...featured, this time by floweredsky, a seller on etsy who is featuring an artist from every state. Well, she is featuring more than one from New Jersey (What I deduce from this, but that there are more talented people from NJ than anywhere else?! Actually, that's not the first thing I deduced, but it's the one I liked best), but I am honored to be among them. Take a look!
click here
Monday, June 28, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Long Awaited Trip, Sort Of
On Thursday, Mark, Mom and I made trip to Virginia, but it wasn't the one that I have been long awaiting. This trip was a spur of the moment decision to switch cars with the Aquino's, to lend a hand in putting in counters, and, more importantly, lend some tools to put in the counters. On the trip down, I drove for the first 3 hours. I played tag with a big purple truck, and was (despite what Mark says) nearly run into a cement guardrail/divider-thing by a huge truck that refused to stay in it's own lane. But nothing of any greater interest than that happened.
On Friday, Mark and Edward laid the sub-counter (or what ever you call the plywood and cement-board base), while I hung out with Becky and the boys. I know Mark found it interesting adapting himself to work on Edward's night-shift schedule. On Saturday we discussed the layout. Since we had nothing square to work off of, and the sink wasn't centered, we decided to go with a diagonal pattern (Hooray!) with a frame around the edges, which was, of course, the most complicated pattern discussed, but doesn't it always work that way? I don't know about the Aquino's opinion, but I think diagonal patterns are the best.
So, we started laying tiles Saturday night, but didn't come up with a system until Sunday evening. Mark measured, Edward cut, and I, as usual, laid. I like that job the best, because there is only one decision to be made; whether immediate tranquility is worth more than long term peace of mind; which is arguably a worse decision to make than where to mark and cut tiles, but it is for some unknown reason less stressful for me. The reason this decision has to be made, is because it's my call whether a cut is good enough or not. If it's not, I have to decide if I am going to tell them it's not good enough, (but you have to be kind of brave) or I can pretend it's fine, and hope no one ever notices. However, if they do notice sometime in the future, after it has been laid, grouted and sealed, they are going to be much more aggravated than if I had told them right away; I have so far decided to brave imminent danger to my eardrums* over indefinite impending danger to my life.
*It must be noted, I suppose, that I am taking writer's license with this post, as with many others, so what I write shouldn't be taken too seriously. If you want exact truth, you should read a literalist's blog.
I am also usually responsible for leveling the tiles, but the only way I can shift 12" tiles, is by balancing one one foot, and hopping up and down on it, and as there wasn't room for me on the counter, and that it didn't seem very ethical to jump on a kitchen counter, I allowed the guys to use their brute strength to get the large pieces, and I only worried about the little pieces.
On our floors, I also had done all the grouting. But there were far too many willing hands to make that necessary, or even practical. I think that David is the only one who didn't help, though he did manage to get it on his clothes.
We all agreed it looked kind kind of Mediterranean, and kind of like a patio; neither of which are exactly normal for a southern farmhouse kitchen, but seemed down-right beautiful when durability and cost were taken into account.
So, we grouted and sealed and placed the sink Monday morning, then packed up for the trek back home. Which would have been considerably easier if we had taken the difference of size between the diesel and the Jetta into account when we were packing the diesel for the trip down, but we eventually got everything, and everybody (I almost got to start my vacation a few weeks early) into the car, and started the 7 hour trip home.
Portable DVD players were a wonderful invention.
On Friday, Mark and Edward laid the sub-counter (or what ever you call the plywood and cement-board base), while I hung out with Becky and the boys. I know Mark found it interesting adapting himself to work on Edward's night-shift schedule. On Saturday we discussed the layout. Since we had nothing square to work off of, and the sink wasn't centered, we decided to go with a diagonal pattern (Hooray!) with a frame around the edges, which was, of course, the most complicated pattern discussed, but doesn't it always work that way? I don't know about the Aquino's opinion, but I think diagonal patterns are the best.
