Holiday Silliness

If you search (the lower left hand corner) for "emma" in Seattle you can look at the snowflake I created. And also 14 other snowflakes by Seattle based Emmas (who are not me.) Of course I'm not really sure which one it was anymore. I'm supposed to be getting ready for the christmas trip back home to Ohio, instead I am doing this and just ordered several pairs of shoes...

Featured on a Blog!

I was featured on a gorgeous looking new blog called laundry.
The post about my earrings can be seen here:
http://laundryshop.blogspot.com/2007/12/leela-earrings-by-emmakat.html

Paper Ornament

Paper Ornament
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I've just posted some paper ornaments for the holidays in my shop. Maybe a little late, but if someone buys them this weekend there may be just enough time to get them by Christmas.

They combine two things I love, beading and cutting paper with an Xacto. Also solved the problem of how else to use the paper hole punch I just bought. (The Martha Stewart paper hole punch that looks like a whale and so is called "Moby.")

Wreath from the Market

I've wanted to get one of the fantastic wreaths from the Pike Place Market. This year I finally feel like we'll be around close enough for Christmas for it to be worthwhile. So today Chuck & I strolled around the market and picked one up!

Christmas Wreath
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Etsyrain Ornament Exchange!

Last night EtsyRain had a Christmas party/ornament exchange. It was lots of fun. My boyfriend, Chuck, came along so I could get my hands on two fabulous handcrafted ornaments! Just kidding (sort of.) It was a good chance for him to come along and start putting some faces with the names and shops I keep talking about.

We came home with a couple of really great things for our tree. My tree has a silver and blue color scheme (loosely) and somehow we ended up with ornaments that fit perfectly. A lovely blue and gold bauble from Woven Chains and an intricate silver wreath from Norik Designs. I just keep going back to my tree to look at these great well crafted pieces hanging on it!

EtsyRain Rules!

Goccoed Biz Cards Drying

Goccoed Biz Cards Drying
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

This is really the first serious attempt to gocco. Very fun I have to say! We only ran into a couple of little glitches. We intended to print 4 cards at a time so the master had two bars of bead illustrations. The right side did not want to print very well. The original (from the copier) was ever so slightly lighter on that side and we thought maybe that had something to do with it not printing. So we split up the cards even more to print two at a time, just in green instead of green and blue as planned. After that the whole printing process was great.

Then there was the complicated matter of cleaning the screen. My gocco came with a tube labeled on in Japanese and with an icon of a hand with a sponge swiping a white stripe through the black background. Must be the international symbol for "this is a tube of cleaning goo." The instructions we had told us it should remove all the ink in 2-3 tries....but we kept adding more goo and there was still ink. Just as well though, it'd be nice to try making this screen again to see if we can figure out how to get that whole 4 cards at a time thing to work.

Regardless I am ready to go to town goccoing. Next task is our Christmas cards!

Rain Cloud

Rain Cloud Necklace
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I'll just say this new necklace I've made has felt particularly appropriate the last several days. That's Seattle Winter for you!

Magnet Madness

Sunday afternoon was spent in the realm of magnet madness with girls from etsyrain. We discovered it takes a while to cut out a bunch of little round pieces of paper. A hole punch to roughly the correct size was helpful, but the marbles have a little bit more character than a hole punch can handle. I think most of us ended up stopping before the gluing stage, since it was already getting late, so we wouldn't be waiting for the glue to dry. So we each finished them off on our own.

I completed mine last night, and I was debating posting some pictures. At least half of the ones I made are going to be gifted. Maybe more. I haven't decided yet. A few may appear in my shop. But I figure it does just as good for visuals to post some links to the magnets the other etsyrainers have posted in their shops. Anandi's adorable Molecule & Cell magnet set has already sold, and I can see why. Congrats! And I'm sure Kimberly's Green Revolution magnets won't be avaliable much longer either. I can't think of too many items out there that allow you to choose between a message about the environment or good old fun with anagrams!

Good to be busy!

