Brightness

Splash of colour for the rainy day we're having here: an Etsy treasury called Mod Madness by modsandminis, with my Bella Figura Birthday Thrills card at top left.

The Vespa girl kind of got her head out of frame, but you get the picture...

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Cakes and kids

A treasury made of cakes – first, it has one of my Bella Figura cards in it, and second, it's just pretty.

I've been really busy getting stock ready to send to retailers – two online stores and one boutique – as well as working on some fun custom projects. A lot of work!

I finally (finally) got to talk to my mum and my sister today. Somehow my mum always makes me feel better, and like I might actually be a good mama after all.

And now, in the interests of really being a good mama (and since it's no longer 110 degrees outside) I'm going to take Berry for a twilight walk. She likes to find small rocks and puddles and kittens, and our neighbourhood is good for a little bit of all three.

Better!

Since we finally live in a sunny place again, I've taken advantage of some nice bright mornings to re-shoot my product photos.

It's much, much easier to get a good image when you're not relying on the non-existent winter light in Seattle (summer light might've been okay, but we're not there for that).

See? Sunshiney....

Mmmm, pretty...

Ok: I seriously don't post about every Etsy treasury that someone puts me in (I'm always very happy about it, but you'd definitely get bored) – it's just that I'm completely taken with this one. It's so pretty. Those prints look like lollies all together like that, and I want to buy them all.

Front page (yay)

Yes! Another front page and this time I didn't let it all dissolve in one sale. I noticed in time and listed extras of the Ciao Bella Vespa card (which I failed to do the first, second and third times I made it to the front page, because I was so green).

Emilini's treasury stayed up for quite a long time (maybe because it was a weekend? maybe because it was awesome? heh) so I got a nice little rush of sales. Very happy.

I like Etsy Treasuries...

...and I get a kick out of finding out that someone's chosen to show my work in their treasury! A peace theme...


...a little bird theme...


...a fabulous mod theme...



Thanks to e&e bungalow, littletilegnome, starwillowstudio, starletta and TheHopeJar, who recently included my cards in their treasuries!

Registry: yay!

I've always wished someone would invent an Etsy gift registry, so when I saw someone mention that the official Etsy blog was publicising a new registry idea I clicked right over to see what it was about. My Happily Ever After card came up on the screen and I thought, Oh no this link's taken me to my own shop – but no! Etsy staff had chosen my card to go with the story! I was thrilled.

Also thrilling is the fact that you can now set up a gift registry for Etsy items at MyRegistry.com. Genius!

And do I have gifts? Sure I do. Here, have some Card Candy...

Urban Vintage

I kind of wanted to keep these... but since my business name isn't Leaves of Glass and since Kateri (whose business name is Leaves of Glass) had paid me to make them, I didn't.

I love custom design because I get inspired in completely unexpected directions. This project was so absorbing — coming up with a notecard design to reflect the "urban vintage" look of Leaves of Glass. (Kateri's jewellery is lovely, by the way — and when the earrings have names like "Invitation to the Dance", "Spring in my Step" and "I Call My Sugar Candy" — I want to run out and get my ears pierced.)

Brides everywhere...

I love weddings and I love being chosen for Etsy treasuries – so this was good: jewellery designer onesmallstar put my Bella Figura "Happily Ever After" card in her bright-and-shiny wedding-themed treasury!

Prettiness

After Annie and Fred's ceremony, the stairs were awash with little girls in white dresses playing with their activity bags – putting on silvery rings, playing with stickers, eating crackers, drawing in their notebooks... (For weddings where children will be at the ceremony, activity bags are an excellent idea).

Speaking of excellent things – see that velvety rose clip in Berry's hair, with the little sparkle in the centre? That was one of my very clever Etsy acquisitions. I also got some adorable little white flower clips for her to wear to Aaron and Sue's wedding (see picture below). Everywhere we went, people commented on how cute she was with those clips in her hair. So... nice work PamperingBeki! They were a hit.

You Deserve Cake

Finally I listed this new You Deserve Cake graduation/congratulations card on Etsy. Inside it says: "You're one smart cookie".

I'm also going to sell a version that just says "Congratulations" inside – you know, for people who have done awesome things apart from graduating!

But it's graduation season; cleverness is everywhere...

Treasury Fun

Oh yay! My 'Ciao Bella' vintage vespa cards are featured in a gorgeous stationery-themed Etsy Treasury chosen by TheIvyLeaf (top row, center). What a nice note to end the week on...

Shiny Birds

A fun way to welcome Spring – our sparkly silver block-printed bird greetings have been introduced on Etsy. Every card is individually hand-printed, using original designs carved into a linoleum block.

We've printed stationery sets and greetings like Bird-Heart-Bird and Birds Like Cupcakes Too.

Well, they do.