Metalsmiths In Action: April 2009

Apr 30, 2009

MSIA MOTHER'S DAY SEEK & FIND CONTEST

Team Metalsmiths In Action Etsy

is having a
Seek, Find & Win Contest,
starting Friday, May 1st through Sunday, May 10th
(or when all prizes have been given away, whichever comes first!)

How to play:

First, find all three of the hidden Rose images hidden within the below shops.

Second, send a message to wireddesign with the following information:

1. Links to all three items with the Rose image
2. Prize choice (first, second, and third choice)
(first come, first serve on the prizes)
3. Address to mail the prize to

No purchase necessary!

Here is the list of the participating stores
AND the prizes up for grabs:

Apr 29, 2009

NEW WORK WEDNESDAY! APRIL 26-29

Quench Metalworks

Just in time for Mother's Day! www.quenchmetalworks.etsy.com

Sassy Glass Jewelry

Summertime Bling! www.sassyglassjewelry.etsy.com

Shelby Evans

Spring Stackers! www.shelbyevans.etsy.com

Creations By Cat

Oh Daisy! www.creationsbycat.etsy.com

Chrissi Lynn

Beautiful Agate! www.chrissilynn2.etsy.com

Christina Hurley

A Butterfly to Envy! www.cphurley.etsy.com

Apr 28, 2009

Today's MSIA Featured Seller

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

*** TeamMSIA Featured Seller ***

Http://Toosis .etsy.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Apr 27, 2009

Today marks the start of my Monday tutorial postings. To be quite honest with you, this past week flew by and left me with no time to prepare a proper metalsmithing tutorial. Since the one thing we all do is photograph our work, I decided to start here. Your photos have less than 2 seconds to draw a potential buyer in...to make that first click. Also, properly photographed and cropped photos will be the ones that make it into the sought after treasuries. So, as a warm-up exercise for myself, a refresher for us all, and perhaps new and exciting information along the way, my first tutorial will highlight the must do's, have's and don'ts of jewelry photography.

The very first don't: don't use the flash! Camera flashes wash out colors, creates sharp reflections on your metal, and quite frankly, appears very amatuer-ish. DO purchase (or make) a light tent or table top photo studio. I got mine (pictured below) at Amazon.com for a very reasonable price that also included two lights, 1GB memory card, a tripod, and all sorts of care supplies for my camera. And your camera must have a macro option...a lens capability that allows for up-close photographing. No fancy camera is needed. Many companies sell cameras around $150 with adequate macro. I personally have a Canon A530. The lag time between shots is rather long, but my subject isn't moving, so I can live with this!

Do find a spot to set up your photo studio, permanently. Locating your studio next to a bright window (not direct sun if possible) is key. Natural light is the best for jewelry photographs. To save space, I set mine up on the bench where my rolling is mounted. Do use a tripod if you are unsteady. Do invest in nice tabletop photo lights if you will be photographing in dark conditions.

DO be consistent with your backgrounds and props. When viewing a shop, customers prefer a harmonious arrangement of colors and textures. Backgrounds can distract or enhance. Love the bright tropical colors of the Bahamas? Awesome, just don't mix in photographs with backgrounds of moody, earthy ochres and mosses. Along with backgrounds, props can create a "story" within your work. What is the story you would like to tell? Nature lovers love jewelry, too? Grandmother's attic is full of surprises? Quiet day by the lake with a good book? You get the idea!!

Have your props ready to go when you are ready to shoot. Above is my current line-up that I am slowly introducing into my photos. By keeping your props gathered together next to your photo studio, you will save time and will be able to list your lovelies sooner than later!

Do crop and play with the brightness and saturation. Sometimes, even in the best conditions, the photo's color and brightness are not as you saw with your own eyes. When cropping your photos, play with these adjustments for optimum results. Also, experience with subject positioning. Sometimes showing a portion of the item will entice the potential customer to click to see more. Follow these simple rules and your Paypal account will thank you!

I welcome any more suggestions in the comments! This has been your Monday Tutorial by Quench Metalworks!!

Today's MSIA Featured Seller

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

*** TeamMSIA Featured Seller ***

Incalesco.etsy.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Apr 25, 2009

WEEKEND DEALS APRIL 24-26

Great Deals for Upcoming Mother's Day!

Jane Deaux

www.janedeaux.etsy.com
**WEEKEND DEAL** Spend $40 and get a set of 3 stacking rings. Let me know your size in message to seller. You can get a gift for someone and one for yourself!

TSmith Design

www.tsmithdesign.etsy.com
15% off all orders!!! And free shipping(To receive discount, mention "Mom" in Message to Seller during checkout).
Sale dates 4-24-09 to 4-28-09.
An extra day because the 28th is my birthday!
Please checkout & pay as usual. I will promptly refund 15% of the
cost of your jewelry back to your account.
FREE SHIPPING TOO!

Sonya Rasi

www.sonyarasi.etsy.com
BUY ANY TWO JEWELRY ITEMS and RECEIVE A FREE PAIR of EARRINGS YOUR CHOICE (value up to $25) Please leave your choice in message to buyer.
FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Sassy Glass Jewelry

THIS WEEKEND ONLY - 20% off everything in shop. Use promotion code "20% off" in note to seller so I can adjust your invoice or refund through PayPal. Now is a good time to shop for Mother's Day !

