What a Difference!

A pratice picture of Olivia's origami work.  Using the lightbox really gives it a clean look with great lighting.

Ok, so I've been thinking about my Etsy store and how I can improve the way my products are displayed to potential customers.  I love taking pictures but an expert I am not and on Etsy you have to compete with a LOT of great photographers.  I listened in to one of the forums that Etsy did a few weeks ago and taking pictures of your products was one of the topics.  The session was quite informative as well as humorous as the speakers gave some hilarious examples of what not to do.  One thing you should NEVER do is place your wonderfully crafted work and photograph it on your floor.  Really, they had to tell someone to not do this?  Apparently. 

I heard one of the rather well-known shop keepers discuss how she managed to take great shots of her work.  She said that she shoots into a lightbox the she made herself.  Mentally, I made a note to google how one would go about such a thing.  Well, finally 2 days ago I did some research and found that a lightbox is very easy to construct and it's something that can be done very cheaply!!  Like almost free since most of the items most of us probably have around the house anyway. 

Here is the link that I used to build my own lightbox: http://www.wikihow.com/Create-an-Inexpensive-Photography-Lightbox

I'm still playing around with the lighting and practicing some shots but I can tell you from the practice pictures that I've already taken it is a HUGE improvement over my previous pictures.  Now we know the secret of those wonderful Etsy photographs.  Who knew it was so easy?  And hopefully by presenting my crocheted work in a better light will make a potential customer into a paying customer.

Is there such a thing as crocheter's block?

We've all heard of writer's block, right?  That experience when writers are at a standstill  on what to write about or how to express accurately what it is they wish to communicate to their readers.  Well, I find myself experiencing the same conflict as the writer with writer's block, only my struggle is not with the written word but with crocheting.  I am stumped!

I have tons of fabulous yarn, a plethora of patterns, and every crochet hook under the sun.  Yet, I lack inspiration for my next creation.  How frustrating to have, at my disposal, all of the necessary tools to create anything I want and yet I have no ideas. I walk into my work space, open my containers of yarn, look at it, get discouraged and walk away.

After some reflection I think my struggle comes down to  this question: Do I crochet what I like or do I crochet to meet market demand?  Frequently, what I like is not what is in demand in the marketplace and as a person who wants to sell crocheted items could be a bit of a problem.  For example, cowls were very popular this winter season.  I look at those things and think, why?  Why would anyone want something like that around their neck?  Do I have the ability to make cowls?  Sure, but I have no desire to make them.  Could I have made money by selling them?  Probably, but what if I didn't sell any and got stuck with 7 cowls that I would have to store somewhere until I could find someone who would appreciate or want them. 

I asked my teen aged daughter her opinion on what she thought I should do.  Make for market demand or make what I love?  She said, "Mom, make what you like and just put it out there, if someone likes it they will buy it."  To which I replied, " Yeah, but what if I get stuck with all of this inventory, what do I do with 12 baby blanket if they don't sell?"  She says, " Mom, you can always use those things for gifts."   Well, she has a point there, and I do love gifting people with crocheted items.  I then replied back to her with, " Yeah, but I have so many items, what would I do with all of them once I ran out of people to give things to?"  She just shrugged her shoulder and said, " Mom, just do what you enjoy."    Who expects such wisdom from a 16 year-old?  She is right and I know it.  If I allow my art to become merely an avenue for revenue then I will  no longer find joy in crocheting and that would be a real shame.  Crocheter's are always connected with the idea that their items are lovingly made for people, and rightly so.  I think I will take my daughter's advice and do what I enjoy.  Although money is useful and necessary, it is not everything. 

What's in a Quilt?

Here is a wonderful excerpt that I found from a quilting book that a dear friend passed along to me.  Even though the topic of the excerpt is quilting I truly believe that the same sentiment applies to not only crochet but to all forms of art.  This passage come from the book entitled, "The Standard Book of Quilt Making and Collecting"  by Marguerite Ickis.  Now, on to the quote:

Then with the completed quilt on the re-finished antique four-poster bed she can run her fingers over the glowing stitched surface and remember the past as did one great grandmother back in Ohio.
That kindly, ancient lady reminisced as she passed her work-worn fingers over a quilt she had pieced together while her family was growing up:  "It took me more than twenty years, nearly twenty-five years, I reckon,"  she told me softly, " in the evenings after supper when the children were all put to bed.  My whole life is in that quilt.  It scares me sometimes when I look at it.  All my joys and all my sorrows are stitched into those little pieces.  When I was proud of the boys or when I was angry with them.  When the girls annoyed me or when they gave me a warm feeling around my heart.  And John too.  He was stitched into that quilt and all thirty years we were married.  Sometimes I loved him and sometimes I sat there hating him as I pieced the patches together.  So they are all in that quilt, my hopes and fears, my joys and sorrows, my loves and hates.  I tremble sometimes when I remember what that quilt knows about me."