u/StrategicSceneries

I have been selling rocks on Etsy for about 6 months and it seems like most of them are going to people who are building terrariums and aquariums. (I am not trying to advertise here, I am hoping to learn more in the hopes of getting better at something that I am enjoying).

I recently had someone buy one and they said it was for a pinguicula -- I had not heard of this before, although I am aware of carnivorous plants in general.

Should I be cleaning the moss and lichen off so that there is a "clean slate"? Or is that just removing good material that might be useful for the pings to grow on?

TIA

I sell curated rocks mainly to terrarium, aquarium, bonsai and viewing stone enthusiasts. I actually started this thinking that my main audience was going to be tabletop gamers who could use real rocks for fantastical scenes (thus the shop name Strategic Sceneries). That has not worked out, but I still think it could have some legs if I could figure out how to get in front of them.

I call them curated because I really look for pieces that have an appealing aesthetic--I am not just posting random rocks that I have found (I mean, I guess I am doing that as well...lol). For most of them I decide on what I consider to be the best orientation and then I cut them to form a stable base for that viewing angle. They need to already have some inherent beauty, be it texture or shape or colors. I often find myself drawn to rocks that look like a distant mountain top, ala r/Suiseki.

Stats:

Right now I am sitting at 49 sales and 15 reviews at 4.9 stars and I have my Star Seller badge. I recently went through and replied to all of the 5 star reviews in order to lock them in, and because I was wondering if that has an affect on the algo.

Areas that I think I could improve on or have questions about:

I think my photos and videos do a good job at showcasing the products but I am open to constructive criticism.

I use all 13 tags, however most of them are using the same words. Often these words are also in the title, so that feels like a place I could focus on.

When I download the photos, I always save them with a keyword stuffed file name--I think this is recommended but these are are basically repeats of the tags.

I probably have a hundred rocks already cut and waiting for photos and hundreds still waiting (the finding of the rocks while out hiking is my favorite part of this but only slightly more than the process of deciding the best viewing angle).

Marketing:

As an old school redditor (my main account is now 16 years old, I still use old.reddit on my laptop), I have been very hesitant to share anything on the subreddits that I think would be the target audience. I would love to know how others here are doing so without coming across as spammy.

I did start an \[Instagram\](https://www.instagram.com/strategicsceneries/) and have been trying to figure that out, but am new to that platform.

So what can I improve on, what am I missing, etc? I am open to all feedback.

\[Shop link\](https://strategicsceneries.etsy.com)

I sell curated rocks mainly to terrarium, aquarium and bonsai and viewing stone enthusiasts. I actually started this thinking that my main audience was going to be tabletop gamers who could use real rocks for fantastical scenes (thus the shop name Strategic Sceneries). That has not worked out, but I still think it could have some legs if I could figure out how to get in front of them.

I call them curated because I really look for pieces that have an appealing aesthetic--I am not just posting random rocks that I have found (I mean, I guess I am doing that as well...lol). For most of them I decide on what I consider to be the best orientation and then I cut them to form a stable base for that viewing angle. They need to already have some inherent beauty, be it texture or shape or colors. I often find myself drawn to rocks that look like a distant mountain top, ala r/Suiseki.

Stats:

Right now I am sitting at 49 sales and 15 reviews at 4.9 stars and I have my Star Seller badge. I recently went through and replied to all of the 5 star reviews in order to lock them in, and because I was wondering if that has an affect on the algo.

Areas that I think I could improve on or have questions about:

I think my photos and videos do a good job at showcasing the products but I am open to constructive criticism.

I use all 13 tags, however most of them are using the same words. Often these words are also in the title, so that feels like a place I could focus on.

When I download the photos, I always save them with a keyword stuffed file name--I think this is recommended but these are are basically repeats of the tags.

I probably have a hundred rocks already cut and waiting for photos and hundreds still waiting (the finding of the rocks while out hiking is my favorite part of this but only slightly more than the process of deciding the best viewing angle).

Marketing:

As an old school redditor (my main account is now 16 years old, I still use old.reddit on my laptop), I have been very hesitant to share anything on the subreddits that I think would be the target audience. I would love to know how others here are doing so without coming across as spammy.

I did start an [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/strategicsceneries/) and have been trying to figure that out, but am new to that platform.

So what can I improve on, what am I missing, etc? I am open to all feedback.

[Shop link](https://strategicsceneries.etsy.com)

Bought in Central Oregon at a yard sale a couple of months ago.

Cut it today and found these waterlines, which I have not seen in a picture jasper before, but maybe it’s more common than I am aware of.

Bought in Central Oregon at a yard sale a couple months ago. Cut it today to see these waterlines, which I have not seen in a picture jasper before, but maybe it’s more common than I am aware of.

I think of this stone as an example of Seigaku-seki, a viewing stone where you can see the rugged aspects of a mountain top (according to this page on suiseki.com).

I really like the look of the lichen and feel it adds some character however am unsure if I should clean it.

Are there examples of traditional suiseki that leave lichen on the stone? I am okay with not adhering to all of the rules, but want to at the least understand them.

This came from a yard sale where someone was selling her father’s rocks, he collected all over Oregon, so most likely an Oregon rock.

She had it with other pieces of Hampton Butte pet wood, but I am not so sure.

Some of the green I can scratch with a piece of stainless steel other parts do not scratch. The white does not scratch either. I cut a piece off and have circled the scratch vs the streak in one of the pics.

I found these on a hillside in Central Oregon that I have also found agate, jasper and pet wood on.

They can be scratched with steel, reacts with vinegar. In the photos, the white specimens were inadvertently left in 15% vinegar for 3 days. One of the 3 pieces became brittle and broke while I was rinsing them.

Most of them glow orangish-yellow under my 365 nm UV flashlight.

I am also curious what might have caused the extruded ridges on the one piece.

I found this on a hillside in Central Oregon that I have also found agate, jasper and pet wood on.

I have cleaned it with warm water and dawn dish soap using a toothbrush. I have also soaked it in hydrogen peroxide. It looks better, but I would like to see some of the translucence that some other pieces I have found show.

Any next steps or is this as good as this piece gets?

I am not sure if this would be better on a carved daiza.

Found in Crook County, Central Oregon in an area where I have found pet wood, jasper, agates and rhyolite.

I found this rock and several like it in a stream while hiking in the Ochoco mountains of central Oregon. The bulk of it does not scratch with a stainless steel pick, however the small dots (as seen on the cut base) can be scratched.

Recently given to me by a friend from Central Oregon.

Central Oregon

Found in Central Oregon in some landscaping rock. Tool steel does not scratch it. First and last pictures are dry, even though it doesn’t look like it. Waxy feel.

I found this piece last fall while hiking with my dog in Central Oregon. Looking forward to making the next cut.

Seen today in Central Oregon.