Happy Friday!

In case you missed this:



Hope it made you smile...and hoping you can find a way to add some extra fun to your fabulous Friday!

How To Make a 3 Column Blog

For the past hour or so, I've been fiddling with my blog layout. Fueled only by vanilla bean coffee and a slice of Ultimate Cheesecake, I've come up with some exciting new colors. I wanted a change from the previously classic white background, black font look. Pink does match my new banner and logo, but OH, I hope this is not too garish or shocking to the senses - please let me know, won't you?

I also switched to a 3-column format, and wanted to share the easy instructions that helped me do it.

Click here: http://www.threecolumnblogger.com/2008/09/three-column-minima-layout-version.html

These instructions were by far the easiest to follow that I have seen so far. He also includes instructions on how to adjust your margins between columns so you don't have that awful scrunched look we sadly see all too often...

The hardest part of changing to a 3-column format is that I had to resize my banner 3 times so it didn't look all wonky on the page. (It's still about 2 pixels too big, but the kids are getting restless. My 'mommy gets to be on the computer time' is getting used up FAST.)

10 Great Etsy Tips

I just wanted to share this great list of tips from Timothy Adams on getting more traffic to your Etsy shop:

http://tipdrop.com/tipsheet/how_to_get_more_traffic_to_your_etsy_shop

There are some oldies but goodies in there, as well as some new ideas (for me, anyway). Here are the ones I plan on implementing right away:

1. Using Google Analytics to determine the optimal listing time for your shop.

2. Listing measurements in both inches and centimeters.

3. Providing your shop name as one of your tags. (I've already done this in random listings, but I also added my personal name in a few as well, in case friends or family are trying to find my shop...)

4. I read another of Tim's tips that is not in the above list, and I couldn't find it to link to...but he suggested writing descriptions in the 'active' not 'passive' tone. For example instead of "this was made from recycled wool", you would say "I made this from reclaimed wool" or "I made this by recycling a beautiful reclaimed wool sweater." (I made those up, his examples were better...sorry...)

I had been writing my descriptions in a far less personal tone, trying to mimic a catalog description I suppose. But his tip made me realize that whole point of handmade items is emphasizing the beautiful originality and all the hard work you put into it!

Lastly, I just had to share some of my favorite pictures from our mini camping trip this past weekend:

Plaskett Creek Campground, on the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway

(That's a smile.)

Me and my boys...

Hubby finally getting some down time. Hey, where are the kids anyway?!

Aww, aren't they just the sweetest?

Chic Chicks and Cookies!

I just wanted to share this great little site I stumbled upon...

They offer text link advertising for your blog or website for only $5.95 per month. It looks like your ad will rotate and appear on blogs with a fairly high readership, so it seems like a great deal. I am going to give it a try.

Click here for more information on advertising with Chic Chicks Media.

And now for the cookies...

Garion is a whiz using the Kitchen Aid mixer! Maybe he'll want to try his hand at a meringue next...

I simply cannot wait to see this movie!



Looks like there's going to be another Girls Night Out!

NEW New Photos...

As soon as I published my last post, I realized I didn't like the colors, and really needed some closer shots as well.

So today I spent some time tweaking my new new photos.

Ah, much better!

A Horse of a Different Color - New Photo Style...

New Photos For My Etsy Shop!



My Etsy shop is going through a bit of a face lift: upgrading to all Sterling Silver chains, new packaging and new logo & business cards. I really wanted to reflect the change with new photos that really had some life and eye-catching vibrancy.

I took a look at some of Etsy's top jewelry sellers, and the photos I was most attracted to were the ones with bold background colors. Here are some of my favorites:

tigerlillyshop
esdesigns
caughtredhanded

I decided to give it a try, and set up a make-shift photo studio on the front porch (and wow, it must have been 105 degrees today - no exaggeration - but I was determined). I used scrapbook paper, and was limited to the few solid colors I had available, but I'm very pleased with the outcome.

