Marketing

Just a few days left for my super silver sale. Prices will increase on August 1st, or the piece will be removed for recycling. Nows the time to buy before prices go up, or the piece is no longer available.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/176338681/super-silver-sale-silver-and-amethyst

So this is what I cut and pasted almost 30 times today.

Why?

Because I am trying to harness the power of network marketing using social media.

Like most folks with an Etsy shop, or who sells product they make, the goal is to drive customers to the location of the sale. For me thats Etsy.

I can only post my links so many times on my facebook page, the regular "me" one and my art page-- btw you do follow me right? Laura Medeiros-Art Stuff

I need to leverage more exposure, drive more that my fans, to Etsy, and try to collect more fans.

I started by investing in a list of facebook groups I could join and post etsy link/adverts in. Yes I said invested. I purchased a PDF list someone collected. Their foot work was worth it to me.

Currently I try to post daily in all the groups Im in, and I tey to add 5 to 10 grpups each week. The numbers vary since Im still pending membership in a few of the groups. Those of course make me think about how active the moderator is, and how valuable that geoup will be for traffic generating.

Currently Im playing a numbers game. If I dont post in all those facebook groups, I will get maybe 3 to 7 organic views. Yestrday by 10 pm I had 2 views for the day. After I made my marketung post rounds, my views went up to 28, and today by 3pm I had another 34 views--those were left overs from my late night post. I post in between 19 and 26 groups currently, depending on the product Im pushing that day. Currently Im averaging 2 views per post.  What Im not tracking is how many new likes, or followers Im getting. And that number is increasing.

Im over 1500 views for this month.

Unfortunately my sales have yet to catch up with the views. Im at about a .2% return rate of sales to views. Thats the next target, how to get people who would be in the market for my stuff to do the viewing.

Im also building my Twitter and Instagram markets.

Please come follow me there. Im Zoeowyn in both places!

And Im focusing on not just posting sales or links to Etsy in those locations, but also trying to make sure I include what Im doing in my art world. Like the mini art camp Ive hosted  a few times.

I keep working on it, I keep trying to build my market.

SUPER DUPER SILVER SALE!!!

I am having a clean out clearance sale on my silver jewelry.

Unfortunately a good deal of it has been sitting around in my stock for too long, and its time for it to go.
If it doesn't go I will send it in for recycling.

I know I missed this big cost bubble when silver was over $50 an ounce, but its still pretty high.

Most pieces I will be selling at my cost. I use Precious Metal Clay, and so I have priced items so that I can purchase more clay. Several other pieces are just at market value of the silver.

I hate the thought of an original work getting melted down, and thus the cheap got-to-prices.

I have many pieces listed on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/zoeowyn

some of the items I have listed:






https://www.etsy.com/listing/8540/super-clearance-silver-and-amozonite?ref=listing-2



https://www.etsy.com/listing/22798918/super-silver-sale-small-silver-celtic?ref=listing-shop-header-1

and more that (hopefully) wont make it to Etsy, as Im trying to sell directly from my Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Medeiros-Art-stuff/147377941945717?ref=hl

Making Etsy work for you

How to Make Money using Etsy by Timothy Adam

So apparently this is the guy that also started Handmadeology.com. Since I have only poked around at Handmadeology.com this will not be a compare and contrast.

This is a good overview book.
If you have never used Etsy before and are thinking about it, or you are just getting started and the process of setting Etsy up is intimidating this is a good book.

There are chapters that walk you through setting up your site, how to place items for sale, and explains the bill.

This book has some good overviews on how the SEO process works. And setting up key words, and how to make use of strong key words.

I have been on Etsy since it was in beta--yes I was a beta user. My sales are pitifully low and pretty much always have been.  Im specifically looking for those tips that will increase traffic to my Etsy site.

This book has those.
Yes I said it, this book has those. But only a few of them. It really walks you through the process of creating backlinks, and promoting yourself via social media.

This book also has a lot of interviews with successful Etsians. There is actually some useful info hidden in those interviews.

Key take aways from this book:
Leverage social media to drive traffic to your Etsy site and increase views
Use Paypal shipping

This book is available from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Money-Using-Etsy/dp/0470944560/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343079231&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+make+money+using+etsy

I got my copy from the library.

Made with awesome sauce

RAW 5/52
Originally uploaded by malodora

This ring by Malodora is made of pure awesome.

It is this week's RAW entry for Malodora. Previous rings have been pretty amazing.
Actually a lot of Malodora's stuff is--amazing and made with awesome sauce.

I'm her newest biggest fan!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Malodora
Heck, I want to purchase all the stuff in her shop!
If you are feeling like you must surprise me with a gift this one:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/55756067/bird-skull-brooch-metal-polymer

You need to check it out. Its organic, and a bit twisted.
But twisted in a most fabulous way.

She is the kind of artist I want to be like:
crazy cool, and just a bit different.

I can't decide if Im inspired or intimidated.
Probably a bit of both!

Better Business

One of the steps to reclaiming my "muchness" (my only resolution/goal this year) is to actually pay attention to business strategies and tips.
One sure way for me to do that is to share them out again once found.

