Getting Organized after Making to Listing a Product on Etsy

As an online shop owner who operates everything myself, it's really easy to get carried away and disorganized.  After a jewelry is made, normally the next process is to list it up on the store.   For that, there should be at least five good photos.  Very often I had difficulties in knowing which collection is ready to upload, or if I need to retake the photos, or whether I have a new product that haven't been touched yet.   

 

For that I created a system that I've been using since last year, and I find it efficient.  This is what I do.  I have a box that are divided into three sections:  PHOTO, LISTING, REPAIRE.

What I do is everytime I finish creating a jewelry I'd put all of them into the 'PHOTO' section.  In the morning when the sun is up, I'd set up 'my studio' next to the window, grab that container, take out every jewelries I have in this section and, if possible, take all their photos.  

At the end of the session, while editing the photo, I move the ones that have five good photos into the 'LISTING' section.  Once I am ready to list my items online, I'll carry this container next to my computer and choose which jewelries I want to upload in the 'listing' section.  Once they're listed, I move them to the stock box rightaway, or the ones that are broken (accident happens) I put them into a repair section.  

I also prepare three indispensable items that couldn't be moved from that box. 

One is a measurement tape.  Two, a three by five cheat sheet card (or in my case is rather the half of the size) handy that convert the size from cm to inches.  

 And finally since I have plenty of collection with swarovski, I need this swarovski color and name chart to help me writing a product description.  

I hope what I do inspire you to be organized, or maybe you have another efficient system, please do share :) Have a good day! 

Bead Swap

This is my first time to participate the christmas bead swap with the JETs Jewelry team on Etsy, yaay!  Lynn from Urban Pearl Studio is my partner this year.

Dear Lynn, 

I chose candy colors with mostly turquoise aquamarine shades for you to get away from your elegant peals for a while.  Hope that you agree with my idea and have fun with all these joyful beads.

Merry, early, Christmas and enjoy your Monday! 

Snowflakes Beaded Ornament

Last year's Christmas I was obsessed with making a handmade christmas cards. This year, I think, it's the snowflakes fever.

Here goes what I did so far, which one do you like? Some of them available here, and more to come.

Enjoy your Weekend! 

Succulent Terrarium: Reborn!

Preparing a gloomy cold winter, I bought four succulents to brighten our apartment.  The obsession began earlier this year and it slowed down as I managed to build this.

Came back from the vacation last summer, I thought that they'd all die of hunger but to my surprise they looked fine and some of the stems grew even taller. I was overjoyed and feed them a couple drops of water everyday, thought that these extra food would replace their thirst while I'm away. well, DUH it's not the case. This is how they looked like two days ago..

I took everything out, threw away the dry roots, stems, and moss. Separate the pebbles and soils, redo everything she instructed on this diy blog post on terrarium.  I use old tweezer to align the misplaced rocks, used eye shadow brush to sweep the naughty soils off the succulents and glass wall, and plastic spoon to scoop in and out the soil. 

and voilà! a brand new terrarium. 

I replaced the moss with the pebbles, don't think that these two works together for most of the time succulents grows better in drier soil while the moss takes up joy in a darker and more humid space. 

Goofy thought that the red berry succulent (I made the name up, don't have the specific name of this plant) smells good. 

This cow couldn't find it's way out of the succulent garden. 

Enjoy your Monday, stay warm! 

Have a Succulent Weekend!

Hei! Hope your week had been fine. Mine had been hectic, I couldn't seems to take good photo product on my etsy store, very frustrating, if you know the trick and technique, I'm open for any suggestion. 

Anyhow, yesterday morning I saw a rack full of of fresh succulent at Tang Frere that I have been meaning to have for a while.  Thought about picking it up after the groceries but, silly me, probably have my head somewhere, that I forgot about it.  So this morning I rushed through the store, spent like ten minutes picking the most gorgeous looking succulent on the rack while telling myself that if I were to do it yesterday I could have more choice.

Coming home, all smiling and happy, set up the prop and click click. Taking photos other than jewelry has been liberating, I don't have to think about anything but adoring these gorgeous babies.  

They will soon be in my terrarium. Can't wait.  Please enjoy your weekend! 

Reflector from Foamcore

After reading this from apartment therapy  I try to construct the reflector using two pieces of thin foams that had been laying around for awhile. 

My foam has two sides: one has a pattern on it while the other is flatter.  Picked them in a package of five , this boards are actually made to decorate a ceiling or something like that.  I'd prefer to use the foamcore if you have, first they are heavier and sturdier, second there should be less texture on the board.  Well, for the moment this sort of foam works for me.  So I traced a line exactly in the middle and cut them in half using cutter. 

Lay them on the floor with a two to three milimeters distance so it is somewhat flexible to fold later on.  And finally plaster them with a white ductape. I used a masking tape, but in the end I have to reinforced them with a thicker tape so it doesn't easily fell apart. 

Et voilà, your reflector.. 

Here are some of the photos taken using the reflector, 

You might have seen some of these photos here.  What I have noticed is that since the foam has a weird bubble texture, in order to take a clear white background, I had to back up a little bit, or put the object further from the background to get just an untextured plain white backdrop. 

Have fun! 

Special Weekend

It will be for us. I can't wait to give D a kiss on Sunday morning when we wake up.  That day he will be a year older and us celebrating our first marriage year.  Yesterday night I looked through the window and saw a blushing autumn sky.  It is almost as beautiful as the precious times I've spent with him.. Ah, it'll be a special weekend, I feel that. Hope your weekend will be special too!

Organic Shape Gold Hoop Earrings to Start the Fall Season

Oh it's October.. two more months and we will say goodbye to 2012. Time flies, C'est fou! 

 I remember last year's Autumn came beautifully in Paris, the leaves change their colors while you can still wear something light.  I hope the season this year would be as gorgeous as last year, but this morning as I open the window, the cold breeze seems to say otherwise.

These last days I have been pondering of what are the suitable jewelry people should wear on the fall.  Then I think about me, if I should wear anything in my ears or around my neck, or on my wrist along with the autumn coats, I wouldn't want to wear fringy jewelry or too heavy.

To match the lovely golden leaves that fall this season, I suggest you to wear gold this Autumn:  An oval lava goldfilled hoop earrings, softly hammered, satin finished like usual. I am still attached to the interchangeable collection, thus I added a sweet round fibered peach topaz for you to wear it two ways.

For you who dare to wear something bigger: No fringe nor cascade, simple in style but making statement still.  The organic shape big hoop goldfilled earrings.  This time it is presented with round turquoise.  I turned out very happy with this pair, I have always known that my favorite rock goes so well with gold. 

I love the turquoise, but the hoop is way too big for my ears, you say. What do you think of switching ?

Like this then?  It's possible. If you ask my opinion, I prefer the bigger one.  But you can request whichever you want here in my store. But you need to wait a little bit before they're all available... Enjoy your Monday!