Indie Free Spirits Team

Gift Guide Treasuries by the Ifsteam

2011-12-19T21:03:00.000-08:00

Here are some great treasuries to help find the perfect gift for that certain someone in your life.

A Travelers Gift Guide

by YirehJewelry

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Gifts for a Best Friend Going on a Modern Vision Quest
by SameHeartDesigns

Here is my favorite piece from SameHeartDesigns shop...

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Gifts for An Archaeologist

by FeathersofArtemis

Here is my favorite piece from FeathersofArtemis' shop

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Gifts for your Best Girlfriends

by Luluxo

My favorite piece in Luluxo's shop

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Gift Guide for the Glam Rock Electro Boy/Girl

by EverythingOk

My favorite piece from Everythingok's shop

Thank you to all members who participated in the gift guide treasury challenge ;)

Much love! Captain Blueberry

Team Challenge: Light & DARK

2011-11-30T13:28:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! Team challenge time!! I have been brainstorming this one for a while, and I think it will be a really interesting way to open up our souls and imaginations in a group setting. Here we go!

Team Challenge: Light & DARK

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1: CREATION:
Create a listing that represents your light and dark sides. Whether it's an art piece, a vintage dress, a piece of jewelry or soap- show the world how your light and dark sides look, while embracing the harmony between the two. Be real, and represent your sides in a way that makes an impact and moves those who see them.

2: PHOTOGRAPHY:
Photograph yourself preferably within one of the shots, to truly represent the dark & light of you. If you do not want to include yourself in the shot, make it as personal as possible. This is all about sharing the creator behind the work.

3: JUDGING:
Top 3 Winners will be judged by best photography, description and creativity.

4: TAG:
Your listing with "lightdark" so I am able to search your pieces easily. You can create up to 5 listings, but only one can enter the top 12.

5: DEADLINE:
You have till January 4th to create and list your piece. Judging will take place that night, and top 12 will be revealed via treasury, where you the team will vote on your favorite piece of all (you must vote for someone else's, as opposed to your own)

6: SHARE:
Once you have completed your piece post your listing here and on the Facebook team wall.
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PRIZES

1st. PRIZE:
Interview on the team blog and mermaidscloset.blogspot.com
Gift lot which is filled with donations from our own team
Ad box (created by me ) on team blog and MermaidsCloset for 2 weeks!

2nd and 3rd PRIZE:
Ad box on team blog for 2 weeks
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CHALLENGE WINNER GIFT DONATIONS:
If you would like to donate a gift for the winner of the challenge, post your interest on the team's Facebook wall and I will get back to you.

Incentives: As a way to say thank you for donations I will post a pic with legend showing everyone's piece and who sent them in, on the team blog.

If you have any questions post them here and I will get back to you when I can. Happy creating, Team!

Treasury Challenge Winners!

2011-11-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Congrats! Here are my favorite Fall Treasuries of the Team Challenge. They were all so beautiful, and it was hard to choose! Click on the screenshots to go straight to the treasuries. I have included my favorite piece within the winner's shop to give you a feel for what they create. Such talent we have on our delightful team! Until next challenge, much love from your Captain Blueberry!

#1 Place by BailyBelle!

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#2 Place by BashfulOwl

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#3 Place by MollyFinds

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Favorite Painting Challenge Winner - MoonChildVintage

2011-10-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

"I am a member of the Etsy Team Indie Free Spirits and our latest challenge was to create a piece/vintage photo inspired by a painting that we love. I chose the painting of Ophelia by the Pre Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais which was made in 1852. I love most of the Pre Raphaelite painters as the women are always so beautiful and ethereal and I love all of the Ophelia paintings (of which there are many) as I am also a huge Shakespeare fan as well. I recently found this costume that I wanted to put here in the shop and it seemed the perfect Pre Raphaelite costume...so here it is!"

MoonChildVintage won the Favorite Painting Challenge because of this beautiful listing! This is her second win at an Ifsteam Challenge, and it is no wonder! Here are some interesting new things about Toni that you didn't learn on her previous interviews...

Name and location:
Toni Roxanne Oswald (MOONCHILD VINTAGE) Boulder, Colorado

A vivid memory of your childhood that inspires you:
My grandma who I call Mimi had a big cedar chest when I was a kid that I used to look through on a monthly basis and it was filled with old black and white photos of her growing up as well as tons of photos of my Mom and her three sisters when they were growing up as well. I think it definitely sparked so much imagination in me of another time and place and all the clothes I am sure had an impact on my love for vintage clothes as my Mom and her sisters grew up in the 50's and 60's and all had great style.

I remember I would sit there for hours making up stories that I thought went with the photos and just daydreaming about that time. I am such a nostalgic person and I guess that is probably where it began. Usually while doing this I would also dress up in old clothes that were also in the chest and act out characters around the house and yard.

If you could choose an era to live in, which one would you pick?
Well geez, that is a hard one as I like so many eras....I think either the 1920's in Paris where I could have hung out with the Surrealist painters and writers or the 50's in America where I could have hung with the Beat writers & poets and gone to see people like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Mingus and AnitaO'day play Live~

What character in history do you feel a fondness for?
Harpo Marx & Fela Kuti

If you were one of nature's elements, what would you be?
Water...it flows.....

If you were an animal, what would you be?
A Phoenix

What is your recipe to turn around a bad day?
Harpo Marx, Chocolate, Dancing!

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In another life what would you choose to be (job, lifestyle)?
An Opera Singer or an African Drummer or a Carpenter

A few books you recommend for inspiration:
Harpo Speaks by Harpo Marx, Be Here Now by Ram Das, The Rosy Crucifixtion by Henry Miller, Any poetry book by Mary Oliver or Pablo Neruda, Don Van Vliet Art Books, any books by Starhawk, Other Voices by Truman Capote, Visions of Cody by Jack Kerouac and so many more....

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Music you are loving at the moment:
Love - Forever Changes
Bauhaus _ the Sky's Gone Out
PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
Linda Perhacs - Parallelograms
Marianne Faithfull - Easy Come, Easy Go
Paul Simon's Greatest Hits
Sly and The Family Stone- Everything!
Van Der Graaf Generator - The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other

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A few experiences at the top of your bucket list:
Surf more
Live in Big Sur, California for at least a year
Live in Paris for at least a year
Make a great album with my man Max
Finish my book
Go to Africa
Do the Tango in Buenos Aires
Learn as much as I can about myself and others
Write a lot of poetry
Somewhat master the bass Guitar and drums
Love more and Dance more

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You know you are going to like someone when they:
Are Funny and Honest and Irreverent!

Are you an introvert or extrovert?
Both, I am probably an extrovert around my closest friends and on stage but an introvert otherwise~

What do you love about selling vintage?
That I can give someone a little magic...the magic of old clothes! I also love that it is recycling stuff as we really have enough clothes on the planet right now and I also love creating some theme or idea around the clothes and styling that inspires someone to own the piece

Closing words:
Thanks to everyone on the Etsy Indie Free Spirits Team! Everyone is so awesome especially you Hollie, our amazing team leader.

Two final quotes by two of my favorite people ever:
-"I refuse to live my life in fear" - Fela Kuti
-"Honk honk!" - Harpo Marx

Follow Moonchildvintage here
Shop
Blog
Twitter
Facebook

Check out the Indie Free Spirits Team here

Gift Donations

2011-09-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

So many thanks to our team mates who generously donated gifts to the winner of the Favorite Painting Challenge. You are loved and appreciated! Here all the gifts received- Congrats MoonChildVintage, you are in for some treats!!

1- squid21r
2- bohemianhollow
3- rebelrebalonline
4- spacepearls
5- redcurrydesigns
6- irenasophia

7- jkarma3
8- Zidishaluxe
9- arabesquearomas
10- petarsalic

Thanks teamies!!

Painting Challenge Winners

2011-09-20T14:18:00.001-07:00

Congrats to MoonChildVintage who has won the Favorite Painting Challenge!
Her piece was inspired by Ophelia by John Everett Millais...

In second place was squid12r with her detailed and amazing ring inspired by Klimt

And third place to the mysterious and romantic perfume by ArabesqueAromas inspired by Matisse painting, "Odalisque with a Tambourine/ A Harmony in Blue"

All of the pieces created for the challenge are masterpieces in themselves! See then here. Thank you to one and all who participated, and a warm hug for all team mates who took the time to vote. Look forward to a post with pictures of every gift donated to the winner, and also an article with our winner, MoonChildVintage!

Also, keep your eyes and ears peeled for our next team challenge!!

Favorite Painting Challenge - Voting Time

2011-09-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Your Favorite Painting Challenge Finalists have been revealed! Go ahead and vote for your very favorite on the treasury here

Be sure to look at the descriptions and let the overall execution of the piece and listing sway your pick. Many thanks to each of you for your hard work and creativity in bringing together these inspiring pieces!

I will be tallying votes within a week's time, and then the winner will be announced.
Expect a post featuring all of the generous gifts Ifsteamers have donated to the potential winner as well!!

VOTE HERE

2011-08-09T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a cute new button option for your blogs! Great for girly, kitschy and cute styled pages, for sure :D

-Save picture file
-Upload it as picture gadget/widget
-Paste Ifsteam blog link in the link space
-Save and position in desired place on sidebar
-DONE!

To see more button options go here:
BLOG BUTTONS

Team Challenge Time! Your Favorite Painting

2011-08-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

It is time for a new team challenge! I think this may be the funnest yet!!! Ready?!

In this team challenge you will not only create a piece inspired by your favorite painting, but also photograph your piece in a way that emulates the painting itself! Throw yourself into the scene! There are no limits! Your goal should be to recreate your favorite painting in whichever way you see fit. The emulation can be symbolic, or it can be literal-it's really up to your vision!

-If you make jewelry, hair pieces, clothing or the like: Make a piece inspired by the painting, then shoot the photograph to emulate the painting's vibe.

-If you make artwork: recreate the piece with your own spin and style. Or create a piece simply inspired BY the painting's feel.

-If you sell vintage clothing, home goods, etc: find/pick a piece that looks like something that would fit perfectly into one of your fav paintings. Then photograph it to emulate the painting's vibe.

DETAILS/RULES

1-Challenge starts NOW and judging will take place on August 31st.

2-Tag your piece with "PaintingChallenge" (no space). Make as many pieces as you want.

3-August 31st I will choose 12 finalists. They will be judged by uniqueness and quality of photography and product. Be sure to explain the challenge in brief within the description.
I will reveal finalists via treasury, where you will all vote for your ONE favorite piece. After a few days I will close the voting and the winner will be revealed.

(a recreation I made years ago)

Example: Girl With A Pearl Earring
Make her earrings or headdress, etc as the piece to sell. Photograph a model wearing these infront of a black backround just like a the painting.

OR

Recreate the painting with your own spin if you are an artist!
There are no rules and no limits, so go crazy and let your true creative self come out!!
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PRIZE
Winner will receive a gift pack of pieces Ifsteamers donate! Also a team interview on the blog and MermaidsCloset!

If you are interested in donating a prize to the winner just let me know via convo to blueberryshoes. In return for your donations I will post pics of your prizes with links to your shops within a thank you post. Have fun guys!!!

Discuss and get excited in this thread here

Treasury Challenge Winner: MegganColleen

2011-08-04T10:14:00.001-07:00

In our latest Treasury Challenge I set out for Ifsteamers to create a treasury inspired by one of their favorite songs! After sorting, looking at all of them over and over I finally came to a winner...

MegganColleen!!
Congrats! Here is an interview with her, so you can get to know the lady behind the curation...

"Love in the Library" (an old Jimmy Buffett classic from '94)

"Love in the library
Quiet and cool
Love in the library
There are no rules
Surrounded by stories
Surreal and sublime
I fell in love in the library
Once upon a time"

INTERVIEW

-Name: Meggan Colleen McLeod (just a little Scottish-Irish)

-Etsy shop: meggancolleen

-Location: Born and raised in Sarasota, FL and currently exploring the southern grandeur of Richmond, VA.

-What you do: When I'm not Etsying/crafting in my free time, I work at R.E.I. (Recreational Equipment Incorporated, a super-cool outdoor gear co-op). I also work as an event facilitator with LivingSocial Adventures, which is amazing! (it's the new branch of LivingSocial that does day-trips and little excursions and, well, adventures) :)

-5 words your friends would use to describe you: artsy, quirky, cheerful, creative, and weird (in the best way possible, of course)

-What is your inner world like? To put it concisely I’d have to say whimsical, and as often as possible, nature infused.

-What are your favorite mediums to work with? I like any and every medium when I’m making it into something it wasn’t before! The best is scoring a bike tire for a chandelier, or turning a tattered & frayed old book into 3-D art.

-What is a secret ingredient you throw into everything you make? Everything with a pinch of love, of course ;)

-Do you go into a "zone" when you create? Oh yes- especially if I’m onto something new… I’ll stay up ‘til the wee hours and my boyfriend will finally give up and go to sleep and my cat will stare at me bleary eyed like I’m crazy..

-Where do you go or look to for your inspiration? I’m inspired by so many things! A wonderful song, an old storybook, a cool vintage find, the great outdoors, etc. etc.- sky’s the limit!

TOP 5's

-5 Favorite bands/singers: Explosions in the Sky, Beirut, The Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes, & Weezer (this list constantly evolves and changes; so hard to pick just 5!)

-5 Favorite books: The Lorax, Harry Potter series, Ishmael, Eat Pray Love, and Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass (many of my favorite books are and always have been/will be the old children’s classics)

-5 Favorite films: Amelie, I Heart Huckabees, Wet Hot American Summer, Clueless & Pride & Prejudice

-5 Favorite meals: Pierogies with caramelized onions, pizza with feta & tomatoes, mango curry chicken salad, any kind of salad with fruit +/or avocado in it, and chocolate in any form (or any recipe off of foodgawker.com)

-5 Favorite animals: my cat Tutti (who we rescued as a kitten), any dog, squirrels because they always make me laugh, birdies because they sing to me daily, and fireflies- no explanation needed there!

-Are you the only creative one in your family or circle of friends? If so, how do you stay true to yourself?
Not at all, my family members are all really wonderful in their respective rights; my mama threw pottery for 15+ years and can sit down after not having painted in 5 years and do beautiful watercolors. My dad likes to meticulously invent new games to play to keep us on our toes, and my brother has always been a great musician. Staying true was never a problem because we were into different things and regardless of my pursuit, I was always encouraged by family & friends!

-How often do you go into creative mode? I’m always working odd hours so it really depends, but at least a few times a week. I think my most creative “mode” is probably when I’m laying in bed trying to fall asleep but all I can think about is potential projects that could be fun/interesting/beautiful/etc

-How has your childhood and experience effected your work? I grew up in Florida in a little beach town with a loving family that loved that outdoors and encouraged my hard-work and creativity. I’m thankful everyday for the same love of nature that they’ve instilled in me and to know that they fully support me in my Etsy escapades

-Do you have plans for your creations in the future? (a new line, wholesaling, focusing on etsy, etc) I love making chandeliers, and hope to continue with the birdcages while exploring some more unconventional housewares. Also working on a 2nd Etsy shop, fireflyandfinch, which is going to be all vintage wares.

-Tell us something about you that not many people would know off the bat: I enjoy Peanut Butter & Ham sandwiches, thanks to my weird dad

-Closing thoughts: Life is short. Have fun and don’t be afraid to do things because you don’t think can do it well!

Follow MegganColleen
Shop
2nd Shop
Facebook

xo,
meggancolleen
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NEXT TREASURY CHALLENGE will be announced soon!

Make Your Own Easy-Versatile Shirt Tutorial: by Rachael

2011-07-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

Had to share this ADORABLE tutorial by our own Rachael of Talk2TheTrees and TreeTalker!
Some of the pics are too big for the blog so just click on them to see each in their entirety.

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I've seen a few shirts like this floating around the internet.

I saw them, loved them and thought,

wow.. I could make that!

So, I did.

It was super easy, super versatile!

It cost about 5.00 to make and took under an hour.

I took pictures along the way, but sadly there is not much light in my little apartment.

So, I have some lovely digital illustrations as well..

I hope they can help make things clearer!

You will need:

A sewing machine

A yard or two of fabric

Fabric or lace for the sash

Matching thread

Scissors

Like I said in my first tutorial, I don't measure, but this part is pretty simple.

I hold the fabric over my torso, until it reaches my sides,

I add an inch or so, then cut!

You will need to make two of these. (Front and Back)

It's okay if you make them a little too big, the shirt is supposed to be a bit baggy.

Plus you can always take the shirt in later.

The long skinny, wavy piece above is for the sash.. we'll worry about that later.

Next, you are going to sew up the sides.

Don't go all the way up,

You need to leave room for the sleeves and arms!

Next, is hemming up the arm holes.

You are going to want to take the parts where you didn't sew together,

Fold it a little and sew.

Make sure the shirt is inside out while you do this.

This is what it should look like.

Pretty easy so far right?

Well, you are almost done!

Next we are making the part that holds the sleeves.

Fold where the red line is, and sew the folded part onto the shirt.

Do that with both the front and the back.

The illustrations no longer show the arms being hemmed.. So use your imagination. ;)

It's just a guide to show you where stitches will be.

(Inside of the shirt)

(Outside of the shirt, plus a Wicket paw)

Next step..

Play with your puppy if you have one.

He really didn't like not being the center of my attention.

Next step, hem up the bottom of the shirt!

You are almost done!

Now you add the sash or ribbon.

You basically just feed the sash though one hole,

then through the back, leaving the ribbon out a bit to make a sleeve.

Gather the fabric along the sash, so it has a nice ruffle to it.

And that's it!

Tie a pretty bow on the side,

or braid the excess fabric,

you could even attach a cute pin over the bow!

If you don't know how to make a sash, don't fret.. It's easy!

Cut a long strip of fabric, again, this is to your liking and size.

sew the sides longways so you have a long tube.

Turn it inside out, so the sewn part is hidden.

(This part takes the longest.)

Then hem up the short sides.

(This is the sash being turned inside out)

The best part about this shirt, is that it is versatile! It has interchangeable sleeves.

It looks great on it's own, with a cardigan, a vest, belted.. etc.

You could even made it a few inches longer and wear it with leggings.

I'm totally going to make more of these!

The shirt is a tad wrinkly for the pictures.. but only cause I've been wearing it a lot!

Imagine the possibilities!

Follow Rachael Here
Talk2TheTrees
TreeTalker
Blog
Facebook

Remembering What's Important

2011-07-27T18:07:00.000-07:00

I wanted to write a little bit to encourage and motivate you all. As you have heard, the summer months are notorious for slow sales and this may be effecting your shops as I speak. Low activity could really get you down if you are spending $, energy and inspiration on new work and relisting old. Understandably you may feel invisible, ignored, frustrated.

I have some encouragement for you.

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First of all, I am always here if you need to vent or need a dose of perspective, love, help. Convo me anytime, and about anything! Secondly I want to explain the importance of understanding the waves in our lives. Waves flow toward you on the shore. They roll in tall and in between the two waves the sea lays low. The sea continues to wash up, but always at different heights. Life is the same. You will experience passion, exciting experiences, love and success in waves of high and low. There is nothing wrong with this, it is simply how the Universe works.

It is good to embrace the facts of life. Things can't be epic everyday. And hard times never last longer than you can handle. Going hand in hand with this view of the big picture, sales are the same. They fluctuate with the seasons and sometimes for reasons we could never pinpoint. One thing is for sure: When sales are good, enjoy it! List well, tag well, package well, and follow up lovingly on your customers. Times are tough and the fact that people are spending money at all continues to floor me. Show your supporters that they are cherished, and warmly welcomed back.

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When sales are low, fight the urge to throw your hands up in the air for good. It is the low part of the waves. Summer is the low part, but fall is on the way. Along with fall comes a yearning for change, for warmth, cozy new things, Halloween and in time, Christmas. If you would like, embrace the low tide with taking a little "vacation" from promoting and keeping things busy in the shop. Instead, take time to zone out from the electric world and immerse yourself in the real one. Create new things, maybe even just for your home, friends, family and not to sell.

Feed your soul with friends, beach days, sleeping in, planning adventures and finding peace in nature. Your shop is a small slice of your life. If you take anything away from this post it's that. Etsy is simply a SLICE of your life. Our brains can easily build shop success up slowly like bricks onto a growing pyramid. But we are in control of our thought process. Remember that Etsy has it's place and that life outside of it is where our happiness, confidence and inner strength should come from.

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In a nutshell, when things are slow throw yourself into creation without $ in the back of your mind. In a perfect world we would create without the idea of selling in the back of our mind. Conduct trades, in person and online. Host giveaways. Show your best generosity. And spend time with people you love, doing things you love. Don't sweat the small stuff and instead, dote on the big stuff. You will realize when you disconnect from the shop that you will feel free, with a fresh new perspective.

When things pick up, enjoy it with all the threads of your soul. Keep the momentum going by listing new things weekly and having sales to encourage return customers to make purchases.

Make it a goal to enjoy your magical life no matter how things go online. Get your feet and fingers in the dirt and grab onto something real. Remember the ocean with its beautiful waves, and embrace the highs and lows.

Crafty Love,
Captain Blueberry

Treasury Challenge Winner: JessaMae22

2011-07-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back, the Team joined in the fun challenge of creating a treasury inspired by the way they felt that day. There were so many, and it was almost impossible to choose! However, there must be ONE winner! And that winner is JessaMae22! Here's an interview with her, so you can get to know a little more about the creator behind the camera ;)

The winning treasury:

1- Name, Shop Name and Location: Jessica, JessaMae Photography, Columbus OH

2- Tell us about your craft: Taking lots and lots of pictures of everything and anything:)

3- Name 5 things that inspire your work: Nature, femininity, the beauty of everyday items/life, travel, and though it sounds odd, music. A certain song can trigger a creative spark:)

4- When did you get started with photography? I remember my first camera: A rockin', 80s-tastic Mickey Mouse camera I received when I was 7 years old. I've honestly been snapping away ever since (I have the boxes and boxes of photos to prove it!). I seriously started considering selling my work about a year ago.

5- What kind of camera do you use? While I primarily shoot digital, I'm also increasingly using film (35mm, lomo, TTV) -- and even my iPhone:)) I don't discriminate when it comes to snapping away!

6- 5 Words to describe yourself: Happy, quirky, loud, curious, dreamer

7- 5 Fav meals: Sushi, picadillo & plantains, Southern bbq, tacos al pastor & tamales, and banana pancakes and biscuits (yes, I know those last two are so random, but I have a raging carb obsession, haha)

8- 5 Fav books: Wuthering Heights, Como Agua Para Chocolate, Sense & Sensibility, Chocolat, and Cien Anos de Soledad

9- 5 Fav films: Moulin Rouge, Last of the Mohicans, Marie Antoinette, Snatch, and Anchorman (again, I am so random!)

10- 5 Fav bands/singers: Ellie Goulding, Florence & the Machine, Marina & the Diamonds, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears (I can't help it -- she is my guilty pleasure:))

11- What are a few of your dreams? Well, my dream growing up was to work for a magazine in NYC, which I did! So now, I fantasize about packing up my husband, our dogs, and my cameras to travel the world

12- What magical things do you do to keep inspired? I listen to a lot of music, I spend a lot of time with nature, I seek out new places and experiences

13- Where would you love to travel to? Europe is top of my list, though the question really should be, where would I NOT love to travel to ;)

14- When are you happiest? When I'm with people I love...I thrive on love (and carbs, obviously;))

15- What do you love about Etsy and the Ifsteam? I was a buyer on Etsy long before I worked up the nerve to be a seller. The amount of creativity is staggering-I am consistently in awe of people's talent & visions. As a seller, the sense of community and support is invaluable! As for the lfsteam, I admit that my love was initially driven by a serious case of lust!

I want everything that the amazing team members create & find lol. I can spend hours just trolling through members' shops --each is so unique and thoughtful and obviously created with love. Plus, I lovelovelove the interaction among team members--from the treasury challenges to basic chats, this team goes above and beyond so many others with its focus on member interaction and support:)

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We love you back JessaMae! What a magical interview! Check out Jessica's shop for even more inspiration. Be sure to heart your favorite pieces, as her work is PERFECT for features in your team treasuries!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY SALE: Note that JessaMae is hosting a CIJ sale in her shop as we speak! Everything is already marked as 20% off until July 24th. Even if you aren't looking to purchase fine art, feel free to link to her shop in your Facebook and share with your friends :)

Check out JessaMae's Shop Here

(all images are available for purchase at JessaMae22's Shop)

NEW Treasury Challenge!
Come check out the newest treasury challenge, and go in the running for a blog interview just like this one! Go HERE

Lavender Fields Forever - By IrenaSophia

2011-07-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by IrenaSophia

One of my favorite places to go and look for inspiration is one small valley in the Petar Salic ( of hedgehog post ) village of St.Jana in Croatia. It is special place where nature seems to hold in perfect beauty and harmony. There is a lavender field full of bees and unbelievable scent of fresh flowering.

I just walk through it and it gets to my heart. I always do my sketches and drawings after I return from this walks. Petar was kind enough to share its beauty with me, and I need to share this with you. Hope you will like it.

Irena

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FOLLOW HERE
SHOP
BLOG

Guest Post by BurntFeather: Do What You Love!

2011-07-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

Guest post by BurntFeather

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I've just come back from an amazing two weeks in Japan with my bf Ben and now, not only am I full of inspiration but I've discovered a new found determination to follow my dreams thanks to an eldery Japanese man named Benny. Let me back track.

I first met Benny 5 years ago when I lived in Japan for a year. I truly treasure Benny, he's funny, kind and warm-hearted, loves English and has always shown me great kindness!

Two years ago I got the devastating news that Benny was ill with cancer, this crashed my soul and I wished I had the money to fly over at that time, alas I didn't so I drew him a picture. Doctors told him he had one year to live.

Fast forward two years and Benny is the example of a man following his dreams. He jokingly credits my painting as what got him through it, but I know it was more his determination and his dreams of following his passion. During my two weeks in Japan, Benny took us around his Uni. where he enrolled after coming out of hospital. Strict orders from the doctors of "you must have passion in your life" saw Benny do exactly that and indulge in his love of English...his passion!

So no more excuses...do what you love!

