Who Is That?

Anyone who takes photographs seriously knows how hard it is to keep. out. of. the. picture.
I have been doing a lot of Etsy listings and Etsy Photos lately.

I hate it when things jump into the frame that don't belong there.

Exactly ! Twist and turn all you want you're in the shot. SHOOT.

Get your silly self out of the shot and suddenly the ceiling and the back yard are volleying for exposure on primetime.

I settled for the backyard and cropped it like Edward Scissor Hands.
vintage mirror

What to do with the back ground is just as tough. Most of my photos are taken on the lanai. The light is pretty good out there. I use a huge section of white vinyl for my back drop. It is easy to lighten and makes the photos clean. Etsy seems to just love white back drops.
My preference is rustic.  So I venture out and take pictures on the back yard fence.

Backyard Fence.

Mr Weelambie made me a shelf on the fence. He painted it white to please Etsy.  That is where some things get their mug shots.

Narrow Shelf on the Fence
sifter

My shabby little step ladder is another possibility.  The problem with it is what will show up in the frame behind it.

Step Ladder
vintage bottles

Today I found some old weathered boards at an abandoned gas station in town. I am loving the look they offer and the large level area to set things up.  I put them on the lanai. 

Old wooden boards Liniment Bottle

This photo better shows how large this area is, at least 4 feet.

Unedited photo on wooden backdrop

Meanwhile back inside the house. Angie was watching Animal Planet.

My Sweet Dog Angie

We are now having our evening monsoon and thunder concert so I am finishing this .  I hope I don't get in trouble for making those abandoned boards mine.  Fingers Crossed.

Anne/weelambie

Painting Journals

I was digging through some old rusty, rustic metal boxes today. They are listings in my etsy shop and I really wanted new pictures of them.  
New pictures require new props. I went in search of my old art journals and some supplies.

I am glad I saved my journals.

I don't paint any more. 

If I ever get to travel I will make a travel/art journal and sketch in it.

I love the bright colors on the rusty patina of this card file.

The work I do on Etsy prepping photos for publishing is a lot like painting. Taking into consideration the colors, blocking, layout, negative space.  I think I like it better than I ever did painting. When I was painting I never felt like I had one original idea in my head.  Styling for photos is a little more forgiving in that department. 
I like the way this turned out.

Chippy rusty and colorful. A great storage area for a studio. It's in my shop here 
This little metal caddy makes a great tray to carry art suppies.

I just may decide to keep it and have some supplies ready should the mood to paint strike again. Til then it is in my shop here.
I have my knitting and knitting is just paint with tangles and knots.
Anne

3 Day Weekends

Have been under the weather this week. My eyes are still not healed completely from cataract surgery. I am having a rebound effect from coming off the steroid drops and the treatment is to go back on them for four more weeks. Haven't felt much like blogging. 
Here are some things I am working on though.

I decorated flip flops.

If I perfect this skill I will be able to decorate a bride pair for my daughter's spring beach wedding.  Need lots of practice. My lovely new neighbor showed me and some other women how to make these at a get acquainted coffee/craft hour yesterday morning. 
DIY ~ The trick is to glue or sew seam binding around the thong.  Then you can hot glue what ever you want to the fabric.   

I went thrift shopping.  

Love this collection of vintage frames. They will be going in my shop as I have no place left to display anything in my home.  In fact I think I should sell everything and go minimalist at home.  Less to clean.  I do love all my shabby stuff and still can't bring myself to part with most of it.

Had a long time today to concentrate on photographing items for my Etsy shop.  The sunlight on the lanai was good and it wasn't to hot outside. 
It is always fun setting things up for pictures. 

Tomorrow is my third day off in a row. It feels like heaven to have some time off and be able to stay home and get things like these pictures accomplished. 
What are you working on?
Anne

Plans and Projects

My weekends are just not long enough for all I want to do.  
I got precious little done today on my shabby chic projects. 

I have several projects to work on and so far only these two have seen any paint.  It was a beautifully sunny day. The temp was 72 degrees and the wind was blowy.  I had paint flying all over the blue table. Tomorrow I will be able to start sanding and waxing these two pieces.  That is my favorite part of the process in creating shabby chic pieces. 

I love the detail on this wooden shelf and can't wait to finish it. 

While I am showing off this pretty carved wood let me show you what I have been finding at yard sales. Tools!  I love old tools. Look how pretty these are.

I have already sold some of them, but still have a collection or two in my etsy shop here
The feel of the wooden handles and the glints of paint, rust, sweat, oil, and patina of use on these old pieces really makes them beautiful. 

Today I found some vintage embroidery hoops.  I love collecting these.  They will soon be available in my supplies section of my etsy shop. here

This last wooden hoop has no spring or screw tension device. I haven't seen one like this before. Who ever owned it put lace trim and string around the inside hoop to give it more 'grip' I think. The wood is smooth as silk.

Anne

Trends Colors Seasons

Plenty of time and money are spent on advertising.
One of the prime movers is color.  It always gets your attention. Color is known to change moods, calm or excite.  Color reminds us of smells, of seasons, color seperates and unites us.
Etsy has been part of the trend to feature colors as ways to shop.  Tags often include the color for search engines.
The new fall trend colors have fancy names for colors that we all know and maybe will look at in a new way if the new name grabs us.
Pink Flambe' is one such name. It is marketing dripping in pink.
You tell me if you like it.  I have tried it on a vintage jewelry box I have upcycled.

Here are some other very pink and very pretty offerings on Etsy.


Pink Flambe Cat Beret
See this Cat Beret in Amelie's Etsy Shop

 
This adorable girl's beret can be seen in Marina's Three Fish Shop on Etsy


If you need a smashing new purse how about this !
find this purse by Erin in her Etsy shop 1 Mad Woman

What ever you choose, the color, style, handmade or vintage you can find it all on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/?ref=si_home

Enjoy your visit to Etsy. Be inspired by the talent that can be found there.
weelambie/Anne

Meet Tootsie

I got my little vintage shop a present.  She arrived today in a very beat up box delivered by a very smiley UPS man.

Meet my mannequin Trixie.  She was a dream on the job today and very kind to offer her talents in modeling. 
As anyone with an Etsy shop knows it is all about good pictures.  We hear that over and over.  The concensus now is you need good pictures with white backgrounds.  Nothing cluttered or too staged.  This is a bit hard to take when staging is so much fun.  Good pictures really do help sales. I have to agree with that.  I am attempting all the time to make mine better.  It isn't easy to do.  I use my ...dare I even admit it... I use my smart phone.  l have the devil of a time with shadows, reflections and lighting.  I keep gathering more lights and dearly wish I had my Dad's big photography lights on stands.  I did get his projector screen and that makes a good back drop for many things.
Today was all about Trixie and her adorable little alabaster plastic body.
Here she is in my favorite black tie.

I went shopping for tops for Trixie at Salvation Army.   Looking for tiny tank tops was fun.  A helpful employee at Salvation Army pointed out to me that if I looked at the tags I'd find the sizes.  I explained I wasn't looking for my size (xxl) but for clothes for my mannequin!  She beat tracks with a very confused look on her face.
Here is Trixie in pearls!

Trixie you are adorable and I look forward to figuring out just how to make the most of your assets!

WeeLambie/Anne