Lazy, Snowy, Blah

The snow part.

The lazy part is not posting since the 12th.

Although, is it really considered lazy if it's because I have been working more hours? Kinda, since I just veg at night...or read. Reading is good. And not lazy exactly since my mind is actually in the ON position. But the body, not so much.

The Blah. Well, sort of goes with the lazy, but not really. Just not feeling very creative. Not for sewing, embroidery or writing anyway. Actually, I take that back, yes on the writing. Just not here. My journal is getting pretty full up though :)

I can add photo taking to the blah. Which contributes to the posting less here. I don't like posting without pics. Perhaps I should just get over it. Or kick my son off the computer more often. The time he is most often on is when I would sit & do this stuff. Maybe someone could clone my computer so we each get our own? No? Pooh.

Since I did manage to take snowy pics, I'll throw a couple more out here for you. Enjoy :)

New Year Update

It's the last week of the month and I was sitting in bed last night going over my goals. Were they too much? Too little? Too early to say. I have made some progress creatively speaking. If you follow my Tilt's Creations blog you have seen the things I have been making. If not, here's a little peek...

The biggest problem with the goals so far has been the photography. While I have come up with some ideas for backdrops and such, the weather has not been cooperating. Natural light is always always, always best, but this time of year it is hard to find. Especially in my house where there are very few places withe good window placement. I could default and just take some with lights, but that is cruddy as well. My house is quite dim. I could go into how frustrating it is to find bright enough lamps and such in stores that are too lit to see how well each piece lights up an area, but no one wants to hear that.

And from lack of photos comes lack of listings. I have made up for this by listing a bunch of destash patterns in my Tilt Too shop. I have a couple dozen more to go and some fabric bits too.

I guess that's not too bad. If I go another week without photos for listings, than I may downgrade it to "kinda not so good".

How are you doing with your goals?

Photobucket Slideshow Fun

I have been uploading my photos to Photobucket recently. I have a Flickr also, but Photobucket allows links for selling purposes, which is, of course, an advantage for me.

Today I made my first slideshow...I have a feeling there will be more :)

Tagged!

I have been tagged by my Etsyblogger bud, Storybeader. She chose people that she thought wouldn't get mad - LOL! She's right, I won't. Actually, I really like the photo tags. They can be fun.

The tag is: to search in your photo files, and find & post the 10th photo in the first folder. Now, saying "1st folder" to me is open to interpretation...I have tons of folders, sub solders & sub sub folders. So I went into my "primary" done folder for my Tilt stuff...I have some for unedited to make things easier when I go to fix all my pics for listings. I also have main folders for family - food - places - graphic creations...etc. Anyway...here it is - a pastel drawing I made back in 2003/2004 (not sure of the exact date, just know the circumstances and therefore the time) after we lost our son, Cullen.


Now to pass it on...I am going to pick a few new buds from Plurk:

She's Batty

Meg Little Studio

Shiny

Meri's Elbit Blog

Yesterday's Dessert

Cranberry Upside Down Cake...I had posted this recipe over one month ago with the intentions of making it the following week so I could post photos. Well, never happened. I did, however, make it for Thanksgiving yesterday. So...

Rough Draft Pics of Newest Creations

I have ben pretty busy this past week or so getting ready for my first few shows. I have made more bags and accessories, but have not listed any since I will just be taking them all with me. But the biggest reason for not listing is the camera.

I have been borrowing my dad's old Canon EOS D60 (which is ten times better than my camera)......except he needed it back for a little while. And when he got back, I was too busy prepping for my display and doing last minutes finishes on merchandise to use the camera. Today - I finally took some pics...about 5 before the battery when pphhhfffttt. The lighting turned out all wrong too (but that can be fixed digitally with white balancing). I thought I'd post them anyway...consider them my rough drafts...very rough.

A big bunch of keyfobs (I still don't like that...but they aren't really "chains" either)

Pink Paisley Ann Twist - I have made this in green and have 3 more cut out: reds, black and leopard - all with some shine for an evening look.


Pink Paisley Half Moon. This one started of larger...then I pleated it more...and it is now little girl sized. But after my last show - I think I will keep them this way - the little girls loved them! But is a pain in the...well, it's not easy to sew small things.

This was my first attempt at using a metal clasped frame on my clutches. Glue is not my friend. But it turned out just fine. I am still amazed that it is glue that is in fact used for these frames. I never tried them before because I was unsure on how the purse was attached, until I read an article somewhere...it's what is used no matter where it's made - home or mass market. They do make sew on frames...I may try that another day.

And the second bag made with the frame...I still have one left to make.

Pics Pics Pics - what a pain

I understand that photos are extremely important when it comes to selling online. I also realize there are many different opinions on just how "professional" looking they should be. One camp thinks that since they are handmade, the pics shouldn't look like they were shot by a leading professional in a high end studio. The other side thinks they need to in order to compete and also because handmade is actually better than mass produced.
Many sellers strive for that magazine perfect look for their photos, other's want one-click snapshot style, and the rest are somewhat midway. I am midway, but my desire runs towards the higher end.
I recently retook my pictures, not once, not twice...but three times! Granted, not every bag was taken each time. I tried inside with a black backdrop...the feedback I got on that was not too positive.

The next set was still inside, but using a white backdrop and 'floor'. These turned out a bit too yellow. I know why now - I used my art canvases - not strictly white.

So, in the end, my best pictures were outside. Here in Michigan, that is not always an easy feat. Luckily it was sunny and warm (too warm!) last weekend and with the help of my mom (thanks mom!) - I got lots of pics - in the hundreds.

Of course, I have been at the computer non-stop for the past 3 days cropping, white balancing (is that a word?), and whatever else to make them look better without changing the way they actually look.

PHEW!

Now I need to list! list! list!

Here's a sneek peek: