vintage buttons, Angel, leaf earrings

As promised, here are the vintage buttons that I got in Chicago earlier this week at Vogue.

I got all of the large white buttons because I'm planning to make a fall tree at some point.  They'll be great for part of the base layer of buttons.  Do you remember my Christmas button tree?  It will be similar to that.  I'd like to make another version of my Button Charm Bracelet - Two-Hole Button Explosion with some of the colorful smaller buttons.  I know it doesn't look like there are too many, but there are a lot of different colors buried in there.

I took a random picture of Angel today so of course I'm going to share it here.  When we got our new sofa last fall, I moved some of the pillows into the bedroom that didn't coordinate with it and made a little set up for Angel.  Lately she prefers her kitty bed, but she still hangs out in this area, too, sometimes.

I listed my newest leafy earrings tonight: Beadwoven Dangle Earrings - Sterling Silver - Indian Summer Leaves.

I created these to coordinate with my Indian Summer leafy design after I created the custom Indian Summer necklace in July.

I'll go ahead and share my other new leaf earring design tonight, too.  I created this as a custom order this summer to coordinate with my fall gold design.  I beaded two pairs of the earrings at the time so I'd have another one to list here but then ended up selling it in person, too!  I will most likely make another one at some point and list it on Etsy.  If you'd like to request one sooner, let me know. :)

new listing, getting ready to make a light box, open to suggestions

I listed my lime green beaded leaf earrings tonight.  They will be my final Christmas in July sale item for this year.  They're only $8.50 until the end of the month!  This will be the last time that I have this many items on sale for quite a while so take advantage of it while you can.

I bought supplies for a photo light box today.  As you probably already know, I prefer to take pictures outside in natural light.  However, I live in the midwest, and from mid-August-May, I'm out of the house from at least 7:00AM-4:30PM most weekdays.  Even when the weather is cooperative, this schedule doesn't leave a lot of opportunities for taking pictures in natural light.  I have scraped by taking pictures in sunlight when I can on the weekends the last couple years, but I would like to do something a little more consistent this year.  I'll post progress and feedback on the light box.

I'm also toying with the idea of experimenting with some plain white or gray backgrounds.  I've created my signature look with the sheet music background.  I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on that both here and at my shows this summer.  However, it is not the plain, teetering just on the edge of overexposed look that seems to sell well on Etsy.  I don't know that I'm ready to scrap my whole look, but I'm also ready to scream in frustration over not having more sales on Etsy.  Improving my music background photos and doing more to promote my site this summer (more blogging, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) has increased my Etsy views and hearts.  But it hasn't increased my sales.  So I'm open to suggestions.

Tomorrow I'm listing my August EBW Challenge entry piece.  Sunday I'm listing my first pattern.  Stay tuned.

new listing, button treasury

I listed my second pair of leaf earrings tonight. This pair is in cream.

I have another pair in turquoise that I'll be listing soon. I had fun going through my seed bead collection and finding Czech seed beads that matched delicas. I have pink and lime green pairs picked out for future earrings.

I also curated a Treasury West today. As I'm sure you know, it's pretty rare that I catch an opening, but sometimes on a weekend or a break it does happen. This one is called Buttons in Action! I'm pretty excited about it. I haven't featured button items in WAY too long.

You can view this treasury live by CLICKING HERE until Monday May 10 11:08PM EST.

Some of these items have been in my favorites list for quite a while, but I came across a few of them this weekend: the red and gray button earrings, the daisy chain button bracelet, and my new favorite the clock button ring. Now that I've started tackling button earrings, I'm itching to do a few button rings. If anyone has any advice about where to get quality ring blanks, please let me know.

I photographed a handful of new items today, including a few more pairs of button stud earrings, which are now ready for the Arts Festival. It's been chilly here today (high 40s) so I took pictures inside. They still turned out pretty well. I'm planning to work on the pricing signs for my table this weekend. I'll have tags on all of my items, but I'm going to have signs for items with the same price and for 2 for 1 price deals as well. I have a pretty good idea how these will look, but if anyone has any ideas/advice for a bigger shop sign and how to hang it, please let me know!

first leaf earrings, leafy feature number 10

I listed my first pair of leaf earrings tonight! I will continue to make leafy bracelets, but I'm proud to offer leaf earrings now, too. I have a couple more that I'll be listing later month. Please click on the pictures to see this listing.


My husband was looking at some of my recent earring pictures this week and suggested that I use a music back drop behind the props so you don't see the carpet or the porch, depending on where I'm taking the pictures. Any thoughts?

I know that I did a leafy feature pretty recently, but I got such positive comments about it that I decided it would be okay to do another one with my first leaf earrings. Enjoy!

Handmade Zip Patchwork Pouch with Felt Leaves by TiLTcreations

EverLastingLeaves - Concrete Leaf - Umber Catalpa by EverLastingLeaves

Lime Green Vines Pottery focal button big oval by Mudcakes

Serena Earrings - Olivine by BellezzaJewelry

Dark Green Leaf Charm by Reillykins

green leaf necklace by annbooth9

Aspen Leaf Gourd Bowl by gourdsbydesign