We need you!

Hi Everyone

Happy 2013 to you all. Now the holidays are finished Purls & I have decided that we want to start making the Etsy Ireland Team the best team on Etsy and to be able to do that we need to hit the ground running.

So here we go:

We are going to have tutorial type essays and posts, hopefully together with Etsy and the new offices in Dublin. More on that later, but the first series will be about promoting your business. I have written the first article - 'Word of Mouth' - which is on the blog now. I urge you all to check out the blog regularly for all the new things that will be going on. If anyone has anything they would like to write any articles please do get in touch.

1. Designer Profile Co-ordinator
   This was formerly called 'Tea and Chat'. It would seem that there wasn't too much response when Ellen was trying to get people to do it. Probably you were busy but listen up - this is for your own benefit. Customers as well as other team members read the blog and the articles, so it's in your interest to be interviewed. Find the time - please do. We need to get someone to take this project on. Maybe an article once a month - with lots of photos - and you never know it might make to the main Etsy page!
   
2. Eyes Open Ireland Co-ordinator
   This is the post that has a shop owner interviewed about places they have been and things that they have seen and loved in Ireland. Again perhaps a post that can be done once a month rather than weekly, with lots of photos. Who wants to do this??
   
3. Getting to know you Co-ordinator
   Etsy Ireland / Meets another Team / Treasury - 50/50 each item. The idea behind this is that we get to know people from other teams and they get to know us. Great promotion. Someone needed please.
    
4. Introduction to new team members shops/treasuries
   This is what Ellen used to do too. I used to post the new members each week and she used to take an item from each shop. I think this was always popular, so lets have someone volunteering please.
   
5. Pinterest Page Co-ordinator
   This speaks for itself! We have a Pinterest page now and we need someone to keep it in order.
   
6. Flickr Co-ordinator
   I am not sure if anyone from our team uses this facility much, but I think we should, because many, many potential customers from other countries use Flickr a lot, particularly in the US. So lets make use of it! Volunteer please.

I just want to say here, that it is quite time consuming being an admin of the team, so please don't volunteer if you won't be able to take on these jobs wholeheartedly. However, if you do offer to help, it is very fulfilling. Also, don't be afraid, Purls & I will help you along the way until you get the hang of things.

Also a really big thank you to everyone who has given up their time in the past and to those on admin who are still giving up their valuable time to help the team!

We have also taken on board your comments and suggestions about promoting the team, setting up shop, more markets and so forth, but this post is already too long, so all of that will be for another time, but very soon!

Please contact me on: sueatkilmeedy@eircom.net if you would like to volunteer for any of the posts mentioned so far. 

Lets get this show on the road!

Sue

Eyes Open Ireland

Hello Crafty Team Members 

Ellen here from The Spiral Goddess

with a call to arms!!

Ask not what your team can do for you,

but what can you do for your team!!

EYES OPEN IRELAND NEEDS YOU!!!!

This is a monthly spot on the Team Blog

Featuring Team Members Photo's of places that inspire you or your favorite hide away.

Maybe pictures you caught of a sunrise or stormy day that you love.

A thing you spotted that inspired you to make something.
A place a million miles away or in your back garden

or simply moments in time captured forever....

Share them with us and tell why you love them and how they inspire you.

In return we will post links to your Etsy shop, Blog, Facebook, Twitter etc.

So come on team show us what ya got!!!

Rialto Bridge Venice

Here's one of my favourite places, Venice Italy.

We went there last leap year for a wedding.

4 years later I still look back on these pictures whenever I need a little pick me up :o)

St Marks Square

Having read a story about Venice as a little girl I fell in love with images of the gondola filled canal's.

The idea of Masked Balls and Magical Walkways fascinated me.

Rush Hour Venice Style :o)

How I wished I could go there....

Especially for Valentines Day

And eventually I did!!

 Venice did not disappoint

  Doorways to Secrets on Every Street

It was as Magical as I had imagined and for me it's all about The Magic :o)

I bought some blank mask's that would be worn to the famous masked ball's and took them home and tried to paint them....... lol!!

 Lets just say they looked better in my imagination.

But I never looked back I came home all inspired and started creating again

and now here I am with a little shop and writing for this blog.

♪♫♫♪ Just One Cornetto ♪♫♪♫

In the past the posts were all about Ireland
but we have members all over the globe and I think we would all enjoy seeing what International Irish Eyes are seeing all over the world :o)

So come on team start sending me your pics and your stories.
I'm starting this off again as a monthly piece but if there's enough interest it could go weekly.
As you can see from my pictures you don't have to be a fantastic photographer
just tell us why you love the pictures you love!!

Please contact me through my Etsy shop
Or send your Pics and stories to me at my email thespiralgoddess@gmail.com

Till Next Time
♥

Committee Vacancies

Handmade greeting card by jmmcards

Our new Etsy Ireland Team Committee is nearly complete. However, we urgently need volunteers for the remaining jobs:

Blog Co-ordinator (rotated every 6 months)

• work with the 'blog hosts' to provide daily content on the blog
• create a blog timetable/ calendar through shared docs, for instance Google Calendar
• write articles, especially when there are gaps in the schedule
• edit submitted articles if necessary
• deal with minor technical glitches on the blog
• add blog hosts/ regular contributors as blog authors to the blog so that they can publish their articles themselves
• encourage members to submit content, this involves mentioning the blog in the team forums and to new members, as well as publishing calls for new content on the blog regularly
• co-operate with the Blog Designer to have regular design changes
• be the contact person for the blog and respond to queries

Weekly Crafty News Reporter: reports on interesting crafty events, markets and developments

Natalie from the Blue Sylph

Treasury Curator: publishes summary of the weekly Etsy Ireland Team Treasuries and runs Team Treasury Challenges

More Blog Hosts: responsible for assisting Blog Co-Ordinator in maintaining a complete blog schedule and help fill gaps where necessary.

Mo from Huggleknits

More people for the PR Team/Think Tank
 
Area representatives for Dublin, Belfast and Cork

Dublin: Natalie from the Blue Sylph

To keep the blog running smoothly and have regular content, it is important that we do have dedicated writers and a blog co-ordinator. I (Purls) will be hanging around and write the odd article, so whoever takes up my mantle will not be left hanging out to dry in this Irish weather.

Puzzled by fiorejewellery

It seems our potential crafty writers and editors are a bit shy. Step forward and shine!!!

Step forward and volunteer!

'Shakespeare Print' by designbirdie

The last six months just flew by! One minute we held the fabulous St Patrick's Day Treasure Hunt, the next moment the Etsy Ireland Pop-Up shop opened, and now we are coming towards the end of June, are still waiting for the summer, and have to start thinking of a new committee.

Letizia (Team Admin) and I, Purls (Blog Co-Ordinator) have been in our posts for a year and it's been a blast. However, we are now looking for two people who can take the Etsy Ireland mantle from us. Don't worry, we'll be around for help and advice. Letizia will keep our Twitter page updated, and I plan to write the odd blog article or two ;)

Volunteering on the team committee is a very satisfying experience. You get to know lots of amazing crafty people, you learn new skills, and get lots and lots of inspiration for everything, from your own craft to life in general. You also get a great sense of community, and don't feel like you're just a lonely crafter in a big world of people who don't care about handmade.

The following posts are up for grabs, so don't hesitate and bring your enthusiasm and ideas to the team!!!


Team Admin (rotated every 6 months)

• responsible for making newcomers welcome, send out information about membership and passing on links (facebook/flickr/blog...)
• add/invite people who become members to the Etsy team page & update the shop directory. Also add new members blogs to the members blog list.
• encourage members to tag items correctly with 'craftyirelandteam' 
• be on hand for general queries from new and existing members 
• take random queries from press and send queries/press to the relevant person in the team who can help them. Also to update the contact tab on the blog when neccessary
• email the New Member Admin weekly with the names of new members for inclusion in the 'Welcome' post on the blog
• fresh picks on the blog - every few days pick 3 new favourites for the blog sidebar 
• contact craft shops and ask for team discounts & update the craft suppliers tab on the blog

Blog Co-ordinator (rotated every 6 months)

• work with the 'blog hosts' to provide daily content on the blog
• create a blog timetable/ calendar through shared docs, for instance Google Calendar
• write articles, especially when there are gaps in the schedule
• edit submitted articles if necessary
• deal with minor technical glitches on the blog
• add blog hosts/ regular contributors as blog authors to the blog so that they can publish their articles themselves
• encourage members to submit content, this involves mentioning the blog in the team forums and to new members, as well as publishing calls for new content on the blog regularly
• co-operate with the Blog Designer to have regular design changes
• be the contact person for the blog and respond to queries

New Member Admin for 'Welcome' updates

• announce new members publicly on the blog (Member Update) once weekly email is received from Team Admin: this involves visiting each new member's shop, getting a pic and title of a current item, creating the collage or composite graphic of that week's members and then getting a slot from the Blog Co-Ordinator to do the Welcome post

Blog Hosts

Responsible for assisting Blog Co-Ordinator in maintaining a complete blog schedule and help fill gaps where necessary. There are regular hosts and hosts who don't have a weekly slot.

Anne Marie who has been a regular contributor to this blog for a year now has decided to take a break, and Mo, who has kept us informed about all things crafty in the Crafty News also wants to take a break. This means, we need somebody who would love to write the Crafty News once a week, and also more blog hosts. We also need somebody who currates the Eyes Open Ireland feature since Rachel will be currating the Fab Five on Fridays.
If any of the other hosts who have regular slots would like a break, or 'change jobs', please let us know here. Maggie, our blog designer who has been working quietly in the background, will stay in her post.


PR Team/Think Tank (long term role for 3 - 5 members)

The Think Tank has yet to get off the ground properly, although we had some great work from more informal groups of team members in relation to the St Patrick's Day Treasure Hunt and the Etsy Ireland Pop-Up shop. However, maybe this term we might finally get a bunch of proactive creative thinkers and most importantly 'doers' to help generate publicity for the team, online and offline. This would include writing press releases, organising team promotions and publicising the team at events or organising publicity events for the team. The Think Tank works closely with the Team Admin and Blog Co-Ordinator.

The Think Tank is also responsible for applying for team grants and informing the team of progress via blog, facebook, twitter, Crafty Ireland Team forums, and Etsy chat room.

Area Representatives:

Represent your Area! Hosting a team meeting is a great way to do that! We need reps for
Dublin, Belfast, Galway, Limerick and Cork. If there is a significantly large group of Etsy Ireland team members elsewhere, do let the Team Admin know and discuss where to set up meetings for said group!
Each rep will be responsible for setting up meeting time/location and inviting members in your locality to come along. No big agenda! Just meet up, chat, show off your latest makes, maybe have a craft supply swap and have fun. We’d love each rep to blog after each meeting with some photos and a little summary of what you all got up to!

That's it for the moment, new or new vacant posts might be added to this list - we are always open for  new suggestions - so keep an eye on this blog. Informal enquiries about posts can also be made to me, Purls, and Letizia.

Purls

New Committee:

Team Admin: Sue from amazingbeads
Blog Co-Ordinator:
New Member Admin for 'Welcome' updates: Ellen from Spiralgoddess

Web Designer: Maggie from TheBowMakers
Techie Backup: Apple from AuntyApplesReFinery
Blog Hosts: Ruth from nicedaydesigns, Mante from MedusaJewellery

Crafty News:
Treasury Currator:
Eyes Open Ireland (monthly): Ellen from Spiralgodess

Fab Five on Fridays: Rachel from balanced
Tea and a Chat: Rebecca from LuckyRainbowDesigns
Twitter: Letizia from ooakie
Facebook: Nadine from thethistlepatch

PR/Think Tank: Angela from graceandfavourshop, Sue from amazingbeads
Area Representatives:
Galway: mariposavintage
Limerick:  Ruth from nicedaydesigns

Treasury Challenge with a twist...

Penny for your Thoughts by 9design

Time flies! It is nearly six months ago since the existing Etsy Ireland Team committee started their jobs, and soon, we'll be looking for volunteers for the new committee. I shall post the job descriptions and call for volunteers this weekend.


To combine the playful with the necessary, I've decided to kick start the change-over process with a Treasury Challenge. What better way to think about our team and volunteering for a team position than looking at the lovely goodies our team members produce. And we all might get new ideas for the team and what we are going to do next. AM actually gave me the inspiration for this - she should really get a job as a muse!

The topic of the Treasury Challenge is

TEAMWORK

(and yes, it is a challenge, but you can be as creative as you want to!)

Here come the rules:

The treasury must be curated between today and Friday 24 June (midnight GMT) - this is an extension because it looks like people need more time to join the challenge. Voting will then go on until Monday, 27 June, 23:59, and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, 28 June.

• A link to your treasury must be posted here in the comments of this post to enter.
• Your treasury must contain two tags:craftyirelandteam and citchallenge8 (note the 8).
• You must include 8-10 Crafty Ireland Team members in your treasury.
• Your treasury must not include one of your own items.

For those who are new to the team and haven't made a treasury yet, here's a link to a handy 'how to make treasuries' written by Anne-Marie from by Amo'r.

The happy winner will receive a a little feature post here on the blog AND their Etsy Mini listed in the sidebar for one whole week!

Happy creating! Looking forward to your inspiring treasuries! If you have any questions about treasuries and the treasury challenge, do not hesitate to post in the comment section, or convo me.

Purls

Entries:

Dita Maulani: Let the pair dance

Fiore Jewellery: Teamwork
byAmo'r: Team Spirit - go Ireland!
Mia loves Jay: Teamwork
Aunty Apples ReFinery: Cool Foggy Dew
Purls: Together, we... 

Vote now!!!