I finally learned how to add a mini Etsy to blogspot.
You can see it on the right side below my profile,
and click on it to go to my on-line stop.
The rest of this blog is a brief how-to for Etsy people:
Go to Etsy. Sign in. Go to my Etsy.
(This would actually be your Etsy, don't hack into MY Etsy. :)
In the lower left corner click on mini Etsy.
Select your configuration of columns and rows.
I used 2 columns by x 75 pixel thumbnails.
(You might have to click a submit button here...)
The code is generated for you to copy.
Select the code, copy it.
Go to your blog.
Sign in.
Go to Customize.
Select the Page Elements tab.
Click Add a gadget.
Select HTML/Javascript
A dialog box appears:
My on-line shop is the title I used.
Paste the content you copied from Etsy into the content box.
Press Save in the dialog box.
Position your gadget where you want it.
Press Save in the Page Elements page.
View your new blog with a mini Etsy.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
First Art Fair Experience
I had a wonderful time at the Alliance Bible Church's women's retreat this past weekend in Brown Deer Wisconsin. It was spiritually uplifting and relaxing, and the company and the food was great. The guest speaker Elizabeth Murphy was inspirational. There is nothing like uninterrupted bible study with knowledgeable historical facts and clear interpretations to make you enjoy familiar bible passages. (Uninterrupted for me is more then 5 minutes!)
My booth and two of my children checking it out
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The retreat had a mini mart where I was selling products, and the whole set-up, art fair experience and take down went more smoothly then I could have hoped for. I can plan, coordinate, setup, sell and take down a really nice looking booth, if I say so myself! A good friend Gretchen happened to be able to help me set-up, and Jean, a friend I've known for a decade plus, attended the retreat and helped me pack up. (Thank You if you ever read this!)
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I think I was the only vendor who attended the retreat. (well, why not?) I am not sure I have figured out how you manage a all day long sale where you can't leave the booth and might have to worry about breaks and food details - but that adventure is for another day. At this retreat, sales were in small blocks of time, and I could take breaks, eat lunch, attend sessions and small group discussions and never worry about leaving my booth unattended.
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Many people want to know how sales were. My husband asked about sales when I got home. Sales happened : True! I made more then I expected : Not. I won't quit my day job - wait, I really don't exactly have one... I am self employed... This is my job?
My 4 children and Carl, and me in the middle.
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The weather was continuous cold rain outside with gray skies all over. The economy is what it is. I was happy with the feedback and sales I made. It is so encouraging to see people who don't know you enjoying the art you have created. Not to forget the wonderful retreat experience. I would happily do many such events on the weekend. (Eventually my husband might catch on that the children's college fund isn't growing, and he is stuck running the children to birthday parties and whatnot :)
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So, I look forward to future opportunities to sell my art, but in the meanwhile, I have a wonderful first art fair/mini mart experience.
My booth and two of my children checking it out
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The retreat had a mini mart where I was selling products, and the whole set-up, art fair experience and take down went more smoothly then I could have hoped for. I can plan, coordinate, setup, sell and take down a really nice looking booth, if I say so myself! A good friend Gretchen happened to be able to help me set-up, and Jean, a friend I've known for a decade plus, attended the retreat and helped me pack up. (Thank You if you ever read this!)
-
I think I was the only vendor who attended the retreat. (well, why not?) I am not sure I have figured out how you manage a all day long sale where you can't leave the booth and might have to worry about breaks and food details - but that adventure is for another day. At this retreat, sales were in small blocks of time, and I could take breaks, eat lunch, attend sessions and small group discussions and never worry about leaving my booth unattended.
-
Many people want to know how sales were. My husband asked about sales when I got home. Sales happened : True! I made more then I expected : Not. I won't quit my day job - wait, I really don't exactly have one... I am self employed... This is my job?
My 4 children and Carl, and me in the middle.
-
The weather was continuous cold rain outside with gray skies all over. The economy is what it is. I was happy with the feedback and sales I made. It is so encouraging to see people who don't know you enjoying the art you have created. Not to forget the wonderful retreat experience. I would happily do many such events on the weekend. (Eventually my husband might catch on that the children's college fund isn't growing, and he is stuck running the children to birthday parties and whatnot :)
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So, I look forward to future opportunities to sell my art, but in the meanwhile, I have a wonderful first art fair/mini mart experience.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Getting ready for my first art show....
On display at the Cedarburg Cultural Center
There are so many things happening so fast this month. I have lots of projects in the works and going, and on many days I feel like I am juggling. Today I dropped off 4 artworks to the Cedarburg Artist's Guild's Main Street Gallery for an Exhibit called "Bye Bye Blues". This was after a last minute run to the framers, of course.
