Behind the Register: Charity Begins at Home

by Lisa LeBlanc on 2/28/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Tis the season to give…charity season, that is.  Every spring, well-intentioned volunteers seek out local businesses to help fund their causes.  And while giving back to your community is one of the nicest reasons to be a local biz, it can bleed you dry if you do not know how …

Six Thinking Hats Exercise: Red Hat

by MCatherine Lunsford on 2/09/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

I decided to use the Six-Thinking Hats exercise to focus on three targets: Branding, Marketing and Cross-promotion. I provided information and asked to be given action points that will help me bulls-eye the 2011 targets for Hide A Heart then share my progress with you.

Etsy To Begin Phasing Out Alchemy

by Lauren Soponis on 1/28/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Thursday Etsy announced that their Alchemy will be taking a rest for awhile.  Come February 3rd, they will begin phasing out the Alchemy functions that have enabled over 80,000 custom creations to be made on Etsy.

Personalized Children’s Art | The Present Place
Back in December we asked our members and readers …

Using Facebook for Your Etsy Shop: Guest Post from Craftsyble

by Handmade Spark on 1/25/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Paper Jewelery Necklace | $149 | Kiahdesign
Facebook is currently one of the most popular social networking services in the world with millions upon millions of users. As an Etsy seller, you can use Facebook to come in contact with potential buyers, as well as enhance your online presence. Creating a …

Photography Tips for Crafters: By Handmade Spark Member Elizabeth Carls

by Handmade Spark on 1/22/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Appliqued Notebook | Elizabeth Carls
I’m not a professional photographer, nor do I play one on TV. But I do have some tips to share about taking excellent photos of your crafts. Your photos can speak for you and communicate to the world who you are and what you’re …

Sometimes Cheaper Isn’t Better by Handmade Spark Member Meatbagz

by Handmade Spark on 1/22/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Okay, okay, we know-in the world of handmade crafting, costs need to be cut down. Sure, we’d like to pay ourselves more, make a bigger profit on each bag we sell, and have enough money in ye olde paypal account to buy ourselves lunch guilt free every Tuesday. But the …

The Desire to Customize by Handmade Spark Member Jenny Hoople of Authentic Arts

by Handmade Spark on 1/21/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Custom Pet Portrait | mollykuglerdickinson
What is so irresistible and attractive about customization?  Why will I spend many happy hours adjusting the color scheme of my web page?  What is the reason that richly hand embroidered clothing is so meaningful?  What is so pleasing about having a piece of clothing tailored …

Why Aren’t They Buying? Ten Habits That May Be Costing You Sales at a Show Part 7: Guest Post from the Lonely Jewelers Etsy Team

by Handmade Spark on 1/20/11 | View Comments Comment(s)

Blue Artisan Lampwork Necklace | lightkeeping
In 2009 I designed a survey to look at the habits and actions of vendors at craft shows. I had a lot of participation for the online Etsy community that allowed me to put these results together. The following series will look at the top ten habits …