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Adieu EtsyWiki!

Etsy is shutting down EtsyWiki, so I'm preserving the acronym list here.

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Official Unofficial Acronym & Lingo FAQ

A

• ACEO - Artist Cards Editions and Originals. Basically they are miniature pieces of art, 2.5" x 3.5", roughly the size of a playing card. They are an affordable way to collect original works of art by your favorite artists. Can be bought and sold. (not specific to Etsy)
• AFAIK - as far as I know (not specific to Etsy)
• AJC - Art Jewelry Collective (street team)
• ATC - artist trading cards -- note the emphasis on trading; most ATC artists do not sell their cards, they trade them with other artists. http://www.artist-trading-cards. (not specific to Etsy)
• AOP - artist's own pattern
• alphabet people - folks who are 'buyers only' and do not have their own avatar

B

• BAO - Bead Art Originals (street team)
• beta - a public test version of software or a website. On Etsy, this refers to the version used until November 2006, when V2 (version 2) was released.
• BF - boyfriend (not specific to Etsy)
• BFSC - built from scratch clothing : http://www.etsy.com/forums_topic.php?thread_id=16029
• bling - rhinestones and other shiny stuff, big jewelry. (not specific to Etsy)
• B&M (or BM) - "Brick and Mortar" shop with a physical location. (not specific to Etsy)
• BNA - "Be nice, assholes". refers to threads lecturing or advising on what not to say or do in Etsy fora. (attributed to goat).
• BNR - buy and replace. Buy an item and replace it with one of your own in a treasury or forum thread.
• BOGO - buy one, get one (second item free, usually; sometimes half-off)
• bookmarking - term used when a user wants to track a thread without posting a comment. Note: the word "bookmark" is no longer in use, it's a banned word in the forums.
• brb - be right back; used in chat rooms and instant messengers (not specific to Etsy)
• btw - by the way (not specific to Etsy)
• bump - what someone does when she wants to get a particular thread back to the top of the forum (not specific to Etsy)
• Blue Room - chatroom (see also Green Room, Red Room, R)

C

• calling out - discussing specific transactions and feedback on the public forums, i.e. "Please do not discuss specific transactions and feedback on the public forums. This is calling out another user and is against our rules. Please email support [!at] etsy.com privately for assistance." (from stellaloella.etsy.com)
• carp - stuff you make; from a typo in the olden days about all the "crap" that was being sold.
• CCCOE - Californa Crafters Club of Etsy, a street team for those who live in California
• CGGE - Creative Glass Guild of Etsy, street team of glass artists on Etsy
• c.lit - not the obvious (cubistliterature.etsy.com)
• convo - Etsy's private messaging system, conversation between Etsy members, initiated by clicking on "contact this seller" on seller's shop site

D

• D&D - see Do's and Don'ts below
• DBCB - Designers & Buyers of Children's Boutique
• destash - term used when one is selling (getting rid of) a stockpile of supplies
• DIY - design it yourself, do it yourself (not specific to Etsy)
• DH - dear husband (not specific to Etsy)
• DNBF - Do Not Buy From -- a list some sellers have because they don't like the postings, manners, politics or other personal aspect of a particular Etsy seller, usually based on postings from the fora.
• Do's and Dont's - Etsy rules http://www.etsy.com/dosdonts.php
• Dork - Automatically replaces "dick" in forum titles, even for proper names. Is not RevolvingDork, one of the Etsy four founders & early forum mod.
• Dyno - Etsy seller who provided incredible guides to using Etsy in the Beta days

E

• E - Etsy
• EBW - Etsy Bead Weavers (street team)
• EDA - Etsy Dark Art (street team)
• EDM - Electronic Dance Music, as in raves or desert parties
• EEJA - Etsy eclectic jewelry artisans (street team)
• EGA - Etsy glass artists (street team)
• EGCG - Etsy Green and Clean Guild (street team)
• ESST - Etsy Supply Street Team (street team)
• Esty - common typo for Etsy. Appeared in the orange box website header on April 1, 2010.
• ETSIANS - everyone in the great Etsy community
• EtsyFAST - Etsy Fiber Arts Street Team (street team)
• ETTEAM - Etsy Treasury Team
• ETC - Etsy Texas Crafters (street team)
• EVST - EtsyVintage Street Team
• EWT - Etsy Wedding Team (street team)

