Working on my ArtFire Shop

I have been spend a lot more time working on my ArtFire shop.  Over the weekend, several new changes that the ArtFire folks have been working on went live.  I finally got to update my banner and my avatar.  I think my shop looks better, but I'm still not thrilled with the avatar. But, I'm going to live with it for now. 

My original goal was to get 100 items in my shop.  I'm sitting at 80.  The last few months of allowing frustration to get the better of me has not helped my shop (or sales). 

But, I'm back on track!  I'm slowly reworking my descriptions.  And making notes of pictures I need to retake.  I now realize that working and re-working listings is just part of maintaining my shop.

And speaking of reworking, I have a few items themselves that could stand some "upgrading".  I redid a necklace a couple of days ago that I haven't yet listed.  I had created it last spring from some polymer clay disks:

The picture doesn't look as bad as the real thing did.  That green cord was harsh! Really, really harsh! I can't believe I used that green! What was I thinking!  Well, I redid it with brown cord and it looks loads better:

It's much softer color-wise and blends in instead of smacking you in the face.  I do like in-your-face color, but in this instance is wasn't working. 

I've have a few now listings in my shop and I hope to get more things listed in the next day or two.  I also plan to finally get some small abstracts listed as well.  I'm still working on the photographs of the paintings.  I may try scanning the ones that will fit on the scanner bed to see how that works. (Dreading the shuffle things around, cord trip hazard, scanner tap dance.)

Well, I had better get to work, hadn't I!

ArtFire Avatar - Done!

I finally finished the picture for my ArtFire avatar.  I'm not completely happy with it, but I'm going with it anyway.

Here's what it looks like small size, reversed with a black background:

I think I should have done something less detailed for the small size.  Maybe I'll work on it more later, but for now, I need to move on.

Here is a little preview of what my new ArtFire shop is going to look like:

I like how the new cleaner look.  Looks more up-to-date.  However, I'm not real keen on the avatar box hovering over the banner. But, I'll just have to live with it.

I don't know when the ArtFire changes will go live.  Couple of weeks ago they said it would be 2-4 weeks.  So I would imagine it will be a couple more weeks at least.

VA Beach Quilter - Guild Featured Artist

Featured this week by the ArtFire guild, "Shops With Less than 10 Sales", is VA Beach Quilter.  Kim, the shop's owner is also guild master for this awesome guild!  Her studio/shop is full of wonderful hand crafted goodies!  Guaranteed to find something for everyone!

This month, Kim is having a Christmas in July sale -15% off your total purchase with the coupon:  XMAS2011

She has several beautiful quilts in traditional patterns including this log cabin quilt featuring Civil War reproduction fabrics.  I'm partial to quilts and they are my favorite items in her shop!

Civil War Log Cabin Quilt

There are numerous items for sports fans including this Pittsburgh Steelers table topper.  Wouldn't this be great for fall football parties?  Not a Steelers fan?  Contact her for a custom order featuring your favorite team.

Pittsburgh Steelers Table Topper

The fabric for this Kindle/Nook case is so pretty!  Kim has an incredible variety of Note keepers, coupon organizers, bags checkbook covers, etc.  And she has so many lovely fabrics!

Dragonfly Kindle/Nook Case

Kim also has a lovely fabric "destash" shop, "VA Beach Quilter Destash", and pattern/book "destash" shop, "Quilter Bee"

And be sure to check out the "Shops With Less Than (10)" blog, for more information about "VA Beach Quilter".  And while you are there leave a comment to enter a chance to win the monthly giveaway.  This months prize is a cute pair of earrings from Keri Mae.

Beach Necklaces Restrung and Listed

The three necklaces I blogged about needing to restring, are done. Yay! And listed. Double yay!  I'm up to 46 items in my ArtFire studio - that's a little over 2 pages full.

It's taking longer than I planned, but I'm plugging away at it.  The last couple of weeks it seemed like I was making hardly any progress.  I know last week, the tax preparation class I'm taking sucked up a lot of my time.

I'm nearly done with the free-form bracelet I'm working on.   That bogged me down a little bit as well. 

I still feel I'm not quite organized like I should be.  I'm still trying to get my mind around promoting my ArtFire Studio.  I definitely don't have that organized like I should.

But, I 'm plugging away at it and learning as I go.