8 Must Read Posts For Motivation and Inspiration

Last week I shared my struggles with you about my business and how things are not going as well as I planned.

Well I made a little effort this week and worked on my social media sties, as well as starting a promotion featuring an item of the week.

The investment of my time has paid off a little. The views in my shop have really picked up (but no sales), and I also created and sent out my newsletter for August. You can check it out here. I am trying to make this a regular thing for my Etsy shop, and so far I am not doing so bad this year.

I am still lacking in motivation and feeling a little uninspired. I know once I get back in my groove, things will be a little easier.

In the Monday Motivation post JoJo from Tahoma Beadworks & Photography, Leann from Pasque Flower Ponderings, T from Poppy Place PDX, Reshma from Masala Mango Mantra, also expressed how they were feeling unmotivated and uninspired, so I thought I would share some of the posts I have been reading to help me get out of my funk.

Sometimes it helps to read a little something everyday to stay positive and motivated. 

Here are 8 blog posts to check out each day over the next week, for some inspiration to keep moving forward.

~ Ready, Set, Grow: 3 Tweaks to Get Out of the Rut

~ 20 Habits That Will Make You Highly Successful

~ 25 Ways to Wake up and Feel Positive for the Day

~ 3 Steps to Stop Procrastinating and Start Working on Your Dream Project

~ 22 Ways to Get You Out of Your Funk

~ 7 Ways to Clear Your Mind of Negative Thoughts

~ When Doubt Get in the Way of Productivity

~ 10 Things People with Passion do Differently

What are other ideas you use to stay motivated and inspired?

Need Some Blogging Inspiration? Grab a Magazine

If you have been blogging for a long time finding new content, writing, and sharing, can get a little stale.

Need a little inspiration to spice up your blog, it's time to grab a stack of magazines, some sticky notes, and a notebook, and do a little research.

I know what your thinking - why magazines?

Magazines are a medium that are similar to blogging and that has been around for a long time. There are things in print publishing that as bloggers we can build upon.

Any magazine will do for this project, but if you can find some that cover the same topic as your blog then that's even better. You can use old magazines you may already have, or head to your local library to check out new magazines or magazines you have never looked at before.

This process can help you blog in a number of ways:

Discover marketing ideas - like what they do on the front cover to entice people to purchase their magazines.

Layout ideas - how they are using photos within an article, what kind of type, and colors to draw the reader in.

Post ideas - magazines are a great way to find ideas for posts, and to inspire post titles.

Learning about your niche - if you choose a current magazine that covers your topics, there is always something to learn about what is happening in your niche, and the latest news.

Writing tips - a good article can teach you a lot about effective communication.

Reader engagement - review how the magazine gets their reader to contribute.

This project is really easy. You just have to set aside some time, at least an hour, and start paging through some magazines.

It's best to start with a quick go through and see what catches your eye. Use your sticky notes to mark things as you go.

Once you have done the quick scan, now start at the beginning and slowly page through, noticing photos, headlines, colors, and opening lines.

Some questions to keep in mind while your are going through this process:

What techniques are they using to draw people to the magazine?
What makes you pause to read an article?
Why do you skip over articles?
How is the pictured used?
How effective is the headline?

This is where you want to start taking notes for story ideas, design and layout ideas, headlines structure, and whatever you might think will work on your blog.

You can do this process whenever you need inspiration, or make it a regular part of your blogging process.

This project is a great way to get away from your blog and get a fresh perspective. Grab a stack of magazines and see what you can learn today.

What magazine do you think would inspire ideas for your blog?

Join The Conversation

Join The Conversation is a new series, of community conversations about inspiration, creativity and business. Every new post will have a question and responses from bloggers in our community. Then, you the reader, will have the opportunity to answer the question in the comments. I look forward to having you Join The Conversation!

Question:
What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
___________________________________________________________

Val from Miss Val Creations - For me, I enjoy the relaxing feeling that goes along with being creative the most. It is great for maintaining sanity. The days can be filled with stress and craziness and making jewelry feels like my "me time"!

