The New Desk Calendars Are Here, The New Desk Calendars Are Here

OK, They're Not Phonebooks

Is there anyone out there who gets the title reference to The Jerk, or is it just me? That movie kills me. I still remember going to see it at the theater. That said, I did not design a new phonebook, but I did design a new desk calendar for 2013. Wow. 2013. How did that happen?

It's full of my flower illustrations, and interspersed with flower garlands and quotes. There are poppies, grape hyacinth, roses, poppy pods, hydrangea and bee balm.  Beautiful quotes including my favorite for the calendar (I'm a sucker for Ralph Waldo Emerson), 'Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year'.

It was a challenge. Mostly because, my computer program was not like the file that had the middle months.  Computers. Go figure.

Now that challenge is getting good photos. I made a small light box last night, because I just can't rely on the sun for my product photos (though natural lighting is by far, the best lighting in my humble opinion.

I took this shot in the light box last night. It's OK. At least the light box gives me another option. 

Still not as crisp as I'd like. I'd really like a better camera, but that's not in the 'bank', so to speak, at the moment.

Today, the light is cooperating and I like this shot much better.

Could still be clearer for my liking.  Now, here's the weird thing, when I use  this photo in my listing for Bates Mercantile Co. on etsy, and go to adjust the photo cropping before posting, the picture looks clear as day. As soon as I'm done adjusting the cropping and hit the button, it looks fuzzy and out of focus. Top it off with the fact that I have three calendars listed, and I can't even find ONE under a 'desk calendar' search. I find one under '2013 desk calendar search', but nuttin' for desk calendars. If any of you etsy shop owners out there have any suggestions or care to critique my titles and tags, I'm all ears.

Did I tell you I sold a good few of these calendars at the fair on Saturday? They were a hot item. I sold a pair first thing (always good to sell something right off, even better when it's a double). They come with the reclaimed wood stand.

I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out and have started on another calendar design, among other things.

What about you? What have you been working on?

You've Entered, Right?

Heads up gang, there's only a week left to enter the October giveaway. 

What giveaway you ask? Well, in case you missed it, a giveaway for $175 in handmade. Oh. My. Goodness.

Just get a load of all this stuff.

I know, I know.....my sponsors are CRAZY!!! OK, maybe not crazy, but very generous.  One lucky person is going to win ALL of that. It could be you, as long as you enter, because here's the bad news....there is no way you're winning if you don't enter. That would be a bummer. Good news, you can earn more entry points every single day and entering is easy as pie.

Need I say more?

Enjoy your midweek in your corner of the world and I'll do the same. Thanks for being here.

Ciao for now,

 

What Inspires You Wednesday

Flowers This Week

Over on our Facebook page, I started What Inspires You Wednesday.

It's fun to share the things that are giving us pause, motivating us and inspiring us in many different ways. This week, flowers have been the force driving my creativity as I work on my 2013 desk calendar.  

It's Fall here and many flowers have passed, although my rose bushes are still pumping out blooms and the petunias in my window box haven't been bothered by the night air yet.

Since the flowers that are still in full bloom are few, I've been grabbing inspiration from wherever I can find it.

Here's some of what I found.

1. my own backyard rose via Mercantile Muse 

2. soft white hydrangea and watering can via modern country

3. pansies and little pop up greenhouse covers via blomsterverkstad (say that three times fast)

4. perennial geranium in my corner garden via Mercantile Muse

5. unstoppable yellow sedum in my corner garden via Mercantile Muse

6. grape hyacinth (one of the first signs in my garden, that spring is in full force) via Martha Stewart

7. pretty poppies via My Two Acres

8. neighbor Joanie's huge hydrangea bush via Mercantile Muse

9. my rose of Sharon, which, by the way, is also still blooming via Mercantile Muse

I'd love to hear what's inspiring you today? Share here and feel free to share on our facebook page too.

Hope you're making it a great day. I'm checking things off the 'list', although there are still many more things to cross off. It's all good.

Hey! I almost forgot.........

1. We had an earthquake here last night!!!!! Really, we did. 4.6. It was so weird. Gar and I thought a refueler or transport was flying way way too low and had crashed. Shook the whole house.  We ran outside to see if there was a big fireball in the sky. Brought all the neighbors out. Hopefully that's the last of that. I mean, this is New Hampshire people, not California.

2. The giveaway is rocking and rolling. My sponsors are so generous, that it would be a shame if you missed out. Honestly $175 of handmade goodness. Enter here. Don't forget, there are ways to earn extra entry points each day.

Ciao for now.

Signed, shaking all over in NH,