--{ back then }------{ now }--

An overview of the past year.

I have always been afraid of not having my own style. Of not being recognizable in between the masses. Of not being able to stand out. I've been working hard on my photo's over the last months, working hard on streamlining my jewellery line and my other 'productions'. I have tried many things, from using the exact same background always for every photo, to adding borders and frames to my pics, to making all my images square shaped, to adding dark corners for a vintage look. I love to make everything fit perfectly together.

The same background doesn't work for me. I get bored with it after a while and then I am in the same position as before: 'What now?!'.

Borders and frames take away the focus on my pieces or the subjects of the photo, and they are kind of ordinary.

Until now, what works best for me is a combination of making my images square, adding darker corners, using similar tones in backgrounds and making photo's now and then that show not just one product but a group of them styled into a nice 'still life'.

I think I did it. I think, a couple of weeks ago, there was this little twist, yes, as if I finally found the right button, and pushed it.

It makes me happy. Really, really happy.

Goodbye

From my studio window, originally uploaded by paper-flower-girl.

With regrets, I have to admit, I will be leaving you for a while. I will be back after New Year.

I whish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

See you in 2008!

Setting goals

A quiet corner, originally uploaded by paper-flower-girl.

I thought it might be good to formulate some goals for myself for the next year. If I don't set myself goals, than things would get quite chaotic.

1. I am working on a new, permanent collection, which I want to have online at the start of 2008.
2. I plan on making more of my jewellery parts (polymer clay) in batches, and also work in batches for my pieces as a whole.
3. I want to make some more limited edition items, especially for smaller items like earrings or rings, instead of having only unique pieces. I will keep doing unique pieces for necklaces, bracelets, and more special designs.
4. I would love to increase my sales a bit (ca. 1 item a day on avarage would be great), but not too much yet, since I need to be able to combine my shop with my studies.
5. I will continue to sell trough the three consignment shops I teamed up with over the past year, as long as they will have me :).
6. I'd love to give some special attention to online advertising.
7. I plan on having some special seasonal items for the coming year (Valentine's day, Easter, Christmas).
8. I need to find a good source for jewellery boxes. I'd love to have all my paperwork (business cards, tags, postcards, boxes) printed on recycled eco-friendly paper.

What are your goals?

The garden at dusk

The garden at dusk, originally uploaded by paper-flower-girl.

The garden is so beautiful these days. Wild and cold.
I love the white bits, like powder sugar sprinkled on top of a cake.
All the tones of green, grey, brown and black.
When I see this I whish It could stay winter forever.

Delicate

Just finished taking a hot bath, with the towel still wrapped around my wet hair, I'm sitting here, thinking about what to write.

For the last few days I have the constant feeling I'm forgetting something, but I can't put my finger on it. As long as I don't forget I have my first exam tomorrow, I think I'll be allright!
I'll just better make myself a list with urgent items:
- return my books to the library tomorrow
- buy a present for mr. B.'s birthday
- go to the post office
- finish two custom orders

+ paying special attention to not spending too much time online
+ taking some time off for me in the evening

And as I'm without inspiration today, I'll just go and eat something. It's nearly 1.30 pm, so about time to have some lunch.

Christmas corner

Christmas corner, originally uploaded by paper-flower-girl.

I couldn't live without any Christmas decoration, so here's a small improvised corner I did this morning. It is right in front of me on my desk, there where I can enjoy it the most.

Scribble

Scribble, originally uploaded by paper-flower-girl.

Reducing online time seems to work. At least, not as good as I want, but I am spending more time away from my computer.

I've been doing this and that last days.
Christmas is almost here, and I'm so sad I haven't got the time to do any Christmas decorations. The last three years the Christmas period has very busy for me. In January I have exams for university, so now I'm mainly studying, with only some other activities in between, like scribbling on my class notes while reading, dreaming away, looking though the window, sleep and eat.
I do try to do some fun things now and then also.
Last weekend I went shopping for clothes. I really need clothes. Before last weekend I only had three pairs of trousers, with two really worn out. I managed to find some extra shirts and tops I really like and a really nice wool knit cardigan. It looks like it's going to be a very cold winter here, so a girl can never have enough comfy wool clothes!

Back to the Christmas decorations. On flickr I whatch everybody's lovely trees and decoration, gifts, and special foods. I'm litterally drooling over wreaths, cakes, chocolates, elves, candles, holiday letterpress, gift-wrapping ideas, ... but nothing of all that for me.

When I have finished my studies, I'm going to celebrate Christmas for the whole year!

Reorganizing

Room with a view, originally uploaded by paper-flower-girl.

I decided I am going to have to reduce my online time drastically. I spend way too much time online and on the computer in general. It's so addictive and fun, but it also makes me feel more tired and less energetic.

So from now on I will only allow myself to have some computer time in the morning, and then some more in the evening, after dinner.
That should save me enough time to do other important things like studying, creating and cleaning (yes, the house is a mess at the moment!).

I will also be making a list of things I need to do every day, because the simple things like cleaning the house, promoting my shop, reserving some time to relax with a book or a movie, ... are the things that I always forget.

Zealand traditional jewellery

These pieces come from Zealand, a province of the Netherlands in between Holland and Flanders.

Everything is made in gold or silver, combined with garnets or blood coral.

It's amazing that this was part of the Sunday dress of farmers and villagers.

Not only their jewellery is stunning also their headdresses, skirts and bodices, shawls, ... everything made with an eye for the finest details!

G(l)aze

We had a little bit of soft yellowy Autumn light today, after a very wet, grey week.

I have been baking and varnishing the polymer clay anemones I made yesterday evening. I love the moment when the clay has cooled down and hardened. The moment when I can start applying a shiny layer of glaze.

One anemone of this batch I have already worked into a necklace, and made it a matching pair of earrings.

The other hours of the day I have been spending on taking a long bath, reading a paper about violence and war in the Neolithic, and researching traditional Dutch clothing and jewellery. I'm planning to do a little post about the jewellery tomorrow or later this week.

No I'm off to read another article on the Neolithic process...

Charm bangles

These are finally in my etsy shop. I've had similar bracelets on consignment at http://wreneleven.com/ . After several inquiries for more of them, I thought it was really getting about time to have them also available on etsy.