Facebook and Twitter and Paypal, OH MY! The Rabbit Hole that is the InterWebs by Karen McGovern

It's all MaryAnn Carroll's fault.

It all started with an *innocent* post by MaryAnn to the artists of  LMAJ discussing linking Facebook pages to Twitter, so that every post made to your Facebook also appears on your Twitter page. Great idea....That was Friday....

48 hours later I emerge, bleary-eyed and brain dead, hands cramped from continuous clicking and clacking on my laptop, lost in the bowels of social media rules, regulations, hacks and shortcuts.

What MaryAnn didn't realize is that once I get started on something web-wise, I do not stop until I have figured it out or hit a virtual brick wall.

Here's the deal. MaryAnn's suggestion (and a good one, I might add...) lead to more ideas and questions regarding how this all works. I have, like many artists on Facebook, more than one page. I have my personal page under my name, I have my art page under my business name (Beadkeepers). I also am in charge of the Facebook page for the organization I work for (Rare Species Conservatory Foundation). That's three pages. I also have three Twitter accounts, one for me, one for Beadkeepers and one for RSCF. Sure, it would be FABULOUS if posts to Facebook (which I use and post to almost everyday) could magically appear at the same time on the corresponding Twitter pages. I didn't even know you could do that BECAUSE I AM OLD AND DON'T GET THE TWITTER MUCH.

BUT, I do understand the value of social media when it comes to living in the 21st century, and if you have any presence online it's best to learn and UNDERSTAND as much of this stuff as possible. It's never a bad idea to expand your online toolkit if that is where you do the bulk of your communications, and frankly, it's UNAVOIDABLE. So let's USE this stuff, right????

First, I consulted the mighty oracle...Google. I learned much, and I am here to share...

Linking Facebook to Twitter is relatively easy once you stumble blindly around the Internet, which provides a solid 75% of the info you need. Lucky for you, I did all the stumbling. This link between pages and sites is great to promote your business or organization and is a huge time saver. No more posting one place, then having to start over someplace else!

Here's what you do. I am going to explain this as if you have more than one page on both Twitter and Facebook that you want to link because that is a bit tricky....First, log in to one of your Twitter accounts. Then, open a new tab and go to www.facebook.com/twitter and follow the prompts to open your Facebook page. 

Click the link allowing access from Facebook to Twitter (you need to do this for every page you link). 

You should then see a page with your personal page at the top and all your other pages listed below. Here is mine...

Next to each of your Facebook pages is a button to click that will link that page to the openTwitter account. Click the page you want to link to that account and hit Save Changes. VIOLA! You are linked!

Now, to link another page to another Twitter account, go back to Twitter, SIGN OUT and then SIGN IN to your other page. Go back to the facebook.com/twitter page and REFRESH. Find whatever page you want to link to that Twitter page, hit the Link to Twitter button and the new Twitter page will be listed as linked. Hit Save Changes and VIOLA! You have just linked two different Facebook pages (that you administer) to two different Twitter accounts (that you administer). Now whatever you post to these pages on Facebook will instantly also post to the correct Twitter page as well. THAT ONLY TOOK ME 12 HOURS TO FIGURE OUT. I'm sure a 10 year old child could have done it while I was in the bathroom. ANYWAY....It's a cool feature that can boost your presence on the 'Web and boost your sales as well.

Speaking of sales...you guys know that you can link your shops directly to your Facebook page, right? Under your cover photo on your business page should be a few tabs. As you can see on mine, I have a Shop Now button. Before it was Shop Now it read Call to Action. To link your shop to Facebook, click the Call to Action and a drop down menu appears. Select the Shop Now option, then put your direct web address in the box below for your Etsy shop, website, whatever. Since RSCF is a 501(c) 3 charitable organization, we have the option for a Donate Now button under Call to Action. I linked this to our PayPal donations account. This is super spectacular for us since we have over 15,000 followers  now and we have already gotten donations coming in since I created the button on Friday! 

In figuring out how to link the Donate Now button directly to PayPal, I also discovered something else. I figured out how to create a link in PayPal you can put in a post to SELL DIRECTLY FROM FACEBOOK USING PAYPAL ONLY. No Shopify, no middleman (other than PayPal) no FEES other than PayPal. I have to do a bit more research on this--it's so unbelievably easy it must have a catch somewhere. I've been discussing it with some webby folks and no one seems to have a 100% clear answer on Facebook's policies for selling from your page. Some say it's a no-no, others point out that selling through Facebook/Shopify is...well...SELLING, so what's the problem? I'm sure it has to do with Facebook wanting their cut somehow....Until I do some more digging I'm going to keep this nugget of info to myself. BUT I WANT TO TELL EVERYONE!!! Maybe next time....don't want to get anyone in trouble with the FACEBOOK POLICE. I'll keep you posted.....

In the meantime, I'll close with a recent design I created that is perfect for the season. An AMAZING carved labradorite skull set in sterling silver with a steel flower, brass bee, cast sterling silver twigs and a bronze dogwood flower. I created this in honor of Dia De los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This wonderful holiday is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. The traditionally Mexican holiday is a celebration and remembrance of those who have passed on, and feature elaborately decorated skulls called Sugar Skulls. I have created many sugar skull designs, but this by far is my favorite and my first carved gemstone skull. The labradorite is ELECTRIC! 

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween (if you celebrate) or a wonderful and heartfelt Dia De los Muertos. 

Now, GO MAKE SOMETHING AMAZING!

Happy Halloween

by Staci L. Smith

I have always loved Halloween.  The artist in me loves to dress up, and to see all the creativity put forth in peoples costumes.  I mean, making an awesome costume is an art all itself, right?

 

I also love to see what shows up seasonally on pinterest and etsy.  So I thought I'd share some of my favorites today.

 

Maybe these aren't totally Halloween, but they capture the spirit of the season, and I just adore them- Earrings by Two Trees Studio

https://www.etsy.com/listing/167078427/wherever-there-are-crows-ceramic-crows?ref=af_circ_favitem&atr_uid=10429765

 

This piece just spoke to me as the days get shorter, and the nights gets longer.  I reminds me of fall.  I just purchased a couple of her pieces, and I love them!

 

Elise Mahan Fine Art

https://www.etsy.com/listing/167410060/fine-art-print-aurora-borealis-and-the?ref=af_shop_listed_item

 

Marsha Neal has these adorable bat pendants, I bought a few last year and they were a hit!

 

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/167379227/ceramic-bead-halloween-bat-handmade?ref=sr_gallery_7&ga_search_query=halloween+bead+handmade&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=halloween+bead+handmade

 

Diane Hawkey has some great ravens and this set in her shop!  Always nice to find another Poe fan.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164867998/edgar-allen-poe-pendant-the-raven?ref=shop_home_feat

 

 

Also, more then Halloween- I love the tradition and artistry that goes along with the Day of the Dead.  Diana P of Suburban Girl Studio did a blog hop with art beads for Halloween / Day of the Dead themes.  You can check out the list, so you can hop and see all the fun creations everyone made here.

 

However, I loved this particular blog by Linda Landig- not only was the piece she made great, but she did a beautiful write up on the Day of the Dead celebration.
 

I really think that Linda's piece below captures the spirit of the Day of the Dead.  It is festive and fun, and she put a lot of tidbits in there that mimic the traditions.  Just love it!

 

I also found this amazing necklace below.......

 

necklace by Wink Artisans

 

 http://arteabla.ning.com/photo/day-of-the-dead-necklace

and

http://www.winkartisans.com/ (this link has a whole bunch of sugar skull related handmade)

 

And............. I'd also like to show off the Day of the Dead piece that I made for the blog hop. I am pretty excited about it- since it features a new 3-d bronze skull that I am working on.

 

you can read more about this piece here

http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/2013/10/halloween-day-of-dead-blog-hop.html

 

Have a great day- eat some candy, be nice to the little kids and enjoy the creativity!!!!

