It was about 2 months ago that I discovered Beans Things.  Jeanna placed an order with me and then followed me on facebook. Since I have a habit of always checking out customer sites, fan sites, etc I checked her out and followed her because I thought her stuff was amazing.

Over the next couple of months I was constantly amazed at the photos of her jewelry, magnets, rings - well everything she did.  Not only were the photos gorgeous but the items themselves were a piece of art.  Just look at this pendant she created from her PERSONAL photography.

Sunlight Through New York Tree
Artist: www.etsy.com/shop/BeansThings

I love that she is conscious about the environment and tries to upcycle as much as can with her products.  I love her creativity when it comes to packaging.  I love that she is constantly blogging (Via facebook and twitter), introducing new products and staying in your face - this is a sign of a true business minded woman.  I love how she extends her hand and helps new artists and introduces them to her hundreds of fans.   I could write all day about the things I love about this artist but I will stop here and let her answer a few questions for us.  You really want to read through the entire interview there’s a great surprise at the end :)

Tell us who you are: name, location, affiliations, personal stuff.
For many many years, my family has called me Jeanna (pronounced “Gina”) Beanna…and then it got shortened to Bean Bean or just
Bean….so it was only fitting that my shop be called BeansThings!  I create nature inspired jewelry and magnet sets.

I have been creating since I was a child. At a very young age I was made aware of the impact that we have not only on our environment, but to our earth’s animals too. I hold these two causes dear to my heart. I strive to re-use or create my own shipping materials. I also up-cycle some components like bottle caps, or paper to create my items.

I am a mom of a 3 year old boy who keeps me on my toes. We live in Northern Arizona…where the landscape and critters add to my
creativity.

How did you get started on Etsy?
I began researching marble magnets and came across Etsy. After a few months of researching and preparing, in January 2009, I opened up BeansThings.

Which of your pieces is your personal favorite, and why?
My favorite pieces that I create have to be the trees. They are such old, wise creatures.

What is your best piece of advice for anyone selling on Etsy?
The best advice I can offer is to be committed…be committed to success, to taking great pictures, to promoting and believing in your
product.

List your top 5 CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT ITEMS
Five things I cannot live without: My family, my two cats, my education, my camera and my ancestor journals

A perfect day is. . . .
A perfect day would be…with my husband and son…being outside in warm weather…being happy and having fun.

Network with Beans Things
Etsy: http://www.beansthings.etsy.com
ArtFire: http://www.beansthings.artfire.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/beansthings
Twitter: www.twitter.com/beansthings
Flickr: www.flickr.com/beansthings

Now for the best part of all Jeanna has agreed to give a set of these beautiful valentine magnets away to one lucky reader.  All you have to do is tweet this and/or post a link on your facebook then come back here and leave me a comment with the link.  On Friday, February 12th,  I will randomly pick a winner. Thanks so much and good luck!!

I haven’t posted at all this week and I am so sorry. I have been super busy working on 2 shutterfly books (which I will post more about next week) and of course working on new designs. I seriously planned to release 6 new designs this week but custom orders, a 17 month old daughter and daily life got in the way. So this week I am releasing 3 New Designs. The first 2 are alphabets and here is a sneak preview:

Lately I have been in love with polka dots. . . not sure why but I want everything polka dot! There has to be some kind of therapy for this, let me know if you know any. When I created the first design I loved it and I loved the bright green and hot pink but I also wanted something a little more neutral and calm and that is why I created the 2nd design. This will probably not be the last time you see this design and if you have a color scheme in mind let me know :)

The third design came as a suggestion from a customer. When she suggested it I thought “Wow that’s a good idea I wonder why she suggested it” I later found out that this amazing woman has 2 SETS OF TWINS!!!!!! I thought life with 1 toddler was painful enough (I kid, kind of) I couldn’t imagine 2 SETS OF TWINS. So this sheet I dedicated to her and every time I sell one I will send her a little positive energy - hahaha. Before I show you the preview I wanted to give you a few facts (yes I actually research my designs)

MULTIPLE BIRTH FACTS

-:¦:- Since 1989 there have been an average of 56,136 sets of twins born each year in the US.

-:¦:- Most sets of twins born to one family : Mrs. Fyodor Vassilyev (Russia, 1700s) (in addition to 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quads). The father remarried, and had more multiples (not sure how many).

-:¦:- In 2000, 2.9% of all births in the USA were twins.

