Treasury East - Bright and Beautiful

Please go show our new Treasury some love!

Spruce Up Your Store Challenge: Updates and Tips

So, if you have been making the changes we have been talking about each week, you should be seeing some improvement in your store's views at least. Go check your Google Analytics to see if this is helping. Continue working on your items, etc.

I ran across this article from The Spark I want to share with you today - give it a read and then apply what you can to your store. There are a lot of great tips in there! 

The article:
http://www.handmadespark.com/blog/tips-to-pump-up-your-etsy-seo/

Then come back and share with us what you did.

Freebie Fridays!

Freebie Fridays have arrived! That's right! I said free! FREE!

Join HOST Friday, April 30th at 7 PM as they sponsor their first Freebie Friday! We will be promoting shops offering free stuff! BOGOs, free shipping, free item with purchase, etc.... you get the idea.....
Look for our post in the Promo section in the Etsy forums Fridays at 7 PM for the list of participating stores. And please add your store to the post if you have freebies of your own! (This promotion is for FREE stuff ONLY. Please do not add your store if your sale does not involve something free.)

And if you have a blog or Twitter and would like to help us promote Freebie Fridays it would be greatly appreciated!

SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT: tantecaroline

Tell us a little about yourself:
I'm an academic by day, and a mad crafter by night, weekends and any other time I can. It's all a wonderful balancing act with husband, son, dog, cat and fish thrown into the mix. I wouldn't have it any other way.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
I’m happy with the ones I have now -- dog, cat and fish. I’d have more of them if I could.

Fruit or chocolate?
Fruit and chocolate!

Your favorite meal?
Different meals for different moods, but California Rolls are always good.

City break or weekend in the country?
I’m a homebody. I’d prefer a house in the country that I’d rarely have to leave. And then there’d be lots of room for more animals ;-)

Why did you join/donate to HOST? OR How did you hear about HOST?
I’m fairly new to etsy and my introduction to HOST was accidental. I created a treasury as a means of saying hi to my new teammates on the Niagara Etsy Artisan Team. Turned out one of the members of the team, Krys at ivykeep, is also a member of HOST. She introduced me to the site.

How did you first get interested in what you do?
For me making things was a way of personalizing my home space and having things that seemed out of my reach.
It wasn’t anything I took up or began, though, because I grew up in a household where things were only bought if they couldn’t be made. My mother worked in our home as a seamtress and my father could build anything. Really. He made our first computer, built my first stereo, created a car -- made molds to form a fiberglass body, put together the engine, and finished the interior. Even sewed his own tonneau cover!
My first swirly ball was inspired by a gift from my nephew of a stone sphere. I loved it, wanted more, and found a way to recreate the form, while adding my own spin, or swirl.
The polymer I came to via another love -- books. It’s a wonderful, forgiving and exciting medium, with possibilities for creativity that I’m still exploring.

Tell us about your shop.
Tante Caroline’s Polymer Stuff and Swirly Things has been open since December 2009. All of the etsy literature tells me that I need to find a niche, but I like doing too many things to settle for one. As a result, my shop is an eclectic space with home décor, functional ornaments, and jewellery, all created with a variety of mediums.

What do you love most about selling on Etsy?
I’d truly love to say selling, but I haven’t done a lot of that… yet ;-) Call me crazy but the sense of community here, and the overall appreciation of handcrafted works, just feels good. It’s added a spark of excitement to my usual crafting. I know it sounds hokey, but there’s a real ‘we’re all in this together’ vibe that is tangible! My experience with the treasuries is a terrific example of that.

Where else can we find you? (facebook, blog, twitter, flickr, etc)
I’m on facebook, but I keep my shop separate from that social media. I know that many sellers have found social media useful, but I find it time consuming. I’d rather be making stuff than talking about making stuff ;-)

Any advice you would like to share with others that might read this?
What is the best etsy tip or resource you have found or been given?
At this point, I’m not in the position to give advice. I’m still taking it! ;-) I do think, though, that the inroad to visibility is in creating treasuries, having good photos of your works and networking.

" THE 7 PM FREE FOR ALL SALE for APRIL 17th".... FREE STUFF!!!!!

" THE 7 PM FREE FOR ALL SALE for APRIL 17th".... FREE STUFF!!!!!

Mine will be buy 3 items and get a 4th item FREE....you could do free shipping....buy 1 get 1 whatever you want.

The main thing is the FREE item to generate some sales for people on a slow night.

No percent off in this sale...only BOGO's. or B2GO or B3GO... You get the idea!

If you would like to join in, look for the thread at 7pm.....in promo's.

- Ficklefaerie

Spruce Up Your Shop Challenge: Tagging

One of the best ways to be found in an Etsy Search is to use all your tags.

Please read: Tagging For Success

And your challenge this week is to apply those tagging ideas to your listed items.

Don't forget to add Team tags if you are involved with any teams. It's a great way to get found and promoted by your own team members.

Meet the HOSTies: AllAboutTheButtons

Tell us a little about yourself.
I was an art major in college and flipped from craft to craft for....well,forever. I did not pursue my art as a career but was always involved in some craft most of the time. I now have the time to indulge my love of creating, almost full time.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be? 
LOVE dogs but truly don't want the responsibility anymore.

