Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 11:05AM A gorgeous jewelry shop is featured on Etsy this week. Stilosissima showcases the minimalist metal fabrication work of Isabella Cascio. I especially love some of her earring and finger ring designs. She's also been really effective with her product photography.
You can read the featured shop article here.
Friday, April 26, 2013 at 9:31AM In October 2011 Etsy made a change in the way shops are presented on the site. Previously, shops were only identified by the actual shop/business name and the owner's Etsy user name. User names are often different from the user's real name. For example, my user name is "chettibeads."
With the October change, shop owners could choose to have their real name shown in their shops as the "Shop Owner." Right before this happened, it was announced in the Etsy forum and immediately became controversial. Some shop owners did not want their real names shown publicly in their shops in any way. They wanted to make sure that using real names would be optional and not mandatory.
I had no problem with using my real name, but that's mainly because as a book author my name is out there already. (I could have used a fictional name as an author, but I would have had to make that decision before my very first book was published....and I didn't.) That's the same reason I'm using my real name at the top of this blog. It's not exactly a cool thing to do, it's just that this poor blog doesn't really have it's own branding aside from my work as a craft writer.
Anway, the topic of real names on Etsy came up again today when, according to EcommerceBytes, Etsy sent out a marketing email of some kind to certain buyers which "inadvertently replaced the sellers' shop names with their real names taken from their credit cards." And apparently some shop owners got angry.
As a very general rule, I've never seen it as unreasonable that a business owner disclose her or his identity to potential buyers. In fact, on some levels it's required, such as in jurisdictions where businesses are required to file fictitious business name statements. It's all about transparency. If you're honest about your identity, theoretically it would be a lot harder for you to scam customers by taking their money, shutting down your shop, and disappearing.
On the other hand, some Etsy sellers say that using their real names online has made them vulnerable to stalkers. Some even feel that their lives have been put in danger.
This is a very real concern! Unfortunately, if someone has your real name these days, they probably can find your home address, phone number, and other information by using investigative services online. Those servies typically charge fees, but if someone is really intent on stalking, they just might do it.
As a an Etsy shopper or seller, do you think shop owners should disclose their real names?
Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 10:25AM Novica sells some gorgeous woven rugs and wall hangings from around the world, but this one currently in their Ebay store really grabs me.
I think it's the combination of oranges with the intricate design detail around the edges of the flower symbols (this design is actually called Chrysanthemum).
They provide a close-up where you can really see the weaving:
I'm working on some of these techniques myself but clearly need more practice. I should take this as a message of motivation to put in some hours at the loom today.
Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 8:57AM Mirror Beads are a new design of glass beads in Cousin's line called Jewelry Basics. This week Prima Bead sent me a free sample of Mirror Beads in all of the premier cuts and shapes.
They're called Mirror Beads for their super reflective surface coatings, which are applied to select areas of each bead for major sparkle and shine. These are so reflective that you can even use them as suncatchers. (I learned this by accident while holding up the rounds in morning sunlight -- tiny dots of light danced like crazy all around me.)
A common concern with shiny surface coatings on any beads is how well the coating really adheres to the glass. So I spent a little time scraping these with my fingernails, tapping them on the desk, etc (poor things) to see how well their coatings hold up. I'm happy to report that they really are tough. The mirrored areas of the beads look like permanent parts of the glass -- not sprayed on or flimsy.
Before we get to price and availability, here's a closer look at each style of Mirror Bead in my new stash:
10mm Rondelles
8x12mm Teardrops
6mm Bicones
10mm Rounds (my favorite)
8mm Twists
As far as pricing, Mirror Beads and other beads in the same line are designed to be more affordable than "top of the line" glass beads like Czech Fire Polished and Swarovski Crystal. For comparison, one package of 38 10mm faceted rondelle Mirror Beads retails for $4.00, whereas the same quantity of 9mm Czech Fire Polished rondelles ("gemstone cut") would normally cost about $6.00. The same quantity of 8mm Swarovski crystal rondelles (which, for some reason, they call "briolettes" -- more on that later) would run about $27.00. (Note that these prices are for genuine Czech and Swarovski beads. There are plenty of fakes, including fraudulently mislabeled fakes on Ebay.)
So if you're looking for affordable, trendy beads that are made with real glass and attention to detail, you might give Mirror Beads a try. You can find them and lots of other interesting beads and findings online at Prima Bead. They offer free shipping and quantity discounts. I believe they also have an affiliate program for bloggers, although I'm not currently a member.
If you've tried these or other products in the Jewelry Basics line, please take a minute to share your thoughts about them in a comment!
