Messin' with Pictures

So I was bored and didn't accomplish anything in regards to jewelry today. I was exhausted from work this week. I have been working on another blog post, but I just thought I would share that I have been messing with pictures.

What you can do with software these days... lol

I thought this was kind of fun, maybe I will take a portrait and change it into an oil painting.

Here's A Give-A-Way

So I am looking for followers for this blog, more hits on my website and more visits to my Etsy store. Well I have decided to do a give-a-way. It's nothing new and almost everyone is doing it, so here is my contribution to someone's jewelry box. At first I was going to do a quiz, but I decided against that. So this is what I am going to do. I need 25 people to enter. What I want you to do is: 1) Follow my blog. That's the easy part. 2) Visit my Etsy store http://www.velvetbox.etsy.com/ and 3) Visit my website http://www.velvetboxdesigns.com/ Now the reaon for that is everything that is on the website is not on Etsy. I would like for you to pick two different items, one from the store and one from the website and tell me what about and/or why you like the items that you picked. Comment that to this post and you will be entered into the drawing. This is an honest marketing attempt. :) The deadline to post is May 3oth 2009 and the winner will be selected by June 15th, 2009. Here it goes, let's see what happens. Thanks for looking and may Goodness be with you.

If you win, this earring and necklace set will be yours!

Conditions of the Atmosphere

Is the condition of your atmosphere peace, or chaos? If not think about this... You must first forgive yourself. Life is what it is, life. Limit taking in mindless chatter, it only bogs the brain. Eliminate the negative, whether it is a person, place or thing, get rid of it. Negativity will kill your spirit. Speak only those things that you wish to have and think and speak positive about current situations and issues, everything always works out for the best even if it seems like it won't. No matter what the out come, it came out that way for a reason, and you may not realize that until 3 years from now. No matter what you believe, you have what you say.

Don't worry and don't panic, do the best that you can with what you have to work with and call it a day. Worry and fear are two evil components that we don't need. They poison the atmosphere.

Drop the drama, don't make mountains out of mole hills.

Be quiet sometime and listen, it is not always about 'you'.

Be thankful for the little things and tell those that you love, 'I love you'.

Be giving, it will come back to you.

Love yourself, others can tell if you don't.

Helping My Jewelry Pics

I have always had issues with taking pictures of my jewelry. It was such a task, I would have to take a gazillion pictures to get one good or half way decent image. I still don't like that part of the process, I'd rather be making jewelry instead of taking pictures of it.

My cousin, who also does jewelry in Ohio http://www.uzuri-designs.net/ found a blog with a girl who had instuctions for a home made light box, and I would like to thank RED PANDA http://yesredpanda.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-lightbox.html for this, it works great here is a picture of mine.

Just a regular cardboard box with holes cut out at the top and on each side covered with a piece of white paper and you shine the light from all three sides. (I only have one light I am using right now, so I imagine when I get 2 more the pics will be even better..lol)

It looks crude, but is very effective. Thanks again RED PANDA!

First Etsy Sale April 23, 2009

I received my first sale on Etsy last night, and even thought it was just a pair of earrings that meant a lot to me, and boy was I excited. To know that people all over the country can look at and appreciate your work is a good feeling. Although I still have a regular full time job at a large corporate company, I look forward to the day when I can do one of the things that I was meant to do full time. I am always thinking positive and know that if others were blessed to do what they love as their only means of income, I know that I am blessed and will be doing the same thing one day. Here's a pic of the earrings I sold.