So, we started laying tiles Saturday night, but didn't come up with a system until Sunday evening. Mark measured, Edward cut, and I, as usual, laid. I like that job the best, because there is only one decision to be made; whether immediate tranquility is worth more than long term peace of mind; which is arguably a worse decision to make than where to mark and cut tiles, but it is for some unknown reason less stressful for me. The reason this decision has to be made, is because it's my call whether a cut is good enough or not. If it's not, I have to decide if I am going to tell them it's not good enough, (but you have to be kind of brave) or I can pretend it's fine, and hope no one ever notices. However, if they do notice sometime in the future, after it has been laid, grouted and sealed, they are going to be much more aggravated than if I had told them right away; I have so far decided to brave imminent danger to my eardrums* over indefinite impending danger to my life.
*It must be noted, I suppose, that I am taking writer's license with this post, as with many others, so what I write shouldn't be taken too seriously. If you want exact truth, you should read a literalist's blog.
I am also usually responsible for leveling the tiles, but the only way I can shift 12" tiles, is by balancing one one foot, and hopping up and down on it, and as there wasn't room for me on the counter, and that it didn't seem very ethical to jump on a kitchen counter, I allowed the guys to use their brute strength to get the large pieces, and I only worried about the little pieces.
On our floors, I also had done all the grouting. But there were far too many willing hands to make that necessary, or even practical. I think that David is the only one who didn't help, though he did manage to get it on his clothes.
We all agreed it looked kind kind of Mediterranean, and kind of like a patio; neither of which are exactly normal for a southern farmhouse kitchen, but seemed down-right beautiful when durability and cost were taken into account.So, we grouted and sealed and placed the sink Monday morning, then packed up for the trek back home. Which would have been considerably easier if we had taken the difference of size between the diesel and the Jetta into account when we were packing the diesel for the trip down, but we eventually got everything, and everybody (I almost got to start my vacation a few weeks early) into the car, and started the 7 hour trip home.
Portable DVD players were a wonderful invention.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Any thoughts?
Can anyone tell me where and how I can take pictures of my books that has a white background, is either outside or in a window, is in a "context that make sense", has something interesting behind it, has something personal about it, shows the entire book, is zoomed in on detail, and is the same for each book so that people can recognize my work from the picture; all for the first picture of each listing?
That's what I need to do to incorporate all the tips I've been given for my photography. Now, I know my photos still need work, but just who's advice should I follow? I find it fascinating to look at the shops of people who give me tips, and about half the time I find that the people who told me, my pictures stink, need a lot of work on their own pictures. (Of course, I've told other people they need work on their pictures, but I always started by saying I knew my own weren't perfect. That makes everything OK, doesn't it?)
My own inclination is to ignore everyone (personally, my favorite way of handling conflicting advise). Instead, I'm going to try to copy one of my customers techniques, (who is a photographer, by the way) who never made any derogatory comments on my pictures, even though she actually knew how to take better pictures, because I love these photos: Rachael's blog.
But of course, these are large photos. I need to be able to capture someones attention in a 1"x1" square, out of 3,000 other 1"x"1 squares. $55-$150 worth of attention.
I also need a good camera to work with. Mine's broken, so I have to use Mom's lousy one.. Actually, she has a very good camera, that was very expensive when it first came out. But, a very good, complicated camera becomes a very bad, very useless camera in the hands of a user who won't take the time to read the manual to figure out how it works. I have so far discovered (by randomly trying buttons, {the same way I play video games} )that the only way to get a clear picture of white pages with writing on them in in-direct lighting is to put it on the movie setting. (Why does it take pictures on the movie setting? Haven't the slightest idea.)
After reading this post, one would probably get the impression that I'm electronically challenged. Let me enlighten you, if that is your belief. I can learn anything (within reason, I'm no "geek") if I have someone show me, or if I care enough to spend hours and hours on end figuring it out on my own. I also love on-line tutorials (how I figured out how to post links on this blog when the "cheat" link button isn't working, and how to apply the background, and what-not), and look for them whenever possible. Then you don't have to expose your ignorance to anyone.