 

 



October - Beyond Pumpkins and Ghosts...by Karen McGovern

October is a great month.  The weather, for most of us, is finally getting interesting.  Trees change color.  The air is crisp, and so are the apples.  Events like hay rides and visits to orchards compete with corn mazes and beer fests--AND my birthday is in October so, yes, the month ROCKS.

 

October's leading lady is, for me, Halloween.  I've always loved Halloween.  The opportunity to dress in costume is an artist's dream.  I also love the history, folklore and mythology surrounding events in October/November.  It's more than just carved pumpkins and bed sheet ghosts, you know.

 

One of my favorite events of this season is Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos.  This traditionally Mexican holiday is celebrated just after our American Halloween, on November first and second.  The holiday is a celebration honoring family and friends that have died.  One of the central figures of the holiday is the sugar skull.  A highly stylized skull decorated with lavish embellishments, flowers and more.  They are beautiful!  I have several artist friends in all media that have created amazing interpretations of the sugar skull theme, one of my favorites is by my good friend Georgette Pressler of Devious Body Art.  Georgette is an amazingly talented body painter.  She turns the human body into stunning works of art.  Her Muertos works are just breathtaking--as you can see here.

 

 

Another favorite artist who specializes in Day of the Dead works is an American gal named Krisztianna.  She creates jaw-dropping sculptural works she calls Muertitas.  She makes them for every season, sculpted from Styrofoam, hand painted, embellished and simply STUNNING!  Check her out and get ready to be amazed.

 

 

For jewelry designers, October is a buffet of inspiration.  Fall colors in glorious peak, so we reach for agates and amber, amethyst and tourmaline.  Copper, brass, all those rich colors--yum.  I have never been one to create "holiday" jewelry, but this year I decided to try my hand at designing a sugar skull inspired series of work.  First, I created a necklace for Nunn Design--I'm part of their Innovation Team--and I used a hand cut skull I created from etched copper, embellished with Nunn's brass floral stampings, crosses, twig connectors, charm and beaded chain.  LOVE IT. 

 

Next I created a matching over-the-top cuff for Plum Gallery in St. Augustine, FL.  I created it from textured aluminum overlayed with a brass dragonfly wing.  In the center is a hand cut skull in etched copper, embellished with brass, sterling silver, steel leaves and more.  I rather like it, in all it's dramatic glory.

 

 

Finally, I wanted to create a more subtle design, so I made a jasper necklace in copper, sterling and aluminum.  A tiny sterling silver skull is held in place with a dimensional brass flower.  I really like this design.  Finally, I've made a bracelet that features a brass cup holding one of MaryAnn Carroll's gorgeous enamel copper discs, the tiny sterling skull and the brass flower, with a white stick pearl accent.  Definitely a favorite.

 

Red creek jasper pendant, brass and enamel copper bracelet with pearl accent. 
These designs are available NOW, so contact me if interested!!

For those of you that do create "holiday" work, what themes have you explored outside the "normal" holiday imagery?  I'm considering expanding on this theme, perhaps to try a winter solstice series.  There are so many wonderful seasonal themes that go artistically beyond snowmen and candy canes...that really interests me.  How about you??? 

Seasonal Fun

by Staci Louise Smith

It is beginning to feel like fall on the east coast, which happens to be my favorite time of year.  Ever since I was a kid, I have enjoyed the crisp cool that comes on the breeze, the leaves crunching as you walk, and the excitement of getting ready for Halloween (I LOVE to dress up!)

 

So, I find myself drooling over fall beads, and reaching for fall colors in my own creations. 

 

Here are a few of my favorites for the season.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/163596145/petipumpkin-pendant?ref=af_shop_listed_item

 (click picture to go to listing)

 (click picture to go to listing)
 

  

AND if you love Halloween and want to have some fall fun, you can sign up here to participate in Diana's (Suburban Girl Studio) Halloween / Day of the Dead Blog hop. 

