Travel Collection in My Etsy Shop

This new travel collection in my Etsy shop, Move the Needle, features paper items wih of maps popular places to travel to.

 

You can find custom moleskines, journals and other items. You can also search my shop for "map" to see premade travel items. 

 

These are some of the maps you can choose from. The map decorative paper goes on the cover of journals or the front of greeting cards.  

I chose eight of some of the most popular cities to travel to. In order, these are London, Paris, New York City, Tokyo, Amstersam, Venice, San Francisco and Chicago. I can also do a different location if you contact me. I have maps available from several places. 

 

 

I have been to New York City, Venice, San Francisco and Chicago. I would love to visit London, Paris, Tokyo and Amsterdam someday. 

Where is your favorite place to travel to? 

Music Inspiration

With Lollapalooza this weekend, I thought it would be fun to post some music inspired photos.

 

Do you collect records? I do not really listen to records myself, but I think it is interesting to see vinyl releases of newer albums. Brand New is photographed on the bottom left and Manchester Orchestra is on the right. 

 This is an interesting photo of a groove of a vinyl record magnified by 1000x. I love how you can't even tell what it is. It kind of looks like a landscape or canyon to me. 

 

These are some popular CD albums.

 

I love collecting autographed items. These are Forgive Durden, Maria Taylor, Stars and Michelle Branch. If you do not meet a band or artist, a lot of times you can find options to purchase autographed albums by them on their website. I used to like to do that. 

 

Here are a couple of CDs. I love looking at album art and seeing how a band chooses to portray their album through artwork. These albums are from Muse, Jimmy Eat World, Belle and Sebastian and Mum.

 

This is from the cover of an Elliott Smith album. 

 

 

Do you like seeing bands live? These photos are from Taking Back Sunday and Lights. 

Let me know your favorite bands or favorite ways to listen to music in the comments. 

Shop Interview: Colleen from French Knot

 

French Knot is a shop on Etsy that sells handmade wedding dresses and bridal designs. The shop is run by Colleen with her sister Dorothy. They make high quality wedding dresses to brides who want something a little different.

Why did you choose to sell handmade wedding dresses in your shop? 

I've been sewing for many years, and when I learned about Etsy as an online marketplace for handmade items I decided it was the perfect place to sell my dresses.

What is your favorite feature on Etsy? Do you use any other websites?

I considered selling on other sites, but I have found Etsy to be user friendly to the shopper as well as for the seller. I think the selling format is really well organized. You can analyze your sales and listings really quickly and easily keep in touch with customers.

How would you describe your style?

My brand is based on classic vintage styles, occasionally with unique fabrics or finishes that set them apart from the commercially available dresses.

What is your creative process like? 

For me the best time to start designing is in the morning - with plenty of coffee and some good music. Once I have a silhouette in mind I start researching fabrics. That usually leads to more dress ideas, but I try not to get carried away.

Describe your studio space. Where do you work?

My studio is a nice private spot in my home. I am set up with plenty of space for sewing, storing supplies, as well as a dressing room and mirror for brides that come to try on dresses. I've considered moving to a commercial space, but I love working in my slippers and bathrobe, and the commute is really short.

Where do you get your models for your shop product photography?

Over the last few years I've been meeting and working with some local wedding pros, and we have gotten to know some great models - mostly by word of mouth. We do quite a few inspired bridal shoots, and I continue to meet new models that way.

 

Where do you get inspiration?

The inspiration for new designs is occasionally from pictures or designs I see online and in books, but mostly when I start looking at fabric the ideas really flooding in. All I need to say to myself is, "what could I do with this fabric?", and immediately I come up with some slightly-crazy ideas. Rule of thumb: edit, edit, edit.

What is your favorite way to promote your shop?

Promoting my shop on Etsy is pretty straight forward, but out in the real world it's a little harder. I've spent the last few years networking with local wedding professionals on photo shoots, and I find that they help bring my designs to life. Styled shoots are a great way to be published on blogs and circulate on social media. 

