Hand Crafted Suppliers

Supports & Supply
Supporting Fellow Art Fire Stores

This time around I was thinking about the support we give each other in terms of shopping from our respective Art Fire stores.
I attempt to search within Art Fire for specific supply items. I consider this one of the many ways we can be sure to keep Art Fire on the top of our lists of to dos!
Examples of supplies there are extremely eclectic. Never one to embrace big box, cookie cutter or some factory that’s hauling in the big dough, I want to order my supplies from small business persons like me.

One example, for myself in searching for affordable, and supporting small business would be this shop by Angel-Art and this gorgeous bead. I love to purchase bits and pieces, not job lots, and these beads are certainly something worth considering.

 Angel-Art

My next purchase might be something as simple as this great lot of copper jump rings, I don’t make my own, so where better to find some without buying hundreds or thousands at a time? These are from the store of LuLuLaLaLand

 100 pcs of Antique Copper finish 3.5mm 22 guage Jump Rings

We know that jewelry isn’t the only thing available on Art Fire. We have our fiber artists too and there’s some amazing examples of hand spun wools available too. I couldn’t begin to think of sheep shearing and all of the work involved in offering up this gem of creativity which is available at  Studio Taylored Fibers

Merino Yarn, Hand Dyed

We all use some type of wire, chains, spacers etc. when compiling pieces, catches, clasps and all sorts of things needed to finish our work. Here’s a shop that can add some details to your finished piece without breaking the bank. This gorgeous multi closure and many more items are available at  Beadaholique

Gold Tone Filigree 5 Strand Round Box Clasp 22mm (x2) - FCL-5581

In short, shop local, if possible, shop for your needs, not just to fill your supply cupboard and try to support everyone who brings something different, affordable and that suits your personal craft needs! If we all keep this thought in mind then we can keep the Art Fire we know and love rising above the ranks of other venues!

Looking for something unique and elegant for your designs?

5x7mm Garnet Red Faceted Rice Freshwater Pearls

Gifts for Teenagers

Grandmothers and teenagers

At this time of year, one of the hardest people on anyone's list to buy for are teenagers. They are constantly changing their likes, interests, fashions and tastes that it is very difficult to buy gifts for them. What is a grandmother to do?

I hate going to the mall and especially at this time of year. I get so overwhelmed and can't seem to find anything, get frustrated and storm out with nothing. As I am an artisan I felt I was turning my back on everything handmade. I don't make what they like but I sure know where to go for those who do.

I have solved this little issue with Artfire. Artfire is full of artisans with something for everyone. Jewelry, geekery, steampunk, funky, and the list goes on and on. How could they not find something great. I make gift certificates for those kids and specify the amount and that it can only be spent on Artfire. What fun they have searching through all of the categories and finding the coolest things they have ever seen, each is one of a kind and utterly awesome.


Now I am the coolest grandma ever! They love what they get and can't wait to show it off to their friends. I feel better by supporting handmade and loving my new status with the kids. What more could a grandmother ask for!

 By Jillysstuff

ArtFire LInk on Facebook
ArtFire LInk Group
On Google+

Black Friday Free Shipping Sales

It's Here! Thanksgiving is done and the Christmas Season is officially in full swing! Merchants have been preparing for several months for this season. Black Friday is the one biggest revenue day for most brick and mortar stores such as Kohls, Walmart, JC Penny and other large corporation retailers.

The doors open at midnight, the lines are long and the traffic is grueling. Some folks live for that adrenaline rush, looking for those once a year awesome deals. But there is a portion of the population that avoids that kind of hub-bub. Those that do, can benefit from some pretty incredible online sales.

Most of the deterants of buying online is shipping costs and the amount of time it takes to process your order and ship the item to you. Some merchants online offer incredible prices though sales..and then price gouge you with high shipping that costs more than the original non sale price of the item they want to buy?  That makes me click away! No doubt.  Who wants a great deal only to find they pay an arm, a leg and an eye for shipping.

There is one marketplace that is offering free shipping for a ton, and i mean a huge amount of high quality handmade and vintage unique gifts for just about anyone on your shopping list this season. The best gifts given are those that are unique, one of a kind type of handmade gifts. From jewelry, to accessories, designer clothing, home accessories, antiques, toys, and so much more!

