Ok, so I've had my website up and running for... a couple of years now... with not much on it. Well, over the last few days I've been chipping away at finally populating the Gallery pages I'd set up with pictures!
Here's what's up so far!:
http://www.horsetenderstudio.com/gallerymain.htm
I'm pretty happy with the progress so far. I have to add several more dreamcatcher pictures and then get started on the greeting cards and bookmarks. The biggest project today was the 4 hours or so spent on the cross gallery. I think it was time well spent. Now I FINALLY have a place where people can go to see every color I've made. I have a few newer colors that I haven't photographed yet, but this was a huge step!
Showing posts with label studio site. Show all posts
Showing posts with label studio site. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Cabin Fever
This has been an odd winter so far. We've had very little snow, but countless days and nights of high wind. Our temps have been fairly mild, save for a cold snap this last wee where we stayed between below zero and teens above. At the moment, there is a dusting of snow outside, the wind is still howling and I've been feeling a bit of cabin fever.
I've done some work on the Studio website, changing the link structure around some. I decided to open external links in new windows, to keep visitors on my site when they click a link that would take them elsewhere - here to the blog for example. So now my blog, or my online stores, will open in separate windows, while my main site stays put.
I decided some website work was long over due since I've been making a bit of a push to get the URL out there. I've handed out and sent many promotional materials with my website. I'd like to think that people might go check it out, bt there's still not much to see there. I was even shocked to see that some of the pages had a "Last updated" notation of over a year ago! My how time flies.
So now I've changed all of those dates to reflect that I have indeed worked on the website this year (this month even!) - ha! I still have big plans to upload a ton of pictures on there to show off my work to anyone that might happen by. All it will take is maybe a few days of dedication to format and upload pictures.
Through it all my ArtFire store has continued to quietly sell items here and there. I have to say I've been very pleased with it. My little storefront there has been very hands off for quite some time and is still making sales. It's exciting to think the results I might get once I finally get around to actually making it known. For now it's just sitting there and sales keep trickling in.
I guess that's it for now, not much exciting to report, but hey! I made a blog post before another 6 months had gone by, haha. ;-)
I've done some work on the Studio website, changing the link structure around some. I decided to open external links in new windows, to keep visitors on my site when they click a link that would take them elsewhere - here to the blog for example. So now my blog, or my online stores, will open in separate windows, while my main site stays put.
I decided some website work was long over due since I've been making a bit of a push to get the URL out there. I've handed out and sent many promotional materials with my website. I'd like to think that people might go check it out, bt there's still not much to see there. I was even shocked to see that some of the pages had a "Last updated" notation of over a year ago! My how time flies.
So now I've changed all of those dates to reflect that I have indeed worked on the website this year (this month even!) - ha! I still have big plans to upload a ton of pictures on there to show off my work to anyone that might happen by. All it will take is maybe a few days of dedication to format and upload pictures.
Through it all my ArtFire store has continued to quietly sell items here and there. I have to say I've been very pleased with it. My little storefront there has been very hands off for quite some time and is still making sales. It's exciting to think the results I might get once I finally get around to actually making it known. For now it's just sitting there and sales keep trickling in.
I guess that's it for now, not much exciting to report, but hey! I made a blog post before another 6 months had gone by, haha. ;-)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Endless Promotion Activities
Yesterday I worked on the Studio site for a little while. I added text to all of the pages, pictures will come next. I've been procrastinating working on pictures for the site because it will be a bit of an involved project - resizing all of the pictures just so and then writing the code for all of them. A bit more to it than uploading pics here, or on Etsy or Facebook.
Speaking of Facebook, I worked on the Facebook Fan Page for the Studio yesterday as well. I created it several months ago but it hasn't been published yet. That time is drawing near. I'd like to publish that page and start inviting people this weekend. I've had a Fan page for Nail Necklace up and running for a little while as well and have gotten sales from it even though it's pretty much on autopilot. I need to start inviting more people and posting from that page too.
