A Humbling Realization....A Tribute, Really.

This is not a new realization, but it is something I do stop and take a good look at quite often. Today, I was just inspired to write about it.

What is it, you ask, that I am referring to? Talent. Ability. Creativity. I am so often amazed by the HUGE amount of creative and artistic talent that is out there in the world. People creating amazing things to beautify our world and our lives. I have only touched on such a tiny, minute amount of the talent out there. Just today, as I was on Twitter, I looked at one of the postings by KIMMSMITH.Etsy.com. It was a stunning, colorful bracelet made with a whimsical assortment of floral pieces. Even tho I rarely get the opportunity to wear much jewelry anymore, I decided I just HAD to have that bracelet. SO, I bought it! But looking thru her shop, there were SO many other beautiful things!

About a month ago, I ran across an item, also on Twitter, made by BizzieLizzie.Etsy.com. This shop sells handsewn items, and I asked about a holder for my new cell phone, and one for my business cards. Charlotte, aka BizzieLizzie, found the most awesome material! I am now the proud owner of a BEAUTIFUL matching set, plus she made me a matching keychain, too. But the items are made of such wonderful quality, and such care put into them! (When I get a picture taken, I will post them for all to see).

I also have bought from a new friend, Mary, whom I met on FLickr. I bought from her while back on Flickr, and we both opened our Etsy shops at the same time. Mary's shop is WonderfulWire.Etsy.com. She makes amazing wire sculptures....I don't know how...but she does. She also makes the most amazing "paintings" out of 100% polymer clay. She does not sell those in her shop, but she has pictures of them on her Flickr site; they are unbelievable. I have never seen anything like them

I am only mentioning 3 people here, but when I think of all the other people, just even on ETSY , who make some of the most gorgeous and amazing things I have seen, I just get dizzy trying to envision the size of a space it would take to put all the artisans and crafters together at one time. And I feel humbled, if not even a little embarrased, to be in the presence of such talent. I really very often question whether I am good enough at my craft to be in the presence of such awesome, true talent.
I do not make that statement looking for affirmations or anything like that....it is said to try to convey how very amazed I am by so many of the creations I consistently see just in my little corner of the world. And I actually get a good, warm feeling inside when I know there are so very many people out there who are devoted to what they are doing, and take such pleasure in doing it. I love looking at beautiful things.
So, when I saw that bracelet this morning, and started looking around some of the items in some of the shops once again, I got that warm feeling. I think I even got a sense of pride....maybe? Maybe b/c I am a small part of it all?
Anyway, I felt moved this morning as I once again was exposed to so many stunning and amazing handcrafted treasures, and felt moved enough to write this as a tribute to all of you.
Thank you, and please, please keep doing what you do.
Cathy

I don't know what to name this!!!

This is just a quick hello to my followers, and to anyone else who stumbles upon my blog! I have just been having some problems being able to access my blog if I happen to make the mistake of clicking that "sign out" up there in the right hand corner! I then seem to have the hardest time getting signed back in !
So, here I am, after finally getting signed in a few minutes ago....but now I want to let you know that I have a slew of work to do for my shop, www. catmacdesigns.etsy.com , which is why I started this blog in the first place!!! I have found out that it is a huge amount of work to promote a shop online, and I am trying my best! Oh yes, and when I get a few spare moments here and there, i actually have to make some items for my shop! Ans since I do not make much jewelry, which seems to be the biggest seller on Etsy, I feel like I have to ptomote all that much harder!
So, if any or all of you could do me a favor??? Even if you have your own Etsy shop, or Artfire, or wherever, could you please put a plug in for me here and there, just to help me out a wee bit? Then, I will have more time to work on my blog!!!!!
Have a good weekend, everyone!
Cat

What to write..what to write..So, what do I write??

I decided I should update my blog with a new posting, but to be perfectly honest, I have no idea what to write about. I have been so busy trying to get some stock in my shop, and this is just not at the top of my priority list!
I actually started this blog because it was one of the recommended steps for someone just opening up their shop on Etsy. This, along with doing the Twitter/Facebook/MySpace/Forums/ABC and XYZ stuff. I have done all of it. And, although the Google Analytics say I have had an increased number of views to my shop, I have been in a Treasury (I think they felt sorry for me), someone was nice enough to feature one of my birdhouses on their blog, and I have received numerous positive comments, I have yet to really make any sales! I mean, someone was nice enough to buy one of my son's bookmarks, and someone else bought some cute little pins for $1.50, which I had screwed up because it was supposed to be $1.50 for each pin, not for all 3 pins. But I had it listed wrong, so I lost money on that sale. Hey, I had just opened the shop!
My point is that those items are not ones I even consider really as "sales"...one was my son's, and the other was items I had, that I put in the shop to have some lesser pricesd items, but are not my "specialty" or what my shop IS. I read over and over again in the forums to find your "niche", and, I kinda sorta might have found that. I make the birdhouses, which I have been making for years. And I make the gourds, because I like to! But on those 2 main items, the BIG TICKET items, I have sold 0. Zero.Zilch. Nada. Nunca. Nothing.
And that is why I am continuing to work my butt off trying to get more items posted in the shop...to give more variety, to hopefully increase my chances of making a sale. Which is why I have not had much time to write updates for my blog. Which is why I am going to end this now, because I have to get my butt in gear making more things to sell......
So, I have just come full circle.
Bye!