The Etsy Symposium, did you see it?

I spent a good part of  yesterday watching the "Etsy Success Symposium," a live-streaming presentation for Etsy selling. It's no secret I'm sweet on Etsy, (it's so sexy, how could I not?) but this was helpful for anyone trying to actualize their small business or utilize social-media in their everyday lives.
If you missed it, don't worry they're working on making them available here.

My favorite speaker was April Bowles-Olin (of Blacksburg Belle), she gave a lot of direct advice that really inspired me to re-evaluate how I was allowing myself to be perceived, (vague and possibly socially inept? *cough*)  as well as tips to optimize the steps I've already been taking to step up my game.

My favorite piece of advice?
"Only do six things a day." 
That sounds counter-intuitive to productivity but she explained how we often get overwhelmed by our long "to-do lists" (they're so long, we don't do anything on them!)
By making a short list, we're more likely to prioritize what needs to be done, we don't waste a lot of time trying to prioritize 40ish things and we actually get to feel accomplished when we finish.
And she's right- it's totally re-energizing, I started today:)

P.S. I'm still working on re-designing this blog but did you notice the shiny new e-mail subscription option? *ahem, nudge*. A great option for those who aren't interested in Readers.


P.P.S  I'm finally making time for my longer term projects involving scenes.
Take a look at my new tree:

The perfect place to hoard your strawberries

The Loch Ness Monster Message Holder & An Etsy Treasury

I just completed this guy, he came out pretty cute ( in my opinion):



I added a pocket at the bottom for messages



You can see imgs of that in the listing,

Loch Ness Monster Message Holder on Etsy


But I think I'm starting to get sick again :( (I started off the month sick and I'm ending it sick too!). Also, my internet is SOOO SLOW right now so it's probably a sign that I should curl up with this,

A vintage find, print date says 1943

The description is pretty funny, also I love the reminder for sending "a boy in the armed forces" a book

Oh and also, here's the latest Etsy Treasury I was featured in :),

"It Tops The Cake" by OWDJewelry

Etsy Updates

Presale has closed for the previous birds. White w/ flowers has sold but I decided to alter the pink w/ hearts at the last minute (sorry!). It will be available on Etsy at the beginning of next week. I'll announce it.

In the meantime I listed a felt fox, "Foxy Fox" on Etsy

I had to rush through the pictures, they're on the lazy side but believe that she is very stylish and creamy.

A detail shot of the now *sold* white bird.

Tail shot of the white bird.

And I was featured in a couple of very sweet treasuries:

"GREEN TO BLUE FASHION!" by mammamiaeme

"All my leetle friends....." by moosegirlmaria

I have a completed *portion* of a new project I'm working on so another post will be coming up soon.

"Catryoshka"

I made these "catryoshka" as a mini project.



Felt projects are super fun to squeeze in between fanciful silk dolls because they finish so quickly (comparatively).



Next on the blogging block, my just finished "Jackie Doe" and the finished product of "Plague doll" turned "shocked doll"...

Two Wildly Different Listings

Etsy Listing for Customized Wedding Topper -decided I needed to make adjustments to the bottom of this one.




Mario & Princess Peach Etsy Listing

Gnomes

I ended up changing ideas for my mushroom.
I made a gnome to compliment it (I love gnomes!) and I'm very pleased with how he came out. I took him outside for a shoot and ended up doing a little play on the Amelie/ Travelocity gnome afterward. That "postcard" is one of those snapshots.

Going to animate the formal shoot I did (or re-shoot) but finally glad to be done-enough on one project to start formal shooting. :)

Work In Progress- Mario & Princess Peach Cake Topper

A few days ago, I bought a bunch of felt on a whim because I wanted a faster (faster than several weeks anyway), colorful project to work on (instead of finishing the ones I've already started like a good girl).
While I started, I came up ideas for TWO other projects in the middle of what I was doing and STARTED them instead of finishing that first "fast colorful" one. So now I have two felt projects in the works and one book cover I'm working on besides the other projects I have going...uhhhh.
At least I'm having fun with this particular one,

Princess Peach! Skirt is unfinished till I can figure out Mario and get the height worked out. That felt mushroom on the side is actually part of the original felt project I was working on. The mushroom for the Mario & Princess Peach topper will have to be bigger and shaped a little differently for accuracy. Hopefully I can finish one of these soon!

UPDATE 10/12/2010:
To see when Mario was first made/ Princess Peach & Mario frolicking (yes, frolicking):
http://sacrificialrabbits.blogspot.com/2010/08/work-in-progress-mario-princess-peach_30.html

To see the completed piece:
http://sacrificialrabbits.blogspot.com/2010/09/two-wildly-different-listings.html

It's been a long day

founded on a night of weak sleep, taken into the city and then dragged through a night shift.

So, just a little thing to count for June 30 before I go to bed:

The Valentine Doe- made in Feb of 2008. Sold on etsy.