One small step for senioritis.

We are very pleased to announce that our Stars Stripes Space design has been chosen as a finalist in the NASA x Etsy Space Craft contest!

We'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who voted for our design and everyone who helped spread the word about the contest. You can check out all the sweet finalists here.

We'll keep everyone posted as we receive more info; just wanted to let you guys know that we're one step closer to making a giant leap ;) Have a great weekend!

The OOAK Tree

Once upon a time in a land far, far, far away, there stood a ginormous ooak tree...

At this point you may be asking, what's an ooak tree?

Well, that's the same question I asked when we first joined Etsy. Until joining the Etsy community I had never really heard the term ooak before. I had heard of pine trees, maple trees, even ooak's close relatives, oak trees, but I had never heard of ooak trees. I often found myself vexed looking at items described as ooak and trying to find the wood in the photos. Then one day the clouds of ignorance parted and I came to learn that ooak is not a type of tree at all but instead is an acronym standing for One Of A Kind.

This past weekend we had the opportunity to further immerse ourselves in one of a kind culture and check out the OOAK show in NYC. The show was very cool and had a wide variety of work on display. We'd like to give a quick shoutout to the folks over at Etsy for hooking us up with some free tickets (which were greatly appreciated).

We had a chance to talk to several artists and spotted a number of Etsians including Coy Clothes and Rebound Designs.

My sister picked up the coolest item of the day, a very sweet repurposed coat that I can best describe as a collabo between Hugh Hefner and the Corpse Bride. The jacket itself looks like it jumped out of a Ralph Lauren catalog from the 1970s and it has a bunch of really cool, brightly colored items sewn all over it. Words can not do this coat justice so I'll try to get my sister to post some pictures.

At the end of the day we had a chance to swing by the Etsy booth to shake a few hands, enter a raffle, make a button, and pick up a sweet calendar ;)

OOAK will still be in town next week from Thursday-Sunday so if you're in the area and looking for something to do go check it out. For more info on the event check out the OOAK site.

Happy Sunday, we hope you had a great weekend!

49 Days Until Christmas :: Gift Shipping Info

We're not counting the days or anything but someone told us the holidays are right around the corner ;) Over the past few weeks we have received several inquiries about items being ordered as gifts and shipped to a different address so we just wanted to post some quick info to make sure we're all on the same page.

Yes, we will gladly ship gifts provided that the recipient's address is confirmed prior to shipping. So what does that mean? Basically it will look something like this:

1. George W. finds a sweet print in our Etsy shop that he wants to get for his friend Ben F. George purchases the print and pays via paypal.
2. We receive the order. Geroge's shipping address is in Mt. Vernon; however, he would like the print shipped directly to Ben in Philly.
3. We send a message thanking George for his order and confirming Ben's address as:
Ben F.
1776 Liberty Bell Dr.
City of Brotherly Love, PA
4. George confirms that we have the correct address for Ben.
5. We ship the print to Ben.

We will not ship the print to Ben until George has confirmed his address.

We're also working on some holiday cards so that you can have a Famous Seniors style holiday greeting to go along with your gift! Any questions just let us know.

A Very Big Week

Yesterday we had our first big show in New York City. We want to send a big thank you to the folks who organized the Crafts in Chelsea event as well as everyone who stopped by our booth. We had a blast getting to know some of our etsy friends and followers. For those of you who couldn't make it, here's a brief recap:

We started off the day optimistic, but a bit apprehensive about the weather. Winds were predicted at speeds of up to 40mph yesterday. It was our first time using our new huge, totally fantastic tent, and we had no idea how it would hold up in the wind. We definitely came prepared, though, bringing tent anchors, hoodies, and those nifty gloves without fingers. Despite the wind predictions, the hardest part wasn't keeping the tent standing, but getting it up in the first place. Where are those IKEA photo directions when you need them?

Once we were up and running, the day flew by. Our postcard-size prints were a huge hit, and we couldn't have asked for better guests in our booth. From little kids, to schoolteachers, stockbrokers, and tourists - we met all kinds of people and had a terrific time discussing our Famous Seniors and their notable quotes with everyone. Our booth was located just across the street from PS 11 and its fabulous Fall Festival. Unfortunately, we weren't able to hit the bouncy castle, but we did partake in bake sale goodies and get to see one of the most colorful murals we've encountered anywhere in Manhattan. If you haven't checked out this 50-foot mural in Chelsea, we suggest heading over there while the weather is still nice. You'll also find terrifically inspiring and vivid painting covering the outside walls of the elementary school. What a great place for a craft fair!