Shop ♦ Blog

___________________________________________________________

Edi from Memories for Life - I love coming up with new ideas and making them a reality! When I new idea comes together just as I had imagined it, it just makes my day!

These little Owl Earrings are one of those ideas. I engraved the owl before, but never cut it out completely. I just LOVE how these turned out!

Shop ♦ Blog

___________________________________________________________

Janell from Dancing Mooney - I love to do a variety of things, and am always looking for new ideas. Which means my favorite part of the creative process is often somewhere in the area product development. I get excited when I connect with a new trend, or an idea I've found, that I can't get out of my mind. For me, creating is a journey of exploration, so trying new things, and putting new ideas to the test is always where I am most excited to spend my time.

 I am a visual person, so I love design-seeds.com for color inspiration, and searching Pinterest and Google/images for project ideas, once I have something in mind that I'm wanting to explore.

Shop ♦ Blog

___________________________________________________________

Now it's your turn to answer the question. Share your answer in the comments.

Your Branding Message

Are you consistent with your online and offline branding presence?

As business owners we market ourselves all over the web via our shop or shops, social media sites, and blogs, it's important that we are sending the same message so we are easily identified on all our sites.

Your brand message is important for customers, to get to know you and your business. When you send a consistent messages your customers will know what to expect and be excited to see what you have to offer.

I was reading The Mogul Mom blog and this graphic sums it all up:

The Rules of Branding

Review your online presence. Is your message consistent? Is your brand easily identified on and offline?

What are Your Thoughts About Giveaways?

I have read that having a giveaway on your blog is a great way to bring in traffic, and to gain new readers. 

I have been contemplating having a giveaway, but when I have had them in the past I have not had much success getting new followers or blog traffic.

I know there are several blogs that have had a lot of success hosting giveaways, and hosting them often. These blogs have lots of followers, but if all you do is host giveaways isn't that all people visit for?

What are your thoughts about giveaways?

When you participate in a giveaway do you become a regular reader of the blog? 

What types of prizes make you want to participate in a giveaway?

Have you had success hosting giveaways on your blog?

Thanks or sharing your thoughts.

Be Inspired - Links to Re-invent your Business

Words to Inspire

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” 
 Mario Andretti

Ideas to Inspire

Re-inventing your business requires a little research and finding the right information for your business. Today I have a few links to e-courses and e-books that may inspire new ideas for your creative business.

Blacksberg Bell - Marketing for Creatives: A Digital Guide

Build a Little Biz - Promote your Biz | A brainstorm of 181 awesome ideas to promote your biz and       build some buzz

Tara Gentile - Marketing ReWired A digital Workshop

Leonie Dawson - Biz & Blog Star Workbook (FREE)

Jennifer Lee - The Right Brain Business Plan Kit 

You don't have to work on your business alone. Sometimes some outside input is exactly what you need for those new ideas to flow. Check out the above list of items, and when visiting each of the sites check out the other items these amazing women offer to help you with your business.


Do you have a e-book or e-course that has changed your business?

Tomorrow an interview with Erin Giles

Blogging Journal

One inch 3 ring Oil Cloth Covered Binders by rbtbags

Yesterday was the last day of Inspired Success Week, and it was a week full of ideas to create a better blog. Today I want to encourage you to keep a blogging journal.

I use a 3 ring binder with a blogging calendar, my weekly blog plan, and some lined paper to jot down my ideas. I have learned that if I don't write my ideas down right away it's forgotten forever. So when I read something or see something that I want to share on my blog it goes in my blogging journal.

Three Ring Planner Covers set of two linen blue by CrownBindery

Having the ideas written down gives me the opportunity to expand on my ideas, research as needed, and create an outline for my posts.

Sometimes all I have to do is page through my notes and a word or sentence will inspire me and I can sit and write a post off the top of my head.

