Summer Slacking

Oops. It's been a while! I'm not sure what I've been doing... but since we are painting our basement (where my I make jewelry), I have not had my mind on MollyStuff. I do well with structure, and with my studio set-up all jumbled I don't seem to work.

I joined the Franklin Park Conservatory (where I was attacked by birds last year)! I won't be going in any bird enclosures any time soon but I love the place. I took some pictures while I was there yesterday and I will use them to sketch from. (I didn't add hopefully in there on purpose... because this way I have to sketch!)


Colors, colors, colors! I need to stop being afraid of them. I used to hope that my jewelry could be worn every day, with any outfit, but maybe I need to change my goals. Should I aim for jewelry that can go with everything, or jewelry that can add flair to a plain outfit? Hmm...

A lot of the Chihuly glass is inspiring because very often, the glass seems to be weightless and it looks like it naturally shoots up. I need to think of jewelry ideas that seem to "defy gravity".

These hanging sculptures are reminiscent of jewelry because they hang like pendulums. Hmm... sketch away, Molly!

Cruisin'

This is the only picture I have of all of my friends together! ::mwah!::






In Nassau, we went snorkeling in the reef and rode on a sailboat. I think this was my favorite activity of the week!

Here is "Coco Cay" (made up name), a private island, owned by Royal Caribbean. We kayaked around the island and saw stingrays!

My shrimp sandwich in Key West. It was at Red Fish Blue Fish... yummm!

Flashback

... to senior year of high school (when I learned about binary code)!

I've seen some jewelry with binary code in the past, and I'm thinking about doing some of my own (no copying)! I like this idea because binary code can be used in jewelry in order to display a secret message.
Somebody (including me) could wear a necklace that says either normal things, mushy things, or even really weird things and (almost) nobody would ever know!

Punk Challenge

I created this pendant for the Etsy Team Columbus Punk challenge. It's a new addition to my Geek Collection. Please vote for my rockin' necklace over at the ETC blog when the time comes!
Party on.

Dance

*Snow*

Gonna have to start sketching and designing!


(image from Ken Libbrecht's Field Guide to Snowflake)

It's Close

or

It's a close race between a Japanese-inspired collection and a snowflake collection (according to my little blog poll). Let your voice be heard! Speak out! Don't let the next collection be a disappointment to you, my people! Wait! Am I designing jewelry or running for office? I'm silly.

Featured Etsy Seller: Bovine Bubbles

Your shop:

http://bovinebubbles.etsy.com or www.bovinebubbles.com (both seem to be a neverending work in progress)

What is your favorite item?
Hum, kind of a toss up but at present its my Pumpkin Custard Buttercream seen here http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14783231

OR my Vanilla Amber Hand and Body Mousse http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12703566

What item in your shop gets the most attention (if not sales)?
The two amber products I sell as well as the OGM Wrinkle Cream

If you had a thousand dollars to spend solely on your shop, what would you do (marketing, materials, more hands)?
$1000.00....a new website layout professionally done, custom labels and a clone or two of me to help out around here.

Design:
What inspires you?
I don't have one thing in particular, but when I make soaps the creativity usually comes from something I saw. Be it in nature, a store or one of my child's drawings. I try to bring that back to life in my soap colors/scents.

What is your favorite color combo?
I love green(celery) and brown. Actually anything nature inspired is good with me!

What is your favorite lifestyle/design magazine?
Cant say as I really have one....

What blogs do you visit regularly?
I must admit I am not a faithful blog follower. I do have several bookmarked and when the mood strikes I go visit. I have my own that i have only every updated twice.....

Life:
What is your “normal Saturday” like?
Chaos! Between the child and chores and domestic bliss Saturdays usually come and go at the speed of sound. We have a farm and animals and weekends are usually spent doing the Honey do lists that have been created all week.

Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Mctavish Lake, Sk...accessible only by plane.

What is your favorite food?
Anything Thai, i like it spicy!

The Pain I Go Through...

... to be inspired.

I had never been to the Franklin Conservatory before, and I didn't really have much to do today so I decided to take a little inspiration trip over there. It started out great and I got some good pictures!

Waterfalls are cool... I like how the camera was slow enough to get the movement of the water:

I think I liked the desert area the most. Cacti are pretty sweet:


Maybe I just didn't like the rain forest because when I (quietly and peacefully) went to visit the lorries...I was viciously bitten and clawed! They got me once and they left for a second so I could realize what was going on and they came back repeatedly! Gah! They got my cheek, shoulder, arm, and hand. Um... yeah... my visit ended there. I didn't take the time to complain to anybody or do anything... I just wanted to come home!!!!

Lesson learned: don't go into enclosed spaces with EVIL tropical birds.

Stone Cold Fox: Susan B. Anthony

(image from http://www.civilrightspictures.com/)

I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do
because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
-- Susan B. Anthony

New Font: Century Gothic

This is slightly old news but in case you haven't noticed...

I have changed my logo and whatnot to a new font! I think it makes my shop/identity look a little less "girlygirlygirl". Not that there's anything wrong with being purely girly but I wanted to convey that my designs are modern/contemporary as well!