Apr 24, 2009

Today's TeamMSIA's Featured Seller

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

*** TeamMSIA Featured Seller ***

Http://TerraFirmaStudio.etsy.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Apr 23, 2009

Today's MSIA Featured Seller

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

*** TeamMSIA Featured Seller ***

ChicBeadsByGermaine.etsy.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Apr 17, 2009

WEEKEND DEALS APRIL 17- APRIL 19

GREAT DEALS!

BELLA- BIJOU JEWELLERY

JANE DEUX

www.janedeux.etsy.com
**WEEKEND DEAL** BUY any 2 items and get a free pair of my heart hoop earrings a 26 dollar value, buy 4 items get 2 free. Hearts can also be oxidized (blackened). Let me know in message to seller.

WIRED DESIGN

www.wireddesign.etsy.com
Purchase any two items this weekend and receive a free Sterling Silver "Never Enough" stacking ring!

TSMITH DESIGNS

www.tsmithdesigns.etsy.com
****FREE SPRING EARRINGS*******Special for this weeks weekend deals. April 17th to April 20th. A free pair of Spring time earrings with any purchase.

SASSY GLASS JEWELRY

wwwsassyglassjewelry.etsy.com
*********Buy any ring and get a pendant (tagged as pendant) 1/2 price. Items will be mailed in gift box and gift bag. Sale prices good Sat. and Sun. only.***********

CORY BETHY

www.corybethy.etsy.com
Spend $60 get a $15 gift certificate for your next purchase.
Type in " Free $15" in message to seller

SAMANTHA JEAN DESIGNS

www.samanthajeandesigns.etsy.com
BIRTHDAY SPECIAL! I am offering 10% off everything in my shop today, April 17, thru 11:59 pm April 19. If you are interested in anything in my shoppie just mention '10%' in message to seller when you purchase an item and I will send you a 10% refund thru paypal on the item price.

SONYA RASI

www.sonyarasi.etsy.com
Free Worldwide Shipping!
Buy Any Two Jewelry Items and Receive a Free Pair of Earrings your Choice (maximum value of free earrings $25)
Please leave your choice in note to seller. :-)

Apr 16, 2009

FINAL LIST for Mother's Day Contest

Mother's Day Contest - Starting May 1st

The thought behind these contests is to drive tons of traffic to the shops participating. We'll have a number of images (depending on how many team members that are participating) in different shops (usually incorporated in the second photo of a listing). I will contact the shops individually to ask if they can hide an image in their shop. I will be the only one who knows who they are (and Wired!). Then we'll promote the heck out of the contests on our blogs and also a promotion thread. If you can snag a treasury to promote the contest that's even better! I've also asked if we can have photos of all prizes and rules posted on our team website. That would be the main link that we refer to. I would also encourage everyone participating to post a blurb in their shop announcement with a link to the promotion thread. We'll ask people to find the hidden images and convo their answers to WIRED with their first and second choice of price. Sellers participating will ship directly to the winner. Wired will let the shop who's prize has been won know via convo.

New member are of course welcome to participate! And no, it doesn't have to be something soldered etc. A pair of beaded earrings is more than welcome to participate! If you are participating with a One of A kind item I suggest you make it inactive until the contest or write "Reserved for MSIA hide & Seek contest winner" in title and description. If you're item isn't OOAK you don't have to change anything until the contest starts. And then I only suggest that you add a blurb the contest in the description together with the link to the promotion thread.

The contest will begin Friday May 1st.

I will then post our contest on Mary's weekend deals threads and cross our fingers that we'll be featured! I will let you know what the "official" rules about the contest is before the end of April so that you can use them that on your blogs, facebook etc.

The only thing I ask is that everyone participating can be somewhat active that weekend. Also members who will be asked to hide an image in your shop needs to be available that weekend in case that listing gets sold, so that you hide the photo in a new one or relist and let me know.

Please Copy this as well as the list below, when you add your name to the contest. That way I don't have to answer the same questions multiple times. Thanks guys!

CoryBethy
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18697591

TSmithDesigns
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23368727

DoxalloDesigns
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23457783

Janedeaux
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23587316

Sonyaras
www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20892185

ArcadianDreams
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22574292

SilverMade
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22835391

Markasky
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21297144

EarthyExpressions
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21737838

KelliRene
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22008194

sassyglassjewelry
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20754832

KBerlin
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22398146

LakeErieBeachGlass
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18689858

WiredDesign
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23624280

chicbeadsbygermaine
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14358742

CeceStCroix
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18993064

CreationsbyCat
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22362433

onestonenewyork:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24296858

Quench Metalworks
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23149938

elisasherejewelry
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22567195

Rubyshill
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19661436

JelliesJewelry
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21978749

Toosis
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23357976

Chrissi Lynn Designs
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19162038

Kathryn Cole
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23208437

ShelbyEvans
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23693844

Meltemsem
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23086961

Society of North American Goldsmiths

Apr 30, 2009

MSIA MOTHER'S DAY SEEK & FIND CONTEST

Apr 29, 2009

NEW WORK WEDNESDAY! APRIL 26-29

Apr 28, 2009

Today's MSIA Featured Seller

Apr 27, 2009

Photographing Your Work

Today's MSIA Featured Seller

Apr 25, 2009

WEEKEND DEALS APRIL 24-26

Apr 24, 2009

Today's TeamMSIA's Featured Seller

Apr 23, 2009

Today's MSIA Featured Seller

Apr 17, 2009

WEEKEND DEALS APRIL 17- APRIL 19

Apr 16, 2009

FINAL LIST for Mother's Day Contest

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