How NOT to get frustrated with selling on Etsy

(Work in progress, patchwork tiers for a new gypsy style hippie skirt)

I have been thinking about this Etsy topic for quite a while now, today is the day to write it down.
You may take my advice or leave it, I am no preacher by no means, and everyone's opinion is subjective. I like Etsy, it has been a great selling venue and I left Ebay after a long selling period when I realized that Etsy was a better market place for me. The transition started in June 2007.Until today I have had over 400 sales. And 33 sales in my supply outlet.

What has worked for me?
***Even though I love to list on Etsy, I don't consider Etsy my business, but as one part of my enterprise. A healthy distance to the venue you are selling in, is a good start.
***Some sellers do get sales by posting in the forums, but if you don't watch your time, you may waste hours in the forums without really getting anything accomplished. Set some time aside to go into the forums to read up on topics and site changes or just chat, but keep it short and sweet, always remember that in order to sell, you have to have handmade items first.
***Don't expect Etsy to be a playground where everyone will play nicely. Coming from Ebay I have learned to grow a thick skin. Etsy is a selling venue first, a community hang out second. There will be controversy and maybe instances which may seem unfair at times as well. Put your big girl/boy panties on and deal with it. Or walk away for a while. As we are all different there will never be complete harmony among its members. And quite frankly I like to see when problems get addressed.
***Sometimes you may seem invisible, but frequent listing of new items has really kept me busy. Being not one of the lucky Etsyans who get featured on the front page or in treasuries I have resigned to the fact that some "looks" just appeal more to be displayed than others. But sales won't necessarily be effected. So, it may be just an ego thing and honestly you shouldn't worry too much about it. I also don't advertise hardly on Flickr, MySpace, Facebook and all the other new places popping up every day (even though I have established a few accounts that rest in peace:). I just don't have the time nor the desire. If you think this is the route to go, sure, why not, but it's not a must. Many successful sellers have proven (and I am not talking about myself, but sellers who have sold way more items) that listing a great product will actually do the trick. There are only 24 hours in each day, a fact we just can't change, use every hour wisely.
***Take it easy. Don't check your sales every 10 minutes, a watched pot never boils. Don't be too desperate. Strangely enough desperation seems to "smell" and make slow selling periods even worse. What is a turn-off in real life seems to be true for internet selling as well. Make new items, have fun with new designs.
***Explore your options. Have your own website, maybe a few selling accounts on other venues. Depending on just one site may be crucial if you ever have your account suspended (in error or for violation) and it deprives you of new selling experiences.
Enjoy Etsy, but no need to have your life evolve around it. You walk away from a real life job every evening, walk away from Etsy after your work is done. You wouldn't want to lodge at your work place either, would you?

We need to "get out there"

And I am not talking about a cruise or the internet either:)
But into the real life sunshine and events>>>t-shirt weather in Oklahoma, hurray!

I have shifted to some warm weather designs because I am playing with the thought of doing my first craft shows this year. Coming Sunday will be an Art & Craft Fair in Shawnee, OK, and we'll go to look on. It's not too far to drive and we will have fun just looking around. That way I can easier decide if this is a way of vending for me.

I made this cute little toddler blouse the other day. And I think it's sweet. Maybe I will get into sewing more now that it starts to warm up. I'll see how well I will be doing with clothes.
I am about to list a few more other tams on Etsy and my website, check them out, the links are located at the left of my blog.

So far the new year really didn't present itself in any outstanding way for us, it's been work, cold weather and staying at home a lot. We are so ready to travel and have some fun.
We are in the process of planning a short spring vacation to Mexico. Searching for blues festival tickets in Oklahoma (Tulsa used to be great, but we couldn't find any info for 2008) and check out some craft and art festivals which we found with this website http://www.craftmasternews.com/index.htm

The whole online advertising and socialising sites and communities like Etsy are fine, but get boring after a while. Inspiration comes from the real world. I like being online, but the longer I use the internet, the more I see the importance to shut it off for a while and go outside and live.

