Most of you by now would have heard about Regretsy, the hilarious blog which features the more, uh, unusual offerings by some Etsy sellers. The creator of the site, April Wenchell who writes as Helen Killer, puts it succinctly in the title of her recently published book, Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF
. If you haven't heard about Regretsy before, check out my past review about the site, Regretsy : Unfavorites from Etsy.Launched in October 2009, Regretsy's humorous and yes, snarky commentaries soon made it wildly popular. The book includes a popular selection of actual Etsy listings all with her pithy comments. The listings are with full cooperation from the Etsy sellers who know a good marketing opportunity when they see one!
You can see several preview pages if you look inside the book listing in Amazon
. Head on over for the New Yorker magazine's Embracing the Culture of Fail book review. As Regretsy has been so successful in helping artisans sell the quirkier stuff, April told New Yorker some artisans have resorted to creating what her blog readers call "Regretsy bait" to try and catch her attention. Prior to her book launch, she had a fun contest for free signed copies of her book. Contestants had to design their own dust jacket for her book which any one can download and print. This was one of the 10 winners which I thought was hilarious :
She was amazed with the quality of the artwork submitted. She said in her blog post, "I have received some ass kicking entries so far, let me tell you. Amazing, painstaking work. It’s this kind of serious attention to detail that can only mean one thing. Many of you are unemployed."
April is not just a really funny writer. She has her heart in the right place. All revenue generated by Regretsy.com including the proceeds from Regretsy merchandise go to the Regretsy Alchemy Fund. The money is used to hire Etsy artisans to make products for various charities or to help needy Etsy sellers.
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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I received an anonymous feed comment about this post.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I shouldn't respond to anonymous comments but I do wish to acknowledge not everyone likes Regretsy. Etsy has no problem with Regretsy so long as the latter clearly has no affiliation with the former.
This blog is about inspiration and design. What constitutes as beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I respect the Etsians (and all the featured artisans on this blog who make far out jewelry) who create the edgier pieces perhaps fewer people like. They are free to create whatever they want as is for April to write what she thought. It's critique with humor - and I stress there are many types of humor - and Regretsy shouldn't be taken too seriously.
Sure, I wouldn't wear moose poop jewelry but it does illustrate a point I often write about - anything can be made into jewelry.
You are the best Pearl, don't let anyone take your luster - peace
ReplyDeleteIt's things like Regretsy that make this world an interesting place. There is always room for the weird, wild, whacky and, naturally, WTF. Besides without humor life would be most dull, if not depressing. :)
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