I hope everyone, one day meets a Benny or that this, simple story inspires you guys to follow what you love, cause life is short and we all must follow our passions!

I run my own blog called burntfeather feel free to stop over there cause in the next few weeks I'll be blogging all my japan inspirations and hopefully lots of Japan inspired art!

Fee
xoxo

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Summer Passions - by FeathersOfArtemis

2011-06-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by FeathersofArtemis

Early summer is often inspirational for most artists and those of the creative persuasion. For me, this winter was extremely harsh so as soon as summer truly hit my creative gears were snapped back into motion. This, in combination with my new favorite passions, belly dance and antiquing, has brought me to a new creative high.

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"The Pastoralists" Fusion Belly Dance

I have been studying belly dance since this winter and have found so many aspects of it to be inspirational to my art. While traditional Middle Eastern belly dance in itself is a beautiful ancient art, the new genres being developed in the U.S. are nothing to shake a stick at. Tribal fusion belly dance combines different aspects of traditional Middle Eastern belly dance with aspects from tribal, gypsy, turn of the century cabaret, gothic, art nouveau, and many other combinations. It ends up looking something like this:

If you haven’t checked out this dancer, Zoe Jakes, I suggest you do ASAP. Youtube her!

Inspired by my new found obsession I have been making my own belly dance tops out of peacock feathers. They have this tribal fusion element in combination with my favorite medium, feathers. The first time I wore one to dance class I had about 3 new orders from fellow dancers.

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So how does this connect with antiquing?

I have been slowly developing a vintage section for my Etsy and in the course of searching places I have come across some gorgeous magazines with covers by Alphonse Mucha and similar art nouveau artists.

While antiquing in upstate New York this weekend I found this BEAUTIFUL cover of Etude, a music magazine from 1912. I already have ideas stemming from this:

See something familiar?

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"The Pastoralists"

I am already brainstorming some amazing new belly dance pieces inspired by this art nouveau driven time period. Lacking inspiration?

Go mull about an antique store. Even if you don’t buy anything, perhaps something about an antique design will strike you. Still uninspired? Maybe take up a new skill or take a class. While my inspiration for the moment is belly dance, perhaps something else will boost your creativity like ballet, hip hop or even a pottery class. As many of you have probably discovered, you can find inspiration anywhere.

Do something that makes you feel free, my free spirits!

FOLLOW FEATHERSOFARTEMIS HERE
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Hedgehogs! Guest Post by PeterSalic

2011-06-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by our own PetarSalic....

I am painter from Croatia. I live in the small village of St Jana, and wild animals are my daily inspiration. Yesterday I found two baby hedgehogs in trouble and rescued them. They were looking for the food.

Found Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamdgi as they wondered through Croatia.

They fell into the compost heap and could not crawl out.

On their way they went.
We hope they will finish their task. :)

PAINFULLY CUTE!

Follow PetarSalic Here
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Organization, by WayFarerVintage

2011-06-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Your Captain is slowly getting settled in, and thanks to a few of our lovely members you will be able to get back into the blog with some guest posts. Here is one by our own, WayfarerVintage

Our dreams are based in freedom; freedom to create and receive feedback on our creations, whether it is upcycling a beautiful piece of fabric or material into a dress or bracelet or restyling a fantastic thrift find.

Our dreams transcend the everyday grind of what most people call “work”. Our Etsy Shop is not work or at least it’s not supposed to be. We love to fulfill our dreams.

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Having said that, Etsy sellers just cannot avoid the not-so-much-fun part of the job of selling(feedback) and that is: editing pics, measuring items, listing, etc. If you don’t do those things well, you will not succeed on Etsy.

To make my life easier as an Etsy seller, I have created an Excel spreadsheet with one column of tasks(processes) and 14 smaller columns for check marks. Done. Done. Done. Music to our ears. It helps keep the creative person focused.

I myself seem to be equally endowed on the left side of the brain as the right side of the brain. Logical vs. creative. But when my creative juices are flowing while I am doing what I love to do best, ETSY, then I can get carried away with clicks. Clicking and clicking and clicking for what can turn into hours. I know many of you can relate to this so I share with you my Excel Spreadsheet. If you would like a copy of the file, please feel free to send me a comment on Facebook: Indie Free Spirits…Karen Cianci and I will send a copy of the file to your email address.

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If you are good with Excel, simply create one column as follows and then across the sheet add 14 days or more across and check off DOWN the list as you have done the tasks.

_____________________________

BUY (no need to include this…this is the best part)
PHOTO (I don’t include this one either because I love this part)
UPLOAD PICS TO COMPUTER HARD DRIVE OR TO PIC HOSTING SITE LIKE FLICKR
EDIT PICS FOR BRIGHTNESS, ETC.
MEASURE ITEMS and document on piece of paper to be thrown away later
LIST ITEMS
MAKE TREASURIES
POST TREASURY LINK ON ETSY IFS TEAM FORUM
POST TREASURY LINK ON FACEBOOK IFS TEAM
POST TREASURY LINK ON FACEBOOK YOUR PAGE (set one up for sure if you haven’t already)

POST PICS OF YOUR ITEMS ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE
POST PICS OF YOUR ITEMS ON TUMBLR.COM (easy once you get the hang of it)
POST PICS OF YOUR ITEMS ON YOUR OWN BLOGSPOT
POST A POST OF OTHER SELLER’S ITEMS ON YOUR OWN BLOGSPOT
CREATE AN OUTFIT ON POLYVORE (optional)
POST ETSY LISTINGS ON TWITTER ACCOUNT
MAKE MORE TREASURIES IF TIME

__________________________

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Well, not exactly an easy job this so-called hobby? It is a job but it is flexible, make your own hours, satisfy your creative urge, satisfy your need for feedback (sales), and bring in some cash and maybe enough to make your friends wonder “how did they do that”?

Most of all….it satisfies the indie spirit in all of us!!

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Follow Wayfarervintage Here
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Meet and Greet Treasuries

2011-04-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Meet and greet all of your new teammates! Click on the pics to go to the treasuries for closeups :)

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Connect With Your Crafty Community

2011-04-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel that you are the only one in your circle of friends who loves to be making things constantly? It can be a lonely creative road if this is so. Most of my life I was a lone Crafter and never even realized that it was sort of a sad thing. I did enjoy my alone time, however I did always feel like something special was missing.

When I moved to Florida and got married, I recognized that I could make a little bit of money doing what I loved. A friend introduced me to Etsy, and that is where I discovered my niche! As I know you all have as well. Such a rich community here! I got into the chats, virtual labs and ultimately teams where I have made priceless friendships and connections. This was the beginning of something grand.

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GETTING INVOLVED LOCALLY
At first the thought of craft shows seemed SCARY! Seeing that I tend to be shy, I felt overwhelmed with the thought of vending. I know alot of you are shy as well! It seems to go part and parcel with artistic makeups. However, the more I researched and the more I pondered on craft shows, the more excited I got about them! I think that the more you immerse yourself in something foreign, the less foreign it becomes.

I was looking up craft show displays on Flickr, and reading up on them in the forums on a daily basis. The excitement was building. Finally, I looked up "craft shows" on Craigslist, and there I found an ad for "Looking for Vendors For an Indie Craft Bazaar". BINGO! Turns out the coordinator is now my amazing friend Amanda of http://Goldenswear.etsy.com , and we are super tight ever since :) That first show was a super win, and from then on I was hooked!

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DE-MYSTIFYING
I can't even count how many I have done now, and each time I vend, I have a ball! It's just getting over that first time! Attending and vending craft shows is KEY to connecting with your local crafting community. I can't tell you how worth it is to force yourself into the scene. There will be some who may make you feel intimidated, but have no fear! Usually the most talented folks are the sweetest and most down to earth.

Remember that each human on this planet is equal. We all have different talents, and sometimes we feel inadequate because we compare ourselves to others. Try however, to look at everyone as they are: right on your level- You will feel so much more relaxed in this frame of mind. Embrace different kinds of creativity and connect with artists of all types!

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WHERE TO START
I say to start with researching for local indie events. If you are far from any kind of creative hub, commit yourself to traveling. Spending a little on gas is worth it for your soul! Check Craigslist, Google, and best of all Etsy! Apply for your local Etsy Team. Open your eyes to flyers at your local cafe's, record stores and independent shops. If you see someone creative, say hello and give them your business card, and mention that you're looking to connect with the creative community. You start with opening your mind and heart to the world and the rest is history!

If you don't quite feel ready for a craft show yet, no need to worry! There are other ways you can connect. Simply ATTEND craft shows. Take your time going to each booth, and bring a wad of biz cards. Smile, look your best and introduce yourself to every vendor. It sounds daunting but you will see that once you walk into the magical show that you'll be running off excitement and it will motivate you! Remember to take an interest and take everyone else's biz cards, so you can take the step of friending or liking them on Facebook, and from then on keep in touch.

MAKING IT HAPPEN
Throw crafting picnics and/or parties. With the more people you meet in the community, you will see that they are also looking to spend time with crafty friends. Anyone creative is looking for ways to make connections and just be in creative scenarios! Usually not so much other than the odd craft show will be happening in cities. I found this unsatisfactory! I didn't want to always think of crafting as a money-maker. I wanted craftyness for fun!

So I started hosting crafting parties and boy are they awesome! I host one every month and change up the attendees so everyone has a chance to join in the fun. I blog about the parties and the energy and fun permeates other Crafters' minds! And THIS is what I love. I want more and more friends connecting to create. And you can make it all happen! It is so easy to host a little party with the help of a few friends. Easier yet, a picnic! All you have to do is organize a time and place. You have it in you, I promise!

HELPFUL HOW TO'S:

How To Throw a Crafty Potluck:
http://mermaidscloset.blogspot.com/2010/09/crafty-potluck.html

How To Throw a Crafty Picnic:
http://mermaidscloset.blogspot.com/2010/12/crafty-picnic.html

The Ultimate Craft Show Guide:
http://mermaidscloset.blogspot.com/2010/04/craft-show-tips-all-you-need-to-know.html

Making Local Connections:
http://mermaidscloset.blogspot.com/2010/10/make-local-connections.html

Promoting Your Shop In Person:
http://mermaidscloset.blogspot.com/2010/06/promote-your-etsy-shop-in-person.html

I hope I've gotten the wheels in your heads turning! Jump onboard the good ship creativity and see how your crafty life will blossom!
Captain Blueberry

Etsy Features for the Ifsteam

2011-04-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

When checking in to Etsy today I noticed with much happiness and pride, that two of our members were featured right on the front page.

-The amazing Andreao503 has a special interview with Etsy as Featured Seller
-And DancingMooney receives a feature in the May Merch Desk article!

So many of our members are featured every single day on front page treasuries I could never keep up. So congrats to all of you too! Keep up the amazing team treasury curations and enjoy when they make front page-that is a special time for all of us :)

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Are any of you familiar with Photography Extraordinaire Brooke Shaden? Oh, YOU WILL BE NOW! Our own PookaQueen's work has been featured in a recent shoot of hers! Check out the article and die of love here

Tweaks to Ifsteam Application
We are now up to 473 members! Our numbers continue to rise, with new applications pouring in each day. With the larger and larger number of members, I have revamped the guidelines a little bit for newbies. As much as I would love for every free spirit to be on board, consistency, photography professionalism, and at least 24 items in shop are key. It is imperative that Etsians searching for their niche recognize that the Indie Free Spirits team, although laid back, does have a benchmark for awesomeness, and thus we will maintain our unique vibe no matter how large we become as a group. If you are curious to see the small changes I have made for applications just click on Who Can Join here

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500 Members Party
Have you heard?? When we reach 500 members, I will be scheduling a Virtual Labs party for all of us! It seems like the perfect celebratory number: 500! Not only will I go on camera and chit chat, meet and mingle with you all, but also do a mini tutorial on something fun and easy, and also reveal our next team challenge! But wait, it gets better! Other members will turn on their cameras and make an appearance as well! Anyone is welcome to do participate! Simply convo me with your plan. 5 minute slots will be available :) All you need is a webcam and be familiar with the virtual labs. I will keep you posted on the exact date and time when we hit the sweet number, and then it's PARTY TIME!

Biographical Treasuries

2011-04-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

I recently challenged you all to create a biographical treasury- basically a treasury that explains who you are in 16 slots. All of your collections were enchanting, and it was such a magical way of getting to you all! Here are my favorites, hope you had fun making them!!

Jessamae22

AtomicStitches

DancingMooney

AncientWinds

Odelae

Featherofartemis

Feel free to create your own, even though the challenge is over. Once you are finished, you can paste the url for it in this thread to share with the team.

How To Create a Facebook Ad

2011-03-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kristy of SpiritHorseHerbals, we can now make sense of Facebook Ads. Here are her detailed instructions on how to create your own and further the promotion of your shops. Herrrrrre we go!

Facebook Advertising Tips!

Wait! When you start to research Facebook advertising do your eyes begin to gloss over? Do you feel like pulling your hair out? Well, be assured, these are all classic symptoms of the "Facebook Advertising Overwhelm Syndrome" which is easily quelled.

Based on my experience as a marketing consultant and managing and coordinating Facebook ad campaigns for my own small business as well as others, I have compiled a few tips that are completely FREE to implement that may be supportive to get you started in Facebook Advertising land! This information is specifically geared towards recruiting fans to your business page. Once they are fans of your page, how you choose to interact with your new fans is another topic!

