Meg's Outlet

Haute Goat: SOS saved the day

2009-08-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

Come see me this weekend!

2009-07-15T01:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend, July 18th & 19th, I will be at the Mill Creek Festival. I'm really excited about doing this show again. Last year was a ton of fun, and a totally great crowd. It looks like the weather is going to be great for a day of fun in the sun. So come join me and the other arts & crafts vendors. I'll be sharing a booth with Marlo of Tote2Go, re-usable fabric tote bags fashioned out of re-purposed materials. I'll have my original and wheat & gluten free homemade playdough, fun for kids and adults alike. Stop by and say Hi!

Etsy Poll

2009-05-12T23:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! My playdough was selected for an Etsy poll. The question "Which would make you teacher's pet?" under the Gifts for Teachers section. Please take a sec and vote for me here! And then take a look around and vote on the other categories too, k?

Homemade Playdough Featured!!!

2009-05-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

I could not be more excited!!! My homemade playdough is featured today on DailyCandy.com in the Seattle Kids section. Check it out!

2009-05-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

I will be at the EtsyRain Craft Show this weekend with Dough in tow! Come down to the Sodo Pop in Seattle. It is a great location for an intimate show with some amazing local artisans/crafters. It is a Saturday event not to be missed. There will be 30 swag bags for the first people through the door so get there early. And bring canned food because we will be collection donations at the door for the Cherry Street food bank. Check us out on Yelp to and let us know if you will be there!

New Listings

2009-05-01T18:44:00.001-07:00

I've been busy the last two days taking new photos and adding new listings of my homemade playdough to my Etsy shop. This is all in preparation for a possible feature in DailyCandy.com's Seattle Kids edition. I believe I will be the Monday feature, but I haven't got confirmation on the day yet. This is really exciting and they are focusing on my Wheat & Gluten Free version. Keep an eye out! In the meantime, check out my Etsy shop.

Easter Egg Grave Yard...

2009-04-14T14:58:00.001-07:00

The pretty eggs, colored by the children of the Affleck family, were sacrificed to the deviled egg gods.

2008-10-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

I have a bunch of new items in my Baubles By Hand jewelry shop on ETSY. Let me know what you think.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
BaublesByHand

All things Fall

2008-10-17T23:21:00.000-07:00

I got to carve pumpkins last night. Yay! It was so much fun, and I think it was the first time I'd done it since I was a kid. The Affleck family (Kelly, Daryl, Charlie, and Clara) let me tag along to pick out the gourds and then back to the house for carving.

My first reaction to the goopy, stringy innards was - SAVE THE SEEDS!!! Hah, leave it to me to turn any holiday tradition into a "food thing". It was so funny watching 2 year old Clara get totally slimy in the bowl of seeds. She came very close to dunking her head in the bowl!

I think my interpretation of a friendly vampire o'lantern turned out great. The seeds were pretty good too. I might even have to get another pumpkin so The Count, that is what I am calling him, isn't lonely on my front porch.

Cook's Journal

2008-10-17T17:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is a really simple recipe for potatoes. It is probably nothing new, but I made them as a side for dinner tonight with broiled Tilapia and they were AWESOME! I love cooking without a plan. I find some of my favorite meals happen when I think "I have nothing here to eat!". So as I was looking around for something to make with the fish I defrosted days ago (and didn't feel like making) I found a bag of little redskin potatoes I'd forgotten about. Fish cooks pretty quickly so I didn't want to wait for my typical roasted potatoes. Here is what I came up with...

5 little redskin potatoes

Wash and Quarter
Placed in a pot large enough for all the quarters to be touching the bottom of the pan, but not a lot of extra room.

Vegetable stock, just to cover potatoes (I used about 3/4 to 1 cup)
1 tsp. kosher salt
fresh ground pepper to taste
2 tbsp. dried chives (if using fresh add when reducing liquids at the end)
1 large clove of garlic, crushed
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Cook on high until liquid is at a rolling boil. Cover and turn down to medium-medium high for 10-15 min until potatoes are fork tender. Remove lid, turn down to medium, and let the liquid reduce (about 5 min). I finished with 1/2 tbsp. of unsalted butter to finish the gravy created by the vegetable stock reduction. I hope you try these they were yummy!

What are you doing Sunday, October 11th?

2008-10-08T15:03:00.001-07:00

Come to the EtsyRain.com Handmade Arts Show!

When: Sunday, October 11th
10am -4pm

Where: St. Edwards State Park - Grand Dining Hall

Why: Because this is a great show featuring the unique items of 30 local artisans and crafters, that's why!

Also grab a goodie from our bake sale benefiting VSA Arts of Washington.

Check out etsyRAIN.com for more information!

Yarn Over

2008-10-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

So I finally gave in and picked up a needle. I wasn't sure if I should start with knitting or crocheting, but I decided that since crocheting involved only one needle that would be a better place to start. But, then the question became which needle and which yarn? I just made an educated guess because the sales person at Michael's Craft Store wasn't terribly helpful. Luckily I guessed right. I figured that I could learn some of the basics online so I went searching for a tutorial. I found quite a few on YouTube, but that only got me so far. Then last Wednesday I met some fellow EtsyRain members at a local mall for dinner and crafting. Thankfully I had the opportunity to consult a crochet master! If it weren't for Cindy of Original Cyn Studios I'd still be crocheting a sad single chain - a very long, very sad single chain. Now I am going back and forth like a pro. Ha!

Next, I change colors...To Be Continued.

We're Famous!

2008-08-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

How cool is it that EtsyRain was Etsy.com's third featured team in The Storque! Check out the article here. Go EtsyRain Go!

Arts, Crafts, and Fun - Oh My!

2008-08-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

EtsyRain is at it again! If you are looking for something to do this upcoming Friday and Saturday (August 8th and 9th) why don't you stop by the Showcase Tacoma. I'll be there selling my jewelry from Baubles By Hand in the EtsyRain group tent. If you stop by you will be lucky enough to have a look at all the goodies we have to offer. Joining me will be:

~Marlo of I Make Cute Stuff with her practically-adorable Totes2Go
~Kayce of Nuetome and World of Whimm with her fantastic kids wear
~Trina of Woven Chains displaying beautiful chain maille jewelry
~Laurie of Loud Life with her intriguing and inspiring mixed media artwork
~Julie of Crack Pot Mosaics and her regular objects turned into one of a kind mosaic art
~Jonah of Maluhia will tempt your wallet with her whimsical approach to handbags, wallets, and other accessory items.
Take a look at their shops for a small glimpse into what you could find at this weekend's show. Check out showcasetacoma.org for more information.

Happy Birthday EtsyRain!

2008-07-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

*UPDATE* - Etsy liked our gift so much that they made a little video "reopening" our gift. The first video got accidentally taped over, OOPS! But, we loved that they reinacted the opening for us. Here it is.

What on earth is an EtsyRain you may ask. EtsyRain is the Seattle Metropolitain Street Team for Etsy.com. Our team was founded a year ago by Carrie of Glitzconcepts (Finny's Funny Fleece) in August of 2007. In celebration of the event many of our memebers pitched in to send the gang at Etsy.com a little birthday present. The team has been a great support to me an all its members and we couldn't wait to give back.

Marlo of I Make Cute Stuff has taken over the helm and is steering EtsyRain into a really exciting second year! With plans for group booths at various local events, promotions, and a new website in the making we have a lot to look forward to.

The artists and artisans of EtsyRain are as diverse as the faces of Seattle's residents. Amongst our members you will find everything from handmade knits and organic soaps to beautiful one of a kind jewelry pieces and fantastic photography. Our shows will surprise you, and I dare you to walk away empty handed! Just take a look at a few of our member shops or our blog and see for yourself. If you are in the Seattle/Tacoma area keep a look out for that crazy word "EtsyRain" we might just be coming to a show near you!

(Images shown are the donations for the EtsyRain birthday present to the team at Etsy.com)

Happy Solstice

2008-07-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

Seattle is a city of beautiful diversity. I sometimes think that the folks who were born and raised here, although I it never seems like anyone is actually "from" here, take this city and all it has to offer for granted. From the lively atmosphere at Pike Place to the unique shops of Ballard and Fremont there is always something new to experience. Then there are the mountain trails, the lake side parks, and ferry trips to the surrounding islands - oh, I could go on forever!

Well, I had the opportunity a couple weekends ago to experience one of those special "Seattle" events. I attended the Solstice Parade in Fremont and it will definitely be an occasion I will be adding to my calendar for years to come. If you'd like to learn a little more about this Seattle tradition head to the Fremont Arts Council website and if you would like to see my pics you can check them out here. The best part about the Parade was the way everyone, participants and onlookers alike, joined in and celebrated! Everyone seemed to embrace the opportunity to rejoice. Some took part in the tradition of celebrating the human form, in all its naked glory. But others pushed the envelope politically with controversial statements on American life. I was just happy to be part of it all, even if only as a spectator. Who knows maybe next year I'll be pushing a float myself, and yes I said pushing, there are no motorized vehicles allowed at this show!

Cooking Journal - Entry 3

2008-06-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have another kitchen creation that I'd like to share. I get on a kick from time to time where I just love to spend time in the kitchen. There is something so cathartic about slicing, chopping, and stirring. Except the fact that I have been in the kitchen so much lately making pounds and pounds of playdough it took me a little while to get my kitchen back in food cooking mode.

I do love the feel of accomplishment when something I concoct something new and tasty out of a list of ingredients. I don't particularly like recipes and measurements. When I cook it is usually with what I like to call the throw and taste method. I throw in what I think sounds good and then I taste and see what I might need next.

I was on my way home from work yesterday and two things popped into my head. First, summer vegetables. Second, my friend the "vegan" who doesn't like to cook (just kiddin' Kel). I was on the hunt for corn on the cob, one of my absolute favorite parts about summer. So I headed to the great little market where I knew I would find all the best fresh fruits and veg - Top of The Hill Quality Produce. And, boy was I right! Corn, zucchini, green beans, and I can't forget the yellow raspberries - another one of my favs! I picked up a bag and a half of the freshest produce with one thing in mind - Stoup!

Yes, you heard me right, Stoup. Now I am not a huge fan of Rachel Ray, but her introduction of this word into my cook vocab was welcomed with open arms. I like soups in general, but for some reason my tummy is not as fond of all that warm liquid. Stews - now that is a different animal entirely. The big chunks of vegetables or protein surrounded by a warm gravy of sorts, that is what I am talking about! A stoup is a beautiful product of combining these two concepts. Last night I put together a Summer Veggie Stoup worth sharing by recipe as well as by bowl.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I just did!

Summer Veggie Stoup
In a large soup pot combine the following in the order listed adding each as they are cut. Simmer with the lid on for one hour. All veg should be cut in large chunks.

1 - 16oz Can of Diced Tomatoes
4 - Small Red Skin Potatoes - Skin on!
1 - Sweet Onion
2 - Cloves of Garlic, Smashed and Peeled (I also added 5 cloves of roasted garlic too!)
2 - Stalks of Celery
1 - Carrot
1/4 - Head of Cabbage
1 - Cup Corn from the Cob and the Husk Milked
2 - Cups of Fresh Green Beans
4 - Cups of Vegetable Broth
2 - Tsp Kosher Salt
1 - Tsp Fresh Ground Pepper
2 - Tbsp Parsley
1/2 - Tbsp Thyme

After an hour to an hour twenty add a box of small pasta shells or the like. Return the lid and turn off the burner. The pasta will cook with the residual heat. That's it!

2008-06-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

Wow, have I been bad at keeping up with this lately! I even missed plugging a show I did this past weekend. Doh! Anyway, I will plug the next one...June 28th will be the next show I am taking part in. It will feature 25 or so other wonderful EtsyRain.com artisans and a fundraising B-B-Q benefiting the Ballard NW Senior Center. The Ballard NW Senior Center, a great venue, is hosting this event and has been gracious enough to let us crazy crafters peddle our wares and such. The show and B-B-Q will be held from 10 am to 4 pm at the Center located at 5429 32nd Ave NW in Ballard. Feel free to check out all the info at EtsyRain.com and don't forget to stop by for a little crafty-Q! I dare ya.