-:¦:- Since 1989 there have been an average of 1802 sets of triplets born each year in the US (approximately 150 or fewer of the sets would be all identical triplets).

-:¦:- US Triplet and Higher Rate 2001: 1 per 539

in other words. . . . that’s a lot of multiples :) and now for the preview

I hope you like the new designs and remember they will be in the shop Monday morning at 10am and half price until 10PM (eastern time)

As a little girl I would anxiously await the mail, fingers crossed, hoping for just one letter or unexpected gift.  Do we greet the mailbox with this enthusiasm anymore?  Most of us reach in fearing what we will bring out.  That’s why, when you ship your item out to your new (or existing) customer… you want to make it count.

I have been really busy this week. I had so many amazing ideas emailed to me over the last week that it made it too hard to pick just one. So this week I am releasing 4 new designs in the shop. Here is a little preview:

Fleur De Lis - 1 inch circles, 1 inch sqaure,
7/8 inch square, scrabble size, Domino

Pink Argyle Alphabets (2 designs) - 1 inch circles,
1 inch sqaure, 7/8 inch square, scrabble size

Seniors Class of 2010 - 1 inch circles, 1 inch sqaure,
7/8 inch square, scrabble size, Domino

Military Family & Support- 1 inch circles, 1 inch sqaure,
7/8 inch square, scrabble size, Domino

Don’t forget tomorrow from 10am-10pm they will be available for half price!

I am so excited to announce that I have been asked to be on a Digital Scrapbooking Creative Team *waits for the cheers to stop*.  Yes I am very excited!  Last week I received an email from Erin Ink saying that she has always enjoyed my work and asked if I would like to join her team.  I immediately knew who she was becaus I have been a fan of her layouts for a while but more than that I kept seeing her designs in the Scrapartist Newsletter.  About a month ago I even googled her to see if she had a blog.  I guess you figured out by now I said YES!!

I delayed the announcement post because I wanted to have some layouts to show you using her designs so I present to you my latest 3 layouts (as always click on the layout for credits) :

A picture is worth a thousand… BUCKS?!

Think back to the last products your purchased online.  Why did you buy these products? Because the picture made them look AWESOME and a MUST HAVE!  What was it about the photo that made you decide you must have the item?  Did the dress look great on the model?  Did the earrings dangle at that perfect spot along the neck that makes your face appear thinner?  Was it the letter “R” embossed into the fabric of the purse?  Did those stunning fuchsia plates pop in the exact way you want your table setting to pop at your Valentines dinner party?  Whatever the reason was, you purchased those items because the photo convinced you.

That did not happen to me last night.  I was browsing around ebay for vintage sun dresses (and yes, I’m well aware it’s January… I figure if I buy them, Spring will come).  I came across a seller with some great dresses.  She had about 12 items to pick from.  Her items were fantastic.  Her prices were very reasonable.  As I clicked around her gallery, I noticed she only had one photo per item.  Don’t get me wrong, the photos were creative.  The wood panel walls and earth tone shag carpet really gave it a vintage feel and provided a great backdrop to the orange, purple, green, and white dresses I was considering.  But I wanted to see the backs of the dresses.  I wanted to see the vintage, lavender lace trim in detail.  I wanted to see if the fabric was a light weight linen or a slinky jersey knit.  A black “sun dress” caught my eye in the gallery.  When I clicked to enlarge the photo, it was blurry.  Not a little out of focus… I couldn’t tell if it was in fact a dress or a pant suit.  I decided at that moment that if this seller couldn’t take the time to provide her potential customers with decent shots of this beautiful vintage clothing, then she probably wouldn’t provide very good service.  So, I bought nothing and moved on to the next seller.

So, yes.  Your product pictures may very well be worth a thousand bucks… or more.  As an online seller, the photos are all you’ve got.  Those photos are going to make or break the sell.  You need shots that show scale and proportion as well as up close images that capture interesting details and textures.

Crisp, clean photos that detail your work make a world of difference.  Stay away from busy backgrounds, they can be distracting.  Most featured items on sites such as etsy or personal blogs, have very simple backgrounds.  These do not clash with the photos of other featured artists and allow your product to be front and center.  Don’t worry, you don’t need to go out and purchase back drops.  When my sister asked me to shoot product shots for her vintage shop  I used two tri-fold, science project boards (purchased for $2 each at Target)  and they work great!  Take a look for yourself:

You can even use your backgrounds to form a theme for your shop.  Maybe you use a white wall of bricks for one photo, then white pebbles for another.  I like to see jewelry arranged on sheet music, a page from a novel, or a hand written letter.  All of these make great backgrounds and give your shop a cohesive look without being matchy or boring.

