tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post2218525868716998311..comments2023-10-20T08:52:24.875-07:00Comments on this artist's life:: taking the leap: when to start selling your workWhitney Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-18118791487677108092011-01-04T04:54:09.095-08:002011-01-04T04:54:09.095-08:00this courage me to be more confident with my artwo...this courage me to be more confident with my artwork.<br /><br />thanks a lotteh panas & biskut tawarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05833937892516443616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-74173212145108510222011-01-02T17:42:02.864-08:002011-01-02T17:42:02.864-08:00Thanks so much for sharing. I just opened my Etsy...Thanks so much for sharing. I just opened my Etsy shop and as many others expressed, i am not sure this was the right time. . .but i also felt like i needed to move forward with my creative side. . .so hence i looked to 2011 as my starting point! Thanks again for sharing!Wendy. . .https://www.blogger.com/profile/06951541969673628552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-90239390973732168132011-01-02T08:36:20.519-08:002011-01-02T08:36:20.519-08:00I have had an Etsy account for a year and trying t...I have had an Etsy account for a year and trying to make it all work out while taking care of a family and working a full time office job is tough....my artwork has been maturing for two decades. I no longer care what anyone else thinks about it...to me I have come full circle with how it was is how it is...the style is within you and no amount of schooling or self inflicted wrestling will change it.HK Giassonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09780972755259836681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-5687849385035481392010-12-27T16:36:27.217-08:002010-12-27T16:36:27.217-08:00Thank you so much for this article. Before I even ...Thank you so much for this article. Before I even knew what I was doing, I had people buying my jewelry right off my ears at concerts and things. So I created an Etsy shop. Twas very motivational, but I know that the quality of my work is heaps better now. Live and learn, long and lots!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00004387138103597142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-60844747238870148642010-12-25T10:54:12.908-08:002010-12-25T10:54:12.908-08:00Thank you so much for your article. I have been s...Thank you so much for your article. I have been selling on Etsy for awhile now and my frustrations have to do with the fact that Etsy who won’t acknowledge my products. I’ve been trying for years to get Etsy to recognize that Eid should be categorized with Christmas and Hanukah as a major holiday, but they keep ignoring my pleas: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5813888<br /><br />So my question is: how do we get the companies that continuously highlight the same products over and over again to even acknowledge your work?A Crafty Arabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834008069418887554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-83200700162444730232010-12-24T19:59:59.062-08:002010-12-24T19:59:59.062-08:00Thank you so much for the owrds of wisdom. I have ...Thank you so much for the owrds of wisdom. I have recently started selling my craft products, and I am still confused if I should sell or just enjoy creating what I want to create. Your post gave me lots to think about and ponder on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-7828661193102764532010-12-22T14:21:44.509-08:002010-12-22T14:21:44.509-08:00Very inspiring. I set up my etsy shop some time ag...Very inspiring. I set up my etsy shop some time ago and I still havent sold any item. But I enjoy my work and I make it with love and care. Sometimes I feel down cause it doesnt seem to work, and I dont know why. On your Etsy shop, the only positive opinion is a selling. And if you dont sell, and you dont any feedback, its difficult to know whats not working. Thanks for share your experience.CLARA PÉREZ ESCRIVÁhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02245671114762262327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-66479016267640195242010-12-22T13:40:08.110-08:002010-12-22T13:40:08.110-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Personhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04553780499395314215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-63479247861653073782010-05-15T12:08:06.592-07:002010-05-15T12:08:06.592-07:00Your work is beautiful & clearly you are a pro...Your work is beautiful & clearly you are a professional. I on the other hand am a beginner/ADD artist with many interests, which include, but are not limited to ceramics! I've enjoyed looking at your work & reading your posts. I've read some of your dilemmas & thought, wow... imagine becoming so good one day as to have assistants! For now, I just create what I can, when I can... and still do my "real job" to support myself while trying to change paths midlife. Most of what I make is given away (& yes, to family)... but I'll tell you what.. if someone ever wanted to buy my mediocre work, I'd be happy as a clam! <br />Enjoyed reading the comments, too!beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02070619577137197512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-29820502102121639002010-04-26T23:01:43.582-07:002010-04-26T23:01:43.582-07:00Thanks! Reading this made me laugh. It is so true...Thanks! Reading this made me laugh. It is so true. I look back over the years at some of the stuff I have made and say "wow, that sucks!"<br /><br />Great article with a very valid point!WhimWhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10510511916762058063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-7553447034822861052010-04-16T11:29:53.228-07:002010-04-16T11:29:53.228-07:00I'm surprised I didn't run across your pos...I'm surprised I didn't run across your posting earlier; I'm sorry I'm joining the party late. But it's timely for me to have seen it today, since I'll be doing an art fair tomorrow. I was volunteered to do it before I actually committed, so I have been trying to find the right balance between gathering up enough pieces to fill a table and not bringing the more infantile pieces. But since I am a beginning potter, my prices will certainly reflect my skill. And luckily the fair seems pretty pedestrian. ;) I really enjoy reading your potter AND business wisdom.NewDominionBlueshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06265096987677733927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-91909181524842584542010-03-20T09:19:38.418-07:002010-03-20T09:19:38.418-07:00I think it is very common for artists to punish th...I think it is very common for artists to punish themselves with trying to achieve perfection, myself included. There is a difference between making great work and making perfect work, and it takes practice and experience to know that perfect work is not the goal.Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-64631549142699621372010-03-20T06:39:19.398-07:002010-03-20T06:39:19.398-07:00Thank you for a great post and inspiration. It'...Thank you for a great post and inspiration. It's helped me feel more confident about a little idea to maybe make an etsy shop and maybe make it sooner rather than later. The blogging started nervously, but is going well, albeit in little steps. You have made me feel like I should grab the bull by the horns and do the next thing on my list instead of procrastinating & waiting for perfection..that's just excuses. I will get onto it v soon. Thank you. xxx. Have a great weekend. xEmmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05701886300314386321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-80469698269874889172010-03-18T06:46:31.731-07:002010-03-18T06:46:31.731-07:00thank you so much for sharing this! it sounds very...thank you so much for sharing this! it sounds very familiair. it took me a long time but I am finally setting up my etsy store. Its a lot of fun and scary at the same time : )rinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00655058088571025936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-62398674151910924142010-03-17T22:59:27.592-07:002010-03-17T22:59:27.592-07:00Thank you so much for sharing with us. I personall...Thank you so much for sharing with us. I personally truelly believe there are some of us (myself included) that started selling to early.ElizabethMD Jewelryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14025698690130017953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-51337254414602206282010-03-17T09:47:08.134-07:002010-03-17T09:47:08.134-07:00Thank you for sharing your wisdom on this subject....Thank you for sharing your wisdom on this subject. It took me over 20 years to become comfortable selling my items rather than just giving them as gifts. I wish I had this insight years ago! ThanksTerry Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15183596984431909018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-44321709086775014752010-03-17T09:21:27.083-07:002010-03-17T09:21:27.083-07:00Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding &quo...Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding "ready to sell or not" Extremely helpful....I'm almost there!iWOMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00728056909779595165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-48821497281483506332010-03-17T08:27:57.512-07:002010-03-17T08:27:57.512-07:00Yes, I understand what you are saying. And I think...Yes, I understand what you are saying. And I think the principles apply to anything make with your hands that you hope to turn into a business. And I also think if you are ready to stand behind your item, product, art, whatever it is, then you are ready to sell.<br /><br />When I started selling my work, I knew it wasn't as good as it would be in the future, but that doesn't mean it's not good enough to sell right now. Being confident in whatever you make is a huge part of making the leap.Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-25567553267136656052010-03-17T04:09:16.931-07:002010-03-17T04:09:16.931-07:00Thanks so much for this great advice. I joined ets...Thanks so much for this great advice. I joined etsy just the day before, browsed through it and thought I could spend millions of Dollar (or Euro in my case) at the shops. I am into crafts as well but I don't have anything to sell yet.<br />I am somewhat of a perfectionist, so I don't know whether I'll ever be satisfied enough to start selling my pieces.<br />hugsSartassahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12098301073519959041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-67268258001452357842010-03-17T02:05:53.731-07:002010-03-17T02:05:53.731-07:00Whitney, I love your work. When I first joined et...Whitney, I love your work. When I first joined etsy about 2 years ago there was this stunningly amazingly gorgeous vase, I think it was a set of 3 (?) or maybe that was one of the pics, and I think it was white.... Anyway, it was the very first thing I favourited and it was yours and I promised myself one day I'd own a piece of your work. That day hasn't arrived, but it will one day! <br /><br />I think you made some really great points in your post. I have had a shift in what it is I create and wonder if you think this same sort of thinking applies to handmade as opposed to art. I don't think what I do could ever be considered art - maybe if you were really stretching the truth with squinty eyes and sticky out tongues. Is it a completely different ball game or does the same principles apply do you think? *I* feel that if I am happy to stand behind and be proud of my product (as opposed to art, and I do feel like I am defacing your blog by talking about products and not art ;) )then it is ready to sell, but I certainly hope this is not the best I will ever be. <br /><br />Does any of that make sense?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-79655091474414611022010-03-17T01:30:58.437-07:002010-03-17T01:30:58.437-07:00I love your pholosophy.I love your pholosophy.nicedashofpaprikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01047631885019499039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-11016678238656085482010-03-17T00:08:51.791-07:002010-03-17T00:08:51.791-07:00To Leslie,
I have found that if you create art wor...To Leslie,<br />I have found that if you create art work that you love and speaks to you,you are on the right track.At one time I was making watercolor paper earrings and they always sold out.The only ones that didnt sell out were the ones someone else wanted in this color ,that style etc.I wasnt inspired by thier wants and it definitely translated into the art. So I learned that for me,if it isnt my inspiration,coming from my heart,it didnt work.If you love it they will too! Be True to yourself!Ms. Laura Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00559717252061922708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-47571736739090414972010-03-16T16:14:37.324-07:002010-03-16T16:14:37.324-07:00Thanks so much for sharing! It's so important ...Thanks so much for sharing! It's so important to people taking That Great Leap Forward that we share advice, successes, and yes, even failures.<br /><br />I wish I had run across this when I was setting up shop on Etsy! Really useful tips.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00226724769001232353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-70059217153584870802010-03-16T15:45:15.329-07:002010-03-16T15:45:15.329-07:00Thank you so much for the valuable information. So...Thank you so much for the valuable information. So much good advice. I appreciate you sharing.Kathryn Greenwald/artisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16361747329752121019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-45084975504203699162010-03-15T12:41:31.971-07:002010-03-15T12:41:31.971-07:00It's really hard to know when to start selling...It's really hard to know when to start selling your precious work rather than just giving it away. Will anyone else besides me love it, want it, get it? My problem is that work I did 6 months ago I think aaarrrggghh! And the work I''m doing today, I love. The thing is, no one knows ( usually) that this piece is 6 months old except you! It's a wonderful thing to see someone wearing, using that fab thing you made. Feedback and the thoughts of others, is imprtant, especially to a new to etsy person like me. To gain the confidence in your work, and with the help from all the fab makers, sellers on this site, who knows where it will take you...buddyxdesignshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04245617450967655085noreply@blogger.com