Poll: Are You Bothered When an Artist Redirects You to an Off Site Venue to Purchase Their Artwork?

I previously conducted a survey entitled, "Does it turn you off when you visit an artist's website, and you have to purchase their products off site at a venue such as Etsy or Ebay?"

The general consensus of 43 participants voted that it did not bother them at all. 28 participants admitted that it does bother them. Below are a few comments that were left in regards to this topic:

"To be honest, I've never had the opportunity. I can see how it would turn one off since it's a detriment to convenience, since you're going to -another- site and all, but I also can understand why they do it."

"While it definitely seems more professional if the artist has their work for sale on their own page, I can also understand from a seller's perspective that the type of website needed for that sort of process is not only more expensive but much much harder to code. Honestly, if anything, it just makes the artist seem a little less professional, but being a human and not a business isn't always a bad thing."

"Well, i don't like it when you have to buy their products on Ebay, but places like Etsy are fine. but it is easier and convenient when you can buy their products on their website, and very easy just with PayPal and all that business, but there's no problem with just a few more clicks to go to another website "

"It doesn't bother me because they usually live a ways away from me, and that's their method of getting their product to you. I mean, at least you know for a fact that you're going to get what you ordered because artists are broke and they want to spread their creations! I myself plan on getting an Etsy eventually. "

"It irritates me because i don't have accounts with Ebay or Etsy and i don't really want to set one up to buy one product =/"

To read the entire list of comments please follow the link below:
http://1337-art.deviantart.com/journal/poll/1408755/

Thank you so much for reading. I hope this helps out the independent artists out there that are troubled with directing customers off site to another venue to purchase their artwork.

<3
Christina

I collect coffee mugs.

I'm not hoarding; I just know what I like.

Okay. I admit. I collect coffee mugs. When I travel or go to a concert I need to bring home a mug. And nothing beats a $0.50 mug from a thrift store either.

They go great with my other addiction: coffee. Mugs are homey and cozy. I would have a whole cupboard (and more!) full if I could but I guess two whole shelves worth is enough for now.

I see it as a great welcoming gesture to have a friend walk through the door, and then to hand them a nice, steaming cup of yummy coffee from my mismatched coffee mug collection.

It's a weird habit to acquire; just the act of collecting something. Seeing an inanimate object that has a personal connection to you that you want to surround yourself with it. And everyone has their own thing to collect.


Here are some popular collections:

*books
*baseball cards
*comic books
*novelty statues
*stamps
*dust

So, dear reader, what do you collect? Why do you feel a pull towards these things?

Please feel free to post a comment of your collection.

Thank you for reading.

<3
Christina

New Studio Office in Progress

My husband and I finally moved in to our first place. It's a house that is right across the street from a lake, which provides a nice view. And I get my own studio office!

I started my business at my computer desk and a small corner of my bedroom, which evolved into transporting between two houses, then when I married and moved, I shared a room with my husband's computer/game room, and finally, I get my own space!

I have made a little progress since these pictures were taken. A lot more boxes and random things were piled into the room, then unpacked and stacked and unstacked. I had shelves mounted in my previous place of residence, and it will probably be awhile before those are put up in this room...but I found an awesome big black shelf at Costco that I hope to bring home soon.

Instead of painting the walls bright green for now I'm happy settling with artwork all over the walls: posters, prints, etc. One of my favorite places to shop for artwork is Deviant Art. It's a community of independent artists, and some of the things I find on there are just amazing.

I'll definitely keep posting more pictures as my studio office progresses. If you have any design tips or ideas I'd love to hear them!

Thank you so much for reading. Look for more updates soon.

<3
Christina

Spontaneous. What I've Been Up To.

I have been back from vacation for over a week and have been busy with work and an unexpected surprise: a new house! Actually my husband 's and my first (and own) place. So the signing of the lease is quickly approaching, and unfortunately the packing and planning that is involved. It's a nice place though with a lake view, (it's across the street) and I get my own room just for making jewelry, accessories, collage work, and anything and everything else I can think of.

