Monday, April 27, 2009

Monday Update - Photo Area in full Swing

Hi, everyone! It's been a while since I've posted. What have I been up to... well, the biggest focus has been updating the photos on my Etsy shop. Ocean got the photography area up and running, and I think the new lighting is taking the pics to the HNL! It's a crude set-up to look at, but it totally works! He used small-sized plastic plumbing pipe to set up 2 make-shift softbox screens. he taped on white sheets with Guerrilla tape. We bought 2 square card tables at Wal-mart and put them together side-by-side. The screens sit on either side. He stapled the rest of the sheet to the top of the wall near the ceiling and draped it down over the tables. It's was less expensive to buy a simple white flat sheet at Wal-mart than a role of photography background paper.

We had to play around with what lights to use. We tried to bright halogen spotlights, but the light was still yellow. So we got 2 of those metal clip-on shop lights and 100 watt bright white bulbs... voila! I know nothing about photography, but am amazed at how the light translates in the little digital camera into that beautful light! I have to do very little color/light correction in Photoshop. Usually I have to use a blue photo filter to brigten up the whites just a little more, although it would work great without it. I'm just a fan of very crisp white light.

I still have bout 2 dozen more photos to update on Etsy, but it's coming along! I really feel that this it taking my shop to the next level. I also changed my avatar based on a critique I got from an Etsy Admin. Ocean took one of me with a bag. It's cute!

I didn't get much sewing done at all. I kind of had a meltdown this weekend and really think I was burned out a little. But the burn-out I think came from having too much pressure on myself and too much attachment that Glint Gear take off and start selling like hotcakes now. I need to just chill, take it one day at a time, do whatever I can each day, and let the Universe take care of things.

I still haven't started those bags people at work wanted to see, but I did finish an awesome new design I call the Orbit Bag. It's an OVAL shaped bag! The oval isn't perfect, but I LOVE it. It's quirky and has a Jetson's space-age kind of feel. Ocean took some great photos, but I haven't gotten them ready to post yet.

My focus for this week will be to begin the fisherman style that a lady at work wantd to see and to continue and hopefully complete re-taking and posting new pictures for all of my current products on Etsy. I feel that once I get that done, I'll feel better about the shop and can focus on new stuff and forge forward with new products.

I hope everyone is doing well. Make a great week!

-Celena

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Handmade Dolls_and_miniatures on Etsy - Mini Sock Monkey Tea Party Set by SpiritMama

Handmade Dolls_and_miniatures on Etsy - Mini Sock Monkey Tea Party Set by SpiritMama

Who doesn't love Sock Monkeys! I know I do! This will surely put a smile on anyone's face as a gift for themselves or for some lucky person.

Spiritmama is an Etsy Austin team member, and I highly respect and love her craftsmanship and creative spirit. Check it out now!


Thursday, April 16, 2009

I've been stalked!!!!

Stalked!

Glint Gear has been stalked by Etsy Stalker! My Alien Pizza tote has been featured on
www.etsystalker.com! Check it out!!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

I can just be an artist this week...

Today I start my week-long work vacation. It really hit me this morning that I don't "have" to do anything this week. I can truly just be artist. That's utopia. Paradise. Nirvana. Whatever word you choose... it's my heaven!

So, my day so far has been productive. I got up with Ocean at 6am, made coffee and his lunch and got him off to work. Did I go back to sleep? NO WAY! I intend to make the most of my time this week! I checked emails, looked at my Etsy shop, caught up on FaceBook... all the computer-type stuff. Then I had to dig out some documents for an 11am call this morning. Someone's writing a book about career change, and I'm one of the case studies since I've changed careers several times in my life. After that, I checked on the Glint Gear fabric that Ocean and I played with yesterday. We did two in gray, yellow, brown and some black.

After that, I put on a load of laundry then start hand painting a piece of Glint fabric I had started weeks ago. Then it's back to the computer to prepare for the call. She's late in calling, so I'm doing this blog post while I wait. After the call, I'll have lunch and then go back to work on painting that swatch. When that's done, I'll continue working on the messenger back I started over the weekend.

Aaaah..... paradise. I might post photos of the projects in progress later. That's all for now!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Glint Gear Vacation Next Week

... No, I'm not taking a vacation AWAY from Glint Gear... I'm taking a vacation to GLINT for a week! In my day job, we are required to take all of our PTO (Paid Time Off) this year and can't carry anything forward into next year. I know, I know... life is rough, huh? I think it's wonderful because it forces us to get some R&R, even if we don't leave for an away vacation, so I was very happy about this! In these weird economic times, I'm grateful, and that news was a good thing for me. I know there are some of my co-workers who weren't happy about that, but I know that my company did this to keep from laying people off. So, since Ocean and I don't have any away vacations planned for this year and my job has asked us not to wait until the end of the year to try to take it all, I figured I'd take my own "Spring Break" to Glint!

This week I've been focusing on cutting out some new bags to sew next week. It's harder to get as much done when I get home at 6 or 6:30pm in the evenings after a long day. But I usually really do spend some time on Glint Gear each night. Whether it's tweaking my Etsy shop, reading up tips on the Etsy blog/Forums, cutting out something to sew, re-listing an item... it all makes a difference and builds upon itself. There was a time in my past when I was very hard on myself, and if I didn't have all my ducks in a row all the time with massive to-do lists and a perfect action plan, then I felt that I failed before I even left the starting gate!
So... back to Glint Gear... I have cut out so far a fisherman-styled kind of mini-messenger for a co-worker who wants a Glint Gear bag. She's seen the cut out pieces and the general design idea and likes it so far. I told her that if it's not her perfect Glint piece when I'm done, not to worry! I want my Glint Girls(TM) to be in LOVE with their Glint, not lukewarm! I'm sure she'll love it, but if not, I'll make something else that's perfect her and will sell the other. I also have another co-worker who wants a messenger bag she can wear with her laptop while she bikes to work. She like "Amber Storm," but we decided this was more of a city bag for walking and she needed a wider strap to wear while biking. I've cut out 2 different messenger bags so far. She didn't have a preference as to color or style and was open to any fun colors. I also have a shoulder back in chocolate brown and earth-toned Glint Fabric that's been cut out a while to sew.

