Today I am going to take a break from talking about Etsy and talk about Stephy... pssshhh That's Funny! So, my name is Stephanee... Family Calls me Stephy and friends call me Steph or Blondie.
I have always been creating something. My favorite Christmas gifts when I was a kid were thoes craft kits that came with everything you needed to make friendship bracelets or candles. I taught myself to knit, an retired neighbor taught me to sew. I craft when I am stressed out or sick or bored or... basically any time I can. My only hang up right now is space. I just wish I could have a space where I could properly organize my craft supplies and leave them out overnight if I wanted to... When you craft on the coffee table or dining room table you cant exactly do that. OH WELL! Maybe someday.

10 Things about me (as they relate to crafting and my style)
1.) My favorite Color is Blue, My favorite color to craft with is Pink
2.) I live in Indiana. It's calm, peaceful and boring. But I wouldnt have it any other way.
3.) Inspiration comes from... I can say I am inspired by lots of things, but you probably wouldnt see it in my pieces. I tend to only make items I would personally wear. I think that limits me.
4.) Family is the most important thing to me. All of them... the good, the bad and the ugly.
5.) The only thing that I like doing more than crafting is watching movies. Just when I thought I had seen all of the movies I want to see... I discovered Netflix!
6.) I dont know if I am Republican or Democrat. I just dont know!
7.) My baby brother is in the Army. He's getting ready to be deployed to Afghanistan. It scares me that I cant protect him anymore.
8.) My favorite Sport to play is Bowling. My favorite sport to watch is Football.
9.) I collect newspapers that depict important events in my lifetime. I have Clinton's impeachment, Obamas Inaguration and Earnhardt's Death.
10.) I am determined to succeed!

*Side note: I did list new items on etsy today! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5075152

New Items!

I dont have much time left today, but I am going to list some new items on etsy tomorrow.

Here is your sneak preview!

New Product!

I am so excited about the most recent item I made. Its by far my favorite thing... maybe ever!

Rock Star Fabric Flower Brooch!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20019476

I also took new pictures of almost all of my listings and added several. Check it all out!

And dont forget... Please tell me what you think!

Photography

For me, the #1 reason I dont blog more... the reason my etsy shop isnt more sucessful... the source of all of life's problems is because I can't get good photos.

WHY?! I mean I took 2 years of photography in high school, Sr. photo editor in yearbook and newspaper. I actually worked for a real freaking newspaper... but nothing. Why cant I apply any of that to pictures of my work?

Okay, enough of that! So, I borrowed my brothers awesome Kodak Z710 yesterday. I am going to take a million freaking pictures if I have to.

How-To Make a light box:
http://www.wikihow.com/Create-an-Inexpensive-Photography-Lightbox
How-To Take better pictures:
http://www.sparkplugging.com/craft-boom/how-to-take-and-edit-professional-photos-of-your-craft-products/

So... I will be posting very soon... probably wednesday with new and hopefully improved pictures.

On a much brighter note: I want to mention JohnnyConflict. I recently purchased a new shop "makeover" from http://johnnyconflict.etsy.com. You can check it out in full glory at my shop http://renegades.etsy.com . Its amazing!

Branching Out!

This is my first real blogging attempt and my first real blog. I feel like a big girl.

My plan is to share my creative attempts and HOPEFULLY get feed back on how to make it into a business. I am sick of the 9 to 5 cubicle hell! =) I am going to make this work. I have to.

So... just for kicks I am going to share the few items I made for V-Day to list on Etsy this year.

So! I need people to read and help a poor little girl make her dreams of crafting and networking all day come true! Let me know what you think or what I can do to make things better... or any advise.

Thanks!

-Steph