Great New Stuff on Etsy

I have found this great new thing on Etsy, called "Treasury". Maybe it isn't new, I just never really noticed it, but no matter, it is totally great! It is almost like adding crafters to you "Favorite" section, but stats are counted up on how many hits you get for your choices, and other members can comment on your selection. It brings notice to your shop as well as to those you feature. A win/win if you ask me. I know, you didn't, but I'm saying anyway.

You 've been Punked

 

 

  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d7ead6354f56d91d3447c30/you-ve-been-punked


Now I haven't read the details on exactly how it works, I just jumped right on in and started adding stuff. My first Treasury was started a few days ago, and I have 14 views and 4 clicks.  I have even been included in Viki's Ruby Red Treasury! I don't know what the "clicks" mean, so when I find out, or if any of you do hit me back with the info, I will also include an update to this post with it. It also becomes adictive. You only get thirteen spaces to fill for the treasury, so if you have a theme, you may have to add other treasury pages to get your fix.

You've Been Punked, Again

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d7fc73b1efe8eefe77e5a58/youve-been-punked-again



Ruby Red Polymer Beads as featured on my etsy page

    http://www.etsy.com/people/creationsbikimberly?ref=si_pr

There is also this "Activity " button that directs you to your Activity Feed page. You can choose how much content you want to share with the world. This page basically is a tell all to what you are into on Etsy. It has a really nice look when you add your favorites, circles, and treasury. All this assuming that you are a member of Etsy.

 

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperpiecesbyvicki 

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d7d7a7ac8478eef5584a01d/ruby-red?index=0

I am so sorry, some of you may be new to crafting, and may not know of what I rant. Etsy is a site for the crafty or the craft deficient. If you have a talent for crocheted toe warmers (ooo, I just came up with a new project!) and you want to share with the world at large, and get a little cash as well, Etsy is where you go. It is also the place for finding that special one of a kind, not your every day inspired sloth motor cycle seat cover.
   
Now I'm sure that there are a hundred, million trillion sites out there like that, but some mentioned this to me years ago, and I have not strayed from the path. Oh, I might look at a wannabe web page that offers art, crafts, supplies, and the like, but I always come home.

They have great marketing advise, informative blogs, featured artists, forums,  and very reasonable pricing for listing your items. Even if you don't sell a particular item the first time out, you have spent less than a buck to list your item! You can even request items to be made, or bid to make that item. The best offer, or the one who comes closest to what the client wants, gets the bid. Awesome all the way around.

You can even have a Showcase. This is where you book a spot to have your items featured. They usually go by themes, and if you have product that fits, I say book it! There is a great online safety system for buying and selling, so no worries. Etsy also makes it way easy to pay your bill.

I always open up etsy on another page while I'm listing a project. It is sooo cool to see your stuff just pop up on the screen!

There is so much to inform you of on Etsy, that I just can't list it all off the top of my head. I have included the link here so that you may check all that the craft world has to offer, or at least what Etsy has to offer.

Happy crafting!

http://www.etsy.com/?ref=si_home

Awsome Piece of Work

I don't really have anything to say today, just wanted to share this incredible piece of work. I can truly appreciate this house. I mean this thing looks fully functional. This is the tree house to end all tree houses. Go to the site below, and there are pictures of the interior. The bomb baby! Not the tree house your dad attempted when you were a kid!

 

 

Oregon man thrashes local children in treehouse-building contest

www.gizmag.com

My mistakes, not so bad

OK, for the last several months, I have been attempting to crochet a beanie, then a hat, then I wanted to make a cool shrug. I know, I need to make up my mind. The problem with that is there is so much I want to do, that I get the feeling that I can do it all. But getting back on track. I researched, and researched, and researched. I looked on this website, and that website. I even joined a knitting circle. Shut up, shut up.

Now, I found very cute patterns, but the difficulty level was way too advanced for my talent, or found patterns that were for knitters, or just couldn't find anything  I liked. I mean the yarn gods were against me. Why, what'd I ever do to them? I took a crochet class about a year or so ago, and had some yarn left over from that. I figured that I'd use that, why go out and get into debt for one beanie. Plus, one yarn is as good as another, right? I tried one pattern with what I had, not understanding why it wouldn't work. I tried another pattern with same said yarn, again, weeks worth of set backs; taking the design apart, reworking it. It was a mess, and frustrating as all get out. Let's just say that I'm not experienced enough to substitute patterns.

I will give the novice some advice. Don't go in thinking that you will complete the selected pattern in one day, even if it is simple. You have to first find your own way of holding your yarn and your needles that makes the process comfortable for you. This may take some time. I sometimes don't find my groove until I am just about ready to put the piece down for the day. It just takes time. I know, I'm the last one who should talk. I always feel like I'm doing it wrong. I have been told that it is not wrong, you just have to find your way.

Today,  I  have included the finished product, and I must say that it came out not so bad. I gifted this lovely piece to a friend's daughter, and just got a FB message that the intended absolutely loves it. Like the blogs title says, my mistake, not so bad. I must give a shout out to Yarns Unlimited in Santa Monica, and Brandie for allowing me to take my pictures in the store. When you get a chance, drive by there, they have some great stuff. I don't know my yarns to tell you what they have, but you should find what you are looking for there.

The moral of this story is: if you don't know what the heck you are doing, DO NOT substitute! You will only experience heart ache and hours of frustration. Wait until you have become more familiar with your chosen craft. I learned that the hard way. Although, my mistake has one of my friends asking me to duplicate this hat in blue. Oh, well...

A Steady Progression to Obsession Part 2

A Steady Progression to Obsession Part 2

Now, when I last left this subject, I was informing you of how I had gotten hooked on making purses. Making them is like eating a Pringles, you can’t make just one. I am constantly in create mode. If I'm not actually working on a project, I am thinking of the next one, then planning the one after that. My down fall, or blessing, is going into a book store and hitting the craft section. I almost always find a book that I want, or a few projects from it I would like to try. I pretty much obsess over where I can find the book cheaper, or free. Umm, me love free!! I take a picture of the book, in case I forget the title, then begins my quest to locate said item.

As soon as I get the chance to go online, I check on Ebay, Amazon, or one of the swap sites like swaptree.com, in hopes that I may procure that particular book. I check my Yahoo group in case someone just happens to have fallen out of love with the very thing I need. I usually don't find the book until later, or just put it on the back burner until that creative bug hits again, or I have some free time. You know, life has a funny way of cutting in on your magical world of creativity. I have all these great ideas, but then not enough time to get them going. Ugh!

I get a lot of my ideas trawling the isles of Jo-Ann's, or Michael's. For those of you who are new to crafting anything, these two stores are the go to places one hits first. However, if you live near a .99 store, you very often will come across a treasure trove of stuff for your project. Now this method can create a few problems, like me getting extra stuff that I don't need at the moment, but swear that it will come in handy for a project down the road.

The only remedy for that is to go into the store, go down only the isle I need to go down, not looking to the left or the right least my eye catches some pretty babble. And I don't dare go to the discounted section! Sometimes this works, sometimes. I have tried to only bring a few dollars with me so that I have no choice but to get the one thing I came for. Again, sometimes it works, if only to put off the purchase for a later date. I guess the only sure fire way to not come up with a new project is to be dead! And since I’m in no hurry to end it all, I will keep my chin up and continue to endure this cursed craftiness gene that has been biologically passed down to me. It’s not all bad people; you my adoring fans do get the benefit of the fruits of my labor. For you, it’s a win win situation. See you in the discount section!!