Our Team Member Coco Watkin is Writing for HandmadeNews.org!

I highly recommend HandmadeNews.org as a great resource for both buyers and sellers in the world of handmade. It's a comprehensive site, with a dynamic staff of columnists and editors writing for 14 sections or departments including:

Main Feature
Craft Techniques
Guild & Teams
Just for Fun
Craft Trends
Marketing
Business Tips
Inspiration
Green Wise
Featured Artisan
Item of the Day
Crafty Kids
Front Page
Most Popular

This site was launched on June 8th and is quickly growing in popularity. Some of the articles I've found most interesting include:

Create Your Own Seed Paper
An article about making seed paper that you can write a note on and
then the recipient can plant it rather that put it in the trash

Vetrazzo-The Ultimate Example of Trash to Treasure
An article about a company who makes gorgeous counter tops out of recycled glass
that competing as an elegant alternative to more expensive granite

Snow Globes For Any Occasion
These would be a great craft project for kids--even teens, a fabulous table decoration for a fundraiser or as a wedding favor or a get well present for someone stuck in bed.

Sock Coffee Cozy: A Craft Supply Challenge Project
You don't even have to be crafty to do this project. All you need are a stash of lonely socks who lost their partner to the hungry monster in the washing machine or dryer.

Recrafting Yourself in the Second Half of Life
Some of you may not be there, but at 50+ and in the second half of my life, all I can say is, "Amen!"

That's a sampling just to whet your appetite. New articles are published every day in each department. Now that I'm a columnist in the Guild & Teams department, I don't have as much time for perusing. So, why don't you go to HandmadeNews.org and read an article for me. If you really like it, use the comments below to recommend it to the rest of us by leaving the title, a link, and a short summary the way I did above.

Enjoy!

PS. Please keep me in mind and send me "the scoop" when one of the Artist groups (such as an Etsy Team, an Artfire Guild, a Market on 1000 Markets, or a Group on ACG, Cafemom, Yahoo, etc.) you belong to runs an online or off-line promotional event, giveaway, or contest and I'll try to give it a plug. Just include "HMN-Team scoop" in the subject line of a message you can send to me through my shop on Artfire. Thanks!

Reprinted by permission
Coco Watkin © 2009
For more information on this talented artist please visit ByCoco’s Art for Everyday Enjoyment blog

Day of Service - Consultation with Victoria Flaherty

I'm pleased that on the anniversary of those horrendous terror attacks on the USA, a day now deemed a National Day of Service, I was able to donate some time yesterday helping a few of my neighbours to the south. Y'all already know that I'm a strong supporter of warm international ties between our two countries, so here's what's new.

I had the joy to speak by telephone yesterday with an interesting member of my eSMArts yahoo group and etsy team. Victoria is a multi talented lady who has run a successful bricks and mortar handmade jewelry storefront in Ogunquit Maine for the past decade! The financial planner in me isn't quite sure how Victoria has managed to pull this feat off what with soaring overheads and a dismal economy of late, but anyway I applaud her marketing efforts (which in my view are stellar).

Victoria's cute storefront will unfortunately close after Columbus Day due to soaring rents, so this savvy gal is taking portions of her jewelry business online. Stay tuned to this story via Victoria's new blogs one of which is JustBrilliant where we'll likely hear how Victoria's juried Swarovski delights resulted in her being awarded approved Swarovski dealer status. When Victoria's quality sparklies (Swarovski crystals) are listed on etsy, grab them quick before she changes her mind on the remarkable pricing she's thinking of offering.

At her JewelryByVictoria blog we'll likely learn more about the trials of running a bricks and mortar shop and we'll get a sneak peak into how Victoria manages to move this business online.

For more information visit the Jewelry By Victoria website. Her etsy shoppe called "Just Brilliant" featuring quality Swarovski crystals will open soon. And hopefully Victoria will share with the etsy community her gorgeous handmade jewelry too! Stay tuned. :)

-Anna Lee Husband

eSMArts team founder