Chalkboard Notebook & Chalk Binder Notebook by ArtisanPost

Keeping my blogging journal has really helped me save time with the blogging process. Writing a post 5 - 6 days a week can be challenging. My journal is what I use so the process of writing a blog is more of a pleasure then a pain.

Start a blogging journal and see how much time it will save you in your blogging process.

Do you have a blogging journal?

An Interview with Sonya Kanelstrand

I have been a follower of Sonya's blog since early 2011. I was surprised to find out that she started her blog in March of 2011 and has built a thriving blog community  so quickly. Sonya's Blog is an inspiring mix of eco-friendly and simple living posts, two important things in my life making it easy to be a regular reader of her blog. 

Sonya is not only a great writer and blogger, she is an amazing artist. Her Etsy shop is filled with dreamy photographs that are inspiring and creative. She is also the editor of The Studio Magazine. A magazine that is filled with a beautifully curated collection of eco-friendly art.

I am thrilled Sonya was able to take the time to share with us a little about her passion for living green and building a thriving blog community. 

1. As a long time follower of your blog, I am always inspired by the information you share about living simply and eco friendly. Could you please share why you are so passionate about this way of life.

Thank you, Valerie. Knowing that you, as a regular reader of Kanelstrand and the greatest motivator I know, find inspiration in my words is a great motivation for me!

Thanks to my family I was brought up to respect the riches of the land. My grandfather taught by example, which I believe is the only way to teach. Although he was a dentist from the city, he learned from his mother-in-law (my great grand mother) how to take care of the garden and started building upon this knowledge to reach a level of feeding 3 families with his produce. Of course, we children were always there to help in the summers.

My grandmother knitted my winter sweaters, hats and scarves and although she never requested acquiring this ability from me, there came the time when I naturally turned to knitting myself.

My mother is the perfect cook (whose mother isn't!) and we have never (believe it or not) had pre-fabricated food at home. Apart from that, she is a one-man-orchestra, basically doing everything by herself, which taught me to be a handy person myself, paying attention to detail and a perfectionist at times.

Family and surroundings play a very important role for the forming of a young mind and I grew up to become a "slow" and deliberate person, who appreciates nature and the depth of the human soul. I live simply thanks to that stable, nature-inspired foundation I was exposed to in my childhood and that is the way I feel comfortable living. I wouldn't change it for anything because it is an integral part of how I view the world.

My passion to discuss simple and eco-friendly living appeared when I realized that unlike so many people out there bragging about their eco-achievements or getting tired of being green, I actually lived a pretty simple and green life without any outer forces and norms telling me to do so. At that moment, when I compared myself to the wide world I knew I had some things to share with it.

Surreal Fine Art Photography Print Girls Room 

2. You started your blog a year ago, and have built a thriving community of readers. What did you do to build your community so quickly?

When I started the Kanelstrand blog I knew I needed it to promote my etsy business but was in the dark as to what I should write about. The only clear idea I had was that this blog would have to be successful.

I read a lot, I educate myself constantly and I give the Kanelstrand blog 150% of myself. That is the secret behind it, I am fully devoted to creating a intelligent, informational and inspiring place for anyone interested in simplifying their life or simply making it easier on the planet and themselves.

As an added bonus I have this amazing green community of readers who not only support me but also inspire me daily. And I really mean that! I am a curious person, and although I have more than 1000 GFC followers I still find time to check every new follower's blog. There is so much talent out there!

One thing I have noticed is that whatever you create with love and devotion, be it a shop, a school or a blog, it gets the power to attract like-minded people and this is what I see happening daily on the Kanelstrand blog. People drop by and if they are in the same vibe, or feel the need to take something from the vibe, they keep coming back. My job is to make them feel welcome and to keep offering amazing and thought-provoking information.

In that line of thoughts, I recently stumbled upon a precious thought by Jonathan Fields that holds in itself the secret to success: "Forget about what you want to sell. It’s not about you or it. It’s about who you serve and how you remove their pain."

