Have just checked my order history, pack of 50 large letter boxes 21p each so equivalent to Kite packaging for the same number of boxes.
2 Likes
I do add all of my bears to pinterest I just donāt really get it and have no idea whether it brings anyone to my shop as i dont really look at my Folksy stats. How I see it is people pin things they want to try and copy, I have heard a lot of people say they keep boards of things they want to make. Thank you very much
1 Like
I buy all of my boxes from kite packaging, 4 sizes plus letterboxes @50 a time, I usually put two large orders through a year for the sizes i need incouding tissue paper and tape. I cant remember who i bo8ght from previously, it was another large supplier but Kite are definately cheaper
2 Likes
As far as social media goes, it can be utterly exhausting - coming up with something āengagingā that will get people to interact (even with just a little tick or heart), keeping it going, being consistent. It can be really wearisome!
Pinterest is lumped in with the social media title, but itās not really social media. It doesnāt require you to have conversations or share the more personal pictures that places like FB or IG do to encourage interaction (and which, especially if youāre a bit shy or donāt have a showhome to show off, or a photogenic dog - or baby - can be hard to do). You donāt have to make videos or reels either. You can basically pin pictures and thatās it. You have to be consistent as far as I see, and be relatively knowledgeable to make it really work, but the good thing about it is that what you post stays there - itās not there for a day/minute like other sm posts are, itās evergreen content.
I often think I put in way too much energy into sm considering what I get back (which is probably why Iāll often not be as consistent as I should) - I really should look into building and learning Pinterest a bit more myself!
It seems the perfect place for promotion for the grumpy, antisocial person who doesnāt live in a chic farmhouse and whose cute toddler is now a grumpy teenager, or whose dog wonāt sit pretty for a photo because he likes to lick his private parts too muchā¦
Or a cat who has a resting miserable face that often isnāt instaworthyā¦ (although we do love her)
12 Likes
Pinterest seems the most manageable to me from what you say Sarah, so Iām going to start with that. Iām not much good at ā interaction ā it reminds me of having to write thank you notes on a blank piece of paper, when I was a child. Jan
6 Likes
What a star pussy cat youāve got there Sarah - just lovely (and Iām sure she could be an internet sensation if only she could be bothered!).
I really struggle with the internet - half the posts seem insincere (often from quite big businesses) and some are just a bit naff. I wish we could be honest and just say āthanks for taking a look at this post - if you like my stuff enough then buy itā - Job done!
7 Likes
Oh my goodness what an adorable cat! Thank you for your comment and I couldnāt agree more with all youāve said. Thatās another reason I gave Instagram up because I was constantly setting up my camera to try and make a reel a day to keep my followers. It bored me so, and I thought to myself I just want to make stuff, in my happy place, rather than try and sell myself in everything I do. I guess for me its going to be finding a balance of the two or just hope for the best as keep social media at bay! I do like Pinterest, as you say the photos stay on there for a long time if not forever and itās a lot easier to manage. Have a great weekend
4 Likes
Oh gosh yes! I hated writing all those thank you letters as a child 
2 Likes
Love that! Letās try it! 
2 Likes
Youāre not alone in having ups and downs Natasha, I feel like that sometimes. I got in a right pickle with my shop relistings and was too tired to sort it out (I do ultra distance cycling in winter which doesnāt help 
) but i absolutely love the Folksy community and like being here, so wanted to stay for that as much as anything.
I am going the opposite way to many and quitting social media as an artist. I think it can be detrimental to creativity because the goalposts keep changing, and whilst I could do everything Instagram wants me to do, Iād never get time to produce any work. I think creating posts that show up in google searches on a blog or website, so stay relevant for a long time, is the way for me rather than expending energy on posts that are gone in seconds.
Good luck with your shop and enjoy your crafting.
7 Likes
Hiya, thank you so much 
. Thatās really refreshing to hear and yes i agree as an artist it can be very detrimental. Iāve been pondering it these last few day, paying attention to the great advice in here and listening what my heart really wants, not what my head insists upon. So Iāve decided to remain social media free, maybe work more on my website, Pinterest and chat more requently in here. Thank you lovely, and you. Have a great weekend.
9 Likes
Aww thank you so much for the helpā¦ off to check them out x
1 Like
Thanks so muchā¦these look greatā¦ just need to work out the best size to orderā¦ smile 
x
1 Like
Hello Emma 
I wondered why Iād not seen you on Instagram.
Sorry to hijack but just wanted to say hello.
1 Like
Thanks for thinking of me! Hope all is good with you!
I had my hands full with a poorly sheep, then somehow when relisting expired items I relisted things Iād sold 
so had to put my shop on holiday. I didnāt want to do a flouncy āI quit Instagramā post.
Maybe Iāve had an epiphany, or it could be fatigue, but I just donāt feel I need to be anything anymore. I used to feel this huge pressure, to get my stuff seen, which brings more pressureā¦but the fact is I love art and crafting and Iāll do it regardless of likes, follows etc. I think Instagram, and other social media, is past the period where you could get some decent traction without it becoming a full time job. I donāt want to batch produce content like an automaton.
The mental health aspects werenāt good for me either, I see artists who appear hugely productive in output, and sometimes I canāt do that, especially keeping livestock. I always had this lingering feeling of being āless thanā which wasnāt great for my creativity. I feel a lot better about my art being away from there.
9 Likes
This sounds so like me . I was selling reasonable well on Etsy but with a totally different craft , also had some successful craft fairs over the years . I became very fed up with Etsy and all their rules and charges etc so gave it up and came to Folksy with some of my art . I very had a couple of serious illnesses in the last few years which has left be disabled . So no longer able to do craft fairs
Art has always been my real passion and I returned to it during first lockdown . Iām not much good with technology and never quite sure how to get things out there .
I use Instagram and Facebook ,but again not sure which audience to open things out to ā¦ should I make it all public ?
I wish you lots of luck 
6 Likes
Hiya, yes same here. I was originally on etsy but had enough with it and switched to folksy. Im sorry to hear that. . I think there is some very good advice in all the comments above. Facebook and instagram seem to be the way to go if you want to do any social media. Maybe add in the other craft you had on etsy and mix things up a bit? When I was on etsy I sold art prints and fibre arts but when I switched over to folksy I scrapped the art work and concentrated on my fibre arts. Until this week when I thought to myself, stuff it Im going to share my art again, it is good enough! Funnily enough two art items were then added to folksy favourites,that Ive never had before! Thanks lovely and you xx
5 Likes
Hiya i feel your pain !!
one thing im a great believer in is we should help each other so on looking at your page i thought id click your social media links and like share etc but i cant see any links on your page that might be a help if you have them 
1 Like
Yes! Been there! But Iāve never actually jacked it in. Since learning wire art my skill has gone from strength to strength. Fatigue is my biggest problem but apart from that I have just signed up on a course on social media, as it doesnāt come naturally to me. So Iāll be absent for a while as I pursue that line of learning! Yes itās tough in todayās world but donāt give up. Use social media more fruitfully!
Cheerio Wendy
3 Likes
Hiya. I donāt have any social media links as Iām not on any thatās why you wouldnāt find me 
. X
2 Likes