2008-05-04T21:51:00.000-07:00

The first annual Puget Sound Indie Arts Spring Arts & Crafts Show will be held this Saturday, May 10th at Artworks in Edmonds, WA.

The show will feature 25 local artisans and their handmade wares. As a bonus the first 50 patrons through the doors will receive a hand sewn swag bag full of crafty samples from participants. Doors open at 9:30am and the show will run until 4:30. Please join us for uniquely handcrafted items like jewelry, pottery, reusable grocery bags, candles, and much much more! Oh yeah, I will be there too - jewelry, magnets and play dough in hand.

Spotlight on EtsyRain

2008-03-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

Re-purpose, reuse, recycle - Entangle! Julia's jewelry is such testament to her love of making the old look new again. Old stretchy watchbands, enameled flower broaches, cameo pendants, buttons, charms, and chains all find their way into her hands and become fodder for her passion.

I sat next to Julia at an outdoor craft fair late last year. I watched as the few freezing patrons of the fair shivered past her booth, stopped, and noticed a piece. Comments would fly - "My mother had a pair of earrings just like this when I was little." Of course now that pair of earrings had be come just a single and found a home as a lovely addition to one of her eclectic necklace charms.

In a world, or maybe region, where the idea of a greener approach to living and vintage chic is oh so popular Julia's prices are a steal! Please take a look at some of the places you can find her, starting with her Etsy shop, Entangles. She also shares information on her blog about other crafters who have focused their talents on "up-cycling". You know what they say - "one woman's trash is another woman's treasure". Julia is making treasures for us all!

New Shop Open for Business

2008-03-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been my intention since Christmas time to get a new shop up and running. I finally got around to bringing this idea to fruition. I still have a ways to go and product that needs concocting, but it is a start.

After all of the toy recalls and parents' wanting safer more natural things for their children to play with I remembered one of my favorite things as a child - homemade play dough! To this day the smell of the salty stove top toy makes me smile. My mom made it for my brother and I when we were little. She would squish it into a plastic hamburger patty maker to fashion perfect fat disks and then wrap them in plastic wrap. Each of us would get a stack of our own. I remember feeling so lucky to have a mom who would make me my own special play dough - none of that store bought stuff!

There are great recipes out there for other homemade crafty toy supplies and I plan on trying a few. In the near future I hope to list finger paints as well. I hope you'll take a look at my new Etsy shop and let me know what you think!

Swag Bag Sewing Bee!

2008-03-19T14:20:00.000-07:00

Last weekend a group of us crazy crafters from EtsyRain - Puget Sound Indie Arts (PSIA is our new group name for use in the world outside of Etsy) had a Swag Bag Sewing Bee. What in the world is a Swag Bag Sewing Bee you may ask, it was an afternoon of sewin' and rotary cuttin' to make beautiful fabric swag bags for the first Puget Sound Indie Arts craft fair. Yay! A great little gaggle of us gals (and guy) got together. Some cut the pieces, some put together the pieces, others - more skilled at sewing- sewed up the bags just right, and then we put drawstrings on to finish.

These little bags will get filled up with awesome EtsyRain - PSIA swag and will go to the first 50 people through the door. When and where will we be giving these treasures away...? I thought you'd never ask! The show will take place May 10th, from 9:30am - 4:30pm at Artworks in Edmonds, WA. There will be 25 amazing artisans with wonderful handmade items to take home with you. So mark your calendars if you are in the Puget Sound area, and bring your mother for a one of a kind Mother's day weekend experience.

My Day Job

2008-03-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

Most of the crafters I know have one, a day job that is. I would love to be able to support myself by selling my creations, but at least for the present time that just isn't happening! So I manage a high end flooring showroom in the Seattle Design Center. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Design Center it is basically two large mall type buildings in the Georgetown area of Seattle. Each space in the two buildings is occupied by vendors who supply a variety of home decor items to be sold wholesale to interior designers and architects. The items are then resold to their clients. Showrooms specialize in everything from exquisite furniture to unique lighting fixtures, fabrics, accessories, and flooring.

I have a background in graphic and interior design. Having worked in the interior design field since I graduated from college I decided last year that I wanted to try something a little different - and a little more steady - income wise. Becoming manager of the Rubenstein's Showroom back in July has allowed me to broaden my horizons and learn another specialty in the design field. Flooring is sometimes an afterthought for some designers, and homeowners for that matter. I have learned a lot in the last couple months, but I won't bore you with all the details. However, if you have any questions I would be happy to try and answer them. I don't claim to be an "expert" just yet, but I do know a few.

Anyway, last week was the yearly NORDEX conference at the Seattle Design Center. I'm still not sure what "NORDEX" actually stands for, but it is basically a two day event. During the two days there are different speakers, showroom open houses, and product introductions. I spent the week leading up to it trying to ready the showroom - cleaning, reorganizing, and reworking our displays. I really enjoy doing this kind of stuff including planning the flowers and food for our guests. I was really pleased with the way everything turned out. However, this being my first NORDEX event, I was disappointed with the turn out. I believe the lack of visitors was due to our current economic situation. These types of events target designer in the far reaches of Washington and beyond - not every state has a great resource for designers like the SDC. It seems those targeted might have decided to stay a little closer to home. Anyway, maybe next year will be better. It was a lot of work, but in the end I was happy to have put forth our best effort.

Spotlight on EtsyRain

2008-03-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

Well, have totally neglected my blog the last week or so. I have just not been in the mood to write. Because of this lack of focus I didn't get around to doing last weeks "EtsyRain" spotlight. So in the spirit of getting things back on track I'd like to introduce two of my fellow Rain'ers. First, Martha of Dancing Monkey Jewelry has opened her Etsy shop for business. She has added a wonderful selection of beautifully crafted sterling silver and gemstone earrings. With a funky yet elegant style Martha's pieces would fit comfortably into any modern woman's jewelry box. I do hope to see her necklaces and bracelets posted soon. I can't wait to see what she comes up with.

Emmakat's shop another highlight of the EtsyRain community. Her pieces offer a delicate balance of seed beads, gemstones, and sterling silver. I particularly love the attention she pays to the pendant portion of her necklaces. Her construction and color pairings give birth to truly unique jewelry designs. Emma also has a few great gocco pieces and she still has two EtsyRain mystery sampler bags. Each Sampler listing contains five items, retailing for $10, from other EtsyRain artisan's, and you can purchase the grab bag for only $25. It's a great deal!

Go take a look at both these great shops, and check back for information on other talented Seattle area artisan's.

Coming Soon!

2008-03-14T11:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have neglected my blog for over a week now. I have just been to tired or distracted to write, but now I have a back log of thoughts I need to post. But...right now I have work to catch up on (I hate when assistants quit and don't give any notice). Hopefully, I will have a chance this weekend to sit down and get it all out. Oh, and I will get to both this week's and last week's EtsyRain spotlight posts as well. Gotta support the girls! More to come...

Uplifting

2008-03-04T15:15:00.000-08:00

I just saw this painting on an Etsy Artist's Live Journal. She says she is trying a new line of products and she is looking for feedback. I left her a message because this painting just struck me! I love the colors, the composition, and the lolly pop trees. I like all kinds of artwork, but this is one that just makes me feel good. She has some great stuff. Take a look at her Etsy shop...and what a funny avatar.

Cooking Journal - Entry 1

2008-03-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

I don't always feel motivated to make a whole meal during the week now that it is just me, but I like to experiment with my own recipes on the weekends. Well I made something this weekend that turned out so yummy I thought I would share. It was essentially the marinade and dipping sauce that I am so proud of.

I started by putting together the marinade in a Ziploc, and shook to combine. Then I took a 1lb. flank steak, and punctured holes all over the front and back with two forks. I lowered the steak into the baggie and tried to get out as much air as I could - making sure that the steak would lay flat in the bag. I then put it in the refrigerator making sure to lay it flat and I flipped it once about half way through the time it spent in the fridge. (I probably had mine marinating for almost 24 hours.) When you are ready to cook it remove the bag from the fridge and pull out the meat. When you pull it out just run your hands down it to get the big chunks and most of the liquid off. Then pat dry on a couple of paper towels - it must be dry before cooking. I broiled the flank steak for about 5 min on each side. Let rest, then thinly slice.

I think this would totally work with Chicken or Pork Loin too, but I would just cook those on 350 instead of broiling. If you try it let me know how it works for you. A little sweet and full of flavor. I also put together a blue cheese dipping sauce that reminded me of one I've had at the Melting Pot and served with fresh white corn off the cob and red skin potatoes. Both recipes are included below. I hope you enjoy.

I am bummed I didn't think of taking pictures though. Maybe next time I will remember to photography the meaty goodness.

Move over BF Contessa!

Meg's Marinade
1 lg diced shallot
2 lg sliced cloves of garlic
¾ cup of Pineapple Juice (juice from one can of pineapple chunks)
¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp Teriyaki Sauce
2 tbsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce
2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
Juice of one Lime
2 tbsp Dry Parsley
½ packet of Good Season’s Italian Dressing
1 tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tbsp Paprika
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper

Gorgonzola Dip (Serves 2)
1 1/2 tbsp Gorgonzola Crumbles
2 tbsp Sour Cream
2 tbsp Cream Cheese
1 tbsp Buttermilk
1 tbsp Chives
Pinch Garlic Powder
Pinch White Pepper
Heavy Pinch of Salt

*Mash together with a fork. Add buttermilk to achieve desired thickness.

ENJOY!

MOOooooooo

2008-02-29T08:26:00.000-08:00

I got my first full MOO card order yesterday. I really like the way they turned out. I do wish they would offer a more glossy finish because the black backgrounds look a little flat in a matte finish. Hopefully, someday they will allow you to use your own avatar image on the back too. All in all they are a great little thank you's to include in with my orders. Plus, when I had my business cards made I didn't have my Etsy shop yet so my shop address is missing from them. These MOO's will be fun to hand out, but at $19.99 (plus shipping) for 100 cards I will have to be a little discerning with who I give them too. If you haven't been to MOO yet take a look!

Spotlight on EtsyRain

2008-02-27T16:13:00.001-08:00

This weeks EtsyRain spot light is on Daisiemai Creations. Janea, is a talented jewelry designer and mother of 5 year old Natasha. I really love the piece shown to the left and it is a beautiful representation of the eclectically artistic nature of her work. Working mostly with bead and wire techniques Daisiemai Creations has created an identity all her own. Check out her shop to see all the pretties she has to offer. And check out her blog to see what fun her little angle had with a bean bag (oy!).

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

2008-02-25T13:37:00.000-08:00

Weather in the Puget Sound area was beautiful this weekend. I wanted to get out and take advantage of it at the same time getting more familiar with my great little digital camera. I don't have anything fancy, but I am amazed at the pictures I can get with it. A good shot is even easier to achieve on a sunny, blue sky day like yesterday. I had a third motive that sent me searching for a botanical garden setting that would provide me with lovely subjects. I need some thing new for my walls at home.

I tend to get overwhelmed by shopping for framed art. It is very rare that I am stumped when it comes to shopping. I love shopping and I love decorating my home even more. However, when I think about investing in a piece of fine art I instantly get indecisive. I think this happens mostly because my tastes change so often - I get bored easily. I'm always afraid I'll get tired of it in a year and artwork is something I feel you should love for a lifetime. Anyway, I digress...

I decided to head out to the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Tacoma, WA. I was lucky enough to find a fellow EtsyRain'er who would accompany me. Thanks Sima! The little Atrium was really beautiful. The colors were so vibrant and the subjects amazing. I think I got a few really nice photographs. I'm thinking I might even list a few in my shop. If you want to see the rest of my shots I have them posted to my Flickr!. And if you have a free day and need some inspiration I'd recommend a trip to the lovely little W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory.