And last night, I was feeling that I needed to do something to award and nuture myself, so I cut out my own Glint Gear bag! I have 3 that I wear from my early works that I like, but they actually aren't Glint-y enough for me! I have to rock the Glint in the world, you know? So I cut out a round wrislet in the style and size of "She's a Pinball Wizard," in a purple vinyl base with Glint Fabric I used for "Wonkylicious." I cut out a curved stripe pattern similar to a pinwheel like the shape to the right, but with only 6 Glint "stripes." I also made the circle off-center.... of course! I wanted something that reminds me of the circus. I can't wait to make it and rock it! I also have about 4 or 5 other Glint Gear swatches I've been saving for myself. We'll see what I do with those!

So, I'm sure I'll cut out more to sew next week. I want to do more coin pouches in 3x4 and 4x5 plus some more messenger bags. Plus I'm going to experiment with a laptop sleeve in hot pinks for my Mom for Mother's Day. We'll see how much I get done next week. Ocean warned me not to be hard on myself for whatever progress I make and to actually ENJOY my time of Glint-ing!

I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Spring Special - Free U.S. Shipping Today!

Hi, everyone! I hope you are enjoying the awesome spring weather! Ocean and I have been busy worker bees this weekend inside Liquid Star studio and haven't been outside much, but we so love what we do and love sharing with you or creations, that we can't help ourselves! We are art geeks!

Ocean is creating some awesome new tees, and is playing around with WHITE screen printing ink ... bad-a!!! He has posted some new designs recently and is working diligently to get his shop stocked. But the t-shirt process does take some time, so be patient!

I made SEVEN new pyramid pouches. I've posted a few and will post the rest throughout this week. Pyramid pouches are so much fun to make and to give or keep for yourself. One of my customers bought a small one to use as a little gift pouch for a bracelet being given as a birthday gift. And most recently, someone bought one to use as a grab-n-go pouch to throw her keys and cell phone inside to walk her boys to school. The one to the right is one of my new ones!

Today I have 2 Etsy showcases running today, (4/5) a Gift Guides showcase and a Spring Showcase. So I'm giving FREE domestic U.S. shipping today! woo hoo!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Rainy Day Check-in

It's 7:15 am. I'm at work early after dropping off Ocean, but I don't officially "clock in" until 8am. We have one car and he has to be at work by 7:15am. I've been getting up at 5:30am instead of 6, and really enjoying that quiet time to check and answer email, go to Etsy and check for new hearts and item views.... shop!

Yes, I'm an Etsy addict, and now I've turned Ocean into one. He found some of the coolest shops in products that he loves - knives, masks, jewelry. I'm daily amazed at how much talent is on ETSY! Ocean just bought me the most amazing leather mask on an Etsy shop called Tom Banwell Leather! It's cut out in stars. Check it out here! I can't wait to get it!!! I am astounded with creativity and detail that Tom can create. This is a truly talented artist! If you check it out, let him know you saw him on my blog. As a seller, it's always good to know how people find you. The mask above is the style I'm getting. He has this for sale on his shop. You can click the photo or the links above to go directly there.

I love the quiet time at home and at work when no one is around and I can start the day with ease and peacefully. Today it's raining. A rainstorm woke me up at 5am. I love the rain, but not driving in it. My sweet Ocean drives an amored truck, so he has to be out in it. Let's send him loving light thougts now for safe journies today and every day...

So... what have we been up to in the past week? Well, I finally finished my first messenger bag!!!! Well, I have a couple of finishing touches which I'll complete tonight. It's so fly!!! And I've been working on a special order pyramid pouch. I had to stop production on the pouch last weekend because the paint was not quite dry. It takes a while sometimes for it to fully cure. I posted a few new items, and I've been thinking about what new things I want to make for my Gift Guides Showcase and Spring Showcase this upcoming Sunday. I sold that adorable Green Banjo Bag last night. She's going to Ohio and left today.

Oh... and I'll be offering FREE SHIPPING this Sunday only during the showcases. (But also, if you sign up to follow my blog or subscribe, you get free shipping on your first Glint Gear order! Just email me and let me know in case I miss it. And then put "Blog Follower" in notes to seller upon checkout.

The biggest news of the week is that Ocean has posted his first batch of AMAZING SquidInkwear(TM) t-shirts on Etsy this week!!! I will be featuring him in blog post in the near future once he gives me thumbs up. (He says he doesn't quite have enough product up yet and wants me to wait, but I couldn't help spilling the beans early to give him some more hearts and pageviews!

There are so many products I want to work on! I find myself a little scattered lately thinking, which one should I work on now? It's hard sometimes when you work 40 hours a week and have limited time to do everything you want to do each night! So many ideas! So I have to stop and just choose a couple of items to work on at a time. Last night I started two adorable new cosmetic pouches with Glint Gear appliques. I also have a cute fisherman's-style bag cut out in a beige with a Glint Gear panel on the front flap. It's kind of like a mini-messenger bag. And I have another shoulder bag cut out in chocolate brown vinyl with Glint Gear fabric panels on front and back.

Well, I guess I've rambled enough... I'll be back soon! Enjoy the rest of your week!