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Most of the rest of the day I was preparing for my first art/craft mini mart. I am selling cards and photography at a church's women's retreat this Friday and Saturday. I will also be attending the retreat myself. I should be spiritually renewed if I'm not too stressed out!
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I've never before needed a cash box, receipt pads, cash for the cash box, and packaging (bags?) for sales. I've never really needed significant display stands for my products. And of course I have been creating those products - running to the photo lab for prints, making cards and packaging them. It is only a small retreat, of 50-60 women, but the craft fair experience - planning, transporting, setting up, selling product, and taking down the booth at a art fair type of setting will be a good experience. And if not, the religious retreat experience should be renewing.
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I purchased 3-4 card racks from a local business that is (unfortunately) going out of business. I spent enough on the card displays that I might not make enough sales to cover even the cost of the stands. See how small businesses are investing in the economy? I am hoping my sales will pay for the card displays. Cross your fingers for me!
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I have the potential for doing 2-3 more art or in-home shows in the next two months. I am going to decide whether or not to put money down for booth fees after this weekend - I'll keep updating my blog as the month progresses. Now I'm going to frame a couple of more prints.
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P.S. So far this month, I have posted at least one item a day in my on-line store.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Higher postage, again
Today I went to the post office to mail out not one but two Etsy orders from www.jselep.etsy.com.
And I found out that postage is going up, AGAIN, to $.44 on May 11, 2009, or there abouts.
I asked what the postage would be for the 2 oz letter, (Usually $.59 for my mailings at this point) but they didn't know yet. OK, for every order (which I love! :) I have to go to the post office and get it weighed currently. I've been keeping track so that I could mail from home, but when I almost think I know it, they go and change it again. Do most other people mailing out packages go to the post office all the time to get the rates right, or am I the only one?
Well, this is a boring blog, but I wanted to pass along the rate hike info.
And I found out that postage is going up, AGAIN, to $.44 on May 11, 2009, or there abouts.
I asked what the postage would be for the 2 oz letter, (Usually $.59 for my mailings at this point) but they didn't know yet. OK, for every order (which I love! :) I have to go to the post office and get it weighed currently. I've been keeping track so that I could mail from home, but when I almost think I know it, they go and change it again. Do most other people mailing out packages go to the post office all the time to get the rates right, or am I the only one?
Well, this is a boring blog, but I wanted to pass along the rate hike info.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Goals for March
One of the products in my shop.
Well, I have now had an Etsy shop for 2 months, and my son Anthony commented, Mom you sure do spend a lot of time on the internet now.
Since I have a shop, I have to check for sales everyday. (OK, sometimes I check more often.) It is always fun to see a sale. My daughter gets almost as excited as me.
I have been trying to add products to my store. An Etsy (Etsian) expert suggested I list an item everyday, so starting around Feb 15, 2009, I had made that my goal. I missed a day or 2 in Feb, but now for March I am making it a goal to add an item a day, at least 90% of the time. (This is an example of a measurable goal :)
I found Etsy treasuries, places where Etsy users can create or "curate" "exhibits" or groups of items from whatever artists they want to. I have already been "Featured" in two treasuries, created by people I didn't know but who found and liked my products.
And I found Etsy chat rooms, where I have spent a little bit too much time. ;) There you get to see a variety of products produced by the 20 or so people in the room, and "listen" to their type written conversations going on all at once. I'm still learning the ropes of the chat rooms, but it is a fun way to burn up time. (OPPS!)
Another goal I have decided on is at least two blog entries a month, for the rest of 2009. This blog entry is probably a little lame, but I hope future ones will be more inspirational. I think it is good for me to write down my goals, it seems to make me try harder to accomplish them.
Good Bye for now!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
All that Pizzazz is now selling my cards
All That Pizzazz! is now carrying over 50 of my cards for sale. Located at W63 N698 Washington Ave, in historic downtown Cedarburg, WI, All That Pizzazz is committed to promoting and supporting Made in America products and other handmade works. The store is bursting with whimsical and beautiful glassware, ceramics & pottery, and unique home decor items you don't see everywhere else.
I hope you will stop in to see my cards if you are in the area. I am very excited that I have cards for sale in stores like All that Pizzazz and Elliot's Partyland. I change out the seasonal ones, (Both stores carried some of my Valentine designs). After Valentines Day, I remove the unsold cards and replace them with different designs.
Of course, I have these designs and more for sale at www.jselep.etsy.com. Meanwhile, it is snowing here in Wisconsin. AGAIN! So here is a final image of spring I want to leave you with - Spring Will Come!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Etsy Store Update
Here is just a quick update: On my Etsy store, www.jselep.etsy.com, I now have over 70 products for sale. (I added the 70th today!) I have had 8 sales, to great friends and 3 to people I have never met. I've even had a sale to Canada. It's fun to see what people like, and I have to admit I check to see if I had a sale each day. It's silly how much of a kick I get out of a sale of a card - But it's like a validation of my design and photography...
I've been having too much fun making valentines cards. I have to start focusing on birthday cards. Birthday cards have no deadline. I am still thinking of new Valentine's cards (for next year, I say) I want to make. There are only 9 days left to Valentine's day! This photo with a friend's puppy is the last Valentine's card I'm going to make for the year, and was one of the ones I posted on my etsy site today.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Valentine's Day Cards released!
Back on January 15 I was trying to design and create some Valentine's Day Cards. Then the children were off Thursday Jan 15, Friday Jan 16, Monday Jan 19, and and Friday 23. (I don't get much work done when the kids are home, go figure.) I also had a lot of other (real life) work to cram into the remaining days. This did result in a delay in my progress.
Eventually I created the original designs, photographed them, improved them, photographed them, printed the photos, assembled them as cards (finished product), photographed the finished product looking like a card, and then repeated the process with more designs. It's a lot of work for a $3.50 card but I had fun doing it. Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays.
I took the finished product to Elliot's Partyland on Port Washington Road in Mequon, WI, and they bought 6 of the designs! They are trying them out, since mine are handcrafted by a local artist, they are different then the commercial cards they normally carry. Some of the cards (3 different designs) already sold!
Elliot's Partyland selected a representative variety of the cards, so the ones pictured here are the designs being sold at Elliot's. I have these designs and more for sale at www.jselep.etsy.com, and at Studio 6, next to Tomaso's Pizza in Cedarburg.
I hope you enjoy the cards, and remember loved ones and relatives - Make them smile by sending a card today!
Eventually I created the original designs, photographed them, improved them, photographed them, printed the photos, assembled them as cards (finished product), photographed the finished product looking like a card, and then repeated the process with more designs. It's a lot of work for a $3.50 card but I had fun doing it. Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays.
I took the finished product to Elliot's Partyland on Port Washington Road in Mequon, WI, and they bought 6 of the designs! They are trying them out, since mine are handcrafted by a local artist, they are different then the commercial cards they normally carry. Some of the cards (3 different designs) already sold!
Elliot's Partyland selected a representative variety of the cards, so the ones pictured here are the designs being sold at Elliot's. I have these designs and more for sale at www.jselep.etsy.com, and at Studio 6, next to Tomaso's Pizza in Cedarburg.
I hope you enjoy the cards, and remember loved ones and relatives - Make them smile by sending a card today!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Cold days and valentines.
Wednesday I worked on some valentines cards, and I was pumped up to work more on Thursday, then school was canceled due to cold. For my 4 children. And it's canceled for tomorrow. Will I get to create card art? Stay tuned... and warm...
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
On-line Store updated
Hello.
Today I added about 20 products to my on-line store at www.jselep.etsy.com. Check it out! It took nearly all day to add the items though. First you have to create a good photograph, crop and modify it to 1000 pixels wide, write a description and select a ton of options. But I'm learning how to do it! I added bunches of cards, some photographs, and 2 mosaics.
Today I added about 20 products to my on-line store at www.jselep.etsy.com. Check it out! It took nearly all day to add the items though. First you have to create a good photograph, crop and modify it to 1000 pixels wide, write a description and select a ton of options. But I'm learning how to do it! I added bunches of cards, some photographs, and 2 mosaics.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
New Artwork on Display!
On Tuesday, I entered two photographic works of art into the Cedarburg Cultural Center's Main Street Gallery's January show. One of my new year's resolutions is to enter artwork in each of the Cedarburg Artists Guild's five shows in 2009. Each Guild member can display 1-3 pieces of art for sale and display in each of the Guild's shows. The current show runs until March 4, 2009. Artworks displayed in the Guild shows can not be displayed again in future guild shows, (i.e. no repeats), so viewers get to see constantly changing work.
When I woke up on Tuesday, I didn't know exactly what artwork I was going to display. (I had ideas, options, and frames.) I got the children off to school and then went to pick up my photographic prints from 2 different locations. I raced to the framers to get a mat cut for one of the new prints. As I was unloading the prints, the glass from one of the frames shattered in the car. Great. The drop-off time for the show was between 10:00am and 1:00pm. I was still at the framers after 12:30.