Fjord Landscape Norway Photography Light Blue 

3. Your Etsy shop is filled with beautiful photos and handcrafted felted bracelets, what inspires your creative collection?

I like the line which I use so often, saying that my inspiration comes from the pine forest by the sea, in which I happen to live. I use that phrase because it is so true! My major inspiration in life, ever since I remember myself has been nature - the colors, the aromas, the sounds and shapes - they all hide so many details that still attract my attention and I keep re-discovering them with every new season, and every sunrise.

Photography, poetry, hand-work have been with me for decades and are my preferred way to express myself. I am very proud with my felted bracelets because they are unique, I had to combine crafts and invent methods in order to fulfill this dream of mine and they carry the Scandinavian spirit not only because they are made with Norwegian and Icelandic wools, here in a Norwegian forest, but because they have that emblematic simplicity about them.

The photography prints that can be found in my etsy shop are also very much Scandinavian. Most of the surreal ones are inspired by the Old Norse Mythology and the idea of Middle Earth. A curious fact about them is that they take about 24 hours of work to create, after the click of the camera shutter. The crystal clear landscapes present colorful Scandinavia in all its dreamy gorgeousness.

I love what I do!

Sun Rays in the Forest Fine Art Photography

4. You mention on you blog that you live in a pine forest by the Sea in Scandinavia. I can only imagine the view out of your window must be very inspiring. When you are working how do you keep your space inspiring?

You are right, the view is magnificent! I see the pine forest, which is frequented by a family of deers, and hundreds of birds. Because we live some 200 feet from the beach I can also hear the waves.

You got me thinking though, where exactly is my working space? As a photographer, I spend hours outside, as a nature lover I try to transfer as many activities out too. I often write or knit on the beach but my online life starts from my desk which happens to be (you) guessed it) in front of said window. I don't have much inspirational stuff on the walls, just a big calendar to keep track of my online commitments, a photo printer on the desk, and a notebook to write down ideas and schedules. With all that beauty behind the window, I can hardly get more inspired!

Do All Things With Love 8x10 Typography Print

5. How do you stay motivated on a daily basis to create and write your blog posts?

I have found out that waiting for inspiration is never helpful. That is why I like to provoke it by simple scheduling. Ever since I started my blog I have stuck to a weekly routine, which has proven lucrative and prompts my mind to be productive in the right time.

I recently opened my blog for regular contributors, all bloggers I respect and admire, who add their wisdom to the Kanelstrand experience. This big step is another great motivator for me - now it is not just me behind the blog, but I work with this talented team of writers who I want to be proud of contributing to a fabulous blog, so I am beyond motivated to keep the standard high.

But my greatest blogging motivation is the feedback I receive from my readers. The thing I like most about blogging is that it is a work in progress that has a life of its own, because there are so many minds involved. Your cleverness and originality become unimportant if you don't have an audience. That is why I thank all my readers for always being my rock!

Open publication - Free publishing

Thank you so much Sonya, for sharing your amazing story!


Connect with Sonya ~ Blog ~ Etsy ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ The Studio Magazine

Be Inspired - Links for your Blog

Words to Inspire

"A blog is in many ways a continuing conversation"
 Andrew Sullivan


Ideas to Inspire

There is so much information about blogging online. Today I have a few of my favorite blogging resources that are full of tips and ideas to help you with your blog.

Blog posts
How to Develop a Good Blog and Bring in Traffic
15 Inspiring examples of blogs run by a little biz
Your Blog Promotion Checklist
40 Tips to a Better Craft  Blog

E-books
31 Days to a Better Blog - I purchased this book when it first came out and the revised addition this year. It is full of information about starting, planning, and marketing your blog. Loads of ideas for getting your blog seen.

52 weeks of Blogging - This e-book has info to help you craft a mission statement, engage your readers, organize your blog, plus 52 blog prompts, and a planning calendar. A great resource for blog post ideas.

Making a great Blog - Written by a creative person for the creative community. Lots of tips and ideas for creating your blog content, photographs, and blogging goals.

The Little Big E-book about Blogging - How to create a blog that attracts visitors, reaches the right audience, and 40 traffic generating tips. A quick and easy read.

Blogs about Blogging
Problogger
Successful Blogging
Copyblogger
Think Traffic

E-courses
Blogging your Way
Better Blogging Kick Start - A free e-course

This is just a short list of some of my favorite resources. I read something everyday to stay on top of what's new in the blogging community. The more you know the better you blog. I hope one or two of these links is just what you need to inspire you and your blog.

Do you have a favorite link that is your go to resource about blogging?

Blog Post Planning

Blogging gives you the opportunity to engage with your customers, would-be customers, and other like minded creatives.

Keeping your readers coming back is the challenge with blogging, and having good content is why they visit, comment, and share your blog posts.

Knowing your blogs target market is the key to having a focused blog with readers that keep coming back, and to keep the ideas flowing so it's easier to create posts.

We here this all the time "who's your target market?" and when it comes to your blog it is important to know who is reading your posts. Here are a couple of links for discovering your blog (and shops) target market:

How to Determine Your Target Market
How to find your true target market so yu can finally grow your business
5 Simple Ways to Discover What people are Dying to Read

Once you know your target market, you will be able to focus on the content of your blog knowing exactly what your readers want to read.

Some content ideas include:
Sharing your story, process, and products
Talking about your medium, trends, tools, and new products
Share what inspires you
Events you participate in
Tutorials
Talk about your favorite artist
Other shops you love
Show lots of photos
Start a series
Ask questions
Engage your community

This is just a short list to get you started, but you get the idea.

I read a lot of books, magazines, and blog post for ideas for my blog. Finding and sharing good content is important to me so I spend a little time planning what kind of posts I am going to have on my blog.

Planning makes blogging easier to stay motivated and keeping your content fresh. Below find a blogging form that will make it easy to keep track of your ideas, and plan your weekly blogging schedule.

click here

Blogging should be an enjoyable part of your business. Sharing interesting content to your target market, gives them a chance to get to know you and your business. Review your blog, is it conveying the message you want to share with your readers? 

Do you enjoy blogging?

Monday Motivation

Blogging can be challenging, and it can be difficult to stay motivated when you are trying to balance your home life and your business.

Creating and maintaining your blog can be time consuming, and it's hard to stay motivated when you are felling stressed about the upkeep of your blog.

There are a few simple ways to stay motivated through your blogging process and have the time you need for your family and business.

Plan ahead - Create a blogging calendar to keep track of your ideas. Having a list of ideas ready makes blogging easier. (More ideas to plan for your blog tomorrow 5/23)

Write short posts - They say you only get 1 minute to attract someones attention and if it takes more then 3 minutes to read a post they will move on. Sometimes a posts with few words or just photos is all you need.

Mix it up - Plan a variety of topics. Keep your readers coming back with something new each week.

Create regular features - Having regular features makes it easier to schedule your posts. I have two regular features Motivation Monday and Be Inspired making my blog planning easier.

Pre-publish - Write your posts a few at a time, and schedule them to post throughout the week. I usually write posts on Sunday for the entire week, then I don't have to worry about my blog for week.

It's easy to stay motivated about your blog when you don't have to worry about what you are going to post.

What is one thing that you find challenging about blogging?

Facebook is Changing Again

Have you switched to the new Facebook timeline format for your business page?

I recently converted mine, and I realized there are several steps to setting up a good page. Before I set up my page a read a few blog posts so I would do it correctly and get the most out of my setup.

On March 30, all Facebook business pages will be changed to the timeline format. Check out these links to help you set up your page.

How to Navigate the New Facebook Fan Page Timeline
The Complete Guide to Setting Up the New Facebook page design
Ch..Ch..Ch..changes...timelines for facebook pages

With some quick reading and a few clicks on your Facebook page you can be set up and ready to go before the March 30th deadline.

Have you changed your Facebook business page to the timeline format? What do you think?

