"I give up!! Really..."

An Etsy forum thread with a title like that isn't unusual. In fact, it's something we've seen more than a few times in Chat too. The difference here is the message beyond the title.

I won't give it away, but this thread is definitely worth a few minutes' time for everyone who is working to make even a part of their income doing what they love here at Etsy.

So go ahead, click the link and give it a read. I'll wait right here.

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6096162

No one is going to say that everything's rosy with the economy these days, but there is success to be had out there. One of the astonishing advantages of Etsy, and of our friendly group in Chat, is the menu of resources so readily available - business resources, technology ones, and the hands-on help of the community. Congratulations to Ozknits for putting them to work, and thanks for sharing her experience.

Are we all a little more optimistic and inspired now? Okay, what can we do as buyers and sellers to help ourselves and others succeed, beyond the appealing answer of "Buy more of my stuff"?

Judith (aka jswrites)

And the winners of the HollanHandicraft giveaway are...

[1st prize](12) NotQuitePhotoJENic
Jenn

[2nd prize](3) bugs 'n' bees said...

[3rd prize](7) B.J. Anderson
bonny.anderson [!at] gmail.com

[4th prize] (14) Jo
jorayne [!at] gmail.com

Winners were chosen by Hollanhandicrafts daughter by rolling a D20 dice. Congrats!!!

Now, Winners.. Please Email me your address and I will fwd it to hollandhandicrafts!! THANKS!! jupitadesigns@yahoo.com

A temporary switch of contacts

Hi there ETSY Chatters and readers.

I am Jenn (Jupita).

Heathenshearth (Misty), is taking so much needed down time from the Chat Team contact to concentrate on family and making their fabulous soaps. I will be the contact for the Etsy Chatters Team for the time being.

If you want to join our team, send me a message on Etsy!

Also, if you have any ideas...comments..questions...words... That will help us get this blog hoppin' let me know.

And lastly, but not least.. Welcome JSWRITES to the chat team blogging world!! JSWRITES will make you laugh, cry, smile, and want to pee your pants! (okay, maybe not the last one!) JSWRITES is an Etsy buyer and chatter. Go visit their profile, and get to know jswrites in chat and her on the blog!!

See you all in chat!

Etsy Chatter Featured Seller of the Week

1. Who is Jupita?
Jupita is an enigma! Oh, wait, no. I am a mother, a wife, an artist, a wanderer, an activist, an organ donor, and so much more.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?

Doodle. Paint. Sing. Sculpt. Build. Create. Collage. A little bit of it all. I have been creating pieces of art (or what I call art) since I was a toddler. (Ketchup and Mustard renderings of Ronald McDonald count, right??)



3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?
My children. My caffeine addiction.

4. What is your favorite medium?
It is actualy a GRANDE thank you. Sheesh, you would think after all this time, people would KNOW the lingo.
In all seriousness, anything lying around. I love to take things destined for the circular filing cabinet (read: trash can) and make them into FUN works of art.



5. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

Etsy is my play ground. I like the teeter totter.

6. How did you find Etsy?

Oddly, a Barista at STARBUCKS! She showed me a cute necklace that she had bought on Etsy.. I wandered in, became a buyer. After some convincing from others, I decided to sell my things here.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?
I'm not an addict. I can quit anytime.. /msg heathenshearth I REALLY can quit. I SWEAR!

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?
My favorite creations are my four boys! Sebastian, OThello, Maynard and Atreyu.



9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?
oooh. Well, here is where I get some of my Fix's: Soap: heathenshearth; Mexican Hot Cocoa: Suebeebuzz; random fun supplies: supplylounge; and TONS of others..

10.Tips for other Artists?

BE Original. Create something! Use your IMAGINATION!

11.Tell me a Secret about yourself.

Finding Nemo makes me cry.

12. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments?

Why haven't you sent me your used gift cards yet? hmmmm. I mean, come on go GREEN with me.

And for fun... A Giveaway!
Go to www.jupita.etsy.com and comment here with your favorite item. Next Friday we will choose a random comment and that person will win a CUSTOM Upcycled Gift card bracelet from JUPITA!

How'd you do THAT?

At least twice a day, I am asked: "Jupita, how do you do THAT with your gift cards?" So, I decided to post a little HOW-To!



Today we will take this ordinary gift card (this one happens to be from starbucks) and "Upcycle" it into something CUTE!

First:
Assemble your materials/supplies
Gift card, Some Awesome heavy duty scissors, Sharpie, Eyelets, Crop-a-dile, Jump rings, Keychain ring, beads, CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION!!



Second:
Draw the shape you want to create, on the BACK of the gift card. I chose a BUNNY AND AN EGG. (Easter baby!!)



Third:
Here is where the SKILL comes in. (If you passed kindergarten, you are SOOO already there.) Cut out the shape you doodled. Be careful, the ER does NOT want you to be their next visitor. (If you did this correctly, there will be no need to sand anything down. It takes a steady hand!!)



Forth:
Decide on position for eyelet. Punch out hole, insert eyelet. (Eyelets are optional, but sometimes create a more finished look.!)



