Jack of all Trades

For years I have been trying to define my "story" in my etsy shop by limiting myself to one style or idea.  Every few weeks I have this grand idea: "this is the one!"  I go into full production mode for a few weeks because I know that this is the idea that will actually garner sales.  After a while I get frustrated with the lack of interest, and half-heartedly make and don't finish a few more.


My latest 2 "this is it" moments:

"Friendship Bracelet" Necklaces

Turban Style Headbands

There have been many, many more over the years.  This means that I have loads of handmade accessories hanging out at my house in boxes.  I very rarely want to wear my own stuff, I guess it has something to do with having the wider world in mind while I'm making it.

Recently I read that listing around 50 items makes views jump.  I knew that making and listing that much new stuff would be pretty difficult.  I looked around, and browsed my inactive listings.  There was some great stuff in there.  Some pictures needed to be improved, but taking a picture is a hell of a lot easier than making a whole new item.

So, here's my declaration.  I have decided that I don't care about consistency.  Consistency is boring, and creating should be anything but boring.  I think that my own voice is strong enough to make my shop just that; a shop.  Shouldn't a shop, like a boutique, have many different types of accessories?  If I walked into a shop that had only one type of design repeated over and over and over again with the only variety in color, I would walk right back out the door!  I don't see why my etsy shop should be any different.

Many Faces of Me

I've been in a relationship since I was 18 years old.  So, I have never been alone as an adult.  I think during the six years that I have been with Mitchell, I have started to ignore my appearance more and more.  In a way I think that is one of the benefits of being in a committed long term relationship.  You can learn not to obsess about your own faults.

Since we broke up, I have been wondering about my own face.  Now that I don't have consistency, I have realized that I really don't know what I look like.  It's hard to have any perspective on my appearance, or even the appearance of people closest to me.  Their essence becomes plastered all over their face, and it's impossible to separate the two things back out.  It makes me think of this lovely quote from Doctor Who:

"Then there's other people, when you meet them you think, "Not bad. They're okay." And then you get to know them and... and their face just sort of becomes them. Like their personality's written all over it. And they just turn into something so beautiful."

I know that this time in my life is an opportunity to get to know myself.  I'm starting with my face.  For the first time, I'm marketing my products on myself, and you can actually see my face.  I've been  
surprised at the way they turned out.

I've been able to get a certain about of objectiveness out of them, since I've started to see the photos as products.  Every time I see them, I try to think about what my face is saying.  Weird how hard it is to interpret your own face. So, the many faces of me!

Not sure why you're taking a picture,
but here's a smile.

I know something you don't know!

I am hiding behind my hair

You are being very silly, but I am
going to choose to tolerate you

Happy!

I hope it doesn't seem vain that I have plastered my blog with pictures of myself.  It's really just for me.  So I guess it's just self-centered!

All of the headbands are for sale here http://www.etsy.com/shop/RooTwo