Do you sell wholesale or consignment?

At this time I am not selling wholesale. Since my shop is such a small operation I prefer to work with my customers directly.

What do you hope for the future with your shop? 

My ultimate goal with my shop is to provide a creative alternative to the commercially available dresses - and make a living at it. So far I feel like I'm on the right track. Etsy has facilitated a way for me to reach a huge audience, and I'm really happy here.

Vintage Tropical Plant Printable Wall Art

I added some printable wall art to my shop, Printables and Things. There are five downloadable wall art PDFs that features beautiful exotic tropical plants. These were taken from a vintage 1860’s Ornamental Plant Book.  

 

These art pieces can be printed out and used as wall art. They can also be used as a digital file, such as a desktop background, or to be displayed elsewhere. I think these would look great in any room. I also think they would be nice to add if you don't have any plants in the room, such as you are living in a dorm room. 

Just for you, I am offering a free printable. This is another printable wall art piece from the book. Just click here to download. I would also appreciate if you share on social media or sign up for my mailing list. 

Black and White Photos

These are some photos I took on my phone that I edited to be black as white.

I took these photos at Millennium Park in Chicago. The last photo is from House of Blues.

 

These photos I took on Fourth of July. I love how the firework photos came out in black and white.

Which one is your favorite? 

Naming Your Handmade Business SEO

 

This printable worksheet has a checklist for new Etsy owners who went to open up their Etsy shop. You will get a 1 page checklist with some places you should register on when starting a small business. 

This is a digital file. There is no physical product that will be shipped to your address. You will get a PDF file that is downloadable after purchase.

Naming Your Handmade Business Printable Worksheet - PDF Digital File

https://www.etsy.com/listing/464330213/naming-your-handmade-business-printable

Find more printables in my shop, Printables and Things.

How to Use Scented Oils

Have you ever true using scented oils? You can find scented oils in my shop here and here.

These are some ways you can use oils:

• Scented oils are great for candle making. You can add a couple drops of oil to candle wax while making candles. You can also add a couple drops to an unscented candle while it is burning.
• Mix a couple drops of oil with water and add to a spray bottle. You can use the mist as a natural air freshener.
• Mix a couple drops of scented oil with baking soda and use as a natural home cleaner. Sprinkle the powder on to a carpet, let sit for half hour and ten vacuum to give the carpet a nice scent. Want to clean your kitchen or bathroom? Just mix a little water with the mixture and use to clean surfaces. 
• Add several drops of oil to a cloth and add it to your dryer to make laundry smell fresh. You can also a couple drops to your washing machine when you wash clothes. 
• You can use scented oils in paper crafts. Just add a drop or so of oil to a greeting card, envelope or stationery. 

How do you like to use scented oils? 

Shop Review: Make a Wish XO

The Etsy shop Make a Wish XO recently sent me an item to review. Make a Wish XO is a shop that sells handmade wish bracelets "where inspiration turns into reality".

The bracelet I received is called "The Journey". It has a blue cord wth a silver pendant. The pendant has a compass design on it. It is great for people going on a physical or spiritual journey.

It also comes with an inspirational quote gift card that says, "Start your journey...and as you do wear this bracelet as a reminder of the joy you bring to my life. May your wish come true!"

It also comes with instructions on how to make a wish and tie the bracelet. You make a wish when you first wear the bracelet. It is believed that your wish will come true once the bracelet falls off. You can also watch this video that explains how to tie a bracelet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0TG88CkFp8

You can tag MakeaWishXO on Twitter or Instagram to show how you are wearing your bracelet or see how other people are wearing theirs. 

I love the whole concept of this shop. I like my bracelet and I think it is handcrafted well. I also like the packaging it came in and the description about how to wear your bracelet. I think these items could make a great gift to someone.

 

 

The shop offers a variety of wish bracelets and charms. I also like this Autism Awareness Bracelet with a puzzle charm since my brother has autism. They are currently having a deal where you will get one free bracelet when you purchase five other ones. 