Fruit or chocolate? 
Fruit

Your favorite meal? 
Lobster and ice cream

City break or weekend in the country? 
Beach!

Read More >>>

And the Winner is....

Better late than never!

Thank you to all of you who entered our first Giveaway. The contest was closed at the first of the month and now we are ready to post the winner.

And the Winner is....

Marie from Big Sister Designs!

noisette marketing will contact you shortly. Please come back and tell us all about your prize when you get a chance!

Congratulations!

Sunday Spotlight: salmamahjabeen

I am a CPA who works in as a consultant in a large public accounting firm. I know accountants are considered boring. I think I was not meant to be an accountant. It was choice already made for me when I went to school as I come from a family of accountants.

I love working with my hands. Being creative. I started making jewelry when 10 years ago I saw a gorgeous bracelet a colleague of mine wore. She made it. I loved it. She taught me the basics. I have not looked back since. I have graduated from working with plastic beads to swarovski crystals to now semi-precious stones. It's my therapy. It' my saving grace. My other saving graces are my cats- Shiba and Basra (8 months old girls I adopted).

Read More >>>

HOST members with blogs - Join our MckLinky!

If you are a HOST member - or supporter - add your blog to our first ever MckLinky!

Please note, you must be family friendly or your blog will be deleted from this list.

HOST Supporter: beadbooty

Tell us a little about yourself.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
I love sharks and sea turtles!

Fruit or chocolate?
Umm, hello, chocolate!

Your favorite meal?
No favorite meals...I ADORE all kinds of food.

Read More >>>

Great Finds on Etsy Under $10

Another Swap-bot.com swap I am participating in asks us to share our favourite Etsy shops with items $10 or less. Here is my list::

Great Finds on Etsy Under $10
1. ficklefaerie - I found June here on Etsy several months ago and have become fast friends. I love her eco-friendly mesh bags and cute snack and sandwich bags. All sets are under $10 and make an economical and fashionable alternative to those disposable plastic bags. And - I love the looks I get at the grocery store when I use them!


2. jinglebobs - If I had horses I'd be shopping at jingle's shop all the time. Cute bells for your horse's mane. I can't think of anything more fun!



3. crochetmaggie - I have a set of washclothes I bought from maggie and I adore them. If you search her shop, she has lots of lovely coloured crochet cloths to choose from. Once you use one of these, you won't use those regular store cloths again! LOL!


Time for a few I'd like to try:

4. gloilocksandbody - Someone suggested this shop to me from my last swap and since then, I have been hearting a few things I want to try.


5. ZipADeeDoDah1 - Cute scrabble pendants under $10. I have my eye on the daisy one for a friend of mine....


And my shop of course! I sell gourmet loose leaf tea. Everything in my shop is under $10 so far. Come take a look at some very yummy blends.

Tip Tuesday: Handmade Spark Blog and Directory

Hello from ESellerAds.

We are writing to let you know about our new site Handmade Spark!

Handmade Spark is a directory where you can promote your handmade business and get in front of buyers around the world. Handmade Spark sellers are actively promoted on our blog, on our newsletter, and on social networks and across the Internet. We are also starting to get press to cover the great sellers and items included in Handmade Spark.

Handmade Spark is also a blog with 12 writers. The blog includes content about the latest handmade trends, showcases the people and work that make up the handmade community, and educates sellers about promoting and buyers about finding great handmade goods all across the Internet.

Handmade Spark was launched about two weeks ago and is on track to have more than 15,000 visitors in the first month. You can join the Directory for only $12 per month to get all the great benefits we offer or you can also get a basic free listing if you just want to part of the Handmade Spark community.

Please go to Handmade Spark, check it out, and join now!

Share Your Favorite ETSY Secrets ($5 and under)

 I'd like to thank Ogma for her guest post (below) on Etsy Finds. She also participated in the Swap-bot swap I was in that shared great  finds on Etsy. 

Mistflower Studios   http://www.etsy.com/shop/mistflowerstudio 

I discovered this shop early on, and I love it. She makes mosaic art (which is gorgeous) but also sells her art as magnets, pocket mirrors, prints, and pins. The magnets and mirrors are my two favorite items in her shop. They make great gifts, too.

The magnets come in different sizes and look awesome anywhere you decide to put them up. These are a great way to have a piece of mosaic artwork on a smaller scale.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35407041

PVDiana’s   http://www.etsy.com/shop/pvdiana    

This was another early discovery that I still frequent. I love so many things in this shop. Everything I have from her is super-duper quality, too. If I had to pick some stuff, it would be her shell necklaces and her poppets. Although her scarves are really nice, too.

Her shell necklaces are beautiful. I get a comment on mine every time I wear it. She also makes stone and arrowhead ones. Quality, awesome, funky stuff!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39700465

Read More >>>

Spruce Up Your Shop Challenge: Catch Up!

Today is all about playing catch up. Did you miss a week? Go do it. Catch up with the rest of us.

If you are up to date, take this lull to spend some time with your family and friends today for the holiday. Your shop will wait a day or so.

Next week we will be back on track with tips on how to write a good listing.