Charmed by Karen

Thank you, Thread Rare!

2010-02-09T08:58:00.004-05:00

Heartfelt thanks to Jill over at ThreadRare for including the aqua teardrops from my jewelry supply shop in her gorgeous treasury, which made an Etsy Front Page appearance.

Take a peek in her lovely hair accessory shop!

Thank you, Thread Rare!!!!

My "Happy Neo-Victorian Christmas" Treasury

2009-12-24T17:59:00.005-05:00

My treasury was featured on the front page of Etsy in early December.
Happy Neo-Victorian Christmas to all!!!

AdornMe's Luscious Fare

2009-11-07T18:53:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to give you some gorgeous things to look at from AdornMeJewelry. This artist has such creative and lovely things in her shop.

Browse and enjoy!

Thank you, Mary!

2009-10-24T11:52:00.004-04:00

Mary, from maryjmaalouf, created this gorgeous sanguine treasury that appeared on the Etsy front page a few days ago. My sleepy little jewelry shop sold three pairs of earrings because of its appearance in Mary's treasury.

Thank you, Mary!

Back from Summer Travels

2009-09-17T12:55:00.001-04:00

Guess where we stopped on our trip?

Go ahead - just take a guess!

That's my oldest son, Noah.

Say hi, Noah!

Staging for Lively Photos

2009-08-05T06:59:00.017-04:00

Every artist faces the challenge of her products looking "flat" in an online selling venue, especially artists whose work actually is flat. But every artist can use staging methods so that her photos take on more life and entice the shopper to look further.

With staging, you create an attractive setting and you instantly give the buyer a feel for how she might incorporate this into her home decor. Yes, you are selling your art, but ultimately, you are selling decor items for the home and anything you can do to plant "This would look great in my house!" into a shopper's mind, do it. The great thing about staging is that you do not need a magazine-ready house, just a magazine-ready corner. I recommend simple, yet evocative props. Even a cool shelf in an otherwise lived-in bathroom can be a great stage. Or the corner of a warm-wood side table by a window. You don't want it to be too busy, but you do want to show your art in an updated, homey setting.

Here is a listing from BlackEyedSusan that shows the "home decor staged" shot. She creates driftwood frames and her shop has much more movement, life and interest, now that she incorporates staging in to her listings. (Coming soon - more tips from this shop on how to liven up your shop and give it an inviting feel.) Susan's frames are indeed flat, but with this type of staging, her product photos take on life and intrigue.

SixUnderaTree sells wall decals, but doesn't take photos of just a decal on a wall. She sells a mood and and look, as well. It's basic advertising, really. But very well done here. Take a look at her entire shop. Every photo is a great lesson in staging.

BlissinaTeacup uses warm and inviting staging throughout her shop. Here is a lovely example of how she brings a flat item to life. Even though the item actually is flat in this shot, the photo itself is cozy and alive.

Try re-shooting some of your items, using these staging ideas. You will bring intrigue, warmth and more customers to your shop!

Etsy Artist of the Week

2009-08-02T07:32:00.013-04:00

One artist that I have long admired is Cake Box Cookies. Her cookies look so delightful and delicious, I picture her in a happy pink apron (lined in lace, of course) dancing around her kitchen without a care in the world. Or perhaps she does indeed have a care, but looks at it from the bright side. That's what her cookies make me do, at least - look at life's little bright sides.

Thank you, Cake Box Cookies, for all of your charming and delicious creations.

Peacock Beads

2009-07-30T06:18:00.008-04:00

Peacock beads are some of the latest creations coming out of the Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. World renowned for its splendor, quality and innovative design, this region is home to most of the oldest and most successful bead manufacturing companies in the world. Peacock beads, in varying shapes and sizes, all have tiny metallic spots - iridescent, copper, silver and gold. They are quite amazing and you can find many styles right now on Etsy. Here are a few examples of earrings created with the peacock beads from my supply shop.

These earrings were all created by Black Eyed Susan.

And the Tutorial Exchange Winner is...

2009-07-25T18:48:00.004-04:00

... Lemon Jitters !

Second and third place go to Salty Cat Co. and Farmstead Lady Designs who will receive an unlimited 10% off in my supply shop, now through August. Thank you to all of the entrants in this contest!

Here is a gorgeous creation from Lemon Jitters, which gives you an idea of her beautiful work and photography. Just lovely. Congratulations, Lemon Jitters!

Etsy Artists of the Week

2009-07-23T13:29:00.006-04:00

This week's first featured artist is Adopt an Alien, who has an adoption agency filled with aliens, just waiting to find loving homes. They come with birth certificates and mementos from the birth parents.

Most (if not all) of the aliens are one of a kind. Stop on in and choose your favorite.

Our next featured artist is Fairchild Art, who makes miniature food. This is mini cheese plate, ready to serve at a mouse tea party. Most everything in her shop is 1/12 scale. Cute! I'm a huge fan of miniature creations and these are simply delightful.