Artist Inspirations - Milk & Honey Naturals

I found Courtney Jo's all natural products via her blog. I am a fan of her mix of stories about her family, her products, and  what every comes to mind. Thanks Courtney Jo for taking the time to share with us what inspires you to create your all natural products.

Courtney Jo - Milk & Honey Naturals

I have been creating my own natural products for over a decade. I can remember as far back as 11 years, making cabbage acne masks from a book all about natural cures from the bible. I really pushed myself to create after I had a few unusual reactions to synthetically produced products. After struggling with problem after problem for years, I finally turned to only natural care. Most of what was available in stores was unscented or medicinal smelling, boring and flat out bland. Over the years I have done a lot of research on holistic medicine, herbal therapies, natural cures and have learned a lot about how earth products nurture, nourish, heal and cleanse. I started experimenting with herbal infusions for color, pure essential oil blends for punches of amazing natural aroma, swirling, layering and sprinkling for visually interesting effects. With a small nudge from my husband, Milk and Honey Naturals was born.

Mandarin Truffle Lip embellishment

I started my business with a head packed full of knowledge, college training in business, hands that love to create, $200 and a big dream. I'm really scrappy when it comes to wise investing, researching the market, putting together a workable business plan and I learn fast. After the first year of exhaustingly hard work and a lot of seed planting, I was able to stay home with my twin boys and help support our family for what looks like the foreseeable future.

The biggest inspirations behind my shop are family and health. They really go hand in hand. When I read the ingredient lists on regular store products, it irks me to no end. I've become even more fussy about ingredients since having my kids. I remember finding a baby lotion that actually boasted "no essential oils, only fragrance." There is a long list of essential oils that are not only safe for kids, but can actually help with conditions like colic. I dream for my family, I create for my family, I work hard for my family and I share my creations so that all people and all families can have access to quality natural products.

Pamper Me gift Set 

My process first starts with the functionality of a product. I always ask myself what I would like to get out of what I'm trying to create. I research and find the natural ingredients I need to get the results, then it's on to design. I take visual inspiration from anything and everything around me. It can be a slice of cake from a European bakery, to the colors created by light peeking through fall leaves all the way to a beautiful marble floor I remember from childhood. I compose ways to use the necessary ingredients to create my design and with a light hand, leave it at what naturally occurs.

Honey Almond All Natural Handmade Soap

Visit Milk & Honey Naturals and see all the wonderful products Courtney Jo has to offer. Don't forget to stop by her blog as well and get to know Courtney Jo the mother, wife, and artists.

Website ~ Etsy Shop ~ Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

Big Significant Goals

It's a new year and time to be inspired by new challenges. 

I'm not just talking about your goals, but setting big significant goals. Accomplishing one thing (or several) that you have always wanted to do, but were afraid you would not succeed at completing.

I worked on my list over the weekend and I set myself three significant goals I want to accomplish this year. One is growing my blog and the content, I want Everyday Inspired to be a blog full of inspiration for your creative life, business, and life.

My vision board for 2012

To guide me on my journey I created a collage of inspiration for my goals to hang in my work area, as well as a list of my goals for my business journal. Keeping your goals written down, and/or in art form is important for achieving success.

I am looking forward to a new year full of new adventures, and success, how about you?


Have you thought about what you want to accomplish in 2012? Do you have one big significant goal you are striving for this year?

Inspired Blog Content

The hardest part of writing and updating a blog is finding interesting content.  Looking for content for this blog is something I work on everyday.

I recently pulled out old out of printed magazines such as Blueprint, Boho, Adorne, Craft Business, and Craft, for some new ideas. It's a lot of fun going through old magazines, and I found lots of cool stuff that I will be sharing with you over the next couple of months.

Sometimes just a word is all I need to come up an idea for my blog. I remember reading an article in the newspaper and I saw the word procrastination, which inspired this popular blog post.

Daily I like reading other blog, checking out links on Twitter and Facebook, and going through my books, all these activies inspires new posts all the time.