Whadya think?

Featured Etsy Seller: Victoriasart

Here is the third in my series of features on Etsy sellers! Here is my interview with VictoriasArt! Please check out her shop!


Your shop:
What is your favorite item?


But, my favorite item are these for sentimental reasons:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=357272

and

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5046773

What item in your shop gets the most attention (if not sales)?

These two get a lot of attention. I've sold smaller prints of them in the past.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=352340

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5951524


If you had a thousand dollars to spend soley on your shop, what would you do (marketing, materials, more hands)?

If I had a thousand dollars to spend soley on my shop, I would spend quite a bit on marketing, allow myself to take days off work when I don't have vacation time to allow myself to make more art, I might pay an assistant for some small tasks.

Design:
What inspires you?

Lately, I'm mostly inspired by my trips and times when I've taken photos. I am inspired by our goldfish and family as well.

What is your favorite color combo? (Attach pics if you like!)

I love all colors and there are so many color combinations that I can't just pick one. If I really had to pick one, I love primary colors. But, I don't want to leave other colors out. I can say that I'm not a big fan of purple, so color combinations with purple are my least favorite.


What is your favorite lifestyle/design magazine?

I don't really read magazines because I read a lot for school and work. I do listen to art and craft related podcasts. Those would include: Craftypod, Art Marketing Podcast among others.


What blogs do you visit regularly?

I tend to read what blogs I'm subscribed to in my "neighborhood" or subscriptions list. I get an update of who has updated their blog, so I read as people update.

Life:
What is your “normal Saturday” like?

Most Saturdays are supposed to be pretty chill. I sleep in if I can, have a nice lunch with my husband, see a movie is there is a good one out, do homework, go swimming, and do something arty. Saturdays are awesome.

Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Well, my last vacation was our honeymoon in Berlin and so far it is one of my favorites. I also like California, Florida, and Detroit.


What is your favorite food?

Seafood

Ahhhhh... Canada

I needed a vacation...
...but back to work on Monday!

Featured Etsy Seller: JenSkelley

Here is the second in my series of features on Etsy sellers! Here is my interview with JenSkelley! Please check out her shop!


Your shop:
What is your favorite item?

My Country Bears art print. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12265092


What item in your shop gets the most attention?

The Exotic Bird prints...here is an example.. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13641269

Followed by the magnets.... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13151654


If you had a thousand dollars to spend soley on your shop, what would you do?

I would put it towards buying a letterpress machine. I would love to print wedding invitations as well as letterpressed art.

Design:
What inspires you?

I am always shopping around (in person or online) for new ideas and color combos!

What is your favorite color combo?

Lately I have been really into green color combos. For example this new art print of mine is three shades of green with a little gold... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13489487


What is your favorite lifestyle/design magazine?
Domino magazine (but I enjoy blogs more)

What blogs do you visit regularly?

Design sponge, Print and Pattern, Oh Joy!

Life:

What is your “normal Saturday” like?
A meal out, usually Breakfast, a little work, and relaxing

Where is your favorite vacation spot?

Beach!!!!

What is your favorite food?

Right now....pasta

Featured Etsy Seller: Audzipan

I decided a while ago to give some special Etsy sellers a spotlight on my blog. So, I asked a few sellers if I could feature them on my blog and Audzipan kindly answered some of my questions about herself and her shop. Please check out the shop and give some love!!


Shop:
Favorite item: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12729183


Most popular item: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11007600

$1000 would go toward marketing and product development. I would love to offer a wider variety of items, and I am working on that right now.

Design:
I am inspired by everything around me. I love looking through treasuries and other shops on Etsy. Much of my inspiration also comes from animals. I just love animals.

I really don't have an overall favorite color combo. I love all colors, so my favorite changes from time to time. Right now, I would say I love brown and robin egg blue.

I enjoy my subscription to Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine. It is my current favorite.

Honestly, I'm not much of a blog reader, but as a graphic designer I really get a kick out of Photoshop Disasters (http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com).

Life:
A normal Saturday for my husband and me usually includes sleeping in and a movie. Sometimes we go hiking, paintballing, or visiting friends and family, but it really is different every week.

My ideal vacation spot is Bora Bora, but I have never been there. I do love visiting California.

Unfortunately, my favorite food is ice cream. I also like frozen yogurt when I feel like trying to be healthier.

MollyStuff Collections

Inspired by Etsy Columbus Michelle's "Pimp Your Shop" seminar today, I reorganized my shop! I would like to narrow it down even more but for now I have 5 "collections". Sounds pretty serious, right? They're basically just themes I've found going on in my store. For now they all belong in one shop because... yeah... that's all I can handle! Here are the collections with a sample from each and a link to each one.

From the Circles Collection:


From the Dancer Collection:

From the Art Nouveau Collection:


From the MollyStuff Fashion Collection:

And last but not least the Drops Collection:

Flowers

Lalala... I love flowers. Here are a few from the Columbus Zoo.