A New Newsletter from ZenithJade Creations

New news! There's several NEW blog posts up in my blog- most of them are about taking stellar photography! Here's the link: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/ .

You probably don't know that I participated in several cool contests and blog hops. Their content is on my blog as well! My favorite, so far, is the Bead Soup Blog Hop run by Lori Anderson. It is wicked fun! In a nutshell, I was assigned a partner to send beads to, and my partner did the same for me. The next step was to design piece(s) from those beads! It is a HUGE bead and jewelry blog hop/party! I had so much fun designing for this one, that I'm going to do my level best to participate next year, as well. (The Bead Soup Blog Party post is currently the third post down, but in case you don't want to scroll for it, here's the link: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/2013/04/bead-soup-blog-party-7-reveal.html .

Also recent news for all you beady types- I joined a wonderful site called Bead Swap USA. It is AMAZING. There are boxes full of beads to swap, as well as finished item swaps and person to person swaps, plus SO MUCH MORE. http://beadswap-usa.com/ . It's set up in a forum type format, with each section run by moderators. It is really nifty!

Have you noticed I've been trying to blog more? :) I'm doing my level best! My good friend Kerri says that I have interesting stories to tell, and I sure hope that's the case! I surely don't want to bore anyone! *winks* Maybe each time I write a blog post, I'll email it out. I'd love some feedback on that! I don't want to spam your inboxes. Opinions on the matter can be emailed to me at zenithjade@yahoo.com.

I also chat passionately about charitable causes I'm involved in. Here's an update from my ZJC Facebook page I posted fairly recently:

"You can join Jilly's Bead Posse, (it's a crazy group of crazy artists and jewelry designers who believe in fighting for the cause of Alzheimer's) by going here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/JillysBeadPosse or here: http://www.jillysbeadposse.com/ . I made and donated 36 pairs of earrings to the cause. Others are making (even more) earrings, bracelets, keyrings/chains, necklaces and what-have-you. :) Another thing I'm doing is taking over 150 pictures of earrings & editing them for my friend Kerri, who is donating 163 pairs of earrings!!! (And I thought 36 pairs was a lot! LOL!). ANYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN. There are at least TWO fundraisers going on RIGHT NOW. Please check out the website for details. (It's under Fundraisers!).

I have several new blog posts up, two of which detail photography tips & tricks + editing. Mostly, I'm just linking to others blogs, eventually I'll write my own tutorial on how to get good pictures... but until I do, there are a couple of great ones that link from my blog! Here's the link to my blog: http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/ .

Tonight I made five new polymer clay hearts! Yes, the pretty rustic ones. I recently bought some LOVELY vintage cabochons from Lindsay, (a Bead Swap USA member: http://beadswap-usa.com/ ), and had so much fun incorporating them into my heart designs. I hope you'll like them! I promise to show some pictures tomorrow. And I don't think I'm done playing with polymer clay yet tonight! :) I am having WAY too much fun. You can view a rustic polymer clay heart component here, to see what I'm talking about: https://www.etsy.com/listing/123593014/rustic-polymer-clay-heart-set-with . Woot woot! Lots of new news!
PS- if you've read this far, I'm having another GIVEAWAY when I reach 400 fans! I only have 31 more peeps to "like" my page and we're good to go! If you'd like to help, please do so by "sharing" this page with your friends. I'm very rarely boring, I promise!"

So that's what I've been up to! :) Have a wonderful, fantastic day, and don't forget to give me feedback on whether or not I should email about blog posts! zenithjade@yahoo.com!

Love,
Andrea

Original Email:  http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2e39a3b8ab9b48f3cf3a22c14&id=1901fb711f

ZJC Online Trunk Show!

Hello everyone!

I'm having an Online Trunk Show Monday, November 19th & 20th, and you're invited!

Click here to go to the facebook event where I list all the details and teaser photos!

Here are a couple of photos to whet your appetite:

 China crystal & Swarovski crystal pendant on copper.

 Swarovski crystal & Swarovski Pearl Angel with a Swarovski crystal halo!

 Tree of Life pendant in amethyst. There are going to be two more (but different) Tree of Life pendants available. :)

 Hand-stamped custom pendant with a freshwater pearl!

 Beautiful hand-made focals with gemstone cabochons set in polymer clay. (There are going to be three total available, I think! If there's interest, I will make more!).

I will be posting the link to Artisans Open Market (that's where my trunk show is going to be) on Monday at 9am on my event page and on my facebook business page! Be there or be square. Plus, most items are discounted at least 50% off, some are MORE than that. :) This is first come, first served.

If you "JOIN" the event, I'm offering a chance at winning a $50 gift certificate to either my Etsy shop or my ArtFire store. If you "SHARE" the event, you get an extra entry!

Beautiful jewelry, ornaments and bookmarks at great deals + friends + gift certificate = FUN!