Spotlight on EtsyRain

2008-02-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

I've decided Wednesday's will be the day that I highlight a fellow EtsyRain member and what better way to start than with the "A's".

Funny enough Art By Norm isn't art made by a guy named Norm at all, but a wonderful artist named Heidi. The mischievous looking little guy Heidi has brought to life through her paintings (and more recently through felted figures, clay, and fabric) always has a different story to tell. Whether Norm is at the beach or just playing around he is sure to make you smile.

I think Heidi describes her muse best, "Norm is a smirk in a world of sighs." Check out Norm/Heidi's Etsy shop through the link above and also her blog.

The Troll Stroll

2008-02-19T08:37:00.000-08:00

One of the things I just love about living in the Seattle area is there is always something new to see and do. A couple weeks ago I met up with a group of fellow EtsyRain members. ("EtsyRain" being the group of crafters in the Seattle area who sell their arts on Etsy.) After starting our late morning with coffee (a must in Seattle). We decided to take in the Fremont Market, which is a wonderful people's market full of crafts, antiques, and food. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, especially for Seattle in the winter. I got to meet some great new members, which is always a good time. Then came the stroll to the troll! A troll you say, yes a troll. You can read all about the Fremont Troll here. It was a really fun touristy thing to do on a Sunday afternoon. I took a bunch of pictures that turned out pretty well. However, I was a bit disappointed in the fact that the Troll had been vandalized. The good thing is that the graffiti seemed to just be colored chalk. With a good bath he should be as good as new. If you are ever in the area I encourage you to take a stroll! ~ Thanks for organizing Trina!

First Things First...

2008-02-18T15:58:00.000-08:00

When I started making jewelry back in August I wasn't sure how I would sell it. I have been successful with selling at in home parties. But, it is always more enticing when you can see, feel, and put on one of my pieces. It was great at first, but I quickly learned that I needed other outlets. So I joined the legions of passionately crafty people selling their wares on Etsy(dot)com.

Etsy is an outstanding site devoted to artists and the handmade items that they produce(if you haven't already become a fan you should check it out). Artists form, maintain, and stock their own Etsy shops. At first I thought, "Oh this will be easy", and in some ways it is. The ease of use is wonderful. Choose a shop name, upload some pictures of your items, write a clever little description, and WHAM you make money! Right? Well not quite. The competition is stiff. By searching the word "jewelry" I got 20,105 hits.

So how the heck am I going to get noticed amongst a sea of jewelry makers? I am in search of the answer to that question. There are plenty of people in the community ready to offer good advice on how to create a successful Etsy shop, and I am ready to take it! I am going to start with the part I feel is the most important. Product photography.

As I mentioned before, I get the response I am looking for when people see my work in person. Online, however, I am only able to engage my customers through the product descriptions and the PHOTOS! They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well I hope so because writing witty descriptions of my items is not my strong suit. Photos, lets focus on photos!

I took an awesome little class offered by a fellow EtsyRain (subject for another day) member who taught me three very important lessons. First, when taking pictures of smaller items like jewelry I need to use the Macro setting on my camera This really helped get better detail of my jewelry. Second, she helped me find the "white balance" feature. Funny I didn't even know my camera had that option? Setting the white balance is so key to getting colors in photographs to look true to what you see in real life. The third nugget of information I took away that day was how to use the focus. My camera automatically focuses on what you point it at. But what my tutor taught me was how to focus on one small part of the whole and adjust the focus so the rest of the field drifted off. This is hard for me to explain in words, but hopefully my photo above will illustrate my point.

I went back home that day prepared to reinvent my shop and hopefully make it stand out through my product photos. I have received a few orders as a result, but I'm not done yet. I know I can make it even better. So this weekend I built myself a light box. It's not nearly as complicated as it sounds. I have seen may blogs on this subject including where and what supplies to buy. Well one blog in particular peaked my interest (I can't remember which one at the moment. Darn, I will rack my brain.). Well here it is. My new light box. Hopefully this will be a positive next step in my quest to achieve Etsy greatness. Well, at least a sale or two.