I originally planned to dive right in to work creating new pieces and getting my online shops (and website) fully loaded so the early Christmas and Holiday shoppers have plenty to choose from. Now though, with the spontaneous move, it will have to wait another couple of weeks...but a couple of weeks isn't so long is it?

During the transition I'll be blogging more often and filling empty pages with design ideas. I'll keep feeling guilty though until my shops fill up.

Thank you so much for reading and for your interest.

<3
Christina
http://www.1337art.net

Is it Fall Yet?

After many pleas and cries the sun finally decided to show itself in the Pacific Northwest, and after less than a week I am already hiding by the air conditioner and waiting for Fall to make an appearance. I don’t much care for hot weather and bright obnoxious light.

I am already thinking about the holidays and planning my inventory for them. I have a feeling that this year will be the best and most successful. I have lists of supplies to purchase, items to list in each of my three online shops, and random ideas that are waiting to be brought to life. If only I was a master of time management!

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoy your Sunday.

<3
Christina

Strawberries Make Summer Better.

Even though it's pouring outside in Washington State, and to some the sky is perceived as "gloomy," I found some mouthwatering strawberry smoothie recipes that I am anxious to try once the weather warms up. For those of you that are experiencing the sunlight and love strawberries please read further.

Thick Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:
6 large strawberries
1/2 cup of your favorite yogurt
1/2 cup of vanilla or strawberry ice cream
1/2 cup of whole milk

Directions:
First Blend strawberries and milk together until strawberries are well blended, than add ice cream and yogurt and whip for just a little bit so smoothie remains thick.

Slushy Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:
4 large strawberries
1 tsp of sugar
1/2 cup of whole milk
1 cup of ice cubes

Directions:
Blend strawberries with milk on low speed till well smooth, than add ice cubes and blend on high. Add sugar and blend on high speed for about 1 minute. The texture should be slushy and smooth.

Non Dairy/No Sugar Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

This recipe is for those people who would prefer no dairy products and no sugar.

Ingredients:
6 large strawberries
1 cup Welch's Strawberry Breeze
1/2 cup ice cubes

Directions:
Blend juice and with strawberries and add ice cubes until slushy consistency is formed. Soy milk may be used to replace juice for a thicker Strawberry Smoothie Recipe.

***

Check out more delicious sounding smoothie recipes at this website. I am not affiliated with this website in any way. I randomly found it on Google and wanted to share.

Thanks so much for reading.

<3
Christina

Pale Ponders of Summer.

The first of June is winding down, and the rain outside continues to fall down. My husband and I will be celebrating our first anniversary together outside on the beach and inside of the rainforest. I can almost smell the crisp fresh air of the Quinnault Rainforest. We were there before together (during our first year I think.) I look forward to long cool summer nights and breezy days full of the things that imprint memories.

It's going to be a beautiful summer.

<3 Christina

Welcome to the Artist behind 1337 Art.

Sometimes it’s hard to find words for a blog when said blog is being introduced as a sole website. You can’t get too personal because then a new visitor will be confused on what you are trying to sell when they visit your “website” and see posts about recipes and recently read books. And you can’t get to know the person behind the small business when they express themselves professionally…

And that is why I changed my website so my blog and it’s content are no longer the center of attention. My website is now my Artfire shop, which also has an integrated blog where I can transfer these posts to there. Both things are separate, and personal vs. business are now on friendly terms.

I was confused and overwhelmed with the thought of posting a new entry to my blog, because the constant battle between Personal and Business was something I couldn’t choose sides on…which explains all of the non-frequent entries.

Problem solved. Case closed. Welcome to the Artist behind 1337 Art. It’s nice to meet you.

<3 Christina

Mother's Day and Something (or two) I made.

Instead of buying something this year I decided to make Mom #1 and Mom #2 (in law) a piece of jewelry in honor of Mother's Day.

For Mom #1 I have not yet defined her style. She likes simple things, and I came up with this eagle necklace in about 10 minutes while looking at my supplies going, "huh."

It is made with Eagle Eye Jasper, Czech Glass, Gunmetal, and Japanese Glass Seed Beads. The eagle pendant is made from diamond cut pewter for a beautiful detailed look.



For Mom #2 she likes to dress up and go out from time to time so I decided to make her a double strand bracelet.