Monday - Buying Supplies, Making 20 pendants for Etsyrain Sampler contribution
Tuesday - Finishing Magnets from Etsyrain's Marble Magnet Madness Party.
Wednsday - Making cookies for ACE kids.
Thursday - ACE.

So that's the stuff I feel I must do this week. I would also like to cram in some photoshoots and listing of items, some ornament making for 2 ornament exchange parties coming up, making my christmas cards, and I'm sure there is more.

Actually I just found out about an architecture competition for an artist's housing project in texas. Just meaning 2 or 3 weeks ago and I've been procrastinating doing anything about it. I feel I should really enter this one since my thesis in grad school was about artist housing. But the timing is not so great. It would be due end of January so I would have to have a pretty good idea of what I'm doing before christmas comes around. And I haven't really thought about it much yet, and I'm pretty happy just focusing on crafting and christmas shopping, baking and fun stuff. So we will see, if I don't get going on it in the next week then oh well. But I'm sure I'll find enough to do these days either way!

Grab Bag Teaser Photos

Teaser Photo
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Teaser Photo
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Marlo of Imakecutestuff was the first one to provide teaser photos for her etsy rain grab bags. I thought this was a great idea so I copied. You can get some idea of the colors and textures you will get in your grab bag, but we're not giving everything away. So I've updated my listings to include these photos!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7969929

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7970417

First Atempt at Gocco

First Gocco
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I love 4 day weekends. Chuck and I finally got a chance to play with my new Gocco Machine. We just tried it out. So far we watched the silly 1980s video instructions then attempted making a print with an image off our printer at home. Which they told us not to do several times in the video; Carbon helps in the process or something. I guess the images would probably turn out crisper if we'd followed directions properly. We were both anxious to play, and it was good to see first hand how it turns out. If/when we can get away with using the home printer, it would be more convenient. We also just used paint directly from the tube without mixing...and egad, those are some bright colors. All in all it was a good first go.

Christmas Time is Near!

Holly Earrings
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Happy Hoildays!

A Bit more about the Etsyrain Sampler

(pictures of my packaged items,
available in the etsyrain sampler!)

Here are links to the shops involved in the general etsyrain sampler:

http://livewire.etsy.com
http://emmakat.etsy.com
http://sweetpeacardsgifts.etsy.com
http://kimberlyatstir.etsy.com
http://scarywhitegirl.etsy.com
http://kneek.etsy.com
http://wovenchains.etsy.com
http://imakecutestuff.etsy.com
http://baublesbyhand.etsy.com
http://wiretree.etsy.com

Sampler Bags!

I'm really excited to have these in my shop. Last night 10 members of etsyrain got together to prepare these fun mystery bags. I got to come home with two bags full of goodies by other wonderful etsyrain sellers. There was even a super friendly cat who enjoyed my lap for a while! (If you've guessed by my shop name I'm a huge fan of cats. However you spell it!)

These would be a great way to fill someone's stocking for Christmas this year. Each bag has 5 items worth *At Least* $10 each, but we're selling the bags for $25 plus shipping. So they really are all very nice gifts! It would be a really easy and fun way to fill up a buy handmade stocking! I'm excited! Oh, hey, I said that already.

Goodies

Goodies
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Here's some of what I nabbed at the gem stone yesterday. 10 strands for $50, I couldn't resist. I also bought a few kinds of chain and some interesting vintage Lucite flowers. Not too many findings at this show, but I did grab some sterling ear wires at a reasonable price.

I've got free reentry tickets for today but I think I've had my fill.

Treasuries

gems
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

goldstone
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I nabbed a few treasuries in celebration of the gem show I went to this weekend. One is assorted gems (tried to have as many different gems as possible.) The other was inspired somewhat by the gem show, also by the fact that I recently made a necklace in goldstone myself and it's a pretty and sparkly stone.

I promise to post more about what I grabbed up at the gem show later!

"Operating on four bits of raw fish"

I usually don't "woo" at concerts. But I did a lot of wooing last night at the MIA show. It helps when you can't hear very well anymore, I found. And M.I.A. was worth wooing for. She's definitely evolved as a performer. Back when Arular just came out Chuck and I saw her open for LCD Soundsystem. She still knew how to energize a crowd but seemed like the whole thing was brand new to her. Now she seems to perform with more confidence. Both performances were fantastic. And this time she came armed with an amazing set of visuals. Definitely the best video backdrop I have ever seen at a live show. It made me want to bang on drums with the hopes that cartoonish explosions and drops will result from the impact.

The opener was pretty good, the cool kids. Made me feel a little old on my birthday though, they were bringing back a bit of the early 90s rap and fresh prince style. It doesn't seem old enough to make a come back. (Not that I don't enjoy it.)

Ambika was also there, although I didn't run into her, and she posted some pics on her blog. I never know if it's a good idea to take a camera these days, but at least I can always check flickr for pics by other concert goers, and this time it's a fellow etsyrain member!

So after all of that, it's taking me a while to get going this morning! Woke up late, drinking coffee slowly, and still I feel very groggy. But, I'm about to head out finally to check out that gem show at the seattle center!

Gocco!

I decided to open my b-day presents from Charles (my boyfriend) on my birthday eve, since we have a packed evening tomorrow. I was not surprised, but ridiculously pleased to open the PG-11 Gocco machine! Yey! Just in time to make my own Christmas cards on Thanksgiving weekend!

I've been eying the work in the gocco pool on flickr for a while. http://www.flickr.com/groups/gocco/

I have many ideas....but I'll have to spend some time playing with it and see what I can do first!

There wasn't an evil plan B!

There's no plan b for my evil plan of not shopping for supplies for a while... I just found out there's a big gem & jewelry show at the Seattle Center this weekend. And my grandma just sent me birthday money with a nice note about how I should "buy whatever pleases" me, jewelry supplies, clothing, etc. And then they go and throw a gem shop on my birthday within walking distance. How are you supposed to have a plan b for that situation? I think my evil plan has officially been thwarted.

Actually, I believe I have been to this particular show before, back in the hometown, Cols, OH. I guess it goes around the country tempting poor unsuspecting etsy sellers on their birthdays. Well ok. Not that situation per se. But close.

So by this point in the post readers may have come to the conclusion that my birthday is soon. Friday. I turn 28. I've been feeling a little freaked out about getting closer to 30 all year, since I turned 27. My reaction to that was pretty much 3 years is okay...next year it'll only be two years until I'm 30! ack! But now that it's so soon I feel strangely fine about it. At some point today I realized that I'm happy cause I still have two years before I am 30. So there will still be some freaking out coming my way in a few years...but for now I'm happy about my age!

UPDATE: I forgot to mention, Going to see M.I.A. on Friday! Yey! (beware, her website may induce epileptic fits)

Lucy Interupting

Lucy Interupting
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

We have a mild mannered cat, contrary to what it looks like in this photo, really we do! My cat Lucy quietly crept up onto the table where I was messing with some photography last night. (It got really dark really quickly buy the way, when she first got on the table there was still some handy natural light! Not a fan of daylight savings, ugh.) We didn't have the heart to move her...or turn off the lights. It seems our cat has found a good way to combat Seasonal affective disorder early in this year! Two hardware store lamps keep kitty's fur pretty warm, rather like laying in a bright sunbeam, FYI.

She's yawning in the photo, after I woke her up with my photo taking. Funny kitty!

Cute things

I just got a message via astulabee at Indiepublic about this adorable holiday competition: http://softiescentral.typepad.com/blog/2007/11/top-5-finalists.html
Even though I don't know anyone involved personally, I couldn't resist posting a link to the cuteness. There are some great entries. I also was thinking of my Mom who is a big fan of art dolls. That and as an architect I was really impressed by the plush Guggenheim museum by blueblythemonster.

