Product Photography Tip

As an online seller, one of the most difficult things is getting good photos of the things you are selling.  It's also one of the most important things, because one can't just stop in your store and pick up and examine your item.  So they need to be able to see it well in the photograph.  One of the things that I have had trouble with is that my photos turn out too dark.   Did I mention what a total photography dweeb I am?  I just know how to aim and push the button.  I have learned a thing or two in the last couple of years.  But for now I am going to give you a tip about exposure compensation.  I take my pictures in the daytime in my laundry room because there is a window on each side of the (very small) room, so plenty of natural light.  Even though it is very light in my chosen spot I was still getting a grey background when I was actually shooting on white posterboard.  Anyway I have been playing around with my camera menu and decided to try adjusting the exposure compensation.  The difference this makes is pretty amazing. (If you are a photography guru who just happened to be stopping by my blog please ignore my ignorance.)  So on my camera (which is nothing fancy) at the bottom of the screen there is a little 0.0.  That is where I can adjust exposure compensation.  Mine is usually 0.0 which doesn't give me the brightest photos.  All you need to do is play around with where it looks good.  Take a few pictures at different levels and see where it looks the most normal.   I notice that some things I am photographing need a different setting than others even in the same place with the same background.  Below is the difference I get when adjusting my exposure compensation. I also use Picnik to edit my photos. Although these photos have not been edited .  Another place I have found great product photography articles is Handmadeology.com  So there you have it.  You don't have to be a pro to get better pictures.  It's a matter of trying different things and a little work.  You can be a complete photography dweeb and get brighter pictures.    

A New Sewing Machine

I am back to sewing.  A couple of weeks ago I posted that my sewing machine broke.  Well, I got a brand new sewing machine.  It's my first ever that I actually got new and for myself.  It's not expensive or fancy, but it does more than any previous machine I have had.  I haven't got to use it as much as I've wanted to yet, but I did manage to get a couple of these writslets sewn and in my Etsy shop. 
The weather has also warmed up around here a bit, so it's got me thinking of spring and gardening.  I am going to work on some new projects in line with spring and gardening.  Of course, I'll share them when I get them ready. 

Finally Friday!

It's finally Friday. It has been a long, icy week here in Indy. And apparently it's not getting better anytime soon. My sewing machine also broke this week, so I will be resorting to using an I don't know how old machine that was given to me years ago. It has one stitch. Straight. No zippers, no button holes. So I guess I will just sew some things that require no special stitches until I get a new machine, hopefully in the next two weeks.
I also wanted to let you know about a giveaway I'm sponsoring over on Facebook. I am giving away this cute little wristlet. There are other sponsors giving away some goodies too. Just go to the first photo in her first album to find the entry requirements.  I will have these wristlets in various sizes in my Etsy shop after I get a new machine. 

'Shades of Purple (ish) HMET treasury chain game' by NaturallyComfy

Great shades of purple from the Handmadeology team.

Amethyst & Quartz S... VagabondCarniv... $21.00	Reusable Fabric Gif... VZWraps $7.00	pair of miniature n... JDWolfePottery $30.00	Earrings-Amethyst, ... tuscanroad $26.00
Snowman Lumpy Folk ... BentWhimsStudi... $22.00	Though Cold Winds B... PepperGlenn $68.00	Romantic Rosy Ameth... Jewelrybynala $21.00	You're so Tweet... SweetSpotCardS... $8.00
Orange Purple Bold ... RockStoneTreas... $38.00	Crazy about you ...... divinalocura $25.00	Cosmetics Wristlet ... KnitzyBlonde $22.00	Purple and White St... TUTreasures $4.50
Purple dyed Turquoi... ZaftigDelights $24.00	Sweet Rolls - Handm... nobakecakes $9.00	Bird's Nest kee... OneClayBead $34.00	Handmade Glass Irid... artisanconnexi... $10.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com.

Dusting Off The Old Blog

So, it's been a long time since I updated this blog.  I have taken some time to re-evaluate, regroup, refresh, re whatever.  I spent the summer learning how to grow a garden.   It was challenging and enjoyable and I'll be doing it again this spring/summer.
 I have renewed my determination to have a successful Etsy shop/craft business.  On that note I have been busy making things for my shop and  probably a venture into the craft show world.  Since it's so cold and I am trying to get a good bit of items into my shop I have been working on lots of fleece hats and scarves.  I have had a lot of fleece sitting around here and love working with fleece. (I am all about the comfort)  So I will leave you with a few pictures of what I have been working on and I will be updating again soon. 



Brown and Gold Flower Burst Set



Black and Red Round Drawstring Bag



Shades of Brown Striped Fleece Scarf



Homeschool Etsy Team (SHE)

This Friday's feature is focused on one of my Etsy teams.  The SHEteam is Schooling at Home Etsians.  This is a great, supportive and active team of families with homeschooling and Etsy shop ownership in common.  The SHEteam blog has information on team shops.  You can find the latest Sheteam treasury here.  The SHEteam has also been featured in this online article.  
Here are just a few of the shops and items available from the SHEteam taken from the latest team treasury.  So, check out the SHEteam. 

Ancientgamecupboard                                   ElegantRoseBoutique

MapleHillFarm

                

emptynestegg

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

So, what's new? Well, I am still working on getting our scarves finished from the Joy's Hope scarf along. I am really easily distracted by other things to work on. Things like this cute little buttercup bag, now available in my Etsy shop.   And I'm working on some more, in the large and small sizes.  
I have also been learning how to cook venison.  We have about 40 pounds of it in the freezer.  So far, it hasn't been too bad. 
I am still felting sweaters.  I haven't actually made anything with them yet.   But I went thrifting on Saturday and got a big pile of sweaters for 50% off.  So hopefully I'll have some felted stuff made soon.  Anyway that's what I'm working on lately.  I'll be posting a yummy recipe tomorrow, so stop back by for that.  See you soon.

Gift Set Winner

We have a winner of the NaturallyComfy gift set giveaway. Congratulations to Heidi! She chose this gift set from my shop. There is still one of these sets available. Check out my other sets also.

Feature Friday

So, recently I joined the SheTeam on etsy for homeschooling Etsians. One of my team members, Suzanne, has the cutest knitted animals I have ever seen. I just had to share her shop. Well, shops. There are two. One is downinthemeadow
The other is littlemeadowbabies
This is my favorite one. Her animals look so great photographed in the grass.

Here are some other beautiful things from her shop.





To find more great SheTeam shops on Etsy just search for sheteam in the Etsy search box.

Gift Set Giveaway

This month Naturally Comfy will be giving away one of these gift sets. This giveaway is for Naturally Comfy newsletter subscribers. All you have to do to enter is sign up for the Naturally Comfy Newsletter. That's easy enough! The winner will be drawn Friday, November 13, 2009. The winner will pick the set of their choice.

Back to Blogging

Well, school is underway and so is fall. We have spent the month of September getting our school year started and trying to get into a routine again. Now that it's going I can hopefully get back to more regular blogging. I have been working on some fall things for my Etsy shop. I just listed a couple today and will have more later this week.
Don't forget to sign up for the Naturally Comfy Newsletter here. I am planning a giveaway or two in the next few weeks for my newsletter subscribers.
See you next time.

Naturally Comfy News

What's the latest at Naturally Comfy? I have been trying to improve things in my Etsy shop. Things like pictures, tags, etc. I have also been working on some sleeping masks for the shop.
I am also working on some more small rag quilts. And I will be adding some fall and winter items soon.
I am also signing willing victims up for my Naturally Comfy newsletter. There's a link on the right column up at the top. I will be sending out monthly newsletters that will let you know about sales, (some will be exclusive, newsletter subscriber sales). I will also let you know what's new and what will be coming soon. Included will also be contest and giveaway information.

So, that's what's going on. I will be posting soon about my venture with making some CPSIA tracking labels for my kid's stuff. So, stick around for that, it should be interesting. See you soon.

Gearing Up For School

Wow, it's been awhile since I posted anything new. I have been trying to get things more organized and cleaned out around home before we start school for this year. We will be starting school the week of the 31st. We are usually earlier than that, but I need some organization before we start. We have parted with a ton of stuff this week and hopefully next week will be just as productive. We have a small house and it is just too full.
This school year I am already planning some field trips. We didn't do many last year and I want this year to be a little more exciting and fun. Our first official field trip will be the zoo. And it will actually be our second day of school. What a great way to start the school year.
So anyway, after we get things underway for school I'm hoping to have more time for blogging more often and regularly and also for my etsy shop. And of course I'll be sharing pictures of our field trips. So check back and I'll see you soon.

A Sale and a Treasury

This weekend I made a new treasury on Etsy. It features members of the INCrowdTeam. It's all Hoosiers. Come and take a look at Artsy Hoosiers. It will expire Tuesday 10:33 pm.
I also wanted to mention that everything in my shop is on sale through Friday. Everything is 10% off.

Week in Review

What a week! This week we found the owners of this girl who wandered onto our street. Her name was Karma. The posts from Tuesday are here and here.

We also spent a couple of days in the creek. My kids love messing around in the creek water.

This is what I love about the creek...I just have to remember not to drink a lot of tea before we go.

We also did a "photo shoot" for my new gypsy rag tote and I got it listed on Etsy. And while we were at it I retook a couple of pictures for my bug keeper.

Yesterday, I made a new treasury with spa/ bath and body things. Do you ever do a spa evening at home? This treasury has some great stuff for doing just that. Take a look at these great shops with spa stuff.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=68497

Well, that's my week in review. Of course I left out the boring stuff like laundry and dishes, but I'm sure you don't mind.

Have a great weekend!