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| Peace Pendant |
Showing posts with label Etsy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Etsy. Show all posts
February 11, 2018
Inspiration: Peace Pendant
July 13, 2017
Shop Sale!
Enjoy $10 off orders of $25+ when you apply XMASINJULY at Etsy checkout - excludes writing services.
Visit my shop: emeraldcut.etsy.com
June 25, 2017
April 23, 2017
We Did It!
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| via Instagram |
A belated thank you for helping me reach 1,000 sales on Etsy! It's been a long time coming, but the wait was worth it. Crazy that 1,000 pieces of my jewelry, wedding goods, and writing services are out there - all over the world. As a deeply private person, this milestone was met with a humble gasp and a giddy half-grin. Again, thank you from the bottom of this excited mama's heart.
April 03, 2017
March 10, 2017
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| Gypsy Fleur Brass Necklace |
Huge weekend jewelry sale!
Take 35% off jewelry* when you apply SPRINGJOY at Etsy checkout. *Valid only on jewelry purchases. Enjoy, and happy weekend! Enter my shop here.
February 05, 2017
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and the sweetly minimalist bracelet shown below is ready to ship! In addition, I have a handful of unique garnet jewelry for lovers of all things red or romantic. See more in my Etsy shop.
November 14, 2016
Life As I Know It
If you've been wondering where I've been over the last few months, this is it. Babyland! Our sweet (and feisty) daughter was born earlier this fall. With her birth, the magnitude felt has been extremely intense, intoxicatingly overwhelming, and yes, VERY exhausting. Motherhood is nothing like I'd imagined. It's indescribably harder. But as the tears streamed down my face, a smile also curled up at the corners of my lips. Each day, she grows. The next day builds upon the prior, and we'll never get this moment back again. Little Baby A., you are loved like no other.
In shop news, I've reopened with limited ready-to-ship stock. Check it out here.
August 15, 2016
August's Birthstone: Peridot
August jewelry for sale in shop
Peridot is one of my favorite stones to wear and work with. So much so that my first engagement ring was indeed peridot! Ranging from a glassy lime color to an earthy olive green, the moody mystique of peridot is in its characteristic "glow," which is absolutely spellbinding. Peridot is also August's traditional birthstone.
The peridot beauties shown above are available for purchase in shop. Complimentary gift wrapping is always included. On that note, have a wonderful week!
March 10, 2016
The Creative Journey
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| via Earmark.etsy.com |
These pencils are just as appropriate for the creative journey as they are for the open-road journey. I love the creative possibilities in each phrase here, which can be interpreted in many ways for the artist, traveler, writer - journey takers all around.
September 25, 2015
Inspiration: Etsy Finds
Here is a photo of the latest finds from my Etsy list, Stunning Handmade. I especially love the Humanity wall banner from The Wandering Orion. It is difficult for me to grasp, as an American, how insane the Syrian refugee crisis is in Europe, but the images will haunt me forever. To help out, I have added a donation option for my charity items to benefit GlobalGiving's Syrian Refugee Relief Fund. Thank you for your support.
See my donation items here.
August 20, 2015
Psst...Weekend Sale
I am ready for the weekend. How about you? Hopefully I can make the weekend productive and sit down at my jewelry-making desk long enough to create some fall pieces. Until then, take 15% off selected items in my shop; coupon code is valid this weekend only--information is in the image above. Enjoy!
P.S. If you are interested in the photo above, it is from the old schoolhouse in Locke, CA. The town, now a historic landmark, was founded in 1915 by Chinese immigrants, and is located in the Sacramento delta area. Locke is unique in that it was the only all-Chinese town in America, ever. Other Chinese American settlements, including Chinatowns, are ethnic enclaves located within already established cities or towns--whereas the town of Locke was built from the bottom-up by its ethnic-specific inhabitants. Currently, the Chinese population in Locke is fewer than 10 people (likely descendants of original pioneers).
I will try to post photos soon from our recent trip. Locke is a rad little ramshackle town...complete with a lively biker bar.