It is made with Sterling Silver, Rhodium, Pewter, and Swarovski Crystals and Pearls.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~ Tenneva Jordan

A Book Worth Sharing.

Today I finished reading this great book by Kari Chapin about how to sell handcrafted items online as well as locally. She provides great tips on how to make the most of networking sites such as Flickr, Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter. But that's not even the tip of the iceberg.

It started out as something to read on my breaks at work, but I quickly found myself reading a bit before bed. During my day job I would reflect on her advice and itch to get out of my cubicle and go home to write notes and try some new suggestions.

Simply put; I feel inspired. This book is something worth owning if you want to or currently have a handcrafted business. I learned a lot, and I feel so motivated. I hope you find this post and end up exploring this book yourself. You will be glad you did.

It is kind of like the Abc's of growing your business from a seed.

You can purchase the book on Amazon or borrow it from your local library.

Google Checkout and Free Shipping

Happy Sunday!

If you have not already noticed __1337 Art is now accepting Google Checkout in the Etsy and Artfire Shops. You can immediately pay via Google Checkout through Artfire, and if you want to shop through Etsy choose "other" as your payment method, and I will manually send you a Google Checkout invoice.

Google Checkout is another great and safe way to shop online using your credit card.

I have been running a free shipping for orders over $25 promotion, and I have decided to offer these savings until April 30, 2010. Whether you live in the United States or another country you still have time to save, and the timing couldn't be perfect - Mother's Day is quickly approaching! Just remember if your order is over $25 after any applicable discounts (and before shipping) I will refund your shipping charges after your payment is received and cleared.


I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist. ~Tammy Faye Bakker

Strawberry Daiquiris

I have to confess my favorite drink. The taste of strawberries and whipped cream in a signature daiquiri glass is something I look forward to on special occasions and after very long days at work.

So I came across these Swarovski crystals, and the color reminded me so much of daiquiris that I had to make a piece of jewelry. I am sure that I am not the only person out there that enjoys fashion, a nice fruity drink, and some time to relax.

I have made two pairs of these earrings, one each available in my Artfire Shop and in my Etsy Shop, and I am not sure when more will be available.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read.

Favorite Places (to Name a Few.)

It is important to find places in this world that appeal to you...that make you feel excited. I had a random thought about a few places that make me smile inside such as:

1. Half Price Books. They have books, movies, music, games, game consoles, and miscellaneous goodies (journals, magnets, bookmarks, etc.) all at great prices.

My favorites about this place: Finding their clearance section for books as low as $2.00! And the first time my friend took me there she pulled out a tiny notebook with titles written all over it, and I was excited that I would be able to make my own little notebook to take with me there as well. :)

2. Library. They have free Internet, books, music, newspapers, and some outcast books for low prices. The staff are always very helpful and friendly. You can go onto their website and request books, music, and movies online, and you get an email confirmation when they are ready to pick up!

My favorites about this place: The librarians know who my husband and me are so when we walk up to the counter they immediately grab our held items. Their selection always changes, and it's fun to stop in after work to see what is new and useful.

3. Thrift Shops and Budget Department Stores. This includes Ross, Big Lots, Goodwill, and small thrift shops. You will never ever know what to expect when you walk into places like this. Sometimes the workers are friendly, sometimes they try to hire you on the spot. You can find great items at amazing prices.

My favorites about these places: I have found some unique coffee mugs, awesome candle holders, odd and interesting jewelry displays for craft shows, and some good quality clothing at low prices. We have purchased at least two computer monitors at Goodwill for about $5, and they work perfectly. I love a good buy.

Thank you for reading about my favorite places. If you would like to share one of yours please feel free to leave a comment.

Caffeine Awareness Month

March is caffeine awareness month. So many of us are slaves to coffee in the morning. Although it is an amazing and stimulating beverage sometimes too much of a good thing is not good at all.

