fun | this & that

i used to put our photos in these mosaics, but then stopped and went with simpler frames. now that we have the vintage shop i want to send some emails to magazines/blogs and these types of layouts might come in handy.

for the photos, i use a folding table and set-up the shot in our living room by the window. sometimes, i leave it overnight, which is interesting since that's where we spend most of our time. there's a lot of nudging involved and i spent most of the time on an overhead view that will probably never be used because i missed one nudge!

but, enough about me. there's been a lot of goodness passing through my desk that might be interesting to check out if you have a chance -

• meg's son davy and his band, a basement rendezvous, have issued their first ep & it sounds great!
• great advice for photographers from jpg - i like no. 3 & must do it.
• mowielicious magazine - double gah!
• scientific social networking tips about best time to post & tweet.
• my first etsy treasury is all pink.

thank you for all your support regarding the photography credit issue. i'll be less accommodating in the future. i never really thought of it as stealing when it came to my photos, but now i see the light :). have a nice weekend!

xo, cindy

ps i enlarged my photos. did you notice? they're now 425 wide vs. 400. baby steps.

life | the bright side

hello, hello! nothing like a little yellow to perk up an otherwise blah week, although the weather has been unseasonably warm giving us a prelude to spring about a month away. honestly, i have not felt like blogging at all and it makes me nervous that my "best" days are behind me. i've never had a spell like this and the 365 photo project has been taking a lot of effort because i've really tried to come up with a good photo each day, but i can't say it's been fun to put that pressure on myself for a self-imposed project - oy!

i did attend a workshop about how to use social networking tools like linkedin, facebook and twitter in your business and the customer profiles i previously mentioned in the etsy post came up, again. so, they certainly seem to be important when it comes to figuring out not only what your customers are looking for and thinking when they consider making a purchase, but where they are. enjoy your weekend!

xo, cindy

ps the ginger syrup from morris kitchen is so good. not too sweet, not too gingery, just right. goldilocks would approve ;).

work | etsy success symposium

hello, hello! as previously mentioned, i went to the etsy success symposium at their headquarters in brooklyn to learn more about the nuts & bolts of having a successful etsy business. there were great speakers and it was nice to meet other crafty people. although most of the presentations i attended are online, here are some highlights -

etsy stats

• gross merchandise sales : 2005 - $166,000; 2010 - $300 million!
• members - 7 million
• sellers - 400,000

elevator pitch
it's essential to be able to concisely answer the question what do you sell? when it comes to your shop and feel good about it. a carefully-crafted sentence or two about what you create will go a long way to helping people understand what makes your products unique. michelle ward's presentation about ascertaining your awesomeness included some thought-provoking questions on the topic and her worksheets can be downloaded -

• what do you enjoy about being a crafter and the things you make?
• what do you want to be known for?
• what difference do you want to make in the lives of your customers?

customer profiles
april bowles provided a great pdf (download worksheet #1) for this exercise and it was eye-opening. although one of your customer profiles might resemble yourself, it's helpful to think of your buyers based on -

• physical attributes, age, income, gender, marital status, hobbies, beliefs, interests.
• what problems do your products solve? and yes, buying jewelry, art, etc. does solve problems.
• what are your customers thinking when they consider purchasing your products? how can you craft your product descriptions to respond to these needs and make them irresistible?
• circles are great ways to learn more about your customers. who has included you in their circle and the other people they are following can add a lot to your customer profiles.

story
a compelling story about your products can help sell them, but get to the point. be sure to address the usual product information, but what is interesting and unique about your products? for example, if you're a painter what was your inspiration for the piece? sharing this kind of information will help make a personal connection with your customer and give them a deeper sense of who you are as an artist.

photography
etsy is a visual marketplace, and since buyers can not actually touch and feel the items, strong product photography is essential. although natural lighting is best, day light bulbs can emulate it and there might be a place where you can set up a small studio or light box. one way to see how your photos stack up, is to create a treasury of products you love and then add one of your own. how does it fit in?

marketing/seo
many people neglect to market their shops and get discouraged. they think if they build it they will come is all it takes, and with so much competition for discretionary spending in general, the significance of marketing can not be underestimated. some things to consider -

