Twitter for Dummies (Like Me!)

If you haven't started a Twitter account, I'll let you know that it should come with a warning: " Twitter can become addictive, do not start unless you want to spend hours on your computer."  It's a new wave in social media, more concise than Facebook or Myspace, and more of an everyday thing than updating your blog.

I started by hearing about it on Etsy, 1 of 2 handmade sites I sell on.  At first, I pretty much listed links to new items for sale, a plus if you want your items to get views.  We also spend a lot of time cheering each other on when sales are made.

But, as I started following more people, total strangers started following me.  I customarily read their bio and check out any links they have.  If they sound interesting, I follow back.  And these people started listing links to all kinds of things that range from quirky, to serious, to hysterically funny, to political.  As you reply back (easy to do by hitting a funky arrow button next to their post) you can often find yourself flooded with their followers suddenly following you.

As a WAHM, my socializing is limited to the 15 minutes I go early & hang out with other kindergarten moms as we pick up our kids at school, so Twitter has become my link with the outside world.  Snowstorms on the East coast, I'm playing devil's advocate & posting my 75 degree weather.  Breaking news from the reporter in Chicago, I'm waiting for the updated posts.  There's even a novel in progress that comes in batches of 5 tweets at a time.  A pretty big challenge considering you're limited to 140 characters per post.

So if you haven't Tweeted, give it a try.  You can click on my link at the bottom and read some of my posts (although, they may seem pretty boring).  You can then click on the names of anyone I've replied to and see what they have to say.  Once you start following the threads, you'll be well on your way to being addicted too.  I warned you! 

Special special!

It seems I'm always running behind on the holidays.

So, in honor of Valentines Day, I'm offering free shipping on all my jewelry until 2/14.  On Etsy, the shipping is already set to 0.00.  For my Artfire shop, I can either send an updated invoice or refund the shipping price when I process the order.

Either way, jewelry is always a great gift for yourself or others!  And what's better than something that's one of a kind and handmade.

Tulip earrings with fluorite, "Hint of Mint" necklace, Tender Wisp sterling ring.

Internet Connections

I have fallen in love with posting on Twitter.  I've visited some great blogs, seen some great shops and feel like I've met some great people (tweeples).  The internet it great for us WAHM's.

Having a web presence really puts me in touch with so many things.   I recently exchanged emails with a gal who made a purchase from me.  Marie is the educator for a wonderful organization that is a sanctuary to exotic birds that just aren't suitable as pets.  They have over 600 birds in their sanctuary in Arizona.  Please stop by their beautiful webpage and see the cute photos of their residents.  While you're there, they have a $1 donation campaign that could use a little love.  I'm sure it takes quite a bit of money to care for that many birds.  Kudos to the Oasis for their great work!

Starting the Long Process

Started the long process of moving the very best vintage from my eBay store over to Etsy.  The process requires photographing every item from a zillion angles and with different settings to get just the right 5 photos to display.  

I really like taking the photos, not so much trying to edit them down.  I am lucky to be in So. Calif. so I don't have to deal with ice and snow while photographing - I feel for my friends in the freeze zones.

My mom and sisters moved to New York several years ago (long story, I won't bore you) and daily I pretty much taunt them with weather updates.  I know, it's awful, but I really miss shopping with my sis and sharing the cute things my kids do with my mom.  Emails and phone calls are just not the same.

If you'd like a closer look, here's the brass cat and the adorable Holly Hobbie dish.

Closing Up Shop

I've made a tough decision this week.  After reviewing my sales for the past year, I've decided to close my eBay store.

I began in 2002 selling just 10 items per week.  Back then, if something didn't sell, I could move it into my store for a nominal fee.  The FVF (final value fees) were something like 5%.  I sold about 50% at auction and the rest usually sold from the store within 6 months.  Now, FVF for store items is 12%.  By the time you add in the original listing fee and Paypal fees, the cost to sell 1 thing is around 20% in fees alone.  And many of the items end up sitting on my shelves for over a year since store items get less exposure.

I had been doing fairly well in 2007 following the Lynn Dralle method.  She makes tons of money by listing 100 items a week with a starting price of $9.99.  I never managed 100, but usually averaged 40 listings.  Christmas season 2007 was particularly good, as about 70% sold at auction.

Once the new CEO took over, not only did the fees increase but the whole attitude towards sellers changed.  If you can achieve power seller status (averaging $1,000 per month for 3 months), then you get a break on your fees.  If not, you're just out of luck.  Other changes that particularly aggravate me are those that they attempt to explain as being better for the selling community when they are actually thinly veiled ways to get more fees into their pockets.  These include pimping free shipping and not allowing sellers to accept money orders.  Now, you must list a shipping timeframe and a return policy.  

I'm just tired of being told how to run my store.  Now that there are many more sites to sell on that are fresh, exciting and appreciative of seller input (special kudos to John of Artfire), it's time to move on.  And I feel so much better about it!

Can't Seem To Get It Together

I have 2 weeks to get DH's taxes together for his business.  I just can't seem to get it together - the more I work on my art, the more I hate paperwork!  

Imagine a little castle just to the right on the hills in "Sea Escape" above - that's where I want to live!

Fusion-Two Loves Combined

I love painting, especially in miniature.  I found a trove of wood blanks and started creating small pieces of art.  After figuring out a few logistics (like solving how to make and attach a bail), I was able to combine painting with jewelry making.  The 1st results "Winterling."  

I love the way the colors of the stones perfectly complement the colors in the painting.  I have a bunch more of these mini-delights just waiting to be converted into wearable art.

What loves could you combine?  I'd love to hear about them!