Some of the health benefits of coffee:

*A lower risk of type 2 diabetes
*A reduced risk of gallstones
*A lower risk of colon cancer
*Improved cognitive function
*A reduced risk of liver damage in people at high risk of liver disease
*A reduced risk of Parkinson's disease
*Improved endurance performance in long-duration physical activities

And some of the health risks of coffee:

*Reducing fertility in women while trying to conceive
*Insomnia, anxiety and irritability
*Heartburn and indigestion
*An increased risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

It's okay to enjoy a cup in the morning and/or afternoon...just not a few pots. Some days I like to drink coffee all day long; I make half a pot and literally sip on my mug all day until it's gone. Some days I drink one cup in the morning and drink lots of water and some juice throughout the day. Know your limit.

In honor of my love for coffee I have created a couple of coffee related items:

Cafe Au Lait Stud Earrings

Sometimes drinking coffee just isn't enough. These stud earrings are creamy, frothy, and beautiful, and perfect for casual everyday wear. They make a great gift too! Surgical steel and 9mm.

Mmm...

Coffee Addition Mini Bookmark

Now you can read with style and an added elegance! This lovely bookmark is available in a cute 3.5 inch size! Perfect to take along with you almost everywhere!

This fun bookmark features the dilemma of a coffee addition (in good humor, of course!) Handcuffs, a key, and yet we always go back to our coffee. :)

I currently do not have a lot of coffee themed designs for sale, but I am definitely going to remedy that.

And in all seriousness, if you or someone you know might have a caffeine addiction please visit this website for some additional information and support: http://www.caffeineawareness.org/ Please also note that I am in no way affiliated with this website.

500th Sale on Etsy!

Yesterday I sold my 500th item in my Etsy Shop! I can't believe how far I have come from when I first started listing my items in December 2007. Back then I didn't know what to expect; all I knew was that I wanted a store front of some kind to direct local customers from craft shows to. Today I sell my items at two online venues, Etsy and Artfire, and I have plans to open/re-establish a shop on Zibbet.

A big THANK YOU!!! to all of my customers and those who have supported me these past few years. I am so grateful, and I cannot wait to see what the future will bring.

Under the Dome.

I recently finished reading Stephen King's new book Under the Dome. Both my librarian and I were shocked about how large this book is - over 1,000 pages! But don't let the size intimidate you. I've read a lot of Stephen King's books, and this is one of the best...right up there with Lisey's Story and The Cell. (per my opinion)

It's about a small town in Maine that is suddenly covered underneath an impenetrable dome (and the break down of the entire town.) It was amazing, and he did a very good job with the details. At the end of the book in the author's note he mentions how he wanted to start this book back in the 80's but never felt he could write it the way it needed to be written. I'm glad that he finally wrote it - I think after all of his writing experience he wound up sharpening his skill just enough to compliment the story of this book quite nicely.

If you're a Stephen King fan and have not yet read it, what are you waiting for? I've seen it on sale in a lot of local stores, and it's free at the library.

Fresh. Bring it on 2010.

Another decade is upon us, and since it is only January thoughts of resolutions and goals still cloud our heads. I have one main goal this year, and that is to successfully run __1337 Art so I do not have to work at a day job for someone else. Here are a few things I am working on:

Simple is Good - I have some left over necklaces (including new cameos, lockets, and masculine pendants) from a craft show. They are all very simple designs with a pendant on either suede, copper chain, silver ball chain, or gunmetal chain. Sometimes simple is good, and all you want to is wear something simple. I will have a few installments of this miniature series, and once these necklaces are gone they may not be available as part of my regular inventory.

Clean Studio - I never thought I had so many beads and supplies until I spent a day organizing them and still have a few containers to go! A clean, organized workspace is important, and now that I see that my tables have a clear surface I now feel a little less overwhelmed and a little more inspired. Starting off a new decade with a clean space is totally worth it. If I were you I would do it now. (!)

Masculine Pieces - I have three necklaces designed with men in mind waiting to be finished, photographed, edited, written about, and listed. You should see these available within a week or so. I would like to focus on more necklaces, bracelets, cuff links, and other accessories for men this year.

You can also expect more frequent postings to my blog and email newsletter. If you are not yet signed up for that you can subscribe in the box in the right hand column of this page.

Are you on Facebook? __1337 Art sure is:
http://www.facebook.com/1337art

Thank you for reading,

-
Christina