January 03, 2015
A Note on Plagiarists
I am exceedingly frustrated after recently running into my own copycat. A few days ago, I learned that my professional writing services, which are offered only through my EmeraldCut | The Introverted Writer Etsy shop, have been plagiarized by another seller on the site (whom I have reported to Etsy*). This act of plagiarism infringes upon my intellectual property, as this seller has copy and pasted my writing service's listing descriptions directly into their shop listings and used my words as their own--including changing words around, deleting a word and injecting their own in its place, and even keeping entire phrases, sentences, and timelines that I myself have developed over time as a professional writer.
As you know, integrity and honesty matter a lot to me personally and as a seller/writer. I take great pride in crafting quality writing services for my clients, and have even documented the evolving process in this blog. With a Master's degree, I possess the academic training to clearly articulate the words that oftentimes do not readily present themselves, allowing for a well-crafted written work. In other words, I hold my writing to an extremely high standard, and do not take this plagiarism lightly. A cease and desist letter has been emailed to the plagiarist to remove my words--this is a resolution that will not need Etsy's intervention. Etsy has a stringent intellectual property policy, so in this cease and desist letter, I have clearly outlined the issue at hand and strongly encouraged this seller to remove my writing from their site before Etsy becomes legally involved.
Unfortunately, I am not alone in being plagiarized. If you'd like to help spread the word about this widespread issue, please share this blog entry on your social media accounts.
*An Etsy seller's intellectual property is clearly protected under Etsy's Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy, which you can read here.
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UPDATE #1 (1/4, noon):
The plagiarist seller has claimed innocence, stating that any "inadvertent overlap" is coincidental. He/she has only deleted the words, phrases, and sentences that I have pointed out are my intellectual property. Copying and pasting someone else's writing to use as a template (and retaining its ideas) is stealing--it is not an "inadvertent overlap"! I've forwarded this correspondence to Etsy's legal and integrity departments as further evidence.
UPDATE #2 (1/4, 11pm):
After six exhausting emails back and forth, the plagiarizing seller has finally changed some of his shop listings' wording, but has still kept certain phrases and words of mine (the latter of which have retained the same all-capital-letters emphasis that I placed on them in my own listing descriptions!) that I didn't directly point out. This means that he is still plagiarizing my work.
The fact that the plagiarist's listing descriptions have been changed multiple times upon my insistence (via a cease and desist letter) is strong evidence for my case that this seller has copied my writing and attempted to claim my words as his own. If there was no question of plagiarism, then this seller would have no need to edit any of his listings' writing--and I would not be in this situation, pursuing this case. In truth, it was because of the cease and desist letter that any changes were made at all. This case will still be sent to Etsy legal for investigation.
UPDATE #3 (1/5-1/6):
I've sent the evidence and filed a formal complaint pertaining to this case to Etsy legal for investigation, and am awaiting their reply. If Etsy finds plausible evidence in my favor, then the plagiarist's shop will either be shut down, or its listing descriptions removed entirely.
FINAL UPDATE (1/8-1/9):
Etsy has removed the plagiarist seller's listings that contained my intellectual property--which specifically included layout, subheadings, sentence structure, wording, word usage, use of the same all-caps format for specific words in subheadings and in sentences, and thought process. And this was evidence of plagiarism that was left after I had contacted the seller three times (plus sent the letter) to remove my writing from his listings.
The formal complaint filed against this seller for copyright and intellectual property infringement will permanently remain in Etsy's system, so if attempts are made to plagiarize my writing again, I am certain that Etsy will take appropriate action on my behalf. As for myself, I have saved all correspondence and documents pertaining to this case, since I have no qualms with updating and resending evidence--if the need arises, and if this seller strikes again (which he has). I will refrain from additional documentation of this particular case because the information I have posted here has been, for lack of a better phrase, used for further plagiarism (thanks for the sleuthing, Google Analytics).
It's the integrity of my writing and ideas that I am maintaining here. These words and ideas are not only what I wrote--they also originated with me; I edited them meticulously over the years, and it is my right as an Etsy seller per Etsy policy to fight against any plagiarists. Any person who does not understand what plagiarism is needs to remember how they obtained the information. In this specific case, if the writing is copied and pasted DIRECTLY from another online source, and then some words are added and others deleted to suit the plagiarist's own agenda--but particular keywords, sentences, phrases, and emphases that the original writer wrote remain--then it is still plagiarism. This is basic English and Writing 101 information, nothing new.
