Breaking Up is Hard To Do

It is with a heavy heart that I must say that my love affair with Etsy is somewhat over. I'm not closing up shop (well, not yet anyway), but I am going to give it a go on my own. I'm going to open my own shopfront with Big Cartel! I will keep everyone posted that's for sure.

I'll tell you what started me thinking on all this. I have loved Etsy for a long time, almost to a level of an unhealthy obsession. And I suppose, like many bad relationships, this one ends in betrayal. Ha ha, very dramatic, I know. I'm just trying to illustrate my point. A few days ago, an Etsy Admin inadvertently (or irresponsibly) picked a Reseller for the Front Page. Those of you unfamiliar with "Reseller," in Etsy-speak it means: one who sells mass-produced products (not supplies), which are not allowed on Etsy. And I just could not believe my eyes: I mean talk about feeling betrayed, outraged and hurt. It was extremely obvious to me that the item posted on the FP (as the rest of the items in this shop) were mass-manufactured. How anyone could not see that, I don't know.

Anyway, I started a well-meaning thread, trying not to call out. Apparently no one else could see what I was talking about and someone suggested I was sending people on a wild goose chase. So I called out. Another seller even posted a link to a website selling these mass manufactured goods.

But boy oh boy! I named the Reseller (directly identifying another party in a negative way is "calling out" and is against Etsy TOU.) And I really didn't mean to start a shitstorm, but basically the majority of people didn't care there was a Reseller jeopardizing the integrity of the site--Etsy, Your Place for All Things Handmade. They cared that I broke a rule, and boy did they let me have it!

I mean really, people? You're admonishing me for calling out a Reseller. Aren't you all more concerened that mass-produced goods are not only prevalent on Etsy, but now being promoted to the FP by its own staff?

Apparently, that doesn't matter. All that matters is that I "called out." I thought this was a community of independent artists, crafters, and artisans supporting and promoting one another. I was very seriously mistaken. I started the thread because I believe the integrity of the site is at stake when mass produced goods are carelessly promoted to the spotlight. Are mass produced goods allowed now, but only if they are cute?

So this was two days ago. Today it seems Etsy has taken action on the offending shop--it's empty. But of course that could also be because it's sales shot up after being on the FP. They also eliminated another Reseller I included in my email that was selling Chinese Lanterns, also known as China Balls. I had previously flagged and emailed abuse at Etsy about this shop (and many others in violation!) to absolutely NO avail. Seems once I had called enough attention to myself and the "called out" seller, they actually took notice of my email about other abusers. Or so it seems to me at least.

I started a new thread today (big mistake, I must be a glutton for punishment). I thought very long and hard about what I was going to write, and I thought I explained myself well. I stated that a Reseller had been shut down due to calling out, and that perhaps in the future, before jumping down one another's throat, we should be more concerned with the fact that Resellers are running rampant.

The gist of my statement was this:

"I'm just sorry I had to call out to bring your attention to it. But since someone in ADMIN put it on the FP in the first place, it was necessary. Now I realize everyone is human and makes mistakes. BUT, Admin has a responsibility to keep the integrity of this site in place. Putting an item on the FP, then tweeting about it without first verifying its authenticity as handmade shows a lack of responsibilty. Or maybe just a disregard for the integrity of etsy?"

Well, some more mean spirited and narrow minded Etsians sure let me have it. I didn't realize that adults could behave in such petty and nasty ways. Really a bunch of Etsy do-gooders afraid to question authority and vilifying me for doing so. I guess not only did I call out a Reseller, but I also "called out" Etsy in a sense, as they are the ones who posted this item to the FP (as well as 'tweeted' or 'twittered' about it!), in blatant disregard to their own rules! And it seems many people are pissed off that I called Etsy out on their shit. Is this a community I really want to be a part of?

I'm sorry to have rambled, and for perhaps coming off a bit crass. I just think this is still an important issue. People may throw eggs at me, or blacklist me, or hate me for it. But you know what, it won't be the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last. At least I know I have good intentions, and that I'm right, dammit! It's not about my shop, or ten shops, or a hundred. But it's about all the shops, and buyers and sellers on Etsy who are there to support handmade. Or was that handmade, and also mass produced if it's cute?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic!

Pretty Things

Last week I was incredibly lucky to score almost 50 stems of tulips. Aren't they lovely? My boyfriend's studio is next door to a commercial landscaping company. Apparently they dispose of large numbers of plants and flowers on a regular basis! I went over to his studio and dumpster dived for flowers! Okay, well sort of. The dumpster was overflowing with soil and plants and flowers, so I got up along the edge of it, and walked around it pulling tulips out. They were still in the pots. We cut most of them for placing in water, but kept one pot which was fairly intact. The blooms are all gone now, so I have about a dozen bulbs. Anyone know how I should store them?

This photo shows only about one-third of all the blooms we had! I don't think I've ever had so many flowers in my home at once. I placed some of them in little glasses and spread them throughout the house. I just love spring flowers!

Where Have I Been?

Distracted, in a self-imposed cocoon of crafting, and not able to keep up with blogging. I have been really distracted lately... but have been happily crafting away at home, so it's all good. I have been meaning to post about a little interview I did over at the Etsy Beagle Team's blog last week. You can check it out here, if you want to learn a bit more about me. (It's not a very long interview.) Thanks so much to Linda, aka Ms. Anomaly, the Beagle Team leader, for posting it!

A Confession

Well, maybe more like an admission: I am messy!
I am a very messy person. At home, no matter how hard I try, there always seems to be some mess, big or small... or huge. The "real world" job I do requires utmost organization, and I actually excel at that, and love keeping things organized. The organization facilitates doing the work in an efficient manner.

But at home, it's another story. Even though I know that organization would help me in my creative pursuits, this is what happens:

I organize my work space. Then I start a project. I work on that a bit and then decide there is a different project I would rather work on. Instead of putting aside or putting away the first thing, I start my next project right on top of it. And I usually continue doing that until there truly is no room to work, and then I must take a day to organize everything. And the cycle starts again. I truly believe that even if I had a huge studio, I would still cover every available surface with projects in varying stages of completion. It would still be a mess.

Hm, maybe if I just had more shelves...

Creative Frustration

So it's been a while now that I have been feeling frustrated with my work, like writer's block, you know, but for a visual artist. Visual artist's block, if you will. And this is also one of the reasons I have been posting so little here, as well. But I had a bit of a breakthrough this week. I finally came to an important realization about my work.

I think the main thing is that apart from the stuff I create for my etsy shop, I have been doing collage and mixed media for a very long time. And it is quite different from the work you see in my shop.

mixed media collage (copyright by me, please do not steal)

I'll backtrack a little here. Since I was a tot, I have always been creating some sort of visual "art." Collaging, drawing, painting, tracing my favorite illustrations, etc. I have also been collecting and obsessing over paper goodies for almost as long. In high school, I started collaging zines and creating collaged displays for my bedroom walls. I didn't realize mixed media/collage was actually considered a "legitimate" art form until I discovered Robert Rauschenberg and Joseph Cornell in my late teens. And when I did discover them, I mean, WOW. I just fell in love.

Throughout college, though a film major, I took art courses, from painting and ceramics to lithography. And my film studies enriched my photography (another love of mine). Then, six or seven years ago I started using a new mixed media technique I had learned in a workshop. I began creating these mixed media pieces, mainly utilizing image transfers. And this is still one of my favorite techniques.

mixed media collage (copyright by me, please do not steal)

Since I have always loved paper, I have also wanted to make greeting cards since I as long as I can remember. Loved making them for friends and family. Then about a year ago, after I discovered Etsy and the nifty Gocco, I realized I could make that little dream come true. I opened up my shop and started creating my paper goods!

Once I began doing that, I stopped creating my mixed media works. Not on purpose, it just kinda happened slowly. For the past few months, I have been feeling very frustrated, unable to come up with new ideas, lacking inspiration. I knew of course, it was partly due to the fact that I had stopped making my mixed media work. But I realized this week the main source of the frustration was due to the different ways I approach the work.

When I am making mixed media/collage pieces, I don't approach the work with a final design in mind. I simply gather my materials and begin selecting images and start putting them together. The work just shapes itself. I go along, layering, adding, until I achieve a result that feels complete.

When I am making work for my shop, my approach is completely different. Besides the considerations of materials cost, time expended (time=money) and what will sell, I will attempt to design a final product... I will have to create a screen with which to print my images. I have to think it out and design it and come up with an idea. And this approach is so different than the way I create my other work.

And so this had been my stumbling block! I realized this when, in a fit of frustration, I pulled out my mixed media supplies and set to work making a few new pieces. My method is to just let the piece come together on its own. I can't believe I didn't make this connection before! So then I got some colorful papers and began collaging some simple but cute notecards. It felt so liberating! I was just putting the pieces together, moving them around, letting the colors and lines dictate each piece until it felt complete.

So now I have to make sure I strike a balance with my work. And maybe I have to rethink my approach to the way I design products for my shop. Please share your thoughts and ideas with me in the comments below! I'm sure most of you have felt creative frustration before, and I welcome all of your opinions and advice!

More Silly Dog Tricks

Almost as soon as I posted the photo of Hunter in the previous post, she climbed back in the basket. And I promise you, I didn't stage that bit of lace over her face.Then she settled in for a little nap. And by the way, she has numerous dog beds in every room of the house (except the bathroom). But I guess she likes making up her own dog beds.

Silly Dog Tricks

Is is just me, or does anyone else find this incredibly funny? My beagle Hunter has this habit of always crawling into baskets or containers full of soft things, i.e., the laundry basket while it's full of clothing or freshly laundered towels! Last night was particularly amusing because she crawled into this very small basket full of fabric scraps. Then she posed there for several minutes while I almost fell out of my chair laughing and snapping photos.

I have a hunch that she knows how much this cracks me up and she does it for my benefit/amusement. Though a rascalish doggie in a basket of clean towels in not actually that amusing...

What silly things does your dog do?

A Quick Introduction

I thought I should probably introduce myself a tiny bit. My name is Milly, I'm 30, and I live in the Bronx with one dog (a little beagle who is always hungry even after she has just eaten) and one boyfriend (with his own etsy shop!). We are both big-time night owls. I have been known to cook dinner around midnight! I am lucky to make my living as a freelance camera assistant (film and tv), though I am trying to get away from all that and eventually make my living with my own business, doing what I really love (art and craft).
I say I am lucky, though sometimes working as a crew member feels like a curse. More on that some other time...(and there is lots more!) But I am lucky because being freelance means I don't work every day, and I have plenty of time to devote to my etsy shop (well, there are two of them actually). It is sort of like working part-time... but usually working just a 3-day week means 40 hours. And a 5-day week usually means 65-75 hours. So it's a bit hard to describe. But some weeks I don't work at all. So it all sort of averages out, you know?

I might write about my day job from time to time... but only when I have a really good story to share! That's it for the moment, thanks for reading!