POLL RESULTS - sale preferences

I hosted a short poll on this blog a few days ago. Here's the results!

POLL:
What kind of sale floats your boat (items in my shop):

20% Off - 6 votes (21%)
Free Shipping - 16 votes (57%)
Buy 2 Get One Free - 2 votes (7%)
Free Gift w/ Purchase - 1 vote ( 3%)
Buy 1 Get 1 Half Off - 3 votes ( 10%)
28 voters total

57% want free shipping!
I know this was only a short poll, and really doesnt speak for everyone, but it DOES tell me something. People don't like to pay for shipping!

This is why I'm having a FREE SHIPPING SALE in my shop this week! HOORAY!

If you didn't get to take the poll when it was up, comment below and let me know YOUR favorite kind of sale. Thanks!

Behind the scenes...studio

What's going on behind the scenes at the PopkoShop?

Make, make, make...This is my main studio table in the middle of the room. See that nice moroccan inspried board? I jigsawed that for myself. I use several boards like this to work on, and it makes it easier to move things around the studio.
I love when I can take photos of multiples. These are my real butterfly wing necklaces. I found a new wing to use this week, its black and white and has really delicate lines. I'm always happy to have something new happen. If you look carefully, you can see that I sign/etch everyone of them on the back. My dad always says "sign your work!!!!". He's also been known to date everything. We had a banana with a date on it once. Our toothbrushes use to be scribed with our names. He has batteries that say 1983 on them. He dates his sharpee markers with other sharpee markers. (Im getting off topic, but really, he's just so entertaining.)

make, make, make...SHIP!

New Glass Necklaces!

Today I am so thrilled to debut my colorful drops of glass and fun new ball chain necklaces! They seem to wiggle and move, and have more body than the sterling silver chains- which make them fun to photograph!
I haven't been focusing on the glass aspect of my business for a while, only because I have had some pretty big orders coming my way (well big for me!) in the butterfly jewelry department. I've got wholesale and brides and custom requests coming along, and forget about everything else when I get into that production mode. Which isnt a good idea! I find that whatever I focus on, sells best. Seems obvious, but its easy to forget. It can be hard to juggle different mediums, fusing glass in a kiln, making butterfly jewelry, pouring glitter rings. I have to remember to balance them. I am a libra and all.

Luckily, Ive got some NEW ball chains to offer with or without the pendants - glass is BACK and more fun than ever! Heres a fun pink one, kind of looks like candy to me. I only have one pink one for the fun of it, and have a lot of silver and black and gloden brass,

the more standard colors.

I thought this one would be a fun color splash in the spirit of valentines day

and all that lovey dovey stuff.

Are you more inclined to buy a pendant if it comes on a chain?

My new project, etsy glass blog

photo by aekeith

There has been a changing of the guard for the Etsy Glass Artists, sort of. The guard hasnt quite transferred, it more or less kicked us into super-teamwork mode. The two leaders that worked their hearts out for the team have decided to step away from the ega. Its been a busy week, picking up where they left off. Willowglass & Shoozles had spent sleepless nights and restless days working for the team, coordinating sales, writing the newsletter, managing the website, buying ads, wrangling the team together for everything. Theres probably not enough space in a blog to write down everything they have done for our team. So all I can really say now is THANK YOU.

(heres the new blog banner I made from a previous graphic, what do you think?)

So now that they are working independently again, the rest of the gang is working together to keep it going. I have volunteered to work with WildSageLampwork/Pam, to get the blog together, add content etc. We hadn't realy utilized our blogger account, so its starting from scratch basically. She's awesome, and knows what she's doing too!

We are enabling all the members to post when they want, and about anything. It should be interesting!

Beacuse of Pam, our blog is now hosting a group giveaway for One World One Heart.

WANT TO WIN SOME GLASS GOODIES?

Head over to the new Etsy Glass Artists blog and see whats new and to be entered into the drawing. All you have to do is leave comment on the EGA blog. 5+ Glass Gals have donated items to be given away, possibly to YOU!

So once you get there, take the poll, look around, tell me what you think? What would YOU like to see over there?

Whole world in my hands...or shop rather.

Yes! Its TRUE! With Google Analytics for our etsy shops, we can now see where our traffic is coming from. It fascinates me, I can't get enough of it. This is a little graphic from the frist 13 days of having it installed. Thank you to everyone around the world who has come to my shop to see what I make. (Even if you just clicked by accident, you still saw my stuff so I'm still happy!)

