Here is what I've been up to...

          Oh my, I didn't realize how long it has been since my last post. Here is an update on what is going on at Barlee Creations.

          At the end of September, I will be closing my ArtFire shop. Anyone who orders from me through that shop can rest assured you will be taken care of. Once that shop is closed, I will still be here to take care of those customers.

           Currently BarLee Creations can be found on Etsy, Bonanza, Zibbet, eBay, and of course directly. I am also contemplating opening a shop on eCRATER. Why so many shops you ask, well that is easy to answer......it gives my customers options! Who doesn't love options?!

          I have new crate tags coming soon! Check back to my blog either tomorrow or the following day to see them before they are listed.

          If you have visited my website recently you will see that it is much need of a makeover. It is on my to-do list, my apologies but sadly at the moment it is at the bottom of that list. I can't give a specific time frame when it will be up-dated, because I just don't know. However, when it is ready I will let you know.

          Have you seen that Tophatter auction site? Wow, that place can be addictive! I was toying with the idea of listing something there. First, I have to get a better feel for site. If I do ever decide to go for it what would you like to see me list? Have any ideas please leave them in the comment section below.

I Can Now Be Found On Bonanza

          I have just opened up a new shop on Bonanza.com and I am working on getting more items listed there. I have wrestled with a decision and I think it is time. Since last December certain information has come to light which causes me great concern with the way ArtFire is run. I think it is in my best interest to move my items currently listed there to Bonanza. Once my new Bonanza shop is fully stocked it will become my new main shop and I will then slowly be removing myself from ArtFire. I haven't quite picked a closing date for my ArtFire shop but what I can say is it will be closed by the end of this year for sure.

           If you haven't heard of Bonanza before now you should stop on over and check it out. They have loads of interesting finds as well as other past sellers once found on ArtFire. Bonanza is a little bit like eBay crossed with a handmade and vintage selling site. I am pretty happy about my new shop there and I am hoping it will turn out to be a great move for me.

What is new? English Setter & Scottish Terrier that's what!

The New & Improved English Setter

          Long time lovers of my work will remember the original pattern I had for the English Setter, but everyone will be happy to learn that I have improved it for the better. I had not listed the original pattern for some time because it very much needed a make over and its size was way to big. The new English Setter pattern is now the right size and with a much improved color pattern.

New Scottish Terrier color black

          Now you have two color options for the Scottish Terrier. I know many will be surprised that I didn't already offer a black Scottish Terrier. Sadly it was true and to fix this over sight it has now being added to my line. It is a long slow process at times but I am working on adding new breeds and new color options. I keep a running personal list of dogs and colors I would like to work on, but new items requested by my customers take precedent over my list and get added to my line first. If there is something you would like to see add you are always very welcome to put in a request.

          Thanks to another customer request Smooth Dachshund has a new color a dark red color. This and the above mentioned other newly added items are currently only listed in my ArtFire shop, as soon as time permits I will get them listed in my other shops.

I've Reopened my Etsy Shop

          I know I have been sort of missing in action as of late but with good reason. As of the beginning of this year I have reopened my Etsy shop, I figured it was time I gave them another try. I am also in the process of restocking my Zibbet shop. Also if every thing goes to plan and time permits I will most likely open a shop on two other venues.
         
          Now I know what your thinking, why some many different shops why not just sell at one place. That is a great question and there is reasoning behind my actions. First like the old saying goes never put all your eggs in one basket. This doesn't mean that I believe that any of these selling platforms will go belly up, but it could conceivably happen. I don't have any control over the workings of the different selling platforms and it is always best to be prepared. (As a side note if in the unlikely event that one of the places I sell from happens to disappear that does not mean I have disappeared. All my customers will still be able to find me through my email, blog, Twitter, website, etc. I will be there for my customers.)

          Each selling platform has their own pluses and minus to using them such as seller and buyer tools they offer, the functionality of the site, and so forth. Another reasoning for multiple shops is that lots of people may have loyalty to certain websites while others may just prefer one website over another. This way my customers can shop were ever they are most comfortable. Give the customer what they want, right? I want to make my customers happy.

          In each of my BarLee Creations shops (including on eBay under barleespringers) you will always be able to buy my single sided all dog breed crate tags. However each shop may or my not have some of other items I make, it will vary from shop to shop.

          To spice things up a bit I have decided that I will be selling my handmade dog/pet collar charms and pet & owner sets in my ArtFire and Etsy shop. Each shop will have different charms, so you will never see the same charm offered on both sites at the same time. (I will amend this to include my other new shops if and when I get them open.)

Half Price on all One-Of-A-Kind Dog Ornaments

American Cocker Spaniel sale ornament

          I am running a sale on all my one-of-a-kind dog breed ornaments, they are now half off their original price. The sale runs until the end of November or until they sell out. Hurry limited supplies available, once they sell out they wont be back again.

          They can be used as a Christmas or an everyday ornament. You can easily hang them anywhere, and with them being stitched with the same image on both sides they can enjoyed from different angles.

          If you do not find your favorite breed I also carry a regular line of Everyday Ornaments.

NEW Matching Pet and Owner Jewelry Sets

          I am very pleased to announce my latest line in doggie jewelry...... matching sets, for you and your canine companion. I have made my pet jewelry with dogs particularly in mind but please don't let that stop you from using them for other animals. Any animal that wears a collar, harness, or similar tack can easily wear my pet charms.

          My new sets will include a collar charm for your pet and either matching earrings or pendant for you. I will have styles for men, women, and unisex just as I do for the collar charms. My sets are a lovely symbol of the special bond you both share.

          I was reluctant to get into making jewelry for people as there are so many great artisans out there already. I've had several people look at my collar charms and tell me that I should make matching sets for people. The thought had been kicking around in my brain so I took this as a sign to make a move on this new endeavor. I must say that I really am glad I did.

          Right now I only have three sets currently listed, but I have loads of ideas floating around in my head. Keep watching my ArtFire store, Twitter, and my blog for updates on newly listed jewelry and other items. Who knows, perhaps for a future giveaway I will offer a special set for the occasion.

What Dog Breed Should I Make Next?

          I am looking for your input! I want you to tell me what breed of dog would you like to see me make next. You can look through the breeds I currently make by clicking here. Do you like Herding breeds, Sporting breeds, or perhaps Toy breeds? It can be any AKC recognized breed from any group or any breed of dog recognized by any other registry. If the dog breed you pick comes in multiple colors please also include the color you would most like to see.

          On September 19, 2011 I will pick a dog from your suggestions. You can suggest as many different breeds as you like but I ask that you please post each breed separately. If by the Sept. 19th I don't have at least 5 different people's suggestions to pick from I will extend the search till the end of September.

Will your favorite dog breed be next? It could be!

I am having a Christmas In July Sale!

     Not only am I having a sale but so are other sellers on ArtFire.com. Now is a stupendous time to shop the wonderful stores on ArtFire. I know I will be checking out all the super deals.

     What is on sale in my store:

• All my single sided TAG-A-LONG Crate Tags including my New Crate Tags ship for FREE, anywhere in the US and Around the World.
• All my discontinued Everyday Ornaments are 40% off their regular price.
• All my discontinued English Springer Spaniel Coaster Sets are 30% off with coupon. (See my store for coupon code.)
• All my English Springer Spaniel Reusable Sun Catchers including my discontinued Sun Catcher are 30% off with coupon. (See my store for coupon code.)

What will you find in the ArtFire Christmas in July Sale?

The New and Improved Cairn Terrier

          I have redesigned the Cairn Terrier for the better, I am sure you agree. I am quite thrilled with the way it turned out. It started out as a bit of a challenge to get the look just right. When working in a plastic canvas medium, which is basically working in squares, can at times make the end result not exactly turn out as you see in your minds eye. However this design hit everything right and turned out exactly how I envisioned it.

          If there is anyone out there that liked the old design you still have some time to buy it. It has been moved to the Discontinue section in my ArtFire store. But dally to long or you will miss it. I will most likely have it posted in there for a week before removing it permanently.

          Do you see one of my dogs but you wish it had a longer coat or that it came in a UK style? Send me an email and ask. Recently I had a customer ask about getting their favorite breed with a longer coat and now it is part of my regular line.

Introducing a New Chow Chow Color

New color!

          I know Chow Chow lovers everywhere have been waiting for me to finally carry this new color. What new color is it? The red Chow Chow of course!

          There are just so many breeds of dogs and so many different colors that basically its going to take me time to get to them all. That was the case here in getting the red color done. Eventually I will have all the popular colors for each of the dog breeds done and perhaps someday I will have all the color completed.

         If you notice that I am missing your favorite breed or color don't hesitate to speak up and ask for it. I will put your request on the top of my to-do list. I have had many other people put in their requests and if it wasn't for them those particular colors would have been done so soon. If I get some down time between orders I will have an other new color to add to a different breed. So stay tuned for that!


          This weekend I will be unveiling a revised design for a different breed that you are just gonna love. I am really quite excited about how great it turned out. I don't want to tell you which breed it is yet but I can tell you it is a Terrier. Better yet just come back this weekend and find out for yourself, you wont be disappointed.

Is ArtFire a Great Place to Sell?

UPDATE May 13 2012: More developments have happened at ArtFire which now leads me to warn anyone against opening a shop on this site. Mutings, bannings, black hat SEO, and more are the types of things happening on this once great site.
           If I had a friend ask me about sites to sell on I would tell them to avoid, avoid, avoid ArtFire. Save your money, time, and sanity.


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UPDATE January 4 2012: Since I first posting this there have been quite a few developments. It pains me greatly with what has happened to this wonderful selling site. I don't wish to go into great detail but what I will say is this:          
The basic sellers were all removed. I may not have agreed with that move but that was ArtFire's business decision which one couldn't truly fault them for. However with that said the way in which the basic sellers were treated during that time was disgraceful in my opinion. So if you were planing on opening a basic shop on ArtFire it is no longer available.
          ArtFire seems to be shifting from the great qualities that I had originally signed up for and was excited about. Their forum where I used to love to hang out have sadly has become a negative environment in my opinion.
           The things that are going on have sadden me and quite frankly is breaking my heart. I will continue to sell on ArtFire in the hopes that what I see as a train wreck will be averted.

