Do You Shop Etsy?

It seems everyone knows about etsy.com these days. Whether you have your own store there is another question. I do and I find the consistency in my sales rather…lacking. I have spent the last 4 months building up an inventory and trying to figure out what ways I can take advantage of what will bring people to my store. So far everything I’ve tried has been a hit or miss. It seems you have to have an amazing products or spend hours and hours blogging, promoting 50 teams and compiling treasury lists galore in order to keep you face constantly on the front page. Or both. And really that much effort just doesn’t seem worth it. Well to some I’m sure it does however my products range from $3 to $15 so after the cost of materials, the time it takes to make the product and to take good pictures (keyword good because anything with a crappy picture on etsy rarely gets noticed) and the post the item, my profit on it has shrunk. Now if I had higher priced goods then I would have more in my budget to spend hours and hours promoting others in order to get promoted in turn. But as it is I dont. So what methods of advertising can I use that will not take up half my days during the week to keep up with? Or if I did, would the sales and profit be worth it?

I’m somewhat at a loss at the moment and dont know what direction to head. Do I take a dive and spend hours and hours self promoting any way I can. Or do I stay as I am and spend my time elsewhere, like at a 9-5? ick.

Is using my blog as a way to promote my own products weird? Do my readers care at all for the products I make? Do you follow me for my crafting, for my writing, for my photos?

I’m in need of some advice, will you throw some my way? How do you shop etsy? Treasury lists or searches? HOw often do you buy from there? Do you shop there at all? Would you stop reading my blog if I started doing a shout out every week? Would you read it more if I featured cool products, some of course would be mine? Do you have your own store that does well? What methods of advertising do you use? What advise can you give me?

All feedback would be appreciated! And as a peek to my etsy world here are two treasury lists I’ve recently made and pictures of some of my new products. Enjoy!

What I want for Spring

Spring Fling Stationery

What Is A Writer?

If I write, does that mean I am a writer?

*pondering*

*shrugs*

*ponders some more*

What does it mean to be a writer? Seriously? I mean, can’t anyone can say that ‘I’m a writer!’ but what really defines what one is? Do you have to be published to become a writer? What  is the definition of the field? I’ve seen to many articles slandering people who have been published. But hey dude, they have and you haven’t. Others complain that our book shelf’s are full to the brim with crap people call literature. That publishers will try to sell anything for a buck. Doesn’t everyone these days?

We are all given the opportunity to express our selves equally. Some people are just more driven to write something, good or not, and send it to editors until someone picks it up and says they are willing to publish it. It then falls to the consumer to pick it up and read it. No one is forcing you to read something you do not want to read, unless your still in college. But we are a bit off topic because all I really want to know is, what defines you as a writer?

Is a regular blogger a writer? By posting my thoughts and opinions on the internets mean I am ‘published’? Is a finance analyst who writes financial reports a writer? Is a secretary who writes job procedures a writer?Is an English teacher who gives us our direction and  inspiration to write short stories a writer by default of their knowledge in the field? If you e-publish your work -which I heard is free to do- does that make you a writer or an author? Both? Even if no one buys it, downloads it, whatever?

After skimming so many opinions on the topic, I just don’t have an answer for the question anymore. Just because you have painted something, does that make you an artist? There has to be a line you cross somewhere that defines you as having the credentials you claim.  SO what are they, when does it happen? What achievements must you gain to state confidently that you are…whatever it is you say you are.

For example, being unemployed has shaken my foundation a bit. Causing me to open my eyes and wonder what I really enjoy doing. What defines who I am. What abilities can I honestly put on my resume that represent what I am capable of.  I made a business card recently hoping to hand out when I network.  Something I believe myself terrible at. So I sat and pondered for a few days because I didn’t know what I could say, in the smallest space possible, that would encompass who I am. What it is I am capable of. It was a tricky and condescending process. I ended up with this:

Sommer Rabellino

Analyst, Planner and Designer

I used the layout of the card to represent my designer side which I guess really encompasses all my creativity. I couldn’t break down photographer, stationery maker, decorator blah blah because I’m not really great at any of those things but the creativity involved shows how much those things mean to me. Now Analyst, well analyzing is a huge part of my personality. Friends and family know this.  A weird mix in a creative person I know. That is probably why I’ve never thrown caution to the wind and immersed myself in the love I have for all things art and went to business school instead. And in a professional capacity, the Planner is what I have the most experience in. Analyzing the planning data is second nature to the job. But do these 3 words really encompass who I am? Have I earned the right to call myself any of these things?