Some more photos of the event can be seen on Flickr.

Crafts in Chelsea was no doubt an excellent way for us to kick off the next very big week for Senioritis. You may have read about our selection in the Embracing Our Differences Exhibit. If anyone is going to be in the Long Island, New York area during the next week, we highly recommend that you stop by the exhibit and check out the billboard-sized winning designs. We guarantee you'll leave inspired.

And now, we're off to enjoy the rest of the weekend. Happy Sunday!

Featured Artist :: Emily Finan Art & Illustration

This week's featured artist is Emily Finan Art & Illustration!

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Emily Finan: Emily Finan and I live just outside of Detroit, Michigan.
Senioritis: Hey Emily!

Senioritis: Can you tell us a little about yourself Emily?
Emily Finan: I'm a 20-something artist, art student, and teacher from Detroit, Michigan. I'm working on a degree in studio art as well as art education; and I spend all my free time drawing, painting, and playing with my puppy Vinnie. Lately I have been working on a series of drawings inspired by old photographs of little Victorian girls. After working with a fantastic print house I'm excited to be offering prints in my Etsy shop.
Senioritis: Very cool, what type od dog is Vinnie? Your Victorian inspired drawings are great. We especially like the way you can see the textures on the bows, clothing and accessories. It's as if a real bow is placed on the drawing, sweet work.

Senioritis: Curious George or Cat in the Hat?
Emily Finan: Book wise, Cat in the Hat. It was my absolute favorite as a toddler! Movie wise, Curious George; so much cuter than Mike Meyers in a cat costume.



Senioritis: Which words would best describe your style?
Emily Finan: Cute, Simple, Awkward, and Illustrative.

Senioritis: What's the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Emily Finan: When I was starting to think about selling my work, my financial guru of a father told me "You'll work twice as hard as you expect, spend twice as much as you planned, and in the first year or so the best you can hope for is to break even (but you'll probably lose money.) Know this, and never give up." And he was absolutely right.
Senioritis: Excellent words of wisdom. We think it's pretty common to underestimate how much time and effort it will take to create, market, and sell our work. Sometimes the results don't show right away but we have found that if you love what you do and never give up people will start to take notice!



Senioritis: Emily, what's your favorite sport to either watch or play?
Emily Finan: Gotta love watching Detroit Red Wings hockey, and despite my lack of hand-eye coordination I really love playing badminton.
Senioritis: Wow, I haven't played badminton in ages. I always enjoy watching it in the Olympics, the athletes make you appreciate how much strategy is involved in the sport.

Senioritis: Alice in Wonderland or Charlie & the Chocolate Factory?
Emily Finan: The original Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, hands down. The movie entranced and appalled me as a child and as much as I love Johnny Depp you just can't beat Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.
Senioritis: We would have to agree, original Charlie & the Chocolate Factory for the win!

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote?
Emily Finan: "Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug' is just a wee voice telling you, 'I'd like my crayons back, please.'"
— Hugh MacLeod
Senioritis: Great quote. With art programs taking a back seat in many schools it seems that the crayons are being taken away at an even younger age these days.



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business Emily?
Emily Finan: If I could hop in the DeLorean I would probably pack it full of sketchbooks and go back in time and draw; draw everything I possibly could. As far as my business, I don't think I'd change a thing. It took a while, but I've finally found some sort of balance between making art and starting a business.

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Emily Finan: I think it would be really cool to do away with faces on currency; or maybe do away with currency all together and trade vegetables and fire wood instead, hehe.
Senioritis: Hmm, an advocate of the barter system ;)

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web Emily?
Emily Finan: My website, on flickr, and on Etsy.



Senioritis: The Flinstones of the Jetsons?
Emily Finan: Though I watched both shows equally, I think I would have to vote for the Flinstones. Dinosaurs are cool :)

Senioritis: Any shoutouts Emily?
Emily Finan: I'd love to say hi to my supportive family and amazing friends! You guys are the best :)

Thanks for spending some time with us Emily; your work rocks and we wish you continued success. Be sure to swing by Emily's Etsy shop to view more of her work!

