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Arts & Entertainment

Etsy.com Workshop Helps Artists Sell Their Work

With so many artists in the community, Etsy.com workshops sell out quickly.

Christy Howden is returning to Two Twelve Arts Center to lead her popular Etsy.com workshop. Etsy.com is a international marketplace that allows artists to set up shop and sell their wares around the world. This month’s workshop takes place from 9-11 a.m. March 15. 

Howden is a marketing guru, according to Cindy Barnett, of Saline's Two Twelve Arts Center.

"She brought her own TaDaa! Studio to world-wide prominence through her innovative marketing skills,” said Barnett.   

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Howden will share some of the secrets of her success. 

Gaines Collins, also from Two Twelve Arts, said it is a popular class.

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“We sold out in January, and again this month,” Collins said. “This is a class that is in high demand.” 

The center hopes to coordinate with Howden every few months to meet the needs of local artists.

Setting up shop shop on Etsy.com can be daunting for those who aren’t necessarily tech savvy. That is where Howden comes in.

“I decided to offer the Etsy workshop after hearing other artists say how complicated or difficult it seemed,” Howden said. “In the class, I try to take away all the roadblocks that folks think are holding them back in the process of setting up a shop.”

Etsy.com is loaded with items from just about every medium of art, from furniture and glass to jewelry, handbags and what they call “geekery.” Shopkeepers are able to set up their own “storefronts” and sell worldwide. 

“Etsy is more an extension of the summer art and craft fair, just online,” Howden said.

Howden as four shops on Etsy.com with her business partner Rebecca Cornell

“The majority of items I sell are supplies for other artists that are difficult to find,” Howden said.

For example, she has sold high quality art materials like wool felt, oilcloth and Japanese sashiko.

“Etsy is also a place to be discovered,” Howden said. “We had a pillow kit selected by HGTV to be spotlighted on their 15 Fresh Handmade Gift Ideas last fall.”

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