A Turbulent Year

Well, it's been a turbulent year...Many changes and many more to come. I'll be completely revamping my Etsy shop and learning how to make cohesive collections. I am also going to change my focus from being so Etsycentric. It is time to spread my wings and expand into more markets.

I've been looking for inspiration and I ran across a series of Etsy treasuries called Brave. They are often beautiful and I love them.

 

brave: night moves

 

brave: let it snow

I hope you'll join me in my journey this coming year. 

Let's be brave together.

~ Elizabeth

Build A Line Challenge

I am getting ready to participate in the BUILD A LINE Challenge from B'sue Boutiques. Click on the badge on the right to read more about it and follow our progress.

"This is how many of us work.....madly, quickly, ideas flowing faster than our fingers can move.  
And I'll be the first to admit:   this is MY workspace down in the Messy Workshop, where our first videos were made, and a space we'll be using again before too long.
We may work in chaos, but chaos will not work for us where our finished jewelry is concerned.  It is time to concentrate, think deep, and discover simple truths about what is IS people want, and how we as handmade jewelry artists can give it to them at prices they will pay. 
That's a real challenge.....and WHY the BUILD A LINE CHALLENGE was born!
Here is my first post on it, you may want to review it:
The Ultimate Challenge
This amazing opportunity will be a challenge that will last three months.  Those who participate will need to be fully committed."

This amazing 3 month course is FREE!!! 1st come, 1st served. I believe the maximum participation is 60, so join up quick!

I'll be revealing my design theme in early January. Make sure to sign up to Follow by Email to get the latest posts.

~ Elizabeth

Wordless Wednesdays - Defy Expectations...

To Be Brave paper print  by maechevrette



"It is in all of us to defy expectations, to go into the world and to be brave. To want, to need, to hunger for adventures, to embrace change and chance and risk, so that we may breathe and know what it is to be free." - Mae Chevrette

 

 

Will YOU defy expectations?

xoxo ~Mad/Elizabeth

Freeform Fridays - Wolves at the Door

Three Wolf Moon Beer Wolves Fine Art Print by EtherealStudios

Wolves at the Door - a Brave

"Story Night Feature"

by: Dorothy Walker of dorataya

 

"Early in evening, in her cottage on the outskirts of a small spooky Southern town stepped in folklore, Rebecca heard the chilling crowing of ravens. Eventually she drifted into a thick and awful sleep. . .

 

a spirit appeared to warn her of the coming bad times. She told of wolves (bill collectors) threaten Rebecca because due to the new "regulations" she would not be able to earn a living being an artist. Rebecca awoke and rang up her friend Mary...who lived far far away. Mary told her how to obtain a magic feather to summon the protector who lived in the woods....through his therapeutic messages to her she was able to believe she could overcome the evil powers in her country and moved way up North"

 

 

A little Gothic inspiration for your Friday. Enjoy!

 

xoxo ~Elizabeth

Wordless Wednesdays - Gypsy Van



John Deere - Antique Farm Equipment Photograph by HumboldtStreet

Postcards from the Gypsy Van

 

 

 

Enjoy! xoxo ~Elizabeth

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mysterious Valentine...

 

 

For Him


Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxo ~Elizabeth

Do You Spring Clean?

Construction Zone Wall Decal by WilsonGraphics

Yesterday and today I've been working on Spring cleaning in my Etsy shop, MadScientistsDesigns. Whew! It's a lot of work, but totally worth it! I'm pretty happy with the results so far.

 Yesterday I went through all of my listings and re-cropped the thumbnail photos to highlight a close-up of each item being careful to make similar items a similar size in the preview thumbnail photo.

Today was the biggie: re-vamping the listing descriptions. Ugh! If you've ever done this, you know that over time you can lose the symmetry/consistency in your descriptions and (horrors!!) even leave out vital information! Yikes!

 

Before:

One hand-formed dragonfly ring in brass with a special dark pink wings. Adjustable and comfortable. The dragonfly's wings and tail hug your finger.. The perfect accent for your Steampunk, Goth, or Vampire fashion!

Jewelry comes wrapped and ready for gifting. See the last picture for examples of packaging.