F

• fantastic - a word which automatically replaces the word "ass" when typed in the chatrooms
• FAST - Etsy Fiber Arts Street Team, made up of sewers, knitters, weavers, dyers, spinners, crocheters, felters, and any other fiber crafters. The group has a monthly themed challenge. Search tags/titles for EtsyFAST. http://www.etsyfast.com
• FDL - Fashion Design & Lifestyle Street Team.
• flag, flagged - to report an item or shop to Etsy for violating an Etsy rule.
• FP - acronym for the Etsy Front Page.
• frell - a word which automatically replaces the word "fuck" when typed in the chatrooms (originally from Farscape, not purely specific to Etsy)
• FWIW - for what it's worth (not specific to Etsy)

G

• Green Room - chatroom (see also Blue Room, Red Room)
• GWBG - Girls Will Be Girls (street team)
• GA - Google Analytics

H

• heart - to put a shop or item into one's favorites. This can be a verb or noun: "I hearted your earrings", "I have 100 hearts".
• HTF - hard to find
• "headdesk" - forum eye rolling on Etsy

I

• IBTL - in before the lock (specific to Etsy for marking threads destined for closure)
• ILLTWITTERATE - Not understanding social networking
• IMO - in my opinion (not specific to Etsy)
• IMHO - in my humble opinion (not specific to Etsy)
• ITA - I totally agree

J

• JK - just kidding, joking (not specific to Etsy)
• JET - Jewelry on Etsy Team (street team)
• JFGI - Just Friggin'/Frelling Google It

K

• KWIM - know what I mean? (not specific to Etsy)

L

• LMAO - laughing my ass off (not specific to Etsy)
• LOL - laugh out loud (not specific to Etsy)

M

• Man Knitter - A man that knits (ex. Cubist Literature)
• marking - making a mark to find or follow a thread later
• MoE - Men of Etsy (street team)
• MSOE - Mad Scientists of Etsy -- a street team of sellers who are either scientists, have a science background, or sell scinece-themed items.

N

• newbie - new Etsy member, new poster in forums, new member of any online group (not specific to Etsy)
• NFEST - Needle Felting Etsy Street Team (street team)
• NPB - non-paying buyer
• NSFW - not safe for work, usually a warning of adult content. When posting a link to a website with nudity or adult content, it's good netiquette to label it "NSFW".

O

• OMG - oh my god/gosh (not specific to Etsy)
• OOAK - one of a kind (not specific to Etsy)
• OP - original poster; the person who starts a forum thread (not specific to Etsy)
• OSWOA - original small work of art (not specific to Etsy)
• OWS - Old World Shoppes (street team)

P

• PCAGOE - Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy (street team)
• PIF - pay it forward -- http://www.etsy.com/forums_topic.php?thread_id=3691
• PITA - pain in the ass (not specific to Etsy)
• PLUR - Peace Love Unity Respect, mantra of the rave culture.

Q

• QA - quirky alone, unmarried childfree individual (as opposed to SAHM, for example -- http://www.quirkyalone.org)
• qnb - quirkynberkeley

R

• R - Red Room chat room (vote's still out on this one); notorious in Etsy lore for reasons deserved or not (vote's still out on this; join the debate); also site of the first Etsy town hall meeting on (what was the date?)
• RevolvingDork - One of the Etsy 4 founders, made famous by pithy, witty forum posts & closures
• RAOK - random act of kindness (not specific to Etsy)
• RAOGK - random act of glassy kindness (not specific to Etsy)
• ROFL - rolling on floor laughing (not specific to Etsy)
• ROFLMAO - Rolling On Floor Laughing My Ass Off (not specific to Etsy)

S

• Sac Etsy - Etsy Street Team for Etsy artists living in and near Sacramento, California (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sac-etsy)
• SAHM - stay at home mom (not specific to Etsy)
• Scratch - Etsy Street Team for sewn clothing "built from scratch"; handmade, not reconstructed.
• SEO - Search Engine Optimization - methodology to getting websites or specific URL's to the top of searches
• sleavy - alternate spelling of sleazy. Born in Etc on 2-11-09, followed by a week of non-stop threads.
• snark - sarcasm, sarcastic remark. Can be either humorous or mean, depending on context and perception.
• SNS - Saturday Night Special, weekly sale promotion (http://www.etsy.com/forums_topic.php?thread_id=25677)
• sock puppet -- username/account created for the sole purpose of posting, shilling, harassing, promoting in fora without being identified.
• spam - posting too many promotional threads in the forums, posting promos outside the promo section of the forums, posting promotional replies to unrelated topics, sending unsolicited convos or emails promoting one's shop, thanking people for hearting.
• spambot - Etsy's automated program to stop convo spam. If a user sends too many convos in a short period of time, the spambot will mute her convos.
• SRA - self-representing artist
• SRAJD - self-representing artist jewelry designer
• stash - a lot of craft supplies waiting to be used (not specific to Etsy)
• stash-busting - cleaning out, giving away, selling or using up the stash (not specific to Etsy)
• stellaloella - one of the 42 Etsy employees
• STFU - shut the fuck up (not specific to Etsy)
• stoked - (as in stoking a fire) excited or happy. Origin: surfer slang (not specific to Etsy)

