Monday, July 7, 2008

Virtual Labs Are For EB's Too!

EB says be there or be square. We updated it with a few new words, but the intent is the same.

Learn Easy Sewing (Not) - Etsy Sunday Craft Night

This week we are pleased to announce a very special edition of Sunday Craft Night. The Etsy Labs and Really Tacky Designs join forces to bring you an evening of scotch-tape & glue-themed sewing (Not). We will spend a dangerous and risky evening making scotch-tape & glue sewing crafts — which seem to be quite popular with staffers at Etsy.

We will demonstrate hemming and sewing with scotch-tape & glue, and making mini-skirts from used kitchen towels!. You will learn how to rip and shred (no scissors!), make dried-glue buttons, and simple plushie glue-stick holders.

Or, let your mind run wild and create scotch-tape & glue creations of any kind! Supplies are provided (materials fee $250 per person), though you are welcome to bring any special used glue sticks, packing and duct tape or pre-laundry fabrics to incorporate into your projects. See ya there!

22 Comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry for the triple post, etsybitches! My coffee hasn't hit yet.

Impetuous said...

I don't get it.
Don't they have grandmas they can borrow sewing machines from?
What sort of lost on a desert island crafting is this?

wristeroni said...

I feel a priceless video coming on . . . I wonder if the local 5-0 will be involved this time.

Ladies Auxilliary said...

I'm so there! My 26 years of sewing experience really needs augmenting...

E. B. L. said...

It's a parody people ("a few words changed"). Not real...but funny!


A real workshop like this or even a macaroni necklace wouldn't surprise me in the least. It's a giant preschool craft room there.

Ladies Auxilliary said...

Don't worry shrug, I'm pretty sure all previous posts were written under the influence of Sarcasma.

wristeroni said...

Ummm . . . yeah, shrugitoff . . . we get it.

E. B. L. said...

OK. OK. Sarcasm....I understand. :)


"Please don't beat me!"

Anonymous said...

In my experience, people who put together clothes with duct tape, etc. are usually called......

homeless.

Anonymous said...

The "sewing" on etsy really really pisses me off. I take time, quality materials, couture techniques and then see the "etsy way" which makes me cry.
The website should add perceived value to the craftspeople in it. I've yet to see a sewing video or how to photo on etsy that isn't the equivalent of driving with your knee to the steering wheel, mascara in one hand, Corona in the other, swerving over the white line with your windshield wipers on. Someone sees that, then sees anyone selling sewn items through etsy and naturally will doubt the technique and skill of every seller.
The parody there is so not far off that its barely a parody. If you're going to do how-tos, drop the fabric glue, go back to Home Ec 101, and do them well.
Or, here's my idea.
How about doing these as a how-to:
-How to probably pack items for shipping.
-How to calculate shipping costs, arrange pickups, etc (in US and other high usage countries)
-How to video for buyers on how to log into Paypal and finish out a transaction
-How to organize crafting supplies
-How to best utillize the search function on etsy to find what you're looking for
-Basic how-tos for other etsy widgets that baffle computer illiterates like convoing, treehouse, etc
-Walk through video on how to post an item
-How to organize finances for a small crafting business
-How to coordinate colors and items through different sellers for a larger project (like interior decorating)
You know, useful, fact filled videos that would help sellers and buyers.
Aw, but there's no cupcakes
Guess it won't happen.

Impetuous said...

check this out:
http://getsatisfaction.com/etsy

Impetuous said...

I like this last line:
"I challenge Etsy to take responsibility for it's information taxonomies, and be as innovative with a solution to this as it was with innovative design when it first launched."

done hijacking...

j. hart photography said...

again, the sewing thing.... just gives etsy a bad name. it really is turning into a flea market of the worst kind. the true artists are going to start leaving (with the exception of those few who have done really well) and less are going to sign up.

wristeroni said...

mememe - your driving analogy was a work of art.

woolies said...

ooooo I'm SO hoping to learn origami too!!!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree that the simplistic sewing video how-tos are damaging to the persons who offer sewn products. The videos give the impression that etsy sellers do as shoddy a job as the videos project.

Or worse, that etsy seamstresses learned from Bre how to sew. Now that is bad news.

Anonymous said...

impetuous said...
check this out:
http://getsatisfaction.com/etsy

----------------------------------
Thanks for the link. Great article. I wish the EBs would do a post on what is up with the Street Teams (hint hint hint).

Etsy seems to be more of a platform for gang bullying (the teams) and playing with good supplies (making waste and pollution) as parodied in the topic at hand. Not a nurturing business or creative environment.

I'd love to see some of the presentations mememe mentioned, but I'm not holding my breath.

The Kinky One said...

Very interesting article Impetuous. If anyone has any further realted tips, or experiences email us.

Impetuous said...

wow, mememe, any of those would make perfect sense on Etsy.

Etsy needs to decide if it is here to take advantage of sellers by suckering everyone that comes along into opening a shop or to support sellers by providing the tools they need to run a successful business.

The Funny One said...

Parody yes, but most of the How To's on Etsy read exactly this way. I am sure you can insert your own word-substitutions and they would be even better, and probably funnier.
There are dozens of examples to pick from!
Kind of makes you wonder if there's any connection between all the labs, classes, articles, bells & whistles and actual ecommerce.
Nope, there isn't.
And you know what? There are 150 other sites that demonstrate the same "starter" crafts, and their audience is 9 to 12 years old.

eclipse said...

I am watching the origami how-to right now. It's not so much a how-to, I must have missed that part, it's just a streaming webcam of random people walking by the camera and talking amongst themselves. No one is talking to the audience/camera. I think they forgot the camera is still on.

Anonymous said...

impetuous said...
wow, mememe, any of those would make perfect sense on Etsy.

Gah, I know, crazy huh? A how to series with things that both buyers and sellers "how to" do things that benefit them!
Why use a perfectly good space like a how to area for something logical like that, when there's fun kiddy camp projects that barely belong on a crafting website to post and take up space with!