Giveaway Time!

There are three ways to gain entries:
1) Share my facebook fan page with your friends using your personal page! Here's the link: http://facebook.com/ZenithJadeCreations (Because the more, the merrier!)
--> Please link me to your "share". Nevermind, I have no idea how to do this, either! I'll just have to trust you! (But PLEASE let me know you've done this, so you can get your extra entry in).
2) Sign up for my newsletter (right hand side of page).
--> Please let me know you've done this. (Everyone who has done this already automatically gets an entry. I realized after the fact that if you sign up for the newsletter, I get a notification via my email. So let me know if you want to, but it's not necessary).
3) "Like" my facebook fan page with your personal page. (Everyone who has "liked" my page automatically gets an entry).

--> Please comment below to let me know you've done at least one of the three! If you do all three, you get three entries. :)

I'm doing this old school, and writing down everyone's names and sticking them in a bowl to pull out the winners.

The FUN part, PRIZES!

1) Bright and Brilliant 8x10" signed print. Link here: http://www.deviantart.com/print/29306905/
2) Purple Lightening Mousepad. Link here: http://www.deviantart.com/print/29485410/
3) Pastel Hearts Postcards Set of 2. Link here: http://anjicle.deviantart.com/#/d5d24hq
4) $25 gift certificate to my ArtFire shop.
5) $15 gift certificate to my Etsy shop.
6) Smoke AB Necklace and Earring Set

Yes, I'll be pulling out people's names in this order. :)

If you have any questions, please ask!

I'll be contacting winners via email, so please leave your email in the comment boxes below! Please put zenithjade@yahoo.com in your address book, because that's where I'm emailing from. (I also like funny jokes, so feel free to send me some. LOL!).

ALSO! Contest ends on September 15th at midnight, CST. Get those entries in!

Have fun!
Andrea

PS- for those having problems leaving comments, feel free to message me via my business facebook page. http://facebook.com/ZenithJadeCreations

Blogger Tutorial #1 - Adding Links to Text

Note: You can click any image for a larger, more readable, version. :)

So adding links to text is pretty easy- and I'm going to walk you through it step by step. ;)

1) When you have an Etsy shop that you'd like to link to like mine, ZenithJade Creations, highlight the text that you'd like clickable.






2) After highlighting, click blogger's handy link icon from the above editing bar.








3) By clicking, it will bring up a pop-up window. Enter the url, or address, of the site you want your link to go to. Then press "OK" in the pop-up window.

Voila! You've made a working link! :)

Firefox + EtsyHacks = Etsy Lurve

I really hope that I can truly delve into the wonders of EtsyHacks and how to use it one of these days.

For those of you who are already familiar with Firefox and GreaseMonkey, AND have an Etsy Shop... then EtsyHacks are really, truly, just what the doctor ordered. ehax.etsy.com has created some lovely hacks to make your selling++ experiences easier and more fun. He's got: copy listing hacks, forum hacks, receipt hacks, convo hacks... I think you get the idea.

I promise- one of these days, I'll post a tutorial for newbies on how to get started. ;)
(If you know of a newbie faq already in existence, please let me know! I'll post it!).

<3,
Andrea

More neat things from the 'net, (and Etsy, of course)!

A snippet from Digital DIY, "Digital Marketing for Small Business":
"I Can Do That Myself" Syndrome

Over and over in the Etsy forums and in other places I hear artists and crafter complaining about incidents where people make rude comments about their arts and crafts and tell them,” I could make that myself, why should I pay you for it?” The artists and crafters defend themselves, like they should, saying that they have expertise and skills and use finer materials than most people would have access to. So why do artists and crafters then say “I can do that myself” when it comes to marketing and promotion?

Click HERE to read the full-length article. It's worth it! =*^.^*=
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If you're looking for daily cool bits to drool over, you can head on over to "Daily Candy". According to the website, Daily Candy is, "a free daily e-mail newsletter and website, is the insider’s guide to what’s hot, new, and undiscovered — from fashion and style to gadgets and travel. As useful as it is entertaining, it’s like getting an e-mail from your clever, unpredictable, and totally in-the-know best friend. The one who knows about secret beauty treatments, must-have jeans, hot new restaurants — and always shares the scoop."

Take a look- I bet you'll find something you can't live without!
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Two worth-while reads about RME/RMX on the Etsy Forums...
How do I sign up for RME payment acceptance?
AskTripp from (Revolution) MoneyExchange
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Random fun on the Etsy Forums:
Come Play Isketch with Me!
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Come and give RobWhite (Etsy Admin) your two cents about "Feedback and non-paying buyers" here.
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You can also help RevolvingDork (Etsy Admin) about why "Shop Policies (are) being cleared out -- Help us with more info!"
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I dare say that's enough linkage for one night! =*^.^*=
<3!

