Orangy Goodness Treasury

There's my Autumn Fire on the top right corner.

New BRACELETS

I was so excited to show off my new necklaces that I completely neglected my new bracelets! So, fair is Fair!
Here they are!
...I told you I have been BUSY!!!!

NEW DESIGNS

For the last 3 days ALL I have done is make jewelry, take pictures, fix pictures and post pictures!
Phew!
I'm tired!
I was on a inspirational roll!
LOL!
Have to take advantage of that when I have the time!!!!
This evening I have been playing catch up.
Internet business is SUCH A CHALLENGE! I mean, I don't have the big bucks to do the monster $$$ Addwords and internet keyword search stuff. That literally goes into thousands of dollars! Being that I hardly have that...going to do it the ground roots kinda way. One by one. Little by little. I figure, every place I touch is one more possibility that some one new will see my work.
...and Everyone that is in the same place as me knows, it's a heck of a lot of work!!!
So KUDOS to all of you Independant artisans out there!

*as I stand up with my right fist raised*
Don't give up!

...ok, not really, but that was great for dramatic effect huh?

LOL!
Here's a few pictures of some of my new pieces.

10% OFF EVERYTHING THIS WEEKEND!!!!

Take advantage of EXTRA SAVINGS on everything in my shop!!!!
THIS WEEKEND ONLY!

www.mikiye.etsy.com

10% OFF EVERYTHING THIS WEEKEND!!!!

Just want to give everyone a heads up for this weekend!
I am offering 10% OFF EVERYTHING in my shop ALL WEEKEND! (gift wrap excluded)
(Other promotions are not eligible to be added with this promo)
This is the perfect time to get some HOLIDAY SPECIALS at even a BETTER DEAL!!!
PLEASE CHECK IT OUT!!!!

Nikon Comes through...

Ah, so my Nikon is still under warranty and they are going to fix my camera!!! Hopefully I should get it back by Christmas. At least I still have my old camera. I have to do this whole song and dance with that one now...but it works! So, I am HAPPY!
Man, is it COLD!
I got my light box in order just in the nick of time! It's raining and cloudy dark outside!
I'm going to try the true test today! JEWELRY! Yikes!
I still have to photoshop my pictures but I am AMAZED at how well the colors are turning out.
I will surely post some pictures as soon as I have them done!

TRUMPET BULBS!

ALL I have to say is, "TRUMPET BULBS ALL THE WAY!!!!"
My life is changed forever due to my purchasing of TRUMPET BULBS!
I ordered them online for like $14 something each. I am telling you they are worth every penny!
...I took less then 10 pictures when my BF basically BROKE my less then 6 months old $700.00 Nikon camera. I was freaking out! There was a black pepper something on my lens and I asked if he could take it out. Next thing I tell him is that the cloth that came with the camera leaves particles on the outside lens. I see him open up the camera and I tell him again thinking there's no way he's going to stick the cloth inside there to clean it after what I just said...yup. Next thing I hear him saying is, "Shit, there's stuff on the lens!" So he finds the air blowing thing and carefully tilts it away and the tube thing flies off splattering something at the camera. I thought I was going to have a heart attack! ...So, basically in a nutshell, My camera now makes a clicking sound and won't take pictures...ALL BECAUSE there was a speck of black on my lens that I wanted cleaned off.
Geeze, I REALLY HOPE this doesn't cost an arm and a leg to fix!
I am soo broke it isn't even funny. That camera was like the one and only investment of my year and then some! I'm sooo bummed! I need it for work!

WELL, So, I HAVE TO SAY , " Anyone wanting to take good pictures indoors NEED to get Trumpet Bulbs!"

Here are a few pictures I managed to take with my camera before it broke.
All taken in my DIY light box! These were particularly difficult colors to photograph by natural light even and I think they came out really great!!!

Keeping Busy

Here's a photo of my new piece. "Flight of Fancy"
I LOVE this piece and am very proud of it. It's one of those pieces I made that I don't want to sell. Ah, bit I know someone else will adore this too!
:P
As you can see there is still a lot of distortion with the colors. My light box needs better lights.

