Retro Prints and Etsy sale!

Before I go on about ANYTHING else. The biggest news I have to share is that I sold my first item on Etsy this morning!! Last night, quite late, I saw a mention of an etsy team called Craft Britannia and a treasury they were doing which was "BNR". Having absolutely NO IDEA what this was, I did a bit of digging. Turns out it's an absolutely fabulous concept! It's tricky to explain, and I've just deleted lots of words trying to do so because I think you'd be more confused! If you're interested have a dig on etsy and google... that's how I figured it out. Did I mention A SALE?? :)

It's been a very busy weekend and will continue to be so! A week from today I'll be joining in with a couple of friends at the First Folkestone Retrofair trying to sell a few items and hopefully connecting with some fun and like-minded people. Spent a large chunk of yesterday trying to get some more photos together to send off to the printer for the event. Obviously going for a retro or fairground type theme.

Here are some things I've come up with. Would love to hear any feedback anyone has! Prints of most or all of these will be listed in my etsy shop too!

Canvas Prints!

a new old one for canvas | Reno, NV

I've spent a very long day trying to get this new header done (which I realize still needs a few improvements, but I'm happy with the idea of it), and preparing some photos to be printed onto canvas for an upcoming vintage fair I'm participating in. SOO tired, but so glad I've spent the day working creatively. One of the photos I'm having printed is above.

Incoming!!

I have a new trial print batch due to arrive tomorrow or the next day. I'm so eager to see them and, needless to say, am cautiously optimistic about the results! I sent off over 20 different images of varying subjects and colours. One of the very experimental ones is of the palm trees in St. Anthony Square in Sorrento from my trip there last November. It's one of those happy mistakes, (very mistaken in fact), that I might have simply deleted at the time there and then. Dan scolds me whenever I do that now, so am getting increasingly used to keeping nearly everything I snap just in case. Glad I didn't get rid of this one. Something about the colours really caught my attention. I'll be interested to see how it looks in print, as I don't think I've ever printed anything quite like it .

OH BABY!

New photo OH BABY! has made it to the shop today. The one listed is a 5x5 square crop of the above, but obviously it's available in it's entirety as well. It's a favourite of my dear friend Elise, whom I owe a free print for her thoughtful and constant support of my creative endeavors. In other words, I owe her more than a print! Our friendship was born through our striving for more creativity, where work and play meet, where there is no distinction, and certainly no concrete ceiling. A valuable friend indeed. Thank you Elise! Now stop reading and go make something! Her Etsy shop is called Zippypops which is sadly empty at the moment, but do keep an eye on her. Multi-talented to say the least! This is Lydia, the stunningly gorgeous and quality dolly she sent me. Lydia gives me the evils when I'm procrastinating the good stuff for no good reason.

Now for something a bit different...

I've just added two new prints to the shop. Pretty much just trying to stretch my legs a little and stay active!

HELLO BUG in 5x5 and 8x8:

and MADONNA DOOR in 5x5 and 8x10:

A big THANK YOU to Erin MacMahon (eri059) on Etsy for including SUCCULENTS in another Treasury called Singing the Blues! The support I've gotten so far has been simply amazing.

In case someone out there still doesn't know what an Etsy Treasury is, the site has this to say:

"Treasury is Etsy's ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery.Create and share lists of items. Beautiful, diverse lists may be featured on Etsy's home page."

Basically someone singles out a list of favorite items to feature in a 'gallery' with a certain theme of their choice. SUCCULENTS seems to have been included for two primary reasons: the vibrant blues and purples in the image, and the fact that my shop is new and 'undiscovered' as of yet. I hope the undiscovered bit changes very soon!

HOW COOL IS ETSY??

Well let me tell you... VERY COOL! I've only been 'active' since about 10:30 last night and today, waiting for me when I got home from work were messages to let me know 'Succulents' has been chosen for TWO fabulous treasuries and will be featured in a blog tomorrow!

The first is a Treasury called Lovely by Terbearco where I've been chosen for the purples and blues of the SUCCULENTS print. The next is Fresh and Fine by ShelleAnne where she is encouraging people to "Pounce on these undiscovered finds!" Yes please! POUNCE AWAY!

AND (as if that wasn't ego-boost enough!), Happyment is kind enough to feature 'Succulents' in the weekly "Window Shopping on Etsy" series on her blog tomorrow! I can't wait to see it!

WOW! I feel like the Etsy community has just reached out and given me a big bear hug!

There are a LOT of exclamation points in this post. They are ALL warranted. I simply can't get this silly grin off my face :D

Blackbird Experience on Etsy is officially launched!!

Find my very first listing on Blackbird Experience at Etsy here!

Spent virtually all day going through the nitty gritty of actually starting, and I swear I could now:
A. Drop dead from fatigue (or at least go unconscious for about 8 hours or so).
B. Do a little dance and have a mini-fiesta in celebration.

Seeing as how I have to be to the day job in the morning I'm going to:
C. combine the two: do a little dance and then lie down to sleep knowing I'm on my way!

By the way, Greasemonkey is my own personal savior. I will quickly add another identical item in the morning before work with their handy-dandy "copy listing" script. Seriously, a real time-saver for all those who love listing on Etsy.