At this time I can no long recommend ArtFire as a wonderful community and outstanding place to sell.

In my opinion at the moment it is an average place to sell as long as you know what you are getting yourself into.

I will be crossing my fingers that I can come back and amend this update with good news.

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           So what is ArtFire? It is a place to sell and buy Handmade, Fine Art (such as painting, pottery, photography, etc.), Vintage, Craft Supplies and Design/Media (this is for individuals that have designed and item and had it fabricated in a limited run of less then 500). It is also a friendly community to share ideas, find help, and have a fun time.

           Buyers will love all the unique items available to buy from and you can do that without having to sign up for an account. If for some reason you can not find what you are looking for you can Request Custom Item also know as "ArtFire Forge". Of course you are always more then welcome to contact a seller directly to see if they can provide you with what you are looking for.

          Sellers will love the helpful features that ArtFire provides. Sellers also have the option to have a Free Basic store (limited features available) or open a Pro store and have access to all features. And get this..... there are never any selling fees......EVER! No listing fees, no ending value fees, and certainly no fee fees. How mind blowing is that?! As if that wasn't enough if you sign-up right now for a Pro account using the link below you will get your third month Free.


Become an ArtFire Pro with this link and get your 3rd month free!

Update May 20, 2011

          I was asked what 5 things I like most about selling on ArtFire. So here they are in no particular order....

1. I am able to set up my store the way I like it. When you click onto each ArtFire seller's store you see and you get a feel of that individuals tastes and style. If you like bold, plain, or even something in between ArtFire gives you the tools to let you follow you style. (This was a Huge selling point to me!) 

2. You only pay a low monthly fee with NO listing or ending value fee. (I think I am in love!) Heck, if you want or unsure about paying for a Pro account you can have a Basic account and sell for FREE! Whaaaaat?! That's right sell for free, of course you don't get all the snazzy features you get when you have a Pro account but you still get everything you need to sell your items. (I am thinking once I get my Pro store to take off I may open up a second one with a Basic account. *Paws crossed*) 

3. All the features you get especially with the Pro account...wow! Your own blog, a bio page, you can add widgets (you can even sell ad space), importer, a cool way to move items around in your studio, you can feature your items, coupons, gift certificate, global editor, and oh so much more. I am starting to hyperventilate just thinking about it all!  

4. Forums that a friendly with a feel of a real community. The ArtFire administration answers questions & problem quickly and politely. They don't patrol the forums to monitor and shut down topics. The treat you like an adult unlike other places who don't trust you to carry on a conversation as you see fit. The forums are a great source for information and inspiration, it is even a good place to shoot the breeze.

5. SEO, lets my customers find me from anywhere on the web. Most of my customers have found me this way. If you have good SEO your customer will always find you and you wont ever be lost under piles of other stores like what happens on other selling sites.

If this has inspired you to open up your own store that is awesome! Just click this link to get started http://www.artfire.com/users/barleecreations/sell-crafts

Handmade Collar Charms are Finally Here!

"Fido" modeling a charm made of wire wrapped Mexican and serpentine jasper beads.

          My newest line of handmade dog art are collar charms, wearable art for man's best friend. They will be an item sold exclusively from my ArtFire studio. For some time now I have been wanting to make items for dogs as I have for their owners for years now. I was inspired and impressed by all the very talented jewelry artisans on ArtFire. Seeing what beauty they can make from a mere piece of wire into lavish rings, necklaces, pendants, and more is just incredible. With the help and guidance from catinalife (a talented artist on ArtFire), my books, and the internet I have made my own dog collar charms.

          Many of the charms I make are one-of-a-kind or made in limited quantities, this is due mostly in part to my bead supply and artistic muse. I buy beads in small quantities and in some cases singly. When I sit down to create a collar charm I don't necessarily have a "plan". I pull out the colors or bead shapes I want to work with and let them "speak" to me. 

Wire wrapped crystal bead.

          The beads I use vary from crystals, gemstones, to glass and the styles also vary from simple one bead charms to fancier wire wrapped pieces. I have charms that will fit every size of dog from tallest Irish Wolfhound to the smallest Chihuahua.

          I am really quite excited and proud to bring you my collar charms that I am sure will be a big hit with all my dog loving friends out there. What ever you and your pup's style glittery, earthy, fancy, unique I have a charm to fit.

Let In The Light!

          If you haven't been to ArtFire you're really missing out on wonderful finds in handmade, vintage, supplies, and more. While wondering around on ArtFire I was just being nosey when I came across amazing stained glass pieces. The bright colors and the luminescence of each piece inspired me to put together this lovely collection so I could share it with everyone. After this long cold winter I am ready for eye popping color and brilliant bright light, aren't you?

Some of the piece you see below are not all stained glass. Some are made with special paint that looks like stained glass but sticks like a window cling. No more worries about the piece falling off a window an breaking. Which makes it perfect for families with small children and pets as they wont get cut by any broken glass.

If you like what you see here in this collection there is so much more on ArtFire that you have just got to see.

Let In The Light

Curated By: barleecreations

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts