Saturday, March 17, 2012

a small moan a day, keeps the wolf at bay.....

or something like that...... it sure helps to have a sense of humour, in this world! Reading various blogs on networked blogs, all of them from printmakers, we are all looking back at the amazing period we just lived through, when sales were so brisk that we did not know how to produce enough!! That was fun, and great, and good money and all that..... I did not even have to think about etsy listings as etsy was a hobby thing, something I did because it "forced" me to take a decent photogrpah of a lot of my work, far from all though, remember, we were SO busy!! Today, and it's a challenge to come up with new ways of making the monthly expenses and keeping the wolf at bay..... ahh, you see, it did tie in, a little moan now and then, takes the edge off, it's nice to blame etsy`s listing requirements for me not selling, makes me feel a lot better (rememember..humour;o) in my mind, you add up the right now 44.000 listings of linocuts, times 20 cents and you know what, they are busy!!! :o) so the laugh is on me! Was that what I wanted to say, no, but I always get sidetracked, it...etsy...that is, made me think, maybe today, what happens on the net is all about fashion, a while back etsy was in fashion (still are says all the people selling "handmade", but then they would) remember Flickr, I have a huge Flickr account, and loved it.... Facebook, am just coming to terms with that, and now Pinterest..... so maybe, I should just quit being such a "good quality will last for ever" kind of girl hmmm woman....old lady grr... and get out there and pull on the hippest shirt right now....because clearly sites on the net, are coming in fashion, in fashion, or starting to go out of fashion, has consumerism reached the actual sites we use??? Or am I just blind and it was always there...? Anything that makes you think, is a good thing, so a slowdown, means we all have to think again, and I am happy, I like thinking, and in a way, I forgot I always did my best work when under a bit of pressure... and paying your phone bill, now there is real pressure for you, not a bunch of galleries and shops screaming for prints to sell, that, my dearest reader is all illusion, smoke and mirrors! Back to reality....with a bang! And if I knew how to add a photo from my Ipad to this post, i would....hang on.... I have time to read my ipad book....:o)))

9 comments:

  1. Love hearing your thoughts and complaints Mariann! I used to sell a lot more on Etsy too...I just think part of the dip in sales is due to all the new competition. I got involved just as Etsy was really starting to take off.

    I don't really understand how people can find the time in their days to tweet, list, market, make treasuries, blog. email and read facebook and then have any time or even brain power left to do the actual art work. It's one of the greatest mysteries of life to me! But if anyone can figure it all out, it will be you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :o)) and me too, one can make good use of all the share buttons, and it looks like you are a very busy little web bee..... now, why you would want that is something I ask myself too?

      Delete
  2. I agree with Nancy.where do people find the time for everything ,checking email,blogs,Etsy shops etc.Then their are the stats.I think maybe it's time to sit down and think about what we are trying to achieve,is it just about money?perhaps etsy's has become just to much of a good thing,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. there is always time for things you want to do, so we must want to do it!
      And no, of course it is not just about money, I kind of think that's obvious, I could do a lot of things that would pay the rent a whole lot easier, so that kind of answers that, but the rent, still has to be paid, so that means that money, is important! If nothing else, how would I be able to blog without a computer......:o)))))

      Delete
  3. I don't know much about Etsy but I know things are very tough out there. I guess what we sell are 'luxury' items and when money is tight, we're at the bottom of the shopping list.
    As you say, Mariann, we often make better work when we have more thinking time - got to look on the bright side :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely! and I think we all are, artists are good at looking on the bright side ( oops, is that being ironic?;o)

      Delete
  4. I think a lot of this has to do with the economy. And honestly, there are just a TON of people (on all the social networking sites, and selling sites) who are making stuff and want to sell it. A lot of them have WAY more energy than I do (marketing-wise) and are cooler and hipper than I will ever be. :)) It all kind of makes me want to crawl in a cave with my art supplies, but that won't pay the phone bill, either. Unless I can give cave tours. xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have a cave with a telephone! WoW.
      I don't thing the tours would work think of the cost of all those candles!!

      Delete
    2. Very true, there are tons of people, and it is all SO available, and I am with you... not very hip at all, but I'll be darned if I'll hide in a cave... not being hip is the new hip, Pam :o))) trust me, nobody else does!

      Delete