Some Etsy Ch-Ch-Changes

When I have an idea, I tend to just go for it and work out the details later.

Blog, boom.

House, boom.

Etsy shop, boom.

I make it happen. It's only later, when I've had a chance to reflect, that I start to make changes and improvements (or regret being so impulsive, ahem, sofa). This blog has gone through several name changes and styles over time. I'm actually surprised I finally found something to stick with. I lived in my house almost five years before I got the courage to paint anything. Now we know how that has turned out (I mean, I paint stuff too much). And the Etsy shop, yes, it is evolving as well.

When I first started my shop, almost a year ago, I had no idea what I was doing. But I know I learn best by doing, and I have! I started out with a goofy name, Eck Art, which didn't roll off the tongue that well, but it was a little bit funny if you knew my last name. It was annoying to say, however, and it didn't really match my dreams of including vintage finds in my shop. Plus, I really, really wanted a logo. So I needed something that looked a little prettier when written.

So, I changed it. Yeah, that's what I've been getting at this whole time. I CHANGED MY SHOP NAME. How exciting!

I named it after my grandma, Viola Maye.

Grandma's name was spelled in a pretty, unique way, plus it's just a unique name, anyway. Plus, she's my grandma. Perfect. And a logo? BOOM.


I'm so legit! Now what?! I don't know. But click on over to my Etsy shop and admire my logo. Also, check out Brand Me Beautiful if you need any pretty digital stuff made. And you know, if you want to share my shop with others, I'll love you forever.

More Vintage in the Shop

Good morning, friends. Time for some shameless self promotion! I've added some new vintage items to the shop lately, including a little alarm clock, a record rack, and some sets of vintage books.

I've also been working on my product photography. My office (or craft room, work room, I haven't decided on a name yet) has amazing natural light, so my photography has improved slightly because of that. It kinds of bugs me that in some photos you can see the wall texture in the photo, but it's getting better.

Be a good friend and give my little Etsy shop a share, won't you?

Ch-ch-changes for the Etsy Shop

Good morning! I'm trying out a new idea with my Etsy shop. I can't say yet if it will stay, since I'm not completely sure if I like it. But I kind of do.

Anyway.

I've added vintage items to my Etsy shop. I also playing around with adding the words "& Vintage" to my Eck Art shop name, although I'm not loving that name part now that I've tried it. I think I just want Eck Art, but I like the idea of putting my vintage finds in the shop, since I just don't have room to keep it all. And believe it or not, I sometimes find good stuff.

I closed up my flea market booth, by the way. Not only was it too much work hauling stuff over to the booth and dealing with broken or misplaced items, but it also just didn't match my goal. I don't want to be a junk dealer. I want to sell art and vintage items to make homes prettier and more interesting. The booth wasn't supporting that dream, so it's done.

So I stuck in a few items that I'm ready to part with. Just a few random home goods that would look nice in the same home where a tapestry would fit in. Maybe someone out there has the same taste as I do!

All this really brings attention to what I consider my biggest weakness: photography. Especially product photography. It's hard!

I spent all last weekend playing around with a white background  I did a little staging by removing the dust covers from some books and using them as props. I also tried using a falsa blanket as a background, but I think it ended up being too busy. Next, I want to try just photographing the items in my home, where I would put them, but that requires a lot of light and a clean house.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with my inventory so far. And I've got a lot more to add. I just need to get up the courage to try photographing them again.

Introducing Eck Art // My Etsy Shop

I've been up to something.

Do you see that new button up there at the top of the blog? The one that says SHOP? Yeah, now you can SHOP!!

I finally decided to go for it and open an Etsy shop. It's far from perfect, and sometimes I worry my products suck, but if I wait for everything to be perfect, it will never happen. I love weaving, and if I could sell weavings and earn a little money to continue weaving, that would be enough for me. Weaving is heavenly, but it's not cheap.

The name Eck Art was Rand's idea. His best pitches for shop names also included Don't Stop Beweavin' and Take It or Weave It. I've added my four favorite tapestries that I've made so far, although there have been many pieces I've made and not liked. Those have mostly ended up pulled apart and rewoven into something else. I'm still unsure if my pricing is anywhere close or if I calculated shipping correctly, but I learn best by doing, so I'm jumping in.

So maybe you'll click that button up there and look at what I've made? Maybe you'll think it's kind of good?

It's a bit scary to put your art out there into the world and then wait to see if anyone likes it.

{Etsy Love} Linda Tillman's Gallery

If, like me, you are easily distracted by shiny pretty things, you might understand how difficult Christmas shopping can be for people like us. Just when I have a clear idea of the gift I'm looking for-Oh! Shiny! What's that?! And then I realize it's an hour later.

I was digging around for a little gift for my mom the other day and I stumbled across a new favorite. Since it's not time to shop for myself, all I can do is share Linda Tillman's Gallery with everyone who will listen. She has a beautiful collection of prints that feature mid-century modern awesomeness. Tillman's pieces include touches of Southern California scenery, iconic furniture, cute cats and dogs, and hints of atomic space-age glamour, and they are really reasonably priced. As in, I might talk myself into getting more than one. Wouldn't these look great as a pair on the wall?

And of course, you know which ones are at the top of my wish list:

Cats and fabulous furniture? Perfection, in my book.

Visit Linda Tillman's Gallery to see the rest of her collection.

{Etsy Love} Urban Walls

Hello again!

Today I've got another Etsy discovery for you! My sister-in-law once had a party for a wall decal company years ago, kind of like a Mary Kay party but for these products that have inspirational sayings or designs. They stick on your walls, but come down easily if you ever need them to. There are several different places to get these, but when I came across Urban Walls on Etsy, I loved how they had decals that looked like great wallpaper!

Here are some of my favorites:

Triangles

Polka Dots

Seeing Stars

Pretty amazing, huh? I don't see too many nurseries I like, but I love this one. Those stars are adorable! I'm personally drawn to the wallpaper look, but Urban Walls also has quotes and sayings and single images that both playful and stylish. Visit Urban Walls' Etsy store to see more. Danielle of Urban Walls also keeps a beautiful blog, full of gorgeous photography and decor ideas, so be sure to take a look there, too for some inspiration.

Happy Wednesday!

+ Do you have any experience with wall decals in your home?

+ Have you ever hosted one of those parties (Mary Kay, Thirty-One, etc.)? Did you get lots of free stuff?

{Etsy Love} Emily's House London

Hardwood floors are beautiful, but I think they look even better (and feel warmer on bare feet) with a few vintage rugs thrown around. While digging around Etsy recently, I stumbled upon Emily's House London, a shop with a great selection of handmade Turkish kilims and rugs. Here's the info from the shop:

My carpets are my passion! Inspiring kilims, pile rugs and vintage carpets, all handmade, unique and timeless. Most rugs are made by Berber woman or Turkish nomads, who have been weaving these carpets initially for their own domestic use. Life is spend on the floor upon which various coverings are always being laid to serve as bedding, blankets, decoration for their homes and tents or as protection against the stony floor. The skills of weaving are obtained by observation and practice and are passed on from mother to daughter. The general look and feel of rug will always be in line with the tradition of the weaver's tribe, but as there is no drawing or cartoon to follow, there is much room for the maker's own imagination, feelings and fantasy. This makes every weaver the artist of her own rug and every piece unique.

Beautiful, unique pieces with a story behind them?  Always welcome in my house. Here are a few of my favorites from Emily's House London:

Aren't they beautiful? As you can tell, I may like my walls and furniture to be calm and peaceful, but when it comes to accessories, I'm needing some color. So what do you think? Any favorites? Do tell!