Wedding Wednesday: Dreaming

                                     

I was thinking the other day about what I would do if I was to get married again…to the same guy of course, just another wedding (I’ve been threatening this and I’m actually serious! :). There’s so many options out there! I’d love to go with pale yellows and a sharp green, or a nautical blue with red accents…or with my choice below.

 

                                        

These flowers are from DK Designson Etsy. They’re totally up for doing custom designs, so I’d ask for this vase of flowers to be made into a bouquet. (I love dreaming!)

                                        

There’s so many options when it comes to wedding dresses, a huge assortment of dresses, colors and styles! I can’t decide if I’d like to go funky (I saw this poofy dress once that was calf length and had different colors of mesh under the top layer…SO cool!!) or classical. I like both styles…this dress is from Joan Shum Brides. I really really love it!!

                            

Bonziemade this shawl and it’s TO DIE FOR!! I just love Bonzie’s whole shop!

                                   

I couldn’t find quite what I was looking for in a bridesmaid dress so I googled my preferences and this is what I came up with…I love the style…maybe I’d have to order an extra dress just for me (:

Blogging Techniques 3

This blogging techniques entry is from Damien, from Post Cards from the Funny Farm, a mentor of mine in the blogging department. Damien was the blogger that encouraged me to look into getting my own domain and has mentored me through that process. Here’s the question I sent Damien: How did you start blogging and what promotions etc. have you done to get to where you are now? A: My first “touch” of a blog was through Blogger (also referred to as “blogspot” and now owned by Google).  I started a blog but had no idea what all the bells and whistles around me did.  I knew how to write though so I kept an online diary sending the link to family after I saw movies, went to events etc.  I started doing that in 1997.  After that I started a FORUM, which is kind of like a blog.  I used to chat on a local forum and the moderators got really Draconian so I decided to start my own (sorry for the long boring answer, I am almost finished).  In the time I was on the forum I learned a ton of html a little at a time: ie; How to make a signature photo appear etc.  This would later prove very important for me in blogging. The beginning of blogging for me was in December of 2006 when I started Postcards from the Funny Farm.  I could say a lot more that would probably help people starting but maybe you could interview me sometime ;)   The promotions I have done to become an established and lucrative blogger are legion, but if I had to whittle it down to the I feel would most help a beginning blogger, I would say these (if you’re serious): Write for Blogcritics Hire a more established blogger to analyze your site and give you suggestions (I charge 5 bucks for a thorough list of suggestions) BTW, I’ve hired a few myself so this isn’t just lipservice. Advertise your blog through Entrecard Networking (free) Join BlogCatalog and particpate in the discussions often. Sign up at BlogRush and put a mutual networking widget in your blog. Ask other blogs to host a guestblog of yours (archive of mine for examples).  Return the favor.  Both benefit both times. Unlimited times. Okay, better stop now — doing all that will take you weeks.  Come over to my online diary if you have any more questions.

 

Thanks Damien!

I hope everyone got something out of this Blogging Techniques series! Thanks to all the bloggers that gave their opinion and advice!

Yanayanayana!

Supa Yana is the Etsy Feature Artisttoday…I “met” her via myspace way back when and have admired her work ever since. Actually, I guess you could say she was the artist that inspired me to pursue my love for sewing…I started off trying to make tops but when that didn’t go over so well, I started on my bags. I saw how she sold online and it really encouraged me to go after that resource.

Read it!

Blogging Techniques 2

                             

 

For a while now I’ve been reading a blog called Make It. Shannon, the author, writes several times a week on her business ideas, plans for the future, and different projects she has been working on. It’s fun to see her different strategies and to see her progress in her stationary business!

Here’s the question I posed to Shannon: How do you build your brand in blogging?
A: Establish a personal style. By this I mean a visual style for your blog (custom banner image, consistent photo size, etc.) and a personal point of view. The amazing thing about blogs is that they can be about whatever you want and it’s your personal space to do with it whatever you want. But I do recommend having a common thread running through most of your posts. So decide what you want your blog to be about and have that be the focus of most of your posts.

It’s really important to be consistent and regular with posting. The more the better, but I’d say 3 - 4 times a week is a good goal to shoot for. The more you write, the more readers will check in and as a result your audience will grow.

Photography is so important for blogs. I read several photo-only blogs, but I don’t read any text-only blogs. We’re not all professional photographers, but do your best to post the best photos you can. (If you’re pulling images from other sources online, make sure to give credit to the source.) If you do develop a signature photographic style (or a signature way of laying out photos gleaned from the web, i.e. in a photo collage) that’s another strong way to establish a blog identity.

Mostly, a blog is about expressing your opinions and interest with a group of like minded readers. Once you set up your own blog, you will naturally find yourself leaving comments on other blogs and getting the word out about your own. Blog readers and writers are extremely savvy and really respond to when people are genuine. So go ahead and express yourself, play nice with others, and your blog will grow in the most natural way, because it will be an extension of you.

YAY!