• keep your pitches to sites, magazines, blogs short and sweet. make them personal and relevant. danielle maveal of etsy suggested listing a spectacular item in your shop even though it might be expensive to garner coverage.
• incoming links from other sites (backlinks) to your shop are used in google search rankings to measure site relevance (search engine optimization). guest posts, tutorials, targeted giveaways are great ways to increase backlinks, and sales we hope, but for giveaways be sure to include a reason for people to visit by asking them to reference something in your shop, i.e. what is their favorite product, etc?
• be sure to tag your photos as google does not capture images in its search results nor does it include links from twitter.
• the first three words in your product title and description are the most important as is proper tagging.

i would recommend accessing lorrie vesasey's presentation & pdf let's get off our 'buts' because she offers great advice and tons of resources, especially for marketing. opening an etsy shop can be a wonderful hobby where you simply recoup your expenses. or, a full-fledged business allowing you to quit your day job. even though there is no simple answer for success (business takes work), i hope these tips are helpful and please let me know if you have any questions.

xo, cindy

ps noah scalin's presentation about generating creative energy was really fun. he turned creating a skull a day for a year into fantastic business generating book deals, art shows and speaking engagements. i thought his most meaningful tip was - perfection is over-rated!

work | that's a wrap

do you see the words on the pencil? explore. dream. discover.
i didn't plan it, just needed a green pencil for a prop!

hello, hello! i've completed the final phase, way forward, of the institute of you program, and it was a breeze. kind of like that victory lap athletes take after they're won the race or the stanley cup or whatever. this final phase helps you take all the work you've previously done and put it into actionable items in three exercises:

1. my time - using the saying no & reprioritizing project exercises, you create a daily schedule of activities by allocating real time for the new projects you might want to work on going forward. i'm still fine-tuning this as there are certain activities i naturally gravitate to at certain parts of the day and i'd like to work that in.
2. next actions - this exercise seemed a bit duplicative of the saying no & reprioritizing project exercises, so i didn't complete it (cheater!). i had created a detailed project planning list in the backcasting exercise and felt i had moved on at this point.
3. get on a roll - this is the coolest exercise and it will be ongoing. if you've ever had a streak you know you don't want to break it. so, by checking off each day you work on one of your goals no matter how big or small you are nudged in the most subtle way to keep going.

{this post is my version of war & peace ... you'll see it never ends}

so, after completing the program, my personal vision statement is - i am working in the role of collector, where i am doing photography, writing & exploring. the people i work with are smart, authentic & loving. together, we are working to share my perspective on the pretty things in life, which makes me feel like jumping out of bed, everyday.

in the end, it's not that surprising to me or as different from my current snapshot as i originally thought, which is a relief. i'm still fine-tuning it a bit (not sure about the word 'pretty') and the reference to collector is meant to apply to many things - images, objects, experiences. i have a long list of things i'd like to do. some i will and some i won't, which is ok. here are a few -

things i will do

1.  blog - change the name to replace 'handmade'; develop a flexible editorial calendar; expand my horizons for content.
2. photos - develop a wish list of publications/sites to submit my work to and submit it; create a new blurb book all about flowers.
3. me - stay focused; expand my network; celebrate the successes, minimize the flops and accept that they both will happen. 

things i might do

1. blog - after the name change, migrate to a new address; advertise.
2. photos - sell some; new blurb book/magazine with never before seen work.
3. shop - open a vintage shop on etsy.
4. me - get a pet - birds or a dog.

{see, this post is just like the energizer bunny ... it just keeps going and going}

i hope i can do all of those things and then some. i've already submitted a photo to a very sweet blog (it was accepted) and had an inquiry for a blogging gig that i turned down because it didn't quite fit into my personal vision. i think having a plan is going to make all the difference. i really loved this program and got much more out of it than i expected.

thanks to all of you for joining on me on this journey and your words of encouragement & advice along the way. also, thanks to trish from the institute of you for all of her help and support.

xo, cindy

ps this is a special playlist with a song representing how i felt during each phase. there are particular lyrics that resonated with me, but i'll spare you that much detail. official videos are included, when available.

1. Aims - drive by incubus.
2. Reflection - looking back by keane featuring k'naan.
3. Reality - endless corner by lior. the camera work in this video makes me dizzy so i don't watch it. love those strings, though. my first choice was i'll take it from here by jonatha brooke, but i couldn't find a full version online.
4. Options - in this phase i enter the darkness with crawling by linkin park, which contains  lots of screaming. lightness soon follows with breathe from anberlin. my eardrums were happy.
5. Way Forward - my best days are ahead of me by danny gokey.

{ahhh, do you hear that? the sound of silence, finally}

work | choices, choices

hello, hello! i've completed the fourth phase, options, of the institute of you program, and it was hard. whoa! this phase deals with identifying the actual steps you will take to align your current snapshot with your personal vision. if i had an 'ah-ha' moment in the last phase, this one was like a canon going off when i realized how far i was drifting. there are three exercises in this phase:

1. saying no - this step was eye-opening and involves making a list of things you will say no to. they can be projects or habits like cutting back on checking your email every 5 minutes, twittering or getting your nose into everything because you need to know what’s going on everywhere like i do. they can also involve saying no to negative feelings like fear, complacency, lack of focus or worry. have you ever tried to assign a time line to your worries? it's very powerful to do so and see the opportunities that might be trickling right through your fingertips as you obsess over whether you're creative enough or if people will like your work.
2. reprioritize projects - somehow, i have to reallocate about 20 hours a week to to projects that will be fulfilling and give me an opportunity for some financial reward. i'm very disappointed in myself for losing all concept of time management and have started to keep a daily log (love this one from muji!) and use our kitchen timer to keep me on course (i’m serious about the kitchen timer).
3. backcasting - this is a sophisticated concept often used in corporate strategic planning and the only task that stopped me in my tracks. it involves filling out a large chart, in reverse! basically, you write down your current snapshot on one side (reality phase), your personal vision on the other (aims phase) and then work backwards to come up with a list of indicators and actions that will help you achieve your goals. then, pulling from the chart, you create a project plan of items you can work on over the next few months. some will be quick wins, which is great because when you look at everything contained in that chart it can be overwhelming.

at this point, my personal vision is very clear and i’m not surprised to see where it’s going. i'm just about ready to move on to the final stage of the program and might actually be done with all of the phases by labor day, which was my goal and symbolic. the best is yet to come!

xo, cindy

ps brandon flowers from the killers has a new album. i love the song crossfire, although i'm not sure why charlize theron doesn't save him sooner in the video. maybe she does, but he keeps getting captured? boys!

work | keep it real

hello, hello! i've completed the third phase, reflection, of the institute of you program, which deals with measuring the gap between your personal vision and your current situation. as mentioned in the previous post, the difference between mine was substantial and addressing the gaps (problems) will provide the greatest opportunity for success in future endeavors. this phase helps reconcile the differences through four assignments:

1. day reflection – we all have perceptions about who controls our day – the boss, spouse, kids. many people feel they have limited or no control over their time and that perception may be far from reality. through a simple chart, this exercise identifies who has ownership over key parts of your day by listing your activities under ‘others’ and ‘you’. then, when/why are the lowest part of your day? when/why are the highest points? finally, what parts of those daily activities can you eliminate, reduce, lengthen and create. through this exercise i realized i need to reduce the undisciplined drifting i do from one thing to another throughout the day, which will create more time for focused, results-oriented work. i also need to reduce my tv-time.
2. skills – this is the third opportunity to evaluate your skills and using the information from the prior two phases you create a list the skills you would like to focus on and your strength in each one. for me, organization was a 10 (great!), while meeting new people was a 2 (ugh!). then, you put them in sequential order with the strongest at the top and your degree of use and passion for each skill. i realized i enjoy using most of my skills and can apply them to the projects i hope to work on in the future, which is great. except for networking, my obstacles are not really skill-related, so i don’t feel like i’ve been wasting my time through my work. networking is a big problem though and i need to push myself as it is holding me back. i’d like to come up with some sort of incentives to get me going – rewards.
3. project alignment – your personal vision and motivations are used to identify how you are allocating your time to projects and how that time might be helping or hindering your vision. i’ve realized i’m spending a tremendous amount of time on social networking through our blog, flickr, twitter and just generally keeping up with/commenting on numerous blogs. the drifting i willingly do has started to reveal itself in this exercise, and although it can be beneficial to my vision & personal satisfaction, it currently has very little focus or financial reward. when left to my own devices, i seem to need adult supervision when it comes to time management because i'm doing a terrible job (1). 
4. force field - i got a lot out of this component, which breaks down into drivers that propel you towards your vision and inhibitors that prevent you from achieving it. within this exercise, i realized the fear i always blamed for holding me back should actually be replaced with complacency. also, i have quite a few very smart and supportive people in my corner who think i’m creative, which is something i often doubt. i will listen to them more in an effort to drown out my inner doubt, which is a big inhibitor and time waste.