Once you’ve picked a background, it’s time to think about lighting.  Again, you don’t have to have a home studio.  I purchased my lighting from the creator of this universe… the cost…  free.  Natural light is your best bet.  If you can get outside or by a window on a sunny day, do it!  It’s the best way to capture the true colors and details of your item.  Play around with the product.  See how the light hits it from different angles.  Photographing your item from several angles adds depth and allows the customer to get a better look at the product.  You’re sure to get a few great shots, some that may even surprise you.  The following shots were made around 3 in the afternoon in the backyard on a $5 mannequin my sister purchased from the local flea market:

Get some detailed close ups.  But beware, blurry close ups are unacceptable.  Do not, for any reason, post blurry photos.  Get to know your good friend macro.  Macro is a setting on pretty much every camera out there.  On most, it is marked by the little flower icon.  This allows you to get really close to the subject and take amazingly detailed pictures.  Set your camera to macro and get in there.  Experiment with your macro setting.  Go snap some pictures of your garden, your shoe laces, forks and spoons, jewelry, safety pens… you laugh, but trust me… once you get going with this setting, you will not want to stop.  Practice focussing on the details.  You’ll  be amazed at how easy it is and the professionalism it will add to your photos.

If you’re notorious for taking blurry pictures, you may want to invest in a tripod.  Or, do like most folks and become the tripod.  Rest your elbows on something sturdy and be as still as possible.  It may take a few takes, but you’ll get the shot.

To breathe or not to breathe?  If you sale clothing and are able to have a live model, do it.  Seeing clothing on a actual human body sales so much quicker than a mannequin… and it in no way compares at all to hangers.  If you can’t get a live model, find a nice back drop that works with all prints.  Keep it simple.  You don’t want to distract from the clothing.  A background such as a gray stone wall will make even the white clothing pop.  Think contrasting colors and keep it uniform in all your photos.  This adds consistency… and we (the buyers) like that!

Before I wrap this up, let’s talk about the gallery photo.  This is the one photo you see when browsing.  Whether your shopping for Vera Wang or an ebay find, you see that one gallery photo.  You’ll either click to see the details, or you’re going to pass it by.  This is your one shot to grab the buyers attention.  No pressure.  And it’s such a tiny picture.  How will you ever show all the beauty of your item in that one little picture?  You won’t. That’s why you pick and interesting detail at an intriguing angle for your gallery photo.  The only time we ever need to see the entire item in the gallery is maybe when we’re dealing with a painting or a photograph.  If it’s a necklace, just the pendant will do.  A pair of earrings… just one will suffice.  A felt robot, maybe a cropped view of half his face and an arm.  You want a shot that will grab the buyers attention… the bait shot.

Once the customer clicks on your item, you want to have at least 3 to 5 photos for one product.  This allows them to view the item from different angles, see the scale of the item as well as the details.  The more photos, the better.  It’s like allowing them to actually pick the item up and hold it in their hands.

Go over to Etsy.  Pick the category your item will fall into.  Scroll through the gallery and see what catches your attention.  While you’re there, check out the featured sellers page.  Notice the types of product photos that get picked for the feature page and take some notes.  The next chance you get, take your items outside.  Experiment with the settings on your camera as well as the natural lighting and backgrounds.  Before you know it, you’ll be taking professional product shots.

I could write a book on this topic, so I know I left out a ton of info.  Please comment with your own two cents and link us to your creative shots!

WOW what an exciting Monday this is going to be!  I have 3 NEW Digital Collage Sheet Designs: Black and White Damask Alphabet, Cervical Cancer Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness.  As many of you know I usually try to stay away from designs that have been done a hundred times on Etsy however when a customer approached me about doing a custom sheet for a friend of hers who just been diagnosed with Cervical Cancer I couldn’t resist.  Then I saw the final product and just loved them.  After finishing the sheet I did a little research about Cervical Cancer and found some amazing facts.  Did you know January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month? Did you know that Cervical Cancer is one of the most PREVENTABLE types of cancer? Did you know Cervical Cancer is the second leading cancer among women between the ages of 20-30? Once I finished the CC ones I quickly decided that I should convert them to Breast Cancer sheets.  This is a disease that has personally affected my family, both my grandmother and aunt are survivors.  Every year we sponsor a Relay Team and because I know the importance of research 10% of the sales from these 2 designs will go directly to Relay For Life.  Here are some samples of the new releases:

Also in the shop this week I have 2 sets of clip art - Rock Star Images and Tattoo Hearts.  These are in PNG format and would be perfect for scrapbook projects, greeting cards, or even Jewelry!

