Apriltara
Design That Works!Archive for etsy
News!!
I know it has been a while, I have been quite busy!!! After starting at Michael’s as the Floral Designer, I have hardly had time to blog. So what’s been goin’ on?
I have been working on re-inventorying the local Michael’s with new arrangements. I think I have gotten up to 2 arrangements an hour where it was taking me an hour and a half before. It really helps knowing where things are and what I can and can not do. I have steadily been taking pics too, which I will start uploading on a seperate page called “Floral Design”.
I have also been working on some fine art pieces that I will be entering into several local art shows coming up soon. One of which, the Regions Bank show, I have already entered and was able to get one piece in. 
The others will be the Riverfront show and the Prattauga show. I was really surprised I got in, seeing as how my work was a little bit more modern than what is typically shown. So I am so siked!
This past weekend I went to a good friends 30th bday party. It was pretty great. I drank ALOT and danced ALOT and well…lets just say acted as nutty as possible and can only recall bits and pieces. 
BUT, great party non the less. I bought my friend this shirt http://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/detail/3813 and this set of earrings http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27850594.
My birthday celebrations are coming up as well and I am thinking about doing a year long art project to mark the year It has been done by other artists, but I liked the thought of making myself do the work and at the end of my 30th year I will have aprox 365 artworks….IF I do it!! lol Which I CAN do it, it doesn’t take me long to make something, it’s just finding the time and making myself.
New fav shows: Tudors, Trueblood, LOST
Some sites:
NovaGil
tshipbd
Sally Avernier
Ragen
Analytics
While on etsy trying to learn all of the in’s and outs I came across Google analytics. I’m a graphic designer and use computers all the time, but I had never heard of this. For those of you like me, Google Analytics is basically a way to keep up with your website traffic. And for people like myself who have several things going at once, you can set it so it tracks every site you are on! It tells you how people are coming across your site, how many, in what regions of the world, the amount of time people spend on the site and more…it’s great! The information, I can then take and use to make my site better It’s basically like WordPresses Dashboard, but you can set it up to keep up with as many sites as you have. I am so siked about this!!! 
My newest book purchase:
I bought this book this past weekend in order to work on my own web work and possibly help me with web orders at The Logo Loft as well as possibly to prepare for freelance. Out of all the books I looked at this one looked like the best one for my needs. I needed something all encompassing, visual, and not too difficult to understand. It has a classroom in a book feel. There are quizzes at the end of each chapter, which I may or may not do (prolly not), but still a chapter review is helpful when you are learning so much in one chapter. So far so good
Other sites I am investigating, logopond.com (as a portfolio/critique outlet), Zazzle.com (which is basically like cafe press…you get to set your percentage on sales). Both FREE!
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News on Etsy Shop
Today I have updated my etsy shop. I added several new items and am in the middle of preparing some art prints for the shop as well. I need to gather some samples for my stationary/brochure/blog header/postcard items. This way potential customers can see the work I can do. I am still working on web site development. Here is some Imagery I am working on:
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oh the simplicity of the e-file…
I FINALLY filed my taxes on line….and THANK GOD I am getting a refund and not having to pay!! It’s absolutely horrible when you find out that you OWE instead of the obvious opposite of GAINING. Anyways, this year I e-filed instead of letting my mom handle it. She does it old school, meaning she doesn’t pay anyone to do what she can do for herself. She has to be one of the few and far between who fill out the forms manually, reading all of the minute details and figuring it all up with a calculator. She even showed me how once (I don’t think I was listening).
On a whole other note, kinda. I am trying really hard to get some freelance by signing up for every known freelance/art portal known to man! This takes alot of time and effort. I really don’t understand why we can’t have a standard size for page headers, avatars etc. I have so many 48×48 or 25×25 or whatevers it’s ridiculous! I am in the middle of redesigning some of the product imagery for etsy, in order to create a more noticeable and readable presence. If you have ever gone on etsy, it is basically a mirage of images and unless yours is definable and clear, there will probably be a lack of response.
- The original image
So as you can see, I basically went from a somewhat detailed and informative stance to short and to the point. Which when a customer is bombarded with pics, why not present yourself in the most clear fashion (hence road signs!). Within the interface, however you can provide more detailed information and points of interest, as well as, sample imagery. I really don’t KNOW how this will work out, but I love etsy and plan on using it for my artwork as well…so hopefully something will come of it. You never know until you try!
I am also giving considerably discounted prices on all of my work to start. I think in this economic climate it is not only wise, but helpful to those who need this stuff to survive! If I were a new business owner I would appreciate this sort of thing. I am also catering to other artists/crafters, which you other designers could probably already tell just by the style I am projecting. I have a real passion for arts and crafts and have always noticed how the crafting industry markets themselves. I like to collect advertising materials (aka business cards, postcards etc.) from art shows, festivals, markets. If I see someone (a small business owner) who needs help with this and could represent themselves better, I WANT to help! I have a passion for it I guess…
If any of you have any information on other sites with which I could advertise…PLEASE SHARE!! I would really really appreciate it! If I learn of something I will definitely return the favor!
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New Website and More!
I have been working endlessly this past week on getting all of these elements set up…website, elance, blog, etsy, etc…My eventual website will be www.apriltaradesign.com. My etsy is www.apriltara.etsy.com. My elance isn’t quite in working order due to my not having taken the multitude of examinations yet…I also plan on doing a ebay site, linking to Hai!, Sugar Frosted Goodness (if they take me), Illustration Friday (if they take me), Illustration Mundo…and whom ever else I can find!! Some of this does cost a little bit of money, but not by much…for instance etsy only charges 20 cents per item listed with a 3% cut. I am really excited about it though and really involved…pretty much all I think about!!!
Temp website until I get my html down
Random "duck" sneeking up on me at Shakespeare
A tree at shakepeare I've been jonesin' to draw