this phase provided an 'ah-ha' moment for me because my perceptions are not all based in reality. i feel a sense of relief because other than making adjustments to time management and developing a more disciplined plan making a major over haul to what i‘m doing might not be as critical as changing how i feel about it. simply giving myself permission to change my thinking from powerless to powerful is an option. sometimes, when you put yourself through personal development exercises there’s a sense you need to substantially shake things up to improve the situation and that's not always the case. maybe all you need is a change in diet vs. a tummy tuck. we shall see as this road takes many twists and turns the longer i'm on it. three phases down, two to go.

xo, cindy

ps i saw david gray's video for fugitive via michelle's blog and love how the artwork appears throughout. i think the video is just about right for this post as i've been shaking my head like david quite a bit myself.

pics | sign language

look behind you! no, the other way! PEACHES!

hello, hello! lately, i seem to be saying 'the writing is on the wall' a lot and generally referencing the book who moved my cheese? by spencer johnson. it's a memorable story about two mice who go to the same spot for cheese each day, until the cheese supply dwindles. simply written, it's a short and sweet story about how people deal with change and very compelling. hope you have a lovely weekend and find your cheese just where you left it.

xo, cindy

ps yellow by coldplay is still one of the sweetest songs of all time and the video contains a message for chris martin - it's raining, at least put your hood up! did i ever tell you that he ran past our car with his surfboard in the hamptons? it's true. we were thisclose to having him run into our car ;).

work | snapshot

hello, hello! as previously mentioned, i've completed the first phase of the institute of you program about aims, which deals with identifying your dreams and personal vision. it was so nice to be in that place for a spell. but, now it's on to the reality phase, which is about evaluating your current situation through lots of cool charts that make it fun. there were four assignments in this phase:

1. day in the life - choose three typical days and block out main activities on a graph. then, identify how you feel about each activity on a scale of 1 (dissatisfied) to 10 (bliss). i really enjoyed this part because i'd been feeling like i no longer wanted to work in marketing and this task helped me realize it's not the tasks causing me distress, but maybe something else.
2. skills -  readdress your skills by identifying those you are currently using in your work and those you are not.
3. motivations - create a card for each project you are working on in your personal life and at work. then, plot your degree of motivation in terms of passion, advancement and money on a scale of 1-10. ideally, you should have a completely filled in triangle, which i don't. mine are lopsided and divided by whether i earn money from the project or not.
4. snapshot - this exercise is unreal because you use the same form you did for your personal vision, your dreams, but apply it to your current situation and mine are COMPLETELY different. i've got some work to do.

i realized my personal vision was going to change almost as soon as i wrote it and will share it at the end, but how it reconciles with the snapshot will be very interesting. i'm not stressed at this point because i'm taking steps to do something to really find harmony in the things i naturally gravitate to and my work. the goal is for them to be the same. two phases down, three to go.

xo, cindy

ps i absolutely LOVE the song impossible from anberlin's new album. the video has some cool things going on, but is kind of weird. the song seems to be about a relationship gone bad, but i'm dedicating it to the things that hold me back, which are mostly located within me and not impossible to figure out!

work | personal vision

hello, hello! as previously mentioned, i've enrolled in a program from the institute of you to help identify my best opportunity for work-life fulfillment - happiness. i've finished the initial phase and it has already done a lot to open my eyes. the first step is to enter into a contract with yourself to basically dream big and it has come in handy as some of my hopes are big ones and might seem unattainable. when i feel that way, i pull out the contract to remind myself to keep looking up and moving forward.

then, you go through five phases that include different exercises and i love how the program is graphically-oriented and most of the work is completed offline. the first phase is called aims and each exercise is contained within a sealed envelope, which is great because i can get hung up on a concept and the curiosity to open that next envelope keeps me moving forward. there were four assignments in this phase:

1. external insights - involves circulating a short survey to people who know you for their thoughts - the best part!
2. past expectations - how the expectations of others and you played out - hmmm.
3. skills - activities you did as a child & skills you'd like to use now - very powerful.
4. personal vision - pulls it all together into your own personal vision statement - terrific.

a text message question every day or so also keeps you thinking about things like 'what gets you up in the morning?' you do have to be self-disciplined and confident in your answers to do this program as you will only get out of it what you put in. but, i've worked in management consulting and have endured many programs, and so far, this one is the most enjoyable and productive.

i feel like i'm moving forward in completely new directions and considering things i would never have previously dreamed of. i also must say that i can't emphasize the importance of our blog enough in all of this process and getting to know all of you. so, one phase down, four to go.

