:: my life ::

1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftcreativity/2366201981/">Spring inspired shelfs

I think I need some shelves like these for my kitchen. I have a small galley kitchen and every inch of work space is essential, but I long to have some of my little trinkets around me as I cook. Something like this would be perfect.

MrLB has returned from his travels and had a lovely time. I had a wonderful adventure but most of all found a great calmness and new confidence in myself, which has been a long time coming. I am now lookng forward to doing it again, rather than dreading the time and going to great lengths to plan over nighters with friends.

I am working on a shop re-vamp at the moment. I have some exciting new bracelet designs that just don't photograph well on the grey slate. Plus I feel it is time for a change. I have taken some snaps today, but the light has been quite grey so I'll take the rest tomorrow.

Have a lovely weekend, do you have plans? x

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!!!

Another Little Peek

I have been making some new necklaces instead of cards over the last week. I am finding it really hard to come up with Christmasy designs with my birds, so decided to gve my self a break and get making jewels!

I ordered some lovely new bits and they arrived the other day, so I have been working on what goes best with what. In the mean time here is a little peek at some other pieces that will be appearing in the shop over the next few days. I have a beautiful modle coming by this afternoon to let me photo them in real life. I did try my bo, but he just wasn't wearing them right!

This one below is going to be the first item in my Wedding section in the shop! And I am thinking sets too.

I haven't decided on the names for these creations yet, I am going to stick with girl's names so suggestions are welcome!

Things over at laurabailliedesigns2 are still in the planning, between making papery things for shops, girls nights and birthdays, I am not getting the time to photograph things and get them uploaded. But I am going to get there eventually! Sticking to the paper theme, I was given a little borrow of some beautiful books by Lorna, which I will photo tomorrow to share. They have really inspired my to get back to the drawing and painting, but I know maybe now is not the time. I love being recommended books by other people, especially art books. "Arthur Rackham" by James Hamilton has given me so many ideas, so thanks L! Head over to her shop, she is having her first sale)

What is the best book you have been recommended lately?

Day 3- A whole lot of nothing (Friday)

I tried to post this last night but it didn't work, so here it is a day later!

Today has been one of those days where expectations are high, but nothing gets done! Therefor yesterdays list is fairly incomplete.

The flat was a tip this morning and I can't work while I know there are washings, dishes, and hoovering needing done. But it just seemed as soon as one job got crossed off another one got added. By 3pm I had the housey stuff done and needed to get out for a walk, so Pablo and I headed for his first visit to the park. A great time was had by all, I returned refreshed and P was knackered! So I managed a little bit of Yibble time.

1. Make Yibble for little cuz Tess. She would like green, but would settle for orange or wine coloured.

2. Decide on ideas for Mothers Day cards, think about materials I'll need. I want to take my jewellery and cards into some of the local business on Monday, so need to get ideas confirmed.

3. Think about new press release for magazines and newspapers. I have done a few and got great publicity through out the years, but have not done one recently so now is the time. Maybe I could do a post about the things I have learned and am still to find out?

I'll have a post filled with photos on Sunday night, you'll get to see the fruits of my labours. Happy Saturday :)

30 days to a better shop - Day 6

Photos inspired y Blaze's post on serentiy, here is my little chandelier. I am saving up for a large one, the room is victorian with a high cieling so it really needs a huge one. I have been looking out for them in antique shops but haven't quite found what I'm looking for yet, but the hunt is on. I wanted to show you my fireplace too. It was one of the major selling pionts when we bought the flat, I just feel in love with it.

Well Day 5 of 30days to a better shop is taking some time, Christina spreads this one over 2 days and I can see why! Today we have to update our item titles and descriptions. I am half way through the title changing and will try to do a few description updates tonight, but i'll have to leave the rest for tomorrow.

I have a frame/ box board left over from some of the Christmas presents I made and a blank bit of wall that needs filled and I think tonight I'll work on something for that. Not sure et what my inspiration will be, possibly something collaged? I'll let you know how I go.

30 days to a better shop - Day 5

Well, here is my tidy studio, and I even have tidy drawers!

This is the newest edition to the shop "Toffee and Mint Crunch"! I love the combination of topaz and aventurine, and I added some faceted jet beads to look like chocolate chips. mmmmmm

I have just finished another valentine inspired bracelet and haven't quite decided on its name yet. I have used abalone nugget beads, hematite hearts, czech glass hearts, silver and white pearls and some other little gems! I'm thinking, "Melt this icey heart" or maybe "Precious Heart" because of the semi precious stones I've used?

Today's 30 Day's challange was updating my shop banner and avtar. I changed mine just before Christmas and really like it, so I'm going to stick with it for now.

30 days to a better shop - Day 4

I have just finished the Studio Clear Up! It is great, I now know where everything is and all my little drawers and boxes are sorted. I'll photograph it in the morning it's to dark and late now.


On to day 4 of the challenge - updating etsy profile. I actually did this the other day when I was doing my shop announcement, I have used mine to list postage and other business details.

I wanted to let you see this, the beautiful Christmas card that my blogging buddy Blaze sent me all the way from Seattle, she illustrated it herself. I have taken all the rest of my christmas decs down, but still have this card up!

I ordered new findings and beads from the company in London I use and and etsy shop last week and I'm really excited about getting them through, I have lots of ideas and can't wait to get started on them.

Been working on a new bracelet for the shop so i'll show you that tomorrow too. The reason I keep on tellin you in advance of stuff and then photographing them the next day is that at the moment to get good photos here I have to take them between about 10 and 2 to get the best of the light, not much of that in the last few weeks! So thats why, I make during the day and photograph the things the next morning.

30 days to a better shop - Day 3

This is Taloola, my little cousin Tess got her for Christmas and she is so funky! I just had to get a snap of her!

Today on 30 days it's orginising and sorting out my etsy shop sections. I had never really thought about it before but now that I've changed them it does seem more orginised and easier for a shopper to find different colours/ and stone bracelets.

I'm still in the middle of clearing out the studio, at the moment i'm at that point where it looks like someone has emptied a truck of paper in the door, but i am getting there! I have already filled 2 black bags with paper for recycling, where did it all come from? So i'm going to stick at it tonight so that tomorrow morning i can get stuck in to all the creations i want to make. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a wee snap of the new room!

Etsy forum

(photo from carasel in Paris at end of Champs Eleyse 2002)

I was on etsy the other night and joined a thread, 'calling all bloggers' and book marked it for a better read later, and that time has come! I am sitting just now working my way through the list and have found some amazing blogs, inspiring people and lots and lots of beautiful goodies!!!!

One blog I have found so far which I am really interested in is Christina Perdue's "30 days to a better shop". She was featured on Etsy's storque with an article about it too. I am going to start tomorrow and give it a go my self and see how I get on, I love a list!!! So watch this space.

Now I'm going back to the forum list to check out some more blogs.