Hey, Your Website Looks Different!

Yes, yes, it does. I've been working on it for weeks. It still isn't completely done, but I wanted to put up what I have so far! Most of the links should be ok. One of many pet peeves I have is that the menu on my blog doesn't quite line up with the rest of the site, but I'm working on it. Also, I found a text router thing so people can text me without giving out my number. Not sure how this will work, but if it doesn't, I can always delete it. :D

If you happen to look and see something amiss, let me know! There is lots of content that needs to be added, and that will happen, I promise.

Mara

Etsy and KISSmetrics - What Do We Do Now????

If you don't know what the title of my blog post means, you'll want to look here:

http://etsybitch.blogspot.com/2011/08/etsy-evil-to-core.html

And PussDaddy Blogs: http://pussdaddyblogs.blogspot.com/2011/08/etsy-kissmetrics-translated-into-plain.html

Many sellers and buyers are upset. I've been looking in the forums and basically from what I can discern, Etsy issued a statement saying they did not know what happened, and they removed Kissmetrics from the site. However, people are finding the rogue cookie on their computers. And it affects ANYONE who used/uses Etsy. The more the news gets out, I am sure those of us who sell on Etsy will see less traffic.

Some of KISSmetric's lovely customers: http://www.kissmetrics.com/community

Also, see this Wired article - http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/07/undeletable-cookie/ and http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/08/you-deleted-your-cookies-think-again/
posted by guschisantiquefinds.


I'm no computer expert, but I'm just as paranoid as the next internet user. I thought I would pass on some suggestions for people to use on their computers if they want to try to remove the cookie. Apparently if you have an iPad, you are probably safe because it does not use Flash (thanks, Steve Jobs!).

EDIT: I went to the KISSmetrics site on my iPad and it told me it was installed in my browser. YAY.


The top four recommended in the forums (some work with Firefox - it is thought Firefox helps block the LSOs, etags in particular, but I don't know the whole story, but I use it anyway):

Better Privacy https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/betterprivacy/

Ghostery http://www.ghostery.com/

AdBlock http://adblockplus.org/en/

CCleaner http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER


In addition, although I don't know if they will help with that particular cookie but are good to have:

SpyBot: http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html

AdAware: http://www.lavasoft.com/

WOT: http://www.mywot.com/

NoScript: http://noscript.net/

Avast Antivirus: http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

Many computer savvy people have suggested these to me, and I use everything except Ghostery, which I haven't downloaded yet. I hope you find these links helpful, and give you some protection until we hear from Etsy as to what needs to happen next.

Thanks to Maya of SWStitchery also wanted to add some information she got from McLoveBuddy in the Etsy forums:

To opt out directly via Kissmetrics: http://www.kissmetrics.com/user-privacy

"...the opt-out button will block Kissmetrics on all the sites that you visit that might still use Kissmetrics. It's not for companies.

Kissmetric's statement regarding the opt-out for consumers: "As an additional step to respecting consumer privacy and providing additional tools for our customers, consumers can use the controls below to opt-out or opt-in of tracking b KISSmetrics across all KISSmetrics-enabled websites."

Source: http://www.etsy.com/teams/7718/site-help/discuss//8793215/page/35

EDIT: I went to the KISSmetrics user-privacy site and found their opt-out button. Before I clicked it, the site told me my browser was helping them compile data, yada yada, and thanked me for it. No words to tell you how I feel about that.

If you know of other trustworthy tools to add to this list, please share!

Please email me at mara (at) indiscretion (dot) us if you are unable to post any additional information. Some people have not been able to comment and I am not sure why.


Mara

TNT sale TODAY!

FREE hair ornament with ANY purchase at http://indiscretion.etsy.com and http://hauteindiscretion.etsy.com Check out more deals: http://craftanon.blogspot.com/2010/07/thursday-night-temptations-are-here.html

PLUS!!

Check out these awesome shops:


http://www.NightsRequiem.etsy.com
http://www.kezbirdie.etsy.com
http://www.KalliopeKreations.etsy.com

TNT TIME!

Yup, in both Indiscretion and Haute Indiscretion FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE no matter how much you buy today! Just wait for an adjusted invoice.

Don't forget to check out my DiyScene buddies, too:

Two more things you might like....

