I'm So Easy

Well, I'm half way thru the week and there are several things on my 'to-do' list that is still not done. It's not that I'm procrastinating, I just had a really ambitious list to begin with (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). One thing that must be done by the end of next week: my wholesale price list. It's 99% done, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem to get it finished and sent out.

My problem is that I'm so easy! After my everyday routine of painting and managing my Etsy shop, I have time allocated to work on other business such as my wholesale price list. But, if I'm invited to lunch, or I hear the dog barking (begging for a walk), or any other fun distraction comes my way . . . well, let's just say I'm easily talked into the fun stuff!

Right now, more fun stuff is whispering in my ear. And since it's getting dark . . . after all, there is tomorrow . . .

Another Rant

What a whirlwind the last few days have been! I was completely out of touch with the blog, Etsy and my entire Internet world on Saturday and Sunday. I spent part of Saturday helping my parents in their yard, and when a nice spring storm popped up on Saturday afternoon, I unplugged my all my technology. And, I kept it unplugged all day Sunday. After all, it was Mother's Day . . . plus we were preparing for a family and friends party on the deck. It kinda felt "freeing" to be free of the computer. I knew that Monday morning I would bring a boat load of emails to answer, but I told myself that it could wait. It was Mother's Day.

Monday comes and I drag my tired butt out of bed, and I'm greeted by a rainy, dreary, cool day. Yuk! I want the sunshine and 85 degrees back! NOW!! I spent my entire day being cold, and I hate being cold in the spring.

To make my Monday worse, I plug up my computer and my connection to the outside world and . . . it doesn't work. It seems that my modem has kicked the bucket. It is times like these that I hate technology. My well-planned Monday was quickly turning into an unproductive mess. By early evening, I was back online. All my stressing over this technology glitch did nothing but cause a headache. Now, if I can just not stress about cramming two days worth of work into one day . . .

Not What I Expected . . .

. . . but I still like her! I finished this silk scarf yesterday and I'm learning to love her. Before I ever started painting her, I had an image in my mind of how she would turn out. This is rare for me, as I usually don't know what I'm going to paint until I start pulling colors off the shelf.

I was aiming for a brighter finish, but she turned out deep and mysterious. Although, she does have a silvery gray finish on each end. I named her Summer Nights, and listed her on Etsy last night.

My pictures are not the greatest. As I was setting up to photograph, the storm clouds started rolling in so the lighting was not the best for my amateur skills. About the time I snapped the last picture, the rain started. We (meaning the silk, the camera and me) narrowly escaped getting soaked, but I had a silk and camera to protect so I was quick on my feet!

Well, it's time to get my Friday started. First there's silk to be painted, then I've got a steamer full waiting to be steamed.

Etsy Worthy

Yesterday, my sister entered one of her product photos in the Handmadeology Etsy Worthy Photo Contest. I know I'm a little biased because I took the picture, but I think it is definitely Etsy-worthy. I've decided to do a little promoting for her and get the word out. Stop by and vote for her Cobalt Hand Beaded Bracelet. Here's the link:

http://timothyadam.cheddrmedia.com/iframe/310-Etsy-Worthy-Photo-Contest/entries/2508-Cobalt-Hand-Beaded-Bracelet.html#ed_comments

The Sunny Side

I can't help but smile when I see yellow. I guess that's why I consider it my happy color. Paired with turquoise, it's just one big happy smile :D

I painted The Sunny Side a little over a week ago. Because I could not decide what to name her, I held her back from listing in Etsy. Today, the name just popped into my head. I think it might be because it's such a dreary and rainy day.

She is a flub (a silk that doesn't pass my quality control because of dye/paint errors or hemming errors). In this case, she is discounted because there are a few dropped stitches on the hem (machine rolled hem). I could fiddle around with the serger and fix it, but there is just too much to be done and not enough hours in the day. If you love silk scarves - especially in yellow, turquoise and cyan - then this is your lucky day!

Check her out at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24644645

The Spider Irises are in bloom! It's one of my favorite flowers, and it's the most beautiful shade of purple. I snapped this shot this afternoon when I finished photographing some jewelry for my sister. Last spring, I painted a silk scarf in this purple with some foliage green. It was awesome . . . I know, I'm biased!

Purple and green are two colors that I enjoy combining on silk. Every shade from a blue purple and kelly green to a red-purple (magenta) and emerald, it is a popular color combination and sells quickly. Although my all-time favorite color is turquoise, I love purple and green, too. One of my favorite combinations is turquoise, purple and kelly green - I even made it my company colors. Another favorite color combination is turquoise and sunshine yellow, but that's another story.

Now that my silk has arrived, I think I'll put the color combo on my to-do list!

I'm no expert . . .

. . . but I'm helping my sister get her Etsy shop spruced up. Mainly, I'm taking photos of all the jewelry. I spent about 4 hours yesterday afternoon (after I got The Playhouse cleaned and ready for Saturday) photographing various pieces. As I said, I'm no expert. But I think some of the pictures turned out Etsy-worthy.

Here is one of my "artistic" attempts. I personally like it, but the question is - will anyone else like it enough to buy it? And, yes, there will be 4 other photos with it showing the entire bracelet. Now, I just need to get them all downloaded from the camera and listed on Etsy.

Photographing jewelry is very different from photographing silk. Over the years, I've developed a 'look' with my silk that I'm pleased with (currently, anyways). I do not photograph my silks inside. I prefer the natural beauty that natural light gives the silk. I just cannot achieve that inside or with artificial light.

So, this is what I did for the jewelry for my sister's shop. I went outside. My sister and I tried the light box method, but only 1 of about 20 shots would be usable. When I use the beauty and light that God provides, then I start getting results I like. Hopefully, my sister will like them, too. I haven't let her see them yet. Once I get them listed on her Etsy shop, I'll share them with her. They always say it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission . . .