 |
| Tartan Gift Bow, from Serendipit |
Let me recap.
I wanted to JOIN the team, not run it. The Team Leader had been looking for a replacement for a long time. The team had almost 150 members, but had been dormant for two years.
I took it over. Convo'd everyone. Half the shops were closed. One quarter had migrated elsewhere. Took 25% with me and thought, what do I do now?
 |
| Art pendant by SueCorcoran's shop. |
Two months later I was up to 179 members, and the blog crashed in early 2010. I had to move each post page by page to blogger and learn that. Suffice to say, I think it's much easier and the moral to this story here is when you are forced to learn something on your own, it makes you perfect it until you are good at it.
 |
| Teacup Pincushion by Wandering Lydia |
 |
| Noble Upcycling makes these cute owls. |
 |
| Adorable Baseball themed accessories by TeWearables |
I'm glad where we've come in a year , to me it's a small miracle as I did not know what or how to blog. I want to stress her that I'm telling you to rise to any challenge and push yourself to the next level. Who would have thought I'd be blogging on 12 of them and even on Handmadeology when a year ago I didn't even know how to do it. I suppose I grew with this blog and this team in some way, and I am thankful for the path in which we are going. When people ask me why I spend so much time doing this for free, I tell them I truly love my team members.
I tell them each of my team members's shops is so unique, things I would have never thought of making or doing with upcycled or recycled goods --- their creativity is amazing and I'm hoping that by spreading the green word one item at a time we can make consumers think about buying mass produced items, when in turn, they can buy green HANDMADE, or green vintage, or green alternatives!
 |
| Plarn Pouch by Plastique Recreations aka Crochooley |
So now what? We will continue to grow, but I am asking something of you. I really need some time to run my Etsy shops folks! With this in mind, I hope you will:
a) Introduce yourself to a team member that is quiet or you don't know, and use the buddy system by cross promoting each other in their shop banners.
b) I hope you will blog about your team members and this team, and cross promote each other and continue to contribute and grow. Join this blog as a contributor and blog here too! You can blog about things that you enjoy - someone's shop, craft shows, etsy selling, tips on social networking, antiques, vintage, recycling, green living, DIY, you name it, if so convo me at my Retro Chalet store.
c) I hope you will realize that having a successful store on Etsy takes a bit of work, and that you owe it to youself to do your best and I HOPE YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR ART WHATEVER IT IS, so please don't give up so easily. Take every opportunity as a marketing opportunity, and remember hard work does pay off.
d) Continue to suggest things you want to see, some of you said more DIY, or outside bloggers. Keep the suggestions coming as our goal is to make this a community for people wanting to live and be green.
 |
| Santa decoration by AlpenglowVintage |
Yours Truly I am,
Cindy Fahnestock-Schafer
aka Ira Mency
