Good for the soul

I often blog about the awesome things you can find on Etsy and Artfire, things to decorate your home, decorate your body, unique gifts for others, soaps and lotions to make you smell and feel good. If you browse closely you'll find art, products and treats to nourish your soul! My first item is from an artist on Etsy, and each time I discover a new print or painting in her shop it's inspiring. I've gotten to know this artist some and she herself is inspiring and so is her art. I encourage you to bookmark her shop for new things coming!

This is so aweome, how often to we try to wait the storm out, saying when this gets better, or when that is over we will be happy again.

I love the idea of dancing through the rain, problems seem to always arise from somewhere, something or someone. We have alot of stress and heartache in our lives....It'd do our hearts good to dance a little in the rain. You can purchase this print for $18.00 or the original painting for 300.00. Visit this Michigan artists wonderful Etsy shop at http://www.artbytrudy.etsy.com/

There is something so soothing about a cup of tea, in fact right now I am enjoying this wonderful cup of cherry almond and orange black tea from another Michigander s Etsy shop. I also have black raspberry flavor I'm getting low so it's time to order. The teas offered are so rich and delicious, the prices are so reasonable. The packages come very professional packaged. If you love tea try it once and you'll be a repeat customer. You can visit Teamans shop at http://www.teaman.etsy.com/

This is just too precious to be put in a drawer to keep our clothes fresh, it would definitely have to be displayed somewhere as a reminder of the beauty of having dreams and hope. It's made from a vintage quilt and vintage buttons, lavender scent. You can purchase this item for $10.50 at Threads of Sanity on Etsy.

http://www.threadsofsanity.etsy.com/

I believe in the power of prayer this would be a beautiful item to have in our lives to remind us that there is a Heavenly Father waiting to listen to us and give us peace. This can be purchased for $18.00 at http://www.remembermeemily.etsy.com/ , wouldn't this be an awesome gift?

Tranquility" 8 x 10 Original Fine

Art Photograph..wouldn't you just love to walk on this beach? Most of the beaches I have visited are full of familes, jet skis, boats..not that these things aren't wonderful or fun...but I think I could spend some time daydreaming of this one...This wonderful artist photographer has some equally beautiful originals in her shop, please stop by and browse at http://www.candaradesign.etsy.com/

Maybe it's not your soul that needs soothed, but I can pretty much bet you know someone who could use a lift. This is an incredibly sweet card , so reasonably priced and can be purchased at http://www.grumblebeedesigns.etsy.com/

Well it's always soothing for my soul to log onto my shop and find sales, so as always you are invited to browse my items, who knows you may find a piece of vintage jewelry to soothe your soul! http://www.molehilltreasures.etsy.com/ or click on the artfire mini to the left to visit my new Artfire store...........Have a blessed day everyone!

One Year On Etsy and Artfire Beginnings

As I've stated many times I love Etsy, it's a fantastic site with much to offer. The forums are a great place to connect with other sellers and buyers. It's a great help resource, and the posts can make you laugh and sometimes send you to near tears. It's been a great year on Etsy with over 600 sales and 100 percent feedback. Etsy's seller fee's are quite reasonable compared to Ebays, but yet each month the fee is getting higher, mostly with needing to renew items to not get buried in the search pages, renewing pays off when it comes to making sales, but if i renew a $5.00 item 5 times it becomes less than a $4.00 item, and those little bitty 20 cents add up quickly. This would be my main problem with the way Etsy is set up, I do wish they would offer a flat rate fee comparable to Artfire.

I love the flat rate fee at Artfire, it makes so much sense. If you rented an actual brick and mortar space, you wouldn't be charged more for having more inventory or sales, you pay your monthly rent irregardless of your earnings. I don't know about you but the idea of keeping more of my cash is strongly appealing!

I will continue on Etsy, because I love it so but will try to establish a viable business on Artfire too it seems to be a wise business move for me.

If you haven't visited Artfire I encourage you to take a browse..it's a wonderful site for handmade and vintage

Meaning of Vintage The Debate Goes On

Does anyone really know what the word vintage truly means ? I agree it is overused and often used inappropriately. Many words have tried to replace vintage when it comes to online venues, words like retro , mid-century, mod amongst others, but they aren't as effective as the V word.



There are many , many, and many discussions arguments and down right arrogance amongst people in the Etsy forums on this issue.





According to the Free Online Dictionary by Farlex vinatge is:





vin·tage
play_w2("V0108300")
(vntj)
n.
1. The yield of wine or grapes from a vineyard or district during one season.
2. Wine, usually of high quality, identified as to year and vineyard or district of origin.
3. The year or place in which a wine is bottled.
4.
a. The harvesting of a grape crop.
b. The initial stages of winemaking.
5. Informal
a. A group or collection of people or things sharing certain characteristics.
b. A year or period of origin: a car of 1942 vintage.
c. Length of existence; age.
adj.
1. Of or relating to a vintage.
2. Characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic.
3. Old or outmoded.







Will we ever agree on the meaning of vintage? probably not, I believe vintage means something different to each age group. There are many who feel items from the 80's are not vintage, yet in the 80's we who were raised in the 80's considered the 60's vintage (can't remember the term used then for vintage) . So now it's 2009 and the 80's items will come into play as collectible vintage , being balked by those of us in our 40's....Is it the fact that if we say the the 1980's is vintage is admitting we are getting older....or that we really don't want stone-washed blue jeans and big hair to come back in style.



The heated debate will go on in the forums, people will argue that their vintage is better than others.





From the meanings above my heart agrees with "Characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic" and in that case vintage can have many meanings, what appeals to one person will not appeal to everyone, so if you see a vintage seller doing really well selling 1980's glam, and you're not moving your antique 1940's dinnerware, it doesn't grant the right to complain.





In four short months 1990 will be allowed on Etsy, it will be allowed to be called vintage and the debates, discussions and flagging will continue in the forums.