Featured Member: Sandie Russo is a Shop Critique Maven!

by Handmade Spark on 6/22/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Rhinestone Earrings by Zaftig Delights
Some women are practically superheros, and today’s featured member is definitely a member of that group. In between running two very successful Etsy shops (Knitzy Blonde and Zaftig Delights ) and “riding herd” on her teenage grandson, Sandie Russo also manages the SASsy Critique Team, an …

Get Found: Be a Joiner! Find the Group That’s Right For You

by Handmade Spark on 6/15/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

As crafters and makers we often find ourselves alone with our thoughts – and we like it that way! But sometimes the wellspring of inspiration runs dry. Making jewelry till three in the morning watching Grey’s Anatomy re-runs finally takes its toll, and you find yourself in need of some …

May 2011: Another Record Month of Traffic

by Handmade Spark on 6/02/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

The results are in and they are beautiful! Handmade Spark’s numbers continue to climb, topping April’s “Best Month Ever” record with a whopping sixty percent of traffic coming directly from search in May 2011.
May’s pageviews just nosed past April’s count with almost two hundred views last month, continuing our upward …

Why Artisans Have Difficulty Selling Online: Study From Meylah

by Handmade Spark on 5/17/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Beautiful Mini Prints Retro Vintage Style by Natalie Callwood Art
 
It turns out that selling online still isn’t easy. Marketing takes too much time, too many complications and choices, and costs are high. So concludes a study published by the ecommerce site Meylah.
Here is a quick summary of the study:

Online Business …

Handmade Spark – We Can Help You Grow Your Etsy Business (Updated)

by Handmade Spark on 5/09/11 | Comments Off Comment(s)

Want to be successful at selling your handmade goods online? You’ve got to get the business side working. Designing and creating handmade items is one thing, but listing, selling and marketing them is another thing altogether. Some people enjoy this business side of things, others just don’t.
And that’s where Handmade …

April – A Record Breaking Traffic Month for Handmade Spark

by Handmade Spark on 5/01/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Handmade Spark’s traffic is at an all time high. April was our best month yet, with close to one hundred and ten thousand visitors.
We had a record breaking search traffic month, with over fifty-two thousand searches coming mostly from Google. Most of our visitors find what they are looking for …

How to Make Super Simple Button Earrings by Handmade Spark Member Hodge Podge Arty

by Handmade Spark on 4/25/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

These easy-to-make button earrings are a way to make great use of fabric scraps.  And, the color possibilities are endless!
MATERIALS needed for fabric-covered button earrings:
Small bits of fabric
Scissors
Flat earring posts
Button covers – size 20 or size needed to fit over earring post
Tacky glue
DIRECTIONS:
Starting with your button cover, cut your fabric …

Creative Business Plan Series: What Do YOU Offer to the World?

by Robin Norgren on 4/25/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Abril the Owl Handmade Hat/Natty Hatty/$18.99
“Put into YOUR world what you wish were there.” – Pauline Rose Clance
This is another segment in the Creative Business Plan Series based on the book “The Creative Entrepreneur” by Lisa Sonora Beam.  You can read previous segments over here
I love the comments in the …