MrsDragon.etsy.com

Moving!

2007-07-06T00:28:10Z

Lately, I have been noticing just how much time everything I do for my etsy shop takes up each day. So I began thinking about what I could do to achieve the same results but without spending as much time each day.

One of the things that came up was the fact that I not only maintain a daily blog but then mirror the content over here by hand. It's just one of those little things that add up.

So, instead of manually copying the content, I set up and RSS feed for my blogger journal. If you would still like to follow along, you can either watch the RSS feed from your livejournal (just add mrsdragonsdens*) or you can bookmark my blogger site. Entries will continue daily. : )

*This was meant to be mrsdragonsden but I had a kitten on my lap/keyboard and that extra "s" snuck in there. Consider it a mark of character! : )

A Dragony Day

2007-07-03T02:43:45Z

Yesterday was the deadline for the Diary 2008 project. Eep! So I worked hard getting my final submission together. Luckily for me the digital aspect pretty much took care of itself--my scanner scans at 300 dpi (dots per inch?) and when you draw it to scale and scan at 300 dpi the pixels came out right. Whew!

The good news is that I finished and I feel great about being part of this. I am really excited to see how it turns out. : ) The bad news is that I think my dragonlings lose a lot when not colored. Plus I'm a bit afraid that I'm going to end up sandwiched between a bunch of really snazzy digital layouts and mine will look all hokey. : ( But chin up! That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger and all that.

I'm not sure when the books will be available, but rest assured I will keep you all posted as I get the information!

I also relisted this little guy with brand new pictures. Isn't he handsome?

The sleeping dragonlings are some of my favorites--they always look so very peaceful. Much like kittens and children, when asleep they look like they could do no wrong.

Spotlight on sockdogs/sockcats

2007-07-02T02:24:56Z

http://sockdogs.etsy.com
http://sockcats.etsy.com

You may be aware that I like cats. (Given all the cute kitten pictures of late, I can't *imagine* how anyone would get that impression ; ) This stems from an undying love for cute, cuddly, soft things. When I was a child I had TONS of stuffed animals. Seriously, way to many. I still have a TV box full of just the ones I still can't bear to part with because they hold too many memories.

Which is why when I come across super cute plushies (as they are now called), I can't help but smile. And when I get to that age where everyone I know has children, I'm sure I shall be happily bestowing plushies for a multitude of birthdays and holidays.

And no one has cuter plushies than Stacey. Stacey runs two etsy shops: sockdogs and sockcats, and, as you might guess, each one focuses on sock animals--one for cats, one for dogs. Each one is lovingly crafted into a one of a kind friend. All animals come with their own collar, license, name, and story. (And since Stacey is a children's write and illustrator the stories are well thought out, innovative, and quirky--just like real pets' personalities.)

However, shopping with Stacey isn't just about the pure cute--it's also about the warm fuzzy feeling you get when you know that you are making a difference. The shops' profiles explain:

"a portion of every single adoption fee directly benefits the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, as well as other no-kill shelters across the country. These one-of-a-kind, handmade designer plush are helping to raise both awareness of and funds for many deserving shelter animals."

One of my personal favorites is Chanticleer, the poker playing pup. His bright fur and baleful eyes beg to be hugged. He would make an excellent addition to a dog lover's collection or be just the thing to brighten up some drab shelf space (perhaps next to some poker chips?).

And if you are a household with split loyalties, perhaps right next to Chanticleer should be Mocha, a sweet little tabby with a taste for chocolate. Her rich brown strips would make excellent camouflage for hiding your chocolate stash from prying eyes!

One thing to be aware of if you are considering adopting one of these cute critters--these are not intended for children under 7 or for pets. These are meant to be gently loved and displayed as the works of art that they are. However, if you have some extra room in your heart and your home, these little animals would make an excellent addition.

A Good Day

2007-07-01T15:41:34Z

I spent most of yesterday retaking dragonling pics. Now, a few weeks ago, when I retook pictures of a whole slew of my flower cards, I had also attempted to shoot the dragonling pins. Between the glare off the pins themselves and my lack of satisfaction with any of the backgrounds, I ended up with about 100 pictures and no progress.

So yesterday, I tackled it again--and 5 hours later-- success!!! (This is Airyn, she's currently up in the shop if you would like to see her likes and dislikes.)

I also realized something very interesting. I had been pretty disappointed with my last batch of photos and much more pleased with the set before that. I realized that the difference was the time of day I took the pictures. Now, what's odd about that is that I take all my pictures in a light box! But when it's light outside, I leave the window open and let the natural light come into the room too. Apparently, that makes enough of a difference in the quality of light to affect the quality of the photos. The lesson? ALWAYS reset the white balance before each shoot.

Now, some of you may remember how I wrote, last week, about going to the art stroll. Well, while there I found a gorgeous painting that I LOVED. However, not expecting to be buying paintings, I hadn't set aside any money and had to pass. However, my lovely Grandmother sent me a bit of birthday money right about the same time, so on Friday I called her up to see about purchasing the painting.

After a bit of a comedy of errors (I initially called the other artist at the booth), I eventually ended up at her house to pick up the painting, husband in tow. : ) We chatted for about an hour with her and her husband. She was complaining about not really having a marketplace for her works since a local restaurant (where she was selling) switched to smoking only and started bringing in a different kind of clientèle. So I told her about etsy!

I hope she signs up and it works out for her. Her works are beautiful and reasonably priced, especially considering that this one came already framed!

When we got home from picking up the painting, I found a lovely box waiting for me. What was inside? An earring display!

A few months ago, I signed up for a "Spend $30 on Paypal and we'll give you $15 back" offer from Paypal. It looked legit and I knew I would have no problem spending $30 on Paypal in 2 or 3 months. Well, last week my $15 arrived! YAY! So I went onto Ebay and bought myself a rotating earring display. Of course, I don't actually SELL earrings, but I thought it would fit my little dragonlings just right.

Turns out I should have paid more attention to the measurements, since I can only fit one dragonling per row instead of two like I was hoping BUT it does get them up off the table. It also allows me to showcase each one (people don't have to dig) and cuts down on their wandering abilities (two dragonlings somehow up and disappeared during my last show). I'm really excited to try it out at the show in a few weeks!

Day is Done, Gone the Sun...

2007-06-30T05:25:25Z

I have roughly a million things to say, but I keep blinking and hours keep passing. So until tomorrow, here's a pretty little card to look at!

Journal Journey

2007-06-29T03:43:10Z

Today, at lunch, I began work on my journal page for submission to Diary 2008. She needs them before July 1, so that gives me, um, a couple of days! Yipes.

So that certainly isn't the final design (the arrows and notes would be a nice touch, lol). But it gives you an idea what I'm thinking of. : ) I really need to look up what hard hats actually look like because right now I think they are wearing brim-less baseball caps. ^_^

It's funny how much my art training combines with my engineering training sometimes. I'm drawing this thinking "the composition needs something over here to balance it out" right after "Is that pulley placed properly to give him the mechanical advantage he needs?". Hehe.

In other news for the day...

A new card! (In a very pretty shade of green. Mmmm. Green.)

The world's cutest kittens evah! (Look at the tongue!Awww!^_^)

It's Thursday! That means Self Portrait Thursday. So here we go...my toes! Taken by yours truly. : )

Inspiration Strikes!

2007-06-28T04:12:36Z

Like many other artists, I am continually in awe of the world around me. My engineering training means I find hours of entertainment in studying manufactured objects as well as the natural world. And a flirtation with the idea of being a graphic designer means beautiful, well designed ads strike my fancy.

Colors, patterns, shapes, textures. If they make me pause, make me want to hold on a little while longer, then my magpie instinct kicks in and I want to horde them. Keeping that little bit of brilliance bumping around in my brain until it gets spit back out, in a new form on some future project.

Luckily for me my husband is very understanding of these little love affairs because I go a bit stupid when infatuated. He and I will be mid conversation when I will stop mid-sentence and STARE at some random color/ad/picture/texture that caught my eye. And then I gibber about it. "Oh my god, look at that ________________!" At which point, I usually catch myself and we can return to our regularly scheduled conversation. Have I mentioned that I am a useless conversationalist while shopping?

(True confession: I hang onto the shopping cart while grocery shopping with my husband so I don't wander off chasing after something shiny and lose him.)

Anyway, the most recent of these little temptations appeared last weekend as I was cleaning up for our guest. I was putting magazines away (which of course means flipping through them) and talking to my hubby. All the sudden I lose track of what we were talking about and go "OOOOOHHHH! Look at this!" and shove the magazine under my hubby's nose.