I got to Cedarburg in time, and at least one other artist dropped off art after me, but I am wondering why do I procrastinate? Why didn't I have the works ready days ago? Actually, I always have works available since I sell artwork at Studio 6, an artist coop in Cedarburg, and I could go "pull something off the wall", but I wanted to present a new work. Hence the last minute pressure. I've an artist friend who said she does her best work under pressure, but I'm thinking I could do with a little less pressure, and a little more planning. Do other artist "cram" before shows and exhibits?
Either way, my goal was reached. Art displayed! I'll try to get photos up soon. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I won't try to describe the pieces I am exhibiting.
Good Bye for now!
When I woke up on Tuesday, I didn't know exactly what artwork I was going to display. (I had ideas, options, and frames.) I got the children off to school and then went to pick up my photographic prints from 2 different locations. I raced to the framers to get a mat cut for one of the new prints. As I was unloading the prints, the glass from one of the frames shattered in the car. Great. The drop-off time for the show was between 10:00am and 1:00pm. I was still at the framers after 12:30.
I got to Cedarburg in time, and at least one other artist dropped off art after me, but I am wondering why do I procrastinate? Why didn't I have the works ready days ago? Actually, I always have works available since I sell artwork at Studio 6, an artist coop in Cedarburg, and I could go "pull something off the wall", but I wanted to present a new work. Hence the last minute pressure. I've an artist friend who said she does her best work under pressure, but I'm thinking I could do with a little less pressure, and a little more planning. Do other artist "cram" before shows and exhibits?
Either way, my goal was reached. Art displayed! I'll try to get photos up soon. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I won't try to describe the pieces I am exhibiting.
Good Bye for now!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to everyone! Early January is the time for New Year's Resolutions. Yes, I actually try to make some. My resolutions usually fall in the goal category...
On January 6, 2009 I'll be taking 2-3 pieces of art to the Cedarburg Artist's Guild's mini gallery. One of my goals is to be displaying new artwork in each of the Gallery's shows. It's a benefit of being a member of the CAG (Cedarburg Artist's Guild), which I joined in 2008. I had 3 framed photographs in the CAG's December 2008 show "Blizzard of Art".
Another goal for 2009 is to fill my online store at https://www.jselep.etsy.com/ and of course, get some sales! I also need to update my website at www.selepimaging.com
Make some goals of your own and list them here - I'll check up with you and encourage you to meet your goals! Have a great 2009.
On January 6, 2009 I'll be taking 2-3 pieces of art to the Cedarburg Artist's Guild's mini gallery. One of my goals is to be displaying new artwork in each of the Gallery's shows. It's a benefit of being a member of the CAG (Cedarburg Artist's Guild), which I joined in 2008. I had 3 framed photographs in the CAG's December 2008 show "Blizzard of Art".
Another goal for 2009 is to fill my online store at https://www.jselep.etsy.com/ and of course, get some sales! I also need to update my website at www.selepimaging.com
Make some goals of your own and list them here - I'll check up with you and encourage you to meet your goals! Have a great 2009.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
My Etsy Store grand opening
Wow. For me this was a busy day. Today I opened my store on the internet: https://www.jselep.etsy.com/. So far I have 5 items listed for sale. (OK, it's not a big store yet) Etsy.com is website for buying and selling all things handmade. Only artists can list there, and the sales are made directly to them. It took me all day (well, the children and husband were home...) to create the photos for the site and load 5 items (note cards so far) , etc. It was surprisingly easy. I hope you will visit my site.
I wonder if I'll have a sale in 2008! I now want to add more items, E-Mail friends about the site once I am happy with it, etc. Let me know what you think. I also have a website that I've had for my photography company for years: www.selepimaging.com
I wonder if I'll have a sale in 2008! I now want to add more items, E-Mail friends about the site once I am happy with it, etc. Let me know what you think. I also have a website that I've had for my photography company for years: www.selepimaging.com
Friday, December 26, 2008
My first blog entry...
So, I had a New Years Resolution in 2008 to improve professionally as an artist and photographer. This was a multifaceted plan, and I am happy with my progress in 2008. More later. This plan included improving my website, www.selepimaging.com and maybe blogging. So today I am creating my first real blog entry. For 2009, my New Years Resolution will be to actually blog about some of my projects as I work on them... and maybe my first several blog entries will bring my friends and relatives up to date on my previous projects and future plans. But now I have to post this blog entry see what it looks like...
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