Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

Wonderful Mail - Learning Etsy Too!


Here I am waving to you,
I have lots of mail goodness
to share too!

Before the mail~

Last fall, I thought I'd open a little etsy store and put a few envelopes in it.  I had just started making them and compared to the ones I make now, they were blech...at least to me.  Instead of closing my store, I put myself on vacation until I could decide what direction I want to take, fast forward to now.

I've always loved paper, punches, twine, garland, tapes just about anything in those areas and my stashes, stacks and piles of those things prove it to be true.  I found my direction, fantastic!  Finding direction is one thing, implementing direction is another animal.

I thought I knew how to take semi fair pictures until I started trying to take photo's of product for my shop, talk about hitting a major road block!  If you've ever been to or looked around on etsy you'll see that most photo's have a white or light background, natural lighting is preferred, close up images are a plus, size and scale is important and the list is endless.  My head spins just thinking about it now.

I started out taking pictures in every location in my house, at every time of day with every type of light adjustment you can imagine, did that work for me.  No!  Next, I read my camera manual from cover to cover at least seven times, I learned so much about my camera, it was like having a brand new toy.  Did the lighting in my pictures come out great, No.  Got a light box, it helped some but my preference is still natural light.

In a moment of frustration, pondering whether or not to push forward, I noticed amazing light coming in from a wall of windows in my living room.  My sweet spot!  The only hurdle, the entire living room had to be moved around to allow for enough space for me to work.  I stood there and thought, am I really going to move the entire living room around to be able to take pictures for an etsy store?  Without hesitation my mind said yes, and it got moved.

The improvement was immediate, nothing compares with natural light.  My frustration dropped immensely and though I've barely touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to taking great pictures for etsy at least I'm on the way now.

My next novel will be about learning SEO optimization, titles and tags.  My head spins every time I think about all of them.

Now to the wonderful mail~


Penpal Postcard
Such a delight to find this wonderful card in the mailbox from Mariska!

Cupcake Roses Postcard
Who doesn't love cupcakes, especially when they are sweetly decorated!
Arrived from the Netherlands.

Netherland Postage Stamps Penpals
Netherlands Postage Stamps

Postcards by By Kris
This might be my first or second By Kris card to ever receive, wheek!  Love them!
Arrived from Netherlands

Netherland Postage Stamp
Netherland Postage Stamp

Sweet Baby Lamb Postcard
Awwww...adorable baby lamb.  What's not to love about this picture.
Arrived from Germany

Germany Postage Stamps
Germany Postage Stamps

Praca Duque Da Terceira Portugal
Prace Duque Da Terceira
Arrived from Portugal


Portugal Stamps

Portugal Postage Stamps


Long Eared Owl Postcard
Beautiful Long Eared Owl, so pretty among the trees don't you think?
Arrived from Japan

Love Hearts
Love and Hearts Everywhere!  There can never be too many hearts~
Arrived from China

China Postage Stamps
China Postage Stamps



Oh Happy Day...

Mail arrival has come again
makes my day, happiness sets in.
Cards and letters are fantastic to me,
they keep me in touch with friends I can't see!

Incoming Mail
Beautiful card from my penpal in Germany.  She always has the prettiest cards.

Water Color Envelope-Outgoing
This water color pink and blue envelope is on the way to California.  It contains a postcard that was sent to a couple in California but arrived with my mail here in Texas.  I'm sure their friend or family who is visiting the Netherlands wanted them to have it so it's on the way...with a slight delay in flight.

Sapa Vietnam in Spring
Sapa Vietnam in Spring-Dreamy isn't it.

Vietnam Postage Stamps
Vietnam Postage Stamps

Victoria Kirdy Eat Your Vegetables
Victoria Kirdy Cat Illustration

Russia Postage Stamps
Russia Postage Stamps

Orange Heart
Yummy orange heart

Malta Postage Stamp
Malta Postage Stamp

Ladybird The Adventures of Wonk
Ladybird Book Cover-The Adventures of Wonk
Arrived from France

France Postage Stamps
France Postage Stamps-Beautiful

Christmas Tree
It's never, ever too early or too late...however you choose to look at it for a Christmas card, never I say! ;) This one had been on it's way since November 2012, arrived in perfect condition after 4 months travel time.

Belarus New Year Stamp
Belarus New Year Postage Stamp

Mail is Beautiful to Me

It's easy to see mail is beautiful to me.
I love each piece and handle with care,
eternally grateful that you continue to share.

Outgoing Mail 10.8.12
Thankfully the mail runs today, I have a bit ready to fly!

Australia Cupcake Maxicard
I love maxicards, to get one with a cupcake for my collection is amazing!

Wondering what a maxicard is:
These maximum cards, as they are often known, are postcards that feature an image (a monument, animal, event, etc) along with a stamp of a very similar or related image on the picture side of the card.
Arrived from Australia

Yummy Pink & Green Whoopie Pies
I had this favorited in my Postcrossing Favorites, love the pink and green...add in the fact that it's sweets and I'm a happy girl!
Arrived from Taiwan

Taiwan Stamps
Taiwan Stamps

Snow View of Pocono Mountains
Snow View of Pocono Mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania, beautiful.
Arrived from USA

Bright Beautiful Owl
Aren't owls fascinating, I have a small collection of owl cards and love each one of them.
Arrived from England

England Stamps
England Stamps

...And So it Goes


Mail mail, oh how can it be
Ebb and flow
And so it goes
Whether caught up or behind
Mail is always on my mind

Kotovasiya Cats
Kotovasiya Cats-I'm not sure of the "official title" of this card but it looks like they are guards. 
I love these cute illustrated cats!


Barn in Missouri
A beautiful, old weathered barn sitting in a peaceful field located Missouri. 


Oamaru Blue Penquin Colony
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony in New Zealand.  They even provide opportunities to adopt your own penquin.


Chocolate Candy Bars
Yummy, chocolate bars all tied together in pretty ribbon.  Who wouldn't love to receive that as a gift!