Featured Artist :: Everybody Else

This week's featured artist is Everybody Else!

Everybody Else - Art & Cards by Melody DuVal

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Everybody Else: Melody DuVal. Goshen, IN.
Senioritis: Hi Melody!

Senioritis: Can you tell us a little about yourself please?
Everybody Else: As a kid I just couldn't draw enough. I covered all available surfaces. At first that got me into trouble, but as I got older I started getting compliments and even requests. I went to college for graphic design and, thinking I wouldn't be taken seriously otherwise, kept my doodles out of the classroom. My last semester a friend convinced me to use them for a project, the professor raved about them and told me I should be in illustration. I was flattered, but I hadn't studied illustration and didn't think I would make the cut. After college I got a job designing local advertisements, but my boss noticed my in-meeting doodles and put me to work illustrating some books we were printing. Around the same time I heard about Etsy.com and thought it would be pretty low risk to print out some of my personal art and try to sell it on there. I started with cards, because I write a lot of letters and printing my own cards was cheaper than buying them in the store. I just printed extra and posted them on etsy. I wouldn't call my art an instant hit, but I'm slowly drawing an online following.
Senioritis: I used to draw all over everything as a kid also! Unfortunately I don't draw as much as I used to. We think your work is awesome Melody, really dig your style. We're glad your friend convinced you to use your doodles for the class project ;)

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Everybody Else: Streetcar Named Desire.



Senioritis: How would you describe your style Melody?
Everybody Else: Colorful, Whimsical, Bright, Innocent.

Senioritis: What's the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Everybody Else: I've never received any tips directly, but the Etsy forums have been a great way to find information and ideas.
Senioritis: The Etsy forums are a wealth of information indeed, we learn new things all the time.



Senioritis: What would you say is your favorite sport to either watch or play Melody?
Everybody Else: I'm not a sports person, but I enjoy a good game of soccer.
Senioritis: We've never really played soccer but we always enjoy watching the World Cup.

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Everybody Else: I've never seen either.

Senioritis: Melody, do you have a favorite quote?
Everybody Else: “Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, intoxicating.”
- Simone Weil
Senioritis: That's a very interesting observation.



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business Melody?
Everybody Else: I'd have more work ready to sell before I opened up shop.
Senioritis: Great point Melody. We're currently looking into selling at craft shows and the like and we've had to do some serious planning about how much inventory to build up before these events.

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Everybody Else: I'd let Ben keep it. As a graphic designer I know you can't get too extreme in your re-branding or you lose your identity.
Senioritis: It's all about the Benjamins. We'd say that the current $100 bill design has a pretty strong identity ;)

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web Melody?
Everybody Else: My Etsy shop, my blog, and on flickr.
Senioritis: We're glad to hear everything worked out ok with the bronze!



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Everybody Else: Sean Connery
Senioritis: Just when we thought the Connery trend was changing...


Thanks for sharing some info with us Melody. We wish you continued success and hope your online following continues to grow. Please swing by Everybody Else and check out all of Melody's sweet work!

Featured Artist :: Scarlett Design

This week's featured artist is Scarlett Design!

Scarlett Design - Nature inspired illustrations, photography, and stationery.

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Scarlett Design: Ryan McGurl, Virginia Beach.
Senioritis: Hey Ryan, thanks for sitting down with us!

Senioritis: Can you please tell us a little about yourself?
Scarlett Design: I grew up in New England, living in both northern New Hampshire and the Boston area. After high school I took some time off, before I attended both the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Boston University, for graphic design and art history.
Three years ago I moved to Virginia Beach, where I currently live with my boyfriend and our two very spoiled dogs, Chewie and Panzer.

I enjoy hiking, camping, going to the beach, art, photography, knitting, crocheting, reading, traveling, gardening, and cooking, and I'm a dork. And I love that most days my job doesn't feel like work. I consider myself fortunate to have lived in several places, and experience the unique beauty of different areas.
Senioritis: Very cool Ryan, we have a bunch of family that lives not far from Boston. That's great that you have been able to move around a bit. What type of dogs do you have?

