Back here for a moment to announce the new website, in case anyone moseys over here to the blog and doesn't realize that I did decide to go ahead and launch a new site. I found a great web designer - The Cutest Site on the Block (www.thecutestsiteontheblock.com)- who was super easy to work with, and that made all the difference in deciding to go ahead now instead of waiting.
So anyway...the new site is www.chbeads.com - please come over and take a look!
Not sure yet if I'll continue this blog - it was originally just going to be a place I could post and sell from until I got a site going. I'm going to leave it up for awhile in case I decide to keep a blog separately from the website.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Progress...
Not selling yet, but I'm trying to put many things in place toward that end...
During my absence my old domain name (valentineglass.com) expired and some reseller snatched it up, thus I no longer own it (and I refuse to pay a crazy price to get it back). So my new business name and eBay seller ID will be "catherinehowardbeads." I may also have an Etsy shop, we'll see...I have reserved Catherine Howard Beads (catherinehowardbeads.etsy.com) there in case I go in that direction.
In 2006, when I took my leave from beadmaking, the issue of "artist-made" vs. "designed by an artist and produced by a young girl in China" was becoming more of a problem. More and more importers were listing beads on eBay as "artist-made" which was not only misleading, but unfair to customers who may not have realized that they were not supporting a local artisan. To educate customers and protect glass artists, the "SRA" (self-representing artists) cooperative was established - extending memberships once the group verifies that you, and you alone, make the beads you represent as hand-made by you. So I sort of missed the boat on getting an SRA membership when I left, and that's another thing I am catching up on. I applied for membership but it will take a few weeks for that to come through.
As far as a new website, I'm trying to decide how I want to proceed with that...and I really need to make some sales first so I can pay the bills! In the meantime I am gearing up for a re-entry into eBay, as well as offering beads here on this blog for now...once I decide what to offer where I'll add pricing and purchase information here.
These are deep red "nuggets" with fine silver leaf and jet black accents. (SOLD)
During my absence my old domain name (valentineglass.com) expired and some reseller snatched it up, thus I no longer own it (and I refuse to pay a crazy price to get it back). So my new business name and eBay seller ID will be "catherinehowardbeads." I may also have an Etsy shop, we'll see...I have reserved Catherine Howard Beads (catherinehowardbeads.etsy.com) there in case I go in that direction.
In 2006, when I took my leave from beadmaking, the issue of "artist-made" vs. "designed by an artist and produced by a young girl in China" was becoming more of a problem. More and more importers were listing beads on eBay as "artist-made" which was not only misleading, but unfair to customers who may not have realized that they were not supporting a local artisan. To educate customers and protect glass artists, the "SRA" (self-representing artists) cooperative was established - extending memberships once the group verifies that you, and you alone, make the beads you represent as hand-made by you. So I sort of missed the boat on getting an SRA membership when I left, and that's another thing I am catching up on. I applied for membership but it will take a few weeks for that to come through.
As far as a new website, I'm trying to decide how I want to proceed with that...and I really need to make some sales first so I can pay the bills! In the meantime I am gearing up for a re-entry into eBay, as well as offering beads here on this blog for now...once I decide what to offer where I'll add pricing and purchase information here.
These are deep red "nuggets" with fine silver leaf and jet black accents. (SOLD)
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