A beautiful day

I have just popped inside for a little afternoon nap in the shade. The weather here is absolutely glorious so I have been enjoying 15 minute stints in the sun. I love the smell of hot summer days, but don't like sitting in the baking sun, so I in now for about the 10th for a big glass of water and lime and some surfing!

I have finished retaking all my photographs and have been making a few new pieces. I love this bracelet, all purple and precious and in the shop.

I am going to run a few experiments this week:

1. twittering

2. blogging

3. listing new items

4. relisting

5. making (of course)

I'm going to keep a note of my stats and see what is most effective. I'm loving Google Analytics, I can find out so much info and try and use it. I'm going to be quite strict with my time and see if I can find a happy balance between createing and promoting. I'll post my finding here on Tuesday 9th June, so I can give it a full 7 days.

Hope you are all having a glorious Sunday too!

Finally!

Well I have had an interesting time trying to retake my photos. I started off with layers of paper which looks interesting in real life but my jewellery looks lost in my Etsy listings.

Then I decided to try one of the travertine tiles we used for our bathroom, again they looked great while i was taking the snaps, but when I loaded them into the computer and enlarged them, it looked like my pieces were laying on funny coloured skin!

So last night while I was talking to a friend she suggested her bathroom tiles, beautiful grey slate. So her bo headed down this afternoon with 3 slabs of it for me to try. And I am happy to report, success!!! I really enjoy the photography side of selling and feel that I have developed my 'style' if you like. But I have struggled to find the perfect background untill today. I tried contrasting coloured paper to the jewellery, delicately patterned white paper, sheet music, wood and wall paper. I knew what kind of look I was trying to achieve but just hadn't found the right one.

So now that I have re taken all the photos for my shops excisitng listing and some new designs, I'm going to be busy for the rest of the night and most of tommorow. I have 350 images to fix. Must get off the inetrnet now!!!

All set

As promised : operation tidy before & after!

With my work space cleared I have begun working on some new designs and am experimenting with some new backgrounds for my product shots. I am looking for something simple but textured, that isn't too distracting from the jewellery. Hopefully by the end of today I'll have decided on the new look and have most of the photos of my current listings on etsy changed.

I really enjoy this part and feel they need freshened up. Hopefully I'll get some inspiration for a new banner too!

A very surprising trait has started to imerge in MrS's character, he keeps finding beautiful pieces of furniture in thrift shops. Until recently he had a very limited interest in how I decorate and would just roll his eyes when I would return from a forage with an old tin, a cup and saucer and an old watering can. But now he is finding little gems, like this beautiful unit! I'm not quite sure hat will finally end up on it, at the moment I'm changing the collections every few days!

things to do today

decide on photo background

re take shop photos

take new design photos

fix photos

hopefully edit excisting listings on etsy

What are your plans for the rest of the week?

x

Who is coming to tea?

A Fanciful Twist has sent out her invites for this years "Mad Tea Party" on the 27th June 2009. Would you like to join us?

I am loving all things Alice at the moment so I will be having a themed party right here on the day. You can join in by visiting her blog and registering and then on the day post up picstures, video or words about your very own tea party. And you get to stop by all the other Mad Hatters' blog who are joining in.

The desk clearing is still in progress but already looks so much better and now feels so much more enticing to creative ideas. [I'll post up some before and after pics tommorow!] I am going to finish off today and get started on the shop revamp too. I have some beautiful new creations waiting to be listed.

Clearing away

My desk is a mess and I don't know where to start

Its like a heavy rusty anchor holding down my heart.

My sleeves are rolled up and I'm ready to face

The mamoth task of starting again.

Artists Way - week 6

I have reached the half way point in the course "The Artist's Way" and it is such an interesting journey. I have definately reached a turning point in my life these last few months, knowing things have to change but just not sure how. I am still a little vauge on what I need to do but ideas of directions and things to try are coming to me. This weeks chapter is "Recovering A Sense of Abundance".

"Most of us harbour a secret belief that work has to be work and not play, and that anything we really want to do-like write, act, dance- must be considered frivolous and placed a distant second. This is not true." Julia Cameron, "The Artist's Way" p.106

If you could "play" for your day job, what would you do/ be?