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Scarlett Design: Godfather, I've never actually seen Streetcar.



Senioritis: How would you describe your style Ryan?
Scarlett Design: Fun, Colorful, Joyful, Intelligent.

Senioritis: Ryan, what's the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Scarlett Design: "If at first you don't succeed, try again." I'm not sure who actually created that quote, and I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but recently while watching a documentary on American history I was struck by how often people who influenced history had failed before they became a great success.
Senioritis: We read a bunch of biographies and history books and have also found that it's those who are willing to fail the most that often find the greatest levels of success. Great tip Ryan!



Senioritis: What would you say is your favorite sport to either watch or play?
Scarlett Design: Hiking.
Senioritis: Hailing from New England we were a little concerned that you were going to say watching the Red Sox ;)

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Scarlett Design: Fletch.

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote Ryan?
Scarlett Design: "There is a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in" Leonard Cohen
Senioritis: Very cool, we hadn't heard that one.



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business Ryan?
Scarlett Design: Spend more time on marketing when I first started my business
Senioritis: Absolutely, it definitely takes some effort to get the word out, especially in the beginning.

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Scarlett Design: John Adams, he always seemed overlooked; perhaps because he wasn't as witty as Franklin.
Senioritis: We think Mr. Adams would look great! We recently designed a tribute to John Adams; he didn't quite make it on to a $100 bill but he did get on to the front of a composition notebook ;)

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web Ryan?
Scarlett Design: My blog, facebook, flickr, and on twitter.
Senioritis: Looks like you have quite the web presence Ryan!



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Scarlett Design: Not sure, it used to be Roger Moore, but I'm really liking the new ones with Daniel Craig.
Senioritis: The new Bond movies are excellent.


Thanks for sitting down with us Ryan and letting us know a bit more about the artist behind Scarlett Design!

Featured Artist :: Khali Nouveau

This week's featured artist is Khali Nouveau!

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Khali Nouveau: Aiysha Khaalid; Boston, Massachusetts
Senioritis: Hi Aiysha!

Senioritis: Can you please tell us a little about yourself Aiysha?
Khali Nouveau: My name is A. Khaalid, nickname Khali. I am a full-time artist with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. I'm a painter, an illustrator, a mixed media artist, and a crafter. I am a stimulated artist and entrepreneur. I was a pottery artist for a private local company, a freelance artist as an interior home muralist, an art coordinator for an exclusive Dubai art gallery, and an art teacher.

In May 2010, I had my first solo art exhibition called 'Visions of Spring' which presented acrylic on canvas, illustration on printmaking paper, and art shadow boxes. In my shop I have some of these artworks available for sale and additional artworks are viewable on my website. KhaliNouveau was created to display my original artworks for others to appreciate my passion for painting and illustration.
Senioritis: That's awesome Khali, congrats on the solo exhibit it looks like it was a great set up! We especially enjoy your Endangered Species line, they look great on display together. You've done many things Khali, what have you enjoyed doing the most? How was your time in Dubai?

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Khali Nouveau: Godfather.



Senioritis: How would you describe your style Khali?
Khali Nouveau: Colorful, Unique, Stylized, Authentic.

Senioritis: What's the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you Khali?
Khali Nouveau: My boyfriend is a great supporter and when I feel that things aren’t going so well he would say ‘Don’t give up’. Those simple words work out for me.
Senioritis: Always a good tip. In the words of the great Jimmy Valvano, "Don't give up, don't ever give up."



Senioritis: What would you say is your favorite sport to either watch or play?
Khali Nouveau: I don’t like any sports unless you count competitive reality TV shows.
Senioritis: Hmm, some of those shows are pretty intense!

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Khali Nouveau: Three Amigos.

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote Khali?
Khali Nouveau: An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision.- James Whistler
Senioritis: We've never heard that one before, awesome quote!



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business?
Khali Nouveau: I would have a whole body of new artworks ready to list online.
Senioritis: That would be cool. Investing an hour promoting a shop with 5 items takes just as long as investing an hour promoting a shop with 100 items ;)

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Khali Nouveau: That’s a good question. I don’t have any particular person to be on the face of a $100 bill but seeing a woman's face would be an awesome change.
Senioritis: That would be cool, there haven't been too many women featured on U.S. currency.

