Monday, October 10, 2011

Featured Spot, so featured?

A few new items on the steampunk front and a few items not. In hopes of bringing new traffic into my etsy neck of the woods, I bought a showcase spot last week for the necklace section of my shop. I had high hopes; unfortunately I think they were a bit too high. I didn't notice a significant spike in traffic. Though I should really go back and look at my etsy traffic statistics to see if I did actually increased traffic or not. Though I did sell my crochet fingerless mittens, which made me quite happy. Because they're just too darn cool not to be on someone's hands.


But because I have a day job and I'm not able to spend a significant amount of time on my shop and it's promotion, my traffic numbers are not where I would like them to be. Other then spamming my facebook friends and wearing stuff around, hoping that at some point something will catch someone's eye and they'll buy it, the eyes that see my work are few. So far that's only been the case three times that friends/family have bought something off of my shop. And at that rate, it isn't going to help me make any type of revenue back.

Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoy what I do for my hobbies, however at some point I need to earn back the hundreds and hundreds of dollars I've invested over the years in supplies. And that comes by increasing traffic to my shop. Now I'm sure if I had the time I really could get into the head of etsy and do the research and figure out how to promote my shop and get the traffic flowing... but time is the enemy here. So until I suddenly become a money tree and can quit my day job, I get to flounder around in the etsy world trying to figure it out on my own.

That being said, I have another showcase spot coming up this Wednesday. All in all by selling that 1 pair of gloves I made up for buying both showcase spots. Which in the end helps me feel like I didn't completely throw away $14; we'll really know how I feel after Wednesday has come and past and the earring part of my shop is up for showcase.

But, I'm sure what you really come here for is the pictures. Well that's why I go to any blog anyway, if it doesn't have pictures it very rarely holds my attention. Call it the 2 year old in me or the artist, I'm sure it's a combination of both.

This piece is something that took me quite a while to put together. As most of my other steampunk themed necklaces seemed to fly together this one did not flow as easily. In fact it probably took me over a month to craft it, playing with different combinations of what I thought looked good together and what didn't. I finally got so frustrated one day that I became quite determined to finish it and get it up on the site. Though I've finished it, I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. But I did wear it to work the day after I finished it and was pleasantly surprised at how many compliments I got on it. It really does have a eclectic feel to it.



It would also be nice to have a model other then myself... or at least a tripod and a studio light. Having better photography on my adds I'm sure would really help for aesthetic appeal. I'm a visual being and I know that I will pop onto an add if I like the thumbnail. If the lighting or angle is bad I tend to keep scrolling and never take a look. The problem is since I work an 11 hour day I get home after dark, which means I need to take any photos either on the weekends or at night... and the light provided by the ceiling light in the room I rent just doesn't cut it. It casts a yellow low quality light that I believe just cheapens the images. So yes, a tripod and mobile light source (other then a lamp) would be a good thing if I'm stuck taking pictures of myself. Blurring out all the scarring on my chest gets old also. But having a model at my whim would be amazing. Though in reality it is much easier just to take pictures of myself because I don't have to work around someone else's schedule.

Anyway I realized this weekend that all of my pieces are getting bigger with each new one... especially the last one (above). I figured it might be good to tone it down a bit, which in turn would tone down the price a bit as well. Having a variety in price is always a good thing, at least in my book it is. So Saturday evening I made this:


I like the way it turned out. This is the first item that I'm using jewels to accent with. I was a little apprehensive about the jewels at first, but I think they work. The back of the piece is a part from a projector I bought from a thrift store for $3 and tore apart. I have all kinds of bits and pieces from it that I'll be using in future projects. It was the perfect size about an inch and a half by an inch and a half.



Anyway until next time...

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Facebook page and Steampunk series start

Its about darn time I say! I finally have a facebook page for my etsy shop! Now you can go Like my shop! It's only been up a day so I could use the encouragement of seeing that "12 Likes" go up! Hopefully this will drive up traffic to my shop and get the word out!. Plus I wont have to continually be spamming my friends feeds with new etsy posts when I'm sure of them (guys) don't really care all that much. Though a few of my guy friends have "Liked" my page already. Which I totally appreciate the support from all of my friends.


Since my last post two days ago I have decided to add international shipping to my shop. Which, hopefully will expand my viewer pool even more. I'm really trying to figure out ways on how to drive traffic to my sight. Since I'm going to be doing more of my steampunk series I really think that will give me a nitch I've been lacking for a while now.

Which reminds me, I need to share some of my new etsy makes. This idea came to me a few months ago and I've been rolling it around in my head for quite some time. Because of this idea, I've been on the hunt for specific pieces to make it actually come to life. And along the way I happen to be collecting some really neat items. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make my new idea reality... yet (yes it's a secret); as I haven't found the right pieces to put it all together. Though, as a result of my collecting, I've started making a new line of items for my etsy shop. Since I don't have the right material to make my new idea a reality, just yet, I have created something else in the meantime. Alas my new steampunk series.

I have to admit I am having quite a blast with it. I have to stop myself from spending all of my free time working on this stuff because then I never get anything else done! I do have to find a nice balance though, between finding the time to create with my hands, and finding the time to do the other things I need to be doing!

Visit the links to view more images of each item.

Steampunk Sweet Memories Necklace
Steampunk Magic Hands Necklace


Steampunk Long Ago Sisters Necklace
Steampunk Houdini Straitjacket Necklace

Steampunk Hydrogen Fig 17 Necklace

I wrote this post out yesterday while I was using a different internet connection. And I saved it, instead of posting it, hoping to add more later. For some reason, now that I am at home, I'm not able to get any new pictures to upload onto this post today. So I guess that means the post is going up as is!!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Never Die Art is to die for!

It's been waaaaaay too long since my last post and so much has happened between here and there. I have since moved out to LA to pursue my career as a 3D Artist. And this is the place to be if I want to get anywhere within the field. I've made a lot of new items for my etsy shop and have a whole new series of steampunk items I've been making. It's been a fun journey to see where things will go and it is unfortunate that I don't get to work on this stuff as much as I would like to. Jobs have a tendency to take away so much free time!

Anyway instead of writing a post on what I've been adding to my etsy shop, today I'm going to focus my attention on another etsy shop that I absolutely LOVE, NeverDieArt! In fact today I just purchased my first item from her, as I have been eyeing this print for a few weeks now.


I honestly can't stop looking through all of her pages. Her artwork is awesome! Her shop consists mostly of prints in different sizes ranging from 5x7 to 11x14 prints of her paintings at a nice low price. However if you just have to have the original painting, she sells those as well on her shop.

And if you're interested in seeing her process work you can add her on facebook as well, which I myself am about to go do!




And the freaking awesome print I just purchased!:


And this is the next one I hope to purchase

Dia de Los Muertos Sugar Skull Girl Portrait with Flowers

I could keep posting and posting but in all honesty you just need to go to her shop and check her stuff out. Then buy something!

Great art deserves to be celebrated!