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Be a Fan:: Okay, this might seem totally obvious, but seriously, you wouldn’t believe how many people want to create a Fan page on Facebook and run ad’s that don’t even engage with their own personal profile page. So, if that is you, no worries! Become a fan of lots of pages. Pay attention to what your experience is when choosing what pages you become a fan of. Pay attention to what drew you in and make you click. Pay even closer attention to that which repelled you. And most importantly, make note of it all and use what you learned towards creating your own ad’s on Facebook.

Observe:: Now that you are on Facebook with your own personal profile becoming fans of lots of cool and relevant pages, be sure to pay attention to the ad’s that pop up while you are perusing around. Are there any that catch your eye? Jot down what interests you about the ad and emulate it with your own.

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Know Thy Customer:: I hear a lot of people say that advertising on Facebook was a waste and that they didn’t see any results. One of the main reasons for this is that they didn’t target their audience efficiently and effectively.

Ask yourself the following:

-Who are your current customers?

-Who are your potential customers?

I encourage you to write down as many characteristics about these people as possible. Literally, go grab a piece of paper and write down who these people are in terms of their gender, age, location, education, and most importantly, what are their interests? For example, I sell herbal products. I target mainly women, but sometimes men, who are between 22-45 who have an interest in: herbs, gardening, Mountain Rose Herbs (a big herb company), etc. Try to be as specific as possible because when you go to the Facebook advertising set-up page you will be able to target all of these specific attributes for your ad. The more specific you are the better success you will have with your ad.

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Say What?:: A lot can be said with one little ad, so be sure what you say is interesting! Just as important is the image you select to go with your ad. People are very visual, they spend very little time reading. The image on your ad will catch their eye first. Try to select something that is reflective of your company like a nice product photo for instance. Have it be sharp. Interesting. And even consider selecting the image that has colors that contrast the blue/white of Facebook. For the copy, be creative! Don’t just say “click here to become a fan today”. Tell them what the benefits are to becoming a fan of your page.

I ran an ad once for a seed company and the main header statement was “Learn to grow organic vegetables’. The rest of the message said “Spring has sprung. Learn gardening tips ‘n tricks by becoming a fan today XXX…” Quickly people could understand that by becoming a fan of this page they would learn how to become better gardeners potentially. We ran the ad at the beginning of the gardening season and we recruited hundreds of fans this way!

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Budget:: You can set your budget for as little as $5 or as high as$500,000. It is up to you! At this point, I highly recommend the option of ‘pay per click’ not "pay per impression". You will be able to choose your own ‘bid’. Facebook will make recommendations for you based on their algorithm they create. And I have NO CLUE how that all works. As a rule of thumb I go halfway between what they recommend and often, I will even bid lower than what they suggest. Even once you launch your ad you can change your bid if you are seeing it isn’t being effective, so start a bit lower and you can always go higher.

Remember to enjoy what you are doing. If you aren’t, you can always collaborate with someone such as myself whose specialty is marketing and social media management. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone!

There are many other elements to running a successful ad campaign and you can check out these great resources for more “how-to’s”.

Here are a few links to helpful resources:

· Hub Spot

· Smart Brief on Social Media

· Mashable

Click here to read a great article on Facebook advertising and some things you might want to consider when creating your ad.

On Twitter follow Social Media gurus such as: @mashable, @socialmediamind to learn other helpful hints on creating impact in the social media world of Facebook and Twitter.

Happy Networking!

Follow SpiritHorseHerbals on Facebook and here is her shop

Thank you so much for these priceless tips Kristie!! Now here are some more right from our Ifsteam...

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More Facebook Ads Tips From the Ifsteam

-Set your "Destination Tab" to "your etsy". This is an instant way for people to see if they like what you make.

-Change up the image you choose throughout the ad's running time, if you wish. This can open up fresh and exciting new options for people to click on.

Let us know how your Facebook Ad helps your Etsy Biz!!
Crafty love,
Capt'n Blueberry

This Week's Goal: Avatars (March 21-28)

2011-03-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

This week's goal we will focus on avatars. An avatar is the little box that shows up beside your shop name, in forums, on your profile and in your actual shop. It is the little picture that represents all that is you and your brand. It should say this is who I am, this is my vibe, come step into my world!

An air of mystery is always my favorite aspect in an avatar. A great shot of you as the creator can be the most effective way to connect on a more personal level with the Etsy community. I find myself clicking on avatars with inviting faces when I browse comments on the Storque articles or when reviewing forums. I have seen sellers using their brand symbol in their avatar as well. I have found however, that a symbol doesn't usually draw me in, in the ways something real does.

Here are some suggestions to guide you in finding the right image:

1-Make sure the image is CRISP. Be it dark and mysterious, or bright and colorful-the photo you use should be anything but low quality.

2-Choose a photo that represents the atmosphere and main qualities of your shop well. If you sell whimsical jewelry, get up close and personal with your best sparkly piece and crop right in. Or if you create art, choose a photo of your best piece in natural light. How about a great picture of you wearing or holding what you make? Those are my favorite. How curious! It just draws me in...

3-Change up your avatar if you wish, with each passing season. This is a matter of taste though, because I have seen some sellers with the same avatar for as long as I have known them. It keeps them recognizable. For me, I am continually reinventing the face of blueberryshoes so I like to keep it fresh. There are no rules for how you treat your avatar, only that it should be pleasing to the eye and represent all that you are as a creator.

4-Create continuity for your brand by using the same avatar all over the web. From your Etsy avatar, to your Twitter, Facebook page, Blog, Tumblr, etc. Using the same avatar everywhere makes you recognizable in an instant. The power of sight is what Etsy is all about. With so many shops under one roof, our avatars MUST stand out. So show off your best piece, or your best shot of your beautiful face and notice how many more hits you will receive!

What other reasons do you think a great avatar can be effective on Etsy? Do you have extra suggestions?

The Winner of the WDYTYA Challenge!

2011-03-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

It is time to reveal the final 3 who won the most votes for their Challenge pieces!!!

3rd place goes to TheCaravan!

2nd Place goes to RicochetWaves

And your 1st place winner is LarkinandLarkin!!!! CONGRATS!!!!

Expect a great interview with larkinandlarkin soon! I shall be shipping the lot of gifts YOU all donated to her next week. Thank you to each and everyone of you who entered their heartfelt and epic pieces to this challenge. Don't feel too sad if you didn't win, we will continue to have challenges to kingdom come, and soon enough it will be your turn to win ;)

To see everyones' pieces go here

Congrats once again to Larkin!

Interview With PookaQueen

2011-03-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Name/Shop Name: Brianna Kenyon aka Pooka Queen

Location: Sometimes Ann Arbor Michigan. Sometime Los Angeles California

Who you are, in a sentence ;) A kind hearted nature love'n urbanite.

How would you like your shop to be described?
I make modern fashion and accessories with one goal. To try to have as little impact on the environment as possible. Most of my material is scrap industrial felt that normally would get tossed out by the manufacturer. All my material for my clothes come from resale shops. I don't like to buy new fabrics when there are so many interesting unused clothes that just need a makeover.

I try my hardest to keep my pieces unique and special so the buyer can say what they are wearing is one of its kind. There is a lot of versatility in my hair wear and can be worn casually through the day or spruce up your evening look. I am open to custom orders as I love a challenge.

In a nutshell, tell us about your creative process.
From finding supplies, to creating, to photographing and listing: I think the question above best describes the first part of the process. As far as the creating, I use some of my school teaching but mostly I am mostly self taught in sewing. I have never made a pattern and work with fabric more like you would a lump of clay. I just start folding, cutting, removing, pinning and sewing and usually have success with this process.

I also have a very opposite side from the organic process I use with my clothes and headbands. For my graphics and jewelry I use precision and geometry. I find it almost impossible to overlap my organic process of sewing into these more rigid mediums. I am always envious of jewelers that can make metal look like something from nature.

I would like to improve my listings photos. At the moment I don't want to bother other people to model so I just rig up the camera and set a mirror behind the viewing screen so I can see if I'm in the frame. My camera is a killer beast but I unfortunately only have a macro lens for it and my photos sometimes look fuzzy not to mention I have to put the camera half across the room to get enough of me in the shot. Dumb! : / ( I LOVE HER PHOTOGRAPHY!)

Your top 5 singers/bands:
This is always the hardest question for me to answer but here are a few facts about me and music:

I love music as much as making art. I listen to more bands than singers. I love all types of music but I am particular about what I listen to also. I typically don't like what the masses are listening to on the radio and find my music by digging through the I Tunes store or getting on www.last.fm Here are just a few that I never stop listening to:

Presets: For when I want to jump around and act a fool
Helios: Some of the most beautiful music you will ever hear
The Knife: A fine mix of dark and fun topped with the killer vocals of Karin Dreijer Andersson
Blonde Redhead: They have such a unique sound
Metric and Stars: Gotta love those Canadian bands

Top 5 meals:
My mom and dad taught me all about the joy of food at an early age and have been enjoying exotic foods like asparagus and artichokes since I was 4.

Ratatouille-my dad makes the best ever!
Cheese! I know that's not considered a meal but I sure can eat it like it is
Roasted red pepper pasta- another one of my dads creations
Carne Asada-Cuban style
Good old Thanksgiving dinner-with all the fixings
Ok now I'm hungry. Need to go make a trip to the fridge. I'll be back in a sec ; )

Top 5 books:
I don't usually have much free time to read and feel guilty when doing so like there is something important I'm not doing.

Let The Right One In
The Master Butchers Singing Club
Painted Drum
Shipping News
Smilla's Sense of Snow

Top 5 destinations: I have been so lucky to have had the chance to see a bit of the world. My business partner lived in Spain for five years and I got to visit on four different occasions. My fiance lived in London for a year and a half and got only one visit in, but I loved it. Here are my future destinations:

The Amazon rain forest
Africa- I want so badly to go on a safari
Rome- Growing up around Detroit I have a love, fascination and find beauty in fallen empires.
Iceland-I love the music coming out of Iceland and the culture is progressive in many ways. Not to mention, the diversity in landscape looks AMAZING!
Holland-for the roots

Top 5 crafts:
Metalsmithing- It's what I went to school for
Furniture making- It's what I left school with a new passion for
Clay- I had considered going into clay modeling for the auto industry. It pays well and it's hands on.
Sewing- It's my new found love
3D mixed media- I have a huge collection of old junk (treasure to me) that some day I will assemble into something

How would you say that Etsy has changed your life?
I haven't had many sales yet, but I have to say that doesn't lessen what I am getting out of Etsy. I am learning how important communication is. From the descriptions on you listings and bio, to posting a comment and thank you when someone puts you in their treasury, it is all a positive chain effect and I find it as rewarding as having a sale.

Now I am not about to say this just because this is an interview with our captain Blueberry, but I think joining the Indie Free Spirits has truly enriched my life. I have learned so much from the team and haven't felt like part of a community in such a long time. I only wish I could hang out in person with some of them : )

What eras inspire your work?
I have never been much of a history buff. I am more inspired by things like geometry, organic forms, texture, decay, the animal kingdom, the human perspective, concept.

Where do you like to create, do you have a studio?
I don't really have a studio but really wish I had the space for one. I do a lot of work on the computer lately or at my tiny little sewing station. At least I can sew and watch TV. Right?

Do you have friends who are also creative, or are you more of a lone crafter?
I have put so much of my time and energy into my start up company, SUUM, that I am sad to say I have lost touch with a lot of people. I have my friends that are artists but besides for my business partner Nava I do all my creating on my own. I get kinda intense when I'm creating and find it hard to multi task. I also really value my friends that are not super creative. They allow me to relax and escape for a bit from the constant creative spinning that goes on in my brain.

5 things you cant live without?
I had a realization this last year when my mother passed that even in the hardest times, as long as you are surrounded by supportive friends and family life will go on. I have a fiance, Stuart, that even with years of an ocean between us we are still madly in love and even more so. I can't imagine life with out him. To go through life without good food would be a struggle but as long as I'm eating I could live without it.

I can't imagine a world without our domestic fuzzy friends. I have a cat Bular who is the best snuggly company when I'm away from Stuart. The one thing I have to say I couldn't live with out is making. It could be as simple as painting a house but I gotta be making or doing. That is what keeps me happy when everything else is going wrong.

Oh! Did I mention music! That is a must!

Tell us something that most people don't know about you:
I'm a pretty open book with my views, likes, dislikes etc. I am also pretty shy, so you might have to pry a bit to get me going but I sure don't see hiding who I am either. I am a total softy (got that from my mom) and the silliest things get my tear ducts flowing. All in all if you don't know it about me.......just ask : )

If you would like to check out my co-owned concept design company SUUM, go to www.suum.com to see our wearable architecture and play in our design scape.

Also, Thanks to Hollie for giving me this opportunity. She is such a strong young women and has touched my heart. I totally look up to her even though she is younger than me : ) (AWE!)

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Challenge Finalists Revealed!

