Launching an Etsy Shop

ChromePandaStudio is live on Etsy!

I have been looking into how I can share the zines I make with other people, especially those who don't make zines and so can't trade for them.

I've also been thinking about how I can give people around me a way to support me, monetarily, without it feeling like charity or begging.

So, after some consideration, I decided to open an Etsy shop.

I am aware that it does put some of the control of my shop into a large company's hands, but it will also allow me to work less on the admin and payment processing side of running the shop, and allow me to primarily focus on doing the things I am already doing; writing, crafting, and building a creative life.

I have already received three spam messages so at least that means it's visible and working. Thankfully, because it is a larger platform, there are some good warning messages, but a lot is left to personal discernment. I do hope I'm right in ignoring the all-caps message about my store being BLOCKED from Megan!

As someone who likes to jump from project to project with varying levels of intensity, I am aware I could well fall down a rabbit hole of 'product-making' for my shop. Which, while it might help generate interest and give folks lots of options of things to buy, would ultimately defeat the purpose of it being a 'side' project.

So, please don't expect a crazy amount of product or updates about it, but it will be there, whenever you feel like supporting a fledgling creative.

My hope for the shop is that it will generate enough income to help me get to more writing conventions, like Continuum in Melbourne in May next year, and eventually get to an international convention in the future.

At the moment, I have all the zines I have made so far listed (all five of them, well four and a half, because one is a minizine version of a bigger one), and some linocut print bookmarks I designed and printed as part of an artist date with myself for the Artist's Way program. They are inspired by the suits of the minor arcana of the Tarot, another love of mine.

I recognise that an artist date is about rekindling your inner artist and. likewise. inner child's creativity, so I'm sure having some kind of product come out of it is a bit counterintuitive, but the format of linocut printing implies some volume with the output, so I'm running with it. As long as it feels like this whole endeavour is serving my inner artist rather than stifling it, I will persist.

In the meantime, please check out my Etsy Store, and if you make a purchase, know that you are supporting me in fulfilling my creative dreams, and I hope that my zines and bookmarks perhaps inspire you in turn.

All the best,

Sheriden