Check out the new link to "Healthy Touch". This is the website of a woman who I have been going to see for the last few years, very interesting stuff!

Happy Friday

Pablo and I are at my Mum's house today. He is sitting gazing out of the patio doors into the rainy garden as I sit at the table sewing. I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

A mixed media morning

Sunday I had planned to get stuck into this new project but friends from far away lands popped by for a visit so my schemes got put on hold. Yesterday I wanted to get the jewels out and the day sped away from me. But this morning I awoke full of inspiration and drive and have just completed these.

This one is my favourite.

I ironed a copy of a little painting I did a few months ago of two little birds on a branch onto a piece of fabric and then layered paint, paper and a snip of vintage lace ontop.

I still have the iron out (a rare sighting in this house!) so I'll keep working away.

All things aquatic

Listed in the shop today!

"Mazu (simplified Chinese: 妈祖; traditional Chinese: 媽祖; pinyin: Māzǔ; Wade-Giles: Ma-tsu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Má-chó·; literally "Mother-Ancestor"), also spelt Matsu, is the indigenous goddess of the sea who protects fishermen and sailors, and is invoked as the goddess who protects East Asians who are associated with the ocean. "

Information from Wikipedia

Mixed media project 1

Here is a sneaky peak at a little project I am going to work on tonight. I am loving the magazine and am full of inspiration and ideas!

I have been following Suzi Blu and her mixed media classes and other artists and want to give it a go for myself, using my favourite mediums and techniques; sewing, drawing, collage ect.

I am loving the new downloads too, a new look for the blog perhaps?

An art filled weekend

"Anais" bracelet

I have finished the book keeping! I am so relieved that both sets are done and dusted and awaiting delivery to the accountant.

In celebration I spent some time yesterday making up some new designs and loading them into the shop, head over and let me know what you think of my new favourite colour?

So now that one of my major projects are complete I can re-imerse myself into my creative life. I, as always have so many ideas and plans up my sleeve, so I have been jotting them on the back of a piece of wall paper and have pinned it to my studio wall.

"home is where the heart is..." proverb #1

I have been creating some more little fabric pieces too which is great fun and I am really enjoying exploring the meanings of the proverbs I have found.

I am really looking forward to this weekend, tonight Holly is coming over with Barney and we are going to have a lovely girlie night. I have pizza, salad, dips, cake and a movie! Then tomorrow Mr S is working so I will indulge myself in my first ever copy of "Artful Blogging". I keep seeing US bloggers talking about it and yesterday I found a company here, bladerubberstamps that sells them. To my delight the magazine arrived this morning! Talk about speedy delivery, I'll definately be shopping there again.

Have a lovely weekend x

Seedlings # 2

Let me cast your mind back to my post from 1 month ago seedlings # 1 . I planted 5 tiny seeds, water, hoped and watched for 3 weeks. Then to my delight I had little srouts of green!

Well my front room is blossoming now with plants, and dreams of tomato recepies. They are coming on so well, each night I sit beside them to eat dinner and I'm sure they have shot up by another inch. I now have this strong urge to grow more and more veggies. I have dreams of a secret garden like plot with green beans, lettice, courgettes and peppers, Californian Peppers no less!

No less said than my friend Katie came for tea a little while ago and brought me another little grow bag! It has taken about three weeks for anything to happen, but last night my heart lept when I saw these tiniweenie sprouts in what looks like dry cork!

Now for the fun part, when I have my first crop (listen to me!) what should I make?

I'll have tomatoes, peppers, sage, thyme, chives, mint, marogam and rosemary all in my garden so give me your suggestions please!

Barney came to stay

Well Pablo has had a wonderful, action packed weekend!
Our friend let us have her beautiful boxer Barney for a visit and such fun was had by all.

This is them having a chill out after a morning of play.

I have had a great week too, getting lots done and working through the "Artist's Way" I can't believe it is week 4 already. This weeks chapter is "Recovering a sense of integrity" and there are some interesting tasks too. One of things we have to try this week is avoiding reading, to allow ourselves time and space to think for ourselves. This will be an interesting challange so I'm going to visit all your blogs this evening before I start my deprivation!

Here are some photos of my little sewing projects I have been working on at night (as promised!). They are ACEO sized (2.5 x 3.5"). More to come soon.

x