2011-03-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

The Who Do You Think You Are Challenge Finalists have been revealed!
These are all pieces which were created with members' heritage in mind. From the photographs, to the story behind the mediums worked with, these finalist listings have got alot of heart in them! If you are new to the team and wondering what this challenge is all about go here

To go ahead and vote on your ONE favorite piece click on the thumbnail below to comment on the treasury featuring the finalists. Congrats to all who made it and thanks to those who didn't quite make it. EVERY piece was special!

New IFSteam Members!

2011-03-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

Here are two treasuries featuring all of our new IFSteam Members!!
Click on the pics to see the treasuries and comment and, or fav your new fav shops :)

Welcome one and all!

Interview with Sasha of AstralBoutique

2011-03-04T08:04:00.000-08:00

My magical friend, Sasha won the "I Heart History" Challenge! As part of her winning first place, She receives some special attention on the blog with an interview. Let us get to know all that is Sasha now...

Name/Shop Name:

Sasha Soukup, Astral Boutique

Location:
Grass Valley California (in the Sierra Foothills of Northern California- Gold Rush country!)

Who you are, in a sentence ;)
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...

How would you like your shop to be described?
I like to think that I am offering people pieces to create their own fairy tales. And if their fairy tale involves living in a nudist colony, well... I guess I can direct them to the jewelry and housewares section. (-:

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In a nutshell, tell us about your creative process. From finding pieces, to photographing and listing:
I love going on the Hunt- it's in my blood! I travel all over the area looking for clothing and other goodies in thrift stores and vintage shops. Sometimes I dream that I need to go to a certain store on a certain day, or I can almost hear a store "calling me". I pick my clothes based on good quality and unique design, flattering fit, and color.

To get ready to do a photo shoot, I sometimes do sketching or brainstorming. Ideally I have a set of clothes that will work with the same location and mood.... then I can really get rolling! It is a must that I play music to get me into "character" while I am doing my hair and makeup. I think of my photo shoots like theater.... I want to create pictures that are like frozen moments from a play or a film. I think my film background helps with this. It's also fun to play different characters, a la the artist Cindy Sherman. Maybe when there is more available light this summer I can do some photos that are not just for selling things in the shop.... just for art. Or I can just make my shots weirder and weirder! I'm not sure anyone will buy a dress if I am, like, lying in an alley with a wolf tearing my still-beating heart out. Or maybe I am just not trusting the market.... (-;

Listing is the hardest part for me, because it feels like it takes forever. I like to get very detail-oriented! That's when I get into listening to internet radio and drinking lots of (herbal) tea. If I drank coffee I think I could go a lot faster, but I can't handle the caffeine.

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You have recently quit your day job, tell us the pros and cons:
I should have quit my day job years ago... in fact, I tried! I went to school for art (film) but everyone told me that you had to go corporate to make your way in the world, which totally spooked me and made me very confused about what to do. I ended up doing 5 years of Herbal Studies instead of getting an MA... a great place to be, and good knowledge for everyone to have, but I just didn't have the spark to make a career in Herbalism.

Really, all along I was still looking for a way to make things, to be an artist by my own definition, and pay the bills. I painted t-shirts, collaged votive candles, put succulents in little painted pots. But craft fairs were so expensive to vend at. and trying to sell my own art in person provoked my social anxiety like crazy (kudos to those of you who are doing this!) So I tried to find a job that I could work at part time, so I could create on the side, but that just didn't click for me... my jobs always drained me too much.

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Before I discovered Etsy I was slogging away as a receptionist and office manager in the natural health field, using music as my artistic outlet. I ran my shop on Etsy for almost two years while still working my day job- full time and playing in my band. Honestly that was exhausting, and my husband hated it. I worked all day long, but I couldn't really devote the time and focus that I needed to my shop.

I would literally run home at lunch, during a rainstorm, and take photos of dresses underneath the trees where I wouldn't get wet! Eventually I realized that there was no way I could grow my Etsy shop without concentrating on it full time. I wasn't actually making enough money to support myself from Etsy, and I had no savings or anything like that, but I finally let the rebel in me have her way, and I QUIT! Ha ha! Best day ever.

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It was a struggle at first, since the momentum of my shop was not really where it needed to be to sustain me.... but I just pinched pennies like crazy. What needed to happen most of all, besides improving my photos and continuing to build a customer base, was that my imagination had to learn how to be free after all of those years of me locking it in a little room and telling it "wait right here for eight hours, I have to go pay the bills." Any success that I have had comes from trying out my "weirdest" ideas, or ideas I got from my dreams. Come to find out, you can actually rely on this stuff- the infinite font of inspiration! I guess New Age books have been saying this for decades, but Etsy just made it all so much more accessible, and concrete. You can imagine something, create it, post it the same day, and start getting feedback. I think Etsy is a freaking miracle.

I love everything about working for myself, and I don't miss a single thing from my day job. The money stress is no more than it was when I was working for a crap wage and no benefits. And there is no limit to what I can make in my situation now-- before, it was hoping for a yearly fifty-cent-an-hour raise. If I had been working a fat job actually using my talents and abilities before this, I might think it was a let-down... but I have chosen the path of Starving Artist for all of my adult life, for better or for worse, and I don't know what it's like to take vacations or buy expensive things. Not that I suffer (thanks to all of our family members, who have always given us their old cars! Thank God for Hondas and Toyotas).

Now the challenge is, how do I grow my business beyond just Getting By? I am focusing on trying to think of every listing as a possible Treasury item, a possible item for inclusion in an Etsy Finds e-mail, a possible Front Page item. That is the kind of exposure that really keeps a shop afloat. But it has to be original, and come from the heart... there is no faking it til you make it.

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The real problem with working from home seems to be that there is no separation between home life and work life unless I really draw a line. It's not like I have a home office- my office is the living room/kitchen table, and even my shipping station is just a little area crammed under the eaves upstairs! (We live in a 700 square foot "studio with loft"). This is hard when my work spills over into what should be Hang Out time with my husband... and it's hard when I find myself doing household errands during my "business hours".

I make a to-do list every day so that I am not as tempted to lose time doing non-essential things. And it is a world of distraction online.... just looking at things happening in my Circle can potentially take hours. So yeah, to-do list, prioritizing, and playing the right music for the right tasks!

Listen to Sasha And The Shamrocks here

Tell us about your musical side:
I love to rock the f*ck out! Some people are surprised to learn this about me..... especially cause I can come off as so nicey-nice. But there is no better feeling than turning up an electric guitar and screaming at the top of your lungs. I recommend it to everybody.

I do some quieter projects, too.... more indie/folky stuff, and some stuff that is kind of trancey, droney, and repetitive. Think lots of delay. Me and Chris (my husband) have a new project called The Horoscopes that kind of sounds like Galaxie 500.

My husband has played music since he was a kid, and eventually I had no choice but to pick up an instrument (I took piano lessons as a kid but I was awful- I never practiced). He used to be in a professional band, and that intimidated me- I was afraid to get out there and share my amateur creations for the longest time. Eventually I got tired of my own crap and decided to risk the judgement of my peers. Come to find out it's harder to make people even pay attention to you than it is to get them to judge you one way or the other! Ha ha!

I find music to be the most cathartic mode of expression in the world. Turning a feeling, a question, or a problem into a song just totally exorcises it. Playing live is a ton of work, and it's terrifying, but there is something about putting your music out there that just blows open a part of your brain. It's better than any drug. And if people actually respond to it? Oh my God. There is no more amazing feeling. NONE. I hope I can be like Yoko Ono and continue to push boundaries and rock out until I am 80 years old.

A few shops that continue to inspire you to grow as a stylist and storyteller:
It's hard to narrow this down, and I know I will forget some shops that I love... but these are stores who always have new "stories" happening in them:

Alyoisis
http://www.etsy.com/shop/alyoisiusspyker

Beat Up Creations
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeatUpCreations

Elle Moss
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ellemoss

Imagine Studio
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ImagineStudio

Moonchild Vintage:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/moonchildvintage

PromoP
http://www.etsy.com/shop/promopocket

The Fairy Steps Shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/fairysteps

Maureen Shields
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mosie26

Elsita
http://www.etsy.com/shop/elsita

Your top 5 singers/bands:
Okay, you've actually got to be kidding me. FIVE? This is impossible! I but several new records every single week. Since I am going to have to make some limits, so I will give you five of my most influential bands from back in the Day:

The Cure. Oh God, Robert Smith, Simon Gallup. They are my peanut butter and jelly. I met my husband and some of my very best friends through an unofficial Cure fanzine. I followed The Cure around the whole world. And ultimately it was The Cure who made me realize that I needed to follow my own path, and create my own world, instead of worshipping another artist's creations.

PJ Harvey Miss Polly Jean Harvey is not the only amazing lady who rocked the world in the 1990s, but she is the only one who is still making great music, experimenting, growing and changing. She has been a kind of totemic figure to so many of my girlfriends who can't agree on anything else musically... I had this subway poster of her in my college dorm room whipping her hair back, looking at the camera like "yeah, whatever!" and everyone who came in would nod respect to her. I think we all like the way that she doesn't try to "make pretty" when it's not appropriate, but she can make something very pretty and ethereal when she is in the mood for it.

The Spacemen 3 The main members of the Spacemen 3 went on to form Spiritualized (Jason Spacemen) and Spectrum (Sonic Boom, most recently famous for producing the new MGMT record). They weren't together long, but the music they produced is some of the most perfect, trance-inducing stuff ever made. I never get tired of them. Weirdly enough, we all share a birthday.

Kristen Hersh (Including her Throwing Muses career) I just finished Kirsten Hersh's autobiography, Rat Girl, and it reminded me of the powerful magic of this woman. She was the first musician who introduced me to the stream-of-consciousness school of songwriting... the kind that you want to listen to when you want to tap into the non-logical side of your brain. You can write, draw, paint, dance, and sculpt to her songs, and come up with revelations that you would have never accessed if she hadn't created that handrail for you.

She also has that dimension which, to me, makes an a rtist really great: she can take a detour into a totally different musical style and make it her own. Some of my favorites from her are her traditional Appalachian murder ballad album, Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight, and her Christmas EP, The Holy Single. She is also one of the most amazing live performers out there... she totally loses herself in the music. It's like watching someone put a spell on themselves.

Donovan I am insane for Donovan. I refuse to make any concessions- if you don't love him as much as I do, I am suspicious of you. His lyrics have replaced the Bible and all other religious texts for me insofar as offering advice and comfort about life and its trials. I believe that everything you need to know is contained in the lines from "Happiness Runs". I love him so much, it hurts. I also have a long-standing plan to do a Donovan tribute band with my best girlfriends called Donna's Van.

Top 5 meals:

Oh YEAH! Okay, at home, I love nothing more than a fresh salad, maybe with some salmon in it... yum. But for special treats, Northern California is a food paradise.

Cream of Green Chili Soup, with sourdough bread, followed by a big piece of homemade berry pie, from Duarte's Tavern, Pescadaro, California

Anything spicy and greasy from The House of Nanking, Chinatown/North Beach border, San Francisco

The amazing vegan tamales that my new friend Manu makes and sells, guerilla-style, from a cart in the Mission District of San Francisco, with a Newcastle beer on tap

Indian Pizza with orange soda from Zantes, San Francisco

Chicken Shwarma with Reeds Ginger Beer, Razans, Kittredge Ave, Berkeley, CA

Top 5 books:

Friendship Valley, Wolo (he was an author as well as an illustrator! If you don't know him you HAVE to check him out!)

Any of the Moonintroll books, Tove Jansen

Collected works of Hans Christian Anderson (with Arthur Rackham illustrations!)

Making The Gods Work For You, Carolyn Casey (b

est astrology book ever)

...and at the moment I am smack in the middle of the Earth's Children book series by Jean Auel (Clan of the Cave Bear, etc.) and I am loving them!

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Top 5 destinations:
The flea markets of Mexico City
Machu Picchu, Peru
A traditional funeral celebration, Bali
A Bollywood film set, India
A hot spring in Iceland

Top 5 crafts:

My own faves...
Collage
Fabric painting
Paper mache
Sculpture (I would love to get more into this, especially with wood!)
Jewelry making (my new obsession)

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How would you say that Etsy has changed your life?
I am so grateful for Etsy... it is the answer to all of my prayers! Without Etsy, I really don't think I could be doing what I do. And the possibilities are endless for changing and creating new things for this marketplace. This sounds so cheesy, but it really is an invention that has allowed me to be an artist... especially living in the country, somewhere with a low population density and few good jobs.

Some tips for us creators?
-write down your dreams each morning in a notebook that you keep by the side of your bed... even if they seem meaningless, it's great practice for your brain to get used to translating things from the Dream Realm into words. I think that you can actually build some special neural connections by doing this.

-learn a skill from scratch. It takes you to that beautiful and humbling place of being a Beginner.
-make time for practicing things you love.
-eat well and sleep as much as you need to.
-don't be afraid of magic. It's real.

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How has being a member of the Indie Free Spirits enhanced your etsy experience?
Sometimes the online world can be even more daunting than the "real" world, especially since it has its own etiquette, language, and social expectations (which are ever-changing, since this is still a new medium). Since the beginning of time, artists have found inspiration and joy in bonding with other artists (hence all of those Artist Colonies and Art Movements!).

