Chatty Metalsmiths January Thread

[#1]

Here's the list. Sadly, I took Barney off (made me cry). He's the only one I definitely know won't be coming.

Abellablue – Jessica
Aheron designs- Anna
AlexSharDesigns – Gaynor
Annasjewelry – Anna
Artdi - Diana
Atlcopperworks - Karina
AutumnLeavesJewelry - Care
Bagsnstuff - Dianna
BarronDesign – Deborah
BeadsintheBelfry- Nina
BeatrizFortes - Beatriz
Bellabijoujewellery – Jaime
Bellabijoutoo – Jaime
BDDesigns - Christen
Bijoutery - Jennifer
Blackmarkettrades- Angus
Bowersstudio. - Michele
Brightstar109 – Claire
Brandianndesigns – Brandi
Cabbingrough - LauraH
CGWhitfield. - CG
Corybethy. - Cory
chrissilynn2. – Chrissi
DiemDesignsJewelry - Sarah Jo
DonnaOdesigns. – Donna
Doxollodesigns - Janice
Duffydesigns. – Duffy
Elementaldesigns - Denise
Erga. - Erga
Evelynjewelry – Evelyn
Evittscreekarts - Lois
fix8ion – Tamara
ForrestConcepts - Sarah Jo
Foxcabochons.- Rod
Gemheaven. – Jo
Getyourbone - Steve
Ggestalt. – Karin
GiftedDesigns – Sha (Shannon)
Goldenwatercreations - Jeanne
Greenlivingsoap – Esme
Harnessedearth _ Tom
HartleyStudio - Ann
HightowerBotanicals – Julee
HRBeaDesign. – Heather
Ikaros – Carl
Indigoflameworks - Kelly
jamauerer- Julie
JaneaPauline- Janea
JaneDeaux. – Gabby
Janedeauxdeluxe - Gabby
JazJewels - Judy
JelliesJewelry - Jack
Jewelstreet. – Aimee
johnsendelbach - John
KHMetalwork. – Karen
Kimberlybelldesigns - Kim
KimVGlass.- Kim
kitandcaboodleshop - Gayle
kitkingdesigns. - Kit
KriksSilver. – Kristie
lahainalynnjones - Lynn
LauraRoberson- Laura
LeaderofMen - Alex
Litapsilverj - Lita
Lsueszabo - Sue
Luxedesignworkshop – Peg
Marcus Berkner Jewelry - Marcus
Maythenwolfbane - Nicole
MetalLuxe. – Peg
Metalsmitten – Jess
MieleMelograno – Liz
mmemagpie- Andrea
ModernMeetsWhimsy – Courtney
Monnda - Monnda
MordentDesign.- Mike
NovaofSweden – Tess
Nrjewelerydesign – Nikki
Phantasteria. – Karin
Plunderjewelry – Lindsay
Ppennee - pennee
purplepeony. - Brenda
Redturtle – “Dragon Kitty” or Mrs. Barney
Rockaholic – Peggy
SandyToesJewelry – Lisa
SarahinFlorida – Sarah
ScarletRobin - Jen
Scrapmetal - Addie
Scrollworkdesigns. - Clarity
SilverBlueberry. - Esmeralda
SilverShedStudio – Casey
SilverMadeStudio – Teresa
Sonyarasi. - Sonya
StoneTemple - Mark
StoneyCharms. – Chris
Stonz. - Susan
TammysTreasureChest – Tammy
TheFrogsPond - Brandy
TheSilverLakeStudio – Sherry
theuglydogranch - Karen
ThirteenGems – Melissa
Tinkertown– Sue
Topshelflapidary- Henrik
TreeFrogJewelry – Sheryl
TrystingTreeFarm -Laura
TSmithDesigns – Teresa
TwistedSisterArts - Jill
TwoSilverMoons.– Birgit
yenjewelry - Nicole
2BellesBeads – Crystal
2Trickpony - Rachel

[JelliesArtExpression]

Well, after reading some of the etsy change things ... I've finished 1 Gelnlivet and I think I shall have another.

Dang it all. I do own the domain name for my jewelry shop. It looks like I'll have to figure out how to do a storefront from scratch if etsy goes too far down this road.

[StoneTemple]

Hi Marcus
My name's mark, fellow Eugenian, you probably don't know me but we've spoken back when you were at market, which was after I quit doing market. I think I asked you if you cut your own stones and admired your work, still do :)

[cgwhitfield]

Yeah, I still have a putative website in the wings, kept alive just as a safety.

And I think I can find a 12 year old rye right about now.

[bellabijoujewellery]

My eccomerce site has been in maintenance mode - but now I am thinking about about going more towards a direction like bigcartel.... hmmm

[2TrickPony]

the hard sell aspect of this change makes me very uncomfortable.

[JelliesArtExpression]

2TrickPony says:
the hard sell aspect of this change makes me very uncomfortable.
***

Me too. When things get very "take it or leave it" I figure it's time to look for the third option :-)

[bellabijoujewellery]

Thats what I have been feeling too.

My big concern though really is driving traffic to an outside shop. Etsy has made a name for themselves ( although, after all this who knows if they will keep that reputation).

[Former_Member]

Hi Mark, nice to meet you again. I am sure I would recognize you if I saw you face to face.

Surprised you recognized me by work, it is a bit different than what I used to make!

[2TrickPony]

I love etsy. I just want some control over my personal information.

[StoneTemple]

I consider myself a newcomer to etsy and have spent very little time on the threads.
So, please excuse my naivete but the issue is the "open" forums going away, esentially their being "gated" by teams you'd have to join to partake of that thread? Must be more to it than that.

[StoneTemple]

Actually Marcus, I remember your name. I see your pieces have evolved though.

[bellabijoujewellery]

I love etsy too - I have been here since 2005 when it was in Beta and not long after it started. What I don't love is waiting for years for basic selling tools, and the constant push be a social network ( ie circles, the profile page, the fb connect, now this email thing)I love chatting here, but this is my place of business, and I am trying to make a living.

[bellabijoujewellery]

i just want to be able to keep business and personal stuff seperately you know ?

[2TrickPony]

Me too Jaime. I try to take it all in stride, and give things like the circles a chance.

[2TrickPony]

me too, keep it separate. and I do not need my MOM getting emails from etsy, holy sh*(

[2TrickPony]

StoneTemple says:
I consider myself a newcomer to etsy and have spent very little time on the threads.
So, please excuse my naivete but the issue is the "open" forums going away, esentially their being "gated" by teams you'd have to join to partake of that thread? Must be more to it than that
**********
i don't know very much at all, but most of the forum is going away, some of it, like business topics and site help and I think bugs, will still be there.

[lsueszabo]

wow, just caught up with this and now i want a drink. haha. well, there is no way in hell they are getting access to my email or my address book. not happening. i agree with what you said rachel- they want to spam all of our friends to drive traffic to their site and i don't like the direction these changes are going either. i will opt out the second it goes live. whoever sees it go live- post here right away for the rest of us. i finished my ring except for some final sanding. maybe i'll show you guys first and you can tell me what you think about the similarity.
tamara- it's not even subliminal influence at work in this case. i don't even know the other ring maker, never heard of her or seen her work until today. the ring is different although the concept is similar.
oops, and guys, i said earlier this week that voting would go til friday at 11. i thought today WAS friday. doh. lol. that means those who haven't voted on the public vs private chat can do so until friday at 11pm. i want to be sure anyone who read it earlier has full opportunity to cast a vote so no results tonight.

[cgwhitfield]

Sue, there really are only so many designs for jewellery. I see quite a few things here very similar to stuff I've made. A few eerily close, and I've had to look carefully.

[Former_Member]

Yes, Mark had to make decisions and give up cutting stone, etc after market, but if I keep hanging around you guys with your nice stones, I might just have to dust off some gem rough.

[2TrickPony]

break out the stones and get cracking marcus.

[lsueszabo]

yeah, maybe cg. i'm always trying to think up new ways to make things though so i doesn't look like other work that's out there all the time. i really thought i had something different only to find it isn't. still scratching my head over how that's possible. i'll show you maybe tomorrow and you'll see what i mean. i've got to get to bed- early friday morning at work. got my new metalsmith mag and didn't even get to open it tonight. sigh.

[StoneTemple]

Holy Crapoli!
I just went back and read of their evil plan.
Ya, I'd be freaked out too.
I'm guessing they're giving the oportunity to opt out before it goes live. I really hate this kind of crap, like the emails I get from Facecrook when someone I know joins.
Whatever...

[Former_Member]

Crazy, wild, negative energy out there...as always, I try to rise above it and keep doing what I do best - enjoy doing what I do best.

sleep tight everyone, this too shall pass...

[StoneTemple]

MarcusBerknerJewelry says:
Yes, Mark had to make decisions and give up cutting stone, etc after market, but if I keep hanging around you guys with your nice stones, I might just have to dust off some gem rough.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And I keep thinking I should be tinkering with silver again, I really dug it when I did, 'cept for that evil firestain...

[Former_Member]

It's hard to do it all, ain't it?

Well its off for me, Natalie Dessay on the tube, Amy went out and is going to treat us to Wendys food, and I *will* have that cider now.

Cheers all!