Notice writer is not on that list above. I honestly don’t believe I am one, even though I really want to be one. So can it be as simple as that? If I don’t believe I am something does that mean I am not? If I wake up tomorrow and go “By God, today I am a writer!” Does that suddenly make me one? *shrug* I don’t know what line I have to cross before I can add a skill to my list of achievements. Even saying I am a designer sounds flighty to my ears, but it is the best word in my vocabulary that encompasses my creativity. Trying to put who I am on a little card in a short few words has opened a can a worms I contemplate everyday.

What defines who you are?

Morning Frost

An image front my kitchen window as the sun rose this morning.

Cheers!

 

Morning Frost

A day in the life…Art Teacher

A day in high school again, well half a day. Still. Given the opportunity I would never repeat high school. I spent all my time in the dark room if I could help it. Otherwise I took off to a crappy job scooping ice cream to fill the time away from snobby clicks and all the related drama. If you haven’t guessed yet, I’m an introvert.

My thoughts spin into a downward spiral of all the things hated from ages 13-17.*sigh*

On a more positive note, and the reason for this post… I tagged along with Mr. Gonzalez while he taught his high school ceramics class here in Highlands Ranch CO. Daniel Gonzalez is an extremely talented artist and spends his days as a High School art teacher passing on his expertise to budding students. I’ve known Daniel for a while now, so to see him in action as an authority figure and more importantly a teacher, was a surreal experience for me.

Daniel’s easy going attitude mixed well with the interaction he had with his students. Teaching hormonally spastic teenagers how to do something that requires concentration and physical interaction with a medium has to be a serious challenge. I mean come on how focused were you at age 15? Especially in art class full of 40 other kids. Yet these kids set to work as soon as Daniel, sorry Mr. Gonzalez, said go.

The surprising part was that the kids on the wheels were focused. Even when for some just centering their blob of clay on the wheel was a challenge. But regardless of their skill level they kept at it and started over again when their clay didn’t form into whatever they saw displayed in their head. Daniel constantly challenged them. Can’t center your clay? I’ll show you how. Leading by example he would fix their mistake and a gleam of happiness would show in the kids eyes because now they wouldn’t have to do it themselves. Then, wham! a knock to the side of the clay to off center it again then he’d hand it back and say try again. The light in the kids eyes would dim in disappointment but then they set their elbows down and tried again. I honestly don’t know how he did it. I didn’t see one ounce of attitude until it was clean up time. For some reason sweeping the floor caused more uproar than getting clay all over their $150 jeans. Go figure.

I only observed for half a day but I had a great time. Watching these kids dig in and get their hands dirty made me want to jump right in with them. By the time I left I had absorbed an impromptu lesson on how to make a bowl on the wheel which I haven’t done since my junior year. No, I will not say how long ago that was.  Maybe next time I crash his class I’ll actually get to try it.

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A Compass To Lead

I’ve been neglecting my blog and all the topics I want to rant about in favor of trying to make a bunch of cards and things for my www.etsy.com website. Is this the better choice for me? Spending time making cards that have a minimal profit margin? *shrugs* not really sure. But the process makes me feel slightly useful, lets me know I’m making some money while not having a job. Even if it only buys us a meal or two for the week. The hope is a larger inventory on the stores site will bring in more sales. Let’s hope diversity in product makes a difference.

But even while I sit around making things with paper and glue, feeling like I should be back in elementary school, I cant stop thinking about the million other things I should be doing or researching or studying. That butterfly on crack comment I continually make about myself still holds true. I run around the house one minute being the diligent house wife while changing the laundry, the next minute saying screw this I need to make money and work on some paper cutting. Then head to my computer to look for jobs because really paper cutting is making next to nothing. Then I get depressed because there is nothing online I want to apply for. I do it because I know I should, I just don’t want to. So I berate myself for the resentment I feel towards myself for that statement. Then I go back to doing house wife chores like prepping for dinner so I feel useful before the husband gets home.

It’s a never ending cycle. I have a hundred paths to take and none seem like the right one. Well, I amend that. A few feel like they should be the right one but will take time and money we dont have to pursue. Does that make it the right choice then? Some say that if it made me happy then of course it is. But if i can’t help support my family but it makes me happy is it the right road to take? A part of me rebels at that kind of choice. I haven’t depended on anyone to take care of me since i was 16. The feeling of letting someone, even my husband, take care of me while I go off an ‘explore myself’ or ‘find myself’ or whateva is extremely difficult. Too many paths are staring me in the face, making me feel like i have some extreme form of ADD because I cant seem to focus on anything for any length of time. At least I can blame part of that on having lupus and fibro…brain fog and all that. However its not enough of an excuse to make all my indecision’s okay.

So where does my brain take me when I think of career paths?

1. start a business. what kind? wont go there, it would be a huge list of possibilities. most of which I couldn’t be able to realistically peruse. ok here’s a few: bookstore, cafe, manage dad’s company…..

