Hiatus over

I had taken some time off since my last writing to both work on researching how I should go about getting my store into public view and also to plan my gardens for the spring/summer. While the former task seems like it will never be complete, the latter is pretty much done. My gardens are on paper, now I just have to order plants and seeds and wait on the weather. I can't wait to get my hands back in the dirt. I know along with it, there will be a lot of back breaking work for at least a month, but also a lot of inspiration and enjoyment. I can't wait to see the first flowers and taste the first tomatoes and peppers and bring in a head of lettuce for the freshest salads possible.

I have learned a TON in the past two weeks about how to get myself out there in a new and constantly changing market. I've acquired an ArtFire account, which I'm looking forward to trying out in addition to my Etsy store. I signed up for the $7/month for the rest of your life promotion that's going on right now and you should too!

I've gathered all sorts of Twitter tools and I've more than quadrupled my followers in the past 24 hours and even though I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, it's easier than it was to keep up with followers and those I'm following with some of these tools.

I've also learned a lesson about how it all works that I never dreamed of. Sites like Etsy and ArtFire have brought sort of a revolution or maybe renaissance to the handcrafted market. I started out thinking I would need to hide my personality from my store, keeping it strictly business and using third person descriptions when writing things like store policies and such to really create a brand. As it turns out, the opposite is true. While I don't intend to link anyone to my Facebook or personal LiveJournal accounts, as I understand it, the Etsy and ArtFire models are just as much about social networking as they are about the business. There's a new age where it's ok for customers to know their artisans personally that help them make a better connection to the product or brand. I think someone in business finally realized that the products of artists are pieces of the artists themselves and that it's OK and even helpful to get to know the artisan behind the artwork. It's finally OK to run a business with an artisan's mindset. It's certainly a refreshing concept since all along I've thought I was going to have to force an unnatural business persona in order to sell my work. It's nice to know I can be myself and still find customers to connect with.

Now to just get back to work and give them something to connect with. With the sunny, warm(er) weather today, I'm feeling the spring colors of peridot, lavender amethyst and pale golden citrine. After a good run and maybe some playtime outside for my son, it's to the bench with me for the rest of the day.