The Glass Onion

Buffalo buffalo buffalo

2008-09-20T00:49:00.000-07:00

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo."

^ that up there, is a grammatically correct sentence! My brain hurts from understanding it, as explained in this Wiki.

The sentence uses 3 forms of the word:

Buffalo the city
buffalo the animal
buffalo an verb meaning "to bully"

If you replace the animal form with the word "people", it helps to understand the sentence better (sort of).

Buffalo people Buffalo people buffalo Buffalo people.
so...
Buffalo people (whom) Buffalo people buffalo (also happen to) buffalo Buffalo people.

Does your brain hurt?

Just a weird little tidbit that is totally useless but interesting to know none the less.

Basic Grey Holiday Collection

2008-09-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

I was excited about seeing Basic Grey's holiday collection this year. I really enjoyed their festive collections from the past. But, so far, I'm not too impressed by what they came up with this year. Even the name, Wassail, is a bit strange to me. Maybe, it hasn't grown on me yet. Anyway, here it is. What do you think?

And they also added a calendar creator to their line:

I think this year, I may stick to their previous year's holiday collections. Those were papers I could never grow tired of.

Basic Grey's Newest Summer Collections - Yummy

2008-07-26T11:37:00.001-07:00

I believe that Basic Grey has out done themselves this time. Four new yummy collections, for CHA Summer 2008, that just may be the best yet. I can't help but detect a bit of Amy Butler-ness in a few of the designs, which can only be a good thing. Here is sampling of each. Although, they aren't yet available, you can still view the complete collections at Basic Grey's website.

Due out early August:

Offbeat

Eva

Ambrosia

and due out October:

Granola

Urban Prairie

and, as if we needed anything more, they are introducing a line of fabric, distributed by Moda.
It's due out October, and called Urban Courture. You can view it here.

Vintage Beads Galore

2008-07-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

For all you bead lovers, especially vintage beads, I've compiled a list of online shops where you can find vintage beads, and other general jewelry making supplies. It's an ever growing list, that I hope will be useful to some. Please feel free to share your favorite sources, online or not, by leaving a comment. Sharing is nice and brings good karma to all that practice it. It's on my other blog, The Glass Onion. Rather than copy the entire post, here is the link. Enjoy...

Pay Your Etsy Bill With PayPal

2008-07-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

I like to shop online. Who doesn't? I prefer to shop at online stores that accept PayPal, since that is where the money I make from my Etsy shops go. I always wished I could pay my Etsy bill with PayPal, to make my bookkeeping easier and more streamlined. Now, I finally can.

PayPal now offers a browser plug-in that allows you to pay with your PayPal account anywhere online, even when it's not accepted. After you install the plug-in, the way it works is anytime you are checking out from an online shop, the plug-in recognizes it and will ask if you want to pay with your PayPal account balance. The plug-in will even fill in the customer information forms for you. If the shop your at doesn't already except PayPal, the plug-in will generate a one time use Mastercard to use and the funds come right from your PayPal balance. For websites you visit frequently, you can even generate a Mastercard that can be used multiple times (for 2 years) that is designated for that one website. This option is the way to pay your Etsy bill. Once you install the plug-in, go to your PayPal account summary, and click profile. Under the Financial Information section, there is a PayPal Plug-In link. Here you can set up your preferences including generating a secure credit card, for sites you use often, like Etsy.

Another Way to Search Etsy

2008-07-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Most Etsy users can agree that their search engine is far from perfect. It can be hard to find something specific, or even something not so specific. I don't like to complain about it, too much, as I am not really sure what it is about the search that isn't working right. I'm not sure what it is that needs to be changed or added in order for it to be more effective. I'm sure there are several factors; like the tag system, the way the results are filtered, the lack of filters, etc. etc. I've always know that there was the option of using Google's search engine to search Etsy, by using the advanced search options and specifying Etsy as the web address to search.

Today I learned that Google has a tool to create a customized search tool. I created one using only Etsy as the website to search. You can add multiple websites to search as well. below is the Google/Etsy search too I created. I figure anything must be better than the search feature available to us at Etsy. I'm still playing with it and haven't decided if it's more effective yet.

Pick Your Nose and Catch Spiders

2008-06-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

This great UK based online gadget shop, I Want One of Those is full of "Gotta Have It's". I'm mentioning a few below, but it's worth the time to check out what other crazy must have's they offer.

I must get one of these. Lately the spiders have been taking over my house. If my husband isn't home to do the deed (or willing), then I have had no choice but to squash the beastly pests and flush them down the toilet. I hate it when I miss because I am freaking out too much to actually catch them correctly before they scurry away and hide until I'm sleeping.

The Spider Catcher

The Spider Catcher is basically a long pole with a handle and spiny bristles at the end. Pull the trigger and the bristles open, release the trigger and the bristles close allowing you to capture any wee beasties in your range without damaging them (though we can't be certain that it won't create any long-lasting psychological damage). Take the critter outside and you can release your prey without having to touch it with your hands.

Fantastic for wasps, bees and other stinging insects!

I think these party cups are hilarious...

Pick Your Nose Cup

Each paper cup has one of twelve different shaped and sized noses printed on it, and in such a way so that when you're swigging from it, it looks as though the hooter depicted on the cup is your own nose. Utterly pointless of course, but what a great alternative to boring party cups - it's a kind of party rhinoplasty, if there is such a thing

I got one of these for my dad for Father's Day. I just love it, and so did he.

I'm Not A Paper Cup Cup

In steps 'I'm Not A Paper Cup', which, whilst looking very much like a paper cup, isn't one. The hint is in the name. Instead of adding more rubbish to the pile of garbage mounting up under the whirling seagulls on the dodgy side of town, you can now drink your coffee and tea from a beautifully made thermal porcelain version, complete with its heat-conserving silicone lid. Double walled for extra insulation the 'I Am Not A Paper Cup' is, aside from not being a paper cup, a breath of fresh air, and quite probably a design icon to boot.

These little cigs seem ingenious for smokers wanting to quit...

Electronic Cigarette

Mad as it sounds, someone has invented an electronic cigarette. It looks like a cigarette, it tastes like a cigarette, it smokes like a cigarette, but it isn't a cigarette, it contains no tobacco, and the "smoke" is just vapour. Containing state of the art micro-electronic technology this re-chargeable e-cigarette produces a real smoking experience without any of the deeply unpleasant side-effects of tobacco. As you inhale a tiny battery vapourises liquid inside the cigarette producing smoke.

Find all these fun gadgets and many more here.

Curate Thursday

2008-06-20T00:16:00.001-07:00

Man, a week flies by fast. Here is another collection of fabulous Etsy shops, for this most excellent Thursday evening. Enjoy.

featured above:

JKLDesign, betsy3, doubleparlour
Finestra, 6Hours, KJoo,
StellaandLux, girlinworld, opulentoddities,

Thank You BlogRush Babies!

2008-06-16T01:30:00.000-07:00

I wish I knew who were, so I could thank you.

In September, I made one post, in the Etsy forums, mentioning blogrush, as a way to drive traffic to your blog. My intent was just to share something new I had just discovered, not really knowing much about it, myself even. Since then, 160 bloggers have been added to my referral network. The credits I earn from my network is outrageous compared to the credits I earn myself. I have no idea who you 160 bloggers are, but I thank you.

Now to write a better blog, to make use of all these credits...

Curate Thursday

2008-06-13T00:39:00.000-07:00

I'm so totally addicted to creating treasury's on Etsy. Something about putting together a collection of different items that compliment one another is just so much fun. If only there were a job that payed to do this. It's impossible to always get a treasury spot, although I try. But there is no need to wait for one. I've decided to curate my own collection of beautiful things. It's my Curate Thursday. This great widget from Good Widgets lets me create a light box widget. The widgets here are fantastic and worth a look. See mine below. (Click on the photos to see a larger view.)

featured above:

TheOakLeaves, bode22, artshcoolgirl, F2Images, BKMHattitude, chetanddot, EstherCooms, drearyneedle, InvitaPaperStudio

Be Seen

2008-05-26T00:21:00.000-07:00

Twice now, I've been lucky enough to have an item from my jewelry shop, on Etsy's front page. Both of which resulted in sales. Being chosen for a treasury is exciting. Being noticed and well received is great fuel for creativity. To see your own work on the home page, is even more fantastic. It's a bit of a rush, however long it lasts. That is all I need to keep me happy. So, when a sale results from all of this, it's just icing on the cake. Bonus points.

So listing often won't guarantee me sales. But, finding myself on the front page is guaranteed to make my day.

Here is the wonderful FP treasury, curated by chicalessia . Thanks Ana.

Basic Grey Summer Euphoria Collection

2008-05-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

In usual Basic Grey fashion, just as I am beginning to enjoy my new Spring collections, they introduce another.

Euphoria "designed in a dream… placed in reality Slip into summer amid enchanting patterns splashed with sparkling amethyst, willow green, lagoon blue and verbena pink. Relax in happiness and well-being, while indulging in your own personal
state of delirium."

Here is a preview...

and I'm loving these stamps...

wholesale ordering began today and they will ship in June. Keep your eye out for these new lovelies.

Join The Love Train

2008-05-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

My friend Sam shared some of her great new paper with me. She sent it from Arizona, and I received it yesterday. It's really yummy paper with wood grain patterns, swirls, and even cute little cowboys. I got to thinking it would be fun to continue the love of sharing by paying if forward. I created a set of gift tags with the papers I got. I listed them in my Etsy shop as a PIF (pay it forward). Usually when someone lists a PIF, it costs 20 cents to cover the listing fee plus the cost of shipping. I decided to cover those costs for my PIF, because I wanted it to be a true gift. I asked for one stipulation. That the receiver Pay It Forward, somehow. When they do, they must report back to me and tell me what happened. Then they tell the next person to contact me and tell me their PIF story. And so on and so on.

I don't know how far I can expect this to go. The longer the love train gets, the less likely it will be that people will report back to tell me their stories. But, I can at least try and follow it as long as I can. It will be interesting to see how it goes and hear about how others Pay It Forward.

Here is the gift tags set I offered below. Within 5 minutes of listing, RayvenRenn took the challenge. She says that she does PIF's all the time and thinks they are great fun. She will try and continue the train! So thanks Rayven, let's do this love train...

Front Page Love

2008-04-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

It's so exciting to find my treasury on Etsy's front page. Even more so, when I actually see it and can take a screen shot.

Open Waters

Hooter's Waitress is Pissed

2008-04-13T22:26:00.000-07:00

I came across this a couple of years ago. It was something I had on my StumbleUpon blog, & thought it was worth posting again, here. The caption says,

"Jodee Berry of Panama City, FL, sits with her "toy Yoda" in her lawyers office Wednesday. Berry, a former Hooter's waitress, has sued the restaurant where she worked saying she was promised a new "Toyota" for winning a beer sales contest...she believed she had won a new car, but was blindfolded and led to the parking lot where she was presented with her new toy Yoda, the little green guy from Star Wars."

When did Hooter's start hiring flat chested waitresses?

♥ p u r e

2008-04-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

Treasury west seems to like me lately. I've managed to snag 3 or 4 treasuries in the last week or so. It's definitely less popular, harder to get to, and less visited for sure. But, quite a few front pages seem to be coming from the West, recently. Plus I'll take a treasury any time, any where. Today I made an all white list, my favorite to create and look at, I think. So clean and crisp.

The Best Places To Score

2008-04-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

In the Etsy forums, I see a lot of conflicting views about whether or not to share information about techniques and supply sources when it comes to each of our crafts. Some say sharing this information is bad for business and to guard such trade secrets. Others say share the wealth, it's about community and helping each other out. I've seen some heated discussions about this and a lot of people feel strongly about it, either way.

I say, mind your own business. If you want to share, then share. If you want to hoard, then hoard. Me, I'm a sharer. Nothing I know is a huge secret that can't be discovered in the same way I have. Here is a list of some of my favorite supply sources. When it comes to supplies, I'm usually looking for paper goods or jewelry supplies. So, that's what my list consists of.

Ribbons and Bows Oh My - great selection of ribbon (gross grain, velvet, satin, novelty, etc.) good prices and easy to navigate, accepts PayPal.

Two Peas in a Bucket - one of my favorite paper sources. Tons of scrapbooking supplies. Carries many company's products, easy to navigate, great site tools, fair prices, accepts PayPal.

Paper Source - lovely site. Unique paper in large sheets, bookbinding supplies, cool catalog, fun to browse.

Paper Mojo - another great selection of unique papers. Easy to navigate, pretty to look at.

A Cherry On Top - another scrapbook shop, large selection, carries many company's, good prices, fair shipping, and they have a fun game where you collect cherries whenever you see one on certain products when browsing.

Accessories Susan - my new favorite jewelry supply source. Awesome prices on findings, gems, settings, etc. No sterling silver, but lots of brass, copper, and plated metals. I try to buy jewelry supplies at wholesale, but found this place to be priced even better. Great find. PayPal friendly. Free shipping.

The Beading Path - Love this place. I have a wholesale account with them, but they sell retail also. If you can get a wholesale account, you can buy at 50% off with no minimum and they offer free shipping. Great variety of glass, vintage, swarovski, and much more. A must visit. I love this place. PayPal friendly.

Rings and Things - I have only browsed this site so far. But, I hear many great things about this shop. Easy to navigate, large selection, and good prices.

Fusion Beads - Everything you need in one place. Good prices, free shipping, no minimum, easy to navigate. No PayPal here, though.

Black Star Beads - Etsy shop with great vintage beads and great prices.

Black Sheep Beads - Etsy shop with vintage beads, findings, and great prices.

e & e bungalow - Etsy shop with beautiful wood beads.

Stone Soup Supplies - Etsy shop with awesome handmade findings.

The Beading Tree - my favorite Etsy shop for shipping and packaging supplies.

Gaussboys Super Magnets - the lowest prices for rare earth magnets that I've been able to find. Quick shipping. PayPal friendly.

***added 04.26.08
Stampfranciso - after browsing this site I got excited about going to their shop, assuming it was local. Apparently they aren't actually in San Francisco. Washington, actually. But they aren't open to the public there either. The online shop is awesome. I love their selection of stamps, they have soooo many. Tons of cool, unique stamps to choose from. PayPal friendly too. I highly recommend this place.

I'll add more as I discover or remember them. Please share your favorite sources, if you are willing....

Jellyfish Are Racist

2008-03-30T22:38:00.000-07:00

made me giggle.

Do You Feel Me

2008-03-28T01:57:00.000-07:00

My husband just bought me the "American Gangster" DVD. I thought the movie was excellent. I found the true story, behind the movie, so interesting. Seeing the interviews of the real Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) and the detective that brought him down, Richie Roberts (Russel Crowe) made it even better. I learned that Richie Roberts later represented Frank Lucas as his defense attorney, and now the two are close friends.
I love adding new movies to my list of favorites to watch again and again. Better yet, I have a new favorite song that I still can't get enough, from the movie.

"Do You Feel Me", by Anthony Hamilton
Enjoy.

Colour Lovers

2008-03-28T01:27:00.000-07:00

If you love to play around with colors, palettes, and design patterns,
this website is a great place to experiment.

COLOURlovers gives the people who use color - whether for ad campaigns, product design, or in architectural specification - a place to check out a world of color, compare color palettes, submit news and comments, and read color related articles and interviews.

One interesting feature is that when you create a palette, there is an option to attach an inspiration image to it. This next palette I made came from the colors of the photo below it.

Colour Lovers can be pretty addicting. So be warned.

Front Page Goodness

2008-03-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

I love to log in to Etsy and find my treasury on the front page. I love it even better when I remember to take a screen shot. This was one I made in Treasury West, which usually doesn't get much action or visitors. So I feel lucky that someone found it and decided it was front page worthy.

Before and After

2008-03-22T23:47:00.000-07:00

I love to be amazed at "before and after" photos that really show a dramatic transformation. It can be inspiring. While I don't have a before and after project of my own to share, just now, I did come across a few that I can share.

My most favorite TV designer is Candice Olson, of Divine Design. She has never done a room that I didn't love and want for myself. She gets it spot on every time. Whoever is lucky enough to have Candice come to their house and makeover a room for her show, they can be sure to end up with one of the coolest spaces ever.

Here is a bathroom remodel she did a while back:

Before

After

I think I always get the most excited for people who transform themselves by loosing weight. The Biggest Loser has had many great success stories of people who were willing to share with the rest of America their experience of it all. Losing weight in front of millions is the best motivator I can think of.

See Matt's transformation of becoming a Biggest Loser:

see more Biggest Loser photos here.

We all know that photos in magazines are air brushed and touched making already beautiful women, even more perfect. Look at some before and after photos of celebrities that have been photo shopped before being put into the pages of magazines. Let's call these after and before, because seeing them in that order has a much better affect.

see more celebrities that have been photo shopped here.

Which Is Worse...?

2008-03-20T23:42:00.000-07:00

being stranded in the middle of the ocean
or
being stranded in the middle of the desert

to be hated
or
to be ignored

eating good food and feeling bad
or
eating bad food and feeling good

no milk for your cereal
or
no syrup for your pancakes

a permanent rash
or
a permanent headache

loving a loser
or
losing a lover

being fired
or
firing someone

a terrible odor
or
a terrible sound

being unable to fall asleep
or
being unable to wake-up

no running water
or
no electricity

mustard in your milkshake
or
chocolate on your hot dog

...any more? please share

A little Otis Redding for your listening pleasure

2008-03-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

Why I Have Sticky Keys, Literally

2008-03-06T11:17:00.000-08:00

Every year, at this time, it's the same thing. I'm walking away from the checkout counter at the grocery store, and I spot them. Cadbury Eggs. Then the excitement hits, and I wonder how many days they've been available and I've missed out. I grab a few, and head back in line. I'm not missing out on these yummies, today. It's really bizarre because these delicious confections don't even cross my mind the other 11 months out of the year. How can I love something so much, yet forget they even exist until Easter time comes around again? I shouldn't complain. I have enough vices I rely on as it is, without needing to crave these eggs all year long, that are only around at Easter.

These suckers are delicious but messy. The wrapper is usually coated in goo, so they are impossible to open without getting sticky fingers. It's a small price to pay for those 3 bites of heaven. When I was a kid, I'd always get a 3 pack (they didn't have 4 packs yet) in my Easter basket. I'd try to make them last and enjoy them a day at a time. Fat chance. They were usually gone before I even checked what else Mr. Bunny left me. Thankfully my sisters weren't fans of the eggs. I always traded them for all my Recees Peanut Butter Cups. (Yuck, don't like peanut butter.) You'd think my mom would catch on, and give us the candy we actually liked. But she was too concerned with making sure all our baskets were equal and fair. She didn't want to seem like she played favorites. Oh moms!

You'd think by now, that another candy company would catch on and make their version of the Cadbury Egg. Maybe a cream filled chocolate star or something that would work ALL YEAR! I'd be a lifelong customer.

Play games and read about the Cadbury Egg here. If you are in the UK, you can even have some sent to you for free.

the Earth laughs in Flowers

2008-02-20T00:21:00.000-08:00

I love making treasuries. Once they are gone, they are gone, - forgotten about, and never again to be appreciated. For some reason when ever Ive been lucky enough to be in treasury that made it to Etsy's front page, I forget to take a screen shot. A treasury I have now, will end soon and I actually remembered this time.

Picture of the Day

2008-02-16T00:27:00.000-08:00

see more wacky photos here

The Power of the Front Page

2008-02-12T16:17:00.001-08:00

Although I've been selling on Etsy for almost a year now, opening an additional shop has reminded what it's like to be a newbie again. I was lucky with my first shop, in that the first day I listed my items, I had my first sale. I think this gave me some confidence to continue. Of course, a year ago, there weren't nearly as many shops to compete with as there are now. Today marks my 3rd day of listing in my new shop. So, the fact that I have not yet had my first sale, is OK, for now anyway. Each day I have been diligently tracking my item views and checking my hearts, since this is all I have to gauge my success by. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that one of my necklaces was included in a treasury. It was a list of newbie shops that contrary put together. I was even more delighted to discover that that treasury made it to the front page, today. So, once I learned this, I kept a close eye on the views it received, along with the new hearts I accumulated. I was pretty amazed by how fast the number grew. I started tracking the views at 12 noon. That necklace had 120 views at that time, already. By 12:45 my views rose to 521, and then at 1:11, there were 796 views. It wasn't up much more after that. As far as my hearts go, earlier today, I had been hearted by 9 people, and after being on the front page, I now have 50 hearts. The front is huge if you're lucky enough to be on it. I'm actually a bit surprised how many people are influenced by what is on it, and actually click through. So, while it didn't bring me my first sale, it did bring a lot of lookers and even some hearts.
As usual, I remembered after the fact, that I should have taken a screen shot.

The Glass Onion

2008-02-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

After almost a year running my shop, Pictures of Lily, I finally decided to open another. This one is for my jewelry creations. I've always enjoyed making my own jewelry, and kind of put that hobby aside to make room for all my paper crafts. Until now. Because Etsy is jam packed with jewelry sellers already, I'm not sure how it will all go. But, I thought I'd give it whirl. Check out my shop, The Glass Onion. I've just only listed a few items, today. But plan on adding more each day. Here is what I've listed so far:

Wish me luck. ♥

animated gif of the day

2008-02-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

Basic Grey's Latest

2008-02-06T21:26:00.000-08:00

Oooh how I love Basic Grey. Every one of the paper lines that they have put out is worth buying. They are so unique and unlike any other. I just learned that they have introduced some new lovelies for winter 2008. There are oodles of new papers, so I'll share my favorites from each line.

Archaic:

Cupcake:

Sultry:

Boxer:

There are so many to see and enjoy from each line. I didn't even mention their "two scoops" and "sugared" lines, either, that are equally as yummy. I can hardly wait to get my hands on all of them.
enjoy.

27 Million for Etsy

2008-02-02T01:38:00.000-08:00

Boss man, Rob, (Rokali) announced in a Storque article that Etsy received 27 million dollars in funding from 2 of their existing investors and from a new investor, Jim Breyer. Mr. Breyer will hold a place on the board of directors. Rob explains how this money is needed to allow Etsy to keep up with it's increasing growth, and also exactly how some of the funds will be used, in the article.

2 days following this news, Rob had another announcement that generated a lot of buzz, mostly happy buzzing, regarding a separation of handmade goods from supplies and vintage. The plan is to exclude supplies and vintage from the default search, with the ability to opt them into a search, from the drop down menu. Read more about this change here, and the discussions from the community here.

I am happy for these changes, personally. It's great to see Etsy making this distinction, allowing handmade items to be brought to the front, rather than buried amongst the supplies and vintage items for sale. I am all for both of these non-handmade items having a place on Etsy. I am just glad to see some solution for separating them from the handmade goods that people expect to see from a place that boasts, "You're place to buy and sell things Handmade."

Animated gif of the day

2008-01-23T21:25:00.000-08:00

Whatever!

2008-01-22T23:00:00.000-08:00

Whatever, is all I can say. I don't do scrapbooks. I do, however loooove the products, especially the paper. So, I can definitely appreciate the supplies some scrappers accumulate . I also tend to drool over meticulously organized studios , craft rooms, or any room for that matter, as mine is certainly not. So, I stumbled across these "scrap rooms" of some 2 peas members, a bit ago, and my jaw actually fell to the floor. These ladies have scrap rooms that put most of my favorite shops to shame, let alone any studio space I've ever seen. And these are just ladies who scrap as a hobby. They don't use these spaces for working, or making any kind of living. Like I said, WHATEVER.

Room 1 - filled with more supplies than any one person could possibly even consider using in 10 life times. And this is just a section of what she's got.

Room 2 - my favorite of them all. Almost as many supplies as the room above. But, the organization in this room just blows me away. She designed this room just for scrapping. Picking out the shelving units and everything else for every little supply, down to a drawer for each letter of the alphabet with chipboards, just chipboards. See the "K" drawer? And that cabinet full of paper, color coordinated, of course.

Room 3 - i love how colorful this room is. How can you not be inspired in a space like this?

I checked and all of these ladies are married. So they must have a magic spell they put their husbands under, that makes this all possible. Not to mention, a few extra bucks to support their habits. Another member of 2 peas mentioned how she was bookmarking one of these photos to show her husband any time he complained that she had too much stuff. Seriously, this is all a bit over the top, excessive, and even a bit absurd. But, I want one too. waaaaaahhh.

see more detailed photos of these rooms and others here.

Amy Butler's Latest

2008-01-16T20:02:00.000-08:00

Oh how I wished I could sew. I just saw Amy Butler's latest fabrics which will be available in April. Take a look at her Midwest Modern line:

I see a lot of similarities from her previous patterns. But I like the new colors and always like what she comes out with. Since I don't sew, I am still holding out for the paper that will hopefully soon follow. (fingers crossed.)

New Year New Logo

2008-01-11T18:50:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was having a new logo made by the fabulous bennyandroo. She did a fabulous job, as I knew she would. I had like 8 options to choose from, which was great, but difficult. She has a knack for understanding people's style and I was very happy with the outcome. Here it is:

So far, it has become my new avatar and I added it to my business cards. I haven't change my banner yet, because I think they still work together. I may incorporate it into my banner, eventually. For now, I'm just so glad to have a new logo, one that is easier to include on all my business forms. I am sooooo glad to be gone of the lily flower that was my avatar for so long. It just didn't go with my shop.

Let's Just Get On With It Already

2007-12-24T00:56:00.001-08:00

I should have known better than to start something like this count down. It is rare that I am able to update my blog daily, let along 12 days in a row. Besides the fact that the "12 days of Christmas" are starting to bore me, I've been off or behind so much, that I'll just finish it off now. And honestly, my reader following isn't much to speak of, at all, so I'm pretty sure I won't be disappointing anyone by cheating. So here is the rest.

6 Geese A-Laying

by unicomkidsstudios

5 Golden Rings

by kateszabone

4 Calling Birds

by LilaB

3 French Hens

by the patchworkdress

2 Turtle Doves
by LilaB (again)

and A Partridge in a Pear Tree

by armatodesign

Ahhh. Now I'm free to post what I want, under no time frame.

Merry Christmas to everyone and a very Happy New Year. See you in 2008!

Jocks vs. Nerds

2007-12-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

I need a break from the cheesy "12 days of Christmas" posts. Read it. You'll enjoy it, be amazed, and quite jealous...

From the Board of Wisdom website:

------Jocks vs Nerds----

Michael Jordan having "retired," with $40 million in endorsements, makes $178,100 a day, working or not.

If he sleeps 7 hours a night, he makes $52,000 every night while visions of sugarplums dance in his head.

If he goes to see a movie, it'll cost him $7.00, but he'll make $18,550 while he's there.

If he decides to have a 5-minute egg, he'll make $618 while boiling it.

He makes $7,415/hr more than minimum wage.

He'll make $3,710 while watching each episode of Friends.

If he wanted to save up for a new Acura NSX ($90,000) it would take him a whole 12 hours.

If someone were to hand him his salary and endorsement money, they would have to do it at the rate of $2.00 every second.

He'll probably pay around $200 for a nice round of golf, but will be reimbursed $33,390 for that round.

Assuming he puts the federal maximum of 15% of his income into a tax deferred account (401k), his contributions will hit the federal cap of $9500 at 8:30 a.m. on January 1st.

If you were given a penny for every 10 dollars he made, you'd be living comfortably at $65,000 a year.

He'll make about $19.60 while watching the 100 meter dash in the Olympics, and about $15,600 during the Boston Marathon.

While the common person is spending about $20 for a meal in his trendy Chicago restaurant, he'll pull in about $5600.

This year, he'll make more than twice as much as all U.S. past presidents for all of their terms combined. Amazing isn't it?

However...
If Jordan saves 100% of his income for the next 450 years, he'll still have less than Bill Gates has today.

$$$ Game over. Nerd wins.

7 Swans-A-Swimming

2007-12-19T15:15:00.000-08:00

7 Swans-A-Swimming

Today's post is a double wammy! A straight SWAN mini tote by SWAN Clothing! I love this shop, she's got a lot of talent and her stuff is very cool and unique. Check it out for more stylish stuff.

8 Maids-A-Milking

2007-12-19T00:26:00.000-08:00

8 Maids-a-Milking

And how cute is this milk plushy from DogBoneArt? I love the lip smacking milks. What a great photo and way to display this item so adorably.

I think I'm still a day off for the countdown. I will make up for it another day this week. Only 1 week left folks, till the big day. Am I the only one that has ALL their shopping still left to do? My excuse is that I'm so much better under pressure. What's yours?

9 Ladies Dancing

2007-12-17T14:46:00.001-08:00

9 Ladies Dancing

This beautiful photo by Harvest Moon Designs fits the bill just perfectly. My how it looks just like a lady dancing.

10 Lords A-Leaping

2007-12-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

10 Lords A- Leaping

For the tenth day of Christmas I give you MistyWaterWoman's Quantum Leap pins. I could have gone the whole leap frog route, with many items to choose from. But, I just thought these were so cute and corny, just the way I like it.

12 Days of Christmas

2007-12-15T17:27:00.000-08:00

As a countdown to Christmas, I thought it would be fun to feature an Etsy find to represent each of the 12 days of Christmas. Of course, I didn't come up with the idea until today, so I'll have to play catch up for 2 extra days, but that is OK. Starting Today with the 12th (and 11th) days of Christmas...

12 Drummers Drumming

these adorable drumstick hair clips fit the drummer bill perfectly. Made by tiffanyrenfrow, who has more great hair clips in her shop.

11 Piper's Piping

from fearlessfreak's shop is this great "Pan the Piper" pendant, designed after a character from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

2 Million Items Sold!

2007-12-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

From the Storque: "Yesterday, the 2 millionth item on Etsy sold. This is cause for celebration over here at the Etsy Labs. But what we're really happy about is the trend: it took two years to sell the first million. After that high water mark, it only took four months to sell the next million items. Who knows what the future holds?"

It's amazing to me that the first million took 2 years while the 2nd only took 4 months. Go Etsy. Whenever these milestones are announced, I can't help but think how cool it would be to recognize the seller who sold that 2 millionth item. A little prize or something for being the lucky one would be pretty nice. Plus I'd like to congratulate them, and I'm sure they'd want to know. Anyhow, goooooooo Etsy.

Branding Myself

2007-12-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

One of the first purchases I made on Etsy was my shop banner. It's the one on the top of this blog. I feel so lucky to have found Briana of bennyandroo, who created it. It was a premade banner she had listed in her shop, but I swear it was meant just for me. I've had it since, May, and I still absolutely love it whenever I look at it., which is so rare for me. The only problem I have had with it, is trying to use it as a logo. Because of it's shape, (bannerish) I have a hard time trying create a square logo or avatar from it, without cutting off most of it. I made due, as this was a minor issue, especially since I was so happy with it. However, I knew that one of these days I was going to commission Briana to create a custom logo for me, one that I can use to brand my shop completely. I wanted to have something that would work as my banner, my avatar, and for all of my business forms, easily. Her fees were quite reasonable, worth every penny. Now that my PayPal account had a few extra bucks in it, I am able to have her create one for me. So, I've contacted her, paid her, and she is working, this week, on my brand new logo! I can't tell you how excited I am to see what she comes up with. I'm a little sad to give up my current banner, but I just know whatever she creates will be just as fabulous, if not more. So, stay tuned for the "brand" new branding of my shop.

I highly recommend Briana of bennyandroo if you are in need of any graphic design work.

picture of the day

2007-11-28T23:22:00.000-08:00

This great shot is from Non Photography (No Rules Street Photography). I love the colors and the lines. Very nice.

Innocent by Nitsa

Holiday Sampler

2007-11-16T21:26:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to contribute to The Sampler, ever since I discovered it. If you don't know what The Sampler is yet, check it out. It's great. I finally get it together and just sent in my contribution for the December Holiday Sampler. I'm not sure how effective it is going to be, as far as getting people to my Etsy shop, we'll have to see. I'm pretty excited about receiving my sampler that I get for participating. When I first contacted them, letting them know I was interested in contributing, I was feeling a bit over confident, when I first starting putting my samples together. For some reason I thought I'd be able to get 200 of them done. I had almost a month to get it ready. Well, it didn't take long for me to realize that wasn't going to happen. I ended up getting 100 (108 actually) done. It still qualified me to contribute to the media only sampler, if I want to. I plan on doing that next month. So anyway, I decided to contribute a mix of items, magnets, push pins, gift tags, and a few pendants. It came out to about 75 gift tag sample packs, 25+ mini boxes of magnet sets or push pins, and 5 pendants.

Here are a few of the mini boxes of magnets and gift tags packs. I like the way the gift tag packs turned out. The mini boxes were something I learned from an Etsy tutorial from the Storque .

Here is everything all boxed up ready to send off.

I received an email from them today letting me know that my package arrived safely. I am so relieved it got there on time and intact. I'll update once I know how it goes.

PaPaYa

2007-11-14T01:59:00.000-08:00

Oooh such loveliness is being created at PaPaYa, made up of 2 uberly talented artists, Anahata & Gina Katkin. Everything is so vibrant and yummy. Rather than ruining it by trying to describe this beautiful work, just take a look:

There is lot's to see like gift cards, magnets, art prints, postcards, and more, at PaPaYa. It's just a beautiful site filled with gorgeous things. Check it out.

Is it the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

2007-11-09T17:33:00.000-08:00

Not so far, at least as my Etsy shop is concerned. So often I heard about the holiday rush for Etsy shops. Sellers who have had their shops for a year, talked about how much business picks up when holiday shopping begins. I read lot's of tips about how to prepare for this busy time. Those of us who weren't around to witness it, were eagerly waiting the much talked about sales. Well I gotta say, it's been quite the opposite for me, so far. It is only November 9th, so I'm still hoping. But, so far, the past month or so have been the worst ever, since opening my shop. There have been a huge increase in new shops opening up, which explains the slow sales. When so many new shops are opening, while not so many new shoppers are visiting, it sure does change things in Etsy land. I hope that despite the growth in sellers, as Christmas gets nearer, that sales pick up a bit.

Here are some of my newest gift tags:

Preparing for the Holidays

2007-11-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

I am such a last minute person, especially when it comes to the holidays. I am one of those people who are out on Christmas eve, scrambling for last minute gifts. Having an Etsy shop has forced me to prepare ahead of time, at least for other shoppers looking to buy for Christmas. I have to admit, even though November has begun, it is a bit strange creating things in red and green color schemes. I hope I don't get tired of seeing it before Christmas even arrives. Here are a few of the holiday items available now, in my shop:

"deck the halls" gift tags

"holly jolly" gift tags

"jingle bell rock" gift tags

I am not sure how ready shoppers are to buy holiday gift tags yet, but at least I've prepared, some, for when they are ready. I've got lot's more ready to add, so check back often to Pictures of Lily.

Stamp Francisco

2007-10-14T19:25:00.001-07:00

Until I received my order in the mail, I assumed Stamp Francisco was actually in San Francisco. Apparently not! Not that it matters, much. Except that I had planned on visiting since I live in the Bay Area. It comes to find out that they are located in Washington and don't have a brick and mortar shop, anyhow. None of this matters, though because I was plenty pleased with what I discovered from their online shop. I am always on the lookout for good rubber stamps. I like to find new and original ones, as do most people, I am sure. This shop has just that. I spend ages browsing their stamp selection and ended up buying 4. And I will definitely be going back for more. They offer such a selection of great stamps, which most were new to me. You can buy mounted or unmounted in most of their stamps. The savings is considerable if you opt for the unmounted. It was tough deciding which to buy, but here is what I ended up with:

my favorite is the last one, the warning label. If your are into stamps, especially original ones, give Stamp Francisco a try, you'll like it.

Photo of the Day

2007-10-03T22:42:00.000-07:00

Time for another photo of the day. This time it's "Wedding Day" by Elliot Erwitt. See more of his work here. Erwitt has taken many historical media photos you may recognize. Enjoy.

Wedding Day. New York, 1955 Elliot Erwitt

Where is my Zutter?

2007-09-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

So, I've been wanting a binding machine. I was looking through ebay auctions for a used one or something, as they were kind of expensive, for a good one anyway. I came across the Zutter. It's a pint sized little 3 pound binder that is adorable. However, I didn't want to fall for adorable and end up with something that binded maybe a journal or two and then take a shit on me. So, I looked into it. I searched for just one person that had something negative to say about their Zutter. But, all I found was nothing but rave reviews. So, I got one. It hasn't arrived yet, but I have a ton of projects in mind, all ready to go for when it does get here. Take a look at how cute it is. Read a little about it and you'll be hooked too.

Tell Me You Love Me

2007-09-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

I'm loving the new HBO show, "Tell Me You Love Me." It portrays couples in different stages of their relationships in such a real way. There is a 20 something couple struggling with commitment issues, engaged to be married. A thirty something married couple trying to get pregnant. And a 40 something couple with kids living in a sexless marriage. Also, an older lady married for the second time, I believe who is a marriage counselor helping the couples deal with their issues. It was a bit surprising to actually see some of the guys body parts displayed full on in ways you don't normally see on HBO, or movies, for that matter. But, kind of refreshing, at the same time. I look forward to see how the lives of these couples play out. If you are an HBO subscriber, check it out, it's an honest look into the lives of somewhat real people.

