Medieval tower bookmark

My new creation are these unique bookmarks depicting the old town hall tower of Sibiu, in Transylvania, Romania. Available in my other Etsy store, the Transylvanian Trove. A shop that wishes to promote the creativity and talent of fellow Transylvanians, past and present.
Entirely handmade linocut prints, several combinations of colors available (in both typographic ink and paper). If you have any preference based on item photos, let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (depending on already sold items). Otherwise, I shall randomly choose.

Medieval tower bookmark, hand-pulled linocut print, colorful book accessory, old tower, art gift for readers, writers, book lovers, reading

Dimensions: 14 x 5.5 cm.
The price refers to one bookmark.
Ready to send, ready to use.

See more bookmarks here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TransylvanianTrove?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=20828284
See my entire shop: www.etsy.com/shop/TransylvanianTrove

Tea and tobacco leaves - bookmarks on Etsy

Check out this item in my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/573607169/set-of-three-assorted-tobacco-and-tea.

These original, hand-pulled and hand cut linocut bookmarks are available in my second Etsy shop, the Transylanian Trove.

he idea was originally a collaboration with a tea shop in Sibiu, so I thought the decoration was ideal for such a context. I then extended the project and used the individual lino plates in other compositions as well and for small-size art projects such as this one.
The price refers to a set of three assorted items, if you have any preference based on the item pictures, do let me know, otherwise I shall randomly choose.

For more items, feel free to follow me on Twitter as well: https://twitter.com/PompiliaSoimos

Tobacco and tea leaf linocut bookmarks

Vintage felted flower

I am not a big fan of felted handmade decorations, because they are often kitschy through the too-realistic shapes and too strong colors and combinations. Still, I like simple felted slippers, for example, or a vintage flower in natural colors that I have just added to my Etsy shop, the Transylvanian Trove.

It is a felted flower in warm, autumn colors, irregular, organic shape, and intentionally asymmetric. It can be sewn on clothes, as a nice accessory, or can be attached with a pin (not included) and worn as a brooch. Possible decoration for several hair, feet, jewelry and dress accessories.
Unique vintage item from Transylvania, entirely handmade.
Dimensions: ca. 5 x 4 cm (1.5 x 1.9 inches).

Vintage felted flower

Felted decoration from Transylvania

 

Vintage enamel bangle bracelets

The latest addition to my Etsy shop the Transylvanian Trove consists of  a set of three vintage cloisonne bangle bracelets that can be stacked for a Bohemian effect. These beautiful, yet small and inconspicuous bracelets are decorated with Oriental-style enamel floral patterns and inlay. They are probably made in China, as I inherited them from my mother who had bought them during the Communist Regime in Romania (around the 1980s).
The three items vary in diameter and are rather small, suited for young girls, teenagers and women with delicate wrists.
Red: inner diameter of 6 cm (2.3 inches)
Blue: inner diameter of 6.5 cm (2.5 inches)
Green: inner diameter of 6.5 cm (2.5 inches)
Ready to send, ready to wear. 

Set of 3 metal bangle bracelets, stacking bracelets, vintage cuffs, cloisonne enamel, Oriental flowers, inlay bracelet, colorful jewelry

Chinese cloisonne metal bracelets

Detail of the decoration

Leather crocodile vintage pendant

Another lovely item has just been listed today on the Transylvanian Trove shop on Etsy. The leather pendant is crafted in the shape of a crocodile. This unique pendant is entirely handmade out of natural colored leather, created as to resemble a green crocodile with large red eyes. It is sold attached to a black leather cord. Like all pieces of jewelry made of natural leather, this item is light and warm against the skin, a pleasure to wear. Only one item available, ready to send, ready to wear.
Dimensions: 5.5 x 2 cm (2.1 x 0.7 inches).

Crocodile medallion, natural leather pendant, design jewelry, green and red crocodile, animal jewelry handmade on leather cord, unique art

Detail - crocodile eyes

Size compared to one's palm

This is a vintage item, but I remember its maker's explanations of how it was done. She collected colored leather second hand clothes and rolled together the desired pieces to form the shape of each animal, gluing each new leather to the previous ones. After the animal roll dried, she cut fine slices through it, revealing several identical shapes and the intricate colors inside.

Detail showing the pendant's height

See HERE all the unique pendants available from the Transylvanian trove.

And do not miss the 10% reduction available until the end of July 2017 with coupon code TEN PERCENT.

