Busy Fall is finally here...

So I'm starting to feel the pressure that always comes with fall. I got a great response to my Bella's Mitten Pre-order stint in my etsy shop. I'm also trying to get caught up with fall apparel orders for local consignment shops. And of course in the back of my mind I keep reminding myself that Christmas will be here before I know it. With all that in mind, you'd think I'd be busy trying to crank out as much as I can, but instead, as always, I've been designing. For some reason I always design my favorite work when I should be busy doing something else!
So, what I've been working on is a new fall cabled cowl, and invitation designs for my girlfriends bridal shower.
I'll post pictures of both when they're finished.

Bella's Mitten Pattern is Here!

So after a long weekend of math and fighting with the cable chart generater, I finished my pattern at the beginning of this week. Then it was off to my test knitters. I foolishly thought I had it working pretty well, and was sure they wouldn't come up with anything... But I was wrong. So I spent most of the lst few days revising the sizing and charts down to perfection. I am now quite confident that its all in working order! So I've posted it on etsy, ravelry and here for download. I've offered it on etsy of $6 since its not an instant download, or here on the blog for $10 which is an instant download.
I hope you enjoy it, and if you do, leave me a comment or two of how they turn out for you.

My First Blog Feature!!!

So yesterday I reached 35 sales in my etsy shop, and today I am excited to announce my first blog feature! Check out this great site, etsy by numbers, and the article that she posted on my popular Bella's Mittens.
http://etsybynumbers.blogspot.com/2009/08/unearthed_12.html

Today is knitting club at the library, so I'm off to share the wonderful news and see if I can't round up volunteers to test knit the pattern so I can post it as well!
Jamie

35 Sales on Etsy!!!

I am proud to announce that Today I reach 35 sales and 99 hearts for my knits shop on Esty! Thanks so much to everyone who has been supporting me this year. I've never made so many mittens in my life, and it's been so much fun; what a wild ride! I never thought it would be so exciting selling online, but I've sent my mittens all over the world now, and still get that peng of pride every time I go to the post office with my little brown box!

Thanks!

Jamie

Blog Banner Giveaway Winners!

To officially start off the opening of my graphics shop Musk Mallow Designs, I held a blog banner give away in the forums on etsy last wednesday night! Here are the winners:

Check them out, and make sure to visit the blogs and etsy stores of all the winners, they have some really great stores, and interesting reads!

Bare Moose:
www.baremoose.etsy.com for beautiful jewelry!
www.baremoose.blogspot.com for great how-to craft articles! (thanks for the mini etsy promo)!




Interesting Lee:
www.interestinglee.etsy.com shop opened this week, stop by and show some love!
www.interestinglee.blogspot.com her blog chronicles her journey selling on etsy. (thanks for the link)!

Lil' Miss Polkadot:

www.lilmisspolkadot.etsy.com cutest whimsical paintings and gifts

www.lilmisspolkadot.blogspot.com feature items, giveaways and her process

(Thanks for the mini etsy feature)!

Natties Place:

www.nattiesplace.etsy.com adorable little girls hair clips and accessories!

www.nattiesplace2008.blogspot.com great featured products from her shop and insperations from home. (Thanks for the Promo)!

Jwels of India:

www.jewelsofindia.etsy.com colorful, beautiful jewelry and accessories

www.callmestylista.blogspot.com great style articals and etsy shop features.

Pieces Of Me:

www.piecesofmependants.esty.com adorable scrabble tile pendants

www.indiecraftcorner.blogspot.com features and giveaways for etsy shops! (thanks for the add)!

If you would like a custom banner for you etsy shop, blog or website, please visit me at www.muskmallowdesigns.etsy.com for a variety of custom graphic options!

Earring Tag/ Business Card Layout- 3 designs by muskmallowdesigns on Etsy

Great new fall business card or earring tag design. Available in 3 great color combo's and customizble to your name and info. Files e-mailed to you are ready to print! just $10.00 for front and back of all 3 colors!

Pink and White Wax Flower Earrings by fboriginals on Etsy

Pick of the day- Wednesday-7/1/09:
Wax Flower Earrings- Cute little clusters for glass flowers wrapped in grey sterling. Very chic yet simple for summer. $15.00

Banners

The other day I was board, and wanted to do some banner designs, so I offered the first 10 people, who critiqued a fellow shop, the chance to get a new banner for their etsy store. So, thanks to everyone for participating, and here's what I came up with:

Promo for the market I sell with...

I thought this was so cool when I found it... This is a short clip about the nomadic market that I sell with sometimes in Pittsburgh. It's very indie and hip and always draws a great crowd. They do several markets throughout the year in different locations around the city. If you live in Pittsburgh you should definitly come check it out!

Product photography for new Etsians

I recently did a few banners pro-bono for an etsy forum critiquing new esty stores, and I got a few questions back about product photography. I have in no way perfected the art of product photography, but I have learned a few things that you might find helpful if your just starting out.
Sooo, here was my responce to that question:

As for the photography, it's a lot of trial and error, but a few tips I have learned are:
*to always take your pictures outside (cloudy days are best- if it's really sunny, use a sheet to shade your photo area- or use a cardboard box to build a lightbox- see below).

*For up close pictures, always use the macro setting- looks like a little flower.

*Always use a plain white background (white paper works great for this- fabric can show the grain of the material. If your using props, then you place the props and your product onto the white background- it helps keep the photo lighter.

*Always edit your pictures befor posting them- www.picnik.com is a great free site to help you lighten and increase contrast of photos, will even let you crop and re-size them. *Use your funnest picture for the gallery picture (the first picture). This will be the one people see when searching for you. It should be easily identifiable and not have to many small details. (a lot of people who sell sewn items like to roll the fabric or fold it several times then take an upclose picture of the rolls or folds and use that as their gallery picture- it makes an interesting picture and shows off the fabric pattern and color in a 3 dimentional way)!
Examples:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_1&listing_id=16654109http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22112487http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15373295

There are many different tutorials on how to build a lightbox, but here's a fairly good one that uses foam board- either way works pretty well- http://jyoseph.com/diy-light-box-for-product-photography/

If you have any other advice you've learned along the way, please feel free to add it to what I have here!
Thanks, Jamie