PayPal vs. Google

And it's a win for Google.  At least, it does for me...and thousands of other PalPal haters.

I am exclusively using Google Checkout now.  It's been about three months with only a few hiccups. PayPal has lost me for good.  I won't go into my own story, but let's just say between Ebay (officially the devil of "independent" web commerce) and PayPal (Ebay's bitch and the one CURRENTLY holding the torch in web monetary transactions), I was screwed out of nearly two grand. 

My first thought...  Fuck PayPal, I should sue.  But I'm not the litigious type, and of course, I'm not the only one.  There are multiple sites and groups out there with HORRIBLE stories, much worse then mine.  I have had customers who refused to use PayPal due to money being withheld or fraud (that buyer protection ain't so solid), or simple identify theft.  You're dealing with a monopoly of a company who only wants your money.  That's it.  And they really don't care about the buyer or seller.  There was a woman who called them up after not receiving a $10 item on Etsy that was lost in the mail.  The PayPal representative she spoke to on the phone immediately told her to "take action".  But, one simple conversation on Etsy with the seller...all cleared up.  No PayPal involvement, no issues. 

That one little phone call could have ruined someone's business and livelihood.  I was thoroughly shocked when I read some of these stories...

So, I weighed out my options and decided to go with Google Checkout.  It's super secure.  You do have to sign up, but if you have a Gmail account (which EVERYONE should by now) it's a cakewalk.  It's an extra step for me, sending out an invoice after the sale notification, but it helps me to keep better records and it's a little more official, yet personal.  Google Checkout may still be a bit foreign to some, but it's only going to get bigger and better....just like Google itself.  It's a winner.  Oh, and I've personally confirmed that international buyers love Checkout over PayPal.

Next time, why Ebay is a total bastard...

homeless.

Well, my kiln has a new home, but I don't. She's in her new home in Brooklyn. I'm a gypsy for the next month. Then the plan is to be in Eugene by the beginning of June. I've got my pots down to ALMOST 2 bins, maybe another smaller box too. The wheel and tools and going on the top of my friend's Jeep, covered, I doubt anyone is gonna try to get that stuff of the Jeep and it's so high up. We also have things from thetinbox Etsy shop that we need to fit. I'm hoping maybe we could do a flea market or two to get those 2 or 3 boxes down to 1 also. Then it's mostly clothes and a few personal things. I bought Dudley (my Boston terrier) a booster seat so he can see the whole time we are driving...we'll just switch who's got him and it will be good to have him...it will make us stop for more breaks. Otherwise, we plan on camping a lot. I've got the tent and cooler and sleeping bags...it should be all good.

The annoying part is that I'm already missing making work. I've been drawing a lot, but that doesn't help. I know I have a good month or so til I can work again and it's already KILLING me. When I was inventorying my pots earlier today, just feeling them made me want to work...

And, I have so super cool news, but I can't share it yet. HAHAHAHA

So, I'm calling this "day 1" of official start over....

Studio loveliness.

Okay! Etsy featured my studio in their blog, The Storque. So check it out- Studio Envy

Success.

Well, the Pittsfield Art Show was a success. Sold a lot of work, met a lot of nice people, the show was well organized, great weather...what more could you ask for. I came right back and started posting the left over work in my shop and pretty much sold everything as I listed it...crazy! Also sent more work up to the Mountaintop Gallery in Windham, NY for the Journeys in Clay show (which has been extended until August 20th). Tomorrow I'm off to go camping upstate. I won't be closing my shop this time. I've decided to keep it open. If you decide to purchase something, it will be shipped on Wednesday, July 29...same with messages. I'll be camping, so no internet, no replying to emails or conversations. 4 days of no internet, can't wait.

Garden.

This one made it on to the front page of Etsy today. It got 400 views in 2 min. Crazy.

Springtime.

In honor of all those lovely flowers starting to open up in my yard, all my vases have been marked 25% OFF! Click here to see.

Happy Spring!

Pretty penguin.

Here's a new one. I posted him on my Etsy shop today. You can find him here. I made a few of these in different shapes and sizes but, the rest are already spoken for. He's the baby of the bunch and the only one available right now.

My whale made it into 2 great treasuries today. The one above is all artists from the Hudson Valley...where I live. Click the pic to make it larger. You can find the actual treasury right here. A thank you to WrenWillow who was the curator on this one and go check out her shop. Her things are so cute!

And then there is this great treasury by SplishySplashCraft. You can check it out right here. Birds and fish...my favorite!

I'll be posting another new thing tomorrow...can we say rainbows??...

Interview.

Check out my interview on the So Cal Potter's blog. I know I'm not from or living in southern Cali, but hey, he asked and I answered. Anyway, check it out right here. There are a bunch of really great interviews like this one with my buddy Shane Keena or this one with the fabulous Ricky Moldonado...my fellow compulsive surface decorators.I've also posted more newness in my Etsy shop. This is one of my new tripod bowls. And upgrade from my old design.

This one sold shortly after I posted it, but I plan on adding another one similar to it.

OH! And I also made my 1111th sale...actually, I made my 1112th sale today also. But I was so excited to hit 1111. I really like that number. My next goal is 1234...

One more.

Heartstrings...which you can see here. A thank you to Monarchdancer, for featuring my sculptural bird dish with pink...which is also part of my Valentine's Special through Saturday.

Another treasury, another piece.

This little vase made it into a treasury on Etsy today.

Wrapped in Morning Dew Silk. Lovely name. No Dew here in New York's lovely Hudson Valley. Just piles and piles of slushy snow. There are still spots in the yard that are well over 1 ft of snow and I hear our almost 50 degree heat spell is on it's way out. Anyway, a warm thank you to lilysoffering for including me in this collection. You can check it out for real here. You can check out my vase right here. And being that everyone I know is either pregnant or has just given birth, I am particularly fond of littlesaplingtoys. Go check them out.

I've still been working nonstop in the studio. I fired one bisque and I'm finishing work for one more, which I plan on firing Thursday night. So...new work should be out and finished by Sunday. Although, most of it is off to St. Louis, some to Boston, some custom orders and a bunch is being tucked away for a gallery show at the end of April. I'm hoping to have some left to post in my shop. And speaking of my shop, my 10% off Valentine's Day special is still going on. 10% off any thing with red, pink or purple.

Okay, time for the gym...

Treasury loveliness.

How beautiful is this treasury? You can see it for real right here. Thanks to Nina of Kings & Queens who was nice enough to feature my love bird ornaments. You can still get them right here. And, if they sell out, I have 2 more sets available with red eyes, just ask and I'll post a special listing for you.

A whale of time.

I guess he's not really a fish. The tail isn't spread flat like a whale's...

Cute, huh? Made on the wheel in a couple of parts and altered. I have a whole menagerie starting in the studio.

My tray made it to the front page of Etsy this morning. Yay. It's still available right here.I made this little guy out of some felt I had laying around. Dudley likes him.

More animals to come...

Finished.

Everyone really seemed to like these, even before they even saw them finished. So, here is a finished set.Both sets are already sold and I don't have any more. I AM making more...I'm starting today after I write this. I'm still going to make just the solo owls because I prefer making them a little larger. People have also asked about different colors and I have pretty much decided that I will ONLY be making these with green. That color seems to suit them best. I'll also be making more owl vases. I have tons of requests for those as well. Again, as for color? Only blue interiors...Just give me some time. My last couple of kilns have been filled with orders for galleries and shops that carry my work and some special orders from Etsy. I didn't have a lot of time to play around with all the ideas I have drawn out in my sketchbook. I've been toying with the idea of really cutting out most of my "normal" work...like bowls and more simple vases. That will free up some time and some space in the kiln.

ALSO, I'm running a little Valentine's Day special in my Etsy shop. I've marked down everything with red, pink or purple, 10% off. Click here to see! And look at the new addition to the shop...can we say swans?

