Well… I’ve decided to start doing a monthly giveaway :) Yay! And I figured I could give away one of my own items to start off! Next month, I will post a sign-up for anyone who would like to be my next featured giveaway… so keep a look out if you’d like to join up.
How to Enter:
Just post a comment! Also, be sure your email address is in your profile, or in the comments so I have a way of contacting you if you win :)
Anonymous posters do not qualify, sorry… I gotta have some way to figure out who is who!
Only one entry per person
Prize:
Who’s eligible?:
Everyone! You do not have to be an etsy member. You do not have to be selling anything. You just have to be a fan of art, or jewelry, or whatever the featured artist may be giving away!
How is the winner picked:
By a random number generator… simple, easy :)
Contest Ends:
6/30/09 at midnight PST
The winner will be announced on 7/1/09
Good Luck!!
Or help them out by making a donation to Rat Terrier ResQ! Rat Terrier ResQ, Inc. is a national all-volunteer Rat Terrier rescue group committed to saving Rat Terriers in need. I’m personally very familiar with this organization as we have worked together in the past finding, placing, and setting up transports for ratties in danger.
Some of you might know, or not… that in my spare time I try to help out with saving dogs in danger at shelters or in other situations. It takes a lot of time, & you have to have a strong stomach to deal with some of the horrifying situations that these poor animals are in. Every now and then though, I have to take a break because I just can’t handle it…. that’s why I have to just say how proud I am & honored to know some of the people that deal with this every day & truly make a difference in these animals lives!
So even if you can’t adopt, sponsor, or volunteer… you can still make a donation! Every penny helps! And if that isn’t possible (believe me I’ve been there) you can still help out by spreading the word. Twitter, facebook, email, etc… just every now and then remind people that these little guys need out help.
Also, right now Rat Terrier ResQ is running a raffle where you could win a corvette!
Click here for details
Below are just a couple ratties in need from Rat Terrier ResQ:
In need of a sponsor, Rosalina (just look at those eyes!)
Wow, you must get to know this girl! Rosalina is a darling girl, looking for that love that lasts a lifetime! She is cuddly, loving, playful and just plain sweet! She lost her home when her human did, and so she came to ResQ. Rosalina is probably a Rat Terrier/Dachshund mix, which makes her all the cuter! She is house trained, crate trained, and loves to take walks. She just started learning to walk on lead next to her human (instead of pulling and forging ahead) and picked it up in just five minutes! Rosalina is about 18 pounds (and that’s even a little on the “fluffy” side) and is 6 years old. She is really looking for her true love out there.
Bosco racked up some bills at the vet hospital, and he's looking for help. He's got empty pockets... Wait ~ he doesn't even have pockets! Yikes! Well then he *really* needs your help!
Bosco is a male Rat Terrier mix weighing about 20 lbs. He is approximately 3 years old and is crate trained and housebroken. Bosco get along with other dogs. We are not sure how he does with cats, but can have him “cat-scanned” upon quest. Bosco came to us from an animal control shelter in South Florida where he was scheduled to be euthanized due to lack of room. Bosco is a sweet and lovable boy that loves to be pet and is looking for a family to call his own. He is eager to please and learns things very quickly.
And then there’s Plinko (needs a sponsor)… she looks like she’s got the same ratittude as my Mic
Wanna play Plinko? Come on down! In this case, Plinko is a tiny little girl, about 10 pounds and 8-9 months old. She is a beautiful tan sable with a full tail that she wags constantly. This girl is a lap dog! Her favorite thing in the whole world is to sit in her human’s lap and snooze. She seems to love everyone, and gets along with all the dogs in her foster home. There isn’t an ounce of aggression in this pretty little package. Plinko is working very hard on her housetraining, and has already learned the doggie door. She needs to learn to relax in her crate, and we also need to do some leash training, but Plinko definitely has the personality of a wonderful companion for just about any family situation.
I do help out other breeds and animals as well… I just guess I’m a softie when it comes to ratties…
Introducing my newest project…. ACEO’s!
So what the heck is an ACEO anyway?
ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions & Originals".
Miniature works of art the size of a trading or playing card (2.5" x 3.5") ~ an inexpensive way to collect beautiful prints.
The only rule of an ACEO is that it must be 2.5”x3.5”!
I’m offering 2 images as ACEO’s as a trial run to see how they sell, also… I’m offering a free backing with purchase (if requested) so that the cards are more sturdy since they are printed on photo paper. I will also be listing ACEO mat’s soon, 4x6”!
It’s mini art :P How fun!!
I finally got around to creating my Trunkt portfolio!! Yay! So once I figure out what its all about and just what I can do with it... then I'll decide whether or not to upgrade from the trial! I'll keep you informed!