1,168 visits from 44 countries! WOW!

677 Different cities around the world!

In my little shop!

Who's representin'?
Finland, France, Israel, Canada, US, Netherlands, Philippines, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Cyprus, Peru, Guam, Norway, Bosnia, Chile, Poland, Honduras, South Korea, Turkey, New Zealand...to just name a few.
Hello World!

New Graphics on Etsy Homepage?

The lovely graphics have been rotating on the front page this evening. I feel like a regular Columbo. Anyone know the reference (or just me and my mother)?

And they just keep coming! I think its a psychology test, a Rorschach test, if you will...

What do you think?

(Are you a seller or a buyer?)

Behind the Scenes...Etsy spotting on Apartment Therapy

I LOVE apartment therapy. The name says a lot, its my therapy when I want to just browse smart ideas. I love home decor and solutions, and theres a lot to look through on this site. Take a quick peek, after reading this of course, and see what I'm talking about. Also scroll down to the bottom to see other sites that are just as delicious, like re-nest and ohdeedoh. FUN!

Heres some shots taken inside the Etsy HQ in Brooklyn NY, by Maxwell of AT. I know I have a lot of etsy readers, so I thought you might like this. This, does not look like the Martha Stewart craft room! What a mess! It looks more like mine, oh dear...

Below is the place that they held the classes, which are being discontinued soon. They have decided to put ther efforts towards more (possible lucrative) online ventures. Swell idea, I say. I have always wanted to open my own place for things like this, hosting classes by different people. Or a place people could rent out.
To see more photos, there a complete slideshow over on AT. Check it out and see more behind-the-scenes shots here.

Ciao! Miss PoPkO

My 3 Year Etsyversary!

Lets CELEBRATE!

I almost missed it but remembered in the knick of time! It was even written in my dayplanner (I should read it daily, huh). Happy anniversary tooo meeeee! Having my own etsy shop been a total life changing element and Ive really been enjoying making and learning every step of the way. Heres a few fun celebration and work and anniversary things Ive found on etsy to make it look like a party around here.

photo above: paper garlands by lizziebean

Firecracker photograph by
LeslieWilliamsArt

At this rate, I'll be old and wrinkly and still buying and selling on etsy. Why not?

Keepsake ceramic ring dish by SugarStreetCafe

Gorgeous fire cracker scarf by emmasbears It really warms you with a bright pop of color.

And dont forget, this is the bottom line. This is probably how I got to where I am.

Work hard and be nice to people vinyl wall decal by TastySuite

Cheers! To many more!

Full Moon Ski

I went on my first full moon ski on Jan 12 and it was FUN! I love to cross country ski, and as you can see, I rarely have both skis on the ground at once... oh, I was just hamming it up for the camera. We went out to the reservoir and followed the public footpaths. Its paved and plowed since it leads to the citys water supplies. There is a main road that cuts right down the middle of the reservoir, and looks like the arctic plains. Once it was dusk, I couldnt see the ground very well. There were a few clouds and kept getting darker. We had headlamps just in case, but didnt quite need them. Our eyes adjusted to the darkness and were able to keep at a quick pace. We did a big loop and headed home. Refreshing!

Where are YOU &what do YOU do for wintertime fun?

Lantern Festival

If there are small ways that I could describe who I am, heres a video of something that mesmerizes me, and totally excites me. The color and sounds and the sheer scope of these paper lanterns heading off into the sky is just like a dream. Khom Fai are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.

This is a clip of the Yi Peng Lantern festival in Thailand. Its so magical and beautiful I think I've watched this movie 12 times already. Oh someday I will have to go (its held in Nov). Here's an in depth description about the origins of Loy Krathong (the festival) in case you would like to go someday too.

While researching these glowing delights, I found that today (or yesterday) is the end of the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated with a different kind of "Lantern Festival". Chinese New Year this year is Jan 26th.

"According to the Chinese tradition, at the very beginning of a new year, when there is a bright full moon hanging in the sky, there should be thousands of colorful lanterns hung out for people to appreciate. At this time, people will try to solve the puzzles on the lanterns and eat yuanxiao (glutinous rice ball) and get all their families united in the joyful atmosphere." source Read more about the Chinese origins and traditions on wikipedia.