I'm back...

Gerbera Daisies
Originally uploaded by Dancing Monkey Jewelry

I'm making up for last weeks lack of posting in this blog with my second post today. One of the many things I've learned since opening my "shop" on Etsy is that I love taking photographs. When I first started selling I had no idea just how hard it was for me to take a decent photograph of jewelry. Part of the reason was I wasn't used to my new camera and the other part was I was just plain crappy at it - I still struggle with that "depth of field" concept. :) However, I do believe that my skills have rapidly improved and with the help of photo editing I can turn out a decent photograph. My photographs are more of my interpretation of the subject - not necessarily a true representation. Where's the fun in that?

I've been considering the prospect of offering some of my photographs for sale in my Etsy shop. Again, I might be heading off in this direction under a false sense of talent. You see I've had a couple of friends buy some prints from me. I was coerced by a co-worker (Tanya) to enter the Staff Fine Art Show at work and another friend has commissioned me to take some photographs for her daughters-in-law. But these are people who know me and like me and are my friends.

So, I'm testing this prospect out. I've already posted on photograph on my Etsy shop. No one has rated it as a favorite yet but it's received a fair amount of viewings from others. I figure I will see whether or not my photography will sell to those who do not know me.

No matter what, I like my photographs and I will continue to go out on my "photo safaris" whether or not I can sell them.

Wow! How time flies...

I've been laying low this week. With all the work I've been putting in for my Etsy business, promoting myself in other forums and visiting the interesting blogs I've come across I haven't had the inclination to do much of anything else. Which is not good because there is still so much that I need to do:

Open a business bank account. Update my books - I have all the information - I just need to consolidate for tax purposes. I haven't done much business - the silver lining behind the dark cloud - so it won't take long.

• Take more photos of my jewelry to add to both of my on-line shops (Etsy and iCraft.ca).

• List more jewelry on both of my on-line shops.

• Clean my house (it's a mess and I hate it when it's a mess)
  

• Do laundry.

• Pay attention to my husband.

• Pay attention to my dog - letting him lay on the couch beside just isn't doing it for him any more.
  

However, last week wasn't a total loss - I found some great blogs that I would like to share with you:

Butterfly Chic Boutique:

http://www.butterflychicboutique.net

This blog is a great resource for on-line business owners. The writer of this blog has great articles on using PayPal, your personal behavior in the Etsy forums (the Face of Your Business), tips for selling on line. Plus, she features sellers on Etsy. It's a very well written blog and her advice has become invaluable to me.

Urban Fashion Network

http://www.urbanfashionnetwork.com/jewelry.html
http://urbanfashionnetwork.blogspot.com/

After my last show at "I Heart Rummage" - I got an email from the Urban Fashion Network. They are a site devoted to up and coming designers, boutiques and events in Seattle (and the West Coast). I was told that they would love to add me to their site as a designer. Of course, I took them up on their offer. I'd be a fool not to, right?

And finally, I will be taking a silver working class tomorrow with a group of artist who are members of my Etsy street team (Seattle's EtsyRain). Tomorrow we'll be learning to make cool wire links and clasps. It should be fun - I'll be learning and/or perfecting a skill and I'll be meeting more members of my street team. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Two really nice things happened to me this week that were totally unexpected.

Thing number one: I was supposed to attend my last "HTML" class on Wednesday - when I got to the class I found it had been rescheduled. Not having received prior notice I wasn't very happy. When I called my boss to let her know that my class was rescheduled, and that I would be coming into work and that I was wearing jeans (in violation of the "Professional Image Policy") she suggested that I take the rest of the day off because by the time I got to work my day would be half over. Well, you don't have to tell me twice to take a day off from work. It was a glorious day (a warm, sunny winter day with strong hints of spring in the air) and I spent a good part of the day in downtown Seattle, sightseeing, visiting favorite haunts, eating and taking pictures. It was the perfect day. Thank you, Brenda.

Thing number two: Last night I had a surprise visitor arrive on my doorstep - My dad. He lives int he Tri-Cities (Eastern Washington) and he came over for the annual amateur radio "Ham Fest" in Puyallup today. He says he's not in the market for new radio and/or their parts - but we all know those are "famous last words".

Now, I'm going to see about doing something about those items on my "To Do" list. Enough loafing around!