Next time I'm at the craft store I'll look for some more backgrounds, but in the meantime I'll be taking photos with these. I have about 30 - 40 more map pendants with photos to re-do. I also need to take a photo with a model wearing a necklace, and a photo of my new packaging before I can start re-listing.

There's lots on this girl's to-do list - better get crackin'!

Shop Re-Opening! Special for Bloggies Only!

Well, I'm up late with insommnia (another fun side-effect of prednisone) However, I was able to redesign a new blog banner and Etsy shop banner to match my new store style. While uploading the new banner and seeing my sad, little empty shop, I overcome with Etsy longing and suddenly decided to re-open a little sooner than my previous several-weeks-away plan had allowed...

...SO...here's a "soft" Grand Re-Opening of my Etsy Shop!
(Notice the nice new banner?)


There are only a few of my older items listed (still adorable!)- ahem (modest coughing). There's lots of work to be done on my new items, including the map pendants, mostly dealing with taking photos. I also have to set up my brand new and lovely packaging designs.

I had wanted to have everything completely ready before re-opening, but appartantly this is one time the procrastination-BUG passed me by, and I was instead bitten by the be-reckless-and-jump-the-gun-BUG. Ooh, he's a sneaky one...

So, even-though I've technically re-opened, there is quite a bit of work yet to do. Oh my, I suppose this will really get me motivated. In the meantime, here's a special offer for my lovely bloggy readers:

30% off any purchase,

plus free shipping!

Just enter "BLOG30" in the "Notes to Seller" at checkout and I will send a revised invoice with your discount. Or, if you go ahead and complete payment, I will send a refund via PayPal. Offer expires 7/31/09.

Thank you again for all your support - you ladies are the best!

Beach Days and Business Cards

It was a great day at the beach, can you tell?

Aiden took the sand-castle building very seriously. Though judging from this picture, I'm not sure a career of engineering is in his future.

Garion's classic picture pose.

In other news, while working on my shop face-lift, I'm also designing new business cards. Here are the two that are my favorite so-far:

I want it to convey pretti-ness and softness, so I'm using the cherry blossom graphics. I like pink, and think the black adds a crisp, modern edge.

My previous cards just had all my info on a pretty background, but I think it's important for people to know what you're offering, so I've added some photos.

I designed them myself in Microsoft Publisher, which uploads easily to Vista Print and other online printing companies. What I like most of all is that I can change photos at any time and switch things around as my needs change.

My previous cards were professionally designed, but now I can't change anything - I would have to pay all over again. So this is a great option.

I love MS Publisher and use it to create all my business forms, thank you cards, promos, etc. It's not as fancy as a lot of programs, but it does everything I need, has ready-made templates, and is easy to work with. Give it a try, and see what you come up with...

So what I really want to know is - do you prefer one of the above cards over the other? Please let me know - I can't decide!

Back in The Saddle...

So if you hadn't noticed, I sort of disappeared during the last two months. I was so terribly sick, not eating, not knowing what was wrong, and pretty much languishing in misery on the couch. After much agonizing I decided to temporarily shut down my Etsy shop until my health improved. And it has...finally.

Three weeks ago, I had become so ill that I had to go to the ER for severe malnutrition and ended up being admitted for 8 days. Lots of poking (ouch!) and tests (errgh!), but I was finally diagnosed with having Crohn's Disease. It's actually been a relief to find out what was wrong and now be able to take positive steps towards healing and long term good health.

I'm feeling stronger each day and am excited to be re-opening my Etsy shop in the next few weeks.

But I have big plans for improvement.

Since my shop is shut down at the moment, now is the time to do some serious re-vamping. I plan to improve the quality of my "Well Traveled" atlas pendants, upgrading all chains to Italian Sterling Silver.

I am redesigning my logo, business card, and packaging in efforts to create more of a "brand" for my shop, but also a sweet delight for the eyes of my customers when they receive their order. Every purchase will also include a small free pick-me-up surprise!

Right now, I'm just in the planning stage, with lots to design, purchase and assemble. I will post some pictures as they become available.

So I may not exactly be in the saddle yet, but I've got one foot in the stirrup...