My bracelet has not fallen off yet. When it does, I hope my wish comes true! 

Vegan S'Mores Recipe

Remember making s’mores over a campfire? I have been wanting to try a vegan s’mores recipe. I thought since it is summer, it would be a great time to try it out. 

 

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers: If you want to keep them vegan, find graham crackers without honey in them. You can also make your own homemade graham crackers. 
• Vegan Marshmallows: Marshmallows usually have gelatin in them which is an animal product. I found these vegan marshmallows from the brand Dandies.
• Chocolate Bars: Use your favorite chocolate bar. I used dark chocolate. I probably would use something a bit sweeter next time.

Ingredients:

1. Toast your marshmallows. Lay them out on an oiled baking sheet or a sheet covered wih foil. Set your oven to broil and toast until the marshmallows are brown and slightly soft and mushy. I broiled them on low heat and flipped the baking sheet around halfway through.
2. You can also toast marshmallows on a stovetop. Just add the marshmallows to a baking skew and cook over the flame of a stove until they are brown.
3. Now put your s’mores together. Lay one half of a graham cracker down. Add a piece of your chocolate bar the size of your graham cracker. Add the browned marshmallow and top with another piece of graham cracker.
4. I like my chocolate a bit melted. You can stick your s’more sandwich back in the oven or microwave for about a minute longer to melt the chocolate. 

Enjoy! Make sure to have at least two. 

Printable Nautical Planner Stickers

I listed some new printable planner stickers in my shop, Printables and Things. These stickers are great for decorating your planner. They are printable so you need to print them on sticker paper. All are available to purchase here.

Do you ever use planner stickers? 

Organization Tips

I love these organizing tips from the Martha Stewart website.

Unused paint cans can be lined on a shelf with velcro to become a place to organize items. See a tutorial here. Another idea is to use teacups to store jewelry. Arrange them in a velvet-lined drawer.



Make color coded clipboards by painting the clips different colors with acrylic paint.



Create a car kit by creating a kit with winter weather emergencies like an ice scraper, flashlight, sand and warm clothing.

Attach envelopes to the inside of your notebooks to store items such as receipts, photographed on the left. On the right, create a sewing kit binder by adding zipper pouches and a felt needle holder to a three ring binder.

What are your best organizing tips?

How to Use Coconut Oil

Did you know coconut oil has many health benefits? Coconut oil is the fatty oil obtained from the coconut. It can improve cholesterol levels, kill harmful microorganisms, improve your skin and help you lose weight

Try to find organic and cold pressed coconut oil. You can find coconut oil in my shop here.

These are some ways you can use coconut oil in your cooking:

• Coconut oil is a great replacement for other oils in cooking. It can also be used as a replacement for butter.
• Add a tablespoon of coconut to your regular meals, soups or beverages to get the health benefits of it.
• Pour melted coconut oil over hot cooked grains or vegetables.
• Use in baking for breads or desserts.

Did you know coconut oil also has many benefits for your skincare and beauty routine? Here are some ideas to try:

• Sometimes, I will use coconut oil instead of expensive store bought moisturizer. It also make a great natural makeup remover. I like the use the 100 Percent Pure Facial Cleansing Brush with coconut oil on my face.
• Coconut oil makes a natural chapstick when applied to your lips.
• Why not try making your own natural toothpaste with coconut oil, baking soda and essential oil? Coconut oil also makes a great natural mouthwash.
• Use as an all over body lotion or shaving balm. Coconut oil is also great for healing sunburns or minor cuts.
• Use coconut oil to soften nail cuticles in your manicure routine.
• You can use coconut oil for hair. Coconut oil makes a great conditioning hair mask. I like to put it on after shampooing my hair and leaving it out for 5-10 minutes before washing it out.
• Coconut oil is a wonderful massage oil to use.

How do you like to use coconut oil?

Succulent Inspiration

Have you noticed the succulent trend? Succulents have some parts of them that are thickened and fleshy so they can retain water in arid climates (for example, cacti is a type of succulent). Here is some succulent décor inspiration:


The photo on the top left uses mini cacti and succulent. I love the succulent centerpieces in the upper right and bottom left. The photo on the bottom right has great green and turquoise colors.

If you want to change the colors of your succulents, try spray painting your succulents like in the photo above. You can use faux plants if you don't want to spray paint the real thing. 

I love these arrrangements of succulents in pots. The left photo is from this site. The image on the right is from Favim.

Why not plant your succulents in teacups?



These wedding cake takes inspiration from succulents. You can find a succulent care guide at Ollie and Oak Magazine.

Do you like the succulent trend?

How to Choose a Planner

 

It is not too late to buy a planner in the year. I recently found a couple planners on sale at Paper Source and bought a few. You can also look in my shop, Move the Needle, for custom planners. You can also find planners dated from 2016-2017 so you can use it in to next year. These are some questions to ask yourself when choosing a planner.

What type of pages do you want?
Do you want daily, weekly or monthly views of the pages? Some planners have all three formats while others focus on only one format. Monthly is good if you want a general overview and more of a calendar style planner. These pages can also be good to plan blog posts. Weekly format is a good general format to use. It allows enough room to write notes and events for each day.  Use a daily format if you want to add more detail to each day or write a few schedule out.

What size do you want? 
Planners come in a variety of sizes. For example, you can find Moleskine planners in pocket, large and extra large sizes. When choosing a size, you want to make sure you have enough room to write things down, but it is small enough to be portable if you need to carry it around. Pocket size planners are good for carrying around in your purse and for jotting quick notes, but don't give you a lt of room to write detailed notes. Large size planners are good if you are not planning to carry your planner around and are keeping your planner at your desk. Extra large planners give you even more room to write or decorate your planner.

What style do you want?
There are many styles of planners out there. Choose a style that you love to look at. Do you want a handmade planner or non handmade? What color do you want your planner? Do you want a customized planner with your name or other details? Some other things you should consider are if you want a soft or hard cover planner and if you want the bookbinding to be bound or a ring/spiral binder.

What other features do you want? 
Think about what other features you want inside your planner. Do you want a place to write down notes? Do you need a place to keep addresses? Maybe you prefer pages with to do lists. Think about what features you need and which planners offer them.

How much do you want to pay?
You should also consider price. Trendy planners, such as the Erin Condren, are more expensive while you can find many planners at a cheaper price. If you are willing to pay more, you can also get a custom planner.

What type of planners do you like?

Vegan Vortex Autumn Craft Show

#VeganVortex in Chicago is a community-oriented, seasonal artisan craft and vegan pastry market, founded by Paper Moon Pastry.

 

 

I decided to try out this market. This show was different from most craft shows I go to because it was an all vegan market. None of the products sold used any animal products. A lot of the vendors were food vendors, but I saw a couple other crafters.

 

 

My shop, Move the Needle  sells paper products that are vegan and cruelty free. 

I sold a couple items! I sold some greeting cards and this Pumpkin Mini Journal:

 

I tried out a vegan black bean taco that was wrapped in a banana tortilla on my lunch break. I also tried a pumpkin muffin which was really good. I think it would be fun to try to sell food sometime at a market like this. 

 

It was overall a successful show and I would go to it again. 

Have you been to any craft shows lately? 

Fourth of July Fireworks

Happy Fourth of July! Here are some tips for taking photos of fireworks.

Try to keep your camera still when taking photos of fireworks. Use a tripod and set your camera to bulb mode or a shutter speed of 2-15 seconds. 

Add an interesting foreground or background such as by focusing on a city skyline or a part of nature.

Take photos before or after fireworks to make the photo more unique. 

 

Add people or props to add more interest to your photographs.

Do you like taking photos of fireworks? How do you celebrate Fourth of July?