As Stymie said: "Uh,uh. I won't show my ig-nor-ance to noooo-body!"
That's what I need to do to incorporate all the tips I've been given for my photography. Now, I know my photos still need work, but just who's advice should I follow? I find it fascinating to look at the shops of people who give me tips, and about half the time I find that the people who told me, my pictures stink, need a lot of work on their own pictures. (Of course, I've told other people they need work on their pictures, but I always started by saying I knew my own weren't perfect. That makes everything OK, doesn't it?)
My own inclination is to ignore everyone (personally, my favorite way of handling conflicting advise). Instead, I'm going to try to copy one of my customers techniques, (who is a photographer, by the way) who never made any derogatory comments on my pictures, even though she actually knew how to take better pictures, because I love these photos: Rachael's blog.
But of course, these are large photos. I need to be able to capture someones attention in a 1"x1" square, out of 3,000 other 1"x"1 squares. $55-$150 worth of attention.
I also need a good camera to work with. Mine's broken, so I have to use Mom's lousy one.. Actually, she has a very good camera, that was very expensive when it first came out. But, a very good, complicated camera becomes a very bad, very useless camera in the hands of a user who won't take the time to read the manual to figure out how it works. I have so far discovered (by randomly trying buttons, {the same way I play video games} )that the only way to get a clear picture of white pages with writing on them in in-direct lighting is to put it on the movie setting. (Why does it take pictures on the movie setting? Haven't the slightest idea.)
After reading this post, one would probably get the impression that I'm electronically challenged. Let me enlighten you, if that is your belief. I can learn anything (within reason, I'm no "geek") if I have someone show me, or if I care enough to spend hours and hours on end figuring it out on my own. I also love on-line tutorials (how I figured out how to post links on this blog when the "cheat" link button isn't working, and how to apply the background, and what-not), and look for them whenever possible. Then you don't have to expose your ignorance to anyone.
As Stymie said: "Uh,uh. I won't show my ig-nor-ance to noooo-body!"
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
New Banner Finished!
My new banner, etc. for my store are finished! I'm so happy with them! I started posting in Etsy's critiques forums again; I had stopped before because I recieved so many negitive comments on my banner, avatar, photos, and descriptions I found it a bit depressing. It didn't even lighten my depression to tell other people that their pictures stunk. (Strange, isn't it?)
But now, I've only recieved positive comments on everything in my store (except for one person who said I should take new pictures of my books, and show the whole book in the first picture, and details in the later pictures. Humph! She obviously never tried photographing plain brown rectangles of leather and trying to make them look like beautiful heirloom journals in a 1" x 1" square), particulary my bannar and avatar. I can't wait until I have my next custom order so I can use my reserved listing graphic!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Continuation of Shop Makeover
I am continuing my shop makeover, and have come to the exciting part - I bought a custom banner, avatar, and "reserved listing" graphic, and they're almost done! I can't wait, since I think it'll make a tremendous change in the look of my shop (waaaaay more professional).
I sent her 3 paragraphs of description of what I was looking for (over-kill, I know) but it seems to have worked, because even though what she made isn't exactly what I had originally pictured, it has the same "feel" to it, and actually matchs my business cards (what I was trying to match) better than what I was picturing. This is what she made originally (click here), and I asked her to make just a few slight changes, which she is working on now.
I sent her 3 paragraphs of description of what I was looking for (over-kill, I know) but it seems to have worked, because even though what she made isn't exactly what I had originally pictured, it has the same "feel" to it, and actually matchs my business cards (what I was trying to match) better than what I was picturing. This is what she made originally (click here), and I asked her to make just a few slight changes, which she is working on now.
Running
The only thing worse than running, is running on a hot day.
The only thing worse than running on a hot day, is running uphill on a hot day.
The only thing worse than running on a hot day, is running uphill on a hot day.
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