So to start here are the 21 Best Resources as defined by Danielle over at Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/storque/seller-handbook/the-21-best-resources-from-the-2010-business-blogosphere-11378/

Treasuries!

Etsy has this thing called Tresuries, it allows any Etsy user to create a curated selection of items. I have never been able to snag one. Even when they created Treasury West, which was supposed to just be an extra Treasuries collection. Well now the have Treasury East and ive managed to create 3--I dont think they are as limited server space wise.

So I created 3:

one of Blue Goddess nifty things













one specifically for the PCAGOE street team, its all polymer canes













And last one PIRATES!




If you have a chance visit them before they expire--I have no idea when that is

Faux

I actually got into polymer clay because of the faux technique. Specifically faux ivory
I was inspired by Victoria Huges, and made my mom this major necklace that featured a large piece of amber sitting in an ivory shield.
I still think I did pretty good. it was one of the first things I ever made in polymer clay.

Back then I had no idea how far it could go.

When I got back into polymer clay after a few years off it was to incorporate the faux ivory look with the PMC silver.
I make faux teeth and carved claw looking things. At one point a man who works in horn thought my work was the real thing until he picked it up. Apparently its too light! HA! I fooled an expert. That made my month back when that happened.



Now my polymer clay work has gone back to working with the colors and all, but I still love the faux claws and tusks stuff I do.
Currently in my shop Zoeowyn.etsy.com I have a pair of silver capped faux claw earrings.


Here are some other neat examples of the faux you can do with polymer clay:

ZsBcreations.etsy.com these earrings are faux ceramic tiles


These faux snake skin cuffs are from ArtByLilin.etsy.com


and this crazy faux geode piece is from beetreebyme.etsy.com. Crazy because look at how many different rocks she created!

April Earring Sale!!!

Im having a big earring sale at my etsy store--go buy earrings!
zoeowyn.etsy.com
and in the buyers comments (if you actually got there from here) say the easter bunny sent you, and I'll ship your order for free!
international too!

Polymer Polly Belly Dancer

Polymer Polly ta-da
Originally uploaded by Zoeowyn

Well this is my second dance figurine. There are some visible errors to me, but she is cute, and turned out pretty darn good.
I took her to my dance class this evening to show off. One of my students is getting married in a few weeks, she saw this and thought she was adorable, I asked if I could make her cake topper as her wedding gift--she was thrilled!

OMG
What have I done?

I mean yes, this is what i want to do, this is the direction I want to take my crafting work, I did it I made and took my big first step!

Dancing Diana and Polymer Polly were my test walks. Its now time to run!


Once the wedding topper is done, I will put them on etsy!

BEADS!

insideout done
Originally uploaded by Zoeowyn

Ok so I have been obsessing about beads. Making them. I went to a little bead and gem show and there was this nice lady there who spend a lot of time with myself and my daughter, explaining things to the kid. Of course kid was just being a sponge and soaking in all kinds of information. The lady was selling these things called inside out beads. They were fascinating. Not quite cane work in polymer but similar. We bought some of her lovely beads. At home I spent 4 hours figuring them out!

So now Ive been playing with making beads. These samples of mine arent even my best ones--just the ones I have a photo of! lol!

I went searching to see what others are doing bead creation-wise.
There is some very beautiful work out there for the buying!



SarajaneHelm.etsy.com
This set of beads has a nice spring like quality with out the pollen.

And check out these "jade" beads! Those are made from polymer clay
RMKDesign.etsy.com

heres another nifty set of beads. I love the swirlies! Im still developing the skills to do the swirly shape--its not as easy to get a really good and clean swirl as they make it look. These are by oneandonly.etsy.com

Canes!

So I have placed my first set of raw polymer clay canes for sale on etsy.
There are quite a few artists who do this.
Of course my canes don't look like theirs--thats good, that way we aren't competing for the same artists. I know there are artists out there for my canes.

These are some nice ones I found while checking out the viability of actually posting raw canes.


BreathtakingBeadzz.etsy.com
she makes some lovely floral and butterfly canes. Her finished beads are beautifully feminine





Beadopolis.etsy.com
There isnt much in this shop yet, but Wes, has gotten cane making down to a science!
hes posted it on his blog
http://caninable.blogspot.com/2009/01/cane-reduction-beado-bunge4000.html







yonatdascalu.etsy.com also has some lovely canes. I like this purple spiral.

Medaevil manuscript cane set

Medaevil manuscript cane set
Originally uploaded by Zoeowyn

This set of 4 canes are all based on pieces/design elements that you could find in medaevil illuminated manuscripts. I took a class to the museum to see an exibit, and I fell in love with the little detail work in the illuminations. I decided I needed to try to make that in clay. There is a simple gold dot, a small fleur de lis on a dark pearl blue back ground, and celtic knot, and a colorful floral design. All 4 canes are made from Sculpey III, and they all use the same colors. They were designed to be used together.