Today is going to be a bit of a strange day. I want to work on promotion and so on some more, but I also need to get ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow we are loading up the horses and going to a Mounted Archery clinic. Yes, that's shooting a bow and arrows off of a horse! This will be my third clinic and I'm looking forward to it. I have a handful of things that I should do today to get ready for it. And for good measure, I have a school assignment due in my new class.
It's gonna be a busy day, I guess I'd better get started!
(Oh, and in other news - I had another sale at Etsy late last night! That was a nice surprise right before bed.) :)
Speaking of Facebook, I worked on the Facebook Fan Page for the Studio yesterday as well. I created it several months ago but it hasn't been published yet. That time is drawing near. I'd like to publish that page and start inviting people this weekend. I've had a Fan page for Nail Necklace up and running for a little while as well and have gotten sales from it even though it's pretty much on autopilot. I need to start inviting more people and posting from that page too.
Today is going to be a bit of a strange day. I want to work on promotion and so on some more, but I also need to get ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow we are loading up the horses and going to a Mounted Archery clinic. Yes, that's shooting a bow and arrows off of a horse! This will be my third clinic and I'm looking forward to it. I have a handful of things that I should do today to get ready for it. And for good measure, I have a school assignment due in my new class.
It's gonna be a busy day, I guess I'd better get started!
(Oh, and in other news - I had another sale at Etsy late last night! That was a nice surprise right before bed.) :)
Monday, October 11, 2010
Uploading frenzy
I had a sale this morning at the online Nail Necklace store so that was encouraging! Someone bought two cross necklaces. I've been in an uploading frenzy today, putting more and more items up in the store.
I've also started populating my Etsy shop at long last. Here is the URL:
HorseTender on Etsy
I've reading posts and replying to several of them in the Etsy forums. I've also been surfing around, checking out some of the other shops there. It's amazing to see the items that some people create!
I'm still chomping at the bit to start on some new work, but I'm trying to hold myself to the "deal" I made - to get everything I have done so far uploaded to the stores and the dusty Studio site. I think putting pictures on the Studio site will be the most time intensive, but it's got to be done!
Well, I'd better get back to work!
I've also started populating my Etsy shop at long last. Here is the URL:
HorseTender on Etsy
I've reading posts and replying to several of them in the Etsy forums. I've also been surfing around, checking out some of the other shops there. It's amazing to see the items that some people create!
I'm still chomping at the bit to start on some new work, but I'm trying to hold myself to the "deal" I made - to get everything I have done so far uploaded to the stores and the dusty Studio site. I think putting pictures on the Studio site will be the most time intensive, but it's got to be done!
Well, I'd better get back to work!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Pictures, pictures!
I spent yesterday in a photo taking frenzy. I've never been quite happy with pictures I've taken of my cross necklaces - and I've tried taking a BUNCH of them over the years.
I went to work in the photo tent and after a few more failures, I think I finally figured out the magic formula for capturing my crosses in pictures!
I'm really starting to like my photo set up!
After the marathon of dreamcatcher creating and the marathon of photo taking, I'm chomping at the bit to move onto another project. However, I've a deal with my A.D.D. crazy self. I'm going to try really hard not to lose myself in another creative pursuit until I have the pictures of all of the dreamcatchers and crosses firmly uploaded to my online store! I'd like to get them all uploaded to the Galleries on my Studio site as well, and maybe even put into my Etsy shop for good measure, but we'll see...
Right now I'd better get back to uploading items at the store!
Oh and by the way, here is the link to my online store:
Nail Necklace - Online Store
For now all of the items from Horse Tender Studio will be hosted at my Nail Necklace store. Nail Necklace is the first online store that I set up. It has been the sales location for my cross necklaces. Until I have TIME to create another store for the Studio, the majority of Horse Tender Studio sales will go through Nail Necklace.
I went to work in the photo tent and after a few more failures, I think I finally figured out the magic formula for capturing my crosses in pictures!
I'm really starting to like my photo set up!