So the other day I logged onto Etsy to find I had a convo (message) from a new Etsy buyer. The title of it was “Missed you at the farmers market”….one of my buyers at the FM in town had contacted me (used my business card, YAY!) and was wondering if she could meet up with me and view some of my bags. Um YEAH! She called me today and she’ll be coming to my house (most likely with her sister) this coming Wednesday to view the new bags I’ve been making. Kinda like a home party, how cool is THAT?!

The reason she wants a bag is because she’ll be going to The Fringe in Edmonton. I’ve never heard of it but she went on to say that my bags would totally suite the style of this arts festival and that because her daughter works at The Fringe she’ll get some information about becoming a seller. Freaking awesome!! Goal for next summer: Attending The Fringe!

                                  

The Colors of Summer

                             

                             

                              

                             

                             

Feature Friday!

                            

You know those girls that have all the “perfect mother dreams” before they actually become a mother? That’s me. Well, not totally, I have a realistic point of view of motherhood since I’m the oldest of 8 kids and had to put up with them screaming all night etc. but when it comes to DOING things for my kids, that’s where I get a bit dreamy.

I want to put my babies in cloth diapers, feed them fresh veggies from my garden (gotta work on this one, still can’t seem to make my veggies live!), sew clothes for them, and allow them to be “cool” kids without letting them get all wrapped up in that image.

For a while there I thought there was no way I’d be able to put them in cloth diapers, for one thing…where do I get them from?? Duh, ETSY! I stumbled across Green Way Babywear and found my answer!

Green Way provides cute and practical cloth diapers as well as knit coverups (how funky, hey??). Not only do they look so adorable, they’re totally practical and beat those pokey-not-so-comfortable plasticy coverups that are sold in the big stores. And, if you live in the freaking cold north like I do, they have LONGIES!

Check out the Green Way Babywear shop for their pricing and more products and for super cute baby pictures (:

                               

                             

Cuteness

                               

Isn’t the OUCH bear cute?? He’s in one of my favorite stores Shuusei, on Etsy of course (: I just love his face and his beady little eyes.

Blogging Techniques

Doing the Business Techniques series (hopefully I’ll have more entries on that shortly!) really got me thinking about how much pieces of advice from successful individuals really is inspiring and helpful. I took a lot out of what the seller said about their money managing techniques. I decided to do something similar with Blogging Techniques.

I asked a couple of my favorite bloggers about their blogging techniques or advice on blogging and I’ll be posting their advice in a couple different entries.

My first question went out to Blaze who is both a fellow blogger and Etsy seller: How have you found success as a blogger?

Blaze answered:  I have found, through blogging for almost a year, that a lot of wonderful things come from blogging. I have found amazing friends, and a community that spans over seas and mountains. Not only have I found inspiring folks that are kindred spirits, I also have had a wonderful time inspiring new friends and building relationships over pretty things.

Here are a few things I’ve learned from others and from my own experience:

1.) Presentation matters. My favorite blogs to visit are always enchanting and aesthetically pleasing. I love when each post reflects the personality of the blogger, and favorite colors become very obvious. I love thinking about how each post will look with my header, so when a newcomer visits, they’ll see a balanced and pretty sight. It’s important to take extra time to take crisp photos, and write strategically to your goals. Every time before I hit “publish” I ask myself if my post is achieving my overall goal to inspire creativity, bring about old memories, and bring out the feminine, nostalgic, whimsy in all of us. Not to mention, feature all of my own artistic endeavors.

2.) Don’t apologize. A lot of times, I read about artists who are sorry or apologetic for their lack of posts, their artwork, or their shops. The best blogs I’ve found are confident and cheerful, seeming purposeful in all their activities. Of course, it’s important to explain long absences, but overall, it’s your blog. You don’t need to answer to anyone.

3.) Comment much. I LOVE commenting and receiving comments. That’s the whole purpose of blogging (at least to me!), and networking is super fun. I have slowly built up quite a few dear friends who check in regularly, and every once in a while I’ll comment on about 50 random blogs. That way, I’ll make a few new friends, who will hopefully become regular visitors. It also keeps expanding my circle, and a lot of doors have opened for me this way. My friends are a great source of encouragement and advice, and I don’t think I would enjoy blogging if it weren’t for them. Of course it goes both ways, and I love catching up with their doings as well. (There are even some people that I hope very much to meet someday!!)

I have learned to love my blog very much, and I think it’s a great way to make wonderful friendships, as well as a way to keep people interested in myself and my artwork. I recommend it very much.

Giveaway!

Lis, from the Orange Plum (blogger and Etsy seller!), and I have teamed up to do a Giveaway here on the KJ Blog!

To enter, check out her store and leave a link to your favorite item in your comment here on the blog! Next Wednesday, August 20th, I will randomly pick one of the commenters and they will win this great headband from Orange Plum!

                            

                             

Remember to leave your contact information, an email or your Etsy store link. If the winner doesn’t respond within two days, we’ll have to draw another name! Good luck!