...continuing with my spring clean

Continuing with my "digital" spring-clean, I've updated my web page to tie-in with the fresh new look.



Its still just a very basic "home" page, basically linking out to my other presences online, but I still have plans to make it into a more complete web presence in itself...











Needless-to-say I haven't figured out how to change this banner on my blog yet. Arrghhh! I really can't remember how I did it the first time around! I can manage to add a new one, but not actually replace (or remove) the one thats up now... I think maybe I found some online tutorial and fiddled with the HTML code :(

When will I ever learn not to tinker with things I don't understand?! Well, I shall persevere I guess.

and this is a first

... first double-post-in-a-day!!!

There really has been lost of goings on since the last day I posted, and this one I think really deserves a post in itself, hence the double-dose today.


Sooooo, what's got me all excited is that I was recently invited to take part in my second ever online interview -and the first one ever in english - and it's just recently been published over at the Heart Handmade blog!


It all started not long ago when New York city blogger and crafter Marichelle contacted me to tell me about this new blog she'd recently launched, focusing on promoting handmade products and artists.

And when she told me that she's also trying to help all the people looking for handmade clothing on Etsy how could I resist the invitation to be a featured artist?!

You can read the full article here.







I'd also highly recommend taking a snoop around the rest of the blog, as there are some great interviews a gorgeous selections of the best of handmade. I also love the look of the blog, and I get the idea that Marichelle really enjoys working on it. She puts together such original and attractive layouts, with great illustrations, that really make browsing through her posts like a breath of fresh air!

And just today Marichelle launched another new feature on Heart Handmade, which is just such a fantastic idea. I think she's really onto a winner here with the Shop & Tell feature...




As if all the work on her blogs wasn't enough, this talented girl also runs her own Etsy shop! And I think I'm busy.....

Here's wishing her "mucho éxito" with this great new blog, and sending thanks for all the time and effort put into the Katsai feature :)

updating

Thats right, been a very busy little worker bee since my last post!

Lots of "updating" has been afoot, not only in my shop...






















But I've also been trying out new packaging ideas... (the jury is still out on this one, not sure that I found the right green, or the right bags, hmmm...)




















...and I finally recived my new business cards! Wooppee!



















Its been a long wait in the end, not nearly as quick as my first order when I first started out with Katsai.

And the poor blokey at the postoffice must be more relieved than I am that they finally arrived, as practically every trip I've made to the postoffice since I ordered them I've had him sifting through the packages to be picked-up, with the hope that they were sat there waiting for me and that the postman had some how forgotten to leave me the notice... ;P



And as you can see...



















.... I think they're quite a photogenic bunch!



















I also want to thank the lovely (and very talented) Danielle and the very talented (and equally lovely) Anuska for their input on my dilemma over updating my blog's banner. You convinced me!
Now lets see if I remember how I fiddled about with it last time to swap-over to the "new look" Katsai here too... gracias chicas!!

The wonders of Flickr and Splashr

I've had an account on Flickr for some time now, and love the communities and visual booty to be found and appreciated there. However, I hadn't really checked out the possibilities of using it as a "tool" until now.

A quick google took me to Splashr, a site that has developed a number of applications or widgets that let you present flickr images in a myriad of different formats.

A quick nose about and i came up with this interactive "Desktop" presentation, which reminds me a lot of the Flash presentations on Etsy :)




I'm thinking of incorporating it into my own Katsai web page as a "portfolio" of sorts ;P Thanks Splashr and Flickr!!

NOTE: Start by pressing "continue". Then click on a photo to enlarge it. Click it again to reduce. Or, press play and watch the little animation! And the little "?" down bottom brings up a help menu if you want to see what more can be done :)

Shoutout for new fun blog!! - Trousseaux to Treasure

If you're into independent designers and are not adverse to shopping -or atleast window shopping- online, then you have to check out the fun new blog Trousseaux to Treasure.


Dreamt up by Janaina from Olilo Designs at Etsy, and Renee from Cocoapod at Etsy, both have been working hard on getting things together on the Trousseaux to Treasure Flickr group, ready for the official launch of the blog just last week.

In their own words, "Trousseaux to treasure was created not only to invigorate our fashion minds but also to offer a wonderful view into the indie design world. For people who are longing the perfect outfit, or just lacking inspiration."

Janaina and Renee invite us all to enjoy virtual outfits put together by group and blog members. They also plan to feature indie designer interviews, offer discount coupons and Shoutouts to new designers on the blog.
But, in my opinion, the best part of all is that we can all join in the fun, window shopping for the perfect outfit for that special -or not so special- occasion and submit it to the Flickr group for consideration for the blog!

Here's an outfit I put together and that was already featured on the blog! It was sooooooo much fun putting it all together ;P

And, ofcourse, the details of where to find all these great pieces...

Independent / Etsy shops:
- tshirt from circularaccessories
- ring from tigerlillyshop
- earrings from scorpienna
- bag from lindasfiberarts

High Street / Mainstream retailers:
- Jeans from Mango
- Jacket from Zara
- shoes by Marc Jacobs (available at Les Escarpins by Marinamode)

i did do 'something' today...

Well, today hasn't been as busy as it should've been... Yesterday i got ALOT done, but then today i overslept to start with, had errands to run in the morning (take the new tops i finished yesterday down to Nina's boutique, call in and queue forever to ship out the latest sale from my Etsy store, call in to the bank, shop for food to remedy my empty fridge, etc), and, as i knew the massive tidy-up that was waiting for me when i got home, i procrastinated and went round to a friends for lunch!

Then, here i am, sat at the computer this evening, determined not to let a "wee" matter of html-coding prevent me from finally managing to put an image as a header for my blog. Well, as you can see i managed it.... only taken me TWO HOURS!!! Two hours that i could have better employed tidying up the studio, sorting the fabrics and notions that are piling up, and generally getting organised...

Today's picture is my new desktop image, taken a couple of days ago on a mid-afternoon escape we made to Sitges. I could sit for hours watching the sea...


***************************


La foto de hoy es la que he puesto nueva de fondo de escritorio en mi ordenador... es de una escapada que hicimos hace un para de días a Sitges. Me encanta...



Bueno, no he aprovechado del día de hoy como tenía pensado...
Ayer, sí que conseguí hacer mucha cosa, pero hoy me desperté tarde para empezar, y luego tenía un monton de recado para hacer por la mañana (llevar los tops nuevos que acabé ayer a la tienda de Nina, pasar por correos y hacer cola eternamente para enviar la última venta de mi tienda Etsy, ir al banco, ir al supermercado para intentar poner remdia a mi frigorífico vacío, etcetera), y como bien sabía tarea inmensa de ordenar que me esperaba a casa, me hice la lista y fui a comer a casa de una amiga ;P

Y ahora estoy, esta noche, habiendo pasado 2 horas (!) para poder poner el imagen que veis como nuevo "header" de este blog! Estaba decidida que esta pequeña ccomplicación de no entender nada de nada de htnl no me iba a impedir... pero dos horas son mucho!!

I'm "claiming my blog"!

It's claimed!

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El Estreno

Well, here I am, "estrenando" my brand spanking new Blog.
Whats to come? Now that would be telling...