How To Blog

This is how I feed today...because I am blogging.

Goodness, blogging is difficult. Maybe that's a sign that I have a supreme brilliance that hasn't been released, just kidding. :) Today I was fishing threw some of my Pins...on my board..."My Ateliér", and finally decided to read some blogging advice. 

Thanks to Jeff at http://goinswriter.com, it's beginning to make more sense. Here Jeff explains how to narrow down by establishing these three pieces:

 Subject -> Theme -> Objective

We thought we would share with you our journey of discovery - what is our blogging purpose?

SUBJECT

• What are we passionate about?

our business, making small business work, our home, living by faith

• In what topic do we have expertise or a desire to learn?

design, home decor/room arrangement, education, woodworking, small business, family, budget, patience, trust...

• What could I write about for a year without running out of ideas or energy?

using personal anecdotes....how to make a house a home

Jeff encourages you to pick one, and only one subject. 

We chose "making your house a home", it ties to The Honey Shack as well.

Madeleine L'Engle

THEME

• How can I break this subject down into its various components?

Home decor, Organization, DIY, Where to Buy, Capturing a Look, Cleaning Tips, Budget Friendly Design, Rearranging what you have, etc. 

• What do I want to concentrate on?

This part I am still working on. It's something related to using what you have, minimizing the "stuff" and making your home a place of peace and rest. 

• Is there a specific manner in which I want to attack this issue? What will my writing “voice” be? (e.g. Humorous, sarcastic, practical, anecdotal, etc.)

When I was a writing teacher the anecdotes were what always moved me most. I suppose anecdotal would be best, as long as I don't carry on too much :). 

Specific manner...does it have to be intentional?

Tips

OBJECTIVE

• What do I want to accomplish with my writing?

We want to connect to people and inspire.

• What impression do I want to leave?

We want to leave an impression of humility, that we are vulnerable, real people. 

• What’s my goal? How do I measure it?

We want to bless you, our readers...

Fall Fun

Fall is my favorite season. The leaves have reached maturity and I am ready to breakdance in the parking lot with a bag full of apple cinnamon candles. And I am not exaggerating. :)

I think it has to do partly with the intense heat of Texas summer, we are dying for a change from the humidity and heat. It is also connected to the beginning of school. For most of my life the start of school was what I anticipated. It's different this year, because I no longer am a student nor a classroom teacher. But the same eagerness for fall's arrival is alive and in my soul. Why? Because, I get to decorate! 

More Ideas

This is an easy way to add some warmth to your home. I think the acorns start to fall by mid-september here where we live, but if you don't have acorns you could use pebbles, beans, nuts, etc. Buy some wire at a hardware store, save a few glass jars, and buy the votives at your local dollar store. 

More Ideas

I love how the dark colors in the stone allow the fall colors to pop! All it takes is a handful of pumpkins and other squash variety, gold spray paint...and some fall foliage.

More Ideas

It's time to break out the wreath! 

How To...

For those of you who love the chevron trend...here is a fun way to and some autumn to your mantle.

How To...

This is really cute for a fall dinner party...tea lights and green apples. 

Snuggle up and find a great book to read, and enjoy Autumn!

Photo This

Photography - not such a tricky task.

When we first started our Etsy shop, photography did not seem thaaaat important. As long as we had photos of our items we were good. Boy were we wrong! Photography has been the key, it is actually more important that the product itself (well, initially at least). 

It was April, 2012 (our shop had only been opened for about three legitimate months). Suddenly we were getting these random sales - back to back, and we couldn't explain why. Well, here is why:

This photo...

Within a weekend, this photo was published in an Etsy newsletter and the Food in Jars blog. We were total rookies, and had no idea what any of this meant. And the funniest thing, we had no idea how we even got this photo to look so good. 

(If I were to post the other photos taken in the same photo shoot you would laugh. Trust me, our good friends that run Degno di Nota on Etsy have been with us all along; and have seen the growth, and have laughed with us, a lot.) 

White Background

Really, there are a few essential things that we believe will help your photos, because they have really helped us! And neither of us are professional photographers - nor did we go to art school (yet).

1.  Create a "white background" - this is much easier than photoshop (unless you're a pro).

• Go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy some hardboard - we bought two sheets and then cut them into 4 pieces (two larger and two smaller).
• Paint them white

2. Photograph indoors in a space where there is natural light (overcast days work even better).                                        

Macro Setting

3. Use your camera's macro setting (whether you have a DSLR or a point and shoot, this setting really helps to capture and define details). 

4. Take a variation of photos that describe your product

• Close up - show details and craftsmanship 
• Distant - show the entire product
• Solitary - just the product, no props
• Staged - your product shown in use - with props

5. Mix up the background. As the white background looks clean, professional, and vibrant, it is good to experiment with a textured and colored background as well. This will give your shop a more "colorful" feel - if that's what you are going for. This also helps your customers understand how they might use the product.

6. Just remember, your brand is what is most important. Consider the props you use, and the colors, the lighting, does it describe and support your brand?

Solitary - Distant

Staged - Distant (the caddy is being advertised)

Etsy published on their blog more great ideas for improving your photography and why it is so important:

"How to Make Your Photos Publicity-Ready"

Just a few shops we recommend looking at for photography ideas:

Small items -> Reclaimer

People/Fashion -> Naftul

Building a Brand -> Illuminated Perfume

Pretty Things -> For Such A Time Designs

And that's about it for now. If you have other ideas or want to share what has worked for you, please leave a comment!

Hurd&Honey

Inspiring Business with Pinterest

I am sure most of you reading this already have some type of obsession with Pinterest, right? It's one of those things you can do in the doctor's office waiting room, during Monday night football (which is just around the corner), etc. I've somewhat created a negative habit of "Pinteresting" too much...

"Yep" - my husbands words

But we can't deny that Pinterest is a great place when you're in need of inspiration!

Food Inspiration

Avocado Toast

 There are so many delicious recipes! You can pin and basically create for yourself, a modern version of a recipe book! Now I'm thinking, wouldn't it be a great idea to create a printed book for someone using their favorite food pins???

Fashion Inspiration

Fashion

One of my favorite boards is my "Getting Dressed" board. I love collecting the outfits, patterns, the shoes! It helps me to think of different ways to use the wardrobe I already have, and reminds of things I've forgotten about that are hanging in my closet.

Business Inspiration and Growth

Chevron Table

Pinterest has really been great for The Honey Shack. In fact, I know that pinning photos of our products has led to sales, and especially, inspiration for others.

A few things you can do to bridge Pinterest with your business:

1. Create or pin to a few different pin boards (collections). If you pin all of your products or services to one board, not as many people will see the pins. Our Boards

our jar was repinned several times...

2. Make sure your boards are well curated (put together beautifully). This will ensure that you will gain more followers, and in return, you are more likely to have your product/service photos repinned.

One of my favorite pinners! => http://pinterest.com/poppytalk/

3. Use a classy avatar or your logo as your avatar - this builds your brand.

4. Find pinners to follow that inspire your work or follow a similar design preference. This will keep you inspired and build your network.

5. Pin for your business, but more than that, pin the things that you love, the places you've seen, your favorite recipes, the best shoes, the books you've read over and over again. Be the inspiration for others.

6. Most important thing -

Support other people like you on Pinterest. Those of you that are trying to build your Etsy business, find other Etsians to follow and repin their products that you love.

and lastly...

My Motto