The culprit? A beautiful print ad for razors. Done in gorgeous glowing shades of yellow (this picture doesn't come close to doing it justice) with sleek, organic, curvaceous legs contrasting with the sharply geometric "science-y looking lines" (trust me, they don't mean a darn thing, they just look cool)imprinted over them.

Just cover up the copy in the bottom right corner and look at the design work. It's not the most original idea under the sun, but it is beautifully implemented, with full rich colors and a light touch.

It's things like that that make me want to run straight to my crafting supplies and create, create, create!

And, on a totally unrelated note--there is a new card, with a new saying up in my shop! This saying was too perfect to resist--so I didn't! : )

"If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden. Claudia Ghandi"

I'm a sucker for "thinking of you" type cards because, let's face it, while well intentioned my cards have a way of showing up very very late. Oh, I buy them early, but the sending on time is still eluding me. So until I manage to get the timing down just so I adore cards like these. Because they are for no occasion at all, it is never "too late" to send them! Besides, everyone likes "just because" mail. It's so much more fun than the endless parade of junkmail and important mail disguised as junk mail. (Am I the only one who finds really important things they thought they never received while shredding junk mail? UGH!).

Spotlight on Lillan

2007-06-25T03:29:22Z

http://Lillan.etsy.com

One thing that browsing etsy has taught me is that I am drawn to art of certain things. Draw, paint, collage, gocco, letterpress, screenprint, carve, or otherwise depict a tree and my attention is all yours. While it's a little depressing to discover that my list of like usually coincides with that is "hot", I think I'll just pretend that I'm always leading the crowd, not following it. ; ) (Although that is probably a catch-22 worth of it's own post). The good news about liking what's currently the in thing is that choices abound. Big trees, little trees. Trees of every color, shape, size, material, and level of representationalism abound.

Every so often though I find a seller who doesn't just offer a single beautiful tree, but a whole forest of them. Lillan's shop is exactly such a store. And the longer I looked, the more attached I became. Her trees demonstrate a gorgeous mastery of linework, hand-drawn in black ink and colored with washes of watercolors. Add to this adept calligraphy and Lillan has my rapt attention.

While the original pieces that I was enthralled by have long since been sent off to happy homes, this duo is equally exquisite. In an artistic decision that allows the color to be rich and vibrant and the linework to still be the star, the color stops several inches short of the edge of the canvas while the trees continue on, their branches wrapping around the edges of the canvas. This particular piece would make an inspired wedding gift, sentimental without being overtly "mushy".

Once I pulled my head out of the trees and looked around the rest of her shop, I was equally enamored. Solemn little girls drawn and painted with the same detail and tenderness as the trees make appearances in many prints and paintings.

My favorite is shown below. Many artists, struck with a similar idea would take this in a very different direction. Think over the top cutsey with big flowers, loads of pink, and big cheerful smile. Lillan, however, makes her plant-girl hybrid all the more real by showing her as contemplative and a bit wistful. Her hair is not perfectly coifed, a few stray wisps dance out and she looks like she will soon shift positions because her arms are sore. I find the print soothing. You could spend idle hours just watching her grow (you can almost see her growing can't you?) wondering what she is thinking about.

The package in the lower left hand corner shows a glimpse of Lillan's beautiful calligraphy (as does the watermark). While it is not a main focus in this piece, the careful print adds a bit of our world to this fantasy.

Lillan builds a powerful, peaceful world through her captivating art. And with affordable pricing, even for original works, everyone can bring a bit of that magical world into their own home.

Spotlight on Lillan

2007-06-25T03:24:54Z

http://Lillan.etsy.com

One thing that browsing etsy has taught me is that I am drawn to art of certain things. Draw, paint, collage, gocco, letterpress, screenprint, carve, or otherwise depict a tree and my attention is all yours. While it's a little depressing to discover that my list of like usually coincides with that is "hot", I think I'll just pretend that I'm always leading the crowd, not following it. ; ) (Although that is probably a catch-22 worth of it's own post). The good news about liking what's currently the in thing is that choices abound. Big trees, little trees. Trees of every color, shape, size, material, and level of representationalism abound.

Every so often though I find a seller who doesn't just offer a single beautiful tree, but a whole forest of them. Lillan's shop is exactly such a store. And the longer I looked, the more attached I became. Her trees demonstrate a gorgeous mastery of linework, hand-drawn in black ink and colored with washes of watercolors. Add to this adept calligraphy and Lillan has my rapt attention.

While the original pieces that I was enthralled by have long since been sent off to happy homes, this duo is equally exquisite. In an artistic decision that allows the color to be rich and vibrant and the linework to still be the star, the color stops several inches short of the edge of the canvas while the trees continue on, their branches wrapping around the edges of the canvas. This particular piece would make an inspired wedding gift, sentimental without being overtly "mushy".

Once I pulled my head out of the trees and looked around the rest of her shop, I was equally enamored. Solemn little girls drawn and painted with the same detail and tenderness as the trees make appearances in many prints and paintings.

My favorite is shown below. Many artists, struck with a similar idea would take this in a very different direction. Think over the top cutsey with big flowers, loads of pink, and big cheerful smile. Lillan, however, makes her plant-girl hybrid all the more real by showing her as contemplative and a bit wistful. Her hair is not perfectly coifed, a few stray wisps dance out and she looks like she will soon shift positions because her arms are sore. I find the print soothing. You could spend idle hours just watching her grow (you can almost see her growing can't you?) wondering what she is thinking about.

The package in the lower left hand corner shows a glimpse of Lillan's beautiful calligraphy (as does the watermark). While it is not a main focus in this piece, the careful print adds a bit of our world to this fantasy.

Lillan builds a powerful, peaceful world through her art works. And with affordable pricing, even for original works, everyone can bring a bit of that magical world into their own home.

Lightening Fast Post!

2007-06-24T05:22:36Z

No post yesterday because I passed out asleep without intending to (oops!). Late post today because today we had a guest over!

To keep this short and sweet (so I can get to bed!), today I:

Listed this card!

Made lasagna!

Cleaned house! (Many, many more pictures on my flickr account, click on the image to be taken there)

Hung out with my hubby and a new friend!

Marveled at our adorable kittens!

Whew! What a day! : )

Holy Bananas! A Busy Day.

2007-06-22T03:57:47Z

Lots to say today! ^_^ And some I will leave off until tomorrow, when I can get the pictures to post it up right.

But for today...

Item #1-- I listed a new card today. We'll see how the views on this one do. I'm hesitant to say this is entirely due to the slow down on etsy because the pictures for these last couple of items have not been my best. Either way, hopefully traffic will pick up a bit. I plan on photographing a ton of stuff this weekend so I can list, list, list merrily away.

This card features one of my new stamps! This one reads "Love and imagination do many things". So very true. For such a wide variety of situations. Know someone who is opening their own business? Tackling something new and a bit intimidating? Are you in a long distance relationship? Do you know someone who needs a bit of inspiration? This card does all that and more! (It slices, it dices... ; )

Item #2-- I have quite possibly the world's cutest kittens EVER. Seriously, can you even quantify the cute seen below? I don't think so. : )

Item #3-- Today my hubby and I wandered around downtown to check out the event I will be selling at in July and September. Boy did I luck out! Tons of people--but it doesn't feel crowded. Very laid back, strolling pace. People waving and chatting and kids running around barefoot. The weather was gorgeous tonight, I don't know if I will be so lucky on my days, but I can hope! I took several pictures, click on the image below if you want to see more of them. : )

For the Animals!

2007-06-21T04:18:43Z

*yawn* Sometimes I seriously wonder where the time goes. I sat down and *poof* it's bedtime. Bizarre.

Coming tomorrow-- super cute kitten pictures (aren't they all?), new etsy listings, and a sneak peak of the art stroll I will be part of in July and September.

For now, I am going to crawl into bed and sleeeeeeeep. But before I go, you all need to see this:

That is the super duper most amazing and awesome VAST collection of Animal ACEOs. ACEOS from 12 artists (including me!), plus an awesome handmade frame that you can rotate ACEOs through, plus a small box for the ACEOS not the frame plus a larger box to hold the whole kit and kaboodle. Everything made by hand, with love, for the animals. The charity is still TBD, so more info on that as it comes along with more pictures and information about pricing and where you can buy it. ^_^

To List or Not to List...

2007-06-19T03:31:13Z

Hrm, I think something is still not *quite* right with the listing process on Etsy. I listed a new card this morning and it still hadn't shown up in the category listings as of this evening. And views are markedly down because of it.

