Yet Another Reason Etsy Just Doesn't Get It!

The other day, I was searching for a cover bead for the  next day's issue of Glass Beads Daily. I do my best to feature all the "regulars" at least once a month.  This often involves me checking to see which of a particular artist's beads I've featured in the past few months. My fear is that I will love something so much and that it hasn't sold and I will feature it twice.

It was my real life friend's Donna's turn to be cover girl. Her studio is Prima Donna Beads. As I perused her last few features on the blog, I clicked on one of the featured beads as a quick way to get to her Etsy shop.  And this is what I found:

I can't tell you how angry this made me! Think about this from a seller's perspective: I leave links to MY work around the web;  I do the promoting of my shop; Someone clicks and if that item is sold out, there is NOT ONE photo of MY work but there are one DOZEN pics from the competition??? WTF ETSY???

Let me clearly state I have NOTHING against the artists who happen to be listed here. In fact, I "know" all of them through Glass Beads Daily as they all share their work over there. I deeply admire all of them and their mad skills. I guess kudos go to Etsy for not randomly choosing some of those mass produced Chinese glass beads and using actual artisan links.

But really, would it kill you to stuff a few pics from the artisan that brought the customer to the website. I knew Etsy was doing this if there was nothing in the shop that the customer clicked on. But Donna's shop had several dozen items... they could have filled that page with her beads and hers alone! Wouldn't that be the fair thing to do??? After all it was her link that got the customer to Etsy!

Between Etsy's policy of allowing contract work - which I read as "Bring your Chinese crap beads and sell them here! We don't care if they are mass produced garbage that's not annealed and likely to break as long as we (Etsy) make money!" Now this... I'm so done.

BTW, the artists listed in the pic are genuine handmade glass bead artists one and all and they all make lovely beads too! They're shops are: 

Beads by Stephanie | Heather Behrendt | Debbie of All My Beads | Lampwork by Amy

As so many of us are migrating to an interactive customer experience, if you truly enjoy artisan glass beads and quality lampwork, here are a few private Facebook pages to join:

Lampwork Beads for Sale
Lampwork Bead Market
Artisan Lampwork Beads for Sale

These are just a few... There are also groups specializing in wire wraps and pendants, lampwork jewelry, etc... Come join the fun!! It's a great place to hang out, be inspired, interact with other artists and...people who "get it!"

Boobie Beads Doing Good

I heard from a customer recently who orders my boobie beads. Regina is making boobie bracelets. Check 'em out:

Aren't they just adorable??? And I just love the special card she makes to go with them:

The bracelets are $15 and a portion of the proceeds ($5) of each bracelet will be donated to breast cancer, Avon and Susan G Komen walk. Regina is selling these by email at the moment. You can reach her here.

I just love that my little boobies are out in the world making people happy!

Sidewalk Sale Sunday

Sorry to go all radio silent on you after so many posts in a row... The show was more wonderful than I expected and I've been a busy bee packing and shipping and still have more to send! More on all that later but I wanted to mention that I will be having a live and in person show this Sunday in my hometown of Sunland at the Back Door Bakery.

The Back Door Bakery is at 8668 Foothill. I will be bringing lots of versions of these:

Would you believe I had two in my show and I sold FIVE???

I will be bringing more jewelry than beads as I'm hoping that's what will sell well  at Christmas. But I will fill in with come "conversation starter" beads:

Silver River Trunk Show is ON

The Fire Diva's Trunk Shows continue! Silver River Trunk show today and tomorrow!  Go HERE to see all the goodies!  There are all types of handmade beads, gifts and finished jewelry. This will end tomorrow (Saturday) night at 11 pm.   Come join the fun!  Sonja almost never discounts her beads  so come take advantage!

Let's take a look at some of the goodies!!!

Album #1 Features Jewelry and Gifts

Album #2 features Focals and Pairs

Album #3 features Sets and Spacers

Album #4 features European Bracelet Charms

 

Come take a look!!! Lots of great deals on some fabulous glass beads!!!

Art Charm Swap Revealed

Jennifer Cameron hosts and Art Charm Swap every year. Participants are asked to make one extra to be donated to an auction for Beads of Courage. And while making 10 of anything (exactly the same) would just about kill me, making stuff for Beads of Courage is close to my heart! The theme this year is love. I love glass and I love Beads of Courage, so, I hope that counts!

Here are my charms, ready to be packed:

 

Most of them are made from my jewelry making stash except for these:

These beads were made by Krissy Beads

These beads were made by Bindy Lambell

This little bunny is from my treasured stash of Palmtree Queen beads and he sold right away in a buy it now auction! Made my day!!!

And this guy... never left my house. Very sad 'cause he was my absolute fave. Made my a "really famous" beadmaker... His pom pom popped off while I was packing him!!!

These and SO many more are being auctioned off RIGHT NOW! Please go bid! It's for a GREAT cause!

