Gack.

I've obviously been hyper-obsessed with the Etsy store. Often before listing items I'll just do some searches and make sure that someone else hasn't thought of the EXACT same thing, made it, and listed it already. A little paranoid, yes, but I'd hate to come across as a copycat (to revert to my grade school vocabulary).
I guess that in the past when I've come across items on Etsy that look pretty much exactly like mine (and were listed later) I just sort of gave them the benefit of the doubt--that perhaps they independently came up with the same idea, didn't search before listing, yadda yadda. But just now, while searching for something else, an item caught my eye and I was drawn to a shop that had several almost identical items to the ones in my shop--all listed recently, and well after my items were listed and sold. In one case the item description was even similar. And of course they're underpricing me. I noticed that she had some similar items to another polymer clay seller too...sigh.
So, what's a girl to do?
I've decided to just relax after having a long weekend with a few nice sales, and ignore it. From what I've heard on the forums, complaining to admin and direct conversation rarely leads to productive outcomes, so it's really just not worth my time. I know that ignoring the problem will not make it go away and will likely make it grow, but I'm in my last two weeks of school, I've got three exams (two of them finals) and a paper, and I've got better things to do than start a PM war.
Grr. My practicality is making my head hurt.

Mack Goods

It's official. The Etsy store has taken over my life. I check it obsessively, I list things daily, and I have an ever-growing stash of polymer clay foods. I spent the afternoon working on a custom order (8 bacon stitch markers) and putting together promo materials (charms, business cards).
Should I have been streaming a lecture on gastrointestinal neoplasms? Yes.
Did I? No.
Above is a collage of some of the things I've been making lately. It's interesting to me how the store has developed and taken new directions in a manner which almost indicates to me a life of its own...random ideas for new things to make pop into my head at night before I fall asleep, and I'm compelled to make them. Some are hits, some are misses. It's a fun time. Oh. What's in the picture, you ask? Clockwise from upper left: Fresh Grass Yarn Necklace, Carrot Earrings (as yet unlisted), Luna Bird Necklace, Fried Egg Hairpins, Tiny Lime Hairpins (just listed, and just sold!), Pearly Lining earrings (unlisted).