I have been mostly absent from this blog for quite some time because I have been hatching some larger ideas.
First, I am launching a full website very soon. I have made the preliminary design, made the images and menus in photoshop, and I've started the content. It will include this blog, free knit patterns I have designed, a full online store that sells all my products, links to my etsy stores, a link to my online photography portfolio, and other stuff! I am primarily doing this because I am missing a huge market for a lot of the items I sell, such as my jewelry. I was prompted to do this a few weeks ago when I noticed a few sellers both online and on ebay selling items of a similar nature (feathered earrings, etc) who were having quite a bit of success. While I love etsy, the crowd that a lot of my jewelry caters to (the hippie earthy crowd, those of Native American heritage, and the Southwesterners) has a larger following on ebay and online... having a home base will greatly help me.. also, it will help me sell to people who aren't either on etsy or ebay..
I'm excited about this, because it has really been YEARS since I have dabbled in webdesign, and I have longed to get back into the saddle for quite a while. The process is taking me FOREVER, not because I am rusty on the html (although I am), but because I am trying to do the entire thing in dreamweaver, which is honestly not very intuitive (to me). I think my site will be awesome because it won’t just be a blog layout (like many folks have), but a full website with frames, links, and a lot of content).
Right now, I’m hung up on slicing up a screenshot of what I want it to look like with photoshop and exporting the pieces to dreamweaver. Relearning the new photoshop cs3 has also been a pain in the rear, because it has changed significantly since the last time I used it (photoshop 6!!!) and because I have been extremely picky about what I want the page to look out. However, I am excited that I am about to get to the “content” portion, which I am an old pro at. I designed a banner and avatar for my etsy shop, BethNouveau, which is up, and I am asking my girlfriend Kelly to design me one of each for DystructionDesigns. She is also launching her site, www.faeleaf.com soon.. so keep your eyes peeled for that!
I have also been hatching a TON of ideas as far as my etsy shops go. I don’t want to reveal much, but I will say that a vintage bird atlas is my newest inspiration for a series of items that I will hopefully post before the end of the month. I am also working on some apparel and recycled/handmade cards for DystructionDesigns. Finally, I am adding a third shop into the arsenal. Several months ago I became OBSESSED with the notion of creating ALL NATURAL, HOMEMADE beauty products. Soap, shampoo, body wash, bath salts, bath oil, bath bombs, bubble bath, facial scrubs, lotions, body oil, gem-like soaps and makeup are among the items that I have already concocted recipes for. The best part of these products is that they are all natural and sustainable! The jury is out on whether parabens (found in many body products) are bad for you, and the EPA has shown that sodium laureth sulfate (a surfactant found in practically every bath item you use) is often contaminated with known carcinogens due to how it is created. I have started selling these products at a small hair salon in Bedford, VA called “Hair, Then, and Now” and I gave many of them as gifts this past Christmas. The response has been overwhelming.. everyone has loved them! The name of the new shop is called “Apothecarie”. I hope to post some items within the next couple weeks.
School and life have been rather exhausting lately. I have started my first sets of experiments and I have been so busy that when I get home, I often literally pass out because I am so tired. This has confounded the website creation process as well.
Keep your eyes peeled for goodness in the future!
xox
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