Thgis is my entry for the March PCAGOE challenge. To see other entry pieces, and to vote on your favorite visit http://www.pcagoe.com

I fell in love with sea horses last year. We did a day trip to the Chattanooga aquarium, they had an exhibit of sea horses and sea dragons.
I was amazed. they are so beautiful!
I spent at least the next month drawing them. Im actually surprised I didnt make hundreds of little polymer ones.
I even found a wire artists who makes some wonderful little ones.


Seahorse by pippijewelry.etsy.com








I also learned from her site, that they a caught live and left under heat lamps to dry out. to be put in all those curio things. That makes me sad. i think I may have some from a craft store. i got them when i thought they were nifty, but i didnt et any after last years adventure. Im glad, because that treatment makes me sad. Anyway these can be quite tiny up to quite large.
I could watch them all day. Their variation in colors was glorious.

I am taking a polymer clay clay with christi Friesen. its on-line (I love on line learning but thats another story). The class is steam punk gryphons. I have been wondering how to incorporate steam punk into polymer for a bit now. Well as soon as the class got started I started seeing how to incorporate steam punk in other things. I made a great dragon fly--at least I like him, and this sea horse. Both figures are large, and not jewelry size. i will need to figure out what to do with them.
The next challenge will be to make a sea horse small enough to wear, and a steam punk octopus!

Heres anpother cute little sea horse by urbanwoodswalker.etsy.com


















and a cute almost steam punk octopus by societysedso.etsy.com

cephalopodteaparty

yes cephalopods
tentacled critters
MY kracken vessel was on there the other day
Cephalopodteaparty
I was most thrilled.
There is some absolutely great tentacular art featured on this blog. I was thrilled to be part of it.
Check out the posts, there are some fabulous things to find, cute little guys on ety all over the place.
Of course this dress is my personal favorite!
I want

makes the Ursula the sea witch costume I did years and years ago look like a wet paper bag in comparison.
This is just too cute!

I like this idea!

this is a component clay cane.
As in its ment to be used as part of some thing, its an enhancement instead of the star.
Most canes I see for sale are the star.
Whenever I think about selling canes they are stars. --I dont mean a literal star I mean the focal piece.
Good idea!
this is by Valleycreations.etsy.com

And its currently on sale

Things I like

two fold post
one fold: I reaslized I don't need to blog huge amounts of info when I blog, its ok to just post a quickie


two fold: I really like these little shrines, I find them very inspirational, and I want to make some
this is a Guardian Angel Box by SilverSunbeam


another two fold: Here is another loverly. wire wrapping and peridot colroed pearls, how can it go wrong? This tree is located at starsb117's etsy shop

unplanned collaboration

I was in need of some waves for my mermaid. I participated in a bead swap on the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy.
My last set of beads arrived today. They are by Papernclay.
they are not only little swirly waves BUT the combination of the background I covered my box top in an hour before they arrived AND the back ground color from my mermaid cane.
They couldn't have been more perfect if I ordered them!

Swim swim swimmy

I jumped on the band wagon and decided to participate in the etsy swimmy project. I took some pics with a cheap point and shoot to show the work process.
Well the first step truly was to "drink" the kool-aid and join the cult. A-hem, decide to participate. I printed the template that etsy provided, and thus began the process.
I decided to use polymer clay as my media for my entry, since PMC would be cost prohibitive, and I wasn't "feeling the love" for a collage.



+ Step one, select a collection of gold-ish colored clays. I use Fimo, Sculpy and Premo. I usually go for color over brand. In this case I went with color plus what I already had open.


+ Blend the heck out of them with the pasta maker.
Now, I dint usually go for smooth skinner-esque blends, I like my blends a little more organic, so its not all pasta machine, here in the blending process, there is some hand blending involved.


+ I rolled out a nice slab of clay on the thickest setting of the pasta machine, and then traced the template on to the clay. next step is to cut out the fish following the template. And start making lots and lots of snakes in the left over clay.


+ I like to incorporate jewels and beads and the like in my polymer clay creations. One om my favorite ways to add big shiny bits are glass baubles. I selected and placed the chosen glass baubles for the fish. I used a blue one for the eye, opaque orange for the fins and transparent swirly orange for the rest of the "scales."


+ The building of the fins was using straight snakes, and the scales were built with swirls and dots to lock in the glass baubles.

+ The fish was cured in my little toaster oven for 35 minutes at 265 degrees.


+ After the clay was cured I added an antique finish by applying a mix of acrylic paints. I used navy and green. I usually use some compination of brown, navy, purple, and black. I painted the fish thoroughly. After the paint began to dry, I began the cleaning process. First I started by wiping the paint off with a dry paper towel, followed by a damp paper towel, followed by a Mr Clean Magic Eraser. After the paint was completely dry, I used an old dental tool to scrape and clean paint from the glass surfaces.

+ The fish was sealed and polished with Sculpy glaze.

I sent the fish on its merry way after I had some better pictures taken by my friend and her swank camera.

3rd Place!

There were something like 217 votes and 26 entries.
The winner was the adorable manatee, and the cute animal kingdom mirror was second and my Octopus guy took third place! I think thats awesome!
You can read more about it at www.pcagoe.com!