More dragonflies: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadScientistsDesigns/search?search_query=dragonfly&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search  

Payments accepted: PayPal (preferred), Direct Checkout, Etsy Gift Cards

Shipping: USPS

Thank you for stopping by. Come back soon. :-)

...and After:

One hand-formed dragonfly ring in brass with a special dark pink wings. Adjustable and comfortable. The dragonfly's wings and tail hug your finger like a little friend.

The perfect accent for your Steampunk, Goth, Nature Inspired, or Victorian fashion!

More Dragonflies: http://etsy.me/1iSa86Q

Payments Accepted: Pay Pal (preferred), Direct Checkout, Etsy Gift Card

Ships USPS 1st Class

Jewelry comes wrapped and ready for gifting. See the last picture for examples of packaging.

*********************************
"Dragonfly Meaning

The dragonfly is generally associated with the symbolic meaning of transformation. Here are common meanings for this animal totem:

*Change and transformation
*Adaptability
*Joy, lightness of being
*Symbol of the realm of emotions, invitation to dive deeper into your feeling
*Being on the lookout for illusions and deceits, whether are external or personal
*Connection with nature’s spirits, fairies realms"

From: http://www.spiritanimal.info/dragonfly-spirit-animal/
*********************************

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon! :)

See the difference?

 

What are YOU doing to spruce-up your shop? Which description do you like better? Leave me a comment and let me know. Thanks!

 

xoxo  ~Mad/Elizabeth

Wordless Wednesdays

Seduced by the Glory of Green

 

 

Enjoy! xoxo ~Elizabeth

Fun Day Sunday

 

Some fun treasuries to give you a smile on this glorious Sunday.

 

 

 

Enjoy! xoxo ~Mad/Elizabeth

Freeform Fridays

Perfectly Purple

 

 

Enjoy! xoxo ~Elizabeth

Wordless Wednesdays

Song of a Secret Garden

 

 

Enjoy! xoxo ~Elizabeth

Make It Mondays - Etsy School Week 1

Today I'm starting a new program to help me whip my Etsy shop into shape: Etsy School - February.

 

The Etsy UK Blog has a nice explanation in their post,

Introducing the Etsy School Program.

 

Basically, I'll be doing an intensive 4 week shop overhaul. Think of it as Spring Cleaning...

 

 

Week #1 Focus: Introductions and Shop Critiques

 

Hi, my name is Elizabeth & I'm in Florida

I prefer to go by: Mad

My Etsy Shop(s): MadScientistsDesigns & MadScientistsDestash

I make: Jewelry and sell supplies

I love: beauty and nature

When I am creating, I love to listen to: the TV

I could live on this food for the rest of my life: cheese

A funny fact that you light not know about me: I'm shy

Waffles or pancakes? pancakes with bananas

 

I will be critiquing other shops and doing a self-critique of my shop. There are already some things that I plan to do to get started:

1. I am deactivating listings for all of my older jewelry and going over the pieces. I may make changes to them, take them apart and make a new piece, or simply re-take pictures with my newer camera.
2. I am re-vamping my banner (again). Yes, I know that the one I have is relatively new, but I think that I need to change it...
3. I am re-writing my About Page on MadScientistsDesigns

 

Whew! That's a lot for Week #1! Want to join me?

 

If you want to critique your own shop:

Shop Critique Worksheet

 

Wish me luck and, as always, suggestions

and encouragement are welcome.

 

xoxo ~Mad/Elizabeth

 

 

Freeform Fridays

Copper de Menthe

 

 

Enjoy! xoxo ~Elizabeth

Wordless Wednesdays

Gorgeous Greys

 

 

Enjoy! xoxo ~Elizabeth

Pixel Berry Pie Designs: Updating USPS Shipping Prices for 2014

Yep! It's that time of year again. The USPS has increased their rates. The ones most affected will be those who ship 1-3oz packages... read on for more information:

Pixel Berry Pie Designs: Updating USPS Shipping Prices for 2014: It was just 1 year ago when the USPS shot up the price of a First Class stamp to $0.46. Now, we're already in for another big jump. Fo...

xoxo ~Elizabeth

Freeform Fridays

EARTHTONES

 

 

 

Enjoy! xoxo ~Elizabeth