An Etsy seller's experience

I opened my third Etsy shop, the Transylvanian Trove, less than one year ago, hoping to have learned from the strategies and failures of the first two and having a chance to try a different approach.

My first shop, the Goddess Gruia, was opened in 2015 and focused on my artwork. As painting is just a (serious) hobby for me, I have little time to organize exhibitions, go to art camps, and collaborate with galleries (anyway few in numbers in my home town of Cluj-Napoca), as I did before getting a full-time job. Considering these time limitations, the decorative character of my paintings and linocuts, and the affordable prices I believe are right for them, Etsy did seem like a good solution. Still, two year and 8 sales later, it proves that the platform is not really the best to sell art and promoting one's listings is equally time consuming than all the things mentioned above that I was trying to avoid.

I then tried a shop with a different profile and promotion approach - the Proper Leather Studio. The handmade leather manufacture started with my husband worked rather well in Romania, so we though about making special items for Etsy as well (the design is different for wallets, for example, as the Romanian ID card is rather large and requires a special pocket). We decided to take this second shop easy, not invest time in promotion games but rather pay for Etsy marketing and not stress about having enough listings, long descriptions and all the rest. It was indeed very stress-free, but we  had only two sales in over a year and concluded that a bit more involvement is required, at least in the number of listings :)

Print screen - the Transylvanian Trove - July 2017

The third - and I believe my last Etsy shop - the Transylvanian Trove, brought me the greatest joy. The strategy was to sell items I already owned (vintage accessories, retro jewelry, unique prints, collectibles, some older creations of mine, other made by friends or bought over time) so production seemed to cost nothing and I got to free up some space :) I also set aside only small objects for this shop, things that could be send as correspondence, thus not requiring me to take longed trips to the international postal office (for larger packs) and reducing the cost of shipping that buyers certainly appreciate as well. At the same time it seems that cheap nice things sell better and more often, and this makes sense as well. Selling a pair of 6$ earrings - packed in 5 minutes, shipped in 24h hours and received and reviewed in 1 week, often made me happier than selling more expensive, but larger and much more difficult to pack and ship paintings.

Selection of design accessories and collectibles from Transylvania

I also decided to learn more and use the promotions tools available - partly paid, mostly free- such as relatively frequent shop updates, correct tags and titles, longer descriptions, variables, team work games, social networks, related blogs etc. With more time invested, the 10 sales so far have bough me greater joy than those made with the other shops - even if the prices were so much smaller :)

Earrings, leather tooled bracelet, leather coasters and vintage necklace from the Transylvanian Trove

I am (still) committed to all three shops on Etsy and I believe all can be improved to lead to more sales and better visibility. It is also a matter of perseverance and stubbornness, but one also makes a habit out of checking the shops daily and being active on the platform just for fun.

Leather earrings collection

Art leather earrings by #Atelieruldeistorie

Atelierul de istorie has created so far around 20 original earring models, entirely handmade out of genuine leather. Most of them are inspired by the civilizations of antiquity, mostly that of the ancient Dacians, but there are also Baroque shapes, contemporary models with 3D effects, types inspired by folk art and many more. Some are also available on one of my Etsy shops, the Transylvanian Trove. See the latter selection HERE, though it also includes vintage items made out of feathers, metal, ceramics, and polymer clay, all original handmade creations from Transylvania.

See also a previous entry on the advantage of leather as a creation medium for jewelry, especially earrings, HERE.

 

Art bookmarks

The fast-approaching history book fair VOLUMEN, to be held by Virtus Antiqua NGO at Camp Virtus near Cluj-Napoca, includes the selling of special bookmarks inspired by history or art. 

These handmade bookmarks, created through techniques such as printmaking (linocut, monotypia) or openwork&collage leather, are produced by Atelierul de istorie or the Transylvanian Trove. 

Most of them depict the ancient Dacian war standard, the mythical half wolf half serpent creature Draco, others the fish-boar hybrid of the Getae, but there are also contemporary art ones - colorful, graphic, fresh. Take your pick for the best accessories while reading history!

Handmade leather bookmark - Draco - gray and red

Handmade leather bookmark - Draco - gray and white

Different color combinations of handmade leather bookmarks with Draco

Linocut bookmarks Draco black and white

Detail of the above

Linocut bookmarks inspired by a symbol of the ancient Getae

Lincout bookmark, contemporary art, numbers

Linocut bookmark, contemporary art, geometric print

 

Monstera leaf-shaped leather earrings

My handmade leather earrings series has a new addition, inspired by tropical leaves and exotic decoration. I have thus created sexy Monstera leaf earrings, available in my Etsy shop the Transylvanian Trove.

These earrings, inspired by the fashionable shape of the tropical Monstera plant, are light and easy to wear. The asymmetrical design is meant to render the earrings more interesting and to make them nicely frame the face, while the perforations of different size allow for a special play of light and shadow. Due to these feature, the Monstera earrings shall certainly draw everyone's attention!
Multiple colors available - dark gray, coral red, light brown.
Dimensions (length): 5 cm (1.9 inches)
Silver-color metal hooks (common metal alloy).

Gray leather Monstera earrings by the Transylvanian Trove

Monstera leaf leather earrings, tropical leaf earrings, natural leather, handmade jewelry, floral pattern, designed in Transylvania, Romania

Feel free to check other unique earrings from Transylvania HERE.

And don't forget about the special price reduction available in April 201 - a spectacular 1% with coupon code APRIL JOKE :)

 

1% discount on Etsy :)

In tone with the Feast of Fools, I have decided to set up and promote a 1% discount available in April in my Transylvanian Trove Etsy shop! This fabulous discount is available with the APRILJOKE reduction coupon applied at the end of you shopping session, with excellent Transylvanian jewelry and vintage items in you shopping cart :))

1% discount on Etsy for Design accessories and collectibles from Transylvania

I believe in the psychological powder of reductions, no matter how insignificant! Let's see the spectacular increase in sales during April 2017!

Red from the Transylvanian Trove on Etsy

My favorite listings in my third Etsy shop, the Transylvanian Trove, happen to be color-related. I favor all red items, either jewelry or vintage prints, as they form a rather aesthetically pleasing group. The shop aims at promoting the creativity and artistic sense of all Transylvanians, past and present, and to contribute to the region's image of more than the land of Dracula. Feel free to check it out and start discovering more about Transylvania, its vampire past and rural beauty. Here is something about art and crafts from the heart of Romania:

Long red necklace/bracelet, small glass beads on metal string, handmade jewelry from Communist Romania, Transylvania

This long necklace or bracelet is made of small red glass beads on metal string. It is an handmade item made and worn by women during the Communist period in Romania, when not much jewelry was available on the market. Closing system with metal screw (twist) style clasp. 

Octopus leather earrings, animal earrings, handmade jewelry, natural leather, 3D, designed in Transylvania, trendy accessories, Romania

This pair of octopus leather earrings, entirely made by hand and with a modern design, are my own creation. The 3D effect is generated by the combination of overlapping leathers - varying in color, thickness and texture. Each pair is slightly asymmetrical, framing the wearer's face - and this adds to the overall modern effect :) Due to the primary material employed, these statement earrings and light, warm and comfortable to wear.

Large red earrings, modern jewelry, statement earrings, art earrings, fashion accessories, designed in Transylvania, Romania, gift for her

These vintage large earrings are made of red plexiglass and copper wire. Entirely handmade in Transylvania. This unique pair of earrings is daring and a great example of statement jewelry.

Heart flowers, original vintage etching print after an eighteenth century plate, small view of Targu Mures city, Transylvania, Baroque deco

Lovely small print after an original eighteenth-century plate with Baroque decoration. Under the central floral composition one can see on the left a small city vedutta (probably a view of Targu Mures, in Transylvania) and the engraver's name and year: Josephus Vasarhellyi (in Latinized Hungarian meaning Joseph from Vasarhely=Targu Mures) 1772.

Cat brooches

The Transylvanian Trove on Etsy features two items targeted for cat lovers, more specifically to those who like black cats. Two of the original handmade brooches in the shop are painted with thematic depictions - one features a cluster of black cats under a cat-shaped moon, while the other shows a cat's hear eating a fish bone. Both are vintage accessories created in Transylvania, Romania, made of metal, with safety pins on the back. They are easy to wear and shall certainly attract everyone's eye!
See all the brooches in the shop HERE.

Cat brooch, hand painted metal dress accessory, vintage brooch, moon cat, black and white, original design, Romania, safety pin on the back

Cat brooch, cat and fish bone, original handmade brooch, black cat, vintage brooch, metal accessories, designed in Transylvania, Romania

Etsy shop udates - tips and observations

As you might have noticed already, one of the elements featuring prominently on everyone's home page is the "updates from shops you like" section. News from the shops you like is even more prominent, but maybe you do not have enough products, patience or money to post a new item every couple of days. Thus the shop update photo is a good way to stay in touch with your fans and to have your shop promoted by Etsy in a simple and effective way.