T

• TGH - The Glass Haven (street team) -- http://teams.etsy.com/profilest/glasshaven and lampworking forum -- http://theglasshaven.com.
• thread - an ongoing conversation in the forums, aka "topic." (not specific to Etsy)
• Thread with a capital T, aka "The Thread" - a series of long ongoing chats in the Etc. section of the forums. Participants are called "threaders."
• TMI - too much information, over-sharing (not specific to Etsy)
• TOS - terms of service, often used interchangebly with TOU
• TOU - terms of use -- http://www.etsy.com/terms_of_use.php
• treasury - a list of favorites, created by one person, and lasting up to 3 days before it expires. The treasury "limit" is currently 333, but this does not mean there can't be more than that. It means that when the number dips to 332, anyone who is in the treasury has the opportunity to create one. Depending how many people do create one, the number can go as high as 375 or more. Retired Fall '09.
• Treasury East - current unlimited treasury free-for-all of immortal treasuries
• TRIF - trade it forward -- http://www.etsy.com/forums_topic.php?thread_id=16914
• TTFN - ta ta for now (not specific to Etsy)
• TVP - thinly veiled promotion. thread or post for the sole purpose of calling attention to the poster's items or shop

U

V

• VAST - Visual Artists Street Team
• V2 - version 2 of Etsy, which was released in November 2006

W

• WAHM - work at home mom (not specific to Etsy)
• WIP - work in progress (not specific to Etsy)
• WIST - Wisconsin Street Team -- http://wist-etsy.blogspot.com/ and http://team.etsy.com/profilest/wi.shtml
• WJW - Wow, just wow
• wtg - way to go
• wtf - what the fuck (not specific to Etsy)
• wx - weather (not specific to Etsy)

X

Y

• YMMV - your mileage may vary; you may have different results or opinions than the stated one, due to variable conditions. Often used on tutorials. (not specific to Etsy)

Z

Symbols

• <3>
• =^.^= (and its variations: =^^= ; =p.p= ; etc) – represents a happy cat face with whiskers.
• :) - happy smiling face (tilt your head to the left) (There are many variations in expression, i.e.: :( ; 8-| ; etc.)
• (: - happy smiling face (tilt your head to the right)

Notes

This list is NOT complete.

New Hamster Lair!

I did not like the bright plastic igloos sold at the pet store for hamsters, so I placed a request on Alchemy for a ceramic hideout for my hamsters. Etsy artist Black Dachshund Potter responded and made this gorgeous piece for my little ones! I love how it turned out, so do the hamsters, but they don't know they are the owners of a piece of art!

Two Hamsters and a Food Dish

In the midst of all the madness in the world, one needs a little cuteness to look upon every once and awhile to set things aright.

Meet my two new furry friends!

Valentine's for Singles - Part III

"Amantes sunt amentes!" or at least that is what my Latin phrase-a-day calendar says for today. Our third and last segment for this Valentine's is for confirmed bachelors/bachelorettes and those clinging less adamantly to singlehood but willing to have some fun along the way! So grab some chocolate, a few strawberries, and a glass of wine, and take a look at these great items!

So what exactly does it mean to be single? This scrabble charm by Found and Made Designs has all the answers! Made from a salvaged Scrabble letter tile and a silver bail, it features the dictionary definitions of the word "single." Singlehood is no longer considered a contemptible state. Show off your singleness with pride!

Not afraid to be alone? Take a look at this interesting t-shirt from Cackle! An unusual, and somewhat more positive, spin on the "I'm with Stupid" shirts, it declares, "I'm with Myself." Available in grey or white, this shirt would make a great gift for anyone who is comfortable with himself/herself and quite content to spend some time in solitude!

Want the ring but not the significant other? Take a look at Shade Jewelry's selection of unique titanium rings! In particular, this graceful diamond and titanium ring is a show-stopper and a refreshingly distinctive piece in a world of déja-vu jewelry! A diamond may not be a girl's best friend, but it does not hurt. If you are looking for a more masculine piece, I recommend this striking ring that was inspired by jewelry hand-forged in the days of yore. By the way, Shade Jewelry's diamonds are non-conflict, so you can enjoy their beauty without offending your conscience (yay!).