Be inspired.

That's the name of this wonderful treasury that's on the front page right now...

curated by Rachelaakmama. Thanks Rachel!

There's still time to buy that mug!

Front page love.

I'm on the front page of Etsy again...Sometimes I get a wave of convos telling me that I was included in a treasury and I always snap a screen shot and hope they make it to the front page. But, it's always fun to be surprised and see one pop up of the front page when I haven't seen it before. Good job Ashley for making it to the front! If you haven't seen her work yet, go look! It's a great mix of modern and organic design. If I wore more jewelry (and actually left the house to show it off) I'd get these.

Yowza!

Last night I passed 1,000 sales on Etsy!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my work!

Hand-picked.

I love when I make the front page and it's a hand-picked group. And what a pretty list!

Flashfilm interview.

I forgot to mention that I was interviewed by Flashfilm. Flashfilm is an online magazine from Japan that features fashion, art and interior design. There are a ton of great interviews, a bunch from some great ceramic artists (like Stepanka Horalkova and Kim Westad). Go check out my interview.

Other than that, nothing too exciting to report. I've been shipping work out like crazy. I'm taking this week off from making. I made enough work to fill and fire 2 kilns in the past 2 1/2 weeks...which is insane. I unload the last glaze firing today. Fortunately I was able to save most of the work from this last one for my Etsy shop. I haven't posted these yet, but here's a sneak peak. Also, for the past 500, 600, 700...sales on Etsy, I've given away a free item. This time I've decided to give away a free item with every order until 900 sales. 900 sales is a pretty big deal and I just want give a special thank you to more of my fabulous supporters this time around. Last month was my 2 year anniversary on Etsy. My goal is to hit 1,000 sales by the new year. That would be really awesome.

-Dudley hanging out while I pack up work...looking like Huck Finn with a leaf stem in his mouth.-

Pitcher love.

Yes, true love.

I've been throwing a lot of curvy forms lately. I decided to go more geometric with this pitcher. This was the result. I resurrected my turquoise for this one. I tried to stay away and I just couldn't resist. It just looks so fantastic with the crisp black and white and helps to soften up tighter, more calculated shapes. These are all sitting in the Things that pour section of my shop.

1500°??

WOW. So I guess it's been a while since I've posted. I've been majorly busy in the studio. I'm actually in a bit of a sour mood at the moment. I was firing a ▲10 glaze kiln this afternoon and I was shocked to hear from Jon that the kiln was off after only 4 hours! I immediately thought "what now?!" but then I remembered that I just opened a new box of cones. Aha! ▲010. Someone gave me the wrong box. I checked my invoice to make sure, and it definitely says ▲10. So that was a total waste of energy. Tomorrow it's back to Bailey's to get my proper cones and then I get to start all over again. I'm a bit disappointed as I had a lot of new vases I was pretty excited about seeing. Now I'm going to have to wait 2 extra days.

I did have work included in two treasuries that made Etsy's front page on Sunday and Monday.

Both yellow pieces. Hmm.

Oh, and I also spent Saturday night putting up some decals that I ordered from Elephannie....I know, a very exciting Saturday night, but Jon's band was playing and I felt like staying in. I had been wanting to do something with the space over my tub for a while now. Our bathroom is HUGE. More than twice the size of my undergrad studio space. In a normal house it would probably be a small bedroom. This photo shows about 1/6 of it.

Anyway, doesn't it look fab?! Our house was built in 1970 and then left unfinished for a few years. The previous owners bought it from the people who built it and finished it themselves. The couple were both artists and that made for some creative touches to the house. I'm particularly fond of the black tub, sink and toilet (right of the tub). Everyone who comes over comments on them. The black and white tiles are also very 70's. We had to re-do the shower stall (left of the tub) and opted to keep the tiles the same...although the original was all white and we added more black. Anyway, I'm totally addicted to these decals now. They were so easy to use and when I'm tired of them I can just peel them off and get something new.