is all I have to say. How's a girl suppose to sell anything? I did have a sale yesterday, from the promos thread of all places, and lots of views, but today, nothing. I'm seriously hoping it's a glitch even though the views count were supposed to be fixed. :(

Update: It's official, majaba is wonky! My views are now going down, and not only is that impossible but I just had a sale so obviously I'm getting traffic.

Etsy Find - Designs by CDChilds

Designs by CDChilds is a wonderfully eclectic Etsy shop. Aside from the beautiful recycled glass cheese spreader set (pictured to the left), you can find many unique glass jewelry pieces. The postage stamp pieces are lovely and I'm in love with the watch part pendants (pictured below). There are also sun catchers, business card holders, and sticky note holders. They are all made with glass which is the unifying theme. These one of a kind creations make perfect gifts. You could knockout your whole Christmas list in this shop and if you don't believe me, visit it here and just try not to buy something!

Carriers Cozy Cottage ~ Etsy Featured Seller of the Day

Honestly, the allure of vintage just never gets old. We all love searching for those must have treasures from days gone by. The Etsy revolution has only added more fuel to that fire and vintage anything and everything can be found on the site at just about any time. A wonderful shop I recently discovered is just one of such hidden treasures you can "discover", so to speak. It is CarriersCozyCottage. This seller has vintage items that evoke a cottage feel. I should also interject that I adore cottage decor! So as you can imagine, this shop is right up my alley and it will be right up yours when you check it out. Whether you're looking for vintage jewelry, or home decor items, this shop has got you covered! Oh and you have to feast your eyes on these gorgeous one of a kind pillowcases pictured below. How cute are they? Oh my, so many shops so little money er time...

A Few of my Favorites ~ Supplies

So we all know supplies are big business on Etsy. Alas, I too have succumb to the temptation. So let me go ahead and share just a few of the supply sellers I've purchased from. First there is KnotartOverstok. If you need shipping envelopes, stop by here, she's got great prices. In fact, her whole store has great prices! Next on my list, is ThisOldHenHouse, I know, I know, not a supply shop, but she's always got these great tags, which I just adore! Finally, there is BearlyTimetoScrap. Again, a great variety here and awesome prices, but my absolute favorites are the envelopes n mini notes, check out that section here.

Ok, so go shopping!!! lol :)

BLOSSOMS on Etsy

If you're looking for beautiful flower arrangements at a super affordable price, Blossoms on Etsy is where you need to go. You know why? Because not only are the flowers beautiful but they will last you forever. Yes, forever. How you ask? Because they are made out of clay! I know, I couldn't believe it either, they look so completely real I was dumbfounded. The roses are spectacular, and the gardenias, well, they're just gorgeous. Can you imagine how awesome these would be for a wedding? All I have to say is this girl is talented!

Sale or Bust - Day 9 - Update

Sales count is up to 5 sales! I've listed and renewed today 3 times :) Both items sold were new listings. Conclusion so far: there is really no right or wrong way to do this, as long as you can list and/or renew consistently, I think it gives you a better advantage. It is still early though, so let's see if I turn out to be right :)

Sale or Bust - Day 9

So a few days ago, I decided to start renewing some items in hopes of making some sales. On the first day, I didn't sell anything, but on the second day I sold two things. I'm not sure the renewing had anything to do with it though. I've renewed in small batches since and just today had another sale. I've also been listing new items though, so I have to count the renewing and the new listings. I think that a combination of the two is the best way to go. If you have no new items to list, then renew, but if you've got stuff to list, then list. I will continue to update in the coming weeks, wish me luck! Sales count so far: 3 :) Oh, and I should mention that two of the items sold were yart sale items, go yart!

The Honeybees are Dying

For the first time today I noticed a dying honeybee, he couldn't fly and seemed to be disoriented. Then I noticed another bee already dead. This is truly disturbing. I did some research on this, although I had already heard about the disease affecting them. It is called CCD or colony collapse disorder. Bees are responsible for pollinating all of our fruit and vegetable crops, in fact most crops need honeybees. Nearly all colonies in the wild have already died, and without beekeepers, the rest will die off in a few years. Here is a link to an article that delineates what we can do to help the honeybees. The best site, however, is the Haagen Dazs website, there you can donate directly to the research universities. You can even build your own bee! I made the one at the left :) Check out my Squidoo Page on this very subject too. Please donate if you can. Poor little honeybees :(

Beautiful Memories - Reborn Nursery

Ok, so I've stumbled across this beautiful shop called BeautifulMemories. This artist transforms plain, vinyl dolls into startlingly realistic baby dolls. She has both collectible and child safe ones. One of my most cherished childhood memories is playing with my lifelike baby dolls. We all played mommy, right girls? What a great way to honor your childhood or make memories for your own daughter! Visit BeautifulMemories today, you won't be disappointed :)

Update- Sale or Bust

Turns out I got a Sale! There must be something to the renewing thing, I guess it does keep you visible after all :) Granted it didn't get me a ton of sales, but I'll take it!