Details are on her blog.  Only one more day to sign up, so check it out!



Guest Post - Marsha's Halloween

Hi Everyone! I'm Marsha (of Marsha Neal Studio) and I am thrilled to be asked to do a special guest post here on LMAJ blog for Halloween themed post...

Marsha Neal Studio Halloween Ghost Pendant

I consider myself to be more of a bead maker than a jewelry designer,

although I do dabble a bit.

Marsha Neal Studio Bat Necklace

I find that as a bead maker, it is important to understand how your pieces can be used for creating finished jewelry and also to listen to feedback so you can make your work that much better.

Marsha Neal Studio Porcelain Bat Pendant

For Halloween, I walk that line of in-between.

In between kinda cute and the slightly not so normal.

I am a color and texture person.

Throw in a shape to give it a bit of definition, but other than that I like to see how the clay and glaze react with the textures.

Marsha Neal Studio Porcelain Bat and Silk Ribbon Necklace

I love quick wire wrapping.

I need to sit and figure out some cool handmade closures, but time has not allowed for that.

(And that is something I have to be ok with for the time being).

Fall Gords and Pumpkin

We have a preference in my house for the fun things.

Not the scary things of Halloween.

Marsha's End of Season Garden

I love the end of season garden for gathering bits of decaying plants and seed heads to press into ceramic clay (which gets fired to become a texture plate) and then rolled over with fresh porcelain to get reverse images printing like this pendant:

Marsha Neal Studio Porcelain Nature Pressed Pendant

I have a little family of 4 (me, my husband, and two young children).

So for Halloween, we start decorating in early October.

We read fun Halloween books. We watch fun Halloween movies.

Marsha Neal Studio Halloween House Decoration

I know that as they grow older, they will be wanting to watch horror flicks.

For right now, we avoid watching them when they are present.

I'm the type of girl that watches those movies through the cracks in my fingers covering my face.

The kind of girl, that when the kids are asleep and my husband and I sit up and catch up with The Walking Dead (AMC) - he often has to ask through laughter: "Marsha. Does your running in place in bed help them get away faster? Do you think they can hear you telling them that one is over there and to Run Now! Get Outta There!?"

Oh, man. My kids are going to have fun with me when they get older...

So with that...

My house usually shows off Halloween more than I do.

I prefer the simple design with a hint of that not so pretty (but usually quite pretty to me) texture and color.

What about you?

How do you wear Halloween?

Please stay safe if you are in the path of Hurricane Franken-Storm Sandy.

I hope you and your loved ones make it through this safe and sound and get to have a little fun with Halloween this year.

Falling for the season......................

by Staci L. Smith

Living in the Eastern US, we get a colorful, cool and crisp fall (though its always too short for my liking).  The air is still warm in the day, and chilly at night.  Some days, the clouds block the sun, and you need to wear a sweatshirt with your shorts.  Its the time of year to layer clothes, smell wood stoves firing up for the season, sit around campfires with friends, jump in leaf piles, smell crisp fresh air, hear leaves crunch as you walk, and indulge all five senses in the wonder of Fall!

So, I would like to honor this season with some etsy favorites.  I threw some cool "color" beads in there to keep with the color portion of this months Art Spark- but mostly, its all the things I love about fall, like pumpkins and Halloween.  Halloween has always been a time when I could dress up and be anyone I wanted to!  And if you lived inside my head (be glad you don't) you'd see there are a millions things I dream of being!  I have also been a fan of the Grateful Dead since my young teen years, and so, the sugar skulls remind me of all the fun I had learning about life in that scene, as well as bringing a little Macabre to this month.  OH- and lets not forget babies in pumkin hats- all my kids were fall babies, so, I just melt over these little cuties.  So without further ado, a little trip through my brain in this most favorite season of mine~ handmade style.  (click the pics to go to the listing)

Enjoy!

Enjoy!!!!

I am curious what fall is like where you live?  Do you have any favorite fall traditions????