Creating frenzy

What I have learned from completing my taxes?
Well, one fact is: I have way too much material and unfinished inventory.
This bothered me to the extent that it triggered a lot of energy to make new things. Loving this feeling:)
Above are only a few new tams that I have listed on Etsy today.

And I have uploaded a lot of sweet vintage aprons and some sewing patterns to my 2n etsy shop Retrochicboutique.

With snow storms still all over the country I also listed another warm patchwork scrap hat on my website Purplesagedesignz

That's not all. I have finished my first little girl peasant top of all the sweet clothes I am planning for my next project. Blumenkinder (flower children). I already registered the shop on Etsy, but I am not sure yet if I should test run them in my main Etsy shop first.

I love to create, and with sticking to my new schedule of creating first, marketing second I hope I will have a busy spring and summer season.
Off to enjoy my weekend. It is an amazing Saturday evening outside, with temperatures in the mid 50s.

Crafter or Salesperson?

I have been pretty busy between attending a funeral, cleaning house and spending time with the family. Breaks from "living online". Sometimes I wish my work would just end there after finishing my hats. The joy and dilemma of selling online. The "salesperson part" is the one I enjoy the least. Especially these days with all the requirements to "put yourself out there"...onto Flickr, myspace, IndiePublic, forums, yahoo groups, squidoo and all the new places that pop up every day.
I have decided to do no more then just tend to my lovely blog and list my items on my website and Etsy. Time will tell if this will be the right decision, but it feels right for me.
I will try to attend craft fairs and shows this year as well. Back to good ole' old fashioned selling.

If there was no electricity ?

How could we live these days?
I had 5 minutes notice that the electricity would be shut off this morning. Ok, I said to myself, I will survive.
My crochet hook doesn't need power. I picked up my yarn and hook, moved to a seat close by the window and sat quietly. I enjoy quietness.
After half an hour it got cold in the rooms. Oh yes, the heating system runs on electricity.
I longed for a hot cup of coffee, no chance, stove and water heater run with power.
I went outside to play with our dog. The march sun was nice, but it was chilly in the shade. I washed my hands when I came back in, and realized that our water pump ran with electricity.
There is always only a small reservoir left, so, be careful how much you use.
I sat back down and finished my hat.
It was very quiet, no refrigerator buzz, no heated air came out of the vents, no pc noise, no tv, no music, no news, no phone.
All I had were candles.
After 2 hours the power came back on...and I have to admit, I was relieved. Can you really go back to the simple good old life style from one minute to the next?
No, not really. You have to have wood to burn, an oil lamp to light, and an attitude that goes with it.
I sure would like to learn how to live without though. With emphasis on LEARN.

And the beat goes on...

This Sunny & Cher song was in my head when I rushed back from the accountant appointment, taxes are done . A milestone every time in March, to move on with life and just go back to the routine. I love my routine.
This warm brown and dark red tam is a hat design I have done very often over the years, and yet, it's still fun to crochet.
Available on my website Purple Sage Designz

Spring is on my mind! What is better to express my longings for a nice warm breeze then with a lavender doily cotton tam?
Available on Purple Sage Designz

Color...I am crocheting "out of the box" these days. I love unusual color combinations and a bit of boldness.
Rust and dark citrine tam...available at my Etsy shop

I still love the Irie color combo and have made this Jamaica inspired tam.
You can read more about it in my Etsy shop

First tornado warning ...and winter is NOT over yet

It was a stormy Sunday night, with tornado warnings, severe thunderstorms and all the weather turmoil that Oklahoma has to offer. Very early in the beginning of March, and tornado season has arrived with a bang.
We sat and watched the local weather channel with Gary England for many hours, trying to stay calm but yet prepared if we had to take measures to go into shelter. I just wish we had a storm cellar, we really need to invest into a shelter function within our house. I watched our huge trees and as much as I love them for shade in the summer, they are scary so close to the house during storms.
And today we are supposed to get snow again. Right now the wind outside is fiercly gearing up for a little bit of snow storming.
I just hope I will make it to Hobby Lobby and the tax accountant before we'll get snowed in again.
As long as we don't have any damage, power outage or lose our cable, we are just fine...as every spring is crazy dangerous weather season here.