Photo a Day

[Image from fat mum slim]

Since I failed so miserably at my multiple attempts at Project 365, I decided to take on a much smaller challenge. Through the magic that is Twitter and Pinterest, I found Fat Mum Slim's Photo a Day Challenge. I'm really excited about it and already thinking about tomorrow's photo! At the end of the month, I'll post all of the photos here.

In the meantime, grab your camera and play along (the rules are here)! Or just follow along on Twitter!

What's New at the Shoppe

Since I haven't been busy blogging, I have been busy creating new items for my etsy shop. There's 4 new bags in the shop as well as a bunch of restocked prints. In the above picture, top left is Happy Little Forest Perfect Pouch; top right Cruisin' Wee Wallet; bottom left Cruisin' Perfect Pouch; and bottom right Happy Little Trees Perfect Pouch.

This week and this week only, I'm also running a sale on the last of my 2012 Calendars (pictured above). It features 12 original bird illustrations (one for every month, obviously) and is held together by a large metal bulldog clip. They're quite stylish, if I do say so myself. So grab the last one before its gone!

Photos and Things

Last week P and I participated in a photo shoot with another photographer and some models. P modeled and I  shot my trusty 35mm camera. It was an interesting experience. I had fun shooting the models (something I had never done before) and we definitely got a good work-out from walking around downtown climbing on things for a few hours.

When it was all said and done, I got some great shots (one of my favorite of P is above). I spent a good bit of time editing and carefully selecting the ones I wanted to post. Out of the 96 frames I took, there were 15 I felt great about sharing.

My approach to photography is one of minimalism when it comes to photo editing. I do not believe in using a lot of filters or special effects on my photos. I believe that what makes a good photo is the skill I used in taking it - being able to get the most out of my camera and film and taking the time to frame my shot before I snap the picture. When I edit, I only do a little bit of color correction and some cropping. Not much else. I am not saying that I judge people who use a lot of filters or heavy photo manipulation by any stretch! That's just not my taste.

That being said, the other photographer is one that uses a lot of filters and such. And I as I look at our pictures side by side, I wonder, is my technique dated? Am I being an elitist? Should I jump on this photo manipulation band wagon? Or should I stick to what I find pleasing? I know that the style of the other photographer is currently really popular . . . I just don't know if its right for me.

Here's the link to the album. What do you think?

Big Girl Panties

They say its good to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. That's how you grow and become a better person. I'm really good at making plans, psyching myself up for the event/thing, and then chickening out at the last minute. I do it all the time.

Last year, I decided (and told everyone within ear shot) that I was going to cut all of my hair off (like Winona Ryder in Girl Interrupted) after my wedding. I went to my hair appointment ready to do it; sat down in the chair; and when my stylist asked me what I wanted . . . I broke down and said "just a trim." And to this day, I still have the same haircut I had when I got married. Its cute and all, but I'm still ashamed that I haven't been able to work up the balls to chop it all off. (On a side note, I've now decided that I want to grow it out again . . .)

So today I'm jumping in feet first into 2 things that I've been procrastinating about - leaving my dogs out of their crates all day and going to the gym. Yep, I'm putting on my big girl panties today y'all!

My dogs are crate trained and we've decided that today was the day to see if they were "grown up" enough to be left unsupervised and unrestrained in the house all day. Knowing them, they're curled up somewhere asleep. I closed off all the rooms of the house except the kitchen and the living room before I left; hid the trash can; turned the TV on to Animal Planet so they would have some noise; and left for work. I'm pretty sure this is what its going to feel like when I drop my kid off for the first day of school.

I've been wanting to go back to hot yoga for a while now, but unfortunately, its a bit cost prohibitive. Fortunately, my employer felt the need to put a gym in our building. I've had a membership to it for the past 8 months and have only set foot in it once (to sign up). So, I've decided that today is the day that I'm going to go down there and walk quickly on the elliptical machine after work. I'm doing it. I've told P to expect me home later than normal; I packed a bag of "work out clothes"; my iPod is loaded with up-beat tunes. I can do this.

So keep your fingers crossed that I will actually make it through the doors and won't run away with my tail between my legs. I wore my big girl panties today, right?!

2012 Goals

In keeping with my tradition for the past few years, I've set some goals for 2012. This year, I plan to:

- finish 50 books. This is a goal a set out to accomplish last year and only halfway achieved.
- cook more meals at home. P and I did this for the most part last year, but there were some weeks that we ate out more than we should have and I would like to change this. Its better for both our budget and our waistlines if we eat at home more.
- have an inventory for my store instead of constantly trying to play catch-up and making bags. I know that this will mean more work at the beginning but it will also mean less stress when it comes to "show season," and that's a good thing.
- reach 75 sales in my Etsy shop. I hit 31 in 2011, which is awesome (and there will be a giveaway soon! I just have to finish the item!), so this year I really want to up the anty.
- increase my product line. I have new ideas that I'm really excited about and I want to add them to my store.

What about you? What are your goals for 2012?

2011 Wrap-Up

I've been thinking about things I did and did not accomplish this year and I was starting to get a little bummed.  Last year (or rather earlier this year) in this post, I talked about how I wanted to apply for grad school, push my Etsy sales so that they were half of my yearly income (a very aggressive goal), loose weight, and find a place to show my photos.  I didn't accomplish any of that.  I also set a goal of reading 50 books this year and I only read 24!

But then I started thinking about the things I did accomplish this year . . .

- I got married and had a mainly handmade wedding (that was absolutely lovely and exactly what I wanted)

- P and I bought a house

- My bags are now not only available in my Etsy store but also in 2 stores! And they're selling!! 

- I participated in more craft shows that ever this year and I even helped organize 2 of them

- I'm a leader in the most active Alabama Etsy team that just started in March of this year (and we have BIG plans for 2012)!

- I was the photographer for 2 weddings (both of which were beautiful and great learning experiences)

So while I didn't accomplish the specific things I thought I would, I still accomplished a lot and (I feel like) way more than I intended to. I've already started making plans for 2012 and I know its going to be an even better year!

How did your accomplishments in 2011 compare to the goals you set for yourself?

A Brief Hiatus

This is becoming a trend with me . . . I'll be a great blogger for a bit - posting every day or so. And then all of sudden, radio silence. I'm sorry for that. I really am working at being more consistent, even though I'm pretty sure I don't have any loyal readers left.

Nonetheless, while I was gone, I have been busy.  I've been working on Christmas presents and custom orders. And while I was gone, I made the first milestone sale of my Etsy shop - the 30th sale!! After Christmas there's going to be a giveaway, so stay tuned for that!!

Last night, I got a wild hair and decided that I didn't have enough stuff made for Christmas, so I made mints (pictured above). They weren't that hard to make, but I didn't pay attention to the instructions and now my hands are a lovely shade of pink . . . so if you decide to make them - WEAR GLOVES! Here's the recipe.

I hope y'all have been having a productive month!