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web Khali?
Khali Nouveau: My site and on twitter.



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Khali Nouveau: Sean Connery.
Senioritis: Chalk up another tally for the Scotsman. Connery's popularity makes us wonder why they decided to cast a different 007 actor in the first place.

Senioritis: Any shoutouts Khali?
Khali Nouveau: Thanks mom for everything!


Khali, thanks a bunch for sitting down with us and sharing a bit about yourself and your work, it's awesome. Don't forget to visit Khali's online gallery as well as her online shop!

Front Page v. Etsy Finds :: A Senioritis Experiment

Morning everyone! The idea for today's post stems from a conversation that was had in an Etsy Virtual Labs session about places to be featured. We figured why not pay tribute to some of science's greatest minds and conduct an experiment. Don't worry, you won't need a lab coat or goggles ;)



Question
Which place would it be more beneficial* to be featured: Etsy's front page or in an Etsy Finds email?

*Level of benefit will be determined by the following measures:

-Visits
-Pages/Visit
-Time on Site
-Bounce Rate
-Favorites/Hearts

Background Research
At the time of the Virtual Lab session the question seemed pretty valid but we didn't really give it much thought so let's take a closer look. While a Front Page feature travels with a certain level of prestige, it even gets its own badge, it's only active for a limited amount of time and can therefore only be seen by so many eyes. An Etsy Finds email on the other hand gets sent out to bajillions of people (we have no emperical evidence to back this exact number) who subscribe and the topic is then placed on Etsy's blog, The Storque, for more people to view.

Hypothesis
If a shop is featured in an Etsy Finds email it will be more beneficial for the shop than if featured on an Etsy front page.

Test With An Experiment
The Famous Seniors have smiled upon us. In the past few weeks senioritis has been featured on Etsy's front page and in an awesome Etsy Finds email (thanks Amy!). Let the experiment commence!

During the experiment we held other variables constant: no paid advertising, no contests, no special features or sales. There was no significant difference in the content of our shop or the number of items in it. We did mention both features on facebook and twitter.

The only variable that changed was the location of the feature.



Analyze Results
To analyze the results of our experiment we enlisted the help of our good friends the Google and Craftopolis. Here's what we observed:

Etsy Front Page Feature:
280 Visits
2 Pages/Visit
1:12 Spent on Site
71% Bounce Rate
4 Favorites

Etsy Finds Email Feature:
652 Visits
10 Pages/Visit
3:56 Spent on Site
46% Bounce Rate
66 Favorites

Conclusion
If a shop is featured in an Etsy Finds email it is indeed more beneficial to that shop than being featured on Etsy's front page.

While we are pleased with the outcome of the experiment we feel that the experiment should be re-run several times before we can publish our results ;)

Hopefully you enjoyed our experiment, had a little fun, and got something out of it. We would love to hear about your experiences being featured so don't hesitate to leave us a comment. Have a senioritis day!

Friday Finds 8.27.10

Happy Friday! After a few Friday Finds workspace features we figured it was time to share a few photos of senioritis headquarters ;) Our workspace features are designed to show people that while a high-end, top of the line work studio is really nice, it's not always necessary and that all it takes is a little imagination to turn any place into a sweet workspace and create some really cool stuff.

senioritis

As you may (or may not) already know, we create uniquely designed artwork and apparel. Our colorful designs pay tribute to inspirational and motivational famous seniors throughout history.



Much of our time is spent in front of a computer with a legal pad close by; and yes, I'm a PC but Beth and Jillian are Macs. Fun fact: I only write in black pen and nobody can read my writing.



When we're having trouble coming up with colors or textures for new designs we flip through our current designs. We have most of our designs printed out in postcard size (like those above) which means that they can go everywhere we go.

We're often reading something, usually business related, so having a broad selection of bookmarks readily accessible is always a plus ;)



Here's a quick shot of our secret underground lair ;) As they say, this is where the magic happens; measuring, cutting, printing and a bunch of other fun stuff!



We hope you enjoyed a quick peek into our workspace!



