People and Planet First- a call for entries

earrings from tuckooandmoocow

Every dollar you spend is a vote for how you want the world to be, and who you want to control it. The intention of People and Planet First is to identify small indie businesses who offer quality gifts for the holiday season that create just, sustainable, and joyful livelihoods. We will encourage these artisan and vintage sellers to tell their individual stories, and spread the word about how we offer alternatives to the perpetuation of Wall Street greed.

Our goal is to raise awareness that indie businesses offer a profound alternative to the Wall Street corporate structure that must produce quarterly profit for stockholders who do no actual work to make any tangible goods. Our businesses support individuals, families, and communities who care about the planet that must support our children and their children.

organic baby hat from SewnNatural

We would like to invite other Etsy teams to join us! This is a season when we can look past our differences and celebrate the ideals we hold in common. ArtisansGalleryTeam is a group of studio artisans with advanced skills and professional business practices who came together to share our support for the Handmade Movement. Although our team is small and exclusive, we recognize that our values are shared by many other Etsy sellers and teams.

So here is the plan:

1) We will use our team blog as a place to coordinate and promote our own interpretation of People and Planet First. We invite all interested Etsy teams to participate!
2) From 11/21 – 12/18, we will link to other teams who post on their own team blog about how they support People and Planet First. Leave a comment on our blog (here) to get on our calendar. Ideally, we want a post every single day for the duration!
3) We ask that participating teams add the People and Planet First widget to the team blog, so that others can find the other participants, and follow the series. This should be in place from 11/21-12/18. It will link to our blog, with the calendar for all participating team blogs.
4) We ask each participating team to make special gift guides on their blog post day that celebrate People and Planet First. These should be tagged Peopleandplanetfirst, etsyteamtreasury, and also with your own team tag.
5) We ask that no coupon codes, discounts, or donations to charitable causes be offered in conjunction with People and Planet First. Unless you are making corporate CEO pay, you deserve full price for your hard work! If your team is doing that, please just keep the promotion separate.

What can you write about? You can pick one team member or several to discuss your indie business lifestyle, what the money you earn pays for or allows you to do, and how eco friendly practices are part of your business model and personal life. If you would like to write a researched piece on the power of supporting small businesses, that is fine also.

Want to join us? Just leave a comment saying so below. Sarah of TuckooandMooCow will contact you with your day to blog, our People and Planet First button, and instructions to post it on your blog. This will allow your readers to find the other posts, and let others find you as well. If your team wants to publicize our awareness campaign, let us know that, too.
Thank you for your consideration. We wish you a joyful and prosperous holiday season.

The DON’T DO list, pt 1, Shipping

As seasoned Etsy sellers, we’ve learned what you need to do to succeed and thrive. Our most valuable lessons have come from making and observing costly mistakes, so don’t not read this list, as members share the best  from their personal DON’T DO lists.

When you are SHIPPING:

1) DON’T leave a buyer guessing about how and when their package will be arriving.

Jen of SewnNatural advises:

Don't silently take in orders. Once someone places an order, we send them a note (ideally within a few hours) to thank them, confirm their order, the shipping method and timeframe, and let them know we will send them another message as soon as their order ships out. We go over details and shipping info that might not have been noticed by the buyer.

Here is an organic baby hat for sale at SewnNatural, modeled by the cutest baby ever!

2) DON’T assume that a buyer has read all of your shop policies, listing copy, and shop announcement where you’ve specified  vital shipping info.

As Yael of TheJoyofColor says:

Don't take for granted that buyers read all the information in your listing. In your thanks you note to buyer specify again the time it takes for an item to arrive. Especially if you are an international seller, this can save lots of embarrassment.

Pumpkin Hill archival print by TheJoyofColor

3) DON’T “gestimate” postage. You will lose repeat business if you inconvenience a buyer.

Toni of TheBuckToothedBunny related:

Ugh, I had to go to the post office today and wait in line to pay the $.43 postage due on an item that I ordered.

4) DON’T save money with inferior packing material. Reused materials are fine as long as they aren’t ragged and dirty.

This is also from Toni:

Don't skimp on shipping materials, I appreciate when my items arrive clean and in good condition.

Here is a new hand screened bag from TheBuckToothedBunny

This series will continue tomorrow with the Don’t Do list to avoid negative feedback.

Have you found these tips helpful? Have you learned other shipping Don’t Do’s?

By Lee Wolfe of OneClayBead

Why Being Slow Matters

(above, handmade triangular top by Shihar)

If you love to eat and cook, and also work with your hands... you're definitely not alone. An appreciation for artisanal food, and a creative way of life (the focus of the work of the Artisans Gallery team) go hand in hand. Etsy has recognized this and quite freqneutly highlights (amazingly delicious looking) food and recipes on their blog.  But it's not just about any food. And it's not just about any "goods".

It's all about the s-l-o-w. Slow food is a way of life, and an international community and I love how it celebrates quality and pleasure. A commitment to sourcing one's ingredients from the local butcher, baker and organic farm, for example, is part of the way of life.  Here in Ottawa, one of our favorite go-to places is the Piggy Market, where carefully sourced, ethically raised and fed meat is prepared in a slow, labor-intensive and eco-conscious way (using other local, largely organic produce and supplies). The result is truly delicious, and sits as easily on our consciences as in our tummies.