I am also introducing a new special in the shop this week BUY 10 SHEETS FOR $20.  Pretty great deal!!!!

Lastly this is something I have been working on for a few months now and I do believe I have the details ironed out and can release the items to the shop.  I have had many requests for prints of some of my designs and FINALLY I am able to  offer them.  The first one I am releasing is a customizable Butterfly Print perfect for any little girl’s room,

I actually gave it to my niece as a Christmas Gift.  Throughout the week you will see other familiar designs released in many different sizes.

Don’t forget the New Digital Sheets are available for half price from 10am-10pm EST!!

Unless you lived under a rock in 2009, you have heard of Lady Gaga. She is fresh, original and unapologetic about who she is. Love her or hate her, it is undeniable that she has made a name for herself in the pop music scene. The debut album, ‘The Fame’ charted 4 #1 singles, a Billboard record. To date, she has sold over 8 million albums and 35 million singles worldwide. Her ‘Bad Romance’ music video has over 83 million views on YouTube.

So what makes her music worth having? Simple. It’s pure pop magic. From the thumping baselines to the synths to the rich vocals, her album ‘The Fame’ and her follow-up EP ‘The Fame Monster’ will leave you ready to let loose and dance (and isn’t that what good pop music does?). And no matter how much you fight it, you will find yourself humming her melodies randomly throughout the day. Another great thing about her is that she has paid her dues. She worked her way into the industry- nothing was handed to her. No casting calls for a blonde starlet, no famous family, no reality show - she is the real deal. So if you haven’t gotten aboard the Lady Gaga train yet, consider buying a first class ticket….you’ll be amazed at where the tracks will lead you.

Who is your audience?  What do you do better than everyone else?  Why do you do what you do?  What is your inspiration?  What makes you stand out?  Why do I want to buy your vintage-esque ferris wheel print and not hers?  Because I like your style… it’s what keeps me coming back.

Your style is your brand and an essential way to differentiate yourself from the crowd.  You want people to look at your items and say… “*insert your name here* made that, I would know her designs anywhere!”.  On sites like etsy, developing a fan base is crucial.  And you do that by having your own unique style.

What if you don’t have a certain style that stands out????
Then, create one.

Think about it like this:

If you were selling your products in a brick and mortar store, and you had to hire 15 employees… what would their uniform be?  What sort of image do you want to portray to the public??  Maybe your store specializes in Granny-chic items.  So, you make your employees wear crocheted shawls.  Or maybe you sell magic wands, so everyone gets to wear those Harry Potter glasses.  You know the ones… and you know the ones because that’s part of Harry’s brand.  Throw a pair of glasses and a lighting bolt on anything and you immediately think of that messy haired magician.  Find your style. It could be anything… a signature pink bead on the back of every necklace you make… maybe you make all the lights in your photos look like little hearts…  or maybe all your drivers dress head to toe in brown. somehow one of they ugliest colors on the planet now all of a sudden makes me feel safe and keeps me asking, what can brown do for me?  Thats what a style/a brand does for your business.  It builds trust.  Wether they like the vintage details of your work or how you the pull cord of all your elegant lamps have little doll parts hanging from them… put your stamp on the item and your customers will keep coming back for more.

Your brand is like your reputation.  It’s the reason I don’t trust water bottled by the Coca Cola Company. It’s the reason I would buy a car built in 95… only if it was a Toyota Camry.  It’s the reason I don’t think twice about letting my daughter watch any movie released by Disney (even after that Little Mermaid cover scandal). Once you build it you never know what other opportunities may come because of your popularity.

Comment and let me know what your niche is… and don’t forget to link me to your store, you might just be my next Louis Vuitton… and though your spring handbag may be the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen…  if you put your initials all over it, I’m going to proudly purchase it because I am a loyal follower and admire your style!

So you know how I am always saying “If you have a good idea for a sheet let me know!” Well thankfully a really awesome customer did have a good idea and better than that she DID let me know and as a result we have this week’s new release. Here is just a little preview of what will hit the etsy shop tomorrow morning at 10am.  The best part of all is that from 10am-10pm (EST) you can get this sheet in any size for only $1.25.  If you are a subscriber to my email list then you get a little extra gift.