[TheForge] Tunnel Mill workshop, and now Etsy

[Ben Barrett]

Super feedback & suggestions, thanks much!

While we're discussing the bits n bytes, I should announce that I am
interested in co-promotion of metal arts (and some other, like DIY'er
stuff) websites.  I'm not ready to start an open webring, if people
even still do those, but am working up a "blogroll", list of
variously-related links, for my site and wanted to put out a call for
others here who want to be linked.

I think the best way to try to manage it, is like this:
1. If folks have a totally public info-type site, and want it linked
anywhere & everywhere, they can announce it and say so.
2. If folks have a more personal or business site, and want it linked
as carefully as possible, they can show the site and say so (public
world, people might link anyway, and respect can be hoped for).
3. Two-way off-list email/communication can be used to make
arrangements or work out details.

I should find out how NWBA, ABANA, iForgeIron, ArtMetal, etc sites
establish and manage their links collections.  :)   So anyway, if this
banter doesn't belong here, feel free to tell me, and/or email me
off-list if'n you want, anyway.  I am planning on using my own
discretion as to what I end up linking to, on the main page anyway,
and I expect others to do the same... hoping for the respect to say
"no" as well.

ben


On 5/9/07, Fiorini & Skiles <bkmetal at mwt.net> wrote:
> Hi Ben,
> Your first blog entry is awesome- a great review of the NWBA conference.
> You made me want to go there!
>
> Etsy-  I like Etsy and have sold work there, but I can't say that I've sold
> lots of work.  I find that most of my customers follow links from other
> places, like off my blog, metalmeet, and maybe even theforge.   You should
> definitely set up a shop there.  It doesn't cost you any money to set up and
> only .20cents to list.   I've looked at a lot of the other sales sites and
> still think Etsy is better. It's easy to use and inexpensive.  I also like
> the "etsy mini" feature that you saw on the right side of my blog.  They
> provide the script for it, again, making it easy for me.
>
> The main problem with Etsy is that it's hard to search there.  My shop url
> is www.knitsteel.etsy.com   I don't think many people come in searching for
> "steel grape leaves" or "hooks" and if they do, they might find all sorts of
> unrelated things before they find my work.  I have bought things on there,
> gift items, not metal.  There are a few other blacksmiths selling.  They
> should be listed under my Favorites in my Etsy store.
>
> There are other chic sales sites online, but I haven't tried them all.
> People mentioned Minted and Dawanda.com a lot.  I just don't have time to
> maintain so many online spots.  That reminds me, I should get back to work
> now.  I'm diving my time today between my sick boy, my garden plants that
> just arrived, and a bronze sculpture in progress.  I also should be working
> on some steel bamboo, but that may not fit in until much later.
> -Kirsten
>
> >> Message: 6
> > Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 08:08:48 -0700
> > From: "Ben Barrett" <stircrazyben at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [TheForge] Tunnel Mill workshop
> > To: "Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> > Message-ID:
> > <c21610950705090808q406c849ch77067ba940f2362c at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> >
> > Kirsten, that is great!!  Looks like fun.  I just did my first ever
> > real blog entry, about my first conference (I'm a newb and didn't
> > teach anything though!)... http://nw-arts.com/ben/?p=5
> >
> > I'm noticed you link to sales of your items on Etsy -- I am trying to
> > start up something really similar, but it will probably be much
> > smaller... can you tell me about your experiences with Etsy?  They
> > seem awesome.  Public comments on-list might help others, but feel
> > free to contact me off-list as well.  Etsy started in NYC, I think,
> > and now has sort of franchised or branched out all over.  Artists need
> > more help making the money, in my opinion... I am starting my venture
> > to help some hungry friends who got me started smithing!  (see
> > http://nw-arts.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=14 for a preliminary
> > gallery view of this guy's work, Jack rocks the metal and has taught
> > me a lot)
> >
> > ben
> >
> > PS - Kirsten, sorry to get off-subject there.  I noticed that your
> > site has a section for drawer & cupboard pulls... those grass-inspired
> > new ones are anxious to get in there :)
> >
> >
> > On 5/9/07, Fiorini & Skiles <bkmetal at mwt.net> wrote:
> >> I did a blog entry on my workshop at Tunnel Mill, from last weekend.  You
> >> can read it at http://knitsteel.blogspot.com/
> >>
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