After the marathon of dreamcatcher creating and the marathon of photo taking, I'm chomping at the bit to move onto another project. However, I've a deal with my A.D.D. crazy self. I'm going to try really hard not to lose myself in another creative pursuit until I have the pictures of all of the dreamcatchers and crosses firmly uploaded to my online store! I'd like to get them all uploaded to the Galleries on my Studio site as well, and maybe even put into my Etsy shop for good measure, but we'll see...
Right now I'd better get back to uploading items at the store!
Oh and by the way, here is the link to my online store:
Nail Necklace - Online Store
For now all of the items from Horse Tender Studio will be hosted at my Nail Necklace store. Nail Necklace is the first online store that I set up. It has been the sales location for my cross necklaces. Until I have TIME to create another store for the Studio, the majority of Horse Tender Studio sales will go through Nail Necklace.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A Flood of New Work
I've been working up a storm the last couple of weeks, mainly focusing on dreamcathers.
I've made dreamcatchers ever since I was a teenager. Over the years I have given many away as gifts. My favorite occasions are for a wedding or, in the original tradition of the dreamcatcher, for when a baby is born. I've also sold a few here and there - my "customizeable" dream catchers were a hit at a craft fair years ago. I had let people pick the colors they wanted and I made the dreamcatchers there on the spot. It was sort of a "dreamcatchers made while you shop" idea and it worked out well.
It wasn't until more recently, with the creation of the Studio as an entity, that I decided I'd like to sell them on a larger scale. I realized recently that I didn't have much in the way of an inventory. I had boxes and boxes of supplies, but only a couple of finished pieces. This is due to the fact that the majority of my dreamcatchers have been custom made - either as ordered, or as I made them for those special ocassions.
So, about two weeks ago I pulled out all of my supplies, popped on a movie and went to work. I've now made my way through several movies (and a couple of TV series on DVD) and I have about SIXTY brand new dreamcatchers ready to make their debut!
This is one of my favorites:
I now have quite a wide variety of dramcatchers, in sizes from two to nine inch rings, made in a rainbow of colors, and many with cool little charm and stone accents on the webbing.
Over the last couple of days I've been working on the time-consuming task of taking pictures and getting those uploaded to the store, the Studio's Facebook page, and the Studio site itself.
I foresee many more hours spent uploading photos, as I still have to repopulate the store and sites with pictures of all of my other items as well!
I've made dreamcatchers ever since I was a teenager. Over the years I have given many away as gifts. My favorite occasions are for a wedding or, in the original tradition of the dreamcatcher, for when a baby is born. I've also sold a few here and there - my "customizeable" dream catchers were a hit at a craft fair years ago. I had let people pick the colors they wanted and I made the dreamcatchers there on the spot. It was sort of a "dreamcatchers made while you shop" idea and it worked out well.
It wasn't until more recently, with the creation of the Studio as an entity, that I decided I'd like to sell them on a larger scale. I realized recently that I didn't have much in the way of an inventory. I had boxes and boxes of supplies, but only a couple of finished pieces. This is due to the fact that the majority of my dreamcatchers have been custom made - either as ordered, or as I made them for those special ocassions.
So, about two weeks ago I pulled out all of my supplies, popped on a movie and went to work. I've now made my way through several movies (and a couple of TV series on DVD) and I have about SIXTY brand new dreamcatchers ready to make their debut!
This is one of my favorites:
I now have quite a wide variety of dramcatchers, in sizes from two to nine inch rings, made in a rainbow of colors, and many with cool little charm and stone accents on the webbing.
Over the last couple of days I've been working on the time-consuming task of taking pictures and getting those uploaded to the store, the Studio's Facebook page, and the Studio site itself.
I foresee many more hours spent uploading photos, as I still have to repopulate the store and sites with pictures of all of my other items as well!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Where did summer go?
This spring and summer has been a crazy busy, very rough time - and the time has flown! I moved twice and had to keep ALL of my creative projects and supplies in storage for a few months. I am now unpacking everything and dusting off my inner creativity. I've been hard at work the past few days, trying to get back into the groove. I've been cranking out new projucts, primarily dreamcatchers at this time. I also have several new ideas for greeting cards and custom horses!
