Ups and Downs

When starting this new business, I didn't really realize the extent of what I was doing.  A hard day yesterday made me want to quit it all, but today made up for all that! 

First off, the screens all worked and I'm ready to print the new designs woohoo.  But that's not the only reason why I'm so cheery. 

I'm off the wall excited because when I logged into my Etsy account, it showed hundreds of people had viewed my page.  And I had gotten 20 more hearts! Nothing boosts an artists' ego like getting hearts.  To find out why this happened I did a little research on Craftopolis.com -- a little Etsy link site that lets you see if you are in any current treasuries.   Low and behold, I was in not one but TWO treasuries.  

What is a treasury? Those unfamiliar with Etsy may be asking.  

A Treasury is a member curated collection of Etsy items  featured on Etsy's Treasury page. These treasuries are featured on Etsy for a limited amount of time, usually no more than two days.  Most Treasuries have themes, such as color, price or function and feature twelve different items.  Etsy users visit Treasury pages to browse curated items, and see what new things people have found to share.  It's not easy to create a Treasury page.  They only allow a limited amount of lists at once.  When one expired it opens a space for another one.  However, it seems you have to be very lucky to time it right. Everyonce in a while the Etsy Gods (aka -- those people who run the Etsy website) will pick a notable treasury to feature on their front log in page.  This is the first page that anyone sees when they log into Etsy.  And guess where my little dandelion print made it?!! Yup, that's right.  TO THE FRONT PAGE OF ETSY.  That's why hundreds of people all of a sudden noticed me.  

The treasuries are fleeting only lasting a couple of days, but I took a few snapshots to preserve my moment in the sun.  See if you can spot my humble little prints in these beautiful collections.

Try try again

Can I start this post off with a big 'sigh'

s-i-g-h

I'm facing some setbacks for my new designs.  The set back involves me continually screwing up the screens I need to make in order to print.  Something has gone wrong in my emulsion applying and exposing times and every time I go to put my pattern on the screen, the image starts off looking good but breaks down before I finish rinsing.    

All that, topped off with me miscalculating the size of the screens I needed in the first place and having to make a return trip to the store to get bigger screens.  sigh.  

I'm sure it's just an off day. Tomorrow will be better and I will try again.

Something to Celebrate

I had my first Etsy sale.  So exciting.  It was from a complete stranger who liked my work enough to say, "I want one of those".  Quite a boost.   Now the little box in the right corner that has for the past few weeks been a sad "0 sales" has moved to "1 sale".  Woohoo.  

I guess now I have to buy Melrose the cat nip mustache I promised her.  

Of course I'm still a little nervous. I shipped it to the buyer and I think it is due to arrive on Friday, but there is always the chance that it isn't quite what she expected.  Monitors make colors vary greatly.  My fear is that she will email me saying she wants to return it.  Gulp.  That would be sad. So fingers crossed that she gets it and loves it.  Why wouldn't she right?!  

To celebrate I had dinner with a friend, JC, in town from New York.  JC runs a fantastic blog of her own.  It's called 100 layer cake and it's probably one of the most beautiful, well thought out blogs I have come across to date.  It's about all things wedding-y.  

We went to a new restaurant in our neighborhood called, Animal (vegetarians need not apply). JC wanted to meet the owners to discuss including their upcoming wedding on her blog.  I just wanted to eat some animals.  

There are no words to  describe the joy on my face when I scanned the menu and the 17th item read, "Poutine".  Actually it read, "poutine, oxtail gravy, cheddar $15" to be exact.   Most expensive plate of poutine I've ever eaten, however, probably also the tastiest.  

The restaurant is what I would call BBQ inspired tapas.  Some very creative dishes.  Who knew pigs ears could taste so good when covered with chili and lime?  And don't get me started on the pork belly sliders.  mmmmmmm.  I won't go down the whole menu, you can check out what's current yourself at Animal's website or what our options were on the menu below. 

Decorating Ideas - Aviator Themed

If you are going to buy an airplane print from me.  You are going to need a few more airplane accessories to complete your room.  Here are just a few ideas of fun ways to bring the aviator theme into your nursery.

Fold down changing table by Bo Design.  It sort of reminds me of something you would find in an airplane bathroom (like on SAS airways or something!) 

Paper airplane pillow from defraction fiber on Etsy

Assorted pewter airplane and propeller drawer pulls - I think it would be great to collect a bunch of different ones. Maybe even vintage ones from ebay!

Wood toy airplanes - great for play, for display or buy a bunch of different designs and hang them from your ceiling.   These ones are from Mary's Country Craft, she's got a bunch of other great wood planes as well as other toy vehicles.

Aviator teddy bears --- aww how cute -- these ones are courtesy of The Future Flyers Club

Personal letters with airplane background - order them online or if you are feeling crafty, paint your own! 

Deluxe chrome pedal plane by American Retro

Big bed airplane sheets from Pottery Barn kids

Time for a makeover already?!!!

Things have been going well.  I had my first order for a set of Dandelion prints (granted it came from my mother-in-law) but still... it all counts! I got listed on an Etsy Treasury List.  The treasury list is when a member posts a grouping of a bunch of favorite like items.   My Dandelion #3 in peach was chosen to go in a grouping of fun peach colored items.  And now I have gone and given my website and blog a much deserved makeover (with a little help from my friend over at Pamplemousse Designs.  

When I started with all this, I didn't really put much thought into the overall look of things.

This was my original logo:

I thought it was cute.  It separated the 'sk' from the 'art' which I kind of liked.  But as my friend and design guru CM pointed out, it wasn't very chic.  And if I was selling hip, modern, art my logo should probably reflect that.  Cool parents logging on to a website would respond better to a clean modern logo vs a crafty, cutesy one.  So I developed the new one you now see at the top of my website.  

I think it goes much better with the feel of my art.  The natural, soft colors, the crisp lines, and of course the accent over the 'a', because everyone knows those Scandinavians are make beautifully designed items. lol.  

I put the accent in as a joke.  But I kind of liked it.  It gave the word a new life, and new fun factor.  It's now pronounced Skoart (long o with open mouth) -- I'll wait while you try it....

I also promptly looked up my genealogy.  Not a lot of Scandinavian heritage there, however, it does mention my great, great, great grandfather, Henry Welton, "of swedish stock" HA - so there you go, I'm not a complete fraud.  

Etsy

I opened my Etsy account today.  A kind of a must for any artist/crafter looking for exposure.  For those of you who don't know,  Etsy is a website which provides small business entrepreneurs with a way to buy and sell handmade items, including art, photography, clothing ... (wikipedia definition) There are currently over 100,000 members.  

I've started my Etsy page by putting up two planes and two dandelion prints.  It's kind of exciting to see how many people have viewed my items.  Some people have chosen to "heart" me.  Which means they have added me to their lists of favorite things.  Hopefully that also means they are thinking of buying something from me.  Kind of like the way I hearted these cat nip mustaches.

I've promised Melrose as soon as I make my first sale I will buy them for her.  Don't ask me why, but she has a thing for staches 

(insert picture of melrose with mustache)

After seeing how easy Etsy was to set up I'm wondering why I even bothered with my own website and shop.  My plan was to sell stocked items through Etsy and more custom things through my own site.  I guess we will see how it all goes.  I will just be happy to sell something through anywhere.