Things I Collect...

These are a few of my favorite things...

old maps

sugar bowls

paint by numbers by strangers

amatuer artwork

rugs

stationary

office supply crap
craft supply crap

tin garbage bins

baskets
vintage china
quirky coffee mugs
cheesy yard art { for example I own a budda frog}

old tins with cool pictures or patterns
vintage tablecloths
terrariums
kitties

What are some of your favorite things, 

and lets be a little more original then

raindrops on roses...
seriously, tell me...

: )

Out To Sea Inspiration...

I'm sorry guys but I had to get away.

From Pinterest,

from blogging,

from the crowd.

Because it is getting crowded 

all up in the crafty, DIY world isn't?

Don't get me wrong-

I LOVE how my personal favorite style of living has

really, come into fashion.

Can I say that?

Yes,

cause it's true.  

It is much more socially acceptable to shop at thrift stores,

maybe even cool (although I still catch my mom purelling her hands secretly after she touches anytihng

and my sisters think it seems funny)

People are pinning like crazy

and I have never seen more cute homes, eaten more yummy meals and snacks, or seen better looking hair in the Midwest.

It just got to the point though

where every time I was creating something

I couldn't tell where Pinterest/ internet inspiration ended

and I began.

Let me make this VERY CLEAR:

there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong

with using ideas from Pinterest.

It's just,

I have been doing the DIY thing long before Pinterest

came around and I will be doing it

long after it has come and gone.

It's my goal to give YOU great stuff to pin!

Not just copy what other creative people are giving you to pin.

I want to compete in the pin market,

I want you to see my tutorials,

or recipes,

or photographs

and be compelled to pinned them.

Thus the Pinner becomes the Pinnie-

you get me?

First step was to take a step back.

I had to get back to my inspirational roots.

I went old school 90's style.

Sketch pad,

magazines,

and my mind.

It was like an internet vacation

but without giving up Instagram

and Facebook-

cause a stay at home mom has her vices

and as another blogger put it,

we {stay at home moms} don't have a water cooler to stand around 

and shoot the crap with coworkers.

So we Facebook,

so sue us.

#goiphonemoms : )

So if you missed me that is super sweet!

If you are new to 906- welcome!!

And if you are just wanting some new tutorials all ready

don't worry cause I have you covered

cause you know you want a Carrot Garland for your kitchen too...

Piece of Carrot Cake Garland Tutorial coming: 

Wednesday March 27, 2013

HAPPY MONDAY!!!

How To Start An Etsy Store {Vol I}...

Aqua Vintage Pedestal Bowl for sale now at 906 E. Chic @ Etsy

Here are a few things

that I have learned 

since starting an Etsy shop...

01.

Take good pictures!  This is the difference between being noticed and falling into the abyss that can be Etsy.  You pictures should be in natural, bright sunny light.  

02.

Use a neutral background for your pictures.  You don't want the background to compete with the item you are trying to sell.  This is not the time to use your phone and take a picture any random place in your home.  

Pick a sunny place in your home with a plain background.  I use a plain white sheet.  When all your  items have a similar background it gives your shop a cohesive feel. Thus making you seem ultra profesh. You want your shop to feel like a collection, not a yard sale where they have to dig around to really find a good deal.

03.

Renew, renew, renew!  A couple days ago  I was all  "hows come one day I was getting hundreds of views and now I'm getting none???"  The best way to get noticed on Etsy is to be on the recently posted page.  Although there is a small cost to renew {$0.20} the sales I get from it are well worth it.

I give myself a daily budget of $2.00 to invest in renewing listings.  This keeps fresh views coming in.  Think of peak times such as 7-10 pm, a SUPER popular time for perusing Etsy.   Don't forget  about your overseas customer base you will want to renew at other times too so that you are including all your potential customers.