Meet Anne Keller-Smith

Anne Keller-Smith is the owner of  Down to Earth Creations, an Etsy shop selling Hebrew name bracelets, dreidel and menorah charms, kippot (yarmulkes), and Judaica wine charm sets. Having majored in Anthropology, Anne's style has an earthy feel to it. She refers to her work as "natural, gypsy, folksy, hippie..."
In addition to Anthropology, Anne also took many courses in the Liberal Arts, a contributing factor to the art she creates today.

Eshet Chayil Bracelet

 How did she begin creating jewelry? Anne tells us, "I fell in love with crystals and silver all of a sudden, and couldn't stop working with it."

Today she continues to use sterling silver, Swarovski crystals, glass from the Czech Republic, and has added pewter, copper and other interesting materials into her pieces. Pewter and copper were added partially due to cost considerations, since sterling silver has become prohibitively expensive for some Etsy customers.

Hashamayim Kippah

Anne joined Etsy in 2007 when she found out about it from a friend who was also a vendor. A couple of years later she joined the Etsychai team. Even though she's a member of a couple of other teams, she admits she's more active with Etsychai.

"Etsychai is a wonderful, energized, friendly, haimish Jewish group and, since joining, my sales have increased! So I'm a fan!"

Sterling Silver Dreidel Earrings

Of course, getting the word about her shop out there doesn't end with Etsychai. She also promotes using Facebook and Twitter, makes treasuries in Etsy, and will sometimes blog. When asked about which tool seems to be the most successful, she confesses, "Facebook was pretty successful for me. But I haven't spent enough time on my Creations page. I always end up on my personal page."

In addition to her Etsy shop, Anne sells her jewelry at a local handmade gallery and, as if all that selling isn't enough, she also designs websites.

How does she budget her time? Another confession: "Badly!" (We completely understand!)

Hebrew Letters (Custom) Bracelet

As we like to do with all our interviews, we asked Anne for advice she could pass along to other Etsy sellers. The first part is directed at newer sellers. She tells them, "Be very careful to plan to be sustainable from the beginning. In other words, charge four times your supply cost. This covers your materials, labor, advertising, and overhead. If you don't, you'll start resenting how little you're making and won't continue."

She continues, "Make sure you find a unique niche. It's the only way to get seen on Etsy, because Etsy is too big now."

We also asked her about photography, a key ingredient in any listing. "I use a second hand EZ cube light box with two to three lamps surrounding it. I move the lights around my object. Sometimes I take photos on the patio -- silver likes natural light the best. Crystals like the artificial light."

She goes on, "I use a $200 Canon SX-110 with a decent macro lens. I get right up on top of my pieces and try to crop in really close. For my first pic I try to get a really interesting shot that shows how unique the piece is: a unique angle, a unique reflection, the shape of it. For my second pic I get the whole item from above. Third and fourth are other angles a person might experience while using the piece. The fifth is either the piece being worn or the packaging I use."

Passover Wine Glass Charms

For the upcoming holidays, and your gifts list, Anne has some fabulous pieces, and they can still reach you in time!

-- Post by April Grunspan of AgruArts

The New Year is Coming: A Tashlich Tutorial

Tashlich (tahsh-leek) comes from a root word which means "to cast away". It is the custom when Jews walk to a moving body of water on the first afternoon of Rosh Hashana (or the second day if the first happens to be Shabbat) and "throw away" their sins by tossing bread or cracker crumbs into the water. The concept is taken from a verse in the book of the Prophet Michah where it says,

"And Thou wilt cast ("ve-tashlich") all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Michah, 7:19)

A River Runs Through It Beads by Tracey Lipman

The preferred body of water is one where there are fish. Fish never close their eyes, a reminder of the ever-watchful eyes of G-d, who records and remembers everything and constantly watches us with mercy.

Additionally, Jewish mystical tradition teaches that fish are immune from the Evil Eye. By casting our sins away where there are fish, we are also asking for protection from the evils of the world. 

White Braided Leather Wrap Bracelet by charmeddesign1012

 During Tashlich, you walk to a nearby body of water. A river, sea, or lake are the best choices although, in their absence, a well or reservoir is acceptable. There is no special prayer for Tashlich. However, there are several Scriptural chapters relating to the idea of penitence and Divine forgiveness which are recited.
The water has SYMBOLICALLY carried away misdeeds and you are free to start over. This action gives one a new starting point for the New Year.

Jellyfish Earrings by markaplan

 Next: Traditional Greetings for the New Year
Post by April Grunspan 

 

Mi Khamokha

'Mi Khamokha - Going through the Sea (Blue) on Dry Land (Tan)' by downtoearthcreations

Who is like You, Among the Mighty? Making Miracles and Doing Wonders?

jellyfish earrings ster... markaplan $55.55	30 Beautiful, Navy, hig... KAPARA $2.63	Sea Star Hairpin misseileen $6.50	14K rose gold vermeil h... scottishlilyje... $40.00
Blue and purple - Silve... poemweave $27.00	Sterling Silver Wire Wr... beadsofparadis... $32.00	Handmade Blue Starry Ni... CreativeArtCen... $25.00	The Shimmering Chic Han... visart $30.00
Destash hand made polym... visart $15.00	Cobalt Blue Etched Glas... BeedazzledDesi... $29.00	Sea Glass, Pearl and La... ClayBeadsAndMo... $39.00	Dreaming of the Red Sea... VIKukA $11.00
Baby Blue Evil Eye, Blu... anjalicreation... $16.00	Uneven Circles - Deep C... visart $15.00	Star of David Sterling ... beadsofparadis... $30.00	BEACH DREAMS Pippy Scar... sewstacy $20.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Great Gifts Under Ten Dollars!

'Gifts for 10 dollars and below' by babymegifts

The holidays are coming. We are all searching for gifts to give to our loved ones once agian. Wouldn't it be nice to get high quality but low in price gifts? Here is a small selection from the etsychai group.

Etz Chayim greeting car... AnotherCreatio... $3.00	Polymer Clay Keychain ClayBeadsAndMo... $10.00	Cello Mosaic Flat Magne... lbolter $2.50	Spring and Summer Refre... visart $5.00
Clips for Scrabble tile... poemweave $1.50	Wine Bottle gift card bbesigns $3.00	Gold Menorah Cell Phone... CreativeArtCen... $10.00	Kuan Yin Heart Necklace Meredithbead $7.50
Salt Cellar agru $10.00	Paverpol and Fabric Cov... TraceyLipman $8.00	GIFT CARD with PRIORITY... downtoearthcre... $5.00	Funky Novelty Ribbon Ya... SusanEknits $4.50
Greeting Card - Batik anjalicreation... $5.00	Jelly Donuts - Doughnut... tamdoll $10.00	Judaica Baby Jacket Ill... acacheofjewels $7.50	Knit Heart Mugrug blazingneedles $4.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.