Art on Fire at Artfire!

WHAT?!?!?!?!?! I know, I hadn't heard of it either, but I bought some artist supplies there once...


I'm taking about Artfire.  A marketplace for handmade Arts... You name it, it is a virtual artists gallery, art show, crafts bazzar, art fair all online.


I encourage you to poke around on their site here...
http://www.artfire.com


I have just opened up a little store on Artfire.com, and my store name is of course, CarolinaClover. One word.


You can view my new handcrafted site here...
http://www.artfire.com/users/carolinaclover


I am so excited about a competing virtual venue for Etsy. If you are a happy shopper at Etsy, good for you. But you might want to click away now because this is going to get ugly.


As a seller on Etsy I became increasingly frustrated at how they manage their site.  Etsy has "written" and "posted" and "quoted" on many occasions their guidelines for items to be sold in their "Handmade Marketplace". Basically what I'm talking about here is the difference between "ARTs and CRAFTS" and mass machine produced bits that get a manufactured bow put on it by the seller and sold on Etsy as handmade. The integrity of Art on Etsy has been lost and I don't mind saying so publicly.


Etsy has let this happen, it is unfortunate, yes and they have defended their decisions to run their site into the ground by "not turning away anyone who wants to sell on Etsy"...as stated by an admin in their forums.  "Everyone has  a platform on Etsy".


Well, I have news for Etsy. As soon as you stop caring what people post to sell on your site, you become eBay and you are no longer a "handmade" marketplace.


I can only hope that the competing marketplace of Artfire, and some other art oriented start ups, can remind Etsy, via virtual competition, what exactly is considered Art. People vote with their dollars, and my dollars are headed to Artfire.


I hope you join me.

Morning Full of New Cuff Designs

Here are my current cuff bracelets in progress...unfinished at the moment, but creative forces at work...

Tropical Fish with Beach Bag Stripe Fabric Cuff Bracelet

Chic Taupe Pearls with Champagne Rhinestone Cuff Bracelet

Preppy Pink and Green Fabric with Rhinestone Flower Cuff Bracelet

Zebra and Preppy Pink Ribbon Cuff Bracelet with Gloss Finish

Carolina Clover's First Retail Space!

Carolina Clover is opening up shop in historic downtown Wake Forest! Beginning in mid-August, we'll be opening a boutique in the Cotton Company!

Located on main street in downtown Wake Forest, the cotton company is a major contributor to our lively historic downtown hosting local artists, boutique shops and hosting events. The Cotton Company has also received the award for... 

10Best.com  

Top 10 Raleigh Shopping Malls & Centers!

Travel Editors from Southern Living, Southern Accent, Cooking Light, 

& Customer Reviews Decide Who Make the List.

History of the The Cotton Company

The cotton was sold and loaded out the back, onto the train; where it then made its way to the factories to be made into clothing and various other items and now, thanks to Bob and Elizabeth Johnson, the Cotton Company has been renovated and is home to retail shops, artists galleries, an event space and Over the Falls Deli.

Carolina Clover will still offer our personalized and monogrammed gifts online at www.carolinaclover.com!  But if you live or travel to our little downtown, be sure to visit the Cotton Company where Carolina Clover will be featuring our handcrafted jewelry designs and unique gifts!  More information about Cotton Company shopping events, shopping hours, and  sales will be coming soon!