I'd like to announce my new MySpace blog that I've created to highlight some of my favorite sellers on Etsy! So check it out and they might become your fav's too:)

JBT MySpace Blog

Please contact reindeergirl for more information on this.


Hi everyone!! :) I'm posting this (sorry the OP below is long) in hopes some of you might be able to help out this women's group? Anyone wishing to donate supplies or with more questions, please convo me! :) I'll see that all the stuff gets to the group. I suspect (if anyone has extra tools, or cheap stuff that you upgraded from perhaps) tools would be particularly needed, but materials too! Thanks for reading!

RG-----Original Message-----

Dear Friends,

As you probably know I am working as the Coordinator of the Women's Centerat CCAC. The women who come to the Women’s Center are all ages (from 18 to60), are different races and are from different social economic status. The women receive free counseling, workshops, and referrals to community resources.

I have initiated a student club, Women on a Mission. The purpose of the club is to provide the women an opportunity to develop supportivefriendships, have leadership opportunities, and to have a way that thestudents can give back to the community. The students have support and a place to meet at the Women’s Center. However, the Women’s Center does not have funds available for the group.

Recently, the concept of making jewelry emerged as a way for the women to spend time together and to produce something for a fundraiser. I am helping them collect materials for their project and will oversee the group as they determine the portion of the money to give a community charity.

If you have old beads, jewelry, or materials that could be used in jewelrymaking or if you are part of a church or organization that would collect materials for this project you support would be appreciated.

You can mail donations to the following address or contact me at724-816-7771 or rdevries [!at] ccac.edu to find a way to get your donation to the students.

CCAC Women's Center
808 Ridge Ave, Byers Hall 305
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Sincerely,Becky

Etsy, The New Wave of Crafters and Hobbyists is Here!

From the traditional to the bizarre, Etsy has something for everyone. Where else can you find a genuine gemstone necklace next to an anatomically correct heart pendant, or a picture of the spooky twins from The Shining? The only requirement for shop ownership on Etsy, is that all items must be handcrafted by the designer. Etsy is a true supporter of independent artists and crafters everywhere. Their virtual marketplace includes handmade items from all over the wold, that previously weren’t available on such a large scale. Etsy also provides a great place to buy arts and craft supplies and vintage items.

The brainchild of a small group of entrepreneurs, it is run like a large commune for artists online. Etsy is like the anti-Ebay, with low listing fees, no auctions or outside advertising, and a personalized touch. Communication between Etsy administrators, buyers and sellers, can occur easily through email or forum style. Customer and artist concerns are addressed in a friendly and personal way.

As a Self Representing Artist and Jewelry Designer, Etsy was the solution to all of my needs. I have been designing jewelry for 7 years, and I have sold online for 5. I became incorporated 3 years ago as Jewelry by Tara, www.jewelrybytara.etsy.com and www.jbtjewelry.com . I decided I no longer wished to sell through Ebay, other auction sites, or craft fairs. Then, after 3 years of solely running my own site, I realized that the costs of advertising, web design, and credit card processing, were killing my business. Designers and artists can get lost on the web, without the larger budgets of our competitors. My move to Etsy has provided me with an outlet to sell my jewelry online with free advertising, low listing fees, and complete technical and community support. Through Etsy I have met true artists and my personal mentor, www.localcolorist.com .Who has given me invaluable help and insight into the artist’s world. I have seen my profits triple in the five months I have been on Etsy and my overhead reduce to half of the previous cost. The support and community of atmosphere of Etsy has encouraged me in my creative pursuits and driven me to expand. I am currently sell my jewelry in the United States and several shops around the world including Scotland, Ireland, and other parts of the U.K. Etsy has enabled people to find me on a global scale and encouraged my international presence.

There are many opportunities for involvement on Etsy, and I am proud to be a member, leader, and co-founder of several Etsy Street Teams. JET is led by myself, and Tanya Gonzalez of www.crescentmooncreation.etsy.com. Jewelry on Etsy Team, boasts 266 members, and we provide fantastic group sales, promotions, contests and support to our fellow independent jewelry designers. To learn more about our group, please visit our blog, www.jewelryonetsyteam.blogspot.com. I am also currently a member of EFA, Etsy For Animals. EFA members are encouraged to donate a portion of their profits to a worthy animal charity that is chosen at random from the group. There are many other eclectic groups of artist run Street Teams on Etsy, representing a variety of people. There is a vegetarian team (of which I am also a member), CCCOE, (California Crafter’s On Etsy), also created by Tanya and I. And many other groups including; gay, lesbian, and transgender, dark crafts, luxury items, glass artists, and everything else you can imagine.

Not only am I an Etsy shop owner, but I am a large scale buyer! I like to support my fellow Etsians and I buy most of my promotional items, supplies, artwork, bath & body, and gifts on Etsy. The quality of these handmade products is amazing! For a society that has lost the personal touch in retail, online and off, Etsy is very refreshing. The store owners are very concerned with originality and craftsmanship. On Etsy, the old saying, “the customer is always right”, actually means something. There is feedback and previously sold items listed in every shop, which reinforces the accountability of the store owner. You can research the reliability and quality of the designer’s work by using these tools.

If you are looking for original photographs, artwork, home décor, clothing, or just about anything else that you can think of, Etsy can and will accommodate all of your shopping needs. Searches from the most obscure to the recently trendy, will undoubtedly result in great finds. Caring administration and customer driven sales, make for a wonderful buying experience. I would strongly urge all artists and designers currently selling on the internet, to learn about the benefits of Etsy shop ownership.
Creative and inventive people everywhere have finally found a home for their handcrafted designs, through the help and support of this amazing site.

To learn more about Etsy, please visit their website here, www.etsy.com.

Still time to win this beautiful crystal earrings and bracelet set:

Just visit my new website and sign the guestbook! A winner will be drawn at random on July 1st.

Jewelry by Tara

Thank you!

Tara

I have a new banner! It was a present and I love it:) What do you think?

What's Hot For Summer 2007

After doing much research in Star and People magazine, I can only conclude that summer 2007 is going to be truly fabulous! Brights, vintage, longer necklaces! And JBT has it all! Check out our fantastic $5 stretchy bracelets, with vintage lucite and beautiful bright colors:

Stretchy Bracelets

And of course, you'll need a gorgeous long vintage charm and pendant necklace for those nights on the town!

Vintage Necklaces

Don't forget your earrings girls! We have a $1 and $2 section that is filled with something for every style!

$1 Earrings

$2 Earrings

And you can still enter our drawing to win a genuine crystal bracelet and earrings set on our new website.

Click on the banner below to check it out!

Thanks so much!
Tara

My 2 most popular necklaces have been greatly reduced, because I have just purchased a huge lot of fantastic vintage items! So take advantage of this great sale and get your:

Fuschia Sparrow Necklace $10
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6136053

Octopus Necklace $15
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6123754

Thank you:)
http://www.jewelrybytara.etsy.com

If you'd like to be in our drawing for a FREE crystal earrings and bracelet set, sign our guestbook.
http://www.jbtjewelry.com

Fantastic Summer Stretchy Bracelets Are Here!! Most are only $5! Click on the bracelet below to visit my shop:)

Also, don't forget to visit our new website and sign our Guestbook for a chance to win a drawing for a beautiful crystal bracelet and matching earrings!

JBT

Thank you!

Tara