Ning Ning

2007-09-19T18:37:00.001-07:00

I haven't learned all the ins and outs of it all out yet, but so far, ning seems to be pretty cool. I joined the "we love etsy" group as another way to promote my shop. There are quite a few fellow etsiens there. They have a bunch a fun tools to add to your page. Here's a slide show from the photos I uploaded so far:

Find more photos like this on We Love Etsy

It took all of 1 minute to create. Im sure flickr has something similar as do other places as well. Wherever it comes from, it sure is a nice little way to showcase your work.

Benicia, CA

2007-09-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow there is an annual craft fair in Benicia, where I live. It's one I went to every year as a kid, but I have not been in a few years. Next year, I plan on applying for a booth and selling there myself. I can't wait to go tomorrow and soak up all the creative vibes. I remember it always being a really good fair, so I hope it still is. I was looking for information about it, online tonight. While doing this I discovered some really great photos of Benicia, and thought it was worth sharing about this great city I live in.

And some facts about Benicia, some of which I hadn't realized.

Benicia is one of Money magazine's "Best Places to Live 2005" (August 2005).

Nick Jr. Family Magazine recognized Benicia in April 2004 as one of the "10 Most Playful Towns in America"

History is alive in Benicia - it was the third California city to incorporate, the third California State Capital, and the only historic capital location where the original building still stands

Benicia has more parks per capita than any other Solano County City

Schools ranked top 15% in nation by SchoolMatch, a private corporate site location firm

Named Best Place to Raise a Family according to a San Francisco Chronicle survey. 38% of households have children under age 18 at home

Benicia was recognized by Money magazine as one of the "Best Places to Live on the Coast"

Benicia is noted for our arts community. American Style magazine ranked Benicia #7 of the "2005 Top Art Spots", in the small town category

Benicia was one of San Francisco magazine's featured areas in the November 2001 article "A Change in the Hood - 15 Bay Area communities that are hipper, cheaper, and more neighborly than anyone knew"

It truly is a great city to live in and raise a family in. I'm lucky to have lived here my whole life.

Picture of the day

2007-09-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

I love scouring the web for great photos. I used to be obsessed with doing it on my stumbleupon blog. There, I have page after page of some really great images. I thought I would start doing that here. Here is the first of my photo finds to share.

Here is one from my favorite photographer rebekka guoleifsdottir

wise craft wisdom

2007-09-08T22:15:00.000-07:00

image from M Avery Designs

some great wisdom from wise craft had this post today, that i loved:

Every room needs a bit of patchwork (a new pillow in the works above).

Put a child's artwork in a nice frame and hang it where its seen by all because it will always look good.

Buy secondhand furniture pieces and redo them. It gives you something to talk about when you have people over.

Everything you decorate your house with should have a story behind it. Think about what I mean here and go with it, I promise you won't regret it.

A dreary day can always be made better with good tea, a handmade quilt to lay under, and a decorating magazine.

If you want your home to smell wonderful, bake bread or make cookies with your kids.

Sew up your brightest, happiest fabrics into pillow covers , and scatter them all over the furniture.

Use all the good stuff you have (china, silver, bed linens) everyday

if I could sew, even a tiny bit, i would definitely do the whole pillow
thing. so, i'll have to settle on store bought ones. but the others are
doable, and some of them i actually already do. my favorite is the last
one, use all the good stuff. i have a bad habit of saving my "good"
paper for later. thinking i'll one day, come up with some excellent use
for it, that i haven't discovered yet, thus using it now would be a
waste! ( i know how lame is that?) so i vow to start saving the "good
stuff" and enjoy using it now! i would hate to have something happen to
me, and have all the good paper sitting in my studio, where nobody else
could possibly appreciate the goodness of it like i can.

thanks wise craft, your cool.

not quite the bargain site anymore

2007-09-08T17:29:00.000-07:00

Lately I've noticed it's getting harder to find a good bargain on eBay. It used to be the place I went first, to check and see if an item I was looking to buy was being sold there. I could almost always get a better deal through an eBay auction than I could buying it retail. Well, lately I've noticed a couple of things that never seemed to be an issue in the past.

First, the prices. People aren't offering their goods at bargain prices anymore. I've even seen a few things, lately, that I could positively buy somewhere else for less. For instance, I've been wanting to buy a set of Cavallini stamps. They retail for about $25.00-28.00 at most places. Granted there aren't very many on eBay, but the ones I've seen are at least $28.00 plus $9.00 shipping! I mean, really now. Explain to me how on earth you can justify charging someone $9.00 to ship a little tin of magnets that can't weigh more than 10 ounces. These people are insane.

Second, and the thing that kind of shocked me a little, was the amount of shill bidding I noticed going on. Shill bidding is when a seller either bids on their own item (using another account) or has someone else do it, in order to drive up the auction price and insure they get a certain price for their item. This week I was bidding on something, and during the course of the auction, I was snooping around looking at the seller's history and such. I started to notice a pattern of bidders that were always bidding on these same items time and time again, but never winning. It became obvious that this seller was involved in shill bidding. Now I can totally understand not wanting to let your items sell for a price that is lower than they are worth. But, ebay has a reserve price tool to use for this reason exactly. It is totally against the rules, and the law, for that matter to artificially bid on your own item, for the sole reason of getting the price up and more people bidding. I totally felt duped. I didn't win the auction, thankfully. But, this seller was a power seller, and my guess, eBay wouldn't bother putting a stop to this guy, being that he brings in the dollars for them. I looked around, and this seems to be happening much more than I would have expected.

eBay seems to have become filled with more dishonest people than ever before, and it seems like you need to be a lot more careful about which auctions you choose to bid on. So, investigate before you decide to bid.

Free Virtual Credit Card

2007-08-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

You know when you sign up for those free trial offers that promise there is no risk? But then, you forget to cancel it in time, so your credit card gets charged. A lot of times those offers are good ones, but where they get you is in the remembering to cancel on time. A great solution for this is using a virtual credit card. They are designed to be used once, or for a short period. This way once you have used it to set up an account for a free trial offer, it will then expire, making it impossible for your card to be charged once your trial period is over. Citibank offers virtual credit cards to it's customers, as well as other credit card companies. Well, today I discovered a company that allows you to purchase prepaid virtual credit cards. But even better they are offering a free card with $1.00 credit so that you can try it out before you decide to buy one. This is great, and it works. I wanted to try out a membership to stamps.com, while taking advantage of their free trial which offers free postage. I had learned my lesson with those "risk free" trial memberships, in the past. I knew better not to sign up with my credit card. So, I thought I'd give my new free $1.00 virtual credit card a try, and guess what? It worked. I now have a free trial membership with stamps.com, and the best part is I don't have to worry about forgetting to cancel in time. If I decide I like the service enough to continue, I can always just give them my real credit card information. Easy Peasy. So, if there is a free trial out there that you are dying to test out, but don't want to risk using your credit card, give this virtual card a try, it worked like a charm for me. Let me know how it worked for you.

my latest etsy purchase

2007-08-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I found this great jewelry shop on etsy, gorgeousredhead. I loved just about everything in her shop. I couldn't resist buying something. Here is what I decided on:

giver her shop a visit, there are lot's of lovely things left. You'll be glad you stopped in.

the way to reuse

2007-08-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

I discovered this great blank book by ALEXANDRE BETTLER . He created this "envelope book" from paper recycled from a college. It was part of a recycling workshop he organized. I love how it looks. I would definitely enjoy keeping my notes in one of these.

I have always liked the look and the idea of blank books made from various "scrap" papers. Like the way Tyler Bender does his blank books, or like the great "sew useful" contest entry by donovanbeeson, where she made a book from envelopes. I think they look great, are very useful and practical, and of course, it's always a good thing to do right by the environment.

Tyler Bender

donovanbeeson

Mister Rob Ryan

2007-08-20T00:45:00.000-07:00

So I discovered this guy, Mister Rob Ryan, who does these gorgeous paper cut works. As I was admiring all of his work, I stumbled upon his Etsy shop, which I wasn't aware of before. But, of course why wouldn't he, his work is amazing. Here, just look for yourself...

After browsing around his site and his blog, I discovered lot's of work he's done including book covers, posters, records, magazines, etc..... It's no wonder, he's so talented. Love it.

The Secret to Selling

2007-08-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Want to know what the secret to selling your items on Etsy is? Go outside. Or, shopping, or take a nap, or write a letter, or cook, or anything else except check on your Etsy shop. It sounds crazy, but if you try and stay away from your computer and stop checking your shop so often throughout the day, you'll be pleasantly surprised. It's like what they say, "a watched pot never boils". And it's so true. It seems like every time I am away from my computer, (for me it's usually not by choice, but because I have other life issues to deal with) I come back to find a sale or two. Try it, you may be pleasantly surprised. It's a bit spooky.

Hail Hambly

2007-08-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard of Hambly Screen Prints, then take a moment to pay them a visit. Their products are geared towards scrapbooking. But, then again most of my favorite paper/supply sources are and I am definitely not a scrapbooker. You don't have to be a scrapper to appreciate their super products. Though the company has been in business for 35 years, they have a very fresh and hip line of papers, overlays, rub-ons, stickers, and other great stuff. I purchased a set of their awesome chandelier rub-ons a while back, and have yet to use them. They are one of those things that I love so much that I'm afraid to use them. ( I know that is silly). But, I think today, I have come up with a great idea, which if I follow through with, I'll post here. So, look at some of the delicious designs they offer below, and then go pay them a visit. You'll be glad you did.

This first one is an overlay they offer. But this design is available in rub-ons, 12x12 paper, and other screen printed products they offer. Isn't it great?

I just love this disco ball paper.

Their rub-ons are great quality, and they have some great designs.

SMASHING

2007-08-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

My first, of hopefully many, artist interviews is with the wonderful Kathryn of Smashing. Her jewelry is just as lovely as she is. I love the colors she uses in her pieces and the milky glass beads she chooses. She is a prime example of the great artist that the Etsy community is made up of. Take a look at some of her great work, then read below to learn more about why smashing is so darn smashing.

1. Share a little about yourself and what you create.

i am a ex-art major/ex-banker/stay-at-home-mom/full time babysitter/puppy wrangler.

i love to make jewelry with glass and stone and silver. i don't really like to string beads. i don't think each bead gets enough attention that way, so, i wire them up on silver. plus, i hate when a string breaks and your beads scatter all over :)
i want to create things that are beautiful now and that are sturdy enough for your kids to inherit.

2. What are your favorite materials?

i really really really love opaque glass, any and every color and of course milky white. anything that reminds me of after dinner mints :)
the best part of jewelry making is going bead shopping. i'm lucky to have a great store nearby where the buyer loves the same sort of beads i do. my brain just glows when i get to look at all the different colors and shapes, racing through possibilities. that's the best :)

3. How did you discover Etsy?

when etsy first started, i heard about it on npr. i remember going to the site and shopping by color for hours. the worst thing is that i forgot about it! then about a year ago, i was looking for cool baby announcements and rediscovered etsy through a google search. yay!

4. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

etsy is like having a million friends that are all really talented and that make amazing things. without etsy, i wouldn't own some of the coolest things i own.
and people are usually really supportive of each other, even when they are your competition.

5. What are the most important things you have learned about selling?

i'm still pretty new, so, mostly i know what i like to buy :) these things make it easier for me to buy from a shop:

good photography of items. if a customer can't pick it up and check it out in real life, photos are the only way to experience them.
it takes a lot of practice (for me anyway :) and every time i do a "photo shoot" with my jewelry, i learn a little bit more.

quick and friendly communication with your buyer. don't give anyone time or a reason to change their mind about buying something :)

6. If money and resources were not an issue, what would you be doing?

i would try to house and feed everyone that wants to be housed or fed. then i would buy everything in my favorites. then i would build a super sweet modern house on a giant plot of land. then open a free art school for all ages. oh and get another dog maybe :)

7. Share something most people don’t know about you.

i am an extroverted recluse :)

thank you Kathryn!

CRANKBUNNY

2007-07-31T23:50:00.000-07:00

I am in awe each time I visit this shop. The pop up cards from Crankbunny are absolutely amazing! The artist says everything is "handmade with my tiny little marshmallow fingers" and this includes the beautiful artwork. Take a look at these amazing creations:

The detail in these lovely cards is just incredible. I love how the butterfly is moved by the tiny little green leaf over on the side. Or how the flower starts of from a tiny little bloom. Just amazing. She also makes these great little movable puppets. Check out her shop here.

How Amy Butler Lives

2007-07-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how others feel about this, but I love to see how people decorate there homes. Especially people with money, like well known celebrities. Amy Butler might not live in Hollywood, but I think she's somewhat of a celebrity to those that love her fabric. Today I came across an article showing her home in Granville, Ohio and thought I'd share. See more here.

The Sampler

2007-07-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many people are aware of this great website. But if you haven't heard of
The Sampler then go check it out now. I've been meaning to contribute to it for a while now, and plan to by the next due date. Basically it's a place where indy artists and crafters can contribute samples of their work to be distributed to subscribers, members of the press, and other contributors. You can choose to send in 25, 50, 75, 100, or 200+ samples of your work. Sending the minimum amount of 25 will get you a sampler package in return. The more samples you contribute the more benefits you receive from the program. They explain it all real well here.
You can also choose to have your samples sent to members of the press, exclusively, for a small fee, or free if you contribute a larger number of samples.

It seems like a fantastic way to promote your work, which is something I am always looking to do. I'd love to get some feedback from other Etsy shop owners or other artists that have contributed to The Sampler, and what they think of it. You can get an idea of what sort of items are contributed here. And there are also links to past months samples on the same page.

If you don't want to contribute to The Sampler, there is still an option of subscribing to be able to receive a sampling of goodies. The cost is $26.00 for 1 month and $71.00 for 3 months. Spaces are limited to how many samples are contributed each month.

Not So Subliminal Poster

2007-07-23T12:57:00.001-07:00

I love this clever poster by spugmeistress for the Etsy Poster contest.
Great idea.

etsy poster
Originally uploaded by spugmeistress

On A Roll

2007-07-23T11:43:00.001-07:00

So, I am still excited about Basic Gray's newest line, Infuse. I just received my papers in the mail a few days ago, I am not even bored with it yet. And, come to find out, they have a few more lines out, or just about to be available. Here is a peek at a few of my favorites:

From the Mellow collection:

From the Periphery collection:

The Obscure collection:

And their final collection Recess, which so far I'm not too impressed with.

I'm really liking the mellow collection and a few of the obscure collection papers. So, now I need to find out where they are available and get me some.

Etsy Treasury Poster Challenge

2007-07-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

For all you treasury addicts out there this contest was made for you. I'm so excited for this one, and have already entered my picks for the contest. The contest is this: put together a treasury you would like to see on a poster. You can do this in 1 of 2 ways. 1. Create a treasury as usual, including the word, "poster" in your title. or 2. use the great new tool, Poster Sketch, which you can find the link to in this forum thread. Only one entry per person. Each item in your treasury must be by a different seller. If you include your own item, only one is allowed. You can find more info and official rules in the forum thread started about the contest.

Personally, I LOVE the treasury, and I snag one every chance I get. Usually I think it's awful and tacky to include yourself in a treasury, (it's not meant as a self promoting tool). But this time, I had to add one of my own items. It's a chance to be featured on a limited edition Etsy Poster. How could I not. Like every treasury curator, I love my picks. So I've got my fingers crossed that I will be amongst the 20 chosen.

Good Luck everyone...

The Global Microbrand Part 1: Further Resources for Etsians

2007-07-16T22:57:00.001-07:00

I missed this presentation a few weeks back at the Etsy labs. It was also available at the Etsy workshops, for those of us not in the Brooklyn area. I'm glad they captured it and added it to YouTube for us to see. It's an interesting talk by Antonio Gould who tells us about microbranding and gives tips on getting your name out there and developing a customer base. He focuses on small companies who are interested in growing globally but not becoming huge. He touches on a few points that are worth thinking about. The presentation is broken up into 3 parts about 10 minutes each. It's interesting, especially for creative people and fellow Etsians. Check them all out here.

Ro Sham Bo

2007-07-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

This great shop, Rock, Paper, Scissors is full of fun paper products. I love all the colors and patterns. Like these great wood grain towels:

or these fun coloring books. This is like major big girl fun. I could totally enjoy these.

give them a visit. You're sure to find something you like.

Real Simple Pleasures

2007-07-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

The mailman is one of my favorite people on the days he brings me a package I've been eagerly waiting for. With my online shopping habit, that mailman is well liked by me. But once a month he's my best friend when he brings me the latest issue of
REAL SIMPLE. Today was one of those days. I'm even lucky enough to have it every month for free, because my mom loves it as much as I do. She always renews my subscription when she does hers, with their 2 for1 offer for loyal readers. Thanks mom. If you don't already read this perfect-in-every-way magazine, let me just share a little bit of what you are missing. One of their sections, "solutions", is jammed packed with a-ha ideas for everyday problems. Here are a few of the August finds:

The bottle tripod:

This handy little doodad fits right on top of a soda bottle or water bottle to create a tripod. Very handy for group shots to include yourself in, or for stable picture taking. These can be found at Compact Impact, which is an awesome source in itself for more little "solutions".

Next, the Maze Brownie Pan from Fred Flare.

For those fans of the edge pieces of a pan of brownies (that's me). This pan creates at least 2 edges with every piece of brownie. Talk about genius. I gotta get me one of these. Besides that, another great find, is Fred Flare, which is also packed full of fun things to buy. Thanks Real Simple.

The tripod and the brownie pan were my favs, but every solution mentioned this month were must see's including some shaving gel tablets, and some great uses for lettuce leaves and shower curtain liners. I'm pretty sure you can read about all this on their website, if you don't subscribe. But trust me, pick up an issue, and you'll soon be hooked like me. Enjoy.

CHECK IT OUT Y'ALL

2007-07-10T23:46:00.000-07:00

My latest Etsy purchase. I've had my eye on this little beauty since it was listed. Since I have so many "favorite" items bookmarked, this one got lost in the mix. I'm glad I found it again today, and that it was still available. It's made by Lola of TheLolaCollection, who creates the loveliest pendants with flat back gems and polymer clay. The way she combines the glass rounds with polymer clay, to me is genius. The results are just lovely. Go take a look at what else she has to offer here.

I can't wait for this to arrive!

Flight of the Conchords

2007-07-07T11:46:00.001-07:00

I love this new show, Flight of the Conchords, on HBO. It's hilarious. Last night they had all their episodes run back to back, it was great. The last one, 2 man gang, was the funniest. This song they performed, was absolutely hilarious. Here's a version of that song. (It was even funnier on the show).

Me Like!

2007-07-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

I'm so loving this so much, that instead of hitting the sack, which is what I should be doing, I've got to share this great etsy seller I just discovered. Check out Artsy. The coolest art assemblage sculptures, I've ever seen. Artsy offers jewelry and prints also, but these sculptures are what got me. I mean, they are so fun, and would look so incredibly perfect in any home, I might have to get me a piece myself. Love these. Go check out Artsy's Etsy shop here.

MOO

2007-07-02T01:09:00.000-07:00

I had been looking forward to my MOO cards arriving, and they are finally here. For the most part, I'm happy with them. For some reason they look a little better on the computer screen, then they do in person. When does that ever happen? If I were to order them all over again, I probably would have taken my time a bit more, and chose my photos a bit more carefully. I like the pictures I had printed, but something about them, just seems a bit off. Anyhow, they are cool enough to still give out. Have a look...

I only ordered these 3 different photos, which were my favorites from the sets I've sold. As I look at them here, they still look better on the screen, then in person. Strange. Maybe I'm delusional, and they look exactly the same. The great thing about these MOO cards, is that you can order a set of 100 for 19.99. But if you want, you can get 100 different photos printed up, or any combination of, that add up to 100. You'd think that would cost extra, but it's all the same price. I think most people who order them, who don't order them as business cards, do it that way, 100 different photos. I just can't think of a reason other than wanting to share business info, for ordering these things. Do people do it for sharing their phone numbers? Anyhow, these guys came up with a cool little product, that really seemed to take off. Good on them. Go check it out, and maybe get your own MOO cards made up. It's great fun.

Under Pressure

2007-06-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted to start regularly featuring some of the great etsy sellers that I come across. There are so many that I like, so this shouldn't be difficult. I chose today's by going through the etsy TimeMachine 2, and the first sold item I came across that I liked, I chose.

This shop, Pressure Letterpress has some lovely cards and stationery. The one that really caught my eye was this floral letterpress card set:

I love the red bold floral design, and the tiny "pressure" logo on the back is a nice touch. It's all nicely bundled and tied with a pretty green bow, lovely. As with most great shops, this one presents their items with great photos, and has a cohesive look throughout the shop.

Here is another example of their's designs:

Go visit, and see for yourself here.

American Crafts

2007-06-17T23:47:00.000-07:00

Another favorite paper company of mine is American Crafts.
Not only are their patterns perfectly scrumptious, their paper is quality, thick, and two-sided. I love, love, love, their new lines. Check put some of my latest buys:

don't forget each of these papers is backed by a lovely coordinating solid.

and don't forget about their fabulous mini rub-on packs, which I couldn't resist:

It's About Time

2007-06-16T00:55:00.000-07:00

WooHoo. Finally. I just received my newsletter from Basic Grey, introducing their new line, Infuse. I can't tell you how much I have been looking forward for them to come out with something new. I love all of their lines. Here are a few samples of their papers:

now, I just need to make a few sales, so I can purchase a pack of these gorgeous papers. I know, I'm terrible, I spend everything I make. If I had known, I might have waited to buy my Moo cards. Oh well, I suppose I can wait a few days. For now, I'll just do some mind designing...off I go.

I Love Games!

2007-06-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

So, I read a post in the Etsy forums about a challenge ModernReclamation was having while she was away on holiday. I love a challenge. On her blog was a photo of the airport she was at, still in the states. The first one to comment on where it was, and get it right, would be featured in her blog. Being the world traveler that I am not, I had to totally guess. Apparently I'm a great guesser, because she was indeed in Newark, which I've never been. So she sent me a note telling me I won and had a few questions for me. So now, she's got a great post all about me in her blog. This makes me happy because she, actually has visitors to her blog, so maybe the people that don't visit me here, will see me there.?? It doesn't matter, I'm just glad to be featured in someone's blog. Thanks ModernReclamation. See her shop here and her blog here.

here is some of the lovely stuff she offers:

I Love Etsy Treasury

2007-06-04T23:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I log onto Etsy, instead of first, checking my shop for possible sales, I make a stop at the Treasury. It's so fun to create a treasury, if you have been able to score one, in the first place. Also, people can be so creative with their lists, that it can be so worthwhile to browse through and see what they've chosen. (If you are a fan of etsy, or not, and don't know what the treasury is, go check it out here.)

So today, I had been paying attention to the treasury lists and when they expire, so I could try for a spot when there was one available. While I waited, I was browsing for stuff worthy of a list, and came across this great pillow.

It's hard to see in my picture, but under the first layer of fabric there are pill capsules sewn into it, and behind a patch, there is a syringe that is sewn into it also. I love the uniqueness of it, very creative. Made by windshine, visit here shop to see what else she makes.

It gave me my inspiration for my treasury, which I did end up getting, which I called ALTERED STATES. I found some really great stuff with drugs as their theme. I'd leave the link, but it'll be gone in a day or so, anyhow.

Now what will my next theme be?...

Martha and Michael's

2007-06-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

I've only to been to my local Michael's, so I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere, or not. I would rather not shop there, especially for patterned paper. They don't offer a very large selection as far as brands are concerned. Since everyone has a Michael's near them, everyone has purchased or seen their products. When I am buying supplies for products I make and intend to sell, I like to use stuff that may be new to people or that they are not familiar with. When I see something that someone has made with a paper from Michael's, I instantly recognize it, and it turns me off in a way. Maybe it's just me, because I get bored with things so easily.

When I learned that Martha Stewart was coming out with a crafts line, I was eager to see it. As much as Martha herself, can annoy me, her creations and her taste is something I can always appreciate. The lady does have an eye for "good things". However, I was quite disappointed to learn her line was going to be available at Michael's (exclusively, I believe). Not that where it is sold changes how appealing her line is. (It is a very nice collection) It just means that everyone will have it or at least have seen it. It's still quite new, so maybe not everyone is familiar with it yet. But give it a few months, and her card stock and stamps will be popping up everywhere. I guess I'll be sticking to the hundreds of other companies that offer scrapbook papers and such, because to me, offering something new and unique for people to purchase, is the way I prefer to go.

Here are some of the things from Martha's crafts line:

Colors that Inspire

2007-05-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs is Print and Pattern, as I'm sure is a lot of other's favorite too. Aside from the loveliest eye candy that it is, it always has the greatest links that lead to more inspiration. Today, I found Designers Guild, yes more loveliness. I am always looking for color combos for my magnet sets, and found many in their Spring 2007 collection of fabrics and wallpaper. Take a look at their Taraz collection:

I love all the greens, and of course the black and white and paired with the magenta. Just lbeautiful. I recommend giving Designers Guild a visit, you will be inspired too.

Making It . Spending It

2007-05-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about my new bag I just found last night on Etsy. Take a look...

isn't it great. I love the Robert Kaufman fabric with the butterflies. It looks so well made, it's lined, and it's the perfect shape and size. Check out admitone's etsy shop to see her fabulous work. I can't wait to have it.

Waiting on the FedEx Man

2007-05-29T01:31:00.000-07:00

So, I've been wanting to try my hand at bookbinding. It's one of those projects that I always see, and admire, wishing I knew how to make one too. So, I figure it out. A hand binded book is such a cool thing to have, and it's something I know I can get great use from, myself. And the best part is I get to choose a gorgeous paper to put on the cover of every one of them. Which gives me another reason to go paper shopping. I've found a few online tutorials that explain it pretty well, but I think it's one of those things that is much easier to do than to explain. I wish I knew someone that could sit with me and walk me through it. The coptic stitch, I believe it's called, is the first I'm trying. I like the look of this method, with the exposed binding, and I like that the book can be opened all the way and lie flat. I found a shop online that sells a lot of the supplies I need, and ordered some yesterday. Being it's a holiday today, I'm guessing I won't see the FedEx man until Wednesday at the earliest. In the meantime, I'll look for more instructions with pictures, to add to the ones I have. I'm thinking that between them all, I'll be binding in no time. Now get a move on Mr FedEx man.
If any of my 5 readers happens to know anything about bookbinding, please feel free to share any bits of widsom with this newbie. Thanks a bunch.

Thank Goodness for the S.F. Chronicle

2007-05-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

So, I was trying to watch a movie the other night on the couch, and my husband goes in the kitchen to get a snack. A few minutes later he starts cracking up. So, I turn up the volume, and tell him, "Shhhhhh." He ignores me and laughs more, even louder as he's crumpling the newspaper. He says, "Gina, you gotta listen to these police reports." I look over, and he's reading the Benicia Herald, our cities newspaper. I'm like, "hold on, I'm trying to watch this movie." Don't get me wrong, I love where we live, but Benicia, doesn't always make for the most exciting news. Plus, I read the police reports all the time, and they are never anything to laugh at this much. So, I continue to watch my movie, straining to hear over his bellowing. He laughs at everything, so mostly I'm annoyed that I can hardly hear my movie. He brings the paper over to me, and says you gotta see these. Humoring him, I snag the paper and look, thinking, "hurry up, what?" Next thing I know, I'm bellowing right along with him. These are copied, word for word straight from the Herald:

Friday May 18
5:54 pm Graffiti in the form of the words, "snitch" and expletive were written on a driveway on the 100 block of Church Street.

8:24 pm A caller said her roommates daughter unlawfully attacked her and her daughter over eyeliner that was taken on the 400 block of Mills Drive. The argument escalated into a physical disturbance, and then the suspect hit the caller and her daughter with her fists.

I know, real newsworthy but it gets much better...

6:43 a.m. A maroon Land Cruiser on the 500 block of Morning Glory Drive was tagged "Gay Boy" over night.

12:02 pm Pamela Scott, 55 or 56, was arrested for driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level over .08 after a friend reported that Scott was drunk driving to get more alcohol from the Liquor Warehouse.

first of all was she 55 or 56, did ya ask her, or check her id? there were 3 other reports with ages like this, which i thought was quite strange. and more important, nice friend, Pamela has. I wonder if it was her house that someone wrote "snitch" in her driveway.

Sunday May 20
1:44 pm A Benicia City Park worker told the owners of a bulldog that had tied their dog to a "No Dogs in the Park" sign to leave. The dog owners were given a warning.

I think these people were messing with the park worker. and why agian, did he have to call the police? i mean get a life.

2:10 pm Children on the 1100 block of Southampton Road repeatedly called 911 to make "fart" noises.

haha

7:07 pm A caller reported that neighbors on Turner drive are raising rabbits in tents in their backyard and that they could smell the odor inside their home.

i think this lady is on crack. rabbits in tents, right! lady, Trix are for kids.

there are a few more knee slappers, but I think I've made Benicia, pitiful enough for now. I'm so glad they deliver the Chronicle here.

The Thunder from Down Under

2007-05-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder what it was that used to fill my time, the days before I was online. I was a senior in high school when I first signed up with AOL, and heard those infamous words, "You've got Mail." I didn't care it took 10 hours to load, I just wanted to see if my dad (the only other person I knew online) had sent me a message. It was just cool, and I had this sense, then, of infinite possibilities. I didn't know exactly what they were, but I felt it, none the less. Skip ahead to now, and sometimes I worry that one day I will regret all this time I spend in front of a computer screen. All the fresh air, people watching, talking to neighbors, and just all around real life, that I am missing whenever I am in front of my computer. Of course, I do those other things, but not as much as I could. As much as I enjoy, even fiend, being connected, sometimes, I wonder if it's good for the soul. Luckily, I have this one discovery, that makes all of it worth while, my friend Emma. Emma, my friend from Australia, whom I've never even seen, except in a photo, is one of my favorite people in the whole world. We met completely by accident. I say that because I am so not the type of person to seek out friendships or any kind of relationship online. The fact that I even joined a pen pals site to begin with, is so not my style. For whatever reason I did, and I even returned to read a message from Emma. This was a couple of years ago, (I think) and since then, I have come to appreciate her so incredibly much, no one could even understand. She gets me, completely, and I get her. We just like each other, and there is nothing about her that could ever bother me, she just rocks. We are two totally different people with different personalities, but we just click. We have regular instant message chats, well as regular as we can, and have even spoke on the phone a handful of times. (I love her Aussie accent). Our conversations are full of laughing and the "F" word, just the way we love it. I always have the biggest smile on my face when we finish our talks. I can't really explain what it is, but I'm just so grateful to have met her. I can't ever say my time was wasted online, because if it wasn't for the internet, I never would have met her. We hope to, one day, be able to actually meet, face to face, and get our hugs in, meet the hubbies, and have our kids hang out...one day. But until then I'm just glad to have someone in this world, get me the way she does. Isn't that what life is all about? It should be.

xoxo ;)

I wish I sewed

2007-05-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

There is a contest going on at Etsy, and the first prize is this awesome sewing machine, that I want so bad. I can't even sew. I mean, not even a tiny bit. But I'm pretty sure this baby does all the sewing for you. Now if I'm going to learn to sew, it might as well be on this machine, right. Just think, if I want this machine this bad, imagine how those that actually know how to sew must be coveting this thing. The question is, will I get my shit together enough to enter the contest, and even have a chance to win this thing? Doubtful, but it's still worth dreaming for. Here is why I wish I could sew. I have this thing for paper, and the patterns it comes in. I love it, can't get enough. This obsession would so easily work equally as well, if not better, on fabric. There is only sew (sorry couldn't help it) much you can make with paper. But fabric, oh, the possibilities are endless. Look at these I found at Free Spirit:

Denyse Schmidt:

and the always lovely Amy Butler:

in my dreams I'd make a cute little bag or a sun dress for my daughter.
I'd better get cracking on that contest....

I HATE PAYPAL

2007-05-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

i didn't always feel this way, extreme hate for paypal. for a good couple of years it was smooth sailing, no worries, buying and selling with ease. then one day, out of nowhere, BOOM, they froze my account. without getting into the whole very lengthy story, they had wrongly accused me of holding two accounts, one of which apparently had a balance of a few hundred bucks. at first, it seemed simple enough, just send them the info they asked for proving my identity and then all things would be cleared up. Ha! that's what I thought. i did everything they asked, faxed them my drivers license, and added a bank account to my profile. then i waited patiently for my freeze to be lifted. when that didn't happen, i made several phone calls talking to the dip shits over at paypal, pleading my case. still, no luck. finally i was able to speak to the customer relations manager. i spoke to this woman for over an hour, and argued until i was blue in the face. in the end she told me they didn't believe me, that it was still a possibility that i held another account, and that i was too much of a risk to be allowed to hold an account with them any longer. she actually told me, "you will NEVER be allowed to have a paypal account again." and that the freeze on my account will never be lifted. to say the least, this really pissed me off. if it wasn't for the fact that i need a paypal account in order to have any success with my etsy shop, then i wouldn't care. i offer Google Check Out as a payment option, along with money orders, cashier's checks, and even personal checks. so far, every transaction has been paid for using paypal. people are used to paying this way, they like it. i know that is how i used to feel too. i've managed to get another paypal account for my etsy sales, although it's under a false name, and has no credit card or bank account attached to it. so as of now, i have all this money in my paypal account, and am unable to spend it. i have the option of being paid by check but am afraid to do that, as i wouldn't know who to have them send it to. would i be able to cash the check that was written to this made up person i invented? would they figure me out if i gave them my real name?

so yes, there was a day that paypal had my full support, and i would even have great things to say about them to anyone that listened. now, they've screwed me royally, and i finally get what all those paypal haters have been talking about. beware to those that have not yet had an issue with paypal, your day will come, and then you too, will know why PAYPAL SUCKS.

take a look at other paypal horror stories, you won't believe what they get away with.

don't say i didn't warn you...

Flowers Can Last Forever

2007-05-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

well, just about forever. i just got a new computer yesterday, and in it was a packed of silica gel. this reminded me of a show i watched a few years back about a lady that offered flower arrangements that lasted months if not longer. i think her business was in n.y., and i wish i could remember the name of it to share her work here. she showed the process she used to preserve beautiful fresh flowers that would last a very long time. i was so impressed with the way they looked. it was like they were frozen in time right at the peak of their beauty. to preserved them she used silica gel. she had shelves full of tupperware containers full of silica gel and the loveliest flowers. the method is simple:

1. pick flowers at their peak, and cut off the stem, leaving about an inch
2. fill an air tight container with and inch or two of silica gel
3. gently lay the flowers, face up, inside, spaced apart so they don't touch each other
4. gently and slowly pour more silica gel over the flowers, covering them completely, trying not to crush them
5. seal the container and set aside for 48 hours to a week
6. check the flowers to see if they are dry. if not, recover and let them sit longer
7. once they are dry you can place a wire stem wrapped in floral tape around them and arrange them

flowers that work well: roses, carnations, hydrangeas, gardenias, dendrobium, calla lilies
flowers that are harder to preserve: tulips, irises, daffodils

you can find silica gel here.

more detailed instructions can be found here

I found a great website that offers arrangements that are preserved in this way, Guirnaldas.
check out what they offer, they are gorgeous:

Paper Addict

2007-05-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

hi my name is gina, and i am a paper addict. there have been days that i've spent hours searching and browsing through online paper shops, admiring and buying all the pretty papers. i am mostly into decorative papers, like the really nice stuff for bookbinding and scrapbooking. i enjoy good handmade paper, for it's tecture, feel, and quality. but i am more into the variety of pretty patterns and colors. basic grey always puts out some lovely lines of scrapbooking papers, which i always enjoy. recently i have come to love this shop, The Paper Studio. the shop is located in arizona, so i havn't had the chance to visit them. luckily they have an excellent online shop which has become one of my regular places to visit. they have such a great variety of papers, specializing in bookbinding materials. you don't have to bind books to appreciate their stuff. also, i discovered these great pendants, they are blank for adding your own stuff - perfect for crafters. you can see some i've made to the right that i've got in my etsy shop.

The Power of a Picture

2007-05-16T03:40:00.000-07:00

Successful sellers on etsy know the importance of a good picture when it comes to selling your work. I'm still an etsy rookie, but the first thing I discovered since opening my shop, was if my photos weren't good, then I was wasting my time. When customers are browsing the infinite abyss of items to buy, it's the great photos that are going to make them stop and look, and maybe even buy. It's the only thing a buyer has to judge since they can't hold the item in their hands and see it up close. The quality of photos you'll find on etsy range from professional looking to "I think I'll let my 3 year old take my photos for me". I have found the best places to see examples of great photos are on etsy's front page and in the Treasury. Anyone with a camera can learn some simple techniques that make a difference between a photo that will get viewed by buyers and one that will just get passed by. A quick stop by the etsy forums or the etsy wiki can give you all the information you need. At the very least, sellers should edit the photos they take before adding them to their listings. You don't need to own photoshop to do this either. I've found a great online image editor that requires no download, that is simple to use. Try snipshot here.

Let me show you how just editing your photos make a huge difference. Yesterday I listed some magnets. Here is how the photo I took looked before I edited it at snipshot:

While the shot is clear and even in focus, the colors are off, and there is too much empty space around the magnets. Just a few adjustments at snipshot, a little cropping, and here is what I end up with:

Now, the colors are clear and vibrant, and the magnets take up the whole shot. It took me all of 30 seconds to edit the photo, and it will make a huge difference in the number of views this set of magnets gets. This set of "Gypsy" magnets were actually chosen for a treasury not too much longer after I listed them. If I had kept my original photo, I doubt they would have been chosen for a treasury. See my listing for this set or my others here.