What? That old saying is more tired than I am, and it is still true, especially in Etsy-Land where each month or (enter period of time here) whatever, a new feature is announced and rolled out and it ends up being just like that last thing, a lot of sizzle, but no steak. So many ways of describe a situation where you are just spinning your wheels, working hard to meet the challenges, only to have the challenges come from a different direction.
As this entry is being created, a new future for Diamond Art Emporium is also being created, a future without Etsy and their eternal fee structure, their endless loop technical support and the environment perfectly suited for the Stepford Wives or a lifetime retreat with the inspirational folks behind Amway, this little store is about to spread its wings, stretch its legs and release a dragon's roar and flames simultaneously in celebration -- Diamond Art Emporium dot com will be an independent website without restrictions, without someone else's idea of an e -commerce portal, a truly ground up makeover where each listing can be modified or restricted as necessary, not as closely as possible to avoid error messages, pop-up warnings and someone else's product, not mine, the predictable product mill creation with my name on it -- No Thanks, we're outta here.
There will be some signs to watch for. New products are about to fly out of every corner of the store, not just new images, but entirely new diamond painting kits, made in america shit that just doesn't exist out there. The little gay diamond painting store is about to get gayer, if that is a word and it is possible.
I've mentioned Eye Candy and teased it for months, it is now time for it to hit the store shelves, in preparation of a new website home and a fresh new perspective on diamond painting kits that doesn't include a glorified coaster or odd sized flatback rhinestones randomly placed on an illustrated magazine ad. Who asked for another diamond painting putty to try out? No one that I am aware of, those thing sorta pop up every other day, and the DAE diamond painting putty is about to shine its light like a beacon to all those who still haven't found a putty that works for them. I am going to refrain from making claims and promises and simply throwing one more attempt at earning a place in the history of diamond painting and actually may really have a putty that does it all, or most of it, or some of it, or almost some of most of it all, whatever. There will be putty, and you ask, is it worth trying? the simple answer is about all I'll say -- absolutely worth trying.
The squares practice kits are going to get company in the boxed format kits to go lines, perhaps a snack sized kit for kids that adults will love too? Or a version of Eye Candy that has a rewards card included for each kit you complete, I'm just making things up now, because the changes are coming and you don't want to be left guessing, right?
Timeframe: between now and the first of the year.
Launch: Diamond Art Emporium.com free of the tethers to Etsy, where listings are built entirely around diamond painting and have nothing in common with antiques, jewelry, or digital downloads.
Launch: Vanity site, Ren's Diamond Art Garage Sale -- the new testing site where good ideas go to get screwded up or prove their worth in the wilds. Putty Extraordinaire will be the first Crash Test Dummy
Launch: Eye Candy
Launch: Putty Extraordinaire
Launch: Squares Practice imagineered to highlight nice small format art, in a box that works like a portable easel and includes a frame when its done, still no coasters on the horizon.
Complete: the full list of categories for On Demand special order kits just before the list explodes into more categories than ever without the Etsy limits.
Complete: the roll out of square resin diamonds as an option and as a default for in-stock as well as special order kits
Does any of that sound like fun? Like a lot more than one person can do? A nightmare for the overworked and understaffed? A recipe for disaster? Lets all collectively take a deep breath, sit back, get out the Jiffy Pop and see what happens. K? Did I mention the word Penis will become synonymous with quirky diamond painting accessories? I guess I just did.
This blog has been resurrected as a bridge between the past and the future, you might want to bookmark this one when you're looking for Diamond Art Emporium, not because anything drastic is going to happen, but this will be a good place to clarify what is old and what is new. You'll understand when it starts.
And the comments still don't work on this blog, they never will because I'm not going to die on that hill, but they will work on the new blog that is being built on the new websites that are going to serve as the new home and future of Diamond Art Emporium. You'll know about it here first.