Chasing The Etsy Dream

If you're a reader of my blog, you've noticed that I'm trying my hand at Etsy.  It's actually consuming me.  I never dreamed there would be so much to learn.  I've been working at it now just long enough to realize this.  Besides getting a decent inventory and figuring out the whole pricing thing, getting great pictures is my current challenge.

My photography skills are not horrible but I've realized that I have to do a better job of presentation if I want to get my stuff noticed.  To be honest, I feel like a very small fish in a very large sea.  I'm a bit frustrated.  How do I compete with sellers that have been around since the beginning of Etsy time? 

So...I read an article about how to improve photos and a white box was recommended.  I watched this video on how to build one.  Here's my white box:  

It was easy enough to make and I think my pictures look better.  They seem to have a pinkish tint to the background and I've edited them but the tint remains so it's probably here to stay.  Tomorrow if the weather is good, I'm going to set up outside and use natural light.  We'll see how that turns out.

I've shot a few do-overs of listed items to see the difference.  Here's a purple flower headband...the before...

and here's the after...              

 

What do you think?

BTW, I've got a coupon code for anyone that reads my blog.  Code BLOGSPECIAL01 is for 15% anything in my shop.  I'll leave this up for a few weeks.  

Thanks as always for visiting my blog.

 

Felted Wool Headbands

With three tubs of wool sweaters to recycle, I figured I need to come up with something to use the wool for besides journals.

I like the way these headbands turned out.  They remind me of bookmarks although the elastic bands are a tad too big for bookmarks. 

Each band is sandwiched between two layers of wool and secured with machine stitching.

The flowers all have some combination of stitching and a bead in the center.

I love the light olive green with the punch of color in the center.

These are in my Etsy shop.  I invite you to take a look.  I'm still getting my store stocked but I'm thinking this could be fun. 

 Here's a few more pictures...

Shabby Chic Craft Kit

 

 

Buttons in a tin, felt flowers in a paper pocket, and a handful of paper beads...

...rosettes small and smaller, rubberstamps, and tags ready for decorating...

      .....pendant tags, crepe paper, inchie blanks, clothespins, twine and lace....

All tucked into this glass-top shadowbox painted a lovely shade of robin's egg blue....

 

 ...crackle finished and little knob legs added.

Available on Etsy

Card and Tag Set

There's something about crepe paper that I really like.  I've often looked at it but had never bought any until recently when I bought white and cream.  White and cream may sound dull but I didn't know what I'd actually use it for.  While working on this greeting card and gift tag set yesterday, I thought of the crepe paper.  I think it works - what do you think?

 

 The card and the image are stamped on kraft cardstock.  Image is by Oxford Impressions.

Machine sewing outlines the tag and accents the area above the crepe paper.  Tiny silver and white bows adorn both the card and tag.

Buttons were handsewn to the button cards.  The set would be perfect for Mother's Day and is in my Etsy shop.

New Felted Wool Journals

 

I've been working away on these felted wool journals.  They're finished and ready to share! 

 

This one is made using a beautiful oatmeal color sweater and embellishments in hot pink and bright orange.  Don't you love the lining?

 

 

 

I'm crazy for this bright orange cord that I discovered in a bead store.  I didn't have any waxed linen in the right color for this journal so I was happy to find another option.  

    

For the lime green striped journal, I cut the wool using material from the waistband.  I love the bit of detail this adds to the book.

  

This is a side view showing the long stitch details.  I used waxed linen to bind this one.

Happy April Fool's Day!  Have a wonderful Sunday.

Birds Notecards

I'm up much too early this morning but my mind wouldn't shut off.  At 3:00 a.m. I turned on Pandora and started stamping.  I love this birds image from Artistic Outpost which I've stamped with Black StazOn.  I've stamped more this week than I have in ages though I'd prefer it during daylight hours!

Handmade Cards

I'm having a great time working on card sets this week.  On April 01, I'll have a selection of handmade items at The Spring Hill Antique Mall in Spring Hill, Tennessee so I'm working overtime to get prepared.  Wish me luck!

Altered Train Case

 It seems that everyone is altering train cases these days.  I met with a group of art friends this past weekend and brought along this great vintage train case that I purchased on eBay. 

 

I had a great time using acrylic paint with stencils and decorative paper.  StazOn black worked great for stamping a Magenta image onto the metal. 

 

I made a fabric cover for the handle using a tutorial found at Little Birdie Secrets.  It's a super simple and quick way to coordinate your handle and add a little something extra.  Be sure and adjust the measurements for your particular handle.  I then added a felt flower in taupe.  

 

The completed case was finished with a taupe glaze and several coats of water-based polyurethane.  This is a fun and functional piece!

Caboodle Sewing Case

I like the idea of organization.  Unfortunately, it seems I spend more time trying to be organized than actually being organized.  Having an amble inventory of supplies to create with is a blessing.  There is a flip-side to that blessing:  I can no longer lay my hands on some supplies without searching...and searching.  Valuable creating time is being wasted and something has to change.

Do I give something up?  Paper, fabric, metal, wood, paint, beads...what?  What can I do without?  My mind is too full from being frustrated with this workspace and I'm paralyzed with indecision. 

What's a girl to do?  This week I took time out and visited Goodwill a few times.  Here's one of my finds for the week.

I've always had a thing for Caboodles.  I can't remember how old I was when I bought my first one but I'm sure I was a teenager.  I used that first one for its intended purpose of storing makeup.  After I had moved on to a more mature makeup bag, I couldn't let that first Caboodle go and it now holds bookbinding supplies.

These photos are of a Caboodle I picked up this week for $2.99.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the price.  I thought I was dreaming when I saw the condition of this jewel.  It could pass for brand new.   I traded in the metal lunch box that I was using for a sewing kit and now sport a portable sewing kit in my newest Caboodle.

 

 Check out how perfectly these Sulky spools fit into the slots.  Perfect or what?

 

Here's a shot of the supply tin I've posted on my blog before.  This organizer is so roomy and perfect for the job.  After all, it's a Caboodle! 

My organization 'problem' is not fixed but I feel better! 

Birthday Canvas

 

Layers of paint, tissue, stenciling and collage came together to make this 10 x 10 commission.  Between glitterhouses and stitching, I haven't worked on a canvas in a while and I really enjoyed this piece.

 

The design in the foreground was created using a paper doily as a stencil.  The doily along with embossing paste was used to create this look.  You might notice the diamond pattern stencil in the background; that's my other favorite stencil. 

 

A little bit of sketching on the rose helped define the edges. 

Valentine Gift Tags

Glittered rosettes add bling to these Valentine gift tags

I love the tiny punched heart center and the pearl bead accent

Pretty pink punches of color

Repurposed Wool Heart Garland

Valentine's Day is only a month away and it's the perfect time for a heart garland.  This garland is made from re-purposed wool sweaters.  It's a sweet and simple project and the perfect touch for a small area.