Amy Sims' Trunk Show

The Fire Divas are all so excited for Amy Sims' Trunk show... starting tomorrow!!! Amy agreed to be the "guinea pig" and go first and, as usual, Facebook has presented some glitches. It simply won't allow us to put all of her gorgeous beads in ONE album!

While the majority of the goodies are here, there are about 10 more on the page of the event - so be sure and scroll through BOTH!

I've got my eye on this bracelet...and so lots of Diva fans! This piece has gotten lots of attention this week! 

 And this glass bead focal is one of the beauties that stupid Facebook wouldn't let us upload correctly. Isn't it pretty???

Amy's sale starts tomorrow and ends Tuesday. I hope you'll come and take a look!!!

Fresh Glass 10.30.13

I've been a busy bee... aren't I always??? Lots of news to share with you in the next few days!

Just the highlights:

• The Fire Divas are now hosting glass bead / Lampwork Jewelry and gifts in trunk shows on our Fan Page and the wonderful and talented Amy Sims has agreed to go first!!! More on that tomorrow! 
• I will be the third Diva to host a show... Mine is in early December... stay tuned!
• While working on a freelance medical bookkeeping project,  I got a nice size custom order and making that led to more great ideas. I love when that happens!
• Started on the next 40 bead challenge...torching aimless instead of with a plan.... more on that soon!
• Created 16 glass bead charms from the upcoming Art Charm Challenge. I didn't make matchy ones to trade...trying to keep excess stuff OUT of the house these days. But I made all of them to donate to the Beads of Courage Auction. Photos and more on that before the auction goes live! 

Bead Chat Magazine and Summer Lampwork

One of my beads has been featured in the July issue of Artisan Whimsy's Bead Chat online magazine by Melinda Orr! Member's of Artisan Whimsey's Glass Geoup were asked to submit beach themed beads... and you know that's one of my favorites!

You can find more of the Bead Chat magazines... they are fabulous and chock FULL of ideas... by using the search feature in the upper right corner of the glossi (where the magazine is hosted) website. Just search for Artisan Whimsy Bead Chat! You'll be glad you did! And be sure to check out the beachy beads on page 55!

Click to view July 2013 BEAD Chat Magazine by Artisan Whimsy on GLOSSI.COM

Fashion Friday - The Gilded Lily

Whew! Fashion Friday is back! This fashion layout was inspired by the gorgeous peyote necklace featuring a glass bead lily by Sheila of Stone Designs by Shelia Davis . Shelia makes some gorgeous beads too. Be sure to check out her links!

The Gilded Lily by holly-dare featuring nine west shoes

Have a lovely weekend my pretties... I'm hoping to torch! Don't forget to check in over at Glass Beads Daily... so many amazing beads to love!

Fashion Friday - Let Me Call You Sweetheart

This layout was inspired by the gorgeous glass bead necklace, Victorian Garden, by Bastille Bleu Lampwork. Bastille Bleu is having a tax relief sale this week on Facebook.  There is more info on the sale on the  Bastille Bleu Blog.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart by holly-dare featuring a hot pink dress

Fashion Friday - Almond Blossoms

I thought I would use one of my own jewelry designs. This piece called Almond Blossoms is really pretty in person yet it has been languishing in my shop.... price reduced again and again...sigh.  I really like it... crystals riding a roller coaster of wire...hand hammered sterling flowers and a little pink bell flower dangle. It's available on Ebay.

I do think the colors of teal and pink and silver work really well together.

Almond Blossoms by holly-dare featuring a plus size tunic

Spring Cleaning

I've been a busy girl! Obsessed with my new Glass Bead Blog, teaching several classes this week, trying to expand my teaching horizons by applying  to several new schools (time consuming paperwork!). I'm also trying find more affordable health insurance as my current one is more than I make most months...this for a girl who avoids doctors like the plague! But that is MORE time consuming paperwork!

I'm also trying to start a new business venture that will actually bring in some income since it appears I won't be getting a job any time soon.... Can you tell I'm in the "Throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" phase of panicking about my finances???

I have beads to list...but no one seems to be buying beads. Buying beads motivates your bead maker to list beads... I forgot to even photograph today's "fresh glass!" And I have a couple of orders for Memorial beads...

So in the middle of all the things I "should" be doing... what am I actually doing??? Spring cleaning! I've been going through closets and washing walls and cabinets!

And then there's this project:

 I ask you, if not for my little label, could you actually READ the label on this frit jar??? I can't...

I'm not knocking any one frit maker... I love them all but... over time, the labels ALWAYS fade. And I have a hard enough time seeing anything! So out came the label maker...

It was a BIG project:

Which led to an even bigger one... but I will save that for another post!

Fashion Friday - Royal Lime and Teal

Today's post was inspired by the Bubbles Lampwork Glass Bead Bracelet and earring set by Stacey Peterson Studios.

Royal Lime and Teal by holly-dare featuring clarks sandals