Fifth:
My piece is going to be a keychain charm. So, I looped the jump ring through the eyelets on the bunny and egg. Then, I attached the Jump ring to a made by me beaded piece (for extra pretty Jupitaness!) and added a little keychain loop.

TAADAAA
UPCYCLED GIFT CARD CUTENESS!!


If you are interested in this piece, or others like it.. Please, come visit me at WWW.JUPITA.ETSY.COM !!!

Jenn ~ Jupita

We all love a good give-away

Chat Teamer HOLLANDHANDICRAFTS is offering up a great prize this week!!

Easter is coming up and she has made this adorable EASTER COZYs.



The winner will receive all three. Just in time for the holiday too!

To enter, all you need to do is go to HollandHandicrafts’Etsy Shop & come back here and leave a comment telling us which of the items in the shop is your favorite & name your favorite color!

Be sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner!

Winner will be randomly drawn by the assistant crafter (aka 10 year old daughter). You have one week to enter. Drawing will be held Saturday March 28th!!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Are you a chat team member? Do you have a FUN giveaway you would like posted in the team blog? Well, send me a convo!! www.jupita.etsy.com

JUPITA
~Jennifer~

And we have a winner!

Of the Balanced bracelet giveaway!

Congrats to Vivien!!!!

I KNOW you will enjoy the bracelet!

Cloth, Paper, Scissors and Etsy Chatters

Many of us are constantly on the look out for way to get our art noticed. We are in search of that magical promotional tool, to help thrust us into the next level of sales!

Well, I may have found (or been found by, rather) such a vessel!

Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine in a publication that focuses on altered art, mixed media compositions, how-tos and so much more. If you have not yet read it - you SHOULD!!

Last month, I was contacted by the Editor in chief about being in her publication. She was amazed that my upcycled jewelry was once GIFT CARDS!! So, I sent her some photos (and she even picked up one of my pieces from the shop.) and a little blurb. This month, I have a little spot in this amazing magazine, in the new MUSE Flash section.

Well, the point? They have requests for submissions in their publication. They are looking for new techniques, fresh ideas, inventive products and more! Chat Teamers.. you need to submit your items!


Right now they have a readers challenge. "Play on Words"

You do a mixed media piece showing a word, quote, depiction of such in 2 or 3d. All the rules are here:
http://www.quiltingarts.com/cpsmag/cps_challenge.html

There are also submission guidelines here: http://www.quiltingarts.com/cpsmag/cps_submissions.html
For other things that you may want to send in!! A great, fun way to get noticed.



Go to: http://www.quiltingarts.com/cpsmag/cpshome.html to read more. (and subscribe, TOTALLY worth it!!)


~Jenn~
www.jupita.etsy.com

Balanced Interview and Giveaway!

1. Who is Balanced?

My name is Rachel. I'm originally from Northern California, but currently living in Dublin, Ireland with my wonderful Irish husband and our baby Ginger, the cat.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?

Oh goodness. I've been making things all my life. But, regarding my Etsy shop, I've been making jewelry for about 10 years. I do papercrafts as well, my sold section shows a set of cards I did. I paint also and sell prints an another venue you can find on my blog, http://balancedcrafts.com.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Everywhere really. Nature, art, fashion. I browse a lot of magazines and read a lot of blogs. I'm inspired everyday.

4. What is your favorite medium?

I haven't met a medium I didn't like yet and I'm always looking for new ones. Right now I'm trying out encaustic painting, but the old stand buys like oil, acrylic, pencils, chalk, etc. are always near. I do a lot of digital painting these days as well. And with jewelry, I would say beadweaving as opposed to bead stringing, though I love that too.

5. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

I suppose it is. I'm always working on it in one way or another and I have no other job, so, yeah. :P

6. How did you find Etsy?

Magic.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

I think it was all the awesome people I met.

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?

Wow, I am no good at these 'favorite' questions. I love and am proud of every single thing I make to sell, or I wouldn't put it out into the world. I'm very sensitive, haha. I do, however, have a special fondness for the beadwoven pieces as there is more time put into them.

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?

My head is spinning trying to think of favorites, honestly. There are just so many!

10.Tips for other Artists?

Yes, though it's not originally mine.“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some" by Robert Fulghum.

11. Tell me a secret about yourself!

I know where you live. (If you've ordered from me that is.:P)

12. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments?

Just a sincere thank you. I'm so glad to be a part of this team and to have met the wonderful people in it. It's a lovely thing.

Balanced is offering this beautiful Pearly Squares Bracelet in our giveaway! To enter, all you have to do is go to her Etsy Shop and come back here and leave a comment telling us which of her items is your favorite! Be sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner!

This giveaway is open internationally and will run until Sunday, March 8th at midnight EST.

May I have your attention please?

I'll make this short and sweet and to the point (mostly because I am at work, already a few days late doing this and I have the new giveaway to post after this, lol!)

I would like to announce the winner of MyMotherMary's giveaway!


and................





our winner is............



daniii♥!!!!


Congrats daniii!

Just so you know...

I haven't forgotten about choosing a winner for MyMotherMary's giveaway :). It's been a hectic weekend and I haven't had the chance. Keep on the lookout, as I will have it posted by this evening sometime and our new giveaway posted.