Thank you, Etsy, for fully supporting your sellers' intellectual property, completing this case in such a timely manner, and for trying to maintain a high standard of professionalism and integrity on your site. However, please work on backing your long-time sellers in the long-run by protecting their copyright and intellectual property in all cases of plagiarism.
Thank you too, to those who have supported me in this fight.
This is a widespread issue, so please spread the word!
April 22, 2014
Etsy Front Page
So excited to have been featured in Etsy's front page Treasury yesterday! I was actually so used to not being on the front page (this is only the third time it's happened) that when I logged in, I was confused as to why my item was there. A computer glitch? An overlooked error? Nope.
In celebration of this little event, I'm offering 30% off all finished jewelry in my Etsy shop (like the gorgeous gem featured on the front page)--offer excludes donation and destash jewelry. No coupon code is needed, since the discount will be applied via PayPal after purchase. Hurry, for this impromptu sale ends soon!
Thanks all, for your support...
May 18, 2013
Treasury: Red and White
Came across the above Treasury this week, and thought it was so unique and timely--and not to mention, filled with such glorious vintage and vintage-inspired designs.
May 07, 2013
Indoor Decor: Memories
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| Left to right: Creamer with spout: stayarthomemom Organic white bud vase: honeyandheat Tall brown vase: StoneworksPottery |
(In the white bud vase is a portion of the dried thyme bouquet from our yard, which I blogged about here. The doily is from a local brick-and-mortar teashop/antiques shop.)
I've never been much of an interior decorator in any sense of the word, so when I saw that these pottery pieces fit well together--in an eclectic sort of way, it genuinely made my day. It's kind of like life in that respect...a mish-mash of occurrences and daily routines that are not outwardly connected in any meaningful or tangible way. That is, until something interesting happens, and you see that each step taken has gradually lead you to your current situation, your current frame of reference.
I realize that it's probably not a good idea to compare life to the accumulation of things, since life is immeasurable and priceless, and commodities, well, always have a price on their heads. However, in this life, we accumulate things that we place value on, whether it be intrinsic or overt, so commodities are, in a way, a somewhat accurate measurement of our lives, revealing what we hold dear. In an instant here; in an instant gone--but always an insight into the lives left behind.
February 20, 2013
Etsy Shopping Tips
Want to shop handmade and indie? New to Etsy shopping? With all the shop choices, do you need some tips on which shops to purchase from? This succinct guide, a culmination of what I've learned over the past two-plus years while being both an Etsy buyer and seller, EmeraldCut, is designed to help you make decisions such as these.
1. Always read a shop's Policies Page before purchase, and if you want, the About Page.
If there is nothing typed in this section, you are at a loss of knowledge that may affect your purchase from that shop, such as shipping method(s), returns policy, and general information regarding the product. Keep in mind that some sellers have typed their policies into the Shop Announcement in the shop homepage (i.e.: www.shopname.etsy.com). The About Page is voluntary, and can be accessed under the Shop Info category on the left-hand side of a shop's homepage.
2. Shops with the most sales are not necessarily the shops with the best product.
Some of my favorite items have been purchased from shops with under 100 sales. Give these shops a chance, and you may find that the experience is entirely positive. Smaller shops also may respond to inquiries quicker, with more in-depth answers, than larger shops due to volume--which leads me to the next tip...
3. If you have a question regarding a product, always feel free to contact the buyer.
If the buyer does not respond to your inquiries (please kindly give the buyer a few days to respond), then it may be best to: 1. Contact again, and/or 2. Give your business to another shop. As proper etiquette, it is in my opinion that the consumer should always have their questions answered. (See #8 for inquiry etiquette.)
4. Read the Shop Announcement for discounts/sales, vacation notice, affiliated social media sites, etc.
The shop Announcement, located at the shop's homepage, is a wealth of information for buyers. Many times it contains a coupon code, a sale notice, and/or a vacation notice--the latter stating when the buyer will be on vacation and for how long, which affects when orders are shipped out. On top of that, buyers state their social media sites in this general area. These social media outlets oftentimes have coupon codes, sneak peeks of new items, and other pertinent information listed in them, so check them out.