My websites had lapsed during all of the moving around. Today I finally reposted my websites online and now there is quite a bit of updating on those to do as well. I'm hoping to finally get my Etsy store and Facebook pages populated and "Open" for business within the next few weeks.
Moving stinks, especially when one was right in the middle of starting up a new venture!
My websites had lapsed during all of the moving around. Today I finally reposted my websites online and now there is quite a bit of updating on those to do as well. I'm hoping to finally get my Etsy store and Facebook pages populated and "Open" for business within the next few weeks.
Moving stinks, especially when one was right in the middle of starting up a new venture!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Wow, time flies! Many Updates!
I have been so busy that I didn't realize it's been over a month since I updated this blog! Jeez...
Anyway! I finally came up with a banner for the Studio and an overall theme for the site. All that's left now is to continue taking pictures (furiously) and get them formatted and uploaded. The photo cube is working out... fairly well. I think I kinda messed up in getting a HUGE one, because I've having trouble lighting it well enough from the outside. Jeff loaned me a couple of crazy bright halogen work lights and I'm going to try them next. My little clamp on office lamps aren't quite cutting it! I have quite literally HUNDREDS of items to photograph and it's been slow going so far, trying to figure out what lighting and camera settings work best. I'm hoping once I get the details worked out, I can just start cranking out pics. It's a little touch and go right now.
The big news is that I now have TWO online stores. The first, specifically for my cross necklaces, was set up several months ago and has just been kinda sitting. The second will be my overall store linked to the Studio site and will be the location where orders can be placed from the Studio site. I'm very excited about this development as one thing that had been stalling the progress was how to set up the Studio for online sales. My html skills are still pretty basic and I'm a long way off from being able to write up a fancy sales page/shopping cart from scratch. Jeff had used a free shoopping cart software to created the cross necklace site last fall, and he just showed me how to use the software to create another store - for the Studio.
I've now actually created Facebook fan pages for both the Studio itself, and the cross site individually. Those pages aren't public quite yet as I'm still waiting on having a sufficent number of good pictures for the "Grand Opening" of the Studio site AND the Facebook pages.
For now, here is the banner!:
And a couple of the pictures I have taken, of a greeting card and a bookmark with the same designs:
Anyway! I finally came up with a banner for the Studio and an overall theme for the site. All that's left now is to continue taking pictures (furiously) and get them formatted and uploaded. The photo cube is working out... fairly well. I think I kinda messed up in getting a HUGE one, because I've having trouble lighting it well enough from the outside. Jeff loaned me a couple of crazy bright halogen work lights and I'm going to try them next. My little clamp on office lamps aren't quite cutting it! I have quite literally HUNDREDS of items to photograph and it's been slow going so far, trying to figure out what lighting and camera settings work best. I'm hoping once I get the details worked out, I can just start cranking out pics. It's a little touch and go right now.
The big news is that I now have TWO online stores. The first, specifically for my cross necklaces, was set up several months ago and has just been kinda sitting. The second will be my overall store linked to the Studio site and will be the location where orders can be placed from the Studio site. I'm very excited about this development as one thing that had been stalling the progress was how to set up the Studio for online sales. My html skills are still pretty basic and I'm a long way off from being able to write up a fancy sales page/shopping cart from scratch. Jeff had used a free shoopping cart software to created the cross necklace site last fall, and he just showed me how to use the software to create another store - for the Studio.
I've now actually created Facebook fan pages for both the Studio itself, and the cross site individually. Those pages aren't public quite yet as I'm still waiting on having a sufficent number of good pictures for the "Grand Opening" of the Studio site AND the Facebook pages.
For now, here is the banner!:
And a couple of the pictures I have taken, of a greeting card and a bookmark with the same designs:
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Back on Track - My Hero!
The development of the studio website had been derailed due to not being able to settle on a suitable place to set up the (large) photo tent and lights to get PICTURES for the site.