Finding inspiring blog content is work, but worth it when a post can inspire creative ideas, share information, and starts an interesting conversation.

How do you find inspiring content for your blog?

Gift Giving Planner

I have been working on my gift list for the holidays.  I like to make many of the gifts I give, but sometimes I just have to buy a few.  I like to give items the gift recipient will actually appreciate having, and buy handmade whenever possible. 

I was hanging out over at Scoutie Girl, and found a great post with ideas for a non-traditional holiday that includes a free printable abundant giving planner.

The planner gives you the options to decide if you want to buy something, make something, offer an experience, or send a greeting.

A couple of ideas from Tara's list, buy food or craft supplies, make ornaments or jewelry, plan to meet for dinner or plan a craft party, send a letter or holiday card.  Check out Scoutie Girl's blog post for even more great ideas.

Click here to print your own FREE Abundant Giving Planner.

This planner made me really think about unique gift ideas to give this holiday season. I hope you find it useful too.

Do you have any unique gifts you give over the holidays?

Artful Blogging

Winter 2011

For the past year in a half I have been enjoying a magazine called Artful Blogging.

If you have not had a chance to check out this magazine it's worth exploring.  It's visually beautiful, full of inspiring stories of artist who blog, and a few tips that you can use for your own blog. 

Since I started reading this magazine I have discovered several new blogs that have become my new favorites. 

The magazine comes out 6 times a year and it's worth every penny.  You can read all about this wonderful magazine or get information to submit your own blog on their website.

Have you checked out Artful blogging?  What do you think?

A List of Fashion Websites

The Internet is full of links to fashion websites and blogs. With so many to choose from narrowing down a list of favorites can be challenging.

Here are a few sites that I check out to keep me updated on the fashions world.

Lookbook.nu

Sour Tang

The Adventures of an Urban Socialite

Focus On Style

Fashion Magazine

Independent Fashion Blog

Do you have a fashion blog or website that you enjoy? Share the link.

Discover Europe

Last week The Girl in Orange commented on the post How do you like to Travel, so I checked out her blog Traveling On A Shoestrings.

She has been traveling Europe for a few years and decided to start a blog to share her discoveries, stories, and amazing photo's.

I know I won't be able to get to Europe anytime soon and reading her blog has given me the sense of being there. It is a wonderful blog and I hope you stop by and follow along on her journey.

All the images in this post belong to The Girl in Orange and are from her blog Traveling On A Shoestring.

*Don't miss out - A unique Advertising Opportunity

Additionsstyle NEWS

SHOP News

I have not had a sale for a couple of weeks, I have been frustrated because I was basically working for free. On Wednesday I found out that I was featured in Etsy Finds post on Etsy Storque on Tuesday. It was my first time and very exciting. It's funny, when you are feeling most frustrated something happens to make you excited about working again.

While trying to get thing going with my Etsy shop I made some plans for big changes in my shop that I am going to work on over the summer. For starters I am going to re-shoot all the pieces in my shop with a new background, rework my tags, and work on the SEO (search engine optimization). Hopefully all this work will pay off for the holiday season.

I also plan to create several new pieces so I can start adding a new piece everyday, with the hope of having between 150 and 175 pieces available in my shop by September.

I hope all the changes will bring my shop to the next level, more sales, features, and maybe even a chance on the Etsy front page.

What are you doing to help increase sales in shop?

BLOG News

Last Sunday I shared information about my new project, if you missed it check out the post My Inspiration.

I shared a couple of links this week, the blog Hearts Expanding and a fun website for creating word clouds called Wordle. Both worth checking out.

Follower News
In the post Check It Out... trixiefishstabber productions wants to start sculpting Fimo Clay and is looking for a tutorial or website with information into the process. If you know of any sites send a link to Trixie.

Creative book of the Week
This weeks book is called Foolsgold:Making Something from Nothing and Freeing your Creative Process. Click on the link on the right side bar to go directly to Amazon.com.

Have a great week!