What if you could get a one of a kind item, get it shipped in less than a week and at no extra cost for shipping? What if? You certainly can!

Here are just a few things you can find that are incredible finds for absolutely no extra shipping cost!  But you better act fast, because its only for Black Friday deals..However! You might just find a few more great sales and deals in the upcoming Cyber Monday Specials! So stay tuned!

Seasons Rich Reds

  Curated By: myfathersgifts

ArtFire.com

Handmade Jewelry

Susan ~ ArtFire LInk
ArtFire LInk on Facebook
ArtFire LInk Group
On Google+

LInk Farms and Why you just Don't!

While in my travels of searching for information on how to create great ads, I ran across a post about link farms. Never heard of such a thing! But I remember our head CEO at ArtFire talking to us about how to avoid content farms. This is when someone copies and pastes the content from one blog into theirs for increased content and better rank.

Link Farms work the same way.  Even though our traffic is pretty descent, it may be that we are new. I did a comparison chart on a blog I barely do any posts at, but the posts I have are rich and relevant. The Page rank is higher than those with link lists who do regular link list blog hops and such.

So before we get penalized, I'm removing the Inlinkz tools. A site that is unaware they have been penalized, could link to our tool and we can get penalized for linking to them.  I will manually add our member stores again to avoid being seen as a link farm.

Google only counts relevant links in which the page rank is 3 or more out of 1-10.  Links in blogs are not as important to Google's indexing rules.

So as a rule of thumb, we will only link to our shops and social sites.

Now I understand why Etsy's link rules are so strict.

Susan ~ ArtFire LInk
ArtFire LInk on Facebook
ArtFire LInk Group
On Google+

Text Liking

When you are working on your fan base on your Facebook business page, it can be hard to motivate users to "like" your page.  One strategy for adding to your Facebook page is to offer exclusive coupons, sales and deals for fans only.


But consider for a moment your phone. When you see a post in your newsfeed from a a friend using mobile, you know they are out of the house, away from their computer. What if, you could motivate complete strangers to "like" your page on their phones?


Well there is!

Now, you can do a call out for "liking" your page via texting. This is especially great for when you are out doing craft fairs. Don't just sell to your passer by's, turn your table customers into fans on your Facebook page and motivate sales too! Have a table tent sign on your table, offering customers a 10% discount if they text the word "like" and your Facebook page user name to 32665.


Try it yourself! Like our page from you phone.  Text the words: like artfirelink to 32665
Here's the anatomy:
"like"=action
"artfirelink"= username for your page (http://www.facebook.com/artfirelink)
32665 is the country code for USA(see all country codes here)


*note: you have to set up your username for your page to use this. You can set that up in your admin of your page under "Resources"


This sets a stage for building your Fan base while you are out doing shows and crafts bazaars this holiday!  No hard networking to do it either! You can also post under the "call to action" table tent sign, "Like us on Facebook and receive exclusive coupons, sales and deals on future online purchases for fans only! Find out what craft fair we are at next! We could be coming to your area!" 
You would be surprised the extra sales you might make on your craft fairs just by offering that 10% exclusive offer! 


Susan ~ ArtFire LInk
ArtFire LInk on Facebook
ArtFire LInk Group
On Google+

Viral Sharing on Facebook

Sharing on Facebook has been one of the most effective ways to promote and virally get the word out on links, sites and content on the internet. When security was breached..Facebook took some action in removing the "share" bookmarklet under posts accept for just links..

So when you post an external link..you create an option to allow all who see it to "share" it. Groups don't have this 0ption as they are secure. Our original group page..before they switched over, made it easy to "share". The the current format of groups on Facebook only allows individuals to "subscribe" to the individual posts. This really only shows up on your private newsfeed for you..not for others from you or about you.

SO! Here is what I propose, to make It's Better Handmade more viral like it once was..is to switch us over to a Community page..and out of the group format! The links we are all adding to the group page is only allowing members to see, and not our friends..and friends of friends..unless they join the group.

