Choker Trends

Chokers are back! While one might believe the seductive necklace worn tight-to-the-neck originated in the 1990's, this accessory actually has a history dating back thousands of years. It is a style that has appeared across cultures in a variety of metals, stones, and materials. So how old is the choker necklace really? The oldest choker necklaces can be attributed to the Ancient Egyptians, who created them not only for adornment, but more for protection, along with jewelry worn on other parts of the body. Using gold to represent the sun, and lapis lazuli for the Nile River, the chokers were worn as powerful amulets.

This eclectic selection of modern-day chokers by Etsy artisans are designed to make an impression. From timeless metal collars to this handpainted boho-chic eagle, they are wearable works of art. 

Contemporary styles include a minimalist spheres necklace employing traditional glass-blowing techniques and a choker designed with metal forms using cast bones. 

Post by: Nicoletta Siccone / ETSY Shop: ArtologieDesigns / Website: www.art-ologie.com

Nicoletta is a lifelong artist and art educator, with an M.A. in Art Education and Administration. She travels the world seeking cultural inspiration for her art, and has worked in fibers, acrylics, oils, and sculpture. Her current work is inspired by the reinvention of the mundane zipper, elevated to an art form into unexpected jewelry designs. Nicoletta’s artwork is shown throughout New York/New Jersey area and worldwide.

3 Ways to Make Your Website More Like Your Etsy Shop

I often get asked about how I built my website or what ecommerce template I used to create my online store. For now, I am happy with my Weebly template, but I have to warn you that my webmaster customized my template quite a bit to get the look and functionality I wanted for my shop. After redoing my website about 3-4 times in the last 3 years, I have yet to find a single template or platform that has worked exactly like I wanted to from the beginning. Your personal website will require more time and effort to maintain than your Etsy Shop, but is worth the investment if you want to grow your email list to build trust with your current and potential customers by consistently reaching out to them about your product offerings and promotions.

If you are thinking about creating your own website to sell your products, but you’re not sure if you have the budget to set up an online store that will make as many sales as you Etsy shop, this post series will reveal 3 ways that Etsy converts online lookers into buyers and how you can use free add-ons to help close your online sales.

Make it Easy for Customers to Contact You

The first pro tip is to make it easy for customers to contact you quickly. How many conversations does it take for you to close a sale on your Etsy shop? For me, it takes an average of 6 conversations back and forth between the buyer before they pull the trigger, because A) they don’t know me and B) they aren’t familiar with my product or sizing system. It is rare for my customers to make a purchase without contacting me as a seller first. Part of the reason people are comfortable purchasing from you after discovering your shop on Etsy is that they can easily message you if they have any questions about a product. There’s an “Ask a question” box literally on every listing page right next to the price. That’s convenient.  So if you open your own online shop without an obvious contact page or pop up window, and people can’t easily understand your unique product or offering, they will leave your website without purchasing.

Drift is a free add-on I use on my website that allows customers to chat with you in real time if they have a question. You can customize the message in the pop up window to add your email address or number for potential customers to contact you. People feel more comfortable purchasing online from an unfamiliar website if they can talk to a real person who cares first. Customers also feel confident that they can reach you if they have problems with their purchase.

Using Drift, you don’t have to wait on the computer for customer inquiries all day, because when someone types a message in the chat box online you immediately receive a notification on your phone through the free Drift mobile app (Available for both iOS and Android). Drift notifications also get emailed to your inbox and you can even connect it to your company's Slack account.

Stay tuned for part two and three of this series discussing other free add ons with features that are similar to your Etsy Shop and will help increase sales.

Markisha Velazquez is the designer and owner of Junior Baby Hatter, based in Weehawken, NJ. When she’s not making dapper caps for babies and toddlers she commutes to New York with her family and blogs about her adventures in the city.

No-Sew Tee Shirt Tote Bag

I love tee shirts! Maybe too much? I have so many shirts that I thought were adorable, or hilarious at the time . . .and have worn maybe twice in ten years. I can't bear to get rid of them, but they either don't fit, or don't fit into my wardrobe anymore. But you know what I'll never outgrow? SHOPPING!! So today I am taking a stack of these tees and making them into stretchy little tote bags so save me from plastic bag after plastic bag on little errands.

Gather your materials and follow along! This is a great activity for a group & for little ones. All you need is:

  • A tee shirt, or 4, or 10! 
  • A sharp pair of scissors
  • A pencil or chalk

1. Lay your tee on a firm flat surface and mark cut lines around the collar and sleeves.

2. Cut out the collar and around the sleeves. These cuts will make the handles of your tote bag, so be generous! If the cuts are too close, your handles will be skinny. 