5. Purchase from a shop that fits not only your aesthetic, but also your values.
Some shops push the envelope in terms of aesthetic; others definitely feel more part of the norm. I advise you not to purchase from shops that go against your beliefs. For example, I do not believe in accentuating sexuality in order to push sales, so I will never purchase from a shop that employs sexuality to "sell" their work. Would you feel comfortable walking into the shop if it were a brick and mortar? Follow that sixth sense because the model(s) reflect the vision of the person/people who create the items.
6. ALWAYS read seller feedback!
I cannot stress this point enough: reading feedback written by buyers is important. Yes, there are some truly unneeded, rude comments, but there are also some helpful ones, too. Seller feedback will tell you about the quality of shop's products, the presentation/packing as well as shipping, and/or experiences with the seller from the buyer's perspective. If there are many negative comments (and by this, I don't mean outright rude or snarky) regarding these aspects, it is a glaring red flag that buying from the shop could potentially signal trouble for you.
7. Carefully read the shop listing(s) description that you are interested in, and examine the images.
Not saying to be nit picky or overly critical, but if the images are taken in very low light, where little detail can be seen, there may be more than meets the eye to the quality of the product. If the shop listing description below the image(s) is very short and non-descriptive, either: 1. Email the seller if you're interested, or 2. Skip it. Personally, as a seller, I am very honest and thorough with my product descriptions because I want my customers to be satisfied with their potential purchase. This makes the description lengthy and long-winded, but my goal is for buyers to know exactly what they are purchasing and will be receiving, if they choose to buy from my shop. In other words, you don't want a surprise in the mail--so to speak.
8. When you contact a seller, please be courteous and descriptive in your inquiry.
Sellers are people, too. If we do not understand what you are asking about, we cannot read your mind. Also, mind the time difference and the fact that many of us have full-time jobs and busy lives outside of Etsy, so we will respond to your inquiry as soon as we possibly can. Being courteous does not have to entail constant "pleases" and "thank yous"--it means respecting others and treating them like you'd like to be treated: kindly and professionally.
9. Etsy is a collection of sellers, and not a brand name--
so do not expect all shops to created equal. There is a wide array of items and quality on Etsy. Unfortunately, I have seen some, for lack of a better phrase, shady-looking shops, many of which sell haphazardly-made products from cheap materials, with sleek photography and rock-bottom pricing as the icing on the proverbial cake. If you want a cheap product that will most likely not last you long, then by all means purchase from these types of shops. However, if you're looking for quality, read #1 and #7 of this list for tips. There are also some exceptional shops on Etsy, where you can tell buyers have done their research on their incorporated materials, their work pieces of art. Shopping "American-made" bolsters our economy, although overseas shops may be cheaper.
10. If you have questions or concerns on a general Etsy topic, check out the Forums here.
The Forums are generally where sellers voluntarily discuss their experiences with Etsy--if this has piqued your curiosity, the Forums may be of interest to you.
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If you found this guide to be helpful, please share it with others! Just kindly remember to link/cite it back to my blog. Comments, as always, are always welcome.
February 13, 2013
February 06, 2013
Etsy Search Ads
Not to complain too much, but Etsy Search Ads are definitely a bust! At least for my shop. Shown above are the abysmal stats of my most recent (month long) foray into Search Ad territory: out of over 6,000 (specific shop listing) impressions, these specific items only had 44 views, 5 favorites, and no sales. I genuinely don't know why I continue to buy into it.
Wishful thinking = Poor pocketbook
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Etsy, please bring back the Showcase option!
February 10, 2012
All Things Golden and Warm...
All things golden-hued and warm, I am drawn to.
A subtle glow, an inner radiance...
Something preferable functional, vintage, or just plain unique.
Handmade and a story behind it makes the find even better.
Truth: I didn't want to bore you with my new milk glass fascination.
Here are some of my favorite golden, warm items on Etsy:
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| From: ImpulseART |
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| From: dadamietz |
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| From: pillowsophi |
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| From: metalmorphoz |
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| From: jansonpottery |
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| From: SerendipityGemstones |
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| From: ChaoticHarmonyCafe |
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| From: TheHiddenChamber |
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| From: HelloVioleta |
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