The Shop is Open

Finally. It has taken a very long time — ok years, of thinking about it and taking micro-baby steps (ie: setting up an account on Etsy for a shop but never actually opening it) to get it going. I could probably write a book on why that is, with multiple chapters devoted to procrastination techniques. Sometimes the idea looms so large that it keeps you from seeing what lies beyond it. In this case — filling in a few fields on Etsy’s start up page, uploading some pictures and entering some more data, and there you have it: a little shop on Etsy. Not so massive after all. And although there is a bit of a learning curve, it’s definitely a learn by doing kind of thing. If I’m actually taking and editing photos and implementing SEO techniques regularly, I’m sure my skills will improve more than if I’m just reading about other people doing it. So that’s enough looking in the rearview window, now I’m focused on moving forward and glad that the journey has finally begun.

Oh and the name . . . all that time I was thinking about a shop I never really settled on a name. I just figured I’d call it “RebeccaDeGroodtArt” or something similar. Not very imaginative but to the point. Some of the Etsy “gurus” are pretty adamant about a shop having its own clever little name, but I couldn’t think of anything. And I was wary of limiting what I could list in the shop based on the name. Yes I make art, but it tends toward smaller pieces, perfect for gifting but not so much for holding their own above the couch. I also make cards, Christmas ornaments, little books, upcycled small furnishings . . . This summer and fall as I started fine tuning the website and actively blogging I got a little more clarity on my own tendencies. I like to make all kinds of things and I’m often inspired by random things I find. I need a shop because I have a persistent muse and an avid inner magpie constantly egging each other on — so there’s a name. And it’s a name that’s not too specific about what’s in the shop, giving the muse and the magpie a little room for wandering.

Visit the new shop at themuseandthemagpie.etsy.com