Also, since I'm in a mood to talk about other people today, my friend Ashley keeps posting gorgeous cards over at hobbesandwinky.etsy.com. Every time she posts a new card I'm impressed. And it seems like the perfect time to buy cards. She's got some great seasonal cards, thank you cards and I seem to know a lot of people with birthdays coming up!

I've got some work to do today. I bought a showcase for Tomorrow & Monday. Tomorrow I'll be featured on the Jewelry category page, something etsy just started to offer. Then Monday I will be in the Storque showcase. So hopefully these will go well and get more people interested in my shop! I'm planning on going through my already listed items and reviewing and revising my descriptions. Also I should probably get a few more items ready!

Blue Floral Set

Blue Floral Set
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I've just made my first all matching set of earrings, necklace bracelet. Someone could be completely decked out with jewelry from Emmakat! That's a fun idea. I listed the bracelet and earrings as a set this evening, and there's a matching necklace available separately that was listed a few nights ago.

I'd like to offer anyone who reads my blog and would like to purchase all three items $2 off. Just contact me through a conversation on etsy after you place an order but before you pay and I will send a revised invoice. Just mention you read about the discount on my blog!

The matching necklace is avaliable here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7721943

As a side note this set will be the same that will be available in the etsyrain sample boxes coming to the shop soon!

Woes about Supplies

So the bead store I usually shop at had a crazy sale last weekend, everything in the store 20% off. I didn't go crazy, I restrained myself. (I probably should have gone crazier actually.) But it's the fact that I'm there pretty often, something like weekly. (*ahem* also bead shop near where I work for "quick" trips.) Only recently, which I guess is to be expected starting out, but its adding up. I try to be reasonable about every visit but I still feel like I am getting carried away.

Anyway, unless sales pick up a whole lot I think I'm going to try not to buy supplies...see how long I can go. I've been thinking about the idea of knitting up some scarves for the shop. I'm thinking that this way if I run out of beading ideas for supplies I have I will be forced to switch and finally accomplish a scarf for the shop. (I'm oh so clever at tricking myself that way. It's all part of my evil plan. Yeah, that's right, that's as evil as I get. I knit.)

Weekend Update

I was a little busy this week so my posting got a bit lighter. Okay, so some of that was obsessing over that whole treasury thing, you may have seen a few posts about that...I think I've had my fill of that for now and I can now have a healthier relationship with etsy treasuries. This one will probably be my last for a little while: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=1023

In the non-internet realm, My office is involved in a mentoring program that helps high school students get an understanding of what Architecture, construction management and engineering (for buildings) is all about. They get to create their own project and mentors from all the related fields are there to help them out. So this was the first official week of that program. This is the second year I've been involved and It's challenging, but I'm really glad something like this exists. http://www.acementor.org/

Also, I stopped by to check out the etsyrain show at Stir during the artwalk last Thursday. Great space, packed with wonderful goodies and friendly people!

So, it's not just the treasuries causing my light posting this week...really, it's not. I did manage to get a few new items up in my shop this week that I'm particularly happy with. Especially the bracelet! And I think they have nice a autumn palate going. Although autumn is about halfway over by now I suppose!

Golden Bracelet
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

treasury this, treasury that

I made a new treasury west this evening to replace the one that I posted about before that expired: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=748

I'm also featured in this treasury west courtesy of Dawn of scarywhitegirl, which is very cool!: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=707

In other news I wore horns most of the day at work today in celebration of Halloween. They are sort of natural looking, made of I think ceramic, from a renaissance festival in Ohio when I was a kid. They are also colored in such a way that they are well hidden because they are brown and match my hair. I like to joke that I grew them overnight. My coworkers had me beat today though, going as a large blond afro-wigged disco queen and a goth chic...at least the glittery temporary tattoos were shared!

Blue birds of etsy

I'm not obsessing, really. Okay maybe I am. I grabbed a treasury spot on the treasury west today for my afore mentioned blue bird idea.

Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=580

To my credit, it is easier to get a spot on treasury west, since it's still in an experimental stage and there's not really a link to it from the main page. Basically you have to know about it (for now) to get there. Still I'm just obsessively goofing around. Okay, back to beading!

Samples

Samples
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Etsyrain is having a get together in a few weeks to put together a box of sample items from members of the group. These will be for sale in the shops of participants mid to late November (I'm guessing that's the ETA.) So I got really excited about the idea and I've already got most of my stuff prepared even though the get together isn't for a few weeks still. File this one under obsession?

Swing

Swing
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

So...I was trying to make this in reverse, based on the sketch from a few posts ago. At some point I realized the chain was not going to support the arc I needed in that position so I decided to reverse it. So it's a swing now. I figured it might not exactly work like I had envisioned, but I gave it a try anyway. Which I'm kind of glad about now that I have this new version of the idea. I think I will be trying the fan version too at some point. It'll require that the entire triangle like shape is wire. Which is just not quite as delicate as I had imagined in my sketch, but I still think it could turn out well. I like to try this sort of thing and find out. So right now I am appreciate the fact that you can make mistakes like this and have them turn out well in jewelry making. In architecture...well I guess you end up with the structural engineer laughing at how silly you are. :P

Treasuries

I magically happened to get a treasury on etsy this evening which can be seen here for the next few days until it expires: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=13221
I attended my first etsyrain meetup this past week (promptly after returning from LA, hence the light posting) and it was exciting and fun. I'm looking foward to doing a lot more fun stuff with the street team!

Posting Accomplished

I think I've managed to post everything I have on hand at the moment. Now I can return to just focusing on making things for a little bit. I was kind of doing both there for a while, mainly focusing on posting items. But I have several works-in-progress and ideas for things I want to do soon!

Of course I will be on vacation from the 20th to the 23rd, so the creating is going to have to wait just a little bit.

Coming Soon?

Sketch
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Sketched out some ideas that I've had in my head for a bit quickly at work today. I don't know if I will implement them all, I would like to try! I'd really like do the one in the lower right with a tube of knit wire. This was based on a wire knitting experiment from a while ago. I think the tube was the only result I had that I was happy with. I'm not sure I can recreate it though. It's worth some practice I guess. Hopefully these sketches will turn into items in my hope soon!

Fall Colors

Fallen Leaves
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I really like this photo we took yesterday (see my flickr description to see why this is "we") I need to start thinking a little more fall color scheme. When it's like this outside, it's pretty helpful. Today is just grey, unfortunately. Actually I do like a good rainy day, and today wasn't bad. But I miss the sun after taking this shot.

My Halloween themed necklaced "webbed" did sell. I'm very happy it will have a nice home on the appropriate holiday!

New items

I've gotten a few new items up on my site today.

Tassle1
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Autumn Earrings Close-up2
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I'm getting a bit cleaner with the photography. I'm really happy with the way the last set of stuff came out. I'm debating updating some of the old listings with new photos I took using the set up shown in these new ones with the vase. But then I think it starts to be too much of the same thing. I've already done it a little bit with some of the items that I didn't think you could see too clearly on the darker backgrounds. Anyway, I figure this will be something I'm constantly tinkering with and trying to improve. I feel like I'm off to a good start. Only thing I'm getting concerned about is the storage space on my computer. I'm really bad about deleting photos, so there's already a lot on it!

Poster for Etsy

Hostess or Housewarming Etsy Poster
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Etsy has all these funny things that can totally distract someone like me. I just finished making a poster for one of their poster sketch challenges. I guess sometime after 1pm tomorrow they'll pick a few of these entries to feature on the homepage. The theme was housewarming or hostess gifts...I decided to make mine all blue. Really that was the only theme, but it's kind of interesting how you can see lesser themes sneaking their way in because they are my taste. (And I know birds are ridiculously trendy right now, but I still like them. In fact I think I'm happy they are trendy.)

Anyway, this is how etys has distracted me from my other etsy related projects. Mainly I've got about 10 things I'm supposed to be messing with photographing right now. And that all is set up and I've been doing here and there...but etsy is distracting me!

Emma's First Treasury

I've very excited about being in an etsyrain (Seattle artisans) Halloween themed treasury. I recently joined the group on meetup.com and found out they were having a creative challenge to produce items relating to Halloween. I had just finished making my webbed necklace, which I had decided I had to create right away because it seemed so Halloween-y. It took me a little bit, I still didn't have my shop set up at all at that point, but I got it done! And now there's a great treasury for us that you can see here: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=11427

Update: The treasury's time is up, it was fun while it lasted! You can still see Seattle area Halloween items by searching etsy for ETSYRAIN HALLOWEEN

Work in progress

Work in progress
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

This is an earring done with gold-filled findings, first time I've messed with those. I thought of myself as a strictly silver kinda person in general. But I bought some gold-filled chain over the weekend, thought I'd mess with it, made these earrings and now I think I've changed my mind.

I was finishing it off this morning before I headed off to an 8am meeting, took the photo then too. This means I must be getting really obsessed because I am definitely not a morning person!

Out it goes

Shipment
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I had a funny little moment today of making it down to the mailbox just in time to see the mailman heading toward his van. We exchanged glances, he seemed to be indicating that he would accept my package if I got it over to him quickly. So I sort of ran a little bit, thanked him and I think I said "Awesome." I dunno, it just sort of slipped out, I was happy. Happy about the sale, happy to catch the mailman just in time. Happy cause I had a yummy lunch. I suppose three uses of the word happy means I should label this post "happiness" again, huh. Happy!

Something happy happened!

I sold my little red and black necklace today! I hardly knew it. I just made it Sunday and today I'm ready to ship it off to the buyer! Which is really exciting and made my day. I stared at my the one little black flower bead wondering what I could do with just the one bead. Then when I went to bed I came up with the necklace as I was falling asleep. I guess if there's only one bead it's going to be asymmetrical. Anyway, I was really happy with that design and it's so cool that someone else is too.

I've posted!

More than one item! Not as many as I was hoping to get online this weekend, but that's okay. I'm glad to have somethings up, and the fact that it's taking me a while will just help me spread out my posting. I did spend some time on making jewelry too on saturday, rather than finalizing what I have for posting. And there was the various weekend fun excursions. I guess since etsying wasn't really my primary focus this weekend, I'm not doing too bad getting stuff online today. I even managed to get photos of me wearing stuff that I felt okay about.

Floral
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Getting Sleepy

Webbed Necklace
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Parentheses
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I must've stayed up a little too late last night working on the Halloween necklace. It was an effort to get myself to figure out how to photograph this one, but I really wanted to tonight.

I'm debating posting a few things. I was thinking it's helpful to see what the necklaces look like on, and I've been dreading doing a photoshoot like that. It's one thing when they're on the table, I picky enough about that. But now were talking pictures of me and I dunno. I may convince myself the table is good enough.

But, come to think of it, I'm pretty sleepy and not in the mindset to describe anything really well anyway. So I can think about what I want to say a bit more and if I really need to take more pictures.

We also photographed parentheses on the graph paper, it seems to work. I've had these V-beads forever. Even so, now I can't help but think of the song by The Blow.

Cleaned my desk!

I thought I was working on a new necklace but now somehow it's almost 8pm and all I've done is clean off my desk. Well...it's nice to have a clean desk anyway.

I have the sense this evening that I ought to be doing something other than what I've been doing. But I had an idea for a Halloween necklace. Mainly just that it's going to be all black and looks pretty goth (in my mind.) I figured that I should make sure I make this one this month and get it posted if I'm going to. I should be making a push to photograph the rest of my stuff and post it, but I haven't done any beading yet this week. That's not healthy.

Update: I accomplished making the halloween necklace, but no time for pictures last night. Maybe tonight!

First Go at Packaging

First Go at Packaging
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

First Go at Packaging
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

I made my first real attempt at cute packaging. Okay, so in the photo I wasn't quite ready to seal it off with the sticker yet, but the plain paper draft of the sticker made a fine stand in. I can see where there's room to improve, but overall I'm content. I originally wanted the blue folder to wrap all the way around to the front, but I don't really want to have to bump up to a larger paper size to accomplish that. A little bit of the brown peaking out isn't too bad. But I won't mind if I manage to come up with a clever way to do what I wanted.

Chuck & I also took some nice pictures of what I think is one of my more geeky architect style necklaces. This time I thought up the backdrop, a page from David Byrne's Arboretum. The next idea I have for a backdrop is graph paper...or is that going too far? I think it'll work.

Branches
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Starting to feel promising

I posted one item last night that was for a friend. It should help me make sure I've got all my paypal info and everything set up right. She lives across the country too, so I will really see how much shipping will cost!

It was really exciting to post something finally. Posting the rest of what I've prepared really doesn't feel too far off now. I will have it up by the end of the week. Charles, my boyfriend was really helpful and pulled out one of his old drawings from architecture school as a backdrop. It really worked with the piece I posted last night. I'm not sure it will work for too many of my other pieces, but I hope the two of us can keep coming up with that kind of fun idea!

In the meantime I keep forgetting that I am also still trying to get settled in my fairly new apartment. We moved in August. I finally got a start on really setting up my workspace. I had to buy a nice big desk for myself, which was a start. I bought bulletin boards over the weekend. It still needs something more to make it feel really useful and I have to figure out what that is. I also haven't figured out curtains for the whole apartment yet. It's starting to feel cold, and like curtains are important. But for this week at least my shop is my priority...maybe I will have time this weekend.

Primary
Originally uploaded by emmakat79

Okay, so I didn't meet my deadline

I knew I was being kind of ridiculously hopefully thinking I'd be ready to post items today. I guess it was the kind of weekend where you want to be able to do so much stuff that you know you can't possibly accomplish it all so you end up playing a stupid computer game (civcity rome in this case) instead.

So it still remains to photograph my pieces. And most of the rest of the things I had on my list. I did manage to buy the last of the materials I will need. So I think tonight I will make one more necklace, try to figure out photography and check again that my paypal account and shipping info are set up right. I'll also try to squeeze in designing my stickers for my packaging and refining my business card. But for now, those aren't officially in my plan for the evening because I don't want to overwhelm myself again. I'll just try to do as much as I can. I'm really looking foward to posting my stuff, but it still seems at least several days off if I think realistically.

Rain Rain go away

I usually don't have much of a problem with rain. This weekend it's just that it's not exactly the weather I need to do some of the things I wanted to do. Okay, so really I made no plans for myself this weekend, but when you have a week of sunny niceness in Seattle I think hiking is in the back of most peoples heads. But then Seattle pulls the usually trick of sunny during the week, rainy on the weekend. This city is really really good at that trick, and I'm still not used to it. Anyway I actually did plan to do some photographing of my jewelry this weekend, mainly the only thing I planned to do. I'm not too sure how I want to do it yet, and I may not end up needing the sun, but I wanted to have the opportunity to play around with natural light. Maybe there's still something I can do, today's task is to figure out what that is.

There's still nothing in my shop right now so my etsy banner on the left is from my favorites. All bluebirds because ideally I'd like to make a treasury entry out of it with that theme, if I can ever figure out how to get a treasury all to myself.

Setting Everything Up

This is my first post on what is to be my crafting & etsy shop oriented blog. I've been doing a lot of prepwork for my (presently non-existent) etsy shop. Well it exists, and has for about the last week or so, as an empty etsy shop with only the banner I made last weekend. Like oh so many shops on there. It's starting to make me nervous that I won't do anything, but I have been keeping busy and working toward opening the place up. I've still got business cards and stickers to design & print, packaging to figure out, and some serious amounts of photography to accomplish. And that's just the big stuff. It's a lot of work but it's still all very fun. I really really am hoping and working toward opening the shop on Monday, October 1st!