On one hand, I am eager to get all the new cards (and new designs!) I finished this weekend up in the shop. On the other hand, there seems little point in listing if they don't get seen. I think I shall let this one sit as a "test case" for a few days. Maybe list one or two other things and see if the views seem more normal on those. It's not unusual for items to start with very few views and then pick up steam. Decisions, decisions.

In other news, pat 2 of my husband's birthday gift to me arrived today! An over-the-door ironing board hanger! It holds both your iron and your ironing board on the back of a door (in my case, eventually, inside a closet!) so they are out of the way but accessible. Pure brillance!

This is the very one!

And, in super-duper news, my featured interview went up on the FAE (Fantasy Art of Etsy) blog yesterday.

Go check it out!

Spotlight on letterarypress

2007-06-18T03:34:45Z

http://letterarypress.etsy.com

The other day as I was wandering through the wilds of etsy, I was elated to find a kindred soul. You see (as you might be able to tell from my cards) I have a soft spot for inspirational quotes. I also really like simple, yet strong designs. And beautiful, timeless graphics. And bad puns. And letterpress. I really love letterpress.

Clicking into letterarypress's shop literally made me do a double take at the screen. It was like finding an alter-ego of mine who happened to be gifted with extraordinary design skills and access to (and knowledge about) a letterpress.

The crisp, clean design of these cards makes them an excellent choice for those hard to buy for males. That same characteristic also means that these would frame up beautifully. And indeed, it's hard to decide which would be preferable!

The first card that caught my eye was an Emmerson quote about the definition of success. This is a quote I have heard and seen many times before, however this time, it hit home much harder. Perhaps because I am finally at a stage in my life where I am defining for myself what success is and setting boundaries about the importance of family versus work versus income. However, the stunning design certainly didn't hurt. My very first thought was "I need to frame this and hang it in my cubicle!".

And in fact, letterarypress's style is perfect for the office--artsy but understated, classy yet bold. These are cards you can confidently hang in your office or give to a co-worker.

The second card to catch my eye was one that simply reads "I'm your biggest fan". From anyone else, it would be cheesy and maybe get a chuckle. But when done with such sophistication it is a lesson in irony. The design and execution are impossible to see as silly. The message is impossible to see as serious.

This card reminded me of my parents. My mother loves bad jokes, the cornier the better. My father likes to pretend that he is far above such things. This card bridges that gap. Whether from him to her, her to him, or them to the world it neatly combines both philosophies--while trivializing neither.

This is one of those shops where I absolutely want to hug the entire contents. From birth announcements to placecards to cards for any occasion I love everything in it. I could easily envision purchasing and framing several--a small hall of inspiration. Of course, they would also make excellent greeting cards, for anyone or any occasion.

It's My Birthday (Weekend)!

2007-06-17T05:17:35Z

And today was a good day. ^_^ A very good day.

It started when I stumbled into the kitchen to feed the kittens (who were very disappointed not to be getting fed at the usual 7 am and instead having to wait until 10am! The nerve of me!)

While feeding them I noticed a lovely, shiny package, with a big bow on top!

My hubby told me I could open it, so I did and look what was inside!

A Bento Box! Huzzah! For those of you who aren't familiar with this little miraculous invention, it is a Japanese product that has several small containers that fit inside a large "thermos" like container. This has multiple benefits--not only can you bring several different types of food for lunch, but it also encourages you to eat saner portions and fill out that food pyramid. The bottom two (and larger) containers are insulated, and one even has a self locking top to ensure that liquids (like soup) can't leak out. The main "thermos" is also insulated, which means should you want to simply fill that with soup or a warm drink you can. The whole kit and kaboodle then fits in a fabric carrying case with a shoulder strap and a top handle. The case has an interior pocket for a metal spork (provided) which even has it's own plastic snap case to prevent food from rubbing off onto the interior after you eat. The case also has an outer pocket that looks like it would work for magazines or napkins.

Lunch time just got 100 times awesomer!

I then mostly managed to wrangle the kittens into a group shot:

After mailing out some packages (yay for orders!) and grabbing lunch, my hubby wanted to take a nap. While he was sleeping I got a lot accomplished.

First, I got approved to be part of the Sidewalk Arts Stroll here in Huntsville. On July 19th and September 20th, I will be happily showcasing my cards and dragonlings! If you are in the area, feel free to come by and say "hi"!

(Now I just need to give my boss a heads up, procure a table, send in the official application and my booth fee, and figure out my displays. Luckily I have a monthish before the first one!)

Secondly, I went into my craft room and made things happen! After being sick last weekend it felt good to get some new stuff made! The final touches will be added tomorrow, and photographs will be taken and then listing will begin! Etsy seems to have worked out it's bugs so the overall, the timing seems to have worked out well. Here is a picture of the state of my desk!

Eventually, the hubby awoke and we went off to see Shrek the Third. I loved it! I had no idea that Justin Timerblake was doing voice acting for it until I saw the credits. Shocking, I tell you, just shocking! The soundtrack was excellent and I loved the "girls can same their own darn selves" message. Hooray! ^_^

Then we came back home and I had this *very* healthy dinner:

You know it's healthy because those are dark chocolate M&Ms. And everybody knows dark chocolate is good for you. ; )

While eating "dinner" I finally took the plunge and ordered my birthday present to myself: a gocco printer! *dances*

For those of you who don't know what a gocco printer is, it's a small machine that allows you to create prints quickly. It creates relatively little mess, takes up only a small amount of room, and allows you to make some gorgeous images.

Since I obviously, don't have enough projects buzzing through my head (hah!) I needed this little tool so I could open up even more possibilities. More discussion on what those possibilities are later, since this post is already hideously long, but it is going to enable me to do a lot of things that I have been wanting to do, but simply could not do economically enough for it to make sense. With any luck, my first Gocco items might even be at my first Sidewalk Arts Stroll.

Diary 2008 Project

2007-06-16T04:27:54Z

Etsy's category listings are still wonky (I uh, researched that extensively for several hours tonight in order to confirm this ; ) so I'm still holding off on listing for a bit. If my birthday celebration this weekend leaves me with some free time, I will most likely start listing again then.

However, I do have other exciting news--I will be contributing to the Diary 2008 Project! I am working out ideas in my head, but I'm thinking I want something with my little dragonlings that also uses text as a visual element. Similarly to how I did on this ACEO:

An interesting dimension is added by the requirements that the entire thing be completed in gray scale (not my usual choice given my undying love for BRIGHT color) and that it is to be digitally submitted. My digital skills are pretty limited, so I hope to get started on this this weekend, so I'll have some time to fiddle.

Turning Back the Clock

2007-06-15T03:25:12Z

Etsy is still being poked, prodded, and generally fixed up. Apparently, the traffic generated by (it is rumored) this article hit the site hard. And it is still not clear to me if the image issues are fixed?

So, instead, I spent tonight browsing through old photos on my computer and uploading some of my absolute favorites to my flickr page.

Click on the picture below to go to my page and check out the new additions!

Do You Hear Wedding Bells?

2007-06-14T02:11:20Z

My nausea and exhaustion came back full force last night (I really can't figure out what this is...actual illness? Stress? Coming down off the adrenaline of the past 6 weeks? Lack of sleep from getting up early and going to bed late for most of last week? NO idea.) so no new listings yesterday. Then today, there is a bit of a flurry in the forums about listings having problems with showing up on category pages. Apparently, they show up everywhere else, but not there?

As usual in forums, with the general uproar over any little problem, it's difficult to tell how much of this is an actual BIG problem and how much of this is people who have too much time on their hands and still harbor delusions that life is and should be "fair".

Regardless, I'm going to hold off on posting anything until tomorrow, just in case.

In other, far more fantabulous news, the Etsy Greetings Team has a new page up for wedding cards! Tis the season for weddings, engagements, and showers so make sure to check out all the beautiful cards featured here:

http://cicadastudio.net/wedding%20promo/weddingpromonew.htm

I especially love this card from waise

Spotlight on VaseCandle

2007-06-11T03:31:05Z

http://VaseCandle.etsy.com

I love the idea of candles--soft, flickering light, maybe a subtle scent in the air...But in real life, where I unfortunately spend most of my time, candles never seem to happen. Cats find them wonderful chew toys (like everything else they can sink their teeth into) and I always think of them *after* the fact. Which is why candle holders must be more than just functional--they must be beautiful works of art in their own right. That way, when they sit on a shelf, dresser, or side table unlit and untouched, no one can claim they are unloved or unappreciated.

Which is exactly why I adore VaseCandle. Not only do they offer handmade scented candles, but their candle holders are magnificent dancing colorful works of art. Available in just about any color you could dream up and then some, their holders come in two flavors, stand-alone vases and vase/dish combos.

The first style is shown below. Flowing beautifully upward, this candle holder seems to encompass the very nature of fire itself. And it's economical enough to make a wonderful gift--for a hostess, a co-worker, or yourself! This picture also demonstrates the wonderful glowing quality of these vases--the light from the candle gives life to the glasswork and, I would imagine, casts some beautiful colors in a darkened room.

This second piece is probably my favorite in the entire shop (of course, I am a sucker for a beautiful green). You can see that a vase, similar to the one shown above, holds the candle. Then that piece fits inside a bottom dish. The combined effect of the two layers of glass is a sense of movement that is enhanced by the light off the candle--almost like a graceful dance.

I am absolutely enamored with the color and movement of the pieces in VaseCandle. The organic shapes and vivid glass interact beautifully with the light from the candles. This year, when asked to buy gifts for those relative strangers--friends of friends, white elephant exchanges, etc.--VaseCandle will be my first stop.

50 Sales!

2007-05-31T03:35:46Z

Today I had my 50th sale. ^_^ It seems like such a big number and a small number all at once. On one hand, I can't believe that people like my things enough to have bought 50 of them from my shop! On the other, I feel like my store is barely starting to mature and if I have 50 sales already then that is just the start.

Either way, it feels really great to know that I am capable of making things that people are willing to pay for. It's not only a great self-esteem boost but it reaffirms the value of my own craft. There are many, many things people can make out there, but there are only a select few that open my heart (and my wallet) and speak to me. I like to think that I have managed to create pieces that speak to others. Like a great big cycle of handmade inspiration and love. ^_^

It's a Party!

2007-05-30T03:30:26Z

Today I relisted another of my older flower art cards. I'm not as crazy about this picture as I was about the one yesterday. While the old picture was unquestionably too dark, this one seems...too bright. Photography is anything but a science. I get asymptotically close but never seem to reach *just right* consistently. The good news is that I am learning an insane amount about photography, not something I expected when I started my etsy store! ^_^

In other news, there's a party this weekend and you are invited! That's right, 15 fabulous sellers from the Etsy Greetings team (including yours truly) are hosting a CARD PARTY from Sunday to Tuesday. All orders in participating shops over $5 will receive a 15% discount when you enter the code word CARDPARTY. Some sellers will even be offering BOGO offers or free gifts. I haven't decided yet what I will be offering, but I will have an additional special as well.

You can check out the participating sellers (and preview some wonderful cards) right over here. To be taken to a seller's shop just click on a picture! ^_^

Old Friends and New Ones

2007-05-29T03:26:46Z

Today I spent some time with some old friends--some of my first flower art cards. They have traveled a long photographic road. My first pictures, taken last summer, were taken outside in the shadiest sunny spot I could find--often using my own shadow to lessen the extreme brightness. In October, I built my first lightgbox and retook all the pictures. I thought my new pictures were amazing--the clarity, the detail, the trueness of colors! It wasn't long though, before I wasn't satisfied with just that. My pictures were still dark--frustratingly so as no amount of light seemed to help!

Later, I learned of my camera's exposure setting (and a handful of others like macro and white balance) and my pictures became the bright, crisp, delightful images I was chasing after. However, being crunched on time, only my newest listings benefited from my new-found skill. So today I started in on the long slog of replacing all my old photos. I didn't get too far (I'd had a soda and between my own excitement and the caffeine and the sugar I was too jittery to have the patience for photographing) but I took those first few steps.

And wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! I relisted this card simply to showcase of the stunning new photography. This is the carrot I needed to entice me to retake more of my pictures. Just amazing.

Given my sugary state I decided to move to something a little more tangible--working on my newest Great Idea (my new friend)! I spent over an hour playing with layouts debating composition and color placement. What's shown below is one of the potential layouts. I couldn't quite find that optimal placement that vibed just right so I am going to sit and think on it a bit more before permanently adhering anything.

Spotlight On michaeljpatrick

2007-05-28T04:24:35Z

http://michaeljpatrick.etsy.com

I've mentioned before the common complaint on the etsy forums of being unable to find gifts for male recipients. Given that the men in my own life are given to gaming and geeking out, I feel their pain. However, every so often I run across a seller who creates things that I know my husband would like. And, more importantly, whose stuff I wouldn't mind--heck might even *enjoy*--having in my house. Michaeljpatrick is one of those sellers.

A brand new etsyian, his shop has just five items listed. But those five items are more than enough to know that I like his style. His work is expressive, funny, and absolutely age-defying. With a cartoon like quality that will appeal to younger viewers and a wry wink for the older ones, this is art the whole house can appreciate.

The first item to catch my eye was the Rab-Bot. My husband has a thing for cute, fuzzy, critters. Even better if they are being eaten, looking tough, or otherwise acting in a way not congruous with our Disney-fied expectations. And bunnies are particularly funny to him. So naturally, I had to check it out. And giggle. I love the very matter-of-fact nature of the Rab-bot, the lack of concern of the bunny being tossed inside, and the variety of facial expressions of the bunnies already trapped inside. Especially the one in the middle, who reminds me of the 0_o internet face.

Hopping over to his shop, I found Rock on Princess. Now, as a female in a male dominated field, I have been known to be a bit...sensitive about society's messages to young girls. (We won't go into the tirade that a shirt which read "I'm too pretty to do math." got me started on.) This print is part of why I love to shop indie. Here is a print that shows the princess playing guitar hero. She doesn't need to give up her femininity to play guitar--she can just be herself and have fun. Of course, that may be a bit of projection on my part. Regardless, I think that many youngsters who love Nintendo, and many of us who grew up with Nintendo, will adore this bright, fun, and spunky print.

Not everything in his shop is quite so sweet, both Red Bird Feels so Blue and Sugar Tears the Unicorn have a slightly darker slant. I am incredibly excited to see what Michael will come up with next. And with birthdays and holidays looming later this year, I'm sure I will be back. If not for the men in my life, then for me!

One Cat, Two Cat, White Cat, Black Cat

2007-05-27T06:08:12Z

Today was a good day! I spent far too long browsing etsy (I had an excuse! My birthday is in a few weeks and my hubby *told* me to! ; ) and we adopted kitten #2--a sweet baby girl we are naming Abernathy (Abby for short). Check out the sweetheart (and um, ignore my hair, I have no earthly idea what it thought it was doing.)

After finishing her paperwork, I came home and played with our baby boy, whom (I believe) we have settled on calling Ampere. He loves this angry jellyfish from Astrowaffle.

Eventually, I wandered into my craft room and got started on a *great idea* that I came up with quite awhile ago. However, our last apartment lacked the space I need to have elbow room for a larger project and I've been too busy since the move, so today was the day. All I completed tonight was the background, but I plan on working on it some more tomorrow.

Friendship Defined

2007-05-26T04:17:14Z

Apologizes for not posting yesterday. You ever have one of those days where you look at the clock and all of sudden it's bedtime.Yea...where does it go? 0_o

However, it all works out, since I managed to get a card posted yesterday and I didn't today (I went into my craftroom at about 8 to get started on some new things and one thought led to another and before I was done with my internet research it was, um, well, right now--11 pm. Oops!). It's nice how everything tends to balance out. ^_^

This little card features one of my older stamps (actually with the rate at which things have been expiring from my shop it's the only one with this message--does that make it new again? ; ).

Swirls, geometric shapes, rich and vivid colors, and text have been constant features in my art since about high school. It really shouldn't surprise anyone that I adore blocks of text like this "dictionary definition" of friendship. I love the look of text--the shapes of the letters, the words, and the overall block. The lines made by the font and the spacing between the words. It's kind of like how you can adore the music of a song so much that you almost don't care what the lyrics are--you just want the vocals in there for their sound--like any other instrument. That's how I tend to feel about beautiful text.

Of course, it's even better if the words are meaningful in and of themselves. Which is what I like about this stamp--it not only gives "flavor" in the form and shape of the letters, but it has a sweet message that is perfect for taking some time to thank your friends for being the awesomely wonderful people they are (and they are, because they are friends with you, right? ; ).

BIG plans this weekend. If all goes according to plan (hehe) there should be many new designs hitting the shop over the next few months. ^_^ I have tons of great ideas and I am finally getting the time and space to work on them. Now it's just a matter of getting them finished, photographed, and into the shop in a reasonable amount of time! ^_^