Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Board No. 95 - Hot Hot Heat

We're finally feeling summer round these parts. Washington, D.C. — built upon a swamp — is usually 90+ degrees with the same percentage of humidity from, oh, about June to October. But this summer has been so amazingly nice — until this week! And now, it's gross out ... Well, to battle the summer heat, find a cool vintage fan, a skimpy little dress and a refreshing beverage. That sure sounds like it would make it all better!

Top row: Set of 3 Splatter Paint-esque Glass Tumblers from kitschkitch; Farrah Fawcett Mint Condition High Waisted Shorts from VirginiaWho; 1970s Hot Pink Romper from jessjamesjake
Middle row: Vintage Inspired Scrunchkini Swimsuit from ladramaqueen; Electrohome Seafoam Green Fan from Hindsvik; Glamor Hippie Summer Maxi Sun Dress from monkeysnmermaids
Bottom row: Colored Glass Drinking Straw from ecoglassstraws; Vintage Folding Oak Beach Deck Dock Chair from AusableRiverTrader; Big Floppy Brimmed Straw Hat With Feather Trim from himalayanmusk

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Board No. 94 - Crack Snap Shot

I just got a new camera for my birthday (thanks Dave!) and it takes some pretty awesome photos, which I'm pretty excited about for my store listings. The last item I listed was photographed with my old camera and I was almost hesitant to post it because the photos were shaky (though the bowls were cute). For those Etsy sellers who want some photographic advice, The Storque has written many posts about it. (UPDATE: Ha! Right after I posted this, I checked my e-mail to see that Etsy' success tip today was about photography, too. We all just think alike...) So, I have been randomly searching through Etsy noticing some of the most amazing photography — and all for item listings, not for photo prints, though I would think about buying some of them...

These mustache glasses by BreadandBadger I'm featuring because the photographs showcase the product perfectly: in use in a funny way (the girl); the glasses full, so that the design can be better seem; and the product being made. Great example of how to sell a product through photography!

I love when a fashion piece (or, really, any item that can be used in different ways) is modeled or displayed in numerous styles so that you can visualize various ways to wear it. This convertible scarf by fray is a great example because if it was just laying folded on a table, you'd see the pretty colors but not realize the utility and function of the buttons in creating different looks.

Here some other exemplary examples*:

Corelle Open Handle Cups from Troop2Libb
It's just a little funny without being silly and the dog makes the shot without distracting from the object itself. And by the seller using the dog in most of the store's product shots, it gives it consistency and branding; the dog automatically becomes recognizable to the store and is the mascot of sorts!

Lovely Little Chocolate Diamond Ring from BloomStudios
I just think the background here adds so much to the photo. By it being the same color family but being out of focus, it draws out the best qualities of what is in focus. Too many sellers have busy backgrounds that distract from the product image, especially when it's in small preview/list mode.

Vintage Martinez Valero Leather Modern High Heels from yesterdaysnew
I featured these shoes on a previous board and every time I see them they catch my eye. Now, I don't usually recommend playing around with a photo too much because it can take away from the sincerity of the product, but in this case it showcases it very nicely — plus, it makes it look like it came out of a magazine.

Personalized Giant Fleece Ball from handmadepretties
For this one and the next one, it's all about showing relative size. You can give the dimensions of a product, but what does 52" mean when you are picturing something in your mind. By putting an object that is either a common size (like a penny) or the intended user (like a baby) in the same frame, your eye can see relative size of the object. Plus, babies are really cute!

Monogrammed Organic Baby Blanket from organicblankees

* I didn't include bead photos even though there are some awesome micro shots, but there's just too many sellers who do a good job in this category. Also, I didn't make this into a "board" because it would have cutoff some of the photo composition, compromising some of the integrity of the shot and making it harder to prove my point - but do keep in mind that Etsy automatically crops everything into those horrid little squares and you want to make sure that the focus of your photo is your product.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Board No. 93 - Around the 4:20 Time Frame

I was in training all day for work, and got out around 4:15 (15 minutes late, I may add!), so I rushed over to my computer to see what was new on Etsy - what I had missed that day and if there were any new trends in the 8 hours I had been away. I'm not obsessed at all ...

So, you may ask, what's the big trend I noticed: I'm seeing a lot more fall items starting to pop up, which I actually love since it's my favorite season! Check out this fantastic fabric pumpkin that I am going to save and feature in another board. Also, I noticed a lot more mid-century pieces of decor and more '40s and '50s style clothing. Is this a big lead-up to the "Mad Men" premiere? Maybe I'll do another feature on that trend, too!