Before everyone complains that I skipped the best part of the holiday, here is a piece inspired by my favorite Valentine's Day activity, eating chocolate! This chocolate love bubble charm from The Cutting Edge reads, "forget love, I'd rather fall in chocolate." Which is better, chocolate or love? You decide. Hmm... what about falling in love with chocolate?

Have a wonderful romantic or non-romantic Valentine's everyone!

Valentine's for Singles - Part II

Of course, there are those of us who are not content to stay in the single state. The second part of this series is for those who are looking for "the one" and those who think they have found him/her and are not sure how to suggest expanding the relationship from a friendship to something more. What better time is there to make this step to a romantic friendship than on Valentine's? Just be sure to make dinner reservations early!

This purse made from a recycled book with a rather unusual title was not quite what I intended to feature when I chose the theme of singles looking for love, but I could not help laughing when I saw it! I am sure most of you can sympathize (guys, just replaced the word "Guys" in the title with "Girls"). I know of very few people who did not go through an awkward phase at some time or other when positive attention from the opposite sex seemed nothing short of miraculous. If you are interested in other repurposed and vintage items, take a look at Retro Grandma's other items! (I cannot believe I actually recognized a few things in the toy section...)

This gorgeous silver "Oui" necklace from Meg Leigh Designs would be appropriate to wear next time you are hanging out with that guy who needs just a wee bit of a hint (no pun intended)! Alleviate his fears about asking you out by letting him know that he will not receive a "Non" or the dreaded "Peut-être." This simply elegant piece is a combination of a sterling silver filigree heart charm, a sterling silver round "oui" charm, a 17" [43.2 cm] sterling silver chain, and a Karen Hill Tribe silver toggle clasp.

If you think your prospective new sweetheart requires a more straightforward approach, try this gamer-inspired card by BS Angel! The front of the card reads, "Your friends list is full.", and the inside concludes with "May I add you to my more than friends list instead?". The teal and brown color combination allows this card to stand out in the Valentine's sea of red and pink, so that it will be noticed by "you know who."

Cute of a Million's "Kiss Me Already" card is perfect for when subtle hints fail and you need a bolder strategy! Give it to that guy you keep on calling to fix your unbroken T.V. or the girl whom you asked if she would hypothetically date a guy like you! The front of the card reads, "Put down the card and kiss me already. Don't make me repeat myself." (Non-singles, this would be a useful card to have on hand for those "just because" moments!)

Perfectly content to stay single or ready to just go where the wind blows you? Come back in a little while to see the third part of this series!

Valentine's for Singles - Part I

Valentine's Day is often reserved for children and those who are in romantic relationships. So instead of putting together a traditional Valentine's Day Gift Guide, I decided this year to focus on those of us who are usually ignored this time of year, that is, the singles. Whether you spend Valentine's Day with friends, rejoicing at having escaped yet another year still single, alone crying over a box of chocolates, staking out potential sweethearts, chasing away wannabe worshippers, or oblivious to the fact that the holiday even exists, this series of posts is for you!

One of the best ways to celebrate Valentine's Day while single, if you do decide to go ahead and make the most of it, is, of course, to spend it with other singles.

In the sometimes tumultuous and often lonely sea of singlehood, it is comforting to have the safe harbor of a lasting friendship. This notecard entitled "Old Friends" by Mary Ann Archibald symbolizes the sort of friendship about which I am talking. A constant friend who serves as a companion, a morale-booster, a confidant, an advisor, and even, at times, a critic is one of the greatest treasures in life.

Our second featured item is a tribute to the time-honored tradition of going out drinking with friends! "Double Trouble," an adorably odd t-shirt by Tsai-fi, features two unusual drinking buddies who have had one drink too many and have begun to spew out cosmos! The design is also available in pink printed on a charcoal t-shirt. Get one for yourself and one for your drinking companion!

Many of us have at least one friend who knows too much about us: that friend who has been there to comfort us and sometimes laugh at us when we are having issues with the opposite sex, that friend who finishes our sentences and shares our peculiar sense of humor. "Up to no Good," an altered domino that can be used as a keychain or pendant, celebrates those friends without whom we could not imagine going through life. Created by Art by Heather, this domino can be converted to a magnet upon request.

Lastly, what better time is there to cause mischief than on Valentine's when all your other friends are preoccupied with their sweethearts? They will never suspect a thing...

"Partners in Crime" is an original acrylic painting by Jo Knee Appleseed, featuring co-conspirators. I will leave it to you to decide which is the criminal mastermind and which is the accomplice.

One last note, Mary Ann Archibald, Tsai-fi, and Art by Heather also have websites and/or blogs, in case I have piqued your interest, which I certainly hope I have. Be sure to check in later for the rest of this series!