3. Cut 2-3" slits across the bottom of your tote, approximately one inch apart.

4. Now it's time to make your no-sew seam! Turn your project inside out, and starting in the middle tie the strips from opposite sides into small knots.

5. Once all of your knots are tied, flip your bag back to right side out et voila! A tee shirt tote bag in 5 minutes! 

This guy came out pretty small (I told you these shirts don't fit!) so this will be my drugstore/small errand bag. Luckily I have a whole stack of shirts to make into totes of all sizes! 

Post by Coleen Phoenixx

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Industrial Eye Candy

Old objects, given a new life in an unexpected context, can become works of art in themselves. Such is the aesthetic appeal of the interior of Chelsea Market, the converted biscuit factory in NYC's Meatpacking District. The common expression, "Everything old is new again," is taken to a whole other level here, where one finds large-scale re-purposing of an entire city block now known for its gourmet eateries. This photo essay aims to illustrate how the building's "rawness" has been re-created to preserve its industrial beauty. 

One of the most striking things about the interior is being surrounded by the historical remains of the building: original flooring, brick walls, exposed pipes.  Instead of covering over the old, the design of the main hall celebrates the past in a stripped down setting, revealing its old character and beauty. 

Fans of recycled industrial salvage will be delighted by how the remains of the factory’s industrial past have been repurposed: the unique fountain of old drill bits, the elevators framed in shiny brass lockboxes, the hammered copper walls, and assorted pipes which lend a steampunk feel to the atmosphere of the market. Be sure to take notice of these unique spots inside the market on your next visit!

Post by: Nicoletta Siccone / ETSY Shop: ArtologieDesigns / Website: www.art-ologie.com

Nicoletta is a lifelong artist and art educator, with an M.A. in Art Education and Administration. She travels the world seeking cultural inspiration for her art, and has worked in fibers, acrylics, oils, and sculpture. Her current work is inspired by the reinvention of the mundane zipper, elevated to an art form into unexpected jewelry designs. Nicoletta’s artwork is shown throughout New York/New Jersey area and worldwide.

 

H o l i d a y D I Y

Happy Holidays my friends ! It's officially the week of Christmas, I can hardly believe it. Today I thought I'd share one of my latest D I Y projects with you guys. It's easy, budget friendly & festive! The holidays usually entail spending more money than usual, so when it comes to decking the halls with festive home decor who doesn't love saving a few extra bucks ? When I was growing up my Mother never spent money on fancy ornaments for our tree. It was always decked out from top to bottom in hand crafted one of a kind ornaments created by me & my two younger sisters that she had collected over our years of making them in school. It made for a very sentimental styled tree. I think anytime you make something yourself it becomes a little more special & valued in a way a shiny glass ball just isn't. Today's project is super easy anyone can do it. The entire project cost me less than 10$.

I started with letters from a craft store these ran me about 1.60 each 

Prepare to paint I used some white paint I had left over from a previous project.  

Once the letters dried I draped Christmas Lights around them to illuminate & brought in a few other festive pieces to tie it all together. 

Merry Christmas everyone I hope you all have a very Happy Holiday !! 

Until Next Time 

XOXO,

Rachel Leigh from MozieMobyRachelLeigh & MozieMo.com

 

 

Market Makeover Plus Behind the Scenes at Sip and Shop

I’ve always wanted to do a makeover where you select items from different vendors at a market to see if you could walk away with a whole new look. So when I hired Pinky, our trendy new salesperson for the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade in Chelsea Market, I knew I she was just the girl for the assignment.

Check out Pinky’s favorite picks that transformed her look from girl next door to eclectic urbanite.

Pinky is wearing: Birdy27 Designs Suli Hat. Art-ologie Keys Necklace. Lavazzon Newspaper Print Convertible Scarf. Hook and Matter Fiber and Sterling Silver Cuff. Jenn Eng Studio Dark Olive Waxed Canvas Tote Bag.

If you missed the Handmade Cavalcade Sip and Shop, check out this behind the scene video that makes you feel like you were there!

This sold out event attracted over 1,500 guests who sipped complimentary Brooklyn Brewery beer and shopped over 30 members from the Etsy New York Team in Chelsea Market. The Handmade Cavalcade closes this Sunday December 11.

Markisha Velazquez is the designer and owner of Junior Baby Hatter, based in Weehawken, NJ. When she’s not making dapper caps for babies and toddlers she commutes to New York with her family and blogs about her adventures in the city.