Well, It's a Bust!

I've renewed five times since this morning and nothing! Lots of views, even a few hearts, but in the end, no sales. Ah well, there is always tomorrow I suppose, although this is very disheartening. I don't know, but I'm not sure my little business venture will survive past the summer :(

On a happy note, I got a plug board! So feel free to add your plug :)

Sale or Bust!

Ok, after a long dry spell, I'm ready for a sale. I'm renewing every hour on the hour, to see if that nabs me a sale. I've never really renewed before so this is a new step for me. I figure if I get chicken, I can stop after 5 renewals and I'll only be out a dollar, so it can't hurt. Something has gotta get me a sale! I'm visualizing the etsy transaction e-mail coming into my inbox, wish me luck!!! I'll update later :)

Scrabble Tile Pendants by HomeStudio - A Must Have!

Of all the fun finds on Etsy, one of my absolute favorites has got to be scrabble tile pendants. They are just so darling and the design possibilities are endless. Who would have thought that such a thing could be such a great canvas for pendants?

Homestudio's shop has an amazing variety of these pendants and some downright adorable designs. Their wind-up bunny design is one of my favorites. These would make great gifts as well, and with their buy two get one free promotion, you just can't go wrong!

So what are you waitin' for? Go get yourself one of these cuties while the gettin's hot!

Amazing Jewelry Finds on Etsy

Although jewelry is a quite common find on Etsy, there are a few designers that do manage to stand out. For example, dvinedesigns shop is a lovely example of what creativity in design can spring forth. Her pieces are as she puts it, only considered finished when they feel finished.

It's not just about stringing a bead on a cord. It is about the message the artist is trying to convey through their design. This rings true in many areas and aspects of the design and craft world, and jewelry is certainly no exception. When done right, a piece of jewelry can transform a person's overall look and feel. dvinedesigns has got that aspect of her craft down, as far as I am concerned. Don't believe me? Then check out her shop and see for yourself!

Homemade Caramels by Earcmra

Guess what? Etsy is also a great place to find quality foods. In this case, we have Earcmra, a fellow Etsian based in Utah, who makes delectable caramels with a base of farm-fresh butter and sea salt. They are hand rolled and hand cut. My mouth is watering as I write this!

You are able to order as little as 4oz (starting at $5) or up to 2lb of these buttery lovelies. You can get either Vanilla Caramels or get this, Black Licorice Anise Caramels! Yum!

Visit Earcmra's Shop today!

2 Month Etsy Anniversary Approaching

I've been on Etsy for close to two months now, and I have to say, I absolutely love it. I have made some extra cash and have been crafting like crazy! It's so gratifying to have your work accepted and appreciated by others. I never really felt that on Ebay, where I've been selling since 1999. Yes, I made lots of money but the enthusiasm I felt was different. It was just about how much I could make at auction. On Etsy it's about my next inspiration and whether it will be successful or not and whether people will like it.

So what the heck is Etsy you ask? It's an online marketplace for handmade goods and it has acquired quite a following as of late. It's a wonderful way to go into business for yourself and get your feet wet in the online retail market. I'm telling ya, it is very addictive! I urge you to give it a try if you haven't or at least check out the shops. You can sign up as a buyer or a seller, it is absolutely free to do so. Once you open your shop you only pay 20 cents per listing and if your item sells Etsy only charges you 3.5% of the final sale price.

The talent on there is amazing and there is actually a good mix and variety of product. Oh yeah, have I mentioned I've not only sold but bought as well?! You can't help it really, you're bound to fall in love with something.

Another great tool that Etsy provides you with are great networking opportunities. Their forums are always abuzz with all sorts of topics. Hanging out in the forums is a great way to make those valuable connections and first impressions on Etsy.

So I hope to see you there soon!
Mel

My Etsy Store

Hello and Welcome!

I took the plunge! Here's my blog. I will try to update frequently and it will mainly focus on my Etsy store and my musings on crafting, the crafting world and the Etsy world in general. Here we go! Wish me luck!!!!