With September approaching and playoff baseball right around the corner, this week we would like to share our brand spankin' new Senioritis Remembers Sports Legends postcard prints. These travel sized tributes would make a great gift for any sports fan. To see more of our designs please visit our Etsy shop.

Featured Artist :: Katies Studio

This week's featured artist is Katies Studio!

Katies Studio - Cool Art.

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Katies Studio: Katie Bunschoten, currently Burlington, Kentucky.
Senioritis: Hi Katie, thanks for taking the time to share some info with us!

Senioritis: Katie, can you tell us a little about yourself please?
Katies Studio: I've been drawing since I was a kid. We moved a lot and friends changed just as often but drawing and sketching were constant. We had horses up until I hit high school so I spent a lot of time sketching them. I graduated high school, moved to Holland and Ireland (got married), came back and finally had space for a small studio so I started painting. Going from graphite black and whites to color opened a lot of ideas and I've been working on putting them to canvas ever since.
Senioritis: That's awesome! Do you get back to Holland and Ireland often? Your works are filled with vibrant colors, do you still do work in black and white?

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Katies Studio: Streetcar Named Desire



Senioritis: How would you describe your style?
Katies Studio: Bright, Bold, Colorful, Vivid.
Senioritis: We couldn't agree more, all the colors just jump out at us!

Senioritis: Katie, what would you say is the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Katies Studio: Never quit what you love. - Mom
Senioritis: Guess what they say is true, mother does know best ;)



Senioritis: What would you say is your favorite sport to either watch or play?
Katies Studio: Soccer to play, baseball to watch. I live right outside Cincinnati so I have to say Go Reds!
Senioritis: Ahhh, a fan of the Big Red Machine :) I must admit, as a Yankees fan I have no clue what's going on in the National League until playoff time rolls around. What did you think of the World Cup?

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Katies Studio: Three Amigos

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote Katie?
Katies Studio: Wisdom begins in wonder. – Socrates
Senioritis: Awesome quote, there may be a new Socrates tribute in the works ;)



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business?
Katies Studio: Better photos! Investing in a better camera was the best thing I've done. It is a completely different animal, selling online. I'd also research more on SEO and have used analytics immediately. When I first started I thought upload it and people will just buy. It's not quite that easy. In ways I think it's harder than having a brick and mortar gallery.
Senioritis: They say a picture is worth a thousand words and in an online marketplace where people can't hold or handle our work strong product photography is crucial. We agree that selling online is completely different than selling in a physical location. We were fortunate to find some great product photography and SEO tips on Etsy that have helped us get going in the right direction.

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Katies Studio: This is a very difficult thing to think on, but at first thought I would say Henry David Thoreau. I think whoever it would be would be someone that personifies the American spirit, but not in an overly political fashion. I could go on and on, but I think in a nutshell that's who I would put on there!
Senioritis: We think Mr. Thoreau would be a wonderful fit for the $100 bill!

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web Katie?
Katies Studio: katiesstudio.etsy.com and my site.



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Katies Studio: Sean Connery
Senioritis: Well, it seems that Mr. Connery is the preferred 007 for our featured artists. We'll see if he can extend his lead next week ;)

Senioritis: Any shoutouts Katie?
Katies Studio: I have to thank my parents and my husband Marco for the constant encouragement, and my daughter Abby for always providing inspiration.
Senioritis: We saw a picture of your studio assistant and can see how she provides plenty of inspiration. We're also glad to hear that she keeps her hands off the wet paint ;)

Katie, thanks so much for sharing some info about the wonderful artist behind Katies Studio!

Friday Finds 8.13.10

Happy Friday the 13th! As we mentioned last Sunday, this week we bring you some Vermont inspired finds. This week's finds are either made in Vermont or inspired by the green mountain state. We hope you like what we found ;)

IMOTIME



Vermont Maple



vsc83



Native Vermont Studio



senioritis

In honor of Friday the 13th, this week we are paying tribute to 4 movie monster legends: Karloff, Chaney, Lugosi, & Carlson. Beware of black cats and anyone with knives coming out of their hand ;) Have a great weekend!






Featured? Why not grab a banner?

<a href="http://itmakesyoulazy.blogspot.com/2010/07/friday-finds-72310.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4389108163_a09e51ac98_o.jpg" alt="Senioritis Friday Finds" border="0" /></a>