2. photographer. not wedding nor portraits. why? dunno, just not my thing.

3. graphic designer

4. some type of art critic, analyst, choreographer, designer, editor…. I have no idea what kind of job would let me do this stuff but I’m guessing I’d have to have a hellva resume to get it. Maybe working for a magazine or marketing company, or something like etsy.com. Realistically I see myself managing art in some way rather than being the artist…..so where does that take me?

5. fiction writer. Yes i know how flippn difficult it is to get published. No i havent tried, I’ve just read enough to know it is. I think this will always be a side project I dream about. If one day i do get something, anything published, I’d be ecstatic. Until then it’s a pipe dream. Did I mention I have the worst editing skills possible?

If I could do any of these things without consequence what would it be? Study photography. Going to Brooks was a dream I’ve had since high school. Second would have to be writing but i’d need a wish from the genie bottle to make myself more competent in the field. Third would be to work with my Dad and create and market products around his artwork. The most realistic would be studying graphic design and see where that takes me. Hell right now I would settle for a boring accounting job with a really fun, creative company. Just working in the environment would go along way in making me enjoy my job, even if it wasn’t me doing all the creating.

So where do I go from here?

I dont have the training or education for any of these things. I’ve circled once again. And this is only the icing on the cake, the things I think more about than others. I need mentors, contacts, ideas, friends….*sigh* I need direction, a path, a compass to lead me. I’ve already been a housewife, a landlord, a photographer, a crafter and a writer today. It’s only 11:30. I’m tired of flitting around looking for a path and being afraid of where it will lead me or what it will take to get there.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Wonder

Canal in Venice

 

Venice is , so far, my most favorite city I’ve visited. I fell in love with it just from photos, well before I ever stepped foot there. The buildings have so much character and beauty. Getting lost in this place is wonderful. You follow through a tight pathway with buildings crowding in on you. Then you turn a sharp corner and suddenly your in a giant courtyard. The shops, the bridges, the cafe’s, the piazzas….all wonderful. To top it all off the city seems to float, which I guess it really does.

Summer Time Designs

I’ve been busy over at www.etsy.com working on my store of eclectic handmade things. Mostly stationary and embellishments for scrapbooking projects.  I was laid off recently so there has been time during my day to work on things I have put off for a long time. I never expected to get custom orders which has been the large part of my first few orders. This week I’m working on an order of 75 Thank you cards. It’s the first time I’ve taken on something so big and oddly finding it easy.

 

Bohemian Thank You

Bohemian Birthday

Now the problem is I dont think I’m charging enough. It’s part of my little business plan to generate business, get good reviews and hopefully build on referrals and repeat customers. In the process slowly increase the prices. In some ways that feels like cheating, yet its hard to determine the prices I should charge to make sure I’m actually making some profit. There’s been some but not enough to make this worth not looking for more permanent work while doing the store on the side on my spare time.

So when I take breaks from playing with paper and how to shoot my creations in the best light, I search for jobs I really dont want in hopes of finding one I do. My background in finance seems dull unless I can work with in a more creative environment. But you say finance and creativity, together? Noooooooooo. Here’s to hoping! If you  have any ideas of where I can apply plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz send me the link 🙂

 

In the mean time do you need some quick gift ideas? Check out my store Summer Time Design

 

Handmade Paper Flowers

Handmade Paper Flowers

 

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Windows

The weekly photo challenges kick started my photography libido again. Although,  sadly I’ve neglected them for a while. Not due to inactivity, just to me wanting to do my own thing.

But here is an old favorite of mine I took in Paris of a jewelry stores window front.

Cheers

Paris Window Front

Lonely Leaf

Pictures from around the house and a few more HDR trys below.

Lonely Leaf in the snow

Door Knob

Some HDR trys. These were my first attempts so no laughing.

HDR try 1

The above shot turned out well, however the one below didnt line up but I still like the effect it had……

HDR Try 2

Backyard Falcon (ahem Hawk)

It’s weird living somewhere where there is so much wildlife. I lived in the desert most my life and you see more insects and reptiles then anything else. Oh and pigeons. In Denver though I’ve seen a host of wildlife in the short time I’ve been here. In our backyard alone I have seen Coyote (witch isn’t really new, they live in desert climates too), rabbits, squirrels, owls, mice, rats (which I could have done without), all kinds off odd birds I don’t have names for, geese and falcons.

Today I bring you a few shots of our resident falcon. We’ve caught glimpses of this guy a few times but never within shooting range. In these shots he was right outside our house, hanging out in the tree we’ve seen owls in too. If anyone knows anything about birds, feel free to tell me about this guy. Hope you like him.

Falcon

falcon

Of course I had to try a black and white version. I think its kinda creepy.

Falcon BW