Last night Jeff, my other half, swooped in to the rescue. I told him of the problems I was having and he busted out a couple of 2x4s and some tools. He built me a pretty slick little rig to clamp my lights to. The way it is set up allows me to put lights all around the sides and back of the tent. He also put in a removable vertical support on the back, to hold a light for the top of the tent. Another cool feature of the setup is that it's highly portable - it can be set up, and stored, just about anywhere.
So, now things are back in full swing! I just tested the setup by taking 100 or so pictures and they look great. I still have to format the pics and start putting them on the site!! Then I'll be taking pictures of other items!
Last night Jeff, my other half, swooped in to the rescue. I told him of the problems I was having and he busted out a couple of 2x4s and some tools. He built me a pretty slick little rig to clamp my lights to. The way it is set up allows me to put lights all around the sides and back of the tent. He also put in a removable vertical support on the back, to hold a light for the top of the tent. Another cool feature of the setup is that it's highly portable - it can be set up, and stored, just about anywhere.
So, now things are back in full swing! I just tested the setup by taking 100 or so pictures and they look great. I still have to format the pics and start putting them on the site!! Then I'll be taking pictures of other items!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Full speed ahead!!
Chaaaarge! ... I received the photo tent in the mail a few days ago. Then I promptly went to town and bought lights and bulbs to light up my new "toy". I've been cranking out new projects for the past week. So when the studio site has it's Grand Opening, I'll have a BUNCH of brand new items for sale. I'm excited!!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Holding Pattern
I ordered a photo tent/cube today to (hopefully) allow indoor photo shoots! I did a bit of painting this evening. I might start tinkering with page layouts for the site between tonight and tomorrow. I guess you could say I'm in a bit of a holding pattern now. I'm going to want a lot of pictures on the site, so hopefuly the photo tent works well. Stay tuned!
Friday, January 1, 2010
A Setback and Bug Bites
I've encountered a slight setback in building my site. I took over 100 pictures a couple of days ago and very few turned out. It would appear that outdoor pictures just aren't going to work this time of year. Even at "high noon" the shadows were long in what I was trying to do. I know the importance of having great pictures, so I'm going to play around some more in the photography department. I'm thinking of buying or setting up a photo lighting cube so that I can take my pictures inside. I think that would be the best idea!
Today I've had the creativity bug chewing on me pretty hard. I had other things on my agenda, but I forsee myself working on some projects this evening and this weekend. Hopefully once I get the photography part nailed down I'll have some BRAND NEW work to showcase for the debut of my site! I think that would be pretty cool. :)
I'm rarin' to go in 2010 - ready to hit the ground running!
Happy New Year, everyone!! :D
Today I've had the creativity bug chewing on me pretty hard. I had other things on my agenda, but I forsee myself working on some projects this evening and this weekend. Hopefully once I get the photography part nailed down I'll have some BRAND NEW work to showcase for the debut of my site! I think that would be pretty cool. :)
I'm rarin' to go in 2010 - ready to hit the ground running!
Happy New Year, everyone!! :D
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Chipping Away
I'm starting to chip away at the new website. Today I played around with the layout for the site and created files for all of the pages that I plan on putting up. I also dug out supplies to have a photo shoot and get some current pictures of my work. If tomorrow is another sunny day, I'll have a bunch of new pictures for the site! I'm still brainstorming banner ideas... I'm thinking of a banner showing all of the things I create or maybe one focusing on a certain type of item. I'm not sure yet...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
First Step
Today I took the first step in making Horse Tender Studio a reality; I registered a domain name. The future home of the studio will be found at: Horse Tender Studio. Be warned, right at this moment, there is nothing to see at that address! The domain was registed, and I tested the connection with my html editor, and that's as far as I've gotten. Afterwards I toyed around with some graphics in trying to design a banner for the site. Tomorrow I think I might work on the banner a bit more and start playing around with a layout for the site.
Big things are a comin'! Stay tuned!
Big things are a comin'! Stay tuned!
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