Our third featured artist is Nestables, who makes pillow covers, table runners and fabric bunting flags. Her taste in fabric is exquisite.

Yowza, Another Etsy Front Page

2009-07-20T16:46:00.004-04:00

Honestly, this does not happen every day. I just happened to get lucky once again - or someone over at Etsy has a massive e-crush on me. Either way, I woke up to the thrill of seeing my treasury on the Esty front page again.

Also enjoy this one of mine that appeared in June.

"Create a Tutorial" Exchange

2009-07-19T15:25:00.005-04:00

If you are a jewelry artist, here is an opportunity to drive some traffic to your shop and blog and get a wonderful piece of Vintaj Natural Brass, supplied by Treasures by Karen. I am offering this gorgeous multi-tiered ring to a jewelry artist who would like to create something wonderful with it and show us all how it was done. You would make a unique piece of jewelry using this item and post a tutorial on your blog. I will link to your tutorial in my supply shop and you will link to my supply shop in your blog and shop or website, if you list the item for sale. It's a win-win promotion exchange, dreamed up and facilitated by Totally Tutorials. Here are the details and more tutorials about creating all kinds of wonderful crafts.

The tutorial will also appear on Totally Tutorials, a blog with a large and avid readership.

If you are interested in creating a tutorial with this piece of natural brass, just post a comment here with the url of your shop. Or, you can send me a note over at my supply shop. I will contact the artist chosen to create this tutorial one week from today, Sunday, July 25.

Happy creating!

Etsy Front Page!

2009-07-16T06:18:00.007-04:00

Hey, my treasury made the Etsy front page yesterday!

For those in the Etsy novitiate, Etsy changes the front page of their shopping site throughout the day. The front page is a collection of products for sale, and often the Etsy administration uses one of the many treasuries that shop owners and shoppers create and post in their "Treasuries" section. It is a huge honor to be chosen and the products featured get a giant boost in exposure, since thousands of people will see your product during the hour the treasury is featured.

I am on a great Etsy team, called the Etsy Treasury Team, in which we feature our own and non-team items in treasuries. The point of making treasuries is exposure, yes, (hundreds of people are viewing the treasury list at any given time) but also there is something wonderfully satisfying about curating photos and products from all over this handmade products site. It satisfies the inner window dresser in a big way.

The top is cut off, but here is a screen shot of my Etsy front page treasury:

My Old Camera, RIP

2009-07-14T11:39:00.007-04:00

Well, my old camera is no more, friends. A moment of silence, please, for it served me well. I suppose you could say that it was murdered - by me. I dropped it and now the lens will not open nor retract fully. Don't get too broken up about it, though, becasue it was pathetic to begin with - the battery latch was broken ever since I started my business last October and the poor thing was not long for this world, anyway. I did learn to take decent photos from it, but holding the battery latch down while shooting got to be a bit absurd at times.

I'd like to celebrate its passing by showing you the two photos of which I am most proud. The first one below, of my World in Bloom charm, is a golden marketing goose and has earned me spots in all manner of promotional vehicles.

The next is a shot of an anklet, modeled on my own foot. You can imagine just how much dexterity, determination and perseverance it took for me to get this one decent and focused shot, while holding the battery latch closed with my thumb.

Farewell, old camera. You kept me limber and young!

Lunch with the Girls

2009-07-12T13:48:00.005-04:00

I am working on a custom charm for The Pocket Shop, which is a girl / woman with a handbag and a parasol. She came out pretty well, except that I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to keep the parasol from tipping. Short of using a drop of glue on her hand, how would you keep this little parasol upright?

She is one inch tall!

I Took a Bath in Beads

2009-07-10T07:01:00.010-04:00

My supply shop just received a treasure trove of gorgeous large sized Czech glass beads.

Also coming in this month will be more Vintaj Natural Brass.

Welcome to my Charming World!

2009-07-03T11:38:00.001-04:00

In this blog, you will find all kinds of wonderful ideas, art, people.

First, I'd like to share a few of my favorite artists with you. These people create such amazing and lovely pieces. You can click on the photos to learn more about these talented artists and where they display their work.

This is from Adorn Me Jewelry. She uses Vintaj natural brass, carnelian, amazonite and Czech fire polished glass in this piece. Her photography alone is noteworthy, but the jewelry in her shop is both lovely and comfortable to wear. Her specialty is creating jewelry for any body size, so that the owner feels beautiful and proud, from the inside out.

These amazing driftwood frames are from Black Eyed Susan. She is on vacation right now, but keep an eye on her shop for new designs in the coming months.

My last find today is Haut Totes. I could proudly post every single tote in her shop, but I'll stick to two for now. She finds delightful fabric and mixes it with that special je ne sais quois to create unique, charming, practical tote bags. I have one of her famous pin-up totes and her workmanship is superb.