Unfortunately, the feature is only available via the Etsy app, so if you do not own a smartphone (like me :) or a tablet, you are in a bit of trouble. My tablet's camera is not very good, so, unfortunately, my updates so far have not been very sharp. A thing to remedy, for sure. Then there are the captions, which I find most effective if short and funny.

Here are the two updates of my Transylvanian Trove Shop so far:

Transylvanian Trove Etsy shop update: "Old and new from Transylvania"

Transylvanian Trove Etsy shop update:It is bookmarks season!

  

And this is how they actually look on Etsy, with items tagged and promoted:

 

Baroque Transylvanian etching

After the Baroque heart-shaped flowers print that opened the Vintage Art category on my Transylvanian Trove Etsy shop, I have now added another unique engraving from the same period and province.

The new item is a lovely small print after an original eighteenth-century plate with Baroque decoration. It is dated "1766" on the cartouche at the top. Though not all can be easily interpreted, it contains several scenes of daily life: a beggar receiving money from a traveler, two men in Transylvanian oriental costumes drinking under a tree, a man showing a dog an unidentified building and in the center the strangest scene of all: a woman inside a barrel, a man poking inside the barrel with the end of a halberd and another man (a drunk?) crawling out of the same barrel at the other end. 
The etching contains extremely detailed elements.
The reprint was made in 2014 by the National History Museum of Transylvania in Cluj-Napoca, Romania after one of the eighteenth century printing plates in its collection. It includes the dry stamped logo of the museum in the right bottom corner. Unknown engraving master. Reprint numbered in pencil 3/I and signed.
Dimensions: printed area: 12.5 x 8.5 cm (4.9 x 3.3 inches), total paper size: 18.5 x 25 cm (7.3 x 9.8 inches).
Not framed, in relatively good condition, small deteriorations of the plate resulting in tiny smudges, slightly wavy paper.

Eighteenth century engraving plate printed in 2014, vintage print, unknown Transylvanian daily life scenes, etching, dry point, must have

Detail of the date "anno 1766"

Detail of the central, unknown scene

Beggar and traveler

Art bookmarks project

I have renewed by older interest in creating unique bookmarks with two more models. The new types are the results of various printmaking techniques: linocut, monotypia, direct impression. These printed bookmarks are in fact the results of an uncycled calendar - see my previous linocut project calendar for 2016. Thus, after using the 12 pages I did not want to part with them so they were given a new life as bookmarks. Some consist of one, two or three rows of individually printed lino numbers, others are from the decorative parts of the calendar, consisting of different types of geometric patterns, dots, spots and results of experimental printing.

They are available on Etsy in my third shop, the Transylvanian Trove, for 1$ a piece :). 

Original linocut bookmark by Ana-Maria Gruia

Dotted bookmarks, original handmade, linocut prints, art bookmarks, love for books, reading accessories, designed in Transylvania, Romania

Oriental car mirror charm

The Transylvanian Trove on Etsy is very active. Yet another new item was recently added, starting a new category as well - car jewelry.

The chic rear view mirror jewelry is decorative and fun, easy to attach to your car's mirror with the elastic loop. It can included in the boho style car blings, as it is composite, asymmetrical and moving. It includes several beads and elements made of coffee bean trivia shell, bamboo coral, bone, silver, leather and plastic - the main charm depicts a Chinese letter, but there are other protective elements as well: the mix itself, distracting the evil spirits, the color red of the coral and the soft jingle it produces.
A great accessory for your car or an inspired gift for someone else's!
Length: 10 cm (4 inches) 

Oriental car mirror charm, rear view bling, car mirror jewelry, boho handmade ornament, silver, leather, coral, bone, shell, Transylvania

Car charm by the Transylvanian Trove on Etsy

Retro pendant silver and stone

Though the first update of the Transylvanian Trove shop on Etsy regards a previously listed product, i.e. the large red handmade earrings, the most recent item is a vintage pendant with a semi-precious stone mounted in silver.

Etsy update from the Transylvanian Trove

The item in question is a nice pendant made of silver and mounted stone. The rays around the oval stone are decorated in faux granulation. Ends in a silver hook that allowed for it to be attached to a chain (not included). The cabochon is cutout on the back, allow for light to shine through the stone, increasing its properties.
Length: 4.5 cm (1.7 inches) 

Retro pendant, vintage jewelry, silver and stone, mounted stone, cast silver, faux granulation, ready to wear jewelry, Transylvanian Trove