Little Kitty Sculpture and Business is Picking up a Bit

 

https://dottiedracos.etsy.com/listing/4601789450/cat-sculpture-with-a-sweet-expression

I posted recently that my traffic and sales on Etsy had significantly slowed down.  I walked around with a sad demeanor for a quite a few days and then decided I would try to do something about it.

I've been doing a lot of research both on Etsy and on the web about things I can do since I can't make that  many more new pieces this late in the year.  Plus, it seems to me that if I have too many pieces, it will appear that my artwork isn't "precious," which considering the hours that go into most every piece is the truth to me, anyway.  

I've been redoing each and every one of my listings, just a few a day, and I've noticed that I'm getting more traffic on the ones I've tweaked -- but I'm generally getting more traffic, too, which is a good sign.  I don't know how much my listing changes are helping or if people are beginning to think about holiday gifts, but something has definitely changed.  Now, I know "correlation does not signify causation," but it looks kind of "causey" to me at this point, so I'm keeping it up.

I've also noticed that I needed more lower-priced pieces, too, even though I make barely above minimum wage on them, so I've begun doing a few smaller pieces.  The fees are around the same, but the postage rates have skyrocketed recently, so on a small piece, that really cuts into any profit I might be making on low-priced pieces.

I did discover something else while I was just floating around with not much to do (because I didn't know what kind of pieces might be selling in the future so didn't know what to make since I had nearly no feedback at all through views, visits, anything, just silence) -- well, I got lost in that sentence, so I'll start over:  I started liking a bit of the slowdown and began enjoying "life" a bit more.  I think I had been working too hard and not taking much time at all just for myself.  So with that in mind, I've been baking, working on my gardens more, walking my dog longer each day, cleaning my house!!!!, reading, even visiting with family members more (I really am a bit of a hermit), and life feels more pleasant.  So even if my business gets back to where it was, which was enough for me, a retired person, I think I'll keep a slower pace from now on.  

One more thing:    V O T E!!!!!!!    Please.

A Chicken 2-Piece Jar I Built

 

An Adorable Chicken Jar I Created

https://dottiedracos.etsy.com/listing/4590697470/handmade-chicken-jar-red-orange

Very Slow on Etsy These Days

 All summer I worked really hard to get enough pieces to sell on Etsy during the usual heavy-autumn-demand months (usually starting in late September, early October and going up to the end of the year).  For me, at least, it just isn't happening.  As I've stated before, I'm almost 80 years old now and love making - and selling - my beloved unique pieces of ceramic animal artwork.  I had a great year up through August, exceeding my goal significantly.  Then very suddenly, everything went dark for me -- almost no or very few views, a small sale here or there, and that's it.  Could it possibly be that suddenly no one likes my works?  That's hard to believe.  I've had collectors for decades, and I just can't imagine that they suddenly have had enough of my work.  And new buyers just don't exist for me now.

Is it my work?  Or is it that everyone, everywhere in this country and elsewhere is concerned about the exploding costs of pretty much everything we need these days, from groceries to fuel for our vehicles, and so on.  So needs are prioritized over wants, I suppose.  It makes sense to me.

I am not a social person online, or in real life either, and I have little to no desire or skills to promote my work other than listing them on Etsy, which has worked for nearly 20 years now.  I want my work to speak for itself rather than being "hawked" online.  This blog, which almost no one reads, and some small promotion that Etsy provides, are all I've ever done.

Follow-up:  I did some research, and it's not just me and my art; I'm not alone in having no views, etc.   So maybe it's just something I need to ride out for another month.  Feeling much more optimistic, so no need to retire!

A Large Dog Face Sculpture with a Stick in Its Mouth

 One of my Most Popular Pieces, a New Large Dog Face Sculpture with a Stick in its Mouth.  

https://dottiedracos.etsy.com/listing/4589191092/handmade-ceramic-dog-sculpture-playful

A Dog with a Shoe in its Mouth -- I've had that happen!!!

My new listing on Etsy for today.  As might be apparent, I try to add a listing or two every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

 

https://dottiedracos.etsy.com/listing/4515376347/handmade-ceramic-dog-face-wall-hanging

I've had this happen multiple times over the years, and over the dogs because I've most always had at least one at a time.  And why was it always one of a pair that was chewed -- and usually a more expensive shoe, too!  They're smarter than we give them credit for being.  But I love them anyway.