So why aren’t you entering them like mad! Well, one reason I hesitate to enter contests is the fine print. It can be scary and confusing, but you really do have to read them. You must be careful that you aren’t losing ownership, or copyright of your images… I have come across more than a few legit sounding contests that become very shady in the fine print. So please do read the rules carefully!
Other than the fine print, most contests just want permission to use your image to promote their contest or maybe their next contest coming up… I say “thank you for the free advertisement if I win!” Just be sure they credit you, and most will have a limited time for this, for example: one year usage of your image in future contest promotions.
The other main thing I look at is the cost of entry. Most are free to enter… but some do charge an entry fee, usually small so its worth it. Just be sure to look through your competition so you know what your getting into… that also hints how professional the contest is.
And lastly, no contest is too small! Remember, winning is fun, but its also promotion. So be sure to check out local contests, and not just online contests… look at fairs, art shows, newspapers, etc…
So what are you waiting for? Go enter! It really is such a boost to just enter, and hey… if you win one, WOW! You’ll be doing your own personal happy dance no matter what the prize!!! Just winning is soooooooo fun!!
So now… onto the contests!
This is one contest I just entered… so please go and vote for me! It’s for product photography and the winner receives a month’s worth of ad space on Handmadeology.com ($60 value)
Please click here to vote for my Dreaming Daisies greeting cards image!!
Other contests I am planning on entering…. and you should too!
So that’s about it for now! I’m sure I’ll find many more in the future so I’ll keep you all updated as I find new contests. And please feel free to share contests you’ve found in the comments!!
The annual Etsy Yart Sale is going on now through the 14th… (yard + art) so I thought I’d join in! I have seen so many shops joining in, I think this is going to be a great event! Please feel free to add your shop in the comments and mention what kind of sale your having!!
Check out my “Yart Sale” section in my shop to see some incredible deals! Most images are priced at $10 off the original prices! I’ve included 16 images along with one set of note cards!
I’m working on only a few hours sleep here, so please bear with me and excuse the goofs or spelling oops :P But I just had to announce what a fabulous Monday I woke to today!!
First off I received a message from a fellow fspasg photographer, flickr buddy, and fellow etsy seller Elle Moss! She included me in an article on her blog regarding fspasg sellers on etsy… So stop by and have a look, comment, and definitely check out her work as she is an extremely talented photographer with such genius creativity!
This image is actually one of my favorite’s from Elle and actually the image that caught my eye and introduced me to her art!
Elle also helped put together a book for Female Self Portrait Artists' Support Group that I was honored to be included in… so when that comes out I’ll be letting you know!
The next bit of excitement to start off my day was that I received the "One Lovely Blog Award" from Ardent Photography!! Please stop by her blog and amazing shop, she is really an inspiring artist with such a unique view!
One of my favorites from Sarah’s shop, I just love this little guy!
Now for the rules of the award… I need to post here 15 blogs that I’ve discovered! So, here goes… I wasn’t sure if they had to be blogger blogs, etsy blogs, etc… so I just included etsy artists, otherwise there is no way to narrow down to just 15! I mean, only 15 etsy artists took me forever…. and I could have included a bunch more!
15 blogs you need to visit!
A Mountain Mamma
Urban Junkies Artist Lounge
MKC Photography
Mod3rnArt
Rareimage Photography
Amy Longberry
Autonomous Artisans
The Eye
HR Photography
Elle Moss Photography
PPD Designs Photogrpahy & Jumpy Frog Handmade Goodies
Jessica Doyle
The Little Pickle Jar
Urban Design
Gary Heller Photography
I’ve decided to put my shop through a bit of a make-over!
Step 1… lower the prices, big time!
Step 2… create a new banner
Step 3… create new categories
Step 4… redesign listing images with frames (the ones I posted earlier were lost, I accidentally dropped the hard drive they were on… and then cried)
Step 5… add bunches of new fun items
Step 6…. PROMOTE! PROMOTE! PROMOTE! (I can see why people hire people to promote for them, its a rough job….)
So why am I marking down prices you ask?! To be honest, its because I love sharing my prints… and while I love to make a profit (who doesn’t) I am going to concentrate more on some other photography projects for now. So I’m hoping the pricing does its share of promoting to leave some more time for me :)
What else am I working on you ask?! Weeeeeel… I am looking into going back to school for a photography degree! Which I can imagine will take up plenty of my time. I also plan on submitting images to magazines and travel companies. I spoke with a professional photographer while in Alaska who had never ending advise on how to get your stuff out there, and its not just about selling. He has many images in magazines, just by submitting them himself. You have to put yourself out there, to everyone you can think of… because no one will come looking for you! Until your big and famous that is :) 
My other new endeavors happen to be for my shop, some new fun goodies! I’m experimenting with different crafts to create coasters, cards, recycled goods, mini stuff, etc… So when something comes out the way I like, then I can start listing. I’m a bit of a perfectionist in this area, I’ve been working on this stuff for months now and still working out the kinks.