Anyway, here are some of my favorite items posted around 4:20 or so.

Top row: Lemon Drops Necklace from TheBlueDress; Art Deco Beauty from matouenpeluche; Vintage Wedge Open Toe Shoes from starletvintage
Second row: Two 8-Inch Strands of Matching Czech Glass Beads from theroyalbeadtreasure; Poppy Personalized Stationary from carielowry; Custom-Designed Clutch from mollusa
Third row: Steampunk Vintage Bulova Bowtie Necklace from edmdesigns; Discotheque Earrings from WeeSparrow;
Three 1940s Outlet Switchplates from littlebyrdvintage
Bottom row: 4-Ever Personalized Art from SilhouetteBlue; In the Birdcage Flower Fascinator from liaison;
60s Mid Century Modern Stacked Chrome Ball Lamps from fabulousmess

Friday, August 7, 2009

Sorry that I haven't posted for a couple days and I won't be able to post this weekend, but I've been super busy between legislators finally wrapping up for recess, planning for my party, getting all new design software (yay!) and computers (laptops, actually, weird) at work, dealing with real estate drama and having major homework to do for a class I'll never use, operations management. I promise I'll be here posting daily next week for loads of inspiration!

In the meantime, if you are in the need of a fun vintage cookbook, I have many of them on sale this weekend in my store! All cookbooks are $1 and there's even a discount on shipping!!!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Board No. 92 - My Very Own Office

My man and I are starting to look at homes in the hope of buying soon and I'd like to find one we can afford that has three bedrooms, making it so that he and I can have our own offices. One of the places we've looked at, which I happen to love, has just this and one of the reasons I love it is that the room that would be my office (and guest room because it's the larger of the spare rooms) is fantastic. It has a sky light and is pentagonal, which is unique and fun. I've already got the entire room decorated in my mind: it would be in aqua and red since I already have a couple art pieces that mean a lot to me in this palette, and I've always been drawn to it; it would have a comfy couch that pulls out to be the guest bed, thus loads of fun pillows; some of the colorful photos of my Kitch inventory used as artwork along with the others that mean a lot to me; a big wood desk with room for my laptop and my sewing machine. I just want this fantastic creative outlet that I can retreat to and relax — something that's just my own and reflects who I am. Anyway, I've been looking at home furnishings a lot lately because of this potential move, so here are some of my Etsy picks for my soon-to-be (fingers crossed) office:

Top row: Circles Glass Mobile from LeahPellegrini; Cross Stitch Pattern for Vintage Phones from tinymodernist; Red Stapler Cross Stitch Pattern from Nrapture; Old Bright World Globe from postroadvintage
Second row: Vintage Liberty Steel Teal Metal Tackle Box from lisabretrostyle2; Divided Wooden Crate from ModishVintage; Vintage Electric Fan from simplyobjekts; Teala Phone from johnnyvintage
Third row: Vintage Guillotine Paper Cutter from ModishVintage;
1902 Rare Historical Map of Maryland, Delaware, and District of Columbia from bananastrudel; Custom Lovers Portrait from phunklab; State of Affairs Custom Pillow from diffractionfiber
Bottom row: Sweet Leona Pillow from norajane; Handwoven Cotton Looper Rug from sallyrae1; Swingline Staplers from TopsyDesign; Oh So Pink Gooseneck Desk Lamp from happydayvintage

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Board No. 91 - Bare Essentials

I read in a magazine about a year ago that necklaces we out. Ladies on the red carpet were opting for a bare neck to emphasize the elaborate necklines popping up a lot in fashion. Well, if that was a year ago, I'd like to say that the new trend continues that idea, but adds just a little something. I love all of the "minimalist" jewelry designs I'm seeing everywhere lately — if that's even what they are called. Well, what I am seeing with this is that metals are being used to create a shape, a letter, something simple, and isn't all fussied up with beads and buttons and whatnot. (Many of these sellers I found while searching through the pounce undiscovered section, so they're in search of their first sale!)

Top row: Wearing My Heart on a Chain from visionquest; Circles Necklace from KatieFlack; Forget Me Knot Bow Necklace from WhiteFly
Middle row: Lotus Flower in Bloom Necklace from MeadowbelleMarket; Diamond Bracelet from yocoolgina; Copper Hoop Earrings from noracatherine
Bottom row: Initial Necklace in 14 Karat Solid Gold from reddestradish; Bronze Hearts Necklace from bluetree82;
Blue Opal Eternity from RoseyJewels