Several AWESOME Etsy Forum Posts-

Here's a simple way to figure out when an item for sale on Etsy is worth flagging, (by ScotiaMade); how Etsy crops pictures, (by sarahkinchelow); what to do when you've been flagged by accident (?!?), (by 1OnceUponARoom); and a brief question about how RME (revolution money exchange) works, (by lusterbunny).

Since I'm a compulsive lurker & clicker, through these posts I've found two shops that I think are just FABULOUS. =*^.^*= You should totally take a look at 1OnceUponARoom's Shop... here's a mini :::


And lusterbunny's shop mini:

There's a LOT of new Etsy news !

First off, there are some huge debates about graphic design flying around the forums. They were all over the front page of the Etsy forum main today, (it seems the debating has abated for this evening).

Secondly, and this is HOTHOTHOT- the changes to the Search & Category systems has been IMPLEMENTED! You can read a forum post about it here, and the Storque article here.

Etsy admin are also asking for your input about what you LOVE and HATE about PayPal. Chime in with your opinions by clicking here & commenting in this forum thread. (Ignore the "double post" information- there *was* a previous post, but the answers have been counted already & this new one started).

As per usual, there are some wonderful debates going on in the Etsy forums about another new change... "Report this post" link on each and every post in the Etsy forums. You can sign your name with a "yay" or "nay" on this forum thread, and read about the change straight from admin here.

Always something new going on over in EtsyLand. =~.^=

Something Interesting!

I heard about this from Crazy Times Candles & Bath Company. Drop me a comment with your email if you'd like me to send you an invitation to try it out. *grins*

(Click the link to see her comprehensive post about this new online service).

(Click here to see her kickbutt Etsy shop!)

Suggestions for those having problems loading images

From our very own RevolvingDork! Click here to figure out what's going on. WOO!

Added by me- his reasons are pretty much universal, no matter *where* you're uploading the pictures to.

You can view my addition on Page 2. *grins*

Ultimate guide to "Newbie" (or not so newbie) Questions

sagittariusgallery put together this GIGANTIC FAQ to help all Etsy users- it's very big, but well organized. =*^.^*=

It is a definite MUST read for Etsyians!

On another note, I have links to many places of Etsy interest under my "Awesome Links" header. The Etsy Wiki is linked there, as well as the Etsy Blog, and the Etsy FAQ. (I just realized I need to put in a link to the D&D's [do's & don'ts] in my list- it'll be there shortly!). There are also many other cool sites & blogs of interest. *grins*

Acronym and Odd Words Tutorial- Making Your Life Easier.

I've been seeing a lot of questions about acronyms, and "odd" words, and what the meanings of things are on Etsy. I thought I'd start a list, and keep adding to it as I see more questions. =^.^= Each entry in the list is in alphabetical order.

ATC - Art Trading Card

ACEO - Art Cards, Editions & Originals

Blog/Blogging - "or weblog, an online journal or diary." (Source: Wikipedia; link).

"A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order.

Blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of most early blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual although some focus on photographs (photoblog), sketchblog, videos (vlog), or audio (podcasting), and are part of a wider network of social media.

The term "blog" is a portmanteau, or, in other words, a blend of the words web and log (Web log). "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog." (Source: Wikipedia; link).

CCCOE - meaning coming soon.

Convo / Conversations - A method of communication exclusive to the Etsy website. Similar to email, but run & hosted by Etsy. (Source: ZenithJade; image).

DA - deviantART

Etsy - "...is an on-line marketplace for artists and crafters to sell their works. Officially, it is "Your place to buy and sell all things handmade." Etsy is a venue, not a retailer; it is collection of independent shops, each run by a different artisan." (Source: EtsyWiki; link).

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

OOAK - One Of A Kind

PIF - Pass It Forward (Similar to RAK). (Source: Etsy Forums; link).

RAK - Random Act of Kindness

SASE - Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope

SRAJD - Self-Representing Artist Jewelry Designer (Source: BrackenDesigns; link).

Street Teams - Street Teams are forces of nature, (ok, really forces of Etsy =~.^=), where we work as a smaller group to promote Etsy & ourselves. Street Teams are also a great way to network, and meet new artsy people. *grins* It's really like a "Business Club," but a lot more fun. The Etsy site has a page for joining Street Teams, but it has been down for a while. Hopefully it will be back up soon! (Source: ZenithJade; link).

TRIF - TRade It Forward

WIST - Wisconsin Street Team (Source: Etsy Street Teams; WIST blog).

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One of the best definitions & explanations of what Etsy is, and our terminology from Wikipedia.

Here's a link to the "Official Etsy Acronym List."
Community Resources on the Etsy Wiki.
The Etsy FAQ.
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If you have an acronym or word that you'd like me to place in this FAQ, please comment and let me know! I'm a researching fiend so I'll also do my best to help you find out what things mean. =*^.^*=