I have such a backlog of things to list. Seriously. I love making the things, but I drag my feet when I have to photograph and describe them. Luckily, these last few months I've been invited to participate in fashion shows where I get free photos. So I have no excuse. Here are two I listed tonight...more to come this week:

Photos by Wink More Studios and Lloyd Thrap. Dresses at: Indiscretion and Haute Indiscretion

You know of Twinkie Chan, right?

Of course you do! She makes awesome goodies - I put her in my blog some time ago (Twinkie Chan Blogged), but now I've discovered she shows her goodies AND shows off some other DiyErs in her blog as well! So when you get a chance, mosey on over to: Twinkie Chan's yummy blog!

Four treasuries at once? Me? On Etsy?

If you really want to know, check out my Flickr page.

And thank you to my fellow street team members for creating treasuries!

Please visit these DiYScene Etsy Street Team shops!

An interview with Ahna - one of my favorite Etsy Dark Artists

I'm hosting some of Ahna's creations in my eBay shop: Indiscretion's eBay Store


I’m a Capricorn, born Jan. 9th, 1970 in Stanford, Ca. but I was raised in Santa Cruz, Ca. I’m of German, Latvian and Mongolian descent. From early on, art has been a part of my life; from drawing and coloring with my father, learning to paint boats with my grandfather, to taking pictures with my first camera at the age of 12. In grade school, I was either in a music class, art class or photography class; art was always a part of my childhood and adolescents.

I’m now 37, still a Capricorn… am happily married to another artistic person named Jimi. We live way out in the mountains of Northern Ca. with our 11 cats, 2 dogs, Bearded Dragon and Sulcata Tortoise. When I’m not creating some form of art, I really enjoy gardening; roses, by far, are my favorite flower. But I like to really work in my garden and have put in a small pond as well as built an awesome rock wall in the shape of a very large circle; that’s good Feng Shui for the garden.

Here’s the part where I’m supposed to describe what inspires me to create my art. Absolutely nothing! I guess I’m one of the lucky ones because art just flows from me. I don’t need to connect with nature or dream designs… they just come to me when they are ready. I will say this, my husband’s designs inspire me. In fact, I’ve reproduced some of his drawings into stained glass and into jewelry.

I like color, vivid and dark colors. I like art that stands out and says “look at me”. I’m always looking for words to describe my style but I really haven’t found any that are right on the mark. I guess my style is gothic in nature, I like skulls, roses and crosses but those could also be categorized as biker. Yet I have a collection of more delicate work, more organic and pretty. Not sure what to call that either. I also consider myself to be a hippie; a hippie-goth best describes me, maybe Bohemian as well.

I hope when people look at my work, they do notice that it is dramatic and that I pay close attention to detail. It’s the little things that sets my work apart from the rest. And that my personality is in my work, I’m not just assembling things but putting a little part of me into it.







Artist Resume:

Ahna has attended the following schools:
Aptos High School, Aptos, Ca.
Soquel High School, Soquel, Ca.
Monta Vista Christian High School, Watsonville, Ca.
Rio Lindo 7th Day Adventist Academy, Healdsburg, Ca.
Cabrillo College, Aptos, Ca.
California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, Ca.
The Art Academy, San Francisco, Ca.
Adult Education, Morgan Hill, Ca.
Butte College, Chico, Ca.


Art Created started in 1996 but was called Shattered Glass after Ahna had taken a course for beginning stained glass and fell in love with the medium. “I found that I could apply my photography skills into glass design. When I was attending CCAC, I took an insane class about color and light; which now, I’m so glad I did.”, says Ahna.

In Jan. 2006, both Ahna and her husband, Jimi, took a beginning metal-smith class at Butte College, where again, Ahna fell in love with the medium. “I don’t know what it is exactly about metal work that drew me in, all I know is after my first piece, I was hooked. Jewelry and I just ‘clicked’ instantly. For the next 6 months, I entered a Zen-like jewelry state of mind and produced about 20 different designs; all this was done at a small table in my bedroom”, Ahna explains. “Ahna was obsessed with jewelry and I couldn’t believe how much she was producing”, says Jimi. “I went through all of my old art drawings and all of Jimi’s old art drawings, where I found lots of designs to play with”, says Ahna.

Besides jewelry and stained glass, Ahna also creates with the following: painting, sewing, silk screening, photography, candle carving and rolling, perfume blending and stone cabochon making (lapidary). Put these all together and Art Created by Ahna was born.

http://ArtCreated.com
http://Ahna.Etsy.com