Treasuries and What I've Learned So Far...

I have an idea for future posts but the words just aren't coming to me right now... So I think I'll just recap the treasuries I've been fortunate enough to be featured in this week.

















As you can see I have a lot of reciprocating to do. In the past year and a half I've gone from being featured once every three months to several in a week. I feel it is an honor to be included in these lists, especially when you look at the number of items to choose from on Etsy. Many of these lists are by members of Etsy teams that I have joined. I was ready to give up on Etsy and just keep plugging away at craft shows and consignment venues, then I realized that I hadn't given it the chance it deserved. In the last five months, I've begun searching for information that I can use to improve my shop and experience on Etsy. I've joined teams and tried to follow the leadership of successful sellers. The teams I've joined are:

Kansas Etsy Team

Etsy D Listers

Promotional Frenzy Team

Handmadeology

Low Key Treasury Team

Photography Help Team

Fun Friends and Promotion Team

Facebook Team

Craftcount

Some I am really active in, some I lurk, and some I really need to get started with. I know I have a lot to learn... selling on the internet takes patience, time and being willing to change things up went they aren't working. It's an ever evolving market place and I believe I'm up for the challenge are you?

And One Huge Step...

Not known for our timing, remember we wanted to slowly build this to a business, we took a huge step. We bought a pouring table, a couple hundred molds and some clay at an auction. This allowed us to start pouring our own greenware and expand our bottom line. We found that we were getting involved in a business that was having a bit of a slump. Younger people, like ourselves, weren't interested. We found when we went to shows that had ceramic vendors we were continually the youngest there, and the older people were looking to retire.


One of our early 10x15 craft show setups.
This one was in Liberal, Kansas.

  
We currently have a mold inventory of nearly 3000 different molds. These were mostly accumulated when we found ourselves purchasing small shop inventories to build our own. I also began acquiring new molds, the very first was the piggy bank with the second being the same bank in a smaller size. We have gotten to the point if either of us want a new mold we have to be willing to remove a different one. Sometimes the greatest challenge is trying to convince each other of which mold to discard. It's a constant process of culling the worn out and "why did we purchase that one" molds. Space and time seem to be our biggest commodities.

We now offer greenware and bisque by order. Greenware is a piece that has been molded and air dried to make it semi solid. Bisque is a piece of green ware that has been fired to the heat of an 04 cone. Starting every March the 4-H kids start coming in to place their orders. They then take the greenware home and clean it and bring it back to be fired. The trick is trying to have enough variety that the same pieces are not being completed for the same county fair. For those who aren't placing the items for show in a competition we offer ready to paint bisque. Keep an eye on our Etsy store, we hope to open a section for bisque soon.

A new mold purchased Fall 2010 - Holy Family
It is shown in bisque and ready to paint.

Holy Family - finished in stains.
Look for it in my shop for the holidays.