Ok.
I have been working like crazy!I have a couple of custom pieces that I want to get finished so I may get them in the mail!
I just got these beautiful Dogwood flowers and RED Orchids in the mail! Of course I want to smother them in Swarovski crystals. I'll post some pics when I get them finished. I wish I could figure out how to take pictures of them and show just how much they SPaRKLE! I was looking at some new lights...I should get my Trumpet bulbs tomorrow. Then , it will all about the light box AGAIN! I wasn't satisfied with the end result of photos I took the other night. 5 hours of disappointment. So, $70.00 later I hope to take better pictures!
...I'm starting to think I should have just gone to the store and purchased a light box there!
I saw a set on line for almost $300.00. It was pretty nifty though! Since I am literally BROKE now, that's NOT an option. All the more reason I HAVE to make this light box thing work!

I have been trying to figure out more ways to get my name and products out there...
I joined Indiepublic. Everyone is soo pleasant and friendly.
I also added more products to my Mindt shop.
I submitted another item to Indiejewelry.
*sigh*
After seeing others on there I added a few items on Craig's List. Hey, why not if they let me?!!
I figure you never know?!
My Etsy shop will always be my favorite and most important...until I finally get my personal site up. Then it will be my favorite public site.
:P
I have neglected my Myspace...Do any of you do well there?
I see a TON of designers on Myspace. I have browsed through your pages...I don't know if it really does anything if you're not soliciting "actual friends" of yours. What do you think?

I'm always tired but I feel like there just isn't enough time in the day to get what I want done!

DIY Light Box

OK.
Well, let's just say the results were NOT what I expected! I used a large shipping box and cut out the sides and top like in the DIY Light box posts I have seen on line. (I wanted it a little bigger for Busts and larger objects.) Used tracing paper over the openings to filter the light. THis was EASY and looked like the photos on line...close enough any way.
*sigh*
$37.44 later...( I purchased lights and the fixtures from OSH)

Thank GOODNESS there were A TON of people that gave me GREAT information in the Etsy forums...let me thank "mambetsy" she was awesome!
I am thinking it comes down to the lighting that I am using!
They all told me about the "white balancing" thing, which I can only change in manual. My Nikon D40 does it auto in Macro which is what I learned I need to be in when I shoot jewelry...so, I'm a bit confused. Meaning, I can't change it in Macro so, it's still dark and off color.
Ah, now the WORLD OF LIGHT BULBS!
Ugh...
Thanks again to "mamabetsy" she hooked me up with this awesome bookmark...I gotta find it and I will post it!
http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/TTS_LIGHT_MYTHS.htm
Now, if I can just make it work WITH this information!
LOL!
I ordered 2 Trumpet Top bulbs..yes, I spent MORE money...But I figure I NEED to figure this out. I can't always work my life around the sun and when I can take pictures!
I have come to the conclusion that my lighting is off and this is why my color in my photos is off.
Uh, yeah, that's it.
I currently have 3 lights.
I purchased 2 reflector dome shaped ones at OSH and I am using my drafting lamp. I am thinking as long as the bulbs are correct that should be fine.

(If anyone knows better PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE ME A comment/POST ON ANYTHING to help me take better pictures!) :P

I am wondering if I need 2 more lights? I am still getting shadows, so I was thinking to put 2 on the sides, one on top and 2 in the front on each side?

All I know as of right now, my pictures look decent on the taupe/gray background I have already been using but that kinda defeats the purpose to me...LOL...I want a white "white" background. Plus, the colors are still a bit distorted.
This afternoon I took a few photos in the light box using the natural sun coming in my windows...I'll have to see how these came out.

I will be writing more on my light box experience.

Been trying to shake this bug...for the last 3 weeks!
I literally slept all day and just got up after 5:00p.m.
Ah, having a cup of veggie soup.
Unfortunately, nothing new to show!
...and STILL trying to get lights for my lightbox!
Any suggestions are WELCOME PLEASE!