I think Etsy in general is pioneering its own aesthetic, and hatching and incubating new design trends.... and being on a Team with like-minded folks is like having a cushy little nook with your friends at a very big, very colorful, very noisy festival. We are social animals, and we all need somewhere to belong. I love how I feel totally at home here, and totally supported and encouraged. I recommend a Team to anyone on Etsy, whether you are a Newbie or a seasoned pro.

Last words?
I freaking love my Team, and I love the inspiration that you all bring to my life. Thanks for making my dreams come true... and infinite thanks to Cap'n Blueberry for being the best Team Leader in the world. We should knight her.

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Follow Sasha Here
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Gift Lot for Upcoming Challenge Winner

2011-03-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

I wanted to show you just a FEW of the prizes up for grabs for first place winner of the Who Do You Think You Are Challenge!! Our team is made up of some very special and generous members, let me tell you. I put out a discussion requesting any bites on donation gifts for the winner, and I get an overwhelming amount of response. More pictures to come once the gifts arrive. To start, here are three amaaaaazing pieces in the mail to me as we speak...

Luluxo's apron...

amaaazing scarf by Birdinsea

A free spirited massager and feather earrings duo by Girlwitharadiomind!

Other members who are sending goodies, that I have yet to show you pics of are:
Atomicstitches (who also sent a gift for our last winner!), Missholmes, Dearohdear, Silkwormvintage, Doveandflower and FeathersofArtemis!!! And maybe even more will donate! Isn't our team adorbs?

Ever motivated to participate in the challenge? All the info you need is here to get started. Have fun!!

Goal of the Week: March 1-8

2011-03-01T07:48:00.000-08:00

Front-page-friendly your top/first listing photo!

This week's goal is all about making sure the top/first listing photo of your item is front page, treasury and shop friendly. It's all about cropping right.

For pieces that are modeled, it is good to either take the main listing photo horizontally, as a rectangle. Or you can simply crop any picture to look that way. The key is to get your model's face within the crop. You rarely see a listing on the front page with the body of a model and just the head cropped off. Sometimes you can make it work, but for the most part, FACES are what draw customers in.

Tiny Dancer Hair Clip by WhichGoose

Cropping photos to included the model's face will bring LIFE to your shop and open up many more opportunities to be chosen for treasuries, be featured in the Etsy blog, finds, etc and on blogs as well. It will also give your entire shop a professional look! If the majority of your top/first listing photos include a face, it is more likely to draw customers and friends in. It creates a magic, a pull into your shop.

If you do not have models, you can still crop your pictures so that the main/first listing photo bring out the best parts of the piece. Make sure that you're cropping in close and that you can tell what the piece is. There is always the last 4 picture slots for the closeups, and far away shots that you love.

Talisman Necklace by Underthepyramids

Remember that treasuries, the front page, and your shop setup make your listing photo look like a rectangle (even if you haven't listed it that way) So crop in this fashion at least for the first listing photo. Have fun and see how much of a difference it will make in your overall shop look!

P.s. remember that your main picture should be the best of the best shots you took of the piece. Make sure to edit the lighting in your favorite photo editing program before even going near the "publish" button ;) My favorite FREE photo editing website is http://picnik.com SO easy to use and priceless!

Here are some examples of beautifully cropped main listing photos by our members:

- http://etsy.me/glrlTK
- http://etsy.me/hCVLG8
- http://etsy.me/gru2MC
- http://etsy.me/emBRpM
- http://etsy.me/evMf7G
- http://etsy.me/gRI2Sw
- http://etsy.me/gimNRe

Crafty Love,
Captain Blueberry

Ifsteam Appreciation Curations

2011-02-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

Here are two Appreciation Curations featuring all of our members who created team treasuries in the past two weeks. So much love to each and everyone of you for your giving spirits :) Click on the treasury thumbnails to see em up close and comment...

Can't wait to see all the new curations you conjure up ;)
Crafty love!
Cap'n Blueberry

MollysMuses Interviews BlueOrder

2011-02-27T05:44:00.000-08:00

I wanted to pass along this great little interview by our own members, MollysMuses and BlueOrder. Enjoy!

Scott Lacy, of Phoenix, AZ and creator of BlueOrder, totally exemplifies Original

I found BlueOrder when I joined the IndieFreeSpiritsTeam. I was immediately drawn to the bold and clean style in his work. Work with rather simplistic subjects, but they are brought to an entire new life with style, flair and point of view.

View Master 3D Reel Disk

So, what does Scott make?
He creates Photographic Table and Wall Art. These pieces are made to be hung on the wall, used as a large coaster for a table or even a wipe off board.

I asked Scott if he could tell us how he came up with this idea without giving his process away?
The idea of using plastic and photographs was a surprising long evolution for a simplistic ending. Since high school I was creating clocks using various pictures from magazines and books. Assembling in either a collage or geometric layout and laminating the final pieces. Years later I returned to clock making and started using my own original photographs while experimenting with plastic, resulting in much of what I make today. The table and wall art idea was basically born out of discussion with a good friend, suggesting the removal of the clock piece for those who don’t need a clock.

Blue White Flower Vinyl Technics Record Turntable Player

What are you trying to do to people with your art?

I don’t have a natural talent in photographing obvious beauty, nor am I inspired by my longtime geographic location (the desert). Therefore the majority of my subject matter has naturally been creating art based on a direct experience or memory. I want to share these visual creations with others, bring them along for the ride, triggering their own memories or possibly highlighting something they don’t usually envision as beautiful.

The Cure Concert Ticket Stub Wall Art 18x24

How separate are you from your art?
I find I’m very attached to most of my photography and creations. Almost everything I’ve photographed or created has seeds from either a distinct memory or inspiration from a personal and usually recent experience. The last few months I’ve gone through quick bursts of creative drive that usually fuel a high volume of ideas in a condensed amount of time. This has resulted in many of the ideas remaining close to me on my hard drive or condo walls, even though it may not make it to my shop.

WHAT is the biggest mistake you have made?
The answer this month is: allowing the opinion and acceptance of others to dictate the course of my days and ultimately years of my life. I’ve been a shy and quiet person most of my life. A lethal dose of introversion molded much of my high school and college years, resulting in a poorly founded future. I’m still correcting this mistake, being mindful, embracing close friends and remembering to live now!

White Record Vinyl

Must art have a relationship to the rest of the world?
I am far from qualified to have an educated absolute answer to this question. However, I would venture to say art often intentionally has an obvious relation to the world, while other times a connection is less than obvious. If art is created from someone, however obscure the connection may be, a relationship is inevitable.

Retro Red Vinyl Technics Record Turntable Player

I must share a favorite of mine from the BlueOrder shop and it's funny because the reason I am drawn to it really goes back to what Scott says inspires him in the first place, my own memories.

Red Miss Scarlet of Clue

How does he do it and what keeps him doing it?

My two favorite parts of this process are creating the photograph and removing the protective film from the finished art. The process starts by capturing an image often based on colorful memories, beautiful eye candy or tasty music. Many times I’ll be going about my day when a song triggers a mood or memory. Sometimes a person may inspire a color or object. Rarely am I able to capture a spontaneous image that makes the cut, prepared subjects are often the norm. After the photograph is completed and edited, it’s then inserted, covered and locked with previously prepared plastic and accessories. The final step in the process is removing the thin protective film and serving up a shiny new art piece for display.

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Thanks for helping us get to know the epic artist that is BlueOrder! Here is my own personal favorite piece by Scott... The Morrissey Clock It is the first piece I came across while doing a search for Morrisseyic items a while back. I fell in love instantly and then realized his whole shop was inspired by the music I hold dear. And so crisp! So outstandingly well made and unique. Scott's work really stands out from the rest, and I can honestly say I haven't seen anything even remotely similar anywhere else. Now THAT'S something!

Also have I mentioned how amazing his product photography is?! Such an inspiration. Blueorder has a ton for the boys in your life too, which is rare on Etsy. I feel SO honored to have him on our team. Much love to you, Scott and Molly! Crafty Love ;)

Follow BlueOrder Here
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Circle Him

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Follow MollysMuses Here
Photography Shop
Vintage Shop
Facebook
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Circle Her

New Members

2011-02-23T16:53:00.000-08:00

Check out all the amazing new shops who have just joined us!
Meet and greet them here

Goal of the Week: Feb 22 - March 1st

2011-02-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

This week's goal is to revamp "Shipping Profiles". It is a little more indepth, so feel free to skip if you are not interested.

It's good to check out your shipping prices and see if you've got everything organized and consistent. Customers would like to know that all of your work has a set sort of price for shipping. If you sell vintage, they'd like to know that all of your shoes cost the same amount to ship. Same with your clothing. Heavier coats cost more, etc. But all the same categories should have consistent shipping prices.

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NOT SURE HOW TO USE + SET UP SHIPPING PROFILES? HERE ARE INSTRUCTIONS:

1-Under "Your Account" (which used to be called "My Etsy" ) click on the "Shipping" category.

2-Beside the word "Shipping" at the top of the page, click on "Create or Edit Shipping Profiles"

3-Here is where you can create and edit "Shipping Profiles". You can create as many as you want! You simply provide a profile a name (example: vintage shoes, photography prints, etc), then enter the appropriate shipping amounts for each different destination who may buy from you.

(This makes it easier when you are listing items, because you can simply click on the applicable "Shipping Profile" that will apply, when you hit the shipping step. It can save alot of time.)

4- If you do offer international shipping, be sure to include: USA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, and EVERYWHERE ELSE. Feel free to add Europe, New Zealand, etc. but the top few I mentioned are going to cover the most commonly used destinations.

5- Example: For my bows and accessories, I have named their profile "Bows" They weight about the same and I make sure to keep in mind the price of shipping materials, and time I spent running to the post office. I have also created a shipping profile for vintage shoes and artwork. They are heavier and will cost more.

6-It sounds more complicated than it is, but you'll see that it will really shave off some time when you list. It's very worth it!! It will only take you a few minutes :) Instead of editing each item individually when you've created all the profiles you need, simply go back to the "Shipping" page, and there you can use the drop down menus to apply the "Shipping Profiles" to each item easily.

Have fun!!

To discuss or ask me questions go here

Who Do You Think You Are Team Challenge!

2011-02-21T11:00:00.000-08:00

I have been too excited about this next challenge to wait any longer! Inspired by the amazing tv show, our challenge will be themed "Who do you think you are?"! You will create a piece inspired by the individuals whom you have come from. It's all about your heritage! Your own family tree.

I've always been so inspired by the mystery of our past. Who came before us. What roads did they travel, what battles did they overcome, and who did they love, HOW did they love? Who were their friends, what did they love to do and how did they live? The questions can go on and on. What parts of themselves have been passed down? Ever wonder why you picked up a talent or trait that just doesn't exist in your parents or siblings? Maybe it comes from a distant relative! This challenge is all about digging into the past, and showing the world where you come from!

Details:

1-Create a piece that represents your heritage. Focus on the parts that impact who you are today. There are no rules, so go nuts and be as creative as you want!

2-You must be in the main listing photo. If you are shy, you can just show your hands, or a part of yourself. But it is important that YOU are the star of your piece.

3-You have until March 14th to photograph, tag and list your product. That's 3 weeks. List as many pieces as you want! Only one of your pieces will make the top 12.

4-Tag your piece with "myheritage"

5-Mention in the description that the piece is inspired by this challenge. Just copy and paste this: "This piece is inspired by the Indie Free Spirit Team challenge, "Who do you think you are?" This is an ode to my heritage."

(If your item sells BEFORE the judging, you can relist it and put it back in the running. If your item sells AFTER judging it still counts as a top 12 piece)

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Judging

I will judge the top 12 according to great photography, story and description. The better your listing photo, the higher your chances of winning. Top 12 will be revealed via treasury, and then it's your turn to tell us who YOU think should win.

Get Started!

A good idea would be to look through old photographs. Put aside the ones that speak to you. Call up your grandparents and get talking about the past. Ask THEM where you think you got your creativity from. See if you can get a hold of your family tree and do a little digging if it interests you. Above all, have fun with this challenge...and let the inspiration flow in!

20% off w MountainGirlClothing

2011-02-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

Receive 20% off with coupon code "SPRINGCLEANING" when checking out with Mountaingirlclothing

Special Soap Special for Teamies!

2011-02-18T16:28:00.000-08:00

DeltaMoonSoap has created a coupon code JUST for us teamies!
Receive free shipping with code "ifsteam" till Monday :D

Go shopping here

New Members

2011-02-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome one and all! See everyone up close here

Goal Of The Week & Somavenus

2011-02-14T20:07:00.000-08:00

As your Cap'n I'd like to provide goals for you to take part in, if it so interests you. The goals will be super simple and something you can accomplish in a short sitting. You will have a week to finish the goal. Here is this week's (Feb 14-20): Team Tagging

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THE GOAL:
Tag 5 items in your shop with "ifsteam"

HOW:
Choose your most recent listings, and the ones that will be best for treasuries. That means well photographed items that you'd be proud to see in treasuries. Most recent so your items show up at the starting of search results.

THE OUTCOME:
You will notice that your shop will be added into team treasuries more often, and this means more priceless promotion ;) The only way that members can find great items to put into their treasuries is by searching the term "ifsteam" in the search bar. When you provide lots of items tagged with it, you up your chances of being featured.

WHAT TO DO NOW:
Go ahead and comment here if you'd like to set and reach this goal, that way you feel that it's official and must be carried out :D Once you've reached it, come back and say, "I DID IT!"