(above, handmade eco felt baby booties by LaLaShoes)

Slow cloth is the extension of the principles and philosophy of Slow into the world of artists, artisans and entrepreneurs.  There’s “slow fashion”, “slow clothing” too. Artisans who form the Artisans Gallery Team - who work slowly, by hand, to make one of a kind pieces, are part of this movement.

I love this quote by Sharon Astyk, she says it so very eloquently (this is from her 2006 article from Groovy Green Magazine):

“I think there are a number of really good reasons to find and learn ways to make clothing, to prioritize homemade, or locally made clothing (including learning to find it beautiful), and perhaps to create a “Slow Clothing” or “Slow Fashion” movement rather like the “Slow Food” movement currently picking up speed. Maybe it’s as simple as creating a campaign in which each of us would have at least one daily wearable outfit that we’ve made ourselves, a kind of democratic fashion statement that acknowledges that our clothing comes with human and environmental costs.”

Slow cloth, like slow food, and slow fashion, is focussed on the journey, not only the destination. It honors skill, grace and diversity (and artisanal, local producers and artists) and it focusses on what is sustainable, as beautiful to look at as it is for the earth. And it’s about community. 

(above, handmade wood jewelry box by krtwood)

I spend a lot of time thinking about how to become more sustainable, how to think about what we do and what we make from cradle to cradle. Rather than seeing what we make as going from cradle to grave (i.e. landfill, as waste) - it's great to consider them from cradle to cradle, closing the loop and essentially making as little waste as possible. One of the ways we seek to do that is by waste-free cutting of our fabrics, and the use of whatever very small scraps we create.

I love the way Etwas (creator of gorgeous, handmade leather bags) puts it: 
"Consider not only the things we are making,
but the things we are destroying."

For me, "Slow" is as delicious as it is inspiring, and I want to learn all I can about Slow Food, Slow Cloth and Slow Fashion. And just maybe all this Slow will also help me learn to live even more in the present, soaking in the seasons, my childrens' laughter, and the way time, every so often, seems to pause and stand still.

(above, original photo by YannPendaries )

Tuesday tools of trade

Hot on the heels of Fall we are headed back to the northern hemisphere to meet up with the lovely Renee from decoratethediva in Canton, Ohio, US, where she's taking us through the tools of her trade. Renee makes beautiful and unique jewelry ranging from eco friendly & nature pieces through to modern, retro & romantic vintage works of art. Better whisk out your scarf though, I hear those northern nights are getting cooler this time of year ...

Tagua Nut and Acai Seed Bib Necklace - Eco friendly

Renee, would you take us through the tools you use in your creative process?

When I create a piece of jewelry I want it to be a keepsake, so I use quality materials that will last. My choice for tools should be no less. To start, my basic hand tools are the flat nose pliers, the bent nose pliers, the round nose pliers, and several pairs of good wire cutters. I could not do my work without them - of course, ergonomics is important so I find tools that fit me and work easily.

I use flat bead containers to store my beads and have them organized on shelves for easy access and clear labels that help me save time as I search for that perfect piece to bring each project together.

I set my work area in a way that once I am inspired I can work for long hours. I have a good comfortable desk chair that swivels from my computer to my work table and lighting is very important. I prefer the natural light from my big window.

My work area is kept clean and tidy by using little cups that I have collected over the years and my tools are in a rotating caddy organizer.

Once I've created my masterpiece, I have a work area for photography. When you sell over the internet you must appeal to the eye. A decent camera and lighting help to bring out the beauty in your artwork, enhancing details and eliminating shadows. Sometimes you have only seconds to convince someone to stay in your shop, I think clear professional looking photos have that power.

As far as materials go, I prefer sterling silver, copper, brass, gold fill, wire and chain to make most of my jewelry. I use soft touch stainless steel cable for my necklaces and nice sturdy toggles. I've hunted high and low for good quality stones, glass and vintage materials. Sourcing for my materials comes from online, local bead shops and bead shows. I have also put many hours into studying gemology so I know what I am looking for in quality and can recognize my stones when I purchase them.

Are you able to give us some sort of indication on the monetary outlay you've had in setting yourself up with the equipment that you have?

I took over our fourth bedroom and made it into my office. I've been collecting beads for many years. To put a number on it at this point would be hard. I will tell you at first you have a lot of money out of pocket, and then you start to turn the corner of self sufficiency. I have several thousands in beads and findings in my office right now. There's also my photography equipment, laptop, printer, packing supplies, a desk and tables to add onto the amount. It can get pretty pricey selling jewelry because the materials and tools are expensive.

Is there much care and/or cleaning required to keep your tools in optimal working order?

I'm a very clean person and like to clean all my beads before touching them, it makes more work for me but i'd rather sell clean items. I use hand santitizer constantly. It's important to me that anything I touch will be germ free for the person who wears it. I'm sensitive to dust and grime on my skin and treat all my customers as if they are also. As far as cleaning my tools there is no need to because I have clean hands. Keeping my cutters sharp is important. I can't really sharpen them so buying new ones every year is my only choice.

Elegant Diva with Purpleheart Wood

Is it necessary to wear any kind of safety equipment when creating your jewelry?

Nope ... it's not necessary but wearing my glasses protects my eyes from metal clippings when I cut the excess after wire wrapping a stone or glass.

This last question is really one for 'wishing' and it's fun to ask it ... If you could own any kind of tools that aren't related to your own craft what would they be?

I'd love to own my own pottery wheel and kiln to make pottery.

Black Onyx and Red Glass Hearts Necklace