If we really do start a street team for papercutters, we have to get permission from Admin. Plus we have to define what is and is not papercutting, in other words, decide how inclusive or exclusive we want to be.
> If we have only prints (or other not-cut reproductions) of our original papercut designs in our shop, does that count? It's a good idea for us to expand our designs into prints of our art. But I think one shop sells only prints of her/his art. If only-prints is allowed, how do we distinguish ourselves from artists who make prints? Perhaps the original papercutting has to be for sale, too. Does this make sense?
> There are obviously different areas within papercutting. Paper sculpture, architectural models, flat cutting, folded cutting, silhouettes, maybe also die-cuts and kirigami. (More about kirigami later.) GAP* allows collage artists.
> Do commercial die-cuts count? What about die-cuts that the seller creates? (How *do* you cut a home-made die-cut?)
> Kirigami is the Japanese art that combines paper folding and paper cutting. Sort of origami that makes a better figure with a few cuts. Example: www.scissorcraft.com/folding.htm. To me, papercutting is about putting holes in paper. But we may want to start inclusive, and then, when we have lots of members, divide into specialities.
> GAP* has at least one papercutter who no longer cuts her designs manually. She got carpal tunnel syndrome from cutting cardstock. So she calls or emails a laser-cutting company, and they cut this design on that color of paper and mail it. If anyone on Etsy wants to have a company laser-cut and drop-ship, that product cannot be sold through Etsy. But sellers can ask buyers to email them off-Etsy about other products.
> How much of the shop has to qualify as papercutting? Japanamaniacs wants 90% (?) of the shop to be Japanese-related items, so I didn't qualify. I think the polymer clay guild wants three items in the shop to be made of clay.
> I would like to see search terms in Etsy standardized by sellers, and then by Etsy. Sellers could all use one tag like papercut, instead of every variation of the word. But I'm not sure buyers will all use that tag. Standardizing may have to wait.
> I'm sure there is something else to discuss! Any suggestions?
* GAP is the Guild of American Papercutters. I've been a member for years.
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5 comments:
Excellent points of discussion, Darcy.
At this point, my preference would be to create some broad definitions and relatively minimal restrictions, making the team rather inclusive at first. Then, (if and) when our street team balloons with popularity, we can then break the group into sub-groups/separate teams of more finely defined areas of paper cutting.
As far as settling on the original team parameters, I think the group needs to weigh in and we should be as democratic as we can about the process.
Since you've been a GAP member for a while, can you tell us anything about how the guild formed their "constitution?"
Thanks again for your sage thoughts and questions to get us going!
One specific question I have of you is this. You wrote that folks who have a pro laser cutting service cut and ship an item cannot be sold through Etsy. Will you please explain why? I'm assuming it has to do with the finished item not being "handmade," so it makes me wonder: when I send my photos off to be developed by a big photolab so I can sell them in my shop, is that an Etsy no-no as well? Thanks. :)
Thank you for bringing great points to the table.
While I don't begrudge anyone the right to sell prints of their work, I don't think exclusively selling prints and no original handcut work really falls in the realm of papercutting. And I don't necessarily feel that every piece that has prints for sale needs the original offered as well. I'm more apt to say a ratio or percentage, such as 1:5 originals:reprints, for example (actual numbers to be determined.) My reason being that while reprints are very nice, the very essence of what we are doing involves cutting the paper and offering some dimension. A flat reproduction is a poor representation of what we do. And I for one have considered it, I mean selling prints is great bread and butter for many Etsy shops, but I don't want to lose focus on the art itself.
I would prefer to be broad and open to the different areas of papercutting.
I would also prefer to be broad in how much of the shop has to qualify as papercutting. Personally I plan on selling photographs of my shadowboxes in the future. Some of us make cards. I don't think it's our place to limit what people want to sell, so long as the papercutting has a presence.
great thoughts everyone! I agree that there needs to be a required ratio of print vs. original....1:5 sounds good to me! but, I think that there can absolutely be some flexibility - if an original sells and the ratio is off for a little while, that is okay.
Personally, I feel as though laser cuttings do not qualify as handmade. I'm sure that some would argue since the original design was handmade...but I think that the handmade quality is quickly lost when mass produced.
I agree with m. b. karger that for now all kinds of papercutters could be included...there seems to be a pretty small following.
I think that 50% of the shop needs to contain papercut items.
Great brainstorming here! I really look forward to this team taking shape!!
*bitty
Hey gals-
I'm really interested in what you're starting here. I am an etsy seller - user name: kayjay1.
I don't have a ton of paper-cuts on my site at the moment, but it's something that I love doing and I always come back to it.
What can I do to join you in your efforts?
Sorry, not in the habit of checking this, and I'm pleased that all of you did reply!
1) How about this for restrictions?
At least five items in the shop have to be hand-cut, original papercuttings. At this time, we are pleased to include silhouettes, paper sculpture, kirigami, and collage.
2) No mention so far about laser cuts, diecuts, or prints. Laser cutting is still too expensive for most of us to do on a casual basis, so we probably don't need to exclude it on purpose.
3) I'm not sure how GAP formed its constitution.
4) Yes, the issue with Etsy and laser-cutting is the not-hand-made part. But only Etsy Admin can rule on laser cuts or a photo service.
5) I want to expand our list of potential members. We can encourage other sellers to try papercutting. Top of the list are sellers with block prints and lithos. Or maybe other paper artists. So I don't want to insist on 50% of the shop being papercuttings.
By the way, any email to me should go to Arabesque-Arts@insightbb.com.
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