Have fun!!

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Did you see?! Our own Somavenus was featured in the Quit Your Day Job series! Read her special and inspiring article here

yayyy for the Ifsteam!

Retro Indie Market

2011-02-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

Here are pics from the Retro Indie Market!!!

With the icicle garland hung up, everything is done!

EVERYTHING that holds a blueberry is thrifted!

I loved that fresh flowers were out for sale in the entrance! Great idea :D

Amy! My little Ifsteam cupcake booth neighbor! So much joking and sillyness happened that I love.. Look at that dress! I wanted to get a ton more pics of all my girls who were vending under the same roof. But me being a dumbo, forgot to charge my camera. Most of these pics are stolen from others' shots. Thanks for letting me borrow guys!

HumbleBumbleBee's hubby and baby Cherry! Talk about great advertising!?

Sherry won the BEST crafty booth award! Her space was the best I've EVER seen!

Danny Brito (ifsteamer too) was upstairs and I was so busy that I didn't get a chance to see his booth. SO SAD, because he's my fav local artist. Here are a few shots I found on his blog and Facebook...

Simone, my booth buddy was basically my savior! She helped sooOOOooo much and made it possible for me to walk around and see everyone. A second pair of hands around made a huge difference in how I felt at the end of the day. I wasn't as exhausted as I usually am after a show, and we giggled and had so much fun too! She's awesommmme!

So the story behind this picture: There was a downstairs and upstairs filled with vendors. At the top of the stairs this mannequin greeted us...we were scared...

BUT when we were heading back downstairs she was all dressed up and had her hair done. We liked her alot then :D especially Simone!

The girls who put on the awesome show :D
Amanda and Michelle!

See more pics in the Newtimes writeup here

I think my favorite part of the day was discovering the feather extension booth! Thanks to Nicole Esposito, I now have feather hair! Hooked for life I think!! I just ordered some stuff to install my own, and maybe some for friends too :D

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Once again I wanna congratulate the top 3 winners of the Challenge! And for all of you who didn't win, your work was just as amazing and deserves all the love in the world. Here's a hug to everyone!!!!!!!

I will be announcing the next team challenge within the next few weeks. We'll give everyone a little time to settle and then I'll kick out the jams out of nowhere...

Crafty Love!
Captain Blueberry

I Heart History Challenge Winners!

2011-02-14T07:10:00.000-08:00

The Challenge winners are revealed!!!!!

Third place goes to Uneekdolldesigns: Mr Dickens

Second place goes to Jollylittlepurse: Gustav Klimt

FIRST PLACE GOES TO ASTRALBOUTIQUE: MARIE ANTOINETTE

What an EXTRAORDINARY challenge this was!!! Congrats to all of you!! Look forward to an interview with Astralboutique very soon and a new challenge within a month or so. You all did such an amazing job and I'm so proud of you ALL!!!

To see all of the finalists go here

New Shops

2011-02-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

Here are the new shops to join us!
Click on the treasury to see everyone up close and fav whom you love ;)
Welcome everyone!

I Heart History Challenge Finalists!

2011-02-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

The I Heart History Challenge finalists have been revealed! This time, there are 12 members to choose from and you can vote via a comment on the treasury. Quick and easy! Go ahead and vote here

BOY was it hard to choose! It was such a close top 12. To browse everyones' work just type "historylove" into the etsy search bar :) Thanks to ALL who did such an amazing job!!!!

New Shops!

2011-02-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

tastelessyouth

wildtiles

thriftygypsies

kathelene

raorivintage

restlessinbuffalo

flippedbird

menuchachic

atomicstitches

rachelmwolfe

feydesigns

demeterscloset

violetfolklore

3princessengraving

prettyraccoon

dmetal

earmark

mignonnehandmade

botanicalbird

alittlebitsarah

foryoulovejoy

I Heart History Challenge Update

2011-01-31T12:16:00.000-08:00

The I Heart History Challenge is just over a week away from judging!
I cannot wait to see all the pieces you have to reveal.

As a little incentive, here's just part of the gift pool for the first place winner. Gifts from fellow members like themissingthread, sadiedeluxe and moi, have started to put a big ol' box together. And there are more gifts on the way!

To review the instructions for the challenge, go here
To see the entries thus far go here (the tag for challenge items in "historylove")

Happy crafting!!
Cap'n Blueberry

Ifsteam on the Front Page!

2011-01-31T08:54:00.000-08:00

Congrats to BlankStairVintage, who's treasury made it to the Etsy front page last night!
Here's a screenshot...

Staring At The January Sky: See the treasury here

What a beauty! I also see that two items sold from the front page! Did anyone else featured sell anything from their shop? Oh the power of all Ifsteam treasuries ;)

Check out BlankStairVintage's shop here-thanks again honey!

New Shops

2011-01-29T18:14:00.000-08:00

RustyCuts

Photographysp

FuduMudu

ToScarboroughFair

flukestore

SeaOfBees

PookaQueen

PutOnThatDress

BookFaced

ParaNoire

blankstairvintage

Friday Blog Buzz

2011-01-28T10:59:00.000-08:00

I would like to share some of the buzz going around our members' blogs ;) Here are some posts you DONT wanna miss ;)

Free Spirit Friday
by CampSmartyPants

Weekend Pictorial - Peeks Around My Home
by Mousevox

Purple! Your Aura is Purple! Music and Art Festival
RachelIsADreamer

How To Prune Your Feathers AKA Feather Care
by Feathersofartemis

My Little Workshop
by Gemegenta

Owl Pendant Necklace Giveaway
By HelloHeath

Playing Dress UP: Literally
(a blog post by Amy about a little project we did together)

Winterlude, Winterlude My Little Darling
by MoonshineJunkYard

Point Of View
Talk2thetrees

Be sure to follow your fellow members if you so please ;)
Hugs and crafty love
Captain Blueberry

New Shops/300 Members!

2011-01-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

Today we have reached 300 members!!! What an amazing team of creators you are. Crafty love to each and every one of you!!!! Here are our newest shops, starting with Ruchla, our 300th member ;)

ruchla

zaracarpenter

lovahandmade

cottagegardentherapi

cherryrunway

fairypantsdesigns

cloven

moiracoon

pawsintheair

dearohdeer

artwilleau

bdavissynergy

riasioux

kaliclothing

diemdesign

thehuntressshop

floreal

New Shops

2011-01-25T10:35:00.000-08:00

ellemoss

uneekdolldesigns

elylusandia

missyvonnenicole

sacredriverdesigns

geewizjewelry

scodioli

aprillovesshenry

lovewonky

bellabathandbody

earthslings

misscalexandria

alisontyne

gardenmis

dorishandmade

edwinareinspired

evotiv

greatestfriend

Branch Team: Treasured Legends

2011-01-21T11:54:00.000-08:00

As you may have heard from my earlier posts, I adore curating treasuries. I create collections almost daily and I just found that I wanted to channel my curating treasuries toward something bigger. Sadly, I find that the majority of the Treasury teams have many rules and that just didn't motivate me to join. So I have launched a branch team (off of Indie Free Spirits Team) called "Treasured Legends"! Here's all the info you'll need...

Treasured Legends:
This is a laid back, hobby team for those who adore curating profound treasuries based on an idea, dream, tale or legend. Themes can either be inventive or based on an idea found through literature or history.

I curate treasuries daily as a sort of visual diary. I find that creating collections that mirror my feelings and thoughts can be very satisfying, healing and inspiring.

There are no expectations for members, as this is simply a hub for those with a love for curating unforgettable treasuries. I look forward to seeing your creations!

Who Can Join?
-You adore curating treasuries that are both undoubtedly beautiful and eye catching.
-You will create treasuries with the goal of telling a story.
-Tag your treasuries with "treasured legends" as a way to keep connected.
-You can be on other treasury teams ;)

If you're interested in joining forces, feel free to apply to the team here

I Heart History Challenge

2011-01-17T11:01:00.000-08:00

It's time for another Team Challenge!

I love learning about historical characters of our past. Back in the day, individuals just like us invented, designed, and trailblazed their own paths. In their own ways they made a difference and effect us today. Looking back is one of the best ways to gain creative perspective and inspiration. Here is a challenge where you pick one of your favorite historical individuals and create a piece inspired by their life. As long as the person has passed on, they are considered historical.

source

Examples:
Einstein, Amelia Earhart, Billie Holiday, Isaac Newton, Galileo, Van Gogh, James Dean, Walt Disney, Confucius, Houdini, Thomas Edison, Janis Joplin, Pocahontas, Christopher Columbus, Andy Warhol, John Lennon, Jesse James, Mona Lisa, Marie Antoinette, Beethoven, Helen Keller, Brothers Grimm, Marilyn Monroe, Salvidor Dali, J.D. Salinger, Coco Chanel, Kurt Cobain, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Freddie Mercury, Homer, Michelangelo, Charles Schultz, Edgar Allan Poe, Cleopatra, Picasso, Anne Frank, Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton, Elvis, Joan of Arc, Robin Hood, Napolean, Charles Dickens, Neil Armstrong, Audrey Hepburn, Crazy Horse, Gutenberg, Leif Erikson, Shakespeare, Nicola Tesla, Da Vinci...
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Instructions

-You have until February 7th to create and list your piece.

-Photograph, list and tag your piece with "historylove" so I can locate your challenge pieces easily.

-Create as many challenge pieces as you would like. Only one challenge piece per member will be chosen for top 10.

-February 8th I will choose top 10 finalists based on originality, creativity of description, and sharpness of photography. I will compile and list them on this blog and then you, the team- will vote on your favorite out of the 10. Once I have counted up the votes, the winners will be announced!

source

Prizes
-1st place winner wins an interview on this blog and my own, and receives 3 weeks worth of Etsy mini attention on both blog sidebars! You will also receive a goodie package of gifts any of your team members pool together for you ;)

-2nd place winner receives Etsy mini attention on the team blog sidebar for a month.

-3rd place winner receives Etsy Mini attention on the team blog sidebar for 2 weeks.

Non team members: You can still be a part of the challenge. But only a team member can win :)

Note:
If you would like to donate a piece of yours or even some fun art supplies, fabric, notions, etc to the gift pool, just contact me at holliemaydunne@gmail.com :D I will show my thanks for your giving spirit by putting up your Etsy mini for 2 weeks on the team blog ;)

New Shops!

2011-01-11T20:26:00.000-08:00

sunshineallnight

enidandedgar

tuckooandmoocow

trendefemme

ethnocity

londabianca

thedaisyepoch

metalissa

bdvintage

mamaks

New Shops!

2011-01-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

noempire

sundriesandplunder

cocoshack

annebeestje

ljctree

simplethrift

FARP

anneschneeberger

nitca

catchalljewelry

cooljane

fractalwings

dirdybirdy

Each One Teach One

2011-01-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

Hiyah fellow Indie Free Spirits! It's Sasha from Astral Boutique here.

This Team has given me so much support in this past year (thank you, Cap'n Blueberry!), and I have always wanted to write some kind of helpful post for our blog. Honestly, I have been talking myself out of it up until now, because I don't consider myself all that knowledgeable or successful compared to other folks on Etsy. I am also not much of a "researcher"-- I'm a "do-er" and that can make my efforts messy at times.

I jumped into Etsy feet first, a total novice at selling online and selling vintage fashion, and I made a lot of mistakes and mis-steps while I learned. (I am still learning, and still consider myself a beginner.) The good side to my somewhat naive approach is that I have been able to experiment freely, and some of my experiments have yielded results that I would have never gotten by playing it safe.

Now I still don't have a nice camera, I still don't meet my personal sales goals for my shop, and I still haven't figured out a good alternative to outdoor photo shoots when the weather turns nasty, but you know what? I bet lots of you could benefit from the insights of someone who is still firmly in the middle of her learning process. Hopefully I might inspire you, since even though I am faaaaar from perfect, I did manage to quit my day job six months ago and I have managed to pay all of my bills from Etsy alone!

So, here are some basic points, seen from the perspective of a vintage clothing seller. I am not going to go into topics like Renewing, Using All 14 Tags, Google SEO, etc., because I don't think I have anything unique to say on those subjects, and you can find out that info in a million places. But there are some topics that I think bear exploring, even though they are fundamental:

1. Product

Your product has to rock. For myself, this means, I have to LOVE it. It has to be an item of clothing that I would wear if I could fit into it, or had the occasion to wear it. I even have to love the feel of it. When I list things that I don't love, they don't sell, or they sell very, very slowly. Strangely enough, things that I don't wear a lot don't seem to move in my shop, even when they are cute. For example, I almost never wear skirts-- I just hate waistbands. And for some reason, even though I know that tons of people love skirts, I can't seem to sell them for the life of me! But when I list something that I love so much that it tears my heart out a little to let go of it, whoosh! I've seen these things sell in a matter of minutes.

2. Photos

Your photo is the next most important thing to the product being awesome.
You can sell super extraordinary products with so-so photos, it's true, but combine a great dress with a great photo and BAM! That thing can get 100 looks in under a day, and get hearted and Treasuried all over the place.

I should really talk a little more about my photos. I shoot out of doors because I live in a beautiful rural area, I love being outside, and I love the dramatic quality of outdoor lighting. My intention is for every photo to be a little story, a little fairy tale... I want people to enjoy looking at the clothes, even if they aren't actually going to buy something, and I want to create a strong "vibe".

This is important to me both because it is a real pleasure to express myself artistically, and because artistic photos are self-promoting. When I was starting on Etsy, I tried all kinds of things to find my "look": brick walls, white walls, white sheets. While I admire a clean look against a plain backdrop, which is the norm in most successful Etsy shops, I knew from the start that this wasn't for me... it didn't involve enough of my particular brand of imagination, and I have never been one of those "perfect" kinds of people (more power to those of you who are- I also can't bake, because I can't follow a recipe exactly).

I knew I would get bored fast... but I quickly learned that the changing light outdoors comes with a big set of challenges. You get cold out there, there isn't always somewhere private to change, and the sun is in constant motion. But I really feel like this is my "look", especially because a large percentage of my clothes are hippie or bohemian clothes, or party dresses that seem to me to demand a dramatic setting. I know that I put more time into my pictures than the average seller with an indoor studio, but the benefits are that people connect very deeply with me, because they see so much of me in the shots-- not only my face, but my artistic vision and my love of nature.

The more imaginative or over-the-top the photo, the more attention it gets... assuming you can still see what is going on in the picture. That is a fine line that we all must walk on Etsy: representing the item (or the most important detail or aspect of the item) in a way that pops in a thumbnail, while still having a sense of art to the picture. I don't have a 100% reliable formula for that, though over time I have learned that backlighting works well with light-colored objects, and some backgrounds are less distracting than others. Dappled photos or dark photos are a no-no.

The window of ideal light changes throughout the year, and I have started a little notebook to keep track of which place looks good when. I sort of feel like I am spying on the sun! My favorite time to shoot is in the early morning or late afternoon in the summer, when it is warm and peaceful and the sun gives a great low angle (aka the Golden Hour) for a long time.

I still use a Canon Powershot camera, which is a point-and-shoot with a small lens... I am saving up for something with a nice big lens so that by the time Spring comes and the flowers are in bloom and everything is tempting and photograph-able, I can really bump up the quality of my pictures. I am sure this will help me to get in more Treasuries and noticed by Etsy-- most everything on the Front Page and in their daily e-mails is shot with a pro camera. Wish me luck!

3. Customer Service

Without this, you are nothing. I am shocked when I make a purchase on Etsy and the seller does not write me within a day or two to thank me, and to let me know when the item will ship. I consider every purchase an act of trust, and I want to do my part to make the customer feel like they are being taken care of, and that their purchase-- even if it is small-- is important to me.

I always send a Convo to acknowledge their purchase, tell them the estimated ship date, and I send a Convo with tracking info when the item ships (I use Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation- it costs a bit more, but it is fast, reliable, and people love the tracking number.) If my shipping is delayed by even a day, I let them know.

If a customer is chatty and outgoing from the start, I will spend some extra time writing to them. Otherwise, I keep my Convos upbeat and professional, but not overly formal. If someone leaves me particularly awesome Feedback or writes me personally to thank me, I always write them back to thank them.

If something goes wrong, I try to be super flexible and helpful to the customer. If this means I need to offer store credit or refund them their money, even though this isn't officially part of my policies, I usually do. I think it is better to give people the benefit of the doubt.

I package all of my items carefully in tissue paper, and write a simple personal thank you note (even though my handwriting is terrible!). If I happen to have a matching scarf, sticker, or some other treat, I throw it in there... what is a buck or two extra, especially for a communicative customer? If someone is a repeat buyer, I often give them a discount or even a surprise item that I think they will like (if I know their style). My customers are incredible loyal, and I think that this is why.

I am a "people" person, and I have worked in customer service positions for a lot of my adult life, most recently as the front desk person at an alternative health clinic. That has taught me a lot about how much people value being made to feel special and appreciated. Also, since this is Etsy, and such a unique, creative community, you can meet some incredible folks this way! My Feedback is almost always really sweet and personal... it literally feeds me! I think this is well worth a little extra time put into customer service.

I also strive for professionalism and courtesy in my interactions with fellow Etsians. I always comment and click on Treasuries in which I am featured, and when anyone writes me to ask a question, I get back to them as soon as I can. I am not 100% perfect about this, of course, and sometimes life gets crazy, but I think we should all treat each other respectfully online. If you are kind to someone, the good energy just keeps on flowing!

4. Social Networking

I have seen advice about social networking that is all over the map. Literally, from "don't bother" to "Facebook is integral to my business!" I don't have the Answer, but I do have years of personal experience writing a blog, running a Facebook Fan Page, and using Twitter. While I am not sure how much these platforms drive business in a direct sense, I find that if I use them authentically, from that place of "my cup runneth over", they work synergistically to promote my store.

When I started out on Etsy, and with my blog, I was totally overwhelmed. I felt like I had to write a blog several times a week, since this is what everyone else was doing. I also felt like I had to comment on everyone's blog in the entire universe, even if I didn't love their stuff, just to get Out There. Now I realize that doing things from this place is a waste of energy. It takes a lot of work to run an Etsy shop full time, especially if you have a lot going on outside of work. If you love blogs and this is your thing, by all means, spend some dedicated time in the blogosphere every day.

Definitely explore this world at least a little, for inspiration and for opportunities to connect with kindred souls. If, ultimately, you are not passionately moved to do this, then your time is much better spent on getting new listings in your shop. It seems to me that no amount of promotion (including ads) replaces the simple act of getting more stock in your shop!

I do like Facebook because sometimes people start discussing a listing or a post (I try to mix it up and post links to cool vintage photos or videos, not just my shop listings), and I tend to hear a lot from my real-life friends on there. I love Twitter for the connections it gives me with the wider community of vintage sellers. They are invaluable for advice and support... and, when you work on your own, they provide a sense of having "co-workers" who share your interests and concerns.

5. Stay Positive

This is a reminder to myself as much as any of you! I am a worrywart by nature, and I need to be vigilant with myself if I have a slow sales week or something goes wrong in the shop. Reach out to your friends, real-life or online, and get support. You are usually in the same boat with a lot of other folks. If you can connect with someone on the Team in an especially close way, you two can be each others cheerleaders and help raise each other up to the next level.

My husband Chris has noticed that I repeat the same pattern over and over: depression because I have not made any sales, then a spike of sales that get me elated and hyperactive (aka doing the "Sold" dance all around the house.) I can't have quite as removed of a perspective as he does, but I try to keep in mind that things goes in cycles. The wheel of Fortune is, after all, a Wheel!

I will say, for those of you who are afraid to leave your day jobs because you have heard about the "constant worry" that the self-employed live with- I was waaaaaay more stressed out working at a job that I no longer enjoyed than I am working at a job with an inconsistent income. While I cannot control the buying habits of customers, I do feel that I have control over the product in my shop, how it looks, and how I promote it. and it was precisely this sense of self-empowerment that I was aiming for when I cut the cord and set out completely on my own. I have never looked back, and I have never been happier in my professional life.

I hope some of that is of use to you, especially to my fellow vintage clothing sellers. The beauty of Etsy is that you can find your way to success via an infinite number of paths... this is just some reflection on my path so far. Happy New Year and lots of luck and love to the Indie Free Spirits Team in 2011!

Astralboutiques Shop, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

What amazing insight and wisdom from such a cherished and talented member. Love you Sasha!!

Animal Rescue Shop-FARP

2011-01-08T08:57:00.000-08:00

Check out the most amazing animal rescue shop who has just joined us!
FARP!

The Fabulous Animal Rescue Project is a global effort to inspire people to reach out and help animals by raising funds for the noble and unwavering animal rescue groups, sanctuaries, and non-kill shelters.

We make greeting cards, buttons, magnets, and pocket mirrors, with donated images of folk's favorite animals. These grand artists are animal lovers of all ages from all over the planet. Each is handmade. The cards feature the artist's creation, their first name, age, and where they are from. The buttons, magnets, and pocket mirrors feature the artist's name.

We hope that when people read our cards, see our magnets, use our mirrors, and wear our buttons, they will feel inspired by the project to reach out in any way they can to help animals in need.

source

80% of every thing sold is donated to the chosen charity of the month. The other 20% is used only for supplies to make more stuff, shipping supplies, and to pay for ETSY/PayPal fees. Nothing is kept for profit. We are all about helping the animals not making profits.

source

Farp Blog
Farp Shop
Farp Badges
Facebook
Tumblr

I couldn't be happier FARP has joined us!!!

3 Way Collaboration!

2011-01-07T12:19:00.000-08:00

Check it out team, a 3 way ifsteam collaboration!

Laci creates some of the cutest stuff ever. So her and I decided to do a little collaboration with her famous Owl apron, since she likes the style of my photography :) So she sent it to me, and yesterday during a crafternoon with the girls, Amy dressed up and modeled it for me! She lovvves the camera and it loves her back! Totally getting together tomorrow do to some more shooting. Here are some of the cutest shots....

Thanks Amy for being the cutest cupcake ever! Here's Laci's shop where you can grab yourself one of these epic aprons!

Here's Amy's shop and blog - she's soo talented!!

It's fun collaborating with team mates, and trading too! You should try it sometime ;)

New Shops

2011-01-07T05:46:00.000-08:00

newvintagejewelry

missholmes

raspberryswirl81

mostazaseed

compostthis

underthepyramids

keriansart

ohlittlerabbit

imadeyouabeard

girlwitharadiomind

melbecreations

New Shops

2011-01-04T20:13:00.000-08:00

whichgoose

ravenevejewelry

deepspacephotography

milkfly

silkwormvintage

greeneyedgirls

popettes

vjeric

divinecollectible

spinningbee

whimsywhimsical

amaliachimera

Reinvention as Creators and Sellers

2011-01-04T11:34:00.001-08:00

I have the belief that as artists and creators we must always reinvent. Though we stay in our one body our whole life- we travel, we adjust, we take on new views, we grow.

There is something to be said for riding that wave. Instead of stunting your growth in photography, description and pricing style, allow the changes to flow forward.

(you can laugh at the before pics, I give you permission!)

Here are ways we can do this:

Every once in a while look through a few of your listings and read every last bit of them- from the title down to the pricing. Look at the photos, the shipping prices, the way you sound in the description and how the piece itself represents you.

If you feel that you could improve or enrich the look and feel of your shop, listen to your gut feeling on it. Take out your work and re-photograph in a new area. Outside in natural light, on a new model, and try new angles.

You may experience worry that it would be too overwhelming to re-do all the shots in your shop. That's okay! Realize though that nothing wonderful happens overnight. View it as a hobby, as an experiment- as opposed to a burden.

You will notice that this keeps your Etsy experience ever flowing forward. It's healthy to challenge ourselves as creators. Besides, think of the thousands of customers AND sellers who come across our work. Wouldn't it make your day to know that your growth inspired THEM to follow suit?

Look at other shops you adore, and who have that certain EXTRA something that draws you in. Break down what it is you love about those shops and emulate. In fact, convo them if you want! Get involved, in touch, and see how much their advice will inspire you :)

Don't ever be afraid of forward movement, of reinvention-look to the future with a sparkle in your eye, knowing you got a special confidence brewing deep inside ;)

Featured

2011-01-03T14:31:00.000-08:00

Hey look! We were featured in the Etsy Teams newsletter :)
Morgan guides Etsy's teams to our very own blog tutorial on how to create team treasuries ;)
Yay ussss! Thanks Morgan ;)

You'll also notice that Morgan, the admin in charge of teams, recommends that we use 2 important tags when curating team treasuries:

-"etsyteam" as a treasury tag
-"#etsyteamtreasury" on twitter!

Thanks for the tips Morgan ;)

Happy Anniversary Treasuries

2010-12-31T12:02:00.000-08:00

Here are our all team treasuries curated by our members! Enjoy and happy anniversary!

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_______________________________

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Thanks for all the lovely treasuries teamies!!!
Keep em coming, 100% members and I'll post it here on the blog :D

New Shops

2010-12-30T13:09:00.000-08:00

DancingMooney

StudioTuesday

SistersDecal

MandalaMagic1

FeathersOfArtemis

AtomicThreads

ThreeCornersDesigns

LittleEyedDesigns

MaeJeanVintage

StitchyImpressions

TallulahsSoaps

ItsVintageous

Tallon

The talent grows!

Happy Anniversary Treasuries

2010-12-30T10:37:00.000-08:00

Now until the 1st I'll be posting your Ifsteam Anniversary Treasuries here for all to see. Much love to you all! Here's our first from BailyBelleCreations! What a beauty!

Happy 1st Anniversary!

2010-12-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

January 1 marks the first year of our little Indie Free Spirits team! Well, we're not so little anymore! We are now up to 222 members! All of you, adorable, lovely and talented friends under one roof-what a special thing :)

-To celebrate, why not create a team treasury with "Happy 1st Anniversary, Indie Free Spirits Team!" in the description box. Or maybe invite one or a few of your best Etsy friends to join forces with us? Simply link to our Etsy Teams page where it will be super easy for them to sign up. What is your favorite thing about the Ifsteam? I'd love to hear your comments :)

Thank you for supporting my little Ifsteam project and for making this team the best on Etsy (a little biased...)! Crafty love to each and every one of you!

Captain Blueberry