July/August Goals

[#1]

So. This is Steph from Crown + Cole, Of Mountaineers, etc. etc. etc.

And I have just opened ANOTHER new shop.
I know what you are thinking.
Seriously? Another?

What can I say? I am a glutton for punishment!
I just realized that the part of my business that I enjoy the most is taking photos - and playing with my friends DSLR was so much more fun than actually making the jewelry itself!

I have a great Canon (not a DSLR, but it does the job for now) and I take photos ALL the time. So I just thought... why not? I'll still make jewelry of course, but why not branch out?

So I opened a photography shop and we'll see where it goes! I am up to 33 listings in just the few days I've been open!

GOAL - 150 by the end of August. It is lofty, I know. Wish me luck!

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159151270/dragonfly-photography-print-fine-art?ref=shop_home_active

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159167049/russia-photography-architecture-8x10?ref=shop_home_active

[KamaraLarryStudio]

I am amazed at how many beautiful photos you have been able to take in such a short amount of time and list in your new shop. You really do have a great eye for capturing beauty! I can't wait to see what you add next!!!

[Former_Member]

Thank you, Kamara!!! Luckily it is summer, and here in North Carolina, there is always plenty of nature to take photos of! For the past 2 weeks, I've been going outside for at least an hour a day to shoot - I've been taking so many photos, haha! I love it!




This isn't *new* but I did a new edit on it, so I'll go ahead and post it!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/157926858/russian-cathedral-photography-8x10-faded

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159255887/luna-moth-print-fine-art-photography?ref=shop_home_active

[Former_Member]

I added some greeting cards!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/159277287/butterfly-photography-greeting-cards-set?ref=shop_home_active

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159276869/butterfly-photography-greeting-cards-set?ref=listing-shop-hea...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/159265870/merci-beaucoup-greeting-card-thank-you?ref=listing-shop-header...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/159265548/je-taime-greeting-card-i-love-you-french?ref=listing-shop-head...

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159269262/russian-cathedral-photography-8x10-faded

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159270574/romantic-photography-russian-lock?ref=shop_home_active

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159277914/travel-photography-art-russian-bridge

[LilyLouLou]

Very beautiful. I am glad you added greeting cards. I think the variety will be great.

[NikkisFunFinds]

I really thought you were crazy when you stated 150 items as your goal for this shop, BUT you are already past half way!! I like the locks above.

[Ellareki]

OMG - I love the Russian bridge photo! Steph, do you have some kind of time machine that enables you to have more time than us mere mortals and thus get far more done each day?! So, so impressed :)

[Former_Member]

I like the new name! Just a quick head's up that you still refer to the shop as Star and Smoke Signal in your little intro beneath the shop name.

Beautiful pictures, too!

[KnitAndCrochetPalace]

Beautiful pictures, Stephanie! As someone who only takes pictures of my listings it amazes me what some people can do with a camera. This question will probably sound really dumb to the rest of you but.....do you have to use a zoom lens or are you able to get real close to your nature subjects? I'd like to see your beautiful work on cards also.

[NikkisFunFinds]

85 items! You are amazing!

[Former_Member]

Your photos are amazing! I wish I could take such beautiful photos.

[Former_Member]

I am so sorry that I have been MIA lately! The short of it is that I am back in Illinois (I live in NC, but I am attending graduate school in IL), so I have been busy with the move back and into a new apartment. Plus I am teaching 2 hours a day, taking four graduate classes, and I still don't have Internet access in my apartment! So I am afraid I have had to put Etsy on the backburner for a bit - but hopefully I'll get going in September again!

Nikki - Thanks!!! But you were right, 150 was a crazy goal! I'm not going to meet it! But I was on a roll for a while!!

Ellarki - I think that I am just a workaholic. Don't envy me! Seriously. But thank you!!!

Emma - thanks!! The first one was a random thing my mom came up with at 1:00am - I like Field Sketch much better! Thanks for pointing that out, I'll go change it!

KnitandCrochet - No, it's a good question! I am working with a (very good) point and shoot camera until I can afford an SLR! For me, it is a combination - I have to get pretty close to the subject, but then I zoom all the way in so that I can get as close as possible! It can be tricky to find the exact place to stand to get the shot I want, so I usually take tons and choose the best!

Tasha - thank you!!! I'm sure you could! It just takes practice, honestly. I am still very much in the learner phase!

[NikkisFunFinds]

You are a very busy woman. It looks like you're closing CrownandCole. Will you still make jewelry?

[Former_Member]

I plan to! But I really need to focus on school and I want to put my energy toward my photography shop at the moment.
But I do plan to continue with jewelry! Just taking a breather, clearing out some supplies, and trying to come up with a simpler approach so that my life doesn't become overwhelmed by beads haha

[Former_Member]

New photo!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/161172218/rustic-photography-old-wood-fence-and?ref=shop_home_active

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/161183093/black-swallowtail-photography-8x10

[NikkisFunFinds]

You are doing amazing with the camera!

[Former_Member]

Thank youuu! I love it so much! I'm learning so much about photography and using photoshop, etc. I can't wait until I can afford an even nicer camera one day!

[Former_Member]

Some new listings!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/161295585/campfire-photograph-8x10-appalachian?ref=shop_home_active

https://www.etsy.com/listing/161296117/botanical-print-nature-photography-8x10?ref=listing-shop-head...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/161285910/botanical-print-nature-photography-8x10?ref=listing-shop-head...

That's 90! Not the 150 I hoped for, but it has been an even busier month than I anticipated... hoping add lots in September!

[Former_Member]

Make that 91!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/161289338/botanical-print-kitchen-photography?ref=listing-shop-header-0