Many of us only network in our venue..meaning, we add friends who are artists like us..we need that support from others who do what we do. We will keep the group for encouragement, learning, tips and tricks primarily. The new community page will be where the "share" bookmarklet will exist for external links and thus re-establish the viral sharing.

Missing what I love most

Ever get tired of the 'rat race'? I did there for a while. Sometimes you think it's better on the other side of the fence..and then..after playing for a while..you realized that you miss what you had all along

But being away, many changes have taken place at Facebook, Etsy and Artfire...and it'll take a bit to get back to being "in the know" as my favorite person used to say.

But I'm happy to mosey on over and find out. Looking forward to getting back into action!

I was lost, but now I'm found!

Since Facebook decided to change the groups format..the same time they removed our tabs from our Facebook profiles, they also gave us the ability to add folks we know to the groups without asking them first.  Not something I really encourage.  

Why?

Here's why: when you add someone to the facebook group, default settings send a notification to their email every time someone posts in the group.  Kind of annoying for some.  Especially when we get bombarded already with spam.  Some folks like that, as they want to know what's going on.  All the time! 

It's handy for the super networkers, but frustrating for the rest. I love groups, but they are everywhere! now on Facebook.  A dime a dozen.

There is one important thing I wanted to note about the new groups format on Facebook for everyone who is involved in one, especially for our group admins.  When you start a group, remember that the only format that Google and Yahoo, and Bing(still Yahoo fed) search engines will see is "open" groups.  The rest, closed and secret, are not seen by any search engine or crawler.  So if you add other sellers like you to the group, and your group is closed or secret..then you are more or less preaching to the choir.  It's soliciting to your competition.  Not the wisest thing.  

So here is what I suggest, if you are selling a handmade good, join groups that are ok with your business postings but is non seller based.  If you sell wedding jewelry, hair accessories or an other wedding handmade good, join a wedding group.  

Silk Organza Bags

This is why our group on Facebook, It's Better Handmade, is an open group, seen by Google indefinitely.  And it's why we have a corresponding "Like" page.  We need a better ranking in Alexa and Google ...so the more you promote..the more you want to be seen.  Keep that one in mind where ever you spend your time online;..groups, pages, communities, etc.

It's Better Handmade Group News

Hello, Everyone!  

What an interesting week! ;)  

Thanks for following me here!

OK, here's the skinny!  We have decided to stay at Facebook for the time being as a group as long as we can.  Your hard work has built this great network and it is worth fighting for!  I won't let bullies take it from us and I won't back down.

I am now using this official It's Better Handmade Blogspot as our public network hub!  You can find our Newsletters, information on Events, our new link hub and other helpful information here. I have also created some great pages including a Collections page. There is a new Contact Susan Now (my personal creation, no 3rd parties)at the left of the page if you need to email me for any questions you might have.  I will be keeping a private roster of those who have checked in via email with their support and questions for future reference when we begin working on our new website.  I am looking to the possibility of creating our own Social network hub sometime after the holidays.  

Every week, I will be sending a simple message to you in your private box via our Facebook Group to let you know there is a newsletter waiting for you here.  You can also access partner links such as ZeroZoomPizazz, It's Better Handmade HQ on ArtFire and several others.  We can create a Member Roster Link page if you are game.  

The new HQ at ArtFire has some great benefits.  We have live Chat, Forums, Picture Gallery for any members to add to and an events calender.  I have already started some great forums over there that I think you will love.  

I know some of you don't have ArtFire accounts, that's OK.  There is no requirement to sign up and participate there.    Those of us who are there find ArtFire to be somewhat of a safe haven.

Take a look at my most recent post here called Blog Blitz!  It's a carry over from a forum at HQ and a cooperative effort the Mavens(I am one) have been doing since Summer.  I think you will have fun with it.

One more thing, we have some changes in our officers.  Please make Sparks feel welcome as she steps up to officer and possibly taking Admin responsibilities in the future.  

Find Her on Facebook

You will find that life sometimes takes you away from the things you want to do.  But I know that we are being refined like a precious metal.  Thanks for all your hard work and support.  You are ALL WORTH IT.