xo, cindy

ps any type of personal development is tiring, so the crazy game show wipe out is perfect for some mindless dribble and a good laugh.

life : home & flowers

song : kandi by One eskimO - from michelle's tweet

hello, hello! you know what? my life is driven by flowers. shocking news, i know ;). if i don't have enough around me, we're going to public gardens & parks to see them. i don't know how i'm not doing something in my work that involves - flowers. bi-zarre. here are a few floral-delights from around our place these days -

home
i read about the wonderful crochet pillowcases from rose hip on fryd + design. after thinking about it, i had to have a pair and they are so pretty. now, her shop is empty, but if you covet a pair she'll create a special order for you.

flowers
scott got into trouble for buying me the peonies. can you imagine? we saw them the day before at the supermarket and i took a pass because they were fully-opened and wouldn't last. he brought them home the next day and i kind of got mad because he didn't listen to me. but, i think he likes it when i take photos of the flowers he buys and post them. so, ok, i'll do it ;).

more flowers
the peonies mixed in nicely with iris from our tiny garden. we worked on it on sunday and i don't believe how much pain a 8' x 12' piece of land can cause. i suppose when you squeeze in 4 weeks worth of work into one day that can happen. the thing is we didn't plant a thing! so much for spring doing the heavy lifting once the tulips, daffodils and grape hyacinth are spent. it was good while it lasted. on to the weeds and roses!

read
the letterpress cover of slow love, how i lost my job, put on my pajamas & found happiness by dominique browning caught my eye in the bookstore. she was the editor-in-chief of house & garden for 13 years before it closed and it's interesting to read about someone who reached the pinnacle of success only to deal with its dissent and then find her way back, again. i'm really enjoying this book - it's poignant, enlightening and funny, plus it supports my new mantra about it never being too late to make a living doing what you love. i haven't lost my job (yet), but i am exploring my calling and might initiate the change myself (scary). happy wednesday!

xo, cindy

ps the lilies of the valley are also from our garden and they are one of my favorite flowers. i realized after taking the photo that they represent 'return of happiness'. wow, i didn't set it up! somehow these things just come together. i love that!

life : can do, deux

just some 'weeds' from around town. not sure why
the tree had a lock on it, but no bother.

hello, hello! you know, sometimes seemingly independent things merge to get you motivated to make a change. the i think i can book mentioned a few weeks ago was step one. then, we saw the movie the secret in their eyes about it never being too late to fearlessly live your passion. add in some good talks with nice friends & scott, plus the simple + pretty post the other day about a program to help you find your work-life fulfillment and we're off to the races. i've worked in management consulting and have done a lot of personal development, but i need a jump start and the institute of you program might be just what the doctor (me) ordered. i'm going to do it and will let you know.

enjoy your weekend. i hit publish by accident and it drives me nuts when posts show up in google reader and then disappear, so here it is a few days early. think of this post like a little weekend jump start!

xo, cindy

ps have you seen this fun glee-like video? it made me smile from ear to ear.

pics, craft, work? : oy, beta giveaway!

as much as i try to fight it, i need to have all my ducks in a row, or i'm stressed out. not eating breakfast, lunch at 3 pm, and a shower at 4 pm leads to quack, quack = not good. they're not all lined up with my little shop, so i'm going to put off opening with a big bang until january 2010. i don't have all the things ready i'd like to as i'm getting new ideas as i go along and dribbling them in one at a time in the beginning doesn't sound like a good idea. photographing some of these little darlings has also become the hardest part!

but, i do want to hold a giveaway as promised. think of it as a 'beta giveaway' in the research and development department. so, just leave a comment before december 7th telling us something you're looking forward to this holiday and be sure to include an email address so i can contact you. i'll choose one winner using random.org for the butterfly garland of her choice. i should have four different versions by then, i hope. definitely, two & a half. see what i mean ;)? enjoy your weekend, y'all!

xo, cindy


this one is called lilly after lilly pulitzer - see the bright colors? they're made from vintage wallpaper backed with colored paper. i'm going to have them using vintage maps and music sheets, too.


this one is tasha, after tasha tudor. soft blues, reds & yellows. the doily in the center is specially treated and meant to resemble a petticoat. two clothespins adorned with butterflies are included for display.


how to photograph these so as not to be confusing about exactly what you're buying?